Two Heads are Better Than One [Kaitanu]

[Kyo]

42nd of Fall, 515 AV
before dawn

The coyote groggily opened his eyes and blinked around, peering through the mild dark of the tent. Pack was lying curled next to him and the coyote got up without disturbing the little dog, knowing the pup needed more time to sleep. It had been a hard night for the both of them.

He remembered being woken up time and again, and the first thing his tired, aching mind said was thunderstorm. But then he knew that wasn't right. There had been no storm last night to interrupt his sleep. Just... just people, and something about his head.

He took a moment to think.

That was it. He had been kicked by a horse. And then he had stayed here in this tent because the doctor female had said it was good for him to rest.

Rest. There was a feeling like he should go back to sleep, but the coyote reminded himself that he had rested all last night and that must be enough. Staying in one place was not something he was good at. Already he was wanting to go out and stretch his legs, even though he could tell from the chill and wet of the air that the sun had not come up yet. He wanted to do something.

And it seemed he might be able to. When he ghosted towards the tent flap leading to the outside he was steady on his feet, not wobbly like before. Maybe his head was throbbing, but it was not so bad that he couldn't work around the pain. Gingerly the coyote walked on, bringing his head a little higher than he usually did, and maybe that helped. He stepped outside.

He was glad it was dark yet, because even the low glimmer of nearby fires hurt his eyes. But that was no big deal. He could deal with that, too. And though he still felt a little dizzy when he looked around too fast, he was not sick-feeling like yesterday. All he had to do was make sure not to swing his head around quickly and he would be fine.

Even better was that his memory seemed to have come back from wherever he had misplaced it. The only thing he could not remember was actually being kicked by the horse, but he had the throbbing in his head to tell him that it had happened. He remembered where he was and where he was supposed to be. He remembered the man and doctor-woman who had helped him, and some goats, and he remembered the horse-man.

Ah yes. The horse-man.

Here the coyote turned, looking back towards the tent. He remembered something about that one following him around and trying to help him...? Now he waited curiously to see if the other skin-shifter would follow him today, too.

He also thought about what he must do. He wanted to test his injury to see how much it might hold him back. He didn't want to do this alone, because if something was wrong then being by himself could be bad. Perhaps he could go out of camp and run around a little, see how far he could go. Or perhaps try to hunt? If the horse-one wanted to go out too they might be able to hunt together, though he was not certain that horses were hunting creatures.

He would wait as long as necessary to find out. As soon as the other came out from the dark tent, the coyote shimmer-glint-shifted into human-form to speak to him, fists rubbing at his sore eyes.

First he asked --his voice lowered so as not to wake anyone else-- "What is you... you name? My head didn't hold it." He didn't remember if he had ever learned any of the others' names; maybe he had simply forgotten them along with the memory of the accident. Then he asked, "You come with me? Hunt? I don't need to rest more and my head is not trouble-bad, so..." He trailed off. That was not exactly what he was trying to say, but his words were limited. It was close enough. He went on. "...So try to hunt. Yes?"

He was hoping the man would want to come along. It really would be better to have someone to go with.

[Kaitanu]

In the chilly darkness of his tent, Kaitanu lay curled in his blanket and woke gradually to the soft sounds of morning. Living so close to nature was a strange thing for a former slave used to city life. Everything here was so quiet, so open and changeable in its own way. The very air seemed to hum with life, though all was strangely still, that hum not yet a full chorus. Only a few birds sang their twilight prelude. Nearby the horses and livestock began to stir among the grass. Somewhere in the distance could be heard the cry of an owl calling all his kind to hide from the dawn. Soon the roosters would answer them, but for now they slept in the blue-gray chill. Many daylight creatures were waiting for the touch of sunlight to creep over the tops of the grass. Some were already awake and moving in preparation for the day.

As his mind acclimated itself to waking, Kaitanu remembered that he was not alone in his tent. It had long been his habit to rise before anyone else, no matter how tired he was. Dravite had often come to get him, only to find that Kaitanu was ready and kneeling in his accustomed position on his bedroll. However, with Kyo sharing his tent Kaitanu was afraid to move and wake him. The other kelvic needed as much sleep as he could get. Even his little pup was still snoring gently by his side.

Being awake and unable to move, Kaitanu let his mind wander. It was no bad thing to remain with the warmth of his blanket. The mere fact that he could lie abed so late and think about things was a luxury never dreamed of. In the old days, he would have been awake hours ago and working in the darkness, exhausted and hungry. Those days were not that far off. Sometimes he wondered if he was still dreaming his strange dream of people among the grass; people who seemed to think he was more than a mindless drone. Their native kindness was yet strange to him, though he was getting used to the rhythm of life in the Blackwater pavilion. Kaitanu didn’t even feel quite like the same person he had been. Every day some part of himself was chipped off, as though he had an outer shell that had been fragmented. What lay beneath, if anything, even Kaitanu didn’t know. Perhaps there was another person inside himself, one who could understand why Dravite and his people acted the way they did.

Never before had the kelvic met with people more willing to help for the sake of it. Particularly puzzling was the fact that they neither kept slaves, nor treated him as one. No matter how he tried, Kaitanu couldn’t quite wrap his mind around it. They could have gotten some money by selling him when they found him, but perhaps the Blackwater tribe had decided there would be benefits for them in the long run. Kaitanu would bring in money at the end of the season, and he was helping with the daily grind. Since he ate little in comparison to what he gave back to the pavilion that was a savings for the Blackwater tribe, indeed. The kelvic couldn’t help thinking of things in a mercenary vein, despite the evidence to the contrary. His mind was only beginning to grasp the unknown, unthinkable concept of altruism. It had to approach from familiar ground. At least now he was less on edge, less guarded around Dravite and the clan. That was one effect of kindness.

