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Post by Kris on Oct 18, 2008 21:59:47 GMT -6
It was a beautiful day, with a clear blue sky etched with horsetail clouds, a brisk wind, and wildflowers in bloom in the tall, brown grass. As the Tavol band rode on their way to Three Pillars Lake, several Plainsrunners gave in to high spirits and started to race, weaving around their more placid bandmates, and calling to each other with whoops and wild yells.
"Oh, quit it!" Sohnji yelled when Astierri raced past her, whooping so loud that her mare, Cloudburst, skittered to the side in alarm. She got Cloudburst under control, soothing her with soft sounds and gentle tongue-clicks, all the while glaring at her lifemate's swiftly disappearing form.
**You oaf! Scare her again, and I'll rip your hair out by the roots and make me a new bridle and rein out of it! Do you hear me?** Sohnji snarled wordlessly as Astierri's laughter filled her head. "Laugh at me, will you? You'll pay for that one, lifemate, if I have to gather every fire-ant and burr in a sack and shove you head-first . . ."
"Woohoo!" yelled a young maiden, racing past her. Cloudburst, calmed, merely snorted at the girl; Sohnji, therefore, only gave her a sidelong glare. The girl laughed. "Come on, Healer! Don't be so gloomy, let's ride!"
"No thanks, we've done all of that we needed," Sohnji threw back, and the tribemates surrounding her laughed knowingly as the maiden blushed and urged her mount onwards. Some of Sohnji's irritation eased, so that by the time Astierri came back, she no longer daydreamed lovingly of yanking his beautiful, golden-brown eyes out of his skull and polishing them for her necklace.
"So did she get that roll in the grass she was hoping for?" she gibed, grinning at him. "Or did you convince her to wait until after we make camp?"
Astierri grinned with wicked satisfaction. "Both," he replied, before kneeing his mare in the ribs and riding off once more.
Sohnji chuckled and urged Cloudburst to a canter until she and Astierri were riding side by side. **Race?** she challenged.
**You're on!**
Sohnji urged Cloudburst to a gallop, and the lifemates hurtled across the plain. Ahead, just visible through the grass, lay the shimmering edge of the lake and its graying limestone pillars. More of their folk would be there. Soon they'd smell food cooking, hear drums and pipes, and join the celebration that was a Plainsrunner Mustering.
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Post by Anna on Oct 18, 2008 22:17:05 GMT -6
Tevac watched as his lifemates thundered past him. They leaned low against their mares' necks, manes and hair streaming back in the wind their racing created. Through his bond with them, he could feel their exhiliration strumming through them both. The first night of Mustering was always wild with excitement and he knew there would be no sleeping for anyone until near dawn.
He didn't mind.
Soon, he'd see their daughters again, and their mates and children. What need of there was sleep when there was family to hold close?
His eyes followed Sohnji and Astierri as their mares began a long curving loop that would bring them eventually back to him. That was the way of it. They would always race off ahead, reckless, wild and full of life, only to turn and come back to him. They would arrive at the Mustering as they always had: together.
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Post by Westering Holt on Oct 19, 2008 14:20:00 GMT -6
Oreg and Nazari stood and watched from a hilltop as the last of the bands to arrive, Tavol, reached the lake and found their traditional camping ground. The summer grass was thick and lush, ungrazed by any band except at this time of year. The Mustering would last until the grass ran out, and then the bands would again go their separate ways.
*We've been with Mencul's band for two Musterings now,* Oreg sent to his friend, the only other High One still with the Plainsrunners. Only she could accept his sendings, and so that was the only way he spoke to her. Even after all this time, sending came more naturally to him than verbal language and it comforted him to use it with her.
*Yes. It is time to join another. Yeralyn's, perhaps?* Nazari asked, turning her rose-brown gaze towards that encampment. Children ran between tents and Nazari's smile lit her eyes as she watched them.
