Log Date: 1/22/96 Log Intro: The Willowholt elves on the quest to locate the missing Rillwhisper -- Woodhawk, Trollkiller, Rainfire, Silversong, Dawn, and Dusk -- have made it to Lostholt, where they learned that their chieftess had set out with Strongbow to look for Moonshade. But there's some uncertainty as to where the chieftess and the archer went; after council with Cutter, Skywise, and Ynderra, the Willowholters eventually decide to head for Grove Holt the following night. And when that night arrives.... ---------- Rainfire sits, back against the tree, chin on knees, and grunts a response to that. He's been pacing since the party left Willowholt. Evening begins to creep into Lostholt, and Woodhawk emerges from the den he's guested in, rubbing sleep out of his eyes. He glances around the clearing quickly, taking stock of who's awake. Overhead in some of the branches, the blonde-haired form of Dewshine giggles, and waves down to the Willowholters, as she hurries off on her sentry watch. Dawn sighs, and paces restlessly herself. Trollkiller rolls over. ** I don't think anyone will argue with that. ** Trollkiller sends openly ** Least of all me. ** Rainfire reaches out and idly skitches Trollkiller's headfur, eyes taking a brief flick around the clearing. Where /has/ Thornclaw gotten off to now? Woodhawk, seeing plainly that everyone _is_ awake, lets out a breath and nods. Glancing off into the trees, he sends for a moment; after a while, the old wolf Swiftrunner pads into view, slowly. Woodhawk yawns, then shakes himself briskly. "I'm ready enough," he notes. "Saw Ynderra on my way out. She wishes us luck." Trollkiller nods. ** Was one of Cutter's folk going to come along with us? They were saying something about that. ** Woodhawk sighs. "Skywise... well, he was thinking about it." He glances at the others. "Do we want to wait for him?" Dawn sends openly ** We can find them alone.. ** Rainfire stretches his legs and then springs upright, bottled impetus to move written in his restless energy, ** We've been here too long already. ** Woodhawk looks troubled... but he doesn't argue. He strides to his wolf, and says levelly, "Let's go, then." He does pause, though, long enough to send to what Lostholters are out and about, notifying them of their departure, and thanking them gravely. Various sends both open and private ripple back in response, and once, Ynderra's dark head pops into view out of the overhead branches, as she calls a farewell, and tosses down a pair of fresh furs for the Willowholters to take along. Trollkiller smiles up at Ynderra, sending thanks. Woodhawk smiles crookedly in thanks, and waves up to the healer maiden as she darts off again, taking up her offering and adding it to the supplies he's been carrying on his shoulders. Woodhawk turns, then, and eyes his wolf for a moment. Then turns to Trollkiller, and sends briefly. You locksend ** Lifemate.... I don't think Swiftrunner's going to carry me much longer. Can Skitches handle both of us? ** to Trollkiller. Littlefang has arrived. Dawn lets Littlefang down. Dawn takes a hold of Littlefang's fur and climbs up. Dawn has left. Rainfire fidgets and takes to the trees. You locksend to Trollkiller, Woodhawk's tone is subdued, but firm, as if he almost finds this an annoyance he doesn't want to deal with right now. But you know better; the firestarter is not taking the luxury of too much worry over his ancient wolf-friend. Trollkiller locksends ** She can carry you, and I can walk. I'm a bit much for her anyway. ** You sense in a locksend, Trollkiller's send carries understanding and notice of Swiftrunner's not quite-so-swift-anymore frame. Woodhawk, at Trollkiller's response, almost smiles. "We'll take turns," he murmurs, and turns to get on Skitches. Swiftrunner gives a brief worried whine, but doesn't protest his elf-friend's choosing to ride the younger wolf. Woodhawk glances to his tribesmates, and gestures westward. "Let's go." [The party heads westward, out of Lostholt, and across the Silver Run river. That's a wet crossing, and once the elves and wolves are on the west bank...] Trollkiller shakeshakeshakes, sending water everywhere. Trollkiller looks around. ** Oops. Sorry. ** Littlefang steps out of the river. Littlefang has arrived. Rainfire squeezes and then shakes out his hair, liberally spraying Trollkiller. Rainfire looks up and giggles. Trollkiller goes over to Rainfire just to drip on him a little. ** So there. ** Woodhawk pauses on Skitches, grinning sheepishly, shoving his hair out of his eyes. Rainfire ickicks. But he's already soaked. Oh well. He sticks his tongue out impishly at Trollkiller's back. Littlefang heads off on the journey to the plains in the west. Littlefang has left. Woodhawk laughs, and calls, "Come on, you two, we've got darkness left. Got to get as far as we can before