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  “Yes,” said Sara simply after a few seconds, on gut instinct.

  “Good,” said Sage Filfia, happy with the developments.

  There was another pause, again there was some commotion outside from the ossoms, something was obviously keeping them occupied.

  Sara knew what it was, but didn’t let on.

  Sage Filfia closed her eye’s for a second, seemingly concentrating.

  “I believe some of your friends are waiting somewhat impatiently outside,” said the Sage, opening her eyes and facing Sara.

  Sara was again impressed with the Sage, her abilities seemed to have no end.

  “Yes… I thing so, Ma’am,” replied Sara, recognising the different reactions from the ossoms simply by experience. That is why her neighbours never found it necessary to knock.

  “I see no reason why you can not join them,” offered the Sage, placing the idea in the room as a hinting request to Sara’s mother.

  “You can go out if you like,” said Sallice a moment later.

  Sara recognised that the exchange of both females was more of a statement then an offer. But Sara was happy to take the opportunity to go in any case. Adolescents and children didn’t speak much in the presence of adults in Wolf society unless spoken too. It was always a bit of a burden for the youngsters.

  “Ma’am,” said Sara respectful towards the Sage while getting up. Sara nodded to each of her parents before clearing up as much of the table as she could. The meal was over after all.

  Jammet and Jameen sat on a bench in the dark by a large oak-like tree to the one side of the courtyard in front of Sara’s home. It was located between the family house and the large barn. The night had an autumn chill to it, it was clear that summer was already over.

  The Kelgorn family ossums, Pitch and Tatch, were nearby. Tatch was lying down, wile Pitch circled around the legs of Jameen hoping to be patted again.

  The two twins turned their heads as they heard someone walking through the fallen leaves, the sound of soft crunching came closer.

  “Hey,” greeted Sara, walking up to the two to sit next to Jammet. He moved slightly to make room.

  Pitch ran over to his owner, putting his head on her lap and looking up at her expectantly. Sara scratched the ossum behind the ear.

  “Hey,” said the twins almost simultaneously as counter greeting.

  Jammet’s long, sandy blond tail swished back and forth nervously behind the young Anthro wolf, something that had become more common since that night Sara had kissed him more passionately before leaving to warn the Sage of the exiles.

  Sara smiled to herself for a second in the dark, noticing this innocent gesture.

  “Back so soon?” asked Jameen, leaning forward to look past her brother.

  “Not for long though,” stated Sara.

  She seemed resigned to her fate now, and her tone held no malice.

  “So,” asked Jammet impatiently, “how was it? Has she taught you how to control animals yet?”

  The tone of the young male indicated that he was not serious, but he was still interested as to what had happened so far.

  “No, nothing like that,” said Sara with a smile, “she’s hardly said anything at all actually, other then the occasional questions.”

  “Really? What kind,” asked Jameen.

  “Nothing specific,” answered Sara, “just what I was thinking and how I was feeling when I saw different things.”

  “That’s a bit odd, and you told her what you were thinking… all of it?”

  Sara tried to remember back.

  “Well, sort of, at the start it was a bit awkward, but she has this… silence.”

  “Silence?” asked Jameen.

  “You mean a stare or something?” asked Jammet, thinking of his mothers stare when she knew he had done something wrong.

  “No. not a stare, worse, she doesn’t even look at you, but you just feel compelled to keep talking, it’s like she makes you feel guilty unless you are completely honest.”

  “That’s a nasty emotional projection,” said Jameen, “you have to learn it,” she adder more eagerly.

  Sara smiled.

  “After a while, you just tell the truth, it’s just easier,” Sara continued.

  “And she hasn’t said anything about herself.”

  Sara paused for a second.

  “A bit,” she said, not being specific.

  “So what do you think of her?” asked Jammet, wanting an overview.

  “I’m not sure yet,” said Sara carefully, not really indicating one way or the other.

  “Not a good thing then?” asked Jameen.

  “No,” replied Sara, “a good thing, I think.”

  “Well at least that sounds… promising?” said Jammet, trying to be encouraging.

  The young male’s hand had moved over quietly towards Sara’s nearby, finally coming to rest on top of hers gently, he stroked the fur on the back of her hand with his thumb softly.

  Sara gave him a shy smile.

  “So let’s hear what happened then, from start to finish,” said Jameen encouragingly, ignoring the token affection she could sense between the two.

  Sara took a deep breath, preparing to share her last few days with her friends.

  - CHAPTER EIGHT -

  Complex issues, complex ideas

  (The tale of Trex and Sara)

  Trex felt truly naked. He had only received his Lion Empire issued staff, sash and pendent a little over a year ago to undertake his citizenship training. Even in that short time, it had started to feel like an extension of his own body. Perhaps he had paid too much attention to the words of his instructors or his uncle. In any case, it definitely felt wrong to willingly be giving up his trusted tools only a few days after he had actually earned the right to keep them permanently.

  Trex looked back at the small Wolf Kingdom border outpost he had just left. It was essentially a small stone tower with an adjacent stone structure with a timber roof and token timber stockade.

