Chapter 1 – The challenge
Dews brown ringlets fell to her waist as she tossed them at the young males in the clan. Her younger sister Cianna followed behind mimicking the bounce in Dews step. Their tigers kept up easily, completely hidden by the vast grassy hills. On and on the land seemed to go… the only landmark at all different was the small river that ran near the Callow Clans burrows. Yes burrows. The clan created small burrows in the hill side. Shades of browns, and yellows graced the elves bodies in this tribe.
Dew smiled and approached the boys a woven basket under one arm, her hips swaying seductively. None would have guessed that she had a child and raised her on her own. Her daughter Copper, named for her orange eyes, the only good thing that came from her father, Dew liked to think.
It was fifteen years ago, in the late summer when the ‘accident’ occurred. A tribe council… all were present. Dew wasn’t the youngest in the tribe, but she certainly behaved so, capturing all of the men’s hearts easily. Easy going and care free, refusing to believe anything could go wrong.
Dew sighed impatiently, next to her younger sister. She wanted to dance, to run, not to sit here and listen to their chief’s crazy words.
Chief Shadow, who sadly, had never been right in the head since he was responsible for his fathers death at age 20. This certain night he was explaining how a rock had told him that fifteen years from then, ‘a orange fire would come quickly in the fall, and he would fail.’
Most of the tribe rolled their eyes impatiently. It was outrageous… rocks didn’t talk. Plus it was fifteen years away. “Nothing is set in stone…” whispered Dew with a giggle, causing the tribe to look at her a chuckle sweetly.
Shadow whipped around and felt his voice caught in his throat when he looked in to Dews blue and purple eyes. The strongest wind hit him and he felt as though he would tumble backward. A pain struck his chest and he felt a hunger in his stomach, a need for the beautiful elf.
Dew fell silent, as tears formed in her eyes. No It couldn’t be! Not him! Not him! Dew tried her hardest to look away as their souls searched together for each others soul names. Dew shook her head and silently whispered “No”.
“You are dismissed.” Shadow spoke slowly and harshly. “All except for you…” he said pointing and Dew.
Cianna looked to Dew worriedly and was reluctant to move, but with a persistent poke from Firefly, Cianna stood and touched her fearful looking sister once before leaving.
“No!” Stated Dew impatiently.
“What?” Questioned Shadow reaching out to her.
“No! I refuse! I refuse this gift!” she screeched standing. “I won’t be yours!” It was very childlike to think she could refuse the Highones bidding but she would have to try. “I won’t! Don’t come near me!” She stated darting away quickly.
“Dew, it is a wonderful gift, the Highones have told me so…” whispered a voice behind her. Dew turned quickly to see Spirit. Spirits long corn silk blond hair was entangled in her fingers. She was the younger sister of Shadow and possessed a powerful and rare gift. Her name had not always been Spirit, but ever since she began speaking and seeing ghosts it had been.
“Hush!” Squealed Dew moving cat like away from Shadow and his sister.
Shadow growled out a warning. “You can not deny this. You will bare me a son.” He commanded angrily.
Dew let out an ear piercing scream of frustration and turned on her heel storming away from her new mate. “Never!” She screeched running towards her tribe to spread the news quickly and beg for protection.
It was a full moon phase before strong beautiful Dew gave up. She was physically sick, unable to keep anything down, unable to sleep, she just wanted out. Dew sat in the middle of the females of the tribe, different colored grasses woven in to her ringlets. “I will join with him” she whispered unhappily her hands folded in her lap and her sunken eyes fixed on a pebble on the ground.
Gentlepalm rubbed her own swollen belly with a smile. “It will be worth it Dew…” She sighed and as her blue eyes floated around the group, she tossed her sterling hair, and patted her stomach when her cub kicked with in her. “You’ll be a great mother.”
Dew smiled, Gentlepalm had always been sweet. Kittens were plentiful at the moment. Flicker had little Blaze and was pregnant again, along with Gentlepalm. Twotales was going on her 7th year and Firefly and Cianna were going on 12 years. It was a lot to live up to.
“But I don’t want to be a mother!”
