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“Come the Storm” by Tony Greyfox (part 2 of 2)
Two young creatures find themselves unexpectedly working together to try and end a drought that threatens both their villages.
Today’s story is the second and final part of “Come the Storm” by Tony Greyfox, which was a runner-up in the Rainfurrest 2014 writing contest and appeared in the next year’s charity anthology. Tony’s work has been in a number of anthologies, including the newly released A Swordmaster’s Tale, from Armoured Fox Press and available on Amazon.
Last time, Talia and Kristan, a deer and bobcat, found themselves unlikely companions in a quest to seek out the answer to a drought that has fallen over their villages. Living under the Pact that protects herbivore from carnivore, the two travel towards the Oakbend Forest through the parched grasslands, but there are other dangers beyond the summer heat to contend with...
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Transcript
2 00:00:01,889 --> 00:00:02,129: You're
Speaker:listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:The Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.
Speaker:I'm
Speaker:Kaki,
Speaker:your
Speaker:faithful
Speaker:fireside
Speaker:companion.
Speaker:And
Speaker:today's
Speaker:story
Speaker:is
Speaker:The
Speaker:Second
Speaker:and
Speaker:Final
Speaker:Part
Speaker:of
Speaker:Come
Speaker:the
Speaker:Storm
Speaker:by
Speaker:Tony
Speaker:Grey
Speaker:fox,
Speaker:who'
Speaker:s
Speaker:been
Speaker:writing
Speaker:furry
Speaker:fiction
Speaker:for
Speaker:longer
Speaker:than
Speaker:he
Speaker:likes
Speaker:to
Speaker:admit.
Speaker:This
Speaker:story
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:runner-
Speaker:up
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:Ray
Speaker:First
Speaker:yearly
Speaker:writing contest for 2014 and appeared in
Speaker:the
Speaker:next
Speaker:year's
Speaker:charity
Speaker:anthology.
Speaker:His
Speaker:work
Speaker:has
Speaker:also
Speaker:been
Speaker:featured
Speaker:in
Speaker:anthologies
Speaker:like
Speaker:Inhuman
Speaker:Acts
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:Furry
Speaker:Future,
Speaker:Heat
Speaker:Magazine
Speaker:and
Speaker:others.
Speaker:You
Speaker:can
Speaker:find
Speaker:more
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:stories
Speaker:on
Speaker:SoFurry.
Speaker:Last time,
Speaker:Talia and Kristen,
Speaker:a
Speaker:deer
Speaker:and
Speaker:bulb cat,
Speaker:found
Speaker:themselves
Speaker:unlikely
Speaker:companions
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:quest
Speaker:to
Speaker:seek
Speaker:out
Speaker:the
Speaker:answer
Speaker:to a
Speaker:drought
Speaker:that
Speaker:has
Speaker:fallen
Speaker:over
Speaker:their
Speaker:villages.
Speaker:Living
Speaker:under
Speaker:the
Speaker:pact
Speaker:that
Speaker:protects
Speaker:Herbivore
Speaker:from
Speaker:carnivore,
Speaker:the
Speaker:two
Speaker:travel
Speaker:towards
Speaker:the
Speaker:Oak
Speaker:bend
Speaker:Forest
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:parched
Speaker:grasslands,
Speaker:though
Speaker:there
Speaker:are
Speaker:other
Speaker:dangers
Speaker:beyond
Speaker:the
Speaker:summer
Speaker:heat
Speaker:to
Speaker:contend
Speaker:with.
Speaker:Please
Speaker:enjoy
Speaker:Come
Speaker:the
Speaker:Storm
Speaker:by Tony
Speaker:Greyf
Speaker:ox. O
Speaker:uch! A little gentler, perhaps,
Speaker:Kristen? Talia, stretched
Speaker:out on crisp,
Speaker:dry
Speaker:grass
Speaker:on
Speaker:her
Speaker:stomach,
Speaker:looked
Speaker:over
Speaker:her
Speaker:shoulder
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:bobcat
Speaker:who
Speaker:knelt
Speaker:next
Speaker:to
Speaker:her
Speaker:legs.
Speaker:He
Speaker:shrugged
Speaker:apologetically.
Speaker:Apologies,
Speaker:but
Speaker:the
Speaker:thorns
Speaker:are
Speaker:well
Speaker:dug
Speaker:in,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:think
Speaker:they're
Speaker:barbed
Speaker:slightly.
Speaker:It
Speaker:feels
Speaker:that
Speaker:way.
Speaker:What
Speaker:a
Speaker:lovely
Speaker:place
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:bramble
Speaker:bush
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:growing
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:hidden
Speaker:hollow,
Speaker:she
Speaker:grumbled.
Speaker:Ouch!
Speaker:Careful.
Speaker:I
Speaker:need
Speaker:to
Speaker:use
Speaker:my
Speaker:claws a
Speaker:little
Speaker:to
Speaker:help
Speaker:remove
Speaker:these
Speaker:pesky
Speaker:things.
Speaker:He
Speaker:worried
Speaker:at
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:thorns
Speaker:stuck
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:deer's
Speaker:calf,
Speaker:finally
Speaker:tugging
Speaker:the
Speaker:impressively
Speaker:sized
Speaker:sticker
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:short
Speaker:pelt.
Speaker:Good
Speaker:thing
Speaker:I
Speaker:jumped
Speaker:over
Speaker:that
Speaker:hollow
Speaker:and
Speaker:that yo
Speaker:u
Speaker:nearly
Speaker:made
Speaker:it.
Speaker:I
Speaker:think
Speaker:we
Speaker:would
Speaker:have
Speaker:been
Speaker:here
Speaker:for
Speaker:quite
Speaker:a
Speaker:while
Speaker:had
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:us
Speaker:landed
Speaker:fully
Speaker:in
Speaker:that
Speaker:thorn
Speaker:bush."
Speaker:Talia
Speaker:shuddered. "'
Speaker:I
Speaker:think
Speaker:we
Speaker:need
Speaker:to
Speaker:slow
Speaker:down
Speaker:slightly
Speaker:tomorrow,
Speaker:don't
Speaker:you?'
Speaker:Agreed.
Speaker:O
Speaker:wise
Speaker:and
Speaker:knowledgeable
Speaker:elder.
Speaker:Ouch
Speaker:!"
Speaker:he
Speaker:rubbed
Speaker:at
Speaker:his
Speaker:forearm
Speaker:where
Speaker:she
Speaker:had
Speaker:kicked
Speaker:him. "'
Speaker:I
Speaker:think
Speaker:that's
Speaker:all
Speaker:of
Speaker:them.
Speaker:Do
Speaker:you
Speaker:think
Speaker:we
Speaker:should
Speaker:wrap
Speaker:your
Speaker:leg?'
Speaker:She
Speaker:shook
Speaker:her
Speaker:head
Speaker:no
Speaker:and
Speaker:sat
Speaker:up.
Speaker:It
Speaker:should
Speaker:be
Speaker:fine.
Speaker:We
Speaker:should
Speaker:dig
Speaker:a
Speaker:fire
Speaker:pit
Speaker:before
Speaker:it's
Speaker:full
Speaker:dark,
Speaker:though."
Speaker:The
Speaker:two
Speaker:young
Speaker:creatures
Speaker:made
Speaker:short
Speaker:work
Speaker:of
Speaker:a
Speaker:fire pit,
Speaker:clearing
Speaker:grass
Speaker:for
Speaker:several
Speaker:feet
Speaker:around.
Speaker:In
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:moments
Speaker:they
Speaker:had
Speaker:a
Speaker:small
Speaker:fire.
Speaker:Talia
Speaker:sat
Speaker:back
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:cleared
Speaker:ground
Speaker:and
Speaker:looked
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:sky. "'
Speaker:Oh, my!
Speaker:A
Speaker:family
Speaker:meeting!' "'
Speaker:A
Speaker:what?'
Speaker:Confused,
Speaker:Kristen
Speaker:peered
Speaker:around
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:light
Speaker:softened
Speaker:into
Speaker:sunset
Speaker:gold. "'
Speaker:Where?' "'
Speaker:There.
Speaker:In
Speaker:the
Speaker:west
Speaker:is
Speaker:the
Speaker:sun,
Speaker:heading
Speaker:to
Speaker:her
Speaker:bed
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:evening.'
Speaker:She
Speaker:pointed
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:shimmering
Speaker:western
Speaker:horizon,
Speaker:then
Speaker:turned
Speaker:her
Speaker:gaze
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:opposite
Speaker:direction.
Speaker:And
Speaker:there
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:east
Speaker:is
Speaker:her
Speaker:brother,
Speaker:the
Speaker:moon,
Speaker:following
Speaker:her
Speaker:through
Speaker:the
Speaker:heavens.
Speaker:Kristen
Speaker:frowned. "'
Speaker:Brother
Speaker:and
Speaker:sister?
Speaker:I
Speaker:don't
Speaker:know
Speaker:what
Speaker:you're
Speaker:talking
Speaker:about,
Speaker:Talia.' "'
Speaker:Do
Speaker:you
Speaker:not
Speaker:know
Speaker:the
Speaker:story
Speaker:of
Speaker:how
Speaker:we
Speaker:came
Speaker:to
Speaker:be?'
Speaker:She
Speaker:seemed
Speaker:surprised
Speaker:to
Speaker:learn
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:ignorance. "'
Speaker:Our
Speaker:elders
Speaker:tell
Speaker:us
Speaker:the
Speaker:tale
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:shortest
Speaker:and
Speaker:longest
Speaker:days
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:year.' "'
Speaker:Talia,'
Speaker:her
Speaker:friend
Speaker:said
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:smile, "'
Speaker:our
Speaker:elders
Speaker:are
Speaker:not
Speaker:your
Speaker:elders.
Speaker:But
Speaker:I
Speaker:am
Speaker:curious
Speaker:about
Speaker:the
Speaker:story.
