Lone Dove

Wisedove awoke with a start, sitting up in the darkness. She couldn't remember what the nightmare had been about, but the all too familiar spidery sense of not quite forgotten fear was still creeping over her skin. She couldn't remember the circumstances under which she'd fallen asleep, nor did she know where she was, but her heart began hammering within her chest as the seriousness of her situation began to fully dawn on her. She was alone, in the hands of the ones who had destroyed her life, with no idea of where she was, and as far as she could tell no escape.

Everything around her was black. Utter darkness surrounded her with no hint of light. She could feel the stone underneath her, but other than that, she could tell nothing of her prison. Carefully, she ventured to stand. There was at least enough room to do that. She stretched her arms up to see if the chamber had a low ceiling. It did not. Counting her steps, she attempted to find out how wide the chamber was. She had counted eight and six steps when suddenly, the stone fell away and Wisedove felt herself falling. The oddest thing about falling in total darkness was the sense of falling without the visual confirmation. She could hear herself screaming, and feel her heart pounding, but it all seemed unreal. She couldn't believe she was going to die this way. Then she was caught in a net of some kind, halting her deadly fall. She tried to sit up but the net was covered in some kind of sticky substance. She could barely move at all. Vainly, she struggled to free herself to no avail. Had she escaped a quick and messy death only to find a new one in starvation?

The councilor was beginning to despair when she felt something lightly go over her right leg. Ignoring it, she continued to struggle. She felt the same lightness cross over one of her hands, then at the small of her back. The sensation was occurring all over her body, the feeling of tiny feet running over her skin.

There was laughter, dark laughter that echoed madly throughout the chamber. Two points of flaming red appeared directly in front of the snow-haired elf, and with a flash, the room was lit by flame. Ash stood there in his black cloak laughing hysterically at Wisedove. She looked down to see that her entire form was covered in spiders.

They bubbled and boiled like a second skin apparently enraged by the light. She began gasping in shock and disbelief looking down at herself. She could feel them biting into her flesh. A small stinging sensation that increased with ever moment. They were beneath her skin! Tiny moving lumps appeared wherever her skin was exposed.

"No. No!" She screamed struggling to get free. "NO!" She opened her mouth to scream, but something was blocking her voice. In the next moment, the tiny vermin were crawling from her mouth. She could feel her mind slipping now. The borders between sanity and insanity were crumbling. She struggled against the sticky web she'd been caught in even as its creator slowly hovered down from above , enjoying her handiwork. The spider had emerald eyes that sparkled in the flame light exalting in the misery it had caused. Laughter all around her, spiders crawling from her mouth, her ears, her nose! The pain. It hurt so much! She wanted to die, she wished for death but there was only this, for eternity. Nothing more…nothing more…nothing more…

** **

Wisedove woke up screaming. How many sleepless nights now? How many days without food? What was Jade trying to do…And where were the others?

'They've forgotten about you, left you for dead. All any of them cared about was getting Duskwhisper back. You on the other hand were expendable. Why do you think they let you go so easily?' The same nagging voice that had been plaguing her since she arrived was at work again.

"No!" Wisedove said covering her ears against the voice. "No. You're wrong. The will come or me. They'll find me."

"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!" She cried into the darkness. She couldn't take this anymore. They would come for her…they would. "You're wrong." The councilor brought her knees up to her chin, hugging them to herself. "You're wrong, you're wrong…you're wrong, you're wrong……

** **

"We have to go after her!" Teean was saying vehemently

"I know that, and we will, but Duskwhisper is in no shape to be traveling right now." Longrunner argued.

"I'll say whether or not I'm fit to travel, thank you." Duskwhisper said from her furs. The attack by Jade had severely drained her, and truth be told, she barely had the strength to sit through this meeting. She did need the rest, but Wisedove was missing and she could not turn her back on a member of her tribe.

"Alright," she said gathering her thoughts, "Trackers, what have you found?"

"Not much." Windweaver spoke up, "The trail goes towards sun down a ways into the forest then just vanishes. After that, there is no trace of Wisedove or Jade."

"Well that is something." The chieftess replied. "We do know that they traveled towards sun down."

"Still, that's of almost no use to us." Snowstreak interjected, "for all we know, they could have changed direction where the trail ends. We can't just go off following sun down hoping to stumble upon Jade's layer."

"I wasn't going to suggest we do that," Duskwhisper told him, somewhat exasperated, "but right now, I'm at a loss." She put a hand to her head. " I honestly don't know what to do."

The den was silent for a moment as the others realized that there was little to be done.

"Maybe it's time we should be honest with ourselves." Summerstream began, "We're talking about a single elf who can destroy entire villages, and she has a fire shaper! Even if we did find where they went, how can we possibly hope to defeat her in her own realm?"

"What are you saying?" Skygem asked, "That we should just give up? That we should just forget about Wisedove?"

"I'm just pointing out the facts." He said simply, "And based on the facts, things don't look good."

"We are not going to give up." Duskwhisper said definitively. "For a moment, I saw into Jade's mind. There is darkness there that could belong to no creature of this world. No glimmer of light to say that she was living at all. She takes pleasure in the misery of others, revels in their pain, and she takes special pride in creating that pain. I don't know what she wants with Wisedove, but I know it cannot be pleasant, and I'll burn before I let that she-demon have her!" She paused a moment to make sure her words penetrated. "So think. We have to come up with a plan of action." she continued. "Already, our friend has been in the hands of darkness too long.

"I'll go." Skygem offered. "I'll scout the route towards sun down, see if I can find anything. If I haven't found anything in eight days, I will return."

"Burr," Windweaver took her hand, "you can't go alone, let me go with you."

"I'm sorry Tanner," she said stroking his cheek, "But I'll cover more ground by air, you can't come."

"In all the time you've been here, I've never once seen you take flight, youngling." Snowstreak interrupted rudely, "Even if you can fly," he continued "I doubt you have enough skill to take on this journey alone."

"Perhaps some of us don't have to take every opportunity we can to show off how well we fly." Skygem shot back.

"Fine then, it's settled." Duskwhisper said tiredly. "Skygem and Snowstreak will scout sun down for any signs of Wisedove's whereabouts."

