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Post by Eryk on Feb 3, 2016 20:26:22 GMT 1
OoC: Day 16, after New Arrivals. This is about at the cave entrance.
~*~
After a good while, Eryk had finally managed to get himself out of the room they called the Beacon Room. Also, he had managed to get himself supplies for mending his wounds. He had situated himself to the cave entrance, as he tried to look around and see if the surroundings were any familiar to him -- they were not, not really... Although he had not traveled too much around the mountains. But he was was sure he would have noticed the similarities, should there be any
The carpenter had also sent and sent and sent and sent relentlessly to his loved ones, without any response -- his only reward was a splitting headache.
Cleaning the clogged up wounds, the carpenter had tears in his eyes, that were there only because of the nasty breeze that sometimes blew by the cave entrance -- or that was what Eryk told himself.
*I might as well have bled to death.* he thought as he finished cleaning one arm's wounds with a rag and hot water. Quietly, the grey-haired lad leaned his temple against the cool rock -- it was his attempt to soothe the head ache.
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Post by Badger on Feb 11, 2016 9:44:02 GMT 1
Hesitant, Badger approached the lad, who was now leaning his head on the stone wall.
"Uhh, excuse me?" she called out, trying to see if he was asleep. It seemed not, so the maiden only walked to his side -- but kept her distance.
"I was wondering, if you'd like to eat something?" Badger then asked, as she looked at the crudely cleaned and mended wounds. "I hope the equipment I brought were of use." She carried with her some smoked meat -- there still was not much to go around, but the wolfrider thought it was the best to offer the other newcomer at least something to eat.
"Oh, you're watching the environment?" she then pointed out, as she noticed Eryk's gaze wandering in the outside world. "I guess this is not familiar to any of us, huh..."
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Post by Choice on Feb 16, 2016 23:24:19 GMT 1
In that moment, Choice came walking out of the forest, together with the two maned-wolves Dance and Sneak. He spotted Badger heading for the mountain, and soon thereafter one of the newcomers seated near the opening to the Beacon Room.
Carrying two dead creatures No-Sting had told him were called 'rabbits' (very tricky to catch, but a better reward than those 'squirrel'-critters), he hurried toward the Beacon Room, followed by his two animal companions, who each had their own rabbit. Hunting had proved a good distraction from...well, a good distraction, and Choice had been out for hours with his bond-friend and bond's mate, nearly out of sending range.
Catching up to Badger, Choice gave the newcomer a shaky smile. "I-I heard we had newcomers," he said, making sure to not stand too close or be too forward. Though he himself had only felt happiness when he'd ended up here, his recent loss was a good reminder that few other elves had been happy to come to Beacon Call Holt - as Choice and some others had begun to call it.
"Were you offering food, Badger?" Choice then said, not wanting to leave her out of the conversation. "As you see I have some to share as well. Do you prefer your food raw or cooked?" The last was aimed at the newcomer.
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Post by Eryk on Feb 17, 2016 7:58:27 GMT 1
"Hnh?" Eryk muttered, as his keen gazing was distracted by a female voice. With a nod, he accepted the food, and with another nod, he let the maiden know he had used the medical equipment with the best of his skill. He took the food off her hands, and took a bite of it, slowly chewing it. His tongue and teeth sent signals and he vaguely registered the food as meat, but did not really taste it.
Eryk's interest perked up lightly, when a stranger came to the cave, considering he had never seen anyone with such a dark skin. Slowly, he chewed his piece of meat and swallowed it. It hurt his throat.
He eyed the dark-skinned stranger, kind of wanting to ask how he was so dark, but then decided against it. Instead, he perked up, when the unnamed male asked how he preferred his food.
"Cooked", he replied simply. "Fried's good, smoked's good, dried's good. If there is edible plants, stew is good too."
That was surprisingly long speech from him, with his head ache and feeling like his heart was ripped off his chest.
