DISCLAIMER: Elfquest and all related subjects, characters, etc. are>property
and (c) of WaRP Graphics, Inc. and Wendy and Richard Pini. The
original scripting for this story was written by Wendy and Richard Pini and
can be found in Elfquest, Book Four: Quest's End or in ElfQuest Vol. 1
#15-20. However, the idea and basic story are mine.
What If Lord Voll Had Never Died?
by Jessica Orr
She was hungry, the low one of the pack. Her yellow eyes glittered in
the dark, fixed upon the strange soft-skin thing that had fallen into their
hole. She, the low one, had always been last to gnaw at the leavings the
green evil-ones had thrown to them. She was, in the basic minds of wolves,
Low-One. The others, First-One and Second-One. She, Low-One, skittered
around the edges as First-One strode up, his ears slicked back against his
neck and his head lowered. His teeth curled back from his teeth as he
growled warningly; at the same time, it was a cue for Low-One and Second-One
to growl as well. This pink soft-skin was strange and, until First-One
decided otherwise, enemy or food.
Something inside of Low-One whispered, as if awakening from a long
sleep. Whispering that it was not food, that it was friend. Kin. Confused,
Low-One shook away the sleepy voice, sending it back to sleep.. and
sincerely hoped that the soft-skin was food.
SPLAT!
Ember was mad. No, Ember was furious! Her wolf blue-green eyes
flashed with anger as she gathered herself up to throw another snowball at
Rayek. "What're you waiting for?!" she shouted, absolutely flabbergasted that
this arrogant magic-mucker would stand there and do nothing.. nothing!! to
save her father, who had fallen into the murky black hole to face whatever
monsters could be lurking down there. She clenched her hands into fists.
"Help my father.. or.. or I'll hit you again!"
Rayek silently raised an eyebrow, reaching up to brush the snow from
his face, his golden eyes cold and disdainful as they settled on the mouthy
young Wolfrider. Obviously, her father's daughter, his thoughts growled. I
see nothing of Leetah in here save that temper. A pity she did not inherit
any of her mother's class when it comes to such outbursts.
Ember glared up at him and all but shook when he still sat there and
did nothing. "You magic him up out that hole right now!" Rayek only looked
at her. She shouted louder. "RIGHT NOW!! You hear me?"
Rayek turned away from Ember, choosing to ignore the red-headed
ragamuffin's shouts, his eyes instead drifting to where Two-Edge had stood
moments ago. The strange halfling creature huddled over the bright-colored
sprite, whispering something to it even as his hands covered its head, only
muffled shrieks escaping. Then, with a single movement, the halfling
let the sprite go with an unsettling smile, the preserver escaping with a
disgruntled splutter.
Rayek's eyes narrowed as the halfling slipped from view. Two-Edge.. he
released the bug and vanished! his thoughts murmured, hugging his cape
around him to block out the chilling wind. His eyes narrowed faintly,
turning back to settle on Ember even as the colorful sprite flashed by her,
his thoughts turning disgruntled. I wish he'd taken Cutter with him!
Petalwing was vexed. Petalwing was very-very vexed! Nastybad
high-digdig capturecatch Petalwing, keep in cave, make wrapstuff on
MissingEye Highthing, then take away again, putting hand over mouthytalk, no
jibberjabber come out! Petalwing head hurt, Petalwing very vexed at
High-DigDig.. Nastybad High-Digdig! Petalwing fix High-digdig good, fill
bigfat nose with wrapstuff, make High-digdig go katchoo!
The sprite giggled at the thought, zipping down the tunnel, oblivious
to the overwhelming dark. Bad bad bad high-digdig! its thoughts ran merrily.
Petalwing fix good! Fill nose with much wrapstuff.. fill big mouth too!
The tunnel opened up and below, Petalwing could see Busyhead Highthing
surrounded by angrymuch growlers. "// Hello! Hello! //" it sang out,
fluttering down to hover by Cutter, meeting his astonished, frightened eyes
with its pale, cheerful pair. It paused, looking at the growlers, then back
to Busyhead, tilting its head. "// Busyhead Highthing want Petalwing stick
growlers' teeth together? //" it queried innocently.
