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

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Chapter 06 - A Timeless Love

The area we arrived in was wooded, though the trees were much younger than the ones in The Great Forest and not nearly as large. We decided on taking only what we needed to carry with us and left the rest hidden with the boats. Before heading out, we gathered and I went over the details.

"According to the High Cleric, the gathering place is located near a small cliff not far from these woods. Warri, you should have a good vantage point from that cliff, though the area should be checked out to make sure no Wastelanders--or anyone else for that matter--are also hiding up there. Try to make a map showing where the Wastelanders are camped at, where the actual gathering location seems to be, what cover is available, a place we can meet up at and also an alternate location in case something happens, and if you can see any roads or paths into and out of the place. Snow Spear, you and Night Song will go with Warri. Once you are sure it's safe up there, get to work on that map and take notes on what you see; Night Song, when Warri gets everything down, run it back to us...and try to avoid being seen by anyone."

"Where will you and the others be at so I can find you?" Night Song asked.

"We'll get as close to the south end of the cliff as we dare, then the three of you will go up there and do what you need to do and we'll wait below," I replied. "I don't know if any of the Woodland People are still in this area--if you should happen to run into them, I hope they will be inclined to help. They have no particular liking for either the Wastelanders or the Eastlanders, though they did side with our kind when fighting the Dark Blood Clan in the past. Are there any other questions? No? Okay, let's head out while we still have some darkness. Brown Leaf, take point--everyone stay sharp."

We made our way from the river through the woods towards the direction of the cliff, which was situated in some low hills. In very ancient times, the main river that flows from the mountains to the far north in a generally southerly direction--the Silver Mist, as we call it--once flowed through this area, though during the time of The Long Cold its direction had changed a bit to the east and left the cliff where we are heading towards. The Woodland People used to live in this area for many generations of their kind after The Long Cold, though with the coming of the Wastelanders, they were seldom seen anymore. The ruins of some of their villages can still be found in these parts. I have heard stories in Alnakh's inn told by travelers passing through of "animal 'demons' that walk upright". At first I thought it was just the drink loosening their tongues and causing them to tell tall tales for the attention it gave them, but then my own kind have often been referred to as "demons" by the Wastelanders, as are all other races sufficiently different from their kind. I began to take a quiet interest in these stories, trying to determine where these beings were seen. The first light in the east was appearing when Brown Leaf made a discovery--a tribal boundary marker made by one of the Woodland People. Warri, being the walking archive of knowledge that he is, examined the marker and said that it was likely one used by the Skunatii. "I remember them," Grimm said with an uncharacteristic hint of regret and sadness in his voice. I remembered them, too...and I knew that Grimm was remembering one of them in particular. "She's been gone a very long time, Grimm," I said softly.

Grimm knelt down in front of the marker and fished a small object out of his pouch. He looked at it for a long moment and then with a sigh, he placed the little figurine on the marker. I didn't know that he had been carrying it for all of these turns of the seasons...it was a carving of him and a Skunatii female holding each other.

Her name was Kurietta--we had met her during one of our wanderings that Grimm and I made during The Warming, when the Woodland People first came to these parts. Kurietta was a little taller than Dahmietra, with the lithe and well-toned body of a tribal dancer. Most females are put off by Grimm's sheer size and powerful build, but Kurietta had felt an immediate attraction to him. She was confident and fearless, charming and gorgeous. Although Kurietta was of a different race, Grimm was quite taken by her, and she became one of only a few females he ever really became close to. Kurietta traveled with Grimm and me for several turns of the seasons and they grew inseparable. I was happy for my old friend because he had finally found someone who loved him for who he is and without any reservation. We had returned to her village one spring, and they were going to announce their plans to join, but a massive storm hit the area with heavy rain and high winds for several days. During one night there was a flash flood that hit the village, sweeping away many of the buildings and people. Grimm, Kurietta, and I helped many try to make it to higher ground before they were swept away in the raging waters. As we were trying to make it to higher ground ourselves, Kurietta was knocked off her feet in the current and yelled for help. Grimm plunged into the water after her trying to grab her hand...he almost had a hold of her when something in the water hit them. Kurietta was knocked away and the last thing we heard over the roar of the water was her voice saying "I love you!" as she was carried away. We searched for many days afterwards, but never found her. Grimm howled mournfully all night when we came to the painful decision to give up the search. He has never spoken of her since, though I know she is still in his heart. The little figurine only proves what I've known for so very long a time.

I gently placed a hand on Grimm's shoulder and said quietly, "Come on, Grimm, Dahmietra needs us now." He looked up at me and I could see the sadness in his eyes. Grimm closed his eyes and nodded his head once, and then gently kissed his hand and touched the figurine. Very softly in the language of the Skunatii, Grimm said, "I love you too, Kurietta."

One by one, each of us laid a hand on Grimm's shoulder as we walked past, with Red Moon and Dahmietra last and waited a short distance away. Dahmietra gave Grimm a hug and kissed him on the cheek, and then took hold of his hand. Grimm looked at the marker and the figurine one more time and sighed again, before slowly standing. As they began to walk towards the rest of us, Warri suddenly got an odd look on his face.

"Sire...something very...strange..." was all he could manage to say.

I was about to ask what was the matter when there was a little flash of light behind Grimm.

"Did you see that?!!" Brown Leaf exclaimed in quiet awe, pointing towards the marker.

"I saw it, too!" Night Song said a hushed voice.

"Grimmie, your carving...it vanished!" Foxfire said excitedly.

Grimm and Dahmietra both turned around and looked--sure enough, the little figurine that he had just placed on the marker was gone! Dahmietra gasped loudly and held both of her hands to her mouth as she sank to her knees.

"The Blessed Ones have heard you, it must be!" she said reverently.

"I...don't understand," Grimm said, being totally confused for the first time in his long existence.

Before anyone else could say something, Foxfire stood beside her brother, put her arms around him, and said, "True love is the strongest of all magic, Grimmie, you'll see."

Foxfire gave Grimm her "I know something you don't" look and started walking in the direction we were heading. Grimm looked at his little sister and then at me.

I shrugged my shoulders and said, "I don't know what's happening, but I think we're going to find out."

We walked in silence for some time, each pondering what had happened at the tribal boundary marker. Seeing the marker and knowing that he was once again in the territory where he had met the only female that he had truly given his heart to, brought back a lot of memories to Grimm--including the all too painful memory of his last moments with Kurietta. The look on her face as he almost had a hold of her hand, getting hit by something in the cold water, her expression as she was being swept away...and the last words he ever heard from her lips. In all of the many turns of the seasons since that fateful night, his love for Kurietta still burned bright in his heart of being--not even Time itself could diminish it, nor his pain. And now The Great Circle seemed to be bringing him back to where he had met Kurietta...and lost her. Grimm had carved the figurine and was going to give it to her when they announced their plans to join in her village, but when she was taken from him that night, he kept it as the only physical reminder of the unique relationship they had. Grimm looked at his little sister as they walked along and wondered what it was that she knew. Foxfire always seemed to have a peculiar awareness that no one has ever been able to figure out.

Eventually we came to an area where we discovered the ruins of an ancient village. It had probably been long picked over long ago by those seeking artifacts to sell, though Wastelanders tended to avoid ruins of any sort, and ancient ones in particular. Even though the buildings had been knocked down by natural forces and crumbled with great age, there did seem to be something disturbingly familiar about the layout of the ruins to both Grimm and myself.

"I think we've been here before, my friend," I said as we looked around some.

Grimm didn't say anything at first; he just stood there looking around as if he was trying to remember how the village originally looked.

After a few moments it seemed that he finally remembered and said as he started walking towards a particular group of old crumbled walls, "We have."

I followed Grimm to the ruins of a building that might have been a house at one time. He walked through what once was a doorway and turned to the right and went to the end of the structure's remains.

"This was her room in her parent's home," Grimm said quietly as he sat down in a corner.

I came over to where he was sitting and asked, "Are you okay?"

After a moment or two, he nodded his head and then looked up at me.

"I'd like to be by myself for a little while, if you don't mind," Grimm replied.

"Certainly, old friend, I'll be over by that tree with Red Moon," I said pointing at a good-sized tree that was nearby.

Grimm thanked me and I smiled, patting him on the shoulder, and gave him his space.

"How is Grimm?" Red Moon asked when I came over to where she was waiting.

"He found what's left of Kurietta's parent's home; he's sitting in what used to be her room--he wants to have a little time to himself," I answered.

I sat down by the tree and patted the ground next to me for Red Moon to join me.

"It has been a very long time since he and I were here last," I said quietly. "I remember how all this happened," I said motioning with my hand at the ruins we were now in.

"Who was this 'Kurietta' you mentioned?" Red Moon asked me.

"Kurietta was a Skunatii female that--believe it or not--Grimm fell in love with and she with him."

Red Moon's jaw dropped. "Yes, they were a rather unlikely match, but they were quite happy and had become inseparable. In fact, they were going to be joined."

"Were? What happened?" Red Moon asked with concern.

I recounted the story of how Grimm met Kurietta and what had happened.

"Oh, poor Grimm!" Red Moon said with tears welling in her eyes.

"He's never been quite the same since," I continued. "I didn't know that he had been carrying that little carving of him and her together all of this time, and I certainly didn't imagine that we would stumble upon the ruins of her village. This has brought back a lot of memories for him--good and bad. The incident at the tribal marker has shaken him, and since the others never knew about Kurietta, they don't understand what's bothering him so. I don't know if Foxfire knows about her or not, since it was before she was born...but it's always been hard to tell what she knows or doesn't."

"You're right, it is hard to tell...though I don't know how, she's a lot more aware of things than she lets on," Red Moon said.

"Poor Grimmie!" Foxfire thought to herself, seeing her brother sitting by himself in what was left of small building. "He still loves her deep in his heart of being. Well, my dear brother, the door has been opened...now bring her home so you won't have to be alone anymore." Foxfire watched her brother from a distance for a few moments, and then cocked her head as if she was listening to something. A smile came on her face and she whispered quietly, "Soon now, my brother..."

Grimm sat on the ground next to the remains of the wall in Kurietta's room and remembered how it used to look, so long ago.

"Her bed used to be in this very corner," he thought to himself.

He suddenly felt very tired for some reason so he lay down to rest his eyes for a bit. Before he drifted off to sleep, he thought about Kurietta--he missed her so! Whenever anyone else was around, even if it was just Foxfire, Grimm was ever the stoic...but when he was alone, his thoughts would always turn to the one great love of his life, Kurietta. Now, as has happened many times since while he slept, a single tear would form--born of both the happiness he had felt when they were together, and also of the great sadness from losing her. In his heart of being he cried out, calling her, reaching out to her...always hoping that somehow her spirit could hear him and find the way back to him. In the darkness he saw several shapes walking towards him, softly illuminated by some warm, white light. He could hear them speaking to him, and as they grew close he was able to recognize their faces. "You remember us, Grimm Tooth of The Great Forest? You risked your life to save us in our time of peril, and in so doing you lost that which you held so dear." They were the people of Kurietta's village that they had saved from the floodwaters so long ago! The Skunatii, like the other Woodland People, were not immortal like Grimm's people...these spirits were of those who he had helped save and therefore were able to live out their lives. "We that you see now have waited a very long time for you to return, as we knew one day you would. Someone else has also waited for you..."

The group parted and one stepped out from behind them and took a few steps forward.

"Grimmster? Is that you?" It was Kurietta!

"I'd better help Grimmie," Foxfire thought to herself. She found a suitable spot not far from where her brother was and knelt down on the ground. She reached into her bag and pulled out the small bundle that Red Moon had Mist Runner deliver to her before they departed on the quest. Foxfire set the bundle down on the ground before her and then carefully opened it. She selected one item and then carefully wrapped the bundle back up and put it away in her bag. Next, she dug into her belt pouch and removed four small stones, placing them about a hand's length apart in each of the four directions. In the center she place the small bundle of dried herbs that she had removed from the things Red Moon had sent her, and taking her flint and striker got one end of the bundle of herbs to burning. When the herbs were giving off a sufficient smoke, she leaned back and prepared her thoughts for what she was going to attempt.

"Mother, I hope I have your strength to do this so that I can help Grimmie like how you taught me," Foxfire said in her mind.

She recalled the words and began the song, letting the magic flow.

Dahmietra and Warri were not far from where Red Moon and I were sitting--Warri was telling Dahmietra about the Skunatii people when suddenly he got a strange look on his face and quit talking.

"Warri, what's wrong?" Dahmietra asked with concern.

I nudged Red Moon and pointed at Warri.

"He has that same look he had back at that tribal marker!" Red Moon observed.

We exchanged glances, got up, and went over to him.

"Warri, are you sensing something?" I asked. Hearing the concern in our voices, the others quickly joined us.

"Sire...we're...not alone," he replied slowly.

I started reaching for Battle Fang when he held up his hand for me to hold.

"No, Sire...they...don't mean us any harm." Warri still had a far off look in his eyes.

"Who, Warri?" I quietly demanded.

"Unseen Ones...they've come back...and there's something else."

Unseen Ones--spirits of those who have left this life yet stay close to those still living for whatever reason. Before I could ask what else he was sensing, I heard words being sung. Everyone else heard it, too, and we all looked in the direction the song was coming from. At first, the words sounded very strange, until I realized why--they were in an ancient form of our language, from the earliest days of our people, and the world.

"By The Great Circle! I have not heard that since...," I trailed off as I stood and started walking towards the voice.

Red Moon and the others looked at each other in confusion and followed me to the source of the singing. As I came around a corner of a fallen down building, I stopped dead in my tracks--Red Moon, who was following close behind, ran into me. As everyone came around the corner and saw what had made me stop suddenly, they couldn't believe their own eyes. Foxfire was kneeling on the ground with the smoke from the dried herbs wafting around her as she sang the ancient words. Her body was softly shimmering with a silverish light and gradually getting brighter. "What is she doing?" Red Moon whispered. "She is singing the words to a spell-prayer...one that that is very ancient. Only those with the purest of hearts and great spiritual strength can even attempt it...I didn't know that she had learned this from her dam," I whispered back. "Quiet now, do nothing to break her concentration!"

"Kurietta? Am I dreaming? How can I see you, unless...," Grimm said.

