* 45 *

             The commcon beep-beeped incessantly waking Ky'tulendu up. He groaned, opened an eye, noted it was at least morning, threw off his covers, and staggered over to the machine to answer it. He turned the klass on before he pushed the on button answering the commcon and killing the noise.
             "Ky'tulendu here, what is it?" he asked as the screen brightened showing him a young female Tanz on duty at Control.
             "Tanz C'lyssun here, Asenti, I am getting an audio report from the sentry post three at the waterway. Do you want me to patch it through? It sounds important and needing your input," she said, getting somewhat nonplused by his lack of uniform.
             "Do it," he ordered coming fully awake and sitting down after he got his Klass.
             The screen blanked to be replaced by the Alliance insignia since no visible signal was being sent. "Ky'tulendu here, come in sentry post three," he asked.
             "Tanz Commd K'ffer here, I have a delegation of natives from the local village who want to see you. Their leader says his name is Thunder Arrow, and he is wearing one of our translators around his neck. He says he is looking for his son In The Forest. He thinks we may have him hid at our camp. Says his son has gone back to one of our people so he is breaking the treaty."
             Ky'tulendu came fully awake at that. "Tanz Commd K'ffer give your communicator to Thunder Arrow let me speak to him, now!" he ordered.
             He heard background sounds and fumbling of the equipment as the device was passed to Thunder Arrow who he could tell was turning it this way and that examining the strange thing.
             "Here, hold it this way and talk into this place," Tanz K'ffer's voice said. Ky'tulendu could hear the sentry explaining to the native over the open channel.
             "Hiyah?" Thunder Arrow's voice hesitantly asked with much crackling and movement sounds from the speaker.
             "Ky'tulendu here Thunder Arrow just talk into the place the sentry showed you and I can hear you," he patiently explained as he took a sip out of his klass and waited. "What is this about you wanting to break the treaty? Why?" he asked.
             "You have my son. I want him to leave that cat-woman of his and come home. His wife has been found murdered and we want to question him," the old man said angrily shouting into speaker.
             Ky'tulendu cranked down the volume on his side, and moved back from the commcon. "Thunder Arrow, as far as I know In The Forest is not here. Specialist O'vettun is not here. She has been gone on an assignment since she returned. I do not think the two of them are together, the peace treaty was too important to all of us for them to violate it. What is this about Little Snowbird being killed?" he asked, concerned now.
             "She was found dead on the floor of the wedding lodge. She had been dead all night. It looks like she fell on a spear. Suicide, maybe, but for what reason no one knows. In The Forest's bow and arrows were missing but nothing else except my son. Our sentries didn't see him leave, but there was much celebrating going on in the village last night," he relayed.
             "She killed herself?" Ky'tulendu asked surprised, wanting to verify what he had heard.
             "Yes, Grey Owl thinks so by the way the body was laying when it was found. It did not have the look of someone killing her."
             "How did she die?"
             "She ran a spear through her body. I want to find my son and find out what he said to her to make her kill herself," Thunder Arrow fumed.
             Ky'tulendu could think of a lot of things In The Forest might have told the girl, least of which was the truth of why he was being forced to marry. He could tell that Thunder Arrow was not going to accept the truth that his actions had caused this tragedy to happen. He was going to have to proceed very cautiously.
             "Thunder Arrow, could In The Forest be hunting somewhere by himself?" Ky'tulendu asked, hoping he might have some clues where he was so they could get this potential threat cleared up quickly.
             "Possibly, no one saw him leave but his hunting gear was missing. Some of my warriors are out scouting for him."
             "Good. Do you still want to meet with me?" Ky'tulendu asked.
             "Yes I also want to see this village of yours and visit with my brother and my daughter. Are they well?"
             "Yes, as far as I know I have not seen this morning. I just got up, myself," he told him and he heard a grunt on the other end. "Hand the communicator back to the Tanz Commd K'ffer and let me talk to him."
             He heard the chief telling the sentry that he wanted to talk to him and then the machine was passed over with accompanying noises.
             "Tanz Commd K'ffer here, Asenti. You wanted to speak to me?"
             "Yes, I want Thunder Arrow and his party escorted to the camp and brought to command quarters," Ky'tulendu told him.
             "I can't sir, I don't have any relief down here." he protested.
             "K'ffer, you can be spared away from there as long as it will take to get them to camp. We are not on board ship. Nothing is going to happen is that clear? I am ordering you to bring them here, understood?"
             "Yes Asenti, I understand," the sentry said meekly, but he was not happy about leaving his post unguarded. "Tanz Commd K'ffer out," he said signing off.
             He then turned to Thunder Arrow and his group of ten warriors that had accompanied him and motioned them to follow him.
             Ky'tulendu shut off that transmission and then punched in the code for Roaring Wings quarters. The commcon buzzed for several long moments until the screen brightened and Ky'tulendu found himself facing White Deer who smiled delightedly at seeing him. Ky'tulendu was tongue-tied for a moment, but quickly regained his composure.
             "White Deer is your uncle there?" he asked, very conscious of the way she was staring at his bare chest and sleep tousled hair.
             "No, he is outside with the others talking to the doctor about what we need to start teaching your people hunting skills. Do you wish me to get him?" she asked, smiling at him as she leaned forward.
             She was wearing no top or covering and her large breasts were, he suspected, deliberately and prominently displayed before his eyes. Around her neck she wore a translator and it dangled forward as she leaned on the desk. On her hips she wore a short fringed apron type skirt that tied on one side showing off her long legs and exposed hip. He also noted the knife she wore in a sheath slung on her hip too.
             It was hard not to stare and keep his composure but he managed. "No, that's all right. But I do want you to tell him that your father and some of his warriors are on their way to the camp to see him and me."
             "My father is coming here? Why?" she asked frowning.
             "He is looking for your brother for one thing. In The Forest hasn't been back to camp has he?" he asked cautiously, his blue eyes serious as he studied her.
             She shook her head, "No one has seen him. Is there trouble?"
             "Maybe. Little Snowbird killed herself after the wedding and your brother is missing," Ky'tulendu told her gently as he could not knowing how close she had been to the girl.
             "Little Snowbird is dead--killed herself? I am not surprised. I feared it might happen when I heard the wedding was still going to happen. Poor girl. My brother probably told her the truth and she took the honorable way out. What a waste," she said calmly as if it didn't mean that much to her personally, which it didn't.
             "Yes, it is. You thought this would happen. Why?"
             "She couldn't live with the truth that my brother couldn't love her or be a husband to her. This is all Father's doing. He made In The Forest marry the girl and when she found out he would not be husband to her. I see it all too clearly. Does In The Forest know?" she asked, her voice bitter because of the tragic way her sister-in-law had died.
             "I don't think so. Your father has warriors out looking for him. He thinks he may have gone off hunting alone."
             "Not with his O'vettun?" she asked, wondering whether he had gone off with her.
             "O'vettun is not in camp. She went off as soon as we returned and has not been seen by anyone. But I do not think she has gone to see him or they are together somewhere. The peace treaty between our peoples meant too much to them," he said.
             Her dark eyes flashed anger. "Yes, that treaty that my father forced upon us all. I am ashamed Asenti Ky'tulendu that that man is my father. To separate two such them that were in love and already bonded in the highest way. Then to make them forever live apart because of some whim of his! That is terrible, Asenti," she said seriously, fingering her translator nervously.
             "I did not approve White Deer, but they made the decision on their own."
             "What would you have done if it were you and I, Asenti? Would you have so willing bowed to my father's wishes?" she asked carefully, looking at him with piercing dark eyes, her intent clear.
             "White Deer. . . I do not want to talk about this," he said trying to figure out what he could say. He was getting very nervous under her intense and seductive gaze
             She could tell she was getting to him but she decided not to press him too far--yet. With a disappointed sigh, she relaxed her scrutiny of him and toned her body language down to answer him. "I can see that, Asenti. I will not press you but you will have to find an answer to that question because it will have to be answered. For now we prolong and put off our destinies because the needs of others come before we can give into ours, but that will not be for long," she told him, warning him that she was doing as everyone wished only for a short time. "The call is strong in us, Asenti, remember that."
             "I know White Deer, and that is why we cannot answer it. You do not know me nor I you. I want to know you as a person before I know you as a woman or a mate," he told her honestly, grateful that there was a screen and several buildings between them. His mind and body were trying to fight off very painful reactions to her, but it was getting more and more difficult. He needed to cut off this conversation very soon.
             "I am glad it is not just my body you seek. I would like to know your mind as well," she smiled sweetly, still firting with him. "Maybe we can just talk. That would be good," she said brightly, when just talking was the last thing she wanted to do with him. "I will tell my uncle that Father is coming. Will you be there too soon?" she asked hopefully.
             "Yes," he said nervously, trying to clear his throat. "I'll try to be there shortly after I dress and eat something."
             "Good," she almost purred with a smile, "then I will see you outside. Good bye, Asenti Ky'tulendu," she said huskily, cutting off the transmission.
             He shut his end off too, his mind still reeling from his conversation with the girl. She had definitely been pouring it on. He was sweating, and shaking, and his body was throbbing uncomfortably. A long cold shower was definitely in order.
        Despite the obvious sexual pull, there was a mind there, a very sharp mind, even if it wasn't educated by his standards. She said she wanted just to talk and know him. He was hoping that she was not just pure animal lust and wanting without a mind. That was what he feared.
             Unless she had been faking him out he thought she was interested in learning to read, and getting an education. He got the impression she might like that. There was much he could teach her and she in turn could show others. There was so very much they could do on this world to help and raise the people's standards of living. However, her people were here to show them how to live simply. Somewhere they had to find compromises that kept the good of both worlds.
             He poured himself another cup of klass and then got up and headed for the shower. After shower he felt alot saner and more in control. Going to his closet, he looked his uniforms over. The ones he had worn were already ripped and torn in spots because the light weight fabric had got caught by sticks and other objects. Their heavier weight black field uniforms were too hot for the extremely warm temperatures they were experiencing. The long sleeves on the tunics had to go too. Somewhere there had be a compromise to adapt to this climate.
