Tales of Redstreak Chapter 8
#14 of Chakat Universe
Coal gets word of Red and Red lands on a planet
Coal was enjoying hir day off, though shi still was cooking. Streaker was dropping off Whirlwind from preschool and hir other children were taking a nap. Heck the only thing off was no message from Red, shi was usually punctual about such things. Well maybe they have hir busy with something. Taking a deep sniff at the stew shi was making, It was rare that shi made it. Red was not a stew person though some of the cubs liked it and Dallie liked it so it was odd the Red didn't, maybe a hold over from hir old life. The front door opens and and Coal steps out to greet hir daughter and in law. Shi is surprised to find Commander Antilles with them. "Hello Commander why are you here?" The Commander had a sad look on his face. " I thought I should hand this in person." He hands hir a letter. Sensing his sadness shi fearfully takes the letter and opens it and read. Shir Coaldust, Child Snowboard and Nightsky We regret to inform you that Redstreak, Child of Sunspot and Fireblaze as been killed..... Coal's anguish howl was heard throughout the block. * * * Meanwhile weeks earlier on a distant planet...........
Flameria was walking towards her den's door when one of her fellow hunters Tami asked. Where are you going Flamy?" g Out." Tami approaches her, grabs her arm and says. "I know you miss her, I do to but we have to move on. This isn't healthy." "It is for me so leave me alone." Flameria breaks free of her fellow hunter and leaves her den. She runs through the woods till she reaches the river. The main source of water for the village. She found a nice patch and rested her haunches and looked up to the sky as darkness falls. It's been two weeks, two weeks since her sister and fellow hunter had died. They were as close as sisters could be, some even thought they were lovers. Yes she did love her sister, but not that way, if a tod chose them to be comates they would have gladly. Heck that was their dream, but then the freak illness hit Scarleta and despite her great spirit and will she died from it leaving Flameria's dreams in shatters. She looks up again, the star had always provided comfort for her and she needed it now. "Oh a shooting star!" She exclaims as she sees a streak in the sky. But it wasn't a quick streak she normally saw. No much slower and the angle was off. As she watches the strange star changes, she could barely see the tail and it had a halo of flames around it. Flameria started to hear a burning sound and the area around her lit up as the star flew passed. It plows into the river before flying back out and hitting a tree that stops it's progression further. Flameria goes over to figure out what the star actually is. She crosses the river and approaches the thing. It was oval shaped and there was steam coming from it. It looked shaped, that someone made it. As she gets to the part and sees a part the looks like it moves. She tries move it but it stays struck. As she adjusts to try again a fore paw hits something. Looking over she sees a small panel now open with a lever inside. Shrugging she grabs and pulls the lever. The part opens and a blinking red light emerges. Squinting from the brightness of the light she looks inside. She fines various straps and cushions inside, and a body. She climbs in to check the body. It was a taur like her but not a foxtaur, it no she those were breasts on her look more like the cazas the the village has to deal with on occasion. Checking the neck she finds a pulse on the taur but the taur was bleeding from the head badly. She sees a box attached to the wall with the same symbol the village healers use. She grabs the box and opens it. A few things in there she hasn't seen before but there was bandages in there. Grabbing one one them she head back to the river and wets the bandage and then returns that cleans the head wound. She then wraps it up and pulls the taur out of the thing. Once outside of the craft for lack of a better word Flameria spends a few minutes getting the taur settled on her lower back with the taur's head resting on her shoulder. She the cautiously walks to the nearby bridge and then to the village. She approaches the healer's hut and call out. "Healer Luna I need your help!" The healer emerges as a foxtaur in her mid forties. "What's the problem Fla-oh! Well let's get her inside." Luna helps as Flameria goes inside and they lie the taur on the table. "Okay What is she, where did you find her? OH that can wait Flameria hand me my stethoscope. Flameria does and watches as Luna checks the taur's hearts beat. Luna checks both hearts. "Okay they're good and strong." Luna then unwraps the bandage over the head wound. "Good job with the triage Flameria." Luna