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ElfTanner
Joined: 04 Nov 2005
Posts: 775
Location: Sacramento
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Icemoon
Joined: 09 Feb 2009
Posts: 1432
Location: france
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 Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 2:48 pm Post subject: |
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aaargh !!
you too ??
don't worry !!
we are patients ... 
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joyleaf,embala,moonmoss& mournsong are super! Nerd is so sweet! |
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Embala
Joined: 29 Apr 2007
Posts: 4992
Location: Bavaria
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| Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 3:12 pm Post subject: |
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Patient ... but full of expectation!
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Kchaiya
Joined: 11 Nov 2005
Posts: 236
Location: Tacoma, WA
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| Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 12:35 am Post subject: |
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| Looking forward to seeing your stuff back! I think I had requested the last of the "chiefs and their mates" calendar be posted, but now you can just re-post the whole thing! Good luck! |
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ElfTanner
Joined: 04 Nov 2005
Posts: 775
Location: Sacramento
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| Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:32 pm Post subject: |
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A Remembrance - A comic reated and Drwan by me aout Shale and EyesHigh
I didn't finish the last couple of pages, so try to be kind.
Naration after each set of pages will be fallowing soon.
Page One.................................................................................................................................................Page Two
 
Page Three................................................................................................................................................Page Four
 
Page Five...................................................................................................................................................Page Six
 
Page Seven.....................................................................................................................................................Page Eight
 
Page Nine.......................................................................................................................................................Page Ten
 
Page Eleven........................................................................................................................................................Page Twelve
 
Page Thirteen........................................................................................................................................................Page Fourteen
 
Page Fifteen........................................................................................................................................................Page Sixteen
 
Page Seventeen........................................................................................................................................................Page Eighteen
 
Page Nineteen........................................................................................................................................................Page Twenty
 
Page Twenty One........................................................................................................................................................Page Twenty Two
 
Page Twenty Three.........................................................................................................................................................Page Twenty Four
 
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Last edited by ElfTanner on Tue Mar 03, 2009 3:41 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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ElfTanner
Joined: 04 Nov 2005
Posts: 775
Location: Sacramento
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ElfTanner
Joined: 04 Nov 2005
Posts: 775
Location: Sacramento
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| Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:36 pm Post subject: |
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My Sketch Series
Pairs (Requested ones names are in bold, If you requsted on please let me know which ones so I can put it next to the drawings. Thank you)
Krim and Pike
 
Ahdri - Requested by Dreamweaver(I believe) and Windkin - Requested by Dreamweaver
 
Venka - Requested by embala (I believe) and Two-Edge
 
Tyleet and Scouter - Both Requsted by Emerald (I believe)
 
Winnowill and Rayek - Requested by KRWordgazer (I believe)
 
Moonshade - Requested by Joyleaf (I believe) and Strongbow - Requested by nevaratoiel
 
Aroree - Requested by Stargazer (I believe)and Skywise
 
Longbranch and Brownberry - Both Requeste by Joyleaf
 
Picknose - requested by Embala and Oddbit
 
Redlance - Requested by wiseshaman and Nightfall
 
Savah and Yurek - Both requeted by Embala
 
Shale and Eyeshigh
 
Darshek and Krill
 
Treestump and Rillfisher
 
Kahvi and Tyldak - Requested by Embala
 
Zarhan Fast Fire and Rahnee She Wolf
 
Bearclaw and Joyleaf - Requested by Joyleaf
 
Leetah and Cutter - Both Requested by Joyleaf
 
Ember - Requested by Kchaiya (I believe) and Tier
 
Singles (Sketches with no pairs)
Timmain
Timmorne
Preypacer
Twospear
Skyfire
Freefoot
Tanner
Goodtree
Mantricker
Jink - requested by Jeedai
Korillia of the OWD- Requested by Jeedai
Lord Voll - Requested by Embala
ShenShen
Clearbrook - Requested by Icemoon
Irallee of the OWD - Requested by Icemoon
Non-Canon Elves by Request
Groveand Wolfsoul for Silberschwief
 