             Quickly thinking, he took one of the uniforms that had been ripped on the sleeves by going through the dense forest that first day on the planet, and began ripping off the sleeves. They came off raggedly but easily. He put the now sleeveless tunic top on, leaving its collar unfastened. His pants needed no alterations except to be heavier or less able to catch at things. He put on one of the heavier weave pants, then he sat down to put on some heavy socks and boots. When finished he looked himself over in his mirror, shook his head and shrugged. It wasn't great looking but it would be cooler.
             Finally, he added his weapons and communicator to his tunic belt, and his translator around his neck. As an after thought tied his ranking headband on, more to keep his thick hair out of his eyes then to show who he was. He finished his klass in two gulps on the way out as he left to go meet Thunder Arrow and Roaring Wings behind their quarters.
             Under the group of shade trees that had been spared behind the native's quarters Roaring Wings was conducting his first class of the day on hunting principles. He was not dressed as a shaman today, only as a warrior as he explained the principle of the hunt to some young Atanzi males and females that had come to attend this informal class. B'tunku in standard field garb sat on a ground cloth with the rest of the class listening intently.
             White Deer still dressed in only her apron walked to the group with a very purposeful expression on her bronzed face. She made for her uncle and motioned for him to stop for a moment. White Deer approached him and whispered in his ear. He frowned momentarily, and nodded but then went back to his class. Then White Deer left and joined Falling Leaf showing some students how to prepare the deerskin from last night's dinner on a newly built stretcher frame of willow branches.
             Shortly thereafter, Ky'tulendu came from around the side of the building to join the group. His people looked shocked at his new uniform with his bare muscled arms showing as well as a good portion of his bare chest. White Deer smiled in admiration but then went back to work trying not to look his way again.
             B'tunku quirked an eyebrow at him. "Dressing rather casual aren't we, Asenti?" she asked, looking him over.
             He shrugged as he sat down next to her on the bare ground, "It's too damn hot for long sleeves and tightly fastened tops. I give permission to any that wish to follow my example and who want to be cool to do so. It's too easy to get a heat stroke out here," he commented. "In fact, I want someone to see about designing some warm weather clothes that hold up under the rugged conditions we will be encountering."
             "You might ask the natives for suggestions. I foresee our uniforms being replaced by leathers, furs, as well as native materials for cloth. Falling Leaf has been showing me samples of their woven works. They use the fibers from several different plants and make mats and other items. They have not developed true looms yet, but I think they would be receptive to them," she told him.
             "Have the survival and technical manuals been found yet?"
             "Some, not all. I still have two crews doing salvage work on the ship. The computers are almost out of emergency power. We are getting all that we can but much of the data is going to be lost to us. I have two people from data specialties working on a catalog of what we have downloaded and what is been translated to hard copy. I expect that by tomorrow or the next day. These activities are draining their power cells more rapidly than was estimated."
             "Hard copy as much as we can. We can't allow ourselves to lose any data. We have to start making machines that use alternate forms of energy so that we can at least keep half the equipment here at camp going."
             "I know that, but we are also running out of materials to put the hard copy on. Many of the blank data sheets were destroyed in the fire when the ship got hit in stores. I am working on substitutes, but there's just too many problems that have to be solved at once," she said sadly.
             "And not enough personnel to go around," he added. "Then we do the best we can, Doctor. The reason I am here besides learning some of these skills is to tell you Thunder Arrow and a group of his warrior is in camp and coming here."
             "Thunder Arrow, why? What for?" she asked not sure whether to be pleased or not.
             "He's looking for In The Forest who seems to be missing. He thought he might be here with O'vettun. Then it seems Little Snowbird killed herself right after the wedding, and he's not sure who to blame."
             "Great! We really needed that hot head here. I suppose you want me to give him the grand tour and find out what is on his mind?" she asked.
             "Precisely. I can't think of anyone else I can give the job to."
             "Thanks, and speaking of trouble here he comes. Notice that Roaring Wings and White Deer aren't pleased about his visit either," she commented as they watched the pompous chief stride up to his brother and give him a hearty greeting.
                                

* 46 *
                                                        

             "Brother, it is good to see you. How do you fare among these strange ones?" Thunder Arrow asked as he hugged his brother in greeting.
             "Very well, my Chief. What brings you here?" Roaring Wings asked carefully, letting his brother do the explaining.
             "To seek that son of mine and bring him home. His bride killed herself and he cannot be found. I thought he might be here with his new friends," he said with little remorse for the loss of the girl.
             "No one has seen him. You said Little Snowbird killed herself. How is her father Swimming Otter taking it?" Roaring Wings asked, worried about possible repercussions from the Owl Clan.
             "He is grieving. I left him with Sees Far."
             "He did not chose to come with you to find In The Forest?"
             "No, but I left warriors to watch him in case he decides to go on a revenge hunt. It was too bad his daughter was that unstable. Never thought she was that type," Thunder Arrow commented missing the dark looks his brother was giving him.
             Roaring Wings class had moved away and had gone over to where White Deer and Falling Leaf were working the deerskin. Ky'tulendu and B'tunku remained where they were watching the two men. They wanted to keep themselves ready to step in if need be.
             "Since I am here I wish to see this village for myself. I want to see these wonders and magics that the strangers and my son talked of. Maybe even do some trading for some of their magics," he hinted, with a grin. "Is there someone who can show me around?" he asked.
             Taking the cue Ky'tulendu and B'tunku got up, dusting their pants off from the dirt of the ground as they came up to the two men.
             "Greetings, Thunder Arrow, I see you made it safely here," Ky'tulendu said welcoming him with a bow.
             "Yes, except your warrior was not too informative as to what things were as we passed," he complained.
             "He may not have known. Not all my people are informed about how things work here in camp and can answer questions. The man who brought you here was a security guard. He knows weapons and just general level information, no more."
             "I see. Then who can explain your wonders to me?" the chief asked impatiently.
             "I was going to let the Doctor whom you met the other day give you a tour. She can explain everything to you," Ky'tulendu said indicating B'tunku.
             He laughed, "Hah! A woman who knows everything. You are a strange people, you Atanzi. Women who know things," he said laughing even more.
             B'tunku was finding it hard to control her rising temper at the stupidity of Chief Thunder Arrow's attitudes but as an officer she knew she must control herself, so she gritted her teeth and smiled sweetly at him. "Chief, I assure you I can answer all your questions. I took Roaring Wings on a tour and he and his people were very impressed."
             "I am harder to impress, cat-woman. Though I will let you show me this camp of yours. Would you care to join me, brother? I have some family matters to discuss with you and this seems like a good time," the chief requested, but it came out more like an order to be obeyed.
             "I will join you, but first let me leave Spotted Cat in charge of my class," he requested.
             He excused himself and went over to the three warriors he had brought with him and explained the situation. Spotted Cat nodded and went over to the group watching Falling Leaf and began getting the hunting class back together with the other two warrior's help. Roaring Wings then rejoined his brother.
             "Asenti Ky'tulendu, are you coming with us?" Thunder Arrow asked hopefully.
             "No, I have duties to see to. I will join up with you later in the day. Enjoy the tour," he told them and walked away.
             After Ky'tulendu left, Thunder Arrow turned to B'tunku. "All right cat-woman show me this place of yours. I wish to know everything about your people and their magics," he said with a slow smile while his dark eyes took in all that he saw greedily.
          

             Ky'tulendu had left the group with a plan forming in his head. He needed one of the Soaettes for it though, and he hoped at least one of them was still capable of flying. The surviving members of both the Soaettes and the Tranquils were housed in the infirmary because of their illnesses. He had planned to see Vokolin anyway, so this accomplished two tasks at once.
             His nose wrinkled in distaste as soon as he stepped into the building. The smell of chemicals, medicines and sickness hung heavy in the air. Even the fans and filtering systems couldn't eliminate it all. He asked the med specialist on duty where Vokolin was and she gave him directions.
             It was a shock when he opened the door and saw his once healthy and vivacious first officer. She had lost massive amounts of weight from her already thin form making her fur, what there was of it, appear to be stretched tautly over bones and nothing more. Her once luxurious fur was gone in great chunks from all over her body revealing a pale, red spotted skin beneath. Her eyes were huge and feverish, and her body jerked spasmodically as she had another coughing spell as he entered. IV's were hooked up to both arms, one with blood the other with unknown medicines.
             "Vokolin, . . . I didn't know it was this bad," he said stunned at what he saw. He felt rooted in the doorway with his hand upon the knob just staring at the sight before him.
             She looked up startled and embarrassed for him to see her this way. "Asenti, I did not hear you come in. I did not want you to worry about me when you have so much more to worry about," she said in a croaking whisper.
             "B'tunku said you were ill, but I never dreamed."
             "I asked her not to tell you. She will make you a good second in command, maybe even a wife. Too bad I will not live long enough to see what you make of this world, Asenti," she said, trying to smile as she laid back against her pillows.
             "Vokolin, don't talk that way. Sciences will find a cure."
             "In time perhaps, but not in the time I have allotted. I will not be here much longer. Already this morning, three of my kind have gone to the ancestors. I will be with them soon. Do not cry for me, that is way of it. I do not fight what must be."
             "I wish I could say something. . . apologize for bringing you here," he said, feeling his tears threatening to escape.
             "You had no choice but to come here. We could have all died in space or on some other world. Here your people have a chance. This world was made for your kind, not mine, or for the Soaettes. We accept this and feel no bitterness. At least we got to see its beauty for a little while. And it is a pretty world, Asenti."
             "Vokolin, is there anything I can do for you? Anything at all?" he asked feeling helpless just standing there watching the slow painful rise and fall of her chest, and hearing the rattling of her breathing.
             "Just take good care of your people, and guide them in the ways of this world as you have been. You are a better Asenti than I thought you would be. You were so young when you came to me. You have surprised me, and I am proud to have served under you, sir."
             "Thank you, Vokolin, I will try. Should I leave you to rest now?" he asked wondering if he was overtaxing her.
             "Yes, I feel the need to sleep. Go, Asenti Ky'tulendu and be well in all things," she said dismissing him.
