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Post by Sofia on May 31, 2020 14:49:34 GMT 1
The Tall Tree holt had for countless generations, been a peaceful place, even when they discovered the trolls living in the tall mountains to the north they made peace with them, trading goods between he two, the land was fertile, and the weather constant, it never got too warm, never too cold, and the elves flourished. Then one night a magical rock from the sky landed near the Holt, Trolls were present to see the object when one of the elves brought it to the chieftain. It glowed of a warm and mysterious magic, remenisit of the High Ones themselves. The trolls instantly greedy for all things valuable wanted the stone, but the elves would not trade for it, or respond to the threats made by the trolls. So the trolls stormed off to their homes not to be heard from for a full changing of the moons.
The evening was fast approaching, the sun was setting into its nest for the night and the moons were already rising, Longtale, always the first up, was enjoying the pretty colors in the sky as he went to get a drink from the stream. He knelt down and froze, for a second a sent had played across his nose but had been gone just as quickly. It made the hair on the back of his neck rise and he stood slowly, freezing halfway up when his eyes spotted a track in the mud near the banks... Troll marks. The elf turned around, preparing to send a message to his chieftain, when he felt something at his throat.
The whole tribe was awoken by a terrible sending scream from Longtale, a bloodcurdling mental howl that ended as quickly as it begun. All over the holt elves sprang awake, many of them slaughtered right there as trolls had somehow managed to infiltrate their dens without them knowing. The sun continued to settle, its streaks of colors playing over the sky that watched silently as a terribly night of bloodshed unfolded. The wolfriders fought like they always had, and scores of trolls were downed, but where one troll fell three seemed to charge forth. They were overwhelmed, most were slaughtered, a few captured.
They - the trolls - seemed to have an interest in capturing the magical elves, but if they couldn’t, they had no problems killing them in the slaughter as well. It soon became apparent the elves couldn’t win, and the survivors had to scatter into the woods.
Small green eyes peered from a bush, so carefully concealed that only the sharpest eyes would be able to make anything out of them. Inside that bush the cub BrightEyes sat, his father’s sword, much too big for a cub, sitting in his lap, and next to him his mothers silver furred wolf. He stared blankly out. In clear view of him his mothers and a trolls remains laying on the ground, but his eyes were now dry, if a bit red.
He had lost the last of his tears some time ago, leaving him in an emotionless state of shock as his mind and body struggled to make sense of everything, and come to terms with what he had seen. He knew his father was dead, or he wouldn’t have the sword. His mother lay obviously out on the ground in front of him, but his mind screamed refusal, that this was all just a horrible dream that he could wake up from at any moment to find himself back in his den snuggled in warmly with his parents, who would still be quite alive.
The wolf next to him stirred slightly the hair raising on the back of her neck, but refraining from growling, someone was coming.
Sunset carefully picked her way through the carnage, looking for survivors, careful not to make the hastily bandaged wound on her back re-open and clutching her spear in one hand and a dagger taken from her slain mate in another. She had already found the dead body of her mate, her cub being slain right before her eyes. Not her parents yet, but probably they lay somewhere too, dead as everybody else. She didn't seek to be found by the trolls, who had probably retreated back to their underground homes anyway, but should she encounter them - especially if she was the only survivor still free - she wouldn't die alone. No, she would take them with her.
She stopped. There was a scent nearby that wasn't completely covered by the blood-scent. BrightEyes. ~**Are you still alive, cub?**~ she sent, looking directly at his hiding place.
The cub remained frozen in his spot, clutching tightly to the weapon in his lap. The old wolf next to him whined softly and nudged him, but he still didn’t move. After a moment she worked her snout in-between one of his arms and he finally moved, climbing upon the wolf’s back, hugging tightly to her. The wolf stood slowly and moved out from under the brush, whining softly again as she moved towards Sunset with the cub on her back.
So he was alive. This information quite much pulled the ground from under Sunset's plans of revenge. She didn't care anymore of what happened to herself but she couldn't just sacrifice a little cub in the process. "Let's go," she told to the wolf and the cub both, nodding her head to the direction opposite of the troll mountains, "Nothing we can do here now." She'd need to tend to her wound better before it become her death. The cub probably would- no, the cub had to help. There was no alternative unless they found an adult who was alive. **Is there anybody here?** she sent with a bit of desperation, even though she knew her sending range right now had to be non-existent as she was much weakened from the battle and the loss of her kin.
LizardStalker saw BrightEyes leave on wolf-back. "Let's follow him" he whispered to his older brother.
ChildWolf nodded and slowly followed the chief's son. "We are here," he said softly to her. He kept LizardStalker next to him, the boy was frightened somewhat. Sprinter was walking with them. She went beside SilverWolf, whining a bit. Sprinter wanted out of her along with her bond. She didn't like the smell...
BrightEyes remained still and silent, hugging the wolf and the weapon close to him. The wolf however seemed to agree with the elf, and suddenly turned growling. A light scent caught her nose, scent of trolls possibly heading for them, she continued her growl as she crouched and began backing away slowly from the scent.
Although she couldn't quite distinguish which of the troll smells were old and which new, Sunset trusted the wolf's instincts. **Scatter and hide!** she quickly ordered the cubs, **Lizard Stalker, ChildWolf, up the trees. Quickly. Bright Eyes-** No use, the cub clearly wasn't able of doing anything. Instead, she addressed the wolf. ::Run farther, sister, and find a good place to hide. Protect the cub.:: Then she jumped and caught a hold of a branch, intending to hide up in a tree too, but the pain on her back made her fall.
Cursing, she dove into a barely elf-sized hollow under a tree's roots.
The wolf took off disappearing down he trail and the others barely had time to hide before five large well armed trolls came trudging down he path one of them swearing he saw elves down this way. Two of the trolls carried a couple of elves each, tied and gagged, slung over their shoulders. Before anyone could decide to attempt a rescue however another set of trolls came - making a rescue attempt nearly impossible - telling them it was time to head back to the mountains.
With various snorts and grumbles the trolls turned trudging back down the path they came from with their prizes.
*****
His pale hands hitting away the leaves and his mouth dry as an empty wine sack RedStreak ran for his life. Never had such a fear overtaken him. His mother, father and even Quicksand, somewhere. He had strayed from their company as his parents had shouted their last words telling them to go deeper into the woods. He was panting and his usually green eyes had a pale shade to them. His hands were paler than usual and his eyes were reddening. 'Run, run, run' was all he could think. He didn't know had his parents escaped, or if 'Quicksand the troublemaker' was safe.
Staring to sniff he tried to quicken his pace that seamed to get slower and slower. 'I can't...I can't run…My feet... They hurt…' the cub thought as he dropped on his knees. His cubby figure shook by the tears that he hadn't yet shed.
Stiffened with fear and misery he let his hands lay on his legs. Where were the others? He was alone...Maybe...Maybe they were all dead.
The she wolf took off with BrightEyes holding on tightly as she darted off into some bushes. She bounded on skidding into a halt as they stumbled upon the cub, narrowly avoiding running it over. She whined softly nudging the cub gently with her snout.
His green eyes unbelieving what they just saw the cub lifted his gaze. Tiny drops of tears that he had stubbornly not shed were in the corner of his eyes and now dropped on his pale cheeks that gained a reddening shade to them. Seeing the familiar wolf his eyes went wide open and he cast his arms around the she wolf's neck. Clutching tightly to the fur as a cub just born and fighting for it's life RedStreak buried his face into the fur.
Mumbling something messy like 'saved...you..' he didn't even feel the tears coming. Then he lifted his face to see the chief's heir and looked amazed. Hadn't he even noticed him!? Shaking he stood up and then feeling still very confused he hugged the other male. He was saved! Bright Eyes was safe as well!
"Oh, Bright Eyes, I thought they were all gone! I thought I'll never see you again!" he almost shout of happiness and then his eyes were a bit sadder again. Releasing the other cub he continued. "Have you seen Quicksand? Mother or father?" he said looking to his eyes pleadingly.
BrightEyes blinked several times, half shaken out of his shocked trance he worked his mouth for a moment before something came out. "No....didn’t see, any them, but others, not them." He stammered, the she wolf sniffing the air nervously wanting to get them out of there before they could be discovered by a troll stumbling in.
RedStreak was all ready for action again and the other cub's passiveness made him nervous. "Who others?!" he almost shout. Then he shook BrightEyes´ shoulders lightly. "How many?! Are they alright?! Are they hurt!? Please don't tell me their dead, BrightEyes! Please!" he said and shook him more powerfully making him almost fall from the wolf's back.
He shook his head slowly, the word still coming slowly from his mouth. "They were alive, a cub, two older, troll scent, had to hide."
Suddenly, the bushes behind the two cubs rustled and a blonde figure came darting out of them like a wolf chasing a ravvit. Not stopping at the sight of the two male cubs, the figure continued to run until it collided with Redstreak and caused them both to fall to the ground. **Oh Redstreak!!!** a sending almost yelled, two deep purple, tear-filled eyes staring down from above the cub. Redstreak was laying on the ground now, Quicksand sitting on top of her brother, her blonde hair messy and half of it hanging out from the braid on her back. Hugging her younger brother, the she-cub let a few tears fall, not even concerned now with how that would make her look to the two other cubs **I thought you were dead!** She sent, now hugging her brother so hard, it felt as if she might squeeze him to death.
Then, she looked over at BrightEyes and quickly extended an arm to include him in the hug **I though I'd never see you two again!**
Just lying under his big sister RedStreak's pale cheeks were pale of surprise and fright. He didn't believe his eyes and couldn't even say a word. Soon Quicksand was already suffocating him with her overwhelming love and the cub just laid there his eyes looking up at the leaf roof wide as an open sky. **Quicksand?**he sent and then his eyes started glimmering. They were of a darker shade of green again and his reddening eyes were full of hope and happiness. **Oh, Quicksand!**he sent with a loud mental voice and rolled with the two other cubs being way too happy to think of anything but seeing them again.
**Oh, Quicksand! I'm so happy to see you!**he sent and put his arms around the rascal's shoulders. Then he looked into his sister’s familiar eyes and his expression changed dramatically. **Did you see? Did you see mama or papa?**he asked his eyes pleading for an answer.
Quicksand's happy grin changed suddenly to a worried frown. Putting her arm around her brother, she shook her head and sent **No, I didn't see either of them. Mother told me to run and so I did, because I had to find you.** Squeezing her brother tight, she managed to hold back the tears **I'm sure they are fine...** she sent, trying to sound convincing.
Looking down the cub frowned sadly. **But what if-?**he sent, but couldn't finish his question. **What are we gonna do? We're all alone in the middle of the woods...trolls on our tails...**he sent and sniffed. It seamed he was about to cry again.
