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Post by Tinder on Sept 2, 2014 23:20:36 GMT 1
Tinder had since extinguished her flame. They were out in the open now, having moved out of the sheltering darkness of the caves. She did not like the look of this strange world. The sky was high, clear, but wrong. There was no golden sand or the rippling shimmer of heat over the top of sun-baked stones. She sighed when Thistle curled around her side and peered curiously into the open-sky above them.
::Not home. Smells wrong::, bondsent the skittish feline.
Tinder nodded. "We really are somewhere else. Highones, what I wouldn't give if I could hear elder Mica's scolding again". She sighed miserably, the melancholy returning tenfold. She rubbed her arms anxiously, uncertain of what to do with herself. She had always had something to do in her home holt. Pots to make. Herbs to dry. Meat to roast. Furs and leathers to tan or decorate with beads and embroidery.
Tinder felt useless. She had magic, certainly, but not the familiar means to use it. Fire wasn't much use without somewhere to burn. "Oh, Thistle. What are we to do? I've not clay or a kiln to make things. I doubt these elves have hunted either so I can't tan hides". Tinder looked around herself warily. She saw a handful of elves at work doing various tasks, though she'd met none of them yet, outside of Choice and Sunset. "And none of them know I'm a fireshaper. Puckernuts", muttered Tinder.
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Post by Sunset on Sept 3, 2014 16:01:24 GMT 1
Sunset inhaled, and while she was still adjusting to the strangeness of it all, she couldn't help but feel relief at being outside. She let the kitten down, sending a feeling of command for him to stay close. The small bundle of tawny fur, spots still indistinct, began chasing small bugs and occasionally his own tail.
She only half-heard Tinder's mutterings to herself. What do we do? We have too many elves coming in, too quickly. So far we've managed but at this rate...
With a sigh, she opened her mind and locksent to those within range, ~**Everyone, we have new arrivals. I think it's probably time to talk about what we're going to do - we need to organize.**~
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Post by Rokuta on Sept 3, 2014 20:30:42 GMT 1
„Sure I could help with that, but I like fish raw too…we don’t have many places where you could build a fire, so it’s rare used. I could try it, but that could make it worse than raw…“ Rokuta had to admit. Before he could ask the newcomers if one of them may help with the cooking the girl started to cry again and the boy disappeared into the wood. Just great – they had enough problems already and didn’t need two elves that had a problem with each other. It was already hard to get everyone together and if Rokuta wouldn’t have felt the duty to help them with his fishing, he would have gone himself already, to find an ocean or something similar. And then another newcomer came out of the cave – with a wolf. Or whatever that was. “C’mon, not even more big squirrels… don’t let it get the fish, ya? It’s hard enough to find some in that small water…” He said harsh. It was just a point where he had enough from strangers and all that big animals. Not the right time to expect nice words and also the boy didn’t like his way of speaking – he couldn’t tell exactly what it was, but he disliked it. The Sending from Sunset came just in the right moment. ~**Good idea. I think it would be the best to make a Gathering out here with everyone and…talk about the whole situation**~ was his immediately answer.
