|
|
Post by peachbug on Jul 29, 2009 1:47:01 GMT -6
Softling was surprised at the strength of resolve Silent's sending carried. Most of his sendings she'd been privy to had been muddled, overriden with conflicted emotions so much she couldn't read them. Perhaps this was a good chance. 'Still not the stuff of scouts...' Part of her tugged, but she disregarded it. Windsoft trusted this.
**Let me gather my spear, I'll meet you near camp's edge,** Softling sent firmly in return, allowing her respect for his agreement to slide in. She sent a passing image of the spot as well. **We can walk there together.**
|
|
|
|
Post by Multi-Facets on Jul 29, 2009 12:50:59 GMT -6
Silent smiled a bit. **I'll get my weapons too, and find you,** he said. Not that he could actually use them, but it was habit now. He walked quickly to where he had left his things, and tied his waterbag and knife to his belt before taking up his spear and sending for Wanderlust. Thankfully, the she-wolf wasn't far, and by the time she arrived, Silent had found his way to Softling. He put a hand on Wanderlust's head, scratching between her ears as he looked at the tracker attentively. Or as attentively as he could.
|
|
|
|
Post by peachbug on Jul 29, 2009 22:54:16 GMT -6
"So..." Softling began awkwardly, casting glances to him and her spear. She started forward through the trees. "Have you ever seen a troll?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Multi-Facets on Jul 30, 2009 0:01:22 GMT -6
Silent shook his head, following. **Father and Mother were the ones to deal and trade with them,** he answered. **Even Hoarfrost didn't think to go near them; he was too busy hunting or running around with his friends and the pack.** He gave the tracker a curious look, wondering why she had picked that subject. **Have you?**
Wanderlust leaned against his hip as she moved, panting happily.
|
|
|
|
Post by peachbug on Jul 30, 2009 11:16:38 GMT -6
"No, not at all..." Softling murmured, rolling through the stories she'd heard from elders and scouts alike. "Journey talked about them so often, but I never really listened. My parents thought they were awful, almost as bad as humans. I guess I just..." She gave him a glance. "I'm worried I will someday. At this new holt. It's silly, there's nothing I could do about that."
Softling already missed Snapbone, who she'd left with the unbonded wolves. He wasn't ready to scout seriously, not really. "Our old holt never got away from humans and trolls, no matter how strong or quick we were. The wolves could never keep them away. Who knows what will be waiting for us? I wish...I wish it could just be elves and wolves and game." In a few moments, she could feel her old panic, her old snarling child self get caught up in those words. Windsoft wouldn't approve of her words, nor the chieftess. "I'm blabbering. I shouldn't talk like that, it's nothing we can control, nothing to do with the Now. I keep thinking silly thoughts as we travel farther." Softling hesistated. "I do wish I'd seen a troll I suppose. I'd know what to look for, what to scent, specifically."
|
|
|
|
Post by Multi-Facets on Jul 30, 2009 21:58:46 GMT -6
Silent watched Softling with wide, curious eyes as she inadvertently told him about her worries and displayed her insecurities. Had she been hiding that all along? Was the pretty tracker really as insecure as he?
**Father always said they were loud,** he said, once Softling had stopped. **He told me they were easy to hear coming, with their thumping feet and loud mouths.** Trying to be reassuring, he added, **I'll listen for them, if it helps.** Oddly, when he said "listen", he motioned to his right temple rather than his ear.
Not really noticing where he pointed, the silver-eyed elf turned his attention back to the river, watching the banks and where water met soil for anything interesting.
|
|
|
|
Post by peachbug on Jul 31, 2009 23:37:57 GMT -6
Softling caught the misdirected gesture, but wasn't sure how to approach such a strange thing. "You can 'listen' for water...that's what Redthorn told me, after the neverending grass. Hear without the trickle on stones or the sound of prey, or without the scent." Softling prided herself on her keen senses, however untrained they were. She knew how to find water in all sorts of ways. He had no training, what did he have to follow? "What does it sound like?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Multi-Facets on Jul 31, 2009 23:59:24 GMT -6
Silent stopped so fast, Wanderlust got three feet ahead of him before realizing he wasn't at her side any more. She looked over her shoulder, curious. **What?** she asked.
The brown-clad elf did not answer, instead remembering.
"So what is it you do out here all by yourself all the time?"
**I.... I'm listening.**
"To what?"
**Everything.**
"Really? What does it sound like?"
**It's so beautiful.**
"Can you show me?"
**.... I can try.**
Silent shook his head, putting a hand to his temple and looking away. "It's n-not.... not just w-water," he said hoarsely, the words spilling from him unchecked. "It's the sk-sky, the wind, th-the gr-ground, fire, ni-night, day, daystar, moons, s-stars, trees, movement.... It's e-everyth-thing, or as mu-much of it as I c-can understa-stand." He turned back to Softling, lowered his hand and held it out, fingers trembling. "I-I can s-show you," he whispered.
|
|
|
|
Post by peachbug on Aug 1, 2009 13:33:40 GMT -6
Softling's heart jumped in her throat when he reached out. Only a moment ago she'd been worried she'd broken the fragile elf. She took a step back, eyeing his fingers with wide gold and green. The tracker had never really heard him speak, and it was like grinding stones to her keen ears. He claimed to hear everything feel everything outside of what any of them could touch or wish to touch, completely outside the Now in that sense, but also in it. None of those things had a past or future, did they? They just were. Was Redthorn and Windsoft right? Was his magic part of being a Wolfrider or something more?
"Sounds like how the elders described the High Ones." Softling answered with a squeaked breath, caught between taking his hand and avoiding the whole thing. If she 'saw' the things he did...would her head pop? "How they saw all the world at once and learned the Now from it. How do you keep all that inside, all the time?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Multi-Facets on Aug 1, 2009 15:43:38 GMT -6
"I'm u-used to it," Silent replied, lowering his hand slightly. "I've always h-heard it. I can't d-do much abo-bout it, but I'm trying. I-I'm sure the Hi-High O-Ones did be-better." Gingerly, he added, "It doesn't h-hurt."
It was likely Softling would reject the offer now, but the chance to share, to be a bit more understood, had been too good not to take. If the tracker had been curious, then maybe someone else would be soon.
|
|
