02:24 AM
 
Swiftpad comes running up to the large mountain, a small cloud of dust behind his fast fet.  After a little bit of watching him appear off the horizon he is suddenly upon you.  He stands up straight, barely breathing hard at all, and looks around.  Upon reacdhing his destination, he decides to have dinner.  Swiftpad gets out his backpack, unpacks a rather large meal of scones and water, and goes into it with a polite manner, waiting to be introduced to whoever comese along.

Without being known, the hares of Salamandastron had long spied on the hare approaching the mountain and had informed the guards on duty at the entrance.  Jarril peeks over the edge where the niche begins and looks back.  "Aye, it's just one hare.  Nothing ta worry about I say, wot."  His head dissappears back again.  "Pity Lord Bludstripe isn't back yet though."  He scratches his chin for a moment as his ears twist together in thinking.  Waiting until you had sat down to eat your lunch, the two hares move silently and end up standing behind you with one hare to the side and Jarril, coughs, paw held close to his mouth.  "Ahem.  I see that ya have some vittles?"  Smiling.

Swiftpad looks up at the two nonchallantly.  He gives a large smile and motions for them to join him.  "Got some vittles I have, wot.  Wouldya care t' join me fer a ballyrific dinner of honeyed scones and some o' me last drops of ale?"  At this he goes to shifting through his pack, getting out more scones and his tankard of ale.  Reached the destination, why not empty the supplies?  He speads them out on his picnic cloth and sets to his own food again.  "I s'pose yer jolly well a couple of Salamanadstron hares, wot wot?"

Jarril looks to the other hare standing beside him and winks.  "Oh I don't know if we should.  I mean, what if old pale-ears found out if we weren't looking after the jolly mountain and sat down ta have some vittles?"  He looks at the newcomer and kneels down in the sand and nods his head.  "Aye, that I am.  Name's Jarril Black Fleetpaw, bally fast runner in the long patrol, wot."  Stroking his whiskers with a paw, he smiles and looks at the food before turning his head to Swiftpad.  "And what brings ya here then?"

Swiftpad nods politely back.  "The name is Swiftpad Carole, wot.  Here t' join the bally brigade if ya please.  I do hope yer lookin' fer recruits.  Be a bally shame t' come this far west for a month t' be rejected, wot wot."  He then picks another scone, the one he thinks is the most covered with honey, and munches on it.

Taggerung strolls in from the beach, ear flopping comically, and a silly grin plastered upon his features. He looks to the present hares...and other beasts, and gives a slight bow.

Jarril gives a look to Kenai and turns his head back to Swiftpad again.  "Oh we're always looking for recruits, doncha know."  He smiles for a moment and takes a apple from the pile of vittles Swiftpad had laid down on the cloth and gives it a rub on the front of his uniform, inspecting it.  "Travelled far, then?"  He takes a bite from the green fruit and swallows.

Kenai smiles and gives Swiftpad a wink. "Aye, always lookin'...could allus use 'em too." she replies, bending to grab another apple from his pile. She just watches...still a bit peeved at Jarril from last evening.

Swiftpad nods and picks an apple for himself.  "Aye, been wantin' t' come here since I was a little tyke, dontchya know.  Finally got old enough and came from the far east.  Been travelin' a month, but how this food made it I'll never know.  S'pose  my tummy wanted a feast when I reached me destination, wot wot.  Care for some pie?  I b'lieve I have a small sliver left in here somewhere.  I'm 'fraid that's the jolly ol' last of it, though."  He pulls a slice of pie from his pack and sets it with the rest.

Taggerung walks up to the group of hares. "I say, is that scones an' hunny ye got thar? I'm flippin' famished, skinny to the bone!" He hides a smirk, pulling up his vest from his belt, patting his stomach.

Jarril gets up and stretches, moving back again to check out the land ahead of him, one paw shielding his eyes, the other paw holding the apple as he takes another bite from it.  With some gust of wind, his ears flap about.  Satisfised that nothing else is about, he turns around and looks at Swiftpad.  "So, what ya want ta be?  Runner of fighter?"

Swiftpad shrugs and shines an apple for himself.  "Don't have a flippin' clue, personally.  I s'pose I c'd be either.  Any perks 'n' whatnot, wot?"  He then takes a large bite of the apple, taking a swig of ale to wash it down.

