Council in the holt-glen

[Kris]

Journey followed his mother when she walked over to Thornberry and Mist, half in a dream and half frozen with fear. He wanted to go with Stormfire. He wanted it badly. Not only was she his friend, she was also leaving the holt.

He loved his birth-home, but the thought of living there for the rest of his life was like strangleweed wrapped around his throat.

And yet Windsoft might not want to leave. Journey steeled himself for that possibility, for while leaving the holt was something he could do blithely, leaving his mother was not even to be considered.

But what if she said no to leaving?

He paid little attention to her words and Mist's to Thornberry. All he could see was a vast forest, spread out before him like a great cloak . . . and then yanked out of reach, as if from a cubling's grasping hand. Journey couldn't stifle the voice in his heart that called out, I want this, I want this, I want--!

"Well. So we know. Stormfire, Sunsong, Silent, and Mist. Possibly Softling, Redthorne, and Icemark. What of you, Thornberry? Do you stay?" She looked at Journey. "And you, my son?"

Journey jerked out of his anxious reverie to see his mother looking straight at him. His mouth went dry, and he swallowed hard. "Um . . ." Because words wouldn't come, he had to send. *Mother, do you want to? If you don't, I'll stay, it's all right--*

[Anna]

**No, cub, it's not 'all right.' I can feel your spirit already following this trail.** Windsoft swallowed hard. It hurt, oh, how it hurt! But times came when cubs had to stand on their own and make their own decisions. She knew what hers was, but she'd not tell him until he decided for himself.

There was more to raising cubs than keeping them safe from harm. There was also allowing them to understand decisions had consequences, and every exciting thing had a price of some kind. He was adult-grown now, and just a few years younger than Stormfire herself. This had to be his decision.

*You are an adult - a young, inexperienced one, yes - but an adult of the tribe, Journey. This decision is yours, and only you can make it.* She smiled gently, reaching to touch his cheek, and wished she could simply make the choice for him. But she could not. He was a child no longer, and her time to choose his path was over.

[peachbug]

**Yes,** Evenstar began, looking down at her older sister with a small smile. **It seems you have far more to consider in light of...certain things. I would miss you sorely should you choose to stay, but...** The tanner looked up into the trees, into the dark sky, resting her chin on her palm. **I would be happy to have you beside me, sister, but for the right reasons. I made my choice because something called me to it...** She sighed and rose from her spot beside Firecat. **I must tell Stormfire and Sureshot that I am joining her. I wish you peace with your choice, Firecat.** She gave one last glance to Hazel. **For the right choice.**

Evenstar's mouth was dry also as she struggled to approach her new chieftess, hopefully new chieftess. The stargazer was not the only skilled tanner in the holt, but she was valued as the one the others came to for the truly extraordinary designs or mendings. Now she prayed to the High Ones her skills would pose no conflict as she went forward amongst the scrabble of sendings and words to deliver her request, cautious as a skittered ravvit despite her imposing heigth.

As she approached the gathering around Sureshot and Stormfire, she felt the tension of locksending going between the group. She tugged at a loose lock of her brown-gold hair and determined to hang back for the time being. Nothing she had to say was more urgent than whatever now concerned her chief.

[Kris]

Journey stared at her, his mouth falling open. He shut it quickly as a, "No!" threatened to come out of it. She was right--he was an adult, no matter how much of a cub his elders still made him feel.

Time to make an adult's decision . . .

He could feel this calling him. If he remained behind, it would tear at him forever, driving him out of the holt after the leave-takers, no matter how cold their trail was. And yet Windsoft's face would haunt him the rest of his days. It had been the two of them for so long, amidst the rest of the tribe. How could he leave her?

Windsoft's hand remained on his cheek. Journey took her other hand between both of his. **Mother,** he sent, trying to keep his emotions from choking him. **Mother . . . please come with me. Please! I'm not asking because I'm afraid to go. I'm asking because I love you more than anyone else, and I don't want to leave you here.**

[Anna]

**Your choice is to go then?** Windsoft asked, wanting to be sure and clear.

**Y-yes. I have to.**

She could feel the tearing of his heart in his sending and it hurt her, too, that she'd forced this decision on him alone. But the lesson was learned now, and she could be mother again and comfort her cub. "Then we go," she said quietly.

"I think your concerns about hunt leadership are just invalidated, Thornberry," Oakstaff said cheerfully. "Windsoft's got more experience at that than even you."

Mist shook his head. "Sureshot will be happy to know you're with her, Windsoft," he assured her. "She's been leaning towards the younger members of the tribe, not wanting to separate families, but she needs more experienced people, too."

[Kris]

Journey flung his arms around Windsoft. **Thank you,** he sent, trembling with a mixture of glee, excitement, and gratitude. He let go of her and started off for the Father Tree. "I've got to get my paints ready, and my things, and . . . wait, no, I'd better wait and see what's needed . . . talk to Evenstar--Evenstar's going, isn't she? We'll--"

Wingfoot, coming up on the scene, stared at Windsoft's youngster chasing around in circles and talking to himself. He shook his head and muttered, "Just as I thought. That cub's moon-mad."

