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Post by Tambri on Sept 13, 2022 20:37:18 GMT 1
"I almost forgot what it felt like to have others around... before I was brought here... it had been a long time since another elf had been within sending range..."
She hated talking but it hurt less. Part of it was fear. When you used your voice you made noise. Noise alerted humans or trolls. Humans and trolls meant death. She'd had many tell her how foolish she was in thinking that, but when it came down to it, she felt more comfortable sending. She could tell it was hurting the male, too.
"Not much need to shape trees when you're alone and on the move..."
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Post by Eryk on Sept 13, 2022 21:04:38 GMT 1
“So you’ve been lonely too.”, Eryk said, although there was a note of unsure in his voice. Maybe one got used to the loneliness so much that they did not know how to be in a group. Maybe that had been the case with the elder treeshaper, and now that the group had dwindled in size, he felt more comfortable.
Eryk made a mental note to invite the whole group to the lodge warming party, IF he got the wretched cabin built up before the winter. He kind of hated the idea of going back to the caves for another turn of snow.
There was something in Tambri’s words that tugged the curiosity of the carpenter — but the baseline was, she had not had it too easy, as much as he had understood.
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Post by Tambri on Sept 14, 2022 20:29:06 GMT 1
Tambri let herself relax, still managing to stay upright even as the caves grew closer. The wolf was moving along carefully, ears flattening back with concern. This wasn't the first time Tambri has pushed herself. At first she had been looking for a place to shape a den. Some large tree, but all of the trees on this mountain had narrow trunks. The largest were barely as wide as her torso.
"I do apologize...taking you from your project... but thank you." Her voice was soft. As she got closer to the caves she seemed to want to use her voice even less. If only Eryk knew just how rarely she did... she could count on both hands the number of elves that have heard her actually speak.
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Post by Eryk on Sept 14, 2022 20:40:18 GMT 1
“Don’t mention it, I suppose it was about time to stop and rest anyway. Been working all day, and — hmm — unlike SOME of us, I should not overexert myself.”, he said as the landmarks started to look more familiar — well, as familiar as in the present moment things were. His last quip was just a little tease at Tambri, but Eryk thought he might have to ask Juniper to keep an eye on the younger wolfrider.
The sun was setting nicely, and the carpenter noticed some stars appearing to the evening sky. Cool breeze blew over them, and Eryk stopped for a little moment to take off his coat and place it on Tambri’s shoulders.
Once that was done, he hoisted the ax back over his shoulder and followed along the pathway.
But he would still have to figure out a way to cool off. Perhaps he should just sleep outside tonight. Lost in thought, he did not notice how silent they fell.
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Post by Tambri on Sept 14, 2022 23:14:18 GMT 1
Tambri felt a little chided at the teasing scolding she had received. She should know better... but she also felt she should be stronger as a shaper. Her skills were needed here. Who knew how long Juniper would be around or if she would be the only one here? The beacon took elves away as quickly and without warning as it brought them.
Then the coat. She thought she protested. In her mind she said she was fine, but she wasn't sure if the words ever reached her lips. She felt the chill air and while she wasn't exactly cold, the coat made it tolerable for her.
The wolf seemed more relaxed as they got closer to the saves. He recognized the location, the scents, and knew it meant safety. He also was aware of the male elf-friend that was with his bond. The wolf slowed as they reached the caves, knowing that his bond usually had to take a few breaths before going inside.
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Post by Eryk on Sept 15, 2022 7:58:37 GMT 1
As the wolf slowed down to a halt, so did Eryk. Seemed like there was something afoot, and then the carpenter recalled what FarSight had said… That Tambri had a problem with indoors. Seemed like it was different than Eryk’s lodge fever when he was cooped up inside for longer periods of time.
He gave the maiden a thoughtful look, then at the wolf.
“Oops, despite the chilly wind, it seems like a nice night to sleep outside.”, he then said, making a note of the clear sky darkening and more stars lighting up.
Eryk felt he could probably nod off by the cave entrance, but unfortunately he was not sleepy. Tired yes, sleepy not at all, and the loneliness rumbled inside and demanded his attention. “Do you mind if I start a fire?”, he asked the wolfrider. There was a firepit in the inside of the cave complex, but also one outside. He could probably fit in some fire tending, and maybe carve something nice — just to keep his hands busy so they would not be busy elsewhere.
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Post by Tambri on Sept 15, 2022 16:17:30 GMT 1
Tambri opened her eyes and looked up, seeing the cave entrance. She let out a soft sigh. She knew why the wolf stopped, of course. She stared at the opening before Eryk's voice startled her out of her apparent trance.
"Fire... if you want... I can... I can make it inside from here..." she wasn't expecting him to stay with her so the thought didn't occur that he might have been considering that.
"My room isn't far in..." Though she wouldn't mind sleeping out under the stars and she'd done so on certainly colder nights. "Mm... maybe a fur..."
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Post by Eryk on Sept 15, 2022 22:36:42 GMT 1
“Great, I’ll make a fire outdoors and you can sit by it, if you want, but if you rather go in to take a nap, that’s fine too.”, Eryk blurt out in one go, then clapped his hand on his mouth, and hurried inside to get some firewood and a spark stones — then he returned for a heartbeat without any of the items, just to add, “you can borrow the coat if you want, just leave it by the entrance and I will take it there in the morning aight? Aight!”
And THEN he went to get the firewood and the equipment to start one, trying to busy himself with the work, before his thoughts became too overwhelming and ate him alive.
