|
|
Post by FarSight on Sept 1, 2022 21:08:24 GMT 1
FarSight nodded with pride about his name. "I can see the farthest in my tribe. Day or Night. It helped with hunting mostly. But we got used to firelight. During the Long Night we didn't go out of The Den very often. Too easy to freeze. But the cove we lived around had warm water so we had fish and sometimes some of the tuskfins would come into the caves. Once underground you didn't notice the cold. It was honestly as warm as it is now most of the time. A little hotter in the Long Day."
He shrugged about the food and glanced at the wolf. "He will go hunt something if he gets hungry. I can wait until a bit later."
|
|
|
|
Post by Eryk on Sept 1, 2022 21:21:39 GMT 1
Eryk listened about the lives and beings of FarSight’s world; underground did not sound too appealing either, but maybe one did not care as much considering the lack of daylight anyway.
“If you’re keen on fishing, there is a nice riverbend some way from here to the direction of sundown. Nothing big, but it seems like the tribe likes to go fish there too, and maybe soon I will be able to toss some nets as well.” Eryk then offered some information. Although he would have to visit the cave complex soon and see if there was some twine or similar for a net project.
It seemed to the carpenter that his to-do list was growing and growing and growing, but he did not really mind, seeing that it kept him busy and outdoors as he liked it.
He took a swig of water and then poured some of it over him to wash off the sweat he had managed to create with the boulder dilemma.
“Well then!” He then exclaimed and slapped on his knees, “time to go back to work. There is plenty of rock to haul, and then I will start stocking on logs. I need some good sturdy support for the cabin.”
|
|
|
|
Post by FarSight on Sept 1, 2022 23:17:31 GMT 1
FarSight stood and nodded, following Eryk's instructions on what he needed to do. It definitely seemed like he needed to get the sled here. Perhaps using some logs as rollers... it was a bit of a distance but he figured they could make it in less than a day.
"Alright... how do you want me to start? More rocks? We can head back for more if needed."
|
|
|
|
Post by Eryk on Sept 2, 2022 17:43:19 GMT 1
Eryk was a little surprised that the visitor was deciding to stick around… But, when he gave it some thought, he did not mind, and with a little help, he might get things ready before the Leaffall season.
“Hey, let’s head to the river — I’ve seen it has some nice and smooth stones around.”, he then decided, tying up the emptied skins on his belt. “Might as well fill these, while we are there.”
The carpenter gathered up a sack for the smaller stones, one basket, that he tossed to FarSight, and of course his ax. Now that there was an animal and a harness, he might be able to haul a log to the site. “If your wolf does not mind, we could also look at some trees so I can start stocking on logs. This way!”, he gestured them to follow.
|
|
|
|
Post by FarSight on Sept 2, 2022 18:11:50 GMT 1
FarSight easily caught the basket then beckoned to the wolf who stood, gathering the coiled rope in his large jaws and trotting steadily after them as they made their way to the river.
"There were a few downed trees near the river before. Im sure we could get some back. But getting the sled here is going to be tricky. Might need some logs to use as rollers just to get it to you. Unless you think you can work on it back at the store cave."
FarSight didn't think thered be an issue with Frostbite dragging a few logs back. The wolf hadn't had much to do since the snow began to melt. No pulling and no real large scale hunts. Not like they used to do. He wondered if there was a way to permanently fix logs to the sled to allow it to be used. Maybe the treeshaper-- his thoughts were interrupted.
"Have you asked the treeshaper if she can shape some logs for you? A treeshaper would have been useful for making sleds. Maybe thats how IceSpike learned to shape bone?"
He was wondering more allowed to himself than expecting Eryk to know anything about the Northern Call's boneshaper.
