The image of the entire tunnel collapsing on him caused his heart to beat much faster and his next few breaths came in ragged gasps, but he was able to calm himself after no further debris fell on him.  “Pthoo…” he spat, trying to get the earthen specks out of his mouth.  He lay still...Read More

Once he made it into the small den, he quickly realized how much it was suited for a rabbit and how poorly it was suited for a person, let alone two persons.  Kitalia had apparently done some work to dig out small grooves in the sides, to give them each a bit of personal space,...Read More

“Kitalia!” Kre gasped when he regained his ability to speak.  “You scared the living spirit out of me.” His head flicked up, towards the opening, and then back down at her again.  “How did you…?” “Turns out,” she said with a smile, “those rabbits did a really great job at building a den.  Up on...Read More

“This is a good spot, I think,” she said, mostly to herself.  “We have a wide view of the river here and there looks to be an opening of some kind up there in those rocks.” “I hope that something isn’t already living in there,” Kre said pessimistically. “If there is, we will convince them...Read More

After Kitalia had taken off her own boots and pulled her pants legs up around her knees, they padded along the riverbank, just inside the water’s edge.  Their soft splashes and Kre’s huffing breath were the only sounds in the night air.  Kre had hiked the blanket up to around his knees and kept it...Read More

“Wonder what?” she said, taking the unintended bait. “Oh… just makes you wonder what our people could have accomplished in the last two centuries if they had worked together, combining our talents instead of fighting each other.” “Well, there is no reason we should not be the example.  You have been… tolerable thus far, and...Read More

“Clean that bowl out in the water and come back.  I should have the raft finished by then.” This time the words came out before Kre could stop himself.  “That’s much too small to be a raft.  I’m sure we can find bigger pieces of wood.” Kitalia stopped winding the thin rope around the ends...Read More

A sharp pain exploded on Kre’s forehead, where something struck him.  He floundered under the water, briefly breathing in the cold liquid and causing his lungs to feel like they were going to explode with the pain of the chill.  He came up sputtering and was silenced by a hushed, yet commanding, “Quiet!” He looked...Read More

Kre walked further downriver than Kitalia had suggested.  He didn’t do it merely because he wanted to put a little more distance between the two of them, for modesty’s sake, though she had already walked on him in the bathtub, and he had already worn her… well, he didn’t want to think any more about...Read More

They dropped their bags down onto a mossy rock and Kre stretched a bit.  Kitalia was already rummaging through her pack for a few things to make a small soup meal using her charred oak tablets.  Without being asked, Kre took the pot and the bucket, and he scooped some water up from the river...Read More