[EVENT] An Old Soldier

[Jabberwoky]

An evening patrol has reported strange growling and roaring sounds in the wilds around Fort Weyr. Wherhandlers have been dispatched, and maybe a wher candidate or two has joined on the patrol to see what the ruckus is.

Searching deep into the undergrowth and thickets, the noise grows louder and louder, like something or someone is stuck...

Finally coming to a tangled mess of fallen branches and twisted vines, you come upon the source of the noise. An old, battered brown wher with an old, rusted shackle for a collar. Whoever this wher is, he likely escaped from Fort Hold many turns ago. Missing a toe, a tailfork, and possibly blind in one eye, it's probably best to approach this old creature with an abundance of caution.

---

Welcome to another Adult Wher Event!

If your handler is looking for a second wher, or you have a really bold and ballsy candidate, here is your chance to impress an adult wher!

Requirements:
- Must have at least 15 posts
- Character must be at least over 17
- Character must already be accepted (no RFRs or quick apps on the board will be eligible)
- Character may not already have impressed an adult wher

This event will run until the old wher is free, and staff will select who impresses him. Please do not go in and godmod freeing him, this is a collaborative event.

[ShelbCake]

Eclipsa of Green Eclipsk

Eclipsa had been one of the wherhandlers who had been dispatched to investigate the strange sounds and, when they arrived at the source of the sounds, she let out a horrified gasp.

The poor state of the wher made her heart feel sick to her stomach. Eclipsa was not strong enough to remove the branches, but maybe Eclipsk and her could be able to help in another way. Eclipsk was not exactly fond of messes, but, knowing how tender her wher was when it came to people in trouble, Eclipsa had an idea that she would be willing to help out.

"Oh, you poor dear.. please rest a bit.. All of us will get together to help you get free.." Eclipsa spoke in a soft, motherly voice. Eclipsk gave a nod in agreement.

"Wher hurt and trapped. Wher and wherfolk help free."

[nineofswords]

Ronnie had gone out with the patrol to investigate the growling noises, and had been in the group to find the brown. "Oh you poor dear!" Ronnie said, taking in the sight. Between the old wounds, the collar, and being trapped, he really seemed as though he'd been through a lot. Despite her tone, though, she was no fool. She didn't immediately rush in to try and help the wild creature. "Right. We simply must get you out of there. Onisk, be a darling and start digging up some of these nasty tangles by the roots, would you?" The white moved off to start doing as her handler instructed.

"Now then, whoever are you?" Ronnie asked, as if the brown would surely want to strike up a conversation with her. "You clearly used to be bonded to some beastly brute if they kept you chained up. I'm very glad to see you clear of that." She had a lot of venom in her voice as she said it. She had never been in physical chains, but she knew how it felt to be trapped. "I don't suppose you'd let us get that collar off you once we get you out? Oh, but that's an issue for later, isn't it. And look at me, I'm being horribly rude. I am Ronica - Ronnie to friends - and this is Onisk. Don't you worry, Sir Brown, between me and my friends we will have you out of there in no time at all."

[Grayson]

Demalis of ???Blue??? Mask

Demalis and Mask were on their way back from Running a message down to the Healer Hall when they happened across the Wherhandlers and Candidates out to investigate a noise.

We join?

Nothing better to do.

Their minds made up they joined the party venturing forth, and thus they were there when the old wher was found, on the sidelines as usual.

Oh no!

This not right. At all.

They moved to where the brown wher could see them, Demalis and Mask both. Demalis was nervous, but Demalis lived nervous; this was at least a threat that could be seen and understood.

"Um. Hello."

If wher want free, we help. Mask and Mask's swear it.

[Agenothree]

Them wasn't one to disregard an opportunity to bypass his monotonous lessons and chores in favor of something more interesting, though it seemed his alternative was to tromp through dense underbrush and clamber across Fort's rocky landscape to investigate a report of strange activity and sounds, alongside a team of wherhandlers. It was an uncommon occurrence for a Candidate to be permitted to accompany an excursion, so much so that he would let such a chance for some new experience go by. Time in Fort had mellowed him, to a degree, enough that he followed along as swiftly as he was able and made no complaint. As everyone closed in on where such odd noises were originating, it was quite a surprise to Them to find it was a brown wher, his muzzle greying in age and scars crossing his body, trapped among a tangle of vines and fallen branches.

