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Chapter Text

She shifted her feet in her soft shoes, forcing herself not to pace in front of the Mother of Memory’s hut. It would not do to seem too anxious. She tried hard not to listen in, knowing all too well that she would not hear anything that made any sense. When it had reached the point when she thought she could wait no longer, there was a mumbling from inside the hut. As she waited in anticipation, slowly Savah emerged. Her eyes were calm, but lined with sadness. Not wanting to seem impatient, she waited for the elder elf to announce what she had learned.

“Rayek has decided to leave Sorrow’s End.” She announced softly.

The silence spoke volumes. Everyone listening in was certainly wondering why any elf would leave paradise such as this… except those who truly knew him. Leetah was the first to speak. With a cool demeanor she said, “It is his decision. He must live with it. We will live on without him.” As the other villagers went onto agree that with the Wolfriders here now, it wouldn’t be so bad with Rayek gone, Leetah retired to her own hut. Shortly afterwards the wolf chief, Cutter followed.

Shenshen knew her sister all too well. Leetah was not nearly as ok with the decision as she pretended to be, but she was in good hands with the pale-haired one. She had other things on her mind.
When the crowd dispersed, she stayed. Savah turned to Leetah’s younger sister. “Why?” Shenshen asked, “Why did he want to leave? It’s because of Cutter and Leetah isn’t it?” She found herself biting her lip to stop the tears that appeared in her eyes. Savah put a gentle hand on her shoulder.

“He felt he was no longer needed. He must find his own place.”

She felt the anger swell up inside. “He is needed here!” She snapped, “We need him! Leetah… Leetah loves him!”

Savah placed a finger to her lips. “That no longer matters to Rayek.”

It matters to me… Shenshen thought, but didn’t dare say it aloud. Instead she nodded and turned away. She had other things to do. There was a celebration tonight for Leetah and Cutter and their union. Many of the other villagers were already setting up the decorations. With a short quiet sigh to herself, she joined them and tried to push her thoughts to the back of her mind.

* * *

She had put on a happy face for the party. She was happy for her sister, truly she was, but she couldn’t stop the feelings. When Leetah and Cutter had become lifemates, she thought…

Well, guess it didn’t matter what she thought, did it? She had told Menin after the celebration that she was in the mood to be alone and insisted he have fun with some of the other villagers tonight. She herself hadn’t made it back to her hut, but instead found a nice secluded place and sat alone. It was unusual for her. She wasn’t sure now what to do. In the back of her mind was a plan forming. She wanted to grab a Zwoot and head off into the unknown…

But she could never do that. She knew nothing of survival alone. She would end up dying of thirst and half-mad in the head when it was all said and done. By the High Ones! She was so frustrated.

“That doesn’t suit you.”

She spun around to see one of the Wolfriders, the cheeky one with the orange hair, propped up on a large rock, staring at her. He had his usual smile, but there was a hazy look about his eyes, and his nose and cheeks were even redder than usual. Curious as she was, her feelings quickly turned into anger.

“What doesn’t suit me?” she snapped, almost daring him to continue. However, he simply winced and waved his hand in front of his face as if brushing away a fly.

“You always have a smile on your face.” He said, slowly standing, “The gloomy look doesn’t suit you.” He stumbled in her direction and un-gracefully dropped to his knees and thrust a hand in her face. She jumped back a little, then focused on what he was handing her. “They’re Dreamberries. Try some; they’ll make your smile come back.”

Suspiciously, she picked one up with two fingers and eyed it. Her gaze turned to the Wolfrider. “Why?”

Her question seemed to confuse him a moment, but his smile returned quickly. “Because you looked like you needed company. What’s on your mind?”

It must have been something about the inebriated elf that inspired trust, but she found herself opening up to him. Though, admittedly, it seemed easier the more of those strange berries she ate. Nonetheless, she told him everything.

She loved Rayek. She’d said nothing before because of his love for her sister. She wouldn’t have been able to change his mind about wanting her anyway. Once his mind was set, it was set. She had hoped that once Cutter had taken him down a notch that maybe Rayek would see her for once. But now he was gone, and there was nothing she could do. It was then that the Wolfrider said the words she didn’t want to say herself.

“Then follow him.”

The simplicity of his comment brought up a rush of excuses and reasons it could not possibly happen, threatening to throw her back into her glum state. She gaped for words, and then just shook her head. “I… can’t.”

His innocent stare just made her feel worse. “Why not?” But she couldn’t answer. He sat up from his relaxed position and cocked his head. “You Sun Villagers feel too safe in your nests.” He paused a moment, but she stayed silent. “If you’re afraid to go alone, I’ll come with you.”

That caught her attention. “You would do that? Why?”

He looked down. “I hate to see others sad.”

Without another word, overcome by emotion, she lunged at him, throwing the unbalanced two to the ground in an embrace. As soon as she was able, they would set off to find Rayek.

Chapter Text

“Pike?”

The Wolfrider slowed his wolf down and turned. “Hm?”

Shenshen didn’t answer immediately. Instead she looked back at the direction of the village. There was still time to turn back. They had not gone far enough for it to be a hazardous choice in doing so. If they decided to, they could be back in the village by daylight. Or rather, if SHE decided to. She still wasn’t sure why this stranger who had just endured crossing this desert would do so again.

Part of her wasn’t even sure why she was out here. Their parting from the village was a wash of sadness. Her sister, Leetah let her go only on the condition that she would return with Rayek once he was found, or in a year if he wasn’t. And she knew that the real reason she let her go was because a Wolfrider was going with her for protection. She didn’t know how Pike’s tribe reacted to his decision, but she admired their parting. The tribe simply wished him well and let him go. She wished she had as much confidence him, but as she didn’t know him, she wasn’t so sure.

“How will we find him?” she asked finally, “We don’t know where he’s headed.”

Pike sat thoughtfully on his mount and leaned on his weapon. “You know him best. Where would he go?”

After a moment, Shenshen wrinkled her nose. “As far away from here as he could.”

Pike smiled. “Then we head back the way we came in. The Tunnel of Golden Light.”

She stroked her mount who was getting a little restless. “But…” she hesitated, “what about those… Trolls?” She frowned at the thought of those horrid creatures. The Wolfriders had only been in the village a short time, but their stories of the underground people were enough to make her never want to see one in her long life.

Pike sniffed. “If Rayek finds them first, we’ll either have to rush in to save his rump, or have a lot of fun watching him roast theirs.” When she laughed, his smile reached from cheek to cheek. “See? There’s your smile. You look better that way.”

Shenshen stopped laughing, but her smile stayed. She hoped that he couldn’t see her blushing, but somehow she thought he could. Either way, he showed no indication of it. She moved her Zwoot forward without a word and continued on her way with him following close behind.

* * *

Pike felt much more at ease this time around. They were prepared for the desert’s extremes and so it was not quite so harsh and taxing. Hotburr didn’t like it one bit though, he could tell. But as long as he got his share of food all he would do is grumble. He scratched behind his wolf-friend’s ear. “It’s ok this time.” He assured the canine. “We’ll find ol’ sour face and bring him back.” Hotburr just grumbled.

* * *

It took them longer than Pike had said, but in four nights they were at the sheer wall of rock that the Wolfriders had described. Her companion explained that the trip they had taken was only three because they had followed Skywise’s Lodestone and the stars. He was never really good with mapping the skies, so they had gotten a little off-track. It took them another day to find the tunnel, but when they arrived at dawn, the hole was still sealed up, though not, as Pike explained, as much as it had been, he was sure of it.

“They must be re-opening it.” He said. “Just in case they need it again. We’ll have to wait and hide until it’s open again.”

Shenshen was almost appalled. “We’re going in there?! But they’re evil! Why would you want to—“ His quizzical look stopped her mid-sentence.

“We haven’t found longface yet.” He said simply. “Until we do, or you want to turn back, we’re going to need food. Can you make the sand into food?”

“No.”

“Then we need the Trolls.” Pike started examining the rocks blocking the tunnel while his companion pouted. No matter how dangerous Shenshen thought it was, he insisted that they wouldn’t work on this tunnel during the day, so they were safe. They spent some time setting up a camp a short distance away where they would not be seen by the trolls if they should come out, but close enough so that they could easily reach the shelter of the cave if needed.

“There has to be a better way of getting food than dealing with these Trolls.” She said after hours of silence. Pike, who was probably trying to sleep (She couldn’t understand how someone could sleep during the day) opened one eye, and though he didn’t smile with his mouth, it was there in his eyes.

“We could always eat your Zwoot.” She gasped at his statement, but was too shocked at the thought of it to reply. “Once our supplies run down, all we need him for is carrying you.” He continued, “He’ll give us enough meat to last at least an eight of days... and he won’t take up all our water.”

He must enjoy riling her up, she thought when his smile re-appeared visibly. She wouldn’t dignify his comment with an answer, she decided, huffing and turning away. But she couldn’t help herself from throwing out a good insult, “Leetah was right about you. You’re all barbarians.”

Pike just chuckled.

Chapter Text

Pike felt some strange exhilaration in this new quest of his. It was odd how compelled he was to accept this, but for once he felt needed, really needed. Sure, he was howl keeper, but how many times have they really needed that? Here, even though she grumbled he knew she needed him for this. She would never have gone on her own, and it was doubtful that anyone else would have gone with her. All he wanted to do was help, and that’s what he was doing.

The next few days were wearisome. Pike was used to waiting, or finding something to do on his own. Shenshen, it seemed, was restless. She mumbled about always having something to do in the village, here there was nothing. He watched her for a while, but soon felt bad for her, and so began telling her stories. After that, she calmed down considerably. She became more and more interested in the tales and lifestyles of the Wolfriders than he ever thought she would, and he gained a great satisfaction in making her happy doing something he enjoyed himself. It passed the time.

The Trolls had cleared the tunnel out quicker than they had expected, but still there were reservations on going inside. Shenshen didn’t want to meet these Trolls. Ever. They still had a few days’ worth of supplies left and Pike allowed her her reservations. He wasn’t the type to tell her what to do anyway, but soon, they would have to make a decision; go back, or head into the tunnel.

Unfortunately, their decision was made for them.

It was just at dusk when it happened. Pike was still groggy from the lazy days waiting, or else he would have noticed. Shenshen was trying to sleep, though restlessly, and so was the first one to see the three green monsters headed their way. She let out a scream to wake Pike up, but it was too late. The Trolls had thrown a net over them and Pike’s spear was too far out of reach.

The Trolls taunted them, but Pike wasn’t listening. In between trying to get out of the net and trying to avoid a struggling Shenshen he was trying to edge his way towards his weapon. It was foolish of him to have unarmed himself like that. Cutter would have had his throat. And Leetah? She would have finished him off for not guarding her sister, he was sure of it.

He wished so hard that the spear were in his hand that he almost wasn’t surprised when it lifted into the air and sped for the nearest Troll, piercing it through the heart. The others scattered, but the spear followed one, and the other had his foot stuck in the net. Seeing an opportunity, Pike grabbed hold of the leg intending to stall until the spear returned… hopefully.

The Troll turned in anger and drew a long sword, but before the creature could strike, he jerked and fell to the ground. After a moment, the net lifted and fell beside them. Pike took a moment to glance at Shenshen to make sure she was all right, then went racing for his weapon, which had lodged itself into the back of the second Troll. Once he pulled it out, he heard a familiar voice.

“Crude, ugly creatures, aren’t they?”

Shenshen gasped, “RAYEK!”

Chapter Text

She looked at his face with shock. All of it; his sharp jaw line, his straight nose, his dark amber eyes, the smirk, it was all so… so… AGGRIVATING!

She marched right up to him, poked her finger into his chest and looked him straight in the eyes. “How long have you been there? Did you know we were here? Were you watching us? You could have let us out first you know! Do you know how long we’ve been looking for you? Well?”

Rayek, who was obviously shocked at her questioning outburst, quickly regained his posture, pushed her finger from his chest and growled. “A little gratitude would be nice. I just saved you lives!” He waited expectantly, but she simply frowned at him with her lips pursed and her hands on her hips. Suddenly he turned away, crossing his arms. “I noticed you there yesterday. I watched you for a bit, but figured I should rescue your skins from these…” he wrinkled his nose as he looked down, “Things.”

“Trolls.” Shenshen had almost forgotten Pike was there, he was so silent. The red-headed elf slowly walked up to them, then leaned on his spear. “I didn’t notice you there. Where did you watch us from?”

It was more a question of truth rather than a real question. Rayek sniffed as if annoyed by a little child. “They didn’t name me ‘Child of the rocks’ for nothing.” He stuck his chest out proudly. “Why are you here anyway, flea-feast? Nearly got yourselves captured.”

“We were looking for you!” Shenshen stated.

“Hmph.” He turned away and examined one of the fallen Trolls. “They miss me already?” He paused. “Did Leetah send you?”

Shenshen was tempted for a moment, only a moment, to say that yes, she had, and she wanted him back in the Sun Village… but she knew that would only raise hopes only to be disappointed and angry at her as well. So, instead, she told him no, that that had come looking for him on their own.

“Why? I don’t need anyone’s help, nor do I wish to return.” He seemed more annoyed than before. Without an answer, he sneered at Hotburr who had taken to chewing one of the Trolls’ fingers, and headed towards the tunnel’s entrance. Pike quickly scolded his wolf-friend. “Stop that, you know where it’s been.” And began poking around the bodies, grabbing for what supplies they might have had on them.

Shenshen, however, followed the raven-haired elf. “We’re going to bring you back.” She stated, but he didn’t seem to hear. He just continued towards the tunnel. “Didn’t you hear me? We’re here to bring you back!” She grabbed his arm, but let go quickly when he whirled around to face her.

“I will not go back.” He stated with dark intensity, then simply turned back and continued back towards the opening. Shenshen was almost too surprised to move. She stayed where she was until Pike appeared beside her and handed her something that shimmered in the dawn light. She looked down and took it, then glanced at him questioningly.

“It’s a sword.” He said. “You should have one in case we see any more Trolls.”

“We’re not going to see any more Trolls. Rayek is coming back with us.” She watched her sister’s former lovemate disappear into the tunnel.

“Who’s gonna make him?” She frowned, but didn’t reply. “The Zwoot ran of when the Trolls showed. Our supplies are gone.” Pike shrugged with a small smile. “I follow you.”

With a determined look, she gripped the blade awkwardly and followed Rayek into the Troll’s lair with Pike and Hotburr close behind.

Chapter Text

Pike didn’t like this one bit. Shenshen was determined to follow Rayek to bring him back, and Rayek was determined not to go back at all. They’re both more stubborn than a Zwoot, he thought. And he, he was supposed to protect Leetah’s sister, but the moment they stepped inside the Troll’s tunnel, he could feel eyes on them. Hotburr was uneasy, but kept silent. The only thing that gave Pike comfort was that the three elves were obviously armed; the Trolls wouldn’t dare attack them without preparing first, and even then they’d probably take the coward’s way out.

He kept pace with Shenshen and whispered, “Keep your eyes sharp, there could be traps all over this place.”

The Sun Villager looked wary, but unsure. “I haven’t seen a Troll yet. Are you sure they’re even here?”

What Pike wouldn’t give for the two other elves to be able to receive sendings. He simply nodded. “They’re here.”

Rayek wasn’t waiting up for the other two, and seemed to even be trying to lose them, but with the wolf blood, they wouldn’t be lost so easily. And Pike remembered these halls. It would be a day or two before they reached any real deviation from the tunnel. After a while though, Rayek slowed his pace, and let them keep up, though he still said nothing to them.

They slept in shifts; two asleep, one awake, usually Rayek or Pike. When they awoke, Pike would take a nap on Hotburr while they continued. Still Shenshen said nothing to Rayek, and that bothered Pike. He couldn’t understand why they’d come all this way and then didn’t do anything. It just didn’t make sense. He asked her about it while Rayek scouted ahead on the second day.

“He’s not in the right mind to listen.” She replied. “He always was a stubborn Zwoot, and until he is able to listen, anything I try will be pointless.”

“And until then?”

Shenshen smiled slyly. “Until then I have you, roseynose.” She ruffled his hair and gave him a grin, then sped up her walk until she caught up with the dark skinned hunter.

***********

They were attacked on the third day. Hotburr sensed it only seconds before Pike and then Rayek. The Trolls came at them with a big net, just like they had out in the desert, but this time they came in greater number, and were armed and ready. Hotburr lunged at the nearest Troll, and took him down easily, but two of the others nearby threw a pouch at both the animal and the three elves. A cloud of powder erupted from the pouches, sending everyone coughing and hacking. Hotburr went down easily, and Pike, though he tried to keep conscious, blacked out shortly after.

Rayek stood strong and kept fighting, taking out two trolls with his dagger and one more with his magic, using falling rocks to hinder the rest. Shenshen had taken out her weapon and swung at any opponent who came near, but as her accuracy left much to be desired, the most damage she did was a deep gash to in a wrist or foot to any Troll who was careless. When the attacking Trolls were either disarmed, run away or dead, he grabbed Shenshen’s arm and pulled her away. She immediately wrenched her arm free and glared at the hunter.

“You’re just going to leave Pike and Hotburr?” she accused.

Rayek frowned. “We need to leave now before the Trolls come back in force.”

“Well then you are going to help me take the Wolfrider and his Wolf to whatever hiding place you have in mind.” She put one hand on her hip, and gripped her blade with the other, just daring him to say no. “We are not leaving a fellow elf behind!”

“THAT is not an elf!” Rayek pointed down the tunnel. “That is a barbarian wolf who looks like an elf.”

“He’s more elf than you’ll ever be, Rayek” She shot back at him, heading back down to where Pike lay. “He cares for all living things, elf or no. Maybe if you did the same, you and Leetah would have had more respect for your wish to be lifemates.”

The barb hit home, and Rayek stood solid where he was, attempting not to show the hurt from her comment. Shenshen had left him and was trying to wake Pike up. When he didn’t show any indication of doing so, she tried to lift him, but was having obvious trouble. Finally she got him in a position where she could lift and hold him and then carried him down the tunnel until she found what she thought was a good hiding place for now. She set him down gently and then returned for the wolf.

When she arrived, Rayek had taken his cloak and laid it out on the ground in front of the wolf. “He’s too heavy for you to lift alone.” He grunted out, almost too low for Shenshen to hear, but she just smiled back. She rolled the wolf onto the cloak, as Rayek seemed unwilling to touch the beast, and the two of them carried him to their hiding place.

“They will find us, you know.” Rayek said after a while. “If we stay in one place like this.”

“But you could protect us, I’m sure of it.” Shenshen teased, “Besides, once Pike and Hotburr wake up, we can move again.”

Rayek looked away and grumbled. “We’ll need food.”

Shenshen’s smile faded a little. “Why don’t you go find some? I’ll stay here and guard Pike.” He looked at her for a long time, silently, as if deciding whether she was being serious or not, then, without a word, he got up to go. “Just promise me you’ll come back.” He hesitated another moment after her comment, gave a slight nod, and left.

Chapter Text

When Pike woke up, he felt as though he’d eaten an entire patch of unripe dreamberries. His head pounded and his muscles were sluggish. He felt the hard rock beneath him, and the soft fur of Hotburr next to him, and not too far away he could hear the movement of a being far too graceful for a troll. Obviously, they were no longer in danger’s way… for the time being.

He groaned, and heard the person, who he soon discovered was Shenshen, rush over to him and ask if he was all right. He mumbled an ok and tried to get to his feet, but his legs felt like moss, and he didn’t get very far. Shenshen seemed worried, although she tried to suppress a giggle.

“How long was I out?” He asked finally.

She didn’t really have an answer for him, so she shrugged and said, “A while.”

He turned then and examined Hotburr, who was not awake, but breathing, and that seemed to satisfy him. He asked then what happened. She explained that the trolls threw some pouches with dust at them, and both he and the wolf went down, but it didn’t affect she or Rayek.

“Rayek!” Pike said suddenly, just noticing their companion was missing. “Where is he?”

“Out to get us some food and water.” She replied, looking down the tunnel where he left. “He’s been gone a while.”

Pike huffed grumpily and muttered, “Let’s just hope he didn’t get himself caught.”

Shenshen didn’t reply. For a few minutes there was silence while Pike tried to make his limbs work properly, and a short time later, Hotburr woke up as well. He did not seem happy, but didn’t do much more than growl when one of them got near.

After for too long of a wait, Shenshen broke the silence. “Pike?” He looked up, but said nothing, so she reached down and picked up her sword. “Could you teach me how to use this? At least so I’m not useless if we’re attacked again.”

He didn’t reply immediately. Slowly and embarrassed grin widened across his face. He scratched the back of his head. “I’m not the best with a sword. I’ve always liked spears. More reach.”

She cocked her head. “But… why did you give me this then?”

He shrugged. “It was all the trolls had on them.” She looked away with disappointment, and that struck something immediately. Pike put a hand on her shoulder. “But, if you want me to, I’ll try.”

Her smile returned, but before she could respond, the Wolfrider’s ears perked up and he stared intently at the entrance to their hiding hole. Shenshen followed his gaze just as an almost panicked Rayek ran in carrying something that the other two could not make out at first. He put it down, and then put a finger to his lips, indicating they should be quiet. As they watched, whatever it was he had been carrying, moved towards the entrance and the rock suddenly began to move on it’s own, closing the opening.

“What are you doing?!” Pike said in a harsh whisper. “We’ll be trapped in here!”

Rayek flashed him a warning look, then turned to Shenshen. “Don’t worry.” He then pulled out some objects from a pouch he’d also held. He hit a couple of rocks together and after a spark or two, he held a lit torch, just as the entryway sealed up.

Annoyed at being ignored, Pike turned his attention to the strange figure. It was an elf, he could tell that just by the smell, but aged… and abused. He was completely bald, and his eyes were sunken. His physique could only be described as thin and boney, though one could tell that if he’d had proper nutrition, he may have been taller and more graceful. But the worst part, the part that made Pike visibly cringe, was that parts of him were missing; His left arm, and left leg mid-calf, and the middle finger on his right hand.

Pike wanted to say something; question what was happening, but he couldn’t think of any way to do so without yelling at Rayek. So, he kept his mouth shut. After a moment, the strange elf, leaning on the rock wall, gave the three an unsure grin and said, “I, uh eh… I am Ekuar. I shape rock.”

Chapter Text

“Ekuar?” Shenshen looked at the new elf curiously. She wasn’t sure what to make of him. He was obviously not useless, as he had just sealed their ‘room’ shut without much effort, but he was… less than whole. She took a step forward, but then hesitated. “How--?”

Rayek took the aged elf’s hand and helped him sit as Ekuar caused the rock floor to mold into a crude seat. Then the darker elf turned back to the other two. “I found him, while searching for food.” He explained, “The trolls spotted me and I fled, and happened to stumble upon a small hole, where he was.”

Shenshen raised an eyebrow at the explanation. There was far too little pride in his statement. He wasn’t bragging. It was odd. Something in him had changed in that short time, and she wasn’t sure what it was.

“They were holding him captive.” Rayek continued. “I freed him.”

“Eh, yes.” Ekuar gave a weak smile. “Brownskin saved me. But I see there is another pretty brownskin here.” He reached out and played with a lock of her hair. It seemed to Shenshen that his eyes twinkled whenever he spoke, but there was a shadow that was hiding just behind. He’d had it rough, being a captive of the trolls, but whatever had happened, he lived with love and hope now. She giggled at his compliment and replied, “I’m Shenshen. And this is Pike… and Hotburr.”

He greeted all of them, even attempting to pet the wolf, who allowed him with a grunt. Rayek soon began to unpack what he’d had in his satchel, and offered his cloak to Ekuar to replace his rags. Shenshen refused to have Ekuar just wear a cloak, and quickly made herself feel useful by cutting the cloth into something more usable. Pike soon dug into the food and water, making sure everyone got something, though Rayek seemed to disagree with sharing ‘their’ provisions with the wolf. While the others were busy, Ekuar shaped a holder for the torch in the wall, and then some very small vents so the place wouldn’t fill up with smoke.

