Blood of Ten Chiefs # 2 "The Phantom of the Berry Patch"
It's a warm spring and the tribe is flourishing. Fartouch tells young Bearclaw that the
dreamberries are gone. If he wants to find out who or what took them he can find out
himself. Joyleaf comes to him. Something is able to get close to the Holt. It could be
dangerous. He and his wolf-friend Crest wait out at night. After a few weeks he sees a
hand reach out of the ground. He grabs it and Crest howls. Mantricker and the others
arrive. He pulls out an ugly creature. She calls herself Maggoty, a troll. She says the
berries belong to the trolls, who were here first. But the Wolfriders' ancestors brought
them here. They take her to Father Tree. The trolls once lived in the snowy mountains but
tunneled here. Bearclaw suggests they trade dreamberries, furs, and meats for the metal
weapons trolls make. She takes them to the cave entrance. Another troll, Picknose brings
King Greymung. Mantricker decides Bearclaw will be their go-between. Bearclaw gets a metal
sword, New Moon.
Blood of Ten Chiefs # 15 "Lessons In Passing"
Mantricker is now chief. Because of humans, some want to leave, some want to stay. It
continued until he got an answer. He'd fool the humans into leaving by convincing them
it's not a friendly place. Demontricker tricked him back. He watches a human child. The
mother sees he's missing. Sohan is chasing after Mantricker. They stop. Mantricker tells
him he doesn't hate humans. What he does, he does for the good of both tribes. Humans
follow the tracks and realize it must be a trap. The father wants them to continue.
Mantricker lets Sohan call out to him. They see Mantricker holding a knife to the child's
neck. He says leave the forest, it's ours. Remember this. He cuts Sohan and runs.
Mantricker sends to Bloodsinger. He has a spear in his back. The wolf pulls it free and
carries him back to the Holt. Bearclaw is at his side. He's dying. Treestump unties his
chief's knot. He asks Bearclaw to learn from his mistakes. Humans are not so different
than us, there may still be a chance... He dies. Bloodsinger runs into the forest's
darkness with the chief on his back. Bearclaw speaks. They will share the land with the
humans, if possible. Treestump ties the chief knot in his hair. Tonight they howl for his
father, Mantricker.
Blood of Ten Chiefs # 16 "Of the Fathers"
Sohan is grown up and now known as Skar. Gotara despises their cowardice and demands
blood. Demontricker is brought into the tent. Demontricker says Skar's father Marn
poisoned him. Skar wants a message taken to the demons. Demontricker refuses and his wife
Elona is brought in. Graz and the other men feel that what Skar does is wrong.
Demontricker approaches the Holt and howls. A bearded elf comes out (If anyone knows this
elf's name please e-mail me at sblaser@cannet.com) and
tells him Mantricker was killed by humans. His son is chief. Demontricker wants to warn
Bearclaw of Skar's plans. Bearclaw, Treestump, Joyleaf, Pike, and Rain arrive. Peace has
lasted but the hate didn't die. Mantricker stole a child as a lesson, and gave his a scar
as a warning. It was the day Mantricker was killed. Marn passed his hatred to his son.
When Marn died Sohan's spirit left the tribe. Once a year he'd slash his face again. He
became the strongest hunter. He married Morri and hate was replaced with love. A child was
born. Morri was bit by a sick stripe-tail and died of the foaming sickness. He blamed the
Wolfriders. Bearclaw will end it. He finds Skar the next day and brings the spear that
killed Mantricker. They battle. Soon Skar is brought down. Bearclaw won't kill him, it's
not worth it. Skar feels Gotara wants his blood. He kills himself. His son feels very
alone but Demontricker says he's not.
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