June 15, 2003
Just how did Clover aquire his foxtail 'teddy'? Was it really given to him, or is there more to the story? You decide.
Part 1
Springtime had come to Rushwater Holt, leaving the surrounding flowers and plants in full bloom. The long wet winter had given everyone a horrible case of "den-fever" but the beautifully clear night skies were just what the tribe needed, and the holt was alive with all sorts of activity.
Firemoss had been itching to go hunting for her beloved plants for the past several hands of days but was unable to go out due to the spring rains. The rains had finally ceased and Firemoss could not contain herself any longer. Leaving her precious two-year-old cub, Clover, in the capable hands of her friend Snowbird (who was also watching the other holt cubs), Firemoss left for a much-needed break from the rigors of motherhood.
All of the cubs played nicely together in Snowbird's den until something caught Clover's curious eye. For the first time he stopped to really notice Lionheart's squirrel tail necklace. "What's dat?" the cub asked inquiring of the necklace.
"This is one of my treasures," replied the proud owner.
"Tweasure? What tweasure?" the cub asked Lionheart with deep green questioning eyes.
"A treasure is something special that belongs just to you. This is my treasure. It's a tail from a squirrel my father hunted for me," Lionheart responded. "Would you like to see it, Dimples?"
Clover grinned ear-to-ear exposing the reason for his nickname. His eyes grew big with anticipation and he nodded excitedly. Lionheart sat down and held the curios cub in his lap so he could properly inspect this "treasure". Clover held the squirrel tail and noticed how soft it was, almost like that of a downy wolf cub. Finally, he came to the conclusion that he wanted the necklace for himself and so declared: "Mine!"
Lionheart immediately took Clover off of his lap to retrieve the necklace and said, "I don't think so."
Clover realized he had done something wrong and so changed his request, "But, I want dat," he said pointing at it.
"Sorry, Clover. This is mine; if you want a treasure you'll have to get one for yourself," replied Lionheart.
Just then, Beechnut, who had been poised to pounce into this conversation, finally chimed in. "What about your cat-pendant that your sire gave you on your birthing day? Couldn't that be your treasure, Clover?"
Cocking his head to think about Beechnut's question, Clover at last came to a decision. "Yeah, but, cat-thingy too hawrd. I want somet'ing soft," he whined, "like dat," emphatically pointing at Lionheart's squirrel tail. "I want soft tweasure."
Clover's statement sparked Beechnut's adventurous nature. She quickly turned to her partner in crime and pleaded, "I think I want a treasure, Lionheart. I want a squirrel tail of my own."
"Me too, me too," Clover cried.
Lionheart's lips began to twist and turn into a wicked grin as he came to the ultimate conclusion that a quest was in order. "I think it's time for a hunt!" Standing for emphasis, Lionheart posed a proud stance with both hands perched on his hips. "Beechnut, I think I can help you. But, Clover, I'm sorry you're too young. You'll have to stay here with baby Echo and find a treasure on your own. Maybe some day when you get older we'll help you find one. But for now, it'll be just me and Beechnut. C'mon Freckles, to the hunt!"
With a hop, skip and a jump, the two older cubs vanished out of the den and into the forest brush, leaving a stunned Clover alone with Echo. Clover's eyebrows slowly joined together in a scowl of disapproval as his lower lip simultaneously began to stick out in his typical pout, almost as if the one action had triggered the other. But before the tears could start flowing Snowbird came to his rescue, for she had been watching the situation unfold. Knowing that Lionheart and Beechnut knew better and that they could also take care of themselves, she decided to focus her attention on those they had left behind, in the wake of their destruction.
Picking Clover up to offer better comfort she asked, "What's wrong cub?" in her usual gentle manner. "Did Beechnut and Lionheart leave you behind again?"
The mere suggestion of the horrible truth made Clover's lower lip stick out even further, as the tears began to descend like the cascade of Rushwater Falls. After a few moments of Snowbird's gentle consoling, the distraught cub finally calmed down.