Ooc: *makes note to remember IceSpike as an elf from the tribe...
|
|
|
|
Post by Eryk on Sept 3, 2022 16:16:52 GMT 1
Eryk gave the options a thorough thought, rubbing the back of his neck and looking at the tree tops. “I suppose I can come to the cave system for the sled fixing — I guess it is easier to move me and my tools than the whole contraption in this terrain, you know? Besides, I need to come in to trade and get raw materials and so on, you know?”, he then said — and no joke, he did need to trade in some resources from the river and discuss with Keleero about the stonework, not to mention find twine or rope… he might as well take a look at the sled by the caves, MAYBE even exchange words with others. The carpenter frowned lightly as the treeshaper was mentioned. He was a little confused. “I thought the treeshaper was male? You know, a gruff wolfrider fella, real cranky during the winter for some reason.”; he described — or tried to — Juniper to FarSight, but then a realisation dawned on him: “ohh, there are two treeshapers! The one you’re thinking of is Tambri, right?” He gave it a thought and then continued; “either or both are probably following me, because I keep seeing little thickets of trees in places where there was none the last evening.” The idea amused him a little, someone planting trees as he got old ones felled. It made sense tho, he would thin out the forest a lot before he got the things ready at the site. “I don’t know if the shapers are so keen on helping me, but I’ll see what they say,” Eryk said, patting the ax by his side, “I think I can handle log work with this anyway, although magic help would make things probably faster.” He listened to FarSight ramble on about this IceSpike character, who sounded quite like a personality. Bone shaping sounded kinda … yucky to the non-magic elf. As they arrived to the river bend, Eryk stopped for a brief while and shielded his eyes from the sun light. “Ever tossed skipping stones?”, he then asked the other elf. |
|
|
|
Post by FarSight on Sept 3, 2022 19:44:47 GMT 1
FarSight nodded. "Yes that one. Tambri... she is a quiet one. I think you both share a lot in common. I see sadness and loneliness in her eyes. But if you can get through the bristles in her fur she is nice. She just doesn't like being indoors a lot. She said something about feeling like the walls closing in on her. So she is probably the one following you around."
FarSight knew she was because he caught her scent earlier not far from where he'd found Eryk but he hadn't let on he knew. She liked being by herself, too, it seemed. She had a room in the caves but he only ever saw her a few times.
Frostbite yawned noisily and then snorted before freezing, his tongue sticking out the side of his mouth. A butterfly had landed on his snout.
|
|
|
|
Post by Eryk on Sept 3, 2022 20:20:45 GMT 1
Eryk thought about the treeshaper mentioned. A quiet one, well, he supposed many of the elves dragged by the Beacon were. Not a wonder to him though, the initial shock was still deep.
“Yah, I can understand the feeling of being closed in…”, Eryk commented. “I, for one, like to be out and about.”
The carpenter took a look at the wolf that had a bug on its nose, but then the elf got distracted by a neigh on the other side of the river.
A horse drank from the flow, but then neighed and ran away.
“Huh, Edgerunner’s horse…”, Eryk muttered and scratched himself on the chin. “Edgerunner was the one who passed away in a hunting accident.”
As little as they had shared words or companionship, the loss had weighed heavy on Eryk’s heart — same with the ones that Beacon had decided to send away from this world. Heaviness and maybe a little bit of curiosity, perhaps… jealousy? Why them and not him?
The carpenter noted he had been quiet in thought for a long time, so he shook the thoughts off and picked up a flat, small rock as FarSight did not say yay or nay for the skipping stones.
“My younger brother Danik and I, we used to compete in skipping stones. He had the technique mastered, but I was the one with the strength.”, he then reminisced, a bittersweet smile on his homely face. “We used to compete in many things, also in room cleaning.”
|
|
|
|
Post by FarSight on Sept 4, 2022 8:21:28 GMT 1
FarSight glanced over at the horse and tilted his head. "Horse? Is that your word for a spikehorn? I mean, outside the rut they don't have their horns." He glanced then to the stone and nodded, listening. "Sorry, We haven't skipped stones... What do you do with it?" He glanced back at the 'horse' and then to Frostbite who snorted again to dislodge his 'rider'. The butterfly flitted away harmlessly.
