Blinks and Challenges

[hazlogs]

It is currently 12:37 Pacific Time on Thu May 29 1997.
Currently on this gusty and warm spring midday in the general St. Claire area, 
  it is 67 degrees Fahrenheit (19.4 degrees Celsius). The wind is coming from 
  the north at 11 mph. The ground is normal. Skies are overcast with no chance 
  of precipitation.
Currently the moon is in the waning Half Moon phase (48% full).

Falcon's Wing enters the compound.
Falcon's Wing has arrived.
Falcon's Wing pads around the edge of the clearing, in the woods, getting an 
  idea of who's been where when and why.
Erik is sitting near the fire, a notebook full of staff lines on his knees. He 
  pauses, his pencil going still as he turns to look at the new arrival.
Falcon's Wing satisfied with that, wanders further into the clearing, and 
  whurfles a hello. He pads closer, giving a sniff to the pencil, then backs 
  up. Sorry. Didn't want to distract you...
Erik manages not to startle or cringe, which is amazing in and of itself. He 
  ducks his head toward the Fang and murmurs, "No... it's all right." Almost 
  absently, the Fianna pencils in a pair of quarter notes and draws a vertical 
  line to mark the end of the measure. "Um. I think I've forgotten... er, your 
  name, sir."
Falcon's Wing contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Falcon's Wing shifts into Homid form.
Derrick shakes his hair out, and says, "Derrick Herr. Falcon's Wing. Did I 
  never actually introduce myself? That'd kinda be amazingly impolite, if 
  so..."
Erik nods slightly. "Erik Sings-in-Shadow. Galliard of the Fianna. And, um, I 
  may have missed it." He shrugs, somewhat abashed.
Derrick says, entirely serious, "Geez. I'm sorry. Silver Fang new moon, alpha 
  of the Usual Suspects. I'll shush so you can concentrate on what you're 
  doin'."
Erik shakes his head. "No... no, I'm done here, for now, sir." He pauses, long 
  fingers fiddling nervously with the pencil.
Derrick, on the second run through it, catches the title. "I'm not a sir. I'm 
  just me. Please?" He continues, "I'm just here to munch a little food, an' 
  then I've gotta go look for Dusty. What're you writin'?"
Erik murmurs an apology about the 'sir', ducking his head. "Habit," he 
  explains, faintly. He glances down at the page. "Just... there's going to be 
  a Galliard moot. I... I want to prepare something for it."
Derrick says "Scuse me," and goes and fetches his backpack from the 
  Shelter."Yeah?" he asks, once back to Erik, "Is that just for Galliards, or 
  can us boring people come enjoy it, too?"
Erik shrugs thin shoulders. "I don't know. Your, er, tribemate is organizing 
  it, I think. Spirit of Words."
Derrick rummages in his pack and produces a ham sandwich. "Yeah. Scott. I'm 
  sure I'll just jump up and ask him right now," he says, with some irony. 
  "Anyway. What is it you're drawin' up?"
Erik absently draws a bass clef, dwadling over the backwards-C figure. "One of 
  the early tales, interpreted."
Derrick finishes his sandwich, and gets out another. "Hey," he offers, "Want 
  one?"
Erik hesitates a moment, then sets down the pencil and accepts the offering 
  with a grateful duck of his head. "Thanks."
Derrick nods. "Welcome. Which early story?"
Erik pauses. "Have... have you ever heard the Tale of Two Rivers?"
Derrick shakes his head. "Nope. I'll ask you about it, once you're done. That 
  ok?"
Erik nods his head once. "That's... fine, sir. Sorry, Derrick."
Derrick grins. "Sokay. I know how habits are. Don't beat yourself up over 
  it... But I'll keep tellin' you it's not necessary. May sometime sink in. 
  Y'never know."
Erik utters a very faint, weak chuckle and nods. One hand reaches under his 
  mask and rubs the back of his neck, bemusedly.
