Day 27-31: Children of the Oaks (Yahoo!Group pre-forum)

********

Haze and Redstreak continued to travel towards the scent, and Haze carried Redstreak when the cub was to tired to walk. The smell of wolf and elf got stronger with each stretch of ground covered and Haze began pick up hints of familiar scents, and hoped he wasn't imagining it.
Shifting the cub to his right shoulder, Haze said "Don't give up cub, we are almost there."

After travelling for what seemed like an eternity, and having been without food or water for almost two full days, Haze spotted a moving group in the distance that could be noe other than elves and wolves.
AAAAYYYooooooOOOO! Haze howled, hoping that in his weakened condition he could be herd. As he stumbled and tried to protect Redstreak from a fall, Haze sent *We need help......* to whatever leves were ahead of him.
Haze struggled to return to his feet, and settle the cub on his shoulders again. Redstreak had passed out earlier in the day, and Haze had no food or water to give the cub.

Eveningsky couldn't believe the voice she was hearing. "Haze..." She whispered the name that belonged to the elf. "You hear that?!" It was more than obvious that the others could her the sending as well but she couldn't help but to shout the question out. Another survivor, one just like herself.
**Haze!** The sheer joy gave Eveningsky enough strenght to send it far enough for Haze to hear. **Sunsleaf! There are more of us! And they need help!" The elfess sent to their new tribemate as she rushed towards the new-found elf's location. She couldn't even feel any pain from her wound as she ran.

Longsong almost jumped at Eveningsky's happy shout. Haze? Alive? Here? Impossible, but...


Children of the Oaks

Branchwalker pulled the fur a bit closer around himself. It had been a long night and now, back in the shelter, with the new elves' putting up their tents in a guarding circle around the entrance, all he wanted to do was close his eyes and go to sleep.

Longsong didn't feel quite enough at ease to settle down to rest. So many strange elves, even though they appeared friendly, made him nervous. To reassure himself he stretched out his hand to touch his lifemate's shoulder. Her presense calmed him somewhat.

One-Edge had curled up in a corner of the shelter. Feeling Longsong's touch on her shoulder, she reached up and placed her own reassuringly over his. These newcomers had actually calmed her somewhat. Strange they might be, but they were still elves - and the low murmur of elfin voices while they worked with their tents worked almost like a lullaby to the tired huntress. She rolled over on her back and gave Longsong a little smile, patting herself on her belly.
"Come, love. Rest your head on me for a while."

Reluctantly Longsong lay down. The warmth of his lifemate felt good - the whole situation should feel good. But there was something still nagging at the edge of his mind.
~**Lam,**~ he lock-sent, ~**I think we should howl for the dead after we've slept. For the chief, for our families, for the - the lost cubs.**~ He moved closer to her. ~**Should I suggest it to the others, when they all awake?**~

********

She had no idea where she was. Maybe the faint scent of elves had been an imagination of her mind all along. Oh the happiness she had felt to find that little trace but it had been days ago and the scent had disappeared. More like she couldn't smell it anymore. All she could smell was the scent of sickness that she knew came from herself. Unconsciously she moved her left hand on her right side, only to withdraw it in hurry. Her deep wound from the troll attack was getting worse and too sensitive for touch. She could feel herself all heated up and her eyevision was starting to get blurry. With heavy breath she stopped to lean herself to a tree. In her mind she knew she needed water. *But where.* In exhaust she let her legs give out under her. *I wouldn't be able to smell or hear OR see if I had a river right in front of me!* She looked around herself, not believing she would see anything of interest. "Maybe some sleep would help..." Carefully she laid down and curled up, her right arm covering for her wound.

Outside the shelter, not too far away now, Claw, Dawngazer and the others came walking. The sun was rising ever so slowly over the horizon, so the shelter was easy to spot. But so was something else...

**Do you see that?** Dawngazer open-sent, already moving in the direction of something, lying on the ground a few elf-lengths away.

Claw, who'd been very busy ignoring Eclipse, glanced over at what Dawngazer had found. **I see it. What is it?**

Dawngazer took a deep breath. Her eyes widened when she caught the scent. Without a word she rushed over to the fallen one and gently began to shake her, trying to wake her up.

Total blackness. Something was pulling her out of it. In slow steps Eveningsky came back from the darkness of her slumber. At first she couldn't even register having own thoughts again. Someone was moving her. Her wound sent shivers down her body. She couldn't smell who was there with her. It took some time for her to get her eyes partially open. Even more effort to move her head enough to look up. She couldn't quite make out the character. *Dawngazer?* With an empty stare a movement like tired sneer visited Eveningsky's lips. *What a wicked dream.*

**EVENINGSKY!** Dawngazer shout-sent, when the elfess refused to react. **EVENINGSKY, WAKE UP!**

Claw, now kneeling next to Dawngazer, flinched at the volume of the frantic sending. "Calm yourself, curse you! You'll only give her a headache to go with that fever." She was no healer, but when an elf's eyes had that glassy look in them and they were that warm to the touch, a fever was the obvious reason behind it all.

Dawngazer, heart beating wildly, growled low in her throat at Claw's insult. Not wanting to take her attention away from Eveningsky, she glared at Claw out of the corner of her eye. "My tribemate is hurt, badly hurt. Stay out of the way!" Nevermind that Claw's advice probably had been good and that she most likely had no idea of how much this situation terrified Dawngazer - Claw had belittled her fear and she never took such things lightly.

Claw, a bit taken aback by this hostile answer, narrowed her own eyes into an equale glare. With a huff, that was meant to say 'fine then, crash her head with your shouting', she backed off.

Dusk, not standing as close to the fallen elf, didn't catch the sending and therefore only gave the small fight between his sister and Dawngazer a sort of amused look.

**Tribemates!** Dawngazer sent, Claw's interruption actually having helped calm her, **We have returned and we have with us more of our pack! Eclipse and Eveningsky.** She made a pause, to let that sink in.
**But Eveningsky is injured, badly. She has a fever and an old wound that feasters. We'll carry her back to the shelter. Healer,** it felt odd to address Sunsleaf as such, instead of Tenderheart, but in Dawngazer's opinion, she'd earned the title, **please come meet us as swiftly as you can.**

*Sendings!* Eveningsky's eyes shot wide up and she sat up in a stiff movement. Her gaze was hard on Dawngazer. **Dawngazer? !** Her left hand took a firm grip on the elfess' top. Her other arm left its place covering her wound and slowly came up to touch Dawngazer's face. "I...I can hardly believe it..." The feeling of reality that was given by the touch turned Eveningsky's face to a smile. "My hands touch with joy."

Dawngazer grinned widely when Eveningsy opened her eyes, anger instantly forgotten. "And my eyes see with joy, pack sister! Lie still, Sunsleaf will be here soon, to tend to your wounds. Oh, you have missed much. We will tell you everything, as soon as you're safe."
The wound smelled bad and although Dawngazer was no healer of any kind, she knew that was one of the worsed things a wound could do. "How are you feeling?" Stupid question, but a distraction for both of them.

Eveningsky moved a bit to sit more comfortably and returned her hands to her lap. "Sick. That's what I am." Her answer was accomanied with a slight laugh. "Nothing that rest, water and food won't heal." She had been without water for a little time now and could feel her mouth and throat dryed up. **Sooo, who's Sunsleaf? I don't remember a packmate of that name.**

********

Longsong started as he heard Dawngazer send. So they had all come back in one piece, that was good. And two packmates returned at that! But...He frowned, worry back full force, as he heard of Eveningsky's injury. High Ones, they couldn't lose more of their tribe, not one more!

~**That would be good,**~ One-edge's sending answered. She'd tensed when he mentioned cubs, feeling that familiar emptiness gnawing on her insides, but nodded anyway. Nuzzling his hair with her face, the wolfrider wrapped an arm around him. ~**To start anew, we must find an ending fi ... **~
Her sending clipped off abruptly, as Dawngazer sent. One-Edge's shoulders slumped down as she relaxed, hearing of the returned packmates. Eveningsky injured, though... Biting her lip, she firmly resolved to wade that stream when she came to it. Placing her lips close to Longsong's ear, she whispered fiercely:
"We're alive, love."
Nipping his earlobe slightly with her teeth, she hugged him closer and burrowed down to find the perfect way to lie down.

Branchwalker, hearing Dawngazer's sending, sat bolt upright, eyes wide in happy surprise. "Eclipse! And your sister Cloudbird, your sister is back!" But his face fell as the second part of the sending reached him.
"Oh...oh no. Sunsleaf, please hurry and help her! Please..." The thought of losing Eveningsky a second, permanent time, was too painful to think of.

More found alive! Something inside Longsong relaxed. He nodded in agreement when One-Edge spoke and shivered ever so slightly when her teeth briefly closed around part of his ear. He too curled closer to her, suddenly exhausted.

Eveninglight heard the sending and started to sit up from where she had been lying in the shelter but the sudden movement reminded her of why she was lying with her ribs tightly bound. She winced and reluctantly laid back down, one hand in Shade's fur. At least she once again had him to keep her company. But she smiled at the thought of two tribe members being back. She would not yet allow herself to think of the darker side of Eveningsky's return, which was the news of her injury.

Branchwalker gave Eveninglight as startled look when she suddenly attemtped to sit upright. He was by her side in a heartbeat.
"Did you hurt yourself worse?" he asked in a concerned tone of voice, not daring to touch her, careful of the wounds. "Please be careful, you've been injured enough as it is. Eclipse and Eveningsky will be here soon - we wouldn't want you to pass out from pain and not be able to welcome them back, right?"

********

Hearing the call for the healer - even though it had been addressed to Sunsleaf -, Bloodmane hurried outside. She had been helping Sunsleaf with the other injured and in all honesty was ready to drop from exhaustion, but still refused to allow herself any rest until either everybody left of their tribe was safe or she had done everything she possibly could for them. She couldn't just let any more of her tribemates die.

Dawngazer moved aside to allow Bloodmane a better view of Eveningsky's wound. ~**She's been through a pretty rough time,**~ she lock-sent to Bloodmane, while moving to support Eveningsky's head with her hands. Lying on the ground couldn't be all too comfortable.

Riv - too curious to see what it was to stay away - took a step back when Dawngazer tried to wake Eveningsky. If she was going to shout, she could have at least kept it locked. The sheer loudness of her mind-voice was enough to give him a pounding headache. Seeing that there were more than enough of elves worried about the injured elf, he also decided that he had no obligation whatsoever to help - let the others handle it. What he was going to do was first take a bath - the smell of sweat and blood and whatever else on him was seriously starting to get even to him - and then get some food and sleep, in that order. Not paying any more attention to the commotion, he headed towards the river.

