09:10 PM
Logfile from Redwall Muck Jarril.

A dozen or so vermin are clustered on the dirt road, carrying packs and baskets filled with supplies.  Apparently stopped for a time, they take a last break before heading into the town.  As is customary with vermin, they are busily squabbling amongst themselves, not concerned with anything else.

From her well-hidden position at the edges of the forest, which flanks the road on both sides, Sundew narrows her eyes as she surveys the band of assorted vermin. Her gaze travels across the group, taking in every detail. She glances back across the armed hares assembled around her, and takes a silent step backwards to mutter something into her Major's ear. "Is everybeast good to go, Jarril?"

Jarril who was busy with something else and wasn't looking at colonel Sundew at the time, flicked an ear towards her as he heard his name and nodded his head while looking up and down.  "Aye I think we're ready as much as we can be, colonel."

Taye is staying close at Jarril's heels, as usual. His only weaponry consists of a bow and a bundle of arrows, and a small dagger tucked at his waist. As Sundew speaks and Jarril responds, he fidgets, shifting his bow from one shoulder to the other. He looks nervous but excited, but the nervous pretty much takes over as he surveys the small band of vermin ahead.

Ralai stands quietly near the rear of the hare troops

Keita is quite content in standing on the fringe of the large group of armed hares - partly because she's not overly armed, and partly because she'd rather let them handle the brunt of the blade work, for starts. The doe shifts uncomfortably where she stands, and one might notice that the non-LP hare is actually wearing an LP uniform - a healer's style. All of her pockets are filled with the necessary items of that profession. Notably, Ralai is nearby, and he is given a look and then an elbow nudge. "Ready, badgery ole thing?"

Ralai looks at keita and nods solemn look on his face

Farren is slightly apart from the group, looking--no, not nervous. That's definitely eagerness on her features, a thing which makes her look a lot younger than she really is. The jill has one paw clutched around the handle of the blade at her side, and she's watching the gathered vermin with perked ears.

The vermin on the road continue to loaf around, until a squabble breaks out.  A rat and ferret have gotten into a match of fisticuffs, and the others leave their bundles and gather around to watch.

From the direction of the shore comes a group of three more vermin, all in barbaric leather and hide armor, with circle shields, long-swords  and a throwing ax. A large black wildcat leads the group, flanked by two ermines whom seem to be watching the sides of the road, on edge. But eyes not pausing on the hares, so most likely the presence of the patrol is still hidden to them.

Keita eyes the solemn Ralai with a small grin and a shake of her head. "What, ya act like somebeast'd died or somethin'?" She snickers, and nods her head towards the rest of the group. "An' no one's even died, yet."

Sundew returns her attention to the vermin, and bites her lip in anticipation, maybe even holding back a smile. Her voice barely audible, she whispers one last thing to the Major behind her. "Jolly good, then..wait for my signal." Noting the newest arrivals of the vermin band, she braces herself, and steps calmly out into the road, striding casually into the midst of the vermin squabble.

Ralai frowns at keita "the destruction of beasts is not something one likes to do very often"

Jarril readies his bow, keeping an arrow shafted in loosely as he looks at Sundew, ready to keep her backed up if need be.  With his only eye, showing determination as always, the battle scarred major is ready, being silent within his thoughts.  Watching Sundew leave, the major makes his way a bit nearer to the edge of his hiding place, still hidden as he carefully watches the situation, bow and arrow at the ready.

Farren shifts her paw from her blade to her bow--apparently she's not so eager that she's not planning on fighting ranged first. It's already strung, and it's only a matter of moments to fit an arrow to the bowstring. She grins to herself, and then shoots up the nearest tree with nary a rustle--hurrah for arboreal species.

The vermin continue to fight, at least for a moment, until one of them notices Sundew.  Yelping in surprise, he pulls a long knife from his belt, kicking a couple of the others into awarement of the hare.

Keita returns the frown with a mock-serious one of her own. "No, no - 'course not. And certainly not on a full stomach. Ya might get cramps." Okay, so she might not be taking this all that seriously. Just maybe.

Ralai looks up at the yelp and holds his walking staff ready

In the tree, Farren levels her aim on the first vermin to spot Sundew, but holds her fire.

Raising her eyebrows at the vermin surrounding her, Sundew shakes her head in disapproval as she turns slowly on the spot, regarding them all with a stern gaze. "Tut tut, didn't your mothers ever teach you not to fight?" Upon finding that she is met with glares and some rather colourful language, the colonel shrugs and turns her face to the sky. "Lovely day, wot?" Silence. Ah, well. She turns her attention to the large wildcat, who appears to be leading the group. "So I s'pose you're the one I should be dealing with, eh?", she addresses him, dropping the act.

Bringing his bow around and readying an arrow, Taye drops into a crouch and follows silently after Jarril, picking his way through the low bushes. He stops just to the major's right, nodding to him before he sets his arrow to bow string, eyes narrowed with concentration.

A large stoat with a face marred by a dozen or more scars, shoves several other vermin out of the way, coming face-to-face with Sundew.  "Yer not dealin' wit me, rabit.  But we'll be glad ta take yer wit us back to the village."  Waving a paw, a rather large weasel joins him, grinning happily.

Sundew sighs, casting her eyes down to her footpaws and pinching the bridge of her nose. "First of all," she announces clearly, still looking downwards, "I am a hare, not a rabbit. I'd appreciate you acknowledging my species correctly, at least. And secondly, I have no intention of letting your slobbery, scruffy lot take me off to the village. In fact.." she lifts her head up, looking the stoat in the eye and drawing her lance, "I want all of your lot /out/ of the village."

With a very stern look, Jarril has at least one of the vermin facing Sundew within his sights, the bow now taunt right back as he waits for the slightest wrong move by any of them.  From time to time, he makes subtle adjustments as he feels the wind, the sound of the leaves rustling from the wind.  However, no doubt whatever happens, his shaft will find the target.

Farren adjusts her aim on the scar-faced stoat, and then abruptly releases the arrow.

Jarril seeing the signal, the major gives his troops the signal to do what they need to do and fires his arrow which lands with between the eyes of one unfortunate vermin soul.  Calling out to those.  "Alright, those who are fighting.  Get ta the colonel, pronto!"

Ralai moves forwards towards the colonel staff at the ready eyes narrowed slightly

The stoat, however, is quick for a vermin type, and as soon as Sundew draws her lance, he steps in close to her, making it next to useless, and swings a heavy punch at her stomach.  At the same time, the arrow hits the large weasel beside him, who falls to the ground.  Yelling, the vermin draw their own bows and fire before scattering behind cover, leaving the stoat alone on the road with Sundew.

"Blood and vinegar and all that rot," Farren hisses to herself, obviously quite pleased with her kill. She slides another arrow onto the bowstring, but by this time the vermin have scattered apart from the stoat. She levels the arrow on the stoat again, and holds it--he's too close to the Colonel for comfort.

Sundew manages to step back a little, which diminishes the force of the blow slightly, but she still takes a hefty punch to her midriff, and buckles, falling onto the dusty ground. Rolling onto her side, she aims a sharp kick to his footpaws, hoping to knock him flat, and gets to her feet, lance pointed at her adversary.

Taye releases his arrow and stands, watching the arrow fly true and into a ferret's back as he retreats. He quickly readies another arrow, ducking back down as he waits for one of the archer's opposite to break cover.

The stoat falls, attempting to roll over and get up.  He can't get up very quickly though, and yells for help.  However, the vermin seem content to remain where they are, sniping at the hares.

Ralai is on his way towards the colonel moving carefully from tree to tree to avoid arrows

In a true bit of vermin spirit, Farren doesn't seem willing to allow the stoat to get up. She fires at his prone form even as he tries to roll over.

Jarril feels one stray arrow whizzing over his head as he mutters, looking back to where it had landed into one of the hares behind him at the side.  Calling out for a healer, the major returns his gaze back to the front.  "I give them this much, fire enough and they would've hit something eventually.  No skill whatsoever, wot."  He carefully puts another shaft in his bow and readies it, watching for anyone to be foolishly to get up.

At the call for a healer, Keita resolutely makes her way through the gaggle of bustling hares. Dropping to the side of the injured hare, she quickly gets to work, keeping her head as low as she can in the face of all the arrows.

Whether the hares notice or not, about half the vermin seem to have disappeared.  Sneaking through low brush and whatnot, they head in a crooked path for the village.  If they can even be seen, it is only for a second or two at a time.

A tight group of fighting hares stand towards the rear of the group, but a signal from one of the officers, they begin doing much what the vermin on the other side of the road are doing - heading through the forest on their side of the path, and towards the village proper.

Noticing a flash of fur here and there in the forest beyond, Taye's eyes squint thoughtfully. He stands slowly from his crouch, shielding his eyes to try and see clearer. "Majah - Jarril! I think..." He squints s'more. "I think I saw somethin'..." However, just then one of the vermin take advantage of his standing to shoot an arrow his way, but it wizzes by just over his shoulder. Eyes widening, he ducks back down to the ground. Erf.

As the vermin heading for the village reach a certain distant from the hares, they stand and begin to sprint.  Meanwhile, the others, several having picked up baskets or packs as they dashed into the woods, hold these across their bodies for use as shields, and with a last volley, dash across the road towards the hares.

Farren is discriminate. Her next shot goes for one of the vermin that is not holding some sort of cover, and she waits until he's reasonably close enough before releasing the arrow.

Ralai waits a tiny bit longer for the vermin to get closer...

Jarril growls.  "I thought this would happen."  Turning around the major hasn't flinch at all on this tactic the vermin has used.  Calling out.  "Archers!  Aim up and let the arrahs land on them.  Fightah's.  Get ready!"  Watching the hares left with him the major smiles and turns back ta them.  "When they get close enough, we charge them."  Muttering under his breath.  "Come on, haven't bally well got all day, my grandmother could run faster than this..."

As the archers fire, the vermin lift their shields, and the arrows stick into the material.  The vermin leader seems to have at least a fundamental grasp of basic military tactics.  Swords are drawn, and dropping their shields, they close the last short distance, slamming into the front row of hares.  Whether the line will break or not is up for grabs.

Ralai grins and comes out from behind his tree and with a loud roar the giant badger barrels for the vermin troops

Farren swings her bow over one arm and descends the tree rapidly, with almost no attention to height. She lets out a small whoop as she lands.

Jarril having fired one more shaft had dropped the bow to the grassy floor and was already up on his feet with a loaded sling in one paw, the sword in the other as he took the brunt of the clash quite well.  With his buck teeth bared, he snarled at whoever was facing him and pushed back, anger welling up within the major, fighting spirit now erupting from within him.  "Aw, come on.  Was that all ya could do."  Swinging the loaded sling around the makeshift shield to slam into the side of the rats head.  "Bally well pathetic." Was all that was said as he turned onto the next one, lifting a blade up to block a move, hopping back slightly.  Still calling out ordahs, the major shouts.  "Keep the line!  That's it!"

Darklett stands at the head of the crowd of fighters ready to charge, a rapier in his paw and a full belt of knives around his waist. He watches the approaching vermin, then turns to the hares he is leading. "Don't show fear in your eyes, fighters! When I give the order, charge without abandon, show these vermin what it means to be a perilous hare!" Turning back to face the vermin, his ears perk for the major's order, his rapier held at the ready. As the vermin get closer and closer, Darklett's eyes turn to the major, then back to the mob of enemies... And right when they get close enough, the lieutenant hare shouts... "CHARGE! Eulaliaa!" The lieutenant and the group of fighters countercharge the approaching vermin, their front line colliding with the vermin one in a chaotic melee.

The fighting is short, but fierce and brief.  The outnumbered vermin are slaughtered by the hares, only two lasting more than a few moments.  Back to back, they fight off the hares as best they can, one with a spear, and another with two swords.

Jarril looks about and nods his head.  "Right!"  He calls out.  "Healah's deal with those that are injured.  I want all ranks ta report ta me on casualties right away and make sure we're ready ta move on!"  He moves back to where he dropped his bow and shakes his head seeing it had been snapped during the battle.  Giving a shrug, he leaves it and turns to face the first officer type hare that has come to him.

Both vermin finally slain, the road seems clear.  Although, about half of the twenty-some vermin bodies are missing.  Those who headed for the village have gotten away safely.  Whether the charge was a cover-up, or just a last ditch effort, is hard to tell.

"Good work, fighters! Halyard's all but ours, stay alert and at the ready!" Darklett shouts out encouragement to the fighters, repeating Jarril's orders about the healers a few times to make sure they are heard, then walks up to Jarril, quickly saluting. "Sah, are we pursuing the escape?"

Farren draws her blade and looks around, her fingers twitching anxiously along the hilt. "Gone and tiffed it. Huh."

Zeraph had already clashed with a few of the vermin, though he is actually trying to be one of the hares moving into the actual village at the moment, swinging his large curved sword as offense and defense. The buck glances further up the road towards the main area of Halyard, still gripping his sword tightly, though his previously injured arm just stays rested at his side now. He notes Keita doing the 'healer thing' and the buck runs towards her, to snag her by the shirt. "C'mon, K." He states, without much explanation.

