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.
Epilogue
With Dart several days later:
Dart wasn't happy that Dodia hadn't agreed to leave the forevergreen. Sunstream had assured him that Dodia knew what she was doing and had made her own decisions, but it just didn't sit right. No-name was Dodia's child. Didn't she want to raise her cub?
"Dart, I have a blasted bone to pick with you!"
The Wolfrider turned in surprise to see Chot stomping angrily his way. The Go-Back was getting stronger and showing signs of gaining weight, but wasn't allowed to leave the palace yet per Leetah's orders since it would probably be a season before he filled out completely. His new leathers looked good on him, but why was Chot so angry?
"What I do?" Dart asked when he saw Zey following his lifemate looking just as angered.
"What do you mean bringing up Dodia in front of my cub?" Chot snapped, stabbing Dart hard in the chest with a finger, "No-name still has nightmares of Dodia leaving him the way she did. That was buck-rotting cruel, Dart!"
"The faunt is crying his eyes out in Henrik's arms right now," Zey growled as he crossed his arms tightly, "What the poke were you thinking, Troll Dung?"
"I didn't speak in front of…wait," Dart began before pausing, "I thought I smelled the cub's scent, but assumed it was left over from him being in that area before. He wasn't there when I was speaking to Cutter and Sunstream, but I think he was hiding near."
"That does sound like my cub," Chot grunted, placing a hand on his hip, "I'll deal with the hiding, but Dodia is not to be brought up anywhere near No-name. My cub fears being abandoned again and the fears blasted jump when he is reminded of his mother. Follow that scent before opening your dull-bladed mouth, Wolfrider. Bah!"
Dart hissed as Chot whacked him hard in the side of the head before turning and stalking towards his father. Henrik was hurrying over with the crying cub as No-name wailed for his "Fluffy." Yep. Chot was exactly like his sire.
"That slap serves you right," Zey chuckled as he and Dart watched Chot lift No-name to hug him close while Henrik fretted around the two, "Good to see my lifemate's strength levels getting better."
"Much better," Dart groaned, rubbing the sore spot on his head while he watched as Chot stooped to set his cub down and talk softly to the crying lad, "I didn't mean to upset the cubling."
"I think he's calming," Zey pointed out as No-name allowed Henrik to wipe his face down while little fingers tangled in Chot's mane, "No-name holds to Chot's hair like that when he needs reassurance. My lifemate was about to poking gut you, Dart. I'd have helped. Watch your mouth around my faunt."
"Your faunt? No-name?" Dart questioned before stilling as Zey pulled out a short braid from behind his neck with familiar beads, "Ah, No-name seems to have found a family."
"Two fathers, a grandfather, and an uncle," Zey confirmed with a nod, "We don't like it when our faunt is upset. Watch yourself."
Dart snorted and nodded as Zey walked to be with his new family. Jethel wandered over to Dart and grinned at his former leader.
"My-family-is-angry-at-you," Jethel sang as Dart sighed, "I can't believe this, Dart."
"Believe what? That I upset the cub?" Dart asked, "I swear I didn't mean to and I'll be more careful what I say near him."
"No," Jethel chuckled, "Well…yes. Don't upset my nephew again, but I was actually speaking about the fact that I have a family. My parents died when I was little so the village raised me and then later Chot. I called Chot my brother, but then to actually be incorporated in Henrik's family so easily. I'm amazed and…honored."
"You honor me by being a good, brave warrior who can lead like a chieftain," Henrik praised, taking both Dart and Jethel by surprise as the two jumped, "Go give your nephew a snuggle, Son. He needs his family near thanks to this blasted Wolfrider."
"Sorry," Dart offered as Jethel ran and scooped No-name up to twirl the surprised cubling, making the babe squeal happily while Henrik glared at Dart angrily, "I never meant for No-name to hear me."
"You just got off my bad side, Dart," Henrik fussed as the Wolfrider grimaced, "Don't poking nudge the bear."
"Got it, got it," Dart agreed before laughing with Henrik as No-name wobbled once he was placed back on his feet to walk unsteadily back to Chot with a beaming grin, "Looks like the cub is over his upset."
"Looks that way," Henrik agreed, watching his family with apparent fondness, "What now, Wolfrider?"
"My tribe is returning to our holt in the other lands tomorrow," Dart admitted, "It's time for me to leave. Thank you, Henrik."
"For what?" Henrik inquired, turning to Dart.
"For giving me a chance to make things right," Dart explained, "For allowing me to help you bring my lost tribemates out of that forevergreen. I made a mistake in not going to find Chot, Jethel, and Dodia. I only wish that all three were here."
"That warrior made her choices," Henrik sniffed, "She did what she thought was right for her faunt. My grandson is with his real family, safe and loved just as his mother would have wanted. That is what matters now. I will accept your thanks and offer my own. Listen, Dart. I still disagree with your decisions from the past, but look at what those decisions wrought. I have two, grown faunts now, a grandson, and a mess of a Go-Back for a son-in-law. You are lucky that things worked out like this or I'd have gutted your poking body and thrown the pieces to the ice bears. Good journey, Dart."
Dart snickered as Henrik walked away. Chot caught the Wolfrider's eyes and smirked teasingly. That Go-Back knew exactly what his sire had just said.
"Come on, Dart-elf," No-name chirped, coming to tug on Dart's hand, "Let's eat lots and lots."
"I see who you take after," Dart chortled, scooping No-name up to walk towards the others, "Hungry all the time just like Chot."
"Like my Fluffy," No-name giggled, reaching eagerly for Chot, "Right, Zey-Zey? Just like my Fluffy?"
Dart blinked at Zey's new title while Chot took his cub back to set him down to walk.
"That's right, Faunt," Zey agreed ruffling the cub's hair as No-name grinned up at him, "You are just like your Fluffy."
"Silly, Cub," Chot fussed, leading his son by the hand towards the dining hall, "Of course you're like me. Who's my cubling?"
"Me!" No-name gushed, reaching for Zey's hand, "Come on, Zey-Zey. Shenshen is making rabbit stew today and that is my favorite."
"Everything is your poking favorite," Chot teased as the cub giggled, "Let's go, Cub."
Dart snorted with Henrik and Jethel as they followed the chirping cub as he skipped between his two parents. He startled at the lock-send from Zey.
-Thank you, Dart. You've helped me get my soul match back. I am glad to have become the elf I am for my lifemate and faunt. I cannot return your lost love, but you ever need me…ever, I'll come running. May the cold winds bite softer for you, Wolfrider.-
Dart looked up and returned Zey's small smile. Then he felt some pride. He had wrought this. He had made good on his mistakes of the past. It was time to go home now.
The end.
Thanks to all who read. Thanks to the reviewers and thanks to Turtle Babe for allowing me to write a story that used some aspects of her series.
Peace out, Folks!
Was-Mokie