Disclaimer: The Sentinel belongs to UPN/Paramount and Pet Fly Productions. ElfQuest belongs to Richard and Wendi Peni and WaRP Graphics. The short story, "Howl For Eldolil" (used for source material), belongs to Nancy Springer. No copyright infringement is intended and no money has changed hands.

Author's note: Plotbunnies strike again! The thought of Blair as a Wolfrider, though, had too much appeal for me to ignore it. The character parallels should be obvious, but not all of the characters have them. Some views in this story, such as mercy killing, are not my personal views. They are mentioned to further the story, not because I actually believe in them.

Other note: It's probably a good idea to have read at least some of the ElfQuest series before you read this, but the basics should come across. **Stars** mean sending, telepathy. //Slats// mean speaking in the human language. "Quotes" mean speaking in the elf language. Itallics means thoughts.

Justice

Justice sat in the glade, angry with himself. Lighthawk had left him, shaming him, accusing him of not tending to her heart. Could anything have stopped this from happening? How could he have done anything differently? He was simply not a man capable of that kind of emotional fondling. She had known that when he asked her to be his mate. Why had she now left him for things that she had been well aware of before marrying him?

It was not that he hadn't cared for her, and he was fairly sure she knew that. But even he was aware that he hadn't fully been in love with her. He had come to the conclusion that kind of strong emotion was beyond him. He could care and protect, but he didn't think he could love. He was not meant for love's embrace around his heart.

As a warrior, he had done some pretty horrific things. The previous chief of his tribe, Stone, had declared wars with many of their neighbors, and only when River had banded the warriors of the tribe together and forced Stone to step down had they been able to make peace with those neighbors. Stone was still out there, too, and most likely plotting to destroy those who had usurped him. Stone had ordered many things, horrible things. He'd ordered the slaughter of whole villages, leaving nothing but old men, women and children. Justice had often been able to find ways around those orders without actually disobeying his chief, but his order to kill the four-year-old son of an enemy tribe's chief had been the last straw. It was in the coup that he had gained the name Justice. He and River had been the leaders of the takeover, and he had denied the chiefship in favor of his friend, stating that he had not displaced Stone for power, but for justice. It was the pain of remembering what he had done that had destroyed his ability to express the softer emotions. After all, if you didn't feel, you wouldn't hurt, and if you did, you had better not let the rest of the world know about it, or they would know you had a weakness. His father had taught that lesson just as well as Stone's cruelty, leaving him a hard heart as his legacy.

With Lighthawk's desertion, he had decided that he needed some time away from the tribe. He knew that going into these woods without any backup was foolhardy at best, but he didn't care. He needed to reestablish his balance. But ever since he had isolated himself from human contact, he'd begun having problems with his senses. They were growing sensitive, to the point of pain at times. He knew of the legendary Watchmen, but he'd had no thought that he could be one until now, when he could do nothing to prevent the senses from overwhelming him.

That was why he sat in the glade, resting his body and praying to Gotara for control. That was why he didn't see the tiny bird land in front of him. He did, however, hear it, opening his eyes to stare at the minute animal. It really was quite beautiful. He focused on the way the sun glinted off the oil in the feathers, as the light broke into fuzzy color that reached out and surrounded him, pulling him in with the siren song of its beauty and causing the rest of the world to fall away into gray mist...

Raven Song, whose soulname was Blair, leapt from branch to branch, tree to tree, heading for a small stream close by so that he could do some fishing. Unlike most Wolfriders, the blue-eyed elf preferred fish and fowl to red meat, and as such, he was more often on his own for dinner than not. Still, when anyone in the Holt wanted either fish, birds or eggs, they came to him. He knew where all the best spots were to catch them and where the birds were nesting, and he had the best equipment to snare anything with gills or wings.

He had his odd-looking fishing spear with him today. It was not tipped, but rather pronged, having a central stabbing point that would actually penetrate the fish and two side prongs which were barbed inward and would hold on to the fish, preventing it from wiggling off the point and escaping. He also carried a leather bag with him, as Brook, the Healer, wanted a couple of fish herself today.

Raven Song grinned at that thought. Brook was, in his humble opinion, the most beautiful female in the tribe. She would listen to his constant chatter with actual interest, a fact which made her even greater in his eyes. They'd been together for several turns of the seasons, and he was considering asking her to be his life mate. They had never Recognized, but that didn't matter to him. She was beautiful inside and out, and he loved her. Even if they were never Recognized, he didn't think he would ever stop loving her.

As he reached the stream, he automatically checked the near-by glade for signs of danger. Humans, who occasionally hunted this far in, would often stop in the glade to rest. Still, he was surprised when he actually found one sitting cross-legged in the center of the glade. Cautious but curious, Raven Song examined the man carefully. He was tall, even for a human, tall enough that, were he standing up, he would easily have been nearly twice as tall as the elf who watched him. He was either a warrior or a hunter, possibly both, with several stone knives held in a belt that crossed from his shoulder to his waist, a long bow and a spear beside him on the ground, and a quiver of black-feathered arrows on his back. His medium brown hair was cropped short, close to his head, showing a receding hairline, and he had short fur all across his jaw, chin and upper lip. He had ice blue eyes that gleamed with the intensity of his gaze, which at that moment was turned on a small green bird.

