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Post by Juniper on Sept 11, 2015 7:44:38 GMT 1
OoC: Day 16, after Inspecting the Sleeping Forest. Slightly unsure if Choice has problems with stomach or sleeping after the loss of Nettle and his cub (Sofia, let me know if Choice has either), but let's just say Juniper and Greywing are assuming Choice has problems, and they are worried. ~*~ Juniper had managed to coax the young maiden out with him. Even if the treeshaper was not a family-oriented elf, he felt that Choice's loss might affect his performance in the group. Knowing about the herbal medicines, Juniper had thought to head out to seek black-scab; it was a fungus, that could be boiled in water and the water would give aid to some sleeping and stomach problems -- Juniper also wished it helped with low spirits. The honey-blond male had suspected the forest was somewhat similar to his old home forest -- therefore there might be the white-trunk trees, birches, that usually had black-scab fungus on them. Now, trudging through the snow, the treeshaper gave a side-eye to his companion. There was not much he knew about Greywing, but somehow the young girl made him feel a bit uneasy. Maybe it was the way she preferred her own company at times... As if he did not do the same! The time they had gone out had been mid evening -- to elves with good eyesight and sense of smell, it was nothing. With someone else, Juniper might have chosen to go out during the day time, when there was light out. "When we spot the birches, the black-scab fungus should be, as it sounds, a large dark mark on birch's white trunk." he then explained to the green-haired maiden. |
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Post by Sofia on Sept 12, 2015 23:22:24 GMT 1
OOC: Good idea for Choice - I'm sure he has trouble sleeping and keeping food down, even though he won't want to show it openly. The stress and grief would affect his health somewhat.
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Post by Greywing on Sept 13, 2015 7:39:55 GMT 1
Greywing was a bit shocked when Juniper asked her to join him; she felt they'd hardly talked since her arrival, though, truth be told, she'd hardly talked to anyone. She slept in the caves, accepted the furs lent to her and helped in the hunts, but she still worried that she would bring ill tidings to the mishmash tribe. She'd been able to make a few observations about many in the tribe, however; Juniper, for example, seemed at times to be a loner like herself, but protective and kind. She heard he had wolf blood, but he must be one of those who had stronger elf blood than wolf; he did not seem feral. Perhaps that was why he was active in the day...he had to have even less wolf blood than Greywing herself, if even she couldn't resist the night's callings!
"Yes, black scab, a large, dark mark...I think I see the tree you mean in my mind." Birches were unheard of in Greywing's land, but the curious, skinny, white-barked trees had easily caught her attention. "I think we saw some when I went scouting last." She didn't continue; Silverthorn and Slinker had since disappeared, it was only herself and Swift-wind from that scouting party left. And they'd found another relic from a disappeared elf...Verassi? Versisi? Vareesi? Some odd name. The falcon-head helmet had become one of Greywing's most treasured possessions. Some part of her felt that the disappearances were her fault...who knows where those who disappeared went? And hadn't they only started disappearing after her arrival?
She shuddered at the thought.
"Will it take you long to process the fungus? Poor Choice must be..." Greywing struggled, then gave up and shook her head.
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Post by Juniper on Sept 13, 2015 16:38:22 GMT 1
Trudging through the snow, the tree-shaper kept an eye at his unlikely companion. They had not talked much, but something about the maiden smelled odd to him.
"The fungus needs to be separated from the tree, then dried and powdered." he explained, "The powder can be mixed to food or drink. It should ease sleeping and stomach problems..." It was not like he was bosom buddies with Choice -- but Juniper was not bosom buddies with anyone, to be exact. Nevertheless, if he was able to be of help, he liked to help.
Plus, it was a fact that if they would let the fungus grow, it would eventually rot and destroy the whole living tree... Juniper took this expedition as a win-win trip -- he would be able to help a tree heal and feel better, and he would be able to provide some medicine for the mismatching tribe. It was not like others did not suffer from the sudden changes. Badger had been up a lot, sighing and making dreamy looks at the one tuft-eared elf and some other sickness symptoms.
