The Cry of a Lost Soul

[Stoakly Centurio]

*The ominous scene of a woodland clearing glittered while the true animosity and brutality of the situation unfolded. Two ferrets stood against each other in the stillness of the morning, the sun poking its head out above the trees. A low rumble came from the taller, older, and larger ferret, obviously dominant in the battle that had been raging for quite some time.* It's over, Centurio. You can't defeat me. *Stoakly scowled, but he knew it was true. This... creature was too powerful. A ferret who had once charmed goodbeasts and was a prominant beast of Mossflower became no more than scum: a monster. Fortelo Charge joined Burde and was trained by his best swordsmen, best archers, and more. He was so bent on becoming powerful that he resorted to being a pawn of one of the most corrupted people in Mossflower. Stoakly's head dropped, and he leaned against a tree. Sitting on the ground, he awaited the powerful ferret to finish him off.*

Why, Fortelo? Why did you stoop to the level of Burde? *There was a long silence, as if Fortelo was mulling over the question and considering it. The larger ferret kneeled down in front of Stoakly, his voice rumbling in an ominous, powerful tone.* Perhaps... perhaps the companionship of an evil creature is preferable over... loneliness. *Then there was silence again. It seemed like ages until Stoakly finally dropped his guard, placing his cutlass down and staring into the eyes of Fortelo. His chocolate brown eyes glared into the larger ferret's eyes of coal, searching ever so desperately for an answer.* Worthless pawn!

*That was the last thing Stoakly ever said. Fortelo swung his mace, growling with delight and evil pleasure as he did.* Had I stuck with goodbeasts like you, Stoakly, I would've been weak. I would've been worthless, with no purpose. But now I have a purpose, and I am more powerful than you could've ever dreamed to be. Goodbye, Centurio.

*Fortelo got up and walked away, leaving the ferret against the tree, spitting blood from his half-open mouth. A mouse shed a tear in the bushes, hiding and full of rage. Edmond was more than ready to charge out and take on the burly ferret, but he was too good. Fortelo was fast, strong, and precise, but he was also evil and driven by a purpose, and that mixture gave him the endurance and power of a beast. The mouse covered his face, unable to do anything to help Stoakly. Finally, the Head Woodland Captain took his last breath and passed away. Edmond growled to himself and clutched the sabre that was hanging in its sheathe.*

Companionship of an evil being is worse than loneliness. It's unsatisfying and will only end in the destruction of both. One day... one day... someone stronger than Fortelo will come along and.... end it. *Edmond sighed and shook his head, watching to see if Fortelo was far enough away from Terralux. Then, he stood, and began walking back to the Village.* I have to tell Terragon the news.

[Tinsy Stormsight]

On the edge of the road, just outside the walls, the golden-furred Eale brothers are involved in a fierce bicker. Regen sits on a stump with a large unfolded map in his lap; Lonas is behind him. The older squirrel has an apple, and is currently gesturing up at the turrets and down at the ground with the fruit.
They're arguing in Spanish at the moment, so all there is to go by as to their topic is gestures and tones of voices. Lonas is speaking in a rather heated tone. Regen mostly sounds smug, and is looking at the map.
The map is of Terralux, and has red lines drawn all over it for some reason. On the back is a long scribbled list of things. Presently Regen turns it over and underlines one of the phrases with a pawclaw. Lonas makes impatient gestures and proclaims, in English this time,
"Blasted Saxons an' their constant wars! Wot's wid' th' feudal system anyhow!"
Regen says something under his breath. Lonas shoots him a dirty look and takes a chomp from the apple.
"All'm sayin' is we can't build a wall in a month. We need't make trenches all 'round instead, wit' a low wall aroun' 'em. A man in armor can't climb o'er a chest-high wall, an' if we fill th' trenches wid' mud.."
"Don't talk t' me of engines!" The older Eale glares at the back of his brother's head. "An' say nothin' to 'em t' Terragon, eith'r."
"Aye." (Regen is inaudible, and seems to be speaking in Spanish anyway.)
"Well'n, yer th' Capt'n..ye tell 'er!"

