GRASSY'S SECRET

by Teresa Arellanes

(DF -1 Fall)

Grassy climbed out from under his warm sleeping furs. Brushing sleep and his buff-colored hair from his eyes, he tiptoed to the entrance of his hometree. Because he lived with Redlace, Grassy was particularly quiet while getting up. He slipped on his thick-soled boots and scrambled down out of the tree.

It was early I the day, the sun just starting to rise. Few elves were up and about at this hour, since they were essentially creatures of the night. Looking around, he saw Foxvine heading toward the lake, probably to make one last check on the Dreamberry bushes, and Goldenbraid the healer was tending a cut on Duskdew’s arm.

Good, he thought, Mooncrest isn’t up. He’d hang me upside down by my toes if he knew what I was up about to do.

The curly-haired elf slunk across the holt at a good pace, then when he had passed through the thorn barrier surrounding the holt proper, took off at a run. He took a round about way to where he wanted to go, believing himself to be unobserved, but caution had been bred into him and it was an unconscious reflex. It was important to him to find out just what he had seen that night while out scouting for the hunting party.

**Nightstep, there is a buck and three does over by the sheercliff. I can spot them from here and we are downwind.**  Grassy sent while up in a tree. He had just wet his finger to test the wind and was now looking down at his chief and the other hunters.

**Good, let’s go then!** sent the chief of the Timber Folk. He crept cautiously through the forest, followed by four of his best hunters. Mooncrest, one of the party that night, stopped after a dozen paces when he noticed that their scout Grassy was not with them.  He looked back to see the young elf right where they had left him – up a tree. Grassy’s mouth was open and he seemed transfixed by the sheercliff wall.

**Grassy?** sent Mooncrest as he glanced curiously toward the valley’s edge and the sheercliff wall. No response. **Grassy!**

**Uh… yes… I’m coming right away, Mooncrest!** Grassy swallowed hurriedly, then climbed down the tree and ran past the brown-haired hunter. **Great view up there,** he sent absently.

Mooncrest frowned at the retreating backside of the scout. He looked up a the sheercliff to see what he could see. Nothing unusual. Still frowning, the hunter followed his comrades.

“Why have I never climbed Sheercliff Pass before?” Grassy questioned himself. He had slipped away from the holt, seemingly without being detected, and was quite pleased with himself. He was not even winded, at least not much, from the steep climb up the path on the cliff wall. Looking down, he could nearly see the entire valley. His own hometree was lost among the forest, but he could see a small clearing where he knew the holt to be.

Grassy sighed. The most obvious feature of the valley was the human’s camp. Billows of smoke rose constantly from their cook fires. The trees had been cleared from around their huts, and the land was bare. Although he couldn’t see it from this great distance, he knew that there was much activity there, as if it were their hunters turn to go out in search of game.

Grassy realized that if he could see the whole valley, then someone might spy him up at the valley’s rim in the Upper World. He hastily backed away from the edge of the cliff and turned outward, away from home.

The Timber Folk had been content to remain isolated from the outside world for generations, and were still content. Mooncrest had a fear that if anyone saw the land above the valley, that they would want to leave. That was the present deterrent from going and doing what Grassy had just gone and done. Grassy looked out upon the endless plains with gently rolling hills, rivers of grass, weeds, and an abundance of wildflowers. The Endless Sea of Grass.

And there is was, not even two stone-throws away, standing as if it owned the world. It was a four-legged creature, pure white in color with blue eyes, and standing more than twice Grassy’s height. The animal had a beautiful flowing mane and tail, and as it turned and looked calmly at the elf, it stomped a large hoof. Grassy reached slowly and carefully into his pouch and drew out some berries. Then, just as slowly, placed one in his mouth and chewed on it thoughtfully.

The elf put forth his hand with the berries as an offering to the beast. The equine creature perked up its ears, nose wiggling as it tested the scent to see if it was safe. It took a tentative step towards the elf, still wary, then took another and another until the great beast was standing next to the elf. Its velvety lips curled back to reveal large square teeth, and Grassy stifled a giggle as those lips brushed against his palm. The animal munched contentedly on the small mouthful.

An idea entered the young elf’s mind. Could he ride this animal as he did his wolf friend? The scout of the Timber Folk reached out a hand and patted the animal, speaking softly all the while. The animal’s ears laid back flat on its head and it danced away from the elf.

Continuing his cooing noises, Grassy grabbed hold of the mane and vaulted onto its back. The white stallion snorted and bucked. Grassy went flying, a shocked expression on his face. Luckily, he knew the experience of flying through the air, a large tree or two having shown him, and tucked his arms and legs into a ball. The somersault executed, Grassy was up and running after the beast. He leaped and landed, but not before long, for another surge of motion went through the animal, and Grassy was thrown again, although he did maintain a handhold on the white mane tail.

Once more, he thought. Grassy vaulted over the creature’s side, wrapped his legs around the animal’s sides and hung on for dear life. Ears laid back, the animal with the spirit of the wind stretched out its neck and ran!  Grassy laughed, an excited tremor going through his rigid body, and nudged the beast to go faster.

Sometime later, when both beast and elf had had the strength and energy drained from them, the pair stopped by the river that flowed so blue through the light-colored plains, and drank long and deep. Grassy was amused; this same river that provided life for the valley that was his home, was the only thing of color and bountiful life on the plains land, except for the creature who grazed nearby.

Grassy turned and caressed the animal and said, “I think I’ll name you Charger, okay boy?” Charger swished his tail as if in agreement, and then whinnied when his new friend gave him the rest of the berries from the pouch.

The sun was riding low on the horizon, the elven day was about to begin, when Grassy started back toward his home. He did promise the spirited animal that he would come back again sometime at the same place, to see if they could renew their friendship. A wistful thought, but a promise he would keep nonetheless.

Sneaking back into the holt was a little more difficult for the scout to do, but Grassy thought he did quite well until he reached his hometree and found someone waiting for him.

“Hiya, Grassy. Where’ve you been all day?  Mooncrest’s been looking for you,” said Nightway, looking up from shaping a stick into an ornate statue of a wolf. Her thickly lashed eyes had a certain light in them, and it was then that Grassy knew that he had been observed on at least part of his adventure.

“Oh, I’ve been about. Why, where do you think I’ve been all day?” he asked his friend, sitting beside her on the ground.

**Just the Upper World, that’s all, Grassy. Nothing special, nothing Mooncrest could be upset about if he knew,** the elven treeshaper sent, a gleam in her eyes, her mouth turned up in a slight knowing smile.

**Does Mooncrest know, Nightway?** asked a very dejected Grassy.

**He doesn’t know – not yet, at least. He’s been asleep with Newfur all day, except when she went out for a daylight swim with Duskdew and me. That’s when he was looking for you. He said something about wanting you to go with him to spy on the humans.**

Grassy pondered this information carefully, and then made his decision. He made the elven girl, who was only two years his senior, swear never to tell another living soul what he was about to tell her.

Eyes wide with wonder, Nightway promised upon her life. The wonder turned to awe as Grassy’s secret adventure was unfolded before her. She felt honored to be privy to this great event in her friend’s life.

In the moons to follow, their relationship grew into something more meaningful, more alive. Within two moons’ time they had decided to lovemate. Though she never joined him on his adventures into the Upper World, Grassy promised Nightway that one day she too would see the endless plains and rivers of grass.