Log Date: 2/21/96 Log Intro: After a quick journey up from Sorrow's End accompanied by WindStorm and Kai, Ynderra finally returns to Lostholt territory. Once there, she leaves her two companions on the edge of the Holt, so that she might ride in alone and confirm that they might be welcome. As she does, she finds the Holt waking up with the coming of night.... ---------- Base of the Lost Holt Father Tree(#765RJ) A dense grove of grotesquely shaped trees dominated by one immense Grandfather of a tree whose age is no less great than its size. It is obvious that the old tree has survived a terrible tragedy and you can see some of the scars left by the terrible blaze on the branches as leaves turn yellow as flame and red as blood. Brown weeds and night blooming wildflowers lie dead or dying in natural disorder around the trees roots. Like old friends, the gnarled trees embrace one another, their many branches entwining to form a canopy high above the ground, though most of the leaves now decorate the ground and crunch under your feet. It grows cold as evening falls. Dry leaves whisper in the wind. Contents: Mirrormoons(#5438Qae) Calmwind(#7032Jopq) Obvious exits: Into the Tree Around the Tree Clearing In a send to the whole tribe, Spidersilk, somewhat airily, sends, ** Going out scouting, tribesmates. ** Spidersilk walks out of the Father Tree. Spidersilk has arrived. Ynderra slips off her wolf, and grins widely! Ynderra sends to the whole tribe ** Well, um, you can scout ME! ** Spidersilk lets out a hoot of laughter. "Ynderrra! My eyes see with joy! You're home!" Mirrormoons yawns, tiredly, and once his elf is dismounted, plods into the nearest patch of soft shade, and collapses. Ynderra runs, elatedly, up to Spidersilk, and throws her arms around her. "Home! High Ones, I'm glad to be home!" Strongbow sends to the whole tribe ** Good hunt. Catch her. ** Strongbow walks out of the Father Tree. Strongbow has arrived. Ynderra chatters to Spidersilk, "I saw tents -- the Willowholters, are they -- STRONGBOW!" Spidersilk ooofs, laughing, and meets the hug enthusiastically, spinning 'derra somewhat. ** I caught her, archer. ** Strongbow drops, not a breath later, from the branches, landing with a soft rustle into the dried leaves. ** They visit, ** he observes, a bit of a glint in his gaze. Ynderra, looking over Spidersilk's shoulder, goes round-eyed, lets off a squeak, and as soon as 'Silk lets her go, throws herself at the archer to hug him. "YOU'RE HOME! YOU'RE SAFE! YOU'RE HOME!" Spidersilk bursts out laughing once more, as she extracts herself from the hug, and steps away. ** I'll be back in a while, my friends. It's my watch. ** Strongbow winces, standing stolid beneath the flurry of hug and babble. ** Hush! ** he growls, a bit unenthusiastically. ** Bad as howling cubs. ** The glitter, bemused, has yet to leave his eyes, however, and after a moment, embraces the healer in return. Spidersilk laughs, and waves, running lightly into the woods. Spidersilk walks away from the tree, back into the clearing that marks the entrance to the Lost Holt. Spidersilk has left. Ynderra blinkblinkblinks, and stifles the apologetic gulp just in time. But her sending, still, flows in a chatter of ** What HAPPENED? Are you okay? Is Moonshade here? We were so worried! Are the Willowholters okay too? ** Anxiously, she looks the archer up and down, and even sniffs at him, as if desperate to ascertain his health. Strongbow holds still once more, allowing the inspection of his person with stubborn grace. ** What happened is for Howl, shaper. We are fine, I and Rillwhisper and her folk. Moonshade tends to leathers; she sent me down. ** He releases the slightest sigh, and almost sends something, but does not. Ynderra steps back, blinking several times, still looking rather overwrought. ** You're... okay, ** she murmurs, a half-scared, half-relieved smile playing across her features. Then she beams a little more widely. ** I'm so pleased... Dart was worried, too! And to think... oh, High Ones... ** She starts to pace, frenetically. ** I _KNEW_ I had to come home, I just knew it, but I had to get Mender to heal WindStorm and all, and work everything out with Kai, and.... wait, a Howl? ** A slight twitch of a smile