05:24 PM

Western Shore
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A sea of sand surrounds the magnificent mountain now to your side. The golden sand is flat and hard, easy to walk on. You stand directly between the volcano and the sea. The refreshing sea spray tickles your face as a tropical wind from off the sea whisks it in your direction. The serene roar of the blue-green waves and perhaps the call of a distant gull are typically all that can be heard.
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Exits: [W]estern [S]ide of the [M]ountain, [Sh]allows, [U]pshore, [D]ownshore
 

Vladek laughs and slashes with both blades he dosent notice Ender behind him.

Flaxpaw sees the old rabbit behind Vladek, and shakes her head slightly, distracted for a moment, but her reflexes are good. the rapier flashes up, parrying at shoulder height, the dagger also flashes out, knocking the second blade to the side as she steps back, then slashes in trying to catch him off guard with the dagger.

While the wildcat and hare are busy, Ender spectates for a moment before taking a hop-skip forward and barreling towards the wildcat, the beast's back still to him.  He attempts to stab the wildcat in the back, and leaps to let his paw whip out towards the wildcat's head, all his movements belying his age.

Well, isn't this nice, another hare, who is much larger than Flaxpaw is making his way across the beach now after hearing the faint sounds of fighting reaching his ears.  With a look of complete frustration and anger on his features, Jarril has managed to find Flaxpaw that had went missing from a patrol.  From where he is, the hare is reducing the distance rapidly.

Vladek blocks the blow and jabs with the left sword he continues circle

Flaxpaw is glaring at Ender, really distracted, and missed the parry. the sword slides across her left shoulder as she tries to duck the hit, re-openining the shoulder about where it had been injured when they last met. She sucks in her breath, darting the rapier in her right hand out. "get out of it, Ender, you're too old." she calls, trying to keep the wildcat's attention focused on her.

Ender is mildly surprised that he doesn't hit the wildcat, and even more then he doesn't seem to notice him.  The rabbit's footpaws barely have time to touch the sand before he twists his body, hard, on a ninety degree angle, now facing the wildcat's side.  He throws his dagger, hard, adjusting for the circling the wildcat is still performing, and walks towards Vladek, his mouth curled into a snarl, paws ready if the wildcat manages to not get gutted.

Vladek snarls as the dagger missing just slightly and hiting him in the right arm. He backs off droping the sword in his right paw he looks at the old one his eyes hardening.

Jarril keeps on running and if he hasn't been noticed by now then the major is surprised but he doesn't call out however.  His eyes are on Flaxpaw with a frown though as he leaps over a piece of driftwood and lands heavily down onto the sand with a smile, his leg holding out as he carries on nearly reaching the group.

Flaxpaw tries again to refocus Vladek's attention on her. "Ender, no!" she tries to shift between the two, not interested in anyone else gettin hurt shielding her.

Ender is pleased when he hits the wildcat's arm again, it now having angry gashes all along it.  His dagger flies into a pile of sand where it rests, hilt up.  The rabbit glances at it, and notices Jarril.  His eyes grow angry, and a little scared, but this doesn't stop his inexhorable walk towards the wildcat.  He picks up the sword Vladek had dropped, and weighs it in his paws, expression returning to pure hatred.  He jabs out, thrusting and parrying with the wildcat, getting in every slash at his opponent's stomach that he can.

Vladek backs off more as he hears the new comer. He reaches over and pulls the dagger out of his arm. "Well well well what have we here" he says he is pepared to fight to the death if he must.

Vladek easly blocks the jab his left arm as skilled as his right he slashes at the rabbits feet.

Coming up to a stop, Jarril gives Flaxpaw a very deathly glare as he moves his gaze back to Vladek.  "ENOUGH!!!  Right, I think we've all had our bally fun for t'day doncha think?"  Pointing his short sword at the wildcat.  "So I suggest we either keep on fightah'ing or we go our seperate ways."

Flaxpaw notices Jarril, and looks more determined, glaring at Ender, and keeping her weapons up. " 's right mister Ender, go on home."

Vladek snarls at Jarril his ears flat for answear he swips at the rabbit his blade heading for the rabbits neck.

Ender glares furiously at Flaxpaw, ready to attack her if he wasn't already busy.  This glance to her gives Vladek a chance for the footpaw-slash, and his blade bites into the rabbit's leg fairly hard, hitting the dagger sheath and slicing through it with a bit of difficulty, giving Ender an inch-deep wound, and also giving him a limp.  He backs up slightly and grins at Vladek.  Pulling out another dagger, not quite as nice-looking or as large as the other, and toys with it, dropping the sword.  "One of these daggers, erm, is poisoned.  If only I could remember, erm, which one, eh?"  His grin grows as he glares at the wildcat.

The face of Jarril doesn't even flinch as he takes a step nearer to where Vladek is.  "I say this one more time and don't be so bally well rude ya uncivilised ruffian.  I am giving ya the option of getting back ta where ya lot are living now alive.  Last chance, I won't ask again, wot."

