Log Date: June 1994 Log Intro: In the ground-shake that rattled Sorrow's End and cracked the Bridge of Destiny, two Sun Villagers were slain when their hut collapsed upon them: Vannek the artisan and Ilirah the clothes-maker. These two elves had a son, a young jack-wolf rider called Kirran - and Kirran, too, was a victim of the ground-shake, caught in a rockfall as he was away from the village on a hunt. Having lost his memory in the incident, Kirran wandered the desert in a daze for several seasons, accompanied only by his vigilant jack-wolf Skitterpaw. Eventually, Kirran was found by the Wolfrider Redwisp and helped back to Sorrow's End. Back in the village, Kirran was attended by two healers: Skybow, a Wolfrider who had taken up residence there, and Shayilbey, a healer of the Underworld. His memory was restored, although he had no knowledge of the death of his parents until this was relayed him by Nightfather, the ancient elf who Recognized Savah. Distraught, Kirran fell into despair and became a wraith of his former self, incapable of rejoining his jack-wolf rider companions in their hunts and rides. At last, another Sun Villager, young Keshah, tried to draw him out of his anguish; Keshah was partially successful, but still Kirran sorrowed. Now, after a few seasons have passed, Mender, the other Wolfrider healer who dwells in the village, finally endeavors to aid Kirran himself and attend to the villager's heart-sickness. Mender plans to visit the Lostholt, and do a seeking in the green growing place for a full-blooded wolf-friend... and it occurs to him that perhaps Leetah, whom Mender calls the greatest of healers, could soothe Kirran's pain. Mender tells his family, the Mother of Memory, and Skybow of his intended journey... and persuades Kirran to accompany him. As the Newgreen time arrives, after a Whitecold visit from a band of traders, the two meet in Mender's hut and prepare to travel northward.... ---------- Kirran(#5598PXce) A little on the tall side for one of his kind, and perhaps painfully thin, this is a somewhat worn and haggard-looking elfin male. His long, heavy dark brown hair, streaked russet here and there from the desert sun, hangs loosely to his shoulderblades, save for the two braids that twist down from his temples and eventually tie together in back. Framed by dark lashes, his eyes are a rich, deep violet hue, startlingly vivid in his brown-tanned face. He is clad in a short-sleeved purple shirt trimmed in yellow, and cut to reach only just past his chest, with a matching loincloth hung with purple, lavender, and yellow. About his waist is a simple golden belt; about his wrists, lavender leather armguards. On his feet he wears open-toed purple and yellow sandals. A golden necklace in the shape of the Daystar dangles about his neck. He seems nervous and shy of mood. Mender steps out through the beaded doorway of his house. Mender walks towards the dancing square. You head towards the Dancing Square. Dancing Square A wide paved square surrounded by brightly colored pavilions and canopied platforms. Gaily colored banners and paper lanterns hang from poles at the corners in the bright afternoon sun. warm spring dip to ground level from time to time. Contents: Mender Tyldak Drum Obvious exits: Pool(NE) Garden Canopy(E) Savah's House(NW) Boundary Path(S) Crossroads(N) Tyldak looks about quietly Tyldak folds his wings up against him, looking at the both of you upon arrival Mender strides into view, tugging his cloak better into place. He looks up, and spots the quietly lingering Tyldak; grinning a bit, he nods in greeting. Tyldak says "Good day .. Mender (he says softly)" Kirran lingers behind the healer, shifting a bit from foot to foot. He gives a quick and sheepish sort of nod. Mender says "And good day to you, Tyldak." Tyldak looks at Kirran thoughtfully, his talons crooked over his chest, folded and crossed, "Are you well today ?" Kirran blinkblinks his big violet eyes, and says huskily, "I'm well enough. Thank you." Tyldak nods slowly to Kirran, his top-foil brimming from the motion Mender flicks Kirran an assuring sort of smile, and says to Tyldak, "Kirran's coming with me on my jaunt up towards Lostholt. We both rather thought the change of scenery would do him good." Kirran nods at Mender's words, saying quietly, "Aye." Tyldak nods again, looking with a flick of his eyes between the two of you, "I have heard .. little of this. Are you (he looks to Kirran) .. ill ?" Kirran blushes a little, and mumbles something that might be, "Still haven't... gotten over... " Tyldak scratches his temple with his talon, "When will you be leaving then ?" Mender puts in, eyeing his companion with a clear quiet sympathy, "Kirran's had a hard time since the ground-shake, Tyldak." He goes on, "Soon as we find his jack-wolf, we'll be setting off." Kirran glances off northward, towards the entrance into the village. His expression seems a mixture of bleakness and perhaps a tiny fragment of hope. Tyldak nods slowly Tyldak says "I .. understand. Will Lostholt heal his ill, or do you simply .. run away from it ?" Kirran snaps his gaze back, as if startled by the notion. Mender murmurs speculatively, "If anyone could help him, it would be Leetah... " More loudly, he adds, "But we'll see." Tyldak says "Yes. Better there than (he looks slightly towards the place the underworld lies, well, better Leetah." Kirran ventures, "I've never seen the... green growing place before... " Tyldak says "Yes. Better there than (he looks slightly towards the place the underworld lies, well, better Leetah." Mender's lean mobile mouth twists briefly in a smirk as he follows Tyldak's brief glance, but he doesn't mention the nearer source of healing, nor the Underworlder healer who often is seen about the village. Mender smiles, then, brightly, to Kirran. "You'll like it, cousin...! And so will Skitterpaw. We'd better go find him, hey?" Tyldak allows his wings to fall from his side, whispering against the ground at the tips, his talons hanging loosely, "Yes it should be .. a new experience for you." Kirran shifts from foot to foot, and does manage a smile at the mention of his jack-wolf companion. Tyldak looks past the both of you, up into the sky, watching a lone vulture circle, as if the two of you had already left, he speaks quietly, "Safe travels.." Mender grins approvingly at Kirran's expression. Looking back to Tyldak, he says, "I've left word with Savah, and with Skybow to let him know to take care of anything that comes up in our absence." At the winged elf's