990712 - Nightfall, Flashfire, ShenShen, Skywise, Suntop, Clearbrook - Snowsplash (alpha female) has cubs. 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 natural disorder around the trees roots. Like old friends, the gnarled trees embrace one another, their many branches entwining to form a dense canopy high above the ground, serving to keep the ground cool from the summer heat. You hear hushed noises as the holt slowly comes to life as elves and wolves awaken from the hot summer sleep. Contents: Sleepy Alert Fighter Flashfire Shenshen Skywise Suntop Clearbrook Snowsplash's Cubs Snowsplash Rainrunner Bearpaw Patience Skylark SafeRunner Obvious exits: Into the Tree Around the Tree Clearing Sleepy decides to go curl up next to her mother this time. She's not moving much. Nightfall stretches luxuriantly, almost as if posing in the main opening to the Father Tree. Gradually loosening up, she drops her arms to her sides and looks around with bright, contentedly awake eyes. Clearbrook looks over at Nightfall and nods. She's sitting on the ground near Shenshen, who has a wolf cub attached to her curl. Skywise is grooming Skylark near everyone else, his tongue sticking between his teeth slightly as he runs his fingers through the wolf's wiry fur. Shenshen wiggles the curl in front of the cub, bending down close to the ground, her behind in the air--not unlike the cub's stance. Her playful giggle is quiet. "He's attacking my hair, Clearbrook. You'd better hide your braid." Flashfire grrrfs at Fighter, the pup who's sitting atop him and currently licking his face. Kind of hard for him to answer Shenshen's question, though. "Aaaack..get..off me!" he squirms, getting wolftongue in his mouth. Gaah. Suntop makes an entrance, a slingshot tucked into his belt and the pouch Shenshen made him full of acorns. "Shenshen, are you...Oh!" He breaks into a wide grin. "The wolf cubs!" Well, guess the hunting lesson will be postponed as Suntop approaches the cubs and kneels down next to one, reaching out a hand for it to sniff. Skywise snickers under his breath at Flashfire's predicament, before nodding to Nightfall. ** Heyla, Nightfall. ** Sleepy sniffs at Suntop's hand and licks it once, before yawning again. Fighter stops licking Flashfire's face and decides he would make a wonderful sleeping cushion, so he lays down. Nightfall chuckles softly at Flashfire's plight, considering the interesting view Shenshen offers. Nodding to Skywise, she says in a soft, carrying voice, "Hey; I could hear the yips all the way up the tree. Shenshen, are you trying to learn to track and scent? You'd probably be better off learning from a more mature wolf.." Clearbrook gives Shenshen a smile. ** Ah, at least they're big enough they stopped attacking my earrings. ** Suntop sits down by the sleepy wolf and starts to scritch behind its ears. He doesn't mind if it naps... Now one's big enough to attack Flashfire. So that's better? The furred elf spits out of the side of his mouth, making a face. Why isn't anyone helping him? Sheesh! Panting, he moves his hands to give Fighter a shove. Sleepy wriggles her way onto Suntop's lap and starts to fall asleep again, nose tucked into the elf's stomach. Shenshen looks up from her wolf-cub that she's teasing with a curl and giggles at Nightfall's words. She winks at the huntress and bends down again to tease the cub. "Don't be silly, Nightfall. Everything around here pretty much smells the same anyways. I'd be a terrible tracker!" She grins and wiggles the curl again, baiting the wolf pup. Fighter slides off Flashfire's chest, looking, of all things, offended. He also looks like he's getting ready to pounce on Flashfire again. Skywise turns his regard to Suntop, eyes looking a little sleepy as he flicks a send his way. Don't be fooled, though, for the impish sparkle below the lids says he's less than sleepy. Nightfall hrms, 'seriously' considering Shenshen's words, eyes dancing with teasing amusement, "You're right. YOu make much better prey -- especially since you're such a willing target." Alert tracks the hair with her eyes, waiting for her moment... Suntop looks to the sleepy cub in his lap, a strange expression in his eyes...almost wistful. His his hands continue to run through the cub's mottled fur as he continues to look down at the wolf. Flashfire's eyes flicker towards the others as Fighter gives him a moment to regain his bearings. ** Oh..hullo Nightfall, Suntop. ** he sends, grinning toothily to each of them. But..oh yeah, there's a pup about to do