The Seeker

    The foxtaur stared carefully at what was finally happening into the clearing. Even thought a thick mist had been shrouding most of the valley since dawn, the dark shape of the starship descending in the middle of the wood could be clearly spotted from their place. It was smaller than the ship sent twice each week to their area, yet its somewhat predatory aspect was a bit disturbing, it looked like some sort of warship rather than a merchantsman.
    The cub on his side yawned, rubbing against his thick fur.
    "Dad, it's getting really cold here..."
    He smiled and caressed his head. Landing manoeuvres might have been nice to watch, but sometimes they were really a bit long... The air was very cold indeed, the most rigorous part of winter having just begun in the region, and most of the subtlest scents from the wilderness had already been covered by the snow of the last few days. A low rumbling of the earth under their paws announced the starship had landed.
    "He! You're right, son... We'd better hurry back to the village now... that's our landing area so whoever has arrived is looking for it, I think." He turned back to the path they had arrived from - a narrow passage which led downwards the hill, marked by stones. The cub eagerly toddled after his tail. He seemed slightly worried thought.
    "But that's not usual transport, isn't it?"
    His father gave a last look to the black vessel. "No, it isn't... it's very unusual, yet I'm sure they're just visitors. Our people has never had enemies."
    The last time something similar had happened, it had been a joyous event after all...
 

    Blink stretched slowly, pushing away the cloche with a knee. "Mmmmrr... alright, here we are... what about the connection?"
    "Installed and tested, mon capitaine" answered Jean pulling out from under the main panel. "With this last little gadget Entity's interface is also fully integrated with the ship's systems. It should work perfectly as long as we remain within a range of five kilometers from the Mjolnir." He began to carefully clean some grease off his hands. "You know, I'm really curious to see if you were right this time..."
    She sighed, looking randomly at the spies on the ceiling. "I really hope I were, considering the risk... now we're here I just can't avoid recalling that the Mjolnir is powered by a cyclic generator, and if it'd be destroyed here it would wipe away half the planet's surface too. The most disturbing thing is that we could self-destruct right now and nobody could even try to stop us..."
    "Eh, that's the way it works... Tokàla IV isn't of any economical or military value, just a natural reserve, and only the foxtaurs and a few others live here..."
    She tipped with disgust on the radar screen before standing up. "Really. Look, it doesn't even have an orbital defense system... just wreckages and some communication sats."
    Their ears tracked a light click as Entity disconnected from its interface. In order to allow direct interaction between the crystal and the ship's computer, Jean had used fiber optic cables to build a small perfectly fitting niche on the main control panel. It seemed able to communicate with the standard computers expecially well through fiber optic, emitting thin rays of light from specific points of its twelve faces.
    The crystal took a second for stabilizing, then floated to the middle of the bridge.
    *According to long range sensors, the nearest Alliance patrol is distant six light years from this system, and has just changed its route. It is currently heading here at about 270 warp degrees.*
    "So we have about six hours before they arrive and kick us off the planet. Should be enough to verify."
    Jean was already putting on a heavy winter coat and gloves. "Our search will be brief anyway I guess. You altered so many search parameters that if she was located in that village over there, it just has to be the right place!"
    "Oh, come on, you distrustful foxy..." she smiled, walking towards the door to quarters section. "Just a moment, I left the winter equipment into my room... I'll join you at portal two in a few minutes."
    "Ok, and cover well, it seems badly cold out there..."
    In effect the temperature outside the ship was well below -15 C°, which was extremely cold for such a low latitude, even for a midwinter day like that. But then the entire planet had become much colder after the Cataclysm.
    Followed by Entity, he took the corridor towards the landing area, quite distant from the bridge being located in the back end of the hull. The ships had three normally used exits, one on each side, meant for getting off on firm ground, whether a planet's surface or a spaceport's hangar, and a third one which was a standard passage for external docking on space stations, sometimes - but of course unofficially - also very useful for boarding.
    "By the way, Entity..." began Jean as they set out through the ship, "with today you've been with us for exactly two weeks, and we've talked a lot, but I haven't asked for your impression yet..."
    The crystal spun on and continued his floating on his side.
    *I have yet seen many interesting things during our travels. Upon which do you want to know my impression?*
    "Well, in general... about our work, the Alliance..."
    One thing Jean hadn't get used was certainly the crystal's formality, which was even slightly irritating at certain times, expecially compared to Blink's openness with them. A common character for most silicium-based beings.
    *First of all I would say I don't regret at all my choice of joining you, if this is what you mean. The privateer work has proved varied and interesting, just as I had supposed. I'm with you since a realatively short time, yet we already visited six solar systems and met specimens of most species of the Alliance, which was exactly my intention. I cannot offer you an overall review of your society yet, but it's interesting to notice how certain details are especially evident. For example, many species seem in fact very different from the image they are given among other ones, and this doesn't seem to depend upon the distance between them.*
    "That's for sure..." answered Jean adjusting the gloves, "Every species has developed its own sight of its position within the Alliance. I guess it's also due to the fact each world tends to end up specializing in certain 'fields'. If as you think your people doesn't know advertising, or politics the way we intend them, this must sound a bit strange, but the whole Alliance economy and unity is based on such specialization. We Renardènians are usually considered naturally inclined for engineering and invention, as most of the starships you'll see around are projects of our Engineers Guild."
    *Yes, I have noticed this. I've red the history of their design too, very interesting. I couldn't remember the design of my people's starships yet.*
    Much likely it's not so different from ours, he thought.
