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Post by Keleero on Aug 23, 2015 14:00:08 GMT 1
Looked odd? Well, Keleero couldn't fault the child for that. He himself hadn't gotten used to the many strange forms of elves there were in the world. Especially not some aspects of said differences. At Reefshadow's commment about him, Keleero gave an indignated huff - mostly to cover his discomfort at the idea. He'd not dared to ask for more information about how the animal-blooded elves had come to be, but he had plenty of imagination to work on the subject. Animals were wild, brutal things, no matter how well behaved these different "bonds" seemed to be. The thought of sharing blood with a beast, no matter what kind, sent chills down Keleero's spine. "Should someone perhaps go help Mindlight with the other newcomer?" he asked the room in general, hoping to distract from the look of disgust that must have crossed his face when he heard Reefshadow compare him to a bird. "I would offer to go myself, but I fear my legs wouldn't support me." And gliding wasn't much of an option either. Exhausting yourself with one magic did make using another difficult. "It is good you aren't hurt, young one," Keleero said to the young newcomer. "What is your name? I am Keleero. And I am not a bird." The last was said with a frown directed at Reefshadow - not an aggressive one, High Ones forbid! Keleero wasn't foolish enough to pick a fight over some needling, but he made sure to send the comparison had confused him. Of all the elves in the room, how was he the only one worthy of a animal-comparison? What he'd said to the newcomer were what he'd deemed safe enough remarks and questions to give to a child. Interacting with a child had put him off balance. Wise parents had kept their children hidden away for as long as possible back at Steepside. Interaction with one, even after the fall of Elyro, was a sure sign of ill intent. ~**Do you have any experience with children?**~ he lock-sent to Sunset, hoping for a positive answer. Of all the elves gathered, she was the one he felt was the closest thing he had to an ally. Cat-blood or not.
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Post by Choice on Aug 23, 2015 21:03:11 GMT 1
Choice was too stunned by the child's words to formulate a response for a long moment. Round ears? That must mean... Oh, the poor child.It had to be humans of some kind who'd attacked the child's tribe. What else could there have been? Choice had no idea what 'weird things that make loud noises and hurt' could be, but it sounded like something a human would bring along for a visit to elf territory. No animals, whatever their ear shape, would bring along weapons. "Yes, what is your name, cub?" he managed to ask once he'd caught up with the conversation around them. "Mine is Choice." Since the newcomer looked more like Reefshadow than anyone else in the cave, Choice doubted the child would recognize him or his name. As for the comment Keleero had made about the second newcomer... "Maybe you could go, Panaetha?" Choice asked, not knowing of the lock-sending Mindlight had sent to Panaetha just heartbeats ago. "The child is unhurt, but the other new arrival might be worse off." And the Beacon Room was closer to the outside world than the cave they were in right now. With the space getting so crowded in there Choice worried Panaetha would get uncomfortable, or worse yet, panic. She didn't seem to like enclosed places very much. |
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Post by Sunset on Aug 25, 2015 6:50:35 GMT 1
Sunset glanced at Keleero, and her heart lurched at his comment. ~**I do, elder.**~ She did not explain, but her send was laiden with remorse and sorrow. Taking a deep breath, she centered herself, and focused on the small, frightened child. She was all too familiar with humans, and was none surprised by his tale. Round-ears could be cruel, even to their own kind. She remembered an old friend and a lump formed in her throat.
As if sensing her hesitation, the small cheetah kitten - whom she had taken to calling Chirp - let out a large yawn and stumbled out of their bedding. He awakened quickly and went to investigate the new smell: the elf child. The kitten sniffed at his feet curiously, and Sunset laughed. All in that moment, her reluctance faded. Trust the cat to know best. She moved forward, crouching a little ways away from Swish, smiling. "I'm Sunset, and this is Chirp. I think he wants to be your friend, little one."
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Post by Reefshadow on Aug 25, 2015 6:56:02 GMT 1
The lean Wavedancer grinned at Keleero. "Coulda fooled me, what with the nose." His blue eyes sparkled with mirth. ~**If it truly offends you, I will refrain from calling you a bird; I make the joke affectionately, I promise. My sister's father was a glider.**~
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Post by Swish on Aug 25, 2015 8:34:29 GMT 1
Reefshadow's comment about Keleero and the elf's answering indignant huff made the pip giggle. And the older sea-elf was right: These strange elves looked a bit like those round-ears, just... not so mean- and big-looking. They looked very much nicer, and very much like elves, just odd. The mention of the other newcomer piqued his interest but instead of asking about that he listened with interest to the older elves. A light hearted giggle left him with Keleero's denial of being a bird. He already liked these elves. A pang of sadness made itself known in his chest: He missed home already.
