Ax and ‘Tesh cuddled with the fluffy white Rabbits while the three ‘cats wrestled and play-fought. Aadi hovered above it all. Braden and Micah joined them inside the cart and propped themselves up on the makeshift seat, leaning against the leather strap as they asked Speckles to get underway. Max’s lead was tied to the rear so he would follow. The twins could talk with the horses, just like Bronwyn, so it made traveling very easy.
After the battle for the Amazon, Bronwyn greatly matured. Braden thought it was a result of G-War’s help in removing the Overlords’ influence from her mind.
Brandt’s new Queen had come from the south and with Bronwyn’s help, had become the King’s ambassador traveling east and west with a small entourage of other Aurochs. Bronwyn rode the Queen and traveled wherever she went. The teenager worked with the Aurochs to help them speak more clearly, air their concerns, and live better lives. Bronwyn ensured that there was no conflict between the Aurochs and other living creatures. She made sure they all lived in harmony.
They missed her, but she was doing what she loved–caring for the creatures they all shared the south with.
The Hawkoids had nested and raised three hatchlings. An exceptionally large male was with Bronwyn, watching over her. The other two had gone to the Eastern Ocean, where they were becoming quite spoiled getting fed a daily diet of fresh-caught fish.
Brandt jogged ahead of Braden’s caravan, encouraging Speckles to run to catch up. The familiar bounce of the cart, the wind through his hair, tossing his signature braid behind him, and his expanded family along for the ride combined to make him feel what his parents must have felt as they plied the northern trade routes. This was the life he was raised to love.
He smiled watching their horse Pack, now called Speckles, pull the cart, faster and faster, and the others smiled with him.
Meeting Old Friends
They traveled easily the first daylight, still entering the rainforest around midday where they rested at the usual trade site for McCullough and the Amazonians. They were pleased that two Amazonians were there. Aadi spoke with them, confirming that Zalastar had ordered his people maintain a presence at all times, just in case. Traders passed with sufficient frequency that it was important to be ready.
There was a rough shack built to keep trade goods out of the weather. It was only about half full, but the Lizard Men expected another supply would arrive shortly. Braden traded venison jerky for a length of Amazonian rope, an item that always seemed to come in handy whether to use or as he’d often done, trade to others so they saw what was out there.
Always the Free Trader, Braden was much refreshed when he climbed into the cart to get the caravan underway. The others fed off his good humor as they talked. The young Hillcats had been to New Sanctuary one time, barely past when they’d been weened. They probably didn’t remember much, but some of the twins’ fondest memories came from New Sanctuary and time there with the companions. Brandt also looked forward to enjoying time grazing the fields. The Aurochs did not enjoy that luxury with the human-tended farms north of the rainforest.
Skirill and Zyena flew ahead until the rain started, then they joined the others in the cart. Braden was surprised that he remained in good spirits even with the continuous rain. He waved happily when two Lizard Men walked into the road and stopped the horses.
Aadi swam out of the cart and moved agonizingly slowly toward the front where he could meet with the Amazonians. Once there, it seemed that they talked for only a few heartbeats before the Amazonians departed.
‘It appears that Pik Ha’ar and Tup Dal are ahead and waiting for us. They have news that we need to hear,’ Aadi said cryptically. ‘And before you ask, that was all they said.’
With the mindlinked encouragement of Ax and ‘Tesh, Speckles picked up his pace until he was running, but slowed when the rains grew heavy and reduced visibility. The Hawkoids used their amazing eyesight to try and see through the rain, but they were as helpless as everyone else.
Brandt ran ahead so he could let them know when to slow the cart. He disappeared quickly into the constant drizzle. Braden and Micah pulled their cloaks more tightly around themselves while the others huddled in the cart, doing their best to stay out of the rain.
Brandt’s bugling was the first indication that something was wrong. The cart was already going as fast as they dared. While Braden pulled his bow and started digging for his blaster, Micah tried to contact Brandt over the mindlink, but he wasn’t answering.
