Re: Goldsand Beach~Harvest Festival

[Silence]

Silence looked briefly in the direction of Kaimeta and locksend to Brooksong:
** I think you sell yourself short here, the wound was very deep and ugly. I would have lost a lot of blood and maybe the muscle would be too damaged, to heal properly. You prevented that, you healed my arm before it got worse.**

He showed his arm and continued his locked sending:** This will heal easily, I'm grateful and if you want I will ask Kaimeta to look at it but, only if you want me to. **
His sending was warm, full of trust.

He looked again at Kaimeta, who was closer this time. She looks tired he thought, he suddenly looked worried at the cluster of elves, what had happened there?.

[WolfCandy]

By the time they got closer to shore, Tern was more or less himself. Taking the beast back had given him the time to think through everything. He had now come to terms with the fact that, unbelievable as it may be, they had actually faced, and killed, a daggertooth.

Perhaps the shock was merely at bay, forgotten over the excitement of the success; but, for now, as Tern glanced down at the shaft of his spear protruding from the creature, he felt a feeling of pride and triumph at what they had done. At the thought of bringing this back to his tribe, the confident and carefree Tern smiled.

Being now within sending range, the sea elf was able to catch Swirling's query. **We're alright,** he open sent, **Thanks to maidens such as yourself, we had something to return to. This daggertooth, however- well, he must not have known a lady beautiful enough to give him a ferocity to match ours. **

[Ember Robinwood]

"Swirling, it's okay," Ridge said gently to Swirling. He knelt beside her and lightly placed his hands on her shoulders. He watched Kaimeta heal Serpent Fang, he forced himself to look away and pay attention to Swirling and Tidemist.

He couldn't have been more grateful for Tern sending to Swirling. A shaky sigh of relief escaped him and squeezed Swirling's shoulder reassuringly.

"They're okay. They're okay. Everything's going to be okay." Ridge said to no one in particular. He bowed his head, shaking slightly. He started to stand up and said, "Why don't you come and help me with the cubs, Swirling?"

**Tern, I'm glad you're okay!** He lock-sent, relief evident in the sending.

[Tidemist]

“I'm fine, I’m fine!” She gasped as she continued panting heavily, allowing herself to flop on the sand and lay there to recover her strength.*I'll be fine, it's just hard to float that long and fast. And the extra weight.* She sent to him, allowing her eyes to close.*I just need to rest a little while and get my strength back. It's like when you run very far at a very fast pace.* She was feeling a little better though as she lay there. She cracked an eye and was able to smile a bit at seeing Serpent healed. She knew Kaimeta would be able to handle it.

And then she heard Tern's sending and found herself even more relieved. Everything would be just fine now. She closed her eyes again and sent to Snaketwist and Tern. *Glad you guys are alright! You probably got some wounds from that daggertooth, so get your rumps to the High One when she's got her strength back. Get her to heal you and give you your legs back* She was beginning to breath easier. Maybe now, the festival could continue, and be much more joyous for many more reasons. It made her laugh a little, despite her lingering panting.

[Kaimeta]

Kai raised her hand at Brooksong in greeting. "Hail" She said with a smile. "Are you hurt?" She asking noticing the slight wince the young one made when moving her arm. "Would you like me to look at it?" she offered. "Well after I eat something." The High One smiled. "I do hope there are scallops left." She said extending her hand in innovation to the young ones. "Won't you join me?" She smiled her eyes not nearly as bright as normal. "And do tell me what happened while you were searching." She said starting off towards the tables again, leaving out the drama in the surf.

[Silence]

Relief flooded her when she heard Tern's sending, they were alright. She even blushed a little when she fully realized what he had said.
Swirling felt that soft and gentle hands took her by the shoulders and looked up, and met the worried eyes of Ridge. She gave him a wavering smile, suddenly ashamed as she realized she was the only one who had panicked, her cheeks turned in a even darker red.

