Expedition [Urk Climax #1]: The Long Watch

[Silvertongue Songfox]

In the meantime, Silvertongue went over to Swifttail, who seemed to be struggling with the tent. He leaned down, taking off his gloves and offering them to the other fox. “Here. Your paws are shaking terribly. These might help.”

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail gave a quiet laugh, not quite bitter, but close.

“Aye, well... I guess I’m not like most beasts in the Imperium.”

He shifted his weight slightly, glancing toward the tent flap where pale morning light filtered through the seams.

“Grew up in a place where the world didn’t care if you were brave, or strong, or clever. Iskatyut was all wind and snow and dark winters. You needed others just to survive it. We didn’t have the luxury of thinkin’ only of ourselves.”

He paused a moment, scratching lightly at the side of his muzzle.

“Seein’ what I’ve seen since leavin’... it’s just made me more certain. I want to be better. Kinder. ‘Cause if beasts out here are gonna be cruel, someone’s gotta show the kit what the other side looks like.”

His ears perked slightly at the muffled sound of Finn’s voice outside.

“He’s a good one, that kit.”

Swifttail’s tail gave a soft, slow wag.

“Never had a brother m’self. There were a few kits in my village, sure... but I always dreamed of havin’ a younger one. Someone to teach things to. Stories, skills... how to make peace with the world, even when it feels like it don’t want you.”

He smiled, though it carried a quiet, fragile sort of hope.

“I want to teach him before the VI gets to him too bad. Before he forgets what gentle looks like.”

At that, Silvertongue approached and offered him a pair of gloves. Gates, he hadn't noticed how cold his paws had gotten! Living in warmer climates the past 6 years or so sure made a beast forget about the simple comfort items in times like this!

Swifttail nodded to the Cerulean-dressed ships aide and gratefully took the gloves, wagging his tail.

"Thank ye' Silvie! See, 'eres another good beast at heart. Look past all the scum and treachery, and there are other diamonds in the rough!"

 

[Vihmastaja]

Vihma let the other weasel take charge, as it were, taking up the babe and finding what it needed. Wordlessly, she saw to it that the items she requested were taken… at least until her paws were full. She looked back at Piper with an expression that would have been unreadable even if her face wasn’t masked with grey-white cloth.

“What’re we doin’, mate? Can’t carry all this ‘n still scout ahead. Certainly not with… with the shrew, there.”

She gestured toward the infant, the jar in her paw offering an additional illustration of her problem.

 

[Duchess Dusk Rainblade]

Piper gave Vihma a long look. "We aren't leaving an infant to die. We'll take it back to camp; the surgeon can look after it while we scout ahead."

She carried the squeaking infant back outside, cooing over it. "Aww, you're not a relentless terror yet, are you? No, you're just a hungry little thing." She looked up, then frowned as she looked around. "Where did your friend get off to?"

~ ~ ~

As Greeneye examined the boiling pot, a sickly smell of overcooked meat came to his nose. Poking around with the ladle, he found something hard in the mixture. Dredging it up, he found, the meat sloughing off it, a rodent skull of a shape and size very near to his own staring back at him.

 

[Kaii Nashirou]

Kaii was finally done with setting up traps. No enemy was spotted so far and the group that ventured out of the camp wasn't making noises signalling any attack coming thus far. He took a second to look around to make sure if any trap is visible or not. Deciding they are not, he packed his tools up and moved through the area. He of course didn't bother making any marks for those traps. They were in a grid that we now had to share to the rest of the camp.

Moving on he still wasn't letting himself think of anything but the tasks at hand. Ever vigilant and ready, that is how he would survive should any danger would come.

Some moments later he found himself in the camp proper, looking how there was an atmosphere of leisure work. It confused him really. Was anyone just fine with possibility of being attacked at any moment? He banished this thought for later and moved to Swift and Silvie, pulling out a piece of paper.

"Gentlebeasts, I am sorry to break your conversation but this is rather important." He pulled out his claw and cut precisely a hexagonal grid on it, "Starting 20 inches from each support beam from the fence and from one another, in such grid, traps are laid. Mind your step padding around."

He moved around the camp to show this note to everyone, warning them calmly of the danger they would pose if they were to entertain walking around. Finally after a good moment he ended up by the two todds working on the tent.

"Do you need any help? I am free now and time is of essence." He spoke looking at their work. he was fortunate to be a Marble fox in this climate. Arctic heritage kept him more immune to warmth than most were. And he also got used to truly freezing before.