benediction, he grins again, and finishes, "Shade and sweet water." Mender, with that, affably clasps Kirran's shoulder, and steers him off. Mender goes north. Tyldak looks past the both of you, up into the sky, watching a lone vulture circle, as if the two of you had already left, he speaks quietly, "Safe travels.." Kirran calls, "Shade and sweet water...!" as he hustles away. As Mender and Kirran arrive on the edge of the village, Kirran tentatively tries a howl, as Dart's jack-wolf riders have all been taught, to summon his jack-wolf companion. Mender looks on, smiling to see the villager giving a credible Wolfrider sort of howl... and, shortly, there comes a yapping call back as Skitterpaw lopes into view. Mender Slender as a whip, with leanly defined muscles, this young elf moves with lupine grace. He is richly tanned, but palely, hinting that while he might be a desert-dweller, he is not a Sun Villager by birth. His hair is a pale, bleached blond, wavy and tumbled; it hangs loosely about his angular features and down to his shoulders in back. Slanted and wideset, his eyes are a warm shade of grey, like the sky during a gentle rain. Over his sparse desert-dweller's garb, he has thrown on a deep turquoise-hued hooded cloak, trimmed in gold stitchery. Whenever this cloak swirls out of the way, his green and blue paneled loincloth and the teal clearstone ornaments on his golden belt, collar, and armband can be seen. On his feet he wears light boots of blue, green, and gold, open at the toe and heel. He is in his usual effusive and restless mood, eyes bright with palpable anticipation. Out on the desert's edge, the two elves encounter a herd of bristle-boar... and along with Skitterpaw, Kirran run downs a large boar from the herd. Mender grins, and congratulates his companion on a fine hunt. Skitterpaw noses in eagerly towards the kill... and he and the elves make short work of the meat. The hunt consumed, Kirran and Mender set off again. Kirran needs little persuasion from Mender - or, for that matter, from Skitterpaw - to ride instead of walk across the sands. But as night continues, both elves take a kind of shy pleasure in the cool open clarity of the starlit sky. The night passes... and the two travellers make what camp they can under a quickly constructed tent. They make spare use of their water, saving it for when they will arrive in the green growing place. As sunset arrives again, they set off once more. Reaching the sight of the tunnel of Golden Light, Mender and Kirran ponder... take the short-cut through the troll caves, or swing far towards Sun-Goes-Down, out of their way, to go overland? Mender is airily disdainful of the likelihood that the trolls will provide any hindrance to their passage... and Kirran, taking his cue from the healer, persuades his recalcitrant wolf to venture into the caves. Time passes - how much time? Kirran and Mender try to mark the passage of the hours, but there is little to give indication of time in these dark tunnels. Blinking softly and surprisedly, Mender and Kirran realize that another full day has passed while they made their way through the troll tunnels - and Mender smugly crows that they did so without a single troll stopping them, though Kirran is less assured that they didn't go unseen. Skitterpaw, once out of the caves, becomes eager at the growing number of new scents to be explored. A bit of an argument, then... and the suspicion that Lostholt is near and to the northeast, though there doesn't seem to be a ready trail in that direction. Mender, obstinately trying to scout, manages to stumble headlong into a peat bog, and Kirran is shyly amused; the healer's stormy temper flares, but quickly subsides, and the two of them amusedly continue onwards. You travel towards the forest and the forbidden river beyond. Forest Crossroads(#976RJV) This spot is toward the edge of the Willowwood, but still well within its bounds. The earth is packed down on the well-traveled road: this crossing has seen more than its share of visitors in its time. To the north lies the swamp, and the road in that direction is not quite as well-traveled as elsewere. To the northwest is the path that winds to the distant Forbidden River. Off to the southeast, a path trails off towards the distant plateau, and farther off to the east lie the vast Greensea Plains. The day is bright, though occasional spring rains fall. Blossoms on the trees smile wetly at you as you pass. Mother Moon is a barely visible crescent as the dimming red light of sunset fills the skies. Contents: Starshine Obvious exits: High Plateau(SE) Towards the plains(E) To the River(NW) Into the Marsh(N) You continue NW along the plateau trail Skitterpaw continues NW along the Plateau Trail. Mender continues NW along the Plateau Trail. Simmel emerges from the Willowwood Trail. Mender starts, as a small figure emerges from the trees. "Well... hello there!" Simmel looks more startled than either of the others. Skitterpaw flicks his ears up, and barks. The other elf, near him, blinkblinks a little and looks over shyly. Simmel The first impression you get of Simmel is a headfull of curly, reddish-brown hair, through which the tips of ears barely poke. Next, the tiny nose dotted with merry freckles. Combined with his colorful clothes and still slightly babyish features you might expect a playful cub...until you meet his eyes. Narrow, slanted, and a dark slate color they seem to weigh you, penetrating to your soul. Finally, he looks away, resuming his quiet task without deigning to look at you again. He appears to be 7 turns of the seasons. Kirran blinks again, looking more closely at the odd-seeming child, though he does not speak. Simmel, not recognizing the elves, beats it. Simmel turns to walk northwestward to the bank of the Forbidden River. Mender and Kirran blink, not sure what to make of the arrival of the unfamiliar child... but they press on, looking for a good place to camp. You begin the long trek to the Greensea Valley. GreenSea Valley A light, cool, steady breeze sets the waist-high grasses of this valley to cascading in verdant waves. The sunlight tops the green waves with glittering crests of gold, producing a mesmerizing interplay of light and color. Yet, for all the apparent color and movement of the grasses, there is an ominous stillness.... and oppressive silence which lurks beneath the surface. You feel the hairs on the back of your neck raise slightly for these are the hunting grounds of the Shadowkin, the Plainsrunner hunter. Here, they stalk the great straight-horns and springers, stalking them under cover of the swaying grasses. Mother Moon is a barely visible crescent as the dimming red light of sunset fills the warm spring skies. Contents: Mender Obvious exits: Trail Rolling Hills Grasslands Skitterpaw arrives from the west. Wavefall travels to the Valley from the east. Wavefall travels on from the west. Kirran and Mender sit camped around a small fire... they look up as the stranger passes. Wavefall half-notices the other elves on the trail and nearly passes by, in his travels, then stops. Turns. Elves, yup. Uh..