2248/Dun Realtai and the Badgermoles

Dun Realtai and the Badgermoles
Date of Scene:	15 May 2015
Location:	Dun Realtai
Synopsis:	Toph Beifong brings a troupe of badgermoles, and one very special badgermole, in from Gaoling to stay in the fertile plains of Dun Realtai.
Cast of Characters:	20, 346, 482

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Sir Bedivere (482) has posed:
Welcome to Dún Reáltaí! The fields are sunny and tilled and already planted with delicate new shoots that will someday be waist-high crops. There are villagers out taking care of the tiny plants with infinite care, doing exactly what they do best now that they have the ability and opportunity to do so.

Sitting on a stone outcropping that overlooks the farm fields is none other than Sir Bedivere, although wearing the raiment of a peasant rather than the finery of a lord. He has a ledger that he's busily writing in, glancing up every so often to observe the peasants' progress.

He looks like he's been working in the fields themselves up until recently, dusty and slightly muddy about the boots. It's entirely possible that Saber nagged him to stop overdoing it, and so he flopped down with a ledger instead.

Relax? What's that...?

Saber (346) has posed:
Indeed, the erstwhile lady of these lands – similarly dressed in the attire of the peasantry – had once again scolded the lord on overworking himself as he was prone to do. Not that he would simply take a break, heavens no. But at the very least, she could prevent her knight from keeling over from exhaustion, heat stroke, or dehydration.

Breaking off from her own work – though as a Servant she could keep going indefinitely with a steady stream of mana – Saber took a break for her own part so as not to overtax the source of that mana. And to make sure he was resting properly rather than trying to sneak in some more heavy work.

Saber approached Bedivere softly, even though he would easily sense her approach from their link, canteen of water in hand. Without any sort of ceremony, she held it out to him without so much as a word. He was a clever man, he would understand what she wanted him to do.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
... the water in the canteen splashes to and fro inside its container as the earth shakes.

Like the last time there's rumbling underground that heralds the arrival of a young master earthbender and her companions, though today it's not that prominent as it was the last time when Toph brought over six of the largest badgermoles in the pack. Today when the earth opens up outside of the fields with a mighty rumble, it's just four of them that emerges, and none of them rival the pack leader in size. Though the one that is first might be recognizable as Gnawer himself, the young male sniffing the air as he calmly walks forward, his large paws and claws sweeping the earth. Behind him a smaller, but still large enough adult follows, along with a fairly smaller one... and behind them, there's a peculiar sight.

It looks kind of like a badgermole. Albino fur with red splotches, red eyes... and with some weird claws that is almost like metal gauntlets, larger than the others. It appears bewildered as it smells the air, its ears pressed against its skull. But soon enough, Toph herself follows after, reaching out to stroke her hand against the creature's side. "Shhhh... it's okay, girl." Her voice is low, and she's clearly trying to soothe the strange badgermole hybrid. Though she too does look worried. Even as she raises her other hand and waves in Bedivere and Saber's direction. "Heya..."

Somehow the girl appears even more tired than the last time they met.

Sir Bedivere (482) has posed:
"Thank you, my la—"

Bedivere never gets to finish his sentence, although he does make a quick one-handed grab for the canteen to keep it from spilling over his ledger. It's an unsettling way to arrive, but for the most part he's gotten used to the earthbender's rather dynamic entries. She could use the road to arrive like everyone else, but then it wouldn't be Toph, would it?

So the silver-haired knight looks up and arches a brow, looking a bit tired and careworn himself. He manages a faint smile, though, eyes darting over the creatures and taking inventory. One, two, three, and then the fourth with her strange colouring. But, as these creatures are foreign to him anyway, the difference isn't so marked to his eyes. Certainly, he can pick it out that she isn't like the other badgermoles, but it doesn't seem particularly 'wrong' to his view compared to the others.

"Come over here, have a seat. This will be out of the way of the fieldworkers," Bedivere calls. And, indeed, a bunch of them are staring slack-jawed, although they gradually get back to work when it's clear that the badgermoles are behaving calmly. "You can introduce me to your friends, if you would be so kind."

He purposefully says nothing about her appearance; tactful enough, perhaps, not to bring it up.

Saber (346) has posed:
While something of a surprise when the canteen sloshed water, a split second later the Servant realised that the quaking announced the arrival of a familiar earthbender and the invaluable creatures she led to their lands. Travelling underground was, she imagined, far faster for both Toph and the badgermoles, much more than even an ordinary horse on the surface. For the latter, it was probably their entire world.