Sunsleaf took the time to gather supplies and some of the heated water before following after Bloodmane to meet the others. Fever called for tea, and the wound would have to be cleaned.. not a pretty or pleasant experience for either party involved, but it had to be done. What she had would do the job, even if it wasn't the best herb for it. And when they were fully dry in a day or two they would work better, but for now they would at least serve to begin the process.

As Sunsleaf arrived Dawngazer had managed to place Eveningsky's head in her lap - hopefully that would make things a little better for her poor pack sister.
"Should we be trying to get her back to the shelter? It looks like a storm is approaching and the little I know of healing is that being wet and cold isn't a good thing."

Kneeling down next to Dawngazer and Eveningsky Sunsleaf lay her hand on the new-found's head. **( She's very warm Dawngazer.. this is going to be harder than Bloodmane's wound. It neither looks nor smells good, and we've limited herbs. I will do what I can.. but I'm going to have to search for more herbs here. Or.. perhaps your new friends have something I could use. )** She was looking at the wound and frowning but then looked up at Dawngazer and nodded, "In the warmest spot, please. She's going to need rest and time."

Storm clouds were gathering in the sky and the wind was picking up. speed. The Children of the Oaks' tents rattled and waved a little, but all stood securely.

"We'll help you carry her," Dusk spoke, once more ignoring his sister.

Claw looked just about ready to snap at him, but somehow managed to keep her mouth closed. Instead she chose to glare holes in the back of Eclipse's head. In her world, everything sooner or later could be blamed on his influence over her tribemates - and she always prefered sooner.

Sunsleaf looked up at Dusk and smiled faintly, uncertain about these new ones, "I would like to speak to one who knows the herbs you carry with. My own are in short supply and most of what I have is newly gathered."

Dusk frowned, as if he hadn't understood what exactly she'd meant by her comment. "Herbs?...Ah, now I see!" He opened a small, leather- pouch that hung on his belt. "We only have some lighter fever remedies with us."
Reaching inside the pouch he produced a small, yellowish root. "Our people don't..." He hesitated for a moment. If stones could look embarrassed, that would have been the perfect description of Dusk's facial expression. "...don't think it *honorable* to bring either herbs or healers on tribal hunts." This was quickly followed by: "You, on the other hand, do not seem to be a hunting party, so of course there is no dishonor for you. You may have as much of this as you wish. I'll ask if someone else brought more."

Eveningsky felt assured being able to physically touch another elf. After all, she had been on verge of starting to hallucinate. She still was, but at least the knew the elves around her were real. And alive. "I'm joyed to see you Sunset." The elfess murmured. She had forgotten that her tribemate had changed her name. With her dulled senses she could hardly scent the elves around her but somewhere in her mind she knew they were there, and it made her feel safer than she had for a long time. The strange voice made a warning ring in Eveningsky's mind, but it was shut out by Sunsleaf's soft touch. "I don't remember seeing you before." She said to the new elfess with a grin lighting her face.

Bloodmane opened her mouth to point out that her name was no longer Sunset, then changed her mind. Eveningsky knew that already, from before she had gotten separated from the rest of them, and had probably just forgotten. After all, it wasn't exactly easy to just ignore the memories of eights of eights of turns of seasons in favor of a few nights' worth of newer ones, especially while one was weak and feverish. "My eyes see with joy, too," she murmured softly instead, smiling slightly, before stepping back to let Sunsleaf tend to their injured tribemate, ready to help but out of the way until she was needed.

Sunsleaf smiled softly in return, "I joined this pack after you were separated. But I am certain the others are going to be thrilled to have you back with them." She lifted her arm to hide a yawn behind the back of her hand, "We should all rest, but first. We get you settled out of the weather."

Dawngazer, not paying much attention to Dusk and his kin, nodded at Sunsleaf's instructions. "I'll make sure-"

"Sounds good." Eveningsky felt quite at ease, considering her state. Then she remembered something. In a swift motion she lifted herself up to look at Dawngazer, worry painting her features. ~**Cloudbird? How is my sister? Is she with you?**~ Eveningsky's right hand sought Dawngazer's and squeezed it with anticipation.

"Whoa!" Dawngazer's cry of surprise sounded like something between a yelp and a growl.

Sunsleaf nearly jumped when Eveningsky practically lunged at Dawngazer, but the female was injured and Dawngazer seemed to know and care for this elf. So she held herself from dragging Eveninglight away and herself backed off some small distance. Instead she locksent to Branchwalker, **( We're going to have to bring this Eveningsky in out of the weather. Could you prepare her a warm spot.. and then get my fur and find a warm place for us to get some sleep? )**

As soon as she'd gotten herself together, Dawngazer cradled Eveningsky's shoulders, helping her stay up.
~**Your sister is fine,**~ she replied, smile growing wide again. ~**I think she's fast asleep inside the shelter. We'll carry you there - you'll get to see her as soon as you're both warm and taken care of.**~
With the help of two Children of the Oaks she had yet to learn the names of Dawngazer began to carry Eveningsky towards the camp. ~**We'll find somewhere nice and warm for her, don't you worry Sunsleaf,**~ she lock-sent, not aware that Sunsleaf already had instructed Branchwalker to do so.

********

LizardStalker sat off to the side, curled up next to Sprinter. He was scared and happy at the same time.

ChildWolf came over and held him close. He started to feel a little better. He whispered a soft song that their mother used to sing to them. It calmed LizardStalker down enough to put him to sleep. ChildWolf held his little brother in his lap while continuing to sing the song. His voice was just like his mother's when she was young. Beautiful and graceful. He would've sang for the whole tribe, but right now his brother needed him more than anyone. Sprinter kept an eye out for anyone coming near them.

Branchwalker heard ChildWolf's soft singing and smiled. ~**That's very beautiful. Which song ist that?**~ he lock-sent, not wanting to disturb the sleeping. Had the situation been different he might have commented on how lucky ChildWolf was in having inherted DayLilly's singing voice. Of course that was unthinkable now.
As both Bloodmane and Sunsleaf had left the shelter and most of the others were asleep, Branchwalker felt a bit awkward sitting next to Eveninglight. He was no healer and had no idea of how to help her if she managed to injure herself further.
"Are you thirsty?"

ChildWolf blushed slightly. ~**It`s one of our mother`s sleep songs she used when we were just pups.**~ he sent back. He looked to see his brother smiling in his sleep.

Branchwalker's eyes grew a bit wide as ChildWolf reminded him of where the song came from. ~**I think I remember it now. How could I have forgotten?! She used to sing that almost every dawn, didn't she? With our dens so close I could usually hear-**~ He stopped, as if first then remembering *who* exactly it was they were talking about. ~**I-I'm sorry, you must-**~ Once more he was interrupted, this time by a lock-sending from Sunsleaf. One that made his cheek burn red for a instant. Silly of him really – sharing furs didn't have to implicate _that_, especially not when they had so few. He was being an immature cub about things.
~**Of course!**~ he hurried to send back, perhaps with too much emotions swirling around in it. Then, to distract himself, he turned back to ChildWolf. "Could you help me find Sunsleaf's sleeping fur? It should be around there somewhere."

********

Receiving Branchwalker's sending Sunsleaf arched a brow, then shook her head slowly. She wasn't sure what that had all been about, but she could picture him flustered and for some reason that made her smile. It made her want to hug him too, but she had promised herself she would not pursue. He was hurt and he needed time, and she wanted to be his friend, someone he could trust. Shaking her head again she looked back toward Eveningsky and Dawngazer hoping they had worked things out. They really needed to get the injured in out of the weather, and weather could change any moment.

Finally at the shelter Dawngazer and the stranger who were helping here, set Eveningsky down on the fur Branchwalker and ChildWolf had fetched for her. It had been layed out near the middle of the sleeping elves, close to BrightStar and Eveninglight, to give her as much warmth as possible, without risking too close contact with others. Of course, she made sure to nudge Cloudbird, so she at least got a hint of that her sister was back among them.
Making sure that Eveningsky was comfortable Dawngazer then got up and walked over to Branchwalker.

Branchwalker smiled up at Dawngazer. He was sitting by the fur Sunsleaf had asked him to get, spread out a bit closer to the dirt wall. ~**We shall have to share. This is not ours.**~

Dawngazer just nodded. Before Sparkstone's captured this would have been an ultimate chance to tease her poor shy soul brother, but now... Well, she new enough to keep her mouth shut. Instead she stripped - even though there was a storm brewing outside the shelter was warm enough for her not to have to sleep in her clothings again. Curling up in the fur without leather and strings getting in-between felt very, very good.
~**Hope you don't mind,**~ she lock-sent to Sunsleaf, making sure to keep Branchwalker out. She was also careful to keep Branchwalker in the middle of the fur - it *was* him Sunsleaf had offered to share with to begin with.

Sunsleaf smiled and shook her head to herself, ~** Not at all, Dawngazer. Afterall, everyone has to have some place to sleep, right? **~ And since Dawngazer had done so, Sunsleaf took the opportunity as well and stripped out of her own leathers, tossing them aside to breath for the while. Then she crawled under the fur on the other side of Branchwalker and curled up with her back to him.

At first Branchwalker blushed - once more - but soon settled down between Sunsleaf and Dawngazer. The fur was warm and so where they. Tribemates had been found mere moments earlier and were not safe. Exhausted he began to drift off into the first day's good sleep in far too many sunrises.

Dawngazer closed her eyes as well, a smile on her lips. Her poor soul brother, so easily embarrassed. But this was taking his mind off Sparkstone's fate and that was good - sadly no point in dwelling over things one can't do anything about; at least not yet.
Sleep came for her too, swiftly. Moving a little closer to Branchwalker she began to drift off, letting aching muscles finally relax.

********

Well that was just his luck! Eclipse sighed alloud. Who was down by the river if not that rude brat Riv who had caused his own need to wash?
Eclipse had watched as Dawngazer and Sunsleaf took care of Eveningsky. Even he had had the shame to feel in the way, just standing there not being able to help. The situation had been decidedly uncomfortable, especieally as he had practically been able to feel Claw's angry glare in the back of his neck. Well, she was bound to be angry and even more angry with him she would probably be by the end of this night. He hadn't seen Skyflare as of yet, but had decided to pay him a visit as soon as he'd washed himself. There was no way he could stand to walk around with actual blood and dirt drying on his skin and clothing, so that was why he found himself by the river.
"Did someone tell you that you are stinking and forced you to come down here or what? Because I can't seem to recall you caring about personal hygiene, so that can't be it." Eclipse quipped, throwing his shirt furiosly on the ground. He wasn't sure where the sudden annoyance had come from, but thought that it might be that he had been looking forward to some time to think for himself. He still wasn't sure what he thought about getting back to his own tribe.

