Log Date: 7/14/96 Log Cast: Talek Brightleaf NightDancer Silversong Rillwhisper Tinyhowl Log Intro: Talek, one of the many foundlings who have been adopted by the elves of Willowholt, is rather more unusual than most of them in that he has been in and out of madness for almost as long as he has been alive. Ever since his rescue by the Willowholters out of the hidden valley inhabited by HoneyGold's Preservers, Talek, once an arrogant and hot-tempered youth, has been absentminded and dreamy, often forgetting things. He had been kept stable for some time with the aid of his healer lifemate Brightfire, but after Brightfire's death, he turned forgetful again, useless for hunting or guarding, and often forgetting things within the space of a few hours. Today, Talek has wandered out of the protection of the Holt's itchgrass circle.... ---------- Brightleaf walks in slowly, gazing around her in wonder WhiteToes has arrived. Brightleaf looks at you. Wandering River(South Bank) The last stretch of riverside that can truly be said to be the bank of the Wandering River, this place seems to be a fine home for river creatures like otters and frogs. Cattails and marsh reeds shield this stretch of bank from view from across the river or downstream; it is peaceful here, with the whisper of the waters filling the air, and the current's flow speaks well of the chances of catching fish. The sun is high in the hot summer skies. Contents: WhiteToes(#7546JMaep) Brightleaf(#8059PAJOXce) Obvious exits: Upstream Trail Watertouch Point Downstream Talek lies on a stretch of rock, one pale hand trailing dreamily down into the water. Brightleaf You look into Brightleaf's blue-green, innocent eyes. She gives you a smile with her small pink lips. She's probably been wrestling with Greenbranch again as her face is dirty and so are her clothes. You can see she wears a dusty leather shirt which you can guess is green. Also she wears knee length leggings which are so used and dirty they could be naturally brown or that way because of dirt. Her tiny feet are clad in ankle-high thin leather shoes. Her hair is shoulder length and is black in color. As you look at her small form, she gives you a look from her luminous innocent blue-green eyes and smiles. WhiteToes You see a small wolf cub before you. His snout is small and you can see his teeth are just starting to come in. His tongue is bright red and his eyes deep pools of brown. His fur is dark black all over except for his four little paws which are all pure, snowy white. His tail swishes a little as he looks for his bond-elf, Brightleaf. Brightleaf stops short and lets Whitetoes down, standing there embarassed and a little frightened, "Umm....Heyla?" Talek, if he has any idea that anyone else is within near range, gives absolutely no sign of it. His silver hair in its tail drops down around his shoulder and trails into the water, too, and he sends vaguely, ** The water talks.... ** Talek(#7821PXce) Although not as tall as a Glider, this young elf is nevertheless tall, and his height is emphasized by his slender frame. His skin, even with a light hint of the touch of the Daystar to it, is unusually pale; his hair, thick and straight, is a long fall of pale silver. Large and slanted within the feline cast of his features, his eyes are the dark translucent silver-grey of water shrouded in darkness. By habit, he communicates by sending, and his mental 'voice' carries with it an unconscious clarity, a compulsion for attention that makes him easily heard even if he sends softly. He is clad in form-fitting leathers of variegated hues of dark blue and grey: a sleeveless, high-collared wraparound tunic, breeches, soft calf-high boots. His hair is tied back from his face into a dangling tail that reaches past his shoulderblades, neatly confined save for a few strands that occasionally drift into his languid eyes. He seems strangely disoriented, frequently staring into space, or send-mumbling to someone or something who isn't actually there. Carrying: Stone ring(#6008I) Brightleaf blinks, not really understanding this greeting and comes nearer, ** What does it say ?