Nightfall and Redlance rode their Wolf friends back to the Holt to tell everyone about the mysterious visitor. The Wolfriders were uneasy but curious as Nightfall and Redlance told the story.
"I sent to Strongbow and Cutter on the way back, and they both said that they had privately sent to each other to fire a warning shot. It was almost as if she knew what was going to happen." Redlance spoke to his tribe.
Nightfall continued. "And then, Strongbow fired two shots that would have gone over her shoulders, but she turned around and stopped of the arrows with a metal band around her wrist. It bounced right off, even though it was flying through the air! And with her free hand she grabbed the shaft of the arrow, and brought her arm around like this," Nightfall mimicked what Shadow had done earlier and continued, "And the arrow went flying over Strongbow's head." Nightfall and her lifemate, Redlance, had both decided that it would be better if they left out how close the arrow had come to hitting Strongbow. They continued to tell the story, until everyone in the Holt was aware of what had happened.
Skywise, Strongbow, Cutter and Shadow all stepped inside. Shadow immediately relaxed once. 'This is where I'm meant to be.' The other three couldn't help but notice the immense smile on her face. Shadow placed a hand on the wall and took a deep breath. The other three were confused by this, but she ignored them and began walking. She led them down one hallway, and then turned sharply into another, leading them to the room containing the Scroll of Colors.
"Have you been here before, Shadow?" Skywise asked, surprised that she knew where to go.
"Oh, Skywise, you have no idea." She looked at him and smirked. He bounded after her, and Cutter and Strongbow followed hesitantly.
A few rooms away, Timmain sensed that Skywise, Strongbow and Cutter where all coming to speak to her, but she also felt a fourth was coming. They seemed familiar, but she couldn't place it. She concentrated for a few moments, but couldn't figure out who it was. So, Timmain waited to see who this new arrival was.
Shadow stopped hesitantly outside the door and Skywise looked over at her, wondering why she wouldn't go inside. Strongbow and Cutter caught up to them and waited for her to open the door. Shadow's eyes slowly revealed horror. She took a step back and was about to turn and run, when Skywise caught her hand.
"We'll be right there the whole time. You don't have any reason to worry." Skywise told her. He looked to his soul brother for aid. Cutter nodded.
"It's alright. Timmain wouldn't hurt a fly, unless the fly threatened her children, which you won't." Strongbow silently agreed with them. Shadow took a deep breath and pushed open the doors.
Timmain looked as her children entered. But this one wasn't a child. Timmain looked at the child for a moment, confused as to whom this was, but then it came like a crashing wave. She walked over to the child and embraced her, beginning to sob. Now the Wolfriders had never seen the High One show this much sorrow and connection with another. Strongbow, Cutter and Skywise looked back and forth at each other, unsure of what was happening. Slowly, Shadow began to breath heavy, and her eyes began to well up with tears, but she refused to cry in front of the Wolfriders. After a very long moment Timmain pulled herself back, her face soaked from tears.
"Oh, Amicia, I'm so sorry. I should have known you were still alive…" Timmain whispered. "Hayen… he tricked us all into forgetting you… How can you forgive me?" Her voice caught, and she coughed. Shadow, named Amicia at birth, pulled Timmain up to her feet.
"Timmain, you are my Mother's sister. I can always forgive you. But I no longer go by Amicia. Now I go by Shadow." Timmain looked down at her niece.
"Shadow… A suitable name for you." A small smile appeared upon the High Ones face. "Your Mother, Sefra, died a good death. It was not at the hand of a human or an elf. She was protecting me the one time I dropped my guard down." Timmain looked shamefully at the floor.
"Timmain, it is fine. I can hear her spirit. She is proud of what you have done. Don't feel any shame." Timmain nodded, and smiled at the young one. It was then that other three elves realized who she was: a High One.
"My niece, tell the Wolfriders your story, so they may understand." Timmain sat back down in her chair, as if a weight had finally been lifted off her chest.
"Ah, yes." Shadow stepped up to the Scroll of Colors. She looked carelessly at the three Wolfriders, who were still in shock. "I will tell you the story that truly happened."
