More Than What Meets the Eyes

This will be a slightly alternative universe story. This veers off of canon a little. You will see that I made Dodia's son a tiny bit younger than what was represented in Barry Blair's "Fire Eyes." Sorry for canon lovers.

Doesn't look like there are a ton of EQ lovers here, but I wanted to tell a story of one of my favorite background characters that I think needs more attention. I love Chot.

Please review and let me know what you think, but I don't expect this story to be seen by very many so I'm not begging for reviews.

I own nothing. Poop!

Chapter One

Dart waited anxiously with Ember's tribe, which he had recently joined, and Cutter's tribe. The two Wolfrider tribes had been having a visit with one another when Sunstream had gasped out that there were elves in need of help. He and Skywise had wasted no time in guiding a pod where it was needed to offer assistance.

"What in Freefoot's name?" Dart blurted as he and the rest of both tribes watched a very much grown, wet elf walk down the palace steps behind Skywise and Sunstream, "Jethel?"

"Hello, Dart," Jethel sighed shaking himself as he looked about, "It is good to see you. Thank you for answering my call in this deluge. Don't get upset. There are four others with me and one you won't be too happy to see, but I don't have time to explain. Chot is sick and getting worse by the moment. He needs a healer quickly or we will assuredly lose him."

Dart blinked as Dodia walked down next with what must be her crying cub in her arms. Both were dripping rain water and were followed by…

"You!" Dart snarled angrily glaring at the elf carrying Chot while his hands went automatically to his weapons even as Jethel placed himself firmly between Dart and the other elf, "How dare you…"

"Enough," Cutter broke in as Dart whirled, "Jethel said he would explain and he is right about the fact that one of his comrades is needing a healer quickly. Hello, Door. Dart has told me much about your work in the forevergreen."

"Greetings," Door sighed cradling the elf in his arms carefully while he tried to shake the rain water from his bangs, "Please know that Dart has every reason to be angry with me, but that is not helping Chot right now. He's very ill. Please tell me that your lifemate is here, Chief Cutter. I believe I remember that her name is Leetah from last we met when Winnowill destroyed the Blue Mountain."

"She is and you are correct on her name," Cutter agreed seeming to be sizing up the taller elf, "I have already sent for her. She is on her way."

Dart wanted to snarl again, but finally really looked and noticed how limp his old friend was in Door's arms wrapped in soaked blankets. Chot looked horrible and seemed to be having some trouble breathing. Dart rushed forward and carefully extricated Chot from Door's grip despite the other elf's reluctance to allow him. Yun was close by growling a warning at the taller Glider with her blade out and ready.

"Get your dung-headed, poking hands off my tribemate," Yun hissed as Dart backed away from Door feeling panic begin to rise when he realized how sick Chot really was as the elf remained limp and passive despite his manhandling.

"Bring your friend into the smaller chambers here," Leetah called from a nearby doorway, "Shenshen has some furs set up. Hurry, Dart. I can sense the internal stress within the one you carry. His time is running out if I don't intervene soon."

Dart moved quickly trying not to jostle the elf in his arms. There was no denying that Chot was ill and suffering. The elf was burning to the touch and far too pale. Carefully, Dart lowered his friend onto the hastily constructed pallet and backed up as Leetah bent over Chot to hurriedly strip the wet blankets away. Shenshen gasped from nearby at seeing the still elf. The Go-Back had clearly lost weight.

"I can't believe it. Chot?" Leetah's sister breathed as she froze before breaking out of her surprise to assist the healer.

"Dart," Jethel whispered drawing the other back into the antechamber, "My eyes see with joy."

"As do mine to see you well," Dart offered as he noticed Kimo, Yun, and Sunstream coming over, "Explain him."

Jethel sighed once again as he glanced at Door hovering anxiously in the doorway of the room that Chot occupied.

"Wait," Cutter interrupted as the group glanced up, "Let's have a tribe council meeting for all that wishes to be present. I think we all want to know about your journey, Cub."

Jethel snorted at the title and nodded quickly. This elf was one he knew not to argue with. Cutter radiated a stronger presence than even Dart. The younger elf was a bit in awe.

