Copse The copse is ever in a deep, emerald twilight, faint traces of light penetrating the dense leaf-covered branches above only rarely. Huge, sweet-smelling flowers grow on vines that twine among the trees. The ground is covered in a soft, deep mossy carpet. Contents: Rainfire Obvious exits: Out Rainfire leans unsteadily on Rill's shoulder, his mind half-fogged with pollen. Rillwhisper tries her best to keep the torch lit in the pollen-heavy air, while supporting the swaying Rainfire in one arm. ** Come on, now, my friend... Silversong! Brightfire! Strongbow! ** Rillwhisper finally hauls Rainfire into the area she remembers, and looks around, squinting. Rillwhisper fehs as her torch quickly burns out. Irritated, she tosses the stick aside, and uses both hands to keep Rainfire upright, as she send-yells, ** SILVERSONG! ** Rainfire blinkblinks muzzily and stares at the torch. ** Went out? ** Rillwhisper grumbles, ** Wood's damp as the marshes, around here... soft stuff. ** It doesn't take very long after that for the healer in particular to stumble through the woods, apparently knocked out of doing something by the shout, and still slightly dazed. Rillwhisper looks up, a little dazed herself, but looks immensely relieved as soon as she spots Silversong. "Somebody followed us," she says ruefully, coughing. Rillwhisper adds, nudging Rainfire, "C'mon, now... here's Silversong, c'mon... " Rainfire sinks to his knees... ** Got to...sit down.. ** Silversong looks skyward for a moment. "Why did I have a feeling this would happen?" she mutters slightly for a moment, kneeling down beside the two of you. Rillwhisper oofs, as Rainfire crumples, and she pleads to Silversong, "Got any rosecherry left? I've gone through what I brought... " Silversong looks into her sachel, pulling the small frilled bag out, and looking into it. She looks up again, a helpless expression on her face. ** Rill, we have -got- to get out of here. ** Rillwhisper frowns, leaning over, not liking that look on Silversong's face. "Gone?" Silversong turns the bag upside down, dropping the last, tiniest-by-far, fruit out into her palm. ** Not quite. But there's no more. ** Rillwhisper immediately nods, and goes on, "Can Talek be moved? How's the other cub, and Brightfire? Strongbow's still trying to get real food." Rainfire blinks and shakes his head. He looks up and looks around as if searching for something. Rillwhisper regards theremaining small fruit, and frowns, debating who needs the fruit more - that poor cub Talek who's been wrapped up here for seasons, clearly, or Rainfire, who is obviously succumbing quickly to the pollen. Silversong nods. ** I think he's strong enough to be moved. The two cubs, though... they've already scampered out of here. ** She chuckles amusedly. ** Nothing can tie a cub down, it seems. Almost like... almost like a bug. ** Silversong decides the quandary for Rill, sectioning the fruit and slowly popping it piece by piece into Rainfire's mouth. Rainfire screws up his face at the odd taste. Rillwhisper smirks a little, looking for her own Preserver. As Silversong doles the fruit to Rainfire, she blinks, then nods, and helps hold him up. "That's it, sweet one, eat those, it'll clear your head up... " Rainfire swallows and manages a faint, modulated whistle... Silversong grins up at Rill. ** Rainfire can help us move Talek. Talek can't help us move Rainfire. ** Rillwhisper nods, approvingly. Thornclaw has arrived. Thornclaw lopes silently out of the shadows, disturbing not a single twig. Rillwhisper supports Rainfire, and then blinks, as his wolf arrives. ** ! ** Rainfire throws his arms around the neck of his wolf-friend and holds tight as he pulls the staggered elf upward. You say "Thornclaw found a way down...? The rest of the wolves could come, then..." Silversong glances over at the wolf, surprised as well. ** I wonder how he found his way down here... The escarpment was was too steep for Ashes to climb down, at least not the way we came. ** Rillwhisper adds, gently, "Rainfire, you feeling better?" Rainfire stands unsteadily, leaning heavily against Thornclaw. "I...I think so..." Rillwhisper clasps the hunter's shoulders. "The stuff is rosecherry, it'll help you hang on to yourself." She smiles. "We need to get us out of here. Silversong, where are the others?" Silversong motions into the copse. ** In there... a couple of them are sleeping. Poor Brightfire exhausted herself. ** Rillwhisper wrinkles her nose. "Ah, hairballs, we can't carry them all up... " Thornclaw licks Rainfire gently. Rainfire smiles faintly and skitches the wolf between the ears. Silversong sends openly ** We can, actually... it'll take a few trips back and forth, though... ** You say "Maybe if we can get the wolves down... curse it! Need Strongbow and Fhen to help..." Rainfire says "Would letting Thornclaw carry a couple of them help?" Silversong nods quietly. ** Thornclaw could prolly carry more than one.. Ashes isn't strong enough to take more than one though. ** Rainfire shakes his head as it clears a bit more. Rainfire turns and draw Rill against him gently, kissing her forehead. Rainfire locksends ** Thank you, love... ** Rillwhisper smiles softly, and hugs Rainfire. Rillwhisper then looks over at Silversong. "Talek first, I think... then Brightfire." Rainfire smiles and squeezes Rill gently. Rainfire says "Let's get them and get out of here before this stuff wears off..." Rillwhisper nods briskly, and moves off through the copse, to where a small huddle of sleeping elves is curled up amidst the leaves. Silversong nods, in agreement. ** Okay. ** You say "Where's Fhen, anyway?" Silversong looks around, and then chuckles, motioning to Fhen, snuggled up against Brightfire's side, the one looking childishly content, the other rather dead to the world. Rillwhisper smirks a little, and says, "Better get Fhen out too, he'll be horrified if he finds out he fell asleep in here again... " Rillwhisper, with that, moves to carefully hoist up Talek's pale, bare form. "Oof... " ** High Ones, this cub needs clothes... ** Silversong gently curls her arms under Fhen's sleeping form. The gaunt youth called