ElfQuest Fan Art

Moondrop stares at the fire as she thinks about what Marut has said. She recalls her own words to Stormsong that the pack is stronger together. And she never would have defeated that monster on her own. She goes pale just thinking about meeting another one alone.

Somehow she had thought of the danger being connected to the place where the others are and being away was safe, but it might be safer if they are all together.

"You said you thought there were others that may need help, and there are. Why didn't you go with Yare to them?"

More talk of the evil in the mountain! Screams and dark twisting things sprouting in yet another mind. Moondrop throws the stick she was holding into the bushes in frustration.

She asks Marut, "Why do you stay here?"

"Ah, well..." Moondrop says while standing up and brushing off her hands. "What's done is done."

He is so obviously in the hunt that she doubts he'll know any more information about her history, but there is something he might know.

"Have you seen any strange animals about?"

Moondrop leaves the cave hoping her aching head will be soothed by moving outside the small dark cave. She drops down to sit, breathing deeply as she tries to grasp at the memories.

Could she really have known Marut before? In all of her memory, she can't ever recall meeting another elf before. Now, to have run into Marut twice in a hand-span of seasons seems incredible. Still, someone must have taught her to speak and hunt. And the fact that she has suddenly been placed near him makes it reasonable to think that it has happened before. It could have happened many times, too long ago for her to remember. Maybe there is some connection drawing them together.

She thinks of the nightmares that Antaka and Laluna had, seemingly related to this "danger in the mountain." Could it somehow be bringing her these memories as well?

Marut said he had no memories of being in a tribe, but she decides to go talk to him again.

Moondrop is unfamiliar with the berries but sees that Yare has been eating them. Curious, she takes one from the bush and crushes it with her fingers, sniffing.

Moondrop sighs. Seems she is not going to find any explanations for her memories here.

She tells Marut "Thank you for sharing your food, but I think I will go now."

She turns to Yare. "Past the lake there is a tall shelter. Wander is there."

She starts to walk away, but turns back to Marut as a thought hits her. "If you remember Laluna, she is there, too."

Moondrop is confused that Yare had no problems talking before seems to be so quiet now. She hoped he would give some more information on his tribe and the mysterious danger in the mountain, but instead has gone silent as a cricket when she's stepped to close.

Although he didn't seem to want to share before, she decides to risk a question. "How did your tribe get to be here?"

"Sit and eat with us." Moondrop invites Yare. "I am a stranger here, and would like to hear of your tribe and the danger in the mountains, if you are willing."

"Or, if you don't wish to talk, still take what you need and we'll wish you safe travels until we may meet again."

Moondrop nods. "And if we do see him, where do we find you? Do you live around here?"

"What makes him so dangerous?" Moondrop asks.

Moondrop shakes her head in answer to Marut's question. "No. I only found this forest today. But it is so peaceful here. And the game seems plenty. I was looking for a place to den."

She chews her meat silently for a awhile, thinking about the memory and what it might mean. Everything has been so strange and dream-like, she's not sure whether she can trust the memory, or whether it is something born in this snowy world, like the tower and beast.

She gazes at Marut's hands again, hoping more of the memory might come. "It's strange to have five fingers, isn't it?"

"You?!" Moondrop croaks out in surprise. Although as she gathers her thoughts it feels it shouldn't be a surprise to see Marut, having just spent time with Laluna. It's just that everything that happened at the tower was so bizarre, here in the comfort of the forest Moondrop could almost convince herself it had been a dream. But here is another familiar elf from that strange misty almost-dream before.

She looks around. "And the others? Are they here as well?"

Moondrop breaks the ice on the lake and takes a drink, splashing some of the cold water on her face. For a minute she just sits, enjoying the warmth of the sunlight.

She gets up and makes her way around the lake, pausing occasionally to add useful plants she recognizes to her pouch.