He turns away in a huff and finally notices the mouse coming up the road. Lonas elbows his brother, argument forgotten, and jerks his free thumb towards the traveler.
Regen leaps upright, almost dropping the map in the muddy path, holds the aforementioned article in his left paw, and puts right on his swortsword's hilt.
"Who go there?!"
Lonas jumps up on the stump, munching a bite, frowns at the figure from this vantage point.
"Think 'tis that mouse..mayhap th' Frank?"
"Can't be the Frank. He ain't here yet."
"Not that one. Th' mouse."
There is a pause, while the two squirrels watch the figure approach, then Regen steps into the path.
"Hey, you there!"

[Stoakly Centurio]

OOC: Hm, it appears I forgot about both asterisks and present-tense. I'll still use quotes, though.
BIC:

The mouse hustles, buried in his own thoughts, saddened by the recent events. Suddenly, a voice calls out, and he looks up and spots Regen and Lonas. He takes a minute to pause and think of who they are, but suddenly recognizes them from the Order of Saint Ninian's. "Hallo." Edmond nods and gives a brief greeting. "You've caught me at a rather bad time, Master Eale. One of the most powerful creatures in Mossflower, who's unknown to most unfortunately, has just killed Stoakly. I must speak with Terragon at once, so if you'd be so kind as to..." His words are lost in his befuddled manner, a tear rolling down his cheek at the loss of his friend. "Step aside." Once again, he shuffles awkwardly down the path, gesturing to the squirrels that he doesn't care whether they follow him or go look for the ferret's body. "I will tell you one thing. If you happen to find the ferret who killed him, flee. Fortelo always had potential, but now he's simply... uncontrollable. Stoakly is a good fighter, but he couldn't even put a scratch on Fortelo; he's trained for a long time and it shows. Mark my words, no one here in Terralux is strong enough to take him individually." Edmond continues down the path, pondering over the recent events and predicting the fall of Terralux in his mind.

[Tinsy Stormsight]

As the mouse departs, Lonas shoots Regen a slightly confused look. He clearly doesn't know the mouse at all.
The younger squirrel frowns quizically at Edmond's back and shrugs.
It's Lonas who speaks first, eyes as confused as ever. The apple is forgotten in his paw.
"Who's 'Fortelo'?"
"Dunno. Rippla might know, but I doubt anybeast else'll 'ave 'eard of 'im."
"Ya, but 'e's not here, is 'e now?"
(Rippla was gone to Burde's Horde, to look into hiring warriors to assist in Terralux's defense. The weasel seemed confident enough when he left of success..by whatever means necessary.
Of course, that left them without somebeast who had a working knowledge of Mossflower's various warrior barons.)

The two squirrels stand for a moment, Regen absentmindedly folding the map. Lonas remembered the apple in his paw and held in front of his mouth to take a bite. After a moment, he lowered it again.
"..think we oughta find th' body?"
"Guess so." Regen glances over his shoulder at the village's gates, tucking the map into his trouser pocket, and shrugs. "Find out th' truth o' this."
He starts up the path, walking in his usual aimless manner. Lonas follows at an easy pace, chewing the apple. Clearly the older squirrel doesn't need Regen to expand on his mistrust of Edmond..it wouldn't be anything personal, just general principles. In these troubled times, Lonas would agree with his brother's stance anyway.

The two squirrels arrive at a crossroads soon enough. They both stand there for a moment, not appearing to be doing anything...but Lonas, chewing his apple, is searching the path and surrounding woods methodically, brown eyes serious. Regen is sniffing the air lightly, searching for a scent.
After a moment, he makes a face and spits on the ground.
"Blood..south an' east. Not far off."
Lonas tosses the remains of his apple to one side and licks his paws clean, rubbing them dry on his trousers. Regen clenches and unclenches his paws, limbering them to go for his sword, then strides toward the source of the scent..which is a left on the cross. Lonas follows, now openly watching the woodlands around.
The brothers come to the clearing a few moments later. Regen immediately pauses (Lonas has to stop on a dime to avoid running into him) and checks the clearing carefully. It seems empty, dust motes dancing in the sunlight.
Well, aside from some creature who appears to be sitting against a tree. Regen sniffs again and draws his sword quietly..he clearly has no doubts as to the source of the reek of blood in the air.
Lonas hangs back as the other crosses the clearing, still watching. Regen stands by what was once Stoakly Centurio, face unreadable, then turns and clarifies.
"Dead."

