Log by Northwind 
Log Mar1403 Northwind Skywise.txt
Title: A quiet conversation
Summary:
Northwind happens on Skywise stargazing and joins him. The stargazer learns a 
little more about the newcomer and gets a glimpse of her host tribe's past 
experiences.

Lookout

The lands of the Abode surround you.

	An outcropping of rock juts out over the southeastern path granting an 
excellent vantage of the area while being obscured by the pale leaves sprouting 
from the surrounding branches. The lookout is large enough for two wolfriders to 
stretch out side by side and still have room to move while keeping an eye on the 
path below. The scents of delicate blooms waft up on the breeze from below.

At the end of the climb, you arrive at the lookout.

Skywise is sitting on the very edge of the outcropping of rocks, though there is 
an excellent view of the lands below his gaze isn't there. He leans back against 
his palms, though he sits cross-legged on the edge of the rock, doesn't seem 
like he's been here too terribly long.

As evening arrives, Northwind walks towards the lookout, a place she discovered 
one day while wandering around the holt. The view from there is marvelous, and 
the location not as conspicuous as the hill, another spot with a great view. 
Little eddies of night breezes dance laughingly around her, twirling in her hair 
playfully. She stops as she sees the silver-maned elf sitting on the promontory, 
unwilling to intrude...

There isn't much room on this outcropping of rock; Skywise's eyes close for a 
moment as he just basks underneath the starlight above. The night has been quiet 
across the holt, only the rustling of a few wolves in the clearing being the 
noises that he picks up most. He opens his eyes, to turn around to lay out 
across the rock, but seems to notice something - or someone, nearby. ** Someone 
there? ** He asks, though doesn't seem at all disturbed by the fact there might 
be someone.

Too late, her presence has been noted. ** Ayooah ** she sends, taking another 
step so that she stands in full view. ** A very good night for stargazing ** she 
notes in casual tones. Perhaps she should leave... But she is inclined to stay. 
She has not spent much time with Skywise and a part of her is curious. ** May I 
join you? **

Quirking a lip up into a smirk, Skywise nods. ** It is a good night, yes. ** He 
sends and glances upwards towards the stars for a moment before leveling his 
gaze back on Northwind. He pats the rock beside him, plenty of room for two on 
the rock though it'd be hard to fit many more than that on it. ** Feel free to, 
something bring you up here? Or just the view? **

The elf maid steps up to the rock, ** My thanks. ** The rocks are not icy or 
slippery, but she moves with care all the same. Thankfully, the seat Skywise has 
offered is downwind from him, so he would be in no danger of getting assaulted 
by her hair. ** Nothing, really. Just the night sky ** she assures 
lightheartedly. Well, it was close.

Skywise leans back against the rock, laying down on it as he intended to do 
before he noticed Northwind in the shadows. He smiles, and looks up at her as 
she sits beside him, and nods. ** I usually go to the hill, but this place is a 
little more reclusive. ** He sends, though still, no hint that he minds being 
intruded upon. Though, the interest in the night sky does pique his curiosity. 
** Do you often look at it, or, just a passing curiosity? **

** Whenever I can. Too often, there is little time, after hunting and chores, to 
just sit and be alone with the night ** she sends. She falls into a familiar 
position, ankles crossed and arms clasped around her knees. She tilts her head 
back and, eyes closed, draws a deep breath. Her expression is peaceful; oddly, 
she is comfortable to just enjoy the night in his presence. He doesn't impinge 
on her awareness, the way others sometimes do.

Skywise sighs softly and nods. ** I usually manage to get some time, each night. 
** He sends, and props his hands up underneath his head to protect it from the 
stony ground. He glances up towards her face as she lifts her head to look 
upwards, and also looks up towards the starry figures overhead. His change to 
voice rather than send is swift, though he doesn't seem to have a problem with 
either. "I haven't had much of an opportunity to welcome you to the holt." He 
mentions, though stops there.

The change to verbal speech takes her by surprise. A tiny crease forms on her 
brow as she looks at him. Speech was bland compared to the richness of sending. 
The short time she has been in the tribe has shown her, however, that many 
prefer to speak rather than send. With a barely perceptible shrug, one side of 
her mouth lifts. "You are now," she says simply, but sincerely. It would seem 
she may have more in common with the stargazer than the color of their hair.

