Broken Smiles

[Scarlet]

Stella made her way through the thick underbrush of the forrest, cutting through the brambles with her razor sharp blade. The sun was high in the sky, filtering through the foliage above and creating little golden specks of light all along the forrest floor. The specks moved as the wind would cause the trees to sway, skittering around the forrest like little fairies. Stella paid them no heed, though. She continued on, searching for a nice resting spot where she could lay down her pack and rest her aching paws. She was far to the west of Mossflower, a long ways away from Redwall Abbey, her home. Well, she thought of it as her home, but she knows a wanderer never really has a home.

She dabbed at the sweat that had accumulated on her brow with her free paw. The day was very warm, and exceedingly humid when in the woods. Her sweat was sticky on her paw, and she wiped it against the hem of her trousers, which were dirty and slightly torn. The pack on her back was heavy, filled with a few weeks worth of food, as well as rope, a lantern, two canteens of water, flint, tinder, and a small map she had made herself last year.

Finally, she came to rather large circle of dirt, where a long dead fire sat grey and charred in the middle. Obviously, creatures have camped here before. Stella shrugged off her heavy pack with a grunt and layed it on the ground next to a small log that was set up around the old fire pit. She rifled through the contents of her pack, them withdrew one of the canteens of water. Pulling out the cork, she took a large gulp of the slightly warm water, grateful for it. She put the canteen away and then proceeded to sit with her back against the log, her eyes half-way closed and her limbs limp. She was tired, and now seemed as good as any time to rest.

[Gam]

*Gam pulled an arrow out of yet another tree as he thundered threw the woods. He stopped once more pulled back the bow for the thousandth time. Sighting along the arrow at a tree a hundred yards away, Gam let the shaft fly, another two quickly followed after it there was a moments delay as the sound of arrows hitting wood echoed throughout the forest. Throwing his bow over his shoulder, Gam charged at the tree, pulling out his longsword. Just a few feet away from the tree, Gam made a jump at the tree beside the one with the arrows. Grabbing ahold of it with his free hand, he quickly jumped off at his target tree, making a quick slash while passing the tree. Making a soft landing, Gam waited, holding his blade out to the side. There was a groan of wood, then slowly, the tree began falling, pulling others down with it. Sheathing his sword, he bent down and pulled his arrows free, and walked off. Gam started talking quietly to himself.* I need to get stronger, faster. I need to kill him!

*Throughout the evening, Gam practiced, tree after tree fell, leaving a wide path through the forest.*

*Gam quickly dodged behind his target tree. Three quick slashes split the tree in three. Gam frowned, not pleased with his work.* This isn't helping, all I'm doing is destroying the forest... *Sheathing his sword, he started forward, then stopped, in the dimming last rays of the sun, he saw something, something shining. Slowly, he walked towards, but stopped. Somebeast was slumping against a log. Picking up his pace a little, Gam hurried into the clearing, but stopped. Maybe this was a trap. Not wanting to be made a fool, Gam called out at the whoever was at the log.* Are you alright?

OOC: Sorry, it's sort of horrible, I was in a hurry.

[Scarlet]

Stella, still a little dozy-eyed from sleep, leapt to her footpaws swiftly and, with somewhat fumbling paws, drew her dagger from it's sheath. Having just woken up, she was a little fuzzy at just what was going on. " Who said that?!" She called out to the forrest. She still hadn't seen the squirrel that had approached.

(Sorry, it's really short...)

[Gam]

OOC: It's alright, mine are short a lot of times.

BIC:

*Gam looked around, it didn't look like an ambush to him, but still... You never know.* Ummm... Me. *Gam looked nervously around him. Guessing he would be alright if he got to the mouse fast, he decided to take the chance. Climbing up an old oak, he found a flexible limb. Standing on it, he ran to the end, and launched himself out into the clearing. Landing quietly, Gam stood up as fast as possible and looked around. He was a good distance away from the mouse.*

OOC: Sorry this one is really short, I have to leave somewhere.

[Scarlet]

Somewhat startled by the squirrels entrance, Stella looked him up and down. He seemed decent enough, and a squirrel besides, although Stella had run into her fair share of goodbeasts gone bad. The squirrel before her seemed to be around fourteen years old, only three years younger than herself. His fur seemed slightly dirty, though it was hard to tell from the distance and the fact that his fur was light brown. His light green eyes had an unsettling quality, and it made Stella wonder about him.

