"Respite from Solitude" Log Date: 7/16/02 (Note: this is a back-dated log, as as of the time of the RP, Lifefire was long gone from Lostholt) Log Cast: Lifefire, Rillwhisper Log Intro: In the turns of the seasons that have passed since the Willowholt's destruction, Rillwhisper has seen some subset of her former tribe safely into the haven of Lostholt... and forfeited her chief's lock out of respect to Cutter, as the Way dictated. But ever since the erstwhile chieftess has found herself at something of a loss -- for if she is not to lead the tribe in which she dwells, what is she to do with her time? The proximity of her soul-brother Strongbow is something for which she is grateful, but the Wolfbringer has found herself reluctant to rely upon the other Lostholters whenever she needs something done. Even tanning, a skill in which she knows Strongbow's lifemate Moonshade to be superior. Instead, doggedly determined to keep herself occupied, Rillwhisper has fallen into the habit of solitude on the northern fringes of Lostholt, only occasionally interacting with the others that Cutter leads. But sometimes, even the reclusive ex-chieftess must be grateful for a little company, when a visitor to the Holt inadvertantly stumbles across her.... ---------- Forest Path The path stretches toward the north away from the holt proper, used mostly by the elves for travel to the woods behind the great Father tree. The ground here looks to have been worn down some with time and you see small bushes lie nearby, perhaps sheltering small game, such as ravitts or perhaps deer. Vines have started to appear once again, clinging tightly to the trees that shelter either side of the path, crisscrossing in a riot of leaves and tendrils. It is a cool NewGreen night. Contents: Lifefire Obvious exits: Hollow Tree Behind the Father Tree Lifefire comes back from hunting on foot and has about four ravvit on his brace. His bow is slung over his shoulder as he is eating another ravvit. Lostholt is full of a number of elves -- but a couple of them, some of the refugees from the destroyed tribe that was once called Willowholt, are reclusive elves indeed and are rarely spotted during the day to day activities of the tribe. One of these is the former chieftess Rillwhisper... the Wolfbringer, as she is sometimes called. But she is out this night, slender pointed face set in a look of stubborn determination as she applies herself to an entirely prosaic task: the mending of leathers. With a tanner like Moonshade in the Holt her own efforts can be called lesser at best... but there's a matter of pride here. Rillwhisper is no longer a chieftess... and so she'll at least occupy her hands by mending her own leathers. Rillwhisper(#6POace-0) This elfin female has an earthy if also somehow ethereal look; she is wisp-slender, but with a lithe huntress's build, and hands that seem built for grasping a dagger or a bow. Her long, bright red-golden hair falls in unbound waves about her shoulderblades. Huge in a pale pointed face, her deep leaf-green eyes are flecked with shimmers of grey and gold, and her capable hands sometimes show a delicate touch matched perhaps for the holes of a flute, as well. She is clad in leathers that are soft and well-worn from use and weathering: an over-tunic of dark dappled leaf-green for starters, and an under-tunic of dark brown. On her legs are a pair of simply cut brown breeches laced up the sides with green thongs, leading down to supple calf-high doeskin boots. Lifefire gives Rillwhisper a friendly smile as he swallows the bite of meat, "Shade Rillwhisper, are you hungry? The High Ones smiled upon me tonight." He holds up his brace of ravvits. Lifefire is something of a tanner himself, although he prefers hunting and skinning to tanning. He pauses by her and simply watches her technique, prehaps able to learn something he didn't know as he waits for her answer to the offer of food. The Wolfbringer blinks a bit, as if slightly taken aback that someone has in fact hailed her; she's grown accustomed to solitude, this one, and it takes her a moment or two to think to actually look up and offer a crooked grin by way of greeting. "Lifefire, shade," she greets, just a trifle gruffly, but not unkind. And then she blinks again, as if it's only just occurred to her that a bit of dinner might serve her well. "Ah... well, thank you, if you've the meat to spare." Lifefire smiles and nods, "I always have some meat to spare for those that mend the hides." He grins, "Never know when the seat of my pants might fall out and I'll need a new pair." Lifefire takes a pair of ravvit off the brace and holds them out for Rillwhisper. "What are you working on if I may ask?" The she-elf sticks her needle in her teeth for a moment, a tendril of green leather thong dangling down past her chin as she critically eyes her work, then lays it aside to free up her hands. Her mouth occupied, she shifts