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!
Epilogue
Dart smiled at his mother as she handed him some leathers to take back to Ember's tribe while Strongbow grumbled nearby. His father always did hate saying farewell. It had been a good three seasons since Jethel had brought his small tribe back into the fold. Chot was healed in body and slowly healing in mind thanks to Door, Jethel, and Leetah. It was time for Dart to go home to his tribe.
"Oh, that is a classic," Dart laughed as he turned and saw Chot's newest hairstyle as the Go-Back grumbled while he walked up holding his adopted son's hand in his, "Good job, No-name."
"Made Chot-pa pretty," No-name giggled as he raced and hugged Dart's leg, "Bye-bye, Dart. Miss you. Bye."
"Don't you encourage him," Chot bit out with his hair pulled into several different directions and held in place with leather thongs once the cub had sped off to ask Pike to tell him a story, "I don't understand why he loves to do this."
"He's a weaver and your hair is thick enough to attempt patterns with," Door chuckled landing beside Chot as his soul mate sighed, "Many of my people enjoyed twisting and knotting things. I should have realized that No-name is developing his craft early on. Perhaps you can teach my son some of your skills, Moonshade?"
"I think that can be arranged," Moonshade giggled as she reached to help Chot take down his hair again, making the Go-Back look at her in thanks, "Maybe that will keep No-name too busy for this grooming play he likes to do. You have more patience with cubs than most, Chot."
"The cub means no harm and really thinks he does a good job," Chot reminded wincing as Moonshade pulled the last of his hair down and most fell directly into his face, "Rotten fish guts!"
"Let me help you, Chot," Door said as he reached and assisted Chot in pulling his hair back in the usual way while Jethel, Dodia, and Yun walked up to the group, "So you are leaving us, Dart?"
"I am," Dart agreed starting to walk to the palace as his entourage followed, "Skywise is waiting to take me and my wolf friend home. Windkin is also going for a visit. Are you sure that none of you wish to join Ember's tribe. She is ready to welcome you."
"No, Dart," Door denied, "My lifemate and I are home with the rest of our family. We are happy here."
Dart froze and slowly turned to look at Door and Chot with wide eyes. Lifemate? Lifemate!
"Pick your cursed jaw up off the ground," Chot ordered sauntering into the palace ahead of the group as he adjusted the crystal gauntlets he had been wearing lately, "Like this couldn't be seen from miles across the ice, Wolfrider. We complete one another. Stands to reason that Door and I'd take the next step and it is a shame you deny yourself from doing the same. Come on."
"Getting slow as you age?" Yun asked while Jethel giggled helplessly as the two passed Dart.
"Not very observant, are we?" Dodia teased as Dart glared at her, "I'm very happy for them and my son is ecstatic since Door told him that Chot was really one of his fathers now. Chot does see to the point of things. Perhaps you might take that step with Kimo one day, hmm?"
"What?" Dart gasped as Dodia skipped into the palace with his mother and father following hiding their smiles.
"My mate is saying to find your happiness," Door instructed placing a hand on Dart's shoulder, "Don't deny who you are or how you feel. Happiness can only be grasped when you choose to seek it out and understand yourself. Fledgling has taught me that and so have you, Dart. Come. Chot is arguing with Kahvi again. I've got to break the two up."
Dart broke out of his shock to see Chot and Kahvi debating something…rather loudly. As Chot had recovered from Zey's manipulations, the pain caused by the palace had faded so now the Go-Back was a constant visitor to tease his old chief. Kahvi loved it and so did Chot. Door floated between the spirit and his lifemate to break the fight up. Laughter floated from the palace as the two Go-Backs rounded on the Glider and began to fuss at being interrupted, but soon enough Kahvi and Chot began to laugh along with everyone else as Door chuckled.
"You acted when it was needed," Timmain voiced as Dart stepped inside the palace and noticed Chot rummaging through Door's bag to find something to eat as Kahvi took her leave, "His pain is diminished and ebbing away with each day. Well done, Child."
Dart bowed to the High One and smiled. He could go home now. He could say goodbye and know that his former tribemates were where they were supposed to be.
"Dart, get your moss-covered rump over here," Chot chided with a sniff as he chewed at some dried meat, "We don't have all day to wait for you. No-name will get into something, again, and it will take hours to clean him and the fish-poking mess. Stop dawdling about."
Dart snorted and trotted over. It was time to see what other adventures awaited him at home. As for Kimo? That answer would come when Shuna no longer needed her elf friend by her side.
"I will be back sooner than Dart to be near my Ahdri," Windkin advised nodding at everyone, "Until we see one another again, be well."
"Time to go and time to shine where my love is," Dart remarked making Shenshen giggle as she hurried over to say goodbye, "Until eyes meet eyes once again."
"Until then," Jethel answered, "Shade and sweet water to you always, Dart, and you too, Windkin."
"They're not leaving forever. Stop acting like they are about to fall through thin ice," Chot groaned, rolling his eyes as Door smirked at his brusque lifemate, "Fight well until the end, Dart and Windkin. See you when you return."
Dart shook his head at the Go-Back as Yun elbowed Chot hard in the ribs. Chot would never change and the thought of that was pretty good, but it was nice to see that the Go-Back seemed to understand his worth more than before. Thank the High Ones that Zey wasn't chipping away at Chot's thoughts any longer.
"See you then," Dart agreed stepping into the pod with Windkin and Skywise as Door began to try and lecture Yun, "Jethel, keep this crew in line."
"I will because I have help from my brother," Jethel laughed leaning against Chot as the Go-Back smirked down at the younger elf before winking at Dart in good humor, "Farewell."
Then Dart felt himself leaving and in that leaving, he felt content. In that contentment, there was the Now of wolf thought.
"I am home," Dart hummed as he stepped from the pod and saw his tribe hurrying over to greet him with smiles, "And that is good."
The end.
This was fun to write. I have a prequel to this story finished if any want to read it. Let me know so I can post it. Thank you to all that reviewed.
Shade and sweet water to you all!