Post by Cael on May 15, 2006 20:33:31 GMT -5
Warren - Honeycomb
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The largest underground structure in the entire Warren, the Honeycomb is a wide cavern that has been worn smooth by the passage of many, many rabbits. The roof above is comprised of tightly packed dirt intertwined with thousands of roots from the plants in the meadow above. Every so often, a series of thicker roots meanders down towards the floor of the Honeycomb, acting as pillars that are able to keep this great structure from caving in on itself. All around, the delicate murmurs of many voices from around the Warren echo and bounce off the walls, surrounding the great Honeycomb in a quiet hum of activity.
=================================== Exits ===================================
[East] Run [North] Run
[South] Run [West] Run
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[IC] Timberweed
[IC] Sorrel
[IC] Snowdrop
[IC] Nightshade
[IC] Rowan
[IC] Blackbriar
It's been fairly quiet across the entire Warren thusfar today, and so Blackbriar has taken the liberty of ending his patrol. Relaxing in the rather empty Honeycomb, the earthen hued buck takes a moment or two to groom his long, silky ears... probably one of his personal prized features, it seems, by the way he takes care of them. He brushes some unwanted dirt from his pelt before stretching out his backlegs in the comfort of being off duty. His dark eyes rove around the large cavern, his nose involuntarilty twitching in case of any unwanted danger underground, before Blackbriar finally begins to relax. A little.
Being a doe, Nightshade is exempt from most guard duties - at least, border patrols. She helps keep the other rabbits in line, and guards the other does and kits in the warren. So she's not completely useless, as some of the old-fashioned bucks would believe about a female in the Owsla. Currently, she's making her way back from tending to a sick doe, hopping quietly back into the Honeycomb. Her dark eyes catch sight of the male, and she bobs her head in acknowledgement. "Hello, Blackbriar," comes the lilting, high-pitched greeting.
Since the Honeycomb is almost deserted, Blackbriar's ears picked up the steady thrum of pawsteps approaching and thusly turned his attention down a dark run. As Nightshade comes into view and offers her greeting, the buck smiles and lifts his head to respond, "Nightshade." The buck takes a brief moment to brush down the fur on his cheeks almost like an idle, second thought before returning his attention to the doe. "Are you just getting off duty as well? It's been pretty quiet lately.."
"Yes sir," Nightshade answers. The 'sir' isn't so much out of submission to superiority as it is simple politeness. As equals. "I imagine the sick female will be looking better soon. Did you need me for anything?" the feminine voice continues, long ears lifted alertly.
"Wonderful, Nightshade. I'm sure she'll be very greatful to you," the buck smiles back, shifting his position to get a bit more comfortable and settling his shoulders as the tension of outside patrolling begins to melt away in the midst of casual conversation. At the doe's question, Blackbriar's brow perks slightly and he shakes his head with a soft laugh, "Oh, no, no, not at all. Unless, of course, you'd like to sit and relax with me?"
"Relaxing would be nice," the grey-tinted rabbit responds, moving up next to Blackbriar before settling down on her stomach, ears folding back to lay against her shoulders.
Nodding, even chuckling softly, Blackbriar follows Nightshade's suit and settles himself down on his stomach and snuggles against the does side. Idly, he begins to wash the dirt of a good days work out of her pelt, starting at her shoulder. Every so often his ears will lay themselves back along his body, but ever alert they don't stay there for long, one swivling one way and the other ear covering the opposite direction. He takes a moment to glance around, but Blackbriar goes back to his, err, job at hand, "Don't work too hard, mm, Nightshade? Everyone needs to rest, even you," he smiles.
Rowan comes hopping down the runs from the entrance, the little bunny mix lifts an ear as she listens to the hum of activity within the Honeycomb. Her floppy ears eventually pick up on Blackbriar and Nightshade. "Hello you two..." she says softly as she comes abit closer.
"Oh, don't worry about me. I know my limits," Nightshade answers in her typical high pitch, eyes blinking slowly as she's groomed. While she's not completely used to the affection, she can't say it feels terrible. At another doe's entrance, the ear furthest from Blackbriar lifts up once again. "Good afternoon, Rowan. How are things?" Nightshade's rather protective over the does she's been put in guard of, and sometimes it shows more than others.
"Well, take it easy all the same," comes Blackbriar's innitial reply as he continues to groom the doe's fur, well, what he can reach without getting up himself. He pauses for a while as his gaze trains upon the approaching Rowan, and the buck tosses her a nod, "Evening, Rowan," but he leaves the rest of the idle chitchat to Nightshade, since, well, she's a doe, too.. Mmm, girl talk. The male does keep his ears alert though, one trained to the sounds happening throughout the warren while the other listens in on the girls. He's happy to sit, relax, and groom.
"Well...I was just out getting a nibble of grass or two..." The young doe hops a few bits closer to Blackbriar and Shade. "It's nice outside for now. Nothing nosing around that I saw." She soon settles on her tummy as well, her floppy ears laying limply at the side of her head, otherwise quiet.
"That's good. Thanks for letting us know," Nightshade answers with a nod. "How are the other does? Anything I haven't already heard about? Ash seems to be getting over her sickness well enough, I saw."
