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From: Jessica Orr [jrorr@exis.net] 
Sent: Saturday, May 09, 1998 3:47 PM 
To: dewshine@murkworks.net 
Subject: Talek, Crystal, and Acorn (log) 

*Editor's Note* I have absolutely no idea how this will wordwrap. As 
it is now, sitting in my outbox, the log itself isn't wrapping at all. 
I dunno if it'll hit your 'box wrapped or not. If there are problems 
concerning it, mail me and I'll futz with it until it works. 
------------- 

Log file from Talek. 
5/8/98 10:23:30 PM 

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: 
Chitter's carrypack 
Fallberry's Nest 
Obvious exits: 
Around the Pond<SW> Water<S> Itchgrass Circle<N> 

>From the water, Crystal smiles, waves to Talek ** Heyla there! ** 

Talek approaches, watching his feet as he shuffles them in step, a few silvery 
  strands of hair fallen over his eyes. At the sending, he looks up, blinking, 
  then offers a crooked smile as his eyes find Crystal, lifting a hand as 
  well. ** Hello..! ** 

>From the water, Crystal smiles ** Come join us? **, he asks, beckoning 
  invitingly. 

Talek's gaze flickers to Acorn as well and he nods to her, then looks back to 
  Crystal, blinking again. ** Well, I was.. ** he starts to send, then trails 
  off, his shoulders lifting and falling. The crooked smile returns. ** All 
  right. ** That sent, he moves to take a seat on the pond's shore, reaching 
  to remove each article of clothing with a ridiculously slow precision, 
  letting each drop beside him in a somewhat rumpled pile. 

>From the water, Crystal giggles softly, as Talek methodically undresses - 
  eyes drifting over to the scattered clothes of the two elves, already in the 
  pool. 

>From the water, Acorn giggles softly at Crystal, snuggling up to him, looking 
  appallingly sweet. 

>From the water, Crystal grins, playfully licks Acorn's nose, yes sparkling 
  brightly. Sweet? Don't you believe it.. Not her... 

Talek rises to his feet again, glancing briefly to the clothing as if 
  expecting it to do something, then shakes his head slightly to himself, 
  moving towards the pond. He hesitates at its edge, then moves into the 
  water, eyes first watching his own feet, then lifting to watch Crystal and 
  Acorn with an almost quizzical expression. 

>From the water, Crystal glances over at Talek - raising an eyebrow as he 
  notes the expression on his face. 

You wade out into the water. 
Pond 
This small pond, wreathed by tall marsh grasses on almost all sides, is at its 
  deepest point chest-high on a tall elf. The water is generally comfortably 
  cool, and surprisingly clear. Lilypads float near its banks. The grasses 
  around the pond are thick in most spots, except for the wide stretch along 
  the Hubward bank. Occasionally the winds ripple off over the tops of the 
  grasses, towards Away-from-Hub. All along the Sun-Goes-Up side of the pond, 
  you see a curving tangle of brush and grasses, sheltering the otherwise open 
  space from view of anyone not within the Holt. 
Just to the north is the largest open bank; to the south is the Holt trail, 
  though you must move through tangled grasses to get to it. Just over towards 
  Sun-Goes-Down is the Holt proper, and the Old Willow dominates the view. 
Contents: 
Acorn 
Crystal 
Obvious exits: 
West Bank South Bank North Bank 

Crystal looks at you. 

Talek returns Crystal's lifted brow with a slight shrug, then concentrates on 
  wading further into the water, pushing aside the marsh grasses that ring the 
  pond before stepping out into the pond fully. His nose wrinkles slightly, 
  waiting to adjust to the slightly cooler temperature of the pond before 
  ducking down until the water-line rests just above his nose, fingertips 
  touching the bottom. 

Crystal smiles at Talek ** Better now, eh? Warmer than a moon ago :) ** 

** Aye! ** Talek rises slightly, nose still wrinkled. ** Used to be so.. cold. 
  Bleh. ** 

Crystal grins ** Good for waking up though.. ** He winks conspiratorily ** I 
  sleep far too much according to silly lifemate :) ** 

Acorn watches Talek, ostensibly ignoring Crystal. A shift of her weight is all 
  the warning she gives before tangling one foot between his legs and heaving, 
  aiming for a ducking. 

