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krwordgazer wrote: Hands touching Death of a pet/bond beast/animal A surprise A test of some kind The sun, or a sun symbol or image Water coming down, as in crying or raining "Mercy" __________________________________________ "What do you mean you Recognized her?" Joybringer asked, her hands on her hips. "We had no control," Warsong answered, his long, flowing black hair flickering in the wind. "No control?" the words were like venom on Joybringer's lips. "We are the Firstborn of the High Ones. We're above the need for Recognition. We mate with whom we choose." "I would have once believed as you do, Chieftess," Wardance remarked, "until I felt the pull of Recognition. It is," he looked over his shoulder at his Recognized mate, Skyshade, who was happily speaking with the others of her tribe. "It is something that can't be denied." "So that's what was wrong with you," Shadow smiled at Skyshade. "I'm sorry," Skyshade apologized to her chief. "For what?" Shadow shrugged, though her knew for what she was apologizing. "Don't worry about it." "It's just," she looked past Shadow and caught Wardance looking over at her. "If you could see them with the eyes that I see them with." Shadow looked over at them and saw Joybringer talking firmly to the twins then he looked back at Skyshade. "You're right, I don't see them as you do." "I was embarrassed of our." She paused. "Our bloodline." Shadow nodded. He knew what she meant. Their blood had been mixed with that of Wolf when the High Ones had first crashed on the World of Two Moons. In order to survive, one of the High Ones, her name now long forgotten - had taken on the form of one of the World of Two Moons predators. A mating with an actual wolf led to cubs that were both wolf, mixed with elf blood; and elf, mixed with wolf blood; forming a unique pack between the two that has carried on for generations since then. Skyshade punched Shadow playfully in the arm. "I wish you could see them as I do, Chief. They're so beautiful." Windfetcher stared at the little creature in Riverfall's hand. "What did you say that thing is called again?" She sniffed at the air instinctively at the small being with crumpled butterfly like wings. "They're called Preservers, little cub," Riverfall explained holding the purplish-blue skin creature closer to Windfetcher. "Preservers? What do they preserve?" Echo asked, feeling the magic emanating from the Preserver. "At one time, they preserved us," Riverfall smiled. Despite the wolf-blood he sensed in these new elves; he could not help but be entertained by the children. How long had it been since he was a child? How long has it been since he's even seen an Elf Child? Too long. His eyes drifted up to the twins, Warsong and Wardance, who were speaking with their own leader, Joybringer. Now Recognition had given them a chance to continue their bloodline as well; albeit tainted by the wolf-blood. Windfetcher, disbelieving, put her arms on her shoulders. "What do you mean they used to preserve you?" "Well not me," Riverfall clarified, standing up. "But the High Ones. When the High Ones needed their sleep, the Preservers would place them in their wrapstuff; and while encased in their wrapstuff, time did not pass for them." "But I thought the High Ones were immortal," Echo asked, "Forever living." Riverfall raised an eyebrow. The child was correct. The High Ones were forever living - so why use the Preservers to stop time while they rested? Riverfall looked to Daymist for an answer, but her grey eyes showed that she too, had not thought of that question - and knew not what the answer could have been. "Does it have a name?" Echo asked, seeing the exchange of confused glances between Riverfall and Daymist. "It does," Riverfall looked from Daymist to Echo, relieved the child had no pressed the question about the High Ones and the Preservers. Riverfall lowered the Preserver to Echo's height. "Go on, little one, tell them your name." "Berryseed," the purplish-blue Preserver answered, rather gleefully. "Highthings go to starhome?" "Starhome?" Echo looked at Riverfall. "Berryseed means the Palace," Riverfall explained. "They don't speak like we do, as you can see." Echo was very interested in the Preserver, while Windfetcher grew bored and began to wander around. "Highthing make Berryseed tingle," the Preserver said gleefully as it tried to fly to Echo, but spiraled to the ground, due to its damaged wings. "Aww," it said with a note of sadness, "No fly anymore." Riverfall gestured towards Echo. "It seems to have an affinity for you," he said with a smile. "Go on and pick it up." Echo leaned over and picked up the small Preserver, who hugged his fingers tightly. "Highthing