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Day 1:
I had been expecting a letter or some form of orders from my clan to figure out what to do next. It never came so what other choice did I have but to go home. It was going to be a ten day walk to Spiritclaw territory, I wasn’t really looking forward to it. It had been unseasonable cool all summer and winter came earlier than normal. Winter solstice is about four weeks away already.

“You ready?” I hear Stanrick call from outside in the yard. I sigh and take one last look around the cabin. This is his mother’s cabin, though technically it is his now that she has passed. I had been staying with him for most of my time here at Onsallas. Yet this place didn’t feel like a home to me, or at least not my home. Though I suppose it could with enough time. I shake my head a little and chided myself. I am a Truthseeker, I am not allowed a home. As long as I am still active, I will never be in one place long enough to make a home. I tug the dust cloth over the dining table and bed and makes sure the fire in the hearth is good and out before gathering two book from the table next to the door and stepping out. I see Stanrick tugging the ropes keeping the camping gear in the wooden cart that I travel with. That poor little cart is packed pretty tight as it normally designed to keep just my stuff. Now its got about two weeks worth of supplies plus armor and weapons. I walk over to the cart and tuck the books into my packs. Stanrick wraps his arms around my waist and leans his chin on my shoulder.

“You’re quiet today” He states.

I shrug a little. “Sorry. A lot on my mind, beloved. “ I am nervous about this trip home. A lot has happened between the Swamp and Stanrick and I becoming mates. I am not sure how my clan, my pack is going to take any of it. Not to mention I am going home…with Stanrick. He is going to see how I live and that also makes me nervous. What if there are too many people for him to tolerate among the thousands of other what ifs I can think off.
He kisses my cheek and smiles. “Its okay.” He is about to pick up the rope to the cart and string it around himself and I stop him. He frowns at me. I take it from him and loop it around my chest.

“If we get attacked by Mordok, you need to be able to move more freely. “ I state. He just sighs at me. I dig my toes into the ground and use my legs to get the cart moving. Once its moves its not bad. My uncle does good work and as long as we don’t take it off trail it will make the journey just fine. Its even convertible for snow, as I look up at the sky and sigh again. I am almost positive that it will snow before we make it to Everspring.

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Day 3:
My eyes snap open at the sound of Stanrick yelling my name. It takes me a moment to orientate myself. I can feel Stanrick trashing beside me, I quickly put up my arm to block being smash in the face.

“Stanrick, wake up! “ I shake him to try to get him up but he continues to be lost in what ever nightmare has him. I feel his hand brush my cheek as I dodge another swing. I sigh, as I know as I am going to have to do it the hard way. I am no stranger to nightmares but eventually I wake up from them and I don’t thrash nearly as much. Stanrick seems to get lost in them, like they are real for him and he is very hard to wake once he is entrenched in one. I occasionally wonder if something is attacking him or maybe trying to tell him something through nightmares and that is an unpleasant thought to have. I straddle his midsection and grab his arms and pin them down and use my legs to hold them there. I can feel his muscles strain under my weight trying to throw me off.

“STANRICK!” I yell as I punch his chest. He bucks wildly underneath me still entrenched in whatever is nightmare he is in.

I lay my weight on him and in his ear whisper. “Beloved, wake up. I need you to wake up now.” I hear him inhale sharply and his muscles go still. I pull back and he is blinking up at me looking a little confused as to why we were in the tent and not in what ever place he was dreaming about. I slowly unwrap my legs from his arms and he wraps them around my midsection and pulls me close. I can feel him take in a shaky breath.

We lay there awhile before he whispers to me. “We were trapped in the swamp again. Mordok had dragged you off. I was fighting to get to you. Ylsa, Rhodi, Thrand, Orrin and Bryech and some of the Bastards where there. I could hear you screaming my name. It sounds like they were torturing you on top of it. No matter how many I fought I couldn’t get closer to you. Bryech and Orrin were the first to fall, Thrand fell trying to get to Ylsa and Rhodi. The Bastards got separated from us. Ylsa, Rhodi and I got trapped in this thick black tar that was like quicksand and we were sinking. I could still hear you screaming. The more I struggled in the tar the quicker I sank. Ylsa and Rhodi disappeared beneath the tar. I had just sank beneath the surface and couldn’t breath, it felt like a hand clawing at me pulling me down farther but I heard your voice calling me, telling me to wake up.”

I frown and kiss his forehead. “You’re awake and safe now. I am here. Why don’t you get up and I’ll switch out the warming stone and we can lay back down. “ He contemplates it for a moment before getting up. I wrap myself in a rabbit fur blanket and a knitted blanket and slip on my boots and take the cold stones and switch them for the warm ones by the fire, placing them in the knitted blanket. I can’t help but remember that I have dreamt of that black tar before. I frown as I stoke the fire and place another log on it to keep it going the rest of the night and go back inside.

“What’s wrong?” Stanrick asks as I place the stones.

“Its probably just coincidence that you and I are both dreaming of this black tar stuff. “ I state as I lay the furs back down over the warm rocks. Stanrick crawls back into bed and I crawl in after him and cuddle up close.

“Probably.” he states as he wraps his arms around me.

“I’ll keep track of it. We don’t even know if the tar stuff is real.” I state rationalizing it mostly for myself.

Stanrick kisses my forehead. “I know you will. Now get some sleep”

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Day 5:
We didn’t get as far as we wanted today. A little after mid day the cold came crashing down on us along with the snow. I am grumpy mostly because I was right in the fact that it was going to snow before we made it to Everspring. I finish converting the cart to a sled as there was already a good two inches on the ground and it doesn’t look like it going to be stopping anytime soon. I repacked the sled and put the tarp on over the top. I also got the tent up and staked to the ground before too much snow cover happened which was good cause the wind is whipping even if we are in the shelter of some trees. Stanrick had already gather a bunch of firewood and had started a fire and then went out for more as we both could feel the temperature continue to drop as the day went on. I was crouched over the fire melting snow to fill our bota bags with water when I hear crunching in the snow. The good thing about the snow is it makes it harder for things to sneak up on you. I see Stanrick come out of the trees with a stack of firewood on his back and a pair of hares in his hand.

He smiles at me “They came racing out from under a bush right next to me. Almost didn’t catch them.” He set the wood on the pile and hands me the hares. I take them and walk some distance away do a prayer for the prey then proceed to skin and gut them. I save the pelts to treat later so I can add them to the rabbit fur blanket. I walk over to the supplies and pull out some of my cooking wear and spices and proceed to cook a pair of hares and I have to say they were pretty good. I would of liked some potatoes or leeks or some such to make with them but you work with what you got.

We sit by the fire in silence just listening to the fire crack and the snow fall. I smile a little and snuggle in close. Stanrick wraps his arms around me. I can feel him work his hand under my tunic to keep his hand warm. It surprises me sometimes how natural and organic our relationship is. We don’t need to talk or entertain each other we can just be in each others presence and that is enough. I can feel his fingers trace a line on my stomach just below my belly button to the right side about half a palm length. Its the oldest scar I have.

“You going to tell me about this one?” He asks as he continues to play with the scar.

I squirm a little. The memory still hurts. Stanrick frowns at me as I stare down at my lap. It takes me quite awhile to work up the words to tell him.

“Mom and dad had just negotiated room and board for us in one of the northern settlements of Clan Shattered Spear in between the swamp and the ocean. We were still a good two days from Onsallas though we had just left the Watchwolves about day and half prior. We were actually heading to Onsallas to help with the pineed sap harvest so we could get more so Dad could make more bandages for trade. Dad and my first mate Torolf managed to snag a deer and a couple of pheasants which we split with the village as thanks for there hospitality. Asgier was asking me all sorts of questions as I was preparing the meal trying to be helpful. It was a fairly normal night all things considered. We had gone to sleep in the nearby storage house. I was awakened late in the night by the sounds of steel hitting steel. Torolf had already taken Asgier to a hiding place. I was alone in the house. I peer out the window to see my mother and my brother fighting creatures that I can barely describe. They were pale and had no eyes, their mouths opened larger than should have been normal. Some looked like fallen warriors though their skin was rotting and their eyes were milky white. Those that could wield magic, even though I was never hit with it, just being in its presence made my skin crawl. There was one who could wield magic and fought with a weapon that appeared to be made out of bone. I watched from the window as my brother was run through by it and dropped. I picked up my staff and charged out, begging Gaia to protect me and give me the strength to defend my family. Most of the creatures didn’t want to come near me for some reason though I have no idea what I did. Those that did and I managed to hit screamed in pain. I remember taking a mace to the hip and in the back before I put my staff through it face. I finally got to my brother and dropped down to start to heal him. I wasn’t paying attention and had no idea what was going on. So I didn’t notice when he started to move again, he sat bolt upright grabbed my shoulder and ran his dagger through my stomach. I locked eyes with him. I knew he couldn’t see me, his eyes were milky white. I panicked and placed my hands on his chest to push him way but when I did he twitched hard like I had stabbed him and he fell back down and didn’t move again. I know I had used magic on him but I didn’t know what I did.” I lean back against Stanrick and wrap my arms on top of his. I could feel the tears sting my eyes threatening to fall as I remember my brother laying there. “I remember staggering to the side of the building holding my stomach. I knew it wasn’t good. I was four months pregnant at the time, so I was trying to stop the bleeding and cast healing magic on myself before the trauma triggered a miscarriage. Either something waylaid me or a piece of the building fell on me I don’t know which but I remember seeing the ground coming up fast and then blackness. When I awoke Keres was there trying to heal me but it was too late my body had already started to go into labor. It was a girl, but she was still born. Keres tried to revive her but to no avail, she was just too small and it was too late. “ I could hear the crack in my voice and feel the tears on my cheek as I continued. “I named her Moira. Keres wrapped her in cloth and told me that there was a pyre in the middle of town for everyone. She had told me how the others died. My mother was found not far from where my brother had fallen, sword and shield still in hand trying to protect a young family who also didn’t make it. Dad was found pinned to a tree by magic, barely a mark on him but face twisted like he had died in agony, his quiver only a third empty. Torolf was found on the trail, sword in hand shot through the back with a half dozen arrows, when Keres moved the body is when they found Asgier under him. Torolf tried to use his own body to protect our son. One of the arrows had gone straight through Torolf and into Asgier. Keres did the rite for Moira and added her to the pyre. I remember crumpling to the ground screaming and just rocking with Keres holding me till I couldn’t scream anymore. Keres wiped her own tears away and asked me to take the survivors they found to a more safe location, I was in no condition to fight. How people survived carnage is beyond me. She told me to head north then east that the roads they came from are cleared and that the threat was heading south. I handed her the last of the pineed sap bandages that Dad had made and told her not to die too and we parted ways. We didn’t run into each other again till she came to fetch me from the Drunken Uncle saying I had been summoned by the Clan leader.” I swallow hard and pull myself back together.

“But that happened a little over a year ago, right?” Stanrick asked carefully.

I nodded “Yeah the scar looks older because I didn’t take good care of myself and didn’t keep the wound and bandages clean enough so it had gotten infected a week or so later. The healers weren’t happy with me. “ I sigh and look up out of habit and frown. The sky is still cloudy and snow continues to fall.

Stanrick pulls me close and holds me “Don’t worry I am sure they are there.”

I nod. “I know. They would make sure I saw them going home.”

We sit in silence for a little while longer when Stanrick turn to me and goes “Did you know they bite.”

I blink for a second “What?”

“The undead, they bite. Mordok bite and it hurts a lot. The Undead bite you it is like ten Mordok biting you at the same time. It the most painful thing I have ever felt and I got bit twice, once in the leg and once in the arm.” Stanrick untangles himself from me to go stoke the fire and add more wood. I dig in one of the bags next to me and pull out materials to make hot chocolate.

Stanrick continues his story as I warm up some water. “Fredrick was there to help or at least to keep me company as the healers use teas and leeches to tend the wounds. They had to use magic too, like it refused to be treated until both were used. I think the cure is almost as bad as the bite. Either way the scars disappeared when the Lich was killed. Nobody has been able to explain that. “

“Huh. Interesting.” I state and sip my drink. “The Bastards seem to always be there when shit goes really wrong.”

“Yeah they’re funny like that.” Stanrick smiles.

I sit and contemplate that for while as I finish my drink. Stanrick suddenly scoops me up and smiles at me “Enough of heavy talk. I am cold and I can think of a much better way for you to keep me warm.”

“Oh really now?” I smirk as he carries me to the tent.

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Day 7:
It was getting late the sky was still cloudy. I knew of a settlement not far from here. I stayed there often when traveling this stretch of road. This is a popular trade road that runs through Clan Goldenfield territory and connected it with Clan Riverhead and Clan Spiritclaw. I knew we were about half way through Goldenfield territory at this point. I must of let my gaurd down cuase I didn’t notice the Mordok till they came crashing out of the snow covered trees.

Stanrick was on them before I could even swing my staff around to help. He quickly dispatched them as I come racing up behind him to make sure he isn’t wounded.

“Where are the other two?” He pants at me.

“What are you talking about there are only three.” I state.

“No, there were two more.” He glances at me for a moment before he eyes dart around trying to find more Mordok.

“No beloved, see only three tracks and three depressions in the snow” I push back the brush with my staff to expose the three depressions in the snow where they were hunkered down waiting for us to get closer. Stanrick stalks over and I can see him kneeling down to examine the depressions and the track marks.

“Fine.” He huffs and stands back up. I think he is a little upset that there weren’t more to kill. The Mordok here are fierce but not like the ones near the Swamp. They are not has heavily armored and aren’t in as large of bands. I think Stanrick was expecting more of a challenge.
Stanrick goes to collect firewood to burn the corpses so they don’t contaminate Gaia. He insisted we burn them. I understand his logic. Its not wrong I fully agree that the Mordok are poison and damage Gaia. Especially after the recent dreams I been having. Though sometimes I think he forgets that I am a Daughter of Gaia and can cleans things and can do other magic than just heal. When he comes back I had drawn a large circle in the snow around where we are going to burn the Mordok, I was huddled over the my pack digging out my reagents.

“What are you doing?” He asks as he drops the wood and starts arranging it and the bodies.

“Gaia is in more than just the earth beneath our feet, she is in the air we breath, the water in the streams, fire in our souls. The Fire keeps them from contaminating the ground but what about the rest of it? “ I finally find what I am look for, a wooden box that has runes and symbols on it. I pull it out and pop it open and pull out a herb bundle. “Its a ritual to cleanse a space. It will keep the corruption from entering the other elements as well. “ Stanrick frowns at me. I don’t think he understand. I just sigh. “Go get more wood Stanrick. That wont be enough to even partially burn them in this cold.”

It is just after dark when we light the fire. Stanrick watches me as I light the herb bundle then blow it out so it smolders and start to walk around the fire clockwise arms held up to the sky.
Mother Gaia give blessings unto me, this rite in this space yours shall be.
Air of High Refine, Purify this place,
Fire Purge this divine space
Water protect this circle so its peace shall not be broken.
By the strength of my Soul, this prayer unto Gaia is spoken.

I walk the circle five times chanting the prayer. Its not the strongest of rites I know but will suffice for cleansing Mordok taint outside of the swamp. I know at least two more cleansing rites that are stronger. When I am done I step back from the circle and snuff out the herb bundle in the snow and store it away. Stanrick is just watching me, I can tell he is contemplating something cause he keeps clenching his jaw. I lean down to pick up the rope for the sled and he stops me.

“Let me this time. “ He picks up the rope and we start moving.

“There is a settlement about an hour or two up the road here. We can barter for lodging at the small inn there for the night” I state. He nods. He barely says two words to me for the rest of the trek. Whatever he is thinking about it must really be bothering him.

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Day 9:
“Just down this path.” I call back

“Where are you going Selena?” I hear Stanrick call.

“You will see” I call. I am a little giddy. We are about a day out from Everspring. I pause on the path and wait for Stanrick to catch up with the sled. I am taking him to my home grounds. Each pack has a place where their pack started. More precisely, for Clan Spiritclaw, a place where the pack chose their name. Some packs have forgotten where or how their names came about, some sites have been lost to Mordok. Pack sites are holy ground. The flow of Gaia’s energy to her children are stronger at these sites. This is why being cast out of your pack is such a high punishment, it means you will never be allowed to see your home grounds again and feel that really close connection to Gaia on top of never seeing your family again. This is especially devastating if you are a Daughter of Gaia. We are always connected to Gaia but we don’t really feel at peace until we are on our home lands.

Stanrick catches up, the sled is lighter now that we been on the road so long but its being unruly on this side path. Stanrick and I break through the tree line. The field opens for miles in all direction. The clearing could probably fit the entire Clan if it wanted to, so it easily fits the several hundred members of my pack and their tents for when we do Pack Moots here. In the center of the clearing jets a rocky structure many feet high. From the top one can get a mostly unhindered view of the sky from the horizon to horizon in a complete circle. Stanrick stops and looks around the clearing. I watch him shift warily side to side and I’m not sure if that is an unconscious reaction to the energy under his feet or if he is cold.

“What is this place?” He asks as I lead him closer to the rock in the middle so we can set up camp.

“This is the place where Pack Stargazer got their name. “ I smile “Help me set up camp and I’ll tell you the story while I cook dinner” I set up the tent while Stanrick went and got wood for the fire. I don’t know how he does it but he managed to also bring back a small deer as well. We build a slightly bigger fire than normal so we can smoke the meat we don’t eat and use it for trade once we get to Everspring. I also take a couple of nice cuts and set them aside for the ritual later. I cut up meat for the stew and set it all in the dutch oven with a couple of potatoes, onions and carrots that I had traded for a few days earlier when we were at the inn. I place the dutch oven on the fire to cook and move some coals on top. Stanrick is look at me as I cuddle up in his arms.

“So?” he asks

I smile “The sagas say that during the time when Gaia and the Great Wolf still walked with us, packs were still forming and names were still being chosen. The Mordok threat was great and the Children of Gaia and the Great Wolf rallied in small bands to protect the land. Hunting parties left and came back successful. During one such raid the unthinkable happened. The children were left in the den and the young mother we know as Jorunn was left to watch them while her mate and family went on the hunting party with the Great wolf and the Great mother. Upon their return the den was in ruins Jorunn lay broken and battered and barely alive next to the seven cubs who bodies were mutilated and barely recognizable. Between gasps of pain Jorunn told the story of how after the party had left the Mordok had ambushed the den from the other direction and that she was out numbered but fought to save the children. Distraught, Gaia went to Jorunn and laid her hand on her and healed her but when Gaia tried to revive the children their bodies were too broken. Jorunn’s howls of loss and pain drew the attention of Luna who came down and saw the carnage and cried tears of blood for the children, tinting her normally pale face red. Luna being able to see both this realm and the next, looked at Joruun and to her sister and told them that the children are still here and that she can see them even though their bodies are broken and no longer moving. She said she will take them with her to live with her in her domain. The Great Wolf, seeing the pain on his mate’s face and that of his children, stated that since the cubs were not given the chance to earn a name for themselves in life they can do so from the other side and asked his mate’s sister to place them in her realm so that we may still see them from this realm. Luna agreed. Luna gathered the broken bodies of the children, imbuing them with a fraction of her light and placed them in the sky as little points of light. Luna kept the cub close together in the sky so they are never far from each other so they are not lonely. Every night, Jorunn would go out and watch the little points of light, often from the top of this structure, which would wave at her from their place in the sky.” I look up from where I am and easily find the 7 points I am looking for and point “Those seven points there are what I think are the Seven Nameless Cubs. They constantly run around the star we refer to as the Den Parent, all the stars seem to go around this one star. Who the Den Parent was is mostly unknown. Some stories say it was the third child of the Gaia and The Great Wolf that was still born. Some say that it was a cub who was killed by his siblings. Some think that it is a child of Luna and an unknown father. “ I shrug.

