Heart's Finding: Part Two, Death and Consequences
Disclaimer: I do NOT own ElfQuest. Wendy and Richard Pini own it, as well as the concepts of Recognition, Holts, and Chieftess'. However, I own these characters, the Holt they are in, and the plot of this story. Please enjoy, it's only Fanfiction!^_^
It had been two long years full of joy and sorrow since Dreamstare and Serinya had Recognized one night and lifemated by the next day. Today, their child was born...
A timid-looking Dreamstare sent mildly towards the hut of his Beloved. ** Is the child born yet? I realize that your midwife...** Here, a plumpish elderly elf glared. ** Did not think it proper that I be in the room with you when the child was being born...May I enter now? **
With a soft laugh, his lifemate returned with a gentle mind-voice. ** Yes, she is born...You better get in here quick, High Ones only know what her name will be otherwise! ** She sent teasingly.
As the tall, slender half-High One entered the hut, several of his lifemate's cousins and friends-the females, at any rate- rushed out of the room, leaving the alone with their newborn daughter. He looked down at her crinkled, adorable little face, with its light brown skin and those huge golden eyes. He gasped as he saw the color of her hair, and Serinya chuckled.
** Yes...her hair is like yours. Yet she has my skin and eyes, doesn't she? ** She smiled softly up at Dreamstare.
He grinned and brushed a stray hair out of his mate's beautiful face. ** Yes, she does. She will be lovely when she grows up, just like her mother. ** He reached down for the child. ** May I? **
**Of course, my love. ** Carefully, she lifted the curious little girl-child up and handed her gently to Dreamstare, who held her close against him and smiled.
** You know, despite my age, I have...never before had a child. Never. This...is the most wonderful feeling in the world...**
Serinya wobblingly stood and pulled he and the child into a hug, then kissed him softly on the lips, and the girl on the top of her tiny, slightly fuzzy head.
He sighed and then sent quietly. ** I...think I know a perfect name for her, my love...Rhea. She should be named Rhea. **
With a wispy smile, Serinya replied. ** I agree. A lovely name for a lovely child. OUR lovely child. ** She pulled the two into another careful hug.
5 years later...
** Rhea, don't run so fast!! ** Sent a laughing Serinya as she tried to keep up with her small daughter.
Rhea giggled, and ran faster, her shoulder-length, brilliant red hair sparkling as she ran. Her huge golden eyes were crinkled in laughter. Her eyes widened in awe, though, as she ran straight into something-another elf.
Serinya caught up, panting and laughing. **I am sorry, Starwhisper...** She sent to the young elfin adult. She smiled, grabbed her daughter by the waist, and hoisted her onto her strong shoulder. Dreamstare finally caught up, puffing and grinning.
**Hello, Starwhisper! ** He sent cheerily, then grabbed Rhea from Serinya's shoulder, placed her on his, and took off.
Serinya, laughing, waved farewell to the younger elf and followed her mate, calling for him to slow down, to which he responded teasingly.
Later that same day...
** Mother, why do the other elves look so in awe of you? ** The little elfess asked her mother quietly as Serinya brushed her flame-hued hair.
Serinya thought for a moment, then replied. ** I suppose it is because I am their leader...someday, you will take my place, and they will all respect you. **
**Not anytime soon! ** Rhea sent hotly, grinning, as she hugged her mother.
** No, I hope not...** Serinya smiled as she embraced her small daughter.
Dreamstare walked in, the usual smirk style smile on his handsome face. His red hair glistened with water, and his paler skin was slightly pink-he had obviously been swimming. He grinned at his lifemate and locksent to the raven-haired beauty. ** Care to go and watch the sunset from the springs, my love? **
She smiled as if demure, then laughed. Shaking her magnificent inky hair, she stood up and turned to Rhea. ** You stay here...or go play with your friends...Gem, and Jace, I believe? Or is there another? Well, just have fun and don't get yourself in trouble. **
The flame-haired, tousle-headed cubling beamed widely and nodded. As soon as she had raced off at full speed to go meet up with her friends, Dreamstare reached down and picked up the slender Serinya easily.
** Shall we go, then, my dear lady? ** He inquired with a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Softly laughing, she allowed her tall mate to lift her into his arms and carry her to their usual stargazing rock, which overlooked the hot springs. He set her down gently, and then took a seat beside her. Playfully, she reached up and began to plait his long ruby-red hair.
He turned and looked at her with mock-sad eyes, and she went into a fit of giggling-partially induced by a bout of tickling. She tickled him back, of course, and soon both were lying down, watching the sky and panting from all the tickling.