His attention finally turned back to Eryk to watch the instructions on skipping stones. He wondered what the white-haired elf was going to do with the stone. Small as he was in comparison, he almost looked like an eager cub, eyebrows arched with curiosity.
OOC: Sorry this one is short
|
|
|
|
Post by Eryk on Sept 4, 2022 18:19:38 GMT 1
“I used to ride elks…” Eryk said, “it is different than horse.” Although the animals had similarities, some closer inspection had proven them to be different species. The local elks, or spikehorns, Eryk assumed they were the same, were shy creatures, and he had only seen them from afar. There was a silence in his speech, but then the grey-haired carpenter added: “…I think? Eh, I am not specialised in animals, other than what our herder had tamed.”
But, the idea of a riderless horse made Eryk feel a little thoughtful, an idea sparking up in his head.
He pushed it away, then moving onto the topic of sports and games.
“Skipping stones, it is a pastime.”, he then said and walked to the edge of the water, finding a more peaceful part of the river. He picked up a smooth and flat stone, and demonstrated the technique slowly, not yet tossing the stone.
“With certain technique and strength, one can toss a stone so that it skims over the water.”, he said, then taking a closer look of the one he was holding. It was an interesting piece of rock — partially dark grey and partially light grey, a white vein separating the two parts.
Eryk turned the stone in his hands, noting how it was almost a perfect oval, too.
“Huh, I think I am keeping this one, and not tossing it.”, he then said and pocketed the stone. Yet another thing to ask from Keleero, a hole on this one small stone.
He picked another one, a dull looking grey one and tossed it up, catching it again. “Let me show you.”
Again, Eryk demonstrated the technique and this time tossed the stone toward the water; it skimmed once, twice, thrice, but then plunked in the river.
“It is just fun and games, but we can also work, if you rather.”, he then said, a little apologetic tone in his voice. Eryk noticed how sorely he needed a ‘little brother’. He just opened his sack and started to pick up some bigger stones to it, some that were more suitable as flooring, or edges of the walls.
|
|
|
|
Post by FarSight on Sept 4, 2022 21:24:16 GMT 1
"Sometimes a break for a fun past time is a good thing. So elk... These are animals I've not heard of... At least not the names you use." He thought for a moment. "Branch horns are what we usually see here. Their horns come up in spikes like tree branches." He then thought a moment. "A spikehorn is... well their horns are flat and come out of their head like this," he moved his hands to the side and then up, almost like a curve. "And then they spike at the tips." (Think a moose)
He watched the rock skip across the water and hmm'd to himself. "You'll have to teach me more about rock skipping. If you're willing. It looks like it could be relaxing. A good way to think." He moved to follow Eryk, picking up some of the bigger stones, trying to match what Eryk was choosing. Flatter stones. These he was familiar with since his own people used stone flooring as well. Usually stones from down in the Fire mountain's tubes. They were often black and reflective. Kept the floors warm. He wished he could find some of that stone here.
"If I'm honest, I do miss home. I knew things there. I knew how the world worked. I could tell the passage of time because you felt it. Here, the daystar is up.. then it's not... then it's back. But I don't know where it comes from because it crosses above us... And I knew what the animals were and I knew where to hunt and fish. I miss the slapfins and the spearfins and spotfins. Even the grumpy tuskfins." He knew at this point he was just rambling off the names of animals Eryk probably had never heard of or even imagined.
"I even miss the humans... I didn't have to fear them... Not the ones from inland at least... Only the ones from south across the mountain. Here? All humans, apparently... This came from humans." He motioned to his arm band. "A young human girl made this for me. She traded it to me for a fox pelt. The next year she showed me the shoes she made for her cub out of the fox pelt. Her cub would be probably as tall as I am this year..." He sighed softly.
"Sorry... I guess it's been building up, hasn't it? I didn't mean to just... erupt like a fire mountain." He had a look on his face that was almost pained. "I do hope that my mother is well... She didn't speak for the whole of a Long Night after my father died... Not even to me... and if she thinks I'm gone..."
|
|
|
|
Post by Eryk on Sept 5, 2022 19:04:01 GMT 1
Eryk listened to FarSight as he shared more and more details about his home — there was some things he did not quite understand, but he understood the homesickness, as he was also still missing home. As much as this place was familiar, it was also weird and foreign to the Go-Back. Similar to home, yet strange and maybe a little uncanny.
