To: Lostholt Mailing List cc: Wolf031877@aol.com Subject: [lostholt-l] Chief-Challenge Logged from Ember's POV. Her soulname is included in this log; I expect those of you who don't know it ICly to promptly forget it. :) (Cutter's also is, but who *doesn't* know his?) Maintainer's note: At Ember's request her soulname has been editted out. -- Ember sends to the whole tribe ** <> ** Suntop smiles and lets the preserver settle its perch on his head and looks to the cub on the ground. " Ember pads around the tree, barefoot. Yun laughs and laughs at Flashfire and the preserver. At first glance, it is apparent that Flashfire isn't quite like most elves. One can see a fine layer of fur over any skin that's exposed, even his face, but nothing shows on his palms or beneath his feet. Its color is a rusty reddish-brown. The 3'8" cub's face is marked with larger-than-normal eyes of a golden yellow, surrounded by a mane of fire-red hair. It is a bit darker at the roots and his hair rests somewhat wildly on his head, with no rhyme or reason as to where it falls. His pointed ears are upswept, and a thickening tuft of fur-like hair can be seen around his earlobes. His nose pokes out slightly, turning up very faintly at the tip, and when his lips part, you can notice his canines are sharp, definitely a telling sign that Flashfire is a 'throwback,' wolfen attributes somewhat stronger in him. Those attributes are clearly enhanced by his current appearance. Flashfire has shed most of his clothing in order to provide him with more comfort, but he still wears a pair of dark red shorts, along with light sandals that cover his feet. A band of tan leather runs over one shoulder, crossing his chest and ending at his waist. It holds a quiver of arrows at his back, and he's normally got a bow either in hand or over the opposite shoulder. The cub, formerly lanky in appearance, has begun to show signs of filling out, looking more in proportion to himself, while seeming a lot less clumsy than before. He looks to be around eight-and-seven, though it's getting harder to pinpoint his exact age. Named for the sun-bright golden hair which now falls freely to the middle of his back, Suntop, although no longer a child, still retains a bit of innocence linked with that past time. But upon a closer, deeper look into his brilliant blue eyes, that innocence seems to be intertwined with an unlearned, unstudied wisdom and power that seems far too old for his seemingly young age. Of late, these eyes seem darker, wilder; Not in color, for they still shine brightly, contrasting with his dusky skin, nor in intensity, but somewhere deeper inside this mystic's mind. That is not the only change this young elf has seen. His movements seem sharper, less relaxed than they had been, and his slight scent has grown stronger. Suntop's clothes are a blend of Desert and Forest; His high-collared, baggy-sleeved shirt of Sunfolk weave is a dark teal. Over the shirt he wears a leather doublet dyed a deep red-orange. The doublet fastens assymetrically and the shoulders flare out slightly. His leggings are the same teal as on the shirt, with the dark red lacing running up the sides. His low ankle-boots are dyed a matching red. At first glance, you might underestimate the mellow-looking, forest-dwelling Go-Back, but you shouldn't. Draw closer and you'll see that her grey eyes sparkle with cleverness and humor and she meets your gaze unflinchingly, albeit briefly. Yet with a smirk she has seen all she needed to know something about you, her nose - honed in past turns by living with the wolfriders - tells her a little more. She wears a tawny and brown-grey tunic - tawny along her shoulders to just above her breasts and also along the bottom hem as well as the hem of her sleeves, the brown-grey leather forming the body. Cut straight across the top, the neckline falls slightly in a mock cowl. The tunic is belted at her waist holding whatever necessary pouches and her short-sword. On the shoulder of each sleeve is stitched the symbol of her parentage - a wolf's head on the right, a hart's head on the left - they are also detachable for the warmer weather. The matching light colored leather of her pants are tucked into a darker grey boots just beneath her knees. Etched into each boots top, hard to see unless you were quite close, is a star with "shine" lines stretching out from it. Her mass of shoulder-length honey-colored hair is held back by a grey headband. Sewn onto it by her right temple is a bone bead. She moves with an easy and controlled grace marking her as huntress and warrior. The last look she gives you back is curious and pondering, quick and sensual. Flashfire has been made rather...uncomfortable. He's seen a preserver for the first time and it's been..strange. At the moment, he's basically playing dead, flat on his stomach. SunnySong looks up, not quite buried in Suntop's hair yet "IsSo? SunnySongDo!" Ember pauses, looking down