Through all the ensuing battle, Taye remains ducked behind a bush. However, as Jarril speaks up he jumps up and runs over to Jarril, ears low. "Sah... sah, what c'n I do?"

Jarril holds up a paw as he feels one of the healers dealing with a minor cut on his upper arm.  "Aye, well.  What ya expect from the scared yellow backs.  Alright, get into rank!  We're marching on immediately."  Picking a few left behind to look after those that can't carry on, ordering a few fighters to be guards for them.  "Try and get them back ta the mountain or a safe place.  We find ya later."  Without saying another word, Jarril moves to the front and gives the order to move on.

Ralai moves over by jarril giving Taye a slight smile

Keita registers the shirt being grabbed, and up she jumps. Fortunately, she was done with the present "patient", so she follows after Zeraph at a quick trot, drawing a dagger as she goes. "Ah - where we goin'?" This is said over the general noise and excitement.

Jarril moving along, he turns to Taye.  "What ya mean, what do ya do?  Ya been training for this all of ya life."  The hare's lips curl up only very slightly.  "Ya fight and ya fight well as well for the good name of the Long Patrol, recruit.  If ya survive this, then ya passed.  It take those with skill ta get through this."  He continues to make his way towards the village, determined look on his eyes, the major still got fighting blood rushing through his veins.

Darklett nods. "Fighters!" He shouts, loudly, to get the troops' attention. "We're marching further into Halyard, form ranks, let's move, let's move!" Dark, once again, heads up the march, rapier still out in his paw.

Halyard Village: West Square(#93069RJA)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Halyard Village ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Surrounded on most sides by short, squat buildings, none any higher than two
levels, the main square of this small, sea-side village is covered in a fine
layer of dirt, which mostly covers the old cobble stone beneath. Many of the
buildings lining the square are homes, though some are places of business -
and, of course, there are the obligatory pubs. However, pubs are not the only
staple of a small village, especially not this one. Scattered here and there
upon sidewalks and in front of stores, various fishing nets and traps lie
about, most considerably worse for wear. It's obviously a fishing village.
Beyond that, a dirt road runs north and south from the square, with a small
scattering of homes, and behind these, a backdrop of trees. Meanwhile, beyond
the trees lies the shore.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
                                Visible Exits:
[A]ntique [S]tore               [S]outhern [R]oad
[H]alyard [T]avern              [N]orthern [R]oad
[K]nick-knack [C]at [S]hop      [M]ain [S]treet
                                [B]ack to [D]irt [P]ath

Daclon shrugs, turning to Vansinnig.  "The gate's barred.  Pull all the vermin into the houses.  Station archers at the windows, out of sight.  Everybeast, out of sight!"

"What?" Van cringes his brow. "No fightin'?" He growls an obscene remark under his breath, but does what Daclon commands anyway.

Vorth gives a nod and disappears into one of the houses on the road, hiding round the side of a window in wait for the hares.

Vansinnig moves off into another building, muttering all the way, chain still in paw. He hides behind a wall, licking his teeth.

Daclon follows Van, shrugging.  "There'll be fightin'.  Don't worry about that."

"If'n ya say so," grunts the red badger.

Slowly the troops make their way closer to the village as Jarril catches up with the smaller group that made off before hand.  "So what's up?"  He says quietly as he hears their report.  "Sah, they locked themselves in.  Village main gate's closed." (OOC:  There was a gate mentioned at the beginning of the TP months back so if that was wrong, sorry but nothing to be done about that now.)  Nodding his head, he turns around and calls for the Lt's to come to him

Vansinnig watches Daclon for a moment, chain still clutched in his hand. "I've gotta idea, Daclon. Wanna hear me out?" A slow, malicious smile spreads across his face. "Might give us a bit a advantage."

Daclon nods.  "Sure, why not?  Make it quick though, the hares'll be here 'fore to long."

Zeraph stares up at the gate, a paw still holding part of the tavern doe's shirt. The buck squints defiantly at the thing that is barring there passage into the village, almost as if he expects it to fall down if he does so hard enough, then he goes to move towards the ranks and the Lieutenant.

Akakios crouches in a doorway, sword drawn but tucked under his arm so that the shine will not give him away.

Darklett leaves the head of the fighter group and reports to Jarril, waiting for his plan. "We're ready, sir. What're we to do about that gate, then?" The hare sheathes his rapier and stands by for orders.

Ralai gives a calculating look to the main gate

Vansinnig smirks a bit, licking his teeth. "Them 'are's love their badger Kings 'r whatever, right?" He smirks wider at this. "Wot 'bout I go out there an' pretend ta be friendly. I find th' head type guy and slaughter 'im...'r her. I don't care. Then, all th' vermin jump out."

Keita feels herself being tugged away from the gate, and follow Zeraph she does, though she tugs her shirt out of his grasp before doing so. She gives a slight eye roll as she unfortunately joins the group of officer types along with Zeraph.

Daclon thinks for a moment.  "Worth a shot.  Get 'em in the village, where our archers can mow 'em down."  Turning to a nearby weasel, he nods towards the tavern.  "Take two in there and guard the prisoners."

Jarril looks at the gate while making sure that at the moment that he and his patrol are well out fo range for even longbows, the major knowing exactly how far a bow could be fired from.  "Good question that one is.  Okay, we need a plan."  He looks to see where Taye is as he goes back to his officers.  "And I ain't just going ta run up there as we know from tales of the Abbey that doesn't work."  The major goes back to rubbing his chin in thought.

Farren continues to drift along the edge of the group. The gates are given a dark frown, as if she's holding them personally responsible for this snag in their attack. "Too bad ye'd mind if we burned it, eh?" she says quietly.

Darklett takes the paw that first held his rapier and lowers it to his belt, removing a knife from it... The other paw does the same. "I don't think we can knock it down... reasonably, anyway. Maybe send small groups up for longbow fire... speaking of which, can we make a flame here?"

Ralai moves closer to the front of the line to get a better look at the gate standing near jarril as he looks over the gate...

Vansinnig steps out of the house, chuckling a bit. Taking the blade, he swiftly gives himself a few shallow cuts, just enough to look wounded. Blood dripping freely, he charges at barricade, snarling like one in Bloodwrath. Worth a shot indeed.

All the while the hares are planning, not a sound comes from the village, wherein the villainous vermin types prepare their ambush.  The silence is broken only by Vansinnig, headed for the gate.

Jarril smiles slightly.  "Of course, they're locked in, probably don't have that much water."  He gives them all a look of don't you dare say they have a unlimited supply of water.  "Set fire to various places about the village.  The fence, gate.  Even a few of their roofs."  Pausing.  "Anyone got flint and tinder in their packs?"

Vansinnig slams into the barricade, making it shudder. "This better bloody work," he grunts as he begins tearing at it.

Darklett squints. "Uh, sir? Major Jarril? What about the hares they have captive? We don't want to kill them, too, and fire will do that unless we remove them first."

At Jarril's newest order, Keita makes a sound of shocked anger. "What are ya thinkin', ya bloody great idiot? Those're our homes yer talkin' about burnin'! What's the point in takin' back the village if yer just goin' t' burn it down?"

Algador enters the square from the dirt path.

Zeraph perks his ears up, listening to everything that goes on around him and then his eyes turn back towards the gates, still standing close to the officer types with Keita. The buck rubs at his arm, then flinches as Keita starts to yell at the major, ears twisting backward and staring at /her/ like she's crazy.

Jarril is about to snap at Keita in stating that anything can be rebuilt but you can't rebuild a vermin horde, stopped as he turned his head, ears twitching.  "Did anyone here that?"

Daclon growls.  Talking to himself, he watches the badger banging the barricade/gate thingy the vermin have erected.  "C'mon, just kick the bars out of the way.  Get this over with quick."

Taye is dutifully waiting with the group of fighting hares, just waiting for the officers' decision. However, his ears do pick up the sound from the gates, and in that direction he looks. The young recruit blinks, eyeing the bleeding, furious-looking badger.

Vansinnig snorts as he backs up and slams his shoulder into it again. The barricade opens...violently. Looking very angry, he stomps through the gates, grunting a bit. The chain hangs limp.

Darklett raises a brow towards the major, shaking his head. "Hear what, sir?" The lieutenant looks around him, towards all the windows and houses. "...Major Jarril, what's keeping them inside the gates? I say we go through the houses. Who knows, we may be able..." He spots more than just a few hares eyeing the gates, and he turns his head that way. "What in..."

Zeraph looks in the direction that Jarril is, ears roving about as well. He nods. "Yes sir.." Then the barricade is opened and the badger goes stomping through. He immediately stiffens, recognizing Vansinnig right off.

Akakios stays where he is.  Wildcats don't purr exactly, so the sound coming from his throat seems to be more of a growl than anything else.

Jarril blinks.  "Hmm."  Then snapping into action, giving orders.  "Archers, get into position right now.  He may have vermin after him."  The major's voice ringing out with a very strong command sound.

Ralai watches the other badger emerge calmly

Vansinnig snorts softly as he sees the hares. "Oye, who's in charge?" He moves towards the group swiftly...as a slim badger can, anyway.

Jarril replies back.  "Who wants ta know?"  The hare noting that there isn't a single vermin coming out, just eye'ing the badger up and down.

Farren sheathes her blade and obediently unshoulders her bow. Vansinnig is eyed carefully, with a healthy dose of trepidation, as she fits arrow to string.

Daclon watches for a moment, before realizing that no vermin are following the badger.  From the wounds he had 'received', surely several should be following.  To late to do anything, unless... Ducking into a nearby house, he pushes out several vermin archers.  "Follow the badger, quick.  Shoot in his direction, but don' hit him, or I'll flay all of ye."

Vansinnig seems a little off put by the question. "Me. It thought that were kinda obvious." He has enough brains to glance at the suspicious hares. Hmmm.

Ralai narrows his eyes at the other badger standing near jarril

Keita's courage grows at Jarril's lack of a response, but as his attention is drawn away, she turns as well towards the gate. Vansinnig is sighted as well. She too stiffens, and a paw reaches out to grasp Zeraph's sleeve. "'Raph... look." Then she sees that he is looking, and she winces. She /liked/ Vansinnig. The doe takes one single step forward and her lips part, almost wanting to warn /him/ instead of the hares. Heh.

Darklett looks between the badger and the major, and takes a step backward... One paw idly spins a knife around as he looks at all the hares... And spots movement over in Keita's direction. He tilts his head, squinting at Keita. Nonverbal communication. Rawr.

With only the one right now near that has a major badge and uniform, the rest in another part of the group.  Jarril coughs.  "I am, what of it?"  The hare still a bit away from Vansinnig, eye'ing him very closely.

Ralai stands nearby not doing anything...yet

Three vermin archers appear at the gate, and several arrows from the direction of the village sink into the sand around Van.  One, less well aimed, scrapes the badger's arm.

Zeraph yells out, stepping forward. "No!" To get Vansinnig's attention maybe..or the major's..or whoever the heck will listen to the buck. He realizes his sleeve has been grabbed by the doe and glances back at her, then he sees the archers begin moving out of the gate after the badger..He still growls, looking like a very unhappy hare. "No.." Again, though a smirk has formed now. An all-knowing one.

Vansinnig lets the chain slide chain link by link as he moves forward towards Jarril, making it look as if he was too tired to hold onto the weapon properly. "The vermin in th' city, they..." His eyes trail to Keita, then to Zeraph. "Oh, bloody..." He flicks the blade at Jarril's torso with surprising speed. "There's goes a good plan," he mumbles softly, fully aware of the archers and their bad aim. Eh, a small scratch.

Darklett moves quickly, his heavily trained right paw hurling the knife through the air, right towards Vansinnig's skull as soon as he throws the fearsome weapon. "SIR! Watch out!"

Farren's bow, trained as it was on the gate, takes a moment longer for her to snap back toward Vansinnig as he attacks. A moment. Then she fires, right at head height, teeth gritting into a rather feral grin.

Already being suspicious of the very late arrival in Jarril's mind on chasing after a escaped badger, the hare was always ready to wait for a move from the large red badger.  All the season's of runner training within the long patrol, being lighter than a fighter had given him that much more speed in hopping back to feel the blade barely missing his torso by a hare's hair breath, only the fabric of his uniform being cut.

Ralai moves towards the other badger with a loud growl

Zeraph yanks his sword out again, jumping forward and out of Keita's grasp. He hasn't fought in formation for so long that he just goes on impulse lately, but he ducks as he hears Darklett's yell, and the knife flies over his head. Curse words!

Daclon has returned to his original hiding place, but little can be seen of whatever might be going on outside the village.  Growling impatiently, he jumps nimbly onto a crate, then he scrambles onto a low balcony, ducking behind several crates which had been placed there.  No good, he still can't see.

At Dark's shout, he flicks an eye at the cry. Glinting metal. Fantastic...He ducks as best he can, but looses most of his ear. Luckily, the arrow misses. Growling slightly as blood pours over his fur. "Daclon, you bloody idiot! Get yer vermin movin'!" Swiftly setting the the spiked sphere on the other end of the chain, he starts a little spinning hopskip towards Jarril again, spikes and blade moving forward in a wide circle towards the commanding hare.

