Log Date: 9/22/96 Log Cast: Ynderra, Kai (spoofed by Ynderra), Eagle, Mirth, Berrybuzz, Rillwhisper, No-fur Log Intro: Ynderra, her mate Kai, the Sun Villagers Eagle and Mirth, and the Preserver Berrybuzz have set out at last from Lostholt to Willowholt. The journey has been reasonably uneventful, save for the expected games a mischievous Preserver might provide, and Ynderra's discovery that Eagle seems to have intense problems with light. She's privately considered whether she can do something for him -- but most of her anxiety is directed towards Willowholt, the higher priority problem. And at last, the little party arrives in the marshes to the east of the hidden Holt.... ---------- Ynderra stretches, as she emerges from the little shelter Kai has constructed for the two of them, and yawns prodigiously. It's been a long trip, but now that the healer and her companions have passed the plains, she's clearly perked up. ** Almost there! ** she sends, brightly. Mirth looks at 'Derra and grumbles. Eagle is still curled up against the also sleeping Mixer, a mumble of something like 'not now' the only response. Ynderra stifles a giggle, only just, remembering that until she's under the shelter of a Holt again, it's wisest to stay quiet. She peeks over her shoulder at the sleeping males, including Kai, who pushes his face into the furs and send-mutters something about his mate being far too enamored with plants. Mirth sits up and peers bleary eyed at Ynderra, ** Ya're like a villager, ya 'no? ** Eagle rolls over and yawns getting a mouthful of Mixer's fur, ** Ack! Mixer! ** Mirth grins at Eagle. Mirth You eyes meet Mirth's laughing, twinkling hazel eyes. These eyes seem to always hold smile and a laugh even when his face doesn't. His mouth is full and his face bears a very dark tan. Mirth has a rough face though a handsome one and he is always ready the crack a grin at the slightest hint of humour. His hair is very dark brown, almost black and is very long, growing to mid back. He wears his hair in many tight braids looking much like dreadlocks. They hang all over his face and head. He wears a small vest with a few colorful beabs sewn into it. His muscles bulge nicely and it shows that the life in Sorrow's End hasn't softened him at all. In fact, it hasn't changed him much except for his skin. He also wears shorts and his feet are clad in thick leather ankle boots. He looks at you and grins, nodding in greeting. Carrying: Travel Eagle The sparkling eyes of this elf are probably the oddest you've seen in a long time, his left eye a sparkling green and his right a beautiful shade of turquoise. Standing at 3'6", he is sturdily built with a broad well muscled chest and equally muscular limbs. Dress in only a dark blue loincloth that's belted at his waist, Eagle's pale complexion is slightly reddened with the beginnings of a sunburn. Several small pouches and a larger pouch dangle from the elf's belt along with the sheath of a small knife, though the knife isn't currently in it's holder. The only other adornments he wears is a complex looking pendant that upon first glance is an arrowhead, closer scrutiny reveal that and intiractly carved wolfhead has been carved onto the wooden pendant. Eagle's usual smile is absent and a much darker, almost forbidding, expression has taken it's place. Carrying: Eagle's hat Mixer is still sound asleep and quite content to be so. Ynderra smiles pertly at Mirth. ** Only when I'm getting this... tingle, in my magic... I know we're near Willowholt, it just screams it...! ** She rises, then, and turns in a slow circle, sniffing at the air. ** By magic, _and_ scent... ** Mirth looks around and scratches his dreads, ** Travel 'round? ** Eagle sits up and blinks nlearily hands searching around for his hat, ** Mirth, hat.. where? ** Indeed, there's a strange heavy scent of Newgreen in a breeze coming out of the west, and Ynderra breathes in it, seemingly transfixed. Mirth crawls over and picks up Eagle's hat and hits him lightly with it, ** There ya go, iggle. ** Eagle grabs the hat and jams it on his