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Counter Earth Chronicles - Dual Realities

Chapter 54: The Distance Is Not The Issue, It Is What Is In Between That Is

November 23rd, YOE 35

9:36 AM Free Counter Earth (The Lair, Castle Wundagore)

It was just after my mistress had gone to work on what would seem to be a busy day for her. She had mentioned on her way out the door that she and the other commanders of the knight core would be in meetings for most of the morning.

I had just finished cleaning and tidying the great room and found that I had an hour of freetime so I set up my easel facing the recently installed new window. The view that morning from the window of our townhome was spectacular.

(And not a KLIS ship in sight.)

Aerial traffic that morning was down significantly as well; much of the beastial populace fearing that they would be in the wrong place at the wrong time and get harvested.

I had just set my brush to canvas when there was a request on the hub monitor. A gaming request. I accepted.

The great room faded away and I was looking at what appeared to be Spirit and my room at the Oasis Inn. I found my beastial boyfriend sitting on our bed.

“Hello my little comfort animal!" He said greeting me.

“Hello my emotional support animal." I shot back.

“It has been a while, but it is time I updated you." He said transitioning from a lying position to a seated position with his legs draped over the bed's side. “The rebellion has reinstated most of their operatives and resumed operations and that is all thanks to you."

“But, but Sir Ram's mind control device…" I countered.

“We could never find it, detect it, nor destroy it. Instead, we came up with a new tactic. I just convinced Deerfeeder to use it to our benefit." Spirit said beginning my debriefing.

(Really?)

“Kiff and I ordered our human operatives for the rest of their lives to act as if they weren't under the influence of that device and to resume their normal activities as if not under beastial influence." The Tian mountain dog said to me.

“Spirit that is brillant!!" I shouted.

“I know, I came up with the idea while thinking of you." He said sliding off the bed to the floor.

“Outstanding!"

There was a pregnant pause between us while I waited for my boyfriend to reinstate me into the rebellion.

“I know what you are thinking, and I decided not to free you from the device."

I just looked at the Tian mountain dog funny.

“You see, your reaction proves my point- you can't question your beastial superiors while under its influence and I think that is how it should stay for now. If anyone found out that your free will had returned, your life would become very complicated. For the time being the safest place for you is here."

“I see." I said trying to hide my disappointment.

“Besides, the rebellion has learned that Sir Ram's replacement has devised a trap for the aliens. The High Evolutionary supports it and ordered that it be executed."

“That was probably the reason for the knight's meetings this morning operative Spirit."

“Yup." The he beast said to me. “As per the usual- I order you not to divulge any of what you have learned to anyone my little comfort animal. Love you."

“I love you too." I shot back.

“What about Commander Ursa?" He teased me.

“I love her as well Spirit."

“Alex Winter is in love with two beastials? And at the same time?! Scandalous!" He said ending the connection.

I soon found myself back in the great room looking at my canvas. As I was about to paint again I received an incoming message.

“Mistress?"

“No." A dall sheep in a white lab coat said appearing on the screen.

“Dr. Pina."

“Good morning Mr. Winter. Your presence is requested in my lab." He said ending the communication.

(That is happening a lot this morning.)

10:02 AM Free Counter Earth (Knight Command, Castle Wundagore)

It is the Circus Of The Stars!! See second class citizens perform acts of dexterity, agility, bravery, strength and death defying skill! One night only in the World One Pavillion!!

“Perhaps you should take your girlfriend to that!" Dusty teased Naka.

“It does seem interesting." The junior knight said looking at the holo poster.

“It is the empire's latest attempt to soothe shattered nerves over the alien incursion." The maned wolf's superior observed.

“I figured- society is unnerved, the public is mostly in hiding and the economy and our so called golden era is a nose dive." Naka said to the grey, tan and white wolf.

“So you are going to take her?"

“I would love to- but I wouldn't quite call Song my girlfriend." The junior knight said blushing.

11:00 AM Free Counter Earth (Room B, Castle Wundgore)

“Dr. Pina you wanted to see me?" I replied entering room B. I found myself looking at the very table I had one time laid on and been subjected to many experiments by Sir Ram.

(Whoa, this place brings back memories, dark ones!)