** Greetings. ** Wavefall The young elf, just past his teen years, presents a rather scruffy look. His nut-brown hair is barely kept in check by a grey rabbit-pelt headband, managing not to overshadow his sea-green eyes. A knife is strapped to a belt, itself over an undyed deerskin vest. Dusty trousers are tucked into boots that have seen many a turn of the seasons. Two full waterskins are also attached to his belt. A strung bow has been slung over one shoulder, accomplained by a narrow quiver containing roughly three hands of arrows. Mender looks up, and grins. "Hey, there... " Kirran shifts a little, shyly, as the animal beside him barks alertly, inspecting the newcomer. Wavefall notices the small fire, and concludes they don't live here. Hunters? ** Good hunting to you. I travel through your valley. ** Mender grins widely, as he stands to chat. "Oh, it isn't _our_ valley, we're travellers, too." Kirran nods wordlessly, looking around a little, clearly unfamiliar with his surroundings. The animal beside him maintains a wary alert position. Wavefall ohs. ** Where do you travel from? ** Wavefall shifts his bow off his shoulder onto the ground, and loosens the ties of one of his waterskins. He holds it out, offering it. Mender smiles to the newcomer, and pats a flask at his belt. "We've brought water, but it's hard to find it here... thank you." He accepts the offered flask, but passes it to his rather worn and ragged-looking companion, first. Kirran says softly, "Thank you... " And sips at the offered water, while his animal companion yurfs and sniffs at the flask. Wavefall starts a few introductions, with * I am Wavefall, of the Holt that was Lost and Found again * Mender smiles more widely. "Well, well met, then. I am Mender, and I have kin there. Kirran and I are traveling there from Sorrow's End." Kirran nods wordless agreement as he passes the flask back to Wavefall. Wavefall attempts the flask back, and takes a long drink of it before tying it back up securely. Wavefall is piqued. * Kin? * Mender says in a decidedly proud tone, "My parents came from Cutter's folk, originally, before they settled down with the Sun Folk." Kirran ventures, "Dart... has kin there, too." Mender grins, and nods. "Gruff old son-of-a-she-wolf Strongbow." Wavefall nods at Kirran. It's hard not to hear of Dart at the LostHolt. Mender goes on affably, "Is everything well, there, this season? We hope to see Leetah, to see if she can help Kirran out." Wavefall hesitates before answering ** As well as might be expected. You will be welcome ** Kirran blinkblinks a little, violet eyes widening slightly at the small hitch in the sent reply, but he does not speak. Mender, perhaps less discerning than his companion - for he gives no sign of noticing that hesitation - beams. "It has been too long since I have seen Chief Cutter and Healer Leetah. I hope to carry much news back to the village." Wavefall sends ** Leetah will be happy to hear of her village again. ** Mender inclines his head in warm respect at Leetah's name, and asks, "You travelling away from the Holt, then?" Kirran listens quietly, one brown hand draped along Skitterpaw's ruff. Wavefall nods affirmatively to Mender, indicating somewheresabout to the west ** I travel to the Big Water. **. He holds up his skin of water. There shouldn't be much trouble about water there. Mender quirks a grin, and nods. "A long hike, that. Shall we let your folk know that we saw you?" Wavefall gives a half-shrug, dubious perhaps about the vitality of such news back at the Lost Holt. Mender nevertheless smiles cordially, and says, "Well, we're going to be moving on again shortly, but you're welcome to camp here in the meantime." Kirran nods again, quietly, while his gaze still occasionally rambles across the wide stretches of grasses surrounding him. Kirran, perhaps somewhat restlessly, gets to his feet and starts taking down the small camp. Skitterpaw paces back and forth, occasionally whurfling at the brown-skinned elf, and sometimes eyeing Wavefall speculatively. Wavefall nods, glad to share a fire for tonight. Saves the bother of building another one. Time passes... and camp is made during the night-time hours. Skitterpaw, the jack-wolf, maintains watchful guard next to Kirran. The blond-haired Mender sleeps very little, and instead grins as he takes in the smells and sounds and sights of night on the plains. When sunrise comes, camp is broken... a quick short hunt by the jack-wolf yields a fat long-ears, a share of which Mender and Kirran offer to their companion. Wavefall accepts a portion, eating it as he prepares to go west again. At that, farewells are exchanged... the travellers part, in opposite directions. Kirran and Mender wave, and vanish with their part-lupine companion off towards Sun-Goes-Up. Kirran and Mender travel through rolling hills, out of the plains... and for many days through increasingly dense forest until at last they reach the Silver Run River. They cross into its cool waters... You step into the waters of the Lower Silver Run River. Silver Run River The water is cold on your feet, playing about your ankles and calves. Small stones catch and reflect the light. Obvious exits: East Bank West Bank Skitterpaw joins you from the west bank. Mender joins you from the west bank. Crossing the silvery river, the two travellers from Sorrow's End pause long enough to fill their waterskins. Here in the midst of green forest, Mender virtually glows, every Wolfrider sense he possesses awakened to the myriad signs of life in the woods. Kirran looks about with shy wonder; playful for once, Skitterpaw chases them through the water. You head towards the East Bank of the Silver Run River. East Bank of the Silver Run River The land here dips down into the shallows along the edge of the river. The upper portion of the bank is covered with thick grass, new growth from the NewGreen season, that disappears over the top of the hill and the part closest to the river is soft