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Post by RosehipSlipstream on Oct 1, 2015 17:50:01 GMT -5
The upper boughs of the trees rustled in the breeze, causing the early morning sunlight to glint off of the leaves. In the shadows of the treetops, something was moving swiftly from bough to branch. Green eyes focused on each quiet jump and landing. The young red squirrel only climbed lower to check his barrings. 'There's the main road. Good,' he thought, as he silently climbed back to the higher branches. The higher he was, the less chance there was of somebeast seeing him from the ground. He continued traveling, with his senses on high alert for anything suspicious. He checked the position of the moss on each tree, and judging by that, he adjusted his course, aiming for the northwest. The squirrel lad knew, those he was looking for were still pretty far off, at least, that's what he hoped. He leaped to a thicker branch, noting the ones that would make the least noise.
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Post by Taurian on Oct 1, 2015 18:49:26 GMT -5
Stretching and yawning, Taurian tried to stand up, and promptly thought better of the idea when her crown struck wood. Shaking her head to clear it, Taurian remembered that she had sheltered in a hollow tree for the night. 'This must be Mossflower country. S'just as that old squirrel had said it would be.' Stepping out of the tree, Taurian opened her mouth slightly, feeling the breeze on her face. 'Rain's a'coming,' she thought. 'Best to get to that abbey place the old treejumper had been gabbing on about afore it starts.'
With a determined stride, Taurian made her way through the wood, one hand on her staff, the other on her sling. She wondered what the abbeybeasts were like, and if there were any otters in the area. She had wanted to ask the old squirrel, but she had felt rude and awkward, and did not try to interrupt his near-constant monologue. Taurian had never been to an abbey, and had never heard of the place, a fortress of safety and home in the south Mossflower region. From the squirrel's chatter, she had gathered they were peaceful folk, but not unprepared. It also had quite a history, with attacks from vermin lords occurring on a regular basis, so it seemed. 'Well, I'll find out when I get there, and not before,' Taurian thought. And she continued on through Mossflower Wood.
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Post by RosehipSlipstream on Oct 1, 2015 20:33:00 GMT -5
Jake Redbrush continued on his course, leaping from tree to tree. He remembered the instructions given him by his chieftain. After the other scouts had come bearing rumors of heightened vermin activity in the northern parts of Mossflower country, Jake and a few others were sent to investigate. If the rumors of a growing horde were true, he knew he'd have to be extremely careful. He was too young to remember the last time a horde had threatened the peaceful woodlands. However, having heard stories around the hearths of friends and family, he could only imagine what he'd find. No matter, he had been trained for this. This was a chance to move up in the ranks of his warrior tribe. If he spotted any vermin, he was confident he would be able to handle anything. Perhaps he was a bit overconfident.
His rust red paws alighted on another branch. As he was leaping for the next one, he noticed movement on the ground. It was out of the corner of his eye, but somebeast was down there. After landing on the next bough, he paused to look, and saw an otter. For a moment, Jake wondered if this beast had seen any vermin nearby, but he knew he was pressed for time. His chieftain had given specific orders, after all. He leaped to another branch, then another, and another.
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Post by Taurian on Oct 2, 2015 16:13:06 GMT -5
Seeing a very slight motion in the trees, Taurian looked up, her grip on her staff tightening. 'It's a squirrel, or somebeast like a squirrel. Squirrels are friendlylike, most of the time. Per'aps they'll know where that darn abbey is.' Taurian had just made up her mind to ask the squirrel for directions, when they leaped to another tree branch, and was lost from sight.
Cursing inwardly, the ottermaid continued through the wood, racking her brains for the vague directions the old squirrel had given her. 'Something about a river, and a ford. There isn't a river nearby, as far as I can tell. Then leave the ford, and go South, was it? Or was it West?' Sighing, Taurian looked up through the trees, trying to spot the sun. 'If all else fails, I could just head straight South. Ombar had mentioned a mountain on the southern coast, something about dragons and badgers and fire. Badgers are good, from what we know. Better a badger mountain than a lonely woodland.'
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Post by Taurian on Oct 3, 2015 13:11:43 GMT -5
"Orbel knows I hate scouting duty," Hiacynth muttered to themself. "She did this on purpose. She's mad at me, I suppose. Although I can't fathom what I did this time." The shrew sighed, and resigned themself to scouting out the route to Redwall. After several agonizingly boring hours, Hiacynth spotted an otter, staring upward through the trees.
"You there, otter!" They called out, and the otter started. "Who are you? You're not from Mossflower. What is your business here?"
The otter's face bore a look of relief. She stepped forward, holding out her paw in a friendly gesture. "My name is Taurian Riverbull. I was raised in the east, in a holt far from here. I've been traveling for quite some time, and was told there was an abbey in the area. Unfortunately, the directions the old squirrel gave were rather vague. All I can remember is something about a ford, an' I can tell there ain't water nearabouts."
