Post by Lt White Whisker To~Vensre on May 7, 2010 10:23:24 GMT -5
The Events in this "story" occur just before Lt Cmdr Cross takes command of the Frontier
She is walking around Star base 240, the Frontier had been docked for sometime. As she walks around, she thinks of home and her siblings. One of her siblings, Pathfinder, is old enough to Walk. She only hopes she is strong enough so that she need only to Walk once. She wasn't, nor was she a second, or third time
A couple hours later, she returns to her quarters. She finds a message waiting for her and she assumed it's either a transfer or news on when the Frontier will set out again. To her surprise, it's neither. It's a message from Pathfinder. She opens the message to read
White Whisker
As you know I am old enough to Walk. I have asked the camp leader which camp is in need of adults of 8. I am told that Vensre is in need of our group number. I am writing to ask you if you could come home and join me in my Walk. I spoke of this matter with my group and at first they did not wish it, but I convinced them that you know the terrain and that you would be the best to navigate and point out any dangers. I and my party will be setting out in 7 suns. ( one week ) It would loop my tail for you to be here.
Pathfinder
It only takes her a few minutes to decide to go. She knew Wind Storm would want to go with her but he already has his name and is an adult. The walk is for children, to prove that they are mature enough to grow up. She writes a message to Wind Storm
Wind Storm
My sister has asked me to return to Sivao to join her and her group on her Walk. I have decided to go and I hope to return in maturity, safety and have my own name. Wait for me here and do not follow.
White Whisker
She sends the message to him and immediately sets out to catch the next shuttle to Sivao.
Five days later, she transports down into the camp of SettleSand and is greeted by Pathfinder and she introduces her to the group. A couple greet her with skepticism and mistrust, which is pretty normal for someone who has failed 3 Walks. Pathfinder discusses with her the route she wished to take. White Whisker bristles a bit as the path would take them close to and would cross a stretch of river that is known to flood and is in an area of with a large group of grabfoots, which she points to the colony about a mile passed the stretch of river. She suggests that they cross the river at another point where it is narrower and would take a day off their trip, but she also points out Rolling Rock Ravine, 2 miles past the river, an area that is highly unstable and rock slides are common.
She also makes another suggestion. She points down river on Pathfinder's map. Another narrow stretch in the river. It is a relatively safe route, sometimes frequented by Slashbacks. It would also add a day and a half to their journey. Pathfinder tells White whisker that she wishes to take the safe trail so that they all could arrive in maturity and safety, including White Whisker "Do not think of me alone, Pathfinder. You must think of all of your group that will be joining us." She tells her younger sibling
The morning of the 7th sun comes and Pathfinder, White Whisker and the rest of the group set out as planned amidst well wishers and a clamor of welcome homes seeing them off
The trip is uneventful and 2 days later, they reach the crossing. The make camp at dusk, amidst fears of Slashbacks. The wind shifts during the night and the scent of Slashbacks is heavy in the air, upwind and across the river. As many as six slashbacks are scented, which is highly unusual for them to be in such a large group. White Whisker concludes that the river upstream, Pathfinder's original route has flooded and advises that at first light they should cross and take a path through the trees to avoid the large group of Slash backs. That plan is agreed up by the group and they get some sleep
At dawn, they shake sleep off and cross the river via a rope bridge. Not a moment too soon either. A few minutes after the last of the group crossed, a low rumble is heard and it steadily grows louder. Then a second danger presents itself. A roar of a slash back is heard and sounds pretty close "To the trees" Shouts White Whisker and they all scurry up trees and into the branches, just as the two dangers present themselves. One, in the form of 4 of the six slash backs, the other the upstream flood that had been presumed earlier
They travel through the trees, from branch to branch for a couple of hours, until the scent of slash back is well behind them. The reach a branch in the path, where the smaller path they had chose to take meets the main path that leads to Vensre.
