The book, characters, and artwork are (c) Ronald J. Lebeck (that's me).

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Chapter 03 - Hope's Spring

When I awoke, the sun was just up and both Red Moon and Dahmietra were gone. "Must be out somewhere," I thought. I had a good stretch, then got up and put my breechcloth back on and headed into the main part of my den. There were some flowers on the table and there was something wrapped up in oilcloth that smelled like fresh meat. "That was thoughtful of Red Moon," I thought to myself. I sat down a proceeded to tear into the piece of meat, enjoying every morsel. I gnawed on the bone for a while and drank some water. Satisfied for the time being, I set about taking care of a couple of important things first, and then brushed myself. I pulled Battle Fang down from its place on the wall and examined it in the morning light. I cleaned and oiled it, checked the condition of the sheath and strap, and finding all in order I re-sheathed Battle Fang. I fastened my belt around my waist, slung Battle Fang across my back, and attached the lower end of the strap to my belt on the left side where my knife hung. I went back to the sleeping area and tidied it up, putting away my things from the trip, gave the floor a quick sweep and checked the oil levels of all the lamps. It was good to be home again...even though I would soon have to leave again. My trip to our mountain cousins was enjoyable and I made some good trades. Which reminded me, I was going to have to stop back at that inn and get my things that I had to leave with the innkeeper. I hope this business with Dahmietra, taking her to this big gathering of her people, wasn't going to take too long. It seems that Red Moon has certainly taken a liking to her. I smiled at the thought of her staying with us. Maybe some opportunity would present itself that would work to that advantage.

Red Moon had awakened first, just before sunrise. She thought about all the things that had happened recently, how Mist Runner's trip to the mountains to make some trades ended up getting him involved with the outlander girl, Dahmietra, the audience with the Lore Masters, and the ordeal involving Grimm Tooth last night.

"Poor Grimm! I can only imagine what he is thinking about all of this," she thought to herself.

She looked at Mist Runner, who was still facing her (apparently not having moved since he went to sleep), and saw that he had a peaceful expression on his face. She raised her head, looked over him, and saw that Dahmietra was still lying there, snuggled like a pup against his back.

"When this mess is over, she should stay with us," Red Moon thought. "She belongs here, with us, where she can be free to live as she pleases."

Then Red Moon had a sudden flash of inspiration.

"Oh, my...this is just...this could work!"

Her mind racing with the thought, she began to develop a plan.

"Well one thing is certain, I need to get Dahmi a new look, that will be just the start of it. Start showing her what it means to be free and she might not want to go back...but if she doesn't, then that will be a problem, so how to work around that?"

She pondered that particular dilemma for a bit.

"Oh, now here's a thought! If she mistook Grimm for this, whatever-his-name, then might the rest of her kind think that, too? Ha! This could get interesting!"

Red moon smiled wickedly to her self.

"Hmm, we're probably going to need some help to pull this off."

Red Moon eased herself out of bed, and quietly woke Dahmietra up.

"Wake up, Dahmi, got a lot to do today."

While Dahmietra was getting herself up and ready, Red Moon went to get some food and talk to a few shopkeepers. She came back after a short while with some fresh meat, fruit, and cheese.

"Dahmi, I'm not exactly sure what your people usually eat, so hopefully you might find something you like."

Red Moon put the provisions on the table, put the flowers she had picked put into some water and sat down to eat. Dahmietra joined her at the table, picked out some of the fruit, and cut off a piece of the cheese. She tried not to watch Red Moon eat the fresh meat. She had learned that Red Moon's people do sometimes eat their food cooked, as well as preserve it and other foods by various means. One thing that she did notice was the lack of bread. That was a smell she was missing--fresh baked bread. Probably not much of a chance to find some here, especially since the village was located in the midst of a vast forest. She hadn't seen any evidence of open fields on her way to the village, but then she had probably traveled through a relatively small portion of The Great Forest.

"So, Dahmi, do you have any particular things that you like to do?" Red Moon asked.

Dahmietra thought a moment, and said "Well, I never got to do much other than to read and write, and learning needlework. I'm afraid that I don't even know how to cook...I guess I wouldn't make a very good wife for someone someday."

She had a sad and disappointed look on her face that immediately made Red Moon regret having asked the question.

"What about your family?"

"My parents sent me to the enclave when I was only five turns of the seasons...I never saw them again," she said with a sigh. "I don't remember them much."

Red Moon almost dropped her food in her lap.

"Your own family just abandoned you like that?" Red Moon asked in shock.

Dahmietra just nodded her head.

"Well, you can have a family of sorts here with us, if you want," Red Moon suggested.

Dahmietra was caught by surprise with Red Moon's suggestion.

"I know Mist Runner likes you, and so do I. I've been planning on asking him how he feels about it, though I'm sure he'll say that it's okay with him. Just think about it, okay?"

Dahmietra regarded Red Moon's request and nodded her head. This was certainly something she hadn't considered up to now. When they had finished their breakfast, Red Moon cleaned up and left some fresh meat wrapped up in oilcloth for Mist Runner when he got up.

"Come on, Dahmi, I'm going to take you around to some of the shopkeepers and get you some new things," Red Moon said excitedly.

"You don't really have to, Red Moon."

"Nonsense," Red Moon chided, "after what you went through yesterday, it was like being reborn in a way...you're a new person in a new place and you have a new life to call your own, if you want it."

"I suppose you're right, Red Moon...but, I don't know how to live like you do," Dahmietra said wistfully. "I don't know how to do a lot of things."

Red Moon took Dahmietra by the hands and knelt down in front of her.

"Dahmi, you have to start somewhere, it doesn't really matter where just so long as you start. Everything will come in its time, dear. It's like learning how to walk...you just start moving. Besides, you have Mist Runner and me to help you, and you'll learn things from others, too, as you go along. The past is behind you and you can't do anything about that, but right now, you can_do something about. The easiest thing to do right now is to get you a new look...it might take a little to get used to at first, but it will allow you to_start moving."

Dahmietra thought, "Red Moon is right, I have been reborn in a way. I was in a place of horrifying darkness, alone, hurt and filled with terror...and these people cared enough to risk looking for me there, not thinking about what might happen to them. They showed me a world of light and green growing things, and they have given their love to me without asking for anything in return. I said that I wanted to be free of my old life; I guess the cage door is open--time to 'start moving', as Red Moon says." "Red Moon...I thought about it and...I want this," Dahmietra said finally.

Red Moon hugged Dahmietra and kissed her on the cheek, and said with a big grin "Let's go!"

The first place on their list to go was to the leather worker's shop. Dahmietra's soft shoes were not made for doing a lot of walking outdoors, so she needed some kind of footwear to protect her feet. The leather worker looked at Dahmietra's feet, took some measurements, and thought he could come up with something that would work for her. Red Moon also suggested that she would need a belt and a pouch to put necessities in. He set his apprentice to finding some appropriate leathers from their supply and started drawing a design on his slate.

After the leather worker's shop, the pair went to the seamstress, Moon Dancer, whom Red Moon had talked to earlier. She took Dahmietra's measurements and showed her some color choices that would compliment her hair color. Dahmietra asked some questions and had a few suggestions of her own. Once they agreed on the design, Moon Dancer and her assistants started working.

Finally, they stopped at the artist who fashioned jewelry. Dahmietra looked over the selection and saw several items that she liked, but she felt that she shouldn't get too fancy, so she selected a beaded necklace with a nice polished stone that would probably go well with the colors of her new outfit.

During the rest of the morning, Red Moon showed Dahmietra around the village and made some stops at both the leather worker's and seamstress's shops so that they could make any adjustments. Dahmietra found that the people they talked to were polite and inquisitive, asking if she was feeling better after her distress the evening before. Some joked that Grimm Tooth sometimes had that effect on people the first time they saw him, but it was good-natured humor and not anything disparaging. For all of their physical (and other) differences, the villagers were generally a jovial and kind bunch of folk.

I stepped out into the daylight and took a slow deep breath of the fresh morning air.

"What to do now," I thought.

Red Moon was undoubtedly busy taking Dahmietra around, so I might run into them later. I know Red Moon won't be able to get everything Dahmietra would need, though I do still have that bag of coin the High Cleric gave me as a down payment for my "services"--protecting Dahmietra from both factions of her people until it was time for her to go before that "Great Gathering". The concept of being paid to protect her was starting to stick in my throat. I was finding that I would protect her as if she was my own kinsblood. Well, perhaps I can use this to get her things she needs, I reasoned. I remembered that she doesn't know how to use a knife, and doesn't even own one. That is one item that everyone should carry with them--both as a basic camp tool and also for self-defense. If I teach Dahmietra how to defend herself, she might as well have a knife of her own. So, off to the blacksmith I went to see what he had.

The blacksmith, Stone Tree, and his sons were working on making some repairs on household items.

"Ayooo! Mist Runner!" he called out, pleased to have a little diversion from the routine of fixing pot handles.

"Ayooo! Stone Tree! Good day to you," I greeted him. "I thought I'd stop by and see if you happen to have a basic knife that would fit a small hand."

"Basic, eh? Oh, you must mean that outlander girl you brought, right?"

"The same," I replied.

"I heard their kind don't let their women folk carry a knife...always thought there was something not quite right with that, know what I mean?"

I nodded in agreement.

"So, you are going to teach her which end of a blade to hold, eh?" Stone Tree asked with some amusement.

"Yeah, I just hope she's a quick learner," I replied.

"Well, my friend let me see what we have here."

Stone Tree rummaged around a bit and found something that looked promising.

"What do you think of this? I can put on a handle and simple cross guard, sharpen it, and have it ready for you around midday."

I examined the blade--it seemed like it would be about right for Dahmietra's hand size-wise, and it was sturdy enough for the smaller size; a slightly curved blade, similar to ones I've seen the Eastlander people carry.

"I think this would do nicely, Stone Tree. It would be a good first knife for her."

I reached into my pouch and pulled out one of the smaller silver coins I had and tossed it to Stone Tree.

"Will that get you started?" I asked.

He looked at it and felt the weight, and replied "More than enough, my friend. I'll get right on it."

"Thank you, Stone Tree...I'll be back in a while then," I said.

Satisfied with the deal, I went to find Grimm Tooth to see how he was.

After making some inquiries, I found Grimm Tooth in the training area, working with some of the younger defenders to hone their skills. Grimm is very good at what he does, having a natural talent for it. I have seen him in battle--he's impressive...and terrifying. Impressive because his skills are unmatched by any that I've seen; terrifying because he fights with all of the fury of a storm condensed into a single form, sweeping away all before him. His clan mates give him wide berth--his enemies, once they see the great destructive force of the raging storm, flee in sheer terror. Under other conditions, though, Grimm Tooth is as quiet and pleasant as a clear moonlit night in late mid-spring. He is not a volatile soul, not prone to violent outbursts, but rather a calm and caring one. Watching him train the younger ones, he is both firm and patient. While not lavish in his praises, when he does give it, it is well earned and genuine. Grimm Tooth is rather philosophical in his outlook on life and considers things carefully. Grimm and I have been friends for as long as we can remember, and we have always been steadfastly loyal and supportive of one another.

Grimm Tooth had noticed me at the edge of the training area leaning against a tree. When our eyes met, he gave an almost imperceptible nod signaling that he would be with me shortly. When he finished with his current round of instruction, he had the youths take a break. I met him over by the water barrel where we waited until the others had a chance to fill their drinking bowls. We filled ours, and went and sat down a short distance away from the young ones.

"How are they doing?" I asked.

"A work in progress, as always," he said with a slight grin. "Dahmietra...how is she today?" Grimm inquired.

"Much better, actually," I replied. "In fact, she and Red Moon are visiting the shopkeepers today; I guess Red Moon has convinced her to try a 'different look'."

Grimm raised an eyebrow at that.

"That should be interesting," he said.

"No doubt. In the time that I've known Dahmietra, I still don't know what the color of her fur is, or if she even has any," I commented.

"Hmm, hard to guess with all of those clothes she wears. Can't tell if she's fat or skinny for one of her kind under all of that," Grimm said.

"I haven't seen many of their females, though for one of her age I'd say she would be considered slender. But she does seem rather curvy, I suppose," observed.

"Curvy?" Grimm shot me an odd look.

"To get her here quickly I ran with her on my back, plus I've had to hold her a couple of times. If she's just standing there you can't really tell, but she could surprise us," I said.

"Well, I suppose we will see how much Red Moon gets her way...you know her tastes in clothing," Grimm said with a chuckle.

"Uh huh, not much to the imagination," I replied with a wink.

We sat for a few moments enjoying the mental image.

"Grimm, how are you dealing with what happened yesterday?" I asked finally, changing the subject.

He was quiet for a bit, though I could sense that he was searching his feelings.

"It was...unpleasant," he said at last. "Though I understand according to the ways she has been taught, that my physical appearance just happens to resemble some archetype of evil in their texts, still it is sad to know that one would confuse metaphor with reality," he said.

"I see you've been thinking on this a great deal, Grimm."

"Yes. Although Dahmietra's initial reaction to seeing me was, I suppose, understandable in a way...that was the first time I have ever experienced Lore Master Spirit Feather's unique magic. I've never been inside the mind of another, let alone one so different from us. What I saw there was unsettling. You have some skill in that area, do you think what we saw in Dahmietra's mind is indicative of her nature, or just due to what she has been made to learn?"

"Well, my friend, during the time I've spent with her so far, I have only sensed good and a willingness to do the right thing. She has had a miserable life, being abandoned by her family at an early age and forced to live literally closed off from the world. She knows only what is in their books and what she was told by those who view her only as a playing piece in vicious game. But, despite the sad life she has led so far, she is kind, thoughtful, caring, gentle...and very alone."

Grimm carefully considered my words, and I could feel a sense of relief in him even though he might not show it outwardly.

"How much longer are you going to be training these pups today?" I asked Grimm.

He looked out at them and said, "Today I think one more round of exercises will be enough. They have been at it for several hours...nothing like sending them home at midday with an appetite."

We both chuckled.

"Well," I said, "I guess I should go see what kind of mischief Red Moon has gotten herself into. Catch up with you later, Grimm."

"Right. I'd better get these cublings up and moving," he said. "I would like to see what Red Moon has done with Dahmietra...if it is safe for me to be near her."

Grimm looked at me with an apprehensive look.

"I think she'll be okay, old friend," I said, "In a way, she has to learn how to walk again, if you know what I mean."

"I suppose so," said Grimm Tooth. "I can't help but to wonder something, though...what if it turns out that I am the basis for that which caused Dahmietra to be terrified of?"

I stopped dead in my tracks.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Think back, many, many turns of the seasons ago," Grimm said, "back during our wanderings, when we encountered that group of strangers that had been harassing the settlements of the Eastern peoples in their southern most area."

I let my mind slip back into the distant past, recalling the old memories.

From the mists I saw the settlers that we had encountered...they were fearful of us at first, but only because they had never seen our kind before. They were making a structure from logs, when one fell and trapped a young male underneath. Grimm and I raced over to help--Grimm single-handily lifted the log while I pulled the youth out from under it. I tended to his wounds, which thankfully were not life threatening, but they were not minor either. My healing skills may not be quite as powerful as Mistress Fire Weaver's, but after a few days the youth was able to walk again. The settlers were thankful for coming to the aid of one of their own. We stayed and helped them finish the walls and roof of the building.

About the time it was nearing completion that is when the strangers came from the south...people living away from the main settlement came running, breathlessly shouting that they were brutally attacked by ruthless men. Grimm and I quickly helped the others to safety and tended their wounds, and then we went to meet these new invaders. We came up on one of the homesteads and saw that it was burning...one of the former inhabitants we found dead a short ways away. We scouted around and found that they had made an encampment nearby, so we crept as close as we dared in the light and waited for nightfall. It was a moonless night so their sentries did not see us approach, not having the night vision we have. There were not many, only fifty or so. In addition to the warriors, there was also an older male that they showed reverence to. He wore robes of some kind and a large soft hat, and carried a staff. There was another older male, though he appeared to be directly in charge of the warriors. Grimm and I agreed that after taking out the sentries, he should be the next to fall. We closed in and quickly and quietly took out the sentries. I got a good view of the armored leader and shot him with my powerful bow. It was an instantly fatal hit and he went down where he stood. Before the others could react, Grimm leapt into their midst howling his fearsome war cry--those in immediate reach were slashed with his claws and thrown violently into the tents. He drew his massive blade and began hewing down all who dared oppose him. Others had fled in terror...those I picked off in the darkness using my bow. The older male in the robes had collapsed on the ground, screaming incomprehensibly in some unknown language. We spared none, save the older male who wore the robes and a boy servant. Grimm grabbed the older male by the front of his clothing and hoisted him up to his face. He gave a long low and deep growl as he lifted the male, with his lips curled in a snarl. He pulled the male close to his face and then roared with his fangs at his throat. The older male messed himself in his robes. Grimm told the older male using the Common Tongue that this was payment in kind for the death and destruction his band had brought with them. He told him to go back to where he came and stay there. If they did not, he would be waiting for them. Grimm causally tossed the older male into the side of a tent and then we slipped away into the darkness.

I pulled myself back to the present.

"I remember the incident. We never did learn who that robed man was," I said.

"Since he wore no armor and had no weapon, he wasn't a warrior," Grimm Tooth observed.

"You're right. Wait...those robes he wore, and that hat...they are somewhat similar to the ones that High Cleric I met wears. May have changed some over time, but they are still similar. Maybe he was one of their priestly class," I said.

Grimm and I both looked at each other.

"You don't suppose that could have been..." Grimm started.

"...Dahmietra's ancient holy man relative," I finished.

Talk about ripples in a pool.

"Maybe we should keep this to ourselves for now, Grimm...just in case."

"Agreed," Grimm said, looking thoughtful. "I must continue with the training exercises."

"Okay, I need to check on the females. Catch up with you later."

I left and headed back towards the shops to see if I might find Red Moon and Dahmietra in one of them.

"I am going to have a lot to talk with Red Moon about," I thought to myself.

I caught up with Red Moon and Dahmietra at the leather worker's shop. Dahmietra had her skirts hiked up so that the leather worker could fit the new footwear he was making for her. Aside from her face and hands, this was the first time I had ever really seen any other part of her.

"Well, at least I know that they don't have fur on that part of their legs," I thought. Her skin had a light brownish color to it and appeared to be smooth, and the shape of her lower leg is much different from ours. "Hmm, no wonder why they can't run as fast as we can."

"Red Moon, how are things going?" I asked quietly, coming up behind her and giving her a hug.

"M-m-m, much better now," she said playfully, giving a bit of a wiggle.

I whispered in her ear, "Tease!"

She gave me a sultry grin and wagged her tail just enough to let me know what she was thinking.

"Now...or later?" I whispered in her ear.

"Let's finish up here, take Dahmi over to Moon Dancer's shop, and then we can sneak home for a bit," Red Moon whispered back.

I licked the back of her ear and she gave a little moan.

"Sounds like a plan to me," I whispered with a grin.