"No, silly, yer still quite alive...and just how I remember ya, too! And no, yer not dreaming either," she replied.

"But I lost you! So long ago...I never stopped loving you, Kurietta! But I couldn't save you...I failed you!"

"Grimmster, ya did save me...just not in the way ya tried. It's too hard to explain, and I'm not sure I understand it...I just know that ya did. And here I am, so take me home already!"

Grimm was confused...this was something that maybe only his dam, who was one of the First Ones and a priestess-shaman of The Great Mother, would have the power to do.

"Kurietta, believe me that I love you with all my heart and there is nothing more that I can desire than to be with you again...but I don't know how to bring you back!"

"Well, fortunately, my love, I think we have some help."

Before Grimm could ask, a brilliant silver-white light appeared between them. The light was blinding, yet it caused no pain...a form seemed to take shape within it, a form with piercing blue lupine eyes that spoke with a gentle voice.

A hand reached out to the spirit form of Kurietta and the voice spoke, "Take my hand, sweetie...there, that's good! Now, my brother, take my other hand...quickly, now!"

Grimm reached out to the silver-white hand, and as soon as he touched it, it seemed familiar to him. The shape pulled them towards each other...closer, closer...finally they touched! Grimm felt his fingers wrap around Kurietta's wrist, and her fingers around his...as much as she was able to.

"Okay, on your way now, you two!" the voice said to them.

They felt a falling sensation just as Kurietta looked back and waved with her other hand to her friends.

"The Great Circle has given you two another chance...don't waste it! Go to the heart of oldest part of The Great Forest, and take your friends with you...you'll know what to do when you get there," Kurietta's friends said as she and Grimm fell back...or they were pulled away.

When Foxfire finished the song, she remained motionless for what seemed only a minute, and then she collapsed. Just as we rushed to her side, there was a flash of light coming from the remains of the structure where Grimm was.

"Foxfire, are you okay?" I asked with great concern as I sat her up and held her, checking for her life-beat.

Red Moon sat down and put her arms around her friend.

"Talk to us, dear...are you okay?"

"M-m-m...oh, hi. Gee, this is nice...but would you help me up? I really need to check on Grimmie," Foxfire said as she came around.

Red Moon and I exchanged quick glances and then helped Foxfire up.

"I hoped that worked...I don't think I could do that again anytime soon. Oops, sorry...I feel kinda woozy."

Foxfire almost fell after we got her up on her feet, but we kept her steady.

"Maybe we should set you back down," I suggested.

"Oh, I'll be okay in a bit...mother told me this would happen. Some tea would be nice, though. Oh, my rocks...just a minute, you two, I might need them again."

Foxfire bent down to pick them up so that she could put them back into her belt pouch...and almost pitched over in the process. Luckily, Red Moon and I still had a hold of her, so she didn't fall. "

Whoa there, Foxfire, easy does it," I said as we steadied her again.

"Thanks, guys...I really need to check on Grimmie," she said.

"Okay, dear, let's take you to him," Red Moon said.

We started walking towards his direction, keeping Foxfire steady--working the magic took a lot out of her and while she really needed to rest to recover her strength, her desire to check on her brother was very strong. We had only walked five or six paces when I felt an incredibly strong burst of emotion--from two people--and coming from his direction!

"Foxfire, what did you do? Grimm's not alone over there!" I exclaimed in shock.

She got a smile on her face and said, "I helped Grimmie bring her home, now he won't be alone anymore."

Red Moon and I looked at each other with wide eyes and open mouths.

As Grimm's mind gradually came back to consciousness, he kept his eyes closed trying to hold on to what he saw in what must have been a dream. He slowly became aware of sounds first--birds chirping, and voices of his friends in the distance; then he felt the ground against his back and a sweet, musky scent filled his nose. Then he became aware of something else--a warm body lying next to him with an arm across his chest and face nuzzled against his neck, breathing slowly. He slowly opened one eye a little, not sure who was next to him...yet, the scent while familiar, was not one he had smelled since...when he saw the luxuriously long black and white fur on the head resting on his shoulder, he couldn't believe his eyes!

"Wha...! By The Great Circle! Kurietta, is that you?"

"Mmm...Grimmster? Keep it down will ya hon? Ya'll wake the dead...wait...I was dead...I think, wasn't I? No, musta been just a bad dream. Mmm, you feel soooo good! Oh,frazzleberries! It's daylight already...sigh, I guess I'll see what's for breakfast."

Kurietta yawned and then opened her eyes the rest of the way.

"What the...!What happened to my house?"

Kurietta rose up on one arm and looked around--all of her things were gone and it looked like they were in an old abandoned ruin.

"Kurietta, it_is_ you! I can hardly believe my eyes!" Grimm exclaimed, sitting up quickly and looking at her. "

Well, that's a great way to greet the love of yer life in the morning," she said, sticking her tongue out at Grimm.

"But, you've been gone...don't you remember? The flood...you, Mist Runner and me, we were helping your people get to higher ground, you lost your footing in the water and I jumped in after you. Then something hit us just as I almost had a hold of your hand and you were swept away...I never saw you again after that." Long held back tears began to flow down Grimm's cheeks. "I never stopped loving you, Kurietta, not after all this time...," his words choked off as his emotions rushed to the surface. Kurietta looked at him oddly at first, and then her memories of that time started coming back.

Her face became sad, "Now I remember...," she said, looking down.

After a moment, her eyes caught something that had fallen to the ground between them. She picked it up and looked at it, not wanting to remember what had happened that night in the storm. It was a little carved figurine of her and Grimm Tooth holding each other.

"Grimmie, are you okay?" Foxfire called out as we came to the ruined house.

There was no reply right away, but we soon discovered why--Grimm was too busy fiercely hugging a small black and white furred female. After a moment, he popped an eye open, looked up at us, and then gently pulled back. Kurietta looked up and was startled to see others standing nearby.

"Uh, Grimmster...I don't seem to have any clothes," she whispered in his ear.

"By The Great Circle, I don't believe my eyes!" I exclaimed loudly.

I was about to give Kurietta a hug almost to match the one Grimm gave her when she held one hand up while covering herself with her other arm and her bushy tail, and said rather embarrassedly, "I don't suppose anyone happens to have a spare cloak or something I could use?"

I froze instantly as I realized why and then grinned shyly.

"Ah...certainly," I said only to discover that I had left my bag and cloak back at the tree.

"Give her mine," Grimm said, pointing at his.

I picked it up, unrolled it, and then draped it over her. Kurietta wrapped Grimm's cloak around her like a blanket and used the strap like a belt to secure it.

"Okay Misty,now hug!" she flashed me the quirky smile I remembered her having.

With tears running down my face I gave her a long hug...recognizing her scent and also sensing her feelings, as well as sending my happiness at seeing her alive again.

"Kind of like a family reunion, right guys?" Kurietta said at last, sniffling, pulling both Grimm and I towards her and hugging the both of us.

There were a few coughs and throat clearings as the rest of our group reminded us that they were still there.

"Misty? Hmm, I've never heard you called that before, dear," I heard Red Moon say with a bit of playful sarcasm.

Kurietta looked up to see who spoke and then looked up at me and asked, "Who's the dish?" as she pointed a thumb in Red Moon's direction.

"Grimm, if you will...?" I indicated for him to make the introductions.

He introduced Red Moon first, then Foxfire. When Kurietta looked up at Foxfire, she suddenly got wide-eyed.

"I..._know_ya!" she blurted out. "And...I remember seeing someone else like ya once before, when...," she trailed off suddenly, not wanting to remember.

Foxfire knelt down and held Kurietta's face in her hands, saying, "It's okay, sweetie, time enough for all that later. What's important is that you're here and you and my brother can be together again."

"Brother...?" Kurietta started to say, though she was beginning to feel very strange.

"She's my little sister, Kurietta," Grimm said. Foxfire stood back up and stayed near Red Moon because she was still feeling the after effects from the spell-prayer. Grimm went on to introduce the rest of the group.

When he got to Dahmietra, Kurietta said, "Wow, I've never seen your kind before. What do you call your people?"

Dahmietra looked up first at Grimm and then to me with a very confused expression. It took a moment to sink in before I realized why Dahmietra looked confused.

"Grimm, we've been speaking in our language...Dahmietra doesn't understand our words yet."

Grimm switched to the Common Tongue, introduced Kurietta again, and translated what she had said. When Dahmietra replied, it was Kurietta's turn not to understand. It took a moment before it dawned on us: the Common Tongue wasn't invented yet in Kurietta's time. Grimm and I had taught Kurietta our language during our travels together, and she had in turn taught us the language of her people...as it was several thousands of turns of the seasons ago. No doubt it had probably changed significantly since then, if any of her people still existed to speak it.

Dahmietra whispered into Warri's ear, "Why is she wearing Grimm's cloak like that?"

Warri replied using his 'mind-speak' ability, "Apparently, she came back into the living world with nothing but herself."

"And we're a long ways from any village, most likely," Dahmietra replied in her thoughts.

"Cedar Knoll is the closest, though it will be several days before we can return," Warri agreed.

"I brought my old clothes with me in case I might need them...well, I'm going to need at least part of them for something, but maybe she can wear my long tunic for now," Dahmietra suggested.

"That's a good idea...she seems to be about your height," Warri agreed.

Dahmietra dug into her traveling bag and pulled out her long tunic. Kurietta and Grimm were talking with the others, so Dahmietra walked up to Grimm and tapped him on the back.

As soon as he looked down at her, Dahmietra held out her long tunic and said in the Common Tongue, "If it will fit, maybe your lady friend can wear something of mine until she can find something else."

Grimm smiled at Dahmietra and touched her cheek, "That is really nice of you, Dahmietra." Switching languages, Grimm told Kurietta about Dahmietra's offer of clothing.

"Gee, thanks...I'll try it on," Kurietta said.

Grimm interpreted for Dahmietra. Kurietta and Grimm went to a corner that was still standing and while shielding her with his cloak, she put on Dahmietra's long tunic. Since it was designed to be very loose fitting, Kurietta was able to pull it on with no trouble. It came down to about mid-thigh on her, though there was one slight problem--no hole for her tail.

"Well, it fits...kinda feels like something a girl would sleep in, and it doesn't have an opening for my tail, but hey, it'll do for now," she told Grimm as she came out from behind his cloak. "Thank her for me, will ya Grimmster?"

Grimm thanked Dahmietra for lending her tunic to Kurietta. Dahmietra, being the observant type, noticed how her tunic held down Kurietta's bushy tail.

"Grimm, if she will allow me, I think I might be able to make a quick adjustment so it will be more comfortable. I have a needle and some thread in my bag."

Grimm slightly raised an eyebrow and asked Kurietta.

"Well gee, Grimmster, I don't want to ruin her clothes just to have some wiggle room...but, if she really wants to, sure."

After Grimm interpreted what Kurietta said, Dahmietra replied, "It's no problem, I wasn't planning on wearing my old clothing after we do what we have to do at The Gathering. It'll only take me a few minutes to make an opening for her tail. I'm sure Moon Dancer could make something when we get back home."

While Dahmietra was working, I pulled Grimm aside to speak with him privately.

"We're going to have to keep her safe somehow until we get home. I know this is going to give you more to worry about than just having your sister to protect."

Grimm nodded his head in agreement.

"My friend, you know me better than anyone...except maybe Foxfire. You know how I was when I lost her. If you hadn't held on to me, Mist Runner, I would have gone after her."

"I could only save one of you, and you were closest. Whatever it was that struck you in the water hurt you pretty bad and it took all that I had to heal you," I said. "She was--is--my friend, too, and it tore me up just as bad as it did you--for her and also for you. I don't know how Foxfire was able to bring Kurietta back...when I asked, all she said was that she had to help you so that you wouldn't be alone anymore."

Grimm thought on that for a bit and then said, "You know, it's odd in a way how she seems to take after our dam at times...but then again, perhaps not. You are right...with Kurietta having been brought back it does complicate things for me--and us--a bit, as far as this quest is concerned. Once we get home again though, we can work out the rest," Grimm said, being practical as always.

"But I'm sure you're not complaining that she's back," I said teasingly.

"Of course not, you know I wouldn't," Grimm said with his usual deadpan look...though I could tell that he was cracking just a bit of a smile.

Using only her knife and her needle and thread, Dahmietra very carefully made an opening for Kurietta's tail in the tunic she had given her for something to wear. After getting her tail through the opening, Kurietta swished it back and forth, and up and down a few times to make sure it was sufficient. "Ah, that feels much better! A girl's gotta be able to move her tail, ya know," she said with a wink. Dahmietra looked up at Red Moon who had been trying to fill Kurietta in on what they were doing during the alteration. Red Moon smiled and told Dahmietra what Kurietta said. Dahmietra just shook her head and smiled, and then put away her needle and thread.

We decided that as long as we were in the ruins of Kurietta's village, we might as well make a small fire for some tea and have a little bit to eat. Everyone was curious and wanted to know more about the only female Grimm Tooth was serious about. Brown Leaf sat up on top of a wall that a nearby tree had grown up next to, providing her with concealment but allowing her a good view of the whole area. While stories were being told, Warri was secretly retelling them in the Common Tongue to Dahmietra using his mind-speak ability. Foxfire was sitting next to Red Moon and me, though she remained quiet for the most part. She was actually quite pleased with herself for pulling off bringing Kurietta back to the living world again. If it hadn't been for their dam foreseeing the events of so long ago and taking steps to make sure that Kurietta would be able to return with the aid of another priestess-shaman of The Great Mother, Foxfire would never have been able to complete the task. Grimm Tooth never suspected that his little sister had followed in the footsteps of their dam, who has been one of the most powerful of all their kind. Foxfire drank her tea slowly, which helped her regain her strength after casting such a powerful spell-prayer. What lie ahead though will push Foxfire to her limits so she had to be ready.

While we were preparing to leave, Kurietta pulled out the little figurine from a pocket she had discovered that was hidden in the side seam of the tunic so that she could ask Grimm about it.

"Hey, Grimmster, do you know what this is? I saw it fall between us after we came to a while ago."

She held up the figurine for Grimm to see. Grimm looked rather surprised to see her holding it.