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Post by Jaseio on Sept 4, 2014 9:19:16 GMT 1
She regretted being so harsh to the elf who had been a friend for such a long time, but her mind was so full of so many things so she couldn't find heads, and tails in her thoughts. As Slinker neared, Jaseio spotted the large canine he was riding. How could a canine be so big? Of course she had seen the ones that looked like foxes, only larger, and in other colours in the caves, but this one was so big, and furry. Well not as big as the horses, but she had never seen anything that size. Even the dogs of the humans weren't so big! Well their oxen were a lot larger than the horses, but that was something entirely else. Not ever knowing the fear of large predators, she was just curious about the wolf, and Rjúkandi, who had come closer because Asi had left, was also studying the wolf from where he stood. ::Big fox? different fox? Dog?:: The horse sent to her out of confusion. She couldn't give him any answer so she let his questions go. Her pondering had taken her mind away but she kept her questions to herself. Her sadness, and the bad things had been pushed away by her unconsciousness, and she had momentarily forgotten it all. Her posture wasn't slumped any more either. At the mentioning of hunting, she returned to the conversation, "Well... I can hunt too? I may not have been a prime hunter back in my herd, but I can hunt. That is if I had a bow. Which I don't." She sighed, she couldn't really be of much help. Her bow wasn't one of the many things she had packed for her little outing, which now had turned out to be something she might never return from. Pushing those thoughts away she continued, "But I can cook, if needed. But well if you say there is one who can shape fire," In her mind it sounded so unreal but so many things, out of the world that she knew, had already happened, so a thing or two more wouldn't make a difference, would it? "Then maybe that won't be needed from me either." OOC: I'm quite confused by the sending, Sunset... ^^ Did you mean for it to be open? In How we role-play it says that **Example** means open elf-sending and ~**Example**~ means locked elf-sending. If it is lock-sent, who would it be to? The first group of elves that arrived? Please correct me if needed  I just wanted to make sure If it isn't lock-sent I will add a reply for it.  |
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Post by Slinker on Sept 4, 2014 23:24:25 GMT 1
OOC: Me too, I wasn't sure if Sunset was sending to the first comers via the beacon or the second. XD.
IC: Slinker studied Jaseio's hoofed friend. He hadn't seen many horses in his time. The forest was more a place for branch-horns and spiral horns than the thin-legged, somewhat gangly creature with a long mane and tail. He scratched behind Ash's ear and cautioned his bond not to take a bite out of it. ::He's bond-kin, Ash maybe not by blood as we are, but he's plainly bonded to this elfess::, he wolfsent to Ash.
Ash whined and sniffed curiously at the horse. ::Would give much meat. Good size and lean, but fat. Would feed many::.
Slinker yanked on Ash's ear. The wolf growled half-heartedly, more annoyed than angry. ::No eating. No hunting. Fine::, wolf-sent Ash. He swatted Slinker's leg with a swift whack of his tail. The elf chuckled merrily and resumed scratched behind his ears again. ::Will look for other prey::, Ash agreed rather reluctantly.
Slinker considered for a moment. He'd been spirited away with a little more than he'd let on. He shared a look with Ash, sighed, and shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. The trader Krisk had bought various items with him on his last trip to visit his home-tribe. The twin sacks of goods, plus the two rolls of more had been destined for his tribe. Dirk would have little use for it now. She was far away, or so Slinker thought, and he had little opportunity to return to his tribe. The elves he'd met already seemed to know very little about how they'd come to be separated from their own tribes. He doubted he'd be returning home anytime soon. His supplies might as well be put to good use.
"A bow you say", said Slinker. "I probably have a few I can spare, along with quivers of arrows, an armful of brightmetal swords and daggers. Some dried food and a few wine and waterskins. It's not much, but it should help arm a those that want to hunt".
Slinker grinned from ear to ear. ~**Your magical crystal-thing**~, he explained in locksend to Jaseio. ~**Caught me on a return trip home from fetching our trader's supplies. He won't mind me giving them out, not now that he's probably trying to worm his way into my Chieftess's furs. Recognition is a terrible thing, especially when one recognises an elf that's stubborner than a rock**~.
Slinker's eyes twinkled merrily. "I bring my supplies out soon. I've a bow made by a neighbouring tribe that trades with mine. River-elves. It's more suited to someone with long arms like yours. Has a full quiver of arrows, fletched, and with metal arrowheads. It's yours if you want it, or I can use it to crack nuts. What do you say my lovely horse-woman? I'd call it a gift or a trade between new allies".
OOC: I figured since Slinker is from a tribe that actively trades with other tribes (all elven), that he would likely have been snatched by the Beacon on a return trip home to deliver said goods. He's smart enough to hide them though, thus why Keleero and the others didn't find them on him when they met him. He did hide out for a bit before introducing himself too.
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Post by Sofia on Sept 4, 2014 23:49:46 GMT 1
OOC: I read it as Sunset sending a locked sending to all elves who've been in Beacon Call for four days. I could be reading this wrong of course, but I think the sending was supposed to be sent only to people who haven't just arrived.
Also, sorry for no post today, will post for my characters tomorrow + start the gathering thread!
