Chapter Six

The Wolfriders awoke to the sound of harmonious strings being played as gentle as the dawning sun and for once there were no grumbling about sleep disturbed or rest that was missed. Pike hid a yawn behind his palm and squinted up where Merlo sat perched on the head of Howling Rock's wolf. Krim came up behind her lifemate and rested an arm around his waist as she followed his gaze.

"By the Great Ice Wall, Merlo," she called up, getting the young Sun Villager's attention and halting his playing. "Don't you ever get tired of playing that thing?" For once the Go-Back female was more amused than scolding and she couldn't resist a chuckle at Merlo's embarrassment.

"I…I like to play," Merlo murmured in weak reply, hugging his harp to his chest.

"And it shows," Pike commented with a wink, hoping to show the youngster that Krim was only playing with him. "You've only had that thing for an eight of days and you've mastered it."

This time Merlo blushed until his entire dark skinned face went beet red and he denied the title of master also too quietly for the other elves to catch as he absently strummed the strings, his notes still melodious in his nervousness. The two elders shared a bemused smile over the modesty and shyness of the former Palace Dweller, then, belting out another great yawn, the elder Wolfrider stretched his back until it popped. Krim shook her head at her lifemate and turned her attention to look around to see who else was up.

Kini had just crawled out of her den with a batch of white zwoot yarn and it was clear that she was looking around for Tyleet to sit with her while she worked. Pool and Sust appeared out from their respective dens and ran towards Kini, both eagerly offering to keep her company and hold her string. Since Sust had last snuck time with Kini alone, Pool had been trying his hardest to arrange a similar situation between himself and the Sun Village female. However, he'd been so far unsuccessful, thus the zeal he put into each "competition" between him and his agemate. Fortunately Kini was saved from having to turn down one of the boys- she didn't need two elves to help her -when Mender pulled the boys away to tend the meat they were smoking in preparation to save for the white cold. Ember watched the healer deal with the youths accordingly and shared a smile with Kini as she offered the female Sun Villager her help with the knitting much louder than he needed to.

The moment Scouter appeared outside of his den, Merlo jumped down from the wolf's head with much more grace than anyone would have believed he possessed and ran over, chattering about the song he'd played to wake everyone up. His blush from Pike's compliment completely faded away in his excitement of catching the Wolfrider scout. In a big brotherly manner, Scouter patted Merlo on the head, ruffling the obsidian locks affectionately, and looked over to Tyleet and Dewshine coming out of their den. The two females whispered something to each other and smiled coyly at the way Merlo tugged on Scouter's shirt, eager for the older Wolfrider to listen to the new song he'd just composed and already telling him how he'd come up with the idea for it. They giggled out loud at the amused by hardly attentive smile Scouter gave the Sun Villager as he spoke; while the Wolfrider could appreciate the beauty of music, the process of composing it held no interest to him. Before Merlo could even notice that Scouter wasn't responding to him, Yun wormed her arms around Merlo's waist, getting a squeal of fright from the younger elf.

"Yun!" Merlo cried indignantly, instinctively raising his harp out of Yun's reach. Fortunately, the last thing Yun was interested in was Merlo's harp.

"You make the cutest noises, Butterfly," the Go-Back female purred, not one bit ashamed for frightening Merlo. She pulled the Sun Villager closer and whispered in his ear something that made his blush return in full. Hastily he squirmed out of her grasp, nearly stumbling on his own feet, and backed away.

"I, uh, have something I've really gotta, you know, do right now, so, uh…bye!" Merlo took off in the direction Kini had disappeared to, most likely seeking refuge with his sister and Chieftess.

Yun sighed in frustration at her failed seduction and Scouter couldn't help but scowl at her. "Leave Merlo alone, Yun."

