981207 - Nightfall, Suntop, and Flashfire discuss the fall of Sorrow's End
         to Humans.

Inside the Father Tree
As your eyes adjust to the dim light, the room around you becomes visible. Steps
formed in the wood itself lead up in several directions towards the upper
branches of the tree, and it is obvious that this tree can house many elves and
their wolf friends. The main opening to the south leads back outside.
The father tree is quiet as elves and wolves sleep in their dens on this spring
afternoon.
Obvious exits:
Into the Roots<DN>  Up<U>  Outside<S>  

You walk back out of the Father Tree.

Base of the Lost Holt Father Tree
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 but new growth
and thick strong branches cover the worst of the scars left by the terrible
blaze. Weeds and night blooming wildflowers grow in a riot of natural disorder
around the trees roots, taking advantage of the NewGreen warmth. Like old
friends, the gnarled trees embrace one another, their many branches entwining to
form a dense canopy high above the ground. The father tree is quiet as elves and
wolves sleep in their dens on this spring afternoon.
Contents:
Flashfire
Bearpaw
Twotoes
Cobweb
Patience
Skylark
SafeRunner
Obvious exits:
Into the Tree<N>  Around the Tree<AT>  Clearing<S>  

        At first glance, it is apparent that Flashfire isn't at all 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 3'4" elf's face is marked with larger-than-normal eyes of a
golden yellow, surrounded by a mane of fire-red hair that darkens a bit as it
trails down to partially frame the rest of his face. 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 wears no clothing over his fur, though it is
thick enough to allow him to look decent in the necessary areas. Currently, he
also has no weapons or other items on his person. The once-lanky lad has now
filled out, finished growing. He looks to be on the young side, though by now
it's not an easy task to pinpoint his exact age.

Nightfall strides into the clearing, making no more noise than a soft spring
breeze. Judging by her expression, she's looking for something -- or maybe
someone.

Flashfire would appear to be the only one out by the Father Tree at the moment.
Wherever the rest are is anybody's guess. As for him, he rests amongst the roots,
hands over his chest, having awoken from a short nap earlier.

Nightfall's gaze scans the clearing, pausing when it reaches the reclining
figure. Stepping closer, her feet kick up some noise, alerting you to her
presence. In a soft voice, she queries, "Flashfire? Are you awake?"

*+*+*Flashfire is looking at you!*+*+*

Nightfall
Striking would probably be the word you would choose, rather than pretty.
Honey-amber eyes, angular face, and an almost square jaw, tawny curls held in
check by a green leather cap tied 'round her head by a fat band of pine green and
burnt orange... clean throatline, decorated by a gold band with what looks to be
a short fat feather with two skinnier feathers on either side, leading down to a
smoothly curving chest covered by a close-fitting, pine-green top that slants
from over her right shoulder to under her left arm in the middle... pine-green
leggings edged with jagged burnt orange strips covering smoothly muscled thighs
and calves on bottom... and low, pine green boots strapped at her ankle and just
below her calf finish up the picture. A leather belt around her waist supports
the top ends of two scabbards with curled ends, one on each hip, each holding a
knife. The lower half of each scabbard is held in place by a leather strap tied
'round her thighs, and when she moves, the top of the scabbard shifts with her
motion.
Carrying:
woodshaped bow
Brightmetal knife

"Hmm?" Flashfire blinks twice, eyes lifting from the ground beneath his
claw-tipped feet at the sound of Nightfall coming closer. "Oh..yeah, I'm awake.
How goes?" he says, looking to be all 'there,' as it were. As opposed to when he
lost it for a bit and left awhile back.

Nightfall smiles lightly, "You look too comfortable to be awake. I was looking
for Suntop, to ask if he had heard from Savah again."

Nightfall sighs softly, looking around, and leans one hip against the tree.
"Looks like I missed him again."

Flashfire tries, without success, to hide a sigh of his own. "He's probably
asleep still..he hasn't slept much lately. He'll probably be out soon." Truth be
told, Flashfire was so tired earlier, he just dozed off right here.

