The Warmer Realms
(A Furry-Story by Dario Abatianni (C)03.02.1999)

Translation into English by Dario Abatianni, August 20, 2001 to Spetember 18, 2001

1

Darkness had fallen over the early summer landscape. A soft breeze made the small fire at the edge of the path flicker slightly. Glowing sparks sporadically lifted out of the flames, swirled around in the warm air flow and finally extinguished silently. The slender shape of a fox sat at the edge of the fire. His tender, brown eyes reflected the light of the flames while he looked into their constantly changing pattern. Slowly he took a sip out of his mug and let the warm tea flow down his throat. The sparse remnants of the evening meal lay next to him: a small slice of bread, two or three rabbit bones, a leaf package still containing a little meat, and a half eaten apple.

Redfur had been in a thoughtful mood all day. Probably his inner restlessness was responsible for his lack of appetite, too. He didn't know why, but the thoughts and memories of his childhood kept coming back to him. During his long wanderings it only happened rarely that he thought about his former life, but on days like this, the old life seemed to be very close.

He took another sip from the mug that he held in his black paws. His gaze fell onto the fur that joined the dark patches; fox red, yes, damn, yes! How often did he curse that fur, because it was a constant risk for him and his family. To his twelfth sun he had lived in the ice desert far in the north, for he actually was an arctic fox. A freak of nature had clad him into a fox red fur, contrary to the white pelt the rest of his family possessed.

At the beginning he was happy about differing from the other foxes, but soon he realized that his siblings' bantering was only the smaller inconvenience. His noticeable pelt made him a visible target for bigger predators, even from great distances, and more than once he had to run for his life when a polar bear considered him lunch.

Eight suns ago he quit his old life eventually and wandered from the polar region to the south to reach the warmer realms. His fur wouldn't harm anybody there. But he still kept his nickname - Redfur. During the passing suns he repressed his real name, keeping it alive only in his heart.

The tea had become cold in the meantime, and Redfur poured the rest of the beverage into the fire. Small herb-scented clouds of steam rose hissing. The fox sniffed and enjoyed the distributing smell. Then he grabbed his backpack and took out a blanket to unroll it near the fire. He lay down on it, stretched comfortably and gazed up to the clear sky where the stars looked down on the world. Son, where ever you will go, the stars will be your company. Those had been his father's words, when he'd left his home. Many nights he had looked up to the sky, sometimes through tears. This night the view of the stars was comforting rather than deplorable. They followed him, where ever he went - mute witnesses of his journey.

Redfur tiredly opened one eye when one of the sun's rays tickled his nose. The leaves on the trees moved in the soft early morning wind and cast complicated patterns of shadows onto his fur and the grass of his resting place. He had slept very deeply, not even a single fragment of a dream had remained in his memory. He closed the eye again and enjoyed the fresh, cool air playing softly with the hairs of his pelt.

Finally he pushed himself to get up and stretched. Dew glittered on artfully woven spider webs in the shrubs like pearls on a string. It was a perfect start of a early summer's day.

In the meantime the fire in it's bowl of stone had wasted away to softly smoldering embers. Yet it didn't take him long to bring it back to life again. Humming merrily he filled his mug with water from his canteen and hung the clay pot into the wire noose reaching over the fire. While the water slowly heated up he fetched a brown tinted leaf from one of his small bags to grind it carefully between his paws. An aromatic fragrance filled his nose and he greedily sucked in the air. Patiently he waited for the liquid in the mug to boil. He let the grinded leaf trickle into the jar carefully, where the water became brown soon afterwards.

Meanwhile Redfur packed the rest of his stuff together and unwrapped the meat left over from the evening meal from it's leaf covers. A sufficient breakfast so far.

The fire was extinguished quickly. The fox swung his backpack and the short hunting bow over his shoulder and continued his way southward. He had no specific destination. Since he started his wandering to the warmer realms, he had always followed his nose. Only at the beginning of his journey he had settled down for a short time in a small village at the shore of the sea.

He used his stay there to learn about the ways and customs of the foreign land and to get accustomed to the unfamiliar temperatures that got to him by then. At that time he already thought he must have wandered through half of the world but the future proved him wrong. After he had left the village and continued his journey he discovered land by land, walked through forest by forest and crossed river by river. He realized that, what ever he took for the world was only a small part, and must be incredibly large in whole.

It happened about that time that he grew curious about the land behind the next hill. He barely settled in one village when his paws itched to find out how the path would look like a few miles further down. He had become an adventurer, a globetrotter who could never stay in one place for long. And he never grew tired of looking and marveling at his changing surroundings.

Of course this kind of lifestyle made him grow lonely. He never stayed long enough in one place to meet other people or to make friends. It wouldn't last long anyway, because he knew that he would have to move on at some time and leave them behind.

This time he picked his way through a fairly open landscape. Here and there some Trees had huddled together to form small woods. Between them stretched exuberantly growing fields full of herbs and weeds, their blossoms and seeds filled the air with spicy smells. Redfur frequently knelt down at the wayside and carefully tugged out one plant or the other, curiously looking, sniffing and touching it. Until noon he had collected a big bunch of different flowers and weeds that tried to beat each other with their blaze of colors.

When the sun reached its highest point he decided to take a rest. He chose a nice spot at the side of the path and made camp there. Gingerly he sketched the herbs he had collected into his small notebook he had purchased in one of the villages far in the north, and then he stowed them into one of the bags fastened with strong leather straps to his backpack. While he rested he became aware of the clouds that slowly approached from the west. There seemed to be rain this night, a not quite unwelcome change to the warmth of the day. Nonetheless he wanted to depart soon to reach one of the small forests that promised some shelter against the wetness. Quickly he packed his equipment together and set off again.

When the first raindrops fell Redfur was still on his way. As far as he could see in the growing darkness there was no shelter to be found in the near future. He stopped shortly to get his cloak out of the sack, slung it over his shoulders and wandered on. The clouds solidified visibly and he thought he had heard a deep growling in the distance. He sniffed intently and nodded silently: There was thunder in the air.

A few minutes later the first flash of lightning flared glaringly white through the sky. The thunder followed shortly afterwards. The raindrops were now falling more densely and were swirled around by an upcoming breeze. Redfur got a bit annoyed by the change of weather but trudged on steadily. It was not the first time that he got caught by rain on his journey, and he would be drying quickly tomorrow, anyway.

The bolts came now in a quick sequence. Only a few moments it kept dark until another flaring light cast the landscape in a ghostly white glow. All the time it rolled and thundered inside the clouds. When another flash illuminated the surroundings Redfur saw a bridge of stone crossing a small river. Behind it he could see a few buildings. Encouraged he quickened his pace.

It took him only a few minutes to reach the bridge. The rain came down steadily, flowed over the stony bridge and its balustrade. At this moment another bolt flared up, followed immediately by loud thunder. Redfur froze. There had been something else. He had heard another sound through the thunder that had been coming from under the bridge. Sniffing the air revealed nothing, the rain drowned every smell. Cautiously he made a few steps sideways from the bridge and climbed down the bank to the river. Then he slowly moved towards the stone formation that showed as a dark silhouette against the landscape behind it.

A flickering in the clouds, then another loud rumble. And again he heard the noise - like a soft, terrified whimpering. It seemed that somebody was hiding under the bridge.

»Hello?« Redfur asked when he reached the bridge and stared into the darkness below it. »Anybody there?«

The answer was a piercing shriek and the pawing of feet that quickly moved backwards. For one moment Redfur believed he saw the reflections of a pair of eyes. Whoever hid down there must be scared out of their mind.

»Don't be afraid,« he said softly and groped ahead with his powers. He sensed fear and uncertainty; fear for him, the thunderstorm and - for something else.

He embraced the emotions gently and started to dispel them. »I mean you no harm.« The fear grew weaker but didn't fade away completely. »The storm will last for quite a while. But I saw some buildings, not far from here. Maybe we should try to find shelter there.« While he spoke he made a few steps forward. He felt the movement of a body slowly backing away.

Redfur had been so tense that he flinched when another lightning bolt, accompanied by loud thunder, tore the silence apart. For a split second he could see who was hiding in the darkness before him.

»Believe me,« he said. »I won't hurt you.«

»Go away!« the cat female said softly. »Leave me alone!«

The fox felt the fear still originating from her. He summoned his power again and fought against it. »It will be more warm and dry there. Don't fear. It will be all right.« Carefully he stretched out a paw to where he had seen the figure the last time, and for a moment he touched damp fur.

The cat jumped backwards and let out a muffled scream. But Redfur felt that it was more in surprise than in fear, so he approached further. When he touched her the second time she merely flinched but stayed where she was. His eyes had adapted to the darkness far enough, so he could see her. She had huddled herself into the hindmost corner of the bridge's hang over and held her eyes tightly shut; she was shaking all over.

»Do you want to come with me or do you prefer to catch a cold out here?« Redfur asked gently. »Believe me, I want to help you.«

Finally her fear collapsed under his powers and the cat opened her eyes. »Where did they go?« she asked anxiously.

Redfur was a bit surprised but decided not to go into details by now. »They're gone,« he said instead. »Come with me. I will lead you to a dry place.« Slowly he moved his paw to hers and she took it, hesitantly at first, then determinedly. »This is better,« he said smiling. »Come on. We'll have to run through the rain a bit.«

He lead the female from under the bridge and crossed the stone path with her. Then he pointed with one paw to the nearby buildings and started running. The cat kept up at his side without a problem and within minutes they reached a wooden building, probably a barn. A few moments later they found the entrance. They went into the barn, closed the door and left the thunderstorm outside.

It smelled of straw, horses and damp wood. He led her to the middle of the room, where a big pile of straw was stacked up. She dropped herself onto the soft bedding and hugged her arms closely to her body. Redfur saw her shivering and took the blanket from his backpack. Gingerly he put it over her shoulders and she huddled herself thankfully into the warm cloth.

»We can warm ourselves up a bit here,« the fox said while he started to remove the straw from a spot on the floor nearby. The packed clay floor was becoming visible. »Sayh. They call me Redfur. What's your name?«

»I-Ichira,« she said softly while she watched the fox warily. »Sayh. What are you doing there?«

The fox rummaged through his pack and took out a shallow metal bowl. »I'm going to make it a little more comfortable for us. It will only take a moment.« He collected some scattered pieces of wood and put them into the bowl together with some straw. A few sparks of his flint stone were enough to create a cozy little fire. Then he fetched his mug, the canteen and one of the leaves and percolated some tea. While the beverage slowly warmed up he leaned back against a straw bale with a smile and enjoyed the feeling of the distributing warmth for a moment. He glanced over to Ichira who still regarded him suspiciously.

She was slender built, her fur was almost completely black, only a few white patches showed under her chin and at the tips of her ears. The rest of the pelt was still hidden under the blanket. The light of the fire let her eyes gleam in a deep gold. But something in her occurrence got his attention, and he nearly stopped smiling. A deep trench went through the hair on her right cheek where the fur had grown back irregularly, and on her forehead was a nearly pebble-sized, circular spot where only bare skin was left.

The tea was hot enough and he cautiously took the mug from the fire using the wire noose. Then he carried the jar over to Ichira, making sure not to spill some of the liquid. »Here, drink this. It will warm you. But be careful, it's still very hot.«

She took the mug and sniffed the steam. The misty clouds played around her muzzle while she took a small sip. »Why are you doing all this?« she finally asked. Her voice had regained some of its power. It sounded a little rough and throaty, as it was common with cats, but it had a peculiarly soft undertone.

»Because I want to help you,« he replied with a shrug. »I couldn't leave you cowering under that wet bridge, could I?« He glanced into her eyes and she looked away. »Do you want to tell me what happened?«

»Happened?« she asked and took a sip from her tea, without looking at him.