             "And you," he said softly as he backed out of the room and closed the door gently behind him.
             He leaned against the wall in the hallway for several long minutes, composing himself. He knew his second would be dead by nightfall. There was no doubt. It was still hard to accept. They had served together for seven years. She had always been there knowing what report he needed, scheduling his appointments, running interference for him at Alliance, and making sure everything on the ship ran efficiently. He had looked up to her for her wisdom and incredible knowledge she could call up at the touch of her fingers. He found it hard to reconcile the images he had of her with the living skeleton in the bed he had just seen. He was going to miss her more than she would ever know.
             There was nothing he could do for her he realized, except do the best job he could with his survivors. He had to make this into a viable community and not just a collection of individuals. He was responsible for them all and in a way responsible for the natives that were coming under his influence. He had not just one group to guide but two. He could no more divorce them from the natives than cut off his arm. They were going to be linked too closely for that.
             His biggest obstacle to peaceful relations was going to be Thunder Arrow. The old man was one of the most self-centered, arrogant, and dangerous persons he had ever encountered. At least he had few followers among his people. Ky'tulendu was grateful that Thunder Arrow's son and brother were both reasonable intelligent men. Somehow they had to get this pompous chief's attitudes turned around before he caused more damage to his people and possibly to the Atanzi.
             Ky'tulendu had to find In The Forest and let him know what was happening. He doubted that the man knew his bride had killed herself. Ky'tulendu knew he might be interfering in tribal politics by what he had in mind, but something had to be done before Thunder Arrow did something.
             He went back to the medical reception desk and asked where he could find the Soaettes and what their conditions were. They were only in marginally better shape than the Tranquils. Only Gov'nn was able to still fly. That was good. The flier knew In The Forest on sight and might be able to locate him. He went to see him.
             He found the flier outside looking up the sky. He looked over as the Asenti approached, curiosity in the lavender eyes.
             "You finally come to see us, Asenti?" he asked, bitterness in his high pitched voice.
             "This is the first chance I have had Sen Commd, I have had many duties."
             "Yes, I have heard about your trip to the native village and that some of the natives have come here to visit. It goes well with these humans?" the bird man asked.
             "I believe so. We have found that certain of the humans have bio-readings like Atanzi. We have been finding that there are very little differences between us except for outward appearances. The natives have been brought here to teach our people how to live off this land. Hopefully in the future we all will be able to work together."
             "That is good that your kind will survive and make friends with these humans. What of the native and the specialist I met. How goes it with them?"
             "There have been problems with his father who is the Asenti of his people. He has made them split up. That is why I have come to you to ask for your help if you are up to it," Ky'tulendu said, feeling him out.
             The Soarette looked at him quizzically. "What do you wish from me?"
             "To locate the native, In The Forest and bring him back to camp. Can you carry anyone or is that too much for you?" he asked solicitously.
             "I can still carry. I have not lost all my strength yet. When do you want me to do this?" he asked.
             "As soon as you can leave. I need to talk with him. He is off hunting by himself in the woods around his father's village. His father has sent warriors to find him but I want him found before they do and brought here."
             "I understand. What if he does not wish to come?"
             "Tell him that his father is here looking for him, and that Little Snowbird is dead and O'vettun is missing. That should interest him," Ky'tulendu said. "You can also tell him I will elaborate on all of this when I see him, but I must see him."
             "As you wish. The specialist is missing? Is she with him?"
             "I don't think so. If she is let me know by communicator and I will make alternate plans."
             "Very good, Asenti. I will leave as soon as I get my equipment. I will report back to you through central control when I have located him."
             "Thank you, Govenn h'zz."
             "At least I can end my days doing something useful, Asenti. Dying is not an easy thing to accept for my people. Rather it be fast and quick than this slow wasting away," the bird man said sadly.
             "I wish it was in my power to do something for you and the Tranquils."
             "But it's not. And these are the risks I knew I might face when I joined the Alliance and Command," he sighed, then seriously he added, "I will bring you native back. Good by, Asenti, and thank you for visiting my people."
             Then the bird man walked away into the building leaving Ky'tulendu staring after him, and admiring him for his courage. After a moment he bestirred himself to walk in the opposite direction hoping to join up with Thunder Arrow and B'tunku and see how the tour was going.

       
* 47 *

             The bright blue sky was becoming cloudy, and off to the eastern ocean side of the island dark clouds were gathering on the horizon. A storm was starting to build. He could feel it in the gradual dropping of the barometric pressure and the wind was picking up too he noted in the higher levels of the atmosphere. Better find that human and get this mission over and done with before it hit.
             Govenn h'zz flew over the broad treetops in a low angled search pattern looking for the human, In The Forest, as the Asenti had ordered. He was getting very impressed with the variety of both flora and fauna he saw as he flew. This was truly a rich unspoiled land. He hoped it could keep most of its wild beauty. It was too beautiful and unique a world to lose to normal Alliance colonization practices. Unfortunately, that was something he would have little say in because he wouldn't be here to enjoy it too much longer.
             He would enjoy as much as he could until then by doing the things he was best at. Tracking like this was a challenge to all his skills. A challenge he needed. It felt good be out away from his fellows whose depression and illness were wearing on his nerves. He was the only one who still felt like flying. They had given up all hope, all will to survive, but not him, not yet. If they wanted to die, then so be it. He wanted to live and do it to its fullest.
             He was the youngest of the survivors, maybe that accounted for some of his determination and will. But he had always been more independent, resourceful and chafed under any restrictions imposed upon him. He had bowed to Lenn j'zz leadership on board, and Runna k'xx on the ground, but she was dying and Tollk m'zz was too near to her in age to listen to seriously.
             Tollk m'zz wanted them all to crawl into their nests and never fly again. Not him. He needed the wind in his feathers, the cool air, and the feeling of freedom he never got on the ground. Soon he would be the last of his kind here, but that really didn't matter as long as he could fly free.
             His sharp eyes picked up the trail of the human from where he had left the village. He was glad the humans wore foot coverings. It made them easier to track because of the distinct patterns that they left behind. He also noted where the other warriors were. They had a ways to come yet. He nodded in satisfaction, he would still get there first.
             He found an opening through the thick tree branches of the primal forest, a small clearing directly in front of where In The Forest would emerge. He landed and found a huge fallen oak log covered with moss to sit on as he waited for him. He amused himself by watching how the sunbeams filtered down to the carpeted floor to light up sections of the deep shadowed foliage like spotlights on a stage. And on those stages he watched the various life forms perform their ritualized behaviors ignoring him. It was a very pleasing show.
             In The Forest was still tracking the buck he had spotted last night. It came as a shock to him to see the Soarette in the sunlit clearing he was skirting. So quiet was the winged man that he mistook him for a ghostly illusion, a trick of the light and his eyes. This was the last place he expected to see one of the winged ones.
             "Govenn h'zz? Is that you?" In The Forest called out breaking the quiet of the glade with his voice that echoed off the ring of massive ancient trees.
             Getting no immediate response he cautiously came over to where the bird man sat on the huge log. The blue tinged feathers were bright white in the sunlight that filtered through the trees making it clear that this being came from different skies. No earthly bird was ever that shade of intense white.
             The Soarette waited a while before speaking, because he had been lost in his own thoughts. He looked up and his large lavender eyes looked the human over and saw his silence had worried him, "I heard you. I've been waiting for you. I am sorry that I did not respond I was distracted." he apologized.
             "I wasn't sure whether you were real or not, Govenn h'zz." In The Forest said coming closer now and relaxing.
             The Soarette beamed happily and cocked his head to look at the human better, "I see you remembered my name. Yes, it's me, human, Govenn h'zz. I was sent to find you by the Asenti. He wishes to see you," he said coming down to business.
             "Me, why?" In The Forest asked coming closer. He was suspicious and wary now.
             "I do not know all the particulars, but it seems your father has sent some men to look for you. They are following your trail and will be here shortly," he warned him, and saw In The Forest look quickly back the way he had come. Then he turned his attention back to the bird man.
             "May be they are, but that's not answering my question. Why does the Asenti want me and now my father? I have done nothing but go out hunting. I am hurting no one," he protested, concerned that people were looking for him.
             "That may be so. All I know is that I was asked to bring you back. The Asenti also told me to tell you that Little Snowbird is dead and your O'vettun is missing," the Soaette relayed knowing full well this would get him interested.
             In The Forest felt like he had been pole axed. "Dead? You said Little Snowbird was dead? How? Why? She was fine when I left last night. Crying about what I had told her, but she was alive. He is sure about that?" he questioned him intently. He was becoming frightened now.
             "I told you I don't know! I wasn't given any details. The Asenti said he'd tell you when you got back to camp," he told him calmly as he stretched and plumped his feathers to relieve some of the aches he was feeling.
             "All right, but you say that O'vettun is missing? I do not understand what is going on," he told him, feeling very confused and upset.
             "Nor do I , human. I am only repeating what I was told. Are you coming then?" he asked. with a lift of a feathery brow as he cocked his head to watch the man struggle with the revelations he had been hit with.
             There was only on decision he could make in the face of this news, he gave the Soaette his answer. "Yes, I will see the Asenti. But how do I get there?" he asked not seeing the airship.
             That amused the bird man and he cawed and chuckled, "I am to fly you back if you are brave enough to let me carry you," Govenn h'zz said daring him.
             "Hah! You don't look strong enough for that. I must weigh almost double what you do," In The Forest said, looking over his delicate appearing body and wings.
             "You probably do, but I am stronger than I look and have carried more than your puny carcass weighs some very long distances many times," he clipped back proudly as he stood up to his full height which made him tower over the human more than a foot.
             "All right, if you say so," he replied skeptically looking up at him now, trying to contain his fears. "When you want to leave?" In The Forest asked waiting.
             "I would suggest before the other humans get here," he said, cocking his head suggestfully in the direction from where In The Forest had come. Then he noticed the bow and quiver of arrow he had slung across his broad naked back. "You're going to have to leave those behind. They'll get tangled in my wings when I fly," he told him.
             "All right, but I hate to. These were my best set for hunting big game. You're going to owe me a replacement for them."
