Characters involved: Neville, Buckthorn, Humbert, Sundew.

Western Shore ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Shore ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The hot golden sand stretches north beyond the horizon. It seems as if you are walking on an endless beach, except that the tip of a mountain peeks over the southern horizon. The fresh, salty air stings as the ocean winds challenge you. There is nowhere to go to the west, for the sea merges with the sand. If you look carefully out over the water, you might just spot a ship. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Exits: [S]hack, [Sh]allows, [U]pshore, [D]ownshore

Neville staggers up to the top of the dune, looking forwards. His eyes widen and he lets out a sigh of relief, "Its there! We're finally here!!" he shouts happily, dancing a little jig before one of his tired knees gives way and he sinks to the ground. "Ahh, spirits be praised, beautiful spirits... whiskey, gin, rum... the lot of ya!" he says triumphantly, standing back up and viewing the village in the distance, just a short walk from their present location. Neville looks around at the other hares, most of whom seem pretty fit and healthy after their march, he sighs and wipes away the sweat from his brow, looking onwards happily, waiting for the major to give the order to make camp before they all go down to the village for some R&R, and some stocking up.

Buckthorn was coming up behind the barkeep, his eyebrows raising as the fat ole hare jumped and cheered like a levert. The buck actually smiles and lets out a small laugh at the sight. "C'mon, thar, Nev! Get back int'ah th' march ah'fore some beast catches yeh... we'll only be delayed long'ah." He says, motioning a paw. "C'mon, march next tah me, y'gurt ale guzzler." Buckthorn gives him toothy grin.

Humbert walks to the side of the column, keeping a check on all the hares, making sure noone steps out of line and all that. He nods to himself, impressed at the organisation of the column. He jogs ahead and, not seeing the major, takes things into his own hands. "Right then lads, that's our first stop on our little journey! Lets jog to the bottom of this hill and set up a camp, once thats done, its a bit of leave for all! Go spend yer pocket money!" he shouts, trying to raise a bit of cheer from the hares. The dark looks he gets in return make him wince, he smirks slightly at Neville's face, having heard the word jog, he turns, "Aaaand double speed. Come on you lazy lot" he shouts as he starts jogging down the hill.

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

Finally leaving the position she has occupied since midday, by the edge of the eastern path, Sundew shields her eyes from the late afternoon sun and notes the arrival of the patrol. Having been at the Village for the past five days, the Colonel is eagerly anticipating their company. She jogs lightly a little way out over the sand to meet them, calling out to the lieutenant as the patrol draws closer. "'bout time! I've been sitting here near two hours now, waiting for you lot.." Still squinting, the sunlight directly in her eyes, she tilts her chin back towards the path and refrains from giving a salute until the entire patrol is present and..well..less out of breath. "I s'pose you'll need to set up camp n that?" she calls again, to no-one in particular, paws folded lazily across her chest.

Humbert slows to a walk as he sees the colonel in front, he nods and pulls of a crisp and quite fancy salute. "Good Afternoon m'arm, sorry we're running behind time, this rabble are in bad shape" explains the lieutenant, looking back at the group of hares, now happily going about their business setting up fire pits and pitching tents. The lieutenant scowls, knowing that if he had boasted about their organisation they would have sat around like a rabble, just to show him up. He wipes the scowl from his face before turning back to the colonel, "Well m'arm, good to have you with us, it's an honour I must say. Would you do us the honour of joining us for a while?" asks Humbert, happy to have someone else to report to.

Buckthorn is the last to reach the camp, urging on those who were lagging... namely Nev. The large buck helps the stragglers back and then strides off to set up his own little area. He slings the pack from his shoulders, pulling out his tarp to set up a tent. After a few moments Buck stands back, looking at his quaint set up. He grins and turns, leaving it until the night. "C'mon Nev!" He says, spying the bar hare. "Th'ale ah'waits!"

Neville slumps down to the ground, letting his pack fall off. He looks over as one of the other hares starts setting up the tent he's sharing, glad that the years of alcohol-based favours are coming into fruition in the way so many hares are helping him out, making up for his obvious lack of training and fitness. He struggles to his feel, throwing his pack into the tent and tying his money pouch securely. He takes a moment to make himself respectable before turning and winking at Buck, "Well then, lets go see wot they've got to offer. Might be able to get us a few freebies if I give em a few tips and whatnot. Who knows, might discover a new ale to import?" he says, a shine now coming into his eyes as he feels the proximity of a tavern. He turns and heads towards the village proudly, soon to be back in his element.

Sundew glances at Humbert, surveying him. "They're not in bad shape, Lieutenant. Just need a bit of..refreshment." She grins as she overhears the Buckthorn's last comment. "You don't mean to say he came without his own supplies?" she remarks, referring, obviously, to the barkeeper, shaking her head. "Still. There's a good drink ahead for all, just after we're all settled n that," she says, glancing after Neville. She ambles over to one hare, obviously having a bit of trouble setting up his tent, and smiles. "'ere y'are..I'll lend a paw, get the job done quicker, wot?" After helping him out, she dusts herself off and returns her attention to Humbert. "Anything to report?"

Humbert shakes his head sharply, "No M'arm, he came with so much of a supply that we had to share the load with several other hares. Though they soon got through it. We came upon some... difficulties... stopped us being timely and whatnot, taken us four days march to get all the way up here." he reports, glancing back at the hares as they slowly finish their work and scatter off into the village. He looks back seriously, "There were one or two... practical jokes which were at their superior's expense. I recommended punishment but the major was against it" he mutters. "Apart from that, nothing major to report m'arm, a trek with minor difficulties easily overcome. I'd recommend a debriefing with the major though, seems this mission is more of an errand, a waste of patrol time iffen yer don't mind me speaking out of turn m'arm" he finishes, shaking his head sadly.

Sundew nods in response to Humbert's report. "Aye, I'll have a word with the Major, but for now.." she gestures with a paw in the direction of the Village, "..let's go on in for a drink, eh?"

Buckthorn was about to shoot Humbert a withering glare when the sight of the Colonel stopped him. He abruptly saluted the Colonel, offering her a nod as he makes his way to the village. The glare would have to wait. The healer marched over in the direction, enthralled with the thought of food. He followed Nev, hailing him. "Oy! Slow down, yeh gurt fibber. Y'acted like ah slug in ah sea o' salt jus' ah'minute ah'go... now yer hoppin like a toad!" Buck says laughing, kicking up sand as he moves.