comments as she grabs some items. Luna then pours some alcohol on a cotton swap and further cleans the wound before stitching it up. When done she examine the taur in more detail. The taur had a large bump on the other side of her head. Luna heads for the fridge and gets some ice, puts it in a bag and wraps it over the bump. Luna then checks the body and saw the strange burn on the taurs right side. She cleans and bandages that as well before proceeding. When she gets to the nether region and lets gasps of surprise. "What!?" Luna looks at Flameria. "Come and take a look." Flameria approaches and looks and is also surprised. There between the taur's hindlegs was an sheath with a cock. Flameria looks back at the upper torso and yes those were breasts there. Luna looks back and lifts hindleg more and yes there was a vagina as well. "Well I've never encountered anything like this. I'll call her a her for now till she wakes up. You should head home Flameria." "But what about her?" "She won't awake till morning You'll be among the first to know she's awake. Now go home before your huntmates worry." Flameria droops and comments. "What's left of them." "All the more reason to go Flameria." With reluctance Flameria goes back home. Shi wakes up with a MASSIVE headache causing hir to moan as a result. "Hear drink this." A feminine voice says. Shi opens hir mouth and sips the liquid. It didn't taste good. "I know it doesn't taste the best but it will help with the headache." Shi reluctantly drinks more and falls asleep again. When shi woke up again hir head felt much better. Shi opens her eyes to a wooded room with sunlight coming through the shade to illuminate the room. It was simple wooded room with cabinets everywhere and a tray sitting next to the counter the seems to wrap around the entire room. Shi then looks at the doorway just before it opens and a foxtaur appeared. She was about 40 in age and gave hir a friendly smile. "Good your awake, how do you feel?" "Head still hurts but not as bad as before." "That's good you had two big blows to your head. And Defiantly a concussion so we'll watch you for a few days. So you want to tell me your name and what you are?" Shi thinks for a minute before looking at the foxtaur with fear. "I...I don't know, I can't remember." "I thought that might be possible. Flameria said she found in some kind of craft from the stars." They both hear the door knock and the foxtaur goes to the door, seconds later the foxtaur appears with a younger foxtaur with brilliant deep red fur and brown eyes, and surprisingly no head hair. Shi looks over at the other foxtaur and she also had no head hair. However both had generous breasts and it was hard for hir to keep hir eyes off them. "This is Flameria, she got you out of the craft. Flameria, our guest has lost her memory so she can't answer much. In fact I was going to test what she knows." "Alright, I like to stay Luna if you don't mind?" "I don't what about you?" Luna ask hir. Shi shrugs. "First we're going to need a name for you. Now what should it be?" Luna put on a thinker pose till Flameria interjects. "Hey how about Starlight, she came from the stars and her fur is gold and shiny." Luna looks at her patient again. "How does that sound?" Shi looked over hir body. Shi sees the gold fur and the streak of red hair from her right side. Shi then looks at Flameria and says. "Sounds good." "Alright let's begin." Luna put Starlight through various test. It seem the taur had hir general knowledge intact but hir personal memories and memories of hir species were gone. Luna wasn't sure that would be permanent. After that Starlight fell asleep again. The next day Starlight tried moving around. Shi did well and hir head hurt less and shi was hungry. Shi was able to sit next to the table as Luna puts a plate in front of hir and Starlight began eating and looked around. It was a cozy place with a large front room with many couches and small tables. "Is this a clinic?" "We call it a Healer's Den all village healers work here." "You alone here?" "Most of the time, I have a young apprentice come in to assist and learn, but don't worry I have a mate and comates that live in another den I and do spend time with them. Besides that den is pretty full most of the time anyway." Starlight helped clean up after brunch, shi was just finishing up the dishes when there's a knock on the door. Luna goes to answer it. She soon reappears with a pair of elderly foxtaurs. "BY the Kitsune! Luna wasn't joking with us. We represent the Village council and had to see for ourselves." "Well here I am." Stargold says with a tad of anger. "Starlight show some respect!" Luna exclaims. "I WILL NOT BE AN ATTRACTION LUNA!" Stargold rebukes. "It's bad enough to be in a strange place