Western Shore
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Shore ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You seem to be truly in the middle of nowhere. The beach is like that you'd expect to see in a dream. Miles of saffron sand stretch to the north and south. The only sign of life is a very faint and distant wisp of smoke over the southern horizon. There is little sound, only the roar of the ivory crested waves as they crash onto the shoreline just to the west. This place looks almost as if a timeless, long forgotten stretch of beach. Though, even so, there seems to be a well-trodden path to the east...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Exits: [H]alyard [V]illage, [U]pshore, [D]ownshore


The patrol has stopped for the night, the weary recruits hustling about setting up tents, fires, and the evenings stew. Off by herself on the fringe of the gathering, Audri rests against a tree, catching her breath as she amusedly watches two recruits set up their tent, only to have it cave in when they slip inside it.

Darklett's keeping his head up as he marches upshore at almost double time... Adrenaline is to blame for his pace. The hare looks more like a wandering assassin than anything else right now, two belts going across his chest, restricting his loose, beaten up, raggy shirt, and holding within it a series of black-tempered knives. Around his waist is another belt, holding another series of knives, these shining in the fading sunset light. His pants, equally beaten up, are dull and cut off halfway down the shin. For all the world, nobeast would ever guess he was once a Long Patrol hare. The fires upshore only make the hare quicken his pace.

In the bustle of the camp, no one can be blamed for not noticing a little otter pup wandering about, stuffed seal gripped tight to her as he has been all day. The dibbun has remained fairly out of the way as the Patrol has traveled, accepting rides from bigger beasts when offered, but not really seeking anyone's attention or company exactly. Though, truthfully, she is walking awful much underpaw for that to be an entirely true statement. Mostly she just mutters to Fwoo abou tbeing brave warrers and maybe seeing unca Z'aph soon.

Taye has been unable to sit or do anything which might possibly resemble resting since Audri's arrival and the telling of the news. Inexplicably, he has hung back from the squirrel maid and from everyone else, hunkering at the edge of camp facing the mountain, his bow resting against a knee.

Well, her entertainment fades as the recruits finally set up their tent, giving a triumphant shout. Shaking her head, Aud pushes off her leaning post, glancing downshore to catch a glimpse of something shiny. Hm. She glances back towards the camp, worrying on her lip before beginning to walk downshore.

Darklett's ears pin back. He's not even sure the recruits and privates know what happened now. Eyes scan over the camp, facing forward constantly as he storms toward the grouping of hares and other assorted beasts. He mumbles to himself, looking back over his shoulder at the mountain for a moment. "Let's see what we've got..."

Taia spots Audri heading downshore, and while she doesn't /exactly/ follow the squirrel, she kinda wanders to a point away from the camp, but near enough to still be engaged in it, and watches her heroine head off, considering Fwoo for a moment, then setting him at a distance from her, also watching Audri.

Oh, whoa. Is she kidding? When Taye catches Audri moving off out of the corner of his eye, his head whips around. He's standing in a second, taking steps after her. His tone is unintentionally sharp. "Audri! What d'ya think yer doin'?" Probably not the /first/ thing he's said to her since her arrival, but probably not the warm cozies she'd want.

"I saw somethin'." Is her reply back to Taye, her eyes stay on the faint glimmering she saw, stopping in her tracks as she spots the hare . Blink. A brief look of shock passes her face before she starts into a sprint, a wide smile on her face. And, when she's close enough to the buck, she does a running jump to snag the buck into a hug or bowl him over if he doesn't catch her. XD

Dark's inner thoughts and planning are broken by something that's running towards him. And then, at least a little of the tension inside him lets himself out, as he sees who it is, safe and outside the mountain. "Audri!" He holds out his arms and catches her, giving a few steps backward to compensate... And he smiles, giving her a big squeeze of a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Audri... I thought you were still in the mountain!" A glance goes to the squirrelmaid's shoulder, but it's obviously not a problem, and he doesn't care.

Taye continues a few uncertain steps after Audri, looking uncertain until... oh. It's Darklett. His eyes widen slightly and he starts forward again, throwing his bow over a shoulder. He nods as he approaches, watching the whole 'reunite' thing.

The otter pup on the fringe of the camp watches all this keenly, kinda bouncing a little in place as she glances over to Fwoo, then sweeps him up in a biiiiiig hug.

Audri latches onto her da once he catches her, legs wrapping about his waist and arm going around his neck. Her grin widens, a few tears actually appearing at the corner of her eyes. "Nah. Taia 'n I escaped." Is her muffled murmur, face moving down to rest on his shoulder. "Thought ya were captured."

"No, I was in Halyard..." This is said muffled into Audri's cheekfur, deep breaths being taken, relieved sigh after relieved sigh as the hug is rocked back and forth. "S'my squirrel," Darklett mutters, smile crossing up into his cheeks before he finally goes to set her down.