Speaker:Please
Speaker:tell
Speaker:it.' "'
Speaker:Me?
Speaker:Oh,
Speaker:no,
Speaker:no,
Speaker:I
Speaker:couldn't.'
Speaker:She
Speaker:waved
Speaker:her
Speaker:hooves,
Speaker:embarrassed. "'
Speaker:The
Speaker:elders
Speaker:are
Speaker:so
Speaker:much
Speaker:better
Speaker:and
Speaker:so
Speaker:far
Speaker:away.' "'
Speaker:Besides,'
Speaker:Kristen
Speaker:said
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:small
Speaker:smile, "'
Speaker:you do
Speaker:not
Speaker:wish
Speaker:to
Speaker:educate
Speaker:a
Speaker:poor,
Speaker:backwards
Speaker:meat-
Speaker:eater
Speaker:about
Speaker:your
Speaker:people.'
Speaker:The
Speaker:deer
Speaker:took
Speaker:a
Speaker:deep
Speaker:breath
Speaker:and
Speaker:shook
Speaker:her
Speaker:head. "'
Speaker:All right,
Speaker:I
Speaker:will
Speaker:tell
Speaker:you,
Speaker:but
Speaker:if
Speaker:you
Speaker:laugh,
Speaker:I
Speaker:will
Speaker:find
Speaker:the
Speaker:biggest
Speaker:stick
Speaker:I
Speaker:can and
Speaker:chase
Speaker:you
Speaker:across
Speaker:the
Speaker:grasslands
Speaker:for
Speaker:weeks.'
Speaker:Kristen
Speaker:sat
Speaker:up
Speaker:as
Speaker:Talia
Speaker:took
Speaker:her
Speaker:knife
Speaker:from
Speaker:its
Speaker:sheath
Speaker:and
Speaker:sketched
Speaker:a
Speaker:representation
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:sun,
Speaker:blazing
Speaker:beams
Speaker:of
Speaker:light
Speaker:radiating
Speaker:from
Speaker:it.
Speaker:She
Speaker:took
Speaker:a
Speaker:breath
Speaker:and
Speaker:began. "'
Speaker:In
Speaker:the
Speaker:days
Speaker:when
Speaker:the
Speaker:world
Speaker:was
Speaker:young
Speaker:and
Speaker:when
Speaker:the
Speaker:creatures
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:world
Speaker:all
Speaker:ran
Speaker:on
Speaker:four
Speaker:legs
Speaker:to
Speaker:find
Speaker:their
Speaker:dinners
Speaker:and
Speaker:their
Speaker:mates,
Speaker:the
Speaker:sun,
Speaker:the
Speaker:giver
Speaker:of
Speaker:life
Speaker:as
Speaker:our
Speaker:people
Speaker:see
Speaker:her,
Speaker:and
Speaker:her
Speaker:brother
Speaker:the
Speaker:moon,
Speaker:were
Speaker:as
Speaker:close
Speaker:as
Speaker:any
Speaker:litter-mates.
Speaker:But
Speaker:as
Speaker:they
Speaker:grew
Speaker:and
Speaker:their
Speaker:mother
Speaker:the
Speaker:sky
Speaker:saw
Speaker:their
Speaker:attributes,
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:decided
Speaker:that
Speaker:sun,
Speaker:with
Speaker:her
Speaker:glowing
Speaker:face
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:warmth
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:love,
Speaker:would
Speaker:be
Speaker:the
Speaker:protector
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:day,
Speaker:sharing
Speaker:her
Speaker:brilliance
Speaker:with
Speaker:all
Speaker:below
Speaker:and
Speaker:moon,
Speaker:who
Speaker:glimmered
Speaker:but
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:share
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:warmth,
Speaker:being
Speaker:more
Speaker:reserved
Speaker:and
Speaker:moody
Speaker:than
Speaker:his
Speaker:sister,
Speaker:would
Speaker:become
Speaker:the
Speaker:guardian
Speaker:of the
Speaker:night
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:stars.
Speaker:When
Speaker:he
Speaker:heard
Speaker:of
Speaker:this
Speaker:decision,
Speaker:moon
Speaker:became
Speaker:angry,
Speaker:feeling
Speaker:that
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:being
Speaker:punished
Speaker:for
Speaker:being
Speaker:less
Speaker:beautiful
Speaker:than
Speaker:his
Speaker:sister,
Speaker:and
Speaker:he
Speaker:declared
Speaker:that
Speaker:he
Speaker:would
Speaker:spend
Speaker:all
Speaker:his
Speaker:days
Speaker:chasing
Speaker:sun
Speaker:across
Speaker:the
Speaker:sky,
Speaker:and
Speaker:when
Speaker:he
Speaker:caught
Speaker:her
Speaker:he
Speaker:would
Speaker:throw
Speaker:her
Speaker:aside
Speaker:and
Speaker:take
Speaker:her
Speaker:place
Speaker:as
Speaker:guardian
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:day.'
Speaker:Talia
Speaker:added
Speaker:another
Speaker:orb
Speaker:in
Speaker:her
Speaker:sketch
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:dusty
Speaker:ground,
Speaker:this
Speaker:one
Speaker:with
Speaker:no
Speaker:rays,
Speaker:but
Speaker:an
Speaker:angry
Speaker:visage
Speaker:instead.
Speaker:The
Speaker:race
Speaker:went
Speaker:on
Speaker:for
Speaker:many
Speaker:summers,
Speaker:the
Speaker:sun
Speaker:always
Speaker:able
Speaker:to
Speaker:stay
Speaker:ahead
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:brother,
Speaker:though
Speaker:he
Speaker:catches
Speaker:up
Speaker:some
Speaker:times
Speaker:and
Speaker:we
Speaker:see
Speaker:both
Speaker:sun
Speaker:and
Speaker:moon
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:sky
Speaker:during
Speaker:the
Speaker:day,
Speaker:as
Speaker:we
Speaker:did
Speaker:today."
Speaker:The
Speaker:deer
Speaker:smiled.
Speaker:They
Speaker:rarely
Speaker:meet
Speaker:face
Speaker:to
Speaker:face
Speaker:and
Speaker:could
Speaker:think
Speaker:too,
Speaker:but
Speaker:one
Speaker:day
Speaker:sun
Speaker:became
Speaker:weary
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:endl
Speaker:ess
Speaker:race,
Speaker:and
Speaker:instead
Speaker:came
Speaker:to
Speaker:ground
Speaker:to
Speaker:rest
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:time.
Speaker:She
Speaker:knew
Speaker:the
Speaker:many
Speaker:creatures of
Speaker:the
Speaker:world
Speaker:from
Speaker:looking
Speaker:down
Speaker:at
Speaker:them
Speaker:from
Speaker:afar,
Speaker:and
Speaker:they
Speaker:knew
Speaker:and
Speaker:greeted
Speaker:her
Speaker:with
Speaker:joy.
Speaker:They
Speaker:saw
Speaker:her
Speaker:weariness
Speaker:and
Speaker:each
Speaker:aided
Speaker:her
Speaker:in
Speaker:some
Speaker:way.
Speaker:Small
Speaker:figures
Speaker:joined
Speaker:the
Speaker:sun,
Speaker:surrounding
Speaker:the
Speaker:blazing
Speaker:orb,
Speaker:rough
Speaker:features
Speaker:giving
Speaker:each
Speaker:their
Speaker:species.
Speaker:The
Speaker:fast-
Speaker:climbing
Speaker:squirrels
Speaker:reached
Speaker:their
Speaker:caches
Speaker:and
Speaker:brought
Speaker:her
Speaker:nuts
Speaker:and
Speaker:acorns,
Speaker:the
Speaker:long
Speaker:leaping
Speaker:rabbits,
Speaker:vegetables
Speaker:and
Speaker:roots
Speaker:for
Speaker:her
Speaker:were passed.
Speaker:Otters
Speaker:brought
Speaker:her
Speaker:water
Speaker:and
Speaker:fish
Speaker:and
Speaker:we,
Speaker:the
Speaker:fleet-footed
Speaker:deer,
Speaker:ran
Speaker:far
Speaker:and
Speaker:wide
Speaker:to
Speaker:bring
Speaker:the
Speaker:creatures
Speaker:to
Speaker:aid
Speaker:her
Speaker:and
Speaker:guard
Speaker:her
Speaker:in
Speaker:her
Speaker:rest.
Speaker:Mice,
Speaker:raccoons,
Speaker:bears,
Speaker:and the
Speaker:many
Speaker:others
Speaker:all
Speaker:came
Speaker:together
Speaker:around
Speaker:the
Speaker:sun,
Speaker:and
Speaker:she
Speaker:looked
Speaker:upon
Speaker:them
Speaker:and
Speaker:felt
Speaker:their
Speaker:adoration.
Speaker:And
Speaker:for
Speaker:their
Speaker:aid
Speaker:in
Speaker:her
Speaker:time
Speaker:of
Speaker:need,
Speaker:she
Speaker:rewarded
Speaker:them.
Speaker:Talia
Speaker:gestured
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:figures
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:dust.
Speaker:To
Speaker:each
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:animals
Speaker:that
Speaker:had
Speaker:aided
Speaker:her
Speaker:she
Speaker:said,
Speaker:I
Speaker:grant you
Speaker:the
Speaker:gift
Speaker:of
Speaker:words,
Speaker:the
Speaker:better
Speaker:to
Speaker:communicate
Speaker:between
Speaker:each
Speaker:other,
Speaker:squirrel
Speaker:to
Speaker:otter,
Speaker:bear
Speaker:to
Speaker:mouse.
