Growling softly in annoyance, he [Snapjaw] headed down the snow-covered path toward the bottom of the inlet. **Do you have more of those diggers?** Snapjaw sent to Brace as he approached Traildust's family den. **If the dens are dug out, I can start on some of the main trails.**
Snapjaw's send pulled Brace from the dark thoughts the outsiders had once again stirred within him. Turning to face the grizzled elder, Brace nodded, adding, "In my den, I'll fetch one now." Shouldering his own digger, Brace strode down the newly trampled footpath and ducking into the den. Moving to the back where he kept his smithing supplies, Brace noticed there was only one digger remaining; Wren must have handed the rest out to others already.
Picking up the tool, he returned to Snapjaw, handing it to the elder with a second nod.
"Wildlight says the main store cave has already been dug out but I doubt the smaller ones have. I'll give you a hand with those and the trails," Brace offered. He had no desire to be anywhere near the flats, where most of the tribe had been lured away from their duties by the outsider and her snow sticks. Perhaps once a few suffered bruises and a broken bone or two, sense would return to the tribe.
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**Yes, an elfin avalanche,** she [Wren] mirthfully replied with a mental image of what she had just seen. **Thankfully my brother was able to dig himself out!**
The image Wren sent to Brace of the outsider Darkstone with tree limbs strapped to her feet and Wildlight and Sunfire dusting snow off themselves was not one that quickly relieved Brace's anxiety. His jaw grew tight and he thrust the sharp end of his digger into a pile of snow, running one hand through his dampening hair.
Next, the noise of the collision below drew the blonde-haired elf's [Traildust] eyes to the floor of the inlet. He hrrmphed at what he saw. **Why is that addle-brained chief of ours standing around gawking when there are people who still need to be dug out?**
Brace couldn't help but share Traildust's sentiments, although his own anger was not directed at Wildlight, who had been working steadily to free the others until Darkstone had caused the disruption.
"Humph," Brace snorted, then lock sent to Traildust, **Outsiders, as usual. Aren't happy unless everyone is gawking at them.**
Dandelion smirked. **I wouldn't know,** she sent, happy at the image of
her brother's family climbing out the gap they dug. **Seems like he's taking a break. How could he? People will get short on fresh air.. won't they?**
"Aye, that they will," Brace agreed, dark mood continuing to circle him. He nodded back to Softstar at her word of thanks before grabbing up his digger again and headed off with Traildust to help in digging out Tearfall.
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**We're all three inside,** came the muzzy-sounding send from the plantshaper within. **It's melted enough inside so that it's a bear to dig through, but I've almost made a hole at the top. Is the snow moving on that side?**
**It is, with some effort and help,** Brace sent back, applying his digger to the snow once more.
Softstar's sending added a quick thought after her mate's words: ** And
the air is getting stale from our efforts..! ** She paused a second, to
breathe some warm air onto her fingers, before setting to try and dig a bit more towards the wonderful, fresh air, no matter -how- cold it would be.
**Not to worry, it won't be long now,** the smith assured those inside.
Having removed a sizeable amount of the topmost crushed snow, Brace began the heavy chore of lifting out large shovelfuls of the packed white stuff. The dulled blade of his digger sliced into the wall and he levered it up, scooping out a section and throwing it to the side. The action quickly became rhythmic and in short order the digger sliced through the final layer and into the den, Brace pulling back on the tool when he found no resistence.
Clapping her [Dandelion] hands together, to get the snow off her gloves, she nodded to the metal shaper and gave him a bright smile. She was happy he was here, she couldn't have done it without help.
Returning Dandelion's smile, Brace placed the end of the digger into the new hole, using the tool's force to push the snow higher up toward them so that it didn't fall into the den. When a sizeable space had been cleared, Brace moved to the side to continue bringing down the snow near the arch of the den entrance, allowing Dandelion to work on the bottom.
"The snow is softer on the inside and will cut your hands less, if you can pull more out from the middle down," he suggested.
With a warning yell to her chief, she dropped down on one knee and managed to steer past him, but the sharp turn sprayed the newly fallen, heavy powder snow all over Wildlight, nearly burying him, as Darkstone collided with one of the snow-covered dens and landed head on in a pile of snow.