Her open sending was much calmer and more relieved coated by a little shame. ** I'm so relieved that they are alright, I'm sorry that I panicked ** Ashamed she looked down. She was comforted by his hands, not wanting them to disappear, she put her hand on one of his, leaving it there.

When he asked her to go with him to see the cubs, she looked back in his gentle eyes. ** I love to, but can I stay with Serpent Fang a little while? I'll will be completely reassured when he opens his eyes. ** She sighed, her next sending to Ridge was closed.** I don't know why I panic so easily, I just know, I care a lot. **

[Ember Robinwood]

Ridge returned to kneeling beside Swirling. He smiled reassuringly at her. He kept his hand on her shoulder. He wouldn't tear her away from the wounded sea-elf, nor would he leave her here alone.

**I'll stay with you then,** he sent to her openly. What he said next was lock-sent, he hoped his calmness would help her calm down. **Everyone panics about something. I panicked when I discovered the cubs were missing. I think's it's amazing that you care so much.**

--

Serpent Fang was floating on waves of blackness. The pain exploded and made him want to cry out, but then it had stilled. Was this what it was to die?

He felt light, almost hollow. It was an empty feeling, but far, far better than the grieving pain of before. In the darkness, he felt the caress of a mind. There were no words he could make out, but he could make out several minds now, swirling around him in conversation.

On the border of consciousness, feeling slowly began returning to his body. He could at least feel ground now and make out his arm and legs. He seemed to be intact, but what about...?!

**Tern, Skatetwist, the guppies?!** Serpent Fang's sending was weak, but urgent. **Are they safe?!**

[WolfCandy]

**Did you really think I could go and die with our friendship only just begun?** Tern lock sent back playfully, **I found a gift for you while we were out searching, but I had no pouch to take it back and I couldn't carry it with the daggertooth.** His sending carried with it a slight apology. Still lock-sending, he gave Ridge the image of the shell.

[Leanan]

Now that they were in shallow water, Snaketwist found himself in an embarrassing situation. He was in his fish-tailed form, and the High One had just finished a healing. The beach here was just sand - if he got out of the water, he would be as clumsy as a fish on dry land. He knew enough about the High One's magic to know that it was not unlimited. Until it was certain that all injured elves were safe, he could not in good conscience ask for that precious resource to be used to give him and Tern their legs back. He was injured, but only slightly, just a torn fin, nothing urgent.

He had been paying attention to Tidemist's sending, so he was glad he could give Serpent Fang the answer he hoped for: *Tidemist says they have been found and are safe**, he confirmed, pleased to be the one to speak good news.

They reached the shallow waters, and Snaketwist took a sitting position on his tail, patiently waiting beside their kill. In his current shape, he could not even haul the daggertooth to the dry land.

He received Tidemist's sending about getting shaped and healed, but his answer was: *I can wait. See to Tern first. Then any others that might be injured.*

--

Stormcloud was left behind at the festival table. It seemed everyone was crowding around the High One. She, however had other priorities, mainly her empty belly. She cut open a cocoon and found some kind of cooked dish in a bowl, containing fish by the smell of it. She had never eaten cooked food, but there was not a preserver nearby to wrap it again, and she wouldn't want to waste food, so she took a piece with her hand and chewed it curiously. After all, if she was going to try swimming with a fish tail and a set of gills, simply eating the other tribe's cooking was not such a big step anymore. To her relief, she rather liked the taste.

[Delhya]

"Ohho!" Straystar said looking over Stormclouds shoulder "A good choice," He sniffed and reached over to grab a piece that was still on the table from  the cocoon. He looked back to his normal demenor as he closed his eyes savoring the taste of the fish. "mmmm, forget what this one is but it's quite tasty for being cooked, would'nt you say?"

Brooksong shook her head, "I should be fine I think I am just a little stiff and sore from our tuskpig run in while we looked for the cubs. Is everything alright you look exhausted?" She looked behind the Highone at the crowd of elves confused and a little worried. As she turned to walk next to Kaimeta heading towards the food table. "Silence and I came to ask if you could check his arm, but it can wait until you rested." she said looking up at the Highone.