remind me of Starhome." Echo walked around with Berryseed in his hair, who proceeded to make a nest like structure in his earth brown hair. "So where did you come from Berryseed?" Echo asked as he approached Shadow. "Did you see?" He pointed at the Preserver who had contently begun weaving Echo's hair. "Berryseed come from Tallgrass. Other Highthings like you. Highthings who go back and forth back and forth back and forth - but never go Starhome. Berryseed think find Starhome, maybe Tallgrass Highthings no go back and forth and finally come to Starhome!" Echo suddenly stopped and looked at Shadow, his eyes wide. "I feel all tingly." Before Shadow could ask what the young cub had meant, there was another shout from the back of the cave. "They're here!" Daymist suddenly cried out, looking at the back wall. "They've found us!" It did not take much to figure out who Daymist was screaming about. Already the Firstborn were fleeing from the cave, while some of the Stonehowl Holt elves looked around in momentary confusion. But then it happened - the back wall began to wobble and tremble, then melt away like hot wax on a candle. They came through like starving maggots, seeking to sedate their bloodlust that burned in their eyes. Before Stillbreeze could react, a spear had pierced her right shoulder. She screamed out in pain; her nerves reacting as she dropped her newborn cub, Sunsword. It was only through the speed and fearlessness of Windfetcher that the cub did not strike the cold, stone, cavern floor. Windfetcher, despite the surging trolls, had slid, arms out to catch Sunsword. The move may have saved the cub's life. "Vineweaver!" Windfetcher called out. "They hurt Stillbreeze!" Despite the searing pain burning through her shoulder, Stillbreeze managed to look down at Windfetcher and spoke the next few words softly, "Go. do not worry about me. save my cub, child. save my cub." The troll, whose eyes lit with uncontrollable joy at having an elf pinned to the wall by his spear, merely smiled at Stillbreeze. At least she accepted her fate. She knew she was as good as dead. She wasn't one of the `magic ones' so Scalphunter wanted the useless ones dead. The troll, in his moment of triumph, however, failed to take notice that these were not just the same elves they had been tracking through the mountains for weeks. And because of that oversight, did not expect that one of the elves would ever dare fight back against them. The elves, after all, had always fled from the trolls. With no weapons. No defense. They had no way to fight. Again, these were not just those elves however. But the troll, too ignorant in his moment of happiness, failed to take notice to that fact. He also failed to take notice to the elf who was leaping through the air at him, both hands firmly gripped to a sword made of steel. Truth is, the troll never saw what killed him. Vineweaver's blade delivered a piercing blow through the top of the troll's head. It even took several seconds for the troll's body to acknowledge that it had died of an unknown cause, and collapsed to the side. Vineweaver yanked the spear from Stillbreeze's shoulder ever so gently. "Hewl," he whispered her name softly, looking at the wound. "It burns," she confessed, answering the concern that seared in his eyes. Vineweaver helped her stand - but her body was already weak from a toxin that had been laced on the end of the spear. Vineweaver looked up, the hole was widening and he could see more trolls on the other side about to come through. Stillbreeze looked up at him and read his mind, or perhaps his heart, and shook her head. "No, do not sacrifice your life for me. Our cub must have one of us. You can't carry me and defend your back when those trolls come through. Leave me a dagger. I will fight them for as long as I can and buy you time." "I will not leave you behind," Vineweaver snapped as he gripped the hilt of his sword ever tighter and braced his feet for the onslaught that was about to come. "There will be none of that," came a voice from behind them. Vineweaver turned to see Shadow and Foxhair behind him. "Get outside as quick as you can. There's trolls out there as well. I want you two on your wolf-bonds and out of here. For your cub's sake. Windfetcher has passed your cub to Moonsong, and she's out there barking orders. Now get out there and listen to her." "My chief," Vineweaver began. "Go," Shadow said, matter-of-factly. "But this is," Vineweaver tried to protest. "Go before I have you dragged out of here," Shadow continued, his face without emotion. "Yes my Chief," Vineweaver bowed his head slightly and helped Stillbreeze hobble out of the cave. Outside the cave seemed to be a scene painted from nightmares. Elves