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when he had spoken of his mixed blood. The words he knows not had flowed
from them. If the Triad had known of his true heritage, why hadn t they told
him?
Tol chuk shuddered. Mogweed s words had the scent of truth especially after
seeing how weak and small the race of humans grew. A female of the human race
could not withstand the mating with an og re.
The og re females, while weighing no more than a man, were squat and thick
with bone. A human female could not withstand the mount and forcefulness of an
adult rutting og re. Even some of the toadish og re females were crushed and
broken under excited males. That s why a male kept a harem of the small
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females: If one was crushed, there were always others.
Tol chuk lowered his head into his hands, his mind spinning. A si lura altered
into the form of an og re female could have survived his massive father. But
did she do this deliberately, or had she become fixed in og re form and
forgotten her si lura past? Tol chuk would never know. She had died giving
birth, or so he had been told. But what was true?
Mogweed must have sensed Tol chuk s shock. The man s tongue clucked in his
throat, obviously fearful he had offended him. I& I m sorry if
Tol chuk held up a hand to quiet him, his jaw frozen. Words stayed buried in
his throat. He only stared in silence at the two brothers across the fire.
Here, too, was his tribe. He saw the fearful look in
Mogweed s eyes. And here, too, like his og re home, was a place he would never
be fully accepted. The og re half of him would always offend and terrify this
new tribe.
Tol chuk watched Mogweed burrow into his blankets and pull a woolen corner
over his head. Tol chuk sat numb. The fire offered no warmth this night. He
stared at the few stars winking through the breaks in the clouds. The fire
popped as it devoured the bits of wood.
He had never felt so alone.
The next afternoon, Tol chuk regretted his com-plaints of lonely solitude.
Suddenly the mountain paths were too crowded. Mogweed s words had kept
Tol chuk s thoughts grinding throughout the night. Only the morning
distraction of breaking camp interrupted his shock. It was this roiling
consternation and lack of rest that weakened Tol chuk s keen wariness. Before
Tol chuk could hide his companions, three og res had rushed them from a
leeward slope of the mountain trail.
He stared at the three og res of the Ku ukla clan, the very tribe that had
killed his father in the raids.
Thick with muscle and scar, these three had seen many battles and were well
hardened by war. The leader of the pack towered over Tol chuk.
It s the half-breed of the Toktala clan! grunted this giant of an og re. He
pointed an oak log that he carried in his free hand in Tol chuk s direction.
Seems even a half-breed can capture a bit of game on these trails.
Tol chuk stepped in front of the cowering Mogweed. Fardale, listing on his
three good legs, remained near the thick thigh of Tol chuk. The wolf growled
toward the band of og res. Tol chuk kept one hand knuckled on the wet stone to
maintain as much true og re form as possible. If he were to have any chance of
surviving this assault, he must not provoke their disgust. Relieved to use the
og re language again, he forced his tongue to its most masculine guttural.
These are not blood meals. They are under my protection.
The leader pulled back his lips to expose his fangs in an expression of amused
menace. Since when does an og re do the bidding of a man? Or is the half of
you that is human overwhelming the og re?
I am og re. Toi chuk allowed a hint of fang to slip free of his lips,
warning that the words of the leader threatened retribution.
This show, though, only seemed to amuse the huge og re. So the son of
Len chuk thinks himself better than his father? Do not threaten the one who
sent your father to the spirit cave.
Tol chuk stiffened, and his neck muscles bunched up. If these were true words
spoken, here stood his father s killer! He remembered the Triad s words that
the Heart would guide him where he needed to be.
Tol chuk fully exposed his fangs.
At this action, the amusement lighting the leader s eyes died away, leaving
only a sharp menace. Do not bite more than you can swallow, little
half-breed. Even this insult I ll ignore and let you live if you give your
catch over to us. The leader s eyes pointed to the wolf and Mogweed. They ll
make a tasty stew.
Though they spoke in the og re tongue, some meaning must have been transmitted
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to Mogweed. Or maybe it was the hungry lust in the leader s eyes as they
settled on the small man. Either way, Mogweed moaned and pulled farther behind
Tol chuk. Fardale stood stiff, but his growl thickened.
They are under my protection, Tol chuk repeated. They will pass unharmed.
Only strength of arm will decide that! spat the leader. He slammed the oak
log on the trail. The thud echoed off the peaks around them.
Tol chuk glanced at his own empty hands. He had no weapon. He bared his empty
hand. Claw to claw, then.
The giant og re cackled. The first law of war, half-breed. Never give up the
high ground. He kept the log.
Tol chuk s brows lowered. What chance did he have against this armed opponent?
So this is the honor of the Ku ukla clan.
What is honor? Victory is the only true honor. The Ku ukla clan will rule all
the tribes!
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