by Tad Williams
The M‘an placed something on the floor near him. He recognized it instantly. It was a supper bowl. One scent of its contents and Tailchaser’s caution evaporated.
The Big One scratched behind Fritti’s ear as he ate. Fritti did not mind.
Hushpad seemed different. The slenderness and grace of her paws and tail were unchanged, but she had become a good deal plumper—round and soft beneath her glossy fur. Neither did she seem as energetic as she had once been—she preferred sleeping in the sun to running and jumping; Fritti could only entice her into games with great difficulty.
“You always were very bouncy, Tailchaser,” she said one day. He felt hurt.
She was pleased to see him, of course, and enjoyed having a companion to chat with, but Fritti felt unsatisfied. Hushpad just did not seem to understand all that he had gone through to find her. She did not pay much attention anymore when he told her of the wonders of Firsthome, or the majesty of the First-walkers.
The food was very good, though. The Big One gave them lovely meals, and was always kind to Tailchaser, stroking and scratching him, and allowing him to roam at will. Fritti did not get along so well with Huff-so-Gruff, the dog, but they maintained an uneasy truce. Fritti was careful never to get too far away from shelter.
So the days wore on in the place Firefoot had called Villa-on-Mar. Each sun was a little warmer than the one before. Flocks of migrating fla-fa‘az stopped briefly on the island as they passed away to the north, and Fritti had great sport with them, although he was seldom hungry enough for serious hunting. Time passed smoothly as a quiet stream. Tailchaser grew plump himself, and restless.
One night in high spring, as Meerclar’s Eye approached another fullness, several Big Ones came across the Qu‘cef in a large shell to visit the M’an. The nest was full of Big Ones, and their booming voices echoed everywhere. Several of them tried to play with Fritti.
Big, grasping paws jerked him up in the air and squeezed him, and when they held him close to their faces their unpleasant breath made him squirm. When he pulled away the booming voices roared.
Fritti leaped to the window, but Huff-so-Gruff was stalking sentry outside, in an evil temper. Running between the legs of the bellowing, grabbing Big Ones, Tailchaser retreated to the room where Hushpad lay curled in sleep.
“Hushpad!” he cried, prodding her. “Wake up! We have to leave this place!”
Yawning and stretching, the fela looked at him curiously. “Whatever are you talking about, Tailchaser? Leave? Why?”
“This place is not right for us,” he said excitedly. “The Big Ones grab us and carry us, they feed us and stroke us ... there is no place to run!”
“You are making no sense at all,” she told him coldly. “We are treated very well.”
“They treat us like kittens. This is no life for a hunter. I might as well have never left my mother Grassnestle’s nest!”
“You’re right,” said Hushpad. “You’re right, because you’re acting like a nervous newborn. Whatever do you mean, ‘leave’? Why should I go anywhere ?”
“We can hide in the shell, as I did before. We can steal away and go back to the forest, the marshes, anywhere,” Fritti said desperately. “We can run where we want. We can raise a family.”
“Oho, a family, is that it?” she said. “Well, you just put it out of your mind right now. I’ve had enough of your pawing and sniffing, Skydancer knows. I’ve already told you I’m not the least bit interested in that sort of thing. I’m shocked to see you acting so ridiculous. The forest indeed! Leaves and burrs in my fur, and nothing to eat for days at a time! Visl and Garrin and ... Harar knows what else! No, thank you.”
When she saw the hurt, startled expression on Fritti’s face, her expression softened. “Listen, dear Tailchaser,” she said. “You’re my friend, and I think you’re very special. I think you’re just upset. The Big Ones can be noisy and frightening sometimes. Just stay away from them, and tomorrow everything will be as calm and quiet as before.” She rubbed his muzzle with her nose. “Now, just go to sleep. You’ll see later that this is all very silly.” She laid her head down and closed her eyes.
Fritti sat and stared.
Why doesn’t she understand? he wondered. Something is wrong here, I can feel it.
But what was it? Why should he feel as trapped as ever he did belowground?
Hushpad mewed in her sleep and flexed her claws.
I should be happy, Fritti thought. Finding Hushpad was my heart’s desire ... wasn’t it? Lord Firefoot said I would find my heart’s desire here on Villa-on-Mar....
Tailchaser walked slowly to the open window and bounded up onto the sill. The great light from the hill above the dwelling cast its bright beam out across the dark waters of Qu‘cef. The air was warm, and full of the scents of growing things.
