Shadow of a greater Shadow

[Sunce Lakala and Ay Kamara]

**Oakfang detected the slight hint of iciness, but she wasn't sure. She kind of regretted her comment, but oh well, she couldn't be bothered to feel very bad for anybody else. She watches with weary amusement as the young fox tries to talk to Scarlet, and is surprised when Scarlet turns to her**
Well... **She hesitates** I've lost Ay. he was a traitor. he had things to do with my extremely unpleasant past. **She realises Scarlet knows nothing of her past** Well, I was basically part of a powerful family, but there was death and resistance and all, I lost my memory when I wass, 12. I think. or so I've been told. so yeah, thats the way the cookie crumbles. he was secretly manipulating me behind my back. and then, he dissapeared.

[Zann'rajh Stormhowl]

During this exchange, Bartholomew had been rummaging in the Specials cabinet, mumbling sheepishly about demanding customers. He'd have to restock soon, he knew. Especially since the Night Pearl was back in the docks, he was certain that thanks to a certain member of the crew the beer and rum taps would be running night and day until they dried out. Still, it was all in a day's work... He gave a grunt of satisfaction as he found what he was looking for.

"Ess'cuse me f'r interruptin' yer conversation, missus," the black hare announced, plonking the bottle on the bar, "but here's yer order. Brockhead Thunderbrew, the best we have in stock. Nine silver a glass." He nodded curtly at the fox that had introduced himself as Kehin, and swiftly slipped the gold pieces into a small leather pouch. He turned his good eye to the fox at the solitary table for a split second. He was starting to grow irritated; 'Luckless' hadn't so much as looked up from his mug. He'd have to deliver a cue soon, he knew, or they'd get nowhere.

[Scarlet]

Hearing the price of the liquor per glass, the fox Kehin withdrew nine silver coins from his pocket and slid them across the bar toward the black hare known as Bart. He said simply " I'd like a bit of that as well, Bart." Kehin glanced back over at Scarlet, who was now talking to the fox who had just sat beside her. Scarlet was a rare beauty, and Kehin was known to pursue such beautiful vixens. He had turned on the charm to the best of his abilities, and luckily the vixen would fall for his handsome features and witty personality. She will, soon enough Kehin thought, mistakingly thinking that Scarlet was one to be won over by a few words and a smile.

Scarlet nodded her head, though she really couldn't care less what had happened to Sunce. She put on a slightly caring act, though, and did it so well that nobeast would be able to sense she was acting, no matter how trained they were at detecting such false emotion. " That's terrible, Sunce." She said, infusing her voice with a mixture of pity and anger. As she said this, She noticed the black hare's glance towards the corner of the tavern. With much unnoticed scrutiny, Scarlet too glanced toward the corner.

At first, she could see nobeast, the corner seemingly empty except for the shadows lurking there. She realizes quickly, though, that that would be impossible for there to be a shadow there, since light was plenty in the crowded tavern. She can faintly see the outline of a worn and thin black fox, it's head hanging low over a tankard of some liquor. Scarlet's interest is peaked, but with her attention lingering on both Kehin and Sunce, she could hardly just get up and go over there. She is content to wait, for she had a feeling that whomever it was that was in the corner would not be leaving any time soon. She takes a drink from her thin, translucent glass of wine, the burgundy liquid creating a tangy yet sweet and ever so slightly burning feeling in her mouth. This wine was the best she had had in months, and she drank it willingly.

[Sunce Lakala and Ay Kamara]

**Sunce nods to Bart and hands over the correct amount of coins**
Thank you very much. **she says politely with a slight smile. she turns her attention to Scarlet and sighs**
Well, I suppose it's not that important. I don't really care anymore though, I just want to drink it away for one night. **She pauses for a moment and coughs, then takes a sip of her drink. She makes a face of approval.**
Well, Scarlet. **she begins** I've heard the gossip. I'm not want to beleive common rumours, but it sounds mighty convincing, esoecially considering the sources.