Talek stirs, mumbling vaguely, but he does not wake. The motion DOES make Brightfire stir a little, and she reaches for him before slipping back into slumber. Rainfire moves to help, adding his strength to the lifting. Rillwhisper holds Talek, looking rather surprised that he's so light, and says, "Okay... " Rillwhisper places the youth on Thornclaw's back. Thornclaw Large pawed and long legged, Thornclaw is the ever-present companion to his elf-friend, Rainfire. Rather on the large side for a wolf, his fur is tawny and golden, lightening to a cream colour under his muzzle and down his belly. His bushy tail is tipped with cream as well and luminous, intelligent blue eyes follow everything in tandem with his ears, ever curious about anything new. Thornclaw seems oblivious to scrutiny, the nonchalance belied however by those alert ears. Silverlock is on his back. Rainfire calls to the golden wolf who is watching all of this and pads a little closer." You say "Rainfire, can you get him to carry them both?" Silversong looks at Keshah and Brightfire. ** They'll be okay, I think, until we get back down here again. ** She looks down at the smaller cub in her arms, who stirs slightly at the motions. She gently touches him with her magic, nudging him back down into dreamful sleep. Rainfire moves his pack back and settles the unconscious elf on his wolf's back. "I think so..." Rillwhisper nods firmly, though she frowns a little and mutters, "What happened to Strongbow...?" Rainfire says "Maybe he had to hunt further out..." Silversong nods. ** I can't see him succumbing quite as easily, ** she glances in Rainfire's direction, ** to the flowers. ** Rainfire snorts and helps hoist another sleeping elf onto Thornclaw's back. You say "Well, he did have some of the rosecherry..." Rillwhisper looks up briefly, sending, trying to reach the archer. Silversong frowns slightly. ** C'mon... let's get these out of there first... ** Rillwhisper frowns, at last, and nods, moving to help gather belongings. Rainfire nodnods. Thornclaw cranes his shaggy head around to peer at the elf draped across his back. You say "Them out... first. If we have to, some of us can get 'em off to... nearest Holt..." Rillwhisper scowls at herself, and hoists up some of the pouches and packs that have been brought. "Lesgo." You leave the small copse, entering the marginally lighter meadow. Misty Valley This tiny hidden valley is nestled between the steep sides of three mountain peaks, all but unreachable from the outside world. White clouds drift above, curling around the mountaintops and blocking the valley from view from above. There is an eternal twilight down in the bottom, a soft silvery one. A small waterfall cascades down from one of the rocky sides of the valley, falling into a small pool from which flows a sparkling brook. The brook disappears into a small copse of dark green trees, evergreen and sheltering. A small berrypatch is on the other side of the brooklet, framing a miniature meadow filled with sweetly fragranced flowers. The warm night is sparsely lit by diffused moonlight that somehow penetrates the clouds above. Obvious exits: MountainPeak Berry patch Pool Copse Silversong emerges from the copse. Silversong has arrived. Thornclaw emerges from the copse. Thornclaw has arrived. Rillwhisper trudges out into the meadow, and looks up at the cliffs with a brief look of suffering, before she finally begins to trundle upwards. You climb up along the slick side of the mountain by the waterfall, carefully feeling your way as you head into the thick, white mists. The climb is long and wearying, but you persevere and leave the valley behind. Misty Mountainpeak(#5557RFJ) Thick, billowing clouds are all around you, despite the wind that always blows around the chilly, thin-aired mountaintop in gusts. The ground is rocky, and covered in tiny, sharp-edged pebbles that leave no tracks. The light is diffused by the mist, and all sounds muted and distorted. It is very hard to find your way. You stumble suddenly, and hear the clatter of a dislodged rock as it bounces down, down, down..ever fainter until there is silence..then a faint *splash* of water. You consider whether you want to follow the sound of 'water' or go 'back' the way you think you came from. Contents: Willowpaw Ashes Lashpaw(#5433JQaeq) Sunruff(#39aes) Obvious exits: Forest The mist grows too dense to see anything beyond the billowing whiteness all around, but you feel the ground level under your feet. You must have reached the top. Silversong approaches from below, a mere shadow in the mist. Silversong has arrived. Rillwhisper finally, tiredly, drops packs, as several wolves come padding into view, whining in worry and panic. Silversong gently sets Fhen down, giggling slightly as Ashes worriedly nuzzles at her. Rillwhisper presses her face into Sunruff's fur, steadying herself with wolf-scent. Lashpaw, equally worried, nudges at her insistently, and Rillwhisper finally looks up, frowning. "Have to find Strongbow... " Rainfire approaches from below, a mere shadow in the mist. Rainfire has arrived. Rainfire says "Thornclaw knows his own way up here..." Fallberry comes flittering into view, panickedly. /Sunnygreen highthing! Fallberry find!/ It lands on her, and tugs at her hair. /Beesweets make sunnygreen highthing all sleepy, Fallberry could find sharpquiet highthing for sunnygreen highthing!