"What!?" Both elves turned on Duskwhisper simultaneously.

"Windweaver's right, Skygem" You can't go off alone on this, but you are also right, you'll cover more ground by air. Snowstreak is a more experienced glider; this is the best way to go about doing this." Both parties reluctantly agreed. "Alright then, ready yourselves. You leave at first light."

** **

"What?'

"Go away!" Wisedove sat huddled in the corner of her stone prison hugging her knees to herself. The voice tormented her constantly. She could never tell whether the voice was from within her own mind or not, but it no longer mattered to her; she just wanted it to stop!

"I said leave me alone!"

"No." She moaned covering her ears to block out the words.

"NO!" But it was too late. As she opened eyes that she hadn't realized she'd shut, she could already hear the crackle of flames. She could feel the heat. "NO!!" she cried looking at her hands. She watched the flesh blacken and burn; mind and body numb from the intense pain as the flame ate away at her skin.

"STOP IT!!!" she screamed, "PLEASE STOP!!"

" ‘Dove?" The pain was suddenly gone, her hands still perfectly fine. Wisedove gasped as the different voice addressed her. Trembling, she gazed into the darkness waiting for the speaker to appear.

" ‘Dove, my little birdie is that you?"

"Father?" Wisedove could hardly believe it as her father, Treebreeze, emerged from the darkness, bringing with him an odd unnatural glow that barely illuminated a small circle of stone where Wisedove sat. How could it be true? "But…how?" She stammered in disbelief. "You…you were dead. This is another trick! You're not real!" Wisedove began moving away from him, but he halted her.

"Shhh," the elder tree shaper kneeled down and embraced his daughter. "Is that real enough for you?" Wisedove sat in her father's embrace feeling safe for the first time in High One's know how long, and finally, there seemed to be a glimpse at hope. Two tree shapers working together had a greater chance of escape than one alone. But wait…

"How did you get here? How did you find me? Why aren't you dead like the others?" Treebreeze gave a hearty chuckle.

"Tormented to the brink of insanity and still asking questions to no end." He smiled sadly at the disheveled elf, "Yes, you are my Cala.

"I prayed it was a trick." The elf said voice breaking. "I had convinced myself that they were lying, that there was no possible way that they could have captured you. That is why I'm here. I refused to believe you were really held captive days ago. I stopped being their pet treeshaper." His voice was full of bitterness as he said the last. He paused for a moment, the darkness that surrounded them was foreboding. "That's when they sent me here; to prove to me that you truly were a captive of the Dark Queen, and that all the terrible things…" He stopped suddenly unable to finish the thought.

"It's alright father." Wisedove said tenderly grasping her father's hand. "We're together now, and together we can escape this place. Are there others?" She asked eagerly. Perhaps more of her people had survived.

"Others," Treebreeze replied. "Yes there are others…so many more. They collect elves who retain the gift of the High Ones for their Dark Queen."

"They who?" ‘Dove inquired

"The She-demon and her followers. There are many, but the most powerful of them are aided by the queen's power. She gives them the energy of other elves increasing their power to a greatness I have never before seen. We know these few because apparently as an effect of the dark magic, their eyes glow when they use their abilities."

"Glowing eyes, like Jades." The comment was more inward than anything but Treebreeze replied.

"She seldom lowers herself to personally visit the other captive elves. I myself have never seen her face, but her voice, it has become the source of my nightmares."

"What of those whose magic is tapped?"

"The magic is a part of the being, and can never truly be removed from any individual elf, but when it is tapped, it is like draining the life force of that individual. She sends back her victims weak, barely conscious, but they recover within a few days. The unlucky ones are chosen as a sacrifice to one of the Queen's servants, and she will drain the elf's entire life force into the other in order to increase their power." Wisedove was cold all over. She could not believe what she was hearing.

"What kind of monster could do such a thing; to willingly and knowingly kill another elf?"

" ‘What kind of monster' indeed." Came Treebreez's response. "She is more than corrupt, she is evil itself. There are areas of this mountain dedicated to breeding a new generation of magic users. She forces mating and uses either corrupt or enslaved healers to create the babe. There are actual younglings here who were bred from birth to do Her will." There were tears in his eyes. The chill ‘Dove felt seemed to have become colder. She was physically trembling now.

"How do you know all of this?" She asked in as horrified whisper

"I've-aahhh!!" Treebreeze suddenly stopped, clutching his head.

"FATHER!" Wisedove cried in alarm. "What, what's wrong?"

"I've stayed here too long…" he said through clenched teeth, "I must go."

"No…no please!" The counselor felt her heart cease in fear. "Father don't leave me!" Already he was on his feet and staggering away into the darkness.

"I'm sorry Cala, I must!" With that, Treebreeze vanished leaving Wisedove once again utterly alone. She sat limp as the darkness and silence swarmed around her. She stared blankly at the floor, mind empty and numb. She let herself fall to the floor and lay there for a long, long time.

** **

The two eights of days spent waiting for the return of Skygem and Snowstreak were long and odious. Duskwhisper regained her strength after a few nights of rest. Her days were spent listlessly going about her day to day routine. She felt so helpless just sitting there waiting. For all she knew, the two gliders could have run into danger and would possibly not return from this trip. She could tell that the tension was taking its toll on the other Finders as well. Twittersong was not so bubbly as she is known to be, Summerstream was more irritable than usual, Jrean's music carried a tone of melancholy, Teean spent most of her time honing her fighting skills, Imberglow would wonder off into the forest and not return until the next day, even tiny Crystal who was far too young to understand what was happening seemed more somber. Windweaver attempted to ease his agitation by latching on to Longrunner and Smokeweaver, but even still, Duskwhisper often caught him looking forlorn towards sun down.

When the day finally arrived for the two scouts to return, there was scarcely a moment when the Finder's minds were not interrupted by an open send trying to contact the travelers. Finally, Duskwhisper told the others that she would handle the sendings from then on.

