Make Every Step Count

(July 10th Closed to Dusty and Badger for now. I apologize to the sucky title xP)

Badger wandered aimlessly through camp, a slight smile on her face. Her confidence had been reboosted after her meeting with Mortaray, yesterday, and now she was eager to do something, anything to prove herself. Unfortunatly, there weren't any battles that the black-eared canine knew of, so she was stuck wandering around the camp, bored out of her mind. The spotted female couldn't find Cadpig, Rolly, Mortaray, or Kula anywhere, so she was stuck with her thoughts, bored out of her mind. Every minute seemed to drag on for days, each hour seeming like a century. Yes, the mixed-eyed dalmatian had been faced with boredom before, but this was practically taxing, especially when she was so eager to prove herself. The dalmatian pup was sure that, if Mortaray said she wasn't, she wasn't a failure. Mortaray would never lie to her, and she was sure of that.

Sighing, Badger plopped down onto the ground, slight frown on her face. How was she ever going to prove herself if the opportunity never showed up?!?! Kicking a rock, the black-eared canine let out an irritated huff tired of just sitting around all day. Honestly, the spotted female had never felt like the camp had lack possiblities as terribly as this before. There was no denying that she was ready to make a statement, pushing down her usual fears and worries.

Groaning, Badger picked herself up, searching her mind for something to do. Maybe Dusty is around... She thought, paws leading her towards the german shepherd's tent without even having to think about it. The path felt quite worn, almost as if she had memorized, despite only having taken the particular route a few times in her life. Poking her speckled muzzle into Dusty's tent, she peered in, blue and brown orbs scanning the tent for her white-furred friend. "Dusty, are you here?" Badger called into the tent.

(Ugh, post sucks, sorry Angel xP)

Still chewing on the remains of his breakfast as he meandered through the camp, heading approximately back to the tent he shared with a few other guys, although in no particular hurry, Dusty couldn't help but wonder what his being here was achieving. Other than being an excape from the horror that had been life back in the studio, there really seemed little point to him being here. He had barely seen any villains at all, never mind any serious battles, and had hardly even spent much time training, too busy just enjoying his newfound freedom.

Well. That, he supposed, would have to change one way or another. He did want to be an asset to the war, he really did, but he just didn't know how. Maybe if he stopped by the training grounds once he'd returned to his...

...tent. Dusty paused at the odd sight of a dalmatian rear end poking out of the tent's entrance, the attatched head evidently inside. The only dalmatian he could imagine it could be was Badger, but there were so many around the camp that fron this angle, he couldn't say for sure. Deciding not to potentially embarass himself just in case it wasn't her, Dusty didn't call her name or anything, just tapped the pup's back to get his or her attention.

(ooc: I'm sorry I've taken so long to reply and that the post sucks - Dusty muse is so hard to get )

Spinning around feeling quite alarmed, Badger came face-to-face with Dusty. And boy was she glad to see him. "Dusty! I was looking all over for you!" She exclaimed, black-tipped tail wagging. Boy was it good to see her white-furred friend, maybe he would be interested in doing something with her! Quite honestly, anything would be better than moping around camp like she had been doing the past few days. The simple fact of knowing that she wasn't entirely alone today made the pup's happiness even higher. Although, the black-eared canine had never really had an effort to find her other friends.

But, even with her high confidence levels, Badger's insecurities and worries seemed to come rushing back when she was with Dusty. "I was just, uh, bored, and, uh, like, wanted to know if you wanted to do something. 'Cause I was bored, and everyone in my family has been really down since Penny's death, and I wanted to find something to do and I figured maybe you would want to do something with me!" The spotted female blurted, taking a rather large breath after her speal. Honestly, she had almost forgotten how hard talking to the german shepherd had proven to be time and time again. Even with her bursting levels of confidence, the black-eared canine was still nervous around him.

