A Destination Reached [Open]

[Treble Tiderunner]

Enon trudged the last few feet to the door, hours of treading in deep sand took its toll even on the fittest bodies. She glanced behind her at Brush, goggle-eyed at the huge mountain and the hares visible manning the heights. Grinning, she bowed and spread an arm out, encompassing the area.

"Welcome to Salamandastron. Care to knock?"

[Tirael]

Even as he trudged wearily, Brush could do nothing but stare at the monolithic fortress filling his vision. It seemed impossibly large, dwarfing everything around it, except for the seemingly endless ocean to the side. Catching the looks of some of the sentries, he tried not to look so captivated.

"Welcome to Salamandastron. Care to knock?"

Looking down to face Enon, he raised an eyebrow and returned the bow. "Thankee, I think I will." Straightening up, he strode to the door and rapped it with his paw. Konk! Konk! Konk! "Halloo the fortress! Anybeast home?" Stepping back closer to Enon, he looked back up at the mountain and commented, "Quite a place you've got here."

[Brooke]

Southpaw tilted an ear. He heard what sounded like someone knocking. Grabbing a javelin that was nearby, he made his way towards the entrance.

Opening it up, he was greeted by two squirrels who look quite tired and worn out.

"Well, wot are two squirrel chaps doing here at the bally fortress... C'mon in wot wot." He stepped aside to make room for them. When everyone was inside, he closed off the entrance again.

"You look jolly well famished, so I'll do introductions on the way to get some bloomin' scoff. Me name's Southpaw Sonitcerd Cernlae Phleper Varilde, but I'm known as South. Now, you know my name, but wot are your's?"

[Rocky]

Lord Melroch Winterpaw, Badger Lord of Salamandastron, too, had heard knocking. He decided not to become holed up in his room today, and he found himself standing upon some ramparts, looking out across the coast, as if waiting for some ship to just arise from the black line and come towards his mountain. His thoughts drifted to his old days, when he was young and the slave ship he was borne onto by the slavers.

His paw balled into a fist, but before he could do anything, if he was going to do anything, a pounding on the main gate cut through his thoughts, like a knife going through warm butter. The wind ruffled his long fur and he turned his head sharply in the direction of the gate. His first instinct said that it was possibly vermin, but vermin wouldn't just knock on the main gate. Several battles with them placed that thought in his mind.

Still, better safe then sorry.

He found himself going down several flights of steps, and arriving outside the main gate. Southpaw was opening the gates as he arrived on the scene. He peered, from his location, through the small vertical crack that appeared as the gate slowly opened, and saw figures standing there. His paw slowly went to his back where he kept his weapon, but then it fell back down to his side, a grin forming on his face.

He found himself walking forward towards two squirrels, one of which he knew all too well. "Enon." He said, his voice expressing happiness as he saw his friend again. "Glad to see yours safe from harm. I see Southpaw introduced hisself, so for your pal here, Ill do the same.''

He turned his gaze from Enon to Brush and started talking again, "Im Lord Melroch Winterpaw, Badger Lord of Salamandastron and leader of the fighting hares known as the Long Patrol. What may we do for you?''

[Treble Tiderunner]

"Halloo the fortress! Anybeast home?" Stepping back closer to Enon, he looked back up at the mountain and commented, "Quite a place you've got here."

“Yes, rather impressive, isn’t it?” Enon commented, eyes taking in every familiar landmark of her longest home. The gate swung open, silent on well oiled hinges. The hare that greeted them was faintly familiar, but then, she knew almost every hare in the mountain, with the exception of the younger ones, by appearance at least.

"Well, wot are two squirrel chaps doing here at the bally fortress... C'mon in wot wot."

"You look jolly well famished, so I'll do introductions on the way to get some bloomin' scoff. Me name's Southpaw Sonitcerd Cernlae Phleper Varilde, but I'm known as South. Now, you know my name, but wot are yours?"

“South! That’s it!” Enon exclaimed once the hare had proclaimed his name(plus a lot of other things). “Of course! One o’ th’ famous boxin’ twins! Ah remembrah ye now.” She spoke now in a mix of her northern tongue and the hare dialogue. “Enon McKie, Brush o’ Southsward.”

"Enon." He said, his voice expressing happiness as he saw his friend again. "Glad to see yours safe from harm. I see Southpaw introduced hisself, so for your pal here, Ill do the same.''

He turned his gaze from Enon to Brush and started talking again, "Im Lord Melroch Winterpaw, Badger Lord of Salamandastron and leader of the fighting hares known as the Long Patrol. What may we do for you?''

