Post by Wolfin on Aug 20, 2010 17:25:52 GMT -5
Prologue
Jayroot sat in his thorn and nettle den. The massive black and white speckled bear clawed the dirt beneath him. He looked to one side. His oak-wood helmet was hanging from a strong thorn branch. Jay stood on his four paws and moved over to pick it up with his one claw. Would Sparrowleaf tell his soldiers to bring their battle-gear? This was the first Link since the battle and things were still rough. He shook his head and put it back on the helmet-holder. Jay looked at the back of his den and the tunnel that led to his mates den. He padded out of his den and looked at the massive stone between their dens on the outside. Only the King and Queen knew about the passage. Well, the Elder Monk knew but was not allowed to use it or speak of it. Jayroot put his front paws on the rock and pulled himself up.
He faced the clearing and let out a dull roar. The soldiers, monks, pupils, armour-maker and den-mothers gathered beneath the rock. Jay waited for them, his black and white fur bristling slightly as a cold breeze brushed past him. He looked at the stones circling their home as he waited. Nobody else was moving. That meant everyone was gathered.
“The Link is tonight,” he announced. “And I, yet again, shall pick the five to come. Foxbranch, Hazeloak, Cherrywood, Riverplant and Bankreed, shall be the five to come. Do not bring your armour but I would like everyone to consult Flywater incase it needs to be fixed. Flywater, you can come next season, please remind me incase I forget.”
Jayroot smiled at the light brown bear who nodded then padded to his den. The large King looked at his Queen and jumped from the stone to her side and nodded in the direction of the meeting place. The five gathered behind him.
“Are you sure you want to go?” Jay asked his mate, Swallowbranch.
Swallowbranch looked at her swollen belly and licked his face. Jay smiled and licked her ears. The dark brown she-bear nodded.
“All Kings and Queens must attend the Link,” she smiled.
Jayroot padded past the rocks beside her, ears touching as they walked. Four of the five walked in a group but Bankreed, the Elder Monk. The black bear sneezed then ran his paw down his brown muzzle.
Jayroot looked at him and slowed down so that he could be beside him. He looked at his old friend who smiled back at him.
“Dark times are ahead of us,” the old bear sighed.
Jayroot nodded. He wanted to keep this a happy Link and not preach of the future seasons. The old monk growled. They were close. Jay looked at the ground but Bankreed tapped his chin.
“Keep your head up or you will show weakness!” he hissed.
Jayroot was surprised at the old bears sharpness but then held his head up. They were only a few tree-heights away. Jayroot broke into a quick run. The others followed him swiftly. He saw the almost ginger bear, Foxbranch, following closest. Jayroot smiled at him and heard a shrieking squawk. He looked up and saw a jay bird fly overhead. The black and white King smiled. Jayroot looked at his mate so smiled and nodded. They all ran quicker until they came to another rock circle. They slid through the rocks until they came to a massive crevice in the ground. Jayroot jumped down, seeing the Forest Army King, Sparrowleaf, and his Queen, Rainleaf, already there.
“Sparrowleaf,” Jay nodded respectfully, “Rainleaf.”
“Jayroot,” Sparrow nodded back to him then turned to Jays mate, “Swallowbranch.”
The four royal bears stood on a group of rocks at the end of the crevice. Jay sighed with relief when he saw that no bears were wearing armour.
“We have had an invasion of cats in our forest,” Sparrowleaf began. “They have come from this furless den that has just been made. One cat even came into our camp and into the den-mothers den! But we got rid of it pretty quick without upsetting the stupid furless.”
Jay smiled.
“Well done!” he congratulated them. “We have had no real troubles. A few coyotes trying to hunt in our territory but we killed them swiftly with no problems. Anything else to report?”
Sparrowleaf shook his head then looked at his Queen who shook her head. Jayroot looked at Swallowbranch who also shook her head. They had announced the Queens pregnancy at the last Link.
“Shall we let them mingle?” Sparrowleaf asked.
“Yes,” Jayroot nodded then jumped from the rock.
The speckled bear looked around and saw one bear, Foxbranch, run straight over to one of the Forest Army bears. Jayroot recognized her. It was Oceanoak, one of Sparrowleafs sky monks.
