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**“The Odyssey"

by MrNelg**

Act: I

Jason Sankowski looked out his window seat at the passing scenery below him. Nothing but the reassuring canopy of the forest stretching for miles in every direction. As the Zeppelin dropped in altitude, cabin crew began making the rounds, informing the passengers that they would be arriving in New Kaleth City within the hour. The two-day journey by airship across the wide-open grass plains had been nerve-wracking for some people. For Jason, it was yet another trip. Zeppelins always flew too high for mammalian arrows, spears, and slings to reach them. That didn't stop people from imagining themselves shot from the sky.

Not that he couldn't blame them. That's what happens when you're craved; when you're a delicacy. When you're tiny in comparison to nearly all life on the planet, it tends to make one paranoid about leaving the safety of city-states, to travel across the mammalian territory. There were other dangers to worry about, like high winds and fierce storms. They could bring down a Zeppelin easier than any mammalian predator wishing to sample sapien flesh.

The woman in the seat in front of him, grabbed her daughter's attention as she pointed out the window. “Look, Megan," she said. “Sky Riders." The little girl pressed her face to the window and asked where. Before her mother could answer, she cooed with delight as she pointed also. Jason followed her directions. Below them, two black feathered Corax's flew past, their backs ladened with sacks of all sizes. At the front, between their neck and wings, sat a sapien rider. They pulled on the reins and caused their avians to bank and dive right under the Zeppelin and out of sight. The little girl was still chattering excitedly even as he leaned back into his seat.

Looking out the window, Jason could see New Kaleth City below him. It's grid plan spread out like a web. Numerous buildings no taller than five stories sprouted like mushrooms in the treetops. Due to stress on branches, it was forbidden to build any structures taller. Out among the many branches that had been strengthened by sapien engineering, lay the suburbs.

Further out from them, lay the fruit farms along with large, bowl-like platforms containing valuable soil for growing vegetables. Out on the fringes of the city-state, lay the scattered barns that housed the domesticated avians that served the city as transport, communication, and defence. Skyway's stretched from tree to tree, connecting the many communities. Interlaced within the foliage were the ever important ruby coloured surrexerunt flowers. These were vital for any city-state or frontier town, as their fragrance masked sapien scents from mammalians. In the very centre of the city, he could see the massive radio tower, surrounded by buildings of industry, their chimney stacks belching forth a steady stream of black coal smoke. Power lines stretched out like vines, providing electricity to the entire city-state. A general rule of thumb had all larger structures constructed at the tree's centre where the foundations could hold more weight.

The zeppelin lowered until finally, it reached the airship port. Jason spied the long, silver shapes of two other dirigibles berthed at their masts. The muted roar of the airship's engines lessened as it neared its mooring mast. Then it slowed down until it was all but hovering, allowing the captain to drop the landing lines. Below, a swarm of dockhands seized them and began the job of tethering the Zeppelin to the dock. The snap that locked the flange at the nose of the airship to the collar atop the mooring mast caused the immense craft to vibrate for a moment.

Then the cabin crew made their way throughout the ship, informing all the passengers that it was now safe to disembark. Jason grabbed his briefcase and followed the rest of the passengers towards the exit at the rear of the gondola. As soon as he descended the wheeled stairway to the dock, he donned a snap-brim fedora, buttoned his overcoat and straightened his tie out of habit.

New Kaleth City was relatively new compared to the ancient city-states that dotted the numerous forest canopies of the Middle Continent. Barely eighty years since the first settler arrived. Jason had secured a position of leading professor of linguistic studies at the cities newly established university. New Kaleth was at the edge of sapien territory, but it was a start. He joined the long queue of people waiting to retrieve their luggage. He turned just as a woman of the cities militia strode passed in her chlorophyll uniform and slouch hat. Slung effortlessly across her back, was her four bore, single-shot calibre rifle, the standard issue weapon of all militia. The gun was almost as long as she was tall.

Her watchful gaze was aimed not at the people on the dock, but rather the shrubbery and open spaces on the ground below. She sidled up to a militiaman who had his rifle resting on the railings that ringed the edge of the docks. The muzzle was aimed directly at the closest and thickest collection of bushes. After a few words with the man, which ended in him glancing back at the bush and shaking his head, she walked off continuing with her patrol.

Mammalian predators were always a danger, especially to frontier towns and cities. So having well-fortified defences against attacks from the ground was vital for survival. Still, that never stopped them from trying. Jason had lost track of the number of times he'd picked up the morning paper to find out that there's been an attempt by mammalian hunting parties to reach the city above the night before. Whenever he arrived at a new city or town, it was not uncommon to see the scattered bones of some over-eager mammalian predator laying strewn about the forest floor. The corpses never lasted too long. Reptilian predators would always come by to pick the bones clean, thus preventing nauseous smells from choking the air.

