"The Accident" Log Date: 11/18/2002 Log Cast: Sandstorm, Nightwisp Log Intro: It's busy times at Lostholt as of late. Rillwhisper has led a party off the remote grove where the mad Firstborn Doreel once held her and Strongbow captive... and where he later held Myriel's daughter Trouble and Strongbow's son Dart as well; she's come back with the Firstborn himself in wrapstuff, along with another elf he's captured and altered with his power. And if that wasn't enough, a party from Sorrow's End has also arrived--a party consisting of, among others, a treeshaper who seems prone to use her powers for less than benign purposes... and the she-elf who Recognized Strongbow's grandson Gentlerock, who was exiled long ago from the tribe for her own madness. It's been enough to provoke Strongbow into a passionate enough rage to take the unthinkable step of challenging Cutter for chieftaincy of the tribe. And much to the shock of all the adults in Lostholt, he's actually won. But even as these trying events have swept over the Holt, others have their own more personal concerns. Such as whether they will ever have wolf- friends, a worry shared by both Rillwhisper's granddaughter Nightwisp and young Sandstorm, the younger son of the very Snowstorm who has driven Strongbow into enough of a fury to take over the tribe.... ---------- In short, Sandy and Nightwisp talk… and something happens… Logfile from Sandstorm. This world is Pueblo 1.0 enhanced ============================================================================ Welcome to ... _______ _ _ | |\ /| | | | /~~\ | \/ | /~~\ /~~\ |\ | /~~~\ | | | | | | | | | | | | \ | ~---_ | \/\/ \__/ | | \__/ \__/ | \| \___/ - An ElfQuest MUSH. ============================================================================ Mon Nov 18 2002. Base of the Lost Holt Father Tree(#765RJ) A dense grove of grotesquely shaped trees dominated by one immense Grandfather of a tree whose age is no less great than its size. It is obvious that the old tree has survived a terrible tragedy but new growth and thick strong branches cover the worst of the scars left by the terrible blaze. Weeds and night blooming wildflowers grow in natural disorder around the trees roots. Like old friends, the gnarled trees embrace one another, their many branches entwining to form a dense canopy high above the ground, serving to keep the ground cool from the summer heat. You hear hushed noises as the holt slowly comes to life as elves and wolves awaken from the hot summer sleep. Contents: MoonShadow Obvious exits: Alcove Into the Tree Around the Tree Clearing Sandstorm stares at the father tree ... he's never seen a tree this big... There is a pounce from behind the cub, along with the 'WHUMP' of something hitting up alongside the ground. Nightwisp straightens from her crouch after having just dropped from one of the many overhead branches, her eyes stealing to Sandstorm. ** Heyla! ** Sandstorm mentally EEKS! And whips around, ** You scared me!!!!!!! ** His eyes are wide and his breathing panicked... ** Why did you do that? ** Nightwisp sends the younger cub a lopsided grin while answering cockily, ** Because its fun! ** She eyes Sandstorm closely, before ducking to plant her hands at her kneecaps while her arms kept her rigidly supported. Now bent over, she is at eyelevel with the other youth. ** Don't you know what fun is? ** Sandstorm blinks then scowls at that silly question, "Of course I do!" He sniffs indignantly, "Fun is playing in the sand, chasing Forest or Firestar or Starfire or Gentlestorm or playing with my mother. Fun can be a lot of things." He points up into the tree. "THAT looks dangerous." Nightwisp gives a capricious giggle, skipping out of reach to grab one of the lower branches. Like an acrobatic swinger, she swings and hoists herself into a sitting position with a neatly executed flip. "It isn't.. you should try it!" Sandstorm sighs, looking rather defeated. He is simply too short. Nightwisp grips the low branch by pinning the wood between the back of her calves and thighs. She lets herself fall backward, leaving her to hang upside down by her legs. Her dark brown hair cascades down in a riot of waves, and her eyes go to Sandstorm --- as does her dangling arms. "Grab on to my hands!" Sandstorm looks a bit cowardly but resolves not to fail this first test. He grips Nightwisp's wrists and makes sure he is attached in a way that he can help her swing. ** Please don't drop me. ** He sounds desperate and... well... a little scared. This is his first big tree after all! Nightwisp grins like a fool, rocking back and forth to gain momentum. The ground speeds by, becoming a repeating blur that borders on extreme vertigo for both parties. With all the strength available