"Timmorn's blood, no!" With sudden movement, Busyhead Shinysharp
reached out and yanked Petalwing back, hugging the sprite to his shoulder.
His tone was pleading. "Don't anger them!"
The wolves shoved their noses at Cutter, running a curious tongue along
his forearm, the chief wolf jutting his muzzle at Cutter's groin curiously,
then lifting to meet his blue-eyed gaze with a curious snort. A female, the
low one of the pack, moved at the fringes, her lupine-yellow eyes blinking
patiently for the chief wolf's verdict.
"J-just keep very still!" Cutter whispered. "These -aren't- Wolfrider
wolves.. no one is their friend! They're hungry," he added, eyeing the ribs
that jutted out of the low one's sides with a sympathetic wince. "And
they're trying to figure me out!"
The chief wolf's dark eyes narrowed as he shoved his nose in Cutter's
face, almost sneezing, but thankfully not. "This big grizzled one rules the
other two.. If he decides I'm kin and not food," Cutter gave a wry smile.
"Then I'm safe."
'Safe!' And I hoped I'd find a new wolf friend when I led my tribe
back to the woods.. now everything's inside-out! But even if I don't get
eaten.. Cutter looked up. How do I get out of this trap? Is Rayek just
waiting up there for me to beg?
Rayek knelt by the hole from which Cutter had fallen into, desperately
trying to shut out the young girl's annoying demands, but to no avail. She
growled, so much like the wolves that her folk ran with. "If you don't do
something, I-I-I'll tell my mother!"
Something in Rayek flinched. Leetah..
His attention was stolen as a small hand touched his shoulder gently,
so different from the ear-hurting demands at his other side. Rayek turned
his head slightly, looking into bright, impossibly blue eyes that were dark
with worry. "Please...?" Suntop looked at him, his chocolate dark face
framed in sun-bright blonde hair. His voice was soft, pleading, yet hopeful.
"Because you love Mother..?"
Rayek gave no answer, yet moments later, he found himself gliding down
the tunnel with impossible grace, the gently violet glimmer of magic around
him casting a faint glow on the tunnel around him. The lad cuts to the bone
as cleverly as Savah can. No doubt she had a hand in his upbringing.
Rayek's teeth gritted, yet he could not suppress the smile of dry amusement
that rose on his lips. Well, Cutter, you barbarian flea-feast.. it seems
you'll owe -me- a debt before long!
Wadsack was tired. Of all the bloody times for that alarm to go
off...! The troll, dressed in bear fur and wearing sandals and wristbands
made of leather with a belt wrapped around his waist - his middle falling
over it in a stylish fashion - that he had made himself, he shuffled down the
corridor, the lantern in his hand casting an irritating light, but he needed
it, so cursed dark down here. Behind him, Pusgums, Dirtrag, and Slug
followed. "Hunh!" Wadsack broke the silence. "It's about time Two-Edge's
newest trap was sprung!" He shot his companions a yellow-toothed grin.
"Those mangy wolves we caught are about to earn their keep!'
Pusgums only yawned, Dirtrag gave him a silent nod, and Slug was too
busy with his finger up his nose to answer. Wadsack frowned. Idiots. Then
turned back, shining the lantern's light down into the hole. "Well, now..
let's see what we have down there!" The light cast a yellow glow over the
scene below; a pale-haired point-ear cowered, surrounded by three mangy wolves.
Dirtrag cackled. "Poor little point-ears.. too scared to scream!"
Pusgums peered over, his bushy brow knitting together. "Why don't they
eat him?" He tilted his head, blinking at Dirtrag dumbly. "We made sure to
starve 'em!"
"Stupid!" Wadsack rolled his eyes, feeling frustrated. Of all the
idiots in the underground, why did he get saddled with trolls like Pusgums
and Slug? "Don't you know wolves have rank and order, same as we do!" He
hur-rumphed. "They're just waiting for the big gray to take the first bite,
they are!"