»Well. When I found you under the bridge you asked me, if they were gone. I'd like to know, who you meant by this.«

While he spoke he felt her fear returning. Her body tensed a little and the eyes started to look around uneasily. »They chased me two nights ago,« she eventually explained softly. »They were ugly lizard-like creatures. I ran away and lost them in the forest. I don't know what they wanted from me but this« - she cautiously traced over the barely healed scar on her cheek -»is due to them.«

»You seem to have covered your tracks quite well, however,« the fox said. »I didn't see a lizard anywhere. You are safe here.«

Ichira snorted and scattered the clouds of steam in front of her face. »Ay, I am safe. And a coward, nonetheless.«

»Don't be silly,« he said gently. »I take it that you simply saved your life. What good would it have done to fight and lose?«

She shook her head sadly, her voice wasn't more than a whisper. »You don't understand.« She put down the mug, pulled the blanket tighter around herself and closed her eyes. Redfur could see her trying to control her thoughts. For a while he sat facing her and watched, until he was sure, that she had fallen asleep. Then he silently unfolded his cloak over one of the bales to dry and lay down on a pile of scented straw to go to sleep as well.

When Redfur woke the next morning, there was chaos around him. The first thing he heard was a loud hiss, then a shrill shriek and the slamming of a door. Instantly he was awake and on his feet. Ichira had lain her ears flat and her fur stood on end while she stared at the door that was moving in the soft breeze of morning. Outside he could see a shadow approaching the door. Then a face looked slowly into the barn, and Ichira started to growl softly.

Redfur recognized the face of a dog, at about half the height of his own body. It was an adolescent, probably a child of the farmer who owned this barn. »It's all right, Ichira,« he said softly. »It's only a young.«

The cat remained uneasy. It seemed that she too had just woken up and got scared by the figure.

»Good morning, young lady,« he greeted the young dog. »Don't be afraid. We are just two wanderers who took shelter from the thunderstorm last night.«

The child regarded them suspiciously, then opened the door completely and came a step closer. Clear sunlight poured in through the entrance - the thick clouds from the day before seemed to have vanished. »I'm not scared,« she said eventually. »I'm just not supposed to talk to strangers. I'll go and get my father.« She spun around and ran out of the barn.

Redfur glanced over to Ichira who hat put on an amused face. A welcome change to the depressed look she had displayed yesterday. He bent over and poured out the charred contents of the tin bowl. Then he stretched extensively and sat down next to his companion. »How are you today?« he asked.

»Much better already, thank you. Dry fur is worth a lot.« She sat up and rolled up the blanket. »Thanks for this,« she said and gave the cloth bundle to Redfur.

»Ay. The least I could do,« he replied and accepted the blanket. Then he grinned. »You looked quite ragged last night.«

She made a face in mock anger. »Oh, thank you for the compliment.« She took a pawful of straw and threw it into his face.

»Hey, what ...« Redfur barely managed to say, then he had to comb the straws out of his fur. When he had finished he looked deeply into her eyes. The golden shimmer was still there, embedded into a sea of amber. The dark pupils had narrowed to a small slit, it seemed to be a crack on the surface of a gem, reaching deep inside. At this moment he heard somebody entering the barn. »I'll come back to you later,« he murmured grinning, then turned around.

»Good morning to you,« a tall male dog said, standing at the door. He leaned on a pitchfork he held in his big paw. His legs were clad in sturdy leather pants and a hat protected his head from the sun. All things considered he epitomized the typical plain farmer.

Redfur straightened his stance and saw that he just reached the other's shoulder, and bowed politely. »Sayh. Good morning to you, too,« he began. »I want to apologize that we entered your barn without asking, but the bad weather forced us to seek shelter. My name is Redfur, and this is Ichira.« He hoped that the big dog was in a good mood - he had put his powers to a hard test yesterday and he wasn't sure if he could use them again today.

Fortunately the farmer didn't seem to be angry. His flews drew back with a smile. »Don't worry. The barn is big enough by far. I was a bit surprised when my little one came running and told me about foreign people.« He made a thoughtful face. »I bet you're hungry. How about a good breakfast?«

»We'd love to. But we don't want to strain your hospitality too much.« The growling of his stomach belied him, though.

The big dog laughed. »Well, come on, then. Be our guests. I'll lead you to the kitchen.«

Redfur held out his paw for Ichira and helped her getting up. She looked at him in surprise but said nothing.

»Ah, well! My name is Altan,« the farmer said when he led them out of the barn and over the small yard. »You already met my little daughter Naki. My mate Thera and my son are already waiting in the kitchen.«

They entered the main building and crossed a narrow hallway that had several doors to both sides. One of them was open, and a seductive smell of fried food came out of the room behind it. Soon they stood in a simple but clean kitchen. In the middle of the room a heavy table had it's place and it was surrounded by several roughly timbered chairs. Two young had already taken their seats; the female that had woken them in the morning and a male, obviously just grown out of pups age. Thera stood at the cooking place and prepared breakfast for the family and their guests. Shallow wooden plates with matching cutlery and filled clay mugs were already standing on the table. Altan motioned them to sit down.

»I want to thank you for the friendly care,« Redfur said when he took his seat. »Of course we will show our gratitude.«

»Oh, it's not necessary,« Thera said when she put the heavy pan onto the table. A mixture of sliced earth tubers, onions and eggs that made the wanderers mouth water. »We rarely get visited by people from outside our lands. We hear only a few things of what's happening in the world.«

Thera had just served the meal when the two young were already filling their plates. Redfur waited politely for his turn and then he helped himself and his companion. »If you want I can tell you about what we have experienced,« he said with a quick sideways glance to Ichira.

And so he told them about his experiences on the journey and skillfully wove his companion into his tales. Ichira listened curiously, too, and he could tell by her look that he wouldn't come away without an explanation. The young took in the words of the fox intently as well, even though they probably only understood half of what he said.

»Where are you going, if I may ask?« Altan leaned over the table when they finished their meal.

»Well, as of me, I don't really have a-« Redfur started.

»The next town,« Ichira said nearly at the same time.

Altan looked at them over the rim of his mug, placed the beverage down and wiped his mouth with the back side of his paw. »The next town is quite a distance away,« he said eventually. »There's a small village, about ten miles down the street, but unfortunately there has been an incident.«

Redfur felt Ichira starting to shiver next to him. »What kind of incident was that?« he asked and inconspicuously put his companion a comforting paw onto her shoulder.

Altan shrugged. »I don't know exactly. It's mostly rumors, not more. A few days ago we saw the glow of fire at the horizon, and then we heard from scaly creatures that supposedly were prowling the forests. Until now we haven't seen any of those creatures ourselves, but they should better stay away from our farm, otherwise we'll show them!«

»I'm sure you would defend your farm worthily,« Redfur said. »But we have to go now. You've been very friendly.« He pushed back his chair and stood up. Ichira rose, too, still gripped by the strange restlessness he couldn't quite interpret.

»I wish you good luck for your further journey, my friends,« Altan replied. »If you ever come back into this part of the land, don't hesitate to visit us again. We would be glad to hear about your experiences.«

»Of course, we will. Mother Thera« - he bowed into the farmwife's direction - »it was a pleasure to meet you and your cooking. Good bye.«

Altan led them to the barn where they packed their belongings together and finally set off. Once they glanced back to the farm. The farmer still stood there for some time and watched their departure. Redfur shivered at the thought that the lizards might really raid the farm. Despite the courageous heart of the man they probably wouldn't have much of a chance when they got outnumbered.

When they had walked for about a mile, the fox decided to break the silence that had lasted between them, since their departure from the farm of the dogs. »Do you want to talk to me about it?«

»About what?« Her voice trembled slightly.

»I mean, why were you so upset during breakfast? I had the notion you were scared by something.«

She shook her head. »No, it's nothing. I'm just a little concerned about the lizards, that's all.«

»Really?« When she didn't answer he decided not to broach the subject again. Something was bothering her, that was obvious. But as long as she didn't want to talk about it he was bound to wait, until she was ready to.

While they followed the street further down south the mood of the journey darkened more and more. Redfur's heart broke to see the cat trapped in so gloomy thoughts. She needed a little distraction from whatever things were haunting her. He stopped. »How about a break?« he asked.

»Right now? We barely got started.«

He grinned embarrassedly. »Ay, you're right, of course. But you must know that I come far from the north, and the temperatures here are still giving me a hard time. Only a few minutes, do you agree? Or are you in a hurry?«

She hesitated a little before she answered. »No, I'm not. Well, then. Agreed. Let's rest a bit.«

They settled down on a big meadow and enjoyed the warmth of the rays of the sun. In the distance they could see a forest, stretching over the entire horizon. Towards it the landscape was mostly overgrown with weeds, dotted over and over with plentiful flowers and blooms of different colors and scents. Redfur felt inside himself and let his powers flow out. This time it was a soft groping, not the powerful, defending snare he had thrown out against her fear under the bridge.

Within a few minutes they were surrounded by a mass of butterflies and colorful moths that rested everywhere on his pelt and unfolded their wings in the summer sun. Ichira was being besieged soon afterwards, too, and she started to laugh when one of the animals landed on Redfur's snout and made him sneeze.

»How do you do that?« she asked laughing. »There must be hundreds of them!«

He smiled. »They are beautiful, aren't they? They seem to like us. Look, they aren't even shy.« He lay back in the grass, took one of the butterflies on his paw and watched the shiny, thin wings the animal stretched towards the sun.

Ichira was absorbed by the iridescent glory of the butterflies. Her laughter was addictive, now that she was not trapped by her dark thoughts anymore; if only it weren't for the scars that crossed her fur in some places. Her fur was black almost everywhere as he had suspected. In addition to her chin and ears, her belly and tips of her hind paws had white patches, too. In contrast, her tail and her front paws were perfectly black and shone like silk in the sunlight.

Everything about her fascinated the fox, who absent-minded watched each of her movements. Until now he never had had deeper feelings for a member of another species, but he suspected that this time, there was more.

Finally he let his powers drain away and the butterflies scattered over the meadow again. Ichira watched the animals for some time and then she dropped on the grass next to him. »Why did you tell the people at the farm that we had experienced all this together?« she asked directly. »You know me only since last night.«

Redfur thought about what to answer for a moment. »I wanted to tell them a nice story in return for their hospitality. And you must admit it would have sounded a bit monotonous if I would've spoken only about me.« He turned his head and looked into her eyes. »I hope you aren't angry with me.«

»No, I'm not. I was just a bit surprised. I didn't know exactly if I should correct you or not.« She smiled with mischief.

»And show them that I'm a liar, or what?« Redfur grinned, too.

She snorted with amusement. »Oh, well. Why should I do that? Those people were very nice to us and your story was - well, at least you didn't say something about me I would have needed to decline.« She turned her face to the sky and was silent for a moment. The thoughtful expression returned to her face and Redfur knew that the light-hearted moments had passed. »We should move on,« she said softly and rose. »Unless you want to stay here or take a different way.«

»Oh, as you know, I don't have a particular destination. And if you don't mind I would share some of the way with you. So we'll both have some company.« The fox stood up, too and looked around. »It's a pity to leave this peaceful spot so soon, though.«

She smiled. »I really don't want to drive you away from here, Redfur.«

»No problem,« he replied. He wouldn't let her go alone now for the world. »There surely are thousands of other places like this yet to be discovered.«

Together they returned to the path and continued their travel. Redfur realized sadly that Ichiras mood grew darker and more barred with every step. He remembered her vividly, laughing at the butterflies, remembered the nearly child-like expression in her eyes. Whatever it was that made her grief, he would do his best to take the burden off of her.