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Post by Badger on Feb 17, 2016 8:30:35 GMT 1
"Hello, Choice." Badger greeted the dark-skinned lad, when he returned to the cave. "This is Eryk." she gestured at the grey-haired elf. It seemed like the wounded stranger was not that talkative, but the maiden could understand why. She looked at the rabbits and nodded -- Choice was trying so hard, but she had no heart to tell the rabbits were looking pretty scrawny and would not offer much meat to feed anyone. Maybe Jaseio could work out something with the pelts, though.
With the smoked meat given to the injured, there was not much for her to say or do. The wolfrider hovered there at the cave entrance for a little while, but it seemed Eryk was comfortable enough in Choice's company.
"I have things to do at the denning tree..." she then said, a little hesitant, "I am only a send away, should you need anything."
She gave them both a nod and then went back to the den tree. Juniper had been there for a good while, all holed up, and did not want to eat anything, although she had tried to coax him out.
~*~
OoC: Badger's out, unless called back later.
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Post by Choice on Feb 24, 2016 18:46:00 GMT 1
Choice nodded goodbye to Badger before he took a seat opposite Eryk. The snow wasn't too deep at the moment and it had been flattened further around the entrance to the Beacon Room. With the temporary winter clothes he'd been given he'd last a little while longer outside, even sitting still.
"This is Dance, my bond-friend," Choice hurried to say, gesturing at the maned-wolf in question. "And that is Sneak, his mate. Do you...do you know what a bond-friend is?" It might have seemed a stupid question to ask, but who was to say what a newcomer might know and not know?
Nervous and eager to put Eryk at ease, Choice babbled on: "I'm afraid I'm not much of a cook - I usually eat my meat raw. But Keleero can prepare food for you. I'm sure he'll do it if we just ask him. He's been very helpful." Choice paused briefly to take a breath, before he continued: "I think you'll have met him, since he spends most of his time inside the caves. He's the tall one who can fly. And shape rocks. It's a little embarrassing to admit, but when I first arrived here I thought he, and a few others, were a High One."
Again Choice reminded himself he couldn't assume things, so he asked: "D-do you know of the High Ones?"
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Post by Eryk on Feb 28, 2016 9:38:32 GMT 1
Eryk idly watched as the maned wolves were introduced to him. The beasts certainly looked very different to what he had seen before, although they carried a certain resemblance to the wolfriders' bond wolves.
"I am ... um, aware of the idea." he then wearily replied, when Choice asked if the carpenter knew about bonding. "My tribe, we do not bond, but we have steeds." This painfully reminded him, he was steed-less in this foreign land, and that worried him a little. What was a go-back without his elk? Eryk made a mental note to make himself a pair of skis, so he could easier make a trip to the forest, maybe there was a herd of elks he could try and approach. "Our steeds are the finest elks, our herder could tame and breed." he then explained. "Our herder is hard and tough, but she can make an elk dance if she wishes."
When the dark-skinned lad began to babble on with the cooking and Keleero -- that bird bone? -- and so on, Eryk idly listened. This certainly reminded him of home, despite the unfamiliar looks of his companion. Well, no one would have to worry about cooking for him, Eryk was settled to the idea that he could take care of things himself. At the mention of eating raw meat, he made a face, but tried to wipe the expression off his face quickly.
"I know the High Ones." he then said, when Choice asked about them. "Well, story-wise, at least. Seems like the High Ones were more than what in stories, if we all are their children."
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Post by Choice on Mar 4, 2016 23:16:11 GMT 1
"Elks?" Choice asked, head tilted to the side in a questioning manner. "Are they like horses? Jaseio has said she used to be a herder back in her old home. They have horses there. Here, we only have two - hers and Edgerunner's. I...I don't think they can dance though."
Choice made a pause, silently inviting Eryk to share what elk might be through words or sending. He'd thought to outright ask Eryk to send, for Choice was curious to know of this new animal, but he'd stopped himself. Some elves who'd arrived had appeared uncomfortable with sending, especially with sharing through sending. Keleero, for example, seemed fairly free with sending when he just wanted to talk with someone or wished to share a message, but ask him about anything from before Beacon Call and he clamped up like a ground-trap.
