Log Date: 11/29/95 Log Intro: Rayek and Ekuar are continuing their secret walk away from the Palace, with Ekuar doing his best to keep Rayek in an unthinking and peaceable state of mind -- hoping that by doing so, the brown-skinned magic-maker will be able to begin to heal from all the strains and pressures on his psyche. The two elves and their Preserver companion Petalwing make their way north out of the desert, and eventually into the grasslands fringing the woods just south of the Forbidden River. There, Ekuar shapes them a shelter to sleep in, and there, while sleeping, Rayek receives another sending.... ---------- Ktai locksends ** Rayek? ** You locksend ** ** to Ktai. Eren soulsends ** Are you well? ** You locksend ** Oh... it's you... ** to Ktai. Ktai locksends ** I'm sorry... ** You locksend ** Eh? It's alright... Ekuar couldn't have told you not to send to me... ** to Ktai. Ktai locksends ** No, he didn't. Where are you? ** You locksend ** We're going for a walk. ** to Ktai. Ktai locksends ** Have you seen my daughter on your walk? ** You locksend ** Hmm? You have a daughter? Oh. No, I don't think I've seen her. We haven't seen anyone, actually. ** to Ktai. You locksend to Ktai, Rayek's sending is strangely paced, as well, a bit rapid, the words seeming to nudge and bump into one another as he relays them. Ktai locksends ** I can't find either one of you! Eveshka or you! Where are you, Rayek? ** You locksend ** It's alright... Ekuar and Petalwing and I, we, we are going for a walk. Ekuar wants it quiet for me. It's alright, truly. ** to Ktai. Eren soulsends ** Take care..... ** You locksend ** I will try. Ekuar will take care of me. ** to Ktai. Eren soulsends ** ** You locksend ** ** to Ktai. Eren soulsends ** ** You locksend ** It'll... be alright... Ekuar knows... what he's doing... ** to Ktai. Ktai locksends ** Sleep, love... and return safely soon. ** You locksend ** ** to Ktai. [Peace, then, for the sleeping Rayek once more; after a while, though, perhaps it is a dream and perhaps not, when Ktai sends to him again. Rayek, deep in dreams, barely notices.] Ktai locksends ** Are you there? ** You locksend ** Hmm? ** to Ktai. Ktai locksends ** Just checking... ** [After that, his sleep is absolute. And as Ekuar had suggested, the two elves after their last leg of their journey sleep like stones, safe and hidden in their rock shelter. But they are not entirely hidden, for unknown to them, they're already being tracked -- by the twin children of Cutter and Leetah, each in their own way. Ember has been following them on foot, and Suntop, from the Palace, has sent his spirit 'out' to see if he can touch Rayek's mind and relay its location to his sister.] Astral Body arrives from the Windy Canyon. Astral Body has arrived. There is a rock incline here, of odd shape, flowing up and out of the ground as if to shelter something underneath it. Two elves, perhaps. You sense in a locksend, Suntop sends from somewhere nearby.. ** ...Rayek.. ** You locksend ** ** to Suntop. You sense in a locksend, Suntop's presence withdraws, returning to a distant place, then.. Astral Body cautiously leaves the cover of the forest for the open ground to the south. Astral Body has left. Ember arrives from the Windy Canyon. Ember has arrived. There are elves' scents, here. And the tingle of recent magic. Ember prowls out of the canyons, mildly irritable, hoping that Suntop's magic feeling was right, because not even Timmorn himself could catch a scent of a high-flying glider when the winds are blowing. She doesn't quite stomp. Wolfriders don't stomp. For the thousandth time, she pauses, testing the winds, hoping for some slight clue to where she's going -- and finally, there it is. A hint of elf, familiar, and when she begins to follow it, the faintest touch of magic. Not a sign of anything in sight, save for grasslands... the distant edges of the treeline... and a lumpy rock formation, flowing smoothly up and out of the ground in a rather neat arch right back down into the ground again. A lumpy rock formation which clearly doesn't belong. Ember is quicktempered, but not stupid, and she stalks towards the thing, circling 'round it from a goodly distance, slowly closing in. ** Ekuar? ** No immediate response. Ember, a trifle more tentatively, tries, ** Rayek? ** Rayek sends openly ** ..........? ** Ember's eyebrows lift. Well. She found them. It's a start. She circles a bit closer to the lump of rock, searching for an opening of some sort. ** Ember, ** she identifies herself. Circling the rock, you can find a crawl-hole, presumably for air, on one side. As your shadow falls across it, you catch sight of Rayek's face, as he peers muzzily outside. "Oh," he says absently. "Hello. Are you coming on the walk?" Ember stops, and blinks in at you. "Walk? Are you going on a walk?" Rayek scoots a little more into view, and looks out at you with strangely wide and guileless amber eyes. "Mmm-hmm. Ekuar wanted to take me on a walk." He adds confidingly, "He's asleep." Ember's expression is just shy of bewildered, but she shrugs eyebrows and nods. "Too bad. I wanted to talk to him." Then she tilts her head and asks, "Would you mind if I came on the walk with you?" Rayek blinks at this a few times, and then glances sideways, brow furrowing