Splintered Dreams
by: Cat Skyfire and Yuuki Miyaka
Chapter Four
"I like this," she whispered.
His hand stroked her hair for a moment. "...do you?"
"Mmhmm." She smiled lazily. "I like you."
"Ebony..."
"Hmm?"
"...Thank you..."
A soft laugh was all that answered him.
"...why do you laugh?" He sounded a little hurt.
"Because I'm happy. Happier than I can ever remember being."
"...so why laugh?"
She looked a little confused. "I told you. I'm happy."
"...I don't understand..."
"You don't laugh when you're happy?"
"...I have troubles remembering being happy. Though...I'm glad, right now, that my father banished me."
At the mention of his father, Ebony's face closed slightly. "Speaking of that, we should be going soon."
"I know. But I was thinking...if he hadn't...I'd be at home...participating in the spring joining... but I wouldn't have met you."
She nuzzled him briefly. "Is this Spring Joining what it sounds like?"
"...Yes. It's a rite of celebration..."
Glaring up at him, she spoke softly. "I don't share."
He blinked. "What has that to do with it?"
"I won't share you."
"You expected to? And...just for curiosity...what if someone tries?"
She seemed to ignore his question, rising and slowly pulling on her leathers. But her hands lingered over her knife.
"And would that be for me, or them?"
::What do *you* think?::
He grinned, and covered his midsection protectively.
"Heh."
He grabbed his leathers. "I'm going to wash in the stream...want to join me?"
"No," she said, smiling. "If I did, we wouldn't get anywhere. And I want to meet this chief of yours."
He laughed. "I'll be back soon, then..." He headed out the cave, to return maybe ten minutes later, hair wet, but looking refreshed.
"My turn," Ebony said as she left to follow the path he had just traced. And when she returned, damp curls dripped over her eyes, making her wrinkle her nose.
He leaned against the cave wall and just stared at her.
"What?" she asked in mild irritation.
"...you are absolutely the most beautiful creature I have ever seen."
Surprised, she cocked her head in curiosity. "Truly?"
He came closer to her, tracing a damp ringlet, then sliding the finger up an ear. "Yes."
Eyes suddenly bright looked away from him. "Thank you," she whispered.
He drew a finger along her chin til he could meet her eyes again. "You're welcome..."
Quickly shaking off the spell, she moved away from him. "You said you could lead me to your old tribe."
He sighed, and moved to gather some provisions and possessions. "It's a bit of a walk..."
"I'm used to walking."
"I wish I could walk behind you..." he murmurred as he tamped down the fire and headed out the entrance.A soft growl and bright blush were the only signs that he had been heard.
He walked comfortably, his wolf trotting behind him. "...Believe it or not, I'm not usually this...eager to join."
"Right." Her smile was both loving and mocking.
"...you don't believe me?"
"No." She laughed.
"You wound my pride!"
"And?" She touched his cheek with a finger, her caress soft and loving.
He gently grabbed her hand and nuzzled the finger. "If you do that, we'll never reach my tribe..."
"And you wondered why I didn't believe you." She pulled the hand away, tapping him lightly on the nose before turning back to the task at hand.
"Is it my fault you...inspire me?"
She grinned, glancing over at him swiftly. But the smile in her eyes died as she saw the truth in his. "Lifemate . . ." she whispered softly, moving closer to him. "I . . ." But she could not finish.
"What is it?" Concern edged his voice.
"I need you." She pressed her body against his, her face turned into his chest. But there was nothing sensual about this embrace. Merely comforting.
He held her close, tenderly. "Is something wrong?"
"No," she breathed. "Something's right."
"...I don't understand..."
"You're right."
"...explain it to me?"
"You're what's right."
He bent his head, breathing in the scent of her hair. "Have things changed that much for you?"
She thought about his question for a time, then smiled. "Yes."
"...I'm ..... glad that I am here for you, then."
"You make me glad of pains I wanted to die from. I would choose nothing less than being here with you, whatever the cost."
"..glad of pains you wanted to die from? Like what?"
"Like being driven from my tribe. Had they not banished me, I would never have met you. And as I said . . . you're what's right."
"...I'm just glad I was rescued by such a beauty as you...."
She blushed. "I love you, lifemate."
"Why do you blush whenever I compliment you?"
"Let's go," she said, ignoring his question. She moved away from him, turning back to the path they were on.
"No..why DO you blush...?"
"Coming?" She threw the words back over her shoulder.
He followed. "...It can't be that compliments are new to you..."
She said nothing, merely concentrating on the trail, looking for signs of other elves.
He sighed, and took the lead. After a long day's walk, he said, "here we camp..."
She nodded, quickly and efficiently making the camp. Was it truly only fifteen summers ago that she had done this for three? A wistful smile tugged at her lips, and she wished the best for Strongbow.