When the four had settled and began to eat, Ekuar told his story of how he came to be a slave of the trolls. His speech was airy and disjointed, but the point came through. Rayek only seemed concerned, perhaps a bit annoyed, while Shenshen was filled with pity. Pike, however, became furious. “To take someone’s life as their own like that… it’s worse than death!” But he didn’t seem to get more riled up than that. His anger was soon quelled by a strange drink that Rayek had snatched along with the rest.

Pike noticed immediately that it wasn’t the normal drink, and certainly wasn’t water. He sniffed it, and then, sensing that the smell was familiar, took a big gulp. After a moment, his anger at the trolls melted away to drunken merriment. “Dreamberries! This is made from dreamberries!”

Shenshen soon joined the fun, and began to dance, knowing that for the moment, they were safe. Rayek even seemed to lighten up a little. The dancing and laughter and stories lasted until the torch burnt itself out and they collapsed from exhaustion.

****************

Rayek and Ekuar had been awake for some time when Shenshen and Pike woke up. The two magic-users had shaped some adjoining rooms to their hiding space, and added torches here and there. Shenshen thought it was ‘homey,’ but Pike felt it was too closed-in. “We’re not staying here forever, right?” He asked, though no one seemed too interested in what he said. “We still have to be back at the Sun Village in one turn of the seasons.”

Shenshen giggled. “We have plenty of time.” She assured him. “Rayek wants to train here. Ekuar says he can teach him to use his magic better, and they think this is a good training ground.”

“But the whole place smells of trolls…” he grumbled, but he was ignored.

They spent the next few days doing much the same as they had the day before; they scavenged for food, usually Rayek floating some their way or Pike using his Wolfrider swiftness. Ekuar instructed Rayek in the use of his powers, and his strength increased dramatically, not to mention his disposition became more bearable as he continued to succeed. Pike attempted to teach Shenshen in the ways of the sword, but both were awkward and soon he gave up and stole a spear from the trolls’ store-holes full of elf-sized weapons, obviously stockpiled for trading with the Wolfriders. The teaching became much easier after that, and Shenshen was a quick learner.

Hotburr was the least happy, and constantly grumbled at being holed up in the cave-home. After about an eight of days, the wolf became fed up and escaped their hiding place and began to run down the tunnels.

“Stupid animal!” Rayek exclaimed. “He’ll get killed and give us away!”

Pike growled at the hunter. “If he wasn’t holed up here all day and night, he wouldn’t have escaped! He needs to stretch his legs.”

“We’d better follow him.” Shenshen led the way and all but Ekuar followed the wolf’s trail.

The tunnels were fairly empty and soon Rayek suggested they go back, that chasing a wolf was a waste of time. Soon after, there was a loud howl echoing through the caves and then a yelp. Pike rushed into action immediately and the two others followed close behind.
The tunnel opened up to King Greymung’s throne room, where three guards each had a looped rope around Hotburr’s neck, holding him still while he struggled. “Let him go!” Pike jumped down the small ledge, despite Shenshen’s protests, and readied his spear, but the troll king just laughed.

“We have you now! Why would we let him go?” He cackled gleefully as he pointed back at the other two elves. A group of trolls blocked the exits behind them. Rayek began fighting, but the kind didn’t seem to care. “I think the wolf might taste nice with some red fungus, don’t you?”

“You cowardly human!” He moved in to attack Greymung, but more guards got in his way. He ducked under them and rolled to the side, cursing himself for getting them into this mess. When he was back on his feet, he looked around frantically. Rayek and Shensehn were holding their own, but it was a losing fight against so many trolls. He wished so hard that they could receive sendings, but whatever he did, it would have to be on his own.

Curse it! He yelled at himself, I’ve never been very good at thinking up plans. But after a moment, he saw a perfect opening. He dashed over and under attacking trolls, to the throne and found there a screaming female troll who looked perfect. She was covered in gold and trinkets from head to foot, and seemed to favor the troll king over anyone. He leveled his spear at her neck and called to the king. “Stop or I’ll kill her!”

The room hushed. The trolls fighting the two Sun Villagers were still struggling, but it seemed the rest of them were now paying attention to Pike. Had his gamble worked? He wasn’t sure how or whether trolls lifemated, but if this was his lifemate, he’d listen.

The king frowned and put his hand to his mouth in what looked like annoyed thought while the female troll sobbed and wailed not to let the ugly elf kill her. Then, after a moment, “I have more females. I don’t need that one.”

The female screamed and Pike’s insides fell. He didn’t want to actually kill the troll, and he didn’t have any more ideas. Was the king just calling his bluff or did he really not care? He was about ready to give up on the planning and just fight until they were free or they died, when Greymung made a gurgling sound. Pike watched as the king’s eyes went wide and then rolled back into his head while his mouth dribbled blood. This time, all the trolls fell silent and watched the curious incident.

From behind the throne, a lone troll pulled a spear from the back of the king’s neck and growled, “There elf! I’ve killed him. That makes me king now. Let Oddbit go and I’ll let all you elves leave peacefully.”

Pike could hardly believe his senses. “Picky! I didn’t know you cared!” He retracted his weapon and the female ran to the new king, spouting compliments about how heroic he was.

“Go elf. And take your friends with you.” The troll continued. “We will give you one water bag and one basket of food if you promise to leave these tunnels forever.”

Pike allowed himself a grin. “Deal.”

The three elves, after much grumbling from Rayek, headed back to their cave-home and got ready to leave the troll caverns. True to his word, Picknose gave them the promised food and water, and gave them one choice. “You leave here either back the way you came, through the Tunnel of Golden Light, or you leave the other way, back to your forest.”

There was much debate over the answer to that. Shenshen insisted that they should go back through the desert and back home to the Sun Village while all the time, Rayek refused to ever go back. Ekuar was happy with whatever decision as long as they left the caverns, and Pike, unfortunately was undecided. Shenshen finally came to him to ask him what he thought. He didn’t like making decisions, and he certainly didn’t want to be anything like a chief here. He just leaned on his spear and said, “One water bag won’t get us through the desert, but we made it the first time like that. I don’t know what will be on the other side. Our forest burnt down; there may be nothing left.” His eyes started to water at the thought of it, but he continued. “I follow you, whatever decision you make.”

Shenshen thought this over. Rayek and Ekuar were getting the food together and wrapping it up in what extra cloth they had and adding it to what they had stolen from before. Then she looked back at Pike. “I think we’ll have a better chance going to your forest, don’t you? Maybe it’s not as bad as you thought and there may be food.”

Pike only nodded.

The four elves were led down the familiar tunnels to a familiar door, and the trolls slowly opened it, revealing a dim light. Rayek and Ekuar were the first out, followed by Hotburr and Shenshen, and Pike last. Shenshen was the first to stop and stare at the desolate landscape. The ground was covered in hot ash and tree trunks jutted out of the cinders, still charred and smoking. The sky was hazy and grey and almost too thick to bear.

“Oh, High Ones…” Pike fell to his knees and Hotburr let out a long and mournful howl as the door to the troll caverns closed behind them.

Chapter Text

The sight of the once great forest brought a tear to Shenshen’s eye, and her heart went out to the Wolfrider. If something so devastating had happened to her home, she didn’t know that she would be able to hold up so well.

The three allowed Pike his look around, to see what had changed and what was left, but soon they had to get down to business. After a long time searching, they managed to find a very small stream of water, which Pike insisted used to be much bigger. They emptied what water sacks that held the dreamberry drink that they had stolen, and filled them up with water. Food was harder to find; not even Hotburr could sense anything, not even a mouse. Rayek became frustrated, despite Ekuar’s insistence on patience, and headed in the opposite direction from where he thought the Sun Village was in hopes of finding someplace that wasn’t covered in ash.

They traveled towards sun-goes-down for days, Ekuar riding on Hotburr to save on time, and found little. On the second day, they spotted a hawk, and Rayek used a rock and his powers to knock it unconscious. They shared the meal in silence, and continued on. Very little was said, except at the end of the day when they rested; Pike and Shenshen had made it a habit to tell stories before they slept. Since their exit from the Troll Caverns, this had stayed the same, and even Ekuar joined in on occasion. The elves from three cultures and histories found they had a lot to share and learn. And though Rayek would never join in, he would listen once in a while.

Soon they came across open grassland, which at least had some small game that the two hunters and the wolf were able to catch enough of to full their empty bellies. Even Shenshen was able to catch one ravvit, after many tries. But Rayek wasn’t satisfied. He was driven onward by an unknown force, though Pike suspected it was pride and the will to get as far away from the Sun Village as possible.

Once there was again food for the travelers, the training for both Rayek and Shenshen began again. They both insisted that now there was no absolute need to keep going, they could sacrifice a few hours a day for Ekuar to train Rayek in his powers, and Pike to teach Shenshen. Leetah’s sister was driven even more after their ‘hunt,’ and didn’t want to feel helpless again. She wanted to be able to get her own food, and help the entire group.

Pike did as she asked and followed her and Rayek without question, but the further they got from Sorrow’s End, the more the worried they would not be able to keep their promise to Leetah, and be back in a year.

The compatibility of the group was lacking some as well; Rayek didn’t seem to care for Pike or his wolf, and only tolerated Shenshen, probably because he knew her. He seemed to only befriend Ekuar, though Pike couldn’t figure out why they clicked so easily. He and Shenshen got along wonderfully, so much so that when they slept, she tended to snuggle up next to him and Hotburr without so much as a second thought. She was cheerful and upbeat, which helped Pike stay his usual self when he wanted to scowl all day at Rayek. And he and Ekuar tended to get along just fine as well; Anytime Rayek stormed off after snapping at the Wolfrider, Ekuar would only chuckle and mention that he just needed some time alone.

So, it really was just Rayek mucking it all up.

After a moon of traveling, Pike spoke up and asked why Shenshen was still following Rayek. “All you two do is argue.”

Shenshen let out what sound like a fake giggle. “We’re courting. He’ll come around.”

“Courting?” Pike wrinkled his nose. “You’re as bad as your sister. I just don’t understand why you Sun Folk don’t just say what you mean, and take what you want.”

She frowned at this. “It’s not that simple!”

“Why not?”

He stared at her for a long time, and she glared back, but she didn’t answer. After a moment, she turned around, and left to go forage for anything useful. Pike just shook his head.

Another moon passed, and Rayek made a breakthrough in his magic. He could lift an elf, including himself, giving him the power of flight. Shenshen thought it was a wonderful thing and turned to tears, and for once, Rayek seemed joyful. To Pike, it was amazing, but nothing to make this much fuss about.

Rayek began testing his flight by lifting himself during traveling. At first, he could only do it a short while, but the more he flew, the longer it lasted. Finally, he started carrying someone, usually Ekuar or Shenshen, never Pike, with him to see how long he could do that, while the other two rode Hotburr. They made good time that way, and soon came to a forest.

It wasn’t the Holt; it was much wetter and denser and darker, but it was a forest. The moment Pike and Hotburr spotted the trees in the distance, they sped up to meet them. Shenshen who was riding with the Wolfrider at the time, was surprised at the burst of speed, but held on tightly.

The change was amazing. Once in the forest, Pike was joyful and energetic, and Hotburr couldn’t seem to stop running and jumping and playing in the leaves on the forest floor. His three companions had mixed reactions to the new surroundings; Shenshen was awed, but curious, and amused at the Wolfrider, Ekuar seemed at peace, and Rayek seemed cautious. He complained about the wet feeling it the air, and the closed-in feel of the trees.

“I don’t like this.” He said after a few hours, “It feels like there’s a living presence here.”

Ekuar laughed. “There were elves here.” He placed his hand on a nearby rock. “They were rock-shapers too.”

“Other elves?” Rayek looked around. “Like us?”

Shenshen clapped her hands. “Why not? The Wolfriders were out there, why not others?”

But Ekuar shook his head. “Whatever elves were here, are long gone.”

After that, the travelers were quiet and continued moving. Pike soon mumbled just loud enough for all hear, “Be careful. Remember the story of Madcoil? He was created from a pocket of old magic gone bad. We don’t want to find the same here.” At that, even Rayek kept a hand on his dagger.

Chapter Text

Despite Pike’s wishes, they traveled in the daytime. Pike insisted he was more comfortable in a forest at night, but was overruled by the two desert dwellers and Ekuar refused to take a side. They argued that there was shelter now in the trees and so would be better to travel in the light so they didn’t trip on an unseen root, or run into a beehive, etc. He got used to it, and usually ended up taking quick naps during the day on Hotburr and then taking first watch at night.

Their first real trouble occurred on their eighth day; Shenshen was gathering some plants and roots that Pike had pointed out to her, and didn’t notice the creature creeping up behind her. It was a large lizard or frog… it was hard to tell, but it had claws and teeth and slimy skin, and made a bubbling growl before it leapt for her. She saw it in the last second and screamed, managing to roll away from a blow, but ripped her skirt in the process. She scrambled for her sword, as her spear was out of reach, but fumbled, dropping it into the marshy grass. She frantically searched for it, but the creature reared back, intent on striking. She squeezed her eyes shut waiting for the blow, but heard only a loud wailing screech instead.

Her eyes opened, and she saw Rayek with her spear. He’d jabbed the creature in the side, but it was still moving, and it was angry. Rayek yelled at her to go, but her leg felt twisted, and it was difficult to get up. She managed to get to a tree and pull herself to her feet as she watched Rayek try to stay out of the creature’s way. He’d had his dagger in hand now, as the spear was still jammed into the thing’s side, and made slashes in the thing’s skin, but nothing seemed to slow it down.

After a few moments of fighting, Rayek locked eyes with the creature and his eyes flashed strangely. The creature halted and that gave him a window to drive the blade deep into the lizard’s chest, causing the thing to topple over to the ground, limp.

Rayek pulled the dagger out, and wiped it on the grass, then brushed off his scrapes, hissing only at one long gash on his arm, and then made his way to Shenshen. “You should have run away.”

Shenshen shook her head. “I hurt my ankle. I’m just glad you were here to help.” She was about to say more, but her eyes opened wide when she saw the creature moving again. It took a swing at Rayek, knocking him to the ground, before yelping and falling limp again. Pike pulled his spear out of the beast and quickly asked if the other two were all right.

Shenshen, her heart racing, only nodded. Pike then turned to Rayek, and offered his hand to help him up, but the hunter swatted it away. “I don’t need your help!” He snapped.

To that, Shenshen shook off her shock and glared at her companion. “He just saved your life! How can you be so rude?!”

Rayek huffed, getting to his feet. “I didn’t ask to be saved.”

“Neither did I.” She frowned, poking him in the chest. “You’re going to learn someday that other people besides you have worth, your way is not necessarily the best way, and maybe people do nice things for you not because they admire you, but because they think you’re worth something.” She turned away, crossed her arms, added softly, “And maybe you will realize that Leetah wasn’t the only person who cared about you.” Without waiting for a response, she walked away.

Rayek stood there a moment, speechless, then slowly regained his posture, and crossed his arms. “She’s just as huffy as her sister.” He then looked over his shoulder at the Wolfrider as if expecting an answer.

Pike, almost surprised that he had even been acknowledged, hesitated a moment, then pulled the second spear out of the creature, and decided on a reply. “You’re welcome, black hair.” He said with a frown, and followed Shenshen.

For days afterward, Shenshen refused to speak to Rayek. At first Pike thought she was being silly, as all her actions did was make Rayek brood even more than usual; but then he remembered when Joyleaf and Bearclaw had a fight that drove them apart just before they Recognized. He laughed at the thought of what Cutter might say to Rayek being compared to his father.

Although he thought she was being foolish, Pike did his best to cheer Shenshen up by giving her flowers, or telling her stories, or even just keeping her company at night. When the forest became less swampy and drier, Rayek and Ekuar took to sleeping in caves while Pike and Shenshen stayed outdoors; Pike because he wanted to, Shenshen because she refused to stay with Rayek.

There were days of silence, only broken by Ekuar trying to lighten the mood, where Pike wasn’t even sure why they were still traveling. They’d found Rayek, and yet they were moving away from the Sun Village. Annoyed with the actions by the other two that he couldn’t seem to understand, he thought of turning back… but he was no leader, and he didn’t want to be alone. For all purposes, Shenshen was his chief now… until they returned.

But the discontent between the Villagers didn’t last. As they traveled, the air became cooler and the season was in its change. Already Pike could see some of the leaves changing their colors. On a particularly cold night, while Pike and Shenshen were looking for a spot to sleep, a quiet call came from the cave nearby.

“Shenshen?”

She turned around, at first in anger, but it soon melted away when she saw the look on Rayek’s face. It was close to the look he’d had at his defeat at the Bridge of Destiny, and even Pike couldn’t help but feel something for him.

Shenshen waited for a reply, but Rayek only looked away, as if annoyed at himself for speaking. After a moment, she walked to him and he looked at her, and whispered something that even Pike couldn’t quite catch. Shenshen snapped back at him and put her hands on her hips, but Rayek only stared her in the eyes and said softly, “I don’t want to be alone anymore.”

In that moment, Shenshen’s heart went out to him and the two disappeared into the cave, which closed behind them, no doubt Ekuar’s doing. Pike only watched it happen with a heavy feeling in his gut. Something about the exchange, while in the Holt with his own tribe, would be a normal thing, this felt like a loss to him. Shenshen’s people didn’t play by the same rules the Wolfriders did, and Pike felt more lost and confused than ever.

Suddenly, so much so that he nearly fell off the limb on which he perched, came a quiet, shaky, untrained sending from the cave below. **I win, Wolfrider**

Chapter Text

Pike couldn’t help but feel completely lost as to what had actually happened with the two Sun Villagers, and why he had apparently ‘lost.’ All he knew now was that both Shenshen and Rayek were… happy, and that made him feel much more comfortable to be traveling with them. Even Rayek smiled and his supposed dislike of Pike went away… mostly.

But something still made him uneasy. They were still traveling away from the Sun Village, and the Wolfriders. Even if they turned back now, they would never reach the desert before…

“The white-cold is coming.” Pike said finally, catching the other three’s attention. “Can’t you feel it?”

“White-cold?” Shenshen was obviously confused. For a moment, Pike was surprised; didn’t she know what it was? But soon he realized that in her land of fire heat, they must never have a time where it snowed. “What’s that?”

Ekuar laughed. “Snow. I remember snow.” He looked up thoughtfully as if pushing through hazy memories. “Cold… but fun.”

Pike seemed to be put on the spot. Shenshen and even Rayek were looking at him curiously. “You’ve seen the green leaves turning colors, haven’t you?” Shenshen nodded, while Rayek looked at the trees around him as if only just now noticing, or caring. “That means the cold is coming. The food will be scarce; plants will die and animals will go into hiding. Then the snow comes. Snow; it’s like sand… only cold. Very cold.”

Shenshen rubbed her arms. “Brrr. It’s already cold, Pike. You mean it’ll get colder?”

He nodded. “I thought you knew. I should have guessed you don’t have the white-cold in your land of fire, but…” He trailed off, not sure how to finish. “It’s too late for us to turn back now, but if we find a place to hold out for a while, we can wait out the season.”

“Yes.” Ekuar chimed in. “No traveling in the storms. Find warmth, and food.”

Shenshen looked almost frightened by the new concept. She had heard about it from Pike’s tales, but to be face with it in reality was something entirely different. She looked to the others and then back to Pike. “Wh-what do we do?”

Being faced with the lead role, Pike was thrown off guard. Even Rayek, though he didn’t say anything, was waiting to be told. Hesitantly, Pike replied. “We should find a place to hole for the next few moons. And we need water. And food. We don’t have a tree-shaper so a tree’s out.” He sighed at the thought of not living in a tree. “A cave will have to do… if we can find one.”

The others took in the information for a moment, and then Rayek suddenly floated up above the trees. He stayed there for quite some time, looking around, and then slowly descended. “There’s a jut of rock, a cliff, in the distance where water flows as if the rock were breathing it.”

“A waterfall.”

“There’s our water, Wolfrider. And the cliff is our rock.” Rayek turned to Ekuar. “You can shape us a dwelling to use through this… white-cold.”

“Of course, Brownskin.” Ekuar nodded.

“Well then,” The black haired Sun Villager grabbed his things and headed off in the direction of the waterfall, while the others followed. Pike was almost glad this time that Rayek had taken over. He didn’t want to lead this strange small tribe, and he certainly didn’t want to give Rayek orders.

It took the four of them the better part of the daylight to finally reach the river and then the Waterfall that it came from. Shenshen was most impressed of the group, exclaiming that she had never seen so much water without rain, just lying on the land like a snake. They soon discovered that too close to the falling water was far too loud, and so they picked a nice spot in the cliff, a little distance away to shape a shelter.

While Ekuar got started, Pike realized they hadn’t hunted in a while and their food was getting low. He walked over to the group and mentioned, “We’ll need to know the land if we’re to live and hunt in it.”

With the hint given, Rayek nodded. He ordered that Shenshen stay with Ekuar, while he and Pike scout the area; Rayek by air and Pike by land with his wolf. There was very little argument, except that Shenshen wanted to stay outside and get to know the nearby area while the two warriors were farther away. Although Rayek insisted that it would be better for the two of them to hole their selves up in the cliff and wait for him and Pike to return, he soon learned that Shenshen was almost a worse person to argue with than her sister, and he gave in only so long as she stayed within sight of Ekuar. She agreed and the warriors left.

They traveled over the grassland fairly quickly, as any game to be found there was small and not worth their time. But there was another forest in the area and so, satisfied with their search of the open land, they headed for the trees. Curious more than anything, and now having an opportunity to do so, Pike sent to Rayek above him. **How long have you been able to send?**

The Wolfrider could sense a minor surprise from the desert elf, and a hazy reply. **Ekuar has been teaching me.** There was a pause. **But I first ‘sent’ to your Wolf Chief during the trials for Leetah.** Pike could feel a twinge of regret from the other as he mentioned his old lovemate.

**You’re not bad for a beginner.**

Pike could sense some amusement then, and a wry answer. **I’ll be better than you by the time this ‘White-Cold’ is over, Wolfrider.**

Pike didn’t doubt it, considering the other’s stubbornness, but did not reply. They continued their scouting in silence. He didn’t bother asking about the comment Rayek had sent when he ‘won’ Shenshen; he didn’t think he’d receive an answer that made sense to him anyway. So he focused his energy now in evaluating the new forest.

It was better than that swampy one they had recently come from, but nothing could match the Holt. This one seemed quieter though. There was very little moving around and…

Pike let his senses rule. It was strange; not even a bird stirred. He could hardly sense any movement at all, save for Hotburr and himself. Even looking up, he couldn’t see Rayek anymore through the leaves and the strange spider-like webs that started with the trees and got thicker the deeper he walked into the woods. Soon he encountered cocoons, starting out small and only a few, but the number increased very quickly. He was tempted to call the Sun Villager down to him, but felt curiosity take him… besides, he still didn’t like Rayek all that much.

Using the tip of his spear, he attempted to cut one of the cocoons open just to see what was inside, and was surprised when a squirrel emerged, blinked, noticed him and bolted. Pike stared at the shreds of cocoon that the creature left behind and mumbled, “Squirrels don’t spin webs…” He looked then at the cocoon next to it, and cut the threads for that one too. Inside was a tree frog that hopped away. The Wolfrider then looked around and scratched his head. It was too strange to take in. The only things he knew that had webs and/or cocoons were spiders and caterpillars wanting to be butterflies and moths. Why would a frog and a squirrel want to be any of those things?

He almost felt like he had been drinking some of the Trolls’ dreamberry juice, but he was as sober as he had been since they’d left the caverns… unfortunately. Too confused to figure out the riddle, he gave in and sent a call out to the desert dweller who arrived from above, cursing the branches that caught his clothes on the way down. The information was relayed with a demonstration as Rayek opened a cocoon himself, almost not believing Pike until he had done so. This time a rabbit emerged and Rayek’s levitation powers stopped it from escaping. At least they had made a kill.