The desert sunset was a truly glorious thing to behold. Full of pinks shading into violets, then to blues, it was gorgeous to behold. Although it was routine to Serinya and her people, she and her mate still loved to come and watch it...
10 years later...
The teenaged Rhea was obviously a potential beauty. She was slender, with grace and poise equal to her mother's. Her hair was the color of a red-hot flame, and her eyes were the largest golden orbs anyone in the tribe had ever seen. Her smile dazzled even the hardest of hearts, and her skin was like fine-grained cocoa powder. However, she was quite apparently not yet adult, for she occasionally demonstrated bits of clumsiness, and often showed her complete naiveté of the world. She was the soulsister of the equally potentially lovely Gem, and yet it was painfully clear to her mother that the young elfess was going to have a hard time finding romance when she got older. Not due to any inconsistencies or problems on her part-but merely because there were few elves of her age here... Jace and Gem were almost obviously going to become lovemates, and Serinya's keen eye noted that Raje seemed enamored of Gem, though she wisely kept this to herself.
Serinya smiled softly. It was time for a hunt, she could just sense it in her bones. **Dreamstare...Beloved, shall we go? It is time for another hunt...** Her deep burgundy lips took on a pout that Dreamstare recognized well as meaning, 'I dare you to deny me this.'
He laughed under his breath, and beamed at her. **Sounds like a good idea to me, my love. As you wish. **
Later, in the desert...
**Did you see? A jackrabbit! We better move faster next time! ** The dark-haired Serinya sent excitedly.
Ever the voice of reason, the slightly worried Dreamstare sent in reply, **Well, we must retain caution, my love...do not let your eagerness overcome you. **
She nodded, but leapt off her jackwolf, Paintsky, and began to race ahead, stalking some prey only she had seen, apparently.
Try as he might, Dreamstare and his jackwolf Rubyflare could not keep up. Suddenly, her melodious voice was heard in a high-pitched scream. He urged the wolf onwards and soon reached his lifemate...
Serinya lay in a crumpled heap, breathing shallowly. As Dreamstare reached her, a snake well known to be poisonous was slithering away. In his rage, he killed it with the merest flick of his mind. In despair, her lifted her into his arms and sent softly. ** Tyia? I love...I love you...**
She opened her golden eyes. ** Ruie....my love....I...I am dying...Rhea...tell...Rhea...She is Chieftess...**
She died. Dreamstare stroked her inky hair absently, then, with all the power his mind could muster, he sent to the Holt. **PEOPLE...HOWL...HOWL LONG AND MUCH, FOR SERINYA, MY BELOVED AND YOUR CHIEFTESS...SERINYA IS DEAD....DEAD...RHEA, OUR DAUGHTER, IS CHIEFTESS....dead...my...love...is dead...** His normally gentle mind-voice slowly died out, trailing off quietly.
"Dead...My soul is dead..." Dreamstare whispered to himself. He carefully lifted her light body and lay her on the body on Paintsky and sent the wolf into the desert to dispose of her body in typical wolf-blooded fashion, which he knew much about...The worn lines in his face began to show...while before, his immense age had been completely unobvious, now, with the loss of she who held his heart and knew his soul, he was empty, lonely, and his age showed more than it had. He turned, mounting his wolf-friend, and took off in the opposite direction of the Holt. He soon was out of sight, lost amid the incessant desert dunes and the endless expanse of darkening sky, as the desert prepared for one of its rare rains...
Needless to say, Rhea took the news that she was Chieftess rather poorly. Her golden eyes widened. **But...I am barely ready for this part! ** She cried to her soulsister. **My mother was supposed to live longer than this! ** She sighed and straightened up...**I hope I will be a good Chieftess...Gem, my friend, my soulsister...you are going to be the only one who knows how I really am, alright? I am going to have to act tough now...older, different...** She got up and walked to the hut's entrance. **I will make this tribe a safe place, I vow it! ** She tossed long crimson hair and walked out of the hut. Loudly, she sent, and called a council.
**I brought you all together to make sure that everyone knows...I am now Chieftess...my mother...was killed. I do not plan on letting any others be killed in the way she was...by those snakes. Accept me or challenge me NOW. ** She waited, and no challengers came, so she slowly tied her wavy red hair into a high ponytail signifying her leadership. She then raised her head and honored her father's wish-she raised her soft and gentle, lovely voice into a long, loud, mournful howl...
End of Part Two-To Be Continued...
