|
|
Post by Kris on Jun 1, 2009 20:15:04 GMT -6
Stormfire woke up as someone approached the den. *Stormfire?* It was Oakstaff.
*What are you still doing up?* Stormfire half-scolded, half-teased. *Get in here and collapse. We've had a long night.* Oakstaff crawled in beside her, and Stormfire sighed contentedly. *Hope you don't mind Whirlwind,* she added. *She should be along . . . *
*Stormfire? Oh, here you are. Oh, move your big feet, Snowtreader,* and Whirlwind pushed into the den, dropping down on Stormfire's other side. She let out a huge sigh and made a show of wiping her brow. *Well, here's to a nice place to rest! Give Sunsong a little time, and she could make us a holt out of all this grass.*
*No,* Stormfire blurted, aghast, and Whirlwind and Oakstaff both laughed. *I've had enough of all this grass! I can't wait to see trees again.*
*And water,* Whirlwind put in.
The three agreed simultaneously. *And water.*
As Stormfire fell asleep, she dreamed of a great waterfall that fell straight into a wide, green pool; it was so cool and refreshing that, as she slipped deeper into the dream, she could feel its mist upon her skin.
|
|
|
|
Post by Anna on Jun 1, 2009 20:42:38 GMT -6
((Jumping ahead several hours because writing about a bunch of elves sleeping is just boooooring))
Mist woke from his day's sleep quickly, going from dreams to awareness between one heartbeat and the next. Nothing had startled him from slumber; he usually woke so and never suffered from the befuddling haze some elves enjoyed as they crossed from sleep to awareness of the world around them.
The sun was still high overhead, but had passed the midday point. He lay still for a moment, mentally reaching out and placing each member of the tribe. Stormfire slept with Whirlwind and Oakmist, a comfortable table of cubs -
'-not cubs, Shae,' Mist reminded himself. 'Not cubs. Adults, with adult names, adult responsibilities. Even if you caught them as their mothers birthed them, and cleared the fluid from their lungs so they could take their first breath.'
Sunsong he could hear with his own ears, and she would always be a cub in his eyes, with that innocent joy that she greeted her life with. Only cubs could be so happy all the time, and share that happiness with others. He smiled, listening to the song of a nightbird that he hadn't seen since entering the grass plains.
Others were stirring and Mist sat up himself. He'd stripped down to his loincloth for sleeping, knowing that the heat and humidity of the day would make sleeping in his leathers uncomfortable. He moved quietly to avoid waking anyone else, dressing and heading outside to see if they could collect any more of the little rodents they'd 'hunted' the night before.
|
|
|
|
Post by Multi-Facets on Jun 2, 2009 1:21:05 GMT -6
With a flash of mischief, Sunsong widened her eyes and gave Firecat a confused expression. "We're denning for the day. Aren't we all supposed to be tired?" she asked innocently. She reached for Silent's arm and cuddled against his side. "Of course, it's been such a tense few days, we'll need to relax first. I'd rather not drink any tasteless teas, so that leaves only the other alternative, doesn't it?" Suddenly shy, Silent brought the two women close in a comfortable hug. **I-I'm not tired, but.... I just wanted to be with someone,** he admitted to them, and nuzzled Firecat's cheek before turning his head to nuzzle Sunsong's nose. **I'm happy,** he said, his sending displaying the depth of the emotion. **I haven't been happy since my brother Recognized. I wanted to share that.** His hands wove through his momentary companions' hair, deftly smoothing it, and let his fingertips linger on the backs of their necks. **Thank you for being with me,** the quiet one mentally whispered, truly grateful. |
|
|
|
Post by Viola on Jun 3, 2009 10:50:47 GMT -6
"Hmmm," Firecat said, when she turned around between two warm bodies. She had to take a moment to figure out where she was -- and with whom, but it didn't take very long for her to realize what had happened. Then, a lazy smirk went across her face. The day had been unexpectedly pleasant. Though Firecat would not say no to anyone when they asked for a roll, she hadn't shared with Silent before. But, she told herself, it would not be the last time, either.
She had felt somewhat uncomfortable with Silent's revelation when they had just entered his temporary hideout, slightly taken aback by his deep emotion, but it had soon be forgotten. Still, she wanted to have some privacy, as well. Trying to be silent, not to disturb her furmates, she tried to move.
She pushed herself up, looking around for her clothes, and after she'd spotted them, she quietly moved over to her leathers.
~*~
Lightgaze had been trying to get some rest, but her dreams had startled her, and she had been awake for quite some time already. She figured it had something to do with Longdusk's absence, but she didn't want to say it out loud. She didn't think it was really healthy for her to lean so heavily on her son.
It did, however, keep her awake, and quietly, she had moved outside. The sun stood high in the sky, though, and she kept her hands just above her eyes to protect them from the light.
|
|
|
|
Post by Anna on Jun 3, 2009 11:24:35 GMT -6
"Lightgaze?" Icemark rounded the grass den-hunt and was surprised to see his mate's friend already awake and outside. As exhausted and worn as they all were, he had thought many would sleep for as long as Stormfire would let them. He had trouble sleeping during the daylight hours, however, and had risen as soon as he'd woken. He couldn't accept that a place could be completely devoid of all edible plants, and he'd spent the last while exploring the area around their resting place, sure he'd find something besides last night's rodents for his tribesmates to eat.