“M’lord!” Enon said, grinning. It had been too long since she had seen the familiar face of Melroch Winterpaw, Lord of Salamandastron. Due to her own nature she’d always called him by his title, at first out of respect and then to tease her friend. But it was still first nature to be formal and call him by his title. “First could we freshen oop? It’s a matter of vital importance not to be spoken of in th’ doorway.”

[Brooke]

Grinning, South said; "Hallo there, meh Lord, just takin' our guests to get some bally scoff! Permission to do so sah?"

“South! That’s it!” Enon exclaimed once the hare had proclaimed his name(plus a lot of other things). “Of course! One o’ th’ famous boxin’ twins! Ah remembrah ye now.” She spoke now in a mix of her northern tongue and the hare dialogue. “Enon McKie, Brush o’ Southsward.”

"Well then a pleasure to meet ya marm! Welcome to Salamandstron wot wot. Or should I say welcome back. It seems you know our badger lord. And to answer your question, yes I am ONE of the boxing twins, actually you'll probably see my brother when we get down. Don't worry, I'm the better lookin' one wot wot" Then, striking a dramatic pose he said. "The dining hall!" he then scampered off to load his plate.

[Tirael]

Brush was a little bit overwhelmed as he entered Salamandastron. What with the enthusiastic hare that let them in, the scale of the place, and the enormous Badger Lord that greeted Enon, he felt like everything was going over his head. He nodded amiably at South as he was introduced, then turned his attention to Lord Winterpaw.

"Im Lord Melroch Winterpaw, Badger Lord of Salamandastron and leader of the fighting hares known as the Long Patrol. What may we do for you?''

Enon cut in, as planned. Brush nodded in affirmation of her statement; the entire plight of Mossflower would take a while to relate, and he preferred to do so in a more down-to-business setting. He also didn't mind South's mention of food, a typical symptom of having marched miles across sandy dunes in the blazing sun.

He watched amusedly as Southpaw struck a heroic pose...then ran to get food. "Seems I haven't heard any lies about hares," he remarked to nobeast in particular.

[Rocky]

“M’lord!”

"Enon!" He stated in a similar fashion to ENon stating his name. It was all in fun, and Enon probably knew that.

“First could we freshen oop? It’s a matter of vital importance not to be spoken of in th’ doorway.”

"Why? I think it's quite nice here, don't you, South? Brush?'' He laughed, signifying another joke as he waved his paw, signaling him to move inside.

"Hallo there, meh Lord, just takin' our guests to get some bally scoff! Permission to do so sah?"

Melroch turned, a smile appearing on his face as South asked for permission to take their guests to get the food. ''You don't need permission to get food, South.'' He stated, the smile standing its ground and not leaving. He winked at Southpaw and turned to the two squirrels, particularly Enon as he passed her a look that spoke louder then any of his words. A look of 'We need to talk'. He intended to learn of her travels and catch up on all her adventures. Enon always told a good story.

"Seems I haven't heard any lies about hares,"

Brush's words cut through his thoughts like a knife through warm butter. He turned to the squirrel and smiled, "Aye, that be true."

He patted Brush on the back, lightly, and walked over to Enon, whispering as he walked, falling in stride with her, slowling down so he would keep up with her as his stride was much longer then hers, ''We have to talk of your travels. Tell me when you are ready to speak of them.''

[Treble Tiderunner]

Enon shook her head, smiling wryly as South prattled on and on about this and that. “There are two sets of twins. Southpaw and Eastpaw are the older brothers of Westpaw and Northpaw. All can box. The boyos are the best.”

She followed Southpaw, falling in beside Brush, walking slowly to allow him to take in the sights. She raised an eyebrow at Melroch in return of one of his ‘looks’.

''We have to talk of your travels. Tell me when you are ready to speak of them.''

Enon opened her mouth to speak when a loud whoop interrupted her. “SOUTH!” A hare, the exact duplicate of Southpaw, barreled out of a room. He took a few sham punches at his double’s chin, a fierce scowl painted on his face before momentum barreled him into South. They went end over end back down the corridor towards the travelers, East trying to pin his twin unsuccessfully with some wrestling move. They came to rest at Melroch’s astonished feet.

“SIR!” East’s ear’s went rigid with shock as he realized his ambush had been witnessed by no less than the badgerlord himself! He blushed scarlet under his fur as he snapped a salute, still laying on the floor looking up.

[Brooke]

South was just about to sit down with his loaded plate and eat, when suddenly a whoop interrupted his thoughts...

“SOUTH!” and a split second after this registered, his brother was on top of him throwing punches, but then gravity took over and they were both hurled towards the newcomers.

"Oh, so that's how you want to play, eh! Well I'll tell you somethin'... Hullo Sir, fancy we see each other again." He said as they rolled to a stop at the feet of the badgerlord. Clapping a paw to his mouth at his brother's expression, it slowly dawned on him what had just happened and he began to turn red also.