All eyes went to Dew and it became quiet. Cianna moved closer to her half sister and patted her shoulder. Ortega, their mother, had died in child birth. First giving birth to Dew with her lovemate then recognizing some years later and giving birth to Cianna. Both took after their mother and held a striking resemblance. “Why not Sister?”
“Because I don’t want to loose my way of life!” Dew said shaking off her sisters hand and forming her full lips in to a pout. “You all are my witnesses when I say this! I will join with Shadow yes! I will bare his child! Will we be mates? NO! I swear to the Highones! I will not loose my life and I will not mother this ‘son’ of his.” She demanded.
Gentlepalm smiled knowingly and nodded. “Of course Dew.”
Dew huffed and stood. **(Shadow!)** she sent not using his soul name for it left a horrible taste in her mouth.
The joining was quick, once it was over Dew dressed herself feeling a large amount of relief, as if a weight was lifted off her shoulders. She left quickly heading back to her own burrow and crying in to her sisters shoulder and matching ringlets.
Time past quickly. Shortly after the joining Gentlepalm gave birth to not one… but two kits. A strong male, named Eaglehawk, and a gentle male healer named Falcon. Then six seasons later Flicker gave birth to two identical red haired sisters named Feather and Iridia
Dew often found herself fishing more then usual staring over her swollen belly at her reflection and feeling a sense of disgust. It had been decided (behind her back) that Flicker would feed the baby if Dew rejected it, as she had said. Spirit would care for the little boy with help from the other mothers.
When the day finally came at the end of the warmest moon phase. When dusk was cool and the nights even colder. Dew crawled in to her burrow with help from Gentlepalm and Spirit. News spread like wildfire and soon the entire tribe waited outside the underground den expectantly. Shadow was the last to hear and quickly joined the tribe waiting for the arrival of his long awaited son.
When the two moons reached the top of the sky Dew let out a last scream and fell silent. Their was the laughter of the two other females when Dew muttered. “That wasn’t so hard…”
Gentlepalm wrapped the babe in a soft piece of brown leather and cradled her against her chest. “Dew would you like to see your baby…?” She questioned.
Dew sighed and held out her arms willingly her motherly instincts kicking in slightly. She cradled the baby sweetly. “Why isn’t it crying…? What is my baby…?"
Gentlepalm sighed and exchanged a quick look with Spirit. “Your baby is very healthy and strong, just quiet…” She said with a smile smoothing out the hair around Dews face.
“What is my baby? A boy or a girl…?”
Spirit swallowed and looked at Gentlepalm. “It’s a girl…”
Dew burst in to quick laughter and gripped her baby. “haha! Oh hes not going to like this! Well better go show her off to the tribe…”
Dew began to get up but Gentlepalm gently pushed her back. “Spirit will do that love, you need rest.”
Spirit took the baby away from Dew and crawled to the opening pulling open the leather flap and stepped out in to the moonlight. Dew growled and crawled to the entrance of the burrow. “I told you this baby won’t slow me down!” She said pulling at the flap and laying down so that she was half way out, already exhausted. Cianna was by her side in a heart beat.
Spirit glanced behind her briefly and went to her elder brother first. “Shadow, I know you were counting on a boy, but” Spirit opened her arms to show him the small girl. “It’s a girl…”
“So its dead then?” Questioned Shadow seeming to ignore the babe.
“No Shadow… it’s a girl, a healthy baby girl.”
“What a shame! It’s a really pity loosing it.” He said turning from his sister. “Well there is always next time.”
With that he walked away, leaving Spirit staring opened mouthed after him. She looked back at Dew who was leaning against her sister also open mouthed. For the first time ever, no tribe member knew what to say except for the little newborn.
She cried, and for some reason it tugged at Dew’s heart strings. “Here bring her to me!” demanded Dew holding out her arms wide. Spirit wandered over still speechless and placed the baby in her mothers arms. Dew held the child close to her body purring until the baby stopped its wails. She gazed down at her daughter, a pair of copper eyes staring back at her. She was quite cute and for some reason Dew felt a pull stronger then recognition. Maybe she could have her life and be a mother too? Change was in the air, and. to Dew, the child was the most beautiful child that have ever graced the tribe.