"You do that well..." he commented, watching her.
"I was taught properly," she explained without elaboration.
"By a good teacher, clearly."
Grinning, she said, "Two of them, actually."
"Two of them??"
"Yes."
"What were their names?"
"I-I don't remember," she whispered.
Seeing he had struck a nerve, "I'm sorry... I didn't mean..."
"Perhaps we should just sleep."
"I'll take watch first..."
Ebony nodded, folding herself down onto the ground. Within moments, she had curled into an impossible position and was fast asleep.
Stormseer resisted the urge to lay down beside her, to pull her against him and drift into dreams. This was dangerous territory. He must keep watch.
After several hours had passed, Ebony rose, nudging Stormseer. "It's my turn, lifemate."
Stormseer stretched. "Thank you... watch out for humans..." He stretched out on the ground where she had lay, and was gone in an instant.
Ebony's gaze traced the strong line of his jaw and the muscles of his chest even as her awareness strained for signs of humans. Ultimately, morning arrived, and Ebony smiled at the thought that there had been no trouble.
Stormseer stretched as he woke, then reached for his pack. "Want some dried meat?"
She nodded slowly, all too aware of the little she had been putting in her body for the past weeks. Suddenly, her stomach seemed to have teeth sharper than a longtooth's.He offered her a heavy pouch. "All yours."
"Are you trying to tell me something?"
"You need to eat."
She merely grinned and nodded, curling up beside him as she enjoyed her breakfast.
He ate some of his own pouch, but less than she.
Finally ready, she grabbed her small pack and turned to him. "Let's go, beloved."
He rose and collected his pack. Again, he led the way through the trees. Late that day, she heard sounds of elfin activity.Steeling herself to what she was afraid to find, she turned to face Stormseer. "Are they who I hear?"
"My tribe...yes."
She nodded once, nuzzling his neck before stepping back to ready herself. And when she felt herself ready, she stepped toward the loudest of the noise.As she reached the edge of a clearing, she saw much of the tribe. The loudest was a storyteller, regaling his fellows with the feats of the long dead. On a raised log sat the one she was sure was the Chief. Farsight, if she remembered Stormseer's words correctly. He had the same blonde hair. His face fur came not from his chin, but from his cheeks, dangling clear down to his belt. Leaning against him was an elfin lass who could have been Moonshade's twin.
Steeling her gaze further, she boldly entered the clearing. ::Wait here if you must, beloved lifemate.:: she LockSent.
The chief was the one to first notice Ebony. The blond fur on his head and cheeks was a stark contrast to his black tunic. "You look like you've travelled a long way," he said, loud enough for her to hear. "Come...rest..."
Ebony's head raised slightly, and she LockSent to Stormseer, ::Beloved, I need a bit to get his measure. Can you remain where you are for the moment?::
Stormseer hesitated a moment. A part of him wanted to flee, to be the coward his father knew he was. A part of him wanted to stand beside her, to protect her. Feeling more the coward, he returned. ***Yes.***
::Thank you.:: With that slight pause, she walked slowly toward the chief. "You are hospitable to outsiders." The statement was just that, demanding no answer. She settled herself down on a log facing the chief's.
"We try to be," he responded with a warm smile. "I am Farsight. This is my mate, Moondance." He motioned to an elf who could be Moonshade's twin. The woman smiled as she offered a bowl of water to the newcomer.
"Oh? From who?" His voice was still friendly and warm. "And you are...?"
"I am Ebony, Memoryweaver of the Wolfriders," she said, her voice strong through the clearing. "And I have heard your name from an elf named Stormseer."
A gasp rewarded her announcement of knowing Stormseer. The Chief managed to keep a pleasant expression, but she felt a wave of anger from another. Her eyes flicked to the other elf. Dark hair flowed to his neck, and face fur helped to frame a face that reminded her of Strongbow. Only where Strongbow usually wore a studied expression, this face made her uneasy. As if this one meant danger.
"You met such as him." The words were a statement from the Chief.
"In a manner. You sound . . . disapproving." A small smile played about her lips, coldly amused.
"...He was banished from this tribe," he said, calmly.
"Oh? What could *possibly* have been such a crime that he was banished?"
"Continued disobedience, putting the tribe at risk, without any willingness to show throat for it."
"Goodness . . ." she said, her eyes trailing down to the ground as if in thought. Suddenly, they flickered back up to the chief. "However, I find it hard that you would send a fellow tribemate out into the forest alone for such simple things."
"And what would you have done?" he asked, the question a gentle challenge.
"Changed strategies." She did not seem to notice the Challenge in the slightest. "Sometimes an elf has qualities that can help the tribe while still not being proficient at hunting or fighting or the like. It is simply a matter of allowing the elf to find himself."
"I had considered options numerous times. In the end...there seemed to be no choice."
"Then perhaps you were trying too hard."
