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Post by Tambri on Jun 23, 2020 23:57:02 GMT 1
Tambri glanced between the male elves, listening to their words. She returned to her soup and sat down once more on her heavy coat to finish her meal. "Humans... They hunt us... They slaughter Elves and call us <Demons>. I've never met a human that wasn't trying to kill me... I'd just as soon never meet another." She was speaking matter of factly, but shared an image of the hunting party she'd last encountered. There was a young child, probably on hits first hunt, two mid-teen hunters, and three older men. When they had seen Tambri, she had turned and fled, but they had given chase, shouting in a language very similar to SL2657F's language. Tambri ended the sent imagery before the aftermath. One of the teens had been killed. While she didn't regret it, she never wanted to take his life. It had come down to his life or hers and self-preservation had won. The others didn't need to see that.
Spook watched the elf walk away but decided it was better to remain where he was. Besides this long not-wolf was warm. He hadn't been around many other animals he wasn't hunting. He could tell his elf-friend was upset about something they were speaking of, but there was no danger, nothing he could do to help her. So instead, he nipped at one of the large cat's ears, his tail thwapping steadily. It was a playful gesture, clearly. He was still young...
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Post by SL2657F on Jun 24, 2020 0:08:20 GMT 1
SL2657F glanced to Mahrak when she realized he was speaking directly to her, setting the now empty bowl down. He pointed to himself and said his name. She nodded in understanding. She motioned to herself, then to the embroidered symbols on her collar. "<Ess-Ell-Two-Six-Five-Seven-Eff.>" It was her designation... though it wasn't really a name. She knew that. She couldn't tell him her -name-. That, she knew, was hers alone... Her soul, really. She glanced at the others, the confused stares. It was a mouthful to say... Especially since it wasn't in their language. Shinefind was babbling on, and kept repeating the same thing to them.
"Spotfur-Highthing is Spotfur-Highthing!"
"<Shinefind? What are you calling me in Elf?>"
"<Shinefind call Spotfur-Highthing Spotfur-Highthing! Spotfur-Highthing is Spotfur-Highthing!>"
"<But... that... isn't my...>" She glanced down at herself. Spotted fur. Highthing must be because she was taller than the bug. "<Tell him I do not have a name.>"
"<Spotfur-Highthing is Spotfur-Highthing!>" Shinefind looked confused.
"<Shinefind... please. Tell him I do not have a name.>"
Shinefind pouted. "<Shinefind do...>" It flitted over to Mahrak. "Spotfur-Highthing tell Shinefind tell Wetdance-Highthing Spotfur-Hightning not Spotfur-Highthing. Poor Spotfur-Highthing fuzzy-mind forget. Poor Spotfur-Highthing..."
SL2657F sighed. She heard the same pair of words that the preserver had been using in reference to herself... So she decided to try her own way.
"Mahrak" She pointed at Mahrak, then pointed at herself and shook her head, waving a hand out as if to say 'nothing'.
