The Air Dancer

Chapter 2

The old jaguar eyed Inte'kunda curiously. "That is a big question for such a small girl," he said with a straight face.

Inte'kunda had taken a seat on the floor, crossing her legs and resting her head in her hands, elbows propped up on her knees. "I heard you talking about it with Gosha."

Kidala raised his eyebrows. "Eavesdropping, are we?"

Inte'kunda giggled.

"I've taught you well," the jaguar finished. "Then I suppose you are old enough to hear it from me." He began to pace the room looking for a place to rest. He found one and walked in a circle once, twice, three times, and then curled up on the floor. "If I am to tell you this story, I will at least be comfortable. Will you light a fire for me? I want to be warm when I speak."

Inte nodded and selected a few of the small twigs that she had gathered for just such an occasion and set up to light a fire for her friend. She had a contraption that she had devised herself -- she was a clever girl, even for one so young -- made of twine and wood that she used to twist a piece of wood back and forth over a small collection of wood shavings. Once those caught, it was a simple matter of breathing on the baby fire and adding wood to make it stronger. She had been doing it for many years, and was quite good at it.

When the flames were just big enough, Kidala looked pleased.

"Thank you, In'te," he said. "Now listen."