"Get your fat, furry, face out of mine, R'ket."  K'yer snorted sleepily.
The velvety muzzle that filled his vision receded from view just after
another blast of warm breath hit him again.  Seconds later it was replaced
by a great, brown orb of an eye.  Still drowsy from his nap, K'yer rolled
over until he was facing the animal's sternward side, rested his cheek on
the undulating belly, and closed his eyes once more.  With a heave his
living pillow suddenly rose up into the air leaving his head to bump
unexpectedly with the grassy earth.  K'yer sighed into the dirt.

"I suppose this means you have already eaten everything about and are
starving for more?"

He pushed himself up and reached to give the broad belly looming over him a
playful slap.  The R'ket gave an indignant snort as it stepped over him to
nibble at some untasted ysh.  K'yer smiled to himself as he went to check
his clothing that had been spread out to dry in the noon sun.  Like his own
fur, the items were freshly clean and air dried.  He stooped to put them
back on, looking warily about as he did so.  It was always wise not to put
too much trust in a R'ket's warning system when it was busy gorging itself.
Satisfied that their were not predators about, he went back and began finger
grooming his Companion's wooly coat.  That was part of the partnership
between them--- keeping each other at their best; though K'yer preferred
that he alone did the grooming.  R'ket tongues didn't know when to quit!

They had been travelling for a long time now and Warm was beginning to give
way to Cold.  It was important that R'ket had his fur in optimum condition
for the harsh weather that lay ahead.  K'yer had never actually experienced
a high valley winter yet, but he knew that most K'tlyan death's occured
during their first Cold.  Not that he planned to stick around for it.  His
green eyes scanned the forebodingly dark volcanic rock that formed the
southernmest boundary to the Kievet known World.  So far, the Guardians of
Black Stone had blocked his every attempt to get past them.  R'ket was game
enough to try the harsh range, but there just did not seem to be a Pass into
Outside.  It was getting to be really frustrating--- Ava didn't want him to
go, yet he had Voiced his intent.  He had to go.  R'ket could stay--- get
adopted by the nearest valley before Snow got bad--- but he had to get
through.  Unayarek was out there.

"R'ket, I want to try once more.  If the Guardians still say na, then I'll
find a good shelter and get fat like you."

The ungulant nickered softly at the compliment.  R'ket liked being heavy
especially with winter approaching.  The extra bulk was an asset against
Cold and an ally when fighting against the rek.  Of course, the weight also
enticed hungry predators to attack--- but what was that  when you were a
proud R'ket?  Triumphing over a fallen enemy was glorious.

Three days later K'yer found what he was looking for:  a narrow crevise in
the rock where it had split apart.  He had often seen such a rock in his
dreams.   His heartbeat intensified--- this was the way to Outside!   Once
he went through that there was no telling whether the Guardians would block
it up before he reached the end, or even sealed it up again while he was
transversing it as punishment for even trying to leave.  Still they hadn't
killed him yet, though there had been several landslides that had given him
pause.  At any rate, there was absolutely no reason why the faithful R'ket
should risk the journey.  He hopped down to the black rock.

"Well, R'ket.  This is where I go alone."

The animal gave him a rebellious look.

"I mean it.  This is my fight--- "

Instantly K'yer regretted his choice of words; but it was too late.  His
Companion gave a bellow sure to raise the hairs on any predator within
hearing range before charging into the cleft.  K'yer had no choice but to
run after it.
It tooks hours of apologies to soothe the goatalope's 'feathers'.  Without
meaning to he had insulted it by implying that it was not able to take on a
battle.  Now it felt that it had to prove itself to him and nothing K'yer
could do would dissuade it.

It took several days of steep climbing before the travellers felt the trail
leading downwards again.  Everywhere was evidence of landslides and several
places were nearly impassable.  But still they were able to go on and K'yer
started to notice changes in the landscape.  Land was loosing its hard edges
and snow was not continuing with them.  He pointed out the strange soil
colors that were showing up with increasing amounts.  It was becoming a
reddish color totally unlike the dark browns, blacks and orange tones he was
familiar with.

