Reminiscing, recognition and lessons to learn

Disclaimer: ElfQuest belongs to WaRP Graphics Inc. and DC Comics Inc. Raven and Grimshanks belongs to a certain point to me ;-) If you want to loan her in a story of your own or Grimshanks, please contact me first and we'll see what to do, ok:)

«Talking»

«Thinking»

Sending

Wolfsend

A/N: Thank you so much for your reviews I really appreciate them, they make my day:) Revelingininsanity, Tyleet87, Kikyo AKA THE DEAD BITCH, ephona, flower and even TheAvengingWarrior;-) THANK YOU ALL:D I'm sorry I haven't been able to update sooner:c) I know you all deserve more, but unfortunately I ended having a major writers block...much due to me reading the new Norwegian EQ series:) They're like the English, but they are with more contents to them and bigger and smaller in paper size. So when lots of stories that came from the Blood of Ten Chiefs series and In All But Blood was added in the Norwegian series, I kinda got a bit confused about what to write:c) The English version of the series is easier to understand:)

Well anyways, now you've got the next chapter up and I hope it won't be as long until the next time I update the story, but I can't make any guarantees:c)

It was in the early beginning of the newgreen season, when Raven was sitting a little away from the closest boarders of the Holt by the stream on a stone for herself. She didn't really want any company at the moment. She had really tried to persuade her uncle Treestump in every possible way to let her learn how to throw an axe, but he still wouldn't let her learn from him.

She remembered the last time she'd tried to make him teach her about the axe. It had only been a few nights ago. She had gone into the woods on her own as she usually did and she had hunted down and killed her very own buck for the first time. She then had tried to get her uncle's attention by sending to him. Telling him about her good hunt and that she could use his help to get the buck brought with her back to the Holt. She had been so proud of herself. Her very own first buck and she was only seven turns of the seasons, but his sending made her cringe of guilt and shame.

While other elf cubs her age would play nearby the Holt. She would always be out wandering by her own. Just as much wanting solitude as her chief father Bearclaw wanted. Other elf cubs would learn more about hunting when they got older and they wouldn't be allowed to hunt on their own for big game until they were at least seventeen turns of the seasons old. She had broken more than one fundamental and basic hunting rule among the Wolfriders.

First of all she was only old enough to hunt smaller prey on her own, second she went after big game which she wasn't allowed to do until she got much older and third and most importantly. She had killed a young buck not even after his prime. She had gone against the Way and that was something no Wolfrider could accept, nor respect and she was a chief's daughter. She was supposed to be a good example for everyone and she had broken the Way.

She still could see the looks on her parents faces when she had to confront them. They were so sad and disappointed with her. Bearclaw was also angry since she was his daughter and she hadn't followed the Way, but had gone against his command. Other Wolfriders would have cringed and not only hated being in her shoes, but they would never have been foolish enough to do something like she had done either.

Raven felt really sorry for herself there sitting on the stone. She wasn't to young to be punished, but her punishment was far stricter than she would have liked, then again she wasn't the one to give out punishments, her father was. Her punishment was that she would never be able to leave the Holt on her one again. She always had to be within earshot of the closest boarders of the Holt. She was not allowed to hunt on her own again and to top it all off her hunting gear was taken away from her. No knife, no bow or arrows, no stinking toy bow and arrows either.

If it hadn't been for Grimshanks she would really have been miserable.

Non of the other Wolfriders would even talk to her. Not even her best friend Skywise that she sometimes played pranks with against the other Wolfriders. It was never any really mean pranks so they never got any serious yelling s for it. Cubs were such a rarity that the entire tribe looked at them with nothing but kindness and love.

Now however Skywise had been told not to talk with her because it was part of her punishment and even if he hadn't been told, he still wouldn't have talked to her because he too knew the Way and was absolutely convinced that she'd done wrong. Which she definitely had done too.

Grimshanks was the only one to keep her company this night. The humans were still around, so noone were allowed to leave the Holt on their own. Even if the others didn't talk with her at least her wolf friend was there to keep her company.

Do you remember when we first met, Grimshanks? Raven wolfsent to her wolf friend.It was on an evening just like this one Raven smiled to herself and remembered that night not so long ago. After all it had only been one full turns of the seasons ago.

Flashback

The night had been cool, but still warm. Just like one of those late nights in spring when it's neither cold, nor really warm like in the summer. Fireflies flew in the air as if they knew something special was to take place and wanted to celebrate it and make it more special.

All of the Wolfriders had been there. Just like they had when Skywise got his wolf friend Starjumper. He had bugged her for months about this, but not in a really annoying way. More like a big brother way. He had let her play with Starjumper, though, and let her ride him when he got old enough to be ridden.

This night however it was finally her turn. She was finally getting her own wolf friend. She could hardly stand the waiting. It was her parents wolfs that mated and were now going to show the rest of the tribe and pack their cubs, but first she was getting to participate in this very special ceremony. It wasn't every time you got your very first wolf friend, you know. Only once could that happen and never again. No matter how many wolf friends you got after your first.