“Something in this forest must catch these things to eat later.” Rayek guessed. “Keep the food fresh. We tried similar things in the Sun Village, but I doubt we were as effective as these.”

But Pike wasn’t satisfied. “So much meat?” He waved his hands, indicating all the cocoons nearby and more even in the distance. “None of it eaten. It doesn’t make sense. And where are the creatures that spin the webs?”

Rayek had no answer. Instead, he tied the rabbit to his belt and looked around. “At least we will have food for your white-cold, if every cocoon carries something edible.”

Pike only nodded as the desert elf continued his exploration on foot, with the Wolfrider trailing behind. After looking at the cocoons and following the other for some time, Pike said, “Nothing really big enough to make decent leathers out of. We’ll need good thick furs or else we’ll freeze.”

Rayek only gave him a nod and focused on finding the bigger cocoons. They had only found a few large enough to house large rabbits, a fox and one boar. The fox Rayek took care of, but the boar Pike wanted to take down himself, insisting that Rayek’s magic took the fun and honor out of the hunt.

They decided that after those kills, they would head back to the cave, but on the way there, something caught Rayek’s eye. He said nothing to the Wolfrider, just went off on his own, leaving Pike to try and keep up. They came to a small clearing where a rather large cocoon lay on the forest floor, slightly bigger than Rayek or Pike. The black haired elf reached for his dagger and mumbled, “Ready your spear, Wolfrider. You wanted a hunt.”

But before Rayek could cut too deep into the mass of threads, there was a screeching sound that made both elves cringe, and seemingly out of nowhere came a swarm of multi-colored bug-like creatures. They spun around Pike and his wolf, still screeching at different times; it almost sounded like they were… talking, but not all saying the same thing, so it sounded garbled. The Wolfrider tried to ward them off by swinging his spear around, but they were far too quick for him to hit any.

One of the creatures, who had a green body and red and yellow butterfly-like wings, singled out Rayek and flew close in front of his face, looking him in the eyes with a frown. “Highthing no cut out stick-head hoofthing from Wrapstuff!”

Rayek, who was momentarily startled by the noise and the fact that the bug was talking to him, managed to only stare with his mouth wide open. He soon collected himself and was able to sputter a “What?”

The creature continued. “Bad Highthings been cutting up wrapstuff since came. Is bad! This big wrapstuff we do. Highthing no cut up!”

Pike frowned. “You’re not making any sense. Slow down. What’s a… a wrapstuff? And a high thing?”

The bug looked at the Wolfrider and then got a proud look. “Wrapstuff is this.” It pointed at the webbing all around the trees. “We do! Catch fursoft cradlebabies, and flufftails, stickhead hoofthings, we do! You Highthings! Petalwing remembers!”

“Remember?” Rayek seemed more curious than anything. “You remember others like us?”

Petalwing nodded. By this time, the other winged creatures had stopped their swarming and hovered, listening to the green one, who Pike assumed was their leader. “Petalwing remembers other Highthings! Long time, we protect Highthings and keep safe. Then longsoft hair Highthing tell us go away and find food for when Highthings come fetch. But Highthings never come. We wait long time. We wrapstuff much food. Now you Highthings come?” By this point, Petalwing had grabbed a few strands of Rayek’s hair, and was holding it as if it were one of Moonshade’s softest leathers.

Pike couldn’t make out much of what the thing was saying, but gathered only that they had been keeping food for other elves a long time ago. Rayek, however, seemed to catch on to the story. “You’ve been trapping these animals for other elves? How long have you been here?”

“Longtime!” Petalwing seemed to strain its thoughts, but it soon passed. “Too long. But now more Highthings are here. Petalwing take good care of Highthings!”

Suddenly, Pike thought of something. “If you’re keeping the food for high… uh, elves, then why can’t we open the cocoons? It’s for us. We have to open the cocoons to use what’s inside.”

There was a twittering among the other winged creatures, but Petalwing quieted them down. “Is good. Food for Highthings, so Highthings take. Petalwing say so!” Some of the creatures left then, but a few stayed, and perched themselves on one of the nearby branches.

Rayek, taking that as a cue that he’d won the argument (that Pike didn’t really think was a ‘win’) finished cutting open the cocoon and from it emerged a buck, not quite full-grown yet, with just the beginning of antlers showing through. Hotburr, grateful for something familiar, launched into action, and Pike followed suit. The deer was slow and still bewildered from its long sleep and so was a fairly easy kill for just one elf and his wolf. The two elves then tied the deer to a long branch and, with Rayek’s lifting abilities, started to leave.

Petalwing had taken to nest in Rayek’s hair, but wasn’t messing it up any, so all he managed to do was grumble about it. But when they tried to leave, the creature threw a fit. “No can go! We just get Highthings back, so no can leave!”

“Relax, bug.” Pike was starting to really hate the thing’s screeching. “We’ll be back. You have more food here than you can do anything with, and we need food for the season.”

That brightened the creature’s mood. “Is so?” But it didn’t wait for an answer before getting exited and digging its claws into Rayek’s scalp. “Petalwing go with softpretty Highthings!”

The desert elf finally got angry, and levitated Petalwing out of his hair, holding it still in mid-air in front of him. “You stay here.” He ordered. “You’re more annoying than useful anyway.” With that being said, he used his magic to toss the creature into a nearby bush, and kept walking.

They made it back to Shenshen and Ekuar around nightfall with little problem, and presented them with the meat, which Shenshen started to cut up, with Pike’s instruction. They had just finished their story to the other two when a familiar screeching noise pierced the air, and Petalwing flew into Shenshen’s hair. “More softpretty Highthings for Petalwing take care of! Keep all safe.” It snuggled into her curls and grinned proudly.

Shenshen, surprised, brought Petalwing out of her hair, staring at it in wonder. Ekuar’s eyes were wide as he looked at the creature, but said nothing, seeming a bit confused and trying to wade through memories lost to time. Rayek only huffed at the thing following them, but didn’t try to make it go away. Pike then explained that that was one of the web creatures, and Shenshen took a liking to it rather quickly, even letting it play with her hair. In return, Petalwing dubbed Shenshen its softpretty bubbly Highthing.

After knowing they would have plenty of food, Pike and Shenshen worked on how to make decent furs and leathers to keep them all warm. Shenshen knew a little about form and color from a friend back in the Sun Village, Ahnshen, and Pike knew enough from watching Moonshade and from tales of the chief, Tanner, for them to make clothes that, though not fashionable in any sense, would keep them warm and alive for the season of cold. It looked like they would be able to survive the white-cold with no problem at all…

Chapter Text

Hoykar and Aroree had been out hunting most of the day, and had come up with very little to feed their companions at Blue Mountain, let alone the whole of the Gliders. It depressed Hoykar and made him want to stick it out and go farther until they had caught something.

**You may return to the Mountain if you wish Aroree,** he sent to his hunting partner, **But I wish to see if I can find bigger game farther out.**

Aroree, never truly wishing to be alone, hesitated for quite some time before insisting that if he wished to continue then she would accompany him. He took that answer, and they flew their great hawks in a direction they rarely hunted. There was usually little to hunt in this wood by the waterfall, but they had had no luck elsewhere. They circled the area many times before even Aroree admitted she was tired and wanted to return home. But Hoykar didn’t want to go just yet. **You go, young one. I will make only one more circle and then join you.**

She agreed to that, and steered her mount back towards the mountain in the distance. However, before he could make much more of a turn, he spotted something rather large running through the snow below him. He couldn’t make out what it was, but send a halt to Aroree’s departure. After that, all he had to do was let the hawk do its thing. It dove, and Hoykar found even after all this time, he loved the thrill of the wind on his face, and the adrenalin of the fall. But his joy was cut short as he suddenly picked up a frantic open-sending. **RAYEK!**

Hoykar pulled on the giant bird’s reins and only just managed to pull it out of it’s decent, though it was not happy. He then looked around to try and find the source of the sending, for certainly it hadn’t been Aroree or any other Glider. He then noticed the creature that the bird attempted to catch was a wolf, and next to the savage creature was what looked like… an elf! However, before he could say anything on the subject or take in too much detail on what he saw, he was face-to-face with yet another elf, though dark in skin and hair, he was an elf! And he was flying!

“H-how…” He started, but words failed him.

Aroree joined him both in body and shock just as the dark-skinned one spoke. “We have often seen the giant hawks in the distance, but had I known that each bore an elf on its back I would have given them more than just a passing glance.”

Hoykar could not seem to find his voice, but thankfully Aroree was able to ask what he had been thinking. “Who are you strangers? And where do you come from?”

“I am Rayek,” replied the dark-skinned elf. “And this is Pike. I come from a land of desert and heat far away, while the other comes from a forest land halfway from here to my place of birth.”

An open sending drew attention away from Rayek and down to his companion. **You’re sounding more elegant than usual black-hair. Trying to impress them?** But Rayek seemed to ignore the comment. “Who are you who seem to have the gift from birth that I have worked so hard for?”

Finally, words returned to Hoykar, and he straitened. “I am Hoykar, and this is Aroree. We are of the Chosen Eight, hailing from Blue Mountain, home of the Gliders.”

That comment seemed to interest the desert dweller. “There are more of you?”

“Of course there are, stranger.” Aroree started, “We have created a safe haven for all elves, and there we have dwelled for countless years, unchanged by the outside world as you small ones have.”

There was a pause, and then Hoykar asked, “Are there more of you?”

Rayek looked to Pike, who only shrugged. The desert dweller then nodded. “We are a small group, but there are two others with us.”

“Come to Blue Mountain with us!” The female Glider exclaimed. “Lord Voll would love to know how those we left behind have survived! You will be safe there. And warm. It must be harsh living out here in the winter.”

“We make out ok.” Pike mumbled, and then attempted to calm down his wolf companion, who did not like the nearness of the giant birds.

After a moment of what Hoykar guessed was a private sending between the two smaller elves, the darker one, (Rayek?) agreed to accompany them to their dwelling, but only after first picking up their other companions.

They were led to a small cave near the waterfall, where the two strangers were greeted by two others, one female with dark skin like Rayek’s and an aged elf who looked like the world had simply worn him away. He felt pity for the aged one, and a twinge of fear, for if they had stayed in the world outside, that may have happened to him. Aroree seemed no less shocked and fearful than he… possibly even more so. But the others didn’t seem too disturbed, and so the two Gliders said nothing.

Once the situation was explained, the other two elves were both surprised and amazed. The female introduced herself as Shenshen, and the aged elf was Ekuar, apparently a rock-shaper. They were offered the same chance to go to the mountain, and Ekuar agreed to go happily, while Shenshen seemed thrilled. “Elves! More Elves! Wouldn’t Savah be proud?”

Shenshen and Rayek both agreed to the offer of being flown on the two Gliders’ great hawks, but Pike refused to leave his wolf behind, and insisted he would rather have his feet on the ground anyway. Ekuar as well wished to stay on the ground, giving them the reason that it would be difficult for him to keep a good hold with only one arm. Hoykar was ashamed that he had even suggested it, forgetting that the elf was so disabled, and apologized, but Ekuar didn’t seem to mind. Rayek then promised that if Ekuar rode with him, he would not let him fall, but the rock-shaper said, “Someone should keep the Wolfrider company.”

The arrangements made, they group got ready to leave, but were interrupted by a high-pitched screech, causing Rayek to sigh loudly. “Highthings not leave Petalwing behind! You be smooshed or teeth-bit! Petalwing keep you safe!”

With all the surprises so far this day, Hoykar should not have been so caught off-guard, but the green winged creature before him called forth old forgotten memories, and almost made him lose balance on his hawk (which he never did). “By the Great Egg! A Preserver!”

Chapter Text

The strange elves made Pike nervous. He didn’t like it one bit when their giant birds had tried to eat Hotburr, and he wasn’t so sure about their invitations to visit their mountain home. But Rayek wanted to go, and he wasn’t one to tell people what to do. And since Shenshen wanted to go where Rayek went, he was stuck going where she did.

And then Petalwing arrived. They had hoped to leave the bug home, but not even Rayek could shut the thing up and make it do something when its mind was set. However, the flying elves fell into shock when the thing showed, demanding to come with them. They called it a Preserver, and Petalwing zipped right towards them, and started talking even faster than normal.

It was Hoykar who spoke first in a low, almost inaudible voice, “Strangers, where did you find this Preserver?”

“In the forest.” Pike pointed. “The thing latched onto us and won’t go away.”

Shenshen nodded. “Petalwing and its friends keep food there for us, so we can last the white-cold.”

“There are more?” Aroree stared in the direction of the forest. “How many?”

“Many many!” The preserver nuzzled her shoulder. “We stay there, wait for longsoft hair Highthing come get. She say, ‘go catch food for Highthings!’ We do. Wait longtime, we do.”

As many times as Petalwing had told them that story over the last couple moons, it never seemed to get tired of telling it. But as little sense as it made to the small group, the two Gliders were nothing less than awed and a slight bit confused. But they said nothing, and instead insisted that they should take the Preserver to Lord Voll as well. The others had no real arguments, and so they headed towards the mountain; Rayek with Aroree, Shenshen with Hoykar, and Pike and Ekuar on Hotburr, with Petalwing to ‘keep them company.’

It had been sun-down when they had left, and so were moving long into the night. The birds would circle back to make sure that Pike on the ground was following, and because of his slowness compared to the flying ones, Rayek became impatient, sending him an occasional, **Can’t you make your wolf go faster?**

When he walked through the ‘Wrapstuffed’ woods, Petalwing called out to its folk, insisting that they were going to the ‘Mountain thing’ and that tended to bring interest to the other Preservers. By the time he had made it through the woods, he had at least five others following Petalwing, wanting to come along.

As they got nearer to the mountain, Pike gave in and sent Hotburr into a run, as the two birds with their riders flew to the top and dismounted. Ekuar and the Wolfrider, however, halted at the base of the mountain and they could feel Hotburr’s neck fur bristle. They slowed and even the aged elf gasped at the sight.

**Rayek, Shenshen! Humans!** Pike sent. **There are humans here! I cannot get in!**

“Calm down, Wolfrider.” Ekuar whispered in his ear. “They have not attacked us yet.”

But the small group stayed hidden from the five-fingers until they heard an amused sending. **You have been afraid because of the harsh world, young one.** Aroree swooped down to them gracefully. **They will not harm you.**

“Right…” Pike muttered. **And I’m an eight-legged treewee with green fur!** He could not believe that the humans meant no harm. Not after the Holt—

“But they worship us. Come see.” She floated off, towards the strangely dressed humans. True, they seemed less savage than the ones from the Holt, but they couldn’t be friendly towards elves. No human had an elf for a friend… But as he saw the female Glider near the five-fingered tribe, they stopped and stared in wonder, then bowed down to her.

“Impossible!” Pike whispered, but soon realized he was wrong. Ekuar mumbled something in his ear about the stories he’d told about Mantricker and Demontricker, and only then did the Wolfrider urge Hotburr to take them near the humans.

The attention was suddenly drawn from Aroree to the shorter newcomers. His wolf was obviously nervous, ready to bolt if even one of them made move to attack, but it didn’t come.

“[Do you see? He rides a wolf, instead of a bird!]”
“[More of them! It is truly a blessing!]”
“[They have not come so close to us in so long… I feel I might faint.]”
“[Even small, they are beautiful! Are they children?]”
“[The strange one is injured! Do you think they fought some demon?]”

Pike soon tuned out their chatter, almost jealous of Ekuar, for he could not understand them. He soon found that he didn’t want to be worshiped any more than he wanted to be hated. It was silly. What he really wanted was a nice warm home in a tree and dreamberries. Lots and lots of dreamberries.

Rayek soon showed, carrying Shenshen. She insisted she wanted to see the humans, especially since they had been assured that they would not be harmed. It amused Pike that she stared in just as much wonder at them, as they did her.

Finally, the Gliders insisted that they enter the mountain, and they offered to fly each of them to the aerie. But Pike refused to leave Hotburr behind, and neither Glider wanted to carry him, so, with a sigh, Aroree agreed to another way.

**Winnowill! We have a surprise for Voll, but we cannot fly it through the aerie. Can you open Door?**

Pike couldn’t hear the reply, but Aroree and Hoykar suddenly looked disappointed. “She says that Door only opens when the humans play their pipes.” They looked to the humans, but it didn’t seem like they were going to move from their spots at all on their own. “They cannot understand us.”

“Sure they can.” Pike grumbled only a little, but then smiled; glad that there was something he could do that the others couldn’t. “[Humans! Play your pipes for us while we enter the mountain.]”

” He was half afraid it wouldn’t work. After all, since when did humans obey elves? But after a moment of confusion, many humans left and quickly returned with their musical instruments and began to play. And they’re not half bad. He thought.

Aroree and Hoykar then led the elves to a solid rock wall, and told them to wait. For a moment, Pike thought it was silly to wait at a rock wall, but he remembered Ekuar and his talents. He was still not used to rock-shapers. But the wall moved away as fluidly as water, allowing them a tunnel inside.

The inside of the mountain was very impressive. Even Savah’s hut couldn’t compare to the ornately decorated walls and arches covering the inside. And there to greet them, were many other Gliders, crowded around, probably to see what Voll’s surprise was. In the front of the crowd was a tall slender female elf with black hair, the longest hair he had ever seen, beating Clearbrook easily. And next to her was the strangest of them all; an elf with wings like a bat instead of arms.

As with the humans, both groups stared at each other with equal amazement and wonder, neither speaking for some time. It was Petalwing and the group of Preservers that broke the silence. It flew to the long-haired elf and latched itself to her locks. “Longsoft hair Highthing remember Petalwing? We back! Keep food for Highthings long time, like you say.”

The female elf groped for words, for a moment even seeming annoyed (but who wouldn’t be? Preservers are annoying.), but when the other Preservers joined in their greeting, she only managed to say, “Where?”

Excitedly, Aroree explained how they had found both the elves and the Preservers, and that they were now going to see Lord Voll. Winnowill, for that’s what Aroree called her, seemed hesitant, but said, “The elves must see Voll, of course. But see how our kin are drawn to the Preservers? They should stay here, so as not to bother our lord just yet.”

Pike found that suspicious, but as the other Gliders hadn’t said anything, he went along with it. They left the Preservers behind, and were led through passageways, vaguely reminding him of the troll tunnels, and followed by at least half of the group of Gliders that had greeted them, picking up even more as they wound their way to Lord Voll. He wished they wouldn’t stare so. It was nearly as bad as the humans.

Finally, they arrived at what Hoykar called the throne room, and it was impressive. A skeleton of one of the giant birds was set up, and decorated with gold and jewels. An in the center of it, sat a very aged elf, wearing a long black cloak covered in white feathers. He spotted the two Chosen Eight, and quickly said, “Ah, we had feared your loss. You’ve never come back so late.” It was then that he noticed the newcomers. His eyes widened.

“We discovered them by the great waterfall, my lord.” Hoykar explained. “They are Rayek, Pike, Shenshen and Ekuar.”

Rayek took a step foreword and bowed. “It is an honor to meet you.”

Chapter Text

Hoykar found it strange that Winnowill insisted Voll see the newcomers before the Preservers, but she knew best, didn’t she? After all, she was Voll’s lovemate and one of the elves closest to the Preservers before they had left Blue Mountain.

Voll’s reaction to the new ones was beyond disbelief. After all, all of the Gliders had thought that those they had left behind died out long ago. To find that they had survived… changed, but still elves, was nothing short of amazing. They had not even close to the magic and power that they had, but the dark male could fly and levitate, and the old one was a rock-shaper, so even the old powers had not left these shorter kin fully.

When Rayek introduced himself, Voll was speechless. He seemed to eye the four over, but say nothing. When no reaction came, the dark one continued. “We have come a long way, and are surprised to find other elves. Especially ones such as yourselves. Before I attained such skill, we had long thought that the power of flight had been lost to our kind.”

Again, Voll was silent. Even Hoykar could feel the newcomers becoming nervous, but he dare not say anything. Finally, when it seemed the new ones could think of nothing else, their Lord said, “How did you survive the world outside?”

There was obvious relief on the new one’s faces, and then Rayek replied, “My folk come from a dry desert place, free of humans. We have lived there for many eights of years, living off the land, and hunting what we can.”

“There are very few dangers in Sorrow’s End,” Shenshen added, “And we have a healer for the troubles that come our way.” Perhaps no one else noticed it, but Hoykar thought he saw a strange look cross the face of the black-haired elf, and then pass as if it had never happened.

Finally, the wolf one spoke up. “And my kind, the Wolfriders, come from a forest place, where we faced the threat of humans every day.” He paused. “But we managed… with the help of our wolf-friends.” He patted the one by his side.

Voll was silent once again, and Hoykar wished that someone would speak; the anticipation coming from himself and all the other Gliders that had followed them to the throne room was overwhelming. Finally, the answer came. “There are more of you?”

Again, the dark-haired one seemed to hesitate, and so his female companion was the one who replied. “They are far away, but yes, there are more.”

Lord Voll then nodded, and stood, some of the tension in the room wafted away as he did so. “Then you are our guests. I hear from the Eight that the snow has come and the cold is harsh. You are free to stay here, safe. I would like to hear more about you and your people.”

With the official meeting was done, the other Gliders who had followed them from the entrance all closed in, asking questions, amazed that there were those on the outside. The entire group allowed this for a while, but suddenly Rayek insisted he wanted some room, and so Voll ordered the Gliders away. They were then offered a tour of the mountain, a suggestion that the group agreed to, and were led by Lord Voll himself, leaving Hoykar and the other Eight behind.

Chapter Text

Those blasted Wolfriders and their blasted wolves!

He hated them. They had been nothing but trouble since the day they had met, and now he was worse off than ever. His throat was dry and sore, and he longed for water. The moon burned his skin in this horrible place just as easily as the sun would. His feet were worn and blistered.

And it was all the Wolfriders’ fault!

But he wouldn’t let them get the better of him. No skinny little elf was going to best him, no way, no how. He only had a little more to go, didn’t he? Just a little farther…

But the mountains seemed even more distant than when he last looked. Was he going the wrong way? How long had it been?

But there! In the distance! Water! An entire lake of it! If only he could reach it before the sun rose and burnt away the flesh from his bone. Just a little farther…

“What do you suppose he’s doing here?”

“I’m more concerned with how he even got here.”

“Well, we’d better get him to the village. I don’t want a corpse rotting up the place.”

“No creature in its right mind would eat him.”

“Come on, let’s call the others.”

Chapter Text

Rayek stared up at the spinning rock sculpture, lost in his own thoughts. He hadn’t thought that when he left the Sun Village, that he would have accomplished so much. He discovered other elves! And he expanded his powers more in these last months than he had in the last five hundred years. And these new elves… they were different than the Wolfriders, and even Ekuar. They had power, and he hungered to learn.

Their Lord Voll seemed old, much older than Savah. Maybe he was even one of the firstborn… or even a High One! He could learn much from the wise old elf, if only he could get the old one to come out of his haze. He seemed even more disconnected from the real world than Ekuar had been when Rayek had found him in the Troll tunnels. But there seemed to be no evidence of mistreatment, no wounds. They lived in paradise! It made no sense.

Even this… this egg; it was amazing! So much wonder and power went into it; it must be one of the greatest things elfin kind had created.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?”

Rayek turned, to see the elf maiden that greeted them when they’d arrived… Winnowill was it? She truly was beautiful; pearl-white skin and silken black hair. If any here looked more like a High One, he would not believe it.

“Very.” He replied, forcing his eyes back to the Egg. She walked next to him and waved one hand gracefully in the direction of the sculpture.

“It stores the whole of our knowledge. It is our pride.” She leaned over to whisper in his ear. “What do you see?”

He forced his skin not to show the goose bumps he felt coming. There was a longing that had started the moment he had laid eyes on her, and grew the more he saw her. Did she feel it too? He supposed it didn’t matter too much; he had Shenshen, and that was enough… but was it really?

He shook the thoughts away and focused on the Egg. “I see… history. The what-ifs and what-could-be’s. I see power and the ability to use it to make life all you can make of it.” He turned then to look at her. “I see you. And I see that the High Ones made you their most beautiful child.”

