The squirrel's return

[Antious Treefello]

A grey squirrel came stumbling through the flatlands, the afternoon sun beating down, and his mouth completely parched. He was brought down to wearing his trousers seeing as his shirt had long since been discarded due to the heat. He stopped and looked up to see the forest that he had been searching for the last few weeks. He imminently felt a rush of energy return to him, and lifting up his once glorious silver sword he started into a dash. "I've made it..." He muttered to himself.

[Raiden and Zahi]

**Raiden had been taking a break from his duties at the fort, and was resting in a mid-height branch of an oak tree. The flash of silver broke through the protective cover of his eyelids, forcing him to waken and squint at the distant figure.**

Who goes there? Identify yourself, or begone!

**Droping out of the branch to a lower one, and then to the floor, Raiden drew his twin long swords from their scabards.**

I will not ask again. Who are you?

[Antious Treefello]

Antious watched as a figure fell from the trees, and his first reaction was to just charge him, but when he noticed that it was just a mouse. Stopping in his tracks he let go of all he was holding and dropped to his knees. "I am Antious Treefello." He said as tears started to pour down his face, he was overwhelmed by the emotion of finally getting back to Mossflower. "I mean you no harm, I'm just returning from a long journey." He said to the one who had drawn his weapons to him, and the state of his body showed that he had indeed. He had grown exceptionally thinner and more lean, and what clothes he did have where now torn and worn.

[Raiden and Zahi]

Antious... Antious... I've heard that name before, but I can't quit place it... Have you ever been with the Guardians Of Mossflower?

**Raiden sheathed both swords, their use now not required. Slowly, he cautiously advanced, having been fooled before, and so, keeping his paws close to his blade hilts.**

I am Raiden. Antious, you look like you need something to eat and drink.

[Antious Treefello]

Antious grinned and wearily got to his feet. "Yes... Once long long ago, but then I got cought up in my own lust for revenge against the one who wronged me so long ago..." He placed the nose of his sword into the ground and used for support. "But in my travels I realized that I shouldn't be out using my skills for revenge but to prevent that sort of thing from ever happening again." The squirrel took a few steps towards Raiden and kept his grin. "Yeah I could go for some food and drink."

[Nadia Darkon]

*Nadia approached the two from the edge of the forrest. Earlier that morning she had decided to travel to the edge of the forrest out of a desire to keep her skills sharp. She had enjoyed her trip, and then she had seen the two creatures at the edge of the flatlands. She had also seen Raiden, whom she had seen around the fort but never talked to, approach the stranger and put away his swords.

Noting the lean, parched look of the squirrel, Nadia started making her way toward the two. She made sure her approach was not silent because she did not want to startle the two. From her tunic belt, Nadia checked the amount of water she had, intending to offer it to the gray squirrel. She also made sure her short sword was in easy reach across her back. You never could tell, but she was more confident in her quickness than her blade skills.*

[Antious Treefello]

Antious watched as another creature walked up to them, this time it was a cat. He paid no real attention to her but still managed a nod of the head. "Hello over there. Have you any water?" He asked, for he hadn't really drinken anything for several days now. "I'm rather parched..." He stood there with a half smile on his face swaying back and fourth. The squirrel thin features really showed in his face, then again he was never that great of a forager.

[Tasna and Willowtail Riverend]

*Tasna watched from the gate as the cat she had seen around but hadn't really gotten a chance to converse with, strolled over to Raiden and the squirrel. The otter started after them, hoping that she could figure out what would take three beasts to do. As she approached, Tasna couldn't believe what she was seeing.* Antious? Antious Treefello? *Tasna had never seen him like this. She saw how he was swaying back and forth and quickly pulled water for him to drink. She had filled it to the brim this morning, and there was plenty left. She wasn't that concered with it. Tasna handed it to him.* My goodness Antious! What's happened?

[Nadia Darkon]

*Nadia was just about to pull our her water and hand it to the thin looking squirrel when she was interrupted by an ottermaid whom she had seen around the fort. The ottermaid handed her water to the squirrel, which Nadia noted was full.*

My goodness Antious! What's happened?

*Ah, so this squirrel was known. Nadia stepped back, allowing Tasna to hand the water to what appeared to be an old comrade.*

Antonius? Goodness, you need some help. Here, drink some of that water and come into the fort. My name's Nadia.

[Antious Treefello]

Antious looked over as Tasna rushed toward him with a container of water and handed it to him. "Tasna, thank you." He managed to say as he started to drink greedily from the canteen. "He looked back to her when he was finished and grinned. "Everything is alright, I'm fine. A bit weary but fine." The squirrel handed back the half empty canteen and rested up against a tree. "It has been awhile hasn't it?"

[Raiden and Zahi]

Depends what you class as awhile. To me, that's months without any action, or seeing a long-lost friend.

**Raiden reached into a belt pouch for some nuts and dried fruit. Finding none, he searched the other pouch and came up with some berries. Holding them out to Antious, he motioned for the squirrel to take them.**

[Antious Treefello]

Antious nodded to the mouse. "Thank you Raiden." The squirrel accepted the berries and started to eat them, and once finished he grinned. "That feels better, very much so." He started to stand up again and looked deeper into the forest. "Maybe we should head back to the fort..." He suggested.

[Raiden and Zahi]

Maybe... I've still some jobs to do at the fort, and I was taking a break for a few hours.

**Streaching his arms out wide, Raiden lifted his left arm above his head, but kept his right at below shoulder height. But still, the strain of lifting his right arm showing on his already ravaged face.**

Augh... I was sure that axe did more than I thought it had... Now I know...

[Antious Treefello]

Antious looked at Raiden with a concerned face. "Raiden, friend are you okay?" He said noticeing the fact that he kept his right arm lower than his left. "What axe are you talking about?"

[Raiden and Zahi]

It was a battle some time ago... I fought the chancelor from my father's court, Falkus Lupercal. His axe hit me in the shoulder horezontally, and I wasn't wearing armour. I think the axe damaged the muscles, I can't raise my arm fully... come on, you want back to the fort. I won't stop you, my break's over anyway.

**Turning on his heel, raiden began walking back towards the fort.