EXILE

by Melody Luke

(DF 9 Spring)

The sounds of quarreling filtered up to Ivory’s home, and she grimaced disgustedly. Would her brother never use any sanity at all?  Blackfire had even summoned the Glacier People from their distant home in the Frozen Lands in an attempt to start a war with the humans. The sounds of arguing could be heard all over the village. Ivory sighed and climbed down, pausing to pay Dusty on the head as she passed, and then continued to the clearing a short distance away.

Blackfire was arguing with the tall, ancient elder, Frostblade, chief of the Glacier People for many years. They all turned to look up when she entered the area. Little Star, Blackfire’s mate, looked tired and strained as Ivory sat next to her.

“Truly, he will destroy us all if they listen to him,” she whispered to Ivory. Ivory snorted and shook her head.

“I doubt Frostblade will approve, but that thrice-cursed son of his would, if he were chief,” was Ivory’s reply. Blizzard was, indeed, bad news to all her people. How could she suspect he would be the cause of her life’s greatest change?  Little Star nodded agreement, twisting her long red hair in one hand absently, her freckled face worried.

“Well, sister, how is it you are so late to the council? You knew very well when we were to meet.” Blackfire’s tone was annoyed. Ivory only half smiled, noting that Frostblade’s face was bored, and most of the others seemed uninterested in Blackfire’s rantings.

“I’ve heard this argument before. You know my answers,” was her only reply. Blackfire glared at her, but there were a few snickers from around the room. Abruptly, Frostblad stood up and addressed Blackfire and his people. “It is late, my friends. We gain nothing by this arguing. I say we break this up for some wine, food, and rest,” the tall chief said. There were murmurs of approval from all around, and Blackfire found himself obliged to comply. He glared at Ivory, who shrugged.

It’s not my fault, she thought to herself. Wishing to avoid an unpleasant confrontation, Ivory decided to return to her home. No one would miss her presence after the dreamberries were passed around a few times. As she headed through the grass back to her home, she felt a definite presence following her. Now what? she wondered as she strode along. Who would have the nerve to follow her?  Her temper was a well-known fact all over the village. Few would try to press their luck by annoying her any more than they would her brother.

“I take it you are not joining the party,” said a familiar, oily voice. Blizzard, Frostblade’ son, had followed her. Curse him!  Ivory turned to face him, her hand casually touching her sword hilt. Blizzard noticed the slight motion, but did not remark on it. Ivory frowned.

“No, I am not. I’m tired. I’ve just returned from a hunt, and I would like to rest… Alone,” she said sharply.  The blond elf smirked at her, but there was little humor in his ice-blue eyes as he approached, bold as the great cats his people rode. Ivory’s eyes narrowed as he drew close. Abruptly, Blizzard’s left hand shot forward and seized her arm roughly, and attempted to draw her close to him. Ivory was astonished, and struggled hard to reach her sword with her free hand.

“What’s the matter, little she-wolf? Don’t you like being near a real warrior? I would make you a good mate,” Blizzard said. Ivory’s eyes shot wide open at that remark, and with a swift motion she kicked his left shin hard enough to topple him, freeing her arms. She drew her sword in less than a heartbeat and stuck it to her enemy’s chest, daring him to rise and give him reason to kill him. The pale-skinned elf looked at her, first in astonishment, then cold fury.

“You’ll be sorry you ever crossed me, you daughter of a sick wolf,” he snarled, backing away. He rose and turned to leave, his eyes hard and cruel. Ivory felt a cold chill run through her. There would indeed be trouble because of him, she knew. Much trouble. Shaking more than she thought, she withdrew inside and sat upon her furs, burying her face in her hands, tossing her battered old hat across the room and then lying down. How she hated that miserable, cold-eyed beast. He had always been an annoyance to her, just because her brother was chief. Blizzard was always seeking ways to manipulate people.

Trouble arrived earlier than expected. A little later, Blackfire appeared at the entrance of her home. His face was angry, his eyes bright and cheeks red. He did not even announce his presence, but strode right in. Ivory sighed, and turned to face her brother. He was alone.

“I’ve just been informed you nearly killed Blizzard. What has gotten into you?” His anger was evident, although he kept his voice level. Ivory stood up silently. She was as tall as he, and they stared eye to eye for a long moment. The black-haired chieftain crossed his arms and spoke again. “Well? What have you to say? There are a lot of very unhappy folk out there.”  He stood there staring at her, and Ivory finally shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.

“You know well how I feel about that slimebag,” she replied in her calmest tones. Blackfire nearly exploded.

“You could have been a little more polite, blast it!  High Ones know we need their help, and you just blew it for us!” He was nearly screaming.

“Help for what? To get ourselves slaughtered in some half-mad war against the entire human tribe?  Surely you are not so mad as to think you could actually win?” Her voice was contemptuous, as she gave words to her feelings about the whole matter. Blackfire’s control left him, and before she could move, he had struck her with the back of his hand, knocking her down, and bloodying her lip. Shocked surprise kept her from launching herself at him as she wiped her stinging face with one hand.

