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Post by Multi-Facets on Jul 5, 2009 20:39:37 GMT -6
Shellslip to Firecat, Windsoft, Silverfang.
Shellslip shrugged, and shook her head over Sunsong. "We should bring our sunny one something to eat in the evening. I'm sure she'll appreciate it. All this shaping has to be hungry work, don't you think?"
Firecat offered a bath, and Shellslip brightened. "Yes, that sounds like a good idea. I'll meet you there," she said, and immediately went to the water, where there was already a little crowd. The more the merrier. The redhead started removing her clothes. "Has anyone seen any shells?" she asked hopefully as the garments were neatly folded and put aside. "They'd make a nice snack, now and in the evening."
Silent to Evenstar, anyone.
He hadn't expected to be addressed. He would have to start expecting it, perhaps. As Wanderlust wandered off again, leaving him alone and off to the side, Silent replied to Evenstar. **[affirmation]/I have one,** he sent. **Thank you.** He spread out the large fur on the ground, fur side up, and lay down on half, still dressed, before pulling the other half over him and putting his head on his bundled-up mantle.
Another night by himself. Those had become habit again, after finding the river. Habits were hard to break. Did he want company? He wasn't sure. It was so hard to reach out, though Evenstar and Nightsun, and others, had been so kind to him on this journey. Perhaps he still feared being shunted aside, or he was still pining over Longmane and the total acceptance she had offered.
The quiet one sighed, fingers tightening on the edge of the fur, and pulled it over his head as his mind almost automatically drifted to the Song, his personal lullaby. It was a little louder now.
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Post by kita on Jul 5, 2009 21:42:16 GMT -6
Silverfang to Shellslip
Silverfang shook his head. "Sorry. I haven't seen any." He looked around from shore to shore, scanning for shells. All he saw was rocks and gravel. "Hmm... maybe you'll have more luck searching underwater."
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Post by Multi-Facets on Jul 5, 2009 22:44:23 GMT -6
Shellslip to Silverfang:
Shellslip pouted a little as she realized her tribemate was right. Normally she didn't have to go digging about for shells, as mussels clung to rocks, but it looked as though she would have to this time.
"Later," she said breezily, and stepped into the water. "I don't want to muddy up the river for everyone."
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Post by Kris on Jul 5, 2009 23:07:48 GMT -6
Stormfire to Mist, Whirlwind**Stormfire,** he sent softly, staying in the background so Whirlwind wouldn't realize he'd overheard them. **There's no need to leap to my defense, especially when Whirlwind's opinion has some basis in fact. My hide isn't scratched, I promise you.** He infused his send with a feeling of faint amusement. Stormfire handed several pouches to Whirlwind. **Oh, you have your flaws, old one, as do I,** she asserted. **But my sister would sooner see me paired off to someone of her choosing. And you and I both know, I choose for myself.** She walked beside Whirlwind to another platform. **Thank you,** she added to Mist. **You would have been right to feel insulted, but you thought first of my sister and myself. You're not so frostbitten as you may think, Healer.** She wanted to say more, but held back. There was time enough when they settled down for the night. Glancing at Whirlwind, who walked in silence beside her, Stormfire said quietly, "I'm sorry. Next time I won't take your head off." Whirlwind chuckled, turning her head so fast that her hair spun around her. "You call that taking my head off? I taught you to fight better than that, little sister." She reached out and jabbed at Stormfire's ribs; growling playfully, Stormfire jabbed back, and Whirlwind snickered. "Your trouble is the same as any maiden who's just lost her heart to someone. You think Mist is the only one for you." Whirlwind's smile was kinder, but still held a tinge of mockery. "Someone will come, Stormfire, who will set you ablaze and be everything you've ever thought you'd need and more. And it won't be an elf so afraid of his wolf-self that he holds himself apart from life." The words cut. Stormfire exhaled sharply and forced herself not to grow angry, even though she resented the implication that she was no more than an infatuated cub, too new to emotion to think straight or even know what was best for herself. "And how do you know Mist won't do?" she returned. "Do you really think you got that name on some elder's whim? You're too fierce at heart to bind yourself to Mist. You need passion and adventure, not safety. You need someone who will fire your blood and never let you get away with anything, especially in disappointing yourself." Stormfire almost laughed. And why does she think I attached myself to Mist? Is she that blind? She chose to change the subject. "There's a likely spot," she said, pointing to a ledge close to Sunsong's, but higher off the ground. "Will you share with me, or go elsewhere?" Whirlwind chuckled. "Share? No. You'll want Mist, and I intend to have some fun myself. I'll take that ledge over there." Journey to Nightsun, Wingfoot"Not at all," Journey answered, grinning. He reached into his pack and rummaged for something. Some of his treasures were solely for himself, bits and pieces of things that held no interest for anyone else. Some were for his mother, things he knew would delight her eye or lift her spirits. And a few, picked up here and there, were meant to be handed to friends, gifts intended to bring a little joy. "I also wanted to give you this," he said, and placed the vine-like bracelet he'd found at the mountain into her hand. "I started to give it to a tribemate after I found it," he said, "but she didn't care for it much. But it does seem to suit . . ." Journey trailed off as Wingfoot climbed up to the platform, dark eyes narrowing. He summoned up a cheerful smile. "Hello, Wingfoot," he chirped. "You're here again?" Wingfoot arched an eyebrow. "Don't you have a nest, or some troll's cache, or even a human's refuse pile you could be robbing right now?" "I'm listening to tales." Journey put a finger to his lips and tipped his head towards Nightsun. "You like tales, Wingfoot? I'm sure Nightsun's coming up with a good one."
