With Kimberly, Chris, Julius,Isabella, Three staggs Nagg,Gorp,and Ash(Julius), and Darrell(Kimberly)

A typical nice day doesn't end so Typicaly nice for Kimberly and the rest.

Chris looks out at the valley spanning out before him, quickly stretching, he heads down the mountain following the tree line closely as not to be noticed by others. He wears a heavy hooded cape of dark gray and winter white to camouflage himself to the landscape. His massive hand-and-a-half sword secured to his back under his cape, wearing his thick leather vest protecting his vital organs over his dark blue shirt that accents his deep bluish-green eyes under bangs that extend to his muzzle, split at the middle. His long hair tucked under his cape. He comes to the base of the valley, and heads towards the stream that leads to the pond. Hoping that the water is thawed enough to fish out of. His stomach growls at the thought of it, as he had eaten nothing but grains for days as the storm raged on. Now subsided, He’s fishing. Passing by an old stump, he pauses to sniff the air. He perks his ears, searching for anything that would be of threat.

Kimberly made her way along the creek; it was nice of her husband to watch their son while she did this she needed to concentrate. It was time for some final revisions to her map of Thorn Valley before she turns it in for final printing. She finally found a good comfortable looking boulder to sit on readjusting the rapier at her side to a more comfortable position that won't interfere with her arms motion. She slipped her satchel off her shoulder and set it down pulling out the rolled up map that she needs from the satchel as well of other instruments of her field of expertise. Setting the tools aside she unrolled the map and began looking it over and comparing it to her surroundings. Making adjustments with her pencil as needed.

Julius hobbled calmly through the woods. His eyes were red from sobbing earlier. Today was the date his dear wife Victoria had been killed. He had a meeting to attend but he decided the council could wait. "Oh Victoria." he lamented to himself sitting on a large rock and wiping some tears from his eyes. He could never let the council see him like this. Everyone expects him to be calm and collected during most meetings. Little did he know, he was being watched.

Chris once certain he was alone, he slowly makes his way closer to the valley. Thinking to himself,” I haven’t been this close to the colony since I ran away with my sister all that time ago.” He sobs at the thought of his sister, the only family he had left now dead, All because some stupid insect. He stops suddenly, when he thinks he hears something. Looks around and decides to get a better view. He carefully climbs the nearest tree and looks around. He thinks he sees a shadow move in the distance, but he can't make anything out of it. Climbing back down, curiosity driving him, heads even closer yet to the colony, to see if someone was indeed there, or his eyes where just playing tricks on him due to his empty stomach.

Kimberly was working when she paused, pencil held calmly over the map as her ears swiveled around. She thought she heard someone's voice nearby and it sounded sad. The sad voice tugged at her heart and she decided to see if she could comfort the creature. She set the pencil down turning her head with her ears as she listens for the source. Pinpointing its general location she picks up her stuff and rolled her map back up after dusting eraser fragments from it. Slipping everything back in her satchel as she slips it over her shoulder again and went to find the sad voice. As she got near where it she thought it was coming from she peeked around a bush "Hello? Is someone there?" she asks stepping from behind the bush.

Julius sitting up at the sound of the female quickly dried his eyes and replied, " Err uh yes. Um forgive me did I disturb you?" He said to the female rat quickly from years of practice regaining his composure.

Chris approaches the place he thought he saw something at. He stops and climbs another tree; once midway up, he climbs out on a sturdy branch and waits. Removing his hood, he sniffs the air. He smells a scent, maybe two, there weak but... yes. He knew, that he was not alone anymore. He crouches down low on the branch to hide his form from gazing eyes as he spots two other rats in the near distance. He looks closer at them to see if they were NIMH rats, or those damn sewer rats that keep harassing everyone. He clenches his fist tight to the point his knuckle fur was damp with blood. Those overgrown, stinking, dirty rats, the very kind that brutally killed his parents. He lets a low-long growl escape.” I’ll kill all those bastards if I have to.” He says softly to himself. After getting a better look at his company, he notices one of them is a female, young by the looks of it, maybe even around his age. She carries a satchel on her back,” probably an artist.” he thinks. The other rat, a male was much older. He couldn’t see anymore than that, but he knew they would not mean him harm if they met. So he just stayed put in his tree perch and watched as the two rats conversed.

Kimberly steps from behind the bush noticing an older rat and even noticing his attempts to compose himself. But she isn't fooled if his red puffy eyes were any indication. "Are you okay sir?" she asks calmly as she approaches him "My names Kimberly by the way." she adds as she tries to sit with him. she giggles a little at how easily he composed himself "No you weren't I was just working around the bend in the stream there when i heard you. You sounded sad, are you okay?" she asks again removing her satchel again and trying to take his paw to comfort the older rat.

Julius replied " Julius and err, yes I'm perfectly all right." he was a bit surprised when she took his paw but didn’t disapprove. "Whets a young female like yourself doing all the way out here?" he asked

Chris stirs a little as his stomach growls even louder now.” I’ve got to eat.” he thinks. Slowly backing down off the tree, he takes one last look at these rats; they were still involved in some kind of conversation and had no idea of his presence there. He climbs all the way down and heads downstream towards the pond. Putting his hood back on, he walks of, down the stream bank.