2

The path was snaking over the colorful meadow up to the edge of the forest that had constantly come nearer. The air was a bit cooler in the shadow of the dense growing trees and Redfur sighed with relief. A number of different fragrances entered his nose and he sniffed and examined them eagerly. It smelled of ferns, of mushrooms and of rotten leaves. But another scent mingled with the strong smells of nature; delicate and indifferent at first, then growing stronger as they moved on. Inconspicuously the fox glanced over to his companion and saw, that she had picked up the unusual scent, too. She had opened her mouth slightly and seemed to taste the reek - because reek it was, indeed. He had often seen this kind of perception with cats, but he never could reproduce it himself. »Do you smell it, too?« he finally asked.

»Ay,« she said, and her face grew even darker. »There's death in the air.« She started to quicken her pace and eventually started to run. Redfur kept up in surprise with her gracefully moving body. Even though she reached only up to his shoulder she could be surprisingly fast. Together they hurried on, ducked under overhanging branches and followed the winding curves of the path. Soon they had reached the edge of the forest and Ichira stopped dead in her tracks. Redfur went on a few steps more along the way before he stopped as well and saw, what had made her freeze.

The land before them descended softly and provided a good view of the surroundings. At the base of the hill, from which they were looking down now, they saw the ruins of a village. Black remnants of houses and other buildings made a sharp contrast to the opulent green of the meadow around it, like a rotting spot in the peel of an apple. Amongst it they could see something glitter here and there, probably shattered glass or tarnished metal. Although they could not see too much from this distance the level of destruction was more than obvious. Ichira had been right. There was nothing but death.

»Ichira? What do you think? Should we-«

»No. I ... We shouldn't go down there.« Deep consternation showed on her face.

»Probably we can find out what happened down there.« He looked down at the remnants of the village. »Maybe there's even someone who needs our help.«

»I don't know,« Ichira said. »I don't want to go down there. What good would it do?«

Redfur shrugged. »No idea. But it wouldn't do any harm either, would it? Who knows, maybe we discover-«

»Redfur, please,« she interrupted. »I don't want to go there.«

He looked at her in surprise, then he suddenly understood. »You come from here, don't you?« She nodded slowly. »I'm so sorry, Ichira. Not wonder you don't want to go there. Did you see, how ...« He pointed to the village.

»No,« she said weakly. »I was out hunting when the attack started. I heard the screams and the sound of fighting and ran back. From the edge of the wood, about where we are standing now, I watched them raid our village and drag away many of my tribe. Probably they killed some of them, too, at least those, who tried to defend themselves against them.« She lay back her ears and her fur started to bristle. »And I was hiding here and merely watched. Until one of their scouts finally spotted me. They attacked me; only barely I could get away.« Absent-minded she retraced the scar on her face with a claw. »I didn't see them burning the village down. Like a coward I had fled while many of my tribe have lost their lives down there! AY!« With a wild hiss she spun around and stroke a blow at a tree trunk with her paw, and the bark ripped into shreds where the needle sharp claws dug in.

»And what good would it have done if you had yourself get killed, too?« Redfur made a step towards her, but made sure to stay out of reach of the claws. »Believe me, you wouldn't have been able to prevent it. You wouldn't have had a chance against them, outnumbered like that.«

When she turned back to him her eyes showed so much grief that his heart started hurting. »Maybe I would've died, too,« she said bitterly. »But is it better to run away with the tail tucked in? Better than to fight for the life of my tribe?«

The initial rage about her weakness seemed to have passed, so he dared to move closer to her again and put one arm around her shoulder. »I understand your pain, even if I can't make it heal. But believe me: It is not a shame that you have saved your life. Now there's still a chance for you to do something for the survivors of your tribe.«

»I saw them, being driven forward by the lizards like cattle. It hurt so much, Redfur. It hurt so much.« Her last words were merely a whisper.

Carefully he pulled her close and she accepted the embrace, even responded to it. He felt her shaking all over while he held her in his arms. Her claws dug into his skin, pricking lightly, and he resisted the urge to wipe them away. While he spoke soft words of encouragement he held her slender body. Stroking her back, he felt her soft fur under his paws and wished there were better circumstances for the closeness they shared at the moment.

»I ... I'm sorry,« she murmured when she finally drew away from him.

He smiled. »Don't be. You encountered a very bad time and I'm happy when I can help you. What do you think? Maybe we should go to the village, nonetheless. Maybe we can find something that could be helpful to us and your tribe.«

She hesitated for a moment before she answered. »Ay. I think you're right. It's not good to run away from the truth. Let's go down there.«

They covered the distance down the hill much slower than they had gone the rest of the way before. Redfur walked next to Ichira, matching his pace with hers, stopped when she did and went on, when she was ready to. Obviously it cost her quite an effort to face the terrible view. But when they finally reached the edge of the expanse of ruins she woke from her lethargy and started to look around more carefully.

»This has been the hut of our healer. She was a very friendly female. I hope they didn't kill her. Or maybe I shouldn't - who knows what perils she would have to endure now.« She looked around with a gloomy face. »I still can't believe it. This had once been my home and all that's left now is a heap of debris.« She bent down, picked up one of the wreckage and threw it away angrily. »Why did those lizards do this? There was absolutely no reason for it! Our village has always been friendly.«

»Probably they weren't here because of a fight. Maybe they want the land or the possessions. What ever their motives may be, they obviously are ready to reach their goals by any means necessary.«

Ichira walked through the ruins and stopped in front of another charred heap. She crouched down and started to rummage through the remnants. »There's nothing left,« she said softly. »They took everything with them, just everything.«

»The house of your family?« Redfur asked and she nodded depressed. »Then it seems that your people are still alive. I don't think that the lizards would've stopped to ... Well, I'm sure you know, what I mean.« He scratched his neckfur in embarrassment.

»Yes, that's probably true,« she said. »But this doesn't make it easier, you know. I don't have any idea what might happen to them right now. That's nearly even harder than the thought that they could be dead.« She left the wreckage and went to the edge of the village. She discovered the tracks of many feet that had torn open the grass. The rain had washed away many of them but it was easy to see which way the lizards must have gone after the attack. »I won't leave my tribe alone a second time,« she said, and now her face grew hard with determination.

»But you can't just follow them right now,« Redfur spoke out his demurs. »They still outnumber us, and to chase after them would be plain suicidal.«

»I can't just stay here doing nothing!« she snarled at him. »My people need help and who knows how much more do, too. If I stayed here right now, I could just as well have died during their attack.«

Redfur knew he couldn't talk her out of her plan. The emotions living in her were too strong. »We could follow their tracks but an attack would be impossible. We need help.«

»Whatever. I won't let them go just like that.«

»I'd say we try to find out where they're hiding. As soon as we know that, we can still decide how we can get back at them.« Actually, Redfur didn't want to get involved with this too much, but this way he could at least make sure that she didn't run straight into her doom. But what would he do when she would still decide to attack the hiding place of the lizards?

»I know, you're right,« she finally said but her ears lay flat. »It just hurts so much, do you understand? It hurts to know that you can't do anything about it. It's just not right.«

Redfur carefully put an arm around her waist and she didn't resist his touch. »I understand your feelings. I believe, if I was in your place, I wouldn't wait to set off to give those dirty, hairless beasts a good kick into their scaly behind. But it's not the right time for that. Not before we've found some help.« Carefully he pulled her close and she lay her head against his breast. He felt her heartbeat and her warm breath on his fur. »Let's follow their tracks for now and find their hiding place, ay? Maybe something's coming up until then.«

She nodded down-hearted and looked up to him - deeply into his eyes. »Thank you, Redfur,« she said.

»For what?«

»For keeping me from doing something really foolish. Without you I certainly would already be-«

»You don't have to thank me,« he interrupted her with a soft voice. »Your life is worth too much to simply be discarded. I was only the one to tell you that.«

They stood at the edge of the destroyed village for some time. Then they turned to the tracks that went clearly visible through the grassy landscape. Sighing deeply Redfur adjusted his backpack on his shoulders and followed Ichira, who was already a few steps ahead. It was obvious that this cat would once lead him into serious trouble. He was just astonished about the fact that he would actually hazard the consequences without a doubt.

It took no special abilities to follow the track. It went as a clearly visible line over the grassy plain where a multitude of sharp claws had torn the soil apart. The lizards seemed to be certain about their supremacy, for they didn't take measures to keep themselves concealed. Their trail followed the edge of a forest in plain sight, crossed a narrow creek and continued in an almost straight line towards another forest. Some way behind it the first foothills of the mountains were visible. A bit on the side of their way they saw a farm and decided to ask the inhabitants about the lizards. But when they reached the main house they saw the door swinging loose in its hinges.

»Claws and teeth, they've been here already, too,« Ichira cursed and pointed at the tracks that covered the whole front yard of the farm. »Does anything make those bastards stop?«

»I wonder why they put up with so many captives.« Redfur cautiously looked around the destroyed door into the hallway behind it. Then he pulled at the brass handle and wedged himself in. A short search of the rooms revealed that the inhabitants had in fact been dragged away. They even took the supplies and probably some of the valuables.

»Maybe it's strange that they take so many with them,« Ichira said, when they left the farm to follow the track further. »But this way I can still hope to see my family again some day. And this is what really counts for me.«

»I know,« Redfur said. »But still, it's strange.«

They reached the edge of the wood in the late evening and entered the shadow of the trees. The lizards didn't take any measures to cover their tracks here, too, and so the two pursuers made good progress. Only when they grew slightly hungry they decided to find a suitable place to rest. Shortly afterwards they reached the shore of a lake that lay in the middle of the forest and stretched for about one or two miles. The setting sun cast its glowing-red rays onto the rippled surface of the water, spreading them into all directions. At this place they made camp and Redfur prepared his bow and a few arrows for hunting.

»I usually hunt without weapons,« Ichira said while she watched him working curiously.

»Did you ever shoot with a bow, anyway?« Redfur asked, busily equipping the arrows with feathers.

»No, not yet. But I'd like to try it.«

The fox smiled joyfully. »Ay, come with me, then. We will surely find one target or another, I'd bet.« He set up the bow string and went together with his companion into the dense forest. Silently they made their way through the undergrowth, always careful to avoid dry twigs and leaves. Lead by his distinct sense of smell and her hearing they soon spotted a hare digging around in the leaves with it's front paws. Without a sound Redfur reached the bow over to Ichira and guided her paws when she put an arrow on the string. She pulled back the arrow, drew the bow and aimed. Redfur watched the play of her muscles under her dark fur and the concentrated look in her eyes that only a cat was capable of showing so perfectly. Her whiskers vibrated with tension and then the arrow shot off. The hare only had time to startle and rise his ears when it was already hit by the deadly projectile. A short squeal, a last twitch of the hind legs, and then it lay still. Redfur was amazed: The arrow had penetrated the neck from one side to the other. Ichira seemed to wonder even more than himself. She kept looking back and forth between the bow and her victim while her tail was nervously twitching from side to side.

»Good shot,« the fox said eventually after he had regained his speech and took the bow out of her paw. »We should prepare the little fellow now or aren't you hungry anymore?«

»Yes, of course I am,« she finally said. »I'm just a bit surprised, that's all.« She went to the hare and pulled him up at the ears. »Ay! What a beauty! It'll be enough for us until tomorrow.«

Together they returned to their camp and prepared their evening meal. Redfur collected dry wood and started a bonfire while she was busy with her prey. Using her claws she smoothly cut the fur from the rest of the body and divided the meat into four pieces. She rolled two of them into the fur and put the other two on thin sticks. Redfur contributed some herbs from one of his bags; then they fried the meat over the fire.