/ Silversong quietly nods, in agreement. Rillwhisper blinkblinkblinks at her bug, and does look somewhat dazed. But she frowns obstinately, still occasionally tossing off sends for the archer, which go unanswered. You say "Have to get Brightfire anyway..." Thornclaw has arrived. Thornclaw lopes silently out of the shadows carrying Talek on his back. Rainfire says "There he is..." Rainfire goes to Thornclaw and ruffles his fur proudly. Rillwhisper nods, and moves to get Talek off the wolf. Her movements are slightly shaky. Fallberry peers at its highthing, and pouts. /Sunnygreen highthing need be sitstill,/ it insists. Rainfire steps over and helps Rill unload Talek. Rillwhisper breathes in several long breaths, and mutters, "Getting... better. Air's clearer up here... " Silversong looks between the two of you. ** I'll go down and wait by Brightfire for her to wake up again... then she and I can get Keshah out. I think I'm the only one that's safe down there, in any case... ** Rainfire rests his hands on Rill's shoulders when she straightens and squeezes gently. Rillwhisper looks up, eyes worried. "Strongbow..." Sunruff and Lashpaw whine, nudging at the elves. You say "Have to find him, make sure he's alright..." Silversong disappears from view, and hearing. Silversong has left. You locksend to Strongbow, Rillwhisper reaches out a little fuzzily, trying to find you. ** Archer...? ** Rillwhisper sways a little, squinting obstinately through the mist as she sends. Fallberry awwws, and tries to right Rillwhisper's hair. You sense in a locksend, Strongbow sends no response, but there seems to be a presence...a fuzzy one...that resembles the archer's sharp sends, dulled at the edges by pollen and time as the rosecherry wears off. Rillwhisper straightens. "I sense him... " Rainfire blinks, ** Is he all right? ** You locksend to Strongbow, Rillwhisper mentally straightens, pushing her sending ability as hard as she can to reach you. ** Strongbow - it's Rillwhisper - can you hear me? ** Rillwhisper mumbles, scowling, "He feels fuzzy... " Rainfire says "Where is he? Can you tell?" Rillwhisper turns a worried gaze to you, looking more alert now, as the relatively fresher air up here clears her head. "He's not answering...!" Rainfire says "But can you sense where he is?" Rainfire looks out over the trees, eyes narrowing in concentration... Rillwhisper shakes her head worriedly, her forehead creased in strain. You locksend to Strongbow, Rillwhisper adds some more strength to her sending, remembering a time, a very long time ago, when she tried to do something similar. She knows the feel of your mind, and she tries to at least get a bearing on it, if not a direct answer from you... though she keeps pressing for an answer if she can get one. [And meanwhile... ] You move over to the small, inviting pool. Pool(#8706RF) A deep, sparkling pool has formed at the foot of the high waterfall. A rainbow glitters above the waters during the "day", and the air is warm and moist. Around the pool grow low-hanging bushes all covered in deep purple flowers, cupshaped. They fill the air with their intense, sweet scent. Being a preserver, you are only mildly affected by the lazy, langorous mood the purple flowers emit. But you know that the nice highthings are made veryvery happy by having those flowers near, and you feel very much like picking some flowers to braid in the hair of your favorite highthing! Contents: Strongbow Obvious exits: Out HoneyGold flits through the leaves, cautiously, spying on the wandering sharpquiet highthing. Strongbow stands by the pool, staring into the leaves and brambles, deep in concentration...on something...what was it? He furrows his brow and wrinkles his nose. HoneyGold crouches carefully behind a leaf - two of its companions peek at the highthing with it. HoneyGold pouts, remembering its promise to the other highthing that they wouldn't bother them, but HoneyGold no like nastybad highthings who threaten to pull wings! Strongbow looks into the pool for a long moment, then stretches and reshoulders his bow. As he does so, he stops, as if startled, and looks at the bow itself. Then he looks into the distance. [On the mountain... ] You sense in a locksend, Strongbow sends intent...slowly some of the fuzz thins enough for an actual answer to come through, but that answer is incomplete. ** Hunting...** Rainfire casts his thoughts out through the trees trying to get a fix on the archer... You locksend ** Strongbow, where are you? Can you come to us? We have to get out of here! ** to Strongbow. You say "He sends he's hunting... oh, Rainfire, we have to get him...." Thornclaw whurfs. Rainfire turns back to the wolf, "Can you find him?" Thornclaw whurfs. Fallberry pipes, /Fallberry find, Fallberry hide from naughtybad other wethings!/ Rainfire looks at Rill, "I guess he thinks he can." Rillwhisper looks extremely worried, instinctively taking a few steps down the mountain. She looks sick at heart, and murmurs, "Have to get him... " Rainfire catches Rill's hand. "Which do we send after him...Fallberry or Thornclaw? I think Fallberry could find him faster." Rillwhisper, clearly intending to go after the archer herself, looks at you dazedly for a moment. You locksend ** Strongbow... please, answer me...! ** to Strongbow. Rainfire eyes you meaningfully. "I don't want to have to go searching for both of you." [By the pool... ] One of the Preservers with HoneyGold whispers something. The bugs stifle giggles, and flitter up into higher leaves, to shake some pollen out of the blossoms. Golden dust drifts down lazily. Strongbow pauses and looks up, directly into the falling dust, and steps slowly away, as if confused. He looks into the bushes, expecting something to be tracked to appear there. The pollen is strangely heavy, and glitters a little, when moonlight touches it. The flower scent is heaviest here than anywhere else in the valley... warm, and thick, and sweet as honey. A few flower petals fall, brushing against your hair. Strongbow blinks softly and shakes his head at the noise he thinks he heard, the high-pitched chitter prefacing the golden dust. He looks at his bow again, then presses it up over his shoulder and steps warily away from the pool. The steps are short, though, and stop once more; the archer stands, befuddled, looking around. Strongbow closes his eyes for a moment, then opens them, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. He reaches idly out to touch one of the gentler, prettier bushes. A few more tiny giggles. And a soft rustle. /Highthing looksee for something? Wethings show... Strongbow's head snaps up in some kind of slow motion. He stares at the place that made the noise, not with a hunter's piercing gaze, but with a glassy-eyed curiousity. There's a blur of color. HoneyGold lingers near your ear, and prompts, /Looksee in vines! Highthing find there!