News on April's Dawn

[Lord Avron Blacktail]

April dawned to a murder.

When the owner of the tavern entered his shop that morning, the first thing he noticed was the vixen barmaid slumped over the counter. She could have been sleeping, and in fact, she was known for falling asleep at the bar while cleaning up in the evenings. The owner had left her that duty that night, and was hardly surprised when he saw her there in the morning. He smiled to himself and walked over to her quietly, putting his keys back in his pocket. Upon reaching the counter, he moved to shake her shoulders and wake her up. He stopped with a start.

Her eyes were open. They were staring.

He took a step away, unable to look away, his gaze caught by the horror. She was completely still, uncut and unblemished, except for lips that had turned black as death, and the little stream of dried blood that had obviously seeped from her open mouth. In that little patch only, her red fur was a deeper, browner red.

Her one paw was still curled around the handle of an empty tankard sitting on the bar- a tankard sitting on a spread parchment. Trying not to look at the terrified face of his dead employee, the tavern owner slowly nudged aside the tankard, desperately trying not to touch the cold paw holding it. He drew the parchment out, stumbling backwards as he held it up to the scarce light that filtered in from between the closed blinds. With trembling paws, he brought it close to his nose, and squinted.

---

A little time later but still in the wee hours of that morning, a notice appeared on the door of the tavern, a notice on fine parchment, embellished with rich cursive in the verdant color of beetle shells. What this notice read, and what the barkeeper had read, was as such:

Greetings and respects to the honorable populace of Mossflower!

And of course, my congratulations to the newly appointed War Commanders of the Guardians of Mossflower, Lord Shard Prime and Lady Crystal Rosepaw.

To yourselves, as leaders of the Guardians, I beseech you your hospitality, and offer you a tribute thusly, as proof of my sincerity.

Of yourselves and the Guardians, I have heard enough to hold in high esteem, and would be much honored if I could be granted an audience with yourselves in person. Because I am aware that I am not the most easily reached of persons, I suggest for us a meeting, at the docks of this Western Settlement, on the morrow at noon. I would consider it wise on your part to meet me, yet who am I to say such things?

However, I would advise your lord- and ladyships to not postpone this meeting, for while I am not the most clairvoyant of persons, there is something of a foreshadow in my mind, that should we meet any later than the time that I have suggested, one of you might not be available for a rather long time, as might politely be said. I therefore trust that tomorrow, we will be introduced in person and that we might discuss matters that are of mutual relevance.

I await our meeting with great anticipation,
Lord Avron Blacktail, Marlfox of the Reaches

[Crystal M. V. Rosepaw]

"Toby!" The little wolf's head jerked, his silvery hair splashed over his face. His mother shook him and said his name again, and he sat upright, blinking wide amber optics at her.

"What's wrong, mama?" He said, somewhat worried, and trying not to yawn. Her face had 'terror' etched clearly upon it.

"Get up, son! A murder has been done!" She howled the words, pulling him to his feet. Their tiny home where only mother and son lived could not keep out the shouts of panic outside. He stumbled after his mother, confused, jumping into his boots hurriedly as she dragged him outside.

The owner of the tavern crossed the walk from their home was standing on the steps, horror making his face ugly. "I came in and there she was! Cold, still! There was no way to save her. She'd been poisoned!" A few shrieks went up over gasps of disgust and shock. The wealthy owner went on, "A message was left. It's here, right here! Addressed to the War Commanders of the Guardians!"

"Bring it here!" Toby's mother called, raising a paw. "My son will get it there before nightfall! The Guardians will find this villain!" Shouts of agreement pulsed through the crowd, and Toby was pushed forward, his paws still numb from sleep. He was pitched up to the steps of the building, the paper pressed towards him.

"Go, boy! Run!" The owner yowled at him, terror-masked faces of himself and the growing crowd upon the young wolf. "You have to get it to the fortress. Lives depend on you!"

He tore away form the crowd, their own fear now his. He had his job; others might die if it was not properly carried out!