Sending is used more while Skywise is hunting, and most often when he wants to 
convey a point. Otherwise the stargazer makes just as much use of his voice as 
any other wolfrider in the holt. He nods, falling silent for a while as he looks 
up at the stars he loves so dearly, before asking. "What do you see?" He motions 
up towards the velvet sky, as though it were a tapestry to be read.

Following his gesture, she gazes up at the deep blue of the night sky. Wondering 
what the stargazer is really asking, she studies the view silently for a moment. 
"I see something ancient and familiar in a land that is often strange and new. 
They dance in the same pattern, you know?" she asks somewhat rhetorically. 
"Where I grew up, that is." There were other things - a stray, lingering gust of 
whitecold chill that whispers a greeting in her ear, chased away by an 
unfamiliar newgreen eddy...

Skywise quirks a bit of a smile, and nods. "They do change, though. Depending on 
the season, except one." He says, dropping his hand back down at his side as he 
keeps his silvery grey gaze on the sky itself. He sighs softly, once more, and 
adds. "They are a comfort, especially in lands unfamiliar." He assumes she's 
talking about here, since it's not her home.

Northwind nodded. ** They dance the same dance each turn.. ** she sends, 
unthinkingly. Catching her slip, she falls back into speech. "Have -you- been to 
unfamiliar lands?" she asks. He sounds like he knows what he's talking about.

Skywise gives a soft nod at the send, though his gaze does not flicker towards 
Northwind as she asks her question. "I've been to many lands, ones covered in 
whitecold all turn, and others that never see it."

Her eyes are wide as she turns away from the sky to look at him. ** Lands that 
never see whitecold? ** she demands, too astonished to notice she sends instead 
of speaking aloud.

Skywise flickers his gaze towards her as she looks down at him, and he nods 
lightly. Sending, this time, an image more than a statement. Lands covered in 
sand, the feeling of the daystar beating down upon the ground unmercifully. 
Enough that the overall feeling of it is conveyed, of Sorrow's End, recent 
enough since he'd been there in the past turn. "And others that it does not lose 
it's grip on."

Now she sends an image, similar to that which she showed Shadows days ago. White 
on white and cold so fierce it seems to burn. The land is harsh but there is a 
pristine beauty to it; light catches on icy crystals and sparkles in a rainbow 
of colors. "Like this?" she asks, recalling herself enough to speak this time.

Skywise offers a light smile at that, and nods. "Very much like that, yes." He 
says, eyes flickering back up towards the starry figures above. "That is where 
you come from?" He asks idly, curious.

Northwind rests her chin on one knee, a compact bundle except for her hair, 
which is still lifted by a stray night breeze. "Most of the time," she answered 
quietly. "Sometimes we moved to the edges of the icelands. Once, we found a 
cave. And then we found trolls."

Skywise seems displeased by the mention of trolls, his own experiences with them 
unpleasant. "I see. Well, you are here now." He says, lingering in the now again 
for the time being, and now when he's looking up in the stars is always a good 
thing. He's quite the opposite of her, sprawled out across the rock comfortably.

Not moving, she stares, not up at the sky, but out at the landscape spread like 
a carpet below. "Yes, I am." She seems to shake herself and shoots him a wry 
look. "My parents sent me images of this place, the green, growing place that 
was our original home. I thought I would only be happy once I'd found it. And 
now that I have, I find myself constantly dwelling in the past," she said in 
self-deprecation. "I should stay in the now. That is the Way."

Skywise lifts a hand to brush across the side of a nearby leg, should she not 
draw away from his touch. ** It is the Way, but there is knowledge in the past 
that is just as useful. ** He sends, and offers a light smile at the maiden 
sitting with him as he lays out across the rock. Dropping his hand back to his 
side afterwards, he fixes his silvery gaze on her. ** Are you happy to be here? 
Or do you long to return home? **

The touch is brief and before she can react, his sending distracts her. Then, he 
withdraws the contact and she is left pondering his question. ** Happy? ** There 
is a thoughtful pause. ** I find joy and amusement in the little things, but 
most of the time, I am too busy learning new things to spare thought for how I 
feel. I have wandered alone for a Turn or so since leaving my parents. Perhaps, 
now that I am with a tribe, I can stop being so confused and find out if this 
land is my heart's home, afterall, ** she answers at length.

