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Post by Kris on Jun 16, 2009 23:16:19 GMT -6
Stormfire lost the battle to keep her composure with Oakstaff's send. **No one's going to want day-old scraps of ground-squirrel, Oakstaff,** she returned, chuckling. **And let's hope they aren't going to burn all that meat!**
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Post by Anna on Jun 17, 2009 6:06:59 GMT -6
Nightsun was relieved that the female seemed amused and friendly, and that others of her group weren't hostile. However, the first male was still on the ground, and the growling male still stood in front him, offering threat to herself and her brothers. She wasn't sure what to do and nothing would let her ignore the one closest to her, the one with a weapon and a clear willingness to use it.
She didn't move or speak, keeping her eyes fastened on Longdusk now that she knew Wingfoot - wasn't that was the silver-haired male had called him? - was not harmed.
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Post by meimei on Jun 17, 2009 9:11:44 GMT -6
When one of the strangers lept in front of the fallen elf and let out a snarl, Ashglow's eyes narrowed, but before he could raise his arrowwhip again, Nightsun was pressing back into him - apparently just as startled by this turn of events as the elf's tribe. Despite the fact that she prevented him from raising his weapon, he couldn't find it in him to push her away, and moved with her as she pushed back to step away - watching the other elves warily.
Apparently the other elf was fine, which was good - though the one had yet to change his protective stance. Not that he would have if the situation had been reversed. The leader accepted Nightsun's earlier offer of food and water. Though he heard one of her tribemate's remark on it dryly. He gave the elf still guarding his fallen tribemate a grudging nod of respect, nudging Nightsun over a bit to return his arrowwhip to it's holder.
"We lay no claim to the river or any land. We are wanderers, and stay wherever our path takes us." He spared a glance back at Starpath to see if he had lowered his weapon yet, before turning his gaze back to Nightsun. She had started all this, though he hated to think of it that way. Still, under the circumstances, she should be the one to reply to the leader.
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Post by Viola on Jun 17, 2009 11:20:02 GMT -6
With a last soft growl, Longdusk got up his feet again, eyeing the strangers warily. Apparently, within a blink of an eye, Stormfire had decided that they were good and friendly, but he didn't trust them at all. It bothered him that everyone except him, apparently, instantly lost their caution when they told them they didn't mean no harm. He eyed them suspiciously. **So... that's it? They're throwing around some of our ancestors names -- My lifemate's name and my father's name, by the High Ones! -- and suddenly, we're friendly?** He sent to Stormfire bluntly, with a feeling of wariness and discontent, oblivious to the soulname sent to Wingfoot. ~*~ Lightgaze remained in the back, unsure what to think of it all but enjoying the safety of the rear. She wanted to ask about Tracker, but she hesitated, even though apparently, they seemed friendly. ~*~ OOC: Holding off with Firecat, giving Peachy a chance to reply with Evenstar  |
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Post by Kris on Jun 17, 2009 12:15:54 GMT -6
He eyed them suspiciously. **So... that's it? They're throwing around some of our ancestors names -- My lifemate's name and my father's name, by the High Ones! -- and suddenly, we're friendly?** He sent to Stormfire bluntly, with a feeling of wariness and discontent, oblivious to the soulname sent to Wingfoot. **She knows Pinecone's soulname, Longdusk,** Stormfire sent back. **I don't know how she got it--or why Pinecone gave it to her--but there's only one way she could have found it, and that's for Pinecone to tell her.** She turned to her tribemates. **Lower your weapons. For now, I'm convinced they mean us no harm.** |
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Post by Anna on Jun 17, 2009 18:19:49 GMT -6
Nightsun almost wilted in relief when the growly one backed off. He still seemed suspicious, with his eyes narrowed and hard as he watched them, but at least he wasn't growling anymore!
She moved as Ashglow directed her, only then realizing that if he'd needed his weapons, she'd been preventing him from using them. She glanced up at him, her eye's offering her apologies even as she touched his face gently for a brief moment.