However, Saber frowned slightly when they finally appeared. Far from the exuberant – and, yes, loud – preteen, Toph seemed as weary as Bedivere had been when they had first been reunited. Though, like him, she refrained from commenting on it.

Likewise, she lacked the experience to know whether the colouring was necessarily off.
"It is close to time to rest for lunch. Would you or your friends care for anything?"

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
The three 'normal' badgermoles begin inspecting the area, with the smallest one rather eager as it heads towards the hill of the keep, even using its claws to bend some earth out of the way. The other keeps close to it, half closing its eyes and is calmly enjoying the fresh air. Gnawer however halts and rumbles, turning slightly as if wondering what is keeping the odd badgermole, but he too seems to head on, walking alongside the field where the workers are busy. It doesn't appear that they mind the humans, nor do they seem like they are about to do anything troublesome as they inspect the area further.

Toph nods her head, then gestures for the badgermole next to her, making a soft sound with her tongue. The creature hesitantly follows the girl, keeping low to the ground. "You know Gnawer," Toph begins and points directly at the largest badgermole, then at the two others. "Yun and her son Indy." Where the hell does Toph come up with these names from?

"As for this one..." Toph sighs as she pats the albino badgermole, "I... haven't come up with a name for her yet." The badgermole stays behind Toph, quiet for now and keeping still. Saber's offer for lunch doesn't get a response right away, though Toph nods her head a bit. "Sure. I think Gnawer and the other two can find food for themselves, though. Looks like Indy is already digging up some insects."

Close enough at least, as the young cub is busily slurping up an earthworm.

Sir Bedivere (482) has posed:
There's something endearing about animals the size of very large bears trundling along down the hill like they own it. Bedivere had been wary about them at first, but the badgermoles are truly peaceable creatures, and something tells him they'll make themselves a good home here. Although it had started barren and dead, the earth of the valley has grown rich.

Occasional villagers drop what they're doing, rubbing at the back of their necks and craning their heads to watch the badgermoles trundle on by.

"Yes, I believe I'm well acquainted with Gnawer. Hello," he adds to the creatures, with a half-smile. "Well met, Yun. Indy." They're odd names, but he doesn't comment on that. Multiversal names are odd to his tastes; even Camelot's names, in their archaic Welsh, had felt strange to his Irish tongue. He arches a brow as Indy already sets to digging up earthworms with gusto. "Indy seems to have made himself at home already."

"None of them are quite so big as Boss. I gather they do not normally grow so large, then." Half a glance is cast to Toph, and the albino badgermole. Very slowly, he offers his free hand for the hybrid to sniff at. "Hello, there. You are welcome to stay here," he murmurs, although the creature probably can't understand him. His tone of voice is purposefully calm and gentle. "We'll just have to settle on something to call you. You're a pretty one, aren't you? You've the look of the red-gold my people once worked, and wielded..."

Saber (346) has posed:
Having not been present when the badgermoles first arrived in Dún Reáltaí, meeting them in person was a new experience for Saber. "Greetings," she hailed them, though how much they would respond to her voice remained doubtful. Especially since, as she guessed, they were hungry and already foraging. At the very least, they could find food here; she had been worried that they wouldn't be able to find anything edible in the only recently revived land. "I am relived they were able to find food here," the petite knight commented with a slight smile as she observed Indy already chowing down.

She made no move to pet them just yet, however. Though she was capable of riding any creature through use of her Servant's Riding skill, that didn't always translate to being able to calm an agitated animal. Not the same way Bedivere could always calm even the most agitated of horses, hounds, or any number of the animals kept around Camelot. It had been the source of some of the most ridiculous of rumours, though the knight-king understood it was simple technique, if anything. "And I thank you for coming. I am sorry that I was unable to greet you the previous time."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
Let the humans do whatever they want, the three badgermoles do not appear threatened, trudging on in a calm manner. Mostly they seem to be curious about the area around the hill itself, which might not be so weird. The earth is something they all seem to enjoy, which isn't so weird considering they are natural earth benders. Sure, they are aware of Bedivere and Saber greeting them, but neither earn much of a response as they are busy with literally digging up something to munch on.

