Day 34: The Day of Games - The Suvivors' Thread

Morning-Glow had all his muscles tensed up, ready for the wolf's attack, which didn't come as Dawngazer grabbed the animal. But he sensed that the danger was far from over, and could see that the elfess could hardly tame the beast. His eyes were glued to the enraged wolf, ready for action. He had no eye for the magic taking place only feets away from him.

Eveningsky rejoiced in her sister's victory, but there was no time for it. The wolves were agitated, Stronglegs red with blood. Greyspear became agitated too. She made to follow his order but seeing that her sister made no such inclination, she halted. She would not leave her sister, also conscious of the wounded tent just behind her. She didn't move but was ready to dash if needed. Her hand ready to unsheath her sword. Maybe dull, but would still do the job. Her gaze followed Cloudbird to where Dawngazer was and her eyes were caught by the soft light shimmering in the air by two of the CotO elves and Branchwalker. ~**Branchwalker!**~ She cried out to him, afraid what this sudden magic might do to him.

~**I'm unhurt,**~ Branchwalker sent back to Eveningsky, more on reflex than with actual thought behind the words. Greyspear's sending was reaching deeper into his mind, piercing his shock and fear and spurring him into action. ~**We should go after One-Edge and Longsong. What if the cubs are hurt?!**~
He gave the glimmer of the magical shield one last look before he whirled around and began to run.

Claw seemed to be in no hurry. She was favoring her injured leg, but she made no move to run or attack.
"Easy for you to say, beast-blood," she said to Cloudbird's back as the other elf moved towards Dawngazer and Stronglegs. "You probably share furs with the damn things often enough that they don't tear your throats out. You I can at least talk with. That thing is far more likely to tear my throat out than you, which is saying a lot I think."

Dawngazer threw a growl over her shoulder at Cloudbird. "Ah yes, insult me instead of helping me hold him, brilliant idea!" she said. Her arms had begun to ache. "That might work if this was a mere challenge, but he's seen both his mate and bond attacked in the span of a few heartbeats - my anger feeds his as well as the other way around you know!" Now that she was aware of her source of rage it was getting easier to control it, but she could feel how Cloudbird's comment was pushing her off balance again.
Elders, she thought through the red haze of rage. Think they know everything just because they're old. Harsh words, she knew, but it helped her to split her anger into pieces, make its target more vague than her opponent or Cloudbird.
"If you want to actually help, get that damn elf out of the way!" She was speaking to Cloudbird, but looking at Morning-Glow.
"And stop staring at him, you idiot!," she added, this time to Morning-Glow. "He thinks you're challenging him! Show throat!"

Greyspear hated to turn his back on such chaos, but the cubs were in danger. I'll have to trust Cloudbird and Dawngazer will handle this. Silvereyes approaching him called his attention away from the growling wolf. ~**It is good to have your bow, daughter. Follow me and stay eyes-high!**~

Inside the tent of the wounded Haze had managed to locate his blowgun. Might not be strong enough to do damage with my knife, but I just need my breath for this.

OOC: Branchwalker and Greyspear will be jumping to this thread; every elf heading to aid Softpaws and her cubs should go there.

Cloudbird growled, low in her throat, internally cursing Claw as she moved forward quickly. She spun to face the angry wolf, eyes down, head tilted to the side slightly to show skin. One of her hands came up to shove Morning-Glow's knife down. ~**Follow my lead unless you want more trouble. Drop your eyes and show throat, like she said. Show him you're not a threat to his bond friend.**~

Dawngazer's voice rang in Morning-Glow's ears and he made a sidelong glance at her, but keeping his attention on the wolf ready to bite his head off. He knew that the elfess could hardly hold on to the raging wolf. All his instincts told him to protect himself from the wild animal. He didn't have experience that wild animals in rage wouldn't attack. Then Cloudbird came to stand between him and the wolf, slapping his one dagger hand away. The hand didn't move much, his muscles tense and ready. These elves wanted him to trust them, trust the wolf. Morning-Glow hesitated. He hardly knew these elves and even less could see the wolf as anything else than a predator. But something changed in his mind. He had been around for so long. He had already seen so much. He hadn't thought that there would be much to surprise him anymore. And here he was, in a situation he never thought he'd be asked to trust a wolf.

