Obstacles by Cindy England

The attack came without any prior warning as quite possibly the largest crocodilian Dreamberry had ever seen lunged from under the water at Slingstone's up raised hand clutching the dead fisher cat. Proud smiles were quickly replaced by shocked screams as Slingstone fell forward, his forearm torn by the jagged teeth.

"Get the cubs to safety!" Thicket yelled to Purehaven as she slid across the loose stones and towards the crocodilian.

"Mother!" Dreamberry screamed frantically, Purehaven dragging her and Slingstone backwards.

Tripping and sliding, Purehaven found an outcropping of tumbled rocks along the riverbank. Along one side was a passage just big enough for the elves to squeeze through. Tears streaming down her face and still screaming wildly for her mother, Dreamberry tried to fight Purehaven off as he pushed her into the rocky shelter. Slingstone popped in next, clutching his bloodied arm.

With the cubs safe in the rocky outcropping, Purehaven turned back to where Thicket and the crocodilian continued to fight. The huntress losing ground quickly, vastly out matched by the sheer bulk of the monster. One more powerful lung and Thicket's sturdy spear snapped in her hands.

Purehaven grabbed his sword, "I'm coming!"

**NO! Get in those rocks NOW!** Thicket's sending ripped through the air with the force of a hurricane as she bashed down the crocodilian's head with her splintered spear shaft.

Purehaven tumbled back, falling haphazardly into the shelter's narrow entrance, momentarily shocked. Outside Thicket lashed out with her broken weapon on final time before turning and racing toward the outcropping. Surprisingly swift for its bulk, the crocodilian snapped at her throat as she slid into the shelter, tearing the flesh from upper thigh.

The pain that seared through Thicket's body gave way to tears in her eyes. She could feel the rocks below her become slick with her blood and knew it would only fuel the blood-lusting crocodilian further. She was the elder here and the hunt supervisor; she had to get the cubs back to the holt, even if she didn't make it herself.

**Dreamberry! Daggers - now!** Thicket sent between gritted teeth. She could smell her daughter's fear and panic. Slingstone seemed barely conscious from the blood loss in him arm.

The growl of the elves' wolves harassing the beast outside could barely be heard. Their sharp teeth and racking claws were no match against the thick hide and only served to further annoy the monster that clawed at the rocks, slowly ripping apart the shelter. A thick taloned claw lashed into the cramped cave - again and again.

An ominous, low pitched scrapping arose as one of the large entrance boulders was finally thrown lose, exposing much of the trapped elves. The huge jaws turned again to Thicket, half her body now clear of the rock, her arms caught at a poor angle to defend herself.

Purehaven's bare hands flew out to grip the salivating, gnashing teeth and jaw. A flood of pure energy crackled through the air and the beast reared back at the sudden burst of pain from the elf's touch. Writing in pain and no longer paying heed to the elves, Thicket grabbed the opportunity to twist herself around and plunge the bright metal daggers into the thick, tough neck - again and again. The head was barely recognizable by the time she collapsed in exhaustion.

"Mother!" Dreamberry peeked out from the remains of the cave, terrified at the whole passing of events.

Tripping over Slingstone, she ran to her mother's side, sobbing, unable to tell how much of the blood soaking into the rock was Thicket's or the crocodilian's. She cradled her mother's head in her lap and wish her father had been here, too.

"I'll live, cubling," Thicket coughed weakly, "Thanks to our healer, here." Thicket smiled through closed eyes.

Dreamberry turned her head towards Purehaven, awe spreading across her tear stained face. "Healer?"

The title washed over a still stunned Purehaven. Healer. They meant him. He had done this. He had triggered the sacred magic hidden within him to protect Thicket, igniting pain within the crocodilian with only his bare hands.

"Healer, can you heal them?" Dreamberry looked at Purehaven with pleading eyes, her lip quivering, nearly unnoticeably.

"I-I don't know, " Purehaven's voice whispered.

Moving next to the still bleeding huntress, Purehaven hovered his hands above her body and closed his eyes. He wandered through the quiet darkness of his mind, searching for the feeling that had unlocked his magic. Thoughts tumbled about, worry and anxiousness gnawed at him but nothing more stirred. The faint flicker of magic that had suddenly flared so briefly was gone now and he knew not where it hid within him. Frustrated, he dropped his hands with a heavy sigh and hung his head, he couldn't meet Dreamberry's scared eyes again.

Thicket's hand moved to clasp his and she squeezed it tightly. Recent, horrific images of the monster crocodilian, its tearing jaws and blood lusting anger flashed suddenly into Purehaven's mind as Thicket opened her thoughts to the younger elf. Again he watched as the crocodilian lunged toward Thicket, ready to tear her in two. His grip on the huntress' hand tightened fiercely as a bolt of energy ripped down through is arm, Thicket's body stiffened and arched in response to the sudden force.

"No, don't stop - you've got it!" Thicket said between gritted teeth as she felt Purehaven reeling back in shock, almost cutting the connection.

Again he closed his eyes, letting the flow of the healing energy wash over him, following it to its source within him, slowly tapping into the feeling. He soften his grip on Thicket's hand, struggling to calm the force of the magic without losing it completely. He marvelled at the tingle of energy in him and the feeling of Thicket's body below him; he could feel the pulse of her heartbeat, the rise and fall of her breathing, ragged at first but becoming more steady as he proceeded and the melding of flesh with flesh. He imagined this must be very much like what Recognition felt like.

"Purehaven, you must stop now," Thicket whispered.

Purehaven startled out of his reverie. He had been so engrossed in the healing that he had drifted too deep and only Thicket's gentle warning had stopped him from continuing. He blushed in embarrassment, having not intended to encroach on her soul like that. Thicket merely smiled softly, understanding the novelty of the situation and Purehaven's obvious inexperience with his new found healing. She too had found it a profound experience.

In time Purehaven had fixed up Slingstone who had slowly come out of his shock and the small group made their way back to the holt. Dreamberry clutched her father, Gildedvale, refusing to let him go as the events of the first hunt were retold to their fellow tribesmates. Murmurs of awe flittered through the assembly of elves in response to Purehaven's brave deeds, the young lad sitting shyly in a corner, a humble smile on his lips. As the elves began to wander back to their own dens, he caught a subtle, knowing look from Thicket's eyes and blushed again as he realized she had not disliked his exploration. It seemed some obstacles were well worth the wait, he mused.