Log Date: 12/31/95 Log Intro: Rillwhisper of Willowholt and Strongbow of Lostholt have set out on a journey again -- this time riding from Lostholt to Grove, hoping to find Strongbow's misplaced lifemate, Moonshade. The last time either of them had seen or heard from her, the tanner had been leaving Willowholt, and apparently intended to return to Lostholt; however, suspecting now that Moonshade has changed her mind and decided to visit her tribe's kin at Grove, the chieftess and the archer have set off in that direction. Along the way, Strongbow continues to demonstrate the same hesitance he's shown ever since remembering his slaying of Tash: hesitance to touch anything he's hunted, hesitance to make even the simplest of decisions. His only certainty seems to lie in the need to find Moonshade, but despite this, he seems relieved to let Rillwhisper choose the path they take, choose the times to hunt and camp, choose which of them will stand watch when. But their route takes them through a strange, remote northern wood... one which sends distant shivers of remembrance through Rillwhisper's head. These shivers continue as she and Strongbow realize they are being stalked -- and flare into shocked life as the pair are attacked by the wood's denizens, huge spiders. The spiders quickly surround them, and Rillwhisper is the first to leap into the fray, when she realizes that she's seen these spiders before, long ago in the days when she still was one of Redbear's tribe. Now, though, there are only two elves to fight the spiders, and it does not take long before one of them wounds the chieftess with a sting to her side. That galvanizes Strongbow into action, and he joins Rillwhisper hastily, resuming his skilled familiarity with the bow as he begins firing arrow after arrow. He manages to distract the creatures closing in on the wounded chieftess, long enough to shout at her to run, to get on her wolf, to go for help. The Preserver Fallberry chatters frantic agreement even as it strives to fight the spiders in the way it can, with its own wrapstuff. But to Rillwhisper's horror, Strongbow is quickly overcome, and swathed in the spiders' wrappings. Grieving, loath to leave him but desperate to get what help she can, she tries to clamber onto her wolf to flee -- only, shortly thereafter, to be overcome by the spiders, and the venom already injected into her veins. Struggle as she might, she is cocooned in the spiders' webbing.... and there she remains, as days begin to pass, till at last.... ---------- Around the cocoon, Helper creeps in from the lighted area off towards Sun-Comes-Up. It obviously knows the area, and how to avoid the spiders all around it. Around the cocoon, It creeps around, examing the various cocoons, a small thorn dagger grasped in one hand. It pokes and prods at them all, and finally, reaches the one the size of an elf. Around the cocoon, Helper draws back slightly, a hand in a small pouch at it's side. It peers around cautiously at the eyes all around it. Taking a step forward it starts to cut away at the webbing. Around the cocoon, Helper mutters slightly as it gets covered in webbing. *click* *click* *click* The spiders sense the small creature. It cuts more furiously, muttering all along. Around the cocoon, It's a large cocoon, to be sure, and as the cutting commences, bits of what -- or who -- is imprisoned within can be seen. Green leathers come first into view. Around the cocoon, As the content of the cocoon are revealed, the creature slows what it is doing. It looks around nervously at the incoming spiders. Around the cocoon, Without another thought, the helper suddenly takes hold of the cocoon in a firm grip, and starts to drag it away from the spider infested woods. Within the cocoon, a bit of a face can be seen within the cut wrappings: pale features, slack, unmoving. They remain so, even as the cocoon is dragged off. Helper A small being with pale green skin. It has rounded ears, not unlike a trolls. However, it is much smaller, and wears rough cut skins. Overgrown Path Twisted, dark trees grow all around you here. Totally unfamiliar sounds come from every direction. The path that you walk on is hardly a path what with the way the trees haphazardly part for the dark path. Multi-faceted eyes peer out at you - their yellowish glow adding to the dreary and evil atmosphere. Webs hang from almost every tree though to your left they are more abundant while up ahead you think you can see a lighted clearing. A quick glance to your left through the webs reveals a narrow path leading deeper into the woods and away from what would appear to be a safe haven in the grove ahead. As you move through the woods surrounding you there is