The Next Evening at the Gathering Hut

[Llune]

It's getting later in the day, dusk has settled like a cool blanket across the horizon, the sun throwing its last desperate rays frantically into the sky to reflect in hues of red the bottoms of lazy clouds, and the elves of the cove are gathering in the hut by the cove for dinner, discussion and eventually sleep.  

[Llune]

The evening meal is laid out on large leaves, shells, and in woven baskets as necessary. Apart from the (new) meal staple, fish, there are various things that have been collected over the course of the day displayed and ready for tasting. Some of the sweet, mushy fruit from the green nuts on the trees lining the cove, some mixed berries, various seaweeds, a few scattered roots and some other leafy plants, as well as more of the edible decorative flowers from the night before.

Llune helped to prepare this meal, and has remained to watch over it (no bugs!) while the others are gathering. Her face is calm but very serious, and she looks as though she's had a lot on her mind all day. Indeed, whereas she would normally be humming and tittering about she's sitting on her shins, her dress tucked neatly beneath her, and is shooing flies away from the food with a palm frond. Her mood is not jolly, but business like. As others enter, she greets them quickly and politely, spreading that air of businesslike importance.

To Llune the evening meal is a perfect time to speak to the group as a whole and have a bit of a group meeting, to discuss what should be done about various things.d Subjects including this 'monster' that's apparently lurking about, as well as the human village, autumn and winter plans, food stores, what items are most needed and should be crafted right away are on her list, but she'd also like this opportunity to hear the concerns of all the others... There is much work to be done, and it seems (to Llune) that the best thing to do is first figure out what everyone tasks ought to be.  

[ChosenSavith]

Savith flutters in and settles by Llune, handing her the water tight basket he'd gone to the waterfall to fill for her.  

[EQ Peyote]

Peyote's the next one to enter the hut, carrying what fruits and things they'd gathered for a 'feast' on a large flat piece of palm tree. She has it braced against her hip in a very easy fashion. She smiles at everyone, and settles the tray down in the middle so everyone can grab for what they want, before finding a place to sit, not too terribly far from Blazing Rock.  

[Huntress Starsong]

Starsong was up in her usual spot, a place she had found that overlooked the entire cove, she was on the lookout. She had sent to Savith, about the evening meal, and told him that she was going to remain on lookout. They spoke privately about what Llune was speaking about and such, so she was still informed.  

[ChosenSavith]

Savith quirked a brow at his mother's pointed look at him. At her pause, the glider, who'd floated over a bit of fish to himself, took the moment to offer his comments, both speaking them aloud, and sending them up to Starsong in her look out perch.

"**There was a human village nearby. There's also a cave in which they may have once lived not far from here. The village was burnt to clear the area and allow the forest to reclaim it. It is Starsong and I's hope that with the stench of their deaths gone, larger game will soon return. If any here is angry that the presence of the five-fingers could still be so close by, as evidenced by the destroyed village, you may direct that anger toward me,and me alone. The decision to keep it quiet was mine, and it was I that asked Starsong and BlazingRock to keep it from the rest. I hoped to prevent anyone from growing alarmed.

As for a large predator in the forest, I think it best of the hunters most familiar with the terrain keep an eye out for it and any dangers it may pose to the rest. I will state, however, that large predators can not long survive with out equally large game. That said, if there is a predator in the area, and without any indication of large game for it to hunt, it may well be out for us soon. Unless experienced, no one should venture into the forest alone. And even those of us that are experienced, should keep in sending range of another.

As for security, it's summer now. It was the start of spring with the moons crashed. No one yet know how harsh the winter may be. The first orders of business, I think, would be to store foodstuffs, get shelters, and ensure that everyone has something warm to wear and or sleep in.**"