I was still learning to shoot. Aiming needle helped a lot, but I didn't have enough strength to shoot with enough force. I shook my head. If Tsku'pey was here, he'd help me…

He was late. Suddenly I realized that something bad could have happened to him. Why wasn't he back already?

I couldn't practice anymore. I was too worried. Even if his hunt was unsuccessful, he'd already come back! I climbed the Hometree to look if he's coming with Kelu, but I couldn't see any of them. It didn't soothe me. Quite the contrary.

I went down and headed to his favorite hunting grounds. It was almost impossible that he stayed there longer, so something must have happened…

I almost ran. Even though I run most of my life, I still enjoy every minute of running. But not this time. I only paid attention not to hurt myself and run in the right direction. Suddenly I stopped.

'Tsku'pey!' I shrieked. He looked at me, half-conscious. I shook his shoulders, but he didn't react.

'Kelu…' he gasped. 'Kelu… tawtute… Kelu…'

'What happened?' I asked, still shaking him. He was injured, but what the hell he was trying to tell me?

'Come with me' I said, pulling his hand. I had to take him to Laylat…

He followed me unconsciously, still murmuring these two words: "Kelu" and "Tawtute". Before we reached the Hometree, he fainted. I could leave him and run for help or pull him all the way left. But this way I could hurt him even more, so I left him, knowing it won't be a long time.

I ran to find Laylat. She was in her usual place. I gasped and waved to her.

'What happened?' she asked.

'Tsku'pey is injured' I explained and leaded her to the place I left him.

'We must take him closer to the Hometree' Laylat decided. 'No need to help me, I'll carry him'

She took him and carried all the way in the motherly manner. Then she laid him gently on the grass beneath the tree and carefully examined his wounds. I watched as she treated them with herbs and bandaged. Then she put her hands on his temples and massaged them.

'Wake up, ma 'itan, wake up…' she said. Finally Tsku'pey opened his eyes.

'TAWTUTE!' he gasped. Laylat stroked his chest gently.

'Mawey, ma 'itan. Sìltsam. You're safe here, there are no tawtute except those you know and accept. I'm here…'

'Sa'nu' he said with a weak smile. 'Tawtute!' he repeated.

'They came back?' Laylat asked, pretending to me calm. Tsku'pey nodded.

'They killed Kelu' he said. A dead silence fell.

'Faltiri' Laylat looked at me. 'Go and tell your sempu what happened. He knows more about tawtute and can communicate with them better than Tsu'tey.'

I nodded and ran to sempu. I found him near the former lab, which, as auntie Grace claimed, could still work, but wasn't needed for now.

'Sempu! The tawtute came back!' I shrieked. He looked shocked.

'I m-must speak to Max' he said and ran to the lab.

Leave a review or some characters may get REALLY hurt.