Taymist
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Posts posted by Taymist
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By evening of the following day, Rhya and Owen were still traipsing through the seemingly neverending forest. Rhya was beginning to wonder if she'd ever see any open spaces again.
Thankfully there had been places where not quite all light was shut out but those patches of sunshine shot with leafy green colours were few and far between compared to the dim, shadowed paths under thick branches which obscured the sky completely. A fact that, surprisingly, didn't douse her spirits in the slightest. She'd slept soundly the previous night with Shadow curled up at her feet. She hadn’t expected him to stay so close and was thrilled that he’d chosen to, added to which, the exercise was agreeing with her and she was getting an opportunity to learn. That in itself was making the journey worthwhile.
Since they’d set out, Rhya had sprinkled the intermittent conversation with questions on the plants and barks they’d seen, picking Owen’s brain and making the most of this opportunity to have her mentor and teacher to herself. She had soaked up all of his lessons last night in her usual sponge-like manner and was glad of that when they rose in the morning and he told her that tonight she would have to set up camp herself. There was a sense of achievement that was most satisfactory in knowing how to care for oneself. It was all new to her but she was determined to never be quite so helpless again as she had been on her trip south. Self-sufficiency, she’d decided, was a very important goal.
Though taking instruction and actually putting it into practice are two very different things, she thought in mild amusement. I’m not at all convinced that making a fire is as simple as it looked.
Once or twice, Rhya tried to find out more about where they were traveling to but Owen, in his normal close mouthed manner, had only smiled and reiterated that she’d know soon enough and she had to be content with that, amusing herself instead by playing hide and seek around the trees with Shadow. The wolf had a mischievous side that delighted her, making up in some ways for all the years that had been lacking in companions of any kind.
As the evening light began to lessen and the air took on a chill, they looked for a suitable camping spot once more. When they’d found one, Rhya dropped her belongings carefully to one side and went hunting for dead wood then deposited it in two piles, one for a fire and another, of similar lengths for the shelters. Taking the twine that Owen handed her, she settled down to make the frame, her tongue sticking out between her teeth as she concentrated, oblivious to anything else. It took a few attempts the first time, since her fingers were cold and the dratted stuff didn’t want to co-operate with her but eventually she got it and her next sortie was for leafy branches with which to cover them.
Having finally finished two shelters, she stood back to admire her handiwork, hoping it was good enough that neither of them would collapse during the night. The image that conjured up gave her a fit of the giggles and it was some time before she collected her thoughts and started on the fire feeling quite pleased with herself.
As she’d expected, this was not nearly as easy and she was cursing under her breath and shoving hair out of her eyes in frustration by the time she managed to get a flame going. Arching a sardonic eyebrow at Owen’s grinning face, she slowly fed it until the fire was crackling merrily, blew on one burned fingertip and set about cooking some food.
Some time later, sated and warmer next to the heat of the fire, Rhya leaned back on her hands looking up at the stars twinkling above. Finding the Three Geese showing the way north, she nudged the feeling of homesickness the sight usually brought and was surprised to discover it had faded a considerable amount. Not gone, but not as immediate either. She wriggled her toes near the flames pondering that small revelation and what had caused the change.
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Hi folks
I'm Tay, your new Wolfkin DL. I realise that a lot of you won't know me, so I feel that a little introduction is in order. :)
I've been at DM since May 2006 and mostly been involved in the Org side. I'm a member at almost all of the Orgs as well as being staff at the Wolfkin and Band. Wolfkin was the very first Org I joined and I love it but it took me another year to discover the RP side and get my character, Rhya, started. This is a really exciting opportunity and, amongst other things, I hope to foster closer ties between the Org and Div since we have so much in common. :)
On a personal level, I'm 35, Scottish and engaged with 3 step kids and one crazy cat. Anyone wants to know anything else, jump right on in and ask. :D
Now, onto business....
First off, I'd like to say thanks to Taea for all her work. It's a shame she felt she had to step down from staff but hopefully we'll be able to move forward and at least we'll have her back RP-ing with us as soon as her LOA is finished. If anyone missed her post, explaining things, you can read it HERE.