creeps onto the archer's face, and off again. ** A Howl. There is much to tell, and much to... ** he is blank for a moment, uncharacteristically empty of expression. He finishes, soft but with ungentle edge, ** remember. ** Cobweb walks out of the Father Tree. Cobweb has arrived. Ynderra paces a trifle more, muttering, "Maybe that'll be good... for Kai and WindStorm..." She looks up, bouncing on her heels. And impulsively hugs you again. ** Moonshade's alright? And Rillwhisper? Do they need me to do anything? ** She just as quickly steps back, brow furrowing, as she chatters on, ** I-I guess Leetah took care of them... I mean, I guess... ** Cobweb Cobweb is a medium-sized grey wolf who has never quite outgrown her cubling days. She's playful, and tends to regard Spidersilk and all of Spidersilk's friends as her own cubs, pushing them around and making them behave to the best of her abilities. She cocks her head curiously at you when you look at her. Cobweb pokes her nose out of the tree, snorfling. Mirrormoons yrfs, tiredly, at the other wolf. Cobweb comes all the way out, ruffling her fur, and licks Mirrormoon's nose. Mirrormoons tiredly licks back, exchanging wolfish greetings. Strongbow steps forward, eyes stern, and lifts his hand to touch the healer's face, briefly. ** They've needed food and rest more than any else, and all the tribe's done well for that. ** Cobweb snorfles again, looking satisfied, and sits down, curling her tail about her feet. Ynderra calms down, at least a little, as if she were a cub and an older wolf were giving her the proper paw-tap to keep her from yipping. She bobs her head, anxiously. ** Saw the chieftess; lifemate was feeding her broth. ** With that, the archer spares a moment's attention to eye the wolves. He looks at them, then, for a breath, through them, and is just as quickly looking back at Ynderra. ** I need a bow, ** he states, as if with no premeditation, and indeed, he looks a bit startled that he sent it. Ynderra blinks. "You lost yours?" she indeed yips. And yips again, "Grandfather--?" Cobweb leeeaaaans over and butts Ynderra lightly, with the top of her head. Reassuringly, perhaps. Strongbow thinks on that for a moment, not having been prepared to think about it until asking the aforementioned elder treeshaper. Finally, he shakes his head once, brown locks shining violet in evening light as they drift over his shoulders. ** You this time. ** Ynderra jumps, taken aback by the wolf, who she immediately reaches to scritch. But her blue gaze is still on the archer, and she stares wide-eyedly at him for several seconds before it finally dawns on her that this is, after all, Strongbow. And he did, after all, _send_ this. So of _course_ he means it. "Um... sure," she breathes, tinily. "I... should know what wood you want... and how it ought to, um, bend, and everything..." Cobweb bwuffs a bit, from her now lying-down position. Strongbow bows his head once more to look down at the wolf beneath Ynderra's inattentive scritching. ** Had one once of bogwood...this one was... ** He squints, memory of such a thing already faint. ** From this holt, ** he finishes, gaze lifting without obliging the head to, brown eyes glimmering through forelock. ** Know it if I saw it. ** [At this point, Strongbow had to log off. We assume that Strongbow returned to his lifemate, and that Ynderra agreed to search for the proper wood.] Ynderra stands, blinkblinking after Strongbow's form as he retreats, with something that might have been a rare archerly smile, back up into the trees. Ynderra blurts, "I'll look for it!" then blinks several times, looking quite stunned. [At this point, we should assume that some time has passed -- long enough for Spidersilk to have been considered to be gone too long on her scouting trip.] Cutter very nearly trips, as he comes racing out of the Father Tree, and very nearly into wolf and Ynderra alike. Without saying hello, he asks, "Have you seen.. scented.. Silk? Spidersilk." Ynderra then blinks again, squeaks, "My chief!" and smiles, looking rather like she's just been belted with a good-sized branch. "Um, hi... wha? Um, she said she was going scouting..." Ynderra staggers backwards a little, and blurts, "Everything alright? I-I-I