Apologize to the Tree
9/24/2005
07:35 PM
Logfile from GarouMUSH.
Currently the moon is in the waning Half Moon phase (57% full).
It is currently 19:31 Pacific Time on Sat Sep 24 2005.
Small Creek
A small creek, no more than a mere trickle, winds through the forest. Small pebbles shine wetly as the water flows past them. The creek has worn a slight indentation into the forest floor and tree roots can be seen poking out of the soil near the creek. Moss grows on the banks of the creek, and the occasional mushroom can be seen sticking out from the soil near the roots of a tree. Scurrying sounds can be heard through the underbrush, probably from field mice or other small woodland critters.
The forest looms over the creek on all sides, looking mysterious and foreboding.
Contents:
Mad-Dog
Obvious exits:
Forest
Mad-Dog sits between the trunks of a huge tree, slouched over and panting like a dog on a hot summer's day. The tree itself has been torn almost completely of its bark from the waste up to the crinos' head. Not to mention that it's been bit several times with his huge canines engraved in the bark as he tore it off with his fangs. His ears are laid defensively against his head while his eyes still have that glossy finish about them.
The smell of fresh tree sap is one quite common, but the presence of a largely stripped tree... is not. Runner follows her nose towards the scent that of the cub, and while she looks a little tired herself, is alert enough to notice who it is and the aftermath. The fostern cocks her head, and utters a simple querying chuff. What happened here?
Mad-Dog hair rises at the back of his neck, his fur ruffling up as his lips pull back into a snarl. Suddenly, realizing that it is only Runner, his personality suddenly gets pulled back by an invinicble leash and the crinos whimpers softly. ~I don't know.~ he says, panting. ~Resists-Dance pissed me off and I stormed off...~ His eyes look at Runner, ears flattening. ~I am sorry. You are not mad?~ He looks terribly guilty. ~Resists-Dance make me angry, I wanted to hurt him.~
Runner walks up to the tree, nose sniffing here and there around it and then sitting down upon her haunches beside it. The ragabash slowly shakes her head in unwolf-like gesture. No, I am not mad at you. The tree is, though. She indicates the clawed and chewed on plant. What did Resists-the-Dance do?
[look Mad-Dog (crinos)]
This creature is a large, towering, and monstrous figure made up from a child's worst nightmare. His massive head looks like a canine's with the striking grey and white patterns of a husky with a massive ape-like figure. His form is a huge, hulking, massive creature that stands at nearly nine feet tall and weighs twice the size as he would in glabro. Sloping back across his broad forehead is a pair of tall, tented and black-tipped ears from which behind them a thick mane of fur tumbles down his broad, muscular back. His enormous canine-shaped muzzle is set with an array of sharp, white fangs. The rest of his long furred coat is a continuation of that husky pattern, with pronounced talons, long and muscular arms, and ape-like form that is suitable for running on all fours. His tail sticks out from behind, occasionally sweeping about.
Mad-Dog looks at the tree and his brows grow furrowed and the crinos looks even more heartbroken for the poor tree. ~Resists-Dances does things to make me mad.~ the large Ahroun replies. ~He acts like everything other than a Gnawer. He called Ladder-Climber a wuss and lots of other things. He always does thinks that makes me angry. He has a big mouth and a big brain but with no common-sense.~
Runner rumbles sympathetically. What do you think he acts like, if not a Gnawer? the fostern asks, also adding, What did Ladder-Climber do when he called her that?
Mad-Dog shakes himself. ~He's too scheming and he only thinks for himself and he does not think of others except for what he will get out of them.~ The young Gnawer flattens his head tighter against his head. ~Ladder-Climber ignored him but I said something to Resist-Dances. I said that he should not talk that way.~ His eyes look puppishly at Yi. ~How can I be brothers with family who I have bad vibes about?~
Runner's tail sweeps side to side, slow and curling as she thinks. How can you be brothers and not have bad feelings? Getting up, again, she circles around the tree, also eyeing the immediate surrounding vegetation. That kind of perfection is also strange to us, she tells the cub. Resists-the-Dance has many, many words. There is reason why he was called Long-Wind before earning this new name. She stops halfway poking around the tree. The question is would you trust him to guard your back? And also... do you think he would trust you to guard his?
Mad-Dog shakes his head. ~I do not know.~ he replies. He follows after Runnar, sniffing at things around him now that he has calmed.
Runner looks back to the ahroun. He longs for acceptance too, I am sure. Nothing pleases Resists-the-Dance more than knowing that he is needed, and that he is not powerless against what goes on around him. He is clever, and knows much, but maybe not as clever when dealing with others. It is a weakness of his. Many snarl at that weakness, and then do not look at his strengths.
Mad-Dog flattens his ears and nods his head. The large crinos sighs and rubs at his eye with his large paw and then flops over into the grass. He stretches out on his back, looking up into the sky has he thinks. His muzzle shows his confusion and worry openly. ~I think Resists-Dance wants to know where we sit, him and I.~ he rumbles. ~He wants to know which one of us is better... I think.~
Runner considers that thought, ears flickering. Do you know where you two sit? she asks.
Mad-Dog turns his head to one side. ~No,~ he replies bluntly. ~The elders have always stopped us.~
Stopped you? Runner echoes. Then she whuffs a sort of 'ah'. Yes. That would be because there are better ways of deciding who is the bigger dog than just biting each other's throats. The newmoon peers down at the laid back crinos, tongue lolling. Although, between two fullmoons that may be the only way they will find out. The pink tongue slurps back into her jaws. But what are you seeking to be better in? Strength? Cleverness? Honor? There are many things to contest.
Mad-Dog flickers his ears. ~How would that be determined?~ he asks.
Runner bobs her head to a side. That would be between you and Resists-the-Dance, wouldn't it? she replies. Which one of you feels like the challenger, and which one the challenged.
~I think we'd both go at each others throats before settling anything,~ Mad-Dog replies in a low growl. ~Maybe I should go to the barn and find him, settle this now.~
Runner licks the side of her muzzle. If it makes you feel better. But first... the ragabash interjects, You will apologize to this tree for hurting it so. You know from seeing the caern's Shadow. /All/ things have spirits. Especially the trees.
Mad-Dog rolls up to his feet and shifts into lupus. He asks how he is supposed to appologise to a tree's spirit.
Runner swishes her tail behind her, looking right back at the cub. What do you think you can do, to apologize to it?
Mad-Dog thinks really hard. He has to have extraordinary thinking to be able to come with a good answer. Plant some if its seeds? He looks at Runner, quirking an eyeridge.
Runner waits in patience, giving the cub time to think. At his answer, her head lifts, ears perking. The ragabash is evidently very pleased with the reply. That is a good apology, and will help the tree grow, if not in this stem, then in many more. A good answer. Very good.
Mad-Dog sniffs around for the tree's seeds and digs holes with his paws. He spends a good time making holes and burrying seedlings before he wanders back to his elder and bumps noses with her.
Runner watches the burials, meanwhile rearing up to inspect the tree's damage. When she drops back down, the ragabash notes with a little uncertainty, Trees are usually very strong. Even the strongest crinos would have to work to fell this one. It should survive a cub. She returns the bump with a wolfish smile. You can come back in the next days, see if they need help to grow and help them. Are you going to settle your fight with Resists-the-Dance now?
Mad-Dog bobs his head but asks that Runner comes too so that she can be the judge and make sure that the challenge is fair.
Runner looks amused. Ask a newmoon to judge for fairness? Beware of what you ask, the fostern whuffs, though her demeanor is reassuring. Go on. I will follow and make sure.
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