"You say it just fell out of thin air between us?"

"Yeah, it just came out of nowhere, like somebody was standing over us and dropped it," Kurietta said with a rather puzzled look on her face.

Grimm actually felt a little shiver run down his spine and he looked around and then up.

"I've never given much thought about the spirit world--that was something my dam has always been involved with. I made that when we were together...before," he trailed off with a pained look on his face. "I was going to give it to you when we announced our intention to join in your village. I've carried it with me all of this time because it was the only physical thing I had of our time together. I didn't know that we were near your tribe's territory--so much has changed since then--until Brown Leaf discovered a tribal boundary marker. Warri recognized it from his studies, and then everything came rushing back--for both Mist Runner and I. I had placed it on the marker and recalled the last words you had said, and that's when I kissed my hand and touched it and said 'I love you, too, Kurietta' in the language of your people. As we were walking away, there was a little flash of light and we found that the figurine had disappeared."

"Gee, Grimmster...maybe somebody is trying to tell us something, ya think?" Kurietta asked softly.

"After what I've seen so far today, perhaps that is so," Grimm agreed.

"Well, since you haven't given this to me yet...," she said as she put the figurine in Grimm's hand, "...I guess better late than never, if you still want to go through with it that is."

Kurietta had the quirky grin on her face as she continued to hold Grimm's hand.

He knelt down before her, holding both of her hands in his and said in the Skunatii language, "Kurietta of the Skunatii, I have loved you for all these past thousands of turns of the seasons since we were separated...neither floods, death, nor Time itself has been able to diminish how I feel about you. I still love you, and now that we've been given a second chance, I still very much wish to be your mate...will you have me?"

Kurietta knew in her heart of being that she had truly found a love that could never be broken.

"Grimm Tooth of The People of the Forest, I also have loved you...despite being, er, dead for a while, and I love you still. Before my entire village...what's left of it, anyway, and if the spirits of my people can be with us to hear me say this...I accept you as my mate. Now, kiss me like you mean it!"

Kurietta threw her arms around Grimm's neck and kissed him with all the passion she could muster. Grimm's own spirit howled within him, as they were finally able to say what they had waited so terribly long to for. He kissed her in return just as passionately, and would have forgotten everything else and taken her right then and there if it wasn't for the howls and hugs and kisses of his friends who had witnessed their pledge to each other--with Mist Runner translating their words. Others, too, had gathered around to witness, and give, their long overdue blessings; only Warri and Foxfire were aware of the presence of the spirits of Kurietta's people, however.

After a short while, we packed up and continued along our way towards the south end of the cliffs. We made fairly good time despite the undergrowth and lack of any sizable game trails. By mid-afternoon we arrived at the cliffs and went up the nearest hill far enough to get a bit of a view of the surrounding area. The High Cleric had said that this location was picked for the gathering because of the distances between the various villages and small cities that the participants would be coming from. He himself would be arriving by wagon along a road through the hills, bringing his aides and a small contingent of guards. We were to watch for a wagon with a blue banner that has a single silver star on it.

"Looks like they are still getting the area set up," Brown Leaf noticed.

"Good, then perhaps we'll have some time to scout out the area more thoroughly. If we're lucky, maybe I can pay a visit to the High Cleric without too many people noticing," I said.

"We should make certain that no one else is going to try and make use of the cliff--it would be an excellent place to put spies, lookouts...or assassins," Grimm noted.

"Good point, Grimm," I said. "

Too bad we don't have anybody with recent knowledge of this area to help us," Night Song added.

"Hey guys, that gives me an idea...don't know if it'll work, but I can try at least," Kurietta piped up.

"What do you have in mind?" I asked.

"Well, we used to have something like this 'Common Tongue' of yours among the Woodland People...it's probably different by now, but maybe it might work if anyone is around still...those guys down there will probably just think it's normal critters chattering."

"Hmm, must be

kind of like what we use while hunting," Brown Leaf said.

I didn't see why not, so I nodded my head for Kurietta to go ahead and try. Cupping her hands around her mouth, Kurietta let out a high pitched series of short barks and other sounds and then waited a bit to see if there was any kind of a response. The workers below who were setting up for the gathering, paused for a moment when they heard the sounds, but soon continued with their work. None of the Wastelanders seemed to take an interest in Kurietta's calls, so she tried again in each of the other directions.

There was no immediate response that we could tell, so she just shrugged her shoulders and said, "Maybe no one else is around here anymore."

"You might try it again later, maybe from a different spot higher up on the hill," I suggested.

"Sure, Misty," she replied, as her enthusiasm diminished just a little. But then Kurietta got her quirky smile back and wormed her way under Grimm's arm and put her arms around his waist.

"Well, I guess there isn't much to do for a while, except to stay low and out of sight until it gets dark," I decided.

"Sire?" Warri said to get my attention.

"What is it, Warri?" I asked, motioning for him to come nearer.

"Perhaps while it is still light, we should go ahead and climb the hill so that we can get a good look of the area and I can start making my map of it."

I smiled and rubbed my hand on top of his head between his ears.

"Always the thinker," I said with a light chuckle. "Okay, the three of you go ahead," I said motioning to both Night Song and Snow Spear. "If you run into anything or happen to see something important, we'll be right here. Oh, and Night Song...don't throw anyone off the cliff, okay?" I added with a grin.

She got a wicked smile on her face and said with a wink, "Wouldn't think of it."

Kurietta got a puzzled look on her face and looked up at Grimm, "What was that all about, hon?"

Grimm watched Night Song for a moment as she walked away and shook his head.

"She_is_ nuts," Grimm commented under his breath.

Grimm explained to Kurietta what had happened at the inn.

"Red Moon mentioned something about it, but didn't mention that."

"That's because she wasn't there--only Mist Runner, Foxfire, Night Song and I went to the inn that night," Grimm said.

"Oh. I bet that was hard on ol' Misty," Kurietta said with concern.

Grimm looked at Mist Runner and thought a moment.

"We've known each other all of our lives, ever since we were cublings...in all that time I've only known one other thing that has caused him that much pain, though at the time I was...," he trailed off, not wanting to remember.

Kurietta looked up at Grimm and saw the sorrow wash briefly over his face, and then she saw him struggle to replace the look with a wistful grin. "Time enough for that later...right now we're together again and that's all that matters," Grimm said.

"Ya got that right, Grimmster," Kurietta said as she grabbed his hand and led him over next to some bushes and sat down, pulling him down with her. "Hold me."

Snow Spear, Warri, and Night Song proceeded up the hill trying to move as quickly and quietly as they could, scaring up a few small animals along the way when they were nearly on top of them. They didn't spot anything unusual, no signs that anyone else had been in the area, so after finding a suitable place to view the area below they scouted around the hill some more. Eventually they discovered a road that worked its way through the hills and went to the gathering site.

"Looks like that might be the road from Cedar Knoll," Snow Spear observed.

"Could be," agreed Night Song. "It sure would be nice if we had someone to watch the road for that High Cleric so Mist Runner could catch him before he joins the rest."

"If he doesn't arrive soon, I would imagine that he will want to stop and make camp before nightfall, since they don't like to be out at night," Warri suggested.

"Probably so, lad. Well, let's get back up to the top of that cliff so you can get started doing what you need to do," Snow Spear said.

They made their way back up to the spot they had picked out earlier and got settled in. Warri got to work drawing his map of what he could see of the area and making notes. Snow Spear, with his tracker's eyes and experience, helped fill in details that Warri might not have thought to note. Night Song kept watch a short distance away, though she was feeling bored.

"Well, it looks like Sire Grimm Tooth is now on the 'unavailable' list," she thought to herself. "For having been dead for such a long time, Kurietta is rather lively...not bad looking, either. Still, I wish them well. Maybe she'll loosen him up some." Night Song smiled to herself. The thought of Grimm being the romantic domestic type almost made her start laughing out loud. "I wonder what that Salzar guy is up to," Night Song caught herself thinking about the older guard back at the village. "Now I know I'm bored!" she thought, shaking her head.

After about an hour went by, Warri finished making his map and his notes, and was ready to have Night Song take them back down to the rest of their group. Trying to be quiet, Warri reached out to Night Song with his mind.

"Dam Night Song...," he began, only to be cut off.

"Warri, you don't have to call me that! Gee, I'm not that old!"

Warri had used the honorific out of respect since she is older than he is. However, if she didn't want him to use it, then that was her prerogative.

"Ah, okay, as you wish," he replied. "I'm ready for you...," he began, but she jumped in and cut him off again rather playfully.

"Hmm, you're a little young, but okay...I'm game if you are."

Warri was caught off guard at that remark, and her thoughts made him rather embarrassed. If he could have, his face would have turned red. Snow Spear, not being privy to the silent exchange, saw Warri's embarrassed expression. Wondering what could suddenly make him be so embarrassed, Snow Spear looked over at Night Song who was a little ways away and saw the grin on her face.

Shaking his head, Snow Spear looked back to Warri and asked, "Is that ready to go to Sire Mist Runner?"

Warri nodded his head and handed the map case to him. Snow Spear got up, went over to Night Song, and handed her the case.

"You messin' with the lad, Night Song?" he asked quietly with a stern look on his face.

"Who, me? Why would I do that?" she asked innocently.

"Because I know you, Night Song...he's only thirty, you scamp, the poor lad can hardly tie his own cloak, let alone handle you," Snow Spear chastised her. "Now, get that to Sire Mist Runner before I whip your tail!"

Night Song gave Snow Spear a sly grin and asked, "Promise?"

Snow Spear frowned and said with growing irritation, "Get moving!"

Night Song lowered her ears and her tail and sighed. Knowing that Snow Spear wasn't in any mood for her usual brand of humor, she headed on down the hill towards the rest of the group.

"Gee, I was only joking," Night Song mumbled as she walked along. "Sire Mist Runner has his mate, Sire Grimm Tooth has his long, lost love again, Smoke Fire seems to be taking a bit of an interest in Brown Leaf, and of course I know Warri is too young...though I'd bet a tankard of Eastlander ale that he's thought of getting cozy with Dahmietra. Not that I'd blame him--she is kind of nice, for a Wastelander. And Snow Spear...he's no fun. I guess that leaves me and Foxfire." Night Song thought about her for a bit. "Hmm, when we get back home, Kurietta is going to be moving in with Sire Grimm Tooth...so I wonder what Foxfire is going to do. Two females in one den, I'm sure that's going to go over well. Unfortunately, Brown Leaf is right--I have too much stuff and don't have the room for anyone else to move in with me. Besides, I'd be a drooling basket case in no time, just like everyone else that gets too close to her. Poor Foxfire, I feel sorry for her--she can't have any fun without turning someone's head to slush."

When Night Song got close to where we were waiting, she announced her arrival by using a pre-arranged hunting call, which was answered by Brown Leaf.

"Sire, Night Song has returned," Brown Leaf announced.

"Ah, good, it'll be interesting to see what they discovered," I said.

I let myself have a good stretch and then got up to meet Night Song.

"How is it up there?" I asked when she handed the map case to me.

"We didn't see any traces of anyone having been up there recently, though we did see a road that comes through the hills from the west," Night Song replied.

"Any sign of the High Cleric's wagon?" I asked.

"No Sire, he doesn't appear to be here yet."

"Well, that could be both a good and bad thing, I suppose," I said.

I opened up the map case, took out Warri's map, and spread it out on a fallen tree trunk. Grimm and the others gathered around for a look at Warri's handiwork.

"The lad is certainly thorough, I'll give him that," Grimm said admiring the work.

The area that Warri--with Snow Spear's suggestions--had mapped out had a clearing near the cliff, though there seemed to be brush and scrub trees growing next to the base of it. Around the clearing was a lightly wooded area where it seemed the participants were setting up their campsites. There were wagons and tents, temporary pens for the animals that pulled the wagons, a place had been set up for the cooking and serving of meals, and there was a wooden platform being built in the clearing for the actual deliberations. By the road, there was a small guard post--apparently, it served to show the arriving participants where they were to turn off the road at and where to make camp. It seemed that each one of the various religious leaders brought their own small number of guards, though there didn't seem to be any large units...at least not yet.

"So far there don't seem to be any large groups of warriors to worry about," I observed.

"Gee, guys...from what ya told me, if this thing was so all-fired important to these folks, ya think the place would be swarmin' with warriors," Kurietta said using our speech.

Red Moon translated what was said to Dahmietra, who thought for a moment and then came up with an idea.

"Traditionally, the final location for each of the previous four 'Gatherings' were always kept secret, being known only by the High Cleric and the leaders of the various orders so there have never been large amounts of warriors present. And since this is the fifth, which has special significance, it might also quite possibly be the last--if the two main factions end up splitting apart altogether. If that happens, it's going to be bad for my people."

Red Moon translated what Dahmietra said so that Kurietta could understand, and then added, "That would make sense--large groups of their warriors would draw a lot of attention."

"Let's hope no one decides to go against tradition--there are not enough of us to take on a large force," Smoke Fire said quietly.

We all murmured our agreement on that.

"Night Song, might as well head back up the hill...keep an eye out for that High Cleric and let me know as soon as you spot his wagon," I instructed.

"Yes Sire. Do you want me to take that back up with me so Warri can add to it if he needs to, or do you wish to keep it?" she asked pointing at the map.

I gave a quick glance to Grimm, who gave a small nod towards the hill.

"Go ahead and take it with you, I think we have a good idea what's where for now," I said, rolling the map up and putting it back into the case.

As I handed it to Night Song, she gave a quick nod and then was on her way back up the hill to rejoin Snow Spear and Warri.

Red Moon noticed that Foxfire had been sitting by herself, apparently lost in thought, so she went over and sat down beside her.

"Thinking about anything in particular?" she asked her friend.

"Huh? Oh, hi Red Moon. I was just thinking about things mother told me about," Foxfire said.

"Like what?" Red Moon asked.

"You know mother is a seer, right?"

"I remember you telling me that once," Red Moon answered.

"I've never told Grimmie this, but mother knew about Kuri long ago...and what would happen. She told me how she wove a spell-prayer so that Kuri could return one day, but she needed me to help finish what she started when the time was right. Poor Grimmie had to suffer without her for so long!" Foxfire said with sadness in her voice. "But he's better now, I can feel it," she continued with a look of satisfaction on her face.