slightly. He looks... uncertain. And he finally looks up again, observing, "We should ask Ekuar. He said I shuldn't worry about anything." Ember nods slowly. "Well, all right. Mind if I stay until Ekuar wakes up, then? I haven't seen you for a while." Rayek thinks about this, then nods dreamily. "I suppose that would not be a problem... you can't talk to Ekuar if you're not here..." His speech sounds strange, a little too rapid, the words tumbling over one another. Ember's expression has degraded into 'worried', but she nods. "That's true, I can't. Um. How have you been, Rayek?" Rayek replies innocuously, "Mostly alright... since I decided to stop moping... though my sleep has been strange, and I've had bad dreams. Ekuar wants to help me with that. That's why we're going on the walk. He's asked me not to think about anything much, and I don't mind that, it's a relief, actually, I've been thinking about a lot for some time now, and it makes my head hurt." Ember smiles. "Well, it's better to not have your head hurt. Do you suppose I could come in there?" Is the hole big enough for skinny Ember to fit through? "Besides, you're more fun when you're not moping." Rayek hmms, and peers around him. "It's kind of tight. I'll come out." And he does, crawling out on his hands and knees, then standing up utterly unconscious of the grass and dirt stains on him. He smiles benignly. Ember blinks several times. "Th...thanks." Then she smiles, and reaches out a hand. "My eyes see with joy, Rayek. I hope Ekuar lets me walk with you." Rayek clasps the hand readily, his grip firm, incongruous with his oddly vacant gaze. "It is good to see you too," he answers cheerfully. "I thought I remembered you sending, but I wasn't sure. Hmm. That was at the Palace, though." Ember chuckles, and nods. "Yes, I did send, at the Palace. And then when I went to look for you, you were gone. Since I didn't have anything else to do, I thought I'd come see if I could walk with you." Rayek bobs his head quickly, and stretches a bit, rubbing at one shoulder idly. "Though I guess it hasn't been quite a walk all the way," he chatters. "I've floated us, and our supplies, and Petalwing can fly, it doesn't walk, so I guess it's just as much a glide as a walk, you know?" Ember smiles. "Well, I hope I won't slow you down, if you've been gliding things. If Ekuar lets me come along, that is." Rayek grins, widely, lopsidedly. "We'll have to ask him, but I guess that if you promise not to talk about anything bad he will not mind. He says I need to keep my head quiet." Again the words tumble out of him in an unsteady, breathy rush. "I'll have to remember that, if Ktai or Winnowill sends again, I probably shouldn't talk to them, if I'm supposed to relax and keep my head quiet, but I'm not sure whether sending counts. I'll have to ask Ekuar that, too. But talking doesn't make noise in my head, so perhaps that's alright." Ember blinks, rapidly, at the flow of words, then smiles. "Well," she says reasonably, "if they send again, maybe you could tell them to talk to Ekuar or me, and then we can tell you whatever they say. That'll keep your head quiet." Watching you,s he can't help wondering, a little, if this is what you were like as a cub. Rayek nods wisely and settles down with his back against the rock, sitting cross-legged on the ground. "Winnowill sounded worried and frightened, I've never heard her sound like _that_, before. But I told her I was alright. Hmm." He tilts his head. "I forgot to tell Ekuar she thinks I should bar my door to Azeure and Delenbae. I should remember that. How odd. I don't think they're mad, though." Ember, for lack of anything better to do, sits down next to you. "Winnowill was worried? How strange. Well, she hasn't anything to worry about now. Ekuar will keep an eye on you." Another blinks. "Did she think they were mad?" Rayek beams. "Yes, Ekuar promised he'd take care of me." Strange-sounding words, coming out of Rayek. He continues, "She thinks Azeure's gone mad. I couldn't say, maybe. I hope not. He's getting quite good at turning the Scrolls, and that wouldn't help in the slightest. Being mad, that is." Ember, slowly, says, "No...no, I don't imagine it would." Then, a bit more brightly, she says, "Well, you certainly shouldn't worry about it. He'll keep the Scrolls turning until you get back, I'm sure." Rayek nods briskly. "I won't worry about it," he promises. Ember looks at you for a moment. Ember nods, with a smile. "Good." Under the smile, she is tense, worried, though hoping not to show it. Curiously, she asks, "Do you know if you're walking anywhere in particular, or just ... walking?" Rayek answers brightly, "Ekuar hasn't said... I expect I'm not to worry about that, either. He just wants me to do what he says, and not think about very much." Ember laughs softly. "You seem to be doing very well at that." Rayek beams at you, pleased. "Ah, good... Everything is well with you? Your tribe is well and whole?" Ember nods. "Aye. Scattered here and there -- you're not the only one who's gone on a walk -- but everyone was well, last I knew. It's been quiet at the holt, lately." Rayek nods up and down, rapidly, expression quite childlike as he absorbs this information. Ember nods, trying to think of things to talk about that