Finding a Place to Call Our Own

This story is a sequel to my story "More than What Meets the Eyes" and is also a slightly alternative universe story. This story happens prior to the Epilogue of "More than What Meets the Eyes." This veers off of canon a little. You will see that Dodia's son is a tiny bit younger than what was represented in Barry Blair's "Fire Eyes" just like my other story. Hope you like and let me know either way.

I own nothing. Poop!

Chapter Four

Cutter chuckled when No-name crawled into his lap demanding a story. My son met no strangers and expected love from everyone. It was Chot that rescued the Wolfrider chief once our cub slept.

"He is all energy," Cutter mentioned as Chot lifted the sleeping boy to his shoulder.

"Has been since I've met him," Chot whispered as I stood, "Thank you for entertaining my cub, Chieftain. Door, stay and enjoy the Howl. I'll take our son to bed. I'm a bit worn myself."

The statement was grounding despite the dreamberry haze. Chot was still not at his full strength from his past illness.

"Are you sure you don't want some help, Fledgling?" I asked as Chot frowned.

"As sure as I am that you'd better stop calling me a bird," Chot growled as Cutter and Leetah chortled, "Relax a bit and have fun for a poking change, Glider. Off with you. Frozen stag chips, you fuss so much. Pfaugh!"

"Fine," I soothed as Chot walked to the Father Tree while Dart grinned at me, "Shut up, Dart!"

"Not saying a word," Dart snorted, leaning against a visiting elf, "Am I, Kimo?"

"Not a single word," Kimo giggled, handing me a bowl of dreamberry wine, "Do as your soul brother says. Live a little."

I lived a lot. Gliders could have a good time too. My original tribe used to throw the most lavish celebrations before stagnation set in. The hours crept by and the festivities grew merrier while I grew fuzzy-headed. I was shocked out of my complacency by a fractured send and then my son's panicked one. I leapt into the air without thought.

"My cub!" I snarled while the tribes quieted at the rumbling of the stones beneath their feet as I soared toward my den, "Chot!"

I stopped as Balti came sailing out of the Father Tree by a good, right hook.

"Don't you ever touch my cub!" Chot roared, holding a sobbing No-name close, sans his boots and shirt leathers, "Don't you touch any cub like that ever again! Door, come get our son! I'm going to gut you, Balti!"

I blinked and took the crying boy, wrapped snug in a fur, as Chot stalked, with his sword drawn, down to glare at a cowering Balti. I didn't trust the elf and instantly used stone to hold him down against the earth while I rocked No-name to try and calm him down. All could see that my son and lifemate had clearly been sleeping within our den prior to whatever Balti had done.

"Disgusting, vile, yellow snow-eating, troll scat!" Chot hissed, placing his sword tip to Balti's throat, "How dare you?! I ought to spill your poking blood now!"

"What did he do?" Dodia demanded, hurrying to check on our cub as my lifemate shook in anger, "Chot, what did he do to our son? Cub, talk to Mama."

"I was all sleeping and then noise made me wake up. Bad elf was holding my Chot-pa down with a hand over his mouth and Chot-pa was trying to get away. I yelled and tried to get the bad elf with my spear, but then he hit me here and I sent for Father's help," No-name sniffled, showing us his bruised cheek as Chot whirled to check on the cub, "Chot-pa bit the bad elf and punched him out of our den and wrapped me all up so fast and I was scared."

"Lies! That disgusting Go-Back attacked me and the cub was just in the way," Balti denied before whimpering as the stone covering him sprouted thorns.

"You attacked Chot and my son?" I questioned calmly as the rage grew while I handed my child to his mother, "You went into my family's den to what, Balti? To force yourself on my soul mate for what reason exactly?"

"I…no," Balti whimpered as he squirmed in my stone's hold.

"Door," Chot warned as he hurried over to me, "Calm down."

"You're bruised," I breathed, looking at Chot clearly enough to notice the signs of mistreatment as he placed his sword back in the scabbard, "There are…you filthy elf! You held my fledgling down against his will, Balti! You struck my cub! You scum! I'll kill you!"

