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Post by Isaiah on Jun 5, 2018 20:28:53 GMT -5
Don't know that it goes on all that far, actually, 'least not this way. There's a bit of a draft, feel it? Could be it opens up further down the hillside. 'Course, could be a ways b'fore then too. Hard t' say in unfamiliar territory, wot!
*Peering into the darkness before her, Lily's whiskers twitched in excitement. A faint smile pulled at the edge of her features as she strained her eyes to see beyond her little bubble of illumination. The mystery of the unknown was electrifying, and Lily had to restrain herself from bounding down the leftmost cave with only her torch in paw. The rational part of her mind knew, however, that those sorts of loner tactics wouldn't hold up in an expedition where working as a group was the expectation. Even so, Lily could not stop her imagination running wild with what adventures the downwards trending passageway could hold.*
Well, if we're goin' to go I say we better start goin' down the one that has something to go to. Bring up the light Lily before Burfle stubs his other paw.
*Lily sighed. Wrenching her gaze away from the leftmost passage, she turned towards the other branch, waving the torch in front of her for light. August was correct, there was definitely a draft in this direction by the way the torch light flickered. That just made the mousemaid yearn for the more mysterious direction even more.*
You need some help getting to a decent shelter and tucker? If so you have Willow Pikeclaw at your service.
*Lily's paw jumped to her dagger as a wild looking otter stepped forward, materializing from the darkness. Pushing the torch between her and the newcomer, Lily studied Willow carefully, her shoulders tensed in rigid anticipation.*
Hello there... *Lily spoke cautiously, making sure to keep her distance and still keeping her paw within safe reach of her weapon.* Do you have a tribe around these parts? Do you live here?
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Post by Barkfur on Jun 6, 2018 0:44:33 GMT -5
**Willow sheathed he rapier and put away her javelins and stones. she studied each and every one carefully, watching for any signs of danger. the hare, squrrrels, and mice seemed friendly enough, but the kestrel, with it's claws showing, seemed like a greater threat. suddenly the one that they called Lilly asked her,**
Hello there... Do you have a tribe around these parts? Do you live here?
** Willow sighed, she thought about it a moment, then replied,** nah, I once had one in the south, holt fallow was a good place, but I felt it didn't suit me. so that's how I moved from the southern islands to this cave.** she paused for a moment then added, winking at the otter in the party.** well mates I've got a good ol' pot of shrimp'n hotroot soup cookin in my cave. anybody want to try it?
**Willow waited for the group's response. the mouse with the dagger seemed dangerous, so did the kestrel. but willow was able to shake off the feeling of danger coming from them. as the group all pondered their next decision. she sat down on a rock near the fork and pondered what would have happened if she had stayed at holt fallow...**
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Post by Aquamarine on Jul 11, 2018 20:12:54 GMT -5
*August's ear twitched again. Pawsteps. Coming from the left passage, if he wasn't mistaken. Sounds in caves could be quite misleading, what with the echoing and all that. Was that a tail brushing along the ground? August glanced toward the group, about to ask for silence, right when Lily answered Dewbelle's call for a torch. The mousemaid came forward, waving the torch. The light spilled into the right fork, flickering across Burfle and his stubbed paw, and it was just at that moment that another creature stepped into the light from their left. An otter, rapier in one paw and lit torch in the other. Willow Pikeclaw, as she introduced herself, offering shelter and tucker to boot.
That answered the pawsteps, then. August relaxed minutely. Next to him, Lily jumped, torch thrust out like a weapon. To August's surprise, she spoke up.* Hello there... Do you have a tribe around these parts? Do you live here?
*August listened in silence to the otter's reply. She was certainly well-armed enough, and the bulky object across her back appeared to be a net full of something. Her body language was hesitant but her voice friendly. She had every right to be cautious. As did they, but August was satisfied that she meant them no ill will -- quite the opposite, it seemed. Otterfolk were good sorts by and large, and Redwall creatures were welcomed by most woodlanders, even far off as they were.
Explanation finished, Willow backed off, seating herself at the fork as if to wait for their response. When none seemed to be forthcoming from the others, August stepped forward and extended a paw.*
Pleasure t' meet you, Willow Pikeclaw. Lieutenant Augustus Bryant, Salamandastron Long Patrol. We've been on our way south from Redwall Abbey, 'til this rain blew in, that is. 'Fraid we don't know much of the area, so we'd be much obliged for any tucker 'n' shelter y' might help us to, wot!
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Post by Barkfur on Jul 15, 2018 4:26:01 GMT -5
Pleasure t' meet you, Willow Pikeclaw. Lieutenant Augustus Bryant, Salamandastron Long Patrol. We've been on our way south from Redwall Abbey, 'til this rain blew in, that is. 'Fraid we don't know much of the area, so we'd be much obliged for any tucker 'n' shelter y' might help us to, wot!
**Willow smiled. Long patrol hares were very well trained, even though they ate a lot, they were a force to reckon with. Rising up from the rock, she grasped the hares hand and shook warmly.**
nice ta meet ye' matey! i'll get ye shipshape by dawn! Follow me!
