When Judy awoke once again, sunlight broke through the rough fabric of the tent. The top half of her bedroll had been discarded in her sleep, preventing her from overheating. The birds, unable to keep from their basic instincts, were chirping their own unique songs far in the distance. The smell of gravy and bread drifted from the camp site, drawing the rabbit to her feet and out into the open.
The clearing was subtly flowing with activity. It wasn't immediately apparent, but the clearing was more clear than before. Three of the four tents were empty, and there was no evidence of a clothesline or other items present. A cart, Judy assumed the one Finnick had a bounty for, was loaded with the groups' belongings. The cauldron sat at the front, boxes and sacks filling the thing as the tiger secured them with a rope, before turning to Finnick as he was tossed the majority of the groups' bedrolls. Judy looked around for Nick, eyes trailing back to the tent she had just left, realizing that it, too, was mostly empty.
Confused, Judy hobbled over to Damon and Finnick. "Hey, where's Nick?" she asked. Finnick, who was chewing on a piece of hay and looking more like a farmer than an archer, scowled lightly before pointing towards the river.
"He an' Red are over there. Told us to pack up." Finnick turned away and made for Nick's tent, leaving Judy to look after him. His attitude was really beginning to irritate the doe, and she clenched her paws to fists with irritation.
"Don't mind Finnick," Damon said. His voice, much smoother and more calming than the small foxes, caught her off guard. He chuckled, before continuing. "He means well, and is just frustrated we didn't get as much coin as we could've. But give him some time, he'll warm up to you."
"And if he doesn't?" Judy asked skeptically. To this, Damon shrugged.
"If he doesn't, I don't think it'll be much of a problem. Nick has helped others before, but he's never brought them back to us, so you're something special."
Judy's ears twitched at this, and a smile grew along her face. It grew wider at her memory of Nick's sleeping form last night – he had been so strangely... Cute as he slept. And his tail was so soft in comparison to her bedroll, now that she thought about it.
"You should probably go see him," Damon continued. "He mentioned you at breakfast, and I think he had Red save you a bowl of gravy and a few biscuits." The tiger gestured on to the river, shooing off the rabbit with a warm smile.
"Hey, Cottontail!" Finnick shouted, making her turn around. The small fennec fox tossed her sharpened stick her way, letting it fall to the ground a few feet from her. "Take this so's I don't add it to the next fire," he said.
"Oh, thank you! I needed this," she said, hobbling over and picking up the stick. Finnick grumbled something as he returned to the tent, rolling up her bedroll. Judy hobbled down to the riverbed, pausing once she heard Nick's voice over the sound of running water. She could just see them over the small hill before the drop to the riverbed. Red was still dressed in his black cloak that hid his clothes, and Nick was in his green tunic and tan pants, cap and cloak gone. She saw a rope belt holding up his pants, the sheathe of a small knife visible just beyond.
"So, you think it's safe to take that route?" Nick asked. Red grunted something of an affirmation.
"Even with the Black Claw roaming that area lately?" Red was quiet a moment longer, before giving a shallow nod.
The Black Claw, Judy knew, was a notorious gang of bandits that often roamed the areas north of Sherwood Forest. They stayed well away from the forest itself, however – the only group, aside from the royal guard of Nottingham, that could fend them off was Robin Hood's legendary group of Merry Mammals. Even years and years after the fox of legend had been knighted and later retired with his Maid Marian, the group still had its tenacity and strong spirit that drove them decades ago. Despite this, the Black Claw was very feared amongst farmers and travelers who were less skilled in combat.
Nick was quiet for a long moment, and Judy kept her ears perked to listen. Thankfully, the wind was towards her, keeping both foxes from noticing her scent as she eavesdropped.
"I don't want her to get hurt. Not another one."
Red reached up and put a paw on the fox's shoulder, lips pursing as he nodded. It took a moment, and his muzzle contorted to one of pain, but the larger fox managed to growl out something that seemed like reassurance.
