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Post by Anna on Sept 30, 2008 1:26:46 GMT -6
13,398 APL
Season of Hot Sun
44 days after leaving Sureshot’s tribe
Windsoft returned from her most recent scouting foray, carrying the ravvits she’d managed to catch. They would soon be stopping; she could feel the approaching warmth of the sun calling her to sleep. She hoped that the cub – Chieftess Stormfire, she corrected herself with a smile – had found the resting place she’d marked. There were many young trees there and Sunsong should have no problem coaxing them into a combined form that would provide safe denning for the day.
Even as she thought of the plantshaper, she recognized the trills and ripples of notes that proved the sunny Wolfrider was in high spirits – as usual. Fortunately for Windsoft’s peace of mind, Sunsong’s preferred method of singing was to mimic birdsong, and even a human would not think twice to hear that sweet cascade of sound.
Not that there were any humans about that she’d been able to find. She’d scoutered their surroundings quite thoroughly, and not a hair nor hide had she seen or scented in the last two days.
Her tribemates were already stopping for the day’s sleep as she rejoined them. Bristlecone shook his head and came to a stop as they neared Sureshot’s cub. Windsoft slid of his back, caressing the thick, coarse fur of his coat with a loving hand before stepping away from him so he could join his own packmates.
“I have ravvit!” she informed her tribemates, holding the furry animals aloft. “Is anyone hungry?”
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Post by peachbug on Sept 30, 2008 19:04:05 GMT -6
Evenstar woke slowly from under her makeshift 'den'; a small lean of dead boughs and a mat of furs beneath her. Sunsong had not yet completed a true place for her yet, but she had been far too restless to mind. Windsoft's voice made her smile at the empty growl of her stomach. Farpace snorted at her feet, the older wolf impatient for her drowsiness.
The elf female lay still a moment more, then ran her left hand beside her, feeling the small pile of folded skins she had brought, the smooth finish pleasing to the touch. These were plain leathers, undyed, and her sun-warmed dreams had brought her pleasant thoughts on the new breeches she might make, if she ever managed to focus and get it done. The last few days had been harsh on the younger elf; even for her years, she had traveled little from Sureshot's holt. Evenstar sighed, remembering that she had forgotten to watch the stars the night before, so weary she had been from the journey.
She was broken from her disappointment by another snort, louder and with a quick paw from Farpace at her ankle. Evenstar yelped and sat up, yelping again as her poor forehead knocked against the branches of the low lean. As she reached down to examine her ankles, she pouted at the faintly sun-reddened color. She knew she should have built the lean for more cover.
She reluctantly lifted herself, with a calming pat for dear Farpace, and shuffled off to see Windsoft.
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Post by Kris on Sept 30, 2008 19:37:00 GMT -6
Her tribemates were already stopping for the day’s sleep as she rejoined them. Bristlecone shook his head and came to a stop as they neared Sureshot’s cub. Windsoft slid of his back, caressing the thick, coarse fur of his coat with a loving hand before stepping away from him so he could join his own packmates. “I have ravvit!” she informed her tribemates, holding the furry animals aloft. “Is anyone hungry?” Stormfire felt as if stones had been rolled off her shoulders on seeing Windsoft. The tracker was sure and trustworthy, as most of her tribemates were. And Stormfire knew Windsoft would wonder why going off to scout would worry her. Actually, it didn't worry Stormfire. It terrified her. But she said nothing, only grinned at Windsoft as her tribemates howled their welcome and approval of the scout's hunt. "I don't know about anyone else, but I could eat that ravvit burnt and smoking," she joked. "Well, just let us know, Chieftess," joked Whirlwind, "and we'll scare up a few humans to cook it for you!" She ducked Stormfire's playfully brandished fist. "Hey, Windsoft, let's get those ravvits cut up! I'm starving!" "You should have gone hunting then yourself," Stormfire returned, smiling through a chiding tone. She turned to the others. "Where's Sunsong? We need to get shelter. Windsoft, thank you for marking the spot. Once Sunsong shapes our den for the day, we'll all rest more comfortably." She watched her tribemates move away, and shoved her feelings of unease aside. Now was not the time to wonder if she would be Sureshot's measure. Nor was it the time to sit and worry, like a bird with a nest full of dead eggs. Were there danger surrounding the little tribe, Windsoft would have sent it long ago. Stormfire sighed. 'Nobody told me being chieftess meant being mother-wolf over all. And I've never had cubs of my own. Father, blood of my forebears . . . guide my steps as I lead my kin. And please, please--keep us far from humans!' |
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Post by peachbug on Sept 30, 2008 19:38:33 GMT -6
The golden haired Softling only lifted her head at the scent of Windsoft's ravvits, and she gritted her teeth to resist the ravenous gnawing at her belly. She had not been sleeping, but lying amongst the stray members of the pack as they lazed near a small trickle of a stream a short ways away. She growled to herself as the light streaming through the trees struck her raised face and growled louder as a more playful friend rolled onto his back and inched his furry hide right on top of her!