"I take it you do not believe in banishment?"
"Not in the slightest."
"And you have taken it upon yourself to act as his...defender?"
"I have done more than that, Farsight." She made no effort to tell him what shehaddone, though.
His eyebrow quirked, and he stroked his facefur gently. "Then you wish to...arrange his return?"
"I would think," she said pointedly, "that a father would want his son's return. Or perhaps I am making too much of your relationship."
"Only if the situation changed. I ask again, have you come to arrange his return?"
"Yes." There was an intensity in her eyes that could frighten most others.
He considered but a moment, then rose. "Then we will discuss it in my den. Even as the decision to banish was not for the tribe's eyes, nor will ...discussions for his return be so visible."
The strange, disturbing elf spoke up, "No, Father! It is a trick!"
Ebony's dark eyes turned swiftly to the upstart who had spoken out. "Do you question me?"
"I will talk with her, Flame..." said the chief, calmly but firmly. Flame glared at Ebony, but turned his gaze away from his father and stepped back.
Ebony followed Farsight to the den, once more LockSending to her lifemate. ::Don't worry, dearheart. But stay where you are for the moment. I love you.::
Farsight entered first, as if to assure Ebony that there was no danger within. He motioned for her to take a seat upon the raised furs, before seating himself. "Make your arguments."
"My argument is simple. I find your son to be a kind, gentle elf, someone not so much suited to the skills of hunting and memorykeeping as you or I, but instead to caring for the good of the tribe. You'd lose a great asset to the tribe were you to continue this farce of banishment. As well, in time, you may lose the love and regard of your son."
"And what," he asked, slowly, "Do you consider his strengths? What can he offer the tribe...other than the disobedience he has offered thus far?"
"Love. Compassion. Caring. An honest need to heal other's hearts. And I have learned that such strengths are of far greater importance than simple hunting skills."
"I never considered my son a hunter, but I also cannot have him putting the tribe in danger."
"Leave that to me. Whatever happens, I will take responsibility for it."
"...a bold statement, from one who has just been met. Once, banishment would be suitable. A second grave error would have graver consequences."
"I think you will find me hard to frighten, Farsight."
"...unlike Stormseer."
"He is not as easy to frighten as you might think."
"...What makes you say that, Ebony?"
"He has accepted my Challenges and held his own, even knowing who I am."
"Who you are? Are you, yourself, a danger, then?"
"I have been called Cubkiller before. But I assure you that if you accept your son back, I will be no danger to this tribe, but instead, a protector."
"Tell me how you earned such a name."
"I will show you." She Sent to him the memories of the fire and of angry Moonshade's words and her own subsequent flight.
The Chief considered such. "Now tell me, do you ask to join my tribe?"
"I must know your answer for Stormseer before I make that decision."
A long minute passed before Farsight answered. "I would hear what he would say first."
"Now?"
"...I take it he is near?"
"Indeed."
"I am not surprised. You may bring him."
Gazing levelly at Farsight, Ebony LockSent to Stormseer, ::Your father would hear your arguments, beloved. Come to his den, and stand tall. Take your strength from me, if need be. We will win.::
"He will be here momentarily."
Farsight considered Ebony. He understood that she had sent, which meant she was powerful enough to remove Moondance's block. A powerful ally...or dangerous enemy.
Stormseer wished his gut didn't hurt. He wanted to run away, to not face his tribe, his father, with the shame he felt. He felt himself take a step away from the danger he felt.
Ebony. He could not leave her there, alone, to face them. He could not fail her. He could not fail her. He could not fail her. He repeated the words to himself with each step he made into the Holt he had been banished from. He could not fail her. He entered his father's den and waited.
"Here is your son, Farsight."
There was a silence in the den. Slowly, Farsight stood. "Have you changed, then?"
Stormseer considered. "Yes. I have something to fight for, now."
Ebony raised an eyebrow as she gazed at Farsight, but said nothing. She'd spoken her turn.
"Explain," commanded the chief.
Stormseer glanced at Ebony. He could not fail her. "I...I still hold the views I held before. But I have met one who I want to protect."
Farsight considered a moment. "You have learned love..." It was not a question, nor a statement, but a musing.
Stormseer hesitated a moment, then responded. "Yes, father. I have."
"I will need the night to consider. You and Ebony may stay in your old den. Furs will be provided."
"Thank you."
Stormseer slowly turned, and began to climb another tree, up to a high den. Once inside, outside the view of his old tribemates, he sat, trying to control the trembling in his limbs.
Ebony followed him slowly. Once inside, she pulled him into a tight embrace. "It's all right to be frightened, beloved."He clutched her as a drowning elf might clutch another in hopes of not drowning."But be strong." She kissed his forehead. "I know you can do this. I believe in you."
"I'm terrified... We can still run..."
"No. We can't."
"We can't?"
