Akar began to circle, looking for an
opening. But the man-child turned with him, keeping the point of the
knife between himself and danger. The girl cried out in desperation.
'Stop it! Please, stop it!'
She had tried to understand the reasons for violence in the harsh world
she now encountered, but to see her only two companions ready to tear
each other apart over a blood-stained carcass, was more than she could
bear. Bowing her head between clutching arms like a frightened child,
she wept bitterly. But the tears brought no relief, only deeper anguish
and despair.
Seeing her distress the two stopped circling. Akar went to try and
comfort her, while Kalus moved indifferently to a protected corner to
gut and skin the carcass. He would undoubtedly have been more
sympathetic had he not been hurt several times already by giving in to
similar emotions. He was far too angry now to think of anything but his
own survival. Akar no longer tried to comfort his friend, who only kept
pushing him away. Regaining her composure, she glared bitterly at both
of them.
'Why do you have to BE like this? Why can't you just leave each
other alone?'
Akar had not understood the words, but their meaning was clear enough.
Putting away his pride, he stepped slowly and deliberately toward the
man-child's unmoving form.
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