What Decisions Can Bring to Be

Okay. One of my best friends is Turtle Babe. She has been writing a great story about Chot. He too is my favorite elf and I've been dared by Turtle Babe to write a Chot story of my own. Challenge accepted!

This is quite an alternative universe fic and possible yaoi so be warned.

I own nothing. Nothing.

Chapter Four

Jethel bit his lip as his adopted brother and No-name drifted to sleep. Chot was getting worse and these bouts of pain were agony to watch. The elf startled at a call that reached him.

-Jethel?-

-Sunstream? Oh, thank the High Ones. I have wanted to call to you, but I feared that humans would overrun the palace. Chot's sick, Sunstream, and getting worse. Humans are trying to find our holt thinking that if they caught one of us for a sacrifice that good fortune will come to their village. Chot wants me to leave him, but I can't do that. Please help us.-

-I'm on my way, Jethel. There is a new way that I can reach you without bringing the whole palace. There are also many looking for you and Chot. I located Dodia too, but she wishes to be left alone. Who is the third elf with you?-

-Dodia's son. He's just a cubling. Please hurry, Sunstream. Chot's fever is getting too high and he has fits of pain in his chest. I wish now that I hadn't sent Willowsnap to be with Dodia since a preserver cocoon would keep Chot from continuing to suffer. Come soon, Friend. Please.-

-I'm coming, Jethel. Be ready to leave.-

Jethel sighed in relief. Sunstream was coming and he sensed others too through the sending.

"Hold on, Chot. It's okay now. I'm going to bring you to a healer," Jethel whispered before gasping as a group of humans burst through the bushes, "No! Get back!"

Back at the Palace of the High Ones:

Burp!

"High Ones," Zey groaned as Henrik continued to eat, "Like son, like father."

"So I see," Dart chuckled, watching the elder Go-Back pack it in, "So Chot is not alone in his eating habits, hm?"

"My faunt has a good, healthy appetite just like me," Henrik garbled out around some bread, "I taught him well."

"Ah," Dart hummed as he snorted softly, "Your son always did like to eat. I see so much of Chot in you, Henrik."

"Of course. He's my faunt. The only difference between my son and I is that his hair is a shade lighter than my own," Henrik announced, sitting up proudly, "Got to make some poking water behind a tree. I know the way now. Pardon me."

Zey hid his snorts in his arms as the elder walked out of the room. Dart and Yun laughed hard once Henrik left the dining hall.

"Crude," a Sun Villager stated as Zey laughed aloud, "Huh? What's so funny? I don't think calling someone crude is a funny matter."

"It would be funny if you understood that elf and my tribe more. Henrik is all Go-Back and then some. You'll never meet his like….well, except for his faunt," Zey sighed with a shake of his head, "Kahvi taught us that directness which can read as pretty crude. I hear she is on a spiritual journey now. I wished she still lived. I'd have liked to tell her how sorry I was for what I did to her and set Chot up to do. I was such a stupid fool."

Dart was about to try and comfort the Go-Back when Zey shot up from his seat looking around wildly.

"No! The faunt! Chot!" Zey groaned, sinking to his knees as Dart and Yun hurried to stoop beside him, "High Ones, I sense such pain. Rotten fish guts! What is this? What, Chot? What is happening to you?"

"Pain? From what?" Dart demanded as Zey bit his lip hugging himself tight, "Can you sense what is happening?"

"Only that his chest hurts," Zey gritted out with a pain-lined face, "Oh, Chot. What is our bond doing to you?"

"What do we do?" Yun bit out before grunting as another body slammed against hers, "Henrik?!"

"What is it?" Henrik demanded, reaching for Zey's shoulders, "Talk to me, Boy. What is wrong? Is it my faunt?"

"Chot is hurting," Zey panted out, "We have to reach the faunt now. What is taking Sunstream so long? Henrik, I've got to get to my soul match."

"Come on," a voice called as the group looked up to see Sunstream, "Skywise is getting the pod created. Hurry. Jethel's send was riddled with feelings of danger from hostile humans and you were right. Chot is sick and I don't think he is well enough to defend himself. Mother is too far away to make it in time to leave with us, but she will be here waiting for our return. Come on!"

"Up," Henrik snarled, jerking Zey to his feet, "Get our spears, Boy, and pull yourself together for your soul match. Lead the way, Sunny Child."

Sunstream sighed at the title, but ran on light feet as Dart, Yun, Zey, and Henrik followed. Dart was none too happy to hear that hostile humans were close to his old tribemates.

"This way," Skywise called as the Go-Backs pulled ahead, "Get in this way. Watch your spear, Go-Back!"

"Watch it yourself, Fish-Poker," Henrik snapped, "I have no time for niceties! Take me to my faunt now!"

