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Post by Tinder on Sept 19, 2014 4:17:13 GMT 1
OOC: LOL, I had wondered why alot of our elves, especially mine, were like 'hiss and spit' at the other elves. XD. I just figured out that it makes perfect sense. These guys and gals are all strangers, barring the first lot that the Beacon 'magicked' into the holt. They're doing what cats and dogs do with new arrivals. Sizing each other up and feeling each other out.
Plus LOL, Oddspot is so cute! XD! Aw! I sense either kitty bonding or a cat-fight over Sunset's kitten XD. Hilarious.
Oh I just wanted to point out too. Tinder isn't a 'dangerous' magic-user. She wouldn't harm another elf, intentionally. She's just uneasy since most of the elves she's met even briefly barring Sunset and Choice, have shown either fear or anxiety over her fire-shaping. She's used to using it like everyday without being censored or having elves glare at her, so the others being hostile, even unintentionally, is making her hostile. She also tends to 'flare up' when she's upset to spectacular levels as shown in my posts. She riles easy if you push her buttons, just like a fire given too much oxygen.
IC:
"This ragtag group of elves is your tribe!" spat Tinder. She glared at Silverthorn. She would not be ordered about like an errant cub. "I know my skills and my talents. I will help those they have need of me as I choose! Do not think you have right to tell me what to do or why!" Tinder bared her fangs and hissed scathingly like an irate lioness. **You are not my chief!** she snarled in opensend, anger lacing each and every word.
Tinder sighed when the lynx ventured close to Thistle. She protectively gathered her bond and Sunset's kitten into her arms. She did not mean to insult the feline, but she was in no mood to share anything more with the gathered elves. "Decide what you will", she said bitterly to No-Sting. She rose to her feet, head shaking, and the fire burning brightly in the firepit was doused as if water had been cast upon the flames. It burned low, its light fading, though the embers glowed still red-hot. **I have had my fill of your dark looks and fearfulness**, opensent Tinder. She did not look around the circle as she continued to send, her words filled with regret, and guilt that she had carried since cubhood. **I have never harmed an elf with my magic intentionally, save once, when first I discovered it as a frightened cub. I hated my magic for turns of the seasons after. I hated myself too for being the bearer of the worst of the Highone's blessings. All of you remind me now of my shame. I am judged for being what I am before you truly know me. What point is there then in remaining in this place to lend my skills in herbal healing, potting, and tanning, for elves that think me capable of harming another living creature, be they elf or beast?**
Tinder sighed deeply, her anger giving way to sorrow. She looked to Panaetha with a heavy heart. **I wish I were like you. A healer, a soother of hurts and maker of miracles. My brother was the healer. How I envied him as I envy you. Healers are never feared, but fireshapers are. Although I understand why, for fire is dangerous and unpredictable, still I think it unfair**.
Tinder bowed her head in contrition to Panaetha, seeing only in her an elf that was her elder, another that might understand. "Forgive me, Elder", said Tinder. "I am not the best company tonight. It is best I burn elsewhere till my temper cools least I do or say something I will regret. I make no friends tonight, but I think I had none to begin with regardless".
She did turn at last to No-Sting, Juniper, and Silverthorn. It was to them that she spoke, though her eyes found Keleero's in the dim firelight too. "Not all elves eat their meat raw nor do they live without fire. Cats and wolves might cope, but others will not adapt as easily as you during the cold nights or the white-cold". Tinder sighed disappointedly. "Assign duties as you see fit. Exclude me if you wish. I do not care. Tonight I will turn my energies towards better pursuits. Stone, proper earth, and water I need. Bone too. If I do not have it with me now, than I shall have it made by morning".
Tinder, her bond and Sunset's kit, gathered in her arms, left the firelight without another word.
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Post by Badger on Sept 19, 2014 7:40:14 GMT 1
Badger had become quiet. Even with No-Sting's comforting presence, she was having a storm inside her head, mulling over the words all over and over again. By her nature, Badger was not the type of elf to anger, she felt only sadness, when Tinder went on assuming things like she knew Badger and her life at all. Tinder knew nothing. Badger wanted to say it. Say it clear and loud at Tinder's face. But feeling humiliated and attacked, then ridden over, the wolfrider said nothing, just sat back on her place and sighed, trying to force back the choking feeling in her throat.