"Mmm, I'll probably go out for a nice evening graze, if either of you would join me later," Blackbriar pipes in quietly, moving from Nightshade's shoulder to her neck and behind her ears before his grooming instinct fades a bit. He noses the doe, letting her know that he's finished for now, and shifts his gaze between the two females. "I haven't heard any new complaints from anyone recently, so it seems like most of the Warren is fairly calm."
And another joins the gathering. Snowdrop appears, on pace that's just a bit quicker than sluggish, and showing all the signs of one who'd only just woken up from a long rest. Stopping by one edge of the Honeycomb, the doe pauses to scratch above her nose, with no acknowledging words immediately extended to the others.
"Does are quiet from what I've seen...I've been out most of the day though." Rowan says softly, lifting her right ear as much as she can, gaining a sheepish look. "A nibble or two was a lie...I'm full, but thank you for the offer Blackbriar." Giving the buck a soft smile, before her other ear lifts to the sound of another approach, "Hello Snowdrop." Offering greeting even if she's busy.
"I'll come along, sure," Nightshade answers, white-ruffed tail flicking once anxiously. "I haven't eaten much today as it is." The white-marked rabbit's arrival is noticed, and Nightshade offers the courtesy to her as well. "Would you like to come graze with us, Snowdrop?"
The buck nods quietly, taking in all the information from everyone gathered and stuffing it away; anything that goes on in the Warren, and Blackbriar wants to know about it. He gives Rowan a light smile, but it disappears into a bit of a stern look, "Well, keep your wits about you above ground, Rowan. I can't keep my eye on everything," the buck winks, giving the impression that his stern demenour is only an occasional mask which his gentle giant nature lies behind. It is then that his ears twitch and hear the approach of yet another rabbit, and he offers Snowdrop a smile.
"Hmm?" Snowdrop glances from one rabbit to the next, for a moment deciding which to respond to. "Good evening." She lowers the paw she'd been using to scratch, and gives a curt nod to Nightshade's question. "Yes, I suppose I would... Are we going out now?"
"I always am Blackbriar, I'd hate to become some other creatures snack." Flicking her ear some, Rowan gives a hop or two towards Snowdrop and the enterance, "but I suppose I can go back out for company."
On the contrary, Nightshade is the opposite of Blackbriar in that aspect - a genteel personality hides a darker nature within. "Whenever Blackbriar decides to leave," she answers Snowdrop, shrugging her shoulders slightly, turning to look at the male inquiringly.
Rolling his shoulders is a brief shrug, Blackbriar isn't too keen on moving around just yet. "I've just come in from patrol, so I plan on relaxing for a little but don't feel you have to wait for me," he replies to Snowdrop, directing the last of his statement towards Nightshade. The tired, or perhaps lazy, buck shakes his head before resting his chin across Nightshade's back, shuffling himself a bit before he gets nice and comfy. "Of course, if you move I won't have much of a pillow," Blackbriar snickers quietly, laying his ears back as a yawn slips from his jaws.
Snowdrop stares at the buck for a moment, choking back a snicker at his apparent laziness. Although, she's really not yet feeling quite up and about herself. So if she really must wait, it's not that big of an issue. All that same, Snowdrop turns to Rowan, then Nightshade to see if they're going to go anyway.
Rowan nods softly at the buck, feeling abit lazy herself, she's been out grazing off and on all day, exploring some on her own. So relaxing inside is all the more welcome to her, so she settles where she is, sprawling there comfortably.
Nightshade chuckles, a singsongy noise, as Blackbriar nestles his chin against her torso. "I'll stay your pillow for at least a little while longer. Girls, whenever you're hungry, let me know and I'll accompany you to the meadow."
"Good," Blackbriar smiles, almost purring were it possible that he could. He does, however, keep an eye and an ear on the girls gathered around him, realizing that his laziness has apparently been rubbing off. Well, he's not like that while he's on duty.. but he's worked pretty hard so he feels justified. Blackbriar does, however, butt in, "Of course, ladies, I'll be sure to keep an eye out for you all."
Rowan remains sprawled where she is, her ears flick up and blink as Snowdrop leaves, she looks back to the buck and fellow doe. Staying where she is, Rowan begins grooming her paws, they are slightly soiled from her earlier adventures above ground.
As the Honeycomb settles down again and the idle chatter subdues to nothing more than the soft ruffling of fur during grooming, Blackbriar is content to let his eyes drift close as he continues to drape his chin across Nightshade's neck. The buck lies still for a little while, for once his ears remaining flat against his back, until he slowly opens his dark eyes to stare down the wide run leading north. His breath is slow, thoughful, before a soft, "Hmmm..." slips from his mouth.
Settled where she is, Rowan grooms each paw with swift effeciency, her ear lifting from the side of her head and looks up. Wondering why Blackbriar hmms, "What's up?" Her gaze going from herself, to the buck and following his to the north run. "Is something up there?"
Nightshade has settled down into a cozy position with Blackbriar next to her, eyes half-closed, when the soft rumble from the male is heard. An ear twitches slightly, and her eyes open completely again. "Hmm what?" Shade echoes Rowan.