"They eat insects, roots and such," Toph informs Saber, "there's more than enough for four of them to eat around here, this place is crawling with bugs. So most likely they will dig around underground here, and badgermole droppings will probably help on your next harvest." So it's not like they are bad for the environment, rather the opposite. Especially after the display they did last time with clearing the fields and making it into a game. "Gnawer might get about the same size as Boss in a decade or so," the earthbender says with a slight shrug. And she keeps still when Bedivere offers his hand for the new badgermole to sniff. Keep still, show the little one that the man is not a threat. "You can always try singing to her, badgermoles love music." It's something Tony learned at least. It does help that Bedivere's tone is soft and slightly musical to begin with. As for when he calls the little badgermole hybrid pretty, Toph tilts her head. "So she's coloured differently? I can just tell by her physique and the way she moves. Plus she's very socially awkward around the others. Gnawer likes her and is a bit concerned, while Yun and Indy don't steal her food. The rest of the pack is mostly ignoring her..." Which is hard to witness, really.

"I'm the one who should thank you guys for wanting to take her in." Toph scratches the badgermole on her shoulder, even as the creature leans close to sniff at Bedivere. Though she carefully pulls back, still a bit skittish. "You are welcome to name her if you have an idea."

Sir Bedivere (482) has posed:
In the manner of any creature at mealtime, the badgermoles seem to ignore their new hosts. Thankfully Bedivere doesn't seem surprised at that. He's long worked with animals. Dinnertime tunnel vision is a common thread.

"A decade? These creatures must live long, then. A good horse will last twenty years, mayhap, if he is lucky to live so long." The knight slowly climbs to a crouch, settling on his haunches and offering his hand for the albino. He won't force the issue, though. She'll get past her skittishness on her own. His expression darkens. "I can only imagine what this poor creature must have been through. Look how she shies away..."

Gentling his tone, he shakes his head. "She will have a welcome home here, in any case. Yes, she is... well, I suppose colours will have no meaning to you, will they? I am sorry. But she is different from them. Aye, she moves differently, too, now that I watch them." He smiles, a little melancholy as he looks up to the shy creature. "You must feel you don't fit in, hmmm? Then you are in good company. I had never fit in, either. You will have a good home, here."

"Think nothing of it," he adds, waving a hand subtly but dismissively to Toph. "Dún Reáltaí has become something of a place of rest and recovery. It will benefit her as much as it has benefitted its other inhabitants, human and otherwise," he adds, with a brief glance to Saber. "But I think it would be your place, to name her; these creatures are more closely tied with you than with I. Unless you've any ideas, my lady?" He glances to Saber, tone softening again – but not in the manner of treating a shy, fearful animal; but more in uncharacteristic warmth. "I fear I have no ideas..."

Saber (346) has posed:
Being ignored over dinnertime was likewise not especially surprising to the knight-king. She kept horses and dogs – all of which had apparently become lesser legends unto themselves – but while these were hardly horses or dogs, mealtimes were mealtimes. And she knew how ornery Cavall could be when he was interrupted at dinner.

"I have heard of long-lived creatures, but they are typically not warm-blooded, or are else magic in nature. Long-lived, indeed."

Saber tilted her head slightly peering at the (relatively) small badgermole. "I would imagine she sounds lighter as she moves," the Servant observed. "In truth, I do not imagine she will grow to the size of the others."

She smiled, though Toph would hear it in her voice. "It is as my marshal says." Her eyes met Bedivere's briefly with a nod. "Aside from our gratitude with bringing them to assist with the land, we would be more than willing to take her in. If we are to call it a true haven, it must welcome and accept all in need."

On the subject of a name...that was a more difficult proposition. "Hmm, I am in agreement. They are closely tied to you."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
"Badgermoles can live for more than forty years, it seems," Toph says. "It's not like I'm that old myself, and most badgermoles live in the wild away from humans." So it's a bit hard for the girl to know just how old they get.

The hybrid badgermole doesn't seem startled by Bedivere, but she seems unwilling to get too close to him for now. As for what she's been through? Toph sighs and shakes her head. "I don't know... Rex said he made her out of anger and ambition. Most likely intending to use her for something bad. But... he gave her to me after I save the Tyranno elders from Kakarot," the blind girl explains. "It doesn't seem like she's been harmed, but she hasn't grown up naturally either. There's no physical damage, but she doesn't know." And emotional damage can be just as bad as physical damage, if not worse. "I hope she will be able to feel safe and at home here. This place is calm, and nobody will bother her with you guys around. Plus she has the three other badgermoles to play with too. They are the closest she has to a family, and badgermoles are unhappy on their own."

Saber's deduction does make Toph bite her lower lip. "She is big for her age. And Rex said she will grow quickly. So she might end up a different size than what is normal..." Who knows?

