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Post by Greywing on Sept 12, 2014 6:32:53 GMT 1
Greywing had hidden in the caves for awhile, trying to get her bearings. At first, she thought she'd heard voices coming from another chamber, but they ended quickly; she brushed it off as her own desperate desire to be accepted by elves again. Thankfully, K'rstai had settled on Greywing's shoulder and, in the dark and full of mouse, slept.
Once her eyes adjusted, the young elf made her way through the tunnels. It wasn't getting any brighter, but when she looked up, she saw why; it was dark. This made her even more confused...just what felt like a few moments ago, she was standing in the snow, soaking up the midday light; now she was in a cave, and the stars were high in the sky. The hole she saw the sky through was small, so she continued, and soon saw a glow. She followed the glow into a large room, and the light came from a strange, amber object embedded in the wall. "What on Abode...?" she murmured, stepping slowly towards the alien thing. Greywing peered at it, her fingers coming so close...then she snatched them away and shook her head. *Bad idea. Could be some strange human trap.*
A large exit was behind her, and she heard them again: the voices! A fire crackled too...she swore she could almost feel the warmth. The elf padded her way to the exit, holding her cloak around her; she might have been in a dark cave, but it was just as cold here than where she'd been before. As she peeked out, she realized...this was not her land. She recognized the trees, but she hadn't seen that kind since before her brother, Shadowhunter, fell to humans. Her heart raced in her chest, feelings flying. Her kind! Would she see them again? Did she want to? After two turns of rejection, scorn, and the occasional pity meal, did she really want to try again? She held hopes that her mother's kind, who she called the originals and the smaller ferals called the High Ones, would take her in...but she'd never been able to find her way back to the Homeplace. Was this it? Had the Homeplace called her? She knew that the original elves came from the sky, and their vessel had strange powers...but they'd always said that those were lost. Had the stories been wrong? Were these her mother's kin outside?
Greywing leaned against the stone entrance, still out of sight of the voices around the crackling fire. She didn't dare look...but she so very much wanted to. Carefully, she peeked over her shoulder...and her heart fell. These were not her mother's kind. Some were so strange that she wasn't sure they were elves, but many were small enough to be ferals. In one swift movement, she pulled her head back behind the stone, out of sight once again. She wasn't sure what to do; her stomach growled, and its opinion was clear, but she was not keen on being rejected again. She also didn't know if these voices were dangerous...and she hoped that the smaller ones who seemed to resemble the ferals didn't share their sense of smell. Her stomach tied itself into knots, and she clutched her stone dagger. If she'd been sensed in any way, she had to be ready.
OOC: random thought; how many moons do we have?
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Post by Tinder on Sept 12, 2014 8:37:37 GMT 1
Tinder listened to each introduction quietly, never taking her eyes off each elf as they spoke their peace. She had frowned when Sunset had finished, a part of her disturbed by her former pride-sister's brief speech. The others hadn't yet seemed to realise that they were from the same holt. Tinder was grateful, thus far, that she hadn't been asked to elaborate or explain the significance. She wasn't entirely comfortable with the idea that this Beacon of the rockershaper, Keleero's had snatched her from the future and Sunset from the past. It was already too strange to consider to be true, even if Tinder knew that it was.
The Beacon, she was certain, had strange and potentially dangerous magic.
Tinder frowned when her bond's bushy tail whacked her in the stomach. She glanced down, eyes narrowing when the serval's large ears swivelled left than right, focusing on noise that only he could hear. She glanced over her shoulder at Slinker. The wolfrider nodded, his golden eyes glinting when Ash's furry ears flicked forward.
They shared a mutual nod, though they kept it to themselves.
Their bonds had heard something beyond the firelight.
OOC: I figure that the bonds would have heard something. Animals do after all have greater senses of hearing than people, even elves. They'd sense something was up. XD.
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Post by No-Sting on Sept 13, 2014 22:16:50 GMT 1
OOC: Let's go with two moons, since I think most elves present are used to two, which would explain them only freaking out about the stars being different so far.