/ Strongbow steps toward the vines and peers into them, wordlessly listening to this high-pitched advice. Strongbow leans forward slightly, spreading his feet and putting his hand at ready near his bow, peering into the vines. He freezes in that position, eyes darkening for a moment, clearing somewhat. [On the mountain... ] You sense in a locksend, Strongbow catches that one, and clearly. He sends through curiousity, as if time is slowed and he is busy with experiencing every tiny detail of a thread of hair or a leaf's veins. ** Rillwhisper...? ** His sending is flowing, not as sharp as it characteristically should be. ** The vines...you'd like them... ** Rillwhisper pales, her gaze shooting off down the mountainside. "Hairballs...!" She nearly bolts down the hill again, as she tells you, "The flowers, Rainfire, they're getting to him!" Sunruff whines, nudging at Rillwhisper insistently. You locksend ** No, Strongbow, wake up! ** to Strongbow. Rainfire capers down the hill after you. Rainfire looks back at you. "Are we going to go find him?" Rillwhisper bites her lower lip, and sends again... You locksend ** Silversong! ** to Silversong. Rainfire grasps your hand and squeezes gently. "Rill? Are /you/ all right?" Rillwhisper looks a little shaky, and blurts, "I'm... I'm tired, Rainfire... flowers were getting to me, too... " Rainfire glances back into the valley, "All right...you're not going back in there..." Rillwhisper looks clearly dismayed by this idea, but she mumbles in defeat, "Somebody has to stay up here to guard the cubs... " [By the pool... ] Flowers... many of them. The scent is so... thick here. It's almost liquid, and seems to make the air wrap around you like a blanket. The smile pulls at Strongbow's mouth until he grins thinly into the flowers. He wavers a little, his hand at his bow slipping down the wood. He blinks, then turns to face the pool again, brow furrowed, smile fading. HoneyGold starts happily grinning, and it chatters to you, /See? Is pretty beesweets for highthings!/ It plucks one, and offers it to you. /Can drink sparklewaters from pretty beesweets!/ Strongbow steps toward the water, moving slowly, softly. "Drink...?" He mutters, softly, half to himself, half in response to the bug. He crouches at the water's edge and looks deep into it, paying no attention to the preserver now. The water is lovely, achingly clear, and it shows you your reflection back willingly. But your face seems nevertheless somehow... blurred, softened, with the flowers and vines all around you providing a wash of color. HoneyGold lands playfully on your shoulder, still sporting its flower, which it then jauntily sticks in your headband. Strongbow reaches down toward the water with one pointed finger, as if to touch his reflection's jawline. His finger traces across the water in echo of the thin facefur, sending destructive ripples through the reflection, and he dips his hand down into the water. Warm... the water is surprisingly warm, and soft to your touch. Inviting. It'd be nice to bathe in... Strongbow lifts his hand and looks at the warm water on it. After a moment, he passes his hand over his face, wetting his brow, eyelids, nose, jaw. He puffs a little, sputtering droplets away from his mouth, and leans aside to wipe his mouth on the leathers on his shoulder...catching sight of the bug. He blinks. HoneyGold beams innocently at the highthing, offering up another flower. /Looksee! Is pretty!/ Even the water seems tinged with sweetness, in taste and scent. It doesn't smell... quite like normal water. Strongbow blinks slowly, considering. After a moment he smiles slightly, and slowly rises to his feet, as if careful not to disturb the bug's perch. His nostrils flare at the scent of the water and he licks his lips inadvertently; then he looks around again, more at the ground this time. HoneyGold peeks at you. /Highthing want sparklewaters? HoneyGold fetch!/ Strongbow shakes his head silently at the bug, as if bemused. After a moment it becomes clear that he's looking for a track, right around his own feet on the ground; after a moment, his gaze lifts a little, following some bent twigs and displaced petals back toward the copse and the valley. He just stands there, though, trying to make sense of it. HoneyGold waves importantly at one of its companions, who flits down with a smaller flower to dip it in the pool. It then says wisely to the highthing, /Sharpquiet highthing feel much better, sit down be stillquiet!/ Strongbow tilts his head and licks his lips again, and swallows. His voice comes, low and slightly grating, smoothing as he speaks. "Sparklewaters...do thay help you sleep, bug?" HoneyGold blinkblinkblinks, and pipes, /Sparklewaters for drinking! Silly highthing!/ Strongbow smiles thinly at the preserver. "If you drink, does it help you sleep?" HoneyGold tilts its head. /HoneyGold no need help sleeping!/ It beams at you. /HoneyGold sleep good already. But HoneyGold want help take care of highthing!/ Strongbow nods thoughtfully, understanding perfectly, and reaches out toward the underling preserver, to take the flower-cup. The little Preserver happily holds up the blossom for you. It's heavier than it should be, with water in it... Strongbow reaches to take the blossom between his fingers. He gazes into the water, lazily contemplating the tiny, distorted reflection within. Strongbow sniffs of the water, wrinkles his nose, but smiles, glassy-eyed, and sips, absurdly delicately. The flower's golden heart is visible behind your tiny blurred image... there are fascinating golden swirls in the water, too. HoneyGold beams at you and pats your hair approvingly. And the water... sinks down through you, making a heavy, languid warmth steal through your limbs. Strongbow slowly sinks to the ground, kneeling. He drops the little flower and gazes into the pool. HoneyGold beams! And flits hopefully. /Wethings fetch anything else for highthing? Juiceberries or treesweets?/ [On the mountain... ] You sense in a locksend, Strongbow sends a tendril of attempt at contact toward you...as if just to let you know he's still out there. Rillwhisper looks up at you wistfully. "I'm going to keep sending to him... you keep sending, too, don't let me lose track of you... " Fallberry offers hopefully, /Fallberry help?