Tigerstar's sleep was restless. Every since Kalem had touched her with his Recognized's soul name, she had been unable to sleep peacefully. Kear... the name ran wild in her mind, almost consuming her. Tigerstar tossed in her sleep furs.

Unexpectedly, Tigerstar found herself in a peaceful meadow. The moons stood over the glade, both were round and lit the area clearly. Tigerstar watched as two elves approached from the forest. She waited patiently as they drew nearer. The first was a female: she was tall with curly red hair. Tigerstar could not clearly see the second; she got the impression that he was male and slightly shorter than his companion.

**Zabeth.**

Tigerstar gasped. He knew her soul name!! **Who-?**

**Little sister.**

Tears jumped into her eyes. **Starlock?!**

Tigerstar's older brother stepped from the shadows. **I have missed you, little one.**

Tigerstar threw her arms around him. **My eyes see with joy! I thought you were dead!**

Starlock held her close. **I am, Zabeth.**

Tigerstar was confused, **Then how-?**

Starlock smiled. **I have a friend in need. Will you help us?**

**Of course!! You needn't ask!**

**She is asking a great deal from you, little one.** Starlock stepped aside and motioned to his companion. **Zabeth, this is Kear.**

Kear...

* * *

Tigerstar awoke with a start. Tendrils of  the dream wrapped around her. High Ones, what a dream! It felt so real!

Loriel Oakheart appeared at the opening to her hallow. "Tigerstar?" he called softly.

"I'm awake," she replied, rolling out of her bed. She started pulling on her clothes. "Are we still going hunting?"

 Loriel nodded. "The others are all ready."

Tigerstar picked up her dagger and strapped it to her thigh.

"Um, Tigerstar? You wear your dagger on the other leg," Loriel pointed out. Tigerstar glanced down, she had strapped her dagger to her right thigh! She frowned as she moved it to her other leg.

She stepped out into the night air; Kestra, Bramblewood, Timberwolf and Firefly were waiting outside for her. Kestra approached the chieftess. "How are you feeling?"

Tigerstar smiled, "I'm fine. Really." Tigerstar howled for her wolf and Dreamer came loping up, eager to go out on a hunt.

Loriel kept pace with the mounted elves as they headed into the forest. Yew appeared shortly after they'd entered the woods. The elves traveled silently; sending still caused Tigerstar some pain. It wasn't long before Timberwolf  found deer sign. He followed the trail easily and soon the elves had sighted the large buck. Tigerstar silently directed the elves in surrounding the  buck; none of them had bows with them.

Bramblewood and Timberwolf  lead the charge on the buck. Startled the stag bolted for the far side of the clearing. Loriel and Yew cut off his flight. The deer pulled up short at the sight of the giant black cat. He turned and ran back towards Bramblewood. Bramblewood stood ready to meet the buck's charge.

Unexpectedly, a dagger flew by his ear, stabbing the buck through the eye. The animal stumble to his knees, then collapsed, dead. Bramblewood whirled around to see who had thrown the dagger. To his surprise, he saw Tigerstar standing behind him, her right arm still extended.

**By the High Ones!! What did you think you were doing?!** he demanded.

**I killed the deer,** she responded.

**You could have killed me!!** Bramblewood raged.

Tigerstar winced at the force of  his sending. "I'm sorry, Bramblewood, I don't know what came over me!"

Loriel retrieved her dagger. "Tigerstar," he said quietly, "you're not right handed."

Tigerstar accepted her dagger in confusion. Kestra asked, "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I feel fine," the chieftess replied.

Kestra held out her hand to the chieftess. She knew she could not force her healer's power on another elf. Tigerstar recognized that her friend was concerned. With a sigh, she allowed Kestra to place her hands on her forehead. Kestra closed her eyes for a moment and gently probed Tigerstar. After a few moments, she let her hands drop.

"You are doing better," she replied.

Tigerstar smiled. "Now, shall we help the other get this deer back to the Holt?"

* * *

Lyra was ecstatic to receive an unmarred hide. Gleefully, she made off with the deer skin before Tanis could get his hands on it. Tigerstar watched her tribe happily interacting as they shared the fresh deer meat. She met Wildberry's gaze coolly, as the white haired elf glanced at her after hearing Bramblewood's tale.

Tigerstar leaned up against the trunk of the tree she sat in. Tiera's soul name still fluttered through her mind like a trapped moth. With a sigh, she closed her eyes...

...and was holding Starlock in her arms again. **Will you help us, little one?**

**What do you need?**

**Zabeth, this is Kear.**

Kear.