at the elf on his face on the ground, and then, amused, she looks at the preserver. "Whose is that?" she asks, curiously, and as if she's been around for ages. This preserver has a nice lemon yellow shell and bright orange wings (don't look at it too closely! you might go blind) On its head SunnySong wears an overturned buttercup as a stylish hat. Its smile is friendly and it would love to sing for you! Suntop says "See? It couldn't possibly hurt you, Flashfire..." He looks up in time to see Ember appear from around the tree. His eyes widen and he pushes himself up off of the root he was leaning on." "Good.." Flashfire mumbles. He still looks this way and that, and his eyes catch sight of Ember in the vicinity. Another one he's not yet met. ** Hello.. ** he sends softly. You sense in a locksend, Cutter sends, almost... hesitantly? ** Ember? ** SunnySong gleefully dives off of Suntop's craninum heading Flashfire-ward again, after all the other HighThing did mention wrapstuff. Ember's gaze falls off the preserver and onto her brother, whom she grins brightly at. ** Hello, Sunny-Suntop. ** Ember looks up sharply at the Father Tree, a blinding smile flashing over her face. You locksend ** Father! ** to Cutter. SunnySong says "SunnySongMakeMuchGoodWrapStuff!" Yun stops laughing and looks at Ember through teary eyes. "Ember!" Yun says "Oh yes, bug! You have wonderful web-stuff." Suntop smiles just as brightly to his sister. ** Ember! Where have you been?! ** he then hears the preserver and lunges to try and catch it before it can begin to wrapstuff the poor wolfrider cub. SunnySong whees! and sends a lovely stream of wrapstuff at poor, defenseless FlashFire who wasn't doing anyone any harm, but he WAS holding still. (Wrapstuff?!) O o . Flashfire thinks. Something tells him it might be a good idea to move, even a little, and he rolls quickly to one side. "Leave me alACCKKK!!" He moves his arms over his face quickly. Yun falls into another fit of laughter. Ember, with faint alarm and great prudence, steps back out of the way of the wrapstuff mess, and grins again at Suntop. ** The desert. ** You locksend to Suntop, Ember's send is hesitant. ** I felt, I heard, I thought I heard a sending from you. A long time ago. It sounded like it hurt ... ** SunnySong gleefully continues to spoo wrapstuff at poor, poor Flashfire. yup his shrink'll hear about this one for sure. Suntop catches himself before he sprawls out on the forest floor, missing the quick preserver by large amounts. He walks over to his sister to give her a very tight embrace. ** Why were you in the desert for so long? ** Suntop locksends ** I did? When? ** SunnySong pauses wrapstuff spooing just long enough to giggle and say "SunnySongDo! YouSeeMuchPretty! HeeeHeeee!" and continues fireing away. Flashfire sputters, and isn't quite quick enough to avoid all that..stuff coming at him. It covers his arms, rather sticking in his hair as he tries to scamper away from the bug. ** !! ** Yun pants from the heat and her laughter, clutching her belly. She hasn't laughed so hard in such a long time she is beside herself and can hardly gasp to tell the preserver it ought to stop. You locksend ** <> Moons ago...and you smell different. Are you all right, Suntop? ** to Suntop. Leetah walks out of the Father Tree. A radiance of red and gold surrounds Leetah, with a glimmer of mischievious green to her lovely eyes. She is light embodied, power tempered with wisdom and compassion flowing through her. A tumble of crimson curls falls around her smilingly copper face and graceful brown shoulders, held barely in check at the top of her head by a golden comb. She walks with a lightness of step, a lightness of heart which has hardly been seen in her in many long turns. She is once again garbed as a wolfrider, leaf-green tunic over lighter green pants, cinched with a thickly embroidered belt. It is a re-affirmation of who she is, life-giver, healer, and lifemate to Cutter, chief of the wolfriders. Suntop locksends ** Oh...that must have been when... <> We should talk sometime... ** Ember looks up, with another bright flash of a grin. "Mother." The scene before those exiting the Father Tree is...amusing. Suntop and Ember are caught in an embrace, while SunnySong is chasing after Flashfire, partially in, uh, wrapstuff. Meanwhile, Yun's laughing her head off. You locksend ** ...When? ** to Suntop. Suntop locksends ** Whever you want...after you've caught up... ** SunnySong gleefully circles poor innocent FlashFire, spooing away. Cutter walks out of the Father Tree. Yun coughs, her lungs hurting. "Bug. Hey Bug! Stop stop... he's moving now. Your wrapstuff will be all ruined." Suntop lets go of Ember and turns to smile at Leetah as well...and then at the twin's father as he arrives. You locksend ** /Soon/. ** to Suntop. Leetah emerges with Cutter and goes over to hug Ember as well. Ember casts a worried glance at Suntop, then catches Leetah in a hug, her