Trouble Brewing {Open}

[Stardust]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,422,true]

[atrb=background,http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y105/evanyanka/kaisa_middle.gif] For an impatient creature, Kaisa was keeping very still. The tawny-coated female longed to be perched high in a tree, roaming the branches as if they were her own personal highway. She would love to be invisibly tucked behind some winter-bare brush, muscles tensing to rock-hard forms beneath her skin as she prepared to leap out on a hare or even a deer. Instead, she was crouched sullenly beside a narrower runnel of stream that diverged from the main pool at the base of the waterfalls, watching with glowing amber eyes for fish. The fierce-eyed lynx was not evil at heart; she would not, even if given her druthers, kill a prey animal that had done her no harm. It was just that somehow, having to restrain herself and feed on nothing put pale, bloodless fish felt ten times worse when she knew it was part of the law of a king she hated. In a movement that seemed impossibly fast, one large, dish-like paw, black claws extended, flashed out and into the water. There was a splash, and in an instant there was a silvery fish, nine inches long and plump, flopping on the ground. Her claws held it down, though it continued to struggle. Without bothering to kill it or deliver the stunning blow to the spine she might use on a mammal, Kaisa began to rip off the flesh, crunching down bones as she went. Her feasting and intermittent, low-pitched snarling were the only sounds in that space, aside from the ever-present sound of the water. That was one of the reasons she often came here. There was the water, which was pleasantly full of fish, however unsatisfying they might be as a meal. There was cover provided by the somber pines and firs that crowded around, huddled in deep green shadows under their loads of snow. Most importantly, it tended to be isolated, especially from the pomp and predations of the so-called "Royals" and their heartless court. At the thought of the cruel, mad king and his excesses, Kaisa gave an unnecessarily vicious shake of her jaw, ripping off the fish's head. As she broke down the skull in her powerful grip, she thought of the King of Ice.

[mactire]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,422,true]

[atrb=background,http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y105/evanyanka/cynyr_middle-1.gif] The Lynx, though she may not have been aware of it, was no longer alone. One of the biggest creatures to inhabit the frigid north, a polar bear, lay next to the falls in a den of snow and ice that she had dug the previous afternoon. Any creature could step onto the snow under which she lay and not realize that she was there. Indeed, that was the beauty of it. She could lay in peace and quiet until she became so hungry that she could not stay there any more. Theoretically, that was true. But in Cynyr's case, she had a lot more to do than lay around under the ground until she needed food. And she had to start it sometime, or it would never happen. Sighing and grumbling on her breath, she stood up, breaking through the snow that had been the roof of her shelter. Shaking herself to rid her body of any clinging bits of snow, she moved onto firmer ground, and nearer to the Glacier Falls. She looked around, her huge, dark eyes narrowed, and spotted the lynx, crouching on the opposite back, a fish in her jaws. I need to star this now, she thought suddenly. Otherwise life will go on being as bad for those who are not allies as the king as it has been since he became king. Or there will be a rebellion so badly organized that all those involved will be killed. But it won't be like that if strong creatures are gathered and organized. Strong creatures who can work together to end our so-called "King's" reign of fear and uncertainty. Cynyr let out a snort, so as to catch the lynx's attention without startling her. She didn't want to make trouble- as likely as not, the feline would think she was a friend of the King's, and if she was thinking along the lines of most creatures, she wouldn't hesitate to try to harm even a polar bear. With these thoughts in mind, the huge female lumbered forward to stand at the water's edge, dipping her head to drink from the cold, clear water that formed the pool at the foot of the falls. She would let the lynx make the first move, and act after that.