a constant *click* *click *click* Contents: Helper Obvious exits: Mountain Spring Woods Grove Around the cocoon, Helper pants and lets go of the cocoon as it gets away from sounds of the angry spiders. Around the cocoon, Helper takes a step back, quite frightened at the sight of a face in the cocoon. Its grip on the thorn dagger gets tighter. Rillwhisper lies, completely still, half-obscured by the remaining webbings surrounding her. Bits of the stuff cling to her visible skin, making it seem almost as if it's grown there. Around the cocoon, Helper takes a step forward, its toe poking at the prone figure inside. It mutters quietly, "Preservers got it. Poison will have to be removed." Around the cocoon, Helper still looks quite nervous, unsure at best at what it is inside the cocoon. Around the cocoon, Helper mutters about 'Preservers' as it reaches into its pouch, pulling out a rolled up leaf. Around the cocoon, What _is_ it? From what can be seen of the cocooned thing, it has large eyes, albeit closed ones. A few strands of reddish-golden hair wisp out from among the webbings, near the face. Around the cocoon, Helper picks away at the webbing, having placed the rolled up leaf on the ground. It looks on curiously, fear making way for fascination as it gets a better look... The rest of the face starts to come into view, first: a bit of pointed ear, sticking up from underneath red-gold hair and pale webbing. An arm, ending in a slender four-fingered hand. The... creature's?.... side, once concealing webbing is picked away more cleanly, seems reddened. Is it wounded? Around the cocoon, Helper mutters, "This not foodstuff," it tugs at the pointed ears, and then picks up a hand, and drops it back down. It then looks at the reddened spot curiously Around the cocoon, Helper puts down its dagger and pokes gently at what looks like a wound. Around the cocoon, Helper mutters and picks up the rolled up leaf, "Lira's medicine will wake it up." The creature remains slumped all the while, barely breathing. When its side is poked, it doesn't twitch, but red moisture lingers on the poked dagger. Around the cocoon, Helper wrinkles its nose as the wound bleeds and then uncermoniously and not very carefully jams the end of the leaf into the wound. Around the cocoon, Helper leans over and takes a deep breath, blowing into the other end of the leaf, causing a powerdy substance to be injected into the prone figure. Around the cocoon, Helper pulls back and tosses the leaf aside and pats the wound slightly. It continues to pick at the webbing, mumbling amazingly as it watches the 'thing.' Around the cocoon, After finishing to pick the webbing away, the creature moves away from the cocoon's remains and the thing inside, it watches as the medicine slowly starts to take effect. After a time, the creature's eyelid's shift, infinitely slowly, as if the eyes beneath them roll slightly. While the helper picks at its imprisoning cocoon, eventually more of the creature can be seen -- its other arm, tops of legs, breeches. A pouch at its waist. Its hair, still strewn with random bits of webbing, is tied up behind its head. Helper's look is like it is seeing a legend come alive... Rillwhisper frowns to herself... or does she? Deep inside her thoughts, it seems to her that she ought to frown. Something's wrong. She remembers. Flashes of conflict of some sort play out behind her eyelids, and, seeing them, she tries to puzzle through them... but it's so hard to think. Rillwhisper, at last, lifts open her eyes with an effort. A glazed green gaze meets the squat figure leaning over her, without recognition. Helper croutches, watching the thing quietly, it jumps slightly as the thing turns towards it, it's hand scrambling to pick up its thorn dagger. Rillwhisper's brow furrows, again, slowly. Still sprawled where the helper has freed her, she frowns more visibly, and her mouth moves a bit. A breath of a whisper emerges: "...bow... where... find Str..." Helper's ears twitch as the elf speaks, it's eyes open wide at the sound of another's voice... of all its time, so few voices, but now, something new. Rillwhisper starts to remember, and, with that, dismay trickles into her expression. The spiders. Strongbow. She's got to find him -- he made her leave. Her hands move, seemingly at random, as she struggles to roll over. But she makes it only to her side before she dimly realizes that there's pain there, and her eyes clamp shut. Helper continues to watch it, but then grimaces slightly as the thing rolls over onto its injured side, "Medicine won't work. Stay still." Helper keeps its distance, hoping the thing understands it's words. Rillwhisper grimaces. A voice? Muzzily, she tilts her