Riv, naked and standing waist-deep in the water and trying to scrub most of the dirt and blood from the pants held in his hands, froze when Eclipse spoke. The wolfriders still moved too quietly for him to notice most of the time. And the fact that it was Eclipse sent such a mixed bunch of signals coursing through his mind and body that he didn't even want to try to sort them out. So he did what he usually did and resorted to snapping insults straight back at the other male.
"I'm not such a sissy as you are when it comes to getting one's hands dirty, but that doesn't mean I like being covered in blood and...whatever else!" In addition to mud (lots of it), digestive fluids would have been his guess, but he really wasn't interested in dwelling on that any more.

Eclipse shrugged the comment off with a tinkling laugh. Riv's comeback had surprised him - he realised how short a time he had known the other elf, or rather, how short a time the other elf had known him. Riv would have to come up with other barbs than 'sissy' if he wanted to insult him. Of course, Eclipse had no way of knowing if that had been his aim.
"Oh I can imagine some things I like being covered in," Eclipse insisted suggestively, shedding the rest of his clothes, "And I don't really mind getting my hands dirty."
Maybe he was having a bit too much fun teasing the other elf, but it was kind of rewarding seeing the angry and embarrassed responses said elf would have. It was sure relaxing compared to the tense athmosphere back at the camp.
Spotting a larger, quite flat stone laying in a shallower part of the river close to the bank Eclipse aimed for it, deciding it would be suitable to sit on when washing.

"What's so funny?!" Riv asked angrily when Eclipse laughed, his cheeks heating up very much against his will at the wolfrider's following suggestive tone. He honestly had no idea what the hidden meaning in those words was, but he was sure there was one.

Eclipse chuckled. "You're pretty funny, I find," he said, while trying to un-tangle his hair, "If I might follow up with a question of my own... What is it that is making you so angry? I sense a certain tendency towards anger in you."

Riv pointedly turned his back to Eclipse.
"None of your business." He just...hated being made a fool of. Being laughed at. It made him feel inferior. And...His mind firmly cut that thought before it had completely formed. He wasn't insecure. Absolutely not. He just didn't like letting people too close to him.

At Riv's pointed turn Eclipse lay down on the rock with a sigh, his hair spilling down into the water. "Ok," he said. He'd obviously hit some sore points with his relentless teasing, and for once he didn't really feel like pressing. He was so very tired and he supposed they all were.

Riv was surprised when Eclipse let the matter just drop and looked over his shoulder to check if the other elf was feeling ill or something. But he also quickly turned back as Eclipse seemed just fine and...well...No, he didn't care about the wolfrider's looks!
Shaking his head, Riv tossed the pants he had been washing to the riverbank and dove underwater, scrubbing the blood and dirt out of his hair as much as he could before having to surface for air. The sooner he got even somewhat clean and back to the shelter, the better. But for some reason he couldn't just ignore Eclipse completely, at least not for long, no matter how much he tried to. "Hey!" he called out without turning while running his fingers through his wet hair to comb out anything stuck in it, "Those 'Children of the Oak'...What are they like?"

"Oh... well," Eclipse said, slightly taken aback by the question. He had thought that Riv wasn't interested in any more conversation, and besides, it was the sort of question he was rarely asked. Not even Dawngazer had asked him for information about the Children of the Oak, despite him being the only one with first-hand knowledge about them. He "harrumphed" to himself, feeling indignated about that thought. She should've asked him! How irresponsible wasn't it not to do that? All self-made leader she was making herself out to be. But then he remembered Riv and stopped being lost in thought.
"Well, I got the impression they are quite different from our group," he paused remembering that Riv wasn't really a part of their tribe to begin with even though it was starting to feel like he was, and that their tribe wasn't at all what it used to be since so many of them had... disappeared, "From how the tribe used to be," he corrected himself; he got the feeling that he was lousy at answering this sort of a question.
"They had this weird thing about healing - it's not honorable or something to have a healer on hunting trips. I suppose they'd rather let someone die if there's an accident, stupid as that sounds. And I think hunting is kind of what they do, so I was bored with that of course. Their tribe was called a branch or a stick, something with trees and I think there were more of those. Oh and they're all purebloods, like you," he added with a nod in Riv's direction, "There was this one person who was disgusted by me having animal-blood. Luckily all weren't disturbed, so I got to share furs with some. A fine stock of males in that Branch." Eclipse smirked. He was proud over remembering so much.

Riv paused in combing his hair when Eclipse started describing the new tribe. Their attitude to healing certainly sounded a lot like the attitude of Riv's own tribe to magic in general - even though Griel hadn't been as extreme as to say that all magic made warriors weak like some Go-Backs did. For some weird reason Riv felt a tiny bit homesick, but quickly dismissed it. It wasn't like he had ever actually had anything to call home. But what surprised and puzzled him even more was the sudden burning feeling in his gut when Eclipse mentioned sharing furs with some of the males. Telling himself that he didn't care what Eclipse did or with whom - although just thinking of the former sent some rather...unsettling images to his mind - Riv muttered something along the lines of "Right...", not really caring whether the wolfrider heard him or not, while silently cursing the dreams that had gotten him to think of such things in the first place. He wasn't ignorant of joining - it was very much impossible to be after spending most of his life in a group with Go-Backs in it - but he had no desire to be that close to anyone. Or at least hadn't had until now.

Ok - maybe he wasn't the best to explain these sort of things, how tribes was like and such, and maybe he usually favoured himself as a subject to talk about, but Eclipse couldn't help feeling slightly affronted by the short and clearly un-engaged reply.
"Fine," Eclipse shot back coldly,"Suit yourself. Do your rude thing over there."
He pushed himself down into the water, careful not to disrupt the hair he'd already washed and combed through a first time with his fingers. Better get this washing done already.

Riv froze. Do...what? It took his mind a moment to register that Eclipse was talking about his reply or lack of such. Probably. "Feh, like I care," he said quietly to himself, underestimating wolfrider hearing. As to what he was talking about, he wasn't completely sure himself. But better get done here and to furs - 'not like that!' he quickly told himself - before he said something Eclipse would make fun of for days to come.
Trying his best to ignore the other male again and determined not to say anything anymore, Riv ran his fingers once more through his hair to squeeze most of the water out and started wading towards his clothes.

Caught up in washing himself, which was something he never rushed himself through doing, Eclipse barely heard what Riv said. The pup's sudden hurry to get out of the water bemused Eclipse, who was at the same time not really surprised by rash actions from the other. **Rude as I said,** Eclipse sent, not bothered to raise his voice, **I'm interested to hear what it is that you don't care about though.** There was as if the sending was laughing.

Riv's cheeks tinted slightly red, but he didn't stop. How could Eclipse possibly have heard that? "Nothing!" he snapped without looking back. Then he quickly pulled his pants on and grabbed his shirt and boots, not bothering to put either on, before half-running back to the shelter.

****FOUR DAYS LATER****

Dawngazer gave Stronglegs' a friendly pat on the back, grinning from ear to ear. *This* was good. Four days of a lot of food, 'tents' - as the strangers called the hides on poles they carried around - to sleep in and safe way to carry both fallen prey and injured kin.
A lot of her strength had returned the past two nights, even if her sleep had been disturbed somewhat. How odd of these elves to be awake when the daystar shone! And their habit of burning meat was not too pleasant either. Dawngazer had of course seen it done before, but not by _everyone_ at the same time. The smell of smoke would surely never completely leave her nostrils.
Speaking of smoke, what was that in the distance?

Claw, as if she'd sensed Dawngazer's confusion, spoke up, shouting over her shoulder. "That, fire-fearer, is a real bonfire!" Her voice was non-too-friendly as usual, but for once she sounded truly excited. "Our kin will be keeping it burning for an eight of nights, as long as the Gathering lasts. I should bet you never have seen such an impressive fire before!"

Hearing the fire comment, Branchwalker shuddered. Oh yes, they had seen large fires. And if a 'bonfire' was anything like a forest fire, he wasn't sure he'd like to stay.
"Does anyone have a water skin?" Few things could fight off thoughts of burning wood as a cold sip of water.

Cloudbird, having just finished her packing, walked over to Branchwalker and offered him one of the water skins she was carrying. "Here you go friend. Do not drink too fast or you'll choke." She smiled at him, gave him the skin and then continued walking.

********

Eveninglight walked beside Shade toward the back of the group. She carried a walking stick to help when she was tired, for Shade couldn't bear her weight yet. His own leg, which had been deeply gashed by the longrunner's hoof, still pained him if he carried any burden. She refused to stray very far from her bond, as though their injuries bound them even tighter. She didn't mind walking and refused to be carried, although she didn't want to slow the group down. Her head felt better, and though she still was uncomfortable breathing it was nothing she couldn't handle. In fact she was rather cheerful that she was travelling somewhere rather than lying in the den waiting for her ribs to heal.

Longsong, waiting for his lifemate to catch up, was also keeping to the back of the group. "Are your injuries troubling you Eveninglight? " He gave her a worried look. "Should I call for Sunsleaf?"

********

Eveningsky sat on a rock and watched the others put away these 'tent'-things and packing things up. She felt slightly annoyed just sitting and watching, not helping. For the better part of these few days she has been sleeping her fever away. Now it was almost gone, but her infected wound still looked bad and ached a lot. Eveningsky didn't mind it much though. She was now among her tribemates. And she had had the chance to bath, thus she felt fresh. She could actually pull her fingers through her short hair. All the new elves were making her feel confused though. Because of her sickness she hadn't had the chance to really get to know these new elves except for Sunsleaf. Walking under the strong light wasn't helping her confusion.

Cloudbird took a seat next to her sister, gently laying a hand on her left shoulder.
"How are you feeling?" she questioned, her other hand feeling Eveningsky's forehead. "The fever isn't so bad now, from what I can tell."

Eveningsky nodded slightly. With much practised talent she avoided gazing in her sister's eyes even though she was face to face with her. After all this time she still felt aomewhat uncomfortable doing it but it was something that couldn't be helped.
"My wound hurts. At least it doesn't smell like poop anymore!" She grinned with a short laugh. She placed her hand on her sister's hand that laid on her shoulder. During the past few days she hadn't had the opportunity to be with her sister much. ~**I can only thank the High Ones to be able to touch and see you thus.**~ She felt that the two of them were lucky to still have each other. "Did you finish with your... uuh..." For a second Eveningsky forgot the name. "...tai-tii-tepee?"

Cloudbird grinned at Eveningsky's much cheerfuller disposition. ~**Indeed we are lucky sister. Luckier than most.,**~ she sent back, courteous enough to allow Eveningsky not to have to meet her eyes more than a few heartbeats. She was used to not making eye contact with Eveningsky - it was more a slight annoyance than a great loss nowanights.
Unbidden images of QuickSand and LizardStalker appeared in her sending, before she could end it. The poor cubs. So very young and already without father and mother. At least LizardStalker still had his brother. ~**We who are older must show strength so that the young ones may draw from it. Don't you agree?**~ It felt unreal to truly be an "Elder" now. Although her age had granted her that position before the attack, there had always been much older, world wiser elves in the tribe. Now...she hated to admit it to herself, but she was the oldest of all her tribe mates - at least her old ones.
"And I truly do not remember what these movable dens are called. Shall we ask someone?"

