Sleens and Larls and Kurs ...

It is a judgment maim'd and most imperfect
That will confess perfection so could err
Against all rules of nature, and must be driven
To find out practises of cunning hell,
Why this should be

Othello

Discussions the following morning with Kam began of his having noted sleen and larl tracks beyond the perimeter of the camp. Although he did not seem to find them of much worry, a party would be sent out to investigate further. When my queries about the larl was met that it was similar to the one that plagued my dreams, I actually offered to go with the hunters as a tracker.

There was that hint of amusement when he asked what clan was I of anyway ... kaiila or hunters? Once again, there was that absent minded reach to touch the back of my shoulder while I answered that though a prospect of the kaiila clan, I did have other talents. Such as? Well for one being a worry urt, the other possibly my ability to get into trouble. And no that was probably not subject to change anytime soon. I had not meant that as a self fulfilling prophesy. I am surprised ... looking back that I did not pick up on the evidence of threes when the man told me .. things will happen as they should. Once is just that, twice is most apt to be a coincidence, thrice is time to pay attention. I wasn't paying attention.

Speaking of which, I was in the process of asking about "curiosities", when Silk arrived. Between the greeting of his charge and the seriousness of unfinished details the two had, he shot a quick retort at me that there was nothing wrong with curiosities as long as they did not land me back in steel. I had plenty of time to digest that while he spoke with the woman for going on a ride. I did not know all of the whats and whys so the threat of a good tanning caught me off guard. Jumping to conclussions without having all of the facts would be a lesson that would return to me later as well. Once her guardian was satisfied with Silk's answer, everything smoothed over ... at least for them. Case closed.

I gave more intent musings over what the man had said about the larl than anything. I wanted to see any that the hunters returned with. I needed to sate my curiosity that there were no more like the first two ... still out there and if so ... it would be taken down quickly before its curse could touch any more of the lives here.

Its no wonder my dreams did not go well that night. Once more I was one of the sleens running with the pack. The howling songs filled the air as we went after fresh prey, though after the kill, the blood frenzy turned one against another.