were engaged in combat against hulking trolls that were driven by the need for war. Wolves fought side by side with the elf-riders. Here and there the snow had turned pink, littered with blood from both elf and troll. These trolls were just as the Firstborn had said - they were vicious, cruel and trained in the art of violence. Vineweaver looked back at the cave - he could see the trolls beginning to pour into the widening hole and Shadow and Foxhair were already fighting the eager trolls who had squeezed their way through the hole. He hated leaving his Chief behind. He hated that his Chief was sacrificing his own life so that they could get away. Vineweaver looked around and saw Silvermane engaged in combat with one of the trolls. He whistled for Silvermane, who with her massive fangs, ripped the troll's hand off, leaving only a sundered stump of flesh, which the troll grasped at, to desperately try to stop the bleeding. The trolls outside, who had planned the ambush, had seen the additional elves. But the wolves had been out hunting - until Shadow howled for their return. The arrival of the wolves had turned the battle against the ambush squadron of trolls. Vineweaver put Stillbreeze on Silvermane's back. "Take her." The wolf, who had no desire to leave the others, understood the importance of Stillbreeze's survival. Moonsong had jumped on her wolf, Branchseeker, with Sunsword, the youngest cub. They were defending the cub, ensuring the tribe's survival by any means necessary. This, Silvermane understood and obeyed. Vineweaver looked for Creekhunter, and saw the dark grey wolf, lying in the snow whining. It had been wounded but not killed. Vineweaver noticed a troll had taken notice to the oversight as well and was moving in to deliver the killing blow, a gleeful smile on the troll's face as he focused on the easy kill. "No!" Vineweaver moved across the snow, with little regard as to who might have attacked him. He reached the troll, grabbing the troll's spear as he attempted to deliver the final lunge into Creekhunter's throat. The troll looked at who had stopped him from delivering the finishing touch. "Foolish elf," the troll smiled wickedly, his yellow teeth like broken sunsets in the bleak black mouth of death. "I believe it is you who was foolish, troll," Vineweaver growled. "You have severely underestimated us all." Suddenly the wooden spear wrapped itself around the troll's wrists. "What manner of magic is this? Do you shape the wood?" "I bring you death is what I do, troll," Vineweaver sneered. Closing his eyes he focused. The troll screamed. He tried to pull his hands free of the spear but could not. The wood beneath the palm of his hands began to puncture his skin, moving inside his body; the spear growing smaller and smaller as the wood moved into the troll's skin, up his arm, and pierced his hearth and lungs, the wood exploding within his chest - and yet the only visible marks on the troll's body were the two small puncture holes in the palm of his hands, as he fell over dead. Vineweaver kneeled down next to Creekhunter. The wolf whined as Vineweaver put the wolf's head on his lap and began stroking the dark fur. "Don't worry, you're not leaving us just yet." Vineweaver looked around. "Stream! I need you over here!" Stream moved through the combat, mounted on Callbreaker. When Callbreaker came to a stop, Stream leaped off and quickly placed her healing hands on Creekhunter. Vineweaver stood and kept guard over his wolf and Stream. A metallic arrow struck Callbreaker in the leg, forcing a yelp from the wounded wolf who collapsed. Vineweaver turned to see three more trolls coming over a snowy embankment holding a handheld weapon that resembled a bow. Vineweaver looked at Callbreaker who was whining now. He pulled out the metallic arrow and awed at the craftsmanship in fear. What form of weapon was this that it could shoot cold, hard steel with such force? Not far from Vineweaver, the twins - Warsong and Wardance were nearly back to back, with Skyshade between them; neither of them would let the trolls get near Skyshade. Across from them, Sungazer was fiercely defending Echo from the trolls that advanced upon them, grins stained with black and blood. Sungazer was older, the fight was nearly out of him. He was swinging his sword wildly, simply to keep them at bay; but the trolls were taking pleasure in his desperation to protect the cub behind him. The trolls, when they felt the fun was over, would kill this elder, and take the cub - their pet had sensed great magic in this young cub, and Scalphunter would reward them greatly if they brought more magic elves to him! "{My chief,}" Sungazer sent to Shadow. "{They come to take Echo. I can't protect him much longer. My bones ache.