IC:
No-Sting was the next to get up, finally deciding she couldn't cower at the sidelines any longer.
"I am No-Sting of The Tuftear Clan," No-Sting said, trying to gather her thoughts. "As is my sister here, but she'll get to introduce herself. "I-"
She was cut short as Oddspot got to her feet and glared at the opening in the mountain that they all had exited from. No-Sting's hand went to the dagger in her belt on pure instinct.
"Someone else is here." Her voice held no true alarm, not yet. They'd all fallen into this place without warning and now that no one was in the strange 'Beacon' cave who knew what poor lost elf might be wandering around. "Should we send to them? Oddspot isn't sure of what she's caught scent of, but I doubt it's a hord of trolls."
At least she hoped it wasn't. Trolls were tricky creatures. But surely Oddspot was familiar enough with trolls to catch on to such a thing?
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Post by Keleero on Sept 13, 2014 22:31:17 GMT 1
Keleero's heart hammered in his chest at No-Sting's words. Was it an elf? And if it was, who said they'd be so lucky as to meet yet another peaceful elf?
He put his hand on the ground, tried to stretch his senses over to the cave, but there was too much dirt and dead grass between him and the stone. He was blind.
~**Can anyone see anything?**~ he lock-sent to all elves gathered, his own eyes seeing nothing but a dark cave entrance. He didn't think to ask if anyone could smell or hear anything - that would have been impossible.
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Post by Choice on Sept 13, 2014 22:37:17 GMT 1
Choice glanced at Tinder and Sunset as the moment turned from presentations to staring at the mountain. A thrill ran through him at the prospect of yet another elf having arrived. More and more of us! I hope it's someone who hasn't been snatch from somewhere pleasant though.
"Sending sounds like a good idea," Choice said, letting his words carry without shouting, to give whoever was in the cave a chance to hear. "If they arrived here like we did, they must be confused and upset. A kind sending could be welcome then, don't you think?"
~**Dance and Sneak don't smell anything,**~ he lock-sent after he'd spoken, sending to all sitting around and near the fire. ~**But they're so unused to all strange smells here, just like I am, so they might be smelling something they just can't make out in the mess of everything else.**~
He kept the question of 'what are trolls?' to himself. It could wait for a calmer moment.
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Post by Sunset on Sept 14, 2014 2:38:57 GMT 1
Sunset listened in silence, eyes closed as she did. As those around her registered a new presence, her eyes opened half-way and she glanced at the entrance from the corner of her eye. A shadowy form, but she suspected the fire light was keeping her from seeing more. Small, like most of those gathered already, and it smelled...female? She was pretty sure. Whatever else, it smelled like elf. Too many animal smells immediately surrounded her to keep her from getting a better idea. ~**Whoever, it is elf. That I can be sure of.**~
She she stood quietly and slowly, depositing the kitten on a warm stone, then approached the shadows with her palms open in a gesture of non-threatening. ~**Welcome - are you all right?**~ she locksent to the newcomer. As she faced away from the fire and came closer to the cave, her cat-eyes adjusted and she began to be able to see the young, frightened elf hiding inside the cavemouth. Her heart ached for the poor kitling - so young, to be taken away. ~**We arrived here, same as you. Please, join us?**~
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Post by Greywing on Sept 14, 2014 9:22:01 GMT 1
Greywing froze as she heard the voices stop suddenly. Had she been seen or sensed in some way? As one of them started speaking more loudly about sending being a good idea, her heart sank; she'd been found. By then, K'rstai had awoken and was nibbling at her handler's hair.
Before she could do anything, Greywing was approached by the one who seemed the smallest out of the group...at least, what she could determine from her quick glance. There wasn't anywhere for her to go as this new elf walked up to her; she came with open hands, but Greywing wasn't ready to trust...or let go of her fear. She backed up into the stone, wishing she could dissolve with it, and looked at the smaller elf with great suspicion. Though she was a good two heads smaller, the young elf knew better than to judge an elf by their size; after all, the ferals, the smallest of Greywing's kind, were the fiercest.