Skywise gives a brief nod at the response, eyes still looking up towards her as 
she sends. ** It would be a good idea to put thought into it. ** He sends, and 
remains sending despite his overall tendency for speech within the holt. Lifting 
his hand towards the sky, he sighs lightly. ** I long to be closer to the stars, 
but my home is here. My soulbrother, his family, this tribe. ** He would say 
'his' tribe, referring to Cutter, but it's not at this time. ** The view is 
better if you lay down. ** He mentions idly.

She nods silent acknowledgement to his advice about thinking, then is struck by 
a sense of longing as he lifts his hand to the skies. The emotion is so akin to 
her own love for the wind that it strikes an answering chord in her. ** I wish I 
could fly... ** the send slips out, almost a whisper. ** Soulbrother? What is 
that? ** she asks. She turns towards him, uncoiling from her curled position to 
rest her weight on one hand. The rock is slightly cool and grainy under her 
outspread fingers. It still feels strange to be touching it without gloves on.

Skywise arches a brow at the wistful send, and nods. ** I have flown, with the 
help of another. It was the closest I've ever been.. ** He trails off at the 
second question, and looks at Northwind curiously, and seems surprised at her 
lack of knowledge of such a bond. ** I am close with Cutter, we have shared 
soulnames. ** Surely she knows what her own soulname is, right, and the 
importance of keeping it secret. ** For nearly as long as I can remember. **

** You have flown? ** The hand supporting her bends and she ends up sprawled on 
her stomach on the bare rock, resting on her elbows with her chin in her hands, 
booted toes waving in the air - possibly obstructing Skywise's stargazing but 
she is too caught up in the topic to think of that possibility. ** How? **

Skywise reaches up towards the booted feet that are currently obscuring his 
view, towards the ankles to move them just out of his way, though not removing 
his hand from the leg itself for a few moments. ** Feet off the ground, and all, 
yes. ** He sends and grins wistfully a bit at the memory. ** With help from a 
glider. **

Belatedly realizing the trouble her feet were causing, Northwind obligingly 
lowers them, still intent on the subject. Wistful herself, she tries to imagine 
how it must have felt. ** What's a glider? ** she asks.

Skywise releases the grip his hand had on the leg once you lower it obligingly. 
He sends to you another image, one of Aroree and her wistfully sad eyed gaze, 
her lithe limber grace and her normal attire of the clothes of the Chosen, quite 
different than your average Wolfrider. He feels that send must be enough, since 
he doesn't send anything more, as his gaze lingers on the heavens above.

Impossibly, her eyes grow even wider with wonder. ** An elf, but so tall, so 
beautiful! ** she marvels at the image. ** And she flies! ** Recovering herself 
at his silence and stillness, she picks up a sense of emotion behind the 
sending. ** You... love her ** she says timidly, not quite a question.

Skywise doesn't look back at Northwind at her synopsis of the send, though he 
does nod. Now to which send, it isn't clear. ** I have not seen her in many 
turns of the season. ** More than he can count, really, and more than he really 
lingered upon. But, it isn't long before the impish smirk that often crosses his 
face returns. ** What about you, have you loved? Have you mates? **

Something in his manner makes her leave off the topic of the glider. Better, she 
thinks, to ask someone else about 'gliders' - how is it that they can fly?! He 
fires the question at her with such a mischievous smile and she ducks her head, 
resting it in one fist and turning on her side now. The free hand idly traces 
the surface of the rock but not for long - the grainy rock beneath her elbow is 
beginning to hurt, and she rolls back into her original position, sitting cross-
legged, her back to him. ** No ** she answers, finally.

Skywise sits up, running his fingers through his hair as though to smooth it 
from laying on the rock though perhaps to get a bit of the dirt from it as well. 
He scoots over towards the edge of the rock, facing opposite her, and arching 
enough so he can see her face. ** No? There a reason why not? ** He seems as 
interested in that as she about the gliders, though he's less likely to let 
himself be brushed off.

She studies her toes, not meeting his eyes. Her face feels hot again, she notes 
irritably. ** Not really. ** Annoyed with herself for showing weakness, she 
raises her head and forces herself to meet his silvery-grey gaze. ** It's quite 
simple. I've always lived with my parents until about a turn ago. I've been 
alone since then. Where would I have found a lovemate? ** she asks, as direct 
now as any of Strongbow's arrows.