with not even my memories for support so excuse me if I don't want to become a show and tell piece!" All three vixens looked ashamed on their attitude. Luna is the first to speak. "I apologize Starlight, I should have know better." The Council members nod in agreement. "Starlight," One of the elder vixens starts. "I swear by the Kitsune that we will do are best to help you." The steam seems to leave Starlight as shi slumps and nods. The elders leave but one says to Luna. "Make sure she is well taken care of." "Of course Elder." Luna sees them out and when she returns she finds Starlight laying on a couch staring to no where while holding her head with one hand. Luna goes to make an elixir and hands it to Starlight. The strange taur drinks it and Luna rubs Starlight's shoulder. To which Starlight smiles at her. They spend the next couple of hours teach Starlight their written language. Shi'd picked it up quickly and soon there was another knock on the door. This time it was Flameria who showed up. "You're out of bed that must be good." "It is, you can only lay down for so long." "True, any memories pop up?" Starlight shakes hir head. "Well a reason I came today since your getting better was if you would live with me in my den with my huntmates?" "Flameria she's still recovering." "But she's out of danger right?" Luna sighs, and looks at Flameria. "There still the concussion to worry about but other than that." Luna looks at Starlight with an unsaid question. "I wouldn't mind trying." "Alright, Flameria you win but, you WILL stay and cook for your huntmates until Starlight fully recovers and check on Starlight on the concussion, I want you Starlight to come every other day for a week." Luna head into the other room and emerges with a small box. "When her headache gets bad mix one of these with a cup of water." "Understood Healer." Looking at Starlight she continues. "Come on Starlight let's get you to your new home." Starlight follows Flameria out the door gets hir first look of the village. It was nearing dusk but there was still plenty of light. The village was in a rough circle around a large shelter in the center obviously made for large gatherings. Shi sees various stall owners deconstruct their wares and stalls for the day. What amazed Starlight most of all was the way the buildings blend with the environment, they appeared grown. With a tug from Flameria and the two continue on past the initial group of houses, or dens as the locals call them. Flameria eventually leads Starlight to a den in a heavy wood area on the outskirts. The smells of cook food drift to them and the both moan in contentment. Flameria Yips as she opens the door and a pair of yips return. A brown furred vixen appeared and smiled at Flameria. "Just in time Flamy, Tami is nearly done with supper." "That's great Jali." "Is that Flamy?" Tami yells from the kitchen. "Yup ,with our new dent mate in tow." A golden furred head peeks out on the kitchen. Also without head hair. Starlight was finding that odd. "Cool, we got to the table and I'll bring supper out." They did as bade and Jali set plates for the four of them. Then Tami appear with a large tray and Starlight got a good look at her. She was more yellow gold then true gold in fur with gold highlights in her white belly fur and purple eyes. She set out mash potatos, carrots, and the main course, venison steaks. The meal was good and filling. Flameria or as her denmates called her Flamy did the dishes while Tami, and Jali got to know their new denmate. As Starlight was figuring that the Tami, and Jali were nicknames as well. Tami was Tamerla and Jali was Jalvette. The three vixens grew up together and graduated from hunting at the same time so became a hunter team. They then gave hir a tour of the den. It was a simple place but welcoming. Beside the living/dinning room it had the kitchen, a bathroom, and two bedrooms with closets. Starlight yawned and seeing as a sign they direct hir to the main bedroom and she quickly fell asleep. The three vixens chatted a bit more before Flamy joins Starlight and soon followed by Tami and Jali. Meanwhile Luna goes to her desk and takes out her journal and begins writing. Well my latest patient is progressing well as far as I can tell. My examinations show that she is much like us but with and extra genitals and the weird head fur and amazingly agile and long tail. I have asks Tocale go go through the library for anything similar to Starlight. Meanwhile Starlight has moved in with Flameria and her team. I think Starlight will be good for the young vixen. Ever since her sisters death she seemed adrift. Somehow Starlight has peaked her interest and she seems like the vixen I help bring into this world. I sincerely hope they both can heal each other.