"You look troubled, my friend," he said now, approaching Longdusk's mother.
|
|
|
|
Post by Viola on Jun 3, 2009 11:53:02 GMT -6
Lightgaze was slightly startled, she thought that she had left the hideout without waking someone up. "It's nothing," she told Icemark, "I just keep having these dreams. Of home," she confessed. She turned her head and stared over the grass plains. "Sometimes I still wonder if I made the right decision," she quietly said. "I dream of Sureshot, of the tribe, when everything was still good. And yet... we aren't there. Any of us..." Her voice drifted off. She wasn't quite comfortable in telling anyone this, though she had mentioned her dreams to her soul sister.
"I think I just miss them," she continued softly. "And now the party's looking out for water, I miss them, too. I just... I just need to find out where I am, what I'm supposed to do in the new holt, if we ever find it. I'm a bit lost."
|
|
|
|
Post by Anna on Jun 3, 2009 23:32:57 GMT -6
"This is new for all of us," Icemark noted. "I'm not surprised your having dreams and feeling unsettled. I think we all are, to some extent." He smiled again and clasped her shoulder gently. "You'll feel better once we find our new home. We'll have our place to belong, then." He cocked his head to one side as Stormfire sent a call to the tribe, telling them to gather up and get ready to go. "Our young chieftess seems equally restless," he noted with a chuckle.
As he turned to find Redthorn and Silvercub, he paused and looked back at Lightgaze. "You know...you're welcome to den with us, when we find our holt," he offered. "Or before that. Home is more people than place, don't you think?"
# # # # # #
Sunsong had been showing Mist some seeds she'd found when Stormfire's summons went out. The healer and the plantshaper walked to their wolves together, still discussing the possibilities of the unfamiliar plants. Oakstaff edged himself between the two and firmly curled Sunsong's fingers around her seeds.
"Enough. It is far too early in the day for you two to be so alert and thinking. Pack it up and get mounted. Stormfire's anxious to get started today."
Sunsong laughed and tucked the seeds into a pouched tied around her waist. "We're all eager to find water, and Windsoft did say she'd be back today, with or without."
"Hopefully with!" Mist said as he mounted Whitecold.
|
|
|
|
Post by Viola on Jun 4, 2009 8:13:45 GMT -6
Lightgaze smiled and nodded when Icemark told her it wasn't strange at all, and she was grateful for the support. "She is," she answered in regards to Stormfire. "And I hope it will. I'm depending too much on Longdusk now, he should go and spend more time with the rest of the group, as well. I feel like I'm using up all his time," she added, a bit sheepish. When he offered to den with them, she hesitated. "I'm going to have to think about that, but I really appreciate the offer," she nodded. ~*~ OOC: Since I wrote before that Firecat left the hideout when Silent and Sunsong were still asleep, let's just say that had been before Sunsong woke up?  Firecat had spent her time trying to dig up some more of those creatures, but unfortunately, the holes that she tried were empty. Those little critters must've scattered away as soon as they'd realized they were easy prey. Too bad, she snorted. She was getting hungry again, and already was thirsty, but at least she had saved part of those ground-squirrels. It would be far from tasty after a day in the sun, but it was better than nothing. |
|
|
|
Post by Multi-Facets on Jun 4, 2009 15:18:50 GMT -6
Silent jerked awake, disturbed by the call. Even before he was fully aware, though, he was scrambling to dress and get his weapons, and roll up his bedfur. *Coming, coming,* he sent haphazardly. **Wanderlust!**
The she-wolf appeared with a snake in her mouth, which she held out to her friend. **Is good,** she told him.
Silent gave the snake a dubious look, but it was obviously meant for him, so he thanked Wanderlust and worked on skinning the animal with his nails after he had shouldered his belongings.
Shellslip had just finished putting on her boots when Stormfire summoned them. Sniffer, who had been lying beside her, stood up immediately, tail wagging a bit before settling down. "All set, friend?" the gatherer asked her wolf, also putting her things across her shoulders.
**Set,** Sniffer affirmed. **Will walk careful.**
"Me too." Shellslip scratched behind his ears as they approached Stormfire.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kris on Jun 5, 2009 23:41:58 GMT -6
(OOC: Okay, guys, Stormfire's group has been on the move for some hours--we're about to meet up with Windsoft again!)
The ground-squirrels were good meat when one was hungry, but Stormfire found herself wanting a handful of cool, clear water. Or two handfuls, one to drink and one to pour over her head. She'd never been so tempted to cut off her hair until now--at least, to lop off all the curls except for the chief's lock.
She snorted. And wouldn't she look strange like that?
I really, really hate plains. Stormfire half-listened to her kindred's sends around her, wishing she felt like taking part in their conversations. Brittle, sharp blades of grass scraped against her legs, and she winced as one scratched her knee. And I hate grass even more than plains. If I could, I'd take all the grass we've walked across for the last hand of days and give it to the humans for their cook-fires. She kept a lookout for any sign of Windsoft, worrying at her lower lip with her teeth. If something had happened . . .
. . . and she stopped as Snowtreader sniffed the air and whuffed. Ahead, the grass was moving--as if someone was running, still hidden by distance.
**Windsoft?** Stormfire locksent, her heart racing as the forms in the distance grew more distinct. A howl split the silence, and Stormfire did a standing leap of joy. "Ayoooooooooooah! Windsoft!" She turned back to the tribe. "It's Windsoft and the others! They're coming back!"
The howls from the tribe and the oncoming scouts filled the air with a rousing melody, one that made Stormfire want to leap on Snowtreader's back and race across the plain to Windsoft. Instead, she started forward at a steady jog. *Keep your eyes open,* she urged her tribemates. *Let's not pass over any danger in our way.*
It seemed as though only moments passed before Windsoft and the scouts burst through the grass. Windsoft dismounted and headed for Stormfire, a triumphant smile on her face as she held up a bulging waterskin. "Silent was right, chieftess!" the scout announced. "We found water!"
|
|
