The older elf shrugged. 'He ran off ahead of the others. Like you so often will.'

    Skyfire bit back a retort. Instead, she closed her eyes and sent, seeking that pattern of awareness that was uniquely Woodbiter's. She found nothing. Alarmed, she put urgency into her call; and the wolf-consciousness that answered showed a thicket of briar and hazel, shot through with fear and the terrible, burning pain of a pinched leg.

    'Woodbiter's in trouble!' Skyfire freed her bow. She tensed like a wild thing, ready to run and aid her wolf.

    But Stonethrower stepped squarely in her path. 'There's a storm coming. You gave Two-Spear your word that you wouldn't be going off alone.'

    At this, Skyfire felt a soft nudge from Sapling. Warmed suddenly by the presence of a friend, she smiled. 'But ~won't be alone. Sapling will come with me.'

Stonethrower narrowed his eyes, and sent, ':' ':'She doesn't belong here. * *

    ú 'I know,':":' Skyfire returned. ':":'What are you going to do about it?':":'

    $tonethrower considered the young elf at the Huntress's side; he also thought upon other instructions that Two-Spear had given concerning the sister who always found ways to evade the will of her chief. 'I'll go with you,' he said at last.

    In other circumstances, Skyfire would surely have argued against taking her brother's henchman along. But Woodbiter was in pain; for that she would brook no delay. She sprang into the forest, Sapling a shadow at her heels, even as Stonethrower moved to gather his weapons. He had to run to catch up. Though day was fully come, the wood seemed dim, gray with the threat of a gathering storm.

    Gusts rattled the branches like bones overhead, and the first flakes whirled and stung the faces of the elves who hastened to Woodbiter's aid. Soon the snow fell more thickly, the surrounding trees veiled in white; even $tonethrower appreciated the forest instincts for which Huntress Skyfire was renowned. She led her companions without error through a tortuous maze of ravines. Once her keen ears caught the chuckle of current beneath an ice-covered stream; and only swift reflex saved Sapling from a dunking. Although $tonethrower questioned the wisdom of

7o