Log Date: Sept. 4 1994 Log Cast: Blackmorn, Starwing, Aureole, HoneyGold (Preserver), Soulweaver, Briarcatch, Tumbleberry (Preserver) Log Intro: A sickness has struck the Plainsrunner canyons, and among its victims are the young she-elf Starwing and her kitling Aureole, much to the profound dismay of Starwing's mate Blackmorn. WindSinger and the other healers in the canyons have done what they can, but it is a vicious sickness indeed that has taken hold in Blackmorn's lifemate and child, and all too soon it becomes apparent that it is only a matter of time before Starwing's soul will pass on to the Palace. In the meantime, Blackmorn keeps an obsessive watch over his family.... ---------- Small grass-hued tent(#4012AIOQe) The interior of this small tent is not lavishly furnished - and indeed, what few furnishings it has are such as can be quickly gathered up and packed if the tent should need to be moved. There are sleepfurs here, crowded about the central pole that provides the tent's support. Contents: Blackmorn Dirk Carrypack(#3905) Cloak (#5408) Something about the tent makes your nose wrinkle... an unpleasant odor that speaks of sickness within. Blackmorn sits his constant vigil. Starwing seems to barely move... indeed, to barely breathe, beneath the furs that bundle her. Aureole fidgets restlessly on the furs, her tiny face flushed. Blackmorn watches the cub awhile, idly slipping his hand through furs to search for one of Starwing's. Her hand in your seems barely more substantial than a feather... and her eyes do not open at your touch. Blackmorn lets go a quiet breath, and gives a cautious squeeze to that hand, and waits. Blackmorn locksends ** ** You locksend to Blackmorn, Starwing's mind, as you touch it, seems almost as insubstantial as her hand... there is mostly the achingly bright flare of the stars in her soul, deep within.... You sense in a locksend, Blackmorn wavers between remaining close, and shying from the stars again. HoneyGold has connected. HoneyGold looks at you for a moment. Starwing(#769PXace) Starwing's unobtrusive, delicate figure has changed: the flawless sheen of her golden skin has given way to an alarming pallor, broken only by two high spots of color on her hollowed cheeks. Her streaked-pewter hair is darkened with sweat, and curls in damp tendrils about her face; her eyes, overbright, seem almost piercing, the starlight look within them grown strangely brighter. Her thin figure is wrapped up tightly in many furs, and very little of her is visible beneath it, save for her face and the occasional frail hand that emerges from under her coverings. Her expression, when she is not coughing or lost in her fever, is strangely serene. HoneyGold flitters over to Starwing, and asks without much hope.. // Honeygold make wrapstuff now? // You locksend ** ** to Blackmorn. Blackmorn's gaze shifts up to the bug, and he frowns. In a voice barely above a dry whisper, he answers "No." Nuzzling weakly against her mother, Aureole coughs. HoneyGold lands lightly on Blackmorns shoulder, leaning forward to look solemnly at him. // Softpretty highthing all limp..and littleloud highthing, too. Honeygold can keep safe!// You sense in a locksend, Blackmorn summons strength from..somewhere, and presses closer, gently. ** Precious Faan.... my beautiful songbird.. ** You locksend ** Verit... ** to Blackmorn. Blackmorn looks past the bug. "You can keep her as she is..sick..never healing. I do not want that." You sense in a locksend, Blackmorn wraps a tendril of himself about that whisper, cradling it close to him, possessively. ** Here...always. ** HoneyGold flutters its wings, looking distressed. You locksend ** So.... sad.... dear Verit.... ** to Blackmorn. HoneyGold finally flutters away, and hovers in front of Aureole. Blackmorn locksends ** Sad...yes. You will reach the stars before me, songbird... ** Aureole seems rather distressed, making the small random movements that a sick child sometimes will. Her tiny face is screwed up, and she pouts... HoneyGold pipes up, purple eyes sympathetic. // Make wrapstuff for little highsthing? Not all broken, yet.. // You locksend ** I will... wait for you... in the Palace... I will... be there.... ** to Blackmorn. Blackmorn glances over at the bug above Aureole, and he uses his free hand to wave it away. "No wrapstuff.." Aureole seems to choose this moment to whimper. You locksend ** Guard... Teme... heal.... ** to Blackmorn. Blackmorn locksends ** I will find it..I will find -you-. That much is certain. ** HoneyGold places its hand in its sides, and flits up to hover right in front of Blackmorn. /Honeygold must make highthings all safe!