Log Date: 9/29/96
Log Cast:
	Sar, Ember, Rayek, Ekuar, Silverfox, Tilia, Leetah, Youngblood
Log Intro:
	Most of Winnowill's Glider party -- along with the Go-Backs Skef and
Zirek -- have left the Palace, bound for Blue Mountain. Most, but not all;
the Chosen, Sar, remains, lingering about as Rayek and Ekuar prepare to
set out to locate Ekuar's missing soul-daughter PaleMoon....

----------
Sar says "A peace, that is not emptiness. It is tempting." He shifts his 
  position, uneasily. "I find myself pulled both ways. There is too much here 
  to remind me of both worlds. Of body and mind."

Ember is sitting against a wall, a half-mended glove left in her lap. Sar is 
  beside her.

Rayek strides out of the side corridor down which his personal chamber lies, 
  with Ekuar almost matching his pace; Rayek's face is full of intent. He 
  bears a small sack slung over one bare brown shoulder, as well as his spear.

Ember looks up as the other elders enter, and nods a greeting. Her words to 
  Sar are soft: "I would not trade places with you for anything, Glider."

Ekuar's mild face seems shadowed, heavy with concern, unusual for him. It's 
  been this way since he had news of his daughter's disappearance; his frail 
  form seems fired through with determination.

Ember's jaw sets, slowly, and then she stands, looking, for a moment, down at 
  Sar.

Sar finally registers the presence of the others, looking up as he expression 
  carefully blanks. "I hope you will not be in a position to, Ember."

Ember looks to her friends, then, ignoring the last of Sar's words. "You go to 
  seek PaleMoon?"

Sar looks at Ember, almost startled. Then stands himself, slowly.

Rayek's eyes flicker briefly, at the sight of Ember and Sar; he halts, waiting 
  for Ekuar to catch up, then to the huntress he says levelly, "We have made 
  our plan, yes. Ekuar and I shall fly ahead to the north, to try to reach her 
  in send; Youngblood plans to follow on the ground."

Ekuar makes his way to Ember's side, propping his staff against his body and 
  reaching for her with his single hand, eyes large and glimmering. "And you, 
  child? What of you?"

Sar looks over at Rayek and Ekuar, starting to frown.

Ember wishes, briefly, she had her spear to lean on: it would feel more 
  comfortable. "I stay to protect the Palace," she replies simply.
Ember hesitates, biting her lip.
Ember locksends, to Ekuar, Rayek: ** Unless you need me. <<Doubt>> **

Sar looks back down at Ember, his frown deepening.

Rayek inclines his head, once, saying, "If we are fortunate, we can quickly 
  bring PaleMoon back, so that Rigar and Leetah may assure she is well --" 
  Then, he blinks, looking at Ember slightly more closely.

Ember ignores Sar. Not lightly, but still.

You locksend, to Ember, Ekuar: ** I... can only move quickly in the air with 
  one, Ember... and the Palace must be guarded. <His tone holds regret, as 
  well as worry.> **

Ekuar's maimed hand, cool and gentle, slips into Ember's sun-brown one. "Eh! 
  No one better for the task, my dear. Indeed."

You sense in a locksend to Ekuar, Rayek: Ember's sending has a touch of a 
  smile in it. ** It's all right, Rayek. I didn't think I -was- needed. But 
  the thought came to me. **
Ember smiles, and takes Ekuar's hand, squeezing it. "Good hunting," she says 
  softly. "To both of you."

Sar looks at you for a moment.
Sar locksends ** You will leave the Palace for some time, then. How 
  interesting. **

Ekuar lifts Ember's hand briefly to his weathered cheek. "Ah, for the days we 
  three hunted all together. Hm?"

Rayek lingers near Ekuar, to support him if need be, and half-smiles solemnly 
  to Ember. Then his gaze lifts, momentarily, to Sar.
You locksend ** Time enough to find PaleMoon. And we will return promptly. ** 
  to Sar.

Sar locksends ** Why do you not use the Palace for your travel? Perhaps it 
  does not obey you, after all. Perhaps another would suit it better. **
Sar closes his hands into fists. Slowly.

Ember smiles fondly at Ekuar. "We'll hunt again together someday, shaper. Now 
  the hunt's better with the two of you. Find your daughter."

