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Post by hyenateeth on Oct 3, 2015 16:40:19 GMT -5
Orbel had long grown accustomed to the river's babbling chatter, though it had taken a while for her to gain her boating legs. Now though, she paid little attention to the gentle bobbing of the logboat beneath her paws. The day was bright and sunny, and the trees along the riverbank dappled the slow waters with leaf-shadows. Despite the pleasant weather, the collective mood of the Guosim was grim, and the shrews carried out their tasks with an uncharteristic silence.
The day previous had seen the Guosim travel a river route known by the older members to be dangerous. Orbel and her few supporters had assured them they could navigate the dangerous waters, however one logboat had been smashed to mere driftwood, and most of its crew and the shrews aboard lost to the watery depths. The survivors had buried the bodies they were able to retrieve, and now they had turned themselves to necessary tasks such as restocking the lost supplies, but there was nothing they could do to regain lost family and friends.
In due course, grief had turned to anger, and it was as much as Orbel could do to not to challenge the murmurs of dissent from the more experienced shrews. Instead she had doled out orders and tasks to the Guosim shrews, and now left her logboat to sit on the sloping bank. The mud was damp, but not too much so, and the Log-a-Log sat down on it heavily. She started to unwrap the dirty bandage around her left footpaw, wincing as the pressure against her wounds was lifted. The remaining three logboats and their crews had not escaped the rapids scott-free, and Orbel herself had lost two toes in the aftermath.
Running the bandages through the river, Orbel brooded. Though of Guosim descent, she was not Guosim born, and knew she was somewhat unpopular as Log-a-Log because of that. Furthermore, she had heard the stories of Guosim in days long past, and it sounded as if their heyday was long over. Orbel was unsure if she was even fit to lead the Guosim, let alone restore the dwindling clan to its former glory.
Sighing, she wrung the bandage out and started binding her paw again. |
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Post by Taurian on Oct 3, 2015 19:23:13 GMT -5
Cautiously making their way through the campground, Hiacynth approached their leader. Orbel was bandaging her injured paw, and so Hiacynth stayed back a ways, knowing that the Guosim leader had a bit of a temper, particularly when she was being challenged. Hiacynth had heard the murmurs of the older shrews as she had walked through the camp. Hiacynth did not envy Orbel's lofty post; when a Log-a-log made a mistake, they were rarely forgiven.
Hiacynth did not dislike Orbel, nor were they particularly fond of her as a Log-a-log. But someone had to do the job, and Guosim law dictated that Orbel was the shrew to do it. Hiacynth had been among those who disapproved Orbel's path; they had been one of those to try and reason with Orbel, to present their points and dissuade her. But that confrontation had not ended well, and the shrews followed Orbel's route, straight to their deaths, for some of them. 'That must be why I'm on scouting duty,' Hiacynth mused. It didn't matter much to them that there was some ill-will betwixt them and Orbel; Hiacynth followed orders, and one more beast who harbored ill-will towards them made no difference.
Clearing their throat, Hiacynth stepped forward. "Log-a-log, I have returned from scouting."
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Post by hyenateeth on Oct 4, 2015 11:39:35 GMT -5
Orbel's concentration was broken by the sound of another shrew approaching her. Though she did not turn around immeditately, instead continuing to bind her paw while grimacing into the river's calm waters. After the shrew had finished their report, Orbel slowly stood up and faced them. One of the shrews she had sent to scout near Redwall Abbey, if she remembered right, and one of those who had argued against her leading the Guosim the rapids, though she couldn't quite place a name to them.
"Aye, an' wot 'ave ye got ter report?" Orbel replied gruffly, looking past the shrew slightly. She put her hands on her hips, waiting their reply, though she didn't expect anything too interesting. Mossflower had been peaceful lately, which was a blessing considering Orbel was still finding her paws as Log-a-Log. Once she had heard the shrew's reply, she made a note to herself to give the order to begin making lunch.
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Post by Taurian on Oct 4, 2015 13:01:30 GMT -5
"I made it a few leagues west of the quarry, and then began to circle back. Checked in with the voles up at Gingivere's farm. They said that they had seen smoke near the base of the northern mountains," Hiacynth stated keeping their tone even. "Met an otter in the wood, said her name was Taurian Riverbull, a stranger in Mossflower. Looking for Redwall, like most are. I was going to bring her here, make my report, and then lead her to the abbey. Then that buzzard, Kiostra, who frequents the abbey, came along, and the fool of an otter went off to talk to the bird. I left her there. Kiostra won't hurt her unless she makes a fool of herself, and she'll lead her to the abbey." Pausing briefly to allow Orbel to absorb the information, Hiacynth added their opinion in the same toneless voice. "We may want to send more scouts over to the mountains. The voles said that there were a number of fires. Could be a horde. We also may want to send some messengers to the abbey, just to inform them of the presence by the mountains. The Abbot and Father Cornelius would want to know of this as soon as possible, so they can prepare for war or extra guests."
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Post by hyenateeth on Oct 4, 2015 15:16:44 GMT -5
Orbel listened to the report in silence, thinking heavily. She knew little of Redwall and its inhabitants and so ignored the shrew's information on the abbey. Other aspects of the report were more interesting to her. There was a high chance that the fires were nothing worth investigating, and she didn't want to risk her reputation (and Guosim shrews) by poking her nose where it wasn't wanted. Still, it was always worth having the upper hand on any vermin who posed a threat to Mossflower.
After another moment of saying nothing, the Log-a-Log waved her hands dismissively towards the shrew. "Good job. We'll 'ave lunch 'ere and decide what t'do later." Without waiting for a reply, Orbel limped off, shouting instructions to the shrews who were already setting up a makeshift cooking area.
Though she was personally against going looking for trouble from outside sources while she risked trouble from inside the Guosim, Orbel had to grudgingly admit that it was perhaps best to listen to the other shrews' thoughts before making any final decisions just yet. If whatever they found was worth warning the abbey about, they need only send a few messengers and not the entire clan.
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Post by Taurian on Oct 4, 2015 15:24:29 GMT -5
Nodding their head in a gesture of respect, Hiacynth followed Orbel back into the main campsite. They sat alone near one of the cooking fires, half-listening to one of the cooks, who was trying to make small talk, and nodding noncommittally. They wondered what Orbel would decide about the situation. Hiacynth hoped that their suggestions would at least be considered. Hopefully, the fires were nothing to be worried about, but the chance of vermin in Mossflower... Redwall should be among the first to know. As lunch was served, Hiacynth let their mind wander from the possibilities of an impending threat, instead focusing on the traditionally delicious meal that had been prepared.
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Post by pinemarten on Jul 14, 2016 21:00:42 GMT -5
(Please may I join your roleplay Hyenateeth? I'm new around here and longing to roleplay with my pine marten character.
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bye!