[Stardust]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,422,true]

[atrb=background,http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y105/evanyanka/kaisa_middle.gif] The fish was nearly gone by the time she smelled the bear. All that was left on the snowy ground before her was half of the skeleton, a few scraps of thin, tattered, shining skin, and copious bloodstains. Kaisa stopped mid-chew, flesh still sticking to her teeth, and sniffed again. There it was--it was summer, as much as summer ever came to the North, so the bear had a somewhat grassy smell laid over the familiar bear-scent. It was like inhaling a whiff of clovers laid over a pile of musk, salt, and fish. Not that Kaisa herself had a delicate, lady-like scent; lynxes and other large cats, in fact, were generally renowned for their heavy, pungent musk. Kaisa's tended to be tinged with the odor of the pine trees she spent much of her time in, a very fresh, deeply wild smell. Kaisa snapped her head up and saw her there, as impossibly large as every polar bear always seemed, standing calmly on the opposite bank. The great creature let out a loud snort, but it was seemingly just an alert--hello, I'm here, I am not hunting you. The lynx did her best to control herself, particularly her body language. The time for full rebellion had not yet come, and it would not be helpful to give herself away before it did. Fearless to the bone, the lean cat would not hesitate to attack a bear if there was good reason, but even in that case she knew she would not stand a high chance of winning. Size mattered, in some ways. Nevertheless, Kaisa Lumi was, in each bone, a fully feral creature. Of course, all the inhabitants of the wilds were feral by name, but with the growing practice of creating armor, ornament, and weapons to augment and decorate nature's gifts, many seemed to have become domesticated or civilized. Not breaking eye contact, Kaisa lowered her head to wordlessly finish her meal, making the rest of the fish vanish in a few quick, brutish bites. The bear had also lowered her head, and was drinking, seeming not to desire to interfere with the lynx's life--for once. A bobbed tail twitched and lashed once or twice, aggressively. Would that the bears had followed such a policy when she was no more than a kitten with her eyes first open. Struggling to keep her tone fairly neutral, Kaisa swallowed and spoke: "What brings you down from your stronghold?" Her voice was low and rough, but not entirely unpleasant, a kind of hoarse sound like the wind through pine needles. The word "stronghold" came out a bit more acidic than she would have liked, but it was said now, there was no help for it. And at any rate, at least she would have less shame to deal with afterwards; she had been more honest than she'd intended. The feline waited, body frozen in anticipation, all of her weight suspended lightly on the snowshoe-like paws that seemed to barely touch the unbroken crust of snow.

[{ b l u e }]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,444,true]

