-v-

Interlude: The hidden side of the hidden runners

Thus said Rhy'thnuk: "Remember that there are only three rules in politics. The first is: to make sure that your pillars of power are secure - if those who support you fall or are unhappy then you will fall as well. The second: to make sure that the pillars of power are fewer in number - as a greater number will be harder to satisfy, and easier for a rival to sway. The third: to make sure that you control the resources in your realm - as without those resources you will satisfy nobody and be ignored by all.

"There are undoubtedly platitudes and fancy words to justify your rule, and countless social rituals to separate you from your followers, but you must never fall into the trap of believing in them. Down that path lies destruction. You can only do good deeds with your power if you first can maintain your power. Everything else is trivial."

Student: "But how do I know if I am a good ruler?"

Thus said Rhy'thnuk: "If the historians are too fearful to say that you are not."

Student: "But would that actually mean that I am good?"

Thus said Rhy'thnuk: "The histories seem to say so."

The ruminations of Rhy'thnuk

From the Summation of Ancient Thought - Volume 86

Viscond inspected the feathered face of the child as he carefully wiped away the blood from the beak. It was only when he was satisfied that the injury was minor that he stepped back and glared at the youngling, arms crossed.

"Bright Crest, what have we told you about fighting?"

"To not to," Bright Crest answered as he looked down, not meeting his father's eyes.

Viscond held his gaze for a moment before briefly looking in the distance at the other antagonist, a slightly older female who surprisingly had gotten the worse of the fight if her missing feathers were any indication. Her tearful words to her caregiver did not quite carry to his ears, but the fear on the caregiver's features was unmistakeable.

A child being injured by the child of the Leader, not an easy position to be in. Viscond sighed. Well I was never one to pull rank. If I must make amends then I will make amends… though in the right way.

Viscond turned and gave the distant guard a placative nod, before gesturing to his assistant to come forward. He could not show weakness in front of a lower ranked hidden runner, but he could use the proper channels to make sure there were no hard feelings.

Urgh… politics.

"And do tell me, son..." Bright Crest flinched at that word. Technically Viscond did not know if it were he or Ignis's other mates who was the father, but to him he was still his son. "...why did you decide to attack one of your mother's packmates?"

The implication was clear: If you think I am mad then you just wait until your mother knows.

"Slight insulted Moss," Bright Crest replied simply.

Viscond kept his beak shut as the assistant stopped behind him and awaited further orders. Despite his years as the Leader's Mate, he still was not used to the niceties of being waited upon. Being a father, on the other hand, was something that came naturally.

He leaned down and lifted his son's chin in a placative manner, making sure that his son met his eyes. "What did she say?"

"She called her a 'wrong egg'," Bright Crest replied angrily.

Viscond didn't know that he was clenching his claws together until he felt the pain register in his mind. The gasp of his assistant, however, was obvious from the beginning. Now he had to act. Regardless of his feelings on the matter, and regardless of the consequences, he was honor-bound to act. An insult against his mate would not stand.

"Bring the child here."

The order rang in the air as the assistant directed two guards towards the child and the caregiver. Her attempts to obstruct them and beg was interrupted by her being pushed to the ground. Within moments a terrified Slight was being directed towards Viscond.

"Dad, what's going on?" Bright Crest asked, confused at how quickly things had changed around him, "What does that mean?"

Viscond suddenly raised his arm, which caused the guards to drop the now terrified child. It was only then that he looked at his son. "You don't know?" He carefully edged his head in a 'no' gesture, hoping his son would see it.

Bright Crest shook his head despite missing his father's cue. "I know it's not nice," he replied.

Viscond looked at the crowd to make sure that they had heard his son's words. "Well then. I think a simple education would suffice here then. No intent; no punishment."

The two guards, looking indistinguishable from each other with their moss-colored plumage, nodded in understanding as they allowed the caregiver to reach the child. It was then that Viscond addressed the terrified youth directly.

"Where did you hear that word?"

"I heard a couple of adults say it when they were fighting over something," Slight replied, still very much afraid.