Shortly afterwards they were satisfied, sat next to each other and looked at the clear water of the lake. The cool wind helped a little against the heat of the day before and Redfur was enjoying it visibly. Ichira on the other hand was shivering slightly and advanced a little to the fire. Meanwhile, the waves had calmed down a little, making the lake look like a giant, liquid mirror. The reflection of the moon and the stars on its surface gave the impression of a second sky at their feet.

Ichira had huddled herself into Redfur's blanket again and looked into the fire. Her thoughts had wandered back to her family again, the fox presumed. The dark face blurred in the flickering light of the flames into a black area, interrupted by dancing sparks where the whiskers and her fur reflected its light. Only her eyes were constantly visible and glowed like two embers in a cooling bowl. Above them sometimes an illuminated spot was visible, depending on how she turned her head. It was not until when she looked at him and drew her paw over it that he realized, that he had been staring. »Ay! I'm sorry,« he said. »I didn't want to offend you.«

»It's all right,« she said softly. »I don't mind.«

»What happened? I mean, the spot on your forehead. It looks like your fur had been shaved there.«

She put on a half-hearted smile. »Actually, that's not far from the truth,« she said. »Our tribe has a custom to wear a tribal token woven into the fur of your forehead, depending on status and family. To make it fit better some of the fur has to be cut away. Mine was a green stone, held by a wire frame made of brass. During my struggle against the lizards one of them ripped it off. Probably they thought it was valuable. But you can find these stones nearly everywhere in this area.« She spoke with a calm voice but Redfur sensed her tension. Probably she was more upset over the loss of this trinket than she wanted to admit. It would have been the last reminder of the village and her tribe.

»All of you have been wearing such a token?«

»Well, all who have passed the sixth sun, ay,« she explained. »I belonged to the hunters, so I got a green stone. And the token of my family was the circle. So the stone was ground into that shape. When you choose a mate or change your profession your token mostly will be changed, too, but this isn't really necessary. In a small village like ours everybody knows, who and what you are, anyway. However, it's still a special event when you receive your token.«

»A nice custom,« Redfur said. »I would have loved to see how the stone would match to your fur. It must've been beautiful.«

Ichira waved the remark aside with a smile. »A translucent, green pebble, nothing more,« she said. Redfur said nothing but just looked into her eyes, smiling. She returned his gaze and then slowly shook her head. Her voice grew gentle. »You really are a strange fox.«

»Oh? What makes you say that?« he asked in mock protest.

»I'm wondering why you're going with me, anyway. It was not your people who were captured by the lizards, and yet you help me.«

»How couldn't I? Those beasts committed a big mischief, and I just can't look away and continue my travel. As long as nobody stops them they'll keep on and put even more innocent people into slavery.«

She cocked her head a bit and smiled. »But this alone isn't the only reason, ay?«

Redfur turned away in embarrassment. »No,« he finally said. »I must admit that I have another reason to travel with you. I greatly appreciate your company and I don't want something happening to you.« His look went back to the shadow that actually was her face. »I hope this doesn't sound too silly.«

»No, it doesn't. I do like you myself, too, Redfur. I only hope our paths won't divide too soon.« She leaned back and closed her eyes. »Good night, friend fox.«

»Good night, Ichira.«

Silently he sat at the fire and looked into the small, dancing flames. His thoughts were tumbling over each other, while he pondered over her words. She had said, that she liked him. But why did she fear a separation? Would she want to leave him? But if she liked him - or wasn't this what she had meant? Maybe she just liked him for what he had done for her, nothing more. Or was she afraid to feel more? While he was asking this questions in his mind over and over again he watched her breathing softly and steadily. Well, at least he was sure, that he liked her more than every person he had met on his journeys before. But what would he do when she wasn't sharing his emotions? Could he take that? Could he live with that?

»Life is moody like the weather,« his father had told him once. »You never know what it would perpetrate next, whom to give sunshine and whom rain. Some only hear the distant thunder, others get struck by lightning.« Love - was it this what he was feeling for her? Ay, he guessed strongly, that it was.

Ichira stirred in her sleep and murmured something incomprehensible. Her flews drew back and revealed a row of strong teeth. A deep growl came out of her throat while her eyes shot to one side and another behind the shut lids. The tips of her paws twitched.

Darkness, screams and shouting. Fleeing from the evil creatures. Her legs carry her as fast as they can through the reluctant fern, rising at man's height before her. The thin rods pull at her fur, trying to hold her back. Determinedly she fights to move on but a shadow appears in front of her. She draws back with a scream when she looks into the cold, unmoving eyes. Only a heartbeat later she feels strong paws grabbing her from behind and holding her in place. Cold lizard scales push into her back, a clawed paw rises. She tries to break herself free but she is too weak. The claws come down, a ripping on her face - on her forehead. Howling with pain she kicks and strikes at her attackers, but they won't let her go. More blows and pain are raining down at her - the smell of warm blood fills her nostrils. Cold, penetrating stares seem to impale her right to the soul, and she screams - screams ...

Ichira sat up with a jerk and opened her eyes. Her claws were extended and a loud hissing came out of her mouth. Redfur tried to keep her claws away from his fur and get her back into reality at the same time. »Ay! Ichira! Wake up! It's only a dream!«

With a wild look she tossed her head to both sides, her fur bristled and her ears lay completely flat. But slowly she seemed to realize where she was. She recognized the fox and lay back again.

»Are you all right?« Redfur asked, gently stroking her forehead.

She nodded. »What a nightmare! I was back in the forest and the lizards were chasing me. This time there was no escape for me ...« She sighed deeply. »I'm sorry if I scared you.«

»Don't worry,« he said. »Do you think you can go back to sleep again?«

She nodded. »Ay. I think, I can.« She sat up halfway and quickly licked his cheek with her rough tongue. Then she let herself slide back again. »Good night.«

»Yes. Sleep well.« He bent down a bit towards her but then rose with a jerk and took his coat from his backpack. Then he spread the sturdy leather on the floor next to her blanket and lay down, too. He still felt the cool wetness on his cheek, contrary to the warmth that was spreading inside of him. But despite his troubled feelings he managed it to go to sleep soon.

3

Michiki opened his eyes. The air around him smelled stale and his muscles were still hurting from last day's exertions. His simple pallet on the hard stone floor wasn't doing anything to help his stiff limbs to recover. But he nearly had gotten used to that by now. The others were mostly still sleeping and he stayed quiet so he wouldn't disturb the rest they got only all too rarely. Silently he sat up and turned his head around on his neck to loosen the tenseness at least a bit. His stomach called him again, too, but that had to wait until they would get something to eat again the next time.

Without a sound the ferret stood up and went through the sleeping bodies to the big water trough. He filled a bowl with the cool, stale wetness and tasted it with swift movements of his tongue. With a shrug he decided that it was drinkable and took a deep swig. Then he put the bowl aside and went back to his pallet to rest for a few minutes more. The guards could come in any moment now and send them to work, so he wanted to make use of all time possible to give his body a rest.

A rattling cough came from a dark corner of the room. That probably was Verrin, one of the oldest captives in this group. When Michiki had been brought here the dog had already looked very weak and sick. He was surprised how much strength and will to survive was left in those old bones. But slowly the reserves seemed to run dry. Michiki had seen several dying down here and he was afraid that Verrin would be next.

The ferret looked around among the sleeping prisoners. All of them were underfed and their fur was dirty and dull. Some of them had grown strong and hard by the work, but others were haggard and just kept themselves up with much effort and fear for death. This group was only for those who had revolted or fought heavily against their captivity. Michiki had not, but he wasn't appointed for the hard work; even the lizards knew that a cub, barely counting twelve suns, couldn't do too much physical work, anyway. He belonged to the suppliers.

The rest went over far too quickly. Suddenly there was a rattling at the steel grid door at the other side of the room and one of the guards entered. »Get up to work!« the lizard shouted mercilessly loud. In the meantime he was knocking his spear against the shield at his side to wake up the workers. One after another the prisoners woke and rose unwillingly. The guard waited until all were up. »Stand in line and follow me. Supplier!« he called and Michiki went over to him to claim his place directly behind him. The others gathered up in an untidy queue and followed the guard who was leading them through the tunnels to their working place.

When they reached the big cave Michiki instantly went to the water kettle and started to fill the two buckets standing next to it. The giant room was lit by countless torches, casting ghostly shadows on the dark walls in their flickering light. Every worker of his group took a pickax or a shovel from the heap in the middle and went to the place where the ore was being extracted at the moment. Other groups were already here and operated the bellows of the melting furnaces or hauled the cast metal bars into lorries that were pulled away from yet others. Lizard guards were standing everywhere, armed with spear and shield while messengers and runners were waiting at the entrances for news or were ready to pass on alerts to the soldiers outside the labor camp.

Michiki had filled his buckets, hooked them to both sides of the yoke and lifted it up on his shoulders. He moaned a little for the weight and then straightened himself. His abused muscled protested but he clenched his teeth. Slowly he took the first steps and started to walk on. It only took a little time for him to get used to the weight of the buckets again. Carrying his load he went from one working place to another and handed out water to those who needed it and cleaned the occasional wound. Every now and then he talked a bit to the workers but he made sure not to stay too long in one place. He had run into problems with the guards too often for that reason and a blow with the blunt side of a spear was the least he could expect for this.

Sometimes one of the other suppliers crossed his path, carrying bread. He accepted a small slice and chewed long with every bite while he made his round. As he had expected his bowls were empty when he had visited the smelters. So he made a beeline back to the water tank and refilled the buckets. He had just finished when he heard heavy steps behind him. Startled he turned around.

»Take your buckets and follow me,« the lizard guard instructed him roughly. »There's work to do for you.« Without another word he turned around and trudged forward.

Michiki hurriedly lifted up the yoke again to follow the lizard, who was aiming directly at one of the cave's exits. They followed a tunnel and quickly reached another cave, that Michiki already had been in before. When they stopped he panted under the weight of the yoke and put down the buckets.

Before him in the cave he saw what he already had expected. A group of newcomers huddled themselves together, exhausted and frightened. They all were cats, probably a tribe whose village had fallen prey to the lizards. They seemed to have just arrived; most of them breathed heavily and they still wore the iron leg manacles binding them to a long chain. The guard made a gesture, so Michiki took one of the buckets and a scoop and went over to the captives. »Here is water,« he repeated, when he reached one of them. »Take a sip and stay calm, then it won't become worse than necessary.« He went from one to another until his bucket had become dry. Then he walked back to get the second one.

While he cared for the rest of the captives and constantly murmured his small speech his gaze fell on one of the males. He was unusually tall and his face was proud. To him, he repeated his well-meaning words, too, but all he got back was a disdainful snort. When he just started to go on the cat held him back at his wrist. »Ay! I can't stay,« Michiki said. »The guard'll get impatient.« He freed himself gently but firmly and went on. But he kept an eye on the tall cat, who was also watching him. He was certain that this one meant trouble - he knew the look on this face; many of those who now labored in his group had come here with this look before.

»You are finished,« the guard said and turned to Michiki. »Go back to your work.«

The ferret took his equipment and left the group of newcomers. Soon he was back in the labor cave where the first calls for water already came up again. So he refilled his buckets again to water the thirsty mouths and overheated bodies.

About one or two hours later - who could tell the flow of time exactly in this dullness - he saw the cat again the first time. He was accompanied by two guards and let to the lorries. There was a quick exchange between the escort and the supervisor, and finally they left him there. When Michiki looked over the next time he was already busy hauling the heavy metal bars into the trolley. The ferret could tell from the look on his face that he was steaming with rage but fortunately he held back his emotions.