Tigerclaw and Sunbird with baby Treefrog - for Willowspring
 
Clearfall for Kchaiya
Monsoon for Jeedai
Pyre for Jeedai
Requests for Sketches
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The World of Danen
Last edited by ElfTanner on Wed May 20, 2009 2:56 pm; edited 16 times in total |
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ElfTanner
Joined: 04 Nov 2005
Posts: 775
Location: Sacramento
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ElfTanner
Joined: 04 Nov 2005
Posts: 775
Location: Sacramento
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| Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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My Gods and Goddesses Series
Moonshade as Nox - The goddess of the night and keeper of secrets
Nightfall as Artemis - Goddess of the moon and hunt, twin sister to Apollo
Sunstream as Apollo - God of the Sun, music and prophicy, Twin brother of Artemis.
Newstar as Aphrodite - Goddess of love
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ElfTanner
Joined: 04 Nov 2005
Posts: 775
Location: Sacramento
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| Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 3:36 pm Post subject: |
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double post, sorry
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The World of Danen
Last edited by ElfTanner on Tue Mar 03, 2009 5:17 pm; edited 12 times in total |
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Embala
Joined: 29 Apr 2007
Posts: 4992
Location: Bavaria
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| Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 3:43 pm Post subject: |
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Glad to see your art back! That's as impressive as the first time I saw it!
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ElfTanner
Joined: 04 Nov 2005
Posts: 775
Location: Sacramento
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| Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 3:48 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you Embala. Still working on organizing it.  can you remind me which Sketches you requested?
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Embala
Joined: 29 Apr 2007
Posts: 4992
Location: Bavaria
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| Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 4:38 pm Post subject: |
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In general I tried to make you couples. As far as I remember all but one were done. You told you struggled with Picknose - and I didn't want to insist
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ElfTanner
Joined: 04 Nov 2005
Posts: 775
Location: Sacramento
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| Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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Self Quest
A story of a tanner’s search for her soul name.
The day was gray and getting grayer as the sun descended. The clouds hung low in the branches and cast a chilly fog on the Holt that seemed to keep everyone in their dens unless something of import drove them out. It had rained for the last eight of days and the ground had soaked up so much water that it could drink no more and the water just lay there in large, cold puddles. For the moment there was a short break in the rain. Moonshade sat at the opening to the den that she shared with her mother, staring out into the misty world. Something had been bothering her as of late and she couldn’t explain it even to herself. Normally on a day like this she would be with her lovemate, Strongbow, hidden deep in his den buried in thick furs keeping each other warm, and busy. She had had her eye on him for a long time, and he her. The tribe could tell they were fond of each other. Every time Moonshade was near Strongbow he would fumble over whatever he was doing. It was the only time the coordinated elf did fumble. And Moonshade, a shy elf anyway, could hardly get a word out of her mouth when near him. The tribe finally took a hand in uniting the pair by putting them together for a hunt. Clearbrook, One-eye, Nightfall and Treestump were supposed to be there too, but when the hunt got on, they backed off and disappeared, leaving the doe to she and Strongbow to deal with. He raised his bow and shot it through the throat, dropping it to its knees. Moonshade came up to it and dealt the deathblow. It was only then, after working together and bringing down the doe alone, did they realize they were alone.
They looked around, confused as to where the others had gotten to. Moonshade smiled at him, she could feel her cheeks flushing with more then the excitement of the hunt. He grinned and knelt to gut the doe…. From then on they were inseparable. They only needed the push. Moonshade smiled at the memory. But the memory did nothing to warm her heart. Nor was being with her lovemate helping to mend the hole she felt deep within herself. Something was missing, and she had a feeling she knew what it was. She was an adult, though young in elven standards, and had yet to find her soul name. She let out a deep sigh as she came to a decision. It was time.
She felt her mother come up behind her and she looked around at her. Brightwater’s hair hadn’t been done up yet and it hung down over her shoulders waiting to be put up in the familiar braid. She held her hand out to Moonshade.
“My cub. I know what bothers you. Here, take these. They may help you on your journey. It will be a difficult one.”
She took Moonshade’s hand and slid a small pouch into it. The pouch smelled of earth and old leather, with a hint of.. “Dreamberries?” Moonshade asked. “You will know if you need them.” Her mother said, smiling at her as she braided her hair and tied it around her head. Brightwater grabbed her spear and left the den to go on a hunt while the rain was busy elsewhere. Moonshade looked outside again. The sun had made it’s final decent and the world was darkening even more then usual. ‘Difficult she says? Of all the seasons I had to choose this one. I’ll likely drown before I find my soulname.’ Now she let her eyes wander around the den. It was littered with her practice leathers. She was being trained by Blackbark in the ways of tanning, and she enjoyed it very much. Though it took a lot of practice. ‘What to take? I wont need much.’ She thought to herself.
