Waking Dream [1764 RWH], by Tamara Havik
The holt was at rest. The elves were all sleeping, while the animals of the day were wakeful under the shining sun. All elves?
No, at least one was awake. Deep in the den that was home to three elves, Surefire was not asleep. He watched Dirk tenderly as she was sleeping next to him, he was overwhelmed by warm feelings for the knife crazy lass, his lifemate. She stirred as if feeling his eyes on her and he closed them, pretending to sleep. He didn't wonder why he was awake, he just was.
Boldscout, on the other side of him, was talking softly in his sleep and Surefire felt that he wanted to protect his cub against all danger. And Surefire was still awake. Silent, like a hunting wolf, he slipped out of the den without waking his lifemate or cub.
It made his head dizzy for a moment to see so much sunlight after the dim light inside. Outside he smelled the unusual smells of the day. He heard, smelled and saw animals that were usually asleep when he was awake. He breathed deeply and suddenly the wind reminded him of long ago. He had been awake, in the middle of the day, just like now, but he had been younger and with his other tribe, the White Cold Hunters. He remembered friends, especially his soul brother, and for a moment he felt restless. But then Surefire smiled and his blue eyes flashed. He would someday go back, but not now. Now he would stay here, with his family, where he was home. He would stay with Dirk and Boldscout and of course Lionheart, his oldest son, so brave that Surefire's heart was full of pride.
Rushwater Holt was still and quiet, even the preservers didn't scatter the slumber of the elves. It was like a dream.
It was a dream.
In the morning he only knew that he had slept well.
New Growing Family [1760 RWH], by Fey McKercher
It boggled the mind.
The whole family of his lifemate was in a rare gathering for a few minutes. Well, Rock had been with him when they saw white-haired Birchbark, strawberry-haired Summerset and black-haired, very pregnant Dirk laughing about something, so they went over.
The three cousins waved them over before going back to that low joking. Woodsmoke was fiddling with what could have been a rope trap, as his lifemate and young cub played beside him.
"Come and join the family, you two, dragging your feet like that," Dirk called jokingly to them. Rock gave a grin to him before trotting over but he didn't increase his pace. His lifemate's eyes narrowed. "That means you too, Surefire."
Everyone glanced up at him long enough to make him realize something. Suddenly he had a lot of family in this adopted tribe since he Recognized Dirk and was now waiting for their own cub. Only his first cub, Lionheart was missing.
The group was breaking up. Birchbark and Rock, catching sight of another passing pair of tribesmates, went off. Dirk got up to meet him halfway and as she looped an arm around his waist, Surefire felt a thought settle snugly inside him.
He was home with family.