#KingsArm

Jody followed the brindle buck down the shiny cobblestone, until the shine started to fade...to dusty, rough stone. She frowned, why had she never been down here before? Why did it look so unkept and unclean? “You know, you are a lot prettier when you have a smile on your face.”

She looked up to see that Briar had stopped, he was standing idly in front of her, a smile playing on his lips. His comment of course, made her frown harder, which of course, made him smile harder.

“You know, you are a lot more tolerant, when you have a frown on your face.” she shot back.

He raised his hands in mock defeat, “Ahah, so the doe has a sharp tongue as well? Well well, I might’ve met my match.”

She stepped forward until she was standing in front of him, geez, when had he gotten so tall? She peered up at him, “Briar Longtreader, son of Whinny and Jon Longtreader-”

“That is my name.” He looked down at her, his interruption fueling her, the fur on her neck bristling, as she stared up at him, a twinkle was in his eye. And Jody stopped, it was amusement. At normal times, he would’ve been fueling the fire, but today...he quenched it. He is just trying to get under my skin. She pondered, she huffed and whirled around.

“So then, take me to this magical mystery present shop.” She said.

She heard a laugh from behind her. She smiled.

Jody glanced at the broken road again, why was this place so unkept? She wondered once again why she had never been down here before, she had been with her father on many different business trips, from the Helmer house, to the most foreign watchtower on the wall.

So what was so bad about this one? Why had she not been here?

She ran through the map in her mind, the one of all First Warren; ok, so there was the town square, where most of the fancy things were, and most rabbits lived there. Then past that is a small inner wall that led to the properties and land that stretched on for hundreds of acres. So, they hadn’t passed the inner wall, so they were still in the square. But this place was different, she knew there was a lesser side of the town, but she’d been there.

So where was this?

“Briar...where are we?” she finally asked, unease creeping into her voice.

Briar came up beside her, without saying anything, he pointed to a rickety wooden shop at the end of the road. He walked on, Jody glanced around, hunching her shoulders, regretting coming at all. She sighed, realizing it’d probably be safer following him, because she really didn’t know where she was, and the best chance was to follow the black and brown buck.

She hurried over to him, he was already knocking on the door, it shuddered as he rapped it, its rusty handle threatening to fall off. She frowned and looked over at Briar, “Briar. Where. Are. We?”

He turned to her, about to speak, when the door creaked open, “Who goes?” a voice growled from the depths, Jody jumped and whirled around. Suddenly nervous, she wrapped her coat tighter around her.

“Hello Uncle Danny.” Briar said softly. Jody looked at the buck in front of them, she guessed Briar was using the formal term when addressing an elder. Because these two looked nothing alike.

The scruffy large buck stared at them, his face jaunt and bony, his eyes lingered over her, and she hugged her coat tighter. “You brought a doe?” He looked over at Briar, Jody stifled a sigh of relief. “This is no place for a doe.” he snarled.

Briar merely chuckled, “Trust me Master, she’s seen worse.”

Jody glared at him, had she? She didn’t know what she was walking into, and she didn’t exactly trust Briar, much less this burly buck.

The older buck scowled again. Then shook his head and opened the door enough where they could squeeze in without letting in too much chilly air.

Jody relaxed slightly as they entered the main room, a simple one with just a few chairs and a table facing a blazing fire, she eagerly shuffled over to the fire, warming her frozen fingers. She heard mumbling and dared a quick look at Briar and Uncle Danny, they had their heads bowed, Briar seemed to be getting his charm to work on the older buck(along with what she assumed was money by the handsome glinting metal passed to the Uncle). Finally, after some bartering, Briar smuggly walked over to jody.

“Ok, we’re in.” he smiled.

“In where?” she whispered, looking for the Uncle, she couldn’t find him. “Briar where are we.” he waved her off and turned around but Jody lashed out her hand, grabbing his forearm and pulling him closer to her. “Answer.” she growled.

Briar winced as her grip tightened, “Goodness by the birds above you’ve gotten strong-.”

“Quit dodging around it and answer me.” she seethed.

“Fine fine.” he said meekly, his banter gone, he spoke, “We are in a weaponry.”

“What!?” she yelped, but Briar shushed her, “What?” she whispered, “Briar what have you done?” It was illegal to have a weaponry outside of the army, and this was way outside of it. Everything started to make sense, why the secrecy, but something still stuck out. “Why am I here?”

Briar scowled at the questions, “I knew you wouldn’t like it.”

“Of course not!” she snarled, then paused, “But why?”

“Well...I always admired your father, and my brothers are his right hand bucks, I…” he sighed and looked down. “It’s embarrassing really,” he said, his voice but a flicker above the flames.

Jody let go of his arm and scooched closer to him, placing a hand on his shoulder, “Briar...we’ve been friends for a long time, maybe not the bestest friends. But…” she looked up at him, his dark brown eyes like clear pools of syrup, her face reflected in them, she might drown if she kept looking. “I want you to know you can tell me anything.”

