Mala Mooncrow

[MitzaVolchenko]

****Author's warning: This will take me several posts and is the abridged version of what has actually become nearly three hundred pages. I am weeding it out to only the moments that truly shaped the character's mindset****


The sun blazed and the cool spring winds blew through the village and across the headlands over looking the bay and the great fjord beyond. On the northern side of the fjord if you squinted you could just make out the figure of Hennick Bullhorn standing atop the watchtower, axe in hand with his long red hair blowing in the breeze.

On the headlands a group of children played under the watchful eye of their mother, the youngest boy clinging to her apron strings as she twisted her shuttle in her intricate patterns weaving a fine bit of lace.

The eldest stood apart on the highest rock her mother would let her climb staring off toward the sea beyond the fjord, unconsciously mimicking Henrick's pose with a stick instead of an axe. For days they had come and watched thus, and for days Fjarl Mooncrow's sails had not hove into view on the horizon. Below in the village, folks were watching too, leaving the darkskinned Mooncrow family a wide berth.

As the sun sank low behind the western cliffs, the girl climbed off her rock and down to her mother looking troubled. "Why does he not come, mother?"

Raella Mooncrow looked down at her eldest child with a mixture of pride and worry. Mala was trembling from standing so still for so long up in the winds.
"Your father has likely stayed to await a particularly fine trade deal or perhaps has had to deal with a late winter storm, " Raella said with a reassuring grin showing her very white teeth brightly contrasted againt her coal black face. "We shall see his sail tomorrow, dear one. Now go and fetch Li into your arms. She is too tired to walk the path alone this late in the evening."

Mala obediently went and retrieved her little sister, watching as her mother scooped her youngest brother into her arms. Together they all marched off down the path to their home by the docks. The older boys skipping until Raella told them to mind their steps or suffer the skinned knees of their folly without her bandages and poultices.

That night, as the youngest were safely tucked beneath their furs and only Mala was allowed to stay up by the fire carding wool, Raella pulled a large silver bowl that she ahd never seen before from the chest at her parents' bedside. Curious but silent to not be noticed and sent away, she watched as her mother filled the bowl with clear cold water and sprinkled herbs across the surface.

Raella gazed into the bowl chanting softly in the desert tongue stirring the surface with a hand seemingly gone clawlike. At last, she looked up, and with a short curse that made Mala gasp with shock she flung the contents of the bowl out the front door.

"Get you to your bed, Mala. I can see the questions already being held only by will behind your teeth, but they are not for tonight. Some day, I will explain this and many other things to you and your sister, but for tonight we must rest. Your father will return tomorrow."

"Mother, may I sleep with you tonight? Please?" Mala looked up at her mother who just laughed and nodded.

Long after her mother was asleep beside her Mala lay awake in the dark thinking about what she had seen until sleep finally claimed her.

[MitzaVolchenko]

The next day Raella's prediction came true. The great black sail with the mantling white crow hove into sight and the village and Mooncrow family rushed together down to the docks to meet it, though of course the villagers kept their distance from Raella and her brood.

Mala, unable to contain her excitement slipped from her mother's sight and clambered from the dock to the weather staff's rigging and swiftly up to perch high above the docks. With her chest swelling with pride, she watched Marrick Mooncrow's ship sliding gracefully to its berth before leaping to a ratline and sliding to the docks.

Then the screaming began...arrows of fire exploding, dark faces with eyes glowing pale inside their dark hoods, and more of the awful screaming.

Mala scrambled instinctively toward where she knew her family would be and arrived at Raella's side to have Li shoved into her arms as Raella grabbed her children and ran toward the storage buidlings on the quay. Mala ran for all she was worth keeping Li locked tight to her chest and breathing heavily fell into the open storm cellar doors to lay gratefully in a frightened heap for a moment.

Raella pulled her eldest to her feet and caught her gaze with eyes turned unnaturally bright and glowing with a deep red light. "Mala, you will remain here with your siblings. You are in charge. They are your charge to keep safe. Your father and I love you all. Do not veture from this place until the svartalfir are gone."

Frightened, Mala nodded mutely and watched as a strange transformation overcame her mother and then without another word, Raella slipped out of the cellar slamming it closed behind her.

