Log Date: 4/8/97 Log Cast: Karga, Trouble, Dart Log Intro: For the last several seasons, Trouble of Lostholt has been staying in Sorrow's End with her lovemate Dart, trying to recover from the harrowing experience she had being marooned in the hidden grove inhabited by the mad Firstborn Doreel. Trouble's mind was hurt by the addictive mushrooms Doreel kept feeding her in his attempt to convince her that she was really his long-lost daughter; trying to get over the long-term effects of these mushrooms has been a difficult experience for her, not only because of recurring cravings for them and their effects, but because of the reminder of how thoroughly Doreel had succeeded in imposing the identity of 'Niriah' upon her. Disconcerted by her return to Lostholt, reminded again of Doreel by her Holt's home trees, and still uncomfortable with dealing with her mother Myriel, Trouble has agreed to go to Sorrow's End for long-term rest... but that has proven less of a success than hoped. The fragility of her healing mind has made her reluctant to allow herself to grow close to Dart again, which in turn has caused _him_ to seek -- or at least so it has seemed to Trouble -- closeness with other elves, Mender and Onyx. Troubling, too, has been her prolonged failure to find a wolf-friend; she has watched Dart bond with a new jackwolf cub, and although she has tried to be happy for him, it has been difficult for her. In the last eight of days, however, a crisis has arisen in the Sun Village. Savah's spirit has, as it once did when the Wolfriders had originally discovered the Sun Folk, gone 'out' -- and not come back. Dart has made plans to ride to the Palace of the High Ones in an attempt to gain the aid of Rayek and Suntop in restoring Savah to herself, though to his frustration, he has been delayed by matters involving his riders -- as well as a crisis involving WildFire being nearly driven mad by Phylor of the Underworld. Dart and the jackwolf riders, at the behest of Twilight of Wolfhaven, have been striving to guard WildFire, and Trouble has provided what aid she can while remaining secluded. Now, though, Dart is ready to depart... and he has determined to take Trouble with him, anxious to mend his fences with her. He has asked her half a dozen times if she will come to the Palace with him, and after getting somewhat angry at him, snapping about whether he wouldn't rather take Mender, the maiden has relented and agreed to go. Dart and Trouble have set off with his new young wolf-friend Patience across the desert -- but what they do not know is that they are being tracked.... ---------- More of the Small Ones had entered the sea of sand. She had seen them, from her hidden shelter in the rocks, as their stunted figures had tracked a quiet path through what little shade the fierce desert sunlight allowed. They were not the first Small Ones she had seen ever since her self-imposed exile... but they _were_ the first to have crossed her path since the stirring she had felt in her breast, the confidence of knowing that each blow she struck with her father's spear sang true. That her stride was swift and long. And that her arm was strong. And these are Small Ones. Wolf-demons. For the first time since her vanishing into the desert, the human who claims for herself the name of Karga Demonhunter now sets out upon her first Hunt. Barren Wasteland(#342R) Out here in the desert, the unforgiving sun beats down on the baked earth with an almost tangible malice. The parched sands seem to be home to none of the usual desert creatures, and the shadows of the dunes call to you with irresistable promises of shelter. Once the sun has faded, the peace of the moons will flood the barren dunes with sharp-edged blackness, and the chill desert air will bleed all warmth from the grey sands. you can just barely make out, to the north, the vague shimmering outline of cliffs, although it might just be a mirage. Southwards leads a faint track that could be an old trail of some sort. The bright tangles of the Waterfall begin to come out as the dimming red light of sunset fills the hot summer skies. Contents: Karga Obvious exits: North South Dart has arrived. Trouble has arrived. The taller of the elves surveys his surroundings quietly, anything he says happining through sendings to his companion. At Dart's feet a small reedish-grey wolf makes a