Pusgum's pride was hurt and he gathered what he had left of his wits to
snap, "Wormwater! They're just dumb beasts, same as you, Wadsack!"
Wadsack blinked; this idiot had gall enough to call him a dumb beast?!
Before Wadsack could reply though, Slug shuffled forward, peering at
the mass of green-gray stuck to his finger before flicking it away, giving
Pusgums a grin. "Care to bet something shiny on it, Pusgums?"
Pusgums grinned back, digging in his pocket before tossing half a dozen
shiny red gems on the ground. "You're on! Six fire eyes say the Black wolf
gets first chew!"
Slug blinked, jaw slackening and turning a noticeably paler green. "Six
fire eyes..?"
Pusgums leered. "Too rich for you?"
Wadsack had had enough of this. He growled, "Where'd you ever get six,
you slug!" Slug blinked at the sound of his name, only to see Pusgums get
jabbed in the shoulder sharply as Wadsack slammed his fist into him. "You
been holding out on us?"
"RRRAAUUUGGGHH!!"
All four trolls whirled around at the bestial war-snarl slashed through
the thoughts. Surrounded by a violet hue, the point-ear that had only
moments before been cowering in the bottom of the pit was upon them, a curved
sword made of bright-metal flashing, finding Pusgums' leg and slicing into it
cruelly. Pusgums recoiled, crying out, "My leg!" even as his companions
scattered, scrambling for the weapons they had abandoned by the entrance.
"H-he flies!" Wadsack's strangled revelation caught the others'
attention. "Like those bird-riders we saw!"
** Rayek, you son of a lame zwoot and a desperate troll! ** Cutter's
furious sending beat into Rayek's mind with the force of a sledgehammer, yet
Rayek only smiled. ** You could've floated me out on your side of the pit! **
Rayek could only grin, watching as the Petalwing blinded a troll with
it's wrapstuff just as Cutter's blade found another troll's neck,
greenish-red blood spilling over on the rock floor. ** Why? They tried to
wipe out your tribe, ** he sent in response, his eyes narrowed amusedly. **
I thought you'd like the chance to get even! **
** You thought! ** Cutter's knife sang, slashing across a troll and
spilling its innards onto the floor. ** Between you and Two-Edge there's
too much thinking! **
Rayek inspected his fingernails. ** Be through. If even one escapes,
he'll alert Guttlekraw's entire army. **
"You want to see 'through', Snake-Face?" Cutter shouted. "Here's
through!" With a single fluid movement, he slammed his foot into a troll,
sending it bumping into another until both fell into the pit where the hungry
wolves waited with strangled cries, then jerked his sword, New Moon, up,
slicing a third troll from groin to collarbone, the metal knife falling from
the troll's hand even as he started to fall, clattering to the ground,
forgotten.
One troll, though bound by wrapstuff from the preserver, was alive.
Wadsack somehow connected his fist to the point-ear's back, watching him
fall with frightened smugness. Can't see! he thought wildly. Got to run
for it! He stumbled, moving in the direction he was sure the exit was in.
Got to warn Guttlekraw!
So frightened was he, Wadsack never saw the spear leave Rayek's hands.
"Well... that's done!" Rayek pulled his spear free from the dead
troll's back, glancing towards Cutter with a faint smile. "Are you whole?"
"Small thanks to you!" Cutter growled, rubbing the back of his head
where the troll had clocked him. "Petalwing was more help!"
Rayek smiled, his eyes glittering unkindly. "If you needed aid, you
only had to ask."
Cutter's teeth gritted. "I'd choke first!"
Rayek opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted by a sickening
crunch. He blinked, looking over the rim into the pit where the wolves were
kept. There, the wolves crunched and growled over each other as they feasted
upon the bodies of the two troll guards that had met their end when they had
fallen in.
Feeling ill, Rayek turned away, holding his hand to his mouth. "Let's
go.."