The leather worker had finished the simple, tall soft leather boots that came to just below Dahmietra's knees as well as the belt and pouch. We settled the price with the leather worker and went on to the seamstress. Moon Dancer had much of Dahmietra's new garments made, though there was still some work to be done. I asked if she could include a cloak with the outfit, and she said that she would. Dahmietra seemed interested with Moon Dancer's handiwork and mentioned that she had learned how to do various kinds of needlework. The seamstress perked her ears up at that and they started talking about it.

"Here's our chance," I thought. I looked at Red Moon and she looked at me and smiled. "Dahmi, would you mind if we leave you here for a bit...I need Mist Runner's help with something," she asked, giving a polite smile.

"Certainly, I'll be right here, Red Moon," Dahmietra replied.

Red Moon grabbed my hand and we headed back to our den. Even though our den wasn't far from Moon Dancer's shop, we trotted home hand-in-hand, giggling like a couple of youths. Once inside, however, all restraint was joyfully tossed to the wind.

After a while had passed, Red Moon and I lay on the furs relaxing for a bit and just enjoying being alone together.

"I've missed you since I've been gone, Red Moon," I finally said, running my fingers through the fur on the back of her neck.

"This place just isn't the same when you are off making your trades," she said, "though at least your things are here and your scent lingers in the furs. I can't imagine what it's like for you out there, sleeping on the ground under some bushes and all alone."

"It's not_too_ bad...unless it's raining, and it did that a lot this spring. But, there is nothing like your own den and your own bed...and a certain someone to share it with," I said with a smile.

Red Moon looked up at me and smiled back.

"Oh, got something for you, dear...," I reached for my pouch and fished around for a moment. Red Moon watched with interest to see what it might be. "Close your eyes," I said with a mischievous grin.

Red Moon said with fake exasperation, "Oh, okay, if you insist."

I looked into my hand and satisfied with what I saw, I took Red Moon's hand and placed the wrapped object in it and closed her fingers about it.

"Okay, dear, you can open them now...hope you like it."

Red Moon opened her eyes and slowly opened her hand. She gave me a puzzled look while she slowly opened the soft leather that was wrapped around the object. Her eyes went wide and she gave a loud gasp as she realized what the object was.

"Oh, Mist Runner! It...it's...beautiful!"

Red Moon sat up holding the precious object in her hands. She looked up from it and stared at me with her mouth open, and tears were welling in her eyes. The object in her hand was a large fire stone that had been placed in a vine-like gold mounting with a gold chain attached. I sat up and took the necklace from her hand, opened the clasp and fastened it around her neck. The bright red stone, about the size of a bird's egg and cut into the shape of a crescent moon, looked magnificent against her chest. The chain was just long enough so that the stone hung slightly above her cleavage. Red Moon was utterly speechless.

"Look at the back," I suggested.

She grasped the pendant and slowly turned it over--on the back there was an inscription:

"Red Moon's light

Shining so bright,

Guiding me through

The endless nights.

My love my light,

I howl for you alone

Each and every night.

With golden vines

Our hearts do twine

'Round precious stone

Which does remind,

My heart is yours

And yours is mine."

? Mist Runner

(see her pendant here)

Red Moon read the poem several times before looking up at me. Tears flowed down her cheeks unchecked...they were not tears of sadness, but tears of joy.

"Oh, beloved...!"

She threw her arms around my neck and we fell back into the furs. We lay there hugging and nuzzling each other. Red Moon reached up, laid her hand on my face, and said quietly,

"I _am_yours, my love!"

"Not wanting to spoil the moment, dear, but...aren't we forgetting something?" I said.

Red Moon thought a second then gasped, "Dahmietra!"

"Think we should go find her?" I asked.

"Oh, my...yes!" Red Moon exclaimed.

We got up, cleaned ourselves with a little water, and put our breechcloths back on and hurried out of the den. We walked a little slower this time, but still hand-in-hand.

"I wanted to ask you...," we both said at the same time.

We laughed and I said, "You first."

"I was wondering what you would think about Dahmi staying with us, you know, kind of be her family, since she doesn't have one. I know it might be a bit strange, but I like her and I know you like her, too."

I laughed, "You know, I had been thinking the same thing since Dahmietra and I entered The Great Forest."

"Really?" Red Moon looked amazed. "That's good," she added, "because I asked her to think about it this morning."

"After all of this mess is over and we can get her back here, if we were bonded we could petition to have her formally adopted by the clan and then she would have a family," I suggested.

Red Moon stopped in her tracks and pulled me around to face her. "Mist Runner," she said looking directly at me, "let's do it!"

We arrived at Moon Dancer's shop and she was sitting in the front working on something.

"We're back...finally," Red Moon said in a rather pleased voice.

Moon Dancer looked up with a smile, and then her jaw dropped open.

"Red Moon, where did you get that? It's gorgeous!"

She set down what she was working on and stood up to examine the new pendant.

"You weren't wearing that a while ago, sweetie."

Red Moon was grinning from ear to ear.

"Mist Runner gave it to me...just a little while ago."

Moon Dancer looked up at me and I just smiled back.

"Oh, look on the back," Red Moon said as she turned it over for Moon Dancer to read.

After a few moments, Moon Dancer looked at Red Moon and then at me.

"I know, I'm not much of a poet, but it's the thought that counts," I said.

Moon Dancer looked back Red Moon.

"Child, if you didn't say 'yes', I'm going to turn you over my knee and paddle that tail of yours!" Moon Dancer admonished.

"I did," Red Moon said with a big grin.

Moon Dancer gave Red Moon a big hug, and then hugged me, too.

"I'm happy for the both of you...and it's about time, too!" She exclaimed. "Well, what are we all standing around out here for, come, come, got something for you to see!"

We went inside Moon Dancer's shop and she stopped us just inside.

"Wait here, dears."

She went towards the back and called into the other room.

"Come on out, child."

Dahmietra shyly walked out from the back room and into the center of the shop. Red Moon and I couldn't believe our eyes! The transformation was incredible.

"Turn around, child, let them see all of you," Moon Dancer ordered.

Dahmietra wore a leaf green short top with a deep "V" neck, three-quarters sleeves and was trimmed with fur, exposing most of her middle. She had a pair of dark green pants that were very low cut, the waist was trimmed with fur, and there was a strip of fur going down the outside seam of both legs. The legs were close fitting but not tight, though they flared out just below the knee where they tucked into the tops of her brown boots. The waist of her pants had loops for her belt and there was a pouch hanging on her left side. Over it all, she had a dark green woolen cloak. Dahmietra's long, curly auburn hair was in a thick braid, which hung down in front on the left side. On her hands were brown gloves and around her neck was the necklace she had picked out. The back of her top had a fur caplet and there was a short fur tail attached to the back of her pants.

"Ayooo! Dahmi! You look absolutely stunning! I like it!" Red Moon howled.

"Moon Dancer, you've outdone yourself!" I added, admiring how Dahmietra looked in her new clothes.

"It did turn out pretty good, didn't it, sweetie?" Moon Dancer asked.

I walked over to Dahmietra and held her hands.

"Dahmietra, you do look beautiful."

She blushed. We settled the price with Moon Dancer, and I asked her to think of some ideas for Dahmietra when it got colder.

"She comes from a place that's hot and dry, and since she has no fur to keep her warm, she's going to need something warmer for the winter months."

"I'll keep that in mind, Mist Runner," she said.

"We have one more place to go to make your new outfit complete, Dahmietra. Come on, Red Moon, we're going to see if Stone Tree has it ready yet," I said.

As we were walking to the blacksmith's, some of the other villagers stopped at looked--at first they didn't recognize Dahmietra, though once she got closer they did, and they nodded their approval of her new look.

Red Moon asked Dahmietra, "See what Mist Runner gave me?"

"Oh, my word!!!" Dahmietra exclaimed. "That's a fire stone, isn't it?"

Red Moon nodded her head.

"I've only seen them in paintings, while in the enclave." Dahmietra looked closer at it. "The detail! Red Moon, did you notice the vine leaves?"

Red Moon got a puzzled look on her face and held it up to get a better look at it. Indeed, the vine leaves were in the shape of a howling wolf. Red Moon's eyes started to well up again as she looked up at me.

"Dahmietra, there is a little poem on the back that I had inscribed," I said.

She looked at the back of it. "I don't recognize the words," she said, "Would you read it to me, please?"

I recited the poem from memory, though I looked right at Red Moon. She put her arms around me and gave me another hug.

Red Moon looked up at me and said using our words, "I love you."

I kissed her. "I love you, too."

When Red Moon could compose herself, we continued on to the blacksmith. She told Dahmietra that we had decided to become bond mates when we returned from taking her to the gathering. And if she wants to come back and stay with us afterwards, we would formally petition for her to be accepted into the clan as one of us and then she would have a family again.

"You would do that...for me?" Dahmietra asked.

Together we said "Yes."

It was Dahmietra's turn to shed tears as she threw her arms around both of us at once.

"Thank you...for everything."

Stone Tree waved at us as we were approaching the smithy. One of his sons had just finished making a simple sheath for the knife.

"What do you think, Mist Runner? Not bad, eh? So, is this the girl you spoke of? Dahmietra, is it? My, you're a pretty little thing! Glad to meet you! Oh, Red Moon, glad to see you, too! Say, now that's not something you see everyday!" Stone Tree finished his rapid-fire talk as he spied Red Moon's new pendant. "May I?" He asked. Red Moon let him look at the pendant. "Say, I recognize this handiwork...it was made by one of the mountain clans, wasn't it, Mist Runner?"

"Yes it was," I said.

He turned the pendant around and saw the inscription on the back. He paused while reading it.

"Red Moon, you are one lucky lady to have someone like Mist Runner here."

"Thank you, Stone Tree. Yes, he's pretty special," Red Moon replied, glancing up at me.

I examined the knife Stone Tree had finished. It was just a basic utility knife, but he had done a good job at finishing it.

"How much more do you need for your work, Stone Tree?" I asked at last.

"Aw, you've given me plenty already for that little thing. We're even, as far as I'm concerned."

"The next time I'm in the mountains, I'll see if they will let me have some of that hammer scale of theirs and I'll bring it back for you," I said.

"Oh, that would be mighty nice of you if you could do that. This bog stuff is okay for simple things, but they have better ore up there. I'd love to see their operation someday, though I doubt I'll have a chance to anytime soon."

"Dahmietra," I said, "I present to you your First Knife. Wear it proudly, and may it serve you well."

I attached the sheath to her belt on her right side. Stone Tree and his sons, Red Moon and I all gave the traditional howl as Dahmietra took another step towards acceptance into our clan...and towards freedom.

We walked around at a leisurely pace for a while, not having anywhere to go in particular at the time, and we talked about life in general in the village and in The Great Forest. It was getting near mid-afternoon when I saw Grimm Tooth sitting outside of his den working on some little project. He was always making little things when his duties didn't require him to be otherwise occupied.

"Dahmietra, do you know that Grimm Tooth has been concerned about how you are? He asked about you earlier today," I said. "He feels bad about what happened."

She looked up at me first in surprise, and then I could feel a sense of shame and embarrassment in her.

"He told me that he would like to see you, but he's more concerned about you and doesn't want to make you feel uncomfortable."

Dahmietra thought for a moment, considering her words.

"All of my life I have heard about and read about Sheh'k'tahwa, how he comes in the night and punishes those who have done wrong, that he is a powerful, vengeful Lord of Darkness who always watches and waits, and he is the embodiment of terror itself. I had to study the teachings of my great ancestor who is the founder that both factions of my people have in common. He was part of a scouting party looking for new converts for his cause...if they rejected his words, then he considered them an enemy and they were attacked. Those who accepted his words and chose to follow him would be well rewarded in the afterlife. But one day when he was far from home and in strange new lands, his party met some folk who spoke differently and didn't understand his words. In his mind that meant they were outside of what he taught, so they were attacked like the rest. The warriors who followed him took the belongings of those they had slain and brought it all back to their camp. During the night, a bolt from the heavens struck down the commander of the warriors, and then Sheh'k'tahwa appeared. He destroyed all but my ancestor and a boy servant, who wrote the story down after they struggled their way back to our homelands. He punished them...devouring the dead and burning the very ground where they fell. Not long after my ancestor returned to our homeland, the very mountains burst forth and rained fire and ash for many nights. The mountains bled their fiery blood, which poured down from their wounds, destroying all that it touched. When blood of the mountains cooled, it formed weird black shapes, and it smoked for some time afterwards. It was said that it was Sheh'k'tahwa who had extended his great arm and punished my people for being weak. Much of the vegetation and animals died from the fumes, but over time, some things began to grow again. Our homeland was never the same again. That is why eventually we started pushing outward, though of course our clerics always sought to convert others to ensure our numbers. I only have a few memories from when I was a small child of our homeland. I never knew why my parents moved, though when we got settled into our new home it wasn't long until a cleric came with others. From then on I lived in the enclave, until now."

I was dumfounded. What Grimm and I had discussed earlier, this was the proof. That_was_ Dahmietra's ancient ancestor we encountered so very long ago! I found a place for us to sit and looked at Red Moon and then to Dahmietra.

"Dahmietra," I began, "what if I told you that I actually have met this ancient ancestor of yours?"

Dahmietra gave me an astonished look.

"But how can that be? He lived nearly a thousand turns of the seasons ago! You can't possibly..."

I nodded my head slowly.

"_Gasp!_Your kind is so long lived?" Dahmietra asked in utter astonishment.

"Longer," I replied, "much longer than you can know."

At that, her eyes grew very wide. "You...you're one of the Immortal Ones???"

I looked at her and slowly nodded my head.

"Yes, Dahmietra. My people and I have walked the ways of this world since it was very young. I remember what happened with your ancestor, Dahmietra, because Grimm Tooth and I were there. Things did not happen the way they were eventually recorded by your people, it seems." I reached out and took her hand. "Dahmietra, you have come to know me, and you know that I have never told you an untruth. I give you my word that what I am about to tell you is true."

I related to Dahmietra the events leading up to and including when Grimm and I encountered her ancient ancestor.

"Now we know who that male wearing the robes was, and what became of him. We don't think that your ancestor and his servant understood the Common Tongue at that time, but they must have remembered the sounds of the words and wrote them down, only some time later, when your people eventually learned the Common Tongue they were able to translate the words. We didn't have any further contact with your people until they invaded the lands near The Great Forest," I said.

Dahmietra thought for a little while about all of this.

"I wonder...my ancestor might have just made up the story of Sheh'k'tahwa in order to save face for what happened that day," Dahmietra said.

"If he had picked up a weapon during the fight, he wouldn't have lived, and your people might be a lot different today," I said quietly.

Dahmietra thought on that for a moment also, and then said, "The incident with you and Grimm Tooth...that happened before he took his fifth wife, who was the one I am descended from."

"Then that would mean...you wouldn't be here now," I said.

Dahmietra, Red Moon, and I stared at one another, realizing the implications if her ancestor had been killed with the rest of his men.

"Remember when I told you about 'ripples in a pool'? This is a good example of that, Dahmietra. That one incident with your ancestor nearly one thousand turns of the seasons ago...the Great Circle has turned and brought us together," I said.

Red Moon jumped in at that point.

"Hey, this morning I had an idea based on this...what was his name again?"

"Sheh'k'tahwa," Dahmietra said.

"Right, anyway, if he is such a frightful being according to your legends--which we know now was fabricated by your ancestor and his young servant--couldn't we use this in some way to get you out of this mess with your people? We may not be able to keep them from ever fighting among their own selves, but at least maybe we can make it so that they have one less thing to fight over!" Red Moon said excitedly.

Dahmietra looked at both of us, and then thought a few moments.

"This is a lot to grasp in a short time," she said. "In all of my readings, I have known that there are many discrepancies and contradictions in the writings. And despite what many of my people think of him, my ancient ancestor was not the good man he is made out to be. You say that you have met him, Mist Runner...I have no reason to doubt your words, though the revelation that your kind are immortal does shed new light on many things to me. Maybe Red Moon is right, maybe we can use this to our advantage. The People of the Wastelands will always fight among themselves--it's all they've known for so very long and they won't change any time soon. I don't want to live that life. They don't care about me, just what they can use me for." Taking Red Moon's hand with her other, Dahmietra continued. "You two have shown me a new possibility that I never dreamed of. I may not live as long as you, but we can at least be a family while we can. As for Grimm Tooth," Dahmietra continued, "I must admit, the first time I saw him, standing up with that deep voice of his, it seemed as if a dark thing was rising from the depths below. But, if as you say, he feels bad about my reaction to the sight of him and is indeed concerned about my well being, then I should go and see him. It was the ways of my old life that caused what happened--I do not blame him for it. Where may I find Grimm Tooth?"

"He is right over there," I replied, pointing towards Grimm's den.

We got up and walked over to see Grimm Tooth. He was still sitting outside working on whatever little thing he was making when he saw us approaching. When we were to within a few paces of the limits of his den he raised his head and looked directly at me first, then at Dahmietra, and back to me. I gave a quick, slight nod of my head. Grimm put his work down and stood. I stopped on the trail that went by his den and gently placed my hand on Red Moon's arm, signaling for her to stop. Dahmietra took another pace or two and paused, looking up at Grimm Tooth. Without saying a word, Dahmietra slowly walked up to Grimm and stopped before him, looking up to his face. He looked down to meet her gaze, and then knelt before her. He saw a tear form in her eye and he could see her lip quivering. Slowly and carefully, he wiped the tear away as best as his big fingers could on her small face and smiled. Dahmietra put her arms around Grimm's neck and hugged him. He closed his eyes and held her until she started to pull away.

Dahmietra looked down, put her hands into his, and said, "Grimm Tooth...I'm sorry for being so frightened of you yesterday. My terror was due to the ways of my old life, I do not blame you for that. Please forgive me for causing you distress."

Grimm lifted Dahmietra's chin with a finger so that he could look at her face.

"All is well between us, Dahmietra. Think no more of it," Grimm said.

Grimm Tooth stood up and motioned to Red Moon and me to come.

Rather formally, Grimm said to all three of us, "Welcome friends, enter, and find comfort."

The inside of his den seemed huge compared to our own. Some would think the sheer space would be flamboyantly large, until they saw the size of the one who lived there. Generally, our dens tended to be cozy and efficient--one larger general-purpose area, and one or maybe two sleeping areas on back. Our main area for lounging and entertaining (weather and season permitting) was a roofed area just outside that was open on three sides and typically had vegetation growing around and over it. Our territorial boundaries are usually well marked and one simply avoided crossing a boundary without permission, except for emergencies. Being invited inside the den proper was generally reserved for relatives, close friends or in time of emergency. Grimm brought us inside and closed the door.

"Grimm, what do you think of Dahmi's new look?" Red Moon asked excitedly.

Dahmietra shyly showed Grimm her new outfit, turning around so that he could see it from all sides.

"You wear it very well, Dahmietra. The look certainly becomes you," Grimm said.

