Day 25: The Plains (Yahoo!Group pre-forum)

*****

It didn't take them as long to reach the shelter as Dawngazer had feared. She was exhausted and some of her tribemates had to be even more tired. Rest was more than welcome, but she couldn't let down her guard, not yet. First they had to get to know these strangers better, then perhaps...

Branchwalker nearly fell off Stronglegs. He was tired and all his limbs ached dully.

One-edge helped Longsong down from Softpaws, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings.

BrightStar brought up the rear and went over to one side of the shelter. He brought the skin back up to cover the wind coming in from that side. As ClearIce went about working to make room for the others, his bond went off to graze.

The shelter was basically a hill that is taller than an elf's height and is wide enough to cover them from the wind with enough room to spare. They had put up leathers to block out the wind from the other sides. The leather was tied to a few tree limbs that were found on the way. The wind was blocked on all sides except from the one side that the wind wasn't blowing on. ClearIce ushered for all of the others to come into the shelter as he got out. He knew that he and his brother would be better at staying at the entrance.

BrightStar looked to everyone, **Your bonds can go inside. If you have any unbonded, they have to stay outside due to safety.** he sent cautiously to them. Tyke scurried inside and went to her spot. She was very defensive of it. **I know it must be cold for you. I would start a small fire for you, but the plains might catch on fire. The most we can do is give you food and water and a safe place to rest.** he sent. He almost felt as if they were part of his tribe, or he was part of their tribe. Skye stayed outside, going on a hunt for his 'family'.

Bloodmane dismounted the wolf she had been riding and joined the others inside the shelter, but never let the strangers out of her sight - nor her spear out of reach. She also made sure to stay close to the cubs. The caution in Brightstar's sending voice didn't surprise her - actually it more set her mind a little bit more at ease. Overly friendly strangers were very suspicious, but it they were cautious, too, they might actually be genuinely willing to help. **Shelter is plenty enough,** she sent shortly, but with a hint of gratitude, **We have been able to catch our own food.** They hadn't had time to preserve any of the food - and the skins she had been able to fit into makeshift clothes were barely cleaned and not tanned at all - but going one night without eating wasn't going to kill them.

BrightStar just nodded to Bloodmane. He could hear the hint of gratitude in her send. He went over to where he stored food and picked up the satchel. He handed it to Dawngazer, seeing her as the leader of them. He looked at the cublings and then over to Tyke. She kept her spot on a nice fur. "Tyke, move." he told his bond. Tyke just looked at him defiantly. BrightStar kneeled to her. "Tyke, move or go hunt." he said to her. She yipped at him and ran outside to go on a small hunt for herself.

Dawngazer was a little startled at receiving the satchel, but took it none the less, not wanting to insult BrightStar. "Thank you. I fear we don't have anything to give in return..." She trailed off, not quite knowing what to say.
To distract herself she took a piece of dried meat out of the bag, then gave it to Branchwalker. She sat down on the soft ground and leaned her back against the wall, wanting to make sure everyone else got a fur to sit on before she took one for herself.
"So, where to you come from? Have you traveled far?" Her question was addressed to BrightStar and had been spoken in a friendly tone of voice. She felt no need to add to the tension, there was plenty of it to go around.

BrightStar looked to her, **No need.** he sent to her. He looked to everyone before looking back to her as she asked him questions. ClearIce heard Dawngazer and broke out into a fit of laughter. BrightStar just looked to his half-brother to silence him. **We come from the frozen lands up north. It has been far from home. Where have you all come from? Where is it you wish to travel to?** he asked out of innocent curiosity.

"The frozen lands," Dawngazer muttered, almost to herself. She politely ignored ClearIce's laughter. "That must have been a long journey." She paused as BrightStar asked his questions and couldn't help but frown. "Our Holt is…_was_ close by. We have only been traveling for a few eights of nights, this far. We were forced from out home, by trolls. Those you see around you – not counting Sunsleaf and Riv – are all that is left of our tribe. Well, all who are free at least."
Taking a deep breath to push back the nausea she was feeling at having to say such things aloud again, Dawngazer continued. "So far we don't have a specific goal. We're looking for other elves, old tribemates of a sort from very long ago. It is our hope to find a new, safe Holt and aid to go back and free the imprisoned ones."