Such thoughts had been rattling around in Kaitanu’s brain since his first day in this odd place. Never in his life had he pondered so much on anything, but then he had never been able to hold his thoughts for long beyond what was necessary for survival. Now he found himself trying to work out problems that had no clear cause and effect. Like yesterday’s events and the clan’s treatment of Kyo. The other kelvic was not of their tribe, nor was he their slave, yet Pearl had cared for his injuries and Dravite had allowed him and his pup a share of their food. Why? What did they hope to gain? Did they expect him to stay and contribute, or would he return to his home without any benefit to the clan? Would that anger Dravite, or would it matter? Kaitanu felt nothing but curiosity either way.

Next to him, the uneasy stirring of the coyote kelvic drew his attention. For now he set his musings aside. Kyo was his responsibility, and whether or not he understood Dravite’s intentions, Kaitanu would do what was expected of him. Not that he really knew what that was, beyond keeping an eye on their “guest”. From under his long, dark lashes Kaitanu watched the other kelvic stir, not certain if he should offer him food, or if there was some other thing that coyotes needed that he didn’t know about. Judging by his movements, Kyo seemed better today; perhaps a little stiff, but his legs no longer wobbled. They were carrying him forward and out of the tent with no trouble.

Moving at last from his bedroll, Kaitanu stood up and hurriedly slipped on his clothing. In human form he was still susceptible to the cold which was starting to settle over the grasslands. Autumn air filled his lungs and settled on his head and shoulders, slightly damp, as he exited the tent behind Kyo. Kaitanu wasn’t expecting him to shift, but was glad to figure out what the coyote meant to do. They couldn’t exactly talk while Kyo could only bark and howl.

“I am Kaitanu.” the horse kelvic answered, bowing his head automatically.

Kyo’s suggestion that they hunt made him pause, however, his pale lips in a slight frown. In spite of the coyote’s assurances, Kaitanu was not so certain that he was well enough for a hunt, even if someone else was with him. Then again, the pale kelvic believed he owed Dravite another rabbit, and no one else could be spared to look after Kyo. It was not in Kaitanu’s nature or experience to get in the way of what others wanted. It was also not in him to argue if Kyo said he was well enough for the venture. Perhaps a hunt was preferable to staying here among the tents. Kyo seemed restless enough to worry the chickens to death.

“I will accompany you on your hunt if Dravite allows it. Please, excuse me while I speak with him.”

Kaitanu still felt the need for permission, since this little hunt fell outside his usual chores. Otherwise, he didn’t like to bother the ankal. Dravite had been trying to get Kaitanu to act and think more for himself. The pale kelvic, in turn, understood that to mean that his benefactor preferred not to be disturbed. Thankfully, Dravite always woke around this time of the morning. Kaitanu found him getting dressed in the twilit darkness of the main tent.

Permission was granted once the kelvic explained the situation. Dravite only wished to be sure that their guest was well enough for the venture. Having Kaitanu along was a good idea. Bearing in mind that Kyo should take it easy, the horse kelvic was sent along to hunt with him, as well as keep an eye on his condition. Bringing in extra meat for the oncoming winter would certainly not be taken amiss.

“I am allowed to accompany you, Kyo.” Kaitanu returned with quiet step and voice, not wanting to wake the rest of the camp. They would still be sleeping for another half a bell or so. He was even careful not to wake the sleeping pup in his tent as he strapped on his steel dagger and grabbed his rucksack and jacket. Kaitanu was slipping the rucksack over his shoulders as he moved quickly back out into the chill air of morning. Luckily, there were two bells before it would be time to go in to the Guided Horse for work. Hopefully they could get something by then. With Kyo’s experience they should; at least, he hoped so. Kaitanu had not done much hunting yet.

[Kyo]

"Don't--" the coyote-man started to say, but the horse-man --Kaitanu-- had already moved to go ask for permission from Dravite... the male one that Kyo was beginning to identify as the 'camp leader'.

Watching Kaitanu fade into the gray morning gloom, Kyo shoved his hands to his hips and scuffed a foot against the ground. The point of getting up so early had been to avoid the attention of the human-forms here. He was worried about their worry; if they thought he needed more rest then he was afraid he wouldn't be able to do anything. That wasn't really his way, taking it easy. It was better for him to test his injury on his own --with appropriate backup-- rather than wait and see and be cautious.

But there was nothing for it now. Already the horse-man was returning with his news. As he spoke, Kyo tilted his head to one side --that wasn't too dizzy a motion-- and listened.

First the horse-one had gone to ask permission. Now this? "Allowed?" he inquired, maybe confused-- did the horse not just do what he wanted to do?

The only explanation was that maybe he was not like Kyo, having lived outside cities for most of his life. If Kaitanu had grown up with the humans, maybe he relied on them, much as Kyo relied on his dogs, his pack. But even when Kyo had been with humans as a pup he had not thought to ask them if he could do something, and he certainly did not ask his dogs. It had only been his boy who he had listened to with any degree of reliability.

Of course, humans had rules that animals didn't. If the human-forms here had told Kyo not to go out, he would not have gone on the hunt, not if it would have upset them. Maybe it was the same thing as that, then. A loyalty to the human kind.

So all he did was shrug after a moment, then say, "Come." His head was hurting even more now that he was well and truly awake, but he bit his teeth together and ignored it. He led the way, following his nose to clean air, until he found the closest edge of the city.

He was about to shift, to become coyote, but here again he paused to see what the other was doing, if Kaitanu had followed and was going to shift, too. He thought no. The other shape-changer had put on his clothes, something Kyo would not do if he was just planning to take them back off again. Kaitanu had also brought one of the human weapons with him, the small knife. Maybe he was going to hunt with it?

That was one of the curiosities Kyo held towards the human-forms: their many different ways of hunting, and especially the tools they used. Long spears, flying arrows, hand-made traps, and many others. Had this horse-man learned to catch animals with just his hands, his wit, his knife? It might be fun to try, though the thought of hunting while he was human was one that was humorous, making him crack a brief smile. Obviously many other people did it just fine, but Kyo was certain he would look like a bumbling fool.