Hiacynth, retaining their abbey lessons of politeness, took the proffered paw. "Greetings to ye then, Taurian Riverbull. Hiacynth o' the Guosim at your service. You're not wrong, about there being no water about. We're pretty far from the River Moss. But you'll be wanting to go to Redwall Abbey. I can get you there, but we've got to make a stop first. Log-a-log Orbel won't be too happy if I'm back late."
Taurian nodded, smiling gratefully at the shrew. "Thankee, Hiacynth. I'm much obliged tae ye. If'n ye wouldne mind sharin', wot's 'Guosim' mean?"
"It stands for Guerrilla Union Of Shrews In Mossflower," Hiacynth replied. "Now, we really must be going. It isn't that far to the campsite."
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Post by Gingivere-Greeneyes on Oct 3, 2015 13:37:50 GMT -5
High in the Mossflower canopy, on the thick branch of a beech tree, a pair of sharp amber eyes snapped open. A low growl emanated from the creature's needle-sharp beak as something moved through the branches below it. Kiostra's head turned slowly to follow the squirrel's progress, though only with mild interest. Squirrels were hard to catch at the best of times, but Kiostra tended to stay away from such creatures since her incident.
The buzzard's head snapped the other way when she heard a lonely voice coming through the woods- an otter (a meat she had only tasted once before when she had found a dead one). Another creature that was now off her moral menu. She seemed to be lost from the looks of her, and Kiostra was debating for a moment whether or not to swoop down and guide her to the Abbey, when an another creature intruded on the scene -
A shrew (a species she had formerly found very tasty) had approached the traveller, and now appeared to be offering the otter her services as a guide. Kiostra narrowed her eyes scrutinisingly. Though she had formerly been a fierce predator of shrew, they now regarded each other as neither enemy nor friend (as she thought of the Redwallers), so a reception was not likely to be friendly.
Shaking her feathers, she flapped her huge wings and glided effortlessly down from the beech branch to the lower bough of an oak, making her presence known, but making no attempt at conversation unless she was approached.
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Post by Taurian on Oct 3, 2015 14:47:01 GMT -5
Hearing the rustle of feathers, Hiacynth and Taurian turned to see a buzzard, the likes of which Taurian had only heard of. Seeing that the fierce looking bird made no move to attack, Taurian waved to the buzzard.
"Hello! Are ye from 'round these parts?" Hiacynth looked startled at the otter's bold accosting of the bird of prey. They tugged at Taurian's paw.
"What're ye doing! That bird could eat ye right up!" They whispered to Taurian, who merely smiled at the concerned shrew.
"Well, if that bird was going to eat us, she would've already done so. I think it's safe to assume that she won't be tasting otterflesh today."
Hiacynth grumbled. They had recognized the buzzard, a fierce bird, Kiostra, who had visited the abbey on occasion. Hiacynth hadn't liked her very much, and did not want to spare her time to speak to the hawk. "Well, Riverbull, if ye want to talk to the bird, then I've got to be going to make my report. I bet that buzzard knows where the abbey is, so ye'll get there, I'm sure. The Guosim may visit soon, I'll ask after ye then." With that said, Hiacynth slipped off through the trees, back in the direction of the Guosim camp.
Taurian cautiously approached the large bird, extending her paw in friendship. "Taurian Riverbull, at yer service." She smiled cheekily.
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Post by Gingivere-Greeneyes on Oct 3, 2015 16:12:05 GMT -5
Kiostra leered maliciously at the shrew's fear of her; she loved giving other creatures that feeling. But the otter was apparently not phased. Otters were a fair bit larger than her, after all. "Yes, that I am." she looked down at them a tad snootily. "You are searching for the Red-walled place, correct?" she snapped, knowing that she was. Kiostra was never wrong.
Her black talons curled around the branch and she hunched her back to listen while the panicky shrew and the nonchalant otter conversed, until the former left. She raised herself back up to watch them go, then glided down to the ground as the otter approached her. She eyed the paw that was thrust towards her sceptically, as though she was about to bite it, but then clasped it forcefully with her right golden foot and shook it, having learned the gesture at Redwall.
"Kiostra." she introduced herself tersely. "So you are in need of a guide it seems?"
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Post by Taurian on Oct 3, 2015 16:19:06 GMT -5
"Pleasure tae meet ye, Kiostra! That I am. I take it you could guide me to the place? I'd me much obliged if you would," Taurian said cheerfully, wincing very slightly at the pressure of the talon on her paw. She noted the absence of Hiacynth, but paid it little mind; the shrew had said the buzzard could guide her to Redwall, so she was unworried. She looked at the bird in front of her. She looked to be a strong creature, powerful and deadly, and ready to leap into action in a split second. But she hadn't attacked the otter yet, so Taurian bet that cultivating a friendly relationship with the hawk would be her best option.
