�No fog will stop me from tracking,� young Atradn mumbled as he left the gray Holt. The elder elves watched him go with doubtful miens: he might get lost in the fog. But no one dared to interrupt the passionate hunter�s departure.
Atradn let his trusty feet lead the way, for he knew every branch and stump around this part of the woods. Soon he sniffed something, which might have been a hare and he decided to follow its evaporating scent. He took a few running steps as he feared to have lost his to be catch, but without the help of the eyesight his trusty feet failed him and he fell painfully to the ground. He swore silently, for he noticed how his ankle was rather sore. Suddenly he heard sounds from some place hidden in the gray fog. And this wasn�t a hare, for sure, this was something bigger, trying hard not to make any noise, but succeeding poorly.
Atradn drew his dagger from its covering and waited alert. He had no chance trying to outrun the nearing beast with that ankle of his, but if he stayed quiet, that whatever was coming closer just might miss him. And then he heard a male voice, uncertain and quiet. And that man was definitely talking elvish.
�Is someone there?�
Atradn let out a silent sigh of relief, but also a little roar of impatience. Who was he to surprise him on his tracking?
�Yes, I�m here.�
�Who are you?� asked the voice.
�Well, who are you?�
�I asked first.�
Atradn was now very irritated. He sneered loud enough for the intruder to hear. �Fine. I�m Atradn, son of Roender from Holt T�Airen. Would you, please, now come out so that I can see you?�
The intruder followed his wish and stepped to the glen where Atradn sat rubbing his hurt ankle. The intruder�s black, ash-like hair made him seem a little scary in the held back light of the moon, but as soon as Atradn saw his yielding, green eyes he knew there was no madness behind them.
�So, who are you, stranger?�
�Fyn. I used to live here.�
�You did? Howcome I don�t remember you?� Atradn said surprised and a little suspicion visible in his look.
Slight amusement glistened in Fyn�s eyes, but it dissappeared as soon as it had turned up. �Do you honestly think there was no life before your years?�
Atradn snorted. �Well, as long as you�re here, you could help me out a bit. I hurt my ankle and I can�t walk.�
Fyn nodded. �Naturally I will. Can you tell me which way to go?�
Atradn looked around him slowly and frowned. �Yes, I suppose so. I came from that direction, so the path behind us can�t take us too far off the Holt.� He started to rise carefully and Fyn hurried to his aid. Together they hopped slowly forward, with Atradn feeling utterly humiliated: he was to be carried home from his brave tracking trip.
�Stop, I need a break,� Atradn breathed seemingly tired. Fyn helped him to a comfortable sitting position on the damp grass and sat next to him.
�So�what now?� he asked.
�So�what?� Atradn asked evading his look.
�Are we to sit here in complete silence? Don�t you think it�s rather silly and boring?�
Atradn looked awkward. �What would you suggest we talk about? I hardly know you.�
�You know me less than what would indicate you know me �hardly�,� the older elf pointed out impassively. �What you could tell me is the current state of T�Airen. Any deaths? Any recognitions?�
�Right�.� Atradn still had that dubious look. �How do I know you�ve even lived there?�
�Well, my father was Fairhunter and my mother was called Zenniah, but I doubt you�ve met either one of them, they passed away some 30 sun cycles ago.�
�No, wait, I�ve heard of them, they�re Eehria�s and Red�s parents, too, right?� Atradn inquired.
�Well, sort of, you know Eehria�s mother was Mareize, not Zenniah, but you�re right. And since you�ve been such a bright boy tonight, being a child of Fairhunter and Zenniah would mean, I�m�.?�
Atradn wrinkled his brow. Was this man mocking him? �Yeah, okay, I get it. But you don�t look much like Eehria or Red. Well, your eyes a tiny bit. And your nose. Okay, I admit, I should have noticed the resemblance, but since your hair isn�t in flames it was hard to tell.�
Fyn laughed at his obstinacy. �What about you?� He cast an evaluating look on him. �You do look like Roender and judging by your looks�Ion�r must be your mother.�
Atradn was honestly flattered, he had never thought he looked that much like his mother. �Yeah, that�s true.�
�Your folks still alive?�
�They sure are. But I figure you�d be more interested in your sister�s mate,� Atradn said enjoying the advantage he had at the moment.
Fyn smiled. �So she has finally recognized,� he said hastily.
�Yes, to Shade, if you remember him.�
�Vaguely. I think he came to T�Airen only a few years before I left.�
�They�ve got a daughter now, Vatria, she�s about 4 years old,� Atradn sneered quietly.
At first Fyn didn�t say anything, then he slowly got up. �Are you ready to move again?�
Atradn nodded and they started to limp forward. The journey in the fog seemed unending, but they definitely had made some progress. The scents became more familiar in Atradn�s nose so that he didn�t feel so lost anymore.
�We�re very near now,� he said.
�Yes, I noticed, the scents and emotions are rather overwhelming.�
They continued in silence for a little while, until Atradn noticed something he truly wasn�t prepared for.
�Fyn�You�re crying! Why are you crying?!� he exclaimed anxiously and surprised.
Fyn looked at him with teary eyes, which swelled and became red in mere moments. �She has a cub, you say?�
Atradn nodded a little frightened.
�I wish I had mine to show her.