Disclaimer: I don't own the World of Two Moons. I do, however own a few of the characters in this story.

Chapter Ten: Preparations For Escape

Dewshine broke of the sending gently but quickly so that her Lifemates could not feel her humiliation and pain. A half-breed child- with her as the mother! The Wolfrider maiden clenched her teeth, eyes closed, and sobbed again, felling the child through her palms, still pressed to her stomach.

She felt Scouter and Tyleet try to contact her, but she pushed them away. Bretch came in with breakfast, and she slowly climbed down out of the tree. This time she did not sit at the table but merely leaned against the rock that was her chair.

When she looked up at Bretch, carefully keeping out of his reach, she saw sorrow in his eyes, and relented enough to sit gingerly on the side of her chair., prepared to run at a second's notice. This time when he reached for her, she was ready, and darted over to her tree before he could get a grasp on her wrist.

"Dewshine?" he called in her own tongue. "What's wrong? Are you all right? Come down," The man sounded puzzled, so she swung down to perch on a branch deftly just out of his reach, and searched his grey eyes.

"Do you promise not to try –anything– with me?" she asked him sharply, and he nodded, still sorrowful. "Promise," she pressed him, "Promise!"

"Must I really? Or do you truly not trust me?" he asked bitterly. Dewshine gave him a look that answered that, and he promised. She, in her part, jumped out of the tree lightly; he gasped at the drop of more than six feet.

Bretch sat down, and only when he was seated did Dewshine resume her tentative position on the edge of hers. When he came with lunch, she extracted the same promise from him as she sat in the tree, then at dinner, the time when he had made his successful attempts at her each other time.

He stayed true to his word, and she gradually relaxed enough to eat comfortably with him at breakfast the next day. At lunch she didn't even ask him to promise, and he didn't seem to need to, so the dinner was almost as normal as it had ever been.

After dinner this time, however, he went to the door and didn't leave. Instead, he gave the tray to someone outside and then whispered to them, after which he came and sat back down in his chair, his hands clasped together on the table in front of him.

"Bretch…?" asked Dewshine warily, getting ready to dash away if she needed to. Suddenly, Scouter and Tyleet lock-sent to her, and she turned her head, opening the connection hesitantly for fear of what they might say to her. She closed her eyes.

Lifemate! We're coming. Keep sending so we can follow you! they chorused.

Oh, Sohn, Jial! Who else is with you? I think I am rather high up, and only Aroree could get up here!

Not just Aroree, Lree- Ember sent to her brother Sunstream, and he called to Rayek. He, the Jackwolfriders, Windkin and the palace are here. Scouter alone thought her that.

We thought, once we knew you were alive, that two gliders are better than one. Tyleet added. All of us are coming to get you! Well, she amended hastily, Rayek, Aroree, our Jial, Cutter, Windkin, Redlance, Darkpool, Pike, Treestump, Clearbrook and Leetah. Our good Healer says you will –never mind. Just send to her yourself. She is anxious to hear from you! the relatively young Wolfrider said, and she broke the connection, as did Scouter to allow her time to talk with the one-time Sunvilager turned Wolfrider- Healer.

Leetah? sent Dewshine uncertainly, keeping her eyes closed as she spoke in her mind. Tyleet said you wanted to talk with me?

Yes, Dewshine. the gently, dark-skinned elf maiden sent back. I thought you would need my magic for yourself. That Bretch- well, wait until we get there. He'll wish he had never laid eyes on you for what he's done. Dewsine gasped, and Bretch looked at her with concern.

The man still sat, and he watched her eyes play under her eyelids. Now she put her free hand, for he held one gently, on her stomach and pulled her eyebrows together in puzzlement and fear.

How-

Tyleet and Scouter told me, but no one else. And please don't scold them for it; they did the right thing, telling me. As a healer- well, never mind. Leetah cut herself off, then went on. You probably hurt –High Ones know I did my first time, and though I know this isn't the first for you, he is almost twice as large as you, not to mention you didn't even get a choice in the matter. Nor did I, but at least you cousin is the same race as me.

Thank you, Leetah. But please- don't tell anyone else, either– but he –Bretch, that is– has given me a child. Please, you won't let the rest of the tribe know, will you? she begged. And thank you again. I can hardly sit, let alone ride!

Leetah recoiled, and Dewshine heard her gasp, but she came back. No, I won't let anyone know, but you do realize that eventually you will have to say something. But, on the other hand, I believe I can keep the cub from being born… She trailed off, thinking.

Oh, thank you Leetah! she cried.

We will discus this later, when we have more time, because for now we are almost at your to-wer. Rayek, Windkin and Aroree are on their way up.