I would propose we two meet at first light tomorrow, on the edge of the Forest of Shadows, it will be a hard day's travel to the foothills of the Vine Growth Mountains and thence upward to where I last saw the band.)

We will be traveling light (on foot) with only the basic supplies and don't forget your rope.) perhaps some journey bread also and any other easily packed travel worthy foodstuffs if you have a preference there.)

I look forward to your assistance and companionship..:) Kindest Regards
Gemstorm,
*Novice Ranger
*****
Double-checking her gear, Gemstorm sighs with aggravation, her arrows are in a dismal state and only a few are feathered well enough to fly true if needs must. The rest must be refletched, and now, for the upcoming journey, through always perilous land.)

Setting a small pot of glue at the side of her campfire, she pulls out her journal and brings it up to date while the glue softens.

*Having found a fellow ranger to accompany me on this wild pony round-up, is sure to bring my long hunt to satisfying conclusion. We leave at first light for the upper ranges of the Vine Growth Mountains where the band feeds on the new grasses that spring up behind the retreating snows.

Lasca (meaning noble one in my people's tongue) as I have come to call him over these long weeks of trailing the group, is a most unusual young stallion, caring for his little bachelor band like a seasoned stallion cares for his herd of mares. He seems to be especially caring of the smallest in the group, a little bay fellow with a bright blaze and unfortunately for his survival in those rocky lands, a split hoof. I think that he is also a winterborn foal and lost his dam in some mischance for he is markedly smaller than the rest.

Lasca watches over him and is ever near to his side in an almost human way. Most peculiar actually and further increases my certainty that I am close to solving a mystery of my own childhood and closing fast upon the genesis of one of my people's most romantic legends.

Gemstorm stares bemusedly into the fire, only rousing herself when the smell of scorching glue assaults her nose..bleh.

The arrows are soon repaired and all is in readiness for the morrow. Banking the fire she curls up and drifts off to sleep, first light would waken her as it always did. She had every confidence that her new companion would be more than fit for the journey, novice status to the side, Rangers were born to the breed so to speak and she fully anticipated learning much from her new companion as well as sharing her own hard won lore.

****
Hearing her name called, Gemstorm looks up with a bright smile, “Good morrow and well met, Ranger decky Before we depart, I have some pepper cured jerky here that Salvatorey prepared for us, and also while at the Inn, our expedition appears to have excited some small interest from Lord Kreager, who had wise counsel which along with your share of the dried meat I will pass along.

He warned strongly of the dire beasts that roam the mountains and I harkened especially to his mention of ice wolves?..Wolves at any rate and they will have no particulars whether they dine upon ranger or wild pony, this time of year when winter has gaunted them. I think we must keep sharp eyes out for any sign of their presence.

Also Lord Kraeger asked that we map our journey as we find it, for he desires to know the changes in the terrain since the days of his own errantry upon the land.

Gemstorm grinned ruefully, remembering the interview with Lord Kraeger. A thoroughly terrifying old man though for all his bluster his sage counsel was more kindly intended than he wished for any to believe it to be.

At any rate, if it is a gift of yours to make a good map I would cozzen thee to do so, as my map making is utterly appalling.

And now let us depart, swiftly and silently for we take an old game trail through the forest that leads us with dispatch to the foothills of the Vine Growth Mountains.

Seeing decky's nod of assent, Gemstorm settled her pack on her shoulders, picked up her bow and faded into the forest, setting a goodly pace with decky ghosting along behind her.

Nooning found them well on their way, with no untoward occurrences though decky had softly called out a caution earlier as he sensed some inimical thing in the area they were passing through.

The light began to lay long upon the trail as day slowly waned into late afternoon, the ground covering ranger lope had brought them well into the mountains when Gemstorm pulled up and turned to decky saying.. "Let us make camp here somewhere." Waving her hand in a general sweep of the rock-strewn landscape. "We can start afresh in the morning, there is a spring-fed pool an hour's travel up from here where the wild ponies are wont to drink and mayhap we will find tracks of the band we seek.

If you wish to reconnoiter our camping site, I will scout around for some deadwood to light our fire. The night will be very cold and besides warmth I think the fire will keep most creatures well away from us though I do believe we should take turns on watch for I harken yet to the words and warnings of Lord Kreager".

****
Decky takes the dried the beef jerky from Gemstorm and stows it in his pack whilst listening intently to what she is saying his lips widen into a broad grin at the mention of Kreager's name knowing that his friend would have some advice and always seemed to give it, letting the thought rest he continued to listen.

At the mention of ice wolves his ears perk up as he had a few fun ins with the forest wolves of late that seemed to be especially hungry this time of year ice wolves would be famished and eager for some hot meat.

As for the map Lord Kraeger had asked for, he had not packed a quill or any paper to mark on, but it would be no problem as his elven heritage had given him a keen sense of memory and it wouldn't take long to jot down his findings when back at the inn, to pass on to his friend.

