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Post by peachbug on Nov 20, 2008 21:02:10 GMT -6
Softling sniffed the air curiously at Stormfire's sending. Her sending implied more than the words. She glanced to Windsoft, then Firecat, then just waited with some apprehension, gripping the hilt of her dagger without thinking.
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Post by Anna on Dec 13, 2008 16:16:34 GMT -6
Windsoft glanced at Oakstaff as the hunter slipped up beside her, then turned her attention back to the dark entrance that her chieftess had entered. A shifting of shadows and the pale gleam of flesh in moonlight. As Stormfire moved to rejoin them, slipping through shadows, another flicker of movement in the doorway caught the scout's eye.
It was ovalish, more narrow at the top than the bottom. And small - about half the size of Stormfire's hide, but mostly in width, not height. The surface seemed irregular, although distance and darkness kept the details unseen.
**Stormfire, there's an egg following you,** Windsoft locksent carefully.
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Post by Kris on Dec 20, 2008 16:50:47 GMT -6
Stormfire froze. *There's a WHAT?* she fired back.
She could feel something behind her that radiated magic, and turned her head slowly to see. Something caught the moonlight, gleaming, and she pivoted around to see just what Windsoft said it was.
It was the egg.
The floating egg.
By the High Ones! Stormfire edged up to it, watching as it spun slowly in mid-air. What's making it spin?! She raised her head and sniffed the air, but . . .
*Anyone see that elf?* Without waiting for an answer, Stormfire put out both hands and caught the egg in her palms.
She marveled again at its strange weaving of symbols, some recognizable, some not. Hoping to catch its maker's scent, the chieftess leaned in to inhale its scent, and caught nothing but the faint, nose-tingling sensation of elfin magic. What is this?! Stormfire slipped it into her belt-pouch and hurried back to her hunters.
*Let's get to shelter,* she told them.
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Post by Viola on Dec 20, 2008 17:16:59 GMT -6
Firecat looked surprised. *What? Why? I mean, sure, but what happened?* She felt confused -- they had to come up here to investigate and now they would leave without finding anything? Oblivious of the findings, Firecat turned her face away from the chief. It hadn't been her intention to question Stormfire's words, but she was curious what this meant.
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Post by Kris on Dec 20, 2008 22:34:49 GMT -6
*I'll show you all when we get to a cave,* Stormfire reassured her confused tribemates. She put a hand on her beltpouch, but the egg no longer moved. She shook her head. *I've never heard of anything like this in the wildest dreamberry tales!
*If the stranger comes back,* she added, *we'll be ready for him. But for now, we're going to get shelter, eat, and hold a council.*
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Post by peachbug on Dec 25, 2008 0:08:55 GMT -6
*Timmorn's blood, we're taking it with us?!* Softling couldn't contain her exclamation much past an open sending. *What if the strange elf left it as a trap?* She didn't particularly not want to investigate the strange, floating object, but the whole situation really ran her the wrong way. With random floating objects, who knew what magics this place held?
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Post by Anna on Dec 30, 2008 9:53:46 GMT -6
*If it was a trap, we didn't spring it,* Windsoft noted, turning to lead the way back down the mountain.
*If it's a trap, it won't matter if we sprang it or if mystery elf sprang it. We're still in it." Oakstaff hung back, letting his tribemates follow Stormfire first and taking rearguard himself. *Chieftess, maybe we should head back to yesterday's camp instead of a cave under all this rubble?*
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Post by peachbug on Dec 30, 2008 12:22:12 GMT -6
Softling flushed and was quiet as she sped up to keep close to Windsoft. She felt foolish for blurting her thoughts so bluntly, but she had feared no one else would have the same thoughts.
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Post by Kris on Dec 30, 2008 15:52:39 GMT -6
Stormfire considered Oakstaff's suggestion. The thought of staying put raised her hackles; something was out there--more importantly, someone was out there, and although they hadn't caught a scent of anyone else, it didn't mean they weren't in danger. The weight on her hip was all the evidence she needed of a powerful elf who, with a pile of rock and a handful of Wolfriders, could probably hold his own.
Although Whirlwind was quiet, Stormfire knew how her sister would react to that notion. Toad turds to that! A well-aimed arrow beats a floating rock any time, chieftess! And they had enough hunters to take out one rock-shaper.
Still, Sureshot would advise taking the safe course, and that was to head back to camp. But that was a long way away--and from Stormfire could see, dawn wasn't long off. She hated walking in daylight, when humans were up and about. Nor did she want to risk her tribemates to certain danger for the sake of escaping one that might not even be real.
But what about the egg?
*We'll talk this over, Oakstaff,* she sent. *First, let's get to shelter. I want you, Tallspear, and Firecat at the entrance with the wolves, weapons ready. Keep an ear on the rest of us. It's stay here for a day, and away from humans, or take the trek back to the old camp and risk crossing them. Keep that in mind until we start council.*
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Post by Kris on Dec 30, 2008 15:58:26 GMT -6
*What about me?* Whirlwind sent. *I should be on guard too.*
She snorted at Stormfire's pungent retort. Whatever had happened on top of this rubble-mountain had her chieftess-sister ready for a fight. Whirlwind glanced back at Oakstaff; for certain, he wouldn't give Stormfire one, but she found herself liking the idea of high-tailing it for the old camp.
Tallspear just shrugged and kept walking, but Journey blurted out, "That's it? We climbed up this pile of rocks for nothing? We didn't even find any--" A sharp look from Windsoft and Journey closed his mouth. Whirlwind hid a grin as she passed Softling, giving the she-cub a pat on the shoulder. Softling might be quick to speak, but at least it wasn't squirrel's chatter.
**Hey, cub,** she sent to Journey. **Follow my lead. I'm walking with your mother and Softling. You could learn something from the shy little one, by the way,** she added, as Journey came sulkily to heel beside her.
**She never says anything,** Journey returned.
**As I said . . . you could learn something,** Whirlwind noted.
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