Sar turns from Ember, and walks over to Rayek, staring down at him.
Sar locksends ** That necklace. Where did you get it? **

Ekuar bobs his head definitively. "That we will. That we must." A proud, 
  trusting smile toward Rayek. "My son shall, eh, fly me to find my daughter. 
  Fitting."

A flicker of expression crosses Ember's face as Sar moves. A little amusement, 
  a little disappointment, a little regret, and perhaps other things as well.

You locksend to Sar, Rayek ignores the implication that he is unfit to fly the 
  Palace, and replies calmly, ** Ember gave me the necklace. **

Sar locksends ** My daughter has one like it. From her mother. <A suspicion of 
  anger creeps into his send.> **

Rayek, about to offer Ekuar a brown arm, pauses. His amber gaze travels from 
  Sar's furrowed brow down to the silver wolf's head glinting at his 
  breastbone, then up once more to meet the Glider's regard.

Sar says, perhaps to himself. "I see."

Ekuar's fingers brush against Ember's arm, and he looks into her eyes with 
  solemn inquiry.

Rayek sends, openly, ** If you've a problem with my ornament, Glider, she who 
  gave it to me stands before us. ** His tone turns impatient. ** I suggest 
  you discuss it with her; Ekuar's and my task is urgent. ** With that, Rayek 
  turns again to the ancient rockshaper.

Ember turns her head to look at Ekuar, and then, startled, snaps her gaze 
  around to Sar. "What?"

Sar's previously expressionless eyes suddenly flare with anger. Moving as 
  suddenly, he reaches for the necklace, as if to pull it straight off.

Rayek straightens, stiffens -- then suddenly glows, golden, head to foot, 
  shielding himself.

Ekuar's concentration is startled from Ember's face and whatever he was about 
  to say to her-- he turns, grasping his staff to keep from losing his 
  balance, watching the conflict.

Sar pulls his hand back, startled for a moment. Then his eyes narrow as he 
  stares at Rayek.
Sar locksends ** I wonder how many you can shield with that, outsider. **
Sar locksends ** Give me the necklace. Or the old one may find himself another 
  limb short. **

Ekuar says, quietly reproving, "Our Home is a place of peace, Glider. Hm?"

Ember's expression turns from surprise to irritation, and she lets a sending 
  flicker out, to Sar, though not locksent: ** <<Disgust>> Choose your fights 
  outside these halls, Glider. **

Sar says between clenched teeth. "Keep your opinions to yourself, wolfrider. I 
  do not care for them."

Ember snorts. ** You never have. That's as unlikely to stop me now as it ever 
  was. More so now. **

Rayek repeats, coldly, ** Ember gave me this necklace; until she asks me to do 
  otherwise, I will wear it in gratitude for what she has taught me. I will 
  not fight you for it, especially in the Palace's honored halls. I will not 
  even fight you for the threat you have just made to Ekuar -- not here. ** 
  His mouth curls. ** But do not doubt that I will keep you from harming him. 
  **

You sense Sar's dark eyes get an odd look. Just for a moment. And then go 
  determined.

Ekuar's pale brow wrinkles in consternation, looking from Sar to Rayek. "Eh?" 
  he asks, alarmed.

Sar locksends ** Yes. I do see. **
Sar floats up into the air, detaching his talonwhip from its hook.

Ekuar blinks upward, and abruptly begins to hobble toward the Palace doorway, 
  eyes wide.

Sar's whip flashes out, going *snick* around Ekuars staff.

Ember, at the same instant, leaps forward with all the speed granted her by 
  her 'tainted' heritage. She does not go for Sar, or for Ekuar, but for the 
  woven rope that latches claw to whip. Her blade is out as she moves, intent 
  on severing the taunt braid.

Sar yanks at the whip, just as Ember leaps for it, a grim smile on his lips.

Ekuar's staff is torn from his grasp at the worst possible time: as his weight 
  rests almost fully on it, pushing him forward on the padded artificial foot. 
  Caught off-guard and off-balance, the ancient one stumbles and sprawls 
  headlong across the elegant Palace floor, landing hard, the wooden leg 
  folding askew beneath him.