head, ** Thanks and quite calling me 'Iggle', Scouter was drunk when he said that. ** Mirth's shoulder roll in silent laughter ** It fits. ** Eagle smirks, ** I'm laughing, really I am. ** Mirth nods, ** Sure ya are. ** Ynderra blinkblinks at you both, and then stifles another giggle. With a fond glance at Kai, she coaxes the other healer out of their shelter, then hops off across the clearing, focusing for a sending... Berrybuzz comes flying towards you. Berrybuzz has arrived. You locksend, to No-fur, Rillwhisper: ** Hey! Willowholt? Can you hear me? It's Ynderra, of Lostholt! ** You sense in a locksend, No-fur sendmumbles something almost incoherent. "Allo." Ynderra blinkblinks. ** Puckernuts, ** she giggles. ** They're asleep, mostly... ** Ynderra then looks round, and brightens. ** No, there's the chieftess. She hears us! ** From beneath Eagle's hat comes an muffles screech, /"Let Berrybuzz out! *mrphl* Let out!"/ Mirth looks at Ynderra and then at Eagle, ** she reminds me of tha' one villager who tried t'match us. ** Eagle wotches as he's clawed by the Preserver, he quickly yanks off his hat to free the annoyed bug. Ynderra winks pertly at Mirth, then waits, alertly, at the edge of their little campsite. ** Rillwhisper is coming! ** Mirth says quietly to the bug, "Alright now don't be singing now, bug." You sense in a locksend, No-fur, sounding a little more awake now, asks, *What are you doing here?* Berrybuzz wings out from under the hat before turning to scold Eagle, /"FunnyEyed Highthing tell Berrybuzz, be still quiet in hat. Smooshes Berrybuzz when put on highthing's hat."/ Eagle hisses at the Preserver, "Be quiet, we're supposed to be hiding." You locksend ** Strongbow sent us! Your chieftess sends, too, will you come out to see us? ** to No-fur. Rillwhisper approaches you from the edge of the marsh to the north. Rillwhisper has arrived. No-fur locksends ** Already on my way. :) ** Berrybuzz hmmphs and lands on Numbskull's packs. Rillwhisper comes quietly out of the underbrush, after a time. Her face is reserved, but her eyes kind enough, as she seeks out and finds the young healer maiden. Ynderra beams! Mirth sits back near Eagle. No-fur approaches you from the edge of the marsh to the north. No-fur has arrived. Eagle stares blankly at nothing in particular, ** Hello. ** No-fur grins and hugs the Ynderra. *Hi there.* Rillwhisper smiles over her shoulder at her son, then inclines her head at the newcomers. ** My eyes see with joy, Ynderra... and companions. ** Berrybuzz ooohs, /"Highthings, More Highthings!"/ Mirth grins and moves Eagle's head so his face is towards the two newcomers. Ynderra giggles aloud, and lets tall No-fur hug her. ** Hello! I've brought friends... ** No-fur tilts his head at the others. "Who have you brought?" In Ynderra's shelter, Kai emerges, more slowly and shyly. He comes up behind his mate, and nods to the chieftess and her son. ** Chieftess, ** he sends, simply. Mirth grins, ** I'm Mirth, the one with the charm of a bug is Eagle. ** Ynderra grins. ** Kai, my mate, you'll remember him, right? And these are Mirth and Eagle, they've come from Sorrow's End, well, actually, they came from Lostholt, but they wanted to come with me. ** Rillwhisper glances around at the foursome, quirking an eyebrow, then nods with a somewhat more warm smile at Kai. ** Crystal will be glad to see you. ** She then adds, curiously, ** You... had a cub, you two, yes? ** Ynderra ohs, and chatters, ** Blaze was scared to come, and Strongbow's taking care of him while we're gone, he's taking care of the Holt, too -- oh, Strongbow's why we've come, chieftess, can my friends and I come into the Holt? We need to talk...! ** No-fur sends openly ** Strongbow? Where's Cutter gone off to? ** Rillwhisper looks ever so slightly taken aback by 'Derra's flurry of sendings, but then smiles faintly, and nods. ** Come with me. Lostholt and its allies are ever welcome at Willowholt. ** Berrybuzz watches the quiet exchange between the elves from its perch on Numbskull. Eagle elbow Mixer, causing the sleeping wolf to wake. Mirth sends