"Why do they always leave me behind, Snowburr?" he sniffled. "Don't Lionhawt and Beeshnut like me?"
The cub's sorrowful question pricked Snowbird's tender heart.
"Of course, they like you, Clover. What's not to like about you?" Clover looked up at her with tear-filled eyes as he sniffed and pouted, not saying a word. Knowing that this cub was slightly sensitive, she decided to show him just how likeable he was.
Cradling him in her arms with his head on her shoulder, Snowbird sat down on the sleep furs of her den. "Clover, there are so many things to like about you. You give the best hugs, and you are so cute when you smile. Can you smile for me and show me those sweet little dimples of yours?" Clover sniffed and shook his head with a pout.
"No smile for me?" she asked. "Then I guess I'll just have to…tickle you!" With that said, Snowbird barely touched the cub's ribs before he burst into an infectious giggle. His giggling caught the attention of little Echo who was crawling around on the floor nearby. She too began to giggle.
"See Clover, Echo likes you too. You made her laugh, and as you know that isn't easy to do," Snowbird said with a wink.
"Yeah, I like her too. She's my fwiend!" Clover confidently stated with a smile.
"You know Clover, Lionheart and Beechnut are your friends too."
Clover's smile faded back into a pout. Defiantly crossing his arms he said, "But they're mean to me! They always leave me behind!"
"Now, Clover, they are older than you and closer in age. If they took you with them, who would play with little Echo? You don't want her to be left behind the way you have been, do you?"
Snowbird was always a fountain of wisdom to all of the cubs, but most especially to Clover. In his eyes, she could do no wrong, and the thought of disappointing the wise cub-sitter was unthinkable.
"No, I guess not." Clover watched Echo for a little while before climbing out of Snowbird's lap to join the younger cub on the floor.
As the two cubs played quietly together Snowbird continued to try to steer Clover's disappointment into something useful. "Clover, Echo is closer to your age than Beechnut is. She's going to need someone to watch over her like a big brother. Someone to make sure that she is never left out of things the way you have been." Hoping to appeal to Clover's generous nature, she continued, "Who do you think we could get to be Echo's special guardian?"
Clover thought about it briefly before he was struck with inspiration. With eyes as big as the two moons themselves he turned excitedly and said, "Oh, I know! Me! Could I be Etto's spes'l garden?"
Having accomplished her goal, the gentle bird-talker placed a caring hand on Clover's cheek. "I think Echo would like that very much. Should we ask her?"
Clover responded with a hearty nod.
Part 2
Clover gently sat down beside Echo as she continued playing on the den floor oblivious to the conversation going on around her. Tenderly placing an arm around her tiny little shoulders, he looked longingly into her crystal blue eyes.
"Etto? I need to talk," he said, in a very adult-sounding tone of voice. His attempt to get her attention forced her to stop playing long enough to briefly look him in the eyes.
"Etto, you're my fwiend and I don't want you to ever feel alone. I will always be here for you." Snowbird sat nearby with her hand covering her mouth in an effort to hide her overwhelming pride. Watching the two of them interact was too tender and too precious to disrupt.
Clover held Echo's hand as he continued. "Would you like me to be your spes'l garden? To always watch over you and keep you safe?" He paused, waiting for any type of response.
He didn't have to wait long before Echo broke into such a big grin that it made her eyes squint. She then, very quickly, drove Clover's thumb into her grinning mouth. That was all the response he needed and so considered it an affirmative reply.
Smiling from pointy ear to pointy ear, Clover turned to look for Snowbird's approval. Her return smile and wink adequately spoke her approval for his actions, and he beamed with great pride.
"Otay, Etto. I swear by Snowburr's tree, I will be your spes'l garden always. I will never leave you." Clover paused momentarily before adding something he felt should be cleared up right away. "Don't worry, you don't have to wreck-your-eyes for me. We can just be fwiends for now, and maybe we'll do that when we get bigger."