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Post by Skye on Sept 5, 2014 4:25:28 GMT 1
OOC: It was more of a lock-send for the elves she was aware of - this would not have included the new elves that had already left the chamber by the time she got there. She didn't want to open-send, as they are still not entirely aware of what dangers lie outside the mountain.
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Post by Keleero on Sept 5, 2014 7:32:05 GMT 1
OOC: Remember to keep player knowledge and character knowledge separate folks I know it can be tricky, so here's a quick summary of what's been said here & in the previous thread; - Keleero has told Jaseio, Edgerunner & Choice that he and the others 'woke up in that room' four days ago. He said this before Tinder, Slinker & Reefshadow arrived. - Anyone who's seen the Beacon glow before an elf appears can probably put two and two together, understanding that it is what's bringing elves here. Only Reefshadow hasn't seen this happen yet, since he was the last to arrive. - Remember that 'the Beacon' hasn't been named yet. I'm sorry for using 'the Beacon Room' in description and thus confusing everyone, but no elf has actually called the glowy orb a beacon yet. I'll have Keleero suggest naming it 'the Beacon' during the gathering to avoid further confusion. - This of course goes for other characters' thoughts, lock-sendings your elf didn't share in, descriptions, etc. but I think that goes without saying. Sorry for being nitpicky, people! Please go back and check your posts for any inconsistencies, so we won't have to fiddle too much with the timeline later I'll double-check mine as well. IC: Keleero was glad that Slinker seemed to have vanished somewhere. He secretly hoped the wolfrider would have gone the same way they'd all arrived, and was a little disappointed to spot him not far from the exit, talking with one of the horse elves. He was thankfully distracted by Sunset and Rokuta's sending on the subject of getting everyone together for introductions. ~**Excellent idea,**~ he lock-sent to Sunset and Rokuta. ~**It feels like we're all spread out, fumbling in the dark at the moment. Having everyone at least medt and talk at the same time would do wonders for our chances at survival.**~ Also, he'd be able to keep an eye on what everyone was up to, but that he left out of the sending. Out loud he said: "Everyone, your attention please!" He waited a heartbeat to give conversations a moment to quiet down. "We who have been here a while would like to properly great the new arrivals and plan what to do next. Therefore there will be a gathering-" He remembered at the last moment that some feared caves, and stopped himself from saying 'inside, "-here by the tunnel that leads inside once everyone is ready. I will fly and see if I can reach those of us that are out hunting." Hopefully that had been formal enough. With a nod to those present, Keleero took to the air and headed for the tree lining. Being outside, unsheltered, made his skin crawl, but it was best to be useful. At least the ones who'd left to hunt probably hadn't gone that far into the woods, so he should be able to reach them by sending only. Actually headinc into the forest to look for them was unthinkably dangerous. OOC: I'll start the Big Gathering thread tonight and link to it from here. This thread has no 'deadline' so take as much time as you need wrapping up your conversations and your elves' reactions to suddenly being in a new place.