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Post by kita on Jul 5, 2009 23:31:41 GMT -6
Silverfang to Shellslip
After bathing himself, Silverfang donned his clothing. He picked up a few shells he ended up finding along the way for Shellslip. He walked alongside Starfire on his way back to the camp. He looked towards the east where the sun will come up and decided to go to sleep when he got back.
When he got back, he walked over to Shellslip and handed her the shells. "Here, I found these on my way back."
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Post by meimei on Jul 5, 2009 23:45:58 GMT -6
Ashglow to Softling
Ashglow still found the reversal of sleep patterns hard at times. Though there'd been times they'd hunted or travelled at night, usually his siblings and he - and their tribe before them - had travelled during the day. It was hard to break a routine he'd been accustomed to for over four hundred years. He watched Sunsong as she shaped their place for the night. A part of him was still awed by the plantshaper's powers. And he took a little time to gaze around at the platforms and steps she'd made as the group began to settle for a rest.
It caught his attention as first Journey, then Wingfoot approached Nightsun, and Starpath climb the steps to watch over the sleeping Sunsong. It was a strange feeling, still, to not always have one of them by his side. He no longer felt suspicious of the Wolfriders, or the wariness he'd first felt. But that didn't stop him from feeling awkward. About as awkward as the young Softling looked, when Evenstar took the furs from her and nudged her off to do something else.
He hadn't spoken to the skittish youth much. She'd been among the wolfriders as wary of he and his siblings as he'd been of them. But he wandered over to where she stood anyway.
"There's nothing wrong with wanting to help. Just remember where your strengths lie. You're a tracker, right? So you'll have plenty of chances to be useful, even if it doesn't feel like it right now."
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Post by Anna on Jul 6, 2009 9:17:56 GMT -6
Mist to Stormfire
Mist winced at Stormfire’s ‘old wolf’ comment and sighed. He wasn’t so old as that, and he had no claim to the title of elder that she occasionally labeled him with, but her teasing did make it difficult, sometimes, to replace the image of the squalling girl-cub of the past with the youthful chieftess of today. It was sometimes a shock to turn around and see her, mature and graceful, instead of the child she’d been until so recently.
**I know Whirlwind, chieftess, and I know where her words are coming from. She takes what she sees as all there is. My ‘old’ hide can take her barbs – and your defense will only make her prickle you harder, just to prove you wrong. Do you really care if she thinks I’m a frostbitten stick?** His sending turned sly and teasing. **If she thought I was anything else, she might try to lure me to her furs…**
As he sent, he moved from the tree to the river. Silverfang, Shellslip, and Windsoft were already there and bathing. He joined them in the water to clean up, but didn’t join in their conversation. Whirlwind’s words hadn’t hurt, but they’d thrown him into an introspective mood. His bath was quickly over, and he spread his leathers to air over a bush during the day. Wearing only his loincloth, he climbed one of the trees, higher than Sunsong’s shaping, and settled on a branch to wait for the sun’s rising. The sounds from the Wolfriders were dim, muffled by the leaves and the woven roof Sunsong had made. Wolfriders were always quiet, even at the height of any celebration.
The still unseen sun lightened the sky on one horizon, paling the night-dark to fading shades of grey.
Nightsun to Journey, Wingfoot, Ashglow, Starpath
Nightsun reached out and took the bracelet from Journey, then turned it over in her hands, her fingers delicately tracing the fine work of the filigree. “Oh,” she sighed. “How lovely!” She slipped it over her hand and admired the luster of the gold against her dark skin. “You are thoughtful, kitling, and generous, as well.” She lifted the arm that was now decorated with the bracelet and touched his cheek gently in thanks. “It goes poorly with these crudely tanned clothes, but no matter. It gives me pleasure to see it.”
She turned her gaze to Wingfoot as he joined them and held her arm up for him to see. “Is this not lovely, dear one? See what my young friend has given me!”