Large reptilian predators weren't considered a real danger and were the preferred choice. It was common practice for newly founded towns to encourage them into their territory. Sapiens were too small to bother hunting, while mammalian's weren't. And unlike mammalians, they weren't sentient. That didn't stop some of the smaller reptilian predator's from trying. The most common were serpentes. They could coil around tree trunks and slither their way up; though none could ever bypass the barbed spikes that ringed the foundations of all sapien cities and towns.

The suddenness of the clerk at the desk asking for his luggage claim brought him back to reality. He handed over his copy of the sheet, and after a thorough examination, the man returned with his two suitcases. He tipped the clerk and headed for the dock exit. As he neared the arched gate, his attention was drawn off to the far side of the dock. Three dock workers and a sky rider were trying fruitlessly to calm down a Corax that had suddenly started pitching a fit. Squawking and flapping its wings as it attempted to fly away. More dock workers were rushing over, trying to secure the agitated avian.

As he stood there, he was barely aware of a low rumbling. It sounded like heavy stones tumbling in some distant quarry, muffled and distorted as if the vibrations had to traverse miles of solid rock, just to make itself herd. Standing where he was, Jason could feel a cold vibration surging up his limbs and through his body as though he were part of the dock itself. The feeling was almost soothing and left him with a slight dizziness. Looking around revealed he wasn't the only person who'd noticed this.

The rumbling grew louder, causing everyone within the general vicinity to look around. It wasn't just affecting the dock; it was the whole tree. Before anyone could utter one syllable, there was a sharp jolt, and the entire dock dropped a meter, throwing everyone off their feet. Jason cried out in pain as he landed on his luggage, but he barely heard himself over the din, as from far below came the ominous sound of cracking.

He just heard the shrill cry from someone to hold on tight as with a strained groaning sound, the whole tree, along with the dock, began to lean over. Screaming filled the air as the tree continued to tilt and with horrid realisation, Jason knew it was collapsing. He just managed to grab hold of a metal ring on the dock, for securing wooden creates as people slid passed him and over the edge. The wind whipped at him as the fall gathered momentum before finally coming down to earth with a shattering crash that echoed throughout the forest.

The impact catapulted Jason through the air. He pinwheeled before striking the ground; Hard. He bounced a few times, before rolling to a stop. Thankfully, the grass had cushioned most of the impact, but he still ached all over. He lay on his back, staring up at the forest canopy above him. Then his eyes widened with fear. His head shot up, ignoring the pain as his eyes darted around in terror. He was on the ground. The ground was dangerous for sapiens. It always had been. Gritting his teeth, he struggled to his feet. He staggered but didn't fall. All around him, people lay motionless, writhing or were in various stages of being vertical.

Jason couldn't tell what had become of his belongings, overcoat, and fedora, nor did he care. The only thought on his mind was returning to the treetops. Looking up, what he could see of the city was alive with frantic activity. Hopefully, there would be ladders descending to rescue the survivors; Preferably soon. As he glanced back down at those around him, he let his gaze rest upon the tree. It had fallen over, but the most curious thing about it was that there were no apparent signs of damage to the trunk. Its entire length was unaffected right down to the exposed roots.

Then he blanched. From behind the roots, a rolling mass of grey fur leaped out and surged forth. They were hunched low, with large, bronze round-shields held above them. They jumped clear of the fallen roots, rushed forth and spread out. Although they moved like lightning, he recognised the large mammalians due to their striped tails and the black mask-like fur around their eyes; Procyons. All around him, cries of pain and confusion quickly became ones of terror and alarm. A loud boom resounded from above, and one corner of a Procyon's bronze shield exploded. The mammalian in question instinctively ducked lower in fear, and abruptly changed directions.

Someone was shouting orders. Jason turned to see the same militia woman he'd seen earlier trying to organise everyone to hide in the wreckage of all the buildings that hadn't been crushed by the fall. Suddenly, dark grey furry fingers surrounded her and hoisted her into the air, before dumping her into a leather waist pouch. The Procyon didn't even pause, as his fingers withdrew and dived for another victim.

All around him, the scene was the same. The Procyon's would gently scoop up a sapien and deposit them into their pouches, before repeating the process. Jason turned towards the fallen tree, where he could see those sapiens who could, were fleeing. Those who made it scrambled inside the structures they were within reach. Unfortunately, it also allowed the Procyon's to concentrate their efforts and gather up more people.