Through cracks in the cellar doors Mala watched the battle raging through the village streets. The drow hampered by the light moved from building to building fighting from the shadows as Marrick Mooncrow cut a swath of destruction through his own people.

As they reached the stone storage buildings, all grew quiet as Raella stepped in a swirling globe of light to stand before them alone. And in one great blinding flash she opened her mouth and roared out a great gout of flame upon the drow warriors incinerating them.

Mala gasped and watched as Marrick faced Raella, axe bloodied and a flash of recognition crossed into his blank eyes. The echo of cold laughter broke the tableau and from her place in a cloud of darkness on the prow of the ship the drow priestess uttered a single sentence, "Kill her."

Time slowed until the seconds became hours while the great axe decended upon Raella and with a look of resignation, Raella's dagger sought Marrick's heart. Together they struck drawn close by the sinking of blades into flesh...a tableau of death and a moment of clarity.

Into the darkness Mala fell and would not know herself again for many hours.

[MitzaVolchenko]

The face above her was not her mother's nor her father's...not even one of her younger siblings. Mala blinked several times and wondered at the tightness around her eyes. It felt as if her skin was the wrong size and her eyes too large for their sockets.

The smiling face slowly resolved itself into that of a beautiful auburn haired elf. The elf laid a cool hand upon Mala's forehead and sighed with relief, "You have been very ill with grief, young one. Your brothers and sisters have been most worried."

Mala frowned and tried very hard to remember what had happened, and when the memories came flooding back, the tears welled up anew. Soothing hands gripped her shoulders and when the tears finished, she slept again, this time without dreams.

[MitzaVolchenko]

Mala watched as the caravan that would take her far from her siblings assembled in the courtyard. Soon she would be on her way to the Valley of Dragons. Soon the training would begin, and her life would never be the same again.

Turning back into the Hall of Stars, she looked at her siblings gathered there to bid her farewell. The past years had been hard ones. It was a great blessing that her family could be together this one time for she knew it would be a long time if ever that she would see her brothers and sisters again.

The slow anger began to build in her heart and with several deep breaths she buried it again. It was not the moon elves' fault that no single family could foster 7 children. Mala plastered a smile to her face and walked over to hug her siblings close, tousling her youngest brother's hair until Jalred laughed and protested that she was going to make him the laughing stock of the pages.

At last, the caravan master appeared in the Hall door and motioned to Mala that it was time to go. Fighting down the urge to cry, Mala turned at last to Li and whispered, "Remember."

Turning abruptly on her heel, Mala strode out into the courtyard and mounted the slender palfrey with graceful ease. Without a backward glance, she urged the horse into place behind the last of the wagons and rode out of Lunalheim for the last time.

[MitzaVolchenko]

The slim figure slipped through the rocks and up onto the narrow trail that circled the Valley of Dragons. Every breath came easily and each footfall fell silently as the runner moved from cover to cover. Four times around the Valley rim and the figure turned to slip through the mists into the trees and finally to the Monastery gates.

A young child greeted the runner when she made her way to the well to douse her hair with cold water. "Master Highlind wishes to see you in the practice yard immediately."

With a serious nod, Mala shook the water from her hair and bound it up in a quick bun before jogging off along the wall to the practice yard where the Master awaited her.

"Mala Mooncrow. For the turning of five summers you have followed our laws. You have taken our training. You have embraced our way of life. In three days the moon will be full, and you must choose," Master Highlind intoned with a note of pride in his voice.

Mala studied the old man with quiet reserve and bowed low, "I know, Master. My course is set."

Master Highlind frowned at the slight girl...no he corrected himself, woman...before him, "While I am pleased at your certainty, I must insist that you meditate and pray on the matter. You have the potential to be a Master among us, but also there is the potential to ruin yourself if this life is not meant for you."

Mala bowed low, "I shall do as you ask, but I do not think that any god is going to sway me from my path. It would require that to stop me from my goal."

Master Highlind hid his smile behind a hand and stepped forward to embrace his pupil lightly, "Of my students, you have been the finest. And of my students, I have wished for none to remain with us more, but you have a fire in your heart that may destroy you if you choose our way without careful consideration."

