**Best if viewed Full Size** A direct decedent of Two-Spear after he made the break with the Wolfriders six generations before Cutter set out on the quest of Sorrow’s End. Brightlance (given the name Firemane) was the unusual result of a cub pupped out of Recognition to Two-Spear and a lovemate, Thrush - a decedent of the First Comers. Shortly after her birth Two-Spear continued on his quest, leaving Thrush and a small group of Wolfriders behind to basically fend for themselves. The group called their home Silver Crescent Holt and were led by Thrush’s then Recognized lifemate, Greybriar, who took young Firemane as his own cub, even when his Recognition with Thrush resulted in two cubs of their own - Swordflower and Starmark. Firemane’s leadership of the tribe was never in question by it’s members as she was the daughter of Two-Spear, but as yet, was too young to accept the mantle of leadership. Thrush was killed in a harsh winter avalanche, Greybriar slipped into a deep depression and seclusion, effectively forcing the role of Chief onto Firemane’s shoulders. As the seasons progressed, Greybriar’s depression worsened lending him to fits of violent rage and carelessness, it was the latter that ultimately resulted in his brutal death at the hands of a rarely seen group of human hunters. His death and the subsequent random attacks thereafter prompted Firemane to fully accept her duty as Chief and wreak a bloody revenge on those who killed the man she looked upon as her father. She shed the name Firemane and became Brightlance in deference to her preferred weapon (as well as that of her true sire) the spear. Her lovemate, Firestorm, ever at her side, their plans to become lifemates with the aid of the healer, Rainglimmer fell on disaster when she Recognized a tribe elder, Greyowl. A man many seasons even Two-Spear’s elder and a descendant of one the few High Ones remaining in the forest. Being of the mentality she was, Brightlance fought to stave off the Recognition, being devoted in mind and spirt to Firestorm only, claiming she would rather have Greyowl’s wolf as a mate than him (a statement to which Rainglimmer jokingly remarked "That could be arranged" – the comment didn’t earn her many points with Brightlance). Regardless, in the end, the two came together, but only for the sake of Recognition and not with any sort of emotional bond to tie them to one another, and she returned to Firestorm as her true lifemate. The union between herself and Greyowl resulted in the birth of a daughter, Silverthorn, who will, inevitably become her mothers successor, when, and indeed, if she ever does. With the aid of Rainglimmer later she bore two cubs to Firestorm, a son and daughter, Starfire and son, Arrowswift. Firestorm is the only one now with whom she shares any kind of intimacy or tenderness, and displaying a barely civil, bordering on distantly disdainful, attitude toward Greyowl – but woe be to the individual who tries to do the aging elf harm. Ever one to buck conformity, and, at times, would even seem The Way, Brightlance much to many of her tribes chagrin, after killing a marauding long-tooth, took to rearing it’s cub and eventually forming a bond with it the likes of which most others shared with only wolves. Dubbing the savage feline Silverblade, for it’s luxuriant silvery pelt, she shares her animal bond with a white wolf named Blackfrost as well. Both creatures are fiercely loyal to her and distantly tolerant of each other. ~~~~ **This is an image loosely based on characters based on and inspired by an old story of mine, based on a comic series called Elfquest (by Wendy and Richard Pini) and the Wolfriders (copyright to Warp Graphics and Father Tree Press). Thanks for 30+ years of magic! These were members of a splinter tribe, my own creation, in a place called Silver Crescent Holt. No copyright infringement is intended or implied. Two-Spear, Cutter, the Wolfriders, and High Ones/First Comers, and Sorrows End are (c) to the Pini's