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Post by Anna on May 20, 2009 21:21:13 GMT -6
Windsoft gathered her scouts together, and asked one of the unbonded wolves to allow Softling to ride her. They'd be traveling quickly and she wouldn't ask any wolf to carry double at the speed they'd be going.
"Longdusk, be our eyes. We're moving fast, and we have to sacrifice stealth to do it. You keep watch and warn if you see danger approaching," Windsoft said as she bundled the limp waterskins together. "Tallspear, you watch the ground for trails where game is traveling. Those trails usually lead to water at some point. Softling," she turned to the cub and smiled, reaching out to tap her nose gently with a fingertip. "You keep that sharp nose of your reading the wind."
Slinging the waterskins over her shoulder, she quickly straddled Bristlecone and waited for her group to mount up. she cast a grin at Journey, sending him a wave of love and warmth. "We'll return soon, Chieftess!" she said, then buried her hands in Bristlecone's ruff and leaned low.
The wolf launched herself into motion, the ground-devouring lope quickly taking them beyond sight of the tribe, following the path that Silent has pointed out to them.
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Post by peachbug on May 20, 2009 22:47:08 GMT -6
Softling let slip what must have been a very silly looking grin at Windsoft's words, the kind she'd seen Silvercub give Redthorn after letting the wolves roll her into the mud or leaping onto an unsuspecting elf. Stop that, she reprimanded herself. You have to be useful, capable, not a cub tugging on Windsoft's tunic.
Softling turned her attentions back to keeping a firm grasp on the wolf beneath her and her head down, though turned to the side to let the wind sweep her face. If there was game on the air, she would catch it.
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Post by Viola on May 21, 2009 4:29:49 GMT -6
With Firecat's words planted firmly into his mind, Longdusk nodded at Windsoft. He wasn't really keen on having the cub with them, but at least there would be enough hunters to protect the throwback elfess if she fluked. The scout narrowed his eyes, and scanned the surroundings. Nothing. A whole lot of nothing, for days on end already.
Seeing that Windsoft determinedly went to a specific direction, he couldn't stop himself from asking: *You don't have to answer, but why there?*
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Post by Anna on May 21, 2009 19:37:55 GMT -6
Windsoft didn't look at Longdusk, but her reply was quick and cheerful, openly sent so that all of the scouts would know the reason. Windsoft didn't believe in keeping the reasons for a decision hidden. *Silent said water is in this direction, and Stormfire told us to go this way.*
Windsoft paused in her sending, her eyes and attention following a bird that took sudden flight. It was too late in the season for eggs, and Windsoft disliked hunting young, so she didn't pause to look for nests as they ran through the grass.
The days heat had passed and if it wasn't cool, it was comfortable beneath the moons and the stars. She had a good feeling about this foray. Silent had pointed them in the right direction, she just knew it. The only question: how far would they have to ride?
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Post by Kris on May 21, 2009 21:01:28 GMT -6
Softling turned her attentions back to keeping a firm grasp on the wolf beneath her and her head down, though turned to the side to let the wind sweep her face. If there was game on the air, she would catch it. Tallspear rode up beside Softling, liking more of what he saw the closer he got. *Scent us a lake, Softling,* he teased, winking as she shot a look his way before urging his wolf-friend forward. All big startled eyes; yet he liked having them turned on him, and added, *Find us a lake, and I'll let you jump in first,* before going ahead to sight out any trails. |
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Post by peachbug on May 21, 2009 21:53:27 GMT -6
Softling blushed again as Tallspear rode forward. Could the hunter possibly get any odder? Just like Journey, with the teasing, and all of it felt doubly odd in that she really wasn't sure what she thought. She was not tremendously naiive, but she couldn't read the underlying truthfulness of what he meant.
The tracker struggled to come up with some quick remark, but settled for just flustering like she always did and lowering her eyes.
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Post by Viola on May 22, 2009 10:27:07 GMT -6
Since Longdusk usually discarded any of Silent's messages as those of a featherbrained cub, he couldn't suppress a snort. But in this forsaken place, any other direction would've done, too. He shrugged the feeling off, knowing that questionning or arguing would only exhaust them further.
The bird that flew didn't go unnoticed to the hunter, either, and he followed it until it was out of sight. To have any life around here, meant that there had to be water somewhere.
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Post by Anna on May 22, 2009 12:21:59 GMT -6
Windsoft chuckled at Longdusk's reaction. **I know,** she locksent to him. **He's never given us cause to pay him much heed before, and he's well past the age when he should have taken his place in the tribe and contributed. Some cubs take longer than others, though, and this very situation may be what he needed to see just how he could contribute. High Ones know he's no hunter or scout!** She glanced over at Longdusk and arched a slim, black brow. **He may surprise us. And if this is the wrong direction, then this failure may be what he needs to pull his head out of it's dream and focus on the world - and tribe! - around him.**
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Post by Viola on May 23, 2009 9:39:49 GMT -6
With a firm nod, Longdusk agreed to Windsoft's comments. Actually, he felt a bit relieved because Windsoft had basically just told him that she wasn't sure if she'd believed Silent's outbursts, either. **We'll see,** he replied, actually raising the corner of his mouth in something that looked like a smile, but it quickly vanished again.
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Post by Anna on May 24, 2009 17:43:54 GMT -6
((Jumping forward several hours))
They'd been racing across the grasslands without pause for a long while. Morning was still a long way off, but Windsoft counseled herself to patience. She was eager to find water, and despite her words to Longdusk, she had allowed herself to hope that Silent had sent them in the right direction.
But nothing yet.
What if they didn't find anything? What if they did...but it was too late?
'Stop that,' Windsoft told herself sternly. 'We're not completely out of water yet. We're uncomfortable, and yes, starting to feel the lack - but we're not endangered yet. We WILL find water.'
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