She laughed then, a musical sound to his ears, and she smiled at him, rather amused. “But, dark one, we ARE the High Ones.”

All time seemed to stop. The High Ones? Living legends? Here? He had found… High Ones?! It seemed unreal, and yet…

But before he could say anything, ask any questions, she put a slender finger to his lips and hushed him. “I can see that you are not like your companions. You have an appreciation for the old powers that your people have forgotten. Even your rock-shaper friend.” She moved in closer, her skin brushing against his. “And you are misunderstood because of it. Taken for granted. I understand, stranger. I too am misunderstood.” She brushed his shoulder with her delicate fingers and he felt a rush of excitement flow through him. A feeling of power and pleasure.

“You—you are a healer!” He gasped.

Again, she laughed, but not quite so loudly. “You are very observant. Come; let me show you what we can truly be.” She held out her hand to him, and he was mesmerized. Slowly, his hand reached for hers, then stopped suddenly.

“How are you misunderstood?” He asked. “Healers are needed by all our kind.”

For a moment, she faltered. Her look of calm confidence trembled and she looked almost like a child. But the moment passed, and she took his hand. “We have not needed a healer in our safe haven, save for the minor scratches and bruises received by our Chosen Eight.” Something in her voice sounded almost bitter. “I have little to do, and so, become bored.”

He nodded. When the rains came in the Sun Village, there was very little need for a hunter. He did what he could, but he would never become a dirt-digger like the rest of his folk. He remembered what it was like.

“But you,” she continued, “Full of life, and fire, from the outside. You intrigue me. Tell me about your people and how you came to be here.”

He nodded. “And you. I want to hear about you and your people. Everything here is so… amazing.”

She smiled as she led him away from the Egg and down the hallway. “Yes, dark one, I will tell you. And perhaps you can help me in the end…”

* * *

Shenshen had noticed Rayek’s absence, but didn’t think too much of it. He was by nature a loner and that wasn’t going to stop anytime soon. She understood he needed some time alone, and was willing to give it to him. But when the Lord of the Gliders had finished part of the tour, and seemed to be getting tired, Shenshen and Pike insisted that they would like a room for the time they spent there. Voll complied, sending the strange winged elf to find a suitable room, while she and the Wolfrider backtracked to find out where Rayek had disappeared to, and Ekuar followed Voll.

They found him in the Egg chamber, but as Shenshen was about to greet him, Pike pulled her back and behind one of the many intricately designed pillars. She was about to yell at him, but then heard another voice in with her fellow Sun Villager. It was the pale woman from their entrance to the mountain. Shenshen risked a peak around the pillar to watch the exchange, and her heart sunk when the two walked away together.

He was enraptured. She knew that look in his eye. It was the look he’d had every time he’d looked at her sister. It was the look he’d had when Ekuar told him he could help him strengthen his power. It was the look she’d wished he’d look at her with.

She stood there for quite some time after the two left, not quite sure what to do. She felt as if it were over. What she’d had for such a short time, even if it was only really just beginning, was now over.

She was jolted out of her shock when Pike put a hand on her shoulder. She turned to look at him, and in his eyes, she saw only concern. Without having to speak she fell into his chest, and let the tears flow. There was nothing but understanding, and his tight embrace.

Chapter Text

Hoykar waited, as per Lord Voll’s orders, until that morning to go visit the strangers again. He flew gracefully through the passageways to the room that had been selected for them, and gently landed just outside the doorway. Almost unsure of what to do, he slowly poked his head inside the open archway. “Eh, hello?”

It was the aged elf who spoke. “Ah, come in, come in.”

Hoykar took a few uncertain steps in, and gasped at what he saw. Somehow, a window had been shaped in the side of the room, high up, allowing the sunlight to show through, and all around the walls were designs of nature; trees, rivers, animals, wolves especially on one side, and faded into what looked like soft mountains with little vegetation, save for strange pillar-looking plants with spikes growing out of them. The side with the forest and wolves was depicted as being night, with two moons and stars covering the sky, while the side with the strange plants was depicted as being day, with the sun shining brightly.

Hoykar saw this and felt his own peoples’ sculptures inadequate. The shaping of rock in the form of living things inside the mountain had become more and more abstract the longer they had lived here, so that in comparison, these new depictions were as real as if he were standing in the strange landscape. And the sun that shone through… it made the usually dull rock shimmer with colors that seemed to only show in the light of the day star. He hadn’t known that it could look so beautiful.

The aged elf, Ekuar, who was sitting cross-legged on one of the beds, put a finger to his bottom lip and stared, concerned. “Did I mess up your pretty carvings? I’m sorry. But the place reminded me too much of the troll tunnels and I had to—“

“No.” The Glider interrupted, trying not to sound too rude. “No it’s just… It’s wonderful.” He took another long look at it and then forced his mind back to the present. “Where are your companions?”

“Oh.” The aged elf thought a moment, and then smiled; something he seemed to do a lot. “They are, eh, outside.”

“Outside?!” Hoykar’s panic hit him immediately, but he forced it down. Though with the Gliders, only the Eight went outside, these elves were not Gliders, and so not obligated to follow those rules. He cleared his throat and tried to calmly ask how they got outside without the help of Winnowill or one of the Eight.

Ekuar chuckled and simply placed a hand on the wall. A section of the desert scene swirled and slowly opened up to the daylight and a small outshoot of mountain that served as a decent balcony. Standing there was the Wolfrider with orange hair, his wolf, and the dark-skinned beauty. They seemed to be expecting him, but if the outside of the rock swirled in such a strange way that the inside did, he wasn’t surprised.

He greeted them, and they only looked at him as if he had interrupted something. Now that he was here, he wasn’t sure what to say. “Beautiful morning, isn’t it?”

Pike nodded, but the female only seemed to look away. The fire that he had seen in her had apparently gone away. Something was amiss. He wanted to ask what was wrong, but the look he received from the Wolfrider told him not to ask. So, instead, he made a resolve to cheer her up. He couldn’t stand someone who had such a beautiful smile, to hide it away.

He walked a little to the edge, his foot hit a rock, and so he was thrown over the side. Shenshen let out a yell of concern, but he smiled, did a summersault in mid-air, and turned back to face them. “I’m sorry.” He told them. “I am much less graceful on the ground.”

Pike looked at him strangely, but Shenshen let out a short laugh. He found he liked to make her smile. It was strange, he normally went for the males, but she had a fire that he could not resist.

Her smile faded, but before he could do anything about it, the Wolfrider gave him a strange stare, and lock-sent with him. **Help me cheer her up.**

Without asking why or how, Hoykar turned to the dark-skinned beauty. “That reminds me of something that once happened to Tyldak… when he first received his wings. I wrote a song about it, would you like to hear?” She hesitated a moment, then slowly nodded. He then landed back on the ledge, cleared his throat and began.

“To soar through the sky, was his only dream
he sacrificed his arms to give himself wings
he flew through the air
all without a care
now that he had the means

To test his speed, he planned a race
None of the others could keep his pace
He beat them to the door
Dropped to the floor
And landed flat on his face.”

At that, Shenshen actually laughed. Hoykar was glad to hear it. “He wasn’t so great at landing when he got his wings. Wasn’t used to balancing on the new feet Winnowill gave him.”

Pike looked up at him. “Winnowill did that to him? How?”

Hoykar started to answer, but truthfully, he wasn’t all that sure. “It’s part of her healing I suppose. She can shape bodies too.”

The answer was thought over, and the Wolfrider seemed to accept it. Shenshen had finally turned all her attention to Hoykar instead of the landscape. “You have a beautiful voice. Could you sing more for us?”

Hoykar smiled. “For you, lady, anything.”

Chapter Text

The group had been invited to a large dinner as guest of Voll. They were seated at a long table with Lord Voll at the head. Rayek and Winnowill arrived together, and soon separated, Winnowill taking the seat at the opposite end of the table of Voll, while Rayek joined the other three in the middle, mixed in with the Chosen Eight. Hoykar took a seat across from Shenshen, and Pike and Rayek sat on either side of her.

Shenshen, though in a better mood from last night, was immediately huffy when Rayek arrived. Neither said anything to each other, but the tension was broken when Voll spoke. “We welcome our small kin from the outside, and hope to hear tales of your people.”

Pike, being a storyteller, had waited eagerly to tell the origin of the Wolfriders, but Rayek was the one who spoke first. He told of how his Mother of Memory crossed the burning waste to come to the oasis of Sorrow’s End where they have never need fear humans. He seemed to play up the safety of the village, and that bothered Pike, because he’d had that run in with the zwoots, and things weren’t as safe and comfortable as he’d made it out to be, no matter how much they believed so. He’d also overplayed his part in village protector, just a little, and left out the end when the Wolfriders arrived.

Then came Pike’s turn, and he proudly told the story of Timmain’s sacrifice and Timmorn, the first Wolfrider. But when he was done, the reactions from the others were not what he’d expected. He’d not told this story to the group he’d traveled with yet either, and from them he was surprised. Shenshen and Ekuar only looked contemplative, but Rayek and a few of the Chosen Eight seemed to be repulsed. Lord Voll himself seemed troubled, but not like the others.

Slowly he sat down. He wasn’t exactly sure what to make of the silence, but thankfully, Voll asked, “Is your… Timmorn still alive?”

To Pike, that seemed a silly question, but to the Gliders, it seemed not. He let out a nervous chuckle. “High Ones, no. Nine chiefs have passed between Timmorn and Cutter, our chief now.” The silence lingered again, and so Pike held up his glass and said, “Can I have some more of this… wine stuff?” A nearby Glider refilled his glass, and he quickly took a few big gulps. It wasn’t dreamberries, but it’d do.

For a moment, Lord Voll put a finger to his chin, in thought. Then, slowly, he looked to the long-haired beauty across the table from him. “Winnowill… is it true?”

Winnowill stood, looking carefully from Voll to Pike and back. “There is only one way to find out.” She walked over to the Wolfrider and reached out to him. “Give me your hand.” It more a demand than a request, and that made him hesitate, but both Shenshen and Hoykar were giving him a look of ‘go ahead’ so he did as she asked. He felt a strange tingling in his fingers, and then she pulled away, gently wiping her hand on her clothing. “It is, my lord. The Wolfrider has the blood of their animals running in their veins.”

Again, the silence was overwhelming. It was as though no one had any idea what to say. Pike had never felt ashamed of his bloodline, but he was starting to feel embarrassed. Then, suddenly Shenshen stood up and slammed her hands on the table. “But he’s still an elf, right?” She looked around, and everyone only seemed shocked. “He looks like us, he feels like us. He is an elf. All he has are heightened senses. And that helps him survive.” She stared at Rayek, who still had said nothing. “Rayek! We’ve traveled with him for moons! You even started to like him! What makes him any different now?”

“Death.”

The group turned to Winnowill, who calmly explained. “The blood of wolves run through your veins, little one. You are able to survive in the harsh world, but the cost is death. You will grow old, and die, just like the wolf you ride.”

Pike thought that over for a moment, and though at first it seemed a sad thing, he soon changed his mind. “Death part is life. We Wolfriders know this.” He wished now, that his tribe were here. It felt strange that he, of all his tribe, were facing this knowledge alone, and he didn’t like the responsibility. “We are born, we hunt, we howl, we live, and then we die.” It was probably a mix of the knowledge he was just given, and the wine he’d been drinking, but his head was getting even fuzzier than usual, so he sat down, and said no more.

Some of the others continued to eat, but Pike had lost his appetite. He stood up, and left the table. He thought he heard Shenshen try to send to him, but with his head muddled, and her inexperience, it was hard to tell. He walked back to their room, where Hotburr waited for him. Ekuar had shaped an opening to the outside for the wolf to come and go as it pleased, and so he greeted his wolf and decided that he would feel better if he went on a hunt.

Chapter Text

Rayek and Shenshen were the only ones left at the table once the others left. Shenshen glared at the elf next to her. “Why didn’t you stop him?”

“What?” The look on his face was of surprise.

“You should have stopped him! He’s our friend!” She crossed her arms, huffing. “You should have said something. You can’t possibly think he’s less than us just because of his wolf blood!”

Rayek frowned. “He will grow old and die. Like humans. All the Wolfriders will. He will be gone from our lives in the blink of an eye.”

“And what about now? He’s here now, and so are you. His mortality gives you no right to treat him like dung! He’s an elf just like us!”

“He’s not like us at all! He’s—“

* * *

“He’s an abomination!”

Hoykar frowned. “That’s not fair.”

The Glider in front of him sneered. “Elves live forever. We were never supposed to be part of this world. Never supposed to mingle with the creatures here. It is unnatural.”

“They did it to survive, Kureel.” He tried to speak to him calmly and rationally, but it didn’t seem to be working. “And it wasn’t as if he had a choice in the matter.”

“So, we blame Timmain.” He turned his back to Hoykar. “Either way, he and his ‘Wolfriders’ are not worthy of Blue Mountain. I forbid you to associate with him.”

* * *

“Forbid?” Shenshen’s eyes flashed with anger. Her voice volume dropped, but the words were no less fierce. “How dare you. You cannot force me to stay away. You cannot make me do anything I do not want to do.”

“You are mine.”

“No.” She moved in closer. “I was with you because I chose to be, not because you ‘won’ me or you own me.” She paused a moment. “Do you love me, Rayek?”

“What?”

“You loved Leetah. Do you love me? Or did you ‘choose’ me because I am her sister? Or maybe because you felt bad for me? Or did you just pick me because I was the only one there?!”

For a moment, he seemed very taken aback, but he soon straitened his jaw. “You followed me because you wanted me, didn’t you?”

* * *

Hoykar’s jaw dropped. “You knew?” He found the anger in him rising. “You knew the whole time? That I-- And you used me! I did everything for you!”

Kureel only held his head high. “And now all is out in the open. I forgive you for mingling with them. But our lives are better off without the elves from the outside. Especially the Wolfrider. Soon Voll will see what I do and they will be gone.”

“They have a fire, Kureel. They have something in them that I fear we lost long, long ago.” He clinched his fists. “When was the last time we talked? Just talked? When was the last time ANY of us just spoke to one another? Can you remember, Kureel?”

“We don’t need to talk anymore. We have moved beyond that. We are High Ones. We are—“

“We are nothing. I envy them, Kureel. They have opened my eyes. And I would rather be like them, than like you. Good bye.”

* * *

“We’re through.” Shenshen turned and walked away.

Chapter Text

Lord Voll stared at the woman he wished he still knew, and frowned. “Why did you do that?”

She smiled slyly, always keeping something secret behind her eyes. “They have a right to know whom they travel with, my lord.”

“And what about him?” He had attempted to sit down on the throne a few times, but every time, he felt as though he had to stand. It had to be symbolic, but he couldn’t understand how. “Must you tell him that he will die?”

“Would you have him believe otherwise?” She turned away and stared at the lavishly decorated walls. “To have him here, thinking he would be safe from the perils of the outside world, when he has only brought it with him?”

He sighed, knowing she was right. “Could you have done it more gently? Perhaps in private?”

“To achieve only the same results?”

“You humiliated him, Winnowill.” He shook a finger at her, but she didn’t seem too phased. “Death is…” He couldn’t find the words, and so he quieted. “Better he live in ignorance.”

At that, she turned to face him, her eyes burning with a secret he could not know. “Like you?”

He blinked. There was something there. Some kind of bitterness. “What do you mean?”

For a moment, he thought he saw a flicker of the Winnowill he knew, but it faded even as she turned away. “You did not listen to me before. Long ago. Why should I explain myself now?”

Lord Voll closed his eyes. Her voice had been full of resentment, and all of it at him. He thought out his words carefully, for any mistake could cost him the bond he’d tried so hard to keep going. He sighed and answered, “Because I am listening.”

Her first reaction was to glare at him, almost with hatred, but in the blink of an eye, it faded away and her eyes softened. She groped for words, and he swore he could see a tear in her eye, but before saying anything, she turned from him again.

Any anger he’d had from before faded, and his heart went out to her. Had he finally brought the old Winnowill to surface? There was some dark secret she kept all those years, something that ate away at her, and it hurt that she would never tell him what it was. He reached out for her. “Winnowill…” But she wouldn’t face him. He frowned in frustration. He had no idea what to say. **I am listening. Please, speak to me.**

Winnowill first refused to even turn around, but her demeanor slowly changed. She straitened, and collected herself, and when she turned back around to face him, she had returned to the Winnowill that had graced the mountain these last few centuries. “You wanted to keep all of us safe. And now it is my turn. I will keep you safe. I will keep all of us safe. Even from yourselves if I must.”

He could have ordered her to stay, but that would have achieved nothing. He only wished that he understood the person she had become…

Chapter Text

Cutter was becoming very annoyed, very quickly. “We’re not going to kill him.” He repeated, forcefully, leaning on the window of the clay hut, looking inside. “Not yet anyway. We wait until he wakes up, and then we ask him how he got here.”

But the elf standing next to him would have nothing of it. **He tried to kill us! We should only do the same in return!**

The chief turned his attention from the inside of the building, and sighed. “No, Greymung tried to leave us to die, and ordered Picknose to take us there.”

**They’re all the same!**

He growled. It was bad enough that the argument was happening at all, but many of the Sun Villagers had come out, curious of the strange creature that had been found, and so were all there to witness the spat. He was just glad that most of the villagers couldn’t send and only got half the message. “Think about it, Strongbow! He’s a troll! Trolls hate the sun. Why would he risk traveling across the desert? It took us three days! There must be a reason. And I’m going to wait until he wakes up and ask him.”

**He’ll lie.**

Cutter shrugged. “Maybe. But I’m betting that if he’s thirsty enough, and he doesn’t want to go back into the sun, he’ll tell us what we want to know.”

A moment later, he heard Leetah call him into the hut, and both he and Strongbow followed. His lifemate was sitting on the edge of her bed, in the relaxed state she always was after a healing, while on her sheets lay the troll they had been discussing. The troll groaned, and slowly opened his eyes. He looked around, and spotted Cutter.

“Oh. S’you.”

Cutter put on a grin and leaned on one of Leetah’s tables. “Well, well Picky. Welcome back to the land of the living.”

The troll slowly sat up, putting a hand on his head and glanced around. He looked ready to say something, but closed his mouth when he saw Strongbow with his bow in one hand, and an arrow in another. He then cleared his throat and mumbled, “So you did make it.”

“And more.” The wolf chief took a step onto the sheets and knelt down to become eye-to-eye with the troll. “Now, why don’t you tell us what you’re doing here? Failed too many times for Greymung’s liking?”

“Hmph.” He raised his head, almost proudly. “Greymung’s dead.”

Treestump, who had been sitting on a chair in the corner of the room, chuckled. “We’re gone just a few moons and you Trolls lose it, eh?”

At the comment, Picknose growled, pointing a finger at the bearded elf. “It’s because of you elves that we got soft! After you left, the Trolls from the North came, killed half of us off, enslaved the other half…” He sighed and slumped his shoulders. “They took everyone.”

“And so, you came to us for help? Is that it Picky?” Cutter scratched his head. There was something more to this than just that, and he hoped the troll would tell them. “What made you think we’d survived the little trip you sent us on?”

He crossed his arms. “Your little red-nosed friend came back through the tunnel. Him and some others.”

At the mention of Pike, Leetah spoke up. “And Shenshen? Was she with them?”

The troll sniffed. “Yeah, there was a female who looked kinda like you. And a male. Dark skin. Black hair.”

“Rayek…” She whispered. She said nothing more, but Cutter could tell she was both worried and relieved. “What happened to them? Are they safe?”

“Dung if I know.” The troll huffed. “They left. Headed out to where your ‘Holt’ used to be. Haven’t see ‘em since.”

The elves thought over the information for a bit, but soon Cutter got back to business. “Why are you here, Picknose?”

“I just came to escape. Same as you.”

“Nu uh.” Cutter shook his head. “If you were going to escape, you could have gone through at least eight eights of other tunnels. Why pick your ‘Tunnel of Golden Light?’”

At this point, some of the other Wolfriders had arrived to watch the discussion between their chief and the Troll. Picknose looked around nervously, but didn’t give in. “Don’t I get to ask some questions? Like how you survived? Or what treasures you might have found? Or… maybe whether you need that sword of yours?”

Quickly, Cutter looked from his blade and back to the Troll. He frowned. “New Moon? Why would you want it? It’s mine! My father gave it to me.”

“Your father took it from us. He was a cheat.”

“Liar!” The wolf chief lunged at the troll, blade at his throat. “You take that back! He got this sword fair and square!”

Picknose immediately changed his attitude and showed throat. “I didn’t mean anything by it.” He cleared his throat. “Not like the blade’s any use in troll hands anyway.”

The wolf chief backed off only a little. “You tell us why you’re here, or I’ll let my tribe cut you into pieces and feed you to the jackals.” The troll was scared, but didn’t say anything. “Leetah here saved your life, Picky. Shouldn’t you be grateful?” Picknose grumbled something that may have been a thank you, but it was hard to tell. Cutter thought for a moment, then smiled. He walked over to his lifemate, and pointed to her earring. “See this? There is a lot of it here. If you tell us what your purpose for coming here is, we’ll give you some of it. Trolls like gold, don’t they?”

The moment Picknose spotted the yellow metal, his eyes grew round and wide with greed, and Cutter could swear he was ready to drool. But in that moment, Cutter knew he had won.

Chapter Text

Skywise leaned back on the cave wall and absentmindedly fiddled with the stone hanging from his neck. “What do you think, Cutter? He telling the truth?”

The Wolfrider chief didn’t answer immediately. “I don’t think he’s lying about the Trolls from the North attacking. I don’t think he’d come all this way otherwise. Not even his greed is that strong.” He paused. “I believe he became king in Greymung’s place, but I think there’s more to him just being overthrown.”

“Probably lost his crown in a game of toss-stone.” Skywise added with a smirk.

Cutter smiled, but kept going with his own thoughts. “And I believe he thought he’d find us here because of Pike, Shenshen and Rayek. He certainly seems to believe that ‘we owe him’ for saving their lives. But there’s something he’s not telling us.” He looked down at his blade. “Something about New Moon.”

The frost-haired elf shrugged. “You think too much. Maybe he just wanted to get at your throat.”

“I don’t think so.” He pulled the sword from its sheath and examined it. “What could Old Picky want with my father’s sword?” He ran his fingers across the blade, then the hilt, then down to the handle. Suddenly, his expression changed to confusion. He stared intently at the sword, and then slowly pulled a small metal piece from the handle. One of the blue bands lifted up, but nothing more. Both elves looked at it closely, but they couldn’t see anything under the band.

“I don’t get it.” The stargazer scratched his head, as Cutter moved his hand holding the sword down to his side. There was a small clanking sound, and the pommel fell from the handle. Both elves knelt down and reached for it, Skywise grabbing it first. They examined the metal, noticing immediately that there was more that fell than they could see when it was in the sword. There was a long thin strip of metal coming from the sphere, jutting out at odd angles. Clearly, there was much more than Picknose had let on.

* * *

“What is it?”

The troll had stared at the pommel to New Moon with an almost unreadable expression, but he obviously knew something about what was being shown. However, “No clue. Never seen it before.”

Skywise grinned and leaned over, picking up one of the pieces of gold jewelry that had been promised to the troll. “You’re lying, Picky. One of your eyes droops just a little when you lie.” **And he lies a lot.** he added to Cutter. “Now you wouldn’t want to take advantage of our hospitality… saving you from the desert… healing you… giving you food and water… and gold… You wouldn’t just use us, would you? We don’t like being lied to…”

On cue, Nightrunner and Starjumper closed in on the troll, just a little, growling. Picknose pulled his feet in closer to his body and clutched the gold pieces he had been playing with when the elves arrived. “Well… since you put it that way…” He cleared his throat. “Have you elves ever heard of Two-Edge?” The two looked at each other, and shook their heads. “Hmph. Well, he’s a master smith, a legend to us trolls. Crazy as anything, but the best forger we’ve ever had. Made your sword there, and the key that came from it.”