Suddenly an explosion shocked the room. Calls for help were audible from the workers at the melt. The entire rear region of the cave was filled with thick clouds of steam and the guards were already running towards it. One of them grabbed Michiki's arm and dragged him along. The ferret was struggling not to drop his load, but kept up. Out of the corner of his eye he just saw some of the other captives running to the scene of the accident. The fume wrapped around them, made their eyes water and breathing became a tedious task. Michiki dipped one of his cloths into the water and bound it before his muzzle. Then he started to save the workers from the endangered zone, together with the others. It seemed that one of the melting pots had ripped from its hinges and fallen over. The content had poured into the furnace that had blown up on the impact. The reek of burned fur was everywhere and the wounded screamed for help.

When the ferret came out of the misty range again, supporting one of the injured people, he saw some workers from the hauling zone messing with the equipment for the miners. One of the guards was hit from behind while another was struck down with a blow from a pickax. The big cat was amongst the rebels, he bent over one of the helpless lizards and took his spear. The claws of the other paw were extended, his ears lay flat and the flews exposed a noble set of teeth. A few seconds later additional guards were arriving to oppose the insurrectionists. Petrified Michiki stared at the fighters. The cat took two guards down before he was grabbed and pinned to the floor. A powerful blow from a studded boot hit him in the face and he sagged down limply. The other rebels were disarmed and marched off quickly. Three of the guards remained and summoned around the cat who obviously had started the riot. One of them grabbed his fur at his forehead and yanked his head up - no reaction. Then they grabbed him and pulled him away.

Michiki still stood motionlessly at the place, where he had witnessed the struggle, when he was startled by a movement behind him. He turned around and looked into the angry face of one of the guards. His armor was covered with soot and had lost all its sheen.

»You!« the guard called up to him. »Don't stand and stare, go and get water and cloths, as much as you can carry.«

Without further hesitation the ferret turned around and ran with his bucket to the water reservoir. He couldn't do anything for the cat anyway at the moment; he only hoped he had survived the treatment. Right now the wounded were more important. So he got water and snatched a pile of dirty cloth rags. With this load he went back to the melt where the steam had drawn away a little through the high chimney.

The rest of this working day was all around tending the injuries. Many workers lost some fur, there were two broken bones and even one of the smelter had died during the accident. Michiki helped as good as he could - it happened quite often that someone hurt himself on the job, so he was quite skilled caring for wounds, but there had never been an incident like this. More than once he had to go back and get fresh water and more cloth. But finally he was done and the clean up could start. His day was over, though. He was led back to his quarter together with the rest of his group. Most of them didn't bother with other things but just fell onto their stained pallets in exhaustion to rest until the next morning. Another hard day had come to an end.

Michiki wasn't worn out as badly as usual. He did find enough time to rest and so he was wide awake, when the guards unexpectedly opened the grid door. In the weak glow of the torches he could see two lizards dragging a third figure with them. The motionless body was dropped onto an unused pallet and the guards retreated again - they murmured something in their own, hissing language, now and again interrupted by throaty laughter.

When the lizards were gone the ferret sat up and curiously glanced over to the slumped shape. Then he rose, went to the water trough and filled the bowl. Taking cautious steps he carried the water through the room and knelt down next to the body. Carefully he put down the bowl and touched the shoulder of the cat, he had just been able to recognize. The only sign of life was a small flinch running through the body. Warily Michiki led his paw along the fur on the shoulder to the head and pushed it under the chin.

Suddenly the cat spun around, grabbed the surprised ferret and threw him to the ground. Michiki squeaked panting and his eyes widened in panic when he saw the hatefully distorted grimace of the other. Sharp claws dug into his throat. »Please don't!« he brought out moaning. »I want to help you! Believe me!«

During the next seconds Michiki did even dare to breathe. When the cat let go of him eventually he stayed on the floor for a few heartbeats before sitting up slowly. Then he saw that the cat was looking at him in confusion. »I'm sorry,« he said with a deep, rough voice. »I didn't want to scare you.«

»Never mind,« the ferret said and wiped the worst of the dirt out of his fur. »I thought you might be thirsty.« He looked over to the tin bowl, it's contents spilled out on the floor during the attack of the cat. »Wait, I'll go and get you some water.« He rose and went back to the water trough while he unconsciously scratched his neck. With his refilled bowl he went back and gave the water to the big cat. He emptied the bowl with deep swigs. Michiki watched him. His body showed a number of fresh wounds, the lizards had punished him for his rebellion brutally. His face didn't look any better; he had lost much fur and in the middle of his forehead was a circular, hairless patch. But then he remembered that he had seen this mark before.

»Thank you, my friend,« he said and gave back the bowl.

»Ay.« Michiki put the bowl on the ground. »Don't mention it. They really battered you all right.« The cat only growled. »Sayh. I'm Michiki. What's your name?«

»Pcherro. Sayh.« He lay back and made a face in pain. »Claws and teeth! Those damned lizards broke every bone in my body.«

»It's a pity I don't have any cloths with me, otherwise I would put some nice bandages on you.« Michiki grinned. »Anyway, you look awful.«

»You really have a way to encourage people. Believe me: If I ever get one of them between my claws-«

»You'd better leave them alone then,« Michiki interrupted quickly. »You already know what they do to you, when they're upset. Unfortunately they have the whip hand here.« The ferret was silent for a moment and then decided to put the cat off of his suicidal plans. »Where do you come from?« he finally asked. »How did the lizards capture you?«

»I don't know if I want to talk about that,« Pcherro growled softly.

Michiki shrugged. »Maybe it does help you a little,« he suggested. »I always feel bad, too, when I think of home, but somehow it helps, nonetheless. Don't you want to try, anyway?«

»It doesn't matter where I come from, does it? I probably will rot in this hole anyway.«

Michiki didn't answer. There was no escape, he knew that just as well as the cat did. But to admit it would mean to give up his life. And he didn't want that. He still had the hope that some day something would change and they would be rescued. Until then he wanted to protect his fur as good as possible.

»I grew up in a small village near Shadowcreek town,« Pcherro suddenly started talking. »It wasn't more than a small group of huts, where our tribe had settled down. We made our living mostly by hunting and trading with the surrounding towns. My family belonged to the hunters; Father, mother and my sister, all of us wore the token of the hunters.« With this words he drew his paw over the bald spot on his forehead. »They took them away from us; probably they thought, they were worth something. But they are only made of some metal and colored pebbles.« He laughed softly, as if he was pleased with their mistake. »When the lizards finally came we were nearly helpless. Our tribe had always been peaceful and so we didn't have any real weapons. Of course we fought against them, and some of us nearly escaped. But finally they got all of us under control or killed them. Just like they killed my sister.«

»Were you with her, when they ...« Michiki paused, unsure how to ask the question.

»No,« Pcherro said. »But I'm sure she didn't survive. Otherwise she would be here with the others.« His face turned into mourn. »Who knows. Maybe it's better for her,« he whispered, nearly inaudible.

»What if she ran away? Maybe she did escape the lizards.«

The cat shook his head. »I nearly made it myself. Up to the edge of the wood I fled. I found her tribal token there, lying in the leaves. They must've gotten her there, because you can't just lose your token. It's woven tightly into the pelt of the forehead.« He pointed with his paw to the respective spot. The rims of the patch were ragged unevenly. »You probably can imagine how I felt when I held the token in my paw. That's why they managed it to overwhelm me up there. They drove us through the land for five days, up to here. You know the rest.«

Michiki nodded. »You shouldn't have attacked the guards,« he finally said. »You'd been better off at the lorries. All you get here is hard work.«

Pcherro shrugged. »What worse could be happening to me? My entire tribe is in the grasp of the lizards, my dear sister lost her life and I will probably go into the Eternal Forests myself soon.«

Michiki's heart broke at the sight of the shattered strong cat, bursting with power just a few minutes ago. »If you ask me, the Eternal Forests can wait just a bit longer. Some day we will find a way out of here. Even if it doesn't look like it at the moment.«

The cat slapped the ferret a playfully with his paw. »Ay! If you say so.« And then a small smile showed on his face. »But before that we should take a rest. I believe we will need it.«

Michiki nodded with a smile. »So, sleep well. And remember not to threaten the guards. They won't let you get away that easily the next time.« He returned the look of the cat that was now dark again and then went back to his pallet. Most of the other captives were already asleep as he presumed by their steady breathing. The ferret hoped that they wouldn't get them back to work too soon.

Of course, this hope was nothing more than a wish. It seemed as if he just had closed his eyes when they were roused again. The morning routine started and Michiki realized that the guards always kept an eye on Pcherro. Fortunately he stayed calm and didn't give the lizards a reason to get at him again. On his patrol with the water buckets he exchanged some words with the cat, who seemed to have overcome his melancholy for the moment.

4

Redfur sniffed the warm morning air. The only smells that reached his nose were the water of the lake, the dead fire and the scent of the plants of the nearby forest. Nothing alarming, he decided and turned around. Ichira was still asleep, her slender body lay sprawled under his blanket that rose and fell with the rhythm of her breathing. Every now and then she stirred in her sleep; her graceful movements fascinating him anew. Occasionally a deep growl came out of her throat but she didn't seem to be haunted by bad dreams this time. A leaf from a tree had settled on her shoulder and Redfur removed it gingerly. Absent-minded he plucked at the delicate shape while he watched his companion in the light of the new day.

His thoughts wandered back to the last evening. Involuntarily he let his paw slide over his cheek. It seemed like he was still feeling the soft contact of her tongue where it had touched him. She had said that she liked him. Well, he liked her, too, so to speak. He still wasn't exactly sure about his own feelings, but it was certain that he wouldn't leave her on his own free will too soon.

He looked at the ragged leaf in his paws. Its irregular shape reminded him of his own emotions. He threw the leaf into the ashes of the bonfire and rose silently. A soft breeze blew from the lake around his body while he was watching the smooth surface. The day promised to become hot again, for the air had already heated up noticeably. Redfur made a few steps top the lake and stopped at the waterside. The cool water played around his hind paws; the morning heat hadn't made it to heat up the water too much yet. Without hesitation he tensed his body and took a leap.

Ichira woke when a loud sound reached her ears. Startled she sat up, tossing the blanket aside. The water of the lake near their camp was rippling and Redfur was nowhere to be seen. But suddenly his head emerged sputtering, well ten steps from the shore. »Redfur!« she called anxiously and ran to the waterline. »What happened? Do you need help?« Her face showed apprehension.

»Good morning, Ichira! Sayh!« the fox called back while paddling towards the bank. »Not at all. It's fantastic in here. So? You want to come for a swim, too?«

»Come for what?« she asked in bewilderment. It was clearly visible how absurd this idea seemed to her.

»Don't you ever go into the water?« Redfur asked while he came out of the lake to his hips. »To swim, I mean.«

»Not if I can avoid it.« Ichira jumped back when one of the waves the fox had caused, touched her paws. »Just look at you! You are soaking wet.« With rapid motions she tossed the annoying drops from her fur.

Redfur grinned. »Ay! Of course I am. It's water, remember?« He waded to the shore and stopped in front of her, breathing heavily. »Now, come on. It's nicely cool.«

»So that I'd look like you afterwards? Forget it!« Ichira snorted in amusement when she looked at the fox in his drenched fur. »I'd better get the fire going again. You'll need it.«

»I'll be drying in the sun. But go ahead, we can warm up yesterday's roast hare.« He jumped and splashed into the water a few steps backwards.

»Yuck!« Ichira shook her head and made a face before she went to the bonfire. Soon she had rekindled the flames. She tried to ignore the frolicsome splashing of the fox in the lake while she unwrapped the two pieces of meat from the fur of the hare and put them on sticks. Then she looked for the leaves of tea in Redfur's bags and scooped some water from the lake. The fox had put himself on his back by then and floated as good as possible. Playfully he shot a handful of water into the air and let it patter down on him. When he finally came out of the lake the meat and the tea already were ready.

