In reply to Amara Brightsky (msg # 380):

"And you think I would lie to my own elder? I'm not a Raven!" He shrugs, "You're not of our clan and don't know our ways." He smiles, "If he tries to attack us, he'll learn the hard way that its a bad idea." He nods at Tarnessh's offer, "Thank you, but it'd be better if Gloaming was with me."

Amara shot Taorsh a harsh look. "No, I didn't mean that. Cantelas has had some issues with some of our number. I felt Tarnessh might be able to inform Cantelas as to the truth. He's a Truthspeaker after all. I didn't mean to say you would lie, I meant only that Tarnessh can't lie and therefor anything he might say could soothe Cantelas." Amara shook her head and walked away.

Leaper who'd been watching the exchange with a small smile on his lips interjects, putting aside the quiver full of arrows he'd been holding

"So, we go in with Tada leading the way, with Earth and Water and Sky up above, we get in, say our helloes, kiss feet, and boast about how good we are....Then we party, yes?"

Amara finds the Vingans already mounted and seemingly waiting for her to join them.

"Will you ride with us for some of the way?" ask Golden-Eye.

He watch's Amara walk off and mutters to himself, "Women."
Glad for the change in subject Tarosh grins, "If we're lucky the party should start once we arrive, so the rest of the stuff can wait till the next day."

"Mmm don't we party until the wedding?...And then some afterwards?...Actually I have no idea how you lot get married...Us mob, well we party like the heroes we are, but may be you lot sit around like the eejits you are" he says turning to look at the few Prairie Thunder Braves around with a wide grin.

"Of course we'll party! But I'm not sure all this lot can last a week." He grins broadly "On Wildday we'll have a special party and you're all invited of course. Melock and I will arrange it and we can make it a special bachelor party, last chance for Kobal!"

"It's going to be a week long party, I doubt Kobal will be able to stand by himself on his wedding day." A frown crosses his face when Ohanzee mentions that one of the parties will be organised by two Ravens, "If past performance is any guide, it'll probably be the last time anyone see's Kobal." He laughs, "Didn't you and Melock get kicked out of the temple last time there was a party?"

The young Raven brave smiles slyly "I wouldn't exactly say kicked out. I'd put it more like we volunteered to carry out vital works because the the rest of you could not keep up with our partying."

A worried look flashes over his face and he adds "Assuming that they have managed to call him back to us of course."

He chuckles,"You'd better make sure you don't end up volunteering this time, cause I'm sure I can out drink you and want a chance to prove it." He pats him on the shoulder, "The Earth Witch said she could, lets hope she was right and that he hasn't managed to get himself killed again."

"It will be interesting to see Melock again after all that we've seen while we were away. I want to see how he reacts to the Harpies too."

Ohanzee snorts a laugh in response to Tarosh "Well there is always a good chance of that, there's only so many time you can push your luck."

Amara nodded to the women "I will ride with you, until I must take my place and ride as the Earth Queen to the Giant's Finger Holes and the Earth Temple." she looked back at the men, before dismissing them in her mind. She smiled looking at the Vingans eagerly "I'm sure you'll be surprised at what we've done here and I hope you'll be able to take the word of this wherever you travel."

"Considering how much up upset Cantalas, I'd say you you've reached your limit. If I was you, I'd stay out of his sight while we're at the temple."

Kobal looks around at the assembled Rangers.  His first thought that one of the Rangers who had not yet played the part of Tada should take the role this time, but on reflection he couldn't help but agree that it made sense for him to make a grand entry on this occasion.  "Aye, I'll be Tada," he nods.



Kobal smiles at the good news.  The chief seemed like a reasonable man (for a Red Thorn).  And this way the shaman might only receive rumours of what happened to the band he sent to the harpies, instead of any confirmed news from the Rangers.



"Ha," says Kobal, thinking of the success the Rangers had had where the shaman's men had failed, "let him try!  He will only lose more of his men."



"Cantalas and I got on well," says Kobal, clapping Tarosh on the shoulder.  "If you'd like me there as well, let me know."



"Ha, Thunder Birds, and bison braves, can last longer than Ravens.  You will see, haha!"  He doesn't reply to the offer of a Raven 'party' but instead focuses on readying Black Hoof for the day's ride, performing his standard ritual of tying a knotted rope around the beast's hoof.

"It is only fitting that Kobal should be Tada as he is going into the Giant Finger Holes as a groom himself. Maybe next time we come I should play the part, but who knows what the future will bring and who will be with the Rangers next time we come here?"

Henal pulls a face at Ohanzee "like a Raven can go longer than a Thunder bird in war or peace. Let us see who still stands at the end".

As he prepares for their journey back to the Giant's Finger Holes Ohanzee dresses head to foot in his lead armour confident that it will not be too uncomfortable on this Freezeday. He leaves his blue left arm completely free of the sleeve and vambrace that he normally wears so that the blue "gifted" him by Indigo Hue is clearly visible as are the Water runes that have covered it since his time with Kinope as she healed his body and bound his spirit back into it.

He pulls up a handful of though dry grass stalks that he rolls and then knots into a tight ball and then uses this to rub down Wihakayda's tough flesh clearing away the dust to provide a clean pallet. Next he mixes some ash from the fire with water and mud to make a dark paste easily seen against the rock grey of the rhino's hide.