When the shell-thing bumped against the shore, Fritti emerged from his hiding place. He bounded past the startled Big Ones, out of the shell, and onto the gravelly beach. The M‘an flock made noises of surprise. With a flirt of his orange tail he was up the slope and into the Eye-lit meadows.
He stood on a grassy hill and thought of all the things he would do. Pouncequick waited for him at Firsthome. He must see him again. And his friends at Meeting Wall, of course. What stories he had to tell! So many places left to see!
And Roofshadow, of course. Firsa Roofshadow, dark and slender as shade.
A night bird trilled. The world was so big, and the night sky was so full of glimmering light!
Like a fire, like a star that burned in his heart and head, it came to him then; he understood. He laughed and bounded, and then laughed again. He leaped and whirled on the hilltop, and his voice rose in delight.
When his dance was finished he sprang down the slope and ran singing into the fields, his tail waving behind him. Meerclar’s Eye watched calmly as his bright form vanished into the tall grass.
AUTHOR’S NOTES
With a very few exceptions, all the unfamiliar words to be found in this story are in the Higher Singing of the Folk.
The Folk, like all their warm-blooded brothers and sisters, and some others, possess two languages. The everyday language, the one they share with most other mammals, is the Common Singing, made up mostly of gestures, scents and postures, with a few easily decipherable sounds and cries to round out the range of expression. The Common Singing has been represented by a rough translation into English in this story.
For special times, or for specific descriptive chores where the Common Singing falls short, the Higher Singing is employed. Almost all ritual—and certainly all storytelling—falls into this category.
The Higher Singing is a predominantly verbal language, although meaning can be shaped with posture and emphasis. So the reader needn’t be Constantly looking up words, much of the Higher Singing in use has been translated within the text; there is, however, a glossary at the back for the faint of heart.
A few notes on pronunciation.
“C” is always pronounced “S”: thus, Meerclar is pronounced “Mere-slar.”
In the instances where an “S” has been used, it is only to clarify the pronunciation. For example, I felt that “Vicl,” although the true spelling, was a little boggling; hence, “Visl.”
“F” has a soft “fth” sound.
Vowels tend to conform to Latinate “ah-eh-ih-oh- ‘ ooh.”
CHARACTERS APPENDIX
Allmother, Meerclar, Creator of the Folk
Bandyleg, Firsthome cat
Bast-Imret, Boneguard
Beetleswat, young Meeting Wall tom
Bitefast, Clawguard
Bite-then-Bark, Rauro, Dog-king of Eatbugs’ story
Blueback, a prince of the Folk
Bobweave, a First-walker
Brightnail, a prince of the Folk
Brindlesides, Fritti Tailchaser’s father
Bristlejaw, Meeting Wall Master-singer
Brushstalker, First-walker Thane
Cleanwhisker, a prince of
the Folk
Clearsong, Tirya, Tailchaser’s oldest sister
Click, Master, a squirrel
Climbfast, a prince of the Folk
Cloudleaper, Cat-queen of Eatbugs’ story
Crushgrass, Clawguard chieftain
Dandlegrass, Firsthome cat
Dayhunter, companion of Fencewalker
Dewtreader, Prince Sresla, Prince Consort to Queen Sunback
Earnotch, Vastnir prisoner, storyteller
Earpoint, Meeting Wall elder, delegate
Eatbugs, mad cat, Tailchaser’s companion
Eyeshimmer, Far-senser to the First-walkers
Fencewalker, Prince, son of Queen Sunback
Firefoot, Tangaloor, one of the Firstborn
Fizz, Master, a squirrel
Fleetpaw, young Meeting Wall tom
Flickerswift, sister of Jumptall
Fumblefoot, Vastnir prisoner
Furscuff, First-walker; Squeakerbane’s companion
Glideswallow, Firsthome cat