"Once you are committed to something, you can't turn back."
"Are we committed?"
"Are you? Do you want this? Because if you don't, I need to know now."
He considered a moment. "All I need is you. I want you to feel you belong."
"That is no answer, beloved."
"Isn't it? You need more than a cave. You need a tribe. I need you."
"You tremble with fear and sadness every time you think of this. Do you want to belong here again?"
He slowly stroked her hand as he considered. "I'm not the same elf I was when I left... But I remember the scorn, still... And I know in at least one elf's eyes, I will never be worthy to come back."
"Whatever they say, they will answer to you and I both."
"I've brought furs..." said a voice from below the denhole. After a moment, a lovely young elf stepped in, hauling furs after her. "Soft furs for you...Stormseer..." She smiled gently, ignoring Ebony.
Ebony raised an eyebrow at the rebuff.
Stormseer rose and took the furs. "Thank you, Sunray..."
"Anything for you... You've gotten cuter since you left..." Her hand stroked down his chest.
Ebony choked in amusement. "So that's the way of it, Stormseer?" Her eyes were laughing, and not jealous in the slightest.
Stormseer blushed. "Thank you, Sunray..." he said again, unsure of how to ask her to leave and really wishing Sunray's hand would not rest at the top of his trousers.
Ebony cocked her head to one side, a small grin on her face. "Why don't you introduce us, Stormseer?"
Stormseer was startled by the question, and stepped back quickly. "Uh...Ebony, this is Sunray. Sunray...this is Ebony. My lifemate..."
Ebony nodded a greeting, still amused.
Sunray blinked. "You finally Recognized? Pity it wasn't me... Still, I've missed your ... warmth."
Ebony laughed abruptly, then turned to Stormseer conversationally. "Bold little creature, isn't she?"
"Uh...yeah... Sunray...I don't think she'd share..."
Ebony merely raised her eyebrow again.
Sunray turned to Ebony. "Would you?"
"Not with an elf I don't know. And not with an elf rude enough to ignore another in the same room."
Sunray had the good grace to look ashamed. "I'm sorry...It'd just been so long since I'd seen...."
"Indeed."
"Will I have to Challenge many of the maidens here, lifemate?"
Stormseer looked away, blushing. Sunray answered for him. "Probably all of them. He was VERY popular."
"Hmm. I can see why."
"Oh, why?" asked Stormseer.
At that, Ebony barked a laugh. "You do yourself no justice, beloved."
Stormseer looked confused. Sunray laughed. "...still the same... Ebony is lucky to have snagged you..." She moved to the denhole. "Do you two want food brought?"
Ebony merely looked over at Stormseer. "Lifemate?"
"...We would be grateful if there was fresh meat..."
"I will replenish what we take tomorrow."
Sunray nodded. "I'll bring it in a few minutes." She nodded to Ebony and slipped from the den.
After a few minutes, Sunray brought up a haunch of branchhorn and hung it on a hook in the den. "Enjoy..." She also set down two waterskins. "Fresh water..."
"Thank you, Sunray," responded Stormseer.
"Thank you," Ebony said.
"A good night to you both..." She slipped from the den. Stormseer lay out the furs and sat down.
"Are you still frightened, beloved?"
"...not as much... It was good to see a friendly face..."
"Might not most of them be like that?"
"I'm starting to hope so..."
Ebony tore a piece off the haunch, passing it to Stormseer. Easy enough to replace the meal. "Good. Now we eat. And then sleep."
Storm chewed a moment. "Only eat and sleep?"
"Beloved, I'm tired. Facing a chief can be a tiring thing."
Stormseer smiled. "I wonder if Sunray is tired..." His tone was deliberately teasing.
"I'm certain if you were to ask her, she wouldn't be." Her voice was coldly amused.
He stretched out a hand and took hers. "Don't worry..."
"Why not?"
He was taken aback by the question. "Because you're my lifemate."
"I love you."
He brought her hand up to his lips and brushed it with them.She shuddered lightly, smiling.Without thinking, he turned the hand over and nuzzled the palm, breathing in her scent.Her shudders grew in strength. "Beloved . . ."
"Yes, my mate?" His tongue slid along her wrist.Her breath caught in her throat, and suddenly her hand moved of its own accord to rest on the lacings of his tunic.
He didn't stop, as if her hand and arm was the only thing in the world at the moment.Her fingers rested at his lacings for a long moment, then began the slow process of opening them. Her gaze was hooded, darkened with desire.
"Should I stop?" he murmured against her pulse.
She waited for a long moment before answering. "No."
She felt him smile against her skin, as he moved to her neck and slid up her ear.
"Need you," she said, holding him tightly against her.
He smiled, then they continued the slow joining. Clothing was shed whenever it was in the way of their hunger. Time lost its meaning as they drifted from pleasure into sleep.