Log file from Cutter.

01/04/2000 0:19:54

Title: Confronting Sir Zirek

Characters: Zirek and Cutter

Synopsis: Cutter catches Zirek leaving the holt after he slipped in under the 
Glider ban.

Hill
Standing atop the slope, you have an incredible view of the SilverRun river, to 
the west of the holt and to the Northeast you see the huge branches of the 
immense father tree in the distance, reaching upward to the sky. The land here 
rises softly in a gentle slope, then drops off steeply to the river bank which 
hems in the western side of the holt. The land around you is covered over with 
rich green grass and dotted with sweet smelling flowers. As the daystar sets the 
air turns chilly in the NewGreen evening.


Zirek has apparently gotten rather sloppy in covering his tracks when he sneaks 
into the holt to see Minx. He comes strolling out of the holt proper as 
pleasantly as you please, carrying his boots over his shoulder. He seems to have 
made himself quite at home.

Cutter seems to have been expecting Zirek as he stands leaning against a nearby 
tree, long arms crossed in an almost lazy fashion over his narrow chest. His 
bright, blue, lupine eyes carry a hard glint in them as he watches the Glider 
slip out of the cover of the forest and his jaw sets as his brows draw into a 
heavy scowl. His send is clear and crisp as the chill air of the whitecold 
season as he straightens and somehow manages a wolfish stalk in Zirek's 
direction, no matter that the stance doesn't seem to match his height at all. 
**I was beginning to wonder if you were going to come out before the daystar 
rose.**

Zirek stiffens, suddenly getting exactly the same expression on his face when 
he'd barely reached an eight-of-turns and was doing something he knew was 
against the rules. It wasn't all that long ago, after all. Still, the lad 
straightens his shoulders. ** Ah. Cutter. I'd wondered when you'd catch on. ** 
He's not belligerent, not contrary, just quite clearly breaking the rules with 
full knowledge of what he's doing. Just as headstrong as when he was a cub here 
in Lostholt with his equally headstrong dam. Only now he's not a harmless cub, 
but a former Chosen. One who knows your daughter's soulname, who helped her kill 
a glider and then escape. One who professed love for your family, but willingly 
returned to the clutches of the very Black Snake who has tried again and again 
to destroy you and yours.

Cutter stops just in front of Zirek to regard him with that unchanged glare that 
speaks volumes without aid of send or voice. **It didn't take all that long 
really. Though I had hoped that you would have caught on to my watching you 
before I had to confront you.** His hands, shaped by the very Black Snake that 
you've aided in the past, draw into determined fists at his sides as a low growl 
emits from deep within. **Stay out of LostHolt. I've been kind enough to allow 
you to stay this close to the forest. Don't make me send you back to your 
<Lord>.** the send is as low and dangerous as the growl letting you know that he 
means business, no matter that, even in send, he nearly chokes on the word 
referring to the Black Snake.

Zirek ducks his head, eyes looking away in an unconscious guesture of 
submission. He scratches his still-bandaged shoulder of his useless arm 
absently. ** Not my Lord. Not any longer. I've told you that. No longer a 
Chosen, no longer a Hunter. What am I supposed to do, Cutter? Keep living on the 
edges, hiding in the shadows? It's not my way. I'm a warrior. With no tribe to 
protect any longer. ** He scuffs his foot a little. ** If you want me to go, 
I'll take my family and go. But you get to tell Minx, okay? Fair's fair... ** 
His send is a bit wry, and you're quite aware of what your hotheaded grandcub 
will probably have to say about that. Entirely too much like Bearclaw. Maybe 
even more than Ember was.

Zirek sends again. ** I'm sorry, Cutter. You're chief and in spite of how stupid 
I think this little rule of yours is, I should obey it. I won't set foot in your 
holt again. **

At the mention of Minx's probable reaction, something changes in Cutter's 
expression, though it is only a slight one, it is a change. His jaw clenches 
once more and then he relaxes a bit before glancing off over the top of the hill 
and nodding his head. **One thing at a time, Zirek. At least I didn't throw you 
out of the father tree.** he sends with a hint of subtle humor underlying the 
last bit. **I know Minx wouldn't have appreciated that.**

Zirek stifles a laugh and rubs his nose, still not meeting your eyes. ** No... 
you're probably right. **

Cutter nods as his hands relax out of the fists at his sides. **I don't care if 
Minx wants to come out here to be with you. That's her business. As for you... 
You've betrayed my trust in the past and that's not something I can easily put 
aside.. not anymore.** he sends sounding more than a little tired and perhaps a 
bit uneasy entrusting you with that bit of information.