“I did Mr. Winter. I was hoping that you would have arrived about an hour ago." The dall sheep in the white lab coat said turning to greet me from his desk.

I started to point out an oversight in his directive.

“I suppose I should have given you a time frame." He said looking me up and down. “New attire?"

“Yes."

“Commander Ursa has been down lately. It appears she has you wearing clothing that reflects her mood." The beastial scientist said studying my black loincloth and choker collar.

“Yes my mistress has been unnerved sir."

“Mostly likely she is frustrated that she can't obtain the lofty results our master demands against the aliens. Neither can the other commanders and they have been reprimanded as such."

I cocked my head at the beastial scientist who I have in the past week realized was different from his predecessors.

Mara Goat was wicked, Sir Ram was evil. Dr Pina wasn't, he was just downright cunning and devious.

The scientist overlooked my non-verbal question and moved on. “So Mr. Winter, I understand that Sir Ram had you participating in some form of correction therapy?"

“Yes sir as a part of my rehabilitation. But that was suspended when the mind control device was brought online." I blurted out.

“It is a pity, I was studying his notes and was considering picking up where he left off."

(Most likely he had some ideas on that as well.)

“Uh…." I stammered showing Sir Ram's successor, I was not too keen on that.

(I don't like you Dr. Pina.)

“In lieu of that, you and the commander can help me with a trap I have been working on for our KLIS invaders." The dall sheep ushering me to follow him.

In another room adjacent to the lab there was a covered glass cylinder. A large one. The good doctor approached it and removed its cover.

“OH MY!"

“What do you say about a night out at the circus Mr. Winter?" The dall sheep asked placing his paw on my shoulder. I looked at his curved horns and his furred neck. It looked like I was getting roped into another of the knight's missions.

(Oh goodie.)

11:16 AM KLIS Dominated Counter Earth (City Dance Hall, World Three)

“I am surprised Arthur wasn't upset that we let Cinereus take our picture." The she monkey said babbling.

“Yeah that is weird, now everyone in Three Mile Creek Settlement knows of master Koala and his friends." The he cat added.

“Minka, Cody quiet down!" The she rabbit ordered her team as the three of them crept through a back alley near a marble domed structure.

“It is amazing how much this city looks like our World Three." Mr. Spencer said to his companions. “Although I don't remember this structure anywhere in the city."

“Or that!" Ms. Mallow said pointing to a orange circular and oval aircraft in the city's skies. “It must be how the citizens get around in this reality."

“I said shush!" Primrose grumbled. “Now how do we get inside?"

“That open door there?" Cody said pointing.

The away team looked around just inside the doorway before entering. It was a loading dock behind the dance hall. Inside they heard music playing- it sounded rather old, yet easy on the ears.

Primrose pointed to a black door nearby. They opened it, inside was a staircase leading upstairs. The trio followed it. They soon found themselves on a balcony overlooking the dance floor. Below them a stage with an orchestral band playing and the residents of the city enjoying themselves.

“What are they doing?" Minka asked.

“I believe it is called ballroom dancing." Cody replied, studying the participants- there were many of them beastials and humans in formal attire giggling, laughing and having quite a good time. There was a male silverback in a tuxedo leading a blond haired female in a red dress. Behind them a minotaur in a three piece suite dancing with a blond in silver dress. Next to them a female fennec fox guiding a black haired teen in a double breasted vest.

“Wow! Humans and beastials mingling together." Minka observed. “Look at their faces! Everyone is smiling!"

“A true beastial- human utopia." Cody said, scanning the dance floor.

“Negative." Primrose said glumly.

The cat and monkey looked at her.

“Look at the band leader."

The away team looked at the person conducting the orchestra. It was a grey alien large black eyes, small nose, slit like mouth in a black tuxedo leading the band!!

“My stars!! They have taken over!!"Cody gasped.

“News flash, what is in the skies over the city does not belong to the indigenous populace." Minka Mallow concluded. “So much for trying to find anti-KLIS weapon here."

“I do like the peaceful co-existence between first and second class citizens. Too bad it took a foreign influence for that to happen." Cody observed.

“We need to leave this place." The rabbit girl announced. “Carefully, but quickly!"

