Lost

[Tirael]

''Alright.. I'm done, buddy. Let's go back to our friends.''

Tirael was pretty sure that right then wasn't the time to leave; Sleet and Redin were still furious, and he was pretty sure that nothing had been resolved. But Springheel was already starting to head for Camp (by the direction he was taking, the otter figured he was going for the main entrance) and, figuring he couldn't quite trust Sleet's friend yet, he sighed and looked at Sleet briefly. "Thank you, again...I...thanks." Still confused by the events of the past few minutes, he followed Spring, his mind working furiously to digest it all.

''I'm sorry, Tir. I.. I kinda lost control with the ferret and the weasel. I hope you'll forgive me.''

He spun around so he was walking backwards and was facing Tirael, and gave a large grin, ''Cheer up, mate. It's not your fault any of that happened. It was my fault. I lost my anger and now you're upset. Please don't be upset, Tir.''

Shaking his head, the young otter replied quietly, "I'm not upset...well, maybe...I dunno. I'm just...tired. Tired of all this fighting." Sighing again, he looked up as Spring moved in front of him. When he tripped, Tirael could tell it was on purpose; putting on the best smile he could muster, he stopped to help his friend up. "Thanks for trying to cheer me up, but I'll be fine. Really." It would just take some time and a good deal more thinking. Except this time, the thinking would be done safely in his room, where he was in little danger of finding strange beasts or being hit over the head.

"Oi! Where do you think yer- OI! I'm talkin' to yew, ya putrid scum! Ya sorry excuse fer a- Wot the 'ell do you think yew are anyway? Prancin' about like yer a goodbeast! May'aps yew 'adn't 'eard mate, but yer a fox! Yer every bit the vermin that you proclaim us to be! Every. Bloody. Bit!"

The healer whirled sharply as Redin approached, holding a chain like a whip. Though that sight scared the otter, he was more concerned about the fact that the weasel was bleeding from various spots all over his body, leaving the snow flecked red behind him. He wouldn't last long in that state; was he really going to kill himself over some stupid argument? Stepping in front of Springheel, Tirael decided it was finally time to end this. "Look at you, you're losing blood! Don't kill yourself over some stupid argument, let me deal with your wounds before you bleed to death!" His gaze flicked from Redin to Sleet, then back to Redin. Holding up a paw beseechingly, he wondered if he was doing the right thing or just setting up his own death.

[lorki]

Sleet hardly noticed the foxes words, she was too busy barricading Redin from him. She did hear him call Tirael to leave, the disrespect he'd already shown to her, who had ultimately saved his friends sorry life, was sickening. But she couldn't get anymore angry with the fox, blood was seeping through her clothes... Blood?

“Redin stop!” She snapped reaching out with her unarmed paw just as he shoved her and grabbed her other one. “Redin... Damnit Redin stop.” She dropped the dagger and wrenched her paw away from his grip. “Redin!” He wasn't listening, he was snarling and raving at the fox, unwinding the chain from his neck.

Horrified, Sleet was momentarily still, then quickly darted in as Redin violently shook the chain forwards. She was much more worried the fox would take the invitation and her friend would not hold up for long. She came from behind him, just as she was mildly aware of Tirael trying to point out the weasels ridiculous actions... the healer would not like Sleets way of dealing with Redin. But she'd known him for long enough to do what was necessary.

In a quick subtle movement one of her paws hovered over his shoulder, the other struck out to grasp the wrist that was swinging his chain around. “Redin Outmir you are...” One of her legs, placed strategically between his kicked out to the side. “...One hell of an...” She shoved her paw over his shoulder roughly downwards and pulled back on his wrist. “...Idiot!”

[Rocky]

"Thanks for trying to cheer me up, but I'll be fine. Really."

That was it. Springheel feel for the fake smile that Tirael mustered. "Ah! 'E's smilin'! Woo-hoo! I can't wait ta' tell 'em the story of how I cheered you up! Haha!'' As he was back on his two feet, he grinned again, and patted Tir on the back again as he turned back for Camp Moss.

He was abruptly stopped as another onslaught of angry words reached his ears.

He turned around and noticed the weasel carrying a chain like a whip, walking towards him. It was then, that, after looking at the chain and his arm, Springheel noticed Redin was bleeding. Why were some beasts so stupid? He was bleeding from several spots but still wanted to fight?