The russet ginger bear spoke to her quickly and had an anxious look on his muzzle. Jayroot could almost not help himself from going over to see what was happening but he turned around to his mate who was speaking with Rainleaf. He padded to her side and licked her ears.
“The cubs are almost here, aren’t they?” Swallowbranch smiled.
Jayroot smiled and nuzzled her neck. Rainleaf looked at them fondly.
“I remember coming here as a pupil and seeing you two, you’re father was such an angry bear,” she growled thoughtfully.
Jayroot nodded, remembering his angry father grimly, growling quietly. He saw Sparrowleaf out of the corner of his eye. The Forest Army King was watching Foxbranch and Oceanoak closely. Jayroot narrowed his eyes and padded over.
“Do you know what’s going on?” Sparrowleaf demanded.
“No, do you?” Jayroot growled.
Sparrowleaf shook his head.
“But I don’t like it,” he muttered.
Jay cuffed his over the ears.
“They aren’t hurting anyone, just leave them. Anyway, we should get going,” Jayroot jumped onto the crevice rock again.
“We shall we going now, say your goodbyes and come!”
Jayroot touched ears with Sparrowleaf and Rainleaf before he began climbing the wall. He kept a close eye on Foxbranch who kept talking.
“Foxbranch, hurry up!” he growled.
Foxbranch looked at him, surprised but then bounded away from the she-bear. Jayroot watched him until he disappeared over the top of the wall. He then carried on climbing until he was up and over. Jayroot helped Swallowbranch to the top then licked her muzzle, still watching Foxbranch.
A bear burst out of the crevice entrance, snarling at Foxbranch. The bear had grey fur, much like the Forest Army sky monk, Oceanoak. He kept snarling at Foxgbranch who looked worried.
“What is going on here?” Jayroot demanded.
“Breezepine, calm down!” a female voice called.
Oceanoak climbed from the crevice. Jayroot froze. He glared at Foxbranch, thinking back on the last two Links. Foxbranch had been speaking with Oceanoak a lot.
“Foxbranch,” growled Jayroot, “what have you done?”
Foxbranch stood tall, his gingerish fur bristling.
“You can’t do anything! They’re already born!” he snarled.
“Didn’t you Army ask who the father was?” Jayroot demanded Oceanoak.
Oceanoak shook her head.
“How many are there?” Jayroot snarled.
“Two,” Oceanoak answered bravely.
Jaytoot smiled. They could both have one. Both of the parents had to be punished.
“Sparrowleaf and your Army shall take me to your camp. One cub will go to each parent,” he growled.
Foxbranch stood forward in front of him.
“No,” he growled.
Jayroot shouldered past him and saw Sparrowleaf on the other side of the crevice. He told him his idea about the cubs.
Sparrowleaf shrugged.
“Fair is fair, but they are to be named in our camp.”
Jayroot nodded and jumped over the crevice entrance. He looked over his shoulder to the confused bears.
“Swallowleaf; please take them back to camp. Foxbranch, come with me,” Jay ordered the ginger bear.
Foxbranch nodded and jumped over the crevice, Oceanoak by his side. The two young bears walked, ears touching. Jayroot grunted, pushing Sparrowleaf to move quicker.
When they reached the camp Jayroot waited for Oceanoak to show him the cubs. He glared at her as she walked past. Rainleaf took a step forward.
“This is not fair to separate a family!” she roared.
This started uproars of arguments. Jayroot saw Sparrowleaf beginning to tremble with anger. Sparrowleaf took a step forward.
“Silence!” he roared.
Everyone was quiet. Sparrowleaf was panting heavily and Jayroot and Rainleaf were the only ones who didn’t flinch. He heard cries from a den and saw two small bundles moving around. Oceanoak ran over, Foxbranch following. The two began to lick the small cubs, Foxbranch in awe of them. When they were quiet the new parents looked up.
“For the names,” Foxbranch began, “and who is going where.”
Oceanoak picked up a ginger and brown cub and placed it gently at his paws. She next picked up a silver and brown one and placed it deeper into the nursery.