The bird found the seed that it had been looking for and flew away, but the human's eyes didn't follow it. Instead, he continued to stare at the spot it had occupied, seemingly fascinated by what was no longer there. The human didn't seem to be aware of anything around him, so Raven Song decided to take the chance that fishing would be safe. He was confident that he would hear if the human stirred, so he continued on to the stream.

The fishing went smoothly, four large silver bodies swimming beneath his perch on the large tree branch that stretched across the creek and being impaled and grasped by his spear. He cleaned the swimmers, throwing the innards back into the water to feed other fish, and put them into his bag, then turned away from the stream, intending to head back to the Holt.

He stopped at the glade again, his curiosity getting the better of him. Sure enough, the human was still sitting there, still staring at the same spot he had been looking at when he'd checked the glade before. The elf figured there must be something wrong with him. Looking closer, he realized with a shock that the warrior was not breathing.

Raven Song's heart warred with his sense of self-preservation. He knew that he shouldn't move any closer to the man. Humans had been the enemies of elves for as long as they had existed on this two-mooned world, their fear of things they didn't understand and ancient traditions causing them to make the Wolfriders into evil demons that should be eradicated from the face of the earth. Justifiable anger on the part of the Wolfriders only made the situation worse, especially if someone got it into their heads to attack the humans before they could attack them. And yet, despite the generations of long-standing enmity between their peoples, Raven Song didn't want to leave this human to die from whatever afflicted him. He was not one to see any creature suffer, even a human. He was no Healer, but he would do what he could. He knew it would be dangerous. If the human awoke from this strange trance, he might very well kill his savior. But he couldn't just leave it.

Raven Song sighed and leapt from the branch he had been on to the ground. Brook'll kill me if he doesn't. The elf approached the warrior cautiously, looking for any signs that he was either stirring or lying in wait for some foolish beast such as himself to wander into his path. Raven Song reached his side without incident, something he knew that he should not have been able to do. Taking a deep breath, he reached out and touched the five-fingered hand with his own four-fingered one. No reaction. //Come on, human. It's not a good idea for you to be out here alone. Wake up! Come on! Snap out of it, before some bear decides you'd make a good snack!//

Justice was floating in the gray without direction, having no anchor to hold him or keep him from drifting away. He thought he would float forever, until he died, but something found him, a sound unlike any other he had ever heard. It was a soft, musical voice over a deep thrumming, fully as compelling as any Shaman's music. He latched on to it with the strength of a drowning man, and finally it was enough to drag him from the gray existence that came from focusing too hard.

Suddenly, the human began to breathe again. //That's it. You need to wake up.// Slowly, his body relaxed and his breathing evened out, and then he opened his eyes. Raven Song had not let go of his hand, and as their eyes met, something strange passed between them, a bolt of sheer, unidentifiable emotion, and then it was gone. Light and dark blue looked into each other, neither sure what to make of the other. Raven Song was shocked to find a name floating in his mind. Jem. He didn't think humans had soulnames, or he would have thought this was a soulbonding. As it was, he didn't know what to think. So he didn't. He just asked, //Are you all right, human?//

Justice blinked. What was that word that was floating around in his head? What was a Blair? Then more important questions came to his mind. He recognized the being in front of him as one of the demons that the Shaman had always warned his tribe about by the large eyes, the huge, pointed ears, and the four-fingered hands, but the expression on the creature's face was one of concern. Wary, yes, but concerned none the less. He had asked a question. //Yes, I'm fine. Thank you.// He cocked his head at the "demon." //Why did you help me? It's said that your kind would like to see the end of ours.//

Caution made the warrior's face hard, but Raven Song thought he could also detect honest curiosity, both in face and voice, which was strange, since elves and humans were so different from each other. Weren't they? He shrugged. //Some would, I guess, but only because they've only ever known hostility from humans. As for me, I could never leave any creature to suffer without at least trying to help them. If I could not, then I'd not have left you to suffer.//

Justice understood. If the being had not been able to wake him, he'd have killed him rather than let him starve to death. It was not something Justice condoned, killing humans to end suffering, but he saw mercy in the attitude. He knew that if he had been allowed to remain in the gray, he would either have died from not breathing, or have been eaten by some animal, or even just sat there and starved to death, so he nodded. He looked closely at the creature before him. His eyes were a deep blue and his hair was the color of a bear's fur while being very long and very curly. Two silver hoops adorned the lobe of one ear and a headband circled his brow to keep the hair out of his eyes. His clothing was made of soft deerskins, the vest died blue and the leggings red. A belt hung across his hips that held a single stone-bladed knife and a large spear with a strange three-pronged point lay on the ground beside him. The smell of fresh fish came from the bag that was stretched across his shoulder. The creature had probably been fishing in the stream. It was not the sort of activity that one envisioned when thinking of demons, nor did this being seem particularly dangerous. He probably could be if he felt the need, but not at the moment. //I don't believe you are a demon, but I know the Shaman was not lying. He at least believes what he is telling the tribe. So what are you really?//

Raven Song was shocked. No human he'd ever heard of had stopped the killing long enough to ask that question. Oh, there had been instances over the centuries of children wandering into their paths that had been more trusting, but even they had mostly been frightened. This man was truly strange, and the Wolfrider before him found himself liking him. //I am called Raven Song. My tribe is the Wolfriders. We're elves, and we run with the wolf pack, riding on their backs. We hunt with them and share our kills, as do they, and we all protect each other. The wolf I've bonded with, Silver, stayed with the pack today, since he doesn't like fish.// He pointed to the bag which held his catch for the day.