"Glad yer safe." Audri sniffles, moving her head in a small nod, a few tears managing to slide down her cheeks. A soft whimper of protest escapes her when he tries to set her down, giving a tiny shake of her head.
No setting her down, then. Alright. Darklett picks her back up and lets her cling for a while. "Of course I'm safe... I always manage to luck out when things hit bottom, you know that." He looks towards the camp. "...How're they holding up?"

Yay. Audri grins, snuggling into the buck's hold with a happy sigh, taking another swipe at her eyes. Bothersome tears. "They're kinda in shock. Some o' the privates were tryin' to plan somethin' earlier though."

"I can imagine... Audri, I'm gonna have to do something really dangerous really soon." Darklett pulls back a moment, bending his neck back so he can look her in the eye. "I'll check with the privates to see what they had planned, 'cause... I'm at a loss for ideas."

Taye has moved in close enough that he can hear their conversation but still far enough away to be respectful. His head is lowered and his paws are tucked into his pockets. Appreciating the seriousness of the situation, is Taye.

Audri bobs her head, trying to keep her tears in check, though her ears do slant backwards. "I know da. Ya need to save 'em before anymore are killed." She manages a small grin after this, giving him another quick squeeze.

Darklett nods to Audri at her response, smiling at her grin, giving her a nuzzle to her forehead and squeezing back. "Right. But I'll see it through. You don't have anything to worry about. Remember that. Everything's... Gonna be fine." His breath is shallow until he finishes speaking, and at that point he lets out a sigh, eyes glancing to Taye for a moment, in a look that mixes desperation with a sort of reckless hope. "Hey, Taye..."

Taye looks up in time to catch the look and he returns it, in equal parts. But the hope is quick to fizzle. He edges forward a bit more, eyes shifting to the back of Audri's head. Mrr. "Hullo, sah."

"I won't worry da. 'n I'll try to tell ya everythin' I can." Is her quiet mumble, slumping against him with a tiny sigh. Ooh. Her ears perk up again, head tilting slightly to glance in Taye's direction.

"Love you, Aud." Darklett whispers it, but it's audible, his arms encircling around her in one last tight squeeze as he starts walking towards the camp. "Alright... Do you know what it's like inside?" He looks to Audri then to Taye again... His nerves starting to show.

"Love ya too da." Audri murmurs back, smiling again as she rests her chin back on his shoulder. Her new tendency of worrying on her lip has begun again, eyes squinting thoughtfully. "Umm..everyone's bein' held in the dinin' chamber. The head vermin, a pine marten, is stayin' in the badger lord's room. I'd guess he has like a score 'n a half o' vermin. But, I think one o' those squirrels from the mountain is helpin' him. I saw it crawl in the window the night before I escaped."

At the mention of 'one of those squirrels from the mountain' helping the vermin, Dark lets out a low, very un-hare-like growl. "I /knew/ it." Without continuing on that tangent, he continues on toward the camp. "Anything else you can tell me, Aud?"

Audri blinks, fur floofing up at the growl. That's a might scary that is. "Uh..not much else. Just that they've been executin' beasts. 'n keep askin' about some treasure or somethin'. Oh! 'n there's sentries posted to watch for hares 'm pretty sure."

Audri's coming back to camp, even if she is being carried by an unfamiliar hare. Taia scrambles up, and kinda meanders in that direction, not looking at the squirrel or her transportation... just kinda playing with Fwoo!

"Executing..." Darklett narrows his eyes, taking a deep, slow breath as they are now within the perimeter of the camp. The dark-furred buck looks over the recruits, the Redwall novices, and the privates, some of which are barely so. "Taye." He looks to the runner with that same look as before. "How capable would you guess these troops are in terms of taking back Salamandastron?" It's said out of the side of his mouth, trying to be discreet about it.

Taye's ears twitch backward. He straightens, glancing first back toward the troops and then to Darklett. He shrugs, uncertain clouding his gaze for the briefest of seconds, but then he squares his jaw and his eyes settle on Audri. "... As capable as we need to be, sah. Lookin' forward to kickin' some vermin arse."

Audri bobs her head, eyes clamping shut with another sniffle, returning Taye's gaze for a moment, attempting a smile. The squirrel grows silent now, seeming content on just being carried around.

"Kickin a vermin!" Taia echos Taye as she's now close enough to hear what's happening, swinging Fwoo in a wide arc that woops! causes him to hit a hare shoulder. The hare in question mutters about dibbuns in camp, and turns back grumpily to whatever he was doing.

"Good." Darklett's response is simple, as he looks over the troops they have to work with. "Good, 'cause I'm comin' along with ya, and I don't plan on goin' down when Salamandastron's out of the Long Patrol's paws." He bites his lip, doubting for a second that they can pull it off with this group. "Most of 'em are barely out of dibbunhood..."