** Talek lifts his head, slowly, then turns it around and blinks just as slowly. ** It tells me it's alright... I don't have to worry.... ** He smiles once, airily, then looks down into the water again. ** I'm glad we have a river in the Holt, Nightwisp... ** Brightleaf blinks slowly too, ** My name isn't Nightwisp. ** With that, the silverhaired stranger rolls over on the rock, and stares at you limpidly. ** Oh... this is a strange dream, then... alright... ** Brightleaf blinks, ** What's your name? ** Talek considers this longly, and finally half-stares at the sky, and half at you, as he sends, ** I... think I'm supposed to be Talek... but I don't want to be... ** His pale brow furrows. ** I like Silverlock better... ** Brightleaf sends openly ** Wel met, Silverlock. I'm Brightleaf. What're you doing out here alone? ** Brightleaf looks very curious Talek slowly tilts his head, where he lies. ** Out... here? I'm... not in the Holt? ** Brightleaf sends openly ** What holt? ** Brightleaf sends openly ** Why don't you just walk back the way you came? ** Brightleaf offers up helpfully Surprise registers in that liquid silver gaze. ** Um... our Holt... no, you... you said you're not Nightwisp.... ** He starts to rise, then sinks back against the rock, as if the effort of getting up is beyond him. ** This is a very strange dream... ** Brightleaf walks closer to you, "Let me help you up." Talek smiles tranquilly and lifts a pale hand. His fingers are long and slender, in contradiction to his slow and weighted motion. Brightleaf grabs your hand and starts to tug backwards, leaning back trying to use her weight to draw you up Talek is very slim, and he is pulled up without much effort, though he pauses, seeming dizzy. Brightleaf sends openly ** Now where to your holt? ** Talek blinkblinks and looks around, languidly. ** This... isn't the Holt, ** he sends in confusion. Brightleaf looks exaspirated, ** I know it's not the Holt. You gotta take me to the Holt. ** Talek focuses on you, then suddenly frowns, anxiously. ** I... I-I am... I can't remember how to get back... ** Brightleaf blinks, "What?!" then send s more softly, ** You don't remember how to get home? ** Talek's pale face falls, big silver eyes going even more liquid. ** I... don't remember things very well, ** he sends, abashed. ** I forgot again... ** Brightleaf blinks, ** Why not send to Nightwisp to get you out? ** Talek blinks rapidly, several times, then a smile spreads slowly across his face, and he bobs his head reverently. ** Yes... yes, I can do that... I think... I don't think I'm too far away to send... ** Brightleaf smiles, ** Good! ** Brightleaf looks at you, "Well?" Talek finally mumble-sends, ** I think she might be asleep... or else I'm too fuzzyheaded again. ** He lowers his gaze, ashamedly. Brightleaf sends openly ** What about someone else, silverlock? ** Talek thinks about this, very hard, and murmurs absently, ** Jylien? No... chieftess. she will, yes, she can help bring me home.... ** His mental voice turns very small, making him sound as though he were much younger than his clearly adult age. Brightleaf sends openly ** Try it? ** Talek screws his eyes up closed, and his fine-boned nose wrinkles as well. He is silent for a moment... Brightleaf watches you closly Talek sends to the whole tribe ** Can... anyone hear me? Chieftess....? ** In a send to the whole tribe, Silversong sends curiously in return, distractedly, ** Talek? ** Talek sends to the whole tribe ** I forgot again... I-I can't get back... help me? ** Silversong sends to the whole tribe ** Shh... relax, Talek. What does the area that you're in look like? ** In a send to the whole tribe, Rillwhisper rouses out of sleep. ** Talek. Lad, be calm... it's alright... ** Tinyhowl locksends ** Papa? ** In a send to the whole tribe, Talek sends very tinily, ** There is a river here. I wanted to hear the water... ** NightDancer sends to the whole tribe ** The wandering river, likely. Hold on, lad. I'll come for you. ** Brightleaf says "What's happening?" Talek curls his arms around himself, looking vaguely frightened, but he starts to relax. He sends, tone childlike, ** They heard me! ** Brightleaf almost jumps up and down, ** That's good then! Now we can get you home, silverlock! ** [And after a short while, NightDancer arrives....] NightDancer arrives from the trail. NightDancer has arrived. Talek turns his gaze to the stranger beside him, and smiles timidly, dreamily. ** They'll keep me safe and snug... there are no flowers, not like the ones before, but they are kind... ** NightDancer fades in from the shadows, smiling. ** Hello, lad. ** You locksend to Tinyhowl, Talek's mind stirs in response to your call, but he sounds vaguely confused. ** Papa...? ** Brightleaf jumps but then stands tall, ** Hello. ** Tinyhowl locksends ** It's me, papa. Tinyhowl. ** Talek lifts his regard to the newcomer, and blinks several times, liquidly. ** You heard me, ** he sends absently. ** I did right? ** NightDancer chuckles at the girl. "Hello to you, too, lass." To Talek, he nods. "Aye, you did right." Brightleaf smiles, looking more confident now, "My