Justice looked at his benefactor, wondering why he was so calm about the elf's presence. His instincts had not screamed at him to destroy, as they should have if Raven Song were as dangerous as generations of his people had been led to believe. He was a Watchman, and even before his senses had begun to work, he'd always been able to tell if someone meant him or his ill. It was an instinct he trusted, and it was telling him to trust the being before him. //I am called Justice. I am a Watchman, a man whose senses are greater than those of other men.// Just then, it hit him just what that burst of emotion he had felt when he first looked into Raven Song's eyes had been. The Companion bond! A wild curse flowered in his mind. This created a whole new set of problems! How to handle it? He asked, //Did you hear something when I looked at you? A name?// If he had not heard Justice's child name, then he could simply be mistaken.

The Wolfrider's eyes widened. //Yes. Did you?//

Justice sighed, then nodded. //Blair.//

//Jem. High Ones! What a mess this is! How did you hear it? And how did you know what it meant? And I didn't know humans even HAD soulnames!//

Justice chuckled. The elf could certainly talk! //I see how you got your call name.// The elf smiled slightly as color blossomed across the bridge of his nose. He had indeed been given the name when Treedancer had once remarked when he was a child that he squawked as much as a raven. //Jem is the name I was given at birth, my childname. My people change their names when they become adults and if something changes in their life to cause them to feel like their old life is dead. Now, a Watchman, though born with the enhanced senses, must hone them in the wild, in isolation. Before I came out here, I wasn't even aware that I had them. But when the isolation awakens those senses, a Watchman will instinctively begin to search for the one who will be his Companion, a partner to watch his back and to guard him against the gray, which happens when he is focusing so much on one sense that he becomes lost in it. What I don't understand is how I could have bonded to you, as you are not human. No offense.//

//None taken.// Raven Song thought about it for a moment. //I'll bet it's because of my own gift. Some elves have magical abilities. Most Wolfriders can speak to other elves and to the wolves silently, mind to mind. It's called sending. I'm a bonder. I can create links with other kinds of creatures and send to them. I don't use it to hunt, because I'd feel it. But if your mind was looking for something to latch onto, it could have triggered my own gift. Not only that, but since we both heard each other's true names, the bond is a lot deeper than normal. We can see each other's souls. When this happens between those of the opposite gender, they Recognize each other, and they will become mates. With the same gender, they become siblings. We're brothers now, in all but blood.// He looked at the human. //This could be a problem.//

The human snorted. //No joke. I could just see River's face if I brought you back to the village with me. Not to mention Rainfall, our Shaman. He'd have an absolute fit! Might be funny to watch, actually. He's kind of fat, and he has these round cheeks, and when he gets scared, his face gets all red and splotchy and he starts stuttering.// The new-made brothers both grinned at the image. Then Justice grew solemn again. //Seriously, though, if I brought you back with me, we'd both be killed.// He didn't mention just how scared even the thought of Rainfall getting his hands on Raven Song made him. //Is there any chance that your people would accept me?//

Raven Song thought for a moment, but it didn't take too long. //No. They might not shoot on sight, since I'd warn them, and this really isn't your fault, but acceptance? Not likely, nor easily.//

Justice sighed. //Then what do we do?//

He echoed the sigh of his much-larger brother and flopped backward to lie on the ground. //I don't know. I'm too hungry to think.// The thought of food led him to the thought of the fish in his bag, which reminded him that two of them were supposed to be for Brook. He cursed. //I am so late! I was fishing for Brook, too!//

Justice grinned. //Lady friend?//

He only nodded. //Yeah. Beautiful as can be, and a Healer besides!// That sparked a thought. //Hey, I wonder if she could fix this.// Justice raised an eyebrow in question. //Healers can do a lot of things to the body, and sometimes to the mind, as well. I don't know for sure, but she might be able to break this bond between us.// He didn't mention how sad that thought made him feel. To him, it was only further evidence of the bond at work, and if Brook could stop it, then so would the feelings. Not that he'd grow suddenly hostile to Justice, and he didn't think the reverse would be true either. Justice wasn't that kind of man. But neither would their returning to their own tribes be painful for them, as splitting up with the bond intact would be. //I'll contact her, ask her and Tanner to come out here.//

//Tanner?// Justice had nearly panicked at the thought of the bond being broken, but in his mind, he knew that it would be best. They were from different worlds. They could never really be partners. He needed a partner of his own race, someone who would be able to help him protect his own tribe. Never mind the fact that he would gladly have left that tribe for Raven Song's if it had been feasible, and that he would not have regretted leaving his home for a single moment if it meant that he could stay with his new brother.

//My chief. He's a bonder, like me, so he'll at least be understanding.// Raven Song sat up and reached into his bag. //You feel like eating? There's no telling how long you were sitting there looking at that bird before I got here and scared it off, and then I went fishing and you were still there.//

Justice shrugged. //I could eat. I'll just start a fire so I can cook it.//

Raven Song made a face. //Why do humans insist on burning their meat?//

The human chuckled. //I take it you don't cook your food? Humans can get sick doing that, though fish is usually okay raw.//

Raven Song just shook his head. //All right. Suit yourself. I'm going to send to Brook and Tanner now. You'd better not cook mine, human, or I'll have to find some way to retaliate, and I promise I'm very inventive.// Justice's grin widened at the mock threat.