Kimberly nods to Julius and gives his paw a comforting squeeze "It's a pleasure to meet you Julius. And if you say your fine then okay." she said smiling and blushing a little at his question. "My job of course, I'm the Colony Cartographer and I need to finish the final revision of the Valley map before the printing." she said releasing his paw finally and shifting the rapier at her side to a more comfortable position. She then opens her satchel again and pulling out her map she unrolls it for the older rat. Giving him a chance to see the beautifully, paw-drawn map and allowing him to hold half of it if he chooses.

Julius set down his cane and peered at the map. It was very neatly drawn this was no amateur. The detail was exquisite. "My, my" he thought to himself. Mean while two staggs were listening very carefully; Their blades gleaming wickedly in the light. "Ow long we gotta stan ere listenin te these two?" asked the shorter fatter one, "Until we fine ou somin o importans." hissed the taller stagg who was missing an ear. "Oh come of eh Nagg," complained the shorter one, "Less get back to Ash" "Not until we fine somein ou so shud up Gorp." growled Nagg straining with his good ear to her the two NIMH rats.

Chris makes his way towards the pond, sniffing the air once and a while as he goes. He gets close to the pond and pulls longbow and some long, flexible quivers out of a secret hiding place. He sits down to compress the bow shaft and attaches the cord to the other end. Standing back up, he tests the tension of the cord. Satisfied, he then walks over to the pond and putting a quiver in his bow, he half draws it and waits, watching the water for ripples indicating a fish. Suddenly realizing that he forgot to attach the retrieval string to the quiver. He puts his bow down, and walks back to his hiding place to retrieve some string. He finds a piece long enough and takes a look around. The sky was cloudy, making the trees give off eerie shadows. The air was brisk with the winter chill. He smells a new scent, getting stronger now. He grins showing his teeth viciously as he says,” I smell vermin.” as a stench crossed his nostrils. He pulls his hood off, revealing the pommel of his sword. Unlatching the mechanism that keeps it secure, he slides the blade slowly out, making a metal-to-metal grinding sound as it slides out smoothly. He heads towards the direction of the smell, upwind towards the stream, adrenalin pumping in his veins, a fury of hatred towards the kind of beast that kills mercilessly. He now moves with precision with his blade as he navigates the forest, looking for revenge.

Kimberly smiles at Julius' reaction to her work "I've been working on this map for a couple years now, I even have a map for the Colony itself back in my office." she said and let him look a little longer before she tries to roll it back up. "So what do you do Julius?" she asks and waits for a response. But after a minute or so she felt the wind shift causing her to shiver and pull her hood up and pulling her heavy cloak tighter around herself. But then she paused sitting up as she looks around, the fur on her neck bristling as she begins to smell an unfamiliar scent and felt like they were being watched. "Do you smell that?" she asks.

Julius was about to reply when he noticed her reaction. Then he smelt it too. He shot straight up and his paw flew straight to his cane and his cape blew with the breeze. "Show yourself!" he growled. "If ya say so ya ole bastard." and then two staggs appeared out of the shadows. One was rather short and fat while the other, was tall and missing an ear. There twisted blades shined evilly in the light. "Wha yu gonna do ole timer?" laughed the short one "Hit us wih yore twig?"

Chris sees to ugly beasts of rats attempting to attack these two innocents. He runs up full speed and stops suddenly, still sliding forward; he jams the blade of his heavy sword into the ground using it to stop his forward momentum. Quickly as he stops, he slides his paws together, palms facing towards earth other, sliding out three blades from each of his braces, he lets fly six blades towards the vile creatures, not aiming to kill them as he wanted to have some fun first, but to wound them so they would react slower giving the NIMH rats time to regroup and fight, or run. Either way, he didn't care; he wanted blood from at least one of them. After letting fly his blades, he ripped his massive sword out of the ground. Charging at full speed, blade swinging wildly, cape blowing out behind him as he screams,” DIE VERMIN,DIE!"

Kimberly stood quickly as Julius stood and shouted. She gasps as two of the scruffiest looking rats she had ever seen stepped from the bushes. Her paw immediately reaches for the handle to her rapier drawing it quickly from it's scabbard as she flips her cloak back to give more room to maneuver. Hearing the rats speak to Julius her anger rises bringing her rapier up so that she's ready for action "Leave him alone. Why don't you pick on someone younger you freaks!" she said but jumps aside barely avoiding one of the knives Chris threw as he comes charging out of no where. Not sure if he's planning on attacking the scruffy rats or she and Julius. She's very wary of unknown rats charging in her general direction.

Julius quickly drew his rapier out from his cane but looked as he saw Chris charging out of nowhere with vengeance as fuel. "Oh blimey!" yelled Nagg ducking just in time as a knife barely missed his head. Gorp however wasn't as lucky. A knife had hit him straight in his shoulder causing him to drop his sword and collapse.