BrightEyes sat up a little on the wolf, still looking lost and dazed though his voice held some emotion as he spoke. "I saw father… My father... Trolls around, made me and mother run, he didn’t make it. Mother made me hide in the bushes... with the wolf, she fought the trolls too, I saw the... the weapon.... The blood, she didn’t move anymore," he said as he slowly raised a trembling hand back towards the direction he came from. "Others over there, three elves, moving living not dead..."
RedStreak wiped his nose with his finger and sniffed a few times. Hearing BrightEyes' voice lifted his gaze and his teary eyes looked straight into the chief's son's eyes. He came closer and didn't reply anything to his last words. He put his pale hands on his shoulders and looked at the other cub. He didn't know if their parents we're alive, but at the moment he felt so bad for BrightEyes. On top of that, it was the chief who had died. He touched the other male's forehead with his own and tears ran down his cheeks. "It's okay BrightEyes…We're right here with you..." he said trying to not sniff while talking. He would have gone hysteric if BrightEyes wouldn't have got into that kind of a situation. He felt the need to comfort the chief's heir. 'The Chief!' he shouted in his mind. What will they do now!?
He shook his head slowly; he was starting to shake a little, though he still looked emotionally blank and exhausted. "It’s not ok.... trolls are still out there..... they want to hurt more... The others still living... we should go back... before they stop moving too." He said in the same slow almost emotionless voice. The wolf under him wuffed slightly in agreement sniffing the air anxiously.
Quicksand looked at her brother and her friend for a moment before her instincts as elder sister took over **Come on you two!** she sent **We need to find the other ones you were talking about BrightEyes! Perhaps they will know if there are others!** Putting one arm around BrightEyes' shoulders and the other around Redstreak's, she ruffled their hairs a bit. **We'll be alright. I'll make sure nothing happens...okay?**
RedStreak sniffed turning his green eyes up at his older sisters purple ones. At that very moment he really felt deep sibling love for her. Someone had to take over, and she was the right one for the job. **Okay...** the cub said. He always trusted Quicksand, even with his own life. To him she was a sibling, and though she was a true trickster and a rascal, he blindly trusted her. Helping the chief's heir up the cub looked forward and his face hardened lightly. **Let's go!**
The silver she-wolf turned around starting back towards the path she and Brighteyes had come from. "This way." said Brighteyes, holding on to the wolf, laying his head down. He was feeling worn out, down to the bones, but he did not dare to close his eyes for the images that waited for him were not something he wished to see again.
Quicksand nodded, squeezing her brother's hand ~**Remember, everything will be fine, Red**~ she sent to him again, before starting to follow BrightEyes and the wolf...
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Post by Sofia on May 31, 2020 14:51:32 GMT 1
Eveningsky carefully moved from a branch to another. She could use only her other hand because her left hand was placed on her side. She had a cut on her side that still was bleeding. She tried to stop the bleeding with her hand. Right now, she couldn't smell any trolls, but she still was on alert. The scent of blood was too thick in the air that it could hide even troll's smell. Her light sword was hanging on its place and was covered in blood, as was its owner. Her usually blonde hair was now almost wholly red of blood. She went down on that bigger branch that she now kneeled on and looked around between the covering leaves. She wasn't in a shape to fight anymore so she had to hide for her life. She just hoped that she wasn't the only one alive anymore.
His keen wolf-ears could hear someone coming, but he didn't look up. He knew from the steps they were too light to be troll. And trolls were the only thing he cared about right now. He wanted to slit the throat of every troll he could ever find, but right now, he could hardly move. Paralyzed from the pain of the large wound in his left arm and the cut across his chest and fatigued from loss of blood, Greyspear sat, leaning against a tree, his head in his hands. They were gone. All of them. His brother, his cubs, and his lifemate. His dear, sweet Tenderheart, gutted like a fish. Clenching his fists, he sat there, staring down at the ground, waiting for the elf nearby to approach him.
Sitting on the branch, Eveningsky tried to breath normally. The thick blood smell made her feel sick. She tried with her free hand to stop most of the bloodstained air to come in her lungs, but with no success. 'I hate this!' She screamed in her head and shut her eyes. She couldn't stand the blood smell more. Her thinking and everything, even breathing, stopped when she heard little moving noises. She didn't breath air in or out as the steps came closer. 'Not anymore!' Her head screamed and she opened her eyes. She had hard time to balance on the branch, so how could she face a troll? She had many wounds on her but the worst was still badly bleeding and she lost her blood all the time. Her vision started to get little black, but she didn't notice it as she listened to the steps. She thanked the High Ones that the blood smell couldn't plug her ears. She could hear them near and saw a foot come in her vision between the leaves. She could immediately say that it was an elf's foot and took breath in. She carefully watched as the elf came nearer and finally sat beside the tree. Now she could see him clearly. 'Greyspear!' She couldn't help but smile little to see a familiar face. ~**Up here!**~ She sent and moved her hand little so that it would be easier to spot her in the tree. But that made her again breath the thick air. Her eyes rolled little and she fell on her stomach on the branch, her legs hanging in different sides. ~**I think I'm going to faint...**~ She lock-sent to the other elf before her eyes went shut and she started to loose her balance.
At her first sending, Greyspear hadn't looked up. He could tell from her mental voice that it was Eveningsky, the dark-skinned elfess. But he couldn't bring himself to look up at her. He was too guilty to look at her. Because at the sound of her sending, he found himself wishing it was Tenderheart sending at him, not Eveningsky. He did wish Eveningsky alive and he was happy to find that she was okay, but still...he wished it would have been Tenderheart so much it hurt more than the wounds on his body.
However, at her second sending, his head flicked up, blue eyes tired and filled with pain, both internal and external pain. Perhaps it was the fact that he felt he'd done wrong by Eveningsky by wishing she was Tenderheart, or perhaps it was simply because he couldn't stand thinking of losing another one of his tribe mates, but as he saw her sway and start falling, Greyspear immediately got to his feet. It must have been the adrenaline from seeing a tribe mate in danger that got him up so fast, because only seconds ago, he'd been too fatigued with loss of blood to even raise his head. Whatever it was, it sure came in handy. He only needed to take a few steps to reach the right place, but he barely got there fast enough. Only seconds after he reached the place under the branch she was falling from, he managed to catch Eveningsky’s body in his strong arms. The pain that shot through him at that moment, as such a burden fell into his arms was overwhelming and he clenched his teeth together in order not to scream out loud. The wound in his arm was ripped open again and blood started to trickle out and a seam in Eveningsky's clothes scratched into the deep wound across his chest. Still clenching his teeth, pearls of sweat breaking out on his forehead, the elder stood there, on shaking legs for a moment, his face in a pain filled grimace and tears of pain gleaming in the corners of his eyes. Then, his a heavy thud and a pained grunt that escaped his lips, Greyspear fell to his knees on the ground, still with Eveningsky in his arms.
**Y..ou...o..ka...y?** he sent slowly, his breath slow and heavy, eyes closed, as he tried to ignore the pain in his body.
Knowing that fainting might mean her own death, Eveningsky used all her strength to open her eyes, only half way. ~**Blood... too much blood... I need fluid...**~ She sent weakly. She tried to lift herself from Greyspear's arms but didn't succeed in that.
Greyspear nodded, weak as he was, panting slightly where he sat on his knees with Eveningsky in his arms. They both needed fluid. And shelter. They had to get strong in order to get their revenge. And they had to see if there were any others alive. But he was just so tired. Shaking his head, he told himself to shape up and not give up. 'Have to find others' he told himself 'have to'.
It took him several minutes to finally, using almost all strength left in him, get up on his feet, carrying Eveningsky. Slowly, one foot in front of the other, he started walking. His whole body was shaking and the pain was almost overwhelming. His face, chest and back were covered in sweat and his eyes were squeezed shut as he concentrated on just walking. Walking, walking...
Eveningsky opened little her eyes when she felt her being carried. She saw Greyspear squeezing his eyes and knew that he was in pain. ~**Let me down**~ She sent kindly and smiled to him. She should give all she got too. It would be too much for the male to carry her. She could just take a stick and walk with its help. If he could do this, she could do. He was as badly wounded she was.
~**Got to...get...to ...shelter...**~ Greyspear sent as he stopped finally. She was right. She had to walk herself. He couldn't keep going much longer. The wound in his chest was bleeding again as was the one in his arm. And there was a sharp pain in his right back-thigh, but he hadn't noticed that before. Gently putting the dark-skinned elfess down on her feet, the elder turned his body so he could see what the pain in his leg was all about. An arrow. How in the names of all the High Ones and their children had he missed that? Well, he knew how. He's just been so fatigued of loss of blood and losing Tenderheart that he had probably not realized he was hurting elsewhere as well.
Fingering the arrow, he cursed silently. Sure enough, it was troll-made. There was no mistaking troll arrows. They were not as fine as elfin arrows and very few elves used metal arrowheads as the trolls did.
Well, there was nothing to do about it now. There was no way he was going to pull it out. That way it would only start bleeding. The only thing stopping it from bleeding now was the arrow itself, and he could not afford to lose more blood. Letting go of the arrow, he looked at Eveningsky, still panting from the strain of carrying her, he sent ~**We -have- to see if there are any others alive.**~ Ironically, the second he'd sent that, the faintest hint of a sending reached his mind. He couldn't make out who it belonged to, nor did he hear what it said, he just knew it was unmistakeably a sending. ~**Did you hear that?**~ he asked. Reaching out his hand, he placed her arm around his shoulders to help her walk ~**Come on! We need to find whoever is alive!**~
~**Wait**~ Eveningsky told the elder as he put her arm over his shoulder. She retreated her arm and went down. She went to the arrow that saw stabbed in Greyspear's foot. ~**No sound...**~ She quietly told him and placed her hands on the arrow, really close to each other, and her other hand's fingers just beside the males skin. As carefully as she could, she snapped the arrow in half so that it was just a little stick that came out of the wound.
Then she stood up again, using the male's body for little help and gave him a weak smile as she put her arm around his shoulder.
Greyspear nodded at her, his face grim but with a hint of a 'thanks' in his eyes ~**Let us hope it is**~ he replied while taking a few trying steps...
~**It's easier for you to walk like this**~ She explained her action. ~**Now, let's check out that sending.**~ She herself hadn't either heard it well so they just had to use the little trace what they had received from it. ~**Maybe we aren't the only ones alive. It's not like trolls could send.**~
Greyspear snorted in a sort of ironic half-laughter ~**May the High Ones take my soul if the trolls have learned how to send!**~ he lock-sent while walking towards where the faint sending had come from.
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Post by Sofia on May 31, 2020 14:53:25 GMT 1
Dead, all dead.
How could it come to this? How could one thing cause so much hatred? Grimacing at the pain in her sprained ankle, Cloudbird leaned onto the thick branch, which she had turned into a crutch. Her blue eyes were searching for any sign of life among the trees, her forehead and cheeks red with blood from a cub in her head. The cut wasn't that bad, it was the ankle that was most painful.
