TWILIGHT
Written by Jenn Osborne.

A warm, clear summer night had fallen over the Wolfrider's Holt. Under the crescent moon's light, the tribe awakened. Bearclaw took a hunting party out, and the rest of the tribe set about fishing, gathering nuts and berries, mending weapons and telling stories, among other things.

Goldleaf, her lifemate Greybranch, and Twilight, the healer's son, sat on one of the Father Tree's roots, fletching (mending) arrows. Nearby, Twilight's little sister, Rainsong, played hide-and-seek with Woodlock, son of Goldleaf and Greybranch.

"Excellent work, Twilight," Goldleaf held up a newly-fletched arrow, brown eyes showing her approval.
Twilight glanced up from re-tying an arrowhead to a shaft. "Fletching arrows is no different than mending a spear."
"There's one difference," Greybranch trimmed a feather with his hunting knife. "Spears are bigger."
"And rarer." Twilight's eyes--the source of his name--grew thoughtful. "It seems strange, sometimes, that I'm the only one in the tribe who prefers the spear over the bow."
"You're just better with a spear," said Greybranch. "It's your way."
"Yes, but I'm the healer's son," Twilight pointed out. "You would think if I had a gift for anything, it would be for healing."
"Skills and magic aren't always passed from parent to cub." Greybranch set the feathers aside. "Look at Redmark. His grandsire was a treeshaper, but his mother wasn't, and neither is he. His gift is for tracking. It may seem strange, but it's his way."
"True," Twilight agreed. "And he--"

**Mother! Father! Twilight! Help!**
"Woodlock!" They scrambled off the root, scattering arrows and feathers as they did.
**Come quick, hurry!** Woodlock might as well have been screaming in their ears, so loud was his sending. **Rainsong found a snake!**
Wolfriders came running from all parts of the Holt to where Woodlock stood trembling and pointing. **Don't move! Don't scare it!** he warned as they approached. Twilight saw--they all saw--what Woodlock was pointing to. "Oh, no!" he whispered. "Oh, High Ones, no!"

Rainsong stood frozen with terror an elf's-height from one of the Father Tree's immense roots. Coiled between her and the root was a Fire-fang, a deadly, yellow-scaled snake half as long as a spear and just as thick around.
**We were playing hide-and-seek, just playing,** Woodlock babbled, **and she decided to hide there, only she must have woke up the snake and got it mad, and now it won't let her move and I'm scared it'll bite her and I was going to chase it away, but I saw what it was and knew I couldn't and I wish I could help her and I wish Rain was here!**
I wish Father was here, too! Twilight thought. If Rainsong gets bitten, she won't have a chance! But Rain was with the hunting party.

**Rainsong, don't move! I'll take care of the snake!**
Frantic, Twilight dashed away and scrambled up through the Father Tree's branches to his modest hollow, which held little more than his sleep-furs, a few tallow lamps, a rarely-used bow, and a well-used spear. He grabbed the spear, scrambled back down through the branches, and ran back to Rainsong.
** Be brave, little sister.**
He took a deep breath. I've only got one chance. If this doesn't work, I'll be the one needing father's help.

He hefted the spear, drew back his arm, and threw, a hard, downward throw that ripped through the Fire-fang just behind its head and pinned its carcass to the ground.
Rainsong shrieked and bolted, sobbing, to Twilight. He scooped her up in a hug. She was shaking; he could feel her heart hammering through her ribs. **Rainsong, It's okay. You're safe now. The snake's dead.**
"You saved me, Twilight," she whispered between sobs. "you saved me."

"And that's how it ended." Twilight finished recounting the incident to the returned hunting party. "Rainsong didn't even want the Fire-fang in the Holt, so I took it into the woods and left it for the scavengers."
Rain clasped his shoulder. "We can't thank you enough, cub. I can't begin to say how proud I am of you."
Twilight bowed his head. "I did what I had to."
"What you did took brains, courage and skill," Bearclaw declared. "And because of it, you will no longer be called Twilight. From now on, your name is," he paused for dramatic effect, "Pike!"

The End