6:00 PM Free Counter Earth (The Pavilion, World One Museum)

“GOOD EVENING!!" A female sun bear in a top hat and black skirt dress announced. “I am Versona the master of ceremonies! Thank you for coming out to visit our little show tonight!"

Dr. Pina, Commander Ursa and I were seated on the top row of some bleachers overlooking the action. To my right the dall sheep's secret weapon a female raccoon dog who looked at me very menacingly. Not only that, she was frothing at the mouth!!! I tried not to look at the beastial(?) too much and instead watching the circus of human performers, ah perform.

“Your invention has taken a liking to Alex doctor." My she beast commented as she looked for Biff, Looper, Dusty and Naka within the crowd.

(You are kidding, right mistress?)

“And when the KLIS show commander INTERCEPT will take a liking to them as well."

(He named his creature intercept?!)

“I hope this creation is better than the one that played that deadly game of tag with us earlier this year doctor. I disliked being it." I mumbled.

“That creation is no longer in existence." The dall sheep said reassuring me.

“I read your report Dr. Pina, the creature destroyed itself?" My warrior bear replied.

“It did mysteriously." He replied.

“Up on the platform is high diver Kaisan!" The sun bear said pointing to a mustached man in a full yellow body bathing suit. “He will dive into that very shallow pond over there."

(Wow, that doesn't look really deep.)

And if on cue the high diver dove into a six foot deep 10'x10' pool of water unscathed. It was amazing.

“In the far ring Mr. Mysterious the strong man who can single handedly lift four hover vehicles with one arm!" The ring master said pointing to a black haired man in overalls.

The strong man did as ordered as if in a trance, amazing all on lookers.

The sun bear continued. “In the near ring I Don't Miss, our resident knife thrower. She is seeking some victims err volunteers for her act."

I looked at the grey haired woman in a white-grey dress with a yellow tie with the wide smile.

“Perhaps you could offer her your assistance Mr. Winter?" The sheep scientist teased.

There were a few from the audience who took her up on her offer- a satyr, centaur and stallion. Brave souls and surprise she did not miss.

“In the outer ring we have our tightrope walker Never Falls, because he never falls."

I looked up to see a middle aged man in a green shirt and white pants walking on a transparent line from one side of the pavillion to the other. He made it look so easy.

“And lastly for your entertainment we have dancers, jugglers, acrobats here in the center ring." Versona said and if in a trance the human performers performed.

Somehow the empire had convinced the beastial populace to come out of hiding, put away their fears and watch the circus of humans apparently hoping that the KLIS would show, abduct the crowd and Dr. Pina's creature included and bam! They would receive the shock of their lives. That was the plan anyway.

Commander Ursa, Dr. Pina, his creature and I sat through all two hours of the entire show watching the various acts, the performers performed, the audience was enchanted and cheered.

“That is the show everyone! Were you entertained?!" The sun bear master of ceremonies said closing out the performance. The crowd cheered and cheered some more.

“Looks like our alien friends passed on this outing." Dr. Pina. My fierce ursine warrior said to him.

“Or they knew somehow that it was a trap." The disappointed sheep said.

“The master is not going to be happy." My bear knight said.

“Even so mistress, we needed this. Everyone did." I said to the commander of the knights of Wundagore.

“But you aren't accountable to the high master about our progress or lack thereof pet." My fierce ursine warrior said, rubbing her bottom. “I feel another paddling coming."

8:26 PM Free Counter Earth (The Great Ocean between the eastern and western continents)

“Quite the haul today eh captain?" A puffin asked the captain of the large fishing vessel.

“We did okay." The sealion said looking out of the bridge of his hovercraft as it majestically moved over the top of the ocean.

“Forget hover vehicles, give me a boat out on the open ocean any day." A walrus commented.

“I second that." The penguin next to him commented.

“You three be on guard, we are out in the middle of nowhere- by ourselves far from the empire."

“Affirmative sir. If we get into trouble, no help is coming." The puffin acknowledged.

“Don't worry I checked the lifeboats, they are fully stocked with supplies in case the unthinkable happens." The penguin said reassuringly.

“Uh captain?" The walrus said, shaking nervously.

“What is it Russ?"