(It's fine ^^ Sorry for this nasty, short post xP)

"I thought it was you," Dusty stated a little stupidly as Badger turned. Yeah, either her or 95 other dalmatians who would all look the same when all you can see is their rear end sticking out of your tent... that thought propmted a bit of a sheepish grin on his part, which quickly turned into a genuine one as he met Badger's gaze. He liked her, there was no denying it, although if asked, Dusty would have sworn it was only as a friend, if only because he had no experience to recognise if he was feeling anything more.

"Sure I would!" he replied, while Badger was busy recovering from her long statement. Even after a couple of months of not really doing much of use around the hero camp other than enjoying his freedom, Dusty would still be quick to count that one evening he'd spent with Badger as the best time he'd had in the camp so far. Her company made him feel better about himself than anyone else's - less like a liability and a fire hazard. 'Course, that could just be because he hadn't told her about that part yet...

A moment passed as Dusty recollected his thoughts, then asked "...you've got something in mind to actually do, right?"

(You have every right to kill me for replying so soon xP High muse for Badger is high xP)

Cracking a smile, Badger's blue and brown orbs lit up, rather excited that she had her white-furred friend would have the chance to do something together. With Dusty, she truly felt like she didn't have to lie or conceal her identity like she felt she had always had to do back on the farm. The spotted female just felt... Warm and... Happy inside when she was around him, but always traced it to the excitement of being with a close friend. Because he was nothing more. Right?

But at the question of what she had in mind, Badger only slightly frowned. She hardly knew wether to tell him what was really on her mind, or just to suggest simply playing. Although, the black-eared canine knew that the white-furred pup wouldn't ever judge her, at least he never let on that he did. Taking a breath, she glanced up at Dusty, frowning slightly. "It's just that, I feel like I've been so useless this entire war, I want to actually do something. I want to prove myself, to show that I'm not just a waste of space," The spotted female blurted, looking up to Dusty, slightly nervous to see his reaction. Quite honestly, she didn't want to sound like a crazy creature!

Letting out a small huff, Badger slightly hung her head, jutting out her lower lip. "I don't want to be useless, ya'know?" She asked, looking back up to the white-furred canine. There was the slightest of frowns on her speckled muzzle as her blue and brown orbs darted from thr ground and back up to Dusty. She could only pray that her understood her concerns.

(ooc: My Dusty muse is always so slow... and short post is short ^^"""""""")

"Tell me about it." She could have read his mind, her words sounded so much like what he'd been thinking at breakfast that very morning. "All I've done significantly since I've got here is, well... met you," he finished lamely, realising how pathetically short his list of accomplishments really was. He winced, wondering if he really was just that useless, or if he might be able to ahcieve more if he actually put his mind to it, and scratched at his collar awkwardly.

"What do you think we could do?" he asked, deciding that the best means of finding out would be to try and achieve something useful as soon as possible. "Do you mean, like, sneak into the enemy base or something? That's what I did... I mean, Bolt did... on the show..." he faltered again, feeling like he'd probably just said something stupid. He was still having trouble bridging the gap between what went on on set, and how things worked in the real war.

(I tried to hold off for as long as I could, but my resolve isn't very strong xD)

Smiling slightly as she looked up at Dusty, Badger nodded her head, agreeing with Dusty's first statement. "All I've been able to do is get my butt kicked!" She joked, smiling slightly, blue and brown orbs sparkling as she spoke. But at the question what they should do, the spotted female drew a complete blank. "I really hadn't thought that far..." She stated, looking a bit crestfallen at the fact. How could I have overlooked the fact that we would actually need something to do to prove ourselves! She thought, somewhat angrily, frowning as she shuffled her paws around.

"I don't think sneaking into the enemy's camp would be a good idea, I don't even know where it is..." Badger mumbled, letting out a defeated huff. "The only thing that's happened, latley, is Pepper's death, you know, by Queen Nala, but...!" The spotted female started, an idea blossoming while she was in mid-sentence. Perhaps that was their golden ticket! Queen Nala had been chased out, but they would be heroes if they could find her and put her to justice! Blue and brown orbs litghting up like stars, she enthusiastically explained her idea to Dusty, black-tipped tail beginning to wag.