Chris running at the group, looks at the two NIMH rats and yells,” YOU TWO...Get OUT of here. NOW!" then returning his concentration to the foul smelling creatures, he approaches the tall one missing an ear, and swinging hi blade around, spinning at the same time, brings his blade up with full force aiming to lop off the sword bearing forearm. Then, with one fluid movement, comes around the back of the first rat, blade jabbing backwards he aims for the gut of the fatter rat, then, still moving from the momentum, he spins back around facing his fist opponent, blood dripping of the end of his blade as he grins at the two rats,” You picked the wrong day to be here.” chuckling to himself. Obviously amused with the sudden surge, welcoming it, He takes a deep breath, then looks at the scruffy rats with piercing eyes, face now expressionless.

Kimberly hears Chris' words to get out of there but doesn't move. The two stagg rats sudden arrival made her blood chill in her veins and ignited the fire of battle light in her eyes. She was ambushed and taken captive once already and she wasn't about to let it happen again. She tightened her grip on her rapier ready to got into battle to defend herself and her older friend.

Julius turned to Kimberly and said, "We should probably get out of here. Looks like he has a handle on the situation." Nagg leaped back feeling pain in his arm luckily the blade from the large rat had only grazed his shoulder. Gorp however had blood flowing from his belly. "Nagg h-help me!" whimpered Gorp. Nagg twirled his sword and ran Gorp through with it. "Bloody weakling!" he growled. Then turning to the other rat he yelled, "Come on then! I'll eat your liver and use your blood to wash it down!"

Chris looks at the wounded, but still living, smelly rat that just killed his partner. He raises his massive, blood stained sword and says,” Creatures like you are the reason I have no parents, you took that away from me, and now...I will take your life in payment."

Kimberly was about to join in the fray when one of the attackers killed the other. She was shocked for a second at the brutality of it. Quickly she regained her concentration She growled to the old rat "Forget it I'm sick about running away. I was captured once and it's NOT going to happen again!" she barked and launched herself at the rat. A blurring flash of steel and she was in front of Chris attempting to run the stagg through with the wicked blade of the rapier. Her grip is firm and ready to retaliate if the stagg blocks her move.

Julius grumbled, "Damn fool female." but he heard something coming behind him. He raised his blade and blocked just as another blade was about to split his head. Standing over him was the largest stagg he had ever seen! / Nagg lunged himself at the male rat ready to decapitate him when he noticed two things at once. The young female running at him and.... Ash? "Oh this should be fun." Nagg thought to himself.

Chris growls at Nagg," you think your going to live,” smiles wickedly,” Think again.” He raises his massive, blood stained sword to the rat, and taking a couple steps forward, starts running full speed at Nagg, sword flying though the air as he spins, noticing Kimberly charging the rat, he backs off just in time to notice a third rat just behind Julius. He quickly runs at the rat yelling to Julius,” Watch out, Behind you!” as Julius turns around, blocking the attack right in time. He runs at the new assailant, cape flapping in the wind as he charges, sword raised high as to cut him in half,” I wont let him hurt you.” He thinks as he approaches the rat.

Kimberly continues her motion as she tries to run Nagg through, still ready to retaliate if he should block her. Currently she was concentrating on her opponent there were enough others to watch her back if another attacked her from behind.

Julius shoved forward with all his might against his new opponent. The stagg moved but on his own accorded. Backing away a few feet the large stagg turned to Julius and Chris and said in a loud rumbling voice "I am Ash! The destroyer. When I am done I shall add your heads to my collection!" And indeed Julius panting heavily noticed the many skulls dangling from a chord around the stagg's waist. "Very well." replied Julius bowing and taking his signature fencing pose./ "What's this?" Laughed Nagg dodging her blade by a few inches. "They send uh stupi female tu challenge me." Then raising his blade to strike and said wickedly, "I bet yer gud sport fur other thins as well?" He hoped the female got his point.

Chris sees the skulls around Ash's waist, growing even more bloodthirsty as one of the very creatures that brutally killed his parents now stands in his way, and threatens his good friends life. His sword dripping fresh blood, raises to Ash, a nasty snarl upon his face as he crouches down, ready to split the rat in two, He says,” So...You want to play eh…?" he says as he swings his massive sword, challenging the leader to a game of chance...

Kimberly didn't care that her first charge missed her opponent by inches, it was a sudden charge, up close is where things worked better to her advantage. She was light and nimble deceptively so. "Probably the most advancement you ever got by one too I'll bet." she chided the stagg. Seeing him raise to strike at her she dodged the swing parrying the attempt and flicking her wrist tried to slice his arm. She did hear his last words and fire flashed in her eyes she refused to respond to it and doubled her effort to find a weakness in his attacks so she can exploit it.