    While the ships due to sub-warp navigation were simply projected with the most compact and functional structure, the discovery of attrition forces showing at high warp ratios had led to a general adapting and updating of aerodynamic principles. Renardènians had been among the first to discover that the shape of many fishes and sea creatures was exceptionally apt for hyperspace travelling.
    He smiled and waited a few moments before asking, "And... what about her?" pointing a thumb back.
    Entity's spinning slowed down as it changed its axis.
    *So far I have occasionally discussed several issues with the captain and accuratedly observed her acting, and she seems very intelligent and equilibrated, or at least she says almost nothing without a reason, which I appreciate. Though I find somewhat difficult to understand why she is so reclusive at times and so open at others. I guess this is because I cannot fully understand the concept of feeling your life forms have. Our current mission could somewhat help me about this, I suppose. I have to agree with her reconstruction of the event, the thesis we are going to verify seems very logical considering the facts we learned about the subject.*
    Jean shrugged with a tail flap. "Oh, well, I have been joking, but I'm rather sure she's right too - I know her well enough, she wouldn't have exhumed such an old file if she wasn't sure we can succeed. It's just we had never handled a case like this one. Having to search for a girl who fled from home is unusual enough, but, the idea she might have changed herself into a foxtaur...!"
    In the meanwhile, they had reached the portal, where Blink joined them short after.
    She hadn't been very concerned of the cold, as her race always used to inhabit rigorous climates: she had just worn a heavier and longer than usual dark blue jacket, and winter boots. Entity noticed she hadn't took gloves too.
    "What about weapons?" asked Jean. "Shouldn't we take some with us?"
    "No, we'ren't going to need them anyway. We'd just risk to make them hostyle in the first place. Don't forget we are perfect strangers here, and not authorized too..." She activated the opening controls. "All we need is to find her, providing she's here, and the less attention we attract, the better it is. You see, the foxtaurs are very diffident with strangers."
    A warning sound, then with low vibrations the pressured door slowly slid open, letting in a sudden blow of cold air.
    Though still foggy and rather dark, the landscape managed to show some part of its beauty. Once out of the ship, snowy summits were barely visible above the mist coat, standing to form a large sheltered valley, only partially opened towards the south.
    The natural clearing they were standing upon was on the top of a high hill, in the middle of an age-old pines forest, extended beyond sight towards the other hills in that direction. At least one foot of snow was on the ground and over everything. A slight breeze had been spreading what little scent of musk and wild was left in the air.
    As they climbed down the landing stair, Blink felt for a few seconds like shards of ice were passed all through her fur. Very pleasant after hours of space flight... she simply felt the need to took a handful of snow ad taste it. Too bad there wasn't a stream nearby, if it'd have been equally pure. Incredible that there were still planets like that within the Alliance...
    Some verses of an ancient war poem came to her mind, but she just didn't manage to rember the author's name on the moment.
    The woods around were very silent, with no trace of their inhabitants visible.
    Only after a while she noticed four large shapes, advancing towards them from a path through the trees. Jean and Entity approached her.
    "Are they foxtaurs?"
    "Yes, I think... they've been probably sending rangers for the unexpected meeting." She shook the snow off her hands. "Have you ever seen a foxtaur, by the way?"
    "Only in pictures" answered Jean, "and also there was one in a holoprogram, but not well done. Never meet them personally. I have red an essential guide to their habits and beliefs during the travel, but since we had been planning this travel for a while, I trust you know almost everything about their civilization by now..."
    "Well, due to the nature of our mission, I had to gather some extra information about them... the history of their people is rather interesting anyway..."
    "... which of course means 'Yes'..." he thought with a smile. Blink signaled her fellows to wait for them to approach first.
    The foxtaurs were walking silently through the forest, with circumspection, but still very quickly. As they arrived on the limit of the clearing they stopped and stood there for a while without a word, each one of them examinating the strangers.
    They were three males and one female, and in spite of the cold they had no clothes of any sort, in accordance with their use. They were only wearing the symbols and talismans of their tribe - simple items made mostly of wood - and their muzzles and the white part of their fur were decorated with some sort of dark coloured body paint.
    Clothes and the like wouldn't have been an appropriate complement for their bodies anyway. From the waist up they were almost identical to Renardènian foxes, at least in the appearence, while the lower part of their bodies was just like that of their red-furred wild relatives, only much larger, and slightly differently balanced. From their fore paws to their ears they were no taller than Jean, but still looked very imposing at the same. That was obviously due to their peculiar shape: an extremely rare phisionomy for vertebrates, shared by no more than two or three other known species, nevertheless their slender form was harmonious and beautyful in its complexity.
    After some nearly imperceptible hesitation, one of the males left the pack and walked trough the snow towards them with measured steps. Blink noticed the others were carrying some large bags, most likely containing weapons, but they were motionless, their gaze locked upon them, betraying no emotion. They had likely sent some of the best warriors of the village to meet the unknown visitors.
    The male stopped about seven meters far from them. Blink's throat almost tickled, filled by the foxtaurs's scent... it was very similar to Jean's, with more hints of sweet and burned, but much stronger and untamed.
    Jean had been absorbed observing the foxtaur's balance and coordination in walking, when the ranger surprised him with a curious gesture, slowly flexing his fore paws in sort of a greeting bow, until his lower chest touched the terrain. His tail's waving betrayed a slightly tension.