"Pepper?" Dusty looked at Badger blankly. It would be safe to say that the shepherd wasn't 'in the know' as far as a lot of things that went on around the camp were concerned, and he didn't really even know who Pepper was, let along that she'd been murdered. As Badger explained, however, he quickly warmed up to the idea. Rounding up an insane queen could certainly work in their favour with the other heroes, prove they weren't useless.

"I knew you'd have a better idea than I did," the white shephered stated ruefully once she had finished speaking. That dumb TV show... all he knew about war and conflict was based on that, and it had yet to prove to hold any relevance to a real war at all. A moment passed, then he added "But if she's already killed someone, won't that be... you know... dangerous?" Did he mind danger? Dusty didn't have a clue. But... given that he'd been scared out of his wits by two actors in costume his first time on set, he wouldn't have bet much that he wouldn't just turn tail and run if the queen showed any more murderous intent.

Not that he'd tell Badger that much, of course; he didn't want to ruin her oppinion of him.

"Pepper was one of my adopted sisters," Badger explained, shortly after Dusty asked, sure that he knew of the fact that she had ninety-eight adopted siblings. Mostly everyone knew of the famous one-hundred and one dalmatians that were slowly joining the war. And also slowly dying off... She thought solomnly, quickly snapping out of these dreary thoughts, though when Dusty mention how Queen Nala could be a danger to them. Frowning slightly, the spotted female let out a slight huff, deep in thought.

"I've got it!" Badger exclaimed, blue and brown orbs bright as she stared at Dusty. "We can find out where she's staying then come back and tell King Simba. Then he'll send some big heroes out to get her, and we'll be safe back here!" She explained, nodding her head in a matter-of-fact way. "And we'll be such heroes for going out and finding her!" The black-eared canine murmured, letting out a contented sigh at the thought of having everyone finally realize that she wasn't just a waste. That Badger, another one of a hundred, was finally an individual hero!

"Ya' know, if we set out now we could find her and be back by sundown!" Badger realized, eyes gleaming with excitement at the mere thought of being so helpful.

Dusty, who had been silently brooding over the thought of anyone killing a young pup, immediately seemed to perk up at that thought. Sure, maybe it was a bit cheating; getting seen as a hero without doing any of the dangerous work, but he didn't much mind that, even if it would feel a little like being back on that TV show. "Sounds like a plan," he consented, nodding. Behind him, his fluffy tail also wagged in agreement. Track down the queen - shouldn't be too difficult, right? Where could a murderous lioness even go?

"Where do we start looking?" he was quick to ask, eager to get going. The sooner they left, he thought, the greater their chance of success, if only by virtue of having more time in which to search. There were only so many places that would welcome a puppy-killer, he thought - and foremost amongst them was probably one of the enemy camps. He sagged a little at that thought. "What if one of the groups of villains is protecting her?" he asked, already thinking that would spell certain disaster, if only because he'd likely be scared still if he ended up confronting any villains.

"I guess we should probably start looking in the Middlelands..." Badger murmured after thinking for a moment. After all, wasn't that where Mortaray and the other wolves chased her off too? And a huge chunk of tthe spotted female would have rather safely searched in the Middlelands than have wandered into any enemy's territory. After all, she knew fairly well that getting caught for scouring the Outlands for a missing queen probably wouldn't go over well with Scar or any of his troops.

Then Dusty posed the question of her possible alligance. "I don't think really anyone would want her after they heard she betrayed her side. They'd probably think she'd just betray them, too," She suggested after a moment of pondering the question. Eagerly rising up, Badger began to mentally prepare herself, sure that she would be able to take on what life had to throw at her. "You all set to go?" The mixed-eyed dalmatian asked, glancing a the white-furred shepherd.