Now he turned to the other and asked, "You know hunt? Want to try with me, or not with me?" That was the closest phrase he had to ask if the other preferred to hunt alone or in a group. And then, also, struggling now to find the way to say it: "You be... you speak 'come' and 'stop'... be hunt-Ankal--" a word he'd heard many Drykas use, which he believed to mean leader, someone like Dravite, "--or me?" Asking, in his way, if Kaitanu wanted to take lead, or if he wanted Kyo to. "Or no?" Or neither of them, if the other wanted to hunt completely apart.

Normally he would just get on with it without dallying, but there was something about the horse-man that spoke oddly to him. Then again, most of the time he was automatically the leader of the hunt, his dogs following closely into line without needing command, used to their roles. With someone new, it would be a much different challenge. And the coyote still did not know the other's capabilities and strengths.

He put a hand to his head as he gave Kaitanu a few moments to make sense of the poorly-strung words. The headache had worsened with every sentence, with each strain of memory to find words, and at every time he considered closely the hunt's details and forming strategies. How could just plain thinking hurt him? He didn't know, but he didn't like it. If just standing around and talking was bad enough, how would he be able to do anything more strenuous? How would he run?

Again he didn't know. Maybe through sheer determination, and much resting in between bursts of activity.

[Kaitanu]

Scattered as his mind usually was, Kaitanu understood there were differences between himself and Kyo. The coyote’s whole experience had been very separate, very free in comparison with his own. Someday Kaitanu might wonder if he could be so untethered, but now was not that time. Even the idea that he could ever be the ankal in anything took the horse kelvic by surprise. Visibly a shade or two paler than before, his eyes darted toward the main tent, then back to Kyo. Had he heard correctly?

“I am here to follow your lead.” Kaitanu gave a slight bow. Perhaps that was what Kyo really meant? That he, the coyote kelvic, would be leader in this excursion? That was the only thing that made sense.

Assuming he must have misunderstood the other kelvic, Kaitanu calmed down a little on straightening up again. “Would it please you better if I was a horse? I have hunted a little with Dravite and Lian- they have taught me much, but only as a human.”

A horse and a coyote hunting together, without a human present… That would have been an odd sight, indeed. Like an odd sort of pack, totally out of Nature’s usual way. Could he even bring himself to kill as a horse? The fight or flight instinct was much stronger then, but so were his senses, and he was faster as well. Either way, if Kyo was the one giving orders they would be obeyed. Kaitanu could carry him back if need be, no matter what his form.

Across the plains the eastern sky was beginning to turn faintly pink as Syna rose sleepily from the darkness. It would take some time still for her bright eyes to shine forth in their full glory, but time was wasting. Neither Kaitanu nor Kyo had the Web to hasten their hunt. If they did not go soon the rabbits and pheasants and other creatures would be hiding from the heat. Even in his human form, Kaitanu could hear the soft shuffling of something close-by, possibly a ferret, maybe a fox. With the goats and chickens making their wake-up noises it was hard to tell, exactly. Soon the whole camp would be alive with its usual morning chatter and noise. Once the children were out and about there would be no hearing anything past them. Nor would it be as easy for Kaitanu to get away. They liked to jump all over the infinitely-patient kelvic and make a game of him. Not that he truly minded their innocent fun, but it wasn't conducive to a hunt.

[Kyo]

There was that oddness between them again. The strange use of phrases-- "I am here to follow" and "Would it please you." Kyo frowned, but at least Kaitanu had answered the poorly-worded questions he had asked: whether they would hunt as one, yes, and who should lead, Kyo.

To the head-bow thing Kyo simply nodded his head back. Maybe it was a horse thing? They did sometimes nod their heads. Bowing as a coyote meant wanting to play, most times.

At Kaitanu's suggestion that he could become horse, Kyo paused, considering, rubbing his temple. Knives were good, like really sharp rocks, but they were only a good tool if a body could use them. Kyo wouldn't be able to hunt with a knife. Would Kai have brought it with if he couldn't use it?

Maybe. Humans often carried weapons, even when they weren't using them.

"I have hunted a little" meant that Kaitanu was probably not much experienced, so he likely could not use the knife well enough to catch anything...

But speaking of catching something: he saw the other's reaction --and heard it himself-- when something not-too-far-away began to rustle.

Kyo's voice dropped a little. "Be... be a horse. I will find animal to hunt. You be... you be here," he said, indicating for Kaitanu to follow, walking hurriedly further into the grass, away from the camp's waking noise, into a thicker, taller area that had not yet been mown down by the Drykas herds. "You... help me with please?" And he started stamping down an area of the grass, starting in one spot and then mashing the grass to the ground in a wide circle, a place a horse would fit comfortably but without much extra room, maybe an arm's length extra on each side.

When they were done, there would be a dip in the tall grass for the horse to stand in. "Can you be horse here? And stay. I find animals, hunt to here. You stay here, and animal come, and you-- you do-- you stop them." He never seemed to have a word for what he wanted to say so he demonstrated, stomping a foot down hard as if on top of a small creature's head or back. He knew from yesterday's experience that a kick from a horse hurt. Any animal hit by a hoof would be injured enough to be slow, and then either Kaitanu or himself could finish them off. Well, if they weren't already dead.

The grass-flat area they had stamped down was like a trap, in his mind. Kaitanu would wait there, and Kyo would drive the animals through the tall grass towards the horse. In the grass any small animal would not be able to see what was up ahead, and they would not avoid the area just because it smelled like Kaitanu-- because he would be a horse, and horses were not typically predators. The prey, hopefully, would run right into the flat area, which was mushed down so Kaitanu could see where to stomp... and that would be that. Easy hunting, hopefully.

Though it was true Kyo had not hunted with a horse as a partner before --had never even imagined it-- and so did not know if a horse's instincts would be fast enough to stomp in time. They would have to see.

One last time he said the simple directions, "Stay, look for me to come from there--" pointing in a direction sideways from which they had come, "--wait for animal, and stop them," and then he added for good measure, "You people-clothes... in here." Indicating a place opposite the direction he intended to approach from. The sight and scent of the clothes would hopefully not tip off any incoming prey if they were left in that spot.

With that he gave Kaitanu an encouraging smile, and then shifted coyote in a blinking of light that lit up the grey surroundings. He shook himself once as if to settle his fur in place, and then trotted off.

