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Post by peachbug on Nov 9, 2008 17:11:54 GMT -6
Softling stood trembling beside the dark rubble in front of her, not from any cold, but the sensation like worms from the dirt crawling over and under her skin. She had wandered a short ways to ignore Tallspear and Stormfire's affections, which had quickly ended her sympathies for the young chieftess. Her nose was keen, and so close, she scented the earth laden bones that Journey had uncovered without even looking their way.
The now distant voice of her chieftess shook Softling from her daze, and she quickly recognized she was now alone. She turned and ran to the sound of Stormfire and Firecat, welcoming the company of living wolves and elves alike.
(OOC: Is this cool?)
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Post by Kris on Nov 12, 2008 0:05:48 GMT -6
Stormfire paused at a mound of rock, crumbling into dust even as weeds pushed up through it. She looked at Firecat, and the two stared back at the sight before them.
It was metal, rusted from the elements. Firecat squatted down on one side and Stormfire on another; the pair began to dig the rocks away from it, even as the wolves sniffed, snorted, and circled them warily.
The larger rocks had to be set aside carefully. They were heavy, and shaped so strangely that Stormfire found herself exchanging bewildered looks with Firecat every time they lifted one. Odd square-shaped fragments had symbols shaped all over them. There were fragments that curled like ferns, or fanned out like tufts of grass. Some were smooth; others felt weathered.
"Is there any end to it?" Stormfire wondered as they reached a mound of fine pebbles. Firecat scraped half away, and started as her work revealed the odd, talon-shaped contraption was held in a skeletal hand.
(Note: this is well before Tallspear's send. We can play this out a little.)
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Post by Anna on Nov 12, 2008 0:18:15 GMT -6
Windsoft had left exploration and discovery to the others while she utilized her scouting skills. The area that most of the others were exploring she had already deemed 'safe.' Nothing living moved there, other than small rodents and plants. Old death, dusty bones and stones, and magic saturated rubble. No danger.
The longer she spent near the broken mountain, the more certain she was that all that was to be found here was memories, the quiescent essence of elf magic, and sadness.
So she slipped from shadow to shadow, pausing often to stretch her senses for anything that could be scented, heard, or seen. She stayed within sending range, and kept a light touch with her chieftess so Stormfire knew where she was and that all was well.
The wind shifted and a new scent teased Windsoft's nose. Unlike everything else, this was a living scent. Fresh. *Stormfire,* she sent softly, as well as the memory of what she was sensing.
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Post by Viola on Nov 12, 2008 8:41:05 GMT -6
Firecat's concentration wavered when she continued to scrape away the dirt around the figures. Though the figures interested her, the job wasn't what she liked to do. Hunting for caves was fine, they might need a shelter for the night were they to stay here, but uncovering rocks wasn't her idea of investigating danger.
When Windsoft's open send direct to Stormfire reached her, too, she veered up. Living scent? Something was here? It made the hair in the back of her neck stand straight up.
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Post by peachbug on Nov 15, 2008 15:31:35 GMT -6
Softling was crouched behind Firecat, nervously observing the strange findings before them. 'What a weapon!' Softling thought at the sight of the strange sharp talons. She shuddered privately at the idea of confronting such nasty blades, as an animal or elf. As for the strange rocks now piled around them, shapes like grasses and clouds. 'A false world...' She wondered in awe and horror.
At Windsoft's sending, Softling unconsciously looked up at Stormfire, seeking the chieftess's thoughts.
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Post by Kris on Nov 15, 2008 23:00:39 GMT -6
*Stormfire! Everyone! We've found a cave!*
Stormfire sat bolt upright at the news. And just then, Windsoft's sending reached her. *Something's alive here?* She reached for the javelin she'd laid on the ground and got to her feet. *Windsoft, we're coming. Firecat, Softling, let's go.*
She headed over the rubble, testing the scents that came her way, even as she made sure that Softling was where she could see her. Stormfire wasn't sure what to think. A scent--a living scent? And not an enemy's, clearly, or Windsoft would have sent 'danger'.
The trek to Windsoft took them up over a mound of rubble. Stormfire came up to Windsoft and laid a hand on her shoulder; Windsoft turned and shared, again, the memory of the scent. Stormfire stopped and breathed in the air, tasting the various scents . . . and the strongest scent was the living one.
*An elf,* she sent, shocked.
*And it's male,* Windsoft returned.
"High Ones," Stormfire breathed, forgetting momentarily to send. Firecat and Softling's faces mirrored her alarm. *Is he still here?*
Windsoft sniffed at the rocks, and shook her head. *I don't think so. This scent's more than a day old. Maybe two.*
The others had caught up to them, and heard Windsoft's final send. Whirlwind snorted as she glanced around at the rubble. *Whoever he is, he isn't a Wolfrider,* she sent.