There was a bow and quiver of arrows. The wet weather has made the string on her bow limp. There were sleeping furs, a couple of oil candles, Her mother’s and her pouch hung from the wall to the right, and a small fern in the corner to her left. Her oiled cloak lay in the opposite corner from where she sat, she stepped over to grab it. ‘I will need this if I don’t want to freeze.’ She tied her mother’s pouch of dreamberries to her belt; next she picked up her knife. She needed nothing ells and went for the den opening. “Oohh.” She about stumbled back as Strongbow’s head popped into her den. **There you are lovemate. Will you join me in…Where are you going?** He looked at her with a bit of curiosity in his eyes. ‘Puckernuts’ Moonshade thought as she pushed past him to get outside. ‘I was hoping to make it out of the Holt without talking to anyone. How do I explain this.’ She looked at her lovemate as she wrapped her cloak around her. “Lovemate. I wasn’t going to bother you with where I was going. I… well… I need to go on a hunt” Strongbow smiled and held up his spear. He preferred the bow, but his string too was limp. **I was just going to ask you to join me on my hunt.** He sent to her. She felt sorry for lying to him. “I am sorry Strongbow. I need to do this one on my own. Please do not be hurt by this.” She leaned in to him and nuzzled his ear then quickly turned away before he could stop her for more of an explanation. Strongbow watched her go. Confusion crossing his sharp features. Bearclaw had taught him to not ask to many questions of the females. They changed their minds as often as the seasons changed. He was hurt to not be included, but let her go alone. He was sure she had her reasons.
It wasn’t snowing yet, but the fog didn’t let any of the cold air escape the ground and it was quite bitter. Moonshade didn’t like the cold so she called her wolf friend to her. **Swift** She got a sending in return. There were no words, just images of where the wolf was and a feeling of excitement at seeing her elf friend. ‘Besides, she can keep watch over me on my journey.’ She kept walking knowing her wolf friend would catch up with her, besides, the walking was keeping the chill out of her bones. She heard the great wolfs soft footsteps as she padded up behind and to the right of her. Then felt a wet nose press against her hand and got more images sent into her head. This time of the smell of blood after the rush of the hunt, her friend was hungry. She scratched behind the wolf’s ear and realized she was hungry too. She had nothing but her knife on her, but figured she could at least get a couple of rabbits to fill the emptiness of her stomach. The other emptiness can wait a little longer. She mounted Swift. “All right friend. But only something small” The wolf jumped ahead keeping to her name. Swiftly dodging trees and bushes as they appeared through the fog ahead of them. Behind her she heard the sound of the elves and their wolf friends howling at the Holt. They had emerged from their dens to welcome the moons, assuming they were up behind all of this haze. She wished she could be there, next to her mother and her lovemate, and imagined she could make out their voices. She would miss their warmth where she was going.
She let the howls guide her into wolf thought as she hunted astride Swift. Swift had picked up a scent that in this rain soaked world only a wolves nose could detect. Quickly Moonshade had it too, but faintly. She let it roll through her nose, and imagined the taste of the rabbit flesh on her tongue. The icy wind beat at her face, but she was enjoying herself. The rabbits burst from a patch of tall grass at the base of a large rock and dashed straight ahead. Swift quickly but gracefully switched directions to fallow them. Wolf and elf were right on their fluffy little tails. Moonshade would let the wolf make the first grab, then she would grab for the other. The wolf caught the rabbit in her teeth, and having hunted with Moonshade for a long time knew what she wanted. She sped up so the rabbit was running along side, Moonshade reached down, grabbed it by the ears, and slit it’s throat so as not to waist any meat. After skinning and eating, she rolled the furs together to save them for later. “These will make a fine pair of gloves for the coming white cold.” She put them in her belt, mounted Swift once again, and led her in a direction she hadn’t been in a long time.
The pair ran until both were tired and couldn’t go any farther. Moonshade got off the wolf and let her go hunt alone, telling her not to bring food back for her. She tried to explain to her friend that she needed to be hungry for a while but the wolf didn’t understand. Eventually, Swift obeyed and left to find food, promising not to go to far.
They had ridden a long way and Moonshade hadn’t been in this part of the woods before.
She didn’t know quite what she was looking for but knew she would know it when she saw it. She knew it was a safe place to let her guard down. A place where no one, and nothing, could get to her. Preferably a place where humans have never set their five toed feet.
She wandered into the night and slept in the branches of a tree during the next day, thankful that it hadn’t started to rain again. The next night she traveled hard again, pausing only long enough to let Swift hunt for herself. The wolf tried to bring Moonshade food a couple of times, then finally gave up when the elf got mad at her. Moonshade didn’t mean to get mad, she had tried to explain that she couldn’t eat right now, but the wolf didn’t understand. She was only trying to help.
It was almost dawn when Moonshade found it. A thicket so thick you had to have the eyes and wit of an animal to gain entrance. She wasn’t sure if humans had been here or not though. The rain had washed everything clean. She didn’t care anymore. A human couldn’t get through this if they tried, and she was getting weak with hunger, she needed to stop. She took Swifts face in her hands and looked in to her lupine eyes. She sent images of herself being helpless inside the thicket.**Guard, patience**. When Moonshade knew the wolf understood, she got on her hands and knees and crawled through the mud into the thicket. Thorns clawed at her cloak and her hair trying to stop her from invading its innermost secrets. She didn’t stop. She kept going, deeper, until somewhere in the middle, she found a clearing just big enough for her to sit upright cross-legged.
