bwverse, Fire Tribe Village, Another Beginning to a Journey

[dens-extra-pups.livejournal.com]

Matt: *watching Dixie and An interacting as he works on making travel food. His family has been staying in a very comfortable... What was the word An used? Oh, yeah.... tent, next to her house in the Fire Village, since before twilight yesterday. The twins have gone to help collect reeds for baskets, and Jake is over by Dixie, watching An try and write down the words Dixie uses for different things... He hasn't quite figured out why though...*

Dixie: *pronouncing each word slowly as she speaks, and making sure to pay attention to An in case the other woman needs her to repeat something she's said*

Jake: *crouched and watching An write, is being good and not speaking unless he's spoken to*

An: *considering two different letter combinations, and then using the one she's chosen and adding a little mark over it. This done, she looks up as Windracer bounces in* {What are you doing, scapegrace?}

Windracer: *smiles in response to her mother's smile, then reaches back and pats the bottom of the little being riding in the shawl there* *slowly and carefully* {Shakespeare and I were wondering if any of this family would like to come out and explore. We will show them around.} *turns that bright smile toward Matt*

Matt: *slight headtilt, glances to Dixie, who gives him a small smile and a nod. Will set the food pouches aside for now, since they won't spoil from being out. He's curious about the little being riding in the shawl, and it shows on his face*

Jake: *hesitant. He wants to stick close to Mother, but Father is going....*

An: *to Jake* {This is what your name looks like.}

Jake: *blinks and smiles as he looks at the marks*

Windracer: *reaches over in her outgoing way and takes Matt's hand* {What would you like to see, Uncle? Where should we bring you?} *bright dark eyes smile up at him from the tall eleven year old's face*

Matt: *considering look* *quietly* {Th-the village i-its-self, i-if i-it's not t-too m-much t-trouble....}

Windracer: *surprised, but chuckles* {It's no trouble, Uncle.} *gentle tug on his hand as she tries to lead him out of the tent* {What part would you like to see first?}

Shakespeare: *watching Matt as he leans back in his shawl binding, his green optics sharp in his little golden face* Hrrrn. Beer?

Matt: *blink blink at Shakespeare* *slight headtilt* *hesitantly, since he's not very sure of the words the way Jake seems to be* 'L-lo..

Shakespeare: *bit of a frown* Hello... *brow ridges lift*

Windracer: {He asked if you would like to have some beer, Uncle.} *has led Matt out of the tent and is now looking around at the peaceful activity of the day. Old people are crouching in the shade of the huts, shelling locust pods. Mothers and younger women are weaving on belt looms while babies ride in shawls and study the world with curious dark eyes*

Matt: B-beer? *unfamiliar with the word*

Windracer: {Wait here, please.} *steps away from him, then lifts into the air and flies across the plaza to go bug Abel for a bottle of his latest batch*

Matt: *watches with surprise and a bit of curiosity. He's heard rumors of people being 'cursed', and seen a few instances of the Cave Tribe's hunters being sent out after them.... But he's never really understood the 'need' to do so... Especially since it seems that the 'curses' are actually not such terrible things to have....*

Windracer: *back! Lands and trots over to offer him the little clay bottle, her linen dress swinging softly around around her pants-clad legs as she moves* {Here, Uncle. This is beer.}

Shakespeare: *has a big dragonfly now. Is examining it with a pleased expression*

Matt: *small nod as he reaches for the clay bottle* {Th-thank y-you.} *will have a cautious taste of the contents, before he's pulling a surprised face*

Windracer: *watching him* {What do you think?}

Shakespeare: *thinks he's going to eat this bug! NOM* *nom nom nom nom...*

Matt: {I-it's d-different... B-but good...} *small smile* *attention going to Shakespeare* ... *raised brow*

Windracer: *uncertain pause* {What is it?}

Matt: {D-did h-he just eat a b-bug?}

Windracer: *quick look over her shoulder* {Oh no, what kind?} Shakespeare, what are you doing??