He follows Gemstorm up the trail keeping his ears pinned for anything unusual after about two hours of travel he softly calls out to Gemstorm "Be Wary milady as I feel the presence of something lurking in the forest and can also smell it I am unsure weather it has noticed our passing and I am sure we do not want to meet it. Seeing Gemstorm's nod, he continues along behind her, ever wary of his surroundings.

As the sun was just starting to peek upon the horizon Gemstorm turned to him motioning for him to break camp he nods in approval at the site she had chosen and begins to set things in place noticing a small rock face he heads toward it thinking

Nothing like solid rock to defend your back from a pack of hungry wolves knowing how they usually like to circle their victims he chooses a spot where it would be easy for one with hands, to climb if need be, He then gathers some fallen rocks and sets them in a circle near where he had laid out the bed rolls making a small fire he sets some kindling alight with some other bigger bits of wood from around where he is kneeling.

Seeing Gemstorm return with some deadwood, he motions for her to set it down near the fire, leaving her to tend to her things he takes a short tour of the surrounding area stopping every now and to listen and taste the wind Still Feeling the presence he felt earlier but at a great distance he heads back to the camp he tells Gemstorm of strange thing in the forest and readies himself for the night.

****
"Well done, decky, you have seen admirably to our needs for shelter as well as some defense if needs must...She looks around the camp area with satisfied approval.

"I am sommat concerned about this unknown but unwholesome sounding creature that you have detected snuffling along in our wake. Let us hope it has returned to the Forest and found other sport.

So saying, Gemstorm rummages in her pack and pulls out a small pan, which she fills with water from her canteen and sets to boil upon the now merrily burning fire.

"If ye would care for a bit of hot tea, decky, I have plenty to share. Travel biscuits and dried meat are good, but hot tea, refreshes the heart and mind, as well as the body.."

"The morrow should with luck set us quickly upon the track of the band we are seeking. Though we may sight other bands, the one we look for is led by a pure black pony with a distinguishing white jagged stripe that runs from his ears, along his neck and down his right side to his hoof.

"There is story in the lore of my folk about a pony with just that sort of marking, that long and long ago, appeared at the spring herd tally in the company of a moonwhite mare with pale green eyes. The two were inseparable and the stallion was ever at her side, touching her with his nose and it seemed to those that observed the pair, guiding her gently. The folk thought the mare must be blind for she was never far from her friend.

The season turned ever toward fall and the two ponies remained with the herd, the black stallion would suffer no other herd stallion near his moonwhite mare but other than that offered no challenge and was allowed to roam the grasslands in easy proximity to the rest of the herd.

One late summer night, the nightriders noted the herd grew uneasy, milling and forming and reforming in small anxious groups. But whatever disturbed them, passed and they quieted down.

It was the hour of false dawn when suddenly a violent plains storm was heralded with a flash of lightening that struck the ground and the thunder rolled, it seemed forever. The herd bolted in full stampede, the nightriders desperately lathering their mounts to get to the head and turn the leaders before they in their panic went over the bluffs taking the whole lot with them.

The rain was a curtain of water and the lightening continued to strike, giving the whole scene an eerie otherworldly cast. Over the thundering of hooves, cracking of the drover's whips, and frightened whinnies of the horses there came a stentorian stallion's call. And answering a lighter more feminine sounding mare replying.

(My great-uncle was riding that night so I get some of this from him..:)

Lasca (as he was named by our people) had become separated from Cariad who had leaped to her feet and was swept away from his side in the first rush of the herd.

She had no choice but to run and how terrifying it must have been for her to be running blind in that confusion.

Lasca continued to scream to her and desperately galloped among the others, trying to catch up with her. The drovers rode like gods that night and gained the head of the herd. Turning them at the last possible moment back toward the safety of the open range. The storm tailed off into a steady rain and by dawn it had passed. The herd grazed peaceably and the weary riders returned to the camps, a fresh party of riders went out to round up any stragglers and tally the lost horses for there are always down horses after a stampede like that.

They eventually came upon a pitiful sight (and we are not a sentimental folk) Lasca stood over a fallen still white form. His Cariad had taken a false step and gone down, as some do, and some flying hoof had struck her head, ending her life.

But the riders were completely mazed when they got closer to see not a white mare laying in the grass but a young woman with long moon white hair cloaked about her form.

Lasca stood over her, keening his grief and was not easily moved away, that the riders could lift that poor white lady to horse and bear her back to camp with them for proper and honorable burial.

Lasca followed for a short distance but then with a wild and mad scream of rage and grief galloped away. Cariad was buried in a good place under a cairn of stone with all proper rituals according to our folk.

Lasca in his unbearable grieving, went rogue and began to make war upon the herd. The shamans went out to treat with him in last futile hope that he too would return to human form and perhaps resume a human life, but he drove them away with flailing hooves and un-horselike screams of rage.

