Boundary Guardian Training... Part 2.

[Raiden and Zahi]

**In the dawn's light, a figure stood on the walls of the fort. Armoured lightly in a few pieces of platemail on their right arm and waist downwards, the rest of the figure was clad in a sleeveless red tunic, a black coat slung over one shoulder, and a single black glove on their left paw. Turning from the treeline view, the figure strode down the stairs and into a patch of morning sun-light. That revealed the figure to be a Chestnut Brown male Field Mouse, with a braid in his headfur. Thrust through the belt at his waist wasn't either of his two normal swords, but a long-bladed broadsword. Long enough to be used with two paws, it was light enough to swing with a single paw. Meanwhile, strapped to the armoured wrist was a kite shield of little importance other than the dents and scratched dotting it's surface.

Fully revealed in the light, Raiden looked around the empty courtyard with a sigh.**

Where are they? Training's today, and they are late!

[Sevaurinus Alterasaud]

Sevaurinus sat on a rough rock, waiting for someone else to come along. She could be early, but she didn't know. The early morning cold seeped in through her thin shirt and tunic. Amber-gold blinded her as the leaves parted in the wind, and footsteps made her aware of someone else coming. She jumped up to greet them, but was blinking, trying to get rid of the orangey-blue spots in front of her eyes.

"uh... Hi there."

[Shard Prime]

Shard yawned loudly as he slowly trudged, his footpaws almost dragging, toward the location that he should have been at quite a while ago. He knew he was late, but wasn't in a hurry. The squirrel groggily rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he walked; he had slept longer than he should have, again. Noticing the two figures of Sevaurinus and Raiden not too far ahead of him, he quickened his pace to that of a steady walk and kept going onward. He yawned again, calling to Raiden at the same time, "Heyyy, here I--" Shard's statement was cut short by him tripping over himself; apparently, he had forgotten to tie one of his boots. He tied it as quickly as he could and stood, alert now and focused, proceeding to walk toward Raiden as if nothing had happened. He called to him as he neared him, "I have arrived, sir!" He stopped several feet away from the mouse, saluting him appropriately.

[Fishrudder]

Fishrudder glanced around the old courtyard. He was still clad in his normal ripped up shirt. He sling was around his waist and his old sword was on his hip. He glanced up at Raiden. He hurried over and started apologizing about being late.

OOC: That was really bad, but, I just don't really feel like a really good post.

[Taith]

Taith padded through the overgrown path to the courtyard, unruly from disuse. A form fitting shirt and pants let her mover freely, yet hung loose enough about her figure to conceal her many knives. In fact, a wickedly bladed short sword, and yew bow with full quiver were the only weapons visible on her petite, willowy frame. Small, black leather slippers that laced up her calves made her rushed walk to the courtyard as silent as ever.

Her fierce blue eyes caught the sight of Raiden in the courtyard, and she waved a silver tattooed arm, the thin silver knotwork gleaming from her midnigh-hued fur. Sorry Ah'm late, m'dear.

[Sandegar]

OOC: Sandy has a hangover… Just to make things interesting. Don’t think alcoholism is too controversial, but if you don’t like it, tell me (meh).
Note: The "doe" refers to Alex.
Note 2: "Self" longbow just means longbow made of one piece of wood, if you didn't know.
Note 3: No offence, Rai.
Note 4: There isn't a Note 4. Well, now there is. I'm so lame.

BIC:

It was a bad morning.

Sandegar lay curled on his black summer cloak in the gatehouse, his temporary lodging while the fort was still in disrepair, the dawn light illuminating his sandy brown fur. He wore his black breeches, but his leather vest and steel-capped boots lay roughly discarded to the side, his cloud-grey archery gloves and black bracer slung over the longbow propped up in the corner of the small room. The building was crumbling slightly, but that was the least of its resident’s concerns.

That idiotic baby doe, he thought, how’d I let her get me drunk so bad? He had no idea how he’d managed to get back to the gatehouse in one piece. Damnit, I must have looked such a fool! How could I have taken her to the bloody tavern? She's not even old enough. Damn. Turning over onto his side with his eyes still tightly shut, he slowly dragged his vest across the dusty, stone floor. Kicking off his cloak, the hare clenched his teeth and pushed himself upright into a sitting position, scowling in the sunlight. The perpetual pain in his head only worsened with the sudden move, and it was all Sandegar could do to refrain from whimpering pathetically with pain. Hangover headaches were the absolute worst.

