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krwordgazer wrtote: A great fire Being restrained First encounter with alcohol or dreamberries A trick or a treat (you pick which!) A mistake or misapprehension Being bored ______________________________________________________________________ A mournful howl tore through the otherwise silent night that had settled over the plains. Moonsong raised her head from holding one of the new born children. Her eyes were wide with fear. “No.” She shook her head and looked at Stillbreeze who was also listening to the howl as it carried itself through the soft starlit night. “No,” she shook her head again. “What is it?” Warsong asked. “That howl – what does it mean?” Stream’s eyes were brimming with tears. “We have lost one. Something happened out there.” “Who?” Daymist approached. Her eyes were wide with panic. Her first thought had been for her own “Chieftess” as the Stonehowl tribe had called her. She was the one with the least amount of experience to be scouting out there into unknown dangers and darkness. “We don’t know,” Stillbreeze answered. She gave the newly born female cub to Skyshade. “Everyone, around Skyshade.” Stillbreeze tilted her head and howled. The wolves from the Stonehowl pack answered. They had been scouting on their own, for food – but now raced to return to where they had originally camped. Stillbreeze ran her hands through the velvet black fur of Mooneyes as he brought the pack back to them. “It is good to see you friend,” Stillbreeze said to Shadow’s wolf. “I wish your Chief was with you.” She touched her forehead to Mooneyes and shared the image of the wolves standing guard around them. Echo approached Stillbreeze. “Mother what if it’s…” “There’s no time to think of that now,” Stillbreeze put her finger on her son’s lips. Truthfully, Stillbreeze was wondering had it been Vineweaver who was lost? Clearly it had not been Shadow – for that had been his very distinct how that cut through the once silent night, now filled with panic. Shadow leapt through the air, his sword drawn. In one spring, he covered a great amount of distance, landed, dodged a number of arrows, then sprung again – this time landing on the middle human, who tumbled backwards from the sheer force. Shadow brought his sword into the air, and without a moment’s hesitation – brought it down on the human’s throat. Blood splattered everywhere. All over the other two humans who had been stunned by the movement of the creature; all over Shadow and his face, chest and leathers. Shadow stared at his blade in his hands. He was coated in blood. He looked down at the human he was sitting on top of. Blood spread around his head, like a crown made of crimson. His first thought had been of Wildthorn – his closest friend, and the Chief before him. Then his thought drifted to his own sister, Purespring. Shadow remembered Wildthorn’s vengeance after a human had accidently killed Purespring. (1) Shadow looked at the other two humans – who were struck with fear and made no movement. Shadow stood as blood dripped from his blade and hands. “Go,” he growled in the human tongue he had learned. The humans – whether they understood the words or not – understood the tone – and quickly fled. Shadow stared down at the dead human, whose lifeless eyes stared at the sky. “High Ones,” he growled to himself. “What have I done?” He walked back to where Joybringer’s body lay. He kneeled down and checked. He heaved a deep sigh. He scooped her into his arms and began walking back to the camp, feeling the warmth of her blood running down his hands, his arms, and mixing with that of the human’s. Shadow reached the camp, thankful to see Foxhair and Vineweaver were already there. “What happened?” Daymist ran to Shadow’s side, gasping when she saw the lifeless eyes of Joybringer. Once ice blue eyes, were now a sickly white already. “Joybringer…” “Humans,” Shadow said matter-of-factly. “We must strike back!” Warsong stood up. “They have taken one of ours!” “I have struck back,” Shadow growled. “A balance has been made. A life for a life.” He set Joybringer down, his eyes were empty. Foxhair knew by the vacant look in his eyes, they had finally surrendered to Recognition when this happened. This had been how the humans had managed to get as close as they did – to make a lethal strike. Otherwise