  The uneasy sensation he felt in his stomach was unexpected, he had travelled the western wilderness alone after all, and had not felt anywhere near this unease. But that had been the wilderness, and he had not been forced to give up his equipment… unlike now.

  Trex tried to concentrate to dispel the unease. He indicated for his camel-like mount Suzzi to keep walking. Suzzi had stopped momentarily and twisted her long neck so as to look back at her master with her large dark eyes, the thick eyelashes blinking a few times thoughtfully. The camels on the Anthro word were not so affected by the emotions of animals around them, but the thoughtful old female camel still liked to check that everything was ok.

  Trex looked at the forested landscape that surrounded him. Memories came flooding back as to the last time he had taken this road, all those years ago when his uncle and aunt used to regularly visit the family of his Aunt’s sister.

  Back then, when Trex was still but a cub, he didn’t even worry about things like safety, his uncle and aunt were always there after all. It was amazing all the things you took for granted while in the care of others. Trex suddenly appreciated a bit more what his uncle must have gone through, as his guardian, as a warrior.

  Unarmed Anthro wolves were still a danger to Anthro lions, but an unarmed Anthro lion… even warriors of his uncle’s skill level would have had trouble dealing with just a few female wolf opponents if he was suddenly attacked. No wonder Anthro lions rarely travelled into Wolf Kingdom territory.

  Trex thought of his feisty uncle and aunt, appreciating for a moment what they had probably both gone through… had both given up, just to be able to be a family.

  The uncomfortable emotions that threatened to well up quickly made the adolescent male change his train of thought.

  “Come on Suzzi, lets pick up the pace a bit,” said Trex to the animal that had belonged to his father.

  Suzzi grunted, increasing her pace marginally as a token gesture. Trex knew he wouldn’t get much more out of the
stubborn animal.

  Trex’s thoughts drifted back to his recent departure from his home. Karthen had been annoyed that he himself could not go on the mercy mission. But since the birth of Zea, it had always been unwise for the mixed race family to be apart. Not that Trex’s aunt Sharlee couldn’t protect herself and Zea if need be, but that even this act of self defence would probably lead to further problems. It was amazing what care and effort it took for Trex’s family to lead a normal and uneventful life. There were many elements within the lion and wolf population just waiting to cause trouble. It was as if they had nothing better to do.

  Karthen had been happy to hear that Trex was going along, even if only reluctantly. This was quite a surprise to Trex, given the inherent dangers of travelling into Bear Clan territories. Karthen seemingly viewed Trex as an emissary of the family in this undertaking. Trex had felt great pride in these words from his uncle, not only that he was a valued member of the family, but that his uncle trusted him with such responsibility in regards to Zea’s future.

  Fera was working in the lower fields of her family’s home. She had a small toolkit next to her and was attaching a freshly made cast iron hinge to a gate. The young-adult craftsman made some final adjustments to the fixings. She struck a large steel hammer onto a thin metal spike to drive in some divots into the metal plate.

  Hammering the metal a few more times, the black haired girl then mounted the hinge again, testing it to see how it fitted.

  The noise of someone approaching made her turn her head. The older girl was surprised to see Trex riding on a camel only ten meters away.

  Having spent a lot of time in BridgeHead, Fera was well accustomed to camels, though she hardly ever saw them in Wolf Kingdom territory, and she never appreciated just how quiet they could be.

  “Trex!?” said Fera in shock, getting up.

  “Hello Fera,” greeted Trex casually, only a slight hint of awkwardness noticeable in his voice.

  “Wow, you scared me. That camel sure can walk quietly when it wants to.”

  “Suzzi only gets better with age,” said Trex proudly, patting the large animal on its muscular shaggy neck.

  “Suzzi,” repeated Fera, her memory trying to catch up.

  “She’s still alive? Wow, she must be ancient.”

  The old beast grunted in a deep tone. Even her displeasure nowadays was muted. She had seen more in her time then the two young Anthros put together.

  There was a pause as Trex decided on how to proceed with the conversation. As he had not been looking forward to all the chitchat he knew would come, he had hamstrung himself now, feeling awkward even before opening his mouth.

  “So, how are you?” he asked, a little lamely. As an unconscious reflex he raised his hand to the back of his head.

  Fera was instantly reminded of what she had done to him during their last meeting.

  “I’m fine,” she said. “Look. I’m sorry about hitting you in the back of the head and all.”

  “That’s ok,” replied Trex, who had time to think about how the events had unfolded.

  “It was probably better that way, Sara wasn’t really in a position to talk to me, and you two had to get out of there pretty quickly.”

  Fera was relieved that he didn’t hold a grudge, feeling a little bad about the whole incident.

  “So how is the family?” she asked.

  “They’re all well,” replied Trex, surprised that she had asked. It had been the Kelgorn household that had broken off contact after all.

  “Give them all my best regards… in case I don’t see you again before you go.”

  Trex nodded with a smile. He gave Suzzi the cue to keep walking. The old pack animal took a few seconds to get her muscles in order. Though she still had strength, it took a while to mobilise, this animal did nothing quickly, which was probably why it had gotten so old.

  Fera watched him go past, deciding to get in one more comment before she returned to work.

  “And good luck on your trip, I think it’s very honourable of you to be going along,” she called after him.