Tossing his jerkin on, he slipped his footpaws into his high boots, leaning his body against the wall. The only good thing about this place, he thought, is that there’s always something within reach to lean on. His thoughts were barely coherent in the hazy fog in his mind, yet he had a feeling he had to get to something, and fast.

“Damn,” he groaned, and picked up his belt. The black leather seemed strangely rough, but that was probably because of his drunkenness. “What in Mossflower am I supposed to be doin’ right now, eh?” Stumbling over to the corner of the room where his self longbow, quiver and sword stood propped against the wall, he snagged his cloak on his boot and picked it up as he came to a halt by his makeshift weapon stand - the corner of the room. Swinging it tiredly over his shoulders, he grabbed his arming sword by the rope belt to which the scabbard was connected, and strapped it in place at his left hip.

The sudden weight caused the already unsteady hare to topple over, though only into the stone wall and not the floor. There was a slight crumbling sound, and dust came settling down over Sandegar's head. His shoulder hurt where it had impacted with the wall, but his headache was worse. And still, the desperate need to be someplace he couldn’t remember hung over him like an ominous rain cloud. Slinging his yew longbow and quiver, with a complete set of ash arrows, over his shoulder, he leant down and picked up his black gloves and bracer, pulling the former on with ease. The bracer he had more difficulty with, his nimble paws severely limited by his inebriation, but eventually he managed to buckle the leather bracer down on his upper arm.

With a grunt, he propelled himself off the wall and stumbled across the tiny room, tripping out of the gatehouse. He coughed, and his stomach heaved. With a loud, rolling groan, the tall hare leaned over and threw up. Muck splattered the stones of the wall, trailing foul-tasting saliva from his mouth. Another thing the Guardians would have to fix, he thought, without feeling particularly remorseful. He had always known he was bad with drink, but that delicious, fire it could invoke within him was always too tempting. And every single time, he would wake up with a headache and end up vomiting. At least he felt a little better, and his head was a little clearer.

“Now, what the hell was I going to do again?” Sandegar asked himself loudly, still hung-over fairly badly. “Damn, damn, damn.” He tugged at his long ears with a frown on his face, and stayed immobile for the split second before the answer to his question hit him. “Damn!” He bellowed. He certainly remembered now.

With a groan he started running, across the overgrown lawns, his ears ringing and his gait devoid of all his usual grace. His boots splattered with mud as he ran awkwardly through a muddy puddle, too unbalanced to succesfully swerve the obstacle. With one paw, he gripped the sword at his belt, and with the other he held onto his bow and quiver. However, even so he ran fairly fast, and in no time found himself stumbling towards familiar figures standing about in the dawn light. Startled, he suddenly pulled up, a fit of dizziness overcoming him. Leaning over with his paws on his knees, he inhaled deeply to try to reduce the numbing pain. Still, his mind raced. Was Raiden possibly leading the party?

Hell, he thought to himself, the last thing I need right now is a junior NCO giving me orders. Damn.

[Crystal M. V. Rosepaw]

ooc; WARNING. This post may have some... content. n.n *Vague due to embaressment over writing it.* But luckily, Crys saves the day before anything too awful happens. It's not too overly mature, since I don't dleve into it, but... Eh. Just skim the end if you don't want to know. n.n I just tried to make it intresting. xD It's really, really bad quality. n.n

xx.Crystal
I was killing before killing was cool,
You're so cool! You're so cool! So cool!