/ Rainfire pulls a fur off Thornclaw's rump pack and spreads it on the ground next to the wolf who has by now decided to lie down. You locksend ** ** to Strongbow. Rainfire pats the fur, "Come over here and rest a bit..." Rillwhisper sinks gratefully down and is immediately flanked by Sunruff and Lashpaw. Chitter has arrived. Fallberry tugtugs at Rainfire. /Fallberry help find sharpquiet highthing?/ Rainfire scoots Lashpaw over, "Move, fuzzy..." He settles in beside Rill. Lashpaw whines and paces round to Rillwhisper's other side. Rainfire looks up at the bug, "Yes, Fallberry...go find Strongbow!" Rillwhisper sinks against Sunruff, trying to rest a little, to keep up her strength for sending to the archer. She nods anxiously to the purple Preserver, who nods promptly and flits into the mist. Chitter becomes visible at the edge of the forest, initially unaware of the presence of other elves; he glances towards you as he walks, does a take, and starts heading in your direction. Rainfire looks up and murmurs to Rill, "How'd he get in here without the bugs getting him?" Sunruff whurfs alertly, looking up before Rill does. Rillwhisper mumbles, "Eh....?" You sense in a locksend, Silversong glances up at the sending. ** Rill? ** Chitter approaches the two of you, looking rather concerned. *What's going on around here?* he opens with, forgetting his manners for the moment. *My friends said you were here, but they acted as if there was screamingsickness in the very trees, and wouldn't go this way...* You locksend ** Find Strongbow! The flowers are getting to him...! ** to Silversong. Rainfire says "This is very near to a valley of bugs who like to wrap up the likes of us!" Rainfire says "And the flowers make you all dreamy headed..." Rillwhisper looks up exhaustedly, and stares. "Chi.... Chitter! Has the whole Holt followed us....?" Lashpaw whines softly and paces a little, then comes back to Rillwhisper, as if she can help. Silversong locksends ** Yes, I'll find him... ** Rillwhisper murmurs to Rainfire, "Got Silversong... she's looking for the archer... " Near her, Chitter can see the prone forms of Fhen and an unfamiliar, naked elf, curled up near some of the wolves. Chitter makes a face at the mention of preservers. *I didn't see any of... them on the way here. The flowers I s-- Fhen?* Chitter breaks off abruptly, losing his train of thought at the sight of his son." Rainfire gestures toward the sleeping elves, "He'll be all right...just needs to sleep off those flowers..." [By the pool... ] Strongbow reaches down to touch his reflection again, disturbing the water's surface. He lifts more water to his lips, drinking this time, intentionally. He closes his eyes and lifts his head, as if to scent the air, and shakes his head slowly at the bug, hair shaking slightly with the motion. A heavy, wonderful peace steals over you, and the warm water seems to flow through every portion of your body. HoneyGold beams happily, and the Preservers flitter closer, getting bolder. [On the mountain... ] Rillwhisper looks up at Chitter again; evidently, the chieftess is exhausted, and trying very hard to remain coherent. "Chitter, you remember Strongbow, right?" She pulls in a breath and quickly, tersely explains, how Strongbow and a healer named Brightfire had come to the Holt, asking for help. An elf named Talek had been caught here in this valley - Talek, who is not only Silversong's brother, but Brightfire's Recognized. Chitter looks relieved at that, nodding quietly. He listens to Rillwhisper, nodding. *The bugs?* he asks, sitting down next to the chieftess. Rillwhisper finishes, "Silversong and Fhen and I came to help - this is the same place Fhen was tangled, you see. Rainfire caught up with us. But the place is getting to all of us... we're out of rosecherry, a-and Strongbow's still down there...!" Chitter nods slightly. *Rosecherry's the clearhead stuff, right?* Rillwhisper, as if reminded, reflexively runs her fingers through Lashpaw's fur, sending again, trying to get a bead on the lost archer. She nods absently to Chitter.... You locksend to Strongbow, Rillwhisper tries again to reach you, though she is tiring. Rainfire shhs gently, wrapping his arm around Rill for comfort. ** They will find him, love... ** Lashpaw whines softly and leans into Rillwhisper. [By the pool... ] Strongbow puts one hand on the ground and leans on that arm, shifting his weight. He draws the fingers of his other hand lazily across the water's surface, watching the ripples distort his reflection into myriad patches of color. HoneyGold and its companions happily settle into weaving several blossoms into your hair. You can feel tiny tuggings as they do so, and the scent of the petals wraps itself around you more thickly. Strongbow pauses, hand still in the water, as if trying to remember something. He stares at his reflection as it rejoins and becomes sensible again; he watches the reflection tilt its head, blink a couple times, and watch him back. [On the mountain... ] Chitter opens his carrypack, hunting through it a moment, then removes something that looks like a waterskin-- well, a waterskin as well-crafted as his clothing. *Try this,* he suggests, handing it to Rillwhisper. Rillwhisper blinks. "Eh?" Rillwhisper takes the proffered object, opens it, sniffs at the contents. Rainfire eyes the skin curiously. You locksend ** ** to Strongbow. Lashpaw watches the item change hands, wolf eyes big and quiet. Rillwhisper giggles a little, tiredly. "What'd you do, Chitter, boil up Sweetleaf's rosecherry supply? This smells like it might be useful, aye... " You say "How much of it do you have?" Chitter shrugs. *Just two or three of those,* he says, *but it's very concentrated. When I thought I'd go to the mountain, I wanted to be able to carry enough to metal-lock my head for a few days if I needed to...* Chitter comments apologetically, *Be careful. I think I mishandled the concentration; it tastes awful, no matter how it smells.