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Post by Multi-Facets on May 7, 2009 0:54:36 GMT -6
Sunsong smiled. She tucked the seeds into her beltpouch and stood up, looking towards Silent and Evenstar. An unlikely duo for hunting, each being of a more mystical bent than the usual hunters. But all Wolfriders felt the thrill. "Bright moons, Silent, Evenstar! Sleep well?" Silent embarrassed himself by jumping. He had not been aware of any other elf's presence. He gave Sunsong a startled, almost guilty look before he collected himself. *[affirmation]* he sent, shifting a little uncomfortably. *Did you?* |
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Post by Anna on May 8, 2009 21:37:10 GMT -6
"I did! The leaves sang me sweetly to sleep. But Icemark and I have been awake for a while. We found some interesting plants to take with us to the new holt." Sunsong skipped lightly over the upthrust, thick root that she and the gatherer had been sitting against. "Are you two hunting before we ride out tonight?"
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Post by peachbug on May 8, 2009 23:01:33 GMT -6
"Yes," Evenstar smiled at Sunsong's bright greeting. "I'm sorry if I woke the others with my near tumble. We were going not too far, just to find some game before the journey." She nodded to Silent. "We scented forest pig only a few days ago, perhaps we'll be lucky. Will you be joining us, Sunsong? Icemark?"
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Just having woken only a few minutes before beside her daughter (an odd thing indeed for the hyper cub to not have woken with her father), Redthorn now rolled her happy cubling in the thick bed fur. Shrieks were muffled as she packaged her daughter. "Now to bundle this lump on Whitecrest and we'll be off." She said out loud, her voice jovial and teasing. Silvercub yelled more protests. With a laugh, Redthorn unrolled her daughter and snuggled her, before getting to dressing.
Once packed and dressed, Redthorn tossed their furs below and snatched up Silvercub. With a short leap, she took them both to the ground below, despite their low nest. Over Silvercub's protest of her own fine ability to jump by herself, Redthorn sent warm greetings to her lifemate, and then, more gently, to Lightgaze.
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Softling remained in her cradle of roots behind the tree, opposite of Evenstar, Silent and the others. Sunsong had cupped the heavy roots slightly, enough indentation for furs and an elf, or maybe even a wolf to squish his elf-friend in. Snapbone tried this now, nosing and whining like a new wolf cub at her side. "Get off." She muttered, knowing she could not send with such a serious tone, because it was false. "You're fat!" She grumbled, as he scraped with heavy paws, as though to carve out more room. Softling hugged his muzzle anyways when he stuck it in her face.
The tracker had watched Tallspear leave to seek out Stormfire only a few moments ago, and her mind tumbled with thoughts, some concerned by it, and others not. She knew he was looking for Stormfire; he always was, to be general but true. A small part of her grumbled at the wastefulness of it, or whatever she thought, she wasn't sure. She had no right of course to dwell on his choices or interests and turned back to her wolf-friend's insistent pawing. She had woken as Whirlwind had left, exuding some kind of irritation, but she hadn't known how to even send about such a thing. None of her business, again, Softling had reminded herself.
Perhaps Windsoft help her track with Snapbone to take her flurried mind off things.
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Post by Kris on May 10, 2009 1:25:43 GMT -6
Whirlwind watched her tribemates prepare for the hunt in a sour funk. It had occurred to her the night before last that they were all just wandering around for nothing.
Home and parents left behind . . . for nothing.
Lovemates abandoned . . . for nothing.
They'd passed places that would have made perfect holts! Sunsong could have waved her hands around for moons to her heart's delight. There'd been enough game for Tallspear to have his fill of hunting. They could have settled in any of them. And why hadn't they?
Oh, wait, this was too close to humans. Oh, wait, not enough game and too many bears. Oh, wait, too long a trek to water. Oh, wait, Stormfire stubbed her toe and so it must be all wrong, all wrong . . .
Whirlwind groaned and buried her face in her hands.
She knew she was being unfair to Stormfire. Her sister wasn't rejecting places for no good reason--but why did a holt have to be perfectly safe? What were they, Wolfriders or delicate little winter-lilies? They wouldn't break from a little danger. Stormfire was trying too hard to find a perfectly safe place.
And the farther away they wandered, the more it was brought home to Whirlwind that she really would never see home again.
Mothers, father, all left behind.
Would they ever be able to journey back when they did find a new holt? Whirlwind wasn't sure she could remember the way. "Follow your nose" was Sureshot's teasing way of telling her how to get back from a hunt, but then it had been easy. Smells were familiar back there. Nothing was familiar here.