Julius waited for his opponent. Ash swung forward first at Julius but the old rat caught the momentum with his rapier and used it to propel himself safely away from his opponent. "Hmmm this shall be tricky." thought Julius. "I'll have to get him from behind." Ash swung his large rusty blade then at the other rat hoping that this one wouldn't be able to leap away, as the older one had. / Nagg blocked the slice the female tried to make at his arm. He shoved his weight against her hoping to nock her to the ground. He was going to make this one suffer before death. In the dark recesses of his festered mind he could picture it.

Chris watches as Julius dodges Ash's blow, and then leans to the side avoiding a rusty blade thrown at him. Smiling, he looks at the large rat with piercing bluish-green eyes,” It seems you have lost your weapon, tsk tsk tsk, what shall you do now.” as he approaches the stagg.

Kimberly shifted her movement as he blocked her slice but when he shoved his weight against her she quickly side stepped twisting around behind her opponent and shoved him from behind, trying to shove him to the ground using his own momentum from his weight to her advantage. She then steps back a couple steps bringing her rapier up in a defensive stance waiting for her opponent to make the next move.

Julius saw Chris going toward the large stagg and decided to use this diversion to his advantage. He quietly melted into the shadows and began slinking around the two trying to get behind Ash. /Ash's answer to Chris was an unearthly roar his claws seemed to become longer as he waited, like a flytrap waits for the fly. /Nagg fell to the ground cursing to himself. He stood up quickly and swiped for his opponent’s legs while doing so. Hoping to slice a their or tendon perhaps.

Chris increases his speed as he approaches Ash. Julius seemed to have disappeared. He thinks to himself,” The old rat has a plan." Smiling, he charges Ash, blade humming as it slices the air. Adrenalin pumps in his veins as he comes down with his sword screaming,” EAT STEEL!" as he slices downwards upon his enemy.

Kimberly was ready for Nagg to try something like that swipe at her legs. She nimbly jumps back avoiding the swing completely before quickly stabbing down at the paw holding the sword "You gotta do better than that, surely." she said with a grin. She waits for him to get up ready to dodge or parry if he tries again but also ready to cover her eyes if he would try to fight dirty, literally, as in throw dirt in her face. "Come on get up you great lummox!" she chides again always ready to defend or attack at a short notice.

Julius watched from a bush as Chris went forward to Ash. He had to say the stagg couldn't possibly survive this. Though for some reason Julius had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. / Ash defied the very laws of nature as he caught the steel with his bare hand! His muscles budged and black blood ran freely from his paw but he held the blade as if it were just a branch. Then he grabbed Chris by the throat screaming, "I AM ASH!!! I KILL WHOM I WISH! I AM STRONG! STROONG! STROOOOOONG!!!!!/ Nagg was about to slice upward at the female’s head when he heard Ash's voice. His jaw and sword dropped when he saw Ash actually holding the other rat's blade.

Chris chokes as he is picked up by the throat and looks at Ash’s, smiles. He pulls out one of his throwing knifes, and sticks it in Ash's arm, twisting it as he does. He then kicks Ash as hard a he could, right in the chest. He grabs for Ash's face, tearing at whatever gets in his grip. Takes another blade and strikes it in his other arm.

Kimberly raised her sword as she saw the stagg’s muscles bunching as he got ready to slice at her, getting ready to block it. She blinked as the rat dropped his sword suddenly a look of confusion crossing her stern battle face ~ Is he giving up? ~ She thinks to herself. She then saw what the rat was looking at and blinked in surprise at the rat catching Chris' sword. Her attention was on that battle but she also kept her eye on Nagg, her own opponent. She felt half compelled to finish her opponent off right there, but refused to kill an unarmed creature even if it attacked her first.

Julius knew now was the time for action. He lunged at Ash and jumped on his back beating him with the hilt of his sword saying, "I am Julius Maximus! And I shall be your executioner beast!" / Ash felt stabs of pain as the knives went into his arms. That's what made him let go though the kick in the gut only made him angrier. He released the rat only to have the older one jump on his back. He roared at the old rats words and threw him of his back against a tree then proceeded to take out the daggers from his arms. / Nagg quickly regained himself and grabbed his sword ready to gut the female, ~Stupid thing.~ he thought to himself as he lunged at her, ~She should have killed me when she had the chance.~

Chris drops to the ground, grabbing his throat. The rat was strong, much stronger than he had anticipated. He grabs his massive sword and stands back at the rat. As soon as he does this, Julius jumps on his back, beating him with his hilt. Chris sees the opportunity and lunges at the rat, sword extended fully.

Kimberly gasps, jumping back as Nagg lunged at her ~I guess he's not giving up. ~ She thought. She brought her rapier up deflecting any blow he might throw at her. She then struck at his sword trying to knock the blade aside before she quickly spun sweeping her leg low to knock his feet out from under him and swinging her rapier high to bring the sharp blade across his middle should he jump to avoid her leg sweep.

Julius staggered up after Ash had thrown him at the tree. His world was spinning and he couldn't gain his balance. / Ash ignored the other rat deciding he wanted to finish off the old one; he lumbered over and reached down for him. The old rat raised his word feebly but Ash knocked it out of his paw. He then lifted the old rat up by his throat and said wickedly, "I wonder how you taste?" He then opened his mouth preparing to bite off Julius' head! / Nagg swung at the female and missed only to have her kick him to the ground. His sword flew away from his paw and he looked up to see the female's sword inches away from his face.