             "We'll see, we'll see," Govenn h'zz teased as he waited with folded arms for the human to do something with his weapons.
             In The Forest grumbled as he took off his weapons and stashed them near the base of the log to retrieve them in the future. "I hope they don't get damaged before I can get them," the native told him as he returned to where the bird man stood waiting.
              "You will get them back, even if I have to come back myself and retrieve them," he said pleasantly, "What I want now is for you to put your arms around my neck and hold on tight. I'll support your body in my arms if you don't find being this close to me offensive," he inquired.
             "Why should I? I see you as a man, just a little different from myself. I have no reason to fear you," he said bravely coming close and doing as the Soaette had requested.
             The human put his muscled arms around his neck, ignoring the feel of the bird man's feathers as they scratched him. He felt his body lifted up by arms that were thinner, but seemed more powerful than his own. It was a strange sensation. He had not been held like this since he was a child. He was a man, fully grown and this being was now going to carry him as if he were a mere babe.
             "Got a good grip? Remember to hold tight and not look down if you are afraid of heights," Govenn h'zz warned as he took a couple of running steps forward and bounded up in the air his great wings flapping mightily as he fought gravity and they became airborne.
             This was different than riding in the air ship. He could feel the wind rushing against his face and the feathers on Govenn h'zz's chest whipped and ruffled in fast time against his nose and mouth tickling on one hand and stinging on the other as their air speed picked up. In The Forest opened his eyes as watched in wonder as they rose above the tree tops into the freedom of the open air where only clouds and birds had dwelled.
             The view was similar to what he had seen out of the window of the ship but it was more personal now because he could feel the cool air rushing past him. It made him shiver but he ignored it as best as he could. He could feel and hear the beating of the bird man's heart, and the tremors caused by the beating of the great and powerful wings as they pushed against the wind.
             "How are you doing, human?" Govenn h'zz asked him as he caught a air stream to glide on and ease the strain on his wings.
             "I am enjoying this. I envy you that you can do this any time. It is beautiful up here," In The Forest said candidly.
             "Yes, it is. Your planet is quite nice. Nicer than many I have seen. Keep it this way. It deserves it. My people didn't and now my kind wanders far seeking new places to live and grow. It is a pity that my people could not adapt here. It would have been good for them," he said with a touch of sadness.
             "Your people won't be living here?" he asked confused.
             "No, we are dying from something in your world that doesn't like us. So are the Tranquils. Only the Atanzi will survive and thrive here, not us," he told him his voice without rancor and hate for the will of fate.
             "I am sorry to hear that about your people and you," In The Forest said, wishing he knew what else he could say.
             "Don't be sad human, that is the way it is. I will fight my fate for a while and soar on the winds of this world as long as my wings will carry me. I will go out as a warrior and flier of my people, proudly and with dignity. I will accept nothing less."
             "Those are good thoughts, Govenn h'zz, my people have similar feelings on what it means to be a man and a warrior and how is a good way to die."
             "You interest me human, there are great depths in you. After we get back to camp, one day I would like to discuss these thoughts and philosophy of your people. I want to see what points are similar. It is a hobby of mind," he inquired.
             "I would like that too and to learn more about your people so I may tell mine and my children and my children's children about the bird people that once flew in our skies. This will be the stuff which legends are made of." In The Forest said wishing he knew a way to keep a record of his adventures.
             A thought then struck In The Forest, "Govenn h'zz do your people and the Atanzi have ways of making sure information never vanishes, so that others can know what you knew without telling them face to face?" he asked.
             "Yes, it's called writing. We have symbols for the words we speak and others can read what is written. Your people don't do the same?"
             "Only a little, they draw pictures of things, but these pictures can not tell all and it takes a story teller to interpret them. Most of what we know is passed by talking or showing. We talk, tell stories, and if the stories are not repeated, and the story teller dies, the story dies with them. The same with old knowledge. I have heard from my uncle that one time long ago we knew much more than we do now, and had great and powerful magics. They are lost to us because the knowledge was not passed down. If I understand what you mean about writing down things. We had written down books, but no one can read them now."
             "Your people had books, and a written language. Do any of these books still exist?" Govenn h'zz asked very interested now.
             "My uncle could tell you. I don't know. Why?"
             "There might be information in them that could help your people, tell them about themselves. I would like to see them and so would others. We might even figure out a way to read them so everyone would know what was in them," he said becoming excited now.
             "That might be good, Govenn h'zz. I will ask my uncle about them. In the meantime how
can I learn to read and write so that I might know the world of the Atanzi better?" he asked seriously.
             "That is something I do not know. I would ask the Asenti or the Doctor, they will be able to help you. You constantly amaze me, human," the bird man said looking down at him.
             "Why because I want to learn and be more than I am?"
             "Yes, that. I had not anticipated such curiosity when I first met you. Are all your people like you?"
             "No, just some. A small number really," In The Forest told him.
             "That is good though that others want to know and learn as you do. We are coming to the camp and will be setting down in a few moments," Govenn h'zz announced as they passed the newly built bridge and flew over the outer borders of the camp.
             "O'vettun is nearby, I can feel her," In The Forest told him with awe in his voice as they passed over the cave. His eyes now wore an unfocused look as he tried to pinpoint what he was feeling and from where.
             "You can feel her?" the bird man asked incredulous at this previously unsuspected talent of the human.
             "Yes, when she is close. I can sense her dimly when we are far separated, but the closer I get the stronger I feel her can hear her thoughts and feel what she is feeling," he told the Soaette.
             "Human, what other surprises do you have for me?" the bird man said beginning his landing by the native quarters.
             "Surprises? Me? I am only a simple man," he said as they touched down and he felt the Soaette relax his wings.
             "Hah! We will talk later human, but for now you can let go we are on the ground," he told him as he let go and let the human stand up.
             In The Forest let go of his neck and looked around. He was close by the area where Roaring Wings had been conducting classes earlier. No one was around. It was lunch time and the students had gone off to eat. The natives that had not gone with Roaring Wings were inside.
             "Where do I go?" asked In The Forest looking for his people or the Asenti.
             "Let me call the Asenti and see where he wants to meet you," Govenn h'zz told him as he got his communicator out and punched it on. "Asenti, this is Govenn h'zz. The native and I have returned to camp and are outside the native quarters. Where do you want him to meet you?" he asked.
             "You found him, good. I am with his father now. Can you take him to my quarters and I will meet him there. I would like to talk with him alone first," Ky'tulendu said his voice very low.
             "Understood, sir. Will do. Govenn h'zz out," he said and shut the device off. Then he turned to In The Forest. "You heard our conversation?"
             The human nodded. "Yes. I would like to talk with the Asenti first too. I am not ready to deal with my father yet," he said not looking forward to that encounter.
             "This way then," the bird man said directing him towards the command quarters further down the row of buildings.
        It had been almost two days since the young human had been here and the place was completely transformed from the tents he remembered to rows of completed buildings, while still more buildings were being erected as they watched. Everywhere was activity of all kinds, people coming and going and the sounds of construction. It boggled the native's mind to see how these people had so quickly made their camp. It would have taken his people months to do what they had done in several day's time. Some things he saw he had no words or concepts of, so alien where the structures as well as their functions. Even their huge three story lodges were so unlike anything he had ever seen that he walked in a daze past most of them.
             They walked, passing a few Asenti on their duty rounds, but none of the natives. They arrived at the command barracks and In The Forest looked up marveling at the clear windows and the smoothness of the outer walls. His people could make their wood smooth up to a point but it took many long hours, sometimes days to achieve such a thing to one piece of wood, here the Atanzi had done it to all the pieces of wood. The Soarette opened the wood and glass front door and motioned for him to enter and In the Forest did, more than a little afraid to enter such a grand lodge such as this.
             "I can take it from here alone, Govenn h'zz,. I can find my way and wait by myself. You look tired, go get some rest," he suggested.
             "I am a little tired. If you will be all right then I will go on back to my quarters near the infirmary. You can visit me there if you like," he told him, leaving an open invitation for the human.
             "I will soon as I find out what is going on. Thank you Govenn h'zz for the ride and the talk. They were both very enjoyable," he said, patting him on the shoulder.
             The Soarette looked at him curiously, shrugged and did the same to the human. "Good bye human, until we meet again," he said in parting, closing the door behind him. Then he walked off towards his quarters across the wide grounds of the compound.
             In the Forest watched his friend leave then he turned to study the interior of the lodge. The building smelled overpowering of newly cut cedar logs, mixed with machinery. Unsure where to go he followed the long central corridor up to the back steps and went up to the second floor.
             His mocassined footsteps echoed eerily in the near-empty hallways on the wood floors, Long narrow windows lit both ends with pale sunlight, but the upper story was gloomy like the ship had been. By instinct he found the right door and he knocked twice before he gave up sensing that no one was home. At a loss as to what to do next In The Forest sat down in front of the Asenti's room to wait. He knew he could have gone in and waited. But a man's lodge was private and off limits until invited in by the owner. He was not sure if this was the case among Atanzi but he didn't want to take any chances. So he sat and he waited.
   

* 49 *

             Ky'tulendu put the communicator away, and rejoined the group of natives and B'tunku who stood nearby waiting for him. He was going to have to come up with a polite way to excuse himself and go see In The Forest, providing he could get away from Thunder Arrow who had made him his own personal tour guide, ignoring B'tunku all together.
             They had just finished going through the heavy machinery shed. The natives, especially Thunder Arrow, were very impressed with the fliers, floaters, and the ground vehicles of the Atanzi. The anti-gravity floaters that could lift many times their size and weight were marvels. Ky'tulendu and B'tunku were beginning to wonder if this tour had really been a good idea. They could see that Thunder Arrow was taking it all in very, very intently and coming up with his own notions of how some of these machines could be used for his benefit.
             With all this intense interest in their technology, the Asenti decided not to give him a tour of the armory. They did however, demonstrate the uses of a stunner so that the natives would understand that they were more than capable of defending themselves from attack. Thunder Arrow was very subdued after that demonstration for a long time.
