Tallula's New Language

[Vrelt]

Riftgard grew steadily colder as the day progressed, a dense fog covered the island, blanketing out the warm sunlight that had warmed the island yesterday. Many beasts were disappointed by the change of weather, but they all knew that this was Riftgard, it wasn't famous for being warm. Among the large number of beasts who disliked the cold weather was the Ruler of Riftgard himself. Vrelt stood in his throne room, staring out the window that separated him from the fog. The room was much quieter than normal, for there wasn't beasts coming in and out today; he made sure nobeast entered while his daughter was sleeping. It had been a rough first day for Tallula, and Vrelt didn't want any interrupting her rest, but it would have to be cut short soon, for he needed to bring his daughter to Romsca.

There wasn't much to see outside the window, but the ferret wasn't concentrating on that. His mind was on that ferretmaid. For the first time in his life, the warlord felt guilty about his past life, after that single look from Jayne. Vrelt drew in a deep breath as he turned away from the window, it was about time for him to head toward the chambers of Commander Romsca.

He had already told the commander of his fleet about his long lost daughter. Romsca wasn't shocked by that news, it didn't surprise her that Vrelt had a daughter after the living the life of a corsair. The ferretmaid was still situated at her desk, working on those maps just as she was yesterday. On days like this, there wasn't much else she could do. Romsca was waiting on that new "Royal Translator" as Vrelt had put it, to show up at her chambers; the two of them were to start teaching Tallula the common Vermin language. She knew absolutely nothing about this translator, for Vrelt didn't say anything about him, or her. As well as waiting for the translator, Romsca was waiting on her student to arrive, Vrelt said he would send Tallula over to her chambers today, but the mink had yet to show her face.

[carabadgermum]

((yea clothes!))

It had taken Gurran a while to find a dress that would fit the Jayne, one that she could be presentable in until new clothes could be sewn for her. A dress had been found, but it was not the sort of dress that a servant girl just threw on quickly to run and do her duty. No, this was the sort of dress that a lady stood patiently waiting as servants fitted her into it. It had small buttons that ran down the back from her neck all the way to her tail.

So Jayne stood, far from patiently, while the old rat roughly did up all those buttons. There would be no racing up a mast into ship's rigging in this dress and neither would there be any slouching or cringing away as the ferretmaid was in the habit of doing. This dress would force her to stand up strait, and as much as Jayne hated the idea, bring the attention of otherbeasts.

"Wasn't there anything less formal?" Jayne tried not to sound like she was complaining as she wrung her paws anxiously. In truth it wasn't a terribly formal dress for a lady; just a simple, sea green muslin, afternoon frock but to Jayne it was more like the chains that she always feared.

[Hans Vermeer (Cole)]

Tallula was slowly coming back into awareness, she yawned and did a stretch. Strange how she has went through so much yet does not even have one nightmare about it, but of course that is the way most minks where. Quick to get over trauma..... Most of the time. She got up and Jumped off, taking the cape with her. Although it was many sizes too big for her, it still made a nice blanket and robe to wear, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She gave another big yawn.

(Sucky. xD)

[Vrelt]

Vrelt spotted his daughter climbing down from his throne; now that she woke up, he would take her along to Romsca's room to begin learning his language. She would be a quick learner just as he is, if she indeed take after him more than just the Darkfang eyes. Romsca was no doubt waiting on the two arrive at her chambers at this moment, they would be late in getting there because of allowing Tallula time to sleep.

The warlord called out to his daughter once she left the throne, addressing her with the one word she could understand. "Tallula!" Vrelt changed his course from walking to the large door, to stop and make eye contact with his daughter, trying to get her to follow him. The ferret gestured for her to come over to where he was standing, a gesture he was sure Tallula would undestand.

