A cloaked figure stepped out of a lone tree, shaped on the inside to make a small hut. To the left of the tree was a small pond. The little meadow where the tree and the pond were located was surrounded by a thick number of trees, protecting it even from the most curious eyes. She looked up at the dark sky and thought to her self, 'Oh, Shadow, think! Where could that preserver be?' Then, at the edge of her peripheral vision, she saw a dash of black dart around a tree. She jumped up and grabbed a branch above and swung herself up. Quickly, she jumped from tree to tree chasing after the black preserver. She attempted to send to it.
^Come back here, Fuzzlepatch! You only have to tell me the name and I will leave you alone! ^ But she only received the taunts of the little winged creature. She continued to follow the preserver until she caught up to. The black corrupted preserver with green wings shot a ball of her webbing at Shadow, but Shadow dodged it and chased on, forgetting where she was. By now, her black cloak had fallen back, revealing her head. The preserver swung down to the forest floor, and Shadow knew she couldn't go down there for sake of leaving behind footprints; the trees were risky enough. The elf forgot were she was and just continued to keep one of her emerald eyes on the preserver and the other where she was going.
"Nasty highthing! Go sleepy! Leave Fuzzlepatch alone!" The little preserver cried out at the big elf, and spat another bit of webbing, and Shadow leaped forward, entirely focused on the demented creature. When she prepared to land on the next tree, she continued to fall, and then she saw the open ground. In her descent she snatched the preserver, who by now was just barely in her grasp, and landed in a somersault, and stood back up. When she looked around, she saw a tribe of elves, who were all staring. She quickly pulled her hood up and slowly backed away.
"Wait!" A silver haired elf and called to her. She ignored his cry and turned and ran, shoving Fuzzlepatch into the preserver bag she had made especially for it. She jumped up onto a branch and ran through the trees.
'If I can just make it back to my home, I can escape. If only this stupid preserver would stop making so much noise!' The little preserver squeaked out and Shadow shook the bag and continued to run on.
Skywise, Redlance, Nightfall and Cutter had all seen the mysterious elf girl jump out of the trees and run back in, so Cutter and Skywise began to chase her. They both hopped on Cutter's wolf friends as if they had been waiting for the chase to start.
^Redlance, Nightfall, tell the others where we went and tell Strongbow to follow us, and then come with him. ^ Cutter sent to the two who had been with them, and he and Skywise rode on. The squeaks of the little preserver could be heard for a bit, but then were silenced.
^Who was that, Cutter? Could we possibly have missed a tribe of elves? Or do you think that she's the only one? Why do you think she was chasing that preserver? Why was it black? And why… ^ Skywise was full of question, but Cutter cut him off.
^Skywise… Let's focus on catching her before we ask any questions. ^ Strongbow, Nightfall and Redlance soon caught up with them.
^Cutter, it seems that she's heading for the enclosed grove. We can ride ahead and beat her there. ^ Strongbow suggested to his chief.
^Sounds like a good plan, Strongbow. And she does seem to be heading there. Strongbow, you and I will go the right, Redlance and Nightfall, you two go to the left, and Skywise stay on her tail. Let us know if she strays from the course at any point. ^ And with that, Cutter and his wolf friend, Strongbow, Redlance and Nightfall all left Skywise alone. He continued to follow her on foot, but noticed that she was slowing down. He attempted to send to her.
^Wait! I'm Skywise! Who are you? We won't hurt you! We only want to know who you are! ^ Skywise knew that even if she did hear him, which she probably did, she wouldn't respond. So eventually, he followed her to the treeless area, just outside the enclosed grove. She jumped down, but found herself surrounded by the five Wolfriders. Cutter got off his wolf friend and stepped forward.
"Hello." He waited for a response, but got none. He continued to wait, but the silence seemed to last forever. Finally, Skywise, who could bare it no more, stepped forward.
"My name is Skywise. What is yours?" He waited and the cloaked figure turned her head to face him, yet her body still faced Cutter.
"My name? I don't think anyone has ever asked me that before you, Skywise, the stargazer. I am Shadow." Strongbow glared at Skywise.
^You gave her your name? Are you crazy? ^ Strongbow sent, and his wolf, which was behind Shadow, stepped forward. He knocked two arrows and pointed them at her. He sent to privately. ^Shall I send a warning shot? ^ Cutter didn't respond, just nodded very slightly, as if staring intently at the elf in the center. Shadow, who knew better, smirked and reached for neck. As Strongbow released the arrows, her black cloak fell to reveal her. The arrows were supposed to whiz past both shoulders, and would have shocked any normal elf, especially since they came from behind. But not Shadow. She twisted around, so her left side was facing Strongbow, and as if in slow motion, put her left wrist up to stop the faster arrow and it bounced off the metallic armband she wore. Then with her right hand she grabbed the second arrow from the top and brought her arm around and flung it, sending whizzing just barely over Strongbow's head.