They were moving faster now. From the tree-tops, the loud booms of rifles were becoming more frequent. Dust was kicking up, along with the explosions of sections of their bronze shields. He could see the looks of fear in their eyes as they scrambled about, not daring to stay in one spot for more than a few seconds. Finally, he came to his senses as he realised he too should be looking for a hiding spot. The fallen tree now swarmed with Procyon's, as they hunted for prey. Many sapiens had abandoned the idea of trying to reach it and were instead scattering, trying to confuse the mammalian predators by running in every direction.

Behind him, there was a large bush, its base was too thick for a Procyon to follow him, but he'd be able to hide within. He took three steps towards it before large, dark grey fingers encircled his body. The Procyon's grip on him tightened enough to force the air out of his lungs. He couldn't breathe, let alone move. He was dimly aware that he was airborne before he was released. He gasped painfully as he fell into the leather pouch, bouncing off someone with a cry of pain, before slamming face first into the leather interior. He wasn't able to move, as someone slammed into his back, pinning him there.

What little light that there was, was shut off like a switch as the pouch began jostling more violently than before. There was a momentary sensation of weightlessness as if his captor had jumped down a hole before a shuttering jolt bounced everyone around. The Procyon never stopped moving the whole time. Running like mad, before slowing down and at long last, standing still. Compressed against the wall of the pouch, Jason could hear the wails and cries of his fellow captives. He could also hear the voices of the Procyon's. They were loud and echoed. They must be in a tunnel.

Jason's eyes widened. The Procyon's had emerged from a hole in the ground, at the base of the tree. The clever bastards must have tunnelled under the tree and forced it to collapse. From what little he'd seen, it must have been a quick, rush and grab raid, as they had been neither meticulous nor cautious.

The pouch opened, and the fingers returned, snatching up the man who'd been pinning him to the wall and Jason relaxed with a sigh of relief. It didn't last as the fingers returned and seized him. He granted a whirlwind view of the world around him, before being gently lowered into a cage. He was carefully placed inside, before the fingers withdrew, only to return with another sapien. This practice went on for a while, and the cage began rapidly filling. Jason edged his way over to the bars and peered out. They were in a dark tunnel. A few torches were burning, casting dancing shadows all around the room. Here and there, the other Procyon's were mirroring the actions of his captor.

Jason stared at them with both fear and fascination. It was the first time in his life that he'd seen a living mammalian up this close. Their fur colour was varying shades of grey, ranging from dark on their arms, to almost white on their chests. The fur around their eyes was black, making it look like a mask, while their bushy tail was striped. What little clothing they wore were sashes, necklaces, and belts. There were cloth wrappings around their forearms and legs that covered up to their knuckles and toes.

Stacked up against the wall, were their bronze round-shields. Dents were highly visible on many, while others had large chunks missing. As they worked, they were talking among themselves; Jason listened carefully. Languages were his speciality. Particularly mammalian. Concentrating, he found he could understand their tongue. It was from the North-Eastern Mountain region of the Middle Continent.

<These * shields of yours didn't work!> the tallest one – a male - said. <Look at this!> He held up what Jason assumed was his. There were five large holes around the base. To emphasise the point, he stuck a furry finger through and wiggled it like a worm. The Procyon he was addressing looked unimpressed.

<Are you dead?> She asked. He didn't answer. Her muzzle wrinkled in thought, and she turned to the rest of them. <How many are injured?> More than a few hands rose. Someone had their ear shot off. Another was missing their tail. One Procyon's whole right side of their upper torso was caked with blood. She winced at that. One announced that he had his knee-cap shattered. One of his compatriots was already seeing to it, telling their leader he needed to see a professional healer; fast. She nodded, before taking a deep breath. <Who did we lose?>

<No one,> someone said. The answer caught her off guard.

<What?>

<We suffered no fatalities. Just see for yourself; Everyone's here.> Slowly, her gaze surveyed the tunnel, before finally, a big grin spread across her muzzle.

<Thank *.> She whispered so softly, Jason almost missed it. <That's better than I ever could have expected.> She turned so sharply towards Jason that he reared back slightly. <Now for the critical question. What's our tally?> The Procyon's began counting the captives in their cages. When they finished, they called out their total. The short, almost fat Procyon standing behind the female appeared to be doing some mental calculations in his head. When the numbers stopped coming, he turned to her without hesitation.

