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Post by Viola on Oct 5, 2008 14:57:49 GMT -6
Firecat blushed with happiness. "I know, little sister. And I can provide feastmeals like this as long as we follow the river." The fisher loved being around water, and had disliked the days they had barely seen any. Here, she was truly in her element and it showed, she beamed with joy.
Longdusk, however, had a harder time. Reporting to his chieftess, Moondew came alongside. Something about Moondew always bothered him and he couldn't really tell what it was. Right now, it was dismissing his own duty and perhaps the fluttering eyelashes. "Guarding is never boring," he almost barked at the maiden. "It's necessary. If you are not up for it, I'll do it by myself." He didn't want to let anything happen to this precious group, and if Moondew found the guarding duty boring before she'd even started, he didn't want to think what would happen if she did start to do anything else.
"Now, now, hunter, don't be like that. Have some fish!" Firecat had approached, too, after winking towards her sister. "And I have some dreamberries, if you would like that. The combination is excellent."
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Post by Multi-Facets on Oct 5, 2008 15:12:40 GMT -6
"And you, a wolf grown, come begging instead of hunting your own?" Windsoft teased, scratching the broad skull between the wolf's ears. "Silly beggar. Go find your own ravvit. I'll see that your friend eats tonight." Wanderlust's ears flattened sideways in disappointment. Normally this tactic worked so well. She sent the lupine equivalent of * Awwww,* but didn't otherwise fuss. Windsoft had said she would feed her friend, and that was the idea, so Wanderlust would definitely go find her own meal. She wagged her tail again and let herself be shooed off. Shooing the wolf away, Windsoft gathered up some of Firecat's fish and a bit of her ravvit and headed for Silent's still form. "Here, my friend. Fish and ravvit! We have a bounty tonight." Silent jumped a bit and blinked owlishly at the huntress, then shyly took the meat offered. He liked fish as much as his father. * Thank you,* he sent quietly, managing a smile, and had a large bite.
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Post by Kris on Oct 5, 2008 15:55:45 GMT -6
Longdusk, however, had a harder time. Reporting to his chieftess, Moondew came alongside. Something about Moondew always bothered him and he couldn't really tell what it was. Right now, it was dismissing his own duty and perhaps the fluttering eyelashes. "Guarding is never boring," he almost barked at the maiden. "It's necessary. If you are not up for it, I'll do it by myself." "You'll both go," Stormfire interrupted, placing a hand on both Moondew's and Longdusk's arms. She kept her voice low, and managed a grin. "High Ones, I didn't think standing guard would be so much fun that everyone would want it! Longdusk, I don't want you taking the whole watch. I want everyone rested, especially with humans nearby." She paused, arching an eyebrow. "So who's taking first watch, or does anyone want to wrestle for it . . .? Not that kind of wrestling, either."
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Post by Kris on Oct 5, 2008 20:44:02 GMT -6
Tallspear sat by Wingfoot as the elder nibbled on a handful of nuts. "Here," he said, offering Wingfoot some red berries. "I found these while we rode. They're a little sour, but not much."
"Thanks." Wingfoot offered the nuts in turn, and the two elves ate of their small meal.
"Not going to get some ravvit?"
Wingfoot shook his head. "I've been chewing some dried meat all night. You should though, lad."
"Maybe later." Tallspear finished his berries. "I'm not really hungry."
Wingfoot raised an eyebrow. "You've hardly eaten enough to keep a newborn cubling alive. Keep that up and you'll be thin enough to fit behind that spear."
"I'm just tired." Tallspear rubbed his eyes and glanced up at Sunsong overhead. The plantshaper saw him and waved; Tallspear waved back and closed his eyes.
"You worry too much," Wingfoot said.
Tallspear frowned without opening his eyes. "No, I don't."
"Yes, you do. You seem to think you're the only one looking out for her. Do you think Mist, and Redthorn, and I aren't going to do enough? Do you think Whirlwind won't do her part? Or Sunsong? Or Evenstar?"
"The beast is dead, elder. Quit kicking it."
"If I thought it would penetrate that thick skull of yours, I'd kick it too." Wingfoot sighed in palpable irritation. "Well, Sunsong's nearly done. Get some sleep. If you drop off Longlope and break your neck, you'll be useless to everybody. Including our little chieftess."
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Post by Anna on Oct 5, 2008 21:30:55 GMT -6
Sunsong, having returned to her plantshaping after a brief meal, finally leaned back on her heels and wiped the sweat from her forehead. She had wanted to stretch her magic to it's limits, it was true. She wanted to see what her boundaries were. But this...she wasn't quite ready for this, not every night. As much joy as she took in merging herself with the plantlife, it was so very draining. Even this little work tonight was almost too much. She hadn't actually had to grow anything, just get the trees to bend inwards, forming a large den big enough for them all. True, it would look somewhat odd, but shelter was her goal tonight, and not blending. There were not humans close enough to see, after all.
The sun had risen and she could see by the slower movements of her tribemates that everyone was nearly ready to sleep. The trees inside the outer screen she'd shaped to provide shallow cups for comfortable denning. There was room for all, and the wolves, too. She thought longingly of the nest she'd make for herself just as soon as she was sure everyone else was comfortable.
Maybe she should ask Stormfire if they couldn't stay here a day or two. Didn't Windsoft say that the game was plentiful? Everyone was starting to look a little worn.
Sunsong stood up to begin her climb down, but a sudden rush of lightheadedness set her to swaying. "Oh!" She put her hands to her head to still the swirling and took a step to steady herself. "OH!"