~**From now on we, as a tribe, need to be mothers and fathers for the little ones.**~ Eveningsky pointed out. The attacks had been a terrible thing for everyone and it would take time for things to settle down. Everyone seemed pretty calm right now but surely fire was burning inside each and every one of them, in one way or another.
Eveninsky was glad for the suggestion. Good excuse for her to move. "Sure, let's do th--" Her answer was cut short by a sound breaking the sky. She stood up, bent slightly to one side, the side with the wound, as her flesh didn't stretch there. "What's that sound?!" She asked with a raised voice, loud enough for someone nearby to hear it.

Skyflare, just having finished packing, heard Eveningsky's surprised question. "That," he began as he steadied his tent on one shoulder, "is a sound stone. It belongs to another part of our tribe, the Branch of Stars."
Pulling out a thin rope, he began demonstrating the descriptions he gave on it. "It's a pretty old trick we have. A stone carver finds a stone of the right material and shapes it to be 'right'. Then it is tied to the end of a rope, like so. All you have to do after this is swing the rope over your head and it'll make a loud noise that carries far." Skyflare made an attempt to swing the rope he was holding around a little, but it soon lost speed and hit him in the head. He winched and laughed a little.
"Well, it works better with something heavy tied at the end."

QuickSand was running around among the adults and wolves alike, nearly causing people to stumble over her. She had eaten herself full for the last nights, there were so many new elves, she got to sleep in a warm place when the stars were out and run about when the sky was light blue. This could not become more like an adventure if she she had dreamed it up herself!
"LizardStalker! Where are you?" she shouted, having lost her playmate somewhere behind her taller kin. "I taaled you, it's your turn to chase me!"

LizardStalker looked around to try and find her. He then found part of her scent-trail and ran towards her. He weaved in between everyone and soon found himself on the ground from hitting someone. He looked up to see who it was.

Skyflare looked down at LizardStalker, a surprised, but friendly look on his face. "Better watch your surroundings as well as your prey young hunter," he teased, offering LizardStalker a hand. "Now, what is this 'Taal' game you speak of? Could you explain it to me?"

Quicksand, ever the impatient, had no time to wait for LizardStalker to get off the ground. The interesting noise had distracted her as well. "More elves!" she sing-shouted and skipped over to where LizardStalker sat, ruffling his hair. "You hear that LizardStalker? We get to see even more of them! I bet they all will have just as odd hair as these ones!"
She didn't even seem to reflect over the possible rudeness in that statement. Instead she turned her attention to Skyflare's questions. "Taal works much better in trees. And we need Taal Sticks! Could we get that at the celebration?"
The last question was directed at Eveningsky and Cloudbird.

Eveningsky gave out a soft laugh as the end of the rope hit Skyflare. "It sounds like an interesting soundmaker." It was then that LizardStalker collided with the elf. 'He seems to be a curious one.' She thought in her mind as Skyflare asked about the cubs' game. Some of these newcomers had seemed to her being uninterested. Quicksand's shouts for new elves did make something in her mind. Surely this small pack of elves had bee nkind enough to them but would joining they're whole tribe on this celebration be a wise idea. In this, she would just have to trust her friends who had interacted with these newcomers more than she. At Quicksand's question Eveningsky crouched down to meet her.
"If we don't find good ones on our way, we can ask if the others woud have them." From where she were, she turned to look up at Skyflare. "So those sound stones let out different noise? You could tell who's coming just from the noise."

LizardStalker took the offered hand and got back up. He blushed slightly at being teased. He then ran and hid behind Cloudbird. He was still shy around some of them, although he was used to them by now. He looked around for his brother, knowing that he was always close by.

ChildWolf walked up to them and put a hand on his younger brother's shoulder. LizardStalker grabbed onto him and hugged him. He felt better now that his brother was there. "Can 'Wolf play with us?" he asked QuickSand. ChildWolf sighed at his brother's question. "I'll watch. You two play." he said in a small rough voice.

QuickSand was about to reply that ChildWolf *too* should play, when the order of hurrying up was shouted back at them. "Awww, we have to stop playing already?!" she whined and glared in the direction of the head of the line. She didn't like Claw, at all. Who did she think she was, ordering them around like that? She wasn't even a chief, much less theirs! That would be Brighteyes, when they found him, which they would do soon. And then they would find her family, strong warriors, save the captured ones and all would be back as it had been. Perhaps hurrying was a good idea after all.
"I'll get there faster than you!" she shouted over her shoulder at LizardStalker, already running as fast as she could in the direction they were supposed to be going.

********

Bloodmane helped Wind, one of the hunters of this new tribe, bundle up the small tent they had slept in (with two other elves) while still keeping half an eye on her tribemates and surroundings. There was an easy silence between the two, despite Bloodmane having much to her own surprise woken up on his arms two days ago. Wind had just shrugged it off with "You were crying out in your sleep" and hadn't said anything more of it, which Bloodmane very much appreciated. Her nightmares of the destruction of the Tall Tree Holt absolutely weren't open for discussion.
During the past four days she had gotten to at least know the names of all their new companions and spoken with most of them, but was still somewhat wary of them - although she really didn't show it too much, except by keeping her weapons within reach at all times. The first day of traveling had been tough, with her almost falling asleep several times, but after that it got easier to sleep during the night. However, their habit of burning their meat she would probably never get used to. The fires reminded her too much of the forest fire back in the holt.

Dawngazer gave Bloodmane a nod as she passed her. "Need help carrying anything? Stronglegs here is more than willing to help out." She gave her bond a scratch behind the ears.

Stronglegs gave a 'wuff', looking to have understood, if not the entire sentiment, then at least the gist of what Dawngazer had said.

Bloodmane turned to look at Dawngazer. She didn't have much of her own, nothing more than a simple rawhide cloak and some crude stone tools for tanning in addition to what she had when they fled the holt, actually. But she had taken charge of their share of the longrunner skins, rolled into a neat if somewhat heavy bundle, until those could be properly tanned and made into clothes.
"Yes, if he's willing, some help with those hides would be welcome," she said with a nod to the direction of said hides, her hands busy with holding the tent in a tight roll for Wind to tie up. She didn't say anything about the tent - that was for the male to decide, as it was his to begin with. Once he was done, she let go, standing up and slightly stretching her back. Despite sleeping quite well, the now- healed wound on her back still pained her a bit after waking up. Not in any way that would really hinder her, just a tiny nagging ache that sometimes made itself known more loudly. In the end she had been very lucky - the injury she had received could have easily crippled her for life.

Wind straightened up with a bundle in his arms. He nodded to Dawngazer but his gaze made a wary glance at Stronlegs before it turned to Bloodmane. Having a pack of wolves around them made him uncomfortable. He would leave this suggestion for Bloodmane to answer. Surely all help was regarded helpful but this one he wasn't too sure of.

Noting her new companion's silence and wary glances he was giving to the wolf, Bloodmane smiled slightly and said, "I'm sure he'll carry the tent, too, if that's what you wish." There was a tiny playful/teasing edge in her tone, probably nothing a stranger would pay much attention to, but to those who had known her longer and seen the changes in her a sure sign that the old Sunset definitely was still there somewhere.

Dawngazer smiled to herself as she caught the less serious tone of Bloodmane's voice. To have her good mood back, something that used to be so familiar and absolute, would be like sweetgrass on a stinging wound.
Being rather proud of her bond, Dawngazer added, "He most likely can. And he could get some of the other wolves to help out as well." The four unbonded were slinking around outside of the line, still eying the newcomers carefully. Having Stronglegs order them about a little would be a good way to make them calm down and focus less on the strange elves.

"Hmm..." Was all that Wind answered. He took a rope out of his pocket and started tying it around the bundle. Obviously these other elves trusted these wolves. Even though wolves are savage creatures. At least that has been the image he has had. Until now. Now he wasn't sure how to think of them. It seemed like the wolves regarded some of the elves like their cubs, protecting and comforting them.
Wind dropped the tied up bundle on the ground. This had been probably the first time for him to meet elves outside of The Branches. He felt a bit surprised that they had agreed to do things as he and his tribemates did. They slept in mixed groups in the tepees, ate cooked meat them and even walked under the bright light. Bloosmane had told him some things and thus he was aware that those were not something that these survivors did.
He picked up few of the long sticks that were used to put up the tents. Maybe they should learn something from these new elves and not only the other way round. With the sticks in his hands he looked at the two elfesses. "Could i--_he_ possibly carry some of these sticks? It's always a bit complicated to move around with these on one's back."

Dawngazer met Wind's hesitant request with a big grin. "Of course he can! Stronglegs here isn't pack leader for nothing." She gave the the fur on the wolf's head an affectionate ruffle. "I'll explain to him." In the same breath she switched to wolf-sending, trying to get across what Wind wished Stronglegs to do.
"The whole tent or just the sticks?" she asked after a moment of "silently" staring at her bond-friend.

'Explain? Explain to a wolf? Riiiight...' If Wind had felt uneasy before, he felt it more now. He watched the elfess have a staring contest with the beast. This just got weirder with every moment. "Just--just the sticks, is okay."
A sound reached the ears of the small group. With a surprised look Wind turned to the direction from which came the wind carrying the whistle. He let out a laugh. "That Branch of Stars." He muttered and turned back to Dawngazer and Bloodmane. "All the tents have these sticks. Maybe others would accept the help too." He knew very well that some of his tribemates wouldn't want to have anything to do with the wolves. "So, you're the leader, huh?" Wind looked Stronglegs in the eyes.

Dawngazer quickly got in between Wind and her bond, who'd begun growling ever so faintly. "I wouldn't do that if I were you," she hurried to say, grin this in place. "He's not used to you and your kin yet, hasn't placed you anywhere, and he'll think your challenging him if you stare him too long in the eyes."
She took a steady grip on Stronglegs' neck fur. "He's really a big cub, trust me. No danger at all." Her words lost some of their believability through a dark huff from Stronglegs'. Dawngazer didn't even flinched, completely convinced of being right. She did however change the topic of conversation.
"So, who are these 'Branch of Stars' elves? Your kin?"

Wind took an involuntary step back at Stronglegs' huff. He was starting to reconsider giving the sticks to the wolf. "Uh, sorry." He said meekly and took notice to avoid the wolf. "I guess you could say that." He took a string out of his pocket and tied one end of the sticks. "They're our sister tribe."

