The First of the Survivors Gather

[ChosenSavith]

Our story begins...

Starsong:The last thing Starsong remembered before the shockwave hit her was watching in horror as a bright, silent death omen filled the sky. Much worse than the eclipse when her son was born, the light, like the darkness, was overwhelming. Then there was nothingness. She awoke to the patter of rain on leaves, cold and numbing. She half opened her blurry eyes and reached to rub her aching head. The realization that her arm didn't move hit her before the pain did, and panic overwhelmed her. She struggled to get up, her left arm dangling at her sice, she felt nausious and dizzy. She noticed a figure laying next to her. *Savith??* She sent, reeling over from the pain.

Savith:Only the barest flicker of incoherent thought replied from Savith's mind. His mind seemed to be searching out, like a hand on the end of a broken arm, feebly groping about for something tanigle and more real than the pain and darkness.

Starsong:She leaned back against something rough and unnatural. Her working hand feeling over her numb left arm, searching out for what could be wrong with it. **Savith...** she sent again, this time weaker as her head throbbed, on the verge of passing out once again. She could move her legs, and her eyes were becomming more clear, but that which they saw was not anything she recognized, nor understood. **Shine?** she sent and heard a distant whimper, at least she knew her wolffriend was still alive. She found something near her leg, something hard, a branch. **Savith?* She tried again and jabbed at the form laying near her with the stick.

Savith:A sputter, a cough, and a more clear thought from the glider replied the poke. **Larias,** his mind questioned, sending for... someone else. But the clarity of it was too much, and back into the darkness he sank. He'd been floating up above, scouting for that herd he'd seen on his way into the holt from astride his bondbird, when the blast hit him. It sent him tumbling like a moth in a sharp blast of winter wind, and hurtled him to the ground, where he lay broken and unmoving.

Starsong:As her nimble fingers moved over the deadened arm, she found the source of its dysfunction. The arm had come out of its socket. She had seen this more times than she cared to and knew that what was to come next was not going to be pleasant. She sturdied herself against the broken tree she had been leaning agasint and gripped her arm hard. With a sharp upward jerk she herad a pop and a loud cry she was sure didn't come from her mouth. Her head reeled, and her stomach turned and she fell over, panting. Slowly as she sat and listened to Savith's ragged breathing near her the numbness lessened and she regained some feeling in her arm. She sat up again and looked over to where she heard the whine. Shine was limping towards her, tongue lolling out. when he reached her she pressed her forehead against his muddy and damp one. After some more time, and with Shine's help, she was able to stand and bend over Savith, she was unsure of how hurt he was and started to feel for the broken bones.

Savith:Savith was alive, but by morning he'll be wishing he wasn't. The broken arm would be easily reset and splinted. The same with the broken leg. The ribs would just have to be wrapped securely to ensure he wouldn't do anything stupid and cause one to puncture a lung, or worse. It was the blood seeping out of his crushed bright-metal helmet that was of the most concern. The helmet which now was worthless, but had no doubt saved his life.

Starsong:A skilled huntress, she has a fair understanding of how anatomy works, not only for the animals she hunts, but those tribes members that occationally hunt with her. After the evaluation of the broken bones on Savith's body her attention turns to the helmet. She can see the blood trickling out and pooling on the ground, she wonders how much has been lost. The metal contraption over his head confuses her for a moment on how to remove it without further damage. Carefully slipping a few fingers in and lossening it she attempts to gently tug it off.

Savith:With some ginger prodding, the helmet falls free, spilling rich auburn curls and blood as it goes. The motion makes Savith murmur, brows furrowing, but little else. A severe concusion, one which he'll survive, but magic should not be used.

Starsong:She frowned a bit as she looked at the gash, Shine sniffed it and began to clean the wound with his tongue. She tugged at her already torn leathers and it surrendered a few strips of cloth that she used to secure around his head once the wound was clean. She was starting to shake, her body was aching and if she didn't rest for a moment she was afraid her body would betray her and collapse on the ground. She took a few minutes for herself, gathering what sturdy sticks she could see nearby for splints. As she rested she surveyed the landscape and marvled at how alien it was to her, even the scents were unknown to her. something had happened, something bad. As Savith stirred in his sleep, she began the task of setting the bones and splinting, she started with the leg.

Savith:Too deep in the darkness was Savith that the rest of the bones could be set with ease. His body was lax and unresponsive, making any needed manipulations easy to do. And even after all was set, still he slept, not waking for two full days and nights... if they could be called days and nights. The sky remained a dull burning haze, and ash and grit snowed down in flurries.

Starsong:When the bones were set, She covered savith with branches and leaves and climbed onto shine's back. He was amazingly unhurt, a few scrapes, and some missing fur. She needed to survey their surroundings, and find some fresh water and food. After several hours she returned to Savith with berries and her drinking skin full. The water she filled it from was strange, but it was fresh and she sat vigil by Savith's side for a few days, feeding him mashed berries and water. occationally she would send out as far as she could to any who could hear her for help, but no response came.

Savith:When finally Savith woke, he locksent eyes squeezed shut with the effort, sending until he was breathless and dizzy. He sank back into the leaves he was nestled in, and stared at the hazy sky, eyes vacant and lifeless. On his face, he wore a mask of dull shock.

Starsong:She was dozing when Savith startled and jerked around for a bit, she instinctivly went to the club she had fashioned out of a large piece of wood and raised it towards the nervous form. She realized before giving Savith another wound to add to his troubles and layed the club down. **Savith??** She sent and waved a hand in front of his face. She smirked as he stared at the empty sky and thought about the club again.

Savith:A blink of his eyes at his name being sent against his mind and for a moment, there is no response, but then, like the good Chosen, he always replies when called. **What,** asked his mind with a dull heaviness.

Starsong:Her mind traveled back in time to where she stood with the glider, in the Chief's hut. Eye's narrowed and jaw set. She couldn't believe she was going to have to take him with her on the hunt. The herd was moving and they were wasting time with this nonsense. She recalled the thin elf's arrogance then and the memory hit her like a ton of bricks. **Are you well?** She could only muster as the reality of their situation had suddenly hit her hard.

Savith:The dull weight of Savith's mind can only make one reply. **No.** And then all at once his mind seemed to race, heart speeding up. **I have to get to the mountain,** he sent, the thoughts a tumble. Dare he hope? Fear and worry bitter the thoughts, hiding the hope that tries to flutter to life within him.

Starsong:The mountain? She blinked and wondered if he had known what had happened, she wasn't entirely sure herself. she put her hands out to steady him as he struggled, her left arm had still not regained all its feeling or strength. **Woah, settle down! Your going to hurt yourself even more** She sent with urgency. **I don't even know where we are right now, and your in no shape to travel, so just calm down** She sent sternly. she had watched for the stars when the night came, but nothing emerged. just a dull brown and gray haze that had settled over the valley were in, she didn't recognize the mountains smoldering in the distance and she had no way of knowing which way home was, let alone the mountain.

Savith:**Let me be, wolf-elf,** snapped the Chosen's mind, fear taking root and sending out it's shoots. **I must fly.** Flight is but a long lost dream for the glider, for as he starts to reach for his magic to pull him aloft, his world spins. With an audible groan he shuts his eyes and falls back into the leaves, mind floundering about.

Starsong:Her brows furrow and her jaw sets again. **Fine, begone then, I was tired of tending to you anyway** She sends back harshly, she knew as she sent it that she shouldn't have been. he was worried about his kin, as she was hers. Her temper had flared up, as it always does and she watched him struggle to get airborn. She was relieved in her heard when he couldn't though, she really didn't want to be left alone. **Would you like some water?** She asked after a moment, fetching her watering skin.

Savith:Savith lay panting, weak, shaky, and afraid. His moss green eyes fluttered open again, taking in the haze of the sky above as the thought of cool water against his ragged throat tickled at his mind. **Thristy,** his mind sent despite himself as his body's needs took hold over the arrogant superiority his upbringing as a truely full blooded elf he shielded himself with.

Starsong:She tipped the skin to his mouth and let him drink, when he was done she crushed some of the berries and poked them into his mouth, she won't tell him how she had fed him while he lay unconsious. As he ate and drank she told him of what she had seen and what she had thought had happened. **I've seen, heard or felt nothing alive since I woke up a few days ago,** she said to him after she had said everything that had happened.