send pure joy. It's several moments before she scents Cutter, as her nose is buried in Leetah's hair. A bit too late for the wrapstuff to be messed up. Flashfire's not too big, so it doesn't take much for the hyper bug to coat him in wrapstuff. "Gaaah.." he tumbles to the ground. SunnySong belatedly hears Yun's command, it is having so much fun! Yun just pants now, as she's stopped laughing and looks on amused. SunnySong lands proudly atop the newly wrapstuffed bundle and cocks its head at Yun "IsGood?" Cutter stands back, watching the scene as a whole, though the majority of his attention rests on Suntop, Leetah, and more importantly, Ember. Flashfire's left in a rather complete wrapstuff coccoon. Poor him. All he did was play dead to try to make the bug leave him alone. Yun looks simply pained. "Is great, bug." Ember, finally, steps back from Leetah. "Where's Fa..." And then his scent is on the air, and she turns to look for her chief-father. "Fa--" Her voice falters, as she takes in Cutter's height. "Father?" SunnySong smiles proudly and all but preens under the highthings praise "SunnySongDoMuchGood! IsSo!" Suntop moves over to stand by Leetah, remembering his reaction when he first saw Cutter's new height. There is a sense about him, of something being out of place. This elf, who stands at Glider height, carries himself like a wolfrider. Moves like a wolfrider. -Smells- like a wolfrider. Hair the color of pale plainsgrass is long, draping his shoulders and ears in thick waves, save the portion at the crown of his head, tied into a chieftain's topknot. Gestures that begin as forceful and proud, the gestures of a leader, are translated into something graceful, due to the length of his limbs; expressions that were expressive before are now sometimes elegant. His clothing now is quite clearly Glider made: midnight blue, and white, complete with feathers, and almost-liquid movement in the cloth. The tunic opens, in a v-shape, the edge of the opening once lined with feathers that have now been torn and plucked away, the sleeves full, and already torn from snagging on limbs, here and there. The trousers are tight, following the line of long -- very long -- legs. NewMoon, however, is still strapped at his side. Leetah slips her arm around Suntop gently, just waiting. Yun nods, trying not to burst into more laughter. Cutter can't help but look himself over, under Ember's scrutiny. Attention shifting back to her, he sends, the sense the same as ever it was, ** Still the same, underneath, cub. ** Flashfire lies there, all wrapped up. At least he's quiet now. But sometime later, he'll remember what Yun did. Oh, yes. But for now, he sleeps inside the dastardly preserver's work of art. SunnySong pats its cocoon, making sure all the wrapstuff is neat and tidy then takes off and does a few fluttering laps around the clearing. Yun crawls over and sits beside the coccoon and sniggers. She'll wait till the family reunion is over to do something. And she'll have to make sure the preserver is out of sight also... It's old, impatient habit, that snaps out the sending, ** I'm not a /cub/. ** Ember backs away a little, staring up -- /up/ -- at Cutter, trying to realign her image of him and failing utterly. ** Who -- what -- Glider-clothed and Glider-height! Who are you! ** SunnySong says "DreeDreeetDreeedreeeeeeee!" Cutter's expression shadows, as it has so often of late. He glances only briefly toward Leetah, then halves his height, kneeling where he stands with a gesture born of alien grace. "Ember..." Suntop's arm goes about his mother's waist as he watches silently. SunnySong dives into Yun's hair. SunnySong is blissfully oblivious to the tension in the air. ah, tis good to be a preserver. Yun makes a gurgly type noise at the preserver's dive, but keeps still and hope she won't be pulling web out of her hair come whitecold. Ember remains where she is, tension radiating from over-tight muscles. ** Suntop told me you'd been changed, ** she send-snarls, ** but where's the /Wolfrider/ in you, Father? ** The desert sun has browned her skin to nearly black, the combination with flame-colored hair stunning. Those curls are caught up in a high ponytail, brushing down beyond her shoulders, which are encased in white. Her leathers are simple and attractive, a jumpsuit that leaves arms and feet bare, and wraps around her forearms. The bright white is highlighted here and there with strips of tawny gold, matched by a necklace at her throat and a band around her right bicep. Reed-slender and small, she keeps her own counsel more these days than she did in the past. SunnySong happily burrows into Yun's pale locks, making quite a lovely mess. Leetah says gently, "One would appear it is in Suntop now." Her tone is light, but her words are serious. Yun leans on Flashfire and releases a sigh. She is glad Suntop told them after all. Suntop turns his head quickly, eyes wide, startled that she says that aloud