Amberfeather glanced at the two storytellers left, weighing his options. He wanted to hear Winddancer's story, of course, because it was all her fault everyone learned of his embarrassment… but he didn't want to make her go next. For some reason, he was embarrassed now at the thought.

He looked at Winddancer, who met his gaze head on. Blushing, he quickly looked once more at Starsong, who grinned at him knowingly. "I'll go next, brother, if you wish."

"Thank you," Amberfeather said, gratefully.

Starsong was a very easygoing, happy guy. Amberfeather knew he had seen his embarrassment, and was trying to make sure no one else noticed it.

Starsong smiled around at the group, and pointed out, "Just one left after me! Of course, Winddancer really should go before me. My story will be much better than hers. That's just a given." He ducked a playful blow aimed at him by Winddancer, then settled himself in his preferred storytelling position.

"My story is similar to Silvercloud's story, really." This brought a round of hoots and hollers that caused him to pause, then continue.

"You all know, when us guys get in trouble, it's usually over the girls. I know you can't help being so lovely, ladies," he said with a bow, to which Winterflower inclined her head to accept the compliment and the rest of the girls just giggled, "but being young men, we just don't know quite how to deal with you."

He brushed his hair out of his eyes, and continued. "I am a really nice guy. Girls like to tell me this, so I know I am loved by all and beloved by no one. This used to make me sad, but I remembered that I am young, and haven't really met anyone I can see sharing a Vale with the rest of my life. Present company excepted, I'm sure!" He added this, obviously trying to avoid getting splashed. It didn't work… it was obvious he was full of it, so they dutifully splashed in his direction.

"Please! I am trying to tell a story here!" he said, dodging yet again.

"We're not stopping you," Rainbird answered.

"Well, as I was trying to say, I am a nice guy. I try to be helpful, be a good friend, and so on, and try really hard to be there for the female inhabitants of our Vale. I have saved many a young girl from embarrassment as she tries to avoid a freshly broken up partner." He paused here, checking to see the reactions. Everyone was listening, interest on their faces.

"Sometimes, though, I want to help, even though my help is not wanted. At all. I was walking through the Vale, minding my own business, headed… I think I was headed to this very pool, in fact! And I heard a strange noise."

"This noise was nothing I've ever heard before," he said, emphasizing his confusion in his voice and manner. "It was a strange noise, almost a keening sound. I was confused, but wasn't worried. I figured, if there were something wrong, I'd get a sure sign."

"Then I heard different noises. Coming from around the same area, and I still was confused. Then I heard a woman's voice, repeating something over and over, in a soft, little voice, one that sounded almost scared."

Silvercloud was grinning, already knowing what was coming. Amberfeather looked like he had his suspicions, and wasn't sure whether or not to laugh. The girls hadn't caught on yet, though, so Starsong kept going, wanting to be the ones to tell them what happened, rather than them figuring it out.

"Well, I was really interested now. And I was worried. What if someone needed help? I followed the sound, and as I got closer, I heard the woman saying, 'No, no, no!' over and over again. Now I was running down the path, rushing to save this woman. I could not imagine what was going on. I was not paying attention to anything but the sound, trying to follow it."

He stopped here, and looked around again. "I don't want to go on! This really is embarrassing. I'm glad I didn't go first!" He gave Amberfeather a sympathetic look.

"Oh, stop your whining and finish!" demanded Winddancer.

Starsong sighed, then continued.

"Well, as you may have already guessed," nodding to the guys, "I very naively ran straight into an area marked out for privacy. A pair were enjoying the cool of the evening by discovering new ways to keep warm. Apparently, the female in the pair was quite… vocal. I had never heard any of those sounds before. I didn't know it was even possible." He looked quite embarrassed, but took a deep breath to finish up quickly.

"I quickly tried to backtrack, but of course they wanted to have a quick discussion about why I had ignored the privacy marker. I explained, and they were both very understanding, and very amused. I was so embarrassed I ran home and didn't come out until the next day. It was a terrible day."

"You'd think, with all the mage training I have received about being calm, thinking things through, and so forth, that I would not have done something as foolish as this, but it wasn't to be." After a final sigh, then he looked at Winddancer.

"I am finished! It is YOUR turn next, and I want a really juicy story. It'd better be good. I want to wipe out my memory of my own problem. After all, it just happened a week ago." This information brought a fresh round of laughter.

"Just a week ago, 'Song? You poor baby. Maybe I should work with you on learning to determine what those sounds are… and what to do next time you hear them. Hopefully they'll be directed at you!" Winterflower gave him a measuring look, which he returned with good humor, and not a little interest.

"Knock it off, you two! If you want to do a little private tutoring, Winterflower, take him somewhere else. I certainly don't want to be here for it." Winddancer sounded amused but strangely nervous. She didn't look like she was looking forward to telling her tale, but fair was fair, and she looked to be resigning herself to the inevitable.

"Okay, before you all start clamoring for your story, I will start," Winddancer told them, almost crossly.

She seemed to have forgotten it was her idea in the first place! Amberfeather thought.

"Well, the story I'm going to tell you today…" Winddancer began.

Well, there it is! The latest chapter in the drama! One more chapter is coming, hopefully soon, to tell you Winddancer's story, then we'll wrap it up. Please read and review... it is a great encouragement. Thanks for reading!