dian
Apprentice Scribe
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Posts: 100
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Post by dian on Jun 28, 2011 10:47:18 GMT -5
Dian followed Tam, who was running off after another ranger. They ended up at the top of a waterfall. Within seconds Tam had dived off and then the other ranger did too. Dian kicked off her boots ready to dive in when she saw the watery explosion that had been caused by the ranger. She laughed, it was one hell of a wave and she didn't think an ocean could beat it, though she had never seen an ocean upfront. After a few seconds Dian jumped, doing a straight dive (going who knows how far down) the splash was almost non existent, especially when you compared it to the previous splash. Dian's head broke the water while she was trying to decide where to swim. When she saw the apprentice who had invited her to come with them, she swam closer and decided to introduce herself, "Hi, I'm Dian. Whats your name,"
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Post by Brandwyn on Jun 29, 2011 14:53:04 GMT -5
Tory saw a blur from above and ducked instinctively just as Ringulf’s bundle of clothing thudded to the ground at her feet. His cry of “Lookout below!” coming just a hair too late for comfort. Then she saw another streak and realized Ringulf was jumping off the cliff above right into the heart of the roiling pool. She jumped back from the edge of the water and then saw the huge wave coming straight at her.
“My bow!” she screeched and dove for her bow, arrows and boots sitting on the edge of the bank. She had just enough time to grab them and hold them high in the air as the wave slammed into her legs and torso. Water splashed up her nose and into her eyes and she let the wave carry her back from the edge of the pool. When it receded she was sitting on her butt with her boots in her left hand and her bow and quiver in her right both above her head. The very bottom of the quiver and the toes of her boots had gotten wet. She looked from one to the other and then back to Ringulf who was smiling like a deranged teenager a few feet in front of her.
Coughing and sputtering from the mouth and nose full of water, Tory glared at Ringulf for a moment, trying to decide how to react. She looked as if she were about to burst into tears, which she was, but she managed to hang onto her anger and fought down the fear of the water. Without saying a word, she stood up and moved to a tree about six feet from the edge of the water and leaned her bow and quiver beside it and dropped her boots next to them on the mossy ground. Looking down at the ground with her back to the water, she placed a hand on the tree trunk and took a deep breath to steady herself. Turning back around to face Ringulf she said softly, “yeah. You got me.” A mischievous look gleamed in her eye but otherwise she had a straight face as she pulled off her outer tunic, leaving her pants and under tunic on, she slowly walked to the edge of the water where the sandbar was and gingerly stepped into the cool water. She stood in knee deep water and crossed her arms. “Okay, I’m in now.” She stood there hoping Ringulf would lose interest in what she was doing and go swim with Tam who was scooting about the pool as if he’d been born there.
Fortunately the new girl swam over and said, "Hi, I'm Dian. What’s your name?"
“Hi. I’m Tory. Nice to meet you,” Tory said. “Is this your first Gathering? It is mine, though I am in my third year. I started right after they had the one two years ago and last year I was in Gallica during the war, so I missed it. I think a lot of rangers missed that one.” Tory looked around as more rangers seemed to have suddenly arrived and camps were popping up all over the place. She wondered how they kept the location secret for so many years. “I am a bit nervous about all this testing stuff, aren’t you?” Tory’s feet were slowly getting buried in the sandbar and that made her nervous, but if she stepped two paces to her left, she would be plunged into water over her head, so she just kept pulling one foot out and then the other in an attempt to stay on top of the soft sand. She glanced at Ringulf, keeping him in sight in case he tried to grab her and pull her into the deeper water. She was also waiting for a good chance to get him back, unsure of just how she was going to accomplish that at the moment.
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Post by Ringulf on Jul 1, 2011 14:34:40 GMT -5
Ringulf loved the water. He always had and he was in it every chance he got. Whether it was salt or fresh shallow or deep he always felt very much at home there. He most enjoyed swimming beneath the water and could hold his breath for long periods of time. He had worked his big Skandian lungs up to about three minutes or a bit more with moderate activity.
Right now he was using the ability to dive down as far to the bottom of the hole as possible. He came up to see Tam looking at him and trying to swim down a bit to keep him in sight.
They both surfaced and Ringulf smiled at him.
"Well...Tam isn't it? You swim like an otter! do you like underwater exploration?"
"I happen to know that somewhere along the rear of this wall below the waterfalls is a shelf they say you can follow to a cave but you have to be able to hold your breath for a bit over a minute to do it." Ringulf said with a gleam in his eye.
"I found it once but couldn't fit into the opening, Ah well the legends are most likely just a spoof anyway. you know the ones about the Ranger from back in King Herbert's time who stole plunder from a group of Skandian sea raiders and fought them in a running battle till they trapped him in some cave around here. They say he killed a bunch of them but in the end...well they say he guards the treasure still."
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Post by Firehead on Jul 4, 2011 8:31:13 GMT -5
Tam kept his eyes on Ringulf and did his best to avoid getting too close to the large man, although the water lowered his guard just a little. Tam found it easy to keep track of Ringulf, diving when he dived and surfacing when he did, although sometimes Tam had to resurface once or twice for air--the man could stay down for quite a while! After one time of about three minutes, where Tam held out for almost the full length of time but had to resurface after about two minutes, they both surfaced and Ringulf gave him a smile and struck up a conversation with him.
"Well...Tam isn't it? You swim like an otter! do you like underwater exploration?"
Tam nodded in answer to the first question, and shrugged at the second--he wasn't entirely sure what the big man meant by underwater exploration.
"I happen to know that somewhere along the rear of this wall below the waterfalls is a shelf they say you can follow to a cave but you have to be able to hold your breath for a bit over a minute to do it." Ringulf said with a gleam in his eye.
"I found it once but couldn't fit into the opening, Ah well the legends are most likely just a spoof anyway. you know the ones about the Ranger from back in King Herbert's time who stole plunder from a group of Skandian sea raiders and fought them in a running battle till they trapped him in some cave around here. They say he killed a bunch of them but in the end...well they say he guards the treasure still."
Tam gave Ringulf a skeptical look, not entirely sure whether or not he should believe the big man. "The on'ly way we'd know if'n there was a treasure would be fer him ta have tol' the others about it. An' if'n he did that, then he couldn't be guardin' no treasure. Fer one thing, he'd have ta be a lousey Ranger in th' first place if'n he couldn't loose no Raiders, so it figures that if'n he tol' the others about th' treasure, that unlessin' they was worse trackers than the raiders, they'd a followed him an' found th' treasure."
