by Thomas Rath
He tensed, coming to his feet with lightning quickness as the troll-like creature stepped to the side of the giant wolf. With Thane’s sudden movement, the wolf also shot to its feet and now stared at him menacingly, a low growl emitting from its throat.
“Easy now Erl,” the newcomer said. “Our guest is just a little unsure of us.”
Thane watched the troll-like creature as he put a hand on the wolf and then extended the other and dropped the bow he carried. Then, he slowly moved his hand to his belt and undid it, dropping it as well along with the sheathed knife that was fastened to it. Thane recognized the gesture for what it was but was still not convinced that the troll-man would not send the wolf after him the second he let down his guard. He had heard the strange sounds that had come from his mouth and though he couldn’t understand them it was obvious that the wolf did. He had to stay alert but at the same time his body was screaming for relief and he knew he couldn’t hold himself up much longer.
Thane glared at the troll-man. He was quite a bit larger than Thane but not quite the size of a troll. His face was covered with white fur and he wore a type of clothing that was wrapped tightly all over his body. Actually, except for the fur on his face and the curved ears, he looked quite similar to a fat Chufa male.
It was then that Thane remembered the stories of the HuMans the Kinpa had told him and how they helped the evil one almost destroy the Chufa. It couldn’t be! The blood suddenly drained from his head almost stealing his consciousness. A HuMan? Even though the Kinpa had mixed them in with the stories about the evil one, everyone still thought them to be myths; tales to tell young Chufa to make them scared of upsetting the Kinpa.
“Come on now friend. I’m glad to see you finally up but let’s put that knife away before someone, namely me, gets hurt.”
The HuMan spoke again; the sound of it was like tiny rocks being moved around in his mouth but it didn’t sound angry or threatening. Thane knew he couldn’t hold himself up for very much longer so he attempted to communicate hoping the HuMan would understand. “Chee Shi Lo? Ku No Ney Chee Ni?”
The HuMan shook his head and raised his shoulders and hands. The darkness was threatening Thane’s vision again and he quickly became desperate. Soon, he knew he would black out and then he would be left defenseless. “Chee Shi Ee Oonteedi So Ee Nonax?”
“I can’t understand what you’re saying, but I can see by the way you’re moving that you’re about to be sleeping like a baby.”
The grunts and rumbles left the HuMan’s mouth again and all Thane could think of was how ugly a language it was, if in fact he was intelligent enough to even speak a language. His legs suddenly buckled dropping him to the ground. He looked up, expecting the HuMan to be on him with his wolf and his knife but instead found that he still stood by the entrance merely watching him. The grip on his dagger was quickly loosening until he could no longer hold it in his hand and it dropped harmlessly to the ground. All of his energy was now being spent on trying to stay conscious.
Suddenly, he felt someone sitting him up against the cave wall and holding him there. He opened his eyes and found them looking directly into the HuMan’s face. How did he get there so fast? Thane tensed his muscles and tried to react but found that his body would not respond. He was beat. He was left to the whims of the HuMan and his wolf.
He watched as the HuMan grabbed another animal skin and then covered him with it. The large wolf dropped to the ground by the entrance blocking it completely and closed its eyes as if to sleep. The HuMan turned and picked up the dagger Thane had dropped and then turned back around to face him. Thane stiffened but kept his features placid trying to show his enemy that he was not afraid. Was the HuMan going to use his own knife to kill him? Knowing he didn’t have the strength to fight him off, Thane waited for the killing blow knowing there was nothing he could do to stop it. Quieting his mind, he pushed away the myriad of thoughts that tried to crowd in with the realization that death was only moments away. But then the HuMan did something totally unexpected. He lifted the fur that covered Thane’s body and, instead of stabbing him, he replaced the dagger into its sheath. Then, turning his back, he busied himself by the fire.
