Goldsand Beach~Harvest Festival

Silence felt good, he was glad that the others had followed his guidance. Their acceptance warmed his heart, he was only recently the huntleader and he still felt awkward in this new position.

He scanned the area for dangers. In the meantime Stormcloud and Sunsong followed the scent.
They still moved with a hint of haste but this time the side of the roads were thoroughly checked. The road was a little wider and straightener now, it was even possible to ride two at two.

Silence watched as Sunsong lifted a long branch, his heart skipped a beat! Little tusk pigs! He heard Sunsong gasp.**Everyone, watch out! There must be a mother tusk pig near, we found their young! Don't make a sound,  send only!**
He watched as Sunsong tried to touch the little ones. He continued to send openly**Don't touch them Sunsong, the mother will know! Keep going, don't run, make as little noise as possible.**
He locksend to his wolf** Where is the mother of these little tusk pigs, can you smell her?** Shadow sniffed but stayed silent.
A loud crack behind him made him turn.
There she was, she stared at them. She looked at her baby's, who were calling for their mother now and then she looked at the elves. Silence cursed silently, the others just heard a grumble: Oh puckernuts, she's big.

Brooksong stiffen in surprise and gripped her spear tightly and ready to use it as Moon howl growled and turned around to face the sow. **What if we slowly all move off the the path and let her little ones go to her? No sudden moves or attacks?** She nudged Moonhowl to move to the side of the trail leaving space between her and Silence. She slowly raised her spear to a defensive stance.

Stormcloud was relieved that Silence wasn't angry at her. She had to admit he was right about expecting the unexpected.

She inhaled the air in the forest once again, deeply. "Their scent is strongest on the path I went along." She told him. "Bigpaws agrees on that." She turned to look at her wolf-bond, and found him to have that expression of 'hackles rising' as it could be called, which told her that something was very, very wrong here.

Before she could obey Silence's request to lead on, the tusk pigs were revealed. If she had paid more attention to Bigpaws... useless to dwell on all that now. The mother pig was furious, and it seemed obvious to Stormcloud, from what she knew, that the only sensible course of action was to attack before the animal could get closer with those sharp, cruel tusks of hers.

Stormcloud threw one of her daggers at the mother pig. It hit her just below the eye and if it had any effect, it was to make her even angrier.

"Uh oh..." Stormcloud breathed, realizing too late the trouble she was in. One hunted tusk-pigs with large hunting parties and a good supply of sharp spears... definitely not with a handful of unprepared elves and only four throwing daggers on her... make that three, as the fourth seemed to be stuck to the pig's face...

--

**Good idea**, Snaketwist sent back to Tern. **You go back closer in, I will stay out here.** He seemed to be making all the decisions today, which was not usual, but he didn't mind it. He told himself to keep calm, to not give up hope. Until he knew otherwise, he'd assume the pips were alive. They had to be. They had to be. Losing one child would be a tragedy, losing two would be one of the harshest blows fate had ever dealed the twin tribes. Would the loss finally bring the quarreling parties together? He doubted it. More likely, knowing some of his hot-headed tribemates, the Seafolk and WolfFolk would blame each other for the deaths.

Just as Silence wanted to agree with Brooksong, he fell the wind of an object flying by. The tusk pig shreaked and he saw a knife right under her eye. He sighed, okay no quiet and careful retreat then.

He shot his arrow right in here shoulder to slow her down. But she ignored the wound and Silence.
The tusk pig was hurt and in pain, but she focused on Stormcloud.
She shrieked again, passed Silence and Brooksong and stormed right at Stormcloud.
An other arrow went through the same shoulder and she stumbled.

Silence shouted " Climb in a three! Quick!" He chased after the tusk pig. Shadow bit in her hind. The tusk pig turned her head to this new attacker and tried to stomp them. Shadow was to quick for her, he was already on her other side and bit her again. The tusk pig concentrated now fully on the wolf. Silence looked for an occasion to jump on her back, he would push his arrows between her eyes. It was probably the only way to stop her.

Tern nodded, staying in his place as his cousin swam farther out. **If you find something, or need any help, just let me know.** After Snaketwist had gone, he resumed searching.

Tern swam closer to the seabed, wondering if he would find items the guppies had dropped while swimming deeper, if they had even swam out in the first place. Swimming back and forth, he focused his attention on the sandy sea floor.