Savith:Savith took in everything, moss-colored eyes tracking onto Starsong's features, clutching onto something real, something elven. He ate in silence, too hurt to lift a hand to help. It was when she was done with her recounting, his mind putting things into place that he nodded faintly. **I'm full,** he began, pulling his chin away from her as he finished the last mouthful. **Something terrible has happened. Something that's destroyed this area and is keeping minds from touching over a distance.** He paused, locksent again, then clentched his jaw in stoic determination. **We were near your holt, the Grove, so it is there we will begin,** he stated firmly, his mind squashing down emotion. **When I can stand, we will be off. Save what food you can... we don't yet know the extent of the damage we've experienced.**

Starsong:She nodded at him, not used to taking orders from anybody but these circumstances were different. **We are many days from the holt by foot, we traveled more swiftly on our mounts. I have not seen yours, but mine is safe** she ran a hand absently over Shine's fur, as if making sure he was still there, and not a dream like everything else seemed. **Once you are well enough to travel, we shall leave this place. I hope we will then be able to found our way back** She looked up at the sky again, the gray haze swirled back.

Savith:Savith once took Kureel's place as Head of the Mountain's Chosen Eight. Orders are in his nature, both to give and to follow. He nodded faintly again, eyes drifting shut, even as his mind continued working through their plight. **we'll need smoked meats, ground cakes of fruit and rendered fats, what herbs are still left. My talonwhip and spear....** and on and on until his mind falter, faded, and he drifted off itno sleep.

Savith:Weeks crawled by as the glider recovered under the
watchful eye of Starsong. As Savith recovered, the ash continued to fall, a soft silken dust that turned everything into a dull dove gray, until the rain began. It started out as a drizzle, but soon became a heavy downpour of hot rainwater, falling from the lowhanging clouds in large charcoal colored droplets. It was raining soot. It did little to wash away the ash and grim on the surface of the world, but by the time the rains began to let up two weeks later, the survivors were greeted by their first sight of the night sky since the catastrophe.

StarsongThe land was dead, no sign of animal life was to be found, The huntress had no job to fulfill, she salvaged as much of the meat they brought with them and gathered all the berries on the bushes. Filling her water skin she returned to Savith and looked skyward. Though she had seen it for a few nights now, the sight still sent a chill down her spine and an uneasy feeling in her heart. **We now know the way back, We should leave soon.**

Savith:Savith's eyes relunctantly pulled from the heavens above. Giving Starsong a glance, the glider nodded, **Yes. Let's.** What was he hoping, in that monosyllabic send? What wish seemed to flavor it? The taste of hoping they'll find Starsong's holt whole and in one piece. The taste of praying that they'll find warm furs to crawl into and in the morning,when he woke, this all would have been just a bad dream.

StarsongShe held out a hand to help Savith up, his wounds were healing, but slowly. she knew this journey would be difficult for him. She nodded in understanding at him, she too longed for home and the comforts it may provide, but her mind now was set on the task at hand. **Two, maybe three days travel on foot, we should keep watch out for any other signs of life** She summoned Shine who was pawing at the ground and packed what she could on his back. Her bow was in one peice, but her arrows had snapped beyond repair.

Savith:Savith's whip, however, did not fare well. The strong silk cord had tangled and the delicate spring inside had fractured in his fall. The claws remained stuck closed, the useful sharpened edged sheathed within itself. His spear was no where to be found. He took Starsong's hand after his first futule attempt to manage it alone. He leaned heavily on the shorter elfess, body light-weight for all his height. **Good,** was all he replied, the thought curt as he struggled to keep any more emotion or feelings spill free.

StarsongThey set off, the forest path she had been traveling on had long been obliterated. Four days walk it took till something looked familiar. The landscape had changed drastically from the valley where they had awoken. Now on the outskirts of her lands, she looked around, heartfallen. The land was black, scorched and dry. Heat eminated from the earth in geysers and crags. The forest, the river, everything, was gone. She tried desperately to send to her tribesmates but no answer returned. She was angry, she looked up at the broken moons and cursed the high ones, kicking a nearby pile of scorched land.

Savith:Savith ached with each step, his long lean glider's body not used to being bound tot he ground for so long. As Starsong grew angry and began to curse, the glider surveyed the landscape, pushing away his fatigue. A frown pulled at his lips as he saw the desvastation. From here, his mountain home should just be visible on the horizon, but he refused to allow himself to even look. Instead, he resumed his march toward what once was Starsong's Father Tree. **Come, huntress,** he called with a mind voice gentled by exhaustion. **Perhaps we are not yet close enough for survivors to hear you.**

StarsongStarsong wiped the angry tears from her eyes and followed Savith. She could not tear her eyes away from her home, the place of her birth. She saw destruction with each step she took, leathers and pots littered the charred ground, she looked for bodies, but she did not see any until she was a stone's throw away. "No...." she whispered audibly and began to run. She could see a pile at the base of the father tree, she knew it to be once elven but the misshapen forms were no longer such.

Savith:Savith drew to a stop as Starsong began to run. He stood still, expressionless, for what must have been hours, before he finally took his eyes off the sight of the charred bodies and disarray. Forcing his mind into 'work mode' the Chosen looked about for anything still useable as he sent, mind disturbingly emotionless, **Find what useful items you can, then check the food stores for anything that's still edible, and see what you can do about replishing your arrows. We leave at dusk.**

StarsongStarsong had sat huddled at the small group of bodies as Savith sent, she had tried to distignuish who might be who. The chief, her lovemate, her recognized, her son? Were any of these bodies theirs. She could not tell. She felt numb, all over, she didn't want to leave, she couldn't. She turned a tear streaked face to Savith and shook her head. She had to give them a proper burial, a proper howl, a proper death. Not like this, not in this manner.

Savith:Savith's eyes narrowed at the shake of Starsong's head. **Get up and check the food stores,** the glider repeated in the same emotionless words-only send as before. **If they are empty, then there is nothing left here.**

StarsongNothing left?? His words echoed in her head, the numbness began to fade, and replaced by anger. Her hands clenched into fists, her brows narrowd and her jaw clenched shut. She willed herself to get control of her anger, nothing good would come of lunging at the tall elf and attacking him over and over again until the pain subsided. Intead she stood, and turned her back to him, she wouldn't let him see the angry tears rolling down her face. She summoned Shine and began to arange the charred remains in fashion for her tribe.

Savith:Burial. It's a custom the glider still doesn't quite understand fully. His tribe doesn't die, and the few that do... well, no one ever hears of those, so his tribe don't seem to die ever. Plus, as a full blooded elf, his soul is bound to the Palace of the High Ones - the original craft that carried their ancientors to this time and place. Once his soul has left his body, there's nothing useful left to it. Discardable, in a fashion. But he waited, squashing down all emotion as he watched Starsong pay homage to her tribesmen.

StarsongAfter many hours, her hands black with ash and soot, she kneeled down by the remainder of her tribe and howled into the dying light. She could not leave them until she had. She howled and payed respects to all that she saw, and all that she didn't. Once finished she gently climbed the remains of the father tree, and looked into the stores. She found nothing much that could be salvaged. A few unbroken pots filled with dried fish and fruits, some slightly damaged furs, a few more water skins and a handful of arrows. She then went to what remained of her den. She did not see anything she recognized, everything she had was burned to cinders. Once finished, she placed the supplies in the pack on Shine's back and started towards the east without a word to the Glider.

Savith:Savith had slowly begun searching the remains of the holt himself while Starsong howled. The song was all too eerie and heartpulling for him to watch her sing it. Even just listening to it, brought primal chills to his spine and threatened to shake his emotions free of his control. Inside, he glided himself a bit here, and a bit there, moving silently, if unsteadily, about the holt. But little was salvagable, and when Starsong turned to go, he paused once, looking back at the pile of dead elves at the base of their once glorious tree-home. The stony mask crumbled for a moment, brows pulling together. He had known some of these elves. He had lived with them at one point. And elves, no mater how impure their blood, are still elves. Turning, he once again locked out any feelings of remorse. Grief will come when the work has been done and he can allow himself to rest.

Starsong: Starsong tried not to think about too much of what had passed. She was a wolfrider, and would rather live in 'the now". But every now and then a heavy sinking feeling would hit her in the heart and she would have to excuse herself from Savith for a while. It was only after the 4th night she realized what was missing on the horizon that they were walking toward. The mountain. It was a grand glorious mountain, and she could see it from the highest branch of the father tree once upon a time. She had wondered if Savith had noticed this too.

Savith: If the glider took notice, he said nothing, merely trudging on, step after step, with his eyes on the ground ahead of him. What once were bright, glorious locks of auburn spiral curls, now hang limp in matted dreds about his face and in his eyes. The matted hair curtained his expression and hid the ache which step accosted him. During the times they stopped to rest, Savith spoke and sent little, slept deeply, and seemed aloof and detached. He wasn't even locksending anymore. And still the grand and glorious Blue Mountain never drew near. Instead, a fractured pile of crumpled rock, like an ant hill whose base had shaken out from under it. Here, the glider stopped, peered at the otherworldly blue-gray granite, and sighed.