" Who are you?" Stella asked, her voice somewhat calmer than before; By the looks of the scars on his body, his attentive ears and the way he stood, ready to pounce at any given moment, were sure signs that this squirrel was a trained fighter. She also stood, ready to attack if the squirrel before her would turn out to be hostile. Her left paw was tensly wrapped around a long, dangerous looking dagger, while her right paw hovered over the holster that held her pistol.

[Gam]

*Again, looking around nervously, Gam replied, watching the mouse as her paw wandered over her dagger and gun. Quickly, he thought of how much he hated guns. They took to long to load, made a loud noise and were hard to reload, at least for him they were.* I am Gam Trueflight. I have just come from the far south. And you? *Gam slowly rested his paw on his sword hilt. If the mouse did decide to shoot, he would have to block it, a thing that he always practiced. He had to know what, and where his opponent was going to hit him, what move and technique they were going to try and use. He had gotten used to being shot at. The head or heart were the most shot at places, and that would probably be where this mouse would shoot him at.*

*Even though the mouse, who was slightly older than him looked very skilled, Gam's confidence took over. Gam hated when it did, but the more he watched her, the more confident he got, and the less alert. His hand slowly slipped off the hilt, bringing Gam back from thinking and back into his situation. Once more, he eyed the mouse up. She seamed to glow, like light was coming from her. He quickly shook the thought out of his head. It felt like it was forever since he asked his question, but in reality, it was only a few seconds.* And also, what are you doing traveling out in the woods alone?

[Scarlet]

Stella watched the squirrel carefully. " Stella, Stella Brighteyes." She introduced herself with a smile. Her paws relaxed somewhat by her sides, though you could tell she was still on alert if the squirrel should attack first. Her smile faded a bit at the next thing Gam said.
" Can a girl not travel alone in the woods anymore? And besides, I'm not traveling. More like, weeding out harmful vermin before they kill innocent lives. It's a job I am honored to have." She paused for a moment, looking at the ground at Gam's feet, thinking about all the times she herself had almost died while attempting to kill vermin. She looked back up into Gam's face, those green eyes still unsettling, but less threatening.

" And you? What are you doing, traveling the woods all by yourself?" She replied a bit sarcastically, then bit her lip for it. The squirrel was only wondering, anyway. Stella sighed slightly; Oh well, I've already said it anyway, not like I can travel back in time and change anything.. Her lips curved into a sweet little smile, as she hoped to take away a bit of the unkind sarcasm.

[Gam]

*Gam smiled slightly, then answered her questions.* Hmm... Weeding out harmful vermin. It might interest you that there is a small band to the west of here. Maybe about two dozen. And about me traveling, well, if you really want to know, I am banished from my temporary home. Well, I am banished temporarily. Until I get strong enough to fight the person who banished me. I am a wanderer. *Gam looked up to the east as the sun vanished on the horizon.* Well, It looks like I will have to be leaving. I plane to cut Northeast to the Abbey.

OOC: Sorry for the short post. The best I could do.

[Scarlet]

Stella watched and listened as the squirrel told her bits and pieces of why he was here. Banished? Interesting... Wonder why.... Strange fellow, he is. At least, from what I know of him so far.... And those eyes.... Somethin' strange about them too..... Stella thought to herself, eyes wandering off into the distance a bit, before she realized it and refocused her attention of Gam.

" Banished, ya say? Interesting. An' heading to the Abbey as well!" She said with a smile, and pointing to herself with a thumb she said " Well, I'm goin' to the Abbey myself! Well, at least after I take care of those vermin you mentioned. To the West ya said? I'll give them what for, eh?" She said, a cheery laugh lightening the mood a bit.

[Gam]

The thing is, if you plan to travel with me to the Abbey, you can't. I have a feeling that I am being watched. Well, goodbye. *Gam turned and started off towards the woods. Stopping, he turned on his heel and looked back at Stella, his eyes flashing in the moonlight, showing a bit of a reckless smile.* But, I may stop by to see if you need any help with the vermin. Just shout. *Turning back around, Gam started off towards the woods once more, adjusting his sword.*