[atrb=background,http://i54.tinypic.com/jpvbt0.jpg] The last string had been broken, and Quentin had finally had enough. Gone were the days he would sit back and allow his King to order those around him like slaves, to rule his people with such cruelty, and to treat even his most loyal Guards like dirt beneath his claws. The King might not have known it, but the Captain of his Royal Guard was ready to turn against him. "One more step out of line, my King, and you will know the true meaning of betrayal..." he hissed under his breath, narrowed blue eyes boring into the ground in front of his paws. A low growl was almost constantly erupting from his throat as he ruminated, claws occasionally clacking against the stone as he sheathed and unsheathed them. It was very rare indeed to find Quentin in such a turbulent mood. It was unheard of for him to consider what he was. But the King of Ice was stepping much too far from the moral boundaries a ruler should have, and Quentin now found himself prepared to turn his back on everything he knew. Some Captain I am... he thought wearily, glancing at the bracers affixed to his front legs. They had been given to him as a gift of sorts when he was promoted, a fairly recent occurrence. Even then, Quentin had felt uneasy about what was happening to his beloved home. Things had only gotten worse in the time that followed. Sighing deeply, Quentin's once distant blue eyes came into focus as he returned from his mental labyrinth. As much as he wanted to find a solution to the current state of affairs, there was no plausible way for him to do so in one day, let alone while he was walking along a narrow mountain pass. He had to keep his wits about him until he reached his destination, else he took the risk of plummeting to his untimely end. Expertly jumping from ledge to ledge, the big cat soon found himself on a much wider path, the sound of tumbling water growing ever louder. Of course, he'd heard it for some time now, considering the fact that something so large falling down the mountain creates quite a bit of noise to echo off the surrounding rocks. But it was much clearer now, and therefore much closer. With a pleased flick of his notably long tail, Quentin broke into a ground-eating jog to come to a final halt at the basin of one of the largest waterfalls in the mountains; Glacier Falls. For a moment, he allowed himself to just stare in wonder at the magnificent sight before him. But that moment was quickly shattered as a scent other than frigid water and moss his his nostrils. With a simple shift of his gaze, Quentin caught sight of two others standing just below his current vantage point; a lynx and polar bear, to be exact. Narrowing his eyes, he quickly studied he bear, instantly realizing that she was not in any way associated with the Royals. She looked and smelled differently than the well-groomed, pompous creatures roaming the royal caverns. Though if she had been, then that would have meant a world of trouble for him. If he was caught roaming the territory while on-duty, the punishment certainly wouldn't be pleasant. After carefully making sure his expression was casually neutral, Quentin decided it was about time to reveal his presence. If he waited any longer on his current perch, the other two would likely assume he was a spy, and that was the last thing he needed. Forging enemies wouldn't get him far at all in his endeavors. With a flick of his tail, Quentin nimbly jumped to the rocky earth below, hearing the lynx speak as he did so. Promptly rearranging his paws and formally sitting on his haunches, the cat surveyed the other two once more. From what he could tell, the lynx was none too pleased to be in the presence of a polar bear. Not surprising. With the way things were going, polar bears were bound to be the most loathed species in the north, regardless of their opinions on the current King. Clearing his throat and letting his slightly narrowed eyes flick from lynx to bear, Quentin spoke in his usual deep, quiet, and horribly formal tone. He knew that the lynx's previous question had been directed at the polar bear, though he replied nonetheless. "In the current state that dungeon is in, anywhere is better." he stated bluntly, wrapping his tail about his paws. "But please forgive me for the intrusion; I am Captain Quentin of the Royal Guard, though you may just call me Quentin." • Speaking • Thinking --status; Complete. --muse; pretty good. --words; 791 words. --notes; hope you guys don't mind me bringin' Quentin in. x]

[/size][/blockquote][/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[mactire]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,422,true]