"Thank you," Dahmietra said blushing slightly. "And look, Mist Runner even gave me my First Knife," she said with a grin.

"If it is one of Stone Tree's creations, then it should undoubtedly serve you well for many years," Grimm added.

"Grimm Tooth?" Dahmietra asked, "Did you see what Mist Runner gave Red Moon? Isn't it gorgeous?"

Grimm looked at Red Moon and she lifted the pendant for him to see. After examining the piece of jewelry, he looked at Red Moon who was grinning broadly and he arched an eyebrow.

With a completely straight face, Grimm Tooth said, "Took him long enough."

I said, "You know me, Grimm, had to wait for just the right moment..."

"I can imagine," Grimm replied, rolling his eyes with a smirk.

"Well, at least I waited for him," Red Moon said teasingly.

"I for one am glad that you did, Red Moon...now I won't have to worry about him as much," Grimm said.

"Why Grimm, I didn't know you cared," I said in a higher pitched voice as I placed one hand on my chest, holding the other one up and batting my eyes.

Dahmietra and Red Moon couldn't contain themselves any longer and busted out laughing. Even the normally stoic Grimm Tooth chuckled.

After things calmed down a bit, Grimm got into a cupboard and brought out a small wooden cask like the ones the Eastlanders make. He then brought out four small drinking bowls, poured some of the contents of the cask into them, and passed them out to everyone.

"I was saving this for a special occasion, and I believe this warrants it," Grimm Tooth said. Lifting his own up, he offered a toast,

"May long you run the forest paths,

Howling for joy in the moon's cool light.

May long you run the glorious paths,

Singing your love in the sun's warm light."

We touched our bowls together and drank the dark sweet liquid.

"Woo! This is certainly something, Grimm!" exclaimed Red Moon. "Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy. What is it? Where did you get it?"

Before he could answer, Dahmietra spoke, "It is wine--the Eastlanders make it by fermenting fruit. One of the servants would sneak some into the enclave, having gotten it somehow from the guards. Sometimes, late at night, we would have some when the High Cleric was away and the Elder Sisters were asleep. If you drink too much it at once, you wouldn't care if the walls burned down around your ears."

We all looked at her in amazement. As she sipped from her bowl, she glanced up and saw us all looking at her.

"What?"

"How do you know about this, Dahmietra?" Grimm asked.

She smiled and said, "I might not know how to do a lot of things, but I do know_about_ a lot of things. Actually, this is pretty good," she continued, "It's better than what we got from the guards. Where did you get this?" Dahmietra asked.

"There is an Eastlander merchant that meets at the edge of The Great Forest northeast of here a couple times a year. A few of us trade with him when he comes around," Grimm said.

There was a little bit of shuffling coming from outside and we heard a giggling laugh on the other side of the door.

"Oh, no you don't, stay where I put you...that's it...no you don't! Now why did you have to do that? Bad!"

Red Moon and I snickered and Grimm groaned; Dahmietra looked confused. Grimm got up and opened the door and immediately someone fell into him.

"Oops! Oh, hello Grimmie! I didn't know you were home. Be a dear and give me a hand, won't you? This thing just doesn't want to play nice!"

"Foxfire," Grimm said.

"Yes Grimmie?" she asked.

"We have guests."

"Oh! How nice!" she replied. A face looked around Grimm and exclaimed, "Red Moon! Good to see you! Who is that? Mmf! Grimmie, honestly, you're like a tree somebody planted there! Mist Runner, is that you?"

"Hello, Foxfire, yes it's me," I said smiling.

"Here, Grimmie, hold this."

Thrusting a package into Grimm's hands, Foxfire squeezed past him and entered the den.

"Oh, hello, who are you, dear?"

Grimm said, "Foxfire, this is Dahmietra, she's a friend. Dahmietra, this is my little sister, Foxfire."

Dahmietra looked at Foxfire and was totally awestruck--Foxfire was the most stunningly beautiful thing she had ever seen in the whole of her life. Silver white fur covering a sensuously lithe body, gorgeous eyes of the most intense unnatural blue, long braids down either side of her face, ornamented with silver jewelry set with blue star stones. So white was her fur that it seemed to shimmer with a silvery light, like moonlight on sparkling new snow. Foxfire's every move was the epitome of fluid grace that bordered on the divine.

Foxfire has a strange effect on everyone, regardless of whom or what they are. Interestingly, Grimm seems to be the only one totally immune to "The Foxfire Effect". Where he seems to be the embodiment of terrifying primal ferociousness in battle, she is the embodiment of hypnotic sensual beauty. They are a study in opposite forces. And she is the only one who can get away with calling Grimm Tooth "Grimmie". Grimm brought inside the things that Foxfire had brought home and closed the door.

Because of my close friendship with Grimm Tooth for so long a time, I have learned to become somewhat resistant to Foxfire, though I have to admit that when she sings, I too am reduced to quivering puddle. Red Moon is likewise resistant to Foxfire from being her long-time friend, though she also cannot escape the effects of Foxfire's wondrously celestial singing voice...or her hypnotically sensual dancing. There are those who think that Grimm can cause an enemy to drop everything and flee for their lives, there are also those who think that Foxfire can cause raging combatants to simply lose all desire for hostility and sit down where they are and forget about everything. Having personally experienced both her singing and dancing, I tended to think that, too. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if even the trees themselves would respond to it...and that got me to thinking about the Wastelanders.

Foxfire walked over to Dahmietra and took both of her hands into hers.

"I'm glad to meet you, dear. Say, that outfit you're wearing looks like Moon Dancer's handiwork. Doesn't she do a wonderful job? She always seems to know how to compliment a figure. Oh, and I love the color of your fur, child, it kind of matches Red Moon's."

Dahmietra found that she could not move or speak--she had never felt so awestruck in her life. This radiant being standing before her...it was as if the Celestial Gates had opened and sent down one of the Blessed Ones to walk the world. Tears began to stream down her face and her knees were threatening to give out. Foxfire looked into Dahmietra's face and saw her tears.

"Oh, child...what's wrong? There now," she said, gently wiping away Dahmietra's tears, "everything will be okay." Foxfire pulled Dahmietra to her and wrapped her arms around her. Rocking slightly, Foxfire stroked the back of Dahmietra's head gently. "Everything will be okay."

Dahmietra felt Foxfire's soft, warm fur against her face and it smelled of the fresh air after a storm and of delicate flowers. She felt all of her fears and sadness draining away in that embrace...and that voice, like a mother soothing a child after a hurt. Dahmietra would never be quite the same again.

Red Moon took Dahmietra from Foxfire and sat her down between us. Grimm, not missing anything as usual, saw the effect his sister had on the girl, and the contented peaceful look that had now come over her face.

"Well, my sister, it seems that you have made quite a powerful impression on our young friend here."

"Me? Why, it just seemed like she was sad and needed comforting," Foxfire said.

I could sense the change in Dahmietra.

"Foxfire," I said, "I don't know how you do what you do, but I think you have somehow had more of an effect on Dahmietra than you realize. I have felt your effects in both my own self and in others of our kind, but it seems to be different with her. Maybe it could be due to her people being so wildly emotional; maybe that makes them more susceptible."

Dahmietra still sat there with a look of profound peaceful contentment, as if she had heard nothing else.

"Really? I wasn't meaning to, honest!" Foxfire said. "I think I'll put my things away...I'll just be a few moments. Now, where did I put that at?" she said, looking around for her package.

Grimm cleared his throat to get Foxfire's attention. When she looked up at him, he handed her things back to her. "Oh, that's where they are! Thank you, Grimmie! I'll be right back!"

"Mist Runner, I think you might be on to something here," Grimm Tooth said motioning towards Dahmietra.

"I wonder how long she's going to be like this," said Red Moon, waving a hand in front of Dahmietra's face. "Dahmi, are you in there? Talk to me dear!" Red Moon exclaimed.

"I'll see if I can reach her," I said.

I put my hands on either side of Dahmietra's face and closed my eyes. I reached my thoughts into her, calling her name, linking my feelings with hers. I imagined pulling her to me as I backed out, like helping someone up whose legs had gone numb. Back into the 'now', I opened my eyes and spoke her name. Dahmietra's eyes fluttered and then opened. She smiled and gave a sigh of contentment.

"I had the most wonderful vision," Dahmietra said, still smiling.

Grimm Tooth, shaking his head, said, "That's my little sister."

I looked up at Grimm, glanced towards Foxfire's sleeping area, and nodding my head said, "Yes, that she is. It gives me a thought, too, Grimm. We just saw how strongly Dahmietra was affected...and this is just a thought, what if Foxfire was to_really_ pour it on in front of others? You've seen how she can affect our own people when she performs. Using Dahmietra's reaction as an example, imagine what might happen to a crowd of her people if Foxfire were to give a grand performance?"

Grimm thought on it. While he didn't care for the idea of his little sister getting anywhere near a potentially armed, and likely hostile group of people, it was, as Mist Runner said, a thought.

"This is the same thing I was thinking early this morning," Red Moon said. "We know that Dahmi doesn't want to have any more to do with her people and wants to stay with us. And we've seen what kind of an effect Foxfire had on Dahmi, but that is just one person. Maybe we could try something a little bigger to make sure. If it works, then we can all go to this 'gathering' of theirs and try to pull this off. I was thinking that when Dahmi goes in front of her people, we could do something that would convince them that she's no longer theirs to do with as they please and then we would take her from them and bring her back here. Grimm, I'm sure you could convince anyone not to try to follow us. And Mist Runner, once we could get out of sight, you could take Dahmi and Foxfire by 'The Hidden Ways'...I know that might be a lot to ask, dear, but at least nobody could track you and it would look like you just 'disappeared'. The rest of us could take other ways back."

Grimm and I both were amazed at Red Moon's idea.

"I would have to kill myself," Dahmietra suddenly piped up.

We all snapped our heads around to look at her in complete astonishment. "At least, it would have to look that way," Dahmietra quickly added when she saw our pained looks. "It's the only way they would no longer have anything to do with me. I could stand before them all and tell them that I renounced the way of my people and show that I would rather die free than live by how they had become, and then I would appear to kill myself in front of everyone. Mist Runner, you could howl a truly mournful tune that would carry your sadness to the Celestial Gates themselves. One of the Blessed Ones--in this case, Foxfire--would enter, singing her song, and 'save' me. Before their eyes, I would be 'reborn', and then she would seemingly disappear with my 'protector' and me. Grimm Tooth could be somewhere nearby made up to look like 'Sheh'k'tahwa', just in case they need some persuasion not to follow. It might not hurt to have a couple of archers handy, too." Dahmietra look at each one of us. "It's just a suggestion."

We all sat there in stunned silence.

From behind us came "I can do that."

We looked back and there was Foxfire...she had been listening the whole time since she went to put her things away. She had her usual carefree smile on her face as she sat on the floor behind us. Foxfire fluidly rose from the floor and casually strolled over and crouched down before Dahmietra, taking her hands into her own.

"This means that much to you, dear?" Foxfire asked.

Dahmietra looked into Foxfire's eyes and immediately felt that she was starting to float away again. She found that she couldn't speak and was losing the ability to move, but she was able to nod her head.

"Then I will help you anyway I can, sweetie," Foxfire said.

Dahmietra saw everything fade to white with two intensely blue lupine eyes looking softly back at her and was nearly overcome again when she felt something searching for her. She heard inside her head a voice calling her name. It sounded so familiar. A shape formed in the whiteness and came closer. Paw-like hands were reaching out to her and she saw a grayness appear.

"Mist Runner, is that you?" she thought.

"Yes, Dahmietra, it's me. Come back with me," she heard the voice say.

"Okay," she thought and she followed the grayness.

Color started coming back as well as normal sounds. She felt weight again and she could see more shapes. Finally everything became clear again.

"Are you back with us again, Dahmi?" Red Moon asked.

"I--I guess so," Dahmietra replied.

"That's good, because I'm starting to get hungry," Red Moon said.

"I think we should be heading back to our den...I invited Warri to have evening meal with us tonight," I said.

"We have a plan, of sorts, it seems," said Grimm. "I will think of who we should send ahead to scout the location of this gathering. Perhaps we should also send one to find this High Cleric and meet him at that inn you frequent so we can question him."

"Excellent idea, Grimm," I said.

Red Moon added, "Maybe Foxfire could have a little chat with him, too...if nothing else just to see what happens."

"Also and excellent idea, Red Moon," I said. "Well, plenty to think on tonight. Thank you for your hospitality, Grimm Tooth," I said smiling to my old friend, "and a pleasant evening to you, Foxfire."

"Thank you Mist Runner, you're so sweet," she replied.

Red Moon hugged Foxfire and whispered in her ear, "I'll talk to you later...got an idea."

Foxfire gave Red Moon a wink and rubbed the side of her nose with one finger. Dahmietra gave Grimm a hug on the way out and then turned to look one more time at Foxfire.

Foxfire happily smiled and waved at Dahmietra and said, "Come back again, sweetie." Dahmietra waved back and hurried out the door, touching Grimm on the way. After Grimm shut the door to the den, Foxfire said, "Grimmie, I think she kind of likes you."

Grimm looked at the door for a moment, then at his little sister with his usual deadpan expression and said, "Foxfire...is it time to eat yet?"

On the way back to our den, we didn't say anything for a while, just walked slowly. Red Moon and I held hands as we walked and Dahmietra stayed close. When we came in sight of the bathhouse, I remembered that I wanted to tell Red Moon about what happened when I was waiting for her and Dahmietra to come out.

"I had a little run in with Bane Flower last night, while you two were in there," I mentioned to Red Moon.

"I thought I had heard something going on out here. What happened this time?" Red Moon asked.

"Her usual, only this time she was foolish enough to do it in front of others," I replied. "She flattened her ears and snarled at me, and then I stood up to deal with her insolence. She knew that she had crossed the line, and I couldn't let it go...not this time."

"The fool! She knows that you could take her easily!" Red Moon exclaimed.

"And she also knows that she can't outrun me, either," I said.

"What did you do, dear?" Red Moon asked.

"I started towards her and I guess she thought that if she just walked away I wouldn't take her down from behind, so she spun around and took one step and ran right smack into Grimm."

"No!" Red Moon exclaimed.

"You should have seen it--he had come up behind her and planted himself. Grimm just looked down at her with his arms folded and he spoke her name. He wasn't very amused. Bane Flower dropped her ears, tucked her tail between her legs, and went down in submission. I told Grimm that she was just going home to get some rest and then I asked Bane Flower wasn't that so. She said 'Yes Sire' and then Grimm said that was good because he thought he might have to 'give an insolent pup extra duty'. He dismissed her, and she hurried home with her tail between her legs."

"I bet she was chewing nettles by the time she got home," Red Moon said.

"Probably," I replied. "I haven't seen her since then."

Dahmietra had been listening for I had talked about it in the Common Tongue.

"Who is this 'Bane Flower'?" she asked.

"She has some...problems, you could say. Something happened to her a long time ago and she never lets anyone get close. She has become rather antisocial, and she tends to get really sarcastic which drives people away, and then she gets bitter about it because they do leave her alone. I've stood up for her a lot of times, and have tried repeatedly to get her to talk about it, but she just pulls her same stupid thing and pushes me away. I've been able to sense a deep pain in her, but have no idea what caused it. Last night, however, she went too far and I just couldn't let it go," I explained.

"What would you have done?" Dahmietra asked.

"Bane Flower and I would have fought right then and there until somebody submitted. Thankfully, Grimm arrived when he did and it never came to it. You see, Bane Flower is one of the clan's defenders, so that puts her under Grimm's authority," I said.

"I see," Dahmietra said. "So, if somebody snarls at you is that an insult or something?" Dahmietra asked.

"It depends on other things, such as the person's posture, how their ears are positioned, and how they are holding their tail. This is all something you will have to watch for, Dahmietra; we have our own 'body language', just as any other people do. I know that right now you wouldn't be able to tell if someone would be saying 'I don't want to hurt you, but if you don't leave me alone I'll bite', or 'I'm angry and I'm going attack you unless you submit'. We'll teach you what to watch for. Hmm, just thought of something--since you don't have ears like ours, or a tail, you are not going to be as able to express your intentions as clearly. I guess we'll have to work around that someway. At least almost everyone understands the Common Tongue, so if you do not understand something don't be afraid to say so. We tend to speak plainly, but always remember to watch what else a person is doing--the same goes for your kind as well as ours, or even wild animals for that matter," I explained.

"There is much of the world and its ways that I must learn, it seems," observed Dahmietra.

I put my arm around her shoulder and smiled at her, "You're smart, Dahmietra, I'm sure that you will learn quickly."

She looked up at me and smiled shyly.

Warri had not showed up yet by the time we reached our den, so Red Moon started preparing the evening meal, explaining to Dahmietra what she was doing and why. I got a fire going in the hearth and brought some more wood inside.

"We should go out and gather some more," I thought to myself. "Dahmietra's kind seems to eat most of their food cooked, and she will be not as able to keep warm during the cold times."

I went out front to relax and to watch for Warri. I had a good view of the path leading towards my den, as well as being able to see a fair amount of the village.

"My den," I thought with amusement. "I am going to have to start thinking of it as 'our' den, especially now that Dahmietra will be staying here with Red Moon and I. Maybe we should think about digging out another sleeping area for Dahmietra so that she could have her own space if she wants. I'll have to remember to mention it to Red Moon to see what she thinks."

My thoughts eventually drifted to what we had discussed earlier at Grimm's. Foxfire certainly had more of an effect on Dahmietra than I thought. But, as Red Moon observed, that was just on one person of their kind and maybe we should see what would happen to others before we try to pull this off. I thought about the High Cleric and also the enclave; maybe those would be good choices since at least Dahmietra and I knew both. Having seen Grimm Tooth in action many times, it was pretty safe to guess what kind of effect he would have on their kind. Knowing the particulars of this Great Gathering of her kind was definitely important--we needed the layout, how many people would be there and how many armed warriors would be present. Hopefully Grimm would think of whom he could send to scout out the area and send a report back to us. I was starting to think of how things might happen when I spied Warri turning off the main path and heading up to_our_ den.

"Ayooo! Warri! I'm glad that you could make it!" I called out to him.

Warri is from one of the other five eastern clans; their village is on the other side of the lake. He had no family in these parts, so as long as he is in our village and studying under the Lore Masters, several of us will spend some time with him and the other apprentices to make them feel welcome. They all have a place to stay, but this gives them a sense of welcome and family life. Warri will mark his "coming of age" this autumn at the equinox, along with several other young males and females, as they undergo the traditional "rite of passage". This consists of hearing the ancient lore, participating in the Ritual Hunt, followed by a feast, and joining the adults in The Great Song. Foxfire usually performs at the height of The Great Song...and it is not something to be forgotten.

"Good evening, Sire," Warri greeted me in return.

He is quiet, polite and thoughtful, and rather studious. Warri has a high attention to detail and an excellent memory, which suits his work as scribe and assistant to the Lore Masters, and he has a particular interest in maps and their making.

"How are the studies coming along, Warri?" I asked him.