    Blink knelt in front of him in return, immersing into the snow nearly up to her waist. She raised an open hand.
    "Hau, Mitakuyepi. We come in peace, seeking for one daughter of the Tokàla people."
    The foxtaur returned the salutation, just casting a dubious look towards Entity.
    "So you are welcome to this land, striped fur..." ha said without excessive conviction, "My name is Mah-piya In'yanka, Running Cloud, of the Mnikaoskokpa tribe of the Valley."
    "Commander Blink of the Mjolnir, and my crew..."
    In the meanwhile the other rangers had began moving through the clearing to reach them, still watching carefully at every single movement of theirs. They looked somewhat relieved (as they had likely just scanned them with hidden weapons detectors), but certainly not much happy of the unexpected event. The chief was the oldest of the four, perhaps having the equivalent of thirty standard years.
    "We are glad to receive visitors on mother earth. Maybe we can help you to find what are you looking for?"
    "I hope so, but first of all thank you for meeting us with friendship" answered Blink, looking into his eyes. "Would we have more time for admiring the beauty of this world... yet our visit will last as few time as possible, and it is just functional to our mission. We are looking for that person, and have good reason... to belive that person might be found on this planet, possibly in your village." Her tail was waving slowly too, but her tone was calm as usual, as that of the foxtaur.
    "There are no people from the other worlds living among us. Might I ask who are you looking for exactly, and why?"
    "I cannot say the name to anybody else than the members of a Council, in order not to compromise our mission. But, we are looking for a girl of the Renardènian foxes people, who according to our informations has joined one of the tribes of the Valley... as a fully integrated member. We have been sent by her family, with important news to report, and it is very important that we find her as soon as possible. That is, unless we can be officially and formally granted about her absence..."
    The foxtaur turned to his mates and they consulted each other in an undertone for some minutes, never leaving them out of sight. Blink managed to catch only a bunch of words, "dangerous", "close watch" and "rules of hospitality" more than once. Entity floated near her ear.
    *I find their reactions are quite different from those that should be expected by part of diplomats.*
    "Yes... luckily for me..." she answered nearly unadvertantly, still staring at them. "See thier fur paint? They are hunters, like the most... the only actual 'diplomats' among Tokàlans are the village elders, and even with them being excessively diplomatic or ingratiating has never worked... there is some rituality in everything they do, but the rest might even be harmful instead. Foxtaurs are famous for their straightforwardness, along wit the rest."
    "Well, why do I get the impression they know who were we talking about..." muttered Jean. She seemed to catch some references in their dialog too.
    In the end, they turned at them again.
    "We will trust you for now, but we don't have the information you need anyway: you will have to present yourself to the council of our village for this. We will escort you there, then your request will be submitted. Follow us..."
    The rangers waited for them to move behind him, then disposed themselves around them, as on the four angles of a square. For most of the walk they said nothing, the only sounds being the few ones of any deep winter morning. Even with the fog, which became thinner and thinner aas they advanced on the path, the air was marvelously pure, disturbed only by occasional squalls of an icy breeze.
    Everything for better, tought Blink. Further discussing the nature of their mission with the rangers would have been a waste of time, and would have just caused unfounded suspects, and the mission was very delicate...
    The path they were following led down from the hill, only going through a part of the forest and soon deviating to cross a small frozen river in the vicinity of a natural ford. Then it ascended between the walls of a ravine until the top of another hill, from where they could spot the first tents and huts of the village, after about twenty minutes' walk.
    It was settled on the base of the hill, almost at the entrance of the valley, well protected by the forest and by the remains of ancient landslides which surrounded it. It was certainly a temporaneous location anyway, as they often moved to follow the movement of prey animal packs.
    Amazing how they managed to live in parfect harmony with nature now, she tought.
    The foxtaurs had been developing a technologically advanced civilization in the previous millenium, and they had even arrived short from the discovery of warp engines - but they hadn't yet completed the researches when they discovered an asteroid was en route to strike their planet. After the failure of a disasterous evacuation plan, they had managed to shatter the asteroid with anti-matter weapons, but the remaining dust and fragments had caused massive destruction nevertheless and disrupted forever the climate, sinking the planet into a new (though somewhat lesser) ice age. The Alliance had discovered them nearly four centuries after the Cataclysm. The few surviving groups, all living on the same continent, had been eager to meet the other races, but they refused any help regarding the reconstruction of their planet or the warming of the weather. Their lost of trust in technology had been sudden and nearly total, perhaps beyond the comprehension of any luckier species.
    Even these days, only some of the younger Tokàlans showed any interest for the "marvels" of the foreign space. Some foxtaurs happened to opt for leaving the planet and joining the star fleet, or for seeking fortune otherwise, but the great majority just remained on the reserve world, embracing a new culture based on refuse of unnecessary technology and search for balance with nature. The only contribution given by the Alliance were a very few weapons and medical supplies, though they had learned to heal most common and less common diseases using natural extracts. The planet was still liveable, even if hardly, for animals and plants had adapted quickly to the new situation - or died, as the cold had led to the extinction of countless diffused species, and to the unsuspected raising of rare others. The relics of the pre-Cataclysm civilization were being left to their doom, slowly disappearing under the new glaciers and seas.
    There was appearently some excitement in the village, as the first hunters were beginning to return with their preys, a bunch of mediun sized elks: many inhabitants and most of the cubs had left their occupations to meet the hunters with howls and wovs of joy. Blink counted about eighty inhabitants were present, including numberous children, cute they were. Most of the females had been tanning leathers, fixing bows and arrows and otherwise keeping up the village, but a good many must have been among the number of hunters instead, possibly a sign that hunting had been especially hard lately.
