AN: I have returned. I haven't given up on this story and I want to see it through to the end. So don't feel bad about asking me if I've let the story die. Enough chit-chat, on with the story! Again, I've put this through Grammarly, so I apologise for any spelling or grammar throughout the story.


First Chapter: Act I
Next Chapter: Act IX
Previous Chapter: Act VII


***

SYNOPSIS:
Jason Sankowski did not expect to live an exciting life. Not even in a world where humans are considered a delicacy and hunted for food by the giants that roam the lands. Yet, upon arriving in a new city, to begin a new life, he is suddenly removed from his comfortable surroundings and thrust into a fight for survival.

***

“The Odyssey”
By MrNelg

Act: VIII

There was a multitude of questions flowing through Jason's mind as he stared blankly up at the Sciuridae. Finally, he asked, {Where's Glitch?}

{She's fine,} the Sciuridae answered. {I didn't just dump her on the streets if that's what worries you. She's at this moment on board the ship that Oryctolagus caravan is travelling on.} 

Jason blinked. Glitch was safe. That was all he cared about right now. For a moment, he was still, before he asked, {What will they do with her?}

{I was able to get the caravan to take her back to the Oryctolagus lands,} he replied. {They agreed to take her there. Once there, I have no doubt she'll be able to make a living for herself, with her skills as an interpreter.}

Again, Jason was silent. He didn't know how to react to this news. Jason had steeled himself for verbal combat, but the answer he received left him speechless. While it was true, he'd stolen him from Glitch; the Oryctolagus girl was not only safe but on her way home. That was what he had wanted for her. Hearing that, his own goal of returning home being thwarted somehow didn't anger him as much as it should've. He should've been furious, but he wasn't.

The answer being Glitch was safe.

{Why did you steal me?} He finally asked. The Sciuridae seemed to take offence at that.

{I didn't steal you,} he said. {If I recall, you were never hers, to begin with.} Jason rose to his feet.

{She freed me,} he hissed. {She was going to take me home.}

{You mustn't. That would be a waste of your skills,} the Sciuridae answered. {You can benefit more people by allowing me to utilise your full potential.}

{I am not an object!} he snapped.

{And I am not treating you as such,} the Sciuridae countered. {I'm not playing ignorance. I understand that Mammalian's do not view your kind as people. All I am asking of you is that you accept me as your friend.}

{You kidnapped me without my consent,} Jason snarled. {Why should I?}

{Because I see what you can do to help Mammalian kind,} he said. {That night you assisted me in helping save our guide from bleeding to death. Your small size allowed for delicate operations that no Mammalian could ever hope to achieve successfully. She's alive because of you.}

Jason was silent. {You want me to help you with surgery,} he finally said.

{Yes!} the Sciuridae almost shouted. {Together, we can save so many Mammalian's who previously couldn't have been. By assisting me, we can bring hope to the world.}

{I don't care,} Jason snapped back. {Mammalian's have always been a threat to my kind, why would I want to save them? So that they can go on to eat more of my kind?}

{Herbivores won't -}

{-they don't care about us either,} Jason interrupted. {They understand Predators will pay generously for us.} He opened his mouth to respond but didn't. His mind appeared to be thinking about something, then he spoke.

{So, you don't believe that Sapiens and mammalians can't get along?}

{No.}

{And what about your little friend?}

{Glitch is different!}

{And our Leo guide?}

{She saved Glitch!} Jason snapped. {She would've eaten me given a chance.}

{Yet you saved her.} Jason paused. The Sciuridae saw this and pressed home his advantage. {Think about it, if you help save Mammalian lives, it could help other Mammalian's to look more favourably upon your kind.} Jason recoiled. 

{You want to showcase me to the world? Are you "Nuts?"} He pointed as if indicating land. {All the major guilds wish to own me, to talk to me, to help them – and only them – gain access to Sapien technology. Did Glitch tell you how she acquired me in the first place? The Cervidae guild faked my death to guarantee that I would end up in their hands.} He lowered his arm to stare the Sciuridae right in the eyes. {What do you think is going to happen if you suddenly parade me out in the open.}

Now the Sciuridae was silent for a full minute. {Please, help me,} he said.

{Why should I?} Jason asked.

{Because I need you.} There was trembling emotion within that plea. It made Jason hesitate.

{Why?} The Sciuridae gave a heavy sigh, and sat down against the wall.

