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Post by ivory on Jul 23, 2009 12:23:32 GMT -5
Badger started to protest, but decided it wasn't worth it, doubting that he'd be able to change the ranger's mind. So he swallowed his last bite and gave a slow nod. "How soon can you leave?" Best to get this over with as soon as possible and thus lower the chance of getting Rab killed. Though even with a lower risk he wasn't sure either one of them would come out alive. He shrugged the thought away, knowing that the only way to find out was to test the theory. He'd fill in Stearflag on the way and hope that the knowledge would knock that percentage down another peg.
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Post by Firehead on Jul 23, 2009 12:44:45 GMT -5
Badger seemed about to protest, but instead asked,"How soon can you leave?" Rab dropped the canteen back into his bag, and slung that over his shoulder, standing as he did so. "Now." he replied.
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Post by ivory on Jul 23, 2009 15:48:56 GMT -5
"Good." Badger had stayed standing and after giving Rab another nod, he walked toward Mikilana. He gathered her reins in his hand before turning his head to flick a look at the ranger. "I suppose you do have a horse?" All ranger's did, but he hadn't seen one when he'd been led up here so wasn't entirely sure. Neither was he sure if it would be a good thing if he didn't or a bad one. If he didn't he could probably lose him and go after Hatchet alone, but then again, backup would be nice. Hatchet had the tendency to shoot first and ask questions later.
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Post by Firehead on Jul 24, 2009 8:16:55 GMT -5
"Good." Badger walked toward his horse, gathered the reins, then turned. "I suppose you do have a horse?" This time, the smile slipped through. "Yeah. But it's not here." He never took his horse into these mountains, preferring to go on foot. "It won't be a problem though. Your on horseback, and will have to stick to the trails mostly, while I'm on foot and don't have to."
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Post by ivory on Jul 24, 2009 8:22:43 GMT -5
"Yeah. But it's not here."
Badger's grip on the reins started to loosen, but tightened again at Rab's next words. He lifted a shoulder in another of his half-shrugs before swinging himself onto Mikilana, shifting slightly to get more comfortable. As always, he scanned his surroundings as he did so, a little uneasy at being an 'open target' because of his height. Seeing nothing, he nudged Mikilana foward, heading back the way he'd come.
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Post by Firehead on Jul 24, 2009 9:30:21 GMT -5
Badger gave him yet another shrug and mounted his horse. Rab watched to see which direction he started in before taking a step. Seeing Badger head back in the direction he'd come, Rab frowned, tried to make sense of it, then gave a shrug of his own and struck out on a parallel to Badger.
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Post by ivory on Jul 24, 2009 9:45:53 GMT -5
Having come here and found the 'peace' he was looking for, Badger made his way back toward civilization, his determination thrice as strong as it once was. He quitely acknowledged this fact for a few moments before starting to fill Rab in on his situation.
"Hatchet's not only cruel but quick to be so. He'll shoot first before asking questions. Feared even among his own men. Bribing's not going to work. If we hit," he hesitated slightly at the word 'we', but carried on, "it has to be hard and fast. Try to keep the questions low; don't want to be tipping our hand before we're ready. He doesn't like being on the defense so he'll attack if he gets wind of it." He shifted in his saddle, gaze roaming across the land again. "If you want out just say so. I'm not sure how hot it's going to get." He doubted that Rab would take him up on the offer, but he had to lay it out on the table, let him know that he wouldn't hold it against him if he did decide to leave.
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Post by Firehead on Jul 24, 2009 10:16:11 GMT -5
"Hatchet's not only cruel but quick to be so. He'll shoot first before asking questions. Feared even among his own men. Bribing's not going to work. If we hit," he hesitated slightly at the word 'we', but kept going, "it has to be hard and fast. Try to keep the questions low; don't want to be tipping our hand before we're ready. He doesn't like being on the defense so he'll attack if he gets wind of it." Rab kept pace, even as he listened closely to what Badger said. "If you want out just say so. I'm not sure how hot it's going to get." Rab glanced over at Badger. "I've been in hot places." And that was Rab's equivalent of saying that he was staying.
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Post by ivory on Jul 24, 2009 10:32:03 GMT -5
"I've been in hot places."
