From: owner-willowholt-l@murkworks.net on behalf of Wolf031877@aol.com Sent: Sunday, August 09, 1998 2:57 PM To: willowholt-l@murkworks.net Subject: [willowholt-l] Whoops! (Re: Strange Things...) CORRECTION Please disregard that 'Strange Things are Afoot in Sorrow's End' log. I pasted in the wrong thing...here's the right one, below. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Synopsis: In Sorrow's End, Dusk and Tsoran Recognize. Players: Dusk (logger), Tsoran, Aroree, Rainor. Logged August 1. --------------------------------------------------- Overhead, Tsoran hovers above, searching the ground. Spotting movement at last, he floats down towards the lone elf. Tsoran glides down from above. Tsoran lands lightly, frowning at the oddlooking elf. ** I require information. ** He steps closer. Dusk moves through the Square, on a path towards the Gardens, coming from a guest cottage to the north. She's recovered enough from her ordeal in the Underworld to look healthy again - travel home should come soon. She pauses at the sending, turning to look at the newcomer, not yet making eye contact. Tsoran ------ Tsoran has the height, pale skin and slender build of a glider, and moves with a deceptive lazy grace. His eyes are a shade of grey that from a distance gives the illusion his eyes are white slits, almost luminous. He wears a tightfitting uniform, similar to that of the Chosen with two exceptions: It is made almost entirely in black, and there is a stylized silver rose embroidered onto the chest. His helmet and talonwhip both have a silvery sheen. Tsoran wrinkles his nose minutely at the more-than-usually wolfish elf. "Did you hear me?" Dusk blinks. Glider! She takes an initial step backwards, her guard up. "What do you want, Chosen?" Tsoran folds his arms over his chest. "You understand normal speech, at least. Has the blood grown so thin you no longer can hear sends? You don't have the appearance of these other mind-deaf desert-dwellers." ** I can send as clearly as I can speak, Chosen. ** Dusk's answer is a rather annoyed one, not at all appreciative of the insults heaped upon her by one she's only just met. ** I said, what do you want? ** Her eyes, instead of rising, fall upon the talonwhip at Tsoran's side. Tsoran follows the gaze, and lowers a hand to tap the talonwhip briefly. ** I seek another glider. One who has been here in the past, and might have returned recently. ** Dusk's mouth pulls into a frown as the talonwhip is tapped, and she shakes her head, glancing up at Tsoran's helmet, then his garb. ** I've never seen her. ** she answers, remaining tense. Tsoran keeps watching Dusk thoughtfully. ** It is only a question of time. I will locate her. What is your origin? ** Aroree emerges from the shelter of the canopy. Dusk glances away from Tsoran, rubbing the back of her head for a moment as she looks towards the Gardens. ** Origin? I'm from the Willowholt. ** she responds. Tsoran turns his head slightly at some sensed movement, then turns to look towards Aroree, Dusk apparently forgotten. ** Well, then. Aroree. ** Aroree enters the square casually, stops when she sees Tsoran. She stands rigidly and replies formerly. "Good day Tsoran, what brings you so far from the Mountain?" Dusk's head turns back to see Aroree here, and she waves with a smile, also forgetting Tsoran for the moment. "Shade, Aroree!" Tsoran sends openly ** The business of the Chosen, as always. ** He steps towards Aroree with a faint smile. ** You are looking... well. ** Aroree offers Dusk a slight nod of greeting, not taking her eyes off Tsoran (can't take your eyes off of him for a second! he's a slippery one ya know.) Tsoran stops within half an arms length of Aroree, if that. ** I have such pleasant memories of our last meeting. ** Aroree says "Thank you, I believe the desert air favors me. You look as well as ever." Dusk lifts an eyebrow, and instead of going off to the Gardens, she approaches the two of Glider height and heritage, glancing between the two. "You know each other?" Tsoran looks down at Dusk with a rather cool expression, stating the obvious. "We are both gliders." Aroree frowns slightly, Tsoran's friendly attitude beginning to worry her. "He is Chosen, one of the hunters