name is Brightleaf." NightDancer smiles. "NightDancer." There's the scent of acrid leathers about him, and his fingers are stained with dye. "A visitor to our holt?" A slow and worshipful smile spreads across Talek's pale features. ** I remembered, ** he murmursends. ** I dreamt it right... ** His head tilts slowly, ever so slightly, to one side. And he adds, ** She's not Nightwisp. ** You locksend ** Oh... yes... you heard me, too...? ** to Tinyhowl. NightDancer blinks, eyeing Brightleaf. "No," he agrees. "She's not." Tinyhowl locksends ** Aye, papa. Are you all right? ** NightDancer NightDancer is a pale, handsome elf with fine, narrow features. Deep grey eyes rest under heavy, dark brows and peer through thick strands of hair that borders on blue, so black is it. The length of his hair is caought back in a beaten silver ring at the nape of his neck, falling down between his shoulderblades to brush at the center of his back. High cheekbones angle down to a sharp chin, marginally softened by a dark, neat beard that announces his evident age. He stands small and slender, his frame barely four feet, but well and strongly muscled. He wears simple leathers of dark grey; a long tunic comes down in deliberate ragged edges to his upper thighs, where boots the same shade meet. A wide, black belt holds the tunic close to his waist, and around his upper left arm is a wide, delicately stitched armband. In these leathers he blends easily with the shadows. You locksend ** I forgot the way. But... Someone came! ** to Tinyhowl. You sense in a locksend, Tinyhowl smiles. ** I saw NightDancer leaving to find you. I'm glad you're all right. ** Talek looks limpidly up at NightDancer and sends, ** I wanted to hear the water... it talks... ** NightDancer blinks, once. ** Her? Nightwisp, or Brightleaf here? ** Brightleaf says "I'm a visiter to...the holt? What holt?" NightDancer chuckles softly. "We've a holt hidden away, a distance from here. Visitors come often; I thought perhaps you'd meant to be here." Talek puts in guilelessly, ** I was dreaming about the Holt but she's not Nightwisp so she can't be in the Holt right now, right? ** Brightleaf looks at NightDancer pleadingly, "Take me there?" NightDancer blinks slowly at Talek. "I...I suppose so, lad." [In the meantime, as NightDancer finds the two younger elves, Rillwhisper has emerged from her den to await the recovery of her disoriented tribesmate.] You step out through the doorway and through the willow fronds. 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. All is quiet in the heat of the summer's day, as elves and wolves both keep to the cool shadows. The bright tangles of the Waterfall begin to come out as the dimming red light of sunset fills the hot summer skies. Contents: Littlefang Tinyhowl Twilight Nightruff Willowpaw Obvious exits: Branch Old Willow Hillside Path Starwillow Copse Marsh Pond Rillwhisper steps out into the clearing, frowning off to the north. Tinyhowl looks up from a seat beside the log, blinking. "H'lo. What's wrong?" Rillwhisper looks to the younger elf, and sighs. "You heard the sendings, lass?" Tinyhowl nods, chewing on her lower lip. Uncertainly, she asks, "Is somethign wrong with papa?" Rillwhisper steps up to the log, idly propping one foot on it, and one elbow on her knee. She says quietly, "I'm afraid... his head's always been a little scrambled ever since he's been here, kitling, but it's been getting worse, lately." Tinyhowl wraps her arms around herself, nervously. "He'll be all right, right, Rillwhisper? Please? he'll be all right?" Rillwhisper turns to the young elf, and offers an arm for a hug. "I'll ask Twilight and Silversong to look at him, kitling. I promise. They can see if they can unscramble his head." Rillwhisper sends to the whole tribe ** Twilight. Silversong. If either of you are awake enough, I'd like to talk to you. ** [And back by the river....] NightDancer blinks at the girl, in turn. ** A moment, lass... ** Talek's silver gaze, strangely childlike, rests trustingly on the bearded elder. [Back at the Holt...] Tinyhowl scrambles up to hug her chieftess, arms tight. "He hasta be all right, chieftess. He hasta be." NightDancer locksends ** We've another visitor out here, chieftess. ** You locksend to NightDancer, Rillwhisper frowns softly. ** With Talek? ** Silversong emerges from the nearby copse. Silversong has arrived. You sense in a locksend, NightDancer nods. ** Aye. A girl, this one. She can't be older than Talek's cub. ** Silversong steps out of the Starwillow copse, running a hand through her hair as if she'd just awoken, but not quite. Rillwhisper nuzzles the top