Stonehowl Links Stonehowl Holt's information is hosted on Tawmis' website. You can help ease the burden of bandwidth by making a donation through Payapl.

krwordgazer wrote: storm clouds flirting a really big rock an unexpected ally leather pants a burp A light rain had already begun to fall when storm clouds rumbled in the distance, the bleak, dark skies, occasionally ripped and sundered by a flash of lightning. The tip of Stone Howl, was a large rock, said to have been shaped long ago, but the tribe’s elders – into the head of a wolf – the very beasts that they had bonded with and brought in as a part of the tribe, the family. On top of it, Shadow sat, with the rain falling down on him. His eyes, unblinking, gazed in the direction of the human tribe, not too far away. For several nights now they had been beating their drums, almost non stop. They were preparing for something. Somehow, he suspected that Blackstar was somehow involved; just as he was somehow involved with Suncaller’s death. (See: [url=http://www.elfquest.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=377095#377095][b]The Falling Sun[/b][/url for more). Echo had provided potential evidence of Shadow’s suspicions, but there was no way to prove it to the rest of the tribe. (See: [url=http://www.elfquest.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=378931#378931][b]A Belated Gift[/b][/url] for more). It would be his word, as chief, against Blackstar. Normally, he would be confident enough to bring this up – but Blackstar was quick to turn the loss and suffering he had endured by Suncaller’s death to his benefit – twisting words as easily as the elders had once shaped the stone that made Stone Howl. “We both know he did it,” came an elder voice, from behind Shadow. Lightning split the skies. Shadow’s face was dark, his gaze shifting. It had been Sungazer, father of Suncaller. “You can’t let him get away with this, chief,” Sungazer said. “He has taken the life of my cub. I already lost my mate to the humans – must I now endure the lost of my own cub at the hands of one of our own? It’s unheard of!” Shadow spoke in low tones. “Do nothing, Sungazer. We will do this the right way.” “Right way?” Sungazer spat the words in disbelief. “He killed my cub, chief! It’s taking everything in me not to march up there and run my sword through his black heart!” “Do that, and you become no better than him,” Shadow said, matter-of-factly, his voice distant, almost cold and uncaring. “I’ve been watching – he’s been conspiring with the humans – one in particular – their Bone Dancer – the one who ‘leads’ over their chief through fear.” He turned his attention back towards the distant drumming sound of the humans. Sungazer fumed for a few moments longer, before leaving the wolf-head stone. “You can come out,” Shadow said to no one in particular. “How did you know I was there?” Foxhair said, stepping out from the shadows. “Your scent, the wind,” Shadow replied, his voice flat. She approached Shadow and wrapped her arms beneath his chest as she stood behind him, her head resting on his back. “You can’t let this devour you like this. I know your thirst for vengeance is deep, Shadow – but there’s other hungers, other thirsts that you have to fulfill for yourself.” Since the death of Shadow’s best friend, Wildthorn – the former chief, and his own sister, Purespring, who had been Foxhair’s closest friend (See: [url=http://www.elfquest.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=363904#363904][b]Mourning[/b][/url] for more) – Shadow and Foxhair had gotten close, and developed a lovemate relationship. But tonight, her flirting seemed to have little effect, even as her hands roamed across his leather pants. “Well, if I can’t have you tonight,” Foxhair maintained her warm smile in the pouring rain, despite her failed attempts to get Shadow’s mind off of Blackstar, “the tribe would like you present. Vineweaver and Stillbreeze are having their third cub – and it looks like it’s going to be born tonight.” Shadow heaved a deep sigh and turned to follow Foxhair, hand in hand, as they returned back to the tribe. It was there, that Stream, the tribe’s healer, had Stillbreeze lying down. “High Ones,” Stream muttered, flipping back her auburn red hair, “You’d think after two cubs, you’d be ready to deliver the third!” Stillbreeze growled, but Stream knew not to take it personal – it had been a part of the birthing process. “When I say push, I really mean ‘push!’” Stream was coaching Stillbreeze. Stillbreeze’s chestnut brown hair had been matted to her face, as beads of sweat over took the rain that was falling through the trees. The entire tribe, as always, had been there watching over Stream’s shoulder; none more so than the third time to be father, Vineweaver. “Is she all right?” Vineweaver was busy asking Streeam. “She’s fine!” Stream shouted back. “Now stop asking me that!” “She looks like she is in more pain than last time,” Vineweaver pressed. “She’s not,” Stream continued, her fiery temper beginning to surface, “but you will be if you don’t keep quiet!” Moonsong, who was known for her incredible howling; being so soothing and calming, placed her hand on Vineweaver’s shoulder – and almost instantaneously he had felt at ease, even without looking to see who it was. Some speculated that Moonsong possessed some form of passive healing. “Push!” Stream was shouting again at Stillbreeze. “Do you think we will ever have one?” Foxhair turned to Shadow and smiled. “We are not Recognized,” Shadow said. “None have ever bore cubs in our tribe without Recognition.” Soon, the drums in the distance that even now, Shadow had kept listening to, faded away and were replaced with the song of a child’s wailing voice being born into the world. A proud mother held the new born child in her arms. She saw Sungazer smiling, happy to forget the loss of his own cub for a moment. They caught one another’s glance and she said, “His name will be Sunsword, because with his wisdom, he will cut through the darkness and the lies.” Shadow’s gaze slowly turned to Blackstar, who was watching in the distance. Blackstar spun on his heels and quickly vanished into the shadows. The rest of the tribe tilted their heads back and howled, welcoming the new born into the world. The baby ceased crying for a moment, letting out a small burp that left the others in fits of laughter. Two nights later, Shadow was back on the Stone Howl marking, his eyes once again vigilant on the human tribe and the constant rapping of their drums. “{I need to speak to you,}” came a voice from behind Shadow. Shadow spun around, his sword drawn, and now at the neck of the tall human who stood behind him. Shadow recognized him as the human chief of the very village he had been keeping his eyes on. “{It’s not wise to come this close to our tribe – and it’s not wise to sneak up on me.}” “{It’s not wise,}” the human countered, “{to let your guard down.}” Shadow lowered his weapon. While he did not trust most humans, he had come to respect the human chief. “{What do you want, Wurik?}” Wurik looked at Shadow. “{It would seem as though we have common enemies. I have seen one of your tribe often speaking with the Bone Dancer. I run my tribe, as Chief, but the Bone Dancer has been whispering fear and propaganda into the ears of my tribes people. They turn on me now, and listen to the Bone Dancer. They prepare for war against you and your tribe.}” “{I had suspected as much,}” Shadow said, standing. “{The drums of your tribe have been beating now for five days.}” “{The Bone Dancer has my tribe convinced I am weak because I refuse to lead this war against your people,}” Wurik explained. “{But the Bone Dancer says you and your people corrupt the trees and stone – shape the world to what you and your ‘demon’ magics desire. My people are afraid. Afraid that the Bone Dancer is right, that soon, you will come and claim all of the land, twisting everything to your desire – and killing those who would oppose you. I know better… but fear is a strong emotion.}” “{So what do you propse?}” Shadow asked. “{That we stop this before it goes any further,}” Wurik replied.