The fox walked forward just as Tir did, too. His friend showed kindness to the weasel. Maybe it would end because of Tirael's willingness to help Redin. If the weasel was smart enough, he'd take it. Tirael was probably the best healer in these parts.

He didn't listen to Tirael's words to the weasel, just stared at Redin, his gaze unwavering.

Then, he did something he thought he'd never do. He pulled off that thin fur cuirass on his chest and abdomen area, and tossed it on the ground, leaving only his bracers, pants, and shoes on. The fox walked towards the weasel, pushing himself next to Tirael, but slightly in front.

''Go ahead... Hit me.''

Then, the ferret jumped in, and put some complicated move on Redin, probably to stop him from swinging. Springheel took a step forward and pointed to his abdomen, ''Hit me.'' If the weasel was stupid enough, he'd swing it, Spring would take the hit, as costly as it was, and watch the weasel go down. ''Go ahead. Free shot.''

[Maxodis]

The enraged Weasel staggered forward, swinging the heavy chain over his head with some degree of difficulty. Every shaking step he took was harder to make. He fought to maintain his balance as the lack of blood caused him to be lightheaded. Regardless of all this, he still struggled forward. That fox was a dead beast.

''Go ahead... Hit me.''

Dimly, Redin was surprised he hadn't slipped off the edge of his faltering sanity yet, an event that happened all too often. He drew his arm back to lash out at Jakk. "With pleasu-GAH!"

He went down, hard, his face planted in the snow. This was probably beneficial, considering they muffled the enraged howls that erupted from the Weasel as he struggled violently. To be so close, yet so far. Filled with new energy, Redin planted his free paw to the ground and began to hoist himself up.

"Geroffame! Lemme get him! By the twisted gates of Hell, I'll flay his worthless hide! I'll KILL 'im!"

[lorki]

A voice was speaking, Sleet hoped it was Tirael, the otter was a healer, and she had never been much for... plants. She was not focusing on the words until she noticed the fox step in front of the otter... oh... hell... NO.

''Hit me.''

Lucky by then the weasel was falling. Sleet tried to support Redin on his way down, but his size was far greater than her own and she found it difficult to even follow him as he fell forward. She may have made the fall... and hitting the ground, a fraction of a bit more comfortable.

Immediately Redin tried to push her away. She shoved him back towards the ground and dealt him a sharp slap to the side of his head. All her strength was forced down oh him as she was nearly kneeling on his back, but she turned her head to snarl angrily at the fox

She picked up a near by rock and flung it at Springheel, very sure she would miss, considering Redin was thrashing under her, but it didn't matter she had to get some of her rage out. “NO.” She snapped, “You are done. You are done before I cut your sorry tongue out of your ugly mouth, now get away from him.” She desperately hoped Tirael would step in and do something, all of her yelling was doing nothing to deter this stupid animal, could he not understand what she was saying? It was taking all the self control she had to not fill his body with bladed metal and that was waning fast. So damn arrogant, every word he spoke was unnecessary and seemed its only purpose was driving her off the edge.

Beasts like this made Sleet feel ill. They would prod and prod and prod and finally when she acted scream evil ferret as if it had not been their useless uncalled for torment that had pushed her towards her actions. Countless times she'd been in situations like this... countless times she'd solved it with a knife to the gut... No no, she tried to calm herself but it was difficult. She was attempting to make a strategic ally in this otter healer.

Redin was still screaming about killing the fox, she reached a paw over to shove his head back into the snow and gripped the chains that linked between his muzzle and his ear. “Redin Outmir I swear I will yank these off if you don't stop moving...” She tugged on them threateningly and dug her knee into his back, “...NOW!”

[Tirael]

''Go ahead. Free shot.''

Tirael could hardly believe his ears. He grabbed Spring's arm, trying to pull him away, pleading, "WHAT!? No! Spring, this pointless fight has gone on long enough! What happened to 'I'm done, let's go home'!? Come on, listen to what you said thirty seconds ago, and let's just go!" He moved in front of the fox, trying to distract him from Redin so that he might listen to reason more easily. He flinched slightly as the rock Sleet had thrown thudded off his shoulder, but said nothing, knowing it would only drive Spring to fight more. He watched as Sleet struggled with Redin, wondering how often she had to do this. Judging from how quickly she had acted, pretty often. Hoping to avoid anything similar with Spring, he said through clenched teeth, "Come on, let's just go."

[Rocky]

"WHAT!? No! Spring, this pointless fight has gone on long enough! What happened to 'I'm done, let's go home'!? Come on, listen to what you said thirty seconds ago, and let's just go!"