Secondly, I'd ask that you all bear with me while I get up to speed and settled in. :D The RP side is still fairly new ground for me here at DM, although I've RP'd elsewhere for about 10 years now. At the moment, the main priority is sorting out the staff and finding out who is active and who has left after the recent problems. I know we'll be missing quite a few people but onwards and upwards is the key phrase... wolfies are always survivors!!
If anyone has any issues, questions, needs a mentor or anything else my door is always open.
You can add me to msn on: wolvesinmist@hotmail.co.uk
Email me at: Taymist@blueyonder.co.uk
or just drop me a PM here at DM. I don't mind which. All I ask is that you don't keep problems to yourself. I can't help if I don't know about them. ;)
If for any reason I'm not available (unlikely lol) or just not online at the time, Andular has kindly agreed to be my ADL, so you can of course also approach him.
I'll probably do the rounds over the next while, picking brains etc but it'd be great if you could all take a few minutes to sign in here, let me know who you are, what characters you have and a bit about yourselves. Do feel free to include any suggestions you may have as well.
So... here's to a great 2008 for the Wolfkin!!
*makes sure there's plenty of TQ and chili to go round* 8)
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Rhya eyed Owen balefully. That stuff tasted absolutely foul and still lingered on her tongue. Never mind the unruly children, I wouldn’t want to taste it again!! she thought in disgust as she got up to go find her cloak and a container for the herbs she had to find.
When she was ready, she made a brief stop in the kitchen to rinse her mouth out with some clear, cold water. The taste didn’t go away but it did at least lessen slightly and she headed out onto the balcony, spotting Zie already heading into the trees. Glad that the wind had calmed somewhat, she took a deep breath of fresh air, shoving her tiredness to one side and swung down into the clearing.
Rhya set off into the woods at the back of the house, glad that her cloak stopped the worst of the rain dripping off the branches. She’d only taken a few steps when Shadow appeared, uncaring of the light drizzle with his thick fur to protect him, bounding around her legs. He almost knocked her over before loping off for a few feet, stopping and then taking off again. Grinning, she gave chase, dodging branches, jumping fallen trunks and slipping and sliding on the muddy ground while Shadow avoided her with ease. Finally she halted, laughing breathlessly with her hands on her knees….. and came face to face with some Chainleaf, bringing her back to the purpose for being out there.
“Enough, my silly friend! I have work to do,” she said with mock severity, dropping the herb into her pouch and they continued on at a more sedate pace as she ran over her mental list of the herbs and what they looked like, eyes scanning the ground. It was not too long a list but to her dismay it took an hour to find any Andilay Root and another 20 minutes to finally discover a patch of Flatwort and some Feverbane, which she was only certain of after checking its texture.
Circling around the Stedding so that her route would bring her back out in front of the tree house, Rhya hunted for the remaining three herbs. The Worrynot Root turned up in the corner of a secluded glade and the Sheepstongue Root she stumbled over at the back of the Infirmary but the Grey Fennel was elusive and the sky was beginning to darken again. Shadow had vanished some time before, obviously having better things to do and Rhya didn’t blame him in the least. Deciding she’d had enough and that her feet and legs were quite thoroughly soaked, she gave up and walked briskly back towards the house, thinking longingly of a hot cup of tea.
She was just about to exit the trees when she spied the Grey Fennel nestled amongst the growth at the edge of the clearing and she hurriedly added it to her collection. The skies opened again, rain pouring down and she made a thankful dash for the house, gaining the balcony in quick order. Having hung her cloak up and kicked her wet boots off, she took her prizes and padded into the kitchen intent on getting some tea.
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When Rhya had heard Owen’s plans for the day, she had groaned inwardly, unimpressed at the notion of both staying indoors and having a stranger share her studies. Looking out of the window, however, she thanked the Light for his common sense as the wind howled around the house. Rain she could cope with, wind and rain together made for misery.