Lonas is clearly not quite ready to believe this. The older squirrel backs over to where Regen stands and bends over the body, looking rather worried compared to his brother. A quick check for vital signs confirms the other squirrel's statement, and Lonas stands again. Unlike Regen, his face is openly confused and upset.
"Dead."
Lonas' voice cracks slightly. Regen glances at him, face like stone, and grunts softly.
"Aye."

[Stoakly Centurio]

Meanwhile, Fortelo is on the move. He had been walking back to the camp, a few miles away, but he catches the scent of others about. Leaning against a tree, he shifts his grip on the mace in his right paw and the dagger in his left. Gritting his teeth, the strong ferret moves with precise and quick movements, his eyes scanning the woods for any sight. Rapidly advancing upon the clearing where he fought Stoakly, he worries for a moment if some Terraluxians have found him and are awaiting his arrival. However, Fortelo is positive that whoever it is, he can take them in a scrap. The ferret swiftly whips around a tree and dodges a bush, his eyes catching sight of the two squirrels. He chuckles slyly and steps into the clearing. "You two, why are you here? Where are you from? Speak now before I am forced to be... forceful."

[Tinsy Stormsight]

The two squirrels had turned back to examine the ferret, and seemed to be deciding how they were going to transport him back to the village, when the newcomer stepped out behind them. Lonas immediately whips around, a small, but very Regen-like snarl appearing on his face. He stops, noting the size and armament of the ferret in front of him, and rearranges his features into an unassuming expression.
Regen turns more slowly - clearly he had been anticipating the warrior's arrival. The Duke's paw rests lightly on his sword hilt, and he appears relaxed. His eyes are calculating, however, and size up the ferret critically before he speaks.
When he does, it's a Lonas-style question dodge.
"Good morrow, sir. What might ye be doin' on this fine day?"
Regen, obviously enough, knows exactly what the ferret happens to be doing, and just as obviously is prepared to exact revenge. However, the squirrel has noted the ferret's build and height..bigger than his own..and also his weapons. Regen's a skilled swordsman, but his short weapon isn't likely to stand against the mace for long.

Lonas, who isn't a warrior anyway, seems completely unimpressed. It may be because of the ferret's not-so-subtle evil chuckle. The ostentanious squirrel could never stand otherbeasts being pretentious or cliched, no matter how obviously he himself was. Besides, he knows as well as Regen does that at least one of the brothers can get away in a fight..Regen's good enough to hold the ferret back for a while, regardless of the other's skill.

[Stoakly Centurio]

The ferret rolls his eyes at the response and drops the dagger in his left paw. He sneers at the squirrels and barks back a response. "I will only need one weapon, and one paw, to take care of you both. Now answer my question 'fore I completely snap your necks, foolish squirrels!" He assumes that they have somewhat underestimated him and thought of him as just a normal ferret, which gets on his nerve. Fortelo can not stand the thought of not being feared and revered, so he steps a few feet closer to the squirrel and brandishes his mace. "Now, don't make me ask you again. Who are you and what are you doing here?" If anyone disrespects him or Burde, they die. That is the only thing Fortelo knows, and he lives off of it. Eventually, he will disband and kill Burde by his own paw, but for now, he must play the loyal fool and be a pawn. The companionship of an evil person is preferable over loneliness.

[Tinsy Stormsight]

Regen stands for a moment, quiet. The golden squirrel had never been too good at this kind of thing, and needed to consider his reply to the ferret's statement.
Lonas' eyes go to the dagger immediately, just for a second. Dropping it had been a mistake..if the big ferret bent to pick it up again, Regen would be on him. And if the ferret just left it there, he'd basically given the brothers another weapon to use against him..Lonas had been fair at the game called 'darts', and could throw a knife well enough.
Regen comes to a decision a moment later, stands a bit straighter than he was before, and glares into the taller ferret's eyes.
"Colonel Regen Eale of Fort Copperlin..I reckon ye've 'eard of King Tervin Blackstar, aye? I fought yer kind at th' front not long ago, ferret - belike ye show a little more politeness, else I'll instill it in ye."
He's clearly taken on his abandoned soldier persona again, whether he likes it or not..a fairly common occurence. It seemed like his grimy past would always be ready to stab him in the back..but there was no way he was going to admit that he came from Terralux. The last thing the village needed was some ferret on it's case, as things were bad enough already.