It was then decided to harrow him from the herd, drive him off with whips and mounted riders and let him find his fate elsewhere. The folk would not kill him as he was more than a horse and it would have been a bad business to do such.

Smiling across the fire at decky, Gemstorm added with a rakish grin,.. "So that was that, the stallion passed out of our lands and into our winter fireside tales."

As for our adventure, we mayhap do chase a living legend of sorts for I have good reason to suspect that Lasca does yet live from something that happened to me as a child tale for some other time."

Gemstorm sighed and sipped her tea. Hoping that decky would not be too disappointed at the ephemerality of her reasons for this wild horse chase.

*****
"Aye Milady some tea wold be wonderful not as palatable to me than the cold ale of the inn but refreshing none the less" he says in a joking manner.

"As for this creature I think it is not a threat to us but it is good to be wary none the less." Decky takes the cup of hot tea Gemstorm has just brewed and lightly sips it (not wanting the hot water to burn his tongue or lips).

He sits back against a rock and listens to Gemstorm tell the of the legend he is quite suprised to hear that the white mare was actually human it sounded more to him like a shifter had found refuge in the guise of a horse along with her lover, he shakes the thought from his mind as he had never understood shifters and their ways maybe one day he would ask his friend Kraeger what he knew of them.

"Tis a noble story indeed Gemstorm, part of me actually wants it to be the horse from your legend a noble steed tormented by anger at the loss of his love it could be that we could bring some sort of closure for him and quieten his raging heart.

He offers Gemstorm a rather broad grin at what he had just said and then goes on to say "but then again maybe things will be a whole lot easier for us if it is not."

He lets out an easy laugh and stares into the firelight for a moment then rummages around in his pack and pulls out some dried meat and absently chews on it thinking back to the day when he first ventured into the forest alone and how new and scary everything seemed and now he was on the road with good company and a noble quest.

He then turns to lady Gemstorm and says "Think of a number between 1 and 10." She answers him with a 7 He then smiles and says "well done you have first watch." Seeing the look of confusion on her face he chuckles to himself and turns his bedroll. "Wake me on the hour of midnight."

He props himself up in a sitting position and leans his head back and falls into a light and easy sleep ready to be fully alert at a moments notice from his companion.

*****
Gemstorm looks blank for a heartbeat, then laughs merrily, "Thou art a trickster then ..elf friend." Shaking her head with amusement she wishes him good resting and taking out her journal jots down a few odd thoughts and observations.

Moving aside from the fire-glow to let her eyes adjust to the dark , she quiets her ever babbling inner voice and sits watch her bow close to hand, until the midnight hour comes around.

Waking decky, she reports nothing unusual although the wolves did howl in eerie concert, whether close or far it was hard to tell with the echoing and distortion of the mountains peaks.

Bidding him good night, she rolled up in her cloak with her feet toward the embers of the campfire and her head on her pack. She smiled into the dark thinking that they had made a good beginning and from such it could be hoped there would come a good ending as well.

****
Decky rises and stretches his limbs it had been a good sleep and he felt well rested although a little sore from leaning against the boulder he wishes Gemstorm an untroubled sleep and watches as she rolls herself up and falls asleep.

He takes up his bow and checks the string not wanting it to break if anything was to happen seeing that it is ok he holds it in one hand and clips the quiver of arrows to his hip like a ghost he slips from the firelight to walk around the perimeter of the camp again stopping to listen and taste the wind on his return to the fire he stops with a start he cant shake the feeling that they are being watched.

He thinks to himself maybe lord Kraeger has sent a few of his underlings to check on proceedings he smiles as he remembers the idle banter between the two of them a few days earlier in the inn dismissing the thought he returns to the fire and sets himself for his watch he always had enjoyed this time of night out in the wilderness.

As you could see the stars in all their glory, watch as the falling souls shot across the sky in the form of shooting stars.

He looks up for but a moment and sets his gaze back onto his surroundings again the feeling of being watched comes over him.

Whatever it is, he thought, it would be wise not to venture too near the camp, as his arrow would fly true and stick it in the heart. Any adventurer he thought to himself, wouldn't be as stupid to venture upon a camp in the middle of the night without malice. He smiles inwardly and sets his thoughts back to Lord Kreager and whether he would take him up on the offer of a mock duel upon his return. He knew that although he be blinded he is still a mighty force to be reckoned with and that it would prove to be of no hindrance to him whatsoever.

The night went on uneventfully from there other than the feeling of being watched whatever it was it hadn't showed its self this night he added a few more bits of deadwood to the fire wanting it warm enough for Gemstorm to be able to make herself a cup of tea if she wanted when she awoke.

Just before dawn he rouses Gemstorm,"tis nearly sun up milady and I have prepared us a breakfast." He shows her a rabbit cooking over the flames. "It did venture but a little to close and offer itself as sustenance." he smiles as he turns it over again checking to see if it was cooked to his liking.