Sar locksends ** Who means the most to you, outsider? The old one or the 
  wolfrider? **

Rayek _moves_, then, scooping up Ekuar in his arms; the golden glow envelops 
  both him and the ancient shaper elf.

Sar locksends ** I think that was your answer. **

Rayek glares up over Ekuar's bare head at Sar, and smirks, looking actively 
  bored. ** Ah. You are scared to face Ember yourself, enough that you allow 
  Winnowill to wipe your mind, yet no one else is allowed to care for her. You 
  have much to learn, Glider. **

Ember's hand closes on the whip an instant too late. Even as Ekuar falls, the 
  rope is severed, and Ember, proving startlingly strong for her slight build, 
  spins the rope around her arm for a firm grasp, and -yanks-, determined to 
  bring Sar nose-to-nose with her in one rapid movement.

Rayek adds, dryly, ** Besides, Ember is more than capable of defending 
  herself. **

Sar, obviously, had not quite expected that, and gets yanked down within reach 
  with an exclamation of surprise. A fraction of a second too late, he drops 
  the remainsder of the rope.
Sar locksends ** <<Blind anger>> **

Ekuar clings to Rayek with his single hand, the wind knocked from his lungs by 
  the fall. His eyes are huge, shining and dark, shocked at the sudden attack 
  and the even swifter rescue.

Ember would cast a startled glance towards Rayek for his words, were she not 
  far more interested in giving the glider a piece of her mind. Blade dropped 
  to the stone floor with a clatter, she takes both fists of Sar's shirt, and 
  her sending is red with fury. ** How /dare/ you. My anger with you is not 
  because of Rayek: I do not -want- you to die; you are the fool who spoke the 
  words first. Had you your memories, you would know that I, time and again, 
  -saved- your pathetic, wated life. **
Ember's sending grows, rage uncontained, blood in her eyes as she glares into 
  Sar's. ** You were gone. I will not live my life in regret for what might 
  have been. I have the decency to remember, at least, and honor that. You 
  fearful, frightened creature, unable to think for yourself any longer. I 
  /love/ Rayek. I will give him any gift any time I please, and /you/ will NOT 
  INTERFERE AGAIN. **

You locksend ** Dear one, are you alright? <Then, a blink.> ** to Ekuar.
Rayek's amber eyes go wide, even as he kneels, glowing, on the floor with 
  Ekuar in his embrace.

Sar stares at Ember. One gets the impression he isn't used to people actually 
  resisting. Not to mention yelling at him.
Sar slowly raises his hand, gripping Embers wrists. Still staring at her. 
  Then, with a strangled sound, he shoots up into the air.

Ekuar draws a quivering breath, and another. ** I'm all right, ** he sends, 
  subdued but truthful, seeking to reassure as much as to be reassured.
Ekuar looks at you for a moment.

Sar's grip on Ember remains, as he stares into her furious eyes. And beyond. 
  And then he sends, almost dreamily. ** You will never give him anything. 
  Where we go, he cannot follow. **

Rayek works swiftly to right Ekuar's wooden stump, then snaps his gaze up at 
  the Glider and the Wolfrider he's carried up with him. "No," he whispers, 
  then sets Ekuar down as quickly as he can. Immediately, he is in motion, a 
  golden arrow loosed into the air...

Ember looks neither frightened nor surprised at Sar's sudden ascent: indeed, 
  all she looks is exasperated. With a gesture that is nothing less than 
  dramatic, she loosens her hands from Sar's shirt, almost flinging him back, 
  though, of course, his grip precludes that, and at the precise same moment, 
  her knee drives sharply into his groin.

Sar gasps, folding over. His grip on Ember, needless to say, loosens. Nor does 
  he seem to register the arrow winging upwards.

Ekuar ignores the twisted false leg entirely, stretching out on his stomach 
  against the familiar stone of the Palace floor, his hand spreading flat 
  against it. A familiar look of hazy concentration builds in his gaze, and 
  the floor begins to surge, softly heaving like an ocean swell.

Rayek aims straight for Ember, intending to catch -- if not with arms, then at 
  least with magic. Sar he leaves -- the Glider can float himself.

