Sweet Battles by Brightfire and Dreambrrok

Dreambrook raised his head. "Where'm I?"

"You're in the Go-Back lodge. You drank to much wine so they left you here with me. Now hurry up and help me with these blasted cubs!" A sharp voice responded. Dreambrook lifted his head.

"Hey Yarrowsharp."

"Shut up and help me with these cubs! I'm old! I can't take care of two dozen children on my own!"

Dreambrook raised his head and realized Yellowsharp was hardly alone. Redbird and the Go-Back kid were entertaining a bunch of children in a corner.

Dreambrook got up and walked over to Yarrowsharp. "Whaddaya need me to do?" The old elf looked thoughtful for a moment. "It's okay. I'll just sit here until you regain your memory." Dreambrook laughed. Yarrowsharp glared, then kicked him. "OW!"

"You can play with this group of kids. Tell them a story or something."

*** The elves trudged along in the snow hopeing their enemies could be caught of guard, giving the elves the advantage. They spotted the heavily guarded entrance to the troll caverns and decided to send have the fighting force on each side of the caverns. The left fighting force would attack the entrance first and the second would wait for the signal (a bird call) and then back them up. It was the perfect plan.

Brightfire licked her lips. This was what she was waiting for. The sweet glorious chance to destroy her lifemates killers! Wolf Fang grinned at her. They crept around the side of the only known entrance to the trolls caves and attacked.

Brightfire ran to the doorway, her swords drawn and ready. She caught the trolls by surprise and gutted two of them before they realized what had happened, and then it was too late - a swarm of elves slayed them quickly before they could warn the trolls inside tunnels. Feyra called the rest of the warriors inside. The war band started to make their way to the mountain, leaving an occasional dead troll behind them.

Skyfire narrowed her eyes and looked in the entrance to the caverns. Dark and creepy. How cheerful. She turned to Brightfire. "What happens if we die? There aren't that many of us." The warrior shrugged.

"Who gives a damn? We'll be with our dead then and in the palace. Live or die, we win either way."

"That's tellin' her!" Feyra yelled. "Now c'mon! We have trolls to kill!"

As they crept through the dark tunnels Brightfire felt her blood sing. she and Feyra were leading the way, scouting, eyes and noses keen. suddenly she stopped in mid-step, hearing a clinking of armor from a crossing tunnel.

She grinned and open sent. **Trolls coming from left hand tunnel.** She listened, trying to figure out how many. **More than eight, less than two eights. Trying to move quietly. Ambush them.**

A group of go-backs and wanderers sneaked forward in the tunnel while the rest stayed behind, hiding themselves in niches and tunnel mouths. No matter which way the trolls turned their way would be closed. Brightfire grinned widely, feeling her blood pound, waiting for the trolls to appear.