8 YEARS AFTER REAPPEARANCE
# 16 - 29

Hidden Years # 16 "First Step"
Ember has been leading the Wolfriders away from the holt for two days. They rest and then continue until the trees end. Ember has trouble deciding which way to go. Moonshade has doubts about her. Skywise knows she has to work it out for herself. Ember goes off to think. Leetah thinks Cutter pushed her too fast. Skywise goes to her. She says her father would know. He says Cutter wouldn't do it any better. He lends her the lodestone. They'll follow it. They arrive at a pond at dawn and she wonders if they should stop. Skywise wants to. He's worried she'll come to him for all her decisions. She decides they'll spend the night so Tyleet and Patience can get their strength up. There's breeze in the morning. Fish are caught. Redlance digs roots. Tyleet walks off picking vegetables. With the wind she didn't scent the long-tooth come down from the rocks. It claws her arm. She sends to Scouter. The Wolfriders arrive and Ember takes charge. The wolves surround the cat and chase it away. Tyleet is healed. Soon, Ember still smells long-tooth. They need shelter, but the trees are puny. Night is coming. The others want to help her but withold. Ember has an idea. She asks Redlance to make the trees grow. It's difficult but is successful. Ember sits on a cliff with Skywise. He knew all along. She asks him to tie the chief's lock. He says she'll be a chief like her father. A new quest has begun.

Hidden Years # 17 "Something Old, Something New"
The Wolfriders come to a forest of huge trees. Maybe they're shaped. Redlance goes foraging. Skywise, Pike, and Timmain scout. Ember tells Moonshade they'll go on a night hunt later. Later Ember speaks to Skywise. It's hard for Moonshade, holding onto the way. Leetah says it's also because Ember's young and Cutter's alive. Moonshade gives Dewshine new leathers. Dewshine sticks up for Ember. Nightfall says all leaders are untried at first. The next day Ember, Nightfall, Dewshine, and Moonshade find an animal drinking. They name it a stripehide. Moonshade moves in but an insect stings Choplicker, scaring the prey. Redlance and Leetah are attacked by insects. They run and dive in a pond. When they come up they see a good place for a holt. Leetah finds a flower that blows pollen at her. The hunting party runs into a monster like Madcoil. They split up and run. Ember sends to the others. Tyleet climbs a tree. Leetah wants to get it near the flowers. They all climb. It arrives, but the pollen only angers it. Leetah "feels" it's Winnowill's doing. Moonshade fires at it. The arrow bounces. They'll use wrapstuff. Tyleet brings the wolves over. Berrybuzz blinds it. Wolves and arrows kill it. At night Leetah senses no other wrongness. They're split on what to do. Ember decides to stay, angering Moonshade. The others worry about the disagreements. Leetah says Cutter made no mistake. She'll be a leader to her tribesmates, all of them.

Hidden Years # 18 "Thick-Coming Fancies"
Skywise, Pike, and Ember eat dreamberries. Skywise goes off to watch stars, while a very drunk Ember goes off with Pike. He takes her to a den and pulls out a tuftcat cub. They killed its mother. It's the tribe's decision. Skywise would've given anything to be master of the Palace, but couldn't leave Cutter. She sends, "To think in forever is to have the stars' own time." He soars through her memories, the stars welcome him. He visits many worlds. Council is called. Pike wants to keep Stubtail. Moonshade and Scouter say no. Tyleet brings up Little Patch. All Leetah sees is a wolf cub. Moonshade attacks it, thinking it a monster. Firebugs attack, making them see things. Redlance sees a face in a tree. Nightfall sees a troll. Dewshine is terrorized by Winnowill, Scouter by Tyldak. Tyleet's cub comes out of a pool, saying he'll be something special. Ember and Skywise split up to find the tribe. Moonshade sees Ember but thinks she's her daughter Crescent, killed by humans. Moonshade tells her how Ember stretches and bends the way. "Crescent" convinces her Ember is trying and needs advice. Skywise and Ember meet Pike. The three of them weren't bit. They bring the others to the pond. Leetah's in a tree, thinking she has wings. Pike climbs and catches her as she jumps. Skywise discovers the bugs don't like dreamberries. He, Ember, and Pike were in the dreamberry patch. Later at council Ember asks for Moonshade's advice. They all find they're split. Timmain makes the decision by picking up Stubtail.