Tam flipped about in the water and put a little more distance between himself and Ringulf, then surfaced to say, "In'f ya's playin' a joke on someone, why don't ya play it on her?" Tam pointed to where Mylia had just arrived, a small smile still quirking her lips. She waved to Ringulf, then eyed the water a moment, and joined Tory and Dian at the sandbar. ------------------------------------
Red loved playing jokes but this year, he found himself dodging more attempted pranks than he was actually pulling. He eventually found himself up in the top of a tree, trying to get away from Halt and Crowley. "Aw comon! Your still sore over the honey and ants? That was three years ago, give me a break!"
"Oh no, you aren't getting off scott-free, it's time to face the music, son." Crowley said.
Red perked up. "What, like Will's mandolin?"
This made Halt turn and glare at his best friend. "He didn't bring it, did he?"
Crowley made a helpless guesture. "I don't know!"
Red grinned devilishly up in the tree. "Yeah, he did, an' don't let Crowley there, fool you into thinkin' otherwise, but he did ask him to bring it--and play the parody version of 'Old Joe Smoke' for everyone!"
(OOC: That went over well with a certain someone, don't you think?) --------------------
Ben approached Rab as that worthy was pitching his tent. "Have you seen Red?" he asked, sounding ankious.
Rab turned to look at him, then gave a slow shake of his head. Ben sighed and shifted on his feet. "He's making me edgy. I got a prank all laid out for him, and if he don't show it'll stick."
"Don't worry, Ben, he'll show--Red always shows up."
"Thanks." Ben walked away toward the main tent to report. Dalin was coming along well for...being Dalin, and was showing a large streak of potential these days.
Rab finished setting his tent up and glanced around at the Gathering Grounds. Seeing a few people whom he recognized, he gave them a nod in greeting and went on about his business. Upon seeing Harrison, he ducked his head slightly, hoping to keep a low profile for a while longer.
Not much hope where that was concerned. It seemed as though Harrison had been looking for him. For not three minutes later, he heard Harrison saying loudly, "Did you know that Rab can talk? Not just words, but whole sentences!" Rab sighed, rolled his eyes, and went hunting for a place of solitude away from the main Grounds.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 6, 2011 18:49:54 GMT -5
Bunt had been hanging back, watching Halt and Crowley trying to pull one over on Red to get some payback from a prank, or probably a series of pranks, from earlier Gatherings.
Bunt stifled a chuckle at Halt's sour look as Red mentioned Will's favorite song about his old mentor. Bunt silently snuck up behind Crowley and materialized out of a tree trunk right next to the Commandant and leaned against it, waiting for one of the others to notice him. Finally Halt glanced at him and his eyes barely widened. Crowley glanced over his shoulder and then jumped.
"Confound it, Bunt! Don't you start sneaking around too!"
Bunt looked at him innocently, "Don' know what yer talkin' about, Crowley. I jes heard you was lookin' fer me an/ so here I am. I'm gittin' too old fer these kid games, but ya know, if'n ya didn't hear me come up, ya might want ta git out a bit more, Ole Boy. Yer loosin' yer edge." He had a hard time keeping the corners of his mouth from quirking up.
Crowley glared at him. "Loosing my edge, am I? You care to make a wager on that?"
Bunt rubbed his chin and glanced at Halt who shook his head in warning. "What'd ya have in mind?"
Crowley looked around the Gathering Grounds for a moment as if formulatiing some devious plan, then he leaned in and lowered his voice. "Let's just have a little contest. A little bit of ranger versus apprentice action." He said with a gleam in his eye. "You head up one team of rangers and I head up another. The day after tomorrow we go out, starting at first light and set some traps, lay a little false trail and lead the apprentices on a merry chase with the end goal of capturing their team leader." Crowley explained warming up to the idea. "We can pick two senior apprentices to head up our respective apprentice teams who will also be trying to capture us. The last team leader to avoid capture wins the title of... of... Top Ranger or Top Apprentice for the Gathering."
Bunt considered for a moment. "Why teams? Why not make it a free for all and where does the wager come in?"
Crowley grinned, "I want some of these younglings here to learn to rely on each other once in a while, besides I think it will make it far more interesting to have to work as a team. Hightens our social skills."
Halt grunted, "hummphf," and glanced at Red to see what he was up to. He didn't really care to let that one out of his sight for long during a Gathering.
"As to the wager, I bet you five gold pieces that I will outlast you and any other ranger or apprentice that joins our little game." Crowley continued. "Halt, you can be the referee."
"And hold the money." Bunt fished into his pouch and pulled out five gold pieces. "Yer on, Ole Boy! We got today to recruit our team?"
Crowley nodded. Halt stood there a moment holding the coins in his hand with a look of distaste. "Why can't I have my own team?"
"Didn't think you'd want one, Halt, my boy! Everyone knows you are a loner not a team player. Too bad your Will is not an apprentice any more. I would have liked to make him a team leader."
"How 'bout that young 'prentice of Gilan's that is jes 'bout ta make ranger? What's his name...oh yeah, Dustin. I hear tell he's right good at trackin' and unseen movement." Bunt suggested.
"Fine." Crowley agreed. "He can be your side's leader and go after my team. I pick that pretty little lass, Pepper for my side. She might not be the best at unseen movement, but I am willing to bet she'd give Greenriver a run for his money in the tracking department. We each get 10 people on our teams and you have until supper tomorrow to recruit them."
"Deal" Bunt said, spit on his hand and held it out for Crowley to shake.
Crowley eyed him, then slowly took Bunt's hand and shook on it. He wiped his palm off on his tunic and then fished his own five coins out of his pouch and handed them to Halt. "Now Bunt, there is this apprentice girl I want you to meet..."
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dian
Apprentice Scribe
this status thing reminds me of Facebook
Posts: 100
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Post by dian on Jul 7, 2011 22:10:01 GMT -5
Dian gave Tory a slight smile. Well, at least Dian wasn't the only one who was having their first gathering, but so far no one her age was also in her year. After a small amount of hesitation Dian said, "Yeah this is my first Gathering, my mentor... he uh chose a bad time to pick me as his apprentice I guess, I've only been apprenticed for a month or so." When Tory asked about the testing she sort of mumbled her answer, "Yeah, it sounds a bit scary, but I'm not doing the exact testing most first year apprentices are doing. I don't know i I would even be here if..." She didn't continue, she didn't want to mention her mentor's disappearance just yet, she didn't need the sympathy. She hoped Tory hadn't noticed her trailing off and hoped Tory just thought she had forgotten something that wasn't really important. Dian noticed Tory was a little distracted, and noticed that Tory's gaze kept coming onto the big ranger, whose name she didn't know just yet. "Who's that you keep looking at? Is he your mentor, and didn't he splash you earlier?" Immediately she shut her mouth, she always asked a lot of questions but she wanted to make sure that she didn't overwhelm Tory with a lot of questions. Though of course Dian had about a million swimming in her head. She shifted a bit as she waited for Tory's response.