Releasing his sigh, the buck lifts his head from his rather comfortably pillow and shakes his fur down before settling down on his stomach next to Nightshade. "Well," he muses, twitching his ears and giving each doe a look in turn before staring up the run again, "I was.. just thinking about the Chief rabbit, old Oak... he's slowing down a bit, and I'm worried about him.. that's all."
Rowan ohs and nods softly, eventually through with her grooming. She lifts herself up and hops to the other side of Blackbriar, the young doe taking it upon herself to settle along the open side of the buck. "Unfortunately it happens...hopefully he'll be fine." She says softly and thus begins grooming Blackbriar's ears, being abit bold.
Loose dirt and gravel spill into the Honeycomb as Sorrel shoulders his way inside from an empty run. The buck squeezes through the opening and, shaking himself off, rises onto his hind legs - at attention. He lifts a forepaw and uses it to smooth his mangled ear, per habit. "Blackbriar, Nightshade," he greets his fellow Owsla officers in a curt, clipped tone. "There's a fox above."
At the movements of Rowan closer to Blackbriar, the Owsla doe can't help but snort, despite the fact that she's never been around Blackbriar much in an unprofessional way before today anyway. "And you didn't thump?" Nightshade asks Sorrel, a bit of an attitude sneaking out, though partially covered up by her disarming feminine pitch.
Nightshade's snort is answered with a silent nuzzle at her shoulder, but Blackbriar's not going to mind a free groom, just like the doe didn't earlier. He, "Mmms," softly at Rowan's response, but his relaxation doesn't last long. At Sorrel's approach, Blackbriar bolts upright and hops of few paces closer to the epicenter of the Honeycomb, ears ears up and his nose flared. "Easy, Nightshade," he offers, "but stamp, Sorrel, and give us warning." That said, the dark buck thumps his hind foot on the ground, the noise echoing throughout the warren and causing a few more officers to spill into the great burrow. "We've got a fox. Ash, Piper, Siltstalk, and Treowen, take the inside exits, stamp if the damn thing starts digging." The four nod, but the crash from the nearby entrance run causes a start among the group, and Blackbriar huffs and cautiously approaches the place, sniffing and growling deep in his chest.
A faint scuff of dirt puffs out of the run, and nigh immediately, two big, black tipped ears fall 'poof' out of the dust, soon followed by a quite upside -down...hare. Seems he didn't quite fit and his curiosity got the better of him. Silly thing. One ear rises from the ground and the boxy-hazel eyed head turns at the light growl. "Oh! There is sommun' down here...you know ye'gots foxes? Saw'em sneakin'round, thought I'd see if sommun'was down here..." Eheh. >.>;
Rowan grooms one of Blackbriar's ear before Sorrel comes into the Honeycomb. News of a fox soon has her on her feet as well, the tumbling hare startles her. She hops back several paces until she's up against a wall of the Honeycomb. She otherwise stays quiet, she's just a doe, not a guard or anything else.
"I'll make sure the does and kits are okay," Nightshade alerts the other officers, about to leave when the hare tumbles in. Blinking in surprise, Nightshade pauses in her hopping away to half-turn and watch what happens.
Sorrel pins Nightshade with an icy glare. "Awful hard to thump, missy, when you stick your nose out of the run and almost have it snapped off." He moves closer to the other rabbits, pointedly avoiding the hare, which he turns his head to watch with cool, narrowed eyes. "Thanks for the warning, friend." Unsurprisingly, he doesn't sound very thankful - but then again, he does he ever? He gives a disdainful sniff. "Who are you?"
With a shivering nose, Snowdrop reappears within the honeycomb. "What's this about a fox?" Is the first thing from her mouth, pointing a stare at each rabbit in turn, without taking in exactly what they're doing. The final one to catch her gaze is the hare, who prompty warrents a wide-eyed doubletake. "Who's he, and what's he doing here?"
"Settle down, Sorrel," Blackbriar growls, not bothering to shoot the buck an icy glare because he's a bit too occupied staring down the rather odd hare. Odd in demenour, and even stranger timing. He motions to the four Owsla to take their positions at the entrances to keep information on the fox up to date, and as they move off he gives Snowdrop an update. "We've got a fox prowling above, but -this- one," he mutters warily, "Is our main concern." He approaches the hare with a few short strides, sitting back on his hindlegs and staring the awkward creature down. "The warning is appreciated, stranger, but the intrusion isn't. We're going to have to tighten up that hole you widened to get down here." An annoyed snort is issued, but eventually Blackbriar's brisk manner chills down just a bit before continuing, "You're in Hawthorn, our warren. Who are you, and what do you want?"
Timberweed sniffs once. OHo. At the inquiries, the hare turns over, ears falling forward like towers as he takes a seat himself. A forepaw goes up to brush his headfur and give what might be considered a salute. "Many apologies for the run, lad, I'll help patch it if I can...m'name's Timberweed Thistletail, former sergeant of the Rocky Root Thicket, a hare to compare." His paw returns to its normal place. "An'I was only seein'for myself if this here place was occupied, good sir, as I spotted foxes snicking about like the fiends they are. I assure you that was my only intention." The hare talks animatedly, head bobbing slightly as he does. He soon tucks his paws and gives a short bow, long ears flopping a bit over his head.
