A/N: What did you think of chapter 23? I've been gone for a while huh? Did any of you miss me? Well, anyway, I hope you liked chapter 23 and I hope you continue to like the story…I'm back yes I know! Aren't you glad that the story actually continued instead of just stopping? I know I haven't written anything in a while but at least I was nice enough to try to write more…Hope you guys are still reading and reviewing and liking what you read. I'll talk to you later and let you get back to reading the story.

Chapter 24: Fight for the Palace

"Soft pretty high thing need to wake up now. Petal Wing show you where home is." Petal Wing said, lightly pulling on one of Alex's curls that lay on her face.

"Mmmm—" Alex tried to shoo Petal Wing away.

"Petal Wing, it's too early." Skywise grunted.

"Silver hair high thing no sleepy sleep. Wake up!" Petal Wing said loudly and got read to spit in his face.

"Don't you dare!" Skywise snapped and threw his hand up at Petal Wing. Petal Wing had to dodge him in order for it not to get hit, so it didn't get a chance to spit at him.

"Hmph—soft pretty high things want to see palace but don't want to get up. That makes Petal Wing very, very vexed." Petal Wing squeaked and crossed it's arms.

"I'm up, I'm up." Alex said slowly sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "Oh, high ones!" She grabbed her stomach and in a split second was lying back down. She moaned and Skywise sat up and looked down at her, worried.

"Are you alright?" He sent.

Alex put her hand on his arm and slowly sat back up. "I'm fine…"

She quickly pulled on her clothes and walked outside without another word. Petal Wing followed her. Skywise looked over at Leetah who was sitting up and watching them.

"I'll go see if she's alright." Leetah sent with a small smile. Skywise nodded thankfully. Leetah pulled on her furs and went outside to talk to Alex.

She found Alex talking to someone else. "Alex?"

"Oh, Leetah—this is Ekuar, he's a rock shaper." Alex said shivering and pointed to the other elf with her.

"Well, hello." Leetah said a little surprised.

"Aren't you the pretty one. Brown skin's told me all about you. Leetah was it?" Ekuar smiled.

"Yes."

"It's wonderful to finally meet you, Leetah."

"Thank you." Leetah said with a smile.

Alex was quiet. She looked almost like she had left her body standing there and was off in another world. She instantaneously put her hand on her stomach and blinked. Then it was like she was back in her body again. She looked down at the snow then at the rock that Ekuar had been shaping.

"You are a healer, right Leetah?" Ekuar asked.

"Yes."

"Then you might want to make sure Alex is feeling well. She's been unconsciously putting her hand on her stomach since she's been out here." Ekuar said looking at Alex whose head jolted up and she looked a little taken aback.

"What?" She asked like she hadn't been paying attention.

"Your with cub, child. Trust me, I've been alive long enough to know when someone is with child or not." Ekuar laughed lightly.

Alex smiled. Leetah looked at Alex who was looking a little faint. "Let me see?" She asked politely and Alex nodded.

Leetah placed her fragile hand on Alex's someone enlarged stomach. "Now I understand why you've been asking Moonshade to make you clothing larger…so no one would notice." Leetah smirked. "How long have you known?" She asked Alex.

"A while…"

"I'm not sure how far along you are but it seems that you're far enough along that it had arms and legs…" Leetah laughed.

Alex looked at Ekuar concerned. "Don't worry, child. I won't tell a soul." He smiled. It was just between the three of them. No others.

"Alex!" Skywise called.

Leetah pulled her hand away quickly. Skywise came over to see whom they were talking to. Before he even got half way there, Alex walked in the other direction, back into the Holt.

"Is she—" Skywise pointed backward.

"She's fine. She's just tired and not too happy about the events that will happen today." Leetah said and turned him around. "Won't you come in with us, Ekuar? Warm yourself by the fire before we must leave?"

"I'll be in, in a moment dear. Thank you." Ekuar said and Leetah walked back to the Holt with Skywise.

When Leetah and Skywise got inside, Alex was arguing with Kahvi again. Cutter was holding her back so that she wouldn't hit the Chieftess.

"You're low Kahvi! A Chieftess doesn't send her men into battle without protection! That's why we have to find protection so we won't get killed easily." Treestump agreed with Alex.

