Everything recognizable is the property of Wendy and Richard Pini and WaRP Graphics. I just play with their toys


When Eyes Meet Eyes

Everyone knew that Skywise never took only one lovemate. Cutter had said it was because he lost his first lovemate too young. Ember had heard stories about Foxfur from the elders that still remembered and it felt like the dead elf was hanging over her, preventing her from reaching Skywise.

The chieftess watched the stargazer lead another elf maiden away to look at the stars and she was filled with anger and pain. Skywise was hers as she knew his soulname as surely as she knew the sun must rise. And yet she could not bring herself to confront the immortal elf.

Ember had to turn away and grit her teeth when girlish giggles drifted through the night air. She longed to lay in his arms for more than a night and to feel his mind's caress. Her whole body cried out for his, even as she could feel the changes beginning. It would still be several moons before she started to show, but she knew a cub had begun growing within her.

The young elf was never far from tears when the mother moon had passed a handful of times. All of the tribe moved carefully around her, afraid to send her crying but unsure what would set her off. At times, just seeing Scouter and Tyleet together would make her eyes water. Just as Ember didn't say what was wrong, no one dared ask lest they be the next yelled at or cried on.

Where others lept into battle without looking, Redlance often took the softer paths and gentle counsel. So it was no surprise that while coaxing moss and ferns to grow in one of the unused cave-dens, Ember came to sit quietly by the elder. Much of the burden of being chief had been lifted by Cutter's return, but in the past moons, everyone knew her hackles would be up at the smallest of things.

When Ember began picking at the freshly grown moss with a serious frown, Redlance broke the comfortable silence. "What's the burr in your tail?"

The chieftess only grunted but she stopped tearing up the soft green moss.

"Thinking about Teir?"

"No. I mean yes." Ember tried not to cringe at the slip. Teir was a good excuse for her attitude as none of the Wolfriders would understand her situation.

"Which is it?"

Grudgingly, but also with relief, Ember admitted the truth. "I haven't really been thinking about Teir."

"So who has you twisted up in strangleweed?" Redlance shaped a group of ferns in a small ledge.

"It doesn't matter." The younger elf flicked a pebble out of the small cave.

"I might believe you if I didn't know you so well."

Silence filled the small space again. "Can you keep a secret? At least until it can't be kept."

Redlance turned away from the unfurling ferns and sat across from the young chief. "Of course, if it does no harm the tribe."

"I just don't want them to know yet."

The treeshaper nodded and waited for her to find the right words. Ember finally just blurted it out before she lost her will to share. "I'm going to have a cub."

Redlance opened his mouth to speak but he didn't know what to say so he closed it again. Cubs were a blessing to the tribe but there had been no whisper of recognition. Indeed, the last the treeshaper had heard, Ember had not welcomed Mender into her den for some time. But a cub, recognition or not, was always cause for celebration.

"That's wonderful! I had no idea you and Mender were trying for a cub."

"Mender and I aren't lovemates any more." Ember went back to sinking her fingers into the moss.

"But Leetah never mentioned helping you as she did for Nightfall and I."

"That's because I didn't require a healer's help."

The elder gasped. "Recognition?"

Ember couldn't hold back her tears any longer and didn't resist when Redlance pulled her into a tight embrace as she sniffled. "It's all wrong!"

"Recognition is never wrong. The High Ones know our own hearts better than we do sometimes."

"But it shouldn't be like this!" Ember fairly wailed into his shoulder, letting the frustration and pain bleed away with her tears.

"Hush now, what's wrong?"

"He didn't recognize me."

"I'm sure he did." If not for the chieftess' insistence she was with child, Redlance might have thought she was simply in love with her chosen mate.

"But he doesn't act any different around me."

"Are you sure it's recognition?"

"I know his soulname." Ember sniffled. "And it's like Scouter said. It feels like sitting in a thorn bush with a sand flea up my nose, gulping overripe dreamberries."

The gentle treeshaper rubbed the young chief's back and sighed. "Does he know you're to have a cub?"

She shook her head and continued clinging to the elder. "You're the only one that knows."

"Well you won't keep it from the others for long."

"I know."

"You should tell him."

"I'm scared to. What if he rejects me and the cub?"

"No one would reject their child."

Ember finally pulled back. "If he doesn't see it's his, he doesn't need to know."

"But who is it?" Redlance couldn't imagine not knowing Tyleet as his daughter and would spare any that loss.

"It doesn't matter" The young elf stood and brushed off her leathers. "Please don't tell anyone, I'm not ready yet."

"Of course, my chief." The treeshaper wanted to know who the father was, but he knew well enough when not to push the stubborn girl.

Ember bounded away towards the den she shared with her parents, leaving Redlance to continue his work and ponder what he had learned.


Her daughter's small whimpers woke Leetah and she silently crawled over Cutter. Ember tossed and turned in her furs, one arm thrown over her head. Gently, the healer laid a hand on her cub's brow to sooth the dream. As she reached out with her magic, Leetah felt something different about her daughter.

Ember gasped and sat upright, protectively covering her belly only to come face to face with her mother. Leetah stared wide eyed at the young chieftess and slowly reached out her hand again.

"Kitling?"

The young elf didn't know if she should be relieved or cry that her secret was found out so she just nodded and moved her hands. Carefully, the healer touched the almost imperceptible rounding of her daughter's belly and squealed in delight at sensing a healthy cub. Leetah threw her arms around Ember, as the noise woke Cutter.

He grumbled at being woken early until he realized his mate was holding their daughter and crying. "Leetah, what happened?" Instantly, Newmoon was in his hand and he was scenting for danger.

"Oh it's wonderful!"

At the words, Cutter looked again and relaxed that his family was safe. "What happened."

Ember took a deep breath and faced her father. "I'm with child."

For several long moments, Cutter was completely speechless. That was the last thing the half asleep elf had expected. "Wha-when? Who? Why didn't you tell us?"

"Who cares." Leetah shushed her mate and placed her hand over Ember's stomach again. "This is wonderful!"

The Wolfrider chief growled at being brushed away. "If Mender did this to you, I'm going to tear his arms off and make him put himself back together."

"Cutter!" "Father!" The two women were scandalized.

"It wasn't Mender, but it was recognition." Ember tried to sooth her angry father.

Leetah oohed excitedly and felt for the cub again while Cutter, Blood of Ten Chiefs puffed up angrily. "Who?"

"I don't have to tell you that!" Ember kicked off her furs and stomped out of the den.

"Does it matter who the father is?" The healer laid a calming hand on her lifemate's shoulder as she thought of Teir. "Another cub is always a blessing."

"I just never wanted Ember to grow up so fast."