Starsong: She had barely noticed where they were going, but was sure glad Shine sensed it. As they emerged from a tanged web of thorn bushes the chasm was sudden and very deep. On the other side the once glorious, high perched mountain had slipped and fallen into the crevices in a giant rock slide. She could only stare not up, but down to where the mountain, what remained of it, lay. The chasm made an eerie whistling noise as the wind blew through it, she looked to Savith.

Savith: Savith stared at the fallen mountain dully for a few moments. His face was unreadable and unmoving save for the quirking of one eyebrow and the slight tensing of his jaw. **We need to find fresh water,** the Chosen sent finally, thought still a cold unyielding stone, as he turned away from the sight and began walking south.

Starsong: She just watched him go for a moment then back to the mountain. She had never trusted gliders, but she was not the sort of elf that wanted to see them dead. **Should we look for survivors? Have you been able to send? I can't reach anybody... but they may not answer me** She sent as she followed him, she kept her ears perked for the sound of running water.

Savith: **Any survivors would be shaping themselves down and out, or have already flown away,** the Chosen replied with but the faintest touch of an emotional quiver. **In either case, we'll find nothing of value down there.** And there again was that cold, unfeeling taste to his mind. He kept walking, one foot in front of the other, in that same methodical march he used on his way here.

Starsong: She nodded but said nothing for a while. **If we keep heading this way, We should reach the ocean soon, if it is still there...** she sent but she knew that he would know this. After walking for a bit longer she decided to ask **Who is Larias?** she remembered he called out that name during his recovery. She knows its probably none of her business but she didn't feel much like going on at the moment and hoped some conversation might help the time pass.

Savith: **No one you need concern yourself with,** came the snappish reply. Cold, like everything else, but this time, the cold comes from something else. Heart-stopping fear which snaps almost instantly into hate and anger.

Starsong: Starsong rolls her eyes and sighs as she leaps onto Shine's already burdened back and props her head on his. **As you wish** she sends back irritated and looks towards the mountains in the distance, she doesn't recall them being that far before....

Savith: Savith keeps trudging along, eyes on the ground, step after step. **No water,** he asks finally, emotions once again under control.

Starsong: Starsong was busy combing the mats out of Shine's fur when Savith sent. She looked up, not really paying attention to her surroundings, she was getting tired. She perked her ears up and listened to the wind, it was a strange wind, one she was not familiar with. **We should be by the ocean soo....** Her send cut short as she suddenly tumbled off of Shine. The wolf had stumbled himself into a very sandy pit. The beach was there, but no ocean, just dried coral and rocks. Shine whimpered as he drug himself back onto a stable rock, the sands were shifting as if something underneath was moving. Starsong stood up and brushed herself off giving Shine a distasteful look before looking out at the wasteland.

Savith: Savith drew himself up to a stop as Starsong's wolf founders. Reaching out with mind and magic, he does his best to assist the wolf and rider out of the shifting sand-ocean. Once certain his huntress is safe on solid ground, he peers out over the 'sea'. "By the fallen Palace," he whispers, voice as rough and cracked as his lips.

Starsong: Staring into the distance with the sands shifting nearby made her a bit dizzy so she sat down, Shine leaping from the rock to the solid ground next to her. She had never seen anything like this before, she couldn't make any sense of it. **What had happened so bad that everything we know, everything we love is gone?** She sent it to nobody really, a confused thought, she shook her head and gently stroked Shine's fur.

Savith: **I..... don't know,** Savith sent in reply, mind likewise reeling from the sheer enormity of it. Everything was gone. Everything had changed. Everyone, as far as they could tell, was gone. The whole of the elven race, it seemed, rested with just themselves. And like a weight dropping from the sky, it all became too much. Savith dropped to his knees on the ground where he stood, hands falling into ash in front of him. His head hung and a cry, akin to a primal howl of rage/fear/grief/confusion, tore from his throat even as tears stung at his eyes and danced along his lashes looking to spill free.

Starsong: Starsong was stunned, she had never seen a glider act like... well... like a wolfrider before. She wasn't sure what to do at first, but her heart reached out to his and she stood silently and tenderly rested a hand on his shoulder. She let him be for a few moments to get out what he needed to. After a little bit she knelt down beside him to reassure him **If we made it, I'm sure others did too. Let us find a place where we can settle for a bit, I'm sure others will find us. If we keep moving we may miss them, but if we stand still, all the world's wind will eventually touch our faces**

Savith: Savith knelt, panting, frame shaky long after his 'howl' was done. He heard Starsong's send, felt her familiar presence, and could do nothing but nod. He felt hollow, like his mountain home was, as he pushed himself up to his feet, refusing to look in Starsong's direction. He paused there, a moment of uncertainty plaguing him. Where should they go? This terrain, it's so unfamiliar. The landscape could really be anything in any direction. He closed his eyes, turned away from the shifting sands, turned toward where the High Ones would pull him, and began walking.  

[ChosenSavith]

Savith: Weeks pass as the two travel, meandering slightly as they made their way eastward once more. Food was starting to run thin, what with game and plantlife still recovering, and fresh water was had to come by. The rations, no doubt, had become a point of contention between them, as Savith tried to do the 'noble thing' and give part of his share to the woman despite his still healing injuries. It's on the afternoon when they had but a few drinks left of fresh water, and only one strip of dried meat left, that the shimmer of water beckoned from up ahead.

Starsong: At first Starsong thought she was seeing things. she licked her dry lips but barely any moisture on her tongue remained. She coughed a bit and squinted a bit to look harder. **Do you see... is that....??** She wasn't as tall as Savith was and she climbed up on a nearby rock. Shine keeping to the tree's for shade. It was hot, and dry.

Savith: Savith squinted into the horizon, bringing his good hand up to shade his eyes. **I can't tell from here,** he replied. Taking a breath, the glider forced himself up into the air for a better look. He rose unsteadily, straining until a cool salt-flavored breeze pulled at his hair. He stopped, hanging in midair and looked in wonder. **Water, the Vast Deep,** he sent down with the breathless wonder of a much younger elf. The vision he sent with it was breathtaking. In a world of disaster and destruction, the ocean beyond seemed unmarred and safe.

Starsong: Starsong sat on the rock and looked at the faint glimmer while the visions Savith sent washed over her like the cool breeze he was feeling. She sighed audibly and a smile spread across her face. It may not be fresh water, but at least it was water... and where there was water, there was bound to be food. Knowing she couldn't sit there all day and dream about the vast deep she slid off the rock and sent to Shine the images of water and food. He got up and started to lumber a bit faster, the pace seemed to have picked up.

Savith: The breeze was refreshing, the promise of cool water exhilirating, and as Shime and Starsong below found their pacing picking, so too did Savith fly the will to fly faster. The freedom of not being bound by the pull of the world, and the hope of what the ocean can promise, pulled him forward as wordless images spilled from him.

Starsong: It wasn't too much longer before they found themselves on a pristine white beach, the ocean not more than 300 foot steps in front of them. She looked up at Savith, like a child, with glee in her eyes and bound forward for the open water. Clothes being lost along the beach as she went before diving into the oncomming tide. Whoops of joy and exhileration.

Savith: The glider slid down into the surf, tattered Chosen's uniform and all. He sunk down to his knees, ducked under to wet and cool his hair, and came up, shaking his head, and grinning despite himself. A sigh escaped him, phsycially and mentally, as the cool water brought relief to his fatigued body. He stretched out, half floating in the water. It's the closest thing to floating in a cloud...without having to work for it.

Starsong: Starsong splashed around, cleaning herself and having a pretty darn good time at it. She hadn't been to the Ocean in a long long time and it felt great on her hot skin. It was just too bad she couldn't drink it. She dove down, the water here wasn't strange, it had seemed very untouched. Life swam below her and she dove down to collect some of it with her obsidian dagger which was always strapped to her theigh. After a while she came back to the shore near Savith, unabashed in her nakedness and dropped a few brightly colored fish and some clams on the sandy beach. A smile spread across one side of her face.

Savith: Savith half watched the elfess splash about and he rinsed out his hair, occasssionaly frowning and turning his face from her before shaking his head as if to clear it. When she returned to him, he hefted himself up, ringing out his locks and pushing the water from his uniform with magicks. Noting the smile, he quipped, mood positively light-hearted by comparison to the last few weeks, **Now why do you smile so?**

Starsong: She sits down and hands him a fish, taking one herself and biting into the still slightly wriggling flesh. She shrugs and continues to eat. Shine having emerged from a nearby tree to snatch up a fish and return to the shade. **Couldn't help it. It just... it just seemed like a reward at the end of a difficult hunt... you know, the prized buck!** She wasn't sure if he understood the feeling but it didn't matter, it felt good to her.

