From: owner-willowholt-l@murkworks.net on behalf of Wolf031877@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 1998 1:54 PM
To: willowholt-l@murkworks.net
Subject: [willowholt-l] Dusk Finds Her Soulname (1 of 2)


As noted above, this is the log in which Dusk finds her soulname.  Dusk and
Talek were still in the cypresses during the night in which it happened.
Logged starting June 23, 1998 -- RL stretched things out a bit and we finished
June 30, but it all took place over the course of one night.  Emitting
provided by Talek, with Dusk's reactions.  NOTE -- unless you are Dusk's
parents, please don't assume you know Dusk's soulname unless you check with me
beforehand ;)  It's given in the log.  Enjoy, we did.

------------------------------------------------------------------

High up among the cypresses, Talek did manage to catch some sleep, but only
until late in the midday. A few silvery strands of hair fall over his closed
eyes, face smoothened with sleep, a peaceful expression on his face. Red
threads of sundown peek over the treetops, painting the sky with pinks and
oranges, the darker side of the sky already fading to dark blue. Night will
come soon.

Though night is nearly upon the world of two moons, Dusk has slept throughout
the day, and continues to sleep still. She has found some way of sleeping in
the tree without falling or sacrificing comfort - must come from experience.
And as she sleeps, she dreams.

Night are for wolves to run and hunt and as the Mother and Child start to
dance across the sky, sleep starts to whisper of fading, though the dreams do
not. Gossamer webbing, like Preserver wrapstuff or spider silk, clings to her
dream-self, tall willow trees reaching higher than any of their breed could
ever hope to reach, the Moons in crescent smiling down through the foliage.
And whispers, like chanted song without melody, always just out of reach.

In her dream, Dusk runs free in the forests, living from one moment to the
next, much like she always did as a young cub, less like she has been more
recently. A laugh follows her romping, though silence overcomes her dream-self
suddenly, the whispers grabbing her attention. Her head tilts back, eyes
lifting to scan over the taller-than-normal willows, seeking..searching...but
for what? Dusk's sleeping form stirs gently, going still once more.

What indeed. The whispers grow faintly stronger, then suddenly fade sharply
away until they are as faint as wind slipping through the feathery willow
fronds. There is a path in front of you and though there is no scent, no sign
of prey, there is a sense of 'pull', like a pair of invisible hands has caught
you and is trying to bring you closer. Calling softly.. the whispers are
fractionally louder down that path and dimly.. just dimly.. a pair of golden-
amber eyes might return your gaze.

Naturally, the russet-furred maiden begins to follow the pulling sensation, as
though there is something down that path that is to be found. Dusk's dream-
self nibbles on a clawtip, looking left and right as she steps along
cautiously, that whispering ringing in her ears and mind..perhaps familiar to
her? After wandering about, her eyes refocus and stare ahead of her, squinting
towards what she seems to think are another set of eyes looking back at her.
Curiouser and curiouser. The real Dusk remains still.

The golden eyes return her gaze dead-on, as if in Challenge; then, abruptly,
they blink and disappear, the whispers around Dusk growing louder. No longer
breezes through tree leaves, but more like the midnight singing of crickets.
The voices rise and fall, and almost give form to their whispers, but.. Not
yet, you sense. You must go farther, farther into find the source of the
whispers. Faded webbing clings to your forearm as you brush past and a cold
wind tickles your back. Farther in, they whisper. Farther.

Dusk's eyes lock on those ahead of her, and she blinks only after the other
pair fade away. Again she pauses, a faint frown pulling her lips downward as
the sounds intensify and beckon her to move on. And further in Dusk goes,
stopping to wave her arm about to shake free of the webbing. The hand on that
same arm then retreats to the back of her neck to rub out the chill of the
wind, biting through to the skin despite her furred form. Arms then moving to
wrap around her front, she continues on, voice calling in an echo, "Who's
there?"

As you approach, the forest gives way to a clearing with a large, smooth stone
in the center. Seated upon the stone, back facing you, is a figure, tall and
willowy, there is just enough light to betray the threads of fur lining its
form, dark mud brown with shoots of gray and silver marking age. Around you,
the whispers grow louder, calling upon themselves enough coherency to sound
like sounds, but still not yet words. 'Shh shh shh shh..' they cry one moment,
soft and mournful, and the next, 'Tah tah tah tah..' joyfully, almost hopeful.