The situation seemed to be calming down, as the odd fish elf spoke. Badger simply nodded at the information provided -- it never hurt to have another fisher in the group. For a little while, she wondered about the magic Reefshadow was talking about, but the wolfrider did not dare to ask. Tinder had effectively shut her up from asking any kind of questions. Then Tinder - again - had a defensive speech about herself, but the wolfrider did not even bother to listen.
She just glared at the darkness and moped in her silence, feeling kind of relieved when the fireshaper finally decided to leave.
*She has no right.* Badger thought, *Suddenly she thinks she knows me, dares to make assumptions and talk down to me. She has no right.*
The wolfrider female pulled her legs closer to herself and wrapped her arms around her legs.
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Post by Juniper on Sept 19, 2014 8:05:20 GMT 1
Juniper raised his eyebrow at the fireshaper.
The words she had uttered out sounded like a threat to him. The ones about thorns doing nothing against fire and flame. Suddenly, he felt extremely protective of the forest around him, though he did not rise to ask if Tinder was actually threatening him. And up until now, no one else had spoken of a better idea for a wall of protection. He felt glad and relieved, when the suddenly defensive fireshaper had her long speech and then departed the group. It gave Juniper some peace to concentrate on other matters at hand.
He listened the suggestions for safety measures.
Hiding was a good idea, he was able to do just that.
"If no one else has any better ideas of protecting walls, I will begin working on some thorn bushes. It might take a while during this season, tho."
Juniper was not yesterday's cub. He knew how to make the thorny bushes look like natural growing thing, yet enough uninviting for any round-ear to try and get through.
The quiet and rather odd-looking water-elf spoke, and Juniper listened with interest. Up until now the elf had remained rather hushed.
"Do share some light on your magical talents... Reefshadow, was it? What can you do? Speak with the fish?"
Juniper meant no ill with his words, and by this time of night, he would most likely not be surprised by anything anymore.
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Post by Panaetha on Sept 19, 2014 9:42:36 GMT 1
Panaetha had little patience for Tinder's self-pity. She felt for her, and she understood the idea...it was natural to fear fire, and by extension, those who could wield it. But here was a new chance to show elves she wasn't to be feared, and she'd given up. The fire blazed as a normal fire now, no longer crackling or warming as Tinder's temper flared. She claimed she wouldn't hurt others, yet said she was leaving before she did something she regretted. It caused the healer to infer that Tinder was capable of doing something with her magic that she may later regret, that would cause harm to another...and if she inferred it, surely another would to. If she was as naturally hot-tempered as she claimed, she should have known better than to have left with such bitterness and instead have just left the situation. She also seemed to have very little regard for what others were going through, other than her pride-sister. Which Panaetha could understand...her personal goals overrode any needs of the group, in the healer's mind. Everyone was going through something, however...and ones who wished they could be in the place of another had no true knowledge of what that meant. A healer might ease pain and bring back an elf from the brink of death...but, at least in her experience, they were put on a pedestal, so that others looked on in awe...but not often in friendship.
Panaetha suspected that Tinder was afraid of her own magic...which, by extension, caused others to fear her. She hoped that the group would give her another chance once the fireshaper started to recover from the shock of being called by the Beacon...and perhaps then, she would have more time to listen to her worries. She sent after her in silent support; it was the best she could do at the moment.
She protectively took Greywing aside and leaned in to Badger, Silverthorn, and No-Sting. "Not everyone votes as your tribe seems to do, No-Sting...and now is not the time for your brash questions, Silverthorn," she said in hushed tones. "You have good points and things we should all consider...but I implore all of you to speak evenly. Try to approach this as a kitten...openly, and without judgment. We are all from different places with different experiences...and we are all in recovery, very few of us with friends. If we cannot be kind to each other, this 'tribe' will never come to be."
