"They sound like something out of a myth," I say, half-joking.
"They're real," Drasuk replies, his tone serious. "They were the ones who triggered my species' evolution to assist in their wars. When they stopped their expansion, they granted us independence."
"You sound like you idolize them," I tease.
He nods without hesitation. "In a way, I do. They are worthy of respect."
The sincerity in his voice takes me by surprise. This infuriating creature is capable of genuine admiration.
It's a strange thought.
He lets out a rumbling huff, and when he speaks again, his tone has shifted dramatically. "I also resent how little they have done to deal with the threats we all face."
"What? They just protect their own and leave you to rot?"
"Even worse. They barely protect themselves, too worried about losing their principles. They are going to go extinct when they could instead rise again and radically decrease so many atrocities."
I glance over at him and note that his spines are slumped in a reflection of the heavy topic.
He speaks up again. "It shouldn't have been possible for them to capture one."
"Why not? If they were deities among felines, they wouldn't be in danger of extinction."
"No, no. They aren't invulnerable. I'm shocked to hear it because they destroy themselves in a primal rage if someone tries tocontain them. Well, the males do, and of course they chose a male."
"What the fornicate? Their women can't fight?"
"Of course they can, but they don't have venom, and genali keep them as slaves. At least until they die of containment sickness."
"Fornicate. I hate those pieces of excrement."
"I agree with your sentiments, if not your word choice."
"So, we should be looking for a manticorid, then? Not just the rest of the women."
"Absolutely." He lets out a dark, rumbling chuckle. "Clearly the slimes have become over-confident. A Maj'Ra and a manticorid in the same hunting season? They are either suicidal or incredibly stupid."
I let out a low hum in response. "I am loving the sound of this, Drasuk."
He turns to me, raised spines shivering. "I am too, Kira."
We are both grinning like fools as we keep walking, though I'm pretty sure his is a promise of incoming pain, not an actual smile, since he communicates that through the many spines and spikes.
I glance back. Yep, that's a threat, not a smile.
Huh, I guess a lot of my smiles are that too.
As we continue our journey, the forest gradually thickens, the underbrush becoming more tangled and difficult to navigate. Drasuk's presence, while initially a nuisance, now feels reassuring.
Despite his intimidating size and gruff demeanor, he's proving to be a valuable source of information. And also a steady, clever companion.
Even if I don't want one of those.
"So, what do you know about this planet?" I ask, hoping to learn more about our current predicament.
Drasuk pauses for a moment, scanning the surroundings before answering. "I've researched a bit about hunting grounds in my spare time. It's a bit of a forbidden topic and, officially at least, they were outlawed a few generations ago. But that's just political speech for 'this council does not want to get on the genali or braceaaer's bad side.'"
I blink. "Council?"