* Rillwhisper nods briskly, and looks between Rainfire and Chitter. "We could go get him...!" Her face lights with hope. Chitter nods quietly, smiling a little. *Just try a sip at first. I'm not as gentle a touch as Sweetleaf, and there's also a wakener in it. You don't want to be awake for the next moon!* Rainfire eyes this process warily. Rillwhisper nods, trusting her tribesmate, and takes a sip of the stuff. Lashpaw likewise eyes it warily, muzzle wrinkled a little. Rillwhisper's mouth puckers. ** Oog... tart...! ** She blinkblinks rapidly. Rainfire mirrors Lashpaw with a wrinkled nose at Rill's reaction. Rillwhisper suddenly looks much more alert and aware, and says, "Well..! Let's go get him." Smoothly, she rises, closing the skin again and passing it back to Chitter. Rainfire blinkblinks and stares up at suddenly Bouncyrill. Chitter nods, taking a few drops himself (he's still awake because he was sipping on the skin on his way here), then offers it around. Rainfire takes the skin and sniffsniffs at it. (Doesn't *smell* too bad...) You locksend ** Archer! Can you hear me? ** to Strongbow. Rainfire squirts a bit of it into his mouth and instantly looks like he just got hold of a really bad mushroom. Rillwhisper nuzzles both Sunruff and Lashpaw, instructing her she-wolf to guard the sleeping elves, and she strides determinedly down into the valley. [By the pool... ] Silversong joins you from the meadow. Silversong has arrived. Strongbow leans down over the water, almost lying down on the shore. He smiles into the water, at his reflection smiling back. Silversong looks curiously about, eyes searching for the telltale flittering of wings. And a certain archer. HoneyGold and a couple of its companions flit happily near Strongbow, whose thick russet hair seems to have sprouted several violet flowers. Fallberry joins you from the meadow. Fallberry has arrived. Fallberry comes flitting through the leaves, warily, trying to spy any sign of the other bugs. Silversong frowns, stepping closer over to the archer. HoneyGold looks up alertly, and eeps. It and its companions flitter away instantly. Strongbow stares, unhearing, unnoticing, absolutely un-hunterlike in his lack of awareness, into the water. He sends softly to himself, dreamily, ** Rillwhisper...the vines...pretty. You'd like them... ** Strongbow starts a little as the golden preserver's reflection leaves, and he looks, absurdly slowly, over his shoulder at the direction they sped off in. Silversong mutters slightly to herself, kneeling down beside Strongbow. "C'mon, archer... Rill's waiting..." she says, gently grabbing his shoulder. Strongbow blinks at the elf, and smiles thinly, head tilted a little. ** She'll miss the vines, the flowers. ** Fallberry eeps, and flitters down, chattering scoldingly at the other bugs, /No muzzyup sharpquiet highthing!/ Silversong frowns again, gently setting her hand on the archer's forehead. "C'mon, we don't have time for this... gotta get out of here," she says, her fingers taking on a soft shimmer of their own. Strongbow's lip twitches, slowly. He picks himself up into a sitting position and watches Silversong, eyes glazed slightly. They clear a little at the healer's touch, and he blinks. ** Leave...? ** His sending is more clear, more sharp, though not too coherent. Silversong nods, assuringly. "Yes. Leave. With Rill." Off in the leaves, HoneyGold pouts. All the highthings are going! Irritated, it and its companions rattle the leaves and shower the highthings with pollen! Strongbow fumbles with his bow and makes to rise to his feet, but scowls and wavers as the pollen descends. Fallberry eeks, as one of HoneyGold's companions sneaks up on it and spits wrapstuff! Silversong mutters again, coughing with the clouds of pollen descending upon her and the archer. She glares up at the preserver. "You and I need to talk later." She ignores the fuzzyheadedness rising in her own mind, getting to her feet and stubbornly tugging at the archer. "C'mon!" Strongbow rises to his feet and suddenly pauses, holding back. He nods once, curtly, to the healer. [With Rillwhisper... ] You sense in a locksend, Strongbow's send is much clearer as well, now, though still not as sharp as it should be. ** Here...** Rillwhisper runs unerringly through mossy carpets along the ground. You locksend ** Coming! ** to Strongbow. [By the pool... ] Strongbow adjusts his bow on his shoulder. ** Rillwhisper is coming. ** Silversong moves around behind Strongbow, and gives him a stubborn shove. "Then go on!" HoneyGold and its companions zip around the highthings, chattering! One of them tries to spit more wrapstuff on the naughtybad glowhands highthing, while Fallberry squeals its dismay, and tries to wriggle out from under the glob that pinned it. HoneyGold scolds Silversong, /Naughtynaughty highthing! Make homeplace all noisy, take highthings away!/ [With Rillwhisper... ] High up on the hill, dimly, Rainfire bleahs and follows Rill. Chitter takes another sip of the concoction as he hurries to follow you, wary of the peace trying to descend on his mind like fungus on a fallen trunk. High up on the hill, dimly, Rainfire disappears from view, and hearing. High up on the hill, dimly, Rainfire has left. Rainfire has arrived. Rillwhisper calls, "Chitter, you got anything that can make fire? That'll scare those bugs witless!" Rainfire's face still crinckles up as he works his mouth around the awful taste of that stuff...but at least he looks alert. Chitter shakes his head. *Sorry,* he says. *But if -you- can make fire, I have some leaves that make really awful smoke...* Rillwhisper shakes her head. ** No good, don't have time to work the flint! ** Rainfire sends openly ** Wish 'hawk were here.... ** Rillwhisper in several quick strides - High Ones, does she usually run this fast? - is off to the pool. [By the pool... ] Strongbow blinks and scowls, ducking away from the coming wrapstuff. ** My _den!