“I am detecting something coming at us at a high rate of speed!"

The captain ran to the window. Looking out he saw nothing but miles and miles of calm water.

“I don't see anything!"

“Not above but below sir!" The walrus shouted. The puffin and penguin walked over to Russ' station on the bridge to confirm his readings.

“15,000 feet- 10,000 feet, 5,000 feet, 1,000 feet! 500 feet!" The puffin shouted.

“Evasive maneuvers!" The sealion ordered.

The hovercraft kicked into full speed just as something erupted from below breaking the ocean's surface right next to them.

*WHOSH!!*

The hovercraft was sent cartwheeling side over side over side as it was bum-rushed by a black boomerang shaped craft ascending toward the upper atmosphere.

As the hovercraft righted itself, the beastial captain caught a glimpse of what nearly wrecked his ship. He passed angry and confused stares to his crew who hastily conducted system checks for a forthcoming damage report.

“So now the aliens are inhabiting the oceans?!"

“You going to report that sir?" The penguin asked.

“Most definitely."

To Be Continued….

[MEANWHILE]

November 23rd, YOE 35

9:36 AM Chaundoon (Lilly Blossom's Spa, World Seven)

“Ah just what we needed." My devious person said as we were warmly welcomed to our co-worker's establishment.

“Here we are, make yourselves comfortable." The female sand dragon attendant said showing us to our massage tables. I noted that she was wearing a white apron that complimented her orange scales. Oh, and that was the only thing she was wearing.

“You know what she means little cutie?"

I looked at the broad grin on my lioness' face. “Yeah get naked." I replied rolling my eyes.

Shakara booked the appointment. Knowing her as well as I did- it was probabl some lewd package with a rump and genital massage included.

We stripped down to nothing, leaving our clothing on a nearby chair, then laid down on the two tables.

“I guess with all that has been going on, we needed a day to ourselves." I said making myself comfortable. Shakara was right next to me on the adjacent table.

We heard our masseuses enter the room. The pair closing the door behind them and blocking out the light from the suns coming through a side window.

“So what will it be today?" The female said placing her paws on my trapezius muscles.

“A little bit of everything, moderate pressure please." I said to the voice that seemed very familiar. “Wait! Tanya?"

“That is right Alex." The red deer replied.

“T'hoka?" Shakara asked her masseuse.

“The same." The barbarian replied.

“Did you two leave the core as well?" My lioness asked.

“No, but we felt that we could use an outlet to wind down and relieve stress. Tanya suggested this." The male deer replied.

“We heard Lilly Blossom was looking for additional staffing."

“So how is morale?" I said asking the obvious.

“Down after Naka left. He didn't say so directly, but his actions indicated that he did not have faith in Knight Command's leadership." The barbarian deer replied.

“Or our colony's rulers as well." Tonya added. “Hence he and Song's departure."

“Yeah it is hard to believe he uprooted his family and left." I replied as that doe's paws started moving down my back and toward my backside.

“Song felt particularly burned by our leaders." She added.

“I hope that this isn't the start of a trend. Sorren and Jua guided all of us through a very difficult year on this world. It was rough but we came out on the other end stronger than ever." T'hoka said as he moved his paws over Shakara's backside with much encouragement from her.

“I am going to miss Naka, Song and Kiwi." My devious person sighed.

10:02 AM Chaundoon (S'mar Pridelands, Perna Pride Territory)

“I can see why they call it the drylands." The jackal said peeping out of the driver's side window of the RV he had borrowed from his friends in the nexus.

“That is pridelands Mr. Titanous." Kiwi said correcting their driver.

“Right. Naka, Song are you sure about this? I mean you will be leaving the safety of World Seven and will be out here all by yourself."

“Not exactly." The former knight replied as he directed their driver where to land. “Right here. This is the start of the Marble Canyons."

The RV came to a complete stop. “Doesn't look like there is anything around for miles."

“Looks can be deceiving." Song said taking a satchel and throwing it on her shoulder.

“Everyone, we have company." The brown haired pre-teen said noticing movement from a near by canyon. Two adolescent warriors, both females climbed up from said canyon.

One was heavy set, plump around her waist with big thighs and a pleasing face. She wasn't carrying any weapons. The second was smaller and slender with a youthful face. She was carrying a mallet.