With Kaitanu not looking, though, he let his head hang and shook that, too, trying to make the pain stop. Already it was so hard, and coming up with a new plan of attack had hurt his thinking head dearly. He focused on pushing through, listening once more for the thing --what was it?-- they had heard earlier...? Oh yes, the rustle-noise from before.

There was the musky whiff of fox back where the sound had come from and the coyote began scenting it, nose to the ground and the grass.

---

He found the fox and was glad he had thought to follow it. Though he would not hunt a fox himself --and especially not this day, when he was hurting so much-- he had known what it was the fox must be doing: also hunting. Now he gave a short burst of speed, drawing out his fangs, and the red-furred creature dashed away, splashing through a puddle of water that was trickling down in a mild depression from higher ground. That took care of that; he was certain he had scared it away.

The smell of fox was all over here, as was the smell of what it had been hunting: some sort of small-ish furry creature, a mink he thought-- those also had a strong, characteristic smell, but one that was different than the fox.

The coyote, head throbbing, began his search for the fox's --and now his and Kaitanu's-- prey.

[Kaitanu]

Kaitanu was very glad Kyo had taken charge of the hunt, though he was still not used to being asked his opinion in the first place. He was more than ready to just do whatever the other kelvic wished without question. It was hard after so many years of thinking that way not to do so.

Kaitanu was already half-out of his clothing before he had even begun to consider the plan in which he was about to engage. Yet consider he did, albeit in a vague way. As his white skin was briefly exposed to the chill morning air he thought, with a different kind of chill, what it would mean to “stop” another animal during a hunt. Would he have to kill whatever came his way? His first hunt had been difficult, not just because his human form was less quick and he was untrained. Well did Kaitanu remember the way his stomach turned as warm blood spilled all over his hands. He’d had to prepare animals for food, but watching the life leave their eyes had been something of a shock. The former slave had seen so much cruelty and pain in his young life. It was therefore startling to realize his own capacity to cause harm. However, there was no turning up his nose at food, however it came to him. His human body needed meat. Would those issues become prohibitive in his horse form? He would just have to deal with the situation if it occurred and hide any problems from Kyo. Kaitanu could never bear for anyone else to know he was having difficulties about anything, and he didn’t even know what would happen in this case. In his mind it was always better to take what came on his own.

Perhaps in that way the two kelvics were alike. Kyo seemed to be in pain, but unwilling to acknowledge it. Others with more self-assurance would have put their foot down and insisted he rest, but not Kaitanu. He had no right or authority to do so, and anyway, Kyo knew best what his body could handle. Setting his clothes and dagger aside, Kaitanu changed forms in a bright flash. He was glad the transition was so quick as it was a cold morning, barely warm enough to keep frost away. Gooseflesh had already begun to prickle his naked skin as a human. How Kyo had been able to stand there and talk to him that long without at least hugging himself for warmth the pale kelvic did not know. He was thankful for his horse form’s relative imperviousness to cold.

As Kyo began to push down the tall grasses with his coyote paws, Kaitanu lent a hoof to get them nice and crushed. He was still too obedient to others to lament much of what food was lost in doing so. There were also the constant thoughts of how he would “stop” whatever animal came his way. Using his hooves was the most obvious answer, but would he have to kill? Would a sharp kick be enough, or should he crush a head, or a limb? That thought made him feel nauseous, but he fought to keep control and go over his options. He would have to be careful not to damage the meat in any case. Hopefully a strike with his hooves would be enough to stun the animal, then Kyo could deliver the death blow. Kaitanu would if he had to, as he didn’t want to disappoint or upset the other kelvic. However, he’d rather not if he could help it. Quite vivid images of cracking bones and squelching insides were not helping him stay calm.

Taking a deep breath through his wide nostrils, the kelvic got into position and watched as Kyo’s lean canine form disappeared into the brush. Beyond the faint rustling noise his movement would have gone unnoticed, though his smell lingered. Standing up-wind, Kaitanu caught many more scents on the morning air. He had been among the Drykas long enough to know some of them by heart; mouse, ground squirrel, burrowing owl, mink, fox. Which of these was Kyo going to send his way? Through the dew-soaked grass Kaitanu could see nothing definite, and there were too many sounds to pick out a likely candidate. Nevertheless, he kept his ears open. For now, all he could do was wait to see what would happen.

Kaitanu was used to waiting on the whims of others. He didn’t mind, especially in this case, quite happy to be able to grab a few bites of grass while Kyo took care of things on his side. Arching his powerful neck, the kelvic began to search for some of the less dry tufts. Fall grasses weren’t exactly sweet and juicy, but he’d take what he could get. For what it was, the grass had a nice woody taste.

Kaitanu was well on his way to a decent breakfast when a sudden rustling nearby made him look up and prick his ears forward. It sounded like more than one animal. Turning his head slowly, the horse kelvic tried to see what it was that had moved. About 50 yards away the tops of the grass started to wave about, as though some force had them at their roots and was tugging this way and that. From the same area came high-pitched squeaks mingled with growls, the latter sounding like Kyo, though Kaitanu couldn’t be sure. Whatever was going on it was headed his way. The horse kelvic froze and watched with fascination the way the disturbance in the grass drew closer and closer. Every sense was on full-alert, but at the same time he couldn’t help a surge of fear that both made him want to run and rooted him to the spot. Was it the possibility of a predator, or the fact that he would have to kill something?

Kaitanu steeled himself against both and turned so his back was in the direction of whatever approached. Just one kick, that was all…just one. Ignore the crunch of bone and the cry of agony. He would do it to replace what he’d taken to feed Kyo and the pup. He would do it because it would make Dravite and his family happy to have more food. Kaitanu breathed in the cold, nearly still air. To him it felt as though all the world was waiting to see what would burst through the grass and into his tiny clearing. One rear hoof lifted slightly, muscles tight and ready to spring the instant he saw movement.

