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Post by Carrow on Mar 2, 2010 8:40:23 GMT -5
Cerinus, however, wasn't quite as lucky. The mouse had ran on after his friend, his eyes fixed on only the albino pine marten's form ahead of him. He took another leap, after a running start, and he followed right after the mustelid.
The mouse wasn't as large as Caden, so he had quite a soft landing, but he was now looking around for Caden, his eyes darting back and forth as he tried to work out where he had gone. That was when he saw the loose carriage. The rodent was frozen to the spot for a second, then he got to his paws.
Knowing full well that he would be knocked right into next week should the carriage strike him, he tried his hardest to get out of the path of the runaway vehicle. However, even his best efforts weren't enough to completely keep him from harm. Just when he tought he was in the clear, the wood mouse felt a sharp stab of pain around his ankle area. He toppled over as the pain spread up his whole left leg.
The mouse went down and landed on his stomach, his fur against the snow. The night had been something of a rollercoaster ride for him, and now he felt rather tired. Had he been able to glance around in his position, he would have seen that there was a long cut along the side of his leg, from which blood had begun to trickle, and a rather worrisome-looking bruise was forming in the area where he had been struck.
The very edge of the carriage had collided with his leg. Not only that, but it had carried on right past him, which explained the large gash that had been caused by the friction against his fur. It was just as well that the area in which the carriage had struck him had been relatively wide, or otherwise the dibbun's ankle would have been shattered. Cerinus lay with his snout against the snow, gritting his teeth to stop himself crying out from the agonising pain he was experiencing.
He looked over to his left, and could just barely make out the camouflaged Caden as he lay on his back. Ladorak had seen him come around. A sigh of relief. He helped the kit to his paws, having not yet noticed the injured wood mouse.
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Post by spender on Mar 3, 2010 3:15:29 GMT -5
"Molly....I want to ask you something. It's....sort of important. But it's just been something that's been killing me and I'm rather dying to know. I...I really do hate to ask too...but I just don't want to feel awkward about this anymore."
Molly nodded, not saying anything. Inside, she cowered. She wanted to say: 'Not now, no, please let me get drunk first, shut your stupid mouth Mr. Fugate and put it in a letter so I can lie in my reply f I need to, but not here, not now, with faces and voices...' She held her tongue.
And then... he was off.
Molly didn't realise what was happening at first. Caden was just playing in the snow - what, as he allergic? Was he going to write his name or do something otherwise embarrassing? Then her ears registered the scraping noise. Then, as she stepped outside after him, her eyes saw the whole scene unfurl...
Ladorak had Caden under control. Good. The stoatmaid ignored those two, jogging past the crying mouse kit in the snow - just a graze, he'd be fine - and out into the night.
The horses lingered off the path, neighing frightfully. Molly shot them a withering look and moved on, following the path of matchsticks left by the carriage. Her ears strained... Ah.
"Groan."
He didn't actually say "groan", but it might as well have been so. She knelt by the weasel jack's side, putting her paw against his neck. Nothing seemed broken upon first glance. But her nose twitched - there was definitely blood.
She rolled him over. Ah...
Well, she could always get a new tailpiece...
Pulling off her fishnet stocking, she eased it around his upper arm and tied it off as best she could. She wished she brought her dagger. It would have been no problem, cutting off the final bits of flesh and gristle that remained, but there was no way she was going to be picking this fellow up with half his arm hanging off him by a thread. The poor weasel's limb had been completely crushed by a horse's hoof, the bone shattered clear through.
"Um," she called, looking up at the palace. "Help!"
Some part of her realised, very vaguely, that her skirts were absolutely ruined now.
~ ~ ~
"A bit lost are we? I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to step back. That's Captain Fugate's carriage....and he should be arriving any moment now. Do you need some help? I'm a police officer, though currently off duty."