Perhaps he wasn't focusing as well as he could, for when he first came across an object buried in the sand, he completely passed over it. Tern had always had a tendency to become a little distracted at times, so it wouldn't have come as much of a surprise if anyone had been watching.

However, instead of completely missing it, he paused seconds later, and returned, a quizzical knit to his brows. Had he just missed something? He thought back, trying to decide whether that blur had been imagined, or overlooked due to his wandering thoughts. Returning to the spot, he realized that he had, in fact, missed something.

Stormcloud, frightened almost out of her wits, obeyed Silence without thinking and climbed the nearest tree. Once up in the branches, she took a deep breath, and surveyed the situation. Things weren't going well for Brooksong. Stormcloud found she could not just watch her tribemate battle the fearsome creature. In quick succession, she threw down another two of her daggers. Her aim was better this time - she took out both of the pig's eyes. Blinded and bleeding, the animal continued to battle, with stubborness typical to its kind.

"Someone finish off the cursed thing!" She breathed out, knowing her daggers were not a weapon large enough for that act.

--

Snaketwist watched Tern depart, sending in agreement **And you let me know if there is any news of the little pips** he told him.

He continued his search of the deeper waters. There was a slight metallic taste in his mouth, and he thought for a moment that he had bitten his tongue in his nervousness. But no, the tang was in the water. And it was the taste of blood.

Lots of creatures bled. It could be anything. But if it was strong enough for him to taste... hunters of another kind would taste it also.

Silence and Shadow ducked, attacked, retreated and attacked again, it was like a dance but a dangerous one. Silence  knew that they couldn't maintain this pace, Shadow would tire.
Shadow jumped away from the sow and Silence froze.
He saw how Brooksong charged and hit the pig right in the chest, he saw how she clung at her spear. If she fell, she would be trampled by the pig. No! That would not happen!
He steered Shadow on a parallel course. "Hang on!" he shouted to her, I'm coming to get you!" **Shadow,run as fast as you can, we have to save Brooksong!**

Shadow growled and launched a sprint. In no time he had passed the sow.
Suddenly the pig shrieked in rage, she was blinded by two daggers. Disoriented she ran straight to a tree, she would crush Brooksong against it!

Silence shouted "Let go, I'll catch you!" As Shadow ducked under the spear, Silence leaped and took Brooksong in his arms, he felt the tusk cut his arm but then they were clear and out of the path of the pig. Together they rolled over the ground. Silence hurt his back to a root what stopped their momentum, leaving Brooksong on top of him.

"Hmpff,"he grunted. Carefully he put Brooksong on his right, he hoped she was ok, worried he looked in the direction of the pig. The wolves were sniffing the body but there was no danger anymore.
The sow had impaled herself in the tree, the fight was over. He looked back at Brooksong, he smiled a little:"That was a brave move, are you alright?" He checked her over and found nothing more serious then some bruises.
Relieved he got up and glanced at Stormcloud who was climbing down the tree. He send to her openly **That was a stupid thing to do! What were you thinking? Tusk pigs are dangerous! You don't attack them with knives.**

Silence took a breath and calmed himself, she was still young and shouting was not going to help. In a calmer voice he said to her "You did good in climbing the tree, are you hurt?"

His supported his wounded arm, it seemed that he got the worst of it. He send openly ** We should cut the heart out and give it to the wolves. Brooksong that honor comes to you, it's your bravery that gave us the winning hand.**
Nervous, he looked around and added ** We have no time now to do more, it's still dangerous, there could be more tusk pigs around.**
"We could ask the preservers to make a web around the body" Stormcloud suggested.
Silence smiled, "That is a good idea, but we must hurry."

As to prove his point the clear sending from Ridge came through. They heard the howls and Silence howled back that they were coming.

Serpent Fang made another low sweep through the deep water, scanning the ocean floor for any sign of the pips. As he made another circle, something made him look up. He stopped his swimming, looking carefully around. He could see nothing, but he could tell something was very, very wrong.

**Coral,** he lock-sent. **We're not going to find them out here, I'm going back.**

Serpent Fang made no mention of the feeling that something was wrong and turned back, swimming fast and hard. He cut through the water like a fish, tasting the water as he went. There was the unmistakable tang of blood.