Savith: The Chosen finds himself chuckling. **So it does,** he replies with some warmth. **So it does.** Pulling is own small brightmetal knife, Savithcarefuly cleans and frees bite-sized pieces of flesh for himself as he looks around teh paradise they had stumbled upon. **All we need is water,** he comments, a touch of the all-business threatening to return.

Starsong: She finishes her fish and starts to dig into the clams. The time she visited a wavedancer holt,the chief there showed her how to find and open clams. She had always found them to be a great treat to eat them. After finishing her meal she looks east at the vastdeep waters, then back west, there was some cliffs in the distance, and where there were cliffs, there was shelter. **The sun should be setting soon, we can head for those cliffs for shelter, maybe we can find a spring nearby.**

Savith: Savith turned to look behind him, at the cliffs. He frowned for a moment then, with a breath, he nodded. Finishing his own meal quickly, he pushed himself to his feet, the fatigue returning to his face and mind. **Let's find a place to settle them, before it gets to dark for my dull-eyes to see.**

Starsong: She stood as well and let Shine eat the reminants before gathering up her clothes again and tugging them back on. They headed for the cliffs, they were not too far away, but still a struggle for her to walk over the soft white sand.

Savith: If Starsong struggled, Savith was in agony. Tired frm teh flight, he barely managed to flutter a few steps at a time before having to land and recollect himself. It was an awkwar sort of 'walk' to the firmer rock near the cliffs. Taking a moment to catch his breath, he inclined his chin toward a path in the rock. **There's something that looks climbable. Can you make it?** Cause, let's be honest here. Once Savith gets some strength back, a sheer cliff face isn't going to phase him.

Starsong: Starsong looked up at the cliff, wiping the sweat from her brow as she too sat down to gather her strength back. **Now I know why i'm not a wavedancer** She said panting. After a little bit she started toward the little path, it seemed to lead up, it looked almost human made. She bit her lip and wondered what she would encounter and started to slowly follow it.

Savith: Savith waited a few moments longer, watching Starsong go up before taking a breath, bunching his legs up under him, and pushing himself off the ground. He lifted himself up even with Starsong, eyes on the look out for anything dangerous. A few short minutes later, and the path evened out into a flat entrance way into what was certainly once a human cliffside dwelling.

Savith: Dried seaweed, dead fish squid and the single rotting shark corpse, littered the floor along with the battered corpses of the humans that lived here, bits of their earthenware pottery, rotting furs, logs, and bundles of random things. The cave, large enough to have been the common dwellig space for a full village, had been battered by a high wave, flooded, and then left to dry. The sound of burbling water echoing in the now empty cave.

Starsong: A hand went to starsong's nose as the stench was overwhelming **Ugh.. five fingers... ** If the disgust of the smell wasn't powerful enough to drive her out of the cave, the rotting bodies of the dreaded five fingers was. She stood outside the cave entrance and waited for Savith to come back. she inhaled the sea breeze deeply to get rid of the stench in her nostrils. Even shine was smart enough to not go in.

Savith: Savith pressed forward, staunchly refusing to let the scent get to him. He scanned the dead bodies, estimating how long they had been dead. **I hear water,** he sent back, eyes adjusting to the lower light. **Andt his cave is big. Dirty, but big. Too big for just two.**

Starsong: She groaned audibly, would they really have to go
through that stinking cave to get to fresh water.... she weighed the risks and the gumption to actually do it. Sighing she slipped her hand across her nose and went back inside to follow Savith **Do you see anything of use? Not that these five fingers _would_ have anything useful...**

Savith: **Not much,** Savith replied, landing down to push through some refuse. **Maybe some of these stone tips and knives, but the construction is crude at best. Even the humans at the Mountain had better rock-crafting than this.** He tosses a bit of stone chip away from himself and he looks around again. **Looks like they had stores back that way, individual living spaces, but I can't find where the water dound is coming from.**

Starsong: Starsong presses an ear to the wall and listens. she's not been in many caves but it was more audible than listening for a river with her ear to the ground. **It could be close... or far away... these rocks can carry sound for a while. There must be some place around here though, if these five fingers could live here** She makes her way outside again and looks up at the cliff face and then down along the beach. **Let me climb up the cliff a bit and see if i can find something** she found a sturdy handhold and hoisted herself up, it was alot like climbing a tree.

Savith: Savith looks up as Starsong heads out and begins her climb. **You know... flying is easier.. don't you,** he questions, standing up and looking at the mess again. This place needs to be cleaned if anyone is thinking about living here again. He walks about the cave, pacing it out to himself, comparing it to the great aerie of his home.

Starsong: starsong was about halfway up as she looked down and wondered why anybody would want to live in a filthy five fingers hovel. She smirked and continued climbing. she didn't send until she was at the top **well there's not much up here, more cliffs, mountains and....** She stopped as she could smell fresh water, but where was it comming from, she began to clamber over boulders and side step around narrow passageways. **I see it! I see it Savith, just down the beach keep going south!** she scrambled around rocks until it wasn't feesible to go any further and found her way down to the beach again.

Savith: Savith had been staring at the body of a human child when Starsong's send rang out. South? He flitted from the ground, drifted out of the cavemouth, and flew along the cave, headed south. **And what am I looking for, exact....ly...?** He floated to a stop, jaw dropping slack at the sight. If the Vast Deep before had been a slice of paradise, the sight beforehim now was nothing short of Heaven. A waterfall, clear, clean, and majestic, spilled forth from the cliff itself, down into a pool so clear and crisp. Surrounding it was life, lush and pure. Even birdsong danced through the leaves. It was as if nothing had happened in this one tiny speck of world.

Starsong: Starsong tumbled and slid down the cliff face, scratted and bruised onto the banks of the river, than in the river itself drinking from its cold purity. She drank until she couldn't drink anymore, feeling almost a little sick and head hurty from the coldness. she sat back against a rock and suddenly felt very drowsy. Her belly full of food and drink, it was like being drunk on dreamberries. **Look at this place savith.** She sent to him, relaxed undertones **The clifs on all 3 sides, the ocean, the beach... I think its paradise... is this the land the high ones promised? Are we dead?**

Savith: Savith made an orderly decent, against to protests of his dry throat and dirty body. **We can't be,** he replied with sobering seriousness, kneeling to scoop handfuls of water to his mouth. Drinks like a bird, this one does. **I'm not happy enough to be dead,** his mind added, getting pulled short before any more was shared.

Starsong: She giggled like a drunken cub and curled up against the rock she was leaning on. **Too bad.** was all she sent before her eyelids got too heavy to lift, and she drifted off to a peaceful sleep.

Savith: Savith looked over at the sleeping elfess and afforded him a smile before it faded into an angry, depressed sort of frown. Turning from her, he washed up, cleaning his uniform and leaving it out to dry while he washed his hair again and cleaned out the few cuts and scraps his still had. Mostly dry, he dressed again, floated up to a tree branch and settled back, staring at the sky. What did this world have in store for them? He didn't want to think about it. One day at a time.  

[ChosenSavith]

-We meet Gentle Midnight Dancer by the waterfall pool. RP was not saved due to a system glitch.-

After the first sound sleep in many a day Dancer woke. Her body still ached a bit from all the stress but still it was good to know she was no longer alone. Fire Bright was licking his massive paws and blinked at her. "Let's try to get a fish if we can." She smiled softly then turned her gaze to the cost line. She was a strong swimmer but had seen first hand the massive waves that killed so many she loved. How she made it out alive was lost to her memory. Standing she stretched then scratched her friend behind the ear. Stripping off her few meger garments Dancer made her way to the water followed by Fire Bright. The water was cool against her flesh and her body shivered a moment. Fire Bright bounded about in the surf while Dancer dove right in. She glanced about under the water and smiled as she saw some fish darting away from her. It was good to relax even for a little while. The need for food was still great as Fire Bright required a bit more to eat then any of them. Comming to the surface she popped out before the great cat laughing. He licked her face and swam a bit more with his friend and trusted companion. Dancers mind was lost in what might happen. Would she have to kill Fire Bright if he became unruly over his hunger? She would just have to make sure he had enough to keep him content and manageable then worry about everyone else. Three elves after all needed so much less. The words of Savith pounded in her ears. "He would kill my cat over my dead body" She muttered to herself. If it came to that then she would be the one to end his life and no other.