Bloodmane was just about to warn Wind about locking eyes with a wolf too, when Dawngazer got to it first. It was such a natural thing to her, to all wolfriders, to simply know how to act with wolves - both those they were personally close to and those they weren't - that she hadn't even thought about him not knowing. Surely the wolfriders also annoyed their wolf-kin sometimes, got nipped every so often and such, but they definitely didn't appear a threat without meaning to.
She didn't believe Dawngazer for a moment there, though. Wolves didn't get to alpha position by being "big cubs" and they defended their rank ferociously. With a slight sigh she sent to Wind, ~**I wouldn't quite believe that statement. But he's not a threat to you unless he considers you one first. For wolves, keeping eye-contact for too long is the same as if you told your leader you're challenging her for her position.**~

~**Oh.**~ Wind shortly replied to Bloodmane. ~**Certainly that was not my intention.**~ He finished tying up the other end of the sticks with a rope. He put the stick-bundle on the ground by the other tent-equipment. It was then that a new sound cut the air. For Wind the sound was familiar to him and he paid no attention to it, other than making the note of answering the other tribe. He did wonder, however, if Claw intended to meet up with the other branch before the celebration place.
"We'll be moving on soon."

********

Sunsleaf was a bit tired, she hated traveling when the daystar shone. But they were traveling with others and she supposed it was only fair to travel on their schedule. Still... she'd much rather be curled up sleeping the day away. She was half asleep on her bond for most of the middle of the day, so she'd only been talking to the strangers in the morning and the evening. She had chosen to speak with Dusk for the first day of travel, interested in finding out more about their not carrying herbs. She also explained to him that while she was a healer, she was more than capable of joining a hunt when the extra body was needed. And she tended to the injured several times a day even though it often meant moving forward or backward in the line depending on where she'd fallen in that day. She still didn't like that Eveningsky's wound wasn't clearing up. She worried that she would have to put fire to it to clean it. But maybe when they got to the gathering there would be better herbs. She refused to fret about it, there was only so much one body could do to set things right.
On top of that.. High Ones.. she wanted a right and proper bath with soaproot and clear running water.. and someone to wash her back! She'd considered briefly asking Branchwalker, but his head would probably explode from the force of his blush if she voiced that particular whim.

Dusk, his tent rolled up on his back, took his place in the line, next to Sunsleaf.
"Don't look so glum, my friend," he said, shifting the weight of his pack a little. "Tonight we celebrate, which means we adults stay up the entire night and sleep late into the next day. That should suit you and your kin, or am I mistaken?"

Sunsleaf laughed a little, "That would suit me very well. We.." She gestured to the other wolfriders, "We live much like our bonds, by the light of the moons and stars. This is much different than you and your kin. I was hoping..."
She paused a moment, "Would it be possible after the celebration, could I perhaps refill my herb packs from your supplies. This area is unfamiliar to us, and I had only enough for myself before I joined these others. I wouldn't ask, but as you've seen yourself, we are a rather battered group."

Dusk frowned a little at this explanation. It pleased him to hear more about the ways of these newcomers - none of them had been very talk active these last days, at least not with him. Then again, he was not the most open and friendly of elves.
"Confusing. Why follow the ways of your pets? Surely they should be taught to do as you, not the other way?" No one had completely explained the bonding to Dusk, even though he had been a "friend" of Eclipse for quite a while.
"Herbs you can have a much as you like," he hurried to assure her. "Healer are always welcome to their share and from what I know this is a good season for the gathering of mending plants. New Grass is upon us within the days! When we arrive at the Feast I'm sure our healers will give you everything you wish for, as long as you're willing to share what you know. Sharing knowledge is held in high regard amongst my people." Dusk, unlike his sister, had always been quick to accept other ways than that of his own and to explain himself. Otherwise things could get messy - he knew that from experience.

Sunsleaf shook her head, "They are not our pets. They are..." How to explain it, "We share blood with them. Long ago one of our kind joined our bloodline to theirs to help us better survive in this world. They have been at our side since then. They hold a small fraction of our elvin blood in them, and we a small fraction of their wolf blood in us. They are more family than pet, an equal with different strengths. They are as much a part of a tribe of my people as any elf. Their cubs and ours grow up side by side, tended by wolf pack and elves alike." She looked at her hands a long moment, "I have never really known a tribe whose life was not this way. But then I have never been beyond the forest before. Not like this. These lands are strange to me."
The talk of healers in his tribe changed the subject and Sunsleaf nodded. "Anything I can share I will. Sometimes I know things about plants, but I don't remember learning it. I wonder at times if it is the 'Now' of the wolf-thought that can rule our lives, or if it is something else. But there is nothing else that would explain it."

********

Unlike the wolfriders, Riv fell very easily into traveling by day and he absolutely loved the chance to eat meat cooked over a fire again. After all, cooked food was something he hadn't had since joining up with them (and Bloodmane throwing a fit at him after he had lit a fire that one time back in the forest). When he heard Claw mention a bonfire, his heart leaped in his chest, his mind instantly recalling the stories of the tribe he was connected with blood to but had never seen. The Go-Backs. Feasts and dancing and wild celebrations around a huge, roaring fire, where nobody cared about the fact that just beyond the cirle of warmth the land was covered in everlasting snow and ice. Griel's group had always been on the move, so he had never had a chance to see one of those celebrations himself, but if these 'Children of the Oak' had anything similar...
"Hey," he called out as soon as he had jogged up to Claw. "That bonfire of yours...Do you have a celebration of some sort too?" His tone of voice wasn't much friendlier than it usually was, but right now his eyes betrayed that he indeed was still much of a cub. Not that he would ever really admit it, but he was excited about the idea of a celebration. Hadn't been in that many...actually...he hadn't been in a single one.

Claw gave Riv a wide grin that looked both amused and annoyed. "Do we have a celebration ?" She gave a laugh. "You might as well have asked, 'are there two moons in the sky'! This, stranger, is the Big Feast. It happens only every eight of years. All of our people come together. We dance and we sing; it'll be like nothing you've ever seen before I bet. Maybe you're even one of the few lucky ones who Recognize... " The last was not meant to sound suggestive, though it certainly did.

Riv's first reaction was to be angry for being laughed at - or at least that was how he saw it -, but for once he choked it down. "It sounds a lot like the celebrations I heard of my tribe-kin, the Go- Backs, having," he said in pretty much neutral voice, "Never saw it myself. The group I was in left the others before I was born." Of course Riv had no idea how many Children of the Oak there were or that this would be something of a much grander scale than a small tribe of snow-dwelling elves.
At the mention of Recognition, he couldn't completely stop a slight shudder running down his spine. No thanks. No way. Just having one elf who constantly walked on the edge of his emotional "comfort zone" was unnerving enough - Recognition went way beyond it. If what he'd heard had any truth in it - knowing each other's soul and all that - he definitely didn't want that to happen. Didn't want to be that close to anyone.

"Go-Backs?" Claw said, slowly, as if she was tasting the word. "Never heard of them. Are you the ones who are left?" She let her gaze sweep over the strangers. The did not look to be a united tribe; at least not all of them and this one in particular. But that could, of course, have its reasons. First and foremost none of them had told her anything about their tribe. At least nothing that made sense. The girl child had been babbling about green monsters and gigantic, burning trees, but surely that had been just foolish dreaming, things children always thought up and told anyone that stood still long enough. The adults had been more secretive.

It took a moment for Riv to figure out what Claw meant. Then it hit him: Claw thought he belonged with the wolfriders. The thought almost made him laugh. Apparently she hadn't met elves from that many different tribes. No, wait...somebody had said something along the lines that they had never met any other tribes. So the multitude of different elves from different tribes he took for granted was practically an alien concept to Claw.

A whirring noise cut through the air suddenly. It sounded faint a first, but gradually began to grow stronger and stronger. Whatever it was, it was coming closer.

Claw's attention was temporarily drawn away from the mystery that was these strangers. A big grin broke out on her face. "That's the Branch of Stars!" she exclaimed, as if that would explain everything. It seemed to as well, at least to her fellow Children of the Oaks. "I knew they hadn't gotten themselves completely lost. Silvermist!" Claw gave a young female hunter an impatience look, gesturing wildly with her hands. "Get the sound stone out and answer them, quickly!"

The strange noise interrupted Riv's attempt to answer Claw's question, and his hands instantly tightened around his spear, his mind trying to connect the sound to something he knew. Anything. It definitely didn't sound like a stampede or anything else he associated with danger. Only when Claw started talking about answering, he realized it was some sort of communication method and relaxed. But his initial excitement over the idea of a celebration had vanished now, and he once again adopted his somewhat distant and hostile attitude.

Silvermist pulled out a rope out of her pouch. The end of the rope came out with a carved stone attached around it. With a quick glance around her, just to make sure she wouldn't hit anyone, she raised the sound stone and started whirling it above her head. A loud sound escaped from the sound stone, the wind catching it immediately and taking it further away. The wind's direction was to their destination. Maybe some other tribes might be able to hear a faint sound.

"Get those tents and packs up on your backs and start walking!" Claw shouted back at the rest of the line - though in a much more friendly and cheerful tone of voice than she'd used since the survivors had met her. "We'll show the Branch of Stars who's more fleetfooted!" More than a few of her tribemates cheered and began to work eight times as hard to get ready to continue moving towards their goal.

********

"Apparently now," Dawngazer huffed in reply to Wind's comment, as Claw shouted for everyone to hurry up and start walking. She felt little joy at being ordered about by someone who still was little more than a stranger, but they were leaderless and had no true reason to argue with her. Yet... Grabbing the stick-bundle Wind had placed on the ground, Dawngazer quickly strapped it to Stronglegs' back. Stronglegs didn't fight her, but did look a little annoyed at the sudden extra burden. "Shall we get going then?"

It slightly surprised Wind to hear the cheerier tone in Claw's voice. Along with others of the tribe he let out a cheer. In quick movements he slipped a rope under the ropes holding the tent fabrics, using it to strap the bundle on his bag. He made a scan to make sure he had everything. Satisfied he turned to his two companions. "Ready as can be." He took the initiative to lead them to Claw.

Eveningsky smiled as ChildWolf came to them. After everything that had happened, she couldn't help but thank the High Ones every time she saw a familiar face. And with every face she felt like the pain she had endured had not been for nothing. After all she had found them. Or they her. From where she was, still crouching down beside her sister she looked at LizardStalker. "I'm sure we'll all have lots of time to play when we get to this celeration." At least that was what she had heard in bits and pieces.
Suddenly she heard a new sound. It was like the first one and yet different. She carefully stood up, wincing slightly at the movement. "That was a bit different from the earlier one." Eveningsky said, looking at Skyflare.

"Talking is finished," Skyflare simply answered and smiled. "We'll meet up with them half-way and then go to the Feast together. You'll like them. Chief Redfur is a tough old badger, but a nice one and he tends to pick his Branch members carefully."

Cloudbird hovered behind her sister, ready to steady her at any moment. "Shall we get going then? The Hunt Leader sounds very eager to move."