Nightfall looks you over, concern gradually spreading over her face. "You look
like you haven't been sleeping much either. Why?" Her curious tone removes any
sting from her words.

Flashfire rubs one of his hands over a shoulder, sitting up more properly. "I've
been worried..I tried not to, but it's hard. I'm worried about Suntop, and how
he's taking it, and if the humans will ever leave his home."

Nightfall crosses her arms, tucking her hands behind her elbows, and leans her
shoulder against the tree with a soft thump. "I've never really understood
humans, but I don't know what they'd want in Sorrow's End. They've got better
hunting grounds where they were, unless they've killed or chased off all the
prey."

Flashfire gives himself something of a self-hug, hands on opposite shoulders. "I
don't know what they want either, except to get rid of us. They already burnt
this place down once, I heard." He doesn't have the first clue about just why the
humans attacked Sorrow's End of all places, though.

Nightfall nods slowly; it was a long time ago, before Suntop was born. She then
frowns briefly, shakes her head as if to clear cobwebs, and smiles at you. "How
have you been doing with your weapons practice?" A much more interesting topic,
to her way of thinking!

Flashfire moves around again, this time to stand and lean slightly against a
larger root, shifting a hand to rub behind an ear. "Uh..I could be doing better."
He's slipped somewhat, lately.

Nightfall chuckles softly. "There've been other things on your mind, I know." She
peers briefly at your fingers, "Have you been working with the bow?"

Distractions are still no real excuse for letting necessary skills trail off.
Flashfire glances at his own hands, claw-tipped like his toes, before admitting,
"Not as much as I used to lately, but I bet I could still hit a target."

Nightfall straightens away from the tree and hitches her shoulder, letting her
bow slide into her hand. She holds it out to you, with a querying/challenging
look. Her quiver, mostly full, chuffs softly against her leathers as her weight
shifts.

Well now, Flashfire's just going to have to prove it, apparently. He stands up
and smiles faintly, reaching to take hold of the bow. He notices it's a bit
larger than his own, made some time ago.

Flashfire admits, almost sheepishly, "When I forgot myself for a while, I didn't
do much with any of this."

Nightfall grins a little bit, good humor in her eyes. "You're still alive and
with the tribe, and that's what matters." Her grin widens, mischievous humor
lighting her eyes, "You'll just hurt more, because of the lack of practice."

Flashfire is, isn't he? Flashfire smiles back, nodding to the truthful words.
"You're right. But I don't want to be a hindrance."

Nightfall's brows flicker up with brief surprise. "Why would you be? To be a
hindrance, you have to be a problem first. Then you have to be annoying."

Flashfire touches his hand to the bowstring, running it along the length slowly.
Trying to explain, he says, "Well..whenever we go on hunts, you all need me to do
my part, and if I can't, then I'm a hindrance." He looks back to you. "Right?"

Nightfall considers that silently for a couple breaths, then shakes her head
slowly. "Cubs learn to hunt by mimicking their elders, pretending to hunt
eachother and then actually stalking -- and usually spooking -- prey. You're only
a hindrance if the tribe goes hungry because of something you did." Her eyes scan
your face, "After all, you can't expect to be as good a shot as Strongbow, for
instance, if you don't practice some time."

Nightfall shrugs her hands out to the side, "And some of that practice time needs
to be in actually hunting for your meals. A lesson sinks in better if it also
fills your stomach -- or leaves it empty."

"I didn't have anybody to mimic or pretend to hunt or stalk for a long time,
though." Flashfire admits. Much of what he had to do was on his own for a bit of
time. He must've done it well enough, at least, since he stands here now. "I
don't know anybody as good as Strongbow, even after lots and lots of practice."
He smiles a tad, nodding to the rest.

You say "Strongbow's just an example -- I don't know anybody as good as him
either." She scratches the small of her back briefly, then tilts her head toward
you. "Strombow hasn't always been as good as he is now. It's easier to be better
if you start when very young, but working hard can balance it out, and make you
the best you can be.""