}" Shadow continued to fight the onslaught of trolls that came into the cave. He turned towards Foxhair, "Go outside. Help Sungazer. Get Echo out of here. Get him far away from here. Save Sungazer, . if you can." "I will not leave you here!" she screamed above the echoing combat within the cave. "You will die." Shadow looked at her. "The cub is more important than my life, Foxhair. Go. Now. I beg of you. Go." Foxhair stared at the one who had been her Chief - but long before that - her lovemate. She wanted to hug him goodbye. Because it was no doubt going to be the last time she would be able to do so. But she could not. Not in the middle of the fighting. Instead she closed her eyes and quickly fought her way out of the cave. Shadow stared at the trolls who suddenly only saw one elf defending the hole. The trolls all grinned. Shadow gripped the hilt of his blood stained sword ever tighter. This was going to be the end. But he was ready. Outside, Foxhair emerged from the cave, just as one of the trolls shoved his spear through Sungazer's chest. The elder Stonehowl Holt elf buckled to his knees, his face, expressionless. The troll put his foot against Sungazer's shoulder and kicked him off his spear and laughed as he looked at the defenseless boy with the strange bug in his hair. Foxhair's eyes widened. "No. No. No. No." With anger searing her heart, she raced across the tainted snow, plunging her dagger deep into the troll's back who had delivered the killing blow to Sungazer. The troll began to fall forward, by Foxhair quickly shoved the troll aside, so that he toppled into the snow with a thud. Foxhair leaned down and held Sungazer in her hands. Warm blood seeped into her hands as his lifeless eyes stared upward, his brown eyes catching the reflection of the sun that had finally broke through the bleak clouds, his sightless eyes watching it all. She held Sungazer closer to her chest. "Is he?" Echo began. "Yes, cub," Foxhair said. "Yes he is. But he is happy. He died protecting you cub. Protecting you, the way he could not protect his own sun from the curse-hearted Blackstar. We have to get you out of here, cub. These trolls want you. Whatever they use to track us has sensed great magic in you and your chief has commanded me to get you far from here." She climbed on the back of Elkheart as Redthorn nuzzled Sungazer's face one final time, as if saying farewell. Echo climbed on the back of Redthorn, with Talonmist, his own wolf, following; and under Foxhair's guidance, she led Echo away from the combat. Inside the cave, Shadow had kept most of the trolls at bay; though an increasing body count was lying at his feet. He was tired, ready to collapse, but so covered in blood that was both his own and that of the trolls, that he was convinced they could not see how weary he had become. Only a few trolls remained within the tunnel that the Burrower had made, as the trolls called him. In truth, it would take but a strong breeze to knock over the famished, battle weary Shadow. And after that, the end would come. The Firstborn had all managed to escape, as commanded, with the first of the Stonehowl elves that made their escape with the young cubs. Vineweaver would take the next Chief position no doubt, but Windfetcher would challenge him - even at her young age. Shadow braced for the next wave - the final wave - of trolls to surge through the hole that the Burrower had made. He tilted his head back and howled - a command that, for those who were able, to flee. The trolls within the back cave surged through the hole. The end had come for him. Then he felt it. A hand touching his hand. "Put your back to mine," the soft voice said. "Purespring," he muttered, thinking it was the spirit of his sister once again visiting him. (1) "Who?" the voice asked. It was more clear this time. "Joybringer," Shadow muttered. "What are you doing here? You should have escaped with the others." "I did," Joybring said, her back now to Shadow's. She was a sharp contrast to Shadow. Her block locks of hair now entwined with Shadow's black mane. His tan skin, a soft earth tone, compared to her soft, marble white skin. Her height, towering over Shadow's smaller, but more muscular frame. "I came back for you. High Ones, I don't know why. But I came back for you. I saw that Foxhair had to leave with Echo, and I knew you were in here alone, trying to stop these trolls from striking at us from the cave. And I came back for you." "You shouldn't have," Shadow said. "You should have let me die here holding these trolls back." "We can discuss it when we both walk out of here," Joybringer said with a playful snarl. "We're not walking out of here," Shadow replied truthfully. "It's a wonder