Speaker:Each
Speaker:was
Speaker:given
Speaker:the
Speaker:power
Speaker:to
Speaker:walk
Speaker:on
Speaker:two
Speaker:feet
Speaker:as
Speaker:well
Speaker:as she
Speaker:did,
Speaker:though w
Speaker:e only
Speaker:ever
Speaker:see
Speaker:her
Speaker:face,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:smaller
Speaker:were
Speaker:given
Speaker:greater
Speaker:size
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:at
Speaker:least
Speaker:closer
Speaker:in
Speaker:height
Speaker:to
Speaker:their
Speaker:fellows.
Speaker:But
Speaker:each
Speaker:species
Speaker:was
Speaker:left
Speaker:with
Speaker:their
Speaker:greatest
Speaker:gifts,
Speaker:their
Speaker:ability
Speaker:to
Speaker:climb,
Speaker:to
Speaker:fish,
Speaker:to
Speaker:swim,
Speaker:and
Speaker:so
Speaker:on.
Speaker:Sun
Speaker:looked
Speaker:upon
Speaker:them
Speaker:and
Speaker:said,
Speaker:you
Speaker:have
Speaker:shown
Speaker:your
Speaker:great
Speaker:worth
Speaker:through
Speaker:your
Speaker:selfless
Speaker:service
Speaker:to
Speaker:me
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:thank
Speaker:you
Speaker:all.
Speaker:In
Speaker:exchange,
Speaker:I
Speaker:will
Speaker:forever
Speaker:cast
Speaker:my
Speaker:light
Speaker:and
Speaker:warmth
Speaker:upon
Speaker:you
Speaker:and
Speaker:your
Speaker:peoples.
Speaker:And
Speaker:then
Speaker:she
Speaker:rose
Speaker:back
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:sky,
Speaker:leaving
Speaker:our
Speaker:ancestors
Speaker:to
Speaker:learn
Speaker:the
Speaker:ways
Speaker:that
Speaker:we
Speaker:live
Speaker:today.
Speaker:Clasping
Speaker:her
Speaker:hooves,
Speaker:Talia
Speaker:bowed
Speaker:her
Speaker:head
Speaker:and
Speaker:fell
Speaker:silent.
Speaker:For
Speaker:a
Speaker:moment
Speaker:there
Speaker:was
Speaker:nothing
Speaker:but
Speaker:the
Speaker:sound
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:breeze
Speaker:rustling
Speaker:dry
Speaker:grass.
Speaker:Finally,
Speaker:Kristin
Speaker:cleared
Speaker:his
Speaker:throat.
Speaker:That
Speaker:is
Speaker:a
Speaker:wonderful
Speaker:story, Talia.
Speaker:I
Speaker:can
Speaker:certainly
Speaker:see
Speaker:the
Speaker:reasoning
Speaker:behind
Speaker:it.
Speaker:But
Speaker:I
Speaker:do
Speaker:wonder
Speaker:something.
Speaker:Talia
Speaker:tilted
Speaker:her
Speaker:head
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:bobcat
Speaker:curiously.
Speaker:What
Speaker:is
Speaker:it?
Speaker:He
Speaker:gestured
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:figures
Speaker:around
Speaker:the
Speaker:sun.
Speaker:There
Speaker:we
Speaker:see
Speaker:all
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:grass-
Speaker:eaters
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:world,
Speaker:but
Speaker:I've
Speaker:heard
Speaker:nothing
Speaker:of
Speaker:where
Speaker:my
Speaker:people
Speaker:come
Speaker:from.
Speaker:Do
Speaker:your
Speaker:elders
Speaker:tell
Speaker:those
Speaker:tales?
Speaker:Uh,
Speaker:well,
Speaker:there
Speaker:are
Speaker:tales,
Speaker:of
Speaker:course,
Speaker:but
Speaker:she
Speaker:paused.
Speaker:We
Speaker:rarely
Speaker:hear
Speaker:them.
Speaker:I
Speaker:could
Speaker:tell
Speaker:you
Speaker:what
Speaker:I
Speaker:know
Speaker:if
Speaker:you
Speaker:wish.
Speaker:Please,
Speaker:he
Speaker:asked,
Speaker:curious.
Speaker:Oh,
Speaker:of
Speaker:course.
Speaker:The
Speaker:deer
Speaker:took
Speaker:a
Speaker:breath.
Speaker:We
Speaker:are
Speaker:told
Speaker:that
Speaker:while
Speaker:Sun
Speaker:was
Speaker:resting
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:world's
Speaker:surface,
Speaker:Moon
Speaker:was
Speaker:able
Speaker:to
Speaker:catch
Speaker:up
Speaker:and
Speaker:look
Speaker:down
Speaker:upon
Speaker:the
Speaker:world
Speaker:during
Speaker:the
Speaker:day.
Speaker:While
Speaker:he
Speaker:did
Speaker:not
Speaker:catch
Speaker:his
Speaker:sister,
Speaker:who
Speaker:returned
Speaker:to
Speaker:her
Speaker:vigil
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:heavens
Speaker:before
Speaker:he
Speaker:arrived,
Speaker:he
Speaker:saw
Speaker:the
Speaker:creatures
Speaker:that
Speaker:she
Speaker:had
Speaker:honored
Speaker:and
Speaker:wished
Speaker:despite
Speaker:his
Speaker:sibling
Speaker:for
Speaker:escaping
Speaker:him
Speaker:once
Speaker:again.
Speaker:Talia
Speaker:glanced
Speaker:at
Speaker:Kristin's
Speaker:wrapped
Speaker:face,
Speaker:caught
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:flickering
Speaker:firelight,
Speaker:and
Speaker:scratched
Speaker:her
Speaker:chin
Speaker:nervously.
Speaker:Uh,
Speaker:he
Speaker:looked
Speaker:upon
Speaker:the
Speaker:creatures
Speaker:that
Speaker:he
Speaker:knew
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:night-time
Speaker:endeavors
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:others
Speaker:that
Speaker:walked
Speaker:the
Speaker:face
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:world
Speaker:during
Speaker:the
Speaker:day
Speaker:and
Speaker:night
Speaker:and
Speaker:granted
Speaker:them
Speaker:similar
Speaker:gifts
Speaker:to
Speaker:those
Speaker:his
Speaker:sister
Speaker:had
Speaker:shared.
Speaker:To
Speaker:the
Speaker:foxes,
Speaker:the
Speaker:great
Speaker:and
Speaker:smaller
Speaker:cats,
Speaker:the
Speaker:weasels,
Speaker:the
Speaker:coyotes,
Speaker:and
Speaker:their
Speaker:brethren,
Speaker:he
Speaker:granted
Speaker:words
Speaker:and
Speaker:walking
Speaker:upright
Speaker:and
Speaker:tasked
Speaker:these
Speaker:sharp-
Speaker:toothed
Speaker:animals
Speaker:to
Speaker:hunt
Speaker:the
Speaker:grass and
Speaker:nut-
Speaker:eaters
Speaker:as
Speaker:a
Speaker:way
Speaker:to
Speaker:hurt
Speaker:his
Speaker:sister,
Speaker:and
Speaker:they
Speaker:followed
Speaker:his
Speaker:orders
Speaker:until
Speaker:the
Speaker:days
Speaker:when
Speaker:the
Speaker:creatures
Speaker:learned
Speaker:to
Speaker:live
Speaker:together
Speaker:in
Speaker:harmony.
Speaker:Again
Speaker:she
Speaker:fell
Speaker:silent,
Speaker:this
Speaker:time
Speaker:allowing
Speaker:a
Speaker:nervous
Speaker:choir
Speaker:to
Speaker:settle
Speaker:between
Speaker:them.
Speaker:Huh.
Speaker:Well,
Speaker:again,
Speaker:it
Speaker:seems
Speaker:to
Speaker:fit,
Speaker:doesn't
Speaker:it?
Speaker:Kristin
Speaker:chuckled
Speaker:softly
Speaker:and
Speaker:leaned
Speaker:over
Speaker:to
Speaker:lay
Speaker:a
Speaker:paw
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:friend's
Speaker:shoulder.
Speaker:Thank
Speaker:you
Speaker:for
Speaker:sharing
Speaker:it, Talia.
Speaker:It
Speaker:is
Speaker:very
Speaker:educational
Speaker:to
Speaker:learn
Speaker:about
Speaker:your
Speaker:people,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:will
Speaker:share
Speaker:my
Speaker:knowledge
Speaker:back
Speaker:home
Speaker:to
Speaker:improve
Speaker:our
Speaker:understanding
Speaker:of
Speaker:each
Speaker:other.
Speaker:Talia
Speaker:flashed
Speaker:him
Speaker:a
Speaker:relieved
Speaker:smile.
Speaker:Thank
Speaker:you,
Speaker:Kristin.
Speaker:She
Speaker:sipped
Speaker:from
Speaker:her
Speaker:precious
Speaker:supply
Speaker:of
Speaker:water
Speaker:and
Speaker:regarded
Speaker:the
Speaker:cat
Speaker:curiously.
Speaker:Do
Speaker:your
Speaker:priests
Speaker:share
Speaker:any
Speaker:stories
Speaker:about
Speaker:where
Speaker:your
Speaker:people
Speaker:come
Speaker:from?" "'Oh,'
Speaker:he
Speaker:said
Speaker:offhandedly, "'
Speaker:we'
Speaker:re
Speaker:told
Speaker:that
Speaker:the
Speaker:first
Speaker:lords
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:hunt
Speaker:tore
Speaker:apart
Speaker:a
Speaker:prey
Speaker:animal
Speaker:of
Speaker:some
Speaker:sort
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:first
Speaker:of
Speaker:our
Speaker:people
Speaker:sprang
Speaker:free
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:world
Speaker:from
Speaker:its
Speaker:innards.'"
Speaker:Silence
Speaker:fell
Speaker:again. "'
Speaker:I
Speaker:think,'
Speaker:Talia
Speaker:said, "'
Speaker:that
Speaker:I
Speaker:will
Speaker:stop
Speaker:asking
Speaker:questions
Speaker:and
Speaker:get
Speaker:some
Speaker:sleep
Speaker:now.'"