Oreg followed the gaze and then shook his head. *We traveled with them before Mencul. I think we need to go with Tavol. There is something...*
Nazari's response was wordless, but shared the vague sense that something was waiting, needed, and that it was connected with Tavol's band. *Yes, then, Tavol's. I have worried for the bandleader. The world weighs on him more each Mustering and I think he will soon seek the Home.*
*It is that, and more than that. I will move our tents if you will inform the elders.* He looked at her out of the corner of his eye, his thin mouth quirking in a fond smile. *They like you better.*
Nazari punched his arm. *If you were not so aloof, dear friend, they would like you, too.*
As they bantered back and forth, a conversation silent to all who saw them pass, they walked down their hill and towards the Mencul camp. They parted ways, each with their own task, and by the time Nazari rejoined him Oreg had set up both their tents in the Tavol encampment.
They set their sling-chairs before the tents, brought out the handwork that appealed to them, and waited for their bandmates to stop by for a visit.
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Post by Anna on Oct 20, 2008 10:51:08 GMT -6
Belarah whistled sharply as two children raced by, dangerously close to the cookfire that had only just gotten started. The children skidded to a halt and turned to face her, their faces immediately assuming the innocent-but-guilty expression children everyone mastered as soon as they could wiggle on their own.
"What's the rule?" she asked them, crossing her arms and giving them the level, unblinking stare that always intimidated the young into good behavior - at least while within her sight.
"No running in camp center," they chorused together.
"And where is this?"
"Camp center," was the mumbled response.
"And what were you doing?"
The two looked at each other, then the braver gave her a sweet smile. "Walking very fast."
Belarah bit the inside of her lip to keep from grinning at the response. Cheeky young thing. "Try again."
The other heaved a sigh. "We were running, Belarah. We forgot. But Tavol's here! They're the last band, and last Mustering Astierri promised to take us racing!"
Belarah tucked a stray curl behind her ear and let the two fidget for a long, long moment. At least as long as it would have taken them to walk through camp center. "You may go - walking, mind you! - to meet Tavol. I expect you both to be back for dinner, however!"
"Yes, Belarah! Thank you, Belarah! Bye, Belarah!" The gleeful shouts faded as the children walked - extremely fast, but still a walk - through the center of Ouren band's camp. Once they passed the last tent, the walking became a run and they very soon vanished from sight and hearing.
"Children," Belarah's chuckled.
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Post by Viola on Oct 20, 2008 11:03:16 GMT -6
"Tavol's here?"
Katha looked up as the two kits ran off. Her eyes began to sparkle. Hesitantly, she turned to Belarah. "I know I've promised to help you, Belarah, but do you think I could have a bit of time to throw myself on my sister?" Veruca so wouldn't like that, but she'd forgive her, as she always did.
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Post by Viola on Oct 20, 2008 11:08:14 GMT -6
"So we're here," Veruca spoke up, speeding up to reach Sohnji. The mustering made her feel like coming home. Her parents had died a while ago, and though Katha was a full-grown woman and though they hadn't grew up together, she had always felt the sisterly feelings for her. Katha was so different from herself.
"About time, too," she added after a short while of silence, and she smiled. "I guess we have to hurry. Seems we're the last to arrive... as always." She urged Wildfire to speed up a bit, looking back to see if Sohnji was following.
