# 8 - 9, 12 - 14 # 8 - 9, 12 - 14Blood of Ten Chiefs # 8 "Spirit Quest"
Lionleaper finds Goodtree sitting under a tree. He asks why she won't be their chief.
They've howled for Tanner. It's time to let him go. They go back. Acorn sings about how
they always roam. Goodtree says choose someone else as chief. She runs off with her
wolf-friend Leafchaser. The next day Lionleaper tells Acorn she didn't come back. Acorn
senses her through their bond. Goodtree is on the flatlands where it's dangerous. She
plans to cross the plains before nightfall. The other Wolfriders track her. They should
catch up by tomorrow. Goodtree climbs some rocks and falls. Acorn feels the impact and
falls unconscious. They make camp. Lionleaper looks after Acorn while the others hunt.
Acorn wakes up. He says Goodtree is alive, still searching for something. She's on a quest
for her soul. Two days later: Lionleaper and Acorn come to a valley guarded by Leafchaser.
Below, Goodtree sits at a tree calling her parents, Tanner and Stormlight. They come to
her. She sinks into the spirit of the world, senses all, understands the growth of the
tree. She finds her soul name. When the rainwater reaches the pass the elves will be swept
away. She warns Acorn and then focuses. Vines pull her tribe up onto a ledge as the pass
floods. They find Goodtree, now a treeshaper. She's their chief and she found Father Tree,
their new holt.
Blood of Ten Chiefs # 9 "Shadow Play"
Goodtree, Lionleaper, and Acorn are eating dreamberries. Goodtree tries to enlarge the
bush and feels pain. It's like she woke something up. A dark shape is above them. Acorn
says if he had magic he'd make a friend who would take troubles away, a shadowshifter.
They hear Fang, back with game and head back. Lionleaper comes to Goodtree. She doesn't
have much time. She needs chief time and time with both lovemates. Lionleaper hunts alone
the next day. The shadow scares a buck and it runs, goring Lionleaper. He sends to
Goodtree. She and and Acorn come for him. Lionleaper has her soul name. It's recognition.
Acorn musn't know. Two Wolfriders argue over a kill. Goodtree is exhausted. The tribe is
on edge. Acorn goes to Lionleaper, who won't tell him what's going on. He figures it out
and talks to Goodtree. She must give into it, but she refuses, feeling trapped. The
shadowshifter speaks. Acorn will be its vessel. It helped, sent meat at Lionleaper. When
it granted wishes nobody was satisfied. It gave him melodies and can ease pain. Goodtree
finds Acorn unconscious. For three days he only hums. Dreamberry juice calms him. The
shadowshifter comes out. It meant no harm. It's music has no place in wolf-song. It showed
Acorn his music came from love. He loves both Goodtree and Lionleaper. Goodtree and
Lionleaper go to her den, accepting recognition, while Acorn makes a song for them.
Blood of Ten Chiefs # 12 "Coyote"
Mantricker is still young. Humans settled just beyond the forest. He watches the human
camp. Their shaman says Gotara is pleased and they must respond with a blood offering.
Spinner goes to Goodtree. His snares were destroyed. They smell only of leaves and dirt.
He's to make them again, then they'll figure out who's doing it. Mantricker watches the
humans for several days. He's learned their habits. The humans are happy with where they
are. Days pass. Two hunters go off, leaving a boy home. His grandmother says his day will
come. Mantricker sees himself in the boy. The humans return with a deer. They'll listen
for Gotara's call. Mantricker has an idea. Bentclaw snarls at the humans and they chase
him. He puts his own "gift to Gotara" in the deer's throat. He howls and
Bentclaw vanishes. The shaman offers the deer to Gotara. A skunk-smell comes from it and
they all run. Mantricker tells the others. He isn't to interfere, only learn. Soon he sees
a shining stone hanging from a branch. He looks at it with Acorn. When it gets near the
fire it flashes, blinding them. The humans are in their huts while it rains. He stuffs
hides in the shaman's smoke-hole. He runs out. It must be the demons. At night the boy
walks into the forest. Mantricker grabs him. He's been cutting traps to test himself. His
grandmother's potion covered his scent. She also made the stone. He's Demontricker. They
agree to stay on their own sides.
Blood of Ten Chiefs # 13 "Demontricker's Dilemma"
A year later during a hot, dry summer: Three humans approach the holt as Mantricker
watches. He and Bentclaw scare them off. Demontricker is on his own hunt, older and more
mature. He finds a tripwire and asks Mantricker to show himself. Acorn and Lionleaper jump
out. The boy seeks their chief (future chief). He has news that affects both tribes.
Mantricker can find him where they last met. Goodtree doesn't like it but they must tell
him. He wants to learn what's going on. At night he jumps out at Demontricker. The humans
haven't kept their bond. He tried, but they don't heed his advice. The humans are
starving. They go to Mantricker's old hiding place to watch. Gotara is angry and punishes
with the heat. Demons hoard the game. One attacked three hunters. The demons could attack
at any time. They plan to make war against them and reclaim what is theirs. They'll burn
them out. Mantricker plans all day and comes up with something. He tells Demontricker, who
prepares some things at home. His grandmother says they're not demons and mean no harm. He
gives them to Mantricker. The humans will leave them in peace. Demontricker enters the
camp with the "captured" demon. Mantricker breaks free and seems to speak to
Gotara. Their god is angry. Wolfriders throw the flashing stones and they explode. Gotara
wants the woods left alone.
Blood of Ten Chiefs # 14 "Hero Worship"
Mantricker sets a human trap and hides with Bentclaw. He hears the trap spring. He finds a
human girl caught. Mantrick won't let her down, but she screams. He cuts her down. She
seems to be in love. He tries to scare her but she knows he won't hurt her. He's her hero.
Her father approaches and Mantricker disappears, saying not to return. At the camp she
tells her mother. Elona is told never to speak of it near her father or he'll beat her
senseless. She tells other boys and her father hears her "lies." He smacks her
hard. No more talk of demons. At night she enters the forest again. Lionleaper, Acorn, and
Longreach surround her. Mantricker stops them from harming her. He has another way. He
must keep Father Tree safe from humans. Elona considers him her protector. He takes her to
the forest's edge. Demontricker finds her there. She shouldn't count on their kindness
again. Days pass. Bentclaw dives into a stream and comes out with a fish, covered in weeds
and cattails. It gives Mantricker an idea. He'll be more of a hero than she imagined. At
night he leads Elona to the river. He impresses her with all he's done and how she can
join him. Suddenly a giant monster pulls him underwater. He never comes up. He sacrificed
himself for her. He hides in tall weeds with Bentclaw.
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