Crystal 's finhers lightly tickle Acorn's tummy ** Her fault really for making 
  me all that tired in the first place... ** 
Crystal eeks! as he vanishes beneath the surface ** Ack! <promise of revenge> 
  ** 

A smirk crawls across Talek's face, quirking the corners of his mouth. ** 
  Mm-hmm. ** He returns Acorn's glance briefly, then blinks as she heaves 
  Crystal under, jaw dropping open before a laughter starts to ring out, his 
  smoky eyes wide. 

Acorn grins sweetly at Crystal, eyes hugely wide in an expression of sweet 
  innocence. She blinks a couple of times at Talek, saying 'mournfully', ** He 
  does like to pick on me... ** She seems about to burst into laughter. 
Acorn's eyes abruptly widen. She looks sharply down towards her feet, eyes 
  narrowing in an attempt to see more clearly. 

Crystal resurfaces, shaking his head, spraying water from his hair, all round 
  He send-growls, grinning brightly. 

Talek's hand raises in a feeble attempt to hide his broad grin. ** Uh-huh, ** 
  he sends in reply, then his eyebrows lift further at the change in Acorn's 
  expression. As Crystal emerges from the water and sprays droplets every 
  which way, the silver-haired elf lifts both hands to block off the offending 
  water, another laugh escaping. 

Acorn giggles, stumbling backward and flinging her hands up to shield her eyes 
  from water-spray. Laughing, she attempts to dart behind Talek, but it's more 
  of a bounding lunge through the water. 
Acorn looks at you. 

Crystal launches himself at Acorn - trying to intercept her on halfway to 
  'safety'. He doesn't seem at all surprised as she moves to hide behind the 
  other elf. Almost as if he knew she'd do just that. 

Acorn yeeps, stops on one foot, windmilling her arms in an attempt to keep 
  from being knocked over. 

Talek's eyes widen when Acorn tries to dart behind him, then all but bugging 
  out of their sockets when Crystal launches after her. ** Oh no! No-no-no! ** 
  He struggles to move away, splashing water. ** I'm not playing 'shield' for 
  you! Oh no! ** 

You sense in a locksend, Crystal laughs ** hah! ONE smart elf in the holt at 
  least! <merryment> ** 

Acorn laughs, turning her head to avoid the spray -- and falls over, ducking 
  herself. 

Crystal tackles his lifemate - landing a firm kiss on her lips just before she 
  vanishes beneath the surface - with him following after. 

Acorn wraps her arms tightly around her mate, not overly disturbed by the 
  result. The idea of drowning has obviously not occurred to her in the 
  slightest. 

Talek turns to glance behind, shooting a grin at Crystal in response to a 
  private sending. ** Hah! Well, you see, I -- ?! ** Whoop. Didn't look where 
  he was going. Talek's foot collides with a somewhat firmly-set rock on the 
  bottom of the pool and he trips, falling into the water with a splash. ** !! 
  ** 

** !! ** With a deft wriggle, Acorn rearranges limbs and torsos and gets her 
  head above water for a quick breath, ** Talek? Are you okay? ** Blinking, 
  she attempts to locate him -- but her hair is covering her eyes, making 
  seeing things awkward. 

Crystal let's go of Acorn, turning to check Talek's alright. 

** Heh. Aye. ** The silvery strands of Talek's mane are the first to appear 
  before his head emerges from the water, a sheepish, embarrassed expression 
  on his face. ** ... Water.. eh.. broke my fall. ** 

Crystal giggles softly, merrily ** That's one way of putting it. ** He winks 
  at Acorn. ** See? He doesn't even need a lifemate to get ducked ;) ** 

Acorn lifts her hair out of her face with one hand, tossing a quick roguish 
  grin to her lifemate, and giggles softly, ** Once a mother, always a mother, 
  I guess; I couldn't see what happened. ** Her smile turns a bit sheepish, 
  then she snakes an arm around Crystal's waist and hugs him tight. 