  “Thanks,” called back Trex, wondering why she had added the honourable bit.

  Sara’s parents Patt and Sallice were moving hay into the large barn when they noticed Trex coming up the road to the house.

  “Why couldn’t they all just meet up with each other up on the road?” grumbled Sallice as she heaved a large bale of hay into a corner.

  She moved back to the large open doors on the roof of the barn. Her husband was standing on a hay cart just below her in the courtyard. A docile morset was still attached to the front of the cart, chewed cud happily.

  Patt also turned to look at the newcomer.

  “If Sage Filfia knows so much about our family history,” said Patt, lowering the large hay fork, “she should well know that this meeting is going to be very awkward for all of us.”

  Sallice grimaced for a second, but she was unable to suppress her interest to see what had become of Trex.

  “That’s probably why she did it,” the wolf mother said with a snide tone.

  “Oh well,” said Patt, resigned to his fate, “we’ll just have to be polite and hope he doesn’t ask any awkward questions.”

  Patt threw up another bundle of hay with a grunt. His wife caught it with her own long fork while only using half of her attention.

  Trex entered the courtyard and slid from the side of Suzzie’s back. He was looking nervous, and was glad that the two adults were still busily working.

  After securing the animal, he took a deep breath. Trex walked over towards Sara’s parents.

  “Hello Mrs. and Mr. Kelgorn,” he said politely.

  The two adults stopped what they were doing. They gave each other a short glance before jumping and climbing down from their working positions.

  “Hello Trex,” said Patt politely, walking over and offering his hand.

  Trex exchanged a handshake, being familiar with this typical wolf greeting through his interactions with other Anthro wolves.

  “Glad to see you are well,” Patt added, trying to stay as superficial as possible.

  “You as well,” said Trex, as awkwardly as the older male.

  “Hello Trex,” said Sallice in a calm, if slightly stand-offish voice.

  “Mrs. Kelgorn,” Trex repeated, shaking the hand of the older female.

  The awkward pause was instantly there, as if it had been waiting in ravenous ambush for years.

  “We owe you a dept of gratitude for assisting Sara as you did, you probably saved her life,” stated Patt, his skilled conversation skills kicking in.

  Trex blinked a few times before responding, relieved that there was a neutral topic to discuss.

  “She saved me first after all, so I felt I owed her,” he said honestly.

  “Nevertheless, it was a brave thing to do,” said Sallice, the neutral tone dampening the compliment somewhat.

  After a second or two, Sallice turned her head to look at the barn

  “Sara!” she called, her tone indicating clearly that her daughter should hurry up.

  “And once again you are off to save some wolves,” Patt continued in a pleasant tone, “a very honourable thing of you, to provide your assistance like this.”

  Trex’s brow furrowed. He suddenly realised why Fera had called him honourable before. They obviously didn’t know that there were lions and halflings in the colony they were off to rescue. Trex played along, knowing instinctively that there must be a reason for the incomplete information.

  “Yeah, well, Mr. Kelgorn… we are all Anthros in the end, I don’t distinguish between anyone who needs help,” Trex said.

  This seemingly innocent comment was already too close to the mark regarding the rift that separated their families. Trex swore he felt the temperature around him drop by a few degrees.

  Though Trex was trying to ignore the obvious displeasure of the two wolves in front of him, he was secretly happy on a subconscious level that he had bee
n able to insert this poignant reminder into the conversation so stealthily.

  Sara emerged from the barn leading a packet Misha. She was just in time to head off another awkward silence which was threatening.

  “Hi Sara,” greeted Trex, happy for the distraction.

  “Hey Trex,” replied Sara, her tone was kind enough, but somewhat tired. As if she was undertaking the whole trip against her better judgement.

  “Best of luck Trex,” said Patt, using the opportunity to end the conversation gratefully.

  “Make sure you stay alert and stay safe, bears are not to be underestimated,” Sallice advised, her cold tone carrying the barest hint of caring.

  “Thanks,” said Trex.

  The two adults turned to walk back to the barn. They walked past their daughter as she made her way over, leading her packed horse.

  “Got everything ready?” Trex asked as Sara approached.

  “Of course she does,” said a voice from the side. Trex and Sara turned to see Jammet and Jameen walking around the corner of the barn.

  Sallice and Patt gave the pair an annoyed side glare as they returned to work.

  Wolf Kingdom farms were normally always positioned so that each family could just make out the house of their neighbour. This was for security reasons in the isolated areas in case of bandits or other trouble. In this case, however, it meant that the two twins were always aware of what was going on.

  “It’s Sara after all,” continued Jameen.

  “Hello Mrs. and Mr. Kelgorn,” greeted Jammet on behalf of the two on the way past the adults.

  “How have you been Trex,” said Jameen, closing the remaining distance to give him a hearty hand shake.

  Trex had to think quick, trying to jog his memory regarding the names of the two neighbours.

  In the meantime, he switched siblings to shake Jammet’s hand.

  Luckily for Trex, the two still had much of the same appearance as all those years ago, both with wild, scruffy, sandy-blond, wavy hair contrasting against the light brown fur that covered their bodies.