<One-hundred and twenty-two.> The rest of the Procyon's gasped as one. They were silent for a few seconds before they repeated the number amongst them. It was whispered at first, but grew louder, accompanied with sharp oaths that Jason couldn't translate. The female jumped for joy, almost bashing the ceiling of the tunnel.

<This is *!> she shouted. <I... I never suspected, in all my wildest dreams, it would turn out like this. No casualties, and over one-hundred sapiens?> The entire party cheered with her. The rest of the conversations drowned each other out, as everyone began chattering excitedly. The speed and volume of their speech, along with the echoing within the tunnel, made it too noisy for Jason to follow. Everyone inside the cage had their ears covered, and were crowding to the other side of the pen in a desperate attempt to escape the noise. Eventually, the sound and speed at which they spoke drove him to give up at trying to understand them, so with hands over his ears; he joined his inmates on the other side.

“I wonder what that was all about?" Jason turned to see a man wearing the jumpsuit of a Sky Rider, staring curiously out at the Procyon's. He too had his hands over his ears to block out the racket their captors were making. He had to shout to make himself heard.

“They're just happy that none of them got killed and that they got one-hundred and twenty-two of us." The man's head turned sharply towards him and removed his hands in surprise. He quickly returned them.

“So, that means you took a course in their language?" Jason nodded.

“I'm the... was to be the leading professor of linguistic studies at New Kaleth University," he answered. “Their tongue is similar to one of the many mammalian tongues I know." A crowd was starting to gather around him as news spread that he could understand the Procyon's. They bombarded him with questions and demands. How had they pulled this off? Could he ask them to let them go? What were they going to do with them? Are they going to eat them? He tried to answer them as best he could. None were too happy to hear that not a single Procyon had perished in the raid.

“They're coming over here!" someone cried. Jason found himself surrounded by eager faces.

“Talk to them." Another begged. “Tell them to let us go!" Jason believed that they wouldn't even if he did, but the beseeching and desperate pleading from the crowd made him hesitate in voicing that thought to them. “Just try something," someone else implored. “Please, you're our only hope!" The dark grey hands reached for the cage.

<Excuse me!> he shouted as loud as he could. The fingers jerked back as if they'd touched something hot. A pair of dark blue eyes appeared before him, set within a mask of black fur. <Yes, I said that. Can I talk with your leader?>

<Big sister?> The Procyon's cry was half urgent, half uncertainty. The female was at his side. Before she could ask, he pointed down at Jason. <This one speaks.> She glanced down at him. <It - wants to speak to you.>

<Yes, I can speak.> Jason called up at her. <Can we talk?> Silence filled the tunnel. Jason was now aware that all the Procyon's eyes were on him. The female lowered her face to be eye level with him.

<How do you know our language?> she asked slowly. <The few sapiens I've encountered don't know any of the eighteen civilised tongues.> Jason folded his arms and smirked.

<We know them,> he said. <We have our methods of learning them. After all, we've not only survived, but thrived in-spite of you giants for countless millenniums.> She opened her mouth to say something, then paused. Finally, when she spoke, it was in a different language.

{Do you speak the trade tongue?}

{It is the one I am most fluent in.} There was a new look in her eyes now. Before Jason could decipherer it's real intent, she opened the lid of the cage and reaching in, closed her fingers about his torso. He cried out in alarm, kicking his legs wildly as the Procyon straightened up, holding him directly in front of her muzzle.

<This day keeps getting better and better,> she said to herself.

<What? Wait, what do you intend to do with us?> She didn't answer. <Are you going t-to - eat us?> He stumbled over the last few words. He could barely keep his mind focused. He'd never been this close to a mammalian before. And being a predator was ratcheting up the terror flowing throughout his veins.

<Eat you?> she laughed, causing Jason to wince with his hands trapped by his sides. <* no,> she answered. <You and your fellow sapiens are far too valuable to devour; Especially you.>

Jason scarcely understood her words. Saying he was terrified would be an understatement. His gaze was locked on the Procyon's moving mouth as the giant spoke, granting him a glimpse of giant, sharp white teeth, behind which lay a dark red tongue and an equally dark uvula. His eyes travelled further, towards the wet, gaping black hole those organs guarded. He'd never seen anyone eaten by a predator, just read the occasional story in the paper. Some poor fool who fell from the treetops only to be scooped up by a hidden mammalian and swallowed; whole and alive.

Now here he was, facing the nightmare scenario all sapiens dreaded. He didn't hear the Procyon speaking to him until she raised her fist to eye level. <*, I was talking to you.>

<P-please... not clo-loss... so! Back!> His trembling voice caused him to trip over the words. Her brow furrowed. Then to his relief, she lowered him away from her face. To his immediate embarrassment, she held him at chest level, granting him an ample view of her large, furred breasts. They were large, furry spheres that did nothing to hide their pink nipples and areola. He swallowed the nervous lump in his throat and forced himself to look up.