Crystal grins, nuzzles Acorn's ear, smiling fondly at the mother of his cub. 
  He then blinks, quirks his head ** Talek.. Have you seen Seedling? ** (Their 
  cub) 

Talek flicks his tongue out at Crystal in an oh-so-mature fashion, then grins, 
  rising up fully. At Crystal's sending, he pauses, eyebrows drawing together 
  in thought. ** Around.. ** he answers carefully. ** But not recently. ** 

Acorn looks quizzically at Talek, then at Crystal, ** He can't have missed 
  her; she's been such a treewee lately, up and down each tree in turn and 
  then back again. <<amusement>> ** 
Acorn giggles at Talek's maturity, wrinkling her nose cheerfully. 

Crystal chuckles, nods ** I keep worrying she'll fall.. But she never does... 
  ** Shifting behind Acorn, he wrps his arms around her waist - lips brushing 
  the back of her head. 

Acorn tilts her head forward obligingly, eyes half-closing. ** She's got a 
  good grip. ** 

Crystal smiles ** And balance, too... ** He giggles ** Unlike some elves here 
  **, he send-teases Talek. 

** Aye, ** Talek sends, seconding Acorn, his smile crooked. ** She hasn't yet, 
  has she..? She'll be fine.. ** At the tease in Crystal's voice, he promptly 
  turns a shade of pink, lifting a hand to scratch the back of his neck. ** 
  Well.. ah.. ** he starts to answer, but doesn't dare, his own tone as 
  sheepish as his smile. 

Acorn laughs, twisting to hug her mate and nip his shoulder playfully. ** I 
  don't think I've ever seen you turn quite that shade, Talek; it's quite 
  becoming. <<mischievous amusement>> ** 

Crystal giggles, agreeing with his lifemate's judgement - would he dare argue? 
  Grinning, he kisses, then nibbles the tip of Acorn's ear. 

And that, of course, only serves to darken Talek's cheeks. ** Heh, ** he sends 
  again, his smile lopsided. ** Thanks. I think. ** 

Acorn giggles, tilting her head and shaking it slightly. To Crystal, she 
  sends, ** That tickles! ** Resting her temple on his shoulder, she considers 
  Talek and bursts into a merry grin, ** You're welcome. I'm sure. ** 

Crystal grins at Acorn ** It should! ** He grins over at Talek. ** Mmm... Hope 
  we're not making you regret ever joining us here... ** 

** Oh no. ** Talek's smile contains a trace of humor. ** I love turning the 
  color of deathsleep's leaves. Really. ** 

Crystal mmms ** If you say so... ** He winks ** I know BrightFall keeps 
  complaining about it... But I never heard him complain about the attention 
  it gets him ;) ** 

Acorn grins merrily at Talek, ** Wonderful! ** Wending away from Crystal, she 
  leans forward to float/glide along the surface of the water. ** Brightfall's 
  a terrible flirt. <<impish amusement>> I wonder who taught him, lifemate. ** 

Talek smirks lopsidedly at both sendings, offering no agreement, but he 
  doesn't exactly protest either. Instead, he dips down again, disappearing 
  beneath the water, then resurfacing again, a few water drops spraying. 

Crystal grins at Acorn ** I don't know.. Did you? ;) ** He then smiles, shakes 
  his head ** I don't think he even knows he is... ** 

Acorn rolls onto her back, eyes drifting shut at the peaceful sound of water 
  flowing by her ears, ** I dunno. He's young, but, ** one eye pops open, 
  winks at Crystal, then shuts again, ** I think he's going to make some 
  huntress very happy. ** 

Crystal mmmms, nods, agreeing. Then, he chuckles ** Or some huntresses ** 

A flicker of wordless amusement escapes in Talek's mind as his attention is 
  caught briefly by a lily pad, and the tiny hopper resting upon it. ** Or 
  hunters, ** he adds distractedly, watching the hopper until it leaps off of 
  the lily pad and disappears beneath the water's crystal-clear surface. 

Crystal chuckles softly ** Mmm... Don't _think_ so.. ** He shrugs ** But it 
  has been a while.. Mmm... Wish he'd head this way again... ** 

Acorn sinks below the surface of the water, then resurfaces, hair slicked back 
  -- for the moment. ** Where was he last headed, do you know? ** 

Crystal frowns ** Wolfhaven.... I _think_ **, he sends, tentatively. 

Talek's eyes flicker to Crystal, brows lifting a bit. ** Where Simmel and Joy 
  went? ** he queries. 