[Yasmine]

Yasmine laid on her back staring at the horizon, watching go from an orange and purple hue to a soft blue. She had been on this random roof all night, unable to sleep, restlessly watching the cresent moon slowly shift through the stars and slowly disappear due to the rising sun. She had wandered away from the fortress to find someplace quiet, as it usually wasn't unusual for there to be some noise in that area. It was now early morning, not too long after the sun had finsihed revealing itself. The mousemaid sighed, figuring she'd probably regret not getting any sleep whatsoever.

Yet, strangely, no weariness swept over her. Usually her body did not appreciate lack of sleep, and thus constantly reminded her of that fact. This time it wasn't complaining, and Yasmine couldn't understand why to save her life.

A commotion just a few houses down snapped Yasmine's undivided attention from the sky. It started with just one voice, then a couple more, growing steadily with each passing minute. Natural inquisitiveness got the best of the mousemaid, and she stretched slowly, eventually standing and peering over the side. from this distance, Yasmine couldn't hear much of what was being heard, but judging from what was being said, words like "Cold, still, save her, and poisoned", it was pretty obvious someone had died last night. Yasmine rubbed the back of her neck and sighed once again. 'Might as well go and report this to somebeast.'

Leaping off the roof, out of sight of the villagers (OOC: They are in a village, right?), Yasmine jogged into the forest, allowing her feet to prepare themselves for a race to the fort. A snap of a stick and rustling of leaves drew her saphirre eyes behind, and she only had a slight glimpse of what was coming until she was practically trampled. The collision knocked Yasmine hard on the grassy floor, subjecting herself to her "attacker" landing harshly on her spine. Yasmine groaned at the impact.

Glancing out of the corner of her eye, the mousemaid observed the creature groaning just as much as she was. It was a small silver wolf, probably still a kid, clutching a crunched up piece of paper as if his life depended on it. "You should watch where your body is leading you, kid, and maybe you can avoid unfortunate meetings like this. It certainly is not a great first impression."

[Crystal M. V. Rosepaw]

Toby scratched his head from where he knew a bumb would start to form. He looked at the mouse, and quickly jumped back up from his crouch that he'd fallen into. He didn't realize this was one of the famed guardians herself.

"Sorry, ma'am." He said politely. "I have to take this message to the Guardians. There was a murder at the tavern - whoever did it want to talk to the War Commanders. You're welcome to come too, but we have to go fast."

ooc; Kinda little town-ish thing. But that works. :3 Just BTW, Shard and I are going to be making a thread to meet him probably today. But you're all welcome to accompany toby on his trip. ^^;

[Yasmine]

OOC: Cool, thanxs.

Yasmine sat on her knees, cracking her limbs and sighing as some of the pain faded, finishing with dusting off her garments. Turning her saphirre eyes to the small wolf, she stared at the letter as he explained the reason why he barged into her like that. When he reached the part about being quick, Yasmine snorted, rising and adjusting her belt that had the sheath that always held her knives strapped onto it.

"A convient coincidence, since I was heading in the same direction as you are. Might as well accompany you and make sure you are not attacked by anybeast or anything." Yasmine turned her back to the wolf and glanced over her shoulder. "Speed isn't an issue. Just make sure you can keep up with me, okay?" With that, the mousemaid took off through the brush, hearing the wolf's footsteps behind her.

[Crystal M. V. Rosepaw]

"Oh, wow." Toby whispered the words as he set off after the mouse, his larger size allowing him to catch up quickly, his long, lopping strides bounding easily over tree roots. "A real Guardian." He was amazed, having never personally seen one. He'd heard stories as a child that they were heroes, every single one, and that they fought the good fight for any just cause. they stories made them seem like something larger-than-life.

However, as he bounded at Yasmine's side, he suddenly was aware that they were very much flesh and blood. Flesh, blood, and courage. The mouse, although much smaller than him, was guiding his way. Something struck him. Hadn't there been another blue eyed mouse? She'd been famous, one of the Guardians' leaders. Maybe they knew each other. Uhm, Marie was the one he knew of.