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Post by Ringulf on Jul 13, 2011 20:49:32 GMT -5
Tam flipped about in the water and put a little more distance between himself and Ringulf, then surfaced to say, "In'f ya's playin' a joke on someone, why don't ya play it on her?" Tam pointed to where Mylia had just arrived, a small smile still quirking her lips. She waved to Ringulf, then eyed the water a moment, and joined Tory and Dian at the sandbar.
"Well suite yourself young man but I know I have always been curious to see what the glitter was that came from inside that hole, I just can't get inside it because I am too damn big! Hey Mylia come on in the water is great...just ask Tory!" he said with a snicker. "I am climbing up for another dive!"
And with that the big Ranger climbed up onto the bank and started to climb the rocky face back up to the top of the falls.
He heard what he thought to be a sigh of relief from Tory and was not quite sure why when he realized she was most likely referring to his khaki canvas swimming trunks.
"Well we are in mixed company Miss Waterton!" He said with another of his characteristic snickers.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 13, 2011 22:45:16 GMT -5
Tory saw that Dian was a bit self-conscious and understood that feeling perfectly. She wasn’t exactly a social butterfly herself. The other thing she picked up on was that Dian seemed to be going through similar growing pains with new mentors as she herself did. She seemed reluctant to talk about it though, so Tory tried to make her feel a bit more comfortable.
“That big guy is Ringulf. He is Skandian. He isn’t my mentor exactly.” Tory said with a half grin. “He is Mylia’s mentor and I am just kind of along for the ride.” She chuckled. “Actually it is kind of complicated. My current mentor is on leave of absence and my former mentor is wanted for murder – though I still think he was set up or is under deep cover or something. I just can’t believe he killed that couple just for their money.” She wasn’t really explaining things very well, but at least Dian would know that her own background in the Ranger Corps was not exactly normal. “Ringulf is pretty cool though. He likes to joke around a lot, pretty much the opposite of Patrick. He is a good teacher too, though some of what he teaches is not exactly traditional ranger material. Mylia is great. She is my best friend. I think you are going to like her.”
Tory glanced at Ringulf again and saw him talking to Tam who looked at him warily and then a bit skeptical. There were only a few words she could make out but two of them were underwater cave and treasure. She couldn’t help but look down through the churning water as if she could see treasure lying on the bottom of the pool. She suspected Ringulf may be spinning a tale for Tam’s benefit, but having heard only parts of the exchange, she couldn’t be sure.
Finally she answered Dian’s last question, “Yeah he splashed me earlier. I think it may be his rather unusual way of trying to get me into the water. He seems to think my fear of rivers is some personal vendetta that he must overcome or something.” Tory said with a roll of her eyes. “Personally I don’t see what the problem is. I have a perfectly legitimate reason to hate rivers; every time I get on one or try to cross one, it tries to drown me. Seriously!” Tory looked to see how Dian was reacting. “I haven’t met a river yet that I liked and this waterfall may be in a lake, but that water there could seriously injure someone. Look how far down those bubbles are getting pushed and it is churning in all directions. If you get caught in that current you could get sucked down deep and drown before anyone could help you.” Tory shuddered as she watched the water moving under the waterfall.
“I can swim just fine. I used to like swimming – before that first time I drowned. I just have really bad luck on rivers. The last one had river pirates that attacked us and Ringulf was nearly killed. That’s how I got this scar too.” Tory lifted up the side of her under shirt and showed Dian part of the long scar from the sword blade. “That nasty pirate sliced me from the side while I was fighting a buddy of his. Ringulf killed the guy just as I passed out and then I guess we ran aground and we were all thrown from the ship and into the sand.” Tory’s memory of that day was a bit gabled. “The mast fell on top of Ringulf and if he hadn’t been on top of me, squishing me into the mud, it probably would have killed me.”
She looked at Ringulf fondly. He really had saved her life that day in more ways than one. “That was the third run-in with a river I have had. So that is why I don’t really care to go jumping into that maelstrom there.” Tory pointed to the churning waterfall. Turning back to Dian she decided to change the subject. “So, what about your mentor? What’s his name? What happened to him?” She asked rather abruptly. She was genuinely curious and even more so since Dian seemed reluctant to talk about it.
Tory looked warily at Ringulf as he climbed out of the water, hoping that not ALL his clothing was in the bundle on the bank. She sighed in relief as she saw he was wearing some swimming trunks. Then she flushed red as Ringulf called back, "Well we are in mixed company Miss Waterton!" He said with another of his characteristic snickers. “Dang it. He sure does have good hearing.”
___
Rick was just about to leave his camp and go in search of a particular female ranger friend of his when he saw Bunt come striding up to his camp. He nodded to the older ranger, “Hi there Bunt. How have you been?”
Bunt shook his hand, “Howdy Rick. Doing fine, ‘cept for that darn cold up north there. Crowley’s got me in Caraway now ya know. Far cry from Greenfield and the south where I been pretty much my whole life.” Bunt answered. “The summer is nice up there though, not so darn humid and temps are downright pleasant.”
Rick nodded, wisely not commenting on the weather. He came from much farther south as well, but his childhood home had been the edge of the plains right along the mountains and he had frequently gone hunting in the mountains, so was used to the colder weather. Besides that he had been stationed in several different fiefs through the years, many of them a bit closer on the northern side of the Kingdom. Araulen could get rather cold in the winter too, but Rick liked the cold and snow. The ladies tended to snuggle a lot closer in the winter time.
“So you need some herbs or something? I got some of that mix that eases joint pain if you are interested.” Rick asked, wondering what Bunt needed from him.
Bunt rubbed his jaw, “Now that would be right nice of yah. I could use a packet or two of them, along with some green tea and chamomile if’n ya can spare them.” Bunt watched as Rick pulled out a large rucksack and sat it on the nearest log near the campfire pit. “Tha’s not what I came fer, though.”
Rick looked at him sideways and raised an eyebrow, and then he remembered Dian. “Ah, then I guessed right. Crowley’s assigning that cute new girl to you, isn’t he?”
“Seems like he is,” Bunt confirmed, “but isn’t she a bit young fer you, Rick? I know you have a way with the ladies, but really, from what Crowley said, she’s practically a baby.”
