These five chapters are dedicated to my sister and brother, who have helped me immensely.
Ebony's Weavings:
Chapter Twenty-One
Trusting the Lodestone
Ebony stood staring out at the desert, wondering what they were going to do. Behind her, the other elves worried.
"Cutter, don't blame yourself. We all underestimated the treachery of the trolls." Skywise's voice was concerned, and Ebony could understand why.
"It's my fault, lad, if the truth be told. Picknose caught me off guard. Your father would've tied me in knots for letting that happen." Treestump's words brought a smile to Ebony's face. She could remember just what Bearclaw would have done. He would have ranted and raved, then forgotten all about it.
"Bearclaw had a rotten temper, High Ones keep his soul." Ebony's voice piped up, and Cutter smiled gently at her.
"I can't help but feel that he'd have handled this better than I did." Cutter's self-blame was worrisome to all the Wolfriders. "Bearclaw would never have tried to reason with the trolls . . . and he'd never have had even a little faith in Greymung's word." Cutter looked down, and Ebony approached him, putting her arms around him for a moment.
Treestump sighed. "Listen, lad. We all wanted to believe there'd be a new holt waiting for us here. The decision to try for it wasn't yours alone." Others nodded, and Cutter smiled.
"Well, no matter who's to blame, we can't stay here. This new land is a death trap." Ebony's pragmatic words turned their thoughts from caring to concern. She ventured out of the little cave and stared at the sheer cliffs extending for miles to either side. "It looks like we can't go back overland, either. I don't see how we could get up these cliffs. So it looks like we take our luck with that wasteland out there."
Cutter slid down the rock, sighing. "You know, even if we could go back over, there's nothing left of the holt but ashes." Ebony tried to hide her tears, and moved over to where Moonshade sat. But the tanner would not even look at the huntress.
"I guess the lodestone didn't bring us much luck, did it?" Ebony could only assume that Skywise had gotten the small piece of stone from the troll caverns.
"Hey! Look at that! No matter how it spins . . . ."
"It always ends up pointing the same direction!" Each of the Wolfriders forgot themselves as they marvelled at the miracle. And they noticed that one end always pointed back at the troll caverns, and one always pointed out into the desert.
The Wolfriders ultimately decided to explore their new surroundings, in the hope that there would be enough water and food to sustain them. And Ebony knew that things were going to be difficult. The land threatened to sap every last drop of water from her body, from all of their bodies. And if she wasn't careful, Moonshade would succumb before any of them.
Ebony approached Strongbow hesitantly, but the hunter seemed not to realize that his lifemate hated her. "Strongbow, Moonshade needs to be careful. She won't listen to me. And she needs help. With Warbler gone, she's crying all the time. And we don't have enough water."
Strongbow nodded, then moved away from Ebony, and she was left alone. She had to watch them both, make sure that the tribe didn't lose any more than it already had.
For three long nights, the tribe trekked through the wasteland, and in the days they slept. Ebony paid little attention to the actual journey. She still watched over Moonshade, careful to make sure she wasn't bothering the tanner. But Moonshade refused to have anything to do with Ebony.
As the days came, the tribe laced leathern cloaks together to form a makeshift shelter from the cruel sun. The mothers and children stayed together under the cloaks while the rest of the tribe sat in what little shade they could possibly find. And when night came, they left again.
Then, on the second day, Skywise saw mountains in the distance. Cutter swore to the tribe that they would make it, but that they would have to be careful about their water supply. When dawn approached, the tribe found a pillar of rock and stayed in the shade from that. The sand was behind them, and the desert floor was baked stone, cracked and weathered. By that evening, Redlance was too weak to move. As Cutter spoke with him, Ebony turned away, not willing to see the end that her tribemate must come to. And she did not hear Nightfall's decision to stay with her lifemate. Ebony only hoped that no more would have to die.
Author's Notes:
The trek in the desert was difficult for Ebony. Someone asked me
how she could possibly make it since she was giving part of her water
supply to Moonshade. Ebony's making it solely through force of will. As
I put it to my friend, she didn't survive the humans only to die of lack
of water. :)
Chapter Twenty-Two
Discovery
"When next we rest, it will be in the foothills at Sorrow's End!"
Cutter's rousing cry echoed through the desert, and Ebony smiled through her exhaustion. She was barely able to walk straight, but she knew that she had to make it. And Moonshade still did not speak to her.
As the tribe trekked, some of the wolfpack dropped dead, and some of the elves were strapped onto their wolffriends. But they made it. In the rocks there was shade, and plants strange to elven eyes. The plants had long spines, something the chief didn't notice until it was too late.
"Ow!" Cutter's yelp signalled Ebony, who hurried over to her chief, ignoring the stabbing headache that came with such quick movement. By the time she'd reached him, he'd chopped the top off of the plant, finding water stored inside. That was the last thing Ebony saw before she passed out.
She awoke at Skywise's gentle nudging. He was handing her food and water, and she was not where she remembered being. Before she could speak, he had his hand on her mouth, and it was then that she noticed the stranger in their midst. The woman was being held in Cutter's arms, and was struggling furiously.