{I wasn't always a travelling healer,} he said. {I was once the most respected Sciuridae in my village. All ailments I could cure. All injuries I could heal.} He then went silent, staring off into the bowels of the ship. {Did I ever tell you I had a family?} Jason could see where this was going.

{Who couldn't you save?} he asked.

{My daughter. She looked up to me. She loved me. And I couldn't save her.} His expression grew hard. Jason could see he was forcing back the tears. {Even after all this time, talking about it never gets easy. I always believed time would heal all wounds but...} He trailed off, unable to continue.

{What happened to your mate?}

{I couldn't face her after my failure,} he said. {I couldn't face anyone. So, like the coward I was, I ran. I left her all my coin, all of my properties and slipped away quietly into the night.} He gave another sob. {Every decision I made, every gamble I took, was the wrong one.} He looked Jason directly in the eyes, and they were wet with tears. {Do you know what that's like? Making choice after choice, only to realise it only made things worse? I was a coward. I couldn't face my mistakes, all because I was so prideful.} 

{If you did care for me, you could've asked for my opinion,} Jason snapped.

{Would you have said yes?}

{You've forced me into a situation where I have no choice,} He said through clenched teeth. 

{Please, help me Jay-sun. I can't do this without you. I'm tired of running away. I'm tired of being a coward. I can't do this alone. I don't have the strength nor the skill. You can not only help me but others. With you, I can not just atone for my failure, but we can spread hope to many more.} His eyes lit up as he spoke. {I can finally apologise to my daughter, by saving other children.}

Jason was silent as he took it all in. That last sentence sounded like it was to guilt him, but the emotion in the Sciuridae's voice indicated he was genuine. The Sciuridae was doing this because of guilt. He needed to do this for himself, not because he wanted to get rich or possess power. His ultimate goal, really was, to save children. He couldn't convince the Sciuridae to let him go, and he was too determined to keep him. Negotiating would be off the table also. Still, he couldn't help but think about Glitch. Yes, he betrayed her, but she was safe. On her way home, just as he'd wanted. 

And despite all he'd done, he couldn't find any anger to channel towards him.

{I don't know if it will work out,} Jason at last said. {While I do have a basic form of first aid, I'm not a healer.}

{I can help you with that,} the Sciuridae said. {What skills you lack, I can substitute. Aside from your size, the most exceptional ability you have is speech. I can guide you. Our partnership can prove that sapiens and mammalian's can work together.}

{Sapiens and herbivores can work together, you mean,} Jason added. {If I am to work with you, no predator's.} The Sciuridae hesitated, his expression half-frozen between delight and surprise. {Predator's eat sapiens. I am not going to help their kind. I made that one exception for our Leo guide because she saved Glitch.}

{They're both Mammalian's.} Jason was pulling at his hair.

{No! She's a herbivore, and the Leo is a predator.}

{Why do you-}

{Hate them so much?} Jason finished. His voice was rising with his anger. Why couldn't this fool see? {Why the "fucking hell" do you think? Predators have always hunted Sapiens to eat. They get one whiff of our scent and lose all control. I've seen the way they react to my clothing. When they catch my scent. It's like a drug to them. It doesn't matter that I'm a sentient being. They don't care. They take one look at me and the only thought going through their monstrous mind, is food!} He wound down, staring fiercely at the Sciuridae. {Since the dawn of time, when sapiens started recording their history, they all tell the same story. Mammalian predator's hunted and ate us. That's how life has played out for us ever since. No one cared about us. No one offered any help. We were on our own.} He pointed towards the Sciuridae. {Do you have any idea what that does to a people? When you have no friends, and you're always surrounded by enemies who are continuously inventing new ways to kill you? It makes you paranoid, afraid and unwilling to trust anyone.}

The Sciuridae was silent. {What about herbivores? How do Sapiens view them?}

{They are cruel and greedy tricksters,} Jason answered. {They take one look at us and see "pay dirt." They won't eat us, but that has never stopped them from selling us off to predator's, just to line their coin pouches.}

{And yet, you-}

{Glitch is different!} Jason shouted. The Sciuridae looked startled. He glanced up and around before giving Jason a 'Be Quiet' gesture. {I don't care about any other mammalian except her,} the Sciuridae opened his mouth, but Jason pre-empted him. {Our Leo guide saved Glitch's life. That's the only reason.} The Sciuridae seemed to think about something.

