More Than What Meets the Eyes

This will be a slightly alternative universe story. This veers off of canon a little. You will see that I made Dodia's son a tiny bit younger than what was represented in Barry Blair's "Fire Eyes." Sorry for canon lovers.

Doesn't look like there are a ton of EQ lovers here, but I wanted to tell a story of one of my favorite background characters that I think needs more attention. I love Chot.

Please review and let me know what you think, but I don't expect this story to be seen by very many so I'm not begging for reviews.

I own nothing. Poop!

Chapter Two

"I don't know what I think about all of this," Dart breathed shaking his head in wonder, "Door did such terrible things."

"We've all made mistakes," Windkin spoke up as Dart looked towards him, "It soothes my anger to know that he at least admits to his misdeeds and is trying to start anew. Plus, a poisoned mind is a poisoned mind. Can we hold that against Door? He didn't ask for Winnowill's taint. None of us would ever ask for that to be done to us. Remember others that were made mad because of the black snake such as Two Edge and Reef. Let's judge Door on what we see now, instead of what happened in the past."

"Spoken like a Wolfrider," Scouter chuckled as Windkin grinned at him, "What say you, Dart? Can you forgive?"

"Time will tell," Dart voiced as Jethel frowned at him, "I will try."

A small cry had Jethel up and out of the room in a state as Dart followed quickly. Cutter reached to intercept Jethel, but the elf evaded his hold and got into the room that housed Chot. Dart patted the chief's arm and walked to pull the younger elf back against the wall so Jethel wouldn't be in the way. It had been Door's cry that had been heard and Dart was a bit surprised at how upset Jethel was as they watched the scene. This wasn't a child upset over the hurt of his family. Jethel's upset was over the hurt of his tribemates and he was standing guard over them like a chief.

"He's hurting. High Ones, he's hurting so badly," Door whimpered reaching for Chot as Mender held him back.

"Leetah is trying to convince him to pull back his barriers," Mender advised as Door glanced to him, "We can't get to the taint in your mind with his shields in place. Chot doesn't recognize that we are trying to help you in his weakened state and is fighting back to protect you, but it is causing him a lot strain. He has always been one stubborn cuss, but his will to protect is pretty amazing. Leetah, what do we do? We'll lose Chot if this keeps up."

Dart glanced at Chot and nearly cursed. Chot's face showed his illness. The elf looked gray and too thin with his wild, long hair strewn about on the furs looking sticky with sweat as he panted softly in apparent pain. They were losing him and Dart didn't want to think about losing the wild Go-Back. Go-Back? Of course!

"Mender, why not take Door's soul within Chot's mind to show him that you and Leetah are trying to help?" Dart spoke up as Leetah and Mender looked at one another in surprise at not having thought of that, "Chot depends on what he sees and hears like most Go-Backs. His tribe are distrusting of magic users so it stands to reason that he is fighting the healing. Chot needs to see that Door is safe so he can drop his barriers without a fight."

"That will work," Leetah whispered with a firm nod, "Silence. Do not disturb Mender and I. Door, open your mind to us."

Door went rigid as Leetah and Mender began their work. Long moments passed with no sounds except for Chot's labored breathing. Door slowly relaxed as time continued, but arched suddenly and began screaming. Cutter stormed into the room and he watched with Dart and Jethel as Leetah reached and seemed to calm the elf while still working even as Chot started having a fit of some kind while his whole body convulsed.

"Hold him down," Mender spat as Jethel and Dart sprang to help, "Gently. His mind is too weakened to process what is going on. His body is trying to shut down."

"No!" Door howled throwing himself at his soul brother, startling most in the room, "I'm here. I'm here and we're going to be fine, Chot. Calm yourself. I'm here."

Leetah placed each of her palms on both Door's and Chot's forehead as Mender offered his powers. Dart blinked while Door twined his fingers with Chot's. He did not miss that Door was lock sending to his soul brother. Strange day. Strange happenings. Chot shook violently a moment later before growing still again as Jethel and Dart slowly withdrew. Tension filled the room and a long period past as Shenshen sniffled nearby before Leetah and Mender slumped in exhaustion.

