| Logs |
2013 July 31
| Neverneverwhere |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Taps Logs |
Key to My Heart
On the hilltop, it's obvious that people have been hard at work. There are boards laid down in a pathway to the hearth because the earth has become muddy. In some places it's downright marshy, but the embers are all out. Dominic has used his Tapping ability to firm the earth back up around the hearth itself and to lay down several of the chimney stones to make a small, even space for people to stand as they examine the box. Everything but the foundation stones of the hearth have been removed. The enormous iron strongbox is still in place atop the foundation, still mortared into place around the bottom edge.
Rattler is sitting under a tree with his back against the trunk and his head leaned back against it. Suraksha moves first to Rattler, kneeling next to him and gently laying a hand against his cheek, "How are you, sweet man?"
Rattler raises his head and gives her a tired but accomplished smile, "I'm good, cher. It was... difficult, coaxing de water up so high. It wants to go to de low places, you know." He chuckles and turns to kiss her palm, "Nice to have a challenge sometimes."
Suraksha laughs softly, her voice teasing, "Oh, so I'm no challenge any more, eh? Alas! My heart is broken!" She giggles, leaning to give her sweetheart a gentle kiss -- and to slip into his hands a small bag of some of the herbally spiced buffalo jerky that Buddy makes specially for the caravan Taps, to help them recover. "How's Dominic doing?"
Rattler smirks and makes a grab to pull her into his lap, "You a whole different sort of challenge, mon petite tigre." He takes the jerky with a grateful little smile, "Dominic been in his element." His eyes twinkle, knowing he's made a bad pun, "Dey like him sort of a lot here, I take it. He so practical."
Suraksha giggles, leaning against Rattler to nuzzle his cheek, "Flatterer! All right, I'll go check on him too if you don't need anything."
Rattler smiles and nods, "Go on. I'll rest up so I can help a little more later. Goan try dry out de muddy spots I made. Ought to be easier." Suraksha nods, giving Rattler a quick hug before rising to her feet. She patters over to Dominic next, though since he's still working she waits until he pauses for a breather. She'll just give him a quick hug and hand him his baggie of jerky too, smiling encouragingly and thanking him for his hard work in helping out here. Then she looks around for either Abishai or Vashti, wondering how they intend to open the strongbox's lock.
Both Vashti and Abishai are nearby; Abishai is showing Vashti something in a book. It's another of the small, leatherbound sort, though apparently Abishai has been writing in this one. He's pointing to the pages, then to the foundation stones, and even to the inscribed stone. Suraksha heads over and coughs politely to let them know she's there. Once they look to her she'll smile and hold out Vashti's book of prayers, "I hope I am not interrupting?"
Vashti looks much better rested, wearing clean clothes and with her hair pulled back into a neat braid. She takes the book and tucks it away, "Thank you. You're not interrupting at all. Abishai is just showing me the drawings he made of the hearth before it was dismantled, in case we need to reassemble it."
Suraksha says, "Oh, excellent idea!" She smiles at Abishai, adding, "Have you both been able to translate the runic text yet?" She grins at Vashti as she adds almost teasingly, "Goodness, you're looking much better!"
Vashti chuckles and shakes her head, "Not all of it, no. But I hope to have time after we have finished with all the rites tonight."
Suraksha nods at that, then glances over at the strongbox, "All right. So... how will the lock be opened?"
Abishai chuckles as well, "She wouldn't let me shoo her back off to bed." He nods to 'Chana, "We may have to break the lock. If there were keys, we haven't found them. They weren't on Malachai, and if they were in the house..."
Suraksha frowns thoughtfully, looking at the damp, ashy mess for a bit... then she looks at the two betas. "Have you thought about walking through in animal forms?"
Vashti says, "We're waiting for your Rattler to dry things up a bit. He says that it could be as dangerous for the moment as if it were hot. Something about unstable foundations with the mud."
Suraksha nods at that, "All right. I don't know if wolves have better noses than tigers, so I'll ask: have any of you tried scenting for the magical wolfskins yet?" She suspects they're all gone, of course. Without them, there's nothing past family bonds holding the wolf and human parts of the pack together... which means it's a good bet they'll lose cohesion in this upcoming generation.
Vashti shakes her head, "We haven't yet. Though one should be in your caravan. Malachai had it added your payment."
Suraksha is studying the mucky remains of the house, but at that her head jerks up in surprise to stare at Vashti, "Wait, what?! No, that can't be -- I returned it! Twice!"
Vashti shrugs, "He said it was the only way you would take it -- if you took it without knowing."
Suraksha stares at Vashti incredulously for several seconds, her lips parted in astonishment -- then can't help the short bark of laughter! "Are you telling me he intended to pay me with a priceless sacred relic of your people?!"
One corner of Vashti's mouth quirks up, "My grandfather could be stubborn." There's a twinkle of humor in her eye.
Suraksha rolls her eyes in amusement, "Okay, that's enough of that, then! I'll go fetch the wolfskin, and check and see if anyone at the caravan knows how to pick locks at the same time." She's shaking her head in bemused amusement as she moves over to where her sweetheart is still leaning against the tree. As she swiftly sheds her clothing she updates Roy on what she knows, then amusedly adds, "I'll likely need the tiger nose to find the skin, wherever it's stashed. Back in a bit, sweet man." She goes bounding easily off in tiger form across the fields, and swiftly arrives at the caravan.
