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At Work
Nov 4, 2014 7:41:17 GMT 1
via mobile
Post by Keleero on Nov 4, 2014 7:41:17 GMT 1
Keleero knew what flint felt like. He was about to offer to search for some for Choice when Tinder decided to greet him so physically. Keleero sat dumbstruck for a few heartbeats, just staring at them.
Oh get yourself together, it's just a hug, he scolded himself once he had the presence of mind to do so. Then again, when was the last time you saw a hug freely given like that?
The thought was a sad one, so Keleero brushed it aside by out loud askibg: "What is a 'Holt'?"
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Post by Jaseio on Nov 5, 2014 16:11:55 GMT 1
OOC: If anyone is interested in the process of tanning, this How to explains it very nicely!  Tinder's spontaneous hugging of Choice made Jaseio chuckle lightly, it was nice to see some friendly interaction. "We will need a couple of handfuls of ashes for these two hides, but the ashes should have plenty of time to cool down. We will need to have these fleshed first," She smiled at Tinder. Fire was dangerous, but fear was not something she had learned in her life. Some would call her lucky, others not so. She was wary of fire, but she didn't fear the fire-shaper. "Help would be much appreciated, and I wouldn't mind comparing crafts, it might be interesting to see how you handle it. We also have two hides so it is very appropriate," she pointed to the other bundle, "But we will need some racks for the drying, and a lot of thread, or thin rope. Do we even have any thread?" She returned to her work, just before Keleero asked his question. She looked up from the hide, carefully continuing her work without looking at it, "Yes what is a holt?" |
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At Work
Nov 12, 2014 10:23:18 GMT 1
via mobile
Post by Choice on Nov 12, 2014 10:23:18 GMT 1
Keleero and Jaseio's questions brought Choice up short. They don't know? How can they not know such a thing?!
He looked at the other gathered in the Beacon Room as if seeing them for the first time. Sure, they all looked very different from one another, but up until that moment he'd not realized the differences could be so big on the inside too.
His thoughts strayed back to Nettle. What had her life been like earlier, before she'd been snatched here? What were her people's traditions been about Recognition and parenting? Did her people mate for life after Recognition, or was that something exclusive to a few kinds of elves? Fid she know what a Holt was?
A wished they'd talked more...though there hadn't really been time to, with such pleasant distractions taking their minds off of, well, everything. But now, separated and among others, intrusive thoughts began to surface.
"A Holt is where elves live," he said to Jaseio and Keleero, hoping a talk with them would keep the unsettling thoughts at bay. "D-didn't you live in a Holt, eh, before?"
He cast a desperate look Tinder's way, begging for words from another elf who knew what Holts were.
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At Work
Nov 13, 2014 21:23:10 GMT 1
Post by Tinder on Nov 13, 2014 21:23:10 GMT 1
"How odd", Tinder said aloud. She nodded to acknowledge Choice's glance her way. She frowned as she considered Jaseio and Keleero. "I grew up in a holt. A home for elves, for a tribe of elves, all inter-related by kinships, friendships, and bond-ties". Tinder tapped her chin. She was puzzled and concerned by their lack of such simple knowledge, or perhaps it was experience.
Tinder walked to Choice, laid a hand on his shoulder, and asked kindly. "You grew up in a holt like I did?"
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At Work
Nov 14, 2014 23:04:57 GMT 1
via mobile
Post by Mindlight on Nov 14, 2014 23:04:57 GMT 1
The Daystar shone bright overhead, filtering down through the bare bones of the trees. The red-headed chieftess perched in a branch, furred hood pulled tight around her ears and wild curls. She listened to the day sounds, so different from those of the night. Beneath her, in their dens, her tribe slumbered. Mindlight stifled a yawn, resolutely keeping watch until it was time for her soul-sister to take over.
Carefully, she wound her way through the branches until she reached the ground, spear clutched tightly in one hand. Her nose twitched, scenting for anything out of the ordinary. With a soft smile, she soothed an errant sending from her son, reassuring and soft. She hoped his nightmares would cease soon; she knew all too well how they plagued him.