The dark elf resumed her full height and guided Greywing to the circle; the young elf still felt very nervous, but the prospect of more food and warmth encouraged her. With Tinder, Sunset, and Slinker gone from the circle, there was more room for more elves. Panaetha sat as Juniper inquired about Reefshadow's magic; she hoped it was nothing else unpredictable.
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Post by Reefshadow on Sept 19, 2014 10:09:24 GMT 1
He chuckled, a throaty, hearty sound. "No, nothing like that, although I have - had - tribemates who could do so. Actually, not fish...they breathed air as we do, though they could hold their breath for a very long time." He flashed another smile. "But that was not the question."
Reefshadow, ever eager to lighten the mood, was very visibly reluctant to share. "I can...um. Well, I can shape - bone." He watched only the healer, knowing as an instinct that she at least would not judge him harshly for the gifts the High Ones had blessed him with. As for the others...he waited with baited breath, gills rippling slightly.
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Post by Silverthorn on Sept 19, 2014 11:35:21 GMT 1
(OOC: I just wanted to say, it seems natural to me that there'd be conflict and misunderstandings! Just in case there's any doubt, this is all IC, I think you're all great OOC and I have no problem with any of you  . I know conflict scenes can run a bit hot, so.) For a moment, as Tinder hissed and spat, it took a great deal of self-control for Silverthorn not to carry through the obvious challenge - not to bare his fangs and growl in return, and maybe even tussle with the fireshaper for pack-status in this not-pack. He held himself tightly, though, reminding himself that she was no Longvale wolfrider and that she was right. He was not her chief. This was not a rank challenge. And her flare of temper was not likely to win her rank either way, perhaps not even sympathy. This was the time to mellow and speak reasonably. Past his blood's instincts, her outburst saddened, rather than angered him. He wondered what manner of elves she'd lived with that she felt like such an outsider, as though others were eager to hurt her. The idea of a tribemate hurting another deliberately was so foreign, it made his flesh crawl. He didn't argue with Tinder, not here and now. **No, I'm not your chief,** he sent to her as she retreated. **But now I am your tribemate, and I will help and share with you even if you don't do the same for me. I don't fear you. Don't go too far, don't be hurt.** It was practical advice, those last words, he disliked anyone leaving the fireside on their own. But their subtler meaning was there, too - a hand reaching out. With slight difficulty, he turned his attention back to the talk in the gathering. "You're both right," he said to Panaetha and to Reefshadow. "Graywing, I apologize. My fear made me speak too quickly. And we have many other dangers to face except the humans, though they're the thorniest problem, I'd say. That's why I spoke of duties. We can't all worry at the same bone at the same time or we'll get nowhere." He drew himself up slightly to make his introduction at last. "I'm Silverthorn, chief of the Longvale wolfriders. I have no magic, though I hunt well - but my true skill is in this, making plans and sorting work, and that is what I offer you. I don't seek to be your chief as I am for my tribe," he stressed quickly, before the inevitable question could arise. "Some of you may not even have chiefs in your home. But it's good to have one whose main concern is coordinating others so that they can do their work with no greater worries on their minds." |
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Post by No-Sting on Sept 20, 2014 0:42:20 GMT 1
OOC: I agree with Joan and I'm greatly enjoying all the conflict! My elves' view on others' elves do not reflect my own views on other players or your elves. For example, Keleero is currenlty freaking out over elves having animal-blood in their family trees, but I myself think that's not weird at all  Will post longer reply with all my elves tomorrow - just got so caught up with work and updating a website today that I'm too worn out to remember all I meant to reply to. IC:"You don't vote?!" No-Sting found herself bluring out in answer to what Panaetha had said. "B-but how does anything ever get decided then?" Now that she thought about it, there hadn't been much need for voting during the previous days they'd been there. They'd all been so busy just finding their next meal... I can't even imagine what all their homes must be like! Not just the different trees and weather, but different ways. It was really hitting home now, burrying like a claw into her heart. A wave of homesickness washed over her as she lowered her arm.