mean, I just got home, and Strongbow didn't say, I mean, he and Moonshade are resting...." She trails off. Cutter's brow furrows. ** Hurt. ** "She's hurt, Ynderra. Where..?" Eyes scanning the trees around the father tree, he switches to private sends. Ynderra pales. "Hurt? Oh...! Um..." She immediately falls silent, waiting for her chief's order. Cutter sets off at a two-footed lope, sending, ** Come with me. ** Cutter walks away from the tree, back into the clearing that marks the entrance to the Lost Holt. Cutter has left. You walk away from the tree, back into the clearing that marks the entrance to the Lost Holt. Lost Holt Clearing The land of the Abode surrounds you. Here is where the elves of Lost Holt gather for tribe councils, howls and receiving visitors from other tribes. This large clearing is fringed by slender saplings that have sprung up after the fire so many turns ago. The ground is packed in tightly and is covered now with multi-colored leaves that crunch under your feet as you walk. Elves have made the best of the leaves, piling them up in huge stacks and using them as something to lay down on and the cubs as well as the wolves enjoy tumbling in them. In the center there lies a stone ring used to keep the fire safely away from dry leaves. Off to the north you see the massive Father Tree, home to many of the elves of Lost Holt. It grows cold as evening falls. Dry leaves whisper in the wind. Contents: Cutter Willowholt Camp(#6874AJae) Denning Tree Obvious exits: Path Hill Approach to the Father Tree Cutter climbs carefully up the hill that overlooks the river. Cutter has left. You climb carefully up the hill that overlooks the river. Hill You decide to climb up the hill. Standing atop the slope, you have an incredible view of the SilverRun river, to the west of the holt and to the Northeast you see the huge branches of the immense father tree in the distance, reaching upward to the sky.. The land here rises softly in a gentle slope, then drops off steeply to the river bank which hems in the western side of the holt. The land around you is covered over with brown and drying grass, dotted here and there with colorful stray leaves from the neighboring trees. It grows cold as evening falls. Dry leaves whisper in the wind. Contents: Cutter Tent(#2391LOVe) Obvious exits: Clearing River Bank Along the River Bank Cutter scrambles down the steep hill. Cutter has left. You scramble down the steep hill. East Bank of the Silver Run River The land of the Abode surrounds you. The land here dips down into the shallows along the edge of the river. The upper portion of the bank is covered with brown and dying grass 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, though the water is chilled by the cool of the DeathSleep seaon. To the south and north, you see that the land curves and follows the rivers course. It grows cold as evening falls. Dry leaves whisper in the wind. Contents: Cutter Obvious exits: South Along the River Into the River Along the River Hill Ynderra runs as fast as she can to keep up with her chieftain, panting as she scurries after his him, trying to match his longer stride. Cutter scents the air, literally, and almost in predatory fashion. Ynderra comes scrambling down the hill, after tossing off an anxious send to Kai and WindStorm to have them stay put, for now, and tries to match Cutter's alertness. So what are we looking for, she wonders, other than Spidersilk? Cutter sends, as he scans the bank again, ** Silk sent about tall ones.. five-fingers. ** Ynderra goes rather whiter under the light tan she must have acquired in Sorrow's End, and nods anxiously. ** I, um, don't scent anything yet... should we send for the others? ** Cutter scowls faintly, then nods, once. ** There should be a watch, for the five-fingers. ** Ynderra turns, and sends, anxiously, over her shoulder. As she sends, the responses -- equally anxious -- of Dewshine and Myriel and Clearbrook can be heard in reply. Cutter paces off without warning other than his movement, along the river bank. Cutter travels to the north. Cutter has left. You walk in a northerly direction, along the river. East Bank of the Silver Run River The land of the Abode surrounds you. At the rivers edge, a pool has