Thane watched in awe not quite understanding what was happening. Was he too hungry or tired to kill him right then? Why hadn’t he done it earlier when he was asleep? That would be cowardice and by his actions so far, and the way he carried himself, Thane was certain that he was not a coward but a noble person. If he wanted Thane dead, wouldn’t he have just left him in the snow instead of going to the trouble of bringing him here and reviving him? Maybe he wasn’t an enemy after all. But, what of the stories?
The questions that raced through his mind were becoming a cacophony of noise that was giving him a headache. He quickly determined that he would have to just wait and watch to see how things unfolded. He was in no condition to dictate anything, even his own life.
The smell of cooking food wafted over and swam about his nostrils in a mocking dance. He felt saliva building up in his mouth and his stomach rumbled as if begging for something to eat. The cramping from the onions had finally ceased leaving an empty space that now demanded it be filled. He needed food soon or he felt he might just slip away and die. Maybe he was being starved to death. He cast the thought away almost immediately. It didn’t fit with what he had heard about HuMans. They were bloodthirsty killers. They enjoyed the sight of blood being spilt.
Suddenly, the HuMan stood up and turned back to him. At first he was worried that maybe he had somehow read his thoughts but the HuMan showed no malice in his expression. Instead, he emptied some brown liquid into a bowl and placed it in front of Thane. Both men stared at each other for a long moment before the HuMan grunted, “Are you hungry?”
Thane looked at him curiously, obviously not understanding a single word. The HuMan rubbed his stomach and then motioned his hand to his mouth as if eating something.
“Ney Chee Ni Donakir Kono?” Thane asked and then shook his head slightly.
“Don’t trust me, eh? Well, I guess I don’t blame you.”
Thane stared at the HuMan helplessly wishing he could, in some way, communicate. The HuMan picked up the bowl and placed it to his mouth and took a sip. Smiling, he then passed it to Thane and motioned again for him to eat. This time, Thane reached out a weak hand and took the bowl; his mind now set at ease since the HuMan drank first. To the Chufa, the sharing of food in such a manner was a sign of friendship and trust.
Thane sniffed at the liquid. It didn’t smell like anything he had ever smelled before but his stomach didn’t seem to care. It cried out with another loud rumble eliciting a slight smile from the HuMan. Thane shrugged and then took a small drink. It was warm and felt good in his stomach but the taste was something he had never known. It wasn’t a bad taste, just different. Throwing all caution aside, he quickly finished it and then pushed it forward. “Eelo Wahkano Wananir Nik? Eelo Sho No Po Hieyir.”
The HuMan’s smile widened. He took the bowl as if fully understanding what was just said, and quickly refilled it. Thane drained it and four more bowls full before finally shaking his head no at the offer of more. The man took the bowl and filled it for himself and then sat down in front of Thane. After a few sips he looked at Thane and said, placing his hand on his chest, “I am Jack.” Then patting his chest again repeated, “Jack.”
Thane tried to say the word but it felt so strange in his mouth. “Jhahk.”
The HuMan shook his head and smiled. “No, no. Not Jhahk.” Patting his chest again he said it more slowly. “Jaaaack.”
Thane tried again understanding this must be the HuMan’s name. “Jhak.”
Jack laughed. “Well, close enough. I’ve been called worse in my day I’m sure.” Then pointing to Thane he said, “What’s your name?”
Thane knew without understanding a word that he wanted to know his name. “Thane Lan Cho Kee Tane Eelo Sho Tonkonochir,” he said using his formal name while smiling and pointing to himself.
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Jack’s mouth dropped open. There was no way he was going to be able to say all that. As if sensing his distress, the boy pointed to himself again and said simply, “Thane.” Jack flashed a look of relief and quickly repeated the name back.
The boy nodded his head and smiled pointing at Jack. “Jhak.” Then, pointing to himself, he repeated, “Thane.” Then clasping his hands together he said, “Oonteedi.”
Jack was unsure of what he meant. He repeated it again while pointing to Jack and then himself and clasping his hands together. Jack’s face suddenly brightened, “You must mean ‘friends’.” Jack nodded his head and pointed back to Thane and then himself clasping his hands. “Friends. Oon...”
