tried to help Set while he was a prisoner. We think we can get all of the information we need from her without having to take a chance that the other four might have some kind of weapon that could incapacitate us." Urlon took the woman back from Set as they prepared to cross the road that wound across the front of Megan's property.
The trio entered the house, only to halt in surprise at the number of people who filled the small living room. Megan recognized Grandfather from the mindspeak picture Urlon had given her earlier, as well as Uber, but all of the others were unknown to her.
Grandfather stepped up to Set, and Megan watched in fascination as the two hugged, ignoring everyone else in the room.
"What have you gotten yourself into now, boy?" he asked, tears welling in his eyes.
Set tugged the older man closer against him and murmured, "Nothing I couldn't get out of."
"That's not what Uber has been telling me." Grandfather backed up and gave him a meaningful look. "Apparently, you've managed to embroil the whole tribe in your adventure."
Set's face turned serious. "I am afraid it is not me who caused the problems. I think someone has been killing p'or. We have brought back one of the people who kept me captive in the hopes of finding out exactly what they want and what they've been doing with our people." He gestured towards Urlon, who still held the dark-haired woman in his arms.
Grandfather nodded and pushed Urlon towards the only couch in the room. "Set her down there."
Urlon looked around the room at the gathered p'or and said, "I need everyone but the people who are already involved to go back to the cliff and await the change. Moonrise is only a few hours away, and you will all need to be near the ocean when the change occurs. Uber, Set, Grandfather and I will remain here as long as we can to get as much information as we can before the change."
The room filled with the sounds of shuffling feet and muttering voices. Once everyone had gone and the woman had been placed on the couch, Grandfather moved around the couch until he was able to touch the woman's face. Urlon could hear Grandfather's deep baritone mindspeak whispering in the woman's mind, calling to her, urging her to awaken. Precious minutes passed with no result, until finally Grandfather turned with a shake of his head.
"There isn't going to be time to get any information from her before the change. One of us will have to stay behind. We can't take the chance that any other p'or will be injured or killed."
Urlon grabbed Megan's hand. "I'm staying anyway. I plan on giving my skin to Megan tonight to burn. I won't ever be returning, Grandfather."
Grandfather turned with a quirk of his brow. "I had somehow sensed that."
Set pushed his way towards the couch aggressively. "No, I'll be the one to find out what has been happening to the p'or; she's mine to interrogate. I'll use the house Grandfather uses during the change. Megan can hold my skin until we find out what's going on."
Grandfather nodded and gestured for Set to pick the woman up.
"I'll take you there before heading to the cliffs for the change. Uber, you'll come with us. Set, you'll need to shed your skin now, you won't be capable of it later."
Megan watched in open mouth astonishment as Set began to shimmer, his body outlined with what looked like gold fireflies. When the blinding light finally faded, a beautiful fur flowed over the floor. Deep gray with multiple white spots, its silken depths caught and reflected the limited light in the room.
Grandfather, Uber and Set, who carried the woman, all made their way out into the growing darkness.
*****
Urlon waited until everyone had left and the door was closed before turning to Megan. "This will be the hardest thing I have ever done. When the pelt separates from my skin, you must destroy it. Burning is the only surefire way. Otherwise, the temptation to return to the sea will grow too great for me, and I may one day abandon you
The trio entered the house, only to halt in surprise at the number of people who filled the small living room. Megan recognized Grandfather from the mindspeak picture Urlon had given her earlier, as well as Uber, but all of the others were unknown to her.
Grandfather stepped up to Set, and Megan watched in fascination as the two hugged, ignoring everyone else in the room.
"What have you gotten yourself into now, boy?" he asked, tears welling in his eyes.
Set tugged the older man closer against him and murmured, "Nothing I couldn't get out of."
"That's not what Uber has been telling me." Grandfather backed up and gave him a meaningful look. "Apparently, you've managed to embroil the whole tribe in your adventure."
Set's face turned serious. "I am afraid it is not me who caused the problems. I think someone has been killing p'or. We have brought back one of the people who kept me captive in the hopes of finding out exactly what they want and what they've been doing with our people." He gestured towards Urlon, who still held the dark-haired woman in his arms.
Grandfather nodded and pushed Urlon towards the only couch in the room. "Set her down there."
Urlon looked around the room at the gathered p'or and said, "I need everyone but the people who are already involved to go back to the cliff and await the change. Moonrise is only a few hours away, and you will all need to be near the ocean when the change occurs. Uber, Set, Grandfather and I will remain here as long as we can to get as much information as we can before the change."
The room filled with the sounds of shuffling feet and muttering voices. Once everyone had gone and the woman had been placed on the couch, Grandfather moved around the couch until he was able to touch the woman's face. Urlon could hear Grandfather's deep baritone mindspeak whispering in the woman's mind, calling to her, urging her to awaken. Precious minutes passed with no result, until finally Grandfather turned with a shake of his head.
"There isn't going to be time to get any information from her before the change. One of us will have to stay behind. We can't take the chance that any other p'or will be injured or killed."
Urlon grabbed Megan's hand. "I'm staying anyway. I plan on giving my skin to Megan tonight to burn. I won't ever be returning, Grandfather."
Grandfather turned with a quirk of his brow. "I had somehow sensed that."
Set pushed his way towards the couch aggressively. "No, I'll be the one to find out what has been happening to the p'or; she's mine to interrogate. I'll use the house Grandfather uses during the change. Megan can hold my skin until we find out what's going on."
Grandfather nodded and gestured for Set to pick the woman up.
"I'll take you there before heading to the cliffs for the change. Uber, you'll come with us. Set, you'll need to shed your skin now, you won't be capable of it later."
Megan watched in open mouth astonishment as Set began to shimmer, his body outlined with what looked like gold fireflies. When the blinding light finally faded, a beautiful fur flowed over the floor. Deep gray with multiple white spots, its silken depths caught and reflected the limited light in the room.
Grandfather, Uber and Set, who carried the woman, all made their way out into the growing darkness.
*****
Urlon waited until everyone had left and the door was closed before turning to Megan. "This will be the hardest thing I have ever done. When the pelt separates from my skin, you must destroy it. Burning is the only surefire way. Otherwise, the temptation to return to the sea will grow too great for me, and I may one day abandon you
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