*Maybe he's hurt,* Journey sent.
Oakstaff shook his head. *No chance, cub. You'd smell blood or sickness if that were so. Where's the scent lead, Windsoft?*
Tallspear joined Windsoft as she knelt to find the trail. Stormfire looked around, her heart pounding with wariness and anticipation. What would an elf be who wasn't a Wolfrider? She couldn't fathom it. The stories told that Timmorn had had many children in and out of Recognition--but that didn't mean anything. Cubs died, especially in the cold. And this was not a Wolfrider's scent.
*He couldn't have lived here all this time, could he?* Tallspear remarked.
*Sure he could,* Journey stated. *He might have been the only survivor when the mountain fell.*
*How do we know it's even his tribe?* Tallspear tossed back. *For all we know, he could be some foamsick outcast.*
*From where? Not our tribe!*
*Quiet,* Stormfire ordered. *It's no use wondering who he is until we find him.*
Windsoft sat back on her heels. *The trail leads up there,* and Windsoft pointed up at the summit of the rubble hill. *Whoever or whatever he is, he went that way.*
Stormfire sighed. There was nothing she'd have liked better than to go back to the cave Tallspear and Whirlwind had found. Still . . . *If he's up there, he might know why we're feeling what we're feeling--and whether or not it's a threat.*
*Or maybe he's as lost as we are,* Journey quipped.
*If that's so, I'll send him back down with you, magpie,* Stormfire returned, grinning. She took a few steps forward, and waited for Windsoft to catch up with her. *Well . . . * and she looked back at her tribemates. *Since we're paying a call, why don't we all go just to be polite?*
She took the first few strides forward, up over the rubble.
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Post by peachbug on Nov 15, 2008 23:15:17 GMT -6
Softling was numb with shock as she heard Windsoft and Stormfire exchange thoughts. An elf...with no wolf or wolf blood? The thought of being without the possibility of a wolf friend, a pack. What could that mean? "He must be lonely." Softling blurted quietly, then felt very childlike and shut her mouth quickly.
At Stormfire's summons, the first, stubborn part of her tongue wanted to complain, protest the continuation of such a disturbing discovery. Her young curiousity, her wonder, prevailed however, and she quickly stumbled after the chieftess, sniffing the air for the aged scent.
*Stormfire?* Softling sent as she studied the rocky hill before them. She rarely brought herself to completely thought send to the chieftess, so wary she was of the new leader, but her curiousity overwrought all. *What will we do if we find something?*
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Post by Viola on Nov 16, 2008 7:21:25 GMT -6
**Hush!** Firecat's sharp sent towards Softling slipped out before she could hold it back. **Send, don't speak.** The youngling might have blown their element of surprise here, and she suppressed a sigh. Listening to the mind-chatter of her fellow party, she shook her head lightly. *Let's go,* she nodded to Stormfire, *No use spreading around 'maybe's' and 'perhaps' before we find anything.*
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Post by Anna on Nov 16, 2008 12:15:26 GMT -6
**Gently, Firecat,** Windsoft scolded gently, looking towards the huntress. **She's been no noisier than the rest of us and I don't see, scent, or hear anything close by.** Which didn't mean there wasn't. Firecat had a different angle. **Do you?**
Windsoft meanwhile gave Softling a reassuring smile and gestured for the cub to join her. Softling was twitchy enough and a reprimanded that was more the result of Firecat's nerves rather than honest fault with Softling would do the cub no good. Still and all, silence was preferred. And this would be a good teaching opportunity for the cub, too.
Windsoft looked over the gathering Wolfriders and subdued a sigh. Hunters and fishers they were, all young, and not really an experienced tracker or scout amongst them but herself. All hunters were trackers to some extent, and Softling showed a marked preference for tracking, but her youth was against her. It took a slightly different mindset to be a scout rather than hunter: instead of focused on one quarry, one had to be focused on all possibilities.
*Chieftess, the scent trail follows the easiest path up, but I suggest we scatter among the rocks and stay in shadow. The wind has shifted, carrying our scent away, so we need to concentrate on stalking unseen. Shall I lead?*
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Post by peachbug on Nov 16, 2008 12:33:07 GMT -6
Softling nodded at Windsoft's summons, flushed with embarassment at Firecat's reproach. She tried to read Windsoft's expression as she looked over them, but elves could be so much subtler than wolves at times, so many more thoughts. As if that helped.
At Windsoft's sending, Softling nodded again to herself. There was little Softling could dispute with the huntress, with her wisdom and years, even if she wanted to. Now though, Softling thought it best to follow and stay close to their wise huntress.
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