Gurran frowned as she buttoned the dress, "No. Now don't y' start complainin' 'bout it in front of any beast. Y' have t' act right now that you're at Riftgard, if y' stay longer." The old rat still felt disdain for this ferretmaid; she acted so weak, cringing away from the scornful expression directed at her. Romsca had never been like that, whenever somebeast looked at her the wrong way, she made sure they wouldn't do it again. That was one of the reasons Gurran favored Romsca over Jayne, it still angered her that Vrelt had pursued this lowly ferretmaid instead of one with a bit of spirit, like Romsca. But Vrelt did have a history of doing the unexpected, this was no different and Gurran hoped that this attraction to Jayne wouldn't last.

The old rat finished with the last button and she stepped away from Jayne, her piercing eyes looking the ferretmaid over for any problems with the dress, but found none. "There. Now y' look a little proper. Better than those old clothes, eh?" Gurran was proud of the work she did on making the ferretmaid look presentable, even if she didn't care for the beast wearing the dress. It wouldn't help her though, for even if Jayne wore a proper dress for once, she still lacked the right attitude for her new place at Riftgard. That would have to change if she ended up staying.

[carabadgermum]

Seasons of having a lash at her back were not going to be over come in a day and being caught complaining chastened Jayne a great deal. She dropped her gaze to the floor but the dress kept her posture strait along with emphasizing some of her better assets.

"Yes, Ma'am," she answered obediently but there was something else within her that wanted to argue with the old bat about how she liked her old clothes. They were the uniform that meant her freedom. They had let her fit in and be part of something, well sort of. Now she was an outsider again. She had to learn a whole new 'right way' to act. This is why she had reverted to her slave attitude. She was just waiting for somebeast to tell her where to go and what to do.

She had no idea what would happen if she disobeyed or stepped out of line. Would they just send her back to Draygo? That wouldn't be so bad. And even if they did beat her, it wasn't as if she hadn't endured that before. But they wouldn't, would they? She was under Vrelt's protection; the way he had looked at her, surely he wouldn't let anybeast hurt her. Perhaps she should test the waters a bit.

Lifting her head in what she hoped was a proud manor, Jayne looked Gurran in the eye. "Vrelt said that I am to go to Commander Romsca's chambers." Her paws were shaking so she clasped them behind her back but her voice was steady and carried an extra note of defiance when she used the warlord's first name. "I'll need somebeast to show me the way." It wasn't exactly true confidence but it was a start.

[Hans Vermeer (Cole)]

Tallula almost went into immediate attention when daddy called out to her by her name. Rubbing her eyes and yawning one more time before looking at Vrelt. Watching his glaze and gestures. It was very obvious what he wanted her to do, follow him. Dragging his cape behind her through still wrapped around her like a over sized king's robe. She walked over to him and rubbed her eyes one more time.

[Vrelt]

Gurran was not impressed by Jayne's attempt to sound proud and confident, but it was a start; the ferretmaid might learn after all. She was still a long shot from adjusting to life at Riftgard, as far as acting properly went. Jayne would have to learn how to carry herself the right way, no more of that cringing, slouching, or looking away that she was in the habit of doing. If Jayne was going to learn, Gurran knew it could only be from the commander of Riftgard's navy; Romsca.

The old rat pointed to the door, that scornful look still glued on her face. "Ask any of th' guards. Tell 'em Vrelt ordered y' to go there. That'll git y' there safely." Gurran wasn't about to be pushed around by the ferretmaid who was just now starting to show some backbone, she wouldn't even address Jayne as an equal, at least not yet. If she made drastic changes in how she acted, the ferretmaid had a chance to earn the privilege of seeing Gurran without a scornful look on her face.

Vrelt was pleased when his daughter quickly grasped what he was trying to say, and started to follow him, wearing his black cape that dwarfed her. The warlord pulled open the large door that guarded his throne room and walked through it, holding it open for his daughter to follow, then he started off down the stone hallway. It wasn't far to the chambers of Romsca, which was located just down the hallway. Vrelt had not even begun to consider what he would tell Romsca about all this; mainly about his long lost daughter, but on top of that, Jayne. Gurran had made it clear she despised the ferretmaid, and it was likely Romsca would as well. The warlord shoved those thoughts from his mind as he glanced back to make sure Tallula was still following him, deciding he would deal with Romsca and the rest when they were at her chambers.