formed, sheltered by huge rocks on the west side, allowing the water there to collect and empty out somewhat at odd intervals. Here it seems a good place for the washing out of leathers, bathing of bodies and general relaxing, though the waters you find are chilled. There is smooth white sand, surprisingly, under your feet and you find yourself smiling at this pleasant place. There are a few trees scattered over the beach, providing shade as well patches of cleared ground. The bank here begins tapering off into thick woods, limbs covered with gaily colored leaves as the holt prepares for the season of DeathSleep. Dead and dying shrubs and undergrowth encroaches all around as the bank blends with and eventually becomes the forest. Tiny bugs zip around at ankle height, and occasionally a fish leaps out to snatch at one of them. The autumn sun shines warmly down from above on gaily colored leaves. Contents: Cutter Spidersilk Obvious exits: Pool

Into the Woods Along the River Spidersilk is sitting, her right arm clutched against her, expression extremely tense. Cutter jogs again, once he spots Spidersilk, toward her, and stops an arm's length away, to drop into a crouch over his heels and give her a good looking over. Smiling wryly, he sends, ** Taking after your cub, Silk? ** Spidersilk snorts. "Quickfall," she growls out, "doesn't hurt himself when he falls." Ynderra comes hastening after her chieftain, for once remembering every single one of Strongbow's admonitions of silence, and biting her lip nervously when Spidersilk speaks instead of sends in answer to Cutter. But, seeing her hurt, the black-haired maiden rushes promptly to the older elf. ** ....? ** ** I broke, ** Spidersilk sends with great disdain -- she sounds an awful lot like the archer, at the moment, in fact -- ** my arm. ** Pain lances through the sending; that's why she was speaking before. Cutter shakes his head a bit. ** Fair enough, fair enough. ** Once Ynderra arrives, he straightens up again, and scans the riverbank and trees surrounding, eyes narrowed a bit. ** Did they follow you, Silk? What happened, to make you fall? ** Ynderra sends meekly, ** Let me see... **, and kneels down beside Spidersilk, small hands reaching for the wounded limb. Spidersilk shakes her head tightly. ** TOld you, they went home. Or left. Didn't follow, anyway. ** She glares up at the trees not far away. ** Bark ripped free of the branch while I was running. Took a dive. ** Should you look at the ground some seven or feet back, it's clear that 'silk hit there and rolled to where she is now. Spidersilk, jaw set, allows Ynderra at her arm. It's a compound fracture, caused by 'silk catching her weight on her right arm when she fell from the tree. Less significantly, there's a scratch down the right side of her cheek, half hidden by her hair. Cutter's posture changes, some wariness and tension melting away, as he nods, shoulders dropping back to a more comfortable level. ** What had you running so hard you weren't watching your feet then? ** It's not accusatory in tone, in the least, this question. Genuine curiosity. Spidersilk looks up at Cutter, blue eyes rueful. ** The fun of running. ** Spidersilk sends openly ** And I /was/ watching! The bark came loose too quickly for me to catch myself. ** Ynderra grasps the arm gently, and frowns at it, almost pouts, for a few moments. Her hand shimmer, green-golden, as she has a firm discussion with the broken bone. Spidersilk winces, watching 'derra and the break, jaw still set; she appears to be somewhat annoyed with herself. Ynderra finally lifts her fingers, murmursends, ** That ought to do it, ** and looks up once more. Spidersilk, carefully, flexes her fingers. ** Thanks, healer. ** Cutter smiles at Ynderra. ** Good. Thank you. ** Then he smiles at Silk as well, and extends a hand, offered as a help up. Spidersilk takes the hand, standing with a faint 'ooof'. Ynderra smiles crookedly, and steps back to let 'Silk get up. ** So, um, the huans aren't in our woods...? ** Spidersilk shakes her head a bit. ** Back ... beyond the lake. ** She squints at Cutter. ** They want to talk to you. ** Ynderra's eyes go round. Cutter blinks, and looks off down the riverbank, as if he could see these