{I propose a challenge,} he finally said. {When the time comes, I will ask you to help with one predator, and when the operation is over, I'll then ask the question again; agreed?}

{And if I say no, you'll leave it be?} The Sciuridae nodded. {Agreed.}

{Thank you Jay-sun,} he said, letting out a loud breath. {I can't tell you how much this means to me.} Jason saw his fists clench a little. He decided it'd be best to change the subject.

{What's our destination?}

{We are at this moment, crossing the Emerald Sea towards the southeastern coast of the High Continent.}

{That's Lupus territory,} Jason said with slow realisation.

{It was part of my plan,} the Sciuridae confessed, {before you sank it. To show you off to the Lupus, that Sapiens and Mammalian's – especially predator's - can work together.} He pinched the bridge of his nose. {With that story you told me about the Cervidae guild, I can't do that any more.}

{It never would've worked,} Jason said. {They just would've waited until your back was turned, snatch me away and,} he finished that sentence with a loud swallow. The healer just stared back at him with an unreadable expression. Slowly, that look became one of sadness. Jason cocked an eyebrow. Was it sadness for his situation, or something else. {What?}

{I've never met anyone filled with so much hatred,} the Sciuridae said, pity in his eyes.

{Mammalians have never given us any other choice,} Jason answered. He was sick and tired of always going over this same old argument, so he folded his arms and to forestall any more discussion, asked, {What's the plan once we land?} The Sciuridae was momentarily silent.

{I have an acquaintance in the port city of Baile an Chósta. I saved his life some time ago, and he was more than willing to set me up with a practice there should I wish to set up roots. I believe now is the time to call in that favour.} Jason narrowed his eyes. What did this guy plan to do if he lost the bet? He wasn't to keen on living the rest of his life in a mammalian city; let alone one teeming with predators. Still, what could he do about it? During survival course's, every lesson stressed escaping once you had an escape route, as surviving without a plan would either lead to recapture or being eaten. He'd have to bide his time. The Sciuridae noticed his silence. {Is there anything I can do in the meantime to make you happy?}

Jason was about to respond with sarcasm when he paused. {Hey, we're on a boat, right?} The Sciuridae nodded. {Could you show me the ocean, please?} The Sciuridae tilted one of his ears.

{Why? It's just endless water. What's so special about it?} Jason spent the next ten minutes explaining everything he'd told Glitch, during their journey across the Lesser Sea. The Sciuridae nodded when he concluded. {As you wish,} he said, closing up the top of his sack, before carefully rising to his feet and leaving the hold for the deck.

Jason couldn't help, but breathe keenly as the sunlight made it through, to light up the darkness of the sack. The salty air was something he believed he'd never be able to get enough off. Then Jason clambered over everything to pry apart the knitting of the walls to get another view of the ocean. What he saw was the deck of the ship, populated with Lutrinae. Here and there stood the occasional Lupus.

The Sciuridae was moving, stopping once he reached the side of the boat, and angled his sack so that Jason could get a good view of the waters that surrounded them. Once again, Jason almost tore the knitting apart to look at the ocean before him. It was as breathtaking as the last time, observing the sparkling green of the water as it gently undulated with the swell of the currents. He almost had to bite his tongue off to keep from crying out with wonder at spying a school of fish swimming underneath the boat.

Up ahead, the Lutrinae leaned over the side to snatch them up with their webbed hands. They would lie down on their bellies, before their arm would shoot into the water, returning with a struggling fish. It was exciting to watch until he saw them swallow their catches whole. The sight brought up unwanted comparisons, so he returned to the ocean. 

{May I ask a question?} Jason was suddenly aware that the Sciuridae had drifted far from the crowd to stand by himself at the bow of the ship.