This ElfQuest fan-fiction Written By Rachel Jones
Disclaimer: I do NOT own ElfQuest. Wendy and Richard Pini own it, as well as the concepts of Recognition, Holts, and Chieftess'. However, I own these characters, the Holt they are in, and the plot of this story. Please enjoy, it's only Fanfiction!^_^
It had been two long years full of joy and sorrow since Dreamstare and Serinya had Recognized one night and lifemated by the next day. Today, their child was born...
A timid-looking Dreamstare sent mildly towards the hut of his Beloved. ** Is the child born yet? I realize that your midwife...** Here, a plumpish elderly elf glared. ** Did not think it proper that I be in the room with you when the child was being born...May I enter now? **
With a soft laugh, his lifemate returned with a gentle mind-voice. ** Yes, she is born...You better get in here quick, High Ones only know what her name will be otherwise! ** She sent teasingly.
As the tall, slender half-High One entered the hut, several of his lifemate's cousins and friends-the females, at any rate- rushed out of the room, leaving the alone with their newborn daughter. He looked down at her crinkled, adorable little face, with its light brown skin and those huge golden eyes. He gasped as he saw the color of her hair, and Serinya chuckled.
** Yes...her hair is like yours. Yet she has my skin and eyes, doesn't she? ** She smiled softly up at Dreamstare.
He grinned and brushed a stray hair out of his mate's beautiful face. ** Yes, she does. She will be lovely when she grows up, just like her mother. ** He reached down for the child. ** May I? **
**Of course, my love. ** Carefully, she lifted the curious little girl-child up and handed her gently to Dreamstare, who held her close against him and smiled.
** You know, despite my age, I have...never before had a child. Never. This...is the most wonderful feeling in the world...**
Serinya wobblingly stood and pulled he and the child into a hug, then kissed him softly on the lips, and the girl on the top of her tiny, slightly fuzzy head.
He sighed and then sent quietly. ** I...think I know a perfect name for her, my love...Rhea. She should be named Rhea. **
With a wispy smile, Serinya replied. ** I agree. A lovely name for a lovely child. OUR lovely child. ** She pulled the two into another careful hug.
5 years later...
** Rhea, don't run so fast!! ** Sent a laughing Serinya as she tried to keep up with her small daughter.
Rhea giggled, and ran faster, her shoulder-length, brilliant red hair sparkling as she ran. Her huge golden eyes were crinkled in laughter. Her eyes widened in awe, though, as she ran straight into something-another elf.
Serinya caught up, panting and laughing. **I am sorry, Starwhisper...** She sent to the young elfin adult. She smiled, grabbed her daughter by the waist, and hoisted her onto her strong shoulder. Dreamstare finally caught up, puffing and grinning.
**Hello, Starwhisper! ** He sent cheerily, then grabbed Rhea from Serinya's shoulder, placed her on his, and took off.
Serinya, laughing, waved farewell to the younger elf and followed her mate, calling for him to slow down, to which he responded teasingly.
Later that same day...
** Mother, why do the other elves look so in awe of you? ** The little elfess asked her mother quietly as Serinya brushed her flame-hued hair.
Serinya thought for a moment, then replied. ** I suppose it is because I am their leader...someday, you will take my place, and they will all respect you. **
**Not anytime soon! ** Rhea sent hotly, grinning, as she hugged her mother.
** No, I hope not...** Serinya smiled as she embraced her small daughter.
Dreamstare walked in, the usual smirk style smile on his handsome face. His red hair glistened with water, and his paler skin was slightly pink-he had obviously been swimming. He grinned at his lifemate and locksent to the raven-haired beauty. ** Care to go and watch the sunset from the springs, my love? **
She smiled as if demure, then laughed. Shaking her magnificent inky hair, she stood up and turned to Rhea. ** You stay here...or go play with your friends...Gem, and Jace, I believe? Or is there another? Well, just have fun and don't get yourself in trouble. **
The flame-haired, tousle-headed cubling beamed widely and nodded. As soon as she had raced off at full speed to go meet up with her friends, Dreamstare reached down and picked up the slender Serinya easily.
** Shall we go, then, my dear lady? ** He inquired with a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Softly laughing, she allowed her tall mate to lift her into his arms and carry her to their usual stargazing rock, which overlooked the hot springs. He set her down gently, and then took a seat beside her. Playfully, she reached up and began to plait his long ruby-red hair.
He turned and looked at her with mock-sad eyes, and she went into a fit of giggling-partially induced by a bout of tickling. She tickled him back, of course, and soon both were lying down, watching the sky and panting from all the tickling.