They'd lost so much in such a short while. Friends, family. She knew Bark, her lovemate, was dead. She'd found his bruised body among the dreamberry bushes. But she had not yet found her sister. Trying to convince herself it was a good thing and that it might mean her sister was still alive, Cloudbird sent out **Is anyone out there?** Her sending was weak and would not reach through all of the Holt, but hopefully someone would hear it.
**Here,** Sunset sent, just crawling out of the hollow under the tree roots. The dive that had probably saved her from the trolls had opened the wound on her back and every movement sent lances of pain through her. ~**Come down, cubs. The danger is past,**~ she sent to the two with her. She was tired, and hurting, but there was no way she was going to give up and die now! Especially now that she had seen that some of her tribe mates were taken captive. There were still a few alive and free and they would survive to free the captives and avenge the dead, no matter what.
The sound of Sunset's sending sent a wave of relief through Cloudbird's body and she managed a relieved smile to her tribe mate **Thank the High Ones you are all right** he sent, a single tear forming in the corner of her eye. She had hoped her sister would be the one to answer. She had searched for Eveningsky for a while now, but still not trace of her. Still, merely seeing Sunset's face was enough for the moment. **Have you found any others?** she asked, limping over to Sunset and placing a hand on her shoulder.
LizardStalker and ChildWolf came down from the tree branches. "We are here," ChildWolf said softly to CloudBird.
LizardStalker made a weak wave at her and clung to his older brother. **Where BrightEyes?** he sent referring to the chief's son.
ChildWolf hugged him close, "He went with the bond-wolf. "
Sprinter coming from where she hid, whined. She still didn't like it here. She wanted to go somewhere where it was safe. LizardStalker scratched her behind the ears. She went and licked his face.
Cloudbird's face lit up as she saw the brothers and she touched Childwolf's shoulder gently "Thanks the High Ones you are fine as well!"
Then, her eyes widened. "BrightEyes! You saw him? He's alright then?" Wincing again at the pain in her leg she asked "Anyone seen the chief? Or the healer?"
Squirrel realized the only reason she was still standing was adrenaline. She was tired and panic was lurking from the corners of her mind, she tried to keep all her feelings of anger instead of loosing herself in sorrow. For the moment she let her wolf-side take over and survive mainly on instinct. She had to find her children. She had to keep on going until she knew where they were. The thought of them dead didn't even occur to her yet, they were her children, they just couldn't be dead.
In her hand she clutched the knife she picked up somewhere of the ground. It wasn't hers. She never possessed any other weapon than a bow. She cursed herself for her stubbornness, why did she refuse to learn anything but shooting? But the knife would have to do for now.
**Redstreak, Quicksand!** she send, for the millionth time. But there was no reply. Suddenly a faint sending reached her mind. It came from to far of the make out what exactly was said, but she knew where it came from. She ran towards it, as hope gave her extra energy to run even faster. Soon she picked up a smell, it was elfin, fresh, alive? Between the thick smell of trolls and blood, plus the fact that she ran it was hard to make out what exactly it was.
Then suddenly she saw LizardStalker, Childwolf, Cloudbird and Sunset. "The High Ones be praised!" she exclaimed. "Have you seen Redstreak and Quicksand?", she almost screamed.
At the shout, Cloudbird turned around. Seeing Squirrel running towards them, her heart leaped once more; yet another survivor. "My eyes see with joy, Squirrel" Cloudbird said, grabbing the younger elfess' hands "I have no see the cubs, no..." she said silently. As of yet, she only knew of two surviving cubs, BrightEyes and Lizardstalker. What if those were the only cubs left? The cubs were the most precious ones in the Holt. What if they had failed to protect them... "I am sure they are fine and just hiding somewhere" she said to the mother, her voice completely believable. That had always been her gift, to sound convincing even when she didn't even begin to believe what she was saying herself.
"My hands touch with joy", Squirrel replied and her expression became slightly less worried after the comforting words of Cloudbird. Squirrel controlled the urge to run off again to find her cubs. She knew that the odds of finding them by randomly running around the woods were small. "We need to everybody that survived. But so many died," she whispered, holding Cloudbird's hands as if it where the last thread that kept her sane, which probably was the case. "Our chief fell, I saw it and....Gale, I don't even know what has become of him, he was right behind me. But they shot him. But we need to find the others; we need to find Quicksand and Redstreak. Maybe if we all send together, it will be strong enough. Squirrel looked around at the other elves in a questioning way. "Maybe they will hear it then."
"Sounds like a good-" Sunset inhaled sharply, hissing in pain. "-good idea. Squirrel, could you...*hiss* re-do that bandage on my back? I think the wound's opened again." Trying to slow down her breath and not move at all, she continued, "We need to find the survivors and get away from here fast. Just a moment ago, we saw trolls. Trolls who had taken our tribe mates captive." Before anyone could protest, she added, "We can't fight them now. We are too few and most of us are injured."
"I don't intend to fight any trolls today", Squirrel growled. Her mind wasn't filled with revenge, not yet at least. Her only concern now was to get her children out of here alive and maybe Gale too. But she shook the thought of Gale out of her head. The chances of him still being alive were very small. She carefully unwrapped Sunset's bandage and examined the wound. ”It’s open again alright”, she said the elder female and a frown of worry appeared at her face. Squirrel had some basic herb lore. She knew a plant that helped wounds heal faster; when you have cubs you learn these things. But she only had to use it on small wounds until now; she had no idea if it would work. It grew all over the place; it was not an uncommon plant. Stronger healing herbs were probably rarer, but she had no knowledge about those. She wondered if anyone did, they relied on the healer most of the time to heal bad wounds.
“Just one moment…” she said to Sunset, “I know something that might help a little bit.”
Squirrel quickly found the herb and brook it’s leaves, so it’s fluids could reach the wound more easily. She applied them to Sunset’s back and wrapped the bandage around it.
"Thank you," Sunset said. The wound didn't feel so bad any more. It would probably leave a scar anyway, but at least she would live.
**Let's try sending together now. LizardStalker, keep watch in case more trolls come this way.** She closed her eyes and concentrated, ready to join her mind-voice with the others'.
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Post by Sofia on May 31, 2020 14:54:34 GMT 1
His pale slender fingers around his arm Eclipse sat on a tree stump. The pain was terrible. 'Damn this excuse of a body!' he shouted in his mind. He wasn't powerful and his only way out of the trouble could be to run away. "Those slimy-green-nosed-ugly, ugly creatures!" he shouted and crushed his teeth together. He was sharp from his mouth, but couldn't find the words. They had killed his tribe mates! His friends! If only his body wouldn't be so weak! The sharpness of his speech wasn't actually a big help against the big powerful trolls. Hearing a rustling sound he looked behind himself. **Who is it!?* he sent sharply, but a rare sound of fear was also in it.
They had walked for a short while, but it felt so much longer, when Greyspear and Eveningsky came around a tree. Finally, they saw the source of the faint sending. ~**Eclipse, lad!**~ Greyspear sent to the younger male ~**You alright?**~ One more. Good. They'd need as many as possible in order to take revenge on the trolls. He didn't speak of his thoughts to the other two however; he merely waited for Eclipse to answer...
Eveningsky smiled slightly to the new found elf male. ~**Nice to see one more alive.**~ She made a sigh that was almost relief one. ~**Do you have any bad cuts?**~ Asking that made her remember her own deep, deadly cut and automatically her hand went on the cut on her side. It didn't bleed so badly anymore.
His golden eyes widening Eclipse gasped. They were alive! ~**By the High Ones! Greyspear! Eveningsky!**~he sent and couldn't stand up. ~**But how?**~ was all he could say. He almost darted off to cast his arms around the two, but the cut on his arm kept him still. Hearing Eveningsky his eyes hardened more and the beautiful male turned his golden eyes to his slender arm. ~**My arm...Those slimy trolls! They're gonna pay for this!!**~he sent and he breathed heavily through his nostrils. ~**I'm gonna boil them in bear fat and feed them to the wolves!!**~he continued and felt better being able to pour it all out to someone. ~**What about the others? Who have survived?**~ he asked and he narrowed his eyes, his eyelashes almost covering his sight.
Greyspear shook his head, pearls of sweat still visible on his forehead **We don't know, lad** he sent back **We heard a faint sending a while ago but...** he was interrupted by a strong double-sending...
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Post by Sofia on May 31, 2020 14:56:03 GMT 1
Squirrel crouched down on her knees next to Sunset and gathered every bit of strength she had left in her as she began to send.
**Anyone, Anyone living, answer our call and come to us**
Being so close to Squirrel and Sunset, the double sendings hit Quicksand like a fist. The cub stumbled slightly, her face an expression of utter disbelief. Then, suddenly, her face lit up. "Mother! It's mother!!!" The silver-haired she-cub started running, dragging her brother along after her **Mother!!** she sent out with all her might.
Brighteyes winced, the sending feeling painful, cutting into him a little but he resisted the urge to scream, instead getting a tighter grip on the wolf who took off in a bolt as soon as that send bowling out of the underbrush and almost running down one of the elves.
RedStreak's green eyes widened and he held tighter onto his sibling's hand. "Mother..."he said quietly. Then his limbs started working again. **Mom!!! We're here!! Where are you??!!** he sent shouting mentally with all his little strength and was glancing around.
The silver wolf sprinted into the clearing brushing past Squirrel before coming to a halt, sniffing the air anxiously for signs of the trolls, while Brighteyes sat back up, looking at Squirrel. "Quicksand, Redstreak, they’re behind us," he said to her, sliding off the wolf’s back to sit on the ground.
RedStreak's large green eyes were full of tears again and the so called tough act he had pulled on because of BrightEyes fell of like a loose cape; a cape too big for him to wear yet. "Mommy!" he shout sniffing at the same time trying to keep up with Quicksand. Soon his hobby to run around the holt eagerly was in use again the cub started running catching up on his sister's side easily. Then as he could see the elfess that they both had so called out for he ran straight into her arms. "Mother!" he cried out casting his slender pale arms around his mother and not caring of the tears on his cheeks.
Brighteyes turned away. The shock had slowly been wearing away, and now he felt a lump forming in his throat. He focused on the wolf next to him, running his hands through the silver hair as he tried to think of anything to take his mind off of what was happening around him.
Sunset smiled as she saw the cubs' reunion with their mother. But it was a cold smile, as cold as steel; as cold as the blood and bodies of their dead tribe mates, of her cub and mate. Like the blood of her enemies dried in her already red hair.