Spring ignored Sleet's words of anger, and Redin's insults and shouts, only listening to Tirael. Tir was right. Springheel had said he was done, but still he continued. ''I'm sorry. I just wanted that stupid weasel to hit me, so he'd go down and probably learn from his mistakes.''

Spring picked up his fur cuirass, Tir's gip on Spring was too strong, due to the fact that the fox did nothing to stop the otter. As he looked up, his fur cuirass back on, Sleet threw a rock that hit Tirael in the shoulder.

Springheel lurched forward, trying to get another shot at the weasel, but Tir's grip still kept him. Sleet was telling him all of his flaws, and yet she throws a rock at him? The fox's anger flowed through him, waiting to be released. He then shook his head, not willing to fight anymore.

''I'm sorry..'' Springheel spoke again, his voice cracking slightly. ''This time, I will turn my back on them, and not respond to them.'' The fox easily pushed Tir's hand from his arm as Tir spoke of going home.

''Are you angry at me?''

[Maxodis]

Despite his injuries, despite his fatigue, and despite his failing strength, Sleet's efforts to keep Redin Outmir restrained were, at best, futile. When the powerful Weasel had his mind set on killing a particular creature, there was little that one could do to deter him. His largest disadvantage in this situation was that, having known him for so long, Sleet was well aware of what particular actions she could take to subdue him completely. It came as little surprise when he suddenly felt the sharp pains in his face as she pulled threateningly on his face chains. It was peculiar how the reckless masochist could withstand, if not relish, numerous wounds on his body, track down a ferret without recovering with little or no rest, and push himself to near death, and yet, despite all this,

Not be able to bear the pain of having a few chains ripped from his face.

He froze instantly, unmoving for several seconds as his rage subsided enough for it to dawn on him that there was no way that he would be able to get the fox now. He cursed violently in disgust, punching the ground with a clenched paw shaking with fatigue and rage. He collapsed then, going all but limp as his strength faltered. Still pinned into the snow, he tilted his head to glower at the fox as he breathed raggedly.

"Yew...... filth...... sonofa..... Gah....."

He hesitated to catch his breath. It didn't help to have Sleet's knee in his back.

"Be careful fox," He hissed viciously. "Lest one o' yer 'friends' kill yew...... for what yew really are..... a vermin, just like the rest o' us...... Aye, be careful, I'd hate for yew to..... die by some other beasts paw....."

[lorki]

Sleet exhaled deeply as she felt Redin go limp other her. She lessened the pressure on him, though she didn't release her hold on the chains. At that point her arms and paws were streaked with his blood and his own filthy clothes were darkened and wet. She stopped, glanced up.

''I'm sorry..'' Springheel spoke again, his voice cracking slightly. ''This time, I will turn my back on them, and not respond to them.'' The fox easily pushed Tir's hand from his arm as Tir spoke of going home.

''Are you angry at me?''

"He damn well better be!" She growled, her voice lowered as Redin snarled his final threats at the fox. She mumbled mostly to herself, "worthless fox... has an otter friend... thinks he can do any damn thing he pleases... could'a been a good civil meeting... next time I'll let the riverdog rot..."

Redin seemed to be finishing up his insults to the fox by then, they were nothing she wouldn't have expected, generally when he wanted to kill somebeast they were dead. This one, walking away whole, would surely upset him. She wouldn't be surprised if the anger shifted over onto her sooner or later, but if there was one thing sleet had learned to do effectively it was deal with this buffoon of a friend of hers.

"Redin..." less anger in her voice as she glanced over his many reopened ruins. She pressed a paw down on a larger one nearest her, shaking her head. "I'm serious, don't move." Not that he probably could, he would have fallen over soon enough if he'd continued with the fight.

She pushed herself sideways to grab her satchel, still sitting where it had fallen after Redin had pelted it at her. Halfheartedly she searched for anything that could be useful as a bandage, already knowing that it was not likely. She would lose yet another cloak to this stupid weasel and his violent tendencies. Sleet had never been much of a healer, partially the reason she'd attempted to make peace at the very least with that otter... but seeing as her plan had effectively gone to hell she'd have to deal with Redin her way.

[Tirael]

''Are you angry at me?''

