Jadeviper sees the look on Laura's face as she calls for the deer, glances at Orophin and makes a pretty astute guess at what's happened. Knowing Laura will be better for some time alone, she turns her attention to the elf. Stepping out of the pool and straight behind a bush, she quickly dries herself and slips on a light dress. Walking towards Orophin, she decides distraction is the best course of action, and asks what else can be done to repair the sanctuary.
The Swamp
Laura returns. Her journey had taken longer than she had anticipated, but there was a reason for it. Laura was still riding the Deer but behind her one huge lion and two small lions followed. Third cub was in Lauras lap, too weak to walk on its own. The Deer had found it and it had been obvious to Laura that without the healing powers of the elf the poor thing would not survive in the jungle. Female lions are fierce in protecting their offspring but Laura had been able to win the trust of the lioness. Basically lions are just big cats and Laura certainly knows how to handle them.
When they arrive at the sanctuary, Laura does not see Orophin but she cannot believe he had disappeared for good. 'He has a heart of gold' Laura think to herself, remembering full well how he had helped with a certain chair long time ago. 'He will surely help your baby' she says to the lioness as she prepares a place or them at the new wing of the renovated house. Then she sits down next to Jadeviper who still seems to be sleeping. 'But where is Orophin, and will he ever again look at me the way he used to?' Laura wonders just as she is falling asleep. 'I won't think about that now, I'll think about that tomorrow...'
Jadeviper wakes and sees Laura back, but as she sits up she hears an ominous growl. Looking around without moving her head, she sees a large golden shape beside Laura and just out of her field of vision. Seeing the tiny cub curled up asleep in Laura's arms, Jadeviper catches her breath as she realises the large golden shape is a lion - the mother of that cub. Sitting quite still, she looks at the cub. It looks thin and small, not healthy at all. Immediately the healer in her starts suggesting plants and herbs that might help. Anxious to do her best for the cub, but knowing that Elvish healing powers would be much more effective, she tries to wake Laura without upsetting the mother lion.
'Uhhmm... what is it... ' mumbles Laura.
"Laura, I don't think this lion is too pleased to have me here, can you calm her down so I can I see what I can do for the cub while we wait for Orophin to return?"
'Ok' replies Laura. As Jadeviper takes the sick cub into her arms, the lioness starts to approach them making Jadeviper very uneasy. Laura streches out her hand and lets the huge animal sniff her. Then she starts to scratch it behind the ears and under the chin making it purr (it sounds like a growl but it is purring, Laura is certain). Soon the lioness is poking its head against Laura's and although its weight makes this intimate gesture somewhat risky for Laura, she knows that it means well. The two healthy cubs have already jumped up to Laura's bed and suddendly the lion decides to follow them. The bed creaks and squeaks but does not collapse.
'I think it's satisfied now. You can go and do whatever you can for the little cub, I will stay here and keep the lioness company' Laura says to JV.
Jadeviper takes the little cub, warily watching the mother to see her response, and looks it over. It is small and thin, obviously not up to the fight against its siblings for a share of the food, and has a nasty eye infection. It also has a few cuts and scratches preseumably from rough-and-tumble play, but they don't seem to be healing well. Getting up, Jadeviper puts some water on to heat, adds a liberal pinch of salt and her wedding ring to make a wash for the sticky eye. While that heats, she goes outside and looks around for some clumps of moss, which she washes before coming back inside. Washing the little cub's cuts with clean, warm water, she then squeezes the moss in her hand and gently rubs it over the cuts, allowing the natual iodine to cleanse and heal the wounds. Now that the eyewash is ready, she takes it off the heat to cool and brings some more water to boil, adding willowbark and comfrey from her pockets as a painkiller and to help the little cub's wounds to heal. Taking some meat, grains and milk, she makes a thick paste for the cub to eat, and offering the tea in a bowl for him to drink, she feeds him slowly, dipping a finger in the food and letting him lick it off. It's a slow process, he's weak and tired, but he's hungry and his strength of spirit shows. He would have healed much quicker with Elf magic, but already he is starting to make little growling noises of happiness. His siblings look up at the noise, but Laura holds them back. When the little cub's tummy is firm and round for food, Jadeviper takes the now cool eyewash and gently cleans his eye as he falls asleep contented. The willowbark in the tea dulls the pain of his wounds and allows him a restful sleep. Placing him on her sleeping mattress, Jadeviper smiles at Laura "He's going to be fine. Have you thought of a name for him?"