And by the time the small flame was lit, he leaned back and sighed, taking one of the spare logs and his knife — now, what did it want to be? Maybe a door handle, or a ladle for broth? He kept an eye at the wolfrider, in case she wanted to sit for a while or if she rather went to the cave.
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Post by Tambri on Sept 16, 2022 6:25:49 GMT 1
As soon as Eryk had left her, she slid from Spook's back and stared at the cave entrance. She glanced up at the sky, then around, then back to the entrance. She then slid to her knees with the wolf curling up next to her. She'd stay outside. She watched silently as Eryk made the fire, the wolf getting uneasy out of instinct, but he stayed close. She didn't tend to have a fire often herself. She shifted and was soon laying against the wolf fully, the coat mostly covering her form. It wasn't long until she was asleep. She shivered every now and then from the chill air, but otherwise she was sleeping peacefully.
OOC: If you want to end it there cool otherwise we can jump forward to morning.
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Post by Eryk on Sept 18, 2022 19:05:27 GMT 1
As the night fell, Eryk got to fire tending and carving, at some points taking a note of the shivers of the wolfrider. He pondered his options and then got up from his sitting place and moving Tambri a little closer to the fire. The wolf protested lightly, but maybe it was aware Eryk meant no harm with the movement. He tucked the wolfrider better in with the coat and sat back to his things, tossing a new piece of wood to the fire.
~*~
He did not know at which point he had fallen asleep, but he jerked up from slumber once the sun’s first rays hit his eyes. The carpenter felt like a rotten piece of dung, achey and weird. Eryk had managed to carve the chosen piece of wood though, it had become a spoon with other end resembling a little bit of a wolf’s head. Of course, there was still some refining work to be done, but the shape was clear.
Eryk’s head on the other hand — not so clear.
*~*
OoC: I caught the common cold, guess who also now has it? 🤧
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Post by Tambri on Sept 19, 2022 3:54:51 GMT 1
Tambri was already awake, sitting and watching the fire. Seems she had swapped to be the tender of the fire while Eryk slept. Spook was curled up not far away looking bored. She had admired the carving, moving both it and the knife away from him so he didn't accidentally cut himself in his sleep.
When she woke, his coat was moved to covering him. She was a bit confused that he had stayed outside with her, but also found it... dare she say, sweet? She glanced over as she noticed him starting to wake and arched a brow. She held out a small pouch towards him. Inside was some jerky she had made.
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Post by Eryk on Sept 19, 2022 18:32:03 GMT 1
“Mmmh?”, Eryk grunted at the pouch, finding that he had gotten his coat back too. He snorted a little, noting how his nose was stuffy and sniffly. The carpenter got up to a sitting position, many of his joints protesting this procedure.
He took the pouch and a couple of pieces of dried meat. Eryk was unsure of his appetite, but the stomach growling proved his worries useless. Probably he was not too sick if he had a healthy appetite.
“How’d you sleep?”, he asked - and took a note of how his voice was sickly deep and cracking. “Is that MY voice?”, he then piped and coughed. Seemed like there was no cold dips in the river for him, but rather hot bath and lots of rest and broth coming up.
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Post by Tambri on Sept 19, 2022 20:09:57 GMT 1
Tambri arched a brow as Eryk spoke. Definitely a different voice than before. And sniffles? She was no healer but she recognized illness when she saw it. Moving toward him she placed the back of a hand against his forehead then shook her head.
"Thickskull giving me your coat. You're not used to the cold are you? I thought you were a GoBack..." it was of course in jest considering the smirk on her face. She offered him his own waterskin before she moved to snuff the fire.
"We better get you..." She trailed off and turned her gaze toward the cave. "Inside... call up a healer to make sure it isn't anything more than a cold..."
She hated speaking and her voice was soft. But she knew he would likely already have a headache from being stuffed up. She began making mental notes. He needed broth... she could make some... she wasn't the best cook but who here else was? She wasn't overly familiar with everyone's skills. Maybe Spotfur? She had a lot of varied skills. But then that seemed more toward fighting and war. The half-human... Milo? Maybe he could?
She shook her head and pursed her lips in thought. No she will make it. She at least knew her skills, poor as they were at anything involving cooking. She was a wolfrider after all.
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Post by Eryk on Sept 19, 2022 20:24:55 GMT 1
Eryk almost leaned toward the touch, even if it was just to check on his body temperature. He averted his hopeful gaze and just shook his head at the mention of the healer. “Healers are for serious illnesses only. Crispin can check my condition later, if proper hot bath, rest and fluids don’t do the trick.”, he wheezed and coughed. He caught the jest of not tolerating cold, but said nothing to it. Usually he DID tolerate cold better, but coming to think of it, he had driven himself a lot harder than usual — so maybe it was time to stop and rest. Apart from the sniffles and cough, and some aches here and there, he felt fine. Well, not fine enough to go and continue the building project for now, but not life threateningly bad either. Eryk gave Tambri a little bit of worried look, as she mentioned the inside of the cave. “You don’t have to come inside if you find it uncomfortable.”, he reassured the wolfrider. |
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Post by Tambri on Sept 19, 2022 20:33:06 GMT 1
"I have to get used to it... the tribe spends most of its time in there. If I am to be... useful... I need to go in there sometimes too. I have a room... do you have a room inside? If not you can stay in mine. A few furs and a soft pillow... no windows... but it is warm... as spacious as I could find without asking for it to be made larger... more open..."
She was rambling and she knew it. Anything to delay going in and becoming enclosed. But she finally took a deep breath and nodded. She moved to ensure the fire was properly extinguished to avoid a firey disaster. Once that was done she offered a hand to Eryk. Spook was already standing and stretching his legs. He didn't mind going inside.
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