white sand. To the west, you see that the river can be crossed by swimming, to the other side. To the south and north, you see that the land curves and follows the rivers course. As the daystar sets the air turns chilly in the NewGreen evening. Obvious exits: South Along the River(S) Into the River(W) Along the River(N) Hill(E) Skitterpaw arrives from the Silver Run River. Mender arrives from the Silver Run River. Here on the Sun-Goes-Up bank of the river, the two young elves, laughing and damp, throw themselves down on the ground to relax and catch their breaths. Skitterpaw shakes his fur out vigorously, and Kirran hesitantly smiles, watching his jack-wolf companion. Mender grins himself, and wistfully tells Kirran of his own wish to have a bond-beast... a _real_ wolf, if he can find one.... Kirran smiles a little, and murmurs softly to Mender, "You at least can bond... I don't have any wolf blood... " Mender pats the other elf's shoulder amiably, and winks. "I don't hold it against you." Skitterpaw YURFS and nuzzles damply against his elf, while Kirran grins shyly. He opens his mouth to speak again.... Far off in the distance, there sounds a loud *crash*, as of something large lumbering through the underbrush.... Skitterpaw snaps his ears up, head whipping around to the source of the sound. Mender looks up, too, his own hearing as sharp as the jack-wolf's. He slips into sending: ** Something big up that way, Kirran, do you hear it? ** Kirran blinkblinks, and with a small frown, glances in the direction that the healer and the jack-wolf are looking. ** Heard... something, ** he allows uncertainly. A louder *crash*... and snappings of twigs... sound just northward up the river. Skitterpaw lopes to his feet, ears pricked, hackles raised, advancing towards the sound. Kirran, violet eyes widening, shoots a concerned glance to Mender. The healer frowns, sniffing at the air, and peering northward into the foliage, trying to sight the big creature making that noise. ** Whatever it is, it's downwind of us... ** A third loud *snap* of branches... and a huge, lumbering furry shape comes barrelling down towards the river. Seeing it, Skitterpaw yap-yarfs loudly... and charges. Mender cries, "Ohh, puckernuts... get back here, beast!" Looking decidedly alarmed now, Kirran fumbles for the short blade at his side. His jack-wolf - driven by the plethora of enticing new scents, determined to investigate whether this strange new creature is *food* - sets off towards the distant shape at a run. Far up the bank, the lumbering brown-black shape lifts its head, alerted by Skitterpaw's charge. Slowly, the groggy bear swings its head around... and growls. Mender mutters an oath - "Timmorn's Blood and Two-Spear's madness, that's a _bear_!" - and sprints after the jack-wolf, trying to halt Skitterpaw before he reaches the much larger creature. Kirran, not knowing what a bear is but not liking the look on his companion's face in the slightest, runs after Mender. He shouts at his jack-wolf... inwardly wincing at the lack of a bond with the creature, that might allow him to _send_ of the danger.... Rousing further at the sound of the two elves, the bear lumbers closer... growling more threateningly. Seeing the small jackwolf, the big creature rears up on its hind legs for a moment, attempting to swipe forward with a big paw. Mender shouts, "Hai, you big berry-eater, go back to your cave!" Impetuously, the healer bolts up even with Skitterpaw, trying to distract the bear's attention by waving his own blade wildly, while yelling to Kirran, "Get that crazy beast of yours out of here!" *GRRRRRORRWL!* The bear swipes its paw towards Mender, while his jack-wolfrider companion reaches Skitterpaw. Kirran tries to tug at Skitterpaw's ruff to haul him back. Mender leaps... and his lean mobile mouth twists into a feral grin as hunt-heat, battle-heat, surges into his thoughts. Kirran freezes, suddenly wide-eyed, as Mender connects briefly with the bear's swinging foreleg. A glow flashes round the healer's reaching fingers - but this glow is an angry red, not the usual benign warm golden of Mender's magic. The bear bellows, infuriated. ** Kirran! Get my bow! ** Mender's send is hard-edged, as he rolls hard to the ground, knocked by the angry, hungry bear off his feet. Kirran, pale under his brown skin, stumbles backwards towards their discarded possessions. Skitterpaw, evidently still not reconsidering his charge on the towering animal, races in circles around the bear, yelping and snarling. Its snout open wide to reveal rows of sharp teeth, the bear cranes its paw back towards the jack-wolf. Dim thoughts of food, nourishment needed to sustain it after its Whitecold sleep, drive it charging towards Skitterpaw. Mender snarls, a low gutteral sound in the back of his throat. He leaps again, trying to touch any portion of the bear within reach, to aim with the red fire of his magic... Kirran makes it back towards dropped weapons and possessions. With a shaking hand, he snatches up Mender's bow and strives to nock an arrow to its string. Healing-fire flares along the bear's flank... but not before Skitterpaw is tossed aside. The jack-wolf's yelp is nearly drowned out by the bear's roaring, which tears more loudly through the air as Mender strikes. Roaring, rearing up again on its hind legs, the bear whips around, sending Mender abruptly flying. The healer's lean tanned form collides hard into a tree. Kirran swallows hard, raising the bow, while Skitterpaw and Mender stir dazedly on the ground. Skitterpaw rises first as Kirran's shot is let loose, and flies... The arrow whizzes past the bear, but succeeds only in grazing it... and angering it further. Incensed, the creature charges towards the jack-wolf rider. Skitterpaw, perhaps realizing at last that this other creature is most assuredly _not_ food, growls and throws himself into the bear's path. Again, the jack-wolf is tossed aside, though not without loss of blood and fur to the dark brown bear. Kirran fires again, desperately, as the bear closes. His second arrow lodges firmly in the bear's flank... but in no time at all, the creature has gotten too close for firing range. Mender stumbles to his feet, shaking his head to clear it. And as he realizes that the bear has closed in on his companion, he shouts a startled warning, and charges forth again. Kirran shrieks as the bear's claws rake his shoulder open... the bow clatters from his hands as he sways, crumpling to the ground. Mender brandishes his sword and reaches the maddened bear as it begins