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Post by debinoxford on Mar 10, 2006 23:34:38 GMT -5
I will travel back with you. In this one statement Rhian thought her ill feelings would pass, but was saddened to find they remained as strong as before.
Why haven't these feelings faded? she wondered to herself as she gathered her meager belongings and followed the men further away from their campsite. As they left, she noticed that there was no sign of their having been there, at least not to her eyes. Rhian knew that a better woodsman would be able to look at that patch of grass and know how many people were there, what they had with them and how long they stayed. It sent a thrill through her at the thought that she would be able to read trail signs just as well soon. With that slightly lifting thought she hefted her satchel over her shoulder and followed Cyfnach.
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Post by karenee on Mar 11, 2006 17:17:47 GMT -5
Kaie jumped and looked around. "Who...?"
When she saw the confused woman in modern clothes, she gasped and jumped to her feet. "Uhoh! Where did you come through?"
At the woman's uncomprehending glance, Kaie realised that she hadn't spoken in English. "I'm sorry. I'm so used to...never mind. How long have you been here?"
The woman gestured back at the waterfall upstream, then shrugged. "I just came through there, I think. I'm Shylah."
Kaie shook Shylah's proffered hand and invited her to sit beside the stream. "Greetings. I'm Kaie. Thanks to the One for bringing you through now, and to me! This is not chance." She sat for a moment, then shook her head at the complexity of the situation. "It is good you found me, for very few here speak English. If you would return home with me, we will speak to Rhakar and figure out how to get you home."
Kaie rose to her feet,gesturing for Shylah to wait and wandered along the stream, looking for landmarks to help her remember the place. She knew how far she had come from the village and in what direction. Noting a sheer cliff-face downstream, where the water had cut away the hillside forming a deep pool, she returned to her new companion with some confidence that she could find the place again. "Are you willing to come with me? There is nothing near here but a village... I don't know. I think they would not be friendly to you." Sighing a little at this reality, she waited for Shylah's answer.
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Post by luv1another on Mar 12, 2006 0:36:20 GMT -5
I don't understand, where am I? I was camping and and went to check out a curious waterfall stumbled on some rocks and next thing I know I am here... so where is here?
I will go with you but first I want you to tell me what this place is, you seem to know more than you are saying.
do you not trust me? I saw the the birds take flight just over there before I approached you and saw a sudden flash. Am I being watched? did you expect me to come here? was it a trap maybe?
suddenly shylah stopped talking seeing the look on kaie's face, she looked kind of stunned but yet slightly cross.
oh sorry,shylah exclaimed I tend to talk to much when I am nervous. But I have no idea where I am and I know I am being watched, but by the look on your face it does not appear that you knew that....sorry
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Post by Dred on Mar 12, 2006 19:48:52 GMT -5
Catching a feeling of Rhian's attitude, he dropped back beside her and paused as he glanced back at the campsite. He thought she might enjoy learning something that would help her now and in the future. Would you like to see how we make ourselves vanish from normal view?
He nodded his head to one of the men to continue on as he waited for Rhian's response.
**At home in the village**
Rhakar walked through the woods a short distance, listening to the sounds of wildlife. The peace and quiet of the woods had always suited his desires in the past. Even now, he found himself tempted to wander off and vanish from sight for a time but he knew there were some who counted on him for guidance such as it was.
Turning slowly, he viewed the village and the finished work on the lake from a distance. He was happy with what he saw. The horror from the past would have difficulty approaching without advanced warning reaching their ears. Smiling in satisfaction, he walked back towards the smoke of the cook fires and the aroma of roasting meat.
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Post by debinoxford on Mar 12, 2006 21:09:28 GMT -5
yes, i would.
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Post by karenee on Mar 12, 2006 23:35:37 GMT -5
Kaie shook her head. "It's my father. No wonder he gave in so easily!"
Seeing shylah's surprise, she stopped. "Look, it's complicated. I'll tell you about it on our way, ok? Don't worry about the watchers. It's just Father making sure I get nome ok, even though I told him I could take care of myself."
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Post by Dred on Mar 13, 2006 10:03:37 GMT -5
He turned and walked back towards the campsite with Rhian. First you need to remove the traces of obvious occupation. That is something most people attempt at first but there are places that such things can be disposed of. Ashes can be blended into the earth along game trails for example. The animals root the ground for food anyways so the ashes will get churned up into the earth. Leftover food scraps will work well this way also. The animals eat the scraps and little is left over after they have processed it.
The burnt wood from fires is more complicated. If it isn't burnt completely into ash, it must be either carried off or hidden. Holes work but those can be found. They can be broken up and scattered amongst broken and wrotting limbs of trees. That is a good place to get rid of them most of the time.
The footprints are one of the most challenging to remove. In dry conditions, the footprints can disappear quickly but ground can give you away even then. A broken twig or slight excess indentation into the ground can give you away as surely as waving your arms to an enemy.
