by Tobias Roote
He tried again to emote with the Grith this time using pictures, showing the animal his hand tight around its mane. The Grith understood, and let go of his arm.
Quickly, before the current pulled him away, Aaron forced his other hand to grab more of the Grith’s hide until he had a firm grasp on both sides of the animal’s neck. As it swam it pulled Aaron behind it, and he soon found himself sitting on its back, partly raised out of the water. Now, free to do so, the Grith swam strongly with the current, seemingly immune to the icy coldness of the water.
The heat from the animal’s flesh, now so close to Aaron’s hands, helped bring back a little feeling to his fingers. His legs, clamped tightly around its flanks drew warmth too, and slowly he recovered enough to link fully with the Grith.
His emote, now functioning along with the rest of his mind now that his head was out of the water, impressed gratitude onto the Grith. In return she bathed him in affection. The Grith encouraged Aaron to wrap his arms around the top of its neck and the added warmth from her proximity increased his own body heat, aiding his recovery further.
The swift current carried them relentlessly onwards and Aaron could sense the fatigue seeping into and weakening the Grith. Its mind, while still functional, was losing its sense of alertness. They had to find somewhere to come ashore, but the walls were too high. Aaron coaxed it onward, offering what little he could in encouragement knowing their time was running out.
Yet another fierce bend in the river approached. Ominously, Aaron could hear a roaring sound that grew louder as they approached. He communicated to the Grith. The response came, ‘hold on tight’. Remembering the waterfall down the cliff side at the beginning of his trek this morning, he fretted, which added to the concern over the terse feedback from his benefactor. He was helpless with fear.
The Grith paddled to the middle. As they rounded the bend, the endless sea of white water foaming over prominent rocks ahead, told him the going was going to get a lot rougher. All Aaron could do was keep his legs tucked in out of the way as they entered the boiling white rapids.
The white waters seemed to stretch forever. Each time Aaron believed they had gone under for the last time, the Grith underneath him dragged them back up, and they got a breath between them before the next vicious current pulled them back beneath the freezing surface. Miraculously avoiding rocks that appeared everywhere in their path, Aaron wasn’t sure the Grith beneath him didn’t collide with some under the surface.
When it seemed they were going to run out of both air and strength, they were launched over a long buttress and plunged, seemingly forever, although in reality only a few seconds, downwards. Aaron screamed, the Grith heard him in her mind, but had no time to soothe his fear.
The impact was hard as they plunged into a deep tumultuous pool, before being carried away by the outward flow, leaving the roar of water behind them. The Grith was still beneath him, but now paddling half-heartedly, totally spent, unable to do more than just aim weakly for a mud bank.
Aaron, realising their peril, slipped off her back. He could touch bottom while the Grith couldn’t, so pulled her towards the bank, keeping her head above water. He thought she might be concussed from the impact, as she appeared dazed. She didn’t have the strength to pull herself onto the bank, so Aaron dragged her out, by a leg and tail at one point, undignified but desperate . By the time he had pulled them both onto the bank, he fell against her flank exhausted, whereupon he lost consciousness.
- 8 -
Aaron dreamed he was running with the Grith. No, that didn’t seem right. He thought about it and realised he ran as though he was one.
He felt the power thundering through his body as he loped effortlessly alongside the pack, the thrill of the chase exciting him as they flew across uneven ground, gliding over scrub, scattering small game as they ploughed on through the warm afternoon. He had no idea of his destination, nor did he care. Perfectly in tune with the environment, the Grith enjoyed the freedom to roam wherever they pleased. As a pack, or alone, they were at the top of the food chain and rarely fell foul to predation.
As the day fell behind, the ability to see in poor light ensured the way remained clear. Tireless in their effortless lope, they ate up long miles of terrain as they answered some unknown call. Venturing into new territory, not stopping even for new smells and the aroma of fresh meat, they ran through prairie, dry riverbeds, and scrub. They crossed hills, climbed and scrabbled up mountain ridges, forged fast-flowing rivers, spurred on by an unknown beacon that drew them.
The night drew in and still they pressed onward, their energy converting to heat on their bodies, warm sweat glistening eerily in the light of twin moons on their black coats, their manes clinging damply to their flanks as they closed on their target. The excitement between them mounting as they realised their final destination was almost in reach.
When Aaron felt proximity of other minds close to him, he realized he had been piggybacking the mind of the Grith that had rescued him., They had answered her call, running through the night to be with her. He felt no fear as he felt them surround them as the pack arrived and gathered close to him and his rescuer, providing warmth and safety. Aaron felt the Grith leader commanding him to rest, his mind obeyed and he fell contentedly into a long dreamless sleep.
***
A nose, cold and wet, nudged him awake.
His mind flooded with thoughts of waking, safety, gratitude and, yes, affection. He opened his eyes to find the female Grith close beside him, recovered and full of energy. The others were already moving under cover of the surrounding woods, disappearing even as he watched, their ability to blend in, perfect.
Images flashed in his mind. Two-leggers on four-leggers coming. Three of them. Aaron didn’t recognise them, but the Grith used words, “they come for you - to help,” she said attempting to find words that he could understand.