Glitterfur, a queen of the Folk
Goldeneye, Harar, father of the Folk
Grassnestle, Indez, Tailchaser’s mother
Hangbelly, a First-walker
Hearteater, Grizraz, one of the Firstborn; lord of Vastnir
Hissblood, master of Toothguard
Howlsong, apprentice Master Old-singer
Huff-so-Gruff, Villa-on-Mar dog
Hushpad, Tailchaser’s friend
Jargum, a mythological frog
Jumptall, young Meeting Wall tom; delegate
Karthwine, a fox
Knet-Makri, Boneguard
Krelli, a young raven
Leafrustle, a young Meeting Wall tom
Longtooth, Clawguard
Lungeclaw, ancestor of Quiverclaw
Morningstripe, a queen of the Folk
Mudtracker, cat from Beyond-Edge-Copse
Nightcatcher, companion of Fencewalker
Ninebirds, mythical prince, progenitor of the Big Ones
Nipslither, Toothguard
Nuzzledark, Toothguard
Pawgentle, Firsthome cat
Pawgrip, Vastnir prisoner
Pfefirrit, a prince. of birds
Plink, Master, squirrel messenger
Pokesnout, Firsthome cat
Pop, Lord, squirrel-ruler
Pouncequick, Tailchaser’s companion
Quiverclaw, First-walker Thane
Rebum, Mother, a frog
Redlegs, Cat-prince of Eatbugs’ story
Renred, a mythological fox
Riptalon, Clawguard
Roofshadow, Firsa, Tailchaser’s companion
Rumblepurr, Chamberlain of the Court of Harar
Satinear, a queen of the Folk
Scratchnail, Clawguard chieftain
Scuffledig, a First-walker
Shredfang, Clawguard
Skinwretch, Toothguard
Skoggi, raven father
Skydancer, Fela, mother of the Folk
Skystone, Irao, a prince of the Folk
Sleekheart, a prince of the Folk
Slipwhisker, Roofshadow’s father
Slitbelly, Toothguard
Smackbush, Firsthome cat
Snagrat, cat in Hangbelly’s song
Snap, Lord, squirrel-lord, brother of Lord Pop
Snapjaw, Clawguard
Snaremouse, Firsthome cat; dancer
Snifflick, Meeting Wall elder
Snoutscar, Clawguard overseer
Snufflenose, Roofshadow’s brother
Softwhisker, Tailchaser’s youngest sister
Sourweed, First-walker Thane
Squeakerbane, Ranking First-walker Thane
Streamhopper, Meeting Wall delegate
Stretchslow, Meeting Wall elder, Tailchaser’s benefactor
Strongclaw, a prince of the Folk
Sunback, Queen Mirmirsor, the Queen of the Folk
Tailchaser, Fritti, our hero
Thinbone, Tailchaser’s Meeting Wall friend
Treesinger, a princess of the Folk
Twitchnose, Snifflick’s mate
Volenibble, Firsthome Master Old-singer
Wavetail, Meeting Wall elder
Whir, Mistress, mate of Master Fizz
Whitewind, Viror, one of the Firstborn
Windflower, strange cat in Squeakerbane’s story
Windruffle, a queen of the Folk
Wolf friend, a prince of the Folk
GLOSSARY
APPENDIX
A, to; at; toward
Akor, eagle
An, sun
Ar, yes
Az, cat; person
Az-iri‘le, “we-cats:” the Folk
Az‘me, “earth-cat:” tree
Cef, water
Cef‘az, “water-cat: ” fuh
Cir, sing; speak
Cu, sibling
Cu‘are, “heart-brother:” friend
E, hot
E‘a, “toward-hot:” south
Erunor, sheep
Fa, jump
Fe, mother
Fela, female
Fik, loud, frightening
Fik‘a, “loud-cat:” dog
Fikos, “terrifying badness”
Fla, run
Fla-fa‘az, “run-jump-cat:” bird
Fri, small
Garrin, bear
Har, father
Hlizza, snake
Iri, I; me
Iri‘le, “many-me:” we
Ka, spirit; soul
Krauka, raven
La, birth
Le, many
Ma, away from; out of
Me, earth
Mela, “birth-ground:” nest
Mela‘an, “sun-nest:” sky
Me‘mre, ’food-soil:“ droppings
Meskra, hawk
Mre, eat; food
Mre‘az, “food-cat:” mouse
Mri, sleep
Mri‘fa, “sleep-jump:” dream
Mri‘fa-o, “good dreaming:” good night
Nre, heart
Nre‘fa, “heart-jump: dance
Nre‘fa-o, “good dancing:” hello; goodbye
0, good
Oel, master; chief
Oel-cir‘va, “Master Old-singer”
Oel-var‘iz, “master seer:” Far-senser
Os, bad, incorrect; wrong
Praere, rabbit
Pril, salmon
Qu, big
Ri, head
Rikchikchik, squirrel
Ruhu, owl
Tesri, deer
Tom (ptom), male
Ue, cold
Ue‘a, “toward-cold:” north
Va, old
Va‘an, “old-sun:” west
Vaka‘az’me, “old-spirit-tree”
Var, sight; sense
Vez, young
Vez‘an, “young-sun:” east