“I shall name you Copper, for your beautiful eyes my little kitten.” She began. “and since he hates you, and I love all that he hates I love you!” she glanced up at the tribe in front of her. “ignore what I said earlier…”
Over the next thirteen years, Dew remained her flirtatious carefree self and yet kept her daughter close and raised her well. Now Dew sauntered towards the boys, she had gotten her figure back shortly after having little Copper and was confident that someday she would be a beautiful chieftess.
Crack.
Dew jumped and looked to see Shadow coming out of the brush near by. Their eyes connected and to Dews horror, she felt the storm again in her body and she back away slowly. No! not again! One child was enough! Copper was her life! She wouldn’t have another child! She ran back to the deserted burrows with out saying a word to the boys.
To her surprise Shadow ran forward and grabbed her wrist. “We will have a son!” He scolded folding his hands around her neck.
Copper nudged her three year old tigress, Teazer in to a run. Named for her behavior as a cub when given a piece of meat. Copper ducked down lower, so she could go faster, gripping her three rabbits by their back feet. Her chocolate brown hair rippled behind her as Teazers breath quickened as she ran from the hunting party.
Only thirteen and Copper was already beautiful and talented. As children of recognition and chieftain lines often were. A magic had developed in her over he past few years, that made her talented in hunting, searching and watching. A talent called ‘far-sight’: She could see further then any of her tribe, simply by using her magic. She took after her mother with her feather soft brown hair tumbling down in waves and beautiful features. Inky black stripes graced her milky skin, helping herself and her tribe blend in with their tiger kin, and help them stalk their pray in the long grass that was their home. Coppers most stunning feature however did not come from her mother, but from her father, Shadow. Her eyes. Pale orange in color that darkens according to the moon, her eyes which inspired her name.
**Mother!** She called excitedly. **Mother! Where are you? You’ll never guess how many rabbits I got! I beat Eaglehawk!** Over the past four seasons Copper had been training with the weapon maker Ironhand. All so she could beat the head hunter Eaglehawk, young for his age but the best hunter in the tribe. It was no secret that both twins had begun to fancy Copper, so no doubt Eaglehawk had let her win.
**Mother!?** Copper called leaping off of her tigress and heading in to the den closest to her. She found her mother lying on her side in front of her. “Mother? Why are you sleeping…?” Copper slowly reached out her hand and touched her mothers pale skin prepared to gently shake her awake. Copper withdrew her hand quickly. She had never felt anything so cold before in her entire life. She gasped and reached out again. “Mother! Mother Please!” She said feeling tears in her eyes. “MOTHER!” She squealed and pulled Dew over on her back. There around Dews neck were dark bruise marks in the shapes of hands. Her eyes were open and lifeless.
Coppers hands flew to her mouth and she screamed. Tears were falling now. **HELP! SOMEONE! Help me! Please! FALCON!!**
The soon to be sixteen year old healer looked up from the tiger cubs and towards Coppers panicked send. **Copper? Copper what is it?** he questioned, standing and running toward her.
**Its mother! I think shes….just get here!** Copper could feel her heart quickly breaking. He let out a stuttering breath when she felt someone’s hand on her shoulder.
“Come Copper…” whispered Firefly pulling her young cousin out of the den despite her protests. “Falcon and Gentlepalm will take care of it.” Though in her heart, Firefly knew the horrible truth. The facts of the matter was that they couldn’t do anything it was far to late. Firefly pulled Copper in to a soft embrace as Copper cried out of fear, loneliness, anger and sadness. The poor girl didn’t understand.
By this time, Copper wails had brought the entire tribe to the den. When Falcon arrived he rushed in to the den looking no where else, his mother at his heels. The minutes ticked by like years for Copper, eventually her tears were joined by her aunt Cianna’s. Firefly held them both tightly as they sobbed.
Falcon reemerged under his mothers arm. “Copper…” began Falcon opening his arms to her. She flew in to them in a heartbeat. His arms coiled around her and kissed the top of her head silently. “I’m so sorry.” He whispered.