Surprised at the show of affection, Mala stiffened then returned the hug looking up at the towering Master. "I will not dishonor your teaching or the Order of the Stunning Dragon. The Valley of Dragons is my home. The Way of the Order is my Way."

Three nights later under the full moon and before the full assembly of the Order she listened as the hand drums' beat became as one with her heartbeat. The torches in their sconces sputtered and went out in the great wind of Lung Tsai's ascent from the Valley floor. Without a twitch or shudder, Mala Mooncrow knelt before the Great Wyrm and felt the feather light tickle as her hair fell away under his claws.

"Rise Mala Mooncrow and take your place in the ranks of the Order of the Stunning Dragon," the sweet soft breath of the dragon caressed her like the long forgotten embrace of her parents.

Mala rose with a smile and tears in her eyes and moved to kneel among the novices as the cheers of the Order welcomed her home to a home that could not be destroyed and would be with her no matter where her feet took her.

[MitzaVolchenko]

The roar of waves and the falls crashed in her mind and pounded away at the depression as the rain fell cold and steady to wash away the self loathing and self pity. Like a tide running out, her anger and grief fled into the recesses of her soul to wait on a turn that would never truly come.

The pixies below danced their mesmerizing dance, as the lone figure stood listening to the approaching footfalls of her friend. A small smile crossed her face and vanished at the sound of dying bandits, but her eyes scanned the land below without looking to the approaching elf.

"It is funny, I used to look out to the sea from here and think of leaving. Now," Mala paused not turning to look at her friend then continued in a tired voice, "Now, I look vigilantly toward the island."

"Why is that?" the question asked softly, echoed through Mala's heart.

"I do not know. Perhaps I have given up...or perhaps I have come to belong here, " Mala let her voice trail off and continued to scan the land below for any sign of threat.

The derisive snort from over her shoulder, barely registered as her friend continued, "You? Give up? Not likely. You are one of the most pig headed stubborn people I have ever known."

Shaking out of her reverie, Mala turned to chuckle at her friend, ""I learned from the best or maybe you did. No more arguments, heyla? I make my choices, and I do not make them lightly. If you must be cross with someone, vent your anger on me."

[Norah]

Well done, Mitza, very nice,. Hope to read some more of your work soon

[MitzaVolchenko]

((Thanks Norah...about to start more jumping around as I post up my favorite chapters only...or those that will help out with current in game situations))

Mala rose stiffly from the floor and glanced with some distaste at the lovely huge bed her sister had thoughtfully provided. Frowning as she stretched sleep away, warming her muscles and her mind together, Mala thingyed her head to listen to the hall. Nothing moved in the house and the children were still sleeping. Shaking her head to clear away the far off voices of the darned, Mala moved out of the bedroom and into the sanctum.

The cold smile of satisfaction crept onto her face as it always did when she sank into the trance wherein she reported to her god. Since the slaughters on Alvearia and the restoration of Miria's soul if not her body, Jotham had been pleased. The blood making its dark stain upon the axes of execution would mollify him for now. Perhaps even long enough for her to spend a few uninterrupted days with her children. With a few deep breaths she cleared even her children from her mind and opened herself to Jotham, but there was nothing there but a warm approval and the quieted burn for more Justice.

A soft sigh from the other room brought her from her knees and instantly alert. Mala chuckled as she returned the greatsword to its sheath. Her darlings were waking up, and time for breakfast had arrived!

Mala gazed down at the twins as their eyes came open slowly and blinking at the soft low light of the parafin lamps. Perfection or as near as could be imagined! She gently bent and scooped one into each arm before moving into the living room and depositing them onto the couches reaching for the bowl of porridge set on the hearth to stay warm.

"Alright my dearlings, breakfast and then perhaps we will take a little run to meet the smaller animals of the forest with your godfather," Mala said smiling as she deftly retrieved her daughter who had become more interested in crawling away at meal time to play in the potted plants than in food.

Fed, changed, and now napping on the couches, Mala watched her children sleep and let the smile slip from her face. For them she would always have smiles, but she could not fool herslef into thinking the smiles would ever be there for herself again. Perhaps another hour in the sanctum would bring her peace...