As the sun set on the day after the party was to return, Duskwhisper tried a final sending in hopes that her other Finders were near. There was no response, and she knew that the rest of the tribe knew that there was no response. Looking through the entrance to her den, Duskwhisper saw Windweaver dashing into the forest, his anguish apparent on his face. There was a terrible feeling in the pit of the healer's stomach. ‘What if I just sent two more of my tribe into the hands of darkness? What if they were captured? What have I done? I should have gone after Jade myself, but then I would have left my tribe without a chieftess. Would it have been better to have accepted Wisedove's sacrifice and simply done work to defend Stormsinger's Rest? No, no, that would never do. I’d have never been able to live with myself, and I would’ve lost the respect of the tribe. No, there was no other solution. There was nothing else to be done! Or am I just telling myself that to ease my guilt?’ The same endless flow of doubts and questions that had been plaguing her since Skygem and Snowstreak left hit Duskwhisper with even greater force than before. Why weren’t they back yet? What could’ve happened? A flood of scenarios engulfed the healer’s mind, and she determined then and there that she would take a hunting party out the next day to find them.

The next morning however brought a rude awakening to the Finders. The two lost elves had returned, somewhat disheveled but with hope in there eyes. The entire tribe emerged from their dens to hear the report. Duskwhisper waited expectantly as Skygem stepped first away from Snowstreak into Windweaver’s awaiting arms, then forward to deliver the report. The gleam in her eyes gave the others hope. Trembling with excitement, she triumphantly declared:

"We have found a way!"

** **

There was the darkness; a darkness Wisedove learned to embrace as a friend. She lay there on the stone floor for a time she could not even guess. For all she knew, it could have been a full turn of the seasons since her father left, but she knew also that that was impossible. In some dark corner of her mind logic insisted that she could never survive a turn of the seasons without food or water. She lay and waited for the end. Her friends had abandoned her, as had her father. No one would come to her aid. Death would be preferable to the aching knowledge of her complete and total abandonment, she was ready to let her soul fly free. The words of a song she had written came to mind, and she unconsciously began humming the melody.

**Come now councilor, despairing already?**

Wisedove heard Jade's words in her mind and ignored them; she no longer mattered.

**Lost Wisedove? Alone? Perhaps this next phase will be welcome to you.**

As the sending continued, two human females clad in very simple clothes emerged from the darkness.

**Perhaps you would enjoy the company of others for a time…but we wouldn't want you too comfortable…**

There was malice behind the sending. Wisedove felt a new rush of fear flood her senses as she followed the humans into the darkness. As she followed further and further, the silence of the darkness was broken by the sound of rock being shaped. Finally, there was light in the distance, the brightest light Wisedove has seen since arriving in this place. She entered the small chamber illuminated by torches all around. The light was painful to the councilor who had been engulfed in perpetual darkness for so long. There was an elf waiting for them when the small group arrived. He was slender, wearing a simple tunic and pants with boots. His hair was short, an interesting rusty brown color. The thing that caught Wisedove's attention though was his eyes. They were a stone gray and seemed as cold and apathetic as a rock wall.

"Do You plan to be difficult?" He asked blandly. Wisedove responded by bowing her head submissively. She allowed herself to be moved to the stone wall where the strange elf took her hand s and feet and pressed them into the rock.

‘Rockshaper’ Wisedove thought to herself as the elf stepped away and examined his handy work.

"Well done councilor. If you continue to behave this next phase will not be nearly so rough on your body."

**What?** she sent, unable to speak

"Oh," The elf shrugged " In the next chamber, there are several human males. They’ve been without females for a long while now." The rust-haired elf stepped directly in front of the captive Finder. "To be blunt, councilor, they will be allowed to have their way with you." He suddenly released a shrieking laughter. Wisedove was taken back by the sound; it was so different form the cool composed demeanor he had been showing when he first appeared. The laughter echoed madly through out the caves. As he exited, the wall she was originally brought through began to close behind him and an opposing wall began to open. Wisedove tried to call out, but her throat was parched, all she could manage was a hoarse croak. The wall sealed completely cutting off the mad laughter very suddenly. As the other wall opened, she could hear the sound of bodies shifting in the next room. Wisedove began to panic. She struggled hopelessly against her constraints.

‘Fool! Idiot!’ She cursed herself for her own weakness. ‘You were raised better than this. You were taught to always defend yourself, but when the training mattered most, you bow to your captors like a pet! FOOL!!!!" Wisedove averted her eyes closing them tight as she heard foot steps approaching. Her once white hair fell into her face revealing a dirty mass of gray tangles. She waited..........There was laughter...dark laughter...laughter that Wisedove would have known anywhere. Jade.

"I see you’ve met Dale." The Dark Lady said merrily enjoying the councilor’s shallow breathing and the fear in her eyes. "He is quite the practical jokester, either that or he is quite mad. One of my earlier experiments." she sighed fondly. "I think perhaps I allowed his mind to deteriorate a bit too much....but with you, I believe I’ve discovered the perfect formula to keep your desired qualities alive while blocking those less desirable." Wisedove stared in unchecked fear and confusion as Jade prattled on. It seemed as if ever time they met, she held a different personality. "Well, I suppose only time will tell." She was very excited. She suddenly became very serious again. "You should count yourself very lucky." The snake had returned in all her glory. Wisedove glared icicles at her. "Come now....don’t be mean." Jade said with a false pout.

"My Lady speaks truth, false-elf, you are very lucky." Ash emerged from the shadows and stepped forward to speak to the captive. "Somehow you have gained her favour. You should show respect to your merciful mistress." As a response, Wisedove spat what little moisture she had in her mouth in Jade’s general direction.

"Insolent troll!" Ash’s anger flared, and with it, his magic. Wisedove felt the air around her growing warmer. He grabbed her neck, pulling her head up and forcing her eyes to meet his.

"You will pay for this transgression." Wisedove saw the flames dancing in his eyes. The world was melting around her. Her entire body was burning. Every breath seared her lungs. As the world began tilting madly, the assault suddenly stopped.

"Now, Ash," Jade scolded, "We cant allow our guest of honor to leave before the party has begun." She turned to Wisedove and black sent a wave of anger that sent the councilor’s head slamming into the rock wall behind her. "Where would be the fun in that?" Ash chuckled in understanding as he ran a finger down Wisedove’s cheek, leaving a trail of seared flesh in its wake.