now. Flashfire lies there. Cutter spares no attention for anyone else, anymore. Ember is the center of his focus, and it is on her that vibrantly blue eyes narrow. "I'm still a Wolfrider, Ember. I still hunt, and howl." Ember gestures violently at Cutter's dress. "And you dress like a Glider and have their height. Which is it to be, Father, the Mountain or the Holt? Or can you find middle ground, now? Did she touch your mind, too? So subtly you didn't see it?" Ember, too, ignores the others; she has already noted Suntop's change, and will deal with it later to her own satisfaction. Suntop lets out the breath he didn't know he was holding and, giving a slight not to Leetah, returns his gaze to his sister and father. SunnySong continues annoying Yun, thankfully quietly. Now it's anger that darkens his gaze, that which had been lurking behind reunion's joy. Words are tinged by a deeper note, perhaps of determination. "My mind is whole, Ember. My soul, a /wolfrider's/ soul, is whole, no matter what I wear." Ember steps away from the rest of her family, gaze hard on Cutter. ** Are you? ** she demands. ** Your voice says it. Can you send it to me, Father? Or is a different truth buried too deep inside you for words to find? Can you /send/ that you are still Wolfrider, that you are still fit to be chief, Tall One? ** Yun flinches as the bug pulls at her hair, but keeps quiet too. Leetah stays back with Suntop, familiar with Ember's challenges. Suntop's too-old eyes flick back and forth from twin and chief-father, not daring to send to Ember, but wishing he could send his warning through another link. Cutter is silent, and still, narrow gaze wavering not at all from the copper-haired maiden before him. He takes a breath, perhaps preparation, before he sends, without hesitation, ** I am still Wolfrider. Still Blood of Ten Chiefs. ** Ember's eyes narrow, glittering blue fire. Her send is low, almost growled. ** And I am Ember, Daughter of the Blood, and I challenge your right to lead this tribe. ** Cutter locksends ** ** Yun starts at the open send. You locksend to Cutter, Ember pounces on that, tearing into it. ** Even you do not know if you have the right any longer! ** Cutter climbs to his feet again, with that same too-smooth grace. Though he doesn't look away, it's clear that his next send is meant for the onlookers, and listeners -- the whole of the holt -- as much as Ember. ** And I answer your Challenge. ** Ember's physical reaction comes at nearly the same time, a swift leap forward to meet the too-tall frame of her father in bodily contact as well as mental. Suntop starts at the sends and then the sudden movement. You sense in a locksend, Cutter recoils away from that attack. Recoils, and regroups, and sends again, to meet the battery. ** The right is mine! Given to me, honored by the pack! ** Leetah seems remarkably placid, given the nature of the duel. Cutter lashes out, with a long arm, fingers curled like claws, as the attack is met. Lips skim back from his teeth, and he launches forward, as well, to clash against his daughter. Uncanny, the way two elves can suddenly sound almost like wolves. Leetah gazes gently at her son. You locksend ** Yours! <> As you were, yes! As you are, no! The blood is mine, the pack is mine, and you have changed too much! ** to Cutter. Height is not added to by mass, in Cutter's new form, and Ember's worst disadvantage in the physical is the awkward angle, not the question of strength, as she locks hands with Cutter. A snarl of rage emits from her, as they struggle. SunnySong stops its purposeful playing to gape at the HighThings, tummblerummble? Suntop unconsiously tenses, unable to tear his eyes from the challenge. During this challenge, Flashfire remains still, in the cocoon, Yun leaning against him. It's just his luck to miss seeing this powerful moment. Cutter locksends ** > <> Glider-chief, Winnowill's toy. Tribe betrayed! Never! I will protect them! ** to Cutter. Yun nods at the murmuring questions of the preserver. She has dragged Flashfire's coccoon over her lap and holds it as if to protect it from harm. For one moment, the battle seems ended as swiftly as it began. Cutter's eyes widen in betrayal at a send, and Ember's sweep at his legs succeeds in taking him to one knee. Suntop starts forward, but holds himself in check. Triumph surges through Ember in a wave too great to be contained: the sensation floods out of her in an open sending, howling wordless victory. Cutter does not, however, stay down, once down. Betrayal blazes once more into fury, contorting his expression and tightening his shoulders. He lurches forward, tearing his hands free of Ember's, to launch himself instead at her midsection. Cutter locksends ** <> ** The send of triumph is cut off in a vicious outlet of air, as the chief's daughter doubles over, less staggering than flying backwards against the root of the Father Tree, suddenly leaving Ember at a physical