nuisance of herself, oblivious to both the heat and the nature of the journey. Dart sends openly, ** Maybe I should've brought Berrybuzz with us afterall.. ** The maiden Trouble has grown harder and leaner during her second stay in Sorrow's End -- and browner, though not quite as brown as her companion. One thing has remained the same, however, and that is the slight removal, the ever so slight wistful distance, to her green eyes. Now, at the crest of a dune, she turns her head and glances to Dart. ** Eh? Why? ** She doesn't sound displeased at the Preserver's absence. The human, the Huntress, remains clever. She stays downwind of the two Small Ones and their demon beast as she follows their tracks across the sand... moving with stealth learned from moons spent with no company but shadows, hiding, waiting, watching, preparing. A tall, gaunt, ragged figure with a crystal-tipped spear, she stalks them now, her amber eyes gleaming. Dart shrugs, ** Bug might've found a quicker way to the Palace. ** He gives a disapproving look to the young wolf that's currently rolling in the sand like she'd never seen it before. ** Shouldn't be all that long the way Mender told us to go, but a shorter way there means a faster return.. ** Dart A stray auburn lock plays across Dart's deep brown eyes, the rest of the untameable hair being held back by a band of orange colored leather and flows down his back like a raging river down his back. Slender as his arrow-whip, Dart looks as though he could be knocked over by a stiff breeze. Muscles shift and bunch under sun-darkened skin, making the wolfrider look more like the Sun Folk he protects. Lupine eyes, so often alight with happiness and friendship are tinged with concern as of late. The warm smile, less frequent than in past times, still bears it's meaning of greeting and friendship but is more reserved. His boots, loincloth, necklace and headband are all a uniform brilliant green, with the occational rectangle of orange. His arrow-whip is carried at his waist. Carrying: Wooden Pendant Arrow-whip Trouble(#3598PXce) This tall but almost painfully thin elf maiden sports very fine, slightly wavy hair in myriad shades of red and gold, ranging from honey-golden to a vivid scarlet, tied back out of her face in a single thick braid. Her face is wide along the cheekbones, tapering down to a pointed chin; her eyes, long and narrow, dusky green in hue, fringed in feathered red-golden lashes. She moves like one who has perhaps only recently recovered from a long illness, and her gaze is frequently turned inward, as if she is occupied with her own thoughts. When she speaks -- or, much less often, sends -- it is in a low contralto. She is wearing simple leathers of dappled shades of green and brown: a loose-fitting tunic belted at her waist, more snug breeches of brown with paler shadings, and soft, light boots on her feet. Carrying: Leather arm ring(#9546) Karga From the five fingers visible on her brown hands, and the sheer height of her gauntly muscled frame -- 5'10" and with more planes and angles to her than curves -- it is apparent that this is a young human woman, but one accustomed to toil and harship. Her skin is a dark shade of copper; her hair, a shock of black straw bound out of her way into a thick braid; her eyes, a startling amber, set in a slant under heavy black eyebrows. She moves as if constantly wary, and her gaze frequently flicks to take in every single detail of her surroundings, as though she expects attack from unseen shadows. She is clad in tattered, filthy rags of leather and an incongruously fine silken cloth; her garments might once have been a jacket, a tunic, soft breechs, fur foots, all in blacks and silvers and greys and whites. Trouble's gaze sweeps across Patience, and while a half-smile curls one side of the maiden's mouth, there nevertheless remains that distance in her eyes. She does not mention that she has gone without a wolf-friend even in Sorrow's End and with its thriving pack of jack-wolves.... but that thought might perhaps be read in her face by one who knows her well. Dart continues to walk along, the young wolf trotting along behind him occasionally butting into his legs as she keeps an eye on Trouble. One other eyes the maiden, as well. Breathing a harsh murmured prayer to the nameless spirit of fire that has guided her quest for the past three