won't worry you. "And I saw Suntop at the Palace," she says. "That was nice." You say "Oh! He talked to me, too... he's a good lad... a good lad." Ember grins. "I've always thought so." Rayek observes dreamily, "He has much magic. Sends even better than I do. Such power. Perhaps he will help Tilia with the Palace." Ember, carefully, echoes, "Help Tilia with the Palace? How?" Rayek clarifies patiently, "Someone has to take care of it." Ember's eyes light a bit. "Oh! Well, yes. He said he would, when I talked to him." She smiles. Rayek nods, looking quite relieved. His gaze wanders, seemingly at random, through his surroundings; as if he hasn't ever seen grass or sky or trees before, he stares at everything in wonder. Ember watches you, more, though not directly, more out of the corners of her eyes, as if trying to satisfy herself that you're still there. Rayek seems almost... drunk, though there's not the slightest hint of a scent of dreamberries on him. But with the same sort of dreamy gaze, he regards his surroundings benignly, including the red-haired maiden beside him. Ember stands abruptly. "Hungry, airwalker?" Rayek ohs, and blinkblinks. "I suppose so. Our supplies are running low. I should hunt soon." Ember shrugs a narrow shoulder. "I was in mind to hunt, myself. Thought I'd search you out something." Rayek rises, and smiles vaguely. "Should I hunt with you?" He considers, glancing down at the shelter with languid affection. "Hmm... or should I watch Ekuar?" Completely innocuously, he finishes, "What should I do?" Ember watches you with some concern. Genuinely worried that you might do injury to yourself if you went out hunting, she says, gently, "Why don't you watch Ekuar? I won't be long." Rayek smiles at the tall young huntress and nods affably, folding his lean frame back down to sit by the hole into the rock shelter. "Alright. I shall not go anywhere. Send if you need me to stun the prey!" Ember smiles, and nods. "I will, Rayek." Checking for daggers, she moves out of sight rapidly, in a loping run. It is an hour or so later, when Ember returns, carrying one fat ravvit and a slightly less fat grouse of some kind, and a smug expression. "I should have told you to start a fire, before I left," she says absently, and kneels to dress out the animals. "Could you do that?" Rayek, who seems to have dozed off in the time you were gone, lifts his head sleepily. "Oh... alright... I think we have flint and tinder." He pokes his head into the shelter, and rummages around, before he produces what he looks for. That done, he then looks blankly around. "We have no fire-pit." Ember looks up from her work, and licks a finger absently. "Hmm. We'll have to dig one. Only I don't know what with. Rather not do it with my hands..." Rayek considers that. "Ekuar could shape one," he says brightly, "but he's asleep. If Savah were here she could make us a fire. I have my dagger but we should not use that, I think, it would blunt it." And Ember's not about to ask you to blast a little hole. Not with the way you're acting. "Yes, we don't want to ruin the weapons. Well, let's see if we can find some stones, and make a circle, at least." Rayek nods placidly, and gets up. "Where should we look?" Ember glances around. "Back towards the canyon, I guess. Let me get these up in a tree. We don't want anything coming after them..." A cord of leather is produced from somewhere, and she binds the critters together, heading for the forest's edge. Rayek nods and floats, gracefully, in the direction you suggest, though he does not leave the immediate sight of the rock shelter. Ember swarms up the closest tree of decent size, dropping the animals over a branch, then drops down, following you. Rayek floats up a few random stones, and glides them back artfully to a spot near the shelter. Ember chuckles. "Very good." She scoops up a couple herself, less gracefully than you, to carry them back towards the shelter. Rayek says proudly, almost, for an instant, sounding like his normal self, "Naturally -- I have always floated small things well." Ember smiles. "You've always done most things well, Rayek." Rayek lands, and stares idly at the stones, arranging and rearranging them till he is satisfied that they are in a precise circle. He smiles vaguely, but does not look up from the floating work. "Do you think so? There are some things I am afraid I have bungled, but I don't think I'm supposed to think about those, now." Ember smiles again, watching the perfect circle arrange itself. "Everyone makes mistakes. But that's all right, and -- you're right. Those are probably things that Ekuar doesn't want you to think about.' Rayek says easily, "Ekuar knows best. He's been telling me about how to be alright." Ember nods, and if you are not floating somewhere in the air, but are close enough, reaches out to put a hand on your shoulder momentarily. "I'm glad. Sometimes even you need to be taken care of." Rayek, standing on the ground near the circle of stones, smiles earnestly at you. "It's quite a relief." Ember smiles. "I imagine it is." She nods at the fire circle. "Get a fire started in there, why don't you, while I go and get dinner and finish dressing it?" Rayek nods languidly and settles down with the flint and tender, to start trying to coax