unthinkingly into sending -- it's a habit she's picked up after turns of the seasons of hanging around Strongbow. ** Old jacket of mine. Trying to mend it, but I'm starting to think the leather's too worn to bother. ** As she takes the ravvits, green-gray-golden eyes lightening, she draws her dagger; brightmetal gleams as she sits up and turns her attention now to deftly slicing up the catch. Lifefire Lifefire is an elf of regular height, about 4ft 2in. He has a slim but muscular build. Lifefire eyes are sky blue eyes and his hair is a light blond color. On the hair on the top of his head is roughly combed to the right side. The back of his hair goes down to the base of his neck and on the sides the hair is a medium length stopping at the bottom of his ears. Lifefire's face is an oval shape, with the top and bottom being slightly longer than the sides. Lifefire is wearing a green and tan hide short sleeve shirt. His pants are the same earthy colors as his shirts. On Lifefire's right side there is a quiver full of arrow. On his left is a troll made knife and slung over across his chest is his bow. On Lifefire's feet is a pair of brown hide boots. Around his neck is a small red stone hung on a hide cord, his good luck charm. Carrying: Pile of Furs(#181AJe$) Starfire Lifefire's bow(#2043C$) Lifefire's knife(#2044V$) Lifefire nods as he sits down next to her to finish off the ravvit he has been eating. ** Oh Brightmetal. ** He would recognize it almost anywhere from the sight and smell of it. ** If you need more leather tell me. I brought up part of my supply from Sorrow's End. I tanned it myself. About have is with fur and the other half is without. ** ** Aye... where the world Rainfire got it is beyond me, but he came back to the Holt once after one of his rambles and gave it to me-- ** With that, then, she seems to catch herself, and slants a look that might almost be called sheepish at the other elf. ** Ah... my old Holt, that is. You've, ah, got extra leather about? ** She sits back, exchanging the needle she'd absently left clenched in her teeth for bloody slivers of the ravvit flesh, and keeps to sending for convenience; tough to talk with your mouth full. ** Moonshade'll need it more than I, I'd think. ** Lifefire blinks, ** Rainfire? You knew my father? ** He figured it was before his father became a wanderer and found Lifefire's mother. Lifefire smiles, ** I all ready offered to Moonshade and she said she would pick through them when she wanted one of them. You can too if you like. I am glad to get rid of them. Only so many ravvit fur blankets you can make before the skins start to pile up. ** He picks out the bones and cracks them to suck out the marrow. Wait a minute. Is there something her off-again, on-again lovemate hasn't told her? Rillwhisper's golden eyebrows spring up at that question, and she pauses in her chewing for a moment to proffer forth an image of a mahogany-haired hunter with mischievous blue eyes. ** That's the Rainfire I know, ** she notes, ** though he's mostly a shadow around here these days, so I'm not surprised you haven't seen him. ** If she's aware of the irony of a recluse like her describing a tribesmate as a shadow, well, she lets it lie, and gives another of those small lopsided smiles. ** In fact, he's taken off on another of those rambles of his; he didn't stay put all that often when I led Willowholt, and he doesn't stay put much here, either. ** Lifefire ahs as he sends back an image of his golden haired father with drak green eyes, ** That's my father. Must be they just had the same name. My parents don't either, but they are always together. True lifemates. ** He smiles a little and nods, ** I know how he feels, the call to wander is strong sometimes. ** ** Aye, ** Rillwhisper agrees, her eyes turning a trifle distant as she glances off towards Sun-Goes-Down, ** same names, apparently. There's enough of us Wolfriders in the world now it's bound to happen sooner or later. And aye... sometimes the wandering does hit one. ** There's something in her tone that suggests personal experience with the notion of wandering about. Lifefire nods, ** No doubt about that. I travelled with my parents enough to get my share of wandering under my belt. I have seen most of the land and I am not yet 20 turns of seasons. ** The Wolfbringer has to blink at this, and all at once, despite the fact that she's significantly younger than many of the elders of Lostholt -- like, for example, her soul-brother Strongbow -- she all at once feels rather old indeed. But she also makes a small soft gruff noise that might almost be laughter, as she leans against the tree behind her and surveys the younger elf as if seeing him truly for the first time. Then a strange look flickers across her eyes, and a bit of a strange tone to go with it flickers through her sending. ** I don't suppose you've bumped into my daughter as _you've_ been wandering around, have