Many years ago, even I do not know how many, two girls were born. They were named Timmain and Sefra. They were close friends, and were destined to be together. When Sefra, what you would call, recognized and had a child, she counseled with her sister as to what to name the child. They settled on the name Amicia, for the child already offered a mystery. They child was born half the size a normal child should be. As she grew up she remained half the size of all the other children. But another thing that was quite mysterious about her was that she was the last child to be born to one of our species. No one could understand why, so they labeled her a curse. Her only friends were her Mother and Aunt. Even her Father ignored her. At one point, the young immortal attempted to kill herself. Her Aunt happened to be visiting and stopped her from ending what she had called, "a beautiful, young life." Her Aunt and Mother were both leaving the dying planet, and they insisted she come with them. And so, the company was created, each with their appointed job: * Kalil was motion, propelling us. Kaslen was our ship, protecting us. Adya was our eyes, choosing our destination. Sefra, our time-keeper, and my Mother, decided when we would go. Aerth was our ears, knowing why we should go. Deir was our balance, giving order to the choices we made. Haken was our passion, pushing us forward. Gibra was the caution, holding us back from risks. Timmain was our mind, remembering everything for us. * And I, Amicia, was Keeper of the Palace, holding us all together. There were ten of us, since our luckiest number was ten. Now, the preservers, also known as flitrins, and the trolls, then known as burrowers where kept in the Palace. I befriended them, and they respected me by never pulling any pranks or nonsense on me. Before we landed on the World of Two Moons, I suggested that the burrowers could possibly separate from us and thrive without us. They took this to Deir and Haken, who both said that it could never happen, and that they would always be protected by us. They came back to me, asking to reason with the two, and so I attempted to, for they were my friends. When I did, Haken accused me off being treasonous and cursed. Deir held him back, but when we landed and the trolls threw us back in time, Haken blamed me. He took me to the highest part of the Palace, and cursed me, banishing me to solitude. So, I wandered away. Since I am the Keeper of the Palace, I have always known its location and been drawn to it, but I had to remain away. Now, before the rest of the company left the Palace, Hayen used some dark magic tricking them into thinking I had never been with them, but apart of another search group and they believed him. Until now.
The Scroll of Colors faded away, and Cutter, Skywise and Strongbow all stood there dazed. Skywise jumped forward first.
"Wait, so you're a High One?" Shadow looked confused.
"Is that what you call us?" Skywise nodded. "Oh, I guess then I am." She flashed a smile. Cutter input his question next.
"This doesn't deal much with the story you told us, but can you explain why you caught a preserver?" Cutter eyed the little pouch on her side that would move every so often. Timmain looked curiously at Shadow, and so she pulled out the bag and released the little creature. Fuzzlepatch flew out, but Shadow flicked her hand, and the preserver was frozen mid-air.
"This is Fuzzlepatch. A very, very, very," Shadow put great emphasis into each very, "long time ago, when Winnowill was just turning dark, before she experimented on elves, she experimented on Fuzzlepatch. Now, Winnowill didn't realize that when you throw so much of yourself into something or someone, they learn your soul name. Fuzzy here knows it, and so for the past few weeks when I was aware that she was here, I made it my goal to capture her and learn Winnowill's soul name." Shadow said it as if it was self explanatory.
^But, why would you want to know the Black Snake's soul name? ^ Strongbow openly sent to the other four in the room.
"You never told them?" Shadow looked questioningly at Timmain. Timmain shook her head. "Huh. I suppose it was for the best. And she is the only one who they would wish that upon. Well, when you know someone's soul name, and they are dead, and most of the souls in the Palace agree upon it, and with good reason, you can say the soul name, and that person spirit dies. And since Winnowill is dead, yet her soul lives on, I figured that it might be for the best." Shadow put her hand against the wall and closed her eyes. "Plus, I can sense a good majority of the souls would gladly agree to have her soul eliminated."
"That's possible?" Skywise was shocked to hear this. Shadow nodded her head. 'So that's why she was so desperate to capture the preserver… Huh. Amicia…' Skywise's head was spinning with all sorts of thoughts. Shadow touched the wall of the palace and a small opening appeared and she placed the preserver in it. It sealed up almost immediately. Then, Dart and Moonshade came running in.
"Lifemate, one moment Nightfall and Redlance were telling us about this elf," Moonshade gestured to Shadow, "And the next, her story was buzzing through our heads! Is it true? Can it be?" Strongbow nodded, and Moonshade looked to Timmain for further clarification. When Timmain nodded as well, Moonshade looked shocked. Dart smiled and walked himself right up to her. Kimo, who was taking a break of Shuna's new village, walked right behind him.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Dart. That's my mother Moonshade." He smiled and Kimo stepped up next to him
"And I'm Kimo." Kimo also smiled.