Matt: {I-it h-had c-clear w-wings...}

Shakespeare: {Hrrn. Allowed to eat} dragonflies.

Windracer: *big sigh* {You are naughty anyway.}

Shakespeare: *growly, too!*

Matt: *slight headtilt, is puzzling over this new (to him) being a bit more. He's never encountered anyone like the little guy before today, aside from Optimus Primal...*

Windracer: *sees that studying expression* {Shakespeare is Dinobot and Lockjaw's son. They live on the Axalon with Optimus Primal.}

Shakespeare: *studying you right back, Matt* *and frowning deeply as he does it*

Matt: *small nod, wondering if there are others like Shakespeare* {Ah... I-it's n-nice t-to m-meet you, Shakespeare.}

Shakespeare: *small head tilted as Windracer translates for him, then growls softly* {The honor is mine.}

Windracer: *pleased and proud grin* {Good, little brother!}

Matt: *small smile, has another pull from the clay bottle of beer*

Windracer: *calls a hello to two girls near her own age, naming them Naomi and Sarah, then turns back to Matt* {Where would you like to go now, Uncle?}

Matt: *considering look around the village, is thinking* {I-is th-there s-someone who w-would like b-beads?} *has several bone beads that he's made during long winters in the caves that he's got no use for*

Windracer: *curiosity comes to her expression* {Beads?}

Matt: *nods and gets some of the carved beads out of his walking pouch* {I-I... c-carve d-during th-the w-winter...}

Windracer: *gentle finger touches the hair pipe beads* {Does the design mean something?}

Matt: *small headshake* {I-I j-just liked th-the l-look...}

Windracer: {Ohhhh.} *reaches down the front of her dress and pulls out a necklace which sports several different styles of beads, the focal point being a small pottery gorilla with a human child in its arms* {I will trade you one of my extra blue ones for one of those decorated ones.}

Matt: *smiles and nods*

Windracer: *unties the cord and starts sorting out the beads till she gets to the right one, pausing to smile at the pendant before holding up two of the blue stone beads for Matt to pick one*

Matt: *chooses one of the beads and gives Windracer one of the nicer decorated bone beads*

Windracer: *happily restringing her collection, including the new one. Then reties the cord and settles the necklace back around her neck* {Thank you, Uncle.} *looks around* {What would you like to trade for the other beads?}

Matt: *deep thinking now.... Is trying to think of what would be useful on the trip to find Denver, and what would be a fair trade*

Shakespeare: *big burp and a o.O that looks quite comical on his sharp little face*

Windracer: *hands over her mouth to hold in her giggles*

Matt: *blinks, and loses track of his thoughts for a moment, soft 'heh'*

Windracer: {I should bring you home, Shakespeare. Uncle Dinobot will be missing you.}

Shakespeare: *mighty yawn and lipsmack, then rests his head on her shoulder*

Windracer: *face softens* {Yes. It is time for you to sleep.}

Matt: *very gentle backrub for Shakespeare, is strongly reminded of when his own children were infants*

Windracer: *looks at him* {Will you come with me while I bring Shakespeare home? His family does not live in the village.}

Matt: *small nod, is curious about that* {S-sure...}

Windracer: *smiles and goes quickly to put her head into the tent and tell An where she's going, speaking to the woman in the language of their guests, and calling her 'mother'. Then withdraws and waves to Matt to ask him to follow her as she turns toward the gate in the withy wall that surrounds the collection of huts*

Matt: *follows, noting the similarities in Windracer and An's appearances and chuckling softly to himself*

Windracer: *takes his hand again when he reaches her, and then brings him out of the village and along a well-worn path. To one side of the path Matt will be able to see a massive field of wild sunchokes*

Matt: *admires the pretty flowers as he walks*

Windracer: *lets go of his hand and starts dancing along the path, which turns gently and passes a small lake before entering a clump of trees. Waves to the children playing on the verge of the lake and gathering reeds, and then waves to the women she sees in the trees gathering wild grape vine*

Matt: *looking around and taking things in as he follows Windracer*

Windracer: *out of the trees and into another big flower patch, this one full of the daisy flowers that Dixie loves*

Matt: *perks when he sees the white flowers, is soon gathering a small bundle of them to take back to Dixie*

Windracer: *om nom nom daisies! And feed some to Shakespeare* *stops after having waded a few yards into the flower field* Oh...