Flaxpaw steps foreward, and to the side, looking at Jarril really for the first time, then considers Ender and Vladek. "mister Ender, listen to t'officah, sah. She looks at the wildcat. "suggest you go, sah. finish this latah."

Vladek drops his sword and pulls out a dagg holding it up in a throwing position hoping against hop that he can throw well whith his left paw as well as he can with his right.

Vladek drops his sword too and pulls out a dagger also poisend he holds it ready to throw "As is this one" he hopes he can throw with his left paw.

Ender thinks for a few moments before cutting his own paw with the blade in his hand.  Thoughtfully watching the blood well up, he shakes his head.  "No...no, not this one."  The rabbit looks at it, more closely, squinting hard.  "Nope.  Sorry, chap."  Ender smirks evilly, his brow furrowed, still ignoring Flax and Jarril.  He rocks on his heels, hoping he can dodge the surely coming throw.

Flaxpaw steps between the two. Rapier up, and back to Ender. "Officah told you, sah, go. she hopes she'll be able to block the wildcat's dagger if he throws.

Vladek throws the dagger not at ender but at Flaxpaw it heads like a hornet strait for the direction of the heart.

Ender is surprised and nearly falls over backwards at the change of target.  He suddenly notices the gulls above him and almost shrieks, scrambling to get his dagger back, over by Jarril, giving the wildcat a wide berth.

Flaxpaw sees the wildcat's wrist flick a moment before he releases the dagger, her eyes on the blade, she raises both rapier and dagger, stumbling back a bit, and knocking the dagger aside. finding that Ender has moved, she steps back, compleately pale, focused on Vladek, not the gulls. she lunges quickly, not meaning to hit, but trying to throw him off. "bad show, sah, really." she gasps, trying to stay brave.

Jarril has had enough and moves to the side quickly and shifts his sword blade to the side as it rests just in front of Vladek.  "Right, listen up here.  I have the rest of my patrah here any moment.  If ya want ta die, then so be it, stay and fight.  If not then bally well get lost down that way away from the mountain.  What's it ta be."

Vladek backs off "fine" hes begining to feel the numbness in his arm he backs off further.

Jarril keeps a watch on Vladek as he moves his short sword to a defence posture while watching the wildcat.  Nodding his head.  "Wise choice."  The hare doesn't move or blink, just watching Vladek move away and won't move until the foe is out of his sight.

Ender has retrieved his dagger, looks at his now-ruined sheath and grunts.  His limp is pretty pronounced, and he squats on the ground and rips off part of his sleeve, preparing a bandage, eyeing those around him, wanting to leave without any other occurences.

Flaxpaw stands still, watching the wildcat and shaking a bit now things seem to be finished, but still holding her blades ready.

Vladek backs off over the dune he hid behind and picking up his double bladed sword he walks back to the top of the dune. His red eyes fixed on Jarril "This isent over" and with that he heads down shore.

Taking a deep breath, Jarril turns around and is frowning while placing his short sword back in it's place.  "What in the blathering blue 'ell were ya thinking, Flax!"  The major frowns.  "How could ya possibly get lost from a patrah!"

Ender has finished tying his bandage and stands, glaring at Jarril and Flaxpaw, the shape of the retreating wildcat too far away for him to see.  He takes a few wobbly steps before snorting loudly and heading off yet again.

Flaxpaw replaces her blades in their scabbards, droppping her eyes, pale and shaking. " 'pologies, sah. Didn't mean any other beast to get involved, sah." totally avoiding the question of how she got lost to begin with, but looking a little defiant.

Jarril's brow flinches slightly from that answer as his whiskers twitch a bit.  "Didn't mean ta get any other beast involved.  So ya planned on slipping away from the patrah, recruit?"  He shakes his head.  "Ya know I could ban ya from the patrah with this and why shouldn't I?"

Flaxpaw looks up and meets his eyes. "didn't mean to slip away, exactly, sah, no. But, when I found myself alone, an with that wildcat again, well, sah..." she trails off. "I'm no coward, sah." she adds, quietly. "don't need protectin."

Jarril moves about a bit on the sand as he's deep in thought for a moment.  "I see and that's what ya think is it Flax?"

Flaxpaw tries to stop shaking and look like a real patroller, at least what she thinks one sould look like. "yes, sah." bit of a question.

Biting his lower lip, Jarril shakes his head.  "And tell me Flaxpaw, where exactly are ya full patrol badges?  Ya only got a recruit badge."  Pausing for a moment he frowns and starts to walk away.  "Right, ya coming back ta the mountain right now, this is going on ya file."

Flaxpaw looks at her recruit badge, then at his back before following him a bit behind, looking a little ashamed. "sah? you /will/ let me stay, then?" she considers the sand. "just thought, if I did this right, then maybe..." trails off quietly.