Rick chuckled. “She isn’t that young, but yes she is too young for me, but that doesn’t mean she’s not cute.” Rick handed him four little packets that were labeled with charcoal on their cheesecloth wrappings. “I wouldn’t ever try anything with her or anyone of these new apprentice girls, but all women like a bit of harmless flirting. It builds up their self-esteem.”
Bunt looked at him doubtfully, “if you say so. I bow to your expertise in the area.” He sniffed the packets and then tucked them into his shirt, the belt around his waist keeping them from falling right through to the ground. “Thanks fer these. My joints are gonna be singing yer praises come this winter now I have this stuff to ease the swelling.” Bunt patted one of the bags through his shirt. He reached into his coin pouch and flipped Rick a gold piece. “That oughta cover yer troubles for growing an’ harvestin’ all them herbs. Now tell me about this girl.”
Rick examined the coin for a minute, knowing if he gave it back, Bunt would protest. He finally slid it into his own pouch around his neck and considered Bunt’s request. “Well, her name is Dian and seems something happened to her original mentor, though I am not sure what. Crowley didn’t go into any details. She is a bit shy and timid, but has an inquisitive mind and seems to catch on to things very quickly. She did okay riding that big galoote of a horse on the way out here, but there is probably a lot more she could learn in the riding department. I am not sure where she is in skill with a bow or her knives since I have not seen her shoot or anything. She is quiet and listens and has good observation skills.” Rick said thoughtfully. Then he smiled, “Crowley felt she would be more comfortable with an old coot like you than myself, or I would have insisted on mentoring her.”
Bunt looked at him indignantly, “Old Coot, huh? Humph. I was going to ask you to be on my team, but now I am not so sure, with a comment like that.” Bunt crossed his arms over his chest. “I think Crowley is a very wise man, even if he is loosing his edge.” The corners of Bunt’s mouth quirked up.
“Your team? What are you talking about?” Rick asked him.
Bunt explained about the bet between him and Crowley. “I could sure use ya, if yer interested. I need a good tracker to catch him.” Bunt winked.
“Sure, sounds like fun.” Rick grinned. “Besides I have always wanted to get one over on Ole Crowley and I can really put that young lady’s tracking skills to the test. I hear some say she is better than I. It will be interesting to find out if it is true.”
“Great! We start day after tomorrow. Now where is that new apprentice of mine?” Bunt asked.
“At the swimming hole near the waterfall with Ringulf and a group of young ones.” Rick pointed in the general direction.
“Thanks!” Bunt said, shook Rick’s hand again and then strode off toward the lake. He reached it just as Ringulf got nearly to the top of the rocks and prepared to launch himself over the side again. As was his usual way, Bunt held back, leaning against a tree, though not really trying to hide himself and watched the group of girls for a moment, trying to pick out which one was to be his second apprentice. He hoped Ivy was going to get along with the new girl. He’d had a belly full of aches from the friction between Ivy and Tory while Tory was healing up. He saw Tory talking to another girl and then saw Mylia arrive and join them. The one Tory had been talking to must be his apprentice, Dian. He heard Tory ask her about her former mentor and strained to hear the reply. ‘This could be interesting,’ he thought, hoping Dian would shed some light on that mystery.
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dian
Apprentice Scribe
this status thing reminds me of Facebook
Posts: 100
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Post by dian on Jul 14, 2011 0:43:46 GMT -5
“That big guy is Ringulf. He is Skandian. He isn’t my mentor exactly.” Tory said with a half grin. “He is Mylia’s mentor and I am just kind of along for the ride.” She chuckled. “Actually it is kind of complicated. My current mentor is on leave of absence and my former mentor is wanted for murder – though I still think he was set up or is under deep cover or something. I just can’t believe he killed that couple just for their money.” She wasn’t really explaining things very well, but at least Dian would know that her own background in the Ranger Corps was not exactly normal. “Ringulf is pretty cool though. He likes to joke around a lot, pretty much the opposite of Patrick. He is a good teacher too, though some of what he teaches is not exactly traditional ranger material. Mylia is great. She is my best friend. I think you are going to like her.” Dian hadn't known Skandians were aloud in the ranger corpse, but then again, ever since Will Treaty had befriended the Skandians everything had been changing.
Finally she answered Dian’s last question, “Yeah he splashed me earlier. I think it may be his rather unusual way of trying to get me into the water. He seems to think my fear of rivers is some personal vendetta that he must overcome or something.” Tory said with a roll of her eyes. “Personally I don’t see what the problem is. I have a perfectly legitimate reason to hate rivers; every time I get on one or try to cross one, it tries to drown me. Seriously!” Tory looked to see how Dian was reacting. “I haven’t met a river yet that I liked and this waterfall may be in a lake, but that water there could seriously injure someone. Look how far down those bubbles are getting pushed and it is churning in all directions. If you get caught in that current you could get sucked down deep and drown before anyone could help you.” Tory shuddered as she watched the water moving under the waterfall.
“I can swim just fine. I used to like swimming – before that first time I drowned. I just have really bad luck on rivers. The last one had river pirates that attacked us and Ringulf was nearly killed. That’s how I got this scar too.” Tory lifted up the side of her under shirt and showed Dian part of the long scar from the sword blade. “That nasty pirate sliced me from the side while I was fighting a buddy of his. Ringulf killed the guy just as I passed out and then I guess we ran aground and we were all thrown from the ship and into the sand.” Tory’s memory of that day was a bit gabled. “The mast fell on top of Ringulf and if he hadn’t been on top of me, squishing me into the mud, it probably would have killed me.” Dian's face moved to an expression of awe. She didn't even think twice about Tory not trusting rivers, if something like that had happened to her she would have a similar re-action. The scar alone would have made Dian shut up about Tory's fear, Dian was still learning about the ranger trade, and from what she did know Tory had done something most apprentices would never do. Mentally she shook her head, how in the world would she very compete with the people around her. Right now, "wow," was all Dian could say.
“So, what about your mentor? What’s his name? What happened to him?” Mentally Dian swore. She had set herself up for this question, prompting Tory to ask that question. She took a quick glance around, not moving her head, and noticed another Apprentice had come by, along with Tam. 'Why is everyone here to hear my story!' she thought, even though she knew they hadn't come to her and Tory for JUST that reason. She bit her lip trying to decide where to begin.