Dripping Redfur sat down at the fire and smiled at Ichira who still stared at him in disbelief. Then he reached for the mug and lifted it to his lips. The scent of the tea entered his nostrils and he inhaled deeply. »Thank you for the fire and the tea,« he said and took a sip. »Ay! That's nice!«

Ichira gave him one of the sticks bearing the sizzling meat of the hare. Redfur took it and brushed against the fur of her paw. A warm shiver ran down his back when he transformed the unintended touch into a quick movement of his paw to grip the stick. For a short time they both held on to the stick and Redfur thought she must have been able to hear his heartbeat, so loud did it pound beneath his still damp fur. Finally she let go and sat back gain. If she had felt something in this situation, too, she didn't let it show on her face.

The fox mumbled, »Thank you,« and nibbled absent-minded at his share of meat. All the time he looked for her eyes and tried to find out, what she was thinking. But the face of a cat was harder to read than that of every other species and Ichira seemed to me a true master in disguising her inner self. He wondered if she knew, what kind of feelings she was starting in him and just didn't show it, or if she just didn't realize, how confused he was. So Redfur had no choice but to continue his meal - he didn't taste anything, anyway - bite by bite and to try to control the shaking of his paws.

They barely had finished their breakfast when Ichira was already breaking down the camp. She poured the rest of the water over the bonfire and rolled up her blanket, before Redfur had the time to come to his feet. »Take it easy!,« he said when he packed together his belongings. »What's the hurry?«

»We shouldn't waste too much time. I'd never forgive me when I'd put the life of one of my tribe's people in danger because of that.«

»But my fur isn't dry yet,« the fox complained but got himself ready for the walk, nonetheless. »Besides, we couldn't possibly lose that trail.«

A few minutes later they were back on their way to the place where they had interrupted the pursuit. Redfur had been right, of course; the track was as clearly visible as it had been the day before. So they followed the fresh trail through the forest without exchanging another word. Ichira concentrated completely on finding the way forward while Redfur was absorbed in his troubled thoughts. For one, he enjoyed traveling through the forest with her, but on the other paw he constantly thought about her words; he still hadn't deciphered their meaning to his satisfaction. His gaze repeatedly fell onto her slender back while she walked ahead. The play of the muscles under her night-like black fur and the twitching of her tail fascinated him so much that he tripped more than once over protruding roots. Thus he only realized very late that they had reached the edge of the forest.

The track turned to the left here to lead on at the side of the trees. To their right they could overlook an open field, blending into an extensive hilly landscape at the horizon. They followed the trail, still silently. Redfur tried hard to think about something to talk about, but he couldn't find anything. Ay! He, the eloquent globetrotter, never at a loss for a chat before, was completely tongue-tied. If someone had told him so only a week before, he would have probably burst out with laughter. Ichira didn't seem to notice that. Her look was still glued to the track before her and her pace was hurried. But suddenly she stopped and reached with her arm for him. She grabbed his shoulder and held him back. Only a moment later several figures broke out from the shrubs to their left onto the path.

Redfur and Ichira retreated a step when the three persons lined up before them next to each other. In the middle stood a gray-furred wolf, carrying a cocked crossbow. At his side waited the slender form of a female lynx. She had a bow and had put an arrow loosely on the string. On the other side towered the tall shape of a brown bear, his sword was drawn and he stared at them out of his left eye. The right eye socket was empty; a deep scar ran from the temple over it across the entire face and down to the throat of the big figure. When Redfur saw the bear he started to shake all over and a cold shiver ran down his back. He remembered his time as a cub in the ice lands when creatures like this - although with white fur - had been after him and his family. At that time the bears had seemed to be huge but compared to this giant they were merely ridiculously small.

Ichira regained her voice quite quickly. She had extended her claws, folded back her ears and ducked to an attack but slowly she started to relax. »What do you want from us?« she hissed softly.

The wolf gestured to his fellows and they put down their weapons. »Sayh, strangers. My name is Hakir. These are my companions Velena« - he pointed to the lynx female - »and Zid. We didn't want to scare you.« He looked around briefly and waved at the torn soil at his feet. »Is this the trail the lizards left?«

Ichira didn't answer, so Redfur rose to speak. »What do you know about the lizards?«

»We followed them for some time,« the wolf answered. With a short sideways glance at Zid he continued, »Unfortunately we lost their track during the thunderstorm two nights ago.«

The bear growled something and Redfur flinched involuntarily. Obviously there was something between them both that had led to displeasure. »We are following their track only for a short time now,« the fox said. »The lizards have raided and burnt down the village of my companion. Now we are trying to find a way to fight back. But as you can see« - he pointed at himself and Ichira - »we are not strong enough to oppose them.« While he spoke he constantly watched Zid.

»So it seems we have the same goal,« Hakir said. »I presume, even ten times the amount of us wouldn't have a chance against the lizards. We will have to find another way to defeat those beasts. And I also believe that together we will have better hope for success than wandering on alone.«

»You mean we should join you?« Ichira asked. »Although we just barely have met?« Redfur nodded affirmatively, still keeping an eye on the bear.

»We are looking for a way to get rid of the danger for our land and bring the captives back, just like you.« Velena spoke for the first time. Her voice was gentle and low, pronouncing thoroughly and clearly articulating every single word. You could tell instantly that she was accustomed to use her voice. »It would be an advantage to all of us if we would help each other. We all have our merits and flaws, all the better when we become more. So we can add our strong points and even out our weaknesses better.« While she spoke she looked at Redfur and Ichira with her green, inscrutable eyes. They spoke of wisdom and a certain wariness, but that seemed appropriate in the current situation.

»I'd like to have a few words in private with my companion,« the fox said.

»But make it short.« The wolf looked at him with a warning. »We won't wait for too long. The lizards have too much of a head start anyway.«

Redfur nodded and hinted a bow. Then he took Ichira aside and made a few steps away from the group. When they were beyond earshot he stopped. »What do you think about it?«

Ichira looked back to the three figures that were now examining the tracks on the floor. »I'm not quite sure. Obviously they are after the same enemy as we are and every opponent of our enemy should be our ally. But this group seems to be very strange, though.«

»I agree with you,« Redfur replied thoughtfully. »This Velena is a curious person. I'm sure she does possess - you know - certain powers. You could see that clearly in her eyes.« Actually, the fox hat sensed a power that was very similar to his own. But he didn't want to show his abilities by now.

»How do you know that?« Ichira seemed to be surprised.

»I met a lot of persons like that on my journeys,« the fox sad quickly. »You develop a sense for this sometime, you know.« He was silent for a moment, pondering. »What should we do? Go on alone or join them?«

The cat turned her head to the three wanderers that were now looking back at them, too. They seemed to get impatient. »I think we should get together. We are going in the same direction, so we are bound to meet time and time again, anyway. So I'd rather know where they are. But somehow I don't think they would want to harm us. They did have enough possibilities to do that before.«

»That's right, of course.« Redfur looked over to the tall bear, whose shape still sent a shiver down his back. Then he sighed and nodded to Ichira. »So let us go, Milady,« he said politely, made an inviting movement and started walking.

Hakir waited for them to return. »So, how did you decide?« he asked. »Are you coming with us or not?«

»We think, Velena is right. Our groups should join their strengths. If you don't object, we will join you.« Redfur glanced warily to Zid, but the bear didn't seem to pay much attention to the talk.

»So be it, then.« The wolf slapped his paws together. »Welcome, travelers.« Velena bowed before the two.

»They call me Redfur,« the fox said, when they continued to follow the tracks. »And this is Ichira.«

The wolf nodded at them friendly and turned to the fox. »Redfur? How did you get this name? I thought, the red pelt was common with your race.«

Redfur sighed in amusement. How often had he been asked this question now? But because Ichira seemed to be interested, too, he hurried to answer. »Well, I'm not the kind of fox most people take me for. Originally I come from high in the north, far beyond the warm realms here. Many of my kind are living there, but they usually wear white fur to make them harder to see in the snow covered land. Only the short two moons of summer allows the dark fur beneath it to show through. Yet, nature provided me with red pelt that doesn't pale much even in the winter. For one it is quite amusing to be the only red snow fox, but on the other side it comes with a lot of problems. So I went away from there. I fit better here, although the temperatures still get to me sometimes.« To make his words clear he took some of is belly fur between two fingers and tugged at it gently. It was much more dense than that of the other group members. »My family finally gave me the name Redfur. It probably was meant as a jest but I got used to it somehow.«

»So you do have another name?« Hakir asked.

Redfur nodded. »But I didn't use it for a long time now.«

»A beautiful yet sad story, friend fox,« Velena said. »I am surprised that the nature acts so unconventionally. Maybe fate has something special in mind for you.«

»I'd be grateful if we could find a way to stop the lizards.«

»Then let's make sure that we find the source of these tracks soon,« Hakir said and pointed at the torn soil. »And keep watching for possible scouts or ambushes.«

So the five travelers kept following the track of the lizards. The landscape around them didn't change much. Open fields and meadows alternated with dense forests, every now and then interrupted by a small creek or pond. By noon they rested at a place where the trail met a narrow field path and crossed it. They ate a little from their supplies and rested in the warming sun. Redfur lay on his back and enjoyed the soft touch of the wind on his fur. Ichira had made herself comfortable near him and examined the bow and arrows she had gotten from Redfur. Ahead - about half a mile away - there was a dense forest, and the trail seemed to lead there. Hakir had suggested that they should prepare themselves for a possible confrontation, for it would have been easy to ambush them unseen.

Velena and Hakir checked their weapons, too, while Zid contented himself with oiling his sword a bit. Redfur had found a long staff that he had freed of its bark and protruding knots while they had wandered. He wasn't very good with blades anyway, and he had to admit that Ichira was a better archer than him. Whether or not she stayed as unerring when they were attacked for real still had to be proved.

While the fox enjoyed the rest he felt a movement at his side and opened his eyes. Hakir had sat down in the grass next to him. »Sayh, friend wolf,« he said friendly and propped up his head on his paw. »Did you decide yet when we should go on?«

»No, but we shouldn't wait too long, anymore. We all have rested and are in good condition.« There was a slight undertone in his voice that made Redfur think, Hakir wasn't really sure about this.

»You seem to have doubts,« the fox said softly. »What is bothering you?«

Hakir snorted softly. »Well, it is a risk to enter this forest. We are only five, after all, and we all know what superiority the lizards can bring up if they want to. If there only was another way to follow the tracks ...« He stared at his paws he had folded in his lap.

»You think they left sentries in case they were followed? It seems unlikely, considering how superior they felt to us before. They probably wouldn't believe that someone would dare to tail after them. And if we really meet them we'll have to fight.« Even though he stayed completely calm on the outside his last sentence sent a shiver down his back. »We should hope for the best.«

»I hear you.« The wolf sighed deeply. »Hope is what's driving us. I only have the fear that I can't live up to the trust Velena and Zid put in me. Do you understand? I was the one to make them start to fight the lizards.« He looked up to meet the fox's eyes. »They follow me, and I can't give them anything to hold on to.«

»I think, if it comes to the worst, they can care for themselves perfectly well, if you ask me.« He waved to Zid who had squatted down and was looking around warily. »Who would dare to oppose a giant like him?«

The wolf followed the gaze of the fox and laughed bitterly. »Don't let yourself be fooled by his size, Redfur. Zid in fact is not as courageous as he looks. I think he is only with us because there's nobody he can turn to, since his tribe does not longer exist. The other day he had ran away in the night during the thunderstorm and it took us half of the night to find him. When we finally could convince him to follow us to a dry shelter we were soaked to the skin. With every bolt of lightning he flinched as if he was a lost cub. Thanks to the Eternal Guardian we didn't wake up with a cold.«

Redfur's eyes grew wider while the wolf talked. A bear was afraid of thunderstorms? He was trying to visualize this thought, but he could not. »It's hard to believe that, Hakir.«

»But yet it's true,« the wolf replied. »Don't brng up the subject in front of him, though. He reacts very touchy when you remind him of his weaknesses.«

»Don't worry, I won't.«

Hakir smiled. »We should get going, then. The sooner we reach the forest, the longer we will still have daylight as an ally.« He got up and started to mobilize the rest of the group.