you? ** Lifefire shrugs, ** Probably, what's her name? My parents might have met her as I was pretty young when we did a lot of visiting of other tribes. ** He leas back as well and smiles at Rillwhisper. ** Wayfound. ** With that, comes an impression of a young she-elf, taller than Rillwhisper, closer to Lifefire himself in height. A tousled mop of white-golden hair, and eyes as lambent as any wolf's, but possessed of a knife-sharp intelligence that gleams through her mother's memories so clearly that it makes them seem even sharper than Rillwhisper's own eyes here and now. ** Last she sent the Preserver back to report to me she was in the middle of the marshes, but I haven't heard from her in several seasons... and, well. ** Now she trails off, brow wrinkling a bit, but the flavor of her sending is distinct: half of it a rough awareness that she is the perennial mother fretting over her cub leaving the den, half of it an equally rough awareness that this is as voluble as she's gotten with a visitor to the Holt for... well, almost as long as it's been since she last saw Wayfound. Lifefire shakes his head, ** I am sorry I haven't seen anyone like that. ** He frowns and leans forward to gently push a hair out of Rillwhiper's face, "I wish I could be or more help to you. I miss my parents and I bet they miss me too." Rillwhisper is long accustomed to being casually and even frequently touched -- with a lifemate like Trollkiller, bound to spring into the lap faster than you can draw a breath, it's impossible not to be. So she doesn't bat an eye as the young elf brushes that loose strand of hers aside, though it does make her smirk slightly at herself. Tousled hair. It seems like her hair's been forever possessed of a mind of its own, ever since she took down her topknot. ** Aye, I'm sure they do, ** sends she, then, blowing out a breath and returning her attention to the meat, with vigor belying her deceptively dainty hands. ** And, well, tell me of your parents? Ynderra said something about you having Lostholt blood. ** It's an unexpectedly pleasant switch from solitude, this. And maybe it's a good distraction as well from worrying about her odd, uncannily sharp-minded offspring. Or maybe the Wolfbringer just likes this young elf's face. Whatever the reason, invitation for further conversation underscores her send, as she chews. Lifefire nods and smiles, ** Yes I have Lostholt blood in my veins, my grandmother, Leafdancer, was once a member of Losthot before she wandered off to answer the call no elf can deny. She choose to stay with my grandsire and wander with him to raise my mother, Lifestream. It was after my grandparent's death that my mother recognized my father in the same away my grandmother did. Well almost. My mother saved my father from drowning and that night I was made. ** He grins, ** I knew that Lostholt felt like home the moment I saw Father Tree. ** Rillwhisper's eyes glitter for a moment; old memory flickering across them, perhaps. There is certainly a kind of understanding there, at the notion of destined lifemates saving one another from peril. ** It's good to have a place that'll feel like home to you always, ** she send-murmurs, and that, along with a world-weary look to her delicate visage, suggests that even if such might not necessarily be the case with her... she's pleased to see it be so for someone else. Lifefire nods and puts an arm around Rillwhisper. He gives her a slight hug, ** I am sorry about Willowholt. ** The other members of LostHolt told him what happened so he wouldn't be totally clueless. ** I know what it was like to not have a home. That's why I settled at Sorrow's End. LostHolt is my anscetrial home, but Sorrow's end is my real home. ** It's not often that Rillwhisper is taken aback. She's seen too much in her life not to be... and yet, a companiable arm from an elf she barely knows from a hole in the ground is enough to make her blink rapidly several times, before swallowing down the rest of her current mouthful of ravvit and letting out a bit of a cough as she does so. That might, too, be just a trace of wetness gleaming in her eyes as she then reaches over and squeezes the younger elf's shoulder. ** ......... thank you. I... suppose I'm particularly missing Willowholt, tonight. ** Her gaze drifts upward to the great spreading crown of the Father Tree, not far away at all. ** The others say the spirits of those who went before live in those branches, and that helps it feel like Home. At Willowholt... there was just my brother. And my last Recognized. ** At least, she's fairly sure Lonehowl's spirit followed her home. ** Maybe the spirits here don't see eye to eye with me, or something. ** Then her gaze comes back and she musters up another lopsided grin. ** Sorrow's End is a wonder. I've seen it... though not in a very long time. ** Lifefire nods as he gently pats Rillwhispers shoulder and then gently rubs