**Whirlwind? Sister?**
**What,** and Whirlwind impulsively filled her sending with all the disgust and fear that filled her. Instantly she regretted it; Stormfire withdrew from her mind with an icy swiftness. Whirlwind immediately turned her back to the scene below, wondering if she'd be able to muster up an apology when Stormfire returned.
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Post by peachbug on May 10, 2009 19:02:53 GMT -6
Softling crept over high, tangled tree roots a short ways from the nesting site, testing her nose of the scents that crossed ways on the bark. Not just kinds, but time. Squirrel was very fresh and old, of course, but the coarse scent of a badger crossed once here. At least a day old. They weren't easy to drag out though, and she wasn't keen on getting in a scrabble by sticking her arm in a badger nest. The tracker decided to pass that challenge up. Besides, she was seeking useful prey, something she could report back to the others with.
Then a familiar scent breezed past. 'Whirlwind.' Softling easily registered. Against her better instincts and more to her child curiousity, she followed to where Whirlwind sulked away from the others.
Even Softling could sense something amiss, even moreso than when Whirlwind had left her roost with Tallspear. At first she planned to turn away, leave Whirlwind to herself, but was tugged back by something undiscernable. Hopefully she wasn't walking into the jaws of an angry she-wolf.
"Whirlwind?" Softling spoke without really considering sending first.
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Post by Kris on May 11, 2009 22:32:45 GMT -6
Even Softling could sense something amiss, even moreso than when Whirlwind had left her roost with Tallspear. At first she planned to turn away, leave Whirlwind to herself, but was tugged back by something undiscernable. Hopefully she wasn't walking into the jaws of an angry she-wolf. "Whirlwind?" Softling spoke without really considering sending first. Whirlwind heard the cub and considered sending her off. But she already regretted being brusque with Stormfire. She didn't want any elders around, and certainly not any of her agemates. But Softling . . . well, it wouldn't be fair to shoo her away. She hardly had anyone to talk to. "I'm not going to bite, cub." She turned her head and gave Softling a sad half-smile. "At least, not you." |
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Post by peachbug on May 12, 2009 21:52:54 GMT -6
Softling shifted uneasily, but finally stepped closer. Her mind clicked along slowly. "You are angry...with Tallspear?"
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Post by Kris on May 13, 2009 23:36:52 GMT -6
Softling shifted uneasily, but finally stepped closer. Her mind clicked along slowly. "You are angry...with Tallspear?" "Angry? With Tallspear?" Whirlwind almost laughed, but the question made her stop and think. "No," she admitted, leaning her chin against her upraised knees. "No, Softling, I think I'm just angry." She glared down at the scene below, at the grass and trees that suggested home, but weren't. "I thought when I set out on this journey that I wouldn't mind being alone, without parents or lovemates . . ." Whirlwind sighed. "I'm not even angry, cub. I'm just homesick. I miss home." Tears prickled, and she wiped them away hastily, hoping Softling hadn't seen. |
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Post by Anna on May 16, 2009 18:08:49 GMT -6
"Yes," Evenstar smiled at Sunsong's bright greeting. "I'm sorry if I woke the others with my near tumble. We were going not too far, just to find some game before the journey." She nodded to Silent. "We scented forest pig only a few days ago, perhaps we'll be lucky. Will you be joining us, Sunsong? Icemark?" Sunsong cocked her head to one side, then grinned. "Yes, I think I will," she decided cheerfully. "I could with a good hunt to clear the sundazzle from my head." Icemark shook his head and smiled faintly. "You go," he encouraged the trio. "I'll stay here and start getting ready for tonight's travel. Besides, my lifemate is a much more skilled hunter than I." Sunsong laughed and danced over to Silent, sliding her hands around his arm affectionately. "You'll hunt with us, Silent? Truly?" |
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Post by Multi-Facets on May 17, 2009 0:59:04 GMT -6
Heat rose in Silent's cheeks, and he couldn't bring himself to look Sunsong in the eye. (But then, he normally didn't meet anyone's eyes anyway.) *Y-Yes,* he sent, swallowing hard. *I.... I want to try,* he added, trying to keep self-doubt out of his thoughts. *Evenstar was kind to offer, and....* He shrugged, unable to articulate what he was thinking. (But then, that was nothing new.)
He awkwardly patted one of Sunsong's hands and attempted to smile.
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