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Post by Anna on Oct 20, 2008 12:01:22 GMT -6
"Tavol's here?" Katha looked up as the two kits ran off. Her eyes began to sparkle. Hesitantly, she turned to Belarah. "I know I've promised to help you, Belarah, but do you think I could have a bit of time to throw myself on my sister?" Veruca so wouldn't like that, but she'd forgive her, as she always did. Belarah smiled and shook her head at her foster daughter. "Go," she said. "I've got things covered here and I'll start working on the meal soon. Just remember to bring her by to see me, youngling, or I'll have both your ears in the soup pot!" She remembered what it had been like, when the Musterings were still exciting. Now they were simply bittersweet, rich with memory. Later she'd seek out her children, the ones who still lived, and see their children, too. She preferred not to trace her descendents further back than that. It became too confusing, and they saw so little of each other that it simply didn't matter. Everyone was family, in some way. |
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Post by Kris on Oct 21, 2008 0:27:14 GMT -6
"So we're here," Veruca spoke up, speeding up to reach Sohnji. The mustering made her feel like coming home. Her parents had died a while ago, and though Katha was a full-grown woman and though they hadn't grew up together, she had always felt the sisterly feelings for her. Katha was so different from herself. "At last!" Sohnji laughed, throwing her head back. Cloudburst followed suit, her long mane flying back in Sohnji's face. "Oh, you vain thing," the healer muttered, grinning. "Hey!" Sohnji squeezed her knees to Cloudburst's ribs, and the mare took off after Wildfire. *Hey!* Astierri sent. *I thought we were racing!* *Change of course, lifemate--unless you're too slow to catch up?* Sohnji felt him laugh through their brief mind-link, and added, *Come on, let's go back and get Tevac. I can't wait to see our little ones again! They all must be as tall as trees by now!* |
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Post by Kris on Oct 21, 2008 22:42:02 GMT -6
"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"
Humming to herself, Nalreen almost didn't recognize the high-pitched squeal until something ran into her. Stumbling, almost falling over, the scout let fall an oath most weren't used to hearing from her.
"Nalreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen!" The little screecher wrapped herself around Nalreen's waist, trilling at top volume. Nalreen stared down at the child in amazed amusement. Was it a flying ball of hair, or was there actually a little girl underneath it all?
"Yes, I'm Nalreen! You still know who I am! Now let go of my waist, you're choking me," and Nalreen, chuckling, peeled her little sister off her. Ksiva immediately flung herself at her again, squeezing her ribs, and Nalreen gasped in earnest. "Ksiva! That's enough!"
"You'rehereyou'rehereyou'rehereyou'rehere!" Ksiva danced back, eyes brilliant in the sunlight. Nalreen couldn't help but laugh at the picture the child made. Wild golden hair bounced with her every movement, its sheen matched only by the brightness of her teeth and eyes. "Mama and Papa and Papa Tevac should be here too! I can show them Summer, and maybe Papa or Mama will race with me!"
Nalreen arched an eyebrow. "I'd tie you down for a nap, but I don't think the rope would hold you," she remarked.
"Oh, silly! Who wants a nap? C'mon, let's go see where the High Ones are! Did I tell you I made a bead-strand for Nazari? It's very pretty, too. Oh, and did I tell you Summer and I nearly walked over a mama white-stripe and her babies? It took forever to get the smell off. Summer hated it. She rolled around in the dirt for days. Let's go get something to eat! I'm starving!"
"You should have eaten already," Nalreen shook her head, even as her little sister pulled her towards the cook. "Hello, Belarah. Do you have any scraps for my sister and I? This is Ksiva, by the way. Ksiva, this is Belarah."
"Hello!" Ksiva hopped once, beamed at Belarah, and then caught sight of something on the ground. "Ooooh, a lizard! Hold it--" and Ksiva dropped to the ground.
Nalreen, blushing, glanced sidelong at Belarah.
"I'm so sorry," she blurted. "Ksiva's . . . a bit . . ." She looked at her sister, who was scrabbling on her hands and knees after a lizard. "Eager?"
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Post by Anna on Oct 21, 2008 23:06:54 GMT -6
Belarah flashed the youngling a smile. "She's just a filly, not broke to halter yet," she said complacently as she opened a pack. "And, one would think, too full of spring grass to stand still long enough to eat anything other than pemmican." Belarah pulled out several strips of the hardy meat and berry travel food, a mainstay for any scout, hunter, or raider who planned to be away from camp for more than a day.
"Child, leave the lizard alone unless you plan to hunt it for your dinner. I hear Tavol's band is arriving and I'm sure your parents are anxious to see you again." She gave Ksiva a considering look. "Your fostering can't be more than a year or two old."
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