"You are a...nice feral. The nicest I've ever met," she said, her eyes narrowing as she became a little more curious. She glanced quickly up at the rest of the group, then back to the elf in front of her. "You...you arrived here? You were preparing for the whitecold and suddenly...this?" Her voice almost had a little hope to it. "I...have never seen any like you, but that was the goal of the originals...for us to spread and adapt to the world as best we could. Who is your original? Perhaps they knew my mother. You..." Greywing shook her head quickly, "you don't want me to join you. I will only bring the humans to you. They say I'm cursed." She pulled further away and began to shake faintly. "J-just let me talk to your original for a moment, and...if you could...spare some food. Then I-I'll be on my way."
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Post by Sunset on Sept 14, 2014 10:38:12 GMT 1
Sunset's eyes swam with unshed tears; she'd miss-judged the new elf's age. She seemed even younger than Sunset had first anticipated. "All of us, every single one, was pulled from our homes." She kept her voice low and soft, unthreatening. "I don't know what you mean by 'original', I'm sorry - and we have little enough food, but you are welcome to share."
Mentally, she set aside her portion of fish for the young one. "And do not fret, young one; I do not know the feelings of the others here, but I have no true fear of humans. One of my oldest friends was a five-fingered one." She offered a hand again, face full of compassion. "Please; you are welcome. I promise."
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Post by Badger on Sept 14, 2014 18:38:31 GMT 1
Badger watched the newcomer in silence. To be honest, the wolfrider understood nothing of the things the newcomer told them, but it seemed like Sunset was going to take the cub beneath her wing.
~**She is just a cub.**~ Badger locksent to No-Sting and Keleero. ~**I don't think she is any harm to us...**~
However, the mention of bringing humans to the camp of the rag tag group of elves worried the wolfrider, so she rose from her sitting place and approached Sunset and the newcomer.
"I did not understand much of your words, but what is this talk about bringing humans to us?" she asked, concern and worry dripping from her voice. Of course, she did not have any experience about humans, but some other elves seemed genuinely concerned about the humans.
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Post by Juniper on Sept 14, 2014 18:44:53 GMT 1
Juniper watched the newcomer as well, and the talk of humans was met with an angry gaze. He had seen enough of fights against the round-ears, and he was going to have none of them in this place. Too many times he had had to move away from the humans' ever expanding territory.
*If we are not to leave this place... I have to start thinking of forming thorn barriers.* he thought, frowning. This was the first time the thought of actually finding back home had occurred to him.
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Post by Tinder on Sept 15, 2014 9:47:52 GMT 1
Tinder sighed when the cub was revealed. She was mildly relieved that the newcomer was not someone she recognised from her own tribe. It would have been a tragedy for Shard's little son, or her brother's reckless daughter to be snatched and sent so far from home. She felt a twinge of guilt for her relief, though it was short-lived when Thistle bond-sent soothingly.
::Elf-kin is not wrong to feel so glad. It would be terrible for a cub to be sent after us, especially ones' so young as this cub::.
Tinder was glad that Sunset had welcomed the young one into their midst. Her pride-sister seemed to have everything in hand. Tinder relaxed, though she wondered on the strangeness of the cub's words. She was afraid of bringing humans to them. Strange, yet perhaps not so much.
"She is disoriented and afraid. Give her a moment to breathe", she growled at Badger, eyes narrowing. Tinder beckoned to Sunset and the younger elf in her company. "You will have time enough to seek answers. Not all of us are old enough to handle the madness that brought us here. She is the youngest of us all. Can you not see it in the roundness of her face and the roughness of manners? Have some compassion before you bark questions".
~**Keep her close Sunset**~, Tinder locksent to her pride-sister. ~**I sense the others will have little patience for her confusion, now that the matter of humans has arisen**~.
