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Post by Anna on Jul 10, 2009 0:09:25 GMT -6
Mist to Stormfire
*Are we not home now?* he asked, lifting his head to look down at her. *If this place makes you so happy, are you sure this isn’t it? You’ve been unerring in your direction so far, and it’s not all about following a river. Why this direction, and not the other? You never hesitated at a single turn, not even when we came to the grass plains.*
He frowned, in thought not anger, and tried to feel what Stormfire felt. He didn’t have a sense of home in this place. He knew that it would be a long time before he did. Stormfire, Sunsong, all the tribemates who’d followed his young chieftess had become his point of stability for now. They were what helped keep him balanced, where once it had been the holt itself.
He lifted his hand and caressed her cheek, wiping the tear tracks dry. *What’s calling you on, lovemate?*
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Post by Kris on Jul 10, 2009 0:25:39 GMT -6
Stormfire to Mist*Are we not home now?* he asked, lifting his head to look down at her. *If this place makes you so happy, are you sure this isn’t it? You’ve been unerring in your direction so far, and it’s not all about following a river. Why this direction, and not the other? You never hesitated at a single turn, not even when we came to the grass plains.* <snip> He lifted his hand and caressed her cheek, wiping the tear tracks dry. *What’s calling you on, lovemate?* *A feeling--a sense--* Stormfire frowned up at the canopy. *It's like tracking my way home through a blizzard, in a way,* she sent after a short silence. *I can't taste it. I can barely smell it. I certainly can't see it. But I know it's there. The closer we get, the stronger the feeling grows, Mist.* She gave a short laugh. *If we were wolves, this would be much easier to explain.* Shrugging, Stormfire reached up to stroke back Mist's hair. *I'm glad you trust me . . . lovemate,* she added, savoring the endearment; after so many days, so many nights, it fit as comfortably as Evenstar's best leather. *I just wish I had a more solid answer for you. I have no magic in me, and no name for what's pulling me onward. It's just there. *Come and sleep, now. We'll both feel better for a little rest.*
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Post by Anna on Jul 10, 2009 0:48:30 GMT -6
Mist to Stormfire
*That answer is solid enough,* he assured her. *It’s not whim that’s leading you. It’s instinct, and I wouldn’t be surprised to find it’s in your blood, chief’s daughter.* He caressed her cheek again and smiled faintly. *Lead, and I’ll follow you. You haven’t led us wrong yet.*
He settled his head back on her breast, his ear pressed over her heart. He closed his eyes to the soothing rhythm of it’s beating and thought of home. Every imagining simply had trees, and Stormfire at the heart of it. Dawnlight dimmed as the sun rose higher, and greenshadow descended. He slipped into sleep as Stormfire’s breathing slowed and evened out.
Holt was wherever his chieftess chose to be.
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Post by Viola on Jul 10, 2009 10:19:57 GMT -6
Firecat -> Shellslip, Journey
Firecat was delighted when Journey showed up, and when Shellslip seemed to have read her mind, she laughed out loud. These surroundings were intoxicating, and such a relief compared to the grass they had for days on end. And when young Journey, always adventurous, showed up, she couldn't have been more delighted. **Fair game,** she answered happily, before waving at Journey.
"Late? No, dearest one, it's never too late for baths. Playing or not... but your words indicate you want to play...?" she winked. "You game?"
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Post by Anna on Jul 10, 2009 22:14:12 GMT -6
Icemark to Longdusk, Redthorn (Lightgaze)
Icemark carried his drowsing cub to the platform Lightgaze had already settled on. With so few of them available, everyone would have to share. He knew that Redthorn and Lightgaze wouldn't mind sharing on, and that naturally meant that he and Silvercub would be sharing with them.
**Beloved, Silvercub and I are going to sleep now,** Icemark sent to Redthorn. He wasn't quite sure where his lifemate had gone off to; they'd become separated in the rush of eating the preparing to rest for the day. **I'll lay our furs in the nest where Lightgaze is sleeping.**
"Good morning, Longdusk," Icemark said quietly as he reached the nesting platform. He glanced at Lightgaze and smiled. She was sleeping easily and he was glad to see it. "Will you tree with us today? Or, if you have other plans, you know Redthorn and I will watch over her."
Windsoft to Journey
Windsoft looked over the edge of her cozy little nest and smiled when she say her son joining Shellslip and Firecat. Well, he wouldn't be coming to keep his mother company during the day, that was certain! She chuckled quietly, then laced her hands together and placed them on the edge of the wooden platform. Resting her chin on them, and with her curly hair spilling over the edge, she sent to her cub.
**I take it that you're going to be awake for a while yet, and furring with the lasses?** she asked lightly.
Oakstaff
He had hunted. He had eaten. He'd wandered a bit further away from the splashing and bathed. He wasn't quite sleepy yet, so Oakstaff took his quarterstaff and took it to a clear area of of the little grove that Longdusk and Windsoft had found. Few of his tribemates were there, so he had plenty of room to get some practice in.
Skill with any sort of tool wasn't inborn. It took practice to keep it honed. Whether the tool was for cooking or for hunting, or for fighting, an elf just had to practice. Oakstaff made a point of doing so every morning before he went to sleep, and every evening before they hit the trail.