"Well..I still want to be the best I can be." Flashfire states, sounding pretty
firm about that. "But I know I need help..especially when it comes to remembering
who I am." He pauses a moment, then admits, "It doesn't feel too good when I
forget how to be an elf, and the wolf takes over."

Suntop walks around from behind the Father Tree.

Suntop walks in from the Den tree...for all the sleep he's been trying to get, he
looks like he hasn't slept in days.

Nightfall's smile shows pride in Flashfire's determination and honesty. "Being
you is something you have to figure out -- but hunting is something that the rest
of us can help you with." She glances over at the entrance of another elf,
smiling a greeting.

Suntop smiles a bit sadly to Nightfall and goes to at his favorite crook of
roots. "Working on your hunting, Flashfire?"

Flashfire nods a bit to Nightfall's words, taking some form of comfort by them.
He knows he's got to be the one to ultimately figure out just who he is. There
may be help with that, sure, but yes, hunting and other things can easily be
assisted with. "Thanks." He takes note of Suntop showing up as well, moving a
hand from Nightfall's bow to wave at him. "Heya."

Nightfall looks Suntop over from head to toe, then informs him, "You look like
you got into a fight with a bristle boar -- and lost."

Suntop does chuckle a bit at that observation but shakes his head. "No...just
other things were lost..."

"Something like that, Suntop, aye.." Flashfire can't help but smile a bit at
Nightfall's astute observation of Suntop's appearance. "At least go change your
clothes you slept in.." He flashes a grin.

Nightfall, satisfied that her quip worked, raises her brows in query, shifting to
rest her weight against the tree again. "Sorrow's End?"

Suntop nods to Nightfall and gives Flashfire an odd look then a sigh, "I didn't
mean to sleep in them..." He looks down to his crumpled leather and moth-cloth
clothes, but makes no move to change them.

     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. His clothes are a mixture of desert and forest, in the bright
colors this elf favors. .
       
Flashfire was just joking, really. "It's all right, Suntop. You've got other
things on your mind."

You say "Have you heard anything else from Savah?" She glances at Flashfire, then
back to Suntop. "Does she know what the humans wanted?""

Suntop shakes his head, "No...nothing more from her. Just that she was going to
try and get in touch with Rayek and try to use the Palace..." His voice trails
off at the last word, eyes growing wide and staring at a far distant spot
suddenly.

Nightfall, startled, looks in the direction Suntop is staring. Seeing nothing,
she looks questioningly at Flashfire.

Flashfire swallows a breath as he sees one of those looks from Suntop again. Oh
boy..is he 'going out' again? He doesn't seem to have much of an answer for
Nightfall. "Maybe he's sending?"

Suntop isn't 'going out' for he stands up and blinks. "The Palace..." he says
again. Then, a little more lucidly, "It's moving!"

Nightfall's attention snaps back to Suntop. "Where's it going? Are the Sunfolk on
.. in it?"

Flashfire blinks rapidly at /that/ news. "Moving..?" Indeed, Suntop did say it
was. Suffice it to say, he's confused.

Suntop continues to look at that fixed place in the distance, "It's going -to-
the Village..."

Nightfall can't help but look around quickly; reassured that all is still well
-here-, she wonders, "To get the Sunfolk?"

Flashfire settles Nightfall's bow over his shoulder for the moment, quietly
listening.

Suntop sighs and comes back to 'here', "High Ones, I hope so."

You say "Can you hear anything else?"

Flashfire rubs behind an ear again, just trying to figure out how the Palace can
fly. It's probably been explained to him before, but knowing how bad his memory's
been at times...

Suntop 'listens' closer, closing his eyes this time. His stillness is broken by a
heavy sigh. Blue eyes filled with sorrow he whispers, "The Palace has many new
spirits..."

Hands clenching and jaw tightening, Nightfall nods. Her voice, while quiet, holds
a dangerous thrum, "The humans."