head, trying to look up. Helper talks in the same language you do, though it is broken up, is if it never really learned everything there was to talking. "Stay still." Helper moves over towards you and rolls you back onto your back, its dagger dropped. Rillwhisper frowns, blinking several times up at the strange little face over hers. "Wha..." she mumbles, "... you?" Helper says "Preservers bite you. Lira's medicine won't work. Stay still." Rillwhisper squints. Preservers? Bite? Since when do Preservers have teeth? Baffled, she just squints -- staying still, with this heavy ache all throughout her limbs, seems like a marvelous idea. Until she remembers the archer again. "Strongbow," she mumbles thickly, as she tries to sit up. "Gotta find Strongb... oooohhh..." Helper wrinkles a brow, "Only Lir and Lira and Master here." It pulls away from you, "Stay still." Helper digs around in its pouch, "Lar doesn't fix things." It mumbles some more, "Lira does." Its eyes don't move from you, it continues to watch intently. Helper continues to watch you, hoping you'll just sit still... Helper crouches, away from the strange creature it has found wrapped in one of the 'preservers'' cocoons. Rillwhisper, as the helper's words continue to make little sense, frowns vaguely and worriedly. Strongbow. She's got to find him. He was... he was shooting arrows. Fast. And sending at her to leave... because... he needed help? Help. Help! Abruptly, roughly, she cries out, "The spiders!" and tries to stagger to her feet. Rillwhisper sendshouts ** ** Helper peers at the creature, and jumps as it tries to stand up, the grip on its dagger gets tight, "Stay still. Only Lir and Lira and Master here." Helper says "No Strongbow." Rillwhisper wobbles, apparently not quite certain whether she's on her feet or on her knees, as she reels in several directions. "I've... got to find him, the spiders...." Helper grumbles and mutters, "Medicine won't work. Stay still." It keeps back away from you, awe and fear still in its eyes. Rillwhisper blinks muzzily at the creature nearby, and scowls. Or at least tries to. Turning slightly green with the effort of -- well, more or less standing up -- she lurches against a tree, and scrunches her eyes closed. He _must_ hear her... Rillwhisper sendshouts ** Strongbow! ** Helper moves cautiously towards you, the scowl holding it back. "Preservers bites are bad." He clenches his hand into a fist, "Lar said stay still." Helper seems to be trying to help, though certainly more harshly then is necessary. It moves to slam its fist into you to get you to sit down. Rillwhisper focuses, with an effort, on the strange little creature. Plaintively, she mumbles, "I've got to find..." Then, as you swing at her, she gives an incoherent groan, and tries to lift a hand to block you. But the motion overbalances her, and she topples sideways. Helper mutters, and looks slightly angry, but not too surprised at what it just did, "Just like master, does not stop talking." Rillwhisper's face crumples in an expression that might be miserable, if it had more strength to it. Not even quite able to consciously think of how awful she feels, she crouches, slowed and sluggish thoughts registering only pain and disorientation. Rillwhisper again attempts to focus on the face of the... being?... that found her. Too difficult to think of _what_ it is. Hard enough to mumble, "Please... I... help me... I... have to find him..." Helper says "Master is in the tree." Rillwhisper blinks groggily. "Wh.... who?" Helper says "The master. He is resting. His medicine is stronger than Lira's." Rillwhisper's nose wrinkles. Not sure whether she knows the word 'medicine', she mumbles, "Healer? He's... a healer?" Helper peers at you, the word seeming familiar, "He doesn't use garden stuff. He uses himself." Helper says "He will help you. You are not food." Rillwhisper blinks several times, confused, and not really able to keep up with even simple words. "No... not food... I'm... Rillwhisper..." Helper wrinkles a brow, Helper says "Master never talked of a... a... Rillwhipser... Only Aerth and Vol and..." Helper continues to rattle off names. Helper eventually mentions "Timmain" but doesn't stop before going on. Rillwhisper stares confusedly at the little creature, and at "Timmain", jerks, but has only enough mental awareness to stay with the fact that this alledged "master" is a healer. "Pl... please... I... I need a healer, please, ask him... if he'll help me..." She slumps back against the tree behind her. Helper points towards a lighted area furhter down the path, "Master is resting in the tree," it walks over to you and takes hold of your leathers, "Follow Lar." Rillwhisper hisses, breathlessly, as