Suddenly, the tall grass parted like silver waves behind him. There was no time to think as his rear hoof shot out and slammed into the shadow which bounded in his direction. A loud yelp made him start and nearly lose his balance, but Kaitanu didn’t turn to look. For some reason, he couldn’t bring himself to even move for the moment.

[Kyo]

The mink was not difficult to find, at least. It stayed near the water.

There had been frost and fog and rain this season. A small, chill creek had formed, running downhill to collect in a little valley between low-sloping hills. Likely if there had not been so much wet weather this creek would be dry and dead; instead, it greened the grass.

It was a good place to catch a meal or more. Animals flocked to whatever water there was in the grassland, no matter how small. The coyote stood still, watching, not drawing attention to himself, and within moments he had spotted frogs, water insects, even small fish that must have been swept down from some larger water body. And surrounding it all was the smell of the mink.

The mink itself was a little harder to find with eyes alone. But then he thought he saw it-- yes, there. Dark brown, blending into the wash of mud and grass at the edge of the little lively creek. The mink hadn't noticed him in the downward-flowing wind. It slipped into the shallow water, flashing after a little silver fish, missed, swooped around and darted at a nearby frog. The frog wasn't so lucky. As the mink dragged its prey back to the damp of the shore --distracted by its catch-- the coyote pounced.

The mink was faster and cleverer than he'd thought, with good reflexes. It evaded the snap of his teeth, went for the water, opting to swim against the slow current --towards a greater body of water-- than go with the flow and end up being trapped in the small pond-puddle at the base. Head aching, the coyote sprinted after it, splashing into the creek and chasing it, sloppily making sure it couldn't double back in the water and zip past him the other way.

Its mistake came when it tried to dig itself into a small hole at the edge of one bank-- probably where it kept its food and slept. That meant it had to slow down. The coyote snatched it by the tail and the mink was forced to turn on him. Then he was forced to let go as the thing squeaked and spat, twisting to bite at his nose. He had forgotten that mink were vicious little creatures. When he dropped it he made sure to fling it to the side, out of the water. With the coyote blocking access to the creek, the mink vanished into the low grass and brush.

For a few long moments the coyote stood where he was, dripping water and letting the beating of his head and heart settle into a gentler rhythm. It wasn't so bad to rest; mink were not fast on land, and the coyote could easily catch up to the low-bodied, short-legged animal.

Once he thought he was ready, before he could convince himself to just lay down, the coyote put his nose to the trail and started tracking his prey.

---

He found it hiding in a burrow in the tall grass, probably a mouse hole that it had stuffed itself into. He scooped out a few pawfuls of dirt and the hole collapsed, the mink forced to flee again. The coyote worked his way to the side, following, not getting too close.

---

The headache was distracting him. He mistakenly went in for another spat and the mink latched onto his whiskers. He had to shake it off, but it tried to cling, sharp teeth pinching and hitting blood, its bendy body reaching to try to get a better grip. Finally he sent it flying with a shake and then had to relocate it. He promised himself he would not get too close again.

---

He forgot his promise, the pain wearing on him. It was hard to think about anything else except that terrible stinging. He ran up on the mink, hoping just to finish the hunt quickly, and it turned to fight with him again, jumping at his face.

Vaguely he realized he was close to the horse-one, could smell his scent. He let out a growl, more for the horse to hear than to frighten the mink, which would not be frightened. It was doing its own snarling, though to the coyote's ears the noise was just a loud, irritated squeak. It tried to latch to his nose again and he lashed out a paw, trying to bat it away. Tiny teeth dug into the thick fur near his toes, just missing the pad, and he flung it again, in the direction of the horse, lagging behind. Doing its part, the mink forged ahead through the grass, making its way unwittingly towards the trap.

That was good. Perhaps the coyote could rest here, again. The mink was almost to the horse, maybe it would go on its own--

--and suddenly there was a crunch and a yelp, and the coyote put thought of resting out of his hurting mind. Panting, he ran towards the place he had left Kaitanu.

His head, through the throbbing pain, was telling him something was wrong. That yelp had not belonged to a mere mink. Too loud. Too big. Something bigger than a mink. Something bigger and unknown. A danger to Kaitanu?

The coyote burst through the grass at the edge of the flat-area, letting out a yip so maybe the horse would not mistake him for prey and bash his head in-- again. He needn't have bothered. Kaitanu was standing still, as if pretending to be a rock or tree, inanimate; there was no scent of mink, but another scent, different but similar, and at the white horse's feet lay the red fox.

It was not dead. The kick had scored on its neck, maybe its shoulder. Its side was broken, pulped, and it could not walk; it flopped on the ground, struggling to rise, bawling out in pain, a ringing, coughing raaahr noise repeated over and over. Foxes certainly knew how to scream, and its noise-making was irking the coyote's sensitive head.

There was only one thing to do, and the coyote moved to do it: he avoided the wounded animal's flailing and weak attempts at defense, and then when he was close enough snapped his jaws down hard on the back of its neck. He missed the first hold and had to readjust, biting hard. Missed again. His head was hurting so badly, and the fox would not shut up. Worse yet the sun was peeking out, slicing into his eyes. The coyote released the struggling fox and staggered back, pawing at his head like that might help, but of course he only succeeded in inflaming the wound at the back of his skull, perhaps tearing it open.

Suddenly he was sitting, woozy, his sides panting and huffing, in-out, in-out.
He had meant to test his limits. The coyote was dismayed to have found them.

[Kaitanu]

Kaitanu stood motionless for several minutes, every sound ringing in his ears long after ceasing. The awful, strangled cries of his prey tore into him like a burrowing thing; Kaitanu could almost feel on his own body the damage he had done. Yet the cries of agony went faceless and nameless, as in his wild imagination forms of different animals merged and mingled in a nightmarish way. Until the kelvic finally stirred and turned to look, he had no idea what he’d hit with his hoof. A brief flash of terror assailed him when he thought maybe it was Kyo, and that the noises had been canine in nature. The other kelvic’s warning yip melded with the other animal’s almost seamlessly. But then he saw, both in relief and horror, the true source of the rending screams. Kaitanu wished he hadn’t looked.