off to someone. Travel comes pattering in and sits down besides Mirth, eyeing the two newcomer elves with curiousity. Eagle gets to his feet and glances around, ** Will there be the same problem about our wolves as at Lostholt? Territory problems with yours that is? ** Mixer gets to his feet and pushes his head under Eagle's hand. Ynderra promises wide-eyedly, ** I'll tell you all everything, ** and waves the others after the chieftess. Kai follows, packing up his and 'Derra's few belongings. Rillwhisper moves deeper into the marsh. Rillwhisper has left. No-fur moves deeper into the marsh. No-fur has left. You head towards the South Marsh. South Marsh The edge of the marshes is vibrant with the small sounds of life. Wind rustles through the treetops, carrying brisk smells of plants about to head into their Whitecold sleeps. Wild creatures abound: waterbirds, ravvits, and small deer, all foraging through the tall grasses and reeds for their food. The immediate area is wild and tangled, trees allowing passage in only distinct directions, and the earth is slightly damp underfoot. A tangle of trees and brush stands off towards Sun-Goes-Down; it is quite thick, but a closer look suggests it is passable. To the northwest, the trail winds on into the marshes, and towards the distant Wandering River. Towards Away-from-Hub, the marshes give way entirely to the forest and the grasslands beyond. Contents: No-fur Rillwhisper Obvious exits: SouthMarsh Trail Camp Mirrormoons has arrived. Eagle pauses, a little surprised to see you here in the marsh. He approached from the south. Eagle has arrived. Mirth pauses, a little surprised to see you here in the marsh. He approached from the south. Mirth has arrived. Mirth sends openly ** I should really get Terlis to make me somethin' lik' a zwoot harness for ya to hang on to. ** Rillwhisper gestures into a seemingly blank tangle of leaves, to the west. ** This way. Mind the itchgrass. ** Rillwhisper vanishes into the thick tangled growth towards Sun-Goes-Down. Rillwhisper has left. Eagle chuckles, ** Itchgrass... ** No-fur vanishes into the thick tangled growth towards Sun-Goes-Down. No-fur has left. Ynderra breathes in a silent "Oh," as she follows the Willowholt chieftess. Carefully you pick your way through the tangled barrier, avoiding the itchgrass that grows thickly at its base. South Bank of the Pond This narrow, winding pathway is shielded in almost all directions save up, where the open sky allows clear illumination to mark the trail. The foliage is that of a place on the fringe between wood and marshland; tall young trees to the south and west, dominated by a massive distant trio of willows, are set off against a tangled barrier of brush and grasses that curves gently across the trail just off to the east. Thinner grasses mark the edge of a pond immediately to the north. The warm Deathsleep sun shines down on gaily colored leaves that rustle in the breeze. The sun is high in the cool autumn skies. Contents: No-fur Rillwhisper Obvious exits: Holt Copse Itchgrass Circle Pond On the other side of the itchgrass circle, Eagle vanishes into the thick tangled growth towards Sun-Goes-Down. Eagle carefully works his way through the itchgrass barrier, arriving from the marshes. Eagle has arrived. On the other side of the itchgrass circle, Mirth vanishes into the thick tangled growth towards Sun-Goes-Down. Mirth carefully works his way through the itchgrass barrier, arriving from the marshes. Mirth has arrived. Rillwhisper, once she makes her way through the odd-smelling barrier, stops dead, and breathes, "High Ones!" at the sight before her. Ynderra, once she makes her way through the odd-smelling barrier, stops dead, and breathes, "High Ones!" at the sight before her. Eagle is dragged into the clearing and mostly through the barrier, ** Itchgrass? You dragged my through itchgrass? ** Mirth turns from helping Eagle along and looks around him, looking shocked. Rillwhisper half-smiles, noticing Ynderra's reaction to the Holt terrain; with the trees all abloom and thick with new leaves, you'd