Swish gave a squeak when he felt the cheetah kitten sniff his feet, it tickled his toes. He chose to sit on his shin instead of his bum, and leaned down to the kitten. "You're a funny little thing," He said to the kitten, "I wanna be his friend too!" The kitten had made him forget his homesickness at the moment.
He laughed as he played with the kitten with his fingers. He was careful since he didn't really know what it was but his curiosity got away with him and he stroked and nuzzled Chirp's fur. It felt weird, soft, but not soft like a sea anemone, it was a whole different kind of soft that he hadn't experienced before.
He looked up at the adults, having lost himself in the kitten, "Oh, I'm Swish. I think I forgot to say that." He smiled at them, and returned to focus on playing with Chirp.
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Post by Panaetha on Aug 25, 2015 9:10:58 GMT 1
Choice's worries were well-founded; knowing now that this young arrival was physically fine, Panaetha's distractions went away. She could feel her chest start to tighten, her breaths growing shorter. **Yes, I've already been requested,** she sent to those in the room with her. **I'm coming, Mindlight,** she then replied to the other healer. The glider gathered her skirts and headed towards the Beacon Room; the newcomer, Swish, seemed in good hands with the others, and decently occupied by the cheetah kit. **Do send for me if you need me, I'll not be far...so long as these cursed caves don't drain the life from me.**
OOC: Panaetha jumping to Beacon Room thread, tag if you need me back here!
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Post by No-Sting on Aug 26, 2015 21:36:53 GMT 1
"By the High Ones!" No-Sting cried, almost dropping her prey in the fire. **Everyone, Tinder just disappeared! I-I think the beacon took her...** she open-sent to all elves in range, too surprised to think such a move through. **Is anyone else missing?**OOC: Nettle and Slinker are also gone. I'm waiting to hear from other players to see if their elves are staying or have disappeared too. No one in this thread has disppeared at least, to my knowledge  Nettle left for the Beacon Room some posts ago.
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Post by Keleero on Aug 26, 2015 22:00:55 GMT 1
Keleero hid a flinch at Sunset's sending. He'd apparently touched an old wound. Curses! He hated being around new faces - you never knew what would hurt who or how. Not that his kin back in Steepside Mountain were open about their inner selves, but having lived with his whole life he'd learned what to say and when to keep out of trouble - for the most part. Here he seemed to be stepping on toes whatever direction he went!
He gave Sunset an acknowledging nod, trying to show he respected her emotions on the subject.
Reefshadow's reply confused him. His nose was bird-like? And Reefshadow's sister's mother had been a glider? Where there gliders out there who lived outside mountains, meeting other elves?...of course there was. There were elves with animal parents, so why not gliders living alongside elves who lived in the sea?
"No offense taken," Keleero answered Reefshadow, not daring to send the words. "I...just don't think we should confuse the child, that is all. What with all...the different kinds of elves he'll encounter here." He didn't know what else to say to sooth any suspicions his words might have awoken. He hadn't had the time to gather himself for answering - there was too much happening around him.
No-Sting's sending came out of the blue. The news knocked Keleero's thoughts for a loop, leaving him blinking at the rest of the room to see what their reactions were. No one was missing here at least. What am I more afraid of - being left here alone or...going back?
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Post by Choice on Aug 26, 2015 22:11:20 GMT 1
Choice smiled at Swish's enthusiasm over the kitten. It was good to have something to take the child's mind off whatever tragey he'd experienced before arriving there. Choice gave Sunset a nod of approval and thanks, before saying to Swish: "That's great name! Do you-"
He didn't get to finish the sentence. No-Sting's shocked sending rang through his mind and a chill ran down his spine. Now that she'd mentioned it, it felt like something was...not right.
~**Aiya?**~ he lock-sent, hoping to reach his Recognized. He got no reply. ~**Aiya?!**~
Nothing.
Numb, all Choice could do was turn to Sunset - who happened to be closest to him - and say: "Nettle is gone too. S-she was helping Tinder with the food."
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Post by Sunset on Aug 26, 2015 23:21:50 GMT 1
Sunset's head snapped up, her nostrils flaring as she looked towards the mouth of the sleeping room. Gone? Tinder...she's gone? Her heart jumped into her throat and she felt tears pricking at her eyes. Choice's words only made it hurt more, as she remembered, Oh, no. They were Recognized. Oh, my poor friend. She stood, leaving the child playing with the kit, and simply wrapped her slender arms around the stunned elf. Stunned, afraid, hurting, there were no words she could offer to comfort him.
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Post by Swish on Aug 29, 2015 16:25:01 GMT 1
He stopped playing with the kitten as he too received the open send. So elves disappeared from here as well? Oh... It seemed like the adults were deeply troubled by it, maybe it hadn't happened before?
"D-did you know them well? How could they disappear?" He asked them with a subdued voice. All the confusing things were starting to cram in his head. But he could recognise the blank look on Choice.