Stanrick smiles at me. “That’s a nice story. So this is where the den was?”

I nod. “So we believe. There is a large cave that has glyphs in it under the outcropping of rock. We think that is where the den was. Our scholars debate if the glyphs are older than the rune language or not or if they worked in tandem. We do know they are not Mordok writing as my Pack has taken care of this land since time began and there has never been any sign that this land was once corrupted. ” I carefully take the lid off the oven and check on dinner. “Its ready.”

After dinner I have Stanrick help me by grabbing some extra firewood taking it to the cave with me. Once inside we find the burned out fire pit, clean it and rekindle the fire. Once lit, it reveals the cave in it simplicity. This cave could fit about thirty people. Ledges to the left and right side. The back wall is mostly smooth. The rock is one of the harder rocks found on Mardrun so how this cave came to be out of it is unknown.

“I have used this cave in a pinch as a temporary shelter when I’ve been traveling when its too late to pitch the tent or when the weather is too rough. Normally the Pack Priestess or Witch stays in the cave for the duration of the Pack moot, it is also used as a ritual site when the weather is inclement or for those of us that travel in winter. Normally the big rites are done at the top of the structure so the entire pack can see.“ I state as I set up my ritual gear. I watch Stanrick take a torch and walk over to the writing wall and look at the glyph. The glyphs take up a smooth section of the back wall. Stanrick turns and watches as I perform the homecoming ritual, or at least a single practitioner version of it. This is a smaller version of the rite we do at the Pack Moot. The large version honors Gaia, the Great Wolf, the First Pack and our Founder. It strengthens our bond with Gaia and casts a protective barrier around our lands so should Mordok try and take it the land is not easily corrupted and we have a chance to fight to take it back. It also said that the rite will also let the pack priestess or witch know that the land is in danger. The barrier lasts a year. This is why we do the Pack Moot every fall. This ritual normally involves a live sacrifice normally of a couple of deer or pigs which we then roast and eat at the big revel afterwards. The single practitioner version of it is similar but instead of casting the barrier it helps reinforce the barrier every time its casts and doesn’t require a live sacrifice. I missed the ritual this year, I was in Grimward territory working during our Pack Moot.

“To those that came before me, I offer these to you and ask for your forgiveness since I was not here to honor you properly. “ I place the nice cuts of meat that I saved from the deer on the fire as an offering. From my box I pull a candle and light it and place it before me. I also pull four stone arrow heads that I have hand carved from obsidian stone. I place an arrow head to the north. “I place this arrow to the north so that all bad forces may be ground to nothing by the earth.” I place one to the east and say “I place this arrow to the east so that all negativity may be blown away by the wind.” I place one to the South and say “I place this arrow to the south so that all ill feelings may be burnt up by flames” I place the last one to the west “I place this arrow to the west so that all harmful intent may be washed away by water.” I place my hand over the candle flame close enough that I can feel the heat. “By the power of my soul, I add to the shield of this place so nothing negative may enter. Let this shield remain all days and all the nights till the season comes around again.” I sit there a moment as I can feel the energy flow from me out into the earth. I quietly pack my stuff up and stand. I sway a little and I feel Stanrick grab my arm.

“You okay?” he asks.

I nod “Yeah. Heavier rituals take a little bit more. I’ll be fine. Still not as bad as when the Idol was cleansed.” I lean my head on his shoulder a moment.

“Do you know what any of these glyphs mean?” Stanrick asks as he holds a light closer to the wall so I can see the glyphs.

“We think the one that looks like a hill is the symbol for Gaia, The one that has the hill with an upside down hill above it with the little tick marks on the hill is the symbol for the Pack or for the Ulven as a whole there is still debate about that. I been told the more complicated symbol that looks like it’s crying is the symbol for love. That is all that is really been figured out so far. With the outbreak of the War and with the current activity in the Mordok and the Corruption, we’ve been so focused on learning about what is going on a lot of our other clan research and learning projects got pushed to the wayside.“ I sigh. “Lets head back to camp. I am tired and could use a hot drink.” Stanrick nods and takes my hand and leads me out of the cave.

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Day 10:
In the morning we pack and finish the final leg of our journey to Everspring. Now, my work is about to begin.

“It’s big,” I hear Stanrick mumble under his breath as we stand on top of hill in the road so he can get a clear view. From here, we can see the healer’s hall, the Clanleader’s halls and the four foot stone wall with its large wooden burgwall perched atop it – a reinforced fence around the settlement, complete with watchtowers jutting from the wood every thirty feet or so.

I shrug, saying “Such a fortified place isn’t something you think of when you think of my Clan, I know . . . especially considering our highest ideals are knowledge and learning, not warfare. The wall around the city has been there as long as anyone can remember. Nobody is sure when it was built, but we keep it in good repair. If it’s there, we may as well use it.”

I take his hand, starting back down the road. Rambling about the history of the area, “Everspring is built on the largest hill here. The settlement sprung up around the natural hot springs, and the safety of the hill didn’t hurt. Our territory is a mix of everything the land has to offer – we’ve access to the Great Forest to the north, and that’s where the Stargazer holdings are. It opens up into rolling fields to the south – that’s where we are now.” Smiling faintly, I continue, “Not as fertile as Goldenfield’s, but enough to supply us with food. The land gets rockier the further south you get – good enough to hold a few mines. Pack Windwalker mines salt from the walls of Howling Cove.”

Seeing Stanrick perk up at that, I pick up a bit. “How they mine the salt is how they got their name. I should take you there, come Spring. It’s quite a sight. Our main trade with other clans is the Truthseekers – our knowledge of the the Laws used to be sought after by a lot of Clans,” I said, a bit of pride creeping into my voice. “Most of my fellow seekers are off studying the same thing I am, though. This war has us all scrambling, trying to understand.”

I sigh a little. “Though for physical goods, it’s salt to preserve food, stone, clay, and gems to those that don’t have good mining land. Our Clan is made of 5 packs. The story is that Pack Spritclaw, Pack Stargazer and Pack Solfire are all related. Spirtclaw and Stargazer were brother and sister – some say they were twins – and Solfire was a cousin. The founders joined forces to defeat what we believe to be an emanation of the Corruption at the Springs, and they formed the core of the Clan. The smaller Packs of Windwalkers and Cloudwatcher joined later – coastal lands that joined.“

Stanrick looks at me like I have lost my mind and I sigh “Sorry.”

He stops and kisses my forehead “Everything will be fine.” he states as we near the gates. I watch as Stanrick eyes the refugee tents off to the left of the gates. They have been here long enough now that they have even erected a spiked fence made from logs around their camp site.

I frown as I look at the gates. I’m nervous, and I don’t like it. I’m home – I should be happy, but yet all I feel is weariness.

Stanrick tugs my hand “Let’s go, love. Standing out here isn’t going to make it easier.”

We enter the main gates. Passing by one of the larger wells, I can feel people turning to look at me as I walk past. My blue gambeson and raven-headed torc giving away both my clan and my job. I can see people leaning in and whispering to each other as I pass, hand in hand with Stanrick. I set my eyes to the smoothed path in front of me, helping Stanrick pull the sled across the stones – had I been thinking, I would have attached the wheels so it would behave like a cart before we entered the settlement.

Stanrick looks up and around at the houses and structures as we pass. They vary in size depending how big a family is living there. Most of the houses are wooden in construction, fortified and strengthened against the winter with stone or fired clay brick. The Clan’s tradition is to build two floors – though the first is normally sunken into the earth a few feet to help keep cool in the summer and warmer in the winter, and to aid in storing grains and dry goods over the long winters. With their thatched or wooden roofs, they’re another reminder of what I’ve left – there’s nothing nearly so elaborate at Onsallas.

We pass by the main square where more refugees have set up, and I can see Stanrick’s hand rest nervously on his sword. I show him down a path off the main square and stop before a communal house – close to the human’s inns, but with promises of work and hospitality rather than money. Walking past the familiar hand-painted sign declaring it to be “The Drunken Uncle”, I help pull the sled to the back of the building and into one of the storage sheds.

“We’ll take out what we need and can come back for the rest later.”

“You don’t have a house here?” Stanrick asks as he tucks his extra armor under his arm and a pack over his shoulder

“No. I am not allowed one.” I state as dig out my packs and hike them on my shoulder.

He frowns at me.

“I am still an active Truthseeker. I get sent all over the place. It used to be to help settle disputes over territory lines, or to help a chieftain research a problem because he can’t see an unbiased view of the issue. I’m not here often enough to make having a home practical. If I ever get taken off of active duty then I can have a home… maybe.” I say.

We walk around back to the front and up the small steps to the door, which I push open, the warmth of the room washing over us as we step in. It’s quite large, with a heavy stone hearth in the back holding a nice warm fire. The bar sits off to the left, a dozen seats set before it, and the room is scattered with about five or six tables. There is a door to the right of the bar that I know leads off to the spacious kitchen with its brick ovens and large cooking fire, as well as the part that would interest Stanrick the most – large casks of mead and wine, ready to be tapped for thirsty warriors. Furs and tapestries hang from the walls in the main area, and a set of stairs head up from just to the left of the hearth.

I hear rustling in the kitchen as a older male walks out behind the bar. He is not a little man, with the physique of a warrior that has long since retired from the front lines. In his late 50s with gray creeping into his closely-cropped brown hair – a habit he still hasn’t given up from his fighting days, even if his long mustache and beard both need a good trim. His eyes light up as when he sees me.

Coming around the bar, he pulls me into a huge bear hug before I could even say anything. Unbidden, tears begin stinging my eyes – more than anything else here, now I feel like I am home. Bowmen was a close with my father, often acting as his bodyguard back before my parents met. They both defended the walls when the Mordok came in force to Everspring – he was my father’s best friend, the father I never knew I had. After my family had died, it was Bowmen who picked me up off his tavern floor when I stumbled in. He put me to work, taking care of me and making sure I didn’t lose myself to grief.

“Keres shared the letter with me about what had happened to you in the black. You have had everyone worried, child.” He scolded me as he hugs me tightly.

“Sorry,” I mumble into his tunic. He holds me out at arm’s length, looking me over, checking for wounds and the like. Satisfied, he finally notices Stanrick. They stand there for a while, silently sizing each other up in the way only warriors can do.

“Stanrick Longfang, Warrior of Pack Longfang,” Stanrick finally says, breaking the silence hold out his arm.

Bowmen eyes it for a moment before clasping his wrist. “Bowmen Spirtclaw, Pack Spritclaw. I am assuming you were charged to guard Selena by your Pack Elder?”

Stanrick nods “I was. I wasn’t about to complain, either.” I can see Bowmen raise an eyebrow at that as he smirks a little.

“Yes, Bowmen, Stanrick and I are mates.” I finally sigh. I could see him putting the pieces together already.

Bowmen smiles broadly, and I can hear the sarcasm creep into his voice. “No, you don’t say. “ I glare at him, and he laughs heartily, the same Bowmen from my childhood. “It was about time, child,” he says, walking back behind the bar. “So, what has brought you back?”

“I was expecting to hear word back from the Clanleader about my next move after I came out of the black. I didn’t receive anything, so once I was well enough to travel again, I came home. Is there anything wrong here?” I ask.

Bowmen frowns, saying “Nothing out of the ordinary as far as I am aware. We are still getting refugees, maybe two or three a month. Some of the Clan’s Daughters have set up a kitchen in the square to help feed them. They’re trying to pull their weight and be good guests while in our territory. Some of those who want to be warriors help with patrols and keeping everyone calm, others help cook in the refugee kitchen. They even go out to try hunting and fishing to help offset the burden. They even helped clear the paths of snow during the last snowfall.“ As he lists this off, I see Stanrick shift uncomfortably.

I frown and sigh. “I see. How are stores holding up?”
“They are good for now, though if the troubles increase, we are going to need help to feed them all.“ Bowmen states.

I nod. “I am not surprised, I am hoping the Elders are already talking to the neighbors to secure extra food should be be necessary. I will bring it up with Clanleader Cahal.”

“How long you staying?” Bowmen asks.

I shrug “ I don’t know. The weather was getting bad on our way here. We may get snowed in for a while.”

“You know the trade. You cook while you are here, and everything is fine.” Bowmen smiles

“I know. Stanrick caught a deer a few days ago, so we smoked it to preserve it long enough to get it here – though it needs to be properly cured and dried.” I state.

Bowmen smiles. “I’ll bring it in and set it up for curing.” Bowmen reaches under the counter and pull out two brass keys, handing one to each of us. “I’ll keep some of that deer, and send the rest to the kitchen in the square.”

I nod in agreement, leading Stanrick up the stairs to the door at the end of the hall. I open the door for him and push it aside. The room is fairly large, with a small stone fireplace and mantel on the left, with a cooking hook for a tea kettle or hanging oven, as well as a small stash of wood near by. A large four poster bed, covered in blankets and furs, sits against the back wall, with a trunk at the foot. A large round table sits to the right of the door across from the fire place – a cozy place for travelers. Walking to the back wall, I set my bags down. Stanrick looks around – it’s smaller than then his cabin, though not by much.

“Are the other two rooms we passed this big as well?” He asks.

“No, they are smaller. They have cast iron stoves and double beds – it’s where my brother and I stayed when we where younger.”

“So, what’s next?” Stanrick asks
.
I sigh, saying, “Next . . . I go make my presence known to the Clanleader, and we work from there.”

++++++++

Stanrick and I stand at the steps of Clanleader’s Longhouse, set atop heavy stone risers carved from the hillside itself. Perhaps the largest longhouse I’ve ever seen, it is about two and half stories of solid oaken structure with intricately-carved and inlaid pillars on either side of the door. If you have a trained eye, you can see the protective runes embedded within the knotwork. The doors are imposing, with reinforced hinges and an elaborately decorated archway, carved to look like two large oak trees, each holding a raven watching any who enter.
I paused just outside the doors, forcing my face to go blank and trying to stamp out the roiling emotions I felt. I need to be about business now. Adjusting the backpack on my shoulder, I meet the guard’s eye and he nods at me, only glancing at my escort for a moment before tapping his neck. I nod back, adjusting my torc to be perfectly straight and smile at him before signaling that he can open the door. Taking a deep breath, I enter the halls.

The main hall is large, two-level room with individual boxes on the second level balcony for the Clan’s Elders to have meetings away from the general public, who even nowc crowd the lower level. Benches, stored off to the side, offer seating, and can easily be removed from hall. Tapestries depicting the symbols of the Packs that make up Spiritclaw hang from certain boxes, denoting the Pack that sits there. Today is like every other, the hall busy with dignitaries from the various clans vying for the Clanleaders attention, Stewards meeting with craftsmen and traders, making sure their goods and skills are put to best use. The hall is more crowded than usual, however – refugees trying to stay warm, no doubt. I feel Stanrick right on my heels as I weave through the crowd.

“I think I saw dignitaries from clan Grimward and Nightriver.” I hear Stanrick whisper to me.

I nod, responding “Not surprised. I am sure they are trying to convince my clan to pick a side.”

Approaching the simple riser that has three elaborately carved chairs – a large one in the center and two slightly smaller ones flanking it – sitting in front of doors on both sides that lead to the studies and living quarters of the Clan leader and his family, as well as for the High Priestess. Between the doors hang a large dark green banner with the three gold arcing stars, the symbol for Clan Spiritclaw. To the left and right there are smaller banners – red with a golden flame in the middle for Pack Solfire, and an one from Clan Steinjotunn; Vedrfolnir, I believe. These banners represent the Clanleader, the High Priestess and the Clan Leader’s primary mate.

I need to take a few moments to take in the entire scene. The Clanleader, the High Priestess, and his mate all sit in their appointed places – not exactly a rare occurrence, but a reminder of what my Clan holds dear. That, and the reasons I have returned.

Clanleader Cahal Spirtclaw perches on his chair, studying a manifest that had been handed to him by one of his Stewards. Cahal looks to be in his sixtieth winter, and has been Clanleader for about 20 years. I still remember when he got elected – I was in my early teens, and I remember the Moot that it happened at. It was one of the largest Moots that anyone can remember. His short cropped blond hair, just barely dusted with gray, though its hard to see, serves to highlight his yellow eyes – an especially bright mark of the Great Wolf – and even at his age, his fangs remain quite large. Born on the cusp of the Truthseeker moon and the Talesinger moon, he seems to have the unique ability to both see the balance of the situation and express his thoughts eloquently. Seriously wounded in the Mordok attack that Bowmen speaks of, he recovered after a time but needed the use of a cane since then. Moreso than any other Clanleader in our history, he relies on his Truthseekers, as traveling is difficult due to his infirmity, though he has been known to show up unannounced in especially tricky situations. Dressed in dark green woolen pants and a white tunic, overlaid with his dark green woolen doublet, as well as a silvery wolf pelt over one shoulder, demonstrating that he is both Clanleader and Chieftain – and warding off the chill, I suspect.

To his left in High Priestess Morrigan Solfire, bearing the dark red hair and yellow eyes that all females in her Pack acquire as marks and wearing a burgundy dress – well-suited to her hair – over a black woolen chemise. Despite being the High Priestess for about 30 years, she is younger then Clanleader Cahal. Pack Solfire has always had more daughters than sons – and while not quite as numerous as the Daughters of Goldenfield, they certainly produce the most Daughters in our Clan. Morrigan’s eldest son Faelan leads her Pack as chieftain, though Morrigan is still a Pack elder and is often consulted on matters – no matter how embarrassing it is for him to be chastised by his mother for rash actions. Faelan happens to be at court today, leaning over his mother’s chair and talking to her about whatever matter happens to be on his mind. Only a few years older than me, he has had his marks for a long while – dark hair, worn long and pulled back into a tight ponytail, red eyes, and – like his mother – the Great Wolf’s fangs.

To Cahal right is Gjerta,originally from one of Steinjotunn’s Packs. Even though her and Cahal are mates, she does occasionally travels between the Clans so she can visit her relatives. More than just the Clanleader’s mate, though, she oversees our clan’s hawks, explaining her presence at the high seats of the Clan. Near her, their son Henrick is studying hawk feathers – the same age as Asgeir would have been. They played often when I was in town.

He is actually the first one to notice me, and comes racing down the steps to tug on my gambeson while smiling up at me. I kneel down as he eagerly holds up two feathers.

“This is from a red-tail hawk, and this one is from a gray one.” he says eagerly.

“That’s very good, Henrick. Are you going to follow in your mother’s footsteps? ” I ask.

“I don’t know yet. It depends if I have any skills with the actual animals, but mom says I can’t play with the hawks ’till I’m older,” he states with the enthuasism of a child. He holds the gray feather out to me, “I’m glad you’re home. I was afraid you disappeared like Asgeir did.”

As he finishes speaking, I take the offered feather. It amazes me how children can say the simplest things and – yet – touch us to our core.

“Thank you, Henrick” I smile, and he turns to bound back up the stairs. His mother, witnessing the entire exchange, smiles and leans over to her mate while nodding her head in my direction. Cahal looks up from his manifest and studies me for a moment before handing it back to the Stewards and dismissing him. He motions me over, and I kneel down before him.
“Rise, Truthseeker. You are home now.” He states.

