[Intro]
The elves of Sorrow's End have been joined by a party of elves from
Lostholt--Leetah, Pike, and Windkin--who have hastened to the village in
response to Suntop's urgent message to his mother about Rayek's condition.
Others have arrived in the village as well--notably, the Go-Back Lursa,
escorting the ancient rockshaper Ekuar.

Thinking that perhaps Ekuar could coax Rayek into consciousness, Mender
has brought the old elf to his hut... and willingly, Ekuar settles himself
in to attempt to waken his erstwhile pupil....

----------
Rayek(#3218PBXac)
Lean and angular--almost too much so, as if he has gone with too little food 
  for too long a time--this elf's form and frame seem made for bold, proud 
  movement and expression. Or at least, when he is healthy, for it is clear he 
  isn't. His skin, the deep golden brown of one born under a hot Daystar, 
  carries a sallow tinge under its tan; when he moves, it is with urgency 
  almost too intense, as if to conceal underlying weakness. Uncompromisingly 
  straight, black as a raven's wing, his waist-length hair is unbound, and 
  uncharacteristically disheveled, with occasional long strands getting in the 
  way of his direct amber gaze.

Sleeping pit
This is a wide, shallow depression in the floor of the hut, filled with soft, 
  light blankets and random pillows, of assorted dusty shades of purple, green, 
  and blue. The circular rim of the pit is worked in delicately carved 
  sandstone of a yellow-brown hue, smooth and wide enough to sit on. Here, 
  Mender often works healings, or simply lets guests sit and relax.
Contents:
Petalwing(#3061)

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar looks over into the pit, and reaches over to 
  caress Rayek's hair.
Ekuar locksends ** Brownskin.... brownskin can you hear me? **

Around the sleeping pit, Mender kneels just outside the sleeping pit, looking 
  on.

Rayek lies where Mender and Tel-tela have settled him; he looks much more 
  himself, though his face is still alarmingly thin, and the dark tan of his 
  skin is slightly sallow. Petalwing has fallen asleep beside him, the tiny 
  creature exhausted at last after its near-ceaseless vigil.
Rayek, at the touch of his old teacher's wizened hand, frowns tightly in his 
  light, restless sleep, but his face turns in Ekuar's direction.

Ekuar locksends ** it is Me... Ekuar... **

Around the sleeping pit, Mender takes a breath and narrows his eyes in concern, 
  keeping a close watch.

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar purses his lips, looking with obvious concern.

You locksend to Ekuar, Rayek's mind stirs dizzily. The first impression you 
  glean from him is a profound sense of dizziness, as if that gentle sending 
  had sent him sprawling.

Around the sleeping pit, Mender speaks softly. "Send to him, Ekuar. Gently. 
  Maybe you can wake him up."

Ekuar locksends ** carefully, brownskin... a little bit at a time... you have 
  always wanted to stretch yourself... >gently probing, reaching out to you< **

Rayek's frown deepens; then, heavily, he pulls his eyes open. His usually sharp 
  amber gaze is dull and disoriented, his eyes gone nearly brown.

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar nods, obviously concentrating.

Around the sleeping pit, Mender leans over a little, watching closely.

Rayek jerks, startlement suddenly making him try to sit up rapidly. "Ek... "

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar leans forward, peering into Rayek's eyes.
Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar says "oh!"

Around the sleeping pit, Mender puts a hand gently but firmly on Rayek's 
  shoulder. "Easy, Rayek. Lie down."

Ekuar locksends ** Careful, brownskin... you need rest... **
Ekuar looks at you for a moment.

Around the sleeping pit, Windkin blinks sitting up, obviously having dozed up, 
  "Wha..." he blinks again and rubs his eyes.

Around the sleeping pit, Mender turns sharply to Windkin, pursing his lips for 
  quiet.

Around the sleeping pit, Windkin winces slightly then blinks.

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar is leanding over the pit, sending to Rayek, 
  deeply concentrating...

Rayek's expression plays through a swirl of emotions, fear, anger, surprise, 
  and confusion. He starts to speak, eyes gone wide and now locked on Ekuar's 
  face as he tries to cough out the rockshaper's name.

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar caresses the side of Rayek's face.

Around the sleeping pit, Mender frowns softly at Rayek in concern. "Don't 
  speak, Rayek. Send if you can."

Ekuar locksends ** We had thought you were leaving us, brownskin... **

Rayek abruptly winces, perhaps at the old rockshaper's sending, perhaps at 
  something else, but his features tighten as if he is determined to conceal 
  any signs of weakness. "You... *cough*... you're alright," he says hoarsely 
  to Ekuar, almost a demand.

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar sits up, his brow sweating a bit, and looking 
  extremely tired...

Around the sleeping pit, Windkin slowly stands from his position on the floor, 
  moving closer to the sleeping pit, he watches Rayek quietly.