[atrb=background,http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y105/evanyanka/cynyr_middle-1.gif] At the lynx's words to her, a quiet growl welled up in Cynyr's throat. Would she forever be mistaken for one of them, one of the Tyrant King's minions? Well, that should stop, and it would stop here and now. Just as she had made this resolution, a scent, not that of the lynx, reached her nose. Looking up from the water, she espied a snow leopard, sitting neatly on the ground. She wondered if he was the Captain of the King's Royal Guard- it did not matter to her, either way, but it was a possibility. She only hoped the lynx, who was capable of anything, she supposed, would not attack the other feline before he had a chance to speak. As it was, he spoke as if in reply to the lynx's words. "In the current state that dungeon is in, anywhere is better. "But please forgive me for the intrusion; I am Captain Quentin of the Royal Guard, though you may just call me Quentin." The bear outwardly ignored Quentin's rank, but inwardly, she was thinking furiously about what this could mean: the Captain of the Royal Guard himself, come to speak with creatures who were nurturing ideas of rebellion. Cynyr was an educated creature who had traveled widely. She had journeyed to the West, the East, and even spent two hot, miserable weeks in the South one winter. She had learned to speak the languages and dialects of many different creatures fluently; she knew how to imitate the howl of a wolf, to translate the screeches of an eagle and, in some cases, the trumpeting of an elephant. She had made friends with plenty of creatures who were herbivores; she also had connections among predators like birds and wildcats. She had a knowledge of many creatures and how they lived, but her major weaknesses were her great temper, and her total disdain for politics. She feared that she would need a knowledge of the latter if she was to to help her peers rise up agaist the King of Ice. She clung to the hope that, if she could understand and speak to like-minded creatures such as the Siberian lynx. Deciding that it was time to speak, the polar bear dipped her great white head to the snow leopard. "You are pardoned, friend, though there is little to pardon, for you were not intruding." Lifting her head and gazing at the lynx for a moment, Cynyr blinked once and replied to her question from earlier. "My name is Cynyr, as I shall forgive you this once for assuming that I was one of his loyal subjects. It is not an uncommon mistake, but I begrudge it all the same. My only wish is to see the North under the rule of someone who will reign wisely and justly, not by a pompous tyrant who lies to all and sundry, while he breaks the laws of the North behind our back." She knew she was speaking bluntly, but that was the only way she knew how; and besides, she doubted that either the lynx or the snow leopard would be likely to report her to the King, not from what they had both said. The female surveyed the pair with calm black eyes. She wondered if she should ask them to join her; the lynx, at least, seemed to loathe the King of Ice and his followers as much as she, Cynyr, did. The polar bear barely doubted whether the tawny-coated feline would accept; it would be a question of trust, more than anything. She knew, from recent experiences, that polar bears were distrusted by many creatures in the North; those who deigned her kind trustworthy on first sight were either unintelligent or had been hibernating for far too long. She accepted that, as it was a necessary precaution to take. The snowy-coated bear had heard that more than one creature who had treated a polar bear as they would a trusted acquaintance or friend, and said something less than respectful to them, had disappeared without a trace. Such rumours could be simply that, rumours, but Cynyr believed that there was at least a little truth in them. There had been others, far more gruesome and terrible, which she almost feared to recall even now. Half-truths or not, they had fueled the polar bear's desire for justice, and she had vowed to bring justice down on the Tyrant and his followers. Taking a deep breath, the female gazed at both felines and asked them solemnly, any edge gone from her voice, "I know this is a lot to take on at such short notice, and from a total stranger, but would either of you be interested in helping me to begin a rebellion that will, given time and thought, be the downfall of the tyrant who dares to call himself the King of Ice?" She knew that she was taking an awful risk, talking so in front of the Captain of the Royal Guard, but it was indeed a risk she was willing to take.

[MudPUPPY]

Firebird

Yellow eyes studied the plum silver fishes from the owners perch high in the snow covered pine limb, singling out the the most manageable out of the small school. The eyes, owned by a large, white, female Gyrfalcon wobbled her head back and forth trying to get the best view causing the thin snow-covered limb to shake off a small amount of snow encasing it from the summer snow. Being this far north, snow was ever present in its cold powdery form, always keeping the bird's feathers white with an array of black and dark brown strips and spots for essential camouflage. She looked like any other Gyrfalcon in the area, except the black line extending from behind her yellow eyes gave her a distinguishing feature that all who encountered her, would know her when they saw her. Her black feet, equipped with large black talons gripped her perch with deadly force as if she already had her kill under her black daggers. Her eyes selected a large, plump fish slithering through the water with a subtle twitch, gathering her muscles, Firebird leaned forward getting ready to launch into a dive on the lame fish, when a slight twitch caught her attention.

Her yellow eyes snapped to it and landed on a tawny lynx hunting the same school of fish. Mentally kicking herself for noticing the lynx before, she watched the lynx lash out it's dish-like paws, its claws ensnaring the fish and pulling it from it's world. For a moment, Fire Bird wondered what was going on in the fish's mind, whether it could think or praying to its family. The raptor grimaced as the lynx didn't even put the fish out of it's misery before beginning to take in the energy of the silver fish. Firebird only watched, knowing it was idiotic, even a suicide mission, to persuade the feline to kill the fish before it began to eat.

Another movement caught the attention of the white raptor, a white furry head, with rounded ears and black nose that could only be worn by a polar bear, made it's way from it's winter den. Hatred immediately burned in the falcon's large chest as she watched the white bear emerge, her yellowish beck itched to tear the flesh of that white hide, even though this was definitely not the polar bear that killed her mentor a few years back. Firebird forced herself to stay on her perch, she studied the bear and the lynx, wondering what this encounter would bring.