“Thank you, Clanleader. I have much to report.” I start as I stand again.
“I bet you do,” he says, cutting me off, though he is no longer looking at me – he is looking past me, to Stanrick. Sensing the proper decorum, he has taken up a defensive position behind me, just to my left. “I see you have warranted a Longfang escort back from Onsallas.”

“Of sorts, Clanleader. Runeseer Solveig saw cause to send me home with an escort, this is true. This is Stanrick Longfang, warrior of Pack Longfang and my mate,” I state.

Cahal’s eyes snap back in my direction, and he frowns at me. I can feel a cold sweat starting at the small of my back as he continues to glare at me. I dare not flinch or move, feeling the tension in the room thicken. Stanrick shifts beside me – I now have the attention of High Priestess Morrigan and Gjerta. Morrigan is studying me with the same gaze as Cahal, and Gjerta looks at me sympathetically, as Henrick’s eyes shoot back and forth between me and his father, uncertain what is going on. Cahal raises his cane and slams it down on the floor, the echo reverberating around the room, as everyone falls silent and all eyes turn on us.

I try to keep my breathing calm and controlled, I knew that this was a possibility.

“You are a Truthseeker. Your duty is to me and my people – your people.” Cahal states loudly so everyone in the hall can hear. “Before this assembly and your mate, recite your oath to me so all can remember what it is you do for Gaia.”

I breathe in deeply and take off my raven-headed torc, holding out the end for Cahal to grasp. “I, Selena Stargazer, daughter of Haldane Stargazer, who was the son of Freya Stargazer, who was the daughter of Huginn Stargazer, whose truth rang in the Great Wolf’s ears, do reaffirm my pledge to you, Cahal Spritclaw, as my Clanleader. I pledge to fly out when beckoned, as the Ravens did for the Great Wolf, and bring back news and information. I swear to do so honorably and without prejudice or bias so that you may make a decision with a balanced heart. Should I fail at my duties, I shall be cast out, never to see hearth nor home again, and upon my death, the Great Wolf shall eat me, denying me my home in the hereafter.”

Cahal nods at me and loudly pronounces, “As a member of the raven’s flock, I reaffirm to you my support, and hereby swear on the ring of the Truthseeker that you will be my eyes and ears. Those who threaten you, threaten me, and as the Great Wolf promised protection to the ravens for their loyalty and service, I hereby affirm that same oath to you. So Gaia, hear my oath, and the Great Wolf hold me to it.” He releases the torc, and I return it to my neck while taking a step back.

“Both of you shall meet with us for dinner. We shall talk then, Truthseeker.” Cahal says.
“Yes, Cahal,” I answer, and with that, we were dismissed for the time being. Stanrick steers me towards the wall under the balconies.

“What was that all about?” he hisses at me.

I shake my head “If I had to wager a guess, it was a show of dominance. I have a feeling that Nightriver and Grimward had been pushing him hard. It was a show to them and anyone else that he is, in fact, in charge, and he will not be so easily swayed by pretty words. I was used as a reminder that he is in charge, as well as the fact that I am his eyes and ears, so killing me – or any of his Truthseekers – will have greater consequences than they realize.”

Stanrick harumphs at me “Make sense, I suppose. I still didn’t like it.”

“I know, beloved.” I kiss his forehead.

Stanrick and I walked passed the guards stationed at the doors to the private section of the Great Hall, our escort leading the way. Evening meal had come; most of the hall had cleared out. Even the refugees has left to go down to the kitchen in the square. Our escort led us to the large dining room at the back of the lodge. My cousin caught my gaze as we entered the room – she is apparently on duty tonight. All awkwardness aside, the dirty look she gave me when Stanrick walked in beside me was quite entertaining. There had been two seats saved for us across from Gjerta and Henrick. Even High Priestess Solfire and her son Faelan were there tonight. I could feel my steps falter a bit as walked. Taking my place next to my Clanleader and across from Gjerta, Stanrick sat to my left next to Faelan and across from Henrick, who studyied him with an unabashed look of awe on his face. He had never seen a Longfang warrior before, though I know he has heard the tales. The last time Clanleader Cahal requested the skills of the Longfangs was well before Henrick was born, but the stories were still told.

Servers began bringing out the food; legs of lamb and chicken, root vegetables and unleavened breads, along with wine and mead. Gaia bless children for being the ones who can just come out and ask the uncomfortable questions that must be on everyone’s minds.

“Selena . . . why did you go into the Swamp? Did you not want to live anymore?” Henrick asked.

I was in mid-chew on my bread and meat, and it took some self-control not to choke on it. I could see the blush starting to rise on Gjerta’s face and the disapproving look that Cahal shot his son, even though Henrick was oblivious as he looked at me in wonder.

Sighing, I began, “No, Henrick, I went because I was needed. I was told they needed someone who could divine locations. Since I had fought with the corruption when I helped bring the idol back here last summer, they thought I might be more resistant and could handle the Swamp better. I knew Ulven were going into the swamp. I was not going to let them go alone when I had the skills necessary to help bring them home.”

Henrick frowned at me. “But you almost died. And what about your job to father?”

“Yes I almost did die. There were also a large number of Outsiders that went as well, and I knew it would be a good opportunity to see how they would react. Nothing brings out the truth more than facing death. Fear often strips away pride and prejudice, as well as making us realize things that are truly important. In that case, not all Outsiders were good, but there were some that rose above. Even though it took us longer to get home, most of us made it back.”

Henrick narrows his eyes at me as he contemplates what I said. “I still think it was dumb for you to go into the swamp.” He states plainly.

I hear Stanrick stifle a giggle behind his glass of mead.

I sigh, “Yeah, you aren’t the only one.”

“So what were you divining?” High Priestess Morrigan asks me.

“At first I thought I was looking for a book. That was the item that the majority of the group was looking for. When the cart and everything broke down, I thought I was trying to find the best way out of the swamp. Apparently, neither of those things is what I was connected to.” I nudge Stanrick, who pulls out a Star of Gaia from under his tunic. “Apparently, I was looking for that.”

“The group we call the Pirates found it amongst other items in the Swamp. After hearing about how Stanrick and I almost died – how annoyed I was that they just left without telling me they found it so I could stop looking – they offered it to me as an apology, along with some their tasty drink. That, and I think they knew if they tried to barter it back to us, we may have just killed them to return this to the Ulven people. “ I shrug a little “ When I touched it, I knew that it was the item I was tracking in the end. How such a powerful item got so far into the swamp, I have no idea.”

Pausing, I turn and look at Clan Leader Cahal. “ The Pirates are not the most honorable of the Outsiders. but they understand the rules of survival better than most. The Captain understands the idea that he needs to take care of his crew. His crew may not like him – nor, on occasion, respect him – but they do follow him when push comes to shove. Their rituals are a little strange – I watched them brand his own son as a rite of passage, and they have a slave girl who I think is torn between wanting her freedom and wanting the companionship that the crew provides. They are unique, even among the Outsider groups I have seen”

“Are they a hindrance?” Cahal asks.

“Currently more of a nuisance than a hindrance.” I state.

“But they almost cost you your life!” Henrick blurts out.

I blink at the child. “Yes, but they also apologized. It would be rude not to accept their apology. They are trying, and I think they are learning. Their old life of raiding doesn’t get you much here. We don’t trade the shiny things like Outsiders do, so those things are not on the few boats we set to the seas. So raiding our ships is not as valuable as it was at their home – or at least, not as valuable as they would like. Besides, the moment they become a hindrance, people – either Ulven or Outsider – will just kill them. “ I state. Henrick seemed to calm down with the notion that if they become too much of a problem they will just be removed.

Cahal looks at Stanrick “You have been quiet. The Outpost has a constants stream of Outsiders and visitors, more than any other territory outside of Nightriver. What has been your take on the Outsiders?”

Stanrick leans back in his chair, pulling out his pipe from his waist pouch. He contemplates the question as he packs his pipe, finally responding in his quiet voice, “I have mixed feelings. They have stepped up, time and time again, to defend the Outpost. When Whiteoak tried to raid and take over both the Outpost and the village, Humans came to defend the village. There are downsides as well – there has been an increase in bandit activity on the roads leading to the Outpost. While most tend to behave in the Outpost, we have some whose silly games have almost burnt it down. Then again, my younger brother has almost burnt down the outpost on occasion.” Stanrick pauses to take a long drag on his pipe. “Honestly Cahal, they are like our young; they don’t know the rules or customs and need lessons. Some are older and never had a hand to guide them, so it makes sense that they resent us for trying to show them how to act. However, I do know one human, a honorable man who goes by the name William – you would think him an Ulven who just lost his fangs. I think he is the reason that, even though I lost my first mate and father to them in the war, I can look past that and see good reason in keeping them around.”

Cahal leans back in his chair in contemplation.

I frown “I saw Grimward and Nightriver emissaries when I came in.”

Cahal looks up at me and sighs. “Yes. They have been here for about a month now. Each trying to outdo the other with getting my attention. It’s why I called you out like I did. Both their words are compelling, but I trust the stories and words you Truthseekers bring back; they hold more weight as they are not clouded by personal judgment or the judgment of their Elders. They would do well to remember where my priorities lie – the truth we seek, rather than the truth they think exists. You weigh the needs of the people with what you see and hear.“ I nod in agreement to that. “If anyone want to get my attention, they best do it through the Truthseeker I have sent to discern the truth in this struggle and prove that their side is the one Gaia has chosen.”

“What is our neighbors’ take on all this?” I ask

“Stienjotunn is remaining neutral – or as close as they can while still following the path set out by Gaia. Many rely on our Hawks. “ Gerta states.

Cahal nodds “Goldenfield seems to be leaning towards Nightriver, as they have always had good relations. Squallborn are being awfully quiet; though their ancient ties to Grimward worry some, they do not seem inclined to jump one way or another. From what I can tell, no one has contacted Axhound yet, though they have had no love for Whiteoak for as long as anyone can remember.“
I frown, “If we haven’t started talking to some of the neutral clans, we should. I hear that our stores are holding for now, but if the increase in refugees happens, we may be struggling.”

High Priestess Morrigan looks at me. “It’s being handled. The early snow and cold has made getting messages and sending emissaries out harder than normal.”

I decide now is a good time to change the subject. “High Priestess Morrigan, has anything become of the Idol that I had cleansed?”

She frowns at me “ Progress has been slow going. As you know, many tasks have gotten sidetracked due to the war and refugees. We are still trying to figure out a way to approach it safely, but for now, its corruption is contained enough that, unless a large band of Mordok try to steal it, it is of a lower priority.” I sigh a little at the news, disappointed at the slow progress.

“Though, speaking of new things . . . “ she smiles at me. My wine glass halts, halfway to my lips. “You have a new mate.” Both Stanrick and I shift in our chairs, feeling uneasy.

“Yes, I do. Is that a problem?” I ask slowly, a hint of confrontation from the earlier display creeping into my voice as my eyes shift back and forth from everyone at the table trying to gauge them. I had a feeling that this topic was discussed before Stanrick and I arrived.

Cahal began speaking first, his voice completely different from our encounter in the Hall. “Oh no, of course not, child. Your mother would have been elated at your new choice, but your father, on the other hand . . . “ he paused, picking his words carefully, “ . . . would have been weary, but happy for you.” Cahal smiles at me – he knew my father and my mother before he became Clanleader. They had all fought to defend the settlement from the Mordok onslaught forty years ago, and it was dad’s Pinead sap bandages that helped to save Cahal’s leg.

“You two need a test that you can do together, to prove that you are good mates.” Morrigan stated, matter of factly.

“What about the job I am already on, won’t it interfere?” I ask, worried at this new turn of events.

“No. The High Priestess and I had discussed it.” Cahal says, taking over for Morrigan. “We have figured something suitable for both of you, and it ties in to the job that you are already doing for me.”

I could feel the sense of dread coming on. Stanrick looks to me, and then at Cahal and Morrigan. We both know this is traditional, Clanleaders and Elder often test new couples to make sure that they are going to work well together, but it has been a while since Runeseer Solveig saw fit to send Stanrick on any sort of test with his previous mates.

“We would like you to study the Outsider’s culture more.” Cahal stated.

I blinked a few times, trying to process this. “You have more experience than my other Truthseekers with Outsiders. I expect that, since your new mate has his own duties to attend to as well, that you will be spending more time near the Outpost. I will shuffle the other Truthseekers accordingly, to make sure their wings cover all the fields I need to keep my eyes on. Morrigan and I would like to hear more about the Outsider’s rituals, their lore, their gods, and their customs,” Cahal says, his voice remaining steady, seeking any hint of fear from either one of us.

“How does this help you with the war, Clanleader?” I ask carefully.

“One of the rumors you brought back to me, early on, was that many of Grimward’s forces believe that Outsiders brought the Undead with them. Even though we know this ‘Lich’,” he said, sounding out the unfamiliar word, ”came out of the Swamp, and to our knowledge, no one lives there. The underlying thought there is that the Outsiders corrupt the land. While the Watchwolf declaration fixed some of it, there has still been a great increase in corruptive idols like the one you brought back, as well as Mordok attacks. If the Mordok are using the Outsider to feed their corruption, it leads credence to Grimward’s rallying cry to cast them off our lands.”

“And if they are aligned with dangerous gods, that falls into my territory.” High Priestess Morrigan adds.

I sigh heavily. The Elders’ logic make sense, and they might be right. If the Outsiders are going to be used to keep this war going, we need to know more about them.

“Is your duty understood?” Cahal asks, looking at both of us.

Stanrick and I look at each other, sighing. “Yes, Clanleader,” we respond in unison.

Cahal nodds “Good. I will compose a letter for Runeseer Solveig and send it with a Hawk so she is made aware of your quest as well.”

The rest of the dinner went fine, with the mood lightening considerably as we spoke of less weighty matters. Cahal talked Stanrick into helping train the guard while he was here. I think Stanrick enjoyed the notion that he is going to get to scare the balls off the Guard. They have not experience Longfang training, and Cahal thinks they were getting complacent, especially given our location on Mardrun and the relatively safety from the Mordok. Time to shake them up. I was to continue my own training with High Priestess Morrigan, as it has become obvious that my magical skills are indeed growing. It also became apparent, as a bitter wind swept through the hall, that we may in fact be stuck here for a while, so we may as well be productive about it.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

It is still fairly early in the night as I lead Stanrick through the streets. His hand rests nervously on his sword as we pass both the square and Bowmen’s common house.

“Where are we going?” He asks me

“My Chieftain’s house. “ I state, weary from the day.
.
“Are you sure you want to go tonight? You sound exhausted.” He frowns at me.

“ I just need to keep it together a little while longer. “ I state. He squeezes my hand as we walk. I just need to get all the formalities and introduction out of the way before I lose my nerve. Clan Leader Cahal took my return and the news of my new mate about as well as I expected., but I had missed the Pack Moot this year as well as I was in Grimward territory talking to Khulgar. I have a lot to atone for and catch up on, between missing that and heading into the Dirge.

We stop in front of a modest house. I knock at the door, and Birgit, Keres’s younger sister, answers the door. She squints at me in the low light before squealing and yanking me inside.

“Moooooooom, Selena is here, and she brought a boy with her!” Brigit yells at the top of her lungs. She’s only seen fourteen winters, and looks like she just got her marks since the last time I saw her. Her eye have turned a emerald green, much like her dad’s, which is quite striking against her brown hair. I also notice that her fangs have grown in while she is yelling across the house.

I groan, running my hand over my face. Yeah, so much for formal tradition. Erin come in from the kitchen, and Garik come down from upstairs. Erin, even though she is dressed only in a dark blue dress over a black woolen chemise, you can tell she is carrying the weight of her station. The hem of her dress is embroidered with silver stars, and she wears the pelt of her station around her hips. We stand there for a moment, looking at each other, before she finally walks up to me and hugs me. I finally allow myself to crumble, the walls and decorum I put up vanishing as I feel tears start streaming down my cheeks.

“I am sorry. I said I was going to be there for you, and I wasn’t,” I state as I try and pull myself back together.

“Shhh,” she says, raising a hand to stroke my hair. “You were doing your duty. No one can fault you for that. The Pack knows that your job as Truthseeker is more important. Nobody is mad at you.”

Erin move to hold me out at arm’s length. “You are here now. That is all that matters.” I nod, relieved at that.

She smiles. “Come sit down and tell me about your escort here.” Erin and Garik are only a few years older than Stanrick by my guess, and the two males have been studying each other while Erin and I spoke.
I nod to her. “Erin Stargazer, Chieftain of Pack Stargazer, this is Stanrick Longfang, Warrior for Pack Longfang, and my mate”

Erin blinks at me a moment, then grins as she holds out her arm to Stanrick. Stanrick clasps her wrist and nods. Erin smiles as she introduces everyone to Stanrick, “This is my mate, Garik Silverleaf, originally from Clan Shattered Spear, though he left his Clan and joined ours once we mated. You have already meet Birgit – she is my youngest.” Garik takes the opportunity to disappear into the kitchen and returns a tray with tea kettle and cups.

“I heard you had dinner with the Clanleader. Probably had your fill of drink for tonight.” Garik states. I smile at that, thinking of how different this reception is to the Longfang’s tradition of getting roaring drunk at a meeting.

We sat at the table, drinking and discussing, and Erin had just finished telling me how the Moot went that I startled when the door slammed open. Keres came storming in, shield in hand, and was at the table before any of us could utter a sound.

“I, Keres Stargazer, daughter of Erin Stargazer, member of Pack Stargazer and Clan Spirtclaw, challenge you, Stanrick Longfang, Warrior of Pack Longfang, to an Honor Duel for the honor of my cousin Selena.” Keres yells, not even bothering to greet either of us.

The loud THUNK was, I was fairly certain, all of our jaws hitting the table. I was about to retort when Stanrick held his hand up in front of me, stopping me mid-thought.

“She made it formal. It’s going to be formal, then.” Stanrick states plainly before I could even open my mouth to argue. He turns, looking Keres straight in the eye without flinching.

“I, Stanrick Longfang, Warrior of Pack Longfang, accept your challenge. We shall fight sword and shield, non-lethally. No magic,” he says, his voice steady.

Keres nods, “Agreed.”

We all head out into the street. Stanrick and Keres stand a good twelve feet apart, facing each other, weapons at the ready. Keres begins, rushing in with a battle cry at her lips, and the sound of steel hitting steel gets the attention of the neighbors and the guard. Erin informs the guard that this is an Honor duel, agreed upon by both parties and completely legal. The guard then stops to watch Keres, a fellow guardsmen. I merely sigh and sit on the steps, scowling. I hate being fought over. I always have.

I have no idea what has gotten into my cousin to try and challenge a man at least twenty years her senior, and a Longfang, for my honor, no less. I am perfectly able to defend my own honor, though I have to admit this must be impressive to the casual onlooker – a Longfang and a member of the guard going at it.

I can tell Keres is trying to get under his defense as she swing furiously, her blade clanging off of Stanrick’s shield. I can also tell that Stanrick isn’t trying very hard right now – fighting defensively, feeling her out. You can almost tell the moment when Stanrick has had enough – his stance changes slightly and he rushes in. Beating Keres’ shield out of the way, taking her off-balance, Stanrick crouches and sweeps her legs out from under her, sending her crashing to the stones beneath her feet. Stanrick steps on her sword arm as he places the point his sword under her chin.

“Yield?” He states calmly.

Keres glares, but sighs “Yes. I yield”

I walk over as Stanrick helps her up. “Now explain what in the Great Wolf’s ball sack that was all about?”

