I can't believe I forgot to post this! >,<;; -- The Middle of Nowhere

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Date Posted: 12:05:04 06/27/04 Sun
Author: Shrarrs
Subject: I can't believe I forgot to post this! >,<;;

'The part of the world that is ours by right is lush and rich, emerald and crimson -- the colors of life in full bloom. We Shrarrs are plentiful here, in our lands, and those who are not Shrarr do not dare challenge us in our prime. Our brothers, the Rhauf, prefer the drier, higher lands that are north of us; their colors are dirt and metal, brown and grey. They are fewer than we in number, smaller than we in flesh, and weaker than we in battle -- but they are as cousins to us, and we suffer no harm to come to them from any not-Rhauves.'

Three small, wire-furred cubs fidgeted in place, eyes huge and alert and looking everywhere but at the aged male who sat calmly in front of them. He ignored their restlessness with a soft, paternal smile and continued his teachings.

'We and Rhauves are strongest on these lands, but across the great not-rivers are other lands, as wide and as fertile as our own. On the smallest of those lands, Renwos hold their own by being so many and so intelligent -- they work the metal from the lands of the Rhauves into strange shapes and create lightning from water and air to make the metal live. They are skilled, but small and not-warriors, so they make weapons from the lightning and metal to survive when they are threatened. Most do not fight Renwos for that very reas-- Pay attention, shrarrans!'

The elder cracked his whip-like tail in front of three youthful faces, and the cubs swiftly jerked to attention, entreating eyes widening in surprise and an attempt to please. The white-ticked red male fluffed his fur in a half-conscious stretch, then coiled his twenty-foot tail once around his paws and then pooled its lean, sinuous length between his proud body and his young charges. Then, dark grey eyes catching and holding each cub's avid gaze, he continued.

'Most wicked are the Manitu, heavy and long-bodied beasts whose fangs and claws are fierce, but tempers fiercer. A Manitu poses little danger to an adult Shrarr with reasonable fighting prowess, but our cousin Rhauves face them as equals on the battlefield, and Manitu can even defeat the Renwos' clever metal beasts. Manitu are sly, vengeful creatures who can live in any weather or heat, though they prefer the darkness of not-day or of cavern to the bright sun. Beware them, shrarrans, for they will not hesitate to--'

Three pairs of eyes were wide, and three little bodies were quaking. The elder modified his next words and simply ended, '--to hurt you. And when you are grown, you will not fear them -- you will protect others who fear them from the Manitu themselves.' The big male reached down his long muzzle and brushed his chin against the top of each cub's fuzzy head lightly. 'You will become great hunters, shrarrans.' Then, as he straightened with only the slightest twinge of aged scar tissue somewhere in his flank, he continued.

'Lastly, there are the Tzai, who live in their own lands apart from all of us (for, you understand, each family has its own lands -- we and Rhauves are kin). They are strange beasts in form but reasonable in mind; they are not too aggressive, but they are strong and swift and skilled in battle and the hunt. They, unlike all the rest and we Shrarrs, live lonely lives, only coming together to raise offspring and then parting again. Their lands are open and golden-green with health, and they fight Manitu even more than Shrarrs do.'

The elder smiled gently at the cubs' attentive gazes, then nodded once and deeply. 'You have listened to me long enough, shrarrans. Go play. Your mother--' he had smelled his daughter long minutes ago as she approached, and then as she waited at a safe distance, '--is waiting for you. You were very good today, my shrarrans. I will see you tomorrow.'

The cubs bumbled forward, attached themselves with fur and claw to the adult's forepaws and tail in a youthful embrace, then detached just as quickly to shamble outside, pouncing each other's long tails and rippling fur as they went. The male watched them go fondly, then rose and stretched his aging but still strong body. Only a few joints and muscles resisted the thorough pull with a burning sensation, and he curled one lip in a faintly amused grin.

Old, but far from invalid.

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