“Foxbranch always really wanted a daughter, I could always tell,” she muttered. “What’s her name?”
Foxbranch looked at the small ginger and brown she-bear then looked at the pine forest around him.
“Forestpine,” he murmured.
Oceanoak brought out the second cub again.
“Forestyew,” she smiled. “They will always be connected by their names. They will always be with us, through each other. I will see Forestpine in him and you will see Forestyew in her.”
Both of the parents looked happy with the names. Foxbranch licked Oceanoak quickly then picked up Forestpine. He nodded to Sparrowleaf and glared at Jayroot who began to leave the camp.
“Thank you,” he nodded.
Chapter I
Forestpine ran through the cubs den and to her foster-mother, Skybirch. Skybirch smiled warmly at her. Forestpine was happy for her; Skybirch was going to have her second litter soon. The young ginger and brown cub looked at her fondly. Forestpine had just been made a pupil; she was a pupil to Flamewood. Her friend, Willowtree, had just been made a pupil to Flywater. Her silver-felled friend had wanted to be an armour-maker for as long as she could remember; carving helmets out of grand wood and helping future cubs find their perfect armour. Today was their day to get their armour, all bears had armour except the elder monk. He had to throw it into a forest fire sent by the Great Army.
Skybirch licked Forestpines head then nudged her forward. Forestpine dipped her head respectfully. She then left the den-mothers nettle den and padded to the soldiers den where her father sat, talking to Riveroak and Grassplant. River was a father of one and was lucky enough to get him as a pupil. His son was Streamreed, another one of the cubs going to get their armour. Pine noticed the dark grey cub behind his father.
“Hey Streamreed!” she bounced forward.
The young cub shouldered past and ran up to her. They touched ears.
“Are you ready to get your armour?” Foxbranch glowed with pride.
“Yeah!” Forestpine chimed.
Streamreed smiled enthusiastically but frowned when his father looked down at him. Pine tilted her head and her ears fell to one side. She knew that Streamreed didn’t like his father, not many did like Riveroak.
“C’mon, let’s head on over to the armoury,” Streamreed growled.
Forestpine was slightly shocked at his harsh tone but just tried to ignore it. She padded to the pupils den, which was just in between the soldiers den and the armoury, to get her friend and the other three pupils who were getting their armour.
“Willowtree, Mossbirch, c’mon!” she called.
Her white-felled friend nudged the light brown male who was sleeping heavily. Birch didn’t wake up. He just rolled over onto his other side, falling onto a dark grey pupils paw. The dark grey male roared.
“Watch it!” he bellowed.
Birch leaped up like a salmon, looking around quickly and panting lightly. He flashed an angry look at the grey bear that was showing his teeth.
“Don’t show your teeth, Stonewood!” he growled.
Stonewood pulled a face and cuffed him over the ears. Willowtree and Forestpine smirked and nudged each other.
“Well, it got you up,” Stonewood smirked.
Forestpine bounced around the den.
“C’mon, stop bickering like two cubs and let’s move!” she exclaimed.
The two males nodded then they all followed Willowtree to the armoury. A massive light brown bear sat, scratching the last touches onto a helmet. Flytree. He dipped his head in greeting.
“Hello, my new pupil and friends!”
The four pupils dipped their heads and waited for him to pick the first to get their armour. Flytree nodded towards Stonewood who stepped forward, his head held boastfully. Stonewood waited as Flytree inspected his size, head shape, ears, colour, paws, claws, eyes, muzzle and everything else. Then Flytree stood back and took one last big look at him before turning to one end of his den. He pulled down a small log and propped it up against the thorns. The log was easily observed as a high pine log. Stonewood dipped his head and ran back to Mossbirch.
Flytree then nodded to Mossbirch who bounded forward eagerly. The tall, light brown male inspected Mossbirch closely then smiled and brought forward a log from a birch tree. Willowtree put one paw forward and looked at Flytree who nodded. She took another few steps forward and waited. Forestpine watched her friend eagerly. They had to learn the name of every wood in case they got it as they had to know its name before it got carved. Flytree inspected Willowtree and brought down wood from a willow tree. Forestpine was last. She took a deep breath and walked forward. Flytree looked at her just like he did with the other three then sighed and shook his head. Forestine wondered what was wrong and wanted to ask but they could not speak. Flytree had to break the tradition.