The bear merely looked at the lynx ans gave a loud snort than began drinking, while the lynx was definitely annoyed with the bear's presence. Firebird clacked her beck together, not thrilled by its presence either. "What brings you down from your stronghold" the lyrics of the lynx growled, wild and dangerously contained, it made Firebird's feather fluff up as it crawled along her eardrums and registered in her brain. Expecting retaliation from the polar bear, she was shocked that the white beast began sniffing and looked in a different direction. A males voice gave her the only explanation she needed, turning her small head to look over her right wing, a rather large snow leopard sat looking at them. His words did not surprise the raptor or the other two beings from the look on their faces, though the bird's big eyes narrowed once she announced who he was. Dangerous move." thought the white gyrfalcon as she continued to silently watch the encounter, from the way the lynx and the bear acted, they hated the royal as much as the next beast under the control of the King of Ice.

The polar bear then got Firebird's attention when she spoke of rebellion, such brave talk in front of one of the royal guards. Not being one of the royals almost made the bear likable. Almost. Training her yellow eyes on both of the felines to see their reaction, especially the larger cat, Firebird wanted to join this rebellion, even if it meant working with a polar bear. Looking down at the snow beneath her talons, the raptor flicked her leg, sending a large pile of snow down the the earth announcing her presence to the group. "Interesting subject to bring up in such unstable times." her almost aggressive voice entered the fray. Gliding smoothly down to a rock near the water so it would be easier to talk but far enough to escape both felines and the bear if they decided she was more meal than ally, she watched the three predators carefully hoping that this would bring a better change to the land she dearly loved.

I hope you don't mind me entering, but its the only active thread in the Northern lands it seems

[Stardust]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,422,true]

[atrb=background,http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y105/evanyanka/kaisa_middle.gif] Another voice interjected itself into the conversation, taking up what would have been the bear's line. The voice was accompanied by a shifting of rock and snow and a very familiar scent, one quite similar to Kaisa's own heavy musk--another feline. "In the current state that dungeon is in, anywhere is better." The voice was coming from none other than Quentin, Captain of the Guard, as he unabashedly named himself, as if his face, his bright blue eyes, and his truly royal accessories were not enough to identify him. Kaisa neither flinched nor began to move in one direction or another, holding her frozen place by the flowing waters. Her tail was the only thing that moved on her body, wriggling back and forth in agitation on the stone-still form it was attached to. He was clearly professing sentiments of a revolutionary, or at least somewhat rebellious, nature, but he did not relinquish his title. Kaisa bluntly pointed out as much: "Funny description from the Captain of the Guard. Are you here with honest intent, or just as an inconvenient earpiece?" If he was on their side and took offense, he would certainly understand why he must look suspicious. If he was loyal to the king, well, no amount of insulting would make their current situation any worse. "Pardon my bluntness," she said drily, "but if you're here on king's business, we're all equally stewed, no matter how much pretty talk I throw in." The polar bear spoke first, accepting Quentin's apology, then turning to Kaisa, filling in the answer the snow leopard had temporarily taken. "My name is Cynyr, as I shall forgive you this once for assuming that I was one of his loyal subjects. It is not an uncommon one, but I begrudge it all the same. My only wish is to see the North under the rule of someone who will reign wisely and justly, not by a pompous tyrant who lies to all and sundry, while he breaks the laws of the North behind our back." Now this was interesting. For the first time since this whole interaction began, Kaisa moved, flowing smoothly and swiftly up the trunk of a tree that reached partway over the water, claws hooking the bark and allowing her to nearly float to the higher branches. She leaped from there without a second look, body twisting mid-air, lengthening into a sinewy stretch of bisque, sahara taupe. Her body almost seemed to slow down as it soared, then suddenly time sped up and she landed firmly on the branches of another tree. Snow cascaded down from her landing, but she was already on the move again, threading her way through the branches, lower down the trunk, and onto the lowest branch, where she rested just above Cynyr's head and gazed down thoughtfully. "Sorry for making that mistake. It's a heinous one, I know. I've seen the King break the laws of the North to my face, not just behind my back." She looked up and across again, gazing at the Captain, gleaming in his new armor. "I reckon that was before you got yourself silver-plated. I don't recall seeing any cats. The king must've been smart enough not to send felines against felines. If we're lucky, his intelligence ends there." Now Kaisa sauntered further down the branch, feeling it bend with her weight as she proceeded to the thin, more delicate ends, but also feeling its inner strength and liveliness. It would hold her. She crouched down at the end, well within the snow bear's giant range, fearlessly staring into those dark eyes. "But I'll have you know, lady, that I'm not a creature that waits to be forgiven or asks permission." Her paws were light on the branch, her claws barely scratching the bark now, ready, should she need to, to spring backwards and away. She also wasn't a creature who died without a reason. Another sudden powdery fall of snow indicated the presence of another creature, and Kaisa looked up sharply to see a bird of prey perched on a tree nearby, watching them all curiously. "Interesting subject to bring up in such unstable times." "'Lo, tasty," she called out, her tone pert, her grin wry. Her continued presence on her own branch, along with the jesting tone of voice, indicated she did not actually intend to consume the bird, but it amused her nonetheless. "Aye. And what's your interest in it?"