"My mentor he... he..." She was fumbling with her words. So far Crowley and her fiefs Baron had been the only people she had told what happened. After she had told Crowley, he had had the courtesy to make sure she didn't have to re-tell the story. She decided she would tell the people, they were going to ask her anyway, after a second to put together her thoughts she said, "He went missing not to long ago. We were tracking the woods, since I hadn't become to good at it yet, when a villager from a nearby village came by asking for help. To hear him say it there was a large man in front of town that was ransacking the helpless villagers. My mentor didn't want me to get hurt so he sent me to the cottage and told me to make sure there was supper left over for him." She faltered at this point, remembering the caring in his eyes.
When she had taken a few more breaths she continued, "I went back and ate supper without him. It became late and I was growing tired, but wanted to see the return of my mentor, so I stayed up until I fell asleep in the chair I was in. When I woke up my mentor had not returned yet, so I set off in the direction of the village the man had mentioned. When I got there the town looked perfectly fine, it looked like nothing had happened. I went into the nearest building, which happened to be an inn, and asked if they had seen a ranger or a very large man at all yesterday. When the innkeeper said that he hadn't I knew something was wrong."
Dian easily could have ended the story there, no one would have bothered her. They all would have left her with her pain, but Dian wanted to finish the story, now that she had started she didn't want to stop, "I decided to look around the town, being as careful a possible, I didn't want to be found lurking around otherwise I could have been taken by whoever, or whatever, had taken or distracted my mentor. Not too long after starting, I found a scrap of fabric hanging onto a tree, it was part of a Ranger's Cloak. Whose else could it be accept my mentor's? I tried to go in the general direction of where I thought they'd been going until I came across a river. There I lost all tracks and any lead to where my mentor may have gone. Immediately I followed the river back to the castle where I informed the Baron of what happened. When Crowley came I told him and showed him what I had done." Unintentional she looked over by the campsite. She hadn't thrown out the small piece of fabric, instead she had it stored in her pack until she could think of what she could use it for, when she looked she thought she saw something moving, but dismissed it as an animal of some sort. Right then Dian blushed, "To be quite honest, I don't know his name. I was to afraid to ask it, and I guess I tuned out if the Baron or Crowley ever said it in front of me," At that she forced a smile towards Tory. As an after thought she said, "I guess that I've had problems with rivers too." Tears almost blinded her, but she didn't let them run down her cheeks, they would think it was weird if she cried about someone, whose name she didn't know and had only known for a month. Instead she moved to the edge of the sand bar did a quick dive in, the tears washing away, and then came back next to Tory to hear her comments. She wasn't about to run away from any sympathy, or lack there of, that anyone was going to give her.
(ooc: If I'm not mistaken Mylia and Tam came to the sand bar, If i'm wrong just ignore it)
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Solo
Apprentice Cook
No! Seriously?
Posts: 82
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Post by Solo on Jul 14, 2011 7:14:21 GMT -5
"..........Oh, for twas Johnny on the moor!" Jango finished softly singing the third verse stopped as he rode into the Gathering Grounds, a wide grin on his face as he pulled up his black and white paint to observe the goings-on. Beside him, Rye drew Tricksy to a halt and eyed the hubbub ahead of them.
"Well, This is it--the wide and wonderful world of the Ranger's Gathering."
Rye glanced at his temporary companion having quickly learned that the man had the heart and attitude of an actor, and knowing that he could play any part to the proverbial hilt. Seeing that he had at least a partially serious look in his eyes, Rye relaxed a bit. "You said that Rangers like to play jokes on each other--how come no one tried anything on us yet?"
"Ha! They don't even know I'm anywhere near the vicinity! But they will in a moment." Jango added cheerfully. He nudged Whatever forward and lifted his voice in song once more, quietly at first, but on the last line, he belted out the lyrics at full volume. "...Rode Johnny on the moor!"
Rye saw one Ranger look up, glance around, and spot them riding into the outskirts of the camp. He gave a yelp of surprise and dashed away toward a small cluster of Rangers standing under the shade of a large oak tree. Getting their attention, he pointed toward the two riders with an urgency that Jango found himself appreciating. "Now you'll see the fun begin." Jango said with relish.
He rode up the small group and stopped, swinging one leg over so that he was seated sideways in the saddle and with great flourish announced, "Hail, great colleagues and fellow friends. I and my boon companion, after a long and arduous journey, have finally arrived to participate in this auspicious event of much magnitude--especially since it only comes but once a year. We have traveled long upon a most treacherous road, in drenching rain and sweltering heat to reach this place of refuge and good company. May your arrows fly true, your hearts burn fiercely bright for truth and justice always, may your hospitality never fail, and may your thought processes and cherished common sense never depart hence from your heads."
There was a moments silence as the small group before them digested all that, then one said, "Wow, that just may be the largest load of garbage I've heard from you yet." Another one asked,"Did you just insult us?"
Jango widened his eyes and clapped a hand dramatically over his heart. "What? Moi? Insult you? Why Halt, I am wounded that you would even think that! I wouldn't insult any of you, would I?"
Rye lowered his head, hoping that the men before them would forget that he and Jango had ridden in together.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 15, 2011 14:43:14 GMT -5
“Hi Mylia! That is Dian” Tory said as Dian dove into the water suddenly. Tory suspected why, but felt it better to pretend she didn’t notice the tears in Dian’s eyes. “She is brand new and was telling us about her first mentor.” Tory waited until Dian resurfaced and then it was Tory’s turn to say to Dian, “Wow! So they are still out looking for him?” She asked. “That is terrible, but I can relate. I have no idea where Patrick is or how he is. He sent me back to Araluen to Crowley with a couple of Scouts because he was afraid I would get hurt while he was on the run.” Tory glared at the water swirling around her thighs. She had sunk back into the sand again until her feet and ankles were buried. “I am pretty sure he is alive though, or there would have been some kind of announcement if they had caught him.”
Tory pulled one foot out and then the other, backing up a step to get on top of some slightly firmer sand. She was ready to hit the bank as soon as she saw Ringulf was about to launch himself from the heights above. She looked up to see what his progress was as she asked, “So you are getting assigned to a new mentor here then? Do you know who that is going to be?”
Bunt, who had been watching the exchange from the edge of the trees, stepped forward, taking a few steps toward Ringulf’s pile of clothing just to give the girls a chance to notice him. He didn’t want them jumping out of their skin. Then when he saw Tory flick her gaze to him he said, “That would be me, poor girl.” He turned toward Dian as he eyed the water, then knelt and stuck a finger in it. It was fairly cold and crisp and he wondered how any of them were able to endure it. Standing up he glanced up at Ringulf and then backed up several paces in a hurry to avoid the incoming wave that was inevitable. “Hi there, Lass, my name’s Bunt, Bunt Levinsson and it seems Crowley is assignin’ me to ya at least until we find out what happened to yer mentor.”