Serpent Fang gave a sharp kick, swimming even faster and harder. He knew exactly what that meant. He kept scanning the water, tightening his grip on his spear.

Then he saw it. It was a flicker of movement in the water and a shadow. He knew what it was. Daggerteeth.

Fear, hard cold fear washed over him. If there was blood and there were daggerteeth, all the elves in the water were in serious danger.

Tern and Snaketwist were out here too!

Serpent Fang shot forwards, sending as far as he could, **Tern! Snaketwist! Get out of the water!**

The safest thing to do would be to swim to shore, but Serpent Fang had to make sure the daggerteeth didn't come any closer. He knew it was foolish. He knew it was risky. But he did it anyways. He dove to the ocean bottom and swam towards the daggerteeth. This was something he'd done several times before in his five hundred plus years. It involved leading the daggerteeth away, but it could also end in serious injury or even death.

A single image flashed through Serpent Fang's mind and he shuddered, his face twisting with rage. It was of an elf torn apart and blood clouding the water. It was an elf he'd never called friend, but could protect.

Tern reached out, scooping away the sand that surrounded the object. Once the sand was cleared away, he could fully see what it was. It didn't belong to either of the guppies, which was more than expected.

It was just a simple shell, Tern had seen many of its kind. Usually, though, a shell like this had something in it. An empty shell like this should be on the beach, he said to himself as he moved to return it to its place. Instead, however, he stopped short, thinking of the beach.

A simple swirl-shaped shell like this, striped with blood-red, may be commonplace to the SeaFolk, but who knew if a wolf-elf had ever seen one. He decided to take it back with him, as a gift to his new friend to thank him for his company. Maybe it would help to the cub minder forget his undoubtedly guilty conscience as well.

It was then that the sending reached his mind. In his surprise at the sending, Tern opened his mouth to speak, only to close it a moment later; there wasn't anyone nearby to hear him, he had to send. Before he could, though, the taste of blood that had flowed into his mouth settled onto his taste buds.

**Like we're going to let you get all the hero credit,** Tern sent back teasingly, realizing there was possible danger nearby and completely unaware just what that danger was. Perhaps if he had known what Serpent Fang now faced, he would have considered listening to his orders.

**Tern, no!** Serpent Fang sent. He forced all of his urgency and fear into the sending. He couldn't have Tern coming and possibly getting killed! Not when Tern was... He shook his head as though trying to dislodge the thought.

Serpent Fang skimmed the bottom of the ocean, the daggertooth coming into clearer focus the closer he got. It was possible to kill a daggertooth, but it required several elves coordinating and willing to risk everything including death.

The image of the dead elf flashed across his mind again and Serpent Fang narrowed his eyes, his face contorting. He could easily imagine the dead elf in clouds of blood being a different, younger elf. No! He couldn't think that way. He had to protect the tribe which meant keeping Tern and Snaketwist away.

**Turn back you two!** Serpent Fang sent to both Tern and Snaketwist, backing with all the venom and ferocity he possessed.

As Serpent Fang sent he grew progressively closer to the daggertooth. It was big, one of the biggest he'd ever seen. It twisted and snapped, blood swirling in the water around it as it fed in a violent frenzy.

Serpent Fang was tempted to send to Tern the image of the dead elf, but he knew that Tern would simply shrug it off. But he hadn't seen it in action. Tern hadn't seen an elf ripped limb from limb in mere seconds.

**Turn back,** Serpent Fang sent again with cold closure on the subject. He wouldn't let Tern know the fear he felt.

Serpent Fang drew close enough to see the defining features of the daggertooth and bared his teeth. He knew he wasn't likely to come back from this alive and he refused to regret his actions!

He shot up through the cloud of blood and dodged in front of the daggertooth so it felt the rippled of his movements in its frenzy, even if it hadn't seen him clearly.

Let's play, Serpent Fang thought savagely as he arched over it's back in a practiced movement. He could only hope Tern and Snaketwist would listen to him and turn back!

Tidemist continued marking on the little map when she received Kaimeta's sending. Her head jerked up as the howl reached them on the beach and she let out a cry of joy as she leapt to her feet. “Their scent! Kaimeta said they found the cubs scent!” She cried out, in voice and sending to the elves near by. Her eyes glittered excitedly, and without thinking another thought, unable to contain her anxiousness and restlessness anymore, she took off running down the beach towards the High One's hut.