Scooping up a handful of this paint he begins, using his fingers to painting the square Earth rune on the legs and lower body of the rhino and up the underside and lower half of it's neck and head. As he works he makes sure that he is surrounded by the rest of the Sky Watcher's present and sings aloud;

Wihakayda of the Earth
Strong and proud,
Carry me back
To Earth's hallowed ground.

Great Rhino walk with us,
Come see us home,
To the land you once lived,
To the place you once roamed.

We ride to Earth's Temple,
From where spreads the Green,
To turn the land again,
As once it was seen.

We're Sky Watcher all,
Beast, woman and man.
Greatest of all
Great Rhino's clans!

He looks at his fellow Rhino riders filled with pride for his clan and his tribe and most of all with the anticipation of their reaction to the greening they will witness and the return of Tada which shall surely be even greater this time as the River and his Earth Wife return as guests to Tada's home this time!

Following on from this he paints the pair of waving lines together that depict the Water rune covering the upper portion of his mount singing this time.

From Darkness I came
To Water was drawn
Fate called me so
Changing my form.

Betrothed to Kinope
Daughter of Zola Fel
Chosen of Seolinthur
Father of them all.

To Kinope I'll return
When I am worthy
But now I ride home
With a bride more Earthy.

Wed to the Earth
I ride with my wife
River and Earth return
Together bring life.

He mounts up and takes his place with Amara and Kobal at the head of the procession.

While Ohanzee is painting his rhino, Tarosh ties well placed knots in Carross's fleece to depict water runes, as he does so he gifts part of his spirit to the Coming Home ceremony. Kinamasi copies Tarosh and knots the High Llama she will be riding, once she is done she places herself in the centre of the group, just behind Whispers from the Sky.
Tarosh takes his place behind Ohanzee as water calls to him more than the earth.

Amara continued the song, adding a verse to explore her changes as she prepared Thunderfoot, dressing him to be as strong as he might. A worthy mount for the Earth Queen. She raised an eyebrow at some of the lyric choices Ohanzee made, and decided to sing her retort and celebration.

"From air I came,
To Earth I cling
Once alone
Now I sing

None may claim me
For I am my own
For I am the queen
the earth my throne

For the time being
I am wed to the water
while it will last
I will be a dutiful daughter


I should have known
his thoughts with another already
It is to his shame
His love was not steady

We have returned
Water united with earth
The Green will grow
This place shall give birth."

Ohanzee actually laughs aloud at the verses Amara adds, sitting there atop Wihakayda. He waits for her to mount up and as she does so sings a response;

The River must flow
Never be still
Disorder drives him
Oft beyond his will.

Body keeps moving
Bed always below
Love flows freely
'twas ever so.

Always moving
The River must roam
Where ever his heart is
There is his home.

But Earth is his first
His love for her steadfast
His love for her true
Forever to last.

Amara chuckled brightly to herself as she climbed onto Thunderfoot listening to Ohanzee's song before responding.

"
A river must flow
with all of its might
A man wants to meander
he is full of...himself.

The Earth is constant
It supports all who walk
It shows through action
when the river is just talk.

The waters heart
is eternally fickle
it promises a river
when in fact it's a trickle

The Earth has eyes
for one it might trust
the water's eyes wander
twinkling with lust"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:27, Tue 16 Feb 2016.

At the rear of the Rangers Salen rode quietly along atop Kohana. Both were painted with the Runes of the Sky, Waha knots signifying their ties to the Sky, and to Prax, to the Prairie Thunder, but also to Water, which was something new. They walked slowly and deliberately, every hoof step a rumble of thunder, while the Condor brave drew on a spectacularly large smoke. He absentmindedly rubbed his chest and the quicksilver band on his arm as he went.

Having finished his usual morning routine, Kobal begins preparations in earnest to ride as Tada.  Quickly, but quietly he wipes himself and his clothes, including loincloth, down with water from his waterskin.  Then in his bowl he mixes some clay.  Each task is performed with a minimum of motion, and a focus that one wouldn't normally give.  Even to wearing his footwear.  He puts them on almost reverentially, then applies some of the clay to daub runes of Air on the shoes.  His helmet he takes off, before painting his face with the clay.  On his arms and legs runes of Earth are drawn.  He wears the helm of Emesh-Ga again and walks to his half-brother.

"Tarnessh, the cloak, please."  He turns his back and waits for Tarnessh to affix the Basmoli cloak to his shoulders.

This done, he returns to Black Hoof and mounts.  Resting his lance against a shoulder, Tada turns to check that his retinue is ready, and kicks his mount forwards.

Henal readies himself for the ceremony painting Earth Runes low down on Whiteblaze with mud, then knotting air runes into the bison's coat. He uses mud to paint Earth runes onto his arms and legs then on each cheek.

Then readied he puts on his armour and mounts up, riding in his usual position to the right of the Rangers as they form the wedding procession.

Tarnessh readily hands over the cloak, adding "It is now yours brother, a fitting wedding present."

As the Thunderbird brave places it on his shoulders he feels a surge of adrenaline and power...