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Post by Choice on Sept 20, 2014 9:14:29 GMT 1
Choice, now alone at the far side of the fire with Tinder and Sunset gone, shivered as the fire died down. Well, not just because of the smaller fire and his lack of good clothes for this strange land. There was yelling and glaring happening around him and that brought back more than a few unpleasant memories. Not to mention what it could mean for their survival.
~**Be safe, don't go too far, I don't think you're dangerous or foolish,**~ he lock-sent to Sunseet and Tinder, desperate to not have them leave him. But he couldn't go running after them either. The fur he'd been left with combined with the small warmth left from the fire was the only thing keeping him warm enough not to have his teeth start chattering.
Dance and Sneak moved closer to their bond, sensing his change in mood. The cuddled even closer to him than before and now kept a wary eye on the other elves. Something had gone wrong and while they didn't know what they were used to other elves treating their elf poorly. They would defened if anything went more wrong.
Choice pushed aside the hurt of being left by Sunset and Tinder, focusing instead on what Reefshadow and the other had said after Tinder left:
"Shaping bones?" The thought was so strange. Choice had no memory of that power ever been spoken of among the Long Legs, not even in the oldest of tales. "How?"
Then:
"I think Silverthorn has a good idea." Choice gave what he hoped was a non-threatening 'let's all get along' sort of smile to the ones that still remained around the fire. "Someone should keep track of who's doing what and what needs doing. If he has experience, that's a wonderful skill to put to work, right?"
As for the comments about voting from No-Sting and Panaetha, he said:
"Usually our chief and the Elders would decide things. We did vote sometimes about things that weren't a threat to the tribe, and of course if we needed to choose a new chief. But voting about everything..." He didn't want to get on No-Sting's bad side or insult her tribe, but with how things were now, with humans, the cold and seemingly little food, would there really be time for voting?
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Post by Keleero on Sept 20, 2014 15:28:47 GMT 1
Keleero was doing his best to get his face under control. Showing fear was a stupid, childish mistake to make in a situation like this. He focused on getting his expression back to neutral and nodded along with what was being said. Better try to listen than stare into the flames and imagining horrific things.
Slinker! The thought struck him just as he noticed said elf had left the circle of firelight. 'Bird-elf'. He must have thought that I actually...
The mere thought of it made him nauseous. He didn't even want to try picturing one of his ancestors seducing one of the giant eagels, not even so far back that they were more eagels than giants. Just no. That was one misunderstanding that needed to be cleared up as soon as possible!
OOC: Keleero's freak-out is underscored by him not having thought of Shapechanging as the way elves could intermingle with animals - he thinks an elf shaped like an elf got it on with an animal to make all your lovely animal-blooded elves XD
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Post by Greywing on Sept 20, 2014 20:43:08 GMT 1
OOC: in Greywing's time, Recognition is a very common occurrence, and that gives it almost a...voluntary quality? As if one can choose to Recognize. So, with that in mind.
Greywing sat in the circle, looking around at the elves who remained. The tall, red-headed male seemed very baffled by something...she remembered that he was surprised by her parentage, and with the other elves talking about differences in leadership styles. She felt she could perhaps kill two birds with one stone.
"If, um...if you hadn't heard before, I'm Greywing. I was to become Chieftess of my small tribe. We called ourselves Wandering Steps, cuz that's all we did...we wandered the world, trying to hide from humans. I, um...I'll try to keep my story short." Panaetha gave her a small nod, and she continued. "After the originals found our planet and the wolf form, they multiplied quickly, merging elf and wolf together." There was much more to the story, but Greywing didn't think they were in the mood for a cubling's tale. "My father, Flare, was born to Karis, an elf who was also half wolf, and a pureblooded male. He Recognized many in his life, but his great love was my mother, Iona...she was an original, I guess what he calls a High One," she said, nodding at Keleero. "That is...not a very nice name, in my land," Greywing chuckled, but they way Keleero had said it with such reverence had her thinking it was high praise to him.
