You felt Yelda the witch die, as sure as a crack of lightning in the sky. You all hurried to the small cottage where she lived. Everything within was in disarray. It was obvious there had been a struggle within. Her tools, pots and containers were strewn all around the hut - she had tried to fight back against her attacker but in vain.
Yelda's body lay flat on the floor, with blood staining the wooden floor. Her notes soak up the blood, along with seeds, mushrooms, powders and other materials that she used for her concoctions.
The fox saw the witch hunter on the trail, departing the house. He wore his usual black clothes and wide-brimmed hat. You all know him; he had accused the witch of dark practises, constantly threatening her.
You only know the witch has always been a kind woman. Many from the village came to consult Yelda for their pains and illnesses, and she has always looked after the well-being of the creatures in the forest.
It's said that if you can obtain the eyes of the witch's killer you might be able to revive Yelda. Now, you are the only ones able to avenge her and bring her back from the dead.
*Ribbit*
Are we going to assume that we can communicate efficiently?
"OhnoOhnoOhno..What will we do now? HelpHelpHelp!!"
The large, brown rabbit stays as far from the growing pool of blood as possible, his nose twitching and his paws continually rubbing at his nose as if to scrub the smell from it.
The gathered animals don't have much time to mourn. There's a new, unmistakable scent in the air. Hooter spies the owner. It's One-eye, an old wolf that's given farmers and animals endless troubles. He's pacing, gradually approaching the hut, possibly lured by the various odours released by the witch's death and struggle. The door of the hut is invitingly open...
Looks like we have company! Confuzzle! Hooter calls down from his perch in the hut. Then he uses Distract/Confuse on One-eye.
Looks like we have company! Confuzzle! Hooter calls down from his perch in the hut. Then he uses Distract/Confuse on One-eye.
Running in circles due to the wolf-smell, Columbine is nearly hysterical with fear.
"WolfWolfWolfWolfWolfWolf!! RunRunRunRunRun!!"
The poor hare is frantic, then he stops and looks really hard at the door
"CLOSE", he yells
Calling upon the tricks that Yelda taught her, Columbine summons a magical hand that only the rabbit can see. It pushes against the door and the door shuts, but that has triggered One-Eye's curiosity. Ratty and Grubber can see, through a hole in the wall barely small enough for them to fit through, the wolf approach the hut.
not sure what to add... not that it works...
Emerging from a hole in the roof, Hooter calls upon his skills to attempt to distract One-Eye. The owl darts pass the wolf, trying to lure the wolf's attention away from the hut.
The wolf jumps up and almost bites down on the owl. Hooter manages to achieve his aim, but now the wolf is focused on the bird. One-Eye charges around and snaps his teeth into the air, snarling and yelping.
Ratty squeaks in terror and he bolts into the nearest hole to hide. "He's here to eat the witch's corpse! And us!"
Grubble croaks and shivers. Ah! But he can't open doors! he nods like this is a universal thing.
One-eye is away from the hut, chasing after Hooter. Inside the hut are Grubble, Ratty and Columbine. There are holes that Ratty can fit through, and there's a tunnel underneath one of the walls that Grubble could easily squeeze through but which might be tougher for Columbine.
There's also a window that's partially closed next to one of the tables. It's a high jump to it though, and the chair has fallen on its side next to to the table.
:)
Columbine, seeing the window as his only way out, leaps for the sill in hopes he can squeeze out of the opening.
Ratty cautiously makes his way into a hole, ready to burninate anything he sees. He's super on edge right now.
Hooter will distract One-eye by making him chase. (not magic).
uh-oh...
Hooter leads One-Eye away from the hut. One-eye is utterly focused on the owl, and being partially blind and having only, you know, one eye, does not see the slope that Hooter is leading it towards until it is too late. The wolf lets out a yelp as it slides down the hill, tumbling into a raging river. It won't drown, but it certainly won't be disturbing the familiars for now.
Hooter is however, quite drained by the effort. He flutters back to the hut and has to take it easy.
