Elenion Aura
One Thousand Club
NAME: Markus
Faction: Badger
Occupation: Guard
Location: Entrance to the Fields
Currently: Having a chat with the Witch Doctor
Tagged: @Quip a Witticism @Glass Jellyfish
He entered the Fields, flanked on either side by junior Badger Guards, both of them brandishing pistols. He, on the other hand, carried no weapon, and needed none. Eyes, steely blue and piercing, swept the Fields and absorbed the carnage before him with an even temper and a strong stomach. This had been too close. They had teetered on the brink of catastrophe before, but this particular instance had brought them closer to that ledge than they had been in recent memory.
The Witch Doctor's voice reached his ear. Soon enough, Markus caught sight of the Unaspected man and, much to the Guard's surprise, Keeper Etta up ahead.
"One more word outta you, an' ah'll throw yeh over tha' fence mahself."
Markus, thinking that the quarrelsome Badger might retort, stepped in timely to avoid an escalating conflict. Slapping a heavy hand down on the Badger's shoulder, Markus' firm grip made it very clear that any misbehavior on his watch would be met swiftly with punishment. "That's enough, now. Go on and do as the Good Doctor tells ya."
Markus watched James work for a moment, noticeably amused by the sight of the Unaspected man ordering around a Bear, no less. When the Bear Guard finally left, off to fulfill the directive meted out to him, Markus took it as his cue to step in and take a closer look at his Keeper, catching sight of the ugly wound festering on her arm. He crouched down beside James and Etta, cocking his head to his Keeper, even if she was in no state to respond in kind. "Howdy, Keep. Y'ain't lookin' so good."
"Got'a ge' yeh teh the Firs' Gate."
Markus cleared his throat when he thought that James was about to try and carry Etta to the First Gate himself. "Now, now. Hold your horses there. Let the boys, here, carry Keeper to Medical." Markus didn't intend to take no for an answer, and made this point abundantly clear when the Badger Guards on his left and his right stepped in to assist their Keeper. "You look pretty banged up yourself." The old Badger pointed to James' bruised and swollen neck, as well as motioned to his general state of dishevelment.
"Sir."
Markus nodded, and rose to his feet, entrusting his men to escort Etta, and James, to the First Gate for James to work his magic on their Keeper. But, as their party set off toward its destination, Markus placed a hand on James' shoulder. He took care to be gentler than he had been with the Badger before, but forceful enough to merit a full-stop. Apparently ignoring the loss of half of their group, the pair of Badger Guards, with Etta dangling between them, carry on ahead toward the Medical Wing.
Markus tugged James back, bringing his lips uncomfortably close to the Doctor's ear. He whispered, barely audible. His grip on his shoulder tightened.
"Now, I reckon you've come to think that your little trick gives you some kind of diplomatic imm-un-it-y." Markus stretched out the word, syllable by syllable. He paused, inhaling sharply before continuing. "But, make no mistake. We did just fine before ya' showed up, and we'll do just fine after you've gone." Markus let the weight of his words linger in the man's ear before he pulled away, squeezing his shoulder once more for good measure before withdrawing his hand. After a brief pause, Markus' entire demeanor changed.
"Well, go on boy!" Markus chirped, a smile breaking across his worn and weathered features, and slapped James on the back. "The Black ain't gonna pull itself!"