none would have ever been able to sneak up on Shadow. Foxhair moved to Shadow’s side and embraced him as he collapsed on the ground. “My lovemate, I am so sorry for your loss.” He did not put his arm around her. He was numb. Empty. He merely muttered the words, “High Ones, what have I done?” “You have struck back!” Warsong said. “You have taken one of theirs as they have taken one of ours!” “I don’t think they meant to,” Shadow said, as he looked up at one of the twins. His eyes were full of remorse and tears. “You should have seen the look on their faces when I killed one of their kind. They were frightened. I believe they made a mistake,” Shadow wept. “And I believe I have made a grave mistake as well.” Every time Shadow closed his eyes, his saw his former chief and closest friend; Wildthorn, being stabbed by a spear that took his life after he had rushed to kill the humans who had killed Purespring. Shadow stood and wiped the tears. “We must be gone from this place as quickly as we can. Firstborn, you must double back on the wolves with us. We must ride out of here before the humans seek us out.” Shadow looked at Berryseed, the Preserver. “How much further until we reach the other elves you were with?” “Not far now,” Berryseed said, with her typical voice. “Is not far!” She flapped her damaged wings, hoping she could fly. “Good,” Shadow said as he slid onto Mooneyes. “Then let’s get going.” Stillbreeze had used furs and leathers from everyone’s clothing to make two straps that allowed Warsong and Wardance to carry their cubs on their back. Warsong and Wardance were powerful sprinters and could easily run and keep stride with the wolves for short distances, even with a newly born cub on their back. Riding hard into the third day since the event, a quick burial was given to Joybringer. On the fourth day the unexpected happened. As they rode they saw several figures riding towards them. Shadow commanded everyone to halt and wait for the ones approaching. The scent that he picked up was not human – that much was certain. These were elves – but there was a unique smell to them. And the things they rode – were large – larger than wolves. As they drew closer, the strangers slowed down to a slow trot. The creatures these elves rode on were like the Catfangs that hunted in the forests of Stonehowl – but these cats had no large fangs to speak off – but instead had massive manes of hair around their head. Shadow slid off of his wolf and took a slow step forward. “We have come seeking you,” he explained. He thrust Berryseed out from his hand. “This one has guided us for many, many weeks.” “Berrybuzz,” the one elf to the left on the large feline smiled. “We had wondered where you had gotten off to.” “High Ones,” Stillbreeze shook her head as she kept Sunsword close. “He did it. Shadow has led us to even more elves.” Vineweaver smiled and whispered back, “There’s nothing our chief can’t do.” “Except save the life of our ‘chief’,” Daymist thought bitterly. Though she was coming to understand the Stonehowl Riders more – she found that she could neither forgive, nor forget, the tragic loss of Joybringer. The elf to the left, which had soft blond hair, but a heard that came down his face, giving him the appearance of also having a mane smiled. “You were spotted by one of our scouts in the valley. We were warned of your approach.” “I assure you, we mean no harm,” Shadow explained. “I hope to speak to your Chief regarding the Palace of the High Ones.” “The Palace?” The one to the right asked, tilted his head. Much like the one who rode next to him, he too had a beard that gave the appearance of a mane – but his was a sandy brown in color. “We have no ‘chief’ as you say,” he finally said after a moment. “He is our Sire. And you shall call him Sire when you speak with him.” “Of course,” Shadow nodded. As Shadow and the others followed the two mounted on lions, others came out of the plains and followed – riding along side, and eventually behind them. In mere moments, they were surrounded by these feline riders. At the Oasis, where a small lake of water rippled gently with the wind, sad a pride of lions and elves. Between two palm trees was what appeared to be a chair. A large lion sat at the base of it, while one elf sat in the chair. Another, a female elf, stood close by. Branchsnapper, the Pridewalker, with