"The High Ones must indeed have been many and very different," Choice agreed. "What I wouldn't give to have spoken to one of them. It would give answers to so many things. At least that's what I imagined as a cub." He paused. "I think Greywing, the one with the green hair if you've met her, actually has met High Ones." He said this in a conspiratory whisper, as if he couldn't quite believe his own words.
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Post by Eryk on Mar 27, 2016 3:58:12 GMT 1
The term 'horse' was foreign to Eryk, so he could not agree or disagree with the dark-hued lad when he asked if elks were like horses. Instead, Eryk only shrugged and mumbled a faint "I dunno". His head was slightly aching due to the constant sending for his tribemates, so he did not enlighten Choice any more of the elks. The carpenter looked out at the entrance in silence, his thoughts buzzing around the subject of steeds. He would be cursed, if there was no steeds around here.
"I'll know an elk, if I see one." he said then, "And if I see a herd, I'll have to try and attempt to tame one for my steed."
His confident personality peeked a little through the shroud of general depression, and Eryk added "How hard could it be?"
The words were accompanied with a flash of his usual assertive smile, but soon faded. It was hard to be in strange environment and in the middle of strangers.
Choice continued on with the discussion, and Eryk's mind picked another tidbit.
"Green hair?" he asked, "GREEN?"
Eryk's facial expression was indifferent, but he was surprised. He had not bumped into green-haired elves before.
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Post by Choice on Jun 28, 2016 16:03:31 GMT 1
No sending seemed to be forth-coming about the elks, which left Choice a little disappointed. Then again, he couldn't complain about it since he'd not outright asked Eryk to share with him. He'd just have to ask one of the others - No-Sting might have seen an elk. She was usually open to sharing, sending and words alike. "I'm not sure we have any elks," Choice said, not wanting to give the newcomer false hope. "We haven't seen many larger animals. But that might be because it's so cold right now. Though we're not sure if it ever gets warmer. No one has been here for more than four hands of days." Eryk's expression of surprise first took Choice aback, but then it made him chuckle. "If you think that is strange, you should see Swish. His skin is purple all over, and his hair is green and blue both!" Dance and Sneak had settled down next to Choice in the snow, chewing on their rabbits. They kept giving Eryk wary looks, but not hostile ones. They were getting used to this strange land and the strange elves - used to them not being a threat of any kind. "Is there anything I can help you with?" Choice asked all of a sudden, feeling that he needed to. "Do you wish...to talk?" |
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Post by Eryk on Jul 10, 2016 7:12:11 GMT 1
"Oh...", he breathed out, as the dark-skinned lad mentioned another elf with purple skin and green-blue hair. It took the grey-haired lad a little to take in, but eventually, he accepted the fact that he was not at home anymore.
"Cold time is no problem." Eryk then said, peeking outside. "I have faced worse, cold and snow is something I know of."
Having his ax and knife and some tools with him, that was certainly a good thing. He could get started on some things to help him in the outdoors, before it snowed some more. The practical side of his mind started to plan on a pair of skis. After those, moving in the woods would be a breeze.
"Talk?" the carpenter then asked, looking at Choice. Well, the grey-haired elf considered it, and he had to admit it -- in his loneliness, he did not mind a friend to talk to. Eryk nodded to Choice. "Talking would be nice. What kind of place you from? I suppose you are not used to the cold?"
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Post by Choice on Jul 10, 2016 23:55:49 GMT 1
"Ah, another person used to this 'snow'!" Choice said, raidating enthusiasm. He was genuinely relieved; with those of them used to other weather - or no weather, in Keleero's case - all pieces of knowledge about this strange kind of land was as precious as food and water. "The other will be happy to know you have experience that can help us. Some of the others have lived in a similar land, but those like I hadn't seen frozen water until we ended up here."