When the ground is soft, avoid the mud and soft dirt. These will show your direction, height, weight, numbers and much more to the trained eye.
As you can tell from our camp, the ground is mostly dry. The broken twigs have been cleared away. The remains of the fire have been dispersed. If things are too clean and tidy, that will also give away your presence. Some leaves and bits of stick must be scattered around.
Most of the time what we'll do is to scout out a location, see how it appears before we start using it and then try to make it appear the same after we leave. It is the little things that can save you when being pursued.
When leaving a location, I always have one person follow from a distance to clear away any signs of passage. That person is always skilled in these arts and can blend into the surroundings should the need arise at a moment's notice.
I know I have told you a great deal already. Do you have questions now or shall we follow the others. You can practice removing some of the traces if you like as we go.
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Post by debinoxford on Mar 13, 2006 19:16:41 GMT -5
It was a lot to take in all at once, but Rhian knew some of it before hand because she listened and gleaned information from the village. Still, she told herself not to be too confident when she practiced on her way back. We can go back now. I'll try to cover our trail.
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Post by luv1another on Mar 13, 2006 23:10:04 GMT -5
did your father bring me here? I must let someone know I am ok in a few days I am due back at work, everyone will start to wonder where I am.
Shylah pulls a Cell phone from her Jeans pocket and notices that there is no signal and the battery is low.
oh Dang! stupid phones they never work when you need them, and I don't even have my booster or recharger with me
she kicks a nearby tree hard
what am I going to do now!!! I am in a strange place with strange people and no contact with anyone from home or even the police for that matter
as these facts start to sink in and shylahs toe begins to hurt from kicking the tree tears well up and she begins to sniffle.
what am I going to do? *sniff* I have no idea where I even am*sniff*
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Post by karenee on Mar 14, 2006 9:06:50 GMT -5
Kaie shook her head. "I'm sorry! I'm not being clear. Look, let's go check out the waterfall and I'll tell you what happened."
Leading the way to the waterfall, she explained about the otherworld and the doors between them. "You stumbled through one of those doors. It's closed. Try going back through and you'll see."
Shylah ran forward, but only succeeded in getting drenched. "There's nothing there!"
"That's what I told you." Kaie put an arm around her. "Look, you can wait here and hope the door opens, or you can come with me and we'll talk to Rakar. Between us we'll figure out how to get you back, trust me! There are more...predictable ways to pass through. I used one, but it's closed now too. Will you trust me?
"I really don't want to make Father's watchers too uncomfortable. I don't know him or them that well and they aren't trusting folk."
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Post by luv1another on Mar 14, 2006 10:33:43 GMT -5
*sigh* I will come with you, I really don't see any other options anyway, and you seem nice enough
whats the story with your father anyway?
and shouldnt we find some diffrent clothes or something before we meet with others? they may start to wonder if I turn up in these clothes... and didnt you say there is no technology here?
maybe I should bury my phone and watch or hide them someplace before we continue.
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Post by Dred on Mar 14, 2006 16:38:06 GMT -5
Cyfnach inclined his head in understanding as he stepped forward and waited to watch as Rhian erased trace of their passage. Very good. It shall come easier in time but you have a certain natural ability.
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Post by karenee on Mar 14, 2006 16:41:45 GMT -5
Kaie glanced around. "Look, if we're being watched, better to hide them later. For now, just come with me, ok?"
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Post by Dred on Mar 14, 2006 16:50:28 GMT -5
A sudden gut wrenching pain struck Rhakar as he was enjoying a quiet walk around the lake after dinner. He knew instantly that something was wrong. Doubling over onto the ground he turned and scanned the woods for sign of what might be causing this pain.
In moments, the pain had vanished leaving him wondering at the cause. Climbing slowly to his feet, he grabbed his sword and began walking towards the woods in the direction of the falls he heard roaring in the stillness, still distant and yet clear enough to indicate the animals felt uneasy.
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Post by karenee on Mar 14, 2006 17:11:17 GMT -5
Kaie shook Shylah awake. "Look, I know it's early, but we need to get going. For some reason everything has been feeling rather tense for about a week, here, and I can't get a handle on what's going on. I need to get home. Did you rest ok last night?"
As Shylah stretched, Kaie glanced at the base of the oak where they'd buried the phone and watch, wrapped tightly in sealskin, the night before. Good, it was well hidden. She ran to the nearby falls, much larger than the ones Shylah had stumbled through two days before, and splashed her face. Glimpsing the face of a watcher above in a small pool among the rocks, she growled in her throat. This lack of privacy was wearing on her nerves.
"Watch out!" Shylah's scream was cut short and Kaie spun around to discover one of her father's men holding her new friend by the throat.
"What do you think you're doing? Father sent you to protect me, not attack my friends!" She advanced on the man, intent on knocking some sense into his head.
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