Slowly she drew her lifemate's dagger from her belt and in a slow, measured motion cut her long hair, letting the locks fall to ground. **From this day on, I will no longer be Sunset.** She paused. **My name will be Bloodmane, and I swear, we will survive and free our captured tribe mates, as well as get our revenge on those cursed trolls!**
Quicksand had jumped right onto her mother, burying her face in Squirrel's hair. Now she didn't have to be the brave one anymore and that made a lot of feelings stir in her. Feelings she'd suppressed when only with her brother and BrightEyes. **Mother** She sobbed. When Sunset announced her new name, Quicksand peeked at the elfess with large eyes.
Cloudbird had nodded at the new name, when suddenly a sending of three reached the group...
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Post by Sofia on May 31, 2020 15:32:10 GMT 1
The sending caught Greyspear by surprise and he felt his muscles tense which in turn made the wounds on his chest, arms and leg open and sent waves of pain through his body again. **Who was that?** he asked Eclipse and Eveningsky **Sounded like...** he thought for a while **Sunset...and ...Squirrel..** Realizing they had to get contact with the two elfesses quickly, Greyspear looked at the two others beside him **We'll have to do as they did, send together. That way our sendings will be strong enough to reach them. Are you with me?**
**It's them, we must reach their call. The sooner the better** The male nodded and tightened the leather that he had been holding around the cut. Tightening the knot he bit his lips a bit and fisted the wounded arm. Then he sighed. **I'm ready** he sent and closed his eyes. The wound kept him from concentrating and as if to help himself to that state the elf put his slender pale fingers on the sides of his forehead.
"Of course." Eveningsky told the elder. Wasn't it quite obvious that they would send with him? To gather even little more strength, Eveningsky sat down. Standing made her really tired. "Say when to," she told the elder again. Speaking was little easier in her current stage.
Greyspear nodded, having let go of Eveningsky in order for her to sit down. "Ready?" he asked again, concentrating on gathering more strength. He was almost completely worn out by now. "Now" Reaching out with their minds, the three sent **Sunset? Squirrel? Where are you?**
*****
Cloudbird's face got a distant look for a moment, then it cracked up into a smile. One of the voices definitely belonged to her sister "It's Eveningsky!" she exclaimed, quickly starting to limp in the direction of the sending "Come on!"
ChildWolf heard the sending also. He ran back, "So far no one comes." he told them then went to his little brother. "Stay with Squirrel and them. I'm going with CloudBird."
LizardStalker was worried that he wouldn't be able to see his brother again. He just nodded and went to Squirrel and the other cubs.
ChildWolf went beside CloudBird, "Mind if I join you in finding them?" he asked. He wanted to find these others as well.
Cloudbird shook her head and gave him a smile **Not at all. But I'm afraid I won't be very fast. My foot... Are you hurt?** she gave him a worried look as she made her way forward, leaning onto the large walking stick she'd found.
ChildWolf shook his head no. "How far do you think they are?" he was worried about them; hoping that nothing would happen while they were going to find the others. **EveningSky?** he tried to get her.
**They shouldn't be too far. The sending was clear, but they sent together just like us so I'm guessing they're hurt as well.** Cloudbird had been trying to figure out who the other two had been, but her sister's voice was the only one she'd recognized in the three-sending. Limping a bit faster, she clenched her teeth together **Come on, let's go!**
Brighteyes didn’t react to the sending, he was more concentrated on the wolf next to him, stroking her silver hair, trying to block any thought from his mind, the numbness that he was wrapped in was slowly wearing off, he could feel sharp pains in his chest, and they were growing stronger as the numbness slipped away.
*****
That sending took much of Eveningsky last strength and she leaned on her hands breathing heavily. She just hoped that the cut on her side hadn't done any too risky damage. Soon she lifted her head little with a little smile. She still breathed heavily but it wasn't that big of a deal right then. "That they must've heard..." It was almost as silent as whisper but the elves beside her could hear it. Maybe not so well because of their stage, but enough to recognize her words.
SilverEyes heard the send and knew where it came from. She ran in the direction and came upon them. "Father!" was the first thing that came out. She was very grateful for finding her father. She then saw the others, "My eyes see with joy," she told them. She had many cuts and bruises, but a few deep cuts on her upper right arm and one deep one on her lower left arm.
She was alive? Greyspear's eyes widened. He'd thought her to be dead or captured. Yet here she was, suddenly, right in front of him. Letting out a deep sigh of relief, Greyspear limped over to his daughter and, without a word, placed his arms around her, embracing her slightly. She wasn't Tenderheart, but she was his daughter and she was alive.
“Daughter..." he whispered.
She embraced him as well, as she whispered, "What of the others??" She was nervous, thinking that they were dead....or worse....captured. She didn't want to let her father go, but knew that he would still be here. She looked to the others, a saddened joy in her eyes.
Eclipse had been looking emotionless all the while the maiden had been there. Simply tending his wound the male turned his pretty eyes up at Eveningsky for just a glance. Then hearing SilverEyes' words he turned quickly. He had never even had a family himself and couldn't understand anything of the bond between siblings or a parent and a cub. His expression was first stunned, but turned out amused after a moment. He glanced at the two and then turned his eyes back at his cut. Cleaning it gently he looked up at Eveningsky with a light grin on the other side. Then he turned to Greyspear holding a dull, but more appropriate serious look on his face. "Don't push her too hard. We're all being way too jumped off to start watching your family episodes…" he said coldly and didn't even care to see Greyspear's expression.
Then he turned his rock hard, serious golden eyes to them. "We have to find the others. See the losses and get going. We have no time for this," he said and this time his eyes weren't cold at all, simply serious and demanding. Many had been slightly frightened of the way he could look so seductive when narrowing his eyes and his goldish eyelashes almost covering his sight and then suddenly they would turn ice-cold and mean. He had always a mystery for others. He turned away his gaze not being able too look Greyspear in the eyes anymore. Did he feel bitter of the fact they at least had each other? 'Never!' he shout in his mind.
As Eveningsky looked at the reunion of father and daughter she smiled slightly. 'I wonder if you're alive sis...' She was old enough that she understood clearly this situation. Many parents maybe said to their children that hopefully and maybe and probably. All those words that gave the change to be alive. Eveningsky understood that it was more like a miracle to be alive than dead.
“Eclipse... We can't do that..." She started looking at the ground but then lifting her eyes to look at his she continued. "We are all too worn out to start doing anything like that. If we now start to move too much, we might as well say 'bye-bye' to this world." It was war. There was no time to think about the child hearing. "We don't know if there are still trolls patrolling here. It's too risky to move out yet. We should still wait for some time and then and then try to send like earlier." Her face was serious as well as she still looked into the he-elf's eyes. She knew what she was talking about. "If you feel so well that you could start to walk and play hide and seek with trolls, then be my guest. I still suggest that now that we have by miracle found each other alive, we should try to stay that way."
Eclipse lifted his gaze immediately and snorted. "Bah!!" he said and swung his head, his yellow sun like hair swinging in the air. "The trolls might just as well be right on our tails!" he said and stood up. "If you want to stay here and wait until they come to cut our neck then you be my guest and do that!" he said loudly and pointed her with his slender finger. Then he stroked back his long hair. "I have no intention to die out here like the others!" he said his golden eyes blazing.
"As his ego is big, is his stupidity too." Eveningsky whispered as she blew air out of her mouth. 'Hopeless...' She shook her head. 'It still bleeds...' Her hand was all covered in her blood and it kept becoming bloodier and bloodier as her side's cut didn't stop bleeding. Coming up with an idea she slid her headband from its place same time looking around. Luckily she spotted one enough big stone. She kneeled beside it and lifted it up. When she got her headband put around the stone, she placed it on her cut and pressed lightly. "If we stay in one place, we don't as much noise as we would by moving... Maybe trolls can't hear as well as we can, but they can still hear. In this condition...there is no way that we could walk like we usually do.
"I have to agree with EveningSky. We have to stay....for now. But we also need to move when possible." SilverEyes started to say, she worried about the cubs more and more. She watched the elfess, ~**Need any help?**~ she sent to her.
"If you have a very long band that could be tied around me, that would be very useful." She told SilverEyes with a slight smile. She was too tired to send. There were more important things that she should try to gain strength to. The cut didn't pain her, that stage had been gone for some time but she knew very well that losing anymore blood would lead her to collapse for a longer time than the earlier.
As he hear her question, Greyspear backed off, staring at her with a sudden hate in his eyes "You mother...is dead. They killed her. I know not what of Treebreeze, of Haze. I haven't found them..." Even Greyspear himself was startled by the hatred in his voice. He wasn't used to feeling like this, but the trolls would pay. They'd pay. He'd see to it if it so was the last thing he did.
SilverEyes was about to respond to EveningSky, but stopped when she heard her father. She just froze, no words came to her. She just hugged her father and let some tears fall. She had a small hole in her heart that would never be filled. "I hope they are alright," she said, hoping that her sibs were alive. She then turned to the elfess and untied her hair. "Will this work?" she asked her, showing her long piece of leather, tears slowly streaming down her face. She would howl for her mother when the time was right.
In her mind, Eveningsky measured the band that was in SilverEyes’ hand. "I can try it." She said as she took the piece of leather. Same time she used her other hand to her on her head few times. Then she returned to her cut. Removing the stone from her cut she now tied the long leather around her waist. Luckily it was long enough to be tied. She could only hope that it was enough. "Greyspear... If you have a smaller wound to put this on... use it." The maiden showed her piece of leather to the male. The one that had been tied around the stone.
She watched EveningSky closely, making sure that all were going to be alright. She then heard a sending from a cubling. She thought real hard trying to place that mental voice. Her eyes brightened up. "Everyone, It's ChildWolf. He's calling for you EveningSky." She waited to know if the elfess would answer or have another way of answering. SilverEyes stayed by her father.
Eveningsky's head went up as she heard the sending. 'Childwolf!' She shouted in her mind as SilverEyes had recognized the strong sending. There was still at least one survivor. "I wonder how far away he is." A little warm feeling came to her as the knowledge of one more to be alive was in her head. "I need all of you to help me. I can't otherwise send to him." The reason why she now talked all the time was that she didn't have the strength to do it by sending. "We should make it an open one so that other possible survivors could hear it." A little light of hope started gleaming in her eyes.
Eclipse lifted his gaze from his cut and also his golden eyes lightened. There were more. Childwolf...He wasn't dead at least. They had a chance to survive! If even more would still be within their reach! **Together now!** he sent with his clear mental voice and held his arm. **Childwolf!**he sent with all the power left in him after escaping the trolls. He called for the same name again. **Childwolf!**
ChildWolf got the sending, **I hear** he sent back. All of a sudden he ran into SilverEyes. "Oops," was all he said. He was there on the ground staring at the other elves. He looked at the three of them and saw that they were indeed injured. "CloudBird should be here very soon." ~**EveningSky is with GreySpear, SilverEyes, and Eclipse.**~ he sent, so that the other elf would know, before entering. He then remembered the others he was with. **There are more. Others that are over there** he sent pointing in the direction of where he came from. **BrightEyes lives,** remembering his friend and chief's son. He would go on more and more, but he waited for the other's to answer.
