Kolay’sha’s thoughts remained upon the squirrel called Brand. ‘I have my own fear of humans and I find it hard to believe that such a small creature is out there all alone and surrounded by the humans with their obnoxious weapons.’ She was fearful for his life and, inside, her hatred for the humans manifested itself stronger than she had ever felt it before.
Looking at the unicorns, Kolay’sha began wondering how their destinies crossed, wondering how the squirrels would know that Kolay’sha would be in a position to one day assist the unicorns. She wondered about the role of the squirrels, the youngsters who tended the air holes of Heart, the ones who now appeared to guide the unicorns to some unknown destination.
“Where do you travel to?” Laranki whispered, his voice interrupting Kolay’sha’s thoughts.
Then, before Kolay’sha or Shavat could reply, Soreecilor said, “Has your God commanded you to go to Noah?”
Watching Kolay’sha and Shavat, Laranki saw them glance at each other and then back towards Soreecilor, puzzlement upon their faces.
It came to Kolay’sha that the creatures of this world appeared to have a bonding with their God and from the behaviour of the humans, in comparison to the beasts of this world; it appeared that the humans did not share the same bonding with their God. ‘In fact, it now appears as though the humans of this world were trying to destroy all things that their God had created; including themselves!’
“We travel across the Badlands,” Shavat’etun said, his voice breaking Kolay’sha from her reverie. “We go to seek out a friend to help us look into a problem that has caused concern amongst a number of dragons.”
‘Now that is a polite way of saying nothing at all,’ thought Kolay’sha.
“You must be careful in the vicinity of the city!” Soreecilor whispered.
Stunned into silence, Kolay’sha thought, ‘What city is the unicorn referring to? Could she know of the dragon’s battle with the evil aliens?’
The silence from Shavat’etun was as solid as the silence from Kolay’sha as neither of them could think of what to say to the unicorn.
“Kolay’sha, Shavat,” began the male unicorn, “You are to know that it is important that all of the dragons attack the alien city. No dragon should remain in Heart for, if they do, then they will surely be lost forever.”
Kolay’sha, stunned into an even deeper silence, was aware of Shavat turning his head toward her and she could sense the confusion of emotion that emanated from his mind. ‘Welcome to my world,’ she thought, almost having to suppress a slight chuckle.
“Why do you tell us these things?” asked Kolay’sha.
“You are here to provide us with assistance. You do not think that it would go unrewarded do you?” Soreecilor whispered in reply.
“How do you know of these things?” Shavat whispered; bewilderment obvious in his tones.
“We have been tasked to tell you these things but what you do with that knowledge is not our concern; we were simply requested to give you the information,” Soreecilor said and then, before any creature could speak, there came a movement from her right-hand side.
Turning his head to see what had taken the attention of his wife and the two dragons, Laranki saw Brand moving slowly toward them, limping slightly and evidently in great pain.
Chart raced up to her companion, putting an arm around him, helping to support his weight.
Kolay’sha, for all her size and strength, felt useless.
“I will be fine,” Brand whispered, “I only received a glancing blow from a stone that rebounded from a branch close to me!” Brand moved closer to the dragons and unicorns and then stopped, turning his face up towards Laranki. “There are many humans out there; more than we had previously thought. They walk a line that is perhaps over fifty humans long and I have calculated at least seven or eight humans deep before I began to make my way back here.”
Before any of the beasts could ask any questions of the squirrel there was a loud human cry from somewhere deep in the forest. This shout was answered with more excited yelling and Laranki mentally acknowledged what he thought was happening. ‘The humans have obviously found some solitary beast or are chasing a group of beasts through the forest. I pity the poor creatures.’
Laranki could only hope that whatever it was it would not bring the humans in their direction whilst feeling sorrow for whatever beast the humans had turned their attention upon. Recognising the human cries, Laranki was immediately seething with anger inside; trying to imagine what innocent creature was running futilely for its life. ‘There is little doubt that the humans will catch the beast as there are so many humans in these forests but I wish you the strength to outrun the evil horde, whoever you are.’
Turning his head as he heard a crashing through bushes far over to his right, Laranki began peering through the trees and trying to locate the source of the noise.
For a moment, he caught a brief glimpse of colour but it was not a colour that he was expecting to see; the colour was blue. A number of figures appeared to be running through the distant trees, not moving in his direction but seeming to be making their way directly towards the river. There was a frantic and panicky motion in their limbs and they seemed to be trying to get away from something. Estimating that there were at least five or six individuals Laranki noted that although they ran hastily not one uttered a cry; they were trying to make their passage as quickly and as silently as possible, only disturbing the undergrowth that was in their immediate paths.
‘And I is wishing you the strength to outrun those who pursue you,’ Laranki thought, allowing his concern for the safety of those being hunted to simply melt away.