"Flare led just one of many tribes on my world." Greywing stopped and shook her head as if she was trying to clear it. "'My world'...how I...we...got here, I still..." She shivered a little, then continued. "The originals wanted their children to explore all they could of the land, but knew that humans posed a big threat, so we Recognized as much as we could. My tribe is...was...not an uncommon story? But the ferals are fierce and superstitious, especially the ones who are just wild and don't belong to a tribe. They scared other tribes into believing I caused the death of my tribesmates...they look down on pure blood too, saying that it made me easier to track by the humans, since my scent didn't blend in as well with our world."
Her eyes widened as she realized she was babbling. "I-I'm sorry, I...I don't mean to go on. I just...haven't really spoken to anyone for so long. Um..." she wiped her eyes as she gathered her thoughts. "Anyway, um, the leadership was up to the tribe. Each chief or chieftess is a child of Karis...that makes her my grandmother. And each tribe carries an original, or one of their pureblooded children, to make sure the tribe doesn't forget where they came from. But how it works all depends on who's in the tribe. If the purebloods have more sway, they tend to discuss things more. But if the wolfbloods and ferals outnumber them, then the chief is more likely to be the one leading voice of the tribe...the rest just follow. It's dangerous...if the tribe doesn't agree with their chief, ferals won't hesitate to...bring him or her down." She didn't say it, but she hoped it was implied enough; if a tribe wanted to overthrow their chief, they'd go for the kill. Exile was the next "best" option, but that in itself was a death sentence.
"I, um...I don't know what will work best for us. If anyone wants to work together at all." She had a preference, certainly...she preferred a more council-like leadership, or at least a single leader who greatly considered a council. Flare had been wise enough for that, but as he grew older, the ferals in Greywing's tribe had started to test him, so he took more risks. That was probably the cause of their demise, ultimately.
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Post by No-Sting on Sept 21, 2014 23:25:42 GMT 1
Oddspot gave a displeased yowl as Thistel and Tinder left, taking the cheetah kitten with them, but didn't follow. There was no danger to the kitten and a fight could do more harm than good. But Oddspot was still very uneasy, pacing up and down along the fire, eyes locked on where Tinder and Thistel had gone.
No-Sting was snapped out of her confusion by this and went to comfort her bond, giving Badger's shoulder a squeeze of comfort before moving away and back to her spot by the fire, Oddspot, Swift-Wind and Eager. Sitting there she listened as Choice and Greywing spoke.
"High One, an insult?" No-Sting said, somewhat baffled. She chose to ignore Reefshadow's bone-shaping admission, as Choice had already asked about it. "That's a first." She couldn't keep the awe out of her voice, despite her disbelief at the situation as a whole. "So you're from a time just when the High Ones came to this world. That's..." She had no words.
OOC: No-Sting has grasped that the Beacon can take elves from different points in time through the Beacon, but she's not understood that the worlds themselves are different.
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Post by Keleero on Sept 21, 2014 23:37:40 GMT 1
Shapechanging. Keleero remembered vague legends of the High Ones being beings of fire and change, able to take any form they pleased until the horrible accident that trapped them on this world - or, well, his home world, if this was not it. But for someone to use it as such...
Now is not the time, Keleero told himself, you've already lost so much time just staring at them.
Trying to sort out what had been said, Keleero finally spoke: "'High One' is definitely not an insult among my people. The High Ones are our ancestors, the First Commers, the ones who traveled the stars and possessed great magic. Who would mock that?"
Greywing had spoken of 'ferals' and 'wolfriders', but Keleero had no clear reference for that. Was Slinker, Silverthorn, Goldenbraid and Juniper wolfriders? Or ferals? And Badger, hadn't she mentioned having lost a wolf when coming here? What did Greywing define as? Nothing made any sense anymore!
Calmly! Keleero took a deep breath. "My people had - have - a Lord who rules us. Some times we might discuss decisions among ourselves, but bigger decisions are up to the Lord and possibly parts of the council."