"This is…what? So strange to not feel darkness on the tinges of my thoughts," Door murmured looking ready to pass out before looking in alarm at Chot, "How is he?"

"He is stable and calm," Leetah breathed looking up, "I think he finally understands that you are no longer in danger and can rest. Your healing will take a couple more sessions, but I have rid you of most of Winnowill's twisted taint."

"He is healed and will wake soon?" Door demanded feeling Chot's forehead, "He still runs a fever. I don't understand."

"Door, Chot made himself very sick and weak over several seasons. I lowered the fever, but he needs more time for the fever to break completely," Leetah pointed out as Door glanced to her again, "Mender and I've given him what strength we can, but good food and rest is what he needs to recover. Chot is out of danger, but there is something you need to know about your soul brother."

"Yes?" Door urged as Dart and Jethel exchanged confused looks before focusing back on Leetah.

"I've been told that Chot was always a glutton, eating more than he should, but that is not true," Leetah explained as Door frowned as he listened, "I've seen this before in one other elf in the Go-Backs so long ago during the war of the palace. Chot is special. His body processes his food much faster than the average elf. He eats more because he literally needs more. He is severely dehydrated and malnourished at the moment since it seems his strain to help you left him too tired to care for himself. It will take time for him to heal and build back up to his old strength levels. We'll have to be sure he gets as much good food in him as he can handle even after he heals. That is just normal for Chot."

"I knew it," Door hissed as Dart felt extremely guilty remembering all the times he had assumed Chot was greedy in the past, "I've felt his need to eat like an itch for quite a bit of time before he grew ill. It didn't sit right. I knew there was more to it. Then when he slowly began to eat less and less…It wasn't right and he hid that fact so carefully. You are going to be the death of me, Chot, I swear it. You shiver. He is cold. Please, is there another fur?"

Dart watched as the very elf he had come to hate in the forevergreen tenderly wrapped another blanket over Chot before working with Shenshen to try and ease some water down the still dwarf's throat. Leetah tried to get Door to rest before finally resorting to using her healing skills to get the elf to curl up beside Chot and sleep. Dart pulled Jethel from the room and over to his former tribemates from the forevergreen. It was Jethel who told the crew about the healing and the discovery of Chot's uniqueness.

"I feel so bad now," Yun groaned looking guilty, "I had no idea about Chot's need to eat like that. He just always ate like he had a stomach as big as a troll so I teased him like everyone else. Rotten fish guts! I owe Chot such an apology."

"I think we all do," Windkin pointed out as Shenshen wandered over, "How are they?"

"Door is in a forced sleep," the elf maiden explained, "Chot is still unconscious. It might take several days for him to wake. My sister said his barriers were amazing for one that hasn't known how to send his whole life. She told me that how Chot is now, he would have been able to fight Winnowill's sendings if he had gone up against her like your sire, Dart. Savah once told me that Chot would surprise us with what he had to offer if he decided to use his skills. I didn't believe her."

"Chot keeps his true self hidden," Sunstream voiced as all turned to him in surprise, "He is still our wild Chot, but there is much more beneath the surface. He holds to the idea of being a Go-Back, but there is much, much more to him. He worries me."

"Your mother will help him get better," Shenshen soothed before stopping as Sunstream shook his head and Jethel frowned.

The two old friends locked eyes and nodded at one another. Some communication had happened between Jethel and Sunstream that the others were not privy to hear.

"I have all faith in your sister, Shenshen," Jethel began as his golden-haired friend nodded, "However, that is not what Sunstream meant since he and I have spoken on this subject when he sends his spirit to roam at times. There have been multiple times Chot has made a target of himself in situations. Almost…almost as if he thinks that if he died in a battle nothing would change for anyone. No one would miss him. He's just Chot who could be easily forgotten. I worry that someone instilled in Chot a sense that he is less than everyone else. I get Go-Backs fight until they can't anymore, but…I don't know."

"A Go-Back doesn't back down from a fight," Yun supplied, "But neither do we sacrifice ourselves for nothing. I think I'm seeing that a lot of what we saw in Chot was all bravado. I should have looked deeper. He is my tribemate. I'm such a cursed, dull blade."

"We all should have looked deeper," Dart sighed, "At that time, I was the leader of our band. I missed what was right in front of my face. I saw the surface and didn't try to understand the within."