"Drying should not take too long, although it would be faster if Tinder was still there." he then said, the name of the fireshaper rolling off his tongue with a bit of poison. He had not quite trusted the firemaker -- but supposedly it was an instinct, considering how much the male wolfrider related to the trees.
"Did you happen to make any acquaintances of the lost ones?" he then asked, out of curiousity mostly. Juniper was not much of a chit-chat person, at that.
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Post by Greywing on Sept 14, 2015 8:58:33 GMT 1
"Not really," Greywing shrugged; recalling her first night, many of the elves seemed to focus on her age, and she'd learned since that she was one of the youngest in the group. That was nothing new to her; what was new was being looked at like a child, feeling different due to her age, rather than feeling different and looked down upon for how little wolf blood she had. One prejudice exchanged for another...though it was truly her young age that had her thinking the bias was so malicious.
"Didn't meet the owner of this," she chuckled, knocking on the metal on her head. "It still puzzles me...how it could be made. Couldn't be done in my time." Greywing stopped for a moment; it had occurred to her that the elves had come from different times, but it felt more like a dream...the more evidence of that idea, the more real it became for her. "The ones who are gone seemed...very rash. Not interested in staying, nor in helping those who are here. If it's up to me, I'll never go back to my land." After a few steps, she smiled awkwardly at Juniper. "It's good of you to...try to help. The healers can't ease every pain, and...I think Choice would like something he can do for himself rather than have someone worry over him." If she was in his situation, she wouldn't want to see anyone.
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Post by Juniper on Sept 14, 2015 9:31:50 GMT 1
Juniper eyed the helmet on Greywing's head.
"I think my tribe's smith could do something similar. Maybe not something as polished and refined." he said, but realized he spoke of his birth tribe like he still had a chance to just return to them. Sure, there was a chance, but not much of a chance he could have an impact on. So, the treeshaper had reasoned, it was better to try and adjust to this current change at hand.
The blond male took a notice of the way the cub worded her ideas, not wanting to go back if it was up to her. This piqued his interest lightly, but he was not close enough friend for Greywing to ask more about the reasons and motives with such a decision. Juniper wondered about his family. He had always been a bit distant from his tribe, but he hoped his family and friends did not worry too much over him. There had been disappearances before, beast attacks, accidents... His disappearance probably was stroked over with such an explanation.
"Hmh," he then smiled shortly, when Greywing told he was doing a good deed trying to help. "I can only try and provide some help, it is essentially up to Choice if he takes it." Juniper could only wish the dark-skinned male would accept the help -- things were not looking too good, considering they had lost capable hunters and regained elves who were not -- yet -- able to fill the hunters' shoes. Even the treeshaper understood that they needed all capable hands to help to get the tribe on their feet and maybe even thriving.
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Post by Greywing on Sept 16, 2015 6:14:05 GMT 1
"I can't even imagine," Greywing replied, shaking her head a little as she idly rubbed the smooth surface. She'd never had much exposure to metal; her own earrings were trophies, of a sort, hammered silver hoops raided from a human encampment. But it was one thing to manipulate a vein of silver into a circle, it was another to make a perfect falcon's head helmet. In truth, she'd never truly thought about how her earrings were made, nor did she even consider silver's natural state.
"You're right," she nodded in reply to Juniper's comment about help. "You can offer all you want, but they have to take it. Still, it's a nice thing to do." She hoped Choice would accept their assistance; though he wasn't showing his grief, he must be feeling it! He wasn't eating much, or sleeping much...Greywing had never thought much about Recognition, as it was something that her kin were able to do almost at a whim. She didn't think the connection would be that strong; perhaps it wasn't, perhaps it was stronger in some and not others? But to lose a potential mate and a child so suddenly...that would be hard for anyone.
She nibbled on a stray lock of hair, grateful she wasn't in Choice's position. When her family had been alive, they'd pushed her to take a mate, to start making her contribution to the population...at least that was no longer necessary.