“Wow, the females here are knockouts!" The jackal observed.

“You are not just saying that because they aren't wearing anything are you?" Kiwi asked.

“Well…."

“Titanous, you should leave now. While you still can." The maned wolf warned.

The jackal studied the approaching warriors- the one without weapons looked like she was some type of wrestler. That thrilled and scared him at the same time. “You three take care." He said as he drove off.

“Chief Black Scythe said that it was a possibility you would return." The huskier of the two females said. “I am Pummel. This is Smash."

“Wow, you are the youngest warriors I have ever met." Naka and Song's son observed.

“We recently earned our names." Smash replied.

“Come with us we will escort you three to see our chieftains." Pummel added.

The huskier female took lead while the younger of the two brought up the rear. Kiwi eagerly followed the lead warrior most likely enjoying the view of her rear and trying not to have a nose bleed in the process.

11:00 AM Conquered Counter Earth (Former World Five University, Crystal City)

“Anyone know why we were pulled back from the field?" Jonan asked her friends.

Ed and Dane shook their heads no as they sat down in some seats in the classroom of the former college.

“Your progress has been disappointing." A young bull said entering the classroom. He wore only brown wristbands, a loincloth and his sword scabbard.

“Raier… well you see." The eagle started to say.

“We haven't found anyone." The dawn horse said, stepping in for his friend.

“We did stumble upon some ancient city that looked like it housed some refugees at one time or another, but it was flattened by a asteroid." The ewe added.

“We combed what was left and found it uninhabited." The eagle said, piling on.

“Those that lived there vacated long before the asteroid hit them." The red bull replied. “So it is your opinion that the forests south of here are desolate and there is no one to bring to the cause?"

“Yeah, that's right." The ewe replied. Dane and Ed nodded in agreement. “We have criss-crossed the area- and we haven't seen a single person."

“Could ONE have gotten all the survivors in the forests south of World Five, I mean the crystal city?" the eagle asked.

“Expand your search." Raier ordered.

The dawn horse walked past his friends to an old style eraser board. He picked up a marker and started drawing.

“Okay we finished off this area here consisting of the impact site of the asteroid." Dane said making a diagram of the wilderness around the former World Five.

“To the west is that farm which is a satellite offshoot." Ed added.

“Those that are there are already part of the ONE." Raier added.

“Right they have been spoken for." Dane said, agreeing with ONE's youthful meat puppet. He marked the area of the map where the farm was located.

“So where should we go next?" The ewe asked.

“Well we searched the forests immediately around World Five, I mean the crystal city. Maybe we should start heading south." The eagle added.

That's right! There is a sports stadium in the forest going toward World Four- that would be a great spot to take up residence in in the after empire era." The dawn horse said thinking out loud.

“Ok fellas, that is our next destination." Jonan announced.

“We are so glad we had this conversation." The red bull replied.

“I am too." Jonan said, running her paws over his perfect pecs.

“Um, you can stop doing that now." Raier replied nervously.

11:16 AM Chaundoon (Chamber Of The Four Kings, Perna Pride Village)

“Chieftains Lyre and Black Scythe." Naka said taking a knee as Song and Kiwi bowed toward the remaining leaders of the pride. “I am pleased that you are well."

“Our recovery has been slow and hampered." Lyre said dismissing two dancers who were entertaining the court that morning.

“You have returned canine. Why?" Stab and Impale's mother asked. As Pummel and Smash stood at attention.

“Hmm… Lyre said standing. She walked over and touched the wolf's ear and then the chakat's. “I sense resentment and confliction."

“Resentment and confliction?" Black Scythe asked rhetorically. “I suspect that this group's decision to help us in our recent fight against the spiders was not as popular with their chieftain."

Song nodded.

“So you were punished for your actions?" Lyre asked.

“Yes." The maned wolf replied.

“Naka and Song left our tribe." The brown haired pre-teen announced.

“To return here to us?" Black Scythe asked.

“Yes. Song and I felt our talents would be best suited to helping others in need- in particular the friends we made here." The former knight said standing.

“And how would you three best do that?" Lyre asked placing her paw underneath her chin.