             The data retrieval center met with mixed reactions. Roaring Wings was impressed and requested that he would like to learn to read and write in Alliance standard script. His eyes were filled with awe and desire to be able to know what lay behind the covers of the growing stacks of hard copy printouts from the ship. To Thunder Arrow this was all very interesting, but there was nothing he could see a practical, immediate use for. He dismissed the books and knowledge in the room with a wave of his hand as it being nothing a warrior needed to know. Ky'tulendu, B'tunku and Roaring Wings just looked at him and shook their heads and went on with the tour.
             Ky'tulendu found a way to excuse himself before they went on to sciences labs, and did so leaving B'tunku to once again deal with the pompous chief as best she could. He was grateful that Roaring Wings was along on the tour to keep the two from each others throats and to smooth out things. B'tunku and the chief were not getting along at all. He knew that when this was over she would have quite a bit to say to him on the subject of the chief and his attitudes towards the Atanzi and women of any species in general.
             He found In The Forest asleep in the hallway leaning against his door when he came up the stairs. The native woke up quickly at his approach. He looked up sheepishly at the Atanzi commander standing over him.
             "I must have been more tired than I thought," he yawned, apologizing for falling asleep that way.
             "No need to apologize. We are all running a little short of sleep nowadays. And I apologize for dragging you away from your hunting but we have some things to talk about."
             "Govenn h'zz told me a little. Tell me what you know, Asenti Ky'tulendu," he requested as he got up from the floor with a bound and stood next to him.
             "Inside will be better to talk than here," he suggested and let them both into his room. "It's a bit messy, but find a place and sit. No one will disturb us here," he added apologizing for the mess.
             Ky'tulendu explained what he knew from Thunder Arrow as he fixed them both a cup of klass. In the Forest was taking it very well, surprising under the circumstances, Ky'tulendu noted.
        In The Forest just shook his head when Ky'tulendu finished his explanation of the facts as he knew them. Quietly, the native finally replied, "I see what happened. No, I know nothing beyond the point where I walked out on her to go hunting. Little Snowbird did not take my explaining of my forced marriage to her very well. I couldn't bear to spend the night with her so I went out hunting to think. I may have been too harsh and unfeeling in what and how I told her, but I never expected her to take her own life. It is not something that happens too often among my people. I feel much sorrow that she did such a thing. I just wanted her to accept the fact that I could never be a husband to her the way she wanted, that's all," he said truthfully.
             "Will her father do anything? Start a war, maybe?" the Asenti asked concerned for both their peoples.
             "I can't say. I don't know Swimming Otter that well. But he is a reasonable man, unlike my father. He has other daughters, but Little Snowbird was his favorite. My father was not too bright going off and leaving him at our village alone with his grief. That will not set well with him or his people. Hopefully my mother, Sees Far, can keep him calm."
             "I hope so too. I would not like to see your people have a war over this tragedy that your father created," Ky'tulendu said sincerely.
             "Yes," In The Forest agreed with a sigh. "What is this about O'vettun being missing? Are you sure?" he asked looking at him worriedly.
             "She has not been seen since she arrived back here. She was seen going to go to her quarters but she never went there. The last report we have of her is her knocking a sentry out by the bridge, but from there all traces of her vanish. We have been searching, but none of the scans of this area have picked up anything," Ky'tulendu told him.
             In The Forest smiled to himself as he took a sip of this klass. Ky'tulendu saw his smile and was puzzled. "What is it In The Forest do you know where she is?" he asked.
             He nodded, "I think I do. I have a hunting lodge underground in the caves across the creek that I have been using for last couple of years. I took her there the night you could not find her. She said something about the scanning devices can't see through the rocks of the cave. She is probably there," he said, then wondered if he should have told him.
             "It's true, the scanners can't see through certain types of minerals and elements. Caves you said? How large?" Ky'tulendu asked interested.
             "Very large. Passed the entrances ways there is a huge main chamber with many passages going off into the darkness. I have only gone down a few of the passageways because I didn't want to get lost in the darkness without torches. In one chamber there is a waterfall and an underground river with fish and shellfish in it. It is also lighted by a golden light that comes from nowhere I can see."
             "Fascinating," Ky'tulendu replied thoughtfully, storing the information for further use in the future. "Do you think O'vettun might be there?" Ky'tulendu asked.
             "It seems likely. The cave was very well stocked with food, weapons, skins from animals I had killed that I was working on to make clothes for the winter. She would have everything that she might need for a long time," he said.
             Ky'tulendu considered all this then asked, "What do you think I should do about O'vettun?" he asked carefully.
             In The Forest looked startled at the question, he had not expected that. "I don't know Asenti. What do you want to do?"
             "I am not sure either. On one hand it is not good that she left camp, assaulted a fellow officer, and is hiding out, but I do understand her not wanting to stay. However, I do not like her being off alone, capable of taking care of herself as she may be."
             "Nor do I, there are many dangers in the woods around here, and dangers in the caves as well. She is very much a stranger still to this world of mine. I am torn between wanting to be with her and not sure whether I should. There is my father, and the treaty."
             "Yes, there is the treaty. Though consider and think. that with Little Snowbird gone are you still bond to stay away from O'vettun or are you now free to join her?"
              "Logically, I should be free of all obligations since Little Snowbird is dead. However, my father may not see it that way."
              " True. Your father has much contempt for us and he may have more plans for you," Ky'tulendu suggested.
             The native nodded, his head down as he considered all the possibilities now open, "Yes, he may decide to marry me off to someone else's daughter. He does not accept my bonding to O'vettun. I wish I could disappear completely so I would never be made to do what he wants. Unfortunately, I will be chief someday and cannot just leave and start life anew somewhere far from him. I have to think of my people. If I do not become chief then Kicking Bear will and he is more of a hothead than my father is," In The Forest told him, explaining the dilemma he faced.
             "That does not sound good, I have met Kicking Bear. He would not make a very good chief, I agree. So what do you want to do?"
             "See my father, I suppose. Find out what he wants and go from there," In The Forest said rising.
             "Are you sure?" Ky'tulendu asked. "You don't want to see O'vettun?"
             "No, not yet. I don't want to get either of our hopes up until I know for sure that we can be together always. I can feel her still, and knowing she is near is enough for now. Take me to my father, Asenti. Let's get this over with," the man said, gritting his teeth.
             "As you wish," Ky'tulendu said getting up off the bed where he had been sitting. He put his cup down and they left to go meet with the chief.
                
                                                       
             "Oooo. . . you-- pompous old . . . ! You deal with him Roaring Wings I'm going back to my quarters. Tell Ky'tulendu anything you want! I've had it!" B'tunku yelled at the chief and the bewildered shaman as she stormed away across the compound, furious and angry.
             Ky'tulendu and In The Forest were just coming around the corner of a building when they caught the display. The chief was grinning broadly while his brother was giving him dark, evil looks, and the warriors with the group were looking somewhat embarrassed by it all. B'tunku continued to storm all the way across the wide dirt lawns, her hands clenched in tight fists to her sides as she rapidly walked away.
             "What was that all about?" Ky'tulendu asked as came up to the tour group.
             "My brother was commenting on the state of women and their proper roles in life as he sees it! And commenting about his impressions of Atanzi females and how they could stand some proper lessons in behavior towards a real male. The Doctor took offense to what he was saying and lost her temper. Rather that tell my brother what was on her mind she left," Roaring Wings said apologetically to Ky'tulendu, but his own eyes were smoldering with rage every time he looked his brother's way.
             "I see. I will talk to the Doctor and get her cooled down," the Asenti said seeing that any defending of the doctor would fall on deaf ears if he discussed it with the chief. "The tour went all right otherwise?" he asked changing the subject.
             "Yes, it has been most interesting. I want to talk further with you, Asenti, about acquiring some of these marvels of yours for my people. I was particularly impressed with your stunners. They would make hunting much easier and safer for my people."
             Ky'tulendu saw the direction this was heading and decided to sidetrack him before this got sticky. "Yes, we will talk about the stunners later. I have brought In The Forest to you. My people found him and brought him here."
             "Yes, I see him, and I thank you for finding him," he told Ky'tulendu and looked his son over, "You--come with me!" he ordered and dragged his son off to talk privately with him leaving the Asenti, Roaring Wings and the other warriors standing there.
             Roaring Wings turned to the warriors who weren't sure what to do, "Little Beaver, take the men back to the my lodge here. Falling Leaf and White Deer will give some food and you can rest. There is nothing you can do here now," he told them.
             They looked relieved and gratefully they left for the native quarters.
             "I am surprised that B'tunku held her tongue as long as she did, Roaring Wings," Ky'tulendu commented as soon as they were alone.
             "I am too, Asenti. My brother pushes people sometimes too hard. He is chief so we take it from him. I wanted to defend the Doctor but I also did not want to give my brother a wedge. He sees the situation between her and me. He does not like it and hopes he can make a rift between us with his words. He does not understand because he feels no similar pulls," Roaring Wings explained, bitterly.
             "Does he know of White Deer and myself?"
             "No, we have been careful not to say or do anything to arouse his suspicions. My brother has much contempt for your people and only wants to use your magic for his own ends," he commented.
             "I know that, but he won't get far. I've dealt with people like him before and can handle this."
             "Good, he's never met his match before. He has never had someone not bow down to him. Please be careful he is a dangerous man and doesn't care who he hurts to get what he wants."
             "I know. . . . I will take your warning seriously. You look worried, what else is on your mind?" Ky'tulendu asked.
             "My nephew. Thunder Arrow plans to find another bride for him among the tribes and are you aware that he plans to marry off White Deer soon?"
             "Yes. Is there any way we can stop him from ruining more lives with this insanity?"
             "I don't know, Asenti. We will have to find a way. Is my nephew all right?" he asked wondering how he had taken the news of his bride killing herself.
             "He seems to be. He is understandably upset about Little Snowbird's suicide. He was surprised she would do such a thing. His main concern right now is worrying about what her father may be planning and what Thunder Arrow will next have him do. He is putting up with his father's demands only because he eventually wants to be chief. Though he is also worried about O'vettun, but he has no immediate plans to see her."