[Anna]

Sunsong watched Journey dashing back and forth, talking to himself like a suncrazed troll, and smiled.

Her smile faded when she felt her mother behind her. Fernflower was not pleased. She was far from pleased. She didn't bother to hide her disapproval and discouragement when spoke, either, and so any tribemate within hearing knew the scorn and displeasure Fernflower sprinkled around her daughter.

"You cannot think of going, Sunsong. You have neither the experience nor the wisdom for such a journey! You've barely begun your training and you have much to learn, if you can."

Sunsong's shoulders hunched briefly, then straightened and she turned to her mother with a bright smile. "Oh, but mother, I must! Stormfire asked me to, and she's my friend. There are so few of us going, that I'm sure even my skill will be enough to shape us a safe holt somewhere."

She didn't bother to comment on the wisdom issue. She knew she wasn't wise. She was little more than a child, and if Stormfire would no more have chosen her for wisdom than she'd have chosen young Softling for it. There were other tribemates that Stormfire would choose for that quality.

Fernflower snorted, crossing her arms and glaring down at her sun-haired offspring. "Your 'skill' can barely bloom a flower and I don't foresee it improving," she said sharply. "You'll leave your friend and the rest of the tribe to freeze to death in the white-cold, foolish cub! They need a real treeshaper with them, but I assure you I won't be leaving my chief. You'll be a burden on them, daughter, and they'll be few enough that they can't afford anyone who doesn't do their share."

Sunsong fought to hold on to her smile, to not let her mother's words hurt. Ever since her plantshaping magic had first manifested, Fernflower had expressed her disappointment that Sunsong's power was so weak and useless. It wasn't Sunsong's fault. She was happy with what she had, and she took great joy in it.

"They're going, whether I go or not," she said finally, clasping her hands tightly in front of her. "I can only try, mother, and I will try with everything I have. It must be worth something. And if not, then I will be a gatherer, and feed them. There are other ways besides shaping to make shelter. I won't be a burden to them." She leapt for a branch overhead. "I have to see to Shade now, and make sure she's in health for this journey. Good bye, mother."

Even as she darted along branches, and jumped from tree to tree to reach the wolfpack, Sunsong blinked away tears. Her mother must fear for her greatly, to be so harsh in her approach. She wished that Fernflower had simply asked her to stay instead of trying to intimidate her into staying. It wouldn't have changed her mind, but at least then there wouldn't be these harsh words between them.

[Kris]

As Stormfire moved away from Sureshot, Icemark and Redthorn--and a nearby Evenstar--she heard a sharp, unmistakeable voice. It was a voice that had angered her ever since she was old enough to understand what it was saying, and she found her fingers twitched as she strode forward to close the distance between herself, Fernflower, and Sunsong.

She caught sight of Sunsong moving through the trees, and told herself she'd find her friend later. Fernflower half-turned, as if to walk away, and Stormfire sent to her.

*Wait, treeshaper.* There was no gentleness, no fondness, in her tone. There never had been. And the cool look Fernflower threw her indicated the older elf had an equal lack of feeling.

"Your father must hold such confidence in you," she said.

Stormfire gave a short laugh. **Not that you'll send that, but for what it's worth . . .** She paused, and realized she'd unintentionally given Fernflower insult from the way the treeshaper's face crimsoned with offense. **I'm not here to quarrel with you, Fernflower. But if you truly can't bear the sight of Sunsong, why don't you shut up and keep away from her? Or are you really so cruel that you enjoy seeing her hurt?**

"Hurt? She's my daughter, cub. Of course I don't wish to see her hurt." Fernflower flicked her fingers out, in a dismissively, throwing-away gesture. "But better she suffer a small hurt now than a larger hurt later when she realizes how completely inadequate she is for the task you've set her."

**And still you won't send.** Stormfire crossed her arms over her chest to keep from reaching out and ripping handfuls of Fernflower's golden hair loose. **You know as well as anyone that she's capable of being a great treeshaper. At the very least, she's going to be *my* treeshaper.** She drew a deep breath, frustrated by Fernflower's impassiveness. She wanted the elder to shout, yell, or fight--anything to prove she felt ~something~ for Sunsong. "I never thought a mother could be so unfeeling," Stormfire accused Fernflower. "When we go, that's it. You'll never see Sunsong again. High Ones, I find myself wishing that's true, for you're as poisonous to her as a mouthful of snake venom!"

Fernflower sniffed. She had no reason to send to this infant whose head was fluffed up on a doting father's pride. Sending was an intimacy that she gave to few, and certainly not a child. "You are as foolish as she, child. You may speak about a mother's love and care when you are a mother. Until then, you've no grounds for judgement, and no right to pass it."

"I may not be a mother," Stormfire returned, "but I know a mother's love when I see it. And I don't see it in you. I don't think you know what it is, either."