Red Moon put her arm around Foxfire's shoulder and hugged her.

"I never thought of your brother as being a romantic type. This is going to be interesting," Red Moon said getting a smile on her face, "I can just imagine the looks on everyone's faces back home when they see Grimm and Kurietta together."

Foxfire grinned and said, "Yeah, having a Skunatii dancer in the village is going to be something."

"Dancer?" Red Moon asked with a puzzled look on her face. "Your brother, the big, stoic Grimm Tooth, fell in love with a dancer?" Red Moon asked incredulously.

"You'll have to ask Mist Runner about that, he can probably explain it better than I can," Foxfire said still grinning.

"I just might do that," Red Moon said, glancing over at her mate. She thought for a moment and then turned her attention back to Foxfire. "Are you going to be alright, dear?" she asked.

Foxfire nodded her head and gave Red Moon a hug, "I'll be okay...we just have to do this one more thing and then we can head home."

"Okay. I'm kind of anxious to get home, too," Red Moon said.

When she stood up to go back to Mist Runner, Red Moon felt rather light-headed--not so much from standing up, as from being so close to Foxfire. Although she loved her friend dearly, the "Foxfire effect" always made it difficult to be near her for very long.

"That's interesting," Red Moon thought to herself, having noticed a change in sensation when she was sitting next to her friend.

She wondered what that could mean, so she made it a point to ask Mist Runner about it.

Since there wasn't much to do for the time being, everyone drifted into small groups: Red Moon, Dahmietra and Mist Runner sat together while Kurietta and Grimm found a spot for themselves, and Brown Leaf and Smoke Fire kept an unofficial watch together. Only Foxfire sat by herself--she normally would have been sitting with her brother, but since Kurietta was back in his life again, she felt that she would be intruding on their much-needed private time. The thought that Grimm finally had his long-lost love back made Foxfire happy...yet, she also felt a certain twinge of wistfulness as well as feeling even more alone herself. Foxfire absentmindedly fingered the little pendant she wore around her neck that Mist Runner had given her when she came of age. Letting out a long, slow sigh, Foxfire drew her legs up in front of her and wrapped her arms around them, resting her chin on her knees. Dahmietra, who had been quietly watching everyone while listening to Mist Runner and Red Moon talk, noticed Foxfire sitting by herself. Everyone else seemed to be sitting with someone else, though Dahmietra found that she rather missed Warri's company--it seemed odd in a way, but she was becoming rather fond of being with him. Maybe it was just because they were both young and had no one else their age to be with, she reasoned, not yet ready to accept that there might be another reason. Still, seeing Foxfire sitting by herself and looking very lonely made Dahmietra excuse herself and walk over to where she was sitting, knowing that she was taking a big chance by not having either Mist Runner or Warri to shield her from Foxfire's aura. Dahmietra sat down right next to her, and without saying a word, put her arm around Foxfire's shoulders, and hugged her. Foxfire saw Dahmietra walk towards her, but her mind was on other things and was taken a bit by surprise when Dahmietra sat down next to her and gave her a long hug.

"I thought you could use one," Dahmietra said, looking up at her.

Foxfire hesitated a moment, then slowly put her own arm around Dahmietra and hugged her back. Foxfire's fur felt warm and very soft against her face, and she noticed that it still had the same smell of fresh air after a storm and of delicate flowers. Red Moon's and Mist Runner's fur had taken on a more woodsy scent, as had everyone else...except for Foxfire's. Dahmietra hoped that her own scent wasn't becoming offensive, for she felt that she could really use a good bath after so many days of traveling.

"Thank you, sweetie" Foxfire said quietly as she held Dahmietra close to her.

"Foxfire, can I ask you a question?"

"Why certainly dear. What's on your mind?" Foxfire inquired.

"I was wondering...have you ever heard of a mortal and an immortal being together?" Foxfire didn't have to think on that for an answer.

"Certainly, there's a perfect example right over there," she said nodding in the direction of her brother and Kurietta.

"The Skunatii aren't immortal like your kind are?" Dahmietra asked.

"Oh no, none of the Woodland People are, I'm afraid. Although, I think they might live a bit longer than your people do, dear," Foxfire replied.

"So, Kurietta is in the same fix I'm in then," Dahmietra said.

"It would seem so," Foxfire agreed.

"Warri told me once that he thought that he had read something on some ancient tablet that made a reference about possibly extending a person's life."

Foxfire thought for a moment, and then said, "You might have to ask my dam about that, dear."

Dahmietra got a puzzled look on her face.

"My dam is one of the very first of the First Ones...she's told me a little about where they came from before this world existed." Dahmietra just sat there with her mouth hanging open. "Anyway, she might know something about what you want to know. Come to think of it, you might get to meet her after we get back home because she will probably want to see Grimmie and Kuri."

Dahmietra was struggling mightily to keep from being overcome by Foxfire's aura, though without Mist Runner or Warri to shield her, she knew that she was losing.

"Uh, F-Foxfire...I-I think I need to lie down..."

"Oh, that's okay, sweetie, I understand," Foxfire said knowing the reason why. "I wish I could learn how to control this better!" Foxfire thought to herself.

Dahmietra slowly got up and made her way back to Mist Runner and Red Moon, almost falling into their arms.

"Whoa there, Dahmi!" Red Moon said as we caught her just as she collapsed.

"S-sorry...I just...thought Foxfire could a hug, s-she was all by herself," Dahmietra struggled to say through the fuzziness in her mind.

I did what I could to help her regain her senses.

"Thank you," Dahmietra said with a bit of relief. "It felt different being next to her this time," Dahmietra said.

"I noticed that, too," Red Moon added. "I was going to ask you about it, but I got a little side-tracked."

"What did it feel like to you, being next to Foxfire?" I asked both Red Moon and Dahmietra.

"Well, for me it seemed like it felt a part of her was withdrawing," Red Moon said.

"To me it seemed like a mother protecting her child from a storm or something," Dahmietra said.

"Hmm, that could be partly about her brother and also about you, Dahmietra," I suggested.

"Maybe you should go be with Foxfire for a little while...she's wearing that little pendant you gave her when she came of age. I've seen her hand on it, playing with it, though it was like she wasn't aware she was doing it," Red Moon said.

I gave her a questioning look.

"I know how she feels about you...we've talked about it. It's okay, dear, if it was anyone else I might worry about it, but since it's Foxfire...maybe after we get home we can...well, just go over there and see her."

I gently placed my hand on Red Moon's chest and said, "You know where my heart truly belongs."

Red Moon placed her hand over mine and kissed me.

"I know, beloved...now, go see her," Red Moon said with a grin.

I got up, walked over to Foxfire, and sat down next to her. Foxfire seemed rather surprised and looked over at Red Moon who nodded her head once and then at me.

"Are you going to hug me, too?" she asked.

I put my arm around her and said, "Of course," as I pulled her towards me.

I held Foxfire until I felt her relax, and then I gently lifted her chin.

"This is from Dahmietra," I said and kissed Foxfire on the cheek. "And this is from me_and_ Red Moon"--I kissed her full on the lips. Foxfire was really surprised at first, but then she put her arms around my neck and kissed me back--gently at first, but the longer we kissed, I could sense that she wanted give in to her feelings. I pulled back a little and said quietly, "Whoa, slow down a little...hold that thought until we get home, and then we can do something about it."

Foxfire dropped her ears and asked hesitantly, "Promise?"

I pulled her close to me again and whispered in her ear, "It's a promise." Foxfire hardly knew what to think, but she knew that I would never lie to her or make empty promises.

"Does Red Moon know?" Foxfire asked nervously.

"Of course...she suggested it," I replied, smiling.

Foxfire was surprised, though happily so.

"Well, we can talk more about that later. How are you holding up dealing with other things?" I asked, sitting there with an arm around Foxfire.

"Okay, I guess," she replied quietly.

"Want to talk about it?" I asked.

She leaned into me and rested her head against my shoulder. After a few moments, she let out a little sigh and I felt her shoulders sag.

"I'm happy that I was able to finish what mother started so that Grimmie isn't alone anymore," she started.

"But...?" I asked when she paused.

"But now he doesn't need me to look after him anymore."

I could sense the feeling of being useless in Foxfire.

"Your brother loves you and cares about you very deeply. He's been worrying about you the whole time on this quest," I said.

"Really?" she asked.

"It's true. You're still his sister, no matter what, and you're family. You've been one of the few people that he can be himself around--under that hard-as-stone exterior, your brother actually is rather softhearted. Did you know that he has been more concerned about you finding someone to be happy with than himself? And this whole business with Kurietta has really shaken him, so he's going to need you to help him deal with it, and Kurietta is probably going to need you, too. I mean think about it--she doesn't have anyone but Grimm; all of her family and friends are long, long gone. Well, I'm still here, of course, but I think you know what I mean. Think of how she must feel--the last thing she has memory of was being swept away from the one she loves and drowning, then one day, awakens to find that several thousand turns of the season have passed and everyone and everything she knew was gone. She's lost and alone, except for Grimm and me, and she could use a sister to talk to and do things with. But just give her some time and be there for her when she's ready."

Foxfire thought about all of that while I sat quietly with my arm still around her shoulders and she still rested her head on my shoulder.

"You've always been pretty good at explaining things," she said looking up at me with a grin.

I grinned back and gently stroked the fur behind her ear.

"You always try to help people--you're helping Dahmietra, you've helped Nezcha and Alnakh and Salzar back at the inn, and you've also helped me and your brother a lot, too, and we appreciate it very much. I know your aura tends to make things a bit more interesting at times, but you do seem to be getting somewhat more control over it. I think my first reaction to it must have been similar to Dahmietra's when she first met you."

I smiled, recalling the incident.

"Grimm didn't know what was happening to me, and I remember him telling me later that you were confused because I suddenly couldn't move or say anything."

"I kind of remember that," Foxfire said sheepishly.

"Oh, that reminds me of something...before we left home, my dam gave me some kind of potion she made for Dahmietra and I to drink before the three of us go before this 'Gathering'. It's supposed to somehow temporarily protect us from what you're going to do since Dahmietra and I are going to be really close. She wasn't sure how long it will last, or how well it will work, but it should help at least," I said.

"Really? Wow, that was really nice of your dam to make that! I hope it works!" Foxfire was excited about learning of the potion.

"I hope so, too, so that I can get us out of there. You never have experienced what it's like to travel by the Hidden Ways, have you?" I asked.

"No...is it really strange?" Foxfire asked.

"It can be a bit...unnerving, if you've never done it before. Maybe I should show you and Dahmietra what it's like so that you will know what to expect," I said.

Foxfire thought a moment and then said, "Maybe that's a good idea. Think we can try it now since we're not doing anything?"

I detected the double meaning in her question so I just smiled and said, "I don't see why not. Let's get Dahmietra and give it a try."

Traveling by using the "Hidden Ways" takes some getting used to because of the "shift" in reality. Everything takes on a strange shadowy appearance, and there are weird things that live solely in that realm of existence. Movement from one point to another in normal existence is greatly increased so it takes much less time to travel a distance, though it's difficult to tell just how much time has elapsed while actually traveling that way. To people around you when you make the shift to or from the "Hidden Ways," it seems that you just suddenly disappear into or appear out of thin air. When I was much younger, and after I learned that I could do it, I used to surprise Grimm by seemingly appearing out of nowhere...until one time I appeared a little too close and he didn't react quite the way I expected. I was sore for quite a while after that incident, so I made a point of not doing that again. Live and learn, as they say. Foxfire and I got Dahmietra and gathered everyone around so that I could explain what we were going to do. The plan was to make a quick trip up the hill and back.

"Okay, Foxfire and Dahmietra, take a hold of me and whatever you do, don't let go until we come back into our own existence," I cautioned.

"What happens if we accidentally let go?" Dahmietra asked.

"We can very quickly become separated...and you can become lost. It would be really difficult to find you because movement isn't the same there as it is here, plus there are other things that live only in that existence that you might not want to mess with. You would have no way of getting back to our own existence since you don't have the ability to travel there yourselves," I said.

Dahmietra and Foxfire gave each other a wide-eyed look.

"Ooo, sounds kind of spooky...I don't think you're going to have to worry about me letting go!" Foxfire said.

"Me, neither!" Dahmietra agreed.

Grimm interpreted what was said so that Kurietta could follow the conversation.

"Gee, girls, it ain't so bad...Misty got the Grimmster and me out of a little 'misunderstanding' in a Cunatii village once," she said with a sly grin.

I chuckled at the memory of that particular incident. Grimm remembered it, too, and shook his head with a slightly embarrassed look.

Foxfire told Dahmietra in the Common Tongue what Kurietta said.

I looked at Dahmietra and said, "I'll have to tell you about that sometime...it's kind of funny."

"You had us popping all over the place, as I recall," Grimm said with a grin.

"Yah, like when we abruptly changed direction, popping back and watching the mob look at us strangely when they went running by and ran right into the side of that building," Kurietta said laughing so hard that she had to hang onto Grimm.

Red Moon raised an eyebrow and gave me a suspicious look. "A mob?"

Grimm smiled and said, "They did overreact a bit."

"Yeah," I added, "The gardening implements were a little much, I thought."

"Gardening implements?!!" Red Moon exclaimed.

"Yah, hon, they had pitchforks and everything--it was crazy! All we did was stop in for a bite to eat and down a few," Kurietta said.

"Yeah, but then somebody recognized that you're a dancer and got the crowd wanting a Skunatii dance," I added.

"I thought things were going pretty well until that fat guy grabbed my tail...how was I supposed to know he was the head of their village council?" Kurietta tried to get a pouty look on her face, but she was still laughing too much.

"I wonder if he ever got the smell out of his fur," Grimm said chuckling.

"Oh, you should have seen the look on his face!" I said and started laughing. Grimm started laughing, too, much to the surprise of everyone else.

Red Moon had her hands on her hips, giving me a strange look.

"Sounds like you three had quite the time together," she said.

"Yah, good times," Kurietta said, looking up to Grimm with her quirky smile. Grimm picked up Kurietta and cradled her in his arms.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled him, saying "We had a lot of fun together, didn't we Grimmster?"