the sandy brown hair who had greeted them gestured to the elf who sat on a small wooden like throne. “Sire Lionheart, these were the strangers that Spearclaw and Shadestrike spotted.” “Elves,” Lionheart leaned forward. Shadow observed Lionheart, and the others. They had seemed to bonded with lions, and bore a great number of similarities to their mounts. The majority of them were all light-hair colored, Shadow noticed. Most had light colored eyes, ranging from blue to green. Perhaps one or two seemed to have dark hair and dark eyes. These elves were also much more stocky in their build, and far more muscular. Something about them almost reminded Shadow of the humans. “Yes, Sire,” Shadow nodded. “We have traveled a great distance to be here.” “How did you find us?” Lionheart sat back, his huge mane of soft, blond hair and soft blue eyes examined Shadow. “This one,” Shadow held out Berryseed. “We found it near the Palace. It claimed to have come from where other elves were. Near the Palace we were attacked by frozen trolls,” Shadow explained. “Trolls unlike any we have seen. Bent on war, trained to slaughter.” “Trolls?” Lionheart raised an eye brow. “What are trolls?” “You don’t,” Shadow began to ask – but then stopped. “Trolls were once the servants of the High Ones, who helped maintain the Palace. At some point, the trolls rebelled and the Palace crashed from the heavens,” Shadow explained, a mixture of what he had always heard, and what the Firstborn had told him had happened. “Much like the trolls, we learned to survive in this world. The trolls that I knew,” he said, putting his hands on his chest, “were passive. Almost kind, if not somewhat stupid, for lack of a better word. When we left to seek others like us,” Shadow continued to explain, “we found them – Firstborn of the High Ones,” he gestured to Warsong, Wardance, Daymist, and Riverfall. “There were trolls near the Palace of the High Ones. But they were nothing like the trolls I knew. These trolls were bred for war. Bred for slaughter. And their leader, one who goes by the name Scalphunter, had captured a handful of the Firstborn and was using them for their magic powers to help build a defense around the Palace.” Lionheart’s muscles rippled with each move. “What interest would trolls have in the Palace of our High Ones?” “I don’t know that answer,” Shadow admitted. “We tried to fight a handful of them – but there seemed to be no limit to how many trolls there were.” Lionheart leaned back into his throne. “So you sought more elves to help you in the war against the trolls, to reclaim the Palace?” “It was not my original intention, Sire,” Shadow said, respectfully. “Until this one,” he held out Berryseed again, “Literally landed on our laps. When it said it came from a place with other elves – it gave me hope that we might find more elves and return to the Palace one day and reclaim it.” “I am sorry to disappoint,” Lionheart sighed. “As you can see our numbers are few as it is.” “I see that,” Shadow acknowledged. “I feel your pain, as Chief of my tribe. Our numbers have always been low – even during times of peace against the humans.” Before Lionheart could speak, a young baby cried. Skyshade immediately looked to Warsong and Wardance to see if the child they held had been the one to cry out. She was relieved to see that it was not. “Pardon me,” Lionheart turned to look at the woman who had stayed close to him, but silent. “Rainbringer, how is he?” “Feverish still, Sire,” the beautiful elf dirty blond hair and green eyes answered. Stillbreeze slid off her wolf and began to approach. A number of the lions growled their warning. Lionheart looked. “I can help,” Stillbreeze answered. “They are my cubs,” she gestured to Echo and Windfetcher, then to Vineweaver who held Sunsword. “I have experience with young cubs.” “She does, Sire,” Shadow said, acknowledging Stillbreeze’s motherly skills. “Pass then,” Lionheart gestured to Stillbreeze. Rainbringer handed her cub over. “His name is Talon,” she whispered. “Many of our cubs die of this fever.” Stillbreeze loosened the leathers around the baby that had restrained it. Dipping her finger into the small container of dreamberry juice, she looked at Rainbringer. “Just a small trick I learned as a mother.” She let the baby suckle on her finger, dipping it in the dreamberry juice when