Sighing, she brought her attention back to the lesson, glancing at the other girl as she did so. Zie seemed nice in a rather serious way and Rhya had greeted her politely when she’d turned up. They were both recent arrivals after all and she wondered briefly how Zie was settling in to life in the Stedding.
Casting her eyes over the herbs on the table, she took them as Zie passed them on, sniffing delicately, fingering the leaves and considering their uses. She was no healer but she knew that basic knowledge of herbs could save a life, especially when out traveling alone, far from even a village with a Wisdom. More so for the Kin who could not always be certain of a welcome.
Some of the herbs looked familiar, others very different from what could be found in Saldaea. Her mother and sister had used herbs for creams, soaps and other feminine potions. She, on the other hand, had learned to use them for eating. Cook had always had a most attentive audience when explaining their various uses as seasoning and garnish. Admittedly, that was because Rhya knew she would be allowed to taste whatever was being made and it could never be said that she didn’t have a healthy appetite.
She looked closely at the Grey Fennel, trying to imagine the kind of person who would use it for such a cowardly purpose as poisoning anyone, before placing it back beside the others, sure that she would recognise them all in future. She considered asking Owen about herbs that could put someone to sleep. Her dream disturbed nights were beginning to take a toll, leaving shadows around her eyes and effecting her concentration. She hurriedly dismissed the idea though, not wishing to answer any awkward questions in return and instead listened to Zie’s questions with interest.
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Rhya paid close attention to what Owen said but, no matter how many rules there were, she was getting a sword and that was what mattered. She tried to contain her excitement, nodding agreement to his terms and at least had some appreciation for his final warning. Respect for weapons had been drilled into her by her trainer and, no matter the differences, a weapon was no toy.
She didn’t think the day could get much better but, as they walked, Owen mentioned that the wolves would be waiting to join them and suggested that she try to find Shadow. Somehow, his explanation seemed too easy and she guessed it would be more complex than that. She tried though and laughed delightedly when, after several attempts, it actually worked. It felt rather like stretching her mind and a little like being in the Dream but different too. She sensed Shadow’s recognition, his acceptance of her presence and gathered that he was lazing in the sunshine with Ice not far away. There were no words as such but rather a series of images and impressions that her mind translated.
When they reached the storeroom, Rhya followed Owen’s instructions, slipping past him, her nose twitching at the stuffy mustiness of the air as her gaze took in the array of weapons. They held no interest for her however and she spotted the three racks and walked towards them. There were plenty of swords but she took Owen’s words to heart, eyeing them one by one, intent on picking the right blade. She heard him say something about his office, waved her hand distractedly and continued her hunt.
Her fingers flitted over some hilts, barely touching them. Several looked pretty but she wasn’t looking for decoration. Many were simply too large or heavy for a woman to wield and she moved on. At last her eyes lit on a simple looking hilt, an amber gem set into the top, with an elegantly down-curved cross-guard. She reached for it, her hand curling round the soft tooled leather, and drew it clear of the rack.
The blade was long but comfortable. She stepped back, moving it around experimentally, enjoying the slight whoosh as it sailed through the air. Bringing it up for a closer look, she found it had a sharp double edge and no faults through the metal. It was good quality workmanship and Rhya noted the smith’s stamp, nodding to herself, lips curving in pleasure. This is the one. Now… a scabbard.
She quickly picked out a plain black leather scabbard and belt, put them on and sheathed the sword. Its weight at her side was satisfyingly reassuring. Finally she was happy and headed out the door, coming face to face with Owen.
“All done?" he queried, locking the door at her nod of assent. “Good, then its time we left.”
Some time later, Rhya wasn’t sure how long exactly, they’d cleared the Stedding and were walking in an easy silence. She was too busy eating up the scenery and relishing the sense of freedom to talk. The mountains were incredible, rising majestically towards the sky, an imposing presence. She wondered idly if everyone who saw them had the same urge to climb them, to conquer them somehow as though doing so might diminish them somewhat. Lost in her own musings, Owen’s sudden question as to why she’d chosen her sword took a moment to register.