Joyleaf and Bearclaw was there encouraging her on, as was her uncle Treestump too and Skywise as well. Except Skywise was more teasing her saying things like, «maybe you should grow a little more then you could handle the cub more, but then again the cub might get so scared of you that it wouldn't come to you, but hide in the den scared for it's life».

She wasn't too happy about that memory considering that she had been more than nervous herself. Not that she would ever admit it, though. She was a chief's daughter after all and they fear nothing. The tribe's comfort and encouragement was something she had truly appreciated, though and it made the feeling of shame and guilt of breaking the Way even greater.

After a lot of encouragement she'd gone to the opening of the den and after getting a lick on the cheek by her mother's wolf she ventured further into the den opening. She could hear a lot of wails and yips, but amongst that she also could hear a tiny growl. «THAT. That's my wolf friend» she thought. Are you there, little one? Come out. I won't harm you. I'm your elf friend. Out coming towards her was a tiny wolf cub growling to her. They stared at one another and suddenly they connected. Thar the wolf cub sent to her and she replied Grimshanks.

It was done. She scooped up the wolf cub that had stopped growling at her and instead came to her and in her arms the little wolf started licking her face over and over again. Behind her all of the Wolfriders started to howl accompanied by their own wolf friends.

Her parents came to her and hugged her. «What's your wolf friends name?» asked Bearclaw. «Grimshanks», Raven answered«he's as grim as anyone and resembles me more than any other». Hearing that Bearclaw and Joyleaf laughed knowing fully well that she was absolutely right. After all they did know their own cub, didn't they?

End of flashback

It was one of many memories that she had, but this one she liked the best. Getting her first wolf friend was a good memory. Especially now, when she felt so lousy was it good to have some good memories. There were others, though, that weren't as great. Not during this time, though, but then again it was all a matter of perspective and time.

Like when she first got her knife and had to learn how to use it or when she got her first bow and arrows and had to learn how to use them. Not toys, but real ones. A real knife and a real bow and real arrows. Now she didn't have them anymore because she had disobeyed her father, gone against the Way and killed a young buck. The sour taste of reality and punishment wasn't a good taste to say it mildly and she hated every moment it.

Suddenly there was a loud howl that came from further into the forrest. Raven's head snapped towards the direction the howl came from. She knew that voice and she knew what the howl meant. Finally after being lovemates and lifemates for centuries her parents had recognized. She would have a younger sibling in a matter of two turns of the seasons. She wasn't sure how she should reply. She was happy for her parents and for the tribe, but what if they hadn't forgiven her yet? Should she reply or not?

While Raven was busy with her thoughts she didn't notice Clearbrook coming into the area she was in. Clearbrook came up to Raven and put her hand on Raven's shoulder. «Are you afraid that they might reject you, little one? Is that why your not replying?» asked Clearbrook. Startled Raven looked up at Clearbrook.

She must truly have been in her own thoughts not to hear her coming, but then again Clearbrook was the best in the tribe to hide of them all, second only to possibly Moonshadow. Raven wasn't exactly sure which one of them were the best, but she knew they were better that the rest of the tribe and she hoped they could teach her how to do it one day.

Sighing Raven answered, «Yes, I am truly happy for them and the tribe, but I'm not certain if they're not mad at me yet and I don't want them to get angry at me again when this is a time to rejoice. Everyone are angry at me now and all I wanted was for Uncle Treestump to see that I was old enough to learn how to throw an axe. I wanted him to be proud of me, instead I got the whole tribe angry at me instead.» Raven felt really miserable and Clearbrook saw that. «But why do you want to learn how to throw an axe of all things?» asked Clearbrook. She couldn't understand what a young girl only seven turns of the seasons like Raven would want to learn something like that for.

«Because», answered Raven« Father told me that all chiefs must know more than one weapon in order to defend the tribe and all though I know I'll never become a chieftess. I am a chief's daughter and it's my duty to protect the tribe and to do that I need to learn more about weapons and how to wield them so that I can protect the tribe when that time comes. Do you understand now, Clearbrook?»

Stunned Clearbrook wondered to herself how this little girl became so fiercely responsible and protective of the tribe, «She is more protective than Treestump, Strongbow and my lifemate One-Eye combined. She is definitely a chief's daughter and we have surely misunderstood her greatly, just like we never fully understand her chief father Bearclaw either».

The other Wolfriders who also had come to look for Clearbrook and Raven were just as amazed as Clearbrook was. «Well if that is the real reason for why she wanted to learn the ways of the axe I see no problem teaching her as long as Bearclaw and Joyleaf agrees that is», thought Treestump for himself. One-Eye and Strongbow had similar thoughts and without knowing it yet Raven had just earned their respect, all though all of the Elders agreed that she definitely should learn some hunting rules first and how to stick to them.

A/N: I'm not certain if this was good or bad or something in the middel, review and tell me what you think will you:) Also I think this will only be the first part of two chapters that contain the same title, but I ended up with a writers block at the end. I know what I want it to contain I'm just not certain on how to word it, basically:-) Don't expect the next chapter to come up to soon, but I think I can make it come before or during Christmas. I'll see what I can do. Also I'm currently working on a Harry Potter fic which will probably come up during this autumn togheter with next chapter or not:-)

Shade and sweet water,

Fawn