She settled her self, trying to get as comfortable as possible, and sent to her wolf friend once again, **Guard.** This time she sent feelings of appreciativeness with her words. Then she relaxed, breathing deeply to clear her head; she knew the wolf wouldn’t leave her.
Around her mingled with the smell of earth was the smell of diggers, rabbit and other small animals barely noticeable in the newness after the rain, but nothing dangerous. She let her thoughts take charge, focusing on not letting the NOW of wolf thought take over. She needed her memories and thoughts to be clear and full. She remembered the dreamberries her mother had given her and opened the pouch. There were only a few in there, but that’s all she needed to help her mind remember things long buried. She ate two berries feeling the juice run down her throat. Just as she felt herself drifting slightly, a raindrop hit her nose, her ear…it started coming down, but gently. Moonshade sighed. ‘So much for staying dry.’ She thought disdainfully. She pulled her cloak up over her head tucking in her long dark curls, making sure to stay covered, and let herself drift as the rain came down and made puddles around her.
She thought first of her Lovemate. How she missed him. How she loved to be near him and to feel his thoughts and feelings flow through and mingle with her own. He never spoke, finding the spoken word to be clumsy. The fullness of sending was much easier to comprehend, and easier to get across, even without words. She sank deeper into thoughts of him and could smell his scent tickle her nose, and his dry hands touch her face. Then she heard a voice. “Moonshade” She looked around to see BlackBark mixing his leather pit full of new leathers with a long pole. She could smell the potent liquid and feel the wetness on her hands as she dipped them in to the pit, the toughness of the un-scraped leathers before they are turned into soft tunics and boots. She truly took pleasure in the long hours it takes to make useful things for her tribe and friends. She smiled at BlackBark and he pointed at the sky. She realized wolfriders never really paid that much attention to the sky and it’s inhabitants. Wolfriders were of the world and its many things in nature. The trees, the fruits, the animals - wolves. It was a wolf she saw in the stars and it was running right at her!
All of a sudden she realized she was alone and she became frightened. But not to scared to run away. She stood her ground, and braced for whatever would happen, though she knew not what that might be. At first the wolf was just an outline made of stars, then a glittery mist, then a pure white wolf that ran on the wind. It touched ground a few paces in front of her and just looked at her with what Moonshade thought was expectation in its eyes. Inside, Moonshade could feel…what…? She didn’t have a name for it. Moonshade took a step forward and noticed that the wolf was changing. Its form moved and melted away in places and the fur disappeared. It stood on two legs, and its body grew long and slender. “Oh Highones!” Moonshade wanted to run away but her feet wouldn’t move. She had never seen magic like this. She covered her eyes and waited for the worst. Nothing happened. Then, she felt a hand on her shoulder. It was warm, and full of power, but it sent a feeling of ease into her body. She relaxed and moved her hands from her eyes to see, a Highone, of course. An elf they were called, pure blooded. Then she knew. This was the mother of the Wolfriders. She was tall and willowy with hair that flowed to the ground like water and glittered like the stars she had just come from, and eyes that could pierce the soul. Her soul. She knew Moonshade’s soulname! Moonshade looked deeper into the eyes of the Highone and saw herself as a pureblooded elf, as tall and willowy as her ancestors. She felt the despair and hurt of loosing friends and loved ones to the humans clubs and the joy of having a cub grow inside of her after centuries of not even remembering the act of love. She felt the power go out of her and the helplessness turn into uselessness at the hands of her own children as they grew stronger then her. She was weak. Then she felt the strength surge threw her weakness. Pushing it aside to replace the helplessness. She was strong and agile, able to take care of herself and feed the others. Moonshade knew it was the wolf blood that did this.
The purebloods gave themselves over to the wolf blooded as the lower ranked wolves step aside for the leader of the pack. She felt her mind drift into the now of wolf thought where sadness and hurt could be pushed away or hidden until she came out of it and time traveled without thought or notice. She understood what the Highones had done to let the elven race survive on this world of two moons. They combined this world with their own. Giving their children one thing, a gift to always remember where they came from and that even though the blood of wolves ran in their veins, they were also elf. Eyrn, She was Eyrn! The Highone had helped her. Moonshade had forgotten her elven side, like most of the Wolfriders have done at one time or another. She had lost it in the now of wolf thought. But she had her soulname. Finding the elven part of herself helped her to find it. She was Eyrn. She felt complete at last. The hole inside her was gone and a weight she didn’t know she felt was lifted and she felt like howling to release the joy she felt inside.
