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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Greppa of Tartwater" data-source="post: 1004285" data-attributes="member: 10191">I remember being a toddler, if you think I am small now, then I was head-high to a vine sprout.Back then, I was very impressed with the concept of running. Everything seemed to blur by when I pumped my little legs. The big world became much smaller because I could get places so much faster. Unfortunately I had sisters and they quickly showed me I wasn't fast. The older I got, the (relatively) slower I got. Eventually, I stopped running for joy at all. I ran because I had to. I was running from the Bukenahk now. We had flown all night and all day with no obvious sign of pursuit. We wasted a few more hours trying to locate where we parted with Chatham. I kept my eyes and ears open, straining for any sign. Not that I expected to see anything, it was still the proper thing to do. We also had Merideth and we listened carefully for her to avoice a warning from her psychic abilities. I think I was muttering prayers to all the gods (except Xeras and Allas), and  I hurt all over when we finally touched down.  "You're alive!" Chatham beamed proudly as we descended into the forest. "Chatham," I said catching my breath. "This is Ffutkuhg, he's a political refugee and will be coming with us."Chatham's eyes widened momentarily as he took in the wizened old orc, then he replied with cinnamon charm, "I am Chatham. I welcome your presence honored elder."Ffutkuhg grinned, eyes young and bright."We need to get moving," I said, "They're probably behind us."Chatham regarded me critically, "You look like you're about to fall over." He ignored the huge wings on my back. I guess he was used to strange things happen around us. I did feel like I was about to fall over, but I didn't have time to rest, "We need to get going.Merideth started rummaging around the packs and produced a blanket. "We can fashion this into a little sling and you can ride in it strapped to Chatham's back."I was too tired to argue. And once we got going, Chatham's warm, broad back was awwwwfully comfortable. The beats of the drum lured me to sleep. Eventually, I was rested and took up my own load. In a prurient sense I could have just stayed with Chatham for the whole trip, but Uripedas' wings started to cramp, so I needed to run so they could stretch. Expecting to be at the end of the group, I started running when the group started. I felt Chatham's eldritch drumming take me away from my body which started running. I felt my body reach its usual limits and then...nothing, no extra strain, or shortness ofbreath. I let myself get carried away and I ran and kept running. I found myself stumbling to a stop. I looked around and I was alone. "Whoa."The others caught up soon afterward. "Seems like I don't have to carry you any more," Chatham said. We started running again, but this time I held back and we ran continuing for several days until we hit a swampy patch. That's when we realized something was different about Bellos. We slogged our way through the swamp. Sure, we could have flown but it didn't occur to me, or anyone else, besides wing assisted jumping was fun. We were also too busy  watching Bellos. He was flitting across the surface of the water. Well, at least it looked like he was flitting over the surface of the water. He always seemed to find the right place to put his feet, a root, a dry slice of land a branch especially close to the water, something. He always found the best place to put his feet. He was dry and most of the group was soaked and muddy."Alright! Hold It!" Merideth yelled, up to her chest in swamp muck. "I want to know what everyone wished for NOW!"A quick march to the edge of the swamp (and change of tunic later), we stopped under the shade to talk. Merideth was impatient and glared at each of us, waiting for the other to start. For some reason, we were all reluctant to talk about the experience. Personally, and I know it was not rational, but I feltthat if I spoke of it, it would be as if it had never happened and I would be weak and slow again. An irritable amount of time later, I finally went first. "Well, I'm strong," I said. "How strong?" The question seemed to come from everyone, but I only shrugged, "I don't know.""Okay, we'll test it," Chatham said. We got down on a stump and arm wrestled. Remarkably, at least to me, I was more concerned with beating him than prolonging the wrestling. We clasped hands, braced, and boom. It was over.His eyes narrowed, "Lets try that again."This time, I drew it out. Prurient interest not withstanding, it was fun watching Chatham try to stop the inexorable fall of my fist. He even threw fair play to the winds and tried to use both hands to put me down."Alright," He said archly. "Lets try something else."We stood up, grasped fists and braced ourselves. Then we pulled. It still wasn't a challenge. I pulled him to me. He had one more test. We clasped hands and he braced his other arm on my shoulder. He told me to pull. And I pulled. I pulled him into a complete handstand.After getting his feet on the ground, I was declared "pretty strong" and then we turned to Merideth."What?" she said."Well?" "Oh. Welllll, I've always seen my self a certain way," Merideth began softly, digging absently into the muddy ground with a sandaled foot. She straightened a little and gave us all a small smile, "Let's just say I've achieved my full potential."Which of course meant absolutely nothing to any of us. Our dear Merideth spent a lot of time daydreaming, and she didn't share any of these with us. Bellos voiced our collective "Huh? I don't get it.""Well," she continued slightly miffed, "I am warrior-healer now."We all nodded, but it wasn't enough for me."Show me," I said.Merideth frowned at me...hard."What?" I said, "Do some warrorin' for us."Merideth continued to frown at me and I stuck my tongue out at her unfazed.She grinned and launched into an orc spear dance. Her strength and agility was remarkable and her spear work reminded me fondly of Athan after we returned from captivity with the Bonahken. We applauded her performance with genuine appreciation. Then we turned to Bellos. Surprisingly, he was hesitant about coming forward, well at least I thought it was hesitancy, he was really trying to put it into words and it was still confusing."I, I've always enjoyed being in the wilderness," he began. "I don't necessarily care for the civilization except for the comforts it provides. I asked the ancestors to increase my connection to the wilderness. I can use that connection to do things like dragonsdo.""Whaaaaaat?" Merideth squawked."Mmmhmm," he nodded. "So what can you do?" I asked."I don't know," he replied, "I'm still getting a handle on it."We turned to Ffutkuhg, "Well what did you ask for?"The old shaman's face grew serious, "I asked for guidance and wisdom to help my people."Hrm, I thought that could be really good, or really bad. But then again, the ancestors grapes were over the press too. So with that done, we renewed our flight from the east. Then, a small pack of giant wolves caught up with us.  They harried us along, even engaging us in skirmishes.  We kept moving, thinking that the Bukenahk were right behind them. Of course all of the distracting attacks was just setting us up for the ambush Olgah's four-footed thugs had arranged. How fast can those damn things move?</blockquote>

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