“I think … apart from hoping I could go home… I wish I could at least send them a message. You know, the folks back home, to let them know I am…”
What was he? Safe? Unhurt? Certainly not thriving, not yet.
He scoffed a little and dropped another stone in the sack, then weighing in his hands. It was going to be a slow haul to the building site, but now that the carpenter had company, maybe it was not as dull as it had been.
“Anyway, I hope your mother knows in her heart that you are alive.”
Eryk almost said ‘in a better place’, but he could not be sure if that was true, not yet. It was a relative word at any rate, ‘better’.
“As soon as I got the floor and the foundation done, I will start working on the support stones and support beams, then walls, then the roof.”, he then explained the building process to his new comrade. “Also I guess I will need a shed for the firewood and a critter proofed storage…”
It WOULD have been easier just to reside in the cave complex, but Eryk supposed this gave him something to do. Also, the rest of the tribe were probably bored of him moping around — doing errands was a welcomed difference.
|
|
|
|
Post by FarSight on Sept 6, 2022 4:42:18 GMT 1
FarSight took a deep breath then nodded. "Critter proof storage might be better underground... Plus it'll keep things cold so you can store meat in there." He didn't speak of his past, his mother, or anything else that he'd just erupted over. "I don't know what this lodge is supposed to look like so you'll have to tell me what to do." He understood underground shelters but nothing above ground. He glanced to the wolf then to the sack. "Here, tie that to the harness... He can handle it. Trust me." He reached over to the harness and began looping the pull-rope through so that it'd be able to be tied to it. "As long as it doesn't weigh more than, say, an elf in each bag, he should be able to carry it." He could probably carry more.
He was trying to picture stone supports and beams and walls and a roof but in his mind, he was still thinking of his own home, the curved walls up to the small chimney. He sighed and shook his head. He needed to focus on the Now. "I saw your skis... Do you want some snowshoes like I have? I can make those easily."
|
|
|
|
Post by Eryk on Sept 6, 2022 18:07:59 GMT 1
Eryk was a little confused. The stranger was offering to help so eagerly, and wanting nothing in return — well, not yet.
“I suppose I could manage building on my own, but a helpful pair of hands has never been a bother. It will take a long while, though, so I am not expecting you to appear at the site every dawn.”, the carpenter then carefully explained and tried to give some leeway, so that the other had a chance to back out.
The carpenter then decided to be frank:
“What do you need in return? I can take a look at the sled, on condition that I can copy the design for my own use.”
The mention of snowshoes sparked a memory — he had discussed this item during the winter and thought of making a prototype pair of some for his own use … but he had not gotten to it.
“You can show me how to make snowshoes, that’s all i ask. I like to keep busy, as you have noticed.”
He approached the wolf with the sack of stones and tried the weight of it again.
|
|
|
|
Post by FarSight on Sept 6, 2022 20:28:52 GMT 1
"Dawn... is... when the daystar rises, right? I can do that. And helping you or helping someone else... what else am I going to do? And sure copy the sled. The more we have the better for hunting I think. Snowshoes are easy. We can make you a pair when we get back for the night. Sound fair?"
He wasn't even considering either a payment. It was helping another elf survive. Why wouldn't he be willing to do that?
He took the first sack and tied it with a few grunts to the rope. The wolf shifted his weight and looked at the sack with a disgruntled expression but there was no snarling.
He wanted to pull not carry... another sack was tied to the other side resulting in an annoyed, understanding chuff.
"OH be quiet. I'll give you a leg tonight, eh?"
The wolf snorted in response then looked at Eryk. It was almost as if the wolf was asking 'is he serious?'
"I would suggest filling the other sack a bit to counterbalance the first one. This way we can gather more and make fewer trips!"
|
|