She was standing next to the white wolf again. The Highone was ready to go. ~*Never forget who you are.*~ The sending was like warm milk to a new born cub. ~*Thank you mother.*~ Moonshade sent in reply as the wolf faded into the woods around her. Then she heard howling coming from those woods, or was it. She felt herself falling back into herself like her spirit was rejoining her body. Another howl. Still sounded distant, and slightly sad. Then she felt her body. It ached from being in one position for so long. But how long? She opened her violet eyes and saw nothing at first. It was dark, but her eyes were strong with the wolf blood her ancestress had given her and they adjusted accordingly. She was slightly damp but not soaked and the ground wasn’t a puddle. She tried to move her legs and a groan escaped her lips. She heard another howl, this time it was closer and it sounded familiar. **Swift my dear friend. You are still here.** She sent her relief to her wolf friend and got the same feelings in return. Apparently a few days had gone by while she sat in there. Swift was about to give up on her.
She stooped low and started to crawl out of her hiding place and felt a pang in her stomach. **Moonshade? Are you all right?** Strongbow’s sending also sent the feelings of relief, as well as worry. This was the second time he had made her stumble. This time she fell into mud and thorns. She had not expected him to be here. She hurried out into the open, and about fainted when she stood up. She felt strong arms catch her and hold her. She became aware of two things: one, his scent was like that of a damp wolf, and she was starving. She let him hold her while he sent to her, feeling behind the scent of Wolf the body of an Elf. Not as tall or slender, but an elf none-the-less, and he had a soul name too. She found herself hoping to find his someday.
**I was worried about you when you didn’t show up at the howl so I tracked you way out here. It was hard to do in the rain but I found you. You were in there for at least two days and two nights. Are you all right? I tried to go in there and get you but Swift wouldn’t let me near the thicket. She kept telling me she was guarding you and about bit my arm off.** Moonshade smiled as she felt the old wolfs nose touch her leg and she let her hand fall to touch the thick fur. “You know lovemate, elves are more complicated then wolves.” She looked at him and saw confusion in his eyes. **What do you mean?** Strongbow was always about the hunt, the howl and the living free. She didn’t know if he had his soulname or not, but he had forgotten about the elf within. He lived in the Now and nothing ells mattered to him. She was sure eventually nothing ells would matter to her either as the now crept back over her. **Never mind, I am starving. Can we…** **You sit down with Swift. I will go get you something to eat.** He sat her down to lean against the wolf then mounted his own wolf and ran off. She was glad he was here. She wouldn’t have had the strength to hunt for herself. She could have had Swift do it for her, but she was also glad that she could lean against the dry fur and warmth of her old friend. ‘The wolf still guards the elf after all this time Highone. You chose well.’ She hadn’t realized how cold she had been until Strongbow took her in his arms. She snuggled as close to Swift as she could get.
‘Eyrn. I am Eyrn.’ She fell asleep before Strongbow got back with her food.
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ElfTanner
Joined: 04 Nov 2005
Posts: 775
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| Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 4:59 pm Post subject: |
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Here and Gone again.
Clearbrook trotted down the path to the dreamberry bushes. Longreach had asked her to meet him there at sundown and she was late. She had gotten caught up with Joyleaf in a discussion about motherhood. Ever since Rain started to try and force recognition she wondered what it would be like to have her own. She remembered seeing Dewdrop pregnant with Pike. He and his sister Rainsong were the last cubs to be born to the tribe in a long time. Rain had failed to get anyone else pregnant. She and Joyleaf agreed there needed to be more cubs. She saw Strongbow and Moonshade coming from the berry patch in her direction and slowed to greet them. Moonshade had a smile in her eyes that was rarely gone anymore. She and Strongbow had finally become lovemates after seasons of flirting and shyly avoiding each other, and now were rarely separated.
“Shade and Sweet water to you Moonshade, Strongbow. Already hit the patch this night I see?”
Clearbrook giggled as Strongbow blushed and Moonshade gave her a ‘you know it’ grin and led him away before he could get to embarrassed. She watched them go for a moment then made her way to the thicket. It wasn’t the largest dreamberry patch the Wolfriders knew of but it was the favorite place for the old Storyteller. Clearbrook was almost old enough to be considered an elder, in fact she was the eldest female in the tribe next to Trueflight, but Longreach was her age twice over. She respected him emencly, and was honored when he asked her for advice. She had a feeling that was what he needed now. She stopped and looked around. She spotted his burnt orange hood, a unique addition to his tunic that he almost never wore down. She often wondered how he could wear such a thing covering his ears all the time. It would drive her mad. She walked over to him and noticed that Woodhue was with him. She smiled at her lovemate. They had been treeing together for quite some time now, and she never got tired of seeing him. Lately though, there was a stirring deep inside of her when she looked at him. Like a child excited to see her mother after a long hunt. He was Longreach’s brother, but she did not expect to see him here.
“Hello Lovemate, Longreach.” She nodded to each in turn. “I am sorry I’m late. Joyleaf and I started talking and you know how she gets.” She giggled as she sat down.
Longreach met her eyes with his infanent patience. He never seemed to get mad, no matter what. He always looked on the bright side of things. Longreach looked at his brother and said;
“Woodhue, if you don’t mind, I need to talk to your Lovemate alone.”
Woodhue nodded and stood up. He caressed Clearbrook’s hair as he walked by. There was that excitement again.
Longreach sat quietly until his brother was out of direct hearing range then looked at Clearbrook with his all knowing eyes.
“Clearbrook, you are wise beyond your years. You have helped me to see things in another point of view when I see only from one side of the tree. I need your help with a decision I need to make.”