a fire into life. He floats flint into tinder repeatedly, *tok*, *tok*, *tok*. Ember watches you for a moment, bemused, then heads back for the trees, to get ravvit and grouse, returning some minutes later. Rayek grins, absently, looking exactly like a five-turns-of-the-seasons-old cub playing with rocks. At last, a spark. For all his odd behavior, Rayek does not seem to have forgotten how to make a fire, and he cheerfully floats over bits of grass and twigs, whatever he can find to make the flame burn. Ember grins a bit, watching you as she finishes dressing the animals, and works together a makeshift rotater for the bird, setting it up over the fire once it's going -- and after carving off a hunk of the meat for herself to eat raw. "Good job," she says absently. Rayek smiles and says politely, "Thank you." He seems fascinated by the flames, and gazes at them vacantly. Ember drops down in front of the fire, tearing at the meat, studying your golden gaze through the flames. Rayek's face is haggard of line -- suggesting much recent strain -- but oddly at ease. A faint smile plays at the corners of his mouth; his eyes, the same color as the fire, reflect the light blankly. Ember smiles, and nods, at nothing in particular, still studying you. After a time, she reaches out to turn the spit, letting the bird cook evenly. Rayek, if he is aware he is under scrutiny, gives no sign of it. Eventually his gaze wanders to the distant line of trees, and he comments affably, "I do not remember the last I was in the forest..." Ember blinks a couple of times, through the fire, and shakes her head. "I didn't know you'd ever been in a forest." Rayek thinks about that, and then ahs, ruefully. "You must be right. I cannot remember such a thing. I left Sorrow's End, and then I was with Ekuar... then with the Go-Backs... and then, in the Palace. Mostly." Ember laughs. "That's what I thought, but then, I haven't been tracking you over the years, either." You say "It is... very strange. The sun is different here." Ember blinks. "Different?" Automatically, she looks to the sky. "Not so hard, maybe, as it is in the village, you mean?" Rayek nods dreamily. "Softer. The stars look different, too... Odd... I do not remember noticing the stars much, before..." Ember smiles, nodding at the sky again. "I've always liked the stars. From playing with Skywise, I guess." Rayek makes an absent noise of agreement. "That would make sense..." Ember laughs. "I think that when I was small, I believed that if I stretched hard enough, I'd be able to touch them." She lifts one hand up towards the sky, smiling. "Hasn' worked yet." Rayek abruptly laughs as well -- another strange sound, coming out of him. "I... do not know if I could float that high." Ember lets her hand fall, and smiles across the fire at you, hair turning even ruddier in the warm glow. "If you ever try, take me with you," she grins. "And someday we can tell the cubs the tale of touching the stars." Rayek stares skyward, and murmurs, "The stars..." His gaze turns... wistful. Regretful. And he blinks a few times, brow furrowing, pleasant expression faltering a little. Ember stands, checking the roasting bird, and decides it's cooked. Hacking off a hot piece, she hands it over to you. "No thinking," she reminds you with a smile, and adds, "Careful. It's hot." Rayek looks up at you, a lingering expression of something like homesickness on his face, before he becomes aware of the meat. "Oh... alright... thank you..." Ember licks grease off her fingers, making a slight face at the cooked taste, then rubs her fingers dry on her skirt before brushing a hand lightly over your hair. "It'll be all right," she says, not sure why. Rayek, meat taken, pauses and smiles guilelessly up at you. "Ekuar promised," he agrees. Ember nods. "Ekuar promised." She returns to her seat, shaking her head a bit. Rayek nibbles at the food, languidly. In the rock shelter, Ekuar is curled on his side, his arm pillowed under his cheek, the ancient face peaceful in repose. Petalwing peeks out of the shelter, and sniffsniffsniffs! /Ooh! Hellohello firehair highthing!/ Ember looks up, and laughs. "Hello, Petalwing." She lifts a hand for the little creature to come perch on. Rayek nibbles at cooked meat and smiles benignly at the Preserver. Petalwing flitflitflits! /Firehair highthing come on walktrip with sharpdark highthing and oldold moverock highthing?/ Ekuar's nose twitches just a bit at the savory cooking odors in the air. He begins to stir, helped along to wakefulness by the piping voice of the Preserver. His eyes blink open, slowly and muzzily, and he peers from the shelter. "Eh-- Brownskin...?" Rayek ahs! and leans over to peek in at the rockshaper. "Ember is here, Ekuar. She hunted and brought us food." Ember blinks rapidly at the bug,then laughs. "Yes. If Ekuar will let me, at least." Rayek nibbles meat off the edge of his dagger, and gives Ekuar a guileless smile along with the observation, "Our supplies were running low. Are you hungry?" Ekuar blinks a bit more at Rayek, focusing his eyes, slow to wake fully... then, as the import of the words comes through, he nods gently to Rayek. His face, though still sleepy, is clearing enough to show that the news has added a worry-line to the wrinkles in his