The Mantooth

. Purposely avoiding the man-child, he moved instead to the place where his mistress

ng her friend she subsided, but too late to prevent a confrontation. Alerted by the sound

ly, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. The gi

ontorted expression. 'Take it away.' Coming closer Kalus started to reach

. 'Your friend has a short memory,' he said coldly, pretending t

nt of Kalus' knife held threateningly between himself and the kill. As he backed away the two squared off, Kalus on one knee and the wolf standing. Akar began t

Please,

nions ready to tear each other apart over a blood-stained carcass, was more than she could bear. Bowing her head between c

e would undoubtedly have been more sympathetic had he not been hurt several times already by giving in to similar emotions. He was far too angry now to think of any

ke this? Why can't you ju

ly toward the man-child's unmoving form. Coming closer he drew a line in the dirt just in front of him, signaling his desire fo

iolence by his ingratitude, reminding him that if it had not been for his own, selfless actions, neither he nor the girl would be alive at all. He then drew another line in the dirt, not across the ma

ne thing, courage in the face of danger quite another. To say that he had wholly staged the conflict as a test of the other's spirit would be incorrect; but once it developed into such

adrenalin's flow, he could not have backed up the threat if he wanted to. He did not. The truce was accepted. He reached out an open hand, letting his new-found ally learn its sc

peaking as much to hi

s as they first appea

brothers, as we could

tedly, not at all s

ore, will you? Please

ight.' He cont

deadlock with a question. He truly wished to know its answer, but

who comes from far away. A

t is

f Ruins acros

, but from a different time as well. It didn't matter. She wasn't going to have the chance. In their preoccupation with themselves th

e low, scratching sound of hooked claws searching for footholds was unmistakable. He did not try to run, nor even to alert the oth

lus heard a loosened stone sent plummeting to the bottom

r. 'The mantis is coming toward us. Do not cry out--he probably w

ed intently, surpris

to speak. Akar will speak for us. Here, he draws closer. When you first see him, hold on to me tightly, as if shocked and s

sed, and the Mantis' first glimpse of them was exactly as Kalus had wanted it. Akar stood submissively to one side, allowing the Monarch an unobstructed view. After studying the

Kalus to watch from the stone lip that ran like a

t say. But I think if he was going to kill us he would have done it already.

f short barks and body movements, the Mantis through subtle movements of his antennae, foreclaws and up

it you then that snuck from my

ne. I was trapped i

he cave at all? Have you lost

sleep, and finding herself in your lair. I tried to make her leave it many times, but she believes she is somehow protected there by gods I do not

lf. I have not grown so old as

Forg

es she speak of having com

eve it is so. Wha

across a chamber filled with many strange and beautiful things. I forgot all else for the wonder of it. But the thing I would most have for myself was the long silver box. Inside it was the body of a woman-child, your mistress it seems. She was fair of fac

n my mountain. It is the man-beast I do not trust. His kind are treac

utcast, like myself, and worthy of trust. To him

, my friend. How is it that the brother of Sha

in a pack whose unwanted leader had slain my true brother, so I set out to live

grieve for him. It seems that many things have changed in my absence. (A pause

y)- As you

ked up to the place where the others stood waiting. Barking sharply

saying?' ask

hope that is good. Wait for me here,

ping weak-kneed out onto the ledge, he felt his heart pounding, and as he approached the Mantis' awesome form, felt both hope and despair arise with equal strength inside him. H

ed arm and wrist movements he hoped the other w

ed the Carnivore. Do you read the me

pursued here by a Commodore, and forced to take refuge in the smaller cave above your own.' He pointed, adding after a

ame is true of the female you saw with me. I would have her as my own, but she is not yet able to protect herself in the wild..... Ther

soon..... The mating of the spiders has reached its middle season, and will not e

his lie?' signaled

ill-people hear

ly as he could. 'And I would never tell them. Your sec

e strange and knowing child. Utterly intrigued, he searche

t then you

that you allow the three of us to remain here on the mountain, in the smaller cave above your own.

or what reason

ve only a short marc

nd many other predators

e, I could turn our s

lp

o

your mighty wings. And Akar could descend daily to the grassland

intelligence of one so young. And he had not failed to note the subtle differences of his appearance: the knowing eyes, the smoother, m

r and leaving it to dry in the sun. When it has tightened between them it is beaten

rees? And why do you think that my enemies will bel

ent places along the ridge. That way the sound can be sent echo

r to trust a man-beast. But these were difficult times. Yielding to the un

part. It was not the first time. The feeling had often puzzled (and frightened) him. There could be no denying the double reason for their meeting: the air was charged with it, the mind echo of deja-vu all around it. Searching deep within himself

nd careful thought. Now I must rest, as you should well know. Go again to the place where I fo

Feeling relieved but still pensive, Kalus started to lea

, ma

ummers have

-one, m

t season we

ter. Why do

halo which seemed to reach down towards the earth. Another, smaller halo erupted suddenly, and three stars passed through it as

s this passi

one day you will answe

moment, then turned himself and retreated toward the shelter of the