Eveningsky gave Skyflare a wary eye behind his back. They seemed to get together with more and more strangers. In no time they will be surrounded by them. 'Like in a cage...' She couldn't help but think. Surely these strangers had been nice to them and all but the whole idea of a great gathering didn't appeal to her too well. "Yes, let's go." She answered to her sister. All the previous days she had been carried. She would walk now, though she will not make it all the way. Especially if all the other elves were as eager as this particular elf, she would have problems keeping up.

********

Bloodcut examined the sound stone. Her tribemate had just used it to send a signal to their sister tribes with it and after that given it to Bloodcut to look at. It was intriguing how the stone had been carved. It seemed so simple, and yet so complicated. What a talent this would be, stone carving. Was there any possibility someone could teach her that? "Hey Redfur, do you think anyone could teach me to do these?" Bloodcut asked from her chieftain, who was there close to her and the other tribemate.

"Hmm?" Redfur replied, attention mostly on the reply that followed soon after their signal had fallen silent. "I don't see how that should be a problem. Just ask Spin as soon as you have the opportunity."

Cloudshadow heaved the tent bundle on her back and tyed it up. She and Firecry had just finished clearing out their tent and other things. "I wonder if we'll get any answer today either. We should be about close enough to the gathering place." She pointed out.

Having, in his opinion, finished speaking to Bloodcut, Redfur turned to address the entire Branch.
"I think we can all agree that that was the soundstone of the Feast's hunting party. We'll meet them half-way and then head for the Gathering. Everyone get moving - that means you Clover." He gave said youth a meaningful, stern and still somewhat amused look.

"Spin? An elf from another branch?" Bloodcut says her questions aloud. "Someone needs to introduce me to him then! Or her." She gives a look to the elves near her, waiting for a confirmation for the sex. It seems she would have an opportunity to learn at least one new skill at the New Turn Feast.

"Her," Clover replied, a dreamy look in his eyes. "And she's from the Branch of Light. Very talented." The dreamy smile became more like a smirk. "Now we'd better do as Redfur says and hurry up, or you'll not get to meet her until Cloudshadow's desperate enough to Recognize a tree!" And with that he was off.

********

Redfur gave a hearty laugh worthy of a bear and hugged Claw in much the same fashion as soon as she came close enough. "Long moons appart little huntress!" he boomed and thumped her on the back, as if he was trying to prevent her from choking on something.
"You seem to have gathered good prey-" his gaze swept over the hunting party, as well as its new members. "Not to mention a fine group of wolf-bloods. And here I thought I was the only one to find some. Shows what I know."

Claw, at first amused and pleased with Redfur's attention, frowned as soon as the word 'wolf-bloods' left his lips. "*What*? What are you talking about? Wolf-*bloods*?" She had paid the new elves' odd relationships to their pets little mind these past days. Yes, she had noticed that the newcomers were a lot more different from the Children of the Oaks than the average travelers, but she had just excused that with them coming from so far away. But now...

Near the middle of the hunting party's group Branchwalker moved closer to Dawngazer and Sunsleaf. This new group of elves seemed friendly enough, but you never knew. He started at the mention of wolf-bloods. ~**Another wolf-blood?!**~ he lock-sent to the two elves standing closest to him. ~**D-do you think it could be one of our own?**~ To reunite with another tribemate would be a gift from the High Ones if there ever was one.

Sunsleaf was looking over at the newest group of strangers and frowning, ~** I wouldn't know one of yours if they were standing beside me. **~ She was checking out the new group to see if she could pick out a wolf-blood elf.

~**That is of course true,**~ Branchwalker sent, sounding apologetic. ~**Imagine I'd almost forget that - at least this soon...**~

Dawngazer gave Branchwalker an affectionant, yet teasing smile. It fell a little as she caught the scent of wolf-bloods on the wind. Neither of the three were tribemates, just more strangers.

The wolf pack too caught scent of the strangers - the two wolves with them getting most of their attention. Stronglegs, still with a tent on his back, sized up the two possible future packmates, or challengers. No greeting or threat was signaled though; he would wait for the elves to finish their yapping first. There was no hurry.

Rainblossom guided Ironpaw up close enough for her to hear the conversation going on between her chief and the new elves. She was elated to see many wolf bloods among the Children of the Oak, and caught her brother's eye for a moment. She didn't have to say anything for her excitement to be clear to Firecry. She studied each one quickly but carefully, trying to find a familiar face.

Branchwalker caught Rainblossom's eye as she looked around the crowed, seemingly searching for someone - or someones. ~**It looks like we're not the only ones who've lost packmates,**~ he commented to Sunsleaf. ~**She's not one of us. Is she from your tribe?**~ It was still a little amazing to realize there were more elves out there who rode wolves - purebloods and bird-bloods were one thing, but other wolf-bloods? That either proved that chance was very clever or that wolves were thought very suited for bond-friends by more than one High One.

Sunsleaf shook her head, ~** No. None that I've ever seen. **~

~**Hello.**~ Branchwalker had sent to the stranger before he'd even consciously decided to do so. Well, no turning back now. ~**I hope our bond-friends aren't stressing yours.**~ That was all he could think of saying, for now.

Sunsleaf stayed by Branchwalker and when Dawngazer wandered off after her bond Sunsleaf's fingers curled into the fur of her own bond. As if keeping the wolf as a barrier between herself and Branchwalker and the new WolfRiders.

Firecry, having seen his sister's obvious joy, hurried over to stand next to her. Not hearing the lock-sending addressed to her, he took his own initiative and held out his hands in greeting.
"Well met blood-kin!" he said. "These are your bond-friends I assume?" At the same time he teasingly lock-sent to Rainblossom: ~**Say something sister! Standing there with your jaw on the grass won't let you get to know them.**~

Sunsleaf watched the approach of the new face and smiled faintly. At the question she nodded, "This is WhiteEars, she's is my bond." She edged a little closer to Branchwalker, "I'm Sunsleaf, this is Branchwalker."

Rainblossom blushed slightly at her brother's words, and shot him a half-hearted glare that quickly changed to a grin. "Well met." She said in response to Sunsleaf. "I'm Rainblossom, and my bond is Ironpaws." She turned her attention back to Branchwalker. ~**I'm not sure that Ironpaws even knows what to do with a pack.**~ She sent, glancing over at her wolf friend as she said it. He stood next to her, looking confused. The tip of his tail wagged weakly as if he was excited but not sure if he should be. ~**He has never been around one unless it was when he was a pup. I think he'll be fine though.**~

"Oh," Branchwalker said weakly, a little slack-jawed. A wolf without a pack? Well, he'd heard of lonewolves and wolves leaving their packs, but the first were usually very old wolves and the second aimed to start a new pack of their own.
"Isn't there any more wolves here? I thought I smelled one..."

"Yes, Bloodcut's bond Shinefur is around here somewhere." As soon as the words had left her mouth, Shinefur walked up to Ironpaw. The older wolf seemed reluctant to leave Rainblossom but finally he huffed and followed Shinefur.
"That was odd. Shinefur is always with Bloodcut." Rainblossom said. She watched the wolves retreating, then turned her attention back to Branchwalker. "So for your tribe, living with the wolf pack is simply a way of life? I miss that..."

Branchwalker nodded at the last question. "Yes, we've always lived side- by-side. It must be hard not to." He gave Rainblossom a sympathic smile. "I'm sure your bond can find a place in our pack. Our pack leader might look scary, but he'll most likely accept both Ironpaw and Shinefur quickly. We," he paused, closing his eyes briefly, "lost quite a few of our own recently, as did the wolves. There is safety in a large pack."
Haze's sending shocked him speechless for a long moment. Then he offered Rainblossom an apologetic nodd. "I must go help my tribe. Perhaps we can speak later? At this celebration you spoke of?"

********

Arrow came up to Skyflare. "I see this time has been looking up on us." He greeted with a friendly tap on the shoulder as he noticed the catch. "I would've loved to join that hunt." He shot a quick greeting to some of the other members of the hunting group who were close by.

Skyflare returned Arrow's cheerful gesture. "I'm not so sure you would have," he just answered with an enigmatic smile. "You'll be told the whole story at the Gathering tonight. Now, what are these wolf-befriending-elves doing amongst your number? It seems much can happen in an eight of years."

Eclipse had been walking last in the group, to tired to even complain. Not even he, dense as he could be when he wanted to, could escape noticing that things were happening. Too many things had just kept happening lately. To him. It might be a good idea to start trying to keep up with what other people were saying. Not that anything happening had ever been his fault, but still - if one were doomed to be a victim of circumstances one had to try to prepare oneself. Sauntering up to Skyflare, he leaned into him whispering; "And what's all this then?"

Automatically Skyflare let his arm come to rest around Eclipse as soon as he was within reach. "That is a very good question my friend," he murmured. "One I was just asking Arrow here. Apparently his group too as met elves with wolf-friends. Tribemates of yours?"
Before Eclipse had time to reply, he turned back to Arrow, arm still around Eclipse. "Arrow, I'd like you to meet Eclipse. He's the one of "our" wolf-bloods - is that what you call it? - who's been with us the longest. And he's the most charming one as well." There was a certain twinkle in Skyflare's eyes as he said this.

"How you faring?" Arrow greeted Eclipse and nodded his acknowledgement. He noticed the sparkle in the other elf's eyes but thought nothing much of it. "It is quite the coincidence for two groups to meet up with wolf-bloods. We came up with a group of three elf some time ago. How long has it been--" Arrow scratched his head in thought. "At least less than eight turns but more than few. "They are turning to be our tribemates, especially Firefly. Cloudshadow has taken claim of him." He let out a laugh.

Eclipse practically curled around Skyflare, a pleased smirk grazing his lips. "I'm your wolf-blood, now am I?," he whispered, the smirk against the other elf's throat, "And no, I don't recognise the smell of any of the wolf-bloods." Not that he should've cared very much, but it was too bad that it weren't their wolf-riders. It was funny to think that Skyflare and all the other pure-bloods couldn't pick up the smell of anything in their surroundings. Eclipse couldn't imagine living without the smells himself.

"Do I hear complaints from your sweet lips, my wolf-blood?" Skyflare whipered back, mouth held very close to Eclipse's ear. Then he grinned widely, though paused slightly at Eclipse's mention of 'smelling' the others. "Truly?"

Arrow gave a short laugh. "You didn't know? These ones share both blood and nose with their wolfkin, if I've understood everything right. Cursed good hearing as well."

"Yes, I think this one has got it right," Eclipse said indicating Arrow, "Don't you worry though, you smell very good." He burrowed his nose under Skyflare's ear again.

Skyflare laughed. "How very useful. And thank you - I think."

There were practically storm clouds gathering around Riv as he watched Eclipse and Skyflare. He knew Eclipse had shared furs with some of the males in this new tribe, probably Skyflare included, and told himself he didn't care - had even taken to avoiding direct contact with Eclipse during the journey - but still feelings of unexplainable anger kept rolling around inside him.