"Look old man. This is my tribe. We do what we want." Kahvi said smartly.

Alex wiggled to try to get free of Cutter's grasp. She looked at him to tell him that she wouldn't attack Kahvi and she wanted to be let go. Rayek and Cutter went outside to talk while everyone tried to calm Alex down.

"The more you act up, the quicker everyone will know Alex." Leetah sent.

"Well I can't help it!" Alex sent back.

"Mother! Come quick! Father fell in a whole!" Suntop yelled.

Leetah ran outside to find Rayek looking down in a whole and Ember and Suntop trying to get him to help their father. Leetah looked at Rayek and he nodded, flying down to get Cutter out of whatever trouble he got into.

When he reached the bottom he found Cutter in a whole with three hungry wolves. "Looks like you're in a little bit of trouble, Wolf Chief." Rayek sent with a smirk.

"Get me out of here or I'll show you what kind of trouble I can really get in." Cutter sent back.

Rayek laughed to himself then slowly lifted Cutter out of the hole. But it wasn't where Cutter wanted to land.

"You really are a barbarian!" Cutter sent while Petal Wing helped him kill the trolls that were betting on his life.

"I know." Rayek sent watching Cutter with amusement.

When all the trolls were killed and Cutter finally was helped back across the large hole that he and PetalWing fell into, Rayek helped him back up to the surface where Leetah and the cubs were waiting. Cutter fell to the ground exhausted while Rayek stood and watched Leetah heal him.

"See, mother. I told you he would listen to me." Ember said and started to walk away with her head held high.

Rayek threw a snowball at her and she fell face first into the snow. "OUCH! HEY!"

Back in the Holt Redlance was in shock. Nightfall had just given him her soul name. He stood there with his eyes wide while everyone started leaving and left him with the cubs and wolves. Everyone said goodbye to those being left behind and then they were off to find the palace.

Down the hole, everyone went. Ekuar made steps into the hole where the wolves were and Cutter went first down into the pit. The wolves remembered him and didn't try to hurt him.

Everyone made it to the other side. The wolves were helped up out of the pit and they grumbled angrily but managed their way up. It was quiet…too quiet.

"Grrr…"

"Yaeehah!"

A troll had come out from hiding and was after the warriors. Pike's spear hit first but the troll still didn't fall. Strongbow and Treestump shot arrow after arrow and finally the young troll fell. But before he fell the other trolls that were also in hiding finally showed themselves.

The war started

PetalWing took the warriors through so many cramped crawling spaces that the elves wished they could stretch. Spread their arms and legs, anything, but they wanted out of the tiny tunnels.

Finally there is an end and Petal Wing pulls on Cutter's hair to bring him closer to the edge of the tunnel. He shoos her away so he doesn't fall but Skywise gets pushed by one of the wolves and Cutter ends up almost falling off the edge anyway.

Cutter sends to the others the scene he sees in front of him. Skywise gasps. "Look Cutter, Old Maggoty and Picknose!" He sent and Cutter instructs Strongbow to shoot at the troll that whipped Maggoty.

The war continues. Everyone jumps down from the tunnel, thanking the High Ones that they can stretch and fight. Skywise killed a troll behind Picknose and they greeted each other in their strange way.

Cutter came rushing by, killing another troll that was inches away from Picknose and about to pluck him over the head.

"Remember what we're here for Skywise. And you Picky need to keep your mind on the fight." He yelled.

"TAM!" Leetah sent.

"Leetah!" Cutter sent looking around.

"I'm alright, It's PetalWing." Leetah sent calmly.

"Door! Reach big door! No fight! No bleed spill, go castle! Go through big door!" PetalWing shrieked pointing to a door. "It close soon!"

Cutter sent to Skywise and the message was sent to every warrior in the room. Everyone had to reach the door before it was too late. Scouter and Treestump were the first ones there but they were too late the door was already about to close.

Rayek took Leetah and Ekuar to the door. He had to fly above the battle in order to not get hurt. It was hard on him because he wasn't used to carrying so much weight. Ekuar was now in charge of everyone's life. He had to get the door to stay closed but then he had to open it to let everyone be able to get through.

More trolls came. The battle got worse.