The elf crossed his legs and sent out his call to Brook, his gaze turning to the woods in the direction of the Holt. **Brook! Tanner!**

The response was swift, first the Healer and then the chief answering the call of their tribesman. Brook said, **What is it, love?**

**I have a problem.** Quickly, he explained the situation and gave both of them an image of Justice.

A sigh colored Tanner's reply. **How do you manage to attract trouble so easily?**

He smiled softly. **I don't know.** It was true. It seemed as though if there were trouble within two days' swift ride from the Holt, Raven Song would find it, or it would find him. **Can you fix this, Brook? Justice is not a threat to the tribe, but we both agree that it would be better for us to separate.** Of course, Raven Song's feelings on the matter colored the sending, but both Brook and Tanner chalked that up to the bond itself.

**I can try, but if this is as deep a bond as I suspect, breaking it without harming either of you could be impossible.**

Raven Song frowned. If it would hurt Justice then they would find some other way. In fact, if safe separation were impossible, he decided that he would just have to find some way for Justice to join them. He would do the same, but the humans were even less likely to be accepting of this bond than the Wolfriders would be.

Tanner interrupted. **Let's find out if it is possible before any decisions are made. I agree that the bond should be allowed to stand if it will harm either of you to break it, but I cannot just agree to let this human into the Holt. It can't just be my decision. The entire tribe will have a say in the matter.**

Raven Song agreed, knowing Tanner was right. This affected the whole tribe, not just him, and he couldn't just bring a human into their home without asking everyone. It wouldn't be right. Still, his heart sank a little. Tanner understanding was likely. Brook understanding was almost certain. But what about the other members of the tribe, elves like Shadow Wolf and Briar, whose hatred of humans was unmatched? He sighed. There was no other way. **Will they all come here?**

Tanner agreed. **That would be best. I'll call them.**

**Thank you. Brook, I didn't forget your fish. You have two of them. I gave one of mine to Justice. I can always get more.**

A smile threaded through her sending. **Thank you, love. I hope this works, for your sake.**

Sadly, he said, **Me, too. For both our sakes.**

The mismatched brothers waited for the arrival of the wolf pack and the tribe nervously, spending the time getting to know each other a little. Both promised the other that, if Brook was successful in breaking their bond, they would remain friends and do everything in their power to prevent either tribe from attacking the other. If nothing else, preventing a war from sparking had to be a good thing. Justice shortened the elf's name to Raven as it was easier, and he occasionally called him Demon as a joke. Raven liked it and took "Demon" in the humor in which it was intended, calling him Human in return.

It wasn't long before Justice began to hear the approach of the wolves, proving that his ears were even better than Raven's, who didn't hear them for another minute. He guessed a normal human wouldn't have heard them until they were at the edge of the glade. A look of admiration and curiosity planted itself on his face. He wondered just how good these enhanced senses were.

Silver was the first wolf to burst into the clearing, running at top speed for his elf-friend. A happy grin spread across Raven's face as the huge wolf plowed into him, knocking him to the ground and attempting to lick his face off. Justice was alarmed at first, but Raven started laughing at the tickling tongue and the human relaxed, smiling at the reunion of the two friends. The wolf saw him, though and started growling. Suddenly, Raven Song's voice was in his head. **Just stay still. Don't move forward or back. I'll get him to understand.** He nodded, nervous, praying that the wolf would listen to his friend. **Take it easy, Silver. He won't hurt anyone. His name is Justice, and he's my friend.**

It took several moments of allowing the wolf to sniff him and register the fact that this particular human was no danger, but eventually Silver stopped growling and challenging. Justice hoped that he wouldn't have to deal with the entire pack in this way. Raven had warned him that several of the Wolfriders would be hard to convince that he was no danger to them. He knew that, even if the separation were successful, it would be difficult to keep them from killing him to prevent him from ever finding their Holt, their village.

Having stayed back during Silver's challenge, the tribe stepped and rode out of the woods, all either riding or accompanied by a wolf. There were no young, of course, but Justice didn't expect there to be. They would have been left behind with one or two adults to look after them. He decided to test his link with Raven by asking a question. Unsure of how to proceed, he just imagined that the elf would hear the thoughts that were directed at him. **What should I do?**

Raven was startled, but he answered quickly. **I'm not sure yet. Nothing like this has ever happened, so we're going to be making it up as we go along. I do know that I won't let them hurt you, even if Brook can break this bond. None of this was your fault, so there's no reason for you to be harmed for it having happened.** He stood and placed a hand on the human's shoulder. **Don't worry. We're going to be all right.**

Justice smiled up at his elven brother and nodded. Soon the tribe had gathered in a loose semicircle around the pair, several of the wolves growling, and even a couple of the elves. This wasn't surprising to him. He knew now that they were much like the wolves, so their hostility was displayed in the same way. He didn't stare, allowing his gaze to flick to a face and see what was there, but quickly moving on, not challenging anyone by his body language. He did this almost instinctively, knowing as he did that he'd gained the knowledge from Raven Song. He wondered at the implications of that. Would the elf know now how to be his Companion by the same token?

One of the Wolfriders dismounted from his wolf and stepped forward. //I am Tanner, Chieftain of the Wolfriders.//

Justice nodded. //I am called Justice.//

One of those who had growled as they approached snarled out, //How did you get a name like that?// The likely assumption was that he had chosen the name for himself out of arrogance.