to maul the downed elf. The healer's thoughts narrow, focusing only on wolf-now as he closes in again, blade swinging. Skitterpaw snarls and leaps, trying to sink fangs into the bigger creature's flesh. Distracted, the bear snaps its head around, and roars as Mender's blade slices. A big clawed paw swings out, catching the healer hard across the face, and swinging down again to rake across his chest. Claws skitter across the golden collar he wears before delivering gouges to Mender's ribcage... Mender sways, but stubbornly swings his sword again. The bear gives a mighty shiver, and sends Skitterpaw flying; the jack-wolf cracks into a tree and collapses. Kirran lies motionless... his chest and face torn and brightly soaked with red. Mender dives in low, while trying to aim upward for the creature's heart... but the bear seems to anticipate him, coming down itself to close powerful jaws across the Wolfrider's upper arm. Again, personal ornamentation - Mender's armband - provides something of a shield, but still, there is a sickening *crunch* of bone. Kirran(#5598PXce) A little on the tall side for one of his kind, and perhaps painfully thin, this is a somewhat worn and haggard-looking elfin male. His long, heavy dark brown hair, streaked russet here and there from the desert sun, hangs loosely to his shoulderblades, save for the two braids that twist down from his temples and eventually tie together in back. Framed by dark lashes, his eyes are a rich, deep violet hue, startlingly vivid in his brown-tanned face. He is clad in a short-sleeved purple shirt trimmed in yellow, and cut to reach only just past his chest, with a matching loincloth hung with purple, lavender, and yellow. About his waist is a simple golden belt; about his wrists, lavender leather armguards. On his feet he wears open-toed purple and yellow sandals. A golden necklace in the shape of the Daystar dangles about his neck. He is unconscious... or perhaps worse. Mender hisses sharply, and drops unsteadily to one knee... Spidersilk comes sliding down the hill, an odd expression on her face as she sends, almost to herself. ** What in...blood, noise...are the cubs pl -- TIMMORN'S _BLOOD_!!! ** Spidersilk takes in the scene almost instantly, and lets out a blood-curdling howl, distracting the bear. Mender blinkblinks foggily, trying to regain his feet, while the roaring creature towers over him. Spidersilk Spidersilk is a smallish, compactly built female elf. Short silver-white hair explodes in unruly curls around her face and over a bright blue headband, stubborn tendrils hanging into her eyes. She wears a grey leather jumpsuit that leaves her shoulders and arms bare, and ankle-high boots. Her sole concession to winter is a long, silvery fur cloak, the hood of which refuses to stay up around cheeks reddened by cold. She glances up and grins broadly when you look at her. Carrying: dagger silver dagger Spidersilk pulls her dagger from its sheath, running at the bear, an absolutely stupid manuever. She's quick, though, and stays away from slashing paws, ramming the dagger up through the creature's ribcage in the general area of its heart. Spidersilk pulls her second dagger at almost the same instant, darting away. ** Cub, you going to be all right? ** The bear gives a final gurgling roar... before collapsing at last. Mender mumbles, alarmedly, "K... Kirran... " Mender, swaying, tries to stagger towards the motionless form just past the bear. Spidersilk turns back to the bear, second dagger in hand, and leaps over its paws to behind its neck, driving the tiny dagger deep into the creature's eye, just to be safe. ** Ki...? ** She looks up, and sees the still form. ** Oh, High Ones... ** Mender gives a choked little cry and half-kneels, half-collapses by the prone form. He presses his lean hands to Kirran's chest - and weak golden light flares, as he clenches his teeth stubbornly. Spidersilk starts, and stares at Mender for a moment, recognizing him finally. She draws her daggers out of the bear and stands, walking silently over. Mender's grey eyes have gone desperately wide, as he struggles to close the reddened gashes along the jack-wolfrider's chest. Sweat streaks his already battered face... Mender mumblesends a wordless pleading wave: ** ** Spidersilk sighs, and she kneels, reaching out to touch your shoulder. ** Cub...it's over. He's gone. ** Kirran continues to lie motionless, despite the flickering glow of light playing over his features and chest. Mender growls a denial as he presses his eyes closed, willing his magic to flare brighter. ** No-won't let-can't die-no ** Spidersilk sends firmly, a note of sorrow behind it. ** Mender. Heal your own hurts. You can't do anything for him. ** Mender's arms tremble with strain, and his eyes go damply glimmering. He mumbles aloud, "No... h... have to... " Skitterpaw whines softly, shaking his head, and waking up. Spidersilk reaches out and pulls you into her arms, sending gently. ** Mender...cubling, you can't defeat death. Heal yourself, please. ** Mender sways and crumples against you, eyes gone plaintive, foggy. ** I... I... ** Spidersilk rocks you, still sending softly. ** Shh, cub. You did well. We'll howl for him. ** Skitterpaw crawls over to Kirran's prone form, and whimpers, licking his face. Ember scrambles down the steep hill. Mender mumbles dazedly, "Need... need to... " Ember comes in, quietly, clearly already knowing what's happened. Mender groggily tries to lean back over to Kirran, a faint spark of light flickering around his fingers. Skitterpaw whines plaintively as Kirran fails to respond to his lickings. Spidersilk shakes her head. "Mender, please..." Ember walks over and kneels next to Mender, catching him by the shoulders and forcing him to look up at her. ** Healer, no. You cannot help. ** Mender lifts a groggy gaze to Ember... and is caught for a long moment, staring at her in an almost childlike fashion. Ember Ember is a lithe, whip-slender elf. Contrary to popular belief, she is no longer a cub, and something in her eyes tells you that she has forever put behind her the days of childhood. Flame red hair cascades in a soft riot of tangled curls down her back, one long strand of bangs falling into blue-green eyes. Her leathers are pale tan, setting off sun-darkened skin, and look as if they'd make a tanner despair: a short tunic leaves her arms, shoulders and midriff bare, and an equally short skirt allows for plenty of leg room for the young chieftess. Red bands encircle her upper arms, each band adorned with a brilliant