“Hmmm? Oh, well… because it felt right,” she replied, smiling slightly. Sensing that wasn’t going to be sufficient she continued, “It’s not too heavy or too long. It wouldn’t be much help if wielding it tired me within a few minutes. Even if I learn to use it well, I don’t have a man’s strength so speed and accuracy are critical.” She quirked an eyebrow. “It’s also not for show. Should there be a day when I need to kill, it will be for necessity and no amount of jewels, silver inlay or engravings will help to make it a more pleasant task. It’s a tool, to do a job and to do it well. The quality of the blade was important too. This one is of Saldaean origin. I could tell from the smith’s stamp. I may not have been allowed to train with one but that didn’t stop me learning what I could about them.”
She stopped then, aware that she was speaking to someone with far more knowledge of weapons and their usage than herself but Owen merely nodded and she wondered briefly what he was thinking before getting caught up in their surroundings once more.
By the time the light started to fade, Rhya was tired and her legs were sore but she was still in good spirits. It was a good tired she decided just as they entered a clearing in the woods they’d been traveling through for the past hour or so. Although she would have been happy to continue, noting that her sight was still remarkably clear in spite of the dimness under the trees, Owen called a halt.
“Time to set up camp and eat. There’ll be plenty more walking tomorrow.”
She nodded her agreement, dumping her pack gratefully and stretching. As she did so, she caught movement from the corner of her eye and turned to see Ice and Shadow padding silently out of the undergrowth. The wolves had kept pace with them during day though they hadn’t been visible for the most part and she was pleased they’d decided to join them now.
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The bread and honey was really remarkably tasty and she had to smile at Owen’s teasing. She was in a far better frame of mind already and the prospect of a journey only improved her mood further. She swung a foot lazily as she perched on the railing, studying the view while he spoke.
Not to wake her too early? Rhya sniffed delicately but kept her opinions on that to herself. She was more than used to being up at the crack of dawn, if not all night. Business hadn’t waited on daylight hours and sleep didn’t always come in the darkness. Her eyes were troubled for a moment, contemplating the past few nights when sleep had been more scarce than usual. The old memories dredged up by the last session of Dream training had been unexpected and left her with a vague sense of unease. There was definitely something she couldn’t remember. Just what it was remained to be seen but the vague, half formed images from the bad dreams she’d been having made her wonder if she even wanted to know.
She shook her head slightly, pushing the problem away for the moment and turned back to Owen with a carefully neutral expression, conscious of her delay in responding. He was already eyeing her with that unfathomable look of his.
“I’d like that, yes, it’s just what I need,” Rhya nodded then stopped, wrinkling her nose as she gathered her thoughts. She felt a need to say something, to clarify her earlier mood and continued quietly, “It never occurred to me that I was a prisoner here, Owen.. and this place.. it's many things.. beautiful, tranquil, safe... but not boring. I can’t go back to Maradon. Not now, perhaps not ever. I don’t want to leave here..,” a hint of anxiety slipped into her voice, “... not permanently.”
“You don’t have to leave, Rhya,” Owen’s reply was reassuring.
“Good. My home is here now, with ...” she became very still for a brief moment before averting her gaze and finishing, “... the Kin and the wolves.” She slipped down off the railing and started to walk back indoors, adding with an overly bright smile, “I need a purpose, to be useful I suppose. I’m sure most people do and no doubt I’ll find it. I’ll be sure to check out the stables when we get back. It’d be good to go riding again. Now, what do we need to take with us? Will Ice and Shadow come too?”
She knew she was babbling but thankfully Owen didn’t comment on her uncharacteristic chatter and talk turned to preparations for the journey ahead.
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True to his word, Owen didn’t drag Rhya out of bed too early but the following day was still young when they were almost ready to set out. The sky was clear with only a few clouds scudding overhead, boding well for the trip and Rhya was almost bouncing with excitement, her laughter and good spirits echoing round the house as she dashed back and forward.
“Will you come here for a minute and stand still?” Owen’s voice halted her as she waltzed past him intent on fetching her forgotten comb from her room.
She curtsied cheekily, grinning from ear to ear, “Yes, oh Wise One.”