"Don't start the guilt," Kimo warned as Dart looked to him, "We'll just start anew. With Chot. With Door. Dodia's here with her cub and Jethel. We'll start fresh. Guilt is not going to help Chot. He'll sense it and withdraw. Then Door will sense that something is wrong and come at us with his stone shaping."

"I would not."

The group turned as one to see Door behind them leaning against the doorway looking tired.

"You should be sleeping," Shenshen fussed as the taller elf sighed.

"Your sister's touch was not strong enough to send me into a deep sleep," Door explained, "Leetah is not Winnowill. Her touch asks for permission instead of forces her will on others. My mind is racing and I just stood for a moment to stretch my legs and try to clear my thoughts. I'll rest soon, but allow me this to say. I will never use my powers against any elf or any human again unless to protect myself or those I love. I'm done with enjoying the pain of others or thinking myself above anyone. He taught me that."

"Chot?" Yun questioned as Door nodded, "Pfaugh! You're going to have your hands full with that one."

"I have no complaints now after getting used to his tendencies. The earlier days were interesting," Door whispered nodding softly as he slipped back from whence he came.

"If that don't beat all," Yun scoffed shaking her head, "This might be alright after all. Door certainly seems more centered."

"Let's just wait to see what happens now that Chot and Door have had some healing. Come. Let's get you some dry clothes," Sunstream decided gesturing to Jethel and Dodia, "I'm sure you need some food and rest as well, judging by the sleepy cub. This way."

Dart watched as the group ambled away before turning and glancing into the room Door had entered. The taller elf was sitting next to Chot as he ever so gently stroked the ill dwarf's hair back from the Go-Back's over-heated face. Moonshade had often done that for both he and his sister when the two were troubled or needing comfort. Kimo slipped up beside him and watched for a moment before the two looked at one another.

-I think things are different now. He is not the Door we once knew, Dart.-

-This I know, but I just…I don't like that he is here. I don't like him being alone with Chot. I don't trust him.-

-Give him a chance, Brother. Look. That is not an elf that wishes anyone harm. He worries for his soul match. That is plain to see. Chot cares for Door enough to sacrifice himself. That says a lot for Chot. He doesn't do anything without cause.-

Dart grumbled before nodding at the truth of the words. Chot had a reason for all he did. The elf always had, even if those intentions were hard to fathom at times. Dart allowed Kimo to lead him back to their tribe. The world felt like it had shifted on Dart over the next day or two. Ember's tribe had chosen to stay a little longer as well since Dart had begged Ember to wait so he could be assured of his old tribemate's recovery. Dart's concern for his friend's health battled with his concern over Door's presence within the palace. The healers assured everyone that Door was fully healed and rational now, but Dart had his doubts.

"I'm not here to harm anyone," Door spoke up as he cradled Chot's head and tilted a bowl of warmed bear's broth into his soul brother's mouth to try and get some more food into the ill elf's belly one afternoon, "That is why you are constantly on guard, isn't it? I'm not here to cause you troubles, Dart."

Dart hummed softly with narrowed eyes as he watched Door set the bowl to the side and wipe some spilled drops from Chot's lips with a clean cloth. The ill dwarf was still unconscious and the Wolfrider could not deny that Door was working tirelessly to assist Chot in healing.

"Fat lot of good that does for all the humans you burned," Dart sniped as Door winced, "Hit too close to home for you, Door?"

"No. Keep reminding me of that," Door insisted as Dart startled in shock, "Don't allow me to ever disappear into my arrogance again. Winnowill had me poisoned to act insane, but arrogance is a flaw within me from before the black one's touch. This wild fledgling has reminded me of that more than once."

Dart couldn't help the smile that came as Door gestured at Chot. The Go-Back did like to say "I told you so."

"Fledgling, hmm?" Dart asked as Door focused back on him, "Are you so aged to call Chot that as if he was a cubling?"

"Chot is but a faunt to me, Dart. I am nearly as old as Winnowill would have been which makes my soul brother much, much younger," Door admitted as Dart straightened while the Glider returned to coaxing the broth down the sleeping elf's throat, "Winnowill. I am ashamed to have allowed her to twist me as fully as she did. The Gliders…we all trusted her. She was our healer, Lord Voll's lovemate. What went so wrong within her that she turned so vile? How did I not see and allow her to taint who I was? I feel such shame."

