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Post by Ethereal Panda on Jul 24, 2009 13:21:50 GMT 9.5
Although a little disappointed, he accepted the truth as only to be expected. "That is okay. I will find them some day." Realizing for the first time that he was exhausted, Cliff gave them a subtle nod and then departed.
The boy walked quietly through the camp listening to the sound of nature and a few murmurs from some of the tents. Looking up into the sky he saw the now rising moon and sighed deeply. Approaching his tent, he saw that a lantern was still lit. He wondered if Larr had already gone to sleep.
Creeping up quietly, he peered into the tent.
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Post by Treijim on Jul 24, 2009 13:31:21 GMT 9.5
Larr looked up from over the top of his book. "Hi," he whispered. His eyes drifted back down as Cliff sat on his own bedding and then Larr put down his book.
"Don't worry about before," he said. "I thought you wanted Tex with you instead of me. I thought I did something wrong." He smiled at Cliff for the first time that day. "I know you won't be around for long, but that doesn't mean we can't be friends anyway, does it? Tomorrow, you can meet some of the others properly. Gerit and Herring were bugging me today, saying they wanted to know things about you."
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Post by Ethereal Panda on Jul 24, 2009 13:38:02 GMT 9.5
Cliff simply smiled and nodded. "Do not worry; I understand," he assured the boy. He laughed a single hah, and then said, "It is funny, because I thought I did something wrong too." Cliff then shifted his expression to a frown realizing that in a way he did by inviting Tex. Shaking his head, he continued less energetic. "I can meet the others in the morning," he confirmed with a nod.
Cliff shuffled himself over a little closer to Larr. "What are you reading?"
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Post by Treijim on Jul 24, 2009 13:45:04 GMT 9.5
Larr turned his attention back to his book, as though he had forgotten and had to read a little more to remember what it was about. Then he scrunched up his lips and started to chuckle.
"Joy's diary," he said, and he held up a finger to his lips without taking his eyes off the pages. "She writes in the mornings, so I'll slip it back once I'm done. Here, how about this part: 'I tried to make a soup with mushroom and glubul but my annoying brother decided he doesn't like either.' Her brother is Herring. 'I checked my list to see if he was lying and he likes both so I made him eat it.' And at the back is a list of all the food we do and don't like!"
He held it out for Cliff to see. His name was at the bottom of the list but there was nothing written next to it. Above Cliff's name was one which was scribbled out. It began with T but could not otherwise be discerned.
"Just wait until she tries feeding you everything. She'll write it all down so don't try to trick her." Larr laughed and continued reading with a smile.
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Post by Ethereal Panda on Jul 24, 2009 13:51:43 GMT 9.5
Cliff grinned somewhat surprised by Larr's more mischievous side. "What would she do to you if she found out you were reading it," he whispered more solemnly? He felt another wave of exhaustion hit causing he laid down. There were still many questions he wanted to ask, especially of Larr who seemed the most willing to tell him, but his eyes were growing heavy. Before he knew it, he had already fast asleep dreaming of a beetle with Tex's head on it.
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Post by Treijim on Jul 24, 2009 14:02:50 GMT 9.5
"Poison me," Larr joked, but when he looked over, Cliff had fallen asleep. Larr dimmed the lamp and continued to read into the night.
In the morning, as per usual, most of them woke up early and began what appeared to be assigned chores. Larr was under a tree, carving some wood into smooth poles; Arka and Jed were restringing a bow; a small boy with very light blond hair was peeling potatoes at a table outside a tent with smoke coming from a chimney and Joy was kneading and rolling dough on the same table; a boy with red hair was peering through some contraption across the river and into the woods and a little girl was trying to take it from him; the girl who had asked to see to Larr's bleeding feet was doing something to her hair; and Tex was seated on the grass with a spread of materials before him, punching holes in leather with a metal spike.
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Post by Ethereal Panda on Jul 24, 2009 14:09:44 GMT 9.5
Cliff started towards Larr to say good morning, but the boy seemed very focused on what he was doing. Instead of interrupting him, Cliff casually changed directions and found himself in front of the light blond boy. He stood awkwardly for a moment before introducing himself. "Hello, I am Cliff." He stuck out his hand and said, "Are you Joy's brother?"
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Post by Treijim on Jul 24, 2009 14:15:30 GMT 9.5
The potato-peeler looked up and squinted. He peered at the hand and then at his own potatoey fingers.