Shakespeare: *little chuckle as he peeks over her shoulder like an infant Kilroy*

Matt: *puzzled blinks, will come over to see what's going on*

Windracer: *looks up at him. Softly, her big eyes dancing* {Shhhh, my uncle and my aunt are resting.}

Rhinox: *flat of his back and snoring softly as Thundermoon sleeps peacefully with her head on his shoulder. His hand, holding a small bunch of daisies, rests comfortably on his mate's back*

Matt: *small smile as he studies the couple for a few moments, remembering the last time he and Dixie did something similar*

Windracer: *pushes against him gently* *half whisper* {Let's go back to the path and let them alone.}

Matt: *nods* *will move to head back for the path, snagging a few more daisies as he goes*

Windracer: *watches his collecting as she walks, her toes curling in her soft, toeless perforated boots* {Your people don't have} bread, {do they?}

Matt: *blink blink* B-bread? *no idea what that is....*

Windracer: *thinks as she absently chews on another flower* {I think I'll have to show you. I don't know how to explain it. It's something you get from the same beginning as beer, but you eat it instead of drinking it.}

Matt: *looks intrigued, will pause and peek into the bottle when he reaches something that is different from the rest of the beer*

Windracer: *sees him looking into the bottle* {Did you find the chewy bits?}

Matt: *small nod, is trying to get more of the chewy bits, since they taste pretty good to him*

Windracer: *grins* {It makes roasted grass finches taste very good when you fill them up with that before you put them over the fire.} *sudden pause as she sees a flash of red through the daisies, and then she's crouching with narrowed eyes as she looks and listens*

Matt: *makes note of the suggestion, before he's moving to crouch and silently wonder what's going on*

Windracer: *down on hands and toes as she creeps forward, and then she's gasping softly and standing to walk forward and crouch next to a large red being* Inferno! *removes something from her belt and holds it to her mouth* Uncle Rhinox, I need you quickly!

Rhinox: *is that groan behind them, and then his deep voice comes from the thing in Windracer's hand* //What's wrong?//

Windracer: Inferno is here in the daisy field! He looks damaged and is not reacting to me at all.

Matt: *scoots closer to the red thing, wondering if he can help somehow*

Rhinox: *comes wading through the daisies a moment later, Thundermoon a silent shadow at his side* *crouches next to the inert Predacon and scans him, then frowns and scans again before glancing at Matt and speaking with his language* {It looks like no one held him down when the plague delirium hit.}

Windracer: *concerned, her strong jaw set* {How bad is he?}

Rhinox: {From what I can tell his life's weak, but not in danger of fading. But his self is gone.}

Windracer: *gasps* You mean his core programming?

Rhinox: Wiped just as clear as Tarantulus did the day he reprogrammed him into a Predacon.

Thundermoon: *hand over mouth* {Can we help him?}

Rhinox: {Yeah. I have the} programming {chips}.

Matt: *quietly* {H-he is h-hurt?} *trying to understand what's going on*

Windracer: *looks at Matt and nods, compassion on her face* {He was one of my people once, but the enemy changed his thoughts to make him one of them. Now he's sick and his mind is empty. But my uncle can help him.}

Matt: *concerned* {D-Do y-you need h-help m-moving h-him?}

Rhinox: {Nope, but thanks for offering.} *steps away and transforms, then stands still as Thundermoon lays Inferno over his back*

Matt: *small frown, will move out of Rhinox's way. Doesn't like the idea of anyone being hurt, even if they were once an enemy*

Rhinox: *turns and heads toward the path, walking slowly and carefully* {I've reported to Optimus. Dinobot's coming to meet us.}

Shakespeare: *perks* Father!