[carabadgermum]

Jayne frowned but she still managed to keep her chin up. She was beginning to think that the old rat was just incapable of smiling. Anyway her last comment had seemed slightly less harsh. So the ferretmaid nodded in what she hoped was a less servile manor. "Thank you. I'll just be going then."

She turned away before Gurran could reply and hurried out the door. As soon as she was out of the room however she wondered if she was any safer on this side. The eyes of the guards in the hall were on her immediately. They were amused laughing eyes that took in her new appearance and either approved of the way her dress hugged her form or were disappointed at the amount of fur it covered. Jayne cleared her throat in an effort to get them to look at her face rather than elsewhere. It was only slightly successful, "Warlord Darkfang wanted me to go to Commander Romsca's . . ."

"He wanted ye alright," one of the guards interrupted her with a laugh. "But I don' think he really cared where he gotcha."

"Is it true he just cleared the dinnin' table an' took ye right there atop of it?" Another guard moved towards her from his post.

The first one who had spoken clapped his comrade on the back and continued, "I heard 'e 'ad her on the throne itself."

"I . . ." Jayne did want to speak up and defend herself but the truth was she wasn't sure if what they said had actually happened or not. She was still only just beginning to put together the pieces of what had happened the night before. Finally, setting her jaw defiantly the ferretmaid spoke. "I don't think you should be talking about your leader that way! What he does or does not do is his own business!"

Both guards seemed a little surprised by the outburst and their momentary silence gave Jayne the courage she needed to continue. "Now, he has asked me to report to Commander Romsca's chambers and I need somebeast to lead me there."

"Right," the first guard looked the ferretmaid over once again, this time less favorably. The little wench was going to be more trouble than she was worth if the warlord gave her the authority to throw around orders. But he couldn't do anything about it if he didn't want word to get back to his highness. "The Commander's rooms is this way." He started to walk down the hall not bothering to look back to see if Jayne was following.

The second guard fell in step next to his comrade and tried to lighten his mood with a joking whisper, "So what'd'ye think ol' Darkfang's gonna get up to in there with the both o' them ferretmaids, eh?"

"Whatever 'e damn well pleases."

Jayne pretended she hadn't heard this exchange as she followed silently. Her mind was elsewhere anyway. She was trying again to remember exactly what had gone on yesterday evening. She was fairly sure that neither the dining table nor the throne had been put to the use that the guards suggested. There had been the chase around the throne room and clothing had been discarded there but when it actually came to the point of . . . She wracked her brain for the memory and then it came.

((sorry godmoding a bit for the memory))

He had finally caught her by the arm after she had hidden his cape. He was laughing and his blue eyes were shining like two ice crystals. He'd been teasing her about how her uniform meant that she belonged to Captain Englehorn. ". . . so see, without it you're free, no longer bound to that idiot."

"Whoever said I didn't want to be bound to him?" Jayne giggled but she didn't attempt to pull away. She was out of breath from running and rather enjoyed being caught. "He did kiss me once."

"I hate him," Vrelt's smile warmed as he looked into her eyes and pulled her closer. "Tell me, was it as good as this. . ."

Jayne blushed at the memory.

Her disgruntled escorts had reached a door and were knocking on it. "Commander Fireblade, somebeast's here to see ye."

[Hans Vermeer (Cole)]

Tallula was of course, following the ferret warlord. Being a faithful and very loyal daughter who has no other beast to truly go to other than the ferretmaid Jayne. She really had not much of a choice. She was long gone from home and knew she would never go back, there was nothing to come back for. Other than to an abandoned home and dead mother. Which she would never see again. Her mother... Like any mink was big and tall, like the vermin version of an otter. Taller than the ferret father himself and possibly even tougher due to her life of little to no luxury. She had lived her life as multiple jobs ranging from fisher beast to healer. Though she had a temper as fierce and mean as any mink of her kind. Not really the type of touch you wanted to get from a healer...

