From: owner-willowholt-l@murkworks.net on behalf of Viara
[jrorr@exis.net]
Sent: Sunday, October 25, 1998 11:56 AM
To: willowholt-l@murkworks.net
Subject: [willowholt-l] Dawn and Talek visit Dusk and Midnight

Log cast: Talek, Dawn, Dusk, Midnight
Log date: 10/25/98 

Trollkiller's old den(#8737RL)
Trollkiller's old den is, these days, most often used as a
 playroom, or as a guest den for visitors who are
 particularly close to Rillwhisper, Woodhawk, or
 Trollkiller. It is filled wall to wall with soft furs, and
 kept from becoming stuffy by regular use. Lying atop one
 pile of furs is a small wooden statue is of a large, fat,
 and somehow canny-looking bullfrog, like those found near
 the Willowholt pond. It is coloured a dark green, with
 little spots.

Contents:
Dusk
A bunch of brightly coloured leaves
Obvious exits:
Rillwhisper, Woodhawk, and Trollkiller's Den  Out to Willow
 Tree Centre  

Talek and Dawn appear in the den's entrance. The taller of
 the two frowns uncertainly, glancing in, then around to the
 blue-eyed Wolfrider accompanying him. ** What if she's
 still asleep? ** he sends, nibbling a fingernail.

Dawn sends cautiously. ** Dusk? **

Dusk can be found curled up in a pile of furs, with a bundle
 of Midnight held close. They're both only partly awake. **
 Hmm? ** she send-murmurs.

Dawn smiles softly. ** Talek and I are here. **

Talek whews! quietly and his lips pull into a crooked smile.
 ** Wanted to see how you were doing.. **

Dawn slips into place beside Dusk to peer at the littlest
 cub. ** He's so cute when he's sleeping! **

Dusk lifts her head, a mess of hair and head-fur, blinkblinking
 sleepily. ** I'm well..been up a few minutes. **

Midnight blinks his eyes at the sending bouncing about.

Talek moves in after Dawn, kneeling behind her to look over
 her shoulder. He grins at Dusk, head tilting to one side
 slightly. ** Glad to hear it.. I was afraid we were going
 to wake you up. **

Dawn sighs happily, and strokes Dusk's hair briefly. ** Do
 you need anything? **

Midnight /was/ asleep..before. But not now. He stares up at
 Dawn, a bit of a grin on his face, while his mother settles
 against her mother (heh). ** We're both a bit hungry.. **

Dawn coochie-coos at the cubling. ** Oh, but we'll see to
 that! Well, you'll see to Midnight, and I'll see to you. **

** And I'll, um. I'll help Dawn, ** adds Talek.

Dusk just grins, happy to have her cubling with her, and her
 mother there as well. ** Aye. **

Dawn nuzzles Dusk fondly. ** Trollkiller has been lax, not
 to see you well stocked, but we'll soon mend that! I'll
 fetch you meat and water. ** She nudges Talek. ** No need,
 you stay here until I return. **

Little Midnight coos up at Dawn, giggling.

Dawn nuzzles Midnight and Dusk in turn before reluctantly
 leaving the den.
Dawn has left.

Talek blinks once, ** Okay. ** and settles into a seated
 position beside Dusk, right in the spot Dawn vacated.

Dusk reaches out an arm and makes to bring Talek a little
 closer. "Say hello to Midnight, Talek.."

Talek is pulled closer dutifully and he smiles down at the
 little one, smoky eyes warm. A few errant strands of silver
 hair escape and fall over his eyes. ** Hi there, Midnight. **

Dusk leaves her arm around Talek, leaning on him as she
 cradles Midnight in her other arm. Still grinning, the
 little one blinks and stares at Talek, then attempts to
 reach a hand out at his hair.

Talek returns the cub's grin in kind, then ohs! as the
 chubby hand moves forward to grab the hair - and succeeds.
 ** Ack.. ** Intelligently, the elf shifts back and ends up
 getting his hair not only grabbed, but pulled. ** Ow! **

Dusk errs, and gently pries Midnight's fingers free, one by
 one. "No..you don't pull on Talek's hair..he's a friend. A
 nice friend." She smiles sheepishly at Talek. ** Umm,
 sorry.. **

Midnight gets a pouty look on his face, and decides to reach 
 for Dusk's hair instead.

Talek sends openly ** It's okay.. Heh. ** He combs his
 fingers through his hair, brushing it back from his face.
 His nose wrinkles a bit, then he grins again as Midnight
 switches tactics. ** Look out. **

Dusk catches Midnight's hand with her own, shifting a little
 against Talek, more shoulder-to-shoulder now. ** Got
 him..what a pain sometimes! ** she sends amusedly, saving
 her hair from assault. ** He's so nice to look at.. ** Even
 if he came partly from Tsoran.