Matt: *looks up, unsure as to who to expect*

Thundermoon: *broad but lovely face intent as she makes sure Inferno stays in place during the trip to the path and along it*

Windracer: *runs ahead as they leave the grassy area and come to a slightly dryer one, calling out to the tall, blue and brindle figure that is stalking toward them*

Matt: *slight hesitation upon sighting the tall, blue and brindle figure. Notices that said figure is taller than him... which is a bit of a surprise. He's used to being one of the tallest people around...*

Windracer: *talking a mile a minute now as Dinobot holds her in his arms*

Dinobot: *head lowered, his rugged face intent as he listens to the child tell about the finding of Inferno and his condition*

Rhinox: *just keeps on walking as Thundermoon steadies his cargo*

Matt: *amazed by the fact that Dinobot isn't ignoring Windracer. Saw far too many girl children ignored in his old tribe, even when there was something very important that needed to be shared...*

Dinobot: *gentle hand on Windracer's back. Then kisses his son and shifts Windracer to his hip as he comes over to look at Inferno* {Hrrn... He has losst everything?} *glances at Matt as he speaks to Rhinox*

Matt: *even more hesitant now. There's something about Dinobot that makes him wary, even though he's pretty certain that the blue and brindle being isn't a threat*

Rhinox: {Yup. But once I fix it he'll be a Maximal again.}

Dinobot: *wrinkles his nose slightly* {And the sssss insssanity?}

Rhinox: *quiet snort* {He's always been a hot shot.}

Dinobot: *pinches nose* Lovely...

Windracer: *stifled chuckle, and then a sympathetic hug for Uncle as they round a corner and the Axalon comes into view as though appearing out of thin air*

Matt: *soft sound of surprise as the ship suddenly comes into view*

Rhinox: {...Magic cloak.}

Thundermoon: {It's not magic! It's a tool!} *frown for mate*

Matt: *very slight headtilt. Magic is something he's heard vague stories of over the years... So he's not too sure about it... but tools are something he's a bit more familiar with... Kind of*

Dinobot: *herds Rhinox and his burden onto the lift first, then sends Thundermoon up on the next trip*

thud and a yelp: *comes from up above, followed by a soft female voice expressing quiet ire*

Windracer: 0_0

Matt: *blink blink*

Dinobot: *doesn't even twitch* {Hrrrn. Blackarachnia has been putting on... rrrrrn... airs about becoming a mother.}

Matt: *more blinks, soft chuckle*

Windracer: *eyes go even wider* {A mother? But...}

Dinobot: {I'm sure that Optimus will explain later. Hrrrn.} *indicates that Matt should step onto the lift platform as it comes down again*

Matt: *will move to do so, though he's not entirely sure he should go up if there's an upset mother nearby*

Dinobot: *steps up beside him and then looks upward as the lift rises*

Optimus: *looks around from scolding Airazor, who is standing unrepentantly over a dazed looking Blackarachnia. Then he's smiling and coming to greet the visitor* {Matt, welcome to the Axalon.}

Windracer: *leaves Shakespeare in Dinobot's arms and flies to hug her father*

Optimus: *distracted from greeting Matt by the need to give his daughter a kiss on the forehead and hold her close, his smile turning from welcome to father love*

Airazor: *smiles at the visitor even as she kicks Blackarachnia for good measure*

Matt: *understands now. Women scuffling.... Best not to interfere* {H-hello...} *making note of Optimus' reaction to Windracer, and coming to the conclusion that An's daughter is also Optimus' daughter*

Optimus: Airazor! By the... *sighs and turns back to Matt* {Do you need anything, friend?}

Windracer: *soft laughter as she snuggles Optimus*

Matt: *small headshake* {W-windracer w-was sh-showing m-me th-the village...}

Optimus: *grin* {I see. What do you think?} *quick sidestep and pulls Airazor away from Blackarachnia, then gives her a Look and sends her out through the open roof hatch* {Sorry.}

Matt: *reminded strongly of his own family, small smile* {I-it's n-nice....} *quieter* {I-if D-Dixie w-wants t-to... w-we m-might s-stay...}