So... they want her to name it. There's a pensive look on Toph's face as she crosses her arms across her chest. It's not like she's had time to observe her and learn just what the badgermole is like. So she gets an idea from whhat Bedivere said earlier. It's not something worth dwelling on for long anyway.

"Hongjin."

With the multiversal translation effect, it should be easy for the two of them to hear that it's basically the words red and gold combined.

"Just ask me if there's anything you need help with about them, okay? I know three of them very well, and I can communicate a bit easier with Hongjin than you guys can for now."

Sir Bedivere (482) has posed:
Bedivere cants his head very slightly to one side, regarding the badgermoles with muted curiosity. "Long-lived, indeed. As my king says; I had not heard of creatures living so long without a touch of the Otherworld in them, or of cold blood."

His eyes turn to the hybrid even as Saber comments on the creature. "Mmm. Likely not. I am unfamiliar with these creatures, but she is not the same, even to my reckoning. Like a creature born moon-touched... what is the word? Albino? They are often more frail than others. They do not always live so long, either, but she seems to me strong, regardless. But perhaps she will never grow so large. Or perhaps she will grow larger still," he adds, at Toph's observation.

"Aye." Bedivere's agreement with Saber is simple. "And they are no less needy than any human."

"Ah, so they are familial creatures. I had wondered, and thought as much." He looks up to the pale badgermole hybrid as Toph considers a name, looking quite thoughtful about it. He's silent, preferring not to interrupt; she's obviously giving it serious thought.

Red-gold. It's a fitting name, and he finds himself smiling a half-smile at it. "Hongjin it is." The word is unfamiliar, but he does his best to pronounce it, though it's probably a poor imitation. "We will certainly take good care of them all."

Saber (346) has posed:
Saber nodded at Bedivere as he explained her concern about the hybrid. While not all albinos ended up being runts with weaker constitutions, it occurred enough to consider if she would need special considerations.

But then, the knight's voice reflected her mild surprise at the revelation of the badgermole's origins. "She was...bred artificially?" That fact changed anything she could have guessed at.

Saber's voice became subdued as she mused over that fact. "I see. Then, it is good that she was given to you" she reassured the earthbender. "She will have a chance for a normal life here, and there is plenty of land for them to range. I do not foresee long-term problems with their ability to establish a proper territory."

But for now, the task was settling their newest residents in, and the special care one of them would require. She gave Toph the same consideration as Bedivere did; Saber considered the young earthbender as the badgermole's rescuer, hence she should be the one to name her. The knight-king made a soft sound of agreement at the new name, folding her arms over her chest. "Then, we welcome Gnawer, Yun, Indy, and Hongjin to Dún Reáltaí."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
"Badgermoles are special," Toph confirms. "They are among the original benders, so of course there's something unique about them. As for Hongjin, I'm not sure whether she's strong or weak, but she needs time. Not to mention stability." Which she will be given here, as she knows that Bedivere and Saber both are people of their word, and gentle when they need to be. This is probably the best place in order to have the new badgermole build some confidence and learn just what she needs in order to live happily. Sober earns a nod, and Toph looks sad when she elaborates. "Rex combined badgermole and Pokemon DNA..." She was upset too.

"Badgermoles are pack animals, and they live in large families for the most part. If you separate one from the others, it would be miserable. So I'm glad that I could bring some of the others here. And she might learn how to act like a proper badgermole from them too." The blind girl even dares a brave smile. "I know you will be kind to her... which is why I asked. It's not like I could bring her to New York with me." Ugh, no. A badgermole would not like it there.

As they talk though it appears that Gnawer has turned and headed over their way, though his focus is not the humans. Instead he walks over and nudges at Hongjin with his snout, making a sharp sound before he pushes her off to the side towards the hill. And the smaller creature is quick to follow, making some sounds in return as she clumsily walks with those large claws. And while she is busy catching up to him it looks as if he has some plans. Raising his front legs a bit, Gnawer then slams them down, opening a hole in the ground at the foot of the hill. Then with some more swiping motions the earth shifts and opens up into a tunnel, and down he goes. The other badgermoles follow, and there's a slight rumbling sound to be heard, as well as some really light shaking near the hill. But there's no evidence that the hill has become unsteady again.

Toph herself blinks once, then turns her head. "Guess Gnawer has decided they need to make some tunnels to live in." That's good it seems, as she nods. "I guess I could grab some of that lunch you offered before I head off, Saber." Might as well accept the hospitality.