Nick sighed and ran a paw over the top of his head. "I sure hope so."
There was a brief bout of silence, and Judy finally decided to approach the two vulpines. Nick turned to face her once she got close enough, a warm smile on his face as he stood up. "Ah, Carrots, there you are!" he exclaimed. "Just so happens that you're in luck with getting home. We've gotta move camp to the east. I'm assuming that's where your family farm is?"
"They live out past Nottingham," she replied. "But closer to Lincolnsburg."
Nick groaned. "Of course, and we're well past Darby. It'll take us a few days, but I think we have the supplies to make it."
Out past Darby? That was miles and miles away from her family's farm! How far did she run? Judy groaned, much to Nick's clear amusement, before dread suddenly spiked through her. Her family, how would they react to Judy's return? Her leave hadn't exactly been on the best of terms. She had fled to avoid imprisonment for a crime she hadn't committed. Her dress was torn, yes, and a matching piece of fabric was found inside the noble's home, true, but she was not a thief. Paragon was her lifestyle – lawful good, all the way.
Her situation may not have been as dire as it was if not for what had been stolen, though. A priceless family heirloom, a sword made of gold and silver, inlaid with various gems, passed down from generation to generation of the Lionheart family. Late one night their home had been broken into and, with one of the guards almost catching the thief by pinning their dress with the tip of their halberd, hasty connections had been made. Judy, who was well known for her clothes becoming tattered and torn in her 'adventures' (which consisted of her play fighting with siblings, and pushing her agility by jumping through trees and vaulting random objects), had been dubbed the most likely suspect.
When the royal guards who acted as police had shown up at her family's door requesting for her, her family had been resistant at first. But when provided the (admittedly lacking) evidence, they relented, and fetched for her. The rabbit had been compliant, up until she realized exactly what was happening. Her defiance at the accusations had made the guards more adamant that she come with them and, when one lunged for her, she jumped away. Much to her family's dismay, she refused to go with them, certain of her innocence. When the guards had begun to actively try and grab her, Judy ran.
Apparantly, she ran for longer than she had thought.
"Past Darby? That's... Far. It's okay, though," she muttered. "We can get me back. I'll find out who really did it, and then I'll be home free... Right?"
"Uh... Carrots?" Nick asked, jerking the rabbit from her thoughts. "You hear me?" The fox sighed once she shook her head. "I asked how your leg's doing."
"It feels better, but it's sore," she admitted. Nick nodded, giving a small "Mm" in response.
"Well," he said, clasping his paws together. "Since we're here at the camp, I've got a few supplies I can use to help it out. C'mere." Nick walked past Judy, motioning for her to follow as Red began to roll up the map they had been poring over. Judy followed Nick back to Damon, who was putting the finishing touches on the cart with Finnick. "You guys already pack up my medicine box?" Nick asked.
"Yeah," Finnick replied. "But don' worry. It's easy to get to." As if to prove his point, the fennec fox hopped down beside one of the boxes towards the back of the cart and popped it open. Nick grinned and walked over, patting the smaller fox on the back before reaching into the box, sifting through the contents. Judy was too short to see what was inside, but she could hear what sounded like rocks and something similar tapping against one another. A minute or so later, the reynard gave a small "Aha!" of success, before pulling out of the box with a smaller wooden box in paw, as well as a roll of fresh gauze.
"Alright Fluff, lemme see your leg," he said, crouching down. Judy sat down and lifted her dress up just enough to expose the bandaged wound on her leg, which Nick took to carefully undoing. The wound underneath was red and visibly irritated, the sudden exposure to air making it burn lightly. Judy suppressed a hiss of pain as Nick tilted her leg left and right, examining it closely. "Well, good news is the cut isn't that bad. Bad news is, we should've cleaned it earlier – it's not looking too good. Dae, can you grab some water for me?" The tiger nodded and began digging out a bowl from the cart, running to the river after he found one. He returned a moment later with a bowl overflowing with water, passing it to the red fox. Nick balled up the old bandage and poured some water onto it, carefully wiping at Judy's leg.