 

[FinnianBrightfur]

Tultow started at the smack, then, to the surprise of his men around, he burst out laughing. He roared with laughter that echoed off the distant cliffs, doubling over until he could barely breathe. "Y- you got me!" he managed to wheeze. "First lesson they teach you at the academy, never ta- take your eyes off your foe, and you got me!" He took a few long, ragged breaths, clutching at his chest, before he managed to recover. He gave Finn a weak grin, one laced with gratitude. "Alright then lad, let's see how you do with parrying." He lunged forward with his own stick, working the lad through a few basic drills, eventually pressing him into the more advanced material.

Finn's grin widened a little into a smirk, and the foxkit hopped back a pace away. It wasn't a cocky grin... just a pleasant lopsided one. He knew he was playing with fire taking that cheap shot, but it had played off beautifully in his favor. Seeing Tultow relax after such a sad moment was a reward enough, but getting to spar with the marines again was all he ever wanted. The foxkit flicked his stick upwards, deflecting Tultow's with ease. The stoat was telegraphing his moves, and giving him easy wins -- which most definitely boosted his confidence.

The kit eagerly pressed on into the more advanced materal, but quickly began to fail. And of course, this made sense. What sort of self respecting boy didn't play around with sticks? Yet it was quite evident: Tultow's experience with a sword easily outpaced him. Finn seemed unbothered by it though -- even when Tultow gave a sharp rap to his knuckles.

"Yoww! M'paw!" he cried, shaking the wounded paw. (But there was nothing more than a scrape.) Playfully, he tucked it behind his back, as if the stoat had just chopped it off. "I'll get you yet!" he cried, lunging forwards to try and tag Tultow's knee.

@Duchess Dusk Rainblade

 

[Arthur Barrett]

The pine marten rested back against the operating table, arms folded across his chest, and footpaws crossed in a relaxed manner to listen. He didn't know much of the fox's story, beyond that he came from an icy region from a fishing village. There were rumors about what events led him here -- but Barrett didn't put much weight in them. (He had no interest in prying, either.)

Whatever the fox's past held, the present was clearly a culture shock to him. Did Swift feel like a fish out of water, too? Barrett considered him carefully. The less Barrett felt he fit in the world, the more withdrawn and bitter he felt. Apparently, it had an opposite effect on Swifttail. Even now, the bitter side of him wanted to lash out -- Tch! The VI will get him eventually! -- but what a wicked thought. The world needed people like Swift and Finn, and... gates, what was wrong with him?

Barrett's thoughts were interrupted as Silvertongue entered from one end of the tent, and Kaii from the other. True to form and fashion, Silv was giving others the clothes off his back, and Kaii was busy crafting and inventing things that could lead to his own doom. A wry grin spread over his muzzle. If only Morgan were here... gates, she'd be up to her ears in trouble, and it'd be the most normal day on the Hide.

"Mr. Nah-shee-rou*! May I have a word with you in private?" he asked, pushing off the table, and leading the fox out the back of the tent.

"...I wanted to let you know, I've put you and Swifttail in for a commendation for your efforts to save Morgan. The device you made was instrumental in saving her life, and worked flawlessly."

* It was his first time attempting to pronounce Kaii's last name, he's trying!

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail turned the gloves over in his paws once more, then looked to where Silvertongue stood nearby.

“These’re yours, ain’t they?” he said quietly.

His voice trembled, just a little.

“Gates, Silvie… most beasts wouldn’t do a thing like that.”

He stepped closer and held the gloves out with both paws.

“It’s incredibly kind of you. But m’paws are used to the cold.” A faint smile tugged at his muzzle. “You should keep ‘em. You’ve got more performin’ to do on this trip than I do.”

His tail gave a small flick behind him, then stilled.

There’d been something about that night in the crow’s nest. The way Silvertongue had spoken, soft and reverent beneath the lights in the sky. The way he’d looked at the aurora like it meant something deeper. The way he had dozed off and he had to help him to his bunk...

Swifttail swallowed, trying to still his heart.

Gates, calm down Swift... He's taken, and he ain't gettin' between Silvie and Greeneye for nothin'

 

[Kaii Nashirou]

The pine marten rested back against the operating table, arms folded across his chest, and footpaws crossed in a relaxed manner to listen. He didn't know much of the fox's story, beyond that he came from an icy region from a fishing village. There were rumors about what events led him here -- but Barrett didn't put much weight in them. (He had no interest in prying, either.)