Starlight woke up the following morning to an nearly empty bed, Flameria was sleeping right beside hir looking cute as she laid there sleeping. Starlight felt good having someone lying there with hir, it felt right. Hir bladder called however so shi gets up to head for the bathroom. Hir shifting woke Flamy up. "Morning Starlight." She manages to say as she yawns. "Sleep well?" g Very well thanks." g Well I always try to make my denmates comfy." Starlight snorts and a thrust of pain hits hir in the head. Flamy's smile disappears and she gets up. "I'll go make a batch of that elixir." Starlight nods and shi heads to the bathroom. After taking care of business shi comes out and Flamy hands hir a cup and shi takes a sip. In minutes the pain lessens but it did stop Flamy from fussing over Starlight throughout the day. Starlight would have complained but something, a hunch maybe told hir Flamy NEEDED this so shi endured it. During the day hoe ever Goldstar learned much when shi started with this question. g Where are we anyway?" g The Village of Elmas on the planet Narnia. Legend has it we came from else where and settled here. The Kitsune were the first of us and settle Kitswuana and we have spread out from there. We are ruled by the Elder Council that take care of the overall welfare of the village, buy passing laws or major decisions. And that's the limits of their power. We don't even answer to Kitsuwana just ourselves." As the continued Starlight learned that other than trade and festivals there was little contact between villages, with the exception of sister villages. Villages where one was born from the other when the population got large and still have strong family ties. The lessons were interrupted by the return of Tami, and Jali with more food. Tonight was Flamy's turn to cook and Starlight kept out of the way and watch her work. It reminded hir of something. After the meal Starlight took a bath and it was the first time shi notice the graze on hir right flank, the hair is slowly growing there. After drying off shi spent time with the vixens for a bit before heading off for bed again. A week later Starlight emerges from Luna's Den after having hir stitches removed. Shi will have a small scar even after the hair grows back. 'Now to fully see this village.' Starlight thought Shi starts wandering around. In an hour shi figured out the layout of the village. There was about a hundred dens spread out around the area with the first 20 in a relatively tight circle. Electricity was proved by the water fall pushing through a handful of water wheels to power the turbines in the nearby buildings. Walking hir way back to the den shi here's someone say. "OH LOOK IT'S THE FREAK FROM SPACE!" Giggling followed and Starlight looks over and sees a yellow gold furred vixen with two tails instead of one surrounded by mainly similarly colored, some with two tails some with one. "Go back to where you belong freak." g I haven't done anything to you fox so drop it." h You being here is enough freak. You pollute us with you presence." h Oh, I figured with you here it was polluted enough." The vixen steamed and was probably about to do something rash when she notice one of the enforcers. h We're not done freak." She scampers off with her group as Starlight sees Flameria approaching hir. g Starlight! I was worried about you." g I just wanted to look around, that's all." Flameria sighs, g Okay but you should have told me first." g I will next time. Let's get back." The next day Flameria had hunting duty so it was Tami who was with hir prepping the kitchen when Starlight found Tami's bow and arrow. Starlight studied the bow in its detail Tami comes out for a sec and sees Star as they started calling her looking at her bow. "You want to try to shoot it." Star jerks in surprise, Tami notes this was one of the few times that she managed to surprise her den mate and quickly becoming a friend. "If wouldn't mind?" "I wouldn't come on." They go outside to the back and after Tami checked around to see if there was anyone around. When it was clear she paints a target on a tree. She then walks back to Star. "Okay see if you can hit it." Star nods and draws and let's loose. The arrow flies straight and hits the tree below the target. "Not bad but still too low." Star draws and shoots again. This time hits in the target area, Star draws and fires again and hits dead center. Tami is slightly shocked on how quick Star adjusted her aim. "Hey you want to hunt with tomorrow?" "Sure." "Okay I'll lend you my spare bow then." They head back in and prepare for the others arrival. Flameria was a bit ticked that Tami was having Gold with her on Star's first hunt, but it was her turn to cook. She wishes Star luck and the 3 hunters head out. Jali went a separate way and Tami taught Star how walk stealthy. Shi pick that up fast. Tami raised her hand and both stop and listened. Star took a whiff and pointed right. Tami raised an eyebrow but follows. In a few minutes Tami got a scent of deer as well. In minutes they come upon a herd of deer. These deer had gold brown fur with a brown single horn in front for the males. In low whisper Star asks. "Which ones do we take out?" Tami looks for a bit before pointing out two females near the end. The both draw and fire near simultaneously. Tami strikes the head of her target and she falls and dies without a sound. Star's Hit's in the neck and the does lets out a scream as it falls causing the rest of the herd to flee. The hunters