[MitzaVolchenko]

She moved mechanically giving the globe a last swipe with her dusting rag and collapsed back into the chair. The ship was clean from top to bottom. She had even aired the sails intheir compartments on deck.

It took her a moment to hear the footsteps at the hatch and a moment longer to glance up when the door opened. She stared in disbelief a moment until he spoke her name, and reality crashed home again.

"Hello Lyon. The house is clean. I was just about to put out the fire in the forge...unless you need it?" she replied blandly.

Standing to face him, Mala started thinking of polite ways to leave, but the boy seemed to want to talk. The conversation moved to crafting and she continued to think only of escape.

"Karl said you were a fine smith."

Lost in memories, she replied automatically, "Yes, I am fair enough...Karl was better."

"I miss him too," Lyon genuinely seemed upset, but Mala really couldn't find the emotion to spare him any real feeling.

"What are you using these days?" Mala asked, not really caring.

"Well I am wearing this leather stuff having outgrown mine dragonhide armors," Lyon explained.

"Ahh well, Karl wanted to protect you, and I can do no less than at least put you into some better armor. Let me check my notes," Mala pulled a dusty tome from her pack and started staring at the pages.

"Ahh, if you'll fetch me silver, balor's blood, and skeleton knuckles I can forge you up a special bit of armor that will keep you safe until you are ready to wear the Armor of the Creator which is the finest thing next to the Knights' Own," Mala said hoping he would agree and let her escape his presence gracefully.

"Hmmm..." he replied thoughtfully. "i would be most appreciative, but I don't want to be any trouble."

Shaking her head to stay focused, "It is no trouble. What helm and shield are you using?" she said by way of distraction.

Her heart stopped as he casually slid on helm and pulled his shield, "My brother gave them to me."

There was nothing more of politeness for her, "Fetch me those things and I will make you new armor. There is a myrk whistle byt he door that will summon one of my messenger birds to you. They will tell me when you are ready for me to do the work."

Without another word she opened her Ke'haar book and read the inscription that would take her nearest the temple...nearest to the peace of Jotham.

~hours later~

Verrin stooped and landed at the foot of the altar. Mala blinked as she came out of trance and took the message from Verrin. Feeling more at peace, she scribbled a quick reply for Lyon to meet her. The quicker done, the sooner the vivid ghost would be away from her.

With a last bow to the altar, Mala lifted Verrin and tossed her skyward before following on foot into the heat of the sands and a long run that would clear her mind for the trial to come.

She stopped short inside the door of the desert forge and stared for a brief moment and then smiled slightly. "You have the ingredients?"

He handed her the things she needed without her really hearing him, and she set to work making a mistake the first time and recentering her mind to correct her errors.

"Here you are, see if this will do...it is called Death's Embrace," she passed the heavy suit to Lyon and felt a brief pang of pride as he whistled admiringly.

"Wow! That is wonderful. Is there anything I can do for you in return?" he asked excitedly.

"Yes, stay safe and come to me when you are ready for an upgrade," she replied falling into her dead tones again.

"There is better than this?" he interrupted enthusiastically.

"Yes, and I will make it for you are ready, but when you come to me, please do not come helmed or bearing shield, please," unable to bear any more, she opened her Ke'haar book again and was gone...

It would be many hours before she would stir from the sanctum where she knelt with her children softly sleeping in her lap and her mind empty of anything but the ghosts of past and present.

[MitzaVolchenko]

The chill in the air and the storm gathering overhead seemed to mirror her mood as Mala climbed the stairs into the Temple. Master Highlind was displeased at her decision to go, and she knew it. He would let her go and would say nothing of her choice, but he was not happy about it.

Pausing to light a stick of sweet incense and place it in the sand tray by the entrance, Mala blinked to adjust her eyes to the low light. Deep through the gloom she could see the shadowy form of Lung Tsai coiled about the central fountain.

"Approach child," the voice of the dragon echoed as if heard in her heart as much as her ears.

Mala took careful measured strides to stand before the Great Wyrm and executed a deep bow, "Greetings Lung Tsai."

"What brings you to me on this chilly day?" he breathed softly to her.

As always Mala felt as if she were enfolded in her parents' arms when the Great Wyrm's breath was upon her skin. Her heartbeat fell into rhythm with Lung Tsai's and she allowed herself to enter a light trance, storing every sensation for the future. "I am leaving the Valley, Master."