“Oonteedi,” Thane said excited that the HuMan seemed to understand and was maybe more intelligent than he had originally thought.
“Oonteedi,” Jack repeated. “Friends.”
Thane tried to say it in Jack’s language. It took a couple of tries but he was finally able to pronounce it perfectly, at least he thought he had. He then pointed to the large wolf and gave Jack a quizzical look.
“You want to know the wolg’s name?”
Thane pointed again.
“That’s Erl, my wolg. Erl.” At the sound of his name, Erl’s ears perked up and his tail flapped against the ground but otherwise he remained motionless, his eyes still shut.
Thane smiled and pointed at the wolf. “Erl.”
Jack nodded and Erl, hearing his name being called again, got up and moved over next to Jack. Thane looked a bit uncertain at first but Jack finally coaxed him into reaching out his hand and stroking his back. Erl rolled over almost immediately offering his belly for him to scratch. Thane laughed at the docile nature the large wolf was demonstrating and happily obliged him with loving pats.
For the next hour they did their best to try and communicate. It was extremely difficult since the only words they could figure out were those of the physical world within the cave. Fur and bag and food and such came easily but abstract words and sentences such as ‘Where are you from?’ were almost impossible. Thane quickly became fatigued, still not fully recovered from his lack of nourishment and the beating he had taken. He wanted to know how long he had been in the cave and how long ago Jack had found him but it was useless to try any longer.
“Eelo Wanano Po Ino Jho Eelo PoNu Sheenokir,” Thane said closing his eyes and bending his head to rest on his shoulder.
Jack nodded with understanding. “You’re right. We can talk, or at least try, tomorrow. You need to get your sleep.”
Thane laid down where he was and stretched his feet out towards the fire that Jack was now building up. He watched as the HuMan hung a large fur over the door and then lay down not too far away. Erl took his place by the entrance and Thane felt certain that nothing would be able to approach the cave without their knowing it first.
He thought of all that had occurred to him today and quickly realized that he wasn’t sure what he was going to do next. He liked Jack and believed him to be a good man but what of the horrid stories he’d been told when a child about the HuMans and their evil. And what of Erl? His village had been attacked and people seriously hurt from such beasts. It just didn’t seem right. Those who should have been his friends had turned out to be his enemies and now those who should be enemies were friends. His head ached from trying to understand it. Best to leave such things for later when I am strong enough to face them, he thought finally closing his eyes. Almost immediately he fell asleep.
The forest was charred. For as far as he could see, all the trees had been burned down to nothing but ash. Hot spots with billowing smoke could still be found everywhere, coughing up their ash and covering the sky in darkness. He walked through the village looking for any survivors. He thought he recognized the scorched remains of a few people but he couldn’t be certain. His body shivered with anticipation and he began to run searching for anyone who could tell him what had happened.
Suddenly, a cry broke through the stillness and he changed his course without missing a step. Soon, he caught a glimpse of a woman by the river. She was sitting on a rock with her back to him. Thane slowed his pace and walked silently up behind her. Just as he was about to reach out a hand to touch her shoulder, he noticed a small child lying lifelessly in her arms.
Thane gasped. The woman jerked around quickly and stood while dropping the body to the ground and flinging blood onto his chest. He stared at the child, his eyes drawn to the blood gushing from a hole in its ankle where its TanIs should have been. Anger filled his heart until he thought it would burst. How dare this woman destroy an innocent one and banish its soul forever. He pulled his dagger and turned on her ready to end her life in the same manner in which she had stolen the child’s. But as his eyes met hers, his heart immediately sank in disbelief and despair as he stared at the familiar face.
“Tam!” he breathed not believing she was capable of such a horror. “Why?”
She looked at him, her own eyes burning with hatred. She didn’t say a word just held open her bloody hand. Thane looked down and then instantly recoiled. The cleanly cut ankle skin held a TanIs mark that matched his own.
“It was evil,” she spat.