He'd always been told as a trouble making kid that 'if you do that again, I'm calling Darter and Laylark down here!' Instantly, any trouble was silenced. All the boys wanted to grow up to be Guardians, and some of the girls too.

"You're an' honest to goodness Guardian, ain'tcha?" Toby's amazement sounded in his voice.

[Yasmine]

OOC: So, other guardians can go to the docks? Or just you two?

BIC:

"You're an' honest to goodness Guardian, ain'tcha?"

"Yes, what about it?" Yasmine briefly glanced at the wolf, saw the awe in his eyes while stared back at her, and looked away. "Don't look at me like that. I'm not a god, or some sort of hero, and I don't deserve to be called one, alright? I'm just an ordinary beast and can die like the rest of you, kid."

Yasmine ran in silence, pondering the predicament the Guardians were currently in. There had been a lapse of peace, a small period of time where there were no trouble from any vermin and no attack whatsoever... before this. What in the world could a guy like the one who murdered... whoever he murdered, want with the Guardians?

"Let me see that letter of yours...and tell me who you are, while your at it. Can't refer to you as 'kid' or 'wolf' all the time."

[Crystal M. V. Rosepaw]

ooc; Yes. Crystal said that they can come, but they have to come unarmed. ^3^

"Er," Toby said as he ran, slightly afraid he'd offended her. He leapt over a fallen tree, gracefully touching his free forepaw to his boot. He landed without slowing, making sure Yasmine was still with him. Satisfied, he looked at the paper in his paw.

"Er," he said again, thinking. Would letting her see it put whatever plan the War Commanders might formulate into jeopardy? Oh, well. She was a Guardian. She wasn't hurting anyone. Without stopping, he passed her the paper.

"M'name's Toby, ma'am," he said, embarrassment in his voice. He was sure this mouse must have some great name that proved that she was lying and actually was a hero. However, he didn't ask it, and suddenly felt meek in comparison. Sure, he was much, much big than her, but she probably made up for it in skill. Outclassed by a mouse. Blech.

[Yasmine]

“Toby, huh? Pleased to meet you, I’m sure.” Yasmine took the paper from the wolf’s paw, murmuring a thank you, and immediately started reading it, still running, though slowing for safety reasons. She had always been a “bookworm”, and when she was younger those who did see her noticed at least one book was with her. She considered reading her hobby, and because of that she developed an uncommon talent of being able to reading while running, and without running into anything.

Yasmine slowly read the words on the paper, letting them sink into her skull. As she continued, her face darkened and her eyes gleamed with a wild light. “Che.” Folding the paper into a square she returned it to its bearer, shutting her eyes for a second. When they reopened, the darkness in her face and the gleam in her eyes had disappeared. “Where was that letter found, Toby? Near the body, or put off to the side?”

[Crystal M. V. Rosepaw]

The mouse took on a look of frustrated anger as she read, and Toby quickly, in his head, asked himself if all Guardians were such a bundle of nerves. As quickly and suddenly as that expression had shown itself, it was replace by forced calm.

"I think," he said, trying to do so, "it was found near the body at first. I pretty much got volunteered to deliver it. And he didn't really say. But near the body, I should think, if it caused such a huge thing." He nodded, slightly to back up his own thoughts.

[Yasmine]

"That so..." Yasmine muttered. 'That makes sense. If placed near the body it would have to be noticed. When you look at the situation at that angle, it would be common knowledge to assume the murdered beast was killed merely for the purpose of relaying the message.' The mouse almost spat. 'What an unreasonably savage thing to do. Whoever this "Lord" is, I don't like him already.'

And why shouldn't she? Yasmine had an automatic dislike for creatures that killed for pleasure. Yasmine wasn't much of a "justice crazy" beast, and she definitely wasn't some type of saint, but even she had to draw the line somewhere. Even she had here certain ideals.

The two ran nonstop through the forest until they reached the gates of the fort, pausing only to allow the gatekeepers to slowly open them. Yasmine signalled Toby to follow her inside, since one look at the wolf's face told her instantly he seemed too awestruck to move on his own.

"Come on then. Let's find a Commander."

OOC: Thus the other thread comes into play.