He stood up and stepped to a bush full of ripe berries. He carefully plucked one and offered it to her. She took it and placed it on her tongue. The first rush of juice was her favorite and she loved to savor it. She did so as he explained.
“Bearclaw has asked me to do something for him. His requests are never easy, and I’m not sure what to do. He told me to make up my mind soon. It involves the humans, and I am not supposed to tell anyone.”
He looked at her seriously now. This surprised her. Longreach was never the serious one when it came to most things, always being laid back, letting things happen as they will, trying not to get into the middle of things. But he always respected his chief, and he had been through four already. She nodded at him.
“Alright Longreach. I will tell no one what goes on here tonight.” She stood up and went to him. “Now tell me what it is you need from me.”
He plucked another berry; this time put it in his mouth. He closed his eyes, then asked her;
“I was asked to track the humans. I would be away from the tribe for at least a moon, living near the human camp. Learning from them, about them. Mostly about the human chief. Bearclaw has asked me to do this because I am the only other one to remember what they are capable of. He wants to know how they have changed, yet he has promised Joyleaf he wouldn’t go near them unless it was an emergency.”
He Looked up at the moons and shook his head, a slight smile on his lips.
“Brownberry will not be happy if I do this. She and Joyleaf feel the same way about the humans. ‘Let them be’ she says. ‘Leave them alone and they will leave us alone.’ But she doesn’t remember them like I do. What should I do? I don’t want to go near the humans. I hate them a much as everyone else does, but I do not want to let Bearclaw down.”
He met Clearbrook’s eyes again. They were pleading for her help, yet he was standing in his ever calm way, fingering the leaves of the dreamberry bush. She hadn’t noticed that her eyes had gotten wide until he laughed at her. He caught her off guard with this news. She lowered her eyebrows and crossed her arms. She thought to herself.
‘Now I know why he didn’t bring this up to Strongbow. It’s against they way to deal with humans. He would not have agreed to this. And neither would Woodhue.’
She thought to herself for long moments. Longreach let her, not interrupting her. He put himself to work picking berries that he would dry and store for later use. Finally she said something.
“I think you should fallow your gut Longreach. It’s been a long time since the humans were around and it would be good to know what the they were up to, and to know their language, but I don’t like the idea of having to deal with them at all. If Bearclaw wants you to do this, I think you should fallow your gut. Do what you think is better for the tribe.”
She left it at that. This was his decision not hers, all he wanted was her advise and that’s what he got. He nodded and went back to picking. Clearbrook took that as her queue to leave. She turned and headed back to the Holt.
She took the long way, around the perimeter of the Holt, and in from the back of the father tree. Her den was near the entrance in the front. She made her way to it, hoping Woodhue would be there. She waved at Joyleaf and Moonshade who were sitting in front of Rainsong’s den tree to the right, then climbed into her den.
“Ahh, Lovemate, lets… Gasp!”
She was looking into his eyes, Deeper then ever before. The brownness of them surrounded her and drew out a part of her that she had never shared nor given freely. The excitement in her stomach grew to overwhelm her and she felt faint. Her whole body felt like it was glowing with the heat of the sun and she wanted to be with him like her life depended on it. Reality blurred and she saw him for who he was. She saw his soul, and she knew he could see hers as well. **SUR!**
Woodhue went back to the holt leaving Clearbrook and Longreach alone to talk. He decided to go straight to their den, he was tired, and he had been tired all the time lately. He even had gone to Rain to see if everything was all right and Rain just told him he needed to take it easy. But take what easy? There had been no real excitement as of late. The humans kept to them selves, staying near their clearing, and there hadn’t been any hunting accidents or anything, he just felt tired, like he was…well…he couldn’t explain it. He had given up trying to explain it and just took a lot of wolf naps with Nestrobber when he wasn’t hunting or doing his duties. He reached the den and climbed in. He tried to make himself comfortable, but he couldn’t find a good spot. He finally just settled onto the pilled up furs and lay there letting his mind wander.
He thought about hunting, hunting with Clearbrook. He thought about that long silver hair and matching eyes that sparkled like the stars…. He thought about the last time they joined and how it felt like something big was about to happen, but didn’t, leaving him feeling like part of him was missing. Since then he had been a little grumpy. He tried not to show it. He didn’t want to hurt Clearbrook, didn’t want her to think he was unhappy with her. Far from it, he was happier then he had ever been, but something was missing, and it made him tired. He closed his eyes. He didn’t fall asleep. That feeling was coming over him again, like something big was going to happen. He started to grumble to himself.
“Puckernuts, What am I waiting for?”
Just then he heard russeling outside of his den. He opened his eyes just as Clearbrook’s silver head popped through the den opening. She said, “Ahh, Lovemate, lets… Gasp!”
He heard his soulname and all of sudden he wasn’t tired anymore, like someone had thrown cold water in his face. He was lying down but he felt like he was falling. He threw his arms out to catch himself, but couldn’t tear his eyes away from hers. They were more silver then he had ever seen. Shining like the moons. His body yearned for her. His groin pulled at his breaches, he had to have her. What was this? A name, a name was repeating itself over and over in his mind but he couldn’t hear it. What was it? His soul reached for it like a hand for a butterfly. He found himself falling into her, or was she falling into him. They were in each other’s arms. Touching each other in places never touched before. Was this real? Was he dreaming? He could feel her, but it was like he was feeling it through her. They were one, in body and soul. They exploded together, like so many times before yet with more power. Then he caught the name, **Wyiss**