Speaker:Two
Speaker:days
Speaker:of
Speaker:travel
Speaker:later,
Speaker:the
Speaker:Oak
Speaker:River
Speaker:had
Speaker:become
Speaker:a
Speaker:glittering
Speaker:wide
Speaker:band
Speaker:before
Speaker:them.
Speaker:Across
Speaker:it,
Speaker:the
Speaker:Oak
Speaker:bend
Speaker:Forest
Speaker:sprawled,
Speaker:a
Speaker:vast
Speaker:carpet
Speaker:of
Speaker:green
Speaker:covering
Speaker:the
Speaker:foothills. "'
Speaker:I
Speaker:think
Speaker:we
Speaker:should
Speaker:make
Speaker:the
Speaker:river
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:morning.
Speaker:There
Speaker:should
Speaker:be
Speaker:a
Speaker:shallow
Speaker:place
Speaker:to
Speaker:cross
Speaker:somewhere
Speaker:nearby,
Speaker:and
Speaker:then
Speaker:we'll
Speaker:be
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:forest.'"
Speaker:Kristin
Speaker:perched
Speaker:on
Speaker:a
Speaker:boulder,
Speaker:left
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:plain
Speaker:by
Speaker:some
Speaker:long-
Speaker:passed
Speaker:flood
Speaker:or
Speaker:other
Speaker:force.
Speaker:He
Speaker:smiled
Speaker:down
Speaker:at Talia,
Speaker:his
Speaker:happiness
Speaker:evident
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:flash
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:teeth
Speaker:in
Speaker:that
Speaker:gesture.
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:a
Speaker:measure
Speaker:of
Speaker:her
Speaker:comfort
Speaker:that
Speaker:those
Speaker:sharp
Speaker:points
Speaker:caused
Speaker:no
Speaker:concern
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:doe.
Speaker:She
Speaker:smiled
Speaker:back, "'
Speaker:And
Speaker:once
Speaker:we
Speaker:are
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:forest,
Speaker:we
Speaker:will,
Speaker:I'm
Speaker:sure,
Speaker:be
Speaker:swept
Speaker:up
Speaker:by
Speaker:some
Speaker:unnatural
Speaker:force
Speaker:and
Speaker:taken
Speaker:to
Speaker:where
Speaker:we
Speaker:need
Speaker:to
Speaker:be.'" "'
Speaker:Don't
Speaker:joke,
Speaker:Talia.
Speaker:The
Speaker:priests
Speaker:often
Speaker:speak
Speaker:of
Speaker:masters
Speaker:who
Speaker:can
Speaker:do
Speaker:such
Speaker:things.
Speaker:Those
Speaker:of
Speaker:their
Speaker:number
Speaker:that
Speaker:have
Speaker:reached
Speaker:the
Speaker:highest
Speaker:level
Speaker:of
Speaker:devotion
Speaker:and
Speaker:learned
Speaker:the
Speaker:secrets
Speaker:of
Speaker:nature.'"
Speaker:Scrambling
Speaker:back
Speaker:down
Speaker:the
Speaker:boulder,
Speaker:the
Speaker:bobcat
Speaker:snorted. "'
Speaker:Of
Speaker:course
Speaker:they
Speaker:speak
Speaker:of
Speaker:those
Speaker:masters
Speaker:to
Speaker:children
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:aged." "'
Speaker:True
Speaker:or
Speaker:not,
Speaker:I
Speaker:do
Speaker:not,'
Speaker:he
Speaker:broke
Speaker:off,
Speaker:head
Speaker:snapping
Speaker:up
Speaker:and
Speaker:around
Speaker:. Talia
Speaker:saw
Speaker:his
Speaker:nostrils
Speaker:flare.
Speaker:What
Speaker:is--"
Speaker:A
Speaker:spear
Speaker:whistled
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:boulder
Speaker:and
Speaker:slammed
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:ground,
Speaker:not
Speaker:a
Speaker:pause-
Speaker:breath
Speaker:from
Speaker:Kristin's
Speaker:toes. "'
Speaker:Aye!'
Speaker:He
Speaker:ducked
Speaker:back,
Speaker:scrambling
Speaker:towards
Speaker:another
Speaker:boulder
Speaker:while
Speaker:the
Speaker:length
Speaker:of
Speaker:wood
Speaker:quivered. "'
Speaker:Run!'
Speaker:Talia
Speaker:was
Speaker:off in
Speaker:a
Speaker:flash.
Speaker:The
Speaker:doe
Speaker:launched
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:dash,
Speaker:all
Speaker:four
Speaker:hooves
Speaker:digging
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:dusty
Speaker:ground
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:crackle
Speaker:of
Speaker:grass.
Speaker:Behind
Speaker:her,
Speaker:an
Speaker:angry
Speaker:feline
Speaker:snarl
Speaker:was
Speaker:met
Speaker:by
Speaker:rumbling
Speaker:roars
Speaker:that
Speaker:echoed
Speaker:across
Speaker:the
Speaker:plain.
Speaker:She
Speaker:nearly
Speaker:turned
Speaker:around
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:spot,
Speaker:but
Speaker:Instinct
Speaker:told
Speaker:her
Speaker:to
Speaker:get
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:danger
Speaker:as
Speaker:quickly
Speaker:as
Speaker:possible,
Speaker:then
Speaker:turn
Speaker:and
Speaker:evaluate
Speaker:the
Speaker:situation.
Speaker:Kristin
Speaker:would,
Speaker:for
Speaker:the
Speaker:moment
Speaker:at
Speaker:least,
Speaker:have
Speaker:to
Speaker:take
Speaker:care
Speaker:of
Speaker:himself.
Speaker:Her
Speaker:run
Speaker:seemed
Speaker:like
Speaker:an
Speaker:eternity,
Speaker:but
Speaker:it
Speaker:truly
Speaker:was
Speaker:only
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:moments
Speaker:of
Speaker:frantic
Speaker:speed
Speaker:before
Speaker:Talia
Speaker:dropped
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:crouch
Speaker:and
Speaker:curved
Speaker:behind
Speaker:a
Speaker:small
Speaker:rise,
Speaker:its
Speaker:dry
Speaker:grass
Speaker:rustling
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:breeze.
Speaker:There
Speaker:she
Speaker:froze,
Speaker:ears
Speaker:raised,
Speaker:straining
Speaker:for
Speaker:any
Speaker:sound
Speaker:they
Speaker:might
Speaker:find.
Speaker:In
Speaker:the
Speaker:near
Speaker:distance
Speaker:she
Speaker:could
Speaker:hear
Speaker:the
Speaker:rattle
Speaker:of
Speaker:grasses
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:occasional
Speaker:quiet
Speaker:rumble
Speaker:of
Speaker:deep
Speaker:voices.
Speaker:Good!
Speaker:That
Speaker:suggests that
Speaker:Kristin
Speaker:had
Speaker:scrambled
Speaker:clear
Speaker:of
Speaker:whatever
Speaker:was
Speaker:attacking
Speaker:them.
Speaker:Careful
Speaker:not
Speaker:to
Speaker:disrupt
Speaker:the
Speaker:grass
Speaker:too
Speaker:much,
Speaker:Talia
Speaker:lifted
Speaker:her
Speaker:head
Speaker:to
Speaker:peer
Speaker:over
Speaker:the
Speaker:rise.
Speaker:The
Speaker:tall
Speaker:grass
Speaker:made
Speaker:it
Speaker:difficult
Speaker:to
Speaker:see
Speaker:much
Speaker:of
Speaker:anything,
Speaker:but
Speaker:there
Speaker:seemed
Speaker:to
Speaker:be
Speaker:movement
Speaker:out
Speaker:there,
Speaker:a
Speaker:ripple
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:grass
Speaker:moving
Speaker:away
Speaker:from
Speaker:her.
Speaker:The
Speaker:doe
Speaker:nodded
Speaker:quietly.
Speaker:No
Speaker:pursuit
Speaker:meant
Speaker:that
Speaker:she
Speaker:could
Speaker:work
Speaker:her
Speaker:way
Speaker:back
Speaker:towards
Speaker:where
Speaker:she
Speaker:had
Speaker:left
Speaker:Kristin
Speaker:and
Speaker:hopefully
Speaker:connect
Speaker:with
Speaker:him
Speaker:again.
Speaker:She
Speaker:turned
Speaker:around,
Speaker:right
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:pair
Speaker:of
Speaker:strong
Speaker:arms
Speaker:that
Speaker:wrapped
Speaker:around
Speaker:her.
Speaker:You
Speaker:are
Speaker:a
Speaker:fast--
Speaker:Ouch!
Speaker:She
Speaker:bit
Speaker:her
Speaker:attacker
Speaker:hard,
Speaker:tasting
Speaker:the
Speaker:coppery
Speaker:tinge
Speaker:of
Speaker:blood,
Speaker:he--
Speaker:for
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:certainly a
Speaker:he
Speaker:with that
Speaker:deep
Speaker:voice--
Speaker:yelped--
Speaker:and
Speaker:let
Speaker:her
Speaker:go,
Speaker:but
Speaker:just
Speaker:as
Speaker:she
Speaker:coiled to
Speaker:spring
Speaker:again,
Speaker:the
Speaker:scent o
Speaker:f her captor
Speaker:registered. "'Who
Speaker:are
Speaker:you?'
Speaker:she
Speaker:snapped
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:elk,
Speaker:who
Speaker:ignored
Speaker:her,
Speaker:instead
Speaker:holding
Speaker:his
Speaker:arm
Speaker:in
Speaker:pain.