"I'm 'ere lookin' fer my son... before th' palace falls t' th' Rosfer..." Seige scowled. "Fuuuuu... Fugate?" He cried, paws waving above his head. "Labrat - Largorick... Fugate?" The ferret's eyes rolled madly as he grinned. "That old fishbait, old knee-bitin', old hedgehog chum-scrubber, eh? Eh?"
The explosion of carriage and action behind him seemed to have no effect on his demeanor for a moment or two. Once things had quieted down, then Seige spun around and shouted.
"Oawaaaaaoo, th' palace is under attack! First cannonfire, now suicide-carriages! Dive fer cover!"
The ferret leapt into the snow.
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Post by Ladorak on Mar 3, 2010 15:47:15 GMT -5
Ladorak saw Molly move past him, heading for the driver out in the road. Oh right....Ladorak had completely forgotten about him. He didn't see Cerinus at first, as the mouse had moved off to the side and was lying face down behind them now. The ermine simply had no idea that the mouse had been in the way as well.
"Are you alright?" he asked Caden again, he was gulping in air now in an attempt to restore balance to his lungs.
"Yeah..." he said in a raspy voice, clutching his chest now as he took in small pawfuls of air. "Yeah..."
"Are you sure? You're not hurt anywhere?" the ermine was being overly fussy it seemed, but true concern was there as well. Truth be told, Ladorak's heart felt like it was going to explode at the prospect of seeing his ward killed in front of him, and he was still in disbelief that that hadn't occurred.
Hearing two things behind him however, he turned around. He could see Cerinus down in the snow, with what looked to be some blood. Ladorak didn't think it appeared serious, but he wasn't really sure in the poor lighting. And then there was Molly, calling out for help. He bit his lip. Which one to go to first? He could see the palace redcoats looking at each other speculatively, wondering if they should indeed leave their posts to assist with thing.
"No, no!" Ladorak waved them off. "We've got this. Stay there." He said, moving forward, heading towards Cerinus first.
"I'll take care of the lad." The voice was coming from a long tailed weasel off to Ladorak's right. Turning, the Captain glimpsed who looked to be a valet of some sort, though he was holding a badge as well. "Inspector Shepherd.....Metropolitan Police Force." The badge put the ermine at ease. Good....more around here that could help. He didn't see the ferret that had dove into the snow, though it was probably for the best.
"Alright good. Caden....just wait by the door OK? Stay close to the guards." Ladorak urged, and turned to help Molly out. Shepherd moved behind Ladorak, heading towards Cerinus.
"Your devotion is incredible Jal Fugate. I take it that Caden is your ward. For such courage and adherence are truly a rarity you know. You did more than many fathers would have. And believe me...I know." he said, smirking in an.....odd way. "Don't lose that. You may need it someday."
"Uh....thanks." He said, unsure really what the weasel meant. Looking back to Molly, he ran over now.
"There we go little fella, just hold tight." Shepherd said as he knelt down over the wounded mouse. "Looks like you got a pretty bad cut. You'll be feeling that one for a few days, but shouldn't last longer than that." His voice was a rich and deep baritone, warm and sincere as he smiled down. "We should get some alcohol on that and you'll be fine. Should be some indoors. Can you stand?" he asked, reaching a paw down to help support the dibbun if need be.
***************
"Here let me help you." Ladorak was beside Molly now, bending over to get a good luck at the driver. Ugh.....he nearly gagged at the sight, but he'd seen such things in combat before. This however wasn't quite combat. "Here we should get him inside. I'm sure there's a least one surgeon attending the party in there." he said, gritting his teeth. "Didn't expect you to be out here but....I really admire it." he said softly, looking at her with genuine admiration.
Molly Serra was not only attractive...but she had a stout, solid way about her as well. Tough...which meant she could probably stand up to the rigors of being out at sea. Good....she was the one then. He just knew then and there in his mind that she was the one. "OK....so let's try lifting him then." he said, bracing the backside of the driver and getting ready to haul up. Ladorak could probably do it on his own, but it was better to have a second set of paws with him, just in case. Could never be too careful after all.
