Splintered Dreams
by: Cat Skyfire and Yuuki Miyaka
Chapter Six
No sooner had the food been set down in a special hollow, when she heard a gentle voice behind her. "Ebony...?" Turning, she saw a woman with red-blonde hair curling around her neck. "...I need to size you up..."
Ebony's jaw tightened imperceptibly. She stared at the woman for a long moment before saying, "Size...me...up.... As I understand it, your chief has already done that."
"...I doubt it. He has no sense of measurements. I'm Stitch...the tanner."
For a moment, Ebony did not change her stance. But her lip quivered ever so slightly, and she finally smiled. "You might have told me who you were."
"I might have...but I didn't." The woman smiled broadly. "I'm a tanner, not a speaker. Come on, so I can measure you out."
"My leathers are serviceable." She looked down at them, noting the patches where they were worn fairly thin and made a quick calculation. "They will be for some time."
The tanner put her hands on her hips. "If you think I'm going to let one of our guests of honor go without some fresh leathers, you're crazier than a treewee who's discovered dreamberries."
Redwing grinned. "Give in Ebony...it's the only way." He smiled warmly at Stitch.
Ebony's eyes flashed. "There is hardly need to waste leathers on me. These are serviceable, and comfortable, and I have no desire to change them." Her tone told the tanner to back off.
"I don't care if they're serviceable and comfortable," said Stitch. "But tonight's a festival...in your and Stormseer's honor. WOuld you want to dishonor him?"
Ebony's jaw twitched. "I cannot change who I am, even for my lifemate. Go measure him."
"I already have his measure."
"Then your work is done for the moment."
The tanner looked hurt, but nodded and left. Redwing turned to Ebony. "What was that about?"
"I do not need new leathers. Especially not 'festive' ones." She shrugged, and turned to leave.
"...Try not to make yourself too disliked too quick, Ebony. Stitch could be a useful friend. If you let her."
"I will meet this tribe as I am. I will not pretend to be other than that. If no one wants me in this tribe, it will be because they do not like who I am, instead of not liking who I pretend to be."
"...And what are you, then? The tanner didn't think leathers for you would be a 'waste', even if they were useful rather than festive."
"I am a Wolfrider, one whose home was lost to humans. This is one link to my past. I am a memoryweaver of that past, and of the pasts of Cutter's tribe. I am a huntress. And I am a reminder of the High One's deadly magic. I am a lifemate, who will adjust as much as I have to, but not overmuch. I am . . . me."
"And you're wearing leathers that will split up the back if you aren't careful."
She shook her head. "I can't understand how Flame could be how he is. And I can't understand the attitude of this tribe, who places much emphasis on allies and danger, as though they are not a tribe at all. I'll keep my leathers for the moment. Perhaps when I finally understand, I will change. But . . . I do not think so. Good hunting, Redwing." And she walked away.
Redwing shook his head slowly as she left.
Ebony grimaced as she approached the den, then shook her head. She was not ready to face Stormseer yet. She couldn't understand how she would ever fit into this tribe, and she could NOT let him know her doubts. Not yet.
Grabbing the branch above it, she swung up away from the den, climbing skillfully through the trees as she searched for a place relatively private to brood in."HEY!" A young cub peered down. "This is MY spot." The silver haired lad looked mildly irritated.
"Sorry." Ebony's tone was controlled tightly, but some sadness still broke through. For a moment, she made no effort to move, and finally she turned to leave.
"...Who are you?"
Turning back, she smiled softly. The smile did not reach her eyes. "Ebony. What about you?"
"Treetop. Fer now, anyway. I hope to get a real name, someday."
This time the smile warmed her eyes. "I thought Treetop *was* a real name. After all, how would you like to be called Treestump?"
"Nah...I live in the trees, not the dirt!"
"Well, where I came from, that's what an Elder's name was."
"...He shoulda changed it. Even just plain old Tree would be better."
"You must be an expert on names."
The lad shrugged and swung low to land on the same branch. He wore no vest, and he showed the numerous scrapes and cuts a treeclimber would get.
"Let's see . . . You could have been called Treewee."
"Nope. I'm bigger than an old treewee." His eyes were a bright violet, showing his glee. "Where you from?"
"Towards Sun Goes Down. I couldn't say exactly where, though. I wasn't paying much attention when I left.""...why're you up in my tree?"
"Well, I felt . . . a little sad, so I was trying to find a place where I could be alone. No one told me this was your tree." She shrugged, smiling softly at him.
"Why're you in our holt?"
"I brought Stormseer back, and asked the chief if we could stay."
"Stormseer? I've heard of him."
"Oh?" She grinned.
"...they said he'd been gone for at least a year before I was born."
"That's a long time to be away from his tribe, isn't it?"
"They say at least a double hand of season turns."
"I'd hate to be away from my tribe for so long." Though she said it matter of factly, she couldn't hide the brief pain that flashed in her eyes.