Fernflower crossed her arms and looked at Stormfire coolly. "Such wisdom and insight gained in so few seasons! My, how blind and stupid we must all seem to one as advanced as you, young High One!"

Stormfire gritted her teeth at the mockery. Fernflower was excellent at that, and it galled her that she couldn't wither the treeshaper with a few words. Or knock her across the holt with a well-placed punch . . . "Be happy, Fernflower," she finally said. "Our paths--mine and Sunsong's--won't cross yours again, and for that ~I~ will be happy." She turned on her heel and walked away, wishing she'd felt sure enough of her new rank to hang Fernflower by her heels over one of Evenstar's tanning pits.

[Kris]

"Oh, come on," Whirlwind insisted.

"No! Leave it be. Sureshot would tell you not to interfere."

"But that barb-tongued spider--"

"Is an elder. Do you really want Sureshot to scorch your ears over the likes of Fernflower?" Tallspear glared at Whirlwind, and the huntress rolled her eyes scornfully. "Go on, think what you like. Just stay--"

"Oh, here she comes!" Whirlwind pulled free of Tallspear's clasp and darted out from behind the tree as Stormfire approached. "Ayoooooh! Sister! Haven't forgot about me, have you?"

Stormfire jumped, and the anger on her face faded. Tallspear smiled, pleased when she began to chuckle. "I'd as soon forget my shadow," she said, taking Whirlwind's hand and reaching out for Tallspear with her other. "So . . ." Her gray eyes danced with sudden mischief. "I'm your chief now, and you have to do as I say!"

"Ohhhhh, no!" Whirlwind sank to her knees, pressing her hair to her bosom and pretending to be faint. "Whatever shall we do? Led by little Shrill . . . I mean Trill--ouch! Don't pull my hair," she warned, and Stormfire grinned.

"Do that when we meet up with some trolls. While they're spewing over your performance, we can rob them blind." She turned to Tallspear, who hugged her. "A hug? Just for being named chief of whoever's mad enough to follow me?" Stormfire tilted her head back to look at him. "Are you sure you're coming with me?" she demanded accusingly.

"Sure as anything." He pressed his forehead to hers, grinning back at her. "Besides, you need someone who knows how to use real spears, not those squirrel-stickers of yours."

"I'll remind you of that the next time my 'squirrel-stickers' take a kill out from under your nose," Stormfire retorted. She took Whirlwind's hand again, helping her up. "Well, come on, you two. Someone has to find Sunsong, and I have to make certain Evenstar is coming. And we have Icemark, Redthorn, Silvercub, Mist, and Windsoft . . . and Father just sent now, there are more . . ."

Whirlwind winked at Tallspear. **She won't sleep a wink until we're out of here.**

**Good. We'll tie her to the wolf, take over the tribe, and throw Fernflower in a thorn thicket.** Tallspear proudly escorted his new chieftess back among the tribe, where more elves approached Sureshot to say whether they would go with his daughter, or stay behind.

[Viola]

Longdusk touched his mother's face, and she looked up, blinking heavily. "I'm going to miss you," she whispered, and he pulled her in an embrace. "As I you," he softly said. "It's the best for me, mother, and I would love you to come along but I know you can't." Lightgaze breathed deeply, to control herself, before she pulled loose.

*When will we leave?* Longdusk then questionned. Certainly, there would be a short period of time for Stormfire to choose who she was asking along, but he sincerely hoped it wouldn't be too long. This meant a new opportunity, and he wanted to grab it with both hands.

~*~*~*~


Lightgaze drew to the shadows and retreated. She didn't want to hear the answer, but instead, she heard something else. Stormfire, young chieftess now, had a heathed debate with Lightgaze's sister Fernflower. She could only hear the words, but she flinched at Stormfire's accusations. True, Fernflower and Sunsong's relationship was troubled, but talking like that to someone who was still a tribesmate, was something a chieftess couldn't permit herself. Lightgaze realized Stormfire spoke from her emotions, but should have thought about it a bit better.

True, she didn't have a great bond with her older sister, either, and part of her understood why Stormfire had spoken like she had. It was something she had wanted to do herself. Sunsong, her niece, had been a charming cub and had grown to be a lovely young adult, and didn't deserve the coldness of her mother.

**Niece?** she sent out to Sunsong, **where are you?**

~*~*~*~

Firecat bit her lip. Her sister knew her better than anyone else. She sighed, and felt at a loss. She would have to talk this over with Hazel. He cared deeply for her, she knew... she could feel it in his sending. Lately, she had barely sent to keep her arousing feelings hidden. In any case, it wouldn't be fair to leave him wondering what had happened.

But leaving for the right reasons would be tough. She could easily tell Stormfire that a hunter and fisher aboard would be useful, and travelling with her sister also was a pragmatic reason, but either way, no matter how she twisted and turned the idea, it always revolved around bolting away... like she always had in relationships that got too tight. And in Hazel's case... it wasn't what he deserved.