Dusk halts upon reaching the clearing, green-on-yellow orbs staring wide-eyed
at the stone, the figure upon it. Who..? As the whispering intensifies, her
head snaps back and forth, listening, trying to gather what, if anything,
they're saying to her. Blinking, her eyes quickly return to the furred figure
sitting on the rock, and her head tilts to one side.

As if on cue, the figure rises. Tall, tall, impossibly tall. Taller than even
Zalen or Simmel, or Talek or Tinyhowl, he - for now you can most definitely
tell that the figure is male - turns to face you. The eyes are large, larger
than any elf's, and wolfishly slanted. The irises are the deepest of golds
with ink-black centers that stare, simply stare at you. The whispers grow
louder, almost tangible. 'Assshh shh shh shh.. Teh tah tah tah..' This being
is powerful, surely something of legend, and the sending that curls inside
your mind is unpracticed, but focused and rippling with layers, each more
intricate than the first. ** I have been waiting for you. **

Dusk's legs carry her closer, towards the impossibly tall figure now standing
before her, her neck now craning just enough to look up at his face, his
golden eyes. Her own flicker again from side to side at the whispering that
seems to be gathering towards a sentence, a word, a name, perhaps...if
anything at all. Blinking, she forces her attention to return to the figure,
and she sends. ** You..waiting for me..? You must be... ** Her words trail
off.

** They named me Yellow-Eyes, but I am Timmorn. ** Claw-tipped fingers reach
out to rest on the smaller furred elf's shoulders. With that simple touch the
whispers grow stronger, drawing strength and power. "Asshhh shh shh Ashhh Teh
tah tah.. Asshhh teh teh teh. ASSSsshhh Teh teh teh.." ** That is who I am. **
His hands squeeze. The whispers intensify. Something starts to sprout, to
grow. ** It is time for to know who you are. **

** You're like me.. ** Dusk begins, fumbling over the send-words, changing
them. ** Or I'm like you... ** she amends, staring up into Timmorn's eyes,
blinking only as needed. She appears distracted by the unrelenting whispers,
and she focuses herself so she won't miss anything important. ** I've been
trying to find who I am..that's why I left my Holt..can you tell me? Can those
voices tell me? ** she questions, feeling the firm hands on her shoulders.

** You will know. ** Like an autumn leaf caught by the wind, Yellow Eyes
literally fades from sight. He fades slowly until the outlines of trees can be
seen behind him, and then his form blurs like water splashed on paint,
disappearing from view. There is still, however, the sense of his hands on
your shoulders, grasping them gently, but firmly enough so that you will not
turn away. The whispers intensifies. That something grows larger.. bigger..
brighter.. and blossoms. Understanding suddenly washes over you like a bright,
warm light and suddenly.. you -know-. >><<((Ashte))>><< You know who you are,
who you've been, and who you'll always be. >><<((Ashte))>><<

Dusk's dream-self reacts as though suddenly struck with a punch, though there
is no pain, nor does she stumble and fall, instead remaining in place as
though rooted there. Her eyes widen, a swallow following, then rapid-fire
blinking, as if she is awakening from a deep sleep resulting from a long
journey. "A..Ash..." she babbles in a voice no more than a whisper, her eyes
taking in everything around her, pinned on Timmorn Yellow-Eyes until he
disappears completely, then shifting over the trees. What grows in her is
newfound life, a true sense of self-knowledge, and yet more. Finally, she
repeats the name, -her- name. ** Ashte..Ashte..me **

** You. ** It is confirmation, though unneeded, and soon the surroundings
follow in Yellow Eyes's footsteps, fading from view. The whispers have
stopped, leaving gentle silence, and the tree branches part to let the full
pale moonlight trickle down, flooding the clearing until that's all that is
left. Great, big, beautiful moons and an endless sea of stars. For the
briefest moment you can understand why Talek loves the stars so much, loves to
watch them come out when the night begins, and then they too fade as night in
Reality grows clearer and the dream slowly moves towards its end.