Briar blushed and backed away, “well...it’s just my brothers are so high in the King’s army, and I haven’t even started my training yet,” he paused, “I’ve heard my parents whisper at night, they worry I won’t add up.”

“Oh surely not!” Jody sympathized.

“Yea. So...I thought, well hey! If the king’s birthday is today, then why not get him something? Then I saw you.” he smiled, “And knew you could help.” he coughed and looked away, “maybe get me a good word in or two?”

Jody laughed. “Hahaha. Of course.” she nudged him, “Or I could invite you, and you could talk to father yourself.”

Briar widened his eyes, “r-really?”

“Yes really.” she smiled, “I-.”

“Let’s go.” Uncle Danny’s voice interrupted.

Jody blushed and stepped away from Briar, the brindle doing the same. she looked over at the ragged buck, an eyebrow was raised and he had an almost friendly smile on his face.

Briar huffed. “Ok, let’s go.”

“Jody! Thank the ember! Briar didn’t get you killed!” Lily cried as Jody and Briar showed up at the fountain, its clear water trickling down it and back up. Lily hugged Jody, then shot a wary glance at the heavy case Briar was carrying.

“Wow Lily, your faith in me is flattering, really.” Briar joked, then turned and smiled at Noa, who laughed and prodded him in the side.

“Do you ever exercise?” Noa teased, “You’ve gotten plump.”

“Hahaha. Very funny, your little highness.” Briar huffed, pushing her away light-heartedly.

“So,” Lily said, “what’s in the sack?” she motioned to the case again.

“Oh.” Briar said pretending to just now notice it, “This old thing?” He leaned closer to Lily, “Well you’re just going to have to find out like everyone else won’t you?”

“Briar…” Jody warned.

“Whaaaat?” He teased.

“Play nice” She stuck her tongue out and walked over to Noa, “Oooh! Are those the pastries?”

“Yep!” Noa said, but held the packages closer to her, “Now back off! These are for father!” she warned.

Jody laughed, “well then, let’s get this party started then, shall we?”

“A little to the left- no my left!” Lily shouted at the two bucks on ladders, they tediously moved the banner to the said spot. Lily scowled then shrugged, “Oh well, good enough.” And she gave them a thumbs up and made her way over to Jody, who was helping her mother set the beverages up.

“Mum-” Jody started, but her mother waved her off, Jody helplessly looked at her sister, then turned towards the queen, “Mum we can do this, why don’t you go rest?”

The queen waved them off again, “Darling Jo, I’m fine. If anything I'm better than fine!” the black-furred doe dropped a napkin “oop!” she cried, she clutched her swollen belly, due to have a child any day now, and struggled to reach the piece of paper, Jody exchanged a glance with her sister, then easily bent down and grabbed the napkin. “Thank you darling.”

Jody smiled and opened her mouth to speak, when Briar yelped and ran over, gasping he bowed to the three royal does, “I just saw Whit and the king! I sent Noa to stall them!”

“Wait Noa? Briar you could have picked anyone. And you literally picked the worst secret keeper ever.” Lily stated. Jody shuddered then nodded, thinking of past crimes.

Queen Glenda sighed and sat down, “Well then, all may be lost.”

“Maybe she’ll pull through?” Briar said hopefully.

Jody sighed and shook her head, but said “Maybe.” anyways.

“Perhaps you should send a master of deception my queen.”

Jody turned around to look and see a much older buck, his gravelly voice held a hint of humor, but Jody was sure that could also be scornful.

Helmer bowed to the queen then paused and looked at Jody, does he remember me? She wondered. She watched the older buck closely, in many ways, he was like her father, a faithful buck serving the cause, but he was older than King Jupiter, and was unmarried. She revolted at the thought, poor buck, maybe we could find the old guy an old widow?

“As you wish Helm, just make sure you don’t scare poor Noa.” Glenda said, smiling.

“How long do you need?” Helmer asked, already walking towards the door.

“Give us ten minutes at the least Helmer dear.” Glenda answered. Helmer nodded then disappeared.

They hid, Jody smiled widely and waited, she couldn’t hear them yet, but her father and his band should be near soon. She was behind a table, in between Briar and Perkin One-Eye, the two were quietly chatting. Jody was happy that Uncle Perk was here, Perkin had been her father’s friend since they were Noa’s age and had been ever since. Jody loved the Perkin household like they were family, which they were by this time.

“So Briar.” Perkin said, making Jody jolt out of her thoughts, “When are you going to join the army? I’d love to have you in my division.” he said.

Jody looked at Briar, who was shifting his feet, she remembered their conversation from earlier and pitied the brindle buck, “Well...maybe? I don’t know, just trying to find my place ya know?”

Perkin shrugged, obviously not satisfied but didn’t push Briar.