(Sucky post was sucky xP)

"Unless she was working for them all along?" Dusty suggested, eyebrows raising as he considered the possibility. "She might have been under their orders to kill someone... or to abandon her position because they were going to attack or something..." he frowned, the clunking of gears turning in his head almost audible. "But then that wouldn't make much sense; why would she kill a puppy when she could just as easily have attacked King Simba himself... no, you're probably right," he finally acquiesced, giving his head a quick shake. No point making things more complicated than they needed to be, after all. If they didn't find her in the middlelands... or the jungle... or the forest... THEN they could start thinking of whether the queen might have joined another army.

"Sure," he replied, dismissing his previous overthinking of where the queen might have gone and why, and instead flashing his friend an excited grin "let's go!" He suited action to word, turning tail and starting to bound in the direction of the midlands, every so often casting a glance back over his shoulder to check that Badger was following.

Badger frowned slightly, attempting to formulate answers to all of Dusty's questions in her head. After all, the simple-minded pup had never considered all of these possibilities and difficulties. It was quite a relief when her white-furred companion pushed his concerns aside, it meant less worry for the black-eared canine. She simply wanted to get some credit for doing a good, heroic deed, not a headache for doing nothing. And it wasn't that she didn't appreaciate Dusty's comments, becuase they did all propose good questions, but the spotted female felt much more like worrying about these problems when the time came.

Concerned frown flipping to a smile, Badger nodded her head excitedly, trailing after Dusty. "This is great!" She woofed merrily, attempting to keep her voice low to avoid anyone overhearing them. "Just think! We're gonna be heroes when we get back!" The spotted female added, excitement lacing her words. When we get back, I'll actually be thought of as useful! She realized, black-tipped tail wagging a bit as she bounded after Dusty.

"When we get there, where do you think we should start searching?" Badger asked, looking over to her white-furred friend.

(ooc: If they're going into the midlands now, did we ought to start a new thread there? Or just not bother, since they clearly can't have found her there and the main RP is already going on over a month past this now?)

Dusty grinned at Badger's words. the dalmatian's enthusiasm was amusing - and contagious. He, too, was starting to feel more excited about the prospect of what they were about to do. Find a lion... how hard could that be? They were big, not very easy to miss, especially out on the midlands where cover was scarce; they'd see her from a mile away if she was still there. It woule be easy - and, in fact, he was amazed that no-one else had thought of doing it already.

Badger's question, however, gave him pause, and Dusty frowned, shuffling his paws a bit awkwardly as they walked. "Well, I... honestly, I haven't been out there before. I haven't been in a battle the whole war yet, so I don't know what's there or where to start," he admitted sheepishly, looking straight ahead as he spoke instead of back at Badger. There was a short pause, before he added "...so maybe you better lead the way."

(Eh, let's just keep this thread and skip on to the Middlelands. It'll be easiest that way cx)

Badger dropped into the long grasses, attempting to act stealthy as she had seen the lionesses and wolves do while hunting. Although, her crouch was sloppy and obviously ametuer, along with her current mindset. Slipping through the Middlelands grasses, she signaled for Dusty to follow her, mixed orbs bright with excitement as she stuck her button black nose in the air. No, she didn't expect to scent Nala, seeing that the spotted female didn't even know what the former queen smelt like in the first place. It was simply for a bit of show and the small, hunkering sense that it meant catching a bit of Dusty's attention.

Turning around, she looked to Dusty, devling a slight plan. "We should probably look out for any kind of lion, and see if they've seen Nala," Badger explained, sounding pretty sure of her idea. It was only when she turned back around to find a small group of birds spring up and fly away that the black-eared canine was slightly frightened. It was only then that it hit her that they were out here, all alone, without anyone to protect them. "But, uh, maybe we should, uh, stick close to eachother..." She whispered, gaze falling slightly as she fell into step with Dusty.