Log file from Cutter. 2/10/2000 8:59:13 PM Title: Problems on the homefront? Characters: Cutter, Suntop, Ember and Flashfire Synopsis: Cutter, Suntop, Ember and Flashfire have a short talk shortly after Ember's return from the UnderWorld. Base of the Lost Holt Father Tree Cutter is leaning casually against the father tree. His arms are folded loosely across his chest and he seems to be lost in deep thought. Rainrunner lies near his bond's feet, keeping a watchful eye on the clearing. Suntop sits on a root, not even trying to go into the branches this time. His brows are furrowed as he chews on a nail, lost in thought. Cutter wakes from his reverie and glances around the clearing. His bright gaze settles upon his son who seems to have taken up nail-biting all of a sudden. His brow furrows a bit as he sends in a halfway light hearted manner, **Don't let your mother catch you doing that.** All of a sudden? He's done it for a while...just never with either of his parents present. Oops. When did Cutter get here anyways? ** I try not to. ** He moves his hand away from his mouth and sits on it...and his other hand. Cutter's mouth curls into a half-hearted smile as he nods and straightens a bit, though he somehow continues to look quite comfortable leaning against the tree, **Well good, it'll dull your teeth.** he sends offering a bit of fatherly advice. Suntop gives a bit of a sigh, ** They're not that sharp to begin with. ** Not like the others. Cutter just shakes his head and switches the subject, **Have you heard anything from Ember?** he asks with no little amount of worry in his send voice. Flashfire walks around from behind the Father Tree. Flashfire has arrived. Ember walks out of the Father Tree. Ember has arrived. Flashfire leads the way around the father tree's roots, hopping over a couple here and there like he's been known to do. There are still a few leaves he hasn't gotten out of his fur after a quick pounceroll with Ember. Ember trots along behind Flashfire. Well, all right, she's actually a good moment or two behind. She had to take a slight detour into the stores to stash her latest kill so Burrtail didn't try to eat it on her. She raises a hand as she enters. "Ayooah." Suntop sits on a root, on his hands so he doesn't bit his nails anymore. But his frown is still there as he has chosen a spot to stare at once more. Barely looking up he offers back a softl, ** Shade... ** Cutter is leaning against the father tree with his arms crossed loosely over his chest, he seems to be quite comfortable as he converses quietly with Suntop. Rainrunner lays at Cutter's feet, keeping a watchful eye on the clearing. He shifts his gaze from Suntop to Flashfire and Ember. Flashfire's bedraggled appearance elicits a chuckle from him as he greets the two with a lifted brow and a quick, "Ayooah.." of his own. Flashfire apparently hasn't figured out he didn't get all the leaves off yet, peering briefly at Cutter's chuckling before he feels around a couple spots he didn't scan, finding a few more leaves. Oops. "Ayoooah!" he lets out, the sound of it feeling..right. Ember chuckles as well. She swipes at Flashfire, snagging a couple more leaves from off his back and moves further into the clearing. "What's been going on?" Cutter shakes his head and gives a shrug of his shoulders as he glances toward Suntop with a lopsided smile, "Just warning Suntop not to let Leetah catch him biting his nails." he chuckles again once that is said. Apparently he's in a really great mood with everyone back at home. Ember glances to Suntop, a faint hint of concern flitting across her face in a fleeting scowl. She wrinkles her nose and looks to her father. "Where is Mother, anyway?" Why would Suntop be biting his nails? Nervousness? Flashfire meanders over towards him, having been unable to greet him properly. "Are you okay..?" He tries to hug the mystic. Suntop tolerates the hug and even hugs a bit weakly back. "Yes...I will be." Now that's an odd answer. Cutter grins, "She and ShenShen went for a walk." he replies and gives a shake of his head, not knowing what they're discussing or really having the desire to find out since there's no telling what ShenShen will come up with for conversation topics. Ember nods, glancing back to her brother. Her hand is nudged by Burrtail, insisting on some attention. "Okay." she replies to her father. Flashfire frowns at Suntop, trying to figure out what's going on with him. Is there -always- something biting at him? "What do you mean, will be?" he asks, briefly missing the other talk. Ember does scowl faintly now. Like Flashfire, her attention is on her twin. She scritches the demanding wolf automatically, a nearly pensive expression in her eyes. Suntop gives a start, "Huh? Oh... I just need to work some things out." He offers to Flashfire. Cutter smiles and gives a faint send letting everyone know that he's departing. That done, he turns and pads silently around the great tree, heading off into the forest to do a bit of thinking. "If you say so.." Flashfire backs off, having learned somewhere along the way that if Suntop wants to do things by himself..then let him. He glances towards the departing Cutter and sends the effect of acknowledgement. Ember hfs, nodding faintly to her twin. She pauses in her scritching of the wolf and is rewarded with another forceful nudge against her hand. Fur's hot in the summer, you know. Suntop gives another sigh and is tempted to just walk off right now. He's just tired of everyone wanting to know how he is. If he is having trouble, he will let it be known. Right now, this is all too personal for him to really share. Seems Flashfire's not the only one who's had a thing or two happen to him. It doesn't take much for him to figure out Suntop, however. "Look, if you have a problem with others worrying about you, then say so." he snaps before turning quickly, intending to leave him alone if that's what he really wants.