your tribe follows you," Joybringer sighed. "You're not very hopeful." "Second nature to me, I guess," Shadow remarked as the trolls let out a yell and charged forward. "This is it." The six remaining trolls in the cave poured into the cave through the hole the Burrower had fashioned in the stone wall. Shadow dodged the blade of one troll, and brought his own blade across its gut, spilling its innards onto the cavern floor. Another troll, with no weapon, but a steel gauntlet struck Shadow. The blow rocked him. His world went completely hazy and he buckled to his knees. The troll pulled out a dagger from its belt and held up Shadow by his black mane, ready to slit his throat - when Joybringer turned around and shoved her own dagger into the troll's throat. The troll dropped Shadow and reached for the blade in its throat, gurgling and drowning within its own blood, each time its fearful heart beat, until it beat no more. "Get up," She said as she reached down and pulled Shadow to his feet. And then it happened. When least expected. Everything changed. Eyes met eyes. And Shadow felt something flow through him. He reached down and grabbed his sword and lunged at the next troll he saw, fighting with new strength. Joybringer felt the wild side that she saw in him enter her body as well. Together, side by side, back to back, the duo fought with renewed strength and ferocity. When they stopped, the last troll fell over dead. Shadow looked at Joybringer, who returned his gaze. How could this happen? They walked out of the cave, both of them doused in blood. They surveyed the situation that was outside. Among the dead were Sungazer, from Stonehowl. Also dead was Gemchaser. Bleary eyes looked around, and Shadow saw Stream leaning over Callbreaker, her own wolf. She was weeping madly - yet the wolf was not dead. Shadow made his way to Stream and fell to his knees beside her. "What is wrong?" "Poison," Stream wept madly. "The bolt had some kind of poison. The same that was in the spear tip that struck Stillbreeze. I am drained. from healing her. from healing so many today. I can't heal Callbreaker. I can't. and she's dying in my arms." The poison was vicious; every nerve within Callbreaker's body felt as if it was on fire. The wolf whined painfully. Another effect of the poison was its paralyzing touch. "I can't even get her to stand. She won't even stand, Shadow." "All I can do," she continued to weep. "Is make it stop for a brief moment. Subside the pain for a few minutes." "Give her a few minutes then, where she knows it's you with her, and do what you know has to be done," Shadow whispered. "I can't," Stream cried. "I can't. I heal people, Shadow. I don't kill. I don't kill. Especially my wolf. My wolf, Shadow! My wolf!" Shadow placed his hand on Stream's shoulder. "I can do it for you." There was more sobbing then she whispered. "No, it has to be me. I want it to be me, so she sees me last. A happy moment." Stream closed her eyes and let the healing energy course through her body; what little of it seemed to remain; and for Callbreaker, the searing pain subsided, and she could once again focus. She looked up at Stream and seemed to smile, her tongue dropping out to the side into the cold snow. She whined slightly, because she still could not truly move her body. Stream cuddled close with Callbreaker, and opened a sending with her wolf and began sharing memories that they had done together. Stream recalled how when she was but a cub herself how the mother wolf, Greyeyes, had stepped aside to let her climb into the den. Within the den there had been six wolf pups. But it had been Callbreaker who had stretched and yawned, her paws touching Stream's hands, as if reaching out to pick her, rather than Stream picking the wolf she had wanted. Stream had emerged from the den holding the newly born Callbreaker in her arms. As a cub, Callbreaker's paws had hardly touched the ground, as Stream carried her everywhere, until she had gotten too heavy to carry. Then it had been Callbreaker who carried Stream everywhere on her back, always pleased to spend the days and nights with her. Stream recalled when she was fishing at the side of the river and a young, and still clumsy Callbreaker was trying to assist by grabbing the fish off the tips of the small wooden spears; something that had led to both of them falling into the river. Stream ran her hands through Callbreaker's velvet soft, white fur. "I'm so sorry," Stream whispered. "I'm so very sorry." More memories shared between them, and for Callbreaker, who did not feel ill any longer simply thought that Stream was overjoyed to have Callbreaker alive. Memories came - shared between the two. A bond between Wolf and Elf that ran deeper than