Grimm kissed Kurietta and said with a broad smile, "Indeed."

"I hope our village can handle it," I said with a smirk.

Brown Leaf and Smoke Fire couldn't believe their ears--Sire Grimm Tooth, having fun? They've never seen this side of "Old Stonewolf" before, and it was quite a shock to them. Even Red Moon, Foxfire, and Dahmietra were amazed at the revelation that Grimm actually knew how to have such boisterous fun.

"Have the three of you had other adventures like this?" Red Moon asked.

Before I could say anything, Grimm answered her question.

"Several, actually...but perhaps the telling of those should wait until we are home and can be in more comfortable--and safer--surroundings."

"That's probably a good idea, Grimm...we don't need to have a bunch of those Wastelanders come poking around while it's still light out," I agreed.

"These 'Wastelanders'...they're your people, aren't they Dahmietra?" Kurietta asked with Foxfire interpreting.

Dahmietra replied, "Yes, they are...though I choose to no longer be a part of them. They are prone to violent fanaticism and are very superstitious. They tend to hate anything different and can attack with little or no provocation. They also tend to view any who are sufficiently different in appearance from themselves as being 'demons'," she said waving her hand to indicate everyone present. "If they were to see me dressed like this, they would just as soon kill me on the spot," she continued.

After Foxfire finished interpreting, Kurietta was shocked by what she heard.

"_Frazzleberries!_No offense girlie, but they sound like a bunch of loonies!"

"Their founder, Dahmietra's ancient ancestor, was influenced by the Dark Blood Clan...in fact, he took a half-blood as one of his mates," Grimm said quietly.

Kurietta's eyes got really big and she covered her mouth with her hands.

"Oh...my...stars!" she exclaimed in a hushed voice. Looking around, she spied Red Moon's staff leaning against a tree and pointed at it. "May I?" Red Moon shrugged her shoulders and tossed her staff to Kurietta who caught it with ease. She hefted it a few times, and then began to twirl it around in the ancient Skunatii fighting style. She moved the staff so fast that it became a humming blur. After a few moments, Kurietta thumped the ground with the end of the staff in what could easily be a killing blow. "Grimmster, if you could make me one of these I'll teach your warriors our style of fighting."

"Could you teach me?" Dahmietra asked after Foxfire interpreted for her.

Kurietta handed the staff back to Red Moon with a grin and stood in front of Dahmietra.

Looking at Foxfire, Kurietta said, "Tell her that if she would teach me this 'Common Tongue' of hers, I'll teach her how to use a staff."

As soon as Foxfire finished interpreting, Dahmietra held out her hand and said, "Deal."

Foxfire nodded her head indicating that Dahmietra agreed. Kurietta grasped Dahmietra's arm halfway between her wrist and elbow and put her hand on top. Dahmietra followed suit and placed her hand on top of Kurietta's.

"Done," Kurietta said with a grin.

"We better get on with our little trip up the hill," I said to Dahmietra and Foxfire. They stood close to me and took a hold of my hands...when all were ready, I said, "Hang on...," and let loose the magic that would shift us from our existence to the Hidden Ways.

In an instant, there was a muted rushing sound followed by a brief sensation of dizziness, and everything turned into fluttering and swirling shades of gray and shadow. We could still make out everything that was around us, including the others in our group, but it all looked oddly distorted somehow. We looked more or less the same, though Foxfire seemed to have a silvery glow around her.

"Wow this is really strange!" Foxfire said looking around in awe.

"Ooo, it's creepy!" Dahmietra said quietly, feeling rather uneasy at what she was seeing.

"Foxfire...you're glowing," I observed with a bit of wonder, "I hope it's not going to attract anything."

Foxfire looked at herself, and thought for a bit.

"If anything, I think if there are any of the things you mentioned around, they will probably run away and hide somewhere," she said.

"I hope so. Well, let's get moving...just remember do not let go for any reason. We should be at the top of the hill in just a little bit," I said and started walking in that direction.

I kept myself focused on our goal and walked at an easy pace so that Dahmietra could keep up without any trouble. Shadowy shapes rushed by us as we climbed the hill. These were the trees and bushes of our existence, which here they were nothing more than mere shades. There were a few other shapes that fled before us...whatever those things were that lived in this realm, they didn't seem to like the silvery glow Foxfire was giving off, which seemed to get brighter whenever we encountered one. Soon we approached the top of the hill, so I slowed my steps to look for where the rest of our party was located. When I found what could be someone sitting on a fallen log, I told the girls to get ready for the shift back. I altered the magic and we again heard a faint rushing sound and felt the brief wave of dizziness as we reentered our own existence. It turned out that we appeared very close to where Night Song was sitting--she was so startled that she fell over backward and probably would have yelled something if she could have said anything.

"Hello, Night Song...did you miss us?" I said with a sly grin.

She caught her breath and scrambled up on her feet.

"Sire!" she gasped, her eyes wide with shock, still not quite believing what she was seeing.

Snow Spear and Warri quickly turned around at the commotion behind them and looked no less startled than Night Song was.

"Easy now, it's just us...I decided to show Dahmietra and Foxfire what to expect when I pull them out after we do what we need to do down there."

"You certainly know how to make an appearance, Sire!" Night Song exclaimed with a hand on her chest.

"Sorry for startling you so, Night Song, I guess I got a little too close before shifting back. Well, now that we're here, has anything happened yet down there?" I asked.

Snow Spear and Warri got up from where they had positioned themselves to observe the Wastelanders and joined the rest of us.

"A few more wagons arrived and the workers have just about completed the platform. Looks like that High Cleric hasn't arrived yet, though," Snow Spear reported.

"Okay, well it will be getting dark before long, so unless he arrives soon I doubt he will show up today," I said.

"How long do you want us to stay up here?" Snow Spear asked.

"After it gets dark, the Wastelanders won't be getting far away from their campfires, so there probably won't be much else to see. Might as well come back down then and we'll make camp for the night," I replied.

Dahmietra was glad to see Warri again, even though he had only been gone since early afternoon. Foxfire smiled to herself as she saw how Dahmietra and Warri looked at each other and moved to stand close enough together that they could hold hands without making it too noticeable. She didn't doubt that they were having a little silent conversation of their own, now that she knew of his mind-speak ability.

"If Grimmie and Kuri can be together, why shouldn't these two? True love doesn't know any boundaries," Foxfire thought to herself.

Then she thought of how she felt about Mist Runner--she knew that he and Red Moon loved each other with all their hearts, so why couldn't she just accept it and let it go? Even though Red Moon seemed to accept how she felt, was she just being selfish--or childish? Maybe she should have a chat with Lore Master Spirit Feather herself when they got back home. He always knew how to soothe someone whose heart of being was troubled.

When Dahmietra positioned herself so that she was standing next to his side, they found each other's hand and held it so that it wouldn't be as noticeable. Warri quickly made contact with her mind and they started "talking" at the same time.

"You first," Warri said in his thoughts after they paused.

He could sense her feelings and felt that she was slightly embarrassed. The more that they communicated through the mind link, they both discovered to their surprise the level of intimacy between them was becoming deeper and the attraction stronger.

"Warri, I...I've been missing your company. It's strange, and I know you've only been up here for a few hours, but...," she formed the image in her mind of the rest of their group sitting together in pairs and the feeling of missing him came with it.

Warri understood what she was trying to say, because he had found himself thinking of her every chance he could. He sent the thought of the two of them hugging and nuzzling...and let slip a sudden desire to kiss her. They both felt a wave of embarrassment, though Dahmietra herself had actually entertained that particular thought...and told him so.

"I've thought that, too. Seeing Kurietta and Grimm Tooth together I...I've thought about what it would be like if...you and I...someday..."

Warri found himself getting warmer for some reason.

"I know. Um, don't forget that Sire Mist Runner can sense our feelings...," Warri thought quickly to Dahmietra.

"I think he already knows...and I think Foxfire knows somehow, too," Dahmietra thought back.

"I wouldn't be surprised if she did--she is a priestess-shaman of The Great Mother, and she gives off such an overwhelming feeling of love that she's probably sensitive to such feelings in others," Warri explained. He thought of one other thing he felt that he should say. "Dahmietra...when you stand before the religious leaders of your people, please be careful and stay alert. I've got a bad feeling that somebody might try something."

"Thank you, I will. Maybe you better tell Mist Runner," she suggested. "Perhaps you're right, I should," he agreed. "Excuse me, Sire Mist Runner?" "Yes, Warri, what is it?"

"Um, I'm not sure if this is just a feeling or maybe a premonition of sorts, but I think someone might try to do something bad while you three are before those people down there," Warri said.

I could both see the concern on his face and feel it in him.

"That's certainly a possibility, especially if that Khel-Sehk happens to show up," I said.

"He will be here," Foxfire said quietly.

"How do you know this, Foxfire?" I asked with concern of my own.

"Because of our little sweetie is here...he wants her and he can't pass up this chance. He's the greatest danger, and we need to be ready for him," she replied.

"Sire, we have a pretty good view of below from here...if Warri and I can keep an eye on what's going on, maybe he can use his ability to pass information back and forth between us, and if there's any trouble, maybe we should have Smoke Fire up here to pick off any immediate threats," Snow Spear suggested.

"That's a good idea, Snow Spear. Night Song, maybe you should be nearby down there when we do this since you're good with close-in fighting," I said.

She got a grin on her face and said, "I can do that."

"Okay then, we'll head back and when it gets dark you three come on back, too...though be careful, better to move quietly and cautiously than quickly and noisily," I instructed.

"Yes Sire, we'll be careful making our way down," Snow Spear said.

I was just about to have Dahmietra and Foxfire take hold of me to make the trip back when Night Song caught sight of something.

"Sire, I see something...down there," she said pointing towards the northern edge of the base of the hill.

Snow Spear came to stand beside Night Song and looked with his tracker's eyes.

"I see 'em, Sire...four, maybe six people, not as tall as us, moving carefully."

"Wastelanders?" I asked.

"Don't think so, they're dressed more like our kind. Looks like they're heading in the general direction of the camp, if they keep following the way they're taking," he replied.

"Warri, think you can reach any of the others from here?" I asked.

"I'll see if I can reach Dam Red Moon since I've been in her mind once already," he replied.

Warri faced the direction of the camp, closed his eyes, and concentrated on reaching Red Moon.

Red Moon was talking with Grimm and Kurietta when she suddenly cocked her head and held up her hand for quiet. It was like a whisper in her ear, only no one was standing close to her.

"Warri, is that you?" she asked in her thoughts.

"...people coming your way, from north, four to six, can't tell who from here...coming back down."

"What is it, Red Moon?" Grimm asked.

"I just barely could hear Warri in my head--he said that there are some people coming our way from the north, they can't tell who, but there's four to six of them. I think Mist Runner is coming back down with Dahmi and Foxfire," she replied.

Grimm immediately got up and said, "Brown Leaf, Smoke Fire...Warri says we're about to get some company coming from the north. Mist Runner is on his way back. Be ready!"

Everyone found some cover and took defensive positions--Smoke Fire had his bow in hand with an arrow at the ready. Within a few minutes, there was a muffled rush of air as Mist Runner, Dahmietra and Foxfire reappeared.

"Just us, Grimm!" I quickly announced as soon as we finished shifting back to our existence.

Dahmietra and Foxfire hurried over to the tree that Red Moon stood next to and crouched down behind it. Grimm had his massive sword out, though had given his large knife to Kurietta to use.

"Night Song spotted them moving along the base of the hill in this general direction. Snow Spear got a little bit of a look at them and he didn't think it was any of the Wastelanders because they seemed to be dressed more like us. They're moving carefully, so either they're looking for something, or they don't want to get surprised," I said as I drew Battle Fang from its sheath.

The magic in my sword sensed my readiness to fight and I felt the power within it begin to surge. Foxfire had never seen her brother and I prepared for combat before--the change in our demeanor this time is different from when we all were ready to take on whatever might come through the door back at the outpost. Grimm's facial expression, she noted, was certainly fierce...and she found it to be rather unsettling. For his part, Grimm was determined not to let anyone bring harm to Dahmietra, Foxfire, or especially Kurietta. Kurietta, seeing the size of Grimm's sword, decided it best to give him a little extra room. She looked up at him and saw the same fierce look in his eyes that Foxfire had seen. She had seen him fight before, but this time seemed a lot different; she pulled her ears back and her expression was a mix of apprehension, worry, concern, and fear.

"No wonder why he was given the name 'Grimm Tooth'," Kurietta thought to herself, thinking that he looked decidedly scary at the moment.

"Are you_sure_ you heard it come from this direction, Minxie?"

"Of course I did, Jex, and it sure wasn't something those half-baked Wastelanders could belt out either," Minxie replied.

"What did it sound like again?" Jex asked.

"With all of these ancient ruins around these parts, maybe it was ghosts or something," Shilar suggested.

"Boy, I've never seen any spirits around here since I started hunting these parts fifteen seasons ago," Lordan commented.

"Ha, just the 'spirits' you have in that flask you carry all the time," Fen said with a grin on her face.

"Hey, keep it down, will ya? Want those idiot Wastelanders to hear us...or do you feel like runnin' all over these hills trying to get away from them again?" Dennella asked sharply.

The all too recent memory of their last encounter with the Wastelanders acted like a wet blanket on their enthusiasm--they spent the better part of three days trying to throw off a band of Wastelanders who had spotted them and were intent on slaying the 'demon animals'.

"I wish they'd just leave us be," Shilar said glumly.

"It'd take a miracle no doubt," Fen said putting her arm around her adopted brother.

"I think once we get through this thicket, there should be a small clearing on the other side. We can make camp there for the night, and I don't think we'll have to worry about the Wastelanders on the other side of the hill," Lordan said.

The underbrush was particularly thick in this area, which made the going slow for the group.

"Just about through...," Lordan said as he pushed through the last bit of brush. "Ack!"

"What's the matter, Lordan, trip over a root or something?" Jex asked with a chuckle just before he pushed through the same spot Lordan did.