Skywise held up the pommel. “Key? What’s it do?”

“It opens things.” The troll grinned. “Wonderful things! Full of gold and treasure.”

The stargazer’s eyes widened and sparkled. “Treasure?” He licked his lips. “What kind of treasure?”

“It’s mine!” The troll snapped, “Two-Edge promised it to me!”

Cutter only rolled his eyes and shrugged. “We don’t want your treasure. Keep explaining.”

After a moment of what seemed like the troll didn’t believe them, he let it slide and continued. “He came to me, after we left you in the tunnel. Told me about the key. I thought I’d lost it all with you being as good as dead. And then your friends came back, and I became king.” He stuck out his chest proudly. “I saved their lives.” He made sure to point that out at every opportunity. “Greymung would have killed them if not for me. Then those trolls from the North came, like I told you. I escaped.” He suddenly became much more serious, staring off into the distance. “They took Oddbit.” He stopped talking, and simply stared into the distance. The two elves waited, but he didn’t continue.

“Eh, Picky?” Skywise waved a hand in front of the Troll’s face, which snapped him back to the present.

Cutter raised an eyebrow, but decided not to press the matter. “And… your escape?”

The troll grunted, but went on with the explanation. “The old Master Smith warned me they were coming, and directed me to the Tunnel of Golden Light. Said I would find you here, and the key to my treasure. I found some supplies… water and food, at the exit to the tunnel. No doubt left by Two-Edge for me.”

Cutter looked down at the strange metal that had some from his sword. “Well, you found us, and the key. What did you expect to do once you got here? I’m not giving you my sword. Even a piece of it.”

Picknose stroked his beard. “I say you owe me.”

“Owe you?!” Skywise stepped foreword, annoyed. “We saved your life, troll! I say we’re even.”

**Fahr…** Cutter sent to his close friend to calm him down. He turned to Picknose. “But what made you think that he was telling the truth?”

The troll almost chuckled. “You’re holding the key aren’t you? He’s mad, but he’s no liar.” He crossed his arms. “I trust his troll-half when it comes to treasure.”

That caught Cutter’s interest. “Troll-half?”

Picknose grunted as if he’d said something he hadn’t meant to. He glanced from the elves to their wolves and frowned. “Eh, he’s said to be… half-elf, on his mother’s side.”

“That’s disgusting!” Both Cutter and Skywise were repulsed. Cutter only cringed, while Skywise stuck out his tongue.

“Disgusting indeed.” The Troll agreed. “But it’s true.” Picknose quieted, tapping on one of the gold earrings he had been given, which now lay on the table before him.

**Half elf, half troll.** Cutter sent to Skywise. **Do you know what this means?**

**One deranged elf?**

He gave his brother in all but blood a disapproving glance, but didn’t say anything. **If Picknose is telling the truth, if this Two-Edge is really half elf, then there must be other elf tribes out there, besides us and the Sun Folk.**

**How to you figure?**

**No Wolfrider in their right mind would mate with a Troll.**

Skywise cringed. **Point. But would you really want to meet a tribe that mated with Trolls?**

The two glanced over at Picknose, who seemed to have no clue there was a conversation going on between them. Cutter shook his head. **I get the feeling that this Two-Edge is one of a kind. Either way, there are elves besides us in the world.**

Skywise frowned. **Stop that.**

**Stop what?**

**Thinking. I know you.** He pointed a finger at his chief. **You’re thinking about going to find them. You have a lifemate and a cub on the way. You can’t just leave.**

**Leetah can come with. She--**

**She won’t do it and you know it.**

Cutter didn’t reply. He turned his attention to Picknose. “I have a deal for you troll. You can stay here as long as you don’t cause any trouble. When my cubs are born, I will go with you to find your treasure. And you can have it.”

For a moment, Picknose seemed excited, but it faded just as soon as it had come. “Oddbit may not last that long, elf. It’s her that I want.”

“Oddbit?” Skywise cocked his head. “She your lifemate?”

The troll nodded. “She’s mine. I won her when I became king. But Guttlecraw took her away from me. I tried to save her from the warriors, but I…” He stopped, seeming genuinely hurt. Even Skywise’s heart went out to him. “They’ll kill her. They may have already.”

As much as Cutter felt sorry for the troll, he couldn’t justify helping him. “I’m sorry Picknose. I can’t put my tribe in danger, just for your treasure and your lifemate. They wouldn’t agree to it anyway. I’m getting enough from them by just letting you stay. And I’m not leaving my lifemate here.”

Picknose huffed and quickly stood up. “And what am I supposed to do?! Sit here in a cave surrounded by elves, getting even fatter and lazier than Greymung?!”

“You may do what you wish, as long as you harm no one in the village, or take anything that doesn’t belong to you.” Cutter sighed, knowing this was not what the troll wanted. He frowned, almost regretting what he was about to say. “When you saw Pike, Shenshen and Rayek, they were alive.” The troll nodded. “They were supposed to return here in one turn of the season, with or without Rayek. They have been gone for six moons. If they don’t return in another six, we have to go look for them anyway. You may come with us if you like, but that’s all I can offer you.”

Picknose obviously didn’t like the deal, but he nodded. After all, what other choice did he have?

Chapter Text

Fly fly fly! Stay away from flyhighthings. Hide from longhair mean-Highthing. Must find softpretty bushyhead Highthing and roseynose tipsy Highthing and sharpdark grumpy Highthing and happy rockmover Highthing! Must find must find.

Fly fly. Hide behind rock. Fly when others leave. Zip zip. Fly. In and out, and around. Back and forth and—

“Preserver!”

Eep! Found! Fly away, avoid. No flighhighthings! Through tunnel. Around bridge. Fast fast. Lose flyhighthing. But still there! Not good not good no—Eep!

“Why didn’t you obey me?”

Found! Caught! Use claws. Scratch.

“Ow! Preserver, I order you to stop, now!”

Stop. Look. Highthing was one from outside. But not softpretty bushyhead Highthing or roseynose tipsy Highthing or sharpdark grumpy Highthing or happy rockmover Highthing. One of first flyhighthings come in long time. Can trust?

“Acornleaf need find other Highthings. No capture by flyhighthings. Acornleaf scratch. You let go!”

Highthing confused. Maybe trust? “I have no wish to capture you.” Highthing let go. “I only wanted to know where your kin went. I have not seen them since we arrived.”

Want to trust. Must find other Highthings. “Highthing help Acornleaf find other Highthings?”

“Other Highthings? You mean Shenshen and Pike?”

“Yes, bushyhair Highthing and roseynose Highthing, yes yes!”

Highthing look away. “I do not know where Pike is. But Shenshen was just in her room, I thought. I was just going to go see her.”

Good good! “Acornleaf come!” Fly into softpretty hair. “Acornleaf hide. Flyhighthing find bushyhair Highthing. Go go!”

Flyhighthing fly. Through ways and around ways. Then, Bushyhair Highthing! Flyhighthing fly down. “Shenshen!”

Bushyhair Highthing not happy. “Hoykar! Pike is gone! He left the mountain! I wish to look for him. Can you open the Door for me?”

“Only Winnowill can open Door.” Bad. Bad longhair Highthing. “But I can take you down on my hawk if you’d like.”

“Talk talk talk.” Fly to Bushyhair Highthing. “No talk! Help Acornleaf!”

Bushyhair Highthing look sorry for Acornleaf. “What’s wrong little one?”

“Longhair Highthing cage Petalwing. Cage others! Acornleaf free. Find Bushyhair Highthing and roseynose Highthing and sharpdark Highthing and rockmover Highthing! Get help!”

“Winnowill caged the Preservers? Why?” Flyhighthing good to trust! Look to Bushyhair Highthing.

“Who knows?” Bushyhair Highthing look around. “But there is certainly more going on here than we first thought. We need to find Pike.”

“Nooo! No stray! Help Acornleaf!” Bad Highthings not help. Need help.

“We will take you to Pike, outside. And then we can get the other Preservers.” Flyhighting good idea. Get more. Get others. All come and save others.

Bushyhair Highthing take Flyhighting hand. “Come on, Hoykar, let’s go.”

Chapter Text

His heart pounded. He gripped the thick fur as the muscles of his mount rippled beneath him. The steady beat of the wolf. The panicked sounds of the doe. The biting winds of the snow-filled air.

This was the Now. When in the now, there was nothing else; just the deer, the wolf and the elf.

Nearing his prey, the elf reared up on his mount, gripping his weapon tightly. He narrowed his eyes, looking for an opening, and when one was spotted, he let the spear fly. Blood. The deer went down. It was not a clean kill, but that was ended easily when they closed in.

Pike pulled his weapon from the corpse and let Hotburr have first taste of their kill. Although the thrill of the hunt was refreshing, he was not in the mood to eat just yet. His eyes drifted up towards the looming figure of Blue Mountain in the distance. He didn’t like having to think, let alone as much as he had been on this strange quest. All he wanted was a tree to sleep, a tribe, and some dreamberries. What he had now was strange trees without a shelter, an abandoned cave, a mountain of elves who shunned him, and friends who didn’t seem to understand. And a secret.

His eyes fell then on Hotburr who had looked up from his meal, wurfed, and then trotted over, dropping a bit of meat at Pike’s feet. The elf broke into a smile. Hotburr knew what was important, and so did the wolf blood. He grabbed the scrap and started chewing as he cut up the kill. The wolf wouldn’t reject him. He knew who he was; a Wolfrider! He would always be one, and he couldn’t imagine being otherwise.

But…

He expected that this must be what it was like to be Cutter; always thinking. Pike could easily stay in the forest with the Preservers or in the cave that they had denned in at the start of the white cold, but he had made a promise to Leetah to watch over her sister.

But could one watch over someone who didn’t wish it?

What he wouldn’t do for some dreamberries right now… even some of the Gliders’ ‘wine’ stuff would do. His head felt so heavy he could hardly hold it up.

The wind around him grew stronger and the once gentle snowflakes started to sting any exposed skin. It was going to be a cold night. He packed up what he could carry, mounted Hotburr, and headed towards the cave by the waterfall.

Chapter Text

Hoykar couldn’t help smiling to himself as the delicate browned hands gripped his waist tightly. Her face showed no fear; far from it, but her hold on him said otherwise. But, despite any fear she may have from falling off the moving bird, she seemed to like flying.

He turned his attention back to the ground beneath them, and scanned the visible area. So far, no luck finding the Wolfrider, and the snow and wind was getting worse. He was about to consider turning back when, “There! Hoykar, that has to be him!”

Down below, through the hazy air, a small figure could be seen against the white backdrop of snow. As they descended, an elf and wolf were easily distinguished. Hoykar turned and lifted his passenger, who squeaked in surprise, but calmed when she saw they were slowly floating off the bird, and down towards the ground.

Pike had stopped when he’d spotted them, and waited for the two to land. He’d said nothing, but it didn’t seem like he needed to. The moment Shenshen’s feet touched the snow-covered ground, she ran to the orange-haired elf and embraced him tightly.

“I’m sorry, Pike!” There were no tears, but a sob escaped her voice. “I should have said something! I don’t care if you live a hundred years or a thousand; you’re an elf, same as us!”

Hoykar approached the two and placed a hand on the Wolfrider’s shoulder. “I too apologize. I cannot say that the thought of elves growing old and dying eases my mind, but you live life as well as the rest of us. Perhaps more because of your… differences.” He smiled, hoping he didn’t sound offensive, but Pike didn’t seem to care. He hugged the two of them tightly. “Thanks.”

When the three broke apart, Pike wiped his eyes while Hoykar scanned the skies for his bird. “Come back with us.” Shenshen requested. “One of the Preservers said that the others were being held captive. We’ve sent it into the forest to get more of its kind while we searched for you. Winnowill’s up to something.”

But before Pike could reply, Hoykar had to shake his head. “I fear Windcry has flown back to the mountain.” He sighed. “He knows he should not be out in such weather.” He cursed how sheltered both the birds and his people had become. “And neither should we.” He rubbed his arms as a chill struck him.

Pike motioned for the two to follow him. “The cave is closer than the mountain is. We can wait out the storm there.”

Almost as if responding to the statement, the wind picked up, and the snow swirled around them. The three elves and Hotburr trudged the short distance to the old cave near the waterfall and moved as far away from the entrance as they could. It was not warm, but it was better than being slave to the wind.

Shenshen grabbed for some of the old furs they had left in the cave when they first left for Blue Mountain, and covered Hoykar in it, and then herself. Pike, after shuffling some things around, turned to Hoykar. “Are you a rock shaper?” The Glider, almost surprised at the question, shook his head. He still wasn’t used to being around people who hadn’t known him even a season yet. Pike sighed. “Then we’ll have to hope the wind doesn’t blow into the cave too much.”

Shenshen sat down on one of the juts of rock Ekuar had made, and wrapped as much spare clothing and furs as she could around her. Hoykar moved next to her to offer warmth.

“Brr, Pike. Will it end soon?” She asked.

Pike shrugged with a smile. “Sometimes. Sometimes not. But it will end.”

“Just like the sand storms in Sorrow’s End.” She shivered, “Only cold… so cold.”

The Wolfrider’s grin grew wider. “There is one way to keep warm during a storm.” The two others looked at him with curiosity. Pike moved towards Shenshen and held his hand out to her. She took it, and he pulled her close, gently biting her neck, and pulling her hair out of the gold rings that held her hair up.

Hoykar suddenly felt out of place. He felt his face get hot, and his eyes drifted from the different corners of the small room to the exit and back again. When his eyes fell again on the two, they were looking at him with eyes full of comfort and want, and an inexperienced sending came to him. **Join us?**

With only a moment’s hesitation, the Glider moved to them and the three began to create their own warmth.

Chapter Text

Ekuar finally gave in and closed up the hole to the outside in their chambers. Though it provided light, the snow and wind were making a mess of the place. For good measure, he shaped a sun in the hole’s place and smiled. Soon the sun would return and show the storm it should never have come.

But the others had not come back. The poor Wolfrider had been gone some time, and the lady Brownskin had left with their Glider friend to find him. His mind was still addled from those long years in the troll tunnels, but he knew a blizzard when he saw one, and he remembered the bodies of those lost in one so long ago.

Picking up his walking stick, the old elf stood and shuffled out of their chambers and into the mountain proper. He seemed to remember his way around, keeping his eye out for any passing elf. Perhaps they would know if his friends had returned. Or, if he found Brownskin first, he could ask him. But any time he thought he saw one of the Gliders, they would disappear around a corner. Perhaps it was his imagination, but it seemed they did not like him.

It didn’t take long before he found his way to Egg’s Chamber. At least here was someone who would not fly away. Ekuar happily moved in front of the elf seated in front of the massive spinning egg and said, “Hello.” But the expression on Egg didn’t change; his eyes still focused on the stone behind Ekuar.

The old elf thought perhaps then that he were in a trance. He had seen Brownskin do it more than once. So, this time, he greeted the elf a different way. **Hello… eh, Egg?** But all his mind touched was emptiness. But… it wasn’t death it was just… emptiness.

Cautiously, Ekuar placed his hand on the seated elf’s chest, and quickly pulled away; Colder than the stone around them. When they had gone on the tour, it had been said that Egg spent all hours on the floating sculpture in the center, so Ekuar turned to face the stone. Using a mixture of simple sight and the power he possessed, he stared into the spinning shapes and designs, and what he saw frightened him. He had to find Brownskin.

He turned, only to find the tall pale one with long black hair… Winnowill? She was smiling at him, but the look in her eyes was not kind. “Marvelous, is it not?” She waved her hand delicately at the Egg. “It has been here since Blue Mountain was created. It is our greatest creation.”

With care, the old elf replied, “But to create this, you lose one of your own.”

She chuckled. “He is not dead.”

“No, but neither was I when Brownskin found me in the troll tunnels. It is the same thing.” He pointed at her. “I will tell him. And he will agree.”

“No, you will not.”

Pain filled Ekuar’s head. His body ached, and all strength left him. He tried to send to Rayek, but the more he tried, the more he hurt. In moments it was over, and Ekuar fell into a dreamless sleep.

Chapter Text

Lord Voll sat, as he had done year after year, at the head of the long table while the various plates of food were being picked at by some of the Eight. Winnowill sat across from him, as she always had. The food was as it always had been. Everything was the same as it had ever been. The only noticeable difference was that one of the newcomers, the brown-skinned Rayek also sat at the table, close to his beloved Winnowill… but that’s not what was bothering him.

It was the silence. Not one of the elves at the table said a word as they ate. No gossip about the day, no discussion on how the food was, no comments about the others’ appearances. It had been like this every night for hundreds, perhaps thousands of years, and it had never bothered him before. He had never noticed it before… before last night, when the Wolfrider and the brown skinned beauty had joined them. They had chatted, and told stories and laughed and joked, even the quiet one, Rayek.

How long had it been since any of the Gliders had spoken so much to another?

In comparison, it seemed lonely… so dead. The eating of a meal, which should be a sign of life, became solemn and cold. When had it become this way? Was it a slow process? So slow that no one had taken the time to notice? But now that it had been brought to his attention, he longed for the chatter. He turned to Rayek and asked curiously, “Where are your companions?”

The Sun Villager hesitated a moment, but before he could speak, Tyldak answered for him. “I saw the Wolfrider leave the mountain, my lord, after dinner last night. He has not returned.”

“Leave? Why?” He looked to his followers, but none replied. He didn’t understand. He had offered them a haven from the outside world, and still they returned to it. Especially in the season of death that it was… it was madness. “He could die out there.”

Winnowill stood, grabbing everyone’s attention. “He is meant to die. He knows this.” She turned slightly from him, making a movement with her arm gracefully, in the direction of Door. “He wishes to spare us the sight of watching as he withers away.”

Voll frowned. He would not turn the Wolfrider away simply because he was mortal, but he could not force him to stay either. With a sigh, he nodded, but asked, “What about the others?”

“I thought I saw Hoykar leave with one of others.” Aroree supplied, “But I couldn’t see who. Perhaps he took them both.”

Again, Voll was confused. “Why would they leave? And one of my own?”

This time, Rayek commented quietly, “To find Pike.”

While it was a very good reason, Kureel seemed to think otherwise. “Hoykar wouldn’t be foolish enough to leave during a snow storm.” He huffed, but seemed unsure. “They would have turned back.”

The dark-skinned elf stood suddenly, and stared hard at Aroree. “Did you see Ekuar go with them?” The tone in his voice was forceful, but worried. Aroree was obviously taken aback at his forceful question, but only managed to say that she didn’t know.

Without a moment’s hesitation, the elf flew out of the room. Whether it be Rayek’s presence and intense determination or simple curiosity, nearly all at the table, including Voll himself followed. Rayek flew fast, but his unfamiliarity with the passageways allowed the Gliders to keep pace with him, until he hit the aerie, and he stopped.

Across the large room, the opening to the outside was a wall of solid white. The wind howled so loud that if any of them were to speak, nothing would be heard. Rayek’s eyes darted from the storm to the nests build just inside, as the others who had followed him did the same. Finally, it was Kureel who pointed out what they had all noticed. **Hoykar’s bird is here.**

Kiryll, one of the Gliders who tended the giant birds, pointed out, **His bird returned long ago.**

Almost in a panic, Rayek confronted him. **Was anyone with Hoykar when he returned?**

The Glider, surprised, shook his head. **The bird returned alone.**

Voll’s heart went out to the young elf, but while the Lord thought there was little to be done, Rayek looked around frantically, as if an idea would hit him soon. He suddenly began to fly towards the opening, but a gentle hand held him back. **You cannot save them, Rayek.** Winnowill sent forcefully. **You will only put yourself in danger going out there now.**

Voll agreed. **If they are with Hoykar, he may very well be capable of keeping them safe. He is one of the Chosen Eight.** But Rayek still looked pained, so Voll added, **When the storm is over, I will send the rest of the Eight out to search for them. But you will be no use to them if you are lost yourself.**

Winnowill took Rayek’s hand. **Come, they will be fine. Do not fret.** With a look of defeat, the Sun Villager allowed Winnowill to lead him away. It was a strange connection the two had made in their short time together, but perhaps the outsider would be able to bring back the Winnowill Voll had lost. He sighed and brushed the thought from his mind.

Voll stood in the aerie for a short time, looking around. It had been too long since he had been here. Too long since he had seen any light at all that did not come from a candle. For a moment, his eyes fell on the oldest of the great birds, Tenspan. Though through a fog, he could remember a time when he rode the backs of this bird’s ancestor, and saw the whole world spread out like a many-colored cloak far below him. But the past, and the outside world…

He looked to the opening of the aerie, where cruel blasts of wind threw snow and ice on the mountain walls. No, the past was nothing more than memories. This world was harsh and unforgiving, and would always be so. Lord Voll turned away and returned to the comfort and safety of the mountain.

Chapter Text

She had managed to calm the dark stranger down, but he was still in no mood to be consoled. Winnowill knew that anything she said would only make it worse, so she took her leave from the Egg Chamber as he stared into the spinning creation. She had not expected such a fierce protection of the old elf, but all was not lost yet.

Through the winding passageways, down the secret halls into her own private chambers. Only once inside did she allow her defenses to drop. Slowly, she walked to the flat stone platform where the old rock-shaper lay, circling him.

He was terrible to look at; old, shriveled, and downtrodden. She sneered at him, but it did not last. How hard would it be to change him? He was a Firstborn; possibly as old as even Voll. How would he have looked if he’d been given the chance to grow? To be as tall and elegant as he should have been? And what color hair would he have had? Long and brown… or a snowy white, like Voll?

She held out a hand, nearly touching the old elf’s remaining hand. She had been able to draw out appendages from flesh before. Tyldak was a prime example of this… but would it work if there was little left to draw from? Wings she created from the hands that were there… was it possible to create from nothing? Should she try?

The temptation lingered. Her healers’ powers longed for a challenge; a true meaning. If she could do this… he could be a magnificent elf. He should have been. He will be.

She reached out, and fixed her attention on the elf. Her mind saw Voll in his place. She could heal him. She wanted to. But the image faded, only to be replaced by a twisted vision of a half-troll, screaming, crying. She pulled away, shaking her head, hoping to rid herself of the image, but it did not go away. She didn’t want to see, didn’t want to know.

Fearfully, she ran, her heart beating faster than was healthy. She reached her bed, and threw herself on the pillows, sobbing. She couldn’t heal him even if she wanted to. She was too far gone. Too far…

“Poor poor Winnowill…” The eerie voice echoed off the cave walls. “Haunted by a secret she cannot tell…”

The long-haired elf wiped her eyes and looked up to the ceiling. She had to collect herself, or all would be lost. “Two-Edge… You must not interfere.”

“Where are his bones…. My father’s bones…?”

She did not answer.

Chapter Text

By morning, the storm had ceased, giving way to a cloudless sunny day. Shenshen was glad to see the sun after so long, but it was still far too cold. She bundled up in as many of the leftover furs as she could, despite Pike’s insisting that she looked like a puffed-up owl. She didn’t know what an owl was, but she knew a tease when she heard it. Taking a handful of the cold snow stuff, she packed it together (it held much better than sand could have) and threw it at the Wolfrider. Her aim, however, left much to be desired, and she missed, hitting Hoykar square in the back. He retaliated in the same manner, and the morning turned into an all-out game of who could get the other the wettest with snow. Even Hotburr joined in, snapping at the clumps of snow as they whizzed through the air.

When they had calmed down, they made a plan to start walking back to the mountain, as they had no bird and Hoykar couldn’t carry the both of them. They had told Pike of Acornleaf and its information on Winnowill, and he was concerned for the Preservers, but couldn’t see a reason as to why she would keep them captive. None-the-less, they made their way back over the field and back into the forest.

Sometime during their walk, Pike broke the silence with a question to Hoykar. “Do you have a tree-shaper?”

Hoykar gave him a confused look. “Tree-shaper?”

“You have rock-shapers in the mountain; do you have anyone with the ability to shape trees and plants?”