Zirek runs the fingers of his good hand through his hair. ** I understand. ** 
And, strangely, he actually seems to. ** My family and I will leave as soon as 
we're packed. **

Cutter lets out a long sigh.. **I didn't say for you to leave. You don't have to 
but, if you want back in the holt with my invitation behind it, you've got to 
give me reason to trust you again.**

Zirek's hand balls into a fist now, and he finally meets your eyes. ** How can I 
do that, Cutter? You're right not to trust me. I never /mean/ to mess things up, 
but I always do. And you know what? Minx wants to come with me when we go. But 
what am I anymore? A Chosen who can never return to the Mountain? A traitor to 
both sides? By the shadow of the great ice wall, if I were a chief, I'd send 
someone like me to the farthest side of child moon! It all seemed to make some 
kind of sense at some time, but now... Ah, dung. You're right. **

Cutter seems to ponder that for a long moment trying to find some sort of answer 
but, in the end can only nod understanding at least some part of it all.

Zirek paces a little. ** If you will allow my family to go safely into the holt, 
I'll go away. Would that be sufficient? **

Cutter's brow draws low into something akin to a confused scowl and he shakes 
his head, **I can't learn to trust you if you're nowhere around.** he sends 
finally.

Zirek grins lopsidedly ** I don't know that I should try to get you to trust me. 
**

Cutter shrugs his shoulders, **And I don't know if I want to.. so, I guess that 
leaves it up to you.** he sends while doing his best to fight down the 
beginnings of a smile.

Zirek scratches the back of his neck again. ** So, ah... any idea when your 
lovely lifemate will be back? I am getting real tired of this arm. **

Cutter glances, once more, in the direction of the hilltop as if hoping to see 
Leetah there and sighs longingly when she doesn't appear. He shakes his head, 
**Soon, I hope.** he sends and rubs the back of his neck seemingly upset by his 
lifemate's prolonged absence from his side, then again, maybe it's something 
else that's bugging him.

Zirek tilts his head. "I can go get her if you want."

Cutter shakes his head, **No, she'll come back when she's finished with her 
visiting.** he sends with a sigh, knowing how Leetah and Shen Shen can be when 
together.

Zirek scratches his arm. "Just as well, I guess. I'd have to sneak to the 
Mountain for Talon and hope that Woodshadow doesn't find out." He sighs a 
little. "I miss my bird."

Cutter studies you thoughtfully for a long moment after that revelation, then 
nods in understanding, **Though those birds seem to bring us nothing but, 
trouble, I understand.**

Zirek grins a little. "Yeah. Maybe I should get a pet wolf." He teases.

Cutter's brow lifts as a snort of laughter emits from him, "They're more than 
pets, you know," he observes somewhat dryly.

Zirek nods emphatically "I know! You can ride them, too."

Cutter looks toward the stars and shakes his head, "They're like brothers to us. 
We don't ride them simply because they're trained for it. They let us ride 
them."

Zirek looks at Cutter a little closer. "Yeah. I know. 'Shadow's a 'rider. When 
we Recognized... I think I got a little closer to understanding. Well, um... " 
He rubs the back of his neck. "I can't say I really /understand/ it, but it's as 
much of your nature as bein' a warrior is mine." Clumsy words, but he's trying 
at least.

Cutter smiles, a bittersweet expression, as he nods his head and studies the 
toes of his boots for a moment. Perhaps it has something to do with the warrior 
comment, something he's had to be but, would rather forget about. A flash of 
pained memory crosses his face but, in the shadows cast by the fringe of pale 
locks, it would be difficult for any to see. Finally, he nods again and lifts 
his gaze back to yours, **I suppose that's the best way to think about it.**

Zirek yawns and stretches slightly. He tries to think of something else to say. 
** Cutter, I'd never hurt Minx, or Ember, or any of your tribe. Not knowingly. 
Just know that. **

Cutter's lips quirk into a lopsided smirk as he nods, **It's a good thing I know 
that already or I'd have tossed you out of the father tree no matter what Minx 
said.** even though there is an uneasiness and a hint of humor behind the send, 
you get the impression that he's as serious as death itself, and more than 
capable of doing just that if he felt the need.

Zirek nods, respect in his look. ** Understood, my chief. ** He gives a little 
GoBack salute and wanders towards 'Shadow's tent.

Cutter nods and watches you for a moment before turning and slipping into the 
forest, almost as silently as he did before the change but, to a Wolfrider's 
ears, he's almost as noisy as a Glider.