:Where am I?: The Sending was weak, but it wasn't silent. Skywise grinned softly, and filled Ebony in on the story.
:There's a tribe of elves down there, Ebony. Cutter met her when we were raiding the tribe for food and water. For some reason, he grabbed her and brought her along. She has a friend who's coming up to us, but he hasn't gotten here yet, and we don't think she can Send. That's as much as I know.:
Ebony crawled over to the edge, looking at the dark-haired friend. She smiled gently, wondering just who this elf was. And then she heard Cutter's Send. :She's biting me!:
:Well, hit her.: She glanced back at Skywise, who was grinning at Cutter. Cutter's indignant reply said it all.
:I can't do that.:
:So tell her if she doesn't behave, you'll do something awful to her.: Skywise's counsel seemed to interest the young chief.
"Ow! Like what?" The whisper was barely heard by the huntress, but she decided to put her own thoughts into the conversation.
:Let her wonder.:
"Uh, listen . . . I'm going to take my hand away . . . but if you scream--well, you won't like what will happen to you." The strange woman looked at Cutter for a long moment, then screamed as loud as possible.
"What now, oh wise ones?" Cutter regarded his friends angrily, and Skywise grinned.
"Eh . . . I think we're going to have a visitor."
Author's Notes:
Ebony is very, very weak from that trek through the desert. But
she's still strong enough to keep going if Cutter asks it of her. She
just pretends that she has plenty of energy until she dies.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Blackhair
"Leetah!!! Where are you?! If you've harmed her, barbarians, I--" The dark-haired man was not giving up, Ebony noticed, and grinned softly. His anger was understandable, Ebony knew, but she didn't like being called a barbarian.
"Calm down, blackhair. She's fine." Cutter's words were calm, unlike the woman adorning his shoulder. Leetah was biting and kicking, not that it bothered Cutter at all. "She's very strong, in fact."
"Rayek, do something!"
"Release her, land-rat, or I'll--" Rayek's words of fury trailed off as he felt a tap on his shoulder.
"No . . . I don't think so . . ." Pike grinned down at the blackhaired man from atop a boulder. As Rayek took in the sight, he saw others, surrounding him, making sure that he was no real threat. Ebony smiled softly, not really threatening the elf, but making sure that he didn't hurt Cutter.
"Jackal! Leader of jackals!!" Rayek spit at Cutter, disgust apparent in his eyes. Ebony shook her head, going over to the fellow elf.
"Let's have the spear, blackhair." She reached out for the spear in his hands, discovering too late that it was the wrong move. The elf turned on her, pinning her with his eyes as he allowed her to feel the force of his fury. She stiffened, standing straight and seemingly unaware of anything.
She barely heard the things that went on after that, knowing only that there was an arguement for some time. When she came to, she was woozy, swaying and barely able to keep upright. The little food and water she had in her system didn't make up for the days without. Then she noticed that the woman Cutter had picked up at the raid was speaking.
"Come down to the village. My father, the Suntoucher, will know if you are telling the truth. And if you are, we will help you as we can." Ebony nodded slowly, liking the idea, then noticed the elf who had forced her into submission. He was glaring back at Cutter and the rest of the tribe, and she sighed, shaking her head. What was she going to do about this?
When they got to the village, Ebony marvelled at the sights. There were huts made without trees, there were flowers and grass, not to mention smooth paths leading everywhere. Surrounded by curious onlookers, Ebony and the rest of the Wolfriders assembled before a gentle, commanding figure. Ebony noticed that he could not see them, could not see anything, in fact. And the blind man spoke.
"Call me Suntoucher. I do not see with my eyes, Wolfriders, for I gave them up to the almighty DayStar many years ago." Suntoucher smiled at them, and Ebony felt comforted. She did not wish to show weakness to this tribe just yet. It would be embarrassing. "But the heart can learn to see more deeply than the eye. Let me look at you now . . ."
Suntoucher regarded the Wolfriders, seeing into them with a sixth sense that only he could possess. And then he spoke again. "I sense great weariness . . . and hidden sorrow for the loss of all that you have known, and for those you have called friends and family. Your days have been perilous, yet you have endured them with courage, and with a ferocious will to survive." Ebony noticed the other elves nodding slowly, and she suddenly remembered Nightfall and Redlance. With a jolt, she Sent to Cutter, asking him about the two.
"Redlance and Nightfall!!!" Cutter's spoken outburst startled the others. "Forgive me, Suntoucher, but we had to leave two of us behind in the desert. One was injured, perhaps dying. I've got to go back for them before it's too late." Ebony went to her chief's side, mounting her own wolffriend as he mounted his.
"But you are exhausted, young chieftain, and so is your beast. Not to mention you, huntress." Ebony shook her head, regretting the action, but not allowing it to interfere with her gaze.
"No matter. If there is a healer among you villagers who dares follow us, let him do so now. We're going." Ebony glanced at her chief, noting his surprise, and nodded. She knew he was worried about her, but she also knew that she would not be able to rest until they had Redlance and Nightfall back.