Around the sleeping pit, Mender's features tighten, but he slowly removes his 
  hand from Rayek's shoulder.

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar says "Yes... and I've missed you."

Around the sleeping pit, Mender narrows his eyes gently on Rayek. "How do you 
  feel?"

One corner of Rayek's lean mouth curls up slightly, and a look that can't be 
  anything but relief lightens his face a bit. Then he seems to realize where 
  he is, and to register the other faces nearby, as well as the tiny curled 
  form of the sleeping Preserver on the pillows nearby.

Windkin looks at you for a moment.

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar smiles kindly.
Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar says "You were gravely injured, brownskin..."

Rayek frowns vaguely at his old mentor, one bare arm curling around his torso. 
  "Injured... " He blinks; then, his gaze abruptly sharpens. "The Palace....! 
  Where--"
Rayek again tries to rise, urgency filling his movements.

Around the sleeping pit, Mender quickly returns his hand to Rayek's shoulder, 
  preventing him from sitting up. "Easy, Rayek... slowly."

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar says "It is where you left it, I believe."
Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar says "he has been through.. much trouble..."

Around the sleeping pit, Windkin watches quietly, arms crossed loosely across 
  his chest, "Where _did_ you leave it?" he asks softly, "It seems to be a 
  point of much discussion.."

Around the sleeping pit, Mender turns to shoot a glare at Windkin, albeit a 
  soft one.

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar says "Don't Ember and Suntop know?"
Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar says "If not, Petalwing can take us there."

Around the sleeping pit, Windkin says "They didn't say."

Around the sleeping pit, Mender looks at Ekuar and rather hesitates for a 
  moment. "I haven't asked them yet."

Rayek scowls muzzily at Mender as he insists, "I must *cough* get back... " The 
  conversation that springs up around him doesn't quite seem to reach him.

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar says "Brownskin... please don't hurt yourself..."

Around the sleeping pit, Mender frowns, keeping firm pressure on the shoulder. 
  "We'll get you back soon enough. When you're ready."

Rayek frowns once more as Ekuar says the word 'hurt', and he squints at Mender. 
  One hand waving dismissively, he insists, his tone firm despite the 
  unsteadiness of his breath, "I'm fine. I must return to the Palace, don't any 
  of you understand?"

Around the sleeping pit, Windkin looks at Rayek, "You can't help any in your 
  current condition, the best you can do is to get others to take care of it 
  for you until you've rested enough to be well again."

Around the sleeping pit, Mender ignores the dismisall and all but shoves Rayek 
  back down. "No, we don't. But we will soon enough."

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar says "No, I don't understand..."
Ekuar locksends ** Tell me... **

Rayek starts to scowl, and fixes Mender with a hot insistent glare of the sort 
  he once might have used on local bristle-boar doomed to be food, but the 
  moment he does so, his eyes clamp shut and he slumps back weakly.

Around the sleeping pit, Mender sighs and takes a deep breath, closing his eyes 
  and shaking his head.
Around the sleeping pit, Mender says "I don't dare try and put him back to 
  sleep... I don't know the damage that may cause."

You locksend to Ekuar, Rayek, as soon as you send to him, seems to mentally 
  reel again. A strong wave of irritation and confusion surges through his 
  thoughts, as he senses his own condition...

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar says "Hmmm"
Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar says "Brownskin... listen to me please..."

Around the sleeping pit, Mender removes his hand and brings it to his side, but 
  stays kneeling near the sleeping pit.

Around the sleeping pit, Cielln steps in through the beaded doorway from 
  outside.

Rayek blinks. Then by instinctive trust, though his expression holds a measure 
  of wariness, he looks up at Ekuar, one black eyebrow quirked.

Around the sleeping pit, Cielln knocks at the doorway. "May I come in?"

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar says "I suspect I know what is wrong."

Around the sleeping pit, Windkin moves around to the other side of the pit, 
  behind Mender, he looks down at Rayek, "If you don't rest you won't be able 
  to do anything..."

Around the sleeping pit, Mender waves over his shoulder for Cielln to come in, 
  eyes on Ekuar. "What is it?"

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar says "You are still linked with the palace... 
  and the palace is injured..."

Around the sleeping pit, Windkin blinks at the sound and turns his head looking 
  at the new elf entering.

Around the sleeping pit, Cielln paces in quietly.

Around the sleeping pit, Mender frowns.

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar says "You have to let go.. so you can recover... 
  and so we can go fix the palace, together."

Rayek blinks again at Ekuar, and as another elf arrives, scowls very briefly, 
  embarrassedly, as if irritated to be seen in this condition. But most of his 
  attention is occupied by Ekuar, and the scowl lessens.

