The LEVELER King ✔

BOOK 3: CHAPTER 3

Both babes' skin were pale and white, both sported a small horn on their forehead that would eventually grow into an exoskeleton, and both cried...a lot.

It only took one babe crying for the other one to join. That crying babe was often Boon, a name Nala selected to afford the weaker one good fortune. And despite being rather active otherwise, Crane never failed to cry with him.

Sitting with Crane, named after the crane-mare he'd killed, in his lap, Idrus used his left hand to pat the child's cheek.

Nala wasn't having any luck with Boon. Other than sleep, not much quieted Boon once he broke into cry.

This time there was no slumber and no end in sight to the ruckus.

"Perhaps they are hungry," Nala said crawling to Idrus. She was sure to keep clear of Crane's reach.

As anticipated, the stronger baby quieted for a moment, showing his teeth.

"None of that," Idrus scolded. "She is not food."

Eyes perpetually closed, Crane broke into a cry once more, a series of clicks that grew to an excruciating pitch.

Boon pressed his face against Nala's belly again and again, searching.

"Yes, they may be hungry," he said to Nala. "But where will they get suck?"

"Gava!" Nala cried out. "It's latched."

Idrus chuckled. "Stop being foolish."

Nala turned to show the hole in her robe.

Gasping, Idrus put Crane down and hurried to take hold of Boon's body.

"Blasted child. Do you not even know a nursing female? There is no food here!" He managed to take Boon off, wiping the blood from the child's lips.

Both babes began to cry once more.

Nala stared down at her lower torso, fright painted on her face.

"I think he's taken the flesh with it."

Idrus sighed. "Worry more about falling asleep tonight next to Crane who won't be as gentle. Come. We must find them milk."

Groaning, Nala took Boon back, cradling the pale body as she said, "That was very unkind of you, little one. But I give you credit for the effort. Your father has never shown as much interest in that part of me."

As Idrus rose to his feet, he paused. "What are you saying?"

Nala's smile faded as she returned his gaze. "What do you mean?"

"I'm a full grown male, of course I would not take interest in an area meant for nursing."

Nodding, Nala walked past him. "Hmm'hm."

Idrus turned and clapped Nala on the backside with his left hand. "Enough joking. If we don't find milk, I fear for us both at nightfall. Another crane-mare would be good. Since one washed down, maybe a herd wouldn't be too far from here."

Because the sloth still slept, recovering from the day before, they had little success in waking it.

Besides that, Crane seemed interested in the beast for the wrong reasons. They walked instead, black dirt and yellow grass under their feet. A world without Earthers meant more animals roamed in the open.

As the suns beat down on them, the noisy babies took on a pinker color. In time they would look purple.

The herd wasn't that far away. However, catching a crane-mare was no easy task as the crane-bucks were rather lazy and the females had the horns.