“That kind of tree is over on the other side, we cannot reach it,” he sighed.
It wasn’t a very old tradition just no unnecessary talking so Forestpine hoped that it would be alright. She looked at Willowtree who shrugged.
“But no bear can go without armour, someone will have to go get it,” Flytree growled.
Forestpine looked across the border to where the forest began. Right next to it was the clearing where Links took place. She wished to be able to go but something else was on her mind. Could she get her armour? Would Sparrowleaf let Flytree get some wood? It was a Link tonight. She might be allowed to go to get her armour. Forestpine turned and ran back. Willow, Birch and Stone weren’t allowed to get their armour until she got hers made. The young bear ran back to camp, Flamewood was waiting for her with a smile on her muzzle.
“Jayroot has picked you, Foxbranch, Willowtree, Bankreed and I to go to the Link,” she clawed at the ground with excitement.
Forestpine roared with delight and ran to find her friend. When she saw her light coloured friend they both froze in excited silence. Mossbirch padded over to them.
“What’s-?”
The two she-bears began screaming and jumping over him. He laughed and joined in, jumping, shouting, roaring and screaming. The light brown bear cuffed them each over the ears with a paw then they jumped on top of him, almost flattening him like a piece of road-kill.
“Le’ me up!” Mossbirch laughed, pushing them off.
Suddenly, a dark grey muzzle was right next to Forestpines. Forestpine leaped up, screaming until she recognized Streamreed.
“Oh my gosh, I didn’t know who you were!” she giggled.
Streamreed sniggered. Mossbirch shook his fur and went right up to Forestpine.
“So, what were you screaming about?” he asked.
“We’re going to the Link!” Willowtree blurted out.
The two males’ mouths were open. The two she-bears’ mouths were open. Mossbirch and Streamreed couldn’t believe it. Nobody could believe it. It was the first time ever and it was only two sunrises after they became cubs!
Please comment!
Jayroot sat in his thorn and nettle den. The massive black and white speckled bear clawed the dirt beneath him. He looked to one side. His oak-wood helmet was hanging from a strong thorn branch. Jay stood on his four paws and moved over to pick it up with his one claw. Would Sparrowleaf tell his soldiers to bring their battle-gear? This was the first Link since the battle and things were still rough. He shook his head and put it back on the helmet-holder. Jay looked at the back of his den and the tunnel that led to his mates den. He padded out of his den and looked at the massive stone between their dens on the outside. Only the King and Queen knew about the passage. Well, the Elder Monk knew but was not allowed to use it or speak of it. Jayroot put his front paws on the rock and pulled himself up.
He faced the clearing and let out a dull roar. The soldiers, monks, pupils, armour-maker and den-mothers gathered beneath the rock. Jay waited for them, his black and white fur bristling slightly as a cold breeze brushed past him. He looked at the stones circling their home as he waited. Nobody else was moving. That meant everyone was gathered.
“The Link is tonight,” he announced. “And I, yet again, shall pick the five to come. Foxbranch, Hazeloak, Cherrywood, Riverplant and Bankreed, shall be the five to come. Do not bring your armour but I would like everyone to consult Flywater incase it needs to be fixed. Flywater, you can come next season, please remind me incase I forget.”
Jayroot smiled at the light brown bear who nodded then padded to his den. The large King looked at his Queen and jumped from the stone to her side and nodded in the direction of the meeting place. The five gathered behind him.
“Are you sure you want to go?” Jay asked his mate, Swallowbranch.
Swallowbranch looked at her swollen belly and licked his face. Jay smiled and licked her ears. The dark brown she-bear nodded.
“All Kings and Queens must attend the Link,” she smiled.
Jayroot padded past the rocks beside her, ears touching as they walked. Four of the five walked in a group but Bankreed, the Elder Monk. The black bear sneezed then ran his paw down his brown muzzle.
Jayroot looked at him and slowed down so that he could be beside him. He looked at his old friend who smiled back at him.