Tanner would have taken him to task for interrupting the introduction, but Justice saw no reason not to tell them. Perhaps the story would help them to know they had nothing to fear from him. //It's a long story. When I first became a warrior for my tribe, I was called Running Eyes, because even then, I could see farther than anyone else in the tribe. When our old chief died of age and sickness, his son, Stone, took the mantle.

//Stone was young and bloodthirsty, and he sought to gain glory for himself by declaring war on the surrounding tribes. I had no choice but to follow his orders, and he often ordered horrific things, even the torture of innocent women and children. Soon, though, I and another warrior named River came up with a plan to rid ourselves of the tyrant. We gathered all the warriors together and forced our way past his loyal guards and forced him into exile, having given him the choice of either leaving or dying. Many of the people wanted me to assume the chiefship, but I refused, instead asking River to take up the mantle. I told them that I had not fought for power, but for justice, and that became my new name.//

Tanner nodded in acceptance. //Has Raven Song told you what we intend?//

Justice nodded. //Yes, to attempt to break the bond between us. Before we start, though, may I speak?// Tanner raised an eyebrow at this, but agreed. //I give you my word, Chief of your people, that I will not betray you to my own. Raven Song got into this mess because of a compassionate heart, and I have seen that we have been wrong about you. You are not demons to be defeated, but just one more creature of the forest, and just as capable of kindness as any human. They will not believe this, therefore I won't tell them I've met you. All they will know is that I've become a Watchman, and they know better than to ask for details.// Anyone asking questions like that would only get a stony glare. Justice was not known as a sociable person, so this would not raise suspicion.

A female elf with pine-wood hair and green eyes stepped forward, looking Justice over appraisingly. //I'm Brook, the Healer. There is no guarantee that this is going to work. Soulbonds are powerful things, and there has never been one made with a human. If breaking this bond will hurt either of you, I won't do it.//

//My thanks to you for trying, Healer.//

She nodded, then turned around and began to speak in her own language. "I need you all to get out of this meadow. Go hunting or something. I need quiet so I can concentrate." All obeyed her but Tanner. "You, too, Tanner. I need to be alone with them. Only Silver can stay." The chieftain glared at her for a moment, but acquiesced, his wolf-friend leaving with him. Brook turned back to the new brothers. //Justice, Raven Song, I need you to sit facing each other. I'll stand since I need to be able to reach both your heads, and you, young human, are too tall.//

Justice grinned at her, glad that the Healer had a sense of humor and was comfortable enough with him to use it. He sat with his legs crossed, removing the baldric of knives and his quiver of arrows from his chest and back. Raven sat in front of him in the same position. Brook said, //Now, close your eyes and open your minds.// The Healer put a hand on each of their heads and closed her own eyes, reaching in with her gift to assess the bond that had gripped her friend and the human warrior. What she found was surprising, to say the least.

Brook had looked at the souls of Wolfriders before. They were usually lupine in form, though still recognizable as elves. Some times, if they were in danger at the time, she would only see the wolf, that part of them which knew best how to survive. But when she looked at Justice with spirit eyes, what she saw was feline. It was mixed up with his human features, but she would have guessed it was a black long-toothed cat. They stared back at her from the spirit plane, each holding the other's hand, and the bond could be seen winding around their joined hands and up their arms, where the strand split into two parts on each, one reaching around their chests and the other around their heads. The tips of the strands were sunk into head and heart, precluding an easy separation. She could see that the bond was very deep. It would probably kill both of them if she touched it. How had that thing gotten so deep so fast?

Another strange thing occurred to her as she looked at them. Here on the spirit plane, they were the same height. Raven Song was taller and Justice was shorter. Raven's light seemed just a tiny fraction dimmer than usual, as well, not enough to cause concern, but she bet that Justice's was just that much brighter. Through the bond, they were sharing everything. Either would be able to pull the other back from the edge of death, though neither was a Healer. If one of them were to actually die, the other would not be far behind. They were equal, on every level.

Needing to confirm her suspicions, Brook reached out with just the tiniest, gentlest touch, a query, not an intrusion. Suddenly, the two before her melted into their more animalistic parts, wolf and cat both snarling in reaction to perceived danger. Neither man nor elf were in control of the action. It was instinct to protect the bond, and each other.

Coming out of her trance, Brook released Justice and Raven Song from theirs and sat heavily on the ground. Stars! She knew she'd never seen anything like this, and she had never heard of anyone else having seen it. Their bond was even deeper than Recognition! And yet she sensed that it would not prevent it, should Raven Song ever meet someone he could Recognize. If Recognition ever brought the two of them together, as she thought it might.

The pair looked at her as they roused from their trances. She shook her head. // It was impossible. Not only is the bond too deep for me to safely remove, it defends itself. I've never seen anything like this! It's deeper than Recognition, but it won't block Recognition either. Not only that, but neither of you will out-live the other. You, Justice, will probably live for much longer than you normally would have if you had never met Raven Song. By the same token, you, Raven Song, will grow old with him. You will die when he dies.// There were tears in her eyes as she said it, and Justice knew that the consequences of their bond were severe.

Justice had to know what about the bond was causing Brook to cry. As Raven embraced the Healer to comfort her, the human asked, //How long do Wolfriders live?//

Raven sighed. //There are no guarantees. No one knows how long they have in this world. I could be struck by sky fire tomorrow.//

Justice's eyes narrowed, seeing the evasion for what it was. //The whole truth, Wolfrider.//

Raven looked him in the eyes, resigned. //There has never been a Wolfrider who died peacefully in his sleep of old age.//

A look of horror crossed Justice's face before he could stifle it. //I've shortened your life by so much? Gods! You must hate me.// Justice wasn't sure he didn't hate himself for this.