Skywise keeps that crooked smile on his face, despite the directness of the 
send. Nor does he show any sign of being shy, or timid about the questions he 
asks. His gaze does flicker to the tribal land below, and then back towards her. 
** You are in the company of others now, hasn't there even been one that's 
captured your gaze in that way? ** Of course, the stargazer has heard the rumors 
about Shadows' attempt to get close to one of the guests, it could be her.

If Skywise is comfortable with the subject, Northwind is certainly not. The 
truth of his sending cannot be denied; she -is- among others now and it is time 
and past time to learn the one aspect of life she has not experienced. Yet, her 
heart shrinks at the thought of letting another so close, to let down all 
barriers and defenses completely. ** No. ** The answer is quiet, but the surety 
behind the send is undeniable. ** None. **

Skywise arches a brow at the send, and since it can't be untrue, he nods. He 
doesn't look away though, doesn't give her the comfort of his gaze elsewhere as 
he watches her. ** That is too bad, sometimes the comfort of another is all it 
takes to feel more at peace in a place unfamiliar. ** He sends as assuredly 
though he is very well versed in that, which, of course he is. Though not every 
elf is as easy to appease as he is, and he knows that.

His send is met with a shake of her head, not a rejection of him but of his 
suggestion. ** It would only be another frightening, new experience among many, 
** she explains, breaking eye contact. ** I'm not ready, Skywise. When I am, 
that is a step I will take ** she says, wishing they could talk about something 
else.

Skywise chuckles and shakes his head. ** I am not trying to rush you, Northwind. 
** He sends and looks back up at the stars. It's not like he doesn't have his 
share of mates or those who would be willing, and he came out to stargaze, after 
all. Silent, and thoughtful, Skywise keeps his eyes on the stars above, looking 
for something in particular perhaps.

Relieved that the topic seems to be closed, Northwind lets the silence stretch a 
while, but finds it filled with troubling thoughts, questions and self-analysis. 
To banish the soul-searching, she searches for something else to talk about. ** 
You know Cutter's soulname? Are you two.. Recognized? ** she asks.

Skywise gives a brief nod at the question, though his gaze doesn't leave the 
stars overhead. His hand reaches up to slip over the stone around his neck, and 
he answers the question. ** No, of course not. ** Heck, the idea is near 
preposterous, since neither could bear a child out of that sort of recognition. 
** We are brothers, in all but blood. ** He seems to have a bit of sorrow in his 
send, due to the fact he knows the troubles that linger over his soulbrother.

Oblivious to the worries hanging over the stargazer, though not to his mood, she 
tries to understand the implications his words. ** You... -told- each other your 
soulnames? ** she sounds as incredulous as when he said he had flown. 

Giving a nod to the question posed of him, Skywise adverts his gaze once more 
from the stars above to Northwind. ** Yes, I know his, and he knows mine. ** He 
gives a soft shrug of indifference, though offers a lighthearted smile. ** It is 
not common for most to do that, though. ** He assures, and glances down towards 
the clearing.

Two silver heads turned towards each other under stars and moons. Ought to be a 
romantic scene, but something very different is on the elf maid's mind. ** It 
must be nice to have such a close friend, ** she comments.

Skywise meets his eyes with hers, once more as she comments about his bond with 
Cutter, and he nods. ** It's indescribable. ** He sends, and as far as he is 
concerned it's unlikely anyone could understand unless they were subject to such 
a bond, or recognized.

There is little the elf maid can do in response but nod. Even sending would pale 
beside the full experience of it. Perhaps someday, she will find such a bond. 
She can hope so.

Skywise stands up, intending to head back towards the Father Tree most likely. 
** I think I'm going to head back towards the holt, the stars only say so much. 
** He sends with a grin, moving to step towards the way back to the clearing.

Northwind stays where she is for a moment before rising. He had not indicated 
any invitation to follow; she stood, unsure.

Skywise turns back as he sees her stand, and offers a wink and a motion of the 
hand towards the clearing. ** Come along if you like. ** There's the offer, the 
invitation, and leaving her not wondering if he minds her company. He turns away 
again, headed towards the clearing itself.

Skywise picks a way down to the clearing.

Northwind steps off the rocks, again with automatic care, and trots after him.

Note: Continued in log dated 15 March.