of my former people." Dusk's eyes narrow, lifting to meet Tsoran's. "I know that." [What Dusk sees when her eyes meet Tsoran's] ...And as you meet the gaze of those ice-blue eyes, something shatters with a silent sound that rolls through your blood, burning and searing where it passes until it breaks against your hammering heart. His initial appearance was perhaps exotic. But with renewed insight you realize how truly alien he is, a far closer kin to the long-gone High Ones than to the elves you know. He is timeless, untouched by the world, floating beyond it like a gossamer ghost, the angles of his face alien and eerie. And at the same time, he is physically real. Disturbingly so. You realize that underneath that helmet will flow nightblack hair, soft to the touch. The snow-colored skin will be warm, pressed to yours. And to feel those lips... the urge is frightening. And through it all, and the coalescing image of the outer world, you sense a similar response from the one whose name you now know: Tsoran. Aroree says "Though he held a different calling when I dwelled in Blue Mountain." [What Tsoran sees when his eyes meet Dusk's] The image of Dusk that your eyes find is one not much changed from her normal appearance. Yet, it's shifted and shaped such that the wolfen part of her is even more apparent than normal. She seems taller, leaner than usual, but a fine coating of rusty fur covers her bare form, darker down her back, lighter over her belly. Her fingers end in sharp-tipped claws, and her legs have the look of a wolf's, ending in a pair of paws. Her facial features also seem to lean more towards the wolf in shape and appearance, with intense lupine eyes that seem to stare into your very soul, the color of those eyes a green-on- yellow. The rest of her face is slightly more elongated, pointed ears still present on each side of her head. It might be said she more closely resembles one such as Timmorn now. Taller, leaner, even more wolf-like than before. Yet..though many may find it repulsive, there's something strangely compelling about her, something that reaches out for you and nobody else. Along with that is a name...a name that you just KNOW...Ashte.'. Tsoran returns Dusk's stare, silently. Suddenly, all else seems to fall by the wayside as Dusk's eyes meet Tsoran's. Her green-on-yellow ones widen immensely, her mouth falling open, and she stumbles in place. Tsoran says, after a long moment. "Yes... I suppose so." Aroree says "Tsoran, whatever you are doing, stop it." Tsoran looks up at Aroree again, blinking mildly in apparent puzzlement. "You were saying, Aroree?" He does seem rather too tense for those innocent words. "No.." Dusk begins to protest, forcing herself to look away from Tsoran, suppressing a shiver. "It can't be.." Aroree looks from the affected Dusk to Tsoran Aroree frowns "I was saying nothing of importance, what is wrong with the girl?" Tsoran says stiffly. "I will never comprehend the ways of these wolfbloods. Now, if you'll excuse me I have... other places to be. Things to do." He launches into the air, rather abruptly. Tsoran leaps into the air. Overhead, Tsoran soars upward from the dancing square below. Aroree looks after Tsoran in abject confusion, what just went on here? Overhead, Tsoran heads towards the Bridge, and the waiting DarkWing. Dusk steadies herself, trying to compose her thoughts, her emotions..without much luck at all. Is it...? It has to be...it's the only possible explanation. As Tsoran rises skyward, she shouts up, "No! Come back!" Aroree, after a moment, turns to Dusk "Are you alright?" Aroree is now even more confused, it can't be... no one says 'no! Come back!' to Tsoran unless... oh no. "Calmly... what is it?" Aroree moves to Dusk's side and offers a supportive arm. Dusk's arms wrap around her shoulders, another shiver overcoming her for a moment. She speaks again, softly, a single word: "R..recognition.." Aroree sighs, that's what she was afraid of. "He has to come back.." Dusk murmurs, sinking down to her knees. "He has to.." When she sees Tsoran now, all she sees is...well, it's something nobody else is privy to. Aroree nods "Yes, he will." she looks skyward, wondering if she has time to catch Tsoran before he