Raven couldn't allow his brother to continue thinking that. **No Jem. I could never hate you. This is not your fault! There is no guilt here. If shortening my life extends yours, then that's fine with me! Fate brought us together for a reason, and together we'll remain.**

**Blair--.**

**No one can lie in sending, Jem.** Justice knew that Raven meant what he said. He knew Raven would never lie to him, knew it instinctively. He might bend the truth occasionally to soothe ruffled feathers, but he would never lie. It wasn't in him.

Justice sighed and nodded, then stood, retrieving his weapons. He stood watch in the glade, keeping an eye out while his brother tended to the Healer, intent on making sure they were not disturbed and on watching for danger. So he knew it when the wolf pack returned to the edge of the meadow one pair short. He knew when the herd of deer passed down wind of the missing pair, and he knew it when the young wolf couldn't bear not to hunt the tasty looking does.

Tanner had already dismounted and was walking toward those in the center of the meadow. His wolf stayed behind so that he would not forget himself and attack the human. Justice gave a nod to Tanner, acknowledging the elf chief, but then suddenly turned toward the noise of the approaching herd. They were running much too quickly! They were stampeding!

Frightened deer can move very quickly, especially if one is unprepared. Before Justice could call out a warning, the herd was in the glade, the terrified animals bolting straight through the center and aiming right for those who were standing or sitting there. Justice cried out, //Raven!//

Looking up, he saw the danger and got himself and Brook on Silver's back and out of the way. Justice and Tanner were too far from help, and no wolf would have carried the human anyway. They both ran for the forest where they would be safe from the stampede, but it was going to be close.

They almost made it, but the stag of the herd, recognizing the three equally hated scents of wolf, elf and man, aimed straight for the two runners. The angry buck would have gored the elven Chief, but Justice shoved the lighter being as hard as he could, launching him clear of the incensed animal, and putting himself directly in it's path. The collision was horrendous. Justice's body was at an angle to the ground from running, enabling the stag's antlers to be thrust upward into his belly. Thus impaled, he was thrown as the stag tossed his head, his body slipping off the antlers to land clear of the path of the rest of the stampede.

Justice would have liked to curl into a ball to ward against the pain, but he was barely able to move at all. He was afraid that he would die from this, and that he'd take Raven with him. He didn't think it was fair that the elf be punished for the act of compassion that had led to him being so irrevocably bound to the human warrior, but he didn't have a clue as to how to prevent it.

The stampede past, Raven, Brook and Tanner were at the fallen warrior's side in an instant. Instinct guided Raven to cradle his human brother's head against his chest, giving the Watchman an anchor in his heartbeat so that he wouldn't be so distracted by the pain and slip into the gray. Brook got to work immediately, waging battle with death as it tried to take the man before his time.

Tanner was speechless. Never had a human risked so much for an elf. Never had the Wolfriders thought anything of humans but that they were monsters who would like to see them wiped off the face of the planet in the name of their gods. But this man was different. He had a very distinct sense of right and wrong, and he didn't seem to care that the person he had just saved was not human. He would have done so for any of the tribe.

Brook went deep into the wound, repairing the injury as quickly as she could, sealing it from the inside out, and stopping the pain that was coming off the man in waves. Raven opened his mind to his human brother. **You hold on, Justice! Don't you die on me!**

The Watchman spoke shakily, pain threading through his voice. //Don't want to. Not fair to you. Should have let -- me die before.// Tears of pain and regret rolled down his face and Raven wiped them off. //Can't see how to fix this, brother.// Raven shook his head in denial, unable to speak.

Brook said, //One way to help would be to keep quiet. I need you to be still while I'm working, Justice. Send to him if you need to talk. I know you can.//

The rest of the tribe watched as their healer tried desperately to save the life of the human amongst them. Several grumbled about it, Briar and Shadow Wolf the most vocal. Stormlight, Tanner's lifemate stopped the chatter quickly. "He saved Tanner's life, and for no other reason but that he needed saving! None of you would have done the same if the positions were reversed, but he didn't hesitate. How can you complain if Brook tries to save him?" Shadow Wolf looked away, pouting, and Briar glared at her, but he shut his mouth. Disgusted with them she twirled around and went to her lifemate's side.

Justice heard all of it, and was surprised when he understood their words, but he was not surprised by what they were saying. He knew that his people had been cruel and evil to the Wolfriders in the past, and he was well aware of what Rainfall would do if he or the warriors ever caught one. The stories had been told to him from the time he was small, and he'd always cheered along with everyone else. Now it sickened him, but it wasn't surprising that all a few of the elves could see was a killer.

Raven Song sent to his human brother, **You aren't like that. You are Justice, not Death.**

**But I have walked in Death's shadow. I cannot say that I have never taken an innocent life.**

**You were still under Stone's command. How could you have done anything differently? You did what you could, and you removed the tyrant from the Chief's place. You have saved my Chief's life at great risk to your own. You're a good man, no matter what others think of you. Briar and Shadow Wolf don't know you, and they see the worst of Humanity. Their mother was killed by humans long ago, when they were just cubs. Their names speak of their personalities. Shadow Wolf is often sullen and silent, speaking only when he is angry. He gets on a lot of nerves around the Holt. Briar is quick to sting with words, especially if you disagree with him on something. Their attitude has nothing to do with you personally. It is merely that you are human. They don't know that you are a good man. But I do. I've seen your soul as you have seen mine.**

Tiring, Justice merely nodded before succumbing to the darkness. Raven looked anxiously at the Healer. Brook said, "Don't worry. He's just asleep. That'll make things easier for me." Raven nodded and concentrated on lending his strength to his human brother.

