There are 2 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. DLC: Bargain (for the) Hunter
From: "Andrew" <asiafish@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
2. [DL-D] Tunnel Terror - part 2
From: Katie <wildcat10984@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
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Message: 1
Date: Tue, 9 Aug 2005 18:46:48 -0500
From: "Andrew" <asiafish@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: DLC: Bargain (for the) Hunter
Day 4
Early Morning
Cholmon deflected Lenna's blow with her left hand sword as her right
side sword came in hard and fast. Lenna deflected it easily enough,
but
the left side weapon was already inbound for another strike, with the
right hot on its heels again. This went on for over a minute as Lenna
quickly struggled to keep Cholmon's pair of curved swords from finding
their marks. Needless to say, it was a futile attempt. In the months
that Cholmon had been studying under her, she had also been learning
from Andahar. Two masters and a self-imposed training schedule that
bordered on the psychotic combined to make Cholmon into one of the
deadliest fighters that Cleft warren had ever seen.
Lena, truly a master swordswoman, was in shock when she felt the flats
of Cholmon's two swords slap one on each side of her neck with enough
force that had they been turned, she had no doubt that her head would
be
on the ground from either of them.
"I didn't teach you to kill, but to end the fight."
"The fight is over," Cholmon said plainly.
"Impressive," Andahar nodded and Cholmon lowered her swords and turned
to face the young chief. "But not always needed to kill opponent to end
fight." He had been looking for Cholmon and finally found her sparring
with Lenna and had been watching them surreptitiously from a short
distance away. Cholmon had certainly improved and he wondered briefly
if he were to fight her now as he had the night she had killed the men
of that small tribe whether he'd be able to win without killing her --
or being killed himself.
"But when opponent dead, fight always over," Cholmon came back quickly,
barely sweating even though Lenna was breathing heavily and drenched.
Andahar frowned, "But not all opponent need to be dead. Some might
have
knowledge you need, so that also dead with him." His eyes narrowed as
he examined Cholmon. "You need learn Daffah" A word that in Nomad
meant
something similar to 'finesse'. "But that is another day. Practice is
over for today. Lenna, I need to talk to Cholmon." Andahar stated
plainly.
Lenna toweled off and wrapped up her practice blades. Andahar and she
bid each other farewell.
"Cholmon, I have heard from your wingleader that you do not patrol with
partner."
"Other dragon and rider afraid to patrol with me. It no matter, Param
not small like hatchling, we have no trouble."
"I am not afraid to patrol with you, so we will go on patrol together.
It is not safe for one dragon alone. Not with Nadusi."
"Then we are to hunt Nadusi?" Cholmon asked. "I am ready," she added.
"Hunt," Andahar's smile was grim and he nodded. "Track, observe." He
didn't need to say what everyone knew. They needed to find a weakness.
"But Nadusi is not only danger to dragon and rider -- or Nomad. We
will
patrol and protect."
"Somebody has to kill it," Cholmon said. "We learn its weaknesses, and
Then the hunt begins."
Andahar nodded as she spoke aloud what he had thought. He liked her,
in
spite of her fearsome appearance; he could call her "sister" and be
proud. Her heart was true and her spirit undaunted.
Cholmon followed the nomad chieftain to the green where Bohoc and Param
were
already waiting for them. With the ease of a far more experienced
rider
Cholmon climbed up onto Param's saddle. Despite his youth, he was
already
larger than Bohoc, who admittedly was small by dragon standards. She
knew
that she lacked experience in patrol, but she made up for it to some
degree
with life-experience, which was far more than her 19 years would
suggest.
Already she was a hardened veteran warrior, and like the man beside
her,
she
too wore the two swords of a chieftain and now knew how to wield them.
"Come, we hunt," Cholmon said.
---
Andahar and Bohoc signaled for the tele****t as soon as they had cleared
the ground. Andahar had an idea about where to search for the Nadusi
but he wasn't going to neglect their patrol route. First they
zig-zagged above the plains, looking for signs of any destruction, then
they followed a swath of flattened gr***** that had clearly been made
by
herd beasts. Where there were herds, there would be nomads.
It wasn't long before they were rewarded by plumes of smoke in the
distance and as they approached they could see the bustle of an active
nomad camp. They had been spotted and the obvious effect of Param as
they landed was palpable in the air. But it wasn't what Andahar had
expected. Instead of fear at spotting the white dragon, there was
hope.
Children rushed forward as the two dragonriders dismounted.
The wise-woman of the clan slowly approached them. Her eyes were
brightly ****ning as she caught sight of Cholmon. She nodded and
smiled,
"You have come, just as I foresaw. You have finally come!"
Cholmon drew back, suspicion in her eyes.
Andahar stepped forward, "Mother, what is it you have seen?"
She smiled and shook her head, "What I have seen is for her. She has
come. Nadusi is not far away." She turned away and walked back toward
the center of the clan's village.
Andahar began to follow her, but Cholmon put a hand on his shoulder.
He
turned back to her and raised a questioning eyebrow. "I know what she
saw,
for I have seen it as well. I told you on the green, I go to hunt
Nadusi."
Cholmon followed the woman into a tent where the tribe's chieftain sat
waiting for them. His eyes went immediately to the twin swords at her
back
and the metal armor she wore, but more in relief than anger. "I have
heard
of you, the woman warrior who slew a tribe, and I welcome you here, to
slay
Nadusi."
Cholmon nodded. "You know my story?"
"Yes. You come from across the great mountains, and murdered the tribe
that
held you as slave. I do not agree, but you are Dain Rushella, so I do
understand. What you must understand is that whatever losses you
suffered
from any tribe are nothing compared to what Nadusi already did to
neighboring tribe, and will do here."
