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krwordgazer wrote: Bones A belated gift Intoxication A pickle (or a cucumber-type vegetable, or such a vegetable "cured" in some way) The Bone Dancer moved in small circles around the flickering campfire he had made. With his “staff” made of bones from beasts and men alike; he continued to move around and chant in a tongue that not even the humans could understand. It was a secret language; the language of Grethen – god of the humans! Or so the Bone Dancer had claimed. The wood crackled, sending sparks and ashes, rising towards the heavens. The souls of the many warriors who had fallen – on their way to Grethen’s embrace – to one day be reborn on this world – to continue their fight against the Forest Spirit Demons. The Bone Dancer took a bite of the pickled vegetable that had been sitting in the skull of a bear, drenched in the blood of the very bear, to whom the skull belonged. This would give the Bone Dancer the strength of the bear that had been slain. From the first bite, he could feel the intoxicating and mind altering affects of the vegetable’s mixture. The world seemed to sway and dance with him; moving with the ashes and sparks, spiraling in circles. Elsewhere, at Stone Howl Holt. The young cub, Echo, whose brown hair and green eyes seemed to symbolize everything about the world; from its gentle dirt; to the growing trees; teeming with life, approached their chief, Shadow. “Shadow,” Echo said, looking up in more ways than one – to his chief, whom he respected, admired and adored. “What is it cub?” Shadow asked, kneeling down to look Echo in the eye. “I have a secret,” Echo said softly. “A secret,” Shadow smiled, amused. “What kind of secret?” He had thought nothing of it and thought the young cub was going to spring some kind of silly surprise on him. But the young cub’s face had remained stern, firm, solid, and serious. Shadow tilted his head. “Are you all right, cub?” “I,” Echo began, paused, as if pondering his next words. “I think so,” he finally confessed. “Then what is it?” Shadow asked. Shadow followed Echo’s concerned gaze – and it led directly to Blackstar. Shadow leaned closer, “Do you know something?” “I think I do,” Echo whispered. They could not send. Blackstar was watching. He would suspect their sudden silence. “Did you see something?” Shadow pressed, whispering. “I did,” Echo confirmed, his eyes still locked on Blackstar. “You saw Blackstar didn’t you?” Shadow asked. “You saw him – he’s the one responsible for what happened to Suncaller.” “I did see him,” Echo continued to confirm. “But I didn’t see him do it.” Shadow stood up, and placed his hand on Echo’s shoulder. “Let’s go for a walk,” he said, glancing over his shoulder at Blackstar. As Echo and Shadow walked through the forest, Shadow finally stopped; listened; and heard nothing. He looked at Echo. “What did you see? What do you know?” Echo almost seemed ashamed to speak; to say what he had wanted to say so desperately. “I saw Blackstar. He’s the one who killed Suncaller.” “But you said you didn’t see him,” Shadow asked, confused. “I didn’t see him do it,” Echo tried to explain, but he was fumbling over what he was trying to say, and explain just what he had meant. “I mean, I know he did it. I saw it – just not when he did it.” “Did you see it in a dream-vision?” Shadow asked. “I did,” Echo said, nodding. “But… I wasn’t asleep.” “You weren’t asleep? Echo, I am not sure I am following you,” Shadow admitted. “You know how you have us now bury our dead,” Echo said, thinking of Suncaller, “the way the Humans do? So that we can go there and ‘visit’ them?” “Yes,” Shadow said. “I went to visit Suncaller’s grave,” Echo acknowledged. “I wanted to visit him, and tell him how I would miss him. But when I kneeled down and touched the soil – everything went… different. Changed. I wasn’t there at the grave anymore. I suddenly saw – what looked to be through Suncaller’s eyes – he was pushed from the treetops – he was pushed by Blackstar. When he hit the ground – everything snapped back to normal. It was as if his bones were trying to tell me what happened to him...” “You had a dream-vision, while awake?” Shadow blinked. “I have never heard of that…” “It’s not the first time,” Echo admitted. “I have just never told anyone – because I couldn’t explain it. I know some of our tribe has had Dream-Visions, but that’s when they’re asleep. Mine always happen when I am awake – and usually when something traumatic has happened. Like I pick up the magic – or the energy that’s been left behind – and I see through it – because of it.” Shadow smiled, and rubbed his hand through his hair, “Cubling, you may have just given me a belated gift. You have confirmed what I have suspected.” He looked back towards the direction of the Holt. “Why don’t we head back?” “Okay,” Echo smiled, feeling better – that he had told someone. And not only that – told someone he admired – and that they had believed him. That night, Blackstar had snuck off – unaware he was being followed. The one following him was Shadow; named so because he was a superior hunter. He was not seen, unless he wanted to be. While Blackstar continued to glance over his shoulder, feeling as though someone were breathing directly onto his neck with their warm breath; he never saw anyone. He could only feel it. But he disregarded it as nerves. He stepped through the clearing and met with the Bone Dancer. “We have council in two nights,” Blackstar said. “I will be able to turn the tribe against Shadow, easily. And we will be gone from these woods, human – and be done with you and your kind.” Blackstar, in truth, had no intention of leaving. He had wanted the Bone Dancer, the main “shaman” for the humans – to return to his tribe with a success story of driving the elves away – and then in a few moons passing – he would lead the elves in a slaughter against the unsuspecting humans. “I’m impressed by your ability to murder,” the Bone Dancer said, still under the mind altering affects of the pickled drug. “I didn’t think I could,” Blackstar admitted. “But once it was done – it was easy. I could do it again.” Unseen, a dagger was drawn in the shadows – and eyes gleamed with hatred over the confession. Blackstar turned, thinking he had seen something – a reflection – glimmer in the moonlight – but once again – there was nothing. “I will return to you with news of my success, human,” Blackstar said, and walked away into the woods. Unknown his shadow had a deeper Shadow than usual.