_ ** The sending is irate, though not with hate--just anger. He grabs Silversong's arm and makes for the way back, growling audibly at the preserver. Silversong swears under her breath as the Preserver tags her, reaching down to pull the glop away from her. She glares in HoneyGold's direction. "If you'd just all stop spitting for a while, I would SHOW you a place that needs lots of snugsafe taking care of." Silversong almost loses her balance as she stops pushing and instead gets pulled. "Whoops!" HoneyGold doesn't seem to be in the mood to argue, as it pouts at Silversong, closing in. /Highthing fibs! Nastybad outside no good place!/ Rillwhisper joins you from the meadow. Rillwhisper has arrived. Strongbow's lips twitch, perhaps with a smile at the edge of his mouth, at Silversong's comment, and sets a path out of this little place, back toward the valley. His eyes glass over a little, but the glaze doesn't kill his determiniation. Rillwhisper bursts in in a surprising rush of speed, and charges the bugs angrily, waving her knife. "Let them be, you pests!" Silversong yanks her arm back from Strongbow. "I have some talking to do with a bug," she says to him, turning back to the golden Preserver. She blinks, though, at Rill's entrance. ** Hold on, Rill! ** Chitter joins you from the meadow. Chitter has arrived. Rainfire joins you from the meadow. Rainfire has arrived. Chitter looks increasingly irritated at the floral scent and takes another sip from the flask. Rillwhisper's gaze immediately, worriedly, finds Strongbow. Still moving with startling speed - since when was Rillwhisper this swift? - she whaps a bug with the side of her blade, sending it sprawling. Strongbow watches Rillwhisper charge, slightly dazed. ** Rillwhisper...! ** His send contains a bit of...admiration. Rainfire draws his knife and menaces several more of the bugs, fast on Rillwhisper's heels. Chitter is approached by a Preserver as well; he stares at it for a moment, and it makes a pained screech and veers off. Strongbow's mouth pulls into a thin smile, and he pulls on Silversong's arm, trying to keep it in mind that getting away is the idea, though he'd really like to de-wing some preservers. Silversong frowns slightly, and turns away from the hyperactive chieftess, walking off with Strongbow. Rillwhisper chases off Preservers with a vengeance before whirling on Strongbow. Her intent face softens, just a touch, as she sends briskly, ** Archer, you alright? Let's get out of here! ** Strongbow nods, already moving, now as much being pulled by Silversong as pulling. Strongbow heads for the meadow. Strongbow has left. Rillwhisper then announces to the elves at large, ** I'm going to get Brightfire! ** You head away from the pool, your head clearing as you leave the purple flowers behind. Misty Valley This tiny hidden valley is nestled between the steep sides of three mountain peaks, all but unreachable from the outside world. White clouds drift above, curling around the mountaintops and blocking the valley from view from above. There is an eternal twilight down in the bottom, a soft silvery one. A small waterfall cascades down from one of the rocky sides of the valley, falling into a small pool from which flows a sparkling brook. The brook disappears into a small copse of dark green trees, evergreen and sheltering. A small berrypatch is on the other side of the brooklet, framing a miniature meadow filled with sweetly fragranced flowers. The warm night is sparsely lit by diffused moonlight that somehow penetrates the clouds above. Contents: Strongbow Obvious exits: MountainPeak Berry patch Pool Copse Chitter emerges from the fog surrounding the pool. Chitter has arrived. Silversong emerges from the fog surrounding the pool. Silversong has arrived. Rainfire emerges from the fog surrounding the pool. Rainfire has arrived. Rillwhisper runs past Strongbow - past?! - as she charges off towards the copse, intending to get Brightfire. You venture into the dark, emerald green light of the copse. Copse The copse is ever in a deep, emerald twilight, faint traces of light penetrating the dense leaf-covered branches above only rarely. Huge, sweet-smelling flowers grow on vines that twine among the trees. The ground is covered in a soft, deep mossy carpet. Obvious exits: Out You locksend, to Strongbow, Silversong, Chitter, Rainfire: ** Somebody come here, we have to get Keshah out, too! ** Chitter joins you in the emerald twilight of the copse. Chitter has arrived. Rainfire joins you in the emerald twilight of the copse. Rainfire has arrived. Rillwhisper kneels by the exhausted form of Brightfire, and briskly begins hauling her up. Rainfire scoops up the wrapped Keshah and drapes her over one shoulder. You leave the small copse, entering the marginally lighter meadow. Misty Valley This tiny hidden valley is nestled between the steep sides of three mountain peaks, all but unreachable from the outside world. White clouds drift above, curling around the mountaintops and blocking the valley from view from above. There is an eternal twilight down in the bottom, a soft silvery one. A small waterfall cascades down from one of the rocky sides of the valley, falling into a small pool from which flows a sparkling brook. The brook disappears into a small copse of dark green trees, evergreen and sheltering. A small berrypatch is on the other side of the brooklet, framing a miniature meadow filled with sweetly fragranced flowers. The warm night is sparsely lit by diffused moonlight that somehow penetrates the clouds above. Contents: Silversong Strongbow Obvious exits: MountainPeak Berry patch Pool Copse Silversong yanks her arm back from Strongbow again, muttering slightly, as she continues on towards the escarpment again. ** C'mon, archer. * Rillwhisper strides out with Brightfire slumped in her arms, but despite Rill being slightly smaller than the healer-huntress, the chieftess is nevertheless hauling her along with no sign of strain. Chitter emerges from the copse. Chitter has arrived. Rainfire emerges from the copse. Rainfire has arrived. Strongbow blinks and follows Silversong, now that Rillwhisper is returned. Silversong pauses a long while, contemplating the steep mountainside. Then, with due care, ascends out of the valley. Silversong has left. High up on the hill, dimly, Silversong approaches from below, a mere shadow in the mist. High up on the