Sparks erupted inside her when he touched her. She felt like he was swimming inside her soul. Like they would never separate, and she didn’t want to. They joined and it was like the whole world was gone. She could hear nor feel anything but him. Her soul howled with joy for this moment, and when the moment exploded, it was like she was floating down to the ground, like a leaf in the wind. They lay together until the shadows made new pictures on the walls of their den, just holding each other. Quietly rejoicing in their newfound whole-ness.
Finally, she looked at him, and placed her hand on her tummy.
“Sur.” She whispered, “A new life grows within me.”
Tears built up in her eyes as he laid his hand on hers. He kissed her forehead and said.
“Wyiss, I am so happy. I will always be here for you. Can I call you Lifemate.”
Clearbrook hugged him fiercely. Tears fell down her face and she agreed to be his Lifemate. With that, he sat up and started to dress.
“Where are you going?” she sounded a little disappointed.
“I am gonna go hunting. All of a sudden I have all of this energy.” He turned to look at her. “Besides, I want to start taking care of you, and get some food in your stomach.”
He nuzzled her ear, smoothed back her messed hair, and left the den. Clearbrook flopped back down in the furs and started kicking her feet and laughing. She was so happy. She had to tell someone. She sat back up and called to all of the girls in the tribe.
**Joyleaf, Moonshade, Brownberry, Trueflight, Rainsong, Foxfur, Eyeshigh, Rillfisher!! I have news.**
She quickly got dressed and headed out of her den. She reached the ground and Moonshade and Joyleaf were there. The rest were coming from their various duties. Brownberry had clay all over her hands. Trueflight lay her arrows down and walked over. Foxfur, Eyeshigh and Rillfisher all came from the stream. And Rainsong came from her father’s den inside the father tree. Joyleaf looked at her curiously and said.
“What is it Clearbrook? You sounded so excited.”
Clearbrook looked at her with a large grin that was not common for her, and grabbed Joyleaf’s hands and started dancing in a circle.
**I recognized Woodhue. We will be having a cub in just two turns of the seasons!**
Then she grabbed Moonshade and Brownberry and danced with them in a circle as Joyleaf clapped her hands. The others did a group gasp and started clapping with her.
Bearclaw and Longreach appeared from the tree line and saw the women clapping. They walked over to inquire.
“What’s going on here?” He said all in charge like with a smile on his face. “Have the women folk finaly decided to take over the tribe?”
Joyleaf looked at her Lifemate with a practiced look of patience and annoyance.
“Beloved. Woodhue and Clearbrook have recognized.” She walked over to him and put her arm around his. “Won’t it be wonderful to have a new cub running around the Holt?”
She ran her finger down the front of his tunic as she smiled up at him. Bearclaw knew that look too. He picked up Joyleaf and threw her over his shoulder.
“Oh! Beloved!” she sqeeled.
Bearclaw laughed and headed for their den.
“Congratulations Clearbrook. We will have a howl tonight to celebrate. Right now I have official chief duties to look to.”
With that he disappeared into the Father tree with Joyleaf. Clearbrook couldn’t help but laugh as well. Then Woodhue was back with a couple of ravvits across his lap.
“Clearbrook?”
He looked at Clearbrook as he and Nestrobber rode into the circle. All of the gathered women surrounded him and patted him on the back, congratulating him. He blushed as he caught site of his brother standing there with a smirk on his face.
Two seasons flew by. Clearbrooks belly grew, as did her appetite. In the last eight moons Moonshade had had to make her three new tunics her belly grew so quickly. And Woodhue had a hard time keeping her fed. But the day came when Clearbrook felt her first pang. She was helping Moonshade clean a freshly skinned hide when she gasped.
“Gasp! Oh my.” She dropped the scrapping stone she had and grabbed at her belly.
Moonshade looked over at her and realized what was happening. She called to Rain and he came to Moonshade’s clearing. He laid his hand on Clearbrook’s belly himself and smiled in his enigmatic way saying nothing but “It is time.” He led the way back to the Father tree. Moonshade helped her to lay in a mossy spot near the entrance and to remove her tunic, then sent Rillfisher to fetch some water. Woodhue came racing from the forest with Strongbow at his side.
“Clearbrook are you alright?”
He jumped from Nestrobber to land neatly by her side. He knelt by her and took her hand.
The next few hours were painful for Clearbrook. Rain was getting worried, and that didn’t make Woodhue too happy. Rain looked at his chief.
“We should move her inside.”
That was all he said, and Woodhue barked at him.
“What is wrong with her? Why is she in so much pain?”
Rain just looked at him and said. “The baby is a fighter. She does not want to come out quietly.”
Joyleaf and Rillfisher helped Clearbrook into the father tree. The closest den was Foxfurs, so they laid her there. Another contraction hit and Clearbrook almost fainted. Rain finally said.
”You must push now. Come I will help you. Joyleaf, please get me something to wrap the cub in. Rillfisher, hold her hand.” Then he sent to Bearclaw. **Do not let Woodhue in here. Not until I am finished.**
Clearbrook started pushing. She knew it would be painful, but she had never seen a mother go threw this much. She was worried. But she did what Rain told her to do. She took Rillfisher’s hand, bit into the leather strap Joyleaf had handed her and pushed. She thought her lower half was being ripped apart. Then Rain used his magic and the pain lessoned.
“Oh no.” Rain whispered. “The baby is coming out backwards. Rillfisher, do not let her go.”
Clearbrook didn’t know what that meant, but from the sound of his voice….
She pushed again, saw Rain consentrating, felt Rillfisher behind her, and blacked out.