Thane looked down but the child was no longer there. Where had it gone? He suddenly felt wetness on his right foot and gaped finding it covered with blood. A fresh wound had somehow been opened at his ankle and blood was seeping out of it. His face went ashen. The child was gone because there had been no child. It was his TanIs that had been removed. He looked up at her, his face a mask of horror and shock. She stared back, her expression blank. Suddenly his stomach emptied and his knees buckled casting him to the ground. She had killed him. His spirit would now be banished forever never to find rest.
He rolled onto his back and looked up into her despising face. “Why?”
Tam threw back her head and released a shrieking cackle. As the last echoes of her cry fade her hatred turned to sorrow and she stared down at him with a lost and sad look. “Look around you,” she half whispered. “Is it not enough?”
He knew that she meant the charred trees and that she accused him for their destruction, but he couldn’t remember how it had all happened. Had he really destroyed the forest and their home? His mind raced to find the answer but it was already too late. He felt himself slipping away. Although he had never seen it happen, he had heard that once a TanIs was removed it didn’t take long for death to follow. His body jerked with excruciating pain and he felt as if his insides were being ripped out. He wanted to scream, but he couldn’t get a breath as he suddenly felt himself thrust downwards. Darkness shrouded his body and he was plunged into a cold so intense as to wrack his body in violent tremors. He could just make out the last echoes of Tam’s laughter as his soul was lost to eternal torment.
Thane sat up with a jolt. All around him was darkness and his body shivered with cold. He quickly reached down and felt his ankle. It was perfectly whole without the slightest scratch. His eyes finally began to adjust to the low light and he realized he was in a cave. The previous day all came back to him in a rush—Jack, Erl, everything. He sighed in relief. It had only been a dream. Looking down to his right he found his fur blanket, which he must have thrown off, and quickly wrapped it around his shoulders to warm his shivering bones. It was then that he noticed the two shining eyes staring at him from the other side of the cave. He tensed but then realized it was Erl. The giant wolf watched him for a moment, as if to determine if there was a problem, and then just dropped his head and quickly went back to sleep.
Thane’s heart was beating rapidly but he wasn’t sure if it was from the dream or from Erl. Although they had proclaimed themselves to be friends, Thane was still a bit unsure about how much he could trust a HuMan or his large wolf. He had heard only evil things about HuMans and the memory was still fresh in his mind about the attack on the village. He worried that his desire to find friendship might cloud his judgment to his detriment.
No l
onger tired, he sat back and let his mind wonder down the path it had started on before he’d gone to sleep. If the HuMans hated the Chufa and wanted them dead, then why was he still alive? Maybe Jack wanted Thane to lead him to the village. But the giant wolves knew where it was, wouldn’t Jack then also know?
He suddenly realized that he could never return to his home again. Friendly or not, he couldn’t risk leading HuMans back to his people. But worse than that was the realization that too many people wanted him dead; some thinking that they had already completed the task. The thought caused a great pain to well up within him that spilled out as tears down his cheek. He was alone. Why was he so hated? All he had ever wanted was to be a part of his village and protect his people. He knew that no one was going to miss him, except for maybe his mother. She was the main reason his heart was so heavy. She loved him; he knew that. Even Dor would probably feel some relief that he was gone. Yet, through all the hatred, he would still never lead Jack to his village. Even if it meant his own life, he would never betray his people. He laughed bitterly at the thought. Saved by the enemy from my own people.
Jack stirred and then lifted his head. Looking at Erl he made some guttural sounds and then moved towards the fire. Although mostly covered in ashes, Jack was able to find a few glowing embers and quickly started them blazing again. He had put on another pot of food to cook before he noticed Thane was up watching him. Jack’s body jerked slightly and then more guttural sounds left his mouth. “By the Throne Thane, you nearly scared the juice out of me. Are you ready for some breakfast?”
Thane stared at him blankly. He thought he had heard his name in that jumble of sounds but he could not be sure.
Jack motioned to his belly and then to the pot moving his hands to his mouth. “Eat.”
Thane smiled and nodded his head repeating the word back to Jack. Then he said it in his own language. “Donakos.”