'Maybe I could call him Anwar' Laura almost whispers and blushes slightly. 'Or do you think Orophin would mind?' she continues.
In a tribunal court deep in the elven land of Kal'Istern, stood Orophin on trial in front of table of elders. The trial was for his earlier beaviour, of which he pleaded guilty on all counts.
The head elder, a very distinguished and wise man, leaned forward and with neutral expression he says "Orophin Kal'el Anwarunya, son of Garec the brave." "I knew you father and i wathced you grow. You are a good man like you father and highly regarded for your charitable duties. One day you will be head of our land like your father." he paused and leaned back into his chair. "You have commited a serious crime and you accept your responsibilities, and my fellow elders believe you should be an example to the young ones.....but..." Orophin looks up ready for the sentence and the elder gives a faint smile "...I will pardon you" a wave of loud gasps emit from the audience.
This is your first offence, and i beleive you will do more good out there than being locked up." tears start to build up in Orophin's eyes. "But your powers of flight should be surpressed for the duration of a month" the elder now displaying a more serious look, bangs his gavel ending the session.
The tears rolled down Orophin's face as his hancuffs were taken off. The audience all rushed toward him patting him on his back in congratulation and asking for his autograph. Orophin, unknown to the swampies, is the future heir to the thrown but was too young at the time of his father's death and he still is for the next 2 years. But for now he is a much loved celebrity in his homeland.
After some minutes, he boards a hover plane destined for the swamp, it being that he wasnt allowed to fly. He was away for two days. It took an hour to get to the swamp, then the ship started to decend on the campsite clearing like a ufo. The noise and rush of air had woken up those asleep on the ground, as they gazed at this wierd aircraft.
The door started to open, but the light inside was abit blinding to thos out side thus could not make out who was coming out, they could see only a tall shadowy outline.
The door of the ship started to close, and it revealed the figure standing with a big smile on his face. Orophin raised his hand to wave...."Hi!!"
Laura hears the strange noise from outside and tries to calm down the animals - not to mention herself. She goes to the yard and is almost blinded by the bright sunshine. More than being able to recognise the figure standing in front of her visually, she can feel that it is Orophin. 'Hi' she says with a voice full of uncertainty.
Jadeviper stands at the doorway and sees that the elf has returned. Sensing that he and Laura need privacy to talk, she quietly closes the door and returns to her sleeping mattress to check on the lion cub.
Orophin mentally thanks JV for the privacy, then goes up to Laura. He takes her hand and gets down on one knee...."Laura, i'm sorry for my behaviour, but i do not blame you for the way you feel" he raises his head and looks up in her eyes...."I cherish our friendship, but the elders have given me their blessing. The door i open if you so wish to step in." he says smiling and tearful.
He stands up and wipes the tears from his eyes..."gah!! must be the dust!!" he jokingly tried to conceal his embarassment. He looked over her shoulder and saw the mini-zoo she had made.
"Hello there, now arent you cute" he said in a baby voice as the deer and cub came up to him. The big one just roared, but as Orophin placed his hand to heal the cub, the big cat quieted itself almost in shock. The deer was healed aswell, but Orophin commended the good work of the girls.
The heavens could not contain the immense joy that waved through Orophin, he was dumbfounded, the words to describe how he felt did not exist, but he gave it a shot. He held her hands an looked into her eyes..."Kntra el sul'varen" he spoke Ginta, an ancient elvish language spoken only by royalty. He saw the the confused look on Laura's face, then he smiled..."It means, precious flower".
The night had drawn in and the animals had fallen asleep, but just behind a tree he noticed JV peeking, watching the whole scene. "I wonder if Jade would like to join us for dinner?" he remarked just enough to be heard but not too loud....Laura had guessed this and smiled.