Even as she showed Wingfoot the bracelet, she cast a delighted send to her brothes. **Ashglow, Starpath! Is this not beautiful?** she asked happily, sending them the image of the bracelet on her wrist. **Is young Journey not kind?** And then, on a different topic altogether. **Will you sleep here on this platform, or have you friends you will join today? There is room for more than we three, and share we must. The plantshaper only made seven of these tree nests, but there seems to be room for all when shared.**
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Post by Viola on Jul 6, 2009 12:27:24 GMT -6
Firecat -> Shellslip, Silverfang, Windsoft
When Shellslip rushed off, Firecat followed at a more quieter pace. She had no intention of tiring herself even more, if she didn't know when they would leave again. She liked this place, she thought as she looked over her shoulder, seeing that one of the darkskinned kneeled next to Sunsong. Lucky gal, she snorted, before continueing her way.
When she reached the river, she just saw that Silverfang handed over the shells to her friend, and she grinned: "Bribing my furmate, are you, Silverfang?", while winking at Windsoft.
Longdusk -> Windsoft
Longdusk snorted at Windsoft's send. He knew. He knew this place was safe and sound, but he just needed something to do. Still, he quickly and quietly made his way to the river. Ever since their journey began, Windsoft had sort of became a friend.
Still, upon seeing the others, amongst them Firecat, he refused to come out of hiding, and turned around. **Restless,** he sent in images. And it was true, he felt uncomfortable, because of the new elves around, because he longed to find a place where they could stay forever. He would return to the river later, when the others would turn in for the day.
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Post by peachbug on Jul 6, 2009 18:41:01 GMT -6
Softling to Ashglow
Softling nodded awkwardly to Ashglow's encouragement. The urge to bite at every new thing, every uncomfortable thing had mostly begun to pass for her, though some discomfort remained. It was almost as if with the arrival of Nightsun, a new calm or determination had touched her, despite her initial fit of worry. She'd been stubborn, stupid, all number of things. Her efforts to improve though, seemed fruitless. She wanted to be a better Wolfrider, not just a cub that wallowed in the dirt with the wolves. What could Ashglow know of that, really?
Unwilling to sacrifice her hard work at being tolerable to interact with, Softling did something she hadn't tried before; she humored Ashglow.
"I will try." She offered blankly.
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Starpath to Sunsong and Nightsun
Starpath was enraptured by Sunsong's brilliant, dreamy sending of the holt she knew and dreamed of, a magicked dream of a Palace to him. All a part of the woods and everything that made it, yet set apart for elves, for elves of all sorts to know as a home. In his daze, he lost all sense of wariness or worry, any thoughts of leaving the Wolfriders for their own traveling again. **It is perfect...** He sent his genuine admiration and love for this shaper's Father Tree vision. **And only you could make it.** Starpath hoped this soothed her thoughts as she slept.
As Nightsun's sending struck him, he chuckled. **Beautiful sister...what sort of shiny thing is that made of?**
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Post by Anna on Jul 7, 2009 0:00:22 GMT -6
Windsoft to Longdusk
Windsoft sent a wordless response of understand and empathy. Often enough she felt uncomfortable and restless in the press of too many others. It was why she became a scout – and why she made such a good one. But she was elf, not wolf, and so made and effort to spend her time with her own kind. When she was younger, Softling’s age and older, she’d spent little time among the tribe and preferred the company of the pack, or no company at all. It was only as she matured that she’d realized the wolf pack couldn’t meet all of her needs, and that she did need the company of her own kind to feel complete.
Still, she well knew the restlessness that Longdusk was feeling, and the need to be away from the tribe. She didn’t press him. **Sunsong shaped less than an eight of nests for us all to share. You’re welcome to join Journey and I when you’re ready to sleep.**
For herself, she was ready to sleep now. Choosing a couple of furs from the few that were left, she pulled them around her shoulders and found one of the platform nests that was still empty. Laying one fur down, she sank down into its plush softness and pulled the other over her. Dawn was coming, she could feel it pressing close. She yawned and closed her eyes.
Sunsong, Nightsun to Starpath, Journey, Wingfoot
Sunsong smiled and sighed as she sank more deeply into sleep, dreams of holts to be and holts left behind dancing through her mind as she shaped and molded with all the pleasure and joy the magic gave her. She rolled onto her side and curled up, hugging the soft fur close to her.
Nightsun’s response was bright with happiness and surprised pleasure. **I know not, and it matters not. It is lovely, and a thoughtful gesture from my curious friend.** Nightsun’s fingers continued to play around the metal, marveling as it warmed from her skin. **It is hard, but not so hard as the metal of weapons. I shall have to take great care so no damage comes to it.**
Nightsun’s response to her brother broke off abruptly as a yawn caught her by surprise. Her eyes widened, watering from the force of it, and she gazed at Wingfoot and Journey apologetically. “Forgive me,” she said, chagrined. “It has been a long night.” Most of it spent all but jogging to keep pace with the wolves.
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