Disclaimer: I don't own the World of Two Moons. I do, however own a few of the characters in this story.
Chapter Eleven: Away
Bretch saw Dewshine leak a tear as she took a breath and opened her blue eyes. She started as she felt his hand on hers and drew back,; he let her go and she didn't run away. The small figure was like a deer, he decided. If you tried to run after her, she raced beyond your reach. But if you were quiet, if you let her do as she wished, she might just return to you.
The man looked at her, and she quickly, self-consciously, removed her hand from her stomach and placed it in her lap. "What was that about?" he asked. "You closed you eyes and couldn't hear me. What happened, Dewshine?" Again he reached for her hand, and she got up, but his time not in response to the hand.
"Dewshine?" he asked getting up and following her around the table. She spun at the sound of his approach, and continued backing away until she got to the tree by the window. Then, in a burst of speed, she leapt up into its branches. Startled, he started to climb the sturdy plant.
"Stop, Bretch." she ordered him. Her voice was so harsh, so commanding, that he only sat on the branch, looking at her as she balanced, standing, on one also. One hand she used to steady herself, and the other went to her belly again, almost unconsciously.
"Why?" he asked, and reached for her hand. "I will not harm you, Dewshine. I could never hurt you!" he told her, believing every word. She only laughed, her voice as harsh as a crows'.
"Never harm me?" she asked backing towards the branched-over window. "Do you still think you haven't, Bretch? You have hurt me very much ."
"How?" the man whispered, thinking again of that hand she kept settling on her belly. Surly it couldn't be -they were two different races- it was like a doe carrying the spawn of a horse!
"You still don't know?" Her eyes glittered with tears, and she tightened her grip on her stomach, feeling for the branch behind with the other hand. "You truly don't think you have done anything wrong?" Now her gaze turned disbelieving. "Even after my screams, my pleading- you still don't think you have done anything wrong, do you." It was not a question. "After all my escape attempts. My struggles." She glared at him.
"I felt the child growing inside me today, Bretch." She told him quietly. Tears now ran freely down her face as she gritted her teeth together. "Your child." She told him. "The child you have forced on me. Now it's time for me to leave, but this child will forever remind me of the wrong you have done me."
Dewshine shut her eyes, then suddenly tilted her face to the window. Bretch couldn't hear sending, but Aroree and the captive could.
Dewshine? Is that you? the former Glider asked, hovering with Rayek and Dewshine's own son Windkin next to the tree-latticed window.
Yes! Yes, Aroree! Come quickly, but I don't know how you will be able to- she stopped as Redlance formed the plant away from Dewshine's back. She turned and held out her arms.
Aroree grabbed her, and Rayek re-settled the tree-shaper away from the wood. Just as the Wolfrider's feet cleared the room and she grinned with triumph, Bretch caught hold of the elf's ankles Windkin darted over to him as Aroree tugged Dewshine out- trailing the human.
No! Windkin, please- Stop! Take his feet send Dewshine franticly, so wildly her son had to comply. The odd group got to the ground without incident, though all the way each thought that they would be spotted, but it seemed the night hid them well.
Bretch and a puzzled Windkin, who had had a hard time keeping his end of the man aloft, tumbled to the ground just outside the See-tah-del, with the glider and Dewshine settling more gracefully beside them. There stood Tyleet, Scouter, Cutter, Darkpool, Pike, Treestump, Clearbrook and Leetah. There were also seven wolves who immediately came over to their riders; Leetah rode with Cutter.
Scouter, Treestump and Tyleet all raced over to Dewshine and hugged her fiercely, each sending to the lately-released elf. She answered each as well as she could privately.
"Cousin, I hope you have goo reason for bringing a human with you." said Cutter quietly, looking at Bretch.
"Why did you ask me to save him, mother?" asked Windkin, glaring at the man.
"You do not have to say anything if you do not want to, Dewshine." Leetah told her quietly. "We will not press you." Cutter looked at his Lifemate, then his relative, then back at the former desert elf.
"I think you know, Leetah," he accused.
"I do, but it is Dewshine's choice as to whether she tells anyone else besides myself and her Lifemates. What she told me is strictly between healer and tribeswoman. Is it time to tell, or do you wish not to have this burden? I can help you with it, but you must decide for yourself."
Dewshine lowered her head, and wrapped an arm about her belly just as the whole rest of the tribe, fully informed as to her capture and escape, came up. Among them were many Jackwolfriders and a few former Go-backs.
She looked up, and could name every one, for they were all dear to her. The she-elf resolved herself to tell them the whole truth, and sat up, looking at Bretch.