Farren draws another arrow to her bowstring. There's no hesitation here, as she fires again almost immediately. Neck height now.

Daclon growls.  Crawling onto the roof, he finally can see what is happening.  What's he supposed to do?  An all out battle is no good for his warriors.  Waving a paw, he shouts for some to head for Vansinnig.  Maybe fifteen jump from hiding, dashing to the badger's aid.

Jarril keeps on the move, ducking and rolling well out of the badger's way, the hare being really fast and nimble.  "Would someone get arrows into this big brute!"  He shouts out.  Keeping his eye on Vansinnig, knowing full well that he's had it if he's caught by this badger.  Thinking he should've kept his mouth shut on saying he was in charge, knowing fully what they want to do like the long patrol had done so many times.  Cut off the head....

Darklett is quick to fling his other wielded knife, and a third knife that had been drawn while throwing the second, one aiming high, and one aiming for the badger's chest... Gotta get him away from Jarril. "Hey, addlebrain! You're never gonna get him, he's too quick for ya! Why don't you go back home to your mummy and poppy and stop flinging your great! Oversized! PLAYTHING! Around here!"

Zeraph has popped back up, in time to see the chains whirling forward. The buck ducks back down of course, seeming as he isn't too far away from the major anyway, and just sticks his sword upward, as some sort of protection? The fighter's mind races in that one second, then he sheathes the sword and rolls forward quickly, landing on his back and going to deliver a hard, swift kick with both feet to the badger's midsection.

Keita winces as Vansinnig becomes the full force of hare's center of attention, and she too yells out, "No!" As Zeraph pulls out of her grasp, she too moves forward, but from the way she's hesitating, it's obvious she doesn't know /what/ to do in this here situation. Explaining politely that they shouldn't kill because he's not really all /that/ bad of a sort doesn't quite seem like an option. Ah well. Er. Think quick. "Oi! Badgery type! Play dead!" Right. Yes. That's helpful. She throws up her paws in disgust and just stands there - until the other vermin rush forward. This, she feels she can warn the other hares of. "More vermin comin'!"

The arrow hits the badger in shoulder-blade, as he is hop-skipping as it is. It falls out, leaving only a small wound and a somewhat cracked bone. Van grunts a bit, but keeps it up. Darklett again. Just as he's about to do something about the knives...he's kicked in the stomach by hare paws. Doubling over, the blades barely miss him. That's just luck, mates.

Darklett flings two more knives... Man, he's going through them... At the doubled over badger, both aimed towards his head, but should he straighten, they're headed right for his torso. "Are you deaf, too? Might as well, I can already see you're DUMB!"

Daclon scrambles down from his post, and as soon as his footpaws touch ground, he dashes for the tavern.  One thing left, really.  He and the two guards posted there earlier reappear, bringing Rothal and two other hares with them.  The last of the captives.

Ralai gives a loud roar to the edvancing vermin

Last arrow. Again, Farren fires, and again, there's no hesitation. She flings aside the bow and draws her blade, glancing momentarily toward the onrushing vermin. "Heads up, mates!"

The chains swing round and round Van's body, as he is no longer moving, before falling to the ground considerably closer to him then they should be. Snarling, he moves to grab Zeraph. Hostages work quite well in these sort of circumstances. The knives strike him in the side, just a few inches apart. Snorting a bit, he yanks them out.

Vansinnig snorts as the arrow hits his back. Ow...

Zeraph rolls off to the side so as not to get stomped immediately by a badger. Oy..The buck dives back up to his footpaws, on the other side of Vansinnig, and where the vermin just happen to be running toward. Hmm...His mind goes blank, then his ear is grabbed by an angry badger. "OW!" He draws his sword once more, to swing it at Van's side.

Rothal looks rather miserable, but that doesn't stop him from struggling against the guard who half-drags him out of the tavern.  He knows what's going on, having heard the vermin guard chaps talking.

Swinging open the door of the tavern is Orcus. "Get in get in!" He yells at Daclon, two throwing blades in his gnarled paws.

Vansinnig pulls Zeraph towards his body, fully aware of the sword. He hopes to yank the hare off balance and thus, avoid being slashed. Here's hopin', ya'll.

Daclon shoves his captive into the waiting paws of a fox, turning to Orcus.  Jogging over, he watches the stop carefully.  "What?"

Jarril gets back up again, already shouting orders and getting the archers to fire before deciding to get a few sling shots in himself.  This is a really bad day, ah well such is normal for him.

Just won't fall down, will he? Darklett looks at the fighters in groups, and is about to shout a charge before he looks again, and sees a hostage... And Vansinnig is down for the moment, and not attacking... Darklett slinks between buildings, lurking in the shadows and moving to get a good view from behind.

Farren flips the blade once, twice--into stabbing position. The empty quiver is likewise abandoned, and then the jill is rushing forward toward Vansinnig, with, apparently, designs on stabbing him before he can get a firm grip on his would-be captive.

Well, Vansinnig apparently doesn't agree with "play dead", so with an exasperated sigh she turns and, dagger in paw, heads straight for the oncoming vermin. She throws herself into the mix, and soon disappears amongst slashing blades and other blunt objects.

Zeraph is tugged forward, so the sword just scrapes across the brute's side, then he is jerked up against the badger, staring up at him, then smiling. "Hey, Van old buddy.." Heh..

The three vermin and captives leave the gate, marching down towards the badger and vermin who are clashing with the hares.  The vermin keep blades at the prisoners' throats, and stop about halfway to the hares.  The fox waves cheerfully to the hares, pointing to the prisoners and making a slashing motion across his neck for emphasis.

"Take cover you stupid idiot." Orcus snaps at Daclon." Man he wishes he ran off a long time ago. Now a army of hares all around.

Ralai charges towards the advancing vermin, yep time for a the badger to actually do something

Jarril isn't about to stop fighting, not while some vermin is so intent on killing him at the moment.  Dodging quickly to the side as he see's a thrust, he moves in quickly, head butting the stoat to the ground.  The major's foul mood would rather prefer that the vermin call a cease fire first.

Vansinnig growls a bit at Zeraph. "Seein' as this whole thing's gone sour, you 'n me are gonna cooperate, all right?" Moving swiftly, he spins on his heel, holding the unfortunate hare to his chest. Zeraph is now right where Farren might stab.

Zeraph jerks backward against the badger's bulk and closes his eyes tightly, looking not so happy about being held there, where all the pointy objects are being aimed. Darn his luck...But at least the major is safe. :)

Daclon shakes his head.  "Not now, Orcus.  Seer or not, I won't run from any battle.  We have a good chance anyway.  One step into the village and the hares will look like pincushions."

Whoa. Farren is suddenly confronted with Vansinnig's full height, and for a moment, her eyes simply bulge. Fortunately for Zeraph, she aborts the stab, but she's still close, and from the look on her face, she's debating what to do.

Ralai is soon attacking the reinforcements....well what's left of them after the hare arrows

Vansinnig doesn't wait around for Farren to make up her mind. Swinging a -very- heavy forpaw at Farren's head, he hugs Zeraph tightly.

"Then..you will die." And Orcus turns to scurry away from the hares attacking the village. Yeah. He's a coward.

Jarril is quite busy himself at the moment to repay the favour to Zeraph right now as he kicks out against a rat full in the stomach.  "Come on, I've had better fighting from the leverets, wot!"

The vermin guards escorting the captives continue to act quite cheery, bringing the prisoners, none of whom look to be in the best of health.  When they draw close enough, the fox yells for the fighting to stop.

Zeraph swallows a little and gazes at Farren, ear twitching rapidly, then the air is pushed out of him for a moment as he is hugged firmly to the badger, closing his eyes again and feeling rather small.

Farren starts to duck, but Vansinnig's paw still clips her, and that's no small blow. The marten is bowled head over heels backwards, where she rolls for a foot or two before coming to a stop on her back. Miraculously, she's still holding her jeweled blade, but she looks well and truly stunned.

Vansinnig moves to pick Farren up by the throat. "Like flies, eh, Zer?"

Jarril gives the rat one more kick in the head to knock him out completely while standing over it as he turns his attention to whoever asked for the fighting to stop.  Seeing who had said it, the major gives that group of vermin a really nasty look, before turning his head and spitting onto the ground.  He calls out.  "Ya heard them!"  He shouts to his patrol.  "Stop fighting!"

Ralai looks in the direction of the call and looks at the direction of the yell

Darklett's ears perk as he hears the order to stop fighting, and, in turn, stops walking, his rapier drawn once again as he steps out into the open. "CEASE FIGHTING, troops!" the hare growls out in unison with Jarril, scowling at the hostage situation they have on their paws now.

Daclon stands in the distressed-looking gateway, leaning against a shattered doorpost, as he watches the action below.

Zeraph nods lightly, deciding to just agree with whatever Van says at the moment. "Uh..huh..yeah flies." He glances about quickly. Where'd his sword go?

Farren makes a 'hrk!' noise as she's picked up. One paw continues to clasp her blade, but the other tries feebly to pry the badger's fingers away from her throat.

Rothal almost chuckles as he hears Dark yelling at his troops.  Still, he's not in a laughing situation, considering the knife at his throat.  Maybe two weeks ago he could have taken his guard out, but now...

Jarril calls out.  "If ya don't call off ya badger this instant, ya can forget any talks!"

Orcus chuckles madly as he searches for somewhere to actually run...or hide.

Vansinnig begins to shake Farren violently, trying to loosen the blade from her paws. "Let it go, girly. It ain't worth loosin' yer neck fer." Glancing at Jarril, he spits and moves towards the vermin troops, taking both hares along.

The fox has walked closer, captive in tow, and nods to the badger.  "Ri't, Van.  Put 'em down."

Zeraph looks sympathetically up at Farren as she is held by the throat, trying to figure out something to do, then he looks about for his sword again, then his ears turn towards Jarril, then Darklett, and then the fox as he orders the badger to put him down.

Ralai returns to the front of the hare line muttering under his breath about vermin having no sense of honor

Vansinnig glances at the fox, lifting a brow. "Hmm," he grumbles softly. After all, there's a nice sword in Farren's paws. He'd -really- like that.

Farren has a death grip on that blade though--as much as she isn't using it at the moment. She's shaken vigorously, and all she manages is more 'hrk' 'hrk' noises.

Jarril keeps on frowning with so much hatred in his only eye, his paw feels some pain from the claws digging into his palm from his claws as he holds the loaded sling limply at his side.  His patience not going to wait until that badger does what has been said.  "Get that badger ta drop them now or I give the order ta run right through the whole bally lot of ya, hostages or not!"

The fox has finally reached the badger.  "C'mon, mate.  Put 'em down, an' we'll pull out of here, as quick as we can.  We can take 'em in the town."

Jarril turns his head to the side and gives a few ear movements as he gives out orders quietly to his officers on what he wants to do, arranging the archers to get ready as well as the fighters.

Darklett squints his eyes at Vansinnig's side. That little spot with two of his knives in it. That's his reason to come back for more, he makes a mental note, watching Jarril's motions, and turning to look at the vermin.

Vansinnig lifts a brow. Snorts. He drops Zeraph first, giving him a swift, somewhat harsh kick in the scut. He still seems reluctant to let Farren go, though. Clamping a hand over her wrist, he squeezes, hoping to make her release the blade.

Rothal grimaces as Jarril delivers his to-the-point speech.  Whatever happens will be bad for him, and seeing the archers and fighters getting ready doesn't help much.

Daclon continues to watch the scene before him, watching with interest.  If he were in the hare's place, he would've charged, captives or not.

Somehow, that seems to motivate Farren far more than the grip on her throat. She draws her legs up sharply, and delivers a sudden, double-pawed kick to Vansinnig's gut. Her neck, long and flexible as mustelid necks tend to be, twists in order for her to dig sharp, predatory teeth into the fleshy part of the badger's paw.

Zeraph is dropped, unceremoniously, and just when he decides to jump up, he is kicked in the tail /hard/. The buck tumbles forward, rolling at least twice, then landing on his back, coughing because of it. The fighter stands, holding his bobtail and growling.

Vansinnig 'woofs' as the air is driven from his lungs. Scowling harshly, he spins once, before releasing her towards the hares as hard as he can. "Fine, keep the sword. I'll gerrit offa yer dead body later."

The fox growls at Farren's actions, and one of the vermin runs his dagger into his charge's neck, letting the hare fall to the sand.

It's a really big wonder Farren doesn't end up stabbing herself as she goes tumbling, but she doesn't. The jill lands hard, and spends the next few moments gasping and gagging.

Jarril just blinks as he calls out. "Right, what do ya have ta say fox?"  The major padding slightly forwards but stopping as he doesn't take his eyes off the fox.

Vansinnig flicks his paw, letting droplets of blood fling about. Grumbling, he stares at the fox. "Shoulda let me snap 'er neck."

Shrugging as he watches the hare slump to the sand, the fox turns to address Jarril.  "Call yer beasts off, or these other two die.  Head back to yer mountain and we'll let these two go."

Zeraph stares, as he sees the hare stabbed through the neck and he doesn't seem to believe it, then Farren is thrown towards the group of long patrolers and he hurries in that direction, past Jarril, picking his sword up off the ground quickly and sheathing it. He kneels by the marten.

