Sephtis

35. The intruder.

Four days later we take the cubs for a walk in the forest, along the southern border of Kavah's territory. It is learning time for the cubs, though I too, am discovering the world anew, becoming more and more aware of smells and changes in the wind. I chance upon the late summer's berries and fruits, and I eat well.

On this day Shamar is leaving us.

We near the edge of Kavah's kingdom, and wolves begin to sniff noses and yelp, and whimper at one another. They are very affectionate, even Amitz. Lastly Shamar comes to me and leaps up with her paws on my shoulders. She licks my face, neck and chest, and I know it is her farewell. I hug her, and we both roll a while in the dirt and undergrowth, both whimpering. Amitz watches us, at ease, he seems to understand the importance of this last ruff and tumble. Then she vanishes into the next territory.

Zahar's head hangs low as we head back, and Kavah walks so close to her that his shoulder bumps hers. The cubs bound on ahead, not quite understanding that they have lost their most faithful, and tolerant playmate. Amitz is walking beside me, and somehow I find my hand resting in the thick, course hair of his neck, and it feels like the most natural thing in the world.

We are still a long way from the den when the grey wolf in the western regions howls to tell us that there is an intruder in our territory. A lone man. Kavah howls back to say that he heard, and all seems well. But I am troubled by a sense of foreboding. Kavah leaves Zahar's side to walk on my other side. I place my other hand in the thick ruff of his neck, and his peace flows into me. And so I walk between the two wolves, getting closer and closer to the den.

As we near the stone steps I feel Kavah hesitate, and I feel the hairs rise along the spines of both males. Straight away the cubs turn around and come back to us. Kavah has made no sound, yet they know his caution.

In utter silence we go on, and at the top of the stairs we stop, my feet resting against the final, cold stone step. A man sits near the entrance of the den, crosslegged, his spear across his bent knees. He has not seen us yet; his hands are folded in front of him, his head dropped low on his chest. He has been waiting long, and is dozing in the heat.

It is Eleutheros.

Not a sound do the wolves make. They stand with me, still and silent as the trees, and all I can hear is my own heart pounding in my ears, and my breathing, distressed and quick. At last I speak his name. In an instant he is on his feet. He looks at me, astonished and alarmed, and his eyes move down my body. I remember I am naked, and even though he has seen me, and all the women naked in our shared bathing times, somehow this is different. I feel vulnerable.

"Close your eyes," I say.

"Not here. Not with them," he says, pointing with his spear at the wolves.

"They will not hurt you," I say, and run across the small clearing to the den. I slither inside, and he says something I do not hear. I feel in the darkness for my dress. I am trembling and my mind is in complete disarray. It takes me an age to put the dress on, for my hands are shaking. I run my hands through my unkempt hair. Licking the palms of my hands to smooth down my hair and wash my face, but I suspect I only smudge more dirt. I am greatly angered and confused, and I decide I shall not go out there again.

There is a shout outside, a cry of terror. The sound is muffled in the den, but I understand its meaning. I wriggle out of the den to find Amitz standing close to Eleutheros, staring into his eyes. Kavah is watching all this from the great stone slab, seemingly allowing Amitz to pass judgement on the man, Zahar and the cubs peering at the intruder from around its base.

Amitz is not growling, but neither is he fully relaxed. Eleutheros' face is whiter than death, and his hands on his spear are trembling. I am glad he is afraid; it gives me back my power.

"Send this ugly beast away," he says, so tense that his lips hardly move.

"Why? He is only welcoming you. It is warmer then the first welcome he, or Kavah gave me. But I would crouch in front of him if I were you, and I would not look him so straight in the eye."

"I will bow no knee to a matted piece of hide. Call him off. He is going to attack."

His fear is so acute, so needless I cannot help but smile. "So? You have your spear. You will have to be quick, he goes straight for the throat."

"By the great gods, Sephtis! If I kill him, they will all be upon me. Call him off!"

I do not need to. Amitz has already decided that this warrior is no threat, something Kavah knew from the beginning. He turns away, almost scornfully and moves to lie at my feet, his mouth laughing, and his tongue lolling.

The wolves are tranquil, Zahar and the pups now lying in the shade cast by the crumbling walls and Kavah dozes atop his slab, they are all at ease. Yet Eleutheros will not take his gaze off them.

I sit on the dirt in the sun, and brush the soil from my arms and hands. I had not noticed how stained they had become from my crawling in and out of the den. I also remember that I have not bathed since yesterday's yesterday.