****
Gemstorm sat up yawning, blinking muzzily at decky, bidding him good morning. Sniffing the air she smelled breakfast and with a small smile, replied to decky.."Alas poor coney,bad luck for him, his breakfast will be found in Lord Spectre's fields this day, but good luck for us, for I do believe this day will be an arduous one."

Rising gracefully to her feet, Gemstorm left the camp briefly to perform her morning ablutions. Having refilled her water bottle at a small seep she quickly started the tea water boiling.

Decky turned the roasting meat upon the spit and pronounced it done, deftly carving a portion for each of them. They broke fast in companionable silence, watching the light strengthen and the hoarfrost melt in defeat as the sun’s fingers combed it from the rocks.

Finishing her rabbit and giving a small blessing and thanks to its spirit wherever it now roamed, Gemstorm stood and stretched, rocking back and forth to the speed the last of the night soreness from her back. “Ahhh..Now I am fully wakened and ready for our day. I propose we break camp and make for that watering pool I mentioned yesterday. It is an easy hour’s walk from here and if we have some luck we will mayhap spot our quarry coming down for their morning drink. If the band we seek does not chose to drink there, we can check some of the other watering places as well as several canyons where they have been grazing on young willow buds and scavenging the first tiny tips of new grass.”

Decky nodded agreeably and they made short work of cleaning up the campsite and readying themselves for the trek. Gemstorm noted decky’s keen gaze as he looked round one last time before leaving for any small clue as to who or what had been giving him the uncanny sense of being watched during his night vigil. They were able to walk abreast for much of the way to the first watering hole and Gemstorm made small conversation, speaking softly, she offered small bits of lore regarding the wild ponies, how their life in the forbiddingly harsh mountains makes them fleet, agile and enduring, if they live, and are not killed by predators or starvation. The constant running over rocky terrain creates flint hard hooves and strong leg bones, the heights gives them powerful lungs and the ability to scale a rampart like wild mountain sheep and goats.

They learn (or die) to look deep into shadowy clefts and even to scan above their heads, as they pursue their way among the tumbled canyons and breaks of the mountain’s stony terrain. The young foals are up and able to run with their dams within a few short hours of their births and run they must for the mares foal in some privacy away from the main herd, and needs must flee the birthing site before the blood-smell draws any number of hungry predators.

Stallions actually do not lead the herd, there is always a wise older mare who knows where to go and leads the band while the stallion drives them from behind and is ever vigilant to protect and defend his harem, from predators and from younger stallions seeking to establish their own bands by stealing mares or openly challenging the herd stallion for his position.

Breaking off her narrative, ..”Hark ye decky, yonder is the pool, I espy no ponies from here, let us go down and see if there is any sign or track that will speed us on in the right direction.”

Casting about on both sides of the pool, decky grunted with satisfaction..”Gemstorm what hast thee found? Come and look ye here. Amongst the confusion of tracks I see the print of wolf.. and…” Walking further away..kneeling down, decky pokes at something with a twig...”wolf scat as well, not fresh but some hours old...”

Gemstorm hastened to decky’s side. “Aye well done thou hast found something of serious import to our search. We are not the only ones who track the band this morn..I found a small split hoofed track of the youngling that trails in Lasca’s shadow. So we are in some luck but must not tarry, for where there is one wolf print it stands to reason there is a pack not far off. The ground around the pool is much disturbed, warranting the band was well spooked and now we must cast out further and see in which direction they fled.” Decky suggested they split up to cover more ground. Gemstorm nodded and gesturing to the right indicated she would take that route. Quartering back and forth like good hunting hounds they searched the rocky slopes for sign of the fleeing band of ponies. Decky's sharp elven sight eventually spied the subtle signs of broken bits of brush and disturbed pebbles and alarmingly, a snagged minuscule tuft of wolf fur. Gemstorm hurried at his hail. Reaching his side, she slowed and noting his find, walked about studying the ground.

“Hmnnn, this seems to point them heading upward..I think they make for the keyhole canyon and from there they will go into the Maze. The wolf pack harries them. Of that I have no doubt for 'tis within the nature of wolves to follow a herd, wearing it down and grabbing off any that fall back from weariness and the weakness of the old and new born.”

“Aye..”, Gemstorm concluded her thoughts, “if they make the keyhole canyon and get out into the maze we will lose them for sure as it is a tumbled wilderness of blind canyons, meandering ravines and once in there, a thousand ponies could pass through one defile while we wander another.”

“Nothing for it but we must climb yonder ramparts and get above their route. They are some hours ahead of us but if we can make the ridges that run parallel to their course we should be able close the distance and get a view of the pack, that ravens at their heels as well”.v Gemstorm grinned at decky, her green eyes dancing “well enough sir. We have our direction. Let us make haste then."

