From: owner-willowholt-l@murkworks.net on behalf of Wolf031877@aol.com Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 1998 1:46 PM To: willowholt-l@murkworks.net Subject: [willowholt-l] Dusk's Soulname Quest (Log) This log tracks the progress of Dusk and Talek while off on Dusk's search for her soulname. Logged June 22, 1998 by Dusk. The season is late autumn. ------------------------------------------------ Among the Cypresses This small space among the cypress trees is mostly green-lit, with the starlight that falls down through the branches overhead. The murmur of water sounds off in many different directions; the ground underfoot is yielding, strewn with fallen leaves, green, yellow-green, orange, red... tall, feathery grasses bend slightly in passing breezes. The starry outlines of the Human Hunter begin to come out as the dimming red light of sunset fills the cool autumn skies. Contents: Talek Bright Green Tent Obvious exits: Out to the Point After yet another night of traveling without a soulname found - it's been a little more than a whole season now - Dusk slows to a stop near some trees around Watertouch Point. It's late autumn, and her coat of fur has been thickening in preparation for the whitecold season. Despite that, she wears a simple cloak of a color matching her russet fur. Over one shoulder is a bow. Strapped over another shoulder is a quiver full of arrows. Further, a band of leather is settled over her hips, holding a simple blade, and she holds her spear in one hand. She's set for just about anything that might cross her path. Looking up at the cypress trees, she nudges Talek. ** Hey, let's go rest. ** Without waiting for an answer, she begins to climb it. Despite its still death-sleep, Talek already hugs the fur cloak he brought with him about him tightly. Pausing by the tree's edge as Dusk starts to scramble up, he looks up with a blink of uncertainty. ** Up there? But.. Dusk, what if it rains? Or snows? We'd freeze! ** ** You did bring a tent, didn't you? ** Dusk looks down at Talek to doublecheck. ** Besides, it's not that cold yet. And I won't let you freeze on me. ** ** I didn't! Neither of us have wolf-friends, so there was no way to carry it! ** Talek frowns up at her when she looks back down, hugging the fur all the more tightly around him as a breeze brushes through the trees. ** Anyway, I couldn't bring a tent up there. ** Dusk shakes her head a bit at Talek, motioning for him to come on up anyway. ** We couldn't make a tent up here, anyway. And it's warmer during the daytime too, so you should be all right when we sleep. ** Dusk doesn't seem to be as worried about things as much as Talek is, but.. ** For what it's worth, I hope I can find my name soon though. It's only going to get colder. ** ** Aye. ** Awkwardly, Talek starts to climb up the tree after her, noticeably slower. He's taller and wasn't born in the trees like she was, even though he's lived a long while in Willowholt. ** I suppose so. ** Arranging himself on a sturdy-seeming branch, the silver-haired elf shoots a look first to the ground, then up to the sky. ** I just hope it doesn't rain or snow.. ** Dusk moves over to sit next to Talek, glancing from him to the river, to the branches, and back to him. ** It's pretty nice around here. All quiet and calm. Are you having a good travel so far? Have you traveled a lot before? ** she wonders, kicking her legs back and forth beneath her. Talek's head inclines slightly, a few hairs falling out of place and over his eyes. ** Aye.. its a good travel.. Its been pretty easy, really, compared to what it could have been.. ** He trails off and only until a few moments later does her latter question seem to gain an answer. ** And yes. I've been many places. ** ** Well, I think this is fun. ** Dusk proclaims, tapping the end of her spear on a branch below her, just to do something. ** I wonder where else we'll go before I find what I'm looking for. And thanks again for coming with me. ** She looks back to Talek as she thanks him. ** Have you tried searching yourself? ** Talek sends curiously, leaning back against one of the branch's limbs, hugging the fur about him closely before relaxing his hold on it. ** Maybe.. I don't know. I'm not sure how these things work. ** A pause. ** You're welcome. ** Dusk shrugs, and replies thoughtfully, ** I tried searching for awhile, but that didn't work. I think I have to just let it come to me. I'm sure it will, sooner or later. ** She leans back, to rest against the trunk. Talek nods once for he doesn't know what else to do. If he ever went on a soulname quest, he lost it from memory, though its doubtful that he ever did. ** All right. ** He folds his hands behind his head, looking up to the overhead foliage. He eyes a cloud that doesn't appear particularly threatening. ** I hope it doesn't rain. ** ** I hope it doesn't rain too, but if it does I'm not gonna die or anything.. ** Dusk sends rather teasingly, flicking a finger at one of Talek's ears. ** Don't worry, we'll be fine. We're safe. ** Talek sighs and closes his eyes, then ducks slightly when Dusk flicks his ear. ** Hey! ** He blinks open his eyes and smirks slightly at Dusk, smoky eyes faded. ** Aye, well.. its hard to sleep when you're wet and cold. ** Dusk nods, shrugging. ** Oh, I know. ** She's got it worse with that fur, so she's got reason to want to stay dry, too. ** We'll find a dry place if we have to. ** She's still not concerned with it. Things like that kind of take a back seat when one is searching for one's soulname. Talek hmfs lightly, closing his eyes again. He's not sleepy though, even if they spent the whole night traveling. He's always slightly more inclined to sleep during the night than the day and it shows in the early morning hours. So he simply rests his eyes. ** How long will we stay here? ** Dusk hmmms, tugging her cloak around her a bit tighter, looking around. ** Until I wake up again. ** she decides. ** Unless I find it before I wake up again.. ** she amends, wondering just where she's going to settle down. ** Do you think it will come in a dream? ** Talek wonders out loud without opening his eyes. ** Maybe, maybe not. Maybe I'll find it somewhere, like under a rock. I dunno. ** Dusk replies. Talek blinks open his eyes, looking at Dusk somewhat puzzledly. ** Under a rock? ** he echoes, taking her words at face value. The furred elf glances back to Talek as he questions what she said, and she shrugs. ** Maybe. How could I know where it was? I'd have found it already if I knew. ** ** Aye, I suppose you would have. ** Talek pauses a moment, then simply closes his eyes once again. He's tired, but not sleep-tired. Almost as if he's caught his second wind at the oddest of times. ** I wonder how well the hunting is here. Might not hurt to rest a few nights here. ** Dusk nods, lapsing into a bit of quiet thought, rubbing around her chin. ** We'll see..taking a few days if things stay nice..that'd be good. ** Her thoughts are interrupted by a yawn, as Talek seems to hit his second wind. ** I'd hunt..but I just don't feel like it. ** Talek's send is interlaced with a mild chuckle. ** I wouldn't think so, Dusk. The sun's nearly up. ** ** Aye.. ** Dusk yawns. ** In fact, I think I'll just go to sleep now. ** She grins, and thwaps at one of Talek's ears again, settling back and shutting her eyes. Talek cracks open an eyelid when his ear is thwapped, but sends no reply when he takes note of her closed eyes. ** Good sleep, Dusk, ** he sends instead. Dusk wears a smile as she drifts off to sleep, sending faint but detectable agreement and wishing of the same, to Talek.