Eclipse had turned his gaze away, looking now at his cut again. The cloth he had wrapped around his arm had seamed to gain a reddish shade to it. He grimaced and pressed the wound with his slender fingers. He felt a bit of a dizziness in his eyes, he had got severe cuts on his legs and back, but they weren't lethal, just the pain that he felt when the cuts seamed to open once in a while when he moved too quickly. The little episode with Eveningsky didn't really make it any better. He'd have to stop the blood...Or else...He knew what would happen. He looked at his wounded arm, it was paler than usual. He didn't listen to Childwolf first but now turned his eyes at him. He couldn't get the words out of his mouth. He was about to snap at him for blabbing. He didn't give a damn about if Cloudbird was coming. When he mentioned BrightEyes Eclipse snapped out of his mood. The chief's heir…The chief had died. He glanced at the others. "That is good, but I suggest that the others better get here so we can decide what we are going to do about this!" he snarled but the idea of talking didn't seam good after all. He held his throat for a moment and coughed loudly. He put his hand on his face and a red drop fell on the ground. He touched his nose and his golden eyes grew larger. **And they'd better make it here quickly**he continued.
SilverEyes was bumped into and turned to see it was ChildWolf. She heard that there were more, "Father.." she said leaving it open as she heard that BrightEyes lived. She also heard Eclipse. ~**You be nice. They might be injured. There might be cubs with them...**~ she gave him a stern glare.
Again Eveningsky made a little sigh of relief as she saw ChildWolf. Hearing her sister's name she looked at the male-elf with questioning eyes. "Cloudbird is alive?" She asked, but knew the answer already. 'I...can't believe this...' Carefully the elfess stood up and slowly gained her balance. "Do you know any other elves than BrightEyes to live?" She had a serious look as she waited for ChildWolf to answer.
SilverEyes gave ChildWolf a gentle look that told him that she was happy for this news. She waited for him to speak.
ChildWolf looked at Eclipse and glared at him. 'How dare he say that' he thought to himself. Then he looked to EveningSky and SilverEyes, "My little brother, Squirrel, other play-mates, just others...." was all he said, hoping that he got the right names.
'Eclipse!' Eveningsky's eyes grew larger as she noticed the blood on the male-elf's hand. She took the few steps that was between them and came to him. Roughly she took his hand and made sure that she had seen right. "If you wouldn't be in that state I would’ve slapped you." She told the stubborn elf with serious eyes that had little fire in them. "Don't you dare to move anywhere from here." She told him with a voice that told not to argue about it. Maybe she was now little mother-like but wanted he or not, he was her tribe mate and so her family. "Greyspear, you wait here with SilverEyes here for Cloudbird or any other elves to come. ChildWolf, you come with me to look for the others. I need your sending." Eveningsky knew that she wasn't in any better condition than Greyspear, but her wound wasn't open and so it didn't bleed. If she just walked carefully, it wouldn't open. "Greyspear... see that the stubborn cub won't move." She said to the elder meaning Eclipse. "Let's go, ChildWolf."
SilverEyes looked to EveningSky. "We will stay here," she told the elfess. ~**I will keep in contact with you by sending**~ she lock-sent to EveningSky and ChildWolf. This way they will know what was going on, in case any danger came.
ChildWolf looked at EveningSky and nodded. He started to lead the way, but turned around to give SilverEyes a big smile saying ‘I know’. "Come on let's go" he tugged at Eveningsky's arm.
"I won't be sending that much so don't expect it from me," she told SilverEyes. She didn't want to make her worry about her not sending. **Show me the way Childwolf** There could still be trolls so this little 'rescue party' was better to speak by sending. **Try to call the survivors and tell them to send us the way to them as we seek them.**
Eclipse growled to Eveningsky as she came and touched him. He was already uncomfortable with his wound, and now she came all sudden worried about him! "Off me!" he growled to her and then she already had left. He looked at his wound. "Telling me what to do...She could just take care of her own business…” he said looking grumpy. Then the pretty male turned his golden eyes to the two others with him. The father and the daughter...He gazed then for a while and then snorted turning his gaze away. He had mocked them already.
Greyspear sighed. So that was how it was going to be. Eclipse acting like a spoiled cub and people running around instead of everyone moving together. They would be defenceless in a small group if there were still trolls around. Leaning against a tree, his head started spinning. He was going to pass out soon...he knew it.
**Father, you look like you need to sit down for a bit** SilverEyes looked worried at him. He didn't look too good, so she went to looking around him.
Cloudbird had barely had time to giver her sister a hug before Eveningsky had run off. Her little sister sure could be determined if she put her mind to it.
**Is anyone badly hurt?** she asked Eclipse, Silvereyes and Greyspear **I've only got a twisted ankle so I can help**
SilverEyes had heard Cloudbird answer, ~**How about you look over Eclipse? He's been acting like a cubling**~ she lock-sent to the elfess and gave her a mischievous grin.
Eclipse glared at SilverEyes, not knowing what they had just shared. "Wipe that grin off your face..c-" he was about to say cub but then shut his mouth. After all, they were of an age. Exactly of an age. He snorted. **They should quicken their paces...It's not safe running around not separating and coming together again.** he sent and looked at his wound again. He hoped this wouldn't leave an ugly scar on his beautiful and soft skin...
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Post by Sofia on May 31, 2020 15:35:52 GMT 1
LizardStalker was there waiting for his brother to come back. He had stayed with Squirrel and them. He looked to QuickSand, **What will happen now?** he sent to her. Seeing as how she was the one cub that was in charge of them, or so she acted like it.
RedStreak lifted his pale face from her mother's hair and looked at the male his green eyes seamed large and questioning. Without a word he automatically turned to his sister. Quicksand had always been the bossy one, but on moments such as these she knew what to do and they relied on her. ~**We cubs must keep together, what ever the adults say we should help!**~ he lock-sent to LizardStalker and Quicksand glancing them both. ~**And we must help BrightEyes...**~he added his gaze turning down a bit after glancing the chief's heir that was there with them.
Brighteyes was still doing his best not to pay too much attention to what was going on around him, holding back his emotions was nearly impossible now, and one little thing could cause him to break down, which he dearly wanted to avoid at the moment.
Slowly and carefully Eveningsky took a step over a big root that came from under the ground, on it and then back under it. All the time she kept in her mind to not move her side too much. Maybe her cut was now finally shut, but if she moved too much, it surely would open again. **Has anyone yet answered to you?** She asked from her companion, Childwolf. The maiden could smell the little faint scent of the cubs but she was too weak to follow it. Neither could she say if it had been there how long. Her state made her sending really weak so the male with her could only hear them, her sendings.
Quicksand had been clinging to her mother when Childwolf's sending reached the small group "It's Childwolf" she whispered, still afraid there might be trolls around **Childwolf! We're over here!** the she-cub sent, glad to hear the mental voice of the youth.
RedStreak sat for a moment just staring at the ground. His mind was wandering again. He snapped out of his thoughts as he saw in his mind as a troll came from behind and swung it's sword to cut his head off...He gasped lightly and glanced at Quicksand. She was here…Everything was fine...**ChildWolf!! Are you fine? Were the others fine? Seen anyone else who's escaped?**the cub sent asking again too much at one time from the yellow-eyed male.
**I'm here, I have EveningSky with me. There is also SilverEyes, GreySpear and Eclipse.** he sent to all there. **LizardStalker, I'm back.** he sent to his little brother.
LizardStalker ran towards him, barely missing EveningSky. He did a quick wave to her and then he ran into ChildWolf's arms. "I won't leave you again, " he told him, knowing that his brother would ask him not to.
Eveningsky smiled as LizardStalker hugged his brother. She was glad that some families still were together. **Please, use sending. We don't know if there are still trolls after us. Is everyone okay?" She asked as she examined the new found survivors for cuts and wounds. Her sending was still kind of weak but not as weak as before. She had gained little more strength. **Do you know if there are other survivors? We are trying to find everyone alive and get all together. SilverEyes, Greyspear, Eclipse and Cloudbird are waiting for us to come back with you.**
RedStreak's eyes lightened when he saw the two to come. He jumped up and ran to the two. Seeing Eveningsky to be left out without a hug the cub went straight to her hugging the wounded elfess tightly. (ouch!) **Eveningsky!**he sent with joy in his voice. He was so happy to see the others. "You wouldn't have had to worry," he said to ChildWolf and stood straight. "We were here to keep him safe!" he said and tried to look like a grown up, but soon a cubbish smile was on his lips again. "Any others?" he asked and took a hold of the maiden's hand looking into her eyes for an answer. His green eyes large and questioning he continued. "Any elder ones?" he added still holding Eveningsky's hand.
RedStreak still held onto Eveningsky's hand as he was looking around. **Did you guys hear! We must go! They're waiting for us, aren't they Eveningsky?**he asked and looked up to her eyes. Then turned to the others. **Mother, Quicksand** he sent and then looked at the brothers. **LizardStalker and Childwolf.. We have to go now!** he sent and, for the first time in his life maybe, resembled his sister.
Eveningsky still waited for the cubs to tell her if they had any wounds. It would be very important to take care of their wounds as soon as possible. **Is everyone in shape of walking?** She knew that her own state wasn't well enough to carry anyone, but she could support, but so could the other elves around her too.
RedStreak turned his eyes to the huntress examining her body with them. She had bad cuts that just now he seamed to notice. **You shouldn't be worrying of such things** he said and with his cub-sized hands took her hand and placed it on the top of his head. **We'll manage** he sent with a soft smile. ~**Quicksand, help me. I think she's more hurt that she lets us know..**~ he lock-sent carefully glancing Eveningsky after his sister.
**Let's go,** Bloodmane sent, **The faster we get out of here, the better. No telling when more trolls will come.** There was ice in her mental voice - and fire in her eyes - that hadn't been there before.
Quicksand nodded and ran over to Redstreak **I'm all fine, Eveningsky** she sent to the elfess **But I can help you** with that, she did as her brother and placed Eveningsky's hand on her own head, helping the elfess to keep her balance. **Yeah, let's get away from here** the she-cub agreed.
LizardStalker and ChildWolf heard the sending and got ready to go. Sprinter went up to LizardStalker and nudged him the direction that ChildWolf had come in. **We go now?** sent LizardStalker.
ChildWolf went around and looked at everyone, **I can help someone** he sent, knowing that the cubs would help Eveningsky.
Eveningsky smiled to the helpful cubs. **I'm not that bad hurt** she told them but still didn't mind the help. Then she lifted her gaze to look all around her. Everyone was ready. **Okay, Let's go. ChildWolf, show the way.**
*****
RedStreak walked rather slowly trying to quicken his paces watching how fast Eveningsky managed to keep going. He glanced up at the elfess' face and kept a hold of the maiden's waist to keep her standing. He caught the scent of his tribe mates and the cub's eyes lightened. **We're there! Greyspear!** he sent openly and formed a smile on his lips.