BrightStar listened carefully and was a bit concerned. He wanted to know what a troll was, but thought it to be bad to ask at this time. Especially when they were apparently still mourning. **May we join you then? To help you find these others you talk of?** he sent to her.

Dawngazer's mouth dropped open for a heartbeat, not having expected such a request. "W-we would very much appreciate that…" she said before she had a chance to truly think her words over. She had, after all, just spoken for her entire tribe with that sentence. ~**We do, don't we?**~ she lock-sent to her tribemates (Riv and Sunsleaf included). ~**I see no gain for them in harming us and his offer of help is very genuine.**~ BrightStar had sent, after all, and sendings only held the truth.

The unbonded wolves, that had stayed outside shelter, each gave Tyke a vary look, but didn't move to attack in any way. Stronglegs, who - though bonded - had decided to stay and keep guard of their new territory, was the one who kept his eyes on Tyke the longest. In the end he too left the fox alone.

Tyke didn't like the attention and growled at them every now and then. She kept up with her hunting as she kept her guard up around the wolves. She found a ravvit and killed it. She went carefully around the wolves and into the tent. She went to her little space and went to eating her kill.

Riv stayed outside longer than most others. This shelter sort of reminded him of what his own tribe used to live in - if you could be reminded of something you had only seen in Sending images. The cold didn't bother him. Especially with the hill providing some shelter from the wind, it was much warmer than what he had gotten used to as a fawn. He could have camped outside without problem, too, but there were wolves out here. Well, there were wolves also inside, but with their riders present they might be a little less inclined to take a bite out of him. Everybody was so quiet, too. He couldn't believe he would actually miss that idiot, Eclipse. Even though all they had done was fight, at least he had been someone to talk to.

ClearIce just laughed at that small interaction. He went over and picked up a few furs and held them out to the children. **This should help you fawns.** he sent to them.

QuickSand looked to the others. SilverEyes took one of the furs and pulled it around LizardStalker and QuickSand. QuickSand looked to her grateful, not wanting to speak it. She was mildly scared of the two new ones. SilverEyes looked to them, **Thank you.** she sent to them. She took the other fur and pulled it around ChildWolf. **(No arguments.)** she lock-sent to the male youth.

Branchwalker gave ClearIce a grateful nod as the cubs were given furs. He'd been feeling guilty ever since the last time the trolls had found them, leaving all those warm sleepingfurs behind. It really was stupid to agonize over something like that - sleepingfurs weren't something worth risking your life over - but after long nights traveling the windy plains warm furs became a distant but wonderful dream.
He chewed on a piece of dried meat, losing himself in thoughts of warm dens and furs. He began walking around among his tribemates, offering everyone the satchel.

ClearIce went over to Branchwalker, **(Who are the yearlings?)** he asked him privately. He hoped that the male wouldn't be offended if he asked him. **(And what happened to him?)** he asked, referring to ChildWolf.

**(Yearlings?)** Branchwalker replied, confused for a moment by the new word. Then he followed ClearIce's gaze to the children and things made more sense. **(Oh, the cubs you mean? Their names are QuickSand and LizardStalker.)** The names were accompanied by indications of who was who. **(And that is ChildWolf, LizardStalker's brother. He was hurt during…)** Branchwalker trailed off, knowing the grief – thankfully dulled a little by time – the thought of the trolls would bring, but made it no secret that it was the destruction of their Holt he had meant.

ClearIce was confused by the word cubs just as Branchwalker was confused by the word yearlings. He did understand why the male didn't finish what he was sending, but not the full reason. He knew he couldn't ask without upsetting the male. He would rather be curious and confused than to put Branchwalker through something he had already gone through.

Sunsleaf watched ClearIce through her lashes eyes narrowed slightly. Still she did nothing more than that, remaining quiet and keeping to herself. She knew it was not her place to bristle but she couldn't help it, so she hugged her knees close to her chest so she wouldn't fidget.

ClearIce turned to her, curiosity in his eyes. He was unsure of her, yet these were all new elves. He just sat down where he was and looked to her, then to Branchwalker, then to the cubs and back again.