To be fully honest, yes, Tirael was a little angry. Actually, more than a little, but he knew that admitting that would only hurt Springheel and probably not achieve anything useful. So, as Sleet reacted, the otter calmed himself and waited for a chance to speak. "No, I'm not, Spring. Let's go before somebeast actually gets hurt." Glancing at Redin, who was still painting the snow red with his own blood, he added, "More."

Tirael then noticed as Sleet began to rummage through her bag for something. Judging from the fact that she had been examining one of Redin's wounds a few moments beforehand, she was probably looking for some kind of healing...thingy. Releasing his grip on Spring, Tirael began to dash for the secret entrance. Stopping, he turned and said, "I'm going to get something to patch up your friend." Glancing at Springheel, he said, "Nobeast better have died by the time I get back." Hurriedly, he went down the ladder (when Sleet wasn't looking, of course) and ran to the infirmary. Grabbing his supply bag, he ran back through the corridor, up the ladder, and back to the little trio by the pond.

Kneeling by Redin and Sleet, Tirael set down his bag and took out a roll of bandages. Glancing at the weasel, then at the ferret, he asked, "Can I do my job, or is he going to kill me for trying to help?" If Redin would just let him do his work, maybe this situation could end on...friendlier terms.

Or maybe 'friendly' is too strong a word.

[Maxodis]

"Redin... I'm serious, don't move."

The Weasel could only grunt in compliance. What a horrid day. He hadn't had any rest, the only food he'd eaten was that rock that at some point in time had been edible, and it was cold. So bloody cold. To hell with the cold. Bloody winter. Bloody snow. He glanced at the snow piled to the side of his face, soggy and soaked in red. Bloody snow indeed. He could only sigh miserably as he heard Sleet rummaging through what could only be her satchel. She wouldn't find anything of use in there, and what remained of his bandages and soaked clothing was not enough to accommodate for his reopened injuries. Things certainly didn't look good.

He let his mind drift, simply separating himself from his conscious awareness of the agonizing pain wracking his body. Aye, it was bad, but he had been worse off. There was the time when he'd been ambushed by archers... And that one time when he had been a sword-for-hire in that stupid feud... And when he'd first met Sleet. Odd how one's train of thought drifted so. He remembered it vividly.

It was autumn, must have been, since the leaves on the ground around him were a deep red. Or maybe that had been his blood. Regardless, it was just beginning to get cold. He'd fought his way out of his own camp, carved a path through the horde that had turned against him. He'd fled all night and finally, gratefully, collapsed in a small glade. He hadn't learned the thrill of pain at the time, and was having trouble staying awake. He thought he was dreaming when the creature that had evaded death suddenly dropped down from the tree infront of him. He couldn't remember much after that, he must have passed out. She'd saved his life that evening. And many other times after that.

"Can I do my job, or is he going to kill me for trying to help?"

And here he was again. Life had mauled him and left him to die yet again, and to compensate, put him at the mercy of a creature that he would otherwise rather have dead. It must be some sort of sick penance that he was paying for his actions. Someone, somewhere, wanted him miserable. "Ah hell..." What a bloody rotten day. It could either get worse or end. Redin decided he'd rather see more days, rotten or not. He managed to spit vehemently at his misfortune and cast away the heavy chain from his paw. "Do yore work, healer..."

[lorki]

Sleet backed off from Redin a bit. Seeing that he was finally cooperating... or perhaps he simply didn't have the strength to continue his reckless attempts. Either way sleet was glad for it, the blood coating and melting the snow away made her feel uneasy, if she'd lost that much blood she'd be in much worse off shape... the disadvantages of smaller size. Luckily for her she often times could talk her way out of a murderous situation... unlike Redin she knew when to call it quits.

She offered a grateful glance to Tirael as he returned, "He's harmless." A hint of sarcasm followed her comment but she reached out a paw to rub the weasels head. He had at the very least been forced into helplessness. She began regretting leaving Redin in the first place. This encounter reminded her just how much he needed her to follow behind him and wipe up his childish messes.

Fanged grin flashed at the weasel. "See how lucky you are I can think on my feet, huh?" She tried her best not to give Redin an opportunity to throw around more vicious words, the otter seemed skittish. Smirking, she shoved a glass bottle towards her old friend, half full of amber colored liquid. That, at least, she did have in her satchel.