"Quite well, I think," he replied. "Lore Master Stone Toucher has been pleased with my restoration work on several old maps."

"That's good, Warri. It seems that no matter how well they are taken care of, they do eventually deteriorate."

"Yes, Sire," Warri agreed.

"Warri, have you had a chance to do any field work yet? You know, actually going out somewhere and making your own map of some area," I asked.

"Not as of yet, Sire, though I would very much like the opportunity to do so."

I smiled and patted him on the shoulder, "Perhaps the chance will present itself."

As we went inside, Red Moon was nearly finished preparing the food and Dahmietra was setting the table. Warri's eyes had gone straight to Dahmietra--this was the first he had seen her since the audience at the Council Rock.

"Red Moon, Warri's here," I said.

Both she and Dahmietra looked up at our guest.

"Good evening, Warri, I'm glad that you can join us this evening," Red Moon said. She came over and gave him a friendly hug. "You're just in time."

"Thank you, Dam," Warri replied.

"Dahmietra," I said, "You remember Warri from yesterday."

She nodded her head.

Warri, apparently knowing something of the customs of Dahmietra's people, placed his right hand on his chest and bowed slightly, then held his hand out to her saying "Ahnsa T'siru."

Dahmietra smiled and repeated the gesture and said, "Ahnsa T'siru K'tek" as she took his hand and shook it slightly. "I didn't know anyone here knew any of the language of my people," Dahmietra said.

"In my work as scribe, I have had the opportunity to learn a little of it," Warri said. "Though I must say," he continued, "that some of the sounds are difficult for our kind to produce."

"I suppose so," Dahmietra agreed.

"Well, everything is ready, so clean up you two," Red Moon instructed Warri and me.

We cleaned our hands and took our places at the table: Red Moon and I sat on one side, Dahmietra, and Warri on the other. With Red Moon's help, Dahmietra made a dish that resembled one that was a favorite among her kind--she had taken the tubers of a local plant and boiled them until soft and then mashed them with a spoon, adding some herbs, and melting some cheese into it. We were surprised because it was quite good...something different for a change. There were some other fresh vegetables, fruit and meat, though Dahmietra had hers cooked. I saw that Dahmietra was having a little difficulty with the size of her eating utensils, so I made a mental note to ask Stone Tree if he could make some that better suited her size.

While we ate, I mentioned to Warri that Dahmietra had spent her time in the enclave reading and writing, which caught his interest and got the two talking. Red Moon noticed the pleased look on my face at seeing Dahmietra and Warri taking an interest in each other. I glanced over at her, slid my hand under the table, and rested it on her leg. She put her hand on top of mine and held it, giving me a sly grin. After an enjoyable meal, we all moved out to the front part of the den to enjoy the fresh air and the deepening evening sky. Red Moon and I made ourselves comfortable next to each other, though Warri and Dahmietra both sat at a respectable distance from one another.

"Warri, has there been much in the way of news lately?" I asked.

"Within our borders it has been much as usual, though word has spread of Dahmietra's arrival."

"What about outside of our borders, anything?" I inquired.

"There has been very little," Warri replied, "though again, that is as usual." Warri thought for a moment, and then said, "Sire? There has also been some talk about your incident with Bane Flower yesterday."

I perked my ears up at that.

"Oh?"

"People are becoming more concerned about her inappropriate behavior towards others. While you were away, there were two other such incidents."

"I have in the past sensed some deep hurt in her that might have a lot to do with her actions. I've been thinking of bringing this up with Lore Mistress Fire Weaver. I believe Bane Flower may be in need of some help, though to request it openly would likely cause problems in itself," I said.

Warri gave a thoughtful look.

"Perhaps I could mention it to her when there is an opportune moment," he suggested.

Red Moon spoke up, "That would be nice of you, dear...Bane Flower was nice, long ago, though over many turns of the seasons, it seems that something has been gnawing away at her from the inside and she takes it out on everyone. I don't want to see anything happen to her, but I'm afraid that she may end up getting into a fight like she almost did with Mist Runner and he's been the only one who has stood up for her."

There was no doubt between Red Moon and myself that Warri would remember to bring it up when the time was right with Fire Weaver...he has an excellent memory and seems to know just when it is best to mention the right thing to the right person at the right time.

"Mist Runner, do you think we stand any chance at all of pulling this off?" Dahmietra said suddenly.

Warri looked quizzically first at Dahmietra and then at me. I noticed his look of concern.

"Yes, Dahmietra, I believe it can be done." "Warri," I began, "several of us have been working on a plan to get Dahmietra free from her people," I quickly explained to him. "Besides Red Moon and me, Grimm Tooth and Foxfire are also in on this. Grimm Tooth is working on getting a couple of others to help. One thing we're going to need is to have at least two go to where this Great Gathering of her people is going to take place, scout it out, and make us a map of the layout and then get it back to us quickly. And we're going to need to know how many people are there, number of warriors and where they're located, and ways in and out."

"Is that the reason why you asked if I had any 'field experience' at mapmaking, Sire?" Warri asked.

"I know your attention to detail, and I've seen some examples of your work, so yes, I've been considering asking if you would be interested in this endeavor. I know it would be a lot to ask of you, and it would depend on if the Lore Masters would allow it," I said.

Warri thought for several moments. He looked up, glanced over to Dahmietra, and then turned his attention back to me.

"If it would be permitted, I will do it, Sire."

Red Moon squeezed my hand as I nodded to Warri.

"Then I shall ask."

I gave Warri a brief outline of our plan so far. Dahmietra explained the reasoning behind having to do it this way so that they would not come looking for her, bringing large numbers of warriors intent on destroying.

"Taking what appears at first to be the easy way is not always the best way in the long run; sometimes the correct path is the most difficult," Warri said.

Red Moon laughed and said, "Warri, you're starting to sound like Grimm Tooth!"

We sat and talked about other things for a while, including how Warri's family was doing and what the other apprentices were working on. Although it was not yet near midnight, Dahmietra was not used to being up at this time. She had gotten up early and it had been a long day for her. She stifled a yawn, though she tried to appear alert. Warri noticed that she was looking tired.

"Dam, Sire, if you will excuse me, I should be getting back. I have some things I need to do yet tonight," Warri said.

"Certainly, dear," Red Moon said, "we enjoyed your company this evening."

Red Moon and I stood up and then Warri and Dahmietra.

"I'll let Grimm Tooth know that you're with us, providing the Lore Masters allow it," I said to Warri.

"Thank you Sire, I hope it will be so," he replied.

Red Moon gave Warri a quick hug and told him that he's always welcome here, and he said that he really appreciated all that we've done for him since his arrival in our village.

Warri turned to Dahmietra and holding his hand to his chest as before, said, "Ahnsa T'siru Enn, Dahmietra".

She also held her hand to her chest and replied, "Ahnsa T'siru Enn K'tek, Warri."

They again lightly grasped hands and bowed their heads slightly...and I noticed that Warri wagged his tail a bit.

"I'll walk you to the path," I said, patting him on his shoulder.

Red Moon and Dahmietra went back inside and Warri and I walked at an easy pace down to the main path.

"So what do you think of Dahmietra's new look, Warri?" I asked him.

"It is very nice, Sire. I'm sure she will get accustomed to it quickly."

"Do you like her?" I asked.

"She is very pleasant, Sire. I have enjoyed her company this evening."

I smiled at him in the darkness.

"So, where did you learn how to say 'Peace on you this evening', in her tongue, Warri?"

He looked up at me in surprise.

"Yes, I know some of their speech...from the innkeeper and his family, plus others I've met in my travels."

"What little I have learned, Sire, is from accounts of dealing with their merchants, as well as from reading about the treaty between our peoples dating back to the last war," Warri replied.

"Maybe Dahmietra would be interested in translating more of their words into the Common Tongue sometime. It wouldn't hurt to have some sort of written record of general words and phrases."

"Hmm, that is a thought, Sire."

We arrived at the main path, and said our good nights, and I started back up towards the den.

"When all of this is over, Red Moon and I will need to spend some time by ourselves," I mused to myself.

I made my way back and went inside. Red Moon and Dahmietra already had things cleaned and put away from evening meal when I came in.

"I don't know about anyone else, but it has been a long day without a nap," I said.

Dahmietra added, "I'm not used to being up quite so late."

"Once things get back to normal for us, we'll see how long you keep the same hours," I said with a grin.

I hung Battle Fang back in its place on the wall and we proceeded to get ready for bed. We put out the lamps, save for the one we turned down very low and Red Moon and I lay down together on the bed of furs, and tossed the covering over us. Dahmietra sat down, took her tall boots off, and reached for her braies and under tunic. She noticed that they were beginning to smell because it had been awhile since they were washed. The thought of putting on smelly, unclean clothing didn't appeal to her...but sleeping with nothing on as our kind did wasn't something she was quite comfortable with yet. She had a lot of conditioning to overcome, and that is not something that can easily go away in just a short time. Dahmietra decided to use her large shawl to cover herself with instead. She took off the rest of her clothing, wrapped the shawl around herself, and then crawled into bed.

I was lying on my back when Dahmietra came to lie down for the night. I shifted to my right side to face her after she got herself covered. She was lying on her left side facing me, so when I rolled to my side, she seemed a little surprised.

I smiled at her and said in a low voice, "So, what do you think of our village now that you've been here a couple of days?"

"I like it, and everybody seems so friendly, though in a way it is taking a bit to get used to...being out in the open, and all," she replied.

I chuckled and said, "You haven't had the pleasure yet of meeting Bane Flower."

"That bad, eh?" Dahmietra asked.

"Sadly, yes, though I still hope she will eventually be better," I said.

We lay there looking at each other for a few moments.

"By the way, Warri told me that he liked your new look, said you looked 'very nice', and he also said that he enjoyed your company tonight," I told her.

Dahmietra seemed to be caught a little off guard with that.

"He didn't say anything because, like me, he knows something of your people, and he was being courteous to you by respecting your ways," I added. "It's just his way of showing you that he likes you."

"The next time you see Warri, would you please tell him for me that I enjoyed his company this evening as well?" Dahmietra asked.

"Of course," I replied. "Well, get some rest now; good night my dear." I hugged Dahmietra, gave her a kiss on the cheek, and went back to lying on my back. Red Moon shifted her position so she could lie facing me with an arm on my chest and nuzzle my neck.

It didn't take long for Dahmietra to fall asleep. It had been a long day for her, getting up just before sunrise and going all day until late in the evening. She closed her eyes, felt Mist Runner's fur against her hand, and smelled his now familiar scent. In one way it seemed very odd to be laying next to someone who is so different in so many ways, yet she felt safe next to him. All of her life she knew his kind existed, but they were seen among her own people as something to be frightened of. Now that she has actually met his kind and is living with them, the stories about The People of the Forest seem so...well, wrong. Even though her kind had attacked them for no good reason in the past, they don't seem to hold a grudge despite the fact that they are immortal.

"They're a good people, different, but still good," Dahmietra thought to herself.

Feeling Mist Runner beside her, she was reminded of Warri. Dahmietra knew that she could never go back to the life she had, especially not after what she was planning on doing when before the Great Gathering of her kind. She had made up her mind that she would rather be free, and if this was the only way to achieve that, then so be it. Simply living among Mist Runner's people would be one thing, but what if she wanted a family of her own someday? She rather liked Warri--they have some common interests, and they seemed about the same age (though she couldn't really be sure), plus he had told Mist Runner that he liked her. But then there was Grimm Tooth...despite her initial reaction to him he's been nothing but kind and understanding.

"There is just something oddly--attractive--about him," she thought to herself.

She mulled things over in her mind until she fell asleep. Dahmietra slept soundly all night until the sun rose, not aware that Mist Runner had awakened early and left.

When I awoke, I was still lying on my back, though both Red Moon and Dahmietra were lying facing me.

I looked first from one to the other and then thought to myself, "Now this could be interesting...how to get up without waking them?"

I knew from experience that Red Moon would awaken as soon as I tried to sit up, so I figured that I would at least try not to wake Dahmietra up. I carefully slid her arm off of me and rolled a little towards my left side. Then I worked my way out from under Red Moon who, of course, promptly woke up. I whispered into her ear that I was going to go see Grimm Tooth about something and that she should go back to sleep. I carefully got up and put my breechcloth on. I had a good stretch and got a drink of water. I noticed that the water buckets were empty, so I thought as long as I was up early that I would go fill them for Red Moon.

I took Battle Fang down from its place on the wall, gave it a quick look over, then slipped the strap over my shoulder, and fastened it. I never went anywhere without it--a warrior is always prepared, always ready for anything, no matter where he or she is. I grabbed both of the buckets and headed out; making my way to the stream that ran near our village. There was one particular spot where most everyone went to fill his or her water buckets, since it had a rock-lined pool. Any water that we used for cleaning was dumped a good distance away from the stream so that the water in it would remain fit for drinking. I was the only one there at the moment, so I quickly and quietly filled my buckets and started back up towards the village. I saw some nice looking wild flowers growing not far from the path, so I picked one and brought it back with me. I suppose I've always had a romantic touch, though being with Red Moon was the best thing in my many long turns of the seasons. We complimented one another and fit so well together that we both sometimes wished that we had met a very long time ago. Red Moon was from one of the western clans...we met one time when I accompanied Lore Master Spirit Feather for a meeting. Fortunately for us, Red Moon and I hit it off right away and we started seeing each other, despite the distance between our villages. So, now we are going to become bond mates soon, once this mess with Dahmietra's people is over. We'll have to get word to Red Moon's parents and hope that they will have a chance to come for our bonding.

I made it back to the den and quietly entered and put the buckets back in their place, and laid the flower across the space between the buckets. I checked on Red Moon and Dahmietra and they both were still asleep, apparently, so I left to go find Grimm Tooth.

Red Moon was sleeping soundly until Mist Runner woke up at first light. The birds were already chirping outside. When she felt him start to sit up that is when she popped an eye open and looked at him groggily. Mist Runner leaned over and whispered in her ear that he was going to go see Grimm Tooth about something and for her to go back to sleep. Red Moon murmured, "Okay, dear" and went back to sleep. When Red Moon finally woke up, she looked over to where Mist Runner had been laying at and noticed that Dahmietra was lying as she was, facing towards where Mist Runner had been with one arm and one leg over the spot. They might have been mirror images of one another, except for the difference in appearances. Red Moon saw a contented look on Dahmietra's face while her fingers were worked into the fur of the hides they slept on.

"She seems happy enough so far, I just hope that she can get through what's coming up okay," Red Moon thought to herself. "I suppose I should get up and bring some water up from the stream so I can wash some things. I'll let Dahmi sleep until she's ready to get up."

Red Moon rose quietly and made sure that Dahmietra was covered in the cool morning air. She put her breechcloth back on and went to get the two wooden buckets that they used to fetch water. When Red Moon reached to pick up the buckets, she found that they were already full of water, and saw that a flower was laid across in the middle, supported by the sides of each bucket.

"Mist Runner, you sly one!" she said under her breath, smiling.

Red Moon picked up the flower, smelled it, and then stuck it into her fur by her ear.

Grimm often meditated and practiced his workout routine at the practice area before sunrise, so I went to look for him there. As I made my way across the village to the training area, I scented rain in the air. The wind was still light, though it had shifted to the northwest during the night, and it seems that it would be bringing rain with it. The great trees blocked most of the wind during storms, though sometimes branches would break off from higher up and fall to the ground. When I got to the training area, Grimm was there and had just started doing warm up exercises.

"Ayooo! Grimm! Mind if I join you?" I called out.

Without looking up at me, he motioned for me to come. I fell in beside Grimm and started the exercise routine.

We went through several repetitions when I mentioned, "Warri's in...if he's allowed to go."

"Good," Grimm said, without missing a move.

"That's five of us so far," I said.

We finished the round of exercises, then Grimm said, "I have four others--two will stay with you, and the other two will go on ahead to where the gathering of Dahmietra's people will take place. Warri should go with them."

"Agreed," I said. "We need to find out from that High Cleric where it will be so we will know where to send them."

Grimm thought a moment. "Perhaps Warri should stay with us while we send two to fetch the cleric and bring him to the inn. Then from there the other two can take Warri to the gathering so he can make a map and count who may already be there. One of the two will run the map back to us while one of the others who will be with us will run back to take his place. They can stay hidden until we arrive. Once you, Dahmietra and Foxfire do your thing, we should meet some safe distance away and then high tail it back here."

"Good idea," I said. "We should stick to traveling at night to make it more difficult for Dahmietra's people to notice us. Also, when Warri makes his map, he should mark on it where they will be located as well as a good place to meet up at afterwards. Perhaps a secondary location should be considered, too."

"That would be a wise idea, my friend," Grimm said to me with a slight grin on his face.

"It seems that we have a plan...except for what exactly Foxfire is going to do," I said.

"My little sister can be quite cunning," said Grimm, "do not be fooled by her apparent carefree attitude and forgetfulness."

"Good thing she's not vicious," I joked.

"Indeed, we would all be doomed," Grimm smirked.

Grimm Tooth and I practiced until sunrise, when the clouds started moving in.

"Looks like we might get some rain today," Grimm said, observing the darkening sky.

"I believe so, Grimm...I scented rain in the air on my way here."

Grimm cocked his head and swiveled his ears, listening. I listened, too. In the distance, we both heard it: thunder.

"So much for training classes today," Grimm said with a slight frown.

"That's probably a good idea. Sounds like those rumbles are not only coming this way, but are getting closer together. We might be in for a storm," I said.

"We should head back...I'll tell Stone Tree on my way home," Grimm said.

"Right, I'll tell the shopkeepers since they're closer to me," I said.

Grimm and I split up and headed back to our dens, letting people know that we might be in for a storm on our way.

By the time I got back to the den, the sky was getting darker and the rumbles of thunder were getting closer and more noticeable. When I got inside, I saw that Red Moon was up and had water heating for cleaning.

"I see that you found my little surprise for you this morning," I said, noticing the flower in her fur.

Red Moon came over, put her arms around my neck, and kissed me.

"It was really sweet of you, dear. I like it," she said with a big grin on her face.

As we stood there holding one another, I slipped a hand all the way down her back to the base of her tail. Red Moon looked up at me with a mischievous grin and started slowly wagging her tail.

"Hmm, and just what are you hungry for, dear?" I grinned back, "Like you have to ask?"

Thunder boomed...it was getting closer.

"Oh, by the way," I said, still grinning, "there's a storm coming."

"You think?" Red Moon said with a chuckle. There was a loud boom as lightning struck somewhere in the area and the wind really picked up all of sudden. There was a startled cry from the back; Red Moon and I looked at one another and then both went back to the sleeping area. Dahmietra was sitting on the bed with the cover pulled up around her, with a frightened look on her face.

"What's the matter, Dahmi?" Red Moon asked in a concerned voice.

"S-s-storm!" was all she could say.

We both sat down on either side of Dahmietra and held her. She was shaking like a leaf in a tree.

"Why does it bother you so much, Dahmietra?" I asked.

