Back to the Holt!

[decidingbark]

Rid liked being back on the Lancebreaker. The ship was safe, the ship was secure. It wasn't as claustrophobic as the forest and is was near impossible for an enemy to sneak up on you on the open sea. And Rid figured that their diseased attackers from Mossflower would find it hard to sail a ship to follow them.

The fox stood near the wheel of the Lancebreaker, currently under the control of a burly otter named Barkart. In the absence of Blade, Rid was second in command of the Lancebreaker. It felt more like he was captain of the whole ship itself, since Skipper had sequestered himself in his cabin since the moment they had set sail. There was one problem with Rid's newfound power. He had no idea what Skipper's plan was.

Asher had no way of knowing what Rid was thinking, but had the uncanny ability of stating Rid's concerns out loud. "So, what's the plan, Rid?"

"We're going back to the holt," Rid replied, noticeably avoiding eye contact.

"Yeah, I know that," Asher rolled his eyes. "I meant, after the holt. What's our next move?"

Rid paused before answering, scratching his chin. "We should go after that those fox pirates again. I don't trust that vixen. Maybe go after that annoying wolf as well. I'd love to throw him overboard. See if he can swim a mile back to shore."

Barkart grinned. "Yeah, that'd be fun."

OOC - Starting off slow, but I'm building to something. I think.

[decidingbark]

OOC - I'm not sure where you were planning to go with the diseased beasts storyline, Skip, so I hope this doesn't ruin it too much. Feel free to jump in....

BIC - "Just drop it, Asher," Rid growled. "I've already told ye, I'm not telling ye anything else about what Skip has planned."

"C'mon, ya got to tell us something," the otter was pratically begging. Behind him, Barkart was nodded so empthatically it looked like his head was about to fall off.

Rid sighed, his mind racing. He needed a story that these guys were going to buy, and fast. "Well, Skip wants to rest in the holt for a few days. Then we're going to -"

The fox was cut off in mid sentence by a scream coming from belowdecks. All the otters on deck froze, staring at the steps that lead below.

Rid was the first to move. His tonfas were out in a flash as he bounded down the steps. He was vaguely aware of Asher following him, barking orders to the otters still above. Thats odd, Rid thought, Asher doesn't have any authority to do that.

The screaming had stopped, but the fox could now hear yelling from the otters in the bowels of the Lancebreaker. Rid followed the noise, leading him into one of the large aft cargo holds, where a lot of the rations where stored during voyage. The cook was standing in the middle of the room, staring at a barrel that was lying on the deck. Behind him, his assistant had collapsed onto the floor, her face as white as a sheet. The look on her face made it obvious that it was her that had screamed.

"What happened?" Rid demanded, striding into the room. The cook looked up, unfocused eyes staring right through Rid. He merely pointed at the fallen barrel.

Rid came around him slowly. Lying in the barrel, half sprawled on the ground was a dead otter. One paw was stretched out across the deck, a closed fist over a small piece of parchment. It looked as though his last few minutes of life had been complete agony. His face was completely disfigured, looking exactly like the creatures that had attacked in the forest. The disease was moving.

The fox knelt down to retrieve the paper in the otter's paw. Rid heard Asher's gasp as the otter first spotted the corpse. Rid was more concerned with the paper; a simple piece of parchment. He stared at it, shivers creeping up his spine. Rid slowly handed the paper to Asher, who examined it in silence.

"It's the black spot," Asher said quietly. "Somebeast killed him."

"No. It's a message. Turn it over."

Asher flipped over the paper and his eyes grew wide with realization. "It's a map. Of the holt."


OOC - Whew, didn't think that would end up being so long... Skip? Your move, comrade.

[Skipper Of Sea Otters]

"Its not a disease either..." the skipper said walking down the steps. "He was poisoned..." he said walking up to the dead otter. He opened the dead otter's clothing to his chest revealing a horrible looking cut mark. "He didn't tell us about it.... Burn the body."

[decidingbark]

"It's more than that, Skip. Take a look." Rid reached over to Asher and grabbed the parchment out of the otter's shaking paws. "Pull yourself together, Ash. Get some beasts together and chuck the corpse overboard." Asher nodded, not taking his eyes off the body. Rid gave him a significant look and the otter slowly started to back out of the room. The fox turned to the cook and assistant. "Out."

Rid looked back at Skipper as the two were left alone. "Look, Skip, I don't know what's going on, but I think it's about time we took the offensive. If these beasts know where the holt is, they can attack it. Now don't get me wrong, I'm no big fan of all those stinky otters, but I do recognize the significant advantage of having a home port to ourselves. It's safer to put in at the holt than at Loamsdown."

[Skipper Of Sea Otters]

"Burn tha body! I dont want any other Beast o' mine gettin' infected!" He said stepping away from the body. He hated to do that to anybeast but it was for the best of the crew.

"Dannarth aint just gonna march his army into tha' holt...He probably doesn't even remember me much less care if We're alive....he doesn't work that way..." He said turning to the Cells. "He Kills when he pleases...he Attacks when he pleases...and Judging by our recent encounter he's going back....We'll be safe at The Holt..."

[decidingbark]

"Ye want us to burn it right here?" Rid asked, incredulous. "I don't think that's such a good idea, there Skip. I like fire just as much as the next beast, but..." The fox caught Skip's look, and the burly otter did not look happy. There weren't many beasts on the earth that Rid did not enjoy tormenting and annoying, but Skip was one of the few. "Fine, Skip. We'll burn it. Whatever ye say."

The short fox fixed Skipper with a stare and tried to look as intimidating as possible. "We'll keep heading to the Holt for now, then. But someday soon, ye'll have tell all about this Dannarth."

[Skipper Of Sea Otters]

"No dont burn it right here! Off my ship! Tie 'em to a barrel and set it ablaze out there...Right here mah' rudder." The skipper said obviously not himself.

The Skipper looked down at Rid. "You'll find out about Dannarth soon enough...Just do what yer told mate...." he said giving him a friendly pat of the back. "Take the wheel again...Get us Home..."

[Scarlet]

I'm bumping the threads to make it appear that we are active. I mean, we ARE active, but it doesn't actually look like it to guests who visit. XD
BUMP!

[Scarlet]

Bump

[Scarlet]

Bump