Sighing slightly Eclipse turned to the elf greeting him. He liked it when Skyflare was doting on him, but he'd rather they were by themselves.
"Oh... hello," he said to Arrow distractedly, but then he saw an opportunity to do what he did best - it had been an question after all so he should give an honest answer, "I'm feeling terrible, to put it bluntly. I think I might be ill. I'd rather not walk any longer, all these dehydrating walks does nothing for my skin."
Then he thought about how he should be less offensive and not so rude and added in a gesture of well meaning, thinking about the last thing this Arrow had said; "It's amusing to see different tribes _merge_, is it not?" He smirked as he put weight into the word 'merge', daring a glance around to see if Claw was close enough to hear.

Arrow only lifted an eyebrow at Eclipse's lukewarm greeting. He gave Skyflare a wink, when he thought the other elf wasn't looking. "Well, then perhaps you better come rest. The main camp is not far and I'm sure Skyflare will get you there safetly. Happy mering!" And with that he walked off to greet more familiar faces.

Claw on the other hand was still busy with traditional small talk with Redfur and could not move away - no matter how much she wanted to wipe the smirk off Eclipse's face with a fist. That didn't stop her from glaring darkly in his direction every chance that she got.

Eclipse smirked, first in Claw's direction and then he turned his attention back to Skyflare. **Happy merging indeed** He "forgot" to make the sending private.

Claw had had enough. She would not allow that flearidden, honey tongued snake slobber all over Skyflare any longer. Face flushed with rage Claw whirled around, heading straight for Eclipse.
~**HANDS TO YOURSELF, ANIMAL!**~ Maybe not the most clever of insults, but the shear volume of her lock-sending would have sent many an elf reeling.

The force of the sudden sending sent a rush of panic through Eclipse's blood and he fell to the ground - or dived - it's up to anyone's guess what went on in that little brain. Hands over head he did realise that it was a sending, and after turning his head rapidly around to look at the faces of those surrounding he managed to convince himself that it hadn't in fact been an open sending.

Skyflare started when Eclipse suddenly fell. From the way he was clutching his head he was most likely in pain. Kneeling down beside him Skyflare was just about to put a gentle hand on his shoulder and ask what was wrong, when a voice caught his attention.

"SISTER!"

The eyes of most of the nearby Children of the Oaks widened. Dusk rarely raised his voice and now, to see him locked in a glaring competition with Claw...

"That *animal*," Claw hissed, breaking eye contact with Dusk to focuse her narrowed stare on Eclipse. Dusk had a firm grip on one of her arms, so she couldn't do much else than glare though. "He has no right-"

"No right to what?" Skyflare asked, voice unusually cool and distant. One of his hands was resting on Eclipse's left shoulder. "Calm yourself hunt leader, you're embarrassing us."

Claw visibly flinched, but didn't take her eyes off Eclipse.

********

Bloodcut came right after Arrow with Arrow's lovemate. She still had the soundstone in her hands. The other elf told her more about the usages of it. Bloodcut herself traced the curving lines of the stone and directions of the holes. A wolf followed the pair, from a short distance, its eyes scanning the surroundings and often catching Bloodcut's back. It felt nervous from smelling other wolves. It didn't know if they posed a threat or not.

Stronglegs, sensing the new wolf's nervousness, broke away from his bond's side and began to slowly approach. He hadn't bared his fangs yet and neither was he growling, but his movements were guarded and somewhat hostile.

Dawngazer, guessing her bond's intent, followed him. Wolf doings were not something she'd normally meddle in, but this situation was everything besides normal. Hopefully the stranger's bond would want to challenge or do something else stupid.

Shinefur noticed the bigger wolf approaching. He didn't like it at all as his bond was there, inbetween them. With running strodes he took a place beside Bloodcut.

Bloodcut noticed the sudden closeness of the wolf. "What do you want?" She questioned her bond.

"I believe that's the fault of my bond-friend here," Dawngazer spoke up, stopping to stand beside Stronglegs. "Our pack lost many wolves not long ago. Stronglegs is pack leader and on edge right now. Is your bond- friend prone to challenge for leadership? Or would he seek pack rank?" She paused and blinked, suddenly remembering the lack of introduction. "I'm Dawngazer by the way, formerly of the Tall Tree Holt. Me and my kin met another of your...Branches, is that what they're called? - a few nights ago during a hunt."

Bloodmane stood slightly behind Dawngazer, ready to help break a fight if it came to that. Normally wolfriders didn't interfere in the challenges between wolves, but with the pack meeting stranger wolves, it could easily become a fight to the death - or at least until one or the other fled - for territory and that wasn't something they could afford with those stranger wolves also having elf-friends.
"I'm Bloodmane," she added when Dawngazer introduced herself.

The slight glare that Bloodcut had given Shinefur quickly disappeared from her face, switching to a wide smile. "Greetings! I'm Bloodcut. My friend here is StormCall. I'm surprised to see other wolf-bloods among us. I hope they haven't been too mean to you."

"Mean?" Dawngazer asked, startled by the stranger's sudden enthusiasm. "No, I couldn't say that..."
Some of these new elves had been a bit stand-off-ish, but that was only be expected, right? Her tribe hadn't exactly welcomed them with open arms either, that was for sure. Well, with one exception, but Eclipse was Eclipse.

>Stormcall gave a greeting after his name had been mentioned. Bloodcut's inquires made it obvious to him that the elfess had either forgotten or dissed the whole issue of the wolves. He nudged Bloodcut to get her attention and then pointed at Shinefur.

Involuntarily Bloodcut followed Stormcall's finger, knowing where it would lead her gaze. All the time she had a pleasing smile on though. "Ah, yes, sorry, silly me." She gave a laugh. "That's Shinefur. I don't think he'll cause any trouble to you."

When Bloodcut showed little to no concern at the possibility of a challenge, Dawngazer relaxed. She hadn't looked forwards to a fight between bond-friends. There would surely be some, but this early? No, not a good thing.
Taking a calming breath through her nose, Dawngazer suddenly caught wiff of blood, *elf* blood.
She was sure it belonged to a wolf-blood, but not one of her tribemates. The source was standing right in front of her. "Are you hurt?" she asked Bloodcut, concern in her voice.

Stronglegs took a few steps closer, then stopped. He didn't bare his fangs, just caught Shinefur's gaze and held it, leaving the next step to him. Challenge or submit?

Not too many turns before the question would have surprised Bloodcut. After joining the Branch of Stars, she has heard it more than once. "Ah, nothing like that. It's just my hair." She took a strand of her fore hair between her fingers. "I use blood to dye it. I appreciate the concern though." Holding her hair she took a look at it. *It's starting to fade away.* She let go of her hair let her gaze fly over the elves around Dawngazer, counting out the new faces and those that had wolf-blood in them.

Dawngazer lifted an eyebrow in mild shock.
"You color your hair, with _blood_?" She shook her head, a faint smile on her lips. "Well to each his own I guess."

Shinefur was a bit lost as what to do. In his life he had only been around one more wolf, Ironpaw, and elves. By instinct he knew that this new wolf was measuring him. His eyes were challenging him. He could smell that his senior was not too far away from him but that wouldn't help him much. He was at a stalemate. He slowly shifted his weight from one side to the other.

From the corner of her eye Bloodcut noticed Shinefur's movement. Usually she wouldn't pay much attention to it but the situation wasn't an usual one. Even though she had confidently told the other elfess that Shinefur wouldn't do a thing, truthfully, she wasn't too sure about it. However, she didn't let any of the doubt she felt escape her. She crouched down to be on eye-level with her bond. "Shinefur, look at me."

One problem more. Should he ignore the other wolf to listen to his bond or ignore his bond to keep up the stalemate. It wasn't a decision he wanted to make.

*Like I will let you ruin everything!* Bloodcut thought. Outwardly she gave the impression that she was dealing with a stubborn cub who didn't want to listen to her. The expression on her face was like telling how she though her bond to be so cute. "Shinefur." Gently Bloodcut placed her hand under Shinefur's snout and turned the wolf's gaze to her. "I want you to find Ironpaw and play with him okay? And listen what the other elves tell you. We don't want to cause any trouble, now do we?"

Shinefur didn't dare to against his bond and let her turn his gaze away. He didn't like the orders he was given. But he knew it didn't matter. He felt Bloodcut pat the side of his neck, telling him "Off you go." With a quick movement of his head he locked his gaze with the new wolf again, only to show him that he would let it be like this, and then he walked away from his bond to do what he had been told to do.

Bloodcut let out a soft chuckle after Shinefur left. "He can be such a puppy at times. I guess it can't be really helped." *Just don't trouble me.* She gave her full attention to Dawngazer. "So... Dawngazer was it? Will you be joining us at the New Turn Feast?"

Both Dawngazer and Stronglegs were confused at Bloodcut's interaction with her bond. To them it was unheard of that an elf could interrupt a stare down like this. For a long moment Dawngazer held her breath, hoping that Stronglegs wouldn't take offense. Luckily, with a shake of his fur, Stronglegs huffed and turned around to walk back to the rest of the pack, signaling that the challenge had been postponed.

Dawngazer breathed a sigh of relief.
"That was close." She gave Bloodcut an odd look, confused by her easy dismissal of the whole thing. Still, this was a discussion better left for later, if it was a discussion at all.
"Yes, it does seem like we'll be joining you. Tell me, what kind of celebration is this feast? We have nothing like it where I come from."

Bloodcut faintly heard Dawngazer's comment 'That was close.' and lifted a curious eyebrow at that. Though, in seconds the other elfess posed a question and Bloodcut just let the other one be forgotten. "I've never been to one myself yet, though I'm looking forward to it." A momentous glint appeared in her eyes. "I've heard about it a lot though. My tribe seems to be very much excited about the event. There will be a huge bonfire and large amount of elves. Dancing, singing, drinking, warm night. A great celebration indeed!"

Dawngazer smiled, cheered by Bloodcut's enthusiasm. It was hard to worry with your company being in such a light mood.
"It does sound very entertaining. Our tribe-" She was cut short by a sending. Haze? "Excuse me, I...I need to help bring one of our own back." Without another word she turned her back on Bloodcut and sent to her bond-friend.
::Stronglegs! Pack, hurt!:: In a heartbeat she was on Stronglegs' back, rushing to where Haze's sending had come from.

********

Eveningsky made her way slowly after the others. Shortly after they had started moving she had had to take support from Cloudbird. She had her arm around her sister's shoulders and Cloudbird held her tightly under her other arm, careful not to touch the wound. Almost every step sent a shiver of pain up her body but Eveningsky bore with it. She didn't want to appear all weak in front of the new elves. Not that her current position was much better from being carried. Almost all the other elves were much further away from them, not far enough not to be seen. She could even hear the faint sounds of laughs and shouts of greetings which were carried by the wind.