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Post by Keleero on Jun 27, 2020 18:35:45 GMT 1
Keleero's heart clenched at Flint's reminder of his loss - it struck too close to him. Keleero had never had siblings, but he did miss his cousin Dakran terribly. Though younger than him by many, many years, Dakran had been a steady, calm presence. Rude and blunt, yes, but never cruel and never as dangerously naive as others. He missed Ashre and Hamitee too, just not as deeply and terribly. Though Beacon Call was far from 'safe' it had the huge benefit of being High Ones know how far away from Elyro and his ilk. Knowing his cousin and friends were still in Steepside Mountain...it was a distressing thought he tried and failed to avoid. "I'm sorry for your loss," he said to Flint, meaning every word. "I fear we've all been irreversibly separated from those we've known. It's...hard to wrap one's mind around." The description Tambri gave of her encounter with humans disturbed him, but didn't surprise. It had been the same thing every time Steepside hunters had encountered humans outside the mountain. "I'm sorry you had to go through that and glad you've come out alive. Humans are a terrible danger and we all do wisely in keep away from them. My people chose to live inside a mountain to keep safe from them," and the rest of nature, but this wasn't the moment for that. He turned his attention to Mahrak. "Others might tell you differently," Jaseio for one, "but humans are to be avoided at all cost." Now was also a good time to repeat a warning. "We have spotted human dwellings by the shore, not too far from here." Not far enough. "We do not think they know we're here, but we cannot guarantee that. Please stay safe and avoid going too far down into the forest." |
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Post by Mahrak on Jun 27, 2020 19:36:19 GMT 1
Mahrak winced at Flint's revelation. "That is just..." He'd made peace with possibly never seeing his own family long ago, but to be separated so forcefully must be as close to a waking nightmare as one could come. "I don't even know what to say to that." The talk of humans wasn't any lighter. Mahrak's eyes widened at Tambri's sharing, the idea of huge kinda-elves-but-not chasing you down both terrifying and fascinating, like a horror tale told at first dark. By Keleero's comment, it seemed not all elves had the same experience of humans... That could do with more investigation. But no one here seemed to be open to that kind of discussion, so he'd save that for later. "I'll keep that in mind. Are there any other places I shouldn't go? Anything I should avoid hunting?" Who knew what other animals elves might have bonded with, other than tigers and wolves. Accidentally killing a bond-friend would be the worst possible way to start his stay here. At this thought, he glanced over at Longsleep and Tambri's wolf. He'd learned a few things about wolves' body language, and how unfortunately it worked against that of tigers', during his time with Nightbird. Hopefully Longsleep had too. Longsleep, thankfully, had. When the wolf nipped at his ear, he didn't see it as an attack but as the unfortunate playfulness of a kitten. How exhausting. Still, kittens were kittens, even if they were big and strange-looking. He gave the wolf a soft boop on the head, too comfortable to get up into more active play. Mahrak smiled at the interaction, keeping half of his attention on his bond and half on the elves in the room. He tried to mimic the cat-elf's...name?...but got his tongue tangled on the unfamiliar syllables. Never having had to speak another language than his own the foreign sounds became a jumbled mess he couldn't untie. Then, after some arguing with the local preserver, she pointed at him, said his name, and then indicated her own lack of a name. Very confusing. How could you live without a name? What did her friends call her? Then again, Keleero had said she'd been 'kept' by humans. He couldn't fully understand what that meant, but maybe that left you nameless? "Hmm." He kept his attention on the cat-elf, not bothering to ask Shinefind to translate. Preservers were hopeless when it came to names. "Why don't you pick a name then?" He spoke slowly, hoping she'd understand at least most of what he'd said. He'd gotten the impression she at least understood some elfin words. "Or are you good with Spotfur?" |
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Post by Flint on Jun 27, 2020 21:16:08 GMT 1
Flint found it difficult to judge humans without ever having seen one, the shared stories of a handful of elves not enough to condemn a whole race. While he knew that there'd been fights between them on his home too, eventually leading up to the planets devastation, Ivy always had been clear on how they both were at fault. He sure wouldn't run off to try and find some, but in the case of an encounter, his tactic with all things was to wait and see, deciding on intuition.
As for his brother, he only nodded quietly at the kind words. There hadn't been a day in his life without Sapling and he wasn't yet ready to talk about just how much the idea of not having him anymore scared him. Of not having someone around who knew him so deep that no talking was needed. Better to stay silent, focus on mending his clothes, scraps over patches worn through and keep the topic on names. “It's fine to pick your own name.” he chimed in. “We did too.” We being Sapling and him, picking for each other on account of their magic.
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Post by Tambri on Jun 28, 2020 2:06:12 GMT 1
Tambri raised a brow at the interaction between Spook and the tiger, relieved to see the cat was too lazy, or probably comfortable, to retaliate beyond a bap of the paw. She'd been around enough big-cats as bonds to know that you couldn't be certain if one was lazy or comfortable at any given moment. Spook, having never had such interactions, didn't take the bapping as anything more than play. Which he continued to do, idly so, with the occasional nip and flopping against the big cat.