<Is this less intimidating?> He nodded frantically. <As I was saying, my clan won't eat you all. We've invested too much coin into this operation. That would be eating into our profits; Literally.> Jason's eyes widened.

<You're going to sell us?> She smiled in response. <To whom? Are they going to eat us?> She shrugged.

<Possibly. Once we've exchanged you for coin, your well being isn't our concern. As for you, where you're going, you won't have to worry about getting eaten.> She must have seen the confused look on his face, for she continued. <While a sapien will fetch a high price, one that is learned is almost priceless. Scholars of the principal guilds will be tearing each other's throats out for access to you. To be able to talk with you, learn your language, culture, history; Technology.> She emphasised that last word with deliberate slowness.

<So, I can't convince you to let us go?> He said the words half-heartedly. They all roared with laughter, and again, Jason winced.

<Look around you,> she said, indicating the tunnel walls and all the equipment. <We bankrupted our clan pulling this off. If we let you all go, we might as well walk back out and calmly stand in range of your weapons. No. One-hundred and twenty-two sapiens to sell at the markets will not only recover that loss but make us and our descendants wealthy for life.> The rest of the Procyon's cheered before they all started gathering up the cages. The one he'd been in had the lid closed and locked before it too was taken away. He stared at it, before turning back up to his captor.

She kept hold of him as she started following the others down the length of the tunnel. For what felt like an age, they were walking. Jason kept glancing at the tunnel walls. It was beyond any shadow of a doubt; they'd been planning this for a long time. Eventually, a bright light began to penetrate the darkness. Jason had to screw his eyes shut as they exited out into the light and fresh air.

{It's about time you showed,} a new voice cried out in the trade language. {We were beginning to think that you'd all ***.} Jason had to blink his eyes to try and get them into focus. When he could finally see, he saw a large gang of stubby but stocky mammalian's with short, barely discernible necks, small flat heads with puffy cheek pouches and very large, incisors; Geomyidae. Dirt caked their tawny coloured fur and hands. Many were lounging about, under the shade of the forest canopy. The females were down by the river, washing as the males waited patiently. Although a few wore bandana's around their necks, and cloth wrappings around their feet and hands, they wore no articles of clothing.

{Hardly,} the female Procyon said with a laugh. The Geomyidae looked ready to reply when he stopped short and sat up straight. All around him, his friends reacted similarly.

***! He cried out in his tongue. **********? Whether or not she understood him was uncertain, but the female Procyon followed his stunned gaze to where her siblings stacked the cages. She turned back, grinning smugly.

{You seem impressed by the number we got?} she said. The Geomyidaes never answered. He just kept staring as the cages were piled up. The others were on their feet now, while the females from the river had wandered up. All looked impressed, shocked and a few seemed envious. {Your contract doesn't allow me to divulge sensitive information, but I can let you know we've got more than our best case scenario.} An audible gasp rose from the Geomyidaes.

The leader looked stunned. Then he saw the broken shields and wounded ones, being bandaged, and his expression turned to a slight smirk. {Looks like everything didn't go according to plan.} The female Procyon only smiled.

{Maybe, but if you count our number, you'll see we lost no one.} The male Geomyidaes eyes narrowed as they darted over the assembled Procyon's, then went neutral. A loud snort shot through the air and Jason turned to see several large, reptilian quadrupeds. He had seen black and white photos of these creatures in books. They were called Komodoensis. Herbivores by nature, the mammalian's used them as beasts of burden.

She called out to her party, and they started stacking the cages strategically onto the sides of the creatures. They secured them with ropes before throwing thick looking sheets over them. The female walked up to each as they were settled and inhaled deeply. Satisfied, she nodded to the ones in charge of the Komodoensis who promptly led them off into the forest.

Jason never saw when the male Geomyidae - he guessed this guy was the leader - sidled up beside her. She looked down at him. Only now did Jason realised how small they were in comparison with the Procyon's. {Why isn't that one in a cage?} He asked as he pointed at Jason. There was a look of something that wasn't quite hunger in his eyes. {Is he...?}

{That's also not in your contract,} the female said nonchalantly. As if to forestall any further questions or requests, she added, {We paid your family in advanced and triple the standard rate, with full hazard penalties; As you demanded. We owe you nothing further.}

{It's just that you caught so many,} he seemed both nervous and awestruck. {I thought maybe...} The female cut him off.