Brace's digging screeched to a halt at the sound of Darkstone's yelp and further commotion below. His heart gave a sudden start and his head flung up to search for any signs of a rock or snow fall. High Ones, Wren was down there!
**What's happened? Has there been an avalanche?**
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Moving up the footpath it wasn't long before Brace came to the next snowed in cave den.
**Traildust? Softstar? Bearcub? Are any of you in there?** he questioned. He would dig the cave out regardless but wanted to be sure of the situation inside, lest his digger tool accidentally cut into flesh working from the opposite side.
Quickly surveying the snow fall of this particular cave while any answer might come, Brace set to work carving out the topmost portions of the entrance to prevent any chance of an avalanch while clearing the lower regions next.
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Once Sunfire had helped Capnut out of her den, she looked around to see who else could use help. She knew her brother would be fine with his many tools, but she checked on him and Wren anyway. **Brace, how are you and Wren doing? Need any help in that direction?"
**We're fine; almost done here, in fact,** Brace informed his sister. **You should see about helping those in the cave with Dawn; I meant to dig them out sooner but haven't made it there yet,** he finished.
She [Wren] stepped outside to greet her mate for the first time of the eve. Lithely, she moved next to him and lovingly nuzzled his cheek.
**I've been missing you... I remember lying in the den to wait for you,
but I was so tired I couldn't keep my eyes open.**
Brace set aside his shovel and wrapped his arms around Wren, pulling her in close to him and breathing in her scent.
**High Ones willing, I'll spend the rest of my life by your side, Ilin, and never will there be an unhappy day then.** His sending was passionate, the pure emotion of his conviction for her welling deep into his soul, his eyes lost in the beauty of her face.
Wren's grey eyes traveled back inside the den to gaze upon the small pile
of digging tools that were partially covered in a small snowdrift. From
the sounds of workers below, quite a few of their tribesmates were already
busy digging out. With a nod, she nuzzled Brace's cheek one last time and
went to retrieve what tools she could carry.
As Wren slowly disengaged from his embrace, Brace now regretted having suggested she hand out the tools; long would he have had her stay with him like this. But the snow would not dig itself out, he knew, and with a sigh he picked up his digger again, hoisting it over a shoulder and proceeded on to the next cave.
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The clank of metal nearby told Brace that Wren had indeed found the pile of digger tools from his stash and had moved them next to the entrance way. Seconds later he could hear her digging on her own side of the snow wall as well. Not wanting to clash tools together as they worked, Brace moved to the opposite side from where Wren was apparently working and continued to pull out large hunks of snow and ice. Several more shovelfuls and a hole finally emerged.
**The snow is wet enough to keep falling inside,** she [Wren] informed Brace. **Should we worry about more falling down once we're finished here?**
**I'll knock down what I can; that should solve the problem,** Brace replied, carefully working on removing the snow higher up the entrance. He had to pause periodically to push the dug out snow out of the way, shoving it over the ledge so that it didn't block the footpath as well.
"Perhaps you should see about handing those out to the others," Brace added, indicating the other digger tools as he finished up with their den.
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| Date: | 2/9/04 @ 11:01am |
| Subject: | Blizzard's End |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  working |
As she [Wren] finally garnered enough willpower to sit up, she sought out the presence of her lifemate. **Vulp?** she locksent.
The sending was feather light upon his mind but it was enough to draw his attention away from the task at hand. Straightening upright, Brace pulled his digging tool out of the diminishing snow wall, inhaling deeply.
**I'm here Ilin,** he returned, his mind's eye flickering with the scene of the nearly dug out storage cave before him.
**I'll be up to help you dig out in a moment. There are more diggers you and the others can use with my supplies in our cave,** he informed her. No point in getting one's hands wet when he had the proper tools for the job.
Turning back to the storage cave, it wasn't long before the last of the snow was cleared to the side and the entrance was once again accessible. Shouldering his tool, Brace loped up the narrow footpath the inlet trail offered to his own den and began shoveling the snow aside in rythmic heaves.