we make camp." [The party travels onward....] Rolling Hills(#1433RJ) Contents: Littlefang Whiteridge Sopdoll Obvious exits: Lost Holt Trail Spring GreenSea Valley Arroyo South of Plains Mtn Trollkiller comes towards you from the ridge of green forest to the east. Trollkiller has arrived. Rainfire comes towards you from the ridge of green forest to the east. Rainfire has arrived. After hours of travel, the party has made it out onto the plains. At last, Woodhawk calls over to Trollkiller that Skitches grows weary, and he suggests a break, if not camp. Swiftrunner lopes along as best he can, but the old wolf's tongue lolls, and he whines. Rainfire drops down on the ground to sit as the party halts, resting. Trollkiller looks at Swiftrunner, and gently runs his hands along his headfur. Trollkiller plops down, sore. Dawn lands easily on the ground by Littlefang, giving him a friendly pat on the back. Dawn has arrived. Dawn looks tired, flooping against her wolf. Rainfire grumbles at Thornclaw who waits until now to pad into view and flop down beside his elf-friend, dropping his shaggy head into Rainfire's lap. Rainfire says "Oh NOW you show up." Trollkiller giggles, tiredly. Woodhawk takes a swig from a water-skin, and mutters, "Made good time... you all want to camp here?" Thornclaw thumps his tail ingratiatingly. Rainfire rolls his eyes and scritches the wolf anyway. Rainfire nods mutely, not looking like he cares to get up for a while. Dawn nods gravely. ** I'm tired. ** Littlefang curls up and falls asleep. Trollkiller nods. ** Camp here. Before sun comes up, or it'll be _really_ hot. ** Woodhawk nods, and turns to Trollkiller, to help his mate set up the camp. As he works, the old wolf beside him yips at the air, squinting up at something fluttering in the distance. Rainfire gets back on his feet slowly and sets to assembling one of the camp tents. He looks up as his own wolf's eyes and ears are trained skyward. Rainfire sends openly ** ??? ** Trollkiller pads gingerly over to Skitches, but then looks up at whatever it is everyone else is looking at. ** Hum? ** Trollkiller peers. Fallberry zips in, its bright wings fluttering. Fallberry has arrived. Fallberry flitflitflitflits... exhaustedly, as if its tiny wings have been bearing it forever. When it comes within viewing distance, it shrieks in delight. /Highthings! HIGHTHINGS!/ Trollkiller blinks. ** Uh. Buh?! ** Woodhawk jerks his head up. "The bug!" Rainfire gapes, "Bug!" Fallberry wobblingly flits down into the camp, piping in hysteric relief, /Fallberry do right! Fallberry find! Fallberry find!/ It zips straight for Woodhawk and Trollkiller. /Strongfurry highthing! Firehighthing! Fallberry find!/ Trollkiller gapes at the bug. ** What?! What? Where's Rillwhisper?! ** Fallberry grabs at Trollkiller's chest, tugging frantically on his fur. /Sunnygreen highthing and sharpquiet highthing in nastybad woodplace fought nastybad manyleg crawlythings Rillwhisper tell Fallberry find!/ Rainfire comes up even with Trollkiller and peers at Fallberry, "Where's Rill, bug?" Trollkiller thinks and tries to parse that out. ** Nastybad manyleg... Crawlythings? ** Trollkiller sends openly ** Spiders, bug? Do you mean spiders? ** Fallberry then promptly flits to Woodhawk and tugs on him, repeating much the same speech, wobbling in the air as it does so. The firestarter promptly gives the Preserver a forearm to perch on, and Fallberry wilts, while piping hoarsely to Rainfire, /Fallberry know! Fallberry see nastybad ickstuff webtrees! Sunnygreen highthing in middle! Fallberry see other muchmagic oldold highthing and digdigdigs and sunnygreen highthing say find other highthings. Fallberry do!/ Its wings droop. Rainfire scratches his head, looking from Trollkiller to Fallberry. Woodhawk reaches carefully to the exhausted Preserver, and props its tiny chin up. "Fallberry. Can you show us where Rillwhisper is?" Rainfire's eyes widen slightly and he looks back in a brief moment of urgency to the wolves before remembering that the whole party is exhausted. Fallberry emphatically bobs its head. Rainfire fidgets, "We have to rest and then go right away, then." Rainfire says "I'd not even rest if I didn't think the wolves would fall out from under us." Rainfire digs in his pouch and offers Fallberry a palm full of berries picked along the way. Woodhawk nods grimly to Rainfire. But there's a new spark in his gaze, and as the Preserver hastily works on gobbling juiceberries, he says firmly, "Well. They're not at the Grove, that's for certain. Tomorrow... we'll search." Trollkiller looks at Rainfire. ** Yes. But we'll have to wait. I'd wrap my pads in torn fur, but that wouldn't help the wolves as much. ** Rainfire nods, a determined set to his jaw. Trollkiller winces a little. ** That long grass is nasty on the feet. ** [End log -- players had to go.]