"And I'm Shadow. It's really wonderful to meet you both." She looked them in the eyes. "Kimo, you are a shape changer!" He nodded, delighted that she had known. "I would love to get to know each of you, but first there is something I must do." She looked back at Timmain who nodded, yet again.
"Yes, there is something we must do. Skywise, Savah and Leetah, you may stay, but I kindly ask the rest of you to leave. You can all get to know this new elf later." Slowly, the elves left the Palace, but Cutter lingered. He went up to the High One and quietly spoke to her for a few minutes. He kissed his lifemate's cheek as he exited, but he turned to Shadow right before he left.
^I'm sorry for earlier. It appears that your story is similar in many ways to mine. I look forward to getting to know you later. ^ Cutter smiled and left.
"Now, Shadow, Skywise is on of the few who can control the Palace, and Leetah is a healer, and Savah is as wise as me, if not more so. I have asked them to stay, I can remove the curse of your solitude upon which Hayen put on you, and Leetah can attempt to heal your wounds from it, but I can make no promises."
"This may sound foolish Timmain, but I believe I want to keep the scars. They are a reminder." Shadow looked cautiously at her Aunt and Elder.
Timmain laughed. "And what do they remind you of, my dear?"
"Well, they remind me of my past, so I can never forget." Shadow said, as if she had thought out that answer a long time ago.
"It is a wise choice. But you must reveal your scars to us, so we can help you." Shadow looked at the ground for a long time and nodded. "Now, let us go to the room where this all began. The party of five immortal elves went to the highest room in the tower. But right before they entered the room, Timmain turned around, and from behind the corner, Kimo and Dart peeked out. They quickly ducked behind the wall. Even though they had grown older, there curiosity had no end. "Come out Kimo and Dart. You act as if I didn't know you where there." The two boys joined the party. "Why did you follow, even though I asked everyone to leave?"
"Well, we were curious about Shadow." Dart started. Shadow smiled and the two boys waved.
"And everything else." Kimo continued. "The Palace is so amazing. So, we assumed when something in the Palace happened to the Keeper of the Palace, it would be amazing too."
Timmain looked at the two elves, who compared to her were toddlers. "If you think you can handle it, then yes, you may come." So the group of seven then came up to the room.
The room was of decent size, about 8 feet by 12 feet, and the roof was at least 20 feet tall. Shadow sat down on the stool in the center. Carefully, she took off her metallic wrist bands and ankle bands to reveal a black line running straight around her wrists and ankles. When she took the piece of metal off her face, she revealed some markings on her forehead. The pattern was reflected from one side to the next. A black diamond lay in the center of her forehead and a black line slowly curved up to where her hair started in the far corner of her forehead, and then went down to the side of her eyes were it curled up.
Most people were taken aback by this, but Timmain ignored it and motioned for Leetah and Savah to join her. Leetah and Savah both took one of her hands to help her hold back the pain as Timmain had instructed them to. Timmain then bent down and touched her hand to the diamond on Shadow's forehead. Suddenly, a light aura surrounded Timmain and a black one swirling with orange surrounded Shadow. Everyone assumed that Shadow's aura was naturally orange, but slowly, the orange began to disappear, and they realized that her aura was black. All four's faces practically shone with concentration. By the time it was over, Shadow's body was shaking and it took her a few moments to calm herself down. She took a deep breath.
"Well, that was some adventure, eh?" She looked with a smile at everyone in the room. Leetah suggested that they all rest for a few minutes before going anywhere. Shadow shrugged it off. "Meh, I'm fine. Besides, some fresh air always makes me feel better." She was about to leave the door with Kimo and Dart, but she looked back and said, "You coming Skywise?"
"Uh, well," He looked between the resting Timmain and her.
"It's fine. Stay." She mouthed, and he nodded. Then she disappeared through the doorway.
"Are you all, alright?" Skywise asked, sitting down next to the High One. Timmain and Savah nodded. Leetah on the other hand, looked frustrated.
"How can she be up and running like a wild one after that?" Leetah put a lot of emphasis on the last word. Timmain gave a soft laugh.
"You're forgetting who she's related to." Skywise and Savah both laughed. "But also, if that's how hard it was to remove the curse, imagine how hard it's been living with it the entire time she's been on this planet?" Leetah thought about that for a moment. "Imagine how much lighter she feels, and I'm sure she's very eager to get to know her new family." Timmain smiled at that. After a few more moments of resting, they all got up and headed out the door.