something, isn't there? Shenshen looks up at Nightfall, distracted, the lock of hair forgotten. "Prey? A target? Me? What makes you say that?" She glances over at her towheaded nephew. "Suntop said he'd show me how to hunt. So I won't be totally useless." She winks at the mystic, drawling the last words. Skywise grins, his eyes lighting up even more as he lays back on Skylark, using the wolf for a pillow of sorts. ** I've been about, Suntop. ** he sends aloud. ** You just haven't seen me. ** Fighter stands up, giving up on the pouncing and leisurely walks over to sniff at Flashfire's ears. Whuff. Sleepy wriggles a little, still trying to find her place. Suntop keeps his eyes on the cub but he first answers Shenshen, "Yes...I have things for you to make your own slingshot..." and he then fehs at Skywise. "Hiding in the dreamberries with Pike or something?" Nightfall chuckles, smiling at Shenshen, "That's what you're doing, isn't it? Playing prey so the cub can 'hunt' you? Actually, it's a useful game; it's handy to know how to act like prey, so you can find it." Alert circles away, trying to sneak up on Shenshen's curl. Flashfire sits up as the pounce doesn't come, squinting a bit as Fighter sniffs his ears, nose tickling the fur enough to cause him to shake his head quickly, rubbing at them as he grins. He sniffs back. Shenshen chimes in on Suntop's comment to Skywise. "If he was in there with Pike I would have found him already." She grins at Skywise and then turns to look at Nightfall, the teasing curl between her fingers and the cub stalking it all but forgotten. "You mean that I'll learn how to hunt by playing with a cub? Really?" She looks impressed at this idea. Skywise snorts softly, blowing a bit of wolf fur out of his face. ** Hardly. You would have found me sooner had that been the case. Where is Berry-cheeks, anyway? ** Shenshen's smirk is innocent. "Sleeping it off with Skot. They're tired today." Nightfall chuckles again, walking neatly along the tree toward Shenshen and the cub, nodding. "Why do you think we encourage cubs to play? Tackle-pounce, roll-the-cub, sneak-and-dodge... you'll see the adult wolves using those same moves when they hunt." She quirks an eyebrow at the mention of Pike and Skot, but says nothing. Clearbrook stretches, smiling. **As long as it's just Pike and Skot. I'm not helping Treestump wash berry color out of his beard. ** Nightfall looks at Clearbrook, laughing softly, ** Out of his beard? Treestump? ** Skywise laughs outright at Clearbrook. ** I've never seen Treestump indulge to that degree. ** With a sigh, Suntop lets the cub settle, still scritching. Well, he can at least enjoy the attention the cub gives him until she bonds. But returning to the conversation he looks up with a smile. "Me neither, but I'll bet it would be fun!" Clearbrook closes her eyes, laughing. ** Oh, turns ago... it was all Pike's fault. ** Nightfall crouches near Shenshen, gets a brief, close look at the cub, then smiles a bit at Clearbrook, ** This sounds like a story I'd like to hear? ** Fighter snuffles at Flashfire's head and then licks his face again. "Yap!" Shenshen laughs and goes back to teasing the cubling with her hair, brushing the curl along the ground in a coaxing manner. "I think he's playing Sneak and Dodge while I'm just playing 'Hair for Supper'." Flashfire's been doing a bit of the things Nightfall mentions in his play with Fighter. What she says is definitely true. He continues to grin - wider - at the mental image of Treestump with purplish face-fur. He's heard a story about it before...but long since forgotten it. "Hah!" he chirps at the Treestump stuff, before sputtering again at the lick, reaching for Fighter's ears to tickle. In doing so, he considers the pup's eyes with his own golden-hued ones... Skywise runs a hand through wild silver hair, his eyes gleaming. ** So would I. Tell us a tale, Clearbrook. ** his smile invites the elder to speak. Clearbrook shakes her head, chuckling "Oh, he would be upset if I told it... I never did hear much, besides it being all Pike's fault. Maybe you should ask Pike what happened." Suntop's face pulls in a mock-pout. "Go ahead...tempt us...and then not tell the story." But his eyes sparkle. Nightfall laughs, nodding to Shenshen, softly advising, "Just be sure you don't let the cub walk all over you -- it makes them insufferable." She sits back on the root and grins at Clearbrook, ** I'm sure he wouldn't mind. At least, not -too- much. ** She tilts her head a bit toward Suntop, agreeing with him. Alert decides insteading of grabbing the hair to go for a more tempting target... Shenshen's hand. Fighter also half-freezes, in mid-lick of Flashfire. Clearbrook puts her hands behind her head, obviously weighing her options, as well as remembering. Flashfire seems to be confused as Fighter stops and looks back at him. It would almost be like how Recognition is, but not. "Whoa.." he whispers, blinking slowly. Then it dawns upon him - 'Fighter' must he his bond! Impulsively, he reaches to pull the pup into a hug. Shenshen glances over at Flashfire's "whoa" and sits up, a curious expression on her face. **Did I just miss something?