Branchwalker sat down next to ClearIce. It would be good to form a friendly bond with these new ones and there was no better way of doing that than staying close and talk. He did catch the glances exchanged between Sunsleaf and ClearIce, but didn't comment. All were on edge it seemed and it would most likely only get worse if he said something about it.
"Sunsleaf," he spoke instead. "Would you join us over here? I have the dried meat if you want some and am still somewhat cold. Keeping close to each other will make us all warmer much faster." Hopefully he'd be able to involve both her and ClearIce in conversation. Silently staring at each other would only make them more tense.

Sunsleaf rose and made her way over to Branchwalker's side and sat down. Once more she drew her knees in toward her chest but she smiled a little at him as she took a piece of the meat from the bag he was holding. "You need to be warm so that you can remain strong." Her voice was soft her gaze not meeting his as she spoke.

Branchwalker returned her smile, but didn't have time to reply before the lock-sent discussion about BrightStar's offer began. ~**I think we should trust them,**~ he stated, feeling much less jumpy and suspicious now that he was in a warm shelter. ~**Don't you?**~ The last two words were sent only to Sunsleaf.

~** I am not completely certain, but I will accept the tribe's judgment. **~

Branchwalker lock-sent a wordless gesture that he had understood and accepted her opinion.

**I don't quite know about making baskets here. There's not much other than grass to work with, but I'll try. Rope should be easier though. If anyone's willing to help me, I should have a good amount finished in just two or three nights.**

** I could help.. Perhaps in the hunt for proper grasses I could find herbs to increase our supply. **

**That sounds like a very good idea** Branchwalker replied in a cheerful, though tired, tone of thought.

ClearIce stopped looking at Sunsleaf and turned to Branchwalker. "It is wise to stay close to each other during the cold." he said. For once, he was at a loss for words. He wanted this tenseness to go away, but was unsure of how to do that.

"I couldn't agree more," Branchwalker said, turning to smile at ClearIce. "What are your skills then? Are you a tanner perhaps?" he asked, both in an attempt to start a conversation and to see what assets they might have gained to the tribe – if only temporarily.

ClearIce turned to Branchwalker, "Sadly no. My main skill is dancing. I love to dance." he started out saying, stopping to remember all the dances that his tribe had taught the youngers. "Yes, that and basic survival. But never forget that I also am a cubwatcher." he said to him.

"A cubsitter?" Branchwalker retorted. "Then you have something in common with Longsong over there." He gestured at the elf in question. "I myself am a basket-weaver – as you might have already guessed – as well as a rope-maker, hunter and scout. And I've been known to…dance a bit too." The last was not a skill he enjoyed speaking of (it usually took him to the end of a dreamberry filled day to actually dance in front of others), but it could lead to common ground with this new elf and that was worth a little embarrassment.

ClearIce looked to where Branchwalker gestured to. His eyes brightened up when the male mentioned that he danced some. **(How good of a dancer are you?)** he asked. He was really curious about this.

TreeBreeze stayed with his sister, watching everyone.

Longsong and One-edge had curled up close to where the cubs were sitting, together with Softpaws. They silently accepted the offered food, but neither of them spoke.

Outside, Syke was coming back to the clearing and saw all the wolves. He didn't like that and went all defensive. He started his growling.

The wolves replied with their own growls - mainly coming from Stronglegs - but they made no move to attack. The fox was not of their kind so it had no pack-rank and no way to challenge anyone. Neither was it prey and they weren't hungry enough yet to attack fellow predators. As long as Syke didn't attack they would hold back.

BrightStar heard the growling from inside the shelter and got up quickly. He didn't care if this scared anyone, he just wanted to stop something before it started. He went out to Syke and stood in front of him. The artic fox looked to him and then back to the wolves who were, in his mind, trespassing on his territory.
BrightStar just got in his face once more. ::Leave them alone.:: he sent to his bond. Syke looked to him and was still defensive. BrightStar led the fox over to the other side of the area and had Syke stay there. He gave a mental sigh and came back inside the shelter to his seat. **Sorry about that.** he sent to them.