Around the sleeping pit, Cielln shrinks back at Rayek's frown, but forgets it 
  as she occupies herself in trying to figure out all these strangers.

Around the sleeping pit, Mender runs his fingers along his temple and into his 
  hair, taking a sharp breath. "Well, if that's true..."

Rayek focuses his attention on Ekuar, his eyes intent, voice urgent if weak. 
  "Couldn't let it crash," he insists.

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar says "I was told about it... It was damaged... 
  but not destroyed... You saved it, brownskin."
Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar says "But we need to repair it."
Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar says "Just as you need to be repaired..."

Around the sleeping pit, Mender glances at Rayek one last time and then stands, 
  walking backwards to stand beside Windkin.

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar says "We need your strength."
Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar says "But you are being held back by your link 
  to the palace..."
Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar opens his eyes slowly, then closes them, then 
  opens them again, and tries to struggle to his feet.

Around the sleeping pit, Windkin places a hand lightly on Mender's shoulder, 
  "He needs to decide on his own now.." he says softly.

For the tiniest instant, Rayek's expression falters uncertainly--as Ekuar 
  speaks of the Palace's wounding. This is not an expression normally seen on 
  his face, and as if he realizes this, Rayek's features immediately tighten 
  again.

Around the sleeping pit, Mender glances over at Windkin and nods. "He won't go 
  back to the Palace alone."

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar says "Does this sound right, brownskin?"

Around the sleeping pit, Windkin shakes his head, "No, I don't think he will..I 
  don't think anyone will _let_ him."

Around the sleeping pit, Cielln chuckles inaudibly about something that sounds 
  slightly humourous.

Rayek flashes a narrow-eyed stare at Windkin, and starts coldly, "It is not a 
  matter of 'let'... "

Around the sleeping pit, Mender nods and speaks while slowly letting out a 
  breath. "Especially after what already happened."

Around the sleeping pit, Windkin looks back at Rayek, "You can't do it on your 
  own, and you can't stop all of the elves here from helping..they want to 
  help, they want the Palace to be whole as much as you do."

Around the sleeping pit, Cielln nods.

Around the sleeping pit, Mender frowns and clenches his fists. "And this time, 
  we won't let the Go-Backs cause havoc."

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar says "Now is not a time for anger, healer."

Around the sleeping pit, Cielln stares. "What did they do?"

Around the sleeping pit, Mender glances at Ekuar, and then Cielln. "They caused 
  the Palace to crash."

Around the sleeping pit, Cielln clearly doesn't understand. "Oh."

Rayek's gaze flares. Sitting up again, sharply, he starts to snap, "If you wish 
  to speak of 'letting', and 'not letting', keep those so-called guardians... 
  away... " His voice roughens, then, and in clear exasperation, he catches 
  himself on the side of the sleeping pit just before he reels over sideways.

Around the sleeping pit, Cielln flushes in shame and leaves.
Around the sleeping pit, Cielln steps out through the beaded doorway to the 
  Boundary Path.

Around the sleeping pit, Mender quickly rushes to Rayek's side, putting his 
  hand again on a shoulder. "I would rather not, Rayek, but I will put you back 
  to sleep if I must."

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar says "Brownskin... please?"
Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar reaches over and places his hand on Rayek's 
  shoulder.

Rayek, eyes pressed closed, mutters lowly, "I... will be... better if I can... 
  return to... "

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar says "You know how I have always taught you... 
  One step at a time... We cannot take a long journey withou making the first 
  step."

Around the sleeping pit, Windkin watches quietly again, arms crossing over his 
  chest.

Rayek blinks... eyes opening slightly, he gives Ekuar a brief, embarrassed, and 
  oddly vulnerable glance.

Around the sleeping pit, Mender stands again, thinking Ekuar's got everything 
  under control.

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar says "You've always liked to leap... and fly..."
Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar says "Let's try this one by walking, as I 
  move... Step step step."

Around the sleeping pit, Windkin nods once to Mender.

Around the sleeping pit, Mender shares a concerned glance with Windkin.

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar moves closer and puts his arm around Rayek.
Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar says "and let's go together...."

Around the sleeping pit, Mender blinks! "Ekuar??"

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar says "You carried me out of the darkness... Let 
  me carry you this time."

Around the sleeping pit, Windkin looks a bit confused, a look that is common to 
  his face these days.

Rayek seems startled even as Ekuar gently drapes his brown arm around him, and 
  cries, "Ekuar, what...?"

Around the sleeping pit, Mender blinks, then nods to Ekuar.

You sense in a locksend, Ekuar sends very softly, with the touch of a moth's 
  wing, ** Let go, Brownskin... **

Rayek's head lowers over Ekuar's shoulder. He doesn't speak, but he shakes a 
  little.