[Kaimeta]

Kai smiled at the pair. "Sure. But let's find some food first." she said stopping by the tables. With a little direction and luck Kai managed to find her scallops. With a smile she ate her fill.

"OK." She said clapping her hands. "Let's have a look at that arm.' She said with a smiled holding out her hands for Silence's arm. "So what happened that you need healing?" She said filling the moments between.

**Tidemist**Kai lock sent to her friend. ** I'll be down in a bit to give Tern and Snaketwist their legs.**

[Silence]

Silence nodded respectfully as the Highone, greeted them. He followed Kaimeta and Brooksong back to the tables. Seeing all the food again, his stomach let him know that he was a little hungry too. He hoped nobody had heard and retook the wrapping he had taken earlier, it was a rabbit's leg. It tasted very good, when he finished, he waited for the Highone to finish her meal.

When she clapped her hands and asked to see his arm, he looked over to Brooksong as he went a little closer so Kaimeta could take his right upper arm. "We encountered a nest of tusk pigs, who were garded by an enormous tusk pig, ...." suddenly realizing that Straystar was also there, he looked apologetically at Brooksong and Stormcloud, and tried to correct himself, "Well euh, she, surprised me and in the heat of the moment, I was not fast enough and she got my arm," When Kaimeta looked at his wound he continued, "but Brooksong healed me and prevented that it got a lot worse."

He looked at Kaimeta, hoping she would confirm what he knew already, that Brooksong did a good job.

[Tidemist]

Tidemist heard Kaimeta's sending and nodded, sending back an affirmative that she had heard her. Feeling better and not panting so much, she pulled herself up into a sitting position. The sun was nearly all the way below the horizon, and she enjoyed the sight of the darkening waters contrasting with the brilliant flaming colors of the sunset sky, edged with the approaching darkness of the night. She sent to some of the others of her tribe to get some fires started, so food could be reheated, warmth and light could be provided. And she remained sitting there in the sand, patiently watching the water a little tiredly as she waited for Snaketwist and Tern to come into sight.

[Kaimeta]

Kai raised an eyebrow at Brooksong as she looked over the scar. "This is well done for someone with no prior instruction." The High One placed her hand on the scar and healed the injury the rest of the way. "There you go." She said with a smile to Silence releasing his arm. "Brooksong you should come by the hut when you have time. With some instruction you'd be a great healer." She smiled and placed her hand on the young elf's shoulder. "Now if you excuse me, there are sea elves that will be wanting their legs again, near the shore." She smiled at them before turning and heading back down the beach feeling much better.

She hoped she'd see Brooksong soon, the girl had talent that needed to be nurtured. Kai just hoped that she thought so too.

At the beach Kai hunkered down by Tidemist. "You ok?" She asked her old friend. "That was quite a feat you pulled earlier." She said referring to floating Serpent Fang in so fast. She hoped her friend was alright.

[Delhya]

Brooksong blushed a uncharacteristic bright red and murmured a thank you at the Highone's comment. Once Kaimeta had left she remembered her leathers were still damp in her bag.
"I am going to go clean up and see if my leathers can dry out the rest of the way form earlier," she said patting her bag to no one in particular.

She walked over towards the shallows and smoother rocks taking the leathers out of her bag and laying them back out. Taking off her skirt leaving it with the rest and waded out in her top and under leather bottom into the calm shallows up to her middle thigh. The scrapes burned a little in the water but not too bad. Once clean she got out on the rock, shook herself dry and sat in the sun a moment to dry the rest of they way flipping her leathers contemplating trying to put them back on damp and settled for her sandals and skirt instead. She'd deal with them later after they dried and get her shawl back from Moonhowl she'd forgotten on her neck.

Straystar had put his grass hat on to ward off the sun, "Well I think I need a nap after all this excitement," he joked. "hmmm I wonder what is next for our festivities."