Rillfisher felt Clearbrook’s hand go limp and squealed. Rain could feel a life fading but couldn’t tell if it was Clearbrook or the child. He quickly put his hand inside her, grabbed the baby’s feet, and pulled as gently as he could. The baby came out, but wasn’t breathing. Clearbrook was bleeding. He could only take care of one at a time. He called to the eldest female.
**Trueflight, get in here!**
Trueflight heard his urgent call and ran inside. Everyone looked up in surprise when she did. Woodhue could feel something was wrong and started after her. But Bearclaw stopped him.
“You have to stay out here lad. You will only get in the way.”
Woodhue struggled for a moment and Bearclaw threatened to have Treestump and Strongbow hold him down. Woodhue just growled at his chief.
“You would only get in the way.” Bearclaw said again. “Just wait.”
Joyleaf and the others started to get worried. ‘I hope she is alright’ she thought to herself.
Woodhue started pacing like a crazed wolf. Bearclaw was blocking the entrance so he couldn’t get in. What was going on in there? He tried to send to Clearbrook but found nothing from her but fuzzyness. He was worried.
Rain handed Trueflight the baby. **She isn’t breathing, rub her back until she starts again. I must stop the bleeding or Clearbrook will die.** He turned to Clearbrook and his magic started to flow. He wasn’t the strongest healer the Wolfriders ever had, but he was competent. The blood slowed, then stopped. Clearbrook was still out cold but would live. He turned to Trueflight and the baby. She still wasn’t breathing. Rain took her in his arms and, though he was exhausted, let his magic flow again. He focused on the blood flowing, the heart beating, and the baby took a sharp breath. The baby as breathing. He handed her back to Trueflight and she wrapped her in soft leather. Trueflight looked at Rain and nodded. He had done his best. Both lived.
Rain sent to Bearclaw that Clearbrook had past out but was fine, and that Woodhue could come in now. Bearclaw let Woodhue past, and he went straight for Clearbrook. When he saw her he saw the blood.
“What happened in here?!”
He went to her side and felt her face. Her skin was cool and wet; her hair was matted and shine less. He looked at Rain, and saw the baby in the other Elders arms. Trueflight handed the cub to Woodhue and left the den. Rillfisher fallowed, then Rain started out. Woodhue stopped him.
“Rain, will she be alright?”
Rain nodded, “She is unconscious, but she will be fine.” He turned and let the father be alone with baby and mother.
**Wyiss?** He sent to her. **She’s beautiful, please wake up. Wake Up!** The force of his thoughts on hers, the fullness of his need for her, brought her to the surface. She had sunk into darkness to flee the pain. She could still feel pain, but it was bearable.
**Sur. I am here. I am so tired.**
Her head moved, and he pushed her hair from her face. He held the child, so small. Her head had a glimmer of silver, but her eyes were closed like her mothers were now. Both slept. He lay down next to Clearbrook, put the cub between them, and fell asleep. When he woke, Clearbrook was feeding the cub. He realized they had stayed in Foxfur's den all night.
“I hope Foxfur doesn’t mind we stayed here.”
He looked at the cub latched to her mother’s breast, brown eyes, and smiled.
“Foxfur came in to get a few things. She didn’t mind, She denned with Bearclaw and Joyleaf last night.”
The next few days were a blur for both mother and father, feedings, no sleep, lots of visitors. Four nights later, Clearbrook woke, feeling like something was wrong. She looked at the hammock that the baby slept in and there was no movement. She rushed to the cub and pulled her out of the hammock. She was so cold.
**RAIN! Come Quick!!**
Clearbrook started crying and clutched the cub close to her chest. Woodhue woke up at the sound of Clerbrook’s sobs.
“What is it Lifemate? What’s wrong?”
He saw the bundle in her arms and reached for it. Clearbrook wouldn’t let him near her. Rain came through the entrance with a worried look on his face.
“What’s wrong Clearbrook? Are you all right?”
He to spotted the bundle.
“Let me see the cub Clearbrook.” Clearbrook looked at him with a tear-streaked face.
**She’s gone. Rain, My cub’s soul isn’t here. I send and I send. She doesn’t answer.**
She handed the cub to Rain, and collapsed into Woodhue's arms. It hit him then what was happening. Holding Clearbrook, he looked from the cub to Rain and back again. Then he buried his face into Clearbrook’s hair. That night, they held a howl for the cub. It was only four nights ago they howled for her entrance into the tribe, now it was for her leaving it. Clearbrook and Woodhue weren’t themselves after that. They avoided each other, sleeping apart and not talking. The tribe didn’t know what to do. Clearbrook stayed with Trueflight while Woodhue stayed in his den. Finally the tribe had had enough of watching the two suffer apart. Bearclaw held a council and ordered them to stay in their den together, “You two need to talk. The now of wolf thought will never give you peace if you don’t. You are not allowed out of there until you have come to terms with this. It was a horrible thing to happen to you. But life ends. It is the way.”
Bearclaw stood there as Woodhue jumped up and started to say something back to him. He was shaking all over. He wanted to throw something at him, to punch him, but all he could do was bite his lip. His head fell and so did a tear. Clearbrook took his hand. He looked into her Clear, silver eyes and started sobbing. She held him for a moment, then led him to their den. They stayed in there for days. The others brought them food and water, until finally, Woodhue emerged and called Nestrobber. He disappeared into the woods, and came back with food taking it straight into the den. Later, Clearbrook emerged, and went to Bearclaw,
“We are ready to live in the now again.” That was all she said to him. Bearclaw nodded, and Clearbrook walked away. From then on, things went back to normal. Or, mostly normal.
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It will take some time. After I repost thing I will need reminding who requested what. I know what was requested, but not by whom. 
)