***************
Caden could see Elle from inside, and the albino decided that inside was better than out for the moment. Everyone else was being helped after all. That Welkin Inspector was helping Carrow, and Ladorak was over with some jill.
Please be OK Carrow... he pleaded silently, though the mouse seemed to be awake and aware of his surroundings. Good. Caden decided that to help out, he could hold the door for those who would be coming inside. Opening it up, he moved next to Elle, panting a bit. "I...I froze up out there." he said, his pink eyes widened and his reflection looking back at him from the glass of the doors.
"I....I seriously thought I was going to die." he said, trembling a bit, and hoping Elle wouldn't notice. He was just shaken up, and not physically hurt. Reaching a paw out to the pane of glass, he tried to steady both his breathing and his shakes, and looked over at Elle for comfort.
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Post by bookity101 on Mar 3, 2010 23:27:56 GMT -5
"Caden! Cerinus!" Elle shrieked as she saw the carriage nearly hit the boy's, fear binding her paws to the ground. She wanted to go help, but she feared she would get in the way of Ladorak and the jill who were helping the boys and the driver.
Elle watched silently as Caden mounted the steps, coming to a shaky stop beside her.
"I...I froze up out there." 'Oh Caden...' Elle moved to put a paw on his shoulder, but stopped short as he continued...
"I....I seriously thought I was going to die." Elle slid her arm around Caden's waist, resting her head on his shoulder, and just stood there for a few minutes, letting Caden calm down a little from his shaken state. After she felt Caden stop shivering, she spoke...
"I thought you both were goners Caden," She turned to face him, keeping a paw on his upper arm.
"But you're not." Elle smiled, then pinched him, lightly :See, if you can feel that, you're still here," Elle's face softened and she took his face in both paws.
"Ladorak took care of you and look," She directed his gaze over her shoulder and out the window,
"He's helping the driver, and somebeast else is helping Carrow." Elle kept her paws on his face for a moment then reached down and took something from her wrist.
She held the bracelet charm up to the light, remembering the day her Grandfather had given it to her....
"Grandfather, whats this?" an eight year old Elle was sitting on the beach with her Grandfather,
"Happy Birthday Elle," the older beech martin smiled at her confused face, "Oha.." He chuckled tapping her chin gently. "You'd thought I'd forggoton, didn't you My Ellie." Young Elle grimaced at the nickname. "Grampa..."
Elle smiled as she watched the small ship charm twinkle in the light, then she took Caden's paw.
"Here we'll trade.." She opened his paw, placing the charm in it, then closing it. "You take this to remember me by, and then.. well you had something in mind when you asked if I wanted one, didn't you Caden?"
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Post by Carrow on Mar 4, 2010 8:44:01 GMT -5
Cerinus was entering a state of paralysis now, afraid to move at all lest he aggravate his injury. This was much more painful than even he had expected. And when his exhaustion from the night was taken into account - it had been a rollercoster ride for him after all - the mouse seemed to be in relatively bad shape.
He was having rather a lot of difficulty remaining conscious. He heard a voice. He could tell it was coming from nearby, but somehow it sounded so very far away. He was having troble processing even what was being said, as his consciousness began to fade. He was tired. So very, very tired... He just wanted to sleep for a while...
The voice came to him in bits and pieces. He could tell that it was soft and gentle, but he only caught snatches of what was being said. "Just hold tight...get some alcohol on that and you'll be fine...can you stand?" The voice faded every so often to be replaced by the sound of the rodent's heart pounding in his ears.
The dibbun could not do much in his poisition, so he had to indicate to the mustelid somehow what condition he was in. Could he stand? No, not in this much pain, he couldn't. So, he gave the weasel a thumbs down.
His paw... he was offering his paw now. I'm not sure if I can even take it... Tears were visible in the corners of his eyes now. He tried to stand, but he could not get both paws on the ground. Desperate, he tried to take weight on his injured paw.
