"Oh, you won't believe what you've missed!" Foxfur cooed, playing idly with Skywise's hair, her lovemate's head in her lap as they reclined in their hut. Skywise smiled indulgently.
"I'm sure you'll fill me in. What's happened?"
"Well, most exciting of all... Rain Recognised Leetah!" Foxfur exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air. Skywise gaped incredulously. "Mmhmm. And Leetah took out Rain's wolfblood."
"What? Why?" Skywise sat up and turned to look at her. Foxfur looked down, subdued.
"...Leetah found out that the wolfblood is lethal. Other Elves won't die unless they get hurt or sick, but we... we have a time limit. She didn't want a mortal lifemate, or a mortal cub, so Rain let her take it out of him." The two fell into silence, neither meeting the others eyes.
"So... they recognised, huh? Rain's having another cub." Skywise looked up, breaking the tension. Foxfur grinned.
"Isn't it great? Makes me wish we could have a cub, y'know?" She sighed.
"Yeah, maybe someday."
"I know you want to stay here, my love, but the Wolfriders cannot go out without a healer. And if one of us goes, then we both go." Leetah wheedled. Rain ran a hand over his face.
"You are with cub. It will not be safe for you to travel."
"Rain—Surn – I am not far along. And we are both healers, we could handle anything that might go wrong. Now, are you really willing to let your tribe go out into the wilderness without our aid? If anything happened to them and you aren't there to help, could you forgive yourself?"
"...No." Rain sighed. Leetah clapped her hands.
"Then it is settled. We are accompanying the Wolfriders."
"Leetah Recognised your healer." Rayek commented to Skywise as the two of them sat and looked up at the stars. Skywise glanced at him with a sympathetic smile.
"Are you okay?" He asked softly. Rayek shrugged.
"I don't know. No, I am. I'm fine. I just... That's what I wanted with her. Once. I feel like my chances have finally vanished, now that she's recognised your healer." Rayek propped his chin up in his hands. Skywise leaned over and placed his hand on his shoulder.
"You'll recognise one day, Rayek. And then this won't even matter anymore." He smiled slightly. Rayek returned it a little shakily, and the two turned their gaze back to the stars.
The majority of the Wolfriders left Sorrows End for the new Holt, leaving only Rainsong, Woodlock, and the pairs' cubs behind. The journey was tiresome in some places and easier in others, and Foxfur grumbled whenever she was out of her comfort zone, but they made the best of it, and after four turns of moons they had made it to their new home in the marsh forest. Leetah was not overly fond of the damp, but she was happy enough, once Redlance had made the tribe homes in the new Tree and those surrounding it. The wolves quickly familiarised themselves with their new territory, and were much more pleased with the local game than they had been at Sorrows End. All in all, the Wolfriders found it to be a most satisfying Holt, and settled in easily.
They spotted the bird-Elves many times, but Bearclaw had yet to decide whether to meet with them or not. His tribe was happy enough waiting for his answer—they were in no hurry to meet the sky-Elves.
Most Wolfriders were happy to be hunting in a forest again, living amongst the trees. They liked being able to scurry and leap and bound from branch to branch. They preferred the closed-in feel of the forest to the wide open spaces of the desert. And Redlance was especially glad to be surrounded by plant life again, weaving the trees with his magic. His mark on the area was like a message to all who entered—this is Wolfrider territory!
Bearclaw and Joyleaf were happy to see their desert-born daughter take to the forest, trying to make up for eight-and-five turns of seasons lost time, learning how to hide in shadows, move silently through the undergrowth, shoot a bow through the trees. She was still struggling to negotiate the thick growth of plants and hidden dips in the ground, but she was learning. She tended to hang around either her father or Strongbow, two of the wolfiest Wolfriders she knew, imitating them. The two were happy to teach her.
Rayek was irritated by his new surroundings at first, finding that his old mode of hunting was not as efficient in the forest. He had difficulty moving through the wood, and the situation was only further agitated by Skywise's teasing. He eventually had a decent grasp of forest life—though it did not come as easily to him as it did Wolfriders.
Eventually, however, Bearclaw's curiosity got the better of him. Though life may have been pleasant for his tribe, the constant sightings of sky-Elves made him unable to forget them, unable to stop wondering.
"Surely they must touch ground sometime. Where do they land?" He asked the air after Scouter reported another sighting. The other Wolfriders glanced at each other, each considering their chiefs question. Skywise tilted his head skyward, a smile playing on his lips.
"I had been wondering. We could always find out, oh mighty chief." He flashed a grin at Bearclaw, who couldn't help but smirk slightly in response.