she's tugged at. The world lurches about her, but she can't quite manage a protest about moving. Thus, she staggers after... Lar, trying her best to keep from falling over. Helper practically drags you along, apparently not concerned or having forgotten about your wounds, towards the grove. You push your way through the woods and webbing to get to the light that seemed so far away before. You breath a sigh of relief as you see... Grove(#9784RJLU) Life fills you as you walk into this grove. All around you plants grow, twisting around each other in a magical dance of life. A majestic tree stands in the center of the grove, it's life force encompassing the whole area. Small rock formations dot the garden adding another level of beauty to the place. A small spring flows from between some of the rocks and becomes a miniature strem meandering through the many trees and flowers. Other than the huge tree in the center of the grove all the others bear wonderful fruit of all different varieties while each flower is in bloom and full color. You notice stairs curling up around into the tree directly into it's heart. Even through all this beauty you can hear the constant *click* *click* *click* off in the dark woods surrounding you. Obvious exits: Woods Path Hole Tree Helper comes in from the overgrown path, twigs and leaves stuck to them haphazardly. Helper has arrived. Helper lets go of you as you walk into the more well lighted areas, and lets out a shout, "MASTER!" Rillwhisper staggers along after you, dimly thinking, a Holt? A pair of almost identical creatures are in the grove also. One is digging around in a garden, while another is changing the position of some rocks by the stream. The other two creatures move over towards what has been calling itself Lar, whispered muttering and familiar looks come from them as they look towards you. Rillwhisper totters to a halt, and frowns vaguely as the grove whirls indistinctly around her. And, just as slowly as she's been moving before, she falls down to her knees. Helper looks away from his companions, apparently haven given them some sort of explanation, "Rillwhisper" having come up several times in their mutterings. The one calling itself Lar lets out another shout, "Master!" Rillwhisper jerks her head up, alarmed anew, at the shout. She fumbles one hand down to keep herself vaguely upright, where she kneels in the grass. The two other creatures scurry off towards the edge of the grove, watching from there. Doreel walks down the stairs from the heart of the tree. Doreel has arrived. Doreel Sorrow and lonliness are this elf's most obvious traits. Both stand out, even beyond his tall frame and shoulder length blond hair which has been tied loosely at the end. His blues eyes don't hold the life that they may have at one point. Instead they face the ground much of the time as he mutters quietly to himself - lost in thought and memories. Even through his apparent sorrow the elf's appearance is impecable and perfect as you can see no scars or any hint of wounds or aging. He wears simple though well crafted leathers with a fuzzy white lining - obviously for protecting him from the elements. His boots are simple soft leather though quite functional. Doreel walks down the stairs that curl around the tree slowly, his eyes slowly fluttering open, obviously having just woken up. Doreel says "Lar. What are you shouting about?" Doreel doesn't look down at the creature at all, obviously bothered by its shouting. Doreel looks at you closely for a moment. Muttering from the two creatures away from the center of the grove are always accompanied by looks towards Rillwhisper. Rillwhisper, clinging to shreds of consciousness, blinks several times at the new arrival. _Tall_ is the first thing that registers in her mind, and she can't quite keep in a whimper, before her recalcitrant brain reminds her that this is an elf. Her mouth moves soundlessly for a moment, and at last she mumbles, "Please... help... I-I need... healer..." Helper says "It is a Rillwhisper, master. I found it when I was getting food like you said." Doreel looks towards the other elf, his eyes flash in surprise at the sound of the voice, an elfin voice... so long... Doreel looks at you curiously, then he notices your short stature, your looks, far from what he has ever known for elves to look like... Rillwhisper's glassy green eyes remain more or less in the vicinity of the tall elf, but she frowns, as she finds her vision swimming in and out and obscuring more than height, an impression of pale hair, flawlessly created clothing. "Please," she repeats, voice hoarser. "Help..." Then, dizzy, she droops her head. Doreel looks towards Lar, a scowl coming