He half turned, lifting up what looked to be heavy fabric from the nearby chair but as he shook it and held it out to her, she could see that it was a cloak, similar to one she’d seen him wearing before. “You’ll likely need this.”
“Oh. Thank you,” she swung it round her shoulders and felt the weight settle satisfyingly. She could tell it would be invaluable if the weather turned bad, warm and waterproof and far better than her own. It wasn’t bad right now though, so she removed the cloak again, placing it near the door, so that she wouldn’t forget it and ran off to get her comb.
When she returned, another idea had occurred to her as she caught sight of Owen’s sword. “Umm... Owen, can I have a sword to take? I have my daggers of course but a sword might be more useful. Not that I’ve ever learned to use one,” she admitted regretfully. Her father had never allowed that, keen though she'd been.
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The day had started out innocuously enough. She’d woken early, unable to sleep any longer and, as soon as she’d washed and dressed, had made a strong cup of tea before padding on bare feet out to the balcony. Curling up on her usual pile of cushions, Rhya sat in the half light of dawn watching the sun rise. She liked this time of day, often finding that the myriad colours washing the sky simultaneously washed clean any troubles weighing on her mind. It was not, however, working on this occasion.
She was restless, filled with an urgent need to be doing something... anything. Had been for days in fact. She was happy with her own company, enjoyed the solitude and peace that surrounded the tree house. No-one bothered her here save for the occasional visitor looking for Owen and nine times out of ten that suited her just fine. Unfortunately, this day wasn’t one of those nine and she suddenly craved company. Not just any company either as she didn’t know many people here in the Stedding.
Mostly my own fault, she thought but still couldn’t dredge up the slightest interest in making any effort in that direction.
She missed Maradon, missed the hustle and bustle of the town’s streets where there was ample company without actually having to speak to anyone. Her days had gone from being filled with meetings, trips to the warehouses, doing the accounts and attending social engagements to... essentially nothing... which explained why she looked forward so much to those evening interludes talking to Owen or listening to him play his flute. Her mouth curved in amusement at that thought. More often than not though he was busy with some business or other about the Stedding, off doing the Light alone knew what and she was left to her own devices. She’d had no complaints about that. Until now.
Working fingers through her heavy mane of hair to comb out the knots which managed to mysteriously form overnight, Rhya’s eyes dropped to the clearing below the balcony, knowing that Owen should be returning shortly. He ran every morning with his fellow Rangers so he’d informed her a few days after her arrival and she wondered if he ever actually slept. She wasn’t a great sleeper herself but when she did it was as one dead and nothing short of the house falling down around her would wake her up.
Suddenly impatient with herself and exasperated by her mood, Rhya stood up and headed back indoors. By the time Owen walked in, she had rinsed her cup and was busily tidying the kitchen area in an attempt to distract herself.
“Good morning, Rhya.”
“It is? I hadn’t noticed,” she replied with heavy sarcasm, ignoring the raised eyebrow and slight amusement on his face.
“Got out of bed the wrong side did we?”
She turned briefly, scowling at him, even more irritated that he was so unperturbed by her evident grumpiness. “I got out of bed just fine thank you very much. We can’t all be morning people. Sleep is good for you, you should try it some time.” She knew she was being churlish but the words were out before she could stop them and she bit her lower lip in consternation as she went back to wiping the work bench. It wasn’t Owen’s fault after all.
“Alright Rhya what’s wrong?” his tone was as laced with amusement as his previous question and she sighed, throwing the cloth into the sink and turning to face him. The grin on his face had her smiling back ruefully.
“I’m sorry. I’m just going a little crazy and it’s not doing much for my manners,” she explained, blushing slightly. She paused a moment then carried on, “I know you’re really busy Owen, but I need to get out of here. You’ve never taken me with you when you go anywhere and... well, I don’t know the area myself and since I lost my horse I can’t go riding and if I don’t do something soon I’m going to burst... but I’ll understand if you can’t of course....
She trailed off, looking at him hopefully.
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Yep it does, I'm in too. :D