** Clearbrook chuckles. ** Probably, Shenshen, but Flashfire isn't now, I believe. ** Suntop looks over to Flashfire as well and gives a sad little smile. "Do you remember when Ember found Choplicker?" Nightfall looks over at Flashfire and smiles softly. Glancing at Shenshen, she nods, ** Looks like Flashfire's found his friend. ** Shenshen shakes her head at Suntop's words. "I wasn't there at the moment it happened. I DO remember Ember crawling around on all fours for days though." She gives Flashfire a prim look. "Don't tell me you're going to do the same?" Fighter licks happily at Flashfire's face, a very happy wolf indeed. Others are talking? And to Flashfire? He misses that right now, laughing as the pup licks at his face, licking back slightly..hey, he's part wolf. Shenshen has a rather revolted look on her face at Flashfire licking the wolf cub. "Ugh, nephew...." She can't hide her distaste and pokes Suntop. "Promise me you won't give the cub the same greeting as your brother." Nightfall looks at Clearbrook with a hopeful/expectant expression. ** Well? Are you willing to tell? ** A smile sneaks back onto her face, ** The idea of Treestump with a pinkish/purplish beard... ** Clearbrook snorts and shakes her head. ** I tell that story and I'll be sleeping out here with the wolves. ** Humor dances in her eyes anyway. Fighter rubs his head against Flashfire's chest. Nightfall giggles, settling back on her haunches, ** I'm sure he woulnd't go /that/ far.. ** Shenshen chimes in helpfully. "You can always den in Pike's with me, Clearbrook. Just do what I do and shove Skot over." Suntop gives Shenshen an odd look as she mentions him greeting like...well, with licking. "I promise, Aunt..." He looks back to Flashfire and asks, "What are you going to name him?" Flashfire snorts once at Shenshen's opinion of what he and Fighter are up to, making no attempt to explain the way he is - if he even could. He grins at the pup's rubbing and bumps his head against Fighter's, feeling warm and happy. So this is what it's like to have a wolf-friend... Clearbrook shakes her head again. ** Perhaps not that bad... but I don't believe I'll chance it. ** Nightfall sighs ruefully, then muses, ** Maybe he'd be willing to tell... ** She smiles softly over at Flashfire, ** The first time is always special; sometimes you get a better bond later in life, but nothing can ever compare to the first one. ** Shenshen giggles at Clearbrook, her face turning to watch Flashfire once more. "If Flashfire's going to name that one, can we nickname the others? I vote this one to be Cil. He keeps attacking my hand." She winks at Suntop and points at Alert. Nightfall blinks at Shenshen, "Isn't Cil Zirek's cub? I'd heard that they were at the holt together? To talk to Leetah, I thought." Alert yaps, not sure about that one, apparently and rolls on her stomach by Shenshen. Suntop rolls his eyes, "Not a good idea, Shenshen. That one will be named when someone bonds. Then, I guarantee you, she will have a name." Flashfire was asked a question, by Suntop. He peels his attention away from his new bond to consider it, and answer it. "He..I think I'm going to name him..Stormbristle." he decides, giving Nightfall a grinning nod at her explanation. Shenshen sticks her tongue out at Suntop. **You're no fun.