Author's Notes:
Much more of this, and old Mush-for-Brains isn't going to live
too much longer. Fortunately for all of us, Leetah does have a Healer's
sense of justice. :) As in, help the wounded no matter what they've
done. Rayek's part will get bigger, of course, so stay tuned.
Chapter Twenty-four
Healing Care
"Wait, Wolfriders. I am a Healer." Leetah's calm voice stopped Cutter and Ebony dead in their tracks. They turned to regard her solemnly, seeing nothing but truth in her statement.
"Leetah! What are you saying?" Rayek did not seem too pleased with Leetah's calm offer to help them. "You can't go with him. I forbid it!" Ebony flinched at that. Something told her that the Healer would like the wording about as much as Ebony would like it herself.
Ebony was not disappointed. "You . . . forbid?!" Rayek backed away, surprised by Leetah's icy stare. He glanced at Ebony for a long moment, trying to gauge her reaction to everything, but eventually looked away from her, too. Rayek finally apologizes, offering to accompany them all and ensure that the others got back safely.
The Wolfriders, it would seem, had a strange effect on the elves known as the Sunfolk. And the Sunfolk had a strange effect on the Wolfriders. Ebony was constantly aware of the two riding behind her, worried about their reactions to Nightfall and Redlance. She was particularly worried about how this Rayek would react.
Soon enough, they were at the small pillar of rock where they had left their fellows. Nightfall noticed them first, calling out to them as she ran towards them. Cutter enveloped her in a hug as Ebony and Leetah went to take stock of the danger Redlance was in. Ebony and Leetah kneeled beside the stricken warrior. Leetah took Redlance's hand in hers, then gasped.
"These wounds were deliberately inflicted. Who could have done such a thing?"
Ebony looked at her, wondering if the healer was always this naive. "Humans. They did this, and then drove us out of our homes. They wanted to kill us. But they didn't." Ebony stared at the healer, challenging her to save Redlance, to save the tribe. And Leetah took the challenge.
For a long time, no sound was made, no movement allowed to distract the healer from her work. And when she finally looked up, Redlance was alive and well. And Nightfall had pushed Ebony aside to hold her lifemate.
Ebony grinned at the two lifemates, then turned. The first person she saw was Rayek, who was holding Leetah gently and smirking at Cutter. She sighed, going over to the three and glaring at them. That was the last thing she saw before she blacked out again. It seemed that her willpower had finally given up.
Author's Notes:
Well, Ebony should finally get the attention that she needs. And
she didn't even have to admit it. I'm sorry it has taken so long to
write this section. I hope that you will enjoy it and get back to me.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Another Meeting
When Ebony awoke, she was being held by Cutter. The gentle swaying told her that they were riding on Nightrunner, but she couldn't remember just why. "Cutter?" she murmurred. "What happened?" Cutter shook his head at her, grinning softly.
"You pushed yourself, Ebony. You didn't tell any of us how badly you were hurting. Leetah managed to heal you only because she was here. Too much longer and she wouldn't have been able to give you enough energy to heal." He hugged her softly, and she heard a soft growl behind them. Looking back over Cutter's shoulder, she saw Rayek glaring at the two of them. She blushed, hiding herself in Cutter's shoulder.
When they arrived back at Sorrow's End, they were greeted by Suntoucher. He smiled at the party returning, and Cutter pulled him aside. "Redlance lives, thanks to your daughter. I hope that someday she will forgive me for carrying her off like that. I did it without thinking, almost as though I had . . . no choice!" Ebony smiled at Cutter's words.
"We are the Sunfolk," Suntoucher said gently. "Ours is the way of peace. We would have freely given you the provisions which you took by force. But although you came to us in violence, you are welcome, now, to stay here and rest." He touched Cutter on the shoulder, trying to convey the peace that he felt. And Cutter smiled.
"No one has ever been kind to us before. We thought we were all alone in a world where life was short and often bitter."
Ebony recognized the sentiment as one of Bearclaw's and smiled sadly. It was hard for her to remember Bearclaw as she did, harder still to know that he who had shown her so much care was gone.
"Your hardships have caused you to forget what it means to be elves." Suntoucher's words surprised at Ebony, and she sighed. "Come now, all of you. It is time you were brought before the Mother of Memory."
The name struck a chord within Ebony, and she knew that she and this mysterious Mother would get along well. The tribe was brought to the largest building in the village. The clay walls are covered in strange, colorful symbols conveying a message of peace and brotherhood. As the tribe entered the large hut, they saw a tall, slender woman seated in a misty pool of light. The woman beckoned them forward, and Ebony's breath caught in her throat.
"Welcome to Sorrow's End. You are elves indeed, brave travellers. Our race is of one heart and one mind no matter the circumstances which shape our behaviour or our bodies." As the woman rose, Ebony gasped. She was a High One. The words slipped out, and the woman smiled gently.
"No, child. You flatter me. Old I may be, but not that old. I am Savah of the Sunfolk, some of whom are pleased to call me the Mother of Memory." And Ebony realised just how much she could learn from this elf.
Author's Notes:
Please remember that Ebony is the memory-keeper of the
Wolfriders, and so she and Savah will get along very well. I hope you
will enjoy this part. It will be a while before my next post. Take
care.