The Glider stopped, and thought back. Finally, in a light almost dreamy voice, he replied, “No… no. I remember though… we had one… a long time ago. His name was… Wyr… Wyrren.” He paused another moment. “He was Egg’s brother, I think. But he left us when the mountain was still young. I can’t remember why.”

When he was finished talking, Shenshen questioned Pike as to why he had asked. With a cheek-to-cheek grin, he replied, “Just wondering if we could have dreamberries… We haven’t had any since we left the Troll tunnels… I brought some seeds with me.”

Shenshen, who had never had quite a love for the berries, looked at the Wolfrider in shock, “Where did you get those?!”

He grinned. “I always keep some with me… just in case.”

“In case of what?” She huffed, slightly amused, “I think you love those berries more than anything else.”

Pike was about to reply, when the three picked up a frantic sending from above. Shenshen shielded her eyes from the sun as she looked for the source. “It’s Rayek.”

Confused at the sound of his panic, they called him down. With him came Tyldak and Kureel. When he arrived, his first question was, “Where is Ekuar?”

But three had no answer for him. “Is he missing?” Shenshen was concerned, for she knew what Winnowill had done with the Preservers… but she wouldn’t do such a thing to another elf… would she?

“He’s not replying to any of my sendings.” Rayek seemed almost more concerned than when Cutter had kidnapped Leetah. His eyes were wide with panic, and his breath was sharp and quick. “He didn’t go with you?”

Shenshen shook her head. “No, he was in our rooms when I left. When Hoykar and Acornle—“

She was stopped suddenly when Hoykar put a hand on her shoulder. “When we went to find Pike.” After a moment, he added in a lock-send, **Tyldak is indebted to Winnowill**

Rayek either didn’t notice the interruption of Shenshen’s explanation, or didn’t care. More than likely, he’d worked himself up so much that something he would have detected immediately before slipped his notice now. He insisted that Ekuar wasn’t in the Mountain or he would have answered the sendings, and he must be out here. “We must continue to search.” He pressed, not waiting for an answer before once again taking to the air, with Tyldak to follow him.

Kureel stayed behind, staring at the group, but said not a word.

“What about the Preservers?” Shenshen whispered to Pike and Hoykar. They had made a promise to return for them, but it looked like it was a promise they would have to break.

Hoykar shook his head. “Your companion’s safety comes first, does it not?”

Feeling foolish for even considering choosing the small winged creatures over Ekuar, she lowered her head. “Of course it does. I just…” She frowned, but didn’t finish the thought. Pike put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

“We will come back for them later. For now, Ekuar must be found.”

She nodded and the group took a ride on Kureel’s bird, though he seemed to detest the task, back to Blue Mountain and the three switched to Hoykar’s mount. They searched the surrounding land until nightfall, even taking the time to speak with the humans about their companion, no matter how much Pike disliked the idea. The other Chosen Eight took turns searching with them throughout the day, and some even offered to help search the mountains interiors. But all to no avail. When they all returned, well past moonrise, even Rayek had given up hope.

Ekuar was declared dead.

Chapter Text

Rayek had been staring at the Egg for days now. Winnowill had told him that it kept the history and the future of all elfin kind in its shells, but he had not yet made much sense of the spinning symbols. Every time he thought he’d seen something worthwhile, the recognition flitted away like a passing moth. If this was what the High Ones used to see the world and keep their secrets, then he would learn to read it. He would learn what the High Ones knew, and he would become as a High One himself.

And then no one would leave him again.

He sighed and looked away, rubbing his eyes. How long had it been since he’d slept? How long had he been staring at the Egg? How many days since…

His thoughts were interrupted, thankfully, by the sound of shuffling feet behind him. He knew who it was without turning around, but said nothing to the visitor. The shuffling stopped and a breath escaped the new arrival’s lips. A soft brown hand brushed his shoulder.

“You’ll work yourself to death, Rayek.” Shenshen pressed gently on his arm, making him turn to face her. “Can we talk?”

“What is there to say?”

His eyes stared at her intensely, causing her to flinch from his gaze. She turned away from him and rubbed her arms as though suddenly cold. “It’s not your fault, you know.”

“No.” He cleared his throat. “He must have gone out to find you and that… Wolfrider.” The contempt in his voice was not hidden in the least, but he no longer cared.

“That’s not fair.” Shenshen frowned, but her usual spark of anger had been dulled the last few days. After a moment of breath, she calmed herself. “Rayek, I want to leave Blue Mountain.”

He had been prepared for an argument of some kind, but not that. He turned to face her, but could find little words to say. She only stared at him, making it even harder. Finally, whispering, he asked, “Why?”

“It’s smothering in here; can’t you feel it?” But she didn’t wait for his answer. “I want to return to the Sun Village.”

“But… it is safe here.” He argued. “We have everything we could want here! They are High Ones! They could teach us so much! We could have everything!”

Her eyes slid close and a bitter tone lined her words. “Everything except freedom.” When she re-opened her eyes, Rayek felt as though he should say something, though he wasn’t sure what she was referring to.

“No one is taking your freedom.”

She sighed. “Any excuse I have found to step outside this mountain since we lost Ekuar has been met with some reason why I shouldn’t go out. Or one of the Eight offering to get whatever I wanted for me. Or some story about what happened to the last elf to leave the mountain. Or a harsh reminder about what happened during the snowstorm. They’re paranoid, and we take the punishment for it. Rayek, don’t you see? As long as we’re here, our freedom is gone.”

Rayek frowned. He hadn’t noticed, but then, he hadn’t tried to leave. “Why would you want to go outside anyway?”

“I miss the sun! Don’t you?” She let out a sigh. “Listen, Winnowill has…”

As if on cue, the pale long haired elf entered the room, and Shenshen immediately closed up. She stared at the healer with a contempt that Rayek had not expected from her. Winnowill, however, either didn’t notice or didn’t care. She walked up and brushed a hand through his hair, and he felt his tense muscles relax. She was amazing.

“Have I interrupted something?”

Shenshen huffed, but didn’t answer. “Rayek, Pike says the New Green is coming. Hoykar has said the snow is starting to melt. We’re going to leave soon. Please come with us.”

Winnowill glanced from Rayek to Shenshen and back. “Leaving?”

“They want to return to the Sun Village.” Rayek looked away from them both and back to the Egg. For a moment, he thought he saw something, and had an urge to leave the mountain with them, but it faded just like all the others had.

The healer caressed his arm. “Why would you wish to leave this place? We can teach you everything you’ve wanted to know.” She leaned in, her lips almost touching his ear, and he felt himself wishing that he would stay with her always. “And remember your rock-shaping friend…”

A sharp pain at the mention of Ekuar dashed any thoughts of leaving the mountain. He looked at Shenshen almost pleadingly. “Stay here. The Gliders are High Ones. They are what we were meant to be! The world outside has weakened us. Surly you see that?”

Shenshen hesitated before answering. She glanced at Winnowill, who only smiled back at her, and then sent to Rayek. **There’s something more going on in this Mountain. I don’t trust your new friend.**

Suddenly annoyed at the comment, he became defensive. “You don’t understand. Take your Wolfrider and leave! I will stay, and live with the High Ones!”

Shenshen lowered her eyes. “Pike and I will leave tomorrow. We will let Leetah know what you have chosen.” Without waiting for a reply, she walked away with a parting send, **Be careful.**

Rayek stared in the direction she had left long after she had gone from view. After a while, he turned back to the long-haired beauty. She was still smiling in her sly way, and let her eyes drift from Rayek to the Egg. “Your friends don’t understand you. Let them go. We will appreciate you and your powers.”

“But they will be left to journey alone.” He tried to force himself not to think about what may have happened to Ekuar. During their journey here, he had been essential to their survival. Would they make it without him?

Winnowill again brushed a hand through his hair, and a warm feeling ran through his body. “Leave them to their fate. The Wolfrider was built for the harsh world; there he should stay.”

His head full of conflicting emotions, Rayek wasn’t sure what to think. He turned again to the Egg. “Leave me.”

Winnowill bowed. “As you wish.” She seemed to glide as she left, turning once to give him a smile before disappearing down a passageway.

Again alone, Rayek focused his energies on the egg. Perhaps he would receive his answers there. He stared at the spinning stone symbols, but nothing came to him. Finally, almost needing someone objective to talk to, he turned to the silent elf that took his name from the thing he created. Egg said nothing, and made no motion to show that he were not simply a statue himself. Winnowill had said that he had become one with the Egg, but certainly he was not lifeless.

Rayek tried to touch minds with the elf, hoping that somehow he could learn how to read the great sculpture from its creator, but though he was sure he’d touched something, there was no answer. Again, he tried with more force, and suddenly images flooded his mind. Flashes of a time before he was born; creation of the Egg from the inner shell; images he did not understand, but what stood out most of all, and lingered in his mind’s eye long after he’d broken contact and the images faded: Ekuar on a stone slab, covered in wrapstuff.

Chapter Text

Lord Voll sat upon the great throne, looking down on two of the elves that had joined them in their mountain. The Wolfrider, Pike, stood leaning on the weapon he was named after, but Voll did manage to notice his canine mount was absent. The other, the dark skinned Shenshen, stood closer to Voll than her companion, and looked up at him ready to state her case.

“We wish to leave this mountain, Lord Voll, and return to the outside world.”

There was a hushed murmur from the Gliders in the room, and even Voll could not hide the surprise in her statement. “Leave? Why?” The recent happenings with the old rock-shaper they had arrived with should have convinced them that they should always stay. This new development only confused Voll even more.

Shenshen looked back to Pike for re-assurance, and then replied. “We wish to return home. We have friends and family there. That and… This mountain is not home.”

“Hotburr refuses to stay inside more than a few days.” Pike chimed in. “He belongs outdoors. So do I.”

It felt as though the reminder of the Wolfrider’s mortality was more painful for Voll than it seemed to be for Pike, as strange as that sounded. But it only strengthened the Lord’s resolve. “I must insist that you stay. You have more than you need here.”

But Shenshen shook her head. “I made a promise to my sister. We must return before the dry season. We must leave.”

Not wanting to impose on the younger elves, after all, he did not have the right to force them to stay; he sighed deeply and waved his hand. “May I request one of the Eight take you as far as can be seen from this mountain?”

She smiled. “Hoykar has already offered, Lord Voll. We would be honored to have his company.”

Hoykar, who had been floating next to the throne the entire time, flew next to the younger elves and bowed. “If you allow it, my lord.”

Before Lord Voll could reply, there was a yelling from the entrance to the room. The dark skinned Rayek flew in at top speed. “Shenshen, Pike!” When he spotted the two, he lowered himself to the ground, and grabbed Shenshen by her shoulders. “Ekuar’s alive! I’ve seen it!” It was hard to tell if the elf was thrilled or panicked as he panted the words, but he seemed very sure of it.

His companions, however, seemed rather surprised. “What? How? Where?”

“Egg! It was Egg.” Unable to form words, Rayek resorted to an open sending. An image of a wrapstuffed elf in a cave room Voll didn’t recognize. The feeling of certainty that the elf was in fact their missing companion was very apparent in the sending.

***

Winnowill’s head shot up as she received an open sending of her very chambers, spotlighting her guest. She knew the source to be Rayek, and her eyes opened in horror when she realized that Voll might have seen it.

Before she could reach out and block the sending, it was over. She had little time to act.

***

In reaction to the image, Voll stood, looking down at the three elves. “Impossible.” He said with a frown, “There have been no Preservers in this mountain in an age’s time. It cannot be your friend.”

But the statement seemed to confuse them more than the sending had confused Voll. Shenshen took a step forward. “They were in the mountain when we arrived. We brought them with us.”

But Voll would have nothing of it. “I thought only Winnowill were capable of such mockery.”

***

She ran up the stairs, cursing her inability to fly like her brethren. Something was going terribly wrong; she could feel it in her gut. A panic hit her as she hoped dearly that she would reach him in time.

***

Voll was about to reprimand the newcomers for lying to him, when a Glider in the room, Araell, a tall thin elfin lady, robed in white spoke up.

“It’s true, my lord” She looked to some of her companions who also nodded. “I remember the Preservers, but… they were gone so quickly that… I thought them a dream.”

Hoykar as well backed up their story. “There is a forest near the mountain, Lord, where many Preservers dwell. We were going to retrieve them when we were out in the snowstorm.”

Voll looked from his Eight defending them, to the newcomers and the woman who had spoken for them. They could not all be lying. Perhaps… perhaps there was some truth to this. Perhaps…

“Show them to me.”

***

Never had she run so hard, so fast. Many greeted her on her way, some even asked her questions, but she ignored them all. She was almost there. She strode into the throne room, only to find it completely empty.

Never, since its completion, had the throne room been vacant.

A chill of dread ran through her. There was only one other place, and the sudden sendings from throughout the mountain confirmed her fears.

Voll was in the Aerie.

***

Voll sat uneasily on his mount, Tenspan. How long had it been? Would he be as adept as he had been when he once led the Eight on their hunts? Gripping the harness, he motioned for the great bird to take to the skies, and found it came back as easily as breathing. A once-lost joy returned to his heart, and he wondered why he had ever given it up.

From the Aerie, his followers sent sendings to him of joy and amazement, but one among them, from somewhere further in the mountain, was concerned, warning, and almost frantic.

**Winnowill. Worry not. I have two of my Eight with me; Hoykar and Aroree.** He sent her the feeling of joy he felt, but it didn’t seem to stop her. **I will return, my love.**

She continued to protest, but there was little that could be done about her fears until he returned. So instead, he turned his attentions to Hoykar, mounted with Pike and Shenshen. **Lead on.**

***

Voll would not heed her warnings. She panted as she reached the open air, pushing her way through the others who stood on the edge cheering, the fools. But she saw only three hawks in the distance.

It was too late.

Chapter Text

Pike breathed a sigh of relief as soon as his feet touched solid ground. The ground, the trees, they were his home, not the sky. Shenshen, however, seemed to enjoy flight more and more each time they traveled this way. A cheeky grin shown brightly on her face as she joined the rest of them.

Voll landed last, floating slowly and cautiously through the branches just behind Aroree, who watched her Lord carefully. He landed well, but had an air of stern curiosity to him. Pike was sure he hadn’t believed them about the Preservers, and was now surveying the forest for any sign of them.

On the trees hung the webbing that covered most of the living space in the forest, but the bug-like creatures were nowhere to be found. Pike considered calling out for them, but it turned out there was no need. As quick as a bee, an orange skinned Preserver, sporting sky-blue wings flew straight to Hoykar, fluttering in front of his nose.

“Nastybad flyhighthing! Leave Acornleaf during big snow! Break promise! Not come back to save others! Bad highthing!”

Voll’s expression had changed immediately to one of pure shock, almost to the point of disbelief. “You… you did not lie.”

At the Lord’s voice, Acornleaf turned to face him. It flew to him with a curious look. “Old old Highthing help? Save others?”

Gently, the elder held out a hand, on which the Preserver landed. He looked the creature over as though trying to convince himself that he was not dreaming. “Save what others, little one? From whom?”

As quickly as Acornleaf had flown in, another Preserver of purple skin zipped past the group landing next to its kin. “Talk talk talk! Berrybuzz say go! Highthings here now. Acornleaf show way to Petalwing!”

The two Preservers started arguing; quickly reaching a pitch that caused all elves to wince. The squabble didn’t last long, however, ending in the orange Preserver to hang its head, mumbling. “Acornleaf do.”

Voll, though amazed, also looked confused. Shenshen took a moment to explain how they had found Acornleaf wandering the mountain asking for help, and they had promised to save its kin from Winnowill.

“Winnowill?” Lord Voll turned to stare at the mountain from a gap in the trees. “Why would she capture the Preservers and keep them hidden from me?”

None of the elves had an answer to that, and so they were left in silence. Finally, as if his patience had worn thin, Rayek snapped, “Enough! Ekuar must be here somewhere! You, Preserver! Where is he?”

Acornleaf shook its head. “Not seen rockmover Highthing in longtime.”

Rayek’s eyes then switched to Berrybuzz, but received the same. “No Highthings come since you.”

“He must be near! He was in wrapstuff!”

Pike frowned. “Think, Rayek! The image was from a cave, right?”

Shenshen nodded. “He must be inside Blue Mountain somewhere.”

The three looked to Lord Voll and the two Chosen, but they had no answers. “It is not a place I recognized.” Voll admitted, and the other two agreed with him.

“And the only Preservers in the Mountain are in the hands of…” Hoykar didn’t finish the sentence, but Rayek and Voll spoke for him, both in disappointed voices as they gazed sadly at the Mountain. “Winnowill.”

The thought sunk in to all as the silence lingered.

Shenshen turned suddenly to the Preservers. “Acornleaf, do you know how to find the other Preservers?”

“Yes. Acornleaf knows.”

“Where are they?”

“Deep dark place. Longhair Highthing’s sleep place. Hidey place. Bigthing place.”

At the last comment, Pike’s eyebrow shot up. “What’s a Bigthing?”

The two Preservers began quickly speaking at the same time, each trying to become louder than the other, but ending in Berrybuzz spitting Wrapstuff to cover Acornleaf’s mouth. Then, the purple one spoke. “Bigthings is like Highthings only clumsy and bigger and more fingers.”

“Humans?” Voll glanced back again at the mountain. “Inside?”

“Winnowill does spend a lot of time with them.” Aroree said quietly.

After a moment of thought, Pike allowed a grin to spread across his face. “Well, there is one way to find out.” He waited until all eyes were on him before continuing. “We ask them.”

Chapter Text

“This is pointless!” Rayek snapped at the group suddenly. “Talking with humans while Ekuar is somewhere in the mountain, maybe hurt! And Winnowill…” He tightened his jaw and narrowed his eyes at them. “You may stay here and waste time. I am going to find Ekuar!”

Without waiting for a reply, the dark-skinned elf shot off the ground towards the aerie. Shortly after, Lord Voll looked from his direction back at the group, and said quietly, “I will go with him. If Winnowill is doing something behind my back…” He didn’t finish the sentence, but simply followed.

Shenshen looked suddenly to the Preservers. “Preservers! Go with them. Make sure they stay safe!” Berrybuzz and three others zoomed off after the two elves without question. After that, there was only silence until Acornleaf spoke up.

“Highthings help Acornleaf find Petalwing?”

Surprisingly, everyone seemed to be looking at Shenshen for an answer. When had she become the one giving the orders? After a moment, she nodded. “Yes. Forget the humans. We need to get into the mountain and help Ekuar and Rayek.”

* * * * * * *

Flying at top speed, Voll found it almost difficult to keep up with the Sun Villager. Only the fact that Rayek was still unfamiliar with the tunnels and archways of the mountain allowed him to remain in the Glider’s sight.

**Rayek, wait!**

For a moment, it didn’t seem like he would listen, but then he slowed, and turned to look at the elder elf. His sending, tinged with annoyance. **What?**

**The best place to start looking would be Winnowill’s chambers, if what we’ve heard is true. Allow me to show you wh--**

Rayek sped up again, sending as he left Voll’s sight, **I know where Winnowill’s chambers are.**

Lord Voll stopped where he floated, and stared off in the direction Rayek had left. For the first time in countless years he felt the stirrings of long lost emotions; shock, loss, and… jealousy? This young elf swooping in and taking his lifemate while he was…

Was what? Staring into nothingness?

In truth, he had seen it. They had not been discrete, especially Winnowill, and he allowed it to happen. He allowed her to slip away. It may not have been his fault at first, but he had done nothing to stop it, so in the end, the blame fell on him. The question now was…

“What we do now?”

Snapping out of his thoughts, he noticed a few of the Preservers had followed him. The purple one rested itself on his shoulder. “We go after Sharpdark Highthing?”

The old elf pondered the question. He could do what he’s been doing for eights upon eights of years, or…

“Yes, little one. We go.”

Chapter Text

Hoykar set Shenshen gently on the aerie ground, and turned to see Aroree doing the same for Pike. Since their Lord had not given them any instructions, the two Gliders looked to Shenshen for what to do next. She looked at her three companions, and then said to Acornleaf, “Show us where the other Preservers are.”

“Acornleaf do.” The Preserver sped off into the mountain with the four elves following. The twisting passageways were difficult for those not born with the power of flight, but the two Gliders would help, and Acornleaf would wait. They received strange glances from the other inhabitants of the mountain, but no one interfered.

Finally, things became easier, as the path they followed was meant for one of the few who could not fly. Soon they came to a small chamber where the walls were riddles with small holes, big enough for a Preserver, but not so for an elf. In the center, stood one of the Chosen Eight, arms crossed, with a smirk on his lips.

“Hoykar, you surprise me. Still choosing these fleabags over your own kind? And you’ve drawn Aroree in with you.”

Hoykar made a fist. “Kureel, they are elves, just like us.”

“Lord Voll seems to agree.” Aroree moved towards him, holding out a hand, but the elf only tensed.

“They have blinded Lord Voll! And they have brought death to this Mountain! Our sanctuary!” Swiftly, Kureel unhooked his talon whip, and shook it threateningly. “Winnowill told me they would be coming. They will destroy our way of life. I am here to stop them.”

The Glider lunged at Shenshen, but both Pike and Hoykar moved in his way. “I won’t let you harm them.” Hoykar turned to Pike and Shenshen. “You two, follow the Preserver. I will handle this.”

“Acornleaf show!” The Preserver flew over to the far wall, and pointed at something. Hoykar didn’t finish watching, turning his attention, instead, to Kureel.

“You’re fight is with me.” He said to the other Chosen. “Not them.”

But the other just sneered. “They will destroy us. Change us. We, who have remained unchanged since the High Ones.”

“The High Ones would be ashamed of us, turning on our own kind. We are dying in here!”

After that, no one spoke, only stared. There was quick movement.

A flash of silver.

Aroree gasped.

Blood splattered the floor.

The room suddenly felt colder than before.

*************

Shenshen forced herself to look away from the three Gliders when Hoykar told them to leave. Acornleaf helped by tugging on her hair, but she couldn’t help feeling as though she should stay.

The Preserver led her and Pike to a small hole in the wall, only big enough for Acornleaf to fit through, and pointed inside. “Way to others this way.”

Pike only gave the winged creature a look of disbelief, allowing Shenshen to point out, “We can’t fit in there.”

“No fit!” Acornleaf pointed in the hole again. “Pull rock! Too heavy for Acornleaf!”

A quick look into the hole revealed a long slender jut of stone. Shrugging, Pike stuck his hand in and pulled on it. It gave way easily, and after a moment, there was a light rumbling, like stone scraping stone. Next to them, the floor sunk inward, able to fit the height of a Glider inside. Acornleaf flew in, and the other two followed.

“This isn’t rock-shaper magic.” The Sun Villager observed.

Pike nodded. “It looks more like Troll work. Do you suppose there were trolls here?”

“Winnowill has humans to work for her. Maybe she had trolls too.”

“Yap yap yap!” The Preserver tugged on Pike’s ear. “We go this way. Quickly!”

The hallway they walked was very different from the others in the mountain. Instead of intricate designs and archways and statues, this one was plain and straight all the way down. The hallway ended suddenly at a wall that was almost as plain as the walls on either side. Strangely though, on the wall was a single stone sticking out, very out of place with the others. The two elves stared at it, curiously until Acornleaf snapped at them.

“Push!”

Pike pushed the rock inward and it gave way into the wall around it. To their right, another hallway opened up as the rock swung forward, similar to the entry into the Troll caverns from the old Holt.

Shrugging, they entered the new hall as Shenshen spoke what was on both their minds. “Stranger and stranger…”

Chapter Text

Hoykar clutched his left arm, biting back a cry. There was more blood than he had imagined, and the pain struck deeper than flesh; but more than that, Kureel had done it! He hadn’t thought that his one-time companion could ever willingly inflict harm on another elf, let alone him! As he watched the Glider in front of him, an old longing took its last breath and faded into the darkness.