white feather, matching feathers and soft furs that accent the leathers. Ankle-high boots complete the outfit, and with the exception of the boots, the entire outfit appears to be made of stratigically placed holes. Strapped to her right thigh is a dagger, and in the hollow of her throat rests a delicate wolfshead necklace. Carrying: Goldie's doll Dagger Wolfhead necklace Ember sends again, firmly. ** Do you hear me, healer? ** Mender blinkblinks... and by way of evident acknowledgement, starts to slump sideways. Spidersilk catches Mender automatically. ** Poor cub... ** Ember stands up. ** Can you help him back to the holt, Silk? ** Skitterpaw sits down on his haunches by Kirran's motionless body, and howls mournfully. Spidersilk nods, her eyes bright with tears and as Skitterpaw begins to howl, she tilts her head back in sympathy, howling as well. Mender foggily blinkblinks, and - perhaps instinctively trying to howl, too - coughs. Mender(#3221PXce) Slender as a whip, with leanly defined muscles, this young elf moves with lupine grace. He is richly tanned, but palely, hinting that while he might be a desert-dweller, he is not a Sun Villager by birth. His hair is a pale, bleached blond, wavy and tumbled; it hangs loosely about his angular features and down to his shoulders in back. Slanted and wideset, his eyes are a warm shade of grey, like the sky during a gentle rain. He is clad in a travel-worn - and ripped and bloodied - turquoise-colored cloak, trimmed in gold stitchery. Whenever this cloak swirls out of the way, his green and blue paneled loincloth and the teal clearstone ornaments on his golden belt, collar, and armband can be seen. On his feet he wears light boots of blue, green, and gold, open at the toe and heel. He seems half-conscious, his eyes fogged with pain. His chest and left arm are slashed and gouged; the arm is bent at an unnatural angle. Bruises and blood are visible all over him. Ember shakes her head, a half-howl emitting from her throat as well. ** First a healer, Mender. You're badly hurt. ** Mender mumbles plaintively, "C... *cough* couldn't heal... " Spidersilk whispers, "Oh, cub.." Ember kneels again, reaching out to Mender. ** Healers can't do everything, Mender. Once the spirit is gone...then we howl, and let it go. It's the Way. ** Mender shifts his gaze back to Ember... and an odd, reverent light seems to flicker through his dazed eyes as he regards her muzzily. Ember's eyes are serious, and she apparently doesn't notice the odd light in Mender's eyes. ** No one knows better than my family -- my mother, especially -- that a healer can't stop death. Can you heal yourself, Mender? ** Spidersilk watches the exchange silently, looking a little curiously at the wounded healer. Mender tells Ember plaintively, "'Mnot... 'sgood as... Leetah... " His big grey eyes, glistening with a hint of tears, fix soulfully on Ember's face. Ember's expression becomes very gentle. ** Few are, Mender. And if she cannot defeat death...do not blame yourself for also not being able to. ** Mender's lean golden face slowly begins to reflect a variety of enmeshed emotions; his dark golden eyebrows knit a little in evident confusion as he gazes glassily up at the... beautiful... elf... Spidersilk watches Mender's expression change, and in spite of the circumstances, spends half a moment successfully fighting a wicked grin off her features. Ember says softly, "Heal yourself, Mender, if you can." Mender blinkblinks, and winces a little, fumbling a hand towards indistinctly perceived sources of hurt. His fingers fall limply across his slashed chest; pale watery light glimmers momentarily, and he coughs with effort. Spidersilk looks up. ** Ember, where's Leetah? ** Ember, her eyes still on Mender's, says, "She went gathering herbs this morning. I sent to her, but she's a long way away." Mender's eyelids droop a little; he looks distracted, as healer instinct struggles to flare back into life. With painstaking slowness, the gouges across his chest close... and his hand falls to one side. Spidersilk mutters a curse. Skitterpaw noses plaintively at Kirran again. Kirran continues to not move... and at last, mournfully, the scruffy jack-wolf limps over to the other elves. Ember nods softly. ** Very good, healer. Your arm...should we just splint it? ** Mender rouses a little again, his gaze perhaps more fogged now, as only the 'feel' and not the meaning of Ember's sending reaches him. He gazes up at her again, limpid-eyed... Skitterpaw yurfles wistfully, trying to get the attention of the other elf he knows. Ember says dryly, "We'll splint it. 'silk, can you find some sticks?" Spidersilk nods and stands up, keeping a wary eye on the exhausted elf. She disappears into the woods briefly. Skitterpaw noses his snout in, trying to rouse Mender. He whines, in a sort of "help my elf isn't moving" tone. Mender, lain gently to the ground by Spidersilk, glances muzzily at the jack-wolf.... Spidersilk returns with a couple of fairly straight sticks. Skitterpaw gently closes his teeth on Mender's cloak, trying to tug. Hey! Help! Come make my elf move! Mender mumbles something incoherent in Skitterpaw's direction. Ember glares at the jackwolf. ** Cut it out ** Skitterpaw yurflegrowls at the unfamiliar elf. Ember sends to the jackwolf ** Friend ** She looks at Mender's hurt arm, and sighs. "Mender?" Mender turns his gaze back towards the sound of Ember's voice, focusing on her blearily.... Skitterpaw appears to consider and at last lies down next to Mender, whimpering a little. Ember says gently "Your arm is badly broken. I've got to splint it, and it's going to hurt." Mender frowns a little, vaguely, almost but not quite making sense of the murmured words. He glances down at his wounded arm. Spidersilk shakes her head worriedly, watching the blonde elf. Ember frowns, and repeats herself, this time in a sending, hoping that'll make more sense. Mender looks back up at Ember and, oddly, smiles dreamily. He sends a jumbled sense of ** ** Spidersilk mutters, "Well, that should make this easier." Ember sighs. "It's going to hurt. Silk, do you have a cloak or anything we could use to hold his arm still with?" Mender gazes muzzily up at Ember, expression gone strangely soft, as the sound of her voice weaves through his fog of pain and weariness.... Spidersilk slips her cloak off her shoulders, handing it to Ember along with the two sticks. Ember says "Help him sit up..." Spidersilk kneels, moving Mender into a sitting position, holding him firmly. Mender's brow knits a little, and