“Dark times are ahead of us,” the old bear sighed.
Jayroot nodded. He wanted to keep this a happy Link and not preach of the future seasons. The old monk growled. They were close. Jay looked at the ground but Bankreed tapped his chin.
“Keep your head up or you will show weakness!” he hissed.
Jayroot was surprised at the old bears sharpness but then held his head up. They were only a few tree-heights away. Jayroot broke into a quick run. The others followed him swiftly. He saw the almost ginger bear, Foxbranch, following closest. Jayroot smiled at him and heard a shrieking squawk. He looked up and saw a jay bird fly overhead. The black and white King smiled. Jayroot looked at his mate so smiled and nodded. They all ran quicker until they came to another rock circle. They slid through the rocks until they came to a massive crevice in the ground. Jayroot jumped down, seeing the Forest Army King, Sparrowleaf, and his Queen, Rainleaf, already there.
“Sparrowleaf,” Jay nodded respectfully, “Rainleaf.”
“Jayroot,” Sparrow nodded back to him then turned to Jays mate, “Swallowbranch.”
The four royal bears stood on a group of rocks at the end of the crevice. Jay sighed with relief when he saw that no bears were wearing armour.
“We have had an invasion of cats in our forest,” Sparrowleaf began. “They have come from this furless den that has just been made. One cat even came into our camp and into the den-mothers den! But we got rid of it pretty quick without upsetting the stupid furless.”
Jay smiled.
“Well done!” he congratulated them. “We have had no real troubles. A few coyotes trying to hunt in our territory but we killed them swiftly with no problems. Anything else to report?”
Sparrowleaf shook his head then looked at his Queen who shook her head. Jayroot looked at Swallowbranch who also shook her head. They had announced the Queens pregnancy at the last Link.
“Shall we let them mingle?” Sparrowleaf asked.
“Yes,” Jayroot nodded then jumped from the rock.
The speckled bear looked around and saw one bear, Foxbranch, run straight over to one of the Forest Army bears. Jayroot recognized her. It was Oceanoak, one of Sparrowleafs sky monks.
The russet ginger bear spoke to her quickly and had an anxious look on his muzzle. Jayroot could almost not help himself from going over to see what was happening but he turned around to his mate who was speaking with Rainleaf. He padded to her side and licked her ears.
“The cubs are almost here, aren’t they?” Swallowbranch smiled.
Jayroot smiled and nuzzled her neck. Rainleaf looked at them fondly.
“I remember coming here as a pupil and seeing you two, you’re father was such an angry bear,” she growled thoughtfully.
Jayroot nodded, remembering his angry father grimly, growling quietly. He saw Sparrowleaf out of the corner of his eye. The Forest Army King was watching Foxbranch and Oceanoak closely. Jayroot narrowed his eyes and padded over.
“Do you know what’s going on?” Sparrowleaf demanded.
“No, do you?” Jayroot growled.
Sparrowleaf shook his head.
“But I don’t like it,” he muttered.
Jay cuffed his over the ears.
“They aren’t hurting anyone, just leave them. Anyway, we should get going,” Jayroot jumped onto the crevice rock again.
“We shall we going now, say your goodbyes and come!”
Jayroot touched ears with Sparrowleaf and Rainleaf before he began climbing the wall. He kept a close eye on Foxbranch who kept talking.
“Foxbranch, hurry up!” he growled.
Foxbranch looked at him, surprised but then bounded away from the she-bear. Jayroot watched him until he disappeared over the top of the wall. He then carried on climbing until he was up and over. Jayroot helped Swallowbranch to the top then licked her muzzle, still watching Foxbranch.
A bear burst out of the crevice entrance, snarling at Foxbranch. The bear had grey fur, much like the Forest Army sky monk, Oceanoak. He kept snarling at Foxgbranch who looked worried.
“What is going on here?” Jayroot demanded.
“Breezepine, calm down!” a female voice called.
Oceanoak climbed from the crevice. Jayroot froze. He glared at Foxbranch, thinking back on the last two Links. Foxbranch had been speaking with Oceanoak a lot.