Chot, Windkin, Treestump, Dart, Jethel, Cutter, and Strongbow struggled to hold me as I leapt to finish Balti. A gentle touch made the world turn dark.

"Chot!" I gasped as I came awake to see my beloved leaning over me a short time later, "Are you hurt?"

"No," Chot denied as I glanced to see Balti held between two snarling elves, Dart and Kimo, "Leetah had to subdue you and Ahdri released the filth. Keep it together, Glider. Sun-Toucher is coming to read Balti's heart."

"I did nothing wrong," Balti snapped to any who would listen as his tribe looked away uncomfortably while Chot pulled me back to my feet, "You've been misled by that horrible Go-Back. He brought death to our village. He deserves whatever he-Gah!"

Most winced as I punched the elf as hard as I could in the gut while Chot tried to hold me back. Balti coughed harshly as I panted over him in anger. I didn't miss that Dart and Kimo seemed to agree with my actions.

"Defiler," I growled, "I'll have your blood!"

"You will do no such thing," Cutter denied as I hissed in anger, "Be calm, Door. I know that you and your family have every right to be upset. You've been wronged, but I want Sun-Toucher to let us know what is in this elf's heart. No elf has tried something as vile as what I think Balti was attempting to do. See to your family. Leetah needs to heal your soul brother and cub."

I took a deep breath before allowing Chot to lead me over to our small tribe. Jethel and Dodia were clearly furious and Chot quickly gathered our sniffling babe close. No-name clung tight while Dodia hovered close to help soothe our son.

"Let Leetah see your cheek, Cubling," Chot instructed as the babe held tighter, "You can sit on my lap while Leetah works. There we go."

"Why did the bad elf do that, Chot-pa?" No-name asked, looking to my lifemate while the healer stooped to begin her work, "He was hurting you. Why?"

"Too many dreamberries," Chot declared while a lot of eyes turned his way in surprise as Leetah finished healing No-name's bruise, "That is why dreamberries aren't for cublings. Balti was all muzzy-headed and thought he was wrestling with a troll. This was all an accident. No worries, Cub."

"Really?" No-name questioned, looking troubled.

"Yes, Cub, everything is fine now, okay?" Chot agreed as he turned our son's head to check his cheek even as No-name brightened and nodded, "Good boy."

"See? It's alright now," Pike voiced, coming over as No-name looked up at one of his favorite Wolfriders, "Let's go back to my den and I'll tell you a story while everyone helps Balti get better. Come on, Cub."

"Chot-pa?" No-name whimpered as Chot placed our son in Pike's arms, "Mama?"

"It's okay, Cub," Dodia offered reaching to stroke our son's cheek, "You go with Pike for right now so we can deal with Balti."

"Chot-pa?" No-name questioned, looking to my lifemate.

"I'll be right up to get you soon," Chot soothed while our cub settled, "It's okay now, No-name, just like Mama said. We're all safe."

"Kay," No-name agreed as Pike left to get the cub away from all of the mess.

"I don't need healing," Chot denied as Leetah held a hand out to him, "I…wait. Yes, I'll let you remove the bruises. My cub will be frightened even more so when they begin to darken. I accept what you offer, Leetah."

"I want to know the full story," I pushed as my lifemate sighed once he was seated and Leetah began to work, "Tell me, Chot."

"I'm a little fuzzy on the whole thing until the end," Chot began as Jethel, Dodia, and Yun gathered close to hear, "No-name was sleeping in his furs and kicking up a storm so I moved to our furs, Door. I fell asleep quickly with help from the dreamberries. I had only enough energy to pull off my boots and shirt. I heard someone enter our den and thought it was you when I felt hands in my hair. It registered that Balti wasn't you when he grabbed at me and then he was holding me down with my mouth covered as I tried to fight him off. I was still half asleep and couldn't think clearly. I tried to send, but I was confused. I heard our cub yelling and when that muck-eating troll slapped the babe across the face, I saw red. The next thing I knew I had our cub in my arms as I bucking punched Balti right out of our den. You know the rest."