For the rest of that day, screams echoed from the inner corridors of the palace. The other inhabitants were used to it by now. The sound meant that a new servant was being prepared for her Dark Majesty.

** **

Teean awoke with a start, gasping for air. She wrapped her arms around herself trembling despite her den’s warmth. ‘Cala.’ she thought feeling her soul sister’s lingering presence, and atop it, the sickening aftertaste of fear, pain......betrayal. The former Skysinger climbed from her den to find Windweaver and Skygem emerging from their own. Skygem’s eyes were sparkling with tears. Teean looked to them both in understanding. Closing her eyes she sent to Duskwhisper.

**Chieftess...chieftesss we need to see you, please wake up.**

**I’m here Teean,** came Duskwhisper’s reply, **...I know.**

Shaking her head in grief, she led the way to the healer’s den. The three Finders found their chieftess standing outside her den staring into the skies.

"We leave at first light." she said absently, not turning to look at them, "Wake the others who are coming. We’ve no time to spare." They nodded in understanding.

"She thinks we abandoned her." Windweaver said before they left.

"I know." Was Duskwhisper’s only response. They saw the resolution and determination in her face. They knew that she was not planning on returning without Wisedove no matter what the cost to herself. In that moment, they were all of one mind, and thinking ahead to the tasks that needed to be accomplished before their departure, the other three Finders set to their duties leaving their chieftess to her thoughts.

** **

"Ash, come forward." The figure emerged from the shadows, a nightmare image; cold, heartless, insane. "Look upon him, and be afraid," the soul-stealer said softly. She took hold of Wisedove's chin, forcing her to look at the cruel-eyed, gray-haired elf in the flame-patterned clothing. "See in him the death of all you held dear, and be afraid."

The councilor wanted to run. She wanted to get away from this place as fast as she possibly could, but she could not. She sat at her captors’ mercy, hands and feet broken so that she could not go anywhere on her own. ‘Why!!!’ her mind screamed, ‘Why are they doing this?!?!’ Ash stepped nearer reaching a hand out towards her face. Jade placed an icy hand on her head and Ashes had fell atop it. As their flesh contacted, so did their minds. Wisedove heard words singing through her head.

‘Fear us.’ they said, ‘Fear us, and through that fear, become one with us.’ Wisedove saw into the mind of Ash. There was awesome power there, and freedom. Freedom like she had never known before. Anything he wanted, he could have. Anything he wanted to do, he did. Simple, total, freedom. Part of her sighed in longing while the rest of her cringed in horror. She thought of all the suffering his freedom had brought to others and felt sick to the very core of her being. However, that small reflexive twinge of desire had been enough for Jade. The councilor’s mind, usually incredibly strong was weak and confused now. The slightest slip could so easily be exploited. And exploited it was.

Jade ever so gently pulled at that small twinge of desire while at the same time, repressing the councilors logic centers.

‘Freedom, Cala.’ she silently suggested, ‘Isn’t that what you’ve always longed for?’

‘No, not like that. That kind of freedom kills!’ She was trying to resist. Jade smiled at the futility and increased her assault.

‘You long for it Cala. Embrace it, accept it. You know that here is where you belong.’

‘Where I belong?’ Wisedove’s confused mind probed that information for truth. ‘No. I belong elsewhere. The others...I belong with them!’

‘But they abandoned you, remember? You are alone now. No one to tell you what to do anymore. No one to suppress your true desires. What is it that you want Cala? In the deepest core of your being...what do you want?’ Jade was now in full control of her captive’s responses without the prisoner ever being aware of it. This was the final stage. Wisedove still believed that her thoughts were her own, and would now become a willing follower of her Dark Majesty.

‘Your desires young one...tell me.’

‘Power.’ came Wisedove’s response. ‘And the freedom to use that power as I see fit.’

‘So shall it be.’ Wisedove opened her eyes and looked up into the faces of Ash and Jade. Only moments before, they had been the faces of absolute evil, darkness twisted beyond all comprehension, but now...now those faces seemed different. She saw in them her future. They were Lord and Lady, companions. She hoped that some day she could call herself their equal, but for now she settled for being in the presence of their divinity. Awestricken and speechless, Wisedove dropped her head and bowed.

** **

Wisedove’s heart was pounding, but this time not in fear. She was in the process of being purified for her initiation ceremony which meant that soon, she would be brought before the Queen. Never before in her live had she been so nervous and excited at the same time. A healer had been summonsed to mend her broken hands and feet, and Jade herself assisted in the cleansing process. Wisedove knew that her entire life was about to change, and as Jade’s fingers ran gently through her hair, the treeshaper knew that this was where she was meant to be.

As Wisedove stepped from the cleansing pool, servants brought heavy robes to wrap her in. Jade led the way to a lighted chamber where servants dried her hair and adorned it with a crown of leaves. When they finished, they exited the room, leaving Wisedove alone with her thoughts.

‘Soon,’ a foreign voice echoed through her mind. ‘Soon.’ Jade appeared at the entrance to the chamber.

"Come," she said. "Mother awaits your arrival." Wisedove stood, clothed in nothing but the robes given to her, and followed Jade down the dark corridors.

The chamber she entered was immense, and darkly beautiful. Fountains flowed from the rock walls, cutting paths around blazing torches that illuminated the entire chamber...all but one place. The furthest wall of the chamber remained in shadow. She knew that there awaited her destiny.

"Step forward." said a voice from out of the shadows. A voice dark with power and strong with wisdom. Wisedove stepped boldly to greet the queen. As she approached her throne, the councilor saw a long flowing gown that surrounded the throne area. She continued forward revealing the intricate designs on the gown’s torso, then she was commanded to stop. The queen’s face and a part of the throne were still hidden from Wisedove’s eyes. She was anxious to behold the queen in all her glory, but Wisedove obeyed, she stopped where she stood.

"Well Finder, I trust your stay here has been....educational?" The queen spoke in casual tones of Wisedove’s imprisonment.

"I have learned much, majesty." Wisedove responded, head bowed.