"Hi," he mumbled.
"Yes he's my brother," Joy said, nudging the boy with her knee. "He's so rude sometimes. Tell him your name, already."
"Herring," the boy said. He stopped and popped his mouth, eyes shifting from side to side, imitating a fish. With a smirk, he went back to peeling.
"So... were Arka and Monopa able to help you on your... quest? Thing?" Joy asked.
"Quest?" Herring asked, stopping again. "Wacha lookin for?"
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Post by Ethereal Panda on Jul 24, 2009 14:33:09 GMT 9.5
Cliff slowly retracted his hand from the odd boy. "I think so," he replied. "I am looking for some old texts," he simplified. "But, it does not look like I will be leaving soon."
He stepped back. "It was nice meeting you Herring," he said in an almost adult like condescending way. Cliff still didn't feel very comfortable around Joy and this boy was strange. "I think I will go say hello to the others."
Cliff promptly turned and made a hasty walk to the red headed boy and little girl near him.
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Post by Treijim on Jul 24, 2009 14:40:11 GMT 9.5
Joy pummeled the dough. "Sure," she said. "It's a shame you won't be leaving soon. It's more work for me, mainly."
"Bye, Ledge," Herring said, sticking out his tongue for a split second.
The little girl tugged the sleeve of the boy as Cliff approached. "He's coming!" she stressed in a loud whisper. "That boy!"
The boy lowered the contraption from his eye and turned around. He watched Cliff with a confused frown and nodded when he was close enough to speak to, yet he said nothing.
"Hi," she said, drawing out the word for several seconds. She put her hands behind her back and swung gently from side to side, smiling. "Clifford," she said, again, managing to make her words last an unreasonable amount of time. "That's a funny name." She giggled. The boy turned back to look out across the river.
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Post by Ethereal Panda on Jul 24, 2009 15:41:07 GMT 9.5
"Hello. It is quite an odd name," he confirmed, placing a hand on his hip. Looking at the little girl, he inquired, "and, what is your name?" Shifting his gaze before she could answer, he looked up at the red haired boy who seemed to be trying hard to not acknowledge him.
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Post by Treijim on Jul 24, 2009 15:52:01 GMT 9.5
"My name is Quera," she said. "His isn't. His name is Gerit. But he won't say hello cos he's watching greybeaks across the river." She pointed randomly over her shoulder, nowhere near where Gerit was looking. "They're birds. The older boys hunt them and we eat them. They taste yummy. Do you like nuts?" She held out a grubby hand and offered Cliff some nuts. They seemed normal.
"Leave him alone," Gerit said. "Don't feed him that stuff. I have proper food." He put his contraption on the ground beside him and opened up his bag. He took out an apple and turned it over, rubbing it briefly with his tunic. "I guess you haven't eaten yet. Catch." He tossed it at Cliff.
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Post by Ethereal Panda on Jul 24, 2009 16:00:10 GMT 9.5
Cliff caught the apple, but only after stumbling backwards. "Thanks." He took a bite out of it making a satisfying crunching sound. With his mouth still full, he asked "Do you shoot them with your bows from here?" Taking another bite of the apple he sat down and stared off, enjoying the morning light reflecting off the river.
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Post by Treijim on Jul 24, 2009 16:06:02 GMT 9.5
"And swim across the river to get them?" Gerit said, looking at Cliff questionably. "We go round, or we hunt the ones closer. But there's a lot over there right now. Here, look."
He picked up the contraption and demonstrated how to use it; he placed the smaller end against his eye and closed his other eye, so that he was looking through the tube. He then handed it to Cliff and showed him where to look. Across the river, in the thick of the trees and the yellow light of dawn, many small turkey-like birds scratched and pecked in the undergrowth. They were too far away to be bothered by the onlookers. Not even a thrown stone would be able to reach them.
"They're too far," Gerit explained. "Do you know how to hunt?" He paused and rephrased a little. "Track? Hike? Scout? Carve? Build? Tend? Cook? Gut fish? Anything? If you're gonna stay here you need to make yourself useful."
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Post by Ethereal Panda on Jul 24, 2009 16:09:23 GMT 9.5
Cliff shook his head after spotting the birds. Not one to admit defeat, he stated, "I do not know today, but I can learn. Besides, when I leave this place I will have to do those things for myself anyways. Best I learn now." He grew quiet observing the birds. "What is that in the brush?" Cliff handed the device back so that Gerit could see.
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