[Stoakly Centurio]

Fortelo waits impatiently for the squirrel to answer, and he smiles with satisfaction as Regen tells him what he wants to hear. "Aye, I've heard of Blackstar. Calls himself King, bah! King of Fools." The ferret is getting tired of this annoying 'Colonel Eale' and bends his knees in a fighting stance. He has the patience to wait it out, for he believes that the best way to fight is to let the opponent come to you and do all of the work. Thus, Fortelo waits, lifting the mace out and smiling as the chain rings its deadly sound. "Come and fight, squirrel. I'll show you the true power that lies within Burde's Horde!"

[Tinsy Stormsight]

Regen's eyes are arrogant; he rests his paw on his sword but doesn't draw. The slight on Blackstar has roused him ever-so-slightly, but what might've been fighting words still haven't provoked him..clearly, time at Terralux has been good for the soldier.
"No. I 'ave no int'rest t' waste me time on yerself..vermin." Regen, being friends with various 'evilbeasts' himself, didn't usually call others vermin..this fellow, however, seemed to deserve the title. "I 'ave no need t' see th' true power of Burde..an' I imagine he'd be quite int'rested in yer egotism, too, sirrah."
The golden squirrel watches his would-be opponent levelly, having made no move to fight. His paw is on sword, but that's mainly just for show - he's been ready to draw the weapon from the start. Lonas has stepped behind him slightly to get his paws out of sight and may or may not be fiddling with something behind his back..the older squirrel is still watching the confrontation, a slight smirk on his face.

[Terragon Scrufftail]

*Terragon wanders through Terralux, Danniar hurrying in her wake. The leaderess appears to be running through a list of preparations.* Forgebeasts? *She asks over her shoulder.* Go' 'alf a doz'n extra Terraluxi'ns 'elpin' ou', *The rat replies with barely a hesitation. The morning is cold despite the glimpses of sunlight through the clouds and bright green flower shoots, sharp as stakes through the snow that's still lingers in patches on the frost-swept ground.* What about the Guilds, Danni'? Are they still talking? *Terragon put the same venom into this word as most creatures would into "murderer." Danniar acknowleges the squirrel's tone with a grim nod.* Still. *Terragon forces a smile that doesn't quite reach her dark eyes and stops, waiting for the other to catch up.* Sorry,*She murmurs.* It's just - *Danniar shakes her head. It doesn't matter. Honestly.* Listen, when this is all over - and Hell's Teeth, I hope that's soon - we'll see if we can find your brother, Danni'. And you can practise reading and writing again and write back to him... if you like. And-
I''s all righ', *The rat assures Terragon.* Yew were sayin' abou' the Guilds, *Danniar prompts, before the squirrel can open her mouth to interrupt.* Yes, *The leaderess gives a faint laugh.* So I was. Bl**dy Hell, if we left everything to them... well, it's lucky we're not. But, even so, I think it might be worth going down to St. Ninian's and making it known that we need a decision from everybeast, don't you? *Danniar nods, her smile an encouraging one as they both wordlessly turn on their heels and, at a hurried walk, start to set off down the snow-hemmed path to the chapel.*

[Aurora C.]

OOC: Um, am I allowed to join in? It seems to be only leaders posting here.

[Terragon Scrufftail]

OOC: Er, I think so. It's really Stoakly's thread though. Terri's just conveniently wandering through Terralux, practically waiting to receive bad news.

[Aurora C.]

**The figure of a still young wildcat, silvery fur with dark strikes glimmering in the golden sunlight, was approaching the rather heated scene by the pathside. Unaware of the tension and positive nastiness up ahead, Mystic's pale eyes roved around the familiar place restlessly. The cat was quite familiar with the area, having wandered far too much for one of her age. She smiled, humming to herself, enjoying the warm sunshine and the clear day. All the ease and comfort in her face, however, instantly vanished at the sight of the trio ahead. A silver paw instinctively shot to the thick, sturdy handle of the light, but still powerful, double-bladed battleaxe strapped to her back. Drawing it out of its cover, the cat eyed the two squirrels and ferret cautiously. It was obvious they were involved in some kind of fight; or what was to become a fight. Mystic Starwreath Silvertail wasn't usually interested in fights, but the wildcat was somewhat uneasy staring at the tough, battle-hardened ferret. Her feline senses caught a malevolent air about him in his dark gaze. She lingered on the edge of the scene, evaluating the situation, trying to catch the eye of one of the three beasts. Mayhaps she would be able to help.**