*****
Looking at Gemstorm decky readies to climb to the first ledge to secure a rope for Gemstorm to shimmy up his eyes trace the rock face for the best route to take seeing an easy climb he thinks there is no need to secure a rope and that Gemstorm would be able to make the climb easily he motions for her to follow him “just do as I do Milady and ye will be fine” he sets up the rock face setting a slow pace so that Gemstorm can follow his movements “don't be nervous we are but a few meters above ground” they make it to the first ledge quite quickly as the face of the rock had many foot and hand holds to pull themselves up with, the next face however would prove to be more difficult as the rock face here was a lot smoother decky turns to Gemstorm and jokingly says “aye to be a master thief right now would be handy milady” he laughs at her uneasiness and motions for her to stay put he then scales the rock face not with ease but gets there none the less he takes off his rope and lowers it down for Gemstorm to climb up “don't look down now” he calls out as she pulls herself slowly up the rope watching as she pulls herself up decky notices how she keeps her eyes ever upward not wanting to see how far she is above the ground. This went on until just after noon when they finally reached the top of the ramparts stooping to catch their breath they sit on the ledge and drink from a waterskin decky walks to the edge of the cliff and looks over his elven sight allows him to see faint traces of dust off in the distance “I think our quarry be there milady” he points in the direction of the dust and they head off in that direction making as good time as they can on the uneven ground.

****
Gemstorm lets decky take point, telling him that he needs to keep sharp watch for an old faint game trail that will be coming up hard by an old storm twisted tree. As they run along the ridge, she keeps watch on the distant billows of dust, marking as well as she can the speed of the band of ponies relative to their own and hoping that she and decky will intersect their flight before they get through the Keyhole canyon.

Calling out too decky she tells him she thinks the band is slowing down a bit for some reason.. Then saves her breath for the run and at decky’s hail she sees the trail marker, waving her arm to the right she sees him nod and drop to the right, quickly following suit herself.

The old game trail continues along the shoulder of the ridge dropping lower in increments and bringing them in a roundabout fashion down toward the canyon now visible from their new vantage point.

The billowing dust cloud had reached the canyon and in the distance they could hear faint yelps and a stallion’s bellows of rage.

Looking back with arched eyebrows, decky shook his head slightly..”We had best make haste Gemstorm, for it sounds as though your little band is beset”. “Aye, decky, ye have the right of it from the clamor. Let us indeed make haste. This path will lead us out above the entrance to the canyon.”Gemstorm replied tightly, as the two of them sped onward.

The terrain afforded little ease in their sprint being a slantwise shoulder of the ridge and pocked with small crevasses and slippery with loose shale but they were fleet and agile and soon pulled up above the entrance to the shallow canyon.

Peering through the rising dust they could see a melee of horse forms galloping in disarray with occasionally through the veils the low skulking silhouettes of wolves.

“How many do ye make them to be?" Asked decky as they watched a horse kick off a leaping wolf. “A full pack..I warrant..” replied Gemstorm squinting at the scene..”..Mayhap 15 or so including the youngsters that made it through the winter. "Hark ye decky, tis indeed Lasca, for I saw the white gleam of his neck... “

“That many?...decky looked doubtful..Seemed excessively large to him for a wolfpack. Gemstorm turned and gave a decky a white toothed grin.”What say thee? Shall we go down and count them, one by one? Mayhap even the odds in the ponies’ favor?” Decky replied with a matching grin and taking an arrow from his quiver he set it ready to his bow. ”Why for certes milady Gemstorm, and a pleasure to stroll with thee as well.

Gemstorm laughed at his sally and throwing off her cloak and pack, she readied her short horseman’s bow, taking three arrows from her quiver, clenching two between her teeth, and notching one to the string, for she intended to go down to the floor of the canyon where she could make good use of the lesser range of her own bow.

Decky with his powerful long bow angled off along the higher ground, choosing the first of several good vantage points and with cool precision began to hunt his marks.

Slipping and sliding in the loose rock and shale Gemstorm barely kept her balance, as she went howling a traditional warcry of her people, down toward the turmoil.

On the same level as the embattled animals, she noted absently that they seemed to be bottlenecked, unable for some reason to go on through the canyon, a brief clearing of the dust gave her a good shot at a slinking wolf. She let fly the arrow and heard a satisfying death howl then leaped aside as several ponies ran by. She heard another death howl and smiled “good shooting friend decky.”

Dodging the milling animals and for the moment ignored by the wolves, she made her way inward toward the sounds of a stallion in raging combat.

Another wolf ran by hard on the heels of a fleeing yearling and she took quick aim but missed the killing shot only grazing the beast’s ear and sending him off his course.

The ground was shaking with the thunder of hooves and the clamor was deafening. Gemstorm leaped up on a fallen tumble of rock looking for Lasca, another guttural death howl marked decky’s capable presence and she grinned to herself. Hoped he was keeping a tidy count of the remaining wolves.

