Chanur's Arrival
Chapter 4
DAY 10 (Continued)
I remained stone still as the berbils moved off. The brambles were
starting to stick in the blood. So, they were going to use me as their
pawn, huh? We'll see about that. I'm not some new born whelp when it
comes to intrigue. What have they got against the Thundercats anyway?
From what I've seen the berbils couldn't defend themselves in a spitball
fight. I'll keep my own thoughts on the matter, though. First rule of
politics: never let your friends know that you know. I pressed foreward,
wincing as a sharp thorn tore through my chest fur. This river had
better not be much farther.....
(Later)
Just west my ass. Broke through the brambles on the river bank an
hour later. "Great sense of direction, idiot." I sad to myself. The
berbil village was less then a kilometer up stream. I must have walked
parallel to it for the last hour. Next time you make a dramatic exit,
don't bust your own path. My ankle was swollen to nearly twice its
normal size. I'd introduced it to a hole. Hard. I glanced around. This
seems far enough away. The river flowed slowly in front of me clear
enough to see the bottom. I stripped off the knife and breeches, rolling
them into a small ball on shore and stepped in knee high. Ahh... the
cool water felt great on my ankle. I paused to study my reflection in
the smooth surface. Not bad. Strong shoulders, trim waist, fine
coloring. Even the rust tinge of the blood was complementary. Maybe I
should leave it the way it is, Kind of a noble savage look. A insect
flew past my nose, paused, and landed on my shoulder. Then again, maybe
not.
I continued forward into the water. Most hani I knew wouldn't be
caught dead submerged in water. I learned to overcome the dislike early.
Just plain silly if you ask me. If no one expects you in the water, then
that's the best place to attack from. Scrubbed the blood from my back
and started to relax.
(later)
Must have nodded off. Time to get out anyway. I'll
just...:::sniff::: Crap! Someone's coming! My pants! Maybe I can...
The two of them parted the bushes. I swam behind an outcrop. Maybe
if I'm lucky, they'll leave.
"You think anyone followed us here, Tygra?" ("So that's a
Thundercat?" I thought.
"No way, TT. I told the Thunderkittens I was off searching for
Thundrillium. (sp?) They took off the other way."
"Good, because I want to...." and her voice became muted. Okay....
maybe while they're not looking I can grab my clothing and get out of
here. I threw a glance their way and..... O my Gods. Oohh. Eeek. Wow.
Geeze, I didn't know that could fit THERE! OHH! THAT'S TOO MUCH
INFORMATION! I quickly slid back behind the outcrop. I'm dead. I am sooo
dead. Pyanfar is going to come back and find me scattered across ten
square kilometers. She's a tiger, why the hell didn't she scent me??
OmyGods the water. I pressed myself closer into the rocks. My scent is
covered by the water! Calm down, Chanur, take a deep breath. This is no
time to panic.
"Roarrrrr!!!!!"
Start panicking! They were worried about keeping it discreet? Half
the damn forrest knows by now! They're focused on each other. Quick,
grab the breeches and get out of here. I can stay in the water so she
doesn't smell me. Slowly....
"Roarrrrrr!!!!!!!" Great. They're done. They'll lay there batting
eyes at each other....
"Roarrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!" Twice? Just grab the pants, get outta
here....
"Roarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Eewwww....... Grabbed the
bundle and started swimming down river. Quick glance over the shoulder.
There's an image I could have done without! Chanur, how in a mayhan hell
do you get yourself into these things?! Just swim, dry off the knife
later, just get outta here!
Pulled myself out four kilometers down stream. Threw the pants on
and ran like the demons of hell were after me. If she ever finds out I
was there I'll be a smear on the face of this planet. I've got a bottle
of panni back in the camp for emergency use. I am now declaring an
emergency. I don't drink, but this would be a good time to start!
Day 12
Too sick to write yesterday, I think we all know why. Scavenger was
back again, I'll have to set a trap for it.
(Continued)