[Scarlet]

Scarlet is completely and totally confused by Sunces words. Rumours? What kind of rumours could be spread around about me? Well, besides the common, gory ones. It's funny, some of those are actually true... Scarlet mentally smiles. Many rumours were often spread about her cold-hearted visciouness. Some where intensly gorey, and those Scarlet somewhat resented, but the rest were good. She wanted creatures to be afraid of her, and those rumours were just the trick.

But what other rumours could be said? Scarlet had to know. " Rumours? What kind of rumours?" She asks, wondering if Sunce was putting her on. Nah, I don't think she would be dumb enough to do something like that; She's seen the way I've treated other crew-members for punishment, so she knows better than to mess with me. Scarlet reassured herself. She was a fiersome creature, and the more creatures feared and respected her, the better.

[Sunce Lakala and Ay Kamara]

**Sunce bares her teeth in an awkward grimace, scratching her head. She probably shouldn't have asked, oh god, how stupid she feels now.** Uhm, you know. The rumours about the crewmember and all. Ya know? **she frowns** Sorry I asked, I probably shouldn't have.

[Scarlet]

Scarlet’s eyes turned cold as ice. The subject of Firestripe’s disappearance was no conversational topic to be brought up, and although Scarlet was still confused about the exact reasons behind Firestripe’s sudden lack of absence, she harbored a terrible sense of grief mixed with anger. Anybeast aboard the Nightpearl knew better than to bring Firestripe up, as they were only treading onto dangerous territory and suffered the shame of being reprimanded in front of their fellow crew beasts as well.

A slight adjustment of her posture put Scarlet into a defensive mode, though only those who were well trained in detecting the meaning behind certain movements and positions could tell. Scarlet glared hard at Sunce for a moment, leaving that at that. If Sunce had any brains at all she would get the hint that she was not to say another word.

[Scarlet]

Sunce obviously got the hint, and kept quiet from then on, and Scarlet guessed it was because she was afraid she may say something that would tick Scarlet off again. Anyways, in the time that had elapsed, Scarlet had finished her first glass of wine, and stopped herself from pouring yet another glass. What better way to introduce herself to someone than to bring over some liquor with a facade of friendliness?

As if Kehin could read her thoughts, he tried once more to strike up a conversation with the beautiful vixen that sat beside him. " So, Captain," He started, but Scarlet had already grabbed an extra wine glass as well as her own and her wine bottle, and standing up, made her way toward the shadowy figure in the corner. She glanced back at Kehin, who was seemingly crestfallen and who caught her glancing at him. Oops. The smile returned to his rather handsome face as he got the wrong idea. Scarlet turned her head quickly back toward the corner table, nearly giving herself whiplash as she did.

A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, however, before she sat down. Once again, She thought, I've found an easy mark. These days, it seemed so many pirates fell for her facades. It was either that everybeast else was becoming dumber, or she was just getting even better at her tricks and games. She preffered to believe it was the later.

She sat down in front of the frail, emaciated form of a black fox, setting the wine glasses and wine down as she did. Then she noticed something particularly familiar about the stone-drunk figure before her... The red stripe.... red eyes cast low.... It couldn't be. Scarlet sat, dumbfounded, unable to move or think of anything but Could it be....?

[Firestripe]

*It took a few seconds for Firestripe to even notice that any other beast had taken a seat across the table. He slowly raised his gaze and as his bleary eyes started to realize what they were seeing, a cold shiver ran down his back. He thought maybe he'd gotten too drunk but as he looked into her eyes, he knew that she couldn't be a hallucination, this was her. This was actually her.

He couldn't find words, his whole world had been destroyed all that time ago. He hadn't known what to do with his life, didn't want to do anything with it and now... his whole world had been un-destroyed. Scarlet was alive. Somehow, someway, she was still alive.

"...S-...Scarlet?"[/font]

[Scarlet]

"...S-...Scarlet?"

With a sharp blink, Scarlet came back to reality, a place where in front of her was Firestripe, the very last creature she had expected to see when she walked into the tavern. Firestripe, the very Firestripe she had slowly grown to love ever since he set paw on her ship years ago. She stared into his red-ish orange eyes and knew for sure, it was him.
" Firestripe? Oh, God, it really is you!"