forehead. He leans forward and begins to crawl from the shelter, pulling himself out balanced on his knee. He sniffs at the delicious smell, and nods to Rayek's question. Rayek holds up his dagger and offers the sliver of hot meat to the rockshaper, eyes earnest. Ekuar moves entirely out of the shelter and draws his staff out after him, going to Rayek's side and settling by the fire with evident enjoyment in its warmth. He smiles gently at Rayek and takes the sliver of meat delicately from the end of the blade, poking it into his mouth. "Mmf! Good." Ember smiles. "Hello, Ekuar." Ekuar returns the Wolfrider's smile, genuinely affectionate and happy to see her... although there is an undercurrent of worry in the limpid brown eyes that no amount of affection can quite mask. "Hello, hello! Eh, me, Ember... it's been a while. I never got much chance to talk with you at Festival. Weren't we busy!" He chuckles softly. Rayek says earnestly to Ekuar, "Ember arrived a little while ago, and asked about coming on the walk, but since you told me not to think about anything, I thought she should talk to you." His tumbling speech takes on a hopeful tone, as if he's trusting he did the right thing. Petalwing flitflitflits cheerfully on Ember's hand and chatters bug nonsense at her, something about the rocks and the trees they've seen on the way here. Ember ignores the bug with a cheerful grin, an interesting combination, and nods, both at Rayek and Ekuar. "Busy indeed. It was...quite a Festival, this year. It's good to see you again, Ekuar." Ekuar turns at once to Rayek and listens to him encouragingly as he speaks. He reaches out and presses Rayek's hand. "Well done, my dear one. I see you're listening to old Ekuar." His eyes twinkle. "Let me talk to the pretty chieftess-to-be, and you keep right on not worrying about anything, hm?" Ember's sending reaches out to Ekuar, obviously concerned. ** What's wrong with him, old one? ** Rayek smiles serenely. "Yes, Ekuar." He continues to eat, sparingly, of his share of the meat, and his attention is easily distracted by Petalwing's fluttering wings. Ekuar's attention returns to the daughter of the blood, and he seeks out her eyes with his own, locking minds with her earnestly. ** Eh, that's the question with eights of answers, pretty child. What I do know is this: my Brownskin was close to leaving the path. The, ah, path that we take to stay well in our minds and souls. He was so close to slipping off the edge, pushed by demands-- ah, me. Demands, whether of love, or of encouragement, or of trickery, it doesn't matter. ** Ekuar's gaze flickers to Rayek for a moment, loving and protective, before returning to Ember once more. Ember's own blue-green eyes go to Rayek for a moment, then she nods a bit towards Ekuar, sending reaching through the dark to him again. ** I wondered. I -- wish I could help somehow. I did tell Suntop not to let /any/ of them come after him. ** Rayek, oblivious to the discussion, watches Petalwing idly, grinning a bit as the bug chatters merrily to him and tries to feed him the few remaining scraps of meat. Rayek amusedly shooes it away, observing that he's quite capable of feeding himself, but thanking the Preserver nonetheless. Whatever has gone awry in the airwalker's head, he's suddenly become much more polite. Some of the worry in Ekuar's ancient eyes seems to lighten at those words. He locksends to the maiden, ** You did? Eh, my child, I thank you with all my heart. ** He leans just a bit toward the fire, as if for emphasis, the flames casting sharp shadows among the planes of his pale face. ** You mustn't be fooled by his smiles and nods, eh, no. Something's wrong, close to cracking. And what he needs the most is quiet, to let me help him find himself again. Eh-- to let the surface melt, and crumble. ** He sighs, very quietly. ** There will be pain. But I... my, yes, I know I can help him. I know of madness, and of the power of silence. And of time. ** Ember reaches out towards Ekuar, less a real attempt at touching him than a hope for some kind of comfort. ** Is there anything I .can. do, Ekuar? Hunt for you, perhaps? Fend off those who might come in search of him? ** The young chieftess-to-be glances once more at the pleasantly oblivious Rayek, then adds, softly, to Ekuar, ** Mother would want me to help, I think... ** Ekuar seems to consider for a long, silent time, his eyes luminous in the flickering light. He regards Ember, and then Rayek, and then Ember again... concern and indecisiveness chasing one another like shadows across his face. Finally, his mind brushes against Ember's again, quietly. ** Oh, sweet maiden. You're your mother's daughter, sure enough. I can't tell you not to come. Eh... but... can I tell you what I need from you, on this little walk of ours? ** He widens his eyes a bit. ** It's very important. Brownskin walks a narrow edge, and he mustn't fall. I won't -let- him fall. ** Ember's smile is quick. ** You can tell me not to come, Ekuar, and I'll leave. But if I .could. be of any help, I'd like to stay. ** The sending breaks, and then resumes, with curiousity. ** Tell me, old friend. Despite the disagreements with the airwalker that we've had in the past, ** and 'we' includes her tribe in general, ** I'd much rather see him his