"Oh, Scouter, I'm just playing with him." She waved off Scouter's protectiveness and shifted her attention to where Mender- satisfied that Pool and Sust would carry out their assigned task without him watching over them -was now talking to Pike. "Butterfly seems like he'd be a sweet roll in the furs, and I mean to find out." A snarl curled Scouter's lips and he was about to say something when Yun fixed an appraising eye on him and added, "Unless you've already staked your claim." She smirked as she enjoyed watching the way Scouter's face flushed with anger.

"Enough," Dewshine warned, stepping in to separate the pair. She knew her lovemate; one more word from the Go-Back female and there'd be a fight. Reading Dewshine's unspoken request, Tyleet came over to Scouter's side, placing her hand on the crook of his elbow, and led him away from Yun to cool his temper. Once her lifemates were a good distance away, Dewshine turned back to Yun, leveling her with an even gaze. "Yun, you know how Scouter gets…"

"I know, Dewshine."

"Then you shouldn't provoke him so."

"Yeah, yeah." Yun waved Dewshine off, totally not concerned with the elder Wolfrider. Krim shouted for Yun and, without giving the Wolfrider another glance, she went after the Go-Back and her lifemate.

Merlo was just about to settle down beside Kini and her knitting when Teir approached him. "Not today, Merlo." He tossed a bow at the Sun Villager and was a little surprised when Merlo failed to catch it. "Today, we're training," he finished as Merlo scrambled for the weapon.

He held the bow in his hands and loss a degree of color in his face just thinking about having to use it. "But Teir…"

"Training, not hunting," Teir assured the younger elf with a clap on the shoulder. "I promise, we won't do any hunting."

Merlo still looked unconvinced and pale, but Ember added her enthusiasm towards the lesson, "Teir's one of the best teachers in the pack, Merlo. You're in good hands."

Kini smiled at her brother, mentally encouraging him to go with Teir. Go with Teir. I bet it'll be fun, eh…Butterfly.

Yeah, lots of fun, the Sun Villager grumbled back, trying not to let Kini's benevolent teasing get a reaction out of him. Merlo remained uneasy, what had happened the last time he'd gone out alone with Teir resurfacing in his memory. Reluctantly he got to his feet and carefully considered the quiver of arrows his Chieftess' lifemate held out to him before taking it. Awkwardly the former Palace Dweller tried to shoulder the quiver, but Teir ended up helping him get it in proper position to get them going. Fortunately Teir didn't plan on going too far, so Merlo was saved from having to ride any of Teir's wolves, though several members of the pack followed after them.

Kini watched the pair depart with a chuckle. If they're not going hunting, what will they be training for, Chie…Ember?

Tracking and marking game trails, Ember answered, glad to hear the quiet concern that underlined Kini's amusement. It was good to see how the Sun Villager had so taken to heart their last conversation. Plus her instincts had been right; once she'd been given a way to participate within the tribe, Kini's bad moods had all but disappeared, making her much more pleasant company.

"Sounds easy enough, as long as my brother doesn't wander off and stumble into a rabbit hole." To distract herself from that unpleasant possibility, Kini went back to her knitting, humming her work tune to herself.

Merlo was finding it hard to concentrate on the small patch of forest like Teir had told him to. When the hunter had explained what they were going to be doing that morning, it'd seemed simple enough and almost fun even. They would watch a spot, find where the burrowing prey's den was, then shoot a flagged arrow into the ground above it, which would mark the den for the white cold when hunting was scarce. It was one of the new precautions Ember had developed in order to keep her tribe from starving during the hard season. Plus it helped to hone an archer's skills without unnecessary killing. However, as noble as that sounded, now that Teir had gone to scout for other spots to mark, Merlo found himself less able to focus on his appointed task. It felt like he'd been waiting for the rabbit that Teir had tracked to show its little head for days.