-Don't worry. I'm still a cub to my sire too, Jethel.-

Jethel glanced over at Sunstream as he winked playfully. At least their friendship hadn't seemed to have changed despite how each of them had grown separated from one another. He hoped that would still be the case with Shenshen, Yun, Kimo, and especially Dart.

"What do we do about him?" Kimo asked jerking his chin in Door's direction.

"He won't do anything, I promise," Jethel vowed, "He's not like that anymore. He still needs healing, but Chot has helped Door so much. You have no idea. Door will stay here protecting Chot. He's fine."

"He is, Dart," Dodia agreed drawing her sniffling cub over to the group with a fresh fur wrapped around both them to ward off the chill from the rain, "Much has changed since last we parted. There is much to tell."

"Hmm," Cutter hummed from behind Jethel as the group looked towards the golden chief, "Strongbow?"

-I'll guard the elf. He's covered and I sense no ill will from him. I expect to be filled in later-

Dart relaxed as relief filled him. His father would watch everyone's backs by shooting Door in his-if that was needed.

"I too wish to hear of this," Windkin stated as he alit beside Dart, "But I will admit to feeling something different has come over Door. He is much changed since last he and I crossed paths. Calmer, perhaps. Or…more collected."

"He is," Jethel agreed while Cutter led the group into another chamber that was much larger, "That is Chot's doing, but that is also what I fear made him ill."

Dart blinked as he exchanged glances with his former tribe mates from the forevergreen. Chot helped Door? Chot the crazy, always hungry, blunt, bragging, sometimes pretty lazy Go-Back that was astonishingly loyal to the ones he cared about, helped an insane Glider? Really?

Now this I've got to hear," Yun declared giving Jethel a scrutinizing look, "It would seem that Chot's search for you changed both of you more than you just maturing, Jethel."

"You have no idea," Jethel admitted staring back towards the door he had just come through, "Chot is very much my brother now and there is more to Chot than we ever knew or gave him credit for. He has me beyond worried. Will Leetah let us know how Chot is doing?"

"As soon as she can," Dart nodded out, "Leetah is very considerate and she can sense that many are very concerned for him. Let's hear your tale. Tell us how you got re-tangled with Door."

Calls of agreement rang out in the room full of elves. Jethel drew himself up as he tried to get his thoughts in order.

"I was swept away with a human child, as some of you know," Jethel began as Dart nodded quickly while Sunstream grimaced nearby, "Ahnn-Li turned out to be as horrid as most humans and I had to escape and survive on my own. The dung pile had many hunting me and I learned how to survive."

"Looks like you did just fine, Lad," Skywise pointed out before frowning as Jethel shook his head.

"I'm not sure how much I actually eluded on my own before I truly grew up and had real skills to rely on," the young elf sighed, "Chot admitted to having found me shortly after I arrived with Ahnn-Li at a place that was soon to be named Passage, but he kept himself hidden so I could grow and stop being the overly sensitive cub I was in the past. I think he stepped in to keep me safe multiple times and I had no idea."

"Chot did that?" Kimo asked then whistled in surprise as Jethel nodded, "No idea he had that in him. He's…um…a unique elf."

"Still is," Dodia groaned as her cub whined and sniffled softly," "What we didn't know is that he has a soft spot for cubs and a…a strange way of cutting right to the heart of matters. Growls and grumbles like nothing else, but children see a playmate within him. My son took right to the sand flea and is very upset right now that Chot is so ill. Settle, Cub. Hush. He's going to be okay now. Shh."

"Poor babe," Kimo said as murmurs of sympathy rippled through the gathering, "This just doesn't sound like the Chot we all remember. I mean…he and I didn't get along that well, but he grows on you."

"Chot is still Chot," Dodia agreed, "Loves to eat, loves to sleep, loves to argue his point. However, there is more to that elf. Chot sees things. He can give sound advice and help. He did that for Door."

"How so?" Windkin asked leaning forward with Ahdri beside him, "There was no reasoning with Door back then. How did that loud mouthed Go-Back get through to him?

