|
|
Post by Kris on May 19, 2009 21:56:19 GMT -6
Pain shot through Silent's temples and he gasped, barely covering his nose in time to stop the blood. *There!* he sent triumphantly, and pointed the way as he wobbled and sank to his knees. He had never sent his mind so far before. Stormfire stared in amazement as Silent fell to his knees. For a moment she thought she might do so herself. She glanced at Windsoft, whose advice she'd been mulling even as the scout reasoned with Silent. She'd just avoided a mistake, Stormfire realized, and ruefully considered that there were times when common sense should outweigh generosity. But she also savored a flare of triumph. She had a strong feeling that Silent had done just what he promised--found them water. And as she met Windsoft's eyes, she felt a twinge of regret. Windsoft knew what she was doing--Stormfire should step aside and let her do it. She thought of their trek to the Broken Mountain, and inwardly winced. True, it was a chief's job to face danger for the tribe. But Stormfire had a feeling that Windsoft would tell her to her face, if the whole tribe weren't standing by, that it was also a chief's job to keep out of danger as well. She bit her lip, raised her eyebrows, and finally shrugged. **Windsoft,** she told the scout, **choose your own scouts. They won't include me. I belong here with the tribe, not under your feet.** |
|
|
|
Post by Anna on May 19, 2009 22:14:27 GMT -6
Windsoft stepped aside as Mist knelt down next to Silent. The healer closed his eyes and touched the young elf's forehead gently.
At Stormfire's lock-send, she returned to the chieftess' side. **Stormfire, you would not be under our feet. But you're more than just another young hunter now.** The scout's gentle send, began to warm with approval and pride. **I am your arrow, chieftess. Say but which direction you wish me and your scouts to fly.**
|
|
|
|
Post by Kris on May 19, 2009 22:23:46 GMT -6
Stormfire smiled wistfully; Windsoft's praise was welcome, as she was beginning to wonder if she wasn't making herself look cowardly by staying behind. Where it's safe . . . although it's not all that safe . . .
**Want to try Silent's direction? You could still send some of the others on another path, just in case.**
|
|
|
|
Post by Anna on May 19, 2009 23:50:06 GMT -6
**Silent's direction it shall be,** Windsoft agreed readily. **I'll keep us together; I have faith in the cub. He's never been so certain of anything before.**
"Longdusk, Softling, Tallspear, Thornberry," Windsoft called her chosen scouts and hunters to her. Truthfully, she would have preferred to leave Softling behind, but the cub was training as a tracker and Scout, and learning how to move in an unfamiliar environment would, hopefully, not be an opportunity that came her way too often.
"We follow Silent's direction. We ride fast. Combine all the water into as few skins and possible, and bring the empties with us. We'll ride fast for a night's travel, rest, then return to the tribe with the news of what we found. And water," she added, turning a smile on Silent.
Mist looked at her sharply as he took his hand away from Silent's forehead, having stopped the bleed in the nose and soothed the ache in the young elf's head. Sunsong knelt beside Silent, gently cleaning the blood from his face.
"It hurts when you first start actively using a gift and you stretch too far," the plantshaper murmurred soothingly. "But the more you practice it, the sooner the hurting stops." She brushed her lips against his cheek. "You've done well, silent one! Windsoft will go find your water!"
Mist patted Silent on the head, sending him wordless encouragement and pride. The healer moved to join Windsoft and Stormfire. "You must take water with you, as well," he said quietly. "We're all near sick from the lack."
"We will," Windsoft assured him, touching his shoulder quickly. "We'll leave most with you, take one with us, and all the empties. They'll be full when we return!"
Mist turned his silvery-blue gaze on Stormfire. "And you will be back by tomorrow's resting time?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Kris on May 19, 2009 23:59:30 GMT -6
Mist turned his silvery-blue gaze on Stormfire. "And you will be back by tomorrow's resting time?" "I would if I were going, Mist," Stormfire returned, watching Windsoft gather up her chosen scouts. So she's taking Softling! Good, good . . . the cub needs to get some experience.She looked back at Mist and added, "I'd go if I could. But Windsoft made me think of something Sureshot once told me. A hunter can risk any danger to herself for the tribe's sake. But for the tribe's sake, the chief can't do the same." She sighed at the memory. "If he saw me go off with Windsoft, he'd tell me if I really wanted to abandon the tribe that badly, I should go throw myself on the mercy of the Tall Ones." |
|
|
|
Post by Anna on May 20, 2009 0:13:58 GMT -6
Mist held Stormfire's gaze for a long moment, his own sharp and searching. Finally, he smiled. It was a smile Stormfire hadn't seen for what seemed like a long time. There was no trace of distance, no aloofness, no barrier behind that simple, honest expression of approval and ... relief.