"He... Has never been around another friendly animal. The only ones he's ever seen, we were hunting... or defending ourselves from. He was very young when we bonded. I don't think he remembers being part of a pack." She recalled back to when she had found the wolfpup. The pack of wolves were strange to her, and she had only stayed near them for their howls, and the comfort their songs brought to her. When she had been sitting near the river, the pup had wandered up to her. It was there that they bonded. Not long after that, she decided to leave the pack. Part of it was because of a division in the pack leadership and the new alpha not too keen on the previous alpha's cubs, and partly because she wanted to find a new tribe of elves. She hadn't expected to be teleported to them, but she wouldn't curse the High ones for being brought here. Whether they had a hand in it or not, so to speak.
"Choosing a name isn't something to take lightly... Spotfur may be a good name for now, but... What do you enjoy? Are you a crafter? Do you have magic?" She wasn't present for the discussion the night before so did not know that almost all magic users from 'Spotfur's' world were killed.
OOC: Now that I'm thinking on it... It almost sounds like Flint's world is farther in the future from SL2657F's... Like after the wars, the planet being basically decimated, the survivors scattered. It kinda makes sense.
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Post by SL2657F on Jun 28, 2020 2:14:00 GMT 1
The preserver continued to translate, arguing that SL2657F choosing a new name was a waste of time because she was 'Spotfur-Highthing'. It sure was insistent on calling her Spotfur... It had apparently rubbed off on the others. She'd assumed that's what they'd been saying, and when the preserver confirmed it saying that they suggested she just call herself 'Spotfur' since she didn't have a name... She shrugged slightly. Then the new female started speaking. Asking if she crafted or knew magic.
If she was being honest with herself, the whole idea was becoming overwhelming. Shaking her head, she took a deep breath, more to steady herself. She tried to say it in Elfin, first. "Spotfour-- Spotfi--Sp." She just nodded and motioned to them. Shinefind seemed to be particularly happy that the cat-elf agreed. "See!? Is Spotfur-Highthing!"
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Post by Keleero on Jul 4, 2020 21:39:07 GMT 1
Keleero couldn't picture changing his name or choosing one for himself. A name was given to you by your parents, that's just how things were done. Then again, there were many things around here that weren't anything like his life in Steepside Mountain. More things to get used to... He gave a brief smile in reply to Flint's quiet nod. Some things were best not to speak of, beyond silent sympathy. It was good to meet someone else who understood that. In answer to Mahrak's questions, he said: "Speak with those who spend a lot of time outside, like Badger , No-Sting or Jaseio - they will know what places and animals are barred from you. You will likely meet them before long." Unless they'd run into trouble outside. How they could go out there with all the weather, animals and humans was beyond him. Still resolutely ignoring the two beasts in the room, Keleero payed all his attention to the name discussion. At least Spotfur seemed to have come to accept them calling her such. "Well, that is settled then. We shall call you Spotfur until you wish us to say something else. Shinefind, can you make that clear?" "Shinefind do," the preserver said, with less enthusiasm than usual. <Deepscare-Fly-Highthing say Spotfur-Highthing is Spotfur-Highthing if Spotfur-Highthing is Spotfur-Highthing.> That was about all the preserver could figure out from the, to it, senseless talk going on around it. |
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Post by Mahrak on Jul 4, 2020 21:55:38 GMT 1
"Interesting," Mahrak said to the comment from Flint about picking one's own name. It was an easier conversation to have compared to missing family. "I never pictured picking my own name, or changing it. Learning new things already!" Well, more new things. This place was full of them, good and bad.
Longsleep kept up with the wolf, booping his head whenever he got a little too playful in his nipping, once even shoving the wolf to the ground (gently) for a particularly annoying play-bite.
"That must be quite the change for him then," Mahrak said to Tambri, chuckling at the antics between the bonds. "Longsleep is used to kits and he's met one wolf before, though a much older one, so he should be fine, as long as your bond doesn't play too rough. Then he might pin him for a bit if he does, but he won't hurt him. He knows an excited young when he sees one."