Keres looks at me, then at the ground, before sheepishly starting, “I. . . er . . . you were in the Black. I wasn’t sure you could make sound judgment . .. I thought he took advantage of that . . . ” she stammered out, eyes cast to the ground that she had so recently occupied.

The heat that shot from my eyes could probably have melted the snow around us if I glared long enough. Keres shrank in on herself a little. “I am sorry, cousin.”

I took a deep breath before hugging her. “I am sorry I scared you. I am home for now.”
She grabs onto my cloak and sobs into my shoulder. I hold her for a moment before moving her to arm’s length, smiling as I wipe away her tears. “Oh, and if you ever do that again, I will make sure I ram my staff so far up your ass you will be coughing up splinters for a year.” She smiles at me, blushing furiously from embarrassment, and nods.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

We bid a good evening to my Packmates and I am once again leading Stanrick though the city. I am tired – body and soul, mind and heart, I am just so damn worn. We head up the hill past the Clanleader’s halls. We stand before another hall that is just as big as the Clanleader’s long house, and decorated in much the same way. The outside is decorated with protective runes, worked into intricate images of willow branches.

“This is the Healer’s Hall,” I say. As we get closer to the doors, I hear a familiar thumping noise and quickly grab Stanrick, pulling him to one side before he can protest. He curses as the doors slam open and three boys come running out, stark naked, their skin steaming in the cold air. They jump into the nearest snow bank, taunting the others that they will stay out the longest.

Stanrick simply blinks at them in bewilderment, too stunned to even articulate a curse.

I sigh and shake my head, tugging his arm. “It will all make sense in a moment, beloved” We cross the threshold of the door, and I shut it while Stanrick stands in awe. The Longhouse is considerably warmer than it is outside right now. Pools are carved into the rock face of the hill, and from the top, a steaming geyser spits out water that trickles down and fills the pools. Runoff from the pools flows out the sides of the building, supplying the stream that runs through town for washing clothes and the like. Behind the geyser is an intricate mosaic image, depicting Gaia and the Great Wolf, as well as numerous alcoves that the Healers use for private treatment. A couple of the pools are roped off, the water diverted to the others so those might be cleaned and repaired. In one of the lower pools, I see what had gotten the boys’ attention – three young females were staring at us . . . well, staring at Stanrick. They giggled at each other as I shot them a withering glare. Stanrick, of course, didn’t notice – or pretended to, at least – as they were young enough to be our children. They probably just got their marks earlier this year.

I nod my head in their direction. “Young males try to get attention here through tests of endurance. They warm up in the pools with the girls, then they all rush out and roll around in the snow – whoever can last the longest wins. Though it’s really only a thing during the colder months,” I state as I lead Stanrick over to the dressing alcoves. There are boxes and the like that people place their clothes in. I start to get undressed, with Stanrick following suit. “During summer, it’s a test to see who can stay in the warmest pools the longest. I’ve seen healers have to fish them out after they pass out from heat and stubbornness.”

It’s fairly late now, so the halls are quiet and most of the Healers have gone home. The pools are open no matter how low the sun dips. Tying up my hair, I take Stanrick’s hand, leading him to one of the higher, warmer pools. I slide in, the water coming up to my chest. Stanrick hesitates a moment, seemingly studying something in the pool.

“Oh yeah, the floors are mosaics as well. Each pool has its own image; if you look, you can find Gaia, Luna, Sol, or the Great Wolf.” Looking down, I notice that we happen to be in the one decorated with a picture of Luna sitting, surrounded by moon flowers. Absentmindedly, I remark, “Remind me to set us up an appointment with the healers.”

Stanrick frowns at me, “But we’re not injured. Surely their resources . .. ”

I smile, cutting him off. “No, we’re not, because Thrand is quite skilled, but the healers here are known for their massage techniques. I have seen it do wonders for everything from old wound pains to a stubborn headache that won’t go away.”

Stanrick contemplates this as he slides in, unsure of the textured bottom. I glide forward and sit on the ledge. Stanrick sits next to me and wraps his arms around my body. I latch on to his arms and hold him close.

“Are you okay, love?” Stanrick asks after a few moments of silence.

“I will be. I just need you to hold me for a while.” I sigh.

Stanrick kisses the top of my head.

“Okay.”

Letters in the Wind

Ylsa began writing as soon as the expedition stopped to rest, scratching words onto paper by dull firelight while the rest of the party stood guard, or slept, or tore their cloaks into bandages for Stanrick’s wounds. As soon as the party made it back to Onsallas’ Outpost, she sent her messages into the wind.

A very young Longfang volunteered himself as one of the fastest runners in the pack. She sent him to follow the Phoenix caravan, bearing this brief note, written while Selena Stargazer yelled and extorted promises from Thrand the first night of the return journey:

---

Honored Laertes and Aiden,

Our mission was successful, but the document we sought was stolen before it could be examined. Keep those fine ears of yours in the wind for any sign of them.

Also, as you may have learned on you own by now, the symbol you were inquiring about is mark of the Pack Stormjarl chieftain.

Ylsa

---

Next, she saw a familiar messenger hawk perched atop her tent, as if waiting for her return. To that bird’s leg she tied this tightly-folded piece of paper, bearing a message scrawled out while the rest of the party divvied up the last of the food and water on the second day of the return journey:

---

One,

I have reason to believe that the pirates of Oarsmeet are very soon going to be selling a book (or some other form of document) they found in the Dirge Swamp. If you would like to keep the original for some perverse reason, fine, I only ask that I and one of my associates be allowed to handle it and transcribe its contents. I will pay you, I will continue to provide you with information, just get me the book. I do not care where the pirates are, I do not care if Agnosco is who they are selling it to in the first place. Just find me the book.

Ylsa Stormherald

---

Finally, a weathered old Ulven hunter began the walk towards the Watchwolves of Sol, with this letter – composed during Ylsa’s turn watching Stanrick in case he stopped breathing in his sleep the night before they returned to the outpost – carefully rolled and hidden in her boot:

---

Dearest Raskolf,

The expedition into the Dirge Swamp fared far better than most expected, but not as well as hoped. The mercenaries betrayed us, and were slaughtered to a man. Whether this was treachery by the New Aldorian prince, or whether the mercenaries were secretly under the employ of a third party, I do not know. Most of the volunteers who ventured in have made it back out again despite this treachery, although I fear Stanrick may not last long despite our best efforts. Silvermane gave his life to save Rhodi, a group of Boomhowler’s Bastards, and myself when we became separated from the rest of the group – may the Great Wolf’s ears ring with his name.

As to whether or not the mission was actually successful… it depends on your point of view. Our Truth Seeker’s divinations led us near to a vilely corrupted site (so I am told – I did not see it myself), and at that site we found a small chest containing a few silver and gems, but the book we sought was nowhere to be found. Just before we found the chest, the two Oarsmeet pirates traveling with us disappeared, and just after the Seeker’s magic told her the thing she sought was moving.

Such a coincidence is too great to have been an accident. I could be mistaken, but for now there is no doubt in my mind that the pirates took what we were seeking, and left to try and sell it… to whom, I have no idea. But what I do know is that the pirates seem to be somehow blessed with magnificent luck, and a party of two is harder to find in the woods than a whole expedition. There is a very good chance that the item or items they took made it out of the swamp intact. I intend to make contact with the Agnosco network – if anybody will be able to find the information we need, it will be them (assuming they are not the ones the pirates sell it to in the first place).

Also, the day before the expedition began, two of the Phoenix Syndar approached me regarding a large goldwood claimant found in the swamp some months ago. They did not know where it had come from, or whom it belonged to, and neither did I. Last I heard were attempting to arrange a meeting with Solveig Longfang to discuss it. Since this conversation I have learned that it bore the mark of the chief of Pack Stormjarl – it seems likely to me that they were attempting to contact Longfang and met with misfortune on the way.

Keep your ears up for any news.

May you ever hunt downwind,
Ylsa

P.S. Tell Anjan and Lygari that I spoke with the strange black-skinned Syndar once more. She described another one of her “friends” to me – another Syndar living in the swamp, one that knows the Mordok. A pale, mean Syndar. She said to tell him she has a present for him. I’d love to think that present was my blade, but knowing her it’s probably an interestingly shaped rock – at least in the voice she spoke to me in. Her other voice is more vicious. Either way, it eases my heart to hear of him. I had begun to fear that what I saw when I was captured was just my fevered imagination. Knowing that there is another who has seen him, even if that other has a fractured mind, soothes me greatly.

---

There were other letters sent out that day, brief missives cryptically seeking word of the stolen journal, passed from hand to hand among the kind of people who learn and tell stories like the rest of us breathe the air. But these are the ones Ylsa Stormherald will remember writing.

Everspring, Spirtclaw Territory: A week before Midwinter,

The little bell tingles as I enter the shop. It’s a smaller shop but there is a lot of bins and containers packed with dried ingredients giving off aromas both fine and foul; the small building serves as both a tea shop and an apothecary’s storefront. I came here alone as I really didn’t want Stanrick to know what I was doing here. There was a lot about today that I don’t want him knowing about, but this bit I knew would only make him angry. Truth be told I am not sure I am really okay with what I am doing here. I pull out a container from my shoulder bag and stare at the bulk containers. I know the recipe. Every female knows the recipe, passed down from mother to daughter for as long as anyone can remember. My mother and I had that talk shortly after I got my fangs. It’s two parts dry juniper berries to one part wormwood, and some mountain mint to help mask the piney taste that the juniper berries can have if they were harvested too early. We all know it’s not a guarantee but it’s a time honored recipe that can help prevent pregnancy especially during that week when a female is in heat. I can feel my week about to start. I have had the warning sign, that craving where you just want to be with your mate and I am getting easily distracted. I will sit and stare into the fire but not really be thinking about anything. It’s disconcerting even though I know what it is. My scent hasn’t changed yet but I know that is going to happen soon and I have to admit I am nervous about that. I have been lucky so far as every month that it has happened I have been in the midst of traveling alone or have been too injured to really notice. This is going to be the first month that we are going to be together and not injured. We already are way more active than most Ulven our age should be so I am really unsettled.

I take a deep breath and start to measure out the amounts. Even though I know its a good idea I am still torn. I am not even sure I can still have children so the notion that I am trying to prevent an event of nature is weighing on me. I am torn between my duty as a Truthseeker and my duty as a female. I fear bringing children into the middle of this war. Even though my father traveled with me and my brother we still had my mother and my grandmother with us and our only concern was Mordok. Now I must stand against Mordok, outsiders, and even other Ulven when I travel, with Stanrick as my only companion. I fear losing the children to outsiders or even worse other Ulven. I am not the best fighter and the notion that I could only save one or the other keeps me up at night. The Great Wolf would eat me for bringing the children into known danger yet Gaia curses me for preventing her path. Though I also know that if it is my destiny to have children with Stanrick Gaia will make sure it happens with or without the tea. I place the container on counter, the old woman double checking my measurements as I offer her some of the dried deer meat in exchange for the tea.

I step into the cold streets making sure the door is secure behind me. We are about half way through Luna’s season. While I have a strong connection to Luna, I tire of seeing her mate the Winter wolf. The bitter cold he has brought with him this season is brutal. We have had quite a few elderly and some of the refugees die due to the cold. I know most of the other Clans tend to view the seasons as a pack of wolves. My clan tends to divide the seasons up by the First Pack. Winter is controlled by Luna since she is the most affluent as the nights get longer, Spring is the Great Wolfs season, its first time in months that we are able to hunt and replenish our meat supplies. It was also, according to the epics, the time that Gaia and the Great Wolf first mated. Summer is of course controlled by Sol; there is a little reddish brown wolf that is said to run with Sol though her name is unknown as she likes to hide. It is said that if you look carefully through the waves of heat that raise from the land during a midsummer festival you can spot her watching. Its suppose to give you good luck if you can see her. Autumn is controlled by Gaia as we give her thanks for the bounty that she has nurtured for us throughout the Spring and Summer.

I pull my hood down over my ears tighter as I weave my way through the streets. I stop before the Jeweler’s and enter. A male slightly younger than me smiles as I enter.

“Selena. It’s been ages since I seen you.” He smiles.

“Yes it has, Sten,” I smile back. Sten was my father’s cousin’s son. We normally only saw them during Pack Moots. He has been a gifted jeweler since before his marks came in. He designed my last mate’s gift when he was eighteen.

Sten smirks at me “I figured you would be stopping by sooner or later. I heard Keres challenged him when you all first got here.”

I sigh “Yeah and she got her butt thoroughly handed to her too. I don’t know what she was thinking challenging a veteran warrior, let alone a veteran Longfang.”

He giggles, “Yeah.” He pulls out a black cloth and lays it on the counter. “So I have the base piece done. “ He pulls out from under the counter a talisman made of bronze. The shape is of a wolf slightly bent down in front like it is about to sprint to take off after something. “I am going to put detail in the head and on the rump.”

I smile “I love it. “ I dig in my hip pouch for a second and toss him a silver coin.

“These any use to you?” I ask. “The outsiders say they are valuable and they trade them like we trade meat but I can’t figure out why considering their value seems to change more then I change my socks.”

Sten looks at the coin carefully and takes a little jewelers hammer to it and listens to it resonate. “Yeah, I can melt this down and make a pair of earrings or pendant out of it. It’s mostly silver.”

I nod. “Finally something practical that can be done with them.”

He nods. “I’ll have it done before the Midwinter Ceremony. Come back in a couple days”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Stanrick was sitting in the training yard smoking his pipe. He had once again beat the tar out of Keres and not even broken a sweat. She lay on the ground and every muscle refused to move. He watched the other guards careful not to stare for too long in fear that they would be the next to fall . At this point that’s all this was to him anymore, and the few veterans that had been town guards started to use his methods on the younger guards.

“Your pups really do this every day at Onsallas?” asked Conrad Spritclaw.

“Every day. Most ulven they are tradesmen first then they are warrior’s second. Then there are warriors who work a trade as well. Longfang warriors are only warriors. That is their trade, their hobby, and their life.” He watched the guards train.

Conrad was the warrior that was tasked with training the young guards. The first day Stanrick had shown up with Selena, Conrad had watched Keres’ honor duel with Stanrick and felt ashamed at the fact she lost as bad as she did. It left a bad taste in his mouth and the next morning he had told Stanrick the same thing he told all the warriors that came to train. “If you want to train here you fight me first.” The grin on Stanrick’s face was perhaps the most unsettling thing about the fight. Guards and villagers alike were drawn to the spectacle, a small ring of observers gradually swelling into a crowd. Half an hour into the match, both warriors had resorted to brawling in the mud, their wooden swords splintered and their shields shattered. Growing exhausted, Conrad eventually conceded the match. The two became fast friends after that.

“When you put it that way no wonder I couldn’t get a upper hand. I will be honest I was a little afraid when you started laughing when your shield broke.” Conrad scratched his head and he laughed nervously.

“Oh I never said that was my way of life. I think there is more to Gaia’s path the killing mordok. Don’t feel any shame in our fight. You were doing fine till we hit the mud. Then my smaller size is the only thing that saved me,” Stanrick grinned.

Conrad got up and went back to training the guards but Stanrick stayed seated, puffing away. “Do you plan to get up some time today Keres?” He asked, looking past her to the gate.

“Nope I’m fine here. The mud feels great on my face.” She stated as she rubbed her face back and forth in the mud pool.

“I am so glad you are only a town guard. I would hate to have you in my shield wall.” Stanrick glared down at her.

“I had a long night last night…” she muttered into the ground

“So did I but you don’t see me on the ground.” He replied

“I DON’T WANT TO KNOW!” she yelled, muffled by the ice covered ground.

Stanrick smiled and continued to smoke away when he saw a younger girl enter the gate. It was Brigit. She held a hot teacup and sipped away at it as she walked up she smiled and waved at Stanrick.

“Mother said you would be kicking Keres butt so I thought I would come down and watch the show,” She said with a smile.

“Go away Brigit! I’m not in the mood to deal with you,” Keres tried to get up but she could not get her legs to work. Stanrick shook his head.

“You can stay your sister is learning life lessons.” Brigit sat down and watched the young males fighting in the yard. Stanrick’s thoughts deepened as his senses were now picking up on things he normally would ignore with females their age, but it was now painfully obvious that the sisters, like their cousin, were in heat and Brigit was here to watch the males. She had a little grin on her face as she watched one of the boys with dark black hair who was showing off and was clearly top of his class.

“Stanrick could you do me a favor?” Brigit said quietly as she sipped her tea.

“Maybe. What do you want?” Stanrick ask carefully.

“That boy is Jornel Solfire. Would you fight him for me? I want to see if he is all he claims to be,” She kept staring.

“You’re not going to be happy when he is in worse shape than your sister,” Stanrick said as he watched Jornel take down his opponent. He took a drink of water then walked over past Keres.

“Oh look, the bitch doing what she does best: laying on her back!” He didn’t get too far before he walked into Stanrick. He locked eyes and he tried to make himself look tough but it had no effect on Stanrick.

“Jornel, I think you need some more training,” He said quietly as he grabbed the young male by the collar of his tabard and dragged him to the center of the ring. Everyone gathered quickly to see what was about to happen but no one could have imagined what Stanrick did. As Jornel took a swing with his ax Stanrick let go of his shield and grabbed the ax handle dragging the boy in close to him. Jornel’s eyes grew as large as plates. Stanrick rolled him around and put the wood blade to his throat, whispering in his ear.

“Never say or think anything that disrespectful again or it won’t a wooden sword next time am I clear?” Jornel made a small nod then Stanrick kicked him down in the mud, then stormed off back to his table.

“Boys like that are not worth your time Brigit,” He said as he picked up a mug of mead.

“Oh I didn’t have any interest in him I like the boy that he was fighting. He is really good at wood carving,” She said looking at a young blonde boy who had yellow eyes. She smiled at Stanrick and finished her tea. “But I see what Selena sees in you, you’re not just a mean Longfang so I wont tell anyone what you did for Keres.”

“Fair enough, by the way what is with the mint tea?”

Brigit blushed a bright red.

“I’m flattered but your mated with Selena! I didn’t think I would have got your attention.”

“WHAT? I asked about Tea for the Love of Gaia,” She blinked at him a few times.

“Oh… right…not from here. Well see it is a special tea for females when well…most of the time when a male points it out it means they have some interest in the female because we all know what it’s for. The mint kills the taste of the junipers. Honestly I’m nervous. I’ve never mated before, and I think it’s better if I don’t have a pup yet.” Stanrick looked off past the gate and he felt his heart sink a little.

“Something wrong, Stanrick?” Brigit asked.

He looked to her and he twitched a small smile.

“Don’t worry about me, I will be okay. Just don’t rush your choice; make sure your mate is worth your time,” He said with a smile. Brigit nodded and smiled, got up and made her way to the blond boy.

“Ok I get the point Stanrick: I need to make sure I can fight at any time. I promise I will be better tomorrow.” Keres had gotten up and slowly made her way to the table.

“I won’t be here tomorrow so unless you’re on duty just take some time for your self. Besides you can’t really enjoy some old warrior beating you up every day.” She stops and looked at him confused. “I may not always be around to protect Selena I want to be sure that she is protected when I go back home.” He sipped his mead.

Keres sat down across from him still confused. “You can lie to Brigit but I think she was right. Something is bugging you. Why would you ever leave Selena?” She tilted her head.