"Unforgivable," Yun gritted out, glaring towards Balti as the Sun-Toucher and Mother of Memories arrived, "Go-Backs may be seen as too strong and forceful, but never do we force a joining that is not freely offered. Disgusting."

"Absolutely," Dodia hissed in anger.

"You fought hard, Chot," Leetah voiced as she leaned back from her work, "You had three broken ribs along with the bruises. My father will find out why this attack occurred."

"Calm yourself," Chot warned, sensing my rage building, "The cub and I are fine, Door. Both of us are healed now and I didn't even sense pain from the broken ribs."

I couldn't answer. I couldn't speak. I could only gather my fledgling close. Here I was trying to help Chot feel secure and this happens. I should have been more aware. I…ow! I hated when Chot used my hair to get my attention as he jerked my face down so I would look at him.

-Not your fault. Who could have ever seen this poking happen? Sun Villagers have never been that bold besides our Dodia. I'm fine. I've dealt with worse enemies than a weakling like Balti. He took me by surprise only.-

-I'm furious he touched my lifemate, Beloved. I'm furious that I knew that there was something off about Balti and left you unguarded.-

-Unguarded? We are in our holt. I was in our den. There should have been no reason beyond the shadows of the great ice wall to need to be so guarded. This isn't normal behavior for our people no matter which tribe they come from. Something is off about that fish-poking elf. Leetah will deal with him if he is sick in the head. I'm not harmed and I will kick your tail until it falls off if you don't stop with the guilt.-

There was my Go-Back. Serious and to the point always.

"Okay, Chot. I'm calm now. Everyone, I'm fine now," I assured my lifemate and tribe, "Has Sun-Toucher said anything yet?"

"Only that he is ashamed of Balti's actions," Jethel informed me, placing a shaking hand on Chot's shoulder as my lifemate rolled his eyes at the lad before patting Jethel's back to reassure him, "He's reading Balti's heart now. Thank you, Brother."

"Ah," Sun-Toucher spoke as I honed in on him, "This one is drunk on dreamberries which has unleashed his inhibitions. Balti is both angry at Chot and attracted to the Go-Back's wild nature."

"Okay. Ew," Chot grunted in disgust as titters rang out briefly.

"Balti was reliving a dream of his of punishing Chot by making him feel as helpless as Balti did when he saw his family fall. I'm sad to say, that Balti did indeed enter that den to force a joining on Chot," Sun-Toucher stated sadly as Chot's eyes widened, "His mind is ill from the pain of his past."

"Oh. Oh, no," Chot breathed before rising quickly as I reached for him, "No, Door. Wait."

I wanted to snatch my dearest close, but merely followed him as he crossed to Balti.

"I'm sorry," Chot offered as Balti startled, "My words do not bring back your family, but know that I regret my actions. Not all my decisions were chosen due to Zey's manipulations. I was younger and stupider and caused you and yours a lot of harm."

"I hate you," Balti snapped as Chot sighed, "I hate you so much because…you are happy and I am not."

"Because you hold onto the past," Savah said as we turned to her, "Balti, Chot has paid dearly for his past and done such good since. He deserves his happiness and you could gain some too if you would let your hatred go."

I growled as Balti spat at my lifemate, but settled as Chot stepped back to avoid the spittle and pull me away.

"He's sick, Door," Chot said as I saw Leetah move towards Balti, "He can't see past his hatred. Neither could Zey. Leetah will deal with him. I need to get our cub. I've had enough for tonight."

"Agreed," Jethel breathed, glaring back at Balti, "You coming, Yun?"

"Yep," Yun easily agreed as I followed Chot to Pike's den.

"Chot-pa!" our son called, seeing Chot in the entranceway as he flew to him dressed in a too big tunic that must have been Pike's, "Is that bad elf all better now? He's not going to hurt us no more?"