Daclon figures that the hares are about to charge, and mentally reminds himself to punish the guard who killed his captive.  Turning, he jogs back into the village, checking to make sure the vermin are ready.

Jarril frowns back.  "I take it ya the leader then?"  Eying the fox.  "No offence but if ya not, could ya ask him ta come down and do business.  I don't deal with his low officers."

Farren's neck is definitely going to have a few bruises to remember this recent abuse by, but all and all she seems alright--if one disregards the gagging for breath. She's still clutching that blade as tightly as she can, the knuckles are white beneath her fur.

Where to hide..where to hide...hmm. Orcus finds a spot and ducks in it clutching his blades and just watches all the carnage. And loving it.

Darklett shifts, helplessly, his rapier point twitching in the air. His job now is looking for foul play, his eyes casting over the Bloodthirsters ranks from his vantage point behind most of the beasts.

The fox, a lower officer named Stumptail, shakes his head.  "He declines.  Yer beasts haven't proved trustworthy, and he doesn't wish to endanger himself.  Ye'll have to deal with me."

Zeraph looks over Farren for a second, then goes to help her sit up. "You alright?" He whispers, looking unhappy again. The pain in his rump is forgotten for now, as the buck glances at the negotiations off to the side, then back down to the marten.

Vansinnig snarls a bit. "Bloody...Yer all to soft." Suddenly, he realizes he can't see Keita anymore. Snarling louder, he pushes through the ranks, looking for her. Not finding her and realizing there are more important things to take care of, he yanks Dark's blades out of his side. Leaving the arrow where it is, he grumbles as he moves towards the front ranks again.

Jarril grins back.  "Ah, I so like ta see that cowardice is high on the agenda of vermin leaders then.  Alright, here's the terms.  Ya let them all go right this instant and leave this place."  The major says plain and flat with hatred in his voice.  "Or ya can kill them right now but it be the last thing that ya do.  There's no debating on the matter, whatsoever either."

Darklett's head snaps to Jarril, his eyes wide... He scans the grounds, and spots Rothal, the lieutenant hare biting his lip, letting the Major continue.

The fox growls, stabbing his prisoner.  With a whimper, the hare falls, leaving Rothal as the only one left.  "We aren't leavin'.  Ye leave the village, an' we stay here.  Neither will attack the other.  That is -yer- only option."

Ralai has to fight hard not to just charge forward and bash in the foxes head anger visibly burning in his eyes

Vansinnig stares at Jarril a bit, before laughing from his throat. A harsh, guttral sound. This ought to be interesting. He moves towards one of the guards holding a captive, taking one of Dark's blades and tracing small lines of blood along the poor creature's arms as if doodling. "C'mon, Stumpie. I'm gettin' bored all ready. Speed up th' negotiations."

Jarril shakes his head.  "No deal.  Ya have ya last prisoner left fox.  Ya kill him and I will guarantee that ya be dead soon afterwards.  Ya not scared of being killed are ya?  Want ta die for ya leader?"  The major takes another step forward.  "I told ya my terms are not changable.  Let him go or die."

Jarril grips his sling more tightly by his side.

Stumptail shrugs.  "We won't let him go.  Take another step, an' he dies."

Farren accepts Zeraph's help for just a moment, getting back to her feet with a wobble. "Yeah." She grimaces. "A'course it'd have to be a badger, right? Here, find me an arrow're somethin'."

Vansinnig grabs the captive and moves alongside Stumptail. "Tell ya what, mate," he growls to Stumpie. "Lemme talk. Yer not very convincin'."

Orcus pokes his head out for a moment, watching Daclon.

Daclon disappears into the tavern, then reappears, stopping into every building and checking on the vermin inside.

+ Jarril says, "You know if someone read my ear signals I was signalling for some archers to take a crack at the vermin keeping the hares hostage...  Ah well.  Don't think I can save Buck...  Not without giving up." (Group chat: Lpleaders)

Zeraph nods and smirks, then goes pushing through the ranks of the hares, running as fast as he can in the opposite direction, though he searches everywhere. The fighter soon returns with three arrows clutched in his paw and hands them to the marten, then stares towards the vermin and Rothal once more, looking sick to his stomach.

Darklett looks so much like he wants to just fight, should anybeast even see where he is... He grits his teeth, and looks over to Daclon, watching him move. Why's he moving? He slips back behind the buildings, making a bee-line for the Long Patrol ranks again.

By the time he returns, Farren has retrieved her discarded bow. She gives the three arrows an approving look, and then reaches for them.

Rothal snaps his head back, banging the stoat holding him in the face.  He doesn't feel like dying today.  A heavy wound on his cheek bursts open again, and blood streams down his face as his guard staggers backward.  Switching into runner mode, he dashes for the hares.  Still, captivity has taken its toll, and he's not near as fast as he was.

Stumptail yells, surprised, as he watches the guard stagger back, blood gushing from a broken nose.  He dashes after the hare, hoping to stop his last captive from getting away.

This is all that he needs.  Flicking an ear, he gives the order for the archers to fire as he brings up his sling quickly, swings it and fires it directly at the fox.  Jarril having enough of this whole situation.

Farren squeaks something that sounds suspiciously like 'Arrow! Gimme!' before she fairly wrenches one away from Zeraph and sets it to string, spinning to face the oncoming Rothal, and the inevitable chasers.

Zeraph lets her take the arrows and yells for her to shoot at the fox and pointing at the same time.

Vansinnig stares at Rothal for a moment. "Well, this ain't good." Seeing as he must have dropped the chain out in the middle between the  small 'armies'. Flinging Dark's knife at Roth's back, he begins to sprint swiftly. He wants his chain back.

Ralai runs to intercept the other badger he doesn't know what the other badger is thinking but whatever it is it's not good

Daclon has completed his check, and dashes back to his original spot.  From the yells, barely audible, the captive exchange isn't going well.

Farren needs no encouragement. She's fired at Stumptail almost before Zeraph has finished talking.

Zeraph tugs his sword from it's sheath on his back and looks ready to dive back into the fight again, keeping his gaze trained on the badger. He won't let himself become a captive again, this time. The buck doesn't even flinch as the arrow flies past, in the fox's direction.

Dark spots Jarril's ear motions, and reacts right away. "CHARGE, FIGHTERS! EULALIAA!" The lieutenant grabs a knife and hurls it at the back of the badger's head, the hare now intent on Vansinnig. The rest of the fighter battalion charges forward, weapons raised, to engage with the Bloodthirsters' ranks.

Stumptail comes between Rothal and Van just as he throws the knife, which bounces against his head.  Staggering, Farren's arrow and Jarril's slingstone hit him at about the same time, and he collapses, dead.

Vansinnig reaches the chain, yanking the two ends to his other paw expertly. "Perf-" Ralai is noticed. Swinging the blade at him, he snorts violently while moving forward swiftly. Luckily, the knife misses his head by mere inches.

Rothal reaches the hares' lines, before falling down behind the first rank, which rushes past him.  Gasping into the sand, it's not the most perfect first minute of freedom, but hey.

Ralai dodges back from the blade and swings his staff at the other badgers head with a followthrough towards his feet

Jarril charges himself now, the long patrol battle blood boiling within his veins, the hares that had been killed making him angry as he runs a bit ahead of the charging hares.  "EULALIAA!"

Farren releases a wordless cry which, if it were coming from a less minute, less scraggly marten, might actually be intimidating. She snatches up the second arrow, and fires once again at Vansinnig.

The few vermin who remain before the patrol mostly turn and run, perhaps seven staying behind to fight.  The rest, perhaps twelve, make a break for the village.

Vansinnig smirks as he realizes he's probably lighter on his feet then the Ralai, seeing as he is smaller. Ducking and then hopstepping, he throws his shoulder at the other badger. "Eh, yer all ta good fer yer own britches."

Jarril charges into the vermin that had stopped fighting for the negoiations before, the major shouting orders but more importantly fighting as a leader should do, knocking a stoat down, kicking a ferret and headbutting a rat out of his senses as he fires off another pebble.  "Come on, ya all so brave against tied up hares.  Try me for a change!"

Farren's arrow strikes his paw, the point sticking through his palm.

Six knives. "EULALIAAAAAA!" Darklett looks insane, running around the seven remaining vermin. "Flank 'em, fighters! Surround 'em, and crush them!" As he finishes the order, he takes his rapier and jabs it into one of the staying vermin's back, felling him instantly.

Algador enters the square from the dirt path.

Zeraph dashes ahead, grinning now and jumping over a falling vermin, to sprint quickly for the village sword held in one paw, until he actually comes upon an opponent and swings it up into both hands, slashing down through the beast. The battle cry is yelled out by this buck as well, to make it almost sound like an echo.

Third and last arrow. Farren sends this one arcing high over the heads of the still fighting vermin, toward the back of one of those fleeing.

Rothal listens to the other hares dash around heroically.  About all he can do is gasp into the sand and try to recover.

Ralai discards his staff and swings his paw down towards the other badger before taking the shoulder to the stomach though this manages to knock the wind out of him it also starts the rush of red called bloodwrath

At the gate, the fleeing vermin turn and place arrows on bowstrings.  Waiting for the hares to come into closer range, eleven of them have made it, the other being hit by a chance arrow.

Jarril jumps back as he gets one swinging a blade at him, falling over onto his back.  Swinging around quickly as he rolls out of the way, a strong runner leg whips out with a kick and breaks some unfortunately leg with a loud snap.  The major continues to make his way towards the village,

Vansinnig notices the change in the other badger. Smirks. "Ahhhh, the blood-lusting beauty of the Bloodwrath." Waxing poetic? Nah. Swinging his arrow impaled arm at the back of Ralai's neck, he takes the blow, snarling faintly. "Ye'll have ta do better than 'at, mate."

Darklett flings metal around at the backs of the vermin, slaying one more, then another, then the last standing vermin... He pulls the sword from the back of the unfortunate weasel, and begins his own way towards the village, right alongside Jarril, the fighting patrol following close behind. "They've got arrows, Major."

Except for the vermin at the gate, the inside of the town seems quite peaceful.  No vermin are noticeable from the road, and unless one were to enter a house, they would never notice the vermin.

Ralai bares his teeth and swings again, /hard/

Darklett coughs. "And, Major? I saw a vermin going into each house, and coming out of it soon after. What do you make of that?"

Jarril nods.  "Where's our own archers?  I want them here now."  He says, ducking and waving his way closer, the major's voice sounding really put off with anger.  "Dark, I don't care if they have a score of vermin in there.  They killed two while they were prisoners, it was murder.  They pay today."

The vermin at the gate seem to have a death wish of some sort, and while the hares begin advancing, they hastily erect a barricade from the remains of the splintered gate.  Crouched behind it, they take careful aim at the hares outside, ready to fire.

Jarril replies back to Dark.  "Trap more like."  Turning to face the Lt.  "That going ta stop ya?  They don't have any captives now."  He stops and looks about as a few hares catch up to him.  "Right, I want an arrow lit up with fire.  I want it fired just into the main street.  So that they get the message that they will be getting other arrows fired."  He smiles.  "We fire normal arrows into their roofs."

Zeraph yanks his sword out of the one vermin, then moves to follow his leaders, looking serious, which is rather strange for the buck, until he notes Rothal laying on the ground and panting a ways back. The fighter decides to rejoin the ranks in a second and swiftly moves towards the worn down runner, ears twitching worriedly. "Hey Roth? Need help?" The buck glances around as he lowers into a crouch. Two fighting badgers, a barricade being erected..He scowls.

Jarril snerks.  "Vermin should be scared enough without their leader being inside those houses so they run out.  Give the game away."  He looks. "Fire a fire arrow into that make shift bricade as well."

Daclon has two archers with him, pressed against the side of a building on main street.  Watching the vermin at the gate, he smiles.  "They're fightin', at least."

Ralai takes the arrow to the back of the neck luckily it hits a bone and only leaves a shallow wound... he murmurs to the other badger "we could be at this all day" as he swings again

"Major, I recommend we stop marching for... just a few moments. How many arrows do you think those vermin can fire off before we reach them? That's assuming we're not stopped by an ambush. We're wide open." Darklett's voice gets a little more brave.

Rothal shakes his head, not lifting it from the sand.  Whether he does or not doesn't seem to matter so much anymore.  "Get goin', Zeraph.  They're all through the town.  Jarril'll need some help."

Jarril takes a bow and some shafts.  "Then when they come running out, we fire with long bows.  Should be able to take them out if there's enough raining down.  That's if they do run out though."  Frowning."

Vansinnig stumbles backwards a bit from the larger badger's blow. Blood drips down his teeth as he smiles. "Hehe, I'm make sure it don't." holding the bladed chain end discreetly, he moves forward, making as if to punch. Instead, he flips the blade out at the last moment and swings at the other badger's stomach.

Zeraph smiles lightly at the other buck. "Well..Maybe you should hide yourself for a while..just in case." The fighter stands and runs back to the group of Long Patrol hares, sliding to come to a standing position within the ranks. He looks eager to get this over with as he gazes at the vermin and their blockade at the gate. His ears turn backward.