"Ah, the idiots from up north."

Viscond snorted at the guard's words as the other guard tried to keep his composure. This absolved both the child and her parents from any culpability. That was when the caregiver bowing before him in submission caught his attention.

"Sir, I take full responsibility! Please leave my daughter out of this!"

The male held his breath for a moment as he considered the female. Based upon her scent and appearance she was from one of the southern packs, and if her daughter were being trained with his own then her child must have been one of the one's chosen for advanced training.

One of the gifted ones.

Viscond looked at the assistant for a moment. He could not afford to hurt relations with the southern packs, but at the same time he couldn't let such a slight go unanswered. Thankfully his son had already answered for him.

"Your daughter has already accepted responsibility when she met my son's claws; I consider you all blameless. See to it that she is taught what that vile word means and that it is never used against our Leader."

The female was taken aback as she looked up at the male, but then quickly rose and nodded her head in thanks being careful not to make contact with him. She hurriedly grabbed her daughter by the arm and led her away from the gawking eyes of the onlookers. His attempt to diffuse the situation with mercy while protecting his family's honor had been successful.

"A wrong egg, son, is when a mother takes a wrong egg into the nest and raises it as if it were her own. It means that someone does not belong. It means that someone does not deserve to belong." He clicked his beak together. "It is something that one does not say."

"W-what?" Bright Crest sputtered before turning away from his father, fully intending to go after Slight and make sure she was really sorry.

That was when he was stopped by his father's hand.

"She didn't know what she was saying, and even if she was we already gave her mercy." Viscond watched her retreating form as the crowd scattered. "When a decision has been made it is often best to stick with it. Mercy begets mercy. Hate begets hate."

"Then why'd you have Emerald and Do-er drag her over here?" Bright Crest asked, not being aware that it was impolite to use another's nickname when one was on duty.

Viscond looked down with a sad smile. "Had she learned to call your sister that from her parents then they would have had more than a bloody snout, son. It is a good thing that you made sure everyone knew it was a mistake."

This was not entirely true, but for once he hoped that his son would not inquire further. If things had not been resolved then he would have seen to it that they find out who the traitor was who expressed such sentiments and expel them. The child would not have been harmed. The parents on the other hand...

"Dad, what would've happened if I hadn't?" Bright Crest asked, sounding like he didn't really want to know the answer.

The elder male was silent for a few moments before answering cautiously, "When a decision is made it is often best to stick with it. But I am glad I didn't have to make that decision." He looked up at the tutor in the distance, before putting on a slight smile. "We will talk later, son. Now it is off to your lessons!"

As Bright Crest walked to the trainer, however, he couldn't shake his father's previous words from his mind. But I am glad I didn't have to make that decision…

"So am I."

"Wrok appears to be trying to woo some of the southern packs, but our plan on using leverage is working well."

So the outside world is as messy as in here, Penol, one of Ignis's cousins as well as one of her assistants, thought, Not surprising. Ignis would drown in bones if we weren't cleaning up after her.

"Our plan on using leverage, Dravos? You need to be more specific. Are you referring to the fact that we have some of their packmembers as 'guests' here? Or are you doing one of your plots again?"

"Oh, Leader, you know that any plot would be in your benefit."

"Dravos…"

"We did not directly threaten anyone, no. But we made sure to send the usual flyer messages from their families to them right before Wrok's emissaries arrived. Just as a helpful reminder of what we had in possession."

"So you threatened them indirectly."

"Why yes, that is what I just said."

This guy is Ignis's advisor? Penol thought, disturbed by how casually Dravos spoke of what he did. She deliberately started to focus on her work, not wanting to hear any more of the conversation. There can't possibly be anything I can learn from Dravos.

"And our spies? Have they said anything about pack sentiment?"

"The southern packs seem sturdy enough. Questor is itching for more power, as you know, but his power base is not sturdy. He knows that he can't lose the support of Malisor and Flonx without his territory being under threat."

"Well… nice to see our loyal pack leaders are staying loyal."