** Suntop sticks his tongue right back out at Shenshen. Stormbristle seems content with the name, since he doesn't change a bit what he's doing. Nightfall looks at the wolfcub curiously, "Stormbristle?" Flashfire adds, just seeming to know this. ** They don't get names until they bond. ** That's just how it is. Stormbristle gets a warm nuzzle and another hug. Nightfall nods at Flashfire's comment, belatedly also agreeing with Suntop. ** It's usually considered impolite to name someone else's cub, be it wolf or elf. ** Shenshen hmphs and giggles at Suntop's face. "Well, how should I know? I'm not a wolfrider. It was just a joke anyways." Her expression is exasperated and she glances at Flashfire and the new Stormbristle. Clearbrook nods approvingly, both to the conversation about wolf names, and no Flashfire's naming. ** He does have a bit of the storm in him... and more when he's adult, I'm sure. ** Suntop looks back at the sleepy wolf in his lap and leans back a little. So many thoughts are running through his head right now, it's probably best that he keeps them all to himself. Nightfall hhs softly, ** I wonder if he'll be stormy enough to challenge for pack-lead. ** She smiles lightly at Clearbrook, ** Looks like a good litter, all around. ** Flashfire finds himself nodding at Clearbrook's explanation, and adds, "It just feels like a good name for him." He shrugs at Nightfall's ponderance. "He'll be what he'll be." Naturally. But looking at Stormbristle, it seems he'll need to grow a bit more before Flashfire can ride on his back. Shenshen shakes her head, making her topknots fly about. "No, he can't, because then he'd mate with his mother...?" She looks to Clearbrook in confusion. All this wolf stuff has the Sun Villager slightly confused. There's still quite a bit she has to learn about the bond friends of the Lostholt elves, it would seem. An acorn lands somewhere near Clearbrook's feet, another landing near Suntop. Should Skywise be noted, he's lying looking at the stars from the side of his wolf, but look closer and see the imp smile! Clearbrook nods, looking at the newly bonded wolf and then to his sisters. ** I think they'll do, yes. And ... Stormbristle does look like he'll be large enough, at least. ** She shakes her head at Shenshen ** By then, there will likely be another female dominant. ** Nightfall shakes her head to Shenshen, "Wolfpack dominance changes frequently enough that it usually isn't a problem." Shenshen nods slowly. **Oh. I guess I really didn't notice.** Suntop picks up the acorn, offers a smile to Skywise, and tucks it with its brothers in his pouch. Another one for target practice. *bip* A better aim lands one on Flashfire's head, the smile widening with mischief in mind. Clearbrook looks over at Skywise sternly. Nightfall chuckles, ** Don't worry, Shenshen. You'll learn, if you want to. ** Pondering for a moment, she offers, ** When we first went to Sorrow's End, I had some trouble telling the huts apart by sight. ** She shrugs a bit -- and is definitely ignoring the flying acorns. Flashfire merely nods at all the talk of alphas changing as time goes along, not concerned with what the future may hold for Stormbrindle's place in the pack. He looks about to add something to the words already said when the acorn plops him on the head, making him jump with a start. "Hey!" he grrrs, grabbing the offending acorn and hurling it back towards Skywise. Shenshen glances at Nightfall and brightens at her send, nodding. **That's true. I suppose i'll get better with time.** She glances up as an acorn whizzes past and giggles up at Skywise. Skywise acks and lifts an arm to deflect the missile. "Hey, I didn't know they came back by themselves." he chuckles with delight. "I need to find that tree again." Suntop chuckles and loads up his sling-shot, aiming an acorn for right above Skywise's head... Shenshen stands up, brushing off her pants and heads for the Father Tree. "Are Pike and Skot EVER going to wake up? They'll sleep all night if they're not careful. I'd better go see what's keeping them." She gives a mischievous grin to the others and disappears into the Tree. Flashfire turns back to Stormbristle after sticking his own tongue out at Skywise. Time to play wolfgames again. This one must be 'challenge,' as the wolfy elf gets down on all fours and stares at his new bond intently. Clearbrook stands, stretching. ** Just watching all of this is making me tired... let me know if you need any advice, Flashfire, though I doubt you will ** Nightfall looks up at Clearbrook, then stands and nods as well. ** And I should get going, if I'm going to go hunting tonight. ** She scampers lightly through the tree, fetching her quiver and bow. Advice? Flashfire nods absently, wondering what she means by needing advice. Next thing he knows, Stormbrindle's growling at him and pounces, taking the elf off his hands and feet and to his back, effectively pinning him. "Oof!" Seems *every*one can pin Flashfire. Feh. He gets a big slobbery lick for his trouble, and gacks again. Nightfall chuckles softly as she vanishes into the trees.