"I heard Ember shout." Leetah clasped Cutter's hands in hers,
squeezing them tightly. "Kahvi, Lord Voll, and I.. we came running. We saw
Rayek float down into the hole.." Her emerald eyes glittered with worry.
"What happened?"
Cutter gave a wry, tired smile. "More than the trolls expected. New
Moon was thirsty today."
Pike crouched by the edge of the pit, poking his pug nose down it with
a curious sniff. "You're both lucky you're not in pieces!" the red-golden
haired elf commented.
Ember stood next to Pike and beamed smugly, folding her arms over her
chest as she lifted her chin with a self-satisfied smile. "See? Rayek knew
better than to argue with me!" She turned to Suntop, grinning at him. "I
told him to help Father and he did!"
Suntop gave her a mild smile, then his eyes flashed with sudden
amusement. Ember looked at him, wanting to know what the big joke was, but
before she could ask, she was jerked back and a cold, wet handful of snow was
shoved down her sweater.
Rayek smiled, leaving the scene with the surprised squeal of the little
girl ringing in his ears pleasantly.
Rayek intended to return to the Go Back Lodge. He moved along the
ground, letting his somewhat exhausted magical state rest for the time being.
He was still very new to this levitation magic. He leaned slightly on his
spear, looking up towards the gray streaked skies, his thoughts drifting
back to the sun-blonde boy with his bright blue eyes.
How like his mother he seemed; his eyes, though blue, and shone with
her wisdom..
** Your name is Rayek. **
Rayek blinked, looking down again. Standing tall was the elegant Lord
of the Gliders, Voll, his black-and-white cloak hugged around him to block
out the cold. The Lord's gentle gray eyes settled on him, his snow-white
hair flipping freely in the wind, bound only by the crown of feathers that
kept them from flying in his eyes. ** Child of the Rocks, ** he commented,
taking a step forward. ** An interesting name. **
Rayek drew himself up, feeling something in him flutter. "It is a
name. I have no other," he answered flatly. "Nothing special, though I tend
to think it better than some other names that I have been called."
A muscle in Voll's cheek twitched. ** Indeed.. ** He stepped - no, he
glided! Rayek realized, his eyes widening - forward to rest a few strides
from the golden-eyed hunter. ** Tell me.. My Chosen, Reevol.. ** Rayek
frowned at the name. ** ..he tells me you glide, as we do. **
Rayek nodded shortly, a strange nervousness rising in him, and he
silently bade the Lord to continue.
** My Chosen are the hunters of my people, and the Wolfriders tell me
you were a hunter for yours? ** Again, Rayek nodded, his eyes curious. ** I
wonder, though I know you not well, friend Rayek.. **
"Hey!" Lord Voll was cut short as the Go-Back Mekka came running,
huffing as snow churned up snow around her feet. "Kahvi told me to come get
you two! There's a council in the Lodge!"
Irritated at being interrupted, Rayek turned on his heels to fix his
icy-gold stare on the Go-Back maiden. "Wouldn't it have been easier just to
send?" he snapped, knowing full well that sending was a skill seldom used
among the magic-resentful tribe.
Mekka only shot him a glare. "Getcher tail moving, Black-Hair, or I'll
move it for you!"
Rayek got moving.
In the closeness of the Go-Backs' lodge, the elves held an
unprecedented council. Rayek placed a foot against the stones surrounding
the firepit, leaning against it as he settled his snake-yellow eyes on
Cutter. "The Go-Backs are at war with the trolls. Do you know what war is?"
he asked simply.
Cutter's brows furrowed, offering uncertainly, "I know what fighting to
stay alive is.."
Rayek nodded; for once, not irritated by the Wolfriders' ignorance.
"War starts with two groups fighting over some prize or goal.. but if it
lasts too long it becomes a battle for its own sake."
Kahvi commented, tilting her head towards Cutter, "What's wrong with
that?"
"You're this close to the Palace," Cutter held his forefinger and thumb
an inch apart, "And you don't care?! That's what's wrong!"