/ Blackmorn locksends ** ** You locksend ** *worry/hot/sick* ** to Blackmorn. Blackmorn frowns and blows at the Preserver in front of him. "We will be safe, without you." Blackmorn locksends ** Rest, huntress-cub. We will be well.. ** HoneyGold flits backwards, then makes a sounds half distress and half offended before zipping out of the tent. /Honeygold find nice juicysweets for highthings../ On that mission, it leaves. HoneyGold slips under the flap and outside the tent. Blackmorn takes his hand from Starwing's, and turns to gather up Aureole again, cradling her carefully.. ** Peace.. ** Aureole stirs fretfully against her sire, whimpering throatily. Blackmorn holds Aureole, but his eyes are on her dam. ** Peace, for all of us... ** You locksend ** ** to Blackmorn. Blackmorn flinches lightly, and his eyes darken. He leans forward, over Starwing, arms tightening on Aureole. Blackmorn locksends ** Faan? ** Starwing's breath is a barely audible rattle in her throat.... You locksend ** The Palace... it.... pulls... I can... feel..... ** to Blackmorn. Blackmorn sets Aureole to one side, gently, back in the furs, and half-crouches around the tent, shifting to sit closer, lifting Starwing effortlessly into his arms and against his chest. He bends his head to hers. ** Not yet.. ** You locksend ** Must... rest... ** to Blackmorn. Blackmorn reaches over to fumble through the furs, looking for his skin of water. ** Let me cool you, beloved, here. I can do it.. ** Starwing lies still... while Aureole, again sensing more wrong than the heat in her tiny body, whimpers hoarsely. You locksend ** They're... waiting... Mother... Father.... ** to Blackmorn. Blackmorn finds the skin, and unstoppers it, tossing the lid aside. He presses the lip to Starwing's mouth, water trickling against her lips and down her chin in a thin trail.. his send has hope, but his eyes do not. Starwing's eyes, slowly, with an immense effort, open. Her gaze is bright, serene, filled with the ancient starlight that lies within her mind. You locksend ** Verit... I will... wait there... remember... ** to Blackmorn. Blackmorn meets her star-filled gaze, and the hand and bottle fall away from her mouth. His eyes cloud an instant before he closes his eyes and nods, once. Blackmorn locksends ** I..will remember. ** Starwing does not have the strength to smile. But her gaze holds her emotions, radiating clearly from her guileless soul: as pure as her voice carried by the winds of the plains. Blackmorn opens his eyes again, and he smiles, a faint curling up of one corner of his mouth. ** Rest, beloved... rest... ** You locksend ** I will.... wait.... I will wait... beloved... Verit.... ** to Blackmorn. Blackmorn locksends ** ** Starwing's eyelids drop softly shut. You locksend ** ** to Blackmorn. Blackmorn squeezes his eyes shut, and bows his head to rest against Starwing's forehead, more silent than he has been, no send or sound coming from him. Aureole wails, thinly, the sound echoed by the piercing shriek of a desert hawk outside the tent. Blackmorn lifts his head then, eyes still closed, but trails of moisture streaming from beneath his lashes.. and he howls, low and mournfully. Blackmorn glances down at the shell in his arms, howl dying off...and then over to the keening cub.. Blackmorn uncurls from around Starwing, and looks around the tent. Then he half-crouches, and moves to lift Aureole. Aureole half-wails, half-coughs, waving her