reaches his hawk. Whatever happened, whatever Dusk felt, it's left her shaken to say the least. She nods distractedly to Aroree, huddled in the Square. "But..why? Why him? He's a Glider..he hates me and I..don't like him either.." Aroree gives Dusk's arm a squeeze "Be strong, I will attempt to stop him." and launches into the air wishing she had her net with her. Aroree locksends ** no one knows why young one, you have my sympathies for what little they are worth. I will return swiftly. ** Aroree leaps into the air. Overhead, Aroree soars upward from the dancing square below. You locksend to Aroree, Dusk's answer is nearly transparent, like a whisper. ** Aye.. ** Dusk works her way to her feet, and walks shakily over to a place to sit down properly. She needs something to drink. Dusk finds a waterskin, and downs huge gulps of it, splashing more on her face after finishing. . o O (I recognized..him..) It could be worse. She could've Recognized an Underworlder. [A little time passes.] Aroree floats down far less energetically than when she left and with a troubled expression as well. Dusk can be found resting under a canopy, holding a waterskin. Her face is wet, looking as if she splashed it with water. Aroree sighs, what a day, and quietly heads over to Dusk. Dusk looks up as Aroree comes back after a bit of time passes, and she sighs, merely nodding a greeting to her. Aroree settles to the ground next to you, giving you a polite greeting. Aroree sighs "He is not going to leave I think, though he says he needs time to himself." Dusk shakes her head slowly. "He can't leave..we have to fulfill it...we have to do this.." Aroree says "He needs time to accept that. This is difficult for him, he has spent a long time convincing himself that outsiders are not true elves..." "How do you think I feel about it?" Dusk speaks softly, but quickly. "I can't fight it..I want to, but I can't!" Aroree sighs, knowing how little sense that makes "Hopefully it will not take him long to accept that." Dusk hasn't exactly accepted this very well, herself. "I know..but..I want to run away, too.." She splashes some more water on her face, feeling hot. Aroree bites her lip, not wishing to upset you further but she feels a need to warn you "When recognition is fulfilled... you should run from here, return to the forests and hide. There are gliders who will want to take your child into the Mountain." Aroree shakes her head "I do not envy you." Dusk's eyes widen at the mere thought of it, and she drops the waterskin beside her. "No! They won't! I won't let them have my cub!" A cub that hasn't even been conceived yet, and she already speaks protectively of it. Aroree allows a smile to flicker briefly across her face "That is good and right that you feel so." the smile is gone, leaving no trace to show that it had ever been there "I will do whatever I can to help you both." Aroree says "Do not tell Tsoran where you go, even if he wishes you to remain safe his Lord may pry the knowledge from him." Aroree reaches to place a reassuring hand against your arm "You are young and strong... I have no doubts you will survive this." Rainor arrives from the crossroads, looking around to see who is here. Dweezil da Zwoot arrives from the crossroads, looking around to see who is here. Dusk answers with just a nod for the moment, trying to force herself to relax a bit more. She's got no clue what's going to happen, or if Tsoran will even let her go when it's done. "Aye..somehow.." she murmurs, her eyes closing. Rainor says "Aroree! Look! This is Dweezil." Rainor nods "shade Dusk" [OOC] Dusk says, "Could you let us set the scene, so you know what you're walking into?" [OOC] Rainor says, "sure!" Aroree is seated next to Dusk, trying to comfort the troubled wolfrider, her own expression is far from content. Dusk and Aroree are over under one of the canopies, Dusk sitting there and looking upset over something, with Aroree talking to and comforting her. Dusk's face is wet from water being splashed on it. Rainor pauses "Oh, Uhm I'm interrupting." Aroree looks up "Hello Rainor, yes, um. here, sit and talk with us, I think Dusk could use a distraction." Rainor turns to the zwoot "stay put" walks over and sits by the others "Whats wrong?" Aroree glances at Dusk and sends briefly to her. Aroree locksends ** Tsoran told me he wished for none to know of this, I swore I would not speak of it. If you wish to though, you may. ** Dusk glances between Aroree and Rainor, and murmurs softly, "It's too hot.." You locksend to Aroree, Dusk sends wordless agreement. Rainor nods "Yup, but its supposed to be" Aroree pats Dusk's arm gently "Perhaps it is made the worse by this fur you wear. Do you think a dousing would help?" Rainor says "Have you gone onto the ledge of trials? its windy and much cooler up there." "Couldn't hurt.." Dusk murmurs, looking back to Aroree for a moment. Maybe she'll be able to put the whole Recognition behind her for a moment. Dusk shakes her head at Rainor after he asks the question. "No, no thanks..I don't want to go up there.." Aroree is quick to agree "yes, it is unpleasant this time of day. I was thinking of the garden." Aroree says "Some shade and light discussion of unimportant things." Rainor nods "it is cooler in the garden." "I just want to cool off and rest," Dusk says, but there's no disagreement made to moving to the gardens. That's where she meant to go in the first place...before everything else happened. Rainor says "Oh! unimportant things...I specialize in that" Aroree smiles patiently and offers Dusk a hand to help her to her feet. Dusk takes it, and slowly stands, able to add some of her own strength to it, though it seems to be sapped for some reason. . o O (I can't believe this..) Rainor takes Dweezil's reins and heads into the garden. Rainor leaves the dancing square, heading for the peaceful cool green of the Garden of Shade and Sweet Water. Dweezil da Zwoot leaves the dancing square, heading for the peaceful cool green of the Garden of Shade and Sweet Water. Aroree says "come, don't you want to hear the fascinating tale of how he decided to name the Zwoot Dweezil?" Aroree leads you toward the garden. Dusk shrugs. "Not really.." She follows anyway. Aroree leaves the dancing square, heading for the peaceful cool green of the Garden of Shade and Sweet Water. You leave the dancing square, heading for the peaceful garden. Pleasant scents, and soft sounds--wind through leaves, water burbling--envelop you. Garden of Shade and Sweet Water Nestled in the rocky canyon, this area has been turned into an oasis. Rows of herbs and flowers, blooming bright blue and white, dance in the breeze. Mature sticker-plants are bursting with yellow and red blossoms. A row of woody shrubs lines the stone path. They blaze with orange-pink blooms. Clustered back near the rock walls several short, gnarled trees provide shade for the benches below: most are covered in puffy pink flowers, but one sports round, orange fruit peeking out from beneath its glossy leaves. You can hear the gentle burble of water. The sun is high in the warm spring skies. The explosion of colors is fading as plants dry up and go dormant, waiting for the next rainfall. Contents: Aroree Dweezil da Zwoot Rainor Owl Hot Pool Shaded Stone Benches Dreamberry Bush Obvious exits: Dancing Square Owl hoots. Rainor looks up at the owl. Aroree helps Dusk settle in the shade? Dweezil da Zwoot stands there like a zwoot. . o O (A-yup, I'm a zwoot.) Aroree says "Rainor, this is a solemn duty, I want you to keep Dusk entertained. She has had a very... difficult day and does not wish to speak about it." [OOC] Dusk sighs, and is finding things too distracting to be able to carry on here :( Aroree sighs "and I am woefully inadequate when it comes to cheering anyone" "I don't really need to be entertained, Aroree.." Dusk says, sitting down on a bench, in the shade. "I just want to rest, is all.." Aroree inclines her head "As you wish... though if you do need anything, do not hesitate to call for me" Rainor looks thoughtful "Have you tried meat? she really likes that" Aroree gives Rainor a patient smile "a good idea, perhaps I shall go catch something".o0(and scout for gliders) Dusk smiles lightly at the two of you, and nods. "Meat..would be fine. Please, let me rest for now?" Aroree gives Dusk's arm a squeeze "rest, I try not to stray out of sending range." [OOC] Dusk says, "Thanks..sorry I have to do this, but I need to log out."