Gentlepalm shook her head and swallowed. “I hate to say this, but beautiful Dew is dead… murdered by the looks of it.” She felt a large amount of anger swell through her. It was horrible! Dew was so full of life’s fire. Yet here she was, dead. “Copper, Cianna, I’m sorry there was nothing we could do.”
Riverrock and Quickwing exchanged glances. “We were last to see her alive I think…” Quickwing said sadly feeling his own tears. “Shadow went after her…”
Cianna looked to Spirit slowly. “What does she say? What does my sister say?” Questioned Cianna impatiently, moving away from her age mate to approach Spirit.
Spirit looked from Cianna then to her daughter Firefly asking for some sort of protection. “I…uh…”
“Who did this to her?” asked Cianna calmly, though their was an angry fire behind her eyes, and tears streaming down her face.
“Let me find her alright?” Spirit said backing away, going over to a near by hill and taking a seat. **Copper, she doesn’t want you to cry anymore, she loves you too much. Cianna she wants you to promise to watch over Copper and help her grow up. Shes sorry she can’t be here… and…. Shadow!** Spirit gasped and fainted from the shock of Dew’s ghost shared her last memory with her.
Copper calmed considerably suddenly and moved away from Falcon. She marched right up to Ironhand. “Teach me one on one combat! I’m going to challenge him for right as chieftess.” She said raising her chin up high.
Ironhand glanced down at his wolf shaped necklace. It was the only thing that was left for him when he was abandoned and adopted by the Callow clan. He didn’t blame Copper at all. He would not have done any different if he had been in her place. Shadow had been like a father to him for a time… but now that he was a murderer, everything had changed. He nodded once, his face stoic, showing no sign of his sympathies for her. “Yes, but sleep first Kit. You’ll need the rest.”
Falcon approached Copper from behind and placed his finger tips on her temples, gently sending his magic through them. Copper instantly collapsed in to his arms. He easily picked her up and carried her to his own familys den.
He didn’t leave her side, no matter how hungry he was. Eaglehawk kept watch over his brother and Copper making sure that Shadow didn’t come back to tie off loose ends.
Copper swallowed as she approached the flattest clearing in the Callow Clan’s land. She glanced down at the weapons strapped to her body. A quiver full of arrows graced her waist, a dagger on her right calf and two small swords behind her back, the blades freshly made by Ironhand the day before. She carried her bow tightly in her hand. Everything she had learned to use was present. It had been three full days since her mothers death, two days ago they had burned her body. Shadow hadn’t even bothered to come. Copper had spent the last three days training constantly. Not sleeping or eating… she was weak to say the least but she didn’t seem to show it.
Cianna walked next to her niece, easily carrying a spear. It was Copper’s weakest weapon, but if all her other weapons were knocked away Cianna would toss her the spear. Though Cianna had told no one but Firefly, if young Copper couldn’t finish the job Cianna would. It wasn’t in the rules, but Cianna considered them guidelines more then anything else.
Spirit had managed to lour her older brother out of hunting and in to the flat opening. He waited patiently with his back to the approaching tribe.
“Shadow.” Began Copper standing up as straight as she could to show that she meant business. She never called him father unless she wanted to annoy him. He turned and stared at his daughter unimpressed. “You killed my mother, and the tribe has past judgment. You may either leave, or you can fight me for the right of chief. If I win, you must leave and never come back, if you win, I will be with my dear mother.” She spoke calmly with little emotion in her voice, she was so nervous.
**(be calm kitling)** sent Ironhand. Copper glanced to where the strong warrior stood, taking a slow breath to steady herself as he had taught her.
Cianna and Firefly exchanged glances and stayed firmly by Coppers side.
Shadow burst in to laughter and shook his head, pointing at Copper. As Spirit backed away to join the rest of the clan watching from the hill side. Copper seemed unfazed. She simply stood still and remained emotionless.
“Well cub, we shall battle then. You will be with your dear mother soon enough.” He chuckled again and shook his head, drawing his sword and inching forward.
“Knock him dead…” Whispered Cianna kissing her nieces head. “literally.”
