East Bank of the Silver Run River
The lands of the Abode surround you.
To the north you see wooded area, thick clumps of trees standing, with NewGreen 
growth covering their limbs. The tree line thins after about a hundred paces to 
the west and you see the bank of the Silver Run River. Hollow reeds have begun 
to grow and does little to obscure the line between water and land. You can see 
the large rocks with sharp jagged edges reaching out of the water and you think 
they look slippery from your vantage point. The water swirls dangerously around 
the rocks, making the river seem uninviting. It is early morning, springtime. 
Elves and wolves alike seek their dens.


The lonely stump of one of the great trees rests, stately and dead, among the 
lush shade of its living peers. Angled from two sides to a peak just off of 
center, the tree was apparently hewn by axe.

Despite the early hour of the day, Strongbow is up. Either he couldn't sleep or 
remained awake, but the archer-chief has found his way to the riverbank. His 
brows furrowed in concentration, he sits on the stump, tying what seems to be a 
rope to the end of an arrow. The water, calmer than the rushing of the first 
thaw, is also warmer, echoing the day. Perhaps the elder has forseen a bath, for 
his high boots rest beside the stump, rendering him barefoot.


Moonshade says "You seem more thoughtful than usual, beloved."

It is a moment before he replies, but, once the final knot is secured, Strongbow 
looks to his lovemate, ** Do you think the others are afraid of me? ** That's 
probably not what he would have asked if anyone else brought up a similar 
observation.


Moonshade says "Afraid...? Of -you-?" She pauses, her violet eyes bright with 
concern. "Beloved..."

** Aye, of me. ** Standing on the stump, Strongbow picks up his bow and nocks 
the arrow, aiming at the water. ** Redlance came to me and said they were. That 
because I do not look to them for support, they are afraid of me. **


Moonshade says "Whomever 'they' are are foolish." Well that got her ire up. "If 
they do not like it - let them challenge you."

The arrow is let go to shoot into the water, the rope taut from the current. 
Pulling it back, Strongbow looks to his mate, ** I think they are trying. 
But...Cutter is going about it oddly. It's like he has forgotten how to be a 
wolfrider. **



Moonshade wants to laugh, but sympathizes with her mate. "Do you think it is 
really that bad?" She moves close and takes a seat by him. "Cutter has become 
frivolous, surely, but not a wolfrider?"

Pulling in the arrow and the rope, Strongbow takes the still-wriggling fish 
impaled on the shaft and tosses it into the grass by the stump. More food for 
later. ** I don't know. He brings up things from the past...I know Cutter is 
odd, but he hasn't done that before...except at Howls. I think he tried to 
incite me to a challenge like that. ** But the past is past, meant only to be 
discussed with dreamberries.

Moonshade is thoughtful herself for a time. She links her fingers around her 
knees and lets herself gaze at her mate. From a youth to now, an elder, she has 
watched him - seen him from the better days to the darkest hours. "No longer in 
the Now."

** He goes in an out. But he's been out of the Now for some time... ** Strongbow 
glances to Moonshade beside him and tries to offer a slight smile...but it 
doesn't quite manifest. ** I am being treated by him...and by others in the 
Holt, as if I was... ** he tries to think of an appropriate analogy... ** As if 
I have betrayed them all to the Snake because I challenged him. **

Moonshade says "No one likes something new, Strongbow."

Strongbow just shakes his head and renocks the bow, ** I'm not new. And my ways 
aren't new. They have just forgotten. **

Moonshade says "They have never had to follow you before... except on hunt."
Brown eyes shift to his mate, ** They followed Bearclaw. ** Some of them... who 
were old enough to remember.

Moonshade goes to say something about Bearclaw, then thinks better of it. She 
knew their old chief all too well. Touching a bare branch, she sighs. "It -was- 
different then... we were all different then. We thought we were all there was 
left on this world." She pauses then forces her gaze to meet his. "But we have 
learned that we are not."

** And we have learned that not all of those elves are kind...or even decent. 
Yet Cutter doesn't seem to remember that at all. ** Maybe the archer has been 
burned too many times by such elves that he has grown extra wary. ** I let those 
Underworlders into the Holt, didn't I? **

Moonshade says "Yes..."

** And they're still afraid of me. ** The arrow is shot back into the water, 
skewing another fish. It's dull, unchallenging hunting, but food is food.
Moonshade says "Many of them never knew Bearclaw... and never had to live with 
Mantricker. Not even Cutter..."

** But they had to live as wolfriders! ** The send is a little harsh, a 
little...desperate? He tries not to let it show, but Strongbow is afraid 
himself. He is afraid that his tribe is losing what it means to be a wolfrider. 
To be the descendants of Timmain and Timmorn Yellow-Eyes.

Moonshade sends openly ** But now they have a choice to try to live as a sun 
villager or a go-back or... something else. **

"Then they can leave..." is actually spoken, the voice husky and low. Not that 
the archer wants his tribe to leave...he doesn't want them to be afraid of 
him...afraid of living in the Now..living by the Way.

Spoken words usually are not taken so close to the heart. Moonshade flinches as 
she hear's her beloved's voice and looks away from him. She does not immediately 
disagree.

A few more castings are made in silence, the only sound being the water 
splashing at the water's edge and then *twang* of the bowstring. There is nearly 
half a dozen fish on the bank before Strongbow sends ** I don't want to be 
forced to be something else. I am a wolfrider. **

Quietly, Moonshade responds. "As am I."

And Moonshade is one of those who isn't afraid of him. Going to nock his arrow 
once more, Strongbow lets out a sigh and crouches down on the stump, his head 
hanging wearily for a moment. ** Redlance suggested a Howl. I don't know if that 
will help. I think that they are choosing sides... **

Moonshade rises with the grace of subtle strength and goes to Strongbow's side. 
Her hands run down the sides of his neck and rest on his shoulders and gently 
begins to knead. "Redlance is right. We need a reason to join together and bond 
as a tribe. The pack is one. Who leads it is..." She shrugs. It is the moment 
that the pack does not work together that wolves leave or are forced out. It 
happens with large packs.

His muscles are very tense, no doubt from the tension around him. Keeping still, 
trying not to re-tense as the muscles in his shoulder are massaged, Strongbow 
adds, ** I hope it helps. I don't want it to turn into a fight. **

Moonshade leans down and nips his ear. **I think you can hold your own.**
Strongbow actually gives a snort, ** Maybe. But Redlance was right in that the 
entire tribe could kick my rump down the next troll-hole. ** If they all worked 
together.

Moonshade says "You imagine it is the entire tribe against you... I do not think 
it is everyone."

Strongbow send, simply, ** No, but I think Cutter is...offended... that I still 
am Chief. **

Moonshade says "But he surrendered the chief knot to you. He cannot believe that 
he did so lightly - can he?"

Strongbow shakes his head, ** I don't know. But I can tell that he is trying to 
get it back. But he is trying wrong. **

Moonshade kneels behind Strongbow and leans into him, surrounding him with her 
arms. She says nothing, for there is nothing to say. Breathing in the scent of 
him she watches the moonlight play across the water, as time has passed since 
her arrival. 

Wrapping his arm about her waist, Strongbow leans his cheek against the top of 
Moonshade's head. Things really should be so much simpler...but instead, he's 
having to fight to keep the Way. He remains silent for a long while until a 
breeze returns the scent of the fresh fish to his nose, ** We should bring the 
food to the others. **

Moonshade nods and takes a moment before releasing him. In comfortable silence, 
she gathers a few of the fish, waits for him, then heads back into the Holt.