swear it was Newgreen here. "Into the Holt, all of you," she says over her shoulder. "This way." Rillwhisper heads into the Willowholt. Rillwhisper has left. Mirth snickers and sends in Eagle's direction ** Ya'll know fer'sure when ya start to itch or not. ** No-fur grins at Ynderra. You head into the Willowholt. Clearing by the Old Willow(#123RHJ) Here in the heart of the Willowholt, the air is thick with the scents of the Newgreen -- regardless of season. Green growing things crowd the clearing, from the myriad bright 'mushrooms' hiding among tall shoots of grass, to dreamberry bushes sandwiched between the trees, to the mighty, massive 'Old Willow' that dominates everything in sight. A fallen 'log' under the Old Willow's branches provides a place to sit; a gurgling 'fountain' provides a constant song of water. Amidst the almost overwhelming weight of Newgreen scents, the air, to elfin senses, is alive with magic. Immediately to the northeast, overlooked by the mighty willow, lies a small pond; to the southeast, south, and west, paths to the Holt's more secluded parts; to the east, the distant marshes. The warm Deathsleep sun shines down on gaily colored leaves that rustle in the breeze. The sun is high in the cool autumn skies. Contents: Rillwhisper Obvious exits: Branch Old Willow Hillside Path Starwillow Copse Marsh Pond Eagle appears from the nearby pathway. Eagle has arrived. No-fur appears from the nearby pathway. No-fur has arrived. Mirth appears from the nearby pathway. Mirth has arrived. Mirth grins at Eagle and tries to pull his hat over his eyes. Eagle growls as his hat gets pulled over his eyes, "Why'd I pick you to come with me, Mirth?" Ynderra, clinging to her mate's hand, stares with him at the Newgreen-enswathed trees, and squeaks, "It's just like Strongbow said..." Berrybuzz appears from the nearby pathway. Berrybuzz has arrived. Rillwhisper studies the visitors, then focuses her green gaze on Ynderra. "Strongbow sent you?" she asks, quietly. Mirth says "'Cause the bug would jus' wrap ya up, not lead ya 'round?" Berrybuzz flutters into the holt, giggling happily. Eagle adjusts his hat again, squinting hard to try and get a look at the holt and pretty much failing miserably. No-fur takes a seat, to listen. Mirth chuckles at Eagle. Ynderra bobbobs her head, as she pipes to the chieftess, "Strongbow asked me to come, you know, he said he sent with you, and that the trees all think it's Newgreen here, and that your wolves aren't having cubs, and that Talek needs help and maybe Silversong too... oh!" She gestures at the others. "Eagle and Mirth sort of came for the journey, 'cause, um, well, they can say why." Berrybuzz flits over to Eagle and perches on the elf's shoulder, beneath the brim of the hat. /"Poor HighThing nosee prettypretty allwrong trees."/ Ynderra, still clearly dazzled by the abundance of green, growing _life_ in this place, stares with round eyes at every plant in sight. Rillwhisper murmurs, "Strongbow sent..." Her face flickers between a stoic look and a softer one, before she glances inquiringly at the other visitors. Eagle is looking off at something, not sure if he facing Rillwhisper or not, "Two reasons why we're out here travelling, the first being that we're looking for someone.. the second being that there's a few things out here worth trading for and waiting for the Traders to come though takes too long." Rillwhisper considers this, rubbing at her forehead a moment, and looking all at once as though she's wrestling with a headache. "Go on," she tells Eagle, sounding almost a moment like Strongbow, with that gruff tone. Ynderra turns from her mate; Kai murmurs a request to withdraw, to search for his father, to which Ynderra beams and nods her assent, before the maiden turns back to the chieftess. Ynderra quirks her head at Rillwhisper's expression, then. Eagle says "We're looking for an elf named Snowstorm, she left the Village unexpectedly and it's got her Recognized and her son pretty upset. With Dart away too, the jackwolfriders can't have their acting chieftain upset or going