“By offering you our strength, skills, knowledge our everything to this pride." The maned wolf replied to the warrior female in the orange shoulder cape and necklace.

“Ah yes you led a caravan from your world to this one, facing many challenges along the way." Impale and Stab's mother recounted. “Very well."

“Welcome back acolytes." Lyre said. “Pummel and Smash will help you get settled while we will determine how you would best serve the pride."

“Thank you chieftains." The three said in unison.

Time: N/A [eternity] Realm of Fire and Magma (Throne Room, Terror Tower)

“Diamantopoulous!!!" The hedgehog and monkey gasped in unison.

“Group hug!" The wolf demon shouted as he picked up the frightened hedgehog boy with his right arm and the terrified monkey girl with his left arm. “I was wondering if I would ever see your beaming faces again let alone get to torment you!"

Minka's smile and cheerful demeanor disintegrated.

Something Midnight Black immediately observed, while Diamantopoulous noticed something else….

“Oh dear you wet yourself a lot." The wolf said looking at her groin. “Realized that you are once again in a situation where you are so pitifully helpless, so hopelessly powerless that all you can do it pee?"

“Diamantopoulous…." Arthur said staring at the grinning demon.

“Going to plead with me now Mr. Speedwell? Hint, hint! The Shadow Chasers did the same thing and guess what? It didn't work; they are still here!" The wolf demon said placing his snout above the boy's ear. “Get ready you two because we are going to pick up right where we left off! You thought the period after your government's collapsed was hellish, just you wait!!! I have more, pain, misery, suffering, damnation and torment in store!!! We are going to have so much fun!!!"

“You… whoever you are… whatever you are… leave them alone!" The black akita said stepping forward.

“Mr. Black!!" Arthur warned. “Don't. He is too powerful."

“Oh yes, you brought guests with you!" The dark wolf said, dropping the monkey girl and hedgehog boy on the ground.

“OW!!!" The two said in unison. The two looked at the open door to the throne room just fifty steps away. They could make a break for it. But what if they ran into the wolf's other subordinates? Instead, Arthur and Minka ran and hid behind the orangutan slave girl who tried to comfort her friends.

“Midnight Black." Bine said shaking his head.

“What is it Eeth?"

“Don't provoke him." Bine warned.

“You would do well to listen to him akita." The wolf demon said approaching. “You don't know who I am do you?"

“Should I?" The dark akita asked the dark wolf.

“That is Diamantopoulous the overlord and master of this realm." The creature in Angie's body warned. “He is near omnipotent, extremely powerful; while we are here, we are at his mercy."

The akita assassin looked at his monkey girl, who was cowering behind the nude orangutan. She was truly horrified. He had never seen her in such a state.

“Oh I like him." Diamantopoulous said petting the thing in Angie's body.

“What is this place demon?" Midnight Black asked the dark wolf.

“It is where you will be spending your eternity when you die akita. I tell you what, how about I give you a tour? I will show you what waits in store on the morning when your meaningless existence is over. It will give the younglings time to get reacquainted with their long lost sacrificed friend and time to contemplate their fates."

There was a flash and Bine, Midnight Black and Diamantopoulous were gone.

“There, there it will be alright." The nude orangutan said to her former teammates.

“How can you even say that?" Minka asked, trying to compose herself.

“Just be cheerful and keep smiling no matter what he does to you."

“That is how you tolerated your captivity?" Arthur asked the laid back orangutan.

“Like, for sure."

“We are so sorry you sacrificed yourself to save us." Minka said crying and hugging Flo.

“It was my decision and the only way you could leave here. So why have you returned?"

“We were investigating another case on our new homeworld and poof! We wound up back here!" Minka said looking for something to dampen the puddle she had made.

She was given a cloth from a black long limbed creature with a square head and white eyes who had some how showed up.

“Thank you." The monkey girl said. The creature just groaned in response.

“That's my task master. He's cool." Flo said too casually. “Now why have you returned?"

“Um about that…" Arthur began.

6:00 PM Chaundoon (Perna Pride Village, Marble Canyons)

“Stab! Impale!" The pre-teen said running up to Black Scythe's children.

*HUG*

“Well look who is back?" The female savage with the petite breasts wearing a beaded necklace replied.