he makes a tiny noise of protest as he is lifted up. Skitterpaw watches, the forward pricking of his ears a sign of his curiosity, though his eyes are still mournful in his pointed face. Spidersilk says "Sorry, cubling..." Mender blinkblinks, now once more faintly aware of Spidersilk's voice. Distracted, he glances up at her... Ember moves forward, grasping Mender's upper arm, one hand on either side of the break. Without warning, she makes a quick, hard move, re-aligning the bone. Spidersilk holds Mender very firmly as Ember moves. Mender's face twists sharply, and he whimpers between abruptly gritted teeth. His entire body jerks for a moment... and then goes limp as he faints. Skitterpaw lifts his head, and whines? Spidersilk sends, full of approval. ** Brave lad. ** Ember send-mutters ** Better this way.. ** and swiftly aligns the sticks on his arm, bending it at the elbow and looking apologetically at Spidersilk as she uses a torn strip of cloak to bind the arm. Spidersilk grins wryly. ** It's an old cloak, don't worry. ** Skitterpaw whimpers again, not understanding what the unfamiliar elves are doing to the prone one. Ember nods and uses the rest of the cloak to jury-rig a sling. At the same time, she sends to the jackwolf. ** Elf hurt. We help. ** Skitterpaw barks softly, mournfully, and tries to nose his way in again to look at Mender. Mender lies, pale of face, in Spidersilk's arms as Ember completes her ministrations. Ember sighs as she finishes tying the sling. ** Mender...? ** Mender's head shifts slightly, but he doesn't seem to wake. Spidersilk sighs. "Maybe you should just let him sleep..." Mender groans a little. Ember says "I wish Mother was here..." Ember leans over the still elf worriedly. ** Mender? ** Mender's mouth works without sound for a moment, and his brow furrows. Someone is calling...? Should he wake up....? Ember looks up at Spidersilk uncertainly. Spidersilk shrugs just as uncertainly. A frown tugs at one corner of Mender's mouth, as the elusive touch on his thoughts seems to vanish. Wait... don't go... Leetah scrambles down the steep hill. Leetah hurries in.. Ember sends openly ** Mother. His arm... ** Skitterpaw snaps his head up and barks worriedly. Mender(#3221PXce) Slender as a whip, with leanly defined muscles, this young elf moves with lupine grace. He is richly tanned, but palely, hinting that while he might be a desert-dweller, he is not a Sun Villager by birth. His hair is a pale, bleached blond, wavy and tumbled; it hangs loosely about his angular features and down to his shoulders in back. Slanted and wideset, his eyes are a warm shade of grey, like the sky during a gentle rain. He is clad in a travel-worn - and ripped and bloodied - turquoise-colored cloak, trimmed in gold stitchery. Whenever this cloak swirls out of the way, his green and blue paneled loincloth and the teal clearstone ornaments on his golden belt, collar, and armband can be seen. On his feet he wears light boots of blue, green, and gold, open at the toe and heel. He is unconscious; his chest is scratched, marked with barely-healed slashes. His left upper arm, too, is gouged, and held stiffly in an improvised splint of sticks and cloth fragments. Bruises and blood are visible all over him. Leetah kneels down by Mender, reaching out to him. Leetah locksends ** Kitling? ** Mender frowns again, vaguely, hearing that thread of send.... his face turns toward Ember, but he still doesn't open his eyes. Ember sends to the wolf, absently ** Friend-Healerfriend ** Leetah locksends ** Kitling... ** Ember sends openly ** Help is here, Mender. You'll be fine. ** Mender's head shifts, and he moans softly. Someone else is calling... he needs to open his eyes... hard.... Spidersilk climbs up the hill to the east. Leetah rests one hand on Mender's arm. ** Come on, Mender...you know what to do... ** she sends, not-quite locked...eyes closing... ** You know what to do... ** Leetah's worry makes her send a bit sharp, but the golden light washes over his body.. You sense Leetah's golden light calling to you...you know that light...and it seems oddly familiar...calling to the power within yourself.. Mender's eyes open with slow, heavy effort, and for a brief instant, he seems startled at the new voice in his head. But as the sending makes its way through his clouded thoughts, he finds himself mumbling in protest. "T... tired... " Leetah nods ever so slightly..and the light intensifies... You sense Leetah lets her light flow deep inside...she checks for internal injuries.. Mender's eyebrows pull together with a hint of strain. Something he needs to do...? Leetah locksends ** Kitling...you know what to do...don't fight me.. ** Ember sends gently ** There's nothing you can do, Mender. ** Leetah senses "Mender's lean golden form is mostly battered and bruised, save for the barely-healed gouges across his chest - where you quickly sense he has already tried to work - and the still-red slashes over his arm. But more worrisome is the fractured bone _in_ that arm...." Surface bruises and bumps quickly disappear, under the touch of the soft gold glow.. Mender, as his body is enveloped in the unwavering radiance, twitches a little... but then relaxes. Leetah draws in a slow breath, and the light flares over the splinted arm.. Leetah locksends ** Yes..that's right...let me help you.. ** Mender's hand fumbles up towards his arm, too; weak, watery light, barely visible against Leetah's more powerful glow, plays across his fingertips. Leetah whispers "Take off the splint.." Ember reaches out and unties the splint swiftly, at a send from Leetah. Leetah closes her gentle, soft hand around Mender's arm...and bows her headd slightly.. Mender frowns vaguely, uncertainly... but the undeniable, palpable warmth of the other healer's magic bolsters his sapped strength. Yes, he thinks dazedly, wordlessly, focusing his will on the cracked bone... The faint, vaguely irritating grate of bone is heard..then stops... Ember shivers. Leetah locksends ** Kitling..that's goo.. ** You locksend ** Lee... tah...? ** to Leetah. Leetah locksends ** Yes, kitling.. ** You locksend ** ** to Leetah. Leetah strokes Mender's chest with her other hand, and the ugly scratches fade. Leetah locksends ** Heal first. ** You sense in a locksend, Leetah's will is iron on that. The shoulder gash visibly closes, until not even a line is left. Mender frowns suddenly, mournfully, but subsides under the steady glow. At last, though, the light around his own fingers flickers and dies as his strength exhausts itself. Leetah