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 Seven

Henrik followed the maiden with Zey right beside him. Dart watched as Chot was settled into a room in the palace on a raised platform that Timmain called a bed. Zey crawled right up beside his soul match to tuck him in tighter under the furs. Henrik looked like he wanted to stay, but slowly stood and shut the door for his son to rest without noises disturbing him. Dart gasped as he found himself pushed up against the wall.

"I told you I would challenge you if I found harm had come to my faunt," Henrik stated as Dart froze with Jethel, Yun, and Leetah watching in shocked horror before everyone relaxed as the Go-Back released Dart, "You saved my son when that poking human threw his dagger. I forgive you the mistakes in judgment you made in the past since you worked so hard to defend and bring me back my faunt. I have no grudge against you anymore. Your debt to me is paid."

Dart breathed a sigh of relief as Henrik nodded firmly. The door opening suddenly had everyone looking up in surprise.

"Burn these," Zey spat, stepping from Chot's room to toss Henrik the clothes Chot had been wearing as the father snarled at the garments angrily, "I'll not have those about reminding the faunt of his ordeal."

"My mother can make Chot some new leathers," Dart offered as Henrik hummed his acknowledgement while Zey shut the door again to be alone with his soul match, "Thank you for allowing me to set everything right again. You were right. I hadn't done my duties as Chot's chief within the forevergreen."

"Done and over with," Henrik sniffed, "I need fire, food, and a room close to this one. I want to be near my faunt and where is my grandson? Move, Dart. Where is my other faunt? Jethel, come. You need food and rest too. I said to move, Dart."

Dart snorted at this wild Go-Back. Henrik was certainly Chot's father and now Dart knew where Chot got his particular ways. Leetah, instead, led the way since she let the elder Go-Back know that she knew where her sister would be. Jethel looked bemused as he was pulled by his arm by Henrik to follow the gentle healer.

"He's stuck now," Yun snorted as Dart grinned while they followed from a distance and then watched as Henrik gleefully burned the black leathers in a crystal fire pit the Sun Villagers used to cook within, "Jethel won't shake, Henrik. He's adopted."

"I can tell," Dart chuckled, watching as Henrik swooped in and snagged up his new grandson from Shenshen's care, "Looks like Henrik's developed a whole new family."

"Which he will look after until his final battle. That is Henrik's way," Yun murmured with a grin while No-name chirped questions at Henrik looking relaxed and happier, "He'll feed those two and put them to bed. Just watch."

Sure enough, Henrik scrutinized every bite that Jethel and the cub ate and after he felt they were full, he insisted on being given a room that had two beds next to Chot's room. Yun took her leave while Dart followed the small family to their temporary quarters. Dart watched as Jethel and No-name were bustled into one of the beds by the elder and could see that Jethel was having trouble hiding his amused grin while Henrik fussed with the furs.

"You sleep while I check on your brother," Henrik whispered since No-name was already sleeping against Jethel's chest with a hand curiously tangled within Jethel's hair, "You've done well, Lad. You got your tribe here safely. You can rest now."

Jethel's sharp intake of breath as tears filled his eyes made Henrik reach and stroke the younger elf's cheek. A lot of pressure had been on Jethel for a long time and it seemed that the elder had picked up on the strain. Then Dart smiled softly as the Go-Back sat on the edge of the bed and hummed softly so that Jethel could settle and fall asleep.

"My new faunt is worn through," Henrik fussed once he closed the door to his room, "I will have neither of my faunts or my grandson back in that forevergreen."

"So what now?" Dart asked as the other paused, "Are you taking everyone back to the Frozen Mountains?"

"That is for my faunts to decide," Henrik pointed out, "Go-Backs don't force our fawns or bucks to do anything, but what they want to do. Hush now. I wish to check on my eldest."