Tory grinned, “Hi there, Sir! How have you been since we left Caraway?” She too was keeping an eye on Ringulf, having no wish to be mowed over by another wave.
“Hi there Miss Tory an’ I tole ya a long time ago ta jes’ call me Bunt.” He said with a grin, “Ya know I don’ stand on formalities.”
Tory turned to Dian, “You are lucky. Of all the ranger’s I have met Tandar, Bunt and Ringulf are the nicest!” She wasn’t just saying that because Bunt was standing right there, she really meant it, even though she had a particular fondness for Patrick because he rescued her, she knew he didn’t fall into the category of ‘nicest ranger’ no matter how much you sugar coated things. “But, Bunt, what about Ivy? Are you going to have two apprentices just like Ringulf?” Tory asked the older ranger.
Bunt nodded. “Peers like it. I sure hope you an’ Ivy git along okay, unlike some other girls I know.” Bunt looked pointedly at Tory who blushed and looked down at her feet sinking into the sand again. “Boys are easier. Jes’ let ‘em go out and knock the snot out of each other an they are all friendly agin, but girls…” Bunt shook his head and ran a hand across his stubbly gray beard.
Tory looked up indignantly, “We worked it out – eventually!” She retorted, almost mentioning that Ivy had started the whole mess, but upon reflection that wasn’t exactly fair. Tory had been just as much a part of their conflict as Ivy. In the end though, they had called a truce. She wasn’t sure they were exactly friends, but they were at least civil to each other. “Is Ivy around here?”
Bunt nodded again. “She’s lurking ‘bout somewheres I expect,” he said and then turned back to Dian. “I understand yer camping with that dashing young buck, Greenriver.” He said it more as a statement and didn’t miss the choking noise Tory made or her muffled comment, ‘young?’ but chose to ignore them. “I haven’t set up camp yet, so I will join ya there, even though it gits rather rowdy round his camp at night.” He crossed his arms and waited for a reply from Dian, noticing she seemed to be rather timid. After a moment of silence he said gently, “Ya don’ need ta be afraid o’ me, girl. I don’ bite – normally.” He cackled. “So I imagine ya haven’ gotten very far in yer training, havin’ only been in a month, eh? Ya shot a bow yet and do ya have a ranger horse yet?”
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dian
Apprentice Scribe
this status thing reminds me of Facebook
Posts: 100
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Post by dian on Jul 15, 2011 17:16:47 GMT -5
“Yah they are still looking” Dian said, wringing out her hair, which didn’t do much since she had such a mass of hair. Strands fell into Dian’s face as Tory continued her train of thought. “I hope both of them are O.K.” Dian muttered when Tory had finished. She gave a glance to Mylia, trying to figure out her reaction. “So you are getting assigned to a new mentor here then? Do you know who that is going to be?” Dian had just said “Yeah…” but a voice cut her off. Her eyes widened as she turned around, it was another Ranger. She wondered if the movement she’d seen had been him.
“That would be me, poor girl.” Dian assumed the ‘poor girl’ was her, she almost raised her eyebrows, but guessed her story had been pretty sad. “Hi there, Lass, my name’s Bunt, Bunt Levinsson and it seems Crowley is assignin’ me to ya at least until we find out what happened to yer mentor.” Well the mystery had been solved, the ranger in front of her was going to be her mentor. She thought Bunt was an odd name but didn’t comment on it. She was glad he had come out with his name, otherwise she might not have had the courage to ask.
“You are lucky. Of all the ranger’s I have met Tandar, Bunt and Ringulf are the nicest!” Dian felt relieved at that, ‘Thank God’ she whispered under her breath, her lips barely moving. “But, Bunt, what about Ivy? Are you going to have two apprentices just like Ringulf?” Tory asked the older ranger. Ivy, who was Ivy? She’d have to remember that name, especially since she might be living with her for a while.
Bunt nodded. “Peers like it. I sure hope you an’ Ivy git along okay, unlike some other girls I know.” Bunt looked pointedly at Tory who blushed and looked down at her feet sinking into the sand again. “Boys are easier. Jes’ let ‘em go out and knock the snot out of each other an they are all friendly agin, but girls…” Bunt shook his head and ran a hand across his stubbly gray beard. Dian understood, living where she had there had been plenty of girls, all who tried, one way or another, to pick on Dian. Dian didn’t hold grudges well and tried to forgive them, but for some reason they almost never accepted her forgiveness
From what Bunt, and eventually Tory had said about Ivy, she wondered if she would get along with her. She thought not and continued to listen. When Bunt turned his attention back to her, she almost said exactly what Tory had said, but she thought repeating it would have been unnecessary, no matter how fun. Dian was glad that Bunt would stay near her, she didn’t want to have to deal with the tent, let alone that demon steed. “Yes, I’m camping with him,” She said just because it seemed like the thing to do.
“Ya don’ need ta be afraid o’ me, girl. I don’ bite – normally.” He cackled. “So I imagine ya haven’ gotten very far in yer training, havin’ only been in a month, eh? Ya shot a bow yet and do ya have a ranger horse yet?” Needless to say, Dian was still afraid, but the humor of an old joke did lighten that fear. ‘Well, I just hope your bark is worse than your bight’ She breathed, fear eminent in her voice. She didn’t know what it was, but being near all of these other rangers, without her former mentor, made her nervous and afraid. “I have shot a bow before, but I don’t have good accuracy,” Her bow and knives (three knives counting the one her mother had given her) along with a few other things of hers, like her necklace, where near the shore. As an answer to the second question she said, “No I haven’t gotten a Ranger Horse.” At home, her mother had a few ponies until she resold them when they became useless to her. Before that however Dian and her father use to ride together, him on his giant battle horse (not to different than the one she rode here on) and her on an itsey pony, though never more than a trot. Before she could stop herself she asked Bunt, “I never got what was special about Ranger horses, no one ever told me, what makes them different than a normal horse?” Immediately she looked down, as if an interesting fish had caught her eye, and like that she waited for Bunt’s answer.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jul 15, 2011 22:17:08 GMT -5
Bunt’s knees were aching a bit and so he looked around and found a nice rock not too far from the bank to sit on. Hopefully it would be out of reach of any waves generated by great big Skandian rangers taking suicide leaps off of cliffs, he thought with another glance in Ringulf’s direction. He eased down onto the rock, adjusting the bow slung over his shoulder in its oiled leather sleeve and holster.