The life of most beasts in the new world was mostly primitive compared to most beasts in places even in Mossflower. Most beasts, raccoons, jaguars, minks, coyotes, grey foxes and the such (even the females) often wore nothing but wrap around skirts or kilts, (not highlander type at all though. all beasts native to the New World don't wear any clothing for they're upper torsos) pendents and necklaces of some short which are often decorated in colorful rock, the claws and fangs of animals and even paws in the case of raccoons, they never wore shoes of some short, sometimes they have bracelets and pawrings, even crowns in the case of Jaguars.

Most male minks and very few female minks are warriors. All raccoons of any genders are warriors and Coyotes were often smart enough to work off as advisers, grey foxes for stealth, jaguars are often kings or queens or have some type of high position of power over other beasts.... Due to them being bigger than badgers.

(Though maybe now you have enough of the main vermin types of creatures... (Though there are plenty involving the coyote and Gila monsters and rattlesnakes.) so later one in the threads i may add the non vermin creatures of the New World....)

[Vrelt]

After a brief hesitation, Romsca looked up from the various maps spread out before her, that translator had finally arrived. The ferretmaid remained seated at her desk and called out to the guards knocking on her door. "Then bring that beast in and return to your posts." This beast had sure taken a long time to get here, which bothered the commander, for she was a beast that was well organized, a beast that always arrived on time and took orders to the dot. Vrelt was taking an excessive amount of time to get here with his daughter, but that was another story all together, something she didn't want to think about.

Vrelt's swift pace brought the two beasts to Romsca's room quickly, and he caught sight of the two guards and Jayne standing just outside the door. The change in clothing for the ferretmaid was impressive, she looked so much better in that dress than she did in the sailor's clothes that was several sizes too large. Vrelt forced himself to look away from Jayne for a moment, speaking to the two guards with authority, "Go on. Back to your posts. You're no longer needed over here." The warlord stepped over to the door and pulled it open, after hearing Romsca say they could come in, and he gestured for Jayne and Tallula to walk in before him.

Romsca inclined her head to the view through the open door, catching sight of Vrelt doing something polite was odd enough, but what shocked her was the warlord's daughter. She wasn't even a ferret, it was a mink! It was clear to her that Vrelt must have been seriously drunk for this to happen, she found it hard to believe that a mink was the long lost daughter of the mighty Vrelt Darkfang. After the door opened, the ferretmaid stood and then caught sight of the "translator," a beast that looked uncomfortable about the situation she found herself in. Though Jayne was trying to look the part of a proper beast, she still had a long way to go. Romsca locked her emerald green eyes onto Vrelt's with a questioning look on her face, the warlord returned her gaze with a shrug of his shoulders. The ferretmaid guessed Vrelt would clear everything up in just a moment, once he got those two other beasts into her room.

[carabadgermum]

Jayne brightened immedately when Vrelt arrived on the scene but when he almost as quickly looked away from her the smile fell from her face. She was sure she had displeased him in some way. Maybe he had thought better about what had happened the night before and now only wanted to keep things on a professional level. Well, Jayne could do that. She would focus her attention on Tallula and do her job as translator the best she could.

"Go on in, Tallula. I'm right here with you. Your daddy just wants you to learn to speak his language." She held her paw out to the little mink encouragingly and gave her a little smile. If there was one creature on this entire island who Jayne felt she could really relate to it was this child.

She certainly was no equal of this Romsca who she barely glanced at before looking back down shyly. Tallula, she thought. Tallula is why I'm here.

"Did you sleep well?" She asked the child as she led the way into Romsca's chambers.