Hidden Years # 19 "Mouse Hunt"
The tribe heads out of the forest. Leetah dreamed of Cutter and Winnowill's creatures (Shards 4). They go across the grasslands, with very little food found. Somehow the wolves are eating. As they sleep Patience goes off and returns with a mouse for Tyleet. Ember says they're going on a mouse hunt. Scouter's Scrabble is good at finding small game. Redlance catches the scent, just before his wolf stops, throwing him. Timmain finds and eats a mouse. Suddenly mice are all over the place. They're too small for weapons. Ember pulls out her slingstone. They fashion more. Skywise and Pike laugh at them until Ember hits them with hers. Tyleet stays behind. The others depart and find more mice. Dewshine pulls a bunch out of a hole. She and Scouter have two bags-full. A hawk flies away with one. Ember, Leetah, and Pike hit some with stones. From a trap, Moonshade and Skywise catch three hopdiggers. They can smoke more out. They do, and a ravvit hops out. Patience grabs it and is chased by the other wolves. She runs and drops it near Tyleet. Longshanks will defer to a pregnant female. A hawk swoops at Stubtail. Nightfall hits it with an arrow. She hits another carrying a sack. She and Tyleet catch Dewshine's and Scouter's scents. The others return to find them eating. They're all soon full and resting. Ember says what makes something more than a toy is how it's used. Moonshade says a cub is a cub until she starts acting like a leader. She gives Ember a piece of leather with two feathers for her hair. It means she notices things others don't. Cutter chose well.

Hidden Years # 20 "When Head Meets Head"
Leetah finds Tyleet's cub is healthy. It will be a turn of the seasons. Ember wonders what Recognition is like. Tyleet says it's like finding a missing piece of yourself. Moonshade says souls touch over great distance. With she and Strongbow it struck on an ordinary day. It was harder for Dewshine, Recognizing Tyldak. Windkin was worth it. Sometimes you can do the choosing, like Redlance and Nightfall. Leetah called their cub to them. Pike was born outside Recognition. Through Recognition, a cub will be special. Skywise isn't ready yet, but Leetah says when the time comes, it comes. Pike won't have a problem, he's Recognized to dreamberries. Ember wants the story of the strangest Recognition. Pike goes back to Mantricker's time. There were many cubs, Moss, Ravenseye, Whistlebranch. But they howl for Hummer and Buckthorn. She was always in trouble. Buckthorn was rowdy and tough. He outdid everyone. Hummer would always try to beat him. Whenever the tribe bet on who'd take the next match, Hummer won seven out of eight times. He challenged her to a staring contest. They sat for a night and a day. The High Ones themselves took a hand in it and they Recognized. They grew to like each other and even Recognized again. Their cubs were Sprout and Sharpsight. Sprout was strong, like his father. Sharpsight's talent came from the staring match. As they go to sleep, Ember wonders if Mender could be the one.

Hidden Years # 21 "Messenger"
The Wolfriders see rocky hills ahead. There, they find caves that could serve as dens. There's water nearby. Ember and Timmain find a large rock that resembles a wolf howling. Redlance can grow moss and ferns. Game is within hunting distance. Moonshade wonders if they can learn to live here. Timmain howls, as if saying it will do. Timmain wanders off and growls at an elf around a rock. He calms her and she walks off. She pulls at Ember and sends "elf brother" to Skywise. They all spread out, but he shows himself, a dark-skinned, dark-haired elf. He tracked them for days. Bittergrass hid his scent. He's Teir. He hasn't been with others for eight eights. They can stay if they like. Their paths won't cross much. Leetah and Moonshade feel he's safe. Redlance senses a closeness to the world. Skywise will watch him. Days pass. Teir keeps to himself. Whenever they get his trail or catch his scent, he's gone. Redlance says he's been around animals so long, he can pass himself off as one. In the morning Teir finds Ember. He asks about her. She says she's the daughter of Cutter, who united four tribes. It was all long ago. Recently they split. He knows she's not telling him everything. He's always been good with animals. A month passes. Skywise still doesn't trust Teir. They howl for their new holt, Howling Rock. Skywise walks off and sees Teir. Ember agrees to watch him. Timmain goes off with Teir.