Speaker:He
Speaker:wore
Speaker:a
Speaker:padded
Speaker:leather
Speaker:jerkin,
Speaker:a
Speaker:small
Speaker:shield
Speaker:dangling
Speaker:off
Speaker:his
Speaker:back,
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:long
Speaker:slim
Speaker:blade
Speaker:rested
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:scabbard
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:belt.
Speaker:His
Speaker:antlers
Speaker:would
Speaker:have
Speaker:been
Speaker:impressive
Speaker:had
Speaker:they
Speaker:not
Speaker:been
Speaker:trimmed
Speaker:down
Speaker:to a
Speaker:small
Speaker:spread.
Speaker:Her
Speaker:scrutiny
Speaker:lasted
Speaker:only
Speaker:a
Speaker:moment
Speaker:before
Speaker:Talia
Speaker:kicked
Speaker:him
Speaker:hard
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:thigh
Speaker:and
Speaker:leaped
Speaker:into
Speaker:flight
Speaker:once
Speaker:again,
Speaker:long
Speaker:legs
Speaker:pumping
Speaker:hard.
Speaker:The
Speaker:elk's
Speaker:shout
Speaker:behind
Speaker:her
Speaker:was
Speaker:pained
Speaker:and
Speaker:indignant.
Speaker:She
Speaker:didn't
Speaker:care.
Speaker:An
Speaker:unmistakable
Speaker:scent
Speaker:curled
Speaker:across
Speaker:the
Speaker:plains.
Speaker:Coppery
Speaker:and
Speaker:sharp,
Speaker:the
Speaker:smell
Speaker:of
Speaker:blood
Speaker:crept
Speaker:into
Speaker:her
Speaker:nostrils
Speaker:and
Speaker:made
Speaker:her
Speaker:shudder,
Speaker:urged
Speaker:her
Speaker:to
Speaker:turn
Speaker:and
Speaker:flee
Speaker:and
Speaker:never
Speaker:stop.
Speaker:Instead,
Speaker:she
Speaker:honked
Speaker:in
Speaker:on
Speaker:that
Speaker:scent,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:others
Speaker:that
Speaker:now
Speaker:accompanied
Speaker:it.
Speaker:Talia
Speaker:could
Speaker:sense
Speaker:two
Speaker:more
Speaker:elk
Speaker:mingled
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:blood
Speaker:scent,
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:hint
Speaker:of
Speaker:cat.
Speaker:She
Speaker:ran
Speaker:harder
Speaker:towards
Speaker:that.
Speaker:Angry
Speaker:shouts
Speaker:and
Speaker:feline
Speaker:hissing
Speaker:rose
Speaker:up
Speaker:as
Speaker:she
Speaker:neared
Speaker:the
Speaker:source
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:scent,
Speaker:and
Speaker:suddenly
Speaker:she
Speaker:was
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:clearing
Speaker:made
Speaker:of
Speaker:flattened
Speaker:glass.
Speaker:The
Speaker:trio
Speaker:of
Speaker:creatures
Speaker:occupying
Speaker:it
Speaker:didn't
Speaker:notice
Speaker:her
Speaker:arrival.
Speaker:They
Speaker:were
Speaker:far
Speaker:too
Speaker:focused
Speaker:on
Speaker:one
Speaker:another,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:deadly
Speaker:dance
Speaker:they
Speaker:were
Speaker:engaged
Speaker:in.
Speaker:The
Speaker:bobcat
Speaker:was
Speaker:holding
Speaker:his
Speaker:own
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:two
Speaker:warriors,
Speaker:each
Speaker:holding
Speaker:a
Speaker:shield
Speaker:and
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:those
Speaker:slim
Speaker:blades,
Speaker:but
Speaker:it
Speaker:was
Speaker:obvious
Speaker:that
Speaker:he
Speaker:would
Speaker:be
Speaker:worn
Speaker:down
Speaker:by
Speaker:them
Speaker:in
Speaker:short
Speaker:order.
Speaker:Already
Speaker:his
Speaker:fine
Speaker:tunic
Speaker:was
Speaker:sliced
Speaker:and
Speaker:one
Speaker:shoulder
Speaker:was
Speaker:stained
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:dark
Speaker:patch
Speaker:spreading
Speaker:slowly
Speaker:down
Speaker:his
Speaker:chest.
Speaker:His
Speaker:eyes
Speaker:were
Speaker:flat
Speaker:and
Speaker:angry,
Speaker:his
Speaker:ears
Speaker:were
Speaker:back,
Speaker:and
Speaker:sharp
Speaker:claws
Speaker:showed
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:paw
Speaker:not
Speaker:clenched
Speaker:around
Speaker:his
Speaker:short
Speaker:sword.
Speaker:Filthy
Speaker:meat-eater!
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:elk
Speaker:spat,
Speaker:lunging
Speaker:towards
Speaker:Kristin
Speaker:with
Speaker:a
Speaker:trained
Speaker:slash
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:sword.
Speaker:Kristin
Speaker:slapped
Speaker:the
Speaker:blade
Speaker:away
Speaker:in
Speaker:return
Speaker:and
Speaker:drove
Speaker:his
Speaker:own
Speaker:weapon
Speaker:toward
Speaker:the
Speaker:elk's
Speaker:middle,
Speaker:only
Speaker:to
Speaker:have
Speaker:it
Speaker:caught
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:shield.
Speaker:Undaunted,
Speaker:the
Speaker:feline
Speaker:brought
Speaker:his
Speaker:other
Speaker:paw
Speaker:up
Speaker:and
Speaker:left
Speaker:four
Speaker:neat
Speaker:parallel
Speaker:marks
Speaker:across
Speaker:the
Speaker:servite
Speaker:'s
Speaker:cheek.
Speaker:The
Speaker:warrior
Speaker:stumbled
Speaker:back,
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:moved
Speaker:in
Speaker:to
Speaker:take
Speaker:his
Speaker:own
Speaker:attempt
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:bobcat.
Speaker:He
Speaker:never
Speaker:got
Speaker:there.
Speaker:A
Speaker:tan
Speaker:missile
Speaker:struck
Speaker:him
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:belly,
Speaker:sending
Speaker:him
Speaker:sprawling
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:grass.
Speaker:Talia
Speaker:drove
Speaker:her
Speaker:own
Speaker:blade
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:rest
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:buck's
Speaker:throat.
Speaker:Surrender!
Speaker:she
Speaker:shouted
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:surprised
Speaker:face.
Speaker:All
Speaker:of
Speaker:you!
Speaker:Silence
Speaker:fell,
Speaker:the
Speaker:elk
Speaker:beneath
Speaker:her
Speaker:staring
Speaker:with
Speaker:wide
Speaker:eyes.
Speaker:The
Speaker:wounded
Speaker:buck
Speaker:took
Speaker:an
Speaker:uncertain
Speaker:step
Speaker:toward
Speaker:her,
Speaker:but
Speaker:Kristin,
Speaker:fur
Speaker:puffed
Speaker:up
Speaker:in
Speaker:anger,
Speaker:stepped
Speaker:between
Speaker:them
Speaker:and
Speaker:hissed.
Speaker:The
Speaker:elk
Speaker:wilted
Speaker:visibly.
Speaker:He
Speaker:dropped
Speaker:his
Speaker:sword
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:ground.
Speaker:All right,
Speaker:please,
Speaker:just
Speaker:why
Speaker:did
Speaker:you
Speaker:attack
Speaker:us?
Speaker:Talia
Speaker:demanded,
Speaker:keeping
Speaker:her
Speaker:knife
Speaker:tight
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:buck's
Speaker:throat.
Speaker:We
Speaker:did
Speaker:nothing
Speaker:to
Speaker:you.
Speaker:The
Speaker:third
Speaker:buck
Speaker:limped
Speaker:slowly
Speaker:up
Speaker:to
Speaker:stand
Speaker:with
Speaker:his
Speaker:fellow,
Speaker:hooves
Speaker:raised
Speaker:to
Speaker:show
Speaker:he
Speaker:was
Speaker:unarmed.
Speaker:The
Speaker:meat-
Speaker:eater,
Speaker:we have
Speaker:been
Speaker:seeking
Speaker:murderers
Speaker:who
Speaker:hunted
Speaker:and
Speaker:killed
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:our
Speaker:fellows
Speaker:three
Speaker:days
Speaker:past.
Speaker:Well,
Speaker:this
Speaker:cat
Speaker:has
Speaker:been
Speaker:traveling
Speaker:with
Speaker:me
Speaker:for
Speaker:four
Speaker:days,
Speaker:and
Speaker:we have
Speaker:seen
Speaker:nothing
Speaker:but
Speaker:one
Speaker:another
Speaker:in
Speaker:that
Speaker:time.
Speaker:All
Speaker:three
Speaker:elk
Speaker:stared
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:doe.
Speaker:You
Speaker:travel
Speaker:with
Speaker:the
Speaker:meat-eater?
Speaker:Yes,
Speaker:she
Speaker:snarled.
Speaker:Kristin
Speaker:follows
Speaker:the
Speaker:pact.
Speaker:Do
Speaker:we
Speaker:not?
Speaker:Do
Speaker:we
Speaker:attack
Speaker:any
Speaker:carni
Speaker:vor
Speaker:e
Speaker:simply
Speaker:because
Speaker:they
Speaker:have
Speaker:sharp
Speaker:teeth
Speaker:now?
Speaker:But
Speaker:not
Speaker:all
Speaker:meat-
Speaker:eaters
Speaker:follow
Speaker:the
Speaker:pact.
Speaker:Our
Speaker:cousin
Speaker:was
Speaker:killed
Speaker:by
Speaker:coyotes.