fists in the air. Blackmorn Easily overlooked, and preferring it that way, Blackmorn does as little as possible to draw attention to himself. His eyes, large and deep gold-flecked brown, perhaps betray his true nature, and if you could only gaze into them long enough, you think you might perhaps be able to penetrate to the core of this elf's being. Dressed in somber slate grey breeches, and a well-tanned if somewhat careworn leather vest, he seems not to notice physical changes in season. It shows the mark of one accustomed to doing what he must to survive. Three long scars wrap around his right side at his ribs, but he still moves as fluidly as ever. His hair, dark brown and full, flows loose over his back and shoulders, draping to mid back. Soft boots cover his feet. He regards you almost as if from a distance, and yet, there is incredible warmth and compassion behind those eyes. [Outside, Blackmorn passes Aureole to Soulweaver.] Soulweaver(#4511PJXce) A huntress. A stalker. Soulweaver is tall and lanky, her lithe muscles rippling with every movement. Her long, shaggy black hair hangs over her deep violet eyes. As you look closer, you notice that she looks a little... unusual. Her deep-set eyes are very steeply slanted, and far apart on her head. Her cheekbones are high and prominent. Her sharp, white fang-teeth push out her lip somewhat. She even has a fine dusting of fuzz on her forearms and on the back of her neck. Everything about her tells you... Here is the Wolf, come down through the generations to reappear in this violet-eyed throwback. Soulweaver looks at you and grins good-naturedly... she has made peace with her Wolf-self, and so should you. If you know what's good for you. Aureole wails mournfully in Soulweaver's arms, her tiny face screwed up, red, flushed. Soulweaver strokes Aureole's hair quietly, her eyes darting around Blackmorn. Blackmorn turns away from the two, and steps to Whiteridge's side, reaching down to sink his fingers into the wolf's fur. Briarcatch slips down off his rock, and very slowly paces around it to peer into the tent.. Aureole sends openly ** ?! ** Soulweaver sends openly ** ** Vree has arrived. Vree, screeching mournfully, beats his wings.... and climbs into the air. Briarcatch glances at Blackmorn, and moves closer to the tent, hesitantly. half-expecting to be reprimanded, he reaches out and closes the flaps to the tent. Aureole wriggles against Soulweaver, not quite recognizing her scent in her child's anguish.... her small form is overheated, and her mind's sends loud and raw. Briarcatch Briarcatch stands at about 4'8", lean-framed, and yet well-muscled from days of life on the plains and his sometime travels to other parts of the land. His face has finally lost all traces of cub-roundness, he having passed finally and completely into 'youth' and away from childhood. He wears a new well-worked set of leathers, varying shades of tan to help him disappear into the grasses of his homeland on the hunt. Warm chestnut-brown hair is now pulled back into a single braid, which rests between his shoulderblades, another smaller braid hanging along his right cheek, tied with a leather thong, and adorned with a hawk talon and one feather. His eyes, crystalline sapphire blue sparkle with mirth for an instant as he sees you, and he nods, then his gaze shifts away. Blackmorn speaks quietly. "The healers..where are they?" Soulweaver strokes the child's hair repetitively, a soft rumble in her throat, sending wordless images of cool and comfort. Her eyes flick to Blackmorn. Soulweaver sends openly ** I do not know. ** Soulweaver scents the air, testing for her cousin Windsinger... she shrugs slightly. Blackmorn nods. "They are needed." Soulweaver looks at Snowcrystal, concentrating. The white wolf rises. Aureole(#6162PXce) This tiny elfin child is golden of skin, with delicately pointed ears peeking out from the fine moonlight-colored halo of hair about her head. Eyes of a clear, deep blue, flecked with grey and silver like a misted, starlit night sky, are set at