The tribe gathered around them, the wolves sticking to the outer edge of the meadow. Tanner looked over his tribe, remembering the day he had taken over it after the death of his father and the vision he'd had of their inner beauty. He'd seen their elf souls, separate from the wolf that was in all of them, and had since tried to give them as close as an outward appearance to match it as he could, making beautiful, colorful and soft leathers that were cool in the time of new leaves and in the time of growing.

He spoke to them all without getting up from his place at the side of the fallen human warrior. "This human has bonded to Raven Song. It is a bond that Brook cannot break without killing both of them. This is a very unusual situation. I myself would have no problem with him joining us for as long as he lives, but it is not a decision I would make without you all. What do you all think?"

Shadow Wolf was the first to speak. "How can you even consider letting a human anywhere near the Holt?! I'm not suggesting that we kill him or harm him in any way. I'm glad that he saved your life, and this mess isn't really his fault, is it? But that's no excuse to let him live in OUR home, hunting OUR game."

Raven said, "Who's to say he'd only hunt for himself? This bond we share is a very deep one. His own bonding gift intertwined with mine, and a lot of instinctive stuff has been going back and forth. He can send to me, and I'd wager that with time and practice, he'll be able to send through me to any of you. His instincts as a Watchman tell him to protect his tribe, but they do not define for him what tribe is his. Since he has bonded to a Wolfrider, he will be able to accept that our tribe is his own, and so his instincts will compel him to protect the Holt, with his life if necessary. And his senses are even stronger than ours! Most humans would not be able to hear anything from inside the forest, but Justice heard you lot coming before I did! He's a very capable hunter, and he will have no trouble keeping up with the pack in a hunt."

"And where will he live? He's much too large to live in our dens."

Shadow Wolf was asking practical questions. Where indeed? But another of the tribe had the answer. Treedancer, who was a treeshaper, spoke up. "I could make him a home from one of the really big trees. In fact, I've been wanting to make dens for everyone out of the trees. They would be much more comfortable than the shaped stone dens we have now."

Green, who was currently carrying a cub in her womb, said, "That sounds like a good idea to me. A nice hollow in soft wood rather than hard stone. And one could easily be made large enough for the human."

Shadow Wolf continued to make objections, but other members of the tribe, seeing what the big human warrior was coming to mean to the fisherman among them, were able to counter every remark. Tanner saw that the tribe was mostly ready to accept Justice's presence among them, so he said, "Enough. You've all said your piece. Only two of you have objected to Justice joining us. I'm willing to allow it, on a few conditions. He will never be able to return to his people. I'll let him go back once to say goodbye if he wants, but that will be all. If he has a mate or cubs, they can join him. I won't break up a family like that, human or not. And if he ever leaves us, he must never again seek us out." He turned to Raven Song. "I know that if he leaves, you will go with him. I can't tell you not to return, but no human will again be allowed among us."

Raven nodded. "I understand." He didn't mention that the ending of Justice's life would end his own. They didn't need to know that yet.

Justice woke to the unusual sensation of an elf's head laying on his chest. The large, pointed ear was poking him in the chin. When he opened his eyes, his first thought was that he should still be hurting, but there was no pain in his gut, just a vague ache that would probably fade quickly. The healer. It must have worked.

Raven looked so peaceful asleep. All the elves looked young to his human eyes, though he was well aware that most of them were probably older than he was, but in his sleep, that youth was even more pronounced on Raven Song�s face than any other. A deeply rooted feeling of protectiveness swept over the Watchman. He knew that this was a part of the bond, and that Raven would feel the same toward him, but it was strange to him. He'd never felt this protective toward anyone, not even his blood brother, Stormcloud.

The human warrior looked around the meadow, careful not to move and dislodge his brother. Most of the Wolfriders and the pack were gone, probably back to their home. The sun was sinking in the sky; it would be dark soon. It would probably be a good idea to wake Raven, Silver and Brook and get to shelter for the night. "Raven. Time to wake up!"

Raven grumbled a bit, curled up a little further, and then slid back into sleep.

Justice chuckled. Definitely not an early riser. "Come on, Raven. We need to get you home."

Silver was awakened by the human's chatter, and seeing that Raven Song was not waking up, he took a canine expedient. He stood and stretched, then padded over to his elf-friend and started licking his face. Raven jerked and cursed, then blinked and finally focused on the lupine face hovering above him. He shot the wolf a look of pure irritation. "Thanks a lot, Silver. Your drool is just what I wanted to wake up to."

Justice grinned even more. "Well, if you'd woke up the first time, you wouldn't have a wet face." He stood up, cheerfully dumping his brother off on the ground. He turned and headed for the river to wash his face and wash off the remaining blood from his skin.

Grumbling, Raven stood and stretched, then followed Justice to the river. Then something occurred to him. "So, even our language came to you through the bond."

Startled, Justice paused, allowing Raven to catch up to him. "Yes, I guess it did. I didn't know that could happen."

Raven thought about it for a moment. "It makes sense. The Watchman and the Companion must be able to speak to one another, to understand each other, or they wouldn't be effective in protecting the tribe. If I were human, I wouldn't be able to send to you, so that would be essential."