{May I remind you, once you brought down the tree your entire family delayed our raid, when they fled with their tails between their legs, giving us no more than a sarcastic **!}

{We had no idea this * plan of yours would work,} the male responded indignantly. {We weren't going to leave ourselves open to a possible counter-attack in the tunnel. Sapiens have a nasty habit of pouring boiling oil down on mammalian's at the base of their trees; Predators or not.}

{You dug the tunnel, you felled the tree, and you've been paid,} she said flatly. {We have concluded our business.} She turned to leave.

{You'll need us in the future,} the male cried out. {Even you admitted that my family is the best in the trade. That's why you came to me! You'll need me if you want to do this again. Do you think it's good business to leave on such a sour note?}

She stopped, and without turning to look at him, said, {We got one-hundred and twenty-two sapiens.} She paused deliberately. Although he couldn't see, Jason was aware of the sudden ceasing of noise from the gathered Geomyidaes's. {Even you, with your limited education, can calculate the mathematics. My clan won't have to do this again, and as I said before, we have concluded our business.} She walked off to the sound of silence as she hurried to join up with the caravan.

---

They organised the big lizards into a line that snaked through the forest. Atop their backs, rested the wounded, along with a Procyon driver, holding the reins as they guided their mounts along a narrow path. Their thick, bulky bodies scrapped the trunks of the trees, snapping off branches. In between the great Komodoensis, the rest of the Procyon's walked in small clumps. Many carried packs, while a select few carried bronze spears.

Jason was thinking about the Geomyidaes. Mammalian herbivores don't eat sapiens, but they have a notorious reputation for kidnapping them to sell to predators. Still trapped in his captor's fist with nothing to do, he decided to ask her about it. She confirmed his theory. <He's phenomenally greedy,> she said, before sighing. <Though, he has every right to be. He wasn't lying when he announced his family is the best in the business. It has left him with a somewhat imperious attitude.> One corner of her mouth rose. <With so many sapiens, he thought he could squeeze one last coin from my pouch.> A small chuckle escaped her closed lips. <Allowing that ** to milk me for all my coin was worth it, to see him choke like that.>

<You bankrupted your clan pulling this off?> Jason asked. <Why?> She looked down at him this time.

<Surely you know how delicious your kind is?> He gritted his teeth and nodded. She lifted him to her muzzle and breathed in deeply. She relaxed as his scent flooded her senses, allowing her grip on him loosened as her eyes fluttered in ecstasy. *! <Your scent.> ******! Her words trailed off into something he couldn't translate. <It's taking a great deal of self-control not to cram you into my mouth and swallow you, whole and alive.>

A sharp, shiver ran down Jason's spine, and he squeaked out an incomprehensible response. Collecting his wits about him, he asked, <Is that why you've been holding me this whole time instead of storing me away?> Her expression sagged, and she thankfully lowered him away.

<All my life, I've wanted what's best for my clan. For as long as our oral history has told, we've never been successful merchants. Growing up, I promised myself that I would do better. That I would gain the riches we so rightfully deserved.>

<So why sapiens?>

<I've been planning this for almost a decade,> she said. <Nearly ten years ago, I was at the biggest market in the capital. Word had gotten around that there was to be a special event at mid-morning. Everyone who was anyone was showing up, and I wanted to know why. That's when I saw it. In the centre of the market, upon a raised dais, was a sapien auction.> She glanced back down at him. <There were only thirty-one sapiens available. The wealthy Predator's participating were clawing at each other for the privilege of walking away with just one.> Her gaze turned nostalgic. <At the time, thirty-one was considered a massive haul, and when it was over, the auctioneer was almost swimming in coin.> Her face turned stoic. <From that day forth, I knew the key would be a sapien raid. So, I conducted all the research I could get about sapien raids; Successful and unsuccessful. Analysing what did and didn't work, while building up my operation.>

<Digging a tunnel and falling the tree,> Jason counted off what he'd seen. He looked abashed. <Nobody ever thought to try and build countermeasures against that.>

<Precisely,> she said, excitement sparkling in her eyes. <Although it would have to be a reasonably modern city. A town would be too small, and an older city would be too fortified. Nobody had ever tried my method before, because nobody had tried uniting different mammalian species in-order to exploit their unique talents.>

Jason nodded. As far as recorded sapien history knew, none of the mammalian races had ever worked together on anything other than trade and diplomacy. Thinking about it, made it less surprising that those Geomyidae chose to get as much money out of her as they could. Thinking about that, caused his mind to wander as he digested all he'd seen and heard. They most likely thought she was going to die, so they figured such an engineering accomplishment would look good on their resume. They'd be taking her money and letting her walk into the Vulpes's den. He scoffed. No wonder she was strutting about with her tail held high.