"Look, R'ket.  The soil and rock are becoming sick, I think."

He hopped down to sniff at the dirt and rubbed some between his fingers
reflecting on its iron content and texture.  It lacked moisture and hung
into the air for a while after he dropped it back down.  Dry.  His eyes
narrowed and he felt a chill go through him.  Was this really the dried
blood that had been spilled by Chaos as Story said?  It certainly held the
hue and an element of old blood.  And Water was an important nourisher to
Life.  This was the first sign that he was, indeed, leaving the last bits of
Ava and entering Outside.  Straightening up, he filled his lungs.  Drier,
yes, and something else as well.  He closed his eyes and thought of his home
and how it had felt; comparing it with this new Place.

I do na smell Plant here--- or rather--- na the plants I know.  And it is
warm.  And . . pressing?  Aye, that is it.  Like the difference between High
Valley Air and Ysh Valley only more so.

A few hours later the wall of rock on one side opened up and they found
themselves on a cliff overlook.  The vista spread before him made K'yer suck
in his breath.  This was not at all what he had expected!  The K'tlyan
stories had always conjured up images of intense desolation.  Yet here was a
Landscape that belied that.  True, it did not look as lush and vital as Ava
did; the immediate terrain below him especially looked barren, but farther
out their were clumpy shapes that spoke of trees and various shades of
green.  Strange shades of green-- certaintly-- but still green.  He saw a
ribbon of blue that had to be a river.  And in the horizon---  most
mysterious of  all--- a thick band of blue that was not that of  Sky.

K'yavanti, what is this?  That looks like a forest surely?  And there is
water though not much right here.  Is this a trick of Unayarek?  What am I
seeing?!

Places.  Place.  Life.  Different.  Unknown.

K'yer shook his head, unsure of where the thoughts had come from:
K'yavanti?  Unayarek?  His own?  He nudged his Companion and they moved on.

Another day went by with very little change except that they eventually
reached the a point where there were only gentle slopes of dry  browness and
sparse plants that R'ket at first disdained, then grudgingly ate when it
became apparent that no other fare was available.  K'yer likewise found the
plantlife tougher and near tasteless almost to the point of indigestable.
He had to soak them in water first.  Water was a problem.  Despite having
seen the river a day earlier neither was having any luck actually finding
any of the liquid.  K'yer sorely wanted to bathe, and take a long, long
drink.  R'ket, he knew, felt even worse than he did.  It was not just the
almost summer-time heat but the terrible dust that rose up whenever there
arose any serious breeze.  They were both coated with the fine red stuff.
Finally, towards evening, R'ket sniffed out a small amount of water.  It was
dripping from  the strangest place K'yer had ever seen.  At first he had
thought it some sort of quadruped monster as its huge rotund body seemed to
be supported by four spindly legs.  But the wind spoke of dead wood; not
animal flesh and something unknown, yet distantly akin to the red soil.
Closer examination had confirmed this.  Since they both deemed that neither
the monstrosity nor the odd black 'root' running parallel  next to it were
actually threatening, K'yer  decided it was a good place to spend the night
After placing his empty water gourd so as to catch the drops of water as
they came down, he curled up against R'ket's belly and took out his flute,
softly playing a tune while contemplating the sun setting behind the red
hills that obscured the Black Guardians.  Were the people of Ysh also
preparing to sleep?  Or was Enkati just starting in Ava?  Was it even the
same Enkati?  This one seemed warmer than Ava's.

He played until the long shadows became darkness and the few stars that had
been shining out became hidden by clouds before putting his flute away.  It
was time to sleep.  Tommorrow they have to find more water for drinking.
The gourd did not hold very much for a R'ket and Kievet both.  Stretching in
preparation to curl next to the already dozing animal, Kyer froze.  Was that
a whistling?  He frowned; standing up and casting about.  There!  Again the
faint sound came to him from the direction that part of  the root was
travelling, (he couldn't tell if it was coming from that direction or if it
was going.  The rock-hard thing stretched out as far as he could see in both
directions.)  The whistle sounded a third time.  K'yer's dry mouth went even
drier.  The call was ominous sounding--- nothing like the harmonious K'tlyan
tongue.  It sproke threat to his ears.  Power and threat which were turning
in his direction!  He focused his eyes and made out a black shape moving
speedily closer.  Dark breath like smoke was pouring from its head.