She blinked and shook her head, pushing the thoughts aside. Blue pools looked to the shore again. Many branches would make a good spear to fish with. Feeling more awake and happy she leaves the water. Her flesh glistens in the sunlight as she moved to her things. Giving them a good wash she places them flat on a rock to dry. The flutter of laugher escapes her as the tiger shakes himself dry. How thin he is shows even more now that he is wet and the laughter stops. Soft steps took Dancer to the small tree line. All she needed was one long stick to sharpen the end of. Most of the trees here were many like she had seen before and soon a proper stick was found. Taking rock she rubbed the stick till it had a sharp end. A glance once back to the trees made her homesick and she thought about wood for a fire but that could wait till after she got something for Fire Bright and the rest of them to eat. The tiger lay near the waters edge as Dancer moved about the rocky shore line looking for places that fish might gather. Soon some were found and the make shift spear flew. She growled softly as fish scattered and the spear twisted in the water, scattering fish in every direction. Scooping it from the water she moved on and tried again. It was a small strike but still she was happy with anything at this point. After the flopping fish stopped twitching she placed it on a rock near her and tried again. When she had five so so fish she made her way back to the camp. She would try again after Fire Bright ate. He would be happier and in that be easier to control making less tension. Fire Bright's ears twitched hearing the footsteps moving closer to him and the massive head lifted to look. Not long after his tail lifted as the beast stood and moved to greet Dancer. Setting the fish down she stroked his face, "Eat" was all she said and moved away. It took only a moment for the few small fish to be gone and Dancer felt her own belly growl again. This place had to have some sort of meat scampering about. She would almost give her own arm for a wild deer. Still thoughts of meat did her little good so she started collecting wood, stones that might be able to be fashioned into arrow tips or spear heads and young saplings to strip and braid the bark into ropes.






Savith hadn't slept much, instead, he explored the cove, looking at the small caves, the fish, the flowers. Anything to keep his mind on surviving and not why he's forced to try to survive in such a manner. As Midnight Dance returned to the water to fish, the glider settled himself on one of the rocks at the base of the waterfall. He watched her silently as she worked to spear a fish from the water, seeming lost in his own thoughts.

Starsong was up with the dawn, also scouting her surroundings, looking for signs of land based animals to hunt. She sniffed the air, but the cool breeze was blowing in from the sea and she smelled nothing but salt water. She found Savith near the waterfall and smiled at him, sending to him privately **G'morning Savith, how does the day treat you so far?** she took a long drink from the water, wiping her mouth with her sleeve. Shine also took a drink and turned to watched the girl and her bond in the water.

**I'm unable to complain about its treatment so far,** Savith replied privately to Starsong. He spared her a brief glance before turning his gaze once more to the ocean beyond. Her smile was not returned. In fact, his face was impassive and expressionless.











She also looks towards the sandy beach and watches the two in the water. Sending back to Savith she wonders what he's thinking about ** Wonder how many others are like her. Lost and alone. I hope they can find us. we're off to a good start in such a short period of time. ** She picks her teeth with her fingernail and ignores her gurgling stomach.


Savith hmms faintly in his throat as his mind replies. **I know how many my heart would like, and how many my head is guessing, neither of which I really want to think about for long.** His lips press into a thin line as he snips lightly, **This was luck, and nothing more. You and I have not even begun to search.** Truely search that is. And Savith even less than that, as he didn't even send down into the rubble that was his mountain home.

She swings her feet on the boulder she was sitting on as she thinks about what Savith said **Well, I think this is a good place to start. I'm going to go out and look for more food, maybe tonight, we'll eat well ** She smiled at him, but it was more a smile at the remembrance of a fine hunts feast.

Savith merely nods in reply, noncommittally agreeing to the wolfrider. He leans back against the rock, leaning his weight on his elbows. His eyes drift toward the sky, bright blue and pristine, as if nothing were wrong. He frowns at the color, eyes narrowing unhappily.

She looks at Savith for a while, wondering if she should ask why he looked so glum. But she figured she knew the answer to that and would leave the Glider with his own thoughts. **Then I'll be off, keep an eye around here if you could, ancient one** She winked at him and slipped onto Shine and started off down the beach. She nodded curtly to Dancer as she passed her and offered her a small smile.

Savith's eyes left the cheerful sky as Starsong sent her farewell, one brow quirking at being called Ancient One. He didn't reply, save to frown thoughtfully. He hadn't really felt so old until this moment. The glider shook his head slightly, glanced that the catelf, the returned to gazing at the sky, frown still upon his face.

Her mind was a jumble of thought as she inspected rocks and collected wood to burn. Seeing the Wolf Rider's smile made her smile back and reach her mind out slightly. **Morning Huntress** Her send filled with a mix of longing, worry and sadness. She did want to make friends with the two strangers but Fire Bright was the problem. She also thought of the problems with staying at what might be the only source of fresh water for miles. It would be good that other animals might seek it out thus making hunting a bit easier but she also recalled the danger to small animals at a watering hole. A tribe can take on most anything together but three lone elves, a wolf and a skinny tiger was not a powerful match. She would have to talk to the others about it just to put her own mind at ease. Glancing the direction the Huntress had come from she saw Savith. **Morning** Her mind reached to him. That same mix of feeling sent with it before she pulled it back. Setting the stone and wood in two piles she then hunted the area for a long straight piece of wood. She intended to make a spear. A good one, that her family would have been proud of. It would take some time and she would have the Huntress test it to be sure it was made correctly but now she was determined. Dancer also wanted a place for her and Fire Bright to sleep and to be alone if needed. So off to the cliff sides they moved with her stick that would become the spear shaft.

At the cliffs she found lots of places she could squeeze into but the cat was another story. Many of the spaces still smelled of rotting fish and she tried hard not to breath to deeply. She smiled slightly remembering a time when small fish fell from the sky in a hard rain. How her Mother yelled to let them be but Dancer was fascinated with them flipping and wriggling about. Many of the tigers were pawing and playing with them as well. She sighed softly and remembered what she was doing. This had to wait though, her belly was insisting now. It was about midday when she went back to the waters. Moving about the cliffs edge near the water she blinked seeing a pool in the rocks. It seemed to team with life. Small fish, a medium one and many small things she had never even seen before. Fire Bright licked his lips seeing the food and pawed the water. The pool was about as deep as she was tall and maybe twice her size in length. **I found something interesting** She sent to the others. It was hardly enough for everyone but it was something and Dancer wanted to show the elders she could help. Standing again she looked about. Her mouth fell open slightly seeing many pools. She had no idea how deep they were or if anything was in them but it was hope for a filling meal for all of them.

Savith returned Midnight Dancer's send with a nod and almost gentle send of his own. It lacked any real warmth, but was far from cold or distant. It was the single worded acknowledgement of a tolerant adult toward a child, **Morning.** His mind wordlessly acknowledged her mixed feelings, returning the faint sense of a proud parent, proud that a child is taking such a responsible attitude and outlook on things. It translated into an almost grin.

As the catelf child moved away, Savith's eyes followed her and the feline at her side until they were out of sight. He frowned again and turned his attention back to himself and his still mending injuries. It'd been a few months, but his ribs were still tender if he over exerted himself, and his good right arm, his hunting arm, just wasn't what it used to be. The weight of knowing that providing for the two gathering here with him was growing more and more burdensome as Savith flexed and stretched his arm, hoping to get some of his old strength and flexibility back.

Dancer's next send lifted Savith's chin, eyes widening slightly. Curious killed the cat? Perhaps, the bird followed close behind. **Did you,** his mind replied over the slight distance between them, questioning the much younger elfess as he lifted himself to his feet. That leg still ached. He frowned, shook it off, then flitted from the rock on which he sat, flying over toward Dancer. **What it is, then, hatchling?**

Jade eyes narrowed as they tracked the intruders near. The giant cat had made it necessary to carefully keep track of the air to keep from being downwind. And he had no wish to meet non-tribemates like the one beside the predator.

Still, he hesitated. Taking in the sight of another elf to stave off the aloneness of his isolation for a few moments. Even if elves didn't kill elves he preferred not to deal with strangers partnered to predators right now.

But it was the thought of leaving the body of young Eltiln, now resting in one of the smaller pools, to the fangs of a landwalking beast that made him slowly shift to find higher ground. To make sure the predator didn't eat his friend and to view the grounds with ease that would also keep him hidden.

Poor Eltiln.. he'd done all he could for him, but something had broken in the boy when the world changed. And as one of those unable to shift his tails to legs it had severly limited thier options. It had taken awhile before death finally took the youth for food and water was plentiful, but all attempts to find another shelter from the weather had been hindered by lack of medical care.

Nearly thirteen days since he'd been left behind.

A sweep in all directions (above, sides, even a glance at the ground) with the same caution all wavedance hunters had to insure that none of the others the unknown female was with were around.

Dark tanned skin blended with much of the rocks as he made his way to the small cave nitch he'd made his rough home for the last few weeks (for he could no longer count the moon turns well - perhaps two such had already passed?)

He would need to gather all things to pass away unnoticed once he made sure that Eltiln's rest wouldn't be distrubed by the cat.