Derrick gets a tuna sandwich out and munches it, staring vaguely in front of 
  him. Eventually, he finishes it and gets up. "Anyway, I'll stop buggin' you 
  now. Talk t'you later..."
Erik breaks off pieces of his own sandwich as he eats. Ducking his head, the 
  Fianna murmrus farewell to the Fang.
Derrick leaves the compound.
Derrick has left.
Dylan enters the compound.
Dylan has arrived.
Dylan pads in down the trail looking more tired than usual, but happy.
Erik is seated by the fire, scribbling in a notebook full of staff lines.
Dylan dips his head to the galliard and settles down on the other side of the 
  fire, qithout interupting.
Erik bends his head lower, his pencil scratching rapidly at the paper; he 
  doesn't seem to notice the Gazer at all.
Dylan waits, content with the silence.
Jessie climbs out of the entrance to the buried shelter nestled among the 
  trees to the southwest.
Jessie has arrived.
Dylan looks over and smiles tiredly at Jessie. "Heya," he says quietly, not 
  wanting to disturb Erik if he can help it.
Jessie walks into the compound, a lost in thought look on her face. She stops 
  at the 'Heya', and nods to Dylan, looking around the compound.
Erik glances up from his music notebook, ducks his head, then returns to his 
  composition.
Jessie nods to Erik, and then heads out of the compound, towards the woods.
Jessie leaves the compound.
Jessie has left.
Hedj Biki enters the compound.
Hedj Biki has arrived.
Hedj Biki pads in, panting from a long run. She heads to a shady spot at the 
  base of a tree, and sits.
Dylan is sitting exactly where he was before, though his eyes have slipped 
  closed. He opens them as Hedj Biki runs in and, after a moment, smiles again.
Shadow Eyes has connected.
Raging Elk enters the compound.
Raging Elk has arrived.
Hedj Biki catches her breath, and shifts back to homid.
Erik continues to scribble in the music notebook, humming quietly and rather 
  oblivious.
Hedj Biki contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
Hedj Biki shifts into Homid form.
Shadow Eyes yawns and wakes up, having slept all day long. He arcs his back, 
  then gives a long, leisurely wolf-stretch.
Jessie sits a the base of a tree, still slightly out of breath. She is 
  watching those here quietly.
Dylan sits back and slides into lupus, half-dozing by the fire.
Dylan contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Dylan shifts into Lupus form.
Shadow Eyes rolls over onto his back and thumps his tail slowly, having caught 
  Dylan's scent. This one thinks that the day has flown? Night soon?
Sky's Laughter opens his eyes in time to catch most of what Shadow Eyes says. 
  He flicks an ear. A time, yet.
Raging Elk sits down by the fire with his knees puuled up to his chest and 
  looks around
Shadow Eyes licks his muzzle lazily, having slept long. Ah. Perhaps more sleep 
  is needed. I must patrol long tonight.
Raging Elk stands as he sees Joseph in the compound and looks relieved
Sky's Laughter catches Raging Elk's scent and turns a curious eye - and nose - 
  toward him.
Jessie stretches after her run, still watching the others here quietly.
Raging Elk approaches Soulcatcher. "will you tell me more about the Wheel?
Erik looks up suddenly from his music notebook.
Shadow Eyes looks up at Joseph's approach, then stands. He raises nose, and 
  whuffles at Erik, a friendly greeting. He scratches at his eyes and muzzle 
  with his paws, still sleepy.
Jessie stops as if she hears something, then suddenly gets up and heads 
  towards the woods.
Jessie leaves the compound.
Jessie has left.
Falcon's Wing enters the compound.
Falcon's Wing has arrived.
Soulcatcher's tail thumps the ground in a pleased greeting to the other 
  Wendigo. Of course I will, Raging Elk.
Shadow Eyes pads around the compound, trying to wake up. He whuffles at the 
  elder Wendigo, whom he has only met once, then ears go straight as Falcon's 
  Wing enters the compound. He wags his tail, and races over to the Fang.