Kenai takes a seat in the warm sand beside Swiftpaw. At the mention of runner, a small grin spreads across her features. "Gotta run fast iffen y'wanna be a runner, fighters best fer those 'are 'ho got swift paws wi' a weapon..." she mutters to him, nibbling lighty on her apple.

Jarril chuckles.  "Runner is best if ya really want ta get out by yaself with no one looking down ya back.  But ya really have problems if ya meet trouble but I suppose if ya as swift as ya feet with ya head, then there's no problem."  He nods to Kenai's reply, before adding.  "Runners usually end up away from the mountain a fair bit as well.  Patrols and all that jolly spiffing stuff."  Finishing with a open maw as he pushes the apple core in and munches.

Taggerung idly hops from one footpaw to another, looking about from hare to hare. His face is bright, and his eyes sparkle. "A runner? Wots thart if'ns ye ah be-ahn t' tell me...wot wot!"

Swiftpad hmms thoughtfully for a bit, munching on his apple.  "I s'pose I'll be a jolly old runner, wot.  Now, where did that pie get off to?"  He then rummages through the small pile until he comes upon the food and eats it with a dreamy look in his eyes.  "So, where is the bally ol' badger Lord?  One would think 'e might come out an' greet his guests, wot wot?"

Kenai gives a mock glare at Jarril. "Good..." she mutters, standing and dusting of her bottom. The haremaid muches down the rest of her apple, and stands with her arms crossed over her chest.

Jarril replies back without hesitating.  "He would come down and be here ta see ya right away."  He smiles and remembers the time when he first saw the Badger Lord for the first time when he arrived.  "Unfortunately he's a bit pre-occupied elsewhere at the moment and thus, he isn't here, really."  Smiling for a moment.  "Aren't us bally hares good enough for a welcome reception, wot?"

Taggerung stops hopping, idly fiddling with his fingers. His limp ear falls to the side of his head, and he tchas. "Ahh, jus' jolly well ignore a bally fellow hare will ye..."

Jarril turns his head around to face Taggerung and puts his paws onto his hips.  "Was I bally well ignoring ya, sah.  Well, sorry for doing so?"  He lets his whiskers twitch in some frustration.  "But since ya have my attention now, what is it that I can do for ya?"

Taggerung blinks, brushing some sand off of his leg. "I'm 'ere t' join yon Long Patrol, aye I'm jolly well wantin' t', doncha know!"

Swiftpad frowns.  "Hope it ain't to serious, wot?  Of course yerselves'll do fine, just wonderin' where his Highness is.  So, what does a hare do when 'e's been receptioned an' all that rot, wot wot?"  He then finishes his apple and picks another scone.  He then notices Taggerung.  "So sorry, fergive o' me manners, if ya please.  Please, come join me for a little sup o' scones, wot?"

Caero strides leisurely into the niche from inside of the Mountain.  He smiles at the group of Hares.  He smiles, and in his broad Highland accent he greets them warmly.  "Ach, mah matey Taggerung an' the auld Long Patrol!  If ah may be sae bold tae ask,  'ave ye come tae join the braw Long Patrol?"  He steps closer to the small group and smiles, whiskers twitching.

Kenai flicks one multi-colored ear back at the new arrival. The haremaid sinks back to just watch...She's the only gal, might as well let the guys talk by themselves. She begins to flicker her dirk idly from paw to paw.

Jarril looks to where Caero comes into the scene and nods his head.  "Aye, these two newcomers here have shown interest in joining the long patrol, wot."  He points to the one sitting on the ground.  That's Swiftpad and I won't mention the other since ya bally well know him, wot."  He smiles and looks out again to scan the beach laying out in front of him before returning his look back to the small group.  "So what ya been up ta, Caero?"

Taggerung looks over to Caero, giving him a slight nod. He then turns to Swiftpaw, coming up to him. "Ah, thart will be jolly well appreciated..." A wink is given. "Y'know how we hares git 'ungry sommatimes...wot wot!"

Swiftpad smiles and nods.  "Aye, I know I wouldn't give up a jolly ol' meal if I see one."  He then looks over to Jarril.  "So, what does one do now that one has been questioned, wot wot?"

Jarril looks about and bites the bottom of his lip for a moment and ponders quickly.  "I have ta go find someone a bit more higher up ta come and speak with ya."  He looks at Kenai.  "Mind waiting here while I go inside?"

Kenai shakes her head, "Aye, I'll stay, keep the buck outta trouble," she gives a wink at Swiftpad and Tagg and sits in the sand. "Aye...keep 'em outta trouble..." she mutters tossing her dirk and giving a small giggle.