"He's being healed all up and won't hurt anyone," Chot soothed, holding the cub while the babe snuggled as close as possible, "Pike, thank you for taking our son to your den. I was just about to ask Dodia to take No-name so he wouldn't be around Balti. Cub, what do you say to Pike for your special story? No-name? Door, what's wrong with our cub?"

"Already asleep," I whispered, checking on the silent child sleeping against my lifemate's shoulder while Chot rubbed the babe's back, "His sleep was disturbed and he's beyond worn out from his upset. Thank you, Pike for watching our son while we dealt with the whole situation."

"Not a problem. I didn't want a cub near all of that," Pike sighed with a scowl, "I'll let you two put your son to bed while I find out on my own about Balti. I'm a little shocked. Never have I seen something like that before."

"Nor I," I added as Chot and I turned to leave, "Thanks again and I'll bring your tunic back tomorrow, Pike."

"More strays?" Chot tittered when we arrived in our den to find Windkin, Dart, and Kimo curled up with Yun, "What are you three doing here?"

"Felt a little spooked after all of that," Dart admitted while Chot tucked our son next to Dodia, "All of us here have a special bond and…we were all angry to know that one of us were attacked like that. I think we just all needed to be nearer for the day."

"Room for one more?"

I looked back to see a tearful Shenshen. She and my beloved most certainly had a love-hate relationship that bordered on friendship, but clearly this had upset the gentle elf.

"We can squeeze in," Chot chuckled as I assisted the midwife into our den, "No tears, Shenshen. I'm assuming your sister dealt with that poking Balti."

"Yes. He sleeps now," Shenshen explained, wiping at her eyes with a cloth Dodia handed her, "Balti was never like this before. I swear, Chot. This isn't in his nature."

"Hatred can twist one badly. I'm sure he's in good hands with your sister," Chot yawned out as I shook my head in amusement at my resilient lifemate, "Keep me warm, Door."

We all slept like a bunch of wolf puppies piled on top of one another. I held my lifemate close and fought the dreams that tugged at my mind at what could have happened. I woke very early with Chot gently tugging on my arm to pull me from the den wrapped in only our sleep furs. The sun was just setting for the day. None of the Wolfriders would be awake yet.

-Beloved?-

-Come, Door. We both need this.-

Chot led me back to our place at the creek. He dropped our leathers and his fur on a boulder before carefully settling his crystal gauntlets atop the furs to keep them safe. My lifemate waded into the water as I quickly followed.

"Wash his touch away," Chot insisted as I realized that Balti had left some scars within my lifemate, "Help me get clean of him."

"I will, Beloved," I soothed, beginning to scoop water over Chot's shoulders and back, "I wish you wouldn't hide from me when things upset you, Fledgling."

"I didn't," Chot breathed, "It was dreams that have upset me that weren't even mine. Were they yours, Door? I felt a lot of fears that weren't my own."

"They were mine," I choked as Chot turned to pull me closer, "That scared me. Your sending was so desperate and I couldn't move fast enough."

"Wash his touch away," Chot commanded as I blinked at the intensity of his eyes, "I'm only for your touch. Only yours, Lifemate. You need this. Take what you need."

I did need this. I needed every minute of memorizing every part of my lifemate. I needed to feel him close in this desperate joining. I need his soft breaths, needy kisses, and stinging love bites. I needed to see my fierce Go-Back with his hair wild around him as we danced our dance.

-No one will touch you like that again. Never will I allow it!-

-That was yesterday. We are here now and yesterday will never happen again. I want more, Glider. Move that comely rump of yours. Remind me who my lifemate is. Remind me, Door.-

I did remind Chot. I reminded my dearest over and over again until we finally lay within our sleep furs too exhausted to move. I felt my beloved's thoughts. Let it go. Move on with life.

"Sweet, strong Go-Back," I chortled as Chot grinned at me, "Very little sets you back. I want to learn that from you."

"You get better at that every day," Chot snorted before grinning wickedly, "Enjoy the spear-poking show, Cub."

"I wasn't watching," Jethel growled, hopping down from a tree with blushing cheeks as I groaned and hid my face in the crook of Chot's neck, "I woke to find you two gone and followed your trail. I heard the tail end of everything and kept my distance until you two were done. I saw nothing. I don't want to see my brother doing…that, thank you."

