You got questions? Riv's got answers.

[Riverwake]

OOC:This is mainly for people that didn't know me at all or very well before I left the site to do whatever it was I did. If you do know me this is where you can find out more about your favorite one-eyed otter.

BIC:*The tavern door squeaked as it was pushed open slightly at first, then the wind did its job and flung it open the rest of the way. The door remained open, and the wind blew out several of the candles lighting the room. The dark figure entered the room, and closed the door swiftly. The bartender quickly got out a knife from under the counter and snapped quickly, but stuttering.*W-w-who are y-you? I-I've n-n-never s-seen you b-before!*He turned to the bartender and snatched the knife from his hand and coolly spoke.*I'm Riverwake,the sole survivor of my clan, Black Thunder, you've got nothing to worry about, I'm not dangerous to civilians.*He replaced the knife back on the table and headed over to a table against the wall. He propped his chair up against the wall, and put his paws on the table.*You really should know me though, I used to come here quite often.*He looked around, it seemed nobeast recognized him either.*Well, I guess from the looks on your faces your memory has failed you, or you're new here. Well, ask me anything, and I'll tell you what you wanna know.

[Mary Narai]

* Elena sipped her strawberry fizz, looking at the otter. She dug in to her memory- she should know him, she'd been here long enough. Or maybe he left just days after he joined. Taking the glass from her lips, she puts it down and holds out a paw.* Hi. I'm Elena Narai. I've been here long enough, but this seems to be the first time my memory has failed me yet.
* Mary enters, then spots her sister in the corner. The mousemaid was talking to an otter that she didnt' know, but she didn't bother to introduce herself. She'll know his name soon enough. Hopefully. Mary sat down at a table near them both after getting an apple cider from the bartender. And for the otter's sake, he better not think their twins.*

[Riverwake]

*He shakes her paw.*Nice to meet you Elena, I'm Riverwake. I vaguely remember a mouse kind of like you, for all I know, it may have been you.*Out of the corner of his eye he saw Mary give a look in their direction, then watched her sit down.*Do you know that mouse, Mary? She looks like she knows you well. If you do, could you introduce me to her, I'd like to get to know as many beasts as possible around here.

[Mary Narai]

* Elena looks at Mary for a moment, then back at Riverwake.* That's Mary, my little sister. She can be quite bothersome at times.
* Mary looks up annoyedly.* Hey! I heard that!

[Commander Marie and Will]

*A female mouse, scarred from seasons as a warrior, had been enjoying a mug of Apple Cider at the far end of the counter, when the door burst open behind her with a loud noise. She paid it no attention at first, guessing some poor beast had simply lost control of the door in the wind, but she couldn't help but turn when she heard the bartender's frightened voice and suspicious actions. Turning, she reached for her left hip, where her dirk would normally be fastened, but her paw grasped only air. Fire and torment... She'd left her blade at home, confident that the Fort was a safe place to go unarmed.

However, the sight of the otter stilled her worries, and set her to thinking. Who was this stranger? He seemed so familiar, like something out of a dream that she'd half-forgotten. Because of her musings and the noise of the wind rushing through the door, she could not hear the name that he gave himself. Furrowing her brow, she turned back to her mug, but situated herself so that she could watch the interactions between the otter and the Tavern's other occupants. Maybe she'd recognize him if she watched him long enough.

Elena and this otter seem to be getting along fine. I wonder if they know eachother. Tapping a paw on the countertop, she hesitated momentarily before downing the rest of her Cider and rising. Shoving the mug across the counter and nodding her thanks to the bartender, Commander Yewbow strode purposefully over to the table where the newcomer was reclining, arriving just as Mary and Elena exchanged their bit of banter. Nodding in a friendly manner, she introduced herself, curiousity evident in her voice and manner.*

Good evenin', mates, Elena. Braw ol' weather we're 'avin'. Ah'm afraid ah donnae recignize yer, laddie buck, but p'raps that's jus' mah noggin gettin' old, y'ken. C'mmander Marie Yewbow's mah name; mind tellin' me yers, eh?

*So familiar, yet so strange. The middle-aged Highlander was certain she knew this otter from some place, but she just couldn't put a paw on it. Hopefully, he'd tell her his name and it would spark her memory somehow. It did seem strange, though, that she would forget an otter with only one eye...*

[Riverwake]

*Hearing Mary's response, he laughed to himself.*Ah, she's a firey one, there's one in every bunch.*He quieted down and heard a voice he once knew well, Marie's. Without even looking up he responded.*Oh, Commander, Commander, Commander, you wound me.*He then looked up and continued.*I'm Riverwake, but I guess time catches up to us all, eh? Well, I'm back for good now, so you should have all the time in the world to command me, just like it used to be. But I am looking forward to hearing what happened in my absence.

[Commander Marie and Will]

Riv, a'course! Sorry, laddie, but it's been bloomin' ages! *Delight coursed through Marie's veins as recognition stirred within her. Riverwake, a former Commander. Her joy was tempered only slightly by her curiousity about what had occured in the otter's absence. Grinning, she clapped a paw to Riverwake's back heartily and pulled up a chair, which squealed as it scraped across the floor. Plopping into the wooden apparatus, the harvest mouse leaned forward, excited to speak with her old acquaintance once more.*

Weel, there's quite a bit been goin' on. We've got a braw ol' sparrin' tournamin' goin' on right now, y'ken, 'tween the Fort and some other organizations, like Sentinels o' Mossfl'w'r an' Corsairs o' the Black Flag. Sandegar the 'are's in the top bracket, mebbe e'en in the final spar, though we're still a'waitin' on the results fer the last Roun'. We've 'ad quite a few new recruits, an' summ reorganization's been goin' on. Mah division, Spirit o' the Remnant, got itself a spiffin' new name, y'ken.