A soft wind blew and, if he were a Wolfrider, Merlo would have tasted the promise of rain in the air. As it was, Merlo simply reveling in the cool feeling of the wind brushing against his skin and playing with the loose hairs that refused to be contained by his typical pulled back style. He closed his eyes a moment to focus on that sensation, categorizing the feeling like he used back home during his trips outside the Palace to bring up later when he was bored of being cooped up in his small room. It was so strange how a simple thing like wind could seem so alien and extraordinary. He'd have to figure out some way to express this feeling of contentment into his next song…

The twang of an arrow firing close to his ear startled Merlo and he scrambled to the side to avoid being hit. It wasn't necessary; Teir was an excellent shot. The arrow flew swiftly and buried itself into the ground near a hole that Merlo hadn't even seen. "Your rabbit showed up more than eight heartbeats ago, and you would have never noticed it," the hunter scolded. "Your eyes were closed the whole time."

Merlo flushed with shame at being caught daydreaming and lowered his head subserviently in apology. He really couldn't come up with anything that could counter Teir's observation, so he murmured, "I'm sorry."

"Merlo…"

As Teir spoke, Merlo found himself losing concentration on the elder's words and his eyes wandered over Teir's head to where rain clouds gathered in the sky. A passing dragonfly passed his line of sight and he marveled at how fast its tiny wings flapped to keep it aloft. Then a butterfly came by- Merlo was almost positive it was the same one he'd seen the first day in the forest -traveling on the wind that had once again stirred up and Merlo couldn't help but smile at how the insect managed to propel itself passed the dragonfly.

Merlo!

"Ow!" The Sun Villager cried out, grabbed his head as Teir's sending woke him from his thoughts, and tears of pain instantly sprang to his eyes. He was no Go-Back when it came to sending, but Teir's mind had hurt upon contact. "Teir, that hurt!"

Teir was partly startled by the younger elf's declaration and started to apologize in automatic response, but he stopped himself and shook his head instead, crossing his arms over his chest. The sending couldn't have hurt that much; Merlo had grown up in the Palace after all, and his ability to send was fully developed. Maybe Teir had sent a little harder than usual, but this was the third time he'd had to set the marker for Merlo. He'd believed that the young elf would have been able to carry out that simple task at the very least. It was frustrating to say the least; even Teir found it difficult to carry out his lessons when his pupil was simply unable to retain or apply anything he taught him. If he didn't know any better, he would have thought that Merlo was ignoring him on purpose. However, that suspicion was crushed by the absolute look of shame upon the young elf's face. That look was more than even Teir could take.

"I was trying to get your attention," Teir half apologized in explanation, wrapping an arm around Merlo's shoulders.

"My attention isn't that hard to get," Merlo grumbled, rubbing his sore temples and chasing the last stars out of his eyes. Under his breath he added, "It's…just hard to keep."

The plainsborn elf sighed- he had to agree with Merlo's statement -and lead the Sun Villager back to where the wolves who'd accompanied them were relaxing. At their approach, the two younger wolves rushed to greet Teir, but the older ones remained laying down, totally not interested in the activities of the elves since it brought them no meat. Teir pushed one of the young wolves back with a laugh that quickly faded when he felt Merlo move behind him to hide from the wolves. Teir didn't understand how the other elf could still be so afraid of the wolves after having lived with them for this long; it wasn't as if anything beyond Growler's initial testing had happened. In fact, the wolves were very patient with Merlo, treating him with more gentleness than they showed even their own cubs.

Barely able to keep himself from sighing in exasperation, Teir picked up the grass mats they'd woven earlier for their dummy targets. "Maybe we should just stick to practicing your aim for the rest of the day."

It had felt like a defeat earlier that morning, accepting that Merlo wasn't made for tracking- a skill most gentle hearted Wolfriders seemed to share -but after he'd gotten himself lost for the fourth time, Teir had hoped that Merlo would take to simply setting trail markers on known paths. Now seeing that the Sun Villager wasn't meant for even that was disappointing. However, Teir was sure that if he continued to insist that the Sun Villager mark trails until he learned to do it on his own, he'd be wasting a lot of time and just end up as frustrated as he had been a few moments ago. Even the best warrior had to know when to pull back.