The desert sunset was a truly glorious thing to behold. Full of pinks shading into violets, then to blues, it was gorgeous to behold. Although it was routine to Serinya and her people, she and her mate still loved to come and watch it...
10 years later...
The teenaged Rhea was obviously a potential beauty. She was slender, with grace and poise equal to her mother's. Her hair was the color of a red-hot flame, and her eyes were the largest golden orbs anyone in the tribe had ever seen. Her smile dazzled even the hardest of hearts, and her skin was like fine-grained cocoa powder. However, she was quite apparently not yet adult, for she occasionally demonstrated bits of clumsiness, and often showed her complete naiveté of the world. She was the soulsister of the equally potentially lovely Gem, and yet it was painfully clear to her mother that the young elfess was going to have a hard time finding romance when she got older. Not due to any inconsistencies or problems on her part-but merely because there were few elves of her age here... Jace and Gem were almost obviously going to become lovemates, and Serinya's keen eye noted that Raje seemed enamored of Gem, though she wisely kept this to herself.
Serinya smiled softly. It was time for a hunt, she could just sense it in her bones. **Dreamstare...Beloved, shall we go? It is time for another hunt...** Her deep burgundy lips took on a pout that Dreamstare recognized well as meaning, 'I dare you to deny me this.'
He laughed under his breath, and beamed at her. **Sounds like a good idea to me, my love. As you wish. **
Later, in the desert...
**Did you see? A jackrabbit! We better move faster next time! ** The dark-haired Serinya sent excitedly.
Ever the voice of reason, the slightly worried Dreamstare sent in reply, **Well, we must retain caution, my love...do not let your eagerness overcome you. **
She nodded, but leapt off her jackwolf, Paintsky, and began to race ahead, stalking some prey only she had seen, apparently.
Try as he might, Dreamstare and his jackwolf Rubyflare could not keep up. Suddenly, her melodious voice was heard in a high-pitched scream. He urged the wolf onwards and soon reached his lifemate...
Serinya lay in a crumpled heap, breathing shallowly. As Dreamstare reached her, a snake well known to be poisonous was slithering away. In his rage, he killed it with the merest flick of his mind. In despair, her lifted her into his arms and sent softly. ** Tyia? I love...I love you...**
She opened her golden eyes. ** Ruie....my love....I...I am dying...Rhea...tell...Rhea...She is Chieftess...**
She died. Dreamstare stroked her inky hair absently, then, with all the power his mind could muster, he sent to the Holt. **PEOPLE...HOWL...HOWL LONG AND MUCH, FOR SERINYA, MY BELOVED AND YOUR CHIEFTESS...SERINYA IS DEAD....DEAD...RHEA, OUR DAUGHTER, IS CHIEFTESS....dead...my...love...is dead...** His normally gentle mind-voice slowly died out, trailing off quietly.
"Dead...My soul is dead..." Dreamstare whispered to himself. He carefully lifted her light body and lay her on the body on Paintsky and sent the wolf into the desert to dispose of her body in typical wolf-blooded fashion, which he knew much about...The worn lines in his face began to show...while before, his immense age had been completely unobvious, now, with the loss of she who held his heart and knew his soul, he was empty, lonely, and his age showed more than it had. He turned, mounting his wolf-friend, and took off in the opposite direction of the Holt. He soon was out of sight, lost amid the incessant desert dunes and the endless expanse of darkening sky, as the desert prepared for one of its rare rains...
Needless to say, Rhea took the news that she was Chieftess rather poorly. Her golden eyes widened. **But...I am barely ready for this part! ** She cried to her soulsister. **My mother was supposed to live longer than this! ** She sighed and straightened up...**I hope I will be a good Chieftess...Gem, my friend, my soulsister...you are going to be the only one who knows how I really am, alright? I am going to have to act tough now...older, different...** She got up and walked to the hut's entrance. **I will make this tribe a safe place, I vow it! ** She tossed long crimson hair and walked out of the hut. Loudly, she sent, and called a council.
**I brought you all together to make sure that everyone knows...I am now Chieftess...my mother...was killed. I do not plan on letting any others be killed in the way she was...by those snakes. Accept me or challenge me NOW. ** She waited, and no challengers came, so she slowly tied her wavy red hair into a high ponytail signifying her leadership. She then raised her head and honored her father's wish-she raised her soft and gentle, lovely voice into a long, loud, mournful howl...
End of Part Two-To Be Continued...
This ElfQuest fan-fiction Written By Rachel Jones