Jex's expression quickly changed from a smirk to fear--Lordan wasn't sprawled out on the ground as he had thought, instead he was some distance above the ground! Jex looked up to see his friend being held in a huge paw-like hand attached to a giant who was holding an equally huge sword to his friend's throat while wearing a feral teeth-barring snarl on its face. Shilar came through the dense brush near a tree and just as he saw Lordan being held by a monstrously large black shape, his legs were suddenly knocked out from under him and he hit the ground hard. He looked up to find a huge female wolf-like being holding the end of a staff to his throat and giving him a stern look, so he just lay there and held his arms in a submissive posture hoping that she would not hurt him further. When Fen pushed through into the small clearing, she was immediately met with a very wicked looking blade pointed right at her heart that was glowing and seemed to be making an almost imperceptible and rather disturbing howling-like noise, though she couldn't be sure if she heard it with her ears, in her mind or just imagined it.

"The rest of you, come out slowly...do not reach for any weapons," said the one pointing the obviously magical blade at Fen's chest.

Minxie and Dennella came into the small clearing, holding their hands up in submission. They gasped when they saw the huge one holding Lordan effortlessly in the air by one hand.

"Please, don't hurt us! We're not looking for trouble!" wailed Minxie in the Common Tongue. Fen looked in horror at the blade's glow--it seemed as if little tendrils were reaching out for her with some unnatural magical hunger.

After a few tense moments, the one pointing the magical blade at Fen took a small step back and said, "Grimm, set him down."

The giant slowly lowered Lordan to the ground and took a step back while keeping his frightening gaze on him.

The one with the magical blade addressed Fen, "Speak. Who is leader among you?"

Fen was too frightened to say anything, her wide eyes fixed on the sword's glow.

"I-I guess that would be m-me," stuttered Lordan.

"Why were you heading in this direction?" the one in front of Fen asked him.

"M-Minxie thought she heard something and we came to check it out," he replied.

"They travel with an Eastlander...a youth, by the looks of him," said the female with the staff.

"Grimmster, these are my people...three of them, anyway. Please, don't hurt 'em, hon!" Kurietta pleaded in her own language, coming around from behind. The members of Lordan's group looked shocked to see the Skunatii female with these fierce wolf-like beings.

"You speak our words strangely...who are you and what village do you come from?" asked Minxie in the language of her people.

"I'm Kurietta, and my village--what's left of it--is back that way," she replied pointing her thumb in the direction of the ruins.

"There's nothing in that direction but some ancient ruins," Lordan said suspiciously.

"Yeah, well, it's a long story." Looking up at Grimm she asked, "How long was I...gone?"

Grimm lowered his sword and said in Skunatii, "It's been over ten thousand turns of the seasons since your village was destroyed by the flood during the early days of The Warming."

"A-A-A-H!!! I told you those ruins were haunted!" Shilar cried out in the Common Tongue as he tried to get up, but he was still being held down by the staff.

Kurietta looked at the Eastlander boy and asked, "What's he fussing about?"

"He thinks you're a spirit," Grimm said softening his gaze a little.

Kurietta looked at the boy again and got a wry look on her face.

"Well, gee...I know I just recently came back from the dead and all, but I don't look_that_ bad, do I Grimmster?"

Grimm put his arm around Kurietta and smiled at her.

"You look fine to me."

"You didn't understand what Shilar said?" asked Minxie.

"Nope, this 'Common Tongue' thing everyone uses wasn't around back when this was my tribe's territory. We sort of had our own version of it that all of the Woodland People used...but that was so long ago, it's probably different, if it's still being used these days," Kurietta replied, "I tried calling out in it a while ago, but nobody answered so we thought either no one was still around or nobody understood it anymore."

"Would you mind repeating what you said when you tried it before?" Minxie asked hopefully.

"Sure," Kurietta replied, and proceeded to repeat--albeit more quietly--what she had called out earlier.

"That's it! That's what I heard!" Minxie exclaimed excitedly.

"So, it looks like you were answered after all, Kurietta," said the one holding the magical blade. "Forgive us for the hostility...being so close to a large group of Wastelanders, we couldn't take any chances. My name is Mist Runner, my large friend here is Grimm Tooth, my mate Red Moon is holding down the boy, and Kurietta of course. We have others...," When I relaxed, Battle Fang's magic went back to sleep and I placed it back in its scabbard, and then motioned for the others to step out. Brown Leaf and Smoke Fire stepped out from their hiding places and put away their weapons. Foxfire stood up from behind the tree with Dahmietra, though she stood slightly in front of her like a mother ready to shield her child with her own body.

"They have a Wastelander among them!" Jex exclaimed which caused his group to draw closer together and put their hands on the hilts of their weapons.

Before even Grimm could react to the sudden hostility, Foxfire threw back her cloak and instantly a silvery-white globe of light surrounded both her and Dahmietra. Everyone was startled by the sudden light emanating from Foxfire, even Grimm.

In a clear and commanding voice, she said, "I am Foxfire of The People of the Forest, and priestess-shaman of The Great Mother. This is Dahmietra, who is of The People of the Wastelands, though she has chosen to live among our kind as one of us. Through me, The Great Mother will not allow you to bring harm to her!"

At that instant, streamers of light reached out from Foxfire and touched the brush growing behind Lordan's group, which then became animated and quickly grabbed hold of their arms and legs. "Agh!!! I can't move!" Jex cried out. "It's got me, too!" Fen shouted as the branches grabbed her arms. Lordan and the others were also in a similar fix.

Minxie called out, "Okay, we understand! We don't mean any harm to anyone! We were recently chased by a band of Wastelanders for three whole days who wanted to kill us just because of who we are!"

"Please, believe us!" pleaded Dennella.

Kurietta hugged Grimm tightly while she stared in awe at the power in Foxfire. Grimm, Red Moon, and the others of our group were wide-eyed with wonder--I never suspected that Foxfire would be capable of such, though I knew her dam most certainly was. Dahmietra wrapped her arms around Foxfire, looked up at her, and said, "Foxfire? Please don't hurt them, they didn't know."

The sound of Dahmietra's voice got Foxfire's attention, causing her to blink her eyes a few times. She looked down at Dahmietra and smiled, placing her hand on the side of her face.

"Okay, sweetie, I won't. I just wanted to make sure that you were safe." Foxfire looked back towards Lordan's group and said in a softer, more motherly voice, "Let them go, dears," and she waved her hand. Instantly, the branches loosened their grip and returned to their original form. To Lordan's group, Foxfire said in a quieter voice, "If you be friends, then welcome--if not, then be warned." The bubble of light winked out when Foxfire wrapped her cloak back around her.

We stood there for a few moments, blinking and rubbing our eyes, totally amazed at what we just witnessed. Eventually we realized that it wouldn't be long until it got dark, so we began gathering twigs and whatever wood we could find on the ground for a campfire. Lordan's group warily avoided the bushes that had magically held them while they helped. When we got a private moment together, Grimm and I talked quietly.

"I never suspected that she could do such a thing," I said of his little sister.

"It was as much a surprise to me as it was to you," Grimm agreed.

"Red Moon, Dahmietra, and I have all noticed a change in the sensation we get from Foxfire's aura ever since we left The Great Forest, and particularly since the inn. I don't know if any of the others have felt it, too, but it does seem different than it did before," I said.

Grimm looked at me and rubbed his chin a moment.

"You know that her aura never affects me so I can't tell if it has changed or not, but I have noticed small changes here and there in how she does things, talks, acts, and so forth," he said.

"She's been living with you for quite some time so you're around her more than anyone else, and you are her brother, so if anyone should notice a change in her behavior you would," I agreed.

Grimm was quiet for a little bit, as he picked up a few more pieces of wood for the fire.

"I'm glad that she's more capable now than before, but still...I had gotten used to the way she was. Having her to look after helped...maybe mother knew that it would."

I put my hand on Grimm's shoulder because I knew that he was still trying to deal with everything with Kurietta.

"Your sister told me that she's worried you won't need her to look after you anymore," I said with a bit of a grin on my face.

Grimm looked at me and raised an eyebrow. "She said that?"

I nodded my head and added, "I had a good chat with her a while ago, before we went up the hill. I told her that she's still your sister no matter what, and that both you and Kurietta are going to need her more than ever to deal with everything."

Grimm quietly sighed a little and closed his eyes for a moment.

"You're right again, as usual, old friend," he said after he opened his eyes again.

"You know, it wouldn't hurt to tell Foxfire how you feel about her and how much you appreciate her just being there. She's feeling like she's useless and very much alone now...she needs to know that she's still family," I suggested.

Although Grimm just looked at me with a blank expression, I could sense the emotions in him. He glanced over to where Foxfire was sitting and looked back at me.

"I'll go add this to the pile," he said and then walked over to where Smoke Fire was getting the campfire started and placed his contribution to the woodpile.

When Grimm straightened up, he looked over at his sister for a few moments and then went over to her. When Foxfire looked up at him, he held out his hand for her to take and he helped her up. I smiled as I watched him talk to his little sister, holding her hands as he did so.

"Foxfire," Grimm said holding out his hand.

She looked up at her brother and said, "Oh, hi Grimmie. Am I in trouble?"

Grimm smiled and spoke softly, "No, of course not."

Foxfire hesitated for a moment, then took her brother's hand and stood up. Grimm held both of her hands gently and paused for a moment to find the right words to say.

"What you did a while ago...I'm really impressed. I think our mother would be proud of you...I am."

"You_are_?" Foxfire was astonished to hear her brother say such about her.

Grimm nodded his head once, and then continued.

"When you first came to live with me, I wasn't sure how to take care of you since you were so young. I...may not have done very well, but I tried to do the best I could." Grimm tried to keep a smile on his face, but what he was about to say next made it really difficult for him. "When Kurietta and I were together before...I was not the same person that I have been. We actually had a lot of fun together--I know that's quite a shock, but it's true. When I lost her...I felt that I had failed her, and when mother had you come live with me when you were old enough I was afraid that I might fail you, too."

Foxfire was shocked to learn that her brother, the greatest of all their people's defenders, was afraid of something.

"Oh, Grimmie, you've never failed anyone--especially not Kuri. If Mist Runner hadn't caught you and pulled you to safety and then healed you, he would have lost both of his friends..., and I would never have had a big brother to look up to," Foxfire said feeling her own emotions rise. "Mother foresaw what would happen to you and Kuri, but since she couldn't stop it from happening, she wove a spell-prayer that bound the two of you together. As long as at least one of you is living, the other can be brought back. I am so sorry that you had to suffer for so long without her, Grimmie, but it would take another priestess-shaman who was strong enough to finish the job. Mother knew this, so that's where I come in...she knew that she would have a girl cub one day who would follow her path, and she would be the one to finish it. It was your strong love for Kuri that brought her back--I just helped bring the two of you together so that you could bring her home."

Grimm was speechless for a while as all this sunk in.

"Foxfire...I don't pretend to know what you did or how, and I'm not sure if there is any way that I could ever properly thank you enough, but...," Grimm pulled his little sister to him and hugged her for a long time. "Thank you," was all he could say. Eventually Grimm pulled back a bit and continued. "Foxfire...I still need my little sister, and Kurietta is going to need you, too. Her family is long gone, so she will need a sister...it would mean a lot to me, and her, if you could be one to her, too."

Foxfire smiled tenderly at her brother and asked, "Grimmie, you really mean that?" Grimm nodded and said,

"Yes, I do." Grimm gently held his sister's face in his huge hands and looked in her eyes. "I know I may not have said this often enough, but...I just wanted you to know that I love you."

He kissed her on the top of her nose and then it was Foxfire's turn to hug her brother.

"I love you too, Grimmie. You're the best brother a girl could have."

"What's with those two?" Minxie asked Kurietta, nodding towards Grimm and Foxfire.

"Oh, she's his little sister...Grimmster told me that she's only eight thousand turns of the seasons old, which is still kinda young for their kind."

"Eight_thousand_?!!" Minxie exclaimed in a hushed voice.

Kurietta happily nodded her head.

"Yah, they're immortal. Near as I can figure, Grimmster and Misty are the two oldest of this bunch."

"How old is this Grimm Tooth?" Minxie asked.

"Well, I don't exactly know...I've asked him once, and all he said was that he's 'older than the hills'. Back when we first met, it was at the beginning of The Warming, right after The Long Cold. Not sure how long that lasted, but Grimmster said that he was around way longer before then...something about he and Misty being one of the first born of 'The First Ones', whoever they are."

"The First Ones are those who are the very first living beings to walk this world after it was formed. They are ancient beyond comprehension and the most powerful of all living things. Sires Mist Runner and Grimm Tooth are among their first born, and they themselves are far older than you can imagine," Smoke Fire spoke quietly to Lordan's group after overhearing the conversation. He knelt down on one knee before them, his body relaxed, his amber eyes glowing from the light of the campfire he had made. "I myself remember when your kind first came to this area, they fought with us against the Dark Blood Clan, and we have never forgotten their efforts...or their losses. To this day your people are still remembered with honor in our songs and stories," Smoke Fire continued.

"So, why the hostility when we stumbled upon your group?" Fen asked.

"It has to do with Dahmietra and also with this Gathering of her people's religious leaders on the other side of the hill. It's a long story that begins nearly one thousand turns of the seasons ago when Sires Mist Runner and Grimm Tooth had an encounter with a particular Wastelander who turned out to be not only Dahmietra's ancestor, but also the founder of a religious group that would shape their whole society into what it is today. He was influenced by members of the Dark Blood Clan and took a young female who was half Wastelander and half Dark Blood as one of his several mates. The Dark Blood Clan has been manipulating generation after generation for some purpose, and Dahmietra is the living descendant of this half-blood female. They want her...for what, we don't know, though Dahmietra clearly has no desire to be a part of the scheme. She is a good and decent person otherwise The Great Forest would never have allowed her to be brought within its boundary, let alone all the way into our village. She is to be taken before this 'Gathering' where we hope that her people will be convinced to let her go so that she may live with us until the end of her days. We are also hoping to stop a war from starting; one that we believe is being stirred up by a member of the Dark Blood Clan, who will be coming to this 'Gathering'. As for the unintentional hostility you were met with at first, it is as Sire Mist Runner said. We must protect Dahmietra from her own people, as well as any who might work for them, until we can get her home to our village again. We had no idea who was coming our way or why."

"But you knew someone was coming," Lordan observed.

Smoke Fire fixed his gaze at Lordan and said, "Yes."