Sorrel doesn't look too pleased with the way things are going but, to his credit, he keeps his mouth shut and his attention focused where Blackbriar tells him to.
Well, it seems obvious that the hare isn't intent on attacking, and Blackbriar feels that he'd probably bungle any sort've attempt at it anyway... Hares. The buck slowly eases his muscles and settles back down to all fours, his ears swiveling curiously as he works through the creature's interesting lilt in his speech. "Timberweed, I'm Blackbriar, Captain of Owsla. My officers Sorrel and Nightshade, Snowdrop and Rowan the two does." With introductions done, and no word on the foxes from the officers stationed at the exits, Blackbriar takes a moment to nab a few deep breaths and a quick look around at the gathers, hoping everyone begins to settle down. "We'll.. take care of the run, Timberweed, I wouldn't worry. You might as well stay here while those pests are above ground, so why don't you settle some here in the Honeycomb, mm?"
Timberweed perks his ears. Ohnow, a fellow soldier. The hare smiles, whiskers bristling up. "A pleasure to meet you, Captain Blackbriar...and I thank you for your hospitality, lad, I'd just started settling down when those -fowl-fickle-fiendish-flagitious-foxes- showed up. Again, I apologize for the run...if I may help in any way, please inquire. You lot're quite better at the tunnel business than I, anyway." The big hare trails off as he takes a few steps over towards the wall of the honeycomb, head bobbing slightly still.
Rowan eventually unfreezes from her place, finding this to probably be the safest place for her, she settles on her stomach, curling up some before she soon starts to drift off to sleep.
With a short grunt, Sorrel excuses himself from the pleasantries - presumably to go check up on the fox situation above ground.
"Mm-hmm," Blackbriar replies with a slow nod, not quite sure how to deal with the strange hare. "Indeed, you don't live in warrens, do you?" That said, the buck takes a moment to investigate the entrances to the east and west runs, listening a moment for any signs of possible activity, but all that reaches him are the dull whispering echos of caution. Blackbriar moves back close to his original position before all the chaos started, keeping an eye on the two does in the Honeycomb while watching the hare investigate the structure. "I haven't noticed any signs of hare recently... where exactly did you come from?"
Having slipped off to check on the does, and while at it, up to the meadows to check if the fox is still there, Nightshade hops back into the honeycomb, quietly listening to the hare and Blackbriar chat.
Timberweed allows himself to investigate the walls with his twitchy nose before turning his head towards Blackbriar, settling himself down on his paws in a sitting position. "Ah, yes, Rocky Root Thicket up north 'twas getting a bit droll, so I tacked my nephew into my position there, and thus set off southernly, and I ended up here. It seems a nice place here, if you ask me...so for now I'm stayin' in a pretty little place out in the brush meadows...seems I'll have to box off somma'them foxies for it, but it's all for the good fight, my boy."
Perking a brow, Blackbriar listens to the interesting creature, never having met a hare in such close quarters before and fascinated by the attitude of him. The buck nods his head, tucking away the information of the thicket to the north, wondering if those hares could ever come in handy in an emergency.. Of course, that's a scary thought in its own right. Snuffing his nose a bit and ridding his paws of excess dirt stirred up by Timberweed's.. err, tumble, Blackbriar settles a bit before Nightshade's reentrance catches his attention. He nods to the doe, motioning her to join him and get updated on the situation. "Nightshade, this is Timberweed, a hare from up north. Timberweed, another officer, Nightshade."
Nightshade bobs her head in greeting. "H'lo, Timberweed. The fox is gone, by the way," she adds, otherwise keeping to herself for the time being. She never was good with small chat.
Timberweed tilts his ears, the tips brushing a small bit of the ceiling. "Ah, that's dandy...a pleasure to meet you ma'am." He lifts a paw and pricks down at one of his ears in a 'hat-tip'. "If the foul thing is gone, I'll suck in this old gut and be out of your brambles then. Perhaps we shall see one another in a more open place next we meet, hm?" The hare sniffs at the nearest run, examining it closely. Yeeeah, he should fit fine if he sucks it in, maybe takes one back leg at a time. Like stepping through a window.
A heavy and thankfull sigh escapes Blackbriar's lips, and he gives Nightshade a light smile. "Thank you, it's good to know." With some major crises averted, and the possibility of their run getting dug out by the fox not a worry, the Captain can get back to resting easy. He sits back up on his hindlegs, nodding briskly in a soldier-esque manner to the hare, "Well met, Timberweed. Don't worry about the run, it'll be straightened out regardless. Take care, and perhaps we shall meet under the sun soon." He motions towards the run that the hare already tumbled down, moving away some of the loosened earth.
Timberweed hobbles over to the run, giving Blackbriar and Nightshade a polite parting nod and tip of the ear. "Merry part, chums." The hare hobbles a bit up the run, careful not to knock anything out. He takes a breath, sucks in what's what of what he called his 'gut', and side-steps diagonally out of the way, looking for all the world like sort of of a tiny, flimsy-eared car. Beep. Beep. Beep. Backup. Another parting snick, and the oddball is plenty gone, with no more run mussied up on his part.
