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Post by peachbug on Nov 28, 2008 19:43:11 GMT -6
Redthorn watched Lightgaze retreat to her den with mild concern, but she trusted the fellow elder to look after herself. Her own worry about leaving the chieftess and their packmates amongst the rubble was now but a flicker in the back of her Now entrusted mind, as was her harrowing flashback, as she had now determined it to be. Her worries were no good till there was real trouble. With a glance to Icemark and her Silvercub, she considered staying behind, perhaps collecting herself for whatever came next, but Whitecrest growled beside her. He was edgy at the proposition of a hunt, despite his weary legs. His position as alpha only aggravated his need to lead the hunt.
She sighed, thought for a moment, and patted Whitecrest firmly. "You leave the pups be," Redthorn muttered as she stroked his bristled white and gray mane. "Go on." **Hunt.** She sent for clarification and pushed him gently towards the other wolves. She resumed walking with Icemark and Silvercub, taking her cub's hand as they went.
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Post by Multi-Facets on Dec 11, 2008 16:20:54 GMT -6
All right, I think that's enough, Shellslip told herself, and sat on a rock to lean out of the river far enough to grab her boots. She shook water from her limbs as best she could, put on the footwear, and went ashore to claim her dress.
Once clad, she fished in the river again to haul out a stone that was as flat as possible, then a bit of quartz that was about the size of two elf fists. Another flat bit, probably flint, was chosen and set aside. The gatherer sat down and began carefully cracking shells between the first two rocks, putting the slippery meats on the third.
For his part, Silent went to the farthest edge of the camp- still in sending distance, but far enough for what he had in mind. He found more rocks and carefully stacked them, then found a burl of dead wood to set atop the pile before backing away. Rocks of varying sizes were sought next, and put by his right foot.
Silent pulled a sling from his belt and checked it over. It was made of long strips of braided leather; his father, Lightstone, had worked it through with fat and oils to make it durable and soft. It had not suffered from the long trip so far, which was good. Lightstone had shown his awkward son how to make a sling, but Silent wasn't sure how well it would turn out.
He slid his hand through the loop at one end, and gingerly placed a rock in the pouch at the middle. It didn't fall out when he moved his arm above his head, so he set to swinging.
"If you spin the sling more than once, the less likely it is you'll hit the target when you let the stone go," Lightstone had said, even though his own style was to swing twice and then let the stone fly. But he was a master of the simple weapon, having even perfected a rapid-fire technique that was downright lethal and ended his hunts in success and cracked skulls four times out of five.
But Silent was a novice, and it would take a while before he could get enough force to end his hunts well- or hunt at all.
Silent let the loose end of the sling go, and sighed inaudibly as he missed the wood target by at least three feet. Oh well. This was what practice was for.
Next would come spear-throwing practice.
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Post by peachbug on Dec 16, 2008 23:53:22 GMT -6
Evenstar, originally preoccupied with retying her hair after her wolf's mischief, now gave a pleased Farpace one last fierce rubdown and prepared her bow and dagger for the soon hunt.
They needed no large game, but fresh meat was welcome no matter the size or quantity.She studied her bow as she contemplated the huntings past in the old holt, but determined to keep the distant thoughts far off. A fresh hunt would put things right. The wood of the bow was aching and worn, but the time for new weapons would come with a new holt, no sense to waste time in between. As she waited for Sunsong, Evenstar walked quietly to the river to watch Shellslip's new catch.
*How goes it, Shellslip?* As Evenstar studied the pile of meats growing beside her, she sent. *Your skills never go to waste!*
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Post by Multi-Facets on Dec 19, 2008 15:05:15 GMT -6
Shellslip smiled up at Evenstar, bright and pleased. *That's the beauty of gathering,* she replied. *Every little bit helps, right? If you like, you can go ahead and have some, but I think it might be best if you didn't take more than three. That way we'll be sure that everyone who wants some will get some.*
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Post by Viola on Dec 20, 2008 17:21:14 GMT -6
Lightgaze dreamt. She dreamt of the old holt. It was a dream she'd had before, but every time it was different -- as if she dreamed like they continued their lives. She could tell by the little things she saw , like a scratch that slowly faded. Hair growing longer, or being cut. She missed them. She still wondered if it had been a good thing for her to come with, but she didn't want to show that to either Redthorn or Longdusk. For them, she was happy to be here.