Mist was relieved. He'd been concerned after the collapsed mountain foray. Stormfire's initial intention to go on this scouting mission had deepened that worry. But this - this was the sign he'd been trusting would come. It was sooner than he'd really expected. And, again against his expectations, it came at her own will.
"Your sire was often wise, and I would take it as a great favor if you'd avoid the Tall Ones, Stormfire," he said now, with every appearance of calm - except for that warm smile he still had.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kris on May 20, 2009 0:41:15 GMT -6
Stormfire ducked her head at the healer's open smile, blushing at the implicit approval in his words. "Well . . ." She couldn't think of anything to say, and then it came to her. "It's not like there are any Tall Ones around here anyway!"
She turned away quickly to wave at the departing scouts, among them Tallspear and Softling. Stormfire couldn't hide a grin as she saw Tallspear fall in step beside golden-haired Softling, and wondered if she should tell the maiden that Tallspear liked golden hair. One of the many reasons, she told herself wryly, that I'll never take him as a mate. No lovemate or lifemate of mine is going wish any part of me different.
|
|
|
|
Post by Multi-Facets on May 20, 2009 1:19:12 GMT -6
Mist's hands were cool and soothing. He sighed in relief as the throbbing at his temples faded to nothingness, and gave a small whimper of appreciation, much as a pup would under their mother's tongue. Sunsong gently took care of the blood, praising him, and gave him advice that was so sensible, he realized he would have to force himself to remember it if possible.
Being fussed over, however momentarily, warmed him. And he was being taken seriously, too! He could to work with the Song, rather than just drifting through it aimlessly. It gave him something to work towards, anyway, if he never had a use again.
Windsoft smiled at him too, and Silent found himself beginning to blush. It was all starting to be a little overwhelming, but it was so, so sweet. Even when people started leaving to collect water bags, the warm glow lingered.
Now he could get something to eat as well.
|
|
|
|
Post by peachbug on May 20, 2009 17:44:49 GMT -6
Softling brightened at Windsoft's beckoning; the huntress had always been something of a mentor figure to her, and the journey from the holt had only deepened her admiration for Windsoft. A bit of almost smugness came over her. So what if the quiet elf could find water? There's no way the Wolfriders would have a drop.
Softling handed over her waterskin to be drained and tucked the empty thing away, mulling over the joy of returning with it bursting full.
She ordered a whining Snapbone to stay behind. He wasn't ready for riding, and it would've ahrdly been sensible in this heat to press him any farther. It was best he stay.
As the tracker started forward with Longdusk and Thornberry, she noticed quickly Tallspear sliding in behind her. She blushed, but didn't say anything, and tried not to speed up and draw attention. If he wanted to be odd, let him be odd by all means.
Maybe he wasn't acting odd, she considered. Maybe she was the one out of tune with things, being too suspicious, too out of touch. This only made her flustered more.
|
|
|
|
Post by Viola on May 21, 2009 4:26:01 GMT -6
Firecat snorted, but laughed at Shellslip. "Sassy or not, I'm eating it, right? Though, if we'd have a plentiful hunt and stocked storages somewhere safe in a place we call home -- I'd be more picky. Eh?"
When a few hunters were being called for a scouting party, Firecat tilted her head to see what was going on. "You better find something," she called out to them, being more cheerful than she was moments before.
~*~
Lightgaze looked up when Longdusk's name was being called, and watched her son move closer to her. "What's--" she said, but Longdusk only took a bite from his latest catch, and grabbed her waterskin. "We won't be long," he grunted, and Lightgaze didn't ask any further. "Be safe," she whispered, before Longdusk teamed up with Flea, and watched them depart.
|
|