‘He is occupied. We should hurry,’ G-War suggested as he climbed into the front of the cart between Braden and Micah. Without hesitation, Speckles began to run and since the road was well maintained, it was difficult to tell how fast they were going. Max ran behind, trying not to be dragged.
The Hawkoids took to the air and powered ahead through the rain until they disappeared in the bank of rain as Brandt had done.
“What’s going on,” Braden yelled, but at that moment, Speckles tried to stop and started sliding. Max ran into the back of the cart. Brandt danced out of the way as black shapes flitted around his head. He swung his horns trying to impale the creatures. G-War jumped onto Speckles back, ran to his head and with a mighty leap, landed on the King’s haunches where he went after the nearest Bat-Raven.
The hackles rose on the smaller Hillcats as they hissed and clawed at the empty air, hoping to strike enemies that were too far away.
Braden hadn’t found his blaster before they reached Brandt. He had stopped carrying it on his belt, settling for keeping it in his pack. Same with Micah, but she had her sword and he had his bow.
“Protect them!” Braden yelled at the ‘cats in the cart, pointing to the children and the Rabbits as he and Micah leapt from the wagon and ran to their friend’s defense. The Hawkoids appeared out of the rain, each latching onto a Bat-Raven and dragging them off Brandt’s back. G-War dispatched his third. They looked for more of the foul creatures, but found none.
Braden and Micah had been no help at all, but G-War and the Hawkoids had been there when most needed.
The whites of Brandt’s eyes showed with his rage as he stomped and snorted. A group of Lizard Men came running from the trees, staying back as the King finished venting his fury.
‘Calm, my large friend. This is a great day!’ G-War exclaimed. ‘Those were the last of the Bat-Ravens. They were dying, and this was their last chance for revenge.’
“No more Bat-Ravens?” Braden asked dully. Micah put her sword back in its scabbard and pulled her partner into a hug, then she asked the King of the Aurochs to lie down so his wounds could be tended to.
G-War was completely soaked, but remained on the King’s back as Braden dabbed numbweed on the few wounds. Max didn’t have to donate any tail hairs as nothing needed stitching. Pik Ha’ar, Tup Dal, Akhmiyar, and two other Amazonians watched Braden wrap things up, slapping the great King on his massive shoulder to let him know the work was done. G-War assumed his position on Brandt’s head as Pik and Braden shook hands.
‘I heard, and it is a great day indeed. We’ve been trying to track those creatures back to their roost but have had no luck. Had we gotten here sooner, we may have chased the Bat-Ravens away, delaying this final battle. It was fortuitous, fate has guided us to a successful conclusion once again,’ Pik said mystically.
“Pik, if I didn’t know better, I’d say that you are spending too much time contemplating your wet navel,” Braden replied. Pik’s expression was unreadable, but Braden thought he saw a slight cock of his head. Maybe he was rubbing off on the Lizard Man.
Micah lifted the clan from the wagon so everyone could stand in the rain. Despite not being able to read the expressions on their faces, Pik’s and Dal’s joy at seeing the twins was obvious as they picked them up and held them while the group talked. Two small ‘cats rubbed against the Lizard Men’s legs and two Rabbits, heads thigh high, leaned against the humans.
The group talked about things past and present. They talked about everything and noth
ing as friends do after a long absence. The companions made camp, sleeping in a pile under the cart in the middle of the road where the ground was least wet, while the Lizard Men stood watch over them. When they awoke, more refreshed than usual when sleeping in the rain, Pik and Dal had a small fire going under the large branch of a nearby tree where they cooked a large lizard that they’d killed nearby.
Braden looked at Micah. She shrugged and shook her head. They had both spent a full moon in the rainforest and didn’t know such lizards existed.
No one seemed to care that it was a lizard as everyone happily dug into the strips of cooked meat. G-War avoided it entirely, and his furry children followed their father’s lead in turning up their noses. The Rabbits shied away too, never eating meat. The Hawkoids were happy to try the lizard and enjoyed it, then scoffed at G-War’s refusal.