She had to help them find the pips, now that they were so close! They would find them, and everything would be alright! As she ran swiftly over the sand, her feet well adjusted to the shifting nature, she sent out constantly, *The cubs scent is found! We're on the cubs trail! Everyone, The High One's hut, they're somewhere near the High One's hut! We can find them!*

Straystar called over to Shawl and leap to her back chasing after Tidemist in her excitement. He was releaved as well. "Tidemist unless you can fly faster than a wolf runs, you wanna lift?" He held his hand out to her as he came along side of her.

He caught Stormcloud's sending **We'll find one, Gemshine should be around here I thought I saw it with Ara a little while ago.** Glancing back towards the festivities of the few elves that stayed in the area he saw Ara and the cook Pearlsheen and Yellowfin having Gemshine finish up storing the last of the savable food so it would not go to waste. "Gemshine come with up please there is more food to wrap up this way" he said loud enough for the preserver to hear.

"More foodstuff!!! Gemshine's wrapstuff for make pretties not get cut up to take foodstuff here there" It said pouting but came along after finishing it's last bundle.

**Stormcloud we are on our way is everything okay? Why is there a kill at a time like this?** he locksent to her concerned but not angry, things happen.

Ridge and Pathfinder pushed through the bracken--knowing nothing of the events that had occurred with Silence, Stormcloud, and Brooksong--following the scent of the cubs. It was getting progressively stronger. Ridge was on high alert for any danger, even though his steps quickened.

He could smell the warm cub scent and the salty smell of the ocean that all sea-elves had. He could even see the trodden grass. The cubs were a long way from the festival grounds and he was trembling with the thought of finding them.

Pathfinder gave a low snort and growled at Ridge. The wolf may not be good with cubs, but he had sense enough to keep them safe. Ridge crouched low, tracing the faint footprints in the grass. The scent was strong, they were so close! Pathfinder crouch and gave a low wuffing snort near a clump of ferns. Ridge hurried to his side, but hesitated before pulling back the clump of ferns. He unconsciously held his breath, afraid of what he would find. His heart was racing and his hands were shaking, but he had to find out where the cubs were.

In a heap, under the ferns and at the base of a tree he saw them. A wolf-cub and a sea-cub, not even old enough to send. Shaking a with relief, Ridge knelt beside them and gave a short, breathy laugh. He didn't want to wake the cubs, but they were safe!

**I found them! I found them! They're okay!** He openly sent, almost frantic in his need to alert the other.

Pathfinder threw back his head and howled, carrying the message where sending couldn't.

Silence was surprised when Brooksong passed the honor to Stormcloud, giving the excuse that she was not good at it. 
Giving the heart to the wolves after the hunt was a tradition, his parents had taught him that. It was to honor their bond with the wolves, to show them respect. 
Confused he watched as she took his arm in her hands. He locked his jaw when he fell the heat of her hands, it was like a torch was welding the wound from the inside out. But the pain past quickly, only some throbbing sensation remained. "Thank you," he whispered, unsure how his voice would sound.
He watched as Stormcloud cut the heart and gave it to the wolves.
He went over to the sow and retook his two arrows, he thanked the sow for her sacrifice. He cleansed his arrows with water from his pouch. He touched the sow's head and whispered "thank you for your gift, may you rest in peace."

He took the two knives out of the eyes and cleaned them. He went to Stormcloud, he touched her shoulder," I think these are yours, nice throwing by the way" and handed her the knives. 
He grimaced when his arm acted up under the sudden movement. 
He turned to Brooksong, "I'm afraid that your spear is beyond repair, I'll make you a new one," he promised. 

Silence was suddenly very tired, he climbed on Shadow,** Come **he send openly** It is time to join the others **  This time he took the lead, making sure they followed him.

Kai's heart soared at Ridge's sending, They were safe. She couldn't help but smile. With Lancestike still in her arms, the High One turned around and headed back to her hut. She landed softly on the sand and set the cub on the ground. "Maybe now we can continue our festival." She winked at the child, who seemed thrilled.