"Explain." Wisedove wasn’t quite sure how to explain what she felt, but she attempted to anyway.

"In my time here," she began "I found myself alone, truly alone for the first time in my life. Before, there had always been someone for me to either turn to or care for, but this time, there was no one. I found myself alone and abandoned by all those I believed cared for me. Left to my fate by my so called friends. It gave me time to think." She paused for a moment in silent contemplation. "I realized I’ve been living my life for everyone but myself. I have denied every part of my being in order to please or nurture those around me. It ends now. My lady helped me to realize that here is where I belong, among magic users who aren’t afraid to use their gifts however they wish. Among peers who will not persecute. I now understand, that this is the only place that could ever be my true home."

There was silence from the queen. Wisedove’s heart began to pound.

‘I’ve displeased her.’ she thought fearfully. ‘She will turn me away for sure.’

"Tell me Cala, do you admire my throne room?" The question was so odd and sudden that Wisedove almost gasped in surprise.

"Yes, majesty. It is lovely." She hesitated.

"Yes?" the queen asked sensing her trepidation, "Do you have something to add to that opinion?"

"It’s just," She began, "it seems somehow.....bare, as though something were missing."

"True." came the queen’s response. "And how would you alleviate that problem, Cala?"

"I don’t know...."she said trying to figure out what was missing, "I don’t know."

"Step forward." Wisedove obeyed. She was ordered to kneel at the queen’s feet. She felt a slender hand fall upon her head, then, a surge of energy like she had never experienced before in life. Her heart was filling with light, it would soon explode from the power. Her skin was sparkling, sizzling like a burning fire. She felt herself melting away, dissolving in the power, sweet power......

When Wisedove opened her eyes tiny points of light swarmed before her eyes. She beheld the queen for the first time, and was over come by joy. She could not breath, she could not speak, she could not think for the awe she felt at that moment. The queen spoke.

"These walls represent the elemental magic users within my ranks." She began. "stone, water, fire, but as you said, one is missing. I require life; such life that can only be provided by a treeshaper."

A smile spread across the shaper’s face, she understood now. She had just been accepted into the Court of Magic-users, Her Majesty’s closest servants. She felt she would go mad from happiness.

"Arise," came the queen’s words. "declare yourself to your people, and add to our power." As the shaper arose, she noticed three other robed figures that emerged from the shadows. Her new brethren. She turned to find that above her, an innumerable amount of onlookers had appeared, elves and humans alike. Smiling, she stepped boldly forward into the center of the throne room to address them directly, reveling at the power that danced within her, surging through her blood.

"What was is no longer!" she declared to the spectators. Her words echoed madly. "She that I lived as in the past died in the flame of our queen’s power. I declare myself Ivy, new born child of Her Majesty. I bring forth life to make her power complete!" With those word’s Ivy closed her eyes in concentration, arms spread above her head. Soon, the chamber began to tremble and from below came vines. They snaked their way up the walls, coiling around torches, adorning the fountains. The chamber’s walls were covered with vines, the fourth element now in place. Ivy observed her work with pride. The chamber roared with cheers. The power was great, but the exertion was tiring. She fell to her knees in exhaustion. She felt herself succumbing to fatigue when suddenly, she was lifted in someone’s arms. She struggled to keep her eyes open to find out the persons identity; it was Dale. She smiled at the thought of his protection and companionship, then allowed herself to be enveloped into the sleep that was beckoning her.

** **

When she awoke, Ivy felt a sense of peace that she had not felt for a very long time. How foolish she had been in the past, seeking family from a wild pack of savages. Lying, traitorous wretches! I trusted them ,and they abandoned me. They will pay for my suffering. All of them! There was an odd rustling sound all around her. Ivy surveyed her quarters to find that there was foliage everywhere and it was coiling and wreathing in sympathy with her anger. They’re mine to control. She realized with glee. She sat up from her resting position to survey more fully her chambers. It was lovely. Full of life and fresh air. there was an opening in the rock overlooking the forest and allowing sunlight to stream in. She luxuriated in the light, absorbing its energy, feeling it replenish her. She had been resting on thick soft furs, and lying on the ledge of the opening was a gown of soft materials. She dressed herself then, placing rings of leaves around her head, wrists, and ankles before exiting her chamber. As she stepped through the threshold into one of the castles corridors, a serving boy crashed into her knocking her into the chamber wall. Irrational anger flooded her senses as she looked down on the boy who was now cowering on the floor; a truly wretched creature. A sinister idea formed in her mind. She wanted to test her power. Smiling slightly, she called a vine to herself. With pet-like obedience, it came to her side. She directed it towards the boy who was still trembling on the floor. It snaked around his leg and continued up his body.

"A-a-apologies milady." he finally stammered suddenly realizing the his peril. "I...I didn’t..." His words trailed off as he realized they were having no effect on the crazed shaper. "Please!" He begged as the vine snaked around his neck and began to squeeze. "Don’t." he managed weakly as the life was squeezed out of him. The vine was tightening with crushing strength. He couldn’t hold on much longer. Ivy took dark pleasure in holding this creatures life in thrall. She was ready to take it, to squeeze him out of existence when suddenly her body was racked with pain. Her control of the vine left her as every inch of her flesh seemed to scream out in agony. The power...it was leaving her, but she couldn’t survive without it. She fell to her knees, vaguely heard the boy collapsing to the floor and crawling away. She was cold all over. Freezing, dying. She couldn’t live without that flame of energy at her core.

**Sister!** She sent out in panic. **help me!**

**Fear not.** came Jade’s calming presence. **You have expended your abilities and need replenishing. Learn from this experience, conserve your power always.** She could only lay freezing in the corridor until she felt strong arms lift her yet again. It was Dale. Why was it always Dale? From her first day out of her stone prison of night, he had been their, first her tormentor, now her savior, and they had not exchanged any words since her initiation into the inner circle of power. He seemed to have surprising gentleness for someone so callous. How odd. Troubling thoughts left her mind though as her body was racked with another painful spasm of ice. She sank trembling into his arms until she reached the queen’s chambers and found sweet relief in the flame of power.