[Leanan]

Stormcloud continued chewing the fish happily. "It is rather tasty", she admitted. "I have an idea! We should do this again next year! I mean, not the losing cubs bit or the getting ravaged by tusk pigs bit, but this thing... with the food! We could have everything wrapped up by the preservers and then mixed up and everyone would take one bundle at a time, and open it, and they'd have to eat whatever was inside!" She beamed, sure that this was a brilliant idea. It was kind of like the dare games she had played as a cub, where sometimes the 'dare' had been to eat something a bit 'icky'.

[Silence]

Swirling was glad that Ridge stayed with her, she put her head on hers and Ridges hand and looked at Serpent Fang, his left hand laid close to her free right hand. She took it gently in her hand, rubbing slowly his fingers and palm.
When she heard the weak sending of Serpent Fang, she looked at Ridge for confirmation that he heard it too. Snaketwist's answer proved her right.

She closed her hand around Serpent Fang's and locksent to him images of Ridge's return with the cubs. ** Everyone is safe now, Kaimeta healed you, please wake up** Swirling's sending was gentle and comforting. It was like a warm tide that washed away all sorrows.

She turned her head at Ridge and smiled at him,** I think he's waking up**

---------------

Silence thanked Kaimeta, he was also glad for Brooksong, he found her little blush charming, she deserved all the compliments and much more.
He flexed and relaxed his right arm muscle, it was completely healed! He took his bow and tried to draw it. It was like his arm had never been wounded.
Silence smiled, he wanted to thank her again but Kaimeta was already gone. He was just in time to see Brooksong leaving with her bag.

He turned towards Stormcloud, she was still chewing the fish happily. He chuckled a little when she mentioned the tusk pigs, but her idea about the food was not so bad.
He himself liked some of the dishes, there was one in particular that he liked very much, it was a fish who was cooked in spicy herbs, he had forgotten the name.
He looked at Stormcloud and sent openly:**I like your idea, we can make a sort of contest, every time someone who doesn't want to eat it, he falls out and the winner gets a price.**

[Tidemist]

Tidemist looked over at the taller elf as she sat in the sand with her. She smiled, almost completely normal again and breathing easily. “Fine, fine. And thank you...I had little choice. I had to get him back here to you.” She turned, glancing over her shoulder where Serpent was recuperating, watched by Swirling and Ridge. Her sending to Ridge about Serpent waking up brushed her mind, and it made her smile. She had no fear the two would take good care of him, and anyone else who wanted to. Probably Serpent would chaff at the attention and coddling and start spitting venom any minute. It made her chuckle as she shared the thought briefly in sending with Kaimeta.

She turned her head back towards the ocean, watching some tribe members slip into the cooling waters to meet the brave hunters and help them back with whatever haul they were having trouble with. Tidemist blinked slowly as realization dawned on her and she asked Kaimeta. “You....don't think they're bringing back an entire daggertooth do you?”

[Kaimeta]

Kai smiled at her friend. "Mayhap. You never know with some elves." She smiled and stood, starting to wade into the water with the others. She would need to see Snaketwist and Tern so they could get their legs back. "Alright my brave boys, who wants to walk again first?" She asked clapping her hands together. Although she knew the Daggertooth was dead, she still avoided it. The creatures even dead scared her to no end, but their meat was sometimes worth the trouble.

[Leanan]

Snaketwist smiled back at Kaimeta, slightly embarrassed by her compliments. "Help Tern first", he instructed her, staying seated and doing his best to look patient and not injured. The cut in his tail fin felt unpleasant in the salt water, but he paid it no heed. He was under the impression that Tern's injuries were worse. The fear he had seen in his cousin's face... it would come back to haunt him in nightmares for many nights to come. For now, he was just grateful to be alive.