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**Wildlight was going to go stand guard with Snapjaw at one of the posts. Hopefully the storm will hold off long enough for us to make a pass, at least.**
Brace nodded, eyeing the increasingly greying skies at the same time.
"It will need to be a quick pass, seems to be another persistent storm in the making," he remarked. "Perhaps we can spy Sunfire returning with Nock," he added.
Turning his thoughts to Wildlight, Brace sent the couple's plans to the chief. **Wildlight, Wren and I are going to make a quick pass around the inlet's boundaries, should human or shadowbeast have seen Dawn. We'll keep low.**
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**I haven't heard yet,** she [Wren] admitted, glancing over toward where people were gathered. **Tobin and MorningGlow went inside, as did Dreamwind and a few more, but there has been little word. She is in good hands, at the least, but I still worry.**
Brace nodded somberly. He had faith in the skills of the tribe but time and the elements had already ravaged the young girl - prehaps beyond repair. He hoped that at the very least, they would be able to stabilize Dawn and slowly bring about her recuperation if necessary. It would be difficult for the cub - for any cub not used to being cooped up - but far better than the alternatives.
As she expressed one concern, the others she was feeling quickly bubbled to the surface. However, frustration kept Wren from freely talking about them. Her mind raced. A human could have easily found Dawn... thank the High Ones that some of the tribe had found her.
Brace's own private thoughts seemed to unknowingly mirror Wren's.
**I think it wise to scout the inlet's boundaries, just in case non-elfin eyes spied Dawn before we did. If Wildlight approves, would you like to join me on Pinfeather?** Brace queried; he knew that there were many concerns brewing within his lifemate, not the least of which was the feeling of increasing protection and uselessness. He hoped that a chance to escape the inlet, fly and do something of value might help to cure the songstress' anxieties.
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The winds seemed to be picking up as Brace trod down the narrow snow-stamped path from the clifftops. With Hawkeye and Softstar having relieved him of his post and the news of Dawn's return sweeping through the inlet like wild fire, Brace's immediate thoughts were to seek out his lifemate and learn how the cub was fairing.
Descending further into the heart of the elves' winter camp, the smith was met with a flurry of activity. Mindful to keep out of the way, Brace searched the crowd of dashing heads until he found Wren, also tucked to the side and avoiding those who were busy tending to the lost cub. Sliding through the throng, he gradually made his way to her side, slipping a mittened hand around her waist in welcome.
**How is she?** he questioned softly, deciding it best to send should the news not be good and risk upsetting any of the cubs who may be lingering in the area.
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Wren turned her head toward the direction of the roosts, as though looking that way would somehow bring her closer to them. Pushing images of three startled tribesmates out of her mind, she nodded and squeezed Brace's hand. "Yes, let's go. I want to see Gloaming and to see how the little hatchling is doing. It's been much too long."
Smiling in agreement, Brace slipped his hand back into Wren's mittened one and began to lead the way to the path leading to the griffin roosts. He too was curious to see how the young griffin hatchling was fairing. As all young, it was growing in leaps and bounds, always seeming so much larger upon every visit and rapidly beginning to flesh out and look more like the griffins the elves were familiar with.
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**How many cublings do you think are there already?** she [Wren] sent to Brace, full of fondness. It was good that the cubs be with one another. Perhaps Tobin's agemates could comfort him better than any adult could. And they couldn't forget that Dawn had gone missing, too. Tobin wouldn't be the only one feeling that.
Brace smiled warmly in return to his lifemate's question. "I'm sure the den is bursting at the seems with them," he replied playfully, indulging in a brief lightness of mood as the couple made its way toward the little healer's cave.
Another smile crept over the songshaper's face, and she suddenly found herself loathe to intrude on whatever might be taking place at Tobin's den. She knew that 'Dagger had a way with the cublings. If anyone could cheer the little ones up, the small golden griffin could. Pausing in her step, she placed a mittened hand over that of her lifemate.
**Maybe this visit can wait...** she locksent, her mental voice trailing slightly.
Brace sniggered, his shoulders shaking ever so slightly, at the sight of the cave before them.
