Passing

Hi all, long time no update and I must apologize. I discovered the 3d on-line environment Second Life and have become complete immersed in role playing there. Neat thing is I\'ve managed to translate our favorite Coyote Boy Kit into my avatar on Second Life so if you ever wanted to meet him in digital person (or a version of him at least) come on over to Second Life and look up Kit Giha. I\'ll really try and get back into the swing of writing again, thanks to the folk who have posted reviews asking me to return. I\'m dedicating a day each week to turning off Second Life and writing so hopefully you should be seeing more of me.



Challenge



“Melody!”

I turned as Deana and Dannon ran into the spring area. Deana hugged me.

“Are you all right?” She asked.

“Yes.”

“A pixie showed up at the gate,” Dannon said. “It was all a twitter about danger but with Kit gone, there was no one who speaks their language well enough to understand it.”

I quickly explained what happened and showed them the image in the bowl.

“Can you tell where they are?” Deana asked Dannon.

“I don’t see enough to ken exactly where they are but I know the area. They must have stumbled through another gate to get that far so quickly. It will take me a while to find them.”



Dannon leapt onto his Elven Steed and was gone. Deana joined me watching events unfold.



~~~



There were two this time but fortunately they didn’t pause to come in together. Kit stood in their path, spear ready. The first leapt and Kit caught it in mid leap as he had done with the other but this one twisted as the spear struck, jerking it out of Kit’s hands. The beast landed to one side rolling and yelping in its death throws, carrying the spear away from the coyote-eared boy. The second beast saw its chance and leapt onto Kit’s back driving them both to the ground. They rolled as in a snarling ball as the two Human children looked on in terror.



Finally the monster hound broke away with a yelp. Kit stood, his back was covered with a cross hatch of gouges but as she watched the bleeding started to subside and the wounds seemed to be slowly healing. His eyes glowed orange and clawed hands dripped black with the creature’s blood. He growled at the beast as it backed away tail between its legs.

The bestial look of Kit’s eyes and hands started to fade as he turned to see if the kids were alright.



“What have we here? A couple of Human brats and a half-breed.”

Kit swore silently and turned towards the newcomer. Claire turned also to see a figure mounted on a black horse. The horse was black as the darkest night and light just seemed to be soaked up by it. Its eyes glowed a bright red and steam trickled from its nostrils. The rider’s armor was a dark as the horse



‘We’re dead,” Kit thought but stood his ground defiantly.

“I am Kit, Son of Coyote the Trickster and Spring Rain, mighty Shaman of the People. I belong here and you are not of this realm. You will provide an accounting or depart.”

The silver-haired elf seemed surprised.

“You would challenge me, half-breed? Very well, I am Lyander and I hunt were I will. Yield before your superior.”

“What’s the matter Huntsman; have problems with prey that actually fights back? Big bad Elven knight can only lead the Wild Hunt against children?”

The wounded hound slunk behind the dark Elf’s back.

“If this were a true Hunt, you and those brats would already be food for my hounds.”

“Ha,” Kit said indicating the dead beast nearby. “Your hounds are not so tough but I agree you are on no hunt. No, you’re on reconnoiter. Your Lord figured to take advantage of the wards being down, slip someone in to have a look around, maybe build a gate for later raids.”



Kit could tell from the Elf’s face, he had hit close to the mark and scored a point. Elves relished this type of verbal counting coup and to follow form the other wouldn’t attack until he first gained the upper hand in verbal duel. Where the opponents were evenly matched this simply determined who got in the first blow but Kit knew he was outmatched against a Knight of the Sidhe. How long he, Claire and Peter had to live depended on when the Elf felt he had gained the upper hand or he grew bored of the game; after all by the Unseelie Sidhe viewpoint, non-Sidhe were not worthy opponents. The Elf could decide to ignore the challenge and kill him outright at any time with no loss of face. Kit’s only hope is that didn’t happen until help arrived.



“My mission is between me and my liege-lord and is none of your business half-breed dog.”

“Yes and I wonder how he’ll feel about how you botched it up? You should have left your hunting hounds at home, oh superior one. Half the Elfhame must know you are here by now with all that howling.”

Another point and another minute but a risky one; pointing out his mistakes may just incline him to more quickly destroy the evidence which in this case was Kit and the children he protected.

“You had best leave now before the Knights arrive.”



The Elf’s eyes narrowed.

“Mayhaps, Son of Coyote but first I will have reckoning with you. You have slain my hounds and stood between them and their rightful prey. I will take recompense with that prey now.”



Kit realized the Elf’s meaning and calling out ‘Spirit Shield’ he leapt between the children and the Lyander. A large leather shield decorated with a howling coyote and feathers appeared on his arm just as the Elf let fly with a ball of greenish magical fire. Kit cried out as the fire struck the shield and surrounded him with green flame. When the flame died away, Kit stood unharmed. Or so it appeared, as Claire saw the wounds on his back begin to bleed again.



“Give it up, Huntsman.” Kit said defiantly. “You overestimated me and you waste time you don’t have.”

Bluff and bluster was all Kit had left. After repelling the bael fire, it was taking all his will and concentration just to stand without wavering. If his opponent knew his energy was gone they were all dead.

“Misbegotten half-breed dog! How dare you defy your superiors, you will yield to me!”

The Elf raised his hand an even larger ball of bael fire forming. Just as Kit prepared to die, a horn echoed through woods. The Elf paused.



“Your time is up,” Kit smiled even as he started to sway. “The Huntsman has become the Hunted.”

“Bah,” the Elf cried and turned his horse and fled; hell hound following behind.

“Junior!” Claire cried as Kit fell to the ground and did not move.