** After leading the group past dozens of lefts and rights, Willow reached a fork that she knew way too well. Taking a left, she led the group into a massive cave, in which were around one-hundred eighty otters, and lit by a central hearth with an enormous pot cooking on it. to the left of the hearth were forges, looms, and tables, All of which had a burly otter using it. To the right of the hearth, there were dozens of racks, each with an assorted spice, herb, plant, or shrimp in it. beyond the hearth were two caves. The one on the left had a sign that read: Holt reedshiners. the other also had a sign but it read: guests and skipper. Willow walked in front of the party and called out to the Holt.:**
HOLT REEDSHINE! WE GOT GUESTS! YE KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!
**At that moment all otters doing anything abandoned their posts and rushed to the perimeters of the cave. Fires began lighting as otters began cooking food that one could never dream of, Roseberry and sage pie,woodland trifles, an enormous gar that only the combined efforts of five otters could lift, peach n' lettuce salad, the ever famous shrimp'n hotroot soup and much more. Even kits escorted by otterwives began streaming out of the Holt Reedshiners cave along with additional male otters and began cooking. Willow took off her net full of shrimp and handed it to a kit who replied:**
Thank ye shkipper!
**Seeing the look of confusion on the party she was escorting jolted her back to reality. She led them into the guests and skipper cave and before they entered it, she gave a quick explaination.**
if ye're wonderin' why i'm th' skipper thas because i founded this holt. The warriors respect me and I respect them mateys! Anyway. the straw bed is mine and ye can pick yer own beds out. Also,don't touch those small figurines you see. We make em for every visitor here. I'll tell ye when the scoff's ready.
**As the party entered the room, Willow glanced around the room. It had various cushioned beds scattered around the room, with the odd one out being a single straw bed.In each corner there was a large table. on the tables were hundreds of small figurines, the most notable being a badger wielding an axe, a small family of squrrels in northlander clothing and a hundred or so hares and shrews. Glancing back at the group, she nodded and told them,**
I shoud be cookin an' helpin like a proper skipper does.
**Walking out the cave, she smiled. the feast was gonna be one to remember.**
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Post by Celebes on Jul 18, 2018 16:25:10 GMT -5
**Dewbelle looked on as the others conversed with the otter who had emerged from the gloom. So there were other beasts down here. But a river otter? She seemed to be a bit far from the stream. Dewbelle mentally sized the strange stranger up. Fairly well built with attractive features, if a bit scruffy. She spoke with a curious dialect, which the squirrelmaid couldn't exactly place. Where had she heard that accent before? Had to have been a few seasons ago at least.**
Nice ta meet ye' matey! I'll get ye shipshape by dawn! Follow me!
**The command jolted Dewy back into the present. The squirrelmaid wasn't sure if following Willow into the cavern made her more or less comfortable, but considering the otter seemed to know where she was going, the suggestion seemed harmless enough. They had been planning on going left at the bend anyway.
They weren't long in following, however, when Dewbelle realized that this cave had more forks than Cavern Hole's settings at lunch time. The drafty comfort that Dewy had felt in the air had all but disappeared behind a series of rocky turns and stony corridors. The air was cold and still. With the natural light at the cave entrance all but left behind, the only light they had to go by was that of Lily's torch. Dewy moved closer to the bearer. Her eyes darted between the flame and her own footpaws as she sought to ignore the crushing blackness of the ever tightening cave. The occasional strange drip echoed through the hollows of the cave. This cave seemed so vast, and yet, every time her elbow or tail brushed the wall, she swore that it had gotten closer. Dewy's imagination was starting to outpace her mind. Were the walls closing in on them? Was this otter leading them to their doom? She must be mad to live down here like she was some sort of mole. Was she going to eat them for tucker after they were crushed to death?! Would anybeast ever know what happened to them?!
Moments before her panic became audible, a second source of light could be seen glistening at the end of the corridor. Daylight? It was all that Dewy could do to not race Willow to the source. The cave opened up at once, as if she was stepping into a new room from a hallway in a building. The squirrelmaid's dismay at still being underground was swallowed up in the surprise of seeing holt of otters, seeming more than content with their surroundings. Great, just great. There were more like Willow.
After receiving the tour of the place, Dewbelle found herself waiting in the bedchamber with the others as Willow went off to prepare. It had certainly been a lot to take in, and Dewbelle would be sure to try and enjoy the memory of it when she was far from this place and above ground. Hopefully her nerves would let her eat, as the scoff had smelled rather divine. Anything cooked properly did after eating camp rations for a week. Dewy sighed shakily. Yes, she could do this. Dewbelle placed her paws behind her, and leaned back on them. To her confusion, her paws sunk slightly. Looking behind her, the squirrelmaid realized she had sat down on one of the beds without realizing it. The beds. Wait. They were supposed to sleep in here? No. Sleeping under a kajillion tons of granite was were she drew the line in this spelunking side quest.**
This betta be a fast lunch. We have a fair piece to go still before we can pitch camp for the night.
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Post by Bomboar Riverpaw on Oct 22, 2018 22:06:29 GMT -5
Nice to meet y'all, Bomboar said. Me name's Bomboar, newly returned from Salamandastron.
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