It took her a moment to respond.

"All my people don't like storms!" Every time thunder boomed, she nearly jumped out of her skin. "When the mountains were torn open in our homeland, huge clouds of smoke and ash poured forth...unnatural lightning flashed wildly and death rained down from the skies...there was no where to run...doom was upon us!"

"Dahmi, it's just a rain storm, dear...a little lightning, thunder, wind, rain...you're safe here, dear. Nothing is going to hurt you," Red Moon said, trying to comfort her.

"Red Moon, maybe you should take that water off the fire for a bit, and then come back so we can both stay with Dahmietra for a while," I suggested.

"Okay, I'll be just a moment."

I lay down on my side in the bed and pulled Dahmietra next to me with my arm wrapped around her. Red Moon came back shortly and joined us, sandwiching Dahmietra between us, and pulled the covering up over us. The rain started falling and it was soon coming down heavily. The wind was blowing the tops of the trees strongly, but down on the ground it wasn't nearly as strong. Every time thunder sounded, Dahmietra trembled and we both worked to calm her down. After some time had passed, the thunder moved off into the distance and the wind calmed down. The rain wasn't pouring down nearly has heavily, but it was still falling enough that a person would get soaked fairly quickly if they were outside without a good cloak. After the thunder died away, Red Moon got up, put the water back on to finish heating, and started washing once it got warm enough. I stayed with Dahmietra for a while longer.

When it seemed that she was back to normal, I asked, "Are you getting hungry yet?"

"I guess so," she replied quietly.

"Okay, let's go see what we have," I said.

I removed the covering and got up, then helped Dahmietra up.

"Oh, you might want to put something else on besides that shawl...could get a little drafty," I said with a wink, and then walked out to be with Red Moon.

Red Moon was working on washing clothing; most of it of course, was Dahmietra's old clothes that she wore when she came here. I came up behind her, put my arms around her waist, and nuzzled her ear.

"Is there anything good to eat?" I asked.

"Maybe," Red Moon replied, teasing.

"Food-wise, I meant, dear," I said, licking lightly behind her ear.

"Sure you did," Red Moon said as she suddenly slipped away, laughing. "If you would finish washing those, I'll see what I can whip up for us."

"Not a problem, dear."

I proceeded to finish washing and rinsing out our things while Red Moon started fixing something to eat. Dahmietra came in a short while later and couldn't believe her eyes.

"To my people, that's considered 'women's work', Mist Runner," Dahmietra said in amusement.

"Really, hmm, it might surprise you to know that even Grimm Tooth washes his own clothes and also knows how to cook," I said with a grin.

I finished with ringing out the clothes and hung them on a line I had put up. While Red Moon was busy with fixing something to eat, I went out front and sat down, enjoying the sound of the rain falling. After a while, Dahmietra came out with two bowls of something hot, judging by the steam coming from them. She handed one bowl to me and then sat down nearby. Red Moon came out shortly after Dahmietra with a bowl for herself and a jug of water with some drinking bowls. She sat next to me and passed around the water and drinking bowls.

"I wonder how long this is going to last?" Red Moon asked.

"The rain? Hard to say this time of year...could be over by this afternoon, or it could be with us for a while," I said. "I hope it doesn't cover too much of an area for too long of a time, otherwise it's going to make traveling rather slow going."

"I suppose we should start gathering the things we're going to need," Red Moon suggested.

"We're going to have a sizable party...Grimm has four others who are going, so that will make a total of ten. We're going to send two on ahead to fetch that High Cleric and have him meet us at the inn. Foxfire will do her thing and we'll see where that gathering is going to be at for sure, then Warri plus two others will run on ahead and scout it out, he'll make his map and notes and then one of the two others with him will run it back to the inn. One of the two who went to the enclave will go back to the gathering site and they'll wait for us near there and keep an eye on things. Once the rest of us get there, Dahmietra and I will go and do what we need to do, with Foxfire making her appearance. I'll take the three of us away using the Hidden Ways and we'll gather at a predetermined location--we will have a second location to fall back to if something doesn't go right. Then, as Grimm said, we'll 'high tail it' back here. We'll have two in front, two in back with Grimm, and the rest of us in the middle. If all goes well, we should be back in the space of two moons, three at the most."

I finished going over the plan with both Red Moon and Dahmietra, and we were quiet for a time.

"That is going to be quite a lot of running, dear," Red Moon said at last. "Unfortunately, yes. Grimm and I can take turns carrying Dahmietra if necessary.

Speaking of running, I spied a cloaked form running through the rain, heading in this direction.

"I wonder who that could be," I said out loud as I saw the form approach.

Red Moon and Dahmietra both looked in the direction I was staring and watched as the person agilely made their way, hopping over puddles and small streams of rainwater flowing downhill and collecting into larger ones as they made their way to the low places.

"I don't know, but it looks like they're heading this way," Red Moon said.

Warri had worked late into the night pouring over the maps available of the lands currently held by The People of the Wastelands and making notes. He found the village with the inn that Mist Runner frequents, and located the enclave where Dahmietra was kept--it was near the village called Zahr-Rey where her parents had moved to after leaving The Wastelands. He found that there is a major river that runs north to south near the village, and there is a tributary that comes out of The Great Forest and joins up east of the village of Cedar Knoll, where the inn was located.

"What if we took to the waterways?" he thought to himself. "Perhaps that could save some time and we could bring more provisions."

Granted, most of our people did not have much use for boats or rafts, though the lake clans often made use of them.

"I should bring this to Sire Mist Runner quickly."

Warri rolled up the maps and his notes, carefully putting them into a scroll case, grabbed his cloak and dashed out into the rain.

"Ayooo! Sire Mist Runner!" Warri called out excitedly as he approached and saw me standing under the roof.

"Warri, is that you?" I asked loud enough to be heard at a distance.

"Yes, Sire!" he called back.

"I wonder what burr got under his tail," I thought aloud.

"Must be something important, dear," Red Moon said. "Come inside, Warri, and get dried off. Let me have your cloak and I'll hang it up by the fire," Red Moon instructed.

"Sorry for the suddenness, Sire, but I've found something in the archives that I thought could be of use so I hurried over to show you," Warri explained.

He removed his cloak and handed it to Red Moon who spread it out near the hearth to dry. Red Moon put some water on to heat for one of her herbal teas to help take the chill off. Warri did not have an oilskin cloak that most seasoned travelers had for long trips. He opened the scroll case and pulled out the documents, laying them out on the table. Dahmietra brought one of the oil lamps over for more light.

"Last night after I left, I wondered if there might be any maps that could provide useful information in the archives. I thought that I had seen one once that showed the lands currently held by Dahmietra's people. I found it and look--here is the village with the inn you stay at while on your trading trips, and here is the village that Dahmietra and her parents had moved to when they first came here. The location of the enclave is not far from the village they call Zahr-Rey. This is the river Silver Mist that flows near both of those villages, and this is a tributary that flows out of The Great Forest and joins near the inn. I thought what if we could use boats, like the ones the lake clans use, to travel more quickly and perhaps we could carry a little more in the way of provisions? I suppose that, depending on how swiftly the water flows, moving upstream may be more of a challenge. At least our passing would not leave tracks, Sire."

"Warri, you are from one of the lake clans, aren't you?" Red Moon asked.

"Yes, Dam, I am. I might not be quite as skilled as some are in my clan, but I do know how to get around in one," Warri replied.

"How large are these boats your clan uses, Warri?" Dahmietra asked.

"Most are small; usually two or maybe three may fit in them. There are larger ones that are used to move supplies across the lake, they have flat bottoms and use oars instead of paddles like the smaller ones," he said, demonstrating the difference.

"Warri, I think you're onto something here," I said, "this just might work providing we can get some of these boats. I'll call Grimm Tooth."

I patted Warri on the back and went out front, while Red Moon made some of her tea and gave some to him. I howled for Grimm and waited. It wasn't long before I heard him howl back; he would be here shortly.

Since the storm came, Grimm Tooth didn't have very much to do because his usual activities had been cancelled due to the bad weather, and all of the chores were done. Grimm and Foxfire lived together largely because they were immune to each other's "presence". Grimm Tooth, because of his size and physique, the other females will look appreciatively at him, but they are also intimidated by it as well. Grimm has never been mean, cruel, vicious, or malevolent--he is actually very caring, considerate, loyal, thoughtful, and sincere. Unfortunately, many confuse his self-disciplined, focused, stoic, sure of himself demeanor as being cold and unfeeling. And if they ever saw him in battle, they certainly would give him a wide berth. Much to Grimm's disappointment, the only females who did not feel intimidated by him was his younger sister Foxfire, Red Moon, Lore Mistress Fire Weaver, and his own dam. Dahmietra was utterly terrified by him at first, but now she understood what the cause of that initial terror was, she seemed to have accepted him. The one thing that got him to wondering was after she hugged him and then waved goodbye to Foxfire she purposely touched him again. There was no doubt that everyone liked Foxfire--she could be very sweet and charming. However, her looks, her voice and the effect that she has on seemingly everyone but her brother, also tended to make males feel that she was unobtainable, a dream, "too good to be true," as it were. Foxfire secretly wished that she could have someone like her friend Red Moon has. Foxfire wasn't jealous of Red Moon, just wished that she could have someone. Grimm Tooth and Foxfire were at least thankful for having such good friends as Mist Runner and Red Moon.

Grimm had started working on his latest project again when he heard Mist Runner calling for him. So, he set it down and stuck his head outside and howled back that he would be on his way.

"Foxfire, it seems that Mist Runner needs me for something important, so I am heading over to their place," Grimm said to his sister.

"What's that? Oh, okay, Grimmie. I'll make us something to eat for when you come back. Say 'hi' to them for me, okay?" Foxfire asked.

"Of course; I'll be back," Grimm said.

"I'll be back! Ha!" Foxfire thought as Grimm put on his oilskin cloak and headed out into the rain. Foxfire looked at the door for a while after her brother had left, and then looked around the den they shared.

"Alone again," she sighed.

Grimm pulled the hood of his oilskin cloak over his head and made his way through the rain to Mist Runner and Red Moon's den. He noticed that water was standing in the low areas of the village and the pathways had turned into streams.

"I hope it doesn't keep this up for long," he said to himself.

Grimm could hear the sound of water rushing down the now swollen stream near the village. He knew that Mist Runner would not have called him to come in this weather if it wasn't something important. In fact, Mist Runner more than likely would have just come himself to Grimm's den under most circumstances.

As Grimm Tooth came up my path I waved him in.

"It looks like it is rather soggy out there, Grimm," I said once he got to the front of the den.

"Indeed," he replied.

"Come on in...Warri's here," I said.

Grimm arched an eyebrow and he removed his cloak and shook off the excess water.

"After he left here last night, he apparently was up all night looking through the archives and found something he thought might be of use to us, and he has a rather interesting idea. I'll let him tell you."

I opened the door and announced Grimm's arrival.

"Good morning, Grimm! Come on in, make yourself comfortable," Red Moon said. "Let me have your cloak and I'll spread it out by the hearth," she added.

Grimm handed her his cloak and spoke his greetings, "Thank you, Red Moon, and good morning to all."

"Would you like some tea, Grimm Tooth?" Dahmietra asked.

"Thank you, yes, that would be nice," he replied.

"Warri, tell Grimm what you told us earlier, if you would," I instructed.

"Yes, Sire. Certainly," he said.

Warri repeated to Grimm Tooth what he had told us about remembering seeing some maps of the area now held by Dahmietra's people so he found them and looked them over. If the water was not flowing too swiftly, we should be able to return most if not all of the way back by water. Traveling by water downstream, he explained, would not tire us out so much and we would have far more energy once we reached our destination to deal with the situation there.

After digesting what he had just heard and thinking about it a few moments, Grimm said, "Warri, I'm impressed."

Coming from Grimm Tooth, that was high praise.

"Thank you, Sire," was all that Warri could say.

"This certainly would save time, as you say, Warri. Now, we would have to find us some of these boats, get the supplies we need, and we could be on our way soon," Grimm said.

"How many boats do you think we might need, Warri?" Red Moon asked.

Warri thought a moment.

"I would say three of the smaller ones that would hold two or three people and one of the larger ones which use oars--or long poles, depending on the depth of the water and how wide the banks are," he suggested.

"We'll have to somehow get word to Warri's village that we need to acquire some boats and quickly," I said.

"Maybe they could float them from the lake down that tributary to the Forest's edge and wait for us to arrive on foot," Dahmietra suggested. "That would save us from having to go to the lake to get them."

"That is a good idea, Dahmietra. You do have a good mind in that head of yours," I said, smiling at her.

"Agreed. You both have had excellent ideas," Grimm said to both Dahmietra and Warri.

"And so have you, dear," I said to Red Moon, reaching my hand out to her.

Red Moon took my hand and gave it a squeeze.

"Sire Mist Runner?" Warri asked. "I believe the Lore Masters will be calling for you late this afternoon," he said.

Everybody got quiet.

"So, they have reached a decision?" I asked.

"I believe so, Sire. Lore Master Stone Toucher asked me if I had an enjoyable time last night and he also asked, casually, about Dahmietra and my impression of her," Warri glanced over to Dahmietra and dropped his ears downward briefly in an apologetic sign, though she could not have understood it as such yet.

Red Moon asked, "How does that mean they will be calling for Mist Runner, Warri?"

"He does not make specific inquiries like that unless they are discussing the very thing he asked about, or if it is in relation to training. Since it was not about a subject in my learning, which he would have asked about directly and not casually, it must be because they were discussing Sire Mist Runner's request," he explained. "It's something you learn to pick up on when working with the Lore Masters...they tend to be subtle, which I suspect is just to see if we are paying attention."

"I hope they do call for me this afternoon," I said. "There is much I need to say and also to ask."

"Sire, I should be going back. They will send me to fetch you when they are ready," Warri said.

"Okay, Warri, and thank you for bringing this information to our attention as well as your ideas. They are most appreciated," I said.

"Thank you, Sire. If there is anything else that I might be of assistance with, please let me know, and I will certainly do what I can," Warri said.

Red Moon handed Warri his cloak, which was mostly dry by this time.

"Thank you Dam," he said, taking it from her.

"Take care going back, Warri, the rain has turned the pathways into small rivers, and the low areas are accumulating a lot of water," Grimm cautioned.

"Thank you, Sire, I will be careful."

Warri slipped on his cloak and pulled the hood over his head and fastened it together, then headed out the door and into the rain.

"I should be heading home myself," Grimm said. "Foxfire said she would have something for us to eat when I got back."

"Okay, my friend. You should be careful yourself going back, if it's as bad as you say out there," I said.

"Always," he grinned.

Grimm Tooth put on his cloak and said his goodbyes, then he, too, headed out into the rain and on to home.

"If nobody needs me for anything, I think I'll go lie down for a while," I said.

"You go ahead, dear, we'll clean up in here," Red Moon said.

I went back and lay down on the furs and went over the entire plan in my mind one more time. Red Moon and Dahmietra finished cleaning up and putting things away. The clothing that was dry was taken down, folded, and put away while the rest was moved closer to the hearth to finish drying. Red Moon came back to join me, lying down next to me on the furs.

"What are you thinking about, dear?" Red Moon asked, running her fingers through my fur.

"Oh, I was just going over the whole plan in my head, just trying to see if we might have missed something," I said.

"You worry too much dear," she chided me.

"I worry only because I care...and I'm going to do everything I can to see that Dahmietra has a chance at a better life. There's no telling what might happen to her if she were to stay among her people, though we can be sure it will be bad no matter what. At least here, she'll be safe with people who care about her and who will appreciate her. But first we have to get through this thing," I said.

"First, you need to roll your carcass over so I can give you a back rub, dear," Red Moon said playfully.

"Always the subtle one," I teased.

"Roll!" Red Moon commanded with an imperious grin on her face.

I began rolling from one side to the other, saying "Roll, roll, roll in the furs...!"

Red Moon tried to look serious but she could hardly keep herself from laughing.

"On your stomach before I pounce on you!" she said with one hand on her hip and the other one pointing at the furs.

I stopped moving and looked up at her.

"Promise?" I asked grinning with child-like excitement.

"Oh, you! Just roll over!" Red Moon said with mild exasperation and swatting me on the shoulder.

Dahmietra sat by the fire drinking a cup of tea. Mist Runner and Red Moon had gone back to the sleeping area and from their laughter she guessed that they probably would like to have some time alone. She herself wasn't tired since it was still morning. Dahmietra thought about all that has happened since leaving the enclave; it seemed that her life has taken a rather radical change of course. She has seen more of the world since she was five turns of the seasons old, and she is among people who care about her and what she wants for once. These people have gone so far out of their way to try to help her--and she's not even of their kind--without asking for anything in return, and they've even offered to be a surrogate family for her and give her a place to call home. She's changed her own appearance, been allowed to discuss important issues and is encouraged to ask questions--that just would not have happened if she had stayed where she was. She didn't even know how to take care of herself, and here Red Moon has been teaching her some about cooking and herbs, Mist Runner has given her a knife of her own, and who knows, maybe one day she could have her very own place and be useful at something. One thing she thought for certain: if the females here do as much as the males do, then she is going to have to get stronger some way or another. Maybe Grimm Tooth could help her with that...even though she still felt a little strange when around him, he did actually seem to be nice. In a way it was hard to believe that he could have been the basis for the mythical being Sheh'k'tahwa, though then again, maybe not. These people are immortal--who is to say what else they may have been the basis of over the countless turns of the seasons? They were already ancient when Dahmietra's people were new. Looking towards the sleeping area, she wondered just how old both Red Moon and Mist Runner really are. They seemed to be only in their thirties, though she knew that Mist Runner was at least one thousand turns of the seasons, and who knows how old the Lore Masters are. It was difficult for Dahmietra to grasp the concept of being immortal.

Grimm Tooth slogged his way back to his den through the rain.

"We may end up needing those boats now, if it keeps up like this," he thought to himself.

As soon as he got under the overhanging roof he removed his cloak and shook off the water, then tried to wipe his lower legs and feet off as best as he could before going inside. Once inside he saw that Foxfire had a stewpot simmering over the fire along with some water for tea.

"Foxfire?" he called out.

"Back here, Grimmie," she replied from her sleeping area. Grimm walked back to the two sleeping areas to ask her if the food was ready. Foxfire was rummaging through her trunk looking for something when Grimm poked his nose in.

"Is it ready yet?"

"It should be, Grimmie. Go ahead and get some, I'll be with you in just a moment."

"Okay, I will fill a bowl for you then," Grimm said and then went back to the table.

He picked up one of the two bowls and filled it, then filled the other one with the hot stew, and placed them both on the table. After putting some water in their drinking bowls, Grimm sat down at the table and looked over at the little project he had been working on.

"It's nearly finished," he thought to himself. "Maybe I can have it done today."

When Foxfire came into the main area of the den, she gave her brother a quick hug from behind and then slipped around to the other side of the table to join him.

"What was it that Mist Runner wanted, Grimmie?" she asked.