She smiled at Tidemist as she ran up. "Im guessing you heard?" She couldn't stop her grin from beaming from her face. The young ones were safe and this situation was over. The High One hoped that they would still have the dancing later down the beach. All in all things had worked out well and she hope that this wouldn't bring an abrupt end to the festivities.

"I should head down to the beach, I'll need to be there to give the ones who went to sea with tails their legs back." She smiled her eyes bright and full of relief. The High One then started in an easy pace towards the festival grounds and the waters there to meet the search party when they came to shore.

Tidemist could see Kaimeta's hut in the distance when she received the sending from Ridge. She cried out in joy once again, and she saw Kaimeta flying from the forest with Lancestrike in her arms. She laughed and whirled in a few circles over the sand, her hair flying out behind her, before she continued running, getting to the taller High One. Very much like her, she couldn't banish the wide grin from her face. “They're safe! Oh thank the tides and High Ones, they're both alright!”

She laughed and whirled in another dance, then swept to Lancestrike and grabbed his hands gently, dancing the fluid elfin dance style with the young boy. She saw Kaimeta leaving and laughed again, feeling that she would never be able stop, and that the world could never be full of anything but happiness and relief. “Come pip! We're coming with you Kaimeta! They'll probably bring the little ones back to Goldsand Beach! They're alright!” She danced over the sand, still holding Lancestrike's hand, but going slow enough that his shorter legs would be able to keep up with her.

Gripping his spear in hand, Tern began making his way in the direction Serpent Fang's sending had come from. The shell floated slowly back to the sand as he left it behind; a shell would do nothing in a fight.

As he went, the sea-elf tried to ignore the thought of entering into danger with a cumbersome tail attached to his body. Although he found it more effective in swimming faster and farther, especially when in deeper water, Tern had always preferred his own legs whenever he was actually doing something.

**I'm coming now,** he sent to both of his tribemates, **Try not to pine my absence too much while you wait.**

--

Crowspirit let out a breath at the reassuring news. Two reliefs for the day. The cub from her tribe was fine, which was most important thing. But she was also glad that the other cub was alright, both because no cub deserved a terrible fate, and because if something had happened to the sea-cub, unwanted conflict could have arose between the tribes. She was also thankful that Ridge had found them before Straystar could have summoned her to the beach.

Crisis doused, she began making her way back up the Everhome tree. Sentry threw back his head in a howl, joining in with the others of his pack. Instead of echoing him, the she-elf simply glanced down at her bond before continuing with her climb.

Serpent Fang twisted, circling the daggertooth. The blood in the water filled his mouth and nose; he felt white-hot fury rise at the blood swirling in the water. He flipped over the daggertooth's back.

The daggertooth thrashed, circling as it caught his movements. It swung it's huge head around, snapping it's massive jaws at him. Serpent Fang dove, kicking hard. He knew the daggertooth would follow him; in it's frenzy it would go for the obvious prey.

The daggertooth followed Serpent Fang in his dive. Snaketwist's sending came to him that moment follow closely by Tern's. Serpent Fang couldn't close his mind against them, feeling as though he were being split by the urgent need to protect his tribe, but also trying silence his mind. He had to concentrate!

**No!** Serpent Fang sent sharply, praying that his violent sending would dissuade them. Tern's sending had come from one side and Snaketwist's the other. They would be able to out number and possibly out maneuver the daggertooth, but he couldn't depend on that.

He swirled just in time to avoid hitting the sea floor with the massive beast only a breath's width behind him. He pulled up, kick hard. His breath came shallowly, the water pumping painfully through his gills. He flipped over, leading the shark on.

--

Relieved at the cubs state of well-being, Ridge was too glad to be properly upset with them. He knew he should have been angry that they'd run off, but they were alive and that was all that mattered!

The cubs were so exhausted from their adventure that even the howling didn't wake them. Carefully, Ridge picked the two cubs up, one in each arm with their head resting on his shoulders.

Pathfinder snarled warningly at him as he approached. The wolf would not have more cubs on his back! The wolf stalked away, back towards the beach. With a low sigh, Ridge followed in the wolf's wake. He wouldn't argue with Pathfinder, their bond was odd and precarious and he wasn't going to push the boundaries.

The going was slow until he emerged from the woods and into the sun. The cubs slept on as he trekked slowly back towards the festival grounds.