[Hans Vermeer (Cole)]

Tallula was not paying Jayne any attention. She had her eyes locked on Romsca. Scanning into her with her icy blue eyes. Almost sensing the disbelief and shock from the ferret. This caused the mink hybrid to make a slight facial expression that involved a slight frown and glare, which quickly turned to normal at the voice of Jayne, who managed to catch her attention by speaking to her a second time.

" Yes. I did sleep. I slept well." was the reply. Though as well as she slept and as well as she was now awake. She was starting to wish she had still slept. No beast really accepted her other than she, daddy and the strange fox. It would be the closet any child beast would ever come to that would become a close realization that unlike Jayne, she would likely have it worse. There will always be a beast that just won't except her as daddy's child. Always a beast that has something to say behind her back. There will always be a beast that might plan to have her overthrown when she grows up and takes daddy's place. Maybe even always a beast that will like to see her in an early grave...

[Vrelt]

The warlord closed the door as he entered Romsca's chambers, keeping his voice cool as he made introductions. "Commander, this is our new translator, Jayne. And my daughter, Tallula." Vrelt stopped for a moment, his icy gaze shifting between the two ferretmaids before continuing. "The reason for calling three of you together is to begin teaching my daughter our language. Jayne knows the Mink tongue, and you are the most educated beast I know, Romsca. So teaching Tallula shouldn't be too hard for you two."

Romsca did not wait long to reply to the warlord, "We'll teach her. If this "translator" is worth anything. It shouldn't be much trouble." Like Gurran, the ferretmaid didn't regard Jayne highly from her first appearance, even in that regal looking dress, it was easy to see that looking proper was something she was used to. Romsca surveyed the Mink once more, well, she did resemble her father in at least one respect; those icy blue eyes that characterized the Darkfang family. If Tallula inherited any of the Darkfang quick-mindedness, she would be a quick learner, and already, Romsca thought the mink had some spirit just from the way she carefully studied over her. This was an assignment that Romsca decided she could handle easily, as long as this Jayne cooperated with her in teaching Tallula a new language.

[carabadgermum]

Jayne looked up at each of the other beasts as they spoke but her eyes lingered longer on the Warlord. She wondered if her memory had been real or only a dream and what it would be like to feel his arms around her again. Then she blinked and tried to remember what had been asked of her. "Y-yes, Your Majesty. I'll do my best." She actually breathed a sigh of relief that she had remembered to call him 'Your Majesty' rather than 'Vrelt'.

Tearing her eyes from his she looked back down at his daughter. "Tallula this is Commander Romsca. She's going to be helping us with your language studies. Can you say hello to her? Say, 'Hello Commander Romsca'."

[Hans Vermeer (Cole)]

Tallula did not like Romsca, because she could feel her discomfort, disbelief and shock of her. The ferretmaid pirate made her feel like an alien from another world, though technically. She was in a way. She wished she could speak they're language right now. She would have let the ferretmaid heed her words well, and maybe even bring daddy into the problem to fix it. Better yet, maybe she could deal with it herself when she got bigger. Bigger like mommy was...

Jayne spoke to her in her language again. Tallula liked her. They were both newcomers and kinda outcasts in a way. Though both in favor of the Warlord. They were disliked or discomforted by other beasts. Or really in Jayne's case, teased and catcalled. She herself was just stared at with disgust or shock.

When Jayne gave out the name of Romsca. She didn't know what the word 'commander' meant. The mink language (or any other new world language for that matter) didn't cover certain vermin words like commander. Mainly due to being comfortable with the word 'king, queen or chief.' Though of course this is a new world she had been forcefully sailed into, and there was no turning back now.

She didn't want to talk with Romsca, but did it for Jayne and Daddy because she cared about them enough to do so. "Hal-o....ca-man-er..Rom-ca..." The words came out weird. Strange and alien to her, the words tickled her throat in a strange way that did not make her giggle but did not hurt her either. Just mainly discomfort from using a language unknown from her for years for the first time.