Viewing Single Post From: Thunder On A Bright Day

Viewing Single Post From: Thunder On A Bright Day
Uriah Thunderpaw	Sep 12 2008, 03:38 PM
Level One Poster Posts: 37 Group: Unassigned Member #62 Joined: August 8, 2008	(Apologies for the delay. I've been rather busy of late, with various things holding me back. But I have returned once more, to reply. So here it is!) It had been a long time since Uriah had last encountered Duran Swiftpike, but the vole hadn’t seemed to have changed at all. He was still kindly, as he always had been, but he knew his business, and knew the best way to appease those beneath him. Having said that, Uriah knew that the High Commander was not a soft beast, and could be as commanding as his station demanded of him; a well-rounded beast, all in all, and a good choice to command a fortress such as the Black Arch Fort. “Thank you very much, sir,” Uriah replied, drawing himself up once more to stand before the vole. The badger stood and listened to the Commander give out his orders, and nodded with approval. Giving a glance down to Avirly, Duran’s daughter, the badger bowed his head. “Well met, Miss Swiftpike. I am sure my men will be most appreciative of your services. I leave them in your care.” Giving a small smile to the little vole, Uriah spun on his heel to address the two hares that had accompanied him. “Major, Sergeant, you heard the High Commander’s orders; accompany Miss Swiftpike and Commander Russet to the barracks. I will meet you again in the mess hall at dusk. Understood?” When the hares responded with salutes and the acknowledging “Sah, yessah”, Uriah nodded in approval once more. Turning, the large badger adjusted the strap on his rucksack once more and started off after the High Commander, his long sure strides allowing him to make up the distance the vole had gained on him. Uriah walked in silence, though he listened intently to whatever Duran had to say. He made note of every facet of the fortress, taking in his surroundings as he had the few times he had been here before. Things were always changing, the badger observed, noticing all the buildings that had been completed since his last visit. Part of him even admired the construction of the keep, though it was a small enough part in and of itself. He did make note of points of strategic importance, as he always did wherever he went. It was an old habit that died hard in the mind of the battle-bred badger. Indeed, Uriah was not a beast that fancied ending his life in retirement, huddled in a chair at home until the end of his days. That was not an end suited for a Thunderpaw. Though the gate outside had barely posed a problem to the stature of the large badger, inside the keep itself, Uriah found himself wincing at the close quarters of the halls. The keep was spacious enough inside, admittedly, but the large badger was never one much for tight, enclosed spaces, and, even though the halls had been designed with badgers in mind, he still was not as comfortable here as he was in the wide-open spaces of Salamandastron (not to mention having to duck occasionally, else he crash his head on a hanging lantern). Nevertheless, the badger followed dutifully and without complaint, and nodded in thanks as Duran motioned for him to enter his quarters first. Ducking his head to pass through the doorway, Uriah stepped through and brought himself upright once more. The ceiling here was a good ten feet tall, at least, and the room was more spacious still than the halls outside, so Uriah felt much more comfortable here. Stretching his back slightly as Duran followed him in and closed the door, Uriah brought himself to attention, standing with his arms crossed behind his back as he waited for the permission to stand at ease. Instead, the badger found himself nodding in thanks as the vole offered him a modest stool to sit upon. Removing the rucksack from his shoulder, the badger stepped forward and placed the bag next to the stool, before seating himself on it. His back was straight as he sat, and he folded his large paws in his lap, staring across the room at Duran. “My thanks, sir. It is good to rest my legs after the trek that my men and I endured.” The last time Uriah had been in Duran’s office, the vole did not have any chairs, as he had mentioned. Instead, the badger had stood as he spoke to the commander about Lord Thickstripe’s thoughts on the progress the Black Arch Fort was making. The exterior of the fortress had been constructed by then, and the keep as well, though the rest of the grounds were still littered with timber and stone, awaiting their placement in whatever construction they were marked for. Now, however, the High Commander’s office was much more suitable, furnished with various bits of furniture, and the fireplace had been completed. Uriah approved. But Uriah was not a beast for small talk, so he dove straight into the topic at hand. “As I mentioned outside, Lord Thickstripe sends his best wishes to you, and to the garrison here at the Black Arch Fort. He would like it to be known that he is willing to offer whatever support is required to make sure this fortress is fully defended and built to specifications.” As he spoke, the badger reached down to his rucksack. Pulling a folded piece of parchment from the pack, Uriah passed it across to the High Commander, making sure that the vole could see the royal seal, embedded in the wax that sealed the document. “As a show of good faith,” Uriah continued, his face a little colder than usual, “my Lord Thickstripe has offered you the service of myself, Uriah Thunderpaw, formerly a personal guard to Lord Thickstripe, as well as of Major Reginald Terwilliger the Third, and Sergeant Ripolo, both formerly of the Long Patrol.” Though Uriah’s voice was always deep and rumbling, there was an obvious quality to it now that belied his personal feelings on the matter. He did not voice said concerns, of course. But he didn’t hide his displeasure, either. “It is my understanding that I am to look directly to you for orders, and offer what aid I might, be it in tactics, combat, or other sundry facilities.” Glancing down at the paper that his new commander was now holding, Uriah motioned towards the sheet with a large paw. “Major Terwilliger and Sergeant Ripolo are to serve amongst the other guards, and can be assigned to whichever commander you believe they would serve best with. It is all there in the letter.” Uriah had been present when Lord Thickstripe had signed the document. Indeed, the badger lord had asked his personal guard to read the letter before sealing it and handing it back to him, giving him orders to carry it to Black Arch Fort. And so Uriah had, without a word of complaint, though he had nearly broken the Lord’s door as he threw it open to leave. But now he was here, to whatever end that would lead him to, and he would serve as dutifully as he always did. Because, really, that was all he knew. (For reference, and just because, here is the letter from Lord Thickstripe. Tee-hee. Again, I hope I'm not taking too many liberties. Let me know, and I can change something, if need be.) Edited by Uriah Thunderpaw, Sep 13 2008, 11:27 AM.
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