<We scooped out our target, then located a secure spot to dig our tunnel. We would have the perfect form of cover from counter-attack. Those Geomyidaes were a pain in the *, but they knew which tree we wanted, how to get there and which direction it would fall.> She gave a begrudging smile. <He wasn't exaggerating when he said his family was the best.>

<What's with those covers?> Jason asked, indicating the massive woven sheets that obscured the cages.

<It's all part of the planning. Do you notice how thick they are?> He nodded. <There's a type of flower woven into their threads. It's fragrance masks your scent. I'm sure you're familiar with it.> It wasn't a question, but he nodded. The scent of the surrexerunt flowers weren't detectable by mammalian noses until they were right in front of them. <We wouldn't want people to know what we have, and how many. Knowing too soon could lead to trouble.>

Jason nodded. He opened his mouth to ask another question, but she somehow knew. Cutting him off, she answered, <I told that ** about our total catch because there's no way in * he or any of his kin would beat us to where we're going.> Her grin was full of satisfaction. <Dealing with him has been the most unpleasant part of this operation. It was personal. Just a rude gesture as payment for all I've had to deal with from him.>

Jason smirked. <You didn't think of everything. The shields were foolish. Bronze isn't strong enough to stand up to our weapons. I thought your kind would've at least known that.> She glowered at him.

<Yes, I will confess that was the only part of my plan that didn't work.> She growled this time. <Your weapons are a source of wonder and terror to all. That's the part that makes hunting your kind excruciatingly difficult. Ever since you developed thunder-staffs, sapien raids have become extremely hazardous.> Jason raised an eyebrow. He'd never known what the mammalian word for firearms had been. Before he could ask what other words they supplemented, she clenched her free hand into a trembling fist. <I was so sure that the shields would work.> She calmed down. <It's not essential. Nobody died, and with the profit, we'll make from the markets off you alone, there will be more than enough to cover medical expenses.>

He glanced out at the caravan. The wounded ones were riding on the backs of the Komodoensis, covered in stained bandages. Then his eyes floated back to the sheet-covered cages, and his expression darkened. <I hope they die of gangrene,> Jason snapped. She bared her teeth.

<Those are my siblings you're talking about.> Her voice was low and dangerous. <That wasn't very tactful of you to say that.>

<Hypocrisy doesn't come close to describing what's wrong with that response,> Jason shouted up at her. <“Primus" only knows how many of my people you killed when you felled that tree. Not to mention all those you accidentally stood on during your raid. And the ones you did catch, you're just going to sell off to be eaten. All the while, you keep referring to my race as either cattle or cargo! They have siblings too you know!> In his rage, he unintentionally switched back to his native tongue. “So fuck your clan, fuck your wounded and most importantly, fuck you!" Her grip tightened uncomfortably. Her words came through clenched teeth.

<I have no idea what you just said but...>

<I'm valuable, remember!> he reminded her sharply. <Kill me, and you lose “Primus" knows how much profit!> The grip relaxed, albeit reluctantly. She scrutinised him intently.

<I've been talking like that about your kind for a while now,> she said slowly. <Why have you only now taken offence to it?> He sighed heavily, allowing his rage to flow out with the air.

<We... sapiens are on the bottom of the food chain. There's no nice way of putting it. We understand the law of the jungle. We do what we can to survive. We teach every sapien from a young age to adolescence survival courses. In spite of this, you always hear stories of sapiens who are eaten by mammalian, reptilian, insecta and avian predator's all the time. There's nothing you can do about it, so we've grown accustomed to your kind thinking of us in that way.> He paused a lot longer than he intended to. <But... All my life, I've never been in a situation where I had to fight for survival. I've lived a comfortable life. Now suddenly, the safety of my world is gone, and I'm being spoken off as nothing more than food and property. Not only is it a real cultural whiplash, but when you're always going on about it, non-stop...! When you lose, it hurts like “Sonofabitch."> She flicked an ear.

<I'm sorry,> she finally said.

<No you're not,> Jason muttered. He frowned, then turned to look up at her. There had been genuine sincerity in her words. <Wait, why did you say that?>

<You are the first, and no doubt the last sapien I'll ever have a conversation with,> she replied. <In all my best case scenario's, I never imagined I'd find a sapien that was communicative. * This is a situation no one ever thought they'd find themselves in.> She paused for a long while too. <Talking with you. It's fascinating.> She tilted her head to one side. <And yet, your kind never deals with ours. I find it peculiar that you'd take a profession that requires you to learn a skill that you'll most likely never use.>

<We pass it down from generation to generation to keep it alive. Having such knowledge is useful. After all, knowledge is power.> She nodded in understanding.