Tinder glanced around the gathered elves, green eyes narrow and angry. The fire snapped and crackled, its flames burning blue-white as her irritation simmered. "You are welcome little one", she said gently, warmth and concern laced through her words. "Do not be afraid. You are among friends. I am Tinder, and the elfess with you is my pride-sister, Sunset. You are welcome".
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Post by Slinker on Sept 15, 2014 9:55:51 GMT 1
Slinker eyed the fire cautiously. He noticed how the flames hissed and spat as if in irritation. It was strange to see the fire respond to Tinder's moods. He wondered what would happen if she was truly angry. He glanced from her to Sunset and the cub with her. His eyes narrowed, brows furrowing as he inhaled the newcomer's scent. He was not assured by Badger's abruptness in wanting answers, though he could understand the urgency. Ash growled too, in agreement, for the cub was obviously in a great deal of hurry to be on her way.
"Tinder's right", he said evenly. "The cub is clearly afraid. If it's food she needs than we had best feed her something". He glanced at Badger. "You had some fish. It could help".
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Post by Greywing on Sept 17, 2014 9:50:39 GMT 1
Greywing lifted her eyebrow and backed further away from the group as another approached. She wasn't used to such overt kindness, and it made her suspicious...on top of that, they all seemed to think she was a cub. "I am not a child," she said, brow furrowed. "Young...I'm only three eights old. But I was going to be Chieftess in my own right before...before humans struck." She looked down at the other elf, who the others called Badger. "Humans stalk our kind. They killed my brother when I was young. Turns later, they killed my mother and father as our tribe settled for the whitecold. That was two turns ago. Since, every tribe I've met has sneered at me, driven me away with stones, or had their ferals chase me. Only a few outsiders have ever given me food...one told me that because my tribe had been killed that the other tribes thought we were cursed...they said I should have died with them, that I'm as useless as an original because I don't have as much wolf as the rest, that my survival means humans will always hunt me...and any tribe I'm with."
Greywing sniffed a little, trying to keep her glassy eyes from leaking. "There's no shame in being the daughter of an original. My mother explored the stars when she was young...before she and the others settled on Abode." She knew she probably sounded defensive, and she was...but she was too used to justifying the amount of pure blood she carried. K'rstai picked up on Greywing's distress and started flapping her wings defensively. Reflexively, the green-tressed elf reached into a pouch on her belt and pulled out a treat for the falcon, who nibbled it grudgingly.
She looked back at Sunset, her resolve weakening with the smell of food, and in light of the fact that no one was throwing stones yet. "You...you say you were all...taken? By who? And...where? The trees, I recognize...but the stars are strange to me." She wondered if her mother knew them.
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Post by Keleero on Sept 17, 2014 13:29:54 GMT 1
Keleero could only blink at the minor chaos that the newest elf's arrival brought forth.
Sunset was friends with a human? If she'd mentioned it before it had completely passed him by. They had been rather busy just trying to survive after all.
The very idea of befriending a human held Keleero so occupied he nearly missed the talk of the stranger being a 'cub' as well as her talk of 'originals' and the supposed curse.
But only nearly.
"Traveled the stars..." Keleero echoed Greywing, his eyes widening. "Are you claiming your mother was a High One?!" The mere thought left him feeling faint. This place was impossible!
"And not enough wolf, what does that mean?" What mad people based their positions of poser on how many pets they had?!
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Post by Sunset on Sept 17, 2014 14:59:59 GMT 1
Sunset sighed softly. "I'm sorry. You are right; young, yes, but not a child. I can see that in your eyes."
She looked up at Keleero, brow furrowing. "Her tribe judged her for not having as much wolf blood as she did elf. Although why, I don't know. The elf in you is just as important as the beast." This last was said to Greywing with utter conviction. She moved back towards the fire, her stance protective of the newcomer. "And we don't know who took us, or why. I wish I could tell you where we are but I know as little as you do."
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