"I am sure they will stay loyal as long as your scrape is honored by fate, Leader Ignis."

"Some people try to make their own fate, Dravos. That is the problem."

Penol couldn't help but look at Ignis in surprise. I can't believe you just said that. She now could see the reactions of the two hidden runners.

"Fate favors those who help themselves, Ignis." Dravos cooed, his green feathers and smooth gestures hinting at his manipulative manner. Every successful leader needed such a schemer, but that did not mean that they were not a potential liability. There was a thin line between thinking like the enemy and being the enemy. Though his blood bond to Ignis helped to resolve any doubts.

Whenever Ignis died, he would die. Such was the bond between a leader's Left Claw and herself.

Ignis, on the other hand, had dropped her normal majestic manner that she used with those who follow her and had adapted the usual 'family' demeanor. Though it was odd to hear her talk so openly of matters of life and death.

"We will need to see to it that Questor is dealt with once our current crisis is resolved."

Dravos placed a claw to his beak at this. "A pack challenge?"

"He was never a friend to my rule, and his schemes threaten our allies to the south. His second-in-command is a bit more reasonable, is he not?"

Why did I want this job again? Penol wondered before deliberately heading for the cave's exit with the bones she gathered.

"Leaving so early, Penol?"

Penol froze in surprise then stumbled, dropping the bones she was carrying. This is bad. I'm not supposed to be noticed at all.

"You are not in trouble, cousin." Ignis spoke in a softer voice, "But this is training even though it may not seem like it. Why don't you join us?"

Dravos blinked. "Ma'am?"

Penol simply nodded obediently despite her rather fervent wish to be anywhere else at that moment.

As her cousin hesitantly stumbled to the meeting, Ignis tried to be as inviting as possible. Despite being the first to joke at family gatherings, Penol was now acting like a mere assistant and not as the trainee she actually was.

"Please sit down, Penol, Dravos and I were just discussing how to deal with a treasonous pack leader. But you heard all of that, didn't you?"

"Yes, ma'am," Penol replied with a nod, carefully taking the offered seat.

"And what do you think of what we are talking about?" Ignis questioned.

Dravos interrupted, "Ma'am, do you think that…"

"Shhh… Dravos. I asked my cousin a question."

"What exactly has Questor done? I can't have an opinion on what I don't know," Penol carefully responded, not sure her answer was the correct one. Why do I get the feeling I missed those conversations?

Ignis nodded. "That is a good question, cousin. Unlike our loyal Left Claw over here," Dravos knowingly bowed respectfully in acknowledgement even though Ignis was mocking him, "I do not wish to harm people without reason."

"The drowned sharptooth does not grow to become a hunter, my dear Ignis," Dravos retorted.

"And the tyrant does not deserve to keep power, my dear Dravos. Why don't you just tell Penol about Questor?"

Do these two even like each other? Penol wondered, They don't sound like they think alike at all.

"Questor is certainly an inspiring hidden runner. He rose from the lower ranks through the powers of his own mind. Conquering some through claw and others through mating."

Ignis groaned. "What he means is that he killed his rival tracker, then mated with the deputy's daughter, then when the deputy took over he killed the deputy."

Dravos spoke with a flourish, "Conveniently enough his previous mate has died and now he is an open male. Our sources indicate that he is preparing to make overtures to an open female who is close to Ignis." He smirked. "Wouldn't he be nice to have close to the scrape, Leader?"

Ignis groaned at her strategist's antics. "So… observations, Penol? What have you deduced from this conversation? After all, you might be in this position as something more than a guest one day. What have you learned?"

"Why is this guy still in command?" Penol asked, disgusted, "He's an embarrassment to anyone allied with him."

Dravos smiled. "She certainly opened up to killing quickly! She is certainly of your esteemed bloodline, Ignis."

Penol tried to protest. "I didn't mean…"

Ignis ignored Dravos's insinuation. "It is not our custom to intervene directly in the side packs, as that could lead to other side packs thinking that we could intervene with them. That could… ahem… lead to more problems. But Questor is certainly not worthy of being called an ally."