Eveninglight started to hurry after the others but after about 10 strides she slowed down and dropped back with Eveningsky and Cloudbird. "I hope they don't have all the fun before we get there." She said, gently teasing.

Eveninglight gave the young elfess a small smile. It delighted her to see that all that had happened hadn't changed this girl much. "We're not yet at the gathering place. Surely the real fun starts there." She didn't feel too secure with her own words but hopefully they would come true.

"Perhaps more fun than you've expected," Longsong broke in, having overheard what they were talking about. He was keeping even stride with One-Egde, whose leg was getting better, but yet not steady enough for too long moments of swift walking.
A group of nine more strangers was mixing with the elves up ahead. Their leader's voice carried all the way back to the end of the line. "Wolf-bloods he says. I fear they are not of our pack - otherwise the greetings from our tribemates would have been louder. But perhaps they are kin of Sunsleaf."
The thought warmed his heart. The Children of the Oaks were kind enough, but the way most of them looked at the wolves... "What do you think lifemate?" The question was mostly a vieled 'are you all right?"

One-Edge was walking slowly, her mind wandering to past events and barely heard half of what was being said. It wasn't until Longsong directed a question to her that she snapped her attention back to the group she was with.

But before she could really say anything a young she cub ran up to the group and started talking excitedly. "So who are they, what are they doing here? Are we sure we can trust them? Maybe they are troll spies or something." Quicksand's hair was bouncing with every word as though she was on a springy bed of moss.

One-Edge held up her hand to silence the cub, she couldn't help but think of her own son and how he'd probably be very much the same as this little female one day had he survived.
"Quicksand, I'm sure they are fine." she said with as much conviction she could muster, which wasn't much, but it seemed to pacify the young cub all the same, and she quickly went back to exploring things around the ground as they walked.

"Of course they're fine, they have wolves with them!" Treebreeze broke in, his face split in a wide grin. With a swift jump he was on the back of his bond-friend. "Sit up behind me and we'll go greet them!"

Silvereyes rolled her eyes at her brother and Quicksand. "Troll spies Quicksand? Weren't you the one who wanted to cut your hair like theirs just a few nights ago? And you brother should know that wolves can fight among themselves just as well as elves do."

Treebreeze's only reply was sticking out his tongue in his sister's direction.

Looking to Longsong One-Edge smiled slightly. **(I'm fine, hurting but fine. Nothing a few dreamberries won't fix)** she lock sent to him.

Longsong ignored the young ones' antics in favore of his lifemate. ** (I'm glad to hear beloved, very glad to hear. Though I'm not sure these elves _have_ dreamberries.)** He made a mock-sad face. **(Maybe you should ride on Softpaws for a bit? I'm sure she's rested enough by now.)**

Lonehowl, unbonded and currently without any rider at all, had been keeping to the back of the pack, as was her place. She'd been walking with her tail and head close to the ground ever since these new elves came along. Now however, the wind turned and carried a scent with it - a scent that made her ears perk up. She sniffed the air and whined loudly, calling the attention of her companions to the new, yet familiar smell.

"AAAAYYYYOOOOOOOAAAA!" Howled Haze, having picked up the faint scent of other elves near the spot where he and Redstreak had stopped for a quick rest. Haze was aware that the travels had been rough on the cub, but delighted in the fact that Redstreak was holding up so well.
Looking over at the sleeping cub, Haze felt a pang of lonliness, and wondered again what it would be like to have a cub of his own to raise, and teach....he quickly shook that thought from his mind, and began gathering up the few items they traveled with. A pair of waterskins, and some roasted meat to keep them going.
Haze crouched by Redstreak's side, and plucked a peice of dried grass from the cub's wild hair. "I hope his family is still around..." Haze thought briefly before gently nudging the cub's shoulder to wake him.

Redstreak stretched, yawning...and rolled over onto his back. "Hiya Haze!" the cub said, quickly propping himself up on his hands. "Can we go swimming if we find some water? I really miss it. And it's so hot!" Redstreak said with the carefree excitiement of a cub with few worries.

Haze chuckled to himself, and replied "I'm not sure about swimming. But I think I may have a surprize for you." Haze smiled at Redstreak, delighting in waching the cubs eyes get wide at the mention of a surprize.

"Oo...ooo....what is it?" Redsreak said excitedly, hopping to his feet. The cub seemed to have endless energy, even after such a long period of little food and shelter. "Did you make me a bolo like yours? Or a slingshot? That would be even better!"

"No, no weapons today Redstreak....." Haze said, rising to his feet and extending his hand to the cub. "I smell elves....."

Restreaks eyes got really wide, and he broke out into a wide grin. "Quicksand? Do you smell my sister?" he asked, sniffing the air like he had seen Haze do so many times. "Or is it my mother and father?" Redstreak gave one more sniff and could barely contain his excitement. "Is it the tribe? Are they near? Riv? Brighteyes? Who is it?"

Haze put a hand on Redstreaks's shoulder to settle him down. "I'm not sure yet...but what do you say we go find out?"

Redstreak took Haze's hand in his and followed the elder with excitement. "How far Haze? How long will it take to get there?"

"Patience cub, patience. I'm sure they have noticed us too."

Lonehowl's whining brought Eveningsky back from her thoughts, which she had been swallowed in for a short moment. It surprised her that the wolf was facing the wrong direction. *Is someone after us?* She knew well enough that she had been the end of the line with Cloudbird. She tried to sniff the air around her to figure out what was behind them but she was unable to detect anything worthwhile. It just showed how she wasn't healthy yet, which was obvious enough as it was. "What is it?"

Shade also reacted at the same time as Lonehowl, pulling away from Eveninglight and running a few steps away before turning and coming back to his bond. He pushed his nose into her hand and whined. Eveninglight turned to look in the same direction as the wolves but didn't see anything. She glanced at the other elves but it didn't seem like any of the others knew any more than her. *Do you smell anyhing?* She asked Eveningsky.

Eveningsky shook her head to the question. "My sense of smelling hasn't returned completely yet." She didn't feel a need to send as the wolves were whining. If what they scented was danger, they wouldn't be so loud about it. And another thing, she didn't want to share that piece of information with extra elves, especially those who're not part of the survivors.

Redstreak continued to try his best to pick up a scent of something in the air, and Haze just smiled at him. "You may be a bit young for that yet, cub." Hase said, checking the air himself. The scent had gotten stronger, but he wasn't close enough to determine if it ws friend or foe....he just knew it was elf.

"Haze, do you think you will get a new wolf-bond? I wish I had a wolf- bond, then I wouldn't have to walk!"

Leave it to a cub to point out the obvious, Haze thought to himeslf. His own mind was busy wondering which tribe members were still among the living, and who they would be howling for.

Redstreak got quiet again as they walked accross the open plains that never seemed to end, stopping only to rest briefly when the cub seemed ready to drop. Haze hated pushing him so far, but safety was with the tribe...or whatever elves he was scenting.

As Redstreak tripped in a small hole and landed flat on his face, Haze stopped to survey the area. There was no shelter and no hiding spot nearby. "Drink." Haze told Redstreak, handing him the nearly empty waterskin and pulling out the last of the fish he carried for the cub to eat.
As Redstreak ate the fish hungrily, Haze lifted him to his shoulders and continued.....hoping they met up with friednly elves, if not their own tribe...soon.

********

Treebreeze rode over to the new elves, hoping that he could be able to have new friends. "Greetings!" he said loud and merrily. He wanted every one of the new elves to acknowledge him as a joyous spirit.

"Greetings," Redfur who was standing closest to where Treebreeze had halted his bond, said. As Claw now seemed busy elsewhere, he'd decided to skip formalities and join in the welcomings as the rest of his Branch did.
"I am Redfur, chief of the Branch you are now standing among, kin of your travel companions. And who might you be, young elf?"

********

Haze and Redstreak continued to travel towards the scent, and Haze carried Redstreak when the cub was to tired to walk. The smell of wolf and elf got stronger with each stretch of ground covered and Haze began pick up hints of familiar scents, and hoped he wasn't imagining it.
Shifting the cub to his right shoulder, Haze said "Don't give up cub, we are almost there."

After travelling for what seemed like an eternity, and having been without food or water for almost two full days, Haze spotted a moving group in the distance that could be noe other than elves and wolves.
AAAAYYYooooooOOOO! Haze howled, hoping that in his weakened condition he could be herd. As he stumbled and tried to protect Redstreak from a fall, Haze sent *We need help......* to whatever leves were ahead of him.
Haze struggled to return to his feet, and settle the cub on his shoulders again. Redstreak had passed out earlier in the day, and Haze had no food or water to give the cub.

Eveningsky couldn't believe the voice she was hearing. "Haze..." She whispered the name that belonged to the elf. "You hear that?!" It was more than obvious that the others could her the sending as well but she couldn't help but to shout the question out. Another survivor, one just like herself.
**Haze!** The sheer joy gave Eveningsky enough strenght to send it far enough for Haze to hear. **Sunsleaf! There are more of us! And they need help!" The elfess sent to their new tribemate as she rushed towards the new-found elf's location. She couldn't even feel any pain from her wound as she ran.

Longsong almost jumped at Eveningsky's happy shout. Haze? Alive? Here? Impossible, but...

Haze could feel his heart leap with joy when he received the send from Eveningsky. **Water.....Redstreak sick...hurry....** was all he was able to send in response. Haze was having difficulty standing, so he laid Restreak on the ground as gently as he could, and was glad to see the cub was still breathing.....even if he did mumble strange things.
"Eveningsky is coming...." Haze told the cub, and sat down next to him. ".... thank the High Ones we made it..."

Having heard the sending, weak as it was, Longsong acted on instinct. **Everyone, did you here that?!** he open-sent, mostly addressing his tribemates. **Haze and Redstreak, they're alive! And they're close. I suggest that those of us with rested bonds ride out and get them. They should bring water with them.**
He turned towards One-edge and caught her gaze. "Please lend me Softpaws. You need to rest your injury, but I have water left and am not as tired as you. Please." He spoke calmly, but his eyes begged his One-edge not to do anything rash.

Cloudbird stood at the back of the line, thinking intently to herself about what was happening just now. She wasn't entirely sure what to make of it, but she figured she should be used to it.

"Cloudbird, do you have any water left? If not, go gather some from the others. Haze and Redstreak sound like they'll be needing some," Longsong more or less ordered her, worry mixed with joy making him forget she was an Elder and not some cub, to be told what to do and when to do it.

Haze was woken by the tickle of an open sending that was just out of reach in his weakened condition, but it gave him hope. Reaching over to check on Redstreak, he saw the cub was still breathing, even though he wasn't very responsive.
Gathering the last of his energy, Haze stood and liften the scrawny cub to his shoulders. "They are coming Redstreak....." Haze said to himself and forced his exhausted and stressed body to walk in the direction of the sending.