Justice nodded. "Makes sense." He paused, not really wanting to know if the Wolfriders had rejected him, but he knew he had to ask. "What did the tribe decide?"

The elf smiled. "Don't worry. You can stay. Treedancer is planning on shaping dens from trees for everyone, including you. You will be allowed to go back to your human village once to bid them farewell, but after that, if you leave, you can't come back. Tanner said that if you have a mate or cubs, they could come as well. But Humans cannot know where we live. You know very well the reasons for that."

"I have no children, and my wife just left me, which is why I was out here in the first place. Brooding, I guess. I would like to tell River what has happened, though. He is really the only one I will miss." He stopped suddenly, his nose working. What was that smell? Recognizing it, he whipped around to find where it was coming from. There, in the trees. A glint of silver. Justice focused and found himself looking at his chief. "Raven! Get out of the medow! River is here with a hunting party. And warn your tribe. He'll have no trouble following the tracks of the pack if he wants to. There will be a storm tonight to wash them away, but it's better to worry than be caught off guard."

Raven hesitated. "I don't want to leave you alone here!"

"I've chosen the Wolfriders for my tribe, Raven, and they are in danger! Now go! If River sees you he will shoot before asking questions."

Raven could smell the human scent on the air now. "Be safe, my brother." With that, he turned to Silver, grabbed fur and took off.

Justice sent, **And you, my brother.**

Raven was out of the clearing and the bushes that had been disturbed by his and Silver's exit stopped moving contrary to the wind by the time River, Stormcloud and the other hunters walked past the treeline. They found Justice bending over to retrieve his weapons as if he had just stood. //Justice!// River's distinctive bark echoed through the glade. //Where the hell have you been? I've had the whole tribe looking for you!//

Justice grinned, hiding his anxiousness for the elves in the trees with humor. //I've been here, River. I've needed the solitude to come to terms with myself.// He sighed, the smile fading from his face. //There is much I need to tell you, my friend. Something has happened since I left the village, something that will force me to leave it forever.//

River's expression darkened. The man was the strength of his tribe, just as his namesake was the strength of the wild, but just like a river, he could rage without notice, and there was plenty of cause here. //I think you'd better explain that, hunter.//

//I've become a Watchman, River.//

//A Watchman? I thought those were just a tale.//

He shook his head. //No. I knew you were coming because of the herbs you're so fond of smoking in that pipe Whisper gave you. You really shouldn't walk through the woods with that, by the way.//

//Why does this mean you'll be leaving us?//

//Because I've already found my Companion, or rather, he found me, and our peoples cannot exist together. Don't ask me anything else, please. I have no wish to lie to you, and I cannot tell you anything more.//

River looked like he had swallowed something with thorns, but he nodded. //If you can find a way to tell me some time later, please do. Is it so impossible that you and your Companion not come to our village instead?//

//It is. He would be harmed.// Justice smiled a little. //Don't fret so much. Some day soon, when you are alone, you'll find a blunt arrow at your feet with a letter written on it. I'll tell you and you alone the secret of my Companion, but I must ask you to swear that you will burn it once it's read, and that you'll never tell another soul what I tell you. Lives are at stake here, Chieftain. If you cannot swear, then I will not tell you, but I know that you will take your oath to heart.//

The older man stared into his former warrior's eyes, searching for and finding his complete resolution. He nodded and let out a short breath. //All right. I swear on my soul that none shall know what you tell me.//

Justice nodded and turned to his father's son. Stormcloud looked like his own namesake today, angry that his brother wouldn't tell him anything. //Why? Why won't you tell me?//

//Thanks to our father, I do not know you well, and this secret is too large, too important.// He paused, scenting Stormcloud. He smiled. //Take Lighthawk to wife, hunter. You will make her happy as I could not.//

Stormcloud flushed with embarrassment, but he nodded, grateful enough that Justice wasn't angry with him for his bedding the woman.

Justice addressed the rest of the hunters. //It has been an honor to serve with all of you. But this is the will of Gotara. The Watchman is His chosen warrior, and I must go with the Companion he has given me. Bear, Stag, and Ox, you three may have any of my belongings and decide for yourselves who gets my house. Anything you don't want, give away to whoever needs it the most. Farewell, my friends.//

With that, he turned and walked into the forest, quickly disappearing from their view. River watched for a long time, praying for the man's continued well being. Somehow, this seemed to bode ill for the future. Shrugging the feeling off, he turned to his men and said, //Come on. Let's get back to the village. We might as well tell the people tonight.//

Bear, a big and gentle man, said, //This isn't going to go over well.//

//I know. But it's not any of our decisions.// River shook his head. //Watchman. Who'd have ever thought that? I mean, he always had good eyes, but this?//

Stag said, //We'll just have to ask Rainfall tonight.//

Justice sighed as he watched them leave the glade and head back toward the village. "I'm going to miss them."

"I'm sorry." Raven laid a comforting hand on his brother's shoulder. "I would keep this pain from you if I could."

"I know. But it is not to be. They will do well enough without me. The village is strong."

Knowing that more words would be useless, Raven said, "Come. It's time for us to leave."

There was no path to the Holt. The Wolfriders made certain of that, allowing the undergrowth to flourish throughout the deep woods and help to conceal their home. Justice followed the wolfpack on foot as they made their way through it, moving just as lightly as any elf.