SilverEyes looked up, **RedStreak? Is it you?** she sent, excited to hear from him. She caught the sent of the others. ~**ChildWolf, is everyone ok?**~ knowing that he could tell her.
ChildWolf's eyes brightened up, **Yes he is** he sent back quickly. He hugged his little brother and was right behind RedStreak. He looked back to the others, making sure they were coming. He didn't want anyone to fall behind. **Go to SilverEyes. I will make sure no one is behind, remember, stay with her.** he sent to LizardStalker.
LizardStalker started to whimper about this, but went to the elfess. He began to whimper more, not liking that his brother was going away from him and coming back. What if he goes away and never comes back? With that question in his head he sat down and tears began to fall with whimpering that others could hear. Sprinter came to him, but it didn't help LizardStalker calm down much.
Greyspear had sat down after Silvereyes had looked him over. What could his daughter really do? He had a deep cut across his chest and had gotten an arrow in his thigh which was still sticking out of the wound though Eveningsky had cut the arrow off half way. Now the elder looked up as he heard the sendings. Finally, they were all in the same place. But were this all there was? Were there no more alive? **Is anyone badly hurt?** he asked, his mental voice tired and mumbling.
Cloudbird had limped over to meet the others and now quickly embraced Eveningsky before her sister could get away ~**I'm glad to see you're alright sister**~ she lock-sent ~**Are you badly injured?**~
Eveningsky hugged her sister back. ~**Not that bad. My most serious wound has been shut for a while. I can move.**~ She told the maiden and let her go to look at her face. ~**What about you?**~
*****
While the elves were slowly gathering up, the trolls were finishing up the last of the looting, they had torn the holt to pieces, destroying dens and trees to look for anything of value, then they proceeded to burn anything the could, which proved hardest as the climate kept everything relatively wet all year around, but finally they had enough of a fire going to ensure that the holt would be destroyed, and probably a decent forest surrounding. However several of the trolls were convinced not all of the elves were dead, indeed many still thought the elves were hiding valuables elsewhere and began to look for them.
It did not take long for them to find fresh tracks, and the forest came to life with bellows of trolls as they began the hunt for the survivors.
Bloodmane cursed as she heard the troll voices. **Get moving, NOW!** she sent. 'Or we'll all die...' **Those who can move quickly, help those who can't. And whatever you do...don't leave any tracks!** She winced at the pain on her back, but started steadily moving away from the voices.
Eveningsky's eyes widened as she heard the roars of trolls. 'Those slimy-green-big-nosed-scums!' She cursed in her mind. **Bloodmane is right. We have to move away as fast as we can. Get all the bleeding wounds covered so that they don't leave blood tracks after us.** As she gestured the others, she gazed at her side. Her wound was shut and the band covered with blood was now beginning to dry. No need to worry about that wound. **We better separate in few groups. It's harder to notice us if we aren't in one big on. Remember to be sure that other group is only few meters away from you. We don't want to be totally separated again. I want at least one adult in one group. No all-cub groups.**
RedStreak still stood beside the maiden, but now was seeking for the comforting hand of his sister's. **Quicksand..** he sent his mental voice scared and he was sobbing. He took a hold of his sister's hand and was glancing around with round green eyes.
As soon as he heard the others his back strengthened and his eyes went wide open. Eclipse stood up looking at the others. **Did I not tell you guys before that they're gonna come after our tails!? Ha!?**he sent furiously. **This is what happens when you guys don't listen to anyone!**he continued not being able to keep himself from being proud even on a moment such as this. His mood changed rather quickly as he had poured his thoughts out. **Okay now. Squirrel will take her cubs and some adults with her as well,** he sent pointing them. **Lizardstalker and Childwolf will go with some adults and then we can take BrightEyes with us.**he sent and looked around. **What are we waiting for!?**
SilverEyes looked at RedStreak, ~**Careful of what you say**~ she lock-sent to him while he was getting his proud moment. She then heard him say the rest. **LizardStalker, ChildWolf, come with us,** she sent, standing with her father.
Eveningsky couldn't believe that Eclipse had time to be that stupid. As he had said, she had said too that there might be trolls around. So his pride was waste. And now there was now time for it. **We don't want any groups that have only bad wounded adults, so look that you don't make ones like that. I'll go with Squirrel.**
Eclipse turned his glare at the maiden. **Did say anything about YOU?** he sent and lifted his other brow while snarling. **Anyways. You guys get going now!** he sent ignoring SilverEyes' sending. **BrightEyes**he called for the chief's heir and looked down at the cub.
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Post by Sofia on May 31, 2020 15:43:16 GMT 1
Eclipse fell down on the ground on his bottom and deep sigh as he closed his eyes. His arm was still hurting, and the leather around it shaded in red, but the blood seemed to have drained. He looked around at the others and saw as RedStreak came with his family...or what was left of it.
The cub huffed and puffed, but didn't stop walking until he came across a bug. He fell on his knees and tiredly, worn out as an empty sack of dreamberries and looked at it. "Are you sure that the trolls aren't following us anymore?" he asked and laid himself on the ground. He put his hands under his head and closed his eyes. The little cub was exhausted and needed to rest.
Eclipse noticed that all at the spot were quite worn out. Wounded. Some very dangerously. Nothing lethal though, badly, yes. **Let's settle here...The place seems good enough for it, eh?**he sent and for once there was no mean tone in his voice. He was tired and could have probably agreed to everything. If someone would have said that mask-eyes and ravvits have wings he would have said 'yes' and nod lightly while starting to sleep.
Bloodmane sat down and started sharpening her dagger. **I'll keep watch. You better sleep,** she sent, not talking to anyone in particular. She was worn out and her muscles hurt, true, especially her back, but she didn't feel like sleeping. Not with the memories of the slaughter so fresh in her mind.
Not far from where the rest of the surviving elves had settled down Dawngazer sat, tending to the wounds of the unconscious Branchwalker. Close by her bond-friend Stronglegs was trying to find something to eat for them. She hadn't dared go back to the Holt after having escaped it somewhat unscratched, even though she'd gathered a few things from her den before she'd left, so at the moment they had no food except some dry meat she was saving just in case.
As she sat there, cursing to herself under her breath, she suddenly heard sendings. Snapping out of the focus she had on Branchwalker's wounds she sent for her wolf-friend and swiftly grabbed the bags with the things she'd managed to save. When Stronglegs arrived she lifted up her soul-brother and the bags on the wolf. She hastily made sure nothing would fall off if Stronglegs moved, then began to walk as fast as she dared towards where the sendings had come from. She didn't send herself, afraid to that she might be hearing things or that she'd startle the ones sending.
Finally she felt the scent of other elves and smiled. Some at least had survived. **Tribe mates?** she open-sent, unsure of herself. Closely followed by Stronglegs she stepped out where the other elves rested.
Eclipse's gaze was lifted by surprise and yet joy of their survival. He got up, immediately when seeing her arrival. He walked swiftly to them. **Dawngazer** he replied though it was obvious she had known them. He reached his hand out putting it on her shoulder and saw the lithe Branchwalker. He frowned and touched the forehead of the male. He noticed that he seemed somewhat loose. He shook him lightly and then his eyes widened. "He's unconscious!" He started lightly slapping his cheeks and trying to get him out of the hollow blackness he most certainly was in.
RedStreak lifted his head and looked really tired. He understood the situation when Eclipse was starting to panic and was slapping Branchwalker on the cheeks. He clumsily got up, the tiredness slowly getting off of him as he made his way to the three. **He's gonna be alright isn't he?**he asked with round scared eyes and pulled Dawngazer by her cloth.
Dawngazer was more than happy to see familiar faces and smiled tiredly at them all. **Eclipse,** she sent back to the one who'd first greeted her. When he began trying to revive Branchwalker she let him. Her soul-brother hadn't been badly wounded, he'd only gotten a few deep scratches and big bruises, but she hadn't been able to wake him. If she was lucky Eclipse would succeed where she'd failed. She heard RedStreak's question and turned her face so she was smiling down at the young elf. **Don't worry cub, Branchwalker will be fine.**
Moments after Dawngazer's sending a pained moan came from the elf lying on Stronglegs. Branchwalker slowly lifted a hand and tried to get Eclipse's hands away from him. **Gazer make him stop,** he sent weakly, not really aware of his surroundings yet.
Chuckling Dawngazer stepped over and put her hands on Eclipse's shoulders, trying to calm him down. **All right, he's awake, you can stop now,** she sent. She couldn't help but be a bit amused, even if they all had experienced so much loss and sorrow this very nightfall.
Branchwalker, still too newly out of unconsciousness to know what had happened, just lay on his soul sister's bond-friend, trying to remember where he was and why he wasn't in his den.
Eclipse lifted his chin cockily and dusted his pants in an offended manner trying to feel superior. "I was just trying to help," he said and lifted his other thin yellow brow.
RedStreak calmed by Dawngazer's words looked away with a calmer face his mouth as a tiny circle. "Oh.." he made a sound and turned his eyes back at Branchwalker as he seemed to gain back his consciousness. The cub went on his toes to look at the male's eyes. "We're out of the holt now Branchwalker," he said and tried to stand higher. He had placed his hands on the wolf's back as he leaned closer. "Are you alright?" he asked and frowned just lightly.
"He's just a bit dizzy.." Eclipse said and glanced at Dawngazer. "Maybe we should get him some water..." he said and turned to look over his shoulder. “Anyone have any water!?" he said rather loudly making RedStreak hold his ears.
Eveningsky had examined the happenings from little further. Of course she had been worried about this then unconscious elf but now she made a sigh of relief. **Eclipse, please, send** She simply said to him. It wasn't still sure that there were no trolls around so it would be safer to send and not shout like the idiot-one did. Her most serious wound was okay. She could move. **Is there someone who needs tending?** She asked openly. She had collected from everyone as many as she could pieces of cloths to put on wounds.
BrightEyes, having been shocked at everything from the beginning was growing worse. Now that they had found a small haven from the disaster, he had fallen completely unresponsive, curled up against his mothers bond wolf, clutching the large sword of his father’s in his arms, staring blankly off into nothing. He had remained responsive enough to escape with the others, but now it seemed that with the relative safety his body was free to shut down as it wanted, trying to recover form the shock, or perhaps it had accepted its own fate and was awaiting death.
