INFO: These are my own characters. However, I've set
this in the DragonLance world. I also plan to make this into an actual
book someday. And maybe even submit it to Wizards of the Coast. But for
now, I've gotta start out small, right? This is only half of the
prologue, and I'm not sure how to edit the other half in when I type
it. . . So it may appear as a new chapter instea. x3
Prologue
A cardinal's call rang out deep within the Kagonesti forests, echoing through the green branches. A fox trotted back into its den after a long day spent hunting and foraging. The falling sun threw sleep into the forest, the night birds launching their lullaby ballads.
A wooden arrow zipped through the leaves, striking squarely the game it sought. The doe fell, bleeding profusely from the penetration. A small, yet muscular body dodged out from behind an oak tree, nimbly making its way toward the fallen doe.
"My brother Brownhawk, this is not a good thing you do," a voice called. "You should not have slain the doe here. Mother Chislev does not like it."
Brownhawk turned to face his bronze haired sister. "Dear Whisperwind, Mother Chislev understands, I am sure. Elves must eat sometime, and everything must eventually die. The Green Lady knows I kill for food, not sport."
Brownhawk's chocolate eyes moved from his sister to the deer again. He began to extract the arrow from the carcass, and then cleaned the wound. As he began to cut away the flesh, Whisperwind entered the small clearing.
"I assume this is where we camp tonight, brother?" she asked.
"Yes, sister, this is where we camp tonight," he replied. "If you would gather kindling for a fire?"
"Yes, I will. But it will not be a large fire, for Chislev will not appreciate it."
"I would never dream of it, dear Whisperwind."
As the female elf began to play a semblance of pick-up sticks with herself, she noticed a set of tracks in the moist dirt under a small branch. They were from a small animal, but Whisperwind could not identify it. Calling her twin brother, she asked him to tell her what left the paw prints.
"Simply a raccoon, Whisper. What did you think it was?" he asked, amused by her inquiry. For being a druid, she sure doesn't know how to identify animal tracks, Brownhawk thought.
"Well, brother, I honestly thought it might have been a wolf, or the like. Ever since Lana died . . . it's all I can think about," Whisperwind said mournfully. "I miss her . . ."
Brownhawk's acute elven ears picked up all of what his sister said. "That is why we are here, is it not?"
"Yes, I suppose you are right. No, I don't suppose, for you are correct." Whisperwind's voice sounded pained. When Lana died, Whisper was grief-stricken for days. He wolven friend was only going to greet the boy, when his father fired an arrow into the wolf's body.
Lana cried out in agony, her blood spattering the small elf child. Whisperwind heard the howl, and rushed to Lana's side. The boy's father then realized his mistake, and was horrified. He'd shot a druid's wolf.
The father sped to attempt to heal Lana, to aid Whisperwind, but to no avail. Whisperwind's spells couldn't bring back the dead, and neither could the father, even with Mishakal's blessing.
The father apologized immensely, offering gifts in compensation. Whisperwind would have none of them, but accepted his apologies, if only because he though he was acting in the best interests of his son.
The only thing Whisperwind had the father do was help her give Lana a proper burial, under the wolf's favorite maple tree.
Many of the villagers offered condolences and sympathy. Whisperwind was numb to it all, but Brownhawk did his best to act on her behalf. They would stand each day at the grave, Brownhawk with his arm around Whisperwind, holding her close, Whisperwind staring blankly at her former companion's resting place.
Seven days later, Whisperwind had a dream in which a wolf appeared, telling her to seek a shrine. It told her to look to the east, further into the forest's heart. So, believing this to be sent from Chislev, Whisperwind set out with her brother the next day, to seek the ancient, forested shrine. Brownhawk went for his sister, and she went for herself, Lana, and the goddess Chislev, the Green Lady.
Now they were in the second night, and each could feel they were getting closer.