Whatever the fox's past held, the present was clearly a culture shock to him. Did Swift feel like a fish out of water, too? Barrett considered him carefully. The less Barrett felt he fit in the world, the more withdrawn and bitter he felt. Apparently, it had an opposite effect on Swifttail. Even now, the bitter side of him wanted to lash out -- Tch! The VI will get him eventually! -- but what a wicked thought. The world needed people like Swift and Finn, and... gates, what was wrong with him?

Barrett's thoughts were interrupted as Silvertongue entered from one end of the tent, and Kaii from the other. True to form and fashion, Silv was giving others the clothes off his back, and Kaii was busy crafting and inventing things that could lead to his own doom. A wry grin spread over his muzzle. If only Morgan were here... gates, she'd be up to her ears in trouble, and it'd be the most normal day on the Hide.

"Mr. Nah-shee-rou*! May I have a word with you in private?" he asked, pushing off the table, and leading the fox out the back of the tent.

"...I wanted to let you know, I've put you and Swifttail in for a commendation for your efforts to save Morgan. The device you made was instrumental in saving her life, and worked flawlessly."

* It was his first time attempting to pronounce Kaii's last name, he's trying!

Kaii walked with the Chirurgeon, currently unable to be bothered with him slightly butchering his family's name. Kaii was locked on the survival and such little matters bothered him not. They would be freed later once the danger of any sorts isn't there.

But the words the pine marten spoke faltered his wall of logic. Commendation? A nice thought and one Kaii was glad to hear... but really unable to appreciate right now. He had his... disagreements with Barrett and right now he found this as a form of apology, one Kaii genuinely appreciated despite the cold, both outside and inside him.

"I am honoured to hear that. I hope you will be able to use it to save more lives." He managed with a light but genuine smile. That was really the best he could manage, and do so with much difficulty, considering his current state. Logic let him do that as it was humble, respectful of his converser's work and grateful, granting high chance of achieving both a truce between the two beasts and satisfactory outcome of their quarrel.

"I will have the proper sketch for the sake of future manufacturing done and delivered to you after this excursion here. One with my and Mr. Swifttail's signatures for you to validate should you desire to pass it to the officials." He added now much more matter-of-factly. He did however bow for a longer second, letting some snow build up on the back of his coat and fall once he straightened upwards.

But he still lacked anything to do for the cause right now. Traps were done and he couldn't stay at rest. "Tell me should you need my help. I am free of duties so I could save precious time for someone."

 

[Greeneye]

Piper gave Vihma a long look. "We aren't leaving an infant to die. We'll take it back to camp; the surgeon can look after it while we scout ahead."

She carried the squeaking infant back outside, cooing over it. "Aww, you're not a relentless terror yet, are you? No, you're just a hungry little thing." She looked up, then frowned as she looked around. "Where did your friend get off to?"

~ ~ ~

As Greeneye examined the boiling pot, a sickly smell of overcooked meat came to his nose. Poking around with the ladle, he found something hard in the mixture. Dredging it up, he found, the meat sloughing off it, a rodent skull of a shape and size very near to his own staring back at him.

Greeneye stared at the skull, a mix of emotions wracked his mind. Shock, disgust, morbid curiosity. He wondered if he would have tasted any good to these shrews. He dropped the ladle and shuddered a bit. Greeneye had seen some things in his day, but even THAT was a bit much for him. Taking a few steps back, he turned and hightailed it out of there, running back to the others only to see Piper cradling the shrew babe in her arms.

"That is a cannibal baby." Greeneye pointed out bluntly.

 

[Silvertongue Songfox]

Swifttail turned the gloves over in his paws once more, then looked to where Silvertongue stood nearby.

“These’re yours, ain’t they?” he said quietly.

His voice trembled, just a little.

“Gates, Silvie… most beasts wouldn’t do a thing like that.”

He stepped closer and held the gloves out with both paws.

“It’s incredibly kind of you. But m’paws are used to the cold.” A faint smile tugged at his muzzle. “You should keep ‘em. You’ve got more performin’ to do on this trip than I do.”

His tail gave a small flick behind him, then stilled.

There’d been something about that night in the crow’s nest. The way Silvertongue had spoken, soft and reverent beneath the lights in the sky. The way he’d looked at the aurora like it meant something deeper. The way he had dozed off and he had to help him to his bunk...

Swifttail swallowed, trying to still his heart.

Gates, calm down Swift... He's taken, and he ain't gettin' between Silvie and Greeneye for nothin'

Silvertongue took the gloves in his paws. "I just wish I had another pair to give you, Swift. I hate to see any beast suffering..."