Ember's movement is almost identical to Sar's, though hers is deliberate as 
  she moves into a tuck, red hair flying in a wild halo as she spins, judging 
  silently, frantically, the distance, the timing, necessary to land without 
  killing herself.

Stone like water, soft and flowing, rises from the floor, sparkling in silver 
  and gold as the ancient shaper floods his magic through it. It rises, 
  elegant and swift, toward Ember, beneath her. But although it is more 
  yielding than a fall to the floor below, it is still stone. He works to 
  soften it as best he can, while still drawing it up as fast as possible.

/Puckernuts/ the floor is /moving/ okay okay untuck um um see the floor moving 
  how close get into landing position bend knees spread arms SLAM-*CRAK*! 
  Funny how quiet the last few seconds have been: Ember's very sudden 
  inhalation of pain echoes in a nasty answer to the sound of bone breaking.

Rayek cries out, "_Ember_!" And barely misses her, as she hurtles past him. 
  Aghast, he immediately changes trajectory, and dives to try to catch up with 
  her -- realizing, too late, that he is a second too slow.

Ekuar gasps in tandem with the crack and Ember's breath, sweat gleaming on his 
  temples. The tower of rock softens, slowly, fluidly descending, like a huge 
  hand lowering a wounded butterfly.

Ember, for rather some time, doesn't answer. Finally, through gritted teeth, 
  she manages, rather weakly, "Yes?" She doesn't sound like she's exactly 
  breathing.

Sar glides rather unsteadily over to one of the walls, placing a hand against 
  it. Still rather hunched up, he looks down at the scene below.

Rayek, as the floor returns to its normal state, hovers over the huntress 
  worriedly. Relief crosses his face as he is answered, and he promises, "I 
  shall rouse your mother..."

"Good idea." It's sort of a wheeze. Ember's brown skin is an ungodly shade of 
  pale, and she is sweating. Her right leg, to say the least, is a mess. Bits 
  of bone and things.

The floor settles, spreads, and returns to its smooth former state. Ekuar bows 
  his head into his arm, trembling faintly with effort and shock.

Sar floats down, real quiet-like, aiming for his fallen talon-whip.

Rayek snaps his head up, sending, with palpable strength.

Sar lands, kneeling to recover his whip. And the coiled rope nearby.

Rayek sendshouts ** Leetah! **

Ember shudders, as carefully as she can, trying not to hurt anything else.

Sar straightens at last, slowly. He coils the rope with swift motions, 
  attaching it and the whip to their hook without attempting to reconnect 
  them. All the time, he stares at the other three elves.

Ekuar raises his head and blearily focuses his gaze on Ember's huddled form, 
  and Rayek over her. "B-Brownskin..." he manages. "Is she... all right?"

Silverfox steps in from outside.
Silverfox moves away from the huge stone structure nearby.
Silverfox has arrived.

Ember turns her head. That, at least, doesn't seem to hurt too much. ** Fine, 
  ** she whisper-sends. ** Thank you. **

Rayek kneels now, on the restored floor, looking down in horror at Ember's 
  battered form. Again, he throws out a send, calling for Ember's mother.

Silverfox slips into the entry hall, her breathing rapid, from running.

Sar floats as soundlessly up into the air again, just out of reach of any on 
  the ground.

Tilia comes down the stairs from above.
Tilia has arrived.

From where he still sprawls on the floor, wooden leg twisted and tangled 
  uselessly beneath him, Ekuar sends: ** Oh, child. I'm so sorry... **

Ember well. Not *fine*. But alive. And going to stay that way. Ember, 
  Silverfox, is lying sort of in the middle of the floor. Her right leg is 
  basically shattered, and there's a cut on her head, which is probably 
  difficult to see under the mass of red hair.

Sar locksends ** How many more will you see hurt? Give me the necklace, and 
  you will never see me again. **

Ember tries for a smile, reassuring, to the elder, shaking her head the 
  littlest bit. ** Saved me. Too far to fall... was too high ... **

Tilia steps down the stairs in a quiet two-at-a-time way, only her height 
  forces the effect of this to be lost to only one stair at a time.

Sar hovers above, staring at Rayek. Not at Ember, just Rayek.