Jarril stops and turns around to face Flaxpaw.  "Did this right?  Oh Flax..."  The major shakes his head again as he speaks.  "Ya didn't follow procedures, the patrah had been looking for ya.  And if ya saying ya ready then ya wouldn't have lost the patrah at all.  No ya didn't do right at all."  Turning around again the hare carries on walking once again.  "Aye, ya staying but after the chores and all, ya wish ya weren't.  I'd think as we head back ta the mountain if ya going ta continue in ya way and get thrown out or if reaching full officah is what ya want."

Flaxpaw catches up to him, glancing out of the corner of her eye. Not one for keeping her mouth shut. " 'course I want to stay,sah, 's why I wanted to- to prove I'm a fightah, sah." her voice is quiet, still asking as much as explaining.

Jarril gives a humph.  "Ya still being reported for leaving a patrah without permission, regardless of whatever reason is going about in that head of ya's.  I don't think ya be allowed on a patrah for a while.  Ya in a command, ya follow ordahs.  If a patrah is in trouble or finds itself in a fight then ya fight.  Trouble is, ya just like the other recruits, thinking they're ready when they're not."

Flaxpaw looks over at him. "yes, sah." subdued, then very quietly. "but, sah, I didn't run, didn't leave mister Ender to fight him. that was right at least, wasn't it, sah?"

Jarril shakes his head.  "Flaxpaw.  Let me put this in another way.  If ya lose a patrol again or get lost then I have ta seriously consider if ya are ready ta become a proper ranked fightah.  At the moment ya seriously close ta stepping over the line for me ta put ya back down ta 2nd class recruit."  He slowly turns his head to face her and gives a warning glance.  "Do ya understand that?"

Flaxpaw nods vigorously. "yes, sah, understood, won't happen again, sah." She looks like she may want to say more, but stops, looking down at her shoulder, then back at him, then down. "Suppose I'm lucky you were there, sah, you an mister Ender."

Jarril gives a slight grin.  "Well, ya did leave quite a lot of tracks.  I suggest ya revise on that as well.  Wasn't hard for me ta track where ya went.  I made my Lieutenant go back ta the mountain with the other recruits.  Ya lucky that wildcat thought I had a patrah coming."  Looking ahead and seeing the mountain.  "But what with these bally mercenaries..."  The major goes quiet.  "I am still going ta report ya for this, but if ya can keep from anymore trouble until ya last exam and pass that.  Then I don't see any problem in giving ya that fightah badge, but it's up ta ya now.  I don't want another report of ya in trouble from here on in.  Come on, we have ta get that wound of ya's sorted out."

Flaxpaw smiles, a little hopeful. "yes, sah. you won't regret it, sah, I'll be a model recruit. 'least, I'll try." she ends a little worried that she's promised too much. She glances at the shoulder again. "same place he got me last time, must be missin somethin on my parries."

Jarril hmmphs.  "Ya need more practise.  Ya don't get that many second or in ya case third chances, ya know."  Giving a wave up ahead to another patrol the major mutters.  "No, trying, just do it.  I have no inclination on holding ya back, wot.  Besides that would make my life harder but I expect hares ta not disrespect me and do silly things."

Flaxpaw looks startled. "disrespect you sah? no, sah."

Jarril replies back.  "Well, think about what happened just now and what ya done before and tell me if that's being disrespectful on my teachings and all the other hares that have taught ya.  We're supposed ta be the best armed force on this land and right now we have all young recruits thinking that they can do anything they want without asking permission.  So yes, ya disrespected me recruit.  Ya conduct is my conduct.  Same when ya under a majah in a patrah.  Same as my conduct ta the colonels above me.  Ya in the long patrol, not some unorganised vermin bully camp."

Flaxpaw looks back down at the sand, learning a lot right now about being a patroller,and obviously thinking about it. "Hadn't thought about it, sah, no." she bites her lip for a moment. "You an the other officers, an the privates, everyone here, you're so..." she pauses, rethinking a little. "wanted to show I deserved to be here, sah. didn't think, sah."

Jarril sighs.  "Look, ya in the recruit system.  Ya nearly ending on the recruit system.  Ya think we didn't think ya deserve it if ya were put into first class instead of second class?"  He pauses for a moment and nods to another major from another patrol near to the mountain coming up towards them, then carries on talking.  "Ya do deserve ta be here, so stop thinking that right now.  However, carry on with this and that may change."

Flaxpaw smiles hesitantly "yes, sah, thank you." she winces a bit as she raises her left paw to salute the approaching major. "I will do better, sah, really."

Nodding to the other hare, Jarril speaks.  "There's a wildcat on the beach that away but leave him be.  Don't think he will cause any problems now.  We didn't see any mercenaries on our patrol though."  Seeing the other hare nod, Jarril turns his head to Flaxpaw.  "After you?"  Pointing to go into the mountain itself.

Flaxpaw nods, and goes into the mountain, thoughtful.