Optimus: *raises brow ridges with surprise* {Then you've changed your mind about trying to find your niece?}

Matt: *small headshake* {W-we m-might come b-back... D-Depends on th-the area D-Denver's s-staying in...}

Optimus: {If I understand my ancestor the way I think I do, the Autobot base will be in a good place.} *sets Windracer down so that she can bounce over to where Dinobot is sitting next to the holotable and gently feeding Shakespeare from a bottle*

Matt: *small nod* {Th-th's i-is a n-nice area.}

Optimus: *surprised and pleased grin* {Really?}

Matt: *nods, wondering at the surprise in Optimus' expression* {Y-Yeah... I-if D-Dixie d-doesn't like th-the location, th-then w-we're c-coming b-back h-here... Th-there's g-good f-fire g-ground h-here...}

Optimus: {Fire ground?} *brow ridge quirk*

Dinobot: *over there humming softly as he rocks his son to sleep*

Matt: *nod* {Th-the g-ground d-doesn't f-fight against th-the fire... and D-Dixie c-can k-keep i-it g-going w-without t-trouble...} *quick glance at Dinobot, a bit of confusion on his face*

Optimus: {I see... That's important for your people?} *sees the look and quirks a brow ridge* {What's wrong?}

Matt: *small nod at the question about fire* {Y-yeah... G-gotta k-keep th-the c-cave w-warm...} *quieter* {H-he's d-doing a m-mother's d-duties...}

Optimus: *blinks and glances toward Dinobot* *softly* {I did that myself when Windracer was small.}

Matt: *surprised*

Optimus: {Among Maximals the men and women take an equal share in caring for the younger members of the tribe.}

Matt: *blink blink, small nod after a bit of turning this notion over in his head. It makes sense*

Optimus: {Of course Windracer was the first Maximal baby, but the Fire Tribe has the same custom.} *goes over to Blackarachnia and helps her up as she starts sliding up the wall*

Matt: *blink blink blink* *very surprised by this*

Dinobot: *is that low rumble of a yawn as his chin drops to his chest over Shakespeare's little head*

Windracer: *smiles at Matt from where she's sitting on the edge of the holotable*

Matt: *puzzling this over in his head.... And coming up with no explanation*

Optimus: *comes back and puts a reassuring hand on the human man's shoulder* {Is there anything I can explain?}

Matt: *quietly and hesitantly* {Sh-she l-looks h-human....}

Optimus: *slight smile* {The Fire Tribe are human. But they still count themselves as Maximals.} *looks at his daughter* {...And An is human.}

Matt: .... {H-huh....} *still a bit confused, but will let the matter go for now*

Airazor: *rides the lift up back inside, a worried Tigatron looking over her shoulder with wide optics as the avian femme cradles a blanket wrapped bundle of something tiny and furry with big blue optics in her arms*

Optimus: *mouth falls open, and then he's facepalming massively as Windracer hurries to look at that newcomer*

Matt: *raised brow* {M-more b-babies?}

Airazor: *serenely, as she smiles at him* {Only one.}

Optimus: From now on till I say differently the Nexus is off limits. *slowly shaking his head and looking like it hurts*

Tigatron: *to Windracer, his deep voice sounding just a bit stunned* {Her name is Windsong.}

Matt: *puzzled, has never heard of the Nexus*

Optimus: *tells the new parents to go to their quarters, then turns back to Matt* {Sorry.}

Matt: *soft chuckle* {N-new tribe members...}

Optimus: *sighs* {Yes. I'm afraid this is Airazor's response to Blackarachnia bragging about having the cutest baby on base.}

Matt: *very soft cough to hide his snicker. Yeah... The Maximals and the Fire Tribe aren't so different from the Cave Dwellers*

Optimus: *gives him a rueful look*

Rhinox: *from over to one side of the room as he and Thundermoon bring Inferno back in* There. The programming's done. Now he just needs a few days in the R chamber.