Columbine bounds from the chair onto the desk and then to the window. He leaps out and lands safely outside the hut.
Ratty is comfortable inside the hole, but hears Hooter returning, and the wolf-scent is gone. The coast is clear, for now.
"Is he gone?" Ratty calls out as he hears Hooter fly in.
Who? Old one-eye won't be bothering us for a while!
Rat does feel that One-Eye is no longer in the vicinity. Columbine and Hooter are outside currently.
You estimate that the village is a full day away for the slowest of you, though bad weather might make traveling treacherous.
"We should get away from here swiftly. Who knows when One-eye will come back, and we need to find the human who killed Yelda-witch."
Ratty looks longingly into the safety of his hole. "I guess so...you really think we can find the witch hunter?"
I think so. Let's go witch hunter hunting!
The four start making their way. Hooter has to adjust to using his feet instead of flying.
The quartet don't come across anyone on their way. The late afternoon sun is covered by clouds, and the party is careful to follow the path but not stay on it, keeping to the forest.
They do come across a statue about twice as high as Columbine. It depicts a statue of a human female, and you can smell and see the fresh flowers draped around it, as well as tasty human food in front of it. Breads and cakes that the witch used to bake and share with you.
A crow is in the trees above, but doesn't seem to have spotted any of you.
*Croak*Where do you think he is?... And who is this?
"You think he's one of us? One of Yelda's, I mean? Oh man, I'm not a fan of crows. Y-you don't think they eat rats, right? Oh geez..."
Should I fly up there and see how he reacts?
I dunno Hooter, I mean...what if he's not nice? Or y'know, what if he's a friend of the witch hunter's? It c-could be pretty bad for us, you know?
You don't think that the crow is a familiar of Yelda's.
Hooter still hasn't quite recovered from his encounter with the wolf yet, but his strength is returning. He could call out to the crow, though.
You believe the Witch Hunter came from the village, where the four of you are headed to now.
"Maybe you should talk to the crow...it might have seen the killer and be able to tell us where it went!!", Columbine says while violently twitching his nose.
"Yeah, Hooter, why don't you fly up there?" Ratty asks.
If it attacks me, how about you like... set it on fire.
Hooter flies up towards the crow, but makes sure to keep his distance and. if necessary, fly/bolt outa there.
The crow spots Hooter and descends. It eyes Ratty but doesn't attack.
It speaks to Hooter. Well, brother owl. What happened to you? Not taking to wing? Do you have a bite for me?
Oh yeah! I can't fly!
We were attacked by one-eye, brother crow.
Ratty calls up to the crow. "You'd better not be talking about biting me! I taste really, really bad! Just trust me on that!"
The crow licks its lips upon seeing the rat.
One eye uh? And I see you survived, though that wing looks nasty. Are those gifts for me, Hooter? Or are you planning to eat them yourself later? it says, eyeing the rat and frog.
Columbine shrinks down as he sees the hunger the the crow's eyes.
"We are not food..we are trying to avenge our witch!"
They're with me. And trust me, that rat really doesn't taste good.
"Mr. Crow, have you seen anyone come from our direction? We're looking for the man who killed our witch."
Well, I wasn't here all the while. But there was this man. Wore big black hat. Made a nice target. What do you want with him? the crow asks.
You hear (and feel) human footsteps approaching the shrine from the direction of the village.
He killed the withy woman! We want to kill him because it might bring the witchy woman back. Is that him coming?
Columbine starts to hop in circles as he hears someone coming.
"ComeonComeonComeon!!! Hurry before they see us!!"
The hare leaps into the underbrush but crawls back far enough to see the path.
The crow hops away and the rest of the animals join Columbine in the underbrush. You all see a human woman, much younger than Yelda, approach the shrine. She puts down a basket and opens it, and the air is filled with the rich smell of freshly baked goods.
She kneels before the shrine and says something to it, placing food in front of it respectfully. Tears are flowing down from her eyes as she speaks.
Columbine, touched by the human's show of sadness, slowly hops out of the cover and sniffs the food.