**I think you're right, Ilin,** he agreed, hoping as his lifemate did that the tiny griffin would be able to aid where the elves had not.
"Well, shall we slip off to the roosts for a while then?" Brace inquired. "I have a mind to check on Pinfeather's wound and make sure it's healing well - he took ages returning here after the attack on the shadow creatures."
Then with a laugh he added, "And I fear your brother still hasn't recovered from Pinfeather's discovery. Or poor River or Hawkeye either, for that matter."
The smith grinned toothily as he thought back to the havoc his bond had caused when the great griffin had been discovered nearly fully submerged in the warm healing water of the hot springs by the three unsuspecting men who had innocently sought a warm dip as well - and instead received the fright of a lifetime.
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| Date: | 11/27/03 @ 10:42am |
| Subject: | Running Errands |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  hopeful |
She could come to no decision as to which path to take, so she asked Brace to decide. **Where do you think we should go first.**
Pulling up the loose hood of his shirt from beneath his jacket and over his head, Brace paused a moment in quiet thought.
"Tobin, I think," he answered when finished. "Perhaps it will help him to know that Sunfire has gone to fetch Nock."
Then as an after thought he added, "And I'd like to go to the roosts tonight and check on Pinfeather. Care to join me?" He said the last with a fond smile to his mate.
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"Do you think Nock will want to ride Summit back with you?" she asked, emerging from her ponderings. [Wren]
Sunfire shrugged. "I don't know what Nock thinks about griffins. Do you?" She turned her eyes towards Brace in question.
Brace ran a hand over the top of his hair where it wasn't entirely tied back, momentarily taken aback by Wren's question. He hadn't even considered this potential problem. Somehow Wren always managed to notice the little but important details like that.
"She hasn't kept a wolf bond for more turns than I can count now," Brace replied, "so I doubt she's going to be fond of the griffins. Like Snapjaw, she'll probably insist on making her own way back, if she chooses to come," he concluded.
Wren couldn't help but to chuckle at Sunfire's comment. "If she doesn't care for them, she'll be in for a surprise when she finds out Tobin's bonded."
Brace huffed at his lifemate's words and struggled to suppress a quirk that threatened to overcome his mouth at the thought of Nock's likely expression at that news. There were still so many surprises that the griffins brought to the tribe even after all this time.
"Thank you so much Brace." She [Morningglow] offered Sunfire a smile as she worked her way to the door. "I will go show these to Freedom. Thank you again." With that she slipped out the door.
Turning back to the young herbalist, Brace smiled softly at her words of appreciation. "My pleasure, Morningglow."
Sunfire smiled and placed her hand on Wren's arm in response. **Thank you. I shouldn't be gone too long.**
Nodding and giving his sister one final hug, Brace watched her slip out the den and down the ridge to meet up with Summit. His gaze flicked toward the sky again, which was still clear and calm for the moment; good flying weather. Hopefully it would stay that way for a while to come.
**Are you ready, Vulp?** she [Wren] asked, lacing a thickly-clad arm around his.
"One moment," Brace replied. He paused first to fetch up his jacket, shrugging it on as he stepped outside the den flap. Bending, he scrapped up a large handful of trampled snow and swung back inside to dump it on the small fire still crackling by the entrance. A few more similar handfuls and the flame was quickly extinguished.
Drawing back the thick leather flap, Brace held the curtain up for Wren to pass through first.
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| Date: | 11/20/03 @ 3:02pm |
| Subject: | Returning Home 6 |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  thoughtful |
Finally, she [Sunfire] got to the point. "Yes, Wren, I'm going for a flight, but this one entails something different from usual." She paused a moment, feeling the sadness of recent events return. "Wildlight has asked me to contact Notch and tell her what has happened. She may want to return to be with Tobin, and perhaps bring Darkrider's body back to the forest."
Brace nodded at Sunfire's words. Certainly Tobin needed to stay with someone and it was usually best when that someone was family, and Nock was all that remained for him now. Brace grimaced at the thought. Tobin was such a sensitive cubling, surely these new events would only add to that. Yet Brace knew Nock well - if she came to comfort and care for her grandson, it would not be for overly long, he knew. It wasn't her way. Someone would have to take the young healer in.
