Disclaimer: None of the characters is owned by me. I'm only writing this story for people to enjoy and I'm not making any money out of it. If you want to read the official disclaimer, please go to the offcial Elfquest site and you can read it yourself. While I don't feel it necessary to put it here, I do respect the regulations and do not wish to violate them in any way.
Note: Somehow will not support the stars I use for sending and thus are all sendings written in italic.
Part 1: Who Wants To Protest?
"She will NOT join our gathering!"
With his arms crossed, Strongbow stood straight, facing a shocked Treestump. The eldest Wolfrider had started the topic, because he thought it was time for Leetah to get to know the Wolfriders. It had been two seasons since the healer and Cutter had recognized and there had been many changes since then. Cutter had spent most of the time with Leetah and had eventually moved in with her. He wasn't needed as much as back in the forest and the only times he spent with his with his tribe were during the hunt and the gatherings (and even those appearances grew rarer). And then Leetah didn't accompany him. Treestump kind of replaced him as a chief the rest of the time, knowing his sister's son had enough other things to worry about. And he wasn't really needed, because there were no threats or similar things.
Now the bearded elf had to face a furious Strongbow, always stubborn and never willing to divide from the way to bend his thoughts to satisfy others. This time was no exception and Treestump knew he had to do a lot of convincing. And even then there was little chance that the archer would give in.
"Now Strongbow," he began, keeping his voice calm and reserved, not to infuriate him further. "Now that Leetah is Cutter's mate, has the right of a Wolfrider to join us at the gathering." Each word was spoken with persistence, but kept as plain and casual as Treestump could.
Strongbow's eyes seemed to light up in the darkness, anger obvious. "She's not a Wolfrider, he spat at the elder. And she has no right at all!"
It was obvious Treestump couldn't convince him alone, and so Clearbrook came to his aid. "That's not a fair thing to say Strongbow," she started as she stood beside Treestump. "You know as well as I do that the chief's mate is as much our chieftess. That's part of the Way." Here eyes were almost pleading to make him change his mind. "And," she added, "I do not remember you to deviate from the Way."
But Strongbow was inexorable. "This has nothing to do with the Way." He now leaned against the stone that matched the coldness of his sending, which made Clearbrook shiver. "We follow the Way because we are Wolfriders. And Leetah is no Wolfrider."
The way he articluted the healer's name hurt Treestump more than he would admit. Sometimes Strongbow could be so cruel and he wondered if the archer even realized it. But he didn't give the thought much attention as anger crept into his heart.
"You can't be serious," Treestump said, now with an edge or irritation to his voice. He had tried to talk it over normally, but it only made Strongbow angrier. "Have you forgotten what Savah said when we arrived here in Sorrow's End? We are all elves, Strongbow. And it shouldn't matter whether or not she's a Wolfrider. She's an elf, an elf, just like you and me and everyone around." He raised his arm and turned to the rest of the tribe. They looked at Strongbow and silently nodded, one by one.
Moonshade stepped forward, slowly and hesitant. She hadn't said anything, as if afraid to admit she didn't agree with her life mate, which she normally did. Pleading eyes locked with his angry eyes, she grabbed his left hand.
"Please, beloved," she said as she squeezed his hand softly. "Though it's hard for me too, to think of Leetah as a Wolfrider," Strongbow twisted his hand out of her grip and looked away. But Moonshade turned his face back to her. "Look at me!" she spat and was met by his unreadable stare. Treestump noticed that it bothered him and tried not to look at him.
"You WILL listen to me!" Moonshade continued and behind her most the tribe began to shift uncomfortably. Treestump glanced at Clearbrook, who hurried forward to peel the life mates apart. She had noticed the tension between them before, as she was living in the same grotto, together with her life mate and their son.
"Please," she said as she laid a hand on their shoulders. "Please, why are you doing this?" Though she was looking at both, her words were meant mostly for Strongbow. "Can't you, for once, be willing to accept something that doesn't completely comply with the Way?"
"So, you agree it's not the Way," Strongbow icily stated, his stare evenly cold. Clearbrook closed her eyes for just a moment, wondering what to say. Not long ago, she probably would've agreed with him, but she had got to know Leetah and she had to admit she liked the healer. But that wouldn't be a valid argument. She sighed as she opened her eyes again. "I just wished you would put aside your single-mindedness and understand that things are changing." Her eyes were sad as she looked down.
Then she looked up again. "Because changes are part of life," she now said with more fierceness in her voice. "And if you can't accept those changes, then--" she trailed off, but her eyes didn't break the gaze with the archer's. She sighed again. A long silence followed, as now one dared to say anything.
Suddenly Strongbow straightened and walked away, quietly, well aware of the tribe's eyes following him as he did so. Treestump figured this would be a long and hard fight to get Strongbow to his senses, as he made his way to Moonshade, whose shoulders had slumped down and unshed tears burning in her eyes.
"I'm sorry," she only said, her voice barely more than a whisper. Treestump laid a hand on the tanner's shoulder and wondered how Strongbow could do such a thing. It just wasn't right…