Flashfire begins to growl again, like he did when Suntop first gave the news that
the humans were attacking the Sun Village.

Suntop looks over at the growling and says, his voice filled more with sadness
than anger (for now), "We can do nothing from here but hope that many were saved
by the Palace's arrival..."

Nightfall nods firmly. "The jackwolf riders are fighters; they should have been
able to hold off the humans for some time."

Flashfire speaks through clenched teeth. "I hope that the ones who died got their
own share before going."

Suntop sighs again, "Savah said that they were overwhelmed..." It reminds him
strongly of the Troll-elf war, only this time with the humans.

Nightfall nods, stares off into space for a moment herself, then looks around,
eyes sharp. "Cutter should be told."

Flashfire's eyes shift to rest on Nightfall at that. "Do you think we'll do
anything about it?"

Does Suntop's voice seem a little colder as he replies, "He has been told."

Nightfall glances at Suntop's tone, then shakes her head at Flashfire, "I don't
know. That's for Cutter to decide."

Flashfire mmmhmms, nodding once to Nightfall as he decides Suntop must not have
spoken to Cutter yet about his..gripes. "Well..ah, maybe we should figure out
something we can do, for now."

Nightfall grins at Flashfire, "We can hunt.."

Suntop sits back down on the root, cradling his chin in his hands.

You sense in a locksend, Flashfire explains. ** Suntop's angry at Cutter because
he didn't let him go to the Sun Village before Newgreen. So Suntop thinks he'd
have been able to do something to prevent this, but I think if he was there they
could have killed him, too.. **

"Yeah, we could.." Flashfire answers Nightfall, looking back to her again.

Nightfall glances at Flashfire, then watches Suntop for a few moments. She
comments, almost absently, "Birds do it better."

You locksend ** What happened before Newgreen? Did the Sunfolk know this was
coming? ** to Flashfire.

Suntop turns slightly to look at Nightfall...

You sense in a locksend, Flashfire's answer is a simple ** No. **

Flashfire blinks. "Huh?"

Nightfall smiles a little bit to Suntop, "Brooding." The humor fades from her
eyes, "I know your Way is to think, but thoughts can turn on you and go sour,
just like a human's not-wolf."

Suntop straightens and looks to Nightfall, "I wasn't brooding...I was
remembering." Well, perhaps he was brooding a little. "I was just thinking that I
will miss returning...miss my home there and Savah's chamber." A deep breath,
then, "There is no more Sorrow's End."

Nightfall brow furrows, concern and comprehension darkening her face. She closes
her eyes briefly, then nods.

Flashfire scratches his head after Nightfall finishes. Humans have not-wolves?
Something resembling wolves? Near-wolves, maybe? He lets that question remain
unasked, instead trying to reassure Suntop, "It'll be back again someday.." Then
he looks to Nightfall again, as if to confirm. "Right?"

Nightfall opens her eyes at Flashfire's question, glances at Suntop, and says
consideringly, "As we knew it? No. What's gone is gone. The question is, will the
villagers find a new home."

Suntop rakes a hand through his hair, pushing it back a moment, "What few
villagers are left, I hope so."

Flashfire sighs, having no answer to this part save a nod. To distract himself
from the current topic, he pretends to shoot imaginary arrows with the bow, but
keeps from pulling the string back.

Nightfall's concern deepens, "Many of the villagers were killed? I thought they'd
be able to hide in the caves, at least until the Palace arrived.." She removes
her quiver and leans it against her leg, then points out a target -- a small
target -- to Flashfire: a swirling pattern, about three handwidths, on a dead
tree.

Suntop shakes his head and watches the hunting lesson. "No...either they tried to
fight back or the humans are smarter than we thought...I don't know though."

Nightfall frowns, perturbed by that; unable to do anything about it, she focuses
on something she /can/ do. "Don't drop your elbow like that, Flashfire; you want
a straight line from your elbow to your prey."