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The largest underground structure in the entire Warren, the Honeycomb is a wide cavern that has been worn smooth by the passage of many, many rabbits. The roof above is comprised of tightly packed dirt intertwined with thousands of roots from the plants in the meadow above. Every so often, a series of thicker roots meanders down towards the floor of the Honeycomb, acting as pillars that are able to keep this great structure from caving in on itself. All around, the delicate murmurs of many voices from around the Warren echo and bounce off the walls, surrounding the great Honeycomb in a quiet hum of activity.
=================================== Exits ===================================
[East] Run [North] Run
[South] Run [West] Run
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[IC] Timberweed
[IC] Sorrel
[IC] Snowdrop
[IC] Nightshade
[IC] Rowan
[IC] Blackbriar
It's been fairly quiet across the entire Warren thusfar today, and so Blackbriar has taken the liberty of ending his patrol. Relaxing in the rather empty Honeycomb, the earthen hued buck takes a moment or two to groom his long, silky ears... probably one of his personal prized features, it seems, by the way he takes care of them. He brushes some unwanted dirt from his pelt before stretching out his backlegs in the comfort of being off duty. His dark eyes rove around the large cavern, his nose involuntarilty twitching in case of any unwanted danger underground, before Blackbriar finally begins to relax. A little.
Being a doe, Nightshade is exempt from most guard duties - at least, border patrols. She helps keep the other rabbits in line, and guards the other does and kits in the warren. So she's not completely useless, as some of the old-fashioned bucks would believe about a female in the Owsla. Currently, she's making her way back from tending to a sick doe, hopping quietly back into the Honeycomb. Her dark eyes catch sight of the male, and she bobs her head in acknowledgement. "Hello, Blackbriar," comes the lilting, high-pitched greeting.
Since the Honeycomb is almost deserted, Blackbriar's ears picked up the steady thrum of pawsteps approaching and thusly turned his attention down a dark run. As Nightshade comes into view and offers her greeting, the buck smiles and lifts his head to respond, "Nightshade." The buck takes a brief moment to brush down the fur on his cheeks almost like an idle, second thought before returning his attention to the doe. "Are you just getting off duty as well? It's been pretty quiet lately.."
"Yes sir," Nightshade answers. The 'sir' isn't so much out of submission to superiority as it is simple politeness. As equals. "I imagine the sick female will be looking better soon. Did you need me for anything?" the feminine voice continues, long ears lifted alertly.
"Wonderful, Nightshade. I'm sure she'll be very greatful to you," the buck smiles back, shifting his position to get a bit more comfortable and settling his shoulders as the tension of outside patrolling begins to melt away in the midst of casual conversation. At the doe's question, Blackbriar's brow perks slightly and he shakes his head with a soft laugh, "Oh, no, no, not at all. Unless, of course, you'd like to sit and relax with me?"
"Relaxing would be nice," the grey-tinted rabbit responds, moving up next to Blackbriar before settling down on her stomach, ears folding back to lay against her shoulders.
Nodding, even chuckling softly, Blackbriar follows Nightshade's suit and settles himself down on his stomach and snuggles against the does side. Idly, he begins to wash the dirt of a good days work out of her pelt, starting at her shoulder. Every so often his ears will lay themselves back along his body, but ever alert they don't stay there for long, one swivling one way and the other ear covering the opposite direction. He takes a moment to glance around, but Blackbriar goes back to his, err, job at hand, "Don't work too hard, mm, Nightshade? Everyone needs to rest, even you," he smiles.
Rowan comes hopping down the runs from the entrance, the little bunny mix lifts an ear as she listens to the hum of activity within the Honeycomb. Her floppy ears eventually pick up on Blackbriar and Nightshade. "Hello you two..." she says softly as she comes abit closer.
"Oh, don't worry about me. I know my limits," Nightshade answers in her typical high pitch, eyes blinking slowly as she's groomed. While she's not completely used to the affection, she can't say it feels terrible. At another doe's entrance, the ear furthest from Blackbriar lifts up once again. "Good afternoon, Rowan. How are things?" Nightshade's rather protective over the does she's been put in guard of, and sometimes it shows more than others.
"Well, take it easy all the same," comes Blackbriar's innitial reply as he continues to groom the doe's fur, well, what he can reach without getting up himself. He pauses for a while as his gaze trains upon the approaching Rowan, and the buck tosses her a nod, "Evening, Rowan," but he leaves the rest of the idle chitchat to Nightshade, since, well, she's a doe, too.. Mmm, girl talk. The male does keep his ears alert though, one trained to the sounds happening throughout the warren while the other listens in on the girls. He's happy to sit, relax, and groom.
"Well...I was just out getting a nibble of grass or two..." The young doe hops a few bits closer to Blackbriar and Shade. "It's nice outside for now. Nothing nosing around that I saw." She soon settles on her tummy as well, her floppy ears laying limply at the side of her head, otherwise quiet.
"That's good. Thanks for letting us know," Nightshade answers with a nod. "How are the other does? Anything I haven't already heard about? Ash seems to be getting over her sickness well enough, I saw."
