Budding Warriors

[samuel]

((you do thoughts like if you were doing a quote that a character is saying. Just make sure you punctuate it properly and it should be fine))

Ulbor had continued on into the woods some time before, tying branches to the back of his belt to smear his tracks as he walked. But while enjoying the peaceful woodlands, his experience had taught him to always remain alert. He had gotten into too many situations because he let his guard down. As his feet sank into the snow and he began to feel the chill of winter, he thought he heard something. Suddenly stopping, he slowly scanned the woods around him. So far there was nothing, just empty, hibernating forest. Did he hear singing? It was a ways off. He decided to change direction and travel toward the sound. Perhaps he might find a beast who could help him be sure of his whereabouts or restore his provisions.

As he continued on the sun began to descend towards the horizon and the woods began to grow darker. Before long, Ulbor would have to stop and prepare for a meal and sleep. Just then, as the light grew dim, he was just able to make out what appeared to be tracks ahead. There were definitely beasts about.

Taking a javelin from his back, the hedgehog cautiously proceeded on. There were lots of tracks in the snow now. It looked like at one point, a beast had fallen. There were at least five beasts and probably more. As he walked on, he noticed the paw print of a fox. Could there be vermin about? Very likely. Could they be stalking some goodbeasts? Quite probably. In this time of year, animals were hungry, and vermin would take any chance they could to thieve food from goodbeasts.

Ulbor tossed the branches aside and continued on stepping in the vermins' tracks.

[Daniel]

A big, sinewy, capable-looking fox stepped forward out of the band of vermin. He was wearing a friendly smile. He wore a long, purple tunic and a striking gold medallion. He leaned on his spear addressing the pair with friendliness, "Hello there, gentlebeasts. We were just passing by and smelled something delicious! You don't mind letting us sit by the fire and eat with you?" Jake eyed the suspicious fox, looked at Dannburl, then answered him, "Why do you need weapons to eat? Tell us your name."
"I am called Lunith the Fleet. Pleased to meet you."
"Well, Lunith the Fleet, I'll tell you what; you and your group drop your weapons and we'll give you some food."
The strong fox shook his head seemingly in regret, "Why can't all you woodlanders be gullible? Alright mates, these two are smarter than the others. They look like strong beasts! Get them alive."
Jake turned to Dannburl with a fire in his eyes, "Slavers! They're too close for me to use my bow, I'm only a novice! I'll get in front of you!" He turned to the slowly approaching vermin and called out, putting up his bow and unsheathing his rapier. "Come to me vermin! Come fall on my sword!"
The vermin came running, closing the distance between them. Lunith stayed where he was, however, urging his pack on.

[samuel]

"Come to me vermin! Come fall on my sword!"

Ulbor had been getting closer and closer to the river again. At the sound of this cry he paused to search the woods in the failing light. Seeing nothing, he increased his pace slightly but resisted the urge to storm forward. He had seen brave warriors fall to the blades of vermin because they recklessly charged into a battle without first taking stock of the situation.

He held his javelin balanced in his right paw ready to launch it at any unfortunate vermin. Constantly scanning the surrounding forest, and listening intently, he proceeded forward through the vermin tracks towards the sound of commotion.

[Zephyr]

(( sorry for the wait))

Dannburl’s paw was a blur as he quickly un-shouldered his longbow, loaded an arrow, and released the string. His shot rang true and found home, dead in the center of the closest vermin’s skull

[Daniel]

((We'll never forgive you JK. BTW I've changed my name. Dunno why, I just felt like it.))

Jake let the nearest vermin get close to him, then he lunged at him with his rapier. His blade point sunk into the vermin's chest and the victim fell dead. He waited for the rest to get closer so he could surprise them with his agility.

Lunith the Fleet, the leader of the slavers was shaking his head with his eyes closed. He sighed, "I knew I shouldn't have paid that much for this worthless pack of sellswords. These two would be excellent slaves..." He yelled out over the fray, "You idiots couldn't catch a frog in a snowstorm! Get them or I'll send you to Hellsgates myself!" He would wait around just until he could see whether his goons could catch the two or not.

[Zephyr]

Dannburl backed into the cool shallows of the stream, his eyes dilating and contracting as he concentrated on the one named Lunith the Fleet. he would have enough time for one more shot before the vermin were upon him. he readied his bow as he took all the variable factors into account. It wasn't at all an extreme distance, but it would be more than helpful to slay their leader with one, well aimed shot.
..................
Lunith was watching with mild amusement as the shrew made childsplay out of the faster of his Mercs. "it isn't possible that two could stand up to all 20 of them", he thought, "they will be on their knees within the minute!, and its not like that archer squirrel can effectively shoot the long bow at point blank range". he turned his head twards Dann, long enough to see a small, thin blur flying twards him. he didn't have time to react as the arrow connected with the center of his chest.
..........
Dann's hope fell as his ears registered the dull clank of metal on metal. and lunith the fleet laughed in a mocking manner as the arrow harmlessly bounced off a chest-plate under his tunic

[Daniel]

((Nice work with that armor bit))

Jake was beginning to become surrounded, and though the vermin were not very good fighters, it only took a well aimed stab to seal his doom. He leaped backwards over his logboat and, with an amazing show of strength and quickness, he lifted the light craft over his head and heaved it sideways at the approaching slavers. It took one in the head, but the remaining two were more agile. They ducked and charged Jake.