Rayek ignores Sar, at least mostly. He pauses his urgent summons of Leetah, 
  long enough to meet Ember's gaze and say lowly to her, sardonically, "The 
  Glider wishes the bauble, Ember; I do not think he deserves it. What say 
  you?"

Ember, peculiarly, giggles. It's a little high pitched, and perhaps 
  hysterical. ** Bite him. **

Sar sends openly ** It was mine to make, and mine to take back. It shall be 
  destroyed, with the rest of the memories. **

Silverfox's eyes widen as she sees the redhead elf on the ground, the leg 
  shattered.

Sar's send still burns with anger, though less strongly so.

Rayek rises, then, to his feet. He glances down at Ember, sending...

Ekuar pushes himself awkardly into a sitting position, tugging the wooden leg 
  and padded foot around into position slowly. He's paler than usual, shaken, 
  fumbling with the straps.

The Littlest Goback stands at the base of the stairs in such an insignificatnt 
  way, watching like a still dimminuized High One statue.

You locksend to Ember, Rayek's send crackles with Palace-strength, but is 
  strangely softened, at least in locksend to you. ** Will it trouble you if I 
  give him the bauble, huntress? It is a symbol; what it stands for remains in 
  me. I... would not see him hurt anyone else. **

Silverfox bites her lip, and walks forward, looking from person to person.

Rayek sends coldly over his shoulder, ** Had you _asked_, Glider, instead of 
  threatened -- and caused harm to Ember -- I might have considered it. ** He 
  turns, then, noting Tilia, noting Silverfox, and blinking, taken slightly 
  aback.

You sense in a locksend, Ember's sending, in return, is nearly exhausted from 
  fighting to keep the pain under control. ** If you give it to him ... Rayek 
  ... I am going to have to go to the Mountain ... and take it /back/. **

Tilia's eyes seem gazing most simply on the darkhair's own surprised 
  expression.

Silverfox, almost fearfully, sends softly, ** Can... can I help? <hesitation> 
  **

You locksend to Ember, Rayek sends simple assent.
Rayek's gaze snaps to Silverfox. ** If you heal, maiden, then please... **

Ekuar gestures toward Ember with his single arm, nodding hurriedly. "I heard 
  something break, when she, eh, fell, child."

Ember, by now, has decided that being unconscious is Better, and has half 
  slipped to that state, only vaguely aware of her surroundings.

Silverfox bites her lip, and starts to move forward, then stops, snapping her 
  eyes up at the gliding elf.

Sar glides down, his eyes dark as he stares at Silverfox.

Ember's sending is bleary, open: ** Where's Mother...? **

Sar locksends ** You are stubborn, outsider. As am I. But I care neither for 
  the Palace nor Ember. Are they both worth loosing over the "bauble"? **
You sense in a locksend, Sar's send does not entirely ring true, about Ember.

Tilia says "Gone for a walk some ways from here. She is returning as quickly 
  as she can."

Ekuar looks up, briefly startled as he hears Tilia and notices her for the 
  first time. Then relief flickers over his worn features. "Eh! Good," he 
  says, heartfelt. "Don't worry, child. We'll have you well in no time. Hm?"

Ember sends openly ** Oooh...good... **

Sar's gaze flickers briefly to the new arrival, measuring the distance.

Silverfox stiffens and draws herself up, scared of one thing, scared of 
  another, and miffed to boot.

Ekuar pulls his gaze reluctantly from what he can see of Ember in a heap, and 
  looks vaguely about for his staff.

Seeing Silverfox's hesitation, Rayek sends insistently, ** Maiden, if you are 
  a healer, do your work! ** To Tilia, he glances, and nods briefly -- till, 
  finally, he turns to glower up to Sar. His brown hand lifts, grasping the 
  necklace, and he sends contemptuously to the Glider, ** For one who claims 
  to care nothing of Wolfriders, especially the one he has Recognized, you 
  seem awfully anxious to destroy a silver trinket. No, Sar. I will not yield 
  it to you. For causing harm to another elf in the Palace, I think it is a 
  fitting punishment to make you remember what you're trying so hard to 
  forget. **

Tilia gives not much other notice from her position by the great stairs, arms 
  crossed but one hand precariously touching the hilt of a dagger.