“A very good question, My Dear,” Bunt smiled at her, “and don’ ya ever be afraid ta ask me something if’n ya got something buzzing ‘round on yer mind. The only dumb question is the one that was never asked.” He might regret that later on, knowing how young people seemed to have an insatiable curiosity, but Dian was going to need some coaxing to get her over being afraid to speak her mind. Getting her to ask questions should be a good way to get her over that initial fear of human contact.
“Ranger horses are highly trained. What makes ‘em so different though is the training itself. They learn special commands and are taught to do things horses don’t ordinarily do – like walk so softly ya can hardly hear ‘em, or stomp their feet inta tha ground ta make it seem as if someone is ridin’ them when there ain’t anyone on their back.” Bunt answered. “Yer horse will be yer best friend an’ tha main one ya can count on when ya git in trouble.” Bunt noticed Tory was nodding her head in assent.
“They also are smaller then yer battle horses and even many riding horses. They come from special breedin’ stock; ya should ask Halt to tell ya where the stock came from sometime.” Bunt chuckled as some private joke. “They’re super smart an’ can run for a long time if’n ya pace ‘em. They also are courageous and fiercely loyal. Generally tha horse picks tha ranger, not tha other way ‘round.”
“I can teach ya a bit about the ranger horses an’ I do okay ridin’ after all these years, but Low Belly is a bit of an unusual ranger horse.” Bunt pointed at Tory, “If’n ya want some ridin’ lessons, though that’s tha girl ta talk to. She ride’s like she was born on tha back o’ a horse.”
Tory blushed again, looking a bit sheepish at the praise. “Not really, I just relate to them, that’s all. They like me and I like them.” Tory mumbled. “The stable is where I hid out when things got bad there in Meric.” She looked away then, hiding the haunted look that always came into her eyes when she thought about Meric and the abuse she’d suffered there.
When she had her emotions under control she looked back to Dian, “I might be able to give you some pointers though if you would like. Speaking of riding,“ Tory turned to Tam, “I saw you riding in earlier. You are getting much better! You almost looked like you were enjoying it for a bit there.” She teased him. “It seems you and Horse have finally reached an understanding.” She had noticed that his riding was a lot better than when they’d first met. She remembered him jumping off of his ranger horse, who he had named ‘Horse’, and running into the trees back in Gallica when she and Patrick had crossed paths with Rick and Tam at the Grizzly’s encampment. Tam had some serious issues staying on his ranger horse back then.
Tory looked back at Bunt, “Someone said there might be mounted archery drills tomorrow. I heard they canter past the target and shoot at it. Will they let apprentices do that?”
Bunt looked surprised, this was the first he’d heard of it. “Normally we stop our horses an’ shoot from a stand still if’n we don’ think it’s safe enough ta dismount. Yer accuracy is way better if’n ya ain’t on a movin’ horse.” Bunt answered, “But I suppose if anyone is a’doin’ it like that at a full canter, then it would be open ta rangers and apprentices. That’s jes a guess, mind you.”
“Good, because I have been practicing that when Ringulf wasn’t looking.” Tory said softly. “I wasn’t sure if we were allowed to even try it. I can’t wait to see the others doing it.”
“I don’ know of anyone of us rangers that do shoot like that, though I have seen Master Ian and a few Scouts shoot while their horse is movin’.” Bunt said thoughtfully, stroking his chin again. “I believe I would like ta see that as well!” he said with a grin. “So, Dian, ya got anything else yer burnin’ ta ask about?” Bunt said with a smile.
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Post by Firehead on Jul 16, 2011 16:17:08 GMT -5
“Hi Mylia! That is Dian” Tory said as Dian dove into the water suddenly. Tory suspected why, but felt it better to pretend she didn’t notice the tears in Dian’s eyes. “She is brand new and was telling us about her first mentor.”
Mylia flashed both of them a wide friendly smile. "Hi, Tory!" When Dian resurfaced, Mylia said, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Dian. I'm Mylia. It seems like you do alright in the water. Let's hope I can do half as well." She gave a wry grin and waded deeper into the water. Once waist-deep, she took a deep breath and shoved off. Ringulf had been teaching her to swim in Marshwood, but she still felt a little out of sorts in the water. It took some getting used to.
"Well suite yourself young man but I know I have always been curious to see what the glitter was that came from inside that hole, I just can't get inside it because I am too damn big! Hey Mylia come on in the water is great...just ask Tory!" he said with a snicker. "I am climbing up for another dive!"
Tamlin watched the big Ranger go scrambling back up the cliff, then dived under the surface again. He headed toward the cliff face, and swam behind the waterfall before coming up for breath again. Nearly choking on the spray, Tam turned his back to the waterfall. It was easier to breath in without inhaling all that water this way. Once he had caught his breath, Tam looked up and studied the rock face before him. It was rough in places, but worn smooth by the water in others, especially close to the waterline.
Tam took a deep gulp of air and dived back under, planning to swim back into the open. Ringulf should have finished making waves from his latest dive off the cliff by now.
He saw the shadowy line of the ledge out of the corner of his eye, and curiosity made him turn toward it. He swam closer to examine it, then went up for a breath of air. He resurfaced, still behind the waterfall, its' roaring waters nearly drowning out all sound. Gazing out through the moving curtain, Tam saw that Ringulf had yet to make his appearance in the water thus far. Taking in another deep breath, Tam dove back under. Might as well wait it out by amusing himself.
He reached the ledge and swam quickly along it, keeping one hand on it to follow it closely, as he swam into shadowed waters. Looking up toward the surface, he saw that he was now under another outcropping of rock... Under a shelf. Solid rock above him less than six inches, and gritty lake floor beneath him by about two, he estimated, digging his fingers into the lake bottom and pulling himself forward with his hands while kicking with his feet to keep himself balanced. He crept farther under the shelf, into the tunnel.
The tunnel went upward at a very slow gradual slope, and became more constricted as he went on. Eventually, it became so, that his shoulders brushed the walls on both sides, and grazed lightly against his back from above. Tam pulled himself closer to the sandy bottom, continuing onward. The gradual slope became more pronounced, then suddenly went upward at a steep angle, so sharply, in fact, that Tam halted and put his hand up above him to see if he'd reached a dead end. When he realized that he hadn't, he pushed himself forward and upward, now feeling his way along in total blackness.
His lungs were burning and his entire body was starting to cry for air. Tam felt one tiny corner of his brain starting to panic, trying to tell him that for all he knew, This tunnel leveled out again before it reached the surface, and went on and on without ever doing so. How long had he been underwater for? Tam shoved the thoughts away, tamping them down, knowing that if he panicked now, he would never get out of this tunnel alive.