The head of Dusk's dream-self bobs in a simple nod, and as things shift around
in the clearing, they begin to swirl and fade further. She does find faint
interest staring towards the stars, but the reason why is still lost on her
for now, understandably so with the realization of who she -is!- As dreams
fade and reality looms nearer, Dusk's true self twitches in place.

The dream fades and with it comes awakeness. The true Moons shine down through
the foliage, gracing the two travelers's forms with a warm, though scattered,
light. There is a scattering of stars, but it is a cloudy night and the misty
forms obscure their pinpoints of light some from view. A breeze passes
through, ruffling Dusk's rust-red fur and catching a few singular strands of
Talek's hair to blow them backwards.

With a sudden start, Dusk snaps awake, eyes blinking rapidly as they did in
her dream. Hands gripping the branch she now comes to sit on upright, she
catches her breath and tries to rouse her sleeping traveling companion.
"Talek! Talek! Wake up!" she exclaims, something having gotten her terribly
excited.

"Whu-?" Talek jerks awake as well, nearly falling off the branch in the
process. "Yeaugh! Dusk? Dusk?" Shaking his head quickly, the silver-haired elf
looks at her, startled and worried. ** What? What is it? What happened? **

In her excitement, Dusk forgets all about sending, instead letting her emotion
and joy show in her spoken words. "I found it, Talek! I found my name! I
was..out..and they started whispering to me, and I followed the voices, and I
came to this clearing and someone was sitting on a rock. Then he stood up and
he was taller than anyone I'd ever seen before and he said his name was
Timmorn and that it was time for me to know my name too! And I found it!" In
between shortened breaths, she lets out a ringing howl of pure joy.
"Ayoooooooooooooooooah!!"

Talek just sits there for a long moment, blinking slowly. His expression can
only be described as 'boggled.' Her howl, though, does manage to jar him a bit
and he finally manages, ** So.. you're.. you're not hurt..? **

Dusk grins intensely as she lowers her head once done with the howl, eyes
considering Talek thoughtfully. "Hurt?" she questions. "Of course I'm not
hurt! In fact, I feel better than ever! I feel alive, and I know who I am!"
she exclaims, impulsively moving to grab Talek into a bear-like hug..or is
that a wolfhug?

Talek oofs! in surprise. High Ones, he's still half-asleep, so it takes a few
moments for the embrace to register. When it does, he chuckles lightly and
reaches his arms around to return it, though not as fiercely. ** I'm happy for
you, Dusk, ** he sends warmly, though awkwardly. He's not sure what to say and
'Congratulations' seems somewhat shallow at this point for this purpose.

Dusk's smile remains intact, as her head settles against Talek's shoulder,
loosening the hug but keeping it in place. ** Thanks. ** she finally sends
again, breathing gently against the other elf. ** You don't know how important
it was for me to find my true name..and I don't even think I could explain it
if I tried. ** A sense of warmth and contentment rises from her sending.

Talek continues to hold Dusk more for the sake that she hasn't released her
side of the embrace than anything else. Its easier now then it was a few moons
ago. ** Its all right, ** he sends, finally waking up enough to form a better
level of coherency about his sendings. A soft chuckle escapes and his smoke-
hued eyes flicker. ** I think I understand anyway. **

Dusk nods slowly, in agreement with Talek's words. She does not ask him to
attempt to explain how he believes he understands, and after moments more, she
starts to loosen the embrace, but she nuzzles at his cheek with her own. ** I
think we can head back home now, or go someplace else. **

There is the slightest of pauses before Talek replies, drawing backwards with
a slight tilt of his head. His hair having lost its clasp while he slept, the
individual strands fall over his eyes unhindered, a silvery, silken curtain
that doesn't begin to hide his lopsided smile. ** Perhaps home.. to tell the
others.. I miss Tinyhowl and Jylien and Dawn.. and everyone. **

Consideration is given to a few different possibilities, of which include
visiting Lostholt, or taking a trip to the Sun Village - that one's quickly
thrown by the wayside for the reason that the seasons would be too harsh,
although the pair is equipped for such a trek. Also wanting to get back to her
family, some of which she hadn't seen for turns, Dusk acquiesces, nodding as
she sits upright again. ** Home, then. **