The dragon's throaty chuckle caught her off guard, "Indeed? And you came to ask my blessing? Or to bid me farewell?"

Startled, Mala looked up and fell into the radiant pools of color swirling in the dragon's eyes , "Both. I would have your blessing if you will give it, but I am leaving with or without permission."

Mala shivered involuntarily as she felt the dragon's mind slide into her own and read her like the text scribed on the garden walls. The soft probing and the feeling of being scrutinized unnerved her, but she took a few deep breaths and relaxed as she had been trained to do.

After what seemed an eternity Lung Tsai's presence eased away from her mind and the dragon spoke again, "Though I do not approve of why you are going, I give you my blessing, Mala Mooncrow.

"Vengeance will not restore what you have lost. No amount of bloodshed will heal the scars on your soul, but you must learn this for yourself if you are to reach the next level of enlightenment. I will read the stars for you tonight, and tomorrow you will depart from our company," the dragon's sad tone made Mala's heart ache, but she was resolute in her decision to go.

Bowing low, Mala moved back to the entrance and settled on a cushion there to meditate and await the night.

[MitzaVolchenko]

The touch of an acolyte on her shoulder roused Mala from her trance and she opened her eyes wide to see that night had fallen while she meditated. Nodding her thanks to the acolyte, she rose and strode purposefully out of the temple and into the courtyard where Lung Tsai was already settled in the sand.

"Come and sit with me, child," the Great Wyrm sadi beckoning with a foreclaw for her to take a seat on his other foreleg.

Such familiarity was unusual, but Mala had been the recipient of it before and did not hesitate to settle herself onthe mighty creature's foreleg and lean back along the line of his shoulder. The smooth warmth of his scales on her back was comforting and within moments, she felt a sort of sleepy relaxation as her heart slowed to beat in rhythm with Lung Tsai's.

The dragon looked down at the woman-child with a sort of parental love and then turned his great serpentine head skyward and gazed into the cosmos. For centuries he had read the wisdom there for those who had come to learn from him. The stars were old friends to him, and someday he would go to dwell among them.

As Lung Tsai turned his great head skyward, Mala let herself slip into a light trance and followed his gaze into the night sky, seeing not wisdom but the shapes that her parents had taught her. Smiling, she focused on the Dragon and thought that it looked like a starry version of Lung Tsai. The pang of loss and old sorrow melted into the sure confidence that she would avenge her parents, avenge herself.

Heaving a great and sorrowful sigh, Lung Tsai gently lifted the sleeping woman into his claws and carried her away from the temple and down into the floor of the Valley laying her to rest on a small couch withinhis own lair. He wished that the stars had held better things for her, but wishing did not make it so, not even for one such as himself.

A thought brought an acolyte with Mala's things which Lung Tsai had arrayed by her in readiness for her departure. Then he laid a deeper sleep into her mind and with claws and tongue and pots of dyes her drew upon her the marks of the Order. Breathing his healing magic into her body he watched in the sunrise as the marks became one with her forever.

Mala's eyes fluttered open and she stretched languidly to the unfamiliar feeling of the soft couch and looked down in surprise to see the marks of the Order on her skin and her things packed and close at hand. Coming to full alertness, she rose to her feet in one sure motion.

"Master Lung Tsai?" she called peering into the deeper shadows of the cave.

"Mala Mooncrow, I confer upon you your rightful rank with us. I have gathered unto you your things and some others which will aid you in your journeys," the formal tone of the Great Wyrm brooked no interruptions. " In the stars I have read many things, and to you as a parting gift I give you this, though be it curse or blessing, I do not know.

"Seconds darn with sheer resentment, reticent visions of audible shouts, taciturn Death bears witness, reverie enshrouds, inadequate threads cross and weave, emotions misplaced upon abandoned pathways, darkness unending bends sway to tainted youth repentent of sorrows, upon the brink of the last shred of kindness, remember yourself with blindness," Lung Tsai let the last of the poetry of stars fall from his mouth with regret. "If ever you return to us, it will be after a long road, Child of the Order."