{About what?}

{I take it from your reaction to the ocean, that sapiens don't have any settlements by the sea?} Jason's silence answered that question. {Why is that so?}

{Because mammalian territory won't allow for it,} he answered. {Our earliest records say, that the forests we claim as our land were so thick and dense that it made travel, exploration and expansion difficult for you mammalian's. You couldn't establish outposts, let alone settlements; Therefore, we were safe. When we were finally strong enough to start expanding, we found that the most reliable method for doing so was to spread out like a web. We would select a location to establish a colony, with out-posts spread out in a star pattern. This tactic would allow for easy transportation of supplies until the settlement could be self-sufficient. These colonies in time would become city-states, while their outposts would eventually transform into towns. The towns and city-state would work in harmony to provide everything required for society to flourish without having to rely on outside help. The one drawback to this method, is it's a slow process, and by the time we were strong enough to expand beyond our original forest, you mammalian's had thoroughly established yourselves in the surrounding countryside; As you've done along the entire coast of the Middle Continent.} He paused for effect. {There was one attempt, but the Mammalian's in the area were so numerous that they simply overwhelmed the colony. So we never tried that again.}

{Don't those settlements in-between your colonies cause a problem?} the Sciuridae asked. Jason shook his head.

{Our method of establishing colonies, also allowed for a very effective defence.} Jason was about to add that Mammalian's don't even recognise any Sapien territory, and how four different mammalian species claim the entire region as theirs but decided against it. Instead, he continued on. {The Mammalian's living within our territory know better than to attack us,} Jason answered. {Though it doesn't stop them from trying. The most annoying mammalians are wood-cutters. We can't afford to let them start clearing vast swaths of forest, so we make life difficult for them, in the hopes, they'll go elsewhere.}

{Like?} the Sciuridae gestured for him to elaborate.

{Destroy their tools, supplies, homes,} Jason answered. {We only kill them if they are stubborn and refuse to move, or try to attack us.} 

{That seems unfair,} the Sciuridae responded. {They're just trying to make a living.}

{The way you Mammalian's treat us, is unfair,} Jason reminded him, trying to keep his voice low in-spite of his rising temper. {You can call us cruel all you like, but if we weren't so aggressive towards wood-cutters, they could encroach right up to our city limits; And we can't afford that. The forests protect us. They always have. The reason we don't build right up to the edge of the woods is that we can't defend ourselves properly out in the open against hundreds of Mammalian's.}

{Predator's aren't all that bad,} the Sciuridae said. {I've know many-}

{To you, they're kind,} Jason interrupted. {To me, they're monsters.}

{If you only got to know them,} the Sciuridae said. {They're friendly people.}

{People?} Jason almost spat the word. {All Mammalian's don't see Sapiens as people.} Through the knitting of the sack, Jason could see the Sciuridae readying himself for verbal combat when excited shouting suddenly filled the air. The healer turned, and Jason rushed over to the opposite side of the sack, but prying apart the knitting, found his view blocked by the Mammalian's long, flowing robe. {What's going on?} he asked.

{Sapiens,} the Sciuridae answered. Jason couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.

"Where?" he cried. He mentally slapped himself, then asked again in the trade tongue. 

{It's one of your flying machines,} the Sciuridae responded. He then turned, so that Jason could get a better view. Pulling apart the knitting, Jason saw that the side of the deck they were on, was now packed with Mammalians. The Lutrinae crew and their Lupus passengers were all gathered together, jabbering excitedly as they pointed towards the sky. Jason followed their furry fingers, and sure enough, he could make out the blurry black shape of an airship, flying in the direction of the High Continent. Judging by its length, it was no doubt an exploration vessel. 

The jabbering amongst the Lupus's intensified. Suddenly, one of their numbers whiped a bow from his side — a comrade shouting a warning to the Lupus who ignored it. Notching an arrow, the Lupus let it fly with an audible twang. It didn't even come close to striking the airship. It soared high into the air, peaked and fell, quite some distance away from the boat, into the sea. The Lupus's ears and tail sagged, before reluctantly returning the bow to its original location. High above, the airship sailed on, oblivious to what had transpired below.

Jason couldn't help but wonder, how many times this scene had played out during the numerous times the Zeppelins he'd ridden, had passed over mammalian settlements. Outside, the Sciuridae shifted uncomfortably. The Mammalian's kept watching the airship until it was no longer visible. They stayed there long after it had vanished from sight, before slowly drifting away.

+++

It took roughly three weeks of sailing across the Emerald Sea, before they at last reached the High Continent. In the days they spent together, Jason had come to properly pronounce the Sciuridae's name; A sound the mammalian made by blowing a short, sharp gust out the left side of his mouth. It sounded like he was saying 'Tac.' They approached the shoreline in the early dawn. Cries from the lookouts brought everyone up on deck. In the distance were the tall mountains that gave the High Continent its name. It took most of the morning before the ship finally sailed into the harbour of Baile an Chósta.