[{ b l u e }]

Just for the record (and to avoid any future confusion), the current posting order is this:

[/b] Thistlefoot with Kaisa Lumi
2nd: Mactíre with Cynyr
3rd: Blue with Quentin
4th: MudPUPPY with Firebird
[/ul][/size][/blockquote]

[mactire]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,500,true]

[atrb=background,http://i56.tinypic.com/wbtjs3.png] The lynx, having addressed the snow leopard upon noticing his arrival, turned to Cynyr momentarily, replying to the white female's earlier speech. "Sorry for making that mistake. It's a heinous one, I know. I've seen the King break the laws of the North to my face, not just behind my back." The bear gave a rumbling murmur of acknowledgment to these words, her dark eyes thoughtful. How many creatures were there in the North who had been affected more or less directly by the King's treachery? There were those, she knew, who had simply been driven to rebellion by mere tales of his crimes against their neighbours; they would be more useful allies than those who would wait for others to make a stand against the King of the North. The polar bear herself had not been unaffected by the ways of the King and his followers; her own mother had been killed one winter by another bear sent out with orders to bring his King any food that he could find. He also had been told to let no-one stand in his way, no matter what the cost, and so Cynyr's mother, who had been fishing for her dinner, had died for defending her catch. Cynyr told herself that this rebellion had nothing to do with avenging her mother; to make something such as this personal was to throw away one's common sense and judgment. She would fuel her rage with thoughts of her dead mother when the time to do so came, but not before then. "But I'll have you know, lady, that I'm not a creature that waits to be forgiven or asks permission." The Siberian lynx's almost challenging statement brought the larger female from her current dreamlike state. She found herself staring upwards into the feline's bright eyes, which were absent of any fear. Though, Cynyr noted, the way in which she crouched on the treebranch suggested that she was ready to flee if she thought the polar bear would attack her. Letting an almost reckless smile spread over her features, the snow-furred bear leaned forward slightly and replied in her deep voice, "And I'll have you know that I am not a beast who tolerates the interference of others in what some would view my business, and mine alone." She paused momentarily, closing her eyes with a sigh, before continuing to speak. "However, if you truly wish to be a part of this rebellion, as some call it, then I have no desire to prevent you from doing so. To re-establish order in in the North, many creatures will have to collaborate; therefore I cannot and will not stop you." She opened her eyes once more, gazing calmly yet almost challengingly into the eyes of the lynx. Another creature had announced her presence to the small group of mammals gathered beneath the falls: a Gyrfalcon, who, it seemed, had been observing what had passed between the other animals for a while before making herself known to them. "Interesting subject to bring up in such unstable times." Cynyr regarded the bird calmly before replying. "Indeed, but it is an important and necessary one, in spite of consequences that may arise from our discussing it." She sensed rather than saw Firebird's unspoken hostility towards her, but did not venture to question it. Many creatures, both felines and the falcon among them, had many good reasons to feel less than kindly towards polar bears. Words would do little to change such opinions; it was actions that mattered the most, especially at times such as this.