Acorn wipes water off her eyes, nodding. "Mmmhm." Eyes flicking open, she 
  looks curiously at Talek, ** Why did they go there? ** 

Crystal blinks, then nods. He shrug-smiles ** He wanders a lot... **] 

Talek considers Acorn's question for a moment, the corners of his mouth 
  pulling down slightly until he offers a slight shrug in reply. ** I don't 
  know why.. ** he sends. ** But I heard that they did. ** 

Acorn runs her hands over her hair, slicking it back, nodding. 

[Crystal's player has to disconnect, so Crystal himself leaves the pond.] 

Crystal clambers out onto the west bank of the pond. 
Crystal has left. 

** There was talk.. ** Talek begins to add, then pauses, losing the thought. 
  He frowns lightly, then shrugs, glancing after Crystal briefly as the 
  Willowholter departs from the Pond. 

Acorn blinks her eyes open, watching after Crystal but staying in the water. 
  ** Talk? Oh, about the... oh, what was it. ** She muddles over it for a 
  moment, then a light dawns. ** The attack on Sorrow's End? ** 

Talek inclines his head in a slight nod, moving towards a shallower part of 
  the pond so he can take a seat, leaning back on the palms of his hands. ** 
  Mm-hm. I know Simmel was captured.. maybe that's why they left? ** 

Acorn doggy-paddles towards you, since it's just as fast as walking and much 
  more fun. ** If Simmel was captured, he couldn't have gone from here to 
  Wolfhaven; he must have gotten out, come here, then gone to Wolfhaven? ** 

Talek's brows draw together and he nods again. ** That's probably what 
  happened, ** he sends agreeably, though his brows still furrow. ** But 
  they're there all the same. I don't know -why- that would make them go 
  there, but.. ** He offers a thin shrug. ** Maybe it did. ** 

Acorn grins impishly, ** So they're always there, unless they're here, or 
  maybe when they're somewhere else? Of course, they might have a good reason 
  to come here and go there, maybe because they're visiting their family. ** 
  Tongue-twisters are so much easier to /think/, wouldn't you say? 

Talek tries to follow Acorn's line of thought, but as he struggles to keep up, 
  they start to get tangled together. After a long moment, he blinks, then 
  sends simply: ** Aye. ** 

Acorn giggles, moving over to the stone and climbing atop it. ** I have no 
  idea what that meant; it just sounded funny. ** 

** It was probably right, whatever you sent, ** Talek answers, a half-grin on 
  his face as he watches Acorn. After a moment, he emits a soft chuckle and 
  adds, amusedly, ** Not that I was able to keep track of whatever you sent. 
  ** 

Acorn smiles, green-brown eyes frank, ** Neither could I, actually. I was 
  starting to grasp at leaves, rather than branches. ** 
Acorn uses one foot to shove her pile of dry leathers further from her wet 
  body, then sprawls on the still-warm rock. Eyes half-closed lazily, ** 
  Sometimes I speak the same way I move -- quickly, and before thinking. ** 
  After a moment, she adds a correction. ** I don't always think afterwards, 
  either. ** 

Talek listens quietly, almost carefully, his brows knitting together slowly. 
  ** That.. That's what the others call.. the 'Now', isn't it? ** he asks 
  after a period of silence has passed. 

Acorn blinks her eyes open lazily, then rolls on her back and wriggles, 
  scratching her spine. ** Somewhat. The 'Now' is more... focusing on what 
  >is<, not what can be or what has been. ** 

Talek nods slowly, brows unknitting as his expression evens out. ** Its.. 
  better to live that way, I think, ** he answers, tone quieted some. ** 
  Harder to get yourself tangled up every which way. ** 

Acorn pillows her head on her arm, hair shoved out of the way to dry. ** 
  What's there to worry about when you're living in the Now? There is no 
  tomorrow or yesterday, only Now. ** She stretches her legs out, jigging into 
  a more comfortable sprawl. ** It's easier to hide from pain in the Now, but 
  that's not always good. If the pain keeps coming back, then hiding from it 
  will just make it worse. ** 