Again, Dart watched as Henrik silently crept into the room where Chot and Zey slept. Zey was holding Chot's hand fast asleep. The Wolfrider was a little surprised to see the distance Zey was giving Chot. Dart had thought he had picked up there being a little more between Zey and Chot.

-Ah, good lad. Do you see, Dart? Zey is not overstepping his boundaries with my faunt. Chot has not given his permission for Zey to be too familiar.-

-I thought familiarity was normal for being bonded.-

-Certainly, when both know what is going on. Chot has no clue that he is bonded to Zey and Zey is showing my faunt great respect by waiting for permission. My approval of Zey is growing.-

Henrik grabbed another fur to cover Zey with and then sat on the edge of the bed next to Chot. The father checked Chot's and Zey's temperatures before he flashed a smile at Dart.

-Chot is warm, but not burning like before. Zey's presence is helping my faunt and Zey's fever is completely back to normal. Will you look at my son's mane.-

-Chot's hair has certainly grown long.-

-Look at this.-

Dart walked over and leaned to see Henrik pull a thin braid hidden within Chot's mane. The plait was braided carefully with clumsily done clay beads at the end. Henrik beamed and pulled out a similar braid from behind his neck.

-Go-Back males wear braids like this to show our faunts their worth since our young make our beads for us. My beads were made by Chot's hands when he was knee-high to a riding stag. The beads in my son's hair are from No-name. I have no more doubts now that Chot has adopted that child. So now I'll need beads from both Jethel and my grandson.-

-You've adopted Jethel as easy as that, Henrik?-

-He's my youngest faunt. Once Go-Backs claim kinship you become a part of our family. That lad claims my eldest as a brother so Jethel is my faunt now.-

Dart nodded as Henrick tucked Chot's braid back into his mane and stroked his son's cheek before gesturing for them to leave.

"I tire," Henrik yawned out as Dart snorted, "Go get some rest yourself. I've not had a really good night's sleep in poking ages. Not since I discovered that my faunt wasn't with my tribe. Get with you now."

Dart nodded again as Henrik ambled to his room. The Go-Back was clearly tired and surely relieved. The Wolfrider caught himself yawning and left to den with his parents.

With Chot and Zey the next day:

Chot felt like he had slept for too long. There was something…something that he needed to do or needed to remember. What? Then memories returned in glaring colors and writhing images.

"NO!" Chot gasped coming awake as he jerked his hand away from…away from what?

"Chot!" a voice called as he panted for a moment, scrambling back against a…a wall, "Chot, look at me. You're safe. You're safe, Chot. Look at me. Chot, look at me."

Chot startled at the sound of the familiar voice as he slowly turned his head to see familiar eyes and red hair.

"Zey?" Chot whispered as the other elf nodded and reached to support him as he panted, "So I did fight my last battle. Is my father here to greet me too?"

"Oh, Chot," Zey chuckled as Chot blinked in confusion, "You're not dead. You're alive. We all fought so hard to come find you and get you to safety here in the High Ones' Palace."

"What? I…unh!" Chot began before grunting as he doubled over at the tugging at his heart as he grasped at his chest.

"Rotten fish guts," Zey cursed, wrapping around Chot, "Listen to me, Chot. Concentrate only on me. Do you feel it, Chot? Feel our bond and concentrate on that connection. Follow our connection. Follow it, Chot."

"Follow? Hurts," Chot breathed, shaking before feeling Zey's mind tentatively touch his own, "Zey?"

"Look inside," Zey instructed, pulling Chot closer, "You'll feel the bond. Breathe, Chot. Feel the bond so your pain can be released. Look inside, Chot. You can do it. Focus."

Chot breathed in shakily as he closed his eyes and followed the tugging of Zey's mind. There it was. There in his soul. A missing piece that pulled at him so badly, but there was a thread. No a connection stretched so long that it looked like a thread. Chot reached with his mind and jerked on the thread and felt warmth flood him as a missing piece clicked neatly into place. The piece was Zey.