Mala bowed her head to Lung Tsai letting his words sink into her soul, "I will never be truly gone from this place, Great One."

The dragon let out a breathy chuckle, "I pray that is true. Go now, for the sun is up and you have a path to tread that is waiting for good or ill."

"Thank you," she replied simply as she shouldered her packs. With a heart determined, she made her way up out of the Valley feeling the warmth of the sun like Lung Tsai's breath upon her back.

[MitzaVolchenko]

Li sat down heavily at her sister's side. Gierdo and Ziya were asleep on cushions at the feet of the great statues and Raella kneeled by her aunt in a tiny parody.

"Sister, why do you not lhear us? I know that there must be some reason that you are leaving us like this, but I cannot fathom it," Li began as she always did. "I went into town today to seek out Sir Cainalson and to know the truth of what he and Hanah told you. It is true, Mala! Karl is alive. He is just not himself.

"Mackenzie said that there have been moments of clarity for him, and that he is still inside that creature calling itself Dorsis. There is hope that he might be restored," Li knew her words were heard and sighed inwardly when there was no response.

With great care, Li set fresh incense in the holders and sent a little prayer of her own to whatever gods might hear it. Shaking her head in worry, she read off the words of greater restoration over Mala's head then gathered the children and moved back into the dining hall to prepare them dinner.

[MitzaVolchenko]

The overworld is peace.

The thought echoed through the soul hovering in the dim expanse of cool grey nothing.

Gone were the pains of the flesh. No more could it feel the shards of the fractured mind. The pangs of guilt, of regret, or hatred, even of love were far distant. Like illusions, they could be ignored and could not harm the soul in this soft grey place.

The web of thinning threads holding the soul to this part of the overworld glowed dimly in red and white and gold, but they caused no distress. In the timelessness they were wearing thin, and soon the soul would be freed to roam this ocean of peace unfettered.

Voices resounded to the soul and it felt drawn to them, but they were pain and there was no pain here...only peace and forgetting the mortal coil.

[MitzaVolchenko]

The roar of good humored laughter reached the slim child high in the ship's rigging, and she looked down to see her father rolling across the quarter deck with her younger siblings chasing him and tickling him without mercy.

Catching her mother's eye, Mala scrambled across the main rigging and grasped a ratline tossing her head to clear the raven's wing hair from her eyes. With a feral grin, she slid down the ratline to land lightly on the bowsprit as her mother raised her eyebrows in silent remonstrance.

With a look utterly lacking in penance, Mala ran across the deck and threw herself into Raella's arms. Mother and daughter hugged laughing and together made there way to the quarter deck to join the fray.

Exhausted and smiling, Marrick said a prayer of blessing over their meal as the family gathered together to eat on a low table surrounded by cushions in the last rays of the setting sun. Mala and her siblings ate heartily but quickly, hoping for stories after dinner. When their father rose as if to go below, they set up a clamor begging for tales, and with exaggerated reluctance, Marrick turned and gestured for the deckhands to remove the table and he lay down on his back to be swiftly swarmed by his family.

Together laying on their backs they gazed up at the stars, and in his lovely deep voice, Marrick began to speak.

"As you all well know, the gods reward the faithful, and sometimes when a lesson is taught to us by life and They see it, They place the tale in the sky that all men may wonder at it and remember it.

"Tonight, I thank the gods for my family and for the night sky which reminds us of the tale of the Fox and the Horse," Marrick pulled Raella into the crook of his arm and pointed to the heavens.

"Look there children, there on the western horizon and you will see the Horse, who having grown old and white pulling his master's plow found himself at length too weak to pull the plow. Whereupon his master said to him, 'Faithful horse, you are no more use to me, and cannot remain where your keep you cannot earn. But a fair man am I,and so if you can bring to me a wolf, I shall feed you the rest of your days though you work not.'

"The Horse hung his head in shame at his weakness and shock that the man he had worked his life away for would turn him off so. Downtrodden and sad, the Horse ambled off into the forest to find a place to die. There the Horse browsed lightly upon the sparse grasses and at last stood still beneath a tree intending to remain there until at last Sif came for him.

"But from beneath the roots of the tree came the Fox who curious as to why a horse should be there in the first place came round to him and said, 'Why the long face? Why do you stand so alone and sad in the forest Horse?'