over his face, "What is this. The preservers did not capture this. A human, you are bringing a human here?!" Helper cowers at the tall elf's sudden change of moods. The elf's harsh voice does not befit him at all, and the fear that is there is quiet evident. Rillwhisper jerks her head up again, and she stares. "Wha... human? No... I'm... Rill... whisper... I'm... Wolfrider..." Doreel turns his attention back towards you, but not before giving Lar a 'I'll deal with you later' look. Helper scrambles off to join the other two creatures. Rillwhisper tries to stand, again, continuing in a babble, "Pl... please... I-I... need a healer... I... have to find Strongbow, the spiders got him, he'll need my help, please..." The three creatures mumble between themselves. Doreel says "I'll not heal a human. Nor help one find anything." Doreel keeps his distance from you. The branches near Doreel's head curl away, as if moving away from his anger, and sharing his fear. Rillwhisper wails, slurrily, her voice rising in pitch and volume, "'Mna human! Not a human..." Her expression crumpling, she stretches forth an empty hand. Send it, she thinks, surely that'll help... if she can send, with her head spinning like this. ** ** Doreel's eyes open wide, the send reaches him, he reels back against the tree, hundreds of hands of turns since he last felt a send. His eyes get glazed, his face gets paler. Rillwhisper, drained from the effort of that small sending, crumples over again. And blinks at a furious pace, as her eyes tear over. "Gotta... find Strongbow..." Her voice comes out much more weakly, now. Doreel looks towards you, tears of both pain and joy starting to form in his eyes, he starts to send, as if unsure of how to do it, but it is strong and sure after a moment. Doreel sends openly ** Reeya, mother... Strongbow. There is no Strongbow in the group... ** Doreel moves the rest of the way down the stairs and towards you, ** You are injured, why are you not healing yourself? ** The small creatures all continue to look on intently, one of them, which looks remotely female, starts to make a move to join its master, but stays back at the insistence of Lar. Rillwhisper has fallen over on her unwounded side, now, and she looks up with an effort. Her eyes widen at the sending, but, faintly, she realizes this means he knows she's an elf. The implications of his mistaking her for a human are lost on her, at least for now. She starts, "Strongbow... was... with me... my... friend..." Then her brow wrinkles. "I'm... not a healer...." Doreel sends openly ** I will fix you. The Presevers are not what I remember them to be. They bite now. That is what happened to you... ** Doreel kneels down beside you, his delicate hands reaching out to be placed on your side. Rillwhisper frowns, mumbling, "Pre...servers?" Then, as the taller elf crouches near, and touches her, she stares foggily up at him, partly fearful, partly hopeful, visibly worried. Doreel's hands glow gently, his healing powers are stong, and warm, perhaps like you have not felt before. The magic first starts to push the 'preservers' bvenom from you. Doreel sends openly ** You do not have to worry. The humans will not find us here. The rest of the group is hidden. ** Doreel's reveal the fear that he feels for you, and for the rest of whatever group he is sending about. Rillwhisper jerks, then sucks in a breath of relief, as she feels the contact of magic. Her brow still furrows, at the sending, though. "Humans....? Wait... I... ohhh... I... Strongbow..." The magic slowly starts to knit the wound together, the elf's concentration doesn't seem to break even as he continues to send conherently ** Please, relax, the helpers are watching. ** Rillwhisper lies back, aware now only of the relief of that awful weight in her limbs subsiding. Her thoughts still heavy and torpid, she closes her eyes. Talk... after rest. Yes. Good idea, to just lie still... A slight smile breaks over Doreel's face, perhaps another thing new for him, as you relax. His magic flows more freely now, your cooperation making it easier for him to work. Slowly, something resembling a more normal color enters the small elf's face. The sting-wound under her torn leathers fades, leaving only the bloodstains, after a time.... Doreel sends openly ** There. Better. You can rest easy now. We will all be able to move again soon. ** Rillwhisper considers, then sends muzzily, ** All.... right... can't... rest long. I have to find him... ** Doreel sends openly ** They are all in the caves. You do not have to worry. He will be there. ** Rillwhisper, not remembering running into any caves during the journey out of Lostholt, frowns a little. But with her battered