** **

Ivy awoke for the second time that day to find that she was not alone. Dale sat quietly by the window observing the outside world.

"You again." She commented softly as she sat up from her resting position. "Why always you?"

"What do you mean, Ivy?" He asked in response.

"From my first day as part of you, I’ve noticed that when I am in need of anything, you are always there to provide it." She said. "Why?"

"Because I am yours." he replied simply. "Jade and Ash are constantly on call by her Majesty, Merin, our water shaper, is busy on projects of his own. I was assigned to you because our work will often coincide. Until you are accustomed to this place, I will be your guide. Ask of me anything you wish."

"Anything?" Ivy asked suggestively.

"Anything you desire." He responded with a slight smile.

"Well then, Dale," She said rising, seductive in her new gown, "I suppose you should give me the grand tour." She glided smoothly out the door way of her room, and Dale followed close behind her.

Over the course of the next several days, Ivy was shown the basic lay out of the palace and given her duties. She worked often in the breedery, using her vines as restraints for particularly difficult prisoners. She even had the opportunity once to work with Jade in the conversion of the mind of another, using her ability to "go out" in order to link with the other and weaken his resistance. He would be a mindless follower with no will of his own, but Ivy still felt great pride in bringing this fortunate creature under her Majesty’s wing. It had only been eight and six days sense she had become part of the palace, and already she felt more at home there than she ever had anywhere else.

She was working with Dale outside the palace when she received a sending

**Hold on Cala, we’re coming.** A familiar presence called to her. Ivy halted her work immediately, stretching her senses, trying to locate the sender and find out how many she had with her. She could not pinpoint a location, but she knew they were near.

"It will be good to see you again sister." She said bitterly to herself. He blood ran cold with the thoughts of their betrayal. "I just hope our chieftess was kind enough to join you."

"What is it?" Dale asked darkly from her side.

"Get everyone inside the palace walls and double the sentries on watch." She ordered softly, anger glistening in her lavender eyes. "We’ll be having guests soon." She turned quickly towards the entrance to go warn her queen. By the time she reached the throne room, her anger had grown to a full blown blaze of hatred.

"Majesty," She said falling to one knee before the throne. My former tribe approaches the fortress."

"I know." came a thoughtful reply. "I sense the presence of the child of Stormsinger."

"I have already called for reinforcements to secure the entrances, they will not enter unnoticed, nor shall they escape."

"But hey shall enter untouched." Ivy gasped in shock at the queen’s words, not sure she had heard correctly.

"Majesty?" She asked in a quivering voice.

"It is time for you to be tested in battle Lady Ivy. This is your chance to seek revenge against those who betrayed you." As understanding dawned on her, Ivy’s heart swelled with joy, or anger, sorrow or pain. She couldn’t tell which.

"I will not fail you majesty," she said gratefully, then rose to prepare for battle.

** **

"I don’t understand," Teean said from their hiding place outside the perimeter of the mountain. "She wont answer my sendings."

"All the more reason for us to hurry." Duskwhisper said solemnly. As she did, Skygem came drifting down from above.

"The entrance is still open." She reported in hushed tones. "It’s big enough for us all to slip in with ease. I didn’t see any guards around the opening either."

"Just because you can’t see them doesn’t mean they’re not there." Snowstreak interjected. "No one would be foolish enough to leave a opening in defenses unattended."

"Snowstreak’s right," Duskwhisper addressed the others who had joined her on the rescue mission. "There will probably be guards, and we will probably be forced to fight them, but remember we have no choice. We came here to save Wisedove, and we’re not leaving without her; no matter what." She knew that she was basically wasting her breath because everyone there was just as determined to bring their friend back as she was. She surveyed the small group; six in all. She had allowed the former Skysingers come along basically because they would have it no other way. Twittersong and Snowstreak were there because she knew they would probably need all the gliders she had. Everyone in the group was trained in fighting, but for the most part, they were all inexperienced in the type of operation that they were about to undertake, but she couldn’t worry about that right now. In fact there was only one thing that she felt justified in fearing, and that was the thought that there would be other elves in there trying to kill them. That was the ultimate terror in her mind. She couldn’t imagine one of her own kin trying to take her life. Nor could she imagine taking the life of another, but all of this was very likely to happen once they entered those walls. A small chill went down her spine at the thought, but she shook it off. There was no turning back now.

"Alright," she began, "we’ll go in two at a time. Snowstreak and Windweaver, then Skygem and Teean, then Twittersong and myself." She turned to the two males. "You two will be there alone for a bit. It’s up to you to secure the area. If you run into any trouble, send for help and we’ll all be there in a matter of life beats." They both nodded in understanding. "Well then," she said with a sigh, "that’s all. Good luck." The two stood and readied themselves. Windweaver and Skygem embraced before he left.

"I’ll see you inside." He said to her reassuringly, then grabbed Snowstreak around the wrists and allowed the glider to pull him to the dark mountain.

Ironically, it turns out that the entrance Skygem and Snowstreak found was the opening into Lady Ivy’s sleeping chambers. The first two infiltraters arrived landing in the odd, plant covered room with no clue that the one they were here to save had spent so many nights in that very chamber. When they arrived, there was no sign of danger. Skygem and Teean arrived shortly after followed by Twittersong and Duskwhisper.

"This is way too easy." Twittersong said in bafflement. The bubbly glider was being surprisingly serious for a change. "This feels really wrong."

"She knows we’re here." Duskwhisper said in a quiet voice.

"No way," Teean said firmly. "There’s no way anyone saw or heard us approaching."

"None of that matters." Duskwhisper said in a knowing tone. "She probably sensed our presence

the moment we came anywhere near this fortress."

"Duskwhisper you’re making no sense." Snowstreak said bluntly. "We all know that Jade is powerful, but not even she could sense our presence from that distance."

"Not Jade." The chieftess said somberly. "Her mistress. She spoke to me when Jade had captured me. I never realized it until now, being so close to her presence, but I think she’s been calling to me from the beginning."

"Well if she knows we’re here, there’s no way she’d let us any where near Wisedove." Twittersong said showing surprising logic. "We should leave; come up with a better plan before we all are captured." Duskwhisper only shook her head.