Dancer's eyes widened a bit watching Savith float over to where she was. It was an amazing thing to think of flying in the sky like a bird. She had been crazed with hunger and thirst to really pay attention to anything they day before. She saw he was a good deal taller then she was and his parental way coupled with his size made her feel very much the child. Dancer cleared the thoughts from her head and sent back to Savith. **I found pools with fish in them and lots of little things.** She cast a slightly annoyed look to Fire Bright who had moved into the pool she was standing at and ate the only big fish in it. "Ugh you are going to get yourself killed if you don't stop eating everything my friend" Her words were soft but still very worried and upset at his actions. Just then the great cat let out a massive roar and leaped from the pool. He spat and thrashed about on the rocks as Dancer gasped trying hard to just see what was wrong. It was clear to see how deadly one of these cats might be as he showed long fangs and massive claws pushed from the otherwise soft paws. After a few moments Dancer was able to see the trouble. Poor Fire Bright had not counted on the size of the rock pinchers of these waters. One hung on his tail tight and the more the great cat thrashed the tighter it hung. Her laughter filled the area and echoed off the cliffs. Knowing he was in no real danger it was all she could do. After a few smashes on the rocks the pincher was stunned enough to let go. The beast slunk off to the beach growling and yowling in pain. There he flopped down taking his tail under his paw, licking it. Dancer laughed so much she could hardly stand and her sides hurt. It felt so good to laugh about something. She was tired of being sad and lost in darkness. Her mind then shifted back to Savith as he was making his way to her. The smile on her face seemed to light it up and in her eyes returned that spark of catlike mischief.

The loud roar froze him for many racing heartbeats before the sound of laughter (unjust, unexpected) joined lightly with it.

Crosscurrent snarled to himself, green eyes flashing, as he once again continued his way toward the cliffs. A good distance from these strangers. Away from the large, unhappy predator resembling a large cat.

Eltiln was dead. His soul resting with the High Ones... and he had no wish to be killed for the shed body.

Higher ground than a flying glider is hard to find, and lucky for all that such is the case, for as Savith drew near for Dancer to see and send to him, bird-sharp eyes spotted a hint of movement among the rocks. Savith hung there, above both Adin Crosscurrent and Dancer, eyes searching for the shape as it slunk off toward the cliffs. Unable to make it out, the glider flicked a wordless, private thought toward the keen-nosed Starsong, wherever she might be, to check out that area. If edible, bring it in. If not, let me know.

Decending slowly, Savith's attention returned once again to Dance and her pools of fish, just as the great cat yelped and lept from the water. Alarmed, the glider drew himself up a bit higher, eyeing Dancer as she burst out into laughing. He grinned slightly, one side of his mouth barely pulling up at a corner. But the expression was bittersweet and failed to last long.

Gliding to Dancer's side, Savith landed down gracefully and sent publically, **Those little things are not so little, hatchling. Snapclaws, I've heard them called, and they are good roasted or boiled. The trick is to catch them alive in a net or bag.** His tone was patient, once again that fatherly explanation of things, all while taking on an edge of concentration, but just what he was up to is not apparent. **Let's find something to catch them in, shall we, hatchling? And have a meal ready for Starsong when she returns.**

"It must be fun to fly like a bird." Her voice joyful and songlike as blue eyes sparkled at him. He was nothing like her own Father. If anyone this all business elf reminded Dancer of her Mother. Kind and patient yet serious and knowing there was something more important that needed to be done. "We could use my shirt for a net I guess" She glanced back at the rock she had set it on to dry. "We have little snap claws in the forest. They hide under rocks and fallen trees in the water. It takes many of them to make a good meal though. These must be from the great waters and look how big they are." She darted off to get her shirt and was back just as fast. Handing two corners to Savith she smiled brightly. "Shall we try to get these then? I hope the Huntress can find some meat to go along with this. It would be like a celebration then. The bounty of our new home with a new tribe." Her voice trailed off a it at the end upsetting herself just a bit with her own words that were supposed to be happy

Savith again half-grinned at Dancer's childish admiration of his flying gifts. Odd, how the thing that made him just like all the rest of the gliders always set him apart among all the other elf tribes. He even almost chuckled through his nose as he took the offered shirt corners. "Starsong shall no doubt find something," Savith replied in a soft murmur, eyes going to the water without meeting Dancer's gaze. "But if we seek to surprise her with this, we should hurry. The wolfess has a keen nose, and might smell these creatures before we're ready for her to." There's not really that light hearted feel to the words as he makes no mention or reply to Dancer's bittersweet mention of new tribes. It seems as if the words don't even bother him. His heart must be made of stone.

Moving the shirt into the water to try and scoop up some of these darting snap claws she remembered something she wanted to tell him. "Oh I don't know how much experience either of you have with drought and what it does to the animals. I don't mean to sound smarter as I know I am not as old." She paused a moment. "I mean experienced as you are but this I know about well. Many creatures will come looking for fresh water. Bigger things will come looking to hunt the things that are looking for water. Fire Bright has amazing hearing but on his first really full belly he might just sleep soundly." She chuckled a bit at the thought. We don't have many weapons I guess and I am working on a spear but it will take some time if it is to be a good one." She watched the shirt get a few snap claws on it as they worked together. "Do we pull up quickly or slowly for these? They move fast when scared in the water."

Savith listened to the elfess chatter, absorbing her words as he kept his eyes on the prizes in the water. **Slowly,** he replied to her final question before commenting on the rest.

**I am not so familiar with drought, but your comments have merit. We'll keep a careful eye on the water holes as the days go by,** he sends simply, ignoring the age comment. **I haven't my weapons either, just my skinning knife,** he adds with the barest hint of a sigh.






Time. The arrival of new elves, non-tribemates at that, suddenly made time resume from the drawn out pause it had taken. There was so much to do now. Because while the elves might prove to be friendly he wasn't willing to chance it right now. Eltiln's death was still too close to wish to befriend new people.

But their sudden arrival also meant he couldn't clear away all traces of his passage either. An easy conversational range from Eltiln's pool of water was the small basket-net they'd made to catch the shelled pinchers, a folded 'blanket' of larger leaf branches (to give him Eltiln more shade when needed), those thin branches used for many small chores...

He'd have to leave those now. Hopefully before the strangers noticed them and came looking for him.

Where, by the High Ones, was Myuadi by now? If that bratty hunter had gotten lost (or dead) he was going to skin his scaled hide!

So if the scare of a an angry predator made him travel in a little more haste, well, no one would have blamed him. And while he might not have spent as much time on land as these new elves he was used to being aware of his enviroment enough to take care of himself. All wavedancers instictively kept their eyes to sweep in all directions.





She nodded just slightly moving her head then put her mind on the task at hand. Slowly she moved the soggy garment upwards. Fish to tiny to eat darted here and there as they might in any pool of water. Her memories drifted back a bit and she recalled at many of the gatherings stories told of elves that flew on giant birds and the ones that rode the large dogs. The bird elves lived on the top most peeks away from all others. Seeking to be as close to the sky from which they came. The dog elves lived in thick areas of woods. Trees and green all about. Her question was soft this time. She didn't want to upset him but she was curious about him. **Tell me about your kind Savith. Please.**


Savith was caught a bit off guard, less by the question, and more than the quiet nature in which it was asked. It reminded him too much of an elf he'd like to forget about for the moment, lest he picture the tiny body broken by blue-grey rock. "There's little to say," the glider replied in a semi-harsh tone as the shirt net just wasn't doing nothing about keeping the shelled pinchers from scuttling out the sides in an unhurried fashion. He started to lift his eyes toward the catelf when on the far side of the pool, the basket-net was spotted.

"By Tenspan's Beak... where did that come from," he questioned himself aloud as he let go of the shirt and lifted himself straight up out of the water.

**Stay put,** his mind ordered the cat elf in a tone that demanded no rebuke.


She crouched a bit lower in the water and gazed in the direction of his gaze. She to saw the basket now and wondered how she missed it before. She looked the cost line and along the cliffs slowly and with great care. If something else was to be seen she wanted to be ready for it. **What is it?** The question kept short and to the point as she knew when to pull back the child that often crept out. Her mind reached out just a bit calling to anyone who might hear it. **Hello** Even Savith could hear the open send. If an elf was near maybe they had no reason to fear but if nothing came back, who knew.

**Hello** the Open-Sending was tentive, wary, the lighter tone of the younger elves..

The words that sprang to mind with that Sending were not useful (or polite) but made him quicken his pace a tad more. With his luck it would be the one with an angry predator for a friend. He had no desire to touch a strange elf's mind. His own was still a little raw in grief.

The fleeting impulse to go to high ground was pushed aside as he recalled that cats climbed trees (not that he had even a clue about cats that big or striped).