Grimm told his sister what Warri had discovered and his suggestion.

"That certainly seems like a good idea," Foxfire said.

"I thought so," Grimm agreed.

They sat and ate the stew that Foxfire had made...it was good on a rainy day such as this. While she wasn't an outstanding cook, Foxfire did well enough for Grimm's liking. He didn't mind looking after his little sister, though he hoped that eventually she might be able to find someone who would be suitable for her. Unfortunately, it seems that neither one of them might find someone to settle down with. Any other male would quickly be reduced to an idiot if he stayed too close to Foxfire for too long of a time--Mist Runner might be an exception, but he and Red Moon are happy together. As for himself, because of his size--and to a lesser extent his position--there didn't seem to be any females interested in him, not that it mattered that much. Even though it has been a long time since he lost the love of his life, Grimm still mourned for her, and wouldn't allow any other female to get that close to him. So, Foxfire and Grimm Tooth settled for being content with sharing the den together, each with their own private sleeping area, and keeping each other company. Being the stoic type, Grimm could deal with being alone, but he knew that his little sister secretly wished that she could be happy with someone like her friend Red Moon was. If only someone could devise a charm that would render the wearer immune to her natural effect.

"Are you going to be up to this, Foxfire?" Grimm asked referring to the upcoming trip they would be making.

"Sure, Grimmie, I've got you and Red Moon and Mist Runner...I'll be okay." Foxfire replied. "Besides, I promised Dahmietra."

Grimm cracked a slight smile and nodded his head.

"I suppose we should be getting things together for the trip. We might be gone for awhile," Grimm suggested.

Foxfire stretched and yawned. "I think I might go lie down for a little while. Are you done with your bowl?" she asked.

"I'll clean up, Foxfire, you go ahead."

Foxfire got up and gave Grimm another hug.

"You're the best, Grimmie."

Foxfire happily went back to her sleeping area humming to herself, and took a nap.

By the afternoon, the rain gradually tapered off and the sky got lighter. There was a lot of water standing in the low places but it seemed to be starting to go down a bit. Once the rain had diminished, people started coming out to look and to begin gathering up any downed branches that were lying about and dragging them into a large pile to be cut up later. Despite all of the rain that fell, no one's den had flooded, though some of the pathways would need some repair work once the ground dried out to fix the places that had been eroded by runoff. During such times, the whole village got involved and the event almost had a party like atmosphere with songs and feasting, celebrating their ties to each other, the land, and to life itself.

Today we were fortunate, the storm did no real damage, and no one was hurt. First, there was one voice, then another and another as the song spread throughout the whole village. Faces lifted skyward howling the ancient song of communion. Dahmietra went outside with Red Moon and myself and watched as we, too, joined in--our own voices blending in harmony with the others. She had never experienced the like in all of her life, and even though she was not of our kind, she felt stirring deep down inside the primal joy of simply being alive. Dahmietra came and joined us, lifting her own face towards the sky and joined in as best as she could. We paused only briefly for a quick glance at her and each other before pulling Dahmietra towards us and joining hands with each other. Using my empathic abilities, I linked the three of us together so that Dahmietra could feel what we felt and very quickly her voice blended in harmony with ours and her spirit began to soar, as it never had before. She saw in her heart of being The Great Circle of Life and took her place within it. No longer would she be cut off and separated from it as her people had made themselves believe they were. The veil had been lifted from her eyes...and she could see.

Just as it had started, the song drifted away on the breeze and one by one, we grew silent. We all stood wherever we were for a little longer before quietly drifting back to whatever we had been doing. Dahmietra wiped the tears from her eyes and we stood there for a time all hugging each other. For the first time in her life, Dahmietra felt like she truly belonged. She couldn't explain it into words, but she felt closer to us than she ever had to anyone else. In a sense that was true, because through the empathic link I formed between the three of us, we all shared an intimacy not otherwise possible through just words alone. Dahmietra understood now what it means to be truly free--free to be the person that you are, free to love yourself and another and to be loved in return, free to live and free to rejoice in being alive. She also came to understand our--and her--connection with The Great Circle of Life.

Dahmietra kissed both of us and simply said "Thank you."

Red Moon and I kissed her back and we each gave her a hug.

"I'm going to go back in," I said.

"We'll be in shortly, dear," Red Moon said.

"I don't know how, but I was able to know exactly how you and Mist Runner feel about each other, and about me, too," Dahmietra said to Red Moon after a few moments.

"Oh, that's Mist Runner's doing," Red Moon said.

Dahmietra got a puzzled look on her face.

"Mist Runner has the ability to sense what other people's emotions are, what they feel deep down inside. He can also connect people, as he did us, so that we all can share something in ways that are truly remarkable. He wanted you to be able to know how we feel--not only about each other, but also about life and living," she explained.

"How does he do that?" Dahmietra asked.

"It's his gift...I don't quite know exactly how he does it, though I do know that he can pick up on what someone is feeling from a distance. He can tell if someone is telling the truth or not without them knowing it. I know that he can also project feelings into others to an extent, but when he touches someone, then the sharing can be much more...intense." Red Moon smiled knowingly. "Well, I am going back inside...coming?"

"I'll be along shortly," Dahmietra replied.

I started to make some tea when I went back inside, and shortly later Red Moon came in, put her arms around my waist, and snuggled against my back.

"Want some?" I asked her after a moment.

"Mmm...I got what I want right here," Red Moon answered.

"Would you like some tea with that, dear?" I asked teasingly.

"Certainly," she said with a sly grin.

I poured some for Red Moon and handed her the drinking bowl, then poured some for myself. We sat down near the fire and made ourselves comfortable together enjoying the closeness we shared. Dahmietra came back in after spending a little time outside alone.

"Come join us, Dahmi, there's some tea in the pot. Mist Runner just made it," Red Moon said, patting the furs next to us.

Dahmietra said okay, poured herself some tea, and then sat with us.

She sipped her hot tea carefully a few times and then asked, "Why does Foxfire affect people like she does?"

"Well, no one is sure exactly," I said.

"Can she choose when and when not to do what she does?"

"Apparently not, though she has developed some control over the intensity. Unfortunately for her, it's always there even while she is sleeping...that's why she is alone. Except for her brother, Grimm Tooth, any male who stays too close to her for too long of a time ends up...well, incapacitated," I said.

"Even you?" Dahmietra asked.

"I can block it to an extent, but only because Grimm and I have been friends for a very long time. However, when Foxfire dances...no one but Grimm is immune."

"It even affects me, and I'm her best friend," Red Moon added.

"It is going to be interesting at The Gathering," Dahmietra said thoughtfully.

"Oh, I don't doubt that, dear," Red Moon said.

It was getting well into the late afternoon when we heard someone calling for me from outside.

"Ayooo! Sire Mist Runner?"

It was Warri. I got up and went outside to greet him.

"Ayooo! Warri! Come in!"

"Thank you, Sire," Warri replied. I brought him into the den where he greeted both Red Moon and Dahmietra.

"Sire, the Lore Masters wish to see the three of you," Warri informed me.

"You said that it would probably be late afternoon today when they would be ready, and so it is," I observed.

"Right now?" asked Red Moon.

"Yes, Dam, they wish to see the three of you now," Warri replied.

"Then best not keep them waiting. Let's go," I said.

The three of us walked with Warri to the Council Rock, going through the same ritual as before when we entered the area through the rock archway. Upon entering, we saw that we were not alone: Grimm Tooth and Foxfire were there as well as four others: Night Song, Brown Leaf, Smoke Fire, and Snow Spear. When we took our place with the others, Warri announced our arrival.

"Lore Master Spirit Feather, all are present as per your instruction, Sire."

"Thank you, Warri. Welcome, friends. Mist Runner and Dahmietra, come forward please," Spirit Feather instructed. "The rest please be seated," he added.

Everyone else took a seat on the low wooden benches that had been brought out beforehand as Dahmietra and I came before Lore Master Spirit Feather. We kneeled on one knee and lowered our heads in respect until Lore Master Spirit Feather bade us to rise.

"Mist Runner and Dahmietra, it seems that a lot has happened in the past few days."

"Yes, Sire," I replied.

"I see that your young charge is adapting quickly to her new surroundings."

"That she is, Sire," I said with a proud smile.

"Dahmietra, I sense more of a change in you than just your appearance. You do not seem quite as much of the sad, frightened and uncertain child that you were just days ago, as you now seem to be more confident, happier and peaceful. Tell me, child, why do you think that is so?"

"For the first time in my life I feel truly alive, and that I am accepted for being just me," Dahmietra said. "Everyone has been so kind and helpful and patient with me, even though I've certainly had some...issues, to deal with." Spirit Feather smiled knowingly and nodded his head. "I really appreciate everyone for helping me," Dahmietra said as she looked around at everyone. "But if it wasn't for Mist Runner, I'd still be a prisoner within the walls of the enclave, I would not have had the experiences that I've had so far, I'd have no future, and--most importantly--I would not have this." Dahmietra took my hand in hers, and then looked back at Red Moon and motioned for her to come join us. Red Moon got up and stood beside Dahmietra, who then took her hand into hers as well. "Without love," Dahmietra asked holding our joined hands close to her, "what is there to live for?"

Red Moon and I looked at Dahmietra and then at each other. I could sense Dahmietra's feelings for Red Moon and me, and could hear a quiet murmur of astonishment sweep through the rest. I leaned over and whispered something in Red Moon's ear, and she nodded her head.

"Sire, Red Moon, and I wish to announce our intent to become bond mates, and also our intention to petition for Dahmietra's acceptance into our clan and making her a part of our family."

Grimm Tooth, Foxfire, and even Warri voiced their approval.

"We will care for her as if she were our own for as long as she desires to remain in our den," I added.

The other four defenders who had agreed to join our quest also seemed to approve of our intentions, even though they had not yet personally met Dahmietra. Lore Master Spirit Feather was visibly surprised at this new revelation. The other Lore Masters came and joined him on The Council Rock.

"Mist Runner, Red Moon," Lore Mistress Stream Chaser began, "this is extraordinary. You are aware that in the entire history of our people, there has been no precedent of any outsiders ever being made a part of any of the forest or mountain clans?"

"We do, Mistress," I answered.

"And you would do this, why?" she asked.

Red Moon and I looked briefly at each other.

"We have talked this over between the three of us," Red Moon said, "and we've given it a lot of thought. We've come to care a great deal about Dahmi and since her own sent her away when she was still little, she's never really had a family. So, Mist Runner and I have offered to be her family."

"Even though she was not born of our kind, we accept her as if she was one of our own, and we take full responsibility for her, but first we must deal with her people...and we have a plan," I added.

"I see," said Lore Mistress Stream Chaser. "And what do you think of this, Dahmietra?"

"I wish it, Mistress. With all my heart, I wish it," Dahmietra replied.

Lore Mistress Stream Chaser looked questionly at the other Lore Masters. Each nodded once. "Very well then, we will consider this, though for now we have another matter at hand."

Lore Master Spirit Feather spoke next.

"Mist Runner, after you first came to us about Dahmietra, we have discussed your question in great detail. In the past few days we have also noted that indeed you and Red Moon do seem to care a great deal about what may happen to the child, enough that others have taken it upon themselves to come forward to assist in your efforts to fulfill your pledge to protect her." Spirit Feather paused to look at each of our group. "We have come to the conclusion that, not only should you protect her on her way to this Great Gathering of her people and also stand with her while there, but that you should also continue to protect her from her own people as no limit seemed implied in your original agreement."

Red Moon, Dahmietra, and I all smiled and gave each other a quick hug.

"What is this plan you mentioned, Mist Runner?" Lore Mistress Stream Chaser asked.

I went over the whole plan from start to finish, including our discovery of how Foxfire had affected Dahmietra so much, we thought perhaps we could use that to our advantage by testing it upon a small number of her people. If it worked, then we would go for the maximum effect at the gathering. I mentioned Warri's idea about using small boats to travel faster down river to cut down the time needed to get to the inn, and possibly further. I added that given Warri's map drawing ability, attention to detail and sharp memory, that if it would be allowed we would like him to come with so that he could map the location of the gathering for us and note his observations so that they could be relayed to the rest of us. I detailed the part to the Lore Masters as to how he would be accompanied by two of the others. It would not only help us, but also give him valuable experience in the field with observation and mapping. Finally, I added that if conditions were favorable, we would make every attempt to use the boats to return home so that it would make tracking us nearly impossible.

"It seems that Mist Runner and his friends have put much thought and care into this plan of theirs, Spirit Feather," Lore Master Stone Toucher observed.

"Indeed," said Lore Mistress Fire Weaver, "not only has great care been put into the plan itself, but also into the selection of who would be going on this adventure."

"I agree," added Lore Mistress Stream Chaser.

"Cloud Shaker, what say you in this?" Spirit Feather asked.

"I believe this is a sound plan and may very well work as envisioned. Of course, not everything always goes according to plan, but as I see it, they have taken reasonable precautions."

"Very well," said Spirit Feather. "Dahmietra, you know your people best, what is your opinion of this?"

"I have thought long and hard on this, Master, and if Foxfire's abilities have anything close to the effect on the men folk of my people as they have on me, then without them having someone like Mist Runner to pull them back into the here and now, they will likely be subdued for quite some time," she said.

"Then we are all in agreement," Lore Master Spirit Feather declared. "Proceed with your plan, Mist Runner. Warri, you may travel with them and do as you can to assist. However, you should keep in mind that there might be some risk involved here due to the potential volatile nature of the situation. You are not trained as a warrior, so if the others tell you to stay put or to fall back, do so."

"Thank you, Master. I will do my best," Warri said.

"And Foxfire," Mistress Fire Weaver added, "please be careful yourself, my dear...there is no guaranty of what might happen."

"I understand, Mistress," Foxfire said.

"Mist Runner, when do you and your friends plan to depart?" Spirit Feather asked.

"As soon as we can make arrangements for some of Warri's clan to meet us at the edge of The Great Forest with the boats and gather our supplies, we will leave. Once we leave our lands, we will travel by night as much as possible to cover our movements," I said.

"Very well then, good luck to all and may you all return safely to us."

Walking towards the stone archway to leave the Council Rock area, I talked with Warri.

"Well, looks like you're in for certain, Warri," I said patting him on the shoulder.

"Yes, Sire. I've never been on a trip such as this before, what would you recommend that I bring?" Warri asked.

"We should consider the possibility of being gone for at least three moons. So, you will need map making supplies--I would suggest two good weather tight scroll cases: one to hold your parchments and one to send your map of the location back to the main group. Try to keep breakables to a minimum, so make sure your ink is in something sturdy and well sealed. You have your knife, so make sure it's sharp, and you'll need a bit of grease to keep it from rusting. You'll need a flint and striker, some tinder and something to put it in so that it will stay dry. Bring two extra breechcloths, a bedroll, and you will need an oilskin cloak. I don't think you have one, so we'll see if we can get you one. Pack what you can in a shoulder bag, and the oilskin cloak you can wrap around your bedroll to keep it dry. Don't forget to bring your eating bowl, a spoon, and a water skin. Be prepared to have to make do with whatever materials are around you, just in case something breaks or gets lost. Got all that?"

"Yes, Sire," Warri acknowledged.

"Good, now, who do we need to contact about getting some boats?" I asked.

"Actually, Sire, I've already asked one of the message runners to contact someone in my village. I am hoping that they will arrive either this evening or by tomorrow morning to discuss it with you."

"Very good, Warri," I said, being rather impressed with his initiative. "Let me know when they arrive...I'll likely be at my den, or if not, with Grimm Tooth."

"Yes, Sire."

I left Warri and caught up with the others that Grimm had recruited.

"Brown Leaf, Night Song, Smoke Fire, Snow Spear...thank you for joining in on this little adventure."

"We're glad to be of help, Sire Mist Runner," said Night Song. "

Your help is greatly appreciated. If you have some time, I would like to introduce the four of you to Dahmietra," I said.

The four looked at each other quickly and each gave a nod, then Night Song said, "Certainly, Sire, we would like to."

I led the group over to Dahmietra and made the introductions.

"Dahmietra, I'd like for you to meet the rest of our group. This is Brown Leaf, she is our best guide and tracker; if you ever need to be found, she's the one you want looking for you. Night Song is quite a scrapper; she has about as much fun getting into trouble as she does getting out of it. Smoke Fire here is not only a fantastic shot with a bow, but also he's one of the fastest shots there is. Finally, this is Snow Spear, he's also one of our best trackers, and pretty good with that poker he carries; he'll be left in charge if Grimm and I need to be elsewhere for a while."

She greeted each in turn and thanked them all for joining us.

"I saw you the day Sire Mist Runner came back," Night Song commented. "Quite a change in clothing...I like it," she said smiling.

"Thank you...it's taking a little to get used to, but it is oddly comfortable," Dahmietra replied.

"Why do your people wear such loose clothing? We never have figured out why...it seems so impractical to us. It would be catching on all sorts of things," Snow Spear asked.

"Well, where we are from, it is very hot and dry, and close fitting clothing would be horribly uncomfortable," Dahmietra replied. "It is a very hard life in, as you call it, The Wastelands. Away from the water holes and the one river that flows through, there is little vegetation--small clumps of coarse grasses and widely scattered thorny bushes. Mostly it is sand and bare black rock; in some places, the rocks themselves have an inner heat and give off a choking smoke. Near my original home, one of the mountains had torn open and it spews fire and flaming rock, the ground trembles and hisses a deadly breath. That is why we could no longer live there and had to move away. The burning blood of the mountain destroyed anything and everything in its path. When it cooled, it hardened into twisted shapes."

Upon hearing Dahmietra's description of her homeland, I remembered when she had passed out after meeting Grimm Tooth for the first time. What we had seen in her mind with Master Spirit Feather's help, must have been her memory of her homeland when she left it.

"That sounds awful, Dahmietra!" Brown Leaf exclaimed.

"I can certainly see why your people left," said Snow Spear.

"Although I'm used to wide open spaces, I feel much happier here," Dahmietra said. "At least here there is life, and lots of it."

Red Moon and Foxfire were walking together and talking to each other while Grimm Tooth walked a bit ahead of them.

"Looks like we'll be leaving out soon...maybe tomorrow, or the day after at the latest I'm guessing," Red Moon said to Foxfire.

"I suppose so," Foxfire said.

They walked a little ways more before Red Moon spoke again.

"Are you okay, Foxfire?"

She paused a bit and then looked at Red Moon.

"It seems kind of strange...I've always enjoyed singing and dancing, but this time, I don't know...it just seems like something is all wrong."

Red Moon thought for a while on what her friend had said.

"I think I understand. This time it isn't for fun, this time we're doing things for a purpose and that is to save Dahmietra."

"I know, and I want to help her--and I will help her, I promised. However, you know me, Red Moon...I'd never hurt anybody, I don't mean to mess people up, I just want to make people feel good. I just want to share what I have inside me. But then they get all confused or something, I don't know."