Sar glides over towards Ember and Ekuar. And Rayek, by association. His send 
  is cool. ** You are in no position to decide for the Palace, outsider. **

Ekuar begins to creep on hand and knee toward his staff, lying some distance 
  away.

Sar lands again, blocking Silverfox from Ember.
Sar pays no attention to Ekuar or Ember, dividing it between Rayek and 
  Silverfox.

Silverfox glares at the imposing glider and takes a step forward.

Ember's eyes snap open again, not precisely conscious or aware, but sensing 
  Sar's nearing, and, rather idiotically, she tries to lever herself up on an 
  elbow, breathing harshly at the self-imposed pain.

Tilia says quietly, "Rayek, what has happened here."

Silverfox stares at Sar, noting what Ember is doing.

Rayek's mouth twitches in something like a smirk. ** Neither are you, Sar, in 
  a position to decide. I, at least, am refusing to make a boar's end of 
  myself. ** His gaze rises to Tilia, though, and he sends up to her, ** Sar 
  claims ownership of the pendant Ember gave me. He demands it back, and has 
  caused harm to Ember. **

Sar sneers at Rayek. ** You do not belong here. None of you do. **

Tilia looks to Ember. Then looks to Sar. Then, "Why did she give it to you."

Sar turns his head slightly, to Tilia. "Who are you to ask?"

Ember pauses in her rough attempt to sit up, and stares incredulously at 
  Silverfox. "No," she rasps, "I'd rather lie here and bleed." /Duh/.

Tilia says "I wasn't asking you." She nods to Rayek. "Well?"

Silverfox almost grins, then glares up at the glider who IS IN MY WAY!!! ** 
  Move it glider, SHE wishes me to help. ** Yup, fear's definately making her 
  testy.

Rayek ignores Sar's jibe; briefly, anxiously, he glances down at Ember, then 
  sends shortly to Tilia, ** To remember her by, and for her keeping me from 
  going mad. ** The words are crisply delivered, heavy with unsent implication.

Sar is still blocking Silverfox from reaching Ember, though his attention is 
  getting dangerously distracted.

Ember, now that her hair isn't matting the wound entirely, is doing that very 
  thing: bleeding. Quite a lot. But then, head wounds are always ugly. She 
  actually manages to push up into almost a sittin position, gritting her 
  teeth so hard it's audible. Dagger. Where's my dagger. I'm going to *kill* 
  him.

Tilia looks up to Sar and says, "Now I'm asking you. Why did you give it to 
  her."

Sar looks at Tilia over his shoulder. Then, perfunctorily, strikes out at 
  Silverfox, knocking her to the ground before striding over to Tilia. "Who 
  knows? Recognition must have addled my mind to do such a thing. I will not 
  leave evidence of such for the outsiders to snicker at."

Tilia says "And you would kill to get it back?"

Ekuar finally reaches his staff, and curls there on the floor next to it, his 
  hand resting loosely on the sturdy wood as he re-gathers his strength.

Silverfox falls to the ground, hand to her face, where her lip is bleeding. 
  She looks at her bloodied fingers and at the glider, standing up, scared 
  forgotten, just mad now. She touches her face again, and takes a step 
  towards Sar.

Rayek snarls, silently, as Ember remains unattended. He kneels swiftly at her 
  side, to see what he can do for the leg; one of his hands begin to glow, as 
  he levitates her, slightly, striving to keep her as still as he can. With 
  the other hand, he begins ripping shreds off his silken gargments.

Leetah steps in from outside.
Leetah moves away from the huge stone structure nearby.
Leetah has arrived.
Leetah runs in, out of breath. ** What's happening? **

Tilia says then, "Destroy it, Rayek." She looks to Rayek with a look of dim 
  ... recognition, perhaps. "And you," she says to Sar with no trace of the 
  glimmer, "leave."

Sar looks wordlessly at Tilia. Then turns and floats into the air.

Ember is sort of half propped on her elbow: she's bleeding nicely from a head 
  wound, and her right leg is shattered, both bones broken. Lower one is 
  horrible, with bone shards fragmenting out, though the upper hasn't broken 
  through the skin. She looks, besides being in pain, like she's trying to 
  figure out how to kill Sar with a glare.

Tilia nods thankfully to Sar and turns her expectant gaze to Rayek.