Thankfully the cove nitch wasn't too far away. He had felt bad to stray from Eltiln's side when the boy was stuck at the pools. It had mainly been used to store what few items needed it. The sleeping pad he'd patched together, the extra 'shade blankets' he'd made since any rain would tear them apart after a few hours, the few small coils of rope they'd finally crafted, the small combs a bored youth had made for their hair...

He was quick. This whole nitch was only a temporary place anyway, much kept packed for an easy grab. But he needed the two combs Eltiln had fashioned, the rope coils, and his larger weapon.

Snatch. Loop over a shoulder. Combs secreted in his hair, pinned to his ponytail holding braid-loops. Weapon in hand.

He was in and out of there to head up. He'd make the cliff face eventually. As much as he could he'd keep to denser thicketed areas.

No reply could only mean one of two things. Either the one who left the items was gone or the five finger was still lurking about. This made her skin crawl on her bones. Her heart leapt for Savith being out in the open like he was. She let out a low rumble and before long Fire Bright was by the pool she was hiding in. The great cat was all business. His tail thrashed from side to side as he sniffed the air. Ears pricked to hear every little sound. Both senses having a hard time because of the ocean. Making a jester with her hand she sent the tiger to scout out the area a bit closer. "Highones protect him" she thought to herself. Ducking under the water a moment she found a rock. It wasn't much but it could club if it was called for. Slowly she resurfaced and looked again in Savith's direction. Once again her thoughts reached to him. **What's there?**

Savith was indeed out in the open, flying toward the items he thought he'd seen. But the height hid the stranger's motions from the glider, and by the time Savith had landed and knelt down to see, the items were gone. Savith frowned, mind narrowing to send toward Midnight alone. **Someone alive. Keep your cat close, and be ready to run if it's a human,** he sent. There was an air of protective sharpness to his thoughts as he lifted once again from the ground, eyes carefully scanning the area, the underbrush, and the cliff face.

The lack of an answer meant a number of things to Savith, two of which were potentially very bad. Humans, if not from the tribe that lived at the based of the mountain, were unpredictable and could not be relied upon. Trolls had killed his first Lord, the Father of Blue Mountain and First Born of the High Ones, Lord Voll. Savith had a special place filled with hatred for the green skinned monsters. The others could be more elves either unable or unwilling to reply. Unable and mobile, as the disappearing items suggested, could indicate Sunfolk or Go-Back. Unwilling would mean any of the tribes Savith's own had preyed upon for turns. Wolfrider or Sea-elf.

Regardless of the source, Savith moved with caution, body and mind tensed and ready to flit out of harm's way or into harm's way, should whatever was out there make a move for the child in the pool behind him. He was a hawk, gliding on a hot updraft, eyes focused on the ground, peering at the movement below, in preparation of diving down and snatching his prey.

**If you are Elf, and can hear this, reply,** the Chosen sent, mind as wary as his body despite his attempts to keep his open send welcoming. Concern found a home within his thoughts as well, and colored his words with the flavor of a protector and hunter searching for others, for survivors.






'Another one. Wonderful,' he thought. Instictively freezing, then shifting further into the folige (especially his fair hair) when he caught sight of a shadow overhead. It was still a distance away, but why take chances?

From the Sendings this one was more masculine. More mature. And if it was flying in the air as he would in the water then he surely wanted less to do with him then ever. 'Stink rotten snatchers. Like I need another large predator hunting near me right now.'

Green eyes searched for the giant hawk the Glider's rode. For if elf didn't kill elf the same couldn't be said for the creatures they befriended.

In his long years he knew of Gliders and Wolfriders rode barely tamed predators. His father had shared his experience with Go-Backs in Sendings and song. And to be honest he had much wanted to meet the warrior nomads. They too knew the spirit of fighting, and had befriended grass eaters much as the Wavedancers did the dolphins.

Cursed birds .. even if Crosscurrent could sneak past the Glider, his vicious hawk (which could easily snatch an elf as their smaller kind did mice) would spot him on the cliffs. How many of these strange elves were around now anyway?

It was getting awfully crowded here.

Taking a pause to rethink his plans was good. Knowing their sharp eyes might see his hiding spot more easily then he himself would, he sought a tree with a dense brace of branches a good distance up. Keeping a wary eye to not go too far up he climbed. It was his weapon, which he had to strap to his back with the coiled rope, that made this a challenge.

This was not his specialty, but he had explored caves on land enough to slowly make his way up. The bark dug into his tanned skin with small spikes of pain. His fair blonde hair was loosely drapped across his neck, then over his shoulder where the coil of rope pinned it further. It helped to have the calf-length mane that way.

Adin Crosscurrent, rebel and hunter of humans, glowered as he retreated to his choosen perch. More then ever missing his tribemates and kin..







Dancer did what was asked of her and called Fire Bright back to the pool she hid in. His fur prickled down his spine and his growls rumbled from inside his throat. Dancers heart pounded in her chest as she bit her lower lip. Fingers gripped the rock tight as she slunk out of the water and onto the angry cats back. Fire Bright wanted to take her and himself away from danger but she pord ed him to stay. His body low to the ground as both their eyes watched for movement other then that of Savith. **Do you see anything flyer?** Her send calm but exhilarated by the goings on.


The shadow that fell across Crosscurrent, alerting the sea-elf to the glider's presence was small, too small to be one of the giant hawks. It was stationary, far too much so to be a hawk. And Savith's sends were far too strong to be high up in the clouds where the hawk needed to be to cast so small a shadow. Indeed, the only thing sea-elf's eyes could find in the sky was the long lean form of Savith himself. His uniform has seen far better days, torn and mangled in some parts. The helmet that marked the Chosen was gone, as were the sweeping wings that would normally have framed his face. Only the Chosen's talon-whip remained, gleaming brightly in the late morning sun, coiled about itself at his hip. The claws were clamped shut still, and the weapon was not drawn from its holder at Savith's belt. Hawkless and unarmed was Savith, looking quite vulnerable hovering solo.

Still hanging in the air, Savith continued to search the shifting underbrush below. Crosscurrent's blond hair teased occasionally, but Savith couldn't yet make a clear identification of it and so he kept a careful eye on it. His eyes narrowed whenever he lost sight of it, frowning until another glimmer tickled his sight. It was moving toward a tree, where the branches were too thick to see through. Savith considered following, but if that was not an elf, but rather a more dangerous, clawed creature climbing up that tree, Savith would find himself quite outmatched. He grew more nervous as the minutes stretched by without a response.

**Nothing that I can say clearly,** the Chosen replied privately to Midnight Dancer with all the business like tones of a lesser Chosen reporting in to a superior. **The only thing I could find is moving away. Neither of us should follow should it not be an elf. Do you see anything from your angle?**

The tiger lifted his head slightly and her eyes went to the tree. It was a thick tree but still she could just see points of yellowish movement. She urged Fire Bright to move forward and slunk quickly closer to the tree to get a better look. She still held the rock in her hand as if it were good enough to take on whatever she came across. **Here, in this tree.** Her mind sent cooly to Savith. She was in hunt mode now and little scared her then. Fire bright looked up hearing the rustling and growled giving a hiss like warning. She was not yet at the tree but few feet away. She didn't smell the sickening smell of five fingers but she didn't trust her nose this close to the sea. Dancer could just make out a shape of shadow. Fire Bright thrashed his tail and grumbled more. She knew Savith would most likely give her a stern talking to for her actions but she was a hunter as well. **What do you see Savith?** was all she said as she never took her eyes off that moving bit of yellow in the tree.






Savith's eyes followed where Dancer indicated as he lowered himself for a better look. He drifted down, through the branches, sliding them out of his way as he picked his way down. He settled on a branch just thick enough to support his weight, catching onto another just over his head. Shaded by the canopy and not yet having seen their 'prey', the glider took a moment to catch his breath. Flying still taxed him, and it made him feel weak. He frowned to himself, wiping at the sweat on his brow and closing his eyes against the vertigo that threatened.

**Nothing yet,** his mind replied privately to Dancer with as much calm and 'Chosen Report' as he could muster. The contact was very brief.


Muscles trembled as he crouched into as small a nitch as he could in the branches. Some of it fear of the giant cat making unhappy, soft sounds below. Not a little was rage that his simple wish to be alone was having him hunted in the small haven he and Eltiln had carved here. There was no sign of the giant bird around. A strange, but welcome bit of luck when the rest wasn't.

It was a chance to take... he needed to get to deeper water.

Centuries of hunting in reefs and the like had him scanning for an escape path. Not in a straight line, no. The wavedancer sought a snaking path to confuse the two elves he saw. A challenge to not touch the ground unless truly unavoidable (cat), nor could he be easy pickings by the glider above.

Adin Crosscurrent had the endurance. Had the muscles. Honed will and concentration. This would be difficult, make no mistake, but he could make it.

