Bargain Hunters

[Keleanth Windspiral]

Since she had little choice in the matter Thorn found herself ambling after Espona and Arluf through the main section of the camp. She only listened to the conversation between the mouse and her traveling companion with half an ear, since most of it held little that interested her. Instead the otter let her eyes roam the makeshift camp, absorbing the various details about the mice and their choice of lifestyles.

The wagons were sturdy enough, but the mice themselves were an odd lot. Like Espona, Thorn figured they were a mixed group of traders and travelers, though why anyone would choose to travel north without good reason was beside her. She eyed their garb first, then their supplies. There was no reason why the group couldn't set up a more secure campsite for themselves. At least, not one that was visible to the naked eye. Even if they felt threatened they should be able to set up something for a better defense.

A sigh escaped the mahogany-furred beast as she ran a paw over her head. There was still a dull ache behind her eyes from the 'rescue' attempt made by the mice they had first met. She shifted her pack on her shoulders, then glanced over at Espona and Arluf again. They were still involved in their discussion, though it appeared a bit one-sided. Arluf certainly had a set of lungs on him, if he was still explaining their position. Then again, that botched rescue required some explanation.

She shifted on her footpaws as she stretched her neck, hoping to ease the throbbing behind her eyes. A curious look from a passing rodent drew a quiet snarl. The mouse blinked, then scurried away at a much faster rate than he'd approached her. Thorn watched him go, then padded up behind Espona in time to see him snatch a package out of Arluf's paws. That caused the riverbeast to lift an eyebrow. Apparently she should have been paying better attention.

"Right... we'll see what we can do."

Thorn's eyes narrowed and she shot a withering look at Arluf. For the moment she was going to settle for blaming the mouse for whatever it was Espona had just promised they would do. They didn't need side missions to go along with their already problematic journey. She listened carefully to the final exchange between otter and mouse. When the pair said their farewells she snorted, then turned to follow Espona out of the makeshift camp.

"Well, that was an interestin' way ta' get information, but it was useful. And now we have a ticket inta' the town. You may not think so, but these places are all connected in their own way. If there's trouble down here, it'll be worse the further we get inta' the mountains. Hope you're ready."

Thorn rolled her eyes in the male's direction, then just shook her head slightly. Without commenting she reached over and plucked the package out of Espona's paws, much in the same way as he had snatched it out of Arluf's. She unwrapped it as they walked, then began to examine the guild seal.

"So what, we're messengers now?" She turned the seal over in her paw, then wrapped it up again before stashing it in her pack with its accompanying letter. She wouldn't necessarily go out of her way to deliver it to its intended recipient, but she doubted Espona would put forth any effort into this side mission. Some consideration was better than nothing, and while she had no love for the field mice, they did need some sort of help. If, of course, it happened to fit into their schedule.

"So good o' you t'make all the decisions. Don't know what I'd be doin' without you," she drawled. There was no missing the sarcasm in her voice. Thorn shifted her pack on her shoulders, but kept her eyes on the road as they continued walking. "Next time don' even bother talkin'. Just get us out o' there."

It was obvious the encounter with the mice had only served to irritate her. It would take more than a few bumps and bruises to shake her off of this trip. She wasn't one to be easily intimidated, even when the odds weren't in her favor.

[Rockpaw Steeleye]

"Well, the next time you feel like fighting your way out of a bunch of paranoid field mice all too willing to hit us back, be my guest," Espona said dryly as he stowed away the message in his back pocket. Frankly, he had no real intention whatsoever of fulfilling this little side chore, but they'd need the Guild seal, he suspected, later on if they were going to have an easier time of it. Already, they were encountering difficulties beyond that which he had expected, and he had a feeling they'd need whatever they could scrape together if they were going to get out of this predicament alive. He had thought this would be just a simple jaunt up to the mountains, maybe scout out some of the vermin wrongdoing and then just go back and get his payment. But this! With all the rumors he'd heard of tribes acting up and cities shutting their doors to travelers, was all just a little too above his pay grade. He was in fact tempted to simply drop the quest and just go back south where there'd be easier, riper pickings... but this was his duty, and his job, and he was somewhat obligated to do it by circumstances beyond his control.

A noble otter of Redwall fables he was not.