Around the sleeping pit, Mender nods again to Ekuar, standin beside Windkin

You locksend ** <Pain, vivid in his immediate memory. A flash of white-hot 
  light. Bone-shattering impact against a stone wall. A surge of too much 
  magic, through him... > ** to Ekuar.

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar closes his eyes and shudders.

Around the sleeping pit, Mender jumps, concern evident in his voice. "Ekuar?"

You locksend to Ekuar, Rayek weakly strives to answer you; he cannot quite 
  achieve words, not with these images blazing still in his immediate 
  recollection.

Around the sleeping pit, Windkin scowls, "Are you okay, Ekuar?"

Rayek instinctively tries to pull slightly away from the rockshaper, as soon as 
  he feels him shudder, and hears the healer's alarmed words.

Around the sleeping pit, Mender hurries over to Ekuar, kneeling beside him. 
  "Ekuar... what is it?"

Ekuar locksends ** no... release it, brownskin... I am strong... **
Ekuar looks at you for a moment.

Around the sleeping pit, Mender nods hesitantly at Windkin, doubt showing in 
  his face.

Ekuar locksends ** Come through the pain... **
Ekuar locksends ** Let me share it with you... **

Rayek frowns uncertainly at Ekuar, even as he props himself shakily on one 
  hand, and keeps the other on the ancient elf's shoulder.
Rayek closes his eyes, then, and his aquiline features tighten once more.

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar places his hand on the back of Rayek's head.

Around the sleeping pit, Mender stands again, this time staying near Ekuar.

You locksend ** <Only to you, would Rayek allow an admission of his own 
  weakness. Even still, he is palpably embarrassed at the apparent immense 
  effort it is taking him to send, to bring into conscious memory the 
  overpowering sensation of magic burning through every fiber of his body.> ** 
  Hurts, ** he manages at last, a mental grunt of a sending. ** to Ekuar.

Around the sleeping pit, Windkin looks concerned, brow furrowed a bit, he 
  raises one slender hand to push a few strands of hair out of his eyes then 
  looks on helplessly.

You sense in a locksend, Ekuar links with you, as he did long ago, with our 
  lessons... and as he shared his ability with you to increase your levitating, 
  he shares with you, to decrease your pain... ** You did better than anyone 
  else could do Brownskin ** His mind reels, but being much more accustomed to 
  pain, bears the burden.

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar closes his eyes more tightly, and shivers 
  again...

Around the sleeping pit, Windkin walks quietly back to the entrance of the hut.

Around the sleeping pit, Mender shakes his head in confusion and pads back over 
  to Windkin.

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar is doing heavy sending, for those of you who are 
  magic sensitive...

Around the sleeping pit, Windkin shrugs slightly to Mender, looking at the pair 
  by the pit, then down at his feet.

You locksend ** <Another emotion flickers through Rayek's mind, one which he 
  quickly tries to conceal, but it is perhaps a measure of his condition that 
  you can catch it: it is shame. He squelches it before you can sense more, 
  even as he desperately grabs onto your offered control to lessen the searing 
  ache in the pathways of his mind.> ** to Ekuar.

Around the sleeping pit, Mender sighs and turns to watch helplessly as well.

Rayek breaks into a sweat, and his breathing grows shaky.

Ekuar locksends ** >comfort< **

Around the sleeping pit, Windkin sighs softly and leans against the wall near 
  the door one foot up against the wall.

All at once, a small measure of tension seems to leave Rayek's thin body, and 
  he slumps a bit against Ekuar, muttering, "No... more... "

You sense in a locksend, Ekuar continues to provide stability, and encourages 
  you to move thorugh the pain... to the ease of peace with one's self.

Around the sleeping pit, Mender takes a deep breath, gazing at the elfin pair.

You locksend to Ekuar, Rayek's mind still burns, and the effort of his own 
  sending exacerbates those parts of his mind that house his magic... but 
  stubbornly he forces himself to relax, to grasp the anchor you offer him.

Around the sleeping pit, Windkin places a hand on Mender's shoulder.

Around the sleeping pit, Mender glances at the hand, then at Windkin and sighs 
  and nods.

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar smiles slightly.
Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar says "No more."

Rayek's eyes, already shut, seem to relax slightly around their corners. When 
  his arm abruptly and limply slides off Ekuar's shoulders, it can be seen that 
  Rayek has abruptly dropped into sleep.

Around the sleeping pit, Windkin starts towards the door, then pauses, looking 
  back at Ekuar over his shoulder.

Around the sleeping pit, Ekuar gently hugs Rayek, then eases him down into the 
  pit again.

Around the sleeping pit, Mender begins to follow Windkin, then hesitates, then 
  follows again.

Around the sleeping pit, Windkin steps out through the beaded doorway to the 
  Boundary Path.
Around the sleeping pit, Mender steps out through the beaded doorway to the 
  Boundary Path.

[End log.]