It was then that she remembered her introduction to Tirael had been cut off by the fox. "Tirael." She chimed the otters name, quite cheerier since the fox had ceased berating her and antagonizing Redin. She seemed almost in a good mood. Almost. But then again, when faced with kindness rather then conflict Sleet had a tendency to follow it with much admiration and even excitement. No matter how she tried to pretend differently, she was at her core a seeker of such things, however they were painfully rare. "My name is Sleetfang. Sleet. My pathetic friend here is Redin Outmir." She patted the weasel.

[Tirael]

"Do yore work, healer..."

Letting out a sigh of relief, Tirael began his work. Cleaning the weasel's wounds, he scooped what had been nicknamed 'healer's goop' by various other patients from a tin and dabbed it into the openings. He finished each wound by tying off a bandage- real bandaging, not scraps that looked filthy and fell off easily. As he went through this procedure, he watched Spring and the ferret from his peripheral vision; he had purposely positioned himself so he was facing both.

"My name is Sleetfang. Sleet. My pathetic friend here is Redin Outmir."

The otter looked up at 'Sleet', as was apparently her name, then back at his work. "Sleet...well, he can't be all that pathetic, I've never seen a beast lose this much blood and still be kicking." Or trying to kill everybeast around him, the healer thought as he worked. Tying off a final bandage, he looked Redin over to make sure everything was in order. Nodding approvingly to himself, he said, "You should be fine, just as long as you don't strain yourself too much. Just...take it easy until you're better." Packing away the remainder of his supplies, Tirael looked up at Spring and said, "I think we can go home now." If this encounter ended now, it would at least be on a good note.

[Rocky]

OOC: There's nothing I can really do further with Springheel, so... Im just gonna post him leaving.

BIC:

"Be careful fox... Lest one o' yer 'friends' kill yew...... for what yew really are..... a vermin, just like the rest o' us...... Aye, be careful, I'd hate for yew to..... die by some other beasts paw....."

There goes that weasel again. Springheel turned around, a straight expression on his face. The weasel was in pain but he was still putting up a struggle... Just to get at him. The overwhelming feeling of all this arguing being because of him gripped the fox with its icy fingers. He turned back to Tirael, said one last time, ''I'm sorry, Tir. I hope we can still be friends.'' (That's just the way Spring thinks. If someone seems upset he feels they wont be his friend again.)

He gave Tirael a half hearted smile, and ran for Sleet and Redin, slowing his pace to a jog.

''Uh... Sleet, is it? I'm sorry about the way we got off.. I hope you'll forgive me. You don't have to.'' The fox then squatted so he was closer to the weasel's face, ''You'll never kill me.'' He gave him one last nod, looked up at Sleet, nodded a farewell, then stood up and ran back to Tirael.

Looking at Tir one last time today, the fox turned his course to the left, clambered up a tree and was lost to sight as he jumped from branch to branch. The main reason he left was because he didn't want anyone to see s tear fall from his eyes.

OOC: Thats just the way Springheel is.. lol

[Maxodis]

"Sleet...well, he can't be all that pathetic, I've never seen a beast lose this much blood and still be kicking."

The Weasel chuckled darkly to himself. "Ain't the first time I've been like this. Prob'bly ain't the last time neither. Wotchew say yer name wos? Tir'el? Wot kinda name is that, eh?" He pulled himself up into a sitting position, absentmindedly checking the bandages. Redin was no healer, but he'd had enough experience in wrapping his own wounds to tell that the otter's efforts was quality work. "That's a muppet's name, if anythin'." The Weasel was not one for expressing gratitude. He usually left frivolous things of that nature to Sleet to take care of. Social interactions were not his forte.

Momentarily, he considered downing the lightly-colored liquid in the bottle handed to him by Sleet. Scowling, he tossed it back to her. "Bah, I'd rather wait 'till I c'n enjoy it proper-like. Yer gettin' low too, I suppose we'll 'ave t' go about procurin' s'more, eh?" He cackled at the subtle joke. Generally when he mentioned 'procuring', the Weasel meant finding the next unfortunate traveler and threatening them with their life, or taking it, depending on his mood at the time. Occasionally he would make a game of it, particularly when he was in a murderous mood. How violently could he maul the unlucky creature before it died? It was a practice that Sleet did not approve of, and one he enjoyed immensely.

He spat vehemently at Jakk as the Fox proceeded to scale a tree and leap away, through the trees. He scowled darkly as he considered the fox's parting words. A cloak of fur certainly would have have made the fading winter's chill more bearable. He reached out a paw to Sleet in a request to be helped up. "Bloody fox leaps through the trees like you do. It'll be hell tryin' t' catch 'im."