Selfish it was, perhaps, that he turned from the dying creature and Kyo, trying to block out the sounds and sights by sending his mind off somewhere else. He had used to do that as a slave in order to cope. Slaves who tried to help another in pain only made everything worse for themselves and the one being tortured. It was a cruel but effective way of keeping them in line. Perhaps such things had become too deeply ingrained to fight against, and so he went with what he knew. Then again, seeing the open flesh of the fox he had only meant to stun had shocked him. It never got any easier, this knowledge that he could cause pain. If anything, the pale kelvic needed a moment or two to compose himself, even if it meant Kyo did the rest of the job for him.

As the scent of blood filled his nostrils, he tried to focus on other things. The now-familiar, almost sweet smell of the grass, and the late-blooming flowers; the musk of a nearby mink; the clarity of running water. Behind him could be heard the sounds of a struggle all too common in the wild. They mingled with the birdsong and the other life of the grasslands in an almost frightening way. Yet Kaitanu was able to focus on the less terrifying things around him. He had plenty of practice. Soon, those piercing yaps from the fox would die away like so many others, and there would be food another day lived.

Unfortunately, the screams wouldn’t stop, and Kaitanu could not send himself completely away as he used to. Being made free had woken him up, in a manner of speaking, though it was a slow and painstaking process. At any rate, he had to stay somewhat aware in case Kyo needed help. By the sounds that met his ears, of struggle without the expected sudden silence, the other kelvic needed his help, indeed.

With great reluctance, Kaitanu turned his head to see what was going on, every nerve on edge as the wails of the sufferer tore along his spine like claws. What he saw now was worse than before, though all the previous, scuffling noises which had worried him now made sense. Kyo looked as though he had been through more than just a brief tussle with a wounded fox. He was bleeding from more than one wound; muzzle, foot, legs. That was not so much what concerned Kaitanu. The coyote was acting now as though he had gone quite mad, and was fighting with himself rather than his prey. It took a moment for Kaitanu to realize what this behavior truly meant, but that was no comfort. He had worried that this might happen, and now it seemed he was right to do so. For all his protestations, Kyo should never have gone on this venture in the first place.

“Please, Kyo! Stop! You’re hurting yourself!”

Forgetting he was still a horse in his worry, Kaitanu’s words came out as so much equine noise. With a shake of his head the kelvic shifted in a flash of white light, ignoring the wounded fox for now. It wouldn’t get far if it survived the next several minutes. Forgetting also his nakedness and the bite of the morning air, Kaitanu moved forward to the coyote, whose shaking body and heavy panting announced his distress. Still, almost instinctively, the horse kelvic- now in man-form -approached with care. He knew Kyo was one of his own kind, not a wild animal, but Kaitanu was cautious. Animal instinct ran through their blood as strongly as that of their human side.

“Kyo… Kyo… You are not well.” An observation that hardly needed to be made. However, Kaitanu was making sure that the coyote would respond, glad when his ears perked a bit. Slowly, he knelt before the other kelvic, both hands out in a placating gesture. He shifted so he could get a look at the back of Kyo’s head. With dismay he saw blood gathering in the grey-brown fur. Not good. Once it was clear that Kyo would allow him to get closer, Kaitanu used careful fingers to ply the damp clumps apart and see the extent of the damage. Red and tender flesh had torn apart, enough for concern.

“Please, we must return to the pavilion.” Always with that word, “please”, as though he feared to contradict someone else. But Kyo was not at all well, and Kaitanu thought with consternation of the water-skins back at camp. There were strips of cloth he could have used to staunch the slow bleeding. Unfortunately, he had none of these, and it was a ways back to the camp. The coyote didn’t look in any state to walk there on his own.

With a frown, Kaitanu considered what was best to be done. Behind him the wounded fox was trying weakly to drag itself forward over the flattened grass stems, bleating with fear and pain. Kaitanu was aware but doing his best to tune out the dreadful sound. That was, until he noted the way Kyo winced every time those cries pierced the morning air. Unwillingly, the horse kelvic glanced over his shoulder and watched the fox, considering what to do first. The noises would continue for as long as the fox’s will to live survived, which could be awhile. It would still fight, and Kyo was in no shape to finish the battle.

Turning back to Kyo, the horse kelvic bowed his head in that peculiar way of his, and murmured something indistinct about rest. It would soon become apparent to Kyo that the pale boy didn’t mean himself but the coyote, because he had moved back to the fox and, with a sudden movement, picked it up by the neck and shoulders. At this sudden application of force, the smaller animal seemed to forget it injuries in favor of lashing out blindly. Had it not been so weak it might have done more damage, but Kaitanu’s previous kick, and Kyo’s subsequent attack, made its present struggles flimsy at best. Its teeth and claws scored a few shallow hits before the sudden snap of its neck ended its life.

Kaitanu had done the deed quickly, almost emotionlessly. For a moment he knelt there and held the limp body in both hands, as though he had forgotten what he was doing. Whatever this was, it passed almost at once, and he was back at Kyo’s side, ignoring the new bite to his left hand, and the scratches bleeding along his pale chest.

“I will carry you back to the camp on my back, if you wish.” he murmured. That seemed the easiest way.

Getting on hands and knees, as low to the grass as he could, Kaitanu looked at Kyo over the white curve of his shoulder. “Can you hold on while I shift?”

[Kyo]

The coyote was aware of some things that were happening, though the majority of his attention went to his wound. His sides heaved in and out, maybe from trying not to cry out like the fox, maybe from something else.

In his mind there was panic. His head was hurting and he had never had an injury like this before, and so he did not know what to do-- to ignore it like usual and let it heal, or was this one different? He knew that his paw kept scratching at the wound, as if that might make it go away, like the scratching would cover it up and it would be gone. It wasn't working, though, just making things worse. For a moment after each swipe of his paw, there was a great flare of pain that made him pant harder. Then it would recede back into the general headache --an awful enough torment in itself-- and then his paw would move again and there would be a fresh slash of pain.