"It’s already too late. She’s waiting for us." The chieftess walked smoothly from the chamber holding herself tall and proud. Her other tribemates followed her admiring her strength under even these dire circumstances, but inside, Duskwhisper was cursing herself. She had led these five to there doom, and let Wisedove down as well. Six lives destroyed because of her. She hoped that her punishment would be fitting for such a heinous crime.

** **

"They’re coming." Jade hissed in excited delight. "Ready yourselves for battle." Ivy stood from her kneeling position in front of the queen. She had just received the full essence of another, the whole of his life force being emptied into her. She had never before felt so powerful. Revenge would be sweet. Dale had sealed all other pathways between Ivy’s chambers and the throne room. The Finders had no where to go but straight into the waiting darkness. It would be an easy capture. The dark elves waited in anticipation for their prey.

** **

As the group traveled further away from the opening in the mountain, the light became thinner and thinner until they were traveling in complete darkness and they were forced to feel along the walls in order to know where they were going. They had been traveling for a while through several twists and turns when suddenly it ended. Each groped for wall, but found only air. They could feel rather than see that they were now in a vast chamber instead of the narrow corridor they had been traveling through.

**I don’t like this.** Skygem sent, **We should turn back.**

**We can’t.** Windweaver sent back to her. **The opening is sealed.** Apparently he’d had the same thought, but when he reached back for the opening they had come through, it had been sealed somehow. The six stood silently as the darkness wrapped them in a blanket of uncertainty. The tension between them was palpable. They could almost hear each other’s hearts pounding.

The attack came suddenly, without warning. One moment they were all standing, unsure of what to do, the next, they were ensnared in...something. Two torches flared to life on either side of the now bound group giving them enough light to see that what ensnared them was vine from the walls, but not enough light to see to the entire chamber. From the back, they could see lights in the darkness. Glowing pin points that hovered in pairs. There were five pairs in all. Those on the outside were a river blue and a burning red-gold. The pairs second from last were a cold, stone-gray and a haunting lavender shade. From the center of the line shone an all too familiar pair of glowing green eyes. All of their hearts were pounding at the prospect of what the glowing lavender to her right could mean. They would not have long to wait before they found out.

Slowly, the green eyes moved forward and Jade stepped into the light, smiling at the captives.

"What have you done with Wisedove?" Duskwhisper asked boldly.

"Oh, she’s here." Jade said casually. "Right behind me in fact." The two lavender points of light drifted towards the firelight revealing a pale slender face framed in snow-white hair.

"Hello." Ivy said with a cruel smile. The group was in a state of shock.

"Wisedove! You’re alright!" Teean cried in relief.

"Silence." The shaper snapped sending a vine around Teean’s mouth. "I have nothing to say to any of you." The captives were very confused now.

"You see," Jade began, answering their unspoken questions, "your Wisedove had a bit of an epiphany while she was here. Discussions were had, decisions were made, and she decided that it would be best for her to stay here with us." She smiled sweetly. "At least one more of you will probably be making the same decision after our...persuasion process. That would be you, chieftess." She called Duskwhisper to her with a ‘borrowed’ treeshaping ability so that the healer’s face was a finger’s length from her own.

"Release her she-snake." Snowstreak said in warning tones. Jade ignored him.

"Oh, the plans mother has for you." She said wistfully, then suddenly licked the chieftess up the length of her left cheek. "Hmm....Duskwhisper comes with me." She announced to the other Finders who immediately started protesting. Jade looked to Ivy who promptly tightened the vines squeezing the air from their bodies.

"The rest of you will be sent either to our breedery or to indoctrination," Jade continued, "But first, I’ll let Ivy here have her fun with you." Ivy gave a malevolent bow to her dark sister as Jade turned, Duskwhisper struggling against her bonds as she was pulled along by the vines. Windweaver seized the opportunity where neither female’s attention was on the group, he closed his eyes in concentration and sent a powerful gust at Ivy, sending her flying to the back of the chamber. The vines immediately lost their hold on the Finders and they each collapsed to the floor, lying flat as the wind continued to howl through the chamber. They were all again plunged into darkness as the wind blew out the torches. Duskwhisper was free, Jade being knocked off of her feet by the unexpected attack, but she had no idea where the rest of her tribe was.

Soon the wind dissipated and suddenly, the entire room was illuminated by torch light. The three other dark elves had been blown back, Ash awakening flames from where he landed behind the queen’s throne.

"Curse those trolls!" he muttered to himself. "I’ll burn every one of them!"

"Calm yourself Ash." Ivy said darkly from behind him. "They will be dealt with."

The others were recovering, regrouping to figure out a plan of attack. Windweaver groggily stumbled towards the others, a voice whispering in his mind.

‘You will come to me as well, young weather shaper.’ It said. ‘You and the child of Stormsinger.’ ‘Weaver shook his head to clear the voice from his mind but no sooner had he reached the others than they were all again snared in vines.

**Your power has grown, Tanner.** Ivy sent to him from the back of the room. **I’m impressed, but don’t try that again.** He was about to prepare another gust when he suddenly felt his power vanish.

"She warned you." Jade said separating each syllable as she stared at him. "This is your last chance; be good." Just as she finished her words, a powerful wave of confusion, anger, betrayal, disgust, and pain emanated from the back of the chamber. The vines lost their grip suddenly, setting the Finders free, but before they could move, they were caught in Jade’s mental grip, frozen in place. "Ivy, what is it?" She called back, voice filled with annoyance.

Ivy had placed her hand on the ground next to her for balance as she prepared to stand, but instead of landing on stone, her hand fell on flesh. She looked down in shock. The elf whose live was given to her had been blown beside her in the wind storm. As she looked into his blank empty eyes, understanding dawned on her and she was appalled by the knowledge that flooded her mind. She heard Jade call to her from the front of the chamber, and had to fight against the nausea that had befallen her. "My own father?!" She cried in a broken voice, entangling all the other dark elves in her vines. "You fed me power from my own father?!!?" A lifeless Treebreeze lay on the floor beside her, face contorted in a final cry of despair. Jade spat a curse and directed her suppressing ability at Wisedove to loose the power of her vines. In the battle, Jade’s mind had been so preoccupied with the capture, she had not been able to keep her hold on the treeshaper’s mind. Now, she was fighting against the other’s power which was substantial as it was aided by the life of the other and the counselor’s anger.