((Jake and Dannburl killed two, that leaves the one who just got hit and the charging ones and Lunith.))

[Zephyr]

Dann backed up till the water was to his knees. the charging vermin were but 10 yards away.
he shouldered his bow and reached into his tunic to pull out his dirk. he was a born archer, not a swordsman and didn't know much about proper swordplay. but using it was inevitable

[Daniel]

Jake bounded back to the stream edge. "Here they come - wait, where's their leader?" The vermin heard Jake say this. They stopped dead and turned around and saw that their leader had vanished. They looked at each other for but a second, and then turned opposite ways and bolted. Jake sat down panting at the side of the stream. "Wow, you showed 'em, Dann. I wish I could aim like that."

[samuel]

Adrenalin pumping through his veins and anger boiling into his eyes, Ulbor watched two young warriors fighting for their lives. Worrying about stealth no longer, the big hedgehog lightly ran to the edge of the forest looking for the best target for his javelin. There! the biggest of the vermin was a fox in a long, purple tunic. With a flashy golden medallion, the fox was the most well dressed and obviously the leader. He stood back from the fight, not wanting to get his paws dirty. Typical vermin, thought Ulbor. The fox was as big as Ulbor and a threat as big as any. If he could take out the leader, he knew that the vermin would easily be scared away from the fearsome warrior falling upon them.

Lunith the Fleet watched his vermin crash against the shrew and squirrel like water on rocks. They easily outnumbered these pathetic travelers but could not seem to make anything of it; next time, Lunith would be sure of his hired blades' quality. Disgusted, he looked away and not a moment too soon. There to his left stood a fearsome sight; Lunith almost leaped out of his boots as a powerful-looking, well-armed hedgehog stood just inside the forest with a javelin poised to throw. Lunith could almost feel the point as it aimed toward his throat, but Lunith was not called the Fleet for nothing. His reflexes propelled him to easily streak away from the hedgehog's gaze into the dark forests beyond, back toward the main body of his slave caravan. The javelin thudding into bare snow.

As the vermin fled, Ulbor leaped from the woods and launched another javelin at the fleeing vermin dropping one to the ground. With a bellowing yell, he drew his longsword and charged the fleeing vermin hoping that some would look back to see him. He knew he was a fearsome sight with his mail and his quills bristling over his head, and vermin were often superstitious. If they thought there was some terrible beast in the area, they would most likely not return again soon. It would give Ulbor time to make sure the two young warriors were ok and prepare for his next move.

However, his chain mail did not help his running speed, and hedgehogs were not known as fast runners anyhow. Ulbor slowed, sheathed his sword, and turned to the shrew and squirrel carefully knowing their blood must still be rushing with the heat of battle. They must be surprised to see him as well.

"Fear not, I am no foebeast to you," Ulbor said as calmly as he could manage with his adrenalin still flowing.

((I hope my post worked out well. If I need to change anything let me know))

[Daniel]

((Yeah, the biggest would be that it's no longer winter. Another thing, Jake and Dannburl are in the stream by this point, and they're already calming down. Jake's sitting on the shore of the stream, panting. Just make sure you don't use "snow" or anything winter-related. I think the it's summer right now, and i think the admin just forgot to change it. but it's summer, now. Anyway, that works. And Lunith is no coward, just letting you know. Anyway, it's Zephyr's trun now, I just though i'd get that in there.))

[Zephyr]

"Fear not, I am no foebeast to you,"
Dann gave a long sigh of relief as the fearsome warrior hedgehog said this. he then looked into his eyes and said with the most censere tone he could muster
"thank you, we are deeply in your debt, that we are. Might i ask what your name is good sir?

[Daniel]

Jake sat, waiting for the big hedgehog to answer. He would introduce himself, and afterwards he would go and inspect his logboat to make sure that it was all right.

[samuel]

((since we already did so much with winter, it may just be better to keep it that way. I think if other posts had it in winter, they probably stayed too. Otherwise it's too impractical and awkward. I think we should wait to change it until we move to another place. Let's just stay consistent unless a moderator tells us otherwise, because honestly it really isn't that big of a deal. There are probably people who don't even look at the season at the top anyway.

Perhaps also we should not fight the slavers again too soon. Maybe the three of us will go look for help first. This will also give us a chance to change locations and make the weather the same as others

And as a practical point, if you've ever been in any form of actual combat -wrestling, martial arts, grappling, etc.- then you'll know that the adrenalin and heart beat lasts longer than you might think which is why I mentioned it.))

Ulbor relaxed and made his way to the creatures in the shallows extending a paw to them. "I am Ulbor Thickpaw," he said as he smiled happily waiting to hear the young warriors' names in return.

[Zephyr]

"A plesure to meet you sir thickpaw, my name is Dannburl Sagara. You may call me Dann for short, that you can." Dann said as he exteded his paw to Ublor.