The other things he saw went quickly out of his attention, for the most part: the fox had dragged itself away, his paw had blood on it, Kaitanu was making horse-noise at him. But then something had shifted and the pale-face of human Kai looked in at him, telling him that he was not well. The other's sudden nearness rose the panic higher before the coyote realized that Kaitanu was trying to help. In that moment, the coyote let out a sharp series of barks and snarls, loud and carrying. Then the horse-man's words came through, and the coyote understood. He forced his paw to stay away from his head, and held still, jaws clamped tight and tail tucked in, as Kaitanu touched lightly at the wound.

The horse-one said that they must go back to the pavilion, and then Kaitanu vanished from sight, and the confused coyote thought he had been left despite having been told to rest. He got woozily to his feet and caught the scent of mink. For a moment he thought he was supposed to be hunting, he didn't want the mink to return to the water, and he took a step as if to track it. But then he remembered back to the pavilion. The panic rose up again, and he had to sit down and hang his head, trying not to scratch.

At least the fox's crying eventually stopped. Then Kaitanu was back, clawed and bitten but mostly whole, and the coyote saw the red, limp body. There was a sense of relief, easing his worry. They had caught the fox and killed it. The hunt was successful.

Now that it was over the coyote wanted to lie down, but Kaitanu was saying he would... carry... him? The coyote did not really understand; he had never been carried anywhere before, not since he was a pup. The horse-man got down low to the ground, and the coyote squinted at him, trying to keep the sun from his eyes, trying to think what he was supposed to be doing. Couldn't they just stay here? Here was good enough to lie down...

But Kaitanu wanted to go back to where the people were. Maybe that would be better. There were tents there, and the coyote's eyes wouldn't hurt him so much in the shade.

Still confused, the canine wandered to where the fox was lying dead and grabbed it up in his mouth by the scruff of the neck, like he might a puppy. The fox was bigger than pups, and limp in a way that live animals weren't, but the weight of the body made him feel that relief again. They had caught something, and now they could find the place to rest.

Then there were a few long moments of thinking --his head pounding-- as he tried to figure out what he was supposed to do...? Kai was kneeling low. And he had said carry and shift. So he was going to be horse, then? And... and carry... the coyote...?

On my back, he had said, and dubiously the coyote climbed onto the offered back as he might onto a low rock. He tried to remember to be gentle and not to let his claws scratch into the already-scarred flesh. The fox he dragged up with him, resting it against the spread of Kaitanu's shoulders, putting his head down on top.

Hold on, Kai had said, and for a moment the coyote thought he meant that the small canine should shift, hold on with human hands. But then he thought of their sizes, and the coyote was a larger, heavier human than Kaitanu, and if he shifted on the pale man's back he might hurt him in some way. So the coyote stayed as he was.

There was that bright, shifting light that stung his eyes and his head, and then he was way up high, higher than he liked, lying on the back of a white horse. The coyote couldn't help but turn his claws in, trying to dig for a better hold, but then he told himself no and forced himself to relax. It was hard. A horse had hurt him, and now he was weak and vulnerable and surrounded by that scent. Worse yet, he had never ridden another animal before. It did not feel... normal. He did not know what he was doing, or how he would get down. Uneasiness --and the sun-- made him close his eyes, gathering his feet beneath his belly as if ready to jump off at any moment. The fox he kept tucked close to him, though he was prepared to abandon it if he needed to move quickly.

He lurched when Kaitanu started to walk, and soon found that this laying-up position was not good right now. It rocked him back and forth and he felt like he was going to fall right off. Whimpering, he forced himself to adjust, relaxing further down until he was still as the fox. His head and front legs hung on one side of the horse, belly stretching across the back, his back legs and tail hanging on the other side. Now he was low down, low as he could be, and somehow that helped. He didn't feel like he was going to fall off anymore. Keeping his eyes closed, he went back to trying not to hurt so badly, also trying not to let that panic leap up in him again as it wanted to.

---

In the grass, two pairs of eyes were watching the strange sight of horse and prey. Brother and Sister had heard their coyote-brother's cries for them, that barking and snarling like he was in danger. Now the coyote was up on top of a horse and was lying still next to the dead --or dying-- body of a fox, and the confusion of the situation was the only thing that held the dogs back for the moment.

Sister wanted to attack, as was her wont, but when she shifted her weight Brother whined and so she stayed where she was, a low growl burning in her muscled chest. They were not certain if their coyote-brother was dead or if the horse had hurt him or how he had gotten up on the horse's back. They had not seen something like this --did horses hunt coyotes and foxes?-- and they did not know how to fight a horse as they had not done it before.

But they would. If the coyote proved to be in true danger, or if he was already dead, they would attack. For now they followed closely behind. While Brother stayed in the grasses so he wouldn't be seen --they were close to the city, and the coyote had shown them that place was bad-- Sister followed openly, wishing the horse to sense her. Wishing it to know what was waiting if the coyote-one was not all right.

[Kaitanu]

Low over the horizon the autumn sun warmed Kaitanu’s broad back and hindquarters as he righted himself after shifting. A sharp breeze filled his nostrils, carrying with it every scent around him in a stronger vein than his tiny human nose could pick up. Before his first few steps had seen him past the edge of the patted-down grass circle he caught a whiff of something that made him stop in his tracks, ears swiveling this way and that as his eyes scanned the blues and golds of the early-morning grass.

Enemies, his nose said… Kaitanu drank more deeply; heartbeat quickening. He had not encountered this scent before; thick, musky, wolfish. Yet he knew instinctively that it meant danger. Just upwind the new threat lay, invisible eyes locked onto the source of the fresh blood. It slid like warm rivulets down his shoulders, a beacon to all in this opportunistic land. Beyond that stench his nose could not tell exactly where the things were, or how many. Such a smell, coupled with the looming threat, would have sent any normal horse into a blind run until its legs gave out.