**Water sound like a good idea,** Dawngazer open-sent, not really directly to anyone. She was tired and knew the others would take care of her soul-brother better than she could. **Branchwalker could use some help,** Dawngazer replied to Eveningsky's question. **I didn't find any bad injuries on him, but I'm not much of a healer, magic or no magic.**
As she mention healing Dawngazer's thoughts went to Tenderheart. She'd spotted Greyspear, but not his lifemate... Sighing sadly she sat down. They had lost many to day, far too many. Curse those trolls, every one of them! To get something else to think of she looked around the crowed of elves again and discovered that she'd sat down right beside BrightEyes, who was curled up against a wolf she recognised as LightTouch's bond-friend. When she saw the cub's face she could guess quite well what had happened.
~**Poor cub,**~ she lock-sent to him, putting a hand on his back in a soothing gesture. A cub should not be left alone with grief, even if the others also had lost loved ones. She tried not to think about that the tribe had lost its chief, that worry and sorrow would have to be taken care of later. At the moment the cub needed her attention.
Meanwhile Branchwalker had rolled off Stronglegs and was now sitting, leaning against the wolf, who'd lied down to rest. He was slowly regaining his memories and was forced to witness the death of his parents over and over again in his mind. He sobbed quietly to himself, shocked by the memory of battle and cursing that he hadn't fought harder to defend the Holt. Why had the trolls attacked them? And what had happened to his lovemate? He thought he remember something important about Sparkstone, but what? Branchwalker closed his eyes and covered his face with his hands, trying even harder to remember what had happened around him before he fainted.
Eclipse dashed off, starting to look for water. He didn't notice BrightEyes as he went by him and Dawngazer, he was growling to himself as he was tossing the few things they had been able take with.
RedStreak frowned worriedly as Branchwalker did not reply to his questions. He kneeled beside him looking at him with his green eyes. "Hey…" he said quietly and looked really sad himself. He put his pale hand on his arm and grimaced lightly while he felt his eyes burning. "Don't cry..." he said and sobbed lightly for he sympathized for him and also remembered his father and the way he fought before he died. Tears escaped his eyes and they were coloured lightly by the dust and dirt that was on the cub's cheeks. He had run like a foam-sick wolf as his parents had ordered him. Then suddenly he started crying as well covering his face and burying it on Branchwalker's lap. "Don't cry Branchwalker...because...then everyone else are gonna be sad too...then all are gonna start crying..." he sobbed and saying his last words he lifted his head looking at his dark grey eyes.
Taking his hands from his eyes Branchwalker discovered that RedStreak was crying in his lap. Shocked he first only patted the cub's hair, staying silent, but when RedStreak looked up at him he grabbed the young elf in a tight hug.
**I'm sorry,** he sent, sobbing too much to be able to talk. His mind was for the moment not focused on Sparkstone. Instead he tried to find a way to comfort RedStreak. He shifted the cub in his lap, trying to make him for comfortable, and then began to rock back and forth slowly. **Hush, don't cry RedStreak, don't cry...**
Dawngazer watched her soul brother for a moment, but then turned back to BrightEyes. Branchwalker seemed to be doing fine, under the circumstances, and at the moment she had her own cub to take care of. ~**BrightEyes?**~ she lock-sent, a little worried since the cub had yet not reacted to her first sending.
A slight sigh escaped bright eyes lisps, and his eyes slowly closed, and they remained closed for several seconds, till they slowly opened again, resuming their empty stare.
~**BrightEyes!**~ This time Dawngazer's sending was louder and more worried. Carefully she picked the cub up and sat him in her lap so she could take a better look at him. She didn't know what was wrong with him, only that something was wrong, _very_ wrong. BrightEyes wasn't responding or moving and she didn't know how to make him. ~**Wake up cub!**~ she half-shouted in his mind, shaking him slightly. "BrightEyes," she dared whisper to him, a slight tone of fear creeping into her voice.
~**What is wrong with the young chief?**~ SilverEyes sent to Dawngazer. She had noticed BrightEyes' empty stare. Even she noticed something was wrong. ~**What happened?**~
~**I don't know!**~ Dawngazer sent back, her panic quite obvious in the sending. ~**He's not answering my sendings and he's hardly moving at all.**~ She shook the cub again, a little rougher this time. His eyes looked so dead, almost as if he was... ‘No, he's not dead! He's breathing for High Ones' sake and I just saw him blink!’ she mentally screamed at herself. ~**I think he's in shock,**~ she added.
Branchwalker was still too busy comforting RedStreak to notice what was going on with BrightEyes.
A rustle in the undergrowth and a quick movement of small, furry animal made Bloodmane instinctively throw her dagger. It hit and the movement stopped. **There's a dead ravvit there, in case anyone is hungry.** She was hungry too, but too exhausted to move. But she might just as well have stayed to be killed by the trolls if she'd show weakness now when there were so many cubs and so few adults.
Brighteyes whimpered, his arms covering his head as he tried to block out the sendings and the shaking, the sendings felt like needles being jabbed into his mind, and the shaking wasn’t helping him much, he just wanted to lay down, and do nothing some more, to think of nothing, to let silence shield him from the world.
RedStreak felt so comfortable in the gentle male's arms that he was even able to take a few long breaths and sighs, trying to stop himself from crying. After a few whining breaths and long risings of his chest, he was able to stop crying. He remembered his father...but still his mother. His embrace somehow reminded him of both. But father was here no longer...just mother...and Quicksand...He wanted to shut the memories from his mind…All he could remember was his father swinging his blade with his mother. Both shout for them to run...and so he had...Until he had came across BrightEyes... The cub bit his lower lip to stop from crying again. "He's gone Branchwalker...Papa's gone...and so is..." he tried to say but then just hugged him tight. He couldn't say that Sparkstone wasn't here, just now he felt selfish for weeping and laying his sorrow on his shoulders when he had his own to carry. "I'm sorry..." he said and closed his eyes tight. Then suddenly he opened them as he heard something...as if there was something happening behind him.
Branchwalker had to fight back tears as he heard Gale too had left the land of the living. High Ones, how many had they lost? Where there no survivors except this little group? He knew his parents were dead for sure, he'd seen them die. But what of his lovemate?
Suddenly Branchwalker gasped and his eyes widened; he remembered what had happened to Sparkstone! His lovemate had been fighting a troll, just a few elf lengths away from where he had been. Branchwalker recalled the icing fear when he saw his lovemate lose his sword and the slight relief when Sparkstone had begun to fight with his magic instead, forming balls of rock that he threw at the trolls. But that hadn't been enough. A troll had sneaked up behind, knocked him out and...
Branchwalker began to shake again, this time in furry as much as in grief. "They took him." he growled out in a furious whisper. "They took Sparkstone!" he continued, this time shouting without meaning to. Branchwalker's eyes were burning with a wild, frightening light. For a moment it looked like he would rush up, grab a weapon and head off after the trolls, but just as suddenly as the rage had come it disappeared. He hugged RedStreak even tighter and began to cry nearly hysterically, hiding his face by pressing it to one of the cub's shoulders. "I couldn't save him, I couldn't..." he whispered between sobs. It was one thing to know that his parents were dead; he couldn't to anything about that. But Sparkstone had been taken away by the trolls, still alive and without doubt suffering worse things than he could imagine, and Branchwalker could only sit here, helpless.
Dawngazer heard her soul brother's shout and wanted to go to him, to calm him down, but she had to take care of Bright Eyes. ~**Relv,**~ she lock-sent, trying to calm him down, and hoping someone else would too.
Eclipse had found the water he had been looking for and came right beside the chief's heir as his expression changed dramatically. He frowned, his lips curving down lightly. He froze there holding the leather bag in his slender pale hand. He saw as the little cub held the older male.
RedStreak's frowned sadly and put his shorter arms around the male. They had gained more of a healthy shade though they were pale as they always had been. He had been caught off guard by his sudden outburst, but did not let it get in the way of showing him how he cared. RedStreak had always been the one who was friendly to everyone and thought of every tribe mate as his family. It hurt him to see Branchwalker this way.
Eclipse had stepped closer as if he might think the cub wasn't the right one to calm him down.
At that moment the cub remembered how his parents had held him close when he had seen a nightmare. Feeling safe in his parents’ arms he had then started thinking about the dream and had been able to understand it was just a dream. RedStreak stroked the male's back gently with his small hands. "It wasn't your fault Branchwalker...shhh," he said and repeated it a couple of times just to calm him.
Eclipse took a step back and squinted his eyes lightly. He didn't step between them.
~**You can't blame yourself...I'm sure he wouldn't want you to.**~ he lock-sent with a loving voice. He pushed the older male back just a little. He put his hands on his shoulders. "There still is a chance that he could come back," he said though he could be sure about it.
Eclipse looked thoughtful. The cub advising the adult. He shook his head lightly.
Brighteyes began shaking, trying to keep his head covered in his arms as he tried curling up into a ball. "S-stop...please stop," he managed to say. "They hurt."
Eclipse turned his gaze to the chief's heir and quickly noticed what was happening. He frowned keeping his golden eyes upon BrightEyes. **For HighOnes sake let go off him!**he sent and went to take Dawngazer's hands off from the young male. He gave the female an irritated, yet not all that angry look then turned to see BrightEyes again. ~**BrightEyes!**~ he sent demandingly.
"STOP!" he cried out. "Stop the sending! Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop!" His words became a jumbled incoherent mess as he started sobbing, all he wanted was to be alone, for everything to be quiet, but it seemed everything was just getting louder, everyone getting closer, he wanted to start thrashing out, but instead could do nothing more but sob curled up in a ball incoherently screaming ‘stop’.
Dawngazer glared back at Eclipse. Even if she had hurt the cub by trying to help, the golden eyed elf wasn't doing much better himself. She had to admit that this hysterical reaction from BrightEyes scared her a little, but she couldn't back down and leave the cub to himself now. Gently she wrapped her arms around BrightEyes again, hugging him, and bent forward so she could whisper in his left ear.
"Hush cub, don't cry. We won't send if it hurts you, we'll be quiet. Sleep if you want as long as you promise to wake again, got that?" While speaking she'd slowly, carefully uncurled BrightEyes so she could looking him in the face. Now she sat, smiling slightly while looking at him, waiting for a nod or a reply.
~**Could everybody please lock-send?**~ she sent to all the others. ~**BrightEyes is tired and he won't be able to sleep if he hears sendings all the time.**~
Meanwhile Branchwalker had calmed down enough to let go of his death-grip on RedStreak. Embarrassed he refused to meet the cub's eyes. Intead he gazed at a tree, tears still flowing from his eyes. "How silly of me," he whispered hoarsely. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that. I hope I didn't frighten you." He sighed. "And you're right, there's still a chance that we can save him, when we've rested long enough. But until then we'll just have to wait, right?"
The cub smiled gently the green eyes seeming even more green as the red streak in his hair had fallen beside his eye. The cub didn't find the situation embarrassing or anything. He was actually the one person who wouldn't mind at all. He let his hand lay on his lap as he watched the male's face. "Silly Branchwalker," he said and made a wide smile. "You're too nice to make me frightened," he said and put his forefinger and thumb so that Branchwalker's nose was trapped between them for a second. "Yes, we have to wait and heal..." he said but turned his gaze away as he heard BrightEyes shouting. RedStreak frowned watching the other cub from behind his shoulder. "BrightEyes..." he breathed out and stared at the chief's cub.