a lupine slant in her small face and often reflect back the light. She seems fragile and delicate, but her gaze is direct and curious, her movements lively; every so often she fixes her regard on something or someone of interest and sendbabbles in a mostly formless but strong mental touch. Now, her tiny form seems overheated, her face hot and flushed; occasionally, she wails mournfully at the top of her lungs, or sends a shapeless current of heat and anguish and a sense of something-missing. Snowcrystal wanders towards Deer Canyon. Soulweaver sends openly ** She will track him from the spring. ** Soulweaver rests her hand on Aureole's head, brows drawing together at the heat. Blackmorn nods again, and releases his hold on Whiteridge's fur. Blackmorn heads for the end of the canyon. Briarcatch says "Hey!" Soulweaver looks toward Briarcatch. Blackmorn stops, but does not turn back. Briarcatch shifts uncomfortably. "Well..you're not going to leave are you?" Soulweaver opens her waterskin, shaking droplets into her hand and then smoothing them over Aureole's skin. She sends to Blackmorn, ** Aureole-scent/hotscent/great concern ** Aureole settles... somewhat... in Soulweaver's arms. She seems to be reacting to the sound of Briarcatch's voice, although her eyes are still quite tightly shut, and she whimpers softly. Blackmorn walks towards the North end of Plainsrunner Canyon. Soulweaver growls under her breath, blowing softly on the child to cool the water on her skin. Briarcatch frowns and starts after Blackmorn. "Hey..!" Aureole sends openly ** ?! ** Briarcatch stops and looks back over his shoulder at Soulweaver and Aureole. "He wouldn't leave, would he?" You locksend ** ?! ** to Blackmorn. Soulweaver frowns worriedly and lopes north, the child held carefully against her side. Soulweaver walks towards the North end of Plainsrunner Canyon. You walk towards the North end of Plainsrunner Canyon. North end of Plainsrunner Canyon The north end of the plainsrunner canyon is surrounded by high walls of yellow sandstone and in the shadow of the wall, more drying racks and a scattering of tents. A flash of green off to the west proves to be a small spring and watering hole for the tribe's ponies. The rolling floor of the valley is covered with short sturdy grasses, half brown and half green but good pasture for the hardy plains ponies. Tall grass and some grain is harvested out on the plains and stored in dry caves hidden nearby for winter feed for the herds. The daystar shines brightly down on the tall grasses of the plains and in the crevaces of the canyons, bringing to life the wonderful plains in this Newleaf season. Contents: Soulweaver(#4511PJXce) Tumbleberry Blackmorn Winterhawk and SunStrike's tent(#3205ALe) Soulweaver's tent(#6508AOe) Obvious exits: Small Passage Small Cave Chieftess' Cave PR Canyon Briarcatch enters the North end of Plainsrunners Canyon from the main campsite. Soulweaver stands, cradling the fretful child, eyeing Blackmorn. Aureole whimpers, wriggling, head turning this way and that as if she reacts to sounds only she can hear. Tumbleberry flits up to Soulweaver and circles around her head, chittering. // Muchfur highthing! // Blackmorn locksends ** Peace, cub. ** Soulweaver starts, bewildered. ** Talking bug... Starwing's friend? ** Briarcatch frowns lightly. "Preserver." Soulweaver rumbles quietly in her throat, trying fruitlessly to soothe the fevered child. ** Preserver... I remember Starwing's tale... ** Soulweaver tips her head, trying to think back. Tumbleberry lands lightly on Soulweaver's head and peers upside down at her. // Silversoft highthing storytelling? // Aureole sniffles, her eyes leaking tears. Tumbleberry looks at you for a moment. Soulweaver nods awkwardly, eyes crossing as she tries to focus on the Preserver. ** Didn't you... wrap her? Or Blackmorn? I... think one of them was ill, and you helped them...? ** Tumbleberry awws and launches from Soulweaver's head to flit closer to Aureole. // Sparkleeye highthing all sad? Awww.../ Soulweaver sprinkles more