He grabbed the loose pelt around her neck affectionately and she responded, rubbing her nose with his, as he had seen them do in welcome last night in his vision. “You strong,” he said, proud of her. “You bring your pack.” He gestured to the parting group.
“No, ‘you’ strong, reach pack for help. I ride your strength. Tell pack to come. They follow you,” she said, nuzzling him back affectionately.
He leaned back on his haunches in amazement.
He finally understood. He had somehow managed to reach her pack. When he thought he was piggybacking her, she was, in fact, riding his power. It was that which had guided them. He melded with her and felt the affection within her mind, picking up all kinds of information from her on the Grith way of life. He noted admiringly that she was leader to more than one pack, and related to many others across the plains. She chose only to hunt with her favourites, these seven Grith were all mates at times, all loyal to her alone and none other.
There was a strangeness about her mental ability that he couldn’t place, a strength he hadn’t noticed before. He decided it might have something to do with his melding with her, but there was something there, deep and untapped, if he could just tease it from her mind.
A noise disturbed them. He turned toward it, as did she, growling in a deep warning rumble that made the ground vibrate between them.
As they watched, three riders came into the clearing just ahead of them, their ferrels skittish with the scent of Grith all around them. They backed away from the woods where Aaron had seen the other Grith vanish, but were reluctant to come closer to Aaron, eyeing warily the one beside him. He sent out a calming emote to reassure them, and their ears dropped from their alert panic state as they settled onto all four feet no longer preparing to bolt. It reached the Grith as well and the answer he got back from them was submission, obedience. They were no threat and took his command without a growl, leaving him surprised at the response.
The three riders held back waiting for something. Aaron supposed they waited for him to acknowledge them. He turned to his Grith.
She stood on all four legs
, preparing to leave. Aaron stood too, but then kneeled and grabbed her around the neck, hugging her tightly and mindspoke her. They shared the emote of gratitude, affection, and as the feeling grew around them, Aaron realised the pack had spread in the woods to offer them protection, and were adding their support. He felt content.
She mindspoke him, “A-ron care. Always here. Call. We come.” He smiled at her pronunciation of his name as she ambled away from the mud bank, giving the ferrels plenty of space as she trotted past, to avoid them becoming agitated again.
The three men sat motionless watching the proceedings. The look on their faces showed confusion along with concern at the sight of the largest Grith they had ever seen. Then, as they watched, she was joined by seven others, all larger than her. Their faces turned pale, while the ferrel, still under control of Aaron’s emote stood still, unconcerned.
As the pack reached a high path back up the river trail, the smallest one stopped and turned back to him briefly. He felt the emote of warmth she sent before moving off out of sight. He missed them already.
- 9 -
Aaron turned his attention to the three men waiting at the edge of the clearing. He walked stiffly towards the older one and sent forth a welcome emote of passive submission, and was pleased when the old man acknowledged with the same. He also included the other two in his tendril, joining them all together in the one emote. Deciding the first was their leader, Aaron chose to communicate directly.
“I am Aaron. I understand from the Grith that I called you for help, but have no memory of such. I am grateful for your response, I am in need, I think, of assistance if I am to leave this place,” he said, opening the discussion in the formal manner expected.
The old man stood down off his ferrel and walked toward him, stopping short of the area where the Grith had been. The smell of the animals remained even after they had gone.
I may have to bathe, Aaron thought, remembering the night huddled up to the animal.
“My name is Melbray, and your talent has used us, even if you are unaware of who we are,” the old man said, not unkindly.
The comment prompted Aaron to emote them, and he sensed their signatures were familiar - very familiar.
“Aah! I am sorry, I remember you now. It was only yesterday, but already it seems a lifetime ago, almost two, in fact,” he smiled. “I had a great need and sought assistance from wherever I could find it. I hope I left you undamaged, but if I harmed you, how may I make restitution?” he offered formally. It was expected that if he had damaged another Sar in the process of using their talent, that some form of restitution had to be made to bring about balance.
Melbray turned to his companions all of whom seemed of great age to Aaron. He felt unsure as to whether he had harmed these old men. They looked recovered, but he remembered vividly now, he had drawn great power. Was it really from so few?
The larger man replied, looking serious. “I am Junto, and yes, it was from us you drew the power, and although no lasting damage befell us as a result, you did ruin a good fishing expedition. Not to mention your latest summons has taken us even further away from our intended camp.” The fat man visibly chuckled. Aaron realised there was comradely humour here, and he began to relax a little.
“I am somewhat bemused. Had I not used your talents, I would not be here, but as you saw from their departure, there has been some change to my circumstances. I believe the Grith to be not overly fond of ‘two-leggers’ as they call us, as most are too much trouble, for too little meat,” Aaron sallied, sliding his eyes toward Junto who made his ferrel look positively diminutive.
Melbray laughed, approaching him, “Lad, I believe you will do fine. What do you think about joining us for a meal and we will look at how we may best aid you.” On reaching Aaron his arm was about to go around his shoulders when he got wind of the Grith essence. “However,” he pulled back slightly so as not to become tainted, “I think a bathe in the river might be in order - beforehand.”