"Give me a moment to get to that, Windkin. Chot helped me deal with Ahnn-li and make Passage safe for some human children I had under my protection. We then started out on our own to figure out what to do next. I wasn't ready to come back yet. Chot helped me develop leadership skills. He helped advise me so I could grow and mature to trust myself," Jethel continued, "I wanted to be as competent as you, Dart."

Titter rang out once again as Dart blushed and his sister bounced over to laugh at him.

"Settle yourself," Moonshade reprimanded her daughter before turning to Jethel, "Please continue."

"This is where the story gets complicated," Jethel groaned looking down for a moment, "Chot and I found Dodia and her son. She had hidden the boy away from Door because he was still lurking about just as crazy as he was before, but we didn't believe her at first. Dodia took off to give Chot and I a chance to escape from humans so we could take her son with us to safety. Well, we had a time of it with humans once again, but eventually Dodia met back up with us with a clearer head than she had had before. Then Door showed up trying for revenge and to take his son from us. Chot wasn't having it and he and Door went at it like nothing I've seen before when…well…the strangest thing happened while they fought."

"You got that right," Dodia chuckled shaking her head.

"What happened?" Windkin demanded.

"Chot and Door, the two kind of…well…they sort of recognized one another as they fought that day," Jethel offered as everyone froze in the room in surprise, "Door just kind of choked up and Chot said, 'Oh, now I see what Suntop was going on about with all his double-cursed talk of magic. That fish-rotting witch has poisoned you good.'"

"What?" Yun questioned, rising in shock, "That's not possible!"

"It is," Cutter cut in as Yun turned to stare at him in surprise, "Your sire, Skywise and I had the same happen to us when we were much, much younger and I think the same could possibly be said for Dart and Kimo, am I right?"

"Aye, Chief Cutter," Dart agreed as Kimo nodded from beside him, "Kimo and I are soul brothers, but Door and Chot? That is hard to even consider. What happened then, Jethel?"

"Chot just jerked Door down by his shirt leathers and I think he, somehow, set some things straight in Doors head. He had gotten a bit better with sending, but I guess the recognition opened his mind up fully because he lock-sent with Door and I can't explain to you what he did," Jethel groaned with a shake of his head, "I've heard both Chot and Door mention something about shields, but I'm unsure what they mean. However, whatever Chot did worked because Door became a totally different elf and a real friend to the rest of us."

"By the High Ones," Yun murmured as she shook her head, "Chot was never one to send in the past. Sending usually caused him a lot of strain. He could receive a little, but sending back was difficult."

"Recognition can do that," Dodia pointed out, "The bond between those two assisted Door in returning to the elf he had been prior to Winnowill's influence and also helped me find some balance again. Door and I were never meant to be lifemates, but his soul had been pulling at me to help him. I didn't know how, but somehow Chot did."

"Door admitted to his mistakes and felt awful, but Chot literally kicked him in the butt and said live for today to make up for any yesterday. It has been nice to watch the two together as they discovered more about one another. Door is completely dedicated to Chot and though Chot would deny it, he is the same to Door," Jethel grinned out before sobering, "What we didn't realize was that Chot was…"

"Out!"

All looked up as Shenshen and Strongbow frog marched Door into the room. The order had been given by Shenshen.

"He needs me," Door gritted out floating away from the two as most of the Wolfriders stood in case they would be needed, "He's in pain. I can feel it. I can't leave him!"

"My sister will deal with the pain, but she can't help Chot with your hovering," Shenshen pointed out as Door allowed himself to land back on the ground again looking resigned, "I'll come back to give everyone an update once Leetah knows what is going on with Chot. You stay here and behave."

Door growled softly, but nodded as the midwife left. The tall elf closed his eyes for a moment before looking up at everyone.

"I've been following your conversation, Jethel," Door advised, "I can explain what it is that Chot did and is still doing for me, if that is okay with everyone."

Most relaxed and nodded except for Dart who trusted Door not in the least despite the tale thus far.

