Chapter Two
Clearbrook stared in morbid fascination at a patch of bloodstained snow.
"This was the place where he fell, but where is his body?" Clearbrook wondered, oblivious to the howling wind and stinging snow that lashed about her. Beside her, her bond wolf, Whitebrow, whined in concern. He knew that his friend was in danger of freezing, but he felt that her heart was already dying. Then a long howl echoed across the frozen wastes, breaking the spell that had been over Clearbrook since One-Eye's fall.
"That howl………It isn't familiar. Whose is it?" Clearbrook thought, as she squinted in the direction of the sound. To her astonishment, another wolf appeared. Astride it, was another elf! This elf had long, black hair, tied up in a traditional chief's knot, and wore thick leather pelts. On his back he wore the furry pelt of some animal that lived in the wastes.
"What are you doing out here in the cold? Don't you realize that there are trolls abroad?" the stranger asked, gently. Clearbrook painfully nodded.
"My mate fell here. I…….I was looking for his body." Clearbrook murmured, as tears again gathered in her eyes.
"I take it you didn't find it?" the stranger asked, with sympathy in his voice.
"No. The trolls have it now." Clearbrook sobbed. She was startled by the stranger dismounting, walking over and putting a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"If you would allow me, I'll take you back to my Holt. My best archer found a survivor here earlier. Would you want to see him?" the stranger asked.
"I……….I don't know……My son doesn't know where I am. I would only cause him more grief if I went with you." Clearbrook said, looking into the strange periwinkle-colored eyes of the dark-haired chieftain.
"I understand. I would go with you, but I am not certain how the Go-Backs would react to my presence." The dark-haired elf said, as howling reached his ears.
"They are here! Would you not meet them?" Clearbrook asked, as the strange elf got back onto his wolf.
"I will, perhaps." The stranger said, as he and Clearbrook waited. Within moments, three more elves arrived on the scene.
"Clearbrook! Did you find……………….!" One asked, trailing off when he saw who was with her.
"No." Clearbrook said, with sadness returning to her voice.
"But she did find someone, kinfolk." The stranger said, warmly.
"Another elf! And a chieftain at that! Where is your tribe, Wolfrider?" the eldest of the three asked, stunned to have met an elf so much like his own tribe.
"We live in the woods not far from here. I am known as Icelash, Chief of the White Mountain Holt. I was told that there was a battle here earlier by my best archer, Swiftbreeze." The stranger said, as the winds started to die down.
"Aye, that's right. We were attacked by trolls. Where were you while that was going on? Were you watching from afar?" the eldest asked, with some anger in his voice. Icelash shook his head.
"My tribe and I had no idea of what was going on. Swiftbreeze happened upon the battlefield by accident. She found a survivor among the dead and brought him to the healer's tree in my Holt. He's been healed, but he's still weak from blood loss." Icelash said, as he gazed at the three. His gaze settled on the youngest of the three.
"What is your name, warrior?" Icelash asked, quietly.
"Scouter. I am the son of One-Eye." The youth replied, as he looked up boldly at the chieftain.
"I see the resemblance." Icelash murmured, more to himself than anyone else.
"How could you know what One-Eye looked like? You've never seen him!" the middle elf said, his round face red and chafed by the cold.
"Why don't you follow me and find out? I am certain you would not believe me if I told you that your tribesman lives." Icelash said, as he turned to ride off.
"Wait!" Clearbrook shouted, as she mounted Whitebrow, then followed after the dark-haired chief.
"Mother! Bristlebrush! Let's follow them!" Scouter shouted, before he too followed the strange chief into the night.
"What are we going to do, Treestump! We can't just leave!" the round-faced one said, panic evident in his voice.
"We'll have to go back to the lodge and tell everyone where they went. Let's get going, Pike." Treestump muttered, as he looked in the direction the mother and son had disappeared in, hoping against hope that what the chieftain had said was true.
Heads turned as Icelash returned to his Holt with two strangers behind him.
"That was reckless! Even for you! High Ones, Icelash! What are you trying to do? Find out for yourself if there is a life after this one?" a silver-haired female elf said, angrily.
"Sorry, Slydown." Icelash said, as he dismounted from his wolf, then waited for the two strangers to do the same.
"What news from the Go-Back territory, chief?" a white-haired elf said, as he glided down from his tree shelter.
"These two are from our guest's tribe. Wanderlust, my tribe, this is Clearbrook and her son Scouter. They have come through much grief to be here, but let's hope that what they find here will ease their hearts." Icelash said, as the curious members of Icelash's tribe gathered around the two bewildered elves.
"Don't look so glum, Pineswift's the finest healer we've had in many turns of the seasons. He's healed worse than the wounds he saw on the foundling Swiftbreeze had brought back." One female said, when she saw the look of sadness in Clearbrook's eyes.
"Be a little more considerate, Moonhollow! She's taken an awful shock." Another female said, as she turned her gentle eyes onto the mourning female.
"Where is the healer's tree?" Scouter asked.
"Come this way." An amber-eyed elf said, as he led the pair to his tree.
"Are you Pineswift?" Clearbrook asked. The amber-eyed male nodded.
"Yes." Pineswift replied, simply, as he showed them the interior of his home. As Clearbrook's eyes adjusted to the dim light, she took in the sights of the tree home. It was simple, but definitely adequate for healing wounded elves after a battle, or treating illnesses. Then her eyes settled on what appeared to be a pile of furs. Sensing that Clearbrook couldn't see who was lying under the pelts, Pineswift gently guided her over to the pile and had her sit down. It was then that a familiar scent came to Clearbrook's nostrils.
/ Sur ?/ Clearbrook sent, as tears came again to her eyes. The pile of furs shifted a little, and a tired face looked up at her.
"Clearbrook? How did you know I was here?" One-Eye asked, sounding as though he was not certain she was actually there.
"Woodhue!" Clearbrook shouted, and tearfully embraced the one she'd thought she'd lost forever.
"No one has called me that in many turns of the seasons. Where is Scouter?" One-Eye asked, smiling gently as he held his lifemate close.
"Right here, Father." Scouter said, as he came and sat down beside them.
"I'm glad you're both all right. It seems that you will have to start on your braid all over again, Clearbrook." One-Eye murmured, as he reached up and brushed the tears from his mate's face.
"It seems that way……………….." Clearbrook said, as tears of joy continued to cascade down her face.
"You three are welcome to share my tree tonight. I'll tree with someone else." Pineswift said, as he courteously left the family to themselves.
"I can't believe it! Another tribe of elves! And they are so much like us! Strongbow should be happy with this! And Cutter…………too………" Scouter said, his wonder and joy at finding another elf tribe dampened when he remembered what had happened during the battle.
"Scouter? What is wrong? Has something happened to Cutter?" One-Eye asked, as worry emerged in his voice.
"He was badly hurt in the battle, Father. I don't know whether or not even Leetah's power will be enough to save him." Scouter said, gloomily.
"Then we must go to him." One-Eye said, as he attempted to sit up, but found that he was still too weak to do so.
"No, you mustn't move. You still need to rest and recover your strength." Clearbrook said, gently.
"Maybe we could convince the chief of this tribe to let his healer return to the lodge with us." Scouter suggested.
"You go and talk to him, Scouter. I will remain here." Clearbrook said, watching as her son quickly left the tree to go and find Icelash.
Author's Note!
Sorry this chapter is so short, minna, but this was all I could find of the chapter, since one of my floppy disks decided to screw up on me. (and my notes on this story have been lost) I hope it was worth the long wait.
Gemini14