Matt: *attention going to Rhinox, is going to try and work out what the green guy is saying*

Rhinox: *glances over at him as Thundermoon opens the CR chamber*

Optimus: {So he's going to be alright?}

Rhinox: {Pretty sure.} *nod*

Matt: *small smile* {G-good...}

Optimus: *as he watches the big red mech closed into the CR chamber* {Yes, it's good to have him back.}

Windracer: {Even if he does think he's an ant.} *grin*

Matt: ... *blink blink*

Optimus: {We have the instinct of the creatures we've chosen for our other forms. Inferno's is stronger than his personality, sometimes.}

Matt: *some of that kind of went over his head, but he kind of gets it. Inferno can't always tell what he's supposed to be*

Windracer: *scoots away for a few minutes as Optimus goes to gently wake Dinobot and suggest he find somewhere comfortable to lay while Shakespeare naps* *is soon back with bread, butter, and daisies! Offers this to Matt*

Matt: *small smile {Th-thank y-you.}

Windracer: {This is} bread. {And} butter.

Matt: *carefully squishing the bread a bit after he's grabbed it, a look of surprise and curiosity on his face*

Windracer: *telling him how it's made, and what steps are the same for beer*

Optimus: *chuckles as he comes back and sees this, then perches his butt on the holotable and folds his arms across his chest as he watches*

Matt: *listening and making note of the process to make bread... will have a taste as well*

Windracer: *watches him taste. Then* {Oh. Do you know about fermented plant foods?}

Optimus: Pickles.

Matt: *slowly* P-pickles?

Optimus: {It's the name for the fermented plant food.}

Matt: *small headshake* {I d-don't kn-now...}

Windracer: *gone again!*

Optimus: *chuckle* {You will now.}


An hour later


Windracer: *trotting along through the afternoon sunshine, cheek bulging with preserved wild cherries as she brings Matt back to the village*

Matt: *following after Windracer, has new foods to share with his family, new recipes to try along the way, and a bit of bread and butter in his mouth* ^.^

Windracer: *looks up at him* {Do you remember how to read the map that Optimus gave you?}

Matt: *nod* *is thinking about how Dixie will like what he's bringing, and about how quickly Jake seems to be picking up the Fire Village's language*

Windracer: *perks and waves to a boy a little older than herself, who is sitting in the shade of the trees as several little brown sheep happily graze at the grassy pasture. Then turns and looks toward the fence around the village and grins* I can smell fresh bread baking.

Matt: *perks, a bit of a grin coming to his face*

Windracer: *looks up at the sky, her black braids swinging around her strong young face, then darts into the air, only to come back and hover in front of Matt as she goes backward before him* What will you do now?

Matt: {Aft-ter sh-sharing w-with m-my f-family? W-we m-might r-rest f-for one m-more d-day....}

Windracer: *crosses legs and tries floating that way, only to wobble and flail. Resumes her legs down and arms out position* {And then you're going to look for the Ancients and the Maximals who live with them?}

Matt: *very slight headshake* {W-we're g-going t-to s-see D-Denver. F-Family sh-should s-stick t-together.}

Windracer: {Yes, but Optimus said that Denver is with the Ancients.} *settles to the ground again and once more walks beside him, her long legs making easy work of keeping up with him*

Matt: *slight shoulder shrug* {W-We'll c-cross th-that b-bridge w-when w-we c-come t-to i-it.}

Windracer: *distracted by a little pet quail that just ran through the village gate to meet her. Will now talk to the little creature and scold it for worrying Tirzah*

Matt: *slight headtilt as he looks at the quail, reminded of a pet he had had when he wasn't much older than Jake...* *soft chuckle*

Windracer: *comes back with the little bird nestled happily in her arms* {This is Bobby White. She lives with Tirzah and Jared. Bobby, this is Matt of the Cave Tribe.}

Bobby White: *tips her head to study Matt with one bright, beady eye*

Matt: *soft trill, will offer a bit of bread, as he did with the wild bird that he had befriended so many years ago*

Bobby White: *peeps, her head going up, and then she grabs the bit and sets it in front of her so she can eat it*

Windracer: Greedy greedy.