“I don’t want to, but with this war I may have to. My shield brothers fight Grimward as we speak in Stormjarl territory. I don’t know why I am not with them but I could be told to go in a moment’s notice. Your cousin needs more than a staff. If I go, I would like it if you would keep an eye on her. Yeah, I can still beat you but I think you can take any of the other guards here and I know you can pound Jornel into dust.” She smiled

“That means a lot coming from you Stanrick. You should go see Selena: if I know her she probably misses you.” Stanrick just nodded. He finished his mead and started to walk back to the Drunk Uncle.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I swear I’ve been staring at this same page now since I opened the book hours ago. I sigh exasperated and pick up my mug to take a drink. I turn back to the book, trying to force myself to focus on what is on the page. Apparently I failed at that again as I am jolted out of my trance by a sharp pain in my hand as the mug goes flying across the room.

My head snaps to the side as I try to find the what just slap the drink from my hand. Stanrick stands there, his hair matted down with a cross between sweat and melting snow. He is still in his cloak and armor. He must have just come back from training the guards. His scent fills my nose and I shut my eyes tight for a moment to try and stomp down my instincts.

“What was that for?” I frown as I salvage the book from getting wet.

“You weren’t going to tell me?” He states at me. He doesn’t yell: there is a twinge in his voice though that tells me he is upset.

I stop and look at him. There is a hurt look to his eyes and I wrinkle my forehead in confusion “ Tell you what?” I ask carefully.

“Your cousin reminded me what the tea was for, I saw her with the exact same mixture when she stopped by the training ring today. I knew I had recognized the smell but I wasn’t sure since you add mint to your version.” Stanrick stated.

I snarl “I am going to beat Keres.”

“I wasn’t Keres. It was Brigit, “ Stanrick corrected.

I stand there dumbfounded for a moment as the angry momentum I had is suddenly lost. I couldnt be mad at Brigit, this is probably her first season using the tea and if Stanrick asked of course she would tell him what it’s for since he isn’t from our pack.

I blink at Stanrick “I really don’t know what to say. I thought you knew what the tea was to be honest. You have had many more mates than I and I figured some of them had to have used a version of this tea before. “

He nods “Some of them have. I’ve seen other Longfang females use it too after battles before they decide who they are going to mate with that night. This is different though.” He looks me in the eye “We are life mates…Don’t I get a say in if we have children?”

I can feel my mouth slack open as my jaw drops a little. I inhale sharply as I wrap my arms under my chest and turn from him.. I go sit on the edge of the bed and look at the floor unable to look at him. I know he is right, he should have a say. I just didn’t think. He had shown no interest in Siren’s upbringing nor any of his children as far as all the stories I heard so I figured he didn’t care.

“I just..I thought..” I stammer. I stop and take a big breath. “I am conflicted. I am torn between my job as a Truthseeker and my duty as a female. I am afraid to bring children into the middle of this war. It used to be all we had to worry about was Mordok. Now we have to worry about them, outsiders and our fellow Ulven. The thought that should something go wrong and I could only save you or my child…it keeps me up at night. “ I see Stanrick take off his cloak and armor and he sits next to me on the bed. “You didn’t really have a hand in Sirens upbringing or that of your other children. I didn’t think you cared about children so it didn’t cross my mind to ask.” I stare at my hands in my lap.

“My lack in sirens up bringing is not as much as she would have you think. I was always there for my pups when their mothers let me. They were my children after all. I taught my son all I could.” He takes a deep breath “Our children will have a mother who won’t pass her young off to others and wants to be a part of their lives.” He puts his arms around her. “Between your family and us I know we won’t have a spoiled daughter who thinks everyone left her because her stepmother died in childbirth. You’re not wrong in your thinking. I just wish you would have talked to me.”

“I am sorry, beloved,” I whisper.

He tilts my chin up so I have to look at him, he leans in and kisses me softly. “I know you are.” He smiles back at me. I lean in and kiss him again…tired of fighting my instincts.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Bowmen stood at the bar getting things ready for the evening rush. Selena and Stanrick had been fighting for over an hour but they finally seem to be making up. He was happy that Selena finally found another mate. He was worried about her after she lost her family to the lich two years ago. Even though they are still learning about each other’s customs and ways of life, Bowmen knows that it’ll be rough but thinks they will make it. They seem resourceful like that and truly in love with each other.

Bowmen looks up at the sound of the tingling of bells. A small female that he doesn’t recognized enters. He would put her at Selena age. Short brown hair and brown and burnt orange clothes. Long heavy wool cloak. She has the composure of a Longfang, he thinks as he watches her study the place for a moment.

“Welcome,” he smiles.

“Is this where a Truthseeker and a Longfang are staying?” She asks.

Bowmen frowns, “It is. Why do you ask?”

She smiles, becoming excited. “I am the Longfang’s cousin. My name is Reyna Longfang. He should know that I was coming, I sent him a message. Are they here?”

Bowmen nods, “Yeah, they’re upstairs..but I…” He trails off as he watches the young woman bound up the stairs.

Bowmen leans on the bar and slowly starts to count backwards from 5.

“3…2…1” Bowmen thinks.

“STANRICK LONGFANG FOR THE LOVE OF GAIA! I KNOW YOU KNOW HOW TO USE A LATCH!” Reyna shrieks from upstairs and a door slams.

Bowmen start chuckling uncontrollably as Reyna comes back down stairs, eyes a little wide and cheeks burning red.

Bowmen pulls a brass key from under the counter. “I tried to warn you. This is for the first room at the top of the stairs. Don’t worry, there is a room in between you and them. They do go at it quite a bit just so you are warned. “ Reyna takes the key from him and nods.

“I’ll get you guys some mead. I am sure you guys have a lot to talk about…especially now.” Bowmen snickers trying not to laugh as he goes in back and gets a pitcher and some mugs.

He comes back out with a tray and sets in on the bar as he sees Stanrick come down the stairs, obviously having gotten dressed in a hurry.

“Damnit Reyna…it helps when you include when you are expecting to show up in your letters,” Stanrick growls.

Bowmen is still trying to stifle laughing. “Mead’s on the house. “ Bowmen walks into the kitchen to start dinner prep while the kids talk it out up front.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Midwinters Eve:

“Bowman was not kidding, you two are non-stop,” Said Reyna as she followed Stanrick down one of the side roads. She had some shopping to do. Stanrick agreed to take her around the town to get everything she need.

“We are not that bad.” Stanrick pulled his hood over his head to keep in the warmth.

“NONSTOP! You remember that week you met Mina? Yeah more times last night then that week. I saw this cute couple yesterday clearly in their prime they have nothing on you. Do you even sleep at night?” They turned down an ally found the store Reyna was looking for.

“Yeah, we sleep. You just showed up at a strange time, okay?” He muttered.

She stopped at the door and looked at Stanrick. “Oh my sweet mother. You’re trying for a pup!” she said with a child like grin.

“What!? No! I… we… okay maybe I am but I don’t know why,” Stanrick muttered as he reached for the door. Reyna stopped him and pulled him off to the side.

“What is there not to know? She was in heat and you are dealing with others in heat all day. Add the fact you care about her I can see why you would want to have a pup with her. She is a much better choice than Senna; she didn’t seem to care about pups. She is much prettier too. So did you have a joining yet?” Reyna was now really excited about all of this

“Joining? No, I never put much thought into it.” He looked out across the streets.

“Well you should! You are lifemates! You said so yourself. Is it wrong to ask Gaia to bless the path you both walk? Just think about it, okay?” She opened the door to the shop and walked in.

Stanrick looked at the tunics but saw nothing he liked. He only had three changes of clothing in his bag and yawn ripped his fourth shirt. Reyna looked at bolts of fabric. “So what did you get her for midwinter?” she asked as she checked the weight of the cloth

“I’m giving her my first sword. She needs something to keep her safe if I’m not there. I’m not using it any more anyway.” He looked at the pattern on the fabric and gave her a simple shrug.

“Stanrick Longfang, you really can be sweet when you want to. I’m sure she will love it. I am getting this one. I think I can make a nice dress with it or something.” She went over to the shopkeeper and began to haggle with her. It did not take her long. She took the bolt and went for the door.

“Let’s go Stanrick I have what I needed.” Stanrick followed her and they put up their hoods to keep out the cold. Everywhere they looked houses had evergreen branches and wreaths decorating the houses for Midwinter.

“They really go all out here over Midwinter don’t they?” She asked him.

“Clan Spritclaw has a deep connection with the first pack and show reverence to all our gods, not just Gaia and the Great Wolf. Midwinter is Luna’s night so it is more than just a celebration of the nights getting shorter. I wish more clans would pay attention to what this holiday is really about.”

Stanrick was always a devout believer and this time in Spritclaw had reaffirmed things he already knew. Not that he would stop Selena from explaining her beliefs but his mother had taught him much about Gaia, the Great Wolf, and the first pack. Solvig had expanded on her teachings by telling him stories that most Ulven did not know, such as how Gaia taught the Great Wolf how to change.

“So what is the true meaning behind Midwinter?” Asked Reyna.

“Oh I have no idea but I think it has something to do with Stars. Selena told me about how if a pup dies before their marks they go live with Luna. Mother said something to that effect when Solfie passed but I never put much thought in it till now.”

He stopped in the street and looked at the night sky already there were more stars out then he could count. “Even back home do you ever remember this many stars? Over the last two years the number of stars in the night sky has only grown. I think she is right.” He started to walk again not waiting for Reyna. She was still looking up at the stars when she realized that he was about 20 feet away. She ran to get to him. There were fewer people on the streets tonight than Stanrick had come to expect: a few guards walked down the street and simply nodded a greeting to Stanrick. He reached the front door of the Drunk Uncle. He opened the door and saw Selena and Brigit working on a project.

“What are you doing?” He asked…………………….

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

“What are you guys doing?” Stanrick asks as he walks into the inn, Reyna following behind him.

Today I had Brigit over to help me construct our sky lanterns. We were all spread out over one of Bowmen’s downstairs tables making lanterns for everyone.

“Making sky lanterns for the rite tomorrow,” I state.

“Oh! What rite?” Reyna asks, intrigued.

“Tomorrow is Midwinter. The longest night of the year. It is the night that Luna is at her most powerful; its also the night that the veil between realms is supposed to be at it’s thinnest. Seers have an easier time with their trade, those that have Luna’s gift supposedly are given visions. The rite not only honors Luna as a Seer but also acknowledges the children that are living with her in her realm. The Children act as messengers between this realm and the next. We send messages to them and they take the messages to our loved one that have passed” Brigit explains.

I nod. “Correct. Since the veil is suppose to the thinnest this time of year my clan constructs what is known as sky lanterns to take our messages and thoughts up to the unseen realm so the children and those that have passed on there know they are not forgotten.”

“Isn’t that interfering with their journey?” Reyna frowns at me.

I blink at her for a moment and tilt my head a little surprised. I frown, “No, they are where they need to be; we are not pulling them back here or taking them off their path. Would you insult the hawks for delivering messages between two Ulven? Think of the Lanterns as hawks. This is the only time of year that we can send messages to this place.”

Reyna seems to dwell on this for a moment.

“We all have people we miss. For one night a year we can say something to them and know that we will be heard,” I sigh.

Stanrick walk up to me and looks at the table. “Alright..how does one make one of these.”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Stanrick, Reyna, and I stand huddled around one of the braziers that have been place around the steps leading to the Clan Leader halls. I frown a little as I look around. Normally this rite gets people from the entire territory but the turn out seems to be sparse this year. I am hoping it’s just the cold and the snow that is keeping everyone in their own villages. The buildings and streets around the settlement have been adorned with holly, witch hazel and evergreen branches.

“Balls it’s cold!” I hear Stanrick curse under his breath as he warms his hands at the fire.

High Priestess Morrigan walk out on to the steps of the Clan Leaders halls. She is adorned in a long forest green wool robe. On top of her head is a wreath of the rare white holly. Like the moon flower in Summer it is said that the berries contain the essence of Luna. It is said only Priestesses know how to extract this essence and its use to help with vision quests or other scrying techniques.

As Morrigan rings a large, ornate brass gong, the crowd fall silent and turns their heads towards her.

“Tonight we honor Luna the Seer of the First Pack and Sister to the Great Mother. Through her keen sight and benevolent touch she raised the fallen children of our clan to the sky and imparted some of her glory unto them so they may find names for themselves in unseen realms before returning to be with our loved ones in the Great Forest. Tonight when the veil between realms is at its thinnest we offer up our thought and prayers to our deceased family and friends and hope the children can do their duties proudly and with honor so they may return home.” Morrigan proclaims proudly, her voice carrying over the crowd. She makes a little motion with her hand and Henrick, the Clanleader’s son, comes forward with a sky lantern: clearly his own handiwork as shown by the pictures crudely drawn on the outside of the paper. Morrigan carefully takes the lantern from him. She chants, blessing the Lantern before she lights it and lets it go. I repeat the chant as well, lighting our little lanterns and soon the sky start to fill with little lights floating towards the sky.

Hó, Það sé ék föðr minn

Hó, Það sé ék móðr mína og

Bræðr mínir og systr mínar

Hó, Það sé ék línu þjóðar minnar aftur til og á byrjun

Lo, kalla þeir til mín

Þeir bjóða mér að taka sæti mitt á meðal

þeirra í rjóðrinu við fyrsta úlfsstóðið.

Þar óvina þinna hafa verið yfirbugaður

Þar sem hugrakkr mun lifa eilífð

Né skal við harma en fagna fyrir

þá sem hafa látist glæsilega dauða.

Stanrick takes my hand when I had finished and we look up watching the light float higher and higher.

“Do you think they will get our messages?” He asks

I sigh and lean my head on his shoulder. “I am sure they will.”

Reyna looks at me and frowns. “Can you teach me that prayer? It’s old Ulven correct?”

I nod “ Its basically a prayer honoring our ancestors but yeah I can teach you.”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The three of us sit downstairs in the inn after the ceremony. Stanrick and I are curled up on the couch and Renya is regaling me with a tale about about when she, Stanrick, Harlock and someone named Ranmir were trying to steal supplies from of the towers of the outpost for some sort of shenanigans. Bowmen comes out and requests my aid in helping prep for tomorrow’s breakfast: the pain in his hands was starting to get too much for him. He is having trouble kneading the bread. Reyna said she would help to help pay for her room and goes and disappears into the kitchen.

I turn to Stanrick. “The apothecary wasn’t the only place I stopped the day I got the tea. I did make one other stop.”

Stanrick frowns at me. “Oh?”

I reach my hand into my waist pouch. I had been carrying it all day looking for a good time to give it to him. I take his hand and place in it the talisman that Sten made along with a matching brass chain. “I have been trying to think of something fitting for you since we meet. Something I could give you so you could have a piece of me with you always. My cousin Sten is a brilliant jeweler and helped design it. Its seemed most fitting to give it to you on Midwinter”

Stanrick smiles and kisses me. “I love it. That reminds me.” Stanrick runs upstairs for a moment and comes back down holding a long covered item.

“I found it in our things. I know it’s not mine.” He states.

I uncover it to find a sword. I grab the hilt; it’s not horribly balanced from what I can tell, though its been twenty years since I’ve held a sword. I study the blade: there are a few dings in it saying it’s been used at some point and it could use a good oil and sharpening. It’s been sitting for awhile but other than that its a perfectly useable sword.

I sigh, exasperated, “Is it one of Yawn’s? Did he leave his things at your place again and we grabbed it when we packed the cart to come here?”

Stanrick laughs, “No, love: its yours.”

I blink. “What?”

Stanrick smiles “Its yours. It was my first sword, but I can’t use it anymore. It’s too short for me but it’s the right length for you. Your clan isn’t the only one who will occasionally exchange gifts for Midwinter.”

I am about to smack him with the flat of the sword when I think better of it. I frown a little “you know I haven’t wielded a sword in 20 years. “

Stanrick nods “I know. I’ll teach you. After the swamp…your staff just isn’t going to cut it anymore hun.”

I sigh and look at the sword funny. Stanrick leans in and kisses me. “Don’t worry. What better person to teach you?”

I smirk, “Assuming you can focus on the lessons with me about.” I lean in and kiss him back.

“Oh for the love of Gaia, will you guys knock it off? I swear you two act like you just got your marks or something.” Reyna states coming back into the room. “Bowmen needs help racking a new batch of mead he could use all of us. He’ll let us taste test it if we help.”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Early February

“Selena you been summoned by the Clan Leader,” I hear Keres yell from downstairs. I pull my hair back into a tail as I come down the stairs.

“Any idea on what about?” I ask

“Nope,” Keres shrugs.

Stanrick and I enter the Great Hall and was told that the Clan Leader was waiting for me in his study.

“Cahal, you wished to see me?” I state as I enter.

“Yes I received word that there is a meeting of the People in Nightriver territory to talk about the war and each clan’s place in it. I want you to go in my stead. Most other clan leaders are not going themselves, I think they are using this to feel each other out. “ Cahal announces to me.

I blink a few times “I am just your eyes and ears, I have no authority to speak as a Voice. “ I state

“You do now. You have a good grasp on what is good for the Clan. You have had a sense about what is wrong with this war. You now have the opportunity to voice it.” Cahal states plainly.

I frown, not sure what to think about this. Cahal turns to Stanrick

“I am officially hiring you and your cousin to be her bodyguards for this. Selena is more than just a Truthseeker for this mission: she is my Voice as well. I have already sent word to Solvig and she is going to be sending one more to meet up with you on the road there.” Cahal said.

Stanrick was just as shocked as I was about this but we agreed and made preparations to leave post haste. Even Reyna seemed out of sorts by they speed of it all but fell in line quickly and seemed to appreciate being able to spend some time with her cousin. I wondered if this was the first time they had officially had a mission together.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The dinner didn’t go as I had expected. There were a lot of outsiders there which was unnerving to me. This is suppose to be our war and they-well some of them anyways-have this idea in their heads that they need to be the ones to stop it. I’m not sure I like that.

I sat by the fire at camp as we made our way back towards Spirtclaw territory. Reyna, Stanrick and the guard sat and talked by the fire while I tried to formulate the letter I was sending ahead of me.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Clan leader Cahal,

The dinner went off fine. You were correct in the notion that most clans don’t know what they are doing with the exception of a few. Goldenfield threw their lot in with Nightriver and Riverhead said that they were going to do what was best for Gaia and continue to fight Mordok as they always have. Shattered Spear was silent. I am a little concerned that they didn’t send anyone. Most were too skittish to make a solid claim, as you were correct in the thought that they are still feeling each other out. Some were looking to advance their own needs. I will fill you in on details upon my return. After hearing what is going on in Stormjarl I started talks with our neighboring clans to try and get them to at least support each other even if they didn’t want to support the war. I would hate to see what is happening in Stormjarl happen somewhere else. Steinjotunn is the most favorable to the idea of Neutrals banding together. Ironmound was a maybe. I was unable to talk to Squallborn, though. I was hoping to confirm or deny the rumor I heard that they had hand in helping Grimward and Whiteoak.

I made a plea to remember tradition, although I fear it fell on deaf ears. Stanrick’s speech about honor had more of an effect than mine did. I am still a little unnerved on how good he can be with words. Things almost got bad when one of the humans decided to grab me and shake me. She was frustrated that it seemed that there was nothing they could do and was tired of us treating them like children. I sympathize with her but one person cannot speak for their entire group it seems. They have so many others making them look bad. Once she saw three Ulven stand, hand on their weapons, she quickly apologized and things calmed down. The dinner wrapped up quickly after that. All in all, I don’t think anything got solved and that makes me fear for our future. I will make a full report when I return.

Truthseeker Selena Stargazer.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I fold up the paper and seal it for transport on the next hawk I find.

The Other Hunters

Grimward only ever sent scouts.