Jarril has stopped moving and is kneeling down.  "A fair bit.  But we only need one right now."  Taking the long bow, the major waits as one hare begins to make a small fire with some dried grass as the other prepares a shaft, wetting it with some flask of ale.  Handing it to the major, the hare takes it, lowers it down as the tip lights up and then pulls back on the bow.  Aiming, he fires it at an arc towards the vermin bricade.  "Okay, lets pull back a bit."  He says.

Ralai intercepts the blade with his paw growling he tries to rip the blade from your paws, paw bleeding as he does so

 The vermin shout in surprise as the arrow hits the barricade, jumping back in surprise.  Several stay nearby, and three run down main street, heading for the tavern.

Vansinnig uses Ralai's distraction with the blade to swing his footpaw into the other badger's gut. "So (pant) 're you wi' the li'l hoppers?"

Daclon growls as the vermin run, and nods to his archers.  "Kill those three.  An' anyone else who runs.  They'll get the point before long."  As the archers begin firing, he turns to watch the situation at the gate.

Ralai shakes his head "not really just trying to get the village free right now" he attempts to stop the other badgers paw his his undamaged one

Rothal would take Zeraph's advice, but he can't even drag himself anywhere, much less do any hiding.  So he'll stay here for the moment, and hope nothing goes wrong and he's left behind again.

Darklett watches the arrow fly and strike the barricade, the lieutenant kneeling down after dropping back, looking at his belt and his six remaining knives. "It doesn't look like there are too many left outside. It's all a matter of how many they've got in those houses."

Daclon Just wondering, how many hares are there? (to you)

Vansinnig tries to headbutt, realizing that in such a short range, he might lose to the larger badger. And...he's still bleeding from the earlier cuts. Which is odd. Such shallow cuts should have stopped a while ago.

Jarril gives a satisfied smile.  "I know but roles are different, but we have ta press into there at some point, otherwise they get bo-" Blinking as a shaft lands just beside, him.  "Fall back."  The major seeing a hare fall down by a shaft as he gives a growl, running back while firing off shafts himself, but the hares are zigzagging about and not running in a straight line.  "Dark."  The major says while seeing another one fall down.  The patrol losing about 4 hares before getting out of range.  "This won't do."  He goes back into thought again.

Ralai goes to knee the other badger when he tries to headbutt

Vansinnig snarls a little as he falls back, grabbing his chain. "I've lost enough time," he mutters, realizing he's on the wrong side of the barricade. So...like a reckless idiot, he starts to sprint away from Ralai and towards Jarril. This should be interesting.

Ralai grabs his staff and lobs it at the other badger as he sees him run

Zeraph moves back quickly as the arrows begin to fly, until they are out of range, then the fighter remains where he is within the other hares now, looking briefly towards the fighting boars. He's not quite sure what to think about /that/ situation. The buck's eyes soon return their focus to the village, ready to follow anymore orders and chewing on his bottom lip. Then Van is running for Jarril again. Crap.

Darklett turns to face Jarril after falling back. "They've got themselves pretty walled in there, and there's no telling what they're gonna do with the vermi- Major!" The lieutenant spots the badger, and stands up, letting his rapier fall to the ground and grabbing two more knives, tossing them in one fluid motion, one aiming high and one aiming low again.

Akakios appears from the tavern, carrying a hare's longbow which he found in one of the rooms.  Crawling up onto one of the roofs with the agility of, well... a cat, he finds the perfect spot for sniping at the hares.  Dark mightn't be in range for a vermin bow, but a hare's longbow might...  Pulling back as far as the bow will go and aiming, he releases an arrow at Dark, watching it arc towards the hare.

Jarril turns to look and goes.  "Someone should've reminded me that this wasn't my day."  Turning to Dark.  "Look, there's a smaller gate at the back.  Make sure ya get some hares out of sight heading to the mountain, swing round, head back and get to that small gate.  It's weak.  The otter said so when he escaped when this all started."  Without saying another word, the major was off running at full speed.

Vansinnig is hit in the back of the head by the staff. Stumbling forward, he manages to keep his footing and keep running, but now, with a raging headache. His eyes have been trained on Dark, however, knowing that he'd throw more of those shiney pointy things at him. So, the chain had been spinning. One blade is knocked from the air, the other...hits him square in the bicep. Ouchie.

Ralai runs after the other badger eyes tinged with red

Vansinnig changes direction as the major does. However, he's not very fast, but maybe his chain is. Flicking the spiked weight at the back of the hare's leg, he snarls loudly.

Of course, Van is forced to use solely his right arm, seeing his left muscle has been skewered.

Jarril runs to the side of where Vansinnig is by the side but a bit away from him and calls out.  "Hi again, slow-worm.  Just wondering, why ya leader isn't out ta play.  Ta scared in fighting.  Shame, could've taught him a few lessons."

Zeraph backs up a little as some of the hares do so, out of instinct, then he shoves through the group again, not sure /what/ he's doing, but just running towards where the Lieutenant is, fully attentive on Vansinnig though, ears twitching rather rapidly once more.

Vansinnig cocks his head at Jarril, grinning, his teeth still dripping blood from a split lip. "I don't -care- what you say about Daclon. 'r this entire group, fer that matter. I jus' wanna kill, ya see."

Jarril jumping away as he saw the body movement, the major keeps out of range from the chain.  "Tut, tut.  Come on, been through two, no three wars.  Ya think I go near that thing."  He swirls his sling and unleashes a pebble towards Van's footpaw.  "Ah well, vermin never were that clever."

Ralai is right behind the other badger and goes to grab him from behind using his full strength

Daclon has been busy in the meantime.  The distraction of the badger has allowed him to pull back the vermin at the gate, and to all appearances, they have disappeared.  The gateway is clear, though the crackling fire has spread to the top of the wooden gateway, which is about to collapse.

Vansinnig lets the stone strike his footpaw. It starts bleeding. Cracking his neck, he suddenly steps forward in a long reach, releasing the spiked weight with practiced speed. The chain blurs as it shoots forward. Of course, Ralai is behind him. Listening to the footsteps, he sighs a bit, realizing there isn't much to be done.

Darklett grimaces, watching one of his knives fly off to the side, not seeming too content with that. The badger must die. He whispers a few words to the front fighters to keep a steady eye on the action by the gate, and shout if trouble brews. At that, he goes to aid Jarril in fighting the badger, two more knives coming from his belt, ready to throw as he quickly advances on Vansinnig.

Ralai starts to wrap his arms around the other badger quickly

Jarril ducks quickly but winces as the chain hits his ear, cutting it more or just opening old war wounds.  Ignoring it though, the hare rolls away out of reach again and smiles.  "Sorry, but not going ta play close combat with ya, I'd lose."  He fires another pebble from the sling at the badger, big target that he is.

Akakios growls as his arrow misses Dark, aiming the next one for his fighters.  Whether lucky, or with skill, the arrow slams into one of the hares, killing him instantly.

Vansinnig feels the paws. As the chain continues to shoot forward, he stops it before the blade on the other end slices his paw forward. Grabbing it tightly, he stabs backwards at the other badger's stomach. As Ralai is holding on to him, he probably will have trouble doing anything about it.

Rothal seems to have much in common with Daclon.  He to, has been busy.  Through heroic efforts, he has managed to drag himself about three feet.  Stopping for a breath, he watches the hares dashing around the badger.

Zeraph jumps to the side as the fighter beside him is shot down dead and he turns his gaze to stare up at where the arrow came from, eyes narrowing and searching while remaining tense and slowly stepping back to try to get out of range, murmuring to the other fighters. They begin to move back as well, while the front ranks keep their eyes on the gate.

Jarril seeing that Ralai is with the badger again, gives a wink.  "Can't stay and chat.  Want ta go and see that scared leader of ya's."  The major runs off to make new battle plans with the hares that are left, leaving that scene very quickly.

Vansinnig snarls after Jarril. "Bloody fantastic."

Ralai manages to move to the side a bit avoiding getting stabbed in any major arteries though it does leave a fairly deep wound

The whistle of screeching, flying metal rips across your thoughts. Vansinnig's metal chain slams between your footpaws, a message written in neat handwriting pierced on the end of the heavy metal. It reads, "For what?" The chain retracts swiftly after you pick up the note. (to you)

Rothal has a really stupid idea, and might as well go through with it.  Within yelling range of Van, he sits up.  "Hey badger!  What's a woodie like yah doin' with a buncha stinkin' vermin?  Other woodies to smart for yah?"

Jarril running along, he calls out.  "Get back out of range of that longbow."  The major in a position out of it's range.  "Fall back!"  Seeing most of the hares are following his orders immediately, the major starts to get his patrol back together again, calling out to the others who are giving out the commands.  Running sideways, he gives the village a side glance.

Akakios smiles as the hares back up, still balanced on the roof.  Another shot, not as accurate, this one hitting a to-slow hare in the footpaw.

Vansinnig is a little busy to be insulted. He stops struggling, snarling slightly. Then, he shakes his head. "Didn't even get to kill nothin'."

Darklett finally sees his shot on Vansinnig... And with no attention paid to him, he flings two more daggers, aimed for his exposed upper ribs, and yet another for his head.

Ana enters the square from the dirt path.

Zeraph flinches as this hare is shot in the footpaw and catches him, hauling the other backward and out a range, seeming as he won't be able to do so himself now. The fighter growls and glares towards where the arrows are being fired from.

Jarril gives a frown.  "Archers ta me.  It's time they learnt just what they're messing with."  Moving about as he gets his last remaining archer hares or woodlanders.  "Right.  Form a line of five, three deep.  I want covering fire for the rest of the patrol.  We're going in."  He looks back at the village with anger in his eyes.

Rothal growls.  "Stupid badgah!  Don't yah know nuthin'?  Woodies are woodies.  Yah such an h'idiot that yah can't figure that out?"

Vansinnig grunts harshly before trying to fall to avoid the knives.

Akakios pauses, and seeing the hares reforming, he slides down the roof, dropping to the grand below and ducking into an alleyway.

Rothal laughs, continuing to taunt Vansinnig.  "C'mon, badgah!  Us hares to tough for yah?  h'I could probably take yah!"

Ralai lifts up the other badger a bit to that the daggers don't pierce anything fatal and he says "i will give you one chance to give up and become a goodbeast"

Jarril nods to another major.  "Get ya fighters ready."  Turning to the small formed unit.  "Alright then."  Moving to the side and falling in line with the front lot.  The major looks ahead.  "Forward, march."  The hares begin to move towards the village.  The last remaining patrol, covering the fighters.  Holding up a paw just two steps from the long bow range, the major looks about.

Vansinnig stares over at Rothal. "Try i-Whoa." The blades stick into his side and the other into his shoulder. Glancing at Ralai, he smirks. "Sure thing."

The vermin haven't moved from ambush positions, still hidden in the houses.  In fact, none have come out or moved around much since Akakios's attack.

Ralai glares into the other badgers eyes looking for any sign of a lie saying "give your word as a badger"

Vansinnig grunts a bit. "I'll bet..ugh...Yer arms 'r getting tired from holding me up." He struggles a little. "Fine, fine. On me word as a badger."

Jarril nods again and gives the order.  "Ten paces forward, then pause."  The patrol moves within the range of the longbow, Jarril keeping a look always as the patrol moves along as the line of hares, archers followed by fighters in tight formation stops as the first line aims and fires it's first embardment.

Jarril gives the order.  "First line, move back.  Rest move forward one place."  Checking that they were in position.  "Okay, forward march."  Again the patrol makes it's way slowly towards the village...

Ralai nods saying "you make any move to hurt any beasts with me when i set you down and you get a broken neck"

Darklett can't believe this... He stares at what should be a dead badger, gulping down a gasp. He draws two more knives, and readies to throw them. He hears the call for forward march, but... decides he'll catch up with them later. "Ralai! Just hold him still! That's an -ORDER!-"

Arrows clatter off the roofs and road, and one unfortunate weasel, thinking them fire arrows, dashes out.  Daclon's two archers kill him before he takes three steps out of the building, and he is dragged into the house he left.

Ralai looks at darklett "you realize that if you kill him now that will make you as bad as any of the vermin"

Jarril stops the patrol again and once more another load of arrows fly up into the air as the major drops his blade.  With precision and with the command, the patrol changes formation again on command and once more the patrol moves forwards.

Vansinnig nods a bit, his sight getting blurry. He hates being a hemophiliac. "Yeah, yeah, jus'...don't let me pass out, eh, mate?"

Zeraph moves along with the rest of the fighters now, keeping his eyes trained on the village, but well away of the majors orders as he gives them. Then they are marching on the village again. The buck turns his gaze to Ralai and Van, then glances at Darklett.  He pauses as Jarril stops the patrol, then marches once more.

Rothal sighs.  He had so hoped to continue goading the badger, but now, he seems to have given up.

"It'll make me a proper patroller, who defends goodbeasts that this poor excuse for a mighty badger tried to harm." Darklett almost shouts this to the badger, eyeing the weakening Vansinnig.

Ralai sets down the other badger and calls for a healer saying to darklett "he gave his word as a badger and if he does anything i will deal with him personally got it?" giving darklett a stern look

The town is quiet again, except for the crackle of flames from the barricade, almost completely extinguished.