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Post by Choice on Sept 5, 2014 9:13:38 GMT 1
Choice was too caught up in the moment to truly hear what Tinder and Sunset said after the comment about rock-shaping that Tinder had made. He was so busy taking in the elves before him - not as many as his old tribe had been, but such varity there was to be seen! - that he nearly missed Dance and Sneak coming skulking back from the edge of the group gathered. Their whines of discomfort made him feel guilty for leaving them alone and outside for so long. ::Cold,:: Dance bond-send, more sensation than word. ::Strange place. Unknown. Strange elves. No us. Cold.:: Choice reached out with his free hand and pulled Dance close, Sneak burrowing close to them as well. It was a very strange place they'd ended up in. There was strange, cold white stuff all over the ground, which made Choice wish for shoes despite the warm presence of Tinder. There trees too, but strange; tall and thin, with what looked like green needles instead of leaves. The mountain was intimidating this close too, but at least he knew what a mountain was. "This place is so strange," Choice said to Tinder and Sunset. "I'vd never seen anything like it. Or elves like you and the others. It's amazing!" He quieted down as Keleero spoke, arranging a gathering and then flying off towards the trees. Choice had to snap his mouth shut not to gape in awe at the spectacle. He'd seen Keleero float a hand's bredth above group inside the cave, but actual flight was all the more impressive and shocking. "H-he's the Rock-Shaper you were asking about earlier, Choice said to Tinder, as it seemed Sunset hadn't had the time to answer her. "And he can fly too! And then there's the healer who looks like the first of the True Born, a-and I think that elf is a Tree-Shaper!" He nodded in excitment at Juniper working with the shelter. "And you have fire magic! This is all so wonderful!" His shaking bond-friend and his bondfriend's mate brought his joy up short. The poor things would hopefully get used to the cold, like he hoped he would be, but for now he needed to help them get warm or risk them getting sick. He couldn't lose his dearest friends now that things finally were looking better for them all! "Eh , excuse me Tinder, but since the gathering will take place here, do you think we could make a fire? My friends are freezing." OOC: In case anyone is unsure, it's currently night. Keleero mentioned starlight and snow when he shaped the tunnel open for Jaseio and her horse. If someone has mentioned sunlight in their post, please edit it to moonlight |
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Post by Tinder on Sept 5, 2014 10:55:39 GMT 1
Tinder had heard the lanky elf, Keleero make his announcement. She rubbed her forearms nervously. Sunset had not spoken a word to her since. She couldn't blame her friend. Time had changed them both in ways that Tinder, herself, had yet to understand. She struggled still with the idea that Sunset looked barely a handful of turns older than she remembered. There was a sadness to the elfess, a hollowness in her face that spoke of sorrow and suffering, though Tinder did not understand how or why. She had not seen Sunset in many turns of the seasons, though she had thought about her and many others thought lost over the turns of her life. She was startled out of her melancholy by Choice's enthusiasm.
Tinder listened with half an ear, more troubled by her own worries than the marvels that were other elves with magical talent. She gritted her teeth, mouth turning down unhappily when Choice identified the lanky flying elf as her rockshaper. The tears rose unbidden though Tinder ignored the bite of her sadness. She was reminded too much of Shard, her soulbrother in that moment. The realisation that she might never see him again hurt worse than being surrounded by strangers in a strange land. She was so very far from home and everything both comforting and familiar.
Tinder curled her fingers into fists as the tears trickled down her face. She bared her fangs when the heat of her magic, burning like fire under her skin, evaporated away the tears in curls of steam. Tinder wiped at her cheeks, scrubbing away the itchy white residue of dried salt. She reached instinctively for the waterskin always kept at her side. Her fingers closed on empty air. She'd forgotten that she'd left the thing slung lazily over a hook in her den.
"Puckernuts", muttered Tinder. She smiled bitterly when Thistle, her bonded serval rubbed against her calves. He peered up at her with wide golden eyes. ::Cold elfkin::, he bondsent. ::Make warm?:: he asked hopefully.
Tinder laughed as she bent her knees. She crouched low beside her bond, scooped him into her arms, and hugged him tightly. ::I'm glad I have you at least, Thistle. Thank the Highones. I'm not truly alone here after all::, Tinder bondsent in relief.
Thistle meowed affectionately. Tinder giggled when his furry forehead bopped hers in tender feline fashion. ::Make fire, elfkin::, urged Thistle. ::Others cold too. Need your warmth. Need your strength. Help them, elfkin::. Tinder sighed when Thistle turned toward Choice and the wolves with him. One she saw was a male while the other had a rounded belly. She smiled as she thought of the desert hounds and the births her brother would be tending in the bond-dens at this turn of the season back home.
Tinder kissed between Thistle's ears. She looked her bond in the eye. ::Thank you::, she bondsent gratefully. Felines could be remarkably wise. Tinder rose to her feet. She smiled at Choice and nodded. "A good idea. Thank you too", she said kindly. He had unknowingly given her a purpose, however fleeting. It was good to be of use again.
Tinder didn't have to look far for the remnants of a fire-pit. She saw a makeshift spit made of wood set over a blackened circle of stones. It was deep enough to keep a fire contained, but filled with ashes long gone cold. The pit was small, but with a little widening and a few more stones it would serve to warm the considerable number of elves and bonds with them during the Gathering.