    The rangers led them near the border of the village, then the chief reached a high, large tent not distant from their side of the camp and disappeared into it - not before saying something to another taur who nodded and ran away. Soon they saw some other taurs arrive from various parts of the encampment and entered the tent, much likely the elders' council members.
    The vulpine scent in the camp was overwhelming but not unpleasant, it was just fully uncovered, and not at all "dirty". Jean seemed to enjoy it even more, she noticed, not without a slight grin... some small cubs stared curiously at them from a certain distance, their tails flapping in amazement.
    "Uhm... now besides of me being the typical tech geek I could even understand why our girl liked this place..." Observed Jean, sitting on a nearby rock. "The place is certainly nice and tranquil, only a bit cold..."
    "Really... it's nice to me too. They live just like some tribes of Wuy did many centuries ago."
    Entity just floated around in silence, even thought he was likely recording much more details than they were on the village and its inhabitants.
    The time to observe the quiet activity of the foxtaurs didn't lack at all: they had to wait quite a while before the ranger emerged from the tent and joined the group again. He spoke in a more formal tone this time.
    "The council salutes you. It is complete, so we will receive you immediately: you will come alone as a chief thought."
    "Very well. Please bring my salutation to the whole council as well." The foxtaur signaled her to follow him, preceding her on the way back to the tent.
 

    The first impression the inside of the tent gave was that of being much larger than the outer part: the members of the council were only seven including the ranger, sitting in circle around a small embers fire, but the space didn't look narrow. All around the tent was decorated with dark red pictures, which as she later noticed were a tale and commemoration of the Cataclysm. Rather than the home of the chief it had to be the "Hall of Memory" which was the center of the villages of most tribes. It was a bit dark, but a scent of aromatic herbs was in the air and many little details made the atmosphere overall relaxed.
    The place for her to sit was ready yet, opposed to the most elder member, who was also bearing the aegis of tribe leader. He looked very old, at least around eighty, his fur being marked with many tones of gray. Even after offering her the ritual pipe, damn it tasted ugly, he stared carefully at her for a while before speaking.
    "Our blessing to you, striped fur. You come seeking for answers and we will be glad to help you shall we can, but you will have to give us answers too."
    She nodded. "Yes. I don't forget I am here by your concession only."
    Some of the other members quietly glanced at each other in approval. "So, who do we have the honour to speak with, first of all."
    "I am Rashka Erah T'kr, of Rah' Wari II, commander of the Mjolnir, whose crew is entirely present here in the village. My callsign among pilots is Blink."
    "So you come from a very far world."
    "My work makes such travelling necessary. I am a privateer."
    Some tails began to wave, but the elder just nodded. Usually it didn't have a bad connotation among pilots or other people of the spacefaring milieu, still many others thought it different. The old meaning of the term hadn't been fully forgotten.
    "And so, who did you came looking for exactly, young friend?"
    "We seek for a girl from the the Renardènian people, who should have reached this world about one year ago, after fleeing from her home planet. She has about seventeen standard years those days, and about her aspect, I can show a rendered holopicture of her at any time... her name is Denise Dupont, but this might not be the name she gave on her arrival..."
    "Possible arrival" corrected the rangers chief. The elder's tail waved.
    "... possible arrival, forgive me. In fact... the essential point is that we are looking for that Renardènian girl, but she might have arrived and might be living with a wholly different aspect. She might have become part of your people, by changing her body into that of a foxtaur."
    She tried to tell it as naturally as possible, avoiding to stress the last detail, but she couldn't really keep her tail from flapping a bit.
    The council members muttered at each other for a few moments before the elder called them to silence again. They looked upset, but even being able to understand no more than three or four words this time, she'd have sworn it wasn't because they were hearing something new. Logical, after all she might have been knowing the story for some obscure purpose. She just tried to keep her eyes upon the elder.
    "Though it has happened in the past that some from the foxes world decided to become part of our people, it is an extremely rare event. We are always disposed to welcome new brothers... but as you certainly know, it is not up to us to decide in the first place..." he said.
    She nodded. Of course, there was the Dd' Karr...
    "But, I seem to remember that name" he told, frowning and lowering slowly his ears. "We already received the visit of people in search of that girl, last winter."
    Blink's heart beated faster. She seemed to catch a surprised gaze between two of the other members anyway.
    "Yes" the elder continued, adjusting the embers with a stick. "they came just like you, asking for that same girl. But we answered them the same we have to answer you now. We have never had the pleasure to meet anybody with that name."
    He paused.
    "Besides of this, we have no notice of anybody becoming one of us since eleven springs, in neither part of the continent."
    Possible? Had she...? Or was he lying openly? A foxtaur leader?
    She took a slow breath, adjusting her position. Wait, let's reason...
    "Is... is this sure?"
    "Yes. News of this kind are always reason of joy and are spread immediately among the tribes."
    Blink stared for a while at the elder before deciding what to say.
    The other chiefs seemed very nervous as they waited her next words, their ears all pointed at her. She smelled a bit of sweat in the air, including her own.
    "Would... saying that this is our last chance to find her change anything?" she asked in the end.
    The elder half-closed his eyes, his muzzle getting more signed by the marks of age.
    "So would you insinuate... we are lying?" he whispered, not without a veil of menace.