**We understand,** Longsong sent, a weak smile on his lips. He had followed BrightStar to the shelter's exit, to make sure none of the wolves did something foolish. For one of their new friends - for Longsong was quite convinced the new elves were friendly - to have his bond killed by their pack would have been horrible. **I do not believe they will attack as long as your bond doesn't.**

BrightStar jumped slightly as he didn't notice Longsong following him. **Syke is just protective of where he is. Foxes are always territorial when it comes to their hunting grounds. We don't have the luxury of having a pack like you do.** he sent to him. Tyke was finished with her meal and went over to BrightStar, climbing into his lap. BrightStar just started to run his fingers through the soft hair of the swift fox. He looked to his bond and then back to Longsong, **What is it that you did in the tribe.. if I may ask?** he was curious about everyone. But he didn't want to seem that he was poking his muzzle where it shouldn't and hoped that they would understand that he was just curious.

**Wolves guard their hunting grounds carefully as well,** Longsong spoke. **Though I see your point – having a pack makes things easier. Tell me, how do you live with bonds that prefer solitude to a group? How does that work in your tribe?** As a reply to Dawngazer's sending he lock-sent to his tribemates: ~**I agree. They are trustworthy in my eyes and we need all the help we can find.**~ He paused momentarily as the question of his role in the tribe was voiced. He didn't quite know what to answer. Had his position in the tribe changed? Perhaps, yet not. **I was – am – a flute player, cubsitter and story teller. And now I believe I can call myself the tribe's Lore Keeper, as my teacher in that skill was…lost during the trolls' attack on our Holt.** Another pause, this one heavy with grief. Loss needed more time than an eight of nights – especially such a great loss.
**And what is it you did in your tribe?** Longsong asked BrightStar when the grief finally lessened.

BrightStar thought about his answer, **Our tribe is, in a way, spread out. We live easily with each other. We are, what we consider, close to each other distance-wise. Never out of touch. Being sort of solitary is a lot better than being with a group. There's less fighting over who hunts where and more fertile ground and more hunting. If we were together, there would be very little food left.** was all he sent to Longsong. He liked this male. **I am a warrior, hunter, and dancer all in one. Back home I was considered an Elder. When I decided to leave with my brother, I had to stay long enough for another elder to come about. We are very rare in my tribe. Most are killed before their 250. It's a very harsh life up in the frozen lands. Avalanches, freezing cold, predators, going under the ice, all that is the dangers. Not to mention our neighbors.... or so I was told as a child.** he sent to him.

Longsong nodded to show that he had heard BrightStar's explanation and took a moment to consider the idea of a tribe without a Holt to live in together. It seemed impossible – the tribe had been - _was_ his family; to live life alone or only in a small group…
But then again, wasn't that what they were going to be forced to do now? They had no Holt and were oh so few compared to the many eights of elves they once had been. The thought cut at the partly healed – or at least numbed – wound that was the destruction of the Tall Tree Holt and made it hard to breathe.
"You seemed to have many skills, BrightStar," Longsong commented, partly to distract himself from the memories, but also because he was impressed. "The wisdom of an Elder is always more than welcome."

BrightStar gave a nod to Longsong. "Though I come with wisdom of the frozen lands and of the fox-riders." he added. He wondered what was going on outside. He could feel his bond being cautious and curious at the same time. He wanted to go see, but didn’t' want to move about since there was some that might be going to sleep soon. He didn't want to disturb them.

Riv had stayed outside for a while, not exactly eager to go inside where it was crowded. He was a bit startled when the animals started threatening each other, and eventually followed BrightStar inside. Better crowded by elves than eaten by wolves.

One-edge took a hold of her lifemate's wrist and pulled him down beside her when he returned inside. Seeing that Riv had decided to join them she made a subtle but clear gesture that the spot on her right was free. She hadn't gotten to know Riv as of yet, but she had nothing against him and if he was to continue traveling with them (which seemed likely after more than an eight of nights in their company) she thought it better to at least offer him a place among them while resting, perhaps even attempt a conversation.