When Ekuar was finished Rayek sent out to everyone. All the elves came rushing as fast as they could, even while still fighting. Almost everyone had made it through. Three elves still remained fighting what was left of the new arrivals; Cutter, Vaya and Pike. All of the trolls had gotten through that were on the elves side and they waited impatiently for the others to hurry, there wasn't much time.

"Hurry, beloved." Leetah sent.

Cutter jumped through the hole as she sent to him. "Pike, Vaya hurry up!" He sent to the others.

Kahvi jumped back through the hole. Pike was pushed into it without any protests. Kahvi and Vaya argued over who was going to stay and fight.

"Go, Kahvi. If anything, the Go-Back Cheiftess has to live." Vaya yelled slicing through a troll.

"Stupid Infant! Go through that hole before I kill you myself!" Kahvi yelled.

Vaya hit Kahvi in the side. She threw her into the hole and stayed to protect the hole before she went through herself. She looked around. She was the last one. She ran to the hole and Pike caught her arms and started to pull her through but before Ekuar could close the hole a troll caught Vaya's feet and started to pull her back through to his side.

"AHH!"

"Hold on, Vaya." Pike yelled.

Another troll poked Pike with his own spear. And he accidentally let Vaya go.

"PIKE!"

"VAYA, NO!"

Ekuar quickly started closing the hole when the troll started to climb through. "You will not come after us!" He said angrily.

"Vaya…." Pike grumbled sadly.

"She's gone, Pike. We shall dance for her when we get what is ours." Kahvi said in a quiet voice.

Everyone quietly moved on. They had to continue the quest for the palace. No matter what, they had to get it from the trolls.

More walking…

The journey went on and on. They went through tunnel after tunnel. They finally reached a fork in their path.

Two Edge spoke. "The wall is false. My words are true. Guards to the right? Left's best for you! Find us both, my treasure and me. I know the way, you hold the key."

"False wall? Ekuar asked. "Hmm…" Ekuar searched the wall for a moment then heard voice. "Oh, dear…"

"The rest of them are coming!" Scouter whispered loudly.

"Ah, here we go. Let's see…" Ekuar opened another hole in this wall. "Stairs?"

"Let's go, before the trolls get here." Kahvi said quickly and jumped through the hole. Everyone followed. Ekuar closed the hole when everyone was in and followed the others. Rayek took him up to the front where Kahvi and Cutter were leading the rest of them.

The stairs were worse than the small tunnels. Everyone started getting tired. No one rested though.

"Almost there?" PetalWing yelled through Leetah's hair.

The dark stairway suddenly lit. A huge golden door stood in front of them. Picknose quietly snuck up behind Cutter.

"Don't bother, Picky. We're all going to the same place." Cutter smirked.

Picknose's mouth dropped. "That's my key!" He yelled.

"Does it really matter? Once Cutter opens the door whatever is in there we all get." Moonshade snapped.

Skywise grabbed the key from Cutter and quickly put it in the door. It slowly opened. Everyone gasped. They walked in, not knowing what to expect.

"ONE-EYE! VAYA!" Leetah gasped in horror.

"MY LIFE-MATE!" Clearbrook sobbed uncontrollably.

Alex leaned up against One-Eye's body. Her eyes widened. "High One's can it really be true!" She looked around.

"What's wrong?" Cutter asked.

"He still breathes…." Alex said quietly.

"What!" Clearbrook gasped and pulled Leetah to her. "Leetah please…help him?" She begged.

"I…" Leetah looked helpless.

"Leetah, let me help?" Alex asked.

"But how—"

Everyone put on the armor. The wolfrider's had their own, as well as the Go-Back's. When they were finished putting on everything and getting their weapons, they left Leetah and Alex behind.

"Be careful, beloved." Leetah sent to Cutter.

"I will live for you, Leetah. I promise." Cutter sent back.

"Alex, are you sure you—"

"I'm the only one other than Rayek that has powers remotely close to Leetah's. She needs my help. Please, be careful." Alex interrupted Skywise's sending.

"I'll come back for you, Syre. Plus, I don't plan on dying on Cutter, he's the only family I have." Skywise sent.

They all walked on. Finally reaching the Throne room. PetalWing was first in the room. 'Spoot' It spit in one of the troll's faces.

"Ahh!" The troll yelled, then…

"AAYOOOOAH!"