Wisedove broke free of Jade’s hold and sent vines lacing through the chamber. Skygem managed to dodge the vines and get to Wisedove, grabbing her and flying back to the others.

"We have to get out of here!" Twittersong cried helping the youth carry their friend to the ground. Wisedove was uncontrollably calling vines from everywhere, her mind in a tumultuous, impenetrable storm.

"There is no way out!" Skygem called back to her. Just as she said this, an opening began to form in the back wall revealing bright sunshine outside.

"NO!!" Jade cried as she saw her prey about to escape. They saw her readying for an attack, but Windweaver beat her to it. He sent a powerful gust to the back of the chamber blowing the dark one off her feet. A vine shot out the opening in the rock, then plants suddenly halted in their twining, and Wisedove cried out grabbing her head in pain. Memories were being distorted, thoughts twisted. She was being pulled again into a swirling darkness, just as she had been when her home was destroyed. As she fought against the darkness, she called out to her guide.

**Dale! Why? Why are you helping us?!**

**Because you are not meant for here.** Came his sad reply. **I have no choice. I am Her’s completely, but you are not....not yet. Escape with your friends. Forget this place, forget me. Good-bye, Wisedove.**

**Dale!! Thank you.** The last thoughts faded away as she was swallowed by the darkness in her mind.

The Finders headed for the exit when suddenly, Duskwhisper’s mind was assaulted.

**You are mine, child of Stormsinger.** Jade’s voice rang through her head suppressing her will.

"No!" She cried through clenched teeth. Windweaver sent a final gust through the chamber to break the hold, and both he and the chieftess collapsed to the floor in exhaustion. Twittersong lifted the unconscious councilor in her arms, Snowstreak grabbed the weakened Windweaver, and Skygem took hold of their chieftess. Teean grabbed the vine snaking through the opening and began climbing down with the skill of an experienced rock climber. The stone closed around the vine protecting them from the she-snake’s wrath.

** **

Within the mountain, Jade was unleashing her wrath on Dale. By the time she was done with him, he was a quivering wretch on the floor. A silent observer shook his head in pity for the poor elf from the overhead observation deck. ‘He wasn’t such a cold-hearted lunatic after all.’ The other fire-shaper thought.

"Do you have a problem Flare?!" Jade called up to him. He had become accustom to the dark lady’s uncanny powers of perception. He didn’t think she knew he was there; he should have known better.

"No Sister; none at all." He called down to her. Sahkshen hated the stupid elemental name given to him when he joined the ranks of the Dark Queen, but back then, he’d thought it a minor sacrifice for the glory he would gain in days to came, but he was becoming more and more uncertain of his choice, and today, those elves fought against the dark ones and won! Perhaps there would be another winning side in this battle. Perhaps he had just found his way out of this madness. ‘Duskwhisper, chieftess of the Finders.’ thought with interest. He stood and strolled back to his chambers, the name echoing through his mind.

** **

The trip home for the Finders was uneventful except for the poor condition of the group. it took some time for Duskwhisper to recover from the mental assault, Windweaver had extended himself very far in using his magic so much, and Wisedove could not be awaken from her death-like sleep. After three days, the others were recovered, but Wisedove’s condition had not changed. Duskwhisper decided to start healing sessions with the councilor which seemed to have some effect, but not the effect desired. Wisedove’s sleep was no longer quite so death-like. She would often awake screaming with no idea of where she was or who the people around her were. She would sit in a panic for several moments then collapse back into her sleep. Even as she slept, she seemed to be having disturbing dreams and would often awake in a cold swat apparently unable to see. Making matters worse, she seemed to be suffering some adverse effect of her separation from the power feed she had received from the queen. Her body was racked with painful spasms that Duskwhisper could not alleviate despite her skill s a healer. She would lie trembling as if cold, but at the same time sweating profusely.

It took the group two eights days to get back to their holt, Wisedove not progressing much throughout the trip. Finally, on the second day they were home, the illness broke an the snow-haired maiden fell into a peaceful sleep. Duskwhisper looked thankfully down at her friend, smoothing her hair some.

"Rest now." She told her. "You’re finally safe."

Wisedove remained sleeping for six days more and on the seventh day, she awoke. She yawned and stretched her stiff joints rubbing her eyes.

"Good morrow, Teean." She said to her friend in bafflement as she threw her arms around the councilor, face streaked with tears. "Is there something wrong?"

"You’re okay!" Teean cried emotionally

**Cala, you’re okay.** Wisedove just embraced her dear friend, not knowing what else to do.

"You don’t remember anything." Duskwhisper said from the den entrance, addressing Wisedove.

"It is difficult to remember anything on an empty stomach. I don’t know why I am so hungry, or weak for that matter." She said lying back down on her furs.

"We’ll talk about it after you eat." Duskwhisper said and sent for food.

** **

Wisedove ate a thin meal, all of the tribe stopping in to visit at one point or another. by the time she was finished eating, Wisedove was fretting what would cause such odd behavior from the others. Duskwhisper entered the tree den signaling that all others should leave. The councilor looked up at the chieftess in concern.

"Windweaver just handed me new leathers in the same style as my other ones, but what happened to my other ones?" She asked. "Duskwhisper, what happened?"

"You were captured by Jade and her mistress." The healer said bluntly. "You must have suppressed the memories. You’ve been in a deep sleep for over three eights days now." Wisedove looked at her in shock, unable to speak.

"Are you serious?" She asked finally.

"I’m afraid so." Duskwhisper replied. "Your memories will probably come back with time." Wisedove lay on her furs silently for a moment. "Are you alright ‘Dove?"

"Yes." Wisedove replied. "I was just thinking that I might not want those memories back." Duskwhisper smiled in sympathy for her friend.

"You should rest now," She told her, "You need to regain your strength." With that, the chieftess left the councilor to her thoughts.

** **

TBC…