Riv was a tad surprised at first when One-Edge gestured for him to sit down next to her, but recovered in a little moment. 'Heh. Forgot these elves are not a bunch of strangers to each other.' It had taken much longer for Griel's group to welcome new elves in their midst that much. Of course anybody following the Call had been welcome - safety in numbers and all that - but that didn't put anybody in friendly terms just because they traveled together. And Riv, of course, had never gotten into particularly friendly terms with anybody no matter how long they were part of the group. But nonetheless, he walked over to One-Edge and her lifemate and sat down. After a brief moment of silence he couldn't help commenting, "You're an awfully trusty bunch, you know. Might get you killed one day." He didn't even bother to lower his voice, even though his comments probably would insult BrightStar and ClearIce.

"Perhaps," One-edge replied, her tone of voice neutral. "But so could not trusting…" She almost added `cub' at the end of that sentence, but stopped herself. She suspected it would offend Riv and she had no wish to do so.

The only reply she got was a faint 'hmph' before Riv ignored her. About pretending that the other elves didn't exist, he took off his shirt - it was getting hot in the small shelter with so many bodies for one born and raised in year-round snow - and leaned back to rest against his backpack.

ClearIce just rolled his eyes over at Riv, "We've been told that before and yet we are still here." he said with a small laugh.

By the time ClearIce spoke, Riv had already closed his eyes, although he was by no means asleep. "I wasn't talking to you," he commented, not opening his eyes.

Bloodmane was finally starting to relax - and thaw out after their long ride in the freezing wind - and stopped keeping her eyes on both their hosts, instead looking around the shelter. That was when her eyes spotted something the tanner in her instantly took interest in: proper tools. Or at least a stone scraper, much better for cleaning hides than her knife. Instinctively she reached out for it, but stopped her fingers a few hand-spans from it and looked at ClearIce, who was closer to her, "May I borrow this?" If they just had a proper sewing spike - or better yet, needles - she could use this respite to make their makeshift clothes a bit better. Riv's ice-spike (as the boy called it) was way too big and clumsy for proper sewing.

ClearIce looked to her, "Go right ahead. Are you a tanner by chance?" he asked her, curiously.

"Yes, I am a tanner. Although, as you can see from our clothes, I haven't been doing my job very well lately," Bloodmane replied with some humor, then mentally slapped herself. 'No! Don't start pitying yourself _now_!' Only surviving and getting back at the trolls mattered. And to survive, they needed to be strong.

One-edge paused briefly as Dawngazer lock-sent. ~**I say the same as my lifemate.**~ Hadn't she just spoken of the importance of trust with Riv? Questioning a sent offering of help after that would have been more than shameful.
**We should begin thinking ahead a little more,** she open-sent after a moment's consideration. **Since we left the forest we've done little more than rode and hunted. That's surviving and we'll need more than just survival if we're to gather strength enough to return there.** Where `there' was, was made clear by glimpses of the Tall Tree Holt has it had looked before it had gone up in flames – images One-edge unconsciously included in the sending. **Thanks to BrightStar and ClearIce we now have shelter. Perhaps we should rest here a few nights and take us time to gather what we need. More clothing and furs are necessary, but we could also use baskets to carry food and tools in. And I'm sure Sunsleaf and Bloodmane would like to find more herbs.**

**I do not know these...'flatlands' or the plants that grow here, but I agree. We can't keep wandering aimlessly with what we have now,** Bloodmane commented. **Sunsleaf. Do you know the medical herbs that grow here?** Her voice was steel again, her mind focused.

Sunsleaf's gaze shifted to Bloodmane, ** I don't know for certain what grows here, but I _am_ certain that I can find things if I have a chance to search. ** She had always been able to find herbs, knowing what they would be good for even if she could not remember ever having seen them before.

ClearIce looked to Sunsleaf, **I know there are some whistling leaves not far from here. That's all I know of herbs though.** he sent to her. It was an important herb to know from where he came from.

**We could all go out and search the land closest to this shelter,** Branchwalker sent, There must be something else out there than grass. But first I suggest we rest until the sun has risen and set again.**

ClearIce thought about what Branchwalker had sent. **Do you sleep until dawn or when the daystar is up halfway?** he asked him. He liked to stay awake longer at night time rather than his brother.