The step had been a mistake - there had been no branch for her foot to land on and she didn't move fast enough to catch herself. Time slowed, as it always does in the midst of an accident, and she had just enough time to realize that this was going to be painful before she landed on her rump, followed quickly by her back and head.
The breath whooshed out of her and she lay there, eyes wide and lungs airless, for a long, panicky moment.
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Post by Kris on Oct 5, 2008 22:11:04 GMT -6
"--kind of wrestling, either . . ."
"LOOK OUT!"
The warning was sent and spoken. Stormfire had just enough time to register someone falling before she realized who it was. She bolted for the plantshaper, who lay prone on the ground. "Sunsong!"
Sunsong was surrounded by her tribemates, who parted to let Stormfire and Mist go to her. Stormfire let Mist kneel on one side, and dropped beside her friend on the other. *What happened?* she demanded.
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Post by Anna on Oct 5, 2008 22:39:20 GMT -6
Mist had just set his hands on Sunsong when her air returned in a rush and she gasped. "F-f-f-fell," she managed to get out, pushing Mist's hands away. She drew in another painful breath and winced. "Oooh, my rump!"
Mist growled softly at her rejection of healing, but helped Sunsong sit up anyway. Sunsong shivered as she felt his magic drift through her, like a warm, golden mist. She'd never really had cause to benefit from his magic before since he refused to healer minor injuries, and now she realized that his name was derived as much from his magic as the color of his hair.
The plantshaper smiled shakily at her chief-friend. "I'm not hurt," she assured her breathlessly. "Just embarassed!"
"And exhausted," Mist interjected firmly. "Chieftess, she's exhausted. Moreso than most of us. She needs to rest - and longer than just a days sleep." He glanced around at the other Wolfriders. "All of us could do with a few days of rest."
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Post by Kris on Oct 6, 2008 23:12:36 GMT -6
*Sunsong!*
Tallspear was on his face before Wingfoot could respond. Half the tribe ringed Sunsong, and Tallspear almost thrust his way through when Stormfire and Mist pushed their way to Sunsong's prone body. Gritting his teeth, Tallspear held still, although his stomach dropped at the stricken look on Sunsong's face.
*What happened?* Stormfire demanded, her gray eyes wide as she took hold of Sunsong's hand. Tallspear edged closer and, as Stormfire leaned forward to put her hand on Sunsong's shoulder--as he knew she would--he took Sunsong's hand in his own. The chieftess turned her head a fraction, enough for him to catch the flash in her eyes.
**I know what you're after,** she sent. **Hold off, spearthrower. She can do without your skill in that regard for now!**
Sunsong pushed Mist's hands away and pulled her own out of Tallspear's clasp. "F-f-f-fell," she gasped out, then drew a deep breath and winched. "Oooh, my rump!"
Which was probably just a little bruised, Tallspear surmised, watching Mist help Sunsong sit up. His tribemates responded with knowing chuckles as Sunsong assured Stormfire, "I'm not hurt. Just embarrassed!"
"No need," Stormfire began, but her relieved grin vanished as Mist cut in.
"Chieftess, she's exhausted, moreso than most of us. She needs to rest--and longer than just a day's sleep." He gave a meaningful look at the Wolfriders surrounding them. "All of us could do with a few days rest."
Stormfire met the healer's gaze, her eyebrows lowering over her eyes. But she was thinking, not sulking; Tallspear watched his friend look around at her tribemates, saw the gray eyes lighten as the twilight paled before the first light of dawn. "We'll have to be careful," she said at last. "Be we do need to rest." Stormfire got to her feet, giving the Wolfriders a wan smile that revealed the depth of her own weariness. "Moondew, Longdusk, I hope you've decided who gets to watch first. Everyone else, pick a spot and get some sleep. Sunsong's made us a fine shelter."
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Post by peachbug on Oct 7, 2008 17:46:50 GMT -6
Evenstar nodded in agreement with her chieftess and Mist, stepping beside Sunsong and placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
*Come on, plantshaper,* She sent kindly. *Let's see your fine work on these dens. I hope you made one big enough to fit my poor ankles!* Evenstar stuck out one pale leg teasingly, exposing the sunburned red, and smiled.
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Post by Anna on Oct 7, 2008 21:10:12 GMT -6
Sunsong tried to giggle, but her lungs still hadn't forgiven her enough to provide her with the extra air. She glanced over her shoulder at the twisted mass of slender trunks. Her shaping looked like a huge tent made of trees. *There's plenty of room to shield us from the sun,* she sent openly so all her tribemates could hear and she wouldn't have to try to get the extra air out of her lungs. *I tried to shape some roots for sleeping pits, but if they're uncomfortable, just let me know and I'll fix them for you." Sunsong glanced at the clear sky, slowly turning pale blue, pink and delicate gold as the sun rose. *I don't think it's going to rain, so we shouldn't have to worry about getting wet...*
Windsoft chuckled and walked to the mass of trunks, peering inside. "You all are acting like you've never seen someone take a tumble from a branch before," she teased them. "Oh, this will be very comfortable, Sunsong! All we need are our sleeping furs and we are all set to den for the day!"
The huntress looked over to where Sunsong was still sitting up with Mist's help. Her breathing was evening out, she noted. "Excellent work, my friend. Shall I help you to your hollow, or can you manage?"
Sunsong darted bright, laughing looks at Tallspear and Mist, the two males closest to her, then grinned at Stormfire. "I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine," she assured everyone and to prove it tried to rise to her feet. She stopped when she was still kneeling, then continued more cautiously. "But I will sleep. The sun is up."
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