off searching for anyone."" Mirth grins and nods assent to Eagle's words. Eagle says "So I asked Gentlerock if he'd mind me looking for her, he didn't so we're looking." Rillwhisper blinks, lifting her chin slightly. "Wait. Gentlerock. Dart's son? You seek Dart's son's mate?" Mirth nods again. Eagle reaches down and starts scratching at his legs, "Mirth, you better find someplace to hide when the sun's down." He nods his answer to the cheiftess, "Ayup, between his father being gone and his Recognized leaving, he's more glum than his sire." Mirth laughs at eagle and nods, "Which is sayin' a lot!" Rillwhisper lets out a breath and settles on the wide log under the willow fronds. "I had forgotten Gentlerock had a mate," she murmurs, "but I remember Gentlerock, yes." More loudly, she adds, once more looking directly at the visitors, "But there is no one by that name in the Holt, and I don't think any of us have seen her." Ynderra chews her lip a moment and impulsively plops down on the log by the chieftess, quirking her head, studying her. Eagle smiles, "So with the searching out of the way, we've got a ton of stuff from the Village to trade." Looks to where he last heard Mirth, "You got any of the berries with you?" Mirth grins, "Always do, m'friend." Mirth lifts up his pouch and starts riffling through, hmmmm "Yeah, there're a few left." Eagle says "Go get a full one from the zwoot, one of the ones with the symbols on them. They've soaked longer." Mirth nods and sets off for the zwoot. Rillwhisper lifts her eyebrows. "What do we have that you seek?" Mirth comes back some moments later with a pouch in his hands, one with symbols on it. "I guess this is the one." he says. Ynderra watches the others, but most of her attention seems to be on the chieftess, now, studying the older elf's features, noting subtle details of them. You locksend to No-fur, Ynderra sends shyly to you, ** Um. Strongbow is worried about your chieftess. Has she been, um, okay? ** Mirth holds the pouch right before Eagle's face. "This'un?" No-fur locksends ** More or less, I think. Getting plenty of practice being her worrysome self. ** Rillwhisper glances at Ynderra, lifting an eyebrow, while Mirth and Eagle debate their wares. No-fur locksends ** You know how she is. :) ** Eagle nods, "That's the right one. Okay, what you've got that we want are umm.. some plants and mushrooms with kind of dreamberry like qualities." Ynderra smiles lopsidedly to Rillwhisper. Rillwhisper lifts a hand to the healer in a "hold a moment" gesture, then blinks at Eagle. "You... want our mushrooms?" Eagle holds out a hand for the pouch, "In exchange for my carvings, dried vegtables, and special dreamberries." Ynderra suddenly giggles. "I told them Sweetleaf was _very_ good at shaping those kinds of things," she offers to Rillwhisper and No-fur. Mirth grins and gives Eagle the berry pouch and nods to Rillwhisper, "Yeah, them mushrooms." No-fur grins. A lot. Perhaps slightly amused, perhaps wistfully so, Rillwhisper gives another bit of a half-smile, then glances at Ynderra, before returning her green gaze to the young Sun Villagers. "Did she tell you my brother's shapings come in many forms? And they _are_ powerful... the dreams they give are, well, rather daunting if you're not used to them." Rillwhisper adds, baldly, "And to be honest, I don't know what half of them do, anymor." Mirth grins and turns Eagle's body towards Rillwhisper and gives him a good shove. No-fur adds, himself, "Or want to know... :)" Eagle whispers something to Mirth. Grinning, he says, "Well, I'm willing too *oof!