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Post by Stoakly Centurio on Dec 22, 2007 20:26:11 GMT
Aye, Ashnel, 'tis me. *Stoakly puts an arm around his friend and grins.* I've been everywhere, Ash'! I mean everywhere! *He chuckles and throws a little nudge in the squirrel's direction.* But as I said, 'ow 'as Terralux been without me, eh? Still a Head Woodlan' Captain position available, eh? *The ferret smiles and slinks back to the ground.* Oh, we should prolly go talk t' Terri, but that can wait. More specifically, Ash', what 'as been up with you?
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Post by Terragon Scrufftail on Dec 22, 2007 20:33:08 GMT
Everywhere, *Ashnel agrees quietly.* Terralux... Burde never came. The horde wen' past, Stoak'! You left the day we go' the news. *A thought occurs to him that he doesn't like to voice, but finds himself doing so anyway.* You - y' didn't run away, did y'? But, no, *Ashnel says loudly, to drown this question out, as though it was somebeast else who asked it, not him.* You have t'go see Terri like y' said. She's been missing Terralux's blacksmith... no, Woodland Captain. Head Woodland Captain. *He laughs.* Come on. You remember the way to Starsett Hollow, don't y'?
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Post by Stoakly Centurio on Dec 22, 2007 20:40:03 GMT
Everywhere, yup! *Stoakly pats him on the back and nods to Lonas.* We should prolly get goin', eh? And o' course I know the way! I know my way aroun' 'ere better than th' back o' my paw. *The ferret stares at Ashnel thoughtfully for a moment.* So Burde never came? Well, 'es still out there, tryin' to expan' 'is 'eadquarters all the way through th' west. It appears 'e just missed us, but I'm glad. I've fought my own share of battles. *Stoakly jumps in front of Ashnel to prove he knows the way, and as he's on his way, he sees Leafback Fort.* How's Lyman, eh? Still sayin' wot and what-not and jolly in every sentence? Oh, an' 'ow about Strongpaw an' Firepaw? *He soon realizes that all of those people are gone.*
Wow, I must 'ave missed a lot. *Shrugging it off, he realizes he's only talking to himself, and he climbs up Starsett Hollow. Creaking open the door, he pokes his head in and calls out to Terragon and Danniar. *'ey there! Y' miss me?
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Post by Terragon Scrufftail on Dec 22, 2007 20:47:20 GMT
*Terragon looks up. She had given up trying to stare out of the window into the failing light for Ashnel and had taken a pawful of dried seedheads, pine cones and flowers from a cupboard and a flower press and, with Danniar's help, was slowly painting them at the table. A gold-ish coloured paint jar, brought from the apothecary, stood open, a few paint brushes resting on the rim. Terragon pauses, trying not to gape, then, all of a sudden, she stands, nearly tripping over her chair in her haste and makes her way, step-by-step, quickly across the room. Solemnly and without a word, Terragon moves forwards to embrace the ferret in the doorway tightly. An old friend. Let it be, she whispers in her mind but doesn't attempt to say it aloud.* Welcome back. *She tells him quietly.*
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Post by Stoakly Centurio on Dec 22, 2007 20:51:19 GMT
Terragon Scrufftail, I presume. *He clears his throat and stares at her with a pretend cruelty.* Y' ought t' be ashamed o' y'self... f' not sendin' me letters! *His face brights up and he smiles with a warm grin.* Long time n' see, eh! It's been too long, too long! How 'ave y'been y'Mistress? *The ferret brushes off his tunic, realizing that he has just been sitting on grass.*
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Post by Terragon Scrufftail on Dec 22, 2007 21:07:24 GMT
How have I been? *Terragon repeats, stepping back and allowing Stoakly past into the room. It is only now, looking over the ferret's shoulder that she realises that Ashnel is there. The fur on one side of his face is sticking up at odd angles where he rested his head on his paw, and a bottle and a cloak are hanging from a careless paw.* Evening! *He tells her brightly. Terragon shruggs at him and turns back to Stoakly.* Sit down, *She tells him and Danniar, hearing this, begins gathering up the paints and flowers and shuffles away into Terragon's room to continue painting in peace.* We were making decorations for the New Year Oak. Oh, but you've never been to a New Year at Terralux, have you?! It's lucky you came back. Lonas is here too, *Ashnel tells her blankly.* I think... *He glances behind him, not wanting to close the door on Lonas.* *Terragon nods at this and sits down opposite Stoakly.* So what's this about me not writing to you?! *She demands with a laugh.* I sent Dragonflies out to every part of Mossflower and even they couldn't find you, oh, mysterious ferret that you are.
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Post by Stoakly Centurio on Dec 22, 2007 21:28:29 GMT
Wonderful, wonderful! Yes, I was only 'ere f' three seasons. It appears I left right before the party, eh? *Stoakly sits and sees Terragon opposite him.* Well, you must've been sending the letters when I was at sea going to Adael and Fort Tatterack. Or in th' north. The dragonflies prolly wouldn't follow me there. Y'know I was in th' war up there, fighting some Tribe named Oliak. A buncha weasels an' stoats, and we had Cap'n Gonza. 'e was th' best strategist I've ever met! At every battle, we flanked 'em, an' they fell in our trap every time. *He looks to Ashnel and nods.* I even found a ferretmaid named Dream. Th' name fits. Of course, she was royalty on an isle to the east called Collar's Cove, an' she was off to marry a prince. 'Tis a shame, too; she didn't want t' marry 'im, or so she told me.
