Log Date: May 2, 1996 Log Cast: Aureole, Briarcatch Log Intro: Aureole and Briarcatch have run into a late spring flood on their Walkabout, and begin to pick up and move on afterwards.... ---------- As the turn has continued, and Briarcatch and Aureole continue their walk, the young huntress has remained restless. She's channeled a lot of energy into finding supplies needed for new weaponry; that done, she's then turned to the hunt, along with her strong wolf, to help support the ancient Whiteridge. But she keeps close to Briarcatch, too, perhaps fearing another sudden danger roaring down out of nowhere.... Briarcatch is less reluctant, oddly enough, to let the maiden leave his side than he has been before, and there is an odd sense of calm about him, now and again. Clearly more elf than the bit of wolf that is in his line, he has never had much of a tie to the elderly Whiteridge, and so makes no protest at the fact that he hunts with Aureole. He is without his spear, however, not having stopped to fashion another, a single knife tucked into his boot top on the right foot. Something, some thorn poking at her side, has been troubling the maiden. Ree continues to scrutinize every tree, every rock, every patch of cloud that crosses her gaze, but whatever she finds -- or fails to find -- does not ease the troubled scowl she's been wearing as of late. As the pair settle down in a secluded glade for morning camp, she flops into her furs, disgruntledly, still troubled. Briarcatch settles more easily, and with more care, eyebrows lifted a little. Faint concern, and a hint of amusement color his sending. ** Ree? Just tired? ** Aureole looks up at you slowly, plaintively. ** No, ** she begins, clearly bothered... All amusement drains away from the leader of the Pathkeepers, and his brow furrows faintly. ** No? What's wrong then? Not sick, are you..? ** Aureole flops over on her back. ** I... I don't know! I can't _find_ it...! ** She chews her lip and fretfully kicks one foot. Briarcatch frowns more noticably. ** Find... what, Ree? ** He turns and leans back one one arm, elbow bent to prop him up as he watches you. He offers tenatively, ** Maybe you're looking too hard? ** Aureole looks up and over at you, pouting. ** This is the _second_ time... I must be doing _something_ wrong...! ** Briarcatch sighs, and shakes his head. ** It's .. not a matter of doing something wrong, Ree. I think you just have to wait. Sometimes. I mean.. well, the Walk isn't over yet, is it? ** Aureole allows, ** No, but... ** Fretfully, she lets out a breath. ** Did you feel this way? Before, I mean? ** Briarcatch ohs, more breath than sound, and sits up, crossing his legs, 'indian-style'. "I didn't want to go home," he admits. Aureole reaches over to touch one of your knees, which she rubs at, as if trying to invoke some kind of protection. ** They'll still think I'm a kit... ** Briarcatch nods, reaching to catch the hand at his knee. His fingers slip between yours, carefully, and the other hand curls around both. "Some of them will. Some of them will know that you've already proven yourself." ** _I_ know you're not just a kit, Ree.. ** Aureole half-smiles up at you. ** I've got nearly three eights... ** Briarcatch nods. ** And you have definitely grown. I don't think I could carry you around much anymore. You're faster than I am, and a better hunter, by far. That's important to the tribe, no matter what your name might be. ** Aureole considers this, nibbling her lip once, then she gives you a very full look. ** Is it important to you? ** Briarcatch's eyebrows lift a little. ** Me? ** He grins at that. ** I still have -my- kitling name, Ree. ** Aureole sits up, then. Something in her gaze gets a bit more direct, as a hopeful smile curls her mouth. ** I want to ask you something else... ** Briarcatch nods. ** Ask anything you want. ** Aureole studies you, then grins a bit, playfully. ** Are we lovemates? ** Briarcatch blinks. Oh. Well. He considers for a moment, then shrugs faintly. "I guess so," he begins, after clearing his throat a bit. "I just.. well.. I didn't really think about it. We're just.. the way we are." Aureole, her eyes just wide enough to give her a _very_ kittenish look, goes on solemnly, ** Are we lifemates? ** Briarcatch blinks again, and looks up to study you for a longer bit of silence. He takes a deep breath, and holds it a moment or two, before he studies his knees again. ** I.. don't know, Aureole. ** Lamely he adds, ** I haven't had a lifemate before. Is that.. do you -want- to be? Lifemates, I mean? ** Aureole purses her lips at the question, then giggles, lowly. ** I don't know. Is what we have lifemating, though? I guess that's what I want to know. ** Briarcatch clears his throat, and tugs at his boot, brow furrowed lightly. "Well. I guess that when two elves are lifemates they.. stay together, for all of their lives." Thank you, Einstein. "They hunt together and sleep together, and take care of one another, and laugh and play together. Like a family." He looks up then. "We already do that." There is a trace of relief in his expression. Aureole, her own expression lightening a trifle from her earlier worry, grins. ** Ever since I was a kit, ** she agrees. Briarcatch grins back. "So. I guess, unless you want to go and stay in a different cave, or never speak to me again, that we're lifemates.." Aureole brightens, even more, and leans closer to you. ** That's... that's almost as good a thing to bring back from the Walk, you know? No... as good as, I-I mean, not finding my name yet... ** Briarcatch reaches a hand to rest it on your arm lightly. ** It isn't over yet, Ree. You might still find it. ** Aureole throws her arms around your neck and hugs you, fiercely, but not unanxiously, either. ** I don't know.... it's been a turn around! Hasn't it? I mean, it was green when we left, and it's nearly Deathsleep again, right? I lost track... ** Briarcatch nods. "If it isn't already, it will be soon. We should go back, before the whitetime comes again." [And as the two Plainsrunners prepare to go home, we end the log.]