As normal, the vixen in question was pondering somthing, and was currently substaining a promise whilst doing so. It was extremly early or late - and that is what she couldn't deicide. It was a Monday, or was it simply late on a Sunday night? Anyhow, the fox was watching random acts of intoxicated creatures, her bright green eyes thoughtfully blinking. A long time ago, Crystal had promised her firend Rikian Zarooah that she would never drink unless a friend was there to aid her back, due to the fact that she got drunk easily (despite all her practice from her time as a pirate) and was extremely unpredictable then. And so the snow hued animal sat on a stool in the Corisairs' Tavern at the edge of the Western Settlement. Today's current staff were three barmaids a bit younger than herself - a mouse, another vixen, and a ferret. She had noticed whilst sitting in this rough and tumble bar that they got knocked around a fair bit by the drunken men of the bar. (For she seemed to be one of the only girls here drinking.) She tried to distract herself from the phyiscal and verbal abuse the barmaids obtained, wondering if she'd ever sworn of raved to any. Sipping lightly at a small glass of strawberry fizz, she studied the chips and nicks in, wondering about when she should leave to meet Raiden.

"'ey!" The shout caught her attention, and with perked auds she turned herself around to face the speaker. the tiny ferretess was cowwering under the hard glare of a slightly older and larger specimen of her race. The male ferret looked down at her, a cruel glint in his eye. Crystal wondered what he was doing, and subciously her paw fell to the hilt of her sword, which was dragging at her belt and easily touched the floor with it's massive scabbard. "Yer a pretty on'," he sneered, and his croonies (two more large male ferrets), bellowed with laughter. A snarl escaped the vixen, her wrists popping with strain not to draw her sword, and at the same time a quiet whimper of fear esacpe the barmaid under survailence. Already, the rest of the bar (accept the other two servers, of course) had gone back to their own conversations, for this was typical of somthing to see in a bar to them.

Crystal had noticed only one case of this type of crime before, and knew that the rat would probably never face ale the same way, nor the sight of a girl nor a tavern. Her green eyes hardened, watching closely at the exchange.

"I just do my job, sir," the cowwering creature squeaked quietly. Crystal could see her frightful quivver from his distance.

"Ah'm swure yew doo. Nhow, wood yew mind steppin' outside wit me?" The glint in the male's eye grew far more cruel, and Crystal's jaw shut and clentched from her horrified gasp with an audiable snap. The trio seized her arms and hustled her out the door. Before it swung shut, the young girl turned her head to look at the other servers, her eyes rolling in terror.

"Oh, hellteeth!" the mousemaid snapped, then began to cry. The fox beside her did as well, trying to hide their tears by burying their faces into each others' shoulders. Crystal could take no more; she stood upright, her black and red dress falling into placearound her. Some inner (dark) angel had been awaken and was taking the form of a demon, and from the strange poise of her, anyone could tell the white vixen was ready as hell to do whatever needed done.

"Tey won't hurt her," Crystal said delicatly to the weeping pair. They instantly looked up at her, eyes wide. The light colored fox said quietly, looking them both in the eyes, "I won't let them hurt her. I promise." The fox drew her massive blade, it's light steel gleaming. The ruby pommel shinned from it's care, and as her body carefully postioned itself to hold it's weight, the pair could tell she meant it. Her boots hardly making a sound on the floor, the mysterious white fox's black cloak swallowed her into the eerie darkness with a swirl.

Lifting her ears even more (which was extremely a feat to be challanged), Crystal listened as she stuck her blade in the ground, the deep moonless night sealing her away as she completely fastened her cloak and pulled the hood up so it shadowed her face. One could only tell her from the darkness by the sight of her blade or if looking. Hearing the sound of a scuffel, the vixen quickly followed the sound to the source, slinking in the shadows to get there. It was all about suprise and speed. What Crystal saw was what she had expected. The other two ferrets were laughing, and the one that had spoken in the bar was fighting with the young female.

"I didn't do anything to you! Leave me alone!" The ferretess's loud cry came out as she jerked her arm away from him, dark eyes sharp. Thanfully her vixen savior had good eyesight. Her messenger bag was presed against her side by the wall she was leaning on, an uncomfortable feeling, but nothing commpared to what she, the ferret, felt.

"T'is can be eas' er har', misseh. I dun car' whic'," the larger male said with a sneer, catching her dress by the waist and jerking on it. From the squeak of pain, it appeared that the ferretess was wearing a corsett under it. As the trio roared with laughter, Crystal leapt into action. While that was going on, her blade was behind her back to hid it from their sight. Now it was in full veiw, and her hood came down as she leapt into the obvious fray. Her hair, white with red tips, whirled in the chaotic tangle. With a few artful flicks, the supporting duo of males felt the keen edge of her sharp blade aingst their sides, each roaring with pain. With a loud smack like metal striking meat, the 'leader' fell to the ground. the maid's dress was a bit torn on her right rib, but toehr than that she was unharmed.