droplets of water on Aureole's forehead, blowing softly to cool the water. Soulweaver fixes the Preserver with a dark violet glare. ** The child... is sick. The stalks her. ** Tumbleberry flits. // Sparkleeye highthing is allsick? Tumbleberry will make good! Will fetch sparklewaters and beesweets! // Blackmorn sends openly ** No.. ** Soulweaver shrugs slightly, a gleam of exhausted humor in her eyes. ** If that would help, I would help you. ** Aureole wails hoarsely, now limp in Soulweaver's grasp. Soulweaver looks at Blackmorn fearfully. Tumbleberry flits. / Tumbleberry do! / Tumbleberry flits off! Tumbleberry enters the Small Passage. Soulweaver growls faintly. Soulweaver's send is disjointed, rushed. ** I... could take her, and... run, myself, to track the healers... I... ** Briarcatch clears his throat.. "Or.. I could take her..?" Soulweaver blinks up at Briarcatch, sprinkling the last of her water onto the fevered child. Briarcatch shrugs a bit, and studies his toes. "Just..an offer." Soulweaver nods gratefully. ** You can take her. She is the pack's cub now. ** Aureole sniffles, not understanding why the scents around her are different now. Blackmorn sends openly ** She is my pack. ** Tumbleberry joins you from the Small Passage. Soulweaver looks at Blackmorn. ** She is. And so am I. And Briarcatch shares blood with the child. We are all pack. ** Tumbleberry zips back in with a handful of water, which dribbles slowly out, and a sprig of large, blue berries. Soulweaver shakes her head slightly at the Preserver... She growls helplessly. Briarcatch blinks. "B-blood..I'm not kin." Soulweaver flicks a glance to Briarcatch. ** You are a Plainsrunner? ** Aureole sends openly ** ** Tumbleberry frowns. // Sparkleeye highthing no like? // Briarcatch nods. Soulweaver sends to the Preserver, exasperated, ** She does not need food! She needs healed! ** Soulweaver glances back at Briarcatch with a calm shrug. ** Then you share the child's blood. She is half Plainsrunner, and so all those of this tribe are also in her pack. ** Soulweaver regards the Preserver again... considering... then speaks, gruffly. "Child needs healing. Not berries." Tumbleberry flits closer to Aureole and the sprig of berries slips from its grasp. Thoroughly disgusted, it puts its hands on its hips, scattering the handful of water. Soulweaver coughs hoarsely. Aureole wriggles, splattered with water, and wails a protest. Soulweaver blows softly on the water droplets, cooling them. Tumbleberry flits. // Is no fingerglow highthings? Eeeep...nonono..no crying cradlebaby. // Tumbleberry scrunches up its face. // Can make wrapstuff. Can make all stillquiet. // Aureole sniffles again, and subsides, clutching at the front of Soulweaver's garments with a tiny hand. Soulweaver considers this with alarm. "Stillquiet?" Tumbleberry bobbobs its head. Soulweaver coughs and speaks again. "The healers cannot be found. Can you give us time, Preserver?" Blackmorn turns at that, and fixes his gaze on Soulweaver. Soulweaver stands very still, watching Blackmorn steadily. Tumbleberry smiles brightly. // Cando! Make sparkleeye highthing all stillquiet, nocrying. // Soulweaver speaks very low, with a growl, to the Preserver. "Wait." Soulweaver steps toward Blackmorn. Tumbleberry flits. Aureole sniffsniffs weakly, reacting to the presence of her sire's scent. Blackmorn's gaze drops briefly to Aureole, and then lifts again to Soulweaver. Briarcatch shifts from foot to foot as he watches. Soulweaver strokes the child's fevered skin with a gentle finger. Soulweaver shakes her head at a send. Soulweaver frowns slightly, considering. Tumbleberry flits. // Tumbleberry do? // Blackmorn nods. Briarcatch mumbles "Be quiet." Soulweaver lifts a cautionary hand to the Preserver. Aureole sniffles again, growing once more quiet as the grownups around her seem quieter. Tumbleberry pouts. Blackmorn looks down at Aureole again, and his eyes narrow. Tersely, he nods. Soulweaver beckons to the Preserver... nervously eyeing it. Soulweaver sends quiet images to