Chapter One: The Refugees
Tap, tap, tap, tip, tap. Danar looked over at his sister. Forlay was tapping her tail blade against the side of a Derrishoul tree. The moonlight was hitting her azure fur so that it now had an indigo sheen to it. Danar was rather pleased that his sister had grown from a too thin, gangly, disproportioned youngster to a well built, long legged, slender tailed beauty she was now. She had turned several male eyestalks on their walk to this out of way place. However, she probably had not even noticed it, Forlay was not very vain, and she usually had traces of her runs staining her legs in fact.
Forlay would you please stop tapping? Danar requested. Forlay dropped her tail and saw her shiver from the cold wind.
I hop you gave Binald and Vanart arrive soon, I keep fearing they have been captured.Forlay said.You did give them a detailed map to this location? They were on the farthest corner of their new family's land, a wooded area that perched on top of a hill, one side protected by a river.
If they could get off the Moon of Wilk, they can find there way here from a mere space Port. Danar answered curtly, but Forlay could hear the nervousness in his voice. Binald and Vanart had been their closest friends on the Moon of Wilk, where she and Danar had grown up. Binald was Forlay's shorm, and she could tell that Danar now felt more than just affection for her. Vanart was Danar's shorm and the most humorous person Forlay had ever met. Forlay now leaned against the Derrishoul tree she had been tapping only a few moments before. The tree curved comfortably to support her weight. She looked out beyond the forest to the dancing plain, and hoped that she would see Binald and Vanart coming up the slope.
They had been there when Forlay's father had died from the same Volla virus that had claimed their parents only a few months before. They were now supposed to be living with their Aunt and her family on the Moon of Wilk. The Moon of Wilk was a place for bounty hunters, their quarry, and the Andalites whose purpose was to represent the electorate on the tiny province. Both Forlay's and Binald's parents were these people. Both of their fathers had been warriors who had been stationed there as part of the governor's personal guard. However, unlike Binald's mother, who had loved the vitality of the Moon of Wilk, kalafid, Forlay's mother had hated it and had married to first warrior who could promise her that she could leave the Moon of Wilk and never have to come back.
Vanart! Binald! Forlay heard Danar call. She looked up and saw her friends walking towards them unharmed. Binald was still short and plump and too innocent looking for her own personality. Vanart was even more willowy than Forlay and towered over everyone.
I trust your journey was enjoyable? Danar asked pleasantly.
As enjoyable as it can be when you are constantly checking your back for a bounty haunter sent by Julk. Vanart said dryly. The reason why Binald and Vanart had to flee the Moon of Wilk to the Andalite Home World was the criminal called Julk. Julk was from a rare race of aliens called Garnites, and was in charge of an entire "guild of crime". Vanart had overheard one of Julk's bounty hunters speaking to one another about how they were assigned to exterminate a family of Desbadeens who had fallen in debt to Julk. Vanart and Binald had warned the family, and the family had escaped. Julk had been able to learn it was Binald and Vanart who had given the warning, he had attacked their family scoop, and Vanart and Binald had barely escaped. They had now come in search of a place to stay until they decided what to do.
Did you tell your family about our visit? Binald asked.
Actually no, we did not know how mother's husband would react. Forlay answered.
It is aright though, Danar assured them. Mother knows you and likes you and she already holds sway over him.
Should we tell them about the "situation"? Vanart asked.
No, it is probably better that we not, it would only worry mother, and her husband might just ask that you leave. Vanart said. Anyway, surely Julk would not be so bold as to send a bounty hunter to the Home World? Now that you are off the Moon of Wilk I think he would lose interest.
Let us hope. Binald said.
Let us just say you had to leave suddenly because of yet another out break of the Volla virus. Forlay suggested.
All agreed this was probable and began their journey back to the scoop, asking for updates on old friends, and talking of old times.
Tap, tap, tap, tip, tap. Danar looked over at his sister. Forlay was tapping her tail blade against the side of a Derrishoul tree. The moonlight was hitting her azure fur so that it now had an indigo sheen to it. Danar was rather pleased that his sister had grown from a too thin, gangly, disproportioned youngster to a well built, long legged, slender tailed beauty she was now. She had turned several male eyestalks on their walk to this out of way place. However, she probably had not even noticed it, Forlay was not very vain, and she usually had traces of her runs staining her legs in fact.
Forlay would you please stop tapping? Danar requested. Forlay dropped her tail and saw her shiver from the cold wind.
I hop you gave Binald and Vanart arrive soon, I keep fearing they have been captured.Forlay said.You did give them a detailed map to this location? They were on the farthest corner of their new family's land, a wooded area that perched on top of a hill, one side protected by a river.
If they could get off the Moon of Wilk, they can find there way here from a mere space Port. Danar answered curtly, but Forlay could hear the nervousness in his voice. Binald and Vanart had been their closest friends on the Moon of Wilk, where she and Danar had grown up. Binald was Forlay's shorm, and she could tell that Danar now felt more than just affection for her. Vanart was Danar's shorm and the most humorous person Forlay had ever met. Forlay now leaned against the Derrishoul tree she had been tapping only a few moments before. The tree curved comfortably to support her weight. She looked out beyond the forest to the dancing plain, and hoped that she would see Binald and Vanart coming up the slope.
They had been there when Forlay's father had died from the same Volla virus that had claimed their parents only a few months before. They were now supposed to be living with their Aunt and her family on the Moon of Wilk. The Moon of Wilk was a place for bounty hunters, their quarry, and the Andalites whose purpose was to represent the electorate on the tiny province. Both Forlay's and Binald's parents were these people. Both of their fathers had been warriors who had been stationed there as part of the governor's personal guard. However, unlike Binald's mother, who had loved the vitality of the Moon of Wilk, kalafid, Forlay's mother had hated it and had married to first warrior who could promise her that she could leave the Moon of Wilk and never have to come back.
Vanart! Binald! Forlay heard Danar call. She looked up and saw her friends walking towards them unharmed. Binald was still short and plump and too innocent looking for her own personality. Vanart was even more willowy than Forlay and towered over everyone.
I trust your journey was enjoyable? Danar asked pleasantly.
As enjoyable as it can be when you are constantly checking your back for a bounty haunter sent by Julk. Vanart said dryly. The reason why Binald and Vanart had to flee the Moon of Wilk to the Andalite Home World was the criminal called Julk. Julk was from a rare race of aliens called Garnites, and was in charge of an entire "guild of crime". Vanart had overheard one of Julk's bounty hunters speaking to one another about how they were assigned to exterminate a family of Desbadeens who had fallen in debt to Julk. Vanart and Binald had warned the family, and the family had escaped. Julk had been able to learn it was Binald and Vanart who had given the warning, he had attacked their family scoop, and Vanart and Binald had barely escaped. They had now come in search of a place to stay until they decided what to do.
Did you tell your family about our visit? Binald asked.
Actually no, we did not know how mother's husband would react. Forlay answered.
It is aright though, Danar assured them. Mother knows you and likes you and she already holds sway over him.
Should we tell them about the "situation"? Vanart asked.
No, it is probably better that we not, it would only worry mother, and her husband might just ask that you leave. Vanart said. Anyway, surely Julk would not be so bold as to send a bounty hunter to the Home World? Now that you are off the Moon of Wilk I think he would lose interest.
Let us hope. Binald said.
Let us just say you had to leave suddenly because of yet another out break of the Volla virus. Forlay suggested.
All agreed this was probable and began their journey back to the scoop, asking for updates on old friends, and talking of old times.