This did sting enough for her to hiss in pain and jerk away, but Nick drew her leg back out. "Relax, Fluff," he said, continuing to lightly wipe at her leg. Each hiss she let out made the reynard's ears fall against his head, and she could clearly see some level of concern in his gaze. He continued his cleaning, however, only stopping once he was sure the cut was clean enough. Then he grabbed the small box and propped it open, a sweet smell drifting out that Judy immediately identified as honey, though it had the smells of several other plants with it.
Nick dipped in two of his fingers and drew them out, a strange coloration of gold and green sticking to them as he dragged the strange mixture over her wound. Initially, it burned, but the pain quickly subsided to a faint ache, which began to dull into a faint, soothing burn. Nick licked his fingers clean, before wrapping Judy's leg in the fresh gauze wrap. "And like that," he said, closing the box and standing up. "We're done."
"What's in that?" Judy asked in wonder, lightly dabbing at her leg where the wound was.
"It's a uh... Poultice of sorts. Simple, honey and some herbs. Should help your wound heal a little faster."
"I think... What herbs are in it? Mugwort and mollien leaf?" Judy asked, looking up at him. Nick looked down in surprise.
"With some comfrey, yes. How did you know about those?" He asked.
"I'm from a family of farmers," she stated simply. "Herbology and general plant knowledge is in our blood."
"Huh..." Nick muttered, looking down with his paws on his hips. "Who would've guessed? Ignoring that," he said, looking around. "Where's that bowl of biscuits and gravy we saved for her?"
"You mean that was for her?" Finnick asked, grinning mischeviously. Nick gave the smaller mammal a scathing look, and the fennec just chuckled. "I'm joking. It's in the fire pit, embers are keepin' it warm."
Nick nodded, walking over to the pit and crouching down. Judy grabbed onto her stick and stood up slowly, hobbling over to the fire pit and sitting back down as Nick passed her a warm bowl filled with gray gravy, the top of a biscuit jutting out beside the spoon. Judy dove in hungrily, the bowl being emptied in just under two minutes, and a fair amount of gravy caking her muzzle. Nick chuckled at seeing her, pointing to his own muzzle and looping around it. In embarrasment, Judy let out a tiny squeak and turned away, licking her paw and rubbing it against her fiercely in an attempt to remove the gravy.
When she was finished, Nick took the bowl and spoon down to the river and out of sight, returning a moment later without them. "Alright," he said. "We're just waiting for Red to wrap up down there, and we're good to go."
"What's he even doing?" Finnick asked, scowling lightly. Nick held out a paw, catching the cloak Damon threw at him and putting it on.
"Gathering herbs we can use," Nick said.
"Oh, great, there he is," Damon said. The tiger nodded towards the river, where Red was approaching the group from. He held several small, brown pouches tied off with string, which he was carefully dividing into two groups. The larger group he tossed to Damon when he was close enough, before he passed the rest to Finnick. The fennec fox put all of them into a larger sack that had a rope going from one corner to the opposite corner, and was held closed with a drawstring. Damon put his portion in the box Nick had taken the smaller box from, adding in said box when the cloaked reynard tossed it his way.
"My pack's all set?" Nick asked, smiling as Finnick grumbled a "Yeah" and tossed it his way. Judy inspected Nick's pack as he slung it over his shoulder. It matched his cloak very well, almost blending in completely, and it rested along his back with a sash-like rope keeping it held to his form. Several arrow bottoms stuck out of the bottom half wher a small hole was made for them, the shape of a thin quiver barely able to be made out underneath. The bottom had a lengthy rope tied onto it, the gleam of metal showing underneath. Upon closer inspection, Judy realized it was a kind of dart and hook combination. The metal end of it was sharpened to a point and had several hook-like potrusions on the sides, all small but clearly large and sharp enough to be used as a weapon if need be. Nick added a simple, yew longbow to his outfit, and nodded comfortably. "Alright, Carrots, I'm all set. Damon, what did you manage to scrap together for her?"