[Silence]

Silence looked back to the elves nearby the waterline, he sent openly to Stormcloud ** The High One Kaimeta looked very tired, I wonder,.....**

He saw other elves go into the water. ** Something is happening over there, it's like they try to bring something big out of the water,....**

Silence peered at the water, trying to recognize some shape but he was too far away and the other elves blocked his view.
**I'm going to take a closer look, it seems to me that we're not the only ones who brought back a prey.**

Silence put his bow and quiver on his back, so that his hands were free and walked in the direction of the others, after two steps he turned back to Stormcloud ** Aren't you curious?**

[Kaimeta]

Kai smiled at Snaketwist. "He that speaks first gets legs first." She said walking over to him in the water. **Besides.** She closed sent to him ** I can see you're bleeding.** She raised an eyebrow at the young sea elf, almost daring him to challenge her on this.

Not really waiting for an answer from Snaketwist, Kai hunkered down and with a smooth pass of her hand over the torn fin, the wound was gone. "Now for your legs." She smiled and started returning the young elf's legs to him.

Done she stood and offered her hand to help Snaketwist stand. "I'm glad you all made it back safe." She said with a gentle smile.

She then moved over to Tern, it was his turn for the High One's attention.

[WolfCandy]

Tern let out a contented sigh, bringing his hands behind his head as he lay back on the sand, still in the ocean shallows. "You're touch always comes as a warm welcome, fire-hair," he said suggestively, waggling his eyebrows. Had his eyes not been closed, he might have winked.

As he sensed her presence near, he lifted his lids to shoot her a cheeky stare to match his grin. However, he was not met with what he expected.

"Great High Ones," he breathed quietly. He had always been quick of tongue and the picture of confident ease, but for the second time today, he was not himself.

Frozen in that moment, Tern stared up at her. He had never imagined it to feel so vulnerable. Never before had he been so accessible to someone. Every part of him was hers. And neither had he ever been so awed. Every part of her was his, and it was beautiful. The sea-elf in sunlight couldn't tear his widened eyes away.

He wasn't sure how long they were like that, but he blinked and a new feeling suddenly came over him. Elation. Forgetting he was still tailed, Tern made a move to leap to his feet and embrace her. Instead, however, he awkwardly rose slightly off the ground and fell back down, the appearance of a flopping fish.

He grunt-coughed as he thumped to the ground, head snapping back, and the breath knocking out of him. Until today, Tern had never realized how hard sand could really be.

[Kaimeta]

Kai smiled a smile of a parent indulging a child as she walked over to Tern. She shook her head at the young elf's words, he was confidant one. Her smile held until she looked his direction. Her eyes met his and she knew, 'Pucker nuts.' She thought as his soul name echoed in her mind. Wyra. She felt the desire to run it wasn't her first reaction but it was the one she trained herself to feel if this were to happen to her.

Shaking her head after who knows how long Kai blinked and attempted to clear her head, only to be brought from her mind to reallty. Tern had attempted it seems to get to his non existent feet. He had fallen hard on the sand and Kai let and giggle escape her lip.

Clearing her throat, she still had a job to do, even if the touch was like lighting to her hands. 'Oh this is not fair.' She thought as she worked giving Tern back his legs.

Standing and taking a deep breath, "There you go." She said her voice flatter than normal, her smile slightly forced. This was not happening, she told over and over.

She would stay at the festival till the end but she would not be allowing Tern to go home with her.

[Tidemist]

Tidemist smiled as she watched Kaimeta walking over to Snaketwist and gave his legs back. She finally noticed he was no longer decked out in his customary pearls. “Oh Snaketwist...I'm so sorry...” her eyes were full of sympathy for the elf lad. She turned her head to glance to Kaimeta and paused, blinking as she noticed the High One had frozen up. She saw the eyes meeting eyes, and her own widened much like Tern's had. She climbed to her feet, full of awe and shock. She had heard the stories often enough, and had been lucky enough to witness a small precious few recognitions between other elves. It had to be! Recognition between the High One and her older tribemate.

She cringed though, when she heard the flat tone in her friends voice. She could picture her having dull eyes to match. She thought about the stories she had heard about Kaimeta's past. She was sure she only had the vaguest idea of how she was feeling. Biting her bottom lip, she moved forward and touched Kaimeta's shoulder and lock sent. *My friend...?*

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