Most Wolfriders preferred a bladed weapon of some kind: knife, ax, spear, sword. Not Oakstaff. He'd use a spear sometimes, when he was hunting big game, but he preferred his simple quarterstaff. It brought down smaller game just fine - and didn't leave holes in the skin. It was convenient for helping him walk long trails over rough terrain. It was good in a fight - and good in a dance.
Yes, Oakstaff mused as his staff whirled in a blur of gold in front of him and his spun and dipped, he really did have the most ideal weapon. He wouldn't trade his quarterstaff for the finest troll-made sword.
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Post by Kris on Jul 10, 2009 22:31:05 GMT -6
Journey-->Firecat, Shellslip"Late? No, dearest one, it's never too late for baths. Playing or not... but your words indicate you want to play...?" she winked. "You game?" Journey grinned back at Firecat. One couldn't spend time around Whirlwind and not know when a beautiful maiden was flirting. "I'm game if you are," he all but purred. "Just let me get the rest of this off and get in the water . .. " Windsoft's send reached him, and he chuckled. **And here you always said not to count my catch before I had it,** he teased. **But if it's so . . . well, Mother, I hope you have as enjoyable a morning as I hope to myself!**
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Post by Kris on Jul 11, 2009 0:57:43 GMT -6
Tallspear crawled into his furs and watched his tribemates ascend to the nests Sunsong had created for them. Whirlwind had declined to join him; she was waiting, she told him, for Oakstaff. Softling was below, and Tallspear watched her for a while. She was still a little wary of him--he decided a little more time would help more than hurt, and resolved to be patient on that score.
Journey was with Firecat and Shellslip. That nearly made Tallspear fall out of his nest with astonishment, and then chuckle with pride. About time Journey learned that those big violet eyes could do more than just look innocent. Maidens reacted to Journey in one of two ways: amusement at his scamp's ways, and anticipation of just how much fun they could have with him. Enjoy it, little brother, Tallspear thought with a sly smile. You should have been doing this moons ago!
Turning on his side, Tallspear twitched as he heard a conversation. He held himself still, the better to hear--and realized he was overhearing a sent conversation. More than that; the two sending were Stormfire and Mist.
He listened carefully, and found himself smiling even more widely. Oh, Whirlwind was in for a shock, wasn't she? Tallspear had no idea why Stormfire found the healer so fascinating, but he knew he was going to love watching Whirlwind bare her fangs at Mist over her beloved little sister.
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Post by meimei on Jul 11, 2009 1:51:45 GMT -6
Ashglow had wandered after his failed attempt to advise Softling. In truth, he felt an empathy with the youth. Though he knew his skills and strengths, and weaknesses for that matter, it didn't make him feel any less like he was floundering for a place in this new tribe. The routine he was accustomed to had been replaced. Despite the hard night's journey, he felt restless and frustrated. A part of him still was not used to the switch from day to night. Starpath, who'd always loved the stars, seemed to find that part easier. But he wondered how he felt about not choosing their course as he always had. He worried for Nightsun, who was still learning to move with a hunter's quiet she'd never had need of before. And he wondered if he himself would ever feel truly comfortable surrounded by their new tribemates.
He leaned against one of the trees that circled the grove, and watched as the forest lightened around him as the sun rose.
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Post by Anna on Jul 11, 2009 20:29:36 GMT -6
Sunsong
Sunsong was dreaming.
Her dreams drew her far away from the mobile lives of the Wolfriders, deep into the roots of the world. Roots...pallid and fragile, but oh, so strong! Grasping and squeezing nutrients from the soil through which they burrowed, sending it up, up, up throughout the sun-bathed plant. She rose with those nutrients, learning and knowing all there was to know about the plant.
Heartwood, dead and dark. Sapwood, living and pale. Up, she flowed with the sweet sap. Out to the thin, shivering leaves soaking in the light, transforming it.
Which is best? Which will do...? Her question whispered through her mind, through the trees and the answer was... none of these.
Sunsong mourned. How could she shape a safe holt for her tribe, if none of these trees would do? Each had something that was needed, but none had all. How could she build a weak holt? How could she betray her tribe so? They were counting on her, trusting her to do what none of them could. She would not fail them. She would not!
And so she dreamed, her body still but for small movements, but her mind busy sorting through all she knew, all she imagined, and all that she could dream of. Her constant smile faded from her sleeping face, and a frown faintly creased her brow.
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Post by Anna on Jul 11, 2009 20:34:06 GMT -6
Oakstaff to Whirlwind
Oakstaff could feel someone's eyes on him. It tried to intrude on his concentration, but he pretended not to feel the stare while he went through his patterned practice. The stare wasn't malicious; he sensed no danger. And if it was - well, he already had his weapon in hand.
Only when he was completely done with his practice did he turn to see who's attention was so focused on him. He grinned when he saw that his watcher was Whirlwind. He drew his forearm across his brow, wiping away sweat, and strolled towards the gnarled root that she was sitting on.
"I probably shouldn't have bathed before practicing," he said cheerfully. "Now I'll have to do it all over again." He leaned on his staff and arched an eyebrow at his friend. "Why aren't you sleeping yet?"
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