“Foxbranch,” growled Jayroot, “what have you done?”
Foxbranch stood tall, his gingerish fur bristling.
“You can’t do anything! They’re already born!” he snarled.
“Didn’t you Army ask who the father was?” Jayroot demanded Oceanoak.
Oceanoak shook her head.
“How many are there?” Jayroot snarled.
“Two,” Oceanoak answered bravely.
Jaytoot smiled. They could both have one. Both of the parents had to be punished.
“Sparrowleaf and your Army shall take me to your camp. One cub will go to each parent,” he growled.
Foxbranch stood forward in front of him.
“No,” he growled.
Jayroot shouldered past him and saw Sparrowleaf on the other side of the crevice. He told him his idea about the cubs.
Sparrowleaf shrugged.
“Fair is fair, but they are to be named in our camp.”
Jayroot nodded and jumped over the crevice entrance. He looked over his shoulder to the confused bears.
“Swallowleaf; please take them back to camp. Foxbranch, come with me,” Jay ordered the ginger bear.
Foxbranch nodded and jumped over the crevice, Oceanoak by his side. The two young bears walked, ears touching. Jayroot grunted, pushing Sparrowleaf to move quicker.
When they reached the camp Jayroot waited for Oceanoak to show him the cubs. He glared at her as she walked past. Rainleaf took a step forward.
“This is not fair to separate a family!” she roared.
This started uproars of arguments. Jayroot saw Sparrowleaf beginning to tremble with anger. Sparrowleaf took a step forward.
“Silence!” he roared.
Everyone was quiet. Sparrowleaf was panting heavily and Jayroot and Rainleaf were the only ones who didn’t flinch. He heard cries from a den and saw two small bundles moving around. Oceanoak ran over, Foxbranch following. The two began to lick the small cubs, Foxbranch in awe of them. When they were quiet the new parents looked up.
“For the names,” Foxbranch began, “and who is going where.”
Oceanoak picked up a ginger and brown cub and placed it gently at his paws. She next picked up a silver and brown one and placed it deeper into the nursery.
“Foxbranch always really wanted a daughter, I could always tell,” she muttered. “What’s her name?”
Foxbranch looked at the small ginger and brown she-bear then looked at the pine forest around him.
“Forestpine,” he murmured.
Oceanoak brought out the second cub again.
“Forestyew,” she smiled. “They will always be connected by their names. They will always be with us, through each other. I will see Forestpine in him and you will see Forestyew in her.”
Both of the parents looked happy with the names. Foxbranch licked Oceanoak quickly then picked up Forestpine. He nodded to Sparrowleaf and glared at Jayroot who began to leave the camp.
“Thank you,” he nodded.
Chapter I
Forestpine ran through the cubs den and to her foster-mother, Skybirch. Skybirch smiled warmly at her. Forestpine was happy for her; Skybirch was going to have her second litter soon. The young ginger and brown cub looked at her fondly. Forestpine had just been made a pupil; she was a pupil to Flamewood. Her friend, Willowtree, had just been made a pupil to Flywater. Her silver-felled friend had wanted to be an armour-maker for as long as she could remember; carving helmets out of grand wood and helping future cubs find their perfect armour. Today was their day to get their armour, all bears had armour except the elder monk. He had to throw it into a forest fire sent by the Great Army.
Skybirch licked Forestpines head then nudged her forward. Forestpine dipped her head respectfully. She then left the den-mothers nettle den and padded to the soldiers den where her father sat, talking to Riveroak and Grassplant. River was a father of one and was lucky enough to get him as a pupil. His son was Streamreed, another one of the cubs going to get their armour. Pine noticed the dark grey cub behind his father.
“Hey Streamreed!” she bounced forward.
The young cub shouldered past and ran up to her. They touched ears.
“Are you ready to get your armour?” Foxbranch glowed with pride.
“Yeah!” Forestpine chimed.
Streamreed smiled enthusiastically but frowned when his father looked down at him. Pine tilted her head and her ears fell to one side. She knew that Streamreed didn’t like his father, not many did like Riveroak.
“C’mon, let’s head on over to the armoury,” Streamreed growled.
