After being discovered on the battlefield, Dragon has to run for his life. He finds his old friend, Bear, and a new companion, Rat. With Bear's strength and Rat's brains, they decide to take up the course of freeing the beast people, better known as...
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I put my tool down looking around myself at the darkness that had descended as I'd been working. I picked up the bowl I'd been working on. I squinted in the dim light of the lantern Eric put out for me at some point at the fine carving of a woodland in the side of the bowl.
"You will hurt your eyes staring at it like that." Sighing I put my work aside and Eric handed me a plate. It was overflowing with cooked meat.
I should say sorry to him. He has been looking after me and all I have given him in return is anger and abrasiveness. "Bear when are you going to sleep?"
And then he asks a question like that! "I don't know. Sometimes the cold months start sooner than other years." I said around a mouthful.
Eric smiled. "You are eating a lot more and that is what Bears do before they go to sleep, isn't it?"
I looked down at the plate and the two pieces of meat in my hands. I'm eating like a pig! There again I can't help it. He is right, if I'm eating this much I will be asleep soon. "If I stay inside I can keep warm, it might slow this down. It won't stop it, but slowing it down is the best we can do."
"Or maybe you should let it happen and stay here where it is safe. Maybe let others risk their lives in this endeavour."
What use am I going to be if I get tired and sluggish on the battlefield. He has a point. I was about to answer him when Tiger walked up to us smiling. "I see you working hard to make your bowls and spoons for the coarse."
"Yep, how was your head this morning?"
He laughed. "It knows better than to try to drink a Bear under the table. Dragon has gone then?" I nodded.
Tiger leaned on the railing and lowered his voice. "I was told he sent Sparrow's group to the humans to get them to cart the supplies here. He sent the Spiders to teach the humans how to protect themselves."
"I think we should supply them with arms and armour. He wants them to see we keep our word. He did promise them protection."
Tigger nodded straightening. "You are right Bear. Having a town and a village to support us will be better than nothing. Plus having humans on our side will help disguise us for a while longer."
I nodded hiding a yawn. Tiger watched me then looked at the plate. "I knew a Bear once. She would eat a lot and then sleep for a few days at a time over the winter. She was able to keep herself going that way. I will see you later."
He walked away. Would that work? I think it might be worth a shot. I looked over at Eric and he watched Tiger walk away with a sad look on his face. Why would he be sad? Is he sad about the thing Tiger told me? I would have thought he would want me to stay awake.
Eric looked over at me and lost the sadness in his face then smiled at me. "You look like you're thinking very hard."