*She smiled merrily and placed a friendly paw on the otter's shoulder.* So, wot's been 'appenin' wid yew, laddie buck? Been fightin' any vermin or chasin' any poor young lasses, eh? *With a jovial wink, the Highlander awaited her old friend's response, curiousity growing inside of her as to what he'd been doing during his hiatus from the Fort.*

[Aster & Sapphire Fleetpaw]

**The door burst open again, and a young mousemaiden entered, practically dragging her twin. The reluctant one was Sapphire, and she was wrapped warmly in a heavy black overcoat, the lining of the hood and cuffs splashed a dark red. The reinforced shoes were on her footpaws, the ones with the pointed tips rounded up slightly. Aster, in a lighter yellow-and-purple outfit similar to Sapphire's, was tugging persistently on her twin's hood.** Sapphire, come on. It's just the tavern. Don't be so antisocial about it!

**Sapphire blew crossly at her forelock, part of which had wafted down into her eyes, and groused at Aster in her usual softer voice.** I'm an antisocial mouse. Deal with it, dear sister. **However, her outlook changed when she saw Marie sitting at the table with the others. Shedding her overcoat to reveal the newer red-and-black uniform, sashed about the waist with a vivid red strip of cloth, she paced over to the corner table. The long shirt wrapped high about her shoulders in a conservative neckline, and ended in a low V-cut just above her knees. Underneath were warm gray trousers that somewhat showed off shapely legs and footpaws, tied off tightly with tucked-in drawstrings about her ankles. After going into boundary guardian training, Sapphire had decided to change her uniform to a darker and more personal style.** Marie? I didn't know that you would be here. May I join you? **She came up behind her friend, and then noted the black otter sitting at the table. The young river mousemaiden combed through her memories. She clearly remembered somebeast from the fort before. Eyepatch... black fur, black eyepatch... R. His name started with an R. Sapphire gazed calmly at the newcomer; as usual, her voice remained flat and she did not show any outward emotion, but only spoke politely.** Excuse me, sir, but do I know you?

**Aster bounced over with all of her usual cheerfulness, a large grin spread all over her face. She had not changed her old outfit, and the over-excited air remained about her.** Hi Marie! Shall we pretend that you've invited me to sit down? **She steered a wooden chair over with a slight screech of the legs on the floor, and plopped her weight down in a most unladylike manner. Aster then noticed the otter.** Hi! What's your name? I'm Aster Fleetpaw, and this is Sa --

**Sapphire clapped a paw over Aster's mouth, effectively stemming the flow of words from her twin.** Aster, I can introduce, thank you very much. I'm not a mute. **She turned to the newcomer.** My name is Sapphire Fleetpaw, and I'm Aster's twin. I'm a boundary guardian at the fort. **She pressed her point.** I seem to remember you; perhaps I knew you from a long time ago? **She removed her paw from her twin's snout, casting Aster a sharp glance that clearly indicated silence.**

[Riverwake]

Well, my time out has been a time of proving for me. First off I visited the locale of my old clan, or rather the graveyard that was my old clan, and I found a note on my father's grave that told me something I never knew before. From it I learned my father leaded a large group of mercenaries numbering over ten score, and they must've known I would've arrived there at some time, because the note was addressed to me. It had a location I was to meet the group at for the reading of my father's will, in it it said I was to lead the clan under one condition. I had to beat the best twenty fighters in the clan, but the best five were on a mission at the time, so I had to fight the other fifteen in quick succession. It wasn't easy by far, but I won somehow. I guess being a fighter since I was about er... ten or so helped me a lot. The last five I'm still waiting for, if they don't come back within a season, I will inherit the lead of the group, if they return, I must fight them, and the current leader, which is one of the five, I must fight to the death, which stinks actually, it's my brother. I'm sure he'll come home for a shock, if he does. Anyway after that, I did some wondering, and ran across who else but my old friend Skye. That darn eagle has gotten huge, he said he might pay me a visit here at the fort.He'd like to meet everybeast.*He stops and takes a long drink from a flagon of water he pulled out of his tunic.*So, without going into heavy detail, that's what happened to me while I was gone.

*He turns to the sisters to answer their question.*Yes, actually, I think you do know me, I'm Riverwake. How have you two been doing?

[Mary Narai]

* Mary walks over to the table ad sis down, as the story had interested her that much. Her eyes widened, and she soke with awe in her voice.* Wow, you did all that?

[Riverwake]

Yeah, that's just about everything, in a nutshell, that I did while I was gone.

[Mary Narai]

* Mary's eyes grew wide, but Elena said supsiciously.* In a nutshell? so I suppose there are things that are far too grand to tell us about.

[Riverwake]

I guess you could say that. If was to tell you everything that happened, we'd be sitting here for days.

[Mary Narai]

* Elena was abotu to speak again, but Mary steeped on her footpaw under the table.* Of course.

[Riverwake]

*Riverwake heard the stomp on the floor.*It's ok, I'll listen to her question, what was it you wanted to say?