Disclaimer: See chapter 1

Part 4: Attitude & Resistance

What a baby indeed, Leetah thought as she walked down to the village. She knew Strongbow was not very fond of her, but this, this she hadn't expected. But it hardly seemed to matter. He was only a youngster after all, a stubborn cub. And he couldn't help it. With a smile she reached the village as she met Redlance sitting on the ground, busy with shaping a plant.

"Good day, Leetah," he greeted warmly. She greeted him in her usual way stopped next to him. "How are you today?" she asked in a polite manner. Redlance smiled and told her everything was ok. And he started to explain what he was doing.

The moment she bended over, she spotted some movement in the corner of her eye and looked upwards to the caverns. There she saw Strongbow walk out of the den, obviously angry. She wondered what was going on, because she hadn't seen him that angry since she knew him. She wasn't listening to Redlance anymore as thoughts crept into her mind.

Strongbow always seemed too different from the rest of the forest elves. Their first meeting went not really well. Unlike the other Wolfriders, he had not been open to her. He just stood with his arms folded and not acknowledging her presence. Moonshade had welcomed her a little bit cautious, but she had never been unfriendly.

At first Leetah had thought he just had to adjust, but in those 2 seasons he never had a conversation with him. They had barely been on good foot with each other. He just seemed to tolerate her, but every time she'd come to the grotto's he had looked at her with disgust. And...

"Are you listening?" Redlance asked kindly, stirring her out of her stream of thoughts. Leetah grinned shyly.

"I'm sorry," she said, "but I was just thinking of something I have to do." She straightened herself and dusted off her clothing. Redlance didn't seem too sad about it, because he just wished her a good day as she turned to leave. But before she left, she turned around to look at the caverns again. Strongbow was gone.

"Redlance," she started, "Do you think I'm annoying?"

"What?" He looked surprised. "Of course not! Where did you get that thought?" Leetah sighed.

"I don't know. I think Strongbow thinks that." That made Redlance smile. "Don't let Strongbow intimidate you. He's just stoic."

"Stoic? More than that you mean." She raised an eyebrow. Redlance only shrugged.

"Much more," he grinned. "Just don't let him get the better of you."

"I won't. Thank you"

"Hey, no problem. I'll see you around."

Ah well, Leetah thought, as she watched Redlance leave his spot. I'll find out about him... some day.

With a sigh Moonshade let her fall down on her sleeping furs. Though the night had just begun, she felt like she had been up for days. All this trouble was getting on her nerves and set her on edge. Even Dart's happiness seemed to be subdued by the tension between Strongbow and her.

He had not always been this way. Sure, he used to have a quick temper, but ever since his daughter Crescent had been killed by humans, he had changed. He had become more protective than ever when Dart had born and after Bearclaw had been killed by Madcoil, he had become impossible and ever so silent. Every opportunity he got to thwart Cutter he took, no matter what the consequences were.

And after their holt had burnt down, and now they were 'stuck' in Sorrows End, it didn't make it any easier to live with him. The only thing that had been between them was tension. He hated Leetah, while she could get along pretty well with the healer. Just thinking of the complexion of the situation got her tired.

Strongbow had mysteriously left again. She knew he was sitting somewhere around the village, in a deserted cave or on a pile of stones. Though she thought she knew him like the back of her hand, he still had some 'tricks on his sleeve'. Like the outburst of the past day. He normally wasn't that vulnerable to her comments, but that had definitely changed. She didn't want to be in the village either, she preferred a beautiful green forest over this dry, wasted landscape. If only she could penetrate through his wall.

She had closed her eyes and it looked like she was sleeping, which she wasn't. She could hear Clearbrook and One Eye whisper to each other, not wanting to wake her and their footsteps were careful not to betray much of their presence.

"You can talk aloud if you like," Moonshade suddenly said, as she opened her eyes and looked over to the two life mates. They smiled sheepishly and continued their conversations as Moonshade closed her eyes again. Their lives had become such a mess and there was nothing she could do about it other than talk, talk a lot. But she hadn't been able to have a decent conversation with her life mate at all. If he wouldn't get angry she would and then he would again, and in the end he was the one to leave. But recently she tried to avoid saying anything to him, afraid to piss him off again. The recent argument was a perfect example of what would happen.

She sighed and wondered when he would come back. She really missed the 'real' Strongbow. He had seemed so unhappy in the fire, when he helped little Dart down from the tree into her arms. He'd had looked like he was at the verge of tears. She had to cry herself too, but she had been strong for Dart, who was very confused. After that she had lost him for some time, while she and Dart hurried after Cutter to the Troll caverns. She had sent for him, but all she felt back sadness. She had no idea where he went.

The next time she saw him was deep down in the caverns, in Greymung's 'throne room'. She'd asked how he was and he replied he was fine. She didn't believe him then. He had just stared in front of him all the time they were waiting there, Dart sitting on his lap, leaning against him. She had sat next to him and held him, wondering if he felt the way she did. It had been their home and now it was gone. But they were lucky. They were alive.

But why was it then that she wasn't happy at all? Maybe because she couldn't share it with the one she so deeply loved.

Suddenly she felt a shaking experience. "Mother, wake up!" It was Dart tugging at her. She opened her eyes an sat up to look at her little cubling.

"What is it sweetie?" she asked. Dart nearly bounced.

"Mother, I have something big- it's great- wow- have to show father- where is he?" Thoughts were running faster than his mouth could keep up with. And he was so proud, she could see it in his eyes. Normally she would have smiled but right now she was feeling too sad.

"Dart dear. Why don't you go play outside and as soon as your father's here I will call you, ok?" Dart noticed his mother's change of mood and he hugged her.

"Everything will be ok, mother," he said before he bounced right back outside, not sparing Scouter, who just walked in, his excitement and Moonshade wondered why it was so that children could be so carefree. She wished she could be.