needed. The baby’s crying stopped after a moment, and then finally the baby let out a tired, bored yawn. “Amazing,” Rainbringer awed as Stillbreeze handed the baby back to her. “Are you gifted with healing?” “No,” Stillbreeze smiled. “She is,” she pointed to Stream. “The juice is called dreamberry juice. It has an intoxicating effect on adults, but can often sooth a child. As long as the child is kept calm, the fever should pass in time.” Lionheart had been too preoccupied to finish his original question about “peace with the humans” – he looked at Stream. “So you are born with the ability to heal? There is magic among you?” “Yes,” Shadow nodded. “As he is a plant shaper,” he gestured to Vineweaver. “Their cub,” he pointed to Vineweaver and Stillbreeze again, “can sense magic as well.” “Amazing, there has not been magic in our pride for many generations,” Lionheart stood. Just then shouts from Spearclaw and Shadestrike came from above the small valley. “The humans!” they were shouting. “They come with fire!” Hammerfang, with his sandy blond hair looked to Lionheart. “Why would the humans be coming with fire?” “Do not panic just yet,” Lionheart smiled. “You know the humans.” Shadow’s complexion bleached white. He knew why the humans were coming with fire. He looked around him. Nothing but dry grass. The humans were going to burn the land. (1) You can read the story that is referenced in the August 2007 Grab Bag located over here: http://www.tawmis.com/stonehowl/august2007.html Including a roll call since I introduced new characters – ELVES (Stone Howl Holt) : Shadow (Male Soul Name: Tyru) – Black Hair, Tanned, Green Eyes (Elder brother to Purespring, Chief) – Wolf Beast: Mooneyes – (Black Wolf, White Eyes) Foxhair (Female Soul Name: Loun) – Red Hair, Green Eyes (Hunter) – Wolf Beast: Elkheart (Dark Brown/Black Wolf) Moonsong (Female Soul Name: Anye) – White Hair, Blue Eyes (Soul Mate of Treerunner, Hunter) – Wolf Beast: Branchseeker (Dark Brown Wolf) Treerunner (Male Soul Name: Yurn) – Brown Hair, Brown Eyes (Soul Mate of Moonsong, Scout) – Wolf beast: Springwater (Russian Blue) Vineweaver (Male Soul Name: Reyk) – Auburn Hair, Blue Eyes (Tree shaper, Soul Mate of Stillbreeze, Plant Shaper) – Wolf Beast: Creekhunter (Dark Grey Wolf) Stillbreeze (Female Soul Name: Hewl) – Brown Hair, Brown Eyes (Soul Mate of Vineweaver, Tanner) - Wolf Beast: Silvermane (Silver Wolf, female) Sunsword (Male Soul Name: Urie) – Auburn Hair, Brown Eyes (Infant – Son of Vineweaver and Stillbreeze) Wolf Beast: None Yet. Echo (Male Soul Name: Ayav) – Brown Hair, Green Eyes (Cub of Stillbreeze & Vineweaver, Magic) – Wolf Beast: Talonmist (Grey Wolf) Windfetcher (Female Soul Name: Burm) – Auburn Hair, Brown Eyes (Cub of Stillbreeze & Vineweaver, Next Potential Chief… If She Has Her Way!) - Wolf Beast: Glimmer (Silver Wolf, Female) Stream (Female Soul Name: Vree) – Red Hair, Green Eyes (Healer) – Wolf Beast: Callbreaker (White Wolf, Deceased) Skyshade (Female Soul Name: Hren) – Blond Hair, Green Eyes (Soul Mate of Wardance & Warsong, Hunter/Clown) – Wolf Beast: Gemchaser (Grey Wolf) PALACE ELVES (Called “The Next Ones”): Mindtouched (Male, Soul Name: Nure, Lovemate of Joybringer) – Black Hair, Green Eyes – Deceased (Killed by Scalphunter) Warsong (Male, Soul Name: Deran, Twin Brother of Wardance) – Black Hair, Brown Eyes (Soul Mate of Skyshade, Scout) – Wears his hair straight Wardance (Male, Soul Name: Duhran, Twin Brother of Warsong) – Black Hair, Brown Eyes (Soul Mate of Skyshade, Hunter) – Wears his hair in a pony tail Daymist (Female, Soul Name: Yul) – White Hair, White Eyes (Inexperienced Healer) Joybringer (Female, Soul Name: Meh, Lovemate of Mindtouched) – Blond Hair, Blue Eyes (Hunter, Killed by a Human on the Plains of the Pridewalkers) Riverfall (Male, Soul Name: Alda) – Brown Hair, Green Eyes (Hunter) Firemane (Female, Soul Name: Erif, Lovemate of Twostone) – Red Hair, Green Eyes (Flame Shaper, Captured by Scalphunter) Twostone (Male, Soul Name: Otes, Lovemate of Firemane) – Grey Hair, Hazel Eyes (Stone Shaper, Captured by Scalphunter) Fairskin (Female, Soul Name: Raif) – Blond Hair, Green Eyes (Flesh Shaper, Captured by Scalphunter) Twilight (Female, Soul Name: Iha) – Blond Hair, Yellow Eyes (Killed during the escape attempt from Scalphunter) Truesight (Male, Soul Name: Giht) – Brown Hair, Brown Eyes (Killed during the escape attempt from Scalphunter) Thorncoat (Male, Soul Name: Norh) – Brown Hair, Brown Eyes (Killed during the escape attempt from Scalphunter, Plant Shaper) Greymoon (Female, Soul Name: Reym) – Grey Hair, Green Eyes (Possibly Killed during the escape attempt from Scalphunter, Her Status Was Unknown) PRIDEWALKERS (Ride Lions) Lionheart (Male, Soul Name: Nur) – Blond Hair, Blue Eyes (Sire of the Pridewalkers) Rainbringer (Female, Soul Name: Frea) – Dirty Blond, Green Eyes (Lovemate of Lionbelt) Talon (Male, Soul Name: Dren) – Blond Hair, One Blue, One Green Eye (Son of Lionbelt and Rainbringer) Branchsnapper (Male, Soul Name: Rey) – Sandy Blond Hair, Green Eyes Goldmane (Female, Soul Name: Then) – Blond Hair, Green Eyes Hammerfang (Male, Soul Name: Tou) – Blond Hair, Hazel Eyes Shadestrike (Female, Soul Name: Eryn) – Blond Hair, Green Eyes (Scout) Spearclaw (Male, Soul name: Lren) – Brown Hair, Green Eyes (Scout) Dawneyes (Female, Soul name: Sewz) – Auburn Hair, Golden Eyes Snowcloud (Female, Soul Name: Mill) – White Hair, Green Eyes (based off white lions) Clearwater (Female, Soul Name: Ler) – Light Blond Hair, Light Blue Eyes Moutainheart (Male, Soul Name: Murr) – Black Hair, Black Eyes DECEASED ELVES: STONEHOWL: Wildthorn (Male Soul Name: Jorn, son of Steeleye and Fernglade) – Blond Hair, White, Blue Eyes (Chief) - Deceased – Wolf Beast: Glimmer (now bonded with Windfetcher) Purespring (Female Soul Name: Bren) – Brunette, Tanned, Green Eyes (Younger sister of Shadow) - Deceased – Wolf Beast: Talonmist (now bonded with Echo) Rosethorn (Female Soul Name: Arim) – Blond Hair, Blue Eyes (Mother of Suncaller, Mate of Sungazer) - Deceased – Wolf Beast: Clover (Deceased) Suncaller (Male Soul Name: Derk) – Blond Hair, Blue Eyes (Love mate of Blackstar) - Deceased – Never Bonded With A Wolf Blackstar (Male Soul Name: Betra) – Black hair, Black Eyes (Love mate of Suncaller) - Deceased – Never Bonded With A Wolf Steeleye – (Male Soul Name: Shren) – Black Hair, Green Eyes (Soul mate of Fernglade, father of Wildthorn; former Chief) – Deceased – Wolf Beast: Twofang (Grey Wolf, Deceased) Fernglade – (Female Soul Name: Varn) – Blond Hair, Green Eyes (Soul mate of Steeleye, father of Wildthorn; sister of Sungazer) – Deceased – Wolf Beast: Starshine (White Wolf, Deceased) Runningspring – (Female, Soul Name: Krin, mother of Stream) – Red Hair, Green Eyes (Healer) – Wolf Beast: Darkpaw (Silver Wolf, Black Paws, Deceased) Woodspear – (Male, Soul Name: Zen, father of Stream) – Brown Hair, Green Eyes (Hunter) – Wolf Beast: Trollchaser (Brown Wolf, Deceased) Elktamer – (Male, Soul Name: Kel) – Brown Hair, Brown Eyes (Hunter) – Wolf Beast: Misttunner (Grey Wolf, Deceased) – He was formerly called Longgaze Stormcreek – (Male, Soul Name: Dos, brother of Foxhair) – Brown Hair, Green Eyes (Scouter) – Wolf Beast: Seaspring (Grey Wolf, Deceased) Starmane – (Female, Soul Name: Muna, sister of Shadow) – Black hair, Green eyes (Hunter) – Wolf Beast: Frostfoot Shadeseeker – (Male, Soul Name: Wor, father of Shadow, Purespring, Starmane) – Black Hair, Black Eyes (Hunter) – Wolf Beast: Threadbreaker Wintermoon – (Female, Soul Name: Rea, mother of Shadow, Purespring, Starmane) – White Hair, Blue Eyes (Tanner) – Wolf Beast: Berrypaws Banetricker – (Male, Soul Name: Pren, Father of Stormcreek and Foxhair) – Brown Hair, Green Eyes (Hunter) – Wolf Beast: Manchaser Clouddreamer – (Female, Soul Name: Urie, Mother of Stormcreek and Foxhair) – Auburn Hair, Green Eyes (Tanner) – Wolf Beast: Never Bonded Sungazer (Male Soul Name: Noik) – Brown Hair, Brown Eyes (Father of Suncaller, Mate of Rosethorn; brother of Fernglade; Tribe Elder) - Wolf Beast: Redthorn (Red Wolf) TROLLS: Trollforge (Male, Troll) - Black Beard W/Grey – who is actually a High One that had formerly been known as Tawaim - Deceased Scalphunter (Male, Troll) – Leader of the Frozen Trolls Gemineyes (Female, Troll) – Former love mate of Scalphunter PRESERVERS: Berryseed (Purple Preserver) HUMANS: Yurika (Human Female) – Raven black hair, blue eyes - Deceased Tamier (Human Male) – Brown, long, ponytail - Deceased Bone Dancer (Human Male, Father of Tamier) – wears a saber-tooth tiger skull - Deceased Wurik (Human Male, Father of Yurika) – Chief of the Humans Krellin (Human Male) – Brown Hair, Hazel Eyes - Deceased OTHER: Grethen (“God” to the humans)