** Aye. ** Talek starts to sit up, but his tired body protests and he promptly
reclines backwards again against the branch's limb. ** Not now though, ** he
adds a moment later, lifting a hand to brush some of the hair from his face
only to have it fall back into place the moment he lets his hand drift back
down. ** You might have slept all day, but I surely didn't. I'm tired! **

Dusk bahs, playfully poking at Talek's ribcage. ** You shouldn't sleep at
night, then. The night's when it's the best time to go out and do things! **
The sending is laced with humor, because she knows well how non-Wolfriders
don't follow the same sleep patterns most Wolfriders do. ** When do you wanna
go, then? **

** The night's good for other things too, ** Talek answers in both defense and
tease, though both are propped up lazily. Hugging the grey-and-white fur cloak
about him like a blanket, his eyes close then open partially. ** Soon. Maybe
later tonight.. tomorrow.. ** His send drifts, momentarily losing its
coherency before he tightens it up again. ** Soon. **

Dusk shifts around to lie front-end-down on the branch, propping her chin up
in her hands, elbows on the branch. ** Other things? Like what..? ** she
questions playfully, wondering what sort of response that'll bring from Talek.
She's been shy, he's been shy. Now that she knows herself, what of that?
Remembering (!) something, she grins. ** I thought you were afraid of the
rain. **

** I'm too sleepy to think about the rain, ** is Talek's half-grinned retort.
He allows her first send to sit a while and he answers casually, eyes closing
all the way. ** For sleep, obviously.. or talking.. or joining.. or watching
the stars.. ** He bites back a yawn. ** Its not so bad to sleep during the day
or night. **

** I think I'd like all of those, ** Dusk admits. Even joining, apparently.
It's been too long that she's gone without experiencing the joys of being
close and intimate with another. Perhaps the time will be right soon. Noting
the closure of Talek's eyes, that mischievous glint returns to her eyes, and
she gets up silently. Taking a waterskin in hand, she tilts it over Talek's
head and allows 'rain' to fall down towards him. ** Look! Rain! **

With a start, Talek jerks up. "Ack!" ** Oh no! We need to find shelter, maybe
down there.. some rocks, some brush, a burrow maybe.. I.. ** Only then does he
take in Dusk's expression and the waterskin in her hand. ** I.. ** His jaw
goes slack, then tightens, smirking dryly. ** Very funny, Dusk. **

Dusk breaks out into a fit of laughter, and sprinkles some more water down at
Talek. ** You should've seen the look on your face! ** She laughs more, and
repeats, ** Ack! Oh no! We need to find shelter! **

Talek sits up again, his smirk turning drier still. ** Funny-funny.. Hey, quit
it! ** he sends as she sprinkles even more water on him and, in emphasis, he
reaches to thwap her good-naturedly, nose wrinkled some.

Dusk hops back skillfully as Talek reaches out for her, putting the cap back
on the 'skin and setting it back down. Crouching, she eyes the now-wet elf,
still grinning.

"Feh." Drawing the hand back, Talek uses the fur cloak he's snuggled into to
wipe his face and hair dry, managing to muss up his hair enough to make it
resemble vaguely that of a bird's nest. ** Raining.. hmf.. What if it really
was raining? Hmf! **

** Then you'd be wetter than you are now. ** Dusk's answer holds amusement to
it, as she grins lopsidedly at Talek, arms coming to rest in the lap she's
made for herself. ** Your hair looks really funny that way, ** she has to
point out.

Talek's tongue flicks out at the former, then his eyes widen and his brows
furrow at the latter. ** Like what? ** Lifting a hand self-consciously, he
pats his head until he finds the snarl embedded in his hair. ** Oh, wolf
scat.. **

A smirk now embeds itself on Dusk's lips, and she gets up to approach Talek
again. ** Here, let me help you with that. ** she insists, trying to get
behind Talek and gently pick through his hair. If allowed to, it's found she's
being quite careful, and it really is painless.

Talek does pull away at first, but its right at the top back of his head where
he can't quite reach without arranging his arms and elbows in an amusing,
awkward spectacle. Its not a large knot, just a bunch of hairs that got pushed
together and tangled. ** Is it bad? **