Raging Elk walks to Soulcatcher. "Can you tell me more about the wheel?"
Falcon's Wing, padding in softly and taking his time, gathering scents and 
  listening to the conversation, blinks at Elan.
Raging Elk retreats from soulcatcher and sits by the fire.
Shadow Eyes bounds over, and ina running jump, sails right over Falcon's Wing. 
  He skids to an inexpert stop, and turns around, tail wagging fiercely.
Erik quietly closes the music notebook and slips it into his coat. Sitting up, 
  the Metis stretches slightly and turns to pay more attention to what's going 
  on around him.
Sky's Laughter glances from Raging Elk to Soulcatcher and back again. 
  Apparently satisfied at some obscure level, he lies down again with a quiet 
  chuff, though he does not go back to dozing.
Falcon's Wing watches Elan's leap, craning his neck. With a lupine grin, he 
  comments, You're in a good mood...
Soulcatcher climbs to his feet, shaking out his rough. We can go now, if you 
  like Raging Elk. Have you met the others?
Raging Elk says "No, have not. I am ready to go with you."
Shadow Eyes yips to Derrick. Yes, this one is! It is close to my moon, and 
  that always makes me want to run and leap and play.
Sky's Laughter watches Shadow Eyes and Falcon's Wing with amusement.
Raging Elk rises from his spot by the fire and looks to Soulcatcher, waiting.
Blinks-at-Fire enters the compound.
Blinks-at-Fire has arrived.
Falcon's Wing ponders this. Really? As he asks this, gravely, he pats quickly 
  at Elan with a paw. Then we'll have to do something with that energy, won't 
  we?
Soulcatcher's ears twitch at the others' playfulness, and before he turns to 
  go, he nips at Sky's Laughter. We will be in the Wheel, if you'd like to 
  come, or need me later.
Sky's Laughter pushes to his feet. I would be glad to go with you.
Shadow Eyes bats back like a pup, and wags his tail. He circles Falcon's Wing, 
  then leaps at him with a yip.
Soulcatcher seems pleased and heads out.
Soulcatcher leaves the compound.
Soulcatcher has left.
Raging Elk leaves the compound.
Raging Elk has left.
Sky's Laughter chuffs to the others, and follows his packmate out.
Falcon's Wing tumbles over, happily, and rolls around on the ground with him.
Sky's Laughter leaves the compound.
Sky's Laughter has left.
Raging Elk enters the compound.
Raging Elk has arrived.
Shadow Eyes rolls aorund on the ground with Falcon's Wing, yipping and 
  tumbling playfully.
Raging Elk leaves the compound.
Raging Elk has left.
Falcon's Wing gives a yip and scrambles up away from Elan. Hey. Everyone left.
Blinks-at-Fire watches the homids playing wolf. He stands very still and 
  quiet, watching.
Shadow Eyes looks around, panting. Yes. Do you think we scared them away?
Falcon's Wing thinks they had people to meet. I'll go hang around Soulcatcher 
  later. Meanwhile, I have you to deal with. Having said this, he dives onto 
  the Gnawer gleefully.
Shadow Eyes is caught by surprise and bowled over! He rights himself and 
  tumbles playfully with the Fang, with much yipping and tail wagging. This 
  form is good for play! He rolls, tounge lolling with wolfish laughter.
Blinks-at-Fire waits for a lull in the play, then walks slowly over towards 
  the Gnawer and the Fang.
Erik pulls his knees to his chest, watching.
Blinks-at-Fire says, Falcon's Wing, how long since you were a cub?
Falcon's Wing blinks up at Blinks at Fire. Officially? About 6 months. But I'm 
  young yet, for a homid.
Blinks-at-Fire thinks on this a moment, then says, Seshemw was nearly fostern 
  by then, this one thinks... He earned honor very fast, this one's tribemate 
  did.