Kahvi smiled, leaning over to touch Cutter's hand. "Listen,
pretty-face! The High Ones' home belongs only to elves! We'll reach it
someday, but not before we've destroyed our enemies." She smirked. "Now
that you're here, you'll help us do that.. they're your enemies too!"
"Nonsense!" Leetah's sharp retort drew all attention to her. "You
call yourselves 'Go-Backs.. well, do it!" She moved to Cutter's side,
narrowing her eyes at Kahvi. "GO back to the Palace, but go safely around
the Mountains! You can avoid the trolls altogether and no more blood need be
shed!"
Wolfriders and Gliders alike nodded in agreement, but Kahvi placed both
hands below her chin and sang obnoxiously, "o/` Go safely around the
mountains! o/` Wonderful! Let's gather nuts and play six-sided stones
while we're at it!"
Leetah's face dropped. "I.. I was only.."
Rayek lay a hand on Leetah's shoulder, his voice gentle. "Your idea
has been tried, Leetah, more than once," he murmured softly, hoping not to
injure her bruised pride anymore than it was already. "The Go-Backs were
once wanderers, following herds of great deer.. never settling in one place
for long. Then some eight-years ago, mysteriously, the Palace began to call
to them. It became their purpose, their goal to reclaim it." His eyes were
dark. "But the bold ones who tried to scale the peaks fell into traps.. or
were cut down by troll guards.
"And we've a long list of lost heroes who tried to find a safe pass
around the mountain range," the Go-Back named Tok commented dryly as he
polished his sword. "No one's ever made it. No one wants to try now!"
His lover, Mekka, sat beside him, nibbling at a bit of meat. "Those
muck eating trolls mean to keep what they've stolen," she munched. "There's
no way to sneak past 'em so why sneak at all?"
Kahvi stood, gripping her spear. "Beside,s the call of the Palace is
strongest right here!"
"I'll say!" Suntop's sunny voice chimed in. "It tugs and tugs at me
like anything!"
"Then here we stay!" Kahvi jabbed her spear towards the fire, the fire
casting shadows across her face as she grinned. "Here we fight until I spit
Guttlekraw on my spear and roast him over these coals!"
"No!"
Strangled, strained, overwhelmed by all this talk of death, Lord Voll
stepped forward, his eyes pleading as he spread his hands before him. "We
have lost so many in this fight already! We fight and die when we can soar
above and come to rest in the home of homes - the only place we truly
belong! My folk and I.. and Rayek too!" he added, tossing the black-haired
airwalker a desperate look. "We can fly and we have birds that can carry
others. We can take the Palace back from right beneath the trolls noses!"
Kahvi blinked, stepping forward to argue, but Skywise cut her off,
hopping down. "Yes! Why risk a death like One-Eye's and Oroleed's.. and the
countless Go-Backs that were lost before?"
Cutter nodded, his eyes lighting up. To take it back by wit rather
than bloodshed? "We know the Palace is real and it's ours by right. The
trolls can't hold us back any longer!" He stood, looking at Kahvi. "Even if
they can prevent us from going around or through the Mountains.. they won't
be expecting us to go above! They're too busy defending the surface!"
"Go above..?!" Kahvi spluttered. "That's not what your friend Two
-Edge wants us to do.. and we're not birds! We're warriors! We-"
"We're elves," Lord Voll cut in, looking at Kahvi. "The Palace.. the
beautiful Palace we've all lost something to gain it.. belongs to us and us
alone. Why take the harder path, brave War Chieftess.." He knelt, looking
at her from her level, reaching to touch her cheek gently like he would do a
child's. "..when the easier one is set before us?"
Kahvi looked into his eyes and said nothing. She pulled away from him,
letting her spear fall uselessly to the ground as she hugged herself,
stepping away. She had grown on war, forged in fire and ice and blood.
She had lived longer than most of her tribe, but she still fought for life
and craved death by fighting like any Go-Back. She lived for the moment,
for the passion of joining and the fury of war. Yet, here was a way to
finally get what she had been fighting for her entire life, but it meant
going against everything she had ever taught and been taught. She said
nothing, staring into the fire.
To be continued.
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