Smoke Fire didn't offer any further explanations, and since Lordan felt a bit uncomfortable from the way Smoke Fire was looking at him, he didn't press the issue. As soon as Lordan looked in another direction, Smoke Fire snorted very quietly and got up to do something else.

"That's the most I've heard him say," Kurietta mentioned as she watched Smoke Fire walk off.

"They make me nervous, especially the big one...did you see the look in his eyes when we first saw them?" Jex asked.

"I saw all too closely," Lordan answered quietly with a shudder.

"Aw, that's only because they don't know ya very well yet--they'll warm up to ya, just give 'em time. Oh, and yah, Grimmster can be kinda scary when he's in a fight, but he's pretty sweet the rest of the time. Ya don't have anything to worry about with Grimmster...unless ya mess with someone he cares about, and then I don't think ya could run far enough, fast enough," Kurietta said with a wink.

"You seem like you're pretty close to this Grimm Tooth, Kurietta," Dennella observed.

Kurietta chuckled and said, "Oh, the Grimmster and I are more than just 'close', girl...after all this time, we're finally gonna be joined when we get back to his village."

"You're_what_?" Minxie, Dennella and the others nearly said in unison.

"Yah, well, we had a bit of a delay there...having been, ya know, dead, for a while kinda put a crimp in things. But, now that I'm back among the living again--yea!--we're going through with it. We've already announced our intention, so now it's just gettin' back to his village and doing the rest," Kurietta replied with her usual quirky grin.

"How could you be mated to someone who's not even our kind?" Lordan asked, showing his disgust.

The others in his group were a bit uncomfortable with the way he asked, even though the thought had crossed their minds. His question didn't sit well with Kurietta--the more she thought about it, the more it irked her. Kurietta stood up and defiantly pointed at Lordan.

"Ya gotta problem with my choice of mates, youngster? I can choose who I want, and a little frizzball like ya don't have a right to say otherwise! Why, I oughtta..."

"Be calm," said a familiar deep voice behind her as a huge black furred hand rested lightly on her shoulder.

Looking straight up and slightly behind her, Kurietta saw Grimm's face looking down at her.

"Oh, hiya, Grimmster," she greeted him a little more calmly. "I was just about to have Lordan here..." she started to say, but Grimm finished the sentence for her.

"Explain how he could ask such a question; I heard--actually, I think everyone else heard, too."

Lordan quickly looked around and saw that Mist Runner's entire group was looking at him--even Dahmietra, once his words had been interpreted for her. The looks on their faces ranged from raised eyebrows to frowns--Foxfire was the only one looking at him with pity in her eyes. In her mind, Lordan just didn't understand the true nature of love so she resolved herself to show him. Foxfire removed her cloak and handed it to her brother as she walked by him on her way to Lordan. Lordan looked up to see Foxfire approach wearing only her breechcloth and jewelry. He wanted to draw back from her, after his previous experience, but found that he couldn't move--her intensely blue eyes held him and seemed to penetrate deep within his heart of being. Foxfire knelt down in front of Lordan where he was sitting, took his hand, and placed it on her chest over her heart. Everything around him seemed to blur and fade into an all-enveloping whiteness, with only intensely blue lupine eyes gently gazing upon him. He heard a soft, sweet voice in the whiteness, though he wasn't sure if he heard it with his ears, in his mind, or both.

"Lordan, sweetie, let me show you what love is all about...," the voice said to him gently.

Images and feelings began to fill his mind, mixed with poetry and songs of love through the ages. Tears began to flow from his eyes as he sat unblinking, and his heart began to beat strongly with emotion as he experienced in mere moments the full meaning of true love--even seeing the love between Kurietta and Grimm: the joys they felt, the intense sorrow of loss, and the comfort of simply being together. When he began to understand, Foxfire put his hand down and gently kissed him on the forehead.

"Now I think you can answer your own question, dear," she said smiling like a mother to her child who had just learned an important life lesson.

Foxfire stood up with her usual fluid grace and ran her fingers through the fur on top of Lordan's head.

"He'll be okay in a little while," Foxfire said to the rest of his group.

She turned and smiled at Kurietta, taking her cloak back from her brother and putting it back on.

Foxfire gave Kurietta a warm hug and asked, "Hey, it's what sisters are for...right, Grimmie?"

Foxfire looked up at her brother with a grin, and while he didn't exactly know what she had done to Lordan, he had an idea.

Grinning himself, all Grimm could say was "Indeed."

Just before sunset, the workers finished what they were doing and then cleaned up to have their evening meal. Warri watched with interest as they went about their before meal ritual of chants, prayers and movements.

"They do make things rather complicated, don't they, lad?" Snow Spear asked, shaking his head slowly.

"Seems like it. Do they do this all the time, or if this is just because it's a special event for them?" Warri asked.

"I guess you'll have to ask Dahmietra, if anyone could tell you I think it would be her," Snow Spear replied.

"I may do that," Warri said.

They continued watching as the ritual concluded and the meal began to be served. The religious leaders all went first, according to seniority, along with their retinues, with the warriors after them and the workers being fed last.

"Looks like the ones doing the hardest work get the scraps, while the ones who do the least feast on the best," Snow Spear observed.

"And waste a lot, too," Warri added.

"I noticed that," Snow Spear said, shaking his head.

"I suppose it will be dark soon, so they will be settling down for the night. It's a good thing that these folks are a superstitious lot, and are too afraid to go roaming around at night," he continued.

Warri grinned and said, "If only they knew who was on the other side of the hill from them."

Snow Spear chuckled quietly.

"That certainly would cause a stir, now wouldn't it?" he asked.

"Yes Sire, I'm sure it would," Warri agreed.

After a few moments, Snow Spear went to check on Night Song, leaving Warri to continue watching the activities of the Wastelanders on his own.

Night Song was wondering if that small group of people they saw had made it as far as their camp yet. She was curious to find out who they were and what they were doing. When Snow Spear came to check on her, she was a bit relieved to have someone to talk to, even if it was stuffy ol' Snow Spear.

"Seen anything more of those folks down there?" Snow Spear asked.

"Nope, not a thing...," as she was talking, they saw a brilliant glow of silver-white light appear suddenly where the rest of their group had made camp at. The light lasted only a short while before it went out just as quickly as it appeared.

"What was_that_?" Night Song asked in amazement.

"I don't know, never seen anything like it," Snow Spear replied with concern in his voice.

They both then heard Warri's voice in their minds.

"Did something just happen? I felt a burst of magic...and I don't think I was the only one."

Night Song and Snow Spear looked quickly at each other with wide eyes and then rushed over to where Warri was keeping an eye on the Wastelanders.

"We saw something, a flash of light appeared towards the camp--it lasted a few moments and then went out," Snow Spear said.

"There's a person down below who seemed to be doing something a little odd compared to the rest, so I was watching him carefully. He was walking slowly near the platform and looking at it rather intently, wearing a long cloak with a hood--the other Wastelanders wear some kind of hat and loose clothing. As soon as I felt the burst of magic, he stopped and pulled off his hood and it looked like he was sniffing the air. I could see from the light of one of the torches that he has bright red hair," Warri explained with a worried look and his ears pulled back.

"Is he still there?" Snow Spear asked.

Warri found the person again and pointed him out, "There he is."

Snow Spear was able to get a good look at him before the male pulled his hood over his head.

"Dark Blood Clan, I'm sure of it!" he exclaimed quietly. "We'd better tell Sire Mist Runner. It's getting dark anyway, so let's head back to camp," Snow Spear ordered.

While Warri packed up his writing kit, Snow Spear kept an eye on the red haired male below to see where he went next. He walked casually towards a covered wagon that was a little apart from the others and climbed into it, so Snow Spear made a mental note of it to include in his report to Mist Runner.

Night Song, Snow Spear, and Warri carefully made their way down the hill, until they got to camp. Using a pre-arranged signal, they alerted Brown Leaf that they were returning. She answered back to acknowledge them and then immediately told me.

"Sire, Snow Spear, and the others are returning," she said quietly.

"Thanks, Brown Leaf," I said giving her a pat on the shoulder. I went over to where Grimm was with the others and said, "They're back."

Grimm nodded his head once to show that he heard me and got up, with everyone else following his lead. When Snow Spear came into the clearing, I saw that he had a troubled look on his face, as did both Night Song and Warri. We welcomed them back and then I asked what was wrong.

"The one we spoke of earlier...he's here, Warri spotted him walking around that platform. Night Song and I saw something happen down here, some bright light, and Warri felt it...the other one seemed to apparently feel it, too," Snow Spear reported.

"He pulled off the hood of his cloak and started sniffing the air, that's when I saw the bright red hair on his head," Warri added.

"A hooded cloak, you say? That's not the usual style of clothing for Wastelanders," I said.

"He's one of_them_, I'd bet a bowl of Eastlander brew on it," Snow Spear swore.

"I guess you were right, Foxfire...Khel-Sehk's here," I said gravely.

Dahmietra paled at the mention of his name and wrapped her arms around me. Foxfire sighed and lowered her ears a bit.

"Sometimes I don't like being right," she said quietly.

Grimm put his arm around his little sister's shoulders and pulled her to him. "But at least we know what we're going to have to deal with--knowing what you're up against is half the battle," he said with a grin.

"But we don't know what he can do," Foxfire said anxiously.

"It might not matter, Foxfire--if he tries anything, we'll take him down before he knows what hit him," I said. "Smoke Fire, tomorrow I want you up on that hill with Snow Spear and Warri. If Khel-Sehk is a spell caster, he can't do anything if he's been turned into a pincushion. When we go before their council, I want Warri to try and keep in constant contact with me using his ability--if Khel-Sehk tries anything one of us can alert the other. Warri, if you hear me think 'take him down now', immediately pass that to Smoke Fire; Smoke Fire, as soon as you get that order, do everything you can to stop Khel-Sehk; Foxfire, anything you could do that might protect us would be great. The rest of you, be ready for anything...I'll get Dahmietra, Foxfire and myself back here and then we'll all make a run for the boats. Anyone have any questions or thoughts?"

While the rest of our group was mulling over the plan of action, Lordan spoke up.

"Um, Mist Runner...is there anything we can do to help?"

I looked at Lordan and sensed that his offer to help was genuine.

"We know that this thing you have to do isn't our concern, but as you've said, our kind has helped yours in the past fighting the Dark Bloods and since there seems to be at least one here already, we will honor the old alliances," Lordan continued.

"Yeah, we may not be a lot, but if we can help, we will," Minxie added.

I looked around at the rest of our group, and everyone nodded their approval--except Kurietta, who eyed Lordan coolly. I noticed how Kurietta looked at Lordan so I thought I'd pull her off to the side and ask her what she was thinking. Before I did, however, I told Lordan, "I appreciate your offer to help, Lordan. Give me a few moments first, and then we will discuss it."

"Okay, sure," Lordan said.

I made a quick hand motion to the rest of the group to continue and nudged Kurietta.

When she looked up at me, I whispered in her ear, "Talk to me," and nodded my head towards a spot where we could talk in private for a little bit.

Grimm raised an eyebrow as Kurietta and I started to step out of the group for a bit so I gave a hand signal to indicate that we would be right back. Grimm gave a slight nod of his head and continued listening to the group.

"Why the cold look to Lordan?" I asked quietly after we got a short distance away.

"After what that little frizzball said, ya gotta ask? It just burns my tail that he had the gall to say such a thing!" Kurietta was clearly upset, and rightfully so, but she couldn't sense the change in Lordan's attitude as I could.

"I understand, Kurietta--what he said was pretty rude, and I know it hurt your feelings," I said calmly.

"Yer darn right it did! If Grimmster hadn't stopped me, I woulda gave that kid a good tail wackin'!"

She hadn't changed a bit...still the feisty little thing whenever she got a burr up her tail. I gave Kurietta a hug and stroked the fur on top of her head.

"I know you would my friend, but we have other things to worry about right now; besides, after Foxfire had her little 'chat' with him, I don't think you will have to worry about Lordan saying such things again," I said with a grin.

Kurietta looked up at me with a slightly confused expression on her face.

"Whatcha mean, Misty?" she asked.

"You don't know Foxfire very well yet...she can be very persuasive when she wants to be," I said with a wink. "It's difficult enough even for me to keep focused for long just talking with her, but if she sings...your head turns to slush and all you can do is melt into a puddle. If she dances, well, I think even the trees themselves forget what they're doing."

"She's a dancer, too?" Kurietta asked with interest.

"Yes, but not like how you dance. Your dancing is rather...arousing; Foxfire's dancing is, well, you'll get to see soon enough once we get back home. She usually puts on quite a show during our celebrations--definitely captivates her audience," I said smiling fondly at the thought of one of her performances in particular.

"Think she'll dance at our joining?" Kurietta asked.

"I'd count on it...and I'd also count on becoming a basket case for a while afterwards, too," I said with a smirk, "but don't worry, Grimm is the only one who won't be affected--he's the only person we know of who is totally immune to 'The Foxfire Effect' as we call it. You've felt it already."

"So, does that have anything to do with what she did to Lordan?" Kurietta asked.

"Kind of, only what she did to him was much more intense. I can't be sure without asking her, but I'm pretty sure Lordan knows beyond any doubt now what the true meaning of love is--I felt her channel so much of it into him that he if he doesn't understand by now, he never will," I replied.

"She can do that?" Kurietta asked in amazement.

"I'll tell you a little something about Foxfire--there is a lot more to her than she lets on most of the time," I said. "She may usually have a bubbly personality and seem absent-minded, but she is a lot more aware of things than you might think and in ways we can only guess, plus she has just recently proven how powerful she is as priestess-shaman of The Great Mother. You wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for Foxfire--her dam is the only other one that could have pulled you back from the spirit realm like that. Speaking of which, you'll get to meet her when we get back home," I said.

At the mention of "home," Kurietta looked down at the ground and sighed quietly. I could feel the sadness welling up in her, though she tried to keep it held back.

"You miss it, don't you?" I asked gently.

Scuffing the ground a little with her foot, she replied, "Yeah...I miss everyone. They're all long gone now."