cycles of the seasons, Karga Demonhunter knows in the flame of her heart that the one with the fire-colored hair will be the first to blood her spear. It is a Sign, and now, after cycles of waiting, Karga will be denied her vengeance no longer. All at once, swift, sure, a bloodcurdling howl erupting from her, she charges forth from the desert night. Her arm lifts... her spear is hurled.... .... and Trouble, whirling, eyes widening, finds a massive, jagged spearpoint piercing her side, and a human's towering figure springing up seemingly from the sand itself. ** ?!! DART! ** Her eyes going wide in shock and pain, her face draining of its color as her right side begins to drain of blood, Trouble staggers, and staggers hard. Dart spins around to fing the source of the howl, hands finding arrow-whip and arrow with ease. His fingers falter and the arrow drops as he notices both the hunter and the target of the hunt. "TROUBLE!?!?!" Dart rushes to Trouble's side, uncaring that the spear's thrower still approaches, ** Trouble?! ** The young chieftain wraps his arms around the elf maiden's shoulders, holding her tigthly as he eases her to the sand. ** Lie still.. you'll be fine, lovemate. ** His sendings reflecting more of his hopes than his fears. Dart looks at you. The spear that has pierced Trouble's side is a big and ugly thing, its head lodged a hand's width into her flesh, its shaft now dropping heavily towards the sand as the maiden crumples. She shrieks out a breathless warning, though, as the spear-thrower looms near! And loom Karga does, not so much grinning as it is that her mouth is spread in a worshipful, wide gaping expression across her face, yellowed but whole teeth glinting palely in her dark face. She calls out again, this time in a burst of gutteral human words, pulling forth from a battered sheath at her side.... a knife. "" she shrieks. "" Dart fumbles for and finds a second arrow, a low snarl rumbles forth from the chieftain as he takes aim, "" The snap of the arrow-whip flinging it's projectile punctuates the archer's snarled words. Patience's fur bristles as she sees what going on, but other than making a lot of noise the young wolf isn't up to much. The human, her eyes burning molten amber, snarls out, "" She lunges at Dart, as his shot arrow slices past her shoulder -- a dodge done just in time. Dart glares up at the human as his arrow proves about as effective as a throwing a pebble at a zwoot stampede. "" he yells, diving away from the lunging human. Rolling to a crouch, he growls. "" ** Trouble? Answer me.. please? Don't sleep. Just don't sleep! ** Patience jumps about howling, barking and growling but not getting into the thick of things. Her staying out of things due mostly to her youth. Trouble fumbles, ineffectually, at the heavy spear. Lying there where Dart has put her down, the maiden bleeds, and shakes her head viciously to try to clear it. ** Dart?! Dart! Dart! ** Dart knocks, aims, and fires a third arrow at the human, hoping the distance he's put between himself and the human improves his luck. ** I'll stop her then help you, lovemate. Just stay with me! ** As Dart rolls away from her, Karga, more grimacing than smiling, whirls and plucks her spear free of Trouble -- then, with the crystal tip of the weapon now dull and red-stained, she stands there for a moment, expression burning, she lifts the spear again. As her arm lifts -- and plunges -- Dart's shot arrow sinks itself into Karga's sinewy forearm. And the human shrieks again, this time in pain and fury. The descent of Karga's spear is put off kilter... the weapon plunges into Trouble's gut instead of her heart. But it is enough to cause another swelling of red to well forth from her flesh, as the human staggers aside, whirling back to the other Small One... the one with the weapons. Dart watches in horror as the human plucks her spear from Troubles side with no more thought than she'd pull a thorn. His expression of horrow contorts to one of rage as he knocks and fires a fourth arrow, "" Dart knocks and fires several more arrows, none of them incapacitating but all striking the human in considerably annoying places. "" One of those arrows slices, hard and fast and searing, across the skin of Karga's upper left arm, making the human hiss. Her right arm -- with the arrow through its forearm -- now drips runnels of red, and her