Collab with JFox: Farah and The Stranger

Farah the Ferret really wasn’t sure how her day was going to go. Someone had managed to sneak into her place of living and slipped an odd colored parchment under the door. Thinking it was some kind of trap, Farah had considered burning the letter, but the writing of “From: An Admirer” was curious. Inside was a location and little else.


Farah didn’t quite know what to make of it. It could be a job offer: her services were in high demand. Then again, “admirer” might mean an obsessed indiviudual. She twitched her ears a bit before she tucked the letter away. Farah pulled on her leather armor, sheath of darts, and buckled on her short sword and handaxe. Armed and equipped, she set out from her place for the location.


She had to satisfy her curiosity, if nothing else. Farah moved through the dark city streets keeping to the shadows until she spied the meeting place. A ruin at the edge of town: a guard tower that had seen better days.


“Let’s see what happens now,” The ferret muttered, drawing her cloak around her as she advanced to the tower.

Farah slipped in through a crack in the stone rather than the entryway. The letter didn’t specify a meeting spot exactly, though if this admirer had been watching it was likely he had tried observing her style.


Farah found herself in the tower. It was just as decrepit inside even though the daylight shined in, allowing her to see her surroundings in detail. And one detail that didn’t seem right was a shadow that looked like it moved in a way that didn't match falling debris.


Farah bared her teeth as she pulled a dart free, while her other hand went for the axe.


“You sneak about as well as a bull with bells.” She snarked.

The figure seemed to panic before bolting for a nearby column for cover. Whoever it was, they were at least as fast as Farah. She barely had time to toss a dart before the figure made it. Farah could see that the mysterious person wore a brown duster and long brimmed hat.


Farah saw her dart had missed, she advanced snarling with the axe, as she also freed her shortsword.


“You picked the wrong ferret to mess with!” She shouted as she made a swipe with her sword, only hitting brown cloak as the figure shoved the cloth into the ferret.

After shoving away the cloak, she saw a slender fox, dressed like some kind of bard... except for the massive shield and short spear he had hidden under. The man (at least she thought it was a he) was hidden behind the weapon combo, defensive. She mused  he was a military man by the equipment. She made up her mind then that he was a bounty hunter.


“Now where were you keeping those? Well I’ll give you points for cleverness. Hmm, stylish too. Too bad.” Farah chuckled as she feinted a slash for his face with the sword and struck out with the blunt part of her axe for his knee.

The pretty boy kept the shield in front, backing up to protect his knees before he attempted to shove her back with a shield bash into some debris.


Farah stumbled back, winded. She strided forward, only to fall onto her face. She groaned, embarrassed when she realized her legs were bound somehow.

“*huff* you’re as good as they say. Stick around for a moment,” the fox grumbled to himself, kicking away the thrown dart so she didn’t have many more ideas. Though with his back turned, the ferret formulated her escape. Her ankles were held in place by elastic bands that weren’t allowing for much give. As he took a breather, Farah sneered, grabbing her axe and using the hooked end to prod at the trapping.


“You’re not bad yourself. Kinda cute too...your note said admirer, but there are easier ways to catch a girl,” Farah teased, shocking the fox.


“Uhh, I didn’t mean that implication at all! I just needed you to hold still for a few seconds,” he fired back defensively.


“Oh, and rope was your best plan?” the ferret egged him on, and by the time he noticed where her hands were, the bonds snapped and she hopped to her feet.


“Oh dammit!” the fox boy growled as she turned back with determination in her face before she suddenly gasped, like she saw something about to fall on the stranger.The stranger noticed this, and acted in a unique manner, turtling the shield up to defend the top of him, expecting debris.


Farah smirked as she bounded forward and kicked him in the torso. “That’s adorable that you fell for that.”


“Oof,” the figure grunted. His features were more noticeable since he was on the floor- definitely fox-like features but with a small mane growing near his neck and brown fur. It was an odd combo, but she didn't have too much longer to think on it as he brandished the spear.


“Well, I pride myself on that,” the odd fox grunted, trying to pass off the comment.


Farah moved forward trying to close the distance before he could get up and use the spear, only to get kicked back with his two feet, he grunted as he got to his feet, a hand out. Farah fell back flat on her back. She seemed stunned.


“Oh geez,” the fox grunted aloud, holstering his spear. “Ma’am? Are you OK”


She didn’t respond.


“Dammit,” the figure groaned.


Then as he drew closer he suddenly had the handaxe hurled at his face, but to Farah’s shock he managed to catch it by the handle inches from his face. Though he was clearly distressed as it came close.


“Hold it! Hold it!” he grunted, dropping the axe, and raising his hands.


“Nice moves,” Farah muttered as she shot to her feet, sword aimed for his chest.


“Talk fast! Or I’m out of here.”


“OK OK, I uh...am a fan. I was hoping to get an interview with you…” the figure said, dead serious.


“What,” Farah said flatly. She was having trouble grasping the concept.

“Well, you know- go on record, tell your story for future viewing and such. Obviously at your disclosure, I invited you here since I know you enjoy privacy and any business could be conducted in secret as to not garner suspicion on your part. I was wearing a cloak so I didn't stick out and I was just back there cus I came early...so I took a nap."


“You took a nap?” Farah asked incredulous. “Just who are you now? And how do you know me?”  


“Yeah, I’ve been waiting about a half hour. You can call me Fox. And I only know you by reputation, but that’s what the interview was for. You see I’m a sort of...bard. Well, storyteller, I’m an awful singer. I recount other’s tales from far and wide, further than even someone like you has been. I track my targets and request their greatest hits of sorts. I dabble in adventure myself as well.”


“You do realize how suspicious and contrived everything you’ve set up sounds; telling me to come over here without giving a name or reason, calling me an admirer when we’ve only now met, stowing yourself just out of sight in the shadows, wearing the mysterious thief’s cloak and this entire spiel now that I’ve got you cornered…also that you just called me a target,” Farah was more than happy to continue, but the mysterious fox parted his ears, stopping her.


“Well it sounds suspicious when you lay it out…my apologies. My enthusiasm in meeting you got the better of me."


“So you’re serious, about interviewing me? What, are you going to conduct a ballad later?”


“Well, I’m more of a written wordsmith, but if you prefer, I could probably try my hand at it...I think I caused you some grief, I’m so sorry.”

Farah’s tail twitched, “You can make it up to me later. How about you start asking some questions?”