Shading her eyes against the glare of the sun and the sting of dust, she marked Lasca’s stand. Hard against the exit from the canyon. And saw with dawning comprehension what kept the herd from galloping straight on through. A fall of rock had partially blocked their egress. Even as she looked a dun with a dorsal stripe turned in, running straight for the rockfall, made a great leap for the top. As he made his jump, still in mid-air Gemstorm noticed a wolf leaping to intersect the colt.

In the blink of an eye, between one heart beat and the next, an arrow sang home and stopped the wolf in mid-air!

“Fewmets!” Gemstorm exclaimed with admiration, “The man can shoot! That was sweetly timed!” Returning her attention to the scene. She noted the dun had made it and his success showed the others a way out as well.

Lasca fought with cunning and savagery. Defending his post with lethal hooves and teeth, spinning and weaving and bobbing with his ears pinned flat to his head, striking with the swiftness of a serpent. He double barrel kicked one wolf leaping in to hamstring him and snatching up another in his teeth shook it like a rat then flung it down and trampled it beneath his fore-hooves.

All the while grunting and shrieking with battle rage.he was not unmarked, Gemstorm could see dark red staining his right side, showing bright even through the dust and sweat which ran in rivulets through the jagged white lightning of his marking.

Another clear shot presented itself to her bow and Gemstorm swiftly assisted another wolf to Lord Spectre’s realm.

The dust continued to swirl as the remaining ponies surged back and forth. Gemstorm dodging and leaping like a deer made her way through them to the other side and had some vague plan of getting closer to Lasca to assist him in his defense.

Another death howl sang sweetly to her ears. But at that point whether from decky’s bow or Lasca’s hooves was impossible to tell.

As she waffled on how best to get closer to Lasca without being trampled herself. Hidden in a deep shadow an old grizzled she-wolf was recovering her wind after a lucky kick had temporarily disabled her.

Seeing Gemstorm standing nearby alerted the old alpha-bitch to a new, toothsome and easy opportunity. Rising slowly the wolf slunk closer, still low to the ground but ready when she closed the distance to make her killing leap.

Gemstorm nocked another arrow and standing steady awaited her next mark. Which came right along behind a kicking squealing chestnut colt. Calmly sighting in, she let her arrow fly and was well pleased to see that one join his brethren in Lord Spectre’s fields as well.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw something leaping at her and half turned to meet it, she saw her peril bearing down on her. Unthinking she used her bow as a staff having no time to draw an arrow.

The wolf was upon her jaws ready to snap on her throat but she slammed her bow between the gaping jaws and as the weight of the wolf and the momentum of it’s charge knocked her down.

Rapping her head as she struck the ground she maintained enough presense of mind though her senses swam to keep pushing the bow into the wolf’s mouth and savagely meant to choke the thing if she could.

By some small luck the bow became wedged in the wolf’s back teeth and though she gagged and gargled and shook her head to free herself and complete her kill. Gemstorm used all her strength to keep the slavering jaws from her throat.

****
From his Vantage point decky could see the shapes of the animals amongst the swirling dust seeing a wolf he quickly lets fly with an arrow sending it straight into the heart of one of the beasts that's 1 he counts to himself downing another wolf he grins to himself 2...3....4.....5.

The dust became thick again at that point swirling around with the panic of hooves and paws striking the earth the noise was rising up out of the canyon.

He saw a clean shot as a wolf was jumping to intersect the pony Gemstorm had called a dun, earlier in the day.

He let loose an arrow that hit the beast in mid air, sending it dropping dead to the ground.

6 he says to no one in particular, he lets off two more killing with each shot looking to his quiver he sees that he has only four arrows left. Letting off three more, downing wolves with precision shots, that only elven sight could manage more he spies Gemstorm amongst the dust.

Seeing her moving toward Lasca and a wolf just out of bow shot that she hadn't noticed coming at her from behind.

Seeing he had only one arrow he had to make sure his shot was a clean one, and Gemstorm was standing to far away. He leapt from his ledge, back down onto the path to the canyon floor.

Running with all the speed the terrain would allow him, he had to get to the bottom in order to get a shot at the wolf.

Clearing the edge of the slipway he is nearly tumbled over by some retreating wolves “leaving so soon he says to the air that once housing a wolf in flight”. He then runs out amongst the rabble looking for Gemstorm but he cant see her.

Seeing the pile of rubble he had spied her on earlier he heads toward it. Jumping on top of the pile ,he sees her locked in a battle with a large female wolf, which he wouldn't be surprised was one of the alpha females.

Seeing Gemstorm struggling with the wolf on top of her, he is unsure of his shot, not wanting the arrow to pierce the wolf and go through his friend as well.

He kneels on the pile drawing the bowstring back and takes aim.

