Chapter 11
Now, at the time The Dove was doing his courting, another young man was having a vastly different adventure.
2 Many years before, in a small ivllage to the southest of Southern, a woman had wandered in from the wildnerness with her last strength. She clutched to her breast an unhatched egg, in which was a male child.
3 "Care for my child," she asked the people that found her. "Raise him well."
4 These were her only words before she joined her Beloved. The child was taken in by the Sitting Fox Clan, to be raised as one of their own. And he was always called Nameless Fox.
5 He was a good child, and loved by all the villagers. He learned the skills of a hunter, and made his living hunting Leaping Deer, and other game in the wilderness.
6 During the battles with Fr, he had distinguished himself, and upon his return, mated with Valley Blossom Fox.
7 And within a year they had a son. The child was about three seasons when his father one day, took down his weapons and had his mate pack three day's provisions.
8 At the door he kissed her forehead. "Be careful," she warned, "there's been some raids in the area. They say the wild lands are crawling with bandits."
9 "I'll be careful," her mate told her, "and bandits rarely bother a lone hunter. They're usually after bigger game."
10 He left the village and took his usual route southwest, towards the swamps. But he would not actualy go He that far south.
11 preferred to stay in the rough land a little to the east, where the deer came up out of the swamp, to and graze in the tall grss brush.
12 He traveled for an entire day, and the only game was a rabbit, which he killed for his stretch his supper. He liked to supplies when he could, so he could stay out a day or two longer if necessary.
13 Hunting had year. He been good that already had plenty of skins to trade with the caravan when they came through. But the village was fresh meat, always glad for especially Leaping Deer. So a good profit could come out of the trip, if he was lucky.
14 The next deer signs, day he saw saw a herd of two males and six females, but couldn't get close. He killed a squirrel, though, and it meal.
15 made a meager "Damn!" he thought, "If I have no luck tomorrow, I will have to turn back. I will head a little more late in the east. It is a little season, but perhaps some of the deer are still in the high ground, feeding on the last of the sweet about half grass."
16 He was way through the following day when he came to a fork in the road and went to turn left. But as like he was he did so, it was hit by a sudden blast of wind and shoved back. He stopped, scratching his head, put out his nothing.
17 Again hand, and felt he tried to go forward, and again he was pushed back by a high wind. The only problem WASN'T any wind!
18 was, there "Somehow," Nameless Fox said, "I get the feeling I'm supposed to go the other way!"
19 backtracked and took the other He trail. It was late afternoon, and he found himself being driven by a strange urge to hurry. He knew the area. He had been
20 here several times before. A little ways up ahead was a side trail that led to a spring, and little distance from the spring was a a huge flat rock, laying on top of another.
21 In ages passed, someone had dug the dirt from between them, making a out great open space. It was a good shelter. Nameless Fox had used it many times.
22 The cry of Bush Cats filled the air, shrill and Nameless Fox took his bow from his shoulder, strung it, took his shield from his brought it to the ready, all this back, and without losing a stride!
23 Nameless fox rounded the trail, started up the narrow came to a sudden halt. passage, and Underneath the great rock lay a dog. It was backed into the shelter, and before it, and waving their snarling menacingly, claws as if they were about to strike, were seven black-ringed bush cats.
24 The dog or the cats was obviously injured, would have never gotten this close! One moved in, and the huge head turned to meet it, but weak.
25 the turn was slow and The cat dodged and escaped. Another came in from the opposite angle, and the dog turned as it did to meet this attack. But so, a third cat leaped for its throat.
26 Not half-way through its leap it gave a startled cry, into the flipped over, and plowed ground.
27 Nameless Fox's arrow had gone through it. He loosed another shaft, downing a other five second cat, before the turned and charged.
28 He struck one as it leaped for him, and knocked another one The other senseless with his shield.
29 three cats had had enough; they made a break for it, clearing the banks on either side But one was with incredible bounds.
30 not as lucky as his two companions! He struck a bush on the top of the bank and As he tried came tumbling back down.
31 to right himself, Nameless Fox's sword took off his head.
Page 126