And so it was that he was leading Thorn along the path once more, heading to their first stop of many. It took quite some time, but they were not harassed by vermin, whether on the path or no. Espona began to wonder at how empty the road really was; they usually would have bumped into another caravan by now. The North was sparsely populated, not dead. Meantime, the thick trees closed in on them from all sides, creating barriers to visibility. It would be hard to tell what was ahead. On he forged, leading Thorn. He wondered as he walked how far she would let herself be pushed before she might start trying to lead the expedition herself. Of course, that wouldn’t really change anything. She’d just walk in front of him instead of him in front of her. Their ultimate goal was the same. Still, he decided to try and just avoid trouble from now on. It wouldn’t be worth it to have the one creature he had to depend on watching his back stabbing him there instead.

Abruptly, he stopped on the path, looking through the trees, up at the sky, and sniffing the wind. Subconsciously, a chill ran up his spine. He knew what he was smelling before he even processed it.

“Something’s wrong,” he said simply, and quickened his pace. In the distance, he could hear things… the sounds of metal clashing on metal, the roar of many throats shouting at once. He broke into a jog, some kind of curiosity driving him on, until they rounded a bend in the path and saw it. Smoke, rising from the very town they had been asked to investigate. Apparently, that little part of their quest was no longer necessary. The barbarians in this area had finally worked up the wherewithal to attack their hopeful refuge and negate any possibility of sleeping on a bed tonight.

The battle itself was going strong, by the sound of it. Espona didn’t know if the town would be able to hold, but he also knew he wasn’t going to risk their lives trying to find out.

“Well. That takes care of our first mission. Think this is good luck or bad?” he asked as he watched the ominous haze rising. If something in the town was on fire, it didn’t mean anything good for the inhabitants.

“Had no idea the conflict would be spreadin’ this far, he murmured, and ventured off the path. “Come on. Afore we’re spotted by-”

“Carmagh na gol!”

Espona whirled on his heels, his eyes widening at the sight of two dozen tattooed vermin hurtling towards them. Likely they were a scouting party or stragglers late to the fight. But apparently, two otters would provide entertainment enough. They were coming from the direction Espona and Thorn had, and some had heads attached to their belts. Woodlander ones. Briefly, the images of the field mice traders flashed in his mind, and he had the chivalry to spare them a moment of pity before he turned tail for the woods and ran for his life.

[Keleanth Windspiral]

"Well, the next time you feel like fighting your way out of a bunch of paranoid field mice all too willing to hit us back, be my guest."

A scowl drifted across Thorn's face at the comment, but she stayed silent and allowed Espona to take the lead once more. There wasn't any point in wasting her breath. The incident was done and they were on their way again, little worse for the wear. If anything they were going to be better off with the warning that the mice had given them. The female remained quiet as she trailed along behind her companion, though her mind was sifting through the events of the past few hours. Every now and then she'd cast an odd look at Espona, as if considering her options. While she didn't intend on actually getting into a brawl with him she also wouldn't hesitate to finish one if he decided to start it.

Thorn halted behind the taller otter when he stopped. She immediately began to pick out the sounds of metal crashing on metal and various voices raised in anger. One eyebrow lifted, then she sighed as the male broke into a jog and headed towards the bend. After a moment of waiting she rolled her eyes, then hastened to catch up. Again she halted behind him, and her eyes narrowed when she spotted the smoke. That wasn't a good sign for them. Chaos within the village meant that stopping to get supplies would be futile.

“Well. That takes care of our first mission. Think this is good luck or bad?”

"I ain't goin' t'be the one that says it's good luck," she muttered. The tip of her tail twitched, then she glanced over her shoulder. Just being this close to the skirmish made her edgy.

“Had no idea the conflict would be spreadin’ this far. Come on. Afore we’re spotted by-”

“Carmagh na gol!”

Thorn spun on a heel and reached for her sling when she heard the cry. Her expression probably matched Espona's when she caught sight of the tattooed beasts. The otter was a scrappy fighter, but even she knew to think twice before taking on two dozen vermin. She spat out a curse, then twisted and took off after her companion. Her mind drifted to the field mice for a mere moment, but that was all the time she could spare.

There was another harsh cry from the leader of the vermin group, then two dozen pairs of paws started off after the pair of otters. Thorn growled under her breath, then pushed herself faster so she could draw even with Espona.

"Any ideas?"