Them's eyes were immediately drawn to a rusted metal collar closed tight on his neck, stark against his warmer brown hide; it caused him to purse his lips in distaste, but he said nothing. What he noticed afterward was how his body seemed battered from long Turns and harsh conditions; he was missing a toe and part of his tailfork, while a scar ran down his face in such a way that suggested he might be blind in that eye, causing him to mentally note to stay clear of that possible blind spot. Though he considered his options as others hurried to reassure him and begin to work to get him free, Them regarded him, a small frown tugging at his features. A muted sense of something close to sadness for his plight pressed at his chest, like he could almost recall something, but it was inaccessible still. Huffing to himself, he pushed his wonderings down; there was work to do.

It would be prudent to take care in such a brown's company, that was certain. There was no telling how he'd react, trapped as he was and surrounded by strange humans and whers. Telegraphing his movements, he cautiously moved closer to a tangle of vines and some loose branches, but paused before acting. "I am called Themamila," he said simply, hearing a wherhandler he didn't know introduce herself to him, while her white began uprooting some vines, deciding to follow her example. "I'm..." Working his jaw a little, he amended his statement. "We're here to help." As much as some part of him told him that whers were...something to him, he still had to be wary; he was a strange wher who ultimately might not take kindly to them all. Regardless, making sure his intentions were known by the brown, Them pulled his belt knife and began cutting what vines he could manage, to assist Onisk in her efforts to remove part of what restrained him. If there were branches he could move, he'd also make that a priority, trying to clear smaller obstructions for whers present to get access to heavier and more pressing matters.

[Windra]

Retsuko considered pressing herself against the Weyr's cavernous walls to make herself as small as possible until the chaos passed, but she felt drawn to the unusual behavior of others. Somebody reported sounds, roars, out there in the wilds. A handful of wherhandlers and a few candidates rushed past her.

"Um ... "

Torn between curiosity and the need to become invisible, Retsuko opted for the former. If she was ultimately useless in the situation, well ... she could jet, right? No harm, no foul. The redhead passed the infirmary and had the sense to grab a jar of numbweed among other things. She carried no pack and juggled the mess between small arms while she hustled behind the others, down the hills and over roots. Several times she stumbled, face turning bright red to catch the items fallen from her grasp.

There was a cacophony of gasps and sympathetic mutterings. Retsuko was too short to see much. She stepped to the side of the others and felt her chest constrict. "Oooohhh."

The brown wher was aged and scarred. Maybe blind? At least in one eye. And that collar. Retsuko hissed through her teeth, that familiar burning of anger hitching behind her tonsils. How horrible. How dare they.

"This wasn't ... recent, was it?" she asked aloud, probably a little too soft to be heard. Jars clanged against each other as she made her presence known, just slightly. Others were stepping in to detangle the creature from vines, so no need to jump in there. "I've numbweed. Some salves and bandages, if um ... the cuts are infected." She worried about that binding chain. It looked tight and old. "That rust might make him ill it if, uh, gets into his wounds."

[GalaxyMir]

Moriarty of Garnet Riask

Moriarty and Riask busy in conversation, were alerted of a commotion in the outskirts of the Weyr. Moriarty, having not eaten , had taken some meat rolls for the ride. The pair looked at eachother and were among the first to arrive.

The sight of the trapped wher had Moriarty feel uneasy, a hand finding Riask’s back for support, growing pale. A wher… once shackled and now hurt. How much suffering had the beast gone through ? Riask glanced at the elder brown then at Moriarty. Worry not, old one. We help you!

The garnet’s cheerful demeanour brought colour back to Moriarty’s face , a determination to save the brown from his trap. ”We’re here to help you, feel no obligation to stay among us. Let it be known there is a home for you if you want it , a home better than your old one” Moriarty softly directed at the wher , face solemn, as she offered him some scraps left from her late snack. While Riask diligently tried to roll heavy branches away from the brown.