Swiftpad looks around humming pleasantly.  He then looks to Kenai.  "So, what does a hare such 's yerself do t' get bumped up in the jolly old ranks, wo wot?"

Jarril smiles at Kenai with a nod and without another word, slips off down the niche to vanish within the mountain.

Taggerung clears his throat, taking a scone dantily. "Aeh be mah troubles, an' me foot, don't take me fer bein a coot..." Sings the hair half-consiously, following by a large bite of the scone. He looks to Jarril. "Thark bhe fine, aye..."

**Jarril leaves for a bit...**

Taggerung looks over to Kenai, the very name of the Badger Lord making him humbled. He looks down to the ground, being silent for a moment. "Hmm...jolly well 'ahv ne'r seen 'em afore..."

Moving through the passageway, Jarril marches alongside a older hare in major uniform, both voices can be heard faintly at first, the sound echoing about before getting louder and nearer.  Within a short while.  Jarril comes into view first followed by the other hare who both blink to readjust to the bright sunlight again.  "Here they are, sah."  Jarril says, pointing to Taggerung and Swiftpad.  With a nod of his head, the major pads up to the two hares and looks them over.  "I hear y' want ta join our jolly group then?  Correct?"

Taggerung looks up, his mystifing look washed over, and the twinkle returns to his eyes. "Aye, thart be jolly well true!"

Swiftpad stops fighting imaginary enemies and stands stiff as a rod to attention.  "Yes sir, jolly well do, sir!"

The major takes out his monocle and using a small piece of cloth, begins to clean the thin glass as he nods his head.  Placing the monocle back into place again and making sure that it's in a secure position, he clears his throat while Jarril stays where he is, keeping silent.  "Well, y' can call me."  He pauses and thinks, scratching his mouthache.  Jarril leans towards the older hare and whispers into his ear.  "I know that.  Name's Major Peridook at ya service."  Bowing slightly allowing his ears to flop forwards, he raises back up.  "If ya will follow me, I will show y' ta the guest quarters.  Please note though that for now.  Don't unsheath ya weapons, until we have decided on where ta put ya.  More for ya safety, doncha know.  Some of the long patrollers can get a bit frisky when there's newcomers with arms out."

Peridook blinks and looks at the two young hares.  "No need ta bally well shout like ya in a flipping battle.  I ain't deaf, wot!"  He turns around and pads towards the entrance.  Jarril smiles and looks at the two young hares and beckons them to follow suit as he makes his way into the mountain behind the old major.

Salamandaston: Residents' Dormitory
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Salamandastron *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
A long, narrow, and slightly curving room, the Residents' Dormitory houses
all the various residents of Salamandastron not actually in the Long
Patrol - cooks, guests, and the like.  Making up for the fact that they
share a common room, the Residents' Dormitory affords as much comfort to
each inhabitant as possible.  Each of them gets a small personal alcove,
which contains a bed made up of a large rock shelf with a grass-filled
mattress on top, several shelves, and a few paces of floor space.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
                  Visible Exits:
[Out] to Hallway

Looking about the old hare nods his head and leaves Jarril to take care of the newcomers.  Speaking up Jarril speaks.  "Okay, this is where ya be staying for the time being until we can find ya uniforms, dormitory ta stay in and whether or not ya ta be a fighter or a runner.  Understand?  As for getting ta lunch.  Just ask the hares here and they will show ya ta the dining room at the right times."  He winks.  "Just hope ya fast enough.  Ya ain't seen nothing like meal times yet."

Taggerung nods, walking around, and looking. "Aye then..."

Swiftpad nods.  "I understand, sir.  When can we be expectin' the jolly old dorms, wot?"

Jarril shrugs slightly.  "As soon as we can sort out paperwork, let the right hares know and get the dorms ready and all.  For now ya can stay here as guests."

Swiftpad nods.  "All jolly well understood, wot.  Anything else?"

Jarril begins to move from the room.  "Oh and welcome ta Salamandastron."  He bows his head slightly.  "For now, rest from ya long journey.  Tomorrow will be a long day no doubt with getting a uniform and speaking ta other hares."  He looks to the door and back again.  "If ya excuse me but I have duties ta perform.  I shall see ya around, perhaps."  He bows his head and turning around leaves the both of you to get comfortable as he slips out of the door to head elsewhere in the mountain, joiing the flow outside of other hares moving about the corridors.