old, arrogant self than this lost semi-cub that I see now. ** Ekuar's eyes crinkle with fondness as he locksends, ** I'm glad you say so. I think Brownskin has some finding to do... This isn't him, as you say, and the fevered fellow who hurt Lursa and then wept about it isn't him either. No, indeed. ** He pauses, and finally sends with wholehearted acceptance, ** Eh! I know you'd leave if I asked, my dear. But I won't ask that. Something down inside me tells me you're right to be here. There's something you can do... even if I don't know just what it is, yet. ** His mind bubbles with a light touch of amusement, and then softly sobers. ** Come along on our walk. But I will ask some things of you. Eh... I'm not much for making others do things, but there are some things I must ask you not to do. ** Ember chuckles, almost inaudibly. ** I'm a chief's daughter, Ekuar. In some ways, I'm about the best you'll find at taking orders. In others, I'm the worst. Tell me what you need. ** Her eyes go back to Rayek, lingering on the golden gaze for a moment. Rayek's half-vacant regard has returned to the fire, and he watches the play of colors in the flames quietly, while he occasionally nods to Petalwing's prattle. Ekuar rests his chin on his hand, his mindlock taking on a more abstract and gentle tone, despite the concern for Rayek that suffuses his thoughts. ** Well, my dear. Think about this for a moment: a piece of ice, clear blue straight to the center, frozen and smooth. Hm? That's Brownskin... or that's what covers him, and slicks him over with such a formless shield. He's lost himself inside there, eh? ** He cocks his head, just a bit. ** Now, what to do with this ice? Some might toss it in a fire, or pound on it with a rock. To make it go away, you see. But what will that do? ** His eyes are deep, and sad, and misted over with what might be unutterably ancient memories. ** Only crack and shatter the ice, or make it hiss into steam and nothingness. Force and noise will do nothing here but hurt... and perhaps, eh, destroy. Do you see so far, pretty huntress? ** Ember's eyes glitter with thought, and after a while, she sends, ** It's like he's lost his soulname, and all that's protecting him is luck? ** Ember's not entirely sure that Ekuar is even familiar with soulnames, but it's as close as she can come to understanding what's happening to Rayek. Ekuar nods affably enough, understanding the import if not the full experience. ** Luck, perhaps. But his luck has gotten so thin, and weak... So many were pressing on him in different ways, trying to help or even just to-- eh-- remove the ice, by love or by force. And it was tearing my Brownskin to pieces. I had to take him away, or lose him forever. ** He looks at Rayek, and this time his eyes remain there, embracing the angular elf with his gaze alone. His mind continues in communion with Ember: ** And so, these things I ask of you, child. Please, no pressure on this ice. No noise or haste, no violence. Quiet and calm. If I can hold the ice to myself, gently, for long enough, it will begin to melt, hm? Slowly, and eventually with great pain. ** He pauses, to let the Wolfrider consider this first request as she may. Ember's expression turns wry, nearly laughing. ** A wolfrider's life is short and sharp, like her sword, ** she reminds Ekuar. ** We're prone towards violence. But, ** and her sending turns more serious, ** I can, and will, promise not to pressure him, Ekuar. ** Narrow shoulders twist up in a quick shrug. ** And I am quick, and strong. It may be that if others come looking for him, I can keep them away, so that no one else can push at the ice. ** Ekuar ahs softly, nodding. ** A good beginning. And there is more. I told you there will be pain, hm? As the deadening comfort of the frozen self begins to fade, Brownskin will... begin to find things. Parts of himself, mixed with other things, a tangle miring his feet. ** He smiles faintly. ** Now... you know how our Brownskin is about letting others see him without his skin on, eh? Catching him weeping or afraid? He'll be... so vulnerable. And there mustn't seem to be anything to frighten him back inside. Eh, yes. He must come out to us, and feel safe to do it. We mustn't go in after him. ** His forehead wrinkles slightly, almost apologetically. ** That's why sometimes I-- ah-- might need to ask you to leave us alone for a time. If it seems he might take your presence amiss, thinking too much about it rather than allowing himself to hurt. Allowing himself to just... eh, to just -be-. All right? ** Ember nods once, softly, eyes glittering in the firelight. ** I understand. ** Ember's mother is, after all, a healer, and Ember's watched Leetah's work all her life, so has a grasp, perhaps, of what a soul-healing requires. A vague grasp. Somewhat doubtfully, she adds, ** Perhaps someday he'll trust me, too. ** Rayek, as Petalwing flits off playfully after a night insect, lifts a brown hand to the fire as if in benediction, or trying to float it. His head tilts slightly in reverie. Ekuar's face relaxes even further as the redheaded maiden agrees to work with him, rather than at odds to him. His mental touch is grateful and warm. ** Oh, again, thank you. That's what I need most... to know that you'll trust me to