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Post by Juniper on Sept 16, 2015 6:30:39 GMT 1
Soon the treeshaper noticed the trees changing into the type of leafy trees -- without their leaves, of course. Things were looking good, maybe soon they would find the host tree they needed and a scab on the trunk. Being called nice was making the blond feel a little uncomfortable for some reason, not yet defined as of why.
"Look, there!" he said then, pointing with his mitten-covered hand toward the light-coloured trunks that stood a little farther away. He did not believe himself saying this, but the treeshaper added, "Let's hope there is some fungus in there, too."
Usually he did not like finding black-scab in the trees, because of their destroying nature. Of course, Juniper understood, that no tree was forever and a rotting plant always offered a new beginning for new life.
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Post by Greywing on Sept 18, 2015 7:48:35 GMT 1
Greywing chuckled quietly as Juniper's excitement; it was indeed a little odd to rejoice decay, but this odd treeshaper seemed to truly care for others, even if they all weren't terribly close. Why else would he trudge so far out here in the snow, without even the daystar's warmth? For that matter, why was she? The loneliness, of course...she didn't want to cling too much to the other elves...especially not after multiple elves had been taken by the same, strange force that brought them here. She didn't want to grow attached to this group, only to be taken away...or have someone taken from her. But she could not allow them to help her, give her shelter and food and warmth, and not help them in return...nor could she keep from getting to know them forever. Even K'rstai had grown irritated with the extra attention the past few nights.
"It looks like it," she agreed, though in truth, she knew nothing of black scab aside from what she thought it looked like. As they made their way towards the birches, it suddenly grew quiet, almost like time had slowed down...Greywing heard the snow and leaves crunch beneath her feet, the soft calls of owls, a crack, the flapping of a leatherwing...but nothing. She furrowed her brow and considered for a moment...just a strange sensory moment, she guessed, shrugging it off after a moment. This was a strange land, who knew what other strange things lay in store for them.
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Post by Juniper on Sept 20, 2015 4:28:04 GMT 1
Clueless of the contemplation of his companion, the treeshaper stepped closer to the trees to inspect the trunk. He took off his fur mittens and placed the revealed hands on the bark of the tree. A light administration with his magic, as well as eyeing up and down the tree, said that there was no fungus in this one. Well, it was basically good news, Juniper noted to himself, and moved onward to check some other birches. These trees seemed to be old as the treeshaper made a note of the size of the trunks. Of course, there was younger trees, too, but they were not as likely to get the scab-like fungus on them.
Moving onward to the next large tree, the male turned to look at Greywing over his shoulder. It was just a brief moment, but the cub seemed to be spacing out about something, and the blond was about to snap and tell her to pay attention. His administrations on the next tree proved more fruitful, although the black-scab was rather small.
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Post by Greywing on Sept 21, 2015 8:27:31 GMT 1
Greywing could almost feel Juniper's gaze on her, and as she snapped out of the daze, she cocked her head and wondered why he was looking at her so oddly. She shrugged again and headed over to the tree he was inspecting.
"How do we get this off? Do we scrape it off, or do you magic it out of the bark?" The green-tressed elf felt around her belt to see if she had an extra pouch; she had no idea how much was needed for Juniper's remedy, or even if it would last once removed from the tree. At this point, she was wondering why Juniper had wanted her along...perhaps he simply needed company, or maybe he wasn't as good a hunter as her and wanted protection. Either reason, or both, were understandable to the young elf.
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Post by Juniper on Sept 21, 2015 12:24:09 GMT 1
"I should try shape it out with my skills." Juniper responded -- the very idea of scraping the fungus out kind of made him feel uneasy. "It might take a while, though." he then added, as he placed his uncovered hands on the trunk and started calling the shaping magic within himself.
For some reason, it was not easy, and Juniper found it rather hard to concentrate. Something was off, or was he just shy about the audience.
*Tsh, why did I even ask for company?*, Juniper wondered and his lips curled into a slight pout. It was easier to concentrate on his own, and he did not like to admit he might have been lonely either.