Kaitanu was hardly unaffected. Tremors ran along his skin, and his breaths came shallow, ready to run. Somehow, not knowing what was out there waiting for him made it worse. Instinct screamed at him to catch the breeze and turn it to wind. Yet he was not complete horse, and his human mind was already primed for as intelligent an escape as he could make. His instinctive need to flee was checked by the extra weight on his back which could not afford to be dislodged by a hasty retreat. Letting his burdens slide off and leaving them as distractions would have worked to his advantage. Self-preservation argued, but didn’t win in the end. Dravite, Pearl…they would all be displeased if Kaitanu let not only a kill be taken, but a guest. In the back of his mind was a more personal, though amorphous reasoning. Kaitanu had only begun to understand the concept that he could want things for himself. Such thoughts didn’t occur immediately, but upon closer inspection, in some later moment of quiet, the former slave would realize that he had not wanted Kyo to be hurt. Not even to save himself.

The poor horse kelvic might have spared himself and Kyo some grief if he had listened to his selfish urges, or had his behavior patterns not sunk into the master/slave obedience dynamic. The latter he could not help, anyway. What was of value to the Blackwater pavilion must be protected at all costs. Unconscious of the relationship between Kyo and the lurking predators, Kaitanu moved forward cautiously, his mind trying to think around the problem. Threat to life and limb and master’s property tended to gather his wits like nothing else. He had noted that the predators remained hidden when, by all logic, they should have attacked already. Kaitanu was alone with an awkward burden; the perfect target. What were they waiting for? Perhaps the sight of a coyote riding a horse was confusing for them. The horse kelvic stood halfway between the self-made clearing and the tall grasses. Were they waiting for him to fully immerse his long legs in the gently-waving sea? That would keep the wild things hidden, but beyond that he couldn’t tell what benefit that would give to them. He and Kyo were just as vulnerable either way. Kaitanu would have to take their enemies’ hesitation as long as it lasted. In any case, their path was a straight one back to the Blackwater pavilion nearby. Whatever the things were waiting for Kaitanu had to go through them.

With deliberate, careful movements, the horse kelvic moved forward, ears and eyes open for the slightest sign of immediate threat. The soft rustle of grasses on either side told him the unseen stalkers were following. Kaitanu expected every step to be interrupted by the sudden lunging of dark, lithe bodies and toothy maws, but so far whatever followed him they were unwilling to show themselves. His mind ran wild with half-formed suppositions about the source of their terrifyingly new odor. Kaitanu had heard of the many creatures that lived in the Sea of Grass; glassbeaks, nightlions, grassbears... None of these had ever been seen by the horse kelvic, but one or more could be following him right now. Or it could be some as yet unknown beast, just short enough to be hidden by the tall grass around him. With every step the pale horse fought a battle against his own panic, his speed increasing to a fast walk as he sought to get away from whatever was following.

It was not long at all before a break in the grasses revealed one of the things, or perhaps it caused itself to be seen. The creature was not one for which Kaitanu had any reference, except it looked canine. But the breed was unknown to him, and its wild appearance, size and well-muscled body put to mind dogs bred to go to war. This one seemed to be eyeing him rather closely as he plodded forward as fast as he dared. Neither horse no human could parse any meaning from that steady gaze. Kaitanu had spent too much time among so-called “civilized” societies to know overmuch about the wild lands. He certainly was not in mind to know a predator’s motives beyond eat. The large dog watching him looked hungry, but not once did it move closer to take what should have been an easy meal. It would get one if Kaitanu had to make an escape with Kyo and ditch the dead fox as a distraction.

At his other side, still hidden, lurked another one of those dog-things. Kaitanu's sharp ears heard every step it took, keeping pace with him. Yet it came no closer, and the visible one kept its distance as well. Amazingly, the creatures on both sides seemed content to flank him as he moved closer to the black tents and central fire of home. He was glad of that, and not just out of fear of being attacked. Kyo’s present position, while it had kept him on Kaitanu’s back, could not be good for his injured head. The horse kelvic was walking briskly now, while making the ride as smooth as possible. If pushed, he’d gallop hard the rest of the way.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, it turned out that he didn’t have to. Nearby the Blackwater horses were scattered and grazing; contrasting points against a wall of grass and zibri bodies beyond. The closest in this case happened to be Vicious, the Bloodbane mare. Though her head was down she was not clipping the long stalks like her tentmates, but had her sharp teeth in a small rodent she’d just killed. A little snack to tide her over. The moment the air shifted enough for her to catch the scent of death she trotted over to Kaitanu with noises of interest; not in him, but in the fox bleeding over his back. True to form, she was either unperturbed by the creatures keeping pace with Kaitanu, or was also curious as to what they were. Unlike other horses, the mare was not one to fear predators she thought she could take down out of hand. Still, she was not stupid, and kept a good distance from the new creatures. For now her focus was on the tempting aroma of blood.

"Dead thing mine. Give."

"Dead thing for dog on my back." Kaitanu told her without stopping his quick gait. "Dog" was anything wolflike that was tame to humans.

"Hungry! Give now!" Vicious stamped the earth with impatience and moved closer. Her sharp teeth gleamed in the morning light, either to warn the new things off, or to scare Kaitanu into compliance. Perhaps both.

The mare's attitude was such that Kaitanu was forced to stop for a moment and take on as non-threatening and submissive an attitude as possible so as not to rile her. If he wasn't careful he'd have another animal out for his blood.

"Leader human wants dog on my back to have dead thing. Leader human says, and I must obey." Not strictly true, but in the spirit of the law, as it were.

"Leader human says..." Vicious clacked her bloodstained teeth shut and glared but didn't move closer to the other pale horse. Her eyes moved from the kelvic horse to his odd new companions. A sharp hoof dug into the earth; a warning. "Wolves follow."

"Yes. Not attack yet. Do not know why."

Vicious let out something that might have been a low growl, though she was a horse. The presence of the large dogs heightened her annoyance, rather than filling her with fear. If the creatures following along wanted to attack Kaitanu they had missed their chance. Though not quite as close to her name as other Bloodbanes the pale kelvic had met, Vicious was not a pleasant sort. She was trained to leave the Blackwater stock alone, but was not above giving strange wild dogs a taste of her temper, and right now she was displeased at being put off about the fox.