her back as he is just trying to be freindly, ** That's what I was taught, but I am sure where ever the spirits of those that have passed still watch over us. ** He smiles, ** I bet it hasn't changed much. Never does, unless the father and son rockshapers have got at it again. ** Lifefire chuckles a little as he remember Gentlestorm and some of his early attempts at rockshaping. And Rillwhisper seems to sense the friendly intentions, and accept them for exactly that, letting her body slump a little as long as the younger elf seems inclined to make with the backrubs. ** They baffle Strongbow immensely, ** she notes dryly, as she tilts her head downwards unthinkingly, thanks to the position into which she's gently slumped. ** I think it bends his head sometimes to think he's grandsire and great-grandsire to a couple of rockshapers. ** Lifefire nods, ** I bet, but it doesn't surprise me. ** He moves a little so he can rub your back with both hands. ** Strongbow has such a powerful send. I have never met anyone with that much power behind his send. It almost knocked me off of my wolf when I first got a send from him. I am used to Sun folk sends and they a lick whispers to Strongbow gusts of wind.** Lifefire's hands eagerly find all the knots in your back and start to undo them. ** I _did_ point out to him that I suspect Ahdri's blood had something to do with the rockshaping, ** is Rillwhisper's droll reply to that. She can be heard to suck in an audible breath -- for there's tension to be found in that slender frame of hers, and the simple pleasure of having friendly hands deal with it for her makes it a relief for her that she is actually looking down at the ground now. It makes her better able to modulate the surprised relief that courses through her, even though she can't quite keep it from flavoring her send. It makes her sound noticeably more relaxed already, as she adds, ** Though if it makes you feel any better, the Archer knocks me over too. ** Lifefire nods, ** Probably. ** He simply sends as he is concentrating on getting every single tension out of your musckles. ** Thanks it does a little. ** Lifefire grins, ** Do you want to lay down? I can loosen more muscles that way? ** ** Cousin, I've barely put a dent in your kindly offered ravvit, much less what's left of my jacket; you keep up with this, you're going to make nutmash of me. ** From the sound of Rillwhisper's sending, though, it is not likely that she is objecting to this possibility. Here she was unusually twitchy tonight, and the High Ones bring her a solution to the problem; far be it from her to turn it away. Lifefire smirks a little, ** Well we could go up to your den and I could turn you into nutmash up there if you wanted. Nothing like a good wrestle in the furs the a relaxing rub down afterwards. ** Laughter begins, then, somewhere within Rillwhisper's chest, and then escapes her in a sudden audible burst. It's low and throaty, the Wolfbringer's laughter; it might be expected to come out of an elf rather bigger than she. ** You're starting to sound like my lifemates, ** she drawls. ** And if you set foot in my den with those kinds of intentions, you'll probably get pounced by Trollkiller. ** Lifefire ahs, ** Well I don't want to upset your lifemate or you. ** He smiles as he doesn't stop rubbing, just because you turned him down for a roll doesn't mean he is going to stop the friendly back rub, ** Perhaps another time. ** There's nothing remotely upset about Rillwhisper's bearing, her sending, or in the wry green glance she shoots up at Lifefire as she turns her head long enough to look his way, wearing what would be a perfect game face were it not for the amused glitter in her eyes. ** You misunderstand me, ** she answers, sitting up a bit more even though she still has one shoulder turned towards those helpful hands. ** You haven't upset me, and you wouldn't upset Trollkiller or Woodhawk either. _I_ am flattered. Woodhawk _usually_ keeps to me and Trollkiller, but Trollkiller'll probably want to share. You're cute. ** This compliment is saved from having a tone that might better match a comment like 'my wolf is brown' by Rillwhisper's tinging it with general appreciative acknowledgement, but it's still pretty much straightforward and honest. ** And Trollkiller's an armful and a half of elf. ** An image flares up: an elf furred of body, like Flashfire, Cutter and Leetah's adopted son. But unlike Flashfire, this brawny elf has no fur upon his face, and is of significantly heftier build besides, not to mention shorter. ** I don't bring anyone to my den without duly warning them first. ** Lifefire ahs and grins, ** Well I don't mind sharing either nor male elves. Thank you for the warning ** He presses in to get a deep muscle unknotted, ** I am ready whenever you are. ** [And as the amused Rillwhisper lets the young elf accompany her to the den she shares with her lifemates, end log.]