Matt: *small grin, looks very much like an overgrown child at the moment*

Cheetor: *comes out of a nearby hut, frowning and looking around* Bobby? Bobby! Where'd you go, birdbrain? *pauses* Oh, hi, Windracer. Ah hah! There she is.

Windracer: *squee and flies to give the spotted, blue-faced Maximal a hug*

Matt: *blink blink*

Windracer: *turns back to Matt from where she's now sitting happily in the newcomer's arms* {Uncle. This is my uncle Cheetor.} *repeats herself in her own language so that Matt can see that the word she uses for him is different from the one she uses for the tall Maximal. The one she's used for Cheetor is also the one he heard her use for Rhinox and Dinobot*

Cheetor: *grins, his golden optics twinkling* {Hi.}

Matt: *nods, a friendly smile on his face* {H-Hello, Cheetor.}

Cheetor: *that friendly grin continues as he gently sets Windracer on her feet and then holds out his hands for the little quail* {Let's get this little problem child back to Tirzah. And then I have to get back to the Axalon. I'm surprised the} Big Bot {hasn't called me yet.}

Windracer: {He's too busy hitting his head on the wall because of the new babies.}

Cheetor: 0_0 ...Whut?

Matt: *nods* {New tribe members.}

Windracer: *rapid fire relation of events concerning the arrival of Windsong, and what Optimus told her about Silverstrand*

Cheetor: *mouth falls open as he listens* Ohhhh maaan. More kids... *wince* And more reasons for BA and Airazor to fight.

Matt: *doing his best to try and understand what's being discussed*

Cheetor: *glances over at Matt, his expression rueful, and showing hints of youth* {Well, it was nice meeting you, Uncle. Maybe I'll see you another time.} *sighs and waves before turning to bring the happy little quail back to Tirzah*

Windracer: *looks at Matt* {Cheetor and Tirzah are going to get married soon.}

Matt: {Ah...} *smiles and nods*

Windracer: {Tirzah just has to finish getting the household things she'll need, since she's leaving behind the ones there are for her brother.} *turns toward the plaza and the tent*

Matt: *small nod, moves to follow. He understands that, at least. A woman's dowry in his tribe always consists of a fire starter of some sort, and whatever belongings the woman has made for herself...*

Windracer: {She's thinking it'll mostly be blankets...} *runs across the open space and dives into the tent to tackle glomp her mother*

An: *is that laughter from inside*

Matt: *ducks into the tent and is greeted by Jake*

Jake: *slowly, and with a slight stutter* F-Father! :D

Dixie: *at Matt's puzzled look* {From now on, we're going to speak the Fire Tribe's language.} *slowly, as she's still not sure of the words herself* We need t' practice...

An: *making a few last marks on the parchment copies she's made for Matt and Dixie's family, and then pauses to look up and laugh as the twins return bearing new reed baskets that show Lockjaw's favorite patterns*

Jake: *scooting to greet Jessie and Chrissy in the Fire Tribe language*

Twins: *happily chattering back in broken but rapid Fire Tribe language*

An: *quiet chuckle as she finishes the copies and offers them to Dixie* Here is the primer. I hope it helps you to write your language for yourself.

Dixie: *carefully, as she accepts the copies* Th'nk y'u, An.

An: *raises to her feet without using her hands, her motions full of power and grace* Thanks for the hospitality of your fire. *smiles at the lump of clay that is the result of her lesson for Dixie on cooking small game with beer*

Dixie: *slowly* We'll keep th' fahr goin' f'r y'u. *meaning: An is always welcome amongst this family*

An: *smiles* And my home is yours. *includes Matt in the words, her manner easy and casual as she treats both Dixie and Matt equally*

Matt: *nods after Dixie translates for him, and gently corrects what he was going to say* T-Take c-care.

An: *nods her head and goes, her daughter bouncing at her side*

Matt: *will share his 'spoils' with his family and work on trying to learn the Fire Tribe language as the twins show off the baskets they made between bites of sandwich*

((co-written with random_xtras))