“I like what you did to the place." Kiwi said noticing the size of the sibling's hammocks had gotten bigger and their hut was rather untidy and could use some sprucing up.

“So glad you do because you will be living and training with us from this day forward little scout." The taller of the feline savages who was wearing a wrist guard on his left arm, a shoulder guard on his left shoulder, a small necklace said breaking the hug. “Or should I call you our assistant?"

The two adults stared at their messy hut and their new squire. Kiwi got the message and started tidying up.

“When you are finished here we will be going on patrol." The female warrior said as she watched the boy reposition two chairs and a table and then sweep the floor.

Kiwi readied himself mentally as he stepped out the doorway of the adobe hut. He had willingly returned to tribal society- life here was hard, physical and challenging but also pure in a way. His only article of clothing in this society of savage felines, a satchel.

“So exactly why have you returned Kiwi?" Stab asked as the two made their way outside the village.

“I heard his parents had a falling out with their chieftain." Impale said rather abruptly.

“That was a big part of it. The other was Naka and Song's desire to help the pride rebuild." The squire said trailing his superiors.

“But you gave up a lot to come here." Stab said.

“My parents and I thought it was more important to help the pride that took us in when we were in need."

“So you think we are in need now, little scout?" The feline warrior asked handing the boy he considered his little brother his javelin pike.

“A third of the tribe's warriors died during the Yowie invasion weakening the pride as a result." Kiwi replied.

“Yes mother and auntie addressed that." The female feline said handing the boy her sias.

“Really?" Kiwi asked, trying not to drop the pair's weapons.

“Yes. After the bodies of the fallen were removed, the cubs and adolescents in the pride earned their names." The male feline added.

“They were promoted to warriors?" Kiwi asked.

“As were some of the pride's prisoners." Stab answered.

“Oh yes, I remember Pulse." The pre-teen said reaching into the sachel he had brought with him. He found a cloth and started rubbing down Stab and Impale's weapons.

“That took care of the immediate shortfall of warriors." The female savage replied.

“But now we need to start thinking about the long term." The male savage replied.

“The group after them?" The boy asked handing the warriors their weapons back.

“Yes. That is why your training has resumed." The taller of the two felines responded.

“Kiwi Goodfellow squire in training!" The brown haired boy announced proudly.

“More like a warrior's assistant and scout in training." Impale teased.

“And for the rest of the warriors, Black Scythe has ordered that births increase." Stab added.

“Huh?" Kiwi asked.

“Every S'mar male must sire offspring from three different females." Stab opined.

“And every S'mar female must mate with three different males." Impale added.

“WOW!" Kiwi gasped as the group entered the area surrounding Death Peak.

“Our leadership's long term plan to replenish our numbers." Stab said ordering Kiwi and her brother to halt. “Down, I think I see something."

“Where?" Her brother asked.

“Along the horizon that way."

“I am having trouble making it out." Impale replied.

“Here, try this." The boy said handing the male feline a black cylindrical device.

“What is this?" He asked.

“It is a tool my tribe uses to see things at great distances." Kiwi replied.

“By the ancestors!" The savage exclaimed. “What sorcery is this?"

“It isn't sorcery, just a tool like a spoon, bowl or knife." The boy said. “You adjust these dials here and then hold this part to your eyes."

The male S'mar placed the binoculars over his eyes and then removed them, comparing the view with and without magnification.

“This is a very useful tool Kiwi." He said to the pre-teen.

“Hey I am a warrior's assistant, it is my duty to anticipate your needs."

“What do you see?" Stab asked her brother.

“Here." He said passing the binoculars.

“What is it?" Kiwi asked the female savage.

“S'mar." Stab said to Kiwi.

“From our tribe?" The boy asked as he was given the binoculars back.

The two warriors were silent as their squire tried to confirm what they had just observed.

“Look carefully Kiwi." Impale advised.

“I see the body paint and markings are different as are the jewelry they wear- bone necklaceses. Warriors from another pride?"

“Advanced scouts trying to assess Perna Pride's health." The female savage said.

“You mean like as in a possible invasion?" Kiwi asked looking at the male and female warriors. Their silence was unnerving.

To Be Continued….