Silent Fliers
Subject: Argh!
The mailing lists got deleted again. If this keeps happening I may look into a different hosting service. Mailing lists should be working again. Sorry for the inconvenience.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Argh!
Mike, you are a prince among men, and a Chow Yun Fat lookalike.
I want to be you when I grow up.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: Argh!
I appreciate the compliments, Ty, but I'm not going to sleep with you.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Argh!
Oh, yes you are.
From: Ty
Subject: The Chase; camping and eating and whatnot
This being the second night the group has spent in the jungle, some of the more uncomfortable aspects don't come as a surprise. The bugs, damp earth, and slime dripping creepers are all old friends by this point. However, in what is clearly an attempt by some angry nature god to show you that you haven't seen everything yet, a new discomfort makes itself known. Sa'id sits down on a large patch of moss that looks like it might add some cushion to his sleeping place. About five minutes later he leaps to his feet itching furiously. When Cadfael examines him, he finds a nasty rash breaking out all over the wizards back and rump. A few minutes after examining it, the cleric breaks out all over his hands. Both the wizard and cleric then break out on their faces where their hands had brushed away bugs.
Rennik examines the moss from a distance, and declares that he is unfamiliar with it. Sa'id and Cadfael are banished to a quarantined corner of the camp where this sit and itch in misery. Cadfael tries one of his minor healing prayers, and while it does close the open wounds that the itching has caused, it does nothing to remove the rash itself. It makes for a very unpleasant night.
The rest of the group spreads out, carefully picking sleeping spots that are far from the dangerous moss. Mission sits up for the first watch, rocking Promise in his arms till the child falls asleep. The tiny gurgling of the baby's empty stomach breaks the monk's heart, but he has nothing but the water that Rennik provided to give the child. The priest had promised that he could make food in the morning, but Mission wondered if that would be soon enough. How long can a newborn go without food? He has literally no idea.
After a few hours, Garyth takes over. He sits on a fallen log, eyes unfocused and ears wide open for any sounds outside the drip of vines and the constant buzz of insects. Occasionally, a distant splash can be heard, and some of them are disturbingly large, but nothing moves toward the camp. After an hour or so, he begins pinching the flesh next to his thumb. It is an old trick he learned while standing watch on the walls of Nesalin. A sharp pain gives about five minutes wakefulness. It's just a matter of spacing the pinches out-
And then he jerks to his feet abruptly, the hairs on the back of his neck standing straight up (phenomenal spot roll). No sounds, really. Nothing nearby that he can hear. But something... He looks straight up through the canopy of trees. A few stars can be spotted through the thick layer of leaves. Something dark moves across a star. Something silent, above the trees. No sound of flapping wings. No sounds of something actually in the trees. Something that can fly without noise.
[ok, mike. Its all you baby.]
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Chase; camping and eating and whatnot
Garyth's ears strain to hear the slightest sound, but to no avail. He hunches over, trying to keep low to the ground, and makes his way as quietly as he can to where Rennik sleeps. Still no sounds but his companions' breaths. He reaches out and touches the halfling's shoulder. As he awakens, Garyth touches a finger to his lips, then points up.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Chase; camping and eating and whatnot
Oh, I forgot. Matt is up in Vancouver BC right now. Not sure when he'll be able to check his email.