Chris sees the large, powerful rat reach for his friend anger flashing in his bluish-green eyes; he picks his sword up with both paws, lunging forward. He beats the large rat that smells of waste, right in the face, with the blunt, flat part of his sword. Noticing that Kimberly has the situation under control, he grins at the smelly rat,” Seems like he's not on the menu” as he readies himself for another attack.

Kimberly blinked, surprised that one of the tricks her Husband showed her when he was training her on swordplay actually worked. She was even surprised if not maybe a little worried that she was possibly beginning to like fighting. That chilled her to the core, She, a new mother liked this fighting and she shuddered stepping back from Nagg lowering her rapier a little. She didn't know if she wanted to kill this rat or not, but still keeping her whit’s about her in case Nagg took this opportunity of her distraction to try and strike again.

Isabella is making her way back through the woods, another doctor by her side. One guard is with them, carrying object of their rescue, a fallen scout, on his back. The other guard has gone ahead to fetch help, and not a moment too soon. Isabella looks up sharply at the sound of a nearby melee, even audible over the dull roar of the creek's waters. Drawing an arrow from her quiver, she loads her arrow, moving forward toward the sound. "Go back," she whispers to the others. "Get Rory to safety, and get the second wave of guards here as soon as you can!" The guard nods, and quickening his pace, he and the other doctor disappear from sight. Isabella ducks behind the nearest tree trunk for cover, having spotted a small group under attack. *I hope they get back soon...looks like we need all the help we can get!* She identified Julius, the old council rat, and Kimberly, the mapmaker. The other she doesn't know as well--it matters little. Julius, at least, is in dire straits. Drawing back the string on her bow, she takes aim at the huge rat's shoulder, hoping to distract him and hopefully spare the old rat's life.

Julius fell to the ground the stagg's rank breath still in his nostrils. His leg was bleeding and he thought his right arm was broken. / Ash dropped the old rat turning to the other one. A thin cut was across one cheek. He snarled at the younger rat's comment and said, "But you are!" He then lunged at the rat with his claws ready to tear and maim. / Nagg closed his eyes ready for the female to kill him. At least he would die a worrier. But when the finale blow didn't come he looked up. The female was standing there looking stunned. Nagg being what he was jaded, " Awww thu female gonna break a nail if she kills me?" Then his voice softened menacingly, "You know you want to."

Chris jumped back as Ash lunged at him, raising his blade, he focuses all his might to deflecting the large rats blows. He clears his long bangs from his eyes, revealing the look of pure hatred towards one who has killed his very parents. He side steps as he swings violently at the stinking rat that he saw in his mind, a murderer. Defending himself, he looks to see if his friend was all right. Noticing the blood and his groans, his eyes flashed red before him as he swung at his opponent, chopping and slicing at anything that got in his way.

Kimberly still looked stunned but blinked shaking her head and returning to reality when she heard her opponents jading. A flash of anger crossing her eyes and she growls "Pick up your sword you worthless excuse for a rat. I don't kill unarmed beasts. ” she said with a snarl as she brings her rapier up to a position of readiness.

Isabella shoulders her bow, rushing to Julius' side as soon as his attacker's attention is diverted. "Sir, it's me, Isabella. Can you stand?" She reaches out, indicating that Julius should take her hand. *With any luck, I can get him at least out of the fray.* She isn't looking at the rest of the battle going on around them, and may be more vulnerable than she believes herself to be.

Julius heard the voice of a female but couldn't see. Every thing was hazy. He said weakly, "Forget me...go...Chris." As he said this though he took out a throwing knife from his belt and took aim. / Ash lunged viciously at the young rat. He ripped and tore gouging the rat's abdomen and breaking one of the rat's arms. He felt a sharp pain though and looked down. His arm was gone! The male rat had managed to sever it during the fray. Ash was about to deal the deathblow then but he felt something sink into the small of his back. He knew it was a knife and cursed loudly as blood ran from his arm, back, and mouth as he said, "Damn ... you all ...t to.... H Helllll!!." then it was finished./ Nagg replied wickedly to the female, "Who said I was unarmed?" he then produced a hidden dagger made from a rusty nail and leaped up at the female. He was so preoccupied he didn't even notice what was going on with Ash.

Chris was wincing on the ground, holding his chest with his good arm. He looks at Ash, as the rat stops in mid air with his final blow, gurgling blood as he steps back. His arm was definitely broken, and his chest bled badly from the unprotected parts of his leather vest saying,” I’m not done yet” He gets up, wobbling a little from his wounds. Unable to wield his sword now, he looks around at the battle. Everything seems to be in slow motion as he sees Nagg pull a knife on Kimberly; he pulls tree blades from the brace on his broken arm. Holding the blades with his good paw, he throws them at Nagg, right before he loose consciousness.