Clover's odd statement temporarily confused Snowbird, until she finally realized he had meant to say "you don't have to Recognize me". The sincerity of little Clover's statement nearly made Snowbird laugh out loud. 'I will have to share this with their parents, this is just too precious,' she thought to herself while desperately trying to contain her laughter.
Overcome with great joy, Clover removed his thumb from Echo's mouth and gave her a great big hug. This action would normally have made Echo scream but she was in good spirits today and just squealed with laughter.
The two cubs clumsily rolled around on the den floor until Clover was struck with inspiration once again. Almost as if he had been struck by skyfire, Echo's self-appointed guardian suddenly became motionless. Echo continued to giggle and play but Clover was as still as the Elder Tree.
"Is anything wrong cubs?" Snowbird questioned with great concern.
"Snowburr! I need somet'ing for Etto," Clover exclaimed, "to 'member our promise."
Somewhat relieved, the cub-sitter replied, "I think that's a great idea. What will you get her?"
Clover's face began to twist and distort into a sinister grin, much like the one Lionheart had worn earlier that day. "I'm gonna get a tweasure! A tweasure for all of us!" With that said, he gave Echo a hug and headed out of Snowbird's den.
"Don't go outside of the holt common area!" Snowbird yelled after him.
"Otay," was his only reply as he wandered off into the moonlight.
Part 3
Climbing down from Snowbird's den, out into the refreshingly cool moonlight was so invigorating that it gave Clover a new sense of freedom. He felt alive and happy, but most of all he felt needed. For the first time in his short little life somebody actually needed him.
'What tweasure should I get?' he thought to himself as he stopped to view the activities of the other tribe mates. Perching himself on one of the many branches of the Elder Tree, he scoured the holt looking for just the right gift. He watched with great amazement as he observed each tribe member honing skills for their respective crafts: Bowstorm fletching arrows, Honeyhue painting, Marshclay shaping mud into pots, Wise Elk organizing his furs to be tailored, Summerset weaving - Wise Elk's furs?! Clover immediately returned his attention back to Wise Elk. The old tanner had brought out last year's hides that had finally finished being prepared into various pelts. There was a big beautiful tuftcat pelt, a longtooth pelt, as well as several squirrel, ravvit and fox pelts.
'Oooooh,' thought Clover, 'Nice, soft fur. Fur good 'tweasure'!' Having determined the perfect prize, the young treasure hunter now turned his focus on just exactly how he was going to go about getting it from the old tanner. Various ideas crept into the cub's head as he climbed his way down from his viewing perch. He lingered for a few moments at the base of the tree to study the elder as he worked.
Getting a pelt from the tanner was going to be a little more difficult than just flashing his trademark grin and dimples. Wise Elk was a friendly enough elf and enjoyed the company of all of the cubs, but he was not easily swayed by any of them. No, this was not going to be easy, but the challenge was something Clover thought was worth the effort.
Continuing to study the elder, Clover thought to himself, 'Hmmmm, what would Duskwater do?' After all, Wise Elk was almost as ancient as Duskwater. Maybe he would have some suggestions. As Clover wrestled with the idea of asking for help from his foster father he came across another idea. "No, not Duskwater. Father! What would Father do?" With a satisfied grin that would have rivaled any negotiating troll, he answered his own question, "Barter!"
With great resolve, the barterer's son scurried buck up the tree trunk. In order for him to barter, he knew he would need something to barter with. So, Clover decided to return to his den to find something - anything - to trade with the old tanner. Under his sleep furs he kept a small bag of various things he'd found on his little adventures with Mother. He quickly dumped out the contents of the bag onto his sleep furs and riffled through the debris: a capnut, the leg bone of a treewalker, some shiny rocks, a few rock cousin shells, a scooter's claw and a dried fern.
With a heavy sigh, Clover collapsed against the den wall as he continued to hold onto the claw and the fern. Any of these items would have been good for bartering with any of the tribe's females, but not Wise Elk. "What would he want?" he asked the darkness as he twirled the fern between his tiny fingers. He sat quietly thinking and twirling the fern when he finally realized his fingers were turning brown.