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Post by Greywing on Sept 22, 2014 0:14:25 GMT 1
"Ferals would mock that," Greywing shrugged. "I, um...I guess I should explain that too? The originals, they were...maybe are...so old that we can't imagine the seasons that have passed during their lives. They changed shapes, exploring different worlds...and when they became trapped, they tried different predator forms. With Karis's birth, and the birth of her children, we found discovered different ways of being. The Wolfriders are elves with a more stable balance between their elf and wolf sides. Ones who are more wolf than elf are called 'ferals,' because they're so wild...some of them even have fur and fangs. Ones like me, we..." Greywing paused, then shrugged again. "We have no name. We are lumped in with Wolfriders, so I guess that's what we are...but the elf blood courses through us more strongly. And last, the ones who have no wolf at all, they're the originals and their elf-blooded children. The ferals call them High Ones, because they are taller, but also because so many of them are more focused on going back to the stars, than the realities of survival on the land."
"The ferals also feel like the originals look down on them, from their mountain...it survived. The vessel the originals traveled in, from star to star. Before it...died? It disguised itself as a mountain. Some say that the originals still live there, trying to fix it...Karis lives there as well. I've never been." Her words held a little regret in them...would she be able to go back someday? "But the ferals think they live up there, judging us, but especially the ferals, for how little elf blood they have. My father told me that's why they judged me so harshly, because I'm everything they hate...the wolf blood I have doesn't matter to them, most of them saw me as a pure elf trying to pretend to be a Wolfrider."
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Post by Panaetha on Sept 22, 2014 0:59:41 GMT 1
The idea of Greywing not only being from the time of the High Ones, but the very direct descendant of them, seemed to be sending ripples through the tribe. Panaetha had very little awe for High Ones; her own mother claimed to be related to them, as well as the other Gliders who lived in her mountain. If Greywing's originals were anything like the healer's mother and her ilk, she was not impressed.
As the youngest elf finished her latest part of her story, the healer rubbed her back a little, and tried to bring the conversation back to leadership. "My pride handles leadership through combat. Many elves who come from many different kinds of large cats live together, so our chief is not always a tiger...our pride was just started by a tiger-blooded elf, so the name stayed. When a new leader is to be appointed, the different kinds of cat-bloods separate, and each presents one or two candidates for the role. They then fight in rounds, and the winner becomes chief." She looked around and pondered the idea; she didn't think it would fit here. "This group is so small, and these battles can be dangerous...I would prefer not to handle leadership like that. My mother's...gathering of elves operates on a council, but they are just a small group of ancient Gliders. Only seven, at my last check, but I admit that was many seasons ago. They're small enough that they can simply agree on what to do."
She tried to go over in her mind what groups each elf had come from...perhaps they could band together and appoint a council member? But that didn't seem even...some elves, like Reefshadow, had none like them. Or separated by ability? Perhaps the hunters could have one voice, the healers another, the shapers another...but that didn't satisfy her either. She pondered too on who would join what group...was Reefshadow a healer, or something else? He shaped bone...an ability outside of her own, but it didn't shock her. She was unsure what one would do with such an ability, however. Shaping a bone inside the body seemed fairly useless.
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Post by Juniper on Sept 22, 2014 7:12:31 GMT 1
Juniper settled back on his place, once the discussion had turned into ancestors and what-not. He had never seen a living High One, but by what Greywing explained, he understood how the ... ferals used the term in a mocking tone. The magic of the water elf was uncommon to him as well, but Juniper supposed it might become handy. Not every tool could be from wood, and if they did not have stone carvers, bone weapons would do as well.
The discussion turned into leadership things. The treeshaper said, "We choose our leader with trials."
He gestured towards the odd-looking grey-skinned female, "Kind of like her tribe, but not always with combat. I mean, it is one part, but there are also other matters that weigh in the decision. Survival skills, hunt skills, or understanding the plants around. It... It's complicated... But we did have really balanced chiefs, that took a note of every tribe member's views in matters."
It was obvious, that they might not even pick a leader or chief in this group. No one seemed to like anyone at the moment, and Juniper was sure he would not follow just anyone's lead.
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. I know conflict scenes can run a bit hot, so.)