[{ b l u e }]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,444,true]

[atrb=background,http://i54.tinypic.com/jpvbt0.jpg] Needless to say, Quentin was quite overwhelmed by the group he now found himself a part of. Revolutionaries would be an accurate description of every single one of them... including himself. He might have kept his title as Captain, but only because he had hopes for a much brighter future with a new and far better King. If he relinquished his rank, he would be throwing away any hopes of unseating the current Tyrant; with rank came much easier access to valuable information. Quentin had little concern about the creatures assembled here informing the 'King' of his treason; they all seemed to hate him just as much as any other Northerner. He wanted to hope that because of this, they wouldn't betray him... but there was always the thought of his punishment at the back of his mind. And it would not be pleasant. Calmly looking to the lynx as she spoke, Quentin added his equally collected response: "You are pardoned. However, I feel the need to inform all of you that I am not here on 'king's business' of any kind; I am here of my own free will. And, despite my rank and what you're probably thinking because of it, I would like to keep things civil and consider you allies. It seems to be a stroke a fate that we are all gathered here with the same mindset, no?" Azure eyes flitting to the polar bear as she began to speak soon after, Quentin nodded slightly as a response to the acceptance of his apology. He was a cat of few words, only speaking as much needed. And as of now, he had determined that there was no need to speak; the lynx and the polar bear were doing a fine job for him. Quietly listening to the conversation, you would have thought Quentin was nothing more than a statue; he sat, silent and unmoving, dissecting every word that drifted as a breath of mist into the air; so when the lynx once again addressed him, Quentin was already prepared to respond in his usual proper manner... though it was obvious that he was troubled by her words. "I'm sorry to say, but... I do not know what you're speaking of. Something tells me that this is just another conspiracy kept from the rest of us..." Quentin replied, his usually even voice dropping to a low growl as the last word left his mouth. All the more reason to dethrone his sorry ass, in plain vocabulary... Quite suddenly, the sound of a new voice reached his ears and cut through his train of thought; probably for the better, because he wasn't exactly keen on allowing his anger levels to rise any further. The faintest hint of a smirk twitching at the corner of his mouth, Quentin turned his attention to a tree just behind him he knew to be the source of the voice... or to be more specific, the Gyrfalcon perched upon one of its branches. "Interesting indeed. As well as necessary, if we wish to bring about change." he replied bluntly, closing his eyes. "I can tell from what has been said that the wrongdoings committed by the beast who dares to call himself our King are endless. It seems each and every one of us has a dark tale to tell... which is all the more reason for me to continue with my...heh... 'official' betrayal and remain seated here among you." Quentin finished with a flick of his tail, reopening his eyes. The cold fire that burned within their depths was enough to let any creature around him know he loathed the Tyrant King just as much as they did. It was almost laughable, how he could allow himself to be named Captain of the Guard. But his intentions had remained true throughout the entirety of his military career, even though he had kept them well-hidden up until now. And those intentions were to ultimately bring the reign of the Tyrant King to a permanent end, using the high rank he had reached for, and now received, as a way to gain equally powerful allies as well as information accessible only to one of his rank. He knew full well he would be a valuable asset in these other creatures' campaign to bring about the Tyrant's downfall, but there was still one last thing Quentin was waiting to observe among them; trust and loyalty. Nobeast would get far without either. Loyalty and trust to each other, and to their cause. And thus far, Quentin had observed that trust was a major issue among every Northerner nowadays. Sighing inwardly, Quentin could only hope that the dwellers of the North would be able to put aside their misgivings of one another long enough to unite for the sake of their land... else their words of overthrowing the Mad King were nothing more than just that: words. • "Speaking" • Thinking --status; Complete! --muse; Iffy. >>; --notes; BACK IN BUSINESS. ain't lettin' this here thread die. -determined face- I just hope I addressed everything that's been said in the previous posts. xD AND OMG. Was listening to this song as I posted, and I think it fits our little ragtag group here perfectly, right down to the name: Freedom Fighters by Two Steps From Hell

