The Hooman Saga - Book Two, Part 1

Episode 35

(This book is available everywhere online. I'm working as I can to get this posted to Wattpad. if you can't wait to see how this turns out, see https://calm.li/HoomanSagaBk2Pt1 for more information and links.)

TIG WATCHED AND WAITED at a distance until the strange wolf approached him and bowed in deference.

"I... know... some.. of your... talk. We... are few... who can," the strange wolf sent. "Would... you... help... us learn?"

Tig was both surprised and honored to be asked, although his face showed no sign. He decided at once. "Come, follow me," he sent to the strange wolf, then turned up the trail to the Teacher and Soo-she's den.

Soon they arrived outside their shared den. Teacher and Soo-she were both sitting and watching the stars appear.

"Excuse me, I hate to interrupt, especially as all the help you've both given the pack this day." Tig nodded to each. "But this visitor has a request that your skills may help," Tig explained as politely as he could, for he knew that this might not be the best time. "He says some of his pack have learned to send to each other and they want to be taught."

Teacher raised her eyebrows and smiled at this, "A teacher's job is never done." To the visitor, she sent, "Come closer."

Tig stepped closer as well, as protection to the one Teacher they had. But the visitor put down his ears and bowed his head, closing his eyes to signal no threat.

"Soo-she, come here. Place your hand on the back of his head as you did me in the Probe," Teacher nodded in the visitor's direction.

Soo-she did as she was asked, and then closed her own eyes. She near-immediately knew the visions of the visitor, his pack and all he knew of sending. These visions she relayed to Teacher and Tig.

Then she almost opened her eyes in astonishment. Most of what they referred to as the "feral" pack were actually sentient. They had been cross-breeding with the hooman settlement dogs and now there were sentient pups inside that hooman stockade-village.

The Teacher wuffed quietly as that revelation. Her thoughts raced. With some teaching, they could train these new sentients how to use their ability. They now had a way to find out what the hoomans knew and perhaps even find some sentient hoomans.

At that, Soo-she released her hold and both she and the visitor opened their eyes. The visitor smiled as he looked at Soo-she and Teacher and gave his tail a tentative wag.

"Thank...you..." he sent.

Tig rose at that. "I'll see him out of the valley. Tomorrow we have much to talk about."

The visitor rose and followed Tig as they left for the long trail out to the nearest valley end, where the fires were burning low now.

Soo-she looked up at the moon as she sent to Teacher, "Hope springs eternal, they say. It's a long road, but I might still save my family up there."

Teacher moved over to put her head on Soo-she's shoulder. And Soo-she put her arm around Teacher as they both looked up to the Moon shining down on them from its star-sprinkled backdrop.

A lone meteor streaked across the night sky.

(This book is available everywhere online. I'm working as I can to get this posted to Wattpad. if you can't wait to see how this turns out, see https://calm.li/HoomanSagaBk2Pt1 for more information and links.)