Tailchaser’s Song

For a moment, just a moment, he thought he could understand what it was like to finally hear one's i

It was not until he had curled himself up for sleep that he realized he was really going back to the mound.

CHAPTER 25

The lions pass a thornbush and melt. Though the whole day is unbroken the passage of the sun will represent heaven the bones will represent time.

–Josephine Jacobsen

Dawn found Tailchaser moving toward the Va'an-ward border of Ratleaf. He had not gone to say farewells to the Rikchikchik. Despite Lord Pop's honor-bound discharge of Snap's debt, Fritti did not feel he could comfortably involve the squirrels any further. They were already struggling for their own survival. Chance and strange times had made them allies, but Tailchaser knew that the Rikchikchik and the Folk were prey and hunter, and would be those things always. He only hoped that the artificial alliance would hold until the message was safely delivered to the Folk of the Queen's Seat.

As he paced silently through the tree-crowded snowscape he thought of Firsthome and his time there-a halfhearted attempt to keep his mind occupied. The mound would be before him soon enough; there was no reason to hasten his thoughts ahead.

Among the thi

The two dark creatures settled on a branch above with a flurry of ebony pinions. Fritti relaxed… somewhat. It was only a pair of ravens-Krauka- one large and one small. Not the most harmless of fla-fa'az, but not strong enough to match talons with the Folk. Still, he regarded them suspiciously as they in turn stared down at him with glittering eyes.

"Th'art the Tailchaser?" asked the older bird in an unmusical voice.

'"Course, Dad, there be the star on's head, now, see?" squeaked the smaller. Tailchaser took a step backward in surprise.

"You can speak!" he breathed. "You know the Common Singing?"

With a harsh cackle of amusement the larger Krauka flapped his wings, lifting slightly off the branch. Settling down, he preened his chest feathers in a self-satisfied ma

"There be many who bear no fur, yet speak nigh better'n catsl" The large bird chuckled again. "Those what be long-lived like we, well, they do learn. Aye, even my eldest here"-he indicated the smaller raven-"though's got no more sense nor a tumblebug."

"Well," said Fritti after a moment's consideration, "I suppose I should by rights be beyond surprise by now. How do you know my name?"

"Those what gossip with squirrels should not wonder that the trees know all they secrets. There be little adrift in this forest what doesn't blow past the ear of old Skoggi, which is me."

"My old dad beest chief Krauka in these woods!" piped the small bird proudly.

"… An' my young Krelli here has not got the brains what the Big Black Bird give to a mushroom." Skoggi leaned o er and pecked the top of his son's head. Krelii cawed piteously and scuttled up the branch, out of reach of the paternal beak.

"Next time, do you think afore opening your di

Fritti was amused in spite of himself. "But you seem to know my business," he pointed out.

"Like I said aforetimes," chuckled the raven, "Rikchikchik is a powerful talky lot. Keep they nuts, but no secrets. It be common knowledge, like, that you come from"-he indicated with his shiny black head-"from there. The mound, as 'twere. You be well known 'mongst those what hasn't fled the Rat-leaf-though that be proper few, now. Where be you going now, Master Tailchaser?

Although the Krauka seemed harmless, Fritti decided on caution. After a moment he said: "Oh, actually, I'm just exploring the forest. As a matter of fact, I should probably be on my way."

"Ah, belike, belike…" rasped Skoggi. He walked a little way down the branch, ruffling his pitchy feathers, then stopped and peered shrewdly at Fritti from the corner of a glinting eye. "Did it not be so obvious that you were a cat of great smartness, like, with a sharp eye toward preservin' that fine, furrv skin you be wearin'… well, were it not for this, it would seem like you were wanderin' toward th-r mound, yonder."

Fela's Whiskers! Fritti cursed to himself-the Krauka was a clever one.

"But," countered Tailchaser, "as you point out, why would I want to go near that terrible place again?"

"True enough. Tis a turrible place, 'tis. Evil things what care not where they bite come crawlin' up. It looks a dark and turrible place, 'deed it do-the forest be fair empty now, the things what it harbors be so foul. Tis all a poor soul can do to protect his family, and put morsel or two in they sweet young beaks." He looked over to Krelli with poorly mimed affection.

"Then, why do you stay?" asked Fritti.

"Ah, well now," croaked Skoggi, with a sigh betokening great sorrow, "this be the only home ever we knowed. It be powerful hard to leave behind the nesting spots of nigh on thousand generation. 'Course" -and here he laughed creakily-"it has been might easier keepin' the little darlings fed of late. Those creaturs what lives belowground may be right bad, but leasts they leave behind what they don't eat." Convulsed with laughter, the raven nearly fell from the branch. Tailchaser grimaced. "Yes, now," continued Skoggi, still bubbling with mirth, "no matter who eats, an' who what's eaten, there's always some o' the latter what's left behind. 'Tis the prime advantage of being born to th' Krauken."

"Be we goin' to eat Master Tailchaser, Dad?" asked Krelli with i

"Thou interrupts thy betters again, an' I'll nip off thy pinfeathers and toss you outen yon tree for the mound-cats to munch, ye rock-head! You can't be eating everyone what passes by!" He turned to Tailchaser. "Now, my fine cat, 'course we both know that you be'n't so addle-pated as to go clambering back into this affrightening mound. So. Be that as it may, were ye going to, p'raps I could tender a leetle advice?"

Fritti pondered for a moment, then smiled tightly up at the Krauka. "Well, since we are speaking of this silly thing, and supposing I was in need of advice, what would you want in return?"

Now it was Skoggi's turn to show a look of cold amusement.

"You cats be'n't quite so foolish as ye be sung of. Houeer. this one time, the hy-po-thitical deed which I'd be helping you with'd be reward itself-tho', Black Bird knows, not pufferin' likely of success. Be you interested?" Fritti nodded in acceptance. "Good, then. Well, let me tell this.

"In days not long passed, when first we saw yon dungheap rise up along our forest, were no tu

When Skoggi had finished he turned to his son. "Now, you flipwing clodpoll, mark this well-i' case someday you be called on to relate how you was the last what saw the brave Master Tailchaser alive!" With another croaking laugh, the raven mounted into the air, Krelli wincing as he followed.