"Mmm, I'll probably go out for a nice evening graze, if either of you would join me later," Blackbriar pipes in quietly, moving from Nightshade's shoulder to her neck and behind her ears before his grooming instinct fades a bit. He noses the doe, letting her know that he's finished for now, and shifts his gaze between the two females. "I haven't heard any new complaints from anyone recently, so it seems like most of the Warren is fairly calm."
And another joins the gathering. Snowdrop appears, on pace that's just a bit quicker than sluggish, and showing all the signs of one who'd only just woken up from a long rest. Stopping by one edge of the Honeycomb, the doe pauses to scratch above her nose, with no acknowledging words immediately extended to the others.
"Does are quiet from what I've seen...I've been out most of the day though." Rowan says softly, lifting her right ear as much as she can, gaining a sheepish look. "A nibble or two was a lie...I'm full, but thank you for the offer Blackbriar." Giving the buck a soft smile, before her other ear lifts to the sound of another approach, "Hello Snowdrop." Offering greeting even if she's busy.
"I'll come along, sure," Nightshade answers, white-ruffed tail flicking once anxiously. "I haven't eaten much today as it is." The white-marked rabbit's arrival is noticed, and Nightshade offers the courtesy to her as well. "Would you like to come graze with us, Snowdrop?"
The buck nods quietly, taking in all the information from everyone gathered and stuffing it away; anything that goes on in the Warren, and Blackbriar wants to know about it. He gives Rowan a light smile, but it disappears into a bit of a stern look, "Well, keep your wits about you above ground, Rowan. I can't keep my eye on everything," the buck winks, giving the impression that his stern demenour is only an occasional mask which his gentle giant nature lies behind. It is then that his ears twitch and hear the approach of yet another rabbit, and he offers Snowdrop a smile.
"Hmm?" Snowdrop glances from one rabbit to the next, for a moment deciding which to respond to. "Good evening." She lowers the paw she'd been using to scratch, and gives a curt nod to Nightshade's question. "Yes, I suppose I would... Are we going out now?"
"I always am Blackbriar, I'd hate to become some other creatures snack." Flicking her ear some, Rowan gives a hop or two towards Snowdrop and the enterance, "but I suppose I can go back out for company."
On the contrary, Nightshade is the opposite of Blackbriar in that aspect - a genteel personality hides a darker nature within. "Whenever Blackbriar decides to leave," she answers Snowdrop, shrugging her shoulders slightly, turning to look at the male inquiringly.
Rolling his shoulders is a brief shrug, Blackbriar isn't too keen on moving around just yet. "I've just come in from patrol, so I plan on relaxing for a little but don't feel you have to wait for me," he replies to Snowdrop, directing the last of his statement towards Nightshade. The tired, or perhaps lazy, buck shakes his head before resting his chin across Nightshade's back, shuffling himself a bit before he gets nice and comfy. "Of course, if you move I won't have much of a pillow," Blackbriar snickers quietly, laying his ears back as a yawn slips from his jaws.
Snowdrop stares at the buck for a moment, choking back a snicker at his apparent laziness. Although, she's really not yet feeling quite up and about herself. So if she really must wait, it's not that big of an issue. All that same, Snowdrop turns to Rowan, then Nightshade to see if they're going to go anyway.
Rowan nods softly at the buck, feeling abit lazy herself, she's been out grazing off and on all day, exploring some on her own. So relaxing inside is all the more welcome to her, so she settles where she is, sprawling there comfortably.
Nightshade chuckles, a singsongy noise, as Blackbriar nestles his chin against her torso. "I'll stay your pillow for at least a little while longer. Girls, whenever you're hungry, let me know and I'll accompany you to the meadow."
"Good," Blackbriar smiles, almost purring were it possible that he could. He does, however, keep an eye and an ear on the girls gathered around him, realizing that his laziness has apparently been rubbing off. Well, he's not like that while he's on duty.. but he's worked pretty hard so he feels justified. Blackbriar does, however, butt in, "Of course, ladies, I'll be sure to keep an eye out for you all."
Rowan remains sprawled where she is, her ears flick up and blink as Snowdrop leaves, she looks back to the buck and fellow doe. Staying where she is, Rowan begins grooming her paws, they are slightly soiled from her earlier adventures above ground.
As the Honeycomb settles down again and the idle chatter subdues to nothing more than the soft ruffling of fur during grooming, Blackbriar is content to let his eyes drift close as he continues to drape his chin across Nightshade's neck. The buck lies still for a little while, for once his ears remaining flat against his back, until he slowly opens his dark eyes to stare down the wide run leading north. His breath is slow, thoughful, before a soft, "Hmmm..." slips from his mouth.
Settled where she is, Rowan grooms each paw with swift effeciency, her ear lifting from the side of her head and looks up. Wondering why Blackbriar hmms, "What's up?" Her gaze going from herself, to the buck and following his to the north run. "Is something up there?"
Nightshade has settled down into a cozy position with Blackbriar next to her, eyes half-closed, when the soft rumble from the male is heard. An ear twitches slightly, and her eyes open completely again. "Hmm what?" Shade echoes Rowan.