to her in her abdominal muscles, the huntress swings them both back atop the branch, halfway pulling Sandstorm up so she didn't accidentally send the poor cub hurtling over her head and sailing clear across the holt. Sandstorm gasps softly, assisting in the huntress's swings by swinging his legs. He does keep his eyes open... and lands on the branch precisely where Nightwisp aimed him. Puffing a bit, his eyes grow wide and he looks down. ** Wow... it's... different than being on a cliff... ** Silver eyes look at you, sparkling for once with just a bit of wonder and the light of discovery. Nightwisp giggles, her crooked smile zigzagging precariously across her lips. ** Of course it is! Much better than any.. cliff. ** From the sound of it, she had never chanced to see one before. Emulating an elf much younger than she, the clay-crafter idly moves her legs back and forth, watching you closely. ** Are you Grandmother's soul-brother's great-grandson? ** That was a send-full. Sandstorm settles down on the branch, making sure he is secure before doing anything else. His eyes glaze briefly, "What's that?" He looks confused, a frown of concentration on his small face. "I don't think I've heard of one of those." Nightwisp cants her head to one side, emulating a curious treewee. ** Is Strongbow your grandsire? ** It was much simpler and to the point. Sandstorm does an imitation of an owl for his part, "Yeeeesssss..." He isn't sure where this is going and he is looking for a trap. He's just too young to find one at the moment. Then he remembers! "NO! He is not!" The child smiles triumphantly. "Dart is my grandsire." Nightwisp snickers, springing up and landing her feet expertly across the narrow branch. Her long arms reach for the one above her, and she swings up one rung higher before glancing down at Sandstorm. ** Oh, ok. So Strongbow is your great-grandsire, then? ** Her violet gaze taunts yours, challenging you to take that next step and follow her up into the canopy. Sandstorm eyes the branch above and considers her question before answering, "Yes. That's what Gentlestorm and Snowstorm say. He says it too." Carefully, the cub stands, using the trunk for balance... he's never done this before... He has played on the balancing game during festivals though... but this is ... different... He reaches up to the branch, fingers grazing it. His silver eyes look around and he reaches for a branch that is a little further away but down a bit. He makes it, barely, hanging suspended in mid- air for a moment. Gasping, sweat pouring down his face, he finally makes it up onto the branch. Nightwisp breaks into a wild cheer, taking the opportunity to smack the cub across the back for a job well done. Yun had taught her that when she was no bigger than Sandstorm himself. Sandstorm clings to the tree with a grip of a desperate troll. He lightly oofs at the swat, ** Stop that! I don't want to fall! ** He gives Nightwisp a look with silver pools of barely conquered fear. Again he looks down... so high.... How in the high one's names does he get down? Nightwisp checks herself, quirking an eyebrow at the younger elf. ** You really are afraid? Hmm. I'm not afraid of trees, but I'm afraid of other things.. ** She nimbly pops off the high branch, landing neatly upon another further down. She reaches up for the cub, nodding in reassurement. ** You aren't a full wolfrider. ** It wasn't a question. Sandstorm mentally bellows with a great deal of irritation for a cub of six, ** THIS IS THE FIRST BIG TREE I'VE EVER SEEN! ** His face is kind of screwed up with an undeniable attitude. He grumbles, "You'd be scared too and it has NOTHING to do with being a full wolfrider!" He does recall that Wing and Mender are full Wolfriders though... He does barely recall to answer the question, "No, I'm not. I'm half Sunfolk like Momma and Gentlerock." Nightwisp shakes her unruly mane, uphased by the cub's outburst. She leans over and down, cupping a hand to Sandstorm's ear as she lets him in a big secret. "Guess what? Me either." She draws back with a funny grin plastered across her face, although she seems faintly troubled as well. ** Have you found a wolf friend yet? ** At times, being six has its advantages. Not knowing tact is one of them, ** Are you crazy with sickness or something? Should I get you a healer? ** He eyes you as if he's not too sure what to think of you. He does like you evidently because he puts a small hand on your cheek and strokes it a bit, like his Momma does for him when he is upset. "I don't have a wolf friend but I don't need one to be me! I hope I find one though. I hope you find one too!" He smiles softly, patting Nightwisp's cheek. Nightwisp smiles beneath the small palm touching