“How dare you strike me? I’ve always spoken my mind to you and you know that!” she asked him, her face hard. Blackfire bristled.

“This is different!  Frostblade and Blizzard are our allies!  You insulted Blizzard and his father both with your actions! How is that supposed to help our standing with them now?” Blackfire was so angry, he was not making sense to Ivory. She could only gaze at the angry elf and wonder if this maddened figure was really her brother, or some nightmare she was having. If so, she wanted to wake up.

But, Blackfire spoke again. “I cannot have dissension among my people. I want you gone by the next moonrise. And I mean gone,” he said coldly, and Ivory could scarcely believe he’d said it. Before she could respond, he turned and was gone. Ivory sat back against the wall, stunned and horrified. Not even when Blackfire had sent his eldest son away had she been so stricken.

Silence had fallen over the village. After a short while, Little Star came to her home, her eyes red and her face pale. Apparently Blackfire had told the tribe of his command. Ivory beckoned her brother’s mate to sit and they quietly sat together.

“This is madness,” Little Star said, her voice shaky. “He cannot do this – not to you!  His sister!”

Ivory shrugged. “Well, he has done it, and frankly, I don’t know why I couldn’t have seen it coming. We’re so alike, and yet so different. He has so much hate inside him,” Ivory answered slowly.

“Where will you go?” asked Little Star sadly. She knew there could be no changing her mate’s mind. Ivory gestured to the vast forest around them, her eyes scanning the trees and sky.

“Out there, I know there are others like us. I’ll find others to start over with. I’ll be alright, don’t worry. You never worried when I wandered before.”

“This is different!” the red-haired elf replied, her face distressed and her voice cracking. They had always been friends. Ivory would miss her most of all. Ivory touched her friend’s arm and then hugged her.

“Perhaps, someday we’ll see each other again. You’d best go now – if he finds you have come here, he’ll be furious,” Ivory said, trying to smile.

Little Star nodded and turned to leave. **We will miss you, you know. Take care of yourself.**  Little Star’s sending struck Ivory deep, and she nodded, unable to say more. Then she was alone once more. Silently she gathered up a few things, and then she called to her wolf-friend, Dusty, and rode out. No one noted her leaving.

The days passed into weeks. Ivory enjoyed the solitude of the forest, and did not rush herself to get to her unknown destination. She avoided the human camps and kept to herself, hunting and wandering. Several moons passed, and she was very far from the Bittercreek. She had deliberately avoided going in the direction of the citadel in the Frozen Land, Frostblade’s home, and traveled in the opposite direction into the forests that even the most far-ranging of her people had not traveled.

One afternoon, after having spent a few days crossing a large, flowing grass plain, she found herself overlooking a deep valley, with many trees and a river. It was peaceful and tempting. Tired, she decided to seek out a way down into it and camp there for a few days.

She discovered a winding pathway down the steep sides of the valley and then into lush forest below.  She rode silently into the woods for a long while, but eventually decided it was time to rest. After a short search, she decided to sleep under some low trees, hidden in some brush from view. She fell asleep quickly.

She had only been asleep a short time when she heard voices nearby. Abruptly, several strange elves appeared in view. She sat up to watch them. Dusty looked up, but did not bother to rise at the non-threatening smell of fellow elves. He was somewhat on the lazy side, anyway.

The elves wandered closer, chattering amiably among themselves and seemed to be very relaxed. They had not noticed her – yet. Ivory was not sure she wanted to be noticed. One of them, a brown-haired male, wandered close to her hiding spot, so she stood up, her sword in front of her defensively.

There was a momentary silence, then the elf she confronted spoke, extending his hands out in a friendly gesture, palms up.

**Whoa, friend!  We mean you no harm!  You needn’t be alarmed,** sent the brown-haired elf. The others watched curiously as Ivory slowly lowered her weapon and relaxed.  **Who are you?** the male sent again.

“I am Ivory,” she replied shortly, still a little suspicious of the strangers.

“I am Mooncrest. These are my friends, Longknife, Greeneyes, and Frost,” said the stranger. “Are you hungry? Come with us and we can help you.”

Ivory approached him slowly, then sheathed her sword with a sigh as her stomach gave a little growl. “Yes, I am hungry, uh – Mooncrest. It’s been a long journey, and I do not even know where I am. This place is so nice, and peaceful.”

“We call this valley our home,” Mooncrest answered calmly. “Do you have a home, Ivory? If not, we would be glad to have you remain with us.”

“No, I have no home,” Ivory admitted. “This seems like a very good place to see and explore. Yes, I will stay.” She glanced at the others, and they all nodded in agreement. Longknife and Greeneyes smiled at her, and Frost watched her quietly.

Ivory picked up her belongings – what few she had brought – and with a slight summons to Dusty, followed her new friends off through the valley forest. At last, they had found a place to settle, she thought, even if only for a little while. But, something told her she would be here a long, long time. Perhaps even have a few adventures, she thought. Who knows?