'High Ones, just get me to deep water!' A calming breath, eyes tracking his choosen escape, and he shot off like a startled school of fish. Making speed keep thier sight from fully tracking him.. hopefully.


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ooc: the dice roll is just how well he does this manuever. 1=flat out failure, 20=does it perfectly. Because I'm torn on how to do it without godmoding. Only for stealth, not scent or such.

I will be working until evening Wednesday. The chase will be tricky until I get back so the RP goes further. Think 3D manuvers from one used to doing gorrilla warfare. I'll try and post before heading to work.
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based on the role:

He lept alright. His weapon snagged on something, which jerked him back from landing properly. Luckily he was skilled at tumbling because he fell from the branches a short distance from the female elf and cat. There was a bruising feeling as the weapon staff banged against his back.

That didn't stop him swiftly getting up to take a running dash from the cat - one that was likely ready to shred him!

'Like playing tag with sharks,' Crosscurrent thought in the back of his mind. Well. Panic needed to be funneled into determination if he was going to escape the claws (forget the elves). And anger could be pushed into muscles. But there was a joy in the risk as he ran: something that made the play of muscles as wonderful as any Hunt.

He expected the Glider would try and head him off if he didn't rope him into a tangle.

Thankfully he was much better at running and dodging then he was climbing in trees. 'Which I'll not admit to any but Adir,' he thought with distant amusement as barefeet carried him like a thrown harpoon. Pale hair felt delightful as the air brushed by in his wake. The two combs tucked within now and then bumped his skin (usually while jumping on or around something in his path) as if Eltiln was cheerfully encourgaing him to go faster...

The two smaller red fins along his forearms helped cut the air when his arms pumped in rhythm to long, fast strides. Since his only clothes was a wrap around his hips, a simple design that allowed one to shift to his tail without delay, of light blues, his sense of touch experienced all these things easily.

Only the thought of the distance to go proved daunting. So he ceased to think and just reacted. Trying to keep to less open areas in the vain hope it would delay the giant cat or glider from over taking him, but pushing for speed.

'Just think of playing tag with sharks. Maybe with a few jellyfish?' What a brazen tale to tell his brother! He could just imagine his face!





Savith had barely caught his breath and steadied his head when Adin burst out from the tree a mere two branches below him. Angry at himself that the other elf could hide so close to him, the glider did indeed push off the tree. It was a graceful dive toward the fleeing elf and the ground. The thought of pulling his talonwhip and ensnaring Adin came to mind, but as the sea-elf came into clear sight, with all his red fins and pointed ears, Savith pulled up short.

His mind rang out publically, strong and clear, in a command to Midnight Dancer down below. **An elf! Another survivor! Keep your cat back and let him go.** Savith's mind paused a moment as his eyes went to the cat. He'd have to take care of it if Dancer didn't. **Cousin,** he sent then, mind open and relieved, **Our eyes see with joy that another still lives, and one far better equipped to these climes than ourselves. If you can hear, know that we seek not to harm you or any others that may yet still be here, but rather, we seek to collect ourselves and survive these tragic times. My apologies that we have so startled you. It was not out intention, for I knew not what we were giving chase to.**

Oh, High Ones did Savith hope this sea-elf was not as mind-numb as a Go-Back or Sun Villager! Please let him have heard.







Dancer watched with eyes wide as the yellow thing she had seen in the tree took a leap. Fire Bright already turning in the direction to follow. It was someone because they tumbled and took off like an arrow shot to the sea. A grin hit her lips feeling the thrill of pray on the run. The large cat darted after with Dancer on his powerful back. Pulling hard at Fire Bright's neck fur Savith's words rang in her head. This was an elf they were chasing? To her supprise Dancer found she couldn't stop the beast. The great cat wanted to eat a big meal. She cursed to herself at his unwillingness to heed her directions so she took the matter into her own hands. The nimble she elf scooted up the thick neck of the great cats body quickly and smacked him hard in the eye with a cupped hand. "NOW STOP!" Her voice rang of anger and frustration as the animal pulled up short. In a roar of surprise the animal lifted front paws up and nearly fell over backwards. Dancer tumbled onto the rocks and bumped about. Fire Bright took one last glance at what he thought was food before moving to his companions side. Scraped up and a wounded pride it was all she could do to hold back her anger. Luckily he was weaker then normal or he might have.... She didn't want to think bout it. Blue eyes now watched sadly as the new stranger fled away. Trying to reach him as well she sent **Please come back. The cat won't hurt you.** the send filled with a mix of sadness and regret. She would make it a point to befriend this elf if ever given the chance and to find this bratty cat a good meal so he didn't seem so scary to everyone but her. How could any of them understand. Maybe the huntress but even her bond needed less to eat then the tiger. She felt so alone at the moment. A delicate hand lifted to the soft fur of the cat. She feared for his life. He was more important to her then her own life but she could not let him kill another elf because he was hungry. Nor did she want Savith to lift him to the clouds only to drop him. The young and happy heart was now as restless as the waters that surrounded her. Tugging lightly at Fire Bright the wounded elf ordered him to follow. Everything about her seemed to change as she moved. Her head hung and her steps were slow. Wanting to show how useful her cat could be if trouble came around almost cost another elf his life. Not even trying to see where the stranger had ended up going she took Fire Bright and herself over by the falls to brood a bit and collect her thoughts.







The Sendings didn't stop him, only slowed his strides a little. Both ears listening for any sound of pursuit. He heard a female's short shout, followed by another roar. For that reason Crosscurrent kept running for a mile before coming anywhere near a stop.

The male Glider's thoughts were of survival. Pleas of kinship and apologies.. he could ignore that. He had supported a wounded tribemate here, with little but was was here, and he knew he could survive without their help.

But the more weary, heart-aching female (she felt as old as Eltiln had been) touched him. In his tribe he often mentored the youths while his brother played with the Littles. It was in his nature to support, although not in babysitting. 'She just had to befriend a cat big enough to eat me,' he thought with a bit of fatalist humour. It was to her he lock-Sent.

**That is not how one plays tag, young hunter. Besides. Why go back when you could go forward?**

No doubt that would be a tad confusing. High Ones knew how Eltiln and his friends had even knowing him as they did. But confusion, curiousity, those could put off heart-ache. 'Please don't have her bringing a playful predator...'

Green eyes kept a wary lookout for the nosey Glider. Not wanting to meet him right now.





Dancer lifted her head as the send touched her mind. Deep blue pools searched for a sign of the new elf but he was gone. The lovely youthful face now inquisitive and hopeful. He wanted to talk to her? That made Dancers heart leap and a smile touched soft lips. Lock-sending back to the new stranger she said softly **I'm sorry he tried to hurt you. He's just hungry. We all are.** Brushing away a few tears of frustration with her bond she took to her feet. Fire Bright stood and followed her slowly. Quiet footsteps made their way along the beach at a leisurely pace. As if thinking about the goings on that just happened. Now her true curious nature was starting to show again as she sent to the new (she hoped) friend **What did you mean "why go back when I could go forward?"** Her heart was still troubled bout feeding Fire Bright but she could go to the small pools and see if she could get him more fish. It would give her time alone to talk with the new elf. For now she would keep this to herself unless Savith mentioned that he heard from him as well. Savith, she had completely forgotten about him for a moment. Looking to the sky and the cost line she tried to spy him. **Did the new elf run in terror because of Fire Bright?** Her send was just slightly lighter then it might have been a moment before. Dancer stepped lightly through the surf. Her mind was racing like a rabbit on the run.


Savith stayed hovering where he was until the new elf was out of sight. He glanced back at Midnight Dancer as she slinked away, frowning a bit to himself. His moss-colored eyed followed her as he lowered himself to the ground, allowing himself the luxury of breathing heavily in fatigue as his feet touched the sand. Her send to him drew his eyes to the feline at her side as the two made their way down the beach away from him.

**I don't think so, hatchling,** Savith replied gently to the young elfess. Undercurrents of comfort rode beneath the words before he withdrew his mind, turning his attention elsewhere.

He turned away from the beach then, toward the waterfall. Tired as he was, the day was not over, for he drew himself up as best he could, pushed the fatigued expressions from his face, and waited for Starsong's arrival. His mind was already working through a fresh greeting to the two new elves the huntress had mentioned in her private send to him just heartbeats before. And as he waited, he sought more information from the Huntress in wordless communication.

**I thought it obvious. Go forward. Stop thinking so much and.. ** how to describe it? That it was like feeling sad that one had hunted a eight-legs rather then a favored fish, when one should be glad to have found food at all.

Still lock-Sending with the young female he continued walking. He wanted to find water. Then he could go look for the girl. Still wary that the busybody of a Glider was still around...