Kimberly watched as Nagg spoke and leaped at her. She jumped back swinging her own blade striking at the nail/dagger to try and disarm him, yet again. Using both his momentum and hers she suddenly spun around, slipping behind the stagg and with a growl of unexpected rage from such a gentle female and began to try and pummel the back of his skull repeatedly with the polished pummel stone on her rapier handle enough to possibly knock him out. In her unexpected rage she didn't notice Chris throwing the knives and had unknowingly stepped in the line of the thrown knives. She was just about to run Nagg through when she cried out in sudden pain as a stray thrown knife sliced her across her side. The brief pain snapped her out of the rage and she gasped stepping back again dropping her rapier as she realized what had come over her. She pressed a paw to her side gasping at the minor injury that snapped her back to her senses. "I-I'm sorry about this Cedric. I don't know what came over Me." she said in grief as tears began to fill her eyes and she collapsed onto her knees crying.

Isabella nods to Julius, leaving him by the trunk of a tree as she makes a dash for Chris. Pulling some gauze from her satchel pack, she begins to tightly bind the wound. They had to stop the bleeding first and foremost that was the most important thing. She could hear more noise coming from the underbrush--help in the form of the guards and medics was arriving, she had no doubt of it. "Kimberly!" she shouts, glancing over her shoulder. "Get it TOGETHER and finish that bastard! I don't care if you kill him or not, but you need to incapacitate! NOW!" Is that /her/ voice? It doesn't sound like it, and yet... She finished bandaging Chris' wound, hoping she'll get a chance to do a better job when they get back.

Julius sat against the tree and groaned as he saw more rats’ approaching. He was happy that none of his friends were killed but still furious. His leg was broken and he was bleeding for God's sake. A young guard came up to him and asked, "Are you all right sir?" Julius decided to Hell with his manners and growled, "Do I look bloody all right!" The young guard stood dumbfounded and said,” Well uh..." Julius cut him short, "Don't just stand here gawking dammit! Get your arse over there and do something with that stagg." He roared pointing at where Kimberly was. / Nagg was laying on the ground his whole world spinning. He had blood running out his nose and thought he was missing a tooth. He just hoped they would kill him already and be done with it.

Chris regained consciousness, as he looked down, he saw that he had been bandaged. He gains his composure a little, realizing that his arm really is broken, and this is not a dream. He gasps as he feels the pain return, the burning, insufferable pain that he feels. He trains with his weapons daily, but never had an opponent of this caliber before. He looks towards Kimberly, he sees the stagg laying on the ground. A pathetic look upon his face He thinks to himself,” I feel better now” looking at the badly, beaten stagg.

Kimberly is too shocked by her unexpected dark rage to really even hear Isabella or notice the damage she had dealt to the stagg. She sat in shock, horrified that something could take a hold of her so easily so she continued to sit there holding a paw to the cut on her side and still crying. /Darrell had responded to the Guards and doctors calling for help and hurried to follow the rest as they approach the scene of an obvious small battle. He noticed two dead staggs and one half dead. He also noticed the injured NIMH rats among them. He recognized Kimberly and hurried to her side "Mrs. Kimberly are you alright?" he asks as he picked up her rapier and pulled her away from the stagg before he approaches it. Drawing his saber he pressed the tip to the back of the neck of the quite conscious stagg. "You move one muscle your DEAD!" he growls and began to draw out some twine from his pocket. "One of you Guards Tie this piece of filth up good and tight." he said keeping the sword pressed into the back of Nagg’s neck to possibly keep the stagg still.

Isabella takes a look at Chris' arm, grateful that she can take her time now that the guards are here. Two doctors bring a stretcher, and she instructs them to load Chris on it as soon as possible. Two of the guards approach, ready to bind the unconscious stagg. Pulling some materials out of her medical kit, she begins to make a splint for the broken arm--it won't be as good as what she can do in the infirmary, but it will keep the bones from getting jarred even more. "Chris," she says quietly. "I'm going to give you something for the pain, okay?" With any luck, it will make him sleep, too--and spare him a good deal of discomfort.

Julius sat and saw the many guards and a few doctors rushing about. He stared at the large dead stagg noticing his knife still in it's back. Stopping a guard he said, "My lad you see that knife in that large stagg's back. It's mine. I want it disinfected of that filths blood as soon as possible." He groaned from his injuries and said sharply, "Oh for God's sake get me a medic."

Chris looks at the female rat, barely conscious, as he had lost some blood. He says, ” Not...Stagg...NIMH," as he falls asleep.

Kimberly continues to cry still holding her paw to the cut on her side. She blinks and wipes her eyes as Darrell pulled her back from the stagg and set her rapier at her side. But she was still too distraught to respond to the scout that helped her. She continued to cry mumbling apologies to her husband for her dark actions. / Darrell held his saber to the back of the stagg’s neck as the guards came over and started restrain the stagg. Once the stagg was restrained he would remove the tip sheathed his saber and returned to Kimberly's side "Oh Mrs. Kimberly your hurt!" he said in surprise and shouted to one of the unoccupied doctors and nurses milling around. "Would someone get over here and tend to Mrs. Kimberly she need treatment for a cut on her side!" he said sharply as he began to try and comfort the female.