Laura smiles radiantly as a heavy weight has now been lifted from her heart. She holds on to Orophin's hand a bit longer and lifts it on her cheek. Then she guides it downwards along her soft skin. 'We have plenty of time for everything from now on' she whispers with a tantalising look on her face. With a somewhat louder voice - so that also JV in her hiding place can hear - she then agrees 'Yes, how about dinner?'
Jadeviper steps out from behind her tree and smiles happily at Laura and Orophin. "If you're hungry, I've got dinner all ready for us".
'Hungry? I'm actually starving' Laura says suddendly realising that it is indeed true. Jadeviper has set the veranda table so beautifully and full laden with enticing hors d'ouvres that Laura can hardly remember her manners. She picks up quite a few salty bits with her fingers before she sits down to wait for the others. Orophin looks relaxed and happy, and JV is at last wearing the red Gucci dress. Everything is perfect.
But what was that noise? Thumps and rustling from the outside. Or was it from the inside? First appears Tembo, then the Deer, followed by the lioness with her three cubs (one called Anwar). There's also the meerkat family running around everybody. 'Ayiks! What are all these animals doing here?'
Jadeviper looks over at Laura with a laugh "I think the animals are hungry too!" She looks to Orophin, not sure what his tame swamp animals eat.
"Hmm, thats no problem" Orophin snaps his fingers and a mini dinner table appears with plates full of their fave food. The lions of course had to eat on a seperate table cos' they just scared the samller animal with their ravenous feeding. Little Anwar was loving it.
Orophin turns to look at the wonderful spread in front of him "Jade, you really outdone yourself. Excellent stuff" he congratulated her as he tasted the suculent lamb and mint sauce. Tembo, trumpetted in approval.
Orophin laughs trying not to spill the glass of non-alcoholic wine in his hand.
Meanwhile, in another reality far far away, Orophin is thinking of how amazing it is that this thread has become a part of his daily routine. Even at work he uses his precious lunch break to add to what could be an interesting novel if given the chance. He is also amazed at how this alter-ego has gotten close to another alter-ego and his fiance doesnt mind, even when he mentions how cute this other person is, and she agrees. 😃
In another reality far far away Laura is preparing for yet another summer vacation day. Her husband is mildly amused when he sees her sit at her PC again to post something. He doesn't mind really, he trusts his wife knows the difference between a midsummer night's dream and the reality. So she loggs in...
... and there she at the swamp again. It is early and she looks at Jadeviper and Orophin who are both still asleep. She goes out for a walk but notices a slight change in the winds. She comes back in the house to take a cardigan with her and then walks out again. 'I wish the rain season wouldn't begin just yet.'
Jadeviper sits down in front of the screen, Ewan at work (though only the distance of an MSN window away), baby playing happily demolishing something or other on the floor at her feet. She lifts her hands to the keyboard as a faint mist issues forth from the monitor...
...Jadeviper wakes and sits up, yawning and stretching with a squeak. Looking around at the remains of last night's feast, she smiles. All the animals are asleep, replete and content. As the covers fall from her, she notices the chill in the air, and sees Laura coming back in clad in a snug cardigan. Yawning again, she greets Laura and voices her regret that Tembo is sleeping; a warm shower would be most welcome this morning.
Orophin noticed that the person snuggled up with him during the night was gone, he opened his groggy eyes and see JV stretching and just a few feet away was Laura dressed in a rather fetching cardigan. He felt the chill in the air.... "Looks like autumn is aproaching" he said as he got up and dusted himself off.
"Morning ladies" he greeted as he walked over to Laura and gave her warm hug and a kiss on the forehead. He was still full from last night so he forgoed breakfast and just had a glass of milk. He looked at the animals and smiled as they slept very peacefully, then he looked over at Tembo and realised that they still did not have a proper shower...'An elephant trunk is all fun, but not very hygenic in the long run' he thought to himself smiling, knowing that he should not divulge that fact to the women.
He promtly did his usaul thing and materialised an outdoor shower, to keep that camping theme, and invited the women to use it as they wished.
"I have to go check on how the rebuilding is getteing on of the sanctuary. They should be finished by tommorrow"...he waved a them, then walked through te direct path of fallen trees created by him on the night of the fire. The women did not know about the trial yet and thus would not know why he isnt just flying there. He had decided he would tell the story when the time is appropriate.