disadvantage. Cutter locksends ** <> ** Cutter locksends ** << Proud Bearclaw, who merges, becomes Proud Ember. Proud Ember, who turns her back on the Glider chieftain. Even the star-image of Skywise disappears... nothing, and then. Heat. Pressure, and mounting rage in the blackness. >> ** You locksend to Cutter, Ember cannot answer that, being newly home, but her sending expresses horror, dismay, fear, and as much, sorrow and grief. And then, sudden under the onslaught of imagery, and the heat of rage, her own fear and anger is swallowed, enveloped by that of her father's. For an instant, she dives after it, trying to bring it back, but the battle, she knows, is lost. Ember, slowly, turns her head to the side, exposing throat. SunnySong decides to 'help' but fortunately is too entangled in Yun's hair to launch into the air. Cutter leans against her, pins her, bodily, against the Father Tree. Face scant inches from hers, he sends, more growl, hardly intelligible, than words, ** I. Am still. Chief. ** Yun bites down a yowl at SunnySong's insistant pulling at her hair. Finally she just grabs the bug, pulls it off of her and tosses it into the air. Ember's returning send is worn with exhaustion and acceptance. ** You are chief. ** SunnySong yeeps! unexpectadly freed and flutters over "HighThingsNoGoTumbleRumble! MakeNice!" Cutter locksends ** Triumph. Triumph rides the tumble of regret/remorse/ThisIsNotTheWay that beats a dull rhythm throughout the elf called Cutter. And woven into the rhythm: Forgive him. You must forgive. /Please/. ** Flashfire rests peacefully in Yun's lap. Too bad for him he doesn't even know it. SunnySong says "MakeNice! BeGoodHighThings!" Cutter straightens, abrupt, the battle ended. He takes two steps backward, chin high and shoulders squared, watching Ember. Yun slips out her knife and gently cuts Flashfire open while the bug is busy. SunnySong crosses its arms and scowls fiercely at the nastybad highthings. highthings had better listen or else! You locksend to Cutter, Ember's sending is utterly raw, a pure exposure of self to her father's mind. Everything that she is, youth and power and love and hate, life and death, mother and child, spills outwards in the rush that is her soulname: ** Kai ** The gesture, the meaning of it, is entirely other than the knowledge family has of family, the sharing of soulnames within bloodlines. It is an apology, it is love, and it is, perhaps most of all, hope: can you, will you, do the same. Ember turns her head back, slowly, to look at Cutter, not moving the slightest bit other than that one motion. As the wrapstuff is opened with Yun's knife, Flashfire yawns hugely, totally impervious to all that just went on. His eyes begin to flutter. SunnySong looks from highthing to highthing and then, satisfied that it has successful stoped the fight, returns to a more peaceful habit of fluttering about. Suntop remains close to Leetah, looking quite relieved that the whole thing is over now. Leetah looks demure. SunnySong meeps in horror mid-flutter, it's lovely cocoon is being opened! it zips over to Yun "no! IsGoodWrapstuff!" Yun says "But he woke up, Bug. That's not good." Flashfire yawns again, blinking slowly. "Uhh.." He looks wearily up at Yun, wondering how he got like this. Then he hears that bug coming back, and he frowns. SunnySong flutters about Yun agitatedly "SunnySongNoLike! HighThingsMuchSilly, NoGood." it pouts but does not stop Yun from opening the cocoon, after all, Yun was the one who ordered it. Cutter locksends ** <> ** Cutter offers Ember his hand. Ember takes it, nearly stumbling as she comes to her feet. She pulls herself forward, to lock her arms around Cutter's waist in a desperately tight hug. You locksend ** Father...oh, Father. ** to Cutter. SunnySong hmfs! and alights on a convient branch. Yun mutter to the bug about knowing, but it's not *totally* her fault after all. Well it is, but she's hardly going to admit it. Flashfire makes a point of ignoring the preserver, blinking over towards Cutter and Ember. He missed something here. His eyes shift back up towards Yun. How'd he get in her lap? He picks gently at the sticky wrapstuff, confused. SunnySong can't help being _slightly_ pleased at Flashfire's confused expression. almost enough to forget how vexed it is, almsot. Leetah smiles. Cutter curls his arms tightly around Ember in return. Yun starts picking web out of Flashfire's hair. It's a time consuming job. Flashfire exhales quietly, letting Yun attend to him while he observes chief and daughter, after learning what went on during his slumber. SunnySong shakes its little head at how silly high things are and flutters off to find some nice forest creature to annoy. Ember, finally, steps away, though not very far, and her tired gaze goes to Suntop. Very clearly, she's about to say something. What she says is: "Oh, nevermind," and then slides into a boneless lump of sleep, at Cutter's feet. [End Log]