Speaker:All
Speaker:know
Speaker:that
Speaker:they--
Speaker:At
Speaker:the
Speaker:mention
Speaker:of
Speaker:family,
Speaker:Talia
Speaker:took
Speaker:a
Speaker:closer
Speaker:look
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:three
Speaker:elk,
Speaker:saw
Speaker:the
Speaker:family
Speaker:resemblance,
Speaker:similar
Speaker:markings,
Speaker:antl
Speaker:ers
Speaker:trimmed
Speaker:the
Speaker:same,
Speaker:and
Speaker:understood
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:more.
Speaker:These
Speaker:three,
Speaker:probably
Speaker:brothers,
Speaker:were
Speaker:seeking
Speaker:to
Speaker:avenge
Speaker:a
Speaker:family
Speaker:member,
Speaker:and
Speaker:were
Speaker:little
Speaker:interested
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:target
Speaker:so
Speaker:long
Speaker:as
Speaker:it
Speaker:had
Speaker:sharp
Speaker:teeth.
Speaker:In
Speaker:different
Speaker:circumstances,
Speaker:the
Speaker:doe
Speaker:thought,
Speaker:she
Speaker:might
Speaker:react
Speaker:similarly,
Speaker:but
Speaker:attacking
Speaker:entirely
Speaker:unrelated
Speaker:creatures.
Speaker:Talia
Speaker:snorted
Speaker:and
Speaker:stood,
Speaker:sheathing
Speaker:her
Speaker:knife.
Speaker:Does
Speaker:Kristin
Speaker:look
Speaker:like
Speaker:a
Speaker:coyote?
Speaker:Do
Speaker:I?
Speaker:She
Speaker:stood
Speaker:next
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:bobcat,
Speaker:her
Speaker:shoulder
Speaker:pressed
Speaker:against
Speaker:his.
Speaker:She
Speaker:felt
Speaker:his tension,
Speaker:the
Speaker:cat
Speaker:ready
Speaker:to
Speaker:spring,
Speaker:and
Speaker:lay
Speaker:a
Speaker:hoof
Speaker:on
Speaker:his
Speaker:back.
Speaker:He
Speaker:relaxed
Speaker:slightly.
Speaker:Kristin
Speaker:is
Speaker:an
Speaker:honorable
Speaker:creature.
Speaker:The
Speaker:pact
Speaker:tells
Speaker:us
Speaker:all
Speaker:to
Speaker:live
Speaker:together
Speaker:and
Speaker:share
Speaker:the
Speaker:world
Speaker:with
Speaker:one
Speaker:another,
Speaker:whether
Speaker:we
Speaker:be
Speaker:cat,
Speaker:deer,
Speaker:wolf,
Speaker:squirrel,
Speaker:or
Speaker:any
Speaker:being.
Speaker:The
Speaker:elk
Speaker:she
Speaker:had
Speaker:attacked
Speaker:stood.
Speaker:We
Speaker:must
Speaker:protect
Speaker:ourselves,
Speaker:though,
Speaker:and
Speaker:that
Speaker:should
Speaker:not
Speaker:mean
Speaker:simply
Speaker:attacking
Speaker:any
Speaker:creature
Speaker:that
Speaker:is
Speaker:not
Speaker:of
Speaker:your
Speaker:kind.
Speaker:Kristin's
Speaker:voice
Speaker:was
Speaker:flat
Speaker:and
Speaker:angry.
Speaker:If
Speaker:you
Speaker:seek
Speaker:a
Speaker:murderer,
Speaker:one
Speaker:who
Speaker:has
Speaker:gone
Speaker:outside
Speaker:the
Speaker:pact,
Speaker:then
Speaker:you
Speaker:have
Speaker:all
Speaker:right
Speaker:to
Speaker:deal
Speaker:with
Speaker:them
Speaker:how
Speaker:you
Speaker:feel
Speaker:necessary.
Speaker:Those
Speaker:who
Speaker:kill
Speaker:against
Speaker:the
Speaker:pact
Speaker:deserve what
Speaker:judgment
Speaker:you
Speaker:bring.
Speaker:You
Speaker:would
Speaker:not
Speaker:defend
Speaker:such
Speaker:a
Speaker:creature?
Speaker:The stain
Speaker:dripped
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:elk's
Speaker:voice.
Speaker:Not
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:second.
Speaker:In
Speaker:fact,
Speaker:once
Speaker:our
Speaker:task
Speaker:is
Speaker:completed,
Speaker:if
Speaker:you
Speaker:still
Speaker:seek
Speaker:these
Speaker:motorists,
Speaker:I
Speaker:will
Speaker:gladly
Speaker:offer
Speaker:my
Speaker:help.
Speaker:I
Speaker:may
Speaker:be
Speaker:able
Speaker:to
Speaker:track
Speaker:them
Speaker:more
Speaker:efficiently
Speaker:than
Speaker:you."
Speaker:Kristin
Speaker:straightened,
Speaker:and
Speaker:his
Speaker:claws
Speaker:retracted
Speaker:even
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:sheathed
Speaker:his
Speaker:blade.
Speaker:Perhaps
Speaker:spending
Speaker:some
Speaker:time
Speaker:with
Speaker:an
Speaker:honorable
Speaker:creature
Speaker:who
Speaker:lives
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:pact
Speaker:will
Speaker:teach
Speaker:you
Speaker:something.
Speaker:The
Speaker:trio
Speaker:of
Speaker:elk
Speaker:looked
Speaker:at
Speaker:each
Speaker:other
Speaker:uncertainly,
Speaker:their
Speaker:distrust
Speaker:evident
Speaker:on
Speaker:their
Speaker:faces.
Speaker:Talia
Speaker:rolled
Speaker:her
Speaker:eyes.
Speaker:If
Speaker:you
Speaker:do
Speaker:not
Speaker:trust
Speaker:an
Speaker:honorable
Speaker:bobcat,
Speaker:then
Speaker:perhaps
Speaker:you
Speaker:will
Speaker:trust
Speaker:an
Speaker:honorable
Speaker:deer.
Speaker:Our
Speaker:task
Speaker:is
Speaker:the
Speaker:same,
Speaker:and
Speaker:I
Speaker:will
Speaker:return
Speaker:with
Speaker:Kristin
Speaker:on
Speaker:our
Speaker:way
Speaker:home.
Speaker:This
Speaker:I
Speaker:pledge
Speaker:to
Speaker:you."
Speaker:Well,
Speaker:one
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:elk
Speaker:said,
Speaker:glancing
Speaker:at
Speaker:his
Speaker:fellows.
Speaker:All
Speaker:right.
Speaker:I
Speaker:suppose
Speaker:we
Speaker:can
Speaker:trust
Speaker:you.
Speaker:Both
Speaker:of
Speaker:you.
Speaker:He
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:Kristin.
Speaker:I
Speaker:am, uh,
Speaker:sorry
Speaker:for
Speaker:our
Speaker:attack.
Speaker:Can
Speaker:we
Speaker:help
Speaker:you
Speaker:in
Speaker:any
Speaker:way?"
Speaker:Kristin
Speaker:shook
Speaker:his
Speaker:head.
Speaker:Thank
Speaker:you.
Speaker:But
Speaker:our
Speaker:task
Speaker:is
Speaker:one
Speaker:we
Speaker:must
Speaker:complete,
Speaker:and
Speaker:soon.
Speaker:They
Speaker:watched
Speaker:from
Speaker:atop
Speaker:3151 00:19:42,548 --> 00:19:43,269: the boulder
Speaker:until
Speaker:the
Speaker:three
Speaker:elk
Speaker:disappeared
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:tall
Speaker:grass.
Speaker:Somewhere
Speaker:in
Speaker:that
Speaker:direction
Speaker:lay
Speaker:their
Speaker:town,
Speaker:a
Speaker:day o
Speaker:r so
Speaker:off
Speaker:near
Speaker:the
Speaker:river,
Speaker:they
Speaker:had
Speaker:told
Speaker:Talia
Speaker:and
Speaker:Kristin.
Speaker:An
Speaker:uneasy
Speaker:truce
Speaker:had
Speaker:gone
Speaker:with
Speaker:them,
Speaker:but Talia
Speaker:still
Speaker:waited
Speaker:until
Speaker:they
Speaker:were
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:sight
Speaker:before
Speaker:climbing
Speaker:back
Speaker:down
Speaker:from
Speaker:her
Speaker:perch.
Speaker:Kristin
Speaker:joined
Speaker:her,
Speaker:moving
Speaker:slower
Speaker:and
Speaker:wincing
Speaker:as
Speaker:he
Speaker:used
Speaker:his
Speaker:arm. "'Come, let me
Speaker:look
Speaker:at
Speaker:that.'
Speaker:She
Speaker:pushed
Speaker:the
Speaker:bobcat
Speaker:to
Speaker:sit
Speaker:and
Speaker:drew
Speaker:the
Speaker:torn
Speaker:tunic
Speaker:from
Speaker:his
Speaker:shoulder.
Speaker:It
Speaker:looks
Speaker:shallow,
Speaker:just a
Speaker:scratch
Speaker:that
Speaker:bled
Speaker:badly.
Speaker:If
Speaker:there
Speaker:are
Speaker:more
Speaker:predators
Speaker:nearby,
Speaker:we
Speaker:may
Speaker:have
Speaker:a
Speaker:problem
Speaker:tonight,
Speaker:though."
Speaker:Kristin
Speaker:snorted. "'
Speaker:If
Speaker:we
Speaker:do,
Speaker:you
Speaker:can
Speaker:knock
Speaker:them
Speaker:down
Speaker:like
Speaker:you
Speaker:did
Speaker:that
Speaker:elk.
Speaker:You're
Speaker:quite
Speaker:a
Speaker:fighter.' "'
Speaker:I
Speaker:have
Speaker:four
Speaker:older
Speaker:brothers
Speaker:and
Speaker:many
Speaker:cousins,
Speaker:my
Speaker:friend.