Watching Orophin walk away Laura turns to Jadeviper. 'I have a strange feeling that he's not telling us everything. Do you think he's hiding something serious? I just hope he's not planning to leave or anything, I... emmm... kinda like him', Laura resorts to the rediculous understatement. She has no secrets from Jadeviper, but although Orophin has told her that the Elders have given their consent, she is still shy in openly declaring her feelings.
Suddendly she realizes something. 'Oh Jadeviper, I have been so selfish and thinking myself only. You must still miss Peter, right? I have seen you carry his deck of cards with you. I don't have the elvish powers to bring him here, but is there something else I could do to cheer you up?' she asks her friend.
Jadeviper smiles and raises an eyebrow as Laura mentions liking the elf. She was more than aware of the chemistry between them. However, she looks in the direction in which he left and shrugs, turning back to Laura "I agree there's something bothering him, but he'll tell us when he's ready. In the meantime we had better keep an eye on the sanctuary".
At the mention of Peter's cards, Jadeviper blushed slightly and touched her pocket, but says nothing.
'Ok then. You take the Deer and the meerkat family. I go and check on Tembo and the alligator, which has also seemed a bit under the weather lately... maybe it's something it ate... We can then both go and play with the lion cubs when we're done elsewhere'.
Orophin was returning to the campsite after having checked out the santuary. He was happy with the progress, and tommorrow would be the official reopening of........well, he hadnt actually thought of a name for it all this time, so he decides on an idea.
On his way back, he spots a dismembered foot of what looks like a chair. On closer inspection, he concludes that the scratch marking of an aligator.
"hmm, looks like Scar is bingeing again"....Scar being its name cos' of the scar on its back from an old propeler blade injury.
Orophin arrives to see the girls playing with the cubs. He smiles, then walks up to them...."Looks like you're havin fun!!!"
The women both smile at him, as he squats down to get closer to the action. Anwar strolls up to him, and Orophin strokes his fur as they both start to pur.
He proceeds to tell the girls about the status of the sanctuary, he could see their faces light up with joy. Orophin turns to Laura, holds her hand and stands up with her....."How would you like the honour of naming the santuary. i think the animals would appreciate it. He smiled, and stood there gazing in her golden eyes waiting for an answer.
'Actually I would like the sactuary to be named after Rafe. You may know him, he's been doing scientific research on tigers and he's very important to us all. I think he would like it although he has never visited the swamp and I don't know if he's even aware it exists' Laura answers with a smile. 'So I suggest this place will be called Rafe Sanctuary'.
'It would be nice if more people could join us at the opening ceremony, but I'm afraid no one is reading this thread anymore... ermmm... I mean I'm afraid the swamp post office was closed long time ago and there's no way to send the invitations' Laura continues. 'And what about the unofficial programme... we will absolutely need some music... do you think I could teach those silly chimps that always hang around in the nearby trees to play some intruments?' Laura was getting worried as she thought of all the little details that should be taken care of before the evening, but then she relaxed. 'What am I anxious about, we have an elf in our midst so I'm sure everything will work out'. She looks into Orophin's warm eyes and if human mortals could pur like cats and elfs can, she would be doing just that.
Jadeviper's image flickers into being, a holographic representation of her true self. The image speaks "I have had to leave for a week, but my shade will keep half an eye on things here. I will be back soon." I love WAP 😊
The sudden departure of her friend leaves Laura thoughtful. 'The swamp just won't be the same without her.'
Orophin agreed with Laura, the swamp has gone quiet. The opening night just wont be the same, it may even be canceled due to low attendance.
He wished Jadeviper a good time on her trip.
Laura looks at Orophin. 'Is this the goodbye then? Will you fly away to take up your responsibilities as the future king of the Elven Folk?' With a forlone look in her eyes Laura continues 'I cannot follow you now, I have the animals to take care of here at the sanctuary now that Jadeviper is gone. I wish you could stay with me here, but I understand if you cannot ...' She is too desperate even to finish the sentence properly and she turns to go.