Choice's smile widened when Eryk accepted his offer to talk, though it fell a little when he was asked about his own former home. He did his best to recover though, forcing his smile to stay on his face. Eryk hadn't asked about his family, new or old. He could answer this question. "My...my birth place is nothing like this. Not only is there no snow, but much fewer trees and they have leaves instead of those green needles. It's much flatter too. I'd only ever seen a mountain far in the distance before coming here and I doubt it was as impressive as this one, close up. As for the warmth...Well, I think my bond and his mate speak for what warmth they and I are used to."
Sneak had begun to shiver a bit. With a nod Choice signaled for her and Dance to go ahead and go inside. They were getting used to the weather, bit by bit, but after this hunt they'd have to stay on the furs by the fire for a long time. Maned-wolves simply weren't built for snow and ice.
"Your home," Choice said, once Dance and Sneak had left, "does it ever get warm? As much as I like it here, I would not mind if it got a little warmer. It's hard to move through the snow and I feel so bulky in these clothes." He gestured at himself, showing off his new clothes. "Do you have a trick for moving on the snow? Or is it the elks that help you with that?"
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Post by Eryk on Jul 11, 2016 6:07:16 GMT 1
Eryk watched the odd wolves go. They seemed skinnier compared to the wolves he'd seen back at home and he could not help but wonder... Danik was probably devastated, but at least he had Swifteye by his side.
*We never caught Spikefin, then.*, Eryk thought and sighed a little. Hopefully Danik would catch the beast of the lake on his own or ... Or something.
Listening what Choice had to tell of his birth place, the carpenter nodded. There was very little he could relate to, but he sympathized with the lad. Being ripped away from home was harsh, but it probably was even worse, if one was not made for the conditions of this place.
"It gets warmer, but not much." Eryk then replied, "Just enough for some snow to melt, but back at home, the peaks of mountains had snow always."
Finished with the food Badger had offered, the grey-hair shifted on his place and stretched. Sitting was not good for his bruised muscles if done too long -- also, moving hurt a little.
"Moving through the snow is easy with right equipment." Eryk then explained. "I think I can build a pair of skis or snow-shoes, when I get a little better and find the right things for building."
Skiing through the unfamiliar environment was something he would not have rather done, but he needed to do it, in case there was elks... Or maybe something else he could try and tame.
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Post by Choice on Jul 11, 2016 11:16:11 GMT 1
Choice was eager to be distracted away from the topics of previous home; he thought of Beacon Call as his home now, perhaps his truest home, even though he'd only been there a handful of days. Even the loss of his Recognized and their unborn cub hadn't taken away that feeling, and he wished to learn as much as he could to adapt to this new weather.
"What are skis?" Choice asked. "And snow-shoes? How do they work? I'd love to learn more about them! If the snow here never melts, or only melts a little, I will need to learn to work better in it. No-Sting has promised to teach me how to tree-walk, but moving about on the ground would be good to know too. Oh, perhaps you know how to tree-walk?" He knew he was rambling, but couldn't make himself care. Anything he could do to distract Eryk from asking more questions about his former home was a good thing.
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Post by Eryk on Jul 12, 2016 18:33:39 GMT 1
"Trees... Are not quite my strong point." Eryk admitted, remembering an incident when he had fallen down a tree. Getting a beehive was not as easy as he'd thought, and he had landed on ants' nest, too. He peeked out from the cave and noted the trees here were pretty similar to those he had at home. "And those look like they are a little hard to climb."
He was glad to have something familiar to discuss about.
"Skis, they are like..." the carpenter explained, and gestured with his hands, "They are like long boards tied on one's feet. They distribute the body weight better on the snow, and therefore it is easier to move on it." Despite having injuries, Eryk was kind of itching to go see what kind of trees there were on this foreign mountain. Work was something he would be doing a lot in the nearby future, since it was something that helped him to focus on something else than ... his heart ache.
"Snowshoes work pretty much the same way as skis. Well, with skis, one can glide over snow. Snowshoes... not so much." he then explained the main principle of the snowshoes. Eryk's mind was already working on other things he needed. There was need for a spear or two for sure, also a sled to move things easier... Maybe skates, if he got the bone and tools to work such...
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