They travel for another day until a familiar clamor is heard. With a collective group of loop-tailed youngsters, they all walk into Vensre, feeling no less worse for wear. Sivaoans Shout there exuberance and offer congratulatory remarks, the leader coming forward also, offering praise that they arrived in safety and maturity. It was also rumored that the group was caught in the flood since they had been late but Pathfinder spoke up, offering the White Whisker had advised an alternate route, which added time to their journey
One by one, the group spoke the names that they chose for themselves. Pathfinder chose her name: Pathfinder To~SettleSand. When it came to her turn, she called out her name, with pride: White Whisker To~Vensre. A feast is prepared for the group of new adults who arrived in safety
A couple days later, a shuttle comes for her to take her back to Star base 240. When she returns, she learns that there is a new Commander to take command of the Frontier. She finds out where the commander is and goes to introduce herself as White Whisker To~Vensre
She is walking around Star base 240, the Frontier had been docked for sometime. As she walks around, she thinks of home and her siblings. One of her siblings, Pathfinder, is old enough to Walk. She only hopes she is strong enough so that she need only to Walk once. She wasn't, nor was she a second, or third time
A couple hours later, she returns to her quarters. She finds a message waiting for her and she assumed it's either a transfer or news on when the Frontier will set out again. To her surprise, it's neither. It's a message from Pathfinder. She opens the message to read
White Whisker
As you know I am old enough to Walk. I have asked the camp leader which camp is in need of adults of 8. I am told that Vensre is in need of our group number. I am writing to ask you if you could come home and join me in my Walk. I spoke of this matter with my group and at first they did not wish it, but I convinced them that you know the terrain and that you would be the best to navigate and point out any dangers. I and my party will be setting out in 7 suns. ( one week ) It would loop my tail for you to be here.
Pathfinder
It only takes her a few minutes to decide to go. She knew Wind Storm would want to go with her but he already has his name and is an adult. The walk is for children, to prove that they are mature enough to grow up. She writes a message to Wind Storm
Wind Storm
My sister has asked me to return to Sivao to join her and her group on her Walk. I have decided to go and I hope to return in maturity, safety and have my own name. Wait for me here and do not follow.
White Whisker
She sends the message to him and immediately sets out to catch the next shuttle to Sivao.
Five days later, she transports down into the camp of SettleSand and is greeted by Pathfinder and she introduces her to the group. A couple greet her with skepticism and mistrust, which is pretty normal for someone who has failed 3 Walks. Pathfinder discusses with her the route she wished to take. White Whisker bristles a bit as the path would take them close to and would cross a stretch of river that is known to flood and is in an area of with a large group of grabfoots, which she points to the colony about a mile passed the stretch of river. She suggests that they cross the river at another point where it is narrower and would take a day off their trip, but she also points out Rolling Rock Ravine, 2 miles past the river, an area that is highly unstable and rock slides are common.
She also makes another suggestion. She points down river on Pathfinder's map. Another narrow stretch in the river. It is a relatively safe route, sometimes frequented by Slashbacks. It would also add a day and a half to their journey. Pathfinder tells White whisker that she wishes to take the safe trail so that they all could arrive in maturity and safety, including White Whisker "Do not think of me alone, Pathfinder. You must think of all of your group that will be joining us." She tells her younger sibling
The morning of the 7th sun comes and Pathfinder, White Whisker and the rest of the group set out as planned amidst well wishers and a clamor of welcome homes seeing them off
The trip is uneventful and 2 days later, they reach the crossing. The make camp at dusk, amidst fears of Slashbacks. The wind shifts during the night and the scent of Slashbacks is heavy in the air, upwind and across the river. As many as six slashbacks are scented, which is highly unusual for them to be in such a large group. White Whisker concludes that the river upstream, Pathfinder's original route has flooded and advises that at first light they should cross and take a path through the trees to avoid the large group of Slash backs. That plan is agreed up by the group and they get some sleep
At dawn, they shake sleep off and cross the river via a rope bridge. Not a moment too soon either. A few minutes after the last of the group crossed, a low rumble is heard and it steadily grows louder. Then a second danger presents itself. A roar of a slash back is heard and sounds pretty close "To the trees" Shouts White Whisker and they all scurry up trees and into the branches, just as the two dangers present themselves. One, in the form of 4 of the six slash backs, the other the upstream flood that had been presumed earlier
They travel through the trees, from branch to branch for a couple of hours, until the scent of slash back is well behind them. The reach a branch in the path, where the smaller path they had chose to take meets the main path that leads to Vensre.
They travel for another day until a familiar clamor is heard. With a collective group of loop-tailed youngsters, they all walk into Vensre, feeling no less worse for wear. Sivaoans Shout there exuberance and offer congratulatory remarks, the leader coming forward also, offering praise that they arrived in safety and maturity. It was also rumored that the group was caught in the flood since they had been late but Pathfinder spoke up, offering the White Whisker had advised an alternate route, which added time to their journey
One by one, the group spoke the names that they chose for themselves. Pathfinder chose her name: Pathfinder To~SettleSand. When it came to her turn, she called out her name, with pride: White Whisker To~Vensre. A feast is prepared for the group of new adults who arrived in safety
A couple days later, a shuttle comes for her to take her back to Star base 240. When she returns, she learns that there is a new Commander to take command of the Frontier. She finds out where the commander is and goes to introduce herself as White Whisker To~Vensre