know what's best for Brownskin right now. Eh? ** He scoots over a bit toward Rayek, leaning in companionably against his lean pupil, his mind still entwined with Ember's. ** Sometimes others, they think... well, they think all sorts of things. Mostly about shaking some sense into my dear one. ** His eyes are clear and confident. ** But I can tell you, chief's daughter, that that isn't the way here. And-- mm, most especially right now. We'll tread lightly, you and I, and help him on this walk together. ** Rayek blinkblinks, and smiles gently at Ekuar, curling an arm about the rockshaper's fragile form companionably. Ember smiles at the two of you, still sending to Ekuar alone. ** I'll trust you, aye, old one. You know him better than any, these days, I think. I'll do what I can. Father is going to skin me. ** Ekuar's gaunt face dimples as he beams at the huntress. ** Somehow I think you'll bear up under it, Wolfrider. ** He pauses just a fraction of a moment, and then adds, softly and meaningfully, ** And about your father, my dear... Can I ask you not to mention him, eh? Nor your lovely mother. Not for now. Let's keep the talk simple. Quiet, for the ears and the mind, to keep the walk a good one and a clear one. ** Ember's one step ahead of you, old man, and she nods, with another quick smile. ** He asked, when we were talking earlier, about the holt. I was going to mention my parents, but... I was afraid he'd start thinking. ** Another quick smile ends the sending. Ekuar smiles back, respectful and pleased. ** Eh, perfect, child! Your long legs have carried you past old Ekuar, and you can see every move he's making. Hm? ** His eyes dance. Ember stretches out one of those long legs and considers it, toes nearly in the fire, then pulls it back with a grin. ** I doubt that, old friend. I just knew that Father was upset with Rayek when we left Festival. It seemed...wiser. ** She glances over at Rayek and the for-once quiet Petalwing again. Ekuar mms quietly. ** I think it was, my dear. You'll be the finest chieftess someday, I can see it in you even now. Eh, yes. ** He falls quiet for a time, letting the crackling flames and snapping sparks be the only sound drifting in the still air. Finally, he sends to Ember: ** One more request, pretty maiden? ** Ember's send, briefly, is solemn: ** Not for a long time to come, I hope. ** And then she nods, a gesture encouraging the request. Rayek's amber gaze drifts skyward, as he studies the stars, silken dark hair stirring slightly in a passing breeze. Ekuar's send is lighter now, the solemn discussions of Rayek's fragile state tucked away. ** You're the huntress, the Wolfrider of our little group. I want to take Brownskin somewhere... quiet. Not quiet like a holt, but-- eh-- -quiet-, truly. No others if we can help it. No others, be they friend or acquaintance or foe. Hm? A walk to find... a still place. Can you scout us to such a place, bit by bit? ** Ember's eyes turn thoughtful. ** Aye, I can... Someplace in the mountains, perhaps. They're harder to live in than the lower areas, so there might be fewer elves. ** She nods, firmly. ** I'll find you a place, Ekuar. ** Ekuar's slender frame eases, relaxing more completely against Rayek's side, regarding Ember with thankful good humor. He finally speaks aloud, his voice calm and glad. "Brownskin... Ember's going to walk with us for a time." Rayek murmurs in dreamy abstraction, "The stars... are different colors. Like the fire..." He looks between the two, enthralled. He then blinks, and quirks a dark eyebrow at Ekuar, then beams at the huntress maid. "Ah, marvellous. Alright. You hunt good game, Ember." Ember grins at Rayek. "I try to. I'll keep you and Ekuar fed while we go on this walk." Rayek nods earnestly and looks between his two companions. "Does this mean I should not hunt?" Ekuar pats Rayek's knee comfortably, and says, "Do you like to hunt, Brownskin?" Ember looks to Ekuar. "You're the chief," she grins at him. Rayek gets a sort of removed look in his eyes, and murmurs, "Yes... I've always liked it." He suddenly straightens and gets a ghost of his usual prideful expression on his face. "I'm good at hunting. Kept the whole village fed." Rayek then admits, ruefully, "I haven't paid much attention to hunting lately, though." Ember chuckles. "Well, then, we'll hunt together, airwalker, if you'd like." Ekuar doesn't start or show surprise at Rayek's flash of memory and insight about himself. Instead, he simply nods, his wise old eyes scanning the dark elf. "You are good, indeed. I say you should hunt... remember what I told you, eh? The more you -do-, use the body in the work set for you, the less noise there is up -here-." He lightly touches a thin forefinger to Rayek's temple in a familiar gesture. Rayek grins, an expression that would be fierce were it not for the vacancy of his eyes. "If any prey comes near me, I shall stun it for us." Not exactly Ember's idea of a good hunt, but she won't argue, and she nods agreement. Ekuar mms and bobs his head absently, his gnarled hand once again patpatting at Rayek's knee. "We'll eat well, my dears. And we can all get fat, eh?" He chuckles quietly but merrily. Ember looks at herself, and snorts. "I don't think I could, really, Ekuar, but I'm willing to give it a