The port city reminded Jason of the mining colonies sapiens had established in the Highlands of the Middle Continent. There was very little room on the flat grounds. These area's appeared to be for the cities industry, as steady pillars of thick smoke rose from their rooves. What appeared to be residential structures were built up the sharp rise of the mountains. The angles of some slops appeared to be fifty-five degrees; carved into the mountainside, one behind the other, like steep steps. At the top, sat the more opulent houses of the cities elite.

As they drew closer, Jason could make out something he'd never seen before until now; flags. Triangular in shape, they were bright purple with a black border. The centre held the black and gold image, of two stylised Lupus's forearms, finger's splayed and claws out, crossed over each other. They were everywhere. Curious, Jason asked Tac about it.

{They are the banner's of the pack that control's this city,} he answered. {The Lupus's that settle down mark their territory with these banner's, so that you are under no illusion as to who control's this land.}

{Settle down?}

{Much like the Leo's, the Lupus's are ... were a nomadic people.} He paused. {Some still are.}

{Is it complicated?} Jason asked. The Sciuridae hesitated.

{It needs explaining,} he finally said. {In the early days of civilisation, the Lupus's travelled on the backs of riding avians-} Jason quickly interrupted, asking if they were the same furious quality as the Leo's, but Tac squashed his fears with an amused chuckle. {As the world progressed, it became clear to the Lupus that they needed to set up roots. However, they'd earned themselves a reputation as extraordinary cavalry raiders. Many believed that settling down in cities would allow them to compete with the growing world. Other's held the opinion that by staying in one place; they were digging their graves.} Jason nodded in understanding.

{Oh, so their civilisation is half civilised, and half nomadic?}

{It's more forty, sixty,} was the answer. {But that number is changing with each passing generation. One-hundred years ago, that number was twenty-five, seventy-five. More and more, the Lupus's are setting up towns and enjoying the fruits of civilised life.} He paused. {Though that shrinking number of nomads has caused friction within their culture. Whatever you do, don't call a civilised Lupus a familiaris.} Jason frowned at the word.

{What does familiaris mean?} 

{It's from their old tongue,} Tac replied. {There is no word in the trade tongue or any other language for it. It means, 'Slave to a Pampered Life.' Say that to a Lupus who lives in a town or city, and your death will be the least of your worries.} He shrugged. {The city dwellers have their insults for the nomads; They call them curdogge. That name is a reference to an old rank back in the very beginning of Lupus history. The most humiliating punishment a Lupus could receive, was exile from the pack. Those they cast out were called a curdogge. This position was below the omega. Only the worst offenders are ever given this dishonour. In other words, you had to do something monumentally stupid to be made a curdogge.} 

{So they don't get along?} To Jason's surprise, the Sciuridae chuckled.

{Actually, they use each other to be the dominant power on the High Continent. Both sides use the other for trade. The nomads use the settlements for replenishing their food stocks, tools and weapons, while they, in turn, provide a communication and trade network across the mountain ranges throughout the Lupus empire.}

By now, the ship had pulled up at the dock and was secured. The Lupus passengers were carrying large sacks; most likely personal effects. A heavily built Lupus was transporting a large chest. He brought the chest to the dock, where an equally large Lupus, wearing a hooded cloak stood, and was surrounded by other Lupus's. 

The important-looking Lupus came up to him, and the two placed both hands on each other's shoulders. He then stood aside and pointed at the chest. The important Lupus knelt and opened the lid. Jason couldn't see what lay inside, but the important Lupus reached in and pulled out a bronze bar. Smiling, he returned it to the chest. As if on cue, more Lupus's appeared on deck, each carrying similar-looking chests. They stacked them up on the dock and returned to the ships hold for more.

When they finished, a new group of Lupus's had arrived. They carried chests similar in design to the ones on the dock. The important Lupus spoke to the Lutrinae captain, before opening one of the newly arrived chests. It contained copper bars. The Lutrinae appeared ready to ask something else when another chest was thumped down before him and opened. This one held bars of tin. Jason's eyes widened. Both copper and tin were the elements of bronze. 

Jason's surprise was genuine because tin was one of the rarest elements on the planet. Known locations of tin deposits weren't distributed evenly throughout the known world. From what Sapiens knew, the different mammalian species had to import either one or both to create bronze. So seeing this Lupus pack with both was enough to draw interest.