Bad move. Down he went again, landing with a soft thud on the snow. He whimpered softly as the shock of the cold surface made contact with his injury. It could be seen that the area around which he had fallen was stained with blood. Cerinus had crucially landed face down once more - if he had toppled over and landed on his back, it would have been too much to bear for him.
He was close to losing consciousness now. His brown eyes steadily began to droop, but the wood mouse tried his hardest to keep them open for a while.
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Post by spender on Mar 4, 2010 9:50:45 GMT -5
The accident was heard inside the playroom. Spender paid no attention at first, still immersed in his fantasy. But soon the mumblings of the attendants and nurses drew his attention, and the gasps of "is he dead, is he dead?" perked his ears.
Someone possibly dead? Wicked!
The ferret jostled his way through the dibbuns and peered out. It was hard to make out the scene exactly; the playroom's window box was far from the main entrance where most of the action was happening. They were just little shapes, distorted by the glass and frost. But closest to the playroom window, in the snow of the front lawn, was a ferret face-down. Spender recognised the clothes.
"That's my da!" he gasped, and turned away to make for the door. A nurse caught his shoulder, saying something about letting adults help, but Spender shrugged her off and nipped out.
The main hall was quiet. The two ermines carrying the weasel were asking for doctors - Spender's eyes widened at the mangled arm laid carefully on the weasel's chest, and the blood still dripping down the driver's uniform. His "Cor!" was silenced before it met his tongue. There was too much tension in the air for such an outburst. And besides...
The ferret raced out the open doors (completely failing to notice Caden and Elle) into the crisp night air. He stopped, momentarily lost from the swift trip through the palace corridors. Despite the scene being laid out the same and himself simply being in a different spot, he had trouble placing things in his memory. From the playroom window... where would his father be? to the left, or... wait, which paw was left?
"Th' right paw writes an' th' left paw you pick your nose wid... no, no, 's not it..." Spender held his arms out in front of him, frowning. Which one did the quill go in... Bah. And the knife and fork trick wouldn't work. He'd never learned to properly use those either.
But from the window box, the doors had been over there... and - good gravy, who was that? Was that the wimpy little mouse...?
"Cor!" he said, this time quite loudly. "You're bleedin'!" The ferret beamed down at Cerinus. The long-tailed weasel barked something at him; Spender didn't quite catch it.
He hunkered down beside the mouse and patted his shoulder as if Cerinus had just made the winning score in a game of cricket.
"Bloody brilliant wound, mate! Fantastic, I wish I 'ad one like it. Can I touch it? Wow! That's really somethin'. Bravo!"
~ ~ ~
Inside, Molly and Ladorak carried the driver towards a table. Molly shouted at some creatures to clear it off and one forward-thinking jack folded up his coat for a pillow.
They laid him down, and Molly clung to the weasel's side, using the bunches of her dress to help stem the flow of blood from his arm. A few of the more noble ladies waved fans in their faces and "oh"ed in disgust. One fainted. Molly glared at them and then glanced at Ladorak with a terse little grin.
"Brings you back, doesn't it?" she whispered. "I can almost smell the sea itself..."
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Post by Carrow on Mar 4, 2010 11:30:27 GMT -5
Cerinus saw dark mists rolling in before his eyes now. He raised his head as best he could when he felt a paw on his shoulder, and gazed up into the eyes of Spender. The ferret amused him, he had to admit, and though he could barely discern what the mustelid was saying, he could tell that he was trying to make light of the situation.
The mouse smiled an exhausted smile up at the feisty ferret. His eyes began to flicker again, and it was clear that from the slow and steady breaths that issued forth from the rodent, visible in the cold spring night, that he was about to black out. And seconds later, the wood mouse did just that.
He smiled as he felt the pain begin to fade, then his eyes rolled into the back of his head, as he was carried gently away upon the black seas of senselessness. His last thought before unconsciousness claimed him, flanked as he was on one side by the weasel, who he sensed was a newcomer as his presence had seemed foreign to him, and on the other by the ferret with whom he had very nearly come to blows early on in the night, was: So much has happened since then...