To make sure, he sent, ::Play calm. Kitten.:: to Longsleep who sent back acceptance and a hint of annoyance.
"I have to agree with Tambri too," he then added to the group at large and Spotfur in particular. "Names should mean something." They weren't soul names, of course, but they still should mean something. "Easier to remember too if you picked it because you think it fits you. But take your time. That's not something you should stress." He assumed. There had been tales back home of elves who'd changed their names, but he'd never met one himself. It seemed wonderfully strange!
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Post by Flint on Jul 5, 2020 10:22:43 GMT 1
„I didn't pick it, Sapling did. And I his.“ he clarified. “At that time it was the right thing to do, for we didn't fit what Ivy named us anymore.” Though frankly he never really fit Caraway, not when his magic always was prominent, nothing he could ignore. Flint was better, stone that if shaped right could make controlled fire. Just as Sapling was growth in the making. “Well... names are for calling. They don't have to mean much as long as you are fine with it. It's for differentiating and to keep apart from things that are alive but don't have a sense of self.” If not for names being another layer of defense against magic invading your thoughts, his world might've long dropped them. But it helped to hold onto yourself, to stay sane and not give in to the lands.
(OOC: Ye, that's what I set it up as! A post-war world suffering from the results, having all but annihilated sentient life. Not necessarily a follow-up to SL2657F's but with thousands of years passing between they wouldn't be able to tell)
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Post by SL2657F on Jul 6, 2020 0:09:34 GMT 1
SL2657F. Spotfur, apparently, as she was being called. It was strange to her. A name, not a designation. Would she even choose the name 'spotfur' had it been up to her? She tried to think on what she would have named herself, but really her skills had all been in her training. Stealth, assassination, fighting. As a slave to humans. Humans who stripped her of everything except one thing they couldn't take. She had a soul name. She knew it, but didn't really understand what it was. She just knew that it meant she could recognize and have a child, outside the meddling of the humans. She also knew that if anyone had ever learned it, her life, as she knew it, would be over. Her child would be taken from her, raised to be another slave, or killed because it inherited something the humans didn't want.
Her ears drooped as she stared down at the bowl in her hands. She set it aside then looked at her hands. Even her own design was because of humans. She wasn't a natural creation. She was created with a machine splicing DNA together then being implanted into a birther, to grow, be born, and the next one implanted. It was a factory. She'd never actually sat and thought on her origins, her life. Now it was as if she could actually escape it. Escape and freedom were in her grasp. She just had to reach out, and she wanted to. She wanted to take the blasted box off the back of her neck. She wanted to take the collar and the cursed 'designation' and throw both into a fire! She wanted to turn on her keepers and show them exactly what they had created with their science! A better elf!
Lifting her head, she glanced over at the other elves. No, not better. Different. These elves were pure. Untainted by her world. They saw life as it was meant to be, and yet all were pulled from different worlds, times, places, and dropped into this cave. She slowly pushed herself to her feet, looked around for where to put the bowl. In her, she supposed past life, she would take it to a slot in the wall and the kitchen staff would wash them and use them for someone else. Here... She set the bowl down near where she was sitting, though out of the way. She glanced for the exit and started that way.
"<Shinefind... Tell them I'm just going outside... I won't be any trouble.">
Shinefind perked up. "<Shinefind do!>" The Preserver then went about explaining that Spotfur-Highthing was just going outside but not to be nastybad, but be good highthing.
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Post by Tambri on Jul 6, 2020 0:22:44 GMT 1
Spook seemed to understand the tiger was allowing some play but he understood the limits. He was an assertive wolf, definitely had a dominant nature. Perhaps one day he would be able to lead a wolfpack, but this was not a wolf. He knew that. It smelled of the mountain cats they'd encountered in the past, but also not. Still, the bap from the large cat was enough to let him know his limits, for now. He ultimately lay his head upon his own paws and seemed to relax.