{The Lupus's empire is the only territory that has mining facilities for both elements,} Tac answered when Jason asked. {It also helps that their lands are positioned right in the centre of the civilised world. So they can not only produce tin but import it through the many trade routes that flow on every side of their empire. It has allowed them to feed the hunger for tin every species has.} He paused. {As you can no doubt guess, this has made them incredibly wealthy. With so much wealth and tin, it pretty much put them in the cross-hairs of everyone. They are continually fighting someone just to keep their trade routes open.}

{Is that why they settled down?} Jason asked. Tac nodded.

{This is one of the reasons the nomads don't get along with the city-dwellers. Money and power tend to cause one to disregard tradition and identity. While Lupus Society is very proud of their cultural identity, they are at odds as how to practise it.} He chuckled again. {Still that hasn't stopped the nomads from profiting off their civilised cousins.} With the conclusion of the trade deal between the Lupus's and the Lutrinae, the Sciuridae continued down the dock as chests containing the cooper and tin were loaded onboard the boat.

Warehouses lined the harbour front. From within the sack, Jason stole what sights he could see through the partly open doors. Mostly food and mineral storage. There appeared to be nothing else. Beyond the harbour district, was the industrial centre of the city. Smoke rose from their rooves as the sounds of metalworking rang out from their windows. 

Observing the locals, Jason saw that Lupus's travelled in groups. One would lead while the rest followed, almost in a line. Clothing consisted of loincloth, kilts, cloaks, foot and hand wrappings. There were Lupus's who wore nothing at all, like the slaves he'd seen, but they seemed to give orders as much as follow them. Passing an intersection, Jason spied a crowd of Lupus's gathered around something. He couldn't see what. A lone female with light tan fur, wearing nothing but wrappings around her feet, ankles, hands and wrist appeared frantic; desperately trying to get to the centre of the commotion, wailing with distress as she found her routes blocked. 

Further on, and they came to a grand staircase, travelling up the side of the mountain towards an opulent fortress-like palace at the very top. The palace contained two towers on either side of a large Lupus head; it's open mouth forming the door. Two of the largest Lupus's Jason had ever seen guarded it. They appeared to recognise the Sciuridae, as they both nodded and without a word, opened the door. One followed them inside into a luxurious parlour. The centre was taken up by a pond, filled with aquatic life, while cushions ringed the walls. Opposite them, lay another doorway that obscured the view with a purple curtain with the pack's banner on it. Their escort left them in the room as he disappeared through it. High above them, circling the walls, were banners of what were other Lupus packs. Seeing as they were alone, Jason asked about them.

{They are packs that have been defeated and assimilated by this pack,} he answered. {These are from the days when the Lupus still fought among themselves. It's purpose is to impress visitors and emissaries, so that they can see how powerful the pack is.}

{Who are we seeing?}

*, he answered. {He is the Prime Alpha of the * pack. He's a very, very powerful Lupus and a legendary warrior.} Jason turned back, looking towards the open door were one of the enormous guards stood. This Lupus must be something if these guys were nothing but doorkeepers. His thoughts derailed as someone cast aside the sizeable purple curtain and in came the Prime Alpha.

He was expecting someone huge and built like a mountain. Instead, all he saw was a male of above-average height, who was very, very fat. His eyes were bright yellow, while his fur was jet black, save for lower jaw which was almost grey. He wore a long shoulder cape of dark green over his right shoulder, held in place with a light brown leather strap. In the centre, lay a gold buckle; the pack's emblem stylised onto it. A dark blue kilt that was held together by a thick black leather belt with a huge gold buckle stretched around his large waist. His feet were covered in cloth bindings, while on his legs, he wore leather bracers. Around his thick neck, lay a string necklaces of large and sharp teeth; Most likely from some predator animal.

{Tac!} Jason had to cover his ears. The volume of the Prime Alpha was as enormous as his gut. {Tac, you old *. It is good to see you again.} He strode over to the Sciuridae and embracing him, lifted him off the ground and swung him around. The G-Forces of the swing slammed Jason up against the wall of the sack. When the Prime Alpha returned him to earth, he slapped a hand on the Sciuridae's shoulder and cried out. {What brings you back to Baile an Chósta? Is it possible that you're ready to take up my offer?}

{That I am, *,} he answered. The Prime Alpha brought both hands together with the retort of a cannon.