Aaron laughed. “It will be a small price to pay for a hot meal,” he admitted.
Gedrack who had been watching him closely while the banter had been flying, now looked seriously at Aaron and went to move off. “Then when you are clean and fed, perhaps you will tell us just how the devil you managed to bond with the largest Grith we have ever happened to see.”
Later that evening, the four of them sat around the fire. Aaron's skill in fishing had more than made up for the inconvenience of sharing their rations with one extra person and they ate heartily of freshly caught Razzer.
The mood was settled, but there was an underlying tension running through the group. Aaron guessed, or could feel from the melding, what it might refer to and decided to check his defensiveness and hear these old men out. They had, after all, helped in saving him, twice now.
“So, Aaron. You readily accept your arrogance and stubbornness have brought you to a point where you are a risk to others, us included,” Melbray spread his hands either side of him, to include Junto and Galdreck. “It was only our special training and experience that kept us alive when you took from us that which you had no right to do.” The tone change warned Aaron.
“The mind-link has allowed us to share your experience at your village. You had no right to retaliate against the Elders, they were doing their best to protect you. You failed them and you must one day return and make restitution, but that is for then, and we are at the now. The now is this. You owe the three of us. You took that which we would have willingly given, had you the training to channel it properly and with the correct safeguards.” He paused as he looked deeply into the embers of the fire. Aaron knew he was conversing with the other two, an agreement was being formed between them.
“We have come to a decision. The restitution we demand is that you accept formal training beginning tomorrow, and that you will abide by our instructions and learn what we have to impart to you. If you do not agree we will have no choice but to carry out the sentence passed by your Elders, in that you are a very real danger to others. Tomorrow, or another day you could kill someone by taking too much without controlling your actions.”
Aaron raised his head to angrily respond.
Melbray, as if sensing his rising ire, put up his hand. He had more to say and raised his voice authoritatively.
“Aaron, Please! hear me. You have a strong talent, one that may well, in a very short time surpass the three of us here. This brings with it two immediate problems. The first is, you have absolutely no idea what you’re doing and therein lies the danger for you and everyone around you. Secondly, that same power will be like a magnet and bring trouble to you that will result in your probable death unless you can learn to wield it effectively.”
Aaron felt his emote rising, the power surging through him, coursing through his bloodstream feeding off adrenalin and youthful energy. It was strong and wanted to lash out at Melbray and the others. He wanted to show them that he was not one to be bridled or muted, these old men who wanted to limit him had to realise he would not go quietly to a mental death. A tendril of thought reached him from some distant place, ‘Peace A-ron. Listen to these two-leggers, they will help you’ Then it was gone again. He swallowed and struggling with the mental effort, slowly he brought himself under control, aware that Melbray and the other two were watching him closely, ready to retaliate in the event he attacked them. Aaron knew this was not the time, nor were they his enemy. His time with the Grith had done something to him and he knew Melbray was right. When finally he had himself under control, he looked Melbray in the eye and nodded, accepting their terms of restitution.
- 10 -
The next morning brought with it a strong sense of expectation. While Melbray and Gedrack went off to fish, Junto stayed and began training Aaron. They mind-linked so that proper instruction could take place and Aaron, being headstrong, tried to push the pace as Junto’s corpulent form rested uneasily on the ground. Therefore, when Junto’s attack came, it took Aaron completely by surprise,
leaving him sweating hard to defend his mental wall against Junto's intruding tendrils of attack.
Nobody fought wars, battles or even duels any more, at least not with weapons. That wasn’t to say that people didn’t fight, they just never got hurt physically. Mental pain is greater by far, and the sense of defeat is complete in a telepathic society, where all can bear witness to what transpires. Aaron was fully aware, that whilst the other two were out on the water, they were linked into what was happening and would intervene at any time, should they be required to do so.
Junto didn’t talk, he was surlier than the other two, but when he mindmelded, you noticed him. The strength in his mental jabs were like cactus spines, they went in easy and came out hard.
“You have to remember that your mind is like a wall, but thoughts are like shards of glass, almost invisible and prone to breaking easily if you aren’t aiming true. You are not trying to push the wall down, just punch holes in it. When the wall is trying to repair itself, it’s not trying to attack you. So, attacking with pointed barbs is the best way to win a mental duel.”
“But it’s easy to defend against your spears, I just thicken the wall where you attack and I’m still free to send you spears of thought in response,” Aaron replied and as if to demonstrate, prepared his attack and sent a strong wave of spears of thought against Junto.
Junto wasn’t at all fazed. He took each of Aaron’s spears and turned them aside as if they were simply straws flying through the air after a hay bale had burst. Aaron watched dismayed. He began to understand the strength of these old men of the Watchtower, their reputation was legendary in the outer towns and villages.
When Aaron returned his attention from his own glass spears he realised he had been diverted again and dozens of glass shards, gleaming and sparkling were heading toward his mental wall. He visibly flinched as they struck, digging into the softness. It was all he could do to hold his defences in place under the onslaught. “Hey, take it easy, Old Man - they almost hurt,” Aaron laughed, then grimaced as Junto’s response was to double the level of attacks.