"So you're going back to them?"
"No. Stormseer and I lifemated, so this is my new tribe."
"...oh..."
"Maybe you and I can be friends."
"Probably..."
"I hope so. You seem very nice."
"I am..."
At that, she grinned. "What will you do for the tribe?"
"Scout."
"A very good job to have. Maybe you could teach me a thing or two about it."
"....just involves looking."
"Yes, but you have to know how to look and what to look for, right?"
"Not really...just know when somethings not right."
"Well, maybe you can still teach me sometime. It can't hurt to know a little more, right?"
"Probably not. I'd better get back to it." With that, he was up the tree, the last she saw was one bare foot, then it was up as well.
With a sigh, she moved back toward the tribe. She had been gone far too long. And it occurred to her that the next elf she met out here might not be as friendly.
Stormseer frowned. How long was she going to be gone, anyway?
Finally stepping back into the den silently, she sighed again. This wasn't home. Not yet. And probably not for a long time.
"Ebony!" His greeting was warm and friendly, as his arms went around her. "I missed you."
She hugged him briefly, then gently disentangled herself from him. "Feeling comfortable?"
"Yes... I'm finally getting some decent leathers, too."
"I met Stitch."
"Going to get some new leathers yourself?" Did his voice sound hopeful?
"No."
"No? Why not?"
"I don't need them. Nor do I want them."
"Pity...Stitch loves making clothes for people."
"So I gather. She seemed rather annoyed that I insisted," Ebony said dryly.
"Well...she loves to make clothes as much as...as Redwing loves to hunt. She finds it a joy to do."
"Redwing seemed annoyed as well."
"Well....Redwing likes her..."
"Somehow, I suspected that."
"...Oh, how?"
"Well," she grinned. "It seems to be a trend that the tanner and chief hunter lovemate."
Stormseer shook his head. "...They aren't."
"Not yet. But you never know." She laughed softly, but it was edged with bitterness.
"...What's wrong?"
"I don't understand this tribe at all."
"What's confusing?" He gently encircled her in his arms again, pulling her to sit down.
"None of it makes sense to me. I thought a tribe was supposed to be brotherhood, not this . . . fear that I seem to meet everywhere I go."
"...Fear?"
"Flame is . . . disturbing, to say the least. And everyone seems almost afraid of the idea of confronting Farsight about it. He hasn't done anything yet, but I can't help but feel that he will."
"...Flame is...flame... But Farsight is...I think...blinded by his memories of Flame's mother."
"Well, if Flame keeps up these games he's playing, it looks like I may be the one to open Farsight's eyes. And if that happens, you may not have a lifemate for long."
"I'll trust your judgement, and back you up, Ebony."
"I appreciate it, but we'll see when the time comes, right?"He smiled at her, tightening his grip around her."How long do I have before this . . . celebration . . . that Farsight is talking about?"
"Several hours... why?"
"I won't have new leathers, but I can at least clean up a bit. Is there a stream near here?"
"You could have new leathers..." At her frown, he continued. "Okay okay...yes. I'll take you there."
"Thank you."
They headed out, and he took her to the edge of a small lake. "Here..."
"Perfect. Now let me have some time alone, beloved, or I'll never get clean in time." She smiled playfully, and nuzzled him before pushing him back toward the holt.
He gently caught her wrist. "...We could still have time...and you'd still get clean..." he urged.
"Go, beloved. Go."
"But..."
"Go!"
He let out a long sight. "Since you keep insisting... But my blood is afire already..." Slowly, he walked off.
"I may justhaveto share to keep up with him," she muttered to herself, efficiently shedding her leathers and slipping into the water. She needed the time alone as much to prepare herself mentally as physically.
Before she knew it, the sky had shifted, showing that hours had passed.Sighing, she stepped out of the water, looking over to where she had left her leathers on the shore.She saw two piles. One of her old leathers. A second of a few new items, well made, well stitched. A sash, a scarf. Not enough to replace, only to augment.
Shaking her head, she moved to the old leathers, pulling them on quickly. They were beginning to feel like a protective shell. Knowing she had little choice in the matter, she bowed to fate, carefully fastening the blue sash about her waist. The scarf she sighed at. She just couldn't bring herself to wear it. Perhaps if she folded it up in her sleeve or something.
That seemed to work well. And if she was careful as to how she treated them, it would be no problem to give them back in the morning. At least, not a problem physically.
"Two Spear's Stone Points, I wish elves would listen to me." Her soft mutterings could barely be heard by her, let alone anyone else. Finally prepared, she set out toward the holt, unsure of herself or of what she was about to find.
She could hear the final preparations being made, and as she entered the holt, elves were scurrying here and there. Garlands of flowers, food. It was going to be a celebration indeed. Climbing up to and entering Stormseer's den, she saw him slipping on a new vest, under Stitch's watchful eye.
She scowled briefly. The tanner who had decided that she knew Ebony better than the huntress knew herself. Lovely.