{Splendid!} he roared. Then turning towards the curtain, shouted out in his tongue. The entire room rang with every syllable he belted out. Their escort from earlier returned. {* here will take you to your new home,} he said. {He'll also be back later this evening to bring you back here. We're having a special celebration tonight, my old friend. I don't want you missing it.}

{I would never turn down an invitation from you, *,} the Sciuridae replied. The Prime Alpha roared with laughter as he slapped a hand down on the Sciuridae's shoulder. When he removed it, the healer rubbed at the spot. The Prime Alpha leaned down to be eye level with the Sciuridae. Although friendly and not directed at him, Jason couldn't help but shiver from the Lupus's gaze.

{You were willing to turn me down the last time. What changed, old friend?}

{I realised I needed to stop running,} he answered. This time, the Prime Alpha responded with a simple, friendly smile.

{I'm glad to hear it, Tac,} he said, his voice for the first time, lowering to non-deafening levels. Then he slapped the Sciuridae's shoulder again and bellowed, {See you this evening!} And then he was gone. Their escort gestured for them to follow and they left the palace behind.

They didn't travel too far down the giant staircase. Around the bottom of the more affluent looking houses, their escort took them down a path towards the very end of the street. There, they arrived at a narrow, two-story mud-brick house. The Sciuridae and their escort exchanged a few words, and the Lupus was gone.

{This is it, Jay-sun,} Tac said, examining the building with pride. {This will be our new home.}

{Only if you win the bet,} Jason reminded him. {This is Lupus country. I doubt you'll find me of much use if I don't help you heal predators.} The Sciuridae seemed undaunted. He opened the door and walked on inside.

The place wasn't a trash heap, but it was clear no one had lived in this building for quite some time. The floor badly needed a sweep and cobwebs obscured every nook and cranny. Jason eyed the webs with trepidation. He relayed his desire to have this place cleaned before he took one step outside the sack. The downstairs area was all one room. In the far, left corner sat a staircase and opposite that, a fire pit. A long table claimed almost a quarter of all available space in the centre. The right wall held a row of three shelves, while the opposite held two chests. Upstairs contained a hallway with two rooms, each containing sleeping cushions. There was hardly any furniture and no medical supplies. Tac commented he'd have to make his travel supplies last until he could acquire some more. 

Returning downstairs, Jason was allowed out of the sack for the first time, other than to relieve himself. After stuffing the surrexerunt petals inside his clothing, he walked about on the large table in the centre of the room, stretching his limbs while Tac set about opening all the windows to air out the place, before sweeping the floor. About an hour and a half later, the whole building was finally clean.

As Tac busily unpacked all of his belongings, there was a frantic knock at the door. Opening, he was greeted by a very distraught female Lupus with light tan fur, carrying a large bundle wrapped up in a cloak. She spoke to the Sciuridae in a rapid-fire speech, so fast Jason was surprised she didn't pass out from not taking a breath. Tac made calming motions with his hands, and asked her to repeat herself at least a dozen times. She spoke in the Lupus's tongue so Jason couldn't follow, but she was smattered with blood and kept pushing the object, bundled up in the cloak towards him.

He finally got her to stop talking, long enough to reply. Whatever he said seemed to calm her down. As he spoke, he suddenly switched over to the trade tongue. {If I were on the table, I'd not be there.} The female gave him a quizzical look, but he ignored it, continuing to speak to her. Jason blanched, as he realised it was for him. They were coming inside.

He bolted for the sack, still on the table at the far end. He dived inside and laying down flat, waited. He listened to footsteps walking inside, and the rustling as careful hands placed something gently down on the table. Despite the danger, Jason stayed perfectly still. He listened to the incomprehensible words of the Lupus dialect. The female seemed to be getting aggravated at something the Sciuridae was suggesting. Eventually, he got fed up with her and yelled something that made her leave. When the door closed rather loudly, Tac said, {You can come out now.} Jason climbed out of the sack.

On the table lay a Lupus child; a girl about Glitch's age. She was unconscious. From where Jason stood, he couldn't see anything wrong with her; Until he walked around the front. The Sciuridae had a large, rolled up scarf pressed tightly against her stomach. Removing it revealed a large gash that leaked blood.

"Primus, what the hell happened?" Tac looked at him, and Jason repeated it in trade.