It made sense, for all they knew the great road through the pass was the only way over the mountains that could accommodate an army. But that didn’t stop Khulgar Graytide from looking for another route, an unguarded way into Nightriver territory among the narrow, unsteady paths the Coywolves walk when time is more important than safety.

Of course, “unguarded” is a matter of perspective when one is discussing the low mountains. The Mordok may have learned to give the road a miles-wide berth, and do not venture into the wide-open space of the tundra, but the foothills and valleys? Those dark, tangled spaces are second only to the Dirge Swamp, especially with the war distracting those who usually keep them at bay. It takes a great deal of luck or skill to avoid them.

And if Grimward does get lucky, and find one of the paths that snake between Mordok dens, well… then there are the others. The hunters that did not seek food.

Banning Redscythe looked down from his perch at the scout party drawing near. Four Ulven, rather than the usual party of six, their clothing torn and bloodstained in places – clearly, they could have found a luckier path. Only one of them carrying a bow, and he was almost out of arrows.

Looking closely, Banning could see family markings on the scouts’ clothing and weapons. All crests and colors he’d seen before, but none that he knew personally. Good. The Redscythes were part of Grimward, once. Some of them still are, and Banning hoped never to meet family on his patrol.

He had left his rucksack and one of his axes – the ice axe, not Leikn, he wasn’t an idiot – on a snarl of roots two trees over when he heard the Grimwards coming, as a sort of bait. It was almost embarrassing, how easily they took that bait, heading straight to the bag without noticing the fresh pine sap oozing from the marks his climbing spurs left. By the time they started scanning the trees for him, it was too late.

The first small, round stone to leave Banning’s sling landed squarely on the archer’s temple, dropping him instantly. Their confusion at the sudden attack bought time to launch a second stone, this one glancing off the leader’s ear – stunning, but not killing her.

The remaining two scouts rushed the tree, clearly not expecting him to come down. They were wrong. Calk boots can do quite a lot of damage to an Ulven neck, especially at the end of a long drop. Rolling out of the fall, he drew Leikn, his fighting axe, and made short work of the last man’s knee and breastbone before the leader could draw herself back to her feet. He closed with her and – seeing the string of phalanges she wore around her neck – turned his axe, crushing her skull with the hammer side, not the blade.

Looking around, Banning sighed, and cleaned the blood off his axe. The easy part was done, and much faster than he had expected. These four would meet the Great Wolf soon… but not immediately. He removed the bandages from the older wounds the Mordok had given them, and pulled a few items from his rucksack.

A few extra blows with a chipped and rusty scimitar here, some scuffed up leaves there. He broke the archer’s bow, and buried the scimitar in his skull, obliterating the mark from the sling stone. Tossed a few shards of a broken shield near the Grimward with a mangled neck. He did not quite have the stomach to make the scene look much more like a Mordok attack than that, even in the case of the leader with the finger-bone necklace. But that was all right. Night was coming, and the still not-voice in the back of his head told him the coyotes would finish the job in a few hours, well enough that Khulgar would not be made aware of the Coywolf hunting party intercepting their scouts, in the unlikely event another party made it in this far.

Not even the Longfang warriors stationed near Edana’s Pass quite realized what the hunting party was doing. Banning and the others left the settlement with a group of hunters who actually were after food. Perhaps they thought this excursion was just a bunch of trappers, and that Ifor Bloodskin was a passive Champion, biding his time in the longhouse until the conflict either spilled onto his doorstep again, or Ioan Hindsblood was magically returned without a scratch on him.

Whatever they thought, it didn’t matter. What mattered is the back ways and deer paths through the mountains remained open to bring supplies to the Watchwolves, and closed to any Grimward incursion. The fewer people who knew what a farce their “neutrality” was, the better.

As Banning changed out of his heavy boots and spurs into a pair of swift turnshoes, a few flakes of snow began to fall from the sky. It was time for him to move on. Leaving a trail away from the fight would be counterproductive, and if he didn’t make it to the rendezvous point in a few hours, his shield-siblings would worry. They were beginning to pull back to the pass – soon, the mountains would be so choked with snow that their patrol would be redundant.

It was time to go home, and see firsthand what the past month had brought to the rest of the pack.

I hunker down under an outcropping of rock and my crude lean too and pull out a new journal book I traded the provisioner for before I left. Managed to get this and a bottle of wine for doing the dishes for three days. The wine I am going to have to save for later. That is part of my other plan, which of course is getting delayed again. I may just end up drinking the bottle myself if this keeps up.

Growing Talesinger moon of the 5th month after winter solstice 653 :

I am not one to keep journals normally as very few Ulven will even be able to read it, I suppose this is more for me to start keeping my thoughts straight. Being in hostile territory a few months now and having almost meet my death once already, things are getting more stressful then I would like. I need to start writing down what I learn so I can reference back to it later. I am hoping this will help. Or should the worse happen I can hope that this will be found and returned to my Pack or Clan.

I had been at the Outpost for almost a week. Watching how the outpost worked was interesting. I would of loved some quiet time to have talked with Quartermaster. He gave me the impression that he was interested in what I thought and I was curious on how a Stormjarl ended up quartermaster at the Longfang outpost. Sadly those conversations never happened we all got wrapped up in our duties. I did learn a lot about the area and some history of the region which was interesting and may have given me clues to some other issues.

I was originally there to get my arm looked at, my shoulder was healing from a Mordok arrow but my mobility was getting limited and painful. The Quartermaster was also a healer, I wasn’t sure how I was going to pay for it but Gaia provides. My services as a Daughter became quite useful and my ability to read and write were put to the test. There was a corrupted Mordok site found. The witches at the nearby village had a cleansing ritual but it was all written in Old Ulven runes. I knew of the language but I never had the honor to actually see it, I am not privileged enough to have access to the old scrolls. The Quartermaster had a basic understanding of the language as he was dabbling in the runes and gave me, the assistant tavern keeper, and the male Syndar a basic alphabet and we three working steadily managed to translate the ritual into something that I and the Quartermasters mate, Fritha could perform. It was a two day cleansing ritual and we had no idea how the mordok were going to react and even translated it was still in a language I only sort of recognized. I put my faith in Gaia and ran with it. We succeeded and I have made copies I was originally going to send back to my Clan but apparently I am going to hand it to them in person. I had planned to give copies to Khulgar when I go see him as well. I was going to go find him next but shit happens apparently. This is beyond the war, this affects directly our divine calling to protect the ground we walk on. It was a tiring ritual but it felt good to perform. It felt right. I have a hard time putting into words the feeling of being connected to the Mother on that level.

I convinced them to bring back the now cleansed Idol for study, I was going to give to the Witches and Priestess at Onsallas village but they are too scared to take it. They have the Ungo Smash mentality of a lot Ulven I have seen recently. Even I know that if you just treat each symptom the disease, the disease itself will never go away. We need to have a better understand on why/how and what powers are corrupting the Mother. While the cleansing ritual worked, I don’t know for how long it will work or should the corruption get bigger and deeper if it will be as effective. I would also like to know if something like this has happened before. There is obviously a ritual for it which make me believe that it may have. I may need to track down a Tale singer at some point.

After looking at the ground and physically being there feeling that taint press against the protections wards, I believe that whatever it is the Mordok are doing are what is causing the black marks appear on the Mother in my first vision. I now believe that that vision I had when I was stricken with poison and lay dying was real and that notion is scaring me. Then the second dream vision where I felt a presence, It wanted me to follow it. It had a motherly feel but it was too weak to show itself. I know its not Gaia. Gaia knows I follow her already the fact that I wield her love is proof of that. She would not beckon me to do something I am already doing. Either way The Stargazer pack has never had the gift of visions, prophets or rune seers in any of its Daughters or Priestesses. So this is completely freaking me out. Also aren’t I a little old for this? Most of the time these gifts come about when a Daughter first realizes her gifts. To top it all off since I am currently carrying this thing with me I am expecting more to happen before I get home. I am not looking forward to this journey. Luckily I still have some Pineed sap left so if I need to do the ritual again I can. Not what I originally want to do with the sap but as per the theme of the day, shit happens. I also need to get a message home before I get there so they can meet me on the border. I don’t want to take this into new territory without some back up. I be stupid if I didn’t take precautions with this thing.

So after the cleansing we had come upon the graveyard of what I was told was the Blackwings. Though what I remember from the stories there was nothing of them to bury. Though this could of been the burial ground before they disappeared as I do know there were fights with the Mordok. There were white spears sticking out the ground but I don’t remember the stories of their signature weapon being the spears. Though no matter, I was distracted by the spiritual feel of the ground. It was weird. I knew the moment that we stepped foot on the ground that it was a graveyard. I remember the Quartermaster asking me if I knew where we were, I remember stating that it looked like a graveyard. Truth is that I felt it more than the visual cue. Maybe it close brush with death recently that I was more sensitive at the time, or maybe I was still charged from the ritual. It was still disturbing to me that I seem have a sense what I was standing on before I knew it for sure. It doesn’t help my grown concern about being a visionist. I was also concerned about how close the tainted Mordok site was to the graveyard. I wonder if its connected, I pray its not.

I also got some interaction with the outsiders at the post. I have come to the conclusion that the Outsiders are just as diverse as the Ulven. The blacksmith that was there I do believe to have been touched in the head. He was talking about how there was a utopia in the middle of the swamps and had me write a letter for him requesting aid from an emperor and congratulating a king and queen on their marriage. Now I am no expert on how human rule themselves but it seems to me to be counter intuitive to have both a King and Queen and an Emperor. He told the that I wouldn’t be to spell the kings name because it was in a language called Yulfish. I asked if the Syndar could spell it but was told they wouldn’t know the language either. I don’t put much stock in what he said.
The two Syndar I meet. The male seemed stable enough, he had appeared to be in touch with his gods and helped to try and purge the mordok bile from Rogar. Watching him leap through the fields like a rabbit was entertaining. He seemed to be a fountain of energy. He is also well versed in intellectual study as he knew how to read and write. He helped me decode the ritual. He also had a unique ability to find herbs quickly. He had brought back quite a few. His female on the other hand I wanted to grab by the point of her ear and twist like you do to a child who is misbehaving. She shoved Magrat away from her healing of Rogar to shove a potion down his throat with only a few moments of warning that the potion was going to cause Rogar to vomit. I think she means well, as she eventually donated all the herbs that her mate gathered to the outpost. Its hard to tell if her air headedness is an act or genuine though.

I also meet some of the Vandregon. I meet a man name William briefly, he offered me his hand and I took it. He was surprised that I didn’t take his arm and I was surprised he knew our customs. I remember my Father taking the hands of humans in the rare instances that we ran into them on our journeys, I just assume it was how humans prefer to interact. He didn’t seem to be insulted just surprised. I only feel slightly bad for my social faux pas, I hadn’t known that they were Ulven with in the Vandregon until I meet Belthazar Nightriver later that day, he is very talkative Ulven and later Rogar who either needs to get laid more often or needs to hit things more not sure which, he seemed to have some anger issues. Either way the Vandregon made sure I was protected to and from the ritual site, to which I am grateful for. I am not an Adventurer nor do I pretend to be.

I met a young Ulven named Orrin he is a member of the Bloodfangs. He was looking for a relative by the name of Marr. I should keep an ear out for her, he seemed really genuine in his need to find her. I sense a potential in him, he has the demeanor for a good truthseeker calm, dutiful, watchful. He just needs someone to teach him how to ask questions and use his brain and his eyes. Though he still has all the energy of youth so that may be easier said than done.

Also meet an interesting human by the name of Double. We didn’t get to talk much but he seems to be in a field much like my own, a neutral party seeking information. He says that he works for the Stability of all Madrun and has offered me an interesting proposal. He’ll get me information on Starkhaven if I keep him apprised on how the Ulven civil war is going. This seems like a fair trade to me as we are both seeking information on places we cant get to because of our race. I have to admit I am intrigued yet I still need to be cautious here.
I have a letter to the Elders I need to write. A letter to Khulgar I need to write, I still need him to confirm or deny what Raskolf told me about the ill fated meeting and I have feeling that is a conversation I want to have with him in person. I would also rather deliver the translation of this rite to him in person as well to make sure it gets to where it needs to. I will also need to make sure Raskolf get copies of this rite as well, I should of given copies to Stanrick before I left. Balls. Too much to do and I think its going to rain soon as well, my shoulder is starting to hurt. Fantastic.

I tuck my new journal away. I pull out a piece of parchment and my pen as I start to hear rain on to top of the lean to.

To High Priestess Morrigan.
With a sense of urgency I write this. I have in my possession a cleansed Mordok artifact of great power. I also have the ritual that was used to cleanse said item. I have enough reagents to perform the ritual at least one more time should it become necessary on my way back. The ritual was translated from Runic Ulven I have both the translation and the original runic script. I beseech you to send a few well trained witches and priestess to meet me on the edge of the territory in a weeks time. The ritual is tiring and if I have to perform it on the road I am not sure what type of shape I will be in upon arrival. I would like to have some back up waiting for me.
I am leery this artifact but I feel it is imperative that be studied so counter magic can be obtained. I have seen with my own eyes and have felt the corruption that these idol contain. These idols contaminated the land and warping the trees and vegetation surrounding it. I know of at least two other items like this being found and destroyed previous. Though with mixed effects. So far we have been treating the symptoms but not the disease.
I have many other thoughts right now, about a lot of things. I would like to talk to you personally about them once I get home and the idol is secure.

In service
Selena Stargazer, Truth Seeker.

---

I pack up the writing gear and seal the letter and make it ready to send either via Hawk or Runner depending on what I run into first. I huddle down for the night. I place my bag good arms length away and then draw a protective circle around the bag and then around myself and cast the same protection spell on myself that I did for the others for the ritual. I glare at my bag. I have a bad feeling and I can’t seem to shake it. It’s going to be a long walk home.

Yawn listened to the spirits whispering. They told him things. When to wait. Where. How to hide in plain sight of his foes. When to move. When to strike – though he often knew well enough without their guidance. He’d come to trust them. To know them. Solara. Gaia. One and the same woman in his mind. The spirits were hers. Nix most of all told him things. His totem. Right now, she told him the time was not right.

The day they’d marched into the pass, Nix told him to take up his bow. Leave his mace and shield behind. Nix who whispered the wind to his favor, who kept him a half step ahead of all but one. The red haired archer, she who pierced his shoulder just before the last clash of that day. Before coming across the dying Greytide who called him “the one who turned his face from Gaia” He hadn’t denied it. He’d not waste a dying warrior’s last breath with sentiments. Yawn gave him a clean quick end. Not an act of anger, but one of respect between foes.

The weeks that came next were the worst. Supplies ran short. Yawn used every last resource he’d carried in with him. Bandages. Rope. Tobacco. Drink. Everything to keep his friends – his family – as well as he could mange. By the end, he’d cut even his spare shirt into bandages. He’d used what he knew to keep those dying among the living longer. Offering Nix blood from his wounded shoulder. Slowing its mending, ensuring a scar would take root there. When he wasn’t calling down the spirits or pulling mana from the earth around him, he hunted with Stannrick. Greytide and food.

In the end Stannrick, was the last man whole. The one to go for help. Nix did all she could as well. Where to find food, herbs, hiding places. Everything but how to mend the wounds. That, she told Yawn, she could not yet give. More was needed. The time wasn’t right. Was he not yet desperate enough? Despair and anger. Had he not risked enough for this? True enough, he’d done it with a mind to protect his people. No, to save his people. It was his choice. None had forced him. And he wanted to know if he could. What Daughter of Gaia would have shown him the way to cast? Would the Fieldcrow share their secrets with a male? He’d found a path and taken it just to see if he could reach its end.

And now it wasn’t enough.

Magrat… That rage burned as well. Why should she give up who she is. Who her people are? Who were we to ask. He filled the time. Trying to keep every one fed. Keeping the wounds clean, poulticed. His knowledge wasn’t enough, he couldn’t speed the mending like a healer or a Daughter could. He did everything he could to keep their spirits up. Sang every song he knew. Spoke every tale of his. His brother. His family. Of Siren, his niece. Of Thom. Of how his father won his mother’s consent. And when he ran out of tales true, he told all the tall tales and legends he’d learned. Of his journey into the Dirge Swamp and his dreams there. Though not all, some he’d yet to make peace with himself. When those tales and songs ran dry, he started making new ones until his voice cracked.
When the pipes went empty, he dredged up sweet ferns, dried them by the fire and filled them.
He made stew on the good days. Broth on the poor days.

When at last aid had arrived, and a message hawk with it, Yawn took a mouth full of bread. Refreshed his quiver, his pipe, and composed a simple reply, pipe cracking cheerily as if the past weeks had never happened.

“Supplies much need , and some of it was received. Morale could be better. We wish it was you who brought them to us. I will not return until the pass is secured.
Yawn.

P.S. Next time send the Longfang Longleaf-Maykar Burely blend, it fares better then the Longleaf alone for cold travel.”

Of course what he’d meant was that he was not returning, not done laying bodies before the pyre, until Magrat had returned. Until his friend was free of her exile. Until he could walk through he gates of Onsallas and embrace his friend. His pack mate.

The thought of that day drifted between his ears as Yawn step from his hiding place. Shield across his back. Mace, quiver, and spell components at his belt. His mail dully glimmering the light. The arrow nocked, his target sighted. The wind at his back. And as his clever fingers let the string loose, and the arrow sighed through the air toward the throat of a Grey, his arrow the spear point, the first fang of the ambush, the sun warming his back. Nix whispered in his ear as the point bit into its mark. “Today will be a good day, Yawn.” As he nocked the second arrow he smiled.

Nix never lied about such things.

I trudged down the path, pausing briefly to look behind me. I could still see the Longfang warrior watching me. Once I hit the main trail I turned toward the direction that Raskolf had mentioned. I quietly hoped there was a village or some such there. I was tired, like a sole worn through. This was now the second time I have had to leave a grievously injured person. Although both times there were people with healing arts around, my soul screamed at me to go back and fix them. The urge to scream and break something was high but I quietly swallowed my frustration and tried to turn my thoughts to what I had just learned. I groaned out loud as I realized what I was going to have to do. I was going to have to get Khulgar to confirm or deny what happened at those ill-fated peace talks. I banged my head out of annoyance against my staff as I walk. I understood now why he glossed over it when I talked to him about it the first time but I still couldn’t assume what Raskolf said is the whole story. I would be failing my job as Truth Seeker if I didn’t at least attempt to get both sides of the story. Truth, as I learned, is often somewhere in the middle; it’s never just what one side or other said, especially if their stories don’t match. “BALLS.!” I swore loudly. I was still contemplating how to do that when I start see structures though the trees.

“Oh, thank Gaia,” I murmured when I saw people stopping what they were doing to look at me.

I had found a Coywolf camp. It appeared to be a seasonal hunting camp and people were working on getting things opened up for the season. There were maybe four families working this land. They eyed me suspiciously as I paused on the outskirts. I sighed a little as I wait, remembering a time when strangers were a more welcomed sight as it normally meant a new face to talk to, new stories to hear and possibility trade and new items to buy depending on who was coming through. Eventually a male about my age approached me and greeted me, though I could still see the suspicion in his eyes. His demeanor softened slightly once I returned the greeting and explained what I was doing there.