Aureole, of sleep and cool waters. Tumbleberry flits over to Soulweaver and stage-whispers // Do? // Aureole sniffs... but settles a little, soothed by Soulweaver's mind-touch. Soulweaver looks briefly at Blackmorn as she nods. Briarcatch frowns deeply, but he says nothing. Tumbleberry nodnods and spits a string of white goo, erratically, but gradually more smoothly, managing to get only a little bit on Soulweaver's clothing and hair, but tangling her fingers surely. Soulweaver scents the wrapstuff and tugs her fingers in alarm. She kneels and gently places Aureole on the ground. Blackmorn turns and walks away. Soulweaver gives a great sigh and looks wearily up at Briarcatch. Briarcatch's eyes are on the kit and the spitting bug. Soulweaver sends quietly, ** This is strange... but it will keep her until we track the healers... I need you to help guard her. This cocoon must not be damaged. ** Tumbleberry darts up and down and around, wrapping Aureole fairly evenly. Aureole sends openly ** ?! ** Briarcatch nods slowly, and then looks up at Soulweaver and nods again. "Guard her. I..I can do that." Soulweaver smiles slightly, and nods with relief. Aureole wriggles, not understanding what's happening while the bug wraps her. But eventually, her tiny form is secured. Soulweaver kneels by the cocoon, regarding it blankly. For once, she has run up against something entirely outside her experience. Soulweaver bows her head, wrapping thin arms around herself. Tumbleberry hovers wearily and then flops down on Soulweaver's head. // Is all done! Sparkleeye highthing is all stillquiet! // Aureole sends openly ** ?! ** Soulweaver gives a deep sigh. Soulweaver reaches up with one hand to lightly touch the Preserver. Her voice cracks. "My... thanks." Briarcatch steps forward to..stare.. at the cocoon. Tumbleberry nodnods. // Is all good, like belonging time. // Aureole sends openly ** ** Soulweaver blinks at the Preserver's words, uncomprehending. Soulweaver sends to Briarcatch, ** Where should we keep her? I... do not know anything of... ** she looks at the cocoon helplessly. Soulweaver lifts her head and sends. Briarcatch says "Uhm.. I don't.. I don't know." Aureole sends openly ** .....? ** Briarcatch says "M-maybe in the clan cave? It'd ..she'd.. be safe in there." Soulweaver nods appreciatively at Briarcatch, and flicks an inquiring glance toward Blackmorn. Wrapstuff cocoon(#8128Oa) This is a tiny cocoon of wrapstuff, about the size of a small elfin child. Blackmorn nods. Soulweaver reaches out and carefully, carefully, gathers up the cocoon. Tumbleberry flits into the air again. // Carefulsocareful! // Briarcatch says "She's -being- careful." Soulweaver takes slow, measured steps toward the south end of the canyon, her eyes fixed on the cocoon. Her nose twitches at the strange scent of the wrapstuff. Briarcatch follows after Soulweaver. You walk south and enter the main campsite. Plainsrunner Canyon The Plainsrunner have set up permanent camp here in the canyon. You see many tents scattered along the sides of the canyon and cookfires in front of them in addition to racks for drying meat. There are corrals in a side canyon to the southeast where the horses stay and smoke rising from other side canyons hinting to more tents you cannot see. The daystar shines brightly down on the tall grasses of the plains and in the crevaces of the canyons, bringing to life the wonderful plains in this Newleaf season. Contents: Whiteridge Quietripple MoonTear's Tent Moonglum's Tent Silverwind's Tent Tent of tanned hide Small grass-hued tent(#4012AOQe) Dencave Thunderkiss' Tent Obvious exits: South of Plains Mtn Corral Clan Cave Deer Canyon North Canyon Soulweaver enters the main campsite from the North end of Plainsrunner Canyon. Briarcatch enters the main campsite from the North end of Plainsrunner Canyon. Soulweaver steps carefully toward the clan cave. Soulweaver enters the Clan Cave. Briarcatch enters the Clan Cave. [In the Clan Cave, Briarcatch settles down as self-elected guard to the wrapstuffed child. End log.]