approach their kills, Tami's lay dead and she works to prep it for carrying. Star's was struggling to move. Star pulls out hir knife also borrowed from Tami and without thinking shi cuts the does throat killing instantly. "Nice move Star, though your aim could be better but not bad for a first outing." Tami then shows Star how to prep a kill for carrying the two head out with a carcass laying on their lower backs. They beat Jali home so Star watch Tami cleaned the kills, skinning the deer and separated the bones and meat. Halfway through this Jali appeared with a basket of fish. All the meat was put in a chilled cellar that Star didn't noticed before and the trio head in for supper. Later Jali and Tami were bathing together leaving Flameria and Starlight alone in the main bedroom. "So did you enjoy your first hunt?" Flameria asks. "It was challenging but fun. And even more I felt useful. I don't want to be a parasite to you and the others, so if I can do anything to help I want to do it." Flameria grabs Starlight's arm and says. "I understand wait here." Flameria leaves and goes into the other bedroom. Starlight heard a chest be unlocked and opened. Flameria comes back with items in her arms. "Here take these, They were my sister's. She..she would have wanted someone to use them." Starlight could feel the sadness coming from the vixen and sees tears in her eyes. "How long has your sister been dead?" "Three months." "So a month before I arrived." Starlight looks seriously at Flameria and grabs the bow and quiver. "I'm an honored to accept your sister's bow and promise to do my best to take care of them." Flameria with tears nods and Starlight shifts the items so shi could hug the vixen with hir free hand. Flameria feels the pain and loss of her sister flee her through her tears as Starlight just silently hugs her through it. Flameria fell asleep in Starlight's arms and the taur slowly lays Flameria on the mattress and pets her head once before leaving the room. Shi quietly walks to the living room to see Tami and Jali looking at her, or more at her bow. "Did Flamy give you that bow?" Jali asks. "Yes." Starlight says a little worriedly, especially when the vixen rush hir. But the rush turned into a hug. "Thank you, thank you. We've been so worried about her after Scarleta's death, but you've seem to bring her out of her depression. Again THANK YOU." "She's helped me I'm glad I could help her." Starlight lifts up the bow. "Now I need a place to store this." "Well get Flamy to take you shopping for a chest tomorrow." The next day the group splits up. Tami and Jali to sell the fur and some of the meat. Flameria and Starlight headed over to the furniture store. Flameria said Starlight you pick anything she wanted. Flameria said she'd pay for with money that Nova left behind. Starlight looked over the various chests on display till one caught hir eye. It was a good size chest made of wood and iron. It was painted red with carvings in the shape of stars painted a bright yellow. Starlight swept hir hand over the wood. Shi and the carver haggled over price but the chest ended up on Starlight's lower torso as they head home. They meet the others at the den and Jali gives Starlight hir share of the money. The next couple weeks Starlight assits with the hunting and the success of the group improves. The only hitch was when Shi went into rut but otherwise fine. However One day Flameria worriedly approaches Starlight. "Star we have a Council meeting to go to,.Someone wants you out of the village." "When is it?" "An hour from now." Starlight nods and spends most of the next hour preparing hir defense. Finally the quartet head to the Council Chambers, Among the largest buildings since it was made to hold all members of the village. The building was simple yet grand and like everything else looked grown in it's shape. They pass through a small hallway and into the Audience Chamber. On one side where they entered was stadium like seating for the town with a raised platform for petitioners or accused make there case. On the other side of that was a crescent shaped table. Above the table two banners flew, one had a leaf with a fox tail attached to the stem in green with a red background, the village's banner. The other had a gold fox head with two tails over a 4 pointed yellow star with a black background, the Kitsuwana Banner and banner of the planet. Flameria direct them to the front row and sit as the room filled up. Minutes later a side door opens and 7 elderly foxtaurs emerge. While there were a couple of males among them the bulk was female. Shi looked around and shi sees that the bulk of the audience was female. Shi would question Flameria on that later. As the Council is seated the female at the center chair pounds a gavel. "This village meeting comes to order. This meeting has been called about the status of Starlight, our out world guest. Paloci Starfur, you have brought this issue to us so you will start." A young female walks down from her spot and Starlight recognize her as the one who called hir a freak. The vixen steps on to the platform with an arrogant smile on her lips. "Thank you Council Female." The vixen then turns to the village. "My fellow foxtaurs we have a danger among us. We have a long proud history and tradition but the feline among us will do nothing to pollute us. Will it was kind of us to help it. It is now healthy and can live on it's own so I recommend we have it leave our village before it could damage our heritage