Even Aadi tried some. Despite the rain and the damp of the rainforest, good friends always bring sunshine.
Pik, Dal, and Akhmiyar were traveling back and forth between all the villages along the rainforest road to help them integrate the Overlords’ warriors back under Zalastar’s leadership. It required their constant attention to prevent violence by one Amazonian against another.
Another thing they were doing was taking a census, getting an idea of how many Amazonians there were. From Pik’s initial counts, he suggested that there could be five thousand Lizard Men scattered throughout the Amazon, most of whom avoided contact with others.
Maybe someday they’d let themselves be seen and join the community of their brothers. Pik was singularly focused on one nation of Lizard Men, working as he’d never done before, to unite his people, as Braden had done with the humans and all intelligent creatures. Pik exuded hope in his mission to improve all their lives.
Reunion at New Sanctuary
The rain accompanied the caravan the rest of the way through the rainforest, and that was the extent of the excitement. It took five turns to complete their drive, before they saw the sunshine again. Max and Speckles couldn’t pull as fast as an Aurochs, unfortunately.
They were surprised that no other Amazonians made an appearance. Akhmiyar suggested that some would like to greet Aadi and his companions, practice trading, and get used to interacting with the other intelligent creatures of Vii.
Pik had told them it was their destiny to be equals with the humans. To help themselves, they needed to show they weren’t afraid. Braden told him that they were already equals, which Pik agreed with, but said they the Amazonians were holding themselves back. They all laughed when Pik suggested to Brandt that he try to look less intimidating, although Pik knew the source of the Lizard Men’s angst. They were created by the humans to do their bidding.
It seemed that they weren’t quite over their innate mistrust and fear of the humans.
Braden shook it off. Pik would keep at it and eventually, they’d overcome their hesitation. Then they would truly be equal.
The companions were always overjoyed when the rain stopped. It meant they were close to leaving the confines of the rainforest. It was also the point when the Hawkoids flew the green tunnel to the freedom of the open skies.
Even Max and Speckles hurried toward the sunshine ahead. Brandt ran at full speed, pounding away from the caravan until he basked in the bright light of day, stinking as only a wet Aurochs could.
As the cart raced onto the rolling plains leading to the Sanctuary ruins, the twins politely asked Speckles to stop so everyone could dry out. Braden and Micah appreciated the break as they were soaked to the skin. Ax and ‘Tesh started taking off their clothes before they were helped down from the cart. G-War took Shauna and Klytus hunting, insisting that each of them get a squirrel before they could return.
Braden and Micah stripped bare, knowing that before long the children would be too old for such displays. But until then, they did as they always had.
The Rabbits bounded into the plentiful greenery that existed at the edge of the rainforest, looking for anything fresh to eat. The Amazon’s torrential rains were always such a trial for any of the Rabbits. Ferrer and Brigitte were already legends among the Rabbit population for their exploits in the rainforest during the War for the Amazon, being able to survive for a full moon, keeping the child Bronwyn safe, and returning without a scratch.
They stretched while Brandt dug into the foliage, competing with the Rabbits for the choicest bits, although he was letting them win while they raced to and fro.
The Hawkoids danced in the sky far overhead.
The twins screamed and started running toward the cart as fast as their little legs could carry them. Braden and Micah turned and bolted as one to intercept Ax and ‘Tesh. A loud snort came from the underbrush as something heavy crashed through. A wild boar, larger than normal, appeared in the bushes, running parallel to the plains. It continued to run, crazed by the pain from the claws and fangs of two small Hillcats clinging to its back.
G-War vaulted into the open and ran to get in front of the boar before disappearing back into the greenery. A horrible squeal soon followed.
The wild boar ripped back through the bushes and into the open. It now had three ‘cats hanging from it. The large orange one wrapped tightly around its neck was rapidly delivering its death slashes. The boar staggered from the loss of blood, wedging into the ground as it fell. All three ‘cats jumped, landing gracefully on their feet. Klytus sprinted back to the attack, slashing the dead creature further. Shauna immediately started cleaning her face as ‘Tesh ran toward her, ready to comfort her little princess.