Evening-Fall's attention had been caught by the wolf attacking his brother. He had made no move to assist, he knew well enough the talents of his brother who wouldn't be easily taken down by a wolf. But the situation was much more than that. Then Claw lost the challenge. That took his attention from his brother, and only then he realized that Hale was attached herself to his arm. He was going to say something but the hassle around among his own tribemates and the survivors made his words lost in his mind. Something was happening with Featherfoot and Wishpond. He could see glimpses of some strange light outlining their bodies. And there was that survivor elf too, Branchwalker. Was he doing something? The situation with his brother was also taking a curious turn. How could they expect him to just offer his bare throat to a wolf? He already took a step in that direction, to assist in some way, but was caught fast in Hale's grasp. It was also then that he heard her words. A small smile came on his lips, despite the situation. Morning-Glow would be able to handle himself and Wasp seemed to approach Claw. He placed his free hand on top of one of Hale's hands around his arm. "It is quite a mess we have here. But even a burnt land finds new life." He provided her with a reassuring smile before looking in the direction where many of the survivors had dashed, one just then. "Come on, let's see what is going on that way."

Eveningsky stopped on her heels when she received Branchwalker's assurance that he was fine. But he hadn't sounded too convincing. She continued with cautious steps, still not knowing what was going on, but now seeing more of the sudden light phenomenon. The next moment Branchwalker dashed past her and Cloudbird was taking a stance between Stronglegs and the elf in stance. She did think of following after Branchwalker but as the situation was still high up where she was, she decided to stay and instead stepped next to Dawngazer. ~**What do you need?**~ She asked from Dawngazer, including Cloudbird as well.

Claw gave a laugh at Wasp's lock-sent offer, keeping her eyes on Cloudbird's bond-friend. ~**If you feel like taking on that wolf that's guarding me, I wish you luck,**~ she sent back, making sure to keep her thoughts mirthful. She was in a terribly good mood, all things considered. ~**Don't worry about me, I haven't gone so mad I actually want to lead the beast-bloods. But the challenge served its purpose and now we'll all be rewarded. Us real elves that is.**~
She dared throw a grin Wasp's way, taking her eyes off the wolf for one second. She hoped Wasp would ask more; it was no fun having a secret if no one could share in it and it was surely time now!

Branchwalker hesitated, yet kept running despite his mind catching up with his legs. He'd been given an order by an Elder, but...
~**Sunsleaf, there is trouble with Softpaws. A lot of trouble. I have to follow my tribe to her, to help her.**~ It felt silly to send - surely she would understand, being a wolf-blood herself - but it also felt better than rushing off to leave her with the wounded. Though Greyspear had probably included her in the sending as well, when he came to think of it... ~**It would be good to have you watching my back.**~
To Dawngazer he only sent her soul name, a show of support and giving of strength, before he continued to run after Greyspear.

~**I think I have an idea,**~ Dawngazer sent to Cloudbird and Eveningsky, in answer to Eveningsky's question. She could feel her hands slipping. ~**Leaf-brain over there doesn't look like he'll do the sensible thing and end this challenge, so I need you,**~ the 'you' carried with it Cloudbird's face and scent, ~**to tackle him out of the way. In the same moment I need you,**~ this time it was Eveningsky's face and scent, ~**to howl a distress call and start running toward Softpaws. Stronglegs has found his aid, now we need to remind him his mate's still in danger and that we're going to help her. Can we do this?**~
Hopefully the answer would be yes, because Dawngazer could feel her hands slipping. ~**Actually, you both better be ready because here he comes!**~

~**Nah, I don't really feel like catching fleas, if I can help it**~' Wasp answered Claw with a grin, ~**And you seem te be getting along fine with that beast. You really could join them**~, she jested. Wasp stood and watched the wolfblooded elves run away. She wondered curiously what was going on, but you probably never could tell with animals like them. ~**So your idiotic challenge had a purpose?**~, Wasp couldn't help asking, ~**The filth was about to leave anyway, so by the High Ones, what reward do you mean?"