"Chot is a…direct elf," Door chuckled softly looking back towards where Shenshen had gone, "He felt the mind sickness within me that Winnowill caused and he literally set up barriers in my mind to push her poison away as he howled the most obscene curses in my head at her. I felt more awake and aware than I had in years and finally I recognized the horrors that I had done in the forevergreen, but that snake's venom is strong and Chot has had to continuously buffer those shields for quite a bit of time so I wouldn't slip back into insanity. I had no idea that he was straining himself so badly. Chot hid that fact carefully from all of us. Can you imagine a life like my soul brother has had since our bond? Trying to survive and having half of your mind constantly working to keep your soul mate sane."

-Like being ripped into two pieces.-

Door groaned and nodded angrily in agreement at Strongbow's sending.

"I tried to get Chot to stop as soon as the strain began to show," Door insisted looking over as Jethel nodded remembering arguments and denials, "Chot doesn't do anything half way. Refused and said he was fine. Damn that stubborn Go-Back. Complains about everything all the time except for when he needs to voice a real problem that is causing him pain. He weakened slowly until he just collapsed in agony two days ago and still he shields me. Thank the High Ones that Jethel's call was finally heard. The barriers in my mind are making my sendings too weak to have helped and Jethel was having trouble getting anyone's attentions."

"I've been training with Timmain," Sunstream gasped looking horrified, "I've been lock sending almost constantly with her these days. No wonder I didn't hear your call, Jethel. I'm so sorry."

"So that's it," Door whispered looking distraught, "It matter not any longer. You all came for us when we needed you the most. I thank you for that since I feared Chot wouldn't last another day. He and I are the most mismatched soul brothers there has ever been, but I can't imagine my life without him any longer. I pray that Leetah can help Chot for I cannot go on without him."

"She can," Mender voiced standing, "But if Chot is tearing himself in two trying to help you then it is you that needs some healing as well. Then Chot will not have to create the barriers in your mind against the black snake's taint that melts elf brains to mush."

"Exactly," a voice said as Leetah entered the room while Door whirled on the healer with questions forming on his lips, but Leetah held a hand up for silence, "Chot's strength is all but spent, Door. The problem is that he is too enmeshed in your mind for me to pull him back so he can strengthen with healing. We need to act quickly."

"Tell me what to do," the Glider begged surprising Dart with his sincerity, "I'll do anything. Tell me."

"Mender come help me," Leetah ordered as she ushered Door from the room, "Cutter, allow none to disturb us."

Cutter rose and followed the two healers out the door as everyone looked at one another in wonder.

"Of all the strange doings," Yun muttered, "How Chot can get himself so entangled all the time in odd situations is beyond me."

"Took them both by surprise," Jethel stated looking amused once again for a second before growing silent for a moment, "Chot is just like an older brother to me. He never gave up on me and refused to give up on Door. Plus, Door…he feels awful about what happened and all he did. His guilt is so much that there is some self-hatred there. Chot confided that to me when I expressed the same concerns that you all are having about the situation. Door has been trying to make amends."

"He has with me and our son," Dodia agreed rubbing the back of her snoozing cub, "He and I will never be lifemates, as I've already mentioned, but he is not the elf that he once was. Door's better and truly trying to make up for what he's done in his life. Winnowill twisted his mind up good. Suntop-excuse me, Sunstream felt that all along."

"Winnowill destroys anything she has her hands in," Dewshine bit out while her lifemates scowled around her, "At least Door has a chance of living free of her taint if Leetah and Mender can cleanse his mind."

"I don't know what I think about all of this," Dart breathed shaking his head in wonder, "Door did such terrible things."

"We've all made mistakes," Windkin spoke up as Dart looked towards him, "It soothes my anger to know that he at least admits to his misdeeds and is trying to start anew. Plus, a poisoned mind is a poisoned mind. Can we hold that against Door? He didn't ask for Winnowill's taint. None of us would ever ask for that to be done to us. Remember others that were made mad because of the black snake such as Two Edge and Reef. Let's judge Door on what we see now, instead of what happened in the past."

"Spoken like a Wolfrider," Scouter chuckled as Windkin grinned at him, "What say you, Dart? Can you forgive?"

"Time will tell," Dart voiced as Jethel frowned at him, "I will try."

A small cry had Jethel up and out of the room in a state as Dart followed quickly.

To be continued…