Aroree had fled, and he couldn’t blame her. He was sure that few in the mountain could remember the last time blood was spilled inside the great sanctuary. A fury rose inside him and he Sent to Kureel, allowing his feelings to flow freely to the other. **HOW CAN WE EVER BE SAFE IF WE TURN EVEN ON EACH OTHER?! This is not the Wolfrider’s doing, it is ours! We did this to ourselves long before Pike was born! Why can’t you see?!?** He attached what memories of the early days of the mountain that he could remember. He let Kureel know how he had once felt towards him. He thrust the feeling of loss at him when they had fought. Let him feel the pain of the Talon Whip as it tore through the muscles of his arm, harmed by one who he had once loved.

Kureel dropped the weapon and fell to his knees, clutching his head. His helmet fell to the cold stone floor with clang as he whimpered, “S-s-sstop… I can’t…”

The fury remained, but Hoykar regained some control. **We are like a fruit that has long rotted from the inside, yet the outside deceives. The new elves have opened up our fruit and seen, and so have I.**

For a moment, Hoykar stared at the other, still with lingering anger, but Kureel trembled from the intense sending. He looked up and into Hoykar’s eyes with matching anger but tinged with shame. Hoykar bit his lip and turned away. “I will help my new friends. Do not stop me.”

He only made it two steps before being called back. **Hoykar, please…**

The request was unfinished, but understood just the same. The younger Glider walked to Kureel, knelt down and gently leaned against the other’s form. Neither spoke for long moments, then finally…

I don't expect my love affairs to last for long
Never fool myself that my dreams will come true
Being used to trouble I anticipate it
But all the same I hate it -- wouldn't you?
So what happens now?
So what happens now?
Where am I going to?
Where am I going to?
Time and time again I've said that I don't care
That I'm immune to gloom, that I'm hard through and through
But every time it matters all my words desert me
So anyone can hurt me -- and they do
So what happens now?
So what happens now?
Where am I going to?
Where am I going to?

The last note faded, and Hoykar had to focus as to not let his voice break. He looked over at the other, but he would not meet his eye. He let out a sigh and stood. This time, Kureel allowed him to leave to follow Pike and Shenshen down the strange tunnel that had not been there before.

Chapter Text

Rayek arrived first, but barely a wing's beat after Voll and the Preservers entered the chambers of his longtime lover, Winnowill. It was only when he entered the room that he realized how long it had been since he had been there. He thought back, fighting the fog and cobwebs of his memory, and realized that over the last... uncountable years, it had been Winnowill who had come to his chambers. The revelation had been nearly a slap in the face. How could he have not even noticed something as trivial as this?

After a moment, he glanced at his companion. The dark-skinned elf was darting around the room in an angry panic. But his searching was not random; he knew where everything was. The stranger had obviously been in this room recently. More recently than Voll.

"She's not here." The Glider said calmly. "She would have greeted us by now if she were."

But Rayek only frowned. "Unless she had something to hide." He didn't wait for a reply; instead, he floated towards a tunnel that Voll didn't remember being there. What would she have to hide? And from him? He was close to confronting the dark-skinned floater about it when Rayek noticeably stopped, almost frozen in mid-air. When Voll followed his gaze, he saw figures entering from the tunnel. There were a handful plus two of them, women and men, of all shapes and sizes, but none were elf. They were dark of skin like Rayek, but tall, like Voll himself.

When the group saw the two of them, some gasped and stood in awe; the rest kneeled in front of them, standing very still as though waiting for them to do something about it. While Rayek frowned at them, almost disgusted by it, Voll stepped forward. It couldn't be much different than dealing with his own people, could it?

He pointed at the human in front of the group, bowing his head so low it nearly touched his knee. "You there." The man lifted his head and nodded. "Where is Winnowill? Have you seen her?"

"The pale skinned one?" He asked.

Voll noticed from the corner of his eye that the moment the words were spoken, Rayek's look of disgust almost overwhelmed his face. Voll nearly asked him what could be so horrible, but decided against it. If these humans knew about her, they could be help. "Yes, where is she?"

The human stood and walked a few steps toward them and then pointed past them to a wall. "Through there."

The two elves moved over to examine the wall, but it was solid stone like all the others. "Is there no door?" Voll asked.

The human nearly laughed, but seemed too afraid to. "You test me." he said, "The wall moves by magic. The pale lady only stands silently and it opens."

"What is on the other side?"

He shook his head. "I have seen glimpses of it once. She took one of the elders in there. I do not know. Forgive me."

Voll gave him a small smile. "You have done well." He said, "Thank you."

The human's face broke into a wide smile. He bowed and moved back to the group. Rayek only frowned. **Has Winnowill been keeping them as pets?**

Voll shrugged. "I fear I do not know her any longer. I cannot answer that question." He turned back to the stone wall. "But she is not a rock shaper. How did she open the wall?"

Rayek raised an eyebrow at him. **She has helpers. Isn't that obvious?** Voll didn't think so, but decided against arguing with him. But in his silence, Rayek seemed to think he was arguing anyway. The Sun Villager turned to face the wall.

**Door?** The send was questioning, but both elves felt a mind on the other side. It did not answer, but it certainly received. **Door, we need through!" This time more demanding. Still there was no answer, but now a feeling of worry from the other side.

Voll sent this time, gently prodding. There was hesitation, but a feeling, almost trembling, in the wall. They tried again, this time together, and after a long moment, the rock swirled and parted revealing a room much bigger than her chambers on the other side. Rayek flew in first, and Voll followed.

The Lord of the Gliders stood in awe at his surroundings. Not only the size of the room, but the intricate detail in the pillars and ceiling; the vines hanging like nets above them; Everything was more than he ever thought possible. He turned to look behind him to see the humans staring in as the rock opening closed behind the elves. As he cast his gaze upwards, he saw who the new 'door' was and gasped in recognition.

"Eldolyn..." He whispered the elf's name, not believing his own eyes. Winnowill had told him that he had left the mountain and never returned. No one had seen him since. Had he been here the entire time? Why? Nothing made sense to him anymore it seemed.

He turned his attention back to Rayek who had flown directly to the far side of the room near a rather long narrow staircase, where on a flat slab of stone lay a figure in wrapstuff. The Preservers that had followed them were already over there, yelling at Rayek as he retrieved his knife to cut their precious cocoon. He ignored them of course, and soon the strands were cut carefully away revealing exactly who Rayek insisted it would be. Another lie from Winnowill. How many had she told?

Ekuar, dazed from his sleep blinked at the two elves. "Brownskin? Winnowill is--"

From behind them, a sudden sound of soft shoes on stone. The elves turned to see Winnowill on the narrow stairway, glaring at them with a fierce hatred that Voll could not understand. In a harsh blaming voice she said, "You have ruined everything."

Chapter Text

They were in HIS tunnels. He watched them stumble through his passageways, unknown and unspotted. It had been he who had let the Preserver go; and it had been he who had shown the bug the secret ways to Mother’s private chambers. But all the same, it felt as though his fortress was being invaded.

“I sacrifice for the game.” He whispered to himself.

He moved on to the next area, watching the elves reach another of his ‘dead ends.’ The Wolfrider was searching for another latch like the last area had, but he only found the viewing holes in the wall. It was the Sun Villager who realized their prize was just on the other side of the wall. The Preserver with them loudly insisted that its brethren were on the other side and they needed to get there, but couldn’t offer a way to do that.

The only way out was in, he laughed inwardly. But now it was his decision. After this, there was no turning back. He had only promised not to interfere with Voll and her plans with him… but this wasn’t Voll. This was his game, and he was going to win it, no matter which side reached the goal.

He laughed aloud this time, getting the elf’s attentions. They knew not where the voice came from, but now they knew they were not alone. “The flies are caught in Mother’s web! They can see the goal, but it is out of their reach. Time is running out little ones. The Spider is coming!”

The Wolfrider looked around for the source of the voice, but of course he couldn’t find it. He chuckled to himself at the elf’s folly. Would they play his game?

But the Sun Villager didn’t look startled or angry, only… worried? She looked up, in a general way, and said, “Do you know how to get down there? Can you help us?” She paused a moment, then added, “Please?”

He frowned and leaned back against the rock. They weren’t supposed to ask. No one asks. That wasn’t part of the game. Too direct. Too… But she did ask. He had to answer. Didn’t he? He moved his hand against the wall until he heard a click. Down below a door opened next to the elves, revealing the stairway to the ground and the other side of the wall. But he didn’t say anything. It wasn’t what he had suspected, but it wasn’t against the game, not yet.

The elves entered the large room and walked to the giant fixture in the middle, staring at it in awe and frustration. That made him smile. Mother had requested a cage for the preservers long ago even before they returned. The opening in the bars wasn’t big enough for even a small fly to enter or exit, and the metal was not to be bent or broken by any normal means. Would they have the wit to figure out his simple riddle?

He moved quickly through the passages to get himself a better view. When he had reached his resting place, the two had already found the table where the key rested, and were investigating it, curiously. The Wolfrider picked it up and eyed it as though it were an untrustworthy animal, but the girl was more intrigued by it. She picked it up when the Wolfrider had dismissed it and examined it while he tried to pry apart the mesh of the cage.

He leaned forward as if that action would get him a better view of the girl elf. She at least seemed to have some sense; she hadn’t dismissed the key so easily. She took it to the cage and circled the structure, finally coming to the door and lock. She pointed it out to the Wolfrider, but he only rubbed his ear and shrugged. Would she do it? If she could get it, then it showed promise for the Wolf Chief when he arrived in his game.

She leaned in to get a look at the keyhole, and then glanced again at the key. “Yes…” he whispered to himself, leaning in so close he could feel the cold rock against his skin.

She stuck the key in to the keyhole, but then left it there. For a moment, his heart sunk, but she scratched her head and then turned the key. There was a satisfying click, and the door swung open. The preservers poured out and surrounded the elves, talking so loudly and all at the same time.

He smiled and moved back down to the spot he resided in previously. With a flick of his finger, he closed the opening the elves had come out of, forcing them to take the only available exit. They protested, of course, but he did not answer them this time. However, the Preservers helped his cause, telling them that they knew the way out from here.

The bugs led them to the doorway on the far wall and down the long flight of stairs to where Mother awaits. The Sun Villager paused only a moment as they reached the door and looked back. He thought, only a for a second, that she knew where he was and could see him, but the moment passed and she turned to follow her companion down the path.

Soon… he thought. Soon the game would begin, and he would finally know who he was. This time, he would win the game…

Chapter Text

Winnowill stared icily at the three elves in front of her, ignoring the almost hiss-like sounds coming from the Preservers that surrounded Voll. She pointed in their direction, but even she couldn’t decide which one of them she was blaming. “You have ruined everything.”

It was Voll’s eyes she met first. They were pleading, confused, but she forced herself to feel nothing. “All of you! How dare you come into my private chambers without permission!?”

“You took Ekuar!” Rayek spat. “You said nothing when we went out looking for him! You let me think—“ He suddenly turned to his mentor and continued almost tenderly, “We thought you were dead…”

The aged elf brushed his dark-skinned face. “Oh Brownskin…”

Winnowill sneered, but before she could lash out again in anger, Voll took a step forward. “Why did you do it? Right under my nose. You tricked us.” His voice became more forceful as he spoke. Less dazed. It was too late.

She took a step backwards up the stairs as though her life were in danger if he came any closer. “It was for you…” She replied quietly. “We were going to be High Ones…” She closed her eyes and swallowed back the lump in her throat. No. She couldn’t fall apart now. She still had a chance. She still had the Preservers. These three were not going to stop her. “We can still return to the skies where we belong.” Her voice became firm. “You can help us. You and Rayek! We were never supposed to be here. You of all people should know that!”

Voll stepped forward again, forcing her back once more. Even Rayek, after a glance to his mentor, moved in closer. “You have the right ideas, Winnowill,” Rayek began, “but you go about them the wrong way.”

Voll glanced at the other elf and mumbled, “Ideas?” but he was ignored.

Winnowill took another step back, nearly losing balance from the high step. “Wrong?!” she snapped, “I am not wrong! This!” She motioned around her in an all-encompassing gesture, “This is what is wrong! All of it! We sit here and we ROT! All because of you and your dream!” This time, she pointed to Voll. “I tried to warn you, but you didn’t listen! And I followed you because I believed you knew what you were doing. Because I—“ She gritted her teeth and shook her head. She was losing control of herself and she had to put an end to it. She took in a deep breath and continued in a calmer voice. “The old one was to be spared once we were far, far away from this cursed planet. We don’t need the Palace. We only need ourselves. We will sleep, with the Preservers help and our people will see the stars once more. Lord Voll, it is the only way. Or we will wither inside, or else become like Pike and his Wolfriders; to grow old and die.”

Voll looked away from her piercing eyes. She had struck a blow, but Rayek was not as affected. He floated close to her. **I would have helped you had you asked. But you cannot take control of a people without their consent!**

He was too close to her. And Voll was closing in again. She quickly stepped back, her foot losing traction on the stairs, but she caught herself from stumbling. She was ready again to reply, but a sound came now from above her.

“Rayek! We’ve found the Preservers!”

Shenshen and Pike ran down the stairway with a flock of Preservers following them. They closed in, surrounding her, all looking at her with accusing eyes. No, this wasn’t her fault! She had done it for them!

In anger, she lashed out; Forceful and painful, invading their minds and making all scream in agony… even Voll…

She shook her head to clear it. There was still a way.

Winnowill grabbed Shenshen while she was still dazed and held her tight, holding her talon-like hands at the Sun Maiden’s neck threateningly. She waited until they had all enough sense to see what she had done before speaking.

“You will help me, all of you.” She turned quickly to the Wolfrider. “You will leave here and never return, or I will break her. I have done as much before.”

“Winnowill…” The soft voice of her once-lover stole her attention, “What have you become?”

*******************************************************

Shenshen tried to shake away the throbbing pain in her head. She felt her arm being grabbed and she was hauled to her feet. She tried to fight, but was too dizzy to do anything. She listened helplessly as Winnowill threatened those she cared for.

But she was no longer the helpless gossipy maiden she had been when she first stepped into the great unknown. Gathering all her strength, she tensed her muscles, and when her captor was distracted by Lord Voll’s voice, she slammed her elbow as hard as she could into the tall elf woman’s stomach.

Winnowill cried out, and doubled over, stumbling on the steps, but she didn’t fully let go of Shenshen. The Sun Villager struggled to get away, but only made Winnowill lose her balance.

Winnowill’s foot slipped off the edge.

Shenshen felt the claws clench tighter around her arm, jerking her forward and down.

She heard two voices call her name; Pike and Hoykar, just as the two others called out for Winnowill’s.

She looked back to see the figures on the stairs leaning over the edge.

The wind in her ears now blocked all voices. Time seemed to slow, but just as she seemed to take it all in, it seemed to speed up faster and faster, until everything went black.

Chapter Text

“Preservers! Wrapstuff! Now!”

Hoykar could hear the desperation in his Lord’s voice even from the top of the stairs where he stood. He hurried down the long staircase in near shock from what he had just witnessed.

When he neared, Lord Voll and Rayek, who carried Ekuar, had already flown to the bottom of the stairs where the Preservers were quickly at work wrapping up the two elfin women’s nearly lifeless bodies. Pike stared down at them, close to tears, and then turned to Hoykar. “What are they doing to them?” He whispered.

Hoykar rubbed his injured arm, trying not to wince from the pain. “The Preservers wrap will keep them suspended in time.” He said, “Until…”

“Until you can get another healer?”

Hoykar looked away. That was not a question he wanted to answer. Instead, he motioned for the Wolfrider to grab hold of him as he floated the two down to the others on the ground. But finally, he replied, “Winnowill was our only healer.”

Both Pike and Rayek’s head snapped to stare at him, wide-eyed. “In a mountain of High Ones, you only have one healer?” Pike shook his head in disbelief.

Hoykar couldn’t answer that question, so was eternally thankful when Lord Voll cleared his throat and spoke. “We are not High Ones.” The Old elf looked away from them as though he could not meet their eyes. “Our lives have been but a poor imitation of their ways. It is all my fault. And now Winnowill…” His voice cracked, and he fell silent.

Hoykar’s heart felt heavy as he stared at the wrapped forms of Lord Voll’s lover and Shenshen… his own. Only now did he realize how much he felt for these two outsiders. But though they still lived inside the Preserver’s cocoons, there seemed to be little hope for them to recover. Not without a healer…

“Leetah!”

The group looked to Pike. “Leetah,” He repeated, suddenly having excitement in his voice. “In the Sun Village! She is a healer, at least as good at Winnowill, I’d say. Your great birds can take us there! She could help us. Shenshen is her sister. She has to. Right Rayek?”

The Gliders looked from the Wolfrider to the Sun Villager for confirmation of this piece of hope. Rayek looked distant, but nodded, replying quietly, “To the Sun Village…”

Chapter Text

Picknose pulled a small pebble of gold from his cave wall and stared at it with furrowed brow. With a sigh, he dropped it into a soft fabric bag and tied it shut. He attached it to his belt and stepped out into the moonlit night. He huffed and adjusted his wide-brimmed hat. It was bad enough that the sun beat down during the day, but the moon here was almost as bad as the sun was back home.

“Can pluck gold from the cave walls here, but what good is treasure when you’re the only one left?” He grumbled the rest of the way to the large creature the elves called a zwoot that he had tied to a large rock. The creature snorted at his arrival, but no longer shied away.

Picknose checked the zwoot to make sure that the saddle and all the packs were on tight and glanced around. In the distance, he heard the wolves howling. No doubt the Wolfriders were part of the chorus. The fleabags were going on a ‘hunt’ tonight. That much he had gathered from the chatter during the day. The dark-skinned elves were brimming with information and seemed to have no hesitations in answering any of his questions when they came to check up on him.

The Sun Villagers asleep, and the Wolfriders out on a hunt, now was the time to leave.

He grunted as he struggled to mount the creature, and then forced it to move out into the desert, leaving the village behind. He couldn’t wait an entire year for the Wolf Chief to come to his senses.

The surrounding landscape was no more inviting than when he had crossed it the first time, but at least this time he had supplies. When he had his Queen back, he could come back to this place of gold and start his own kingdom. But he couldn’t risk being the last of his people; he would rather die with them.

A sudden feeling in the back of his mind caused him to look up into the piercing bejeweled sky. Where there should have been stars, he saw only a large form of dark moving and getting larger. The zwoot below him jerked forward as the dark form above him screamed. Picknose was thrown from his mount just as the darkness grabbed hold of the zwoot and carried it off back to the sky.

He reoriented himself and was about to stand when he heard the loud flapping and two other large figures circled above him.

“Picknose!”

The voice was vaguely familiar, but it wasn’t a troll. A smaller figure, that of an elf, jumped down from the larger and ran to him. In the light of the moon, he could make out the rounded features of the orange haired Wolfrider who had threatened Oddbit. The elf grabbed his clothes and frowned.

“What are you doing here at Sorrow’s End?!”

Picknose tried to form words, but found himself only able to stutter. The bushy haired Wolfrider looked ready to feed him to the large birds (for his was sure now that that’s what they had to be) that had circled above.

Before the elf had a chance, the pack of wolves surrounded them, each sporting an elf on its back. Pike let the Troll go and turned to the Wolf Chief.

“Pike,” Cutter started, “I see you’ve found our runaway troll.” He smiled warmly. “Welcome back!” He was raising his arm to smack Pike on the back, but Pike moved away.

“Cutter! We need Leetah! It’s Shenshen.”

The happy faces on the Wolfriders faded and turned into determination. Cutter nodded, and motioned for the group to head back towards the village. Picknose turned around and began to walk back to his cave, but was halted by a sudden grasping of his shirt.

“Oh no you don’t Picky.” It was Treestump, the elf built almost like a Troll. “After this matter is fixed, we need to know why you were stealing one of our Zwoots and running away…”

Sighing, Picknose gave in and followed the crowd, giving a nervous glance to the giant birds overhead.

Chapter Text

Leetah was used to being woken up in the middle of the night, and had come to expect that she would have to change her sleeping schedule someday; but it still annoyed her when she was in the middle of a good sleep and she was forced to get up. Her annoyance was quickly dashed away, however, when her Lifemate mentioned that Pike had returned, and Shenshen needed her healing.

In a panic, Leetah followed the Wolfriders across the cold sands to the area just outside the village where a large group had gathered. She took a moment to glance at three very large birds who had perched on some of the crags nearby, but forced herself to look away. Cutter had not mentioned them, and Shenshen needed her more.

“Where is she?” The healer asked when she reached the center of the group. There she saw Pike and a strange tall pale elf in black clothes holding a figure which looked like it had been wrapped in moth silk. Before anyone answered, she quickly noted that there were two other tall pale elves in similar clothing standing in the crowd. Had another tribe been found?

Pike and the strange elf stepped towards her. “Dear healer.” The tall one started, “Your sister is in this Wrapstuff.” He kneeled, holding the cocoon to her. “She is safe as she is, but requires your healing once the wrapping is removed.”

Leetah raised an eyebrow at the strange elf’s speech, but her concern for her sister overrode her curiosity for the newcomers. She brushed the strands of the wrapping but found them too strong to simply pull off.

Pike pulled out his dagger. “Please, Leetah.” He said. His eyes showed more concern for her sister than she would have expected. “We will explain everything after.” He paused a moment and looked back to the other tall elves. “And you may have another to heal after our story is told.”

Quietly, she nodded, and Pike began to slowly and carefully cut the strands that supposedly kept her little sister safe. Leetah gasped when she saw her sister, covered in bruises and dried blood. Without thinking through any more, she put her hands out over Shenshen and fell into her deep trance while the Wolfrider continued to free her from the Wrapstuff.

It was not as bad is it looked from the outside. She had treated falls before, the Villagers would occasionally slip from their rooftops when patching up holes or repainting them, this was little different. Possibly from a higher fall, but her sister’s flesh and bones mended easily, and her spirit did not fight the healing. But there was something else… did her sister know?

Her efforts were rewarded with a brilliant smile and watery eyes from her dear sister. The two embraced and Leetah did nothing to stop her own tears from forming. How great it was to have her near once more.

The stranger who had held Shenshen stood and stared at his arm. “You truly are a great healer.” He said, turning to Pike. “My arm is as it was before.”

Pike wiped his eyes and smiled. Skywise elbowed him gently. “I think you owe us a story, Storyteller.”

“Oh.” Pike nodded and walked to one of the tall elves on the edge of the crowd. He looked old, maybe even older than Savah. In his eyes, she saw he was very, very tired. “Cutter, everyone, this is Lord Voll. He is Chief of a new group of elves. They ride the great birds like we ride wolves.”

Lord Voll bowed his head to her Lifemate as Pike continued. “And they have the power to glide. Even Rayek has learned.”

Leetah’s head shot up as she realized. “Rayek! Is he here? You found him?”

Pike nodded. There was a sending, and Rayek flew down from one of the great birds. He had no look of joy as he landed, but that didn’t stop Leetah from giving him a tight hug. When she pulled away, he said quietly, “There’s a few more people you should meet. And another you must heal.”

“But,” Pike interrupted, “I think we should explain everything first.” He paused, looking at his tribemates, “Does anyone have some dreamberries? This story is going to need a lot of them.”

Chapter Text

Lord Voll wasn't listening to the Wolfrider tell his story. He had lived it while it happened and had no desire to live it again. Instead, he occupied his mind by taking in the surrounding village. The small group of elves and wolves (And an odd creature called a Troll, which seemed strange yet familiar to him) had led Voll and his followers to a sandy clearing on the edge of the village with a platform on the end where Pike now performed. The dwellings were made of a soft stone and colored with many designs of plants and elves. As the story went on, people poked their heads out of the windows and slowly, almost groggily, made their way to join the crowd. Despite being outside, in the dark this Sun Village looked little different from the Mountain dwelling his people called home.

Remembering Blue Mountain, he briefly wondered how Talno fared in leading in his absence. He frowned at the memory of Kureel refusing to see anyone, even his Lord! A dark feeling gnawed at his gut at the thought of how much in his own mountain he was unaware of, and how much more he still may not know. It left a bitter taste in his mouth, and the uneasiness that came with it was something he was unaccustomed to.