Isabella has sent Chris on his way to be tended to, instructing another medic to tend to Julius. One of the accompanying guards obliges Julius' request, removing the knife from the other stagg. Isabella, for her part, goes to take a look at Kimberly's wound. "It's okay, Kimberly...let me take a look. Then we'll bandage you up and get you home, alright?" Her voice is soothing and calm, like a mother with a small child. "We have to get out of here as soon as possible..." she glances over at the bound stagg. "Just what are you planning on doing with him?" she asks, as she fetches more gauze from her bag for Kimberly's wound.

Julius, after being mended limped over to the others. He asked, "Indeed what should be done with him?" then he continued eerily nonchalantly, "Perhaps we should just execute him on the spot." Then a weak chuckle was herd from Nagg. Nagg said coldly, "You are all going to burn, except you old rat. I'll see that you become a meal for the High priestess!"

Chris opens his eyes briefly to know he is on a she feels no pain. He sleeps now on the stretcher. The medicine taking affect

Kimberly leaned her head against Darrell's shoulder glad to have someone to comfort her. She was already starting to feel better and her crying is nearly under control. When Isabella came over and began to treat her wound she winced as she lowered her paw to let Isabella look at her "It's not bad I hope, is it Bella? That was stupid of me, why did I jump into the line of those thrown knives?" she asks sniffling. She gasps blinking as she realized the stagg she nearly bashed his brains in was still alive but she didn't say anything, she didn't care what was done with the creature. / Darrel stepped back wiping the blood from Kim's cut on his cloak as Isabella made her way over "Sorry Isabella I didn't mean to shout at you or your fellow healers, but i was just concerned for Kim. She one of my closest friends, she and her husband Cedric." he said then looked at the restrained stagg as he shouted "Oh Shut up! Your lucky we're showing you mercy. Which is something you staggs wouldn't have shown. I don't know what to do with him folks, I guess we can keep him prisoner and ask the council what they think. We could maybe even use him as a negotiation tool for the staggs maybe." he suggested with a shrug.

Isabella continues to look over the wound, and begins binding it with the cloth. "It'll probably need stitches, Kim, but it isn't that bad." She glances at Darrell. "It's fine, I'm used to it." She doesn't pay attention to the stagg prisoner, focusing on her patient and finishing the bandaging. "We'll need another stretcher for this one. Let's go."

Julius looked down at Nagg and pressed the tip of his cane against the stagg’s throat. He said in a cold soft voice, "Watch your tone vermin. I wouldn’t mind seeing your head on a pike... But I think we may have a better use for you." He grinned wickedly at Nagg and then looked up to Darrell saying, "I assume you are in charge at the moment? I want this stagg gagged and taken to the prison block. Treat his wounds but don't make his stay comfortable. Then question him for information." He though for a second and then said grimly, "You have permission to use torture if you must but don't kill him."

Chris, still asleep gets repositioned on the stretcher.

Kimberly sighs in relief as Bella told her the wound wasn't bad. She stood up shaking her head at the mention of a stretcher for her. She picked up her sword wiping her Rapier blade clean on her cloak hem "That's not necessary Bella, I can w-walk." she said and suddenly felt light headed from loss of blood and stumbled a bit. She caught herself on Darrell and blinked as the world stopped revolving "Umm...Maybe I'm not able to walk to well after all." she said and with Darrell's help she got down on the stretcher with a groan and tried to relax. / Darrell was watching the stagg when suddenly Kim staggered and caught herself on him. He quickly caught her "Whoa, easy Mrs. Kimberly." he said nodding as she comments about needing the stretcher after all. After helping her lie down he glanced at Julius. He nods "At the moment I guess I Am." he said and nodded at what Julius was telling him. He snapped a finger and whistled motioned for a guard to gag the stagg. He paused as Julius mentioned 'Torture' which caused him to blink "Umm... Julius sir we don't try to torture prisoners, we're not barbarians. But I will see that he get s strong interrogation." he said before motioning a couple more Guards over "Take this piece of filth to the prison cell and call Brutus to interrogate the prisoner." he said with a wicked grin.

Isabella shakes her head, and adjusted Kimberly's wound dressings. "When are you going to learn to listen to your doctor's advice? You're as bad as Justin, you know that?" She eases Kimberly down, and nods to Darrell. "Thanks for your help," she replies, flashing him a grateful look. Shooting Julius a funny look, she raises one eyebrow. ** One of the guards bends down near Nagg in order to obey his superior's command.

Julius coughed hard and leaned heavily on his cane. "Very good Darrell. Now what are we to do with those?" He says pointing to the two dead stagg.

Chris lays on the stretcher, his breathing is normal, he twitches his ear and moans a little as he hears conversation, but his body won't respond to his commands.