She then rubbed her hands together. "And can you tell why we have not directly called him out as not worthy of our alliance?"

"Other than it should be obvious he isn't worthy of anyone's alliance?" Penol asked before she could stop herself. She cringed. Okay, now I'm in trouble.

Ignis smiled at the outburst. "That reminds me of someone… but yes, there is another reason. Can you think of what it might be?"

After thinking hard for a moment, and realizing she wasn't in trouble, Penol shook her head. "I don't know."

Ignis gestured for Dravos to speak. He quickly obliged.

"Questor has many strengths, but self-reflection is not one of them. He does not realize that his ambition has already attracted our notice, and thinks that he is merely another pack leader to us. If we were to let him know that he is not welcome in our alliance, however, then he might openly ally with Wrok. And since he is an open male and the other southern packs have open females…" he gestured for Penol to finish the thought.

"He'd have plenty of reason to join them," Penol said, "and he might bring others into that alliance."

Ignis nodded. "Exactly. Now we have the unusual situation of trying to keep him thinking that he has our good graces while planning his demise." She sighed.

"Well, we could offer him a female," Dravos offered, "It isn't mating season so she probably wouldn't have to lay his eggs before we off him."

Ignis shook her head. "By the ancestors, Dravos! Do you even listen to yourself? Who would even want to volunteer for that mission?"

Dravos shrugged. "Your spies will obey your orders. If they are willing to die for you then they are willing to mate for you."

Penol deliberately kept her mouth shut. She knew she'd say something she'd regret otherwise. You... you... Why does Ignis keep you around?

Ignis clicked her beak in agitation. "I would never ask anyone to break a mating bond. I would never ask someone to engage in such…" She shook her head. "You truly don't feel what others feel, do you?"

Dravos nodded. "One of the duties of the job, ma'am. In my line of work feeling is not an advantage."

Ignis prompted, "But you feel loyalty to me, do you not?"

Dravos answered, "I feel as much loyalty as your father's Left Claw felt to him. He lived as long as your father lived."

Ignis's eyes darkened. "And you live as long as I live."

"Of course, ma'am."

I'm starting to think Ignis needs some new advisors, Penol thought.

"We will make overtures to him, but offer no mates. Once Wrok is dealt with then we will take care of this little problem. Was there anything else, Dravos?"

"Not at all, ma'am. Your orders will be carried out immediately. After offering a respectful bow he quickly walked away, leaving Penol with her thoughts.

I'm starting to see why everyone else is wary of us, Penol thought, now unsure that she wasn't well out of her depth, What exactly have I gotten myself into?

"He has saved me from more than one plot, but yet he feels nothing for me or anyone. I think he feels amusement… maybe some attachment but nothing more." Ignis spoke in a tired tone, most unlike how she had talked moments before. "I pity him."

"He scares me, ma'am," Penol replied, now thinking she could be a bit more honest now that she and Ignis were the only two currently present, "How do you two manage to work together?"

"You were wise to hide your feelings around him. You told the truth, but not the whole truth. Around one who plays with words, one must also be a master with them." Ignis advised. "You simply have to learn to play his game. He cannot mate and produce eggs, and his leg scar marks him for death whenever I die. So his only enjoyment is the dirty deeds he does in my service. It is a sick rule, but one that I am no less bound to."

"Why can't he mate?" Penol asked, "Err... nevermind. I don't want to know."

"There is much you probably don't want to know about the process, but I am afraid that you must learn as one day you will be on the succession council. You will have no vote on who Fate decides to succeed me, but you will see to it that things are carried out."

Ignis clasped a hand on Penol's shoulder. "You were the smart one. The advisors never have to watch out for being clawed in the back."

"Then I guess I'll just have to make sure that doesn't happen to you or your successor," Penol replied.

"That is the Left Claw's job, but you will have to see to it that a new Left Claw is selected and that the leader proves worthy of selection." Ignis's voice was far-away, as if haunted by a distant memory.