grasp on her spear is ever so slightly less sure. Incensed, she whirls on the Small One... only to find his next arrow winging unavoidably straight for her right eye. Dart knocks another arrow, aiming it at the human. His eyes narrow to angry slits, "" The arrow collides, with a sickening *thok*, against the ridge of bone over Karga's right eye -- and as the arrow bounces aside, her face begins to bleed, with red streaming down her features. Bleeding, panting, the human considers the shouted words -- and actually, insanely, smiles. Then, in a whirl of ragged black hair, the human skitters off into the dunes, her spear held warily as she goes.... until she is out of sight. Karga has left. Trouble remains where she has been placed, a progressively wider pool of scarlet staining the sand beneath her body. She blinks dazedly skyward, and sends again, in blurred and pleading tones, ** Dart..?! ** Dart scrambles over to his fallen lovemate, staying low to the ground and eyes focused in the deirection the human fled. He takes one of Trouble's hands in his own, ** I'm here.. I'm here, Trouble. ** Her sending reaches out; both her hands have fallen, one across her belly, and one limply to her side. ** So... fast... Dart...?! ** The chieftain's eyes well with tears, he bites his lower lip as he sends. ** She's gone now.. You'll be okay.. you'll be okay, lovemate. ** Once again hopes hiding his fears. ** She came from downwind.. not even Patience scented her. ** ** We.... we... can't get back in time... for Mender... ** Trouble's eyes widen a little further, frightened, as she sends this -- as though she just realized it herself. Dart's eyes drift to your wounds, ** We can try... I.. can send for him.. he can ride out of a zwoot.. Just have to try and stop the bleeding... or something... ** There is much bleeding, though; Trouble's entire middle seems to have been soaked in red, as though she'd rolled in some of your dam's own dyes, but none of Moonshade's colors would have made the rents in her clothing. ** Dart.... I don't think I can get up.... ** Dart takes a deep shuddering breath, ** I'll carry you.. High Ones, I've got to get you to Mender.. I've got to.. ** Tears roll down the archer's cheeks, his mind knows the inevitable but his heart seeks to deny it. "You've got to live, my love.. You have to.." The maiden blinks at you, once, then twice, panic beginning to make her features tremble. ** Dart, I'm.... what're you saying, of course I'm.... ** Dart's eyes close and the the archer sends softly, ** You'll be fine... but.. Mender's... he's far from here.. His wolf's just as young as Patience.. ** Trouble's face, stark white in the cool shades of the desert night, begins to go still, safe for the befuddlement and pain in her eyes. But she lifts them to you, and sends, slowly, as if reaching a realization, ** Dart.... but... you won't be fine.... ah, Dart.... ** Dart nods slightly, ** You'll be just fine, my love.. ** He caresses your cheek lightly, ** All we've been through, I'll never forget. How could I forget the one that stole my heart? ** ** I never forgot.... ** This comes out of her in a murmur of... wonder, really, as though she'd never known it before. ** Never forgot you. In the shroom dreams. Never. Always saw.... ** Trouble's eyes begin to glaze over, but her face is still pointed up at you, and oddly, there lingers the sense that she still sees you for all that her stare doesn't quite manage to focus on your face. ** Dart? ** she adds, her sending tiny, barely audible. Dart sends openly ** I've told I've loved you enough for you to know, but everytime it's been true.. The maiden with the firey hair and temper to match took my heart, and I've chased her like a wolf chases a deer to get it back. ** Dart sends openly ** And when I finally catch her... my heart breaks... ** Trouble's expression... and eyes... remain disturbingly still, now. You can hear her sending, nevertheless, growing fainter in your mind as she tells you, ** Dart, I'm.... I'm.... Wrey..... I'm going to miss you.... love you... don't forget.... ** And with that, the contact slips away, into silence. Dart sends softly, ** I.. I'm Dyrr, beloved. And I will never forget. ** With that the chieftain tilts his head back, a low keening howl offered up to the stars for the passing of a packmate, a friend, and above all else.. a love. [End log.]