“They’re here!” Someone whispered.

Jody pricked her ears and listened, indeed they were. She heard them, she heard voices.

She heard someone rattle the metal knob then slowly crack it open.

“Helmer? My what is this?” Jupiter’s voice asked.

Jody jumped out in unison with the rest.

“SURPRISE!!!” they all yelled.

Jupiter jumped and whirled around, calming down he laughed at his own fright then hugged Glenda, then made rounds hugging everyone.

“No seriously though.” He said as he patted Wilfred Logtreader on the back, the both laughed. “What is this?”

“Honestly your head is shrinking with your humbleness your royal sir.” Wilfred joked, throwing his arm around his friend.

Jody came up and hugged her father, “Well, we wanted to throw you a party! For one, you are in much need of a party, and two, it’s your birthday!”

“Aw thanks Jody.”

“Actually this was Lily’s idea.” Jody whispered in her father’s ear. He smiled and walked over to talk to his other daughter.

And they all laughed, and ate, and danced the night away.

Jody was in the corner drinking a warm mug of cider, watching as her sisters danced around, hand in hand with others, little Smalls giggling in the middle. Winslow came up and swooped Smalls into his arms, singing and dancing with the baby.

Jody smiled and closed her eyes, she wanted this moment to last forever.

“Hey.”

She opened her eyes to see Briar standing there, he nervously tugged at his kerchief.

“Hey.” she said back, making room so he could lean against the wall beside her.

For quite awhile they were quiet, watching them all dancing, Jody’s eyes landed on a dark grey form not far from them, the buck raised his head, he had dark brown eyes like Briar, but he had a bright red scarf around his neck. Their eyes met. That must be Garten. She thought, she looked back at Briar, he was swirling his mug around, the steam rising up around his face and giving him an appley smelling halo.

“So…did you talk to my father yet?” She asked him.

“What?” Briar seemed confused at first, “Oh-uhm. No.”

“No?!”

“No, I don’t think i’m ready yet.”

“But...all bucks serve.” She stated.

“And I want to!” He argued, “But what if I don’t do it right? What if I’m a let down! What if I’m not an ambassador, or a lieutenant?! Or a Captain?” he growled, Jody paused, thinking of his powerful family. The Longtreader family was as old as the first kings of Natalia, and Jon Longtreader was a retired Captain of King Jupiter’s Army. He and his wife had four children, the eldest became one of the seven ambassadors, the next two lieutenants in the army, and the youngest… She looked over at Briar. He did have a lot to live up to. He sighed, “Ugh, you wouldn't understand.”

The older anger she had felt for him sparked inside her. “Are you kidding me?” She grabbed his arm, “Hello??? Remember the part where I live in a palace with twelve siblings and we all have to live with the expectation to be the perfect royal? PLUS THE POSSIBLE HEIR?!” She snarled, she let him go and started counting on her fingers, “Or that my father wants me to go into politics and not healing, or having to memorize every single person who as ever lived ever, or that a war is threatening to engulf our little world and we can’t do anything about it? Or…” she stopped, he had gotten quiet, thought it’d be hard to tell over the buzz of the music. She looked at his face, he was merely staring at her, a small smile on his face. All his quick banter and charm was gone. What was this? “What is it?” She asked.

He cocked his head to the side and turned his eyes to the crowd, she kept her eyes on him, “Just...thanks for coming with me today.” He answered.

She smiled and lightly punched him, “Of course!”

He looked at her, he smiled and leaned closer, as if to whisper in her ear. Feeling uncomfortable, she pulled back. He looked hurt. Thankfully she did not have to say anything, for her father came up and wrapped his daughter in a tight embrace. Her cider threatened to spill.

“My little Jo! How could you’ve known? Also- how’d you get your hands on such a precious weapon? I’m sure we don’t have them in our own armory? Oh never mind, thank you my child! My pride and joy!” Jupiter praised his daughter, Jody blush and looked down at the weapon Briar had chosen for her father. It was a short handed axe, good for close combat, which was her father’s favorite.

“Oh uh- thanks father but-” She stopped, and looked around for Briar, where was he? Surely he wanted the fame? She couldn’t find the black and brown pelt of his anywhere, nor his blue coat. “Oh.” she said, and looked away, downcast. Why did he leave without saying goodbye? She honestly was enjoying his company.

“What is it Johanna?” Jody turned to her father, his voice still happy, but concern was leaking in.

She didn’t want to worry him, or make his night unhappy, “Nothing.” she lied.

Ok! Filler episodes amirite?

Happy to introduce Briar fully! And(I'm pretty sure this was the person? Correct me if I'm wrong) @Kilmarnock228 wanted to see #Rabbitswithaxes and I decided to do that! Totally going to have another character wield one!

Q&A time! Bc we hit 5 chapters, I decided to do a reverse one! You ask questions, and I'll try my best to answer them!