"Mm," Chot hummed, rising to wade back into the creek while I followed, "I see."

"Shut up," Jethel hissed, pulling off his leathers to join his adopted brother, "You good?"

"Just fine," Chot agreed as Jethel nodded.

"Whee!" No-name yelled as he leapt into the creek dousing all of us, "Chot-pa!"

"Runt," Chot mock growled, dunking the cub as Dodia laughed while she waded in to bathe, "Sleep well?"

"Yeah," No-name giggled, holding to Chot as my beloved floated like an otter, "Why'd you go swimming without me, Chot-pa?"

"Your father and I needed to talk," Chot explained as the babe nodded, "I was going to come get you, but you sneak attacked us first, Brat. Go get the sweet grass to wash your mane, Cub."

"Kay," No-name chirped as I helped him get back to the bank so he could grab fistfuls of the grass, "Hi, Chief Cutter."

"Hello, Cub," Cutter offered, taking a seat on another boulder as my son leapt at Chot to get his hair washed, "Everything okay?"

"Fine," Chot groaned with sweet grass all over his face, "No-name!"

"Sorry, Chot-pa," the cub giggled while my lifemate began washing our son's mane with the remaining sweet grass once he wiped his own face clean.

"We're all fine, Cutter," Chot offered with a smirk while our son whined, "Stay still, Cub. How is…the other one?"

"Awake. Healed and very regretful," Cutter answered, making me huff inside, "Leetah says that Balti twisted his mind up pretty badly. He doesn't remember a lot of last night, but he knows he did something wrong."

"Yeah! He though my Chot-pa was a troll. Isn't that silly? My Chot-pa's not a troll!" No-name blurted as we looked in surprise at the cub, "Glad he's all better now. I don't like the slaps."

"Well no one will ever slap a cub around here," Cutter growled before sobering when No-name blinked, "You and your family are all safe here, Child."

"Kay," No-name agreed easily like a trusting cub as Chot handed the babe to his mother, "Mama."

"It's all done now," Chot declared, looking to Cutter, "All is well. No other elf will be eating too many dreamberries around my cub, right, Chief? Because I'll break skulls if someone tries to raise a hand to my son again or any other child."

Cutter instantly got the code. "Don't scare my child by bringing up bad memories. End it, but heed my warning."

"I'll make that one of our rules," Cutter grinned out as he rose, "I'll see you for first meal later."

I never felt the eyes again. Balti had healed and even made a bit of peace with Chot. Fledgling refused to allow anyone to tell Balti what really happened that night. Insisted that everyone deserved a second chance which pleased a lot of the Sun Villagers. That was my Go-Back for you.

Eventually, we had to say goodbye to Windkin and Dart as they left to be with Chief Ember's tribe. It was that day that Chot had given me permission to let people know about our union. Dart's face was pretty funny. No-name was sad to lose some of his new playmates and was very clingy with my lifemate after their departure.

"Chot-pa, will they ever come back again?" No-name asked as he sat in my beloved's lap.

"All the time for visits so don't feel sad," Chot soothed as our cub brightened, "Time for your spear lesson with Pike. Remember to keep your back leg firm, okay?"

"Kay," No-name chirped as he was set down to run to his Wolfrider instructor who had already retrieved the cub's practice spear.

"Happy, Beloved?" I asked as my lifemate smirked.

"Perhaps," Chot purred as I heard the tease in his thoughts, "Are you, Glider?"

"For the first time in my life," I breathed, holding my fledgling closer while I watched Jethel jogging up the hill to us, "I am happy, Dearest."

"You took what you wanted," Chot chuckled as I grinned down at him, "About poking time, Glider."

I looked up at the hidden palace and down at our holt as Jethel and Chot began to snipe teasingly at one another. I was where I needed to be and for the first time in a long time…so was my snarky, wild, little Go-Back. Yes. I was happy.

The end.

Thanks for all the readers and reviewers!