He has to wait for the precise moment when the wolf will throw its head back in order to go for another attack with its razor sharp teeth.

“Come on !” he thinks to himself, as all time slows down he knows not if his friend is ok.

Seeing that her defenses are weakening and the bow in its snout was starting to slip, “come on” he urges the wolf to raise its head.

Until finally he sees his opportunity. The bow that was caught in its mouth had somehow come loose and Gemstorm was utterly defenseless protecting herself with her arms she waits for the wolf to lunge for her throat.

The wolf rears back ready to swoop THWACK...... an arrow pierces its skull entering through the back of its head with the tip protruding out of one eye, that sound and the feel of a dead weight upon her was the last thing she heard as all turned to blackness...........

Decky hastens over to her and pulls the wolf off and drags its carcass away he turns and watches as the alpha male retreats with what's left of his pack. Most of its seasoned hunters lay dead around them some with arrows protruding from them some with their skulls smashed from flailing hooves.

He moves back to take care of his friend. He gently lifts her and moves her to a better defensive position, in case the wolves do decide to return. But decky thinks, not the ones left which were to young.

It would be quite a while before that pack would be back to full capacity. He washes her face and trickles water from a skin in his pack into her mouth he watches as she slowly comes around.

Her head propped up by his blanket roll he gently rubs her shoulder as one would do to show only concern “'tis over milady the wolves have been vanquished I know not of your Lasca as I was to concerned for you to notice.

But they fared well, I can count only 2 of the horses dead and from the tracks maybe 3 injured I thought I had lost you there for a moment” he smiles at her gently as she slowly raises herself and comes to her senses.

***
Returning to full consciousness with an aching head, Gemstorm looks blearily up at decky’s concerned visage. “Oh! Are we dead?” she asked confusedly. Putting her hand to her splitting skull and feeling a rising lump. "Nay “ she answered her own question, ”Not with this hurt in my brainpan”.

Essaying a feeble jest, as decky helped her to her feet. She grinned weakly saying.”Little did thee know friend that I make a habit of lying down to rest in the midst of the killing field and pulling a live wolf over me for cozy comforter."

Seeing the still form lying nearby with one of decky’s well shot arrows protruding from it’s eye she could only briefly clasp his shoulder as wordless thanks for his skilled marksmanship, that had quite literally delivered her up from the jaws of the wolf.

After the high emotion and clamor of the recent debacle the silence and settling dust was strangely dreamlike. Gemstorm looked around seeing fallen animals and in the distance not yet left the scene, Lasca stood head down and blowing but also alertly and suspiciously watching the two rangers.

Sighing she turned to decky. ”'Tis meet we should gather up our spent arrows and also ready our knives should needs must we deliver the mercy blow to any that live mutilated. I see the downed form of some of the colts and know well the pack will return to feast in due time, as well as other hungry ones. ”Strength to the pack” for that is the way of nature. But not with pain and more fear to any that will never run the hills freely again.”

Wending among the animals they were some relieved to find all had bled out and were safely gone on to Lord Spectre’s realm.

Decky joined Gemstorm who stood some distance from Lasca, a thoughtful look on her face. “For certes, decky, Lasca does not leave for some purpose of his own..I did not see little Splitfoot among the dead colt’s nor did I mark him in the melee ..”

Decky looked at her questioningly.”mayhap that one was slain early on when first the pack picked up the band’s trail?”

“Mayhap..” agreed Gemstorm..”mayhap he is hiding behind the haunches of yon protective horse-friend.” “If thee will bide quietly and silently my friend, for I must have my first attention on the horse, I will see if he will suffer my approach and if he acts as a wild horse will he will swing out his hindquarters to keep me in view.”

Seeing decky’s nod of assent and understanding, Gemstorm laid down her bow and slowly approached the stallion on an angle so that to keep her in view he had to turn to face her potential threat.

As she walked she kept up a low voiced soothing patter and the horses ear flicked back and forth from flat to his neck to half forward.

Reaching the point where his personal boundary would decide whether she could go further, she stopped and let him think about it.

Turning his head briefly he nickered to something that slowly and painfully hobbled out into full view. Gemstorm’s horseman’s eye quickly noted the swollen fore-ankle above the hoof, split nearly to the coronary band.

“Just so,” Gemstorm, spoke half under her breath.” that is why Lasca has not taken flight with the rest of the group and why he fought so heroically. He defended this young one.”

Making some internal decision of his own. Lasca looked keenly at the Rangers from under the fringe of his heavy foretop. Then shaking his head and bugling a last wild whinny he turned and with grace and power leaped the barricade and was gone.

decky walked over to Gemstorm.. a “now what?” look on his face. Gemstorm grimaced ruefully.”It seems we have been given new orders and by a horse no less.”

“Thee means we are to somehow do something with this colt? Decky looked dubiously at the poor wretched thing. So far into pain and exhaustion that he doubted it would live the night, much less make the trip back to the Inn or Gratalm.