Hidden Years # 22 "Inheritance"
Nightfall and Skywise battle with swords. Ember wants to learn. She goes off thinking of weapons chiefs used. She says each elf could teach another what they know. Skywise wants to do a ride-out but Leetah disagrees. One with wolf-blood should. Sometimes a price comes with the High Ones' gift. The next day Ember asks Nightfall to teach her in using a troll sword. She hasn't reached full growth and finds it exhausting. After days, she won't give up. She starts using a wood sword. Nightfall says she's getting careless. Teir wants to try. He gets out his own troll sword his father gave him. He attacks the straw dummy they were using and does well. He takes on Skywise with wood swords. They're well matched but Skywise's wins. He asks why his father needed to teach him this. Scrabble growls at Stubtail. Teir is gone. Moonshade teaches Tyleet tanning. Skywise wants to talk. Moonshade thinks Teir is part of the way. He calls up memories of older tribesmates like Bearclaw and Longbranch. Every time Skywise asks about him, something happens and he disappears. Ember gives up. Redlance asks if she's thought about a spear. Skyfire and Swift-Spear used one. He'll show her. Nightfall thanks him. Ember returns to her den and finds a spear. Teir watches her. Eight days later, Ember's doing well. Teir arrives with shagback meat. They rub bittergrass on themselves. They find the herd and it stampedes. A hideous wolf attacks. Doubleback saves Redlance but is hurt. Ember kills it. Doubleback's back is shattered. Nightfall thanks him and ends his suffering. It was Winnowill's. They all howl. Teir joins them.

Hidden Years # 23 "Alpha and Omega"
Teir's in his den making arrows, planning to hunt. Timmain goes out, searching for someone. Leetah senses the creature was Winnowill's. Timmain pulls at Ember. She leaves in the middle of the talk, showing no wisdom. She is brough to Teir. Ember sees animals as part of the way, sometimes food, sometimes friends. To Teir they're no different than elves. He walks up to some blacknecks and mimics them, cloaking himself in their essence. He gets Ember to try it with some shagbacks. She does well until she pulls her sword out. They run. It held no honor. His family came here in his great-great-grandsire's time. He told tales of a quake that tore the tribe in two. His father, mother, and brother were all he knew for many seasons. Sometimes another band would come through, but wouldn't stay. His father could call birds out of the sky. His mother and brother left with others. His parents weren't Recognized. Skywise, Leetah, and Moonshade talk. Something's changed, Ember's not as responsible. Leetah finds Ember and Teir gone. Ember says Teir's not alone now. Another wolf pack comes. Ember hopes for a cub for Redlance, but Longshanks won't let them stay. They fight. Teir jumps in, acting like a wolf, calming Longshanks. Suddenly Ember gets up and rides. Pike is in the grasslands dancing around a fire, making smoke. Scouter runs up, saying someone will see. Pike says Skot is dead, killed in battle. He's going to dance for him. Ember joins in. All but Leetah and Teir join. Teir knows this dance.