[Ezra]

Gallifrey of Garnet Gallisk

Galli had been dispatched out by Dawn Squad to investigate strange sounds when he came across an old wher. This was not what he had been expecting when he finally found the source of the sound but clearly this wher had seen and weathered a great deal of pain. Having noticed the collar and the absence of a few body parts, he felt compassion well in his heart, this poor creature had clearly suffered a terrible lot for what seemed a number of years. The collar around its neck looked rusted and clearly was very old.

Noting the presence of more than just himself and his Gallisk, he nodded his head before he looked to the wher. " Hello there brave soul. Fear not, I am not here to hurt you. Might I approach and see what we can do to treat you today?" He said in a calm and warm tone.

Gallisk stepped up beside her handler, her right wing hanging limply down her back as it had since she had injured it turns ago. Her stance was lowered slightly, that she may appear less standoffish and intimidating, though she was vibrating with excited energy, always eager to meet another wher. Gallifrey layed a hand on her back, attempting to calm her a bit, not wanting to spook the older wher.

" Hello there! Are you hurt? If so, my Galli help. Galli good, Galli kind." Gallisk reached out sweetly, her voice soft and bubbly, and it was clear she was doing her best to ignore the urge to run up and nose the other wher, a rare bit of composure rooting her in place.

[Jabberwoky]

The old brown growls at everyone gathered. Whoever he is, he's not interested in talking. His scars are old and yet bright against his hide, and some are deep. He clearly has some kind of vision problem. He does not respond to the whers talking to him, baring his teeth at everyone near him.

Clearing the brush around him will be hard work, especially since getting close to the old beast is likely to end in getting bit.

[ShelbCake]

Eclipsa frowned a bit as she noticed the two apparent candidates that had decided to follow them. She turned to Them and Retsuko and gave a pleasant smile, "Please be careful, you two. I'm going to help try to remove some of the branches." Eclipsk made a disgusted noise in her head about touching the dirt and branches, but Eclipsa quickly spoke to her mentally.

'We need to help, Eclipsk. I know you aren't fond of these things, but would you want to be in this position?'

'No.. Wher is stuck. Wher needs help.' With that, the older green wher began to join her handler, going off to a far side to try and remove some of the branches so it would be a bit easier for the brown wher to be free. A part of Eclipsa was admittedly worried.

She didn't know how this wher would react to being freed and she was prepared to jump into action in case the wher tried to attack. She hoped that others in their group felt the same.

But, freeing the wher was a priority right now!

[Ezra]

Gallifrey of Garnet Gallisk - Old Wher, mention Eclipsa/Eclipsk

Galli kept his eye on the old wher, noticing his reaction to those gathered. Well.. this was definitely not going to be easy but there was no way he could live with himself and stand here and do nothing. Noticing Eclipsa and their wher move in to pull brush aside, he decided to help.

Quietly patting Gallisk, he moved forward, on the wher's non blind side, making sure he was moving slowly and very seen by the creature and carefully started pulling at the brush around him, Gallisk assisting and both clearly on guard and not making any sudden movement so not to spark a defensive or fearful response. He'd known enough of wild animals and whers in general at this point to know that sudden movements into their space could trigger a self preservation response.

However in this case, he was taking the calculated risk to help this wher and was prepared to accept the consequences. He knew his beloved Valencio would have done the same if here today.

[nineofswords]

Ronica of White Onisk - Eclipsa, Them, Retsuko

"Well," Ronnie said, hands on her hips at the whers growling. "Looks like someone isn't interesting in small talk. But I suppose I can understand that. You're hardly in a comfortable position there, you big silly man. However did you get yourself so stuck?" She shook her head then took in the scene. Everyone seemed to be doing their own thing, and they needed coordination right now.

She clapped her hands. "Right! Eclipsa's got the right of it. You two," she said pointing at the candidates. "Presumably you brought knives, yes? Come around behind him and help Onisk cut the roots so he can have an easier time getting himself free. You'll be helping but also stay out of harm's way." The greenhandler was already making herself useful, and the garnethandler was getting in closer to help which was their prerogative. Ronnie wasn't about to yell at them and startle them, possibly earning them a bite. She might be taking charge, but she wasn't an authority and had no right to question a fellow handler's choices.