[Tirael]

“There are two sets of twins. Southpaw and Eastpaw are the older brothers of Westpaw and Northpaw. All can box. The boyos are the best.”

Two sets of twins? That's unusual... thought Brush. He was surprised that they were so casual, especially in front of a Badger Lord; he had expected a fortress to have a more militaristic atmosphere. In contrast, the mountain seemed almost inviting. Sighing to himself, he watched as Lord Melroch spoke quietly with Enon. They regarded each other like the 'old war buddies' they probably were, and he found himself slightly envious of how easily they conversed with each other. As he became aware of that, he wondered what it meant.

"Oh, so that's how you want to play, eh! Well I'll tell you somethin'... Hullo Sir, fancy we see each other again."

Brush's thoughts were interrupted by the amusement of watching Southpaw realize what he'd gotten into. Trying not to grin, he raised an eyebrow at the hare. "You do live in the same mountain," he remarked. He looked on, interested to see how the enormous badger looming above the twins would react to this little incident.

[Rocky]

The little talk had been finished with Enon when a bustling and pounding of feet filled the ears of Melroch.

Someone called Southpaw's name and then South was on the ground, another hare on top. They were somewhat laughing, and thats when he realized it was the twin of Southpaw. They rolled to a stop at his feet, and the badger Lord had to stifle a laugh at their comical faces. Things like this didn't bother Melroch. He knew they were out of fun and since it wasn't a real fight he wasn't going to scold them.

He raised an eyebrow and pulled his foot back so it was out from under Eastpaw's foot. ''We have a guest, Eastpaw, Southpaw. That was not a way to act around guests. You're going to clean the messhall tonight.''

Inside he was laughing and smirking but he gave them a stern gaze, his face showing no sign but complete seriousness. ''Apologize to sir Brush.''

He leaned downward, his arm outstretching to the two on the ground, and he pulled Eastpaw to his feet easily, no sign of struggle showing. Next was Southpaw. He lightly gripped his arm around South's arm and pulled him up slowly. Unable to hold his laughter in any more he let a smirk and a slight laugh pass his lip. He could just imagine the two's faces at ther ''punishment''.

He turned to Brush, an apologetic look on his face. ''Sorry.'' The badger mouthed and patted the squirrel on the back. Melroch wasn't a badger lord who got upset with his hares, saying everything was their fault. He wasn't one to solely make one responsible for mistakes that compromise a whole plan. Whether it be on the battle field or in the mess hall, Melroch always felt that as they share in their victories, so too should they share in their defeats.

At this time, the ''defeat'' was the hare's little tussle in front of a guest. Melroch felt he was at fault because he was the one who taught these hares actions and manners. Not fully but somewhat, thus giving him some fault in it. Melroch was that type of leader. A kind one, with a caring heart and a love for his hares.

OOC: Sorry if that didn't make sense >.< *dodges fruit*

[Brooke]

''We have a guest, Eastpaw, Southpaw. That was not a way to act around guests. You're going to clean the messhall tonight.'' South's eyes traced the badger's face for a sign of laughter. Seeing none that was obvious, he hung his head with a dejected "Yessir."

''Apologize to sir Brush.'' commanded the badger. Turning around to face the newcomer, he said "I'm sorry sir, but y'see its all that ones fault!" He pointed his paw at his mirror image cheekily. Then ran back to the mess hall calling behind him, "I'm gonna need lots of vittles if I'm cleanin the bally hall wot wot!" Then he turned back to his second full plate and dug in with gusto.

[Treble Tiderunner]

"Oh, so that's how you want to play, eh! Well I'll tell you somethin'... Hullo Sir, fancy we see each other again."

"You do live in the same mountain,"

East wagged his ears comically, unable to stay serious for long. “That’s actually under debate, mah guid sah!” He said mock-haughtily, ruined by how he had to crane past Melroch’s footpaws to see the squirrel. He scrambled to his feet, bobbing a bow at his commander, dragging his brother up and dusting off his tunic all at the same time.

“See, we barely— ah,” Eastpaw started to expound further when Melroch spoke.

''We have a guest, Eastpaw, Southpaw. That was not a way to act around guests. You're going to clean the messhall tonight.''

Inside he was laughing and smirking but he gave them a stern gaze, his face showing no sign but complete seriousness. ''Apologize to sir Brush.''

East’s ears drooped as he turned to Brush, the picture of remorse. “Sah! Apologize for mah conduct, sah!” He straightened, ears perking up. “But we still get to eat!” He dashed off after his brother. “You’re not gonna get ‘t all, greedyguts!”