humans. ** Me? ** Spidersilk looks disgruntled. ** They wanted a 'demon' who could speak their tongue better, and the Very Tall One said he was *their* chief. So they wanted *ours*. ** Ynderra blinkblinkblinks several times, and just barely keeps herself from squeaking. She does, however, murmur, ** What a time to come home...! ** Cutter's attention returns to Spidersilk, and then to Ynderra. ** We should go back to the holt, before half of them come after us. ** Nervously, Ynderra nods, glancing around as if afraid the humans might be lurking near. Cutter travels to the south. Cutter has left. Spidersilk travels to the south. Spidersilk has left. [Spidersilk had to bamf, so we continue without her...] You head towards the Lost Holt Clearing. Lost Holt Clearing The land of the Abode surrounds you. Here is where the elves of Lost Holt gather for tribe councils, howls and receiving visitors from other tribes. This large clearing is fringed by slender saplings that have sprung up after the fire so many turns ago. The ground is packed in tightly and is covered now with multi-colored leaves that crunch under your feet as you walk. Elves have made the best of the leaves, piling them up in huge stacks and using them as something to lay down on and the cubs as well as the wolves enjoy tumbling in them. In the center there lies a stone ring used to keep the fire safely away from dry leaves. Off to the north you see the massive Father Tree, home to many of the elves of Lost Holt. The autumn sun shines warmly down from above on gaily colored leaves. Contents: Cutter Willowholt Camp(#6874AJae) Denning Tree Obvious exits: Path Hill Approach to the Father Tree In the Willowholt Camp, Rillwhisper looks up anxiously from the campsite. Rillwhisper makes her way out of the Willowholt Camp. Rillwhisper has arrived. Cutter pads down the hill, with Ynderra and Spidersilk close. Spidersilk, scowling faintly, continues on toward the Father Tree, brow furrowed. Cutter stays in the clearing, sitting on a root at the base of one of the larger trees ringing the clearing. Rillwhisper asks, anxiously, "All is well?" Ynderra smiles to Rillwhisper, timidly, a bit tiredly. Cutter nods. ** Silk fell, running home. Ynderra healed her, and everything seems quiet. No sign or scent of the humans, ** he adds, albeit distractedly. Rillwhisper nods, levelly. And offers a bit of a relieved smile. ** Good. I'm not quite up to outrunning humans yet. ** Ynderra looks at the chieftess, quirking her head, and blurts, "Strongbow said... you're all alright, right? I mean, do you need me to do anything?" Rillwhisper smiles, reaching over to pat the younger elf's shoulder. "I'm fine and growing more so, as I get more food into me. Soon as your folk have their Howl, we'll be going home and stopping our strain on your hunting." Cutter sends openly ** We'll Howl soon. Soon. ** Cutter smiles lopsidedly then. "I keep saying that. Soon." Ynderra starts grinning, widely. "Kai 'n' WindStorm'll like that... " She blinks, then. "Oh... I... my chief, can they stay? Kai and WindStorm, that is? If our hunting is strained..." Rillwhisper smiles to Cutter. "Strongbow does not want me to leave until I've gotten new leathers." Cutter grins in return at Rillwhisper. "There's always a reason to have you stay, if you ask the archer, chieftess." Then he looks to Ynderra. "They stay with you?" Ynderra wrinkles her nose a bit, and admits, blushing slightly, "Well, Kai's... been denning with me, and I sorta helped WindStorm get a den, since he didn't have anyplace to sleep, and it was Whitecold, you know...?" She peeks at Cutter from under a curl. Rillwhisper smiles benignly to Cutter, and studies the young healer, eyebrow quirked. Cutter chuckles. "Well, since it was Whitecold," he teases. Ynderra beams a little more, though perhaps uncertainly. "Thank you, Cutter...!" Impulsively, she hugs him. "I'll tell them... Kai was _really_ worried that he wouldn't be welcome, I told him he was being silly, you know, I mean, since he's been hanging around for _moons_....! Thank you! I'll go tell them! And we can look for wood for Strongbow's bow!" Ynderra, with that, scurries off, black curls flying. [And with that, as Ynderra goes to find Kai and WindStorm, we end the log.]