"Now, I believe the real question is, who was that warning shot for?" She smirked, and after her display of defense, everyone saw the mysterious elf, of whom they had only caught a glimpse of earlier. Her hair which ended before it reached her chin was jet black, except for her bangs in the front, which were pure white and were pulled to the right side of her face. She had pale skin, and her eyes were the bright emerald of the trees in summer. The shirt she wore was black, and the sleeves all ended just before her elbows. Her pants were black as well and they ended right after her knees. On top of her pants, there was a pair of white shorts, which fit on top, perfectly. Both her shirt and pants were slightly torn up around the edges. She had black bands of metal around her wrists and ankles and she didn't wear any shoes, revealing tiny feet, unaffected by the cold. On her face, there was a black piece of metal fitted around the sides, similar to Skywise's, but it was thinner, and had a flowery or coral-like look to it. She had two sheathed swords making an X attached to her back
She waited a moment and then spoke again. "Uh, no hard feelings, right?" She looked over at Strongbow, since he was the one who she had sent the arrow flying at.
^So long as you don't hurt anyone. ^ Strongbow then looked over at Cutter and he nodded in agreement.
"Also, I was wondering if maybe I could go see the Place. It's been a long time since I last saw it." Skywise, still dazed by the revelation of this new elf, immediately responded.
"Why of course!" Cutter glared at his soul brother. "I help take care of the Palace." Skywise smiled largely. Cutter, Strongbow, Redlance and Nightfall hopped on their wolves and Skywise and Shadow walked. Many different conversations were going on via sending, because no one wanted to break the silence.
^Hi Shadow, I'm Nightfall. ^ Shadow looked over at Nightfall and smiled.
^It is a pleasure to meet you, Nightfall. I was beginning to wonder what had happened to all the female elves until I saw you. ^ They both silently laughed. ^I am glad to have run into you. I wish I hadn't run away at first, but it was my first instinct. I guess you could say I was cursed by my fellow elves and cast out into a life of solitude. ^
^Oh! That's dreadful! Well, you may suffer from solitude no more, Shadow. The Wolfriders and Timmain would never banish anyone. ^
^Timmain still resides in the Palace? ^ Shadow's eyes grew large.
^Why yes, she is the last remaining High One, and is practically the Mother of all elves. Why? Have you heard of Timmain? ^
^Timmain and I have been acquainted with each other before. ^ Shadow responded, and began to think to herself. 'Oh, how I do hope that Timmain either forgot or forgave me.'
Nightfall was also thinking to herself. 'Why would Timmain have allowed Shadow to be exiled from her tribe? This doesn't seem right…'
Strongbow, Cutter and Skywise were all having a conversation as well. ^Skywise! Why did you give her your name? ^ Strongbow scolded the young immortal.
^Well, I got her to talk and tell us who she was, didn't I? When we were following her, I attempted to send with her, since she's an elf. She didn't respond, but I knew that she received my sending. ^ Skywise retorted.
^Still, next time you try to get a stranger to talk, you have to consult your elders. It is the wisest thing to do. I would have been against it, and Cutter would have too. ^ Strongbow looked to Cutter for back up.
^Yes, I would have agreed with Strongbow. But Skywise, earlier when you were asking all those questions, you got me thinking. Why did she capture the preserver? I would very much like to know. The preserver did not seem right. Its color and wings were all demented. It could very well be of the Black Snake's doing. ^ Skywise and Strongbow's eyes grew big at this.
^Surely, you don't mean it, Chief? ^ Strongbow asked.
^I do mean it, but we must be careful, ever more so than before. ^ Cutter responded.
By now, Shadow and Redlance were discussing the safest trees for living in, for Shadow had lived in a fair number of trees in her time like the Wolfriders.
^But, by far the Haven trees are the most comfortable. They're smooth and rounded on the outside and inside. ^ Redlance nodded in agreement.
^Yes, it is.^ Then, they stepped out of the forest into the grove and appeared at the base of the hill which was the Palace disguised.
Cutter sent a message to the other five. ^Strongbow, Skywise, Shadow and I will all go on to the Palace. It would be best if you remained here, Nightfall and Redlance. ^ The two lifemates nodded in agreement and the four went on.
^Lifemate, she seems nice. What do you think of her? ^ Nightfall looked to Redlance for an answer.
^She might have seemed like trouble at first and she still is a bit mysterious, but I believe she only has good intentions. I like her too. ^ They watched the three Wolfriders and the mysterious elf walk into the Palace. Once they door closed behind them, they went the short distance to the Holt to tell everyone about the new arrival.