Merlo allowed Teir to lead them away from the wolves to a less forested area without resistance, though a part of him wanted to just throw off the quiver he wore and run back to Howling Rock. He didn't want to be wandering around the area surrounding his new home, trying to do something that held no interest to him. How could one focus on waiting for rabbits and squirrels when the world was so…not like the Palace?

Violet eyes slipped to the side, taking a quick scan of the warrior elf. No, Teir would never understand; none of the Wild Hunt could. They'd all been born in the wild of the world, free and at one with nature. None of them could know how it felt to be such an outsider, an observer who wasn't part of the scenes he watched everyday, yet too close to the action to be an objective spectator. He didn't like this; he didn't like that disappointed look Teir kept giving him. It reminded him too much of the looks the Sun Folk gave him back home, the looks he was trying to escape.

Teir and Merlo returned to the holt just after sunset when the others were returning to prepare for their Howling. From her usual knitting spot at the base of Howling Rock, Kini looked up at their approached, but her smile faded as the two got closer. The Sun Villager's face looked drawn and tired, thick hair plastered to his skull as if he'd taken another fall in the river. As if in a daze, he slid off Teir's wolf when it came to a stop- leaving a wet trail behind him and gray wolf fur sticking to his legs -nearly collapsed on trembling legs that somehow barely managed to carry his weight, and didn't even attempt to greet his sister before stumbling into his den. As he hit his sleeping furs, he sighed audibly, a tremor detectable, and soon the sounds of his deep breathing rose out of his den. Kini glanced in and cocked her head to the side curiously when she saw how he twitched in his sleep.

"What happened out there?" Kini demanded, staring at Teir with wide violet eyes filled with fear.

The second chief of the Wild Hunt looked at the female Sun Villager coolly, but didn't answer right away; he was too busy of how to explain what had happened without upsetting the Sun Villager.

"Teir?" Scouter appeared from the top of the wolf rock and came sliding down to where his Chief's lifemate and Kini stood. He was surprised to see the three dead rabbits thrown over Teir's shoulder since Pike had taken Krim and Yun out hunting for the tribe that night. "I didn't know you were hunting tonight."

"I was out with Merlo."

"Really? Where is he…" He trailed off, catching the soft snoring coming from Merlo's den. Merlo hated going to his furs before everyone else, thinking that it made him appear weak. Not understanding, he took a step closer and his nose curled as he detected the stench of vomit and blood coming from inside Merlo's den. "Timmorn's Blood, Teir, what did you-"

"We worked on his aim with an arrow," Teir cut in, trying to keep Scouter from going into another one of his rants. He could appreciate how protective the Wolfrider had become of the Sun Villager, but tonight his concern wasn't called for. "We were working on straw targets and he missed-"

"That wouldn't-"

"-And hit a rabbit by mistake."

Scouter paused, considering the effects killing a creature would have on Merlo, then shook his head. "But that still doesn't…"

"The rabbits didn't die right away," Teir added gravely, presenting his kill to the Wolfrider. He displayed the hind left leg, which was bloodier than the rest of the body. "Merlo's shot only injured it, but enough that we couldn't just leave it. We had to chase it around for half the day to finish it off."

"And the others?" Kini gulped.

"Happened during the chase." Hanging the rabbit Merlo had wounded back on his shoulder, he took the other two rabbits and showed them to Scouter, though he was acutely aware that Kini was watching him intently as well. Both animals' skulls were indented as if they had been smashed in.

"How-"

"It wasn't something I'd ever seen before. The rabbits were hiding in a log- it might have been their den -and Merlo was trying to keep up with me, so he wasn't as careful with his footing as he should have been." Teir paused a moment to wince at the moment of what had happened. "A part of the log collapsed under his weight and crushed these two before they had the chance to run."

Kini gasped, hand flying to her mouth, and tears immediately filled her eyes as she spun around to gaze at her brother's den.

"There were young in the den…" Teir trails off seeing the pure horror on Kini's face as she understands what he's getting at.