His stained fingers momentarily distracted him, until he came to the realization that the fern was causing it. This particular fern was known for its colouring properties; at least, that's what his mother had told him about it. He couldn't exactly remember what she had called it, but he did remember how she had gathered some one day to give to Colorcast to use in dying her leathers. "That's it!" he squealed excitedly.
Firemoss had kept a sizable cache of dried leaves and plants to use for various emergency purposes. Luckily for Clover he was one of the few people who knew where she hid her cache. Carefully rummaging thru his mother's stash, the treeshaper's cub picked out only the dried plants he knew for certain were used for dying, which left him with a small handful of each of the two kinds he was able to recognize. He gently rolled them up in their own separate leather wrap, and then wrapped both of them together in another leather wrap. He then hurried back down the tree trunk to offer his trade to Wise Elk.
Bearing the brightest and most adorable smile he could muster, Clover approached the old tanner with his weapons of trade discretely tucked under his arm.
"Hullo, Wise Elk," the cub confidently beamed.
Wise Elk had been fussing with one of his pelts and did not notice the cub standing behind him. When the elder heard the tiny voice he instinctively tensed up. He had been battling bugs all night and wasn't sure whether he had heard a voice or the buzzing of an insect. He spun around searching for whom or for what had made that noise. When his warm brown eyes finally settled on the small cub he relaxed enough to give the boy a return smile.
"Clover, what a surprise." Wise Elk's eyes were old but not too old to spot the little bundle of leather Clover was carrying. The tanner sized up the cub's bundle and judging by the look on his dimpled little face, and the way he kept eyeing the pile of pelts, Wise Elk was able to determine just exactly what the precocious cub was up to.
"What can I do for you?" he asked with a knowing grin as he tussled Clover's thick brown hair.
Jade green eyes darted back and forth between Wise Elk and the fur pile several times before finally settling to the ground. Hardly able to contain his excitement, Clover attempted, unsuccessfully, to control his big smile before speaking.
"Um, er, well, uh. You see I-I mean can, I…uh," the cub stuttered.
The elder raised an eyebrow in amusement and said, "Well cub, spit it out."
Taking a deep breath, Clover boldly stated, "I want twade!" Almost as an afterthought, he added, "Please?"
"So, the barterer's son wants to make a trade, eh? Well, let's see what you've got to trade with first." Crouching down to look his prospective buyer in the eye, Wise Elk held his hand out for whatever Clover had hidden in the bundle he was carrying.
Kneeling on one knee, the shrewd tanner inspected the contents of the leather-clad bundle as he gingerly rolled it out on the ground. Upon opening the inner contents of both rolls, Wise Elk new exactly what these dried plants were and what they were used for. In fact, he had just used the final remnants from last season's stash. Wise Elk stroked his beard thoughtfully as he wrestled with the thought of what to do. He then, slowly looked at Clover's sweet smile and into his hopeful eyes, knowing full well that it would be his undoing.
With a slight grimace that slowly formed into a thin smile, the elder responded, "Alright cub, let's make a trade."
Part 4
Wise Elk had Clover sit down near the pile of pelts while he searched for a handful of items that he thought were worthy of the cub's "generous" trade. Clover was so excited that he could hardly sit still; he could not believe that the elder was willing to make a trade.
Time seemed to drag on and on like one of Duskwater's stories, before Wise Elk finally returned. But Clover, being the gentle cub that he was, did not complain. Wise Elk presented several items before the budding barterer; a squirrel's tail, a ravvit skin stuffed and sewn into the shape of a wolf, a white weasel pelt, and a red fox tail. Clover busted out into such an infectious giggle, that Wise Elk thought the cub would surely explode.
"Wow. Thank you, Wise Elk," the cub exclaimed as he then proceeded to scoop up the booty. However, a firm hand on his shoulder prevented him from doing so.
"Now, hold on there cub, you can't have all of them," interrupted the tanner, who could almost hear the cub's heart breaking as he watched Clover's joyful smile turn into a dejected frown. Wise Elk began to feel himself diminish, and so, cleared his throat in an attempt to regain his composure. "If you are going to trade you'll have to learn to choose. You have two trade offerings, so you may choose two of the four items I have brought you."