Falcon's Wing ponders. Actually, about 4. But I have no desire to be Fostern 
  yet. Why do you ask?
Shadow Eyes still wants to bound around, and considers jumping either Blinks 
  or Erik, then forces himself to calm down. He slumps on the ground, panting. 
  His tail still gives a slight wag. He yips. This one will be slow to go to 
  Forstern, he thinks. A year from now, I will seek Chug's Challenge, I think.
Falcon's Wing has, honestly, not thought about who he might Challenge. There 
  are those that will be Fostern, when I get to it, who are not now.
Blinks-at-Fire's ears droop some, disappointed by Falcon's Wing's answer. You 
  are patient, Fang.
Falcon's Wing cocks his head. What. Do you think I am ready? He is evidently 
  somewhat astonished at the thought.
Blinks-at-Fire did not say that.
Shadow Eyes nuzzles Falcon's Wing. This one would think so.
Falcon's Wing wonders what you did mean, then?
Blinks-at-Fire did not say you were ready to be Fostern. He thought, though, 
  you might be ready to want it.
Falcon's Wing wrinkles his muzzle. Hardly. Why?
Blinks-at-Fire sighs. This one is foolish sometimes, Falcon's Wing. He still 
  expects others to think like himself.
Falcon's Wing doesn't suppose you are thinking of Challenging?
Blinks-at-Fire dis not say that.
Shadow Eyes thinks that Falcon's Wing would be ready. The path of the 
  trickster can take many routes. He yawns, and pads past Blinks to a good 
  sleeping spot. This one does not think you foolish, Blinks. He pads past and 
  curls up in a surprisingly compact furry ball.
Blinks-at-Fire was thinking of challenging, yes.
Falcon's Wing repeats. I'm not ready yet. The trickster takes his own path, 
  and this is mine.
Falcon's Wing wonders who you will Challenge?
Shadow Eyes yawns and falls asleep.
Blinks-at-Fire was thinking of challenging you, Falcon's Wing.
Falcon's Wing thinks that would be a problem, then.
Falcon's Wing wonders why you would not want to challenge Seshemw, then?
Blinks-at-Fire could do that.
Falcon's Wing flicks an ear. Well then. He asks, after a moment, why would I 
  be an appropriate person to Challenge, if I were of the proper rank?
Blinks-at-Fire will perhaps tell you, when you are of the proper rank.
Falcon's Wing chuffs a sigh. I hate mysteries.
Erik clears his throat quietly, his head lowered so that his face is masked by 
  shadow as well as cloth.
Blinks-at-Fire's eyes twinkle with amusement. Be glad you are not a Strider, 
  then.
Falcon's Wing is glad to be who he is, most of the time.
Blinks-at-Fire can be patient, also. Those things are far down the path.
Falcon's Wing thinks he will wander to the Caern. I'll talk with you later...
Falcon's Wing leaves the compound.
Falcon's Wing has left.
Blinks-at-Fire watches the Silver Fang go, then turns his eyes towards the 
  dark figure off in the shadows.
Erik turns a small rock over and over in his gloved hands, slowly.
Blinks-at-Fire looks at the strange figure. He takes a few steps towards it.
Erik's fingers go still as the wolf approaches, his body tensing slightly as 
  he turns his head slightly toward Blinks.
Blinks-at-Fire takes a few more steps, then stops, and waits to see what the 
  figure does, as if he were testing a wounded animal.
Erik appears to be watching Blinks, though his eyes cannot be seen at the 
  moment. Slowly, he pockets the stone and says, "Er. Yes?"
Blinks-at-Fire says, The sun is warm, if one would sit in it.
Erik's murmuring answer is soft, but not so soft lupine ears can't make out 
  the words. "I'm fine, thank you."
Blinks-at-Fire studies the dark figure a while more, then turns and hurries 
  away.
Blinks-at-Fire leaves the compound.
Blinks-at-Fire has left.