"We could, Stargazer, we could. I suppose it's about time we introduced ourselves, eh, Joyleaf?" The gruff old Wolfrider turned his attention to his lifemate, who smiled gently in return. She placed a hand on his arm.
"Indeed, my chief. It is time. We have been here five turns-of-moons—if we meet them before they find us on their own, then they may well think better of us than if they stumbled across us on their flights. We do not want to make a poor impression on them, beloved."
"Well then." Bearclaw grinned wickedly at her, standing and turning his attention to the gathered tribe. "I'm going to follow one of their birds and meet whoever's in charge. Anyone want to come with me?" Skywise stepped forward instantly, Foxfur and Rayek following suite. Scouter and Dewshine volunteered as well, along with Clearbrook, One-Eye, Pike, Redlance and Nightfall. After some pause Rain stepped forward as well.
"I wish to see if the sky-Elves can teach me any new healing tricks." He gave as way of explanation. Joyleaf tilted her head.
"Are you sure you want to leave you lifemate?" She asked, a mild furrow between her eyes. Rain glanced back at Leetah, who nodded.
"Leetah will be fine here. And any new healing I learn may benefit our child." He smiled at his lifemate lovingly before looking back to Joyleaf. "And I am unwilling to have any of you go out without a healer."
"Alright." Bearclaw nodded his ascent. "Joyleaf? Are you coming?" He looked back at his golden-haired lover.
"Of course, beloved. You needn't ask." She stood and looped her arms around his neck. Bearclaw grinned wolfishly.
"Alright then! Get any gear you need together, we set out as soon as everyone's ready-!"
"Father!" Firefly jumped forward. "I want to meet the sky-Elves! Let me come with you!" She adopted a pleading expression, clasping her hands together. "Please?"
Bearclaw sighed. His daughter sometimes took after him a little too much. She was too bold, too reckless, and too curious. Her eagerness was not yet tempered by experience, and she often threw herself into things without thinking. After losing his first cub, he didn't want anything to happen to his second—but, he was bringing some of the strongest members of the tribe with him, and Firefly would be bringing her huge, ill-tempered wolf Grizzle. If anything turned unpleasant, she would probably be better guarded with them than she would be if she remained at the Holt.
"...Fine. But the slightest whiff of trouble and I'm sending you home." He told her seriously. Firefly threw her arms in the air and whooped. Bearclaw smirked a little.
"...Everyone go get ready."
The size of the birds made them easy to spot and easy to track, once the Wolfriders were out in a more open area. The group rode after the first bird they saw with prey in its claws—and therefore headed for home- glad that it flew at an easy pace—it could be because of the weight of the prey or they might just be slow flyers, but the Wolfriders thanked the High Ones for it nonetheless; it certainly made their job easier. However, by nightfall they needed to stop, unable to see the bird and in need of rest after a day's travel. The wolves were glad of the respite—especially Starjumper, who had been carrying both Skywise and Rayek's weight.
"High Ones, how far is it to their home?" Skywise stretched, sat next to Rayek, lying back with his eyes closed.
"Can't be too far. They wouldn't fly too long into the night; their birds wouldn't be able to see. We must be nearby; we'll probably be there by late morning." The desert Elf yawned wide before putting his hands behind his head. Skywise adopted the same pose.
"Mmm, probably. I'd certainly like to get a closer look at those great birds, wouldn't you?"
"Imagine if you caught one. You could eat for days."
"Rayek." Skywise turned his head to give his friend a 'you are an idiot' look. "I doubt the sky-Elves would be overly pleased if we ate one of their birds. I mean, you spout some nonsense, but that was truly ridiculous." Rayek reached over to mock-punch him without even looking.
"I didn't say we should. But imagine if we did."
"Sorry, all I can think of is you getting kicked in the head by angry sky-Elves."
"Brat."
"Zwoot-brain."
The two fell into companionable silence, and both fell asleep with a smile pulling at the corners of their mouths.
"...They fly into a mountain?" Bearclaw gaped up the opening in the great mountain that the giant bird they had followed today had flown into. "How are we meant to get in, then?"
"Maybe there's a ground entrance?" Joyleaf suggested, peering around for any sign of one. The group began a ride around the base of the mountain, looking for anything that might be a door.
"...They'd be all stringy and tough, anyway." Skywise commented. Rayek rolled his eyes and sighed.
"Okay, you win, let it go."
Before long, however, they had to stop—Humans. A whole camp full of them.
"Puckernuts!" Bearclaw snarled, halting in the shadows before they walked out into the open. "They're like rats, they get everywhere!"
"What now?" Scouter scowled out at the humans going about their daily business. The Wolfriders stood in silence, considering their next course of action. A bird cry high above them cut through the silence and they all jumped slightly.