Red Moon could tell that Foxfire was not her usual bubbly self. The idea that she was going to do what she did best to purposely befuddle a lot of people was in Foxfire's mind, the same as hurting them. Red Moon thought a bit and then came up with something. She grabbed Foxfire's hand, made her stop walking, and then turned face-to-face with her.

"Listen, dear, Dahmietra told me about how her people always fight among themselves, how they keep their males and females separated, they don't seem to really care about one another like we do. Maybe...maybe since they are from such a harsh place that they forgot how to feel good about themselves and each other, maybe they forgot what love really is about."

"That is so sad!" Foxfire was astonished by this thought.

"Foxfire, maybe this is the right place and the right time for you...these people are sorely lacking the simple joy of living that you have so much of. Think of it: you will have a big audience who has never felt what you feel. Maybe you can reach out to them in your way, through your song, and tell them what they have been missing out on for all of this time. Tell them how precious life is, tell them to love and be at peace with one another. They took themselves out of The Great Circle of Life and they have suffered as a whole for it, and this is their chance to throw aside their hate and fear and embrace life again."

Foxfire listened carefully what Red Moon had said and thought a while on it. Foxfire's face lit up and she smiled.

"You know, Red Moon, you're right! I'll just have to try and make them feel good," she said with a big grin. Foxfire tossed her arms around Red Moon and gave her a big hug. "Thank you, Red Moon! You're the best!"

"You're welcome dear...that's what friends are for, right?"

"They most certainly are!" Foxfire said with her usual bubbly excitement.

I caught up with Red Moon, Dahmietra, Foxfire, and Grimm as we headed back toward our dens.

"I asked Warri just after our meeting with the Lore Masters broke up, who we should contact in his village about getting some boats," I said.

Grimm looked at me and asked, "What did he say?"

"That he had already asked one of the message runners to go and contact a person in particular and that they should be here either this evening or by tomorrow morning," I replied.

Grimm raised an eyebrow and before he could say anything, Red Moon said, "That pup certainly has initiative."

"Indeed," said Grimm. "Warri most definitely seems to be able to anticipate what is needed, yet he doesn't seem to be overly ambitious. Perhaps he has some new ability that is beginning to manifest itself."

"Mist Runner? You can sense what people are feeling from a distance, correct?" Dahmietra asked.

"Yes," I replied.

"Has any of your kind ever been able to know what another is thinking?"

We all came to a stop.

"You mean, as in being able to hear in their mind the thoughts of anyone around them?" I asked.

"Yes," she said.

We all looked at one another.

"If you can feel what somebody else is feeling a ways away from them, wouldn't being able to hear what they're thinking just be the next step beyond that?" Dahmietra asked.

I thought a moment and said, "I suppose it could be."

"Wow, that would be...um, kind of spooky, thinking about it," Foxfire said.

"Could be both an advantage and a disadvantage," Grimm added.

"Or maybe it could be that he just has a sense of things before they happen," I said.

"That is another possibility," Grimm said.

"I will have to remember to ask him about it sometime," I said.

"I don't know about anyone else, but I'm getting hungry," Red Moon.

"Me, too," said Foxfire.

"Count me in, too," said Dahmietra.

"What do you think, Grimm?" I asked.

"If it is okay with my sister, we could all gather at our den...you bring what you can and we'll add that with whatever we have," Grimm offered.

"It's okay with me, Grimmie," Foxfire said.

"What do you two think?" I asked Red Moon and Dahmietra.

"Sounds good to me, dear," Red Moon replied.

Dahmietra also agreed.

"Okay, I guess we'll go see what we can come up with and then bring it over," I said.

We split up, with Grimm Tooth and Foxfire going on their way and the rest of us going back to our den.

On the way back, Dahmietra asked me if there was some way to keep her from turning into vegetable while she is around Foxfire.

"I don't know of anything that would help, other than just sit close to me and I'll try to do what I can," I said.

Dahmietra looked up at me and smiled. Her question got me to thinking about what lie ahead. When we get to this Great Gathering of religious leaders, and if things go well up to the point where Foxfire makes her appearance, how would I be able to resist succumbing to her influence especially since she will really be pouring her heart into it? And poor Dahmietra...being right there and in Foxfire's arms, catching the full force of it with no hopes whatsoever of blocking it? It will take everything I have to try to block it somewhat just within myself. Grimm Tooth is the only one known to be totally immune, yet I must be the one to stand with Dahmietra. Indeed, this is going to be interesting.

When we arrived at our den, we went through what we had with the thinking that since we were likely to be gone for a while we should use anything that wouldn't last. Dahmietra made that mashed tuber dish of hers, Red Moon took some of the cured meat we had left and boiled it with the herbs and spices from her collection while I did what I could with the fruit we had. When everything was ready, we covered the pots and carried them over to Grimm's den. Foxfire had cut up some crunchy vegetables into sticks and roasted some meat, and Grimm hauled some fresh water. We set everything up out under the overhang covering the front area and lit some oil lamps filled with specially scented oil that helped keep some of the flying insects at bay. We all sat in a circle with Grimm and Foxfire to his right, then Red Moon and me, and Dahmietra between Grimm and me. During the meal we purposely did not speak of the journey we would be leaving on soon, instead we kept the conversation light and told amusing stories or talked of other things. I did my best to block Foxfire's influence on Dahmietra and perhaps somehow with Grimm Tooth sitting on the other side of her, some of his natural influence may have helped counter it. Overall, we had a good evening together. Tomorrow would bring the preparations for the journey; tonight we enjoyed ourselves.

Dahmietra was still slightly fuzzy by the time we got back to our den, so Red Moon helped her get ready for bed. I helped Red Moon clean the pots and things from our meal and put them away. I had noticed that Foxfire had been somewhat quiet during our visit...maybe she was trying to keep from having too much of an effect on everyone, or maybe she was just thinking about the journey that lie ahead.

When Red Moon and I lay down, Dahmietra was still awake though not entirely alert.

Red Moon whispered into my ear, "I hope she will be alright."

"I think so," I whispered back.

Red Moon and I snuggled together under the covering and soon were drifting off to sleep. As I was letting my mind slip away, I felt Dahmietra shift her position and move so that she was next to me, like a child next to her parent.

When Red Moon and I woke in the morning, The Great Forest was waking from its own slumber as the birds and other animals had already started their daily routine, the flowers were opening up to catch the morning sunlight filtering in through the trees and there was the usual morning fog. Dahmietra was still asleep so we decided to let her sleep in. Red Moon and I gave each other a good brushing after we took care of the usual necessities one does after waking up, then Red Moon worked on something for first meal while I went to get some fresh water. I chatted with one of my neighbors who was getting water at the stream, and with a few of the other villagers either who had been up all night or who had not been up for very long. It was looking to be a fine day today.

"It will be good to get this over with," I said to myself on the way back to the den. "I just hope it all goes smoothly and quickly so that we can get back here and get on with things." I made it back to the den without meeting anyone else and took the water inside. Red Moon had some food already on the table and was waiting for me to bring the water in so she could get some tea made.

"Would you mind putting some water in the pot for tea, dear?" Red Moon asked as soon as I set the buckets down.

"Why, certainly my dear," I said with a sly smile.

After filling the teapot with water, I handed it to Red Moon...and kept a hold of it. She gave me a slightly exasperated look so I pulled her towards me and gave her a quick kiss.

"What was that for?" she asked with a questioning look.

"Oh, just because I thought you could use one," I answered with a wink and a smile. "

So what else do you think about at this time of day?" Red Moon inquired.

I gave a sly, teasing smile while rubbing my chin and replied, "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"I'm sure I could find out, dear...but first, let me have that teapot!"

I let go of the teapot and then bowed with a flourish. Red Moon gave a little "humph!" as she spun around and then walked back to the hearth, swaying her hips, and swishing her tail.

After she hung the teapot over the fire, we sat down on the furs together, holding each other. I had been gone making my trades for about three moons before the High Cleric approached me in the inn. Traveling to the enclave where I met Dahmietra and then bringing her here took a while longer. The time would hardly even be a blink of the eye to one of our kind, but Red Moon and I have always enjoyed our time together and to say that we have known each other a long time would be an understatement. I suppose we have had a long courtship and an even longer friendship, though now we will finally become bond mates when we return from this venture to save Dahmietra from her own people. This bonding is something that we do not take lightly. Once two of our kind becomes bond mates, it is for life...and it is for a very long life. I have found my one in Red Moon, and she found hers in me--we truly completed one another.

While I was away doing my trading, Red Moon usually spent the time searching for clays for making her pottery and gathering her herbs. During the cold months, we would make various balms, scented oils, and such and put them into the little clay jars that she would make, and then I would later trade those among the Eastlanders and some of the Wastelanders, as well as our distant cousins in the mountains for other things. My trading trips were usually uneventful, though I had a good reputation among those I regularly traded with and I was always able to bring back something interesting. Red Moon's pendant was something special that I had one of my friends in the mountains make. He had been working on it for a while--finding just the right stone, cutting and polishing it, making the setting for it as well as the chain, and finally engraving the poem I wrote on the back. What Red Moon didn't know about the pendant is that a few strands of our longer fur was braided together in a circle and encased within the gold.

This trip would be for quite a different reason than I usually make, and this time Red Moon was coming with me. While we have had peaceful relations with the Eastlanders from quite some time, dealing with the Wastelanders has always required more care. Dahmietra's people tend to be more volatile, easy to offend, suspicious of anything or anyone different, and can easily be incited to violence by their leaders. In every group of people however, there are those who are at both ends of extreme and many in the middle. It was the ones who were at the wrong end of extreme that I worried about. Taking Red Moon, Dahmietra and Foxfire into their midst was a major concern for both Grimm Tooth and myself.

Dahmietra woke up to find that she was lying by herself. She stayed in bed for a little while but then had to get up. After getting dressed, she came out into main area and said her good mornings to us on her way to take care of her necessities. Red Moon got up and checked the water to see if it was hot enough yet. It was already at a simmer, so she put the tea mixture in to steep and set the teapot aside so that it wouldn't boil. I got up, gave Red Moon a quick hug, and fetched the drinking bowls. Dahmietra had finished doing her morning necessities, washed up, and joined us for something to eat. She seemed a little blurry-eyed, but otherwise okay after an evening in Foxfire's presence.

"How are you feeling this morning, Dahmi? Did you sleep okay?" Red Moon asked.

Trying to stifle a yawn, Dahmietra replied, "Fairly good actually, on both counts. It was like going to bed all fuzzy from drinking wine, sleeping deeply, and waking up without feeling like you've been run over by a runaway cart."

Red Moon and I had to laugh at that description.

After we finished eating and having tea, we cleaned up the den: sweeping the floor, shaking out the furs, dusting and picking up. When we got all of that done, I pulled out my traveling gear and started going over everything and making note of what I needed. Red Moon went through her things as well and added to the list of things we needed. Dahmietra, of course, didn't have but the clothes and few things she was able to bring with from when she left the enclave.

"I guess we should go pay the shops a visit this morning and get what we need," I said.

"Okay, dear, might as well. Come on, Dahmi, we're going to get things we need for the trip," Red Moon said.

The three of us headed out together...first stop was to get an oilskin cloak for Dahmietra as well as for Warri, which I had promised him, and a good traveling bag for Dahmietra. We went around the various shops getting the basic items for Dahmietra, and whatever else that was on our list. When we had everything, we went back to the den and sorted it all out. I showed Dahmietra how to pack her things to keep the most used items handy, and how to keep the weight evened out. Red Moon and I got our things packed and ready, and then I went over my bow and quiver of arrows, and Battle Fang as well.

"Ayooo! Sire Mist Runner? Are you home?"

I heard Warri call for me so I got up and went outside to greet him. As soon as I stepped outside, I noticed that Warri was not alone. The older male accompanying him had a slight build for our kind, about Red Moon's height, and adorned in the custom of the lake clans.

"Sire Mist Runner, this is Boat Master Yureel from the village of Bridge Rock Cove, my home. Boat Master Yureel, this is Sire Mist Runner whom I spoke of."

"Welcome to Hope's Spring, Boat Master Yureel," I greeted the visitor from Warri's village. "Please, come and sit."

As Yureel and Warri were taking their seat, I poked my head inside and told Red Moon that we have a couple of visitors. I went back and joined Boat Master Yureel and Warri.

"My mate, Red Moon, will be out shortly with refreshments. I trust that you had a safe trip here, Boat Master Yureel?" I asked of our guest.

"All of the rain that got dumped on us yesterday caused the lake to raise some and the trail here was washed out in one place, but a little water won't stop me," Yureel said with a grin.

"I'm glad that you were able to make it on short notice," I said.

"I have not been up this way in some time, figured that I'd get around to it eventually. When your message runner arrived with word that you needed some boats for a trip down river, it seemed like a good enough excuse to come myself instead of sending one of my underlings," Yureel explained.

Red Moon and Dahmietra both came out to join us, bringing with them water and a light snack. I watched Yureel as he looked up at Red Moon, giving her a quick approving glance, then he fixed his eyes on Dahmietra.

"Boat Master Yureel, this is my mate, Red Moon, and this is Dahmietra, of the village of Zahr-Rey. Her village is located east of here, about half a moon's journey on foot at a hunting pace. Red Moon, Dahmietra, this is Boat Master Yureel of the lake clan village of Bridge Rock Cove," I said making the introductions.

"Sire Mist Runner, I made a copy of the map from the archives," Warri said as he handed a roll of parchment to me.

I unrolled it and gave it a quick look, "You did an excellent job, Warri." I laid the copy down on the low table we sat around, spreading it out for all to see. "Boat Master Yureel, this small river that comes from the lake and passes out of The Great Forest...do you know it very well?" I asked.

"Aye, been down it a few times myself. There is a small outpost here, at the edge of The Great Forest," Yureel said as he pointed out the location. "It's mostly used by the defenders as both a lookout and as a staging area if needed, though there are some folk who live nearby. There has been talk for a while about possibly using it as a trading post."

"That's interesting," I said. "What is the way like downstream from the outpost to this village?"

"It should be easy enough to float down, though with all of this rain we had recently there might be some snags to watch for. If you stay in the middle of the river it should be alright," Yureel said.

"I imagine getting back will be the interesting part," I said.

"Aye, it will depend on how fast the current is. If you are going to be gone for a while downstream, the water will likely be back to normal soon...as long as we don't get another big storm. The river normally flows at an easy pace, so you should be able to paddle back up stream," Yureel explained.

"We will need three smaller boats and one larger one," I said.

"Red Moon, Dahmietra, and I will be in one of the smaller ones; we have four defenders traveling with us, so they will us the other two smaller boats; Warri, Grimm Tooth and one other will be in the larger boat."

"Grimm Tooth, you say? Well, that explains why you need something bigger," Yureel chuckled.

Grimm Tooth is well known by all of the Five Eastern Forest Clans as well as the Lake Clans, since he has personally trained nearly all of the defenders from each clan, and his courage in battle is nearly legendary among them.

"Do you have the boats to spare for a while?" I asked. "We may be gone two, maybe three moons at the most, though if we do get to use some boats it will considerably shorten our trip."

"How far are you planning on going?" Yureel asked.

"We are going to this village first," I said pointing at the map. "We will send two up to Dahmietra's village to find a certain individual who should be nearby at a religious enclave. They will bring him back to the village so that we can find the exact location of the gathering. It should be within this area. As soon as she does what she needs to do, we are heading back to The Great Forest as quickly as we can."

"Aye, we can spare the boats you need, that is not a problem," Yureel said.

"Good. Can we meet at this outpost, then?" I asked. "It will save us some time if we can just cut across and meet you there."

"Aye, that will work to both of our advantages...we are sending some supplies to the outpost, so by bringing along the extra boats we can carry more supplies at one time and then you can take the extra ones from there," Yureel said.

We worked out the details of the arrangement between us, with some input by Warri and Red Moon. Dahmietra stayed mostly quiet, though I could tell that she was paying careful attention to what was going on.

Boat Master Yureel left shortly after we finished making our arrangements so that he could make a few quick trades before heading back to his village. Since they were already planning on making a supply run to the outpost, he said that it would take very little time to add the four boats that we would need to the run and they would be on their way fairly quickly after his return. I gave Warri the oilskin cloak that I bought for him and I also loaned him my spyglass so that he could get a good view of what was going on at the gathering of Dahmietra's people.

"Red Moon, I'm going to tell Grimm that we got the boats and that we're almost ready. I'll be back shortly," I said.

"Okay, dear...oh, could you give something to Foxfire for me, please?" she asked.

"Certainly" I replied, wondering what she wanted me to take to Foxfire.

Red Moon ducked inside for a moment, came out with a small bundle, and handed it to me. As I took the bundle from her, I held both it and her hand for a few moments, sharing a look and touch that can speak more between two who share the level of intimacy that we do without saying a word. Reluctantly I withdrew my hand and left, keeping the empathic link between us for a while more as I made my way to Grimm's den.

"Ayooo! Grimm! Are you home?" I called out when I arrived at his den.

"Come on in, Mist Runner," Grimm called back.

Since Grimm and I considered ourselves to be practically family, we were not as formal with each other as we might be with others who came calling. I went on inside and found Grimm sitting while going over his gear.

"Good news, Grimm--we got the boats. As soon as we are all ready, we can leave out," I announced.

"That's good. Will they bring the boats to meet us at the edge of The Great Forest?" Grimm asked.

"Yes," I said. "And not only that, I found out that there is a small outpost there, too. Boat Master Yureel, who is the one from Warri's village who came today, said that they were about to make a supply run to the outpost, so they are going to add the four boats that we need and bring them along. He mentioned that there has been talk for some time about making the outpost a trading post and there are some people who already have made dens near it."

"Sounds like the beginning of a new village," Grimm said thoughtfully.

"At least having an outpost with defenders just inside the boundary of The Great Forest might be good just in case we should be chased that far," I said.

"Think they might try to follow us all the way back?" Grimm asked.

"Well, you know how fanatical they can be...poke a stinger's nest and the swarm will chase you a good distance, and then nobody had better go near it for days afterwards," I said.

"Well, hopefully they won't be so pesky this time," Grimm said with a smile, "besides, we have a 'secret weapon'."

We both chuckled, knowing that he was referring to his little sister, Foxfire.

"Oh, speaking of 'the secret weapon', is she here? Red Moon asked me to give this to her," I inquired, showing Grimm the small bundle that Red Moon gave me.

Grimm pointed towards the back, and I went on back to see Foxfire.

"Foxfire, Red Moon asked me to bring this to you," I said, so that I wouldn't startle her.

"Oh, hello Mist Runner!" Foxfire greeted me with her usual cheerfulness. "Oooo, is that what I think it is?"

"I have no idea what it is, Red Moon just asked me if I could bring it to you," I replied.