Soon they were on their way again, next to the broad track of the lizards and their captives. A short time later they entered the dense forest. The aisle that their predecessors had left made it fairly easy to follow their way. To both sides of the trail the forest floor was opulently covered with shrubs and ferns that would have slowed down their pace considerably. Redfur went next to Ichira who was holding her bow before her, ready to shoot. Hakir still led the group, while Velena stayed at his side and Zid brought up the rear. The fox felt very uncomfortable at the thought to have a bear with a sword directly behind him, but he couldn't possibly say that aloud. So he trudged on and tried not to think about it.

The setting didn't change until evening. Every now and then they found objects that were cast away or lost, all of them worthless baubles, probably sorted out and left by the lizards to lessen the load. Finally they agreed to make camp for the night. During the whole time they didn't find any sign of a possible ambush or prosecution, so they decided that a fire couldn't do any harm. While Ichira and Redfur cared for firewood Hakir and Zid started a mock battle with sticks instead of swords. When they came back to the camp with their arms full, the two of them were involved in a wrestling match, that Zid seemed to be winning. The two wood-collectors dropped their burden in the middle of the camp where Velena had already set up a circle of stones to contain the fire. They stacked the sticks and twigs to a proper heap and a few moments later they had started a cozy fire. Then they turned back to the fighters.

»I bet Zid could throw Hakir over with one hurl if he wanted to,« Redfur said. »He is much heavier than the wolf.«

»It's not only speed and strength,« Ichira replied. »It also depends heavily on mobility and speed.«

Redfur looked at her. »This sounds as if you've got experience with that. I thought you were more of a hunter than a wrestler.«

»Well, I never got very good at it but it would certainly be enough for a little pert fox.« She grinned when his face darkened.

»You think so?« he asked with a bold side glance. »Have a try, then.« With that he gave her a playful shove against her shoulder, that hit her so unexpectedly that it sent her tumbling to the floor.

Snarling she came to her feet again and brushed some leaves out of her fur at her side. Then she jumped at him with an unexpectedly swift motion that didn't even leave him the time to hold his breath to oppose the attack. They went down in a tangle of paws, tails and fur. But one moment later Redfur had recovered and rolled to the side, pushing Ichira off of him. Only a heartbeat later she had pounced him again with a scream; she pushed his shoulders to the ground using her paws. He took the opportunity to lift up her body with his hind paws and throw her over his head into the fallen leaves. Instantly he turned around.

For a moment the two stalked themselves, resting on their arms and breathing hard. Then Ichira jumped and tore the stunned fox down. Before he could react on this attack she was already above him. He started to realize why she had belonged to the hunters of her tribe. But he was stronger than her and this was his advantage when he grabbed her paws with his and slowly, but steadily forced her down from him. Finally he lay on top of her, his snout only a few whisker's breadth from hers. Both were panting with exertion and looked into each other's eyes. Slowly, nearly unnoticeable he lowered his head to hers. His gaze was tied to hers, he smelled the scent of her fur and felt her hot breath on his face. Suddenly he became aware of how silent it had become around him, and he turned his head to the side with a jerk. Zid and Hakir had obviously finished their battle and were now staring at him and Ichira. Quickly he drew back his head, released the cat and stood up, still gasping for air. Ichira still lay there for a moment and smiled at him. His heart jumped while his blood rushed in his ears. He plucked pine needles and leaves out of his fur and took his time with it to avoid the looks of the others.

Ichira had gotten to her feet by now, too, and also started to clean her fur. He felt her coming nearer and remove something out of the pelt on his back. At first he tensed a bit but then he let her continue and tried to look as unconcerned as he could. From the looks of the others he saw that he wasn't succeeding. »What is it?« he finally asked, after he had started at the fur on Ichiras back. »Is there something wrong?«

»Oh, no, absolutely not, friend fox. Everything looks perfectly all right, it seems.« Hakir grinned broadly and nudged Zid lightly. »Come on, let's go hunting. We need some meat for our evening meal.« The two of them rose and disappeared with Hakir's crossbow and Velena's bow into the woods.

Velena looked after the two for a moment herself and stood up, too. »I will go to a silent place to meditate for a while, if you don't mind. I will stay close by. If something happens, just call me.« She stretched her limbs and left the camp, leaving Redfur and Ichira alone.

»Well, I think, that's it,« the fox said when he just couldn't find anything more to pluck out of Ichira's fur. »I think a mug of tea would be a good idea now.«

She turned to him and smiled. »If you think so, I'm fine with it.«

Redfur tried hard to keep his motions under control while he took the tools for the tea out of his bag. Ichira had sat down beside him and watched him, making him even more nervous.

When finally the small pot stood over the fire and slowly heated up he felt something move next to him. He interrupted his work and squinted to the side. Ichira had advanced a little and looked at him with her big eyes. He turned towards her and again got trapped by her look. Slowly she lifted her arms and put her paws on his shoulders. At first he resisted the light pressure but then he let himself slide on his back, while the cat stayed above him. »Ichira-« he started.

»Hush,« she whispered softly and shook her head. Gently she drew one paw over the side of his snout and through the longer fur on his cheeks. Slowly she lowered her head and licked his forehead.

Redfur inhaled the pleasurable scent of her fur and closed his eyes. His arms embraced her body, and carefully he stroked her back with his paws. She enjoyed this noticeably and snuggled up to him. From where her fur touched his a shiver of delight spread through his body. He let his paws continue to slide over her back and ventured further and further down until he reached the base of her tail. Tenderly he stroke her fur and enjoyed her warmth on his body. This slender body in his arms was worth the whole world for him at this moment, engrossed his thinking and acting completely with its warmth and its swaying motions.

She huddled her head against his breast and licked through his pelt. A deep growl of passion came out of her throat and her breathing quickened. Softly she dug her teeth into his fur, snarling with lust. Her halfway extended claws penetrated the fur on his shoulders until they reached the skin beneath. Redfur's excitement rose, too. He felt his body reacting to Ichira's caresses. When he felt the slight pricks of her claws in his muscles he let out a moan and he pulled her even closer. Her warm breath stroked his chestfur and the grip on his shoulders grew stronger. The soft pain coming from the five small spots to the side of his head mixed with the wonderful feeling of her motions; bitter-sweet. He drew his tongue over her soft headfur, then over her breast, when she sat up. For a moment he opened his eyes and saw her eyes searching his gaze. Carefully he let his paws slide up her back again, caressed her sides shortly and then stroked over her chestfur.

Ichira felt the fox below her shiver with excitement while she encountered a similar feeling herself. When she became aware of something moving under her she drew her breath through her teeth with a hiss and lifted her bottom a bit to make the entrance easier for him. She guided him with a careful motion of one paw until he finally reached his destination. Again she breathed through her closed jaws, let herself slide back again gently and closed her eyes. A long sigh came out of her mouth when they started to rock in steady, rhythmic motions. Fur rubbed against fur, flesh against flesh, while they brought each other closer and closer to their common goal.

Ichira let a long scream out of her throat. At the same time Redfur howled with passion. Hot waves of impassioned blood rushed through their veins when the storm inside them slowly calmed down. Spent she let herself fall onto his body and he put his arms around her as if she were the biggest treasure in the world. Tenderly, almost carefully, he licked her headfur while she rubbed her cheek on his chest. Gingerly he drew back out of her and she changed her position a little to draw her tongue through his face. He enjoyed the rough, wet rasping and stroked her back, explored the muscles and bones that were concealed under the thick fur.

Velena was the first to return to the camp. Ichira and Redfur lay near the fire in a tight embrace and were sleeping like stones. The lynx smiled when she saw the now empty pot hanging over the flames and smelled the unmistakable scent in the air. She took out the tin jar, put it aside and sat down herself to wait for the rest of the group. She hoped the hunting had been prosperous, for the sleepers would be very hungry, when they would finally wake up.

5

Michiki sneezed again. The fine stone dust attached itself to his nostrils again and again and made breathing even harder than it was now. The worker next to him had just taken a big swig from the water scoop and licked his flews while the ferret went on to the next one. Since the accident at the melt a lot of the other work was put on hold, for the captives had been withdrawn from their places to get it going again as soon as possible. Only the retrieval of the ore continued undiminished.

Michiki looked over to the workers with their pickaxes and shovels. At this moment there was a call coming from there. One of the lizard guards stood there and kicked at a lump lying on the floor. Curiously, the ferret left his place and approached as if by chance. The lump was the body of one of the workers who lay motionless on the floor. The lizard bent down, holding the spear before him warily. Now Michiki could see, who was lying there.

Verrin's breathing came only short. His eyes were shut and saliva dripped from his muzzle, already forming a small puddle on the dirty floor. »Come on, stand up!« the lizard guard called and started to kick again when a big, furry body pushed him aside. Michiki shook his head in fear when he recognized Pcherro, who was standing between Verrin and the lizard, claws extended and ears lying flat.

»Leave him alone!« he growled. »Don't you see he can't get up alone?«

The guard hissed. »Looking for trouble again, it seems? This is not your business!« He put the tip of his spear to Pcherro's chest. »Move, furball, or I'll punch holes into your pelt!«

Michiki breathed again when the cat retreated snarling. The lizard watched him while he knelt down next to the motionless body. Meanwhile Verrin had stopped breathing. »Supplier!« the guard called and looked around. At first he seemed to be surprised that Michiki was already there but then he waved him over. »Give him water.«

The ferret got down at Verrin's side, too and moistened the dog's snout. Then he shook him softly and called his name, but that was in vain, too. Verrin was dead.

Meanwhile some of the other workers had gathered at the place where the dog had died and watched the tragedy with gloomy faces. Finally the guard rose with a jerk and scared them off to their working places. However, he ordered Pcherro and Michiki to pick up the corpse and follow him. The cat and the ferret left their working equipment there and lifted Verrin's dead body from the floor.

The lizard led them through the working cave to one of the exits they wouldn't have the permission to cross under ordinary circumstances. Two additional guards joined them there. They went through a small tunnel and turned into several side ways until they finally reached another cave. The smell of death and decomposition was omnipresent here. There were only a few torches burning but for Pcherro it was enough light to recognize what was inside the cave.

The floor was covered with dead corpses from the far wall to the middle of the room. Some of them were still well preserved, others had obviously been lying here for a longer time. Rats were romping about in masses between the bodies, the rustling of their bare paws was audible everywhere, and the gnawing, while they satisfied their hunger. The soft splashing of water reached them from somewhere.

The lizard guard motioned them to drop Verrin here. Reluctantly they obeyed the order. To Michiki it was undignified to leave the old dog here like that, where the rats would eat from his body. He would have deserved a better grave. Probably this was true for all the others that were lying here. Nobody deserved to be just thrown away.

After they had put down the corpse the guardian drove them back to work already. Michiki saw deep hate in Pcherro's eyes but the cat controlled himself, so no further incidents happened. The ferret picked up his buckets again and continued his round through the cave.

This evening - nobody really knew if it actually was evening, it rather was the end of a working day - the silence in the sleeping cave was even deeper than usual. The captives silently mourned for one of their comrades, who didn't survive the strains of the forced labor. This experience made them again aware of how pointless their situation was. And many felt the same rage about their helplessness inside, that boiled in Pcherro and Michiki, too. They knew exactly that to the lizards they were nothing but working slaves, who could be exploited as they pleased; they didn't care about the emotions or the pain they felt.