"Go," Crystal hissed to her, shovving her away. She place a footpaw on the chest of the girl's attacker, pressing all her weight on it. The maid nodded and dashed away, holding up her skirts to add her speed.

"What are you doing?" The ferret howled, looking around for his mates, whom had fleed when first attacked. With another graceful flick, his pinkie and ring fingers on his right paw were diced off, blood pouring from the stumps. As he howled, Crystal released her weight and began walkign without a single word. She would walk to the fortress, knowwing she'd be late.

She walked, and walked for a long time. Thankfullt, Crystal had bounds of energy, and it was a great thing to have. The dawn rose with her long strides, and she kept walking as the day dawned. She'd surely be late. As the sun rose a tiny bit, she speed around a bend in the path, betting that the mouse would take any excuse to take from her. Her blade had already been cleaned and put back into her scabbard. A black dress clothed her, the trim a deep red. A black band of cloth around her waist served as the belt holding her sword. Her claok was billiowing around her shoulders again, and her kama and the rest of her things were safely in her messenger bag. Walking into the fortress- the door was rusted and hung on the hinges so she didn't have to request entrance- she bounded easily as if she's jsut started a brisk morning walk. Catching site of the group she was supposed to join with, she bounded over.

"Crystal Rose, reporting." She said simply, not caring to show Raiden any sign of respect. "I was held up at the Corsairs' Tavern much earlier." The vixen blinked and under her breath muttered a single phrase. "Guys are such idiots."

You'll never take me alive,
Do what it takes to survive,
And I'm still here!.xx

[Nadia Darkon]

Nadia had awakened before dawn on the first day of Boundary Guardian training. The cat had yawned and then wrapped herself tighter in her bed sheets. She was slowly getting used to sleeping every night on a nice mattress with a roof over her head. The first few nights she had started at every sound the sleepers in the other rooms made, but last night she had managed to not pay attention to any such interruptions.

She curled up tighter, trying to go back to sleep, but she couldn’t. She sighed and slowly uncurled herself, setting paws on the floor. The sun wasn’t even up yet. Ah well, she could take a jaunt just outside the walls for a bit before it was time to meet. The wildcatess chose what she would need for the training. She strapped on light armor of hardened leather, designed to protect her, yet still allow her to move quickly and silently. Her dirk went at her side along with her whip. Into a pouch she inserted several different kinds of poison with which to replenish the tip of her whip. She scooped up her small haversack which she hadn’t even opened since she had arrived at the fort. It was all still packed and set for any sort of journey.

She padded out of the barracks, automatically not making a sound. Let those who could get a full night’s sleep take advantage of it. Nadia made her way out to the courtyard, passing under the wall and through the semi-functional gates. They still had a lot of work to do to get this place back in order. It would help if they had some sort of money with which to pay laborers and buy stone and the right kind of wood. Now there was a thought. After so many seasons of vermin occupation, she bet the woods hereabouts still had small, hidden bands of rodents, and rodents loved to carry their treasure around with them.

Nadia cut off the path that led from the gate before it turned a bend. She simply walked. She didn’t have any goal out here, except to see the new day. The dark woods progressively got lighter as the sun started rising and the moon finished setting. She bent her ears to the sounds around her, stepping from shadow to shadow. Eventually she returned to the main path, only to realize that it was lighter out than she had originally thought. Darn trees.

She didn’t run back to the fort, but she did stride along and a faster pace than when she had exited the fort. The fort came into view around the bend and she saw a shiny glint of metal on the walls. That would be Raiden. He always did like his armor. She noted by the shouts coming from inside the walls that the others were also showing up for the training.

Nadia didn’t bother to reenter the fort. Instead she waited on the path, tail swishing in the dirt. Her mottled fur and dark brown armor might have made an unsuspecting traveler blink twice when he realized there was, in fact, a feline in the middle of the road. A smile flitted across her face. She remembered, many seasons ago just after she had joined the Guardians, sitting in the exact same place and waiting. That trip had also been with Raiden, although if she remembered a pregnant squirrel had been leading the group, destined for Redwall. Somehow Nadia had never made it to Redwall on that trip. In fact, she had never made it to the legendary abbey.