hill, dimly, Silversong has arrived. Rillwhisper begins to work her way up the cliff with her burden. At last, Fallberry, freed from the wrapstuff, flits after its elf. You climb up along the slick side of the mountain by the waterfall, carefully feeling your way as you head into the thick, white mists. The climb is long and wearying, but you persevere and leave the valley behind. Misty Mountainpeak(#5557RFJ) Thick, billowing clouds are all around you, despite the wind that always blows around the chilly, thin-aired mountaintop in gusts. The ground is rocky, and covered in tiny, sharp-edged pebbles that leave no tracks. The light is diffused by the mist, and all sounds muted and distorted. It is very hard to find your way. You stumble suddenly, and hear the clatter of a dislodged rock as it bounces down, down, down..ever fainter until there is silence..then a faint *splash* of water. You consider whether you want to follow the sound of 'water' or go 'back' the way you think you came from. Contents: Silversong Thornclaw Willowpaw Ashes Lashpaw(#5433JQaepq) Sunruff(#39aes) Obvious exits: Forest The mist grows too dense to see anything beyond the billowing whiteness all around, but you feel the ground level under your feet. You must have reached the top. Rainfire approaches from below, a mere shadow in the mist. Rainfire has arrived. Chitter approaches from below, a mere shadow in the mist. Chitter has arrived. Strongbow approaches from below, a mere shadow in the mist. Strongbow has arrived. Lashpaw runs to the archer, stopping just short of knocking him down, leaning up against him, whining softly. Strongbow blinks, startled, and scratches the wolf's ruff absently, inhaling more deeply with each breath, eyes clearing with his head. Rainfire carefully unloads Keshah from his shoulders. Silversong looks back into the mists. Rillwhisper, as the last of the party is pulled up out of the treacherous valley, settles Brightfire down next to Talek... and blinks a little, looking abruptly dazed. Chitter looks around quickly. *Is everyone here?* he asks, sounding like he's enunciating each mental syllable. Strongbow's blank look slowly fades into an increasingly clear-headed scowl, and he looks back at the mist. Chitter glances at Rillwhisper thoughtfully. Chitter comments *I think you just ate your whole dose...* Rainfire is at Rill's side in a moment. ** Here, sit down, Rill... ** Strongbow turns away from the mist, thoughtfully, and slowly sinks to a crouch, burying his hands in Lashpaw's ruff. He looks at Rillwhisper, considering. Chitter seats himself carefully, having taken rather more of his own concoction than he would have liked to and not wanting to pay the price. [Net.death here. :( I lost some of the log, but what happened was that Rillwhisper abruptly collapsed, as Chitter's brew wore off. Rainfire was aghast at this, and immediately settled her down, while Chitter and Silversong ascertained that she was alright, just tired. Strongbow was rather less vocal about his worry than Rainfire, but nevertheless the archer sent to her privately that she should rest, while admiring the show she'd put on with the Preservers. Strongbow still had flowers in his hair; a petal fell on Rill, which amused her. She was also surprised, and pleased, at the unexpected gentleness of Strongbow's send to her... Rainfire noticed that Rill's attention seemed focused on Strongbow, which disheartened him, while Strongbow brought up the topic of watch. Chitter volunteered but was overruled by Rainfire, who staunchly insisted that he was quite awake. Strongbow didn't look like he bought it, but he nevertheless settled down next to his wolf. Rillwhisper roused long enough to wearily tell everyone to get some sleep, because they all needed it. Thus, everyone did... save Rainfire... ] Silversong leans back into Ashes' flank, and snoozes wearily, muttering lightly about plans. Rillwhisper, looking smaller and more delicate than usual in her exhaustion, drops into a heavy slumber. Rainfire sighs and gets up, picking up the fur and draping it over Rill, tucking her in gently. After a longing look, he goes back and tries to make himself comfortable on the hard ground to stay awake. Silversong peeks out at Rainfire through slitted eyes, watching him move about for a moment. Silversong . o O ( This'll never do. ) Rainfire sits oblivious, watching the mist twist and blow in tendrils. Silversong moves over to sit beside Rainfire, smiling up at him. ** Gonna stay awake all night? ** Rainfire manages a small smile, ** I'm keeping watch..I'm not sleepy anyway. ** Silversong lightly sets her hand upon his back. ** You sure 'bout that? ** she sends, quietly smiling. Rainfire nodnods, ** Can't have those bugs creeping up on us.. ** Silversong smiles. ** I don't think they leave their valley at all, else they would have come out to get us already. ** Rainfire shrugs. This fact doesn't seem to matter. Silversong voices a soft chuckle. ** Can't have you getting all exhausted, now, right before the hardest part, getting everyone back home... ** she quietly sends. Rainfire pats Silversong's knee. ** I'll be fine, Silvie, really. ** Silversong looks up into Rainfire's eyes for a moment. ** Woodhawk ever tell you about the time Starlight and I went to bring my mother back? ** Rainfire shakes his head. Silversong smiles. ** Good, ** she sends simply, her hand on his back beginning to glow every so slightly... healing magic subtly reaching in, and touching certain places... she has had years of experience in putting weary elves off to sleep.. and even not-so-weary elves. :) Certain places, that when touched, set off a gentle, yet irresistable urge to just.. sleep. Rainfire's eyes droop slightly and he props his chin up on one hand. Silversong gently curls her arm about Rainfire's shoulder, drawing him closer. My, her lap looks very comfy, right about now... Rainfire's gaze strays to Rill's sleeping form nearby and a tiny sigh escapes him. He leans over and snuggles his head into Silvie's lap. Silversong smiles, lightly brushing her hand over Rainfire's hair. ** Sleep, my dear... you'll need your strength later. **