    "I would say I am already sure she is here, but your words are true nevertheless. She has not become one of you, no... one she was already, her aspect was just a last detail. I couldn't have ignored this anyway, but I understand your decision." she said calmly.
    The elder laughed softly. "Well, well... I see you know what you are doing..."
    Putting a hand on her shoulder, he stood up, immediately followed by all the others. They all looked much less tense now: the judgement had been left to the chief only, it was not to be questioned.
    "My ears sense the flowing of truth in your words, striped fur," he said, leading them out of the tent, "else you wouldn't want to consult us before acting, some people does even that... but you respected our will, and we will help fulfill your as we can, you deserve a better fortune. The one you are seeking is coming here right now, and if you wish to speak alone with her, you are welcome. Only, remember what you said... she is one of us." The other elders all respectfully saluted her and left, joining the others to salute the returning hunters. "If you then wish to join us for this evening's banquet, we'd be glad to host you."
    "We are honored of the offering, but I am afraid we must decline. As said before, time is essential in our task."
    In spite of their common uses, he didn't protest - obviously they knew of their starship being on the surface, with this in mind they had been even more patient than she'd have expected. In sign of final salutation, they bowed again to each other. "So, farewell, striped fur... act as wisely as you spoken."
    During the meeting Jean had remained near the border of the village, eagerly chatting with a pair of girls for most of the time: she signaled him they had four hours still, then followed the ranger, immediately joined by Entity, as they had estabilished before. The ranger led them right beyond the Hall of Memory, to a small quiet clearing facing on a short slope, a place where they could have spoken privately still without being out of sight.
    While observing the landscape around, very inspiring again, Blink briefly recalled the essential points she had tried to plan for their talk. All by all the part related to the mission was going to be easy, if just the girl was disposed to listen to her. But the particular situation and them being nearly of the same age would have helped... maybe.
    The ranger left short later, as the girl arrived.
    Maybe she had been a little plump as a fox, but for what she could judge it only made her more beautyful as a foxtaur. She had black eyes, and dark red hair wrapped in a ponytail by some blossomy vine ornated by a grey feather. Besides of that and some wooden necklace she was nude, not counting some painted symbols which were visible on her lower belly, but Blink couldn't recognize them at first sight. Her scent was penetrating as that of the other foxtaurs, with a strange bitter variation, yet no traces of her origin remaining.
    The girl crossed her arms and looked at the landscape below too, for a few moments, assorted. Then she turned to her, advancing of a couple steps.
    "I am really sorry you did this voyage for nothing, but it is far too late. I will not come back."
    Blink sighed and leaned against a nearby tree, looking her up and down. A beautyful one undeniably. Her gaze was obviously hostyle but showed even more pride than that of the actual natives.
    "Hey, how kind! We haven't even introduced ourselves."
    "Ah, really..." She subspiciously stared at Entity for a moment. "What's that device for, first of all?"
    *I am classified a level six crystalline life form. The word 'device' usually has a different meaning in the standard vocabulary. I am rather designed with the word 'Entity'.*
    Getting an answer caught her by surprise, but then she just turned to the vale with a snort.
    "Uhm, well, s-sorry for the entity. Anyway... I already know your name, and let me say you came for the wrong one, captain 'Blink'. Denise Dupont is long dead... if she ever existed. I am not her. I am Wicahpi Elun Mak'u, Gift of the Star, of the Mnikaoskokpa tribe. And this" she embraced all the visible tents with a wide gesture, "is my village... on my world."
    "That's quite a fact, but, listen... I'm just asking you to be reasonable and-"
    "I am not the one who needs to be told that." she interrupted, trying to sound cold. "I'm doing what's right for me, I've taken my decision... those days I'd even have the age according to the law of Renardène, you know?"
    Blink felt the scent of smoke and burning pine needles form the village increasing: the wind was slowly turning. She looked straight into the foxtaur's eyes.
    "I see it's fine for you, but you'll agree you are not the only people involved in such a matter. There is who is really missing you, who is suffering because of your vanishing."
    "Oh, I'm sure, else why you'd waste time here? But you did come because of the bounty, of course, just like the other scum who tried to locate me one year ago, and I don't really get why the elder allowed you to see me! You... you shouldn't even know about all this, that's what I think, let alone interfering. You simply can't understand! Just as they all couldn't... that fuckin' bounty they set just demonstrates it! But stay sure, if you hope you can pop out of nowhere like this and kidnap me you-"
    "Oh!" Blink raised a paw, shaking her head, "Come on, I'm not that stupid! But, don't be too sure I can't understand your situation, I wouldn't be doing this work if I couldn't."
    There was little else to try, her words wouldn't have been much effective anyway... Blink just kept hoping she could make the conversation last as long as possible, without degenerating. Not too much at least. The foxtaur said nothing for a while, maybe expecting more words from her, or more likely trying to mantain self control.
    "Now, calm down, please... I'd be glad if you wouldn't treat me like I'm retrieving a sack of money. I am not. I understand it's... it was not an easy situation, and I'm here because I'm sincerely interested by your story in the first place - else why would I have searched for such an old file? There are things who must be felt to be fully understood, I just make some extra efforts, that's all. I had your age when I... chose to be a privateer."
    Not quite the sort of conversation the girl would have expected, hoping she didn't thought she was joking her. No, didn't look so. The tigress had still mantained her tone informal and very calm, always looking at her.
