CHANGING IDEALS

by Ted R. Blasingame

(DF 14 Spring)

“Mooncrest?”

Sandstorm stood in front of the brown-haired hunter, slowly passing her hand across his fixed stare. He was sitting against a tree root in the grass, gazing steadily at nothing in particular. It was a moment before she actually got his attention. He blinked a few times and then focused in on Sandstorm’s smiling face.

“Oh, hi…”  He said with a foolish grin as he scratched his leg absently. “What’s up?”

Sandstorm chuckled and brushed her sand-colored hair from her eyes. “You have been staring at nothing for a while, so I thought I would bring you back to us.”

The tree root was a little uncomfortable, so Mooncrest rolled over onto his back in the lush grass. Sandstorm knelt beside him, idly tossing bits of leaves into his hair.

“I’ve been thinking about that newcomer, Rogue…” he said, trailing off. When he did not continue, Sandstorm lay on her stomach and rested her chin on his chest. The fur trim of his vest tickled her nose and she sneezed twice before settling down to gaze at her friend. They were only a year apart in age, and they had always gotten along well.

“He is from outside the valley,” Mooncrest said in a quiet voice, “a place I have no desire to ever see again. But, since the Death Flood left us with little to hunt in the valley, we have had to adapt to include the Upper World plains in our tracking territory. It has only been a few years now that the valley has gotten back to normal, but the hunts up there continue.”  He looked at her watchful eyes and then his own faraway stare returned. He put one hand under his head and put the other on Sandstorm’s back.

“I have managed to stay out of the hunts up there, so I really have not given much thought about the place.”

“So what does this have to do with Rogue?” Sandstorm asked, fighting back another sneeze.

“Every time another wanderer finds out holt and tells his or her story, I get nervous all over again. I hate that place!” he replied.

Achoo! “S’cuse me… but that does not mean that you have to go up there.”

“I know,” Mooncrest said in a sad voice, “but what if these wanderers want some of us to leave the valley with them for some reason?  If I could, I would keep anyone from ever leaving the valley!”

“That is common knowledge,” Sandstorm teased, remembering his many rants about anyone making that trip up the Sheercliff Pass. “But…?” she prompted.

“But… I know I cannot,” Mooncrest answered softly. He closed his eyes for a moment and sighed. Absently, he ran his fingers through his friend’s hair. “Perhaps I should just keep my arguments to myself. Everyone is tired of listening to me anyway.”

Sandstorm smiled and closed her eyes. Her voice became a soft whisper, but Mooncrest could hear her easily. “Although there are some who do not share your opinions about visits to the Upper World, they all respect your reasons.”

The hunter opened his eyes and stared up into the overhead trees. “I believe I have just realized that. I think it is time to give everyone a rest from my opinions, and just keep quiet.”

Sandstorm looked up sharply. “No! Do not keep your thoughts to yourself – just do not try to force them on everyone else. Every elf in the tribe has the right to speak, so do not make yourself silent.”  She smiled then and winked at him when he glanced at her. “Besides, it is not your nature to keep your mouth shut…”

“Is that so?” Mooncrest growled with a mischievous grin. “Well, sitting still while opportunity knocks is not in my nature either!”

Sandstorm raised an eyebrow. “What kind of opportunity?”

The hunter looked off toward the topic of his thoughts and gave his head a slight nod. “Rogue has not yet been introduced to my favorite hobby.”

“You mean…?”

Mooncrest grinned wickedly. “Yes. Want to help me pull a prank on him?”

Sandstorm returned his grin, knowing his thoughts were clearer now. She had not actually done anything, but she believed her words had helped him grow a little. With a quick glance, she noted where Rogue was talking casually to Hoodwink and Foxvine, and then looked back at Mooncrest.

“Of course,” she answered. “I would not miss it for anything.”