Kurietta tried vainly to keep herself held together, but she was fighting a losing battle. She looked up at me and I could see the tears running down her cheeks; the ache in her heart of being was such that I had wondered how long it would be before everything overwhelmed her. I pulled Kurietta close and held her, gently stroking the long fur on her head. Kurietta began to sob quietly--I could feel her body shake as she buried her face into my fur.

After a few minutes, she looked up at me with tear-streaked eyes and pleaded, "Misty, why did I have to die? Why did I have to lose everyone?"

"I don't know, Kuri...I wish that I had a good answer for you, but I just don't know. At least you still have Grimm...and me, too," I said with a little smile as I wiped the tears from her face.

"Yah," she said trying to work up a little smile through sniffles.

"Maybe later on we can find your people and do some catching up with them," I suggested.

"Ya think?" she said, sounding a bit hopeful.

"As long I get to have at least one dance with you at your joining," I said, giving Kurietta a sly grin. Her quirky little smile started to come back on her face.

"I think I can convince the Grimmster to let ya have one...two if I get to dance with ya at yours."

"I think I can convince Red Moon to let you have one...two if you behave yourself," I said with a wink.

Kurietta pouted a little and asked, "Gee, do I hafta?"

I just smiled.

"Ya sure drive a hard bargain, Misty," she said sticking her tongue out at me playfully.

"You keep Grimm out of trouble, and I keep you out of trouble, that's the way it works," I said teasingly.

"Hey, isn't that supposed to be the other way around?" Kurietta demanded with a smirk on her face and putting her hands on her hips.

"Ha, you're more likely to end up getting all three of us in trouble, my friend," I chuckled.

"And who was supposed to keep that fat guy from grabbing my tail?"

"Okay, you got me there...I should have been a little closer so that I could snatch you away from such an upstanding member of the village before you danced right in his face," I replied, sticking my own tongue out playfully at her.

"Ya got that right! Ya shoulda...hey! How was I supposed to know he'd do that?"

"Dear, if you were wiggling like that that close to my face, I'd grab your tail, too," I said with a big grin.

"Ya would?" Kurietta asked surprised.

"Of course I would...and right after that Grimm would kick my tail all the way around The Great Forest...twice," I said still grinning. "Seriously though, Grimm is mighty lucky to have caught your interest, and I don't begrudge him that Kuri. The two of you are great together and I'm happy for the both of you."

"Ya really mean that?" Kurietta asked.

"Of course I do. So, do we have a deal?" I asked.

Kurietta gave me a confused look so I reminded her. "About the dancing?"

"Oh," she said with a sheepish grin. "Deal." She stuck her hand out and we shook on it.

"Done. Feel up to going back now?" I asked, nodding my head towards the rest of the group.

"I guess so," Kurietta replied.

I ran my fingers one more time through the long fur on her head and said, "Come on, 'Hot Stuff', before Grimm thinks we're plotting another surprise party for him."

Kurietta laughed as she recalled the incident. She looked up at me and said,

"Thanks Misty...ya know how to cheer a girl up."

As soon as we rejoined the group, Kurietta wormed her way under Grimm's arm and put her arms around him, laying her head against his side and wrapped her tail around his leg. I slipped alongside Red Moon and put my arm around her waist; she looked up at me, smiled, and whispered in my ear, "What was that about?"

"Tell you about it after this," I whispered back.

Grimm filled Kurietta and me in on what had been talked about while we were dealing with other issues. Brown Leaf had come up with the idea that when we were leaving, Lordan and his group could spread out and make like there were a lot more of them than there really were if anyone tried to come looking our direction. Warri also suggested that he could try to confuse them further using his talent before coming down from the hill. All good suggestions, I thought. There was one thing that I have wondered about: what time of day would the proceedings take place. If we could somehow delay making our appearance until it got dark, that would make things more dramatic...and also easier for us to elude the Wastelanders. Dahmietra suggested that the deliberations could take well into the evening, and Snow Spear mentioned that the Dark Bloods don't like sunlight so Khel-Sehk might not want to appear at least during the lightest part of the day.

"We need to find the High Cleric and meet with him to find out the exact schedule of this thing. They could meet for several days, and surely they won't spend the whole time talking about what to do with Dahmietra," I said.

"If they follow tradition, they will meet for five days, stopping only for meals, rest, and prayers. The High Cleric will open and close the Grand Council and he will have to make the final ruling on anything that has been decided upon according to a set procedure," Dahmietra said.

"I hope he gets here soon, it's a little boring just sitting around," Night Song quipped as she started doing some stretching exercises for something to do.

"I hope nothing happened to the High Cleric along the way here," I said.

"Then let us hope he arrives soon so we can get this over with," Grimm added.

Although Grimm is usually very patient, I know that he wants to get both his little sister and Kurietta home to where they will be safer.

"I guess there is nothing else to do for now but wait, so we might as well get settled in for the night," I said.

We went about getting a meal together, with Lordan's group adding what they had with them, as well as the other usual preparations.

Fen, who had been standing quietly near her brother Jex and Shilar, watched Night Song as she started her exercises a few paces away from everyone. She was amazed at Night Song's range of movement and flexibility as well as her unique style.

"Gee, I wish I could move like that!" Fen thought to herself.

Compared to most other females of her kind, Night Song is on the tall side, solidly built with broad shoulders and fairly muscular arms and legs. She moves rather gracefully for her size and build, and the thick mane of longer black fur from the back of her head down to the bottom of her shoulder blades along with the thicker fur continuing around her neck and down her upper chest, gives her a more wild appearance. The reds, browns and tans in the fur on her face, the rest of her front down the underside of her tail, and on her fingers and toes provides quite a complimentary pattern to the black fur that covers most of her body.

"With a sultry voice like hers, I can see why they call her 'Night Song'...I bet she's probably rather popular with the males," Fen thought.

When the impromptu meeting was over, Fen made her way over to Night Song.

"Mind if I join you for a bit?"

Night Song paused for a moment, looked down at Fen, cracked a smile, and said, "Sure," as she motioned with her hand for Fen to come closer.

Fen stood beside Night Song and watched, trying to match her moves as best as she could. She went through the simpler part of her routine a little slower so that Fen could learn the moves.

"You have an interesting style, Night Song...kinda reminds me of some of my Skunatii friends who practice the older fighting arts, with some Vulpinii moves tossed in."

"So you know something of different fighting styles, eh?" Night Song asked.

"My grandsire was a warrior who practiced the old ways, and he taught my brother, Shilar and I enough to defend ourselves," Fen replied.

"How did you meet up with the Eastlander?" Night Song asked out of curiosity.

"Oh...his family was ambushed while they were moving to a new location to get away from the Wastelanders who were moving into their area. A group of them had been raiding farms and homesteads, and they caught Shilar's family on the road in their wagon. They tried to outrun the Wastelanders, but the wagon hit a bump and overturned. One of our hunting parties saw what happened and tried to come to their rescue, but when the Wastelanders saw them coming, they killed his family and fled. Shilar was trapped under the overturned wagon, so he was spared. He was only a few turns of the seasons old, so he was brought back to our village and my parents took him in and raised him with Jex and me. We're the only family he's really ever known," Fen explained.

Night Song stopped while Fen told the story about Shilar and listened thoughtfully.

"Dahmietra's family gave her up when she was only five turns of the seasons old and she was put away in some religious place. She hasn't seen her own family since then, and that was nine turns of the seasons ago. In the past half moon, I've met some other Wastelanders who seem like decent enough people, but then I've also met some who I'd just as soon kick their tails all the way back to those smoking mountains in The Wastelands where they came from and drop them in one," Night Song stated, remembering the two from the inn.

"We try to just avoid them because you can't ever tell which the crazy ones are and which the nicer ones are," Fen said.

"I suppose from a distance it's hard to tell, though by the time they get close enough, it might be a little late to worry about it," Night Song said with a smirk.

"I guess you're right," Fen said getting a grin on her face.

"So, you want to work out some more?" Night Song asked.

Fen said, "Sure," and they went back to the routine.

Making camp for the night this close to a bunch of Wastelanders wasn't quite so bad, only because they are superstitious about the night and even the fiercest of them are loath to be out after dark. What was worrisome was the fact that they have a Dark Blood with them...and there could be more than just the one. Since Lordan and his party joined our group, it was decided that we should have an extra person on watch during the night while everyone else rested. After eating our meal together, we sat around and talked quietly with Minxie and Fen who told us about their people and how they and the other Woodland People were now living together in mixed villages, which were located further north of here. When the Wastelanders pushed into this area and threatened all of the Woodland People, the elders of each tribe all gathered and discussed what to do. It was suggested that instead of maintaining the old traditional tribal areas separated from one another, all the tribes should join and live together for the common good of all. The tribal elders deliberated a while on the proposal and then decided to bring the idea to the rest of the people and have open discussions. They heard suggestions and concerns, formulated a plan, and put it to the people to decide. After a few of outlying villages and travelers had been harassed and even outright attacked by bands of Wastelanders, the various tribes of the Woodland People decided to merge into a common society. Jex added that there are also some peaceful relations and trade developing with some of the nearest Eastlander villages, and there is talk of a possible alliance.

"We have not had contact with your people for some time," I said, "and I have been hoping that they still existed. Sometimes during my travels while making trades, I have heard stories told by Wastelanders of so-called 'demon-animals that walk upright'--given that they often refer to our own people as such, I wondered if it was just the brew they were drinking or if these stories were an indication that there were still some of you around."

Minxie smiled and said, "Yep, we're still here...and there are a lot of us. You should come and see how we've been doing."

Grimm raised an eyebrow and looked at Kurietta for a moment, and then at me. I grinned and nodded my head slightly once; Grimm cocked his head slightly and thought a moment, and then nodded his head slightly once in return. Grimm and I may not have Warri's mind-speak ability, but having been friends literally for ages beyond count, we understood one another so well that we knew what the other was thinking just as well.

"So, everyone's all living together in the same villages now?" Kurietta asked with amazement.

"Yeah, it took some doing--the older ones had the most problems with the idea, though with the increased trouble with the Wastelanders and a lot of persuasion by the elders, they finally came around. Once the tribes began merging and the young were growing up together, a lot of the old rivalries went away," Minxie said.

"Warri, would you mind getting your map out and have Minxie show you where their people are located and make a note of it?" I asked.

"Certainly, Sire," Warri said and then got the map out of his bag and sat with Minxie so that she, with some help from the others, could show the location of their people's territory.

Discussions went on for a while, and probably would have gone on for much longer if Foxfire hadn't stretched luxuriously in front of everyone and announced that she was going to get some rest since it was going to be a busy day tomorrow. Foxfire gave both her brother and Kurietta a kiss on the cheek (causing Kurietta to momentarily forget whatever she was thinking of) and gracefully laid down on her bedroll. She has a knack for getting people's attention, I mused to myself. Those of us not taking the first watch went ahead and got some rest. Kurietta snuggled up with Grimm who was within reach of Foxfire, Dahmietra lay next to Red Moon with Warri not far away, Brown Leaf, Smoke Fire and Snow Spear were on the other side of Warri, and Lordan's group were around the other side of the fire. I took the first watch with Night Song and Fen. While they quietly chatted, I thought about what Lordan had said when Kurietta told his group that she and Grimm were going to be joined. Even though the Woodland Peoples were now living side by side in the same villages with one another, aside from Shilar having been raised by a Cunatii family, I wondered if there were any mixed pairs such as Kurietta and Grimm. My curiosity got the best of me, so I asked Fen about it.

"I don't know of any who have joined with someone other than their own kind," she replied. "One of Jex's friends got interested in a Pumatii female, but then their parents found out and now they're not allowed to be alone together."

Night Song and I both raised an eyebrow at that.

"Who decided that, their parents or the elders?" Night Song asked.

"Oh, it was just their parents--they're still a bit more traditional, if you know what I mean. I guess once those two are old enough they could do what they want if they wanted to, but their parents probably won't like it," Fen explained.

"So how do you feel about it, Fen?" I asked.

She thought for a bit and then said, "Well, I guess I can see their parents' view to a point--they wouldn't be able to have any kits to carry on the family line. But then again, I don't see why they can't be together if they want...they're probably just curious, no harm in that, right?"

"I wouldn't think so. Love takes many forms and happens when and where and with whom it will in its own way and time," I said thoughtfully.

"You have an interesting way of looking at things, Mist Runner," Fen said with a smile.

"That's because he's been around the tree a few more times than most of us," Night Song shot back with a grin, shooting a quick glance at me with her ears lowered just a bit.

"I'll be sure to tell that one young guard that was at the gate with Salzar how old you are the next time we're in their village," I said with a sly grin to Night Song.

Fen looked at both of us questionly.

"It's a long story, Fen...kind of a wild night, wasn't it Sire?" Night Song asked.

"Yes and not one I wish to repeat anytime soon," I replied.

We finished out our turn at watch, woke up the next three who would be taking our places, and then got some rest ourselves. When the first very faint amount of light could be seen in the east, we got up and began making our preparations for the day. We had a quick bite to eat along with some tea, and then we put out the remaining coals from the fire using dirt so as to not to give away our position. As soon as Warri, Snow Spear, and Smoke Fire were ready, I sent them on their way up the hill to keep an eye on the Wastelanders who would be starting to stir before long. The rest of us gathered our belongings and had everything ready to leave at a moment's notice, just in case we had to move out quickly. When it got light enough for her to see, Dahmietra set about modifying her old clothes so that they could be worn over her current clothing and quickly removed with a few tugs. She did this so that she could create the illusion of her "rebirth" in front of the leaders of her people. After she had finished, Dahmietra, Foxfire and I rehearsed what we were going to do--keeping in mind that the situation could change at any moment during our little show. Grimm lead a little workout routine with Night Song, Red Moon and Lordan's group, starting off with stretching exercises and progressing to simple moves. Kurietta joined in with the workout even though what she was wearing wasn't exactly made for such activities. Dahmietra and I joined in after we had finished with our rehearsal--this was something that Dahmietra had never done before, so I suggested that she take things slow and easy so that she wouldn't hurt herself by doing too much too soon. Kurietta helped Dahmietra learn the moves and with the stretching exercises, which she seemed to pick up quite readily. Grimm smiled to himself while he watched how well Dahmietra got along with Kurietta, even though neither could understand the other yet.