The Mantooth

back the pieces of all that had happened, and think of the things he must now do to

any larger and more powerful than himself. He also knew that some were highly specialized killers, and ruthless in their struggle

is time there was no danger. His belly glutted with the fresh meat of a recent kill, he now followed the man-beast more out of curiosity than anything else. He

northern Canada, that was where the similarity ended. Although unable to formulate intricate patterns of thought, the wolves of the Valley

issing breath of a nearby predator, while Akar's keen nose (he heard the breathing as well) now caught the thick and unmistakable scent

a narrow canyon he was unable to see his pursuer, but knew from the sounds of shuffling stone that it was gaining on

oulder, it took flesh as an enormous reptilian carnivore, like a tiny lizard slowed, and swelled to immense proportions. Throwback to the rock-climbing mo

pied a small opening just ahead and to his right, and with the giant reptile just a few sh

ngue, hoping to catch the man-beast as a frog might capture a fly. After several narrow misses, Kalus realized that his only hope was to delve deeper into the ever-increasing darkness of the cave. His eyes not yet accustom

ears. Seconds later he landed abruptly. His last thoughts before losing consciousness were that something must have broken his fall. For h

head had brought him to the point of death, and only sheer desire and a tireless will to survive could sa

ess, he opened his eyes to find himself lying on his back in a bed of cool moss covered with furs, his wounds being treated by

nd; the outline of her breasts showed full beneath a woven garment the likes of which he had never seen. Her raiment, indeed her very face tones and gestures, appeared to him strange and exotic, and it seemed apparent that she had come from a

she whisp

gh he still had many questions he obeyed willingly, knowing that his strength was al

nd wondering at the impossible coincidence. She reached out once, as if to touch his brow, but drew ba