Flashfire chews on his bottom lip at the talk of death, as he reaches for an
arrow to shoot at the target. He shuts his yellowish eyes a moment as he puts the
arrow in place, then opens them to stare down the target.

Suntop turns his thoughts about the attack inward as he watches, half of his
attention actually on the lesson, the other half not.

Flashfire corrects the positioning of his elbow at Nightfall's instructions,
nodding to her. "Right.." He lets fly with the arrow, but it's not exactly close,
a few feet to one side of the tree.

Nightfall clears her throat. "Flashfire, before shooting, make sure you check the
area to make sure you won't hit one of your tribefolk." She looks, briefly, at
the mystic, but does not know enough to be a comfort.

Suntop manages a bit of a smirk at that, "And we thought you liked us here,
Flashfire..." He tries to lighten the mood, not wanting to impose his depression
on the others.,

Flashfire swallows, looking quite worried for a moment that he /did/ hit someone.
Fortunately, no yelps or cries of pain are heard, and for that he's thankful.
"I'm sorry..I forgot to check first." He silently chides himself, only smiling a
little at Suntop before he confirms via send that nobody's going to be in the way
of any misfired arrows.

You say "Use your eyes and ears as well; if you can hear a tribesmate coming, you
can probably hear your prey going."

Suntop looks about the clearing as if expecting to see or hear another elf...but
no one else is about. Probably a wise idea.

"Right..I didn't hear anyone back there, so that's why I shot." Flashfire
explains, reaching for another arrow. Best thing would be just to push everything
else somewhere and focus.

Nightfall nods. "Keep track of where the arrows go; if you break any, your next
lesson is in replacing them." A wry twist to her tone indicates that it's hard
work that you won't be able to avoid.

Well, Flashfire did hear a thunk somewhere in the woods, so chances are good the
arrow will be found in another tree. "Of course," he says, not /too/ keen on that
particular idea to be truthful. But he'll replace anything busted, somehow.

Nightfall chuckles softly, settling herself more comfortably against the tree.
"You need to know how to make your arrows, especially if you plan on wandering
some more. A bow's no good if you don't have anything to shoot."

Suntop locksends ** Do you think a bow is his weapon then? **

Flashfire steals a glance at Suntop to see if he's looking any better than
before, then nods to Nightfall, glancing at his hands for a moment. He used to
catch small things with them. "Can you show me sometime?"

You locksend ** I don't know, I haven't seen him using it before. With his ..
claws?, it might not be the best choice. ** to Suntop.

Suntop locksends ** That is what I was thinking as well. But I don't know if you
could convince him otherwise... **

You say "I can, but I'm not the best to learn from. I'm better at carving." Her
expression is briefly self-deprecating. "I can definitely show you the basics,
though."

Suntop seems to be watching the lesson rather intently now.

You locksend ** If he never gets the hang of it, he'll have to try another
weapon, unless he decides to go without one at all. ** to Suntop.

"That's part of making arrows though, isn't it?" the elf-wolf youth asks,
wondering why Nightfall seems to be discrediting herself - she is to him.

Nightfall looks at Flashfire curiously, "You've never seen one of my carvings? My
last wolf-friend liked to eat them, but there are some unchewed ones around."

Nightfall pulls one of the arrows out of the quiver and sights along it. "I made
this, yes. My arrows usually fly well." She glances at each of you in turn. "But
there are others who make arrows better than me."

Suntop inclines his head slightly, perhaps as a nod.

Flashfire realizes he misunderstood Nightfall. Letting her bow hang from his hand
for a moment, he admits, "No..I don't think I've seen any before." Then he nods
as she shows him her handiwork with the arrow.

Suntop locksends ** He may need to find a balance between his wolf-half and
elf-half. Perhaps the learning of a weapon helps in finding that balance. **

Nightfall glances at Suntop, eyes flickering before her attentions returns to
Flashfire. "Believe it or not, I can tan leather. ... Unless you like your
leathers soft as flower petals." She runs her hand briefly along her leathers,
admiring. "Moonshade's leathers are amazing -- but she's not very good at
carving."