She carefully took the small bundle and held it, looking at it as if she had just been handed a priceless treasure. After a moment or two, she set the bundle down near her things that she was packing for the trip. When Foxfire straightened up again, she threw her arms around me and gave me a strong hug. I wasn't prepared for her to do something like that so the "Foxfire effect" hit me a little stronger than usual. Blocking Foxfire's aura from across a room is one thing, while she has her arms wrapped around my neck and pressing close to me is quite another matter. After a few moments of her holding me, she drew back a little, put her hands on either side of my face, and looked me in the eyes.

"This is for Red Moon," she said giving me a kiss on the cheek.

Foxfire looked at me again for a moment, cocking her head slightly to one side and dropping her ears a bit.

"And this is for you."

She kissed me again, gently, and for a little longer, on the lips. This was totally unexpected. I felt very strange, almost like the first time I ever experienced Foxfire's power when she was much younger and had absolutely no measure of control over it. All I could do was to give her a questioning look--"why?" Foxfire had her ears and tail dropped down as she replied to my silent question.

"Mist Runner...I...I'm sorry, I shouldn't have."

I could feel her emotions, and they were very nearly overpowering me. "Foxfire..." I said in a near whisper, "I understand, and it's okay."

I returned her hug and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. I took her hands in mine and even though I was struggling, I tried as best as I could to project happy feelings into Foxfire. After a few moments, she looked up at me and started to smile again.

"So, how are you coming along with your packing?" I asked Foxfire, trying to change the subject.

"Oh, I'm getting there. Grimmie has been helping me sort out what bring," she said a little sigh.

"Well, I'm sure that between the two of you, you will be ready in no time," I said trying to be cheerful. "I need to get back home; I promised Red Moon that I wouldn't be gone long. Foxfire?" I waited until she looked up at me. "Hold that thought," I said with a smile.

I went back into the main area where Grimm was still sitting. He looked up at me and saw the weakness I felt. He'd seen it too many times to not notice. I plopped down on the fur cushion next to Grimm and held my head in my hands. Grimm saw that I was trembling as I tried to clear my mind.

"She did it to you again, eh?" he asked softly.

"My friend, there are days I envy you," I replied barely above a whisper.

"That bad?" Grimm asked.

"She hugged me, tightly...then she kissed me...twice. Once on the cheek, said that was for Red Moon...the second time was...on the mouth, slowly, said that was for me," I managed to say. Grimm waited for me to go on. "She said that she was sorry, that she shouldn't have done that...I...just said that it was okay, that I understood."

Grimm sighed and put his hand on my shoulder.

"You know she has admired you since she was a cubling," Grimm said. "My little sister thinks you would be the best mate."

I looked sideways at Grimm.

"Well, if she were to ever find anyone to be with, I would hope that they are no worse than you are. And I mean that as a compliment," Grimm said with a wry smile. "However, you and Red Moon are happy together...you two are a good match for each other."

"Thanks, Grimm. Are you ever going to let anyone else into that big heart of yours? Surely there must be someone who has caught your eye after all this time, my friend," I inquired, even though I knew what his answer would be. Grimm glanced at me and then looked down at the floor. He remained quiet for a few moments, though when he raised his head again I could see a bit of sadness in his eyes.

"I lost a part of myself that night--that flood took the love of my life from me, and you know as well as I that there will never be anyone else who could fill that hole in me," Grimm said quietly.

I reached over and put my hand on Grimm's forearm.

"I understand, my friend, we both lost someone dear that night, as did many others. I know what she meant to you, though...there's not a day that goes by that I don't miss that quirky smile of hers," I said wistfully.

Grimm smiled sadly, as we both sat and quietly remembered.

"I'm more concerned about her," Grimm said quietly after a while, looking in the direction of his little sister.

I thought for a bit on that.

"She has you, though I know your sister well enough that she needs more than a brother to give her a place to stay," I said finally.

Like Grimm, I too, had many long turns of the seasons of being alone, dotted here and there with a few brief relationships. Bane Flower was one that lasted a little longer than the others did.

We had met during one of the very first battles with the Eastlanders, long ago when they first started to make permanent dwellings. Her hunting party had come upon one of their first crude villages and tried to make contact with them. Neither could speak the other's language, and apparently there was a misunderstanding that led to someone feeling insulted. A fight ensued, which in turn led to the whole village attacking Bane Flower's hunting party. Several were wounded, including Bane Flower herself. Unfortunately, her love mate at the time, Sky Stone, was part of the hunting party and his injuries were severe. They traveled as fast as they could under the circumstances to return to The Great Forest, but the primitive Eastlanders who chased them outnumbered them. Grimm and I were in the area and we heard their howls for help, so we ran as fast as we could to find them.

We caught up to them just as the Eastlanders were about to attack--I picked off a few with my bow before Grimm Tooth charged into their midst. As I closed the distance, I unsheathed Battle Fang and summoned its dreadful power. Every stroke that I landed on an opponent, Battle Fang's blade glowed with an eerily howling, swirling blood red light as it sucked the life force from its victim. Any wound I received while wielding Battle Fang was instantly healed. Grimm Tooth was swinging his large curved sword with its wickedly pointed edges, roaring his battle rage, mowing down all before him. The battle was over quickly...none of the Eastlanders escaped with their lives.

While Grimm Tooth worked to calm himself away from everyone, I tried to do what I could the help those of the hunting party who had been injured, starting with Bane Flower's love mate. Unfortunately, he was too far-gone for me to save, though I tried the best that I could. If I had been able to get to him sooner, perhaps I could have healed him enough that he could have been taken to a stronger healer, such as Lore Mistress Fire Weaver. I tended to the wounds of the others, even though trying to save Sky Stone had cost me much. Bane Flower never forgot how I tried to save her love mate.

After a respectable amount of time had passed, she and I crossed paths one day. We hit it off and eventually became friends, then more than just friends. One day she left on a trip to our mountain cousins with a couple of others. They were supposed to be back before the snows came, but a freak early snowstorm caught them and Bane Flower became separated from the others. After the snowstorm had passed the others tried to find her, but all traces had been erased in the blowing snow. A hunting party had gone looking for her, to see if they could find her--either alive or dead. They never found any traces, and had to give up once the season of the white cold came.

Seasons came and went, and still no word. We assumed that she was lost to us, and we howled for her. Three turns of the seasons later, the trees alerted us to someone entering The Great Forest, so a hunting party was sent to investigate. They spotted a lone figure--thin, barely able to walk, who they discovered was Bane Flower. She was in bad shape: dirty, malnourished, and injured, with sores around her wrists and ankles. Bane Flower either couldn't or wouldn't talk for some time. Lore Mistress Fire Weaver and I tended to Bane Flower in her own den where she insisted on being through grunts and hand signals. I stayed with her many days and nights, often just gently holding her. I could sense deep down inside that she had been hurt more than just physically, but she never spoke of it to anyone. Her physical wounds were healed, and in time, Bane Flower gained her normal weight back. She resumed her training, and worked harder at it than the others, though she pushed herself more than she should have, sometimes until she dropped from exhaustion. Personality-wise, she was changed. Bane Flower grew more distant from her friends and acquaintances, and more sarcastic and bitter. When others would become offended by her behavior, I always stood up for her, though it became more and more difficult to put up with her over time. Eventually Bane Flower made it clear that she wanted to be left alone, so I did as she wanted. Red Moon and I had a long on and off relationship, so I ended up starting to see her again. Bane Flower had lost her chance with me, though I still chose to remember her as she used to be. The incident outside of the bathhouse the day I came back with Dahmietra only proved that.

"Grimm?" I said coming back to the present, "This might seem a bit strange, but...after accounting for everything else, I rather enjoyed it when Foxfire hugged me. The kiss was nice, too."

Grimm just smiled at me.

"As long as we're sharing such things, I have one for you," Grimm said.

I looked at my friend with a raised eyebrow.

"A few nights ago, when you were leaving, Dahmietra gave me a hug before waving good bye to Foxfire. Then when she turned to walk out, she looked down and away...and touched me before heading out. Foxfire thinks that Dahmietra has taken a liking to me. But, she's so young."

"Grimm," I said, "when she's an old woman, she'll still be too young. Besides, you know as well as I that we're both older than the hills," I added with a chuckle.

"Don't remind me," Grimm said, rolling his eyes. "But still, it was rather nice...even if she isn't one of our people."

"Dahmietra does kind of grow on you, doesn't she," I asked.

Grimm just nodded his head.

I still was not quite myself by the time I returned home. Red Moon knew me well enough to know that something wasn't right. I motioned for her to follow me to our sleeping area so that we could have a private talk. I hung Battle Fang back on the wall and then lay down on the furs. A look of mild concern flashed across Red Moon's face and she lay down next to me, facing me.

"What's wrong, dear?" she asked and I paused, trying to find the best way to describe to Red Moon what happened.

"After I handed your little bundle to Foxfire, she caught me off-guard," I said.

"How so?" she asked.

I related the incident with Foxfire to my mate.

"By the Great Circle, Red Moon, it was nearly too much! I probably would have been back sooner if...," I explained and Red Moon pulled me close and held me, letting me rest my head on her shoulder. She could smell Foxfire's scent on my fur.

"Shhh, just be still and rest awhile, my love. I know how Foxfire feels about you...we've talked about it."

I gave Red Moon a questioning look.

"Later, dear...sleep now."

"Red Moon?" I asked.

"Yes dear?"

"I love you."

Red Moon smiled and kissed me.

"I love you, too."

Dahmietra and Warri were still sitting out front talking quietly with one another when Mist Runner returned home.

After he and Red Moon went back to the sleeping area, Dahmietra said, "He doesn't look so well...I wonder what happened?"

Warri looked rather intently in the direction of the doorway for a bit, and then softened his expression as he said, "He seems to have been affected more than usual by Dam Foxfire."

"How can you tell that, Warri?" Dahmietra asked.

Warri pointed to his nose and said, "I caught her scent on him as he walked by."

"How? I didn't smell anything," Dahmietra said.

Warri smiled softly.

"Our noses are much more sensitive than yours, Dahmietra."

"I supposed the rest of your senses are as well," Dahmietra said.

"Well, our senses of smell, hearing, taste and night sight are, certainly. I think during the daylight we see about the same as your kind. I don't know about touch...," he trailed off as they met each other's eyes.

They looked at each other for a long moment, and then Dahmietra quickly looked away. Her cheeks colored slightly as she felt a wave of embarrassment come over her. Warri wasn't quite sure what to think...his remark about touch started out innocent enough, but after he said the words, the thought of touching her face suddenly leapt into his mind and he didn't understand why.

Warri is like other young males his age, in that he has begun to take an interest in females. Because of his studies, he doesn't have as much time to socialize, as most of his peers, but there are two females his age that he likes. Dahmietra, however, is as alien to him as he is to her, yet he has for some reason taken a liking to her almost right away. For Dahmietra's part, she also found herself taking a liking to Warri, though she couldn't figure out why. Dahmietra had found that she thought about Mist Runner a few times and even about Grimm Tooth (after her initial shock, of course). Maybe it was just because they have been nice to her and care about her more than any of her own kind ever did.

Before she left the enclave, Dahmietra loathed the thought that she might end up being made to marry a man who was forty turns of the seasons or more older than she was...and here she is, mildly entertaining the thought of the possibility of being with someone who could well be many thousands of turns of the seasons! Even if she lived to a ripe old age for her kind, her entire life would pass in barely the blink of an eye to The People of the Forest. She has somewhat of an idea as to how old Mist Runner and Grimm Tooth are, but Warri...she wasn't sure. Dahmietra guessed that he would be about sixteen turns of the seasons. Among her own people, it was considered impolite to ask someone their age, but she remembered Mist Runner telling her that his kind speaks plainly and if she didn't know something that she should just ask.

"Warri, forgive me for asking, but I'm curious--how old are you?"

Warri gave Dahmietra a quizzical look.

"I'm only thirty. When I reach one hundred, I'll be fully grown."

Dahmietra's jaw dropped open and Warri noticed her astonishment.

"At first we grow very quickly," Warri explained, "by the time we are three turns of the seasons old, we are about your size. After that, we don't grow as fast. I should be about the same as one of your males who is coming of age."

"You mean that in seventy turns of the seasons, you will age the equivalent of only two?" Dahmietra asked incredulously.

Warri nodded his head.

"After that, our aging basically stops. Oh, we will ever so slightly become more mature looking, like Lore Master Spirit Feather, for example. I'm not sure how old he might be, though I know that he is much older than Sire Mist Runner."

"The weight of so much time upon him...it must be incredible!" Dahmietra exclaimed.

"Time doesn't have the same meaning for us, Dahmietra," Warri said.

"But by the time you are fully grown, I'll be dead from old age," Dahmietra said sadly.

She stood up and walked a few steps away, looking off into the distance. Warri quietly stood and moved beside her. He stood there for a moment, and then he took her hand into his.

"Dahmietra, come whatever may, I'll never forget you."

Dahmietra looked at Warri and said, "You're just saying that. You'll forget about me eventually," she sniffed.

"No, I won't...though, I find that I wish you could live longer," Warri said.

This took Dahmietra by surprise; in fact, Warri surprised himself by saying it.

"What is it about her that draws me, so?" he thought to himself.

"Warri, that's not possible...is it?" Dahmietra asked.

"I don't know...I've seen something on an ancient tablet that mentioned a reference that might have something to do with that. I will find that tablet again and read it more closely," Warri said.

"But what if it turns out to be nothing?" Dahmietra asked.

"There has to be some reason why we're immortal and you're not. If there is any way that you could at least be given a longer life, I will try to find it," Warri said.

"And if there isn't?" asked Dahmietra.

"Then I will content myself to be happy with whatever time we may share each other's company," Warri said.

Dahmietra looked at Warri and asked, "You mean that?"

Warri turned to face her directly and gently placed one hand on her cheek.

"Yes."

Dahmietra gave a little gasp as Warri touched her cheek. She looked into his amber eyes and saw only tenderness there.

"Oh, Warri, we're so different!" she thought to herself. "When I am old and gray and wrinkled, will you still look at me the same? You will still be a youth, barely different from how you are now."

Warri could hear in his mind what Dahmietra was thinking. He had discovered that he could sometimes hear what others were thinking just as he also could sometimes see things before they happened. He had not thought about trying to send his thoughts to someone else...until now.

"Yes, we are different, but maybe only on the outside, Dahmietra."

"_Gasp!_Warri! I heard your voice in my head!" Dahmietra exclaimed in a whisper.

"You heard me?" Warri looked astonished.

"Yes! You said, 'Yes, we are different, but maybe only on the outside, Dahmietra'...I heard it just as plain as day!"

"I've never tried that before, until now," Warri said.

"Can any others of your people do that?" Dahmietra asked.

"I've not heard of it, though there could be others," Warri replied.

"Try it again, but a little further away," Dahmietra suggested.

Warri took a step back and tried again.

"You have beautiful eyes."

As soon as he sent the thought, Dahmietra blushed.

"I guess that you heard that," Warri said with a sly grin.

Dahmietra nodded her head with a shy smile.

"Okay, I'll try from over there," he said indicating the other side of the front area.

When he was in place, he tried sending his thought again to her.

"Are you getting hungry yet?"

"Yes, I am," Dahmietra said. "That was a little softer, Warri."

He walked back to where she was standing.

"Maybe there is a limit to how far it works," Warri said.

"You said you've never done this before, right?" Dahmietra asked.

Warri nodded his head.

"Well, maybe it just takes some practice."

"I suppose so, like everything else," Warri said thoughtfully. "Dahmietra, I did mean what I said about your eyes."

For the second time in about as many minutes, she blushed again.

"Thank you, Warri." Dahmietra stepped closer to Warri and she gave him a hug.

Grimm Tooth stood at the entrance to his den and watched as his long-time friend Mist Runner made his way back home. He could tell that his walk was still not quite steady, though with some rest and Red Moon's care, he would recover soon. Even though Mist Runner's particular talent enabled him to block to an extent his little sister's effect that she has on everyone else, Grimm knew that if Mist Runner's guard were ever down, he would be affected much more quickly and strongly. And so it happened today. Grimm loved his little sister and would do anything to protect her, but at the same time, he was very concerned about everyone else who they will be traveling with on this journey. Unfortunately, Foxfire still didn't have much control over her abilities, and he was hoping that everyone would still be sharp by the time it came to do what they had to do. He was especially concerned about Warri, since the young lad would be sharing the same boat as both he and Foxfire.

Grimm walked back inside and shut the door. He picked up the little project that he had been working on, recalling Mist Runner's words about Dahmietra. He was right, of course--in the tremendously long span of his existence, she would be like one of the streaks of light seen in the night sky, a brief flash and then gone while he would continue to be. Grimm could only imagine how his friends Mist Runner and Red Moon will feel when the time comes since they were adopting her. If they had a cub of their own, Dahmietra would grow old and die before their little one would be fully-grown. Everyone seems to be taking a liking to Dahmietra...no doubt when her time comes, the whole village of Hope's Spring (and maybe others as well) would howl for her. Well, best not to think of that just yet. Grimm resolved to enjoy the little time she would be among them. He looked again at his little project...a piece of antler carved into the likeness of Dahmietra.

After Mist Runner had left to go home, Foxfire sat quietly on the pile of furs she used as a bed, not feeling very happy with herself. She reached under a bundle of fur that she used as her pillow and pulled out an old doll that her dam had given her when she was a little cubling. Around its neck was a little trinket that Mist Runner had given her before she underwent her own coming of age ritual. She had kept it close to her for all of these turns of the seasons. Whenever Foxfire had felt lonely or sad, as she was now, she would hold the doll and hum an old song that her dam would sing to her as a child. When Foxfire finished humming the tune, she fingered the little trinket, remembering when Mist Runner had given it to her. It was shaped in the head of a howling wolf made of an iridescent white stone set into a disk of silver. On the back was engraved in tiny letters:

Sing,

Dance,

Love.

-MR

(see her pendant here)

Foxfire thought about when Mist Runner had given it to her--"Sing with the voice of the Moon that calls sweetly to us, dance with the grace of the stream that quenches our thirst, and love life with all your heart" he had said then. Foxfire had always looked up to and admired Mist Runner because he was always so patient with her and explained things when her older brother would rather be a humorless old rock that wasn't about to move for any reason. Not that her brother didn't have a sense of humor--he did--he just didn't show it much. Mist Runner was also the only one other than her brother that could be around her for any length of time without turning to slush. But today she had almost let her desires get the best of her. When Mist Runner handed Red Moon's bundle to her, she wanted to thank him--and her--for it, but then when she hugged him and smelled his scent it was almost more than she could stand. And unfortunately for Mist Runner, it was almost more than he could handle. Even though Red Moon was much older than Foxfire, the two of them had been friends for a long time. Red Moon was the only other person whom Foxfire was close to, and they were almost like sisters just as Grimm and Mist Runner were almost like brothers. Red Moon had known how Foxfire had felt for Mist Runner and of course, Foxfire knew how Red Moon felt about him. Thankfully, Red Moon wasn't jealous of her, and both she and Mist Runner were very understanding. Still, Foxfire felt bad about what she had done...and had wanted to do. She made up her mind that she would have to tell Red Moon and beg her forgiveness.