"Oh, be still my beating heart." Silvertongue had a pained smile on his face. These feelings he had suddenly developed. Well, not so suddenly. Ever since that quiet night, under serene starlight. The affection he felt for Swifttail had been bubbling up inside him ever since. He knew he couldn't deny them, but he had to. He was with another, after all.

"Excuse me. I have- uh. Officer duties to attend to." Silvertongue said, before ducking out of the tent. He held his gloves tightly against his chest. His heart ached terribly so. "Pull yourself together." He took a few deep, shaking breaths. "I still love Greeneye... don't I?"

 

[Arthur Barrett]

Barrett kept his closed composure outside the infirmary. He stood, planted firmly on two feet -- but his thick arms were folded across his chest. Perhaps he was cold, or perhaps it was his demeanor. Perhaps it was a mixture of both! But whatever the case, his size often gave him an imposing figure.

In his estimation, Kaii was a nervous figure -- with how often he was moving, and how little he seemed to be able to rest. That night in the infirmary, he'd tried to leave as soon as he came. Today seemed no different. Kaii was already looking for an exit.

"You'll do no such thing!" he said, regarding the signatures. "You'll present your invention yourself. Signatures on the bottom of a page mean little when someone else is presenting it."

Barrett's expression softened again. He knew his patience was faltering. "You're restless, Kaii... It's like you've got ants in your pants!" he said, in a diversion from his normal formalities. "What's wrong?"

 

[Duchess Dusk Rainblade]

Piper's nostrils flared at the accusation against the infant. "It's not even a toddler," she stated, her tone a tad defensive. "At its age, it hasn't even been weaned, let alone moved onto hard food like cooked meat. It was nearly two years before I got my daughter to even try anything solid. You're not really going to hold a child responsible for the lives of its parents, are you?"

~ ~ ~

Tultow, for his part, took the sparring well; when Finn reacted by pantomiming a serious injury, he responded by yelling in reaction to the tap to his knee, then seamlessly shifting to stand on one foot, the 'injured' leg bent up behind him as he balanced. "Have at ye!" he cried, going for a smack to Finn's free arm; he didn't want to end the play fight quite yet, after all.

 

[Kaii Nashirou]

Barrett kept his closed composure outside the infirmary. He stood, planted firmly on two feet -- but his thick arms were folded across his chest. Perhaps he was cold, or perhaps it was his demeanor. Perhaps it was a mixture of both! But whatever the case, his size often gave him an imposing figure.

In his estimation, Kaii was a nervous figure -- with how often he was moving, and how little he seemed to be able to rest. That night in the infirmary, he'd tried to leave as soon as he came. Today seemed no different. Kaii was already looking for an exit.

"You'll do no such thing!" he said, regarding the signatures. "You'll present your invention yourself. Signatures on the bottom of a page mean little when someone else is presenting it."

Barrett's expression softened again. He knew his patience was faltering. "You're restless, Kaii... It's like you've got ants in your pants!" he said, in a diversion from his normal formalities. "What's wrong?"

Kaii curtsied at the first statement then solidified like water in this temperature at the second. That wasn't important right now. This wasn't time nor place for any weakness. To crumble right now would be dangerous. Logically also it was a good conversation, one that would benefit both sides in future interactions. But at the same time it was taking the attention from the events around. He simply decided to speak the truth then in a short manner, reasoning that it will make the pine marten satisfied while letting him keep the needed focus.

"Right now I seek potential danger as more pressing than my personal matters. Overall, I find myself unable to rest as my mind hates boredom."

He said as stoically as before, even if his eyes betrayed him with a slight glazing coming from tears. Deciding that at least he could watch the perimeter whilst talking, Kaii turned his head to the forest's edge, gazing far and meticulously seeking any sign of coming danger.

 

[Arthur Barrett]

Ever since Kaii first stepped into the infirmary, something had seemed off... but the pine marten couldn't quite put a finger on what. All the pressure from the shore party seemed to be pressing things to a breaking point for many beasts. Or rather, the fire they were being held to was revealing what they were truly made of. While Barrett had just been operating on a hunch, it seemed he'd put his finger on something sore. There were heaps of things that came to mind to say... but it wouldn't be any good to say them all at once. Instead, Barrett had to carefully pick the most pressing issue, and tackle that first.

"Personal matters get you killed out here, fox..." he said gently. "As does an inability to rest. Sure, you're fine now. But if you refuse to rest like you are now, come twenty four hours, I'll be sewing you up in your hammock. 'n I don't want that to happen to you." There were layers to this issue, for sure. Barrett wouldn't be able to unpack everything going on in the fox's life immediately, but it was a foothold for the most pressing matter.