Cholmon looked him in the eye. "I will hunt Nadusi, and find a way to
kill,
but I only do if you release all of tribe's slaves. Nadusi will not
come to
me at Cleft."
"Dragonrider promise to protect people."
"I only promised to protect my children, but my children all dead."
"I understand, and I was already told your price. I shall proclaim to
village tonight."
Cholmon glared at him as she replied "Then I will hunt Nadusi, but know
this, if you do not honor our bargain, I shall be most displeased."
"I understand" he said finally, clearly uncomfortable accepting
dictates
from a woman, though also clearly resigned to doing so.
A few minutes later Cholmon walked out of the tent and said to Andahar
"Now
we hunt."
By
Andrew and Arlene
Cholmon and Andahar
Summary:
Andahar approaches Cholmon and goes with her on patrol, but Cholmon and
a
nomad chieftain have other ideas.
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Message: 2
Date: Tue, 9 Aug 2005 21:45:05 -0700 (PDT)
From: Katie <wildcat10984@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: [DL-D] Tunnel Terror - part 2
Day 107
Late morning, just a little before the twins went
down.
There was a breeze coming up from the hole. Four
dragons stood before it, smelling the air. It was
in-between ****fts and they only had a few moments to
get down undetected. They hurried in.
[Flerrion, Chamelle... you guys take the right path.
Jacks and I are going to go straight.]
[Who is taking the left path?] Flerrion asked.
Jacks thought. [I'm not sure, I know that they will
come during the next ****ft change.]
[Alright, lets head out. All of us call if we have
trouble. Remember no heroes.]
The dragons headed down their tunnels.
<Snip from Tunnel Terror>
"Alton, no... Don't go any deeper!" Alden yelled as he
ran after him.
"Boys!" Weya yelled after them. She looked to Roxie.
"We should go get them."
"Let's go!" Roxie started after them, Weya close
behind.
Jacks and Ishtar could only follow them, not able to
say a thing.
<End Snip>
His heart was beating hard and fast. He wanted to get
away from the howling. *What a man I turned out to be.
Running like a chicken. * Alton tripped over a rock
and went tumbling to the ground, his hands right out
infornt of him. Landing hard he heard his wrist pop, a
sharp pain ran up his arm. *Son-of-a-*****! * He
muttered as he got up. His eyes stung with pain. Then
SLAM. Something ran into him sending him skidding
along the ground. He curled up in a ball once he came
to a stop.
"Alton?" Came a shake voice.
"Alden?"
"Oh thank god... you ok?"
"I think I broke my wrist."
Alden got up, he couldn't see anything. "Next time I
say we bring touches."
"Sounds like a plan."
Alden started to walked, he though straight, but he
was going more to the left and before he knew it he
was falling down a very deep hole. He let out a scream
as he fell and went silent when he hit bottom. Alton
heard a dull thud. "Alden?"
Nothing.
"Alden!"
"Alton...?" Came a voice, but it wasn't his brother's.
"Roxie... Weya... I don't know where Alden is."
"What happen?"
"I don't know, he was talking then he went silent...."
[Jacks I don't see the other red headed child.] Ishtar
looked at the riders.
[I don't think they know where he is either.] Jacks
looked a round at the humans. Jacks took in a breath
and blew out some fire.
Alton, Roxie and Weya all ducked as Jacks let loose
the flame.
"What's he doing?" Alton asked as he got to the
ground.
"Giving us light..." Roxie said as she quickly looked
around. "There... look a hole."
The fire died out. "Weya do you know if Dante has any
torches in the side bags?"
"I can check." She walked over to Jacks, patting his
sides. She reached into his bag and dug around.
Finding only a torch and a half of one. She also
grabbed some rope. She scooted over to Roxie. "Here."
She handed her the stuff.
[Look Jacks, she has one of those light holders.]
Ishtar pointed with her claw.
Jacks looked at the women as she held up the torches
for him to light. He puffed out a little bit trying
not to singe everyone.
"Oh...my." Weya gasped.
"What..." Roxie turned and saw what Weya was looking
at. A hole, a very wide and deep hole. She couldn't
even see in to with the light she had. She turned to
Alton. "Is he down there?"
"I think so..." Fear very evident.
Roxie took a deep breath, just as there was another
howl. This one seemed louder and closer, and very much
meaner with the growl that followed.
"Alright, Weya find a place to tie this end. I'm going
down."
"What!" Alton looked at her. "But you don't know what
is down there...."
"Your brother ... he could be in trouble... or worse.
So someone has to go down there." She tossed the rope
down the hole. She took the short torch and dropped it
down the hole. All three of them watched as it
fell.... and fell. After what seemed like so long it
hit. It was deep as a tree is tall. Roxie squinted.
She could make out a hand. "Well wish me luck." She
grabbed the rope, which Weya had tied to a rock close
to Jacks foot, and climbed over the edge.
Jacks and Ishtar sensed something angry... Jacks
hopped it was just his rider.
*****Back at the three way tunnels
Zanne stood looking at the cave tunnels. S'laze stood
with her, listening to everything. Both of the
dragons, after talking with Jacks, Ishtar and the
other two, went left. They hadn't got very far when
Jacks told Zanne what her rider was doing. Both Zanne
and S'laze rushed out of their tunnels and down the
tunnel her rider was in. [I thought Jacks said don't
be a hero.]
Tag: Arlene, John, Carys, Eddie, and anyone else that
wants to join.
Submitted by:
Katie
Aka
Alden and Alton
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