[First in Genre, Action/Adventure - The Shadow Awards]
[Best Heartbreaker - The Shadow Awards]
Alema (aw-leh-may) is the dominant male of a small African wild dog pack, dedicating every day of his life towards his family. He has remained blissfully...
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"What do you mean?" Alema asked.
Folami scratched his ear with his back foot. "There's a huge upwalker city south of here," he said. "Most of the Tramplers, or what you call riding-beasts, on that Black Path are heading there right now; I guarantee it. This riding-beast you're looking for is surely following the herd. That's what herd animals do, after all."
"So," Alema started, "you can take me there?"
The hairs on Folami's back rose. "Me?" He flicked his tail. "No, no. I have to look after Monifa—the pups will come soon. What I will do is show you to the ones that can take you to the city." He looked Alema up and down. "Lucky for you, they happen to be a pack of wild dogs."
Alema pricked his ears. "Really?"
Folami nodded. "Their territory covers a large section of the savanna, including the outskirts of the city."
"Do you know where to find them?"
Monifa's eyes glowed in the dark, filled with amusement. "Oh, yes—Folami knows. He has a particular—ongoing rivalry with the pack." She said the words delicately as if trying to hint at something that Alema didn't get.
Folami shot a glance at her.
Monifa ignored him. "We were by a big baobab tree down south, and Folami was almost devoured by that pack when he made the stupid mistake of trying to grab a bite of their food." She nudged her mate playfully. "And now, whenever we go near that tree, the wild dogs seem to be waiting for Folami's throat."
Alema looked at her. "The pack consistently goes after him for that one incident?" He knew that wild dogs would eat jackals on occasion, but they rarely hunted them down specifically. Were the packs out here so unforgiving? Alema began to feel unsure of the idea of tagging along with a mysterious Outside World pack. He didn't want to deal with a whole pack of Amadis.
Monifa raised an eye. "Oh, no. It was probably around the sixth time he tried to steal from them by the baobab that he became a felon."
Alema turned his attention to Folami. "You stole from them six times?"
Folami jerked his head aside. "You said you'd never repeat that story," he growled under his breath. He shook out his pelt and faced Alema. "How I know is besides the point." He eyed Monifa. "If we head over to the southern baobab tree there's a big chance we'll cross ways with them." His eyes flickered to the side. "But I don't think I'll be able to stay long," he added cautiously.
Monifa pushed his muzzle away. "Or he'll become their next meal," she teased.
Folami's pelt trembled with agitation. "Enough of that," he yipped. "We better head out now if we want to catch the pack."
"Very well," Monifa said, amusement in her voice.
Folami allowed her to lean against him and began leading Alema through a neatly aligned group of trees. The last thing Alema saw was their tails before darkness swallowed the two jackals.