 

[Kaii Nashirou]

"I intend not too miss on rest and sleep for that would make me inefficient. Yet I cannot take more than one needs for the sake of all of us." Kaii responded automatically. He already decided that he needs to keep focused and sharp while maintaining the conversation. Delegating a chunk of his mind to it while leaving the bulk for more pressing matters was thus the best approach. Of course it meant that filtering and work he normally put into crafting his speech wasn't as effective.

"Personal matters kill everyone who isn't wary of them. You are correct in your observations, but solving them for me would require breaking the laws of the universe. After all, statistically, not everyone is meant to be happy." He continued like a machine, speaking with no emotions, no gestures, no mimics. Only letting the conversing part do the speaking but naught more.

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Silvertongue took the gloves in his paws. "I just wish I had another pair to give you, Swift. I hate to see any beast suffering..."

"Oh, be still my beating heart." Silvertongue had a pained smile on his face. These feelings he had suddenly developed. Well, not so suddenly. Ever since that quiet night, under serene starlight. The affection he felt for Swifttail had been bubbling up inside him ever since. He knew he couldn't deny them, but he had to. He was with another, after all.

"Excuse me. I have- uh. Officer duties to attend to." Silvertongue said, before ducking out of the tent. He held his gloves tightly against his chest. His heart ached terribly so. "Pull yourself together." He took a few deep, shaking breaths. "I still love Greeneye... don't I?"

Swifttail stood still for a moment after Silvertongue walked off. That glow hadn’t faded. It wasn't just from the kindness, but from the way it was given, without show, without strings, just... genuine. He was a sucker for things like that. Chivalry. Compassion. Beasts who meant it when they said you mattered.

Crushes aside, beasts like him were just... good.

He smiled faintly, a soft breath leaving his nose. “Hope he knows how rare that is.”

The quiet settled in then.

He turned, expecting to hear Barrett’s voice or Kaii’s stoic commentary, but the tent was empty. Barrett was gone. Kaii wasn't there. And he hadn't noticed where Finny had gone.

“Huh.”

He stepped toward the tent flap. The light outside caught on the edges of the canvas and he lifted the flap and emerged out into the Urk sunlight.

 

[FinnianBrightfur]

Tultow, for his part, took the sparring well; when Finn reacted by pantomiming a serious injury, he responded by yelling in reaction to the tap to his knee, then seamlessly shifting to stand on one foot, the 'injured' leg bent up behind him as he balanced. "Have at ye!" he cried, going for a smack to Finn's free arm; he didn't want to end the play fight quite yet, after all.

Finn hopped backwards deftly, keeping just out of reach of Tultow's blade. The foxkit was only down an arm -- but Tultow was down a leg! He most definitely had the upper hand here! Finn batted at the stoat's stick, trying to knock it aside and score a tag on the lieutenant's torso. The foxkit was an agile thing, and seemed to know how to use his strengths to his advantage. Surely, a larger beast could simply have closed range and bowled Tultow over, but Finn kept just out of reach, strafing around the stoat as he looked for an opening. "I'll have you beat with one paw behind my back! You look like a monkey in a negligeé!" he cried out, hurling an insult as he stabbed towards Tultow's ribs.

 

[Duchess Dusk Rainblade]

Tultow was genuinely having trouble fending off Finn's attacks now; the kit had talent, he had to admit it, plus hopping about on one foot wasn't the easiest way to fight. Still, he caught both the blow on his blade, and the setup for a retort. "Better that than a vole in a bad toupee!" he retorted, going for a smack this time to the kit's legs, hard as it was to reach.

 

[Greeneye]

Piper's nostrils flared at the accusation against the infant. "It's not even a toddler," she stated, her tone a tad defensive. "At its age, it hasn't even been weaned, let alone moved onto hard food like cooked meat. It was nearly two years before I got my daughter to even try anything solid. You're not really going to hold a child responsible for the lives of its parents, are you?"

Greeneye huffed and rolled his eye. "Sure, it maybe ain't of ate any meat yet, but it drank milk from it's mum, who definitely did eat meat. The thing's likely already got a taste fer flesh. Just yew wait, as soon as it's got teeth, it's gonna tear into ye."

He chuckled a bit. "Ye know, why do I even give a damn? I ain't the one who's gonna be begging the Cap'n ter keep it. Yew have fun wif dat conversation, mate!"