Log Date: 3/22/96 Log Cast: Aureole, Briarcatch Log Intro: Talked into the idea by Soulweaver, Aureole and Briarcatch have agreed on the unconventional notion of taking the Wandering together -- in the hope that together, they might succeed where individually they have failed, in completing the Plainsrunner Walkabout. And eagerly, the two look forward to the time they can spend alone with one another, without the duties of hunting and scouting with the Pathkeepers to fill their days.... ---------- Aureole, waiting by Keenears with her weapons and a shouldersack, looks up, eyes glimmering brightly. Briarcatch carries his spear slung across his shoulders, arms drapped over it to hold it in place, walking with a spring in his step. Across him, but not too loosely, is draped a bundle that is made up of tent and furs, and a water skin. Whiteridge paces behind the elf, at a distance. ** You're here before me.. somewhere you want to be, Ree? ** He teases. Aureole giggles, and trots over, as Keenears lopes to the old wolf to greet him. ** Restless, ** she sends, bouncing from heel to toes and back again. ** Been waiting. ** Whiteridge greets Keenears gruffly, then stands like the sentry he has always been, and surveys the plains below with his golden gaze. Briarcatch can't help but grin. ** And is it a good day to travel? ** Aureole spins on one foot, flinging her arms out. ** The wind is high, the stars clear... a night to Howl in...! ** Whiteridge flicks an ear, watching Aureole, then he chuffs, once. Briarcatch chuckles. ** Can we Howl when we've found our first place to camp? If we do it now, I'll never get you three out of here. You'll want to play with your echoes. ** Aureole giggles, and bobs her head, making her bright mop bounce. Then she suddenly winks. ** Race you? ** Briarcatch considers, then nods. ** If you can do it without Keenears. ** Keenears yurfles, almost as if in protest, while Aureole grins widely. ** You know I don't need him to run. ** Briarcatch laughs. ** Then we'll race. ** Aureole laughs aloud, and bounces again. ** Where? Where do we go? We have the whole plain... ** Briarcatch sends openly ** Go where your feet want to go. ** With encouragement like that, Aureole needs no further prompting. She flies off, her hair glimmering in the starlight, and her wolf bounds after her. South of Plains Mountain Peak You stand on a ridge directly south of the cliffs on the south face of the peak of Plains Moutain. The cliffs are broken at the base of the mountain and look almost impassible. To the south the rolling hills of the plains lead away from the moutain. You spot a faint trail to the north leading up the mountain to Plainsrunner Canyon, only noticable by a plainsrunner. Contents: Briarcatch Keenears(#7656ae) Rumble Obvious exits: Rolling Hills You travel south for several days across the plains. Rolling Hills(#1433RJ) As the land slopes down from the ridge it becomes a plain with rolling hills and arroyos. Sturdy grass and the occasional slump of brush covers most of it with trees only in the low areas that collect moisture from the infrequent rain or from underground springs. To the north in the distance with ice on its peak is Plains Mountain which one can see from anywhere on the plains. It grows cold as the evening falls. Dry leaves whisper in the wind. Contents: Whiteridge Sopdoll Obvious exits: Lost Holt Trail Spring GreenSea Valley Arroyo South of Plains Mtn Keenears travels across the plains from the north. Keenears has arrived. Briarcatch travels across the plains from the north. Briarcatch has arrived. You travel west towards GreenSea Valley and it takes several days. GreenSea Valley A light, cool, steady breeze sets the waist-high grasses of this valley to cascading in verdant waves. The sunlight tops the green waves with glittering crests of gold, producing a mesmerizing interplay of light and color. Yet, for all the apparent color and movement of the grasses, there is an ominous stillness.... and oppressive silence which lurks beneath the surface. You feel the hairs on the back of your neck raise slightly for these are the hunting grounds of the Shadowkin, the Plainsrunner hunter. Here, they stalk the great straight-horns and springers, stalking them under cover of the swaying grasses. The gibbous Mother Moon and the crescent Child glide silently across the cool autumn skies. Contents: Shadowmant(#4905DHIJaepqs) small tent Obvious exits: Trail Rolling Hills Grasslands Keenears travels to the Valley from the east. Keenears has arrived. Briarcatch travels to the Valley from the east. Briarcatch has arrived. Briarcatch races after, and though his legs are longer, his strides are more awkward, for the bundle that bumps against his side. Aureole runrunrunrunrunruns. She's always flown on her feet -- ever since her kitling days. And now, as she charges happily through the grasses, she howls, at least when she has the breath for it. But it doesn't take breath to send, and she howls in her sending, too, exultantly. Briarcatch is slowed by the laughter that bubbles out of him as well. He doesn't try howling, as he's poor at it, and sounds mostly like he's choking, but Whiteridge, who bounds after the elves, answers with short bursts of howls as he lopes. Briarcatch's sending is as bright, as enthusiastic, and as concern-free as Aureole's, though. For once. On the pair of elves run, till finally Ree looks over her shoulder, to judge your pursuit... Briarcatch is not close enough to make you any threat at winning. That 'title' lies safe with you: Winner. Swift Huntress Ree. As you look back, though, he stops, jogging to a long-strided walk, instead of a run at all, bits of hair flown loose from the braid he wore, grinning to beat the moons. Aureole almost dances back to meet you, finally falling into step beside you and slinging her arm comfortably through yours. ** Where to camp? Or do we walk, for a time? ** Briarcatch grins at you,and nudges you a little, as he walks with you. A shrug is your answer. ** Are you tired now? Want to hunt? ** Aureole sends openly ** I'm never tired at night! ** Briarcatch chuckles. ** Then we'll walk, until I can't without falling asleep. That'll be well before you're ready for rest. ** [And thus, the pair begin their Wandering. End log.]