"I'm leaving right away."
Breaking his train of thought at the words, Brace's gaze flicked back to Sunfire. Closing the small gap between them, he hugged her resoundly.
**Safe journey,** he sent softly.
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She [Sunfire] smiled in surprise to find it rather crowded with Brace, Wren and MorningGlow. "Hello!" She greeted, nodding to each of them in turn. "Sorry to interrupt. How are you feeling, Wren?"
She [Wren] wouldn't admit that she was tired and hungry. Especially since she had been eating more than most of the adults in the tribe of late. "I'm doing well. How can I not be in such good company?"
Brace smiled at Wren's words and wrapped an arm around her waist in comfort, pulling her slightly into him. It was good to be with family; it was what kept him going, especially in times such as these.
With an arch of her eyebrow, she [Wren] noted Sunfire's attire. Certainly the firestarter wouldn't be dressed so warmly just to pay a visit. "Are you going to take Summit for a flight today?"
Brace too noted Sunfire's unusually heavy layering of clothing - his sister was rarely cold due to her magic but he knew far too well that an empty belly helped the cold seep into the joints. She had been working herself tirelessly recently trying to find enough food to feed the tribe. As a scout, Brace reasoned his sister likely felt somewhat responsible for the lack of food - it was in irrational guilt but he knew he felt the same.
"Come in out of the wind," Brace urged, gesturing toward the small fire crackling nearby. "You need rest too," he gently reminded Sunfire.
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**Don't worry. The cubling is strong. I can feel it growing stronger every day, thank the High Ones. I'm hoping I won't have to
wake you in the middle of the day anytime soon."
It eased Brace's heart to hear Wren say their cub was doing well despite the shortage of food and that she could feel it. He certainly hoped that continued to be the case.
Wren nodded when MorningGlow mentioned Swift. She knew herself the joys and comforts that a griffin bond could bring, but also knew that even the closest of bonds could not ease pains that were a part of both life and death. "I should go, after I drink the tea."
"I'll go with you," Brace offered. As Nock's grandson, Brace felt a certain partiality to Tobin. Perhaps, had the fate the High Ones had picked out for him been different, the young healer might have been his grandson - perhaps.
Caught in his private musings once again, Brace didn't notice Morningglow drifting toward the den's mouth until she spoke up again.
"Well, I'll let you two be. I've done my duty and I best go. If.... If you need something I'm a sending away. I'm willing to take on as much burden of aches and pains as I can."
"Morningglow, wait," Brace asked, turning to fetch something from his trove of weapon smithery at the furthest reaches of the den. Scooping up a leather bundle that clinked when moved, he brought it to the herbalist, holding it out for her to take.
"They've taken me longer than they should have, what with all the food shortage and the need to hunt and forage more lately, but they're done." As he spoke, Brace flipped the leather back from the blades - four of them, all alike in shape and form - and let the light of the fire nearby dance over the smooth edges and the raised flame emblem as requested.
"I'm sure Dizzy will love," he added.
As she [Sunfire] neared her sibling's den, she sent to him to see if he was indeed where she hoped. **Brace, are you there?**
Sunfire's sending was an unexpected surprise, although Brace thought he sensed a touch of hesitation unlike his sister's normally jovial moods. Handing the leather bundle to Morningglow to further inspect, he walked toward the cave to greet his sister.
**Yes, I'm here.**
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She [Morningglow] returned his sincere look with an intense one as she lock sent to the smith only **Do not thank me yet Smith. Not til this cub has breathed it's first.**
The flicker of a brooding shadow returned to Brace's eyes at Morningglow's words and he nodded grimly in agreement before slipping out to fetch the firewood Wren had asked for.
He returned in short order, arms laden with the dry timber and setting the load near the mouth of the den for airation, he began to build the wood up into a column. Once satisfied with the construction he moved further into the back of the dwelling to fetch the small tallow candle Wren had kept burning; it would do for a light without having to disturb his sister or Dizzy. Holding the tiny pot near the base of the wood, Brace carefully nudged it against the finer material until the glow of the flame strengthened and remained when he pulled the candle away at last.
