The Mantooth

ing footsteps. Reaching instinctively for his spear,

ns, 'The C

had followed his tribe for some time, living off the gnarled scraps of meat that the hill-people left behind after every kill. Ka

ly a scavenger, probably hoping to steal

ure of its own intentions. Even in the dim light of the cave's entrance he could see that it had not eaten for many day

from the pack it could not hunt successfully, and there now, it stalked a prey it had no chance of killing.

er, he pulled forth a long strand of cooked meat. Holding it

enough Kalus tossed the meat gently into the air, where it was snapped up quickly by the waiting jaws of the h

rned, but found there was nowhere to run. Barabbas, leader of the hill-people, had blocked the entrance to the cave and stood there waiting, a long spear clasped in his hairy hand. Forming

f modern man from the continent. Not understanding why, or even how he did it, Kalus stepped forward a

ngrily. And that

red back in disbelief. The he-wolf slipped out silentl

red hunter. They could not understand how this youth could be born of their own flesh, and yet still be so completely unlike them. For the color of HIS hair was light, and hi

at he fed and protected the intruder, and that if he wished to remain among them, he would have to come to accept

e true nature of his comrades had been revealed to him for the first time. The darkness and evil of their merciless aggression now repulsed and i

he struck Kalus square in the face with the butt of his spear. Stunned, Kalus fell to the ground, and b

uage with angry, animal grunts and gestures, he told Kalus he must now leave the tribe and never return. For by questioning the authority of its lea

e hill-people were the only family he had ever known. Looking to the back of the cave he saw his mother whimpering

the men, he found sympa

hed, and knew he

ich led to the grasslands below. Looking back one final time, he felt a warm tear trickle bitterly down his reddened