Talek regards his feet, wiggling his toes under the water idly. ** Aye, ** he 
  voices his simple agreement, then offers a smile that seems more a shadow of 
  one than a real one. ** Hiding from pain.. or hiding pain.. doesn't solve 
  anything. Just gives it an oppurtunity to get worse. ** 

Acorn drifts in a memory for a bit, then blinks, noticing your reaction. 
  Rolling to her side, she considers you, then rolls towards you and puts a 
  hand on your shoulder, squeezing lightly. ** And it gives the pain the 
  opporunity to blind you to the joy. The things that make -- or made -- you 
  happy. ** 

The touch of a hand on his shoulder draws Talek's attention seemingly from his 
  feet, looking to Acorn. The crooked smile, so often seen, reappears and 
  inclines his head in a slight nod. ** It does, ** he sends, sending still 
  touched with agreement. ** It did. ** He pauses, the lets his shoulders 
  shrug. ** I let that happen and.. heh. Got a little strange on everyone, 
  didn't I? ** His sending offers a touch of humor, almost sheepish in tone. 

Acorn smiles warmly, ** We understood. Pain is pain. ** 

** And I'm glad its gone. ** Talek tilts his chin slightly, glancing up to the 
  splash of indigo and the scattering of stars that make up the sky. ** I 
  don't think about It that much anymore. I try not to.. ** he sends 
  thoughtfully, then pauses, letting his gaze fall back to Acorn, smoky eyes 
  curious. ** ... Is that the Now? ** 

Acorn rests her chin on one cupped palm. ** If you have to ask? Not really. 
  You're thinking too much for it to be the Now. ** She grins lightly, ** 
  There's not much time for thinking when you're busy living in the Now. ** 

Talek looks faintly disappointed, but its an idle sort of disappointment. ** 
  Oh well, ** he sends mildly, then his crooked smile turns all the more 
  lopsided. ** Its hard not to think a lot sometimes. ** 

Acorn grins impishly, eyes twinkling, ** You're approaching it now, though. ** 

Talek's expression goes blank for a moment, and he blinks twice before his 
  eyebrows come together. ** What? Thinking too much? ** Pause. ** Am I? ** 

Acorn giggles softly, making a negative sort of noise. ** I meant you're 
  coming close to the Now. Can't change it? Don't worry about it. ** 

Talek blinks a third time and relief washes across his face. ** Oh! That's.. 
  good. ** 

Acorn giggles softly, eyes drifting closed again. 
Acorn pushes herself up from the rock, stretching arms, then legs. 

Talek seems ready to send something more, then pauses, a shadow casting over 
  his eyes as he lifts his head at a silent call. When he looks back to Acorn 
  as she rises, he sits up straighter as well, rolling his shoulders a bit 
  with a quiet popping noise emitting before he sends, ** I need to get going. 
  ** He moves to his feet, water dripping off of him. 

Acorn nods, pulling on her leathers and checking her weapons. ** And I need to 
  hunt. ** 
Acorn mutters, ** Of course I forgot my boots... ** 

Talek shakes his head free of water in a wolfish way he's adopted from the 
  Wolfriders that live in Willowholt, then moves towards his own pile of 
  clothing, still resting in that rumpled, but carefully placed, pile. He 
  casts a glance towards Acorn at her sending and smirks just a bit. ** Don't 
  go hunt barefoot. You'll cut up your feet. ** 

Acorn laughs, ** No, not really; I stick to the trees. ** She pats her whip. 
  ** I just don't want to step in something 'unpleasant', like turds. ** 

Talek starts to pull on his breeches and his smirk grows. ** I don't blame 
  you! ** he answers amusedly. 

Acorn grins wickedly in response, ** Don't look so pleased with yourself; I 
  can share the turds if you tempt me enough. ** 

Talek bites back a laugh, his grin broad, and all that escapes is a snicker. 
  ** I think I'll pass, thanks.. ** he answers, reaching for his tunic. 

Acorn chuckles, standing and setting her whip and knife on her belt. ** If you 
  insist. ** With a parting grin, she moves for the Sentry Branch. 
Acorn clambers out onto the south bank of the pond. 
Acorn has left. 

Talek watches Acorn and chuckles, flicking a send in farewell after her, ** 
  Bye! ** then continues to dress himself before wandering back the way he 
  came. 

[END LOG]