Log Date:
	5/1/97

Log Cast:
	Briarcatch, Aureole

Log Intro:
	The Plainsrunner tribe has been thrown for something of a loop,
with the recent declaration by its young chief Thorn that he is leaving the
tribe for a time -- and that they should choose someone to act as chief in
his absence. To the bemusement and fond pride of the young huntress Aureole,
her lifemate, Briarcatch, leader of the Pathkeeper scouts, has been chosen
for that role, but what she doesn't know is what Briarcatch plans to do
now that he has it....

----------
Briarcatch enters from the canyon.
Briarcatch has arrived.
Briarcatch's steps get quieter, once he's ducked inside the cave itself, spear 
  no longer thudding into the ground on his off-step as he walks. He leans it 
  against the wall, as usual.

A tumble of bright hair, and one slender muscled arm, is mostly what's visible 
  of the young huntress Aureole, where she is lying in a nest of sleepfurs. 
  Her breathing is slow and steady.

Briarcatch pauses a moment, studying the spear, then he gives it a half-smile, 
  almost as if he'd been sending with it, and he turns to pick his way over 
  furs. He sits, as quietly as he can, beside the sleeping Aureole, and rests 
  one hand against her back, cooler than she must be, in her nest. Not cold. 
  Just cool.

Aureole shifts sleepily; her bare golden skin is, indeed, warm, as though 
  she'd been lying out in the sun. ** ... **

Briarcatch smiles. He speaks, rather than sending, a murmur, "Just decided to 
  let Whistler watch, for now."

Aureole lifts her head a fraction, one blue eye emerging from the nest. She 
  smiles sleepily. ** ... **

Briarcatch chuckles. "Well, good morning anyway, bright-eyes." He pauses, and 
  tilts his head, ** I was just trying to remember when the last time I just 
  sat and watched you, was. I don't think I remember. ** His tone is light, 
  warm.

The huntress rolls over, revealing her face as her hair spills softly back off 
  it, and smiles crookedly at you, slightly bemusedly. ** Busy Pathkeeper 
  pack-leader, ** she sends with affection. ** Why worry about time? **

Briarcatch shakes his head a little. ** Because _I_ don't think the way you 
  do, huntress, ** he teases. ** When the Daystar rises and sets is important, 
  or when the first frost shows up on the plainsgrass.. silly things like 
  that. Did you sleep well? Or should I let you sleep again? **

Aureole grins up at you. ** You could curl up here and nap with me. **

Briarcatch mmms. ** I could.. but who'd watch the tribe? **

Aureole lifts a slender hand and pokes your nose with it, eyes twinkling. ** 
  Chiefs have to sleep too. **

Briarcatch tries to catch that nose-poking hand, his eyes dancing as well. ** 
  I slept. You can't blame me for sleeping when you're awake, can you? **

Perhaps because she is drowsy, Ree's hand is easily snared, though she tickles 
  her fingertips along yours as it is. ** Silly chief, it's too _bright_ 
  during the day...! **

Briarcatch's eyebrows arch. ** Too light for what? Watching out for trouble? 
  ** He follows the trapped hand down along the arm, until he does actually 
  lie out in the furs next to her, giving her shoulder a playful nuzzle.
Briarcatch draws a breath, and asks, ** So.. how would you like to keep track 
  of the other Keepers, for me? **

** How anybody sees anything with the Daystar blazing down is beyond me.... ** 
  the huntress mock-protests, but follows it up with a low, soft purr as you 
  draw near. But when you send on, she lifts her head back from you, blinking. 
  ** Huh? **

Briarcatch's eyebrows lift again. ** The Pathkeepers. You've been one of us 
  since the beginning, really, and I need someone to be there when I can't be. 
  At least. **

Aureole slowly sits up, her blue eyes widening. ** You're asking me... to lead 
  them? **

Briarcatch nods, nose pointed at the ceiling of the cave. ** For a time. I 
  have to go for awhile, and they'll need someone to look to. When I come 
  back, if they haven't complained.. and they won't, ** he assures you, 
  lightly, ** you'll lead them. If you want. **

** But.... but... ** Aureole stares at you, stunned. ** I couldn't take the 
  Pathkeepers from you! **

Briarcatch turns his head to study you a moment. ** Why not? They trust you, 
  as much as I do. They know you know the canyon, and the plains. **

Aureole swallows a little, her face softening somewhat at your encouragement, 
  even as she sends sheepishly, ** But... you'll be ready to be Pathkeeper 
  leader again once you're done being chief, right? **

Briarcatch nods again. ** Maybe so. We'll see, I guess. ** He hesitates, and 
  draws a breath, as if he might speak, then stops himself again. ** 
  Newgreen's here, Ree. The season's turned, and I have to leave. Only for a 
  little while. **

Aureole blinks. ** Leave? Why? But... you're chief now! ** The huntress 
  boggles.

Briarcatch nods, and props himself up on an elbow. ** I'm Chief now, and 
  that's why I have to go. So no one else does, and gets in trouble, or worse. 
  ** Another hesitation, and he plunges on. ** I'm going to the five-fingers. 
  **

** WHAT?! **

Briarcatch sits up fully, brow furrowed. ** Listen, before you get upset, Ok? 
  Ok? ** He holds your gaze for a moment, hopefully. ** Spearfall came back to 
  the tribe, you know that. And there's a rumor that's been spread now, that 
  one of the humans helped Strongwind's kit. **

Aureole is not only upset, she is visibly bristling, her eyes hot with worry. 
  ** Yeah, but one of them _also_ cut her ear off, Briarcatch! **

Briarcatch frowns. ** I _know_, Aureole. I know. I remember. They kill, and 
  they hurt, elves and wolves, and cats, too. I don't trust them. You know 
  that. High Ones, the whole tribe knows. But Spearfall.. wants to be 
  chieftess. And if I don't go, she'll go, to prove that she's braver, 
  smarter. Careless. She'll go, and if anything happens, it's my 
  responsibility. **

The maiden ponders this, her lips pressed together into a small line. 
  Troubledly, she sends, ** Do you have to go _alone_? **

Briarcatch shakes his head. ** I won't go alone. ** He grins faintly. ** I'm 
  not stupid. But I won't take the whole tribe with me, either. Better if they 
  don't know how many of us there are. **

Aureole is quiet for a long moment, as she absorbs your words. ** And you need 
  me to... stay here and deal with the scouts, right? ** she asks, her 
  mind-voice small.

Briarcatch sends openly ** I need you to stay here and help them, when they 
  need help. To make sure no one follows me. To be here, and safe, when I come 
  back, ** he adds. **

The young she-elf sighs heavily, lowers her eyes for a moment, and sends, ** 
  Alright... ** as you list out your reasons for her staying behind. But at 
  that last, she looks up again, her mouth quirking in a half-hearted smile. 
  ** You _better_ come back safe, ** she scolds.

Briarcatch offers his hand. ** Promise. **

Aureole, with that, abruptly grabs you and hugs you fiercely. ** I don't want 
  you losing any ears. ** she sends, a she-wolf's growl under the words.

** ... ** True startlement keeps him from responding any more than that, 
  before he closes his arms around your back. ** I'll be all right, Ree. I 
  promise. You'll see. I'll be.. home before you know I'm gone. ** His attempt 
  at reassurance is laced with his own uncertainty, but he is in earnest.

Nuzzling fiercely at your neck, Aureole sends lowly, ** You better. Even >I< 
  can't ignore time.... for this... **

Briarcatch buries his nose in your hair. ** I promise, Aureole.. I promise. **

[End log.]