I beg your pardon - I had no idea! (Edelweiss)

[Kye Rivers]

Edelweiss’ further attempt at elucidation hadn’t shed any more light on the fish viewing subject for Kye. So he made no further reply in that regard, other than to echo the Kelvic’s wonder with, “That does sound amazing. Perhaps when we get to Riverfall you can show me too, if you ever find what it is you’re looking for.” He noted Edelweiss’ animated enthusiasm when he spoke of this whatever it was that held fish suspended above lake or river, and he thought the Kelvic seemed very child-like in his sense of fascination with seeing this mysterious, magical happening. It brought a small, thoughtful smile to Kye’s lips, as he tried to recall when the last time was that he had ever felt so enthused about something so whimsical as floating fish. It seemed it had been a very long time indeed. When Edelweiss had put his question about why he had bothered to name his dog, Kye smiled a bit more broadly, looking at the bitch with great affection. “Well, she’s one of my best friends. I couldn’t ask for a more loyal, helpful, and loving companion. Don’t you think that’s deserving of a name? She’s my treasure – my gem – so it seemed a good fit.” He even laughed then. “I’ve often wondered if she had a name for herself. If so, I’d love to know it. But sadly, though she seems able to read my mind at times, I can’t get into hers quite that easily.” It seemed then that the Kelvic was in accord with Kye’s suggestion of separating and then reuniting at his own camp. With a whistle, Kye called Gem to his heel and they set off, easily backtracking to where he’d left Watcheyes tied in a copse of Willow. The gelding was perfectly fine and Kye had him quickly in hand, leading him back the way they’d just come. Upon reaching the spot where he’d encountered the Kelvic, he and his dog had no problems tracking Edelweiss, and were soon coming up to a little wagon – almost a tiny one, in fact. Edeleweiss, still in human form, and now dressed in white clothing, was sat in it, with his legs draped over the side, kicking his feet like a little kid. Kye returned his greeting amiably, as he dropped the gelding’s lead rope, and gave Gem a command to lie down and stay put. “Hello again,” he said with a grin, moving closer to the wagon, giving it a professional scrutiny, realizing it had been constructed for the Kelvic’s elk proportions. It was a very interesting looking type of land craft – something like a pony cart, but for hauling and not for pulling around a driver. It was obvious Edelweiss did his own “driving.” Kye frowned slightly, looking about the ‘camp’ which really only consisted of the wagon.* “I have a brace of pheasants, and two rabbits,” he said, indicating with a nod the game pouch which he was then letting slip from his shoulder to the grassy ground. Next came the bow, and quiver, which he set carefully down beside the pouch, as he went on. “I can have a fire built pretty quickly, and we can eat – or…do you eat animal flesh?” He glanced back at his pack horse. “I’ve got some other provisions too. Some cheese, dried apples, walnuts, jerky, and some dry rice we could cook.” His gaze came back to the Kelvic. “Any of that sound appealing? Or do you have your own food?” He was wondering about the whole shifting thing – and thinking that it would make sense for this Kelvic to fill up on the abundant grasses about them – a simple and easy meal. Though he knew enough about game animals to know that elk were foragers as much as grazers, and dried grass probably held little appeal. Yet it was still easier than Edelweiss trying to feed himself in his human form. Kye’s father might have been Kelvic, but he didn’t know so very much about the race, so he was missing out on what was keeping Edelweiss in this form – lack of energy to shift. His ignorance prompted him to ask that one last question. “Or will you shift and eat grass?” He was looking at Edelweiss curiously, considering that really, he knew little of Kelvic habits. It would be interesting to travel with one, if even for just the few days it would take to return to Riverfall. *OOCIf I got this wrong just let me know and I'll change it. I didn't know what all he had in his camp