It was like looking at Tidesinger when Ray had been caught in a strong current during a storm far from the pod. Ray had drowned, he had been unable to escape the current and had just been dragged further and further down. He had been just inside sending range, but no one would have been fast enough to get there in time, besides it had been too dangerous.
After her stupor Tidesinger had fought with a vengeance to get to swim to him, but she was heavy with pip, and Ray had sent to her to think of it before him. Her heart was broken, but she understood that the pip would need her. It hadn't been many moons before the hu-mans had attacked.
Sunset looked very upset as well, but the pip made to hug the dark skinned Choice. He didn't exactly know the reason for Choice's numbness but that didn't matter. Hurt was hurt no matter what. The hug wasn't much but he knew that Tidesinger had sought solace in the company of the pod. And Swish had only met kindness here in this new place, so why not return it?
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Post by Keleero on Sept 23, 2015 22:49:06 GMT 1
The news that Tinder had disappeared hadn't hit Keleero as hard as Nettle being gone. Not for her sake, no. While he was relieved to have Tinder the fireshaper gone - fireshaping was dangerous magic to have around - he felt no relief for Nettle's disappearance. She'd left her Recognized behind.
Elves who lost their Recognized were a huge liability. Choice might be struck lame by the shock and horror right now, but High Ones only knew what he'd done once he snapped out of that initial grief. Like father.
The thought was an unwelcome one and Keleero did his best to brush it aside as quickly as possible. Best to concentrate on the here and now.
"Elves sometimes disappear here, apparently," Keleero said to Swish, not knowing another way to put it. "Just like we suddenly appear, like you just did."
To everyone in range, Keleero sent: **Choice says Nettle also has disappeared. There may be others. I suggest all who are still with us gather here in the sleeping quarters.** He was too exhausted to move and made sure to let that be felt in his sending, in case anyone thought he was getting high and mighty giving 'orders'. He made sure to keep the feeling of his words being a request clear. Making enemies on top of all this chaos would have been the last straw.
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Post by Choice on Sept 23, 2015 23:14:17 GMT 1
"She w-, is my Recognized," Choice said to Swish, too stunned to think straight on what one should and shouldn't tell a child. Not that Recognition in itself was something to keep from a child - Recognition was a thing of joy! But the loss was something no child should have to help carrying, no matter how perifirally. "The magic that got us here took her. She's...she's probably back home, where she came from in the first place." He had to believe that. Had to think his Recognized and unborn cub where somewhere safe, or he'd not last a heartbeat longer.
Choice took comfort in Sunset's hug. It was good to have something solid keeping him together, because he felt like he was flying apart. And a voice at the back of his head kept nagging at him that this was too good to be true, this is what you deserve, this is what was meant to be.
"K-Keleero is right," Choice said, letting tears spill down his cheeks. "We should all get together. Figure out-" He hiccuped on a sob. "Figure out who else is missing."
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Post by Keleero on Oct 28, 2015 16:40:36 GMT 1
"Many Highthings go away? Highthings not here?" came a tiny voice from the tresses of Swish's hair. A small, colorful creature appeared, its pale butter yellow wings with small turquoise spots a stark contrast to the grey of the stone wall behind it. "Awww, small Highthing sad." It began to pet one of Swish's ears as if in sympathy. "A preserver," Keleero said as he saw the tiny creature. As if this situation couldn't get more unsettling. Preservers weren't exactly known for their cruel personalities but they were gullible. Keleero had no wish to end up in wrapstuff. Best to keep well with the child and keep an eye on any who might try and use the preserver's gifts to their own advantage. OOC: I've posted a follow up thread to this, since this thread seems to be slowing down. Please wrap this thread up and move to that one  |
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Post by Swish on Oct 28, 2015 22:24:00 GMT 1
“Shinefind! You’re here as well?” Swish was surprised to see the little preserver had hidden in his hair. It had usually kept to sticking with his mother whom had weaved silks from the preservers’ cocoons. “Yes the others aren’t here… We’re somewhere else now,” The pip told Shinefind. Swish wanted to talk more both with the little preserver and the adults but a sudden tiredness overcame him. The preserver took flight hovering right beside Swish. “Small Highthing in new place?” it asked slightly confused. Swish gave a huge yawn and rubbed at his eyes. “Small Highthing sleepy-sleep?” Shinefind asked him and he nodded. “Is there somewhere I could sleep?” He asked hoping for something to keep him warm as the tiredness made him feel the cold compared to the lagoon more acutely. OOC: I am soooo not used to anything like the preservers in rp and I'm not at all confident in my ability to write for one, so I hope my writing will be fitting to their typical way of being. If not, please do tell if I could/should write something else. >.<  |
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Nettle left for the Beacon Room some posts ago.