Snapbone! Softling sent in play anger, shoving the brown wolf with a huff into the dirt as she stood up, brushing herself off vigorously. How can one pup get so much mud on him? She scolded. He let out a howl whimper and rolled onto his belly again, golden brown eyes flashing with hunger. "We can get our own." She said aloud, and brushed her hand against the hilt of her small knife.
Unless you aren't even up to chasing a few ravvits?
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Post by peachbug on Sept 30, 2008 19:50:18 GMT -6
*Windsoft?*
Evenstar yawned as she approached the rest of the Wolfriders, gliding despite her unfairly toasted ankles. She smiled as Windsoft's ravvits came into view. "A successful hunt then?" She smiled.
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Post by Anna on Sept 30, 2008 20:01:06 GMT -6
Windsoft?Evenstar yawned as she approached the rest of the Wolfriders, gliding despite her unfairly toasted ankles. She smiled as Windsoft's ravvits came into view. "A successful hunt then?" She smiled. Windsoft laughed and offered one of the ravvits to Evenstar. "A successful scouting with the bonus of a successful hunt," she corrected with a wide smile. "Game is plentiful here. I set a few snares while I scounted, and this bounty waited when I backtracked." She stroked the thick, soft fur on one of the other ravvits appreciatively. "These will be good for white-cold, yes? I think Softling will need new cold leathers by then." She glanced on the cub, who was at that stage where she grew so fast towards her adult stature. Perhaps tomorrow she would take Softling with her while scouting the tribe's route. |
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Post by Kris on Sept 30, 2008 20:19:40 GMT -6
"It'll make a fine pelt." Stormfire fingered the ravvit's fur. "A warm, soft ravvit-skin to wrap our golden Softling in," and she winked at the cub before turning back to Windsoft. "What else did you find?" she asked. "Anything we need to keep watch out for today?"
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Post by Anna on Sept 30, 2008 20:21:48 GMT -6
... Stormfire returned, smiling through a chiding tone. She turned to the others. "Where's Sunsong? We need to get shelter. Windsoft, thank you for marking the spot. Once Sunsong shapes our den for the day, we'll all rest more comfortably." Oakstaff looked up, searching for the plantshaper among the slim, young branches of the little grove they ahd stopped in. Her birdsong trilling was no indication of whether she was shaping or just playing; he'd heard her singing so at either activity, and quite a few more besides. It could be disconcerting to hear a songbird warble in one's ear in the midst of joining - but Oakstaff suspected that Sunsong did that on purpose, out of sheer mischief. Just then a tree moved in a way no natural wind would have bent it and Oakstaff turned a grin on Stormfire. "I think the little bird is already forming out nest for the day," he observed cheerfully. He joined Windsoft to help skin the ravvits and portion out the meat. Successful though her hunt was, four ravvits would not be enough to feed them all. He sighed, wishing he'd thought to set out snares or do some hunting of his own while he'd been scouting, too. Perhaps one of the others would bring something in to supplement Windsoft's catch. "Whoops! Sunsong's singing ended abruptly as there came a sudden shuffling of leaves. Her laughter filled reached her tribemates as she suddenly appeared, catching herself on the bottom limb of a tree and saving herself from a painful fall to the ground. "I ran out of branch!" she infomed them laughingly as she dangled from her tree. "I'm not healing you of broken bones if you get them because you're not paying attention," Mist informed her with mildly. |
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Post by Anna on Sept 30, 2008 20:29:25 GMT -6
"It'll make a fine pelt." Stormfire fingered the ravvit's fur. "A warm, soft ravvit-skin to wrap our golden Softling in," and she winked at the cub before turning back to Windsoft. "What else did you find?" she asked. "Anything we need to keep watch out for today?" Windsoft's face sobered, and she offered Stormfire the leg she's just severed from the ravvit's body. Hunting had been good, yes, but not for long. "Today's rest should be safe enough," she said as she returned to her task. "But I have found signs that humans are familiar with this land. One of their holts must be close, but not to near." |
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Post by peachbug on Sept 30, 2008 21:51:56 GMT -6
"It'll make a fine pelt." Stormfire fingered the ravvit's fur. "A warm, soft ravvit-skin to wrap our golden Softling in," and she winked at the cub before turning back to Windsoft. "What else did you find?" she asked. "Anything we need to keep watch out for today?" Windsoft's face sobered, and she offered Stormfire the leg she's just severed from the ravvit's body. Hunting had been good, yes, but not for long. "Today's rest should be safe enough," she said as she returned to her task. "But I have found signs that humans are familiar with this land. One of their holts must be close, but not to near." Softling listened from afar with quiet glances, playing with a small portion of the meat she'd accepted at Snapbone's whining insistence. Her palm was deep in his dark mane now, tightening at Windsoft's words. Humans? What is too near for humans?Her sending was foolish. She had never seen a human, only stories of their great atrocities against the tribe. Still, the memory of the fear rushed to her as easily as any Wolfrider. |
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