"Two?" replied the frowning cub. But he needed three treasures. What was he going to do with just two? He just had to get something for Echo, and he had already promised something to Snowbird. If he took only two items that would leave him empty handed. Clover's eyebrows drew closer together as his lower lip began to protrude.
"Go ahead, cub. Take your pick." The tanner had no idea of the dilemma little Clover was going through, and so could not understand why he was pouting. "Can't decide, eh?" he tried to console. "Maybe I can help. Are these items for yourself or someone else?"
Clover looked at the elder, his eyes filled with tears that refused to fall, and he whimpered, "For me and for my fwiends, Etto and Snowburr."
"Hmmmmm," replied Wise Elk while thoughtfully stroking his brown beard once again. "Now I see why you're so sad. Two women and only one gift." The jibe seemed to fall far from its mark as Clover simply continued to look at him with the same sad expression on his face. "Look, cub, if you had anything else to trade I would have no problems giving you a third item. Maybe you can come back some other day and get something else. But until then you must choose which two you would like."
With a sad and heavy sigh, Clover looked over the items one more time; a squirrel's tail, a ravvit skin stuffed and sewn into the shape of a wolf, a white weasel pelt, and a red fox tail. Well, the squirrel's tail was too much like Lionheart's treasure so that was out of the question. Clover picked up the ravvit skinned wolf to inspect it, rubbing its soft fur against his cheek.
"I bet I know a cute little blue-eyed girl cub that would love to have that," encouraged the elder with a wink.
Clover simply nodded and placed it in his lap. He then picked up the two remaining items, one in each hand. He knew that the white weasel pelt would have been perfect for the beautiful cub-sitter, since she liked to trim her clothes with white fur, but he wanted the foxtail for himself. Someone was not going to get a treasure this day, and now it was up to him to decide whom it would be.
Sensing his dilemma, Wise Elk interjected, "You know, my mother always said, 'It is better to give of yourself, than to yourself."
Another heavy sigh escaped the small cub's lungs. He knew the elder was right, and he knew the honourable thing to do. Clover slowly stood up, and gingerly placed the foxtail on top of the pile of pelts. He turned to the tanner, and with very little feeling behind it said, "Thank you."
As he quietly wandered toward the base of Snowbird's tree he could hear the elder say, "You've done the right thing, cub. You won't be sorry."
**Wise Elk, you should be ashamed of yourself,** scolded Clearheart. She had been watching the entire trade, at least that was the impression Wise Elk was able to perceive from her open sending. "That was a troll's bargain and you know it! Clover is just a cub, you could have at least spared him a little something for himself."
The elder had been caught with his hand in the honeycomb, and he knew it. "Clearheart, beloved, I am just trying to teach the barter's son a lesson about fair trade. Two items for two trades, what could be more fair than that?"
The tanner's voice trailed off as he entered his own den arguing with his lifemate, he did not notice that little Clover had stopped and turned around to listen. He had heard the open send as well as the arguing. 'A troll's bargain?' he thought to himself. 'We'll see about that,' he continued thinking as another devious smile returned to his face.
Part 5
Quickly returning to his own den, Clover knew just what he needed to do. He had to make Wise Elk pay for his "troll's bargain". He carefully placed the ravvit-skinned wolf and the white weasel pelt under his sleep furs with the rest of his little bag of trinkets for safekeeping. He then removed the treewalker bone from his bag and returned to the forest floor.
Trying to avoid the tanner at all cost, Clover sneaked around the trees as quietly as a prowling tuft cat. He was going to need help and there was only one who could help him now, Eggsnatcher, Wise Elk's very own wolf. Clover tiptoed his way down to the wolves' dens, and softly called for Eggsnatcher.
Within a few breaths the brown-coated trickster of a wolf came bounding to the cave entrance.