Kimberly chuckles a little at Isabella's comment "Yeah I'm afraid you might be right Bella." she said wincing as her bandage wrap gets readjusted. She then points over to the rock she and Julius were sitting on before the attack. "Can someone please get my satchel over there for me, My works in there and I don't need to loose anything, and stuff in there doesn't take to well to being left outside." she said and relaxes again waiting for her stretcher to be carried off. /Darrell nods to Kimberly's question about getting her satchel "Sure Mrs. Kimberly, I'll get it for you." he said and retrieves her satchel and sets it beside her. He glances at Julius and shrugs looking at the carcasses "I don't know should we just dump their body's in Cold Creek?" he suggests not really sure what to do with them.

Isabella smiles at Kimberly and nods to her two fellow medics, "Alright, I think it's time to blow this Popsicle stand, before more trouble finds us." The two medics lift the stretcher, and she motions for the other two to gather up Chris' own stretcher. "All right...I think we're just about set. ** The guard leans down, and gags Nagg without much gentleness.

Julius nods at Isabella saying, "Agreed. I'm sure the Council is going to love to hear about this." He looked at Kimberly and said, "Will you be alright my dear?"

Chris moans some more when he is lifted up and carried away. He opens his eyes slightly as he tries to look around. Everything was fuzzy, and he couldn’t feel...anything. He closes his eyes again, assuming he was being taken to the Infirmary.

Kimberly smiles back at Isabella then at Darrell as he handed her the satchel "Thank you Darrell." she said clutching at the satchel as her stretcher is lifted and carried off so it won't fall off and ruin the maps if they fell out. /Darrell smiled "No problem Kimberly." he said and motioned a couple guards over and pointed to the two carcasses "Dispose of those, then take the live one to the prison cell. And as Councilman Julius said make sure he's not comfortable. Me and the rest of the Guards will escort the medical team inside." he said and began to follow the stretchers.

Isabella stands, and goes to oversee the transportation of the injured back to Thorn Valley. At this point, they're out of stretchers, as well as staff to carry them. She offers her own arm to help Julius along. If he's willing, she can support his weight with her own body strength. "Let's head home," she suggests. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I need a shower."

Julius accepted Isabella's offer and said,” Agreed. I’m to old for these damn shenanigans." he said to Darrell, “You will let me know how the interrogation comes want you. I doubt he will know anything but still."

Chris Cringes in pain as his feelings return. He forces open his eyes for enough time to know he was being taken to the colony. He hopes the guards, or medics have picked up his longbow, and sword. He doesn't care about the darts he threw, as long as he has his father’s sword and bow.

Kimberly lies still trying to relax as best she can with the stretcher bouncing and swaying as it's carried to the Infirmary. She soon closes her eyes wincing occasionally from a particular hard jolt that happened every once in a while. Regardless she twists the strap of her satchel around her wrist and right paw and tried to rest. She hoped that when she would wake her injuries would be patched up and she could go home to her Husband and son. / Darrell nodded and signaled the remaining guards to help escort the medical staff as he takes his position ahead of the group. He nods and salutes Julius "Certainly Julius Sir. Would you like to be there FOR the interrogation or would you like me to report to you the result of the interrogations?" he asks as he began leading the other's toward the Colony.

Isabella flashes Julius a brief smile, and walks alongside the guards, in between the stretchers in case she's needed to tend to either of her patients. Looking to Chris, she touches his forehead gently. Unbeknownst to him, another guard had picked up his weapons that had been on the ground nearby. "Shhh....Rest now, Chris. The painkiller I gave you should kick in. Just relax. She seems to be satisfied thus far with Kim's condition, though she'll feel better once they're home and she has her own equipment to use. "How are you feeling, Kim?"

Julius was balancing himself on Isabella, and his cane. On haring Darrell's suggestion he thought for a moment. "Yes. Yes perhaps it would be best if I were there." He coughed and said continued, "Not that I'm proud of it, but knowing that bastard Jenner gave me quite a bit of insight where to draw the line in interrogations.... if you get my meaning.

Chris nods weakly to Isabella. His eyes closed, he tries to rest. The bumps and turns make it difficult for him. He knows when he gets to the colony he will be treated properly. He also knows his sister will be worried when he does not return home.

Kimberly blinks her eyes open as Isabella speaks to her again and she smiles nodding "Yes I'm fine Bella, but my side stings a little but it's nothing compared to having a kit." she said giggling weakly knowing Isabella knew exactly how that feels. She smiles again and closes her eyes again trying to rest so she can get back to her family sooner. /Darrell nods as he walks glad to see the colony entrance growing larger into view as they approach. "Very well Julius, we'll wait until your in good enough shape to show up before we interrogate." he said signaling the Colony entrance Sentry so he knows their arriving. "I'll go on ahead and prepare the prisoners cell." he said and hurried into the colony, and leaving the group now that they were safely back in the colony.

Isabella returns Kimberly's smile, and nods. "I surely do, Kim. But don't worry, I'm sure Cedric will take excellent care of you once you're treated." She nods to Darrell and the guards as the group disperses--the guards to the guardhouse, and the medics and patients to the infirmary. *Home! I'm so happy and relieved to see it...*