"We have fresh meat; my brothers have just returned from their hunt. There is fish, as well. I have but to build the fire and the cooking can begin," she said softly, gesturing towards the large circle of bare, brown earth and the much smaller circle of stones within it. "Perhaps...you would like to bathe and rest while the meal is prepared? I gathered soaproot while my brothers were away."
Her gaze flickered to the male who had questioned her, the one who had fallen. She stepped away from Ashglow and edged towards her fire circle. She didn't know what else to say, and it would take some time to cook the meat Starpath and Ashglow had brought.
**My dear ones,** she sent to her brothers, **I think all will be well now. We can stay with them, have a home, have a family again. Will that not be nice? Perhaps you will even find lovemates and have children!**
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Post by Kris on Jun 17, 2009 18:29:12 GMT -6
"The what?" Stormfire blurted.
"Cooking?!" Whirlwind burst out. "You mean you're going to burn it like humans do?!"
Not all the tribe reacted as noisily as Whirlwind, but it was apparent to Stormfire that there was no bottling up the Wolfriders' disappointment. Even Silvercub dramatically rolled her eyes and groaned aloud.
"Well, so much for food," Tallspear muttered, and Stormfire threw him a look that made him flinch.
But it was Wingfoot who spoke up and said, "Excuse us, Nightsun . . .? But 'cooking' . . . that's not our way."
Not our Way indeed, Stormfire thought, highly amused that Wingfoot of all the elders would make this point to Nightsun.
Nightsun's amber eyes widened in confusion. "Oh," she breathed, and blinked. "I see." She blinked again, then gestured towards the travois and its grass-wrapped bundles of meat. "The fruit of my brothers' hunt is there. Please, enjoy it as you wish."
Sighing in relief, the Wolfriders nodded simultaneously, and Wingfoot gave Nightsun a beaming smile. "I think that would suit us all very well," he announced, ignoring the looks thrown him by Longdusk, Mist, and Tallspear.
"Thank you, Nightsun," Stormfire managed to get out. "You've been very kind to us so far!" She didn't dare look back at Wingfoot. One more glance at the elder's face, and she'd have to ask him if he'd Recognized Nightsun.
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Post by Multi-Facets on Jun 17, 2009 18:31:10 GMT -6
Silent's feet moved without his direction, and Wanderlust followed to slip around the tribe, coming to the front beside Stormfire and the elders. The elders were tense, but Stormfire seemed relaxed and ready to give the three strange elves a chance.
He looked to Nightsun, who seemed so hopeful, so eager to please, so exotic. He wanted to ask about the strange notes eddying around her, and inquire where she and her companions had come from, but perhaps it was too soon for that.
Still, he wanted to say something.
Silent took two tentative steps forward, facing Nightsun. *[greeting]/Th-Thank you,* he sent quietly to the tanned maiden.
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Post by Anna on Jun 17, 2009 18:42:35 GMT -6
Nightsun's answering smile lit her face like the sun breaking out from behind stormclouds. "You are most welcome, friend. Please, find comfort here. This river is safe, and provides for all needs."
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Post by peachbug on Jun 17, 2009 21:07:52 GMT -6
Softling was still reeling as Stormfire finally welcomed the strangers. Everything on her stood wrong at the mere sight of these dark skinned ones. At least everything wolfish in her was on edge. Something else, a stronger part than she'd ever felt before, expressed some pull, twisting against her natural urge to snarl and run. Or fight. No, no, no...this didn't feel right! The others had to feel similarly, Tallspear and Longdusk knew so too! This she-elf was seeing dead Wolfriders and Softling was supposed to assume she wasn't addled like a dropped pup?
The Wolfrider in her warred. The chieftess said not enemies, so they weren't. Longdusk and the others had doubts. Her instincts ran every bit the other way than Stormfire's words, at least she thought so. Then there was some silly bit of her twisted up inside that knew she was just being obstinate. How could this all have fallen on them, they were just looking for a river! The young tracker felt her nails dig into her palms, but she stayed quiet. She wasn't going to challenge Stormfire on this, not a bit in her disagreed with that. Softling was going to do something, but she didn't know what yet. Welcome them? Nip their heels?
Fresh meat or no meat.
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