Cerinus' muscles failed him and he slumped forward into the snow, the impact of his face's impact with the ground cushioned by the now thick layer of blood-flecked snow that surrounded him. The young mouse was still, his breathing slow and steady as his slash wound bled further, and his bruised ankle started to swell.
It had been quite a night for the shy and nervous rodent. He had made new friends, two of whom he felt would stay with him his whole life, and one with whom his meeting had been all too brief. He had also started to come out of his shell, though certain sights during the gathering had caused him to retreat again. He knew he had to work on that, but at least now he had reason to.
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Post by Ladorak on Mar 4, 2010 18:34:40 GMT -5
Caden went somewhat tense as Elle put her arm about his waist and rested her head on his shoulder. She was...showing him sympathy....maybe even a bit more? He decided to try something...and rested his head on her own...maybe because it comforted him, or maybe not. He wasn't willing to admit to it, but it did feel comforting to him.
Closing his eyes, he listened to her talk, and then opened them when he felt her let him go. He turned to face her when she suddenly cupped his head in her paws. He felt his heart rate quicken, but not from adrenaline this time. Now it was more...just emotion, and she directed his gaze to his own reflection, and then pointing out Ladorak, who was beginning to make his way inside.
"Yeah...you're right....ow!" he exclaimed as she pinched him. "Yeah....I did feel that." he confirmed, relieved that he hadn't been turned into some ghost and that he was only imagining all of this right now. He watched as she pawed over a bracelet of hers.
"Well....this is yours though....I couldn't possibly...." but he trailed off when he saw she was being sincere. "O..K." he said, enclosing his paw over the charm. "Um....well this is mine." He replied, reaching up to undo the golden tag that had his name on it.
"I made it in a blacksmith's shop, and I figured maybe you could hold on to it while I'm at sea." he said, smiling slightly and pawing over his tag. "It was from a memory band you can see around my neck but....I don't really need my own name I think." he told her, shaking his head. "I purposely left my last name out. It's not much....but I'll keep yours safe....I promise" he informed her, holding the charm up now as if it were a solemn vow he was making. "I mean that..." he added, a bit more softly this time.
************
Ladorak could only smile over at Molly in a lopsided yet game manner. "Aye...that it does. Haven't really been able to recollect images of it clearly enough these past few months...but it's beginning to come back to me...all at once...like a rushing tide beating its way against inland against the rocks." He said, grinning now, despite the situation. He was a tad concerned though...not about the driver but about Cerinus.
Two things crossed his mind...but he would address them in a minute. "That's the problem with society these days. They can't truly appreciate what it's really like in warfare. But that's why they have jacks like myself who thrive off this sort of thing. Otherwise the nation would cease to function I think." he muttered as a few surgeons began shoving their way in.
"We'll take it from here."
"Let us through."
"Thank you bub, but we can manage."
They were literally shoving Ladorak and Molly back, knocking them out of the way. Shrugging, the ermine moved over to his favorite jill's side. "I guess that's the end of that. I'm sure they know what they're doing..." he said, just as the barely conscious driver let out a scream.
"Yeah....like I said...I'm sure they know their trade." He glanced outside, where it seemed as if Cerinus was being brought in by that Inspector jack from before. Caden was over by the window with Elle...safe and sound thank heavens.
"Did I mention?" he asked, after a moment's thought. "That seeing jacks like me through such times are jills like yourself. Except in my instance I think it's really just you. I can't think of a finer, more courageous and certainly attractive jill that I'd rather have by myself than you Jis Serra. You knew your business back there and plunged in....it's more than most jills would do. They just.....bore me you see. They act all prim and proper but insist on having a jack to take care of them and cater to their every need. You on the other paw....haven't needed that, and I doubt you ever will. You're a perfect compliment to myself Jis Serra.....a real one of a kind and a diamond in the rough. I must congratulate you as the only jill to truly charm this weathered and hardened jack." he said, giving her a smile now as he looked at her from the corner of his eye.