* figure that out" He stumbles in the general direction of the chieftess, "These are for you anyway. I'd say my usual lines but they'd be lying, I haven't seen much of anything yet.... Am I close yet?" Wryly, Ynderra puts in, "Well, um, I could help you figure that out, too. I mean, I _am_ a shaper, as well as a healer, and that's the other reason Strongbow sent me..." Mirth grins, "nah, jump forward, Iggle, THEN you'll be 'dere." Rillwhisper's expression relaxes somewhat, as she takes in the stumble-footedness of the visitor. "You're before me," she says kindly. "But you and your friend'll want to be wary. I spent a whole summer thinking I was a flower, on one of my brother's shrooms, once." No-fur grins. *Makes me glad I try to avoid them. :)* Eagle chuckles and holds out the bag of berries to the chieftess, "I apologize for having to ask that sort of silly question, light and my eyes don't agree with one another for the most part." Mirth grins and steps up next to Eagle, after all, he DOES need to get back to where he was. By touch rather than sight, Rillwhisper's hand can be sensed accepting the bag. She quirks her head at Eagle, taking his admission in, then saying at last, "Alright... I'll make sure the others know. These are...?" Ynderra giggles softly. "The berries." Eagle reaches and grabs hold of Mirth's shoulder, "Those are my special dreamberries, dried in the sun and then soaked in wine." Mirth waggles his eyebrows and nods. He puts his own hand on Eagle's arm. "I'd be careful a'dem." Mirth says "Scouter almost drowned on'em." Eagle nods, "Well, I'll get out of your way now. Sompleace to sit and itch would be nice, Mirth." Rillwhisper blinks. Then chuckles a little. "I, ah, see." She sniffs briefly at the offering, then says, "Thank you for the gift, at any rate; I'm sure some of us here will appreciate them. You may pick the mushrooms if you like; any of the ones with bright colors will be ones that give dreams, but you should ask one of the shapers here before you nibble them. Sometimes the same color shroom won't always do the same thing. And some of the new ones are... odd." Rillwhisper half-smiles and adds solemnly, "We've... many, many green growing things here. It'll not hurt the Holt if you take anything you can eat or carry." No-fur looks at the 'gift' in his mother's hands. Eagle says "Alright chieftes, we brought a zwoot we should be able to carry enough. Tell me do they dry well." Rillwhisper passes the bag to No-fur, while nodding to Eagle, gravely. "Aye. You can burn them in a fire, as well, and breathe in dreams with the smoke, but be care of that, too." Ynderra blinks, then bobs her head at Eagle and Mirth. "That bit Strongbow once," she says, suddenly meek. No-fur tries out one of them berries. Mirth grins and leads Eagle back to a comfortable spot. No-fur mrrrrs happilly. Mirth chuckles at No-fur. Mirth sits down near Eagle and watches Rillwhisper intently. No-fur sends openly ** They're good. :) ** Ynderra looks back at Mirth. Then considers. "There are shrooms that give dreams of our tribesmates long gone; some give dreams of being animal. Or green growing thing. Some simply... fill your mind with color and light, and pull the senses away from your body." Eagle hrms, "I'd better avoid the ones with all the light and color." Mirth laughs, "I wouldn't min' any'a 'dem." Eagle ponders something and start rummaging through a pouch on his belt. "Mirth, I've a feeling you're going to think your a pricker bush for the rest of your life." Rillwhisper fixes her steady regard on both Eagle and Mirth, and adds, "You should eat them in a safe place. I'd suggest a den, if you try them here. We have a tree with places you can sleep, in it." Mirth laughs, "Mebbe'so, but I'll still flirt better'n ya." Rillwhisper, with that, gestures a hand around the Holt. "You can't go down a path without finding shrooms everywhere... so pick them as you will. They won't harm you; they never do. But don't eat too many at once." She adds to Ynderra, "You'll want to practice easing their effects, maybe." Eagle says "He'll be the one trying them here chieftess, it would be safer for me to try them once I'm back in the village." Ynderra pipes, "Maybe, after I deal with everything else Strongbow asked me to do. Starting with..." She nibbles her lip, and pipes, "Chieftess, may I 'look' at you?" Rillwhisper nods absently to Eagle, then blinks at Ynderra. Almost, she seems amused, her mouth curling at one corner. "Why hasn't Strongbow come?" she asks the healer-maid, even as she nods, once. Ynderra leans over on the