body soothed, it's much more tempting to just rest, for now, and think later. ** ... ** Doreel sends openly ** You will be able to rest now. When you wake up, I am sure we will continue to move before the humans find us. ** Rillwhisper mumbles aloud, "Humans... we'll have... to hide..." Her eyes drift closed, and her face turns slightly to the side. Doreel picks some of the webbing from your hair. ** We are all hidden. And the small ones are watching for the humans ** Rillwhisper sends uncertain but vague assent. No more than Lar's words do these sendings make very much sense, but the Wolfrider chieftess is exhausted, and as she drops heavily into slumber, they hold even less significance. Doreel mutters quietly, mumbling some curses about humans as he stands, and motions to the helpers to move you into the tree. You climb up the winding stairs that have been shaped into the tree and walk into the very heart of it. Tree The inside of the tree hums with energy. Like the inside of a Wolfrider father tree, except a lot more. Similar images to those entwined in the limbs outside have been shaped into the walls here. Every once in a while you think you see one of the images move but when you look it is the same as when you entered. Narrow and steep stairs curve around the inside of the tree to a small area where soft and warm furs have been left lying for a sleeping area. Several windows line the highest parts of the tree and give a wonderful view of the sky and stars. This place is surely one of the most wonderous things you have ever seen. Obvious exits: Out Doreel comes in from the outside of the tree, and into it's heart. Doreel has arrived. Doreel watches as the helpers places you on some of the furs, he then shoos them away and nods at what is apparently nothing, and sends blindly before walking back out of the tree. Doreel climbs down the stairs back out into the grove. Doreel has left. Doreel locksends ** You will be safe in the caves. Stay there, everyone is there. ** You locksend to Doreel, Rillwhisper's mind is drowsy, exhausted, but it flickers a little at the sending that seems directed to her. Caves? What caves? Doreel locksends ** You will need your strength, Vargo says we will move soon. ** You locksend ** There are... others? Tell them... tell them... Strongbow must be found, please... ** to Doreel. You sense in a locksend, Doreel returns some confusion himself ** Vargo, he is with the small ones. Why are you calling him Strongbow? The healers will finish your healing. Your sending is not clear. ** You locksend to Doreel, Rillwhisper pauses, taken aback. And palpably befuddled. ** I... Strongbow, he's... my friend... we... we have to find Moonshade, but the spiders got us... Have to find him... have to... ** You sense in a locksend, Doreel seems confused and taken aback by your sends, confused. He will get the healers. Someone nearby sendshouts ** Haarok! Tasheya needs you in the caves, where are you? Her mind wanders from the Preserver's bite. *the send sound frantic and scattered, obviously not reaching any mind by yours.* ** Doreel comes in from the outside of the tree, and into its heart. Doreel has arrived. Doreel rushes in suddenly, his face frantic, he clutches his arm as if it is injured, "Tasheya! The humans, they are coming, we have to get away!" Rillwhisper, still lying exhaustedly where she was nestled down some time ago, frowns a little in her slumber. Her head shifts slightly from the far side to the nearer, and with an effort, she opens her eyes. Who's the stranger talking to? Only after a moment does the word 'human' make it through her head, and she mumbles, "Wha...? The Tall Ones...?" Doreel grabs hold of you roughly, "They got Haarok. Come on." He tries to drag you to your feet. Doreel looks around the chamber, as if looking for 'everyone else'. "The rest have already run. Come on!" Rillwhisper starts, and, hauled to her feet, reels dizzily. "What humans? Wha... I didn't..." Unable to keep you from tugging at her, she stumbles. Doreel takes hold you and picks you back to your feet, "Please Tasheya, think straight or else the humans will get us both too. Just run." Rillwhisper mumbles, "My... name is Rillwhisper..." Tugged, and confused, she nevertheless frowns at the notion of humans nearby, and she stumbles after you as best she can. Doreel drags you down the stairs, stopping occasionally to make sure you do not fall down them, "Please Tasheya, do not say that. Just run!" Doreel climbs down the stairs back out into the grove. Doreel has left. Leaving the tree causes you to sigh slightly, as the warm life that it contains is replaced by the cooler air of the grove. Grove(#9784RJLU) Life fills you as you walk into