"Zey?" Chot murmured as his eyes fluttered open to see his bonded while the pain ebbed and disappeared, "What is this?"

But Zey couldn't answer. He choked at feeling complete for the first time in an age and held Chot close as he sobbed against his bonded's shoulder. Chot was too shocked to say anything at this display of raw emotion. Zey was not one for showing his feelings. In fact, no Go-Back showed their feelings like this since tears were never allowed to flow publically among the tribe.

"I'm sorry," Zey wailed as Chot hesitantly reached to hug him, "I was such a fool and led you into dangers for my own poking ego. I was a horrible chief and manipulated you to do things you never would have done. I'm so sorry, Faunt."

"Faunt?" Chot hissed, pushing Zey back despite feeling so weak which made him irritable, "You were born three complete turns of the seasons after me, Zey. Who the poke do you think you are calling me a faunt?"

"I lived for years trapped in madness without you while you slept in preserver wrappings. I am far older than you now and the name just slipped. I won't use it if you do not like it," Zey groaned as Chot finally saw the scar on his bonded's chest and gaped in horror, "I've done such terrible things, but I can't live without you, Chot. We are bonded, you and I, linked closer than even recognition. Your weakness and pain was due to our separation. We…Chot?"

Zey blinked as fingers ran over the sword scar that he rightly earned from Kahvi.

"You…you lived," Chot stuttered, beginning to shake, "I thought I watched you die just like I had to watch my father walk away to be sent on that twice-cursed fool's quest. I thought I was alone for so long. I…I…."

Chot trailed off as all that had happened to him overwhelmed his mind for a moment before a sudden thought occurred to him.

"No-name! Where is the cub?" Chot gasped, trying to stand suddenly only to fall to the floor as Zey scrambled off the bed to reach him, "Zey, my cub! The humans…is my cub okay?!"

Zey recognized the look on his bonded's face. This was exactly like Henrik in protective mode over his son. Chot was a parent now without a doubt. The red-headed elf quickly stooped to help his soul match.

"He's fine," Zey assured, lifting Chot back into the bed and tucking him under the furs, "Don't do that again, Chot, you are not strong enough to move about on your own yet. Your faunt was sent to be cared for by one called Shenshen."

"Oh," Chot breathed, looking relieved, "She'll be good to No-name. My little brother? Jethel?"

"All safe and probably with your father," Zey continued before pausing at Chot's stricken expression, "What is it?"

"With my father?" Chot whimpered, "Jethel's dead?"

"What? No!" Zey denied quickly, realizing his mistake as his soul match panicked, "Chot, your father is alive and well. He's right next door."

"He's…my father's alive?" Chot whispered, looking lost, "But…w-we danced and…alive? He can't be. He'd have poking returned to me, Zey. Stop lying!"

Zey could have kicked himself as Chot's breathing grew hoarse and panicked. Quickly, the Go-Back sent.

-Henrik, are you near?-

-Right next door. Don't open send or you'll wake my other faunt and grandson.-

-Sorry. Chot's awake and upset. Doesn't believe you are alive. Hurry.-

Zey blinked as the door to the room was nearly torn off its hinges a moment later as Henrik entered at a near run. Chot gasped as he looked up.

"F-father?" Chot stuttered, reaching for Henrik before he was cradled close in his sire's arms, "It is you. How? How the spear-poking, troll corpse are you alive?"

"By the grace of High Ones," Henrik murmured, beginning to rock his trembling son, "I've been all over strange lands trying to first find Kahvi and then to find you, Faunt. My eyes see with such joy and my hands touch with the same. Zey! You dung-headed idiot, why were you not gentler in breaking the news to my faunt that I'm alive? Do you not think news like that would upset any elf, let alone one who is still ill? Chot's feverish and exhausted."

Chot snickered softly before laughing harder as he hugged his father close. This was Henrik. This was the one elf whom he had looked up to from infanthood and his joy at having him here was immense.