Anyway, enough o' that. I can tell you guys more about my travels later. 'ow 'as Terralux faired since I left, eh?
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Post by Terragon Scrufftail on Dec 22, 2007 22:22:04 GMT
*Ashnel and Terragon, the latter particularly, are the perfect audience, smiling and nodding in agreement or gasping and shaking their heads in sympathy at the right moments. Terragon cannot help but give a sad grimace at Stoakly's mention of Dream.* Terralux? *She replies finally, a slow smile spreading across her face.* Same old, of course. Well... not quite, without your good self around, but we've coped, just about. *Ashnel raises his eyebrows at the ceiling, turning a little away from the table. Can't say the last few days have been heaven Dark Forest, Terri.* It's been pretty quiet, as a matter of fact. No vermin pouring in from the coast. Although there were some travellers - Gypsies, *Ashnel corrects in a growl.* *Terragon continues flawlessly.* - who arrived last week. Caused a bit of trouble a few nights ago. The Tavern was broken into and some private property as well. Some of the treehouses. Sorry to bring you back to this news though, Stoak'.
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Post by Stoakly Centurio on Dec 22, 2007 22:25:23 GMT
*Stoakly hears of the news and is speechless. He says nothing, but he remembers a certain fox at Fort Tatterack who seems a little suspicious.* Y'know... there was this fox at the Pine Groves who moved to Fort Tatterack. I hate to place blame, but I think there's something more to this. Perhaps an attack. *He pauses and takes a deep breath, for what he is about to say will probably shock them.* I suspect Romula.
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Post by Terragon Scrufftail on Dec 23, 2007 9:43:53 GMT
No, *Terragon says automatically, refusing to believe it.* Terragon, there's a million things I wouldn't put past Romula, *Ashnel tells her idly, as though commenting upon the weather.* No, *Terragon repeats.* I admit, Romula's a little... *She chooses her words carefully before continuing.* Well, odd. But she wouldn't. Maybe. But what if she got it into her head that it was some kind of prophecy; that she was doing the right thing? *Terragon turns back to Stoakly, leaning across the table slightly, her eyes a dark, serious brown. She has no answer for Ashnel.* What makes you think it? *She demands quietly, somberly, not yet raising her voice.*
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Post by Tinsy Stormsight on Dec 23, 2007 15:42:16 GMT
OOC: Geez, people. Whatevs, looks like it's time to go...
BIC:
Lonas smiles, shrugs, and turns down the invitation to Starsett ("Kind inv'tation, but I think it's time t' keep goin'.." and strolls off in the other direction. Nice as it might have been to have a drink, he still had a meeting with the trail. Also, a song was beginning to bounce around in his head, for the first time in months. He should probably start toward the Nest where his store of parchement was.
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Post by Stoakly Centurio on Dec 23, 2007 21:24:12 GMT
She's at Fort Tatterack, Terri. *Stoakly bluntly remarks.* Fort Tatterack turns everybeast bad, an' you know it. Romula 'as prolly f'gotten 'er good times 'ere an' th' Pine Groves, an' she's runnin' 'round with a bunch o' other gypsies. *The ferret pauses and looks to Ashnel.* We all know that a gypsie's mind is unstable. If she's runnin' 'round Mossflower with other creatures with unstable minds, she's prolly a lot different then when we knew 'er. *He once again glances at Terragon and bites his lip. Stoakly knows this was not good to hear right when he has arrived, so he changes the subject.* So, tell me 'bout th' New Oak, eh?
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Post by Terragon Scrufftail on Dec 24, 2007 20:35:57 GMT
No, wait a moment, *Terragon cuts in.* Fort Tatterack's... violent, would y'say? That'll be why she's gone there. *Ashnel frowns and raises one eyebrow incredulously.* She wants to be a healer, Ash'. Always wanted to be, ever since I've known her. 'Course, Robin knows her better. She'll vouch for Romula; *Terragon insists forcefully.* Robin knows she wouldn't turn against us. *Ashnel raises his paws in surrender.* A'right, a'right. But don't you think you should answer Stoakly's question? *The leaderess shruggs, and in an undertone, has the last word.* Romula's mind's not that "unstable," Ash. Anyhow, the New Year Oak's a yearly celebration. Up in the Northlands, they have fir trees and the like instead, but down here: oaks. Of course, at this point in the year, there's no leaves, so the oaks get decorated with things from, I dunno... the forge. Then there's dried and painted flowers and little carved decorations. Tiny lanterns sometimes, even. I'll show you tommorrow. We're putting the Oak up in the Village Hall then. Oh, and there's a party on Winter Solstice too, *She adds.* Here in Starsett, which you're welcome to come to.
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