Suraksha-tiger sniffs around carefully, searching for the distinct scent of an old wolfskin, and if Alg is there she'll ask for his help as well. He is, as always, quite happy to help his pretty lady do anything. WHen she's in this form he tends to clamber over her and chortle happily, like a small child with a very large dog. She chuckles at her old friend's delight in this shape, occasionally obligingly tossing him into the air or rubbing her chin affectionately against him.
With two good noses and a good idea where the trunks with payment have been stashed, it doesn't take long to find one cedarwood chest that carries the lingering scent of wolf. Suraksha chuffs amusedly to herself as they find the chest, then shifts shape and opens it to find the wolfskin. The chest is one filled mostly with fabrics and lace. The pelt itself has been wrapped up in the silk that 'Chana was so taken with when it was first offered as part of her price as hetaera. She'll pull it out with care, checking it over to make sure it is all right. It truly is priceless now, if it is the last one. Alg chuckles and snuffles at the fabric and the chest, nose wrinkling a little, "Smell bitter."
Suraksha tilts her head interestedly at Alg, gently ruffling his ears with one hand as she holds the skin with the other, "How so, dear?" She glances around, realizing she's nude and it's fall... and she still has to check for anyone that might be able to pick locks. Hmm, probably one of the elder Sokoloff kids... or maybe Alan? The small woman grins to herself as she carefully wraps the fur around herself for warmth. If any of Roy's bodyguard would have an "off" skill like that for legitimate reasons -- rather than simply being a former thief -- she'd guess Alan would be the one.
Alg's nose wrinkles, "Bitter. Like medicine." He turns his head and spits at the ground. The goblin is notorious for resisting Suze's medical mixtures when he's ill. The only bitter scent 'Chana got, though, reminded her somewhat of the herbal drink she was given. She nods slowly as she considers that time, and how it felt to be in that shape. She is somewhat bitter feeling herself about this skin -- she can't help but wonder if, had it been wrapped around the dying Malachai... it might have been powerful enough medicine to save his life.
Suraksha runs a small, dark-skinned hand over the thick, soft, golden fur. A magical item of incalculable worth in creating community for Friendsville... Sulochana simply cannot understand what caused Malachai to be so insistent on giving her this skin. Alg is snuffling and nuzzling at the fur-wrapped 'Chana. He likes it when his pretty lady is in an animal form -- he feels like he can rough house with her a little more then. That causes her to grin at Alg, gently ruffling his ears again, "What is it, dear? Does the fur smell bitter too? Or is it something else?"
Alg's nose wrinkles a little, "Bitter. Whole trunk smell bitter." He's shifting and bouncing a little, as if he's restless.
Suraksha tilts her head at Alg, then closes and refastens the chest, "All right, let's close it up, then, and just take back the skin." She bounces to her feet once she's done and grins down at Alg, "Race you to find either Alan or one of the Sokoloff twins!" That, she figures, will help Alg feel better -- he always wins races with two-leggers! She darts off laughing, knotting the skin's legs about her chest and waist the same way Malachai did -- that should keep it on while she's running! She even pulls the golden mask of the head up over her own; it's marginally warmer that way.
Alg grins his goblinish grin, which would look threatening to anyone that didn't know the protective, playful goblin guard. He hoots cheerfully and dashes off, knowing not only that he's faster than his pretty lady in this form, but that he can find Alan quicker, with his sharper nose. Suraksha giggles and follows, confident that Alg will soon track down the people she wants to talk to. Once she's talked to them, she can shift back into tiger form and carry the wolfskin back. That'll be much warmer! Plus she's far more coherent sounding in this form.
Alg leads her over to Alan, where the slender guard is using the semi-down-time to work on some nicks in his blades and dings in his armor. He doesn't use his royal livery out on the road, but he has his plain armor to make sure he has some protection should it be needed. He raises his head as 'Chana and Alg arrive, brows going up so high they're mostly hidden in his shag of hair, "That's a new look."
Suraksha laughs, shaking her head, "Sorry, I needed the tiger nose to track something down here in the caravan. So, do you know lockpicking, Alan? If you do, can you come help out at the town?" She pushes back the heavy leather skin of the head enough that she can peek out from under it; the tail is brushing the ground behind her. Alg is batting lightly at the trailing tail, looking almost distrustful. This skin worries him. It smells almost alive.
Alan snorts and says, "Do I know how to pick locks... be a damned poor spy if I didn't." He unfolds himself from his seat and says, "Where is the lock you need picked? I'll grab my picks and meet you there."
Suraksha giggles as she glances around herself at Alg, "Hey, you -- don't mess with this skin, please! We want it in one piece for the townsfolk!" Alg snorts somewhat disdainfully, but stops his swatting and mutters something about stupid wolves. She laughs again, both at Alg and at Alan's comment, "Excellent, and thank you, Alan! Come to the site of Malachai's house, where the crowd is. See you there!" Alan sketches a little salute and carefully puts away his weapons and armor before climbing into the caravan he's sharing with several other young men of the caravan to get his picks. Suraksha waves to Alan, then turns and heads off at a trot. As she goes she starts to untie the legs -- time to shift back into tiger form! She can ask Alg to ride her and carry the skin, she decides.
The combination of the skin, the trace remnants of the herbal mixture and 'Chana's will cause something unexpected to happen. Instead of hitting the ground with the enormous pawpads of a tiger, she finds she has much more slender, black-furred forelegs. And the balance feels all wrong. This is not a tiger's form, but the enormous black wolf which she became with Malachai and his people. Suraksha blinks and gives a startled snort, almost tripping over her own feet as she looks down. What the...?! Botheration -- she's a wolf again!
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