He did not like it.

What was more, the reason they had come still lay in a basket on Tenspan's great back with the world-worn elf and Tyldak. The others had thought it would be better to leave them behind until everything was explained. Although he could not argue, he did not like the waiting. And he wasn't the only one.

The old Glider glanced over to the dark-skinned Rayek who was staring intently at the Wolf Chief, though Cutter didn't seem to notice. Voll knew that there was something between the Sun Villager and the pale leader, and he briefly wondered if it were anything like what was between himself and Rayek. Voll had not missed the fact that Rayek had called Winnowill's name instead of Shenshen's when the two fell. But what was he to do? It was his own fault that he'd been so blind to everything.

But he couldn't turn the other way, not this time.

It was something that should be resolved before Winnowill awoke. He should pull Rayek aside and--

"Are you related to birds?"

Surprised, Voll looked down to the source of the voice and could not help but gasp. A small elf with brown hair and the pale Wolfrider skin looked up to him while a blond female of the same tribe and nearly the same height pulled on his arm. The boy looked determined and the girl looked scared, but there was no mistaking that these two were not adults.

"Dart," the girl said cautiously, "you shouldn't bother them. They're new, like we were."

But the boy only put his hands on his sides and scrunched his nose. "He looks like a bird. And he rides big birds. I think he's part bird. Well?"

The boy looked at him expectantly, though the lord of the Gliders could not seem to find his voice. Instead, he called his followers to assure him that he was not imagining things. **Hoykar, Aroree! Come look!**

Immediately obeying their leader, their heads turned sharply from the storyteller to the scene before him, and had a similar reaction to his. By this time, most of the group had stopped watching Pike and had turned to them with quizzical looks. In an attempt to explain himself, Voll fought back the tears that were forming in his eyes and said, "You did not say there were children here..."

It was silent for a few moments before Shenshen blurted out, "I never did see a child in Blue Mountain!" She looked quickly to Hoykar who shook his head.

"There are none."

"It has been countless moons since I have heard the laugh of a child." Voll looked softly down at the two who now looked more confused than anything. He dropped down to his knees and said, "Do not fear, little ones. I only wish to get a good look at you."

The girl only stared at him in wonder, but the boy frowned. "You didn't answer my question."

Voll laughed, and a happiness that had been locked away for ages returned to him. He had forgotten how wondrous children could be. "No, I am not a bird, little one. What is your name?"

**His name is Dart.** The sending came from a stern looking Wolfrider who leaned on a long bow. **And he is my son.**

There was caution in the sending, but Voll did not like his tone. Instead, he turned to the Wolf Chief. "Are there more?"

Cutter quickly glanced at his followers and Lifemate and finally nodded. "We have a cub, not even out of his milk-teeth, and Leetah and I have Recognized. The Villagers have a few children as well."

"Amazing..." Voll breathed.

"Shenshen, dear sister, did you know?" Leetah walked to her younger sibling and took her hands. "You are also with child."

Shenshen stared shocked at the healer as tears formed in her eyes. Without words, she embraced her sister tightly and sobbed into her shoulder with joy.

"Who is the father?" Voll looked quickly to Rayek, hoping perhaps it was he, but Shenshen quickly glanced to Pike, Rayek and even... Hoykar? All three of the males looked confused, but said nothing until the storyteller laughed.

"Does it matter?"

The Wolf Chief slapped Pike good-naturedly on the back. "A cub is good news, no matter whose it is." He glanced at Lord Voll and raised an eyebrow. "Now, about this Winnowill..."

Chapter Text

He had almost lost control.

The mind he had touched was angry and sad and so... needing. Feelings he had not felt in...

How long had it been?

Eight? Eight eights? Eight eights times eight?

Did it matter?

He had given the mind what it wanted and it had left him alone again to return to his work. And all things returned to normal. But what was normal?

He grabbed a thread and watched it weave a story from a time before he'd been born to the building of the mountain to--

His mind's eye blinked, and suddenly he couldn't remember what he'd been doing. That had never happened before. Why did it happen now? He needed the elixir, but it never came.

She was late.

She was never late.

He searched for her thread, but found it difficult to concentrate. What was easy and clear became increasingly fuzzy and difficult.

He felt cold.

He felt.

A shock threw him back into a solid state. His limbs were heavy and eyes saw nothing but blocks of shapes and colors. His grip on the stone was slipping. He felt it crumble and as the pieces hit the ground the sound echoed through his unused ears.

He tried to scream, but his voice hadn't been used in so long he couldn't tell if he'd made any sound at all. His mind was a jumble and he couldn't tell up from down. He tried to move, but he couldn't tell if he was successful or not until his face felt the cold stone of the floor.

Footsteps and voices.

Questions.

What were they saying?

Struggling, he found a coherent thought and forced his lips to move.

"Where... is... my... father? Where is... Lord Voll?"

Chapter Text

They didn't answer him right away. Or, if they did, he didn't hear them.

They didn't know what to do with him. He understood their reservations and caution. This was new; a change from the status quo. Change was not something his people were used to, or even sometimes even considered possible.

Once his vision cleared and his thoughts became less jumbled, they gave him some hot drink and waited for him to speak. He only watched them with amusement. Some of them mourned the loss of the Egg of Six Spheres and that caused him to laugh. None of them had really looked at the Egg. To them it was only a symbol of how great and High-One-like they had become. The knowledge found inside the Egg would have woken them up from their living sleep, if they had looked for it.

But the loss of it was nothing big. He still had the knowledge. The Egg was only a physical representation of it. Everything that could have been seen and much more was there in his mind, and now that he could think clearly again, he saw it all.

"Lord Voll left for a place called Sorrow's End." Reevol explained to him after a long silence. "Winnowill had been injured and one of the strangers that came to visit us claimed another healer lived there."

"We don't know when... or if they will return." This one was a woman, clothed in strips of flowing cloth around the more delicate areas, and her hair ornately styled. He chuckled inwardly at the thought that these people had nothing better to do than to make their hair as different than what nature provided them as possible.

At the thought, his hand rose to his head. The skull cap that he had worn for countless centuries had fallen off in his haze, revealing that his hair had been removed, probably magically by Winnowill. He didn't blame her. Perhaps she simply got tired of maintaining it while he was not in possession of his body. A small fuzz had grown in since her absence, assuring him that the change was not permanent. He thought he may grow it out at length, as a change of pace.

When the thought passed, he noticed the two Gliders staring at him, and he realized they must have been expecting a reply to their comments. He still had trouble controlling his physical self, so he sent. **My father will return.** He answered with confidence. **And he will bring more outsiders with him.** He smiled knowingly. **A great change is coming, are you ready?**

Reevol glanced at the woman who looked nervous. "What kind of change, Egg?"

He paused in thought, wondering if it was right to give them the whole truth of what he knew. He smiled, taking a sip of the hot drink. **My name... is Aurek.**

Chapter Text

It started as a low, warm glow. A song without words.

In her daze, she tried to focus on it, but it was too slippery, seeming to slip away as she grasped it.

It grew brighter, filling the darkness, warming the cold she had endured for so long. A gentle pulsing, as a heartbeat. She remembered this. Memories floated to the surface. Memories of times past, when she was young. When her people lived outdoors.

When she was needed.

The light grew so, that it seared her skin, ripping away her shell, pulling more and more memories to the surface. The singing rang in her ears. The voices of those she had touched, and healed, and harmed, and destroyed.

Minds shattered.

Lives ruined.

She screamed. The light pulled away.

Hastily, she scrambled to resurrect the barriers; patch up the holes. Too much light. Too much pain.

The warm glow returned, trying again to break through the shield.

“NO!”

Her eyes snapped open, locking with eyes of green, surrounded by dark brown skin. Skin like that Sun Villager. She did this! It was all her fault!

She lashed out, feeling her power clash with the light. There were cries of pain from all around. She tried to stand, but her feet were as jelly, and every muscle burned with the pain, unhealed. Her face hit hard to the warm sand, scratching at her skin, and confusing her greatly.

There was no sand like this in Blue Mountain...

Panic overtook her senses as she felt strong, unfamiliar hands hold her still; hands, legs, waist. She was pinned.

**Winnowill! Listen!**

The sending, clear and familiar.

Voll.

She focused her eyes on his mane of white hair, his concerned eyes, his gentle hands on hers. Rayek, and Hoykar of the Eight stood behind him, and nearby, the orange haired Wolfrider. But more, they were not the only ones there.

Elves, of unfamiliar shapes and sizes and colors surrounded the group. The pale ones, three of them restraining her, wore mostly furs and leathers, while the dark-skinned ones wore cloth of color and vibrance. And wolves. So many more of them than the one Pike had brought. She could tell, easily, that these were the Wolfriders and Sun Folk that the strangers had told them about. But, had they all come here, or...?

She looked up.

Stars. Clearer and more vibrant that she had ever seen, and stretching on to infinity.

Outside.

They were outside.

Voll was outside.

Feeling the panic rise again, she scanned the horizon for Blue Mountain, but all she saw was a wall of brown rock, and strange houses of the same color. And sand. But no trees. No Blue Mountain.

Voll’s thoughts moved to comfort her. **Beloved, we are in Sorrow’s End.**

**My home.** The harsher sending of Rayek added.

But Voll continued, as though the black-haired elf had done nothing, and she sensed... what? After all this time, was he jealous? **You were injured in the fall. There is a healer here to help you.**

His eyes fell on the green-eyed maiden she had mistaken for Shenshen. This had to be Leetah, whom Rayek had spoken so fondly of, making the pale-haired savage-looking elf at her side Cutter.

This was not where she wanted to be. Not where she wanted any of them to be. How had it all gone so wrong? How much time had passed? How far where they from Blue Mountain? How long had Voll been outside?

The dark-skinned healer took a cautious step towards her. “Your injuries are far worse than my sister’s.” She said, “Let me help you.” She reached out a hand, but Winnowill flinched, shying back as far as the new elves would let her.

“N-no...” she whimpered, realizing her position, and how hopeless it all seemed. Now that she was in the mind to focus, she noticed that the savages all stood at the ready, some even with their weapons out. There was even one with sharp, dark eyes, readying an arrow, unmistakably aimed for her heart.

“You are weak,” the other healer continued, “I can help you.” She moved in closer.

“D... do not t-touch me...”

But the maiden did not listen to her protests. The searing hot touch of a pure healing caressed her skin once more, and it was more than she could bear. She struggled, ignoring the protests of both her lifemate and her new lover, but the Wolfriders’ strength was more than she could battle in her weakened state.

She was losing.

The memories rose again as the light ripped her carefully constructed walls to shreds. The mountain. Egg, and the truth she saw in the slowly spinning rock. Voll’s rejection over and over again. And a child’s face, crying out in pain.

With all the strength she had left, she pushed against the light, lashing out with all her hate, and anger, and disappointment, and everything she had kept so hidden these long years. The hands let go. The light faded.

But the cry didn’t end.

Her cheeks were wet and hot. The images didn’t retreat as they used to. Everything she had done, there for her to see over and over again. What remained of her walls were flimsy and useless.

She could feel confusion coming from all around, but she didn’t care.

It was gone.

All hope.

Gone.

Chapter Text

Leetah was the first to clear her head. Using her healer’s skills, she eased the throbbing in her mind, and immediately checked the lives growing in her belly. They were safe too. She then turned her attention to her lifemate, who was still standing, though shakily, and holding his head, as many of the others were. With a touch, she eased his pain, too, and stared down with bewilderment at the tall, pale elf now curled up on the sand, tears streaming from her eyes.

“I... I don’t understand...” Leetah said quietly to Cutter. “She... she fought against the healing. And then... she...” She groped for the words, but her mind couldn’t fathom the pale one’s actions. “It was as though she turned her healing inside out. To cause pain, instead of easing it. Is that... even possible?”

She thew a half-accusing glance at the other Gliders, especially their chief. She had seen flashes from the woman’s mind, and he stood there above all others. Voll, met her gaze, then looked away, his eyes growing distant.

“She...” he started, choking on the words, “I fear she may have been... neglected...”

“How neglected must a healer be to have her mind so?!” she snapped at him, but a moment later, she was sorry. The old elf closed his eyes, and bowed his head in the manner of one defeated.

“Is she healed?” This voice came from her one-time lovemate, Rayek. She had not forgotten how distant he had been when they embraced before Pike told their tale, and even now, the hunter seemed more concerned with the pale healer than anything else. She had never seen him more reserved towards her, and it hurt.

“Mostly.” She replied cautiously. “I did what I could, but I can’t finish the healing if she won’t let me.” She frowned at Winnowill, but the other healer seemed in a faraway place. “Her physical wounds are gone, but I fear something deeper troubles her.”

Lord Voll knelt down beside the sobbing elf, and lifted her gently from the sand. She moaned, but did not fight him. Savah touched him gently on the shoulder. “I have a place she may rest. Come.”

The Chief of the Gliders went with her into her hut, followed by the female Glider... Aroree? And Rayek, who didn’t even look back.

**What if she wakes up?** Strongbow’s piercing Send accused. **Are we safe from her?**

Cutter rubbed his forehead, but didn’t answer.

“Cutter?” Pike stepped forward, meekly. “There’s more. The whole tribe must hear it.” He paused, giving the healer a quick glance, and she could sense him sending to his chief, though he hid what was said.

“Leetah may not be a Wolfrider,” her lifemate started with a curious tone, “But I hide nothing from her.”

Pike gave her a suspicious look, which caused her to frown, but he conceded to his chief. Cutter then sent out in an open sending for a tribe council. The group began to head for the clearing away from the village where the councils were held, but Picknose ran after them.

“Hey!” He snapped, “You’re not getting away that easily! You made me a promise, Son of Bearclaw! Your friends are back! Now take me to the Frozen Mountains!”

Pike frowned. “Promise?”

Cutter sighed. “Come on, Picky. We’ll discuss that at the council, too.”

The troll grumbled, but followed the group as they made their way to the meeting spot. Most of the tribe had been with them during the healing, so it wasn’t long before the few others arrived, Woodlock and Rainsong last, with their two cubs. Shenshen came with them as well, though Leetah noticed Pike did not seem to mind her sister’s presence.

“Well, Pike?” Cutter began once he had the tribe’s attention, “What more do you have to say that you couldn’t tell us in front of the Sun Folk?”

Now put on the spot, the storyteller seemed nervous, looking down at the ground, and shifting his feet. He cleared his throat, and lifted his head, sending, **Winnowill told us something in that mountain,** he started, **She said... she said that our kinship with wolves, the gift given to us by Timmain, has made us mortal.** He looked down again, **We will grow old, and die.**

The Wolfriders were silent, and Pike’s gaze fell onto Leetah, watching for... what? He looked to be almost daring her to say something. Even her own sister seemed to be waiting. She swallowed. This was what he didn’t want her to hear?

“It’s true.” She said quietly, drawing all attention to her. “All of it.”

“What’s true?” Picknose asked, confused, but the others ignored him.

Pike’s accusing look faded to surprise. “You knew?”

“Of course I knew.” She replied. “I knew from the first moment I touched Redlance for healing.” He held out her hands, recalling when she had discovered the terrible secret, and how she had vowed never to tell. It seemed the pale anti-healer had done it for her.

It was Nightfall, then, who spoke. “Why didn’t you tell us? We would have understood.”

The troll looked around at the elfin faces. “Tell what?”

Leetah was grateful her friend was trying to comfort her, but it didn’t help the fact that she had kept this all from them. She lowered her eyes. “I... didn’t want to destroy your dream. Cutter spoke of living as old as Savah... I...” She trailed off, unable to finish her excuses. But the hand of her lifemate on her shoulder eased some of her fear.

“It’s all right, Leetah. I understand your reasons.” He turned back to his tribe. “My father always said the life of a Wolfrider was short. I never knew different until I met Savah—Then I dreamed of living forever. But I’m awake now, and the truth is good.”

**We are Wolfriders.** Strongbow’s sending was proud. **We hunt, we love, we live, and we die. It is the Way.** With his statements came images of green forests, and the life the tribe had left behind when the humans had stolen it from them. And a longing so intense, even Leetah felt the urge to return to a place she had never been.

“What Council is this?!” Picknose snapped. “No one’s talking! In a troll’s gathering, at least three of you would be drunk already, and the rest would be yelling at each other. Are we going to talk about your promise or not?!”

Treestump pulled him down into a sitting position with a thump. “Patience oh, warted one.”

“Thank you for telling us, Pike.” Cutter continued, “Your quest has been hard for you, I know. But you are back with your tribe. We welcome you back with open arms.” The wolf chief clasped hands with him, then turned, finally, to Picknose. “Now, Pickey here has requested help from us. Trolls from the North attacked his people and took them away, and he wants to get them back.”

“Ekuar told us of the Northern Trolls.” Pike added with a frown and a sneer, “Nasty bunch.”

“But more than that,” Cutter continued, “We’ve learned, from the Sun Folk, and now the Gliders, that we are not the only elves left. There may be more. If there are other Trolls out there, why not more elves? I would like to see this Blue Mountain, and maybe, there are elves who live in the Frozen North, as the Sun Villagers do in this land of heat.”

Leetah could see the look in her lifemate’s eyes; the look that told her his mind was set. He had a goal in mind, and none could stop him from reaching it, and it frightened her. But, she held her tongue, and let him continue.

“Picky, here, seemed ready to run off without us, so I don’t believe he is lying, and now Pike’s confirmed it. I wish to meet these Gliders in their mountain home, and maybe, find others out there. I will not ask you all to come with me. This is a task of choice. The Sun Village is safe, the new tribes, the Frozen Mountain Trolls may not be. But I will take any who wish to come.”

Pike perked up. “I had to leave Hotburr behind.” He said with a tone of disappointment. “He wouldn’t fly on the great birds. I must return for him.”

Cutter nodded, turning to the others, waiting their reply.

**Some of us have never liked it here.** Stongbow’s sending was sharp, **These sun rabbits are too soft.**

“If there is another forest out there,” Moonshade continued her lifemate’s thoughts, “We should try for it. This desert is no home for us.”

Some of the tribe nodded in agreement, but Rainsong pulled her young son close, and said, “We are safe now. Free from humans. Food is plentiful here. Why should we leave?”

“It may be safe, but it’s not home.” One-Eye piped in with a frown. “Pike spoke of a forest by the mountain. Why not go there? If the humans are as tame as he says, then we can pick them off if they get too close.”

Shenshen gasped. “They worship the Gliders, and us!” She said with surprise at the Wolfrider’s tone. “To kill them for coming close would be worse than what the humans ever did to you!”

One-Eye opened his mouth to respond, but Cutter stepped in before the argument could become heated. “No one is killing anyone!” He scanned the group. “I will take all who wish to come. If we find a new home, or other elves, or anything, we will return to tell the tribe. Then we can decide what to do. For now, we should all get some rest. We will tell the Sun Folk and the new visitors of our plans tomorrow.”

No one argued, and so the council ended. Cutter had Treestump guard Picknose for the time being so the troll wouldn’t try to sneak off again, and Strongbow insisted he should guard Savah’s hut from the possible threat of the anti-healer, should she waken.

Leetah remained silent as the Wolfriders scattered to their dens. Cutter was leaving. She had known, had prepared herself for this ever since the troll had arrived. But the wolf chief hadn’t seemed to take her into consideration during the council. Was he confident that she would be okay with it all? Or worse, did he expect her to come with?

Leetah wasn’t sure she liked either possibility.

Chapter Text

So.

The things I remember about where I wanted this to go:

~ I obviously still wanted the group to make it to the Frozen Mountains and do the war. Two-Edge would have made sure it happened eventually.

~ I wanted Voll to survive, but someone still needed to die to the sky harpoon but I hadn’t made up my mind as to who. I think maybe it was going to be Egg/Aurek? Unsure.

~ Winnowill was not Aurek’s mother. The idea was that Voll had two sons with an unnamed elf lady before they ever settled in the mountain, but she is killed somehow (probably by humans) and that is what spurs him to want to be as safe as possible, ultimately leading them to Blue Mountain.

~ I made Shenshen pregnant because I had obviously strayed from her and Rayek very quickly, and I thought the father of her child being in dispute would cause some fun drama. Especially with Rayek and his whole situation. So much drama. I had not decided who I wanted the father to ultimately be, other than it was not going to be Rayek. More drama. Unsure if I would have still done this if I rewrote it.

~ I did not want Tyldak and Dewshine to Recognize. At least not at first. At this point in the story, she is MUCH younger than in the main story, and I think I remember some instances in Elfquest where there’s a kind of pseudo Recognition going on if one of the parties is too young. Would have given them a chance to get to know each other first. Had enough drama going on with the other stuff. Didn’t need to add more.

~ Mekda was going to survive. It’s like 7 years earlier than the original story, so she would still be in worse shape than Ekuar, but not yet the “sack o’ bones” because I said so.

~ One-Eye would still die. Would Leetah still try to save him and have the living body situation? I don’t know. Winnowill was going to be with them when it happened. I think she would allow it to happen, both to see if it would work, and to kind of… take amusement in Leetah’s conflict.

~ I was not going to fully redeem Winnowill. At least not yet. I think she would be broken for a while, and agree to go to the Palace, hoping it would “fix” her, but also afraid of what would happen. She would not let Leetah heal her. Voll would convince her to come with them to the palace.

~ There would be a fun moment when Voll found out about Two-Edge. I think at that point, Winnowill would run away before seeing the palace.

~ I had a sequel planned in a vague nebulous way. I have a Word file labelled HSS_Part2, and here is everything in it:
Suntop + Ember = 8
Tayah = 7
Viarill = 6.5

~ I do not remember who Viarill was. Tayah was supposed to be Shenshen/Pike/Hoykar’s kid. But yeah. That is everything in the document.

If I were to rewrite this… I’m not sure if it would work. I’m not really behind Shenshen crushing on Rayek as a plausible thing anymore. I’m not entirely sure I ever was. HOWEVER, if I were to redo it anyway, I don’t think it would be a planned year trip to find Rayek. I think instead it would be Shenshen knowing he would have been nearby, and they were just going to go out and bring him back. But then a sandstorm happens and they get lost, eventually meeting up with Rayek and continuing on from there.

I would have spent more time on Shenshen and Rayek’s relationship. I also would have spent more time on Ekuar, and probably had him be a bit more addled and weak for a while. When we first meet him in the original comics he’s still recovering, and it’s 7 years later.

I would have built up Kureel/Hoykar a bit more so the drama would be worse. But, to be fair, when I started writing it, I was convinced I wasn’t going to make them a couple at all. Whoops.

I would not have called Shenshen a “dark-skinned beauty” quite so much… *cough* Yeah… not great.

I certainly would have spent more time with the humans of Blue Mountain. I should have in the first place, and I was going to, but changed my mind last minute. Maybe have Pike come around on humans and have that be an interesting counter to the rest of the Wolfrider’s hatred of them.

I’m not sure what else I would have changed. I’m glad that I wrote this when I did, but while I believe there were some good ideas, I don’t think I’m going to revisit this plot. I did grow attached to Hoykar: a Chosen Eight that had barely any character development in canon. I’m 90% sure he was the Chosen that carried Voll away, crying, with Aroree in the Frozen Mountains, but like… not much else. I like my fanon version of him, and might use him again in the future.

I am playing with some ideas of another AU that may revisit some plot points from this, but it will be a different story. Whether I actually write it or not, who knows.

I miss what Elfquest used to be, especially the community. I was not super impressed with the Final Quest. I think it went too fast and explored way too many loose threads all at once instead of trying to go through them in a more natural way. I don’t mind Cutter’s fate, but I think it could have been handled better. I don’t think the Final Quest was terrible, but I do think it could have been much better if more time had been spent on it.

I did kinda like Stargazer’s Hunt, but also felt it went through things too quickly, trying to do too much at once. I liked it better than the Final Quest though.

And, that’s it. If you have any questions, ask away. I’ll answer as best I can, but I will likely never write another chapter to this particular story again. It was fun, but now it’s over.