Michiki sat next to Pcherro on the old, ragged blanket and mulled over his dark thoughts. The cat had sprawled himself and seemed to rest, but the way he stared at the ceiling without moving told about the troubled feelings that ruled his mind at the moment. Since they had brought Verrin to the mortuary he didn't know of a single word that had come over Pcherro's lips. Michiki decided to distract the cat at least a bit.

»Your sister, what kind of person is she?«

Pcherro didn't answer. His gaze still remained locked on an undefined spot at the stone ceiling.

»I never had siblings,« Michiki continued, as if he didn't notice the silence of the cat. »Or at least I don't know of any. After all, I never got to know my parents, too. I grew up in West Haven. I don't know if you've heard about this city. It's further to the south, at the coast to the big sea. It's a big city with many houses and small alleys. I spent a lot of my childhood days there.« Michiki couldn't help but smile when he thought about, that he actually still was a cub. »An old trader woman rose me at that time and sent me to the streets to beg. She'd been a strict woman, only a few times I've seen the badger's face smile. One year ago I ran away from the city because I was fed up being treated like a piece of dirt. I believe if I'd had parents or at least a brother or a sister, I wouldn't have ended up here.«

It was silent for a moment after Michiki had finished his story. Then Pcherro started speaking, so softly at first, that the ferret nearly didn't understand his words. »What use is a family or a whole tribe to you when you aren't able to fight a superiority? I only keep thinking about those I can't help anymore. But you just have to worry about your own fur.« Pcherro closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he continued staring at the ceiling, as if he wanted to bring the pictures from his memory back to life there. »My sister was strong, lovely and skillful. As I already told you, we were hunters and she was the best of us. There never was a day when she came back without game. Most of the time she brought back enough to feed us and several other families. She was about two summers younger than I am, you know. I learned to hunt from our father together with her, but she always had been the better one of us. Sometimes this made me angry and I tried to become as good as she was, however, I never made it. But she never got arrogant to those who had less hunting skills and that made it easier for me to accept her superiority. When we went out for game together ...« The cat stopped and closed his eyes again. The pain about his loss showed clearly on his face.

Michiki put a paw on the cat's shoulder. He didn't miss the fact that he had spoken in past tense about his sister all the time. »I hope I'll get to know her sometime.«

»So you still believe that she's alive?« Pcherro looked at him for the first time for real this night. »Ay! I wish I had your confidence.«

»I'm not giving up hope so easily, friend Pcherro,« the ferret grinned. »But say, did they really bring all of your tribe here with them?«

The cat nodded. »Females, males, young ... all. Nobody was left behind. That reminds me, I never saw any young the whole time. What did they do to them?«

Michiki pondered. »Now that you mention it ... I don't know about any cubs in this section besides me and the other two suppliers. But don't worry, they surely just have brought them somewhere else.«

Pcherro suddenly sat up. »If they split them just a single whisker I'll-«

»Easy, my friend!« Michiki warned. »Think about the guards. I believe they'd be glad to teach you a lesson again for being short-tempered. I'm sure, they're fine. At least there weren't any cubs in the mortuary.«

»I swear, sometime those bastards will regret what they've done,« Pcherro growled.

»I hope so, too, but not now. We should rest now or the next day will become even harder for us.«

Pcherro nodded and lay back again. For a moment he thought about, why he let himself being reprimanded by an adolescent ferret, but then he decided that the little guy was right, indeed. »So, sleep well, Michiki. We'll show them that we won't give up so easily, ay?«

The rattling of the steel lock and the beating of spear on shield uncomfortably started the next morning for the workers. As on the days before they were led in a row through the tunnels to the working cave. Everybody knew his duty and so the routine took its course. Michiki and the other suppliers brought water, bread and cloth to the workers, the new melt started to gain shape and the guards watched the captives. The day went on without significant incidents until the worn out workers were led back to their quarters. Most of them would fall into a not very refreshing sleep of exhaustion to be roused again mercilessly the next morning.

During their working time Michiki watched his newfound friend. Obviously he had accepted his fate - at least he hadn't shown further aggressions towards the lizards since Verrin's death. The ferret really hoped that he didn't gather something inside that would break out at an inconvenient time. He exchanged some words with the cat whenever he could to find out about the mood he was in. But he didn't find any clue in those talks. Somehow it made him more nervous than if Pcherro had shown open hate.

Michiki got snapped out of his thoughts when he heard the call of a lizard guard. »Supplier!« The ferret looked around and saw the guard that was waving him over. He stood next to one of the workers that were building the scaffolding for the melt. The fox at his side kept upright only with an effort and it seemed as if he would fall down every moment. Michiki hurried through the cave and quickly reached the guard and the captive.

»Give him water and tend his wounds. One of the supporting beams came off and hit his leg.« The lizard waited for a moment until the ferret had put down the buckets and went back to his post at the edge of the construction lot.

Michiki gave the scoop to the fox and turned to his injuries. With skilled movements he cleaned the bleeding cut and finally bandaged it with one of his cloths. This wouldn't increase the healing process but it would keep the dirt out of the wound.

He was just picking up his yoke again when he heard a loud crack, followed by shouting. »Watch it!« Instantly he looked around and saw a part of the scaffolding fall apart, only a few steps away. Dust swirled up and covered the surroundings in a thick cloud for a short time.

When he could see again Michiki made his way through the debris to help the other workers hauling the heavy beams away. Two additional lizards had been attracted by the noise who were helping also. Michiki could not stifle a suppressed grin when he saw the lizard guard who had called him earlier, being buried under the debris. Obviously he had been hit by one of the beams and knocked unconscious, for his helmet had suffered a deep dent. Aside from that the lizard seemed to be all right, so the other two carried their comrade away from the expanse of debris.

While Michiki looked after the guards he saw something glittering in the corner of his eye. Inconspicuously he approached the spot and dropped one of his cloths, as if by accident. When he picked it up he felt something heavy in his paw, and he quickly stowed it into one of the buckets he had left at the edge of the construction site. His heart pounded wildly while he tried to keep unobtrusive on the outside. Fortunately the lizards had enough to do with watching the clean up work, so they didn't look at him very closely. He couldn't lose his nervousness, however, until they eventually were brought to their quarters. To his relief nobody seemed to find it unusual that he took one of the cloths with him into the sleeping chamber.

After the guard had left Michiki sat in the darkness and tried to control himself, he didn't want to spoil the newfound chance with any ill-considered action. He waited for about an hour before he silently crept to Pcherro's pallet. He crouched down next to the sleeping cat and shook him gently at his shoulder. »Wake up, Pcherro,« he whispered.

A few moments later the cat opened his eyes. »What is it? Why do you disturb me?« he rumbled disgruntled.

»I'm sorry,« Michiki replied softly. »But I believe you'll find this interesting.« He waited for Pcherro to become fully awake and get up. »I found this a little while ago at the melt when the supporting had crashed. The lizard must've dropped it.« With this words he put the cloth ball between himself and the cat on the blanket and began to unroll it ceremoniously.

»Claws and teeth!« Pcherro blurted when he saw the heavy key ring. »Indeed, this does interest me!« Slowly he picked up the ring that made a soft rattling noise. Four heavy iron keys hung from it, one of them probably matching the lock of the steel door of their quarter. »Do you know what this means, friend ferret?«

»Freedom?« the ferret suggested and grinned.

Pcherro nodded thoughtfully. »Kind of. I only wonder how we're going to get past the guards, once we're outside. The main exit will probably be guarded strictly.«

»We'll have to find another way then. A cave complex like this surely has to have more than one exit. We only have to find it.«

»Yes, but I'm afraid, there's not enough time for that.«

They lay facing each other silently for a few minutes and thought about their new situation. Pcherro watched mesmerized the key ring in his paw, as if it was a precious gem from the collection of a stone grinder. Then he put it back onto the blanket. »What about the chimney of the melt? Doesn't this lead outside?«

»It does, but it's too steep, we'd never make it without equipment.«

»Probably not, that's right.« The cat thought for another moment. »What about the water? Where do you get the water for your rounds?«

»From the reservoir back in the cave, next to the lorries,« Michiki answered. »There's a supply you can turn on and off as you want to.«

»And where does the water come from?«

The ferret shrugged. »I don't know. Somewhere from above, I think.«

»The mortuary!« Pcherro barely managed it to keep himself from shouting. »When we brought Verrin there, didn't you notice anything unusual?«

Michiki thought. »No, nothing. What do you mean?«

»I heard water. Running water. Do you understand? The supply for the reservoir has to be there. Maybe an underground river or a creek. If we can find the spot where the water comes from, maybe there's a possible exit!«

»And what if the water's just seeping through the rocks? We can't just trickle through cracks and crevasses.«

»And if not?« Pcherros eyes glittered, and Michiki saw again the expression on the face of the cat that he had shown on his arrival at the labor camp. »We'll surely find out. If we don't succeed we can always come back and try something else.«

The ferret presumed that there was no use for arguing anyway. Pcherro had a goal and this gave him back his strength. »All right. Let's have a try.« He motioned at the rest of the captives. »I think we shouldn't tell them about our expedition right now. The fewer know about it, the better. Besides, we couldn't take all of them with us, anyway.«

»I don't know ... It seems like betraying them and my tribe to me.« Pcherro looked at the ceiling and his tail started twitching restlessly to both sides.

Michiki sighed. »Once we're out of here we can get help. It would be pointless to try to leave the caves with a whole convoy.«

»Who'd want to help us anyway? Who'd care about the fortune of a small village and that of some unfortunate people?«

»Oh, I'd bet that the lizards have stepped on more than enough people's paws. And as long as we're sitting in here we won't be able to get anyone to help us.« Michiki rolled the key ring into the cloth again.

»Ay, I think, you're right. Even if I don't like it having to leave the others behind. Let's go, then.« He rose with a jerk and went straight to the exit, as if he wanted to keep himself from rethinking the issue.

Michiki shook his head and silently followed the cat. It probably would take him some more time to fully understand those mood changes.

Pcherro already stood at the steel door and waited for the ferret to join him impatiently. Michiki unwrapped the key ring again and put a paw through the grid. Then he cautiously put one of the keys into the lock and turned it carefully. But aside from a metallic cracking, nothing happened. Silently he pulled the key out again and tried the next one. He tried to keep silent but he found it very hard to stay calm. Every hair of his fur was standing upright with excitement, and his tongue nervously drew over his lips.

The third key matched, and the lock opened. With a stifled shout of joy the ferret pulled out the key again and started to open the door. At this moment he felt a paw on his shoulder, and he spun around startling. Pcherro had turned around, too, claws extended for defense.

»Where are you going?« Rhennik's rolling voice asked, he was one of the wolves of the working team. »It seems that you want to piss off silently, without bidding us farewell at least.«

»What do you mean?« Pcherro asked conspicuously. »You really don't believe, we'd ...«

Rhennik grinned and ripped the key ring from the paws of the surprised ferret. »I'm not blind, you know! Where did you get this?«

»Michiki found it in the working cave, when the lizard had been buried. We want to try to get help to finally end the slavery.«

»And why do you sneak away without a word? Not very comradely, I'd say.«

»The fewer know what happened, the better for us. Give us the key, Rhennik. We're coming back as soon as possible.«

The wolf was playing with the ring, just outside of Pcherro's reach. »I don't think I will. I'm coming with you.«

Michiki could tell from the look on Pcherro's face, that things were getting delicate. It would be difficult enough to escape from the cave in twos. And a companion who was as stubborn as Rhennik wouldn't be much of an advantage. The ferret inconspicuously moved away from the door while the wolf was focused on Pcherro.

»Believe me, this wouldn't be such a good idea,« the cat just said. »We have to find a safe way first. It's better to take only as few as possible out there.&laq