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Post by Gingivere-Greeneyes on Oct 3, 2015 16:33:58 GMT -5
"I suppose. I was headed that direction myself." Her eyelids flicked over for a moment, she didn't want to appear as if she was doing something out of charity. She turned her back suddenly and forcefully, and looked through the trees to figure out the best path for a moment. "This way." she said suddenly, extending a huge wing eastwards. "It will lead us to the main path. You were going the wrong way by the way." she added, with a good deal of superiority.
Suddenly, she extended her wings and shot into the air, flying in circles a few meters above the otters head for a moment, giving her signature screech. "I fly fast. Keep up." she ordered, then rose to where the tree branches were not so thick and began flying in the direction she had pointed out.
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Post by Taurian on Oct 3, 2015 18:52:07 GMT -5
"I had thought nothing less. As a stranger to the land, it would have surprised me if I had indeed been going in the right direction!" Taurian laughed. "I'm usually wrong about most things, why should directions be any different?" She said it as a joke, but her cheerful demeanor broke for a half a second, replaced by an incredibly sad expression. And then the moment was over, and Taurian was smiling. Readying herself to run, Taurian watched the buzzard circle above her. "I run pretty fast, Kiostra. Think you can keep up?" Taurian offered, a friendly jibe, an offer of competition. She prayed the buzzard would not be overly offended; she liked the bird, and hoped to befriend her. Also, it had been ages since Taurian had raced for fun. The last time had been with... No. She must not think of that. T'would only make her sad. And Taurian is a cheerful creature.
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Post by Gingivere-Greeneyes on Oct 3, 2015 22:15:46 GMT -5
Kiostra gave a slight 'humph'as she flew while she listened to the otter. This creature sure did like to talk. She did not notice the flicker of sadness that passed on the otter's muzzle fleetingly, being in the air, had she done so she probably would not have cared.
She circled constantly while she waited for the otter's reply, and when that was given there was a harsh 'caw' of laughter. "Do not grab the buzzard by the beak, otter." she smirked challengingly. "But if it is a competition you desire it is a competition you shall get! KEE!" And with that final screech, she gave a powerful flap upwards, then let herself drop like a stone.
With her wings tucked into her body, she dived straight towards the ground at an awesome speed. Then at the last moment she pulled up, and went shooting through the trees like a goshawk; folding her wings and turning where necessary. Occasionaly she had to stop to get around a tree, or untangle herself from a knot of branches, yes. But it didn't hinder her too much. Not that she was willing to admit anyway.
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Post by Taurian on Oct 4, 2015 8:45:09 GMT -5
Grinning again at Kiostra's reply, Taurian started to run, leaping over branches and roots just like she had in the Eastern Woods, so many seasons ago. The wind filled her ears, and it felt wonderful as it brushed past her face. She laughed into the wind, reveling in the joy of the soil beneath her paws. Looking briefly around to check that there was no one watching, Taurian dropped to all fours and continued to run, her forepaws recognizing the motions, clasping roots and soil with a familiar grasp. She and Presa had ran through the woods this way, like twin streaks of brown lightning, racing against each other and the sun and everything in between. Realizing her train of thought, Taurian shook her head, and turned her mind to concentrating on the way forward. 'No,' she thought. 'I must not think of Presa.'
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Post by Gingivere-Greeneyes on Oct 4, 2015 17:01:23 GMT -5
Kiostra turned her head to look down at the otter who appeared to be getting distracted. "Keep up." she snapped, only just loud enough for Taurian to hear...before she promptly flew in to a tree branch.
She fluttered back, caught off guard for a moment, before her enormous temper got the better of her, and she slashed at the thinner twigs with her claws, which fell down on to the ground. She was not used to flying through trees at such a high density, and preferred to be above them, or in more open woodland.
Soon however, she could see a patch of blue between the green, and burst forth from the canopy with another jubilant screech. She hovered in place then, just above the old dirt path. The Abbey was visible from where she was; an enormous structure which seemed out of place yet also fitting with the surrounding area, but it would not be visible from ground level.
"It is just up this path." she called down, once Taurian too had cleared the trees. "Follow again."
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Post by Taurian on Oct 4, 2015 17:13:12 GMT -5
Startled by Kiostra interrupting her thoughts, Taurian nodded, blushing slightly at being caught off guard. "Thank you again, Kiostra," she said to the bird, rising to stand on her hindpaws again. 'At least,' she thought. 'I'll finally get to see this abbey, and perhaps my wandering seasons will end. The abbey certainly seemed like a place one could stay in for ages and ages.' Keeping a brisk pace to keep the buzzard in sight, Taurian set off up the path.
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bye!