             "That is good in one way, but I wish it did not have to be this way for him. Somehow we have got to reason with my brother," Roaring Wings told him, and looked over to see Thunder Arrow and In The Forest coming their way.
             In The Forest looked both angry and depressed. He was frowning at what his father was saying to him, his lips were set in a hard bitter line. Finally he had enough and exploded.
             "Enough Father, enough! I am through being a pawn in your schemes. You marry Smiling Flower, I will not! I married Little Snowbird to keep the peace, but I refuse to be the cause of another girl's death or heartbreak. Being chief does not matter that much to me anymore to put up with your demands. Good bye, Father, and don't try to send men after me because they will not find me!" In The Forest told him, and then stalked off.
             His father glared as he watched him go across the compound heading towards the outer borders. "Ungrateful whelp!" he yelled at him, but In The Forest never slowed his pace.
             "Damn, that unreasonable son of mine. Probably going to go find that damn woman of his and if he does. . . ."
             "You'll do what Thunder Arrow? Your son did as you asked he married that girl and look what happened. What are you going to do? Are you going to keep marrying him off to girl after girl hoping that he'll change and be happy with the girl you pick for him? He is bonded to O'vettun nothing can change that."
             "I don't believe you!"
             "You're going to have to. It's fact. It's biology. He is mated to her like a wolf is mated to a she wolf. Only death will break that bond her has with her," Roaring Wings tried to explain.
             "People do not mate like wolves. They can mate with whoever they wish whenever they wish. They do not bond to one person only!" he roared.
             "In the ancients times our people did and the Atanzi's did too. We and the Atanzi are linked. We are alike even if we do not look alike. Then some of us are meant to have Atanzi mates. The ones of us that had the dreams."
             "The dreams again! That's just nonsense! I had no dreams, yet you expect me to believe you? This is just an excuse to mate with those animals and I will not allow my people to do that! None of you will mate with these animals or I will see the animals dead!" he roared louder.
             Ky'tulendu was taking it all in coolly and dispassionately as Thunder Arrow ranted and raved. "I don't think you can stop people from being with whom they want to be with, Thunder Arrow. You cannot stop what will be. Do you plan to kill us all?" he asked with a hard edge in his voice.
             "Yes, if need be. I will not see your people mix with mine and create monsters if anything is gotten from such an evil mating at all!" he shot back getting in Ky'tulendu's face.
             Ky'tulendu just grinned at him exposing his long pointed canine teeth which made the chief back up several steps in fear. "Monsters, huh? You really are quite narrow minded and bigoted, for a human. I am glad that no one else shares your views."
             "Are you so sure? My warriors are loyal to me! They will carry out my orders and storm this village if I say so!"
             Roaring Wings just looked at him incredulously, "They follow you because they are scared of you. They think you are impossible with your demands and will lead the people into disaster if you keep going on the path you have chosen."
             "You lie! You want to be chief--you have always wanted to be chief! I lead my people on the warriors way that brings them honor and glory. They have more than they have ever had under my father!"
             "Yes, but at a terrible cost in the lives of our men. And because we will not bend to your demands you wish to spill more blood for a cause without reason. See reason, Brother. The Atanzi are here to stay and they will be joined to our people. That is what was foretold in the legends! That is what is fact now!" Roaring Wings told him not backing down.
             "No! Never! This means war then between us cat-person. Never-- will I allow any of my people to mate with yours! NEVER!" he screamed at both of them and shaking his fist at them as he stormed off to the native quarters to gather his men and go home to make plans.
             "This does not look good, Asenti. I tried talking with him, he will not listen to any one. He has always been like this. My father was not happy about him becoming chief, but when our oldest brother was killed before he could take over that left Thunder Arrow next in line," Roaring Wings explained.
             "So your brother became chief by default? Your eldest brother left no children?"
             "No, he and his bride were killed by an attack on our village. Many people were killed and some of our women were kidnapped by mainlanders."
             "Do you think he'll start a war with us?" Ky'tulendu asked, concerned whether Thunder Arrows threats were real or not.
             "With him anything is possible. He will remember your weapons and be cautious, but he believes himself and his men to be invincible. He sees you as being weak because you try for peaceful solutions and don't wish to fight."
             "He reminds me of the Rumnulska. They thought we wouldn't fight either, but I proved them wrong. I will post more sentries after he leaves. I want to try to avoid a fight with him. I really do not wish to hurt him or any of your people," Ky'tulendu said, reflectively as he thought over what he had to do. "Come, Roaring Wings let us see what mischief your brother is stirring up among your people," he added and they walked off together to the native quarters in very glum, serious moods.

* 49 *
                                                            
                                   
             Outside the native quarters Thunder Arrow was attempting to take White Deer back with him to his village. She did not want to go and was fighting him. The other natives just stood back and watched afraid to interfere in this family squabble. They felt embarrassed to witness this private scene. Although some buried instinct told them to stay because somehow they knew that this was more than a family fight and would possibly decide the nature of Atanzi-native relations for long time.
             The old chief's face was getting even ruddier with the anger he was feeling towards his defiant daughter. He had not expected resistance from this daughter who had always been dutiful and obedient in all ways. To him she looked transformed into a wildcat with claws and fangs extended as she kept out of his reach as he tried to lay hands on her and physically drag her home.
             "WE ARE LEAVING NOW, DAUGHTER!" Thunder Arrow yelled angrily, making a grab for White Deer's wrist and missing it as she evaded him.
             She glared at him with daggers of pure hate in her eyes. Her chest was heaving and her small fists were clenched tightly into balls at her side as she warily watched him come after her again. She knew if he caught her she wouldn't be able to get free from his iron strength and she would be lost. She wasn't going to leave with him even if it meant running into the woods and hiding.
             "No we're not--- FATHER, I'm not going anywhere with you. I'm staying here. And I'm not marrying some warrior that you chose that I can never love!" she told him defiantly.
             "You WILL! You will marry whom I say when I say! It's bad enough your brother defies me but I WILL NOT have YOU DO IT TOO!" he roared at her, edging closer hoping to get her distracted enough that he could get a hold of her.
             "I WON'T FATHER, NEVER! I will marry whom I please! You cannot stop me!" she yelled back, moving ever backward away from him trying to find a way to run through the crowd surrounding them.
             Marry whom she pleased? That implied she already had someone in mind. What was going on that he didn't know about? Thunder Arrow looked at her narrowly as those thoughts raced through his anger charged head. "And who is it that you want to marry, girl? Tell me his name!" he demanded.
             "NO! I Won't!" she told him defiantly.
             "You will, daughter, you will! If I have to beat it out of you when I catch you-- you will tell me!" he threatened, still edging closer.
             She was backed up to the edge of the crowd with no where to go and suddenly felt hands push her violently back to her father's waiting arms. Before White Deer could react her father had grabbed her and held her tight to him with both her wrists bound together in front of her in one of his massive hands. She struggled, throwing herself back and forth and trying to kick him but to no avail. He had her and she couldn't get away!
             He grinned evilly down at her. "Defy me will you? Never again, Daughter! And you will tell me what I want to know--do you understand?" he demanded, squeezing her wrists painfully together and making her cry out in pain as she tried to twist out of his grasp.
             "NO! I WON'T!" she yelled at him becoming terrified of this anger in him, but she would not give in either and let him know her secret.
             "That's not the answer that I want! Tell me who it is!" he ordered, raising his free hand to hit her up side the head.
             An earsplitting unearthly roar like some giant wildcat cut through the air startling everyone and almost making Thunder Arrow lose his grip. Everyone looked towards the source fearful that some great unknown beast had come into the compound. There was no beast, only Roaring Wings and Ky'tulendu looking murderously at Thunder Arrow as they stood outside the loose circle of warriors.
             "Let her go, Thunder Arrow!" Ky'tulendu ordered, striding quickly through the crowd to where Thunder Arrow stood.
             "Get lost cat-man, this does not concern you. This is family business," he growled ignoring him.
             "It does concern me. This is my village and your daughter is a guest here under my protection. I will not have you or anyone else harm her!" he said in a deadly quiet voice, but his blue eyes were sparkling red with suppressed anger and rage over what was happening to his mate-to-be.
             "You have no authority here other than I grant you animal man. This is still all my territory, not yours. I grant you leave to live here, no more. In fact I want you and your kind gone from my lands, NOW! The treaty is broken. You either go or I will destroy you. Is That clear?" he threatened, holding on to his daughter tighter make her winch in pain.
             Ky'tulendu saw that and got more enraged. "We will not leave. Nor can you destroy us for it would be you that is destroyed. For such a smart man you are very stupid. Watch and learn, Thunder Arrow," he said quietly, taking out his stunner and putting it on the highest setting.
             Ky'tulendu picked out the biggest, most massive tree he could find and aimed his weapon at it. The beam hit the tree and surrounded it in an intense red light. It grew hotter at the point it hit until it burst into flame while its outlines shimmered and waved and then it vanished leaving only a black spot and charred dust behind. There were several gasps and murmurs of fear from the crowd. Even Thunder Arrow blanched whitely at the power of the Atanzi weapon inherent in the demonstration.
             Coolly Ky'tulendu turned back to him and asked. "Now do you think you can fight us and win? A man will burn the same as a tree or any other object, and we have many of these weapons some more powerful than this one," he threatened.
             Thunder Arrow was a little shaken but he did not back off, his pride wouldn't let him. "I will not try to fight you cat-man because your weapons are more powerful, and you can keep this land. But you and your people will keep to this place and not come to my village. I am taking all of my people back with me. There will be no contact between us EVER!" he told him, defying him to challenge him.
             "Don't you think the council and your people have some say in that?" Ky'tulendu asked pointedly. "I believe Roaring Wings group is here by the councils's will."
             "I am chief! I am leader! I say what happens--not council!" he screamed in rage.
             From the crowd there were mutterings of disagreement and displeasure from his statements. Ky'tulendu caught them even if Thunder Arrow didn't.
             "I think your people disagree with that Thunder Arrow."
             "You lie! I am chief, I will always be chief. I tell the council what to do. No old men tell me!" he shouted, defying anyone to tell him differently as he scanned the faces ringing him for support and to his shock he found none.