"I have a quest for you," the cub whispered. Clover continued to tell the wolf, in great detail what he had in mind. Even though the wolf could not understand much of what the cub was saying, Eggsnatcher did understand that her skills as mischief-maker would be needed, and that somehow it involved her elf-friend Wise Elk. The wolf was all too eager to help, so Clover climbed on her back, with much difficulty, and they quietly made their way back to the tanner's pile of pelts.
When the two tricksters arrived, they ducked behind one of the giant redwoods nearby. They were both rather excited. Clover had a hard time controlling his giggling, and Eggsnatcher's playful antics did not help. Clover slid off of the large wolf's back as the wolf sat, then he walked around her so he could look Eggsnatcher in the eye.
The young cub had never tried a wolf-send but he knew it couldn't be much different from sending to one of the elves. He placed his tiny hands on either side of the large wolf's head and brought it down to his eye level. He then placed his forehead against Eggsnatcher's, closed his eyes, and concentrated very hard. Knowing that wolves send in images, not necessarily words, Clover sent with all of his might: **Foxtail.** with the mental image of the foxtail that was laying atop the pelt pile.
Clover used such force in his sending, that had he been trained or possibly a few seasons older, he would have sent that message to every wolf within a half-days ride. The image came loud and crystal clear in Eggsnatcher's mind. In fact, it came so loud that the wolf had to shake her head for a bit, but she knew what her quest was, and quickly went to it.
The sly wolf crept towards the pile and spotted the foxtail that matched the mental image. With one quick leap the thief snatched the prize and returned to the waiting cub, who gratefully offered her a hug and the treewalker bone he was carrying from his bag of trinkets.
Luckily for Clover and Eggsnatcher, the only elf within range of his wolf send was Clearheart, who did not quite understand the sending until she peered out from behind the tarp of her den to see what they had done. Clearheart smiled to herself. "Well, I guess they all got what they deserved, after all. A lesson in fair trade."
Clover returned to Snowbird's den with a smile, an armload of treasure, and an ample measure of confidence. He had done what he had set out to do, brought back treasure for all of them.
Snowbird was glad to see him, because she was beginning to get worried and the sight of what he carried in his pudgy little arms really made her nervous. But before she could ask the little treasure hunter where he acquired these gifts, Clearheart touched her mind in a private sending. **Snowbird. Do not be concerned about how Clover received his bounty. Let's just say it's a 'gift' from Wise Elk.** Snowbird thought she detected a calculated amount of sarcasm and laughter within the sending, which really made her wonder about these new-found treasures.
Echo and Clover continued playing in Snowbird's een with their new treasures when Beechnut and Lionheart bounded in.
"Look at what treasure we got!" announced Beechnut, grinning from ear to ear with great joy as she held up a dead treewee by its tail.
With a gleam in his eye, Clover simply smiled and said, "That's nice Beeshnut, but look at my tweasure!" as he held up his glorious foxtail.
Beechnut's grin immediately transformed into open-jawed surprise.
"Look at that, Freckles. Clover's treasure is much bigger than yours!" Lionheart's brilliant observation was rewarded with a swift elbow to his ribs, from his female treasure hunting companion.
Lionheart attempted to compose himself as he gasped for air. "Sorry Beechnut, but it is." He continued to rub the pain from his ribs as he spoke. "Dimples, how about next time we go treasure hunting, you come with us?"
Clover's steady smile never wavered as he replied, "No thanks, Lionhawt, I'm gonna wait 'til Etto can go too. B'sides," he continued as he wrapped his arms around little Echo, "Us cubs gotta stay together." Looking over at Snowbird, Clover tried to give her a wink, but only managed to blink really hard with both eyes. Snowbird returned the cub's gesture with a knowing smile of her own.
Meanwhile, Wise Elk returned to his pile of pelts after safely storing his newly acquired dried ferns. But upon his return he noticed that one specific item was missing from the top of the pile. All that remained where the foxtail had once been was a broken shell of a bird's egg, and a handful of newly budding flowers. Not just any flowers but more specifically, clover.