Releasing his sigh, the buck lifts his head from his rather comfortably pillow and shakes his fur down before settling down on his stomach next to Nightshade. "Well," he muses, twitching his ears and giving each doe a look in turn before staring up the run again, "I was.. just thinking about the Chief rabbit, old Oak... he's slowing down a bit, and I'm worried about him.. that's all."
Rowan ohs and nods softly, eventually through with her grooming. She lifts herself up and hops to the other side of Blackbriar, the young doe taking it upon herself to settle along the open side of the buck. "Unfortunately it happens...hopefully he'll be fine." She says softly and thus begins grooming Blackbriar's ears, being abit bold.
Loose dirt and gravel spill into the Honeycomb as Sorrel shoulders his way inside from an empty run. The buck squeezes through the opening and, shaking himself off, rises onto his hind legs - at attention. He lifts a forepaw and uses it to smooth his mangled ear, per habit. "Blackbriar, Nightshade," he greets his fellow Owsla officers in a curt, clipped tone. "There's a fox above."
At the movements of Rowan closer to Blackbriar, the Owsla doe can't help but snort, despite the fact that she's never been around Blackbriar much in an unprofessional way before today anyway. "And you didn't thump?" Nightshade asks Sorrel, a bit of an attitude sneaking out, though partially covered up by her disarming feminine pitch.
Nightshade's snort is answered with a silent nuzzle at her shoulder, but Blackbriar's not going to mind a free groom, just like the doe didn't earlier. He, "Mmms," softly at Rowan's response, but his relaxation doesn't last long. At Sorrel's approach, Blackbriar bolts upright and hops of few paces closer to the epicenter of the Honeycomb, ears ears up and his nose flared. "Easy, Nightshade," he offers, "but stamp, Sorrel, and give us warning." That said, the dark buck thumps his hind foot on the ground, the noise echoing throughout the warren and causing a few more officers to spill into the great burrow. "We've got a fox. Ash, Piper, Siltstalk, and Treowen, take the inside exits, stamp if the damn thing starts digging." The four nod, but the crash from the nearby entrance run causes a start among the group, and Blackbriar huffs and cautiously approaches the place, sniffing and growling deep in his chest.
A faint scuff of dirt puffs out of the run, and nigh immediately, two big, black tipped ears fall 'poof' out of the dust, soon followed by a quite upside -down...hare. Seems he didn't quite fit and his curiosity got the better of him. Silly thing. One ear rises from the ground and the boxy-hazel eyed head turns at the light growl. "Oh! There is sommun' down here...you know ye'gots foxes? Saw'em sneakin'round, thought I'd see if sommun'was down here..." Eheh. >.>;
Rowan grooms one of Blackbriar's ear before Sorrel comes into the Honeycomb. News of a fox soon has her on her feet as well, the tumbling hare startles her. She hops back several paces until she's up against a wall of the Honeycomb. She otherwise stays quiet, she's just a doe, not a guard or anything else.
"I'll make sure the does and kits are okay," Nightshade alerts the other officers, about to leave when the hare tumbles in. Blinking in surprise, Nightshade pauses in her hopping away to half-turn and watch what happens.
Sorrel pins Nightshade with an icy glare. "Awful hard to thump, missy, when you stick your nose out of the run and almost have it snapped off." He moves closer to the other rabbits, pointedly avoiding the hare, which he turns his head to watch with cool, narrowed eyes. "Thanks for the warning, friend." Unsurprisingly, he doesn't sound very thankful - but then again, he does he ever? He gives a disdainful sniff. "Who are you?"
With a shivering nose, Snowdrop reappears within the honeycomb. "What's this about a fox?" Is the first thing from her mouth, pointing a stare at each rabbit in turn, without taking in exactly what they're doing. The final one to catch her gaze is the hare, who prompty warrents a wide-eyed doubletake. "Who's he, and what's he doing here?"
"Settle down, Sorrel," Blackbriar growls, not bothering to shoot the buck an icy glare because he's a bit too occupied staring down the rather odd hare. Odd in demenour, and even stranger timing. He motions to the four Owsla to take their positions at the entrances to keep information on the fox up to date, and as they move off he gives Snowdrop an update. "We've got a fox prowling above, but -this- one," he mutters warily, "Is our main concern." He approaches the hare with a few short strides, sitting back on his hindlegs and staring the awkward creature down. "The warning is appreciated, stranger, but the intrusion isn't. We're going to have to tighten up that hole you widened to get down here." An annoyed snort is issued, but eventually Blackbriar's brisk manner chills down just a bit before continuing, "You're in Hawthorn, our warren. Who are you, and what do you want?"
Timberweed sniffs once. OHo. At the inquiries, the hare turns over, ears falling forward like towers as he takes a seat himself. A forepaw goes up to brush his headfur and give what might be considered a salute. "Many apologies for the run, lad, I'll help patch it if I can...m'name's Timberweed Thistletail, former sergeant of the Rocky Root Thicket, a hare to compare." His paw returns to its normal place. "An'I was only seein'for myself if this here place was occupied, good sir, as I spotted foxes snicking about like the fiends they are. I assure you that was my only intention." The hare talks animatedly, head bobbing slightly as he does. He soon tucks his paws and gives a short bow, long ears flopping a bit over his head.
