At the tail end of the crowd of potential recruits, a shadowy form scurried along behind. Small and unassuming, one wouldn't be remiss not to notice it. The dark shape hid itself partially between the bodies of two larger, more capable mice; they looked like farming boys, given their ridiculous mass and distinct lack of brain cells. [i]These[/i] were the next generation of Watchmice? Seriously? Passing underneath the light of a torch, the dark furred rodent was briefly made visible to those around him. The young mouse, apparently eager to blend into the crowd of recruits, looked like the recent victim of a violent mugging. Tired, beady eyes had slight swelling around small, wretched scars that dotted his face. The few times the mouse opened his mouth, one likely caught a glimpse of his chipped front tooth. Even average mice nearly towered over the stunted young rodent. Short, scrawny and worse for wear, his presence- when eventually noted- had brought more than one shaking head or silent chuckle. Sleepy Eyes Erian didn't look like he belonged. He wasn't built like a warrior mouse, nor did he carry himself like one. Erian was always crouched over, making himself even smaller than he naturally was.

Erian kept a close eye on those around him, sizing up the competition. He was easily among the smallest of the mice in the group, many of them outright towering over him. The grey whiskered rodent leading their group forward wasn't exactly a picture of strength either, but Sleepy Eyes could tell the old mouse was still plenty dangerous in his age; though likely not in the same way he was in his youth. He hadn't minced words with the crowd of new to soon be greenbands. Passing through the front gate was their way of signing on for death. It had...nearly shaken Erian's resolve, if he was wholly honest. He almost turned back with the other cowards. But his inner patriot spurred him forward. Erian had always looked up to the Redwatch; and with his personal situation as it was, the tiny mouse all but had to, if he didn't want to starve to death or spend the rest of his life as a needy dependent. Erian wasn't gonna run with his tail between his legs. That wasn't even an option. Jaw set, and filled with uneasy determination, the black furred fighter slipped into the back of the group and proceeded forward into the Redfort's dimly lit halls.

Their Watchguard led the band of misfits into an almost barren room, save for what looked like a door, a crank and...a pile of weapons. That made Erian wonder. Were they being thrown into the action straight away, then? No orientation? No getting settled or basic health tests? A trial by fire was certainly one way to do things. Not knowing the ways of the Redwatch, Erian was glad his aunt had the charity to purchase the bow that rested over his shoulder. It's craftsmanship wasn't masterful, but it was sturdy and would certainly get the job done. Erian had been practicing with it behind the house for a couple of weeks already. He was far from a real marksman, being mostly self taught and still fairly clumsy- Erian had a long way to go before he'd ever be able to shoot with the same skill as a full blown Watcher. If his shaky archery skills failed him, the mouse had the blade on his hip to fall back on. Less than half the length of a normal sword, and a bit shoddy in his construction, Sleepy Eyes's hunting knife was a last resort sort of thing. He almost wanted to replace it with something from the pile of weapons in the center of the room, but the other Greenbands had already taken the good stuff.

Shifting on his feet, Erian scurried across the room, slowly tracing his eyes over some of the more interesting characters. There was one mouse, with lighter fur and a brawnier build, that looked particularly intimidating. He had scars that made Erian's look like scuff marks and a sword that could probably cleave the tiny mouse in half. Not far from him was another particularly large mouse that caught Erian's eye, though this rodent was a she. Wielding a warhammer that was probably heavier than Erian's whole body and actual armor unlike anyone else in the room, she was a sight to behold for a mere recruit. Had to be nobility; or a veteran's daughter, at the very least, to show up with that kind of equipment. What really caught his eye, though, was the familiar patch of black fur around her heart. It actually made the rodent smile, though it wasn't a happy or humored one. It matched his own matted coat in it's darkness, and likely burdened her with the same tired superstitious looks that Erian received. Sleepy Eyes hovered closer to the two largest mice in the room paw clenching at the bow over his shoulder. He'd use the big guys as cover for when shit inevitably hit the fan.

[color=lightgreen][i]'Keep your head down, Eri. Dunno where this elevator thing leads or why, but this is lookin' like it'll get bad quick.'[/i][/color]