Sympathy for her brother and his knack for getting in trouble swelled within Kini almost as intensely as her disgust and her feelings quickly turn into a flare of anger towards Teir for taking her brother out. She could have told Teir that Merlo was not meant to have a weapon in his hands; he had no business anywhere near hunting grounds. However, Scouter beat her to the punch.

"He shouldn't have been out with you in the first place! What did you think would happen? Merlo doesn't know the first thing about-"

"That's why I was trying to teach him!" Teir snapped. It was hard to keep his temper with Scouter already acting so irrational.

Drawn by the yelling- especially since hearing her lifemate yell was such a strange and rare thing -Ember came bounding to their side of Howling Rock, immediately pushing Teir and Scouter apart. She didn't understand what could have possibly gotten Scouter in such a temper that he'd actually start bearing his teeth at Teir. When he'd rejoined the Wild Hunt, Scouter had been one of the first to attempt to make Teir feel welcome. While there might not have been any deep love between the two, they'd always at least gotten along.

"What are you two yelling about?" she demanded to know, keeping a hand pressed firmly against each elf's chest.

Scouter, Kini, and Teir went silent, as if none of them could come up with a proper explanation for their behavior. Ember fixed a stern look at Teir and sent, Lifemate, please. Tell me.

It's about Merlo. Teir shared his whole experience with Merlo to Ember, including the argument telling Scouter about it had caused.

At the end of the sending, Ember shook her head wearily and brought a knuckle to her mouth to chew on. Hand on her hip, she turned to Scouter and Kini, all too aware of the concern in their faces, the worry and traces of fear for the Sun Villager. She couldn't blame either of them of being so protective of Merlo; most of the tribe felt a certain drive to watch over the youngest of them. However, if she was going to carry out her original plan to find a place for Merlo, they were going to have to test him, see where his strengths and weakness lied. That couldn't happen if those two were going to snap at anyone who took him away from Howling Rock.

"Pike's almost ready for the howl," she said at last. "Go and join him."

Scouter's cheek twitched like he was about to say something, but for once he kept himself in check and turned on his heel to head over the rocks to where his lifemates awaited him. The female Sun Villager appeared more hesitant to leave; she looked at Ember with pleading violet eyes, but the Chieftess gave her a look that made Kini sigh in defeat as she walked over to where the others of the tribe were. Teir sent to Ember questioningly, wanting to know if the order applied to him as well.

"I'm going to talk to Merlo."

There was something in Ember's tone that worried Teir. Beloved, please remember-

They're not Wolfriders! Ember mentally snapped, her irritation making itself known in the sharpness of her sending. I know.

Firehair… Teir cautiously reached out to Ember and held her carefully against him, perfectly aware of how volatile his lifemate could be. He kissed her temple softly and whispered, "Think it over before talking to him, Firehair, please. It wasn't his fault, none of it."

Ember sighed wearily, not understanding how Teir's quiet plea. "I will, Beloved, but I want to settle it tonight."

Although he was doubtful that such a thing could be done, Teir nodded his silent acceptance and left to join the others. When he was gone, Ember kicked a loose stone, sending it flying to the opposite side of the pack gathering. Like Teir, she was frustrated with this situation- especially when he'd described Merlo's behavior when he was supposed to be watching rabbit dens to mark -and had to admit that it was probably best that she took time to cool down before confronting the Sun Villager. So she grabbed her spear and took off to the other end of Howling Rock, away from where her pack gathered. She could still hear the sounds of her tribe members; Pike was undoubtedly already telling a tale to enrapture everyone. However, it was quiet enough for her to deal with her own thoughts.

For a moment she considered reaching out to Sunstream, for her brother was always available to her, but she dismissed the notion. This was her trial to face, and she should thank the High Ones that it was a lot less deadly than the others she'd had to overcome. Not that the lack of immediately danger made her current troubles any less important. To allow her thoughts to flow more smoothly, she started to pace, twirling her spear off handedly.