    "Ah. Thank you for the comprehension, but at least you're born in the right species!" she said in the end, then licking her lips. "That's what I meant, the reason for which I... I returned to my actual people. If you understand as you say, then don't ask explainations. I might have born a fox, but I wasn't, that's what I tried to explain, that's what nobody understood..."
    She looked at the village again, intensely. "There's little to argue, it wasn't a matter of being not happy... I was not at ease, rather... but I knew I were a foxtaur! Only here, with the other ones, I feel happy... in the right place. No, I-I cannot come back..." she turned at her, her muzzle trembling in sudden emotion. "This is my place now, let it be clear. It's... late, too late. I have nothing to repent of because... I did nothing wrong. It was already all a fact!"
    She sighed and quickly turned again, disturbed by Blink's gaze. Her ears were flexing lower and lower, no longer pointing firmly towards the tigress.
    "Then, yes... I suppose you're unusually young for a bounty hunter... or privateer, whatever. But this makes little difference."
    Blews of cold air ran across the clearing, shaking bits of snow down the conifers around. The flow of emotions was obviously fast, almost overwhelming her, to the point she was hardly holding her tears. Yet the sudden cold helped her masking it, as she looked the trees around them, almost one by one, and briefly brushed her hips with her arms, then keeping them crossed. Felt actually naked for a second? Guess since how much time she had forced herself to forget...
    "I-if you'd really understand, you wouldn't have... to ask me..."
    Bink shrugged.
    "Just wanted you to know I have seen many of the things you left. Your drawings, your poems, your stories... and  personally, I liked them. I like that kind of art, yours was very genuine. I might even admire you under other circumstances. But now, I just can't explain myself how can you ignore your past, and most of all the feelings of your parents. It is them who brought you to life, and they love you, what the hell, can you deny this?"
    "No..." she answered, taking long measured breaths, "It-it wasn't the same thing. I had to do w-what I did. I won't go away, I would have to live a fake life... again... you should know the genetic conversion to 'taur form can't be reversed anyway..."
    They stood in silence for a while.
    "I can't force you even if I found you, this was stated clearly." told Blink. "Nevertheless-"
    Before che could end, the girl bit her lips, turned and began to walk quickly back towards the village. "So,... Farewell. I-I guess we're done..." One point for her efforts not to cry, thought Blink. Entity floated a bit higher over them, still silent. Time to try. Pray she doesn't run...
    "Oh no, we are not done, Gift of the Star..." Blink suddenly changed her tone, moving form the tree. "There are a lot of things unexplained still. Come on, how can you seriously think this matter'd have adjusted itself? Speaking frankly you're lucky we're among the serious ones and won't take you away without your consent, but if you're hoping I won't tell your parents I have found you because it'd be cruel, and, sorry to say this, I'm quite sure you are, you're badly wrong... I'll have to tell them the reason for which I haven't brought you back, and I won't lie. You're plainly refusing even to think about what you did, and obviously even to meet them, and without a clear reason, moreover. My Goddess, I've seen their pain... is allowing them to know you're alive, and come and visit you too damn much to ask?"
    The foxtaur didn't answer, but it could have been a bit too much. Her ears lowering even more and her body beginning to start showed he was silently crying, she even saw her frozen tears fell on the snow.
    But to Blink's great relief, she didn't ran away.
    When the girl stopped whining and calmed down a bit, the tigress slowly walked towards her, flanking her and placing herself in front of the foxtaur. The girl looked up at her. She hadn't lost the pride in her eyes still.
    "So... will you explain seriously why you did it? At least? That is..." she paused, looking straight into her eyes, still avoiding to appear sorry. "That is, if you are willing to talk about it. I'm certainly willing to listen, if nothing else."
    The girl slowly wiped the last icy tears from her muzzle, her tail hanging motionless.
    "You wanted to make me doubtful, didn't you? Well, you managed to. This doesn't change the facts... but yes, you're right, I guess. Yes, I will explain." she sighed again, looking around as to search for something.
    Then she spotted it, and somewhat carefully crouching down in the snow she invited the tigress to sit on a rock on her side, so that both of them were facing the nearest tents, while Entity floated a bit more forward on Blink's side. The fog has partially dispersed, while in the distance, over frozen lakes, massive dark clouds were gathering. A thunder echoed over the furthest plains.
    "Well," she began,"first of all... I want to make clear it isn't true I haven't thought about my parents, or everything else. I did, many times... I was even intentioned to contact them again at times, but then I changed my mind. I'll explain this too, but let's go with order..."
    Actually she seemed a bit confused. Comprehensible, thought Blink glancing up at Entity. I just hope what we're doing won't hurt more instead of helping... well, it's a bit late to wonder if I've chosen the right way...
    "You see, once I wouldn't certainly have accepted to talk a bit more about all that, certainly not with a stranger. I have always been very shy in character... and especially about my feeling for the foxtaurs."
    She looked at the distant clouds, still in great part unseen, behind the great lakes. "But now it's different. I no longer care saying this. Or better, if possible I don't want to care any longer... I never actually refuse to tell my story to any of my Brothers when they ask me. I was just worried about your intentions. Sorry for my behaviour, by the way - after being among my Brothers for such a long time I was upset of speaking with somebody else, especially knowing you were looking for me. Most people would've reacted much worse than you."
    "Nothing. I'd have done it too. It's me who must give you my apologies, I've been really a bit rough."
