Leaving
Waterstrider stops walking and leans down to nuzzle her gently. "We'll see your family again. I swear." He then gives her a bit of a joking smile. "I promise to keep myself groomed for the occasion."
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Leaving
Waterstrider stops walking and leans down to nuzzle her gently. "We'll see your family again. I swear." He then gives her a bit of a joking smile. "I promise to keep myself groomed for the occasion."
[Leaving]
Renetta smiles slightly. "That would be nice." Though, thinking about that encounter worries her. Mostly how her father would react to Waterstrider or the baby. But that's not something to worry about now.
Outside
As Hope reaches the gnolls she notices there are fewer of them now, there aren't any signs of Michicora either. It doesn't look like any fight have been fought however.
"What tribe say? We need to use place."
Leaving
Waterstider and Renetta can hear something something move nearby, it doesn't sound like they are trying to move very silently.
Outside
"We are moving out. The cabin is yours to use." Hope says. "I wish you proud hunting, and a noble Kaluuth sacrifice."
Leaving
Waterstrider's ears flick a bit, and he sets his paw on one of the hatchets he's grabbed when he hears the sound. He sniffs the air to see if it's the gnolls they were warned about.
[Leaving]
"What was that?" Renetta looks around quickly, trying to see what made the sound. This feels all to familiar. Out in the woods and she here's a sound. Then running, but not fast enough. The difference is Waterstrider's presence and she couldn't be happier for it.
Leaving
Waterstrider can smell gnolls alright, thanks to the wind he haven't been able to smell them until now, but they are near.
Outside
"Good, if you see other of our people. Tell good news. They went to hunt for sacrifice while waiting." The gnoll leader says with a big grin as it then turns around to order the rest of his group to move in their strange language.
Outside
Hope makes a signal to Michicora and goes to meet up with Waterstrider and Renetta.
Leaving
Waterstrider gives a low growl. "Gnolls." He tells her as he pulls her close with one arm, and drawing his weapon with the other. If the gnolls can smell him, they'll be able to smell anger and the scent of Dominance drifting from him, warning them to stay away.
Leaving
The gnolls doesn't seem to scared away by Waterstrider's smell, if anything, it only seem to agitate them which they can see as first one, two then three and four gnolls comes out from the foliage around them.
They are dressed in skeletal parts of both animals and what might be humanoids.
One of them snarls and says something you only hear as a series of yip's and grunts.
[Outside]
Hope still can't see any signs of Michicora as she is on her way to the others.
Outside
Hope continues on her way to meet the others, trusting Michicora to be where she thinks she is most needed.
Outside
The fur on Waterstrider's neck will rise up, threatening as he growls deeply. <Back off!> he tells them in Wolfen as he drops the two packs and takes out his second hatchet. Even if they don't know his language, the message is obvious.
Outside
The hyena men stares at Waterstride and Renetta a bit and then seem to glance at each other discreetly. Eventually one of them decides to snarl back and the rest follows suit, it seems pretty clear they aren't going to back down.
Hope can most likely hear the snarls and as she approaches the scene Michicora appears at her side, "Followed the other gnolls, the got the wolfen and Renetta surrounded. We could have taken them down, but it might be best to avoid bloodshed."
She says as she will guide Hope to a place where they can see what's going on without being noticed.
Outside
"I'll speak to them. Be watchful." Hope says to Michicora.
She moves towards them, her spear at the ready. "My tribe made peace with your leader. We left the cabin for your Kaluuth ceremony. Is this how you show gratitude?" she says, in a loud voice, intending to shame them into backing down.
Outside
One of the gnolls yips in panic as Hope approaches them and they all turn their attention to her.
Once she's done speaking they seem to look at each other in desperation and exchange a few words to each other.
The next moment they are all retreating, well all of them except one that appears to be attempting to communicate with Renetta and Waterstrider, they can't understand a word it says however, but it appears to be sorry at least.
Eventually it picks something up from it's little belt and attempts to offer it to elf. It appears to be a little dirty eleven doll.
[Outside]
Renetta looks at the doll with confusion, but at length she hesitantly reaches out to take it. She glances between the gnoll and the doll. "Th- thank you."
Leaving
"Is everything okay?" Hope asks quietly.
Leaving
Waterstrider seems to calm slightly when the gnolls leave, but watches the remainder carefully.
Leaving
As Renetta takes the doll, the gnoll makes a slight bow and then goes after the others.
The doll is pretty dirty and ragged but beyond all that it's actually a very well-made rag doll. She can probably recognize it as elven work due to the materials it's made of. If Hope get's close to it, she can probably it have a very faint trace of spirit magic within it.
Leaving
"It has spirit magic in it. That's a good omen," Hope says, with a smile. "We should move on. Michicora will be able to catch up with us easily."
And if no one objects, she'll lead the party out of the thread and into Outside.
Leaving
"It'd be best if we hurried for a while." Waterstrider agrees as he puts away his weapons and picks up the packs. He'll put a free paw in Renetta's hand as they leave, trying to comfort her.
Renetta takes his paw and hurries along with them. She clutches the rag doll closer to her as they go.
A Very Long Time Later At The Cabin...
A Ground Bridge portal opens up, possibly depositing Andy and Sciante!
"Well, here we are! My uncle's old place. Looks..."
...and now Andy actually looks at the cabin.
And winces.
"...like it's seen better days," she finishes sheepishly.
[Crabin]
Ooh, a building I can sympathize with.
She giggles, mostly in anxiety.
Andy giggles as well, and gives Scainete a hug!
"Well, the swimming hole's still there...or we could try and fix this place up together!"
[Cabin]
Let's hit it like an episode of This Old House!
...
I've had too much free time for years, sorry.
[Cabin]
Andy giggles. "Just promise me you won't go all Tim Taylor on the place, alright?"