Keeping his knives ready to throw, Darklett never answers Ralai, he just simply watches, poised to hurl the blades should Vansinnig try anything.

Vansinnig smiles lopsidedly at Dark. "Hehehehehe." He doesn't stop chuckling. "Like 'e said, mate."

Jarril stops the line again and looking sideways.  "Centre two hares.  Two flaming arrows please.  Right in the middle of the street.  Quickly."  He watches as grass from their side pouch is put on the sand, flint being used as these two hares light their arrows.  Giving the order to fire, the whole line fires with only two fire arrows landing in the middle of the street, the others landing on the roofs.  Quickly, they kick sand in to destroy the fire.  "Okay, march."  The major orders.

Darklett shakes his head at the bloodied badger. "I don't trust you." Still, he holds his position, ready to throw the knives to end the badger's life at any second.

Vansinnig spits some blood. "I'd stick wi' that notion, hopper."

Any thought of running has been eliminated from the vermin's minds.  The three vermin killed for running have proved to be more than enough of an example.

Ralai looks at darklett saying "he can't exactly do anything now those last two hits would have killed anything but a badger" seeing as a healer doesn't show up he starts to take care of the wounds the best he can stopping the blood his first priority

Jarril stopping again, the patrol can see the village so near now, only two more stops before they reach the gate.  Another volley of arrows fly into the air as the major orders them on once more.

Darklett turns his head, still watching Vansinnig. "You owe that badger your life, you know." His knives... never lower. All it would take is a couple swings of his arms, and Vansinnig would probably never get up again.

Rothal begins to drag himself towards the two badgers and Dark.  He makes it about halfway there, before stopping to take a breather.

Once again, as the arrows clatter about, there is no answer from the vermin inside the village.

Zeraph continues the march with the other Long Patrol hares, growing more serious the closer they get to the gates.

Ralai looks at rothal saying "sir darklett you may want to help your friend over there" he points a paw at rothal

Vansinnig pushes Ralai away. "Don't -touch- me." Stumbling away from Ralai, he shakes his head at Dark. "Let's have tea sometime, all right?"

Major Brawnears commanding the fighters mutters.  "Not long now, keep sharp the lot of you.  Take no prisoners either."  He says in a gruff voice.  The hare looking well into his later seasons as the patrol stops for the last time before getting to the gate and seeing Jarril order the last volley of arrows.  "That's it.  Ten more paces and we be entering in.  Be on your guard.  Meanwhile, Jarril was giving orders.  "Archers, fall back.  Let the sling shot group to the front.  The major waits as he sees some archers drop their bows, some fighters moving to the front as the patrol changes.  Jarril gives the word to move on.

Ralai looks at vansinnig "you really want to bleed to death?"

"He's fine." Darklett is very short with Ralai, his weapons still trained on Vansinnig. "Sure. We'll have tea. In Hellgates."

Vansinnig snarls a bit. "I said don't touch me." Smirks at Dark. "Mebbe."

Ralai frowns at vansinnig "hah may be kinder just to end your life now then because you won't allowme to stop your bleeding"

Rothal has caught his breath, and finishes crawling towards the others.  Spitting blood out of his mouth, he grins lopsidedly.  "Hey, Dark.  Long time, no see, eh?"

Three, two, one....  Jarril stops the patrol as he's already loaded his sling and kept his small runner sword out.  "Alright.  Keep a look out.  File in and move around on the inside of the periment walls.  Any movement, fire ya slings at them.  The fightah's will come in."  Taking a step inside, the patrol begins to carefully move into formation, slowly letting the fighting hares and anyone else who's going to fight slowly move into the village itself.

Darklett's eyes glance towards Rothal before placing themselves on Vansinnig again. "Rothal, are you okay?" He does sound caring, although his stance and features wouldn't show it. After all, the buck almost -died.-

As the hares step into the village, windows open up, and vermin archers open fire on the hares from the houses.  With shouts and warcries, the vermin rain arrows down on the hares.

Zeraph moves into the gates, without a glance backwards, taking his place with the rest of his companions. The buck doesn't show any of the fear that he feels inside, then the arrows start flying at them. A few of the fighters drop from the attack. The fighter jumps off to the side and is scraped across the leg by one, while another nearly pierces his ear.

Jarril moves quickly to the side as he unleashes his sling towards one of the windows, making sure he knocks one of the vermin down as he ducks behind something.  Several hares fall but with fire from the sling shots, some fighters get to the first nearest two houses.

Rothal shakes his head.  "Dunno, Dark.  Mah face h'is cut up real bad.  Very bad.  h'It won't stop bleedin'."

Darklett's ears perk at the sudden noise of the ambush. Oh, no... what'd he done? "...Find... a healer that stayed back, Rothal. There's one that will take care of you. Ralai, snap this badger's neck if he so much as coughs wrong. He's weakened, he won't be able to resist." At that, Darklett charges off towards the melee.

Akakios bursts out of a house, followed by five screaming vermin.  With full body shields, held at ready, they push through the scattered hares in their way, ignoring them and heading  straight for Jarril.

Ralai tries to bandage up the other badger even with his protesting... probably by now loss of blood would have weakened him enough that the large badger shouldn't have much of a problem overpowering him if need be

Jarril curses under his breath as he prepares himself, the hares being pushed in the way quickly begin to fire slings or throw blades from behind them.  He shouts out.  "Someone get outside and get fire shafts.  Shoot them into the homes themselves!"

Vansinnig snarls a bit, still trying to push the other badger away.

Daclon is followed by several vermin as well, these armed with pikes and spears, and hit the hares who have turned to fire on Akakios's group.

Taye stands with sling in paw amongst the front ranks with Jarril and the other slingers, and as the windows open and the arrows rain down, he drops down into a crouch and ducks behind an abandoned fisher's cart which has fallen over onto its side. His ears are lowered, and he in general looks rather terrified. However, he's keeping his eyes open and they catch upon Jarril where he is hiding. Ducking his head around the edge of the cart, he fires off a missile from his sling and it strikes one of the vermin still firing out of the window.

Zeraph just shakes his head quickly and rushes for the oncoming vermin, slamming his shoulder forcefully into one of the full body shields to knock the beast behind it over onto his back. This only half works, as the vermin stumbles, but doesn't go completely over. The fighter keeps his side against the shield, trying to shove his heavy sword forcefully through the protection. This keeps him sort of safe from Daclon and his group for the moment. The buck recognizes the leader immediately.

Daclon This place is going to be a torched war zone long before this is over.  As soon as the houses start to burn, the vermin wil start running. (to you)

Ralai continues to bandage up the weakened badger saying "come on let me bandage you up you idiot you really want to die?"

Darklett reaches the melee rather quickly from his run, but halts just outside it... He squints, and climbs through a window stealthily... Soon enough, there are no more arrows coming out of that house. He slips out, and walks behind, in the shadows, to the next, creeps in, and that building is, like the last, no longer a threat.

Rothal manages to stand up, while everyone else seems to be having some sort of action happening, Rothal begins to busily stagger around in the hopes of finding a healer.

Vansinnig grits his teeth, before passing out.

Keita to the rescue! Suddenly, the rather harried looking healer doe crouches down beside the two badgers, keeping low in order to be as little a target as possible. "Well, 'ey now, badgery ole thing, ya look like you're bleedin'..." She flashes a grin at Van, but... then he passes out. Well then. She frowns, perturbed, and then looks to Ralai. "Can you fix 'im up?"

Ralai finishes wrapping the wounds before pulling a small canteen of water and pours a little on him saying "well now that he stopped struggling i've stopped the bleeding" (water is attempt at waking him back up)

Vansinnig snarls a bit in his unconscious state, before suddenly snapping awake as the water hits him. His paw shoots up suddenly, moving for the closest thing...Keita's neck.

Akakios rushes into combat with Jarril, unaware that only one of the vermin who had aided him in his charge still lives.  "C'mon, hare.  I'll kill yer!"

Jarril fights as best as he can while he ends up finally getting the brunt of the vermin attack but the major's mood doesn't let him falter.  Loaded sling kept hitting body armour or helmets with such force that loud bangs can be heard.  The hare making the fire ends up being killed and falls on top of it, putting it out completely.  Wincing from a cut on his arm, the major backs away slightly.

"Urk!" The paws find their closest target, and Keita grabs at Vans' paws, hitting at them. Her eyes turn to Ralai.

Jarril blinks and looks at Akakios with a frown.  "Ah, another.  Ya the leader then?  If not, I am sure he's cowering in some building.  Such a shame."  Swinging his sling about as he brings up his blade slightly.  "Though, nice plan on the badger.  Shame he was ta slow though, wasn't it."

Vansinnig gasps a bit, his eyes squinting. "Leya..." Then...he is aware. "Eh?" The paw stops strangling, but holds.

Jarril blinks and looks at Akakios with a frown.  "Ah, another.  Ya the leader then?  If not, I am sure he's cowering in some building.  Such a shame."  Swinging his sling about as he brings up his blade slightly.  "Though, nice plan on the badger.  Shame he was ta slow though, wasn't it." *repose*

Keita smacks at Vans' paw some more. "N-not Leya! Keita! Gerroff!"

Darklett walks out of the third building, which is now filled with dead vermin instead of live ones, and charges again, this time heading for the melee. For a brief second, he falters, then shakes his head and heads back in, keeping his head low. Knives. Start. Swinging.

Rothal has noticed Keita, and stumbles in her direction.  Hopefully, he'll get close enough to have her help and.  Surprised at Van's sudden move, he speeds up, but falls in the soft sand.

Vansinnig releases her, snarling. "Yah know, ya were pretty stupid ta run into a buncha vermin like 'at."

Ralai frowns at van "your lucky you weren't aware"

Akakios laughs.  "I'm not Daclon.  He's behind me, rabbit.  I did shoot a couple of your beasts, though.  Now I'll see how ya fight with yer paws."

Keita collapses back as she is released, rubbing ruefully at her throat. "Yeah, well. You were pretty stupid comin' out in the open 'round all those bloody 'ares, weren't ya?"

Ralai looks up at keita "i take it he is a friend of yours?"

Zeraph is busy taking out those vermin that have moved from the houses. The buck kicks a rat down onto his back, stabbing his sword into its gut with both paws on the hilt, then yanks it out, pushing it under his one arm to kill the other charging up on him. The fighter is soon close to those with spears and pikes.

Vansinnig smirks. "Cheeky, cheeky, bar owner." He struggles up, his bandages all ready leaking blood. "You, other badger. Wot did I say 'bout touchin' me, eh?"

Jarril replies back.  "Ah, okay.  My fault.  He's cowering behind ya then."  The hare keeping at a stand.  With a flick of the wrist he smiles.  "Well, whenever ya ready ta start.."

Daclon has snagged a hare with his hook, pulling him close and banging his head against the hare's.  The chainmail patch gouges a hole in the hare's forehead and knocks him out.  Kicking him aside, he glances around.  Darklett has harmed plenty of vermin.  Slicing a hare open, he steps back.  The hares are better than he had expected.

Darklett has windmilled his knives right through vermin, looking for some sort of mark that identifies the leader, but mostly just swiping at everything that doesn't have long ears... He tilts his head up to survey things, and... blinks. Nuh-uh, not this time. Darklett changes his direction, plowing his way through hares and vermin alike.

Zeraph watches Daclon move through the group of fighters, using his hook as a weapon. The buck scowls as he takes out many of his companions and he moves forward again.

Akakios glances around, suddenly aware that only one of his comrades can help him.  Throwing his shield into Jarril's face, he turns, cutting through three hares and making it out of the melee.  Whether the shield did any damage was hard to tell.

Ralai looks directly into the other badgers face "i had to otherwise you would be a bloody corpse by now"

Daclon shakes his head, pushing forward again.  His sword flashes, and another hare is cut down.  Bringing him face to face with Zeraph.  His eye narrows in recognition.  "Step back, Zeraph.  I don' want to have to kill ye."

Jarril gets a bit of pain from the shield as he ends up with his nose bleeding.  Frowning, he snarls.  "Thought so.  Like leader, like low vermin..."  The words go into the most foul words that hd left the major ever.  Taking out his anger on some other vermin near him, the hare begins to cause more damage than what Darklett is doing.

Taye is still crouched behind the cart, and for a moment it almost looks like he's frozen up. But then, a vermin comes around the corner of his cart, and rather forces him to move. Coming at Taye with sword raised, the rat looks fierce and frightening up until the very moment Taye raises partially from his crouch and pushes his dagger into the rat's thigh. Blood spurts, and the rat goes down like a sack. Eyes narrowed as he fights against faintness at the sight of all the blood on his paws, Taye reaches out and grabs the dagger out of the rat's thigh and proceeds to jam it back into the rat's chest. Disgusted and fear fight for dominance in his expression, as he stumbles up and away from the cart, just kind of waiting for whatever the next attack will be.

Rothal spits sand and blood out of his mouth.  It's getting kinda hard for him to see, and he presses his paw against his cheek to try and stop the blood.