    The foxtaur hesitated for a moment, uncertain what to answer. She had been absent-mindedly tracing signs on the snow in front of her: right after finishing something she quickly deleted them, but not before Blink had recognized part of the writing. It was written with foxtaurish characters, but looked all like the beginning of a popular song Jean used to whistle at times.
    In the end, the girl grunted and switched her position, leaning on the left side of her lower body and stretching a bit her back legs.
    Blink hinted at her body. "I don't really think it was a light hearted decision by part of you anyway... here we ain't talking of a stupid lifting... you did a full genetic conversion. Only the Dd'Karr have the technology to do this..."
    The girl giggled. "Ah, you're right. It took all what little courage I had, and even something more... to decide I couldn't have lived as a fox longer, and gave it a try. But I had enough money to pay the travel to Dd'Rhah, and later from there to Tokàla. Don't know how, my case was accepted, they did the conversion. Having your mind rebuilt and tested by a Processor is an experience I really wouldn't recommend!"
    Then the girl paused again.
   "Uhm, no, no, we're going around it. Listen, the essential matter is... I didn't just 'like' them. Of course it took me time to realize it, but somehow I had always known it. I... should have born a foxtaur, yes, this is exact. Maybe this makes little sense to you, but..."
    "No, no, it makes sense, perfectly" interrupted Blink. "Stay sure I was serious before."
    "Well... thank you. That's the best I can do to describe how I felt."
    "To me it seems you have very clear ideas about it all... but you didn't show it when it was the time. Why didn't you try to explain it before? I seemed to understand you had never talked much about it, not even with your parents."
    "Oh, that's very easy. I was ashame of it. Seriously, can you imagine me telling my parents, or my grandparents, or my sister I felt... born in the wrong species? And then... then their behaviour always discouraged me."
    She slowly shook her head.
    "And it's not true they didn't know a thing. They were seeing my drawings and stuff all the time, they were all around in my room. I tried to let them understand, I really tried, by words, by my writing... and then it's not true I never tried to explain. Once I told my mother I'd have desired to be a foxtaur, I stated clearly I was serious, not joking... but she simply laughed. I remember it clearly. I cried long for my stupidity right after, thinking it was my guilt... I was just twelve, but I already knew. And that wasn't the only time of course, but the other times was always the same... my little sister was too young to understand, and they just didn't take me seriously. Damn, they knew I didn't have the character to share it all without some help!"
    While speaking she changed her position again, but after a few seconds she just stood up and began to slowly walk around in the high snow. It showed it was the very first time she told the story that way to somebody who knew her world, as she was getting rather carried away, and again very excited. Her tail could no longer stay firm.
    "I suffered a lot because of this, but neither of them noticed it. They were always too busy with... well, what? Nothing... nothing special. The same old fuckin' things. Working, shopping, appointments which couldn't be missed, be them with the doctor, the mechanician, the aesthetist... paying taxes... oh, God, I hated money... there were times I hated being the daughter of a couple of singers with all my being. Of course I wasn't lacking anything, they were very generous... but... then hearing they had set a bounty for my find... shit, a bounty!" She kicked the snow in front of her, so strongly she threw some up all over her hair and back. "Like... like I was a missing pet! It's when I heard it I decided to break all contacts with them and not to let them know. Bringing me back, full stop... that was their intention. Well, they'd have better first learned to listen to me. And to be completely honest, that wasn't the only reason..."
    Thought over thought was crushing her... Blink was following her words strictly, rebuilding the sequence of events in her mind. There was actually little to argue, as the girl had said. But the story, she had heard it far too much times. And memories didn't help...
    "Every time I hinted at the foxtaurs matter they found nothing better than trying to change the subject, when they didn't fuckin' laughed! I felt more and more pain each time, it... it couldn't have gone on that way. Drawing and reading about them had become the only thing that gave me something to desire, and everybody ignored it... and when I decided to make things clear once for all... the result was they got pissed off mad. I remember each word my father told that evening... my God... they said I was getting obsessed, that they didn't like the 'odd' depictions in my latest drawings and stories... 'Those fantasies have involved you really too much, Denise. Learn some self-control or we'll have to think it's something worst', was the conclusion."
    Her voice trembled as she stopped, facing her, their muzzles almost at the same height, due to the large difference between their bodies.
    "In other words they... they called me a lunatic, a... a pervert! My parents, do you understand?"
    Blink nodded. "Not quite a fine reply when you already felt out of place on your own..."
    "Yes... exactly..."
    "But, didn't your friends-"
    "Ha! Friends, you say!" In a sudden change of humor she turned at the vale again... this time she began to growl slowly, her eyes almost glowing in wrath, her mane and the fur on her back standing slightly.
    "I would use another word. Band of hypocritical bastards, I'd say! I haven't missed any single one of them since I am here, not even for a second, and I'd bet my tail they don't even remember me by now! People who cared nothing else than laughing and having fun... they called themselves nonconformist and open-minded, how not... the only time I showed some of my works to one of them, she laughed, what a coincidence. She tought it was a joke, as usual... and when she saw my picture of two foxtaurs loving each other... well, she pretended to enjoy it, but what she was thinking was pretty clear. And "You're too much in the clouds, my dear", and "You should care about guys a bit more, my dear", and "Fantasy is nice but you should think about real life"...!! Well, curse me..." she suddenly walked a few steps forward, imposively turning back at Blink, "well, now it is real life, and may they all fuck off! It was their favourite sport, anyway!"
    "Uhm... I guess I got the picture" commented Blink, standing up from her seat. "I'm not surprised you felt more similar to the Tokàlans. I see their life style is rather different from all that."