He'd leave it at that, for as much as he wanted to simply drop to his knees and propose to her here and now....he wanted to give it some time. She still hadn't said for certain if she would come with him or not, and besides, he had no idea how she herself felt. He winced a bit as he started feeling that whack in his ankle. "Mmmm....that'll sting for a bit." he said, cringing as he shifted his weight. "But it won't last." He, returned to his grim smile as he secretly admired her with his eyes. If only he could just conjure up enough courage to tell her how he truly felt.....
**************
"I think that might be your dad over there." Shepherd informed Spender, taking note that the stripling was a ferret. "Might want to pull him out of the snow. And if he's not...well....could always give me a paw here." He spit into the snow, clearing his throat and bringing out a flask of brandy he kept with him at all times. Unscrewing the lid, he dumped some of it over Cerinus's wound, sprinkling it about and rubbing it in for effect.
"There we go....now let's get you inside little guy." It would be so easy to just walk off with this dibbun...but he wasn't sure about the dibbun's circumstances, and besides...Spender would act as a witness. So no....best to get him inside first...and better yet, meet the parents.
"Alright.....let's go." He said, wiping his nostrils and screwing the cap back on the brandy. Picking the dibbun mouse up, he walked him inside, carrying him in his rather bulky arms. He passed by Ladorak, who asked how he was. "Eh...fainted. But he'll be alright." was Shepherd's reply.
"Fainted!?" Ladorak exclaimed. "But it was just a scratch!" he said in what sounded like protestation. "Well that doesn't bode well." he murmured to Molly. "I was expecting a bit more resilience in that one...but maybe taking him to sea isn't such a good idea."
"Hey! Does this dibbun have any parents here!?" Shepherd called out, scanning the crowd for any mice.
"Actually it's Jis Mustela....somewhere." Ladorak said, trying to pick her out, but sure she would be visible soon.
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Post by Carrow on Mar 5, 2010 8:41:47 GMT -5
Archia was at that very moment still outside. She had heard and seen quite a lot of what went on. She also knew that Cerinus would be fine on his own. Little did she know what had happened to her charge.
She had begun looking for him now, as she could sense that things were beginning to wind up, and so needed to find the young mouse and bring him home. She stopped a random fellow weasel who was heading back inside. "Er, 'scuse me, sir. Have you seen any wood mice hereabouts? One in particular: quite small, brown fur and eyes, longish tail?"
The weasel grimaced, his green eyes darkening a little as he met Archie's blue ones. "Oh, I would take it that you're in charge of him? Archie nodded nervously, not liking the look in the stranger's eyes in the slightest. He looked rather friendly, but something about his gaze told her that all was not well.
"He's inside. I don't wish to alarm you, miss, but if you're speaking of whom I think you're speaking, you'd best seek out Jal Fugate. He'll have something to say on what happened to the poor mousey, no doubt."
Archie trembled slightly. Poor... mousey? Wait, that could only have meant one thing. He'd been hurt. And the mustelid knew that Carrow didn't deal well with pain. It had always been one of his weak spots. Oh, no. No, no, no, this is NOT good!, she thought. He's had his heart set on this for months, and if what I think has happened to him, has actually happened to him, and he reacted in the way he did, that won't be sending out the best signals to Jal Fugate. He'll realise this, and he'll be devastated. And that can't be good for a creature as emotionally unstable as he is...
She gulped, wringing her paws in quite an agitated fashion. She nodded her thanks to the helpful jack weasel, and sped off to speak to Ladorak.
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Post by bookity101 on Mar 5, 2010 22:28:55 GMT -5
Elle smiled as she fingered* the tag. His name on it? Well then, if something did happen, she would be right there to help sort it out.. as Elliot of course.
Elle placed the tag in her purse, then looked over at Cer. She tugged on Caden's arm,
"Let's go check on Cerinus, he may need some encouragement."
((Sorry... does 'clawdled or clawed sound better?.... if you think it needs to be changed, I will)) ((And sorry again that its so sort, I dont know what to do... :/ ))
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