Wolf Captured

Firekeeper approached the great cat with appropriate humility, but also with joyful anticipation that at long last she was meeting one of her own kind. "And what are you?"drawled the great cat."What type of creature speaks after the manner of the Wise Wolves, but walks as a human, reeking of human scent?" "I am Firekeeper,"the wolf woman replied. "The wolves are my people, though I was born human. Beside me stands my pack mate, Blind Seer." "Firekeeper,"the great cat replied. "Do you then worship that god?" Firekeeper blinked, confused to hear a Beast speaking so like a human. "My name comes from my mastery of fire,"she replied,"a mastery without which I would not have lived many winters." "So you claim to be Fire's master, not merely his keeper. Interesting. There will be those who will think that claim questionable." Firekeeper shook her head as if clearing gnats from her ears."I do not understand,"she said. "My people are called jaguars,"the cat said. "My name, divined for me at birth, is Truth." Firekeeper tried hard not to show her disbelief that anyone -- even a cat -- could claim such a name, but the lashing of the spotted tail told her that her reaction had been noticed. "It is a good name,"the jaguar said,"one that has been in my family many times. My mother's father's sire was called Truth." Firekeeper couldn't help it -- this time she did blink.Lindskold, Jane M. is the author of 'Wolf Captured ', published 2005 under ISBN 9780765348234 and ISBN 0765348233.