             "Your people don't believe you, Thunder Arrow. They believe in the council, not you. Look around and see," he told him.
             "No! I will settle this when I get home and I will take my people with me. All of them!" he told them all.
             Ky'tulendu shook his head, "Only those who wish to go with you. The ones that wish to stay can and are welcome here including your daughter whom I suggest you let go, now!" he warned in a deadly voice.
             "No, she goes home with me. She is mine to do with as I please. You may take my people cat man but you will not take her!" he said moving away from Ky'tulendu and dragging White Deer with him as he tried to escape the circle.
             Ky'tulendu moved quickly then, and brought his clawed hand down upon Thunder Arrows and squeezed breaking the chief's grip upon White Deer. She sprang away from her father quickly with wide eyes as she saw the look in both their eyes. She rubbed the feeling back into her hands as she stood and watched.
             The two males were locked together. Ky'tulendu had not removed his hand from Thunder Arrow's and his claws were starting to dig into the native's flesh slowly and painfully.
             "Now that I have your attention, we will talk Thunder Arrow," Ky'tulendu told him, seeing the growing fear in the native's dark eyes.
             "We have nothing more to talk about cat man," he said defiantly, trying to get away and finding he couldn't.
             "We do, about your daughter for one."
             "What concern is my daughter to you?" he asked puzzled and then comprehension hit him like a thunderbolt. "You want to marry her! You're the one she would not name! Now it makes sense," he said angrily.
             "Yes, Thunder Arrow, I am the one. And I am going to marry White Deer," he told him.
             "Over my dead body you cat-animal-BEAST-THING!" he yelled, trying to fling himself away from Ky'tulendu.
             "That can be arranged," Ky'tulendu warned, exposing his teeth. "White Deer and I are one of the dreamers, like In The Forest and O'vettun. We are bond to one another. That can not be changed by you or anyone--it just is! It is a call greater than ourselves that we answer."
             "That is something you all have made up. I don't believe you. I never will," he said bitterly, his eyes full of hate and contempt for Ky'tulendu and now his own daughter.
             Thunder Arrow stared at both of them, especially his daughter and the way she looked at Ky'tulendu and got sick at heart. He knew if he dragged her back she would run off or worse. In his heart he knew the truth of Ky'tulendu's statements, but still his pride would not allow him to give in gracefully.
             Bitterly he spat out his words that dripped with hate and contempt. "You can have her beast man. If she wants to lie with animals so be it. I want no part of her or my son. They are both dead to me. I never want to see either of them again! Their names will be stricken from the tribal records as if they had never lived."
             "That is not the way I wanted this to end Thunder Arrow. Your son and daughter both love you . . . ."
             "I have no son or daughter. They died when they took up with your kind. Release me beast man, we have nothing more to say to one another," he demanded.
             And Ky'tulendu did and moved back away from him. Thunder Arrow rubbed his wrist which was throbbing painfully from being held and from Ky'tulendu's claws. He looked at his daughter with a mixture of hate and sadness not sure which to feel now. These acts of defiance and treachery were the last things he had expected from her.
             Her wanting to make love to this animal man was beyond him and always would be. She and his son would now become dead to him in his heart. There was no other way to accept their mating with these beasts that walked like men.
             Thunder Arrow turned to his people and with his arms outstretched he announced, "I declare these persons dead--In The Forest and White Deer--they exist no more and their names are never to be mentioned in records of our people. I so say it! It is done!" he told them all in a loud booming voice and then lowered this arms. "All that wish to return to our village come with me now. Those that stay behind are also dead to our people. I am leaving now," he shouted turning in a circle to address everyone reading their faces and their intentions.
             He walked to where his brother stood, silent and immobile. "Are you coming, Brother?" he asked.
             Roaring Wings looked past him, not wanting to see him and shook his head. "No, I am staying. My place will now be here. There is nothing for me in your village," he said coldly.
             "Huh!" Thunder Arrow exclaimed in shock, "But you are the shaman! You are needed by the tribe!" he exclaimed completely bewildered by his attitude.
             Roaring Wings shook his head, "Maybe, but Grey Owl is trained in all the ways. He can take my place. I am needed here more. I want to stay and learn, which is something you will never understand."
             "Why are you needed? I see no one sick or in need of you!" Thunder Arrow questioned, completely baffled by his brother's remarks.
             "There is one in need of me, my Brother. I am a Dreamer too," he confessed knowing what his brother's reaction would be but it was better out in the open now than later.
             "A DREAMER? YOU? ENOUGH! HAS MY WHOLE FAMILY GONE CRAZY?" he roared, shouting at the top of his lungs again as he lost his temper completely.
             Roaring Wings looked down at him dispassionately, ignoring his ranting and raving, and shook his head again. "No, but I at least understand the pull upon my soul and do not fight what is meant to be. My mate is the Doctor and my place is here with her. Go-- Thunder Arrow --we have no more to say to one another," he said dismissing him and trying to walk away.
             Thunder Arrow reached out grabbing him on the shoulder trying to stop him, but Roaring Wings shook him off as if he did not exist and went over to where Ky'tulendu and White Deer stood.
             "Even my brother deserts me," he spat disgustedly at them. "Who else wants to lie with these animals?" he asked his people that stood waiting with hung heads daring them to desert him too.
             He soon got his answer as six of the ten warriors that had come with him moved to where Ky'tulendu and Roaring Wings waited. Thunder Arrow was shocked as saw how many of his best men were Dreamers--beast-lovers. It was more than he could stand.
             "Fine! So be it! Stay! I want none of your kind in my village," he stormed at them all as he raised a clenched fist to shake at them. "If there are any dreamers-beast-lovers in the village still I will destroy them, especially the women. This I promise beast man! On my ancestor's graves I promise this!" he shouted to them all then spun on his heels and stalked off towards the borders of the camp trailed by his remaining four warriors.
             As the maddened warrior-chief left Roaring Wings turned to Ky'tulendu worriedly. "Do you think we should have stopped him, Asenti?" he asked.
             "Maybe, but I would rather he leave and go somewhere to cool down. Is he serious in his threat to destroy any dreamers left in your village?" Ky'tulendu asked watching the chief disappear from sight.
             "I can't say. Luckily, he doesn't know how many or who they are. Only I do, that is at least something. Should we go and get them away from there before he does try to carry out his threat? I would not put it past him to destroy the council if they oppose him," Roaring Wings commented his eyes grave as he thought on how destructive and vindictive his brother could be.
             "You mean he would kill the members of the council?" Ky'tulendu asked horrified because he had not taken Thunder Arrows ravings seriously.
             "If he needs to, yes he would. To do it he would get aid from his allies in the other villages and make it look like a tribal war so he could seize all power and put his own people on the council. It has been done before. My brother is capable of many dark deeds."
             "Should we warn your people?" Ky'tulendu asked not wanting to see such a scenario come true.
             "Yes, at least let them know what we suspect he might do so they may prepare for any such move by him. We can get there before him in your flying machine. It will take him many long hours to get home on foot," Roaring Wings said with a slight smile.
             "It will at that. Who all do you want to take?" Ky'tulendu asked.
             Roaring Wings looked at the group that had remained, "You all have heard what the Asenti and I have been discussing. Who wants to go to the village with us and stop Thunder Arrow?" he asked them.
             They all raised their hands.
             "All right, get your weapons and meet us at the landing field. I will join you there shortly. You, Leaping Wolf, take charge of them. I will let the security people know you are coming. I need to tell some other people what we are doing before I go," Roaring Wings told them while he dismissed them.
             "Roaring Wings come with me," Ky'tulendu requested starting to head for command quarters.
             "Asenti, I want to go with you," White Deer called after him, trying to follow them.
             He spun around having forgotten about her in the heat of the moment. "No, I want you to stay here at camp where you'll be safe in case there is fighting."
             "I want to go where you go, Ky'tulendu!" she protested, coming close to him begging him with her large brown eyes.
             "No, White Deer. I want you to stay with the others. Please, do not argue with me on this. I want you safe. Do you understand?" he asked, looking down at her his eyes telling her what he could not say out loud in words.
             "I do. I will stay, but you must come back safely." she asked him wanting to throw her arms around him and hold him tight to her, but her upbringing wouldn't let her.
             He had similar thoughts but didn't want to give in to them, not yet, not here, this time. Solemnly he promised, "I will."
             He then turned and walked away before he did give in and kissed her. Roaring Wings followed casting a look behind him at his niece he followed them both with her eyes her expression sad and fearful for them both. When they were out of sight she took herself back to the native quarters to wait and pray for their safe return.
    

* 50 *
                                                                

             "Explain to me again why you are going to the native's village, Asenti," requested B'tunku with a hard edge in her voice over the commcon system. She was having a hard time with why Thunder Arrow would attack the council and kill his own people. It wasn't an action she had expected from the arrogant and obnoxious chief.
             "Precaution, Doctor, precaution. I don't want to see people killed because they are somehow connected to us. Thunder Arrow has nothing but hate and contempt for us. He's declared In The Forest and White Deer dead as far as his people are concerned. He has promised to kill all the dreamers or any who feel the pull to us as well as those on the council who oppose him. He is sick, Doctor, and he has to be stopped before he does hurt someone," Ky'tulendu told her.
             "I'm aware of that, but Command regulations forbid us from taking any action in this," she warned him.
             He glared at her, marveling at her stupidity as far as he was concerned. "Dammit, Doctor, get it through your head--we are no longer apart of Command or the Alliance! We are an independent colony that has to survive on its own. We are tied to these people--these are now our people--not nameless aliens separate and apart from us. We can not stand by and let innocents be slaughtered. And Thunder Arrow is capable of doing that and we both know it!" he told her angrily.
             "I can't allow you to do this Ky'tulendu. I outrank you, remember?" she said daring him to buck her.
             "Rank doesn't mean a thing here, Doctor. It's who can best get the job done. Hide behind your rules and regulations all you want. I'm taking action, and don't even think of trying to stop me," he warned her.
             "Or you'll what?" she asked, furious at him now.