Copper swallowed and nodded as the elves moved away from her. She laid her bow and quiver on the ground before her, drawing both of her swords, setting back into position. Her fingers twitched and a strange feeling spread over her, not fear, nor nerves but excitement. Perhaps she would win.
Without warning, Shadow charged, bellowing a war cry. Copper leapt to the side and out of the way well before he could reach her. Youth and quickness were on her side, giving her the advantage for the moment. She rolled on the ground and was just about to stand when she saw Shadow’s sword coming down on her. Without conscious thought, her arm moved, her own sword turning aside the blow, her ceaseless training paying off. Shadow moved back from her, setting back in a guard position and Copper was able to stand. Another clash of swords and Copper dodged to the side once more, her left handed blade caressing Shadow’s unprotected side, leaving a bloody slice in his flesh. Shadow, felt the place with his free hand, and finding blood trailing across his fingers, he looked at Copper with a dark rage in his eyes. He began to charge again, a mad fury upon him. He struck at her again and again, each strike coming as fast rain, but his sword strokes were sloppy, his madness robbing him of his skill. Copper seized upon every opening he gave her, nicking his sides, arms and legs with one of her swords while the other turned aside each of his strikes.
As the battle raged on, Copper felt a strange fire with in her. Her tigress blood was serving her well and her body was quick. She needed to do this! For her mother! For her tribe! They couldn’t have a killer amongst them! It was her duty! Her blood line.
Copper let out a small scream when Shadow’s sword nicked her right arm, and she shrank back from him, watching as the blood spread through her sleeve. The one thing her training could not give her, the one thing Ironhand could not teach, was how to deal with pain. Her arm swiftly went numb, even as the blood dripped in warm trickles down the inside of her sleeve. She dropped the sword she held in that hand and inched backward, looking up to see Shadow lunge at her again. She blocked out of instinct alone, the wound on her arm sapping her concentration and confidence. Her eyebrows furrowed against the pain, her breathing going from a steady in and out to a quick gasping, panic rising within her.
Shadow chuckled and kicked out, catching Copper in the stomach so that she flew backwards. Copper landed with a thud and a groan. She huffed and sat up slowly, pushing her brown bangs out of her face. She swallowed hard, gripped her wounded arm tightly. She looked behind her shoulder and inched towards the bow.
“I guess we know who the real chief is!” he stated, bowing and laughing. “No cub can—AHHH” He wailed suddenly when an arrow hit the back of his left shoulder. He stumbled slightly, then caught site of Copper crouching, another arrow knocked to the bowstring, ready for firing. “Swords only you little cheat.” He roared, racing towards her.
“Guidelines Shadow! Guidelines!” Cheered Cianna, clapping her hands.
“Swords only.” Copper stated pulling out her dagger as he raced forward. She grabbed the tip and aimed it easily. With a light flick of the wrist it, went spinning towards him, landing in the dead center of his right shoulder, eliciting another wail of pain. This time he fell back, stumbling. Copper stood and picked up her sword once more from where Shadow had tossed it, wandering over to him easily. Shadow turned to run and get a better footing but there stood a giant tigress in his path. Dew’s bond, Glitterfur, her teeth itching for his blood and her own revenge. There she stood, snarling, blocking his way out.
Shadow pulled out the thin dagger slowly, gasping at the pain it caused. Copper raised her swords and twisted them around his, tossing the long sword away. Copper could no longer feel the pain in her arm, she was winning. WINNING! She raised her foot and kicked him down onto the ground. She placed one foot firmly on his chest and placed her blade to his throat. “I win… leave now.” She took a step back.
Shadow stared into his daughters eyes, a fire was flickering in them. And, as he gazed at them, his own words came back to his mind, ‘a orange fire would come quickly in the fall, and he would fail.’ He had heard the insane prophecy all wrong. Here was the orange fire, in the tigress’ eyes and now he had failed. He rolled over and quickly began to run from his home and tribe. So ashamed, he should have just slaughtered the orange eyed girl in her sleep.
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Topic: Tigerstripes (Quite long) (Read 7701 times)