"Are you sure want someone that feels nothing watching your back?" Penol asked, too surprised by Ignis's reply to give consideration to her own.

Ignis took a deep breath, "It is our way. It has served us well until now. One without feelings does what must be done and is checked by the leader, and one with feelings reigns and is checked by necessity. As the stories tell us, we are half-teeth both of our natures must be respected in leadership. We must be leaf-eaters to our friends and sharpteeth to our enemies. The only difference, Penol, and the reason why you are hesitant right now, is because you never knew just what those lessons truly meant until now."

"I'm not sure I like knowing," Penol replied honestly.

"No one does, unless you are like Davros," Ignis agreed, "There are currently five like Davros in waiting. When the time comes one will replace him."

"Where are they? And what happens to the ones that aren't replacing anyone?" Penol asked.

"They are in training… and when it is time for one to take position, only the most capable is permitted to offer his or her services." She looked uncomfortable as she continued. "The scar and... everything else is done by their own hand. It is to show how much they want to live."

"WHAT?" Penol couldn't believe what she was hearing, "What do you mean 'how much they want to live'?"

"They either do it or they are drowned. The winner gets to do that honor to the others." Ignis answered with disgust. "The winner is who can get it done the fastest and then survives."

"I'm starting to see why your Left Claw is insane; there's no way not to be insane after that," Penol replied, her tone having finally dropped any hint of respect left in it due to her disgust in the subject matter.

"Sometimes I don't think I am any better."

Penol glanced away and said nothing. After hearing all this, I'm not certain I can disagree.

Ignis rose from her position. "I hope that you continue your training here, cousin, and not just because of your cleaning skills." Her joke fell flat, but she tried to add some levity to the situation. "You care and you feel. We need more of that in the future. As the saying goes, one doesn't know how many fastbiters there are until one steals their eggs."

"Sound's like a good way to die," Penol observed, "I never really understood that saying."

"That's kinda the point, cousin. I am now in the nest, so to speak, and the biters are all around me. And it will be that way until I die. Just the same as it was for father, and grandfather, and great-grandmother, and all of the rest. Such is the weight I carry. What you will carry is the knowledge of what must be done when Fate decides it is my time to leave and another's to rise in my place. You must see to it that a hard heart can defend the packs, and that a kind heart can lead them. To do so, you must be able to have both."

Ignis began to walk away as she approached her scrape, her body now appearing much wearier than it had moments before. Penol wanted to comfort her, but she knew it was not her place. Being careful to gather the bones she had been carrying to headed to the exit of the cave, but she had one more question.

"Um… Ignis?"

Ignis's head rose from its resting position on the scrape.

"Your father's Left Claw… how was he, um…"

Ignis laid her head on the scrape again and for a moment Penol though her cousin did not hear her, but that was when a soft voice answered.

"The final test after selection is to make sure the desired leader feels…" she hesitated for a moment, as the scent of regret washed over her. "...I bashed his head in with a rock and wept, so I passed."

Penol was stunned and thought she could hear the slightest hint of a sob. But that was when Ignis's voice spoke one last time.

"Good day, cousin."

Understanding the dismissal for what it was, Penol left the cave with the same physical burden she'd originally intended to leave with. Her mind, however, felt far more weighed down than it ever had. She had much to think about.

"What do you think? Do you think that brute Questor is worth the trouble, or should we go for the other gambit?"

Wrok took another bite from the fish as he examined his deputy carefully. In many ways he was the only one he could rely on.

After all, one could always count on a spy to betray you.

"Questor has a tendency to kill his superiors; it might be to our advantage to let Ignis keep him," the deputy replied.

"Possibly, though I think Questor would prefer to have Ignis under him. He had mated his way to the top as many times as he has killed for it." Wrok snorted. It is a shame I will have to kill this one, he makes for good conversation. But alas, too dangerous to turn and too dangerous to keep. "Is Ignis satisfied with her three current mates or does she still find her back too cold for her comfort?"