"I've missed you so," Chot breathed, leaning back up to look into his sire's face, "I danced for you, Father. Urda said you were gone and…and that was one of the worst days of my poking life. It felt like the ice had cracked beneath me, but I danced for you."

"I told him," Zey offered, sitting next to the father and son, "I told Henrik of the dance in his honor."

"Well, I am not dead so you honored my eventual return," Henrik voiced, reaching to wipe some tears from Chot's cheeks while his son glanced at the moisture in surprise, "You need to rest. You are exhausted and…"

"Fluffy! My Fluffy!" a joyous voice interrupted the Go-Back.

Chot head snapped up and he instantly held his arms out as No-name tore to the bed to crawl up and reach for his adoptive father.

"Fluffy Chot, I missed," No-name wailed, holding tight to Chot as Henrik and Zey smiled softly, "I was scared. Bad man takes you way and I not like and then shiny ball come and Grandfather Henrik teach me new words. He was yelling words like..umph!"

"Um. Let's not use those new words, Grandson," Henrik interrupted after having covered the cub's mouth as his eldest glared at him, "I was a little angry when I saw that human disappear with my son, Chot, and didn't know a faunt was near."

"Hmm," Chot hummed before looking down at No-name as Henrik took his hand away from the confused child's lips, "Cub, Grandfather Henrik uses some words that are too grownup for you yet and I'm not too happy that he used those poking words around you. You and I will talk about the new words later, okay?"

"Kay," No-name agreed as Chot wiped some tears from his cheeks, "Want to stay with you. Want to, Fluffy Chot."

"You and that cursed name," Chot chortled as the cub grinned at the obvious tease, "Very well, Cub. You are still sleepy judging by your eyes. Under the furs. There is no need to be frightened anymore. You are safe with me."

No-name beamed wide as Henrik helped him snuggle to Chot's side and the cub dropped off rather quickly as Chot held him close.

"Fluffy Chot?" Henrik questioned as his son snorted looking tired.

"Couldn't speak very well when we found him," Chot yawned out as Zey tucked him in, "Was learning words like soft and fluffy soon after Jethel and I took the cub in. Declared that I was fluffy because of my hair. Started calling me 'Fluffy' or 'Fluffy Chot' and I can't break him of the habit. He's developed a strange fascination with my hair for some reason and cried terribly when I trimmed it down one day so I've let it grow ever since. See how he holds the end of some of my mane? Won't sleep without holding to me like this."

"I think that the word 'Fluffy' is his word for 'father' for right now," Henrik whispered as his son's eyes looked at him in surprise, "Your mane has become the faunt's symbol of security. He was huffing when I tucked him in with Jethel. The faunt said he couldn't sleep without his 'Fluffy' and I didn't understand why Jethel had him hold onto a lock of his hair. Makes sense now. You better share one of those poking beads with me, Faunt. I'll have my new grandson on my family braid, thank you."

Chot smirked at his sire before reaching to pull his braid out of his mane to select the nearest bead from the end. Henrik happily took the bead and gently reached to close his son's eyes. It took no time for Chot's breathing to even out as he curled around his faunt sleeping deeply. Henrik worked on adding the new bead to his braid while he speared Zey with his gaze.

-Do not upset my eldest faunt again, Zey.-

-Didn't mean to do that. He asked about the babe and his little brother. I slipped and said Jethel was with you and he took it the wrong way.-

-High Ones, Zey! He poking thought his little brother was dead, didn't he?-

-Exactly. I tried to reassure him, but the information was too much. The faunt was getting overwhelmed. He's so tired and worn that he can hardly think straight. The good news is our bond is sealed fully now and he can begin to strengthen and recover.-

-Ah! Good. Go clean up. You smell. I'll watch my faunt. Be quick.-

-Okay. I'll be back soon.-

Zey hesitated at the door. The draw to be near his soul match was strong, but Henrik's stern glare had Zey softly shutting the door.

To be continued…