“I don’t have anything of value to trade for room and board for the night, but I will happily cook you a meal and watch the children while you all work.” I bartered. I felt ashamed; I had no real trade skill to speak of. Even my skills as a Daughter were but novice at best. The most I could often do is officiate a handfasting ceremony, a funeral or cleansing. I knew all of these are important but every pack has their own way of doing things so wandering daughters aren’t in high demand. I had never learned how to really tend wounds outside the healing the Mother allows me. My father was the one who knew how to make the Sap bandages we often traded for armor and weapons, I just know parts of it. I often times feel useless. The male studied me for a long while before finally agreeing.

This was a family group: two brothers and two older cousins working this area with their families. There was one large farm house everyone stayed in. Bo and Astrid had two children: Dagmar, the oldest daughter, was about 12 seasons; Dane was the younger brother who appeared to be about 7. Bo’s brother Jakob and his wife Laila just had their first child, Mikkel, who was a healthy baby boy of about 6 months. Agetha and Olaf were older cousins; their children had left home already. Anders and Annelise had an older son, Enjar, who was about 16. He was already an accomplished hunter and was helping set up the camp. He just got his Marks a few months ago and it appears the Great Wolf likes him. His younger brother Erik was about 5, though I would guess he was really a half brother: I could see the mothers appearance in his eyes but his hair color and complexion looked nothing like his father. Dagmar helped me make dinner. That she really knew her spices was an excellent help in the kitchen. Dane played with Erik while Mikkel hung from a wrap around my shoulder. I tried hard not to dwell on the fact that Mikkel and Erik are the same ages that Asiegar and Moira would of been. Lucky Dagmar and Dane where both curious as well which kept me from dwelling too much. They were asking me questions as we cooked about where I was from, what was I doing there, what parts of Mardrun I had seen, what Everspring Grove was like. They kept asking question all the way through dinner. Their mother told them to hush so I could eat. I learned their main camp isn’t far from here, maybe three miles. There are also a couple other well established Coywolf camps in this area. I asked how far it was to Onsallas. I wanted to get my hands on some Pineed sap to take back to the Clan. Onsallas was nearly a week away on foot, they told me. That at least gave me a better mental picture of the land. The clan had trees that produced Pineed sap, but everyone knows the sap from the swamp region is better and they are the first set of trees to wake up from the winter sleep. Our trees won’t wake for another two to three weeks after the Onsallas trees start.

Erik had gotten into my bag when we weren’t paying attention and was fascinated with the parchment and ink. I managed to get the ink, quills and the important paper away from him before he spilled something on them. I did give him some scrap parchment and one of my graphite sticks to draw with. Dane came over and was looking at the copy of the treaty that Raskolf wrote over my shoulder. He asked if that was important and I nodded. I told him that this was a copy of the Treaty that the Watchwolves had written. Bo asks me to read it to them so they can actually hear what it said first hand. They, like a lot of other Ulven, had only heard about it from their Talesingers who heard about it second or third hand.

As the night grew late, the children were ushered off to bed. The adults went off to bed shortly thereafter. I stayed down in the main room and worked. There was a flat surface and plenty of light from the fire and lamps so I worked on transcribing that treaty so my clan could have a copy. I must have fallen asleep at the table as I was woken by that sound that all Ulven know instinctively, one that sends a cold rush down your spine. I could hear the grunts and shuffling of Mordok just outside of the settlement. I quickly and quietly pack up my writing supplies and slung them over my shoulder as the adults crept down the stairs, weapons in hand. We shared a glance and I knew what they wanted. I was the guest as the rules of hospitality state, hosts protect the guests though often times the guests will join the fray as a thank you to the hosts. This case there are the young children. My duty was to get the children to safety. Children too young to fight as they don’t have their marks yet. Most children are trained in fighting as soon as they can hold a weapon but most parents wont let them go out looking for a fight until after they get their marks. I am sure these children knew how to use the weapons they were holding but the fear and apprehension in their eyes told me that they have never faced Mordok before. Laila kissed Mikkel before she gave the sling to me. I secured him to my chest and wrapped a heavy piece of leather around the sling for added protection. Dane wanted to stay with his parents and fight but Bo convinced him he had to go and protect his cousin giving the boy one of his daggers. Dagmar had a mace and shield though the shield seemed too awkward for her. Enjar volunteered to accompany me, stating that since I was carrying the baby I could not fight as well. I could see the flicker of relief cross his parents face. I cast Gaia’s protection on the children, but ran out of mana before I could do Enjar.
“It’s okay,” he smiled. “The Great Wolf will hear my name better this way.” The parents went charging out the front door. My heart grew heavy as I watched them go. I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to see them again. Enjar lead the way out the back. We weaved our way to the road. Enjar and I both spotted movement off to our left and just in time to see an arrow bounce off of Dagmars protection. I scream at them to start running like the Great Wolf is chasing them as three Mordok break through the trees. Two archers and fighter. I make sure the children are ahead of me and manage to deflect one arrow heading toward my face with my staff. Enjar confronted the fighter. I call to him, begging him to not be a hero, and start after the children. I managed to get the attention of both of the archers as I turned to run. I hear the whiz but my back is turned already and I feel the burning as a cross bow bolt tip shoot out of my right shoulder and another arrow grazes my right thigh. I kept running, holding Mikkel screaming form to my chest with my good arm. I quickly catch up to the pack of children and I can hear Enjar behind me. I glance back, he is bleeding from his sword arm and left leg and it look like his knee may be dislocated as well. Keep running I hiss to everyone, Dane was trying to keep the now hysterical Erik moving once Erik saw his brothers injuries. I turn as Dagmar screams, flinging out her arms instinctively as a Mordok leaps from the trees. The Mordok is thrown back and crashes hard into a tree and slumps down. I only had a few moment to look on in wonder before I realize that just happened. I quickly give Dagmar, Mikkels bundle. I told her if any more Mordok did that, to do what she just did again. About half way to the camp the Mordok stopped chasing us.

Erik calls that he can see the camp fire ahead and the children get a new burst of energy and sprint to entrance. Enjar and Dane both look over their shoulders at me as I stop and lean on my staff. The world blurs as I realize that the cross bow bolt was probably poisoned. “Balls,” I mutter as the world goes dark around me.

I awoke under a willow tree. The forest was dark around me and the few stars above me looked like diamonds. I had no wounds on me and my clothes were in one piece. “Damn. I guess I’m dead,” I mutter.
“Not yet sis” I heard a voice. I sat bolt upright. Rune was leaning against an oak tree. I walked over to him.
“Then why the hell are you here?” I went to punch him in the arm but my hand passed through. “You’re not dead yet. Come, we don’t have time to fool around. Someone wants to talk to you.” He pushed off the tree and started up the path at a quick pace. I followed, not sure what else to do. We entered a clearing that looked remarkably like the clearing that I am fond of near Everspring. I could see my mom and dad talking with Grandma Fraya and Torolf around a fire near the back side of the clearing in front a long house that wasn’t normally there. I heard a low growl from my right; sitting on the the rocky outcropping where I like to watch the sky from was a large black wolf. He turned his yellow eyes to me as Rune and I entered the edge of the clearing. The power washed over me and I started to tremble. “I thought you said I wasn’t dead,” I hiss to Rune. I could see my family stand and peer at me from the fire. Torolf made a motion to come towards me but Grandma Fraya grabbed his arm and shook her head. I could see their mouths move but I was too far away to hear what they said. It dawned on me that I haven’t seen my kids.
“Rune, where are my children?” I asked slowly as the wolf stretched and leapt from the out cropping and slowly started to stalk in my direction. Rune pointed to the sky, and I only spared a moment to look up. Above me two stars appeared brighter then the others. Their twinkle quickened as I looked at them. The story goes children who are killed before they receive their Markings from the Great Wolf are often turned into stars so they can guide the living and earn their place since they were not given the opportunity to earn it in life. Stars that fall from the sky are children that have earned their place and are returning to be with their families, Gaia and the Great Wolf.

Movement out of the corner of my eye caused me to turn my head and I saw a woman come out of the trunk of a fir tree. She casually reached up and the branches turned into a robe for her. She was strikingly beautiful; long black hair and bright blue eyes, pale skin. She had no marking, neither eye nor fang. She radiated a calming aura about her. She smiled a little as she noticed me. The large wolf strolled up beside the woman and turned into the form of a man before my eyes. He wass strikingly handsome, well-chiseled, tan with coal black hair and the same yellow eyes he had as a wolf, and wearing just as much clothing. He wrapped his arm around this woman’s waist from behind and leaned his head on her shoulder, looking at me with those same piercing yellow eyes. His fangs were visible on his upper and lower jaw, even in this humanoid form. “She isn’t supposed to be here yet, my love,” he grumbled. The woman reached up and touched his cheek.
“I know dear, but I called her here. She needs to know how important it is that she figures out a way to get the rest of the children back on the path. Seeing them fight each other like this hurts me.” I looked down at the ground. Such simple gesture but filled with so much love and the sense of home that filled this clearing caused tears to well up in my eyes. I looked back up across towards the fire and Torolf. The man gave an exasperated sigh and let her go, stalking back towards the fire. Fear welled up inside of me, wondering if he was going to attack my family. I started to make a forward motion and the women got in my way.
“Worry not,” she smiled at me. “You know what you have to do. You have been sensing it the entire time. Listen to me and I will guide you, but its important that you succeed.” She showed me the back side of her left arm. Black wounds dotted her perfect skin. “This will only get worse,” she stated. I frowned, concerned.
“How much time do I have?” I asked. She let the sleeve drop on her robe.
“I do not know. I have never had anything like this happen before. I do not think it is all connected to my children fighting either. There are other powers here but I cannot describe them, nor can I figure out where they came from.” She placed her hand on my head. “But I think you will help figure it out.” I looked down at the ground.
“I don’t think I can do this by myself.”
She giggled. “You are not supposed to. One person can never do it alone, This is why we taught you all about packs and hunting parties. You have allies. You just have to trust yourself and others once you find them. You may have to form a party with those outside your clan in order to fix this.” I blink a few times as my mind tried to process this. My eyes went wide as I realized something, I collapsed to my knees and exposed my throat to the women in the rite of contrition “ I have ignored your calling not once by twice. There were injured and I walked away. “ She leaned down and took my hand, helping me to my feet.
“You are forgiven child. I realize you carry a heavy burden trying to balance all that I have asked of you. This will not be the last time you are forced to walk away from an injured person either and for that I apologize. You have sound judgment; trust in that.”
“I gave you instincts for a reason, child. Use them.” The growling voice came from so close that the only reason I didn’t jump twenty feet was because the woman was still holding my hand. I heard Rune stifle a snicker. The wolf had returned and Torolf was right behind him. The wolf punched Torolf in the arm and huffed, “The spell is almost done. You don’t have much time.” Torolf took my hand and pulled me into a hug, his scent filling my nose. I start to sob.
“Shhh. Don’t cry,” He smiled and wiped my tear. “I just want you to be happy. I know you love me and I’ll be here when your time comes. You have a long journey ahead of you; don’t do it alone. Promise me you will open yourself up to love again.” Torolf smirked, “I’ll buy him some ale when he gets here as well.” I smiled a little.
“Fine, I promise.”
He grinned. “That’ss what I wanted to hear.” He leaned over and kissed my forehead. I felt myself being ripped from his arms.
“TOROLF!” I screamed as I felt like I was falling from some impossible height.

“TOROLF” I yelled as I bolted upright. The pain that rushed over my body almost made me pass out again. I stifled a sob as the curtain to the tent was thrown aside and Dagmar stood there holding a bowl of water. She stuck her head back out of the tent and yelled that I was awake. In rushed a older woman with yellow eyes and upper fangs. She forced me to lay back down.
“Child, you had us worried. I wasn’t sure we could cure the poison that had gotten into your system. You almost died on me once,” She explained.
“How long have I been out?” I asked.
“Almost three days,” she answered. I lay there and stared at the roof for awhile while the older woman fussed. “Your leg wound was minor enough but you are going to need to make the trek to Onsallas to find a proper healer for your shoulder. I got rid of the poison and closed the wound but you will need the supervision of a more skilled Daughter or healer then I to make sure your shoulder heals and still maintains its mobility.”
I sighed. “Understood. What of the children?” I asked. The older woman smiled.
“They are all here and alive. Enjar was pretty beat up as well but he will survive.”
“What about their parents?” I asked. She looked down at the floor.
“That camp is over run with Mordok. Nobody can get close currently to check. We are pretty sure that they are all dead but we can’t get close enough to retrieve bodies. We will be burning effigies at the end of the week. Until then the scouts are trying to get confirmation.” I nodded and the other lady frowned at me. “Either way you lie there and rest. You aren’t going anywhere until I say so.”
Nobody could get close enough to the settlement to retrieve the bodies but the scouts did report seeing all the bodies. The children were devastated. I stayed till the end of the week and helped with the effigies. The morning after the rite, I packed my things and left after getting clearance from the old medicine woman. Enjar accompanied on my trek to Onsallas as well as some other novice daughter. Word had come that Onsallas was looking for aid for the harvest and were seeking help with some other problems. Luckily we got there with no other incident.

Raskolf Vakr
Selena Stargazer

---

A lone figure walked warily along the path. She wasn’t carrying much, a pack and a shoulder bag, and a well worn staff in hand. She wore little armor, strange among the heavily geared warriors that had been the only occupants of the pass. Her paced slowed, and she stops well outside the encampment, and waited.
A warrior in leather armor and a black helmet approaches her, stopping about ten paces away. Another Ulven looks on, bearded and wearing face paint. A bow rests easy in his hand, but no arrow is nocked. The two ulven eye the traveler for a long moment.
“Identify yourself.” The helmeted warrior calls gruffly, but not aggressively.
The traveler sizes them up back, then smiles.
“I am Selena Stargazer, of Pack stargazer. I am a Truth Seeker for Clan Spiritclaw.”
Selena offers her arm, showing her lack of weapons, and lack of hostility. The guard stares at her proffered arm for a moment, before gripping it in kind.
“Stanrick Longfang. I suppose you are here to speak with the Ambassador, then?”
Selena cocked her head a little.
“I suppose I am. I was told to find someone named Raskolf. I had heard he was here, though I was unaware that he was an Ambassador.”
“He is. Raskolf is the Voice of the Watchwolves as well as Warder to the Clan High Priestess. I will send for him. Stay here.”

Before long, Stanrick returned to escort Selena back into a cave with a small fire burning within. There are a few badly wounded warriors lying about, and there are bloodstains on the stone of the floor. One of them seems exceptionally unwell. He is propped against a shield and though he is covered in a blanket, he is shivering noticeably. Even in the firelight it is obvious that his color is poor and that he is sweating profusely. Selena’s eyes linger on the grievously wounded warrior for a moment. She clenched her jaws together tightly and turned her eyes to the floor, forcing herself to move forward.
A male emerges from the back of the cave, equally covered in fur, armor, and bandages. He offers his forearm as he introduces himself.
“I am Raskolf Vakr, the voice of the Watchwolves and Ambassador. What has brought you to the Hackles?” From the shadows, an imposing female warrior in heavy armor watches the two closely, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword, quietly making it known that the Ambassador was not unprotected, and that not everyone here was as trusting.

Selena’s eyes take in the Ambassador’s bandages, as she smiles and grips his arm. Her eyes flick to the female warrior before she introduces herself.
“I come from a Clan who is still neutral in this war. We have been getting updates of what been going on, sporadically at best and often second and third hand. So they have sent me as a Truth Seeker to verify the accounts of how this started, so they can make an informed decision on what sides to take, if any, in the end. I have already run across a battle for a village a few days back and had the interesting opportunity to speak with Khulgar Graytide himself. When I got to the other side of battle field, I did talk to the commander there, a female whose name I was unable to get, as things where starting to get…intense. She gave me your name as the person to talk to. I originally though I was going to have to trek all the way to Onsallas to find you.”
Raskolf nodded and sat down, gesturing for Selena to do the same.
“Over a year ago, I drafted a resolution stating that there were certain rules that the colonists would have to follow in regards to respecting our lands and our gods. They were burying their dead in the ground, you see. Our resolution was delivered to the Human nobility at New Hope by Khulgar Graytide. They mistreated him, disrespected him, and chased him from their dinner, telling him that these were their lands, now, and that they would do as they wished. Khulgar wanted to go to war with them immediately, but my Clan was able to cool things down with diplomacy. Within a few months, the colonies were complying with our wishes, and cremating their dead rather than polluting the earth with burials. That wasn’t good enough for Clan Grimward. They attacked and razed a Human settlement that bordered their lands. Not only that, but the Graytides took trophies from the slain colonists. Ears, fingers, and even bones. I organized a peace summit within Grimward territory, and brought with me the ambassadors and delegates of the human colonies, as well as representatives from Clan Nightriver. It was an ambush. The Grimwards attacked us in their own hall, during a peace summit, and assassinated most of the human delegates. We barely escaped with out lives. The Grimwards never wanted peace, especially pack Graytide. And why should they? Khulgar’s mate was murdered by humans under a flag of truce.” There was a noise from the female, that might or might not have been a smothered snarl.
“For my people, it is a matter of honor. Treaties and tenets must be upheld. If we violate the laws which we ourselves have written, then what does that make us?”
Raskolf sighed and looked to the mouth of the cave.
“I have met many Humans and Syndar in my travels. For the most part, they are good people, and I have been privileged to call some of them friends. But they are a haunted people, and cursed. They are in many ways like a cornered and desperate animal. I would rather befriend such a creature then try to fight a mad dog. We could not have prevailed against the Lich without their help, and our charity towards them in the past was what forged the loyalty that brought soldiers of Vandregon to stand with us and defend our territory from the Grimwards.”

Selena listened carefully, running her hand over her face.
“Of course this wouldn’t be easy.” She sighed heavily to herself. She rifled through the messenger bag at her side, careful to do so deliberately and within plain sight of the guard.
“You wouldn’t happen to have a copy of that resolution, would you? I would like something to compare the copy I got from Khulgar.” She pulled out a sheath of well worn and much folded parchment.
“I am pretty sure they will match but I want to just be sure before I make a copy and send it to my Clan leaders” Leaning against the cave wall for a moment, Selena shuffled the stack of paper, looking for something in particular. “As for the everything else…the good news is at least the mistreatment of Khulgar matches. The rest I think is going to give me a headache. We may want to get comfortable, I have a lot of questions.”
She frowned at the papers in front of her, unsure where she should start. Finally she shrugged.
“I am going to start with the attempt at a Truce meeting. Was there any attempt at talking between Grimwards and Nightriver before the Grimward attacked? Did they really attack first or was it more of a mutual shooting of insults back and forth till one side lost it? And out of curiosity, why where the outsiders there?”