Eclipse had stepped back obviously noticing what effect he had had on the cub. It had worked somehow. He had answered, at least he had heard him, but the cub's condition didn't seem to get any better. With a serious look on his face he squinted his eyes a few times his sun-colored long lashes almost covering his entire sight. ~**We have to let him be...There's nothing we can do...**~Eclipse sent and glanced at Branchwalker and RedStreak. He saw the cub's eyes were full of fear and worry. He walked to them. "Now, now RedStreak. We don't need two hysteric cubs. One is enough," he said and handed out the water to Branchwalker. He glanced over his shoulder at the chief's heir. "I hope this is only temporary..." he said and looked at Branchwalker for a moment and then sighed lightly shaking his head. After all, BrightEyes was the chief's heir....
"Thank you," Branchwalker said to Eclipse as he was given the water. Drinking felt good; his throat was sore after having cried so much. "Want some?" he asked RedStreak.
~**I'm sure BrightEyes will calm down.**~ he lock-sent to Eclipse, leaning back against Stronglegs again. The wolf in question was half asleep, watching over the elves with one eye open. ~**Dawngazer is good at comforting others. And the cub has after all seen both his parents get killed, that's a bit worse than falling down from a tree branch and getting a few scratches.**~
A picture of his own parents, lying dead in the Holt, flashed through his mind and he had to bite his lip until it bled so the newly dried tears wouldn't come back. He didn't do well with sorrow. Not having even lost a wolf-friend before Branchwalker was quite overwhelmed by loosing his father, mother, lovemate and a big part of his tribe all in one night. What he really wanted to do was curl up next to his soul sister and cry, but he wasn't a little cub anymore. She had others to help and her own grief to deal with. Instead he sat in silence, watching the other elves, not noticing the blood running from his lower lip down his chin.
Eclipse's upper lips twitched as Branchwalker talked about losing parents. He wouldn't know about it. He couldn't even remember how his own looked like! He lifted his brows and looked away for a moment.
Suddenly RedStreak looked at the male and saw the blood running down his face. "Branchwalker...There's..." he started and pointed at his chin.
The other male, older by age roughly moved closer and wiped the blood from his face. It had been a shocking sight watching him stare away endlessly with blood dripping down his face. "Don't you start as well," he said and was disgusted by the blood in his hands. He hated dirt and getting dirty and looked for a place to wipe his hand. His leathers were dirty already, but he still didn't want to dirty them more...He walked to a bush...
The cub looked at Branchwalker without talking at all. There was so sort of a pity in his eyes as he then turned his gaze down.
Eclipse had lifted his brows and moved his hand to wipe the blood on the leaves, he went deeper into the bushes and suddenly a scream escaped his lips and he ran back. ~**Terrible!**~ he lock-sent holding his hands on his cheeks. The voice was high and very much girly. ~**Bad bad evil creature!**~ he sent making RedStreak stand up frowning with a questioning look on his face. Soon the cub went to the bushes looking there and even when Eclipse told that it's his own damn fault if he gets hurt he kept on. And saw this 'evil creature' slithering away. ~**It's a snake Eclipse**~ the cub sent amusedly when he was stepping out from the bushes.
Branchwalker couldn't help but laugh at Eclipse's extreme reaction to a mere snake. It wasn't a loud laughter, but all the other elves could surely here it.
Dawngazer ignored whatever it was that went on with Eclipse, even though she was glad to hear her soul brother laugh. She was still waiting for BrightEyes' reply.
Brighteyes was calming down, the screaming was over, now he was just babbling incoherently as he curled up against Dawngazer, the warmth feeling of her presence helping to sooth, the babbling got softer as his eyes began to close, even if he had wanted to stay awake, the pure exhaustion of the day, and the warm presence enveloping him would easily override it.
Dawngazer made soothing noises, stroking the cub's back, waiting for him to fall asleep. "Sleep, I'll watch over you," she reassured him. She was glad that he'd finally calmed down, hopefully he would feel better when he woke up.
Brighteyes mumbled a little more, as he fell asleep. Thankfully the pure exhaustion made it a black and dreamless sleep, sparing him the horrors and the nightmares that waited to haunt him. His breathing eased and his heartbeat slowed, showing he was sleeping peacefully, at least for the moment.
Quicksand was quiet. For once in her life she was quiet. It was as if the chock of the events hadn't sunk in for her. Until now. The blonde cub stared around her, wide-eyed. Watching her brother crying, then Branchwalker crying and then BrightEyes whimpering. ~**Eclipse...do you think we are the only ones left?**~ she finally asked.
Greyspear was sitting on a tree stump, a bit away from the rest of the group. The old male's head was in his hands and his leg and chest were still bleeding, but only a bit now. He'd lost a lot of blood. He was tired and angry and he knew he should see to his wounds. But his mind was too filled by the hole that Tenderheart had left behind her when she died. He felt so empty.
Bloodmane awoke with a start, annoyed at herself for having dozed off, even for a tiny moment. Apparently no one had any interest in the ravvit she had killed, so with a stifled groan she pushed herself up and went to retrieve it, trying not to stretch her back too much. Thank the High Ones nothing had decided to steal her kill. She put the dagger back to its sheath and went to her previous place with the ravvit, sitting down a bit too heavily for the image of being fine she tried to maintain. "Anyone want meat?" she asked, cutting a leg for herself.
*****
Branchwalker had finally stopped laughing and his face had once again taken on a sad look. Silently he did a head count of the elves present and ever so slowly his face turned into a mask of horror. They were only twelve left, himself included. And he could only see four wolves. Was this all there was left of the tribe; twelve elves and four wolves? Had the entire wolf pack been killed together with the rest or were there wolves hiding in the forest together with injured, maybe dying elves? Maybe they'd hear him if he howled?
But he didn't dare try in case the trolls still were above ground. Speaking of howling... ~**When we get to a safe place we have to howl for the dead and missing ones.**~ he lock-sent to everyone except BrightEyes who needed his sleep. It was not a demand, but not a question either, more like a statement.
Eclipse's eyes had hit skyfire when the two, Branchwalker and RedStreak had started laughing. He had nose-up tried to dust his leathers again making no real progress in his attempt to clean them. "It seemed a lot bigger in the darkness!" he said with a high voice and squinted his eyes looking down on them.
RedStreak was happy to see Branchwalker laughing and sat next to him laughing as well. He could see the red on Eclipse's cheeks which was caused by his anger for being humiliated like that. He didn't hear as eclipse hissed to himself. "Cubs.." Then as the older male's face turned again to a worse direction RedStreak was moving his hands around worried that he would start the empty stare again.
~**We are the only ones. The rest are either dead or taken by the trolls**~ he answered sharply to Quicksand who had now gained back to her senses about her surroundings. Then he turned quickly Branchwalker as he sent. ~**Fool! We can't howl until we are far, far away from this place!**~ he sent and with a piece of leather cleaned his arm putting some of the water on it. ~**They'd be right after us, even though their hearing isn't as good as ours, it's hard not to hear a tribe of elves howling!**~ He started roughly and swiftly cleaning his arm. The thought hit him; they were not exactly the ideal of a tribe. Wounded, heart-broken, chiefless and homeless... What would come of this?!
RedStreak frowned as the older fair-haired male sent. He glanced Branchwalker and wanted to protest for he sent so sharply to Branchwalker the others hearing. ~**I'm sure they are far behind us. They had losses as well and they wouldn't go after wounded elves anyway. They know they won. What do they need of us?**~ he sent looking up at Eclipse who turned to meet the cub's green eyes. ~**Trolls have no minds that would make any reasonable sense**~ he sent and his golden eyes were steady as they were set upon the cub. The male didn't like cubs, they always asked too much.
Staring in front of her, Quicksand sent **I'm not hungry...not at all...** she wasn't really following the discussion. Too many thoughts were going through her mind.
~**Did I not say "when we are safe",**~ Branchwalker lock-sent back to Eclipse, starting to get irritated with the blond elf. He sighed out loud, so very tired of everything going on around him. Looking up he spotted Quicksand standing by Eclipse and smiled a little at her. ~**Why don't you come sit over her with your brother and me cub?**~ he questioned. ~**Stronglegs' fur is warm and you look like you could use some rest.**~
RedStreak followed Branchwalker's example and spotted Quicksand as well; the bossy older sister that he could always cling onto in difficult situations. He was naïve when it came to her. He had heard her sending about the food earlier. ~**Maybe some water then?**~ he sent and lifted his brown brows up and looked up at Eclipse who stared back, rolled his eyes and handed the water to Quicksand without even looking at her. The cub smiled of victory. Eclipse looked away and put his slender pale fingers on his lips. He frowned lightly, a sad shade in his eyes as he gazed somewhere. 'All gone...Here we are...A group of wounded elves in the middle of nowhere…' he covered his mouth for a moment. His mind filled with images of the captured or deceased tribe mates. Gale, Sparkstone, the Chief...and many more who necessarily wouldn't have needed to lose their lives.
*****
Cloudbird had been following the happenings with a worried frown. Now, she walked up to Dawngazer and BrightEyes, kneeling by the cub. ~**How is he doing?**~ she asked ~**Poor thing. All alone.** She shook her head at the thought of all the lost tribe mates and her expression was filled with pain.
~**He's sleeping now, thank the High Ones. But he isn't all alone, is he?**~ Dawngazer sent back to Cloudbird, trying to cheer things up a little. ~**And neither are we. We'll all take care of each other. We're a tribe no matter how small, right?**~ Then she heard Bloodmane's question, followed by her own stomach's growl. ~**Some meat would taste good, but I have a bit of a problem with moving at the moment.**~ she sent to the red-haired elfess, gesturing at BrightEyes sleeping in her lap.
Bloodmane cut off a leg from the ravvit and tossed it towards Dawngazer. ~**There.**~
"Huh?" was all Dawngazer, who hadn't been paying attention to Bloodmane, had time to utter before the rabbit leg came flying towards her face. Reflexes kicked in and she caught the piece of meat in her mouth, eyes wide in surprise. All this made a quite comical picture and as soon as Branchwalker saw her he began laughing again.
Cloudbird managed a smile at Dawngazer ~**No I guess he isn’t alone. When you out it that way**~ The slightly dark-skinned elfess sat down beside Dawngazer and BrightEyes, stroking the cub's hair with her hand **So many lost,** she open sent, deep in thought.
Dawngazer nodded silently, petting BrightEyes' hair as he slept. They all could use some sleep, but she didn't know if anyone wanted give rest a try. Many were probably afraid of nightmares, she herself included.
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