try." Rayek splutters, nose wrinkling in slight distaste. "I would not like to be fat," he announces. Ekuar's laugh comes again, gentle and encouraging... not directed at Rayek, but rather in merriment with him. "A jest, only, dear one," he smiles. Rayek then ohs, and smiles at Ekuar. "I remember. I told Ember that Winnowill and Ktai sent to me. She thought I should let you or her speak with people if they sent to me?" Ekuar glances at Ember thoughtfully, and nods. "Yes, yes, a fine idea. Let's do that, eh? It'll keep the noise from your head, my dear, and that's what old Ekuar wants the most." Ember grins suddenly. "Maybe I'll teach you to hunt like a wolfrider, Rayek." Rayek nods placidly to Ekuar, telling him tumblingly, "Ktai sent... I think I forgot to tell you that, she reached me all the way from the Palace, that surprised me, though I guess it was because she is in the Palace? I told her it was alright, though, that we were going for a walk and everything was fine and she said alright." He then hmms and tilts his head at Ember and asks completely innocently, "Wolfriders hunt differently?" Ember blinks at the speech, then again at Rayek, and nods. "We don't stun our prey before killing it," she explains. Ekuar says mildly, "Now, now, Brownskin. Mustn't worry about Ktai. All's well." His voice is gentle, and soothing, slipping the assurance in quietly under the others' voices. Rayek ohs and his brow furrows a little, as he asks uncertainly, "But... would it not be kinder to do so? To spare them pain and suffering?" Ember tilts her head. "Perhaps," she admits. "But I like to think that our way ... shares the life that the prey has. We...prefer not to dull the edge of the hunt with gifts such as yours." Ekuar lifts his hand from its comfortable place on Rayek's knee, and gropes absently for his staff. He pokes at the fire, burning wood shifting with crackles and soft puffs of ash. He seems to be relaxing back into a genial muzziness, but the concern for Rayek never quite leaves the misty old eyes. Rayek considers this reply gravely, black eyebrows still knitted together slightly. Something in Ember's words, or perhaps at least the expressed sentiment, sounds... familiar. He frowns a bit, and begins unsurely, "It... sounds like it would be more difficult..." Rayek's quicksilver expression then promptly shifts to that wraith of his old prideful grin. "But I will do it, it is _doing_ something, yes?" Ember nods agreeably. "It is. But you were never one to back down from a challenge." Her fear that such a statement might be entirely undiplomatic fades at the grin. "It is," she agrees again. Ekuar doesn't stir or move his eyes from their dreamy contemplation of the fire, but he pipes up at once, encouragingly: "Yes, Brownskin. That's the way, eh? Stop all this thinking about the hunt, and it becomes something to do!" Rayek beams, and chatters to his companions, "I shall need a different weapon, shall I not? If I am not to use magic, then I do not think my dagger will be enough. I wish I had a spear, but I do not have mine anymore. I think I left it in the Palace, or perhaps in Sorrow's End, I do not remember. What do you think, Ekuar? Should I have a spear?" Ekuar turns his head to regard his beloved pupil with a warm and tender light in his eyes. "Here's what I say, dear one. I say the huntress should help you -make- a weapon. Something to do, eh, a task to bend the back to. Make it, and test it, and take it on a hunt. Hm?" Rayek by way of reply turns his childlike gaze to Ember, clearly expecting her input. Ember nods, with a smile. "Sounds like a good idea. A spear would be easiest to make, I think. I'm no troll to forge weapons." Rayek adds brightly, "And Ekuar could sha -- no. No. If it is to be a magicless hunt it should be a magicless weapon. That would be proper. I will make the head myself!" Rayek leans around this way and that, as if ready right now to look for stones to get into the proper shape. Ember grins. "We'll go out looking for the proper stone tomorrow, Rayek. I know what to look for." Ekuar nods in return, approvingly. "Good, children, good! Work the body. Let's leave all those, eh, other things well out of it. None of these head-buzzing magics for your weapon, or your hunt." He beams at Rayek, and turns his smile to Ember... the smile directed at Ember carries more than mere joy, it carries a conspiratorial gratitude. Ember returns Ekuar's smile with a wink to boot, and her sending to him is amused. ** This should keep him busy. It took me turns to make a proper spearhead the first time. Of course, I was only four when I started... ** Rayek, at Ember's statement of "tomorrow", looks slightly disappointed -- the very look a young lad of a cub might have if his sire and dam have just told him he needs to go to bed, when he is not the _slightest_ bit tired. "Alright... what should we do till then?" Ekuar winks back at Ember, and looks to Rayek in gentle surprise. "What should we do? Why, Brownskin, there's plenty to do! We don't want to leave a trail, eh, as wide as a canyon for everyone who passes this way after us. Dig and smooth the firepit, for one, and help me gather the things before I sink our friendly stone roof back into the ground." His eyes sparkle. "It's time to walk." [End log.]