Keita reaches for Vans' shoulder to try to push him back down as he sits up. "What c'n I say, badgery ole thing? I missed havin' someone t' cheek at." She manages a small grin and glances to Ralai. In answer to the friend question? "Ya... might say that."

Zeraph just glares at Daclon, seeming only aware of the ferret, muscles tensed and not moving, just studying the leader. Slowly he begins to lower his sword, paws still upon it, as he gazes up at the vermin, ears turning backward. An arrow flies past his face and he doesn't even flinch. The buck is obviously feeling conflicted.

Jarril slowly pushes on himself a bit more into the village, the major barking orders to those that are near him as they pull in rank, small group with their backs to each other before dealing out blow after blow.  Still with firm eyes of a soldier, the major kills another finding a slight gap in a fox's armour.

Rothal blinks, and falls back into the sand, breathing heavily.  Before blacking out, he begins to wonder whether going on the diplomatic mission was such a good idea...

Vansinnig grits his teeth. "I ain't talkin' to ya anymore." Glancing at Keita, he smirks, licking blood off of his teeth. "So, got bored in the tavern, eh?"

Darklett looks around him, and sees... all hares. So, he turns around, placing his back against the grouping of Long Patrollers, sheathing his knives and pulling out his rapier, fending off attacks and dealing out his own, staying still for now... Perhaps so he can catch his breath.

One hare speaks next to Jarril.  "Tight spot we're in here, ain't it?"  Jarril smiles as he parries away.  "Nah, been in worse situations, besides who wants life boring.  Shame I can't find Taye though but maybe he's busy, just hope he hasn't done that hide away thing again."  But he carries on fighting, not knowing where Taye was at all.

Keita shrugs and gives Van a look over. "... Bit. Ya c'n only have glasses thrown at ya so many times before ya just have t' ask yerself - what else is out there, ya know?"

Daclon shakes his head, grinning.  "I'll see ye later, no doubt."  Walking back slightly, he taps the vermin around him.  "C'mon, fall back to the next square!  We're losin' to many here!"  Vermin begin to fall back, only a few with spears and shields covering their exit, stretching across the street, from one side to another.

Vansinnig turns his head and spits blood. Struggling to sit up, he glances around. His chains lie quite a distance away. Back to Keita. "Uh-huh. So? What's out there, eh?"

Zeraph scowls angrily, then kills a weasel beside him, teeth gritted, and leaving his sword in the dead beast for now, just watching the leader back off with the other vermin. The buck growls and drops into a seated position, holding his knees, face hidden.

Ralai looks at keita "you know it may be a good idea to g myself bandaged up before i end up as eak as him..." he points at the deep wound on his side and the shallow wound on his neck "your friend there is a pretty good fighter"

Darklett notices the retreat, and lays off the attack... He really really halts himself from giving chase. Keeping his rapier up for any last shots the vermin might have, he lets them all pass by, until he's out of danger... He looks around his body, and... Completely unscathed. Of course, knowing superstition, he says nothing about it. ;)

Jarril watches as most vermin are pulling back but in the mood that he's in, the major kills another that thought of getting another cheap shot in.  With nothing showing as dangerous now, he moves over to where one house is and flops down, the major clearly in pain from the battle, bleeding in some places from the battle with the badger before then this one.  Resting his head against the wall, he smiles.  "I'm getting too old for this...."

At the question, Keita lifts her head and looks around, and notices the considerable number of hares who are just standing around looking at other hares, at this point. Her gaze shifts towards the main street, in which direction the majority of the vermin are headed. "Looks like the vermin're fallin' back." This is said dispassionately, but at Ralai's request, she turns her attention to him. "Ah - sorry, Ralai. Sit down 'n' I'll have a look."

Ralai sits down looking at van saying "are you really going to do what you said or will you go back to killing needlessly once i leave your presence?"

With a shaking paw, the major places his sword and sling on the floor before reaching for his still intact water pouch.  With a shaking paw, the major drinks gently, before pouring some over his bleeding ear to clean it.

Zeraph stretches his legs out in front of him, staring off in the direction that the Bloodthirsters went, then puts a paw to the base of his ear, pulling it away bloody, from the arrow wound. The buck just gazes at it for a moment, then looks at the one on his leg. The dagger wound on his arm has reopened from the battle, and there is a new one on his side it seems. Oh..when did that happen? The fighter suddenly just lets himself drop over onto his back, gazing blankly at the sky.

Well, it seems there will /be/ no more attacks on Taye, for now. Dazed, he turns to watch the vermin retreat, and his dagger drops from his blood-soaked paw to the dirt. He promptly drops to his knees, and loses whatever he managed to force himself to eat for breakfast this morning. He groans dully, and continues downward, resting his forehead to the ground. He somehow manages to avoid lying in his own mess, fortunately. Go Taye. XD

Vansinnig stands up shakily. "Gave ya me word didn't I?" He chuckles, heading towards his chain. Rather shakily.

Keita begins looking over Ralai's wounds and does what she can to clean up the blood with the supplies she still has. She then goes about the task of patching him up. Her ears perk. "What word?"

Ralai nods saying "well you were being a vermin and they don't seem to have issues with lying"

Jarril see's one of the Lt's come towards him, asking what to do now.  Frowning as there's no rest whatsoever, he replies calmly.  "Put sentries and establish a perimeter.  Also send a runner back ta the mountain and arrange for more hares ta come ta take the injured home and arrange for the reserve hares ta come out.  Actually, no.  Get a runner here so I can send word as well ta the colonel that's there and see what they want ta do next."

Darklett immediately starts looking around at the casualties... Uh, oh... The lieutenant starts fumbling around, putting away his rapier very clumsily, almost stabbing himself several times. "Good work... fighters..." He gives several pats on the back, and sets a course directly for one of the Halyard homes.

Vansinnig picks up his chain, slowly wrapping it around his chest. Glancing towards the town, he snarls, spits bloody saliva, and ignores Ralai. Moving towards the others, he walks right by, towards the beach. "I think I'm gonna take a li'l vacation from th' Bloodthirsters." He snorts. "First fight an' they didn't even win."

Ralai looks at van "if i ever see you on the vermin's side again i won't hesitate to kill you remember that"

Jarril see's the hare nod as he looked about, pulling another hare.  "Arrange for a small party ta go back out and bury our dead.  They did well t'day and I don't want the birds getting at them.  Leave the vermin as they are.  Just drag them ta the sea.  It can take them."  After this, the major closes his eye, then shudders as cool wind blows past him.

Zeraph's eyes are half closed now, seeming rather warn out. The fighter is away from the others, further into the town because of where he was positioned before falling over. The buck remains on his back, one arm rested across his middle, the injured one loosely at his side, palm up and blood running down the limb.

Vansinnig snorts a bit at Ralai's comment. "We'll see, eh?"

Taye rolls slowly over onto his back, his eyes still closed. With one paw he picks up a fistful of dirt and this is rubbed against the other paw, and up his forearms. Another fistful of dirt is rubbed into the wet fur of his arms, before he finally opens his eyes again. The blood is... still there, but not as shockingly blood-like. He sits up and looks around.

Darklett walks out of the home he'd just walked in, looking marginally better... He looks over the battlefield one more time, then makes his way towards Jarril. "Major, sah!"

Jarril having a few moments, he gets up and takes a deep breath.  "Can't see me not doing anything."  Mumbling.  Taking a few steps.  "Alright, those with healing skills, ya need ta go about and deal with the injured."  Remembering he's injured himself, but not that bad.  "I want all supplies stored in one of those homes, after the vermin have been taken out and the place at least cleaned.  And..."  He looked about.  "I want at least six hares who are fit enough ta stand on sentry t'night.  So get some rest now..."

Ralai looks at keita "done yet?"

Jarril looks at Darklett while giving orders.  "Yes, what is it?"

What's that smell? It smells suspiciously like smoke and...something else. Something less pleasant. It isn't terribly far away either, seeming to come from further into the village.

Zeraph flicks his ears dully as he listens to Jarril's orders, though he is off further away. The buck nods and mumbles a 'yes, sah', while still resting where he is.

And howls. Howls of pain and suffering. "AAAAAAAGH!" The screeches are bloodcurdling almost, as they resound against the walls of Halyard.

Vansinnig licks his teeth again. "Keep livin', Keita." He heads off...and stops at the screaming. "Hmmm?"

Hares that have healing are going about and dealing with the wounded now.  Taking care of those who need it more urgently.

With Ralai taken care of, Keita stands with a nod to the badger. "Done... Have a propah look-ovah at the mountain, though." She turns and heads off to find another injured hare to tend to. This is when she spies Zeraph, and with a small frown, over to him she walks, side-stepping a few hare and vermin corpses as she goes. When she is within ear-shot she hears the mumbled "yes sah", and she continues the rest of the way over to him, where she crouches. "'Raph?"

Jarril looks about and shakes his head.  "Ah well, that's what ya get for failure within vermin I suppose."  Mumbling to himself.

The smell of smoke is far more pungent now, aided by a breeze blowing in from that part of the village. And that pungent smell, that nasty smell...it's burning flesh, for any who might have smelled it before.

Ralai looks at keita saying "not planning on returning to the mountain any time soon..." he crinkles his nose at the smell

The screams get louder, and more frequent, and more urgent... Until finally, right in the middle of a shrill, uncanny howl... They stop, and all that remains are the signs of fire.

Vansinnig snuffs the air...then breathes deeply. "Ahhh. Beautiful." He walks off down the beach.

Zeraph pins his ears and closes his eyes, trying not to listen, or smell. The buck rolls over onto his side and curls into the fetal position, blocking out the screeches as best he can. He suddenly hears Keita move towards him and opens his eyes, gazing up at her.

Darklett takes a deep breath. "The badger... He's not a problem anymore."

Taye's ears swivel around at the screams, and almost drunkenly he turns. His eyes blink slowly, and he breaths in the rather pungent odor. Swallowing with difficulty, he tries to fight down more sick and is fortunately up to the task, though he looks far from cheerful. He stands, ears flat against his skull as he looks in the direction of the smoke cloud. "What's... what're they burnin'?"

Ralai stands up saying "not right now at least..."

Jarril shudders slightly.  "I should bally well hope not.  If I was older I don't think I would've been fast enough.  Just glad I kept him on the side I can see..."

Another hare passing Taye, a fighter.  "They're burning dead bodies...."

Ralai walks slowly over to jarril the bandages on his side having already been stained red with his blood...

Darklett nods to the major, bringing a paw up to the side of his head. "Just thought I'd let you know. If he's not dead, then I doubt he'll be raising another paw to harm the Long Patrol." He looks over his own body, as if still in disbelief that he hadn't taken a single bruise, cut, slash, stab, jab, or anything. He even pats himself down to make sure it's all still attached.

Keita's ears go up to cover her own ears at the shrill screams, but as they die, she slowly lowers her paws and rests one on Zeraph's shoulder. "... 'Ey, shh. Yer all righ'."

Jarril chuckles at Darklett.  "Ya know.  Some minor injuries aside."  The major refusing any help until his patrol had been fixed up before him.  "I am beginning ta wonder when my luck will run out."

The smell takes on a whole new meaning for Taye and without another word, he stumbles behind a building and promptly begins making more unpleasant noises. At least he's out of sight, this time. Ahhh, the joys of one's first battle.

The smell of smoke and not-quite-the-usual burning materials continues, though there's no sign of the fire spreading, or the fire itself, in fact.

Zeraph half smiles at the doe, eyes slightly closing again, then he looks away. "I couldn't kill him, K..." The buck shudders a little as he suddenly begins to feel the wounds and the exhaustion.

Ralai stands near jarril saying "well so far it seems we did okay... though i don't think it would be a good idea to continue on this battle.... that other badger did a bit of damage to me"

Darklett raises his gaze to smile at the major, the lieutenant looking a great mix between pleasantly surprised and proud. And as the officer speaks, the hare dips his head, then looks up. "You know, sir, I think you oughtta have a talk with my brother about luck sometime."

There's movement now, from that end of the village. A lone figure is making her way rather opening down the streets, though it seems like all she can do to keep from stumbling, and now and then she fails even in that. It's a marten jill, and she's extremely bloodied, most especially around her face. She's carrying two equally bloody knives under one arm.

Keita touches a paw to Zeraph's cheek, and shakes her head. "Don't think about it... jus' rest." She then begins touching up his wounds, doing what she can in the present situation, which is basically just enough to be getting on with.

Jarril turns to face Ralai.  "I've been ordered ta finish this off and finish this off I will."  Frowning slightly.  "Besides, I won't bally well dis-honour those ordah's or stop because a few long patrollers died in fighting for what they believe in either."  Looking disgusted the major walks away quickly.

Ralai looks at jarril saying "i meant myself sir not you"

Jarsune continues onward, approaching the sentry line at an ever increasing stumble. The paw that isn't holding the knives lifts into the air, palm outward.

Jarril moving through the other hares and leaving Darklett and Ralai behind, the major stops and turns to face Taye.  Seeing that look, the major nods and slowly heads towards him.  "Y' okay?"

Zeraph nods and his body trembles again, breathing out a heavy sigh. The buck goes to push himself up off of the ground, ears lifting to listen to what is happening around him, now that the screams have died down. Suddenly he sees the jill movingly along and he nearly bolts up to his footpaws.