Quiet and alone, Mindlight made her way out of the holt, climbing another tree so she could get a better view of her surroundings. Suddenly, she felt the presence of strong magic, and her foot missed the branch she was aiming for. Her own magic could do nothing as she felt a pull, twisting at her insides, and she screamed mentally for her lifemate and soul sister both. She fell, grasping at branches, as she received two sendings, though they seemed impossibly faint. ~**Kyfka!**~
With a thump she landed on hard ground, and her frantic sendings went unanswered. ~**Rainfall? Nienna! Oh High Ones answer me!**~
She got to her feet and froze, feeling the heat from the fire in front of her. She still clutched her spear, though it quickly dropped from her nerveless fingers as she took in her surroundings. "Where am I?" Even as the words left her lips, she felt sorrow beginning to surge, coupled with panic.
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At Work
Nov 17, 2014 20:19:49 GMT 1
Post by Tinder on Nov 17, 2014 20:19:49 GMT 1
Tinder arched an eyebrow at the new arrival. "Elves tumble out of the very air around here", she muttered to herself, head shaking. She raised her hands placatingly as the newest elf arrived in a flurry of flying leathers and fright. "Hush", she said gently. "It's all right. You are among friends, I assure you".
Tinder elbowed Choice in the side. ~**Help me calm her before she kicks someone!**~, she locksent pointedly.
Tinder walked quietly to one side, offering her hands, palm up to the newest elf. "I know you're confused and frightened. Please, it's all right. I'm a friend". Tinder walked closer, a step at a time as not to frighten the new elfess. "My name is Tinder". She paused, considering the strange new elf. "And you are?", she asked gently.
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At Work
Nov 18, 2014 20:14:00 GMT 1
Post by Jaseio on Nov 18, 2014 20:14:00 GMT 1
"Sounds much like my herd," She said thoughtfully to herself in response to Tinder's explanation of a holt. "The humans called our tribe a her-eeek!" Suddenly another elf had landed in the cave, and Jaseio was shocked by how the elf had just appeared out of thin air. "W-what? W-we all appeared here like she did?" She questioned herself. "Where we are? Well, we don't know, but we are somewhere. Somewhere safe," She added with a smile.
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At Work
Nov 19, 2014 22:41:51 GMT 1
Post by Keleero on Nov 19, 2014 22:41:51 GMT 1
Keleero had thought to answer Choice and Tinder on the topic of Holts - was that something the animal-blood did to these elves? Plant odd words and ideas in their minds? - when the newcomer appeared. To witness the appearance and not just its aftermath sent a shiver down his spine. This was bad magic, old and broken.
"I think we did," Keleero answered Jaseio's question, though he doubted it had been directed at him specifically. "How very strange." And terrifying.
"You are in no danger here," he said then, addressing the newcomer. "We have been here for four days, wherever 'here' is. I'm afraid we can't tell you how to go back to where you came from, but there is food and warmth to be had. It is cold outside so we're all waiting for warmer times to..." He brought himself up short. He was sure at least a few of the elves wished to go back to whatever home or Holt they'd come from, but did he? Truly? The elves here were strange and many of the tainted by animal-blood, but was living with the possible return of Elyro looming over you for each day so much better?
**Newcomer!** Keleero sent while his thoughts wandered. He sent openly to all within close range, and added an image of the elf who'd just appeared. Humans couldn't send, so he doubted the openness of the sending was likely to call any danger to them.
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At Work
Nov 19, 2014 22:54:25 GMT 1
Post by Choice on Nov 19, 2014 22:54:25 GMT 1
Choice followed Tinder's lead, getting to his feet slowly as to not startle the newcomer.
"I'm sorry, but we don't know how we got here either," he said to the new one. "It has something to with that." He gestured at the Beacon where it glowed on the wall of the cave, its light slowly fading.
"Please, sit. This must have been quite a shock." And it didn't look to have been a pleasant one, unlike his own surprise at appearing in the cave. He kept at a bit of a distance; many elves he'd known had disliked touch while they were upset. "I am Choice. Is there anything you need? Food? Water? A fur?"
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Post by Mindlight on Jan 8, 2015 4:04:44 GMT 1
Mindlight whirled, braids flying. Wide, frightened eyes reflected the firelight and her heart lodged in her throat. She swallowed, hard, bowled over by sorrow for her loss and the unexpected kindness of these strangers. She fought against the surging tide of pain, and looked at Tinder's hands. She stood in silence, slowly calming her breathing. They were still alive; they had to be or she would have felt it. And she knew they would never stop looking for her. Grim determination set her lips together. She spoke again, finally, trying to be kind. "I am Mindlight, chieftess of Triple Glade Holt."