"Look there," Marrick guided their gazes a little to the north, "There is the Fox forever shining on us to recall to us this tale."

With eyes shining with the imagined scene, the children saw the Fox cleverly slipping among the other stars and smiled in delight.

"The Horse sighed heavily and explained dully what had transpired and shifted his weight to one hip drooping lower with the memory of his master's stinging rejection.

"The Fox listened growing more outraged with each word the Horse spoke and at length said to the Horse, 'I will help you, but you must trust me though you have no reason to.' The Horse having no other choice and happy for any company though it be but a fox's agreed.

"The Fox looked about and soon spied a place that would do, 'Go you Horse over there into the hot sunlight onto that rocky patch and lay yourself down and be very still as though you aquite dead. You must not move and when I return you must endeavor even to hold your breath.'

"The Horse did as he was bade and went and settled as if dead upon the stoney patch in the hot noontime sun.

"The Fox swiftly slipped over to the den of the Wolf, and there called to the Wolf saying, 'Come quickly sir Wolf. There is a horse dead in the forest. If you are swift, you may have a fine meal.'

"The Wolf came from his den and agreed that would indeed be a fine meal, and thought to himself that perhaps the Fox might make a fine dessert. So the pair made their way back with the Fox chatting noisily to let the Horse know that they were coming.

"The Wolf winced a bit as they came out into the hot sun, and the Fox grinning said, "It is very hot here and the ground is not very comfortable for dining. If you wish, I will tie the horse to you so that you may drag it back to your den where oyu may eat in comfort.'

"The Wolf being very greedy and also likeing of his comforts quickly agreed and laid down near the Horse's tail. Quick and sure, the Fox tied the Wolf's feet together and bound him so tightly that he could not break free of the knots and was entangled very surely in the Horse's tail."

"See there," Marrick gestured to an expanse of stars behind the Horse. "There is the Wolf forever tangled in the Horse's tail to remind us that greed will entangle us so tightly that we will never be free of it.

"The Fox laughing with glee and delight at his own cleverness and at helping the poor Horse, cried to the Horse, 'Go Horse! Return to your master with the Wolf, and have the rest you have earned with your toils!'

"The Horse heaved itself to its feet and with a vigor it had not felt in many years dragged the Wolf away toward home crying over his shoulder, 'I will repay you this debt if ever I can, Fox. Thank you!'

"Upon seeing the Horse with the Wolf ensnared in its tail, the farmer fell to his knees weeping and swore that the Horse would be cared for until the end of its days," Marrick concluded.

"But what happened when the Wolf was cut free? And did the Horse ever repay the Fox? What became of the farmer? Why is he not in the stars as well?"

The chorus of questions from his sleepy children brought a smile to Marrick's face and he gave his wife a gentle squeeze around the shoulders.

"Those are all tales for another night, and it is time that we all seek our beds," Raella answered them in a tone that brooked no arguments, and with good natured grumbling they all rose from the deck with a last look for the stars and made their way below.

[MitzaVolchenko]

Small hands smoothed the wrinkles from Mala's robe as Li watched resigned to her daughter's insistence on trying to reach her aunt.

Raella carefully took a Gierdo's right hand and Ziya's left hand and helped them to toddle over to their mother.

"This yous Mommy," she explained to the other two. "She very nice but sick sick sick."

Raella's explanation to her younger cousins nearly broke Li's heart, but she couldn't gainsay her daughter. And perhaps she thought, the children would reach her where nothing else had.

"She love yous lots," Raella explained gravely as she knelt down next to Mala with the twins in front of her.

"We prays to gods to heal, Auntie," the little girl bowed her head in prayer smiling as she peeked between her lashes to see the twins trying clumsily to copy her.

Silently, Li sent a prayer of her own, though she knew the gods were not listening.

Smiling hoepfully, she met Tinuviel's eyes as he carefully stepped around the praying quartet, "Any word? Will he come?"

Tinuviel Mel'fer looking very downcast said simply and softly, "I do not know. I could not find him."

Li sighed and tried to put aside the low burning rage that was kindling in her breast. She could not give into it, but she longed to unfurl her wings and punish.