stays a moment longer, making sure.. Leetah's light flares one last time.. You sense Leetah's light clears the fuzz from your mind..the cobwebs clear... and your eyes open, focus.. Mender's eyes flutter open... and the world swims into focus around him. Leetah sighs...and her golden light flickers away. She sits back on the ground, and closes her eyes. Mender cries instantly, "Kirran!" and tries to leap to his feet. Ember reaches out almost instantly and catches Mender. ** Kirran is dead, Mender. You can't help him. I'm sorry. ** Leetah looks over at Kirran, sadly. Skitterpaw yaps, seeing Mender conscious once more, and trying to nuzzle at him plaintively at the sound of Kirran's name. Leetah says "What happened?" Mender's grey gaze snaps round to Ember as he stumbles in her grasp. Then he looks finally at Kirran's prone form... and tears well up in his eyes. "I... we... were coming to... " Leetah looks a bit worn, but resigned... Ember pulls Mender to her in a reassuring hug. ** You did your best, healer. Don't fault yourself. ** Petal arrives from the Silver Run River. Ember notes there's a large, dead bear over there next to the river. Mender stands dazedly in Ember's grasp, while Skitterpaw whines softly, and tries to get Mender's attention once more. Mender's gaze swings falteringly from Ember's bright hair over to her mother, as he mumbles, "I... I-I thought... it would help... if he came with... " Petal comes from the south and quietly surveys the scene. Leetah says "Sit down, kitling." Ember sits down, Mender in her arms. Leetah watches Mender, empathy obvious. Mender stares at nothing in particular, murmuring abashedly, "He... he needed... s-soul healing, I-I-I didn't know how... " His voice cracks huskily. Leetah sighs. Petal stands a bit aways still and looks to the east for a moment, then turns back to look at the scene, brow furrowed in thought. Skitterpaw finally squirms closer to Mender and lays his head in his lap. Leetah says "It's not your fault, kitling. Sometimes, these things happen." Mender, tears streaking through the smear of dirt across one cheek, looks mournfully at Leetah. "I-I was going to bring him... t-to see you... " Ember locksends ** You did your best, Mender. Don't blame yourself. ** Mender blushes, and looks down at the jack-wolf, who looks back up at him. Petal's attention turns to Kirran, her face thoughtful, then she frowns a bit. Leetah says nothing more. She looks at her old friend, and then takes her night-cloak and overs him with it. Mender crumples between the jack-wolf and Ember, crying noiselessly, as weariness and the shock of the entire situation catch up with him. Ember, looking rather out of place, rocks Mender in her arms. Leetah crosses from Kirran, and sits on Mender's other side, holding him gently. Mender mumbles something that might be, "D-don't know what... to do now... " Petal wanders over to Kirran and kneels down, lookng at the body. Petal locksends ** You go on. ** Leetah strokes back the white-gold hair from Mender's face and stays silent. Mender starts, his gaze shooting up again as he registers the presence of the third arrival. He blinkblinks, realizes that his face - and the shoulder of Ember's leathers - are wet with tears, and he blushes a deeper shade. Petal reaches out a tentative hand and touches a lifeless hand. Leetah locksends ** There is no shame in tears, kitling. ** You sense in a locksend, Leetah recalls many times she has held Cutter through them. Ember locksends ** It's all right. ** Petal frowns and straightens, turning. Ember looks up at Petal. "What is it?" Leetah keeps stroking Mender's hair. Skitterpaw whimpers very softly, and Mender's gaze drops to the jackwolf again. He mumbles huskily, "I-I'll be... alright... " He seems to realize something, and touches a hand to Skitterpaw's left foreleg. Light flares again round his fingertips - brighter and steadier now, though not quite fully as bright as it should be - and Skitterpaw gives a relieved little yip. Petal says "I've never seen a dead elf before." Leetah gasps..and looks at the jackwolf's paw.. Ember looks at Petal, her expression clearly startled. You sense in a locksend, Leetah didn't think... Petal tilts her head a bit, looking at Ember curiously. Mender's light flickers out, and he stares bleakly, panting slightly, down at the jack-wolf. Skitterpaw licks his face. Ember locksends ** Will you be all right? ** Leetah rises, holding Mender's hands. "Come kitling...we will howl for him...but you needd rest." Petal says "What's wrong with him?" Mender scrubs a hand across his face. He glances at Ember with an odd expression on his face for a moment, but then allows Leetah to pull him to his feet. "'Mokay," he mutters embarrassedly. Leetah shakes her head firmly. Ember stands up, too, and nods to a send. Skitterpaw pads over to Kirran for a moment and gives him a final solemn nuzzle, before returning with evident determination to Mender's side. Leetah takes Mender east. Leetah climbs up the hill to the east. Mender stumbles a little, but manages to keep up with Leetah as the jackwolf lopes along beside him. The older healer leads him into the Holt, and to the den she shares with Cutter. They pass Spidersilk in the clearing, and a mournful Skitterpaw lingers there, unable to accompany Mender into the tree.... Cutter and Leetah's Den(#2716RFJL) In the seasons since Leetah returned to the SunVillage, Cutter has more or less taken over the den. The silks and brightly colored pillows have mostly disappeared, save one or two for memories' sake. Sleeping furs are piled against the far wall, and extras are piled over Leetah's chest, turning it into a small fur-covered hill, perfect for perching on and thinking. The window has also been cleared and be restored to the perch it once was for Cutter. All-in-all, it is a wolfrider's den again. Contents: Leetah salt Obvious exits: out Mender pants from the effort of the climb, but as he realizes where he is he blurts, "I-I can't... !" Leetah hmms? Mender stammers, "I-I-I won't... disturb you and C-cutter...?" Leetah shakes her head. "Rest now." Leetah says "We'll be fine. Cutter likes to spend the night in trees when it's nice anyway." Mender seems about to protest again as he is gently levered down onto a pile of furs. Leetah puts her hands over your lips. "Not a word. Sleep." Mender blushes, and obediently closes his eyes, trying to school his whirling thoughts into something resembling silence.... Mender lets out a sigh as he drops slowly into slumber. Leetah stays by your side.