Tambri nodded in regards to the descriptions of the various names. She also could sense that 'Spotfur' didn't really seem enthusiastic about the name. Perhaps because it wasn't chosen by her, but rather the preserver? Or perhaps there was something else underlying the discontent. She toned out what the others were saying as she watched the mannerisms, the ears dropping, the tail twitching, the way the cat-elf was looking at her hands as if she had done something horrible with them. The anger twisting into the eyes and features, then the cat-elf suddenly standing. Confusion. This was someone who was definitely out of their comfort zone. Tambri didn't seem at all troubled that she just randomly teleported to some random cave. The others seemed apprehensive about each other. She was completely calm.
Then the cat-elf said she was going outside. Tambri knew before the preserver even translated, that the cat-elf knew she was under suspicion, or felt she was. This 'Spotfur' was a mix of confusion and smelled of fear. She wondered if she should follow as the female began to exit the cave. Perhaps it was best to let her have some time to herself?
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Post by Keleero on Jul 11, 2020 14:46:55 GMT 1
Keleero merely hummed along to the name discussion, to show that he was listening. It was all too strange to him, but it was also nothing 'dangerous' so he saw no reason to argue for or against anything. The point Flint made about names being for separating truly living things from things that only seemed alive was chilling - hopefully there would be nothing like that outside their tunnels, or deeper inside the mountain. One could never be too careful.
With Spotfur leaving the room and Shinefind's explanation as to what she'd be doing, Keleero force himself not to sit up straighter or otherwise show unease. She wasn't running and she wasn't brandishing any weapon - she merely looked confused and almost defeated, as far as Keleero could read the body language of someone with ears on top of their head. Still... "Shinefind, why don't you accompany our new friend? Make sure she doesn't wandering into anything dangerous?"
"Shinefind do! Shinefind protect! Keep snug-safe!" The preserver was off at once, humming in pleasure at being given another important task.
Exhaustion needled at Keleero once more. He stifled a yawn. Sleeping during the day would be odd, but he needed at least a short rest before he'd be able to work on anything useful. "If you don't mind, I think I should find myself some sleep. Is there anything else you wish to ask before I leave?"
OOC: It feels like this thread might be wrapping up? What do you think - should we wrap this and continue in other, later threads, or do you want to keep going with this one for a bit longer?
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Post by Mahrak on Jul 11, 2020 16:08:16 GMT 1
"Ah, I see," Mahrak replied to Flint, not wanting to bring up too much more about the other's brother. Seemed cruel to stir memories like that; they were likely on Flint's mind enough without outsider help.
"Well, I for one have asked what questions I've got, thus far. Good sleep to you!" Keleero didn't seem to know too much about the magic that had brought them there and he'd all but said he knew nothing about the world outside of this cave. No point in asking him more questions then. "I think I shall follow our spot-furred friend. I'm not used to being cooped up inside if there isn't a blizzard about. Is anyone else going out?" He stood up, ready to bring his bowl outside to watch it. As an afterthought, he took Spotfur's unwashed bowl as well. She didn't seem to be in a state of mind to clean at the moment.
Longsleep gave his bond a tired look. Now that the wolf had calmed down he'd hoped to get back to sleep, but apparently that wasn't the plan. With a deep sigh the tiger heaved himself to his feet, reluctantly ready to go outside.
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Post by Flint on Jul 11, 2020 18:30:31 GMT 1
Flint wasn't the best at reading others, not when there hadn't been anyone around, so he took Spotfurs words for what they were – that she wished to go outside. He himself likely wouldn't even mention it, simply leave, used to being independent. Everyone should be capable of watching over themselves.
Following his earlier promise of keeping watch, he shook his head at Mahraks question. “I'll stay and keep the soup warm for anyone else getting hungry. There's some more mending to do on my clothes too.” In fact he'd more need completely new ones, but having not found the time to patch the multiple layers up in a long time meant it was long since overdue. Would be good for him to do some work in peace, still unused to the lack of magic coursing through the ground. In a way he also wanted to keep some more of an eye on the Beacon, not trusting the stone to really have quieted down.
(OOC: Ye, I'm for ending this one too and continue later!)
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