...Tigerstar opened her eyes. Kear The name ran loose through her mind. Tigerstar glanced away from the Holt. Her eyes fell on a shadowy figure hidden amongst the trees: Kalem. Kalem, what a beautiful name. Tigerstar blinked. Why had she thought that?

Kalem looked up at her and, for a brief moment, their eyes met. Then he turned and disappeared back into the forest. Tigerstar clambered down out of the tree rapidly. She started to call Dreamer to her when she remembered she didn't know how to ride a wolf. She hurried into the forest after Kalem.

**Will you help us, little one?**

Kalem had not gone far. **Zabeth.** Tigerstar reeled as Kalem used her soul name.

**Zabeth, this is Kear.**

**Welcome, Kear,** Tigerstar responded.

Tigerstar felt herself shrink back into her mind; another consciousness seemed to be joining with her. "Hello, Shai," she heard herself say.

Kalem's face bore a look of complete shock. Tears welled up in his eyes. "Kear?" he whispered. Kalem stared with amazement. In the spot where Tigerstar had been moments before now stood the figure of his dearest beloved. "Yes, Shai, it is me."

Kalem dropped to his knees in shock. Tears overwhelmed him. "Kear?" he questioned again with a shaky voice.

Tiera walked over to the kneeling elf and reached her hand out to him. Kalem slowly reached out and grabbed her hand. She pulled him to his feet and stared into his eyes. "I'm here for you now, beloved." Her hand caressed his face.

Kalem trembled in shock. Her touch was so foreign to him as if it had been a dream from a life lost long ago. "What games are you playing with me!" His hand seized her wrist and pulled it away from his face. "Kear is dead! Your not Kear!"

"What a horrible monster you've become, Shai. Have you locked yourself away from your heart so long that you can't even recognize your lifemate?" She had the look of concern on her face.

"Kear is dead! Leave me alone!" Kalem dashed into the forest in a fit of frustration. His heated path lead him back to his favorite spot by the river. He collapsed by the water. Tears poured from his eyes. A hand touched the back of his shoulder. "I'm still here for you, Shai."

Kalem reeled from the touch. Tiera pulled him up from the ground. "My dearest beloved. You've gone through so much pain." She embraced him lovingly. Kalem merely stood with his arms at his side. His mind was going through a flurry of confusion. He looked into Tiera's eyes for the first time. For several moments, Kalem battled his own thoughts and feelings as a strange stirring grew in him. Then, as if to confirm his sanity, he returned the embrace.

"Kear! I've missed you so much!" His feelings now overwhelmed him. **I'll never let you go again!** The sending was more powerful than anything Kalem had ever expressed before. **My heart is full of joy!**

**As is mine, beloved.**

"How are you here with me now? Why? When did....." Tiera placed her hand over Kalem's mouth.

"Shhhh, no need to worry about that now. Let us enjoy what we have."

"Kear, I can't express to you how happy I am to see you now. I don't care if this is just a dream or a delusion of madness. This is what I want." The two elves continued their embrace for what seemed an eternity. Their eyes remained locked to each other.

**My poor Shai, your soul is so tattered. You feel so terribly alone.**

**I was alone, Kear. No matter how hard I tried to feel your warmth I was still left with an empty heart.**

Tiera held Kalem tighter. **You were never alone, Kalem. I was always with you.**

Kalem ran his hand through her hair. **My love, my dearest love, I was so afraid that you hated me. I thought that I let you down when you needed me the most. It hurt so badly.**

**Kalem, what happened was not your fault. You did what you could. You can't continue to blame yourself for making the choice you did and what Calistom did.**

Kalem suddenly tore loose from Tiera's embrace. His face was flushed with anger at the mentioning of his name. "Never mention his name to me! I swear, if I ever find you, Calistom, I'll rip your soul out with my bare hands!"

"Why must you thrive on hate, Shai? You've subjugated your entire life to hating. Don't you realize that your tearing apart everyone who cares about you?"

Kalem returned his stare to Tiera, but not with loving eyes this time. "Cares about me?! No one ever cared about me, Kear! Do you know how long I was held by those humans? Do you know how many seasons I spent being punished for what I am. Do you know how many elves have turned me away? Do you know how many times my name has been cursed?! I was betrayed Kear! I was left alone in the dark and you expect me to simply accept it?!"

"You've always resorted to hurting others, Shai, but it never healed you. Did all those seasons you spent hunting down humans heal your wounds? Did killing all those men, women, and children take your pain away? Shai, you've become obsessed in hatred. It pains me to see you this way." Tears began to fall from her face.