Hidden Years # 24 "Fire Fire Burning Bright"
Skywise dreams he's a wolf. He sees Teir and the other wolves. Skywise has no right to run with the pack. They attack. Timmain is made into an elf again. He chooses his path by helping Timmain, the Wolfriders walk away. The wolves look like Winnowill's. Timmain had the same dream, which he tells to Ember. They need to get away from Teir. Everything wrong has happened since they met him. He wants to ride out and see what happens when Teir isn't there. He's not to go alone. Ember goes off to think. Pike gives her some dreamberries to help. She hopes her father won't die, she's not ready to do this forever. Skyfire, fifth chief, appears with Ember's spear. Before she challenged Two Spear they didn't have a way. They didn't know whether to hunt or grow food, whether they were wolves or elves. He wanted all humans destroyed. To save the tribe she challenged him. He won, but left. To survive they worried about the hunt, the howl, and cubs. What-might-be's weigh Ember down. She wakes up to see Nightfall. They lock-send. She shows what it was like for Cutter to lose her. He howled for them every night and had endless dreams of revenge. Only when he embraced the way did he find peace. The hunt, the chase, the kill, only looking at the here and now. She and Redlance reminded him nothing is final. He shared others' fires. The way holds endless answers. When they learned where they came from it was a blow to the way for some, for others, the heart's answer. Cutter depends on her to keep the way. Nightfall will help her. The spear Skyfire brought is at her feet.

Hidden Years # 25 "Before the Storm"
Leetah says something is stirring in Teir. She walked with him last night. His gift may be deeper than just being learned from his father. It's growing and he may not know it. She thinks of Cutter, misses him. Suddenly she sees the Sun Village and Cutter holding Zhantee. She's there as Zhantee's spirit leaves. She tells Ember and the rest of the tribe. Scouter and Moonshade want to go help. Leetah is still having dreams. Winnowill's hands are upon Cutter's group. Ember says they must stay to preserve the way. Nightfall and Redlance agree. Skywise, Pike, and Dewshine will take a ride-out with Bumbleclaw, a preserver. Skywise thinks his say doesn't matter. Ember says maybe Cutter was wrong about him. They head out. Skywise remembers ride outs with Cutter, like when they left Sorrow's End. He sees game and they head towards it. The herd seems agitated, like they're running from something. They scent nothing on their trail. Soon, many more animals are fleeing towards Howling Rock. Timmain senses something. They see strange tracks. Later Timmain has a bad dream. What if it's Teir, not Winnowill. They see cuphorns in the distance and get closer. They're even worse than the twisted wolf. They fight with each other. The wind shifts and they get the elves' scent. They run. One goes for Tiptail and Dewshine shoots it. Others eat the wounded cuphorn. Skywise and Timmain fall. Timmain is bit. Pike stabs it. They're surrounded.

Hidden Years # 26 "Questions--No Answers"
Skywise, Pike, and Dewshine are surrounded. Dewshine stabs one and is swung around, breaking Pike's spear. Skywise gets the last three. Bumbleclaw wraps Pike, Dewshine, Timmain, and Tiptail. He rides back. Ember can't find Teir and misses him more than Mender. Skywise arrives and tells them what happened. Ember, Leetah, Nightfall, and Scouter go. The cuphorns seemed to want the wolves more than elves. They arrive at the scene. Leetah heals them then collapses. They return to Howling Rock. Eight herds are coming this way from different directions. They must prepare food, spears, and arrows. Skywise thinks Teir may be behind it. Animals warm to him. They all liked him at first except Leetah and Skywise, who don't have wolf blood. A pack of shape-changed wolves arrive, headed for the new pack. They hit them with spears, arrows, rocks, until they're dead. They need to find Teir. A party will be sent at moonset. Later, Ember leaves to find Teir, alone. Skywise gets a sending from Aroree. His path must be the larger way. He rides off with Timmain. Ember sees more of the animals. Teir finds her. Something is coming for him. It's worse when the tribe is around. When he was hunting a twisted shagback went after his wolves. Something touches a shadow in him when he sleeps. Part of him wants it. Maybe Leetah can block it. When they rest Ember finds her heart torn for him. More of the creatures attack. Ember is knocked aside, unconscious. Teir gets them to trust him, then kills them. He must help Ember.