Silverfox stands, watching Sar float out of reach, then steps out of the way, 
  as Leetah runs in.

Sar glides out of the chamber without a backwards glance, either for Ember or 
  the others.

Rayek catches Leetah's sending, first; his gaze flicks quickly to her, and he 
  sends, urgently, ** Please. Your daughter. ** As the healer moves to join 
  him, he lowers the huntress as gently as he can.

Ekuar pulls his staff to his side and slowly begins to draw the wooden leg 
  beneath him, leaning to heave himself to his feet.

** Mother, ** Ember sends, in simple relief, pain still warded away from the 
  sending through force of will.

"She fell," Ekuar says to Leetah, as he begins to shuffle closer. "Not as far 
  as she could have-- but, eh, far enough. And it wasn't soft enough. I'm 
  sorry."

Leetah's healing glow begins even before she reaches her daughter. Brown arms 
  slip around her as the healing begins, blood ceasing its flow, bones 
  beginning to knit.

Ember tenses abruptly, more in anticipated relief than anything else, and her 
  sending, weak, goes to Ekuar again. ** You saved me. **

Silverfox watches the glider leave, then turns to watch the healer, relief in 
  her eyes as she relaxes.

Ekuar smiles, concerned and paternal. "Child... you saved me in turn. Hm?"

Rayek steps back from Ember, leeting Leetah tend her, and fingers the necklace 
  thoughtfully. To Tilia, he nods, slowly, then he sends.

Leetah continues the healing in silence.

You locksend ** Huntress. I... should do as Tilia asks. I would... not bear it 
  well, if Sar harmed you again over a trinket. If I may have your leave....? 
  ** to Ember.

Ekuar glances from Ember to Rayek, startled.
Ekuar locksends ** Dear one... you will destroy her gift? **

Ember might agree, but she's near exhausted, no, .is. exhausted, and as 
  Leetah's power sweeps through her, she lets herself drift, giving no answer 
  to Ekuar.

You locksend ** <quiet grief> I would not bear it well, Ekuar, if Sar harmed 
  her again over a trinket. ** to Ekuar.

Ember locksends ** <<faint>> Next time, he dies. **

Sar steps through the doorway outside.
Sar approaches the huge stone structure.
Sar has left.

Ekuar locksends ** I know, my boy. You would not bear it well if he harmed her 
  over -anything-. But it is not the necklace that brings his wrath. Not 
  truly. **

You sense in a locksend, Ember's mind catches up, slowly, with the rest of 
  what you sent, and there is a small, tired slump in her sending. ** Do what 
  you will. **

You locksend ** <His sending lingers, strangely shy.> You will have, if you 
  will accept it of me, a gift to replace it. <And with that, he withdraws, to 
  let your mother do her work.> ** to Ember.

Tilia says "She can always make another. It would be hers. I don't see this 
  sentimentality over something from a stranger."

Ember turns her head towards Leetah, and sleeps.

Rayek glances to Tilia, then lifts the necklace off him, letting it dangle 
  from his brown fingers. "The Glider was no stranger, Tilia, and that was the 
  problem."

Tilia's tone mocks disbelief. "I see. Well loved and cherished."

Ember looks at you for a moment.

Ekuar hobbles closer, stopping in a lopsided stance at Rayek's side. "Tilia," 
  he says quietly, "It isn't the necklace that brings Sar's rage. Destroying 
  it will serve no purpose."

Rayek doesn't rise to the taunt in the Go-Back's tone, saying only, "I cannot 
  speak for Ember or Sar in that regard. But it will not sit well with me if 
  she is harmed again, over a trinket, especially in the Palace's halls." He 
  looks down at Ekuar, eyes full.

Tilia nods to Rayek. "See," she says to Ekuar, "he's not as dim as he tries to 
  be."

Silverfox bites her lip, and listens, watching the master healer at work.

Ekuar gives a crooked shrug, and replies, "With or without the necklace, Sar 
  would be-- eh-- angry. At all that is no longer his. At what he cannot 
  control. We mustn't focus on something so small and think that is the 
  answer."

Tilia says "Who says it's the answer?"

Youngblood has arrived.

Tilia looks to Rayek again and says in a soft voice, "He understands."