Hazel seemed sad in her dream. Firecat had told him not to go, and had said that she needed this. But the male seemed to do better every day.
Strange dreams, followed by a deep blackness, in which she wandered alone. It was as if her soul tried to reach out for something when she was here, but found nothing. Nothing, except the dreams of the holt she'd known.
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Post by peachbug on Dec 25, 2008 0:16:12 GMT -6
"Perhaps one." Evenstar knelt briefly and took up one of the slips of meat, tearing a bite off carefully. "Sunsong is off preparing alone...I'm not sure whether to go without her, I'm sure she needs the rest." Taking another small bite, she studied the discarded shells and smiled. "What interesting skins these creatures would make, if I could work them. Hardly warm, but certainly pretty." She held one broken piece with the shimmer outward in front of Shellslip. "You could swim with the fish like one of their own!" Evenstar laughed.
Within the camp, Redthorn swung a cheerful, carefree Silvercub in beside her with Icemark, the cub's hand clinging to hers as she squealed a giggle. Redthorn playfully hushed her, which only elicited more laughter. Privately, Redthorn took note of the packmates, observing Evenstar taking leave only a few moments ago and the others settling in to rest or relax. 'Silent...' She thought, glancing about for the young elf. **Silent?** She sent cautiously, not intending to interrupt. **Are you well?**
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Post by Multi-Facets on Dec 26, 2008 0:43:02 GMT -6
Shellslip laughed, imagining herself adorned from the hips down with the sublime, subtle shimmer of cut shell squares as she swam and splashed about in a stream.(*) *Oh- oh, friend, if we could come up with something like that, I'd wear it proudly,* she giggled, grinning brightly. *We'd have to tie it tightly, but I'd wear it!* She gave one of the shells a thoughtful look. *If nothing else, these would make a beautiful belt if strung on leather, with fringes. What do you think?*
**Are you well?*
"Ghk!" Silent stiffened, arm freezing in the middle of a swing, and the stone fell from the pocket of his sling. *[confusion/surprise/realization] Redthorn?* he responded. **I- I'm fine. I was- I am practicing. I didn't want to do it too close to camp; I might've hit someone,** he added, lock-sending as well, and re-collected his "ammo" to try again.
(*How's that for alliteration? XD)
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Post by peachbug on Dec 26, 2008 14:36:58 GMT -6
"Oh, that would be perfect! I have seen a few designs like that before, but I've never tried." Evenstar studied the piece in her hand intensely, the grain, the shape, the thickness of it with blue eyes bright with interest. "Perhaps we should save some of the larger pieces. I could experiment for you."
Redthorn laughed to herself. **Sorry to startle you, Silent. I didn't want to bother the others with my sending. Wise to keep away from camp with such things, but keep a fair eye on your surroundings when you can. Peaceful as it may be here, it's still strange. Send if you need any help.**
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Post by Multi-Facets on Dec 28, 2008 22:25:20 GMT -6
"I'll cut the pieces for you," Shellslip promised Evenstar. "Squares and ovals are some of the easier shapes to make, and they look nice. I bet you'll be able to make something lovely out of them."
**Tell me about it,** Silent muttered, partly sarcastic. He felt the strangeness still, but at least it wasn't choking him and making him panic now. **I'll be mindful.**
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Post by peachbug on Dec 29, 2008 0:19:42 GMT -6
Evenstar nodded. "I'll do my best. preparing and dying good leathers and furs is one thing, this will definitely be interesting. I'll ask Lightgaze if she's worked shell before." She glanced out over the stream. "It's sort of silly, but I'm hoping to find some really new, interesting skins wherever we're going." She grinned sheepishly. "I pity the poor animals at our new holt. To see us prancing round in their skins must be an awful shock."
**You do that, Silent.** Redthorn sent, twirling Silvercub about with one hand. **Though I guess you'd know best of us when something was coming.**
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