A fanfic situated in Mountain Eyrie, about the Starpool Holt character Arrowspeed. Arrowspeed is 80 in the beginning this story, Quill is 13.
Arrowspeed had just returned from her second quest. After a passionate welcome kiss from Featherveil, she turned to look at the other members of the tribe. She met Eaglet, who had earned the hunter-name Eagle-Eye for his sharp sight. She was introduced to Blackbird, the little son of Blade and Darah.
"And he's flightless?" She asked.
"Yes." Darah answered, blushing. She had been the leader of those who had teased the child Arrow for her flightlessness.
"You better love him, Darah. Don't twist him like you twisted me."
"I won't. Arrowspeed, I'm so sorry. I never realized…"
"Of course not. You're so stupid."
Blade rushed to defend his lifemate.
"You take that back!"
"No, Blade. She's right. I was stupid, back before you were born."
"Arrowspeed!" The voice belonged to a girl, one with short greymetal-colour silky hair tied back with a red bandana and cut exactly like Arrowspeed's. She was wearing red and black, trousers and tunic much like the clothes Arrowspeed herself had worn when she left on her quest.
"Quill? Is that you?" She stared in amazement at Featherveil's daughter. The last time she had seen her, Quill had been a cub with long flowing feather-decorated hair and a pretty blue dress.
"Of course it is I." Quill hugged Arrowspeed with surprising strength and passion. She was short, but she glided high enough to gaze at her with sky-blue eyes.
"You've grown. And you've the looks of a hunter. Is your name still Quill?"
"It is. I am a hunter, but Quill is my hunter-name now. It's such a good name for an archer."
"And are you a good archer?"
"Father says I am. But I've waited and waited for you to come back and teach me."
"Me? Aval's a better archer than me. The sword is my weapon, but you're too skinny to learn it yet."
"Oh, Arrowspeed! Please."
"Let go of me. I'm not teaching anything to a crazy child."
"I'm a hunter."
"Behave like one, then."
Later, Featherveil and Arrowspeed had a Talk.
"She loves you, you know."
"And whose fault is that? I remember your habit of telling hero-stories about me, stories such as one should only tell of the dead."
"She wants to be like you. She even cut her hair."
"Doesn't suit her."
"You're a cruel one, my hawk."
"I am that. Half the ladies hate me for it, the other half love me for it. Your daughter takes after you in that. But she's still a child."
"Not for long. And she is already full of fiery dreams. Each one about you."
"And you don't mind?"
Featherveil laughed.
No, Rhak. I'm not the jealous sort, not as mother, not as lovemate.
Veyn. I've missed you so. Lifemate.
Lifemate?
Yes. If you allow.
You know I do. Aval has been my lovemate while you were gone, but our Recognition has faded. We will have no more children. I've told him he will have to step aside once you return. He doesn't mind – much.
Good. Come, let us seal the bond. I am hungry for you and you only.
The following day, Arrowspeed sought out her longtime friend, Snowflake.
"I have a problem."
"Oh? What is it?"
"Not what but who. Quill."
Snowflake giggled.
"I see no problem. I see a goblet of bloodwine ready to be drained."
"The wine is raw, it has not matured enough. She is only thirteen."
"But the blood is very, very warm. Well, you just tell her to wait. Promise her a night to remember, as soon as she's old enough."
"But I don't want her."
"Why not? Because she's Featherveil's daughter? You've made it pretty clear you're not her mother, any more than you're Eagle-Eye's."
"No. Because it would be like joining with myself. You know why it never worked out between you and me – we're too similar."
"I disagree. I think we might have been wonderful lovemates, but for Featherveil."
Arrowspeed sat silent. She'd fooled about with Snowflake now and then, and it had been fun. Snowflake was into strong warriors, but Arrowspeed had only ever truly loved those who were not warriors at all. Featherveil. Suanshen.
"Say – what do you think of little Quill?" She asked Snowflake.
"Perfect. Maybe you're right and she's too young, but she's already a beauty. And strong. Just look at those arms."
"You always were after kids. I remember my father warning me about you!"
Snowflake laughed, a melodic sound like a babbling brook.
"You did a good job Initiating Featherveil. Maybe you could do Quill too." Arrowspeed suggested.
"I wish. But it's you she wants."
"We don't always get what we want. Court her! Tell her you want her because you can't have me, tell her she's the next best thing. That's true, isn't it?"
"Sort of. But you really have not the faintest idea how to court a girl, Arrowspeed. Maybe because you never needed to. We all just swoon at one look from you."
Arrowspeed laughed, shrill as a keening hawk.
"I must be cursed. Or blessed. Or both."
Some years later, Snowflake, by then called Hawkheart, initiated Quill and they became lovemates.
Much later, when Quill was Recognized lifemates with Whirl and a mother of three, she shared with Arrowspeed just to find out what it would be like. It was sweet and strong as aged wine mixed with life-warm bearblood. Quill said it was worth the waiting. Arrowspeed said it was something special.
But she said that of everyone.