Hidden Years # 27 "To Shed a Teir"
Teir carries a dying Ember when the dark thoughts return. A not-wolf shows up and Teir says she's not to share. Leetah senses them coming. She and Nightfall go with Choplicker. Ember's on a cliff. Below are Skot, Zhantee, One-Eye, and Skyfire. Leetah tells her not to listen. Teir, now a wolf, wants her to come back. She wakes up and sees him crying. Leetah arrives and pushes Teir away. Nightfall aims her bow at him. He's told to stay away from Ember. Ember says he was trying to help. He's prey to the not-beasts too. Something's trying to find him. Teir is determined to follow. At the holt Ember howls. Teir answers in the distance. More not-beasts are coming. Teir uses his magic on some blacknecks. They attack and kill each other. He passes out. Ember begs to help him. Leetah runs out to him. Beneath the illusions Teir's heart is good. He's not a match for those who seek to possess him. A huge beast has him, chief of them all. It knows Leetah has the same magic as its maker and reaches to renew a familiar bond. She takes Teir back. She leaves Ember alone with him. They understand him now. The beasts won't come closer. Tyleet is tanning when her cub senses it. Leetah says it will be special. The new pack can't hunt. The pups are hungry. They must make their food enough. Whenever Teir touches an animal it comes. At night the animals are moving. The large one causes them pain, hungering for Teir's magic. Leetah would have to destroy Teir's powers, but he'd be better off dead. They need to send Teir down. Dewshine volunteers.

Hidden Years # 28 "Siege at Howling Rock"
Dewshine says there's no one else. She and Longshanks are the fastest. If she doesn't return, Scouter has Tyleet and the cub. The three exchange soul names. Teir's litter is tied to the wolf. They go down to where the not-beasts wait. She cuts Teir free and rides underbelly through snakes. She and the wolf are bit several times. They almost regain the Holt but Longshanks collapses. Weasel beasts attack. Scouter knocks them loose and carries Dewshine to Leetah. A large, horned beast on two legs holds Teir. It asks if he wants to be alone again. It was until she found him. She made its pain into pleasure and can for Teir. Only the beasts care for you and accept you. Teir disagrees. Ember trusts him. His torch makes Winnowill move back. The beast knocks it out of his hand. Winnowill breaks Teir. Dewshine is healed. The leader of the beasts comes with Teir. It has joined with him. Its helpers attack from air and land. The Wolfriders battle fiercely. Scouter is hurt and Ember keeps Tyleet back. Redlance and Moonshade help him. When a beast attacks them, Tyleet stabs it. Ember thinks Leetah can kill the leader. She goes to it and sends to stop. They sense the same magic that created them. It drops Teir and opens itself to her. All that is Winnowill engulfs her. It must kill the false, impure ones. Leetah uses her power to kill. Hate and terror is unleashed, killing the creatures. Even Teir is dying. She helps him. Ember rides out to them. He's deeply injured. It may have taken something from him that no one can ever heal.

Hidden Years # 29 "Chief's Fate"
The injured are resting. Leetah won't heal Teir until she's rested. Later, Teir won't respond to sendings. Leetah discovers the part that sends has been burned away. When she killed the beasts' master, Teir was caught in the middle. Ember goes out with a hunting party. There are no beasts. Scouter thinks one of the dead ones moved. They return to find Teir awake. He wouldn't be healed until Ember returned. She decides they'll burn the beasts. Leetah is about to heal Teir but Ember won't allow it. The beasts wanted Teir's powers. If he's healed the beasts may return. If he's healed he must leave their tribe. Or he can stay with them as he is. Teir runs away angry. Ember tells the others to get to work. She finds Teir outside the holt. He asks if this is his reward for loving her and trusting the tribe. She threw him back to the beasts after he trusted her. She can't lose him, but she can't lose the tribe. She kisses him. Her father said it was easier when heart met heart. He was right. The next day Teir is healed. Suddenly the Palace lands. All but Ember and Teir run. She asks him to come but he won't. It's easier this way, with no explanations to the others. If she needs him he'll find her. He gives her a bearclaw necklace. When she looks up he's gone. Moonshade and Strongbow are reunited as are Cutter and Leetah. Pike tells Krim they danced for Skot. Mender senses a shadow over Ember. Someday she'll tell him. Cutter says she has walked through her fears and came out whole. Teir watches as the Palace rises up into the sky.