"Ya've got a lot of good privates here though, sah. Experienced ones." Pause. "Not me, 'course. But some real good'uns. They'd do well to lead the othahs, 'n' with you leadin' us, we can't go wrong, sah." He sounds so sure, but the smile he manages to muster for Audri is weak. It is accompanied by a look which is equal parts worried and trying-to-be-reassuring. "I figure Sev 'n' me could get the runnahs togethah, howevah you want us."

Audri breaths a sigh, hiding her face in the buck's neck, a few more sniffles sneaking past. Her ears flick with the conversation, before a 'That'd be good for scoutin' probably' is her muffled suggestion to the conversation.

Darklett's cheeks puff out as he sighs, looking to Taye. From moment to moment his feelings on the situation change, but he pretty much agrees with Taye's unspoken sentiments. "Yeah, I'll... I'm not even sure if I'll be in charge. I'm just here."

"You'll be in charge, sah. Experienced privates or not, ya've got more experience than the lot o' us. T'would be stupid fer one of us to try 'n' lead." Taye shakes his head and shrugs. "Anyway, it's not even about the Patrol righ' now. Our /families/ are at stake." Including his own. Rah 'n' Lynnie, awr.

Darklett's paw clenches over his own wrist, and he closes his eyes, sighing once again and bouncing Audri, though that's more of an inadvertent side effect to his sudden distaste for the situation. "...And the Colonel," he adds to Taye, seeing as his family happens to be in his arms at the moment, settling for the closest thing to it outside of Audri. "Part of me's scared of how many're dead, and part of me wants to get there before any more are. Part of me wants to rush the mountain and take it back, but the other part's sure we're gonna fail. I'm just... I have to lead you, right? I have to, you'd all be completely lost. Not one of you has had any sort of... No, I have to." He closes his eyes and gives a squeeze to Audri. "You know, we only get one chance at this, right? We screw up, the Patrol's done for."

Yes. The Colonel. Friend of Rahier. Sort of like that distant but always pleasant aunt, or something. Taye tries to imagine her captured and in a mountain full of vermin. And can't. He hehs, ducking his head to rub nervously at the back of his neck. "Won't screw up." Mutter.

Audri has actually drifted off into a light doze, breathing shallow as her body is slumped against the buck. She makes a quiet 'nrf', heading lifting at the bounce to glance towards her dad. Hm. Lifting her paw, she gives his head a sleepy pat, closing her eyes once again. "Da, ya can't let yerself think o' the bad stuff right now. Gotta focus on keepin' everyone's spirits up."

Darklett really tries to relax, but... Here he is, expected to lead a limited number of recruits and privates into battle against a vermin horde that was able to /capture Salamandastron./ He's been setup for failure before, but this one is a /doozy./ "Yeah... Keep spirits up. Yeah!" He almost coughs out that last part, looking to the runner. "No offense, Taye, but I need you to find me the /most/ experienced private we have here on this patrol. I can't do this by myself, so I'll need a second in command that knows what he's doing."

Taye grins immediately. It's an 'I'm not embarrassed' grin. "Yessah. Like I said, you've got a few good privates 'ere that'll do ya well." He dips his head in a nod, then, and starts to turn. "Anything else ya want me to speak to folks about?"

"...Yeah, actually." Darklett steps close to Taye, closing the distance between them. "Tell 'em they can trust me, alright? Things might be a bit shaky with a few of 'em, with my discharge and all. They'll take your word for it, I'd bet my new knives on it."

Taye dips his head in a slow, unsure nod, pairing it with an uncertain smile. "... Yessah. I'll let 'em know that." With one more nod and a look to Audri, he turns to head back to camp, with his orders in mind.

Darklett gives another bounce to Audri, and looks back to her. "Aud... I have to do this right this time." Well, /duh./ He carries her off towards a nice, open part of the encampment, and goes to have a seat, giving her a quick nuzzle. She could be asleep for all he knows...

Audri is only half asleep, apparently the thoughts in her head preventing her from sleeping. Once on the ground, she shifts to where she's curled up in his lap, head resting on his shoulder. "Ya will da." She replies softly, tilting her head to peer up at him. "Ya can't worry so much."

"Mmhmm." Darklett looks around for a good place to lay down and rest, seeing as he doesn't have a tent for himself, and figures here's just as good as the next place. So, he sorta lays down, with Audri, if she lets him. "Gonna get some rest. Need it for tomorrow." He rolls over onto his back, head tilting to the side at Audri. "G'night."

Audri doesn't protest at the lying down, curling up beside him, already beginning to drift off. Her eyes peek open, offering him a tiny smile and a yawn. "Night da." She murmurs, before falling off into an uneasy rest.