"We could always ask them." Skywise gestured up at the bird. And with that the Wolfriders were off again, chasing after the bird.
Before long, they saw the bird swoop low to the ground, a reasonable distance from the Humans. The Wolfriders ran forward on their wolves, calling out.
"Hey! Heeeeey!"
"Down here! Over here!"
"Yoohoo!"
An elegant Elf dressed in black, silver and white floated from the giant bird, swooping down and hovering before them. An ornate black and silver helmet hid her hair from view, her skin shone like moonlight, her form was slim, tall and elegant. She regarded them with bright, wondrous eyes.
"Other elves?" she breathed. "You are so... little!" She looked mildly concerned for a moment, taking in their savage appearance, but their friendly demeanour soothed her. Rayek stepped forward towards her.
"You float on the air—I did not know that anyone possessed such magic." His eyes were wide with awe. She smiled lightly.
"Nearly all in Blue Mountain can fly. We are the Gliders." She let her gaze linger upon the wolves for a moment. "You ride wolves?"
"We are Wolfriders, Glider." Bearclaw climbed off Blackfell and approached the strange floating elf. "I am Bearclaw, their chief."
"I am Aroree, one of the Chosen Eight. I am a hunter for my people. What do you want of me, Wolfrider chief?" Bearclaw grinned disarmingly at her.
"All we want is to meet with our lost kin. We were wondering if you could assist us."
"I will have to consult Lord Voll first. I cannot make such a decision myself." She whistled for her bird and swept up to land atop it before flying off back to the gap in the mountain.
"...I have to learn to fly now." Rayek told Skywise, who looked at him in disbelief.
"You really think you can just learn to fly? That's like me learning to treeshape."
"I will bet you anything that I will learn to fly." Rayek lifted his chin up. Skywise stroked his imaginary beard, considering the proposal.
"...Alright. I bet you... the Lodestone."
"Ooh, no, I couldn't take that from you." Rayek grinned confidently.
"Okay. Then... If I win, you have to agree with everything I say for a turn of moons." Skywise declared smugly. Rayek hissed.
"Fssssss, okay. If I win, you have to agree with everything I say for the same. Deal?"
"Deal."
Aroree returned after some time, floating down to their level again.
"Lord Voll wishes to meet you, Wolfriders. I will show you to the ground entrance." She floated back towards the mountain, staying at their level in order to guide them. They climbed aboard their wolves again and followed quickly, hurrying after her.
"Just through here." She told them, heading into the human camp. The Wolfriders froze.
"Humans! Are you mad, Glider?" Bearclaw hissed, refusing to step into the open. Aroree blinked at him.
"Yes. So? They worship us, wolf chief. Come along, they are no threat." Aroree continued to float out through the human camp—the humans in question knelt as she passed and regarded the wary Wolfriders with awe. The Elves followed the path until they reached the mountain face—which melted away to become a doorway into the hollow mountain. Aroree gestured them through.
"Did your people rockshape all this?" Clearbrook asked as they stepped over the threshold. Aroree nodded.
"All of Blue Mountain was sculpted by Elf magic. Look! Lord Voll approaches!"
A tall, silver haired Elf that looked to be older than any they had met before stepped forward, his long robe dragging behind them. He opened his arms in welcome.
"Welcome to Blue Mountain, little cousins—what is this?" His gaze fell upon Firefly, who met it confidently. "A child? I did not know this could still happen amongst our people. Come here, young one." Firefly stepped forward boldly, yellow eyes never straying from his silver, watery eyes. The old Elf felt tears well up in his eyes as she approached. Voll knelt before her and reach out to ruffle her hair gently. She snapped her head back.
"Don't touch the hair. I just got it how I like it." Voll smiled a little, retracting his hand. Firefly regarded him seriously. "So... Are you related to Skywise or what, because you two are identical. Almost." Voll raised his eyebrows.
"Skywise? Who is-?" His gaze fell upon the Stargazer. Both gave a start. Rayek made a 'snrk' noise.
"The resemblance is uncanny, Stargazer." He snickered. "He could be your grandfather." The other Wolfriders couldn't help but smirk—Voll looked like an older, taller Skywise. Voll cleared his throat.
"Well. What is your name, small one?" He turned his attention back to Firefly. She lifted her chin in pride.
"I am Firefly, Blood of Ten Chiefs, future chief of the Wolfriders." She declared.
"Impressive."
"'S why I said it."
"I am Lord Voll. I am... 'chief' of the Gliders."
"Nice to meet you."
"Likewise." Voll stood and turned his gaze to Bearclaw. "Welcome. You are the... current chief?"
"I am. My name is Bearclaw." Bearclaw bowed his head in greeting. Voll did the same.
The Wolfriders and the Gliders had met at last.