G-War nodded toward the adults, requesting that they clean the animal and prepare it for the evening meal. Braden looked at his naked partner, wondering if she would be the first to go back to the cart for her knife.
“You know I can hear you, right?” Micah told him.
“Crap! Okay, I’ll get them,” Braden conceded. Their clothes were far too wet to put back on. “This will be a first.”
G-War hauled his son off the carcass, dragging him to the side. ‘You have to go for the neck. You see what happens when you jump on their back! I thought I taught you better than that,’ he scolded in a gentle thought voice.
Ax had picked up a stick and was heading for the boar. Braden was back at the cart digging out the knives and Micah was with ‘Tesh. As fast as the toddler could run, holding his stick like a spear, he barreled into the downed boar. The stick broke apart and the Ax’s momentum carried him face first into the carcass. He rolled over the top and lay in the grass, naked and crying.
Klytus was there in a heartbeat to help his bonded human. They’d both failed that day in the hunt. Ax pulled the half-Hillcat to him in a comforting hug.
“Did you do that with G, when he was a little kitten?” Micah purred.
“He was never a kitten. Here,” Braden said brusquely as he handed Micah her knife, feeling the warmth of the sunshine and his family.
Aadi watched it all from the shade of the rainforest, studying and learning as each parent took pride in their children.
A New Plan
They spent the rest of that daylight on the edge of the Amazon, letting their clothes dry while smoking the remainder of the pork for future travel or even for trade.
Braden’s caravan arrived at New Sanctuary around midday on the next turn after a quick run from where they’d camped. They were dry and well rested. The Security Bot met the visitors as usual, scanning them to confirm their identities and welcoming them to New Sanctuary. Brandt ran toward the fields, telling the others he’d meet them at the lake after a good feeding.
They arrived to cheers from the Cygnus VI survivors, New Sanctuary’s resident humans, although all of them except one were clones. Braden was instantly ecstatic, raising his hands in victory for the twenty cheering people as they stopped on the edge of the oasis. The survivors weren’t looking for a speech, just to show they were happy with the return of the people who saved their lives. Braden and Micah waved back, greeted a few by name, and then the
people drifted away, back indoors where they were most comfortable.
Braden and Micah unhooked the horses and turned them loose. Heloysis and Luciana jumped from the cart and bounded away toward the fields. The Hillcats joined the Hawkoids in relaxing near the lake. Skirill and Zyena were fishing, waiting for one of the lake’s inhabitants to get too close to the top of the water so one of them could swoop down and seize it. They were having no luck as they tried different angles from the sun. G-War had learned where the fish food was and was dropping pellets into the water from the small dock. Klytus and Shauna crouched next to him waiting for the fish to appear.
The twins were headed toward the dock to join their furry friends. Braden stayed nearby in case one of them fell into the water, which wouldn’t have been the first time.
‘May I join you?’ Aadi asked politely. Micah patted his shell and smiled.
“Of course, Aadi. You are always welcome and your input always valued,” Micah told him as he blinked his eyes rapidly and nodded.
“So what do we do now?” Braden asked as he basked in the sunshine, enjoying its reflection from the clear water of the oasis lake.
“I’d like to see Bounder and Gray Strider. I’m sure their home is something to behold.” She looked at the ground while Braden kept his focus on the gathering perched precariously on the edge of the dock. He took an inadvertent step closer, ready to sprint. “I think I want to go back to the ocean, to Trent, see my folks.”
“Sounds good,” Braden said, distracted. He couldn’t take it anymore and headed for the dock. As soon as he yelled for them to step away from the edge, the first one went into the water, followed closely by a second. Braden was only a few steps away as he plowed in after them.
Free Trader Box Set - Books 4-6: Battle for the Amazon, Free the North!, Free Trader on the High Seas Page 24