Tinder left Choice and Sunset as she set to work.
She widened the fire-pit, cleared the ashes, and set more stones with practised ease around the boundary. The makeshift spit was cleaned and set to one side, ready to be used again. Tinder made short work of the small supply of broken branches and dried twigs set aside for firewood. She needed little fuel when there were stones aplenty to contain the heat, though she was quick to search their surroundings for more firewood. She returned moments later with an armful that would last well into the night if she tended the fire, herself.
Tinder ordered the wood to the side of the fire-pit in a neat pile. She dusted her hands off, skirts swaying as she rejoined Choice, his bonds, and Sunset. She smiled warmly as she beckoned Choice. **Come and sit. The fire will be ready soon. Your bonds will not be cold for much longer**, she opensent kindly. Tinder turned her attention to the newly cleaned and prepared wood. She didn't need tinder, despite her name, to light the fire. Tinder crouched beside the fire-pit and with practised ease reached forward. She ran her fingertips over the top of a twig, nails scrapping lightly, and tiny sparks of flame hissed and spat as they blossomed to life.
Tinder repeated the gesture over other pieces of wood in the centre of the fire-pit, lighting one after another, without fear of the flames licking hotly at her skin. The fire sizzled and smoked until she retreated. It was small until Tinder, with hands upraised and fingers spread, urged the fire to burn hotter and brighter. She smiled when a cheery blaze, large enough to warm many elves, but small enough to be easily contained burned in tongues of white, red and orange. She sat cross-legged, her skirts spilling over her knees, as she took a seat beside the pile of firewood. She gestured for Choice and any other elf or bond wanting to partake of the fire's warmth to sit alongside her.
**Come. If a gathering is what we are to have than you are welcome to share my fire. I am Tinder and I will stoke and fuel the flames as long as there is need. The fire will neither burn out nor grow cold under my watch. I have cared for elf and bond this way for my own tribe for many turns of the seasons. I will do so now, for all of you, if it would bring comfort tonight**.
Tinder smiled at Choice, her expression soft and glad. ~**Thank you**~, she locksent kindly, her thoughts brimming with gratitude.
OOC: I hope this wasn't too much of a improvisation. I kind of ran with Choice's 'could you make a fire?' question for the gathering.
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Post by Choice on Sept 6, 2014 0:31:46 GMT 1
Choice waited patiently for Tinder to set about building a fire in the improvised firepit; it didn't look like it had been used too many times before. Shivering from the loss of Tinder's warmth, Choice cuddled close to Dance and Sneak, and took a closer look at his surroundings. Someone had made a big pile of the white stuff on the forest side of the firepit, a little way away from where one would be sitting by the fire. It was as if the elves who lived here didn't want their fire seen by someone in the forest. Oh dear. Pushing this aside, Choice took a seat when offered and watched Tinder build and light the fire. It was a fascinating display of magic and Choice delighted in it, even though he had to soothe both Dance and Sneak when the flames started to burn bright. Cold or no, maned wolves were no lovers of fire. He was a bit taken aback by her sudden sending of gratitude. To surprised to truly react, he simply smiled and send back gratitude in return, for the warmth and the kindness she'd shown him. OOC: That's it for Choice for this thread. He's jumping to Gathering Time now. Keleero has already done so. Other elves who seem to have things wrapped up here: Edgerunner (walked away for a bit - hopefully he'll find his way back to the gathering), Juniper (busy working on the shelter), Rokuta (agreed to the gathering), Sunset (arranged the gathering), Tinder (watching the fire). Elves who might have conversations left to wrap up:- Badger got a question from Slinker if there were any other wolf-bloods around Beacon Call which hasn't been answered yet. - Jaseio just had Slinker tell her 'her people's magical crystal-thing' brought him to Beacon Call. - Slinker is waiting for replies from Badger & Jaseio. |
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Post by Badger on Sept 7, 2014 6:57:36 GMT 1
OoC: On a sidenote to Slinker, Badger has not started to prepare the fish in any way, yet.