log, propping herself up on one knee, and places a delicate hand on the chieftess's forehead. A green-golden light glimmers into being around Ynderra's fingers, even as she answers, "Cutter and Leetah have gone to the Palace, and Cutter wanted Strongbow to be chief while he was gone, since Ember's gone, too, and there's nobody else to lead... Clearbrook's tired of it, you see...!" Rillwhisper blinks, then suddenly chuckles, faintly, even as she closes her eyes under Ynderra's examination. "Strongbow as chief," she murmurs. Ynderra pulls back after a moment, then smiles warmly to Rillwhisper. "You need a lot of sleep," she informs her firmly, "and your head feels like you've been having headaches for moons." Rillwhisper, ever so slighly, blushes. "Tell me something my tribe hasn't, healer," she answers, but not unkindly. Ynderra sits back on her heels, and giggles. "Alright, how about: I'm here to help, and Strongbow wants me to bring back anybody to Lostholt that I _can't_ help." Then she sobers, a little, and asks, "Will you let me and Kai help?" Rillwhisper pauses, at that, eyes very full. Eagle smiles, "Mirth and I will help in whatever way we can as well, right Mirth?" Rillwhisper says "If..." As Rillwhisper speaks again, her voice has gone husky. "If you can help Talek, and find out why the trees are stuck in Newgreen, and why our wolves do not breed... I would gladly sleep for a season." Her gaze flicks to all the visitors, including them in her gruff admission." Mirth nods his head, "Yep." Eagle hrms, "Perhaps you need some new blood in your pack. Before my brother left the village, Gentlerock, Ravenhawk, and I discussed the need for a few new wolves in our pack in the village. But that might be the jackal mix causing the problems for us." Eagle says "Which if it's just that, I'm sure Mirth's wolf will be more than happy to oblige your wolves. Travel gets around the famale wolves more than his bondmate sometimes." No-fur chuckles. Rillwhisper glances to Eagle and begins, frowning to herself, "Our alpha kills the cubs, as you'd expect.... but she does not breed." "Well," says Ynderra pragmatically, "maybe I'd better look at her. Which first, though, Talek, trees, or wolves?" Mirth says "I've never touched a female wolf in my life!" Eagle says "That's not what I've heard.." Ynderra giggles, ringingly. No-fur chuckles politely. Mirth smacks Eagle upside the head, "That's all a lie." Rillwhisper smiles a little, herself, as she tells Ynderra, "Do... whatever would be easiest for you first, healer. Perhaps the wolves. Talek and the trees will take some doing." Mirth says "Started by Deadarrow 'cause he was mad that I was with his sister." Eagle ows, "At least I was able to squash the one about you liking my brother fast enough." Mirth laughs, "Yeah well I think Deadarrow has left the village so ya know who won tha' one." Mirth says "If ya aks me I think he started'at 'cause HE wanted to be his sisters mate." Eagle says, turning towards Rillwhisper again, "Now, my wolf has somehow managed to keep the females from killing one anothers cubs. But there's yet to be a really dominant female among them. Mixer was leading the pack before we left, as he has since he won his challenge." Rillwhisper studies Eagle thoughtfully. "You're offering to let your wolf breed with our pack?" Eagle says "If that's what Ynderra thinks is needed, and if you don't mind jackal blood in your pack." Mirth grins, "Yeah, mebbe travel too but I doubt it." Rillwhisper glances at Ynderra, then. "Then let's start with the wolves. I'd better help you find the alpha." Ynderra bobs her head. "I'll be happy to look at her, chieftess." She hops up off the log. Rillwhisper smiles solemnly, rising, herself. "Eagle, Mirth, I'll tell everyone you're here; in the meantime, be welcome to Willowholt." She points southeast. "The Starwilow is in that copse, there; you may sleep in that tree, for now. Ynderra, the wolves' dens are up the hill... come." Ynderra nods sagely, and with that, follows the chieftess as the taller elf strides up the hill to the south. [End log.]