blood. It was a bond of the heart. Stream's eyes swelled with tears that began falling in the snow, like warm drops of rain. She placed the dagger between two of Callbreaker's ribs, near her heart. Callbreaker was beginning to twitch again. The searing pain of the poison would soon reclaim her and wrack her body with cruel pain. "I'm sorry," Stream said one more time, then shoved the dagger between Callbreaker's ribs and pierced her lung and heart. Callbreaker twitched violently, whined, and looked at Stream, not understanding that it was still sick and dying. The wolf whined one more time, before her spirit left her body. Stream put her head down on Callbreaker's white fur and let her tears burst from her eyes. "Come," Shadow said to Joybringer. "We can't leave her here," Joybringer whispered. "She will find us," Shadow said. "She needs this time alone." "I don't understand," Joybringer sighed. "The trolls could come back. They will come back, to track us." "We will make sure they can't track us by the prints we leave in the snow," Shadow replied. "Do not worry. Right now, Stream needs some time." Joybringer followed Shadow who was sending to the rest of his tribe to locate them. Everyone gathered and took shelter in another cave. Sometime during the night, they heard a howl and knew it was for Callbreaker. A howl by Stream. Shadow joined first, then the others, then the wolves. Even Warsong and Wardance joined in the mournful howl. And much to her surprise, Joybringer joined in as well. "So what do we do next?" an injured Riverfall asked, who was being bandaged, rather than healed by magic, since both healers had taxed their powers to their limit. "I have an idea," Shadow replied, looking at Riverfall, then back at the others. "Berryseed, the Preserver, mentioned other High Ones - elves, like us - who roamed back and forth. If we can get Berryseed to lead us to them - we can find them - and gather more elves." "Gather more elves? For what?" Moonsong asked. "We are going to come back and reclaim the Palace," Shadow said matter-of-factly. "The Palace is ours, by right. These trolls - for whatever reason - seek to keep us from returning. They took the life of some of our tribe, some of our wolves, as well as some of Joybringer's. We must strike back at the trolls. Not just for revenge. But to reclaim our Palace. Our home. To find out what we were. Where we came from and why we came here to the World of Two Moons." "I know," Shadow continued, "that I often stood against the war with humans from our old home. But that's because for generations, we fought with the humans for reasons no one even knew or remembered - on either side." He paced back and forth. "We have a reason to fight against these trolls. And it's not just for revenge." He stopped, "It's for our home. Our true home. But we're too small of a number to fight against them now. We must find others. They must be out there, as Berryseed suggested. Let us unite and reclaim what is ours." Those within the cavern cheered; both Stonehowl and Firstborn. Foxhair came to stand next to Shadow and smiled at him. "You did it. You have found and reunited us with Firstborn. And now we have the next piece to find some others, if what Berryseed said is true." Shadow smiled at Foxhair and kissed her forehead, before going outside the cave to catch a breath of fresh air. "You see it," a voice asked, "don't you?" Shadow sighed. It was Skyshade. "You see them as I do now," Skyshade remarked. "You Recognized her didn't you." Shadow did not need to say a word. His life had just become extremely complicated. More than he had imagined it possible. NOTE: 1. Purespring's spirit apparently paid Shadow a visit when he was lost in the snow, in December 2007's grab bag properly entitled "The Guide" which can be read over here on the Stonehowl webpage: http://www.tawmis.com/stonehowl/dec2007.html NOTE 2: As always, this story immediately took a life of it's own. I honestly had no idea where any of this was going - but I just closed my eyes and let the story pour out of me as my mind weaved it in the moment. Something I did enjoy is that, in the beginning Joybringer is against Recognition with the Stonehowl tribe (Warsong/Wardance/Skyshade) - but then fate twists it in the end. And in the same tone, how Skyshade had said, "I wish you could see them through my eyes" to Shadow, and of course, now he does. None of that was planned, and just the whole thing fell together. Like I never know where I am going to go with the next segment, but the bug element from last month which made me introduce a Preserver, is now the key focus of where the stories will head next (in search for at least one more tribe of elves! But what kind? I don't even know!)