Dart glared at Door before his face softened as he glanced at Chot lying so still in the taller elf's arms.

"He knows you feel that way, you know?" Dart pointed out as Door's eyes widened as he glanced up sharply before looking down to pull his soul brother closer as he gazed sadly down at the Go-Back, "Self-hatred does nothing, but makes you shoot with an unstrung bow, Door. Chot sacrificed a lot so you could finally be healed. Don't reward his efforts by spiraling into doubt and self-hate. I'm only saying this for Chot's benefit and not yours, Glider."

"Fair enough," Door voiced without looking up at the Wolfrider as he gently settled Chot onto his sleeping furs, "I will heed your words. Chot's suffered enough trying to assist me without my hurting him more. You will be kind to him once he wakes, won't you?"

"Kind? To Chot?" Dart questioned as Door looked up and nodded, "Why wouldn't I be? Chot is my friend."

"A friend who has me as the other part of his soul," Door breathed, "Don't hurt him by shutting him out. Chot doesn't deserve that. Neither of us had a choice in our bonding. He roared into my head like the Go-Back he is and called me a puffed up, dung-headed, frozen stag chip."

Dart laughed hard as he could almost hear Chot saying something to that effect. Door smiled softly in amusement as he gazed down at his soul brother.

"It would have been laughable to me too if I hadn't been so twisted in my hatred of all elves I felt were beneath me," Door murmured brushing a lock of hair off of Chot's forehead, "Then he pushed the darkness away without another word. Just…wormed his way in and staked his claim. Times I have felt lucky and other times I wanted to strangle Chot. I'm never alone in my thoughts anymore. He's always there. Always reassuring me in his rough way despite my best efforts to hide what I feel when my thoughts turn negative. He respects and loves the tribe you once led. Don't shut him out because of me, I beg you."

"I'd never," Dart denied hotly, "Chot is a friend and tribemate. I'd never cause him pain if I could. Not because you ask, but because he is an elf that I've learned to respect despite his…odder ways of going about things."

"For what it's worth, thank you," Door offered before sitting up straighter as Leetah walked in, "My eyes see you with joy, Milady."

"I have asked you not to call me that. My name is Leetah," the healer chuckled softly, "Let's check on your soul brother. I can sense that he is doing better despite his deep sleep."

Dart looked up to see Jethel leaning in the doorway. The lad had done quite a bit to show that he was worthy to be a Wolfrider tribemate since his arrival and he still watched over the band he had led as a chieftain in his own right with fierce loyalty.

-I wish you'd see Door without hatred in your heart, Dart-

-I'm trying, Jethel. He worries that I will hurt Chot by shutting him out once he wakes due to his bond. I'd never.-

-Good to hear. I had no doubts, but Door is full of them. He has to relearn to live out of Winnowill's shadow. I think that is why he is soul brothers with Chot. Chot will teach him how to live again and Door might be able to teach Chot some restraint.-

-Restraint and Chot don't sound right in the same thought about our resident Go-Back.-

Amusement filled Dart's mind as Jethel smiled watching Leetah evaluate Chot.

-Dart, Door and Chot balance one another. If you had seen that in the forevergreen you'd understand better. Door is one of us. An elf wanting to make up for his past deeds and live his own life again. Give him a chance to prove that. Please. For Chot.-

Dart turned and watched Door hovering anxiously before the taller elf relaxed as Leetah assured him that Chot was continuing to heal.

-Very well. I'll try for Chot.-

-Thank you.-

Dart nodded at Jethel and took his leave. He needed some time out of the palace to be in the forest. The Way was telling him to throw Door from the pack. Door was a potential threat, but was he really anymore? Leetah said that Door's mind was his own again, without poison or taint, but few knew how horribly Door had used his rock shaping skills within the forevergreen. What if he turned again? Door could destroy the tribe, the palace. Why did it have to be Door that Chot was bonded to?

"Gah," Dart groaned throwing himself down in some soft grass beside a nearby creek, "I hate this."

-Hate, what?-

To be continued…