Speaker:Dear
Speaker:may
Speaker:seem
Speaker:flighty,
Speaker:but
Speaker:we
Speaker:can
Speaker:put
Speaker:up
Speaker:a
Speaker:fight
Speaker:if
Speaker:needed.'
Speaker:Talia
Speaker:settled
Speaker:to
Speaker:her
Speaker:haunches
Speaker:and
Speaker:smiled
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:cat. "'
Speaker:Thank
Speaker:you.'
Speaker:His
Speaker:head
Speaker:tilted. "'
Speaker:For
Speaker:what?' "'
Speaker:For
Speaker:fighting
Speaker:for
Speaker:me.
Speaker:You
Speaker:are
Speaker:a
Speaker:good
Speaker:friend.' "'
Speaker:As
Speaker:ar
Speaker:e you, Talia.
Speaker:After
Speaker:all,
Speaker:you
Speaker:came
Speaker:to
Speaker:my
Speaker:rescue,
Speaker:too.'
Speaker:Kristin
Speaker:paused. "'
Speaker:Would
Speaker:you
Speaker:really
Speaker:have
Speaker:used
Speaker:your
Speaker:knife
Speaker:on
Speaker:that
Speaker:buck?'
Speaker:Talia
Speaker:smiled,
Speaker:making
Speaker:sure
Speaker:to
Speaker:show
Speaker:teeth. "'
Speaker:We
Speaker:will
Speaker:never
Speaker:know,
Speaker:will
Speaker:we?'
Speaker:A
Speaker:rocky
Speaker:stretch
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:Oak
Speaker:River
Speaker:provided
Speaker:passage
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:other
Speaker:side
Speaker:the
Speaker:next
Speaker:morning.
Speaker:Talia
Speaker:springing
Speaker:from
Speaker:boulder
Speaker:to
Speaker:boulder
Speaker:until
Speaker:she
Speaker:reached
Speaker:dry
Speaker:land.
Speaker:Kristin
Speaker:joined
Speaker:her
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:two
Speaker:youth
Speaker:stared
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:vast
Speaker:forest
Speaker:that
Speaker:reached
Speaker:nearly
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:river's
Speaker:edge. "'
Speaker:Here
Speaker:we
Speaker:are.'
Speaker:Talia
Speaker:looked
Speaker:at
Speaker:her
Speaker:companion. "'
Speaker:Nervous?' "'
Speaker:We've
Speaker:been
Speaker:walking
Speaker:for
Speaker:five
Speaker:days,
Speaker:attacked
Speaker:by
Speaker:Crazy
Speaker:Elk,
Speaker:crossed
Speaker:a
Speaker:large
Speaker:river
Speaker:and
Speaker:still
Speaker:have
Speaker:no
Speaker:idea
Speaker:what
Speaker:exactly
Speaker:to
Speaker:look
Speaker:for
Speaker:now
Speaker:that
Speaker:we're
Speaker:here.'
Speaker:He
Speaker:shook
Speaker:his
Speaker:head. "'
Speaker:I
Speaker:am
Speaker:not
Speaker:nervous
Speaker:at
Speaker:all.' "'
Speaker:Liar.' "'
Speaker:Shall
Speaker:we
Speaker:go
Speaker:in?'
Speaker:It
Speaker:was
Speaker:but
Speaker:a
Speaker:few
Speaker:moments'
Speaker:walk
Speaker:to
Speaker:cross
Speaker:the
Speaker:brushy
Speaker:strand
Speaker:stretching
Speaker:up
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:river
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:green-
Speaker:tipped
Speaker:trees
Speaker:that
Speaker:climbed
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:high
Speaker:hills
Speaker:before
Speaker:them.
Speaker:Past
Speaker:the
Speaker:first
Speaker:few
Speaker:smaller
Speaker:pines
Speaker:they
Speaker:found
Speaker:themselves
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:vast,
Speaker:ancient
Speaker:forest,
Speaker:carpeted
Speaker:with
Speaker:old
Speaker:needles
Speaker:and
Speaker:moss
Speaker:that
Speaker:sprung
Speaker:softly
Speaker:beneath
Speaker:their
Speaker:feet. "'
Speaker:Do
Speaker:you
Speaker:see
Speaker:any
Speaker:trails?
Speaker:Science
Speaker:of
Speaker:life?'
Speaker:Talia's voice
Speaker:came
Speaker:out
Speaker:as
Speaker:a
Speaker:whisper,
Speaker:daunted
Speaker:by
Speaker:the
Speaker:age
Speaker:and
Speaker:beauty
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:forest.
Speaker:Kristen
Speaker:raised
Speaker:his
Speaker:nose,
Speaker:sniffing
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:air,
Speaker:and
Speaker:shook
Speaker:his
Speaker:head. "'
Speaker:I
Speaker:smell
Speaker:nothing.
Speaker:Perhaps
Speaker:we
Speaker:should
Speaker:just
Speaker:walk
Speaker:a
Speaker:little
Speaker:ways
Speaker:in,
Speaker:then
Speaker:turn
Speaker:and
Speaker:parallel
Speaker:the
Speaker:river.
Speaker:Trails
Speaker:would
Speaker:likely
Speaker:go
Speaker:to
Speaker:the river.' "'
Speaker:Good
Speaker:idea.
Speaker:Let's
Speaker:--'
Speaker:Wind
Speaker:gusted,
Speaker:cutting
Speaker:the
Speaker:dough
Speaker:off
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:flurry
Speaker:of
Speaker:litter
Speaker:lifted
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:fourth
Speaker:floor.
Speaker:Talia
Speaker:winced,
Speaker:covering
Speaker:her
Speaker:face
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:prickling
Speaker:spray,
Speaker:but it
Speaker:dissipated
Speaker:as
Speaker:quickly
Speaker:as
Speaker:it
Speaker:began.
Speaker:She
Speaker:grumbled,
Speaker:brushing
Speaker:needles
Speaker:from
Speaker:her
Speaker:clothes
Speaker:until
Speaker:Kristen
Speaker:tugged
Speaker:her
Speaker:sleeve. "'
Speaker:Talia?
Speaker:What
Speaker:is--' "'
Speaker:Oh!'
Speaker:They
Speaker:stared
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:figure
Speaker:that
Speaker:stood
Speaker:before
Speaker:them.
Speaker:It
Speaker:wore
Speaker:a
Speaker:heavy
Speaker:robe
Speaker:the
Speaker:hood
Speaker:raised
Speaker:to
Speaker:cover
Speaker:its
Speaker:face,
Speaker:and
Speaker:even
Speaker:stooped
Speaker:over
Speaker:was
Speaker:taller
Speaker:than
Speaker:Talia.
Speaker:The
Speaker:dark
Speaker:hooded
Speaker:gaze
Speaker:stared
Speaker:at
Speaker:them
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:moment
Speaker:in
Speaker:silence. "'
Speaker:You
Speaker:have
Speaker:done
Speaker:well,
Speaker:children.'
Speaker:The
Speaker:voice
Speaker:seemed
Speaker:as
Speaker:ancient
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:trees,
Speaker:barely
Speaker:louder
Speaker:than
Speaker:the
Speaker:wind
Speaker:through
Speaker:pine
Speaker:needles,
Speaker:but
Speaker:demanded
Speaker:attention.
Speaker:Talia
Speaker:and
Speaker:Kristen
Speaker:stood
Speaker:mute
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:figure
Speaker:stepped
Speaker:closer,
Speaker:staring
Speaker:at
Speaker:each
Speaker:of
Speaker:them
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:long
Speaker:moment.
Speaker:Finally
Speaker:it
Speaker:reached
Speaker:up
Speaker:and
Speaker:drew
Speaker:the
Speaker:hood
Speaker:back. "'
Speaker:I
Speaker:am
Speaker:Huya. This
Speaker:is
Speaker:my forest
Speaker:. I have
Speaker:sensed
Speaker:your
Speaker:need
Speaker:and
Speaker:followed
Speaker:your
Speaker:journey
Speaker:across
Speaker:the
Speaker:sea
Speaker:of
Speaker:grass
Speaker:to
Speaker:come
Speaker:here.'
Speaker:The
Speaker:ancient
Speaker:cougar
Speaker:spread
Speaker:her
Speaker:paws. "'
Speaker:Weren'tly
Speaker:the
Speaker:worthy
Speaker:can
Speaker:find
Speaker:me.' "'
Speaker:And
Speaker:here
Speaker:you
Speaker:are.
Speaker:Speak.
Speaker:What
Speaker:boon
Speaker:do you ask of Huya?' T
Speaker:alia
Speaker:looked
Speaker:at Kristen,
Speaker:who
Speaker:motioned
Speaker:for
Speaker:her
Speaker:to
Speaker:begin.
Speaker:The
Speaker:dough
Speaker:held
Speaker:out
Speaker:her
Speaker:bundle
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:cougar. "'
Speaker:Our
Speaker:crops
Speaker:suffer
Speaker:from
Speaker:the
Speaker:heat
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:summer
Speaker:sun.
Speaker:The
Speaker:rains
Speaker:have
Speaker:not
Speaker:come.
Speaker:I
Speaker:bring
Speaker:these
Speaker:gifts.
Speaker:Our
Speaker:village
Speaker:and
Speaker:many
Speaker:others
Speaker:need
Speaker:the
Speaker:ray
Speaker:.' Hu
Speaker:ya
Speaker:accepted
Speaker:the
Speaker:bundle
Speaker:and
Speaker:peered
Speaker:inside. "'
Speaker:Wine
Speaker:trailbread, dried oats, oats. It has been long since I have
Speaker:had
Speaker:such
Speaker:fair.
Speaker:I
Speaker:thank
Speaker:you.'
Speaker:She
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:bobcat. "'
Speaker:And
Speaker:you.' "'
Speaker:We,
Speaker:my
Speaker:village
Speaker:and
Speaker:our
Speaker:neighbors,
Speaker:also
Speaker:face
Speaker:drought.