this grove. All around you plants grow, twisting around each other in a magical dance of life. A majestic tree stands in the center of the grove, it's life force encompassing the whole area. Small rock formations dot the garden adding another level of beauty to the place. A small spring flows from between some of the rocks and becomes a miniature strem meandering through the many trees and flowers. Other than the huge tree in the center of the grove all the others bear wonderful fruit of all different varieties while each flower is in bloom and full color. You notice stairs curling up around into the tree directly into it's heart. Even through all this beauty you can hear the constant *click* *click* *click* off in the dark woods surrounding you. Contents: Doreel(#6997PJXce) Helper Obvious exits: Woods Path Hole Tree Doreel looks towards the path briefly, and then off towards the edge of the grove where the creatures were hiding earlier, none of them are anywhere in sight, "Over here. We can hide there." Doreel drags you towards the edge of the grove where the helpers have made their home in reality... Doreel clambers into a relatively unnoticed hole and disappears into the tree. Doreel has left. Doreel tries to drag you after him, "Please Tasheya, come on!" You clamber into a small and snug hole in a tree at the edge of the grove. Helper Hole(#9455RLU) Barely outside of the grove, but far enough away to make this small, well kept lair creepy enough. The *click* *click* *click* heard from the grove is more audible here. Shaped from a fairly large tree the room has no windows though the entrance gives plenty of ventilation. There are a number of furs lying in a large pile on the far wall. Little else is in here with the exception of a few wooden tools. Contents: Doreel(#6997PJXce) Obvious exits: Grove Rillwhisper staggers along in your grasp, and looks around, sniffing the air. And after a moment, scowling puzzledly. She doesn't _smell_ humans... and doesn't hear any... but her senses are still behaving strangely... Doreel stumbles down in a heap as you both reach apparent safety, "We will be safe here. This is where Vargo told everyone to run to." Rillwhisper wobbles right into a wall, and clumsily tries to right herself, before sinking heavily to the ground. "Vargo? But... there's... no one here..." Doreel looks around and shakes his head, "I am sure they will be here soon. They will be." Rillwhisper draws in awkward breaths, feeling her heart race. The back of her mind ripples with an indistinct sense of concern -- she doesn't smell any other elves around here, either. But just to be sure, she turns her head towards the hole out, and sniffs again. You say "I... don't... smell any humans..." Doreel moves over and sits down next to you, and places a hand on your shoulder, "Perhaps I can fix you... Haarok... the humans got him." Doreel wrinkles a brow, "Smell them? They... you cannot hear them?" Rillwhisper blinkblinks, looking muzzily up at you. "Don't hear any humans," she mumbles. Doreel perks his ears up, his head bows slightly, his hands start to glow, his sending reaching out towards you ** Haarok and Vargo. The humans got him Tasheya. You have to believe me ** Doreel seems quiet convinved that humans are after you both, and that you are Tasheya. Rillwhisper blinks. "I'm... Rillwhisper," she mutters, equally baffled. "I'm... sorry about Haarok, but..." Beginning to be troubled, she goes on, "I... I am not Tasheya.." Doreel looks towards you, concerned, a hand brushing against your face, "You are acting so strangely Tasheya, the poison must have gotten to your mind." Rillwhisper frowns. "Poi... son? Yes, the spiders..." _That's_ why she felt so awful, before. And her face fills with anxiety. "They've probably poisoned Strongbow, Timmorn's Blood... he's not answering my sendings..." Doreel says "Please Tasheya, you, we are both tired. You have got to stop talking like this..." Doreel says "I will try to remove the poison in the morning." Doreel says "Try to sleep Tasheya, please, for me... do not think like this..." Doreel yawns and slowly starts to drift off to sleep. Rillwhisper slumps back against the wall, frowning, still. She _does_ need to sleep. But this... stranger -- she still doesn't know his name -- is speaking so strangely. "I... wait, who... are you?" Doreel looks over at you, half asleep, "Please, just sleep, for me. everything will be better in the morning." Doreel seems to think you know very well who he is. Rillwhisper unsteadily slumps over, pillowing her disheveled-haired head on her arms. Sleep... Doreel smiles and curls up to sleep. Rillwhisper's green eyes close, as she returns to her interrupted slumber. [End log.]