Merlo wanted to be one of them, maybe even more than Kini did though he wasn't as vocal about that desire, but the Sun Villager just didn't have it in him. There was something missing in the young elf that went beyond mere wolf blood. Him trying to be one of them was like a fish perpetually throwing himself into the air, willing himself to join a flight of hawks overhead. That inability to accept things as they were, the struggle that was ultimately futile...Yet as pointless as the struggle may have seemed, it was important; it kept the fish moving in his environment instead of letting the river simply carry him to his doom.

Ember's spear twirled faster and she had to stop her pacing as she focused on the movement of her hands. It was the struggle of living creatures that kept things from going stagnant, that kept life moving. And sometimes the struggle caused deaths, but it also brought life. That was one of the most important things the Wolfriders had learned during the absence of the Palace. And for there to be struggle, there had to be variation, a difference in the world, lest the creatures be forced to turn upon their own. And then the spear's stilled instantly, landed with its point in the dirt.

Ember had the answer she needed.

The Sun Villager was curled up in his blankets like he had been the last time Ember had come to talk to him. However, this time it was clear that his dreams weren't as peaceful as they normally were in slumber. He whimpered slightly in his sleep and his leg kicked out like he was trying to run. Ember shook him, trying to gently wake him from his bad dream.

"Merlo," she whispered. "Merlo."

Slowly Merlo's eyes opened and for a moment it didn't look as if he recognized Ember, then he seemed to identify her and somehow managed a weak smile in greeting. "Ember. Did I…I was just going to rest a few minutes."

"Sit up, Merlo," Ember commanded sternly.

The Sun Villager swallowed hard and did as his Chieftess commanded, wincing from riding sore muscles in doing so. "Ember…"

"Teir says the tracking didn't work out very well."

Merlo flinched at Ember's statement, teeth clamping onto his bottom lip and eyes sinking to the ground. "I tried, Ember, really I did."

"I'm sure you did, Merlo." Ember forced herself not to give the young elf the fond smile she felt herself naturally inclined to make. "You always do. But that hasn't been enough lately, has it?"

Merlo didn't answer right away. He continued to keep his eyes glued to the ground, even as tears dripped out of them. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disappoint you or Teir. I wanted to help. It's just…just…" The Sun Villager's breath caught and he heaved a shuddering sigh as he fought to keep back his tears. Pulling his knees close to his chest, he rested his forehead against them as he said, "I don't want to go back to the Palace."

"I'm not saying you have to."

Startled, Merlo's jerked up to look at his Chieftess with wide, teary eyes. "What?"

"The hunt isn't in you, Merlo. It's not in Kini either. You may never become true Wolfriders…but that doesn't matter." Ember sat down beside the Sun Villager wrapping an arm around his shoulders. "Our tribe needs more than just Wolfriders. We need Go-Backs and Sun Villagers, too. We need to clash, and to change, and to challenge what has been laid down. That is how we fight back stagnation." To be sure that the Sun Villager was understanding what she was trying to say, cradled Merlo's cheek in the palm of her hand, turning his face to hers. "The world needs butterflies as well as wolves, just like this pack does."

"What-"

She smiled at Merlo's lack of understanding and decided to say it point blank. "We need you…Butterfly."

For once that name didn't sting and Merlo couldn't help but like the way Ember smiled as she said it. He stared at the Chieftess for a moment, trying to decide if Ember was actually serious, but a bubble of laughter formed in the middle of Merlo's chest unexpectedly and, though he tried to slow its progress, it made its way to his throat where he released it as he threw his arms around his Chieftess. He was laughing and crying and thanking and apologizing all at the same time. Ember held the younger elf while he tired himself out and smiled in satisfaction. It was bewildering how just a smidgen of understanding caused Merlo to become so weepy; it really wasn't a Wolfrider reaction, but she would get used to it.

When Merlo apparently cried himself out, she pulled back and gave him a few moments to clean himself up. "Come, the Howl's already begun, but there are probably some dreamberries still left."