Unayarek!  This had to be Unayarek greeting him with its dark Air and
shrieking cry!

Heart in mouth, Kyer glanced back at his Companion who was just starting to
snuffle awake.  He started running alongside the dark root.  If R'ket
challenged Unayarek first the destroyer might not pay attention to him and
he was the reason they were here.  The ground seemed to vibrate under his
feet as the monster came ever closer.  Unayarek was big and powerful enough
to make the ground shake just with its running!  The terrible shriek came
again.  It was heading straight for him now.  Skittering to a halt, K'yer
filled every air passage he had and roared his own defiance and anger back
at it.

"Unayarek!  I am K'yer en K'tlyan en Ysh!  I voice to you my hate, my anger!
I challenge you, Unayarek!  I challenge you with my tly!"

Unayarek shrieked at him.  K'yer smiled grimly as he took another deep
breath.  Now he would loose all of his feelings into his Song--- .

A large body galloped past him, bellowing its own challenge.  K'yer gaped at
it as it sped toward the black monster.  Alarmed and angry, he tried to warn
his interferirng Companion, wildly gesturing and yelling at it to leave off.

"R'ket!  Na, R'ket!  Aayth--- have already voiced to--- !"

The goatalope ignored him as it charged head first into the steadily
screaming enemy, black horns ready to impale it.  K'yer watched in horror as
his Bond Companion was flung upwards and away in a split second as if the
goatalope had been a mere feather floating down in front of it.  The impact
didn't even slow it down.  Stunned, K'yer stood unthinkingly croaking out
the beginnings of his tly as the Destroyer roared down upon him.  Only pure
instinct made his body fling itself out of the way before he too was hit.
He rolled, hands over ears, as the monster thundered by and hurriedly
scrambled back to his knees fully expecting Unayarek to turn and attack him
once more.  But the Destroyer kept right on going; following the black root.
K'yer stared disbelievingly as it eventually disappeared into the night; no
longer shrieking at anything.  Was he deemed that insignificant?  All it had
to do was turn and crush him as he lay helpless on the ground, yet it hadn't
so much as slowed down.  Not one damn bit.

It doesn't care.  I am na a threat to it so it does na care  I cried
challenge with the tly in my throat and it did na care!    He swallowed
hard; hands forming into fists, fighting the truth.

It does na care--- because I...  aaayth...  because I am not truly a
K'tlyan.  Ony the Song can stop Unayarek.  I do na hold the Song.  Mesmeatas
cheated me of the Ceremony.  It was a joke.  Eldests, Elders, Mieket.  The
whole Ceremony was a prank.  I was simply banished.  A banished kien.   Hot
tears streamed down his cheeks at the betrayal.  The clothes, the knife, the
goard--- did Mieket even make it?--- the R'ket . . .

R'ket.  His Bond Companion!

K'yer sprinted to where the goatalope lay in a bloody, crumpled heap, the
left eye staring unseeingly at the cloudy sky.  One horn was completely
broken off, the forehead a bloody pulp.  Crying, he caressed the dead
animal's neck.

"R'ket! You knew didna you.  You knew I had na power to fight Unayarek so
you took it on for me.  But it was too strong for even you, my friend."

He spent half the night in keening; the other half in creating a pyre to
burn the body, fearing that some other monster would return to eat the
R'ket's spirit before he could free it with fire.  The night remained calm,
however, and he finished the task undisturbed.

Watching the orange flames devour his friend's body, K'yer reflected on all
his failures.  Outcast, the only one that had truly cared for him dead, his
quest to challenge Unayarek a devasting mistake.  Now stranded in alien
territory far from home.  A home that had no use for him.  Curling up, K'yer
stared into the dying flames and sought escape in the only way that was open
to him.
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After this started the Pohl Meets Aven chapters planted into Episode 2.
 
 

Back to Part Three!