Dart marveled once again as Sunstream and Skywise worked as a team to fly the pod to where his lost tribemates were. Zey groaned at the sensation and cursed softly while the elder Henrik just gnashed his teeth. The pod landed and opened to chaos. Humans were everywhere and Jethel was being overwhelmed trying to keep a cub shielded while a large human was running away with…

"Chot!" Zey yelled, seeing his soul match's unconscious form being carried over the human's shoulder, "That man has Chot!"

"No!" Henrik roared, dashing forward while Zey followed, "Not my faunt, Rump-Licker! Get back here you coward!"

Dart sprung out of the pod with Skywise and Yun following.

"Give me back my child!" Henrik spat, using his spear to great effect to reach the human taking off with Chot, "Zey, try to cut him off by circling around! Go!"

"With pleasure," Zey hissed, dashing into the jungle foliage.

"Dart!" Jethel called, trying to hold off three humans from reaching the cub he was protecting, "Yun! Get back, Human! You can't take him! Stay away from No-name!"

"Yun, grab the cub. The boy is too scared to move," Dart ordered, hurrying to Jethel with Skywise following, "Hold on, Jethel!"

"They've got Chot," Jethel snarled once the odds were even and the boy safe with Yun, "Brother tossed the cub to me and tried to fight. He was too weak to defend himself and their leader knocked him out and snatched him before I could get to his side. Who are the elves that followed?"

"Friends," Dart answered, "Focus, Jethel."

The band of elves ended the humans' lives quickly while some fled back into the forevergreen. A roar of such outrage echoed through the humid green as Dart's heart sank. He didn't have to know him long to know that roar was Henrik.

"Oh, no," Yun gasped, holding the cub tight as the elder Go-Back burst from the foliage with Zey following.

"He took my faunt," Henrik whispered as he shook before turning sharply to his comrade, "That frost bitten, five-fingered, dull blade took my son. ZEY, WHAT IN ALL OF THE ICE OF FROZEN MOUNTAIN WERE YOU DOING OUT THERE? HUMANS TOOK MY FAUNT!"

"That coward turned and held a blasted blade to Chot's throat," Zey bit out shaking just as hard as Henrik, "He knew our poking language. Told me to back off or he'd slit the faunt's throat. I had no choice, but to throw down my spear while he backed away and disappeared on me. What did you want me to do, Henrik?"

Dart cringed at the vile curses Henrik roared. Chot's father was working up into a fit of such rage before he startled at a cub's cry.

"I want my Chot," No-name sobbed, holding to Yun tight as he trembled, "I don't like this. I want Fluffy. I want my Fluffy Chot, Jethel. Where is he? Where is my Chot? Why did that human take him, Jethel? I'm scared."

"Oh," Henrik breathed, gazing at the boy as he hurried over to scoop the child up before even Jethel could speak, "Poor faunt. There, there, Boy. Don't cry. We'll get your Chot back. Hush, Child. There is nothing to be scared about anymore. I'm sorry I yelled, Faunt. Shame on me for scaring you. There, there, Child. I won't let anything hurt you, okay?"

"This is No-name," Jethel began, staring at Henrik in wonder while Zey came over to see the child closer, "You might as well say that No-name is Chot's cub now. Brother has been the cub's adoptive father since Dodia left him in our charge. Why do you look so much like Chot?"

"Chot is my faunt," Henrik stated, rocking the crying cubling while Zey looked in surprise at the child, "Chot's cub now, hm? So this is my son's adopted faunt. I'm a grandfather now. Let me look at my new grandson."

No-name blinked through his tears as he was held up and he looked at who was giving him comfort.

"Fluffy?" No-name asked, patting Henrik's hair, "Like my Fluffy's hair."

"Fluffy, huh?" Henrik chortled, "Perhaps, Fauntling. Your Fluffy is my son and I'm going to go get him for the both of us, okay? I'm your grandfather Henrik and I need you to stay here with the glowing ball of palace and the Sunny Child while I go get our Chot. Can you do that for me, Lad?"

"Get my Chot?" No-name echoed before nodding as Zey reached to wipe his tears, "I be good. Stay with glowy ball and then you get my Fluffy. I be good, Jethel, and not get lost."

"Good, Cub," Jethel praised as Sunstream walked over to embrace his friend for a second, "This is Sunstream. You stay with him while we get your Fluffy."

"Kay," No-name agreed while Henrik settled the child in Sunstream's arms, "Hi."

"I'll stay with Sunstream too," Skywise spoke up as the group turned to him, "He is not as strong with a weapon as I would want with hostile humans about. I'll guard the pod and both Sunstream and the cub."

"Bring my Fluffy back soon," No-name begged.

"Of course we will and I want you to call me 'Grandfather Henrik,'" Henrik urged as the cub blinked, "Can you do that for me, Grandson? What's my name?"