Forestpine was slightly shocked at his harsh tone but just tried to ignore it. She padded to the pupils den, which was just in between the soldiers den and the armoury, to get her friend and the other three pupils who were getting their armour.
“Willowtree, Mossbirch, c’mon!” she called.
Her white-felled friend nudged the light brown male who was sleeping heavily. Birch didn’t wake up. He just rolled over onto his other side, falling onto a dark grey pupils paw. The dark grey male roared.
“Watch it!” he bellowed.
Birch leaped up like a salmon, looking around quickly and panting lightly. He flashed an angry look at the grey bear that was showing his teeth.
“Don’t show your teeth, Stonewood!” he growled.
Stonewood pulled a face and cuffed him over the ears. Willowtree and Forestpine smirked and nudged each other.
“Well, it got you up,” Stonewood smirked.
Forestpine bounced around the den.
“C’mon, stop bickering like two cubs and let’s move!” she exclaimed.
The two males nodded then they all followed Willowtree to the armoury. A massive light brown bear sat, scratching the last touches onto a helmet. Flytree. He dipped his head in greeting.
“Hello, my new pupil and friends!”
The four pupils dipped their heads and waited for him to pick the first to get their armour. Flytree nodded towards Stonewood who stepped forward, his head held boastfully. Stonewood waited as Flytree inspected his size, head shape, ears, colour, paws, claws, eyes, muzzle and everything else. Then Flytree stood back and took one last big look at him before turning to one end of his den. He pulled down a small log and propped it up against the thorns. The log was easily observed as a high pine log. Stonewood dipped his head and ran back to Mossbirch.
Flytree then nodded to Mossbirch who bounded forward eagerly. The tall, light brown male inspected Mossbirch closely then smiled and brought forward a log from a birch tree. Willowtree put one paw forward and looked at Flytree who nodded. She took another few steps forward and waited. Forestpine watched her friend eagerly. They had to learn the name of every wood in case they got it as they had to know its name before it got carved. Flytree inspected Willowtree and brought down wood from a willow tree. Forestpine was last. She took a deep breath and walked forward. Flytree looked at her just like he did with the other three then sighed and shook his head. Forestine wondered what was wrong and wanted to ask but they could not speak. Flytree had to break the tradition.
“That kind of tree is over on the other side, we cannot reach it,” he sighed.
It wasn’t a very old tradition just no unnecessary talking so Forestpine hoped that it would be alright. She looked at Willowtree who shrugged.
“But no bear can go without armour, someone will have to go get it,” Flytree growled.
Forestpine looked across the border to where the forest began. Right next to it was the clearing where Links took place. She wished to be able to go but something else was on her mind. Could she get her armour? Would Sparrowleaf let Flytree get some wood? It was a Link tonight. She might be allowed to go to get her armour. Forestpine turned and ran back. Willow, Birch and Stone weren’t allowed to get their armour until she got hers made. The young bear ran back to camp, Flamewood was waiting for her with a smile on her muzzle.
“Jayroot has picked you, Foxbranch, Willowtree, Bankreed and I to go to the Link,” she clawed at the ground with excitement.
Forestpine roared with delight and ran to find her friend. When she saw her light coloured friend they both froze in excited silence. Mossbirch padded over to them.
“What’s-?”
The two she-bears began screaming and jumping over him. He laughed and joined in, jumping, shouting, roaring and screaming. The light brown bear cuffed them each over the ears with a paw then they jumped on top of him, almost flattening him like a piece of road-kill.
“Le’ me up!” Mossbirch laughed, pushing them off.
Suddenly, a dark grey muzzle was right next to Forestpines. Forestpine leaped up, screaming until she recognized Streamreed.
“Oh my gosh, I didn’t know who you were!” she giggled.
Streamreed sniggered. Mossbirch shook his fur and went right up to Forestpine.
“So, what were you screaming about?” he asked.
“We’re going to the Link!” Willowtree blurted out.
The two males’ mouths were open. The two she-bears’ mouths were open. Mossbirch and Streamreed couldn’t believe it. Nobody could believe it. It was the first time ever and it was only two sunrises after they became cubs!
Please comment!
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