“We can but try.” Walking closer to the unresisting animal, she knelt down and eyed the sore hoof. "hmnnn..."

“I think he has jammed a piece of shale up into the cleft of the split. If thee will man the twitch while I perform a rough surgery and remove the stone.

The pressure and pain of the infection will be released, then mayhap we can get him down the mountain and to a skilled farrier I know in Gratalm.”

Twitch? Decky wondered as Gemstorm retrieved her pack and set out her surgery.

The mystery of the twitch was explained and as she swiftly worked the bit of stone out of the colt’s foot.

Decky harking to her direction twisted the bit of twine and stick she had fashioned around the colts upper lip and bore down as the colt groaned with pain and tried to sink back on his haunches.

A nasty reek arose as Gemstorm freed the offending bit of stone and the hoof drained out the accumulated poison.

”Well-done brave colt and decky too, just another moment and we are done” she praised as she swiftly made a pad for the foot of dried grasses and tied it on with a ripped up piece of her cloak.

“There sir..you are fit to travel now..” she exclaimed setting the foot back on the ground.

Decky untwisted the twine and kindly rubbed the colts nose which had not been harmed but only temporarily more interesting to him than most of what Gemstorm was doing to his hoof.

Gathering up their packs and weapons, Gemstorm and decky with their hobbling charge on the end of a rope made their way back down the mountain, in easy stages, stopping at pleasant spots to camp and soak the colt’s foot in clean waters.

***
The Journey back to the forest of shadows went on uneventfully.

Decky helped Gemstorm where he could with the horse rubbing it down after their days travels, watching how she tended to the wound learning all he could and asking questions when she was doing something he couldn't understand.

He kept note of the terrain as he was going to report to his Good Friend Lord Kraeger on his return to the inn he also had to warn about the unusually large pack of ice wolves, “Mayhap he thought the winter was unusually harsh this year banding them together” for there were more than 15 in the pack he had spent a full quiver of arrows (12) defending the horses.

He sighed to himself no one had been there to witness his one in a million shot at the airborne wolf, he didn't press Gemstorm about it he didn't want to look to cocky in front of his new friend.

They kept each others company until they reached the gates of Gemstorm's farmer friend Where he bid her goodbye and made his way back to the inn.

***
Gemstorm yawned hugely, then reread what she had penned in her journal. She was satisfied that she had written a faithful accounting of the past few days.

Only a bit more now to bring it up to date and then to bed for on the morrow she would leave on a self-set task to the Keeper’s Hamlet to deliver a chance found artifact, which she cared little if they found of historical interest or used as a doorstop, as long as it no longer gouged her through her backpack.

Her farrier friend’s examination of the colt’s hoof had relieved her worry that the infection had set deep into the quick and done some permanent mischief to the inner bone of the foot. He had trimmed the foot neatly and then fashioned a leather boot, which would protect the injury and within a few months of soft pasture and quiet companionship with the farrier family’s placid cart mare would see him fleet and sound again.

Gemstorm smiled, thinking of the farrier’s young son who had a good heart and kind quiet hands for one so young. He had confided to her that he thought he was quite old enough for his first own horse.

Accepting the invitation to spend the night with them she had well paid the guest toll with her after supper telling of the tale of her and decky’s adventures in the Vine Growth Mountains.

They were most appreciative of every moment of the tale and laughed, sighed, and gasped in all the right places.

Speaking high praise of decky’s cool self-possession and unerring marksmanship, she was pleased to see the farrier nod in affirmation for he knew sommat of the ranger and expected no less from such a promising young man.

It was not the way of her people to praise an individual directly but to keep the tale for the fireside and thus honor all in the retelling. She reckoned that the story would make it’s way around Gratalm and the Inn in due time.

Gemstorm giggled a bit for when she made her annual trek home to account to her family and clan for her year’s adventure, she would again tell the tale of the wild pony hunt and decky if ever he should find himself in the Northern Plains would find himself greeted like a son by her own father and given high honor for his part in the tale.

These pleasant thoughts kept her company as she blew out her candle, barely keeping her eyes open enough to take the two steps to the bed.

***
Friend and Fellow Ranger decky..
I bid thee greeting and leave a small gift for you as some measure of remembrance and recompense for our good fellowship upon the trail these last few days.

In the box are the last of my puffballs, which you showed some interest in as I used them to keep the colt’s foot clean and free of infection.

Not to worry, they are not a rare medicinal only one must look for them late in the summer season and gather them when they lay scattered like children's toys about the fields.

The powder from them is good as you saw for keeping a wound clean and will also stop blood from seeping. Also though I have never tried them they can be cooked and eaten. (Probably best when newly gathered)

Farewell my new friend.
Fortune favor thee, mayhap we too shall join forces again. The world is wide and winsome and one never knows what lies over the next ridge.