Kalem closed his eyes to hold back his own tears. "Then your ashamed of me?"

Tiera rushed over to Kalem to embrace him once again. **Never, my love. Your stronger than any elf I've ever know. Your heart is more pure than most. You've only strayed down the wrong path and I don't want you to destroy yourself.**

Kalem let go of his anger once again and allowed himself to enjoy the moment. **Come with me my love, let us spend the day together.**

Tiera looked at Kalem happily. **Yes, this is our moment together.**

Kalem and Tiera walked hand in hand along the riverside. They watched the beautiful forest life along the river and talked with each other of past memories. Kalem had never been so happy. They laughed together and they cried together. The day was full of endless bliss, but soon the sun began to set.

Tiera led Kalem over to a rock beside the river and sat him down. "I remember how much we loved the water." Kalem stated as he glanced out at the the sunset reflecting off of the glistening water. Tiera turned his face towards her. Her eyes were suddenly filled with sadness. Kalem returned the concern. "What's wrong?"

"Shai, my love, this has been a beautiful day. You've shown me all the wonders and splendors of your new home. I'm happy you've found such a wonderful place." Her eyes seem to drift off. "Shai....." She hesitated as she put her hand on his shoulder to prepare him. "....I came here this day... to do something we never had a chance to do...." Kalem began to loose his smile as he realized her intentions. "I came here today Shai..... ....to say good-bye."

Kalem reeled back. "NO!!! NOT AGAIN!!!" He stood up and began to walk away. Tiera stopped him.

"Shai, we were torn apart that day. All our hopes and dreams were shattered. I wanted so badly to hold you again. I wanted to call out to you. I wanted to have a chance to say good-bye to the most beautiful creature I'd ever known."

Kalem turned back around to her. **Please don't leave me, Kear. I couldn't bear to loose you again.**

**Shai, I'll always be with you.**

Kalem paused for a moment. He slowly lowered his head. He finally came to realize the situation. **Then if this is our last moment together...**

Tiera understood his thoughts and returned his offer. **Yes Shai, let this be our farewell.**

The two elves embraced each other in a spiral of passion for one last night together. Oblivious to the future, the two elves joined for the last time.

* * *

Tigerstar awoke to the sun's rays falling upon her. She found herself wrapped in Kalem's tender embrace. She remained still as she reflected on the previous days happenings. She had been aware of everything that had occurred between Tiera and Kalem. It was like she was a visitor in her own mind.

Tigerstar tried to free herself from Kalem's grasp gently. Kalem pulled her in closer, "Kear," he mumbled.

**Kear has gone,** Tigerstar replied. Sending no longer pained her.

Kalem's eyes flew open. **What are you doing here?!**

Tigerstar met his gaze. "I was here all along," she replied. "I allowed Tiera to use my body so you two could say good-bye."

Kalem jumped up. **Zabeth.**

**Shai,** the elfess responded.

"You have no right to that name!" Kalem raged.

"And you have a right to mine?"

Kalem gathered up his clothes and disappeared into the forest. Tigerstar silently dressed herself, absently noting that she strapped her dagger to her left thigh this time. After she was attired, she made her way back to the holt.

As she neared the holt, she was surrounded by worried elves. "Where were you?!" they demanded.

"I was with Kalem," she replied.

Dark Eyes took hold of Tigerstar's hand. **Is he okay?** the little elf asked.

"I'm not sure," Tigerstar replied. "We spent the day together with Tiera."

"Tiera?!" Dark Eyes questioned. "But she's dead!!"

"Yes, she is," Tigerstar agreed.

"Then how-?" Kestra asked.

"It was her spirit," Tigerstar replied. "I allowed her spirit to use my body for the day. She wanted to say good-bye to Kalem."

"Where is Kalem?" Dark Eyes asked.

Tigerstar stroked the cubling's cheek. "I don't know, little one. He left me this morning."

Kestra was worried. "There was another elf's spirit in your body?"

"Yes, but she is gone now."

"Are you sure?"

Tigerstar spread her arms out. "You are welcome to check."

Kestra approached the chieftess and tenderly touched her fingertips to Tigerstar's forehead. Tigerstar waited patiently while Kestra throughly explored her mind and body. Kestra approached the area in her mind where Tigerstar held Kalem and Tiera's soul names. Tigerstar pulled back before Kestra could get too close. Kestra accepted her wishes and continued her probe.

Finally, Kestra was finished. **Tigerstar... you are with child! Is Kalem-?**

Tigerstar placed a hand on her belly. **Yes.**