She turned to the rest of those who'd gathered. "As for all of you, let's make ourselves useful too, yes? If we cut the roots, it'll weaken the plants enough that he can pull himself free. Oh, and if someone could go hunt down something for him to eat? Faranth knows how long he's been stuck in there, he could be starving the poor creature." That done, she got down on her knees beside Onisk and started hacking at the bases of plants with her knife.

[Grayson]

Demalis of ???Blue??? Mask

Demalis kept their eyes on the old brown - watching the dangerous one was always important - but there was no mistaking the hunch of their shoulders at Ronica's words.

Who died and left her in charge?

She not Runner. She not even Dusk squad, Mask replied, and promptly set about ignoring the loud wherhandler, focusing instead on the branches trapping the older wher.

You see key branch, Mask's?

There was always one branch holding the mess together, one branch that when removed made the rest much easier to unpick. All they had to do was work out which one it was and then set about pulling it free.

No. May I stand on you?

Be guest.

A higher vantage point might help with the figuring out. They'd at least know, then, where to focus their own efforts.

[Windra]

Retsuko: @ Eclipsa, Ronica, Them

The big old brown was growling and Retsuko's mind snarled. What the forsk are you doing? Obviously you're struggling. Do you think you're going to get out of that tangle by being obstinate or can't you see that we're here to help you? A wave of guilt backhanded her and she sucked in a breath. Of course it was angry. Maybe scared. Somebody put a collar around its neck and the thing had been to between and back. Who knew how long it'd been out here?

Eclipsa's kindness was endearing but it was Ronica who snapped her to attention, causing the redhead to jump and damn near drop the numbweed. "A knife? A knife!" She'd brought one, right? Retsuko had to put her pile on the ground to yank the belt blade from her hip. "Sure, right. Just ... don't get bit, right?"

Demalis was standing on Mask for a better view. Retsuko started for the wher's back end, then glanced at her knife and thought better of his it was being handled. She slipped it back into her belt and held her hands up to show there was nothing sharp to advance with. The brown might think she was going to attack.

"Hey look - it's okay, all right? The knives you see - we're gonna use them to cut you out." Retsuko's voice was soft and soothing, but the last syllables she uttered rattled with trepidation. Was she gonna walk away with a big ass bite mark or what? "Let us help you. You're among friends, okay? Whoever did that to you, they're not here."

Slowly. Carefully. Retsuko inched closer and closer to his hindquarters, reaching for a thorny vine - getting pricked and biting back a gasp, but not letting go. No yanking or quick movements. That would be bad. Her other fingers reached for the blade. The sheen of metal reflected as it was unsheathed.

"I'm pulling out the knife, okay? Going to start cutting."

[Agenothree]

Them's face scrunched into a mild frown as he heard Ronica begin to give orders to everyone gathered, his expression souring further as she addressed him and Retsuko directly as Candidates. At her mentioning bringing knives, he paused in his efforts in cutting vines to wiggle his blade in loose fingers at her, clearly being sarcastic and abrasive in his demonstration. As she proceeded to issue more commands, he huffed under his breath and glared at her again. It was apparent he didn't appreciate her taking charge, but could do little to protest her senior rank other than be something of an ass while redirecting his efforts as he was told. Who did she think he was, an errant child and not a man grown?

No matter how irritable Them felt in response to Ronica's taking charge, putting himself to work always made things a little better and keeping his hands busy took his efforts from mulling on his thoughts, putting it to something more actively critical; he could stew later. Moving from where he'd been cutting tangled vines and shifting smaller branches, he again made sure to walk where the brown wher could see him and his actions would be known, his body language loose enough to be easily read. Hearing Eclipsa address him and Retsuko, asking them to be careful, all he gave in acknowledgment was a curt nod as he knelt down to keep working, his efforts now focused on cutting roots and lower stalks to weaken these plants enough to easily uproot.

Though Them said nothing to his fellow rescuers or the brown wher, especially seeing that he wasn't interested in talking or being talked to, that didn't mean his mind was idle. There were questions here that he wanted answered, answers that would likely come in due time, but he couldn't help but wonder. But he pushed these thoughts down to consider at a later time, going at his work skillfully and hurriedly, but carefully. Right now, he had a job to do, a wher to help save.