Talek glances to Dusk sidelong for a moment, but doesn't say
 anything. Nor does he move away, staying where he is as his
 attention shifts back to the little bundle of energy in the
 maiden's arms. ** He's wonderful, ** he corrects, beep!ing
 the lad's nose. ** Been a while since we had any cubs born. **

Dusk isn't thinking about anything like possible signs
 coming from her closeness with Talek. She was just as close
 with Dawn just moments before. She smiles brightly at the
 taller elf's words, sending wordless agreement to the
 former, ** It /has/ been a while, hasn't it? ** to the
 latter. Midnight's eyes go crossed at the beeping, and he
 meeps! Covering his nose with both hands, then moving them
 away a bit, then covering up once more. A touch comes from
 his mind: ** ! **

Talek's eyes sparkle at the mental exclamation, his face
 lighting up. ** Aye. Calmwind was the last, I think, ** he
 sends distractedly, wrinkling his nose cutely at the 
 night-haired cub before his face relaxes into a wide smile.

** Aye, Jylien and Tinyhowl's..I don't even know how long
 it's been that he's been around.. ** Dusk admits, thinking
 of the younger elf. Midnight grins back at Talek, before a
 large yawn overcomes him.

** Hmm. ** Oddly, Talek's expression becomes thoughtful for
 a moment, smiling down at Midnight distractedly before his
 face clears up. ** Um? Oh, yes. Calmwind, he's nearly grown
 now.. I think.. **

Dusk stifles a yawn of her own, trying not to catch it
 before it's passed around from Midnight. She brushes his
 hair with her hand, and snuggles him close to her breast.
 ** I've..lost track of the time. Never really did follow it
 anyway. ** she admits to Talek.

Talek sends openly ** I understand. ** He pauses with that,
 frowning a little as he searches for something else to say.
 Coming up emptyhanded, the silver-haired elf's frown
 deepens, but he hides it as he glances towards the dendoor.
 ** I wonder what's keeping Dawn. ** **

** Probably looking, still. ** Dusk supposes, sitting
 upright more properly to hold Midnight in both arms, snug
 and warm in his furs. ** I won't die if she's not back for
 a little while. ** she grins. ** And Midnight'll be fine,
 too. **

His gray eyes shift back to Dusk and he nods slowly, gaze
 dropping briefly to little Midnight, then back up to Dusk
 again. Talek's brows draw together, his tone turning a
 little bit more serious. ** /Are/ you alright? Any aches,
 pains? **

Dusk shakes her head after a moment of thought. She admits
 simply, ** No..I feel fine, really. ** Midnight shuts his
 eyes, looking like he's ready to rest again.

Talek nods. ** Good. Just... good. ** His solemn tone clears
 as he relaxes some, leaning back some with a hand placed
 behind him to keep from falling backwards.

** So..how've you been? **

** I've been alright, for the most part, ** Talek answers
 slowly. ** Things have been pretty quiet of late.. I'm
 sorry I haven't been to see you more often, ** he adds
 abruptly, casting her a glance through the corners of his
 eyes.

Dusk's eyes close while Talek explains how things have been
 going, then reopen at his apology. ** Sorry..? ** She
 doesn't make anything of it. ** It's all right. But you're
 right, things have been quiet, and slow. It's good. **

Talek offers a faint smile in response to the latter, then
 emits a noncommital noise, and shrugs. ** Better than busy,
 busy, busy, ** he comments.

Dusk returns the shrug and admits, ** I want to get back to
 doing stuff, too. **

Talek points out, smiling, ** You still can. I'm sure no one
 would mind cubsitting while you did. **

Dusk grins suddenly. ** So you'll watch Midnight for a
 while, then? How kind! **

Talek blinks. Oops. ** Huh? **

Dusk's grin only widens. ** Thank you, Talek. He's asleep,
 so if you're really quiet, and really still, he might not
 even wake up. **

Talek blinks again, then starts to do so repeatedly. 
 ** Um, ** he answers cleverly, blanking. ** What? **

Dusk awws at Talek. ** C'mon, don't be afraid of him. You
 did say no one would mind cubsitting, and I really could
 use a chance to get out of this den for a while. ** Well,
 he didn't say /he'd/ be the one to do it, but hey, here he
 is.

** I.. I.. I didn't.. Um.. ** The silver-haired elf gapes at
 her for a moment, then turns beet red. Well, he's really
 put his foot in his mouth this time. And he can't really
 back out of it either. ** Um. ** Talek squeaks. ** Okay. **

Dusk hands the sleeping Midnight over to Talek, saying only
 this: ** Don't be afraid to send for me if there's trouble. 
 I just need to get out and stretch, something like that. **
 She nuzzles Talek. ** Thanks so much. **

Talek takes the sleeping cub in arm, looking bewildered. **
 No problem, ** he answers weakly, staring at Midnight
 dumbly.

Dusk nuzzles Talek one more time, pats him on the shoulder
 reassuringly, and sends, ** Don't worry. There's nothing to
 worry about. Just pretend you're taking care of Tinyhowl
 again. **

Talek sends weakly, ** Uh-huh. **

** It'll be fine. ** Dusk answers, standing up to head out
 of the den. Unseen is a rather wide grin.

** Okay, ** comes the sending after, and then Talek is left
 alone in the den with little Midnight, still asleep in his
 arms.

[end log]