The water temperature grew suddenly much colder, and then Tam burst up to the surface. It was so sudden that he gasped. Luckily, he wasn't under the surface anymore. The air was crisp, sharp, and slightly colder than refreshingly cool, but it was the sweetest air that Tam had ever breathed.
As the burning in his lungs subsided, Tam treaded water and tried to look about him at his surroundings. But it was too dark to even see the hand in front of his face, let alone what was around him in this subterranean cave. Swimming hesitantly forward, Tam listened closely for any sign of where dry land might be. Than he stopped, and turned back the way he had come. For all he knew, he might be swimming away from the land, not toward it. He listened intently for any sound that might give him some clue. There was the steady, though slightly inconsistent, sound of water dripping somewhere to his left....The sound of his breathing and the sound of his heart beating within his chest. His strained his hearing, listening harder. Nothing. He splashed the water hard, making a wave. It rolled soundlessly away from him. He listened hard, hoping to hear it splash up against the shore that he hoped was somewhere in this dark water. Nothing.
He wondered if this had been the best of ideas. Probably not. For one thing, he should have brought matches. In a waterproof oilskin. It was a little late to be thinking of that, now, though. Tam took a deep breath and dove under the surface. It was time to leave this place, and go back to the open, free world, where he belonged.
He reached out his hand to feel for the bottom, to find the tunnel, remembering that he had swum a few feet from where he'd originally surfaced. When his fingers brushed the bottom, he leveled out and swam forward slowly, using his free hand to feel ahead of him for any sudden rises in the cave floor. Unlike the lake bottom, which had been sandy, the cave floor was rock, through and through. Tam felt a sudden dip in the cave floor and followed it, thinking that it was the tunnel. But it was merely a small pothole in the cave floor, going down only a foot in depth.
Tam resurfaced. Now he found himself faced with a dilemma, one that, if he didn't guess right, would find his bones resting on this cave floor, a few years hence. If there was one pothole, there were most likely others, and what was to say that this whole cave floor was not pitted with similar such holes? He had to find the true tunnel, or he would be in here for years. And he didn't have years--he had hours. Maybe a couple of days, if he were lucky enough not to succumb to the chill. Already he was starting to shiver, though whether it was from cold or fear, he had no idea.
He dove under again, and reached the cave floor in short order. Now he began a slow wide circle on the cave floor, hoping to discover the tunnel in short order. A few seconds later, he came across another hole in the rock, and pulled himself into it. A few feet down, and it ended abruptly. Tam pushed down and headed back up to the surface once again.
For quite some time, Tam wasn't sure how long, he dove, searched, found, tried, failed, and resurfaced again, and again. Despair tried to seep into his mind and sought to rob him of his will and strength to go on. He continued to shove it aside, and ignore it, but as time went on, it became harder and harder to do. He stubbornly continued to battle it: Each time he resurfaced, despair at his failure rose up over his head like a cloud tempting him to give in. Each time, he chose to dive under again, telling himself, Just once more--then maybe I'll give up.
And then, he found a ole that seemed to go on forever. As he followed it down, hope blossomed to life within his chest. Perhaps this time he'd finally found it! But....As he continued downward, Tam felt that something about the tunnel was wrong. Shouldn't the tunnel have leveled out a bit by now? Just then his hand banged into the bottom, and he stopped. Felt around the perimeter. Solid rock. Tam pushed himself backward, toward the surface again, his heart thudding heavily in his chest, hope dimming rapidly down to ashes.
Lungs beginning to burn, he resurfaced once more and drooped his head, defeat weighing heavily on his shoulders. Am I ever going to get out of here? Will I ever see the sky again? What time is it, now? I sure hope Rick isn't panicking over me...yet. I don't want him to panic over me, he panics over me enough as it is. Tam lifted his head and determination brought a spark back into his eyes. I can't give up yet.
So determined, Tam dove under once again. Down, he dove to the cave floor, moving along it with an agility born of much recent practice, feeling for the next ever-present hole in the floor. A short moment later, he found it, and once centered over it, went up to the surface for a short breather. And then he went under again, catching the lip of the hole, and pushing himself into it, one hand going ahead of him to feel the way.
He continued down a ways, then the hole bent at an angle, moving into a gentle downward slope. The hole widened gradually, and Tam followed the roof of the tunnel as he continued onward. Was it his imagination, or was it lighter up ahead? Was that rushing sound he heard water falling into a poll, or just the rushing of his blood through his body? He pushed onward. Then, suddenly, the roof ended, rising up at a vertical angle. The rushing sound became a roaring, and then Tam burst up out of the water, into the free air. Wiping his eyes and blinking rapidly a few times, he looked around and then upward.
Moonlight showed through the trees in the east as it crested the horizon. The stars were begining to show themselves, as the sun sank on the horizon to the west. Tam struck out for the nearest shore. It was high time to collect his shirt and start the short hike back to the Gathering Grounds. And since it wasn't quite dark yet, Rick might not realize Tam had been...absent for longer than normal.
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dian
Apprentice Scribe
this status thing reminds me of Facebook
Posts: 100
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Post by dian on Jul 18, 2011 14:08:13 GMT -5
thating"The only dumb question is the one th was never asked.”[/b] Dian almost smiled at that. She could definitely come up with some dumb questions if she wanted too, but she didn't want to bother the Ranger. She had never known a single thing about what Bunt said next, but she tried to remember it all, knowing it might be useful when she herself. “If’n ya want some ridin’ lessons, though that’s tha girl ta talk to. She ride’s like she was born on tha back o’ a horse.” Dian looked to Tory hopefully. Her face was just asking for those lessons. She wanted to be able to ride a ranger horse, and learning from Tory seemed like an awesome idea.
“Not really, I just relate to them, that’s all. They like me and I like them.” Tory mumbled. “The stable is where I hid out when things got bad there in Meric.” Dian was a little bit confused at the last part, but she didn't care. "That doesn't mean your not a great rider! You can help me though, can't you?" she said hopefully. "I might be able to give you some pointers though if you would like." Dian felt like smiling, but she was getting so cold in the water that her teeth where shivering. Tory and Bunt went on talking about shooting, something Dian hadn't had to much of a chance to practice, let alone while riding a horse. She looked around when they finished talking realized Tam disappeared. Dian shrugged it off figuring he was going to dive again or something. Dian hadn't wanted to be rude earlier but she now asked, "Sir, why exactly did you come here if you aren't going to swim?" Dian already had a pretty good Idea, but she wanted to make sure she was right.
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