Speaker:Our
Speaker:animals
Speaker:need
Speaker:rain
Speaker:just
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:grass
Speaker:and
Speaker:crops
Speaker:do.
Speaker:These
Speaker:gifts.
Speaker:We
Speaker:also
Speaker:ask
Speaker:that
Speaker:the
Speaker:rains
Speaker:come.'
Speaker:He
Speaker:handed
Speaker:the
Speaker:package
Speaker:over. "'
Speaker:Please
Speaker:help
Speaker:us.'
Speaker:Kristen
Speaker:glanced
Speaker:at Talia,
Speaker:then
Speaker:back. "'
Speaker:All
Speaker:of
Speaker:us.' "'
Speaker:A
Speaker:smile
Speaker:spread
Speaker:across
Speaker:the
Speaker:elderly
Speaker:cougar's
Speaker:face
Speaker:as
Speaker:she
Speaker:sniffed
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:bundle. "'
Speaker:Ride
Speaker:meats
Speaker:and
Speaker:fish.
Speaker:Excellent
Speaker:fair.
Speaker:And
Speaker:something
Speaker:more.' "'
Speaker:The
Speaker:youth
Speaker:looked
Speaker:at
Speaker:Huya,
Speaker:confused.
Speaker:She
Speaker:gestured
Speaker:to
Speaker:them
Speaker:both. "'
Speaker:Under
Speaker:standing.
Speaker:Co
Speaker:operation.
Speaker:Friendship. These
Speaker:ar
Speaker:e the
Speaker:goals
Speaker:set
Speaker:by
Speaker:we
Speaker:who
Speaker:first
Speaker:created
Speaker:the
Speaker:great
Speaker:pact
Speaker:between
Speaker:the
Speaker:grass-
Speaker:eaters
Speaker:and
Speaker:the
Speaker:meat-
Speaker:eaters.
Speaker:We
Speaker:who
Speaker:sought
Speaker:to
Speaker:live
Speaker:in
Speaker:peace
Speaker:and
Speaker:live
Speaker:off
Speaker:the
Speaker:creatures
Speaker:and
Speaker:bounty
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:land
Speaker:rather
Speaker:than
Speaker:eternally
Speaker:fight
Speaker:with
Speaker:one
Speaker:another.'
Speaker:Huy
Speaker:a
Speaker:tapped
Speaker:each
Speaker:of
Speaker:them
Speaker:in
Speaker:the chest. "'Unsought and unplanned. You two
Speaker:have
Speaker:formed
Speaker:your
Speaker:own
Speaker:pact.
Speaker:You
Speaker:have
Speaker:run
Speaker:together,
Speaker:fought
Speaker:for
Speaker:one
Speaker:another,
Speaker:and
Speaker:learned
Speaker:much.
Speaker:Such
Speaker:was
Speaker:our
Speaker:goal,
Speaker:and
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:last
Speaker:remaining
Speaker:arbiter
Speaker:of
Speaker:the
Speaker:pact,
Speaker:I
Speaker:judge
Speaker:that
Speaker:you
Speaker:have
Speaker:achieved
Speaker:those
Speaker:goals
Speaker:admirably.' "'
Speaker:Huy
Speaker:a
Speaker:raised
Speaker:her
Speaker:paws. "'
Speaker:You
Speaker:have
Speaker:come
Speaker:seeking
Speaker:help
Speaker:for
Speaker:your
Speaker:people,
Speaker:and have
Speaker:found
Speaker:much
Speaker:more
Speaker:during
Speaker:the
Speaker:journey.
Speaker:For
Speaker:that
Speaker:I
Speaker:grant
Speaker:you
Speaker:this more.
Speaker:Take
Speaker:it.
Speaker:Live
Speaker:well.
Speaker:Share
Speaker:what
Speaker:you
Speaker:have
Speaker:learned.
Speaker:And
Speaker:remember.'
Speaker:The
Speaker:wind
Speaker:rose
Speaker:again,
Speaker:a vicious
Speaker:whirl
Speaker:that
Speaker:set
Speaker:the
Speaker:forest
Speaker:floor a
Speaker:flight
Speaker:once
Speaker:again.
Speaker:This
Speaker:time
Speaker:it
Speaker:let
Speaker:Talia
Speaker:and
Speaker:Kristin
Speaker:alone
Speaker:while
Speaker:it
Speaker:blotted
Speaker:out
Speaker:their
Speaker:surroundings
Speaker:for
Speaker:a
Speaker:long,
Speaker:dark
Speaker:minute.
Speaker:When
Speaker:it
Speaker:settled,
Speaker:they
Speaker:found
Speaker:themselves
Speaker:standing
Speaker:where
Speaker:their
Speaker:trail
Speaker:had
Speaker:entered
Speaker:the
Speaker:forest.
Speaker:Ahead,
Speaker:the
Speaker:oak
Speaker:rolled
Speaker:by
Speaker:sedately.
Speaker:Beyond
Speaker:it,
Speaker:the
Speaker:sea
Speaker:of
Speaker:grass
Speaker:spread
Speaker:as
Speaker:far
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:eye
Speaker:could
Speaker:see. "'
Speaker:Look!'
Speaker:Talia
Speaker:pointed
Speaker:upward.
Speaker:From
Speaker:the
Speaker:forest,
Speaker:a
Speaker:dark
Speaker:column
Speaker:rose
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:heights,
Speaker:needle-
Speaker:thin
Speaker:at
Speaker:first,
Speaker:then
Speaker:spreading
Speaker:wider
Speaker:and
Speaker:wider
Speaker:until it
Speaker:dissolved
Speaker:into
Speaker:dark
Speaker:clouds.
Speaker:The
Speaker:sun
Speaker:disappeared
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:clouds
Speaker:spread
Speaker:above,
Speaker:covering
Speaker:the
Speaker:blue
Speaker:sky
Speaker:with
Speaker:grey.
Speaker:Lightning
Speaker:crackled
Speaker:and
Speaker:a
Speaker:cool
Speaker:breeze
Speaker:blew
Speaker:off
Speaker:the
Speaker:plain.
Speaker:Raindrops
Speaker:speckled
Speaker:their
Speaker:clothing,
Speaker:dotted
Speaker:their
Speaker:fur.
Speaker:As
Speaker:the
Speaker:two
Speaker:watched,
Speaker:a
Speaker:sprinkle
Speaker:of
Speaker:rain
Speaker:turned
Speaker:into
Speaker:a
Speaker:steady
Speaker:drizzle,
Speaker:and
Speaker:from
Speaker:there
Speaker:to
Speaker:a
Speaker:steady
Speaker:hard
Speaker:rain. "'
Speaker:It wo
Speaker:rked!
Speaker:It
Speaker:worked!'
Speaker:Kristin
Speaker:leaped
Speaker:into
Speaker:the
Speaker:rain,
Speaker:arms
Speaker:spread
Speaker:and
Speaker:turned
Speaker:his
Speaker:face
Speaker:to
Speaker:the
Speaker:sky.
Speaker:Talia
Speaker:watched
Speaker:as
Speaker:his
Speaker:thick
Speaker:fur
Speaker:slumped
Speaker:and
Speaker:sagged
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:rain.
Speaker:She
Speaker:laughed
Speaker:and
Speaker:jumped
Speaker:forward,
Speaker:taking
Speaker:his
Speaker:paws.
Speaker:The
Speaker:two
Speaker:twirling
Speaker:in
Speaker:the
Speaker:downpour
Speaker:until
Speaker:they
Speaker:fell
Speaker:together
Speaker:in
Speaker:an
Speaker:exhausted
Speaker:embrace. "'
Speaker:We
Speaker:did
Speaker:it!
Speaker:The
Speaker:rains!
Speaker:The
Speaker:rains
Speaker:are
Speaker:here!'
Speaker:Talia
Speaker:pulled
Speaker:back
Speaker:and
Speaker:smiled
Speaker:widely
Speaker:at
Speaker:the
Speaker:shorter
Speaker:cat,
Speaker:brushing
Speaker:fur
Speaker:out
Speaker:of
Speaker:his
Speaker:eyes. "'
Speaker:We
Speaker:did
Speaker:it!'
Speaker:Kristin
Speaker:smiled
Speaker:back. "'
Speaker:Yes,
Speaker:we
Speaker:did.
Speaker:We
Speaker:did
Speaker:it.
Speaker:Together!'
Speaker:Hoof
Speaker:and
Speaker:Paul,
Speaker:the
Speaker:two
Speaker:turned
Speaker:to
Speaker:watch
Speaker:as
Speaker:the
Speaker:life-
Speaker:bringing
Speaker:storm
Speaker:rolled
Speaker:in
Speaker:a
Speaker:wave
Speaker:across
Speaker:the
Speaker:sea
Speaker:of
Speaker:grass."
Speaker:This
Speaker:was
Speaker:the
Speaker:second
Speaker:and
Speaker:final
Speaker:part
Speaker:of
Speaker:Come
Speaker:the
Speaker:Storm
Speaker:by
Speaker:Tony
Speaker:Grey
Speaker:fox,
Speaker:read
Speaker:for
Speaker:you
Speaker:by
Speaker:Kaki,
Speaker:your
Speaker:faithful
Speaker:fireside
Speaker:companion.
Speaker:You
Speaker:can
Speaker:find
Speaker:more
Speaker:stories
Speaker:on
Speaker:the
Speaker:web
Speaker:at
Speaker:The
Speaker:Voice.
Speaker:dog
Speaker:or
Speaker:find
Speaker:the
Speaker:show
Speaker:wherever
Speaker:you
Speaker:get
Speaker:your
Speaker:podcasts.
Speaker:Thank
Speaker:you
Speaker:for
Speaker:listening
Speaker:to
Speaker:The
Speaker:Voice
Speaker:of
Speaker:Dog.