"Everybody's good at something, though." Flashfire says honestly, before glancing
at himself a moment. "Well..I haven't really worn much for a while." He smiles
crookedly.

You locksend to Suntop, Nightfall catches on that consideringly. ** Using weapons
requires him to keep his body balanced; maybe that will help him balance his
heart. **

Nightfall chuckles, "But you know understand I mean."

You sense in a locksend, Suntop sends the equivalent of a nod, ** And his mind is
focused on things other than instinct...he must think to use a weapon
well...especially the bow. **

Nightfall clarifies, "We each do better at some things than others. I carve,
Redlance shapes, Cutter leads, Leetah heals, Moonshade tans..." She flicks one
hand out, gesturing to the holt, "It's why we're a tribe."

Flashfire ohhhs, the confusion leaving his features at the explanation. "I see
what you mean now," he says, looking back down at the bow, then the target on the
dead tree. "And I..I, um.." What /does/ he do?

Nightfall smiles, puts a hand on Flashfire's shoulder to catch and hold his
attention. "You learn. For now."

Suntop smiles a bit sadly, musing a bit on how he is helping the tribe. For all
intents and purposes, he feels that he does very little.

"Right. Learn." Flashfire answers, his eyes shifting to look up at the taller
Nightfall. "I can learn."

Nightfall chuckles briefly, "Good. You can learn something each day. Hnh; you
might learn that you are an excellent fish catcher."

Flashfire isn't too bad at that, actually. "Yeah, or maybe that I can hunt well,
too." He's already done a good job at basically being the youth of the place.

Suntop smiles at Flashfire, "You seem to hunt fairly well, if I recall..."

Flashfire thinks it's time he finally shot that second arrow at the target. He's
going to hit it. So, he reaches for one of the thin missiles.

Flashfire adds, "Thanks..but I need to get better."

Nightfall looks Flashfire over. "You're still alive."

Flashfire looks himself over as well. "Well, yeah." And?

Suntop actually laughs at Nightfall's assessment, "So am I, but you don't see me
hunting..."

Nightfall grins at Suntop. "You could be hunting when I'm sleeping. Or doing
something." She tilts an eyebrow, "You've managed to stay alive this long, you
must be doing something right."

Flashfire quips, loud enough for Suntop to hear, "He doesn't like to hunt, but
he's always done good enough when I've seen him do it." He grins, then suggests,
"Maybe he should show me how to use that spear sometime."

Suntop stretches his legs, and to Nightfall says, "I just try to stay out of
trouble" even though trouble finds him easily enough. To Flashfire he offers, "I
could try, but you should really get Ember or Redlance or Pike to show you.
They're much better than I am."

Nightfall nods, amused, to Suntop, then reaches for her bow. "The spear is easier
than a bow, in a sense -- you don't have to chase the pointy end." She pauses,
"Want to take one more shot before I go hunt?"

Flashfire will probably seek some assistance from one of those mentioned by
Suntop, sometime. If he doesn't forget to. He grins at Nightfall. "You do if you
throw it and want to get it back." Then he nods, and says "Just one more shot."
He's already got the arrow, so he strings it up and doesn't take as long to aim
as the first time - for whatever reason, it works better the less he thinks about
it. More focused than before, he lets it fly and it thunks just a little high on
the target. Otherwise, it's a good shot. "There.." The bow is handed back.

Nightfall accepts the bow, gestures with her head that she'll help gather the
arrows. "Not a bad shot. You need to be able to hit things when -you- want to,
not when the wind -- and luck -- is on your side.

"I did want to hit it that time, probably more than the first shot." Flashfire
admits, not so sure there was that much luck on his side. Maybe a little, though.
"Thanks..maybe I can learn some more again soon."

Nightfall tucks her arrows in the quiver and moves off, nodding. "Check out other
weapons as well; the bow isn't the only one. Ember used to be really good with a
pebble-shooter."

Nightfall grins a fare-well, vanishing into the trees.