“Down here, Rai.”

Her voice was projected towards the battlements so the mouse would know she was ready.

[Raiden and Zahi]

**As everyone who was taking the training arrived, Raiden smiled to himself.**

Well, I can't say much wrong about this group... Crystal, Nadia, Sandegar, Taith... Those three are great fighters... From the old crowd too... Shard, Sevaurinus, and Fishrudder... Don't know about those three really...

Right everyone, the program for this training is simple; We are going into the woods without supplies for about three days. What is going to happen is you will use your knowledge of the woodland to gather food and water. Since there are plenty of vermin still roaming the woods, it is likely we will be getting attacked. As a few of you might know, I tend to throw myself into the thickest part of the fighting. Not this time... This time, I will be staying out of the fight as an observer to this training. Am I clear on what is going to happen?

[Fishrudder]

**Fishrudder nodded and for the first time felt the warmth of confidence. Three days in the woods wouldn't be hard. He had spent 10 seasons in wood with out any food or water. He piped up and said**

When do we leave?

**He had heard the cat call out she was ready, the same cat that had made him move in the first place.**

[Shard Prime]

Shard dropped his salute and returned to a normal stance. Looking around at all who had just arrived, he thought to himself, It's a bit eerie that everyone arrived nearly at the same time, and all late... Hmm... He dismissed the thought as Raiden spoke.

Right everyone, the program for this training is simple; We are going into the woods without supplies for about three days. What is going to happen is you will use your knowledge of the woodland to gather food and water...

Shard nodded when Raiden finished speaking, now fully understanding the training. "Just three days of fending for ourselves, jah? That should be no problem to this lot." Shard looked at Raiden, then at the others who had come to receive training. It seemed to him that he was at a disadvantage somewhat, as he was relatively new there. All he had brought with him was the steel gauntlet on his left paw and the blade at his side. The sword was something like a scimitar; more or less like a machete, designed with speed, ease of use, and grace in mind. Shard decided that he was ready to begin training, though he was still a bit doubtful that he would do it any better than the others.

[Taith]

Taith smirked at Crystals comment about men. Aye, lass, she chuckled. Startled by the new arrivals confidence in their abilites, the ebony otter felt she had to bring them up to speed. Subtley, of course. Weel be goin' down by th' swamps, aye Raiden? Not much down there te work with. Los' good men down there too. Toads be a nasty lo' A cruel, toothy smile played about her mouth as she watched the newcomers from the corners of her notoriously shifting eyes.

A small leather puch dangled at her waist, and her fine, thin fingers flitted about the contents like butterflies.She tossed the worn weather bag to Raiden. A few small bottles of medicine and a piece of string were the entire contents. 'Armless enough fer me te keep, Rai?

[Raiden and Zahi]

OOC: Okay, I've given everyone enough time to post, so I'm gonna post now.

~~~

Not down to the swamps, but we are headed rather Northwards. No food supplies Taith, but medical stuff's fine.

**Looking about the group, Raiden frownd like a drill sergent.**

What are you all waiting for? An invitaiton? Move out!

**Of cause, Raiden wasn't really being cruel, just playing a sterotype.**

[Shard Prime]

"No food? Heh... Maybe I should have eaten breakfast." Shard's stomach growled loudly. "Ah, well. I'll live, jah?"

What are you all waiting for? An invitation? Move out!

Shard saluted Raiden, "Aye, sir!" He dropped his salute, did a left-face, and tripped over himself again. Faceplant. He jumped back up again, acting as if it didn't happen, again. Well, that was embarrassing, he thought to himself. I must look pretty foolish by now... Shard brushed the dirt off of himself and started in the direction that Raiden had indicated.

[Taith]

At Raiden's order to move out, Taith lackadaisically half saluted him, a mere touch on the forehead before she took a spot at the front of the group. Taking back her bag, she tied it to her belt.

Aye sir! THUNK! Taith turned around and raised an eyebrow at the fallen squirrel. Muttering under her breath, she turned around, ready to go. This training mission was not getting off to the best start.