~*~
When Sunset called the gathering, Badger nodded a little to herself. It would be good to officially get to know each other and to get to know the whatever background each elf had. It would most likely provide more answers to the question of diet and how each elf liked their food cooked, Badger thought. As there was the crucial difference of some eating their food raw and others wanted it cooked, the female decided it would be the best to split the fish in two, when she would have the chance. There was no way she would eat cooked meat or fish.
One of the newcomers -- another wolfrider, it seemed -- approached her with all sweet-talk and words dripping bee-sweets. Had it been someone Badger knew had known for all of her life, like Stonethorn or Redwolf, or maybe even an elf she'd known for handful of days, she would have been like soft wax in the talker's hands. But as this was someone she did not know, Badger was not impressed.
"There are some, like Juniper over there." she replied to the sweet-talker and pointed at the tree-shaper, who was now working on some steps on the trees. "And some others, but they are out scouting."
After that, Badger said to Rokuta, "Hey, will you help me with this? I'm afraid it provides just a mouthful to each elf in gathering, but..." she shrugged a little.
~*~
OoC: I was not sure what to say about elves with missing players like Goldenbraid or Silverthorn. I just told they are out scouting.
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Post by Juniper on Sept 7, 2014 7:31:08 GMT 1
As the gathering was called, the sending breaking Juniper's concentration, the treeshaper waved his hand and sent a feeling of acknowledgement. He looked at the work he had done, and it was not much. Juniper was disappointed, but he had to cut himself some slack -- as he had pointed it out to himself before, the trees had not been shaped in ages if ever. He had managed maybe two and half steps, but it had to be enough for today.
The honey-blond male was hungry, and he had heard about a fish or something. Skulk, his bond, kept watching his moves, and whined a little. At that point, Juniper took a note of a new wolfrider, who had approached Badger.
"Hmmmm..." Juniper mused, as he wore his fur mittens again, but did not go to say anything to the newcomers. It was gathering time soon, anyway.
~*~
OoC: I suppose it is safe to say that both Juniper and Badger are out?
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Post by Jaseio on Sept 7, 2014 17:45:38 GMT 1
She was a bit taken aback by his sending. She was very confused by him calling the magical crystal thing hers... It wasn't hers? And was it magical? She guessed he was talking about the large stone in the cave that had had a faint glow when she arrived. She didn't know how to respond to his send, and ended up fiddling with a braid, before having an answer. ~**Oh... the large glowing stone...? How could a crystal like that bring, not only you, but also everyone else here? At least I guess it brought us all here with what has been told... Your chieftess Recognised? Recognition can be hard to handle. May their troubles be resolved quicker than my lifemates'.**~ Her confusion turned to a warm well wishing to a couple she didn't know, and probably never would meet. She knew the hardships of Recognition, even though she hadn't felt it on her own body.
"You... You would give me a bow? But I have nothing to give in return... I..." Baffled, she tripped over her words, but she gathered her composure, and added jokingly, "Well, if you're just going to crack nuts with it, I guess I could put it to better use."
She was confused by the strangers kindness and openness, but she gave him a shy smile, which for the first time in this strange place, reached her eyes. ~**Thank you.**~ She lock-sent to him, filling it with all her gratitude.
Rjúkandi was now standing right behind her, and pushed his muzzle gently in between her arm and body. She turned to pat his cheek, and ruffle his forelock. ::Now you want my attention? You sure know when to want that.:: Her shyness gone when interacting with the horse, she showed her momentary happiness more openly. Rjúkandi had only wanted her attention to remind her of what was soon to happen. ::Gathering, warm-big-fire. Not now?:: The fire had reminded him of how the two-legged ones often spent their evenings, and nights, and since elves had started to gather, he thought it might be the same.
He swatted at the night air with his tail, and his big eyes once again looked at the wolf. Young and curious, he snorted at the wolf in a greeting.
She had returned her attention to Slinker, "That's right. We should probably join the others by the fire."
OOC: Guess this would be a good time to end this ^^
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Post by Sofia on Sept 7, 2014 21:13:58 GMT 1
OOC: Leaving this open a little while longer for Slinker to make a final wrap-up comment, but after that this seems to have finished nicely
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I just wanted to make sure 