             "I'll figure that out when I get back," he said, losing all patience with her, "Ky'tulendu out!" he added, savagely punching off the commcon control button.
             Ky'tulendu was still mad when he turned away from the screen he saw Roaring Wings regarding him with a serious expression on his scarred face. "I did not expect her to react like that, Asenti. I thought she would be pleased that we were going to help save my people from destruction. What is this Command regulation she kept taking about and her saying she outranked you?" he asked curiously.
             "She does out rank me, on paper at least. Only myself, my first officer and her know it. She thought by pulling rank she could stop me. She won't. Your people deserve our help and protection. The Command regulations have to do with non-interference in an alien culture by us, especially if we are the more advanced one. Normally I would have agreed and pulled back letting what ever happens happen. But I can't, not this time. Our peoples are already too closely tied to let that happen," Ky'tulendu explained, pacing a little to relieve the tension.
             "Yes, they are. Maybe she is seeing what I do. You are changing, Asenti. You are less and less the man of peace you were. You are becoming a warrior. Your heart and your intentions are still good and honorable ,but I see the bloodlust in you rising," he said gently, warning him what he saw.
             Ky'tulendu hung his head for a moment as the shaman words sunk in. "I can feel it Roaring Wings. It frightens me because it is so new. Maybe its this world or maybe its the pull of my impending bonding with White Deer that is breaking down all the barriers. Once my people fought each other over mates and territory as I see yours do. Those old instincts are rising to the surface. I don't know whether this is good or bad?"
             "Nor do I my friend, but you should guard it in yourself. It is good to be a warrior, although it is better to be a man of peace."
             "Old saying of your people?" Ky'tulendu asked.
             "No, just truth and wisdom. Should we be going? I see a storm coming up out of the east. Will your ship still be able to fly us through it?" he asked looking out the window at the darkening sky and the lightening flashes on the horizon.
             "Yes, if we can leave soon. I've flown in worse weather than this,." Ky'tulendu said evaluating the hazards.
             They left the building hurriedly after picking up communicators and extra stunners. He was not going to take any Atanzi with him. This was a native dispute. Interjecting his own people would only complicate and make things worse if there was a physical confrontation.
             The wind was picking up, cooling the hot air rapidly and blowing leaves and loose trash across the ground. He looked towards the east and saw nothing but dark heavy boiling clouds stretching across the horizon above the trees. He had seen storms before on other planets, though he had seen nothing quite like this before.
             "Is that a normal storm for around here?" he asked Roaring Wings as they dashed to the landing field.
             "It does not look good Asenti. Occasionally we have very bad storms here. It is too early to say what this one will do. Maybe it will bring only heavy rains and winds. . . ."
             "Or what, Roaring Wings? What are your storms capable of doing?" Ky'tulendu asked worriedly.
             "They can be very damaging with floods, high winds that crush and blow buildings and trees away. I have only seen two of those in my lifetime and they killed many of my people that could not either get to the high ground or into the caves for protection. After one such storm we had to completely rebuild the village from scratch. The storm took all the buildings away," he said seriously, remembering now.
             Ky'tulendu was more than a little worried now. He got his communicator out and punched it on. "Control, this is Ky'tulendu. Are you monitoring the storm?" he asked.
             "Control here, we are, Asenti. It's been building out in the ocean and is now coming our way. We have never seen a weather pattern quite like this. It is a very large frontal system with high velocity winds and moisture. We estimate that it will hit here in four hours or less with two hundred plus secunit winds," the female voice said, more than a little frightened.
             "Relay this information to MS B'tunku. In the meantime I want crews to secure all buildings, bring in any large machinery, large objects, tools, whatever might become airborne by these winds. When it hits turn the force fields up to maximum power and no one is to leave their quarters until the storm is over. Relay these instructions to all buildings and outpost sentries and get them back to camp, too. No one is to be out in this," he ordered.
             "Where will you be, sir?" she asked.
             "At the native's village with one of the fliers. I have some business to take care of there but expect to finish it before the storm hits and return," he told her.
             "Very good, sir. Control out."
             Roaring Wings had been looking on approvingly, "I hope your force fields will work. You are planning on coming back here before the storm?"
             "Yes, if it is at all possible. Do you have any ideas what we can do to move your people to safety?" he asked concerned about them.
             "The only place safe is the caves. This whole area is honeycombed with them."
             "Then we'll move them to them. It will also keep them out of Thunder Arrow's reach," Ky'tulendu said pleased at this solution to two problems.
             Roaring Wings was pleased too, "Yes, he will not expect to find the village empty. But with the storm coming he will soon think of where the people have gone."
             "True, but we will be there to stop him."
             "But how? Do you plan to kill him?" Roaring Wings asked.
             "No, not unless he forces me. And I do mean forces me. I don't want to hurt anyone," Ky'tulendu said seriously as the they neared the landing field.
             He really didn't want to hurt the old chief. He just wished there was something they could do to him so he would create any more problems. So far no solution had presented itself.
             The six warriors were waiting by the flier as well as B'tunku and two Atanzi security guards looking very nervous and unsure. Ky'tulendu scowled in displeasure when he saw the doctor.
             "What are you doing here, Doctor?" he asked acidly.
             "Coming along for the ride."
             "Like hell you are!" he snapped at her. "In case you haven't noticed we have a storm coming in. Control has told me it's going to be dangerous when it hits. I need you here to supervise the securing the camp."
             "I have that taken care of already. I'm going, Ky'tulendu. You may need me."
             "Why?"
             "To deal with Thunder Arrow."
             "That's a laugh. You let him get to you and lost your temper. He will not listen to you because you are female and you will only get in the way, Doctor."
             She glared daggers at him, as she stood defiantly with arms folded listening to him.
             He tried again, "Please, B'tunku stay here and secure the camp. If anything happens to the two of us then there is no one left to take charge. Someone has to stay here," he reasoned with her.
             She scowled at him, but he was right. If something happened to him then she would be in charge. There really was no one to step in except maybe O'vettun and she had disappeared. She reluctantly gave in.
             "You win, Ky'tulendu, I'll stay. But you will keep in touch with me through the communicators," she ordered him.
             "I will, when it is convenient to do, so." he told her, and saw a momentary flicker of anger in her eyes but then it passed. "Now, before the storm hits I want to get to the native village, if there is nothing more, Doctor?" he asked.
             "No," she replied then looked to Roaring Wings standing beside Ky'tulendu.
             He had been silent watching them both. His mate-to-be had many unnerving characteristics as he was discovering. She was still as desirable as ever but her hardness, and coldness did bother him even if it was only directed at the Asenti. He did not understand the friction between them. Now was not the time to go into it with her, but later they would discuss this problem and much more he vowed to himself.
             B'tunku came near to him and looked into his serious eyes and saw the disapproval there, and understood the cause. She lowered her eyes in shame.
             "B'tunku, you do what you feel you need to do. I have no right to judge. I do agree with the Asenti, you must stay here both to make sure your people are safe and to stay safe for me," he said wanting to crush her tight to him just once.
             "I will," she said and before he could react she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him fully on his unresisting lips and molded her body to his.
             His first reaction was surprise. His next was to respond fully and do what he had ached to do anyway which was clasp her to him tightly and kiss her back hard. It was like a nova exploding in both of them. His people did not kiss that much so touching this way was newly strange and wonderful. It would be so easy to get lost forever in the sensations that where flooding them both.
             They heard a muffled throat clearing and realized their position and broke away from one another as quickly as they had come together. The doctor was flushing red as she took a couple of steps backward away from him. Roaring Wings backed away too, embarrassed by his boldness and lack of control in front of the others.
             "If we are going we better start before it gets impossible to go anywhere," Ky'tulendu pointedly said, motioning upwards to the darkening sky with his thumb.
             "You must go," B'tunku said to Roaring Wings who looked like leaving her was the last thing he wanted to do.
             He nodded reluctantly. "I know, good bye B'tunku for now," he said moving towards Ky'tulendu now.
             "Good bye, Roaring Wings. Safe journey," she replied and turned quickly, leaving the landing field before he asked her to stay.
             "I'm ready, Asenti," Roaring Wings said composing himself as waited to board the ship.
             The eight men climbed on board. The ship's interior was still set to carry passengers on the floor rather than in seats. There was no time to put the seats down. The warriors that had elected to go with them were going to have a bumpy ride. He would keep the ship as even as he could but he expected a lot of turbulence. The wind was picking up rapidly, Ky'tulendu noted getting very alarmed but he kept that to himself.
             He strapped himself and Roaring Wings in tightly, and told the warriors to hold on to the flying straps. He checked his systems and found that they were go. Fighting the head wind he taxied the ship to the proper speed and took off. Once airborne they had the wind behind them, but it was still rough and the unpredictable nature of it caused their airship to sway and bounce on the raging currents coming in from the sea.
             He hoped that there weren't any salvage crews out there in the cruiser. With the way the ship had plowed a furrow from the ocean inland the ship had a good change of going underwater with the advent of heavy rains especially with all the holes and gaps in it. If the water got in it would short out the remaining electronics still working on the ship, particularly the computer. It made him angry that so much knowledge was going to be lost forever from them. He just hoped they wouldn't lose any lives either.
             The wind coming from behind them made their flying time quicker than before. It seemed that they had only been airborne for a few minutes when it was already time to land by the village. Ky'tulendu set the craft down in the middle of the village instead of out in clearing where he had previously landed. The villagers were shocked and scared when they saw the craft come down. Not everyone knew of the great Atanzi flying machine and had seen it before. Landing it here would give it protection from the elements and hopefully give Thunder Arrow pause about attacking them.
             Ky'tulendu checked to see if everyone was all right and got grunts of agreements. He and Roaring Wings unstrapped and went to the hatch and opened it. They were met with spears pointed at their midsections as the ramp-door came down and they took two steps outside. Beyond the spear men stood Thunder Arrow who smiled happily at Ky'tulendu's and his brother's shock and surprise at seeing the chieftain here before them.
             "You're too late cat-man. It's my village now!" Thunder Arrow told them as he motioned them out of the ship.
  

End Part 6/10