Taye finally returns from behind the building, looking rather shaky as he does so. This is just when Jarril approaches him, and he looks rather dully at the major. Slowly, he nods.

Ralai heads off at a slow pace saying "good luck with freeing halyard...i may not see you again depending on what happens"

As Zeraph bolts up, Keita stumbles back before she too stands, looking in the direction of Jarsune.

Jarsune is either completely oblivious to the hares, or she's just not paying much heed to the fact that they're right in her path. She keeps on going, straight for the sentry line, with that one paw raised and the knives tucked under her arm.

Jarril nods and looks at Taye's paws.  "Okay.  First time then?"

Ralai turns calling out "good-bye my friends may you live many years in happiness i may never see you again" before he disappears into the distance

Zeraph hurries for the marten, seeming unaware of his wings, and not even /thinking/ about the fact that she may be an enemy. The buck goes to support her, ears pinned against his skull and looking very concerned. Blood runs down his own side. He'll worry about that later. ;) "Are you alright?"

On the verge of collapse as she is, Zeraph is a very handy leaning post. Jarsune blinks vacantly at him once, twice, and then simply falls against him, the knives, amazingly, still gripped tightly to her side.

Zeraph just catches the young jill and lets her rest on him, brows furrowing and holding her there easily. He contemplates picking Jarsune up and carrying her into one of the vacant homes, and actually goes to do so, supporting her back under the one arm, then leaning his injured arm down to sweep her legs up and heft her.

As Jarril looks at his paws, Taye's own attention is drawn to them. He promptly begins wiping them repeatedly on his tunic. "Y-yes, sah." He suddenly notices that Jarril's injured, and his brow wrinkles. "Ya should see a healah." He turns, a bit jerkily, and starts calling out, "There any healahs 'round here? Healah!" No one pays much attention to him, though.

Jarril pads closer to Taye and shakes his head.  "No, they're dealing with other serious injuries right now.  I am fine, I assure you."  Nodding his head.  "Ya sure there isn't anything ya want ta get out at all?  There's no shame in it whatsoever.  If ya must know."  He says, leaning against the wall.  "I couldn't stop shaking for a week after killing someone for the first time."

Darklett is just sorta standing there, now, in the middle of the lake of blood and bodies. "A lot of these're..." He grits his teeth, looking up at the sky, anywhere away from the corpses. Instead, he heads off towards the outside of the gates, patting his belt.

Jarsune can't, and doesn't, offer any protest to Zeraph's actions. Her head lolls limply against him, and she gives a sudden, snorting hack that consists mostly of blood.

Well now. Can't let Zeraph carry all that weight by himself. Keita steps forward, and gently supports Jarsune's rolling head, keeping it level. She looks up to Zeraph and silently nods, ready to follow.

Zeraph winces as she coughs up blood and then, after sharing a glance with Keita, he moves towards Jarril and the vacant house there, with a slight limp again now that he has been on his previously injured leg a lot.

Taye turns slowly back around at Jarril's reassurance, though his brow still wrinkles uncertainly, as though he's not quite sure he believes him. At his continued words, Taye only shakes his head, the wiping of his paws on tunic slowed to only occasional swipes. "N-no." Pause. "What should I do now, sah?"

Jarsune has a death-grip on those knives. The rest of her, however, is limp and unresponsive. There's something shiny and slightly rounded beneath a tear across the front of her tunic, which, if one were to look more closely, holds all the appearances of something silver. And now, considerably scratched and dented.

Jarril nods his head slowly in thought, then rubs his chin slowly.  Eventually, he answers Taye.  "It took a lot ta do what ya did t'day..."  Breaking off, the major thinks for a moment and then nods his head as though he had come to terms with something that he was debating from within.  "Recruit, stand ta attention."  Looking at Taye.

Keita reaches out her free paw slowly to pull open the tear in Jarsune's tunic. "What is tha'...?" She frowns thoughtfully.

Darklett is outside the fallen gates of the square, kneeling down. His hand roots through some tall grass, and picks out a shiny knife. He wipes it off on the grass and places it in his belt, doing the same to yet another one found in the same spot. Standing up from that place, he looks around for the others.

Jarril looks about for Darklett.  Spotting a hare.  "Go fetch Darklett for me please.  I need a witness."  He turns back to face Taye again.

Zeraph gives Keita a glance that states they can worry about it later, then he moves into the vacant home with the bloody jill, where he goes to lay her down slowly, ears still turned backward.

One of the hares finally finds Darklett and pants, saluting.  "Sah, major Jarril requires ya for a moment.  That's if ya not ta busy that is."

Taye responds automatically to the order, standing to attention. His dirtied paw raises in salute, and he just stands there, looking up at Jarril. Clearly he hasn't quite figured out what Jarril has in mind that wants a witness to do it.

Jarril doesn't do anything at the moment apart from looking at Taye, not saying a word.  Placing his paws behind his back, ignoring the bleeding that is going on for the moment.  The major neither smiles or has a frown.

Slain makes his way into the town, casually humming his usual tune, he takes a moment as he enters to look over the scene.

Darklett takes two more knives out of the grass, and places them in his belt, his head moving to see the hare that beckons him. "Eh? Alright." He gives another glance around, then heads towards the village square again. On the way, he spots another knife, and puts it in his belt. Eventually, he makes his way over to the major. "Yes sah?"

Jarsune gives a very soft mumble of protest as Keita pulls back the torn edge of her shirt, but otherwise remains limp and unresponsive. The nastiest injury seems to be the one on her cheek--it's bleeding profusely, apparently on both sides, as her mouth is full of blood as well.

Jarril looks at Darklett and nods his head.  Turning to face Taye once more.  "Recruit.  Ya have done a lot over the past seasons."  He said.  "Been through a lot of my orders, be they bad or good.  However...."  He took a deep breath.  "I have seen enough of what ya did t'day while ya were with me and from what I can see, what ya did when I wasn't around.  I was asked ta stay by ya side at all times but I see that wasn't necessary.  So recruit."  The major puffs out his chest.  "I hereby give ya field promotion from recruit ta full blown Long Patrol Runner and therefore placed in my patrol."  Smiling.  "Do ya accept?"

Darklett jumps a little as Jarril starts speaking. Uh, uh... oh! Yes. He turns to face Taye, looking all official like, straight-faced, straight-backed, ears at attention... The whole nine yards, so to speak.

Keita catches the look and indeed doesn't worry about it until Jarsune is laid down. Then, though, she moves to the marten's side and begins examining the object beneath the tunic. Blink. "... It's a mask. Well - was." However, this doesn't distract her for long, because soon enough she moves to examine Jarsune's injuries. "Wondah what happened t' her..." She grabs a roll of bandages from her pocket and tears off a strip, which she dampens with water from her canteen. She begins dabbing at her cheeks, and pours a little extra water on the wounds to be able to better examine the situation.

Slain looks at all the dead beasts, his expression remains emotionless and he continues his tune as he makes through the town.  He spots Jarsune but does not approach, he examines her condition from a far and then continues on.

Apart from a great many bruises, focused about evenly over her body, all of Jarsune's wounds are of the slashing and piercing variety. The one on her cheek proves to actually go right through to the inside of her mouth. Ouch. She's got a slice along one side of her neck, and a much deeper stab that apparently got caught in in the thicker, loose skin on the back of her neck. Beyond that, everything's nicks and scratches.

Zeraph slumps into a seated position beside the wounded marten and just gazes down at her, then to the silver object. A mask? Hmm...The buck doesn't think much about it for now though, just resting there, against the wall, and looking over Jarsune as if he is silently willing her to not die, though the fighter seems rather exhausted and his muscles still give a shudder every now and then, making the hare's body twitch sometimes.

Somehow, Taye never quite pictured his promotion happening like this, nor did he quite expect to feel this way when it did happen. He looks quietly from major to lieutenant before finally settling on looking at Jarril. "I accept, sah." He lowers his saluting paw to his side.

Slain stops in his tracks, even though he and Jarsune have never gotten along that well he can't just walk away when she's injured like that, he turns and makes his way back over to where the hares are seeing to her wounds "Greetings, will she be okay?"

Jarril nods and pads over.  "Good lad."  Smiling.  "Now, ya first order is ta get some rest.  Speak ta anyone that ya need ta talk ta about this, okay Taye?"  Looking back to Darklett.  "Could ya let the others know that he's been promoted and is there a clean home he can go into as well."  Giving Darklett a look that Taye couldn't see, one that said.  'He doesn't need to see anymore death right now...'

Zeraph perks his ears up in Slain's direction before his eyes travel to look at the lizard. He nods slowly. "I hope.." Is all that the buck responds, and he gives another shudder, then wraps his arms around his middle, stretching one leg out in front of him while the other remains up, bent at the knee.

Keita doesn't look up as Slain makes his way over. Instead, she grunts softly and bends her head a bit closer to Jarsune, content that Zeraph will handle Slain's questions. She digs in a tunic pocket and comes out with a packet of some powder. This she sprinkles liberally over the cheek wound, "Ought t' help stop the bleedin'..." She digs in another pocket and comes out with a curved needle and some thread. This is set to the marten's cheek, and Keita begins the unpleasant task of sewing up the tear in her flesh.

Jarsune squeaks, a sound that's hardly dignified, and hardly appropriate to all the blood that's covering her, not all of it being hers. Her fingers tighten even further on the knife handles, and her eyes suddenly flicker open.

Darklett takes a breath, and nods to Jarril. "Yes, sah. Taye." He turns to the brand new runner, stepping back to give him room to take a step, and turns around, walking towards a home he hopes is uncluttered. "Follow me."

Jarril gives Taye a pat on the back and speaks gently.  "Go on, but know this.  I knew ya had it in ya.  Ya did me proud."  He stands there and nods to a healer who beckons him and pads over to get his injuries dealt with.

Slain takes a seat beside Zeraph and looks over at the hare with a slight smile "You hares sure did a number on this place."  His attention turns back to Jarsune at the sound of the squeak to which he glances down at her.

Taye looks around at Jarril as he is patted and smiles weakly, slowly starting to come around to the realization that he's actually still alive. The promotion part? Will hit later. With a nod to Jarril, he turns to Darklett and moves to follow after him. He looks up at the older buck quietly as they walk, comparing his and Darklett's considerable lack of injury. "Yer not hurt?"

Zeraph's attention turns back to the jill and he leans forward slightly to see if she is alright. The buck looks very solemn right now, being very quiet. Perhaps he's like this after every battle. The fighter actually offers Slain a light smirk as he speaks to him though, and half nods. "..aye."

Keita sees Jarsune's eyes come open, and inwardly she winces. It's always the worst when they wake mid-stitch. "'Ey there, deah..." She's just starting to realize how /young/ the marten is. "I'm Keita... don't try t' speak, though, 'n' don't try not t' move..." She holds the needle poised at her cheek.

Jarril begins to talk to the healer and nods his head gravely to him.  "Aye, well I am sure I get told off when I get back.  My cousin doesn't exactly take me getting injured that well these days."  Wincing to getting his ear cleaned.  "Doesn't help that I am beginning ta look like a 25 season old hare either.  War takes it out of ya, makes ya grow much older, don't think we can take it over and over again ta be honest..."  The major's voice trails off as he winces again to the ear starting to bleed again.

Darklett leads Taye into a house, swinging a door open and stepping in, turning around a few paces inside. "Luckily, no, I'm not hurt at all. I see you made it out fine, too." He gives a reassuring grin to Taye, spotting a table inside and pushing out a chair for the new runner, and pulling one out for himself. "Congratulations, it's a big step being promoted to full-on Long Patroller."

Jarsune should really follow the healer's advice, because she almost immediately tries to do both--the first fails miserably, occupied as her mouth is both with the injury and the accompanying blood. The second is a little more successful, only in that her eyes snap from Keita to Slain, and she tries to sit abruptly upward.

Slain sighs and says to Jarsune "You should do as she says Jarsune, you'll just make your wounds worse."

Zeraph has turned back to gazing at the jill, looking her over for a moment once she sits up. The buck heaves a sigh and shakes his head. "..just lay down..It'll be fine.." He states softly to Jarsune, looking a little sad. The fighter suddenly seems older.

Jarril nods his head as he slowly gets his ear patched up and a graze on his arm.  Chuckling to the question.  "Don't suppose so, no.  Glad that there are young ones moving up ta be honest.  Mind ya, first time isn't exactly the most memorable one ya want ta go through.  I remember mine.  Thinking it be great, that I feel fine and proud and then one day I got attacked on my way ta Sala for the first time by a rat...."  The voice trails off again under the noise from other hares.  "....couldn't stop shaking for a week after that.  Ta be honest, couldn't stop throwing up either but then I remember it was either him or me when he pulled that knife.  Can have all the training in the world but nothing prepares ya for that first kill or seeing someone get killed...."  Eventually the major gets up after being fixed up and nods.  "Thanks, tell anyone that I am resting in one of the homes if they need ta find me for anything.  I am going ta get some rest."  Without another word to anyone, the major makes his way into one o

One of the buildings and leaves the going ons behind him.