"Grandfather Henrik," the cubling whispered, "Promise to bring me my Fluffy Chot? Do you, Grandfather?"

"Nothing will keep me from bringing you back your Fluffy Chot," Henrik swore as No-name brightened a bit, "Be good and listen to Sunstream and Skywise now, okay? I'll be back soon with your Fluffy Chot."

No-name agreed quickly and waved as Sunstream and Skywise walked the boy to the pod.

"There is no way Chot approves of that name," Zey snickered as Jethel nodded looking at the other Go-Back curiously, "Chot always did love faunts, but how did the lad come up with such a poking, ridiculous name?"

"Not the time, Zey," Henrik growled, turning to Jethel, "So you are Jethel and you claim my faunt as your brother, do you? That makes you my faunt too."

"Um…okay," Jethel stuttered, looking to Dart in shock as the Wolfrider grinned at him.

"That's settled," Henrik grunted, narrowing his eyes, "Where did those muck dwellers take your brother, Son?"

Jethel blinked at his new title. Henrik was completely serious. It had been so long since anyone had called him "son" that the thrill of the novelty of it surprised him.

"To their village," Jethel explained, "The village is towards where the river edge divides. The humans hate elves and see us as demons thanks to what Door did. They will sacrifice Chot at sunrise on the morrow, but the humans will be brutal leading up to his death. We've got to get Brother back now. I can't believe I allowed this to happen."

"None of this is your fault, Jethel. We'll get Chot back. You have us here to help," Dart soothed as Jethel shook for a moment, "Keep calm, Jethel. I know you've been through a lot and you are upset right now, but we'll get Chot back. Lead us to the village so we can see what we are facing."

"It's heavily fortified," Jethel sighed, leading the way, "Those villagers know how to fight mean and hard."

"Pfaugh!" Henrik hissed while Zey gripped his spear hard, "Let them bring it on. They will rue the day they took my faunt and tried to touch my newest child and grandchild. Take us to that village, Son."

Jethel led the way with sure steps as Zey caught up to the younger elf while Dart listened in since he knew the Go-Back had something to say.

"There is nothing stronger than a Go-Back parent who is protecting faunts," Zey whispered to Jethel as the younger elf blinked, "Henrik will keep you and Chot safe, Jethel. You have three Go-Backs here and a Wolfrider. We'll get your brother back alive. I swear it."

In the Village of Thandon:

Chot stirred and slowly began to become more aware. The awareness let him know that something wasn't right. He was on a stone floor and everything ached and burned within him once again.

"Gah," The elf thought as he tried to move and realized his arms were tied painfully behind his back, "What?"

"You wake," a large human that Chot knew was the leader spoke as the Go-Back lifted his head from where he lay, "You're evil will end, Demon."

"I'm not a fish-poking demon and you had better not have touched my tribemates," Chot hissed, testing the binds and realized his feet were also tightly lashed together, "Let me go and…what the buck-rot am I wearing, Human?"

Chot growled to see himself in some type of black skirt-dress thing and he felt that his back was bare with all of the loopy straps holding it all in place. He looked like one of the poking she-elves from the Sun Village. The humans had even taken his boots. Chot knew this outfit was what the five-fingers forced their victims to wear. Blast it!

"You wear the sacrificial clothes marking you as a creature of darkness," the human began as Chot rolled his eyes, "I am Thandon and you should be honored that it is my hand that will end your existence in a few short hours."

Chot growled low when the human reached to touch his face so he bit down just as hard as he could on Thandon's hand. He might die today, but he'd die fighting just like a Go-Back.

"Filth!" Thandon shouted, slapping Chot so hard in the face that he released the human's hand as he slid back from the impact, "Guards, muzzle the beast. Stew in your own juices, Demon. Don't think I didn't pick up on the fact that your skin is burning to the touch. Your fire is escaping your evil form, but I will end you before the fire consumes your husk."

Chot fought the hands that reached for him, but he was still weakened and couldn't move well with the fever he was suffering through. The strip of leather that was strapped so tight across his lower face made speaking impossible.

"High Ones," Chot moaned within his mind as he was doubled over in pain again as his heart pounded in agony with another one of his strange fits, "Too weak to send. Jethel, do not come for me. You must get the cub to safety. My life is not worth yours and No-name's. Please remember all that I taught you in being a chief. Sometimes sacrifices have to be made. I'm at peace with what is to come. I'm at peace."

The Go-Back shook in his agony as a small pool of blood trickled to the floor from a cut on his temple, thanks to the struggle with the guards. Chot whimpered behind his gag while his mind slipped away as the pain grew too much to bear. He did feel a soft touch to his mind, but he was too far gone to recognize the touch. "Is that Jethel?" was his last thoughts before he lost consciousness.

To be continued…