<When you first started learning our language, did you ever believe you'd have a conversation with a mammalian predator? And live?>

Jason turned away from her. As much as he hated to admit it, she was right. And just like her, he found the whole situation intriguing. <Who do you plan on selling me too?> he asked, trying to change the subject.

She was silent for a moment, as she realised she wasn't going to get any answers out of him. <Who ever can pay the highest,> she responded. <It could be anyone.> Jason shook his head.

<No, I meant, to whom are you going to sell me? Did you mention something about guilds? A market? Scholars?>

<How much of the surrounding area are you familiar with?> He gave a so-so gesture with his head. <We're heading south-east from your city.> He thought about it.

<There's a large river system in that direction. I think there's a city that straddles the river where it flows into three separate systems.> She nodded.

<Tribus City,> she answered. <It's the most prominent trading city-state in the south. Three of the most powerful guilds in the south-east have chapters set-up there.> She paused all of a sudden as if something that she should've remembered finally caught up with her. For a long time, she said nothing. Her eyes were alive with deep thought. <How familiar are you with the guilds?>

<Not very much,> he answered. <I focused more on language than social structure.> He turned to look up at her as he expected her to continue explaining. She was staring down at him as if calculating something. Staring up into her eyes, Jason was getting the unsettling impression that something was waiting for him in this city, that she didn't want to discuss.

<We have a long trip ahead of us,> she said. She lowered Jason and deposited him into her leather waist pouch. <It'll take us close to three weeks to get there. Get some rest.> Then the flap was closed, sealing him within. The motions of her walking still jostled him about, while light slipping into the pouch from outside provided a dull glow, preventing total darkness from reigning supreme. He titled his head up, as he briefly contemplated calling out to her, asking to know why she abruptly ended the conversation like that. He slumped against the walls of the pouch as he realised she wouldn't answer.

Throughout the rest of the day, his captor walked, rested, ate and walked some more. During that time, she gave him a chunk of what was tough bread. She hadn't even spoken to him, other than giving him a cursory <eat,> before closing the flap again. When the caravan camped for the night, she'd let him out to do his business. He was never allowed out of his captor's sight though, and she just squatted before him and stared, as if petrified that he'd vanish the instant she blinked. He'd done some damn fool things in his life that left him red-faced in front of many, but he'd never been this embarrassed. Afterward, she'd return him to her waist pouch.

As days turned into weeks, Jason noticed a change in the landscape. The Forest thinned out and disappeared, becoming rolling plains and low hills. Tall grass rippled in the strong winds that blew across them. A broad dirt path, big enough to allow another caravan of the same size to travel side by side, opened up before them. Along the sides of the road, appeared the occasional house. They were circular with wattle and daub walls or dry stone walls, with thatched or turfed roofs over a cone of beams at around 45° and a single entrance.

Jason hardly saw the mammalian's who owned them, while the few who were, were too far away to discern their species. They would unbend from their tasks to wave at the caravan, who politely reciprocated the gesture. The further they travelled, the more frequent the houses became. Eventually, the female who held him in her waist pouch added some surrexerunt petals inside, as time wore on. They passed a good number of mammalian's along the road, individual ones with packs on their backs, or small groups that grew no larger than five, all heading in the opposite direction of the caravan.

Finally, as another day dawned towards the conclusion of their third week, they reached a gently sloping rise. After a three hour trek up, they arrived at the top. His captor hadn't taken him out of the pouch, but Jason had managed to work a small hole into the hem of the walls. His eyes widened at what he saw.

It was a city; Tribus City. The river divided it into three sections. Residential buildings covered the eastern bank of the river, while the other housed local agriculture. The jewel of the city was the massive island that straddled the river system as it broke up from one, into three. Upon that island, sat what one could best describe as an industrial district. A large open space lay at the centre of the island; A market. Even from this distance, he could see the place swarmed with mammalians.

As they finally neared a checkpoint, Jason couldn't help but tremble in fear. He knew he wasn't destined for some predator's stomach, but captivity. The prospect of being sold off to the highest bidder because he could communicate with mammalian's scared him to no end. And what would they have installed for him? Whatever would happen, Jason could only hope that whatever the answer turned out to be, it wouldn't be too humiliating or a fate worse than death.