her face, before turning her head and letting it slide out of reach. ** You will probably have one. That's the problem, you see. There have been so many turns of the seasons, and not once have I had a wolf friend. I have Briarstep; but then again I trained her. She is like the great birds the gliders fly around with to me.. but we are not bonded. I don't think I can. ** A heavy sigh ensues, and for once the perky elfess looks defeated. Sandstorm blinks and scoots closer to Nightwisp, "Are you sure?" He looks worried for her. His worry causes him to try to get to the older elf. "Maybe it takes longer for us to bond?" Frowning, he adds, "Both Momma and Gentlestorm have wolves so I think I can get one... maybe... I can share with you if you want." With a child's logic, he does not understand necessarily what he's offering. He only sees that Forest will carry Ashi so that is sharing, sharing the wolf friend. "Share?" Bewilderment catches her unawares, just before Nightwisp breaking into a chorus of chuckles. Little by little, resignation sets in and she shakes her head wistfully. ** No, you see.. I don't think.. I haven't told anyone this, but maybe I can tell you. What harm will it do? ** Shrugging her shoulders carelessly, she locksends to the cub. Nightwisp locksends ** I have begun to suspect I don't have the wolfblood in me, after going so long without a wolf friend. But don't tell anyone..! I can't imagine what they would think.. grandmother would be devastated. ** Sandstorm blinks at Nightwisp, ** But why would your grandmother care? She loves you, right? ** Understanding plenty more than most six year olds he says, "They should love you no matter what! If they don't they are mean and bad." He shakes his head emphatically, emphasizing his agreement with this statement he is making. "You should ask them. They'll tell you." He looks down, "IF they don't tell you to wait till you're older." He sighs, having heard that phrase sometimes. Nightwisp looks soulfull for another moment or two, and then she breaks out her characteristic grin. "It doesn't matter.. I suppose you are right. Besides, I like living like I do! I wouldn't want to go back to where my mother came from." She shudders involuntarily, and then sneaks a glance to Sandstorm. "You -do- have a lot of growing to do yet, you know. When you get older you will understand things you didn't before." Sandstorm makes a snorking sound much like that of his brother as he hasn't heard his mother make too many sounds. ** Tell me ONE thing that I'll learn when I get older. I want to know if getting older is worth the wait! ** "Well, uh, you will.. uh.." she stutters, suddenly embarrassed. Shaking her head to direct her thoughts towards another topic, she hastily amends, "Your mother will tell you when the time comes. Wait a few turns." Nightwisp breathes a heavy sigh of relief for avoiding that one. Sandstorm gets mad! "You didn't tell!!!! You avoided my question!" Sandstorm's no fool and right now, he ain't happy. "What were you going to say . . . Who are you anyway? I'm Sandstorm. Momma calls me Sandy..." He eyes Nightwisp, definitely not trusting her right now... "Nightwisp. The name is Nightwisp. Some used to call me Wolfwisp, but I think they are dead by now." Regret tinges her deep, violet orbs, even as her mind recalled old memories of nights past. "As far as me telling you what I was going to say.. well, it isn't important anymore." Her shoulders raise haughtily as she crosses her arms in defiance to Sandstorm's question. Sandstorm squints, ** Can you send me that that isn't important. At all? ** He eyes Nightwisp curiously. Scooting over to be closer to her. ** What's the difference if I learn it now or later? ** Nightwisp shakes her head firmly. "Sorry, but for some reason I think you need to wait until you are more mature. You will be able to better handle it then." With a gentle push, she sends herself careening towards the ground. She alights on the earth, before brushing herself off and grinning up at the cub still in the arms of the Father Tree. "Until later, Sandstorm!" Sandstorm growls with irritation, and immediately pursues! Unfortunately for the cub, he's too small to get out of the tree properly and down he goes! Sandy looses his grip on the branch and falls straight down, hitting his shoulder and banging his head hard. Sandstorm is unconscious. Nightwisp gasps at Sandstorm smacks face-first into the dirt. She glances fretfully to and fro, as if deducing whether or not Sandstorm's fall was witnessed. When it is quite obvious that no one was within view, she straightens up and clasps her hands behind her back. With a nonchalant stride and innocent whistle, Nightwisp casually walks off. [End log.]