Ekuar looks thoughtfully at the bright wolf-head, memories in his eyes. "If it 
  isn't, then why destroy it?"

Youngblood steps out of his tent, blinking at the crowd.

Tilia says "What will not destroying it do to help?"

Ekuar glances down at Ember's unconscious form. "It will remain as a gift of 
  love. Eh-- affection, trust. Symbol of many deeper things. Of a time when my 
  Brownskin and Ember both needed healing of one sort or another, and found it 
  with each other."

Tilia says "It's just a trinket."

Youngblood steps closer to Ekuar and speaks quietly, "Ekuar, wh at is going 
  on?"

Ekuar answers staunchly, "Not to them. And not to me." A rueful smile touches 
  the aged, pale lips. "It isn't yours to decide upon, either, Palace's heart 
  or no."

Tilia says "If it isn't mine to decide, why have you been arguing with me."

Rayek says, quietly, "The deeper things remain, Ekuar, regardless of what 
  ornament I wear."

Tilia says "What power do I have here."
Tilia nods again to Rayek. "/He/ understands. I don't need to choose for 
  anyone."

Ekuar's brow wrinkles. "More power than you think, little warrior. Over 
  Brownskin, more power than you know. A suggestion from you is--eh-- much 
  more."

Youngblood bites his lip, regarding Ekuar and Tilia confusedly.

Rayek doesn't meet Tilia's -- or, for that matter, anyone else's -- gaze, and 
  for a moment, there's a hint of red under his brown cheeks, as though the 
  airwalker might actually be blushing. "When Ember is well, she and I will 
  speak of it; she, too, must understand." His chin lifts a bit, as his 
  eyebrows draw together. "If Sar has caused harm to PaleMoon, too, with this 
  delay..." At last, he turns to Ekuar, facing him. "We must find your 
  daughter; the necklace is of lesser importance."

Ekuar nods trustingly up to Rayek, and settles himself comfortably on his 
  staff. "The leg has taken no harm. Nor the staff. Nor have I. I'm ready, my 
  dear."

Youngblood nearly shouts. "Yes! " and then shrinks at his own vehemence, 
  speaking quietly, "We must find my sister. We must."

Tilia says "Rayek, be wise enough not to wear the necklace out in case he sees 
  you."

Rayek smirks a bit, then nods, dropping the pendant into the sack he'd brought 
  out with him, for a journey into the desert. "Ekuar -- you have been sending 
  for her more than I. Does she still lie to the north?"

Youngblood glances worriedly at Ekuar, awaiting his answer.

Ekuar answers with certainty. "She does. And she lives, still. Though the 
  images are-- eh, sometimes hard to sort out."

Youngblood clenches a fist, his expression one of restraint as he holds back a 
  million questions.

"I will carry you as far as needed," promises Rayek, "as swiftly as we can for 
  Youngblood to keep pace." The airwalker turns, then, to eye Tilia. "To do 
  this, Ekuar and I must leave the Palace for what days it takes."

Tilia says "Fine."

Ekuar gives Youngblood a reassuring look, quietly stooping to tighten the 
  straps of the wooden leg even further. When flying, it does not do to shed 
  limbs.

Rayek continues, "Ember offered to help guard. Winnowill and her Chosen have 
  left with their... prizes." He smirks, briefly, though his eyes don't match 
  the smirk, distant and troubled as they are. "We will return with all 
  possible swiftness."

Tilia says "Do you expect trouble here?"

Rayek rolls a shoulder, by way of a shrug. "If it was not the Gliders who 
  caused PaleMoon to vanish" -- his tone returns to faint sarcasm, or 
  something like it; perhaps he struggles with the notion of remaining 
  open-minded -- "then we must be alert."

Tilia says "Always."

Youngblood scowls at the mention of the Gliders.

Ekuar looks once more at Ember, concern and gentle empathy in his eyes, then 
  he begins to move in a steady shuffle for the doorway.

Silverfox makes a slight face, then slips out, this does not sound like 
  something I need to hear...
Silverfox steps through the doorway outside.
Silverfox approaches the huge stone structure.
Silverfox has left.

Rayek turns, then, to move with Ekuar, out onto their quest.

[End log.]