of Tinyhowl's head, and says assuringly, "We'll do our best to make him alright, kitling." As Silversong enters the clearing, the chieftess looks up. Tinyhowl whispers, "Thank you." There is a scent of fear and worry about her. You locksend to NightDancer, Rillwhisper seems somehow unsurprised that Talek's sending neglected to mention this. ** Alright. If she's peaceful, she can stay around... no smell of anything odd about her? ** You sense in a locksend, NightDancer shakes his head after a moment. ** No; she scents of wolfrider, and of dirty cub. ** Rillwhisper smiles gravely to Silversong. "Thank you," she says softly. Silversong steps closer to Rillwhisper, glancing up at the sky before meeting her chieftess' glance. "What's happened?" Tinyhowl whispers, "Somethin's wrong with papa." NightDancer locksends ** Why's he asking to be called Silverlock, chieftess? ** Rillwhisper looks Silversong up and down, almost as if perhaps ascertaining whether the healer is alright. "You've been off to yourself a few seasons... you probably haven't seen." She considers. "Silversong, you remember how Talek was when we brought him out of the Preserver place?" Rillwhisper suddenly blinks, glancing off to the north. Silversong nods to that. "I remember... he's fallen back?" she asks, concerned now. Rillwhisper flicks her gaze back. "NightDancer just sent that he's trying to call himself Silverlock again." Silversong frowns, glancing off towards the Marsh. "I see." Tinyhowl says "Wh-who's Silverlock?" Rillwhisper sighs, and tells Tinyhowl, "Lass... that was the name the Preservers in that hidden valley gave him. The Preservers that wanted to keep him there, and the ones who scrambled his head." Tinyhowl scowls deeply. "Preservers can't have him." Rillwhisper inclines her head. "_Ours_ are good. But the ones in that... place, they scrambled his head for him, but good..." She looks back to Silversong. "He's gotten worse since Brightfire died." Silversong nods slightly. "I'd been afraid this might happen, since Brightfire died... he was rather dependant on her." Tinyhowl's shoulders slump unhappily and she sits back down on the log, studying the ground between her feet. Rillwhisper says, bluntly, "Can you heal him?" Tinyhowl send-whispers, ** Papa's gotta be okay. Momma couldn't be okay, so papa's /gotta/ be... ** Silversong lowers her eyes to her hands. "I believe I can... I've been trying to learn more about my abilities, while I've been away... I believe I can." Rillwhisper nods quietly. "We can't have him losing track of where he is -- or his own name. Please, help him." [At the river...] NightDancer nods after a few moments. "The chieftess says you may enter our holt, lass. Come, Talek." Talek blinkblinks, and looks faintly bemused. ** Tal... ** As he trails off, he rises, slowly and uncertainly, off the rock on which he'd been sitting. Talek adds, ** I'm... Talek? I-I... ** NightDancer's dark eyebrows lift, slowly. "Aye, lad. You are. Who else?" Brightleaf sends openly ** He's silverlock. ** Talek lifts a hand to his brow, disorientedly. ** I... I was Silverlock... that was... I liked that... ** His eyes tear over a little, for some reason. NightDancer double-takes at Brightleaf, then looks back at Talek. "If it's Silverlock you want to be called, lad, then Silverlock it is." NightDancer glances at the two youths. "Ready to go into the holt?" Brightleaf nodnods, "Wait wait..." and she pats her thighs at Whitetoes how comes to her, she picks up the wolf cub and snugs him in her arms, "Okay." WhiteToes has left. NightDancer smiles at the cub, and then glances to Tal...Silverlock. Talek nods slowly and vaguely, and steps after NightDancer, his gaze trailing in various directions. NightDancer steps back onto the trail. NightDancer has left. Brightleaf steps back onto the trail. Brightleaf has left. You step back onto the SouthMarsh Trail. SouthMarsh Trail This is the beginning of the SouthMarsh Trail, which winds gradually Away-from-Hub and can guide the wanderer into the nearby marshes or eventually to the distant forest crossroads that lead to the central plains or the desert. There are small trees nearby; the ground beneath your feet, while strewn with the occasional pebble or rock, is generally soft and yielding. Tall blades of pampas grass, sharp-tipped and dark green for the summer, line the trail to either side. The bright tangles of the Waterfall begin to come out as the dimming red light of sunset fills the hot summer skies. Contents: Brightleaf(#8059PAJOXce) NightDancer Obvious exits: Riverbank River Fork Marsh Brightleaf looks back to see if Talek-Silverlock is following