more." Starlight saw some nod in agreement, and shi notice they were all female, yellow or gold furred, and many of them had multiple tails. Flameria told hir that the bulk of the first colonists had multiple tails and though that has faded a bit in the centuries having more than one tail was a status symbol. As the vixen steps off the platform the Council Female says. "Thank you Paloci for your view. Anyone else have a point to make." "I do." Tami said. She steps up to the platform. "My fellow villagers, I am a palled that this meeting is even happening. Starlight has done nothing wrong. She has improved my life and that of my huntmates, especially Flameria. Starlight has helped Flameria better than anyone here could so if you expel Starlight I will be joining her." Jali step off the platform and hug Starlight and the rest of her huntmates. Then Flameria step up and took a breath and began. "I am Flameria Redfur, like most of you I've been here since I've been born. I was a happy vixen till my sister's death. That was hard, I almost lost the will to live. Then Starlight showed up and I found the will to live again. As her given name applies She has brighten my life. If you expel her I will join Tami in leaving with her. Scaleta would be ashamed of this." Flameria then leaves the platform and the tears begin to flow. "Are there any others that would like to say something?" The Council Female asks. After a minute of silence she continues. "Then Starlight approach us and make your case." Starlight steps up and faces the crowd and begins. "I have no memory of who I was before being here. Most of the foxtaurs I've encounter have been nothing if supportive of my plight. Paloci has had it in for me since before we've even met. I have done my best to adapt to your ways and do what I can to help the village. If you don't want my help fine, I won't be alone but with those I can trust. Thank you for your time." Starlight steps off the platform and rejoins hir denmates. The council members adjourn to their room to decide on whether the vote takes place. After a few minutes they emerge again and take their spots. Then the head council member spoke. "We find that there's insufficient proof that Starlight has polluted our village so there will be no vote. Starlight has shown that she has contributed to the village and you'll will need more than baseless racism to cause a vote again. Thank you for your time." As Paloci stomps out in a huff with her groupies Starlight and her huntmates hugged each other in victory. A week pases and Starlight had another problem to deal with, hir heat. The other hunters pick this up and encouraged Flameria to assist Star as the feline taur started to call herself. With some shyness Flamy offers to assist Star and Star reluctantly agrees. Flamy then grabs something from the communal chest then goes over and kisses Star. Flamy found the different shaped muzzle quite enjoyable. Both started play with each others breasts and both lie down on the mattress. After a bit more playing Flamy moves so that she is facing Star's neither regions. She eyes the sheath but that's not the goal today. She goes a little further and starts licking Star's pussy. It tasted different but good as she hears Star moan in pleasure. After a few minutes of just licking she finally grabs the dildo she got from the chest and slowly inserts it in her friend. Star's moan get's louder and she feels Star licking her pussy as she starts pumping the dildo in and out, in and out. It didn't take long for the shuddering of orgasm to happen. Star moans into her pussy and the vibrations was too much for Flamy so she cums as well. They both lay there a minute catching their breath when Star finally breaks the silence. "You were good with that." "I've had a lot of practice with Tami and Jali." "I've been meaning to ask you about something. During the council meeting I notice that most of the village is female. What's up with that?" "It's the way our race is. We give birth to more females than males. Our village has a 3 to 1 ratio. Hence why it's the females that do the hunting. Males are allowed multiple mates and there's always Obligation." "Obligation?" "To deal with the problem of more females than males every adult male around his birthday has to be available ever 5 years for the week for breeding purposes. He gets 10 feathers, 7 green and 3 blue. The 7 green of for the night the female takes the feather, the 3 blue are for a later date since not all vixens will be in heat during that week." "Sounds a bit unfair for the males though." "Initially yes, but what was agreed on that the male has no responsibility after siring the child unless he wishes to. It was mine and my sister's plan to find a male wanting both of us." Star somehow felt the sadness of Flamy's pain. "How did she die?"" "A sudden illness, no matter what Luna tried she wouldn't heal and she eventually died." Tears start forming in her eyes. "I still miss her." Star then hugs Flamy and says. "I so you should, she was your sister but she would want you to go on with your life right? You knew well, am I right." Shi could see Flamy think for a bit before responding. "Yes, yes I think she would." "Then start looking towards the future." Star yawns, "Tomorrow." Star then lays down and immediately falls asleep. Flamy looks at Sstar and pets the feline's head with it's strange head fur and smiles.'Star's right, it's time to start looking to the future. And it may be in front of my nose.'