He took his hands off the bark, took some deep breaths and shook his arms.
"Trying to empty my mind and relax a little", he explained to the young maiden and then tried his hands on the bark again. This time, falling to the trance was easier, and he sent to Greywing, as it was easier than talking.
**When the fungus seems to start moving, be ready to catch it. I think dropping it in snow might damage it.** he requested, as the greenish-golden glow appeared to his hands and began surrounding the fungus.
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Post by Greywing on Sept 30, 2015 8:52:56 GMT 1
Greywing was entranced by the magic for a moment, the green-gold glow coming from Juniper's hands very intriguing. It seemed warm...aside from being impressive, of course. Greywing had no magic of her own, and most of her folk were the same. She knew her mother and her mother's mother had been magic users, but for some reason, leaving the stars behind had damaged their abilities. Juniper, it seemed, had figured out how to regain those skills.
**When it moves?** she replied in sending, frowning a little; why would it move? Her question was soon answered as it looked like the black-scab was spreading. *How is he doing that?* she wondered, but as the fungus detached, she caught it in her gloved palms. It put them in a bit of an awkward position, the young female squeezed between the slim birch and the treeshaper. She smiled nervously and backed out, fungus in hand.
"Well, that worked well," she declared, carefully turning over the black-scab in her hand. Greywing looked up at the tree, seeing a hole in it from where the fungus had attached; it had bored pretty deep into the wood for such a small fungus. "Do you think this will be enough, or should we gather more?"
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Post by Juniper on Oct 2, 2015 6:56:15 GMT 1
His flow of magic was disrupted for a brief moment, when the maiden squeezed in between him and the tree. Inwardly, he huffed a little, but did his best not to seem annoyed.
**It might be enough.** Juniper replied in sending, as he was still in his magical trance. Now that the scab was out of the tree, there was a little hole to fix on the tree's trunk. Of course, he could not make the tree look like it had never been altered -- by the fungus or by himself -- but at least he could help the bark get fixed and thus increase the plant's chances of not catching another fungus. All the inner parts of the black-scab inside the tree he tried to get rid of, but Juniper felt he might not be able to fix everything going on with the slender trunk.
**Stock can be built later on, I think.** he then sent, as he caught on with the changes of temperature. Despite being pretty tolerant of cold, Juniper did have some self-defensive instincts. The tree's bark was now fixed, although one could clearly see something had been altering the growth of the plant. Taking his hands off the tree, the treeshaper had to take a moment to get fully back in the Now.
The blond sighed a little, as he wore the mittens and gestured his companion to follow.
"We should probably head back soon. Can't be too sure what is lurking in these woods." he said now out loud. Using sending with the current company made him feel surprisingly uneasy.
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Post by Greywing on Oct 6, 2015 8:45:04 GMT 1
"You're right," Greywing nodded; this land could still hold vast secrets, who knew what creatures lurked in the trees? She'd met elves like none she'd ever seen...why not beasts? "A bit chilly anyway," she smiled, though it was an almost nervous expression. With the black-scab in Juniper's possession, she grabbed the edges of her cloak and pulled them around her, shielding her body further from the ice.
The silence between them felt very strange, and Greywing couldn't take more than a handful of steps of it. "So, um..." she spoke tentatively, "what's your home like? I mean, not this home, but the one before this one. Before all this." It seemed that many in their misfit tribe knew enough about where she came from, and some seemed unsettled by her, knowing she was the daughter of a High One. But they used the term to indicate awe and respect, while the ferals of her homeland called her mother and others like her High Ones to mock them, so tall their heads were in the clouds and stars, looking down on wolf-blooded ones as if they were better than them. Greywing knew better...originals didn't look down on anyone. They were simply different. But mockery and admiration were both difficult traits to counteract, and it was easier for her to simply avoid the topic. "I hope yours is...more like this one. I heard one of our tribemates comes from a world almost completely covered in water...I can't imagine."
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