When they arrived downstairs, they discovered the Palace was empty. Timmain stayed, and Savah, Skywise and Leetah left and went to the Holt where everyone was gathered outside, quietly. Most were eager to meet the newcomer. Moonshade and Strongbow's most recent cub, Chitter, was following Shadow around. Dart and Kimo where introducing Shadow to everyone, and Skywise could not help but wish that that was him, showing her around. However, she seemed to be having a great time with everyone. Leetah and Skywise went to Cutter, and Savah went to her old fellow Sun Folk. The night was a merry one.
Eventually, Kimo and Dart both grew distracted, but kept a wandering eye on her as she continued to have conversations with the Wolfriders and Sun Folk. They felt responsible for assimilating her into the tribe, and already the three had become great friends. When Cutter and Shadow finally got a chance to talk, it was late and the sun was coming up. Dart and Kimo ran up behind and showed her were their den was, and she agree to come there once she was done talking to Cutter. However, Cutter and Shadow walked through the forest for most of the night.
"So, you've lived in the enclosed grove this whole time?" Cutter asked.
"Yes, if that is what you call the place where you cornered me. It is very much like a dome, and on the inside, it is a wide open space with a small pond and one tree, which is where I've lived the past turn of the seasons."
"You've lived there the past turn of the seasons?" Shadow nodded. "And to think we never even knew you where there! Incredible. How hard was it for you knowing we were there and not being able to interact with us?"
"Well, I don't know you could say I didn't interact with you. It's just that you never interacted with me. Every so often I would leave you something, so that if you were paying close enough attention you would know someone had helped you. For example, I would leave Chitter a toy or I would give you an extra basket of berries and such. Little things. I never needed excess, and I hated to waste, so I basically gave your tribe everything else."
"Thank you then, for everything you've done for us. It would explain that little elf toy that Chitter found that no one could explain. But other than help us, what did you normally do?"
"Well, I've done lots of things. I make instruments and I travel mainly. Eight and four turns of the seasons ago I saw your Rayek and his loyal friend Ekuar. It was then that I made it my sole task to destroy Winnowill, and though this might seem cruel, it was not because of Rayek. I did it for Ekuar, because he has been the one to put up with Rayek all these lonely years. But this is not just about me; I also would like to learn about you, Chief Cutter. Tell me about yourself."
And so Cutter told his story, only pausing once when he came to the part where Winnowill stole the palace and it was shattered. Shadow shuddered when he came to it. "Are you alright?"
"Right now I am fine. But that was probably the worst part of my life. The curse was always a burden, but since I am the Keeper of the Palace, I went insane when it was shattered." She shivered again. "But thanks to you and your friends I am safe now. I owe you a great debt. Now please, continue on with your story."
Cutter ended it right where his son, Sunstream, and his lifemate, Brill, who was a Wavedancer, had a child.
"I would very much like to meet the Wavedancers! I've been to the ocean and it's incredible. Their lives must be so relaxed. Do you plan on visiting soon?"
"Yes, I am. I plan to visit my new grandchild soon. I would enjoy it if you could come." By now they had come to the enclosed grove and had wrapped around it and were half way back to the Holt. "So now you know my story. I would like to know a little about yours."
"Well, you know about how I was cursed. So for most of the time up until the shattering of the Palace, I wandered. Not much happened. Over eight times three turns of the seasons before you ran into Winnowill, I snuck into Blue Mountain. She was unable to detect my mind, but she knew something had entered. I saw what she was doing to the humans and her fellow elves and was disgusted, so I immobilized her powers momentarily. But my first visit to the Blue Mountain was to check up on an old friend's child: Voll. That was eight times eight turns of the seasons before my second visit. Sadly, I was present when Winnowill deformed the elf, Tyldak. He was innocent, only doing what he thought was best. Like me, he too, was born crippled. He could not fly like the Gliders, and he never forgave himself for it. That is where we are different."
"Did you ever run into any humans or difficulties such as that?" Cutter asked, amazed she could go on for so long without anyone to talk to. "How did you go on without anyone to talk to?"
"Well, I guess you could say, I talked to myself. Occasionally, I messed around with some Go-Backs or Gliders or Sun Folk or even Wolfriders. I'd send to them claiming to be an elven spirit, but never someone they knew. Not exactly my proudest achievement, but it was fun." Shadow stopped where she was walking. Cutter stopped in his tracks too.
By now they had reached the Holt, and so even though day was nearing, Cutter went to his den and pointed Shadow to where Dart and Kimo's was. However, Shadow was so tired, she tripped while walking, and fell asleep right outside, between Kimo and Dart's den and Skywise's.
* - Taken from Hidden Years # 6