Glancing at Chance, she felt her pain surge again against the careful barrier she had erected. He looked so young, so kind and eager, much like her son. "I wish I could say I need my lifemate, but that would be childish and I'm supposed to be past that phase." She attempted a smile for him, making it obvious that it was supposed to be a joke. "Water, please? Whatever that was, it seems to have left my mouth horribly dry."
Mourning could wait until she knew, one way or the other, if she would see them again.
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At Work
Jan 12, 2015 22:52:09 GMT 1
Post by Choice on Jan 12, 2015 22:52:09 GMT 1
Her lifemate... Being so newly Recognized, Choice felt that pang of sympathy harsher than it ever would have been before. Nettle and him had only shared on time together and there had been no talk of any kind of mating yet, but he hoped. And he could picture the devasting pain of losing such a bond, Recognition or no. Lifemating was lifemating!
"I'll find you some water, quickly," he said, already kneeling to start looking through the supplies brought forth to the fire. "We may be as lost as you are, but as Keleero said there is food and warmth to be had. There's meat being brought in soon, if you're hungry." He offered Mindlight a waterskin with one trembling hand, doing his best not to crowd her.
"Please, sit. Tell us of yourself if you wish, but I understand if it's painful right now. Y-you could ask us questions of course, that I hope we can answer." Choice was a positive fountain of nervous energy and chatter at this point. Seeing others in pain brought this out in him. He couldn't help but feel that maybe, somehow this was all his fault. How many turns upon turns hadn't he wished for the company of other elves? And now that it has happened it's at the expense of others' happiness.
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At Work
Jan 12, 2015 23:05:04 GMT 1
Post by Keleero on Jan 12, 2015 23:05:04 GMT 1
Lifemate? How many drop-stone spans had it been since he'd last heard someone used that word? Keleero couldn't remember, much as he searched his memory. Lifemates were a thing of the past, before Elyro. The realization that these elves around him - beast-blooded as many of them seemed to be, and that sent another shiver down Keleero's spine - might have had such close realtionships back where they'd come from. Or was it all a lie they told themselves? Were there such a thing as true 'lifemates' anymore?
I'll drive myself mad thinking about things such as these, Keleero scolded himself. Distracting himself by keeping up his part of the conversation. "Do you have anything useful with you?" He tried to make the question as polite as was possible. "We held a small council not long ago when we decided to share all our belongings, or at least do what's best with them so we'll have the best chance of surviving here. Do you have anything to contribute?" A pause. "And chieftess...is that some form of leader?" He thought he'd heard Silverthorn use a similar word, but couldn't quite recall its meaning.
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At Work
Jan 12, 2015 23:10:34 GMT 1
Post by Tinder on Jan 12, 2015 23:10:34 GMT 1
"Your lifemate", repeated Tinder. She took a step closer, careful not to crowd Mindlight too, though her words were filled with sympathy. "I'm sorry, Mindlight. I was with my brother Dune when I was snatched from my holt". Tinder tried to smile, but the corners of her mouth turned down unhappily. "He's the chief of my tribe. I know for certain that he'd be scouring the sands right now searching for me. Highones. I'm so worried about him. He doesn't cope well when he loses family members".
Tinder lowered her chin when her lip started to wobble. She sucked in a breath through her nostrils as she gritted her teeth. She swallowed the sadness with difficulty. It was all well and good to be alive, but she had yet to fully accept her current situation. Tinder turned away, head low, as she hastily wiped away the tears.
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Post by Reefshadow on Jan 14, 2015 6:17:57 GMT 1
Reefshadow stayed silent, watching as the others welcomed the newcomer. He eyed the make of her fallen spear, not particularly concerned with her at the moment; she seemed like she had plenty of people to make her feel welcome. It was gorgeously crafted, but the tip gleamed and he wasn't sure what it was made of. He fingered the net around his waist thoughtfully.
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Post by Jaseio on Feb 6, 2015 10:25:34 GMT 1
At the mention of lifemate, Jaseio stopped dead in her work. Memories, and losses flooded her mind, stinging her heart. She did not have the courage to face her own feelings, so they would be buried again, and forgotten, for now. She didn't mind more elves, but the way their arrivals seemed to stir up everything, made her uncomfortable. For the time being she just wanted to finish fleshing the hides, and catch some sleep. She started to work the hide again, and tried to focus on only that. OOC: Jas' will pretty much want to focus on her work for now so she can just be skipped, but she will answer if talked to directly  |
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