NightDancer continues down the trail to the east. NightDancer has left. Talek trails after the other two elves, as if so easily distracted by his surroundings that he forgets where he is. Brightleaf continues down the trail to the east. Brightleaf has left. You continue down the trail. SouthMarsh Trail This portion of the trail winds through a thick tangle of trees, brush, and grasses. To you through the greenery comes the distant sound of the flowing of the river; looking northward through a tall stand of cattails and a tall dogwood tree, you catch a glimpse of the water. Small clumps of cottoneaster wreathe through the grasses, save for where the tangle is thickest, immediately to the south. Far off to the south, over that clump of greenery, you spy the tops of what might be a grove of willows. The trail winds from Sun-Goes-Down off towards the southeast. Immediately to the south, you see a curving, tangled wall of foliage, through which you _might_ just be able to find a way... Contents: Brightleaf(#8059PAJOXce) NightDancer Roamer(#7985IMQVaehps) Tent Obvious exits: South Marsh River Fork Talek comes in after a few moments' worth of delay -- guided, perhaps, by the fact that this is the way the trail goes more than anything else. NightDancer vanishes into the tangle of foliage to the south. NightDancer has left. Brightleaf proceeds down the trail, towards the edge of the marshes. Brightleaf has left. Brightleaf appears on the trail. Brightleaf has arrived. Brightleaf vanishes into the tangle of foliage to the south. Brightleaf has left. You carefully work your way through the foliage, off the main trail... and after several minutes of effort, you emerge out onto... North Bank of the Pond(#170RJa) This wide sandy stretch of ground is the Hubward bank of a pond about three wolf-jumps wide; the tall marsh grasses that seem to ring the water on all sides part long enough at this bank to give a good view of the water. Just beside the pond's edge, among those same grasses, a large, smooth rock provides a place to sit and regard the water. At the rock's base is a tiny hole almost hidden among the brush. Off across the water can be seen the beginnings of a thick tangle of trees, the fringe of a wood... the silhouette of a massive willow tree stands out in the line of greenness. Shielding the bank from view from anywhere except within the Holt proper, a wide curving circle of foliage rings round the pond and weaves on into the trees around the Holt. The grasses are very thick round most of the pond's edges, but a tiny path is *just* visible following the curve of the pond towards Away-from-Hub and Sun-Goes-Down. Hubward the same small path runs off to connect with the trail into the marshes. Contents: Brightleaf(#8059PAJOXce) NightDancer Obvious exits: Around the Pond Water Itchgrass Circle Brightleaf stares around in awe but tries to hide it Talek, only after several minutes of effort of guiding him through, stumbles at last into the inner part of the circle. He rubs at one arm, idly -- where bare skin had brushed against the odd-smelling tangle of greenery through which the elves passed. NightDancer tsks lightly, shaking his head. "Don't rub that, Talek. Er. Silverlock. It'll itch worse. Silversong can look at it, back at the holt." Brightleaf says quietly, "This is your holt, silverlock?" NightDancer smiles, and gestures. "Around the pond a ways yet, lass." Brightleaf ooohs and clutches Whitetoes close Brightleaf says "Who lives here?" NightDancer gestures around the pond as he speaks. NightDancer vanishes into the tall grasses and the thick tangle of trees, following the curve of the pond southwest... NightDancer has left. Talek glances confusedly between the other two elves, then ohs and wanders after NightDancer. You poke your way through the tall pond grasses, into the trees. West Bank of the Pond This narrow strip of a path runs wedged on one side by closely tangled young trees, and on the other by the thick grasses surrounding the nearby small pond. Just overhead, most of the tangle of branches comes from the huge gnarled willow tree that dominates most of the surroundings. The shadows lengthen as the Daystar slowly approaches the horizon. The Holt slowly comes to life. The bright tangles of the Waterfall begin to come out as the dimming red light of sunset fills the hot summer skies. Contents: NightDancer Obvious exits: Pond Branches Clearing Around the Pond Brightleaf comes round the curve of the pond from its Hubward bank. Brightleaf has arrived. You step through the trees and into the clearing by the Old Willow. 