    "Yes. Here... my female friends are all different... the boys are different... everything. No senseless walking around, no fake love stories, nothing to be done for convenience... no damned illusions! It's... you, your fur... and as little else as possible... that's life to me."
    Blink crossed her arms. Entering into further detail was unnecessary, besides of the time left running away quickly, and painful memories menacing to break the frail equilibrium... on both sides.
    "So, that's why I just cannot leave. I asked to be one of them and they welcomed me, I desired to be simply a fisher, since I was a child, and they teched me. I wanted a child... and I wasn't called crazy." She smiled, for the first time since they had met, caressing her lower belly were the signs were painted. Only in that moment Blink understood the strange taste in her scent. Damn, hadn't studied the foxtaurish pattern well enough...
    "I hope I've been exhaustive. Have I?"
    Blink smiled. "Very exhaustive, thank you. I knew you were reasonable. But, excuse me, I have to ask one last thing, the essential for me... why you didn't even want to contact, or meet them? Exactly, I mean. Didn't you suppose... they could have changed their mind in the meanwhile?"
    The foxtaurs' expression changed to slightly sad again.
    "Because I still fear their reaction... I told you how the matter was dealt with by them, and after all that... I can't foresee how they would take what I did. They might understand my feelings, but they had such expectations for me... I fear the truth is I just don't have the courage to show them the kind of life I've chosen. Sounds like a commonplace of the worst, but that's the truth. Maybe... one day..."
    Not enough courage?
    Blink sighed.
    "Well, if that's all, my mission is succesfully accomplished."
    Tense as the girl was, a few moments of complete astonishment crossed the foxtaur's muzzle, only to leave then place to a shadow of fear mixed with suspect. Instinctively, she slowly moved one step back.
    "Ehm... what do you mean? I told I haven't changed my mind, I won't come back anyway."
    "Of course," told Blink, testing the snow's compactness with her boot, "and in fact bringing you back was not my mission."
    The foxtaur stared at her, puzzled. Only a moment later she remembered the crystal creature was with them too, and as Entity began spinning again and floated down to the height of her neck, her ears stood up at once with her gaze moving upon it.
    Blink walked to the edge of the vale. The storm was approaching quickly from both West and North, many thunders resounding on the wastes, but it was also changing its main direction.
    No need to look for special words, let's just tell everything plain...
    "I guess I'd better explain everything from the beginning. Briefly... some time ago, I was reordering the archive of our ship, when the file of your case came to my attention. There were a lot of details which made me curious about it, so, being us in the Renardène space and the original bounty unclaimed, we decided to give it a try for the job. We managed to met your parents, which showed us all the material from the previous inquiry, among with your artwork and all your things. It was clear that you didn't just "like" the foxtaurs, as you say, that your love was so much deeper... and, that you might have done this" she hinted at her being again, "was the most logical hypothesis... but incredibly, nobody else had tought about it before me: the others had just looked for you old DNA on this planet, obviously finding nothing. So I talked to your parents, and they agreed to let me try one last time. But not in order to take you back."
    Blink swung her tail upon the snow before reaching the crystal and caressed it. "Entity here can emulate the functions of a simpe filming camera, and it is interfaced to transmit to our ship. It has transmitted everything which happened since our arrival to Renardène, through the UniNet metatachyon channels. Your family followed it almost in real time."
    The girl was simply frozen, for more than just a few seconds. The key of everything...
    Her tail and whiskers then began to tremble.
    "...you... you... After all the... how could you do that!? Why... why the hell you didn't tell-"
    "Because they agreed."
    Gift of the Star remained deranged for a while, unable to decide wether to look at her or towards the crystal. She bit her lips again... looked she couldn't find the words, and maybe that was better.
    Then, "You... lied..." she managed to whisper.
    "For a good reason... and then it was you who told my mission was bringing you away. But stay sure I did not joke you.", answered Blink, closing her eyes. What she'd had given not to be there explaining that. No satisfaction that time...
    "When I talked with your parents they weren't surprised at all by my theory - they had came to the same conclusion months before, when the first searches were unsuccesful. They could have addressed to the embassy to find and retreive you at any time, but they didn't. They only wanted to know if you were actually alive and happy, to tell what you felt and how you had felt without fear or inhibitions... if you were happy of your choice, in short. This was the easiest way, so they accepted my proposal. They wanted to hear it directly from you, of course."
    Motionless, her gaze locked upon Entity, the foxtaur felt trampled by thoughts. Dozens, all at once, which made her think faster than she had ever done before. She felt like leaf on a falling tree.
    She didn't know how much time had passed when she looked back into Blink's eyes. With the evening approaching and the air beginning to shif its color dark, only then she noticed she liked their water-like color.
    The tigress lowered her gaze, trying not to sound sad.
    "I guess you've underestimated them a bit, Gift of the Star. It happens, as told... I understand your situation. But now they are aware of their errors... unless they really managed to lie and cheat me, which all in all is... quite unlikely. You are still their daughter... and if you allow them, they'd love to embrace you again. But they sent me, simply, for after what had happened they wished to be sure you wanted it too."
    She noticed the strom was dispersing and driving away, perhaps some wind had changed its direction.
    After a while, Gift of the Star pointed uncertain at Entity.
    "Is it... still connected? May I...?"
    Blink nodded, turning back.
    "We'll be leaving in three hours" she reminded Entity, walking slowly towards the village tents.