Sorrel doesn't look too pleased with the way things are going but, to his credit, he keeps his mouth shut and his attention focused where Blackbriar tells him to.
Well, it seems obvious that the hare isn't intent on attacking, and Blackbriar feels that he'd probably bungle any sort've attempt at it anyway... Hares. The buck slowly eases his muscles and settles back down to all fours, his ears swiveling curiously as he works through the creature's interesting lilt in his speech. "Timberweed, I'm Blackbriar, Captain of Owsla. My officers Sorrel and Nightshade, Snowdrop and Rowan the two does." With introductions done, and no word on the foxes from the officers stationed at the exits, Blackbriar takes a moment to nab a few deep breaths and a quick look around at the gathers, hoping everyone begins to settle down. "We'll.. take care of the run, Timberweed, I wouldn't worry. You might as well stay here while those pests are above ground, so why don't you settle some here in the Honeycomb, mm?"
Timberweed perks his ears. Ohnow, a fellow soldier. The hare smiles, whiskers bristling up. "A pleasure to meet you, Captain Blackbriar...and I thank you for your hospitality, lad, I'd just started settling down when those -fowl-fickle-fiendish-flagitious-foxes- showed up. Again, I apologize for the run...if I may help in any way, please inquire. You lot're quite better at the tunnel business than I, anyway." The big hare trails off as he takes a few steps over towards the wall of the honeycomb, head bobbing slightly still.
Rowan eventually unfreezes from her place, finding this to probably be the safest place for her, she settles on her stomach, curling up some before she soon starts to drift off to sleep.
With a short grunt, Sorrel excuses himself from the pleasantries - presumably to go check up on the fox situation above ground.
"Mm-hmm," Blackbriar replies with a slow nod, not quite sure how to deal with the strange hare. "Indeed, you don't live in warrens, do you?" That said, the buck takes a moment to investigate the entrances to the east and west runs, listening a moment for any signs of possible activity, but all that reaches him are the dull whispering echos of caution. Blackbriar moves back close to his original position before all the chaos started, keeping an eye on the two does in the Honeycomb while watching the hare investigate the structure. "I haven't noticed any signs of hare recently... where exactly did you come from?"
Having slipped off to check on the does, and while at it, up to the meadows to check if the fox is still there, Nightshade hops back into the honeycomb, quietly listening to the hare and Blackbriar chat.
Timberweed allows himself to investigate the walls with his twitchy nose before turning his head towards Blackbriar, settling himself down on his paws in a sitting position. "Ah, yes, Rocky Root Thicket up north 'twas getting a bit droll, so I tacked my nephew into my position there, and thus set off southernly, and I ended up here. It seems a nice place here, if you ask me...so for now I'm stayin' in a pretty little place out in the brush meadows...seems I'll have to box off somma'them foxies for it, but it's all for the good fight, my boy."
Perking a brow, Blackbriar listens to the interesting creature, never having met a hare in such close quarters before and fascinated by the attitude of him. The buck nods his head, tucking away the information of the thicket to the north, wondering if those hares could ever come in handy in an emergency.. Of course, that's a scary thought in its own right. Snuffing his nose a bit and ridding his paws of excess dirt stirred up by Timberweed's.. err, tumble, Blackbriar settles a bit before Nightshade's reentrance catches his attention. He nods to the doe, motioning her to join him and get updated on the situation. "Nightshade, this is Timberweed, a hare from up north. Timberweed, another officer, Nightshade."
Nightshade bobs her head in greeting. "H'lo, Timberweed. The fox is gone, by the way," she adds, otherwise keeping to herself for the time being. She never was good with small chat.
Timberweed tilts his ears, the tips brushing a small bit of the ceiling. "Ah, that's dandy...a pleasure to meet you ma'am." He lifts a paw and pricks down at one of his ears in a 'hat-tip'. "If the foul thing is gone, I'll suck in this old gut and be out of your brambles then. Perhaps we shall see one another in a more open place next we meet, hm?" The hare sniffs at the nearest run, examining it closely. Yeeeah, he should fit fine if he sucks it in, maybe takes one back leg at a time. Like stepping through a window.
A heavy and thankfull sigh escapes Blackbriar's lips, and he gives Nightshade a light smile. "Thank you, it's good to know." With some major crises averted, and the possibility of their run getting dug out by the fox not a worry, the Captain can get back to resting easy. He sits back up on his hindlegs, nodding briskly in a soldier-esque manner to the hare, "Well met, Timberweed. Don't worry about the run, it'll be straightened out regardless. Take care, and perhaps we shall meet under the sun soon." He motions towards the run that the hare already tumbled down, moving away some of the loosened earth.
Timberweed hobbles over to the run, giving Blackbriar and Nightshade a polite parting nod and tip of the ear. "Merry part, chums." The hare hobbles a bit up the run, careful not to knock anything out. He takes a breath, sucks in what's what of what he called his 'gut', and side-steps diagonally out of the way, looking for all the world like sort of of a tiny, flimsy-eared car. Beep. Beep. Beep. Backup. Another parting snick, and the oddball is plenty gone, with no more run mussied up on his part.