The Hooman Saga - XII - Serial Fiction

So far: Sue, Tig, and their hunting party arrived safely in the sentient wolves valley. The ferals fled when faced with roaring fires in their path. Now, an exhausted Sue forces herself to continue...

Jan 11, 2025

SOO-SHE TROTTED IN the middle of the exhausted hunter-pack of wolves as they came down the hill into the valley. Sentient female hunters came behind them. They kept up the trot until they were in a clearing under a large oak tree, where the wolves laid down.

Soo-she knew better than to do that. Her body would get painful cramps if she did. So she stood with her hands on her knees trying to catch her breath and hoping nothing more would be asked from her for a while.

Breaths for all the hunting-pack were ragged still. The hunters she traveled with had laid down all around her, still protecting her. Tig wasn't close but he wasn't any farther away than the other hunters.

One gray, almost white, female wolf came forward and sat on her haunches just inside that ring of hunters. And she waited.

Some females crept closer and sniffed their males. Seeing what they were up to, scenting their condition. Some of the older cubs crept forward but stopped short of the hunting circle. They knew not to risk the displeasure of their sire or their elders.

Gradually, her heavy breathing slowed. Soo-she looked at the eyes of the gray female and stood up, erect.

"You must be the teacher," she thought.

And Teacher sent, "Yes, you are welcome here.”

Snarl added, "For now."

Neither the gray one or Soo-she recognized that thought or looked in his direction. They kept looking at each other.

The gray one sent, "You don't know us and we don't know of you. You're a different one for this valley, and Tig was wise to bring you here. We need to know: Are you a danger or help?"

Soo-she had no answer but the flood of memories that came, out in the open for all to see. The other wolves, cubs, and females sat back. Some moved away. The hunters who traveled with Soo-she were all used to this by now and had seen many of these pictures. The hunter-wolves were alert, but not alarmed.

Soo-she started where the meteor was entering the planet's atmosphere. Talking with the cyborg pilot who was trying to reassure her of her safety. Then their sudden jarring. And all the lights went out inside the cabin. Only the emergency lights were left. The cyborg himself quit operating. Sue was grasping emergency lever on the door. For all the stories she'd heard about the polluted air, she didn't know if the rescue capsule was the safest place to stay.

And then as she clambered up and out, all went black. Until she revived, facing a wolf staring at her which was Tig. Then the escape from the ferals. The flames she'd produced was a trick her grandmother had taught her while they were on the moon station. She called it the “umbrella trick.” It was a way to confuse people who were looking right at you. It would have them see something else. And then she sent the vision of Snarl, with his view of what he'd seen. The opening of dead-end canyon: two wolves embraced by fire.

After that, it was revisiting the meteor. The run ahead of the ferals. And the fire at the notch-opening of the valley that saved them.

The gray wolf cocked her head at that and thanked her for her thoughts. She stood up and swished her long tail, sending, "It's time to rest." She walked out of the circle and a path was cleared for her.

Soo-she understood to follow, and walked behind her to the edge of the valley floor. Nearly hidden in the canyon wall was a small den. It had a hole just big enough for the gray one to enter. Soo-she followed on hands and knees, although the effort brought new pains through her legs and hands. The teacher waited inside that was somehow lit, not depending on the light from the opening.

And then Soo-she realized she was seeing through the teacher's eyes. She knew where everything was and knew the soft small bedding pallet at the back of the cave was hers. She crawled over to it and dropped onto its firm softness.

- - - -

THE NEXT THING SUE KNEW, she was waking up inside a very dark cave-like den and remembering where everything was.

She was covered by a hide with thick fur facing her. It was a rawhide pelt, which seemed to have been chewed into a soft state. Comfortable and warm. Her suit had been stripped off of her and she lay naked underneath the cozy fur. Before she could wonder what she would do next, darkness came through the opening into the small cavern.

She recognized one of the female hunters who'd come out to protect her and the rest of the hunters.

"My name is Tig-she," the female hunter sent, after she dropped her package at her own front paws, near the edge of the bedding where Soo-she lay.

She sat on her haunches and looked at the human carefully. "These are for you. They should help."

Soo-she sat up and snaked an arm out, then pulled the package closer to her. It was more deer hide, tied in a bundle. As she untied it, she found an Indian squaw dress and moccasins.

Tig-she sent, "Go ahead and dress. It's not like I haven't seen a naked hooman before. It holds no interest for me."

And Sue asked, "How are the others? Tig and Snarl and the hunters?”

Tig-she replied, "They rest still, but they'll be off on a hunt tomorrow. By next moon-rise.”

Soo-she asked, "I'm sorry to ask, but I am curious. Are you sister of Tig?"

And Tig-she let a chuckle out, "No but I am bonded.”

"Bonded?"

And Tig-she replied with the thought of what happens when one meets a love they cannot deny. But at the same time she was sad.

Soo-she sent, "Why would you be sad? Tig would be an excellent mate."

And then Tig-she sent her a series of pictures of being rebuffed, but not unkindly. She finally sent, "Tig is not bonded to me. He is still his own wolf."

Then another dark form blotted out the opening to the small den.

- - - -

TEACHER ENTERED THE DEN quietly, crouching on her haunches to the other side of the opening from Tig-she.

Soo-she dressed quickly. And found the moccasins were a good fit for her sore feet.

The Teacher sent, a smile in that thought, "You're every bit the picture of a chief's princess. We haven't seen such here in a thousand moons."

"There were Indians here?" asked Soo-she.

"That's not what they called themselves. We called them brothers and sisters. As they called us brothers and sisters. We hunted together but it has not been during my time."

Teacher continued, "I speak of the old days. Teachers before the teachers before me. When hooman and wolf shared the earth with all the other creatures and that was a time before all of this you see now. When the moon was still a spirit and not a thing that you landed on and built cities made of metal. Or mined beneath its surface," she sent with disgust. "That was a sacrilege.”

And Soo-she bowed her head. "I understand this. I'm sorry." In shame of what her kind was doing.

The grey wolf then sent, "Don't bow your head. You have nothing to be ashamed of. It was not your doing. You are not one of them.”

And yet Soo-she thought of her family there, Her father and mother, her sisters, brother.

"Yes I know that scene of yours. That will be your your journey to seek. We have more pressing matters now. Are you well enough to walk?"

Soo-she stretched her legs and felt her hands. "I think so."

"Where are my..." she send a question about the first aid kit and her pouch. Then she saw they had been placed behind her bedding. She reached out and put the pouch strap over her neck and shoulder.

She realized she couldn't put any ointments on in this darkness. Then slipped the first aid kit into her pouch as much as she could. It made the pouch bulge. But if she didn't run, it would be safe there.

The gray wolf smiled at that. "We'd like to see what your cures will do. There was always wisdom to seek in unknowns.”

Tig-she left, followed by the gray wolf. And finally, Soo-she.

We’re now well into a new serial.

A near escape from the ferals. Sue is now in the valley, with new wolves helping her — as she faces undergoing a mysterious “probe” in the secure wolf valley…

Of course there are some 23 more chapters after this. But you’ll have to stay tuned until next week to see how they get out of this…

For now, set your calendar to keep track of these new adventures. Every Saturday.