“I do not have a copy of the resolution here. This is a cave and we are in a warzone. To answer your question, though, the Nightrivers never got a chance to speak. When asked about the Graytide’s violation of the old Nightriver treaty, Haygreth said that the legendary honor duel was a fake, and that the Nightriver treaty meant nothing. The outsiders came along to brief the Grimwards on the Lich and propose an alliance against the Undead. A Priest from Crow’s Landing was standing in front of Haygreth Grimward, asking for his hand in friendship when it all went South. The old man was unarmed and unarmored. Haygreth murdered him in cold blood even as he asked to clasp forearms. There were dozens of witnesses. The Grimwards and Graytides were prepared for that attack. They tried to trap us in the hall, and as we fled there were more Grimwards waiting for us outside, and even on the road. They would have killed us all, but our warpack leader, Imglyf, challenged their own warpack leader, Wargah Grimward, daughter of Haygreth, to an honor duel. Imglyf won the duel, but Wargah cheated with magic, and so was taken prisoner by my guards. We conducted a prisoner exchange with the Grimwards, and that was the only thing that earned us safe passage from their lands.”
Selena nods, not looking up from the clean piece of parchment she was taking notes on.
“So I have read this treaty, and it only makes reference to the Aldorians and their princess or exiled princess. Who are the Aldorians? Are the Aldorians the people of Hew Hope? What of Starkhaven? Is this a different group of outsiders not covered by the treaty? I have been told that Starkhaven has been encroaching and taking Grimward territory by force. I am trying to understand who the treaty was trying to protect. ”

“It encompasses all human colonists. New Aldoria is just one of the colonies. New Hope is another, and Crow’s Landing, too. I myself did not know the difference between the colonies either when I drafted that treaty, but it was in reference to all the colonists. We had the full support of Clan Grimward prior to that disastrous political dinner where Khulgar was mistreated. I wish that I had been able to attend in his place, but I was on a different diplomatic mission to New Aldoria to meet with their leader and avert a war. As far as encroachment on Grimward territory, Starkhaven began sailing their boats upriver and attacking the Grimwards after that Priest was killed by Haygreth. They have not taken any territory as far as I know. They simply raid the riverbanks and coastal villages and then leave. The men of Starkhaven are few in number, but they are very heavily armored, and all of them seem to be spell casters.
The resolution itself was supposed to secure our ability to live in harmony in the future. It laid down rules that the colonists needed to follow in order to respect our gods and the lands that are our sacred charge. It was meant to protect all people on Mardrun, Ulven or otherwise.”

Selena frowns.
“I see”
She holds out her copy of the treaty. “You wrote it, you should be able to tell me if this is what you wrote.”
Raskolf took the copy, and studied it carefully.
“That is what I wrote. There were amendments made to it later after the humans complied with it. The Bastards, it turned out, had never gotten any of my messages, though the reports I had received at the time from the Graytides stated that my messengers had been killed by the Bastards. They also complied immediately, although they turned over the idol to the Nightrivers instead of the Longfangs. As far as the New Aldorians go, the soldiers who tried to frame myself and the Captain of Crow’s landing were working for a rival politician in New Hope and trying to start a war between the Ulven and the New Aldorians. That plot was uncovered and the man behind it arrested.”

“You also made reference to another older Nightriver treaty. Which treaty was that?”
Selena shook her head a little “My apologies for the tedious questions. I am just trying to figure out how we strayed so far from the path Gaia laid out before us. I am trying to get a sense if this war is something new or something old that couldn’t be let go of and they are now using this new thing as an excuse to bring up old grudges that should of been left behind in the circle.”
Her head jerks up the mention of the Idol “Balls!” She shakes her head again. “I had received a hawk from Khulgar saying the that idol was in Longfang hands. I was hoping it was here so that I could see it. I wasn’t going to cleanse it or anything like that, I was going to leave that to more skilled Daughters and Witches then…but I was hoping…” She trailed, off not sure how to explain.

“The old Nightriver treaty, from when the colonists first arrived was what originally gave them permission to settle in Nightriver territory. The colonists earned that right when a human knight faced an Ulven War-chief in an honor duel. The Nightriver beat up the human knight very badly, but the human refused to yield despite his grievous injuries. He showed so much heart that the Nightriver backed down and yielded out of respect. A treaty was signed that gave a small piece of coastal land, to the Colonists. New Aldoria, New Hope, Starkhaven, and Crow’s Landing were all part of this land, and it is all in Nightriver territory. The idol has been tended to properly. A human sage identified it as the likeness of an evil god from the Old World, and was greatly concerned that the thing had found its way here. By itself, such a thing is not dangerous, but once people start believing in it again and it has followers, well, that is another story. The member of the Bastards who had been keeping the idol before was haunted by strange nightmares and gripped by madness until his brothers forcibly took the thing from him. Hopefully, that god has been contained now so that it may be forgotten.”

Selena nods.
“We had heard the story differently. We had heard the duel ended in a draw. Both sides where pretty beat up, impressed by their stamina the Nightrivers gave the outsider land. I had heard the idol was Mordok in origin though.” She shakes her head again. If she wasn’t careful, this whole debacle would have her shaking her head of her body. “There is a large widespread believe that the Outsiders brought the Undead with them. I am not entirely sure I believe that. My family had bartered to stay an inn that was in one of the northern villages the night the Lich came. We had no idea what those creatures were. I lost everything that night but I know for a fact that the Lich came out of the Swamp. No humans live there, nothing lives there save for Mordok. I was hoping that this idol was going to help prove my theory. It would of meant one less thing for everyone to fight about.”
She smiles wearily. “That is really everything I can think of now. I’ll get out of your hair and let you tend to your wounded.”
She gathered up her papers and tucked them back in to her shoulder bag.
“Oh, I do have one more question. Where is the closest village to here? I have a lot to report back and would really like a flat surface to work on. Not to mention a warm meal and something other then the cold ground to sleep on for a night. It’s been along time since I had traveled this area, apparently. Where I remember villages being, there are none anymore.”
Raskolf smiled at Selena.
“There are Coywolf traveler shelters and hunting lodges along these trails leading all the way East into the Nightriver territory. I don’t know if any of them are occupied. We cannot go to them. Harlok will die if we move him, and I’m not sure that I myself could make the trek, either. I took four arrows the other day, and got pretty bloodied in the melee as well. Besides, we cannot abandon our post or this will all have been for naught. You came from the West, and met with the Graytides. Have our lines held?”

Selena looks down at the ground.
“They did not.” She said quietly. “What ever village I came from, the Graytides had superior numbers when they took it. The female commander there was gravely injured, she kept yelling at Khulgar something about being lied too as she was being carried back to the healer. I do not think she died, as I do not recall see her body on the pyre. Atari should be commended, one of the young soldiers flipped out when she saw the state of the commander, and came stalking into the room where they held a gravely wounded Graytide. She threatened the captive and he talked her down. There was a captive swap later, the wounded male for a healer. I do not know who the healer was or even if she was ulven. I was too far way to see if she had Marks. After the swap the Watchwolves pulled back to the outside the village and made camp. I stayed and helped collect the bodies and made sure the that funeral rites were done properly.”
Raskolf rubbed his forehead.
“I feared as much.”
Selena continued to study the ground.
“It seems like we are at the same place we were before, just now reversed. They had the pass and you had the village, now you have the pass and they have a village. Same place but now we are all weaker for it.” She slowly lifted her head. “I should go before…I do something stupid and break my vow to my clan leader about not taking sides before its time. I have not seen a healer or daughter walk by to check on your injured since I got here. Do you have anyone that can heal?”
Raskolf shook his head.
“Our daughter is but a novice. She has done all she can.”
Selena let out a breath like she had been holding it and didn’t realize it.
“Oh thank Gaia. I was fearing you where going to tell me that your healer had died or some such. Sadly I am not any better then a novice myself. Someone, even a novice, is better then nobody at all though.” She gathered her things. “I may have questions again later as I try to sort this all out for my Elders, may I contact you again if need be?”

“Of course, Ambassador Stargazer.”

Selena paused a moment in a confusion, shrugging after a moment of contemplation She had never considered that was what she was doing,
“Huh, never been called that before ” She got her pack settled, looking Raskolf straight in the eye. “Be safe, don’t die. I have this feeling you are going to be important in helping end this.”
On her way out, Selena stops before the gravely wounded warrior. She set her staff aside and placed one hand on her heart and raised one hand toward the warrior in blessing. She spoke loud enough that everyone nearby could hear.
“Great Mother, Let your children feel your presence guiding them in times of uncertainty and rage.
Let your strength and Love surround us in times of pain and loneliness.
May we walk the path you laid be for us so we may meet you at the Great House when our Journey has ended.”
She touched the shivering male lightly, focusing on him entirely for a moment.
“Don’t you die either, you hear me? Too many have already, and even I can tell that there are too many here that still need you. ” She picks up her staff, and headed out.
“Gaia be with you in your travels.” Raskolf called. Selena merely smiled and waved.

Selena Stargazer

---

I had spent weeks walking through the wilderness alone, it gave me plenty of time to plan out in my head how I thought this would go. I had this thought that I would go to a couple of prominent villages talk to some mid range lackeys, confirmed that the stories were either true or not and I would be back on my way home before the trees even finished blooming. I had thought that it was going to be easy that this whole thing was some sort of huge misunderstanding, once both sides realized what was going on we could forget this war and go back to our normal lives. Instead after weeks of walking I finally find a village and start looking forward to a warm meal and a soft warm place to sleep to find that I in my infinite wisdom have somehow found the one and only village for miles that just happens to be the target of Khulgar Graytide. You know that plan I had been daydreaming about for weeks as I walked. I think I see it melting in the snow along with my thought of being home before summer. The only good news to come out of that is that I at least got one side of the story first hand…mostly. There were parts left out and gIossed over, parts I could sense had importance but when one is in the middle of a fight one doesn’t ask for lots of details especially from Khulgar Graytide. Good news is I have contact with one of his underlings, so if I need clarification or confirmation I can send a bird. If he answers me is another story but I will cross that bridge when I come to it. I understand now why he volunteered to give the decree. I also understand how it went so very very wrong if what he said happened happened. He is a very charismatic, intelligent, well spoken prideful male.

I poke my campfire with a stick and sighed heavily, trying hard to shake off the loneliness that been plaguing me since I set out. I made camp far enough away from either side to make it clear I can not take sides but still close enough that if something jumped me I can still call for help. One or both side may come running or neither who knows hopefully I don’t have to test this theory tonight. Neither side offered to let me stay nor should they I suppose. I stayed to make sure the funeral rites were properly observed, I was not asked to do rites thankfully. Khulgars forces are big enough that there are a few Witches among them so there was no need, I stayed to witness. I needed to. I still have a hard time accepting that we would kill each other, even when I do see it with my own eyes. This war has turned a normally friendly people fearful of their own family. I can’t say I nor Gaia really approve. I learned a lot today from just watching the fight and how both sides behaved not just the information I got from Khulgar. Though I have no idea how to form into words, that would make sense, the feelings I sensed. I am a Daughter of Gaia. I feel her love, her love for her children is what allows me to heal and save others. I put another log on the fire and pull my cloak closer. Winter is hanging on like a stubborn wolf. I chuckle to myself as stubbornness, along with pride seems to be the theme of the day. I looked passed the fire, I could see the two sides fire lights from where I was. The Watchwolves just outside the village sulking fiercely watching the other side for weakness, an opening, something. Graytides forces celebrating their victory but at least giving respect to the fallen and doing so away from the funeral pyre, well most of them anyways. I frown as I look back into my own fire. They Graytides earned their victory today but I wonder at what cost to Gaia and to the Ulven as a whole. I fear that our real enemies is waiting till we are at our weakest before it strikes again, be it the Mordok or the Undead. Just cause the Lich is gone doesn’t mean the undead is gone and I still feel that the Lich is connected to the Mordok but I have no proof and I can’t rule out that the Graytides might be right in the notion that the outsiders brought it with them. It is definatly is topic that need to be Truth Seeked before a decision on weather the outsiders are the core of the Undead problem or not can be reached.

I pulled out a piece of parchment, a graphite stick and a writing board. I’ll write the formal letter in ink when I have a warm tavern and a flat surface to write on. Right now I think my ink is frozen anyways. I glared annoyed at the snow that surrounds my little camp and my sad small tent. Its going to be a cold night alone. I shake my head to focus, I need to write down the information I have before I forget and no time like now to write a rough draft.

To: Clanleader Spirtclaw and High Priestess Morrigan

I have finally made it to contested territory between Grimwards and Nightriver clans. I was not roaming long before I was meet by a scouting party apparently on the look out for Watchwolves. I was first taken to huge older male with only one arm. When I had introduced myself and held out my hand it was coldly turned down. The young female sheepishly asked me for my weapons, I think embarrassed by her Elder and the predicament she was about to put me in but I handed over my staff and was lead to the War Leader. The older man followed behind me and chided me about distrust. I replied back about manners and tradition and how it was rude to just dismiss someone regardless if you trust them or not. It was like they had forgotten the ways of hospitality. I was Ulven not some outsider this disturbed me greatly. I was taken before none other than Khulgar Graytide himself. I will not lie I was not completely prepared for that. I was expected some random war leader who the Great Wolf barely heard of not Khulgar himself. I will tell you that he is an impressive male. Well spoken, intelligent and very charismatic but also prideful. I made full introductions and this time my hand was not turned away, which told me alot in and of itself. I was quite surprised that Khulgar seemed to have at least a rough idea of what my job was as Truth Seeker was and we talked even as battle was about to start, which also told me alot. I will just write down the important parts of our conversation. There was some testing of the waters as we sized each other out for awhile.

The dinner does seem to be the place this started. The Outsiders did disgrace and humiliate Khulgar. Though when I asked why he didn’t challenge them as per our traditions, I was told that the outsiders don’t value honor and traditions the same way we do.

There was apparently an attempt at peace between the Nightriver and Grimwards and apparently it ended in violence but was not giving details on how it broke down. We were after all on a battlefield and I didnt press. I am hoping to find out more details from the other side and if I have to verify with Khulgar, I will.

I was also told that the outsiders from Starkhaven have been forcefully encroaching on Grimward territory and taking it by force if needed.

There was also mention of a Mordok artifact. I am not sure how this plays into anything. I was surprised hadn’t been destroyed.

I am also hoping to receive at some point a copy of the Watchwolves original treaty to the Outsiders so I may see for myself what it said and how it was worded. I shall make a copy and send it via bird to you once I have it myself. I know we had heard about the treaty from our Tale Singers but we never received an actual copy of the treaty.

In talking with Khulgars troops, there seems to be a widespread belief that the Outsiders brought the Undead with them. That it is somehow the Outsiders fault that the Lich happened, even though when presented with the known fact that the Lich came out of the Dirge Swamps where we all know nothing lives save for Mordok they where fervent in their belief and countered that we burn our dead and the undead wherent a problem here before they arrived. I didnt not correct them on the notion that we too bury our greatest criminals after killing them because they are not fit to journey with the Great Wolf. I was out numbered and did not wish to be lynched. Passion was starting to outweigh reason.

As stated I am hoping to verify some of these statements when I go speak with the other side. Unfortunately when I was free to go talk to the Watchwolves side the battle was pretty fierce and there was no one there who could talk to me, but I was given a name. Raskolf. I have no idea who this is either but was told he would be the best person to speak too about all this, at least from the watchwolves side of it. My next destination will be Onsallas Outpost. I have been told that may be a good place to look for Raskolf. I am also hoping to be there in time to catch one of the first harvests of Sap. I have a feeling if I could make some Sap imbued bandages for both trade and myself it may be of use. Trying to stay neutral and not help one side or the other is alot harder then one thinks. There is death and pain all around and it pulls on my heart and in my soul I am not sure how long I will be able to ignore Gaia’s Call to me. Also I need to look into getting stronger armor then my travel leathers. The fighting when started is brutal and should I actually get attacked here by either side, I will not last long with my current armor.

I look up from my board thinking I heard someone approaching, peering into the darkness I don’t see anyone. I sigh and go over what I had just wrote altering words here and there to try and make it more formal. I glance up at the sky though the trees and frown. Even the stars here seem strange to me. I go and pull out a few more sheets of parchment, I have a lot to say and I am not sure how much of it the Clan leaders will care about, but I feel I need to include everything.

I will try and describe what I witnessed when the fighting started. There was a lot of taunting and name calling. Like a bunch of cubs trying to goad the others into throwing the first punch. You could sense that they knew that this was wrong, neither side really wanted to fight, Khulgar gave them the option many times to surrender, the watchwolves of course did not. There is alot of pride on both side, to the point where I think it clouds judgment. There was a female Alpha in charge on the village side, I never did get her name but she was the one who told me about Raskolf. Khulgar had superior numbers, while some of the village member stayed and fight many of them were beyond their prime. Well skilled but did not have the stamina anymore.

The village had captured one of Khulgars men, his name is Ekaj, they had originally asked me if I could heal him as he was badly wounded. I stated I could not but I would look in on him. He was being cared for by Artai of the Watchwolves. His wounds where grave. I struggled over my duty as a Truth Seeker and my duty as a Daughter. With him already being care for my duty as a Truth Seeker won this time. I had only caught snippets of their conversation as I didn’t want to seem rude and I was a little concerned about being jumped. Thought I got the sense the even among the troops on both sides there is doubt that this war will benefit Gaia no matter what side wins. Ekaj wasn’t particularly happy to see me but bid me to tell Khulgar that he had been captured. I looked to Artai and he nodded saying I would be doing him a great honor. Since both sides bid me to I figured I wasnt helping one side over the other and went and found Khulgar, who chided me for bothering him because he was busy. I nodded and apologized but passed on the message that was asked of me, though Khulgar corrected me on the pronunciation of the name. The dialect here is weird to me. Its been awhile since I had traveled these lands. I then watched Khulgar kill some poor young warrior who sadly try to challenge Khulgar to a duel. I also noticed that one of Khulgar betas, he appeared to be a hunter of some sort, giggling and toy with another young warrior who tried to take him on. I worry that a portion of the Grimward forces have been touched by lunacy. I made my way back to Ekaj and Artai and let them know that the message has been delivered. Through the doorway I witness the body of the female alpha being carried back. She was greatly injured and she was screaming that “They had Lied to you Khulgar” she was quickly surrounded by a human healer and troops. I do not know if she lived or not, though I do not remember seeing her on the funeral pyre. One of the village defenders was outraged and came in, threatening Ekaj about this female alpha dying and getting fair treatment for the captured. Atari quickly talked her down. It appears that neither side has great control of the warriors beneath them. This may or may not be useful. The fighting sounded closer and quickly Khulgar’s forces had made it to the building that we were at. I watched as Khulgar negotiated for Ekaj and Ekaj was traded for someone I don’t know. At that point the Watchwolves realized their loss and pulled back. I stayed help gather the dead from both sides and watched to make sure that the rites were done correctly and everyone got sent on their Journey.

In conclusion, my next course is to find this Raskolf. I will send another Letter once I have found and talked to him. I am hoping to have found him with in the next moon cycle at Onsallas Outpost. I also feel that the truth of Starkhaven should be sought as well, though this is alot more tricky and am not sure how to do this yet. If they are attacking Grimwards with out provocation just to get land, this lends credit to the Grimward claims, but I am not convinced that its all Outsiders doing this, so do not currently support the notion that they all need to die. I also feel that the Truth about the Outsiders and the Undead needs to be sought as well. I am not convinced that the two are linked yet. Thought not sure how to start this inquest either. I strongly feel that Negotiation between Clan Nightriver and Clan Grimward is still possible. Once it is learned why the first attempt broke down that we may yet get them to the table again with proper use of bribery and decorum. Though I fear if this war lasts much longer its going to take a gathering of a Grand Moot to accomplish this.

In Service

Selena Stargazer of Pack Stargazer, TruthSeeker to Clan Spirtclaw

I finish my letter and look around. The sounds from the other camps seem to be winding down. I pack my tools away and stand to stretch my legs. I wandered over to a larger clearing to study the sky before turning in for the night. The sky does look weird here like there is more stars here then there should be. I finally find the First Star and figure out what direction I need to go in. I mentally add to the list of things I need to trade for, a map. It has apparently been many years since my family had traveled this way as nothing really looks familiar to me anymore. I get back to my tent and pull the warming rocks out of my furs and set them back in the fire, adding one more log and giving the fire a good stir before turning in. I am still wishing for a warm meal and a soft warm place to sleep but now I am also wishing for some wine as I can already tell the things I have seen today are not going to let me sleep well tonight.