Badger gave only a quiet hmpf in answer before heading back into silence. He wondered if the man would be contempt with silence for the majority of the journey, but figured he was probably like the rest of society and would rather talk. Badger scowled at the thought of his society-appealing apprentice, but decided to take his advice to talk more....well, at least enough to tell Rab the gist of his plans.
"I figure'd to start in Araleun. His trail should be easy enough to pick up - just follow the bodies. Keep to the shadows - no inns, no faces, nothing. Leave the food and supplies to me." He felt guily about that last sentence, but didn't let it show in his face. Stealing was necessary and he paid for it afterwards. A few months afterwards so Hatchet wouldn't catch on, but he did pay for it eventually.
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Post by Firehead on Jul 24, 2009 10:52:33 GMT -5
"I figured to start in Araleun. His trail should be easy enough to pick up - just follow the bodies." A little chill worked it's way down Rab's spine, but he remained silent. "Keep to the shadows - no inns, no faces, nothing. Leave the food and supplies to me." Rab gave a nod. He didn't know the entire reason, but he figured that Badger would tell him all that was necessary about Hatchet for Rab to stay alive and be of help. But it didn't stop him from asking one vital question. "What's he look like?" Glancing over at Badger, he elaborated. "In case he stops leaving bodies behind."
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Post by ivory on Jul 24, 2009 11:10:20 GMT -5
Badger's gaze hardened, his body tensed - his natural reaction to the sight of Hatchet's face, wherther within his mind or outside of it.
"About six feet tall, hundred sixty pounds, has a scar across his neck. Rough voice, black hair, brown eyes. Right one's sealed shut." He remembered all too clearly the night Hatchet had lost his eye. It'd been an accident, Badger had actually tried to prevent it, but Hatchet didn't see it like that. He figured it'd been deliberate, revenge for his troubles. Hatchet had sworn to exact revenge back on him, and he always kept his word - it was the only thing they shared besides the hating for each other.
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Post by Firehead on Jul 24, 2009 11:28:19 GMT -5
Badger's gaze hardened, and his body tensed."About six feet tall, hundred sixty pounds, has a scar across his neck. Rough voice, black hair, brown eyes. Right one's sealed shut." Rab nodded, then asked, "Any quirks--odd habits?"
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Post by ivory on Jul 24, 2009 11:55:07 GMT -5
"Depends on what you define as odd." He gave another of his half-shrugs. "He has a necklace of molars around his neck. Human. It used to be ears, but those decayed to fast. His head tilts almost horizonatally to the side, especially when he has an 'idea'. Trust me when I say you don't want to know what those ideas are." He swallowed to rid himself of the memories before carrying on, "Other than that," - a shrug - "nothing 'odd' or 'habitual'."
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Post by Firehead on Jul 24, 2009 12:05:18 GMT -5
"Depends on what you define as odd." He gave another of his half-shrugs. "He has a necklace of molars around his neck. Human. It used to be ears, but those decayed to fast." Rab made a face. Disgusting. "His head tilts almost horizonatally to the side, especially when he has an 'idea'. Trust me when I say you don't want to know what those ideas are. Other than that," -- yet another shrug - "nothing 'odd' or 'habitual'." Rab forgot to look where he was going and stumbled, but he caught himself and recovered his balance without taking his eyes off of Badger. "You hate his guts."
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Post by ivory on Jul 24, 2009 12:33:33 GMT -5
"You hate his guts."
So will you. He didn't say it though. lapsing into another bout of silence. He wasn't one who usually spoke much, liking the sound of the quiet too much to want to disturb it. He was capable of whole paragraphs though, despite what Monkuta probably thinks...or is it thought? Stomach tightening at the use of a past prefix, he wetted his lips before voicing his concern. "Do you know if Monkuta's-" he hesitated, not wanting to say 'still alive'. "-staying out of trouble?"
The question with the most definite answer of the century. That boy attracted trouble like honey attracted flies. He resisted the urges to rub his nose, rotate his left shoulder, shift to cover his side, scratch his back, and rub his right forearm - all accidents from one of the troubles Monkuta had landed him in.
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