Judy looked to the tiger curiously. Nick had apparantly arranged something for her, without telling her. "Well," Damon started. "Good news is, I had enough cloth to make trousers for her. But a tunic to replace her dress will take a while." As if for proof, the tiger held up a small pair of rabbit-sized trousers, appropriately sized but evidently hastily made.
"Why don't we just cut the dress?" Finnick asked.
"Fin, come on, you know how much a good dress costs! You can't just cut them." Nick replied.
"It'll save time, and give us fabric!" The fennec fox argued.
"Uh... Guys?" Judy said, frowning as she was ignored. The argument continued, and Judy's occasional attempt for input. Finally, fed up with the arguing, she walked over to Damon and grabbed the pants he held, sliding them over her legs. They fit rather well, she decided, and were surprisingly comfortable for the rough fabric they were. Then, she walked over to Nick and grabbed his dagger, pulling it from the sheathe. In one deft motion, she drew the blade along the bottom of her dress, tearing the portion below her waist in half, before drawing it back up at an angle to both sides in an upside-down V shape. Two pieces of lavender cloth fell at her feet, and she looked down at her new outfit.
The tan of the trousers clashed horribly with the lavender of her dress, but the design of it wasn't something she hated. No, she rather liked the way her dress now opened up for her legs but kept the back concealed – it would definitely be looser and easier to run in, but still helped her keep her appearance as a lady, at least from behind.
"There. Can we quit arguing now and get moving?" Judy asked, holding Nick's dagger out for him to take. The reynard huffed a bit and took the knife, deftly spinning it around in his paw once before slipping it into its sheathe.
"Right, well... Carrots, since we'll travel faster this way, you and I are just going to head towards Lincolnsburg together. Dae, Fin, and Red are all going to travel behind us, but slower. Cart and all that," he said, gesturing to the large wagon beside him. "Finnick was nice enough to pack you a bag, wasn't he?" Nick looked down at the smaller fox, who held out his arms in a 'what the hell?' gesture, before shaking his head and reaching onto the back of the cart. He pulled out a small sack, similar to Nick's but minus the quiver and rope, and tossed it to Judy.
"There ya go, Hop Along," The fennec said. "Food and crap like that for a few days. Don't waste 'em, need as much of that back as we can get. I'm kidding!" Finnick added the last sentence when Damon gave him a disappointed look.
"Thank you," Judy said, smiling as she slung the bag over her back. Finnick grumlbled a 'yeah yeah' as he picked up the cloth from her dress, tossing it into the pile that made up the cart's contents.
"Now get outta here, you two," The fennec grumbled.
Nick nodded and did a quick two-finger salute to his group before turning and walking off. Judy started to follow after him, but was stopped by Damon's paw on her shoulder. "Hey, listen, if he starts being a good little tod, I packed some blueberries for you. His favorite, alright?" The tiger added on a wink. "Take care of him, alright?"
Judy nodded somewhat sheepisly at Damon's statement. Take care of him? Wasn't Nick supposed to take care of her? Judy turned to walk away before, again, a paw stopped her. This time it was Red, who simply passed along a cloth-wrapped object before walking off, not even giving Judy a chance to inspect it and thank him. With a slight look of bewilderment, Judyturned and followed after Nick, who had paused at the treeline for her.
"You all done socializing there, Carrots?" he asked with a grin.
"If that's what you wanna call it, then sure," the rabbit replied.
"Well, I hope that leg of yours is up to this walk," Nick said. "It's an awfully long way back to your family's farm."
"Give it a day or two and I'm sure I'll be kicking your tail with ease," she joked, smiling widely. A warm feeling settled into Judy as she began to walk side-by-side with Nick into the woods. Something told her this would be a good journey.