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 shadows lengthen as the Daystar slowly approaches the horizon. The Holt slowly comes to life. The bright tangles of the Waterfall begin to come out as the dimming red light of sunset fills the hot summer skies. Contents: Silversong Rillwhisper Littlefang Tinyhowl Twilight Nightruff Willowpaw Obvious exits: Branch Old Willow Hillside Path Starwillow Copse Marsh Pond NightDancer emerges from the trees by the nearby pond. NightDancer has arrived. Talek wanders unsteadily into view, rubbing absently at one bare arm. Brightleaf emerges from the trees by the nearby pond. Brightleaf has arrived. Silversong nods, glancing over towards the ones approaching. "I'll do all I can, Rill." NightDancer enters, speaking softly to the following newcomer. "We call ourselves the Willowholt. Ta..Silverock, stop rubbing that, lad." Rillwhisper looks up, again, and nods approvingly to NightDancer. She glances past him to the bemused-seeming Talek, and the young stranger beside him. Tinyhowl looks up, then jumps to her feet and runs to hug her father. "Papa, you're all right, right?" Brightleaf comes up short and her jaw drops a moment and then she stands up tall Talek protests, ** I itch... ** He blinks as Tinyhowl tackles him, or at least comes close, and tells her dreamily, ** I'm... all safe, now... safesnug... ** Brightleaf sucessfully hides her giggle NightDancer smiles down to the girl, then, and gestures to the group in the clearing. "Chieftess, this is Brightleaf. Brightleaf, our chieftess, Rillwhisper, and Silversong, and Tinyhowl." Rillwhisper says to Brightleaf, "Welcome, lass. If you're the one who found Talek for us, thank you for keeping him safe till my tribesmate could find him. ** Silversong chuckles slightly, starting to walk over to where her brother is. Tinyhowl hugs Talek fiercely. "You must be careful, papa. I don't want you to be lost!" Brightleaf smiles, beaming her pride, "Silverlock's alright now? He looked lost." Brightleaf smiles at Tinyhowl Talek blinkblinkblinks liquidly to Tinyhowl and tells her guilelessly, ** It's alright... I was just dreaming..." Rillwhisper quirks a crooked smile, and says to Brightleaf, "This has happened before. Silversong is one of our healers, though, lass. And his sister. She'll straighten him out." Brightleaf oohs, "That's good. Silverlock was kind enough to bring me hear so he deserves some kindness." Brightleafsmiles Tinyhowl releases Talek eventually, stepping back a little to regard the other cub more thoroughly. Silversong smiles at her brother, before finding his hand with her own. Rillwhisper glances at NightDancer, not making the observation that, in this state, Talek couldn't find his way out of his own den. She tells Silversong, "You want to take him off somewhere quiet, healer?" Silversong nods back at Rillwhisper, her hand squeezing Talek's own as she turns to him. "C'mon, brother..." she says, a smile on her face. Talek, eyes wide, bobs his head to Silversong. Placidly, he holds her hand, and allows himself to be led off. NightDancer glances after the silver-haired lad, his grey eyes concerned. Tinyhowl looks after her father and the healer, worriedly. Rillwhisper looks to the silver-haired siblings, consideringly, then turns to the others. "I need to go on watch. Send if I'm needed, you all; and, Brightleaf, be welcome. I shall tell the others you're here." Rillwhisper, with that, climbs into the trees. Rillwhisper climbs up onto the overhanging sentry branch. Rillwhisper has left. From the branch above, Rillwhisper climbs up from the clearing below. Brightleaf nods her head after RIllwhisper and looks about to say something to her but doesn't. Silversong pushes aside the willow fronds and steps into the tree. Silversong has left. You push aside the willow fronds and step into the tree. In the Old Willow(#220RL) The heart of the trunk of the massive Old Willow is a smoothly shaped, cozy chamber, with the occasional ripple in the surface here and there to hint that this massive tree was shaped from more than one. An assortment of furs are scattered about, along with a carved wooden stool or two, on which to sit. Higher up towards the top of the living chamber, handholds lead up to the top of the tree, where round crawl-holes can be seen leading into various dens. The light here is soft and shadowed, and faintly green. Round crawl-holes lead off here and there into various dens. Above are visible the upper branches of the tree, and off to one side, another hole leading out along an extending branch. Contents: Silversong Obvious exits: Out Rainfire Rillwhisper/Woodhawk/Trollkiller Guest Den Sentry Branch Up [End log.]