Chapter Seven: Challenge

Days passed. Pike tried to court ShenShen with clumsy apologies and gifts. One afternoon he stood against the wall of ShenShen's hut.
"Would you at least tell me why? You said you can forgive how I treated you – so I don't understand. Why refuse a truth we both know?"
"I'm sorry, but I owe you no explanation."
"In my tribe we don't play games with our hearts. We know –"

Just then, someone grabbed Pike's shoulder. Rayek. He threw him to the ground and tossed a sculpted metal stick into the ground beside him. Then he was gone.
"What's this?" Pike asked, puzzled.
"A challenge wand! Rayek, you zwoothead! Well, go to Savah's hut, Wolfrider. The rest of us will be there soon."

ShenShen sat between her parents, Pike and Rayek stood on opposite sides before the Mother of Memory.
"Children of my children's children… hear now a chant that is older than old, and truer than truth itself… heart to heart are lifemates bound, soul meets soul when eyes meet eyes… maiden, amongst those gathered 'round stands your one love recongized? Speak his name and all is done! 'twixt these two you must decide! 'Nay' to both or 'aye' to one? Which of them must step aside?"

ShenShen didn't waste time before answering.
"Nay to both! Rayek, you don't have the right to make the challenge! Why would anything that has happened change my answer? And why would a contest solve the choice, if a choice there was? You think I care about winning and losing? All a trial would mean to me is needless hurts and bruises to be healed!"
"Very well." Rayek left the hut. Toorah hugged her daughter. Pike stood silent only a moment. Then he spoke:
"And what about me? What about Recognition?"
"Leave me alone!"
So Pike left, too. ShenShen's parents, unable to help her, went their way as well, hoping the Mother of Memory would offer some consolation.

"Child, what is it? I sense no disagreement between the two of you. Why fight Recognition?"
So she told her. About the wolfblood. Tears welled in her eyes.
"But daughter, hasn't it occurred to you that you could change it? You, with your healer's touch, could remove death from your children's blood."
"Could I?"
"I'm quite certain you could. But I advise you to wait until your children are old enough to make the choice for themselves. What is burned away can never be given back. And the wolfblood gives many strengths, not just weakness."
"Oh, Savah!" ShenShen buried her head in her ancient teacher's lap.

She found Pike at the zwoots' drinking through. He was staring at his reflection in the still water glumly, perhaps wondering if it was his looks that repelled ShenShen.
"Pike?" She smiled at him. He couldn't bear the gentleness in her eyes, and turned away. But ShenShen went to him and placed her hands on his arms from behind.
"Behl?"
He trembled as she embraced him.
"Strange… now that I have said it aloud, I know what a soulname is, and what it means. Pike, Howlkeeper, son of Rain the Healer, all that you are is Behl."

That night, the Recognition was answered. The following night there was a great celebration, and they were the centre of it. Best of all, perhaps, was Redlance's gift – the dreamberries. When nightfall had asked for the seeds Pike had supposed she would plant them in the gardens and let them grow slowly, just like the other plants the Sun Villagers used for food. But it turned out Redlance's treeshaping gift had blossomed at last.

Rayek wasn't present at the feast. Some days later, after the wolfriders had saved the village from a stampede of zwoots, and ShenShen had saved Dewshine's life, Savah told them Rayek had left for good. But there were good news too – the day after the stampede Cutter announced there would be a cub, at last, for him and Skywise.