{She fell from a rooftop,} he replied, checking his medical tools. {She has broken both legs, her left arm,} he paused to glance back at the gash across her stomach.{And I believe there's internal damage. What, I don't know.}

{I take it that female was her mother?} Tac nodded. {Why come to you? Surely there are other healers in this city.}

{She ranks on the bottom of her society,} Tac answered. {The healers around here wouldn't prioritise her case. There's a good chance she'd die before the healer finally got around to seeing her.}

{So why did she leave?}

{Why do you think?} he said. {I can't operate with both of you in here now, can I?} Jason paused. 

{This is the one predator you want me to help you with?} Tac didn't bother answering; instead, he continued his preparations. {Fine,} Jason said. {I'll help you.} Tac turned to give Jason a look that pretty much said 'Thank-you.'

The operation was long; Two hours. Jason climbed inside the gash to sew close the internal damage before assisting him with cleaning the more delicate wounds. He advised Tac on how to build a splint, and how to pad it. He advised on how to sterilise cuts with alcohol. Tac had to use his beverages. The whole operation reminded Jason of his basic medical training. Sapien teachings said to use whatever they could to substitute for what they didn't have. They applied the beverage to some bandages and used them to cover the open wounds. Covering those, they applied pressure around the injury, making sure not over the exposed area. After applying two splints to the girl's legs and securing her arm in a sling, they finished.

He stared at her for a while, watching her chest gently rising and falling as she slept. For a full minute, he said nothing. {She will live,} he said, at last, taking a step back. {Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to find her mother.} Before he left though, he reached out for Jason. Carefully wrapping his fingers around the sapien, he lifted him to the top shelf and placed him there. {Hide up here. When I return, I want you to see something.} As the fingers released him, Jason only nodded.

The Sciuridae wasn't gone long. When he returned, the Lupus girls mother practically shoved him out of the way when he opened the door and rushed to her daughter on the table. Tac shouted a warning to her, and she restrained herself from grabbing the girl. Instead, she gently laid a hand to her head, softly stroking it as she cooed to the little girl. Then, the girl spoke. Her voice, although strained, was healthy. The mother almost grabbed her daughter in the same hug the Prime Alpha gave the Sciuridae.

She turned to Tac and began speaking to him. He cut her off before explaining something to her; probably how to care for her while she healed. The mother listened intently, nodding at every word. When he finally finished, she fumbled around her waist for a small string bag purse. It didn't clink with many coins. Holding it out to the Sciuridae, her ears went flat when, without a word, he pushed the bag back towards her. There was something in his eyes as he said a few words, before nodding with his head towards her daughter. She followed his gaze before turning back to him.

Suddenly, she burst into tears, before collapsing at his feet. In between her sobs, she kept saying one word, over and over. His smile was warm and caring as he gently pulled her to her feet, and being as careful as possible, lifted the little girl before carrying her upstairs. They were gone for ten minutes, before Tac returned, slowly plodding down the stairs. He collapsed into the one chair by the table and sighed deeply.

{You can speak now, Jay-sun,} he said.

{What happened?} he asked.

{We saved that little girl's life,} Tac replied. {Her mother is eternally grateful. She'll be our guest in the spare bedroom until her daughter is well enough to leave.} There were no tears in his eyes as he looked at the bottle of alcohol on the table. {You know, this is the second time I've refrained from drinking myself stupid after a successful operation.} Jason thought back to that night at the Leo camp, when he'd returned from a job reeking of alcohol. {Every time I saved someone's life, it reminded me of my daughter; how I failed her.} He fingered the bottle surreptitiously. {So I would dull the pain with drink. Every single time. That night I saved our Leo guide, was the first time since the day I lost her that I never drank.} He was silent for twenty seconds before he pushed the bottle away. {This is the first time since that day, that I've finally agreed to operate on a child.} He was silent for a full minute this time. {She will live.} He suddenly turned in Jason's direction, as if realising what he'd said. His eyes held the look of a man finally released from prison. {She will live,} he repeated. His voice was alive with the same raw passion he had that night back in the Leo's camp.

Jason turned, looking up towards the ceiling as if towards the room, where the Lupus mother and daughter now resided. He wasn't sure of how long he stayed like that, eyes glued to the ceiling. Finally, he called out to the Sciuridae. When he acknowledged, Jason simply said, {Tac, when you asked me before, would I help predators?} He was still for a moment. Finally, he said, {my answer is yes.}



First Chapter: Act I
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