[/url].
[/color]

[/size][/blockquote][/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[{ b l u e }]

[ This is just a side-note, but if MudPUPPY doesn't return and reply to this thread within the next three days, we'll just have to skip her so we can keep this thread going. ]

[Stardust]

((Should I go ahead and post, then?))

[{ b l u e }]

[ Yes; go right ahead. ^^ MudPUPPY can always join back in if she wishes when and if she returns. ]

[Stardust]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,422,true]

[atrb=background,http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y105/evanyanka/kaisa_middle.gif] Kaisa snorted loudly at the bear's first words in return, words that rumbled seemingly out of a dreaming trance. "And I'll have you know that I am not a beast who tolerates the interference of others in what some would view my business, and mine alone." "As if anything in this kingdom is personal business anymore," she japed, kneading at her perch in a gesture that was more irritation and energy than fondness. Scattered shards of bark rained down, making a dry rattling noise as they hit the cold-hardened soil. "However, if you truly wish to be a part of this rebellion, as some call it, then I have no desire to prevent you from doing so. To re-establish order in in the North, many creatures will have to collaborate; therefore I cannot and will not stop you." The idea of being allowed to participate rankled Kaisa somewhat; she had been a rebel for almost her entire life, turned in one violent burst that left her an orphan and barely weaned, surviving by a combination of luck and early, desperate wits and fierceness. Nevertheless, it was important enough to get this revolution on the road, as it were, that she could put aside her pride for now. "That'll do," she said, grinning crookedly. It seemed the not-so-loyal citizens of the North were full of pardons for her today. Rich, golden yellow eyes flashed up as she heard the snow leopard speaking. "You are pardoned. However, I feel the need to inform all of you that I am not here on 'king's business' of any kind; I am here of my own free will. And, despite my rank and what you're probably thinking because of it, I would like to keep things civil and consider you allies. It seems to be a stroke a fate that we are all gathered here with the same mindset, no?" "Fate strikes about as often as the gods," she rasped, "which is to say not at all. But it is damn convenient." There was no lightning-fast leaping this time. Kaisa adopted the confident saunter that suited her so well despite her comparatively diminutive frame--though dangerous in her own right, she was easily the smallest creature of the three speakers. Small or not, she moved with a rangy aristocratic pride, strolling along from branch to branch, taking short leaps when she had to, and otherwise using the trees as her personal highway. This time, she got close to the snow leopard, the light off his bracers reflecting brightly onto her face. He did have a certain degree of etiquette, at least, though it would be the pot calling the kettle black for Kaisa to accuse Cynyr of rudeness. "I'm sorry to say, but... I do not know what you're speaking of. Something tells me that this is just another conspiracy kept from the rest of us..." The lynx shrugged wordlessly, thick fur ruff rippling around her shoulders. "I can tell from what has been said that the wrongdoings committed by the beast who dares to call himself our King are endless. It seems each and every one of us has a dark tale to tell... which is all the more reason for me to continue with my...heh... 'official' betrayal and remain seated here among you." "So," she said, with no further introduction than that. "Do you have a plan? We will need more than a handful, to my knowledge, but it seems we'd call the King's henchman down sooner than allies by broadcasting our cause."

[MudPUPPY]

(sorry guys for my disappearance i had some RL issues to take care of, i still want to be apart of this plot and just tell me when i should post next, sorry again.)