Setting the candle down, Brace bent to blow softly upon the new flame, encouraging the embers to soak up the wood, which they did, making tiny red veins in a growingly elaborate network, infusing light, warmth and a touch of smoke to the cave mouth. Sitting back on his heels, the smith observed the work with mild satisfaction. The warmth felt good, especially the way it danced over the skin, like a lover's caress. He closed his eyes and let the heat seep into him for a moment. Then, returning to his senses, he opened his eyes and rose to return the candle to its alcove.
"The fire's started and should be ready for use shortly," Brace notified Wren.
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Wren leaned into the embrace of her lifemate, enjoying his touch even though his nose and skin were still a bit chilly from his time spent outdoors. She ate two of the mushrooms that he'd brought back in silence, feeling content just by hearing the sound of Brace's breathing and the feel of him next to her.
It did Brace good to see Wren accept the mushrooms, meager as they were, and get some fresh food into her. When she offered him some from the basket as well, he waved them off - he had downed a few of the smallest in the cave while foraging and was content to keep to them for now.
"It is rather chilly out there." [Morningglow]
Brace turned at the sound of the herbalist's entrance and words, nodding in agreement. The clouds that had swirled overhead recently, feeding the storms had cleared this eve and while it made for a welcome reprive from the snow it also nipped the air in frigid chillness.
She [Morningglow] held the pouch cupped gently in both hands and offered it up to Wren. "This is a special tea. It will help keep you nurished with the things your body needs and what the cub within needs. It will be bitter, even with the sweet root I put in...Sorry." She said sheepishly.
Brace marvelled at this good fortune - it was as if the young lass had read his mind and he was thankful she had managed to scrap together the materials for the brew. Standing, Brace shrugged off the fur and clasped Morningglow by the upper arms.
**Thank you,** the smith sent, a well of sincere gratitude enveloped in his mind voice.
"Brace, do you think we could make a fire? And how long does this need to steep, MorningGlow?"
Wren's words spurred Brace back into action. "Anything for you, my love," he replied. With a final smile and squeeze of thanks to Morningglow, Brace set out to fetch some wood from the store cave.
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| Date: | 11/14/03 @ 10:33am |
| Subject: | Returning Home |
| Security: | Public |
| Mood: |  curious |
Wren shook her head, and in doing so shrugged off the rest of the sleepy feeling so she could focus on Brace, who had just entered the cave den.
Brace smiled softly as he saw movement in the back of the den and knew it to be his lifemate. His eyes remained shadow-cast, however - Wren's lethargy of late had not gone unnoticed and the smith knew it was due to lack of food. Still, he tried to push those worries away from the surface as she approached him with a fur to warm himself with - if she had to suffer because of circustances, he would not add to it with his private concerns.
**Come in and warm up,** she urged.
Gratefully accepting the fur, still lightly warm with his lifemate's body heat, he exchanged it for the basket of mushrooms he'd brought for her before draping the hide over his shoulders and nuzzling Wren's neck.
**I had lost track of time while you were gone. Are the moons up already?**
Sitting huddled in the fur, a measure of warmth seeped back into Brace's numbing limbs, giving him a small boost of energy again and easing the ache in his stomach somewhat. He reached out a hand from the coccoon of warmth and gingerly ran a hooked finger down Wren's cheek as he nodded in response.
"Yes, up and bright, they are," he added.
Her [Morningglow] target loomed before her, so she quickly blinked her eyes and gave a bit of a sniff before sending. **Brace, Wren....I come bearing a gift.**
Brace paused in mid thought as Moringglow's sending infused his mind. He had been thinking just earlier that evening while collecting the meager mushrooms that perhaps he should visit the herbalist and see if she knew of any concotion that might help to strenthen Wren and the cub in between hunts. He hoped that the lass had had similar thoughts and was bringing something now.
**Yes Moringglow, you know you are always welcome in our den - come in,** Brace sent, curious to see what the 'gift' entailed.
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brace_srh's journal
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