Wrok enjoyed himself as the deputy tried to hide his reaction to having Ignis described in such terms. It had been this test that had confirmed this member's disloyalty before, but it had not stopped Wrok from promoting him. After all, it was handy to have a way to send misinformation to the appropriate listeners.

Other than a barely noticeable stiffening, the deputy made no reaction discernible to anyone other than Wrok except a rolling of his eyes before glancing back at Wrok.

"Her alliances with the three packs is a strong one, and of course the side packs show her respect as always. But this alliance with the fastbiters and the sap-suckers…. It is against the will of Fate!" Wrok roared as he recounted his usual diatribe, "And Fate will soon rid us of the defiler of the proper ways."

"That it will," the deputy said in reply to Wrok's last statement.

"Alright, I think I have an idea. I will have our flyer friends tell Questor that we are no longer interested in our previous offer. That will leave him to Ignis. Instead we will move ahead on our next objective." He smirked. "I want you to act like you are turning on me."

"Are you sure about this?" the deputy asked once he finally got over his shock. Secretly, he was elated at the news but no less surprised by it. "How do you want it done?"

Wrok acted unconcerned. "There is that flyer spy that we always see by the gorge, I am sure you can give him some information from me… and then once we have them eating from our claws then we can make things work. It will take awhile to build trust. But that will make it all the sweeter when it is time to show our claws!"

"Truer words were never spoken."

Wrok turned his back on his deputy as if to contemplate his situation, but his smile belied his true intentions. With a nod to the hidden runner on the rock wall he set into motion the act that was to follow. His friend would never make it back from the flyer. He would soon be found murdered with spears. A sign of Ignis's murderous intent to never pardon those who betrayed her. Offering badly needed evidence to his packmates that defection was not an option.

Then his true work would begin. Questor would certainly be useful… for the moment.

He turned around once more. "Make sure the flyer is told the exact opposite of what we were discussing. Make sure that he thinks we are playing the Questor angle to the very end." He smiled a predatory smile. "Misdirection comes before the ambush."

As the deputy saluted and went on his way Wrok widened his smile.

This should throw Ignis off of the trail. Now it is up to our friends to deal with the valley.

The Great Valley:

"So how do we play this?"

The domehead watched the swimmers racing across the stream in the distance as if he had not heard his companion's words. However that was when he held up his hand.

"As much as I hate to say it, we wait. We wait until the fucking egg thieves get to the point, and then we make our move," he growled, "Even when the hidden runners have some sense they can't seem to do anything right!"

The threehorn stepped forward, his eyes shining in the moonlight. "How long are we going to wait? Every day that we wait the more accepting the valley gets of this… abomination. Littlefoot and the others were one thing; they helped us and left. But this…"

"You don't think that I know that? What do you propose that we do without Wrok doing his part? We can't frame them until he gives us an opening, then…"

"Shhhh…" the threehorn cautioned, "Here comes my uncle."

The two dinosaurs quickly stiffened up as the gray threehorn emerged through the foliage, a curious look on his face. That was when the threehorn stepped forward with a polite bow.

"It seems the domeheads dispute their placement, sir."

The domehead stepped forward with fake indignation. "You ignorant horn-faced…"

Topps's unimpressed growl interrupted the display as he examined the stream and the swimmers nearby. It was obvious that he had heard all of this before.

"Again? What part of the territory do you challenge, Nepha?"

The domehead looked taken aback for a moment before answering. "Well… my herd has been growing so it is only best that we get more of the stream."

The other threehorn protested, "And the swimmer herd hasn't been growing? They outnumber you three to one easily!"

"It isn't our fault that the swimmers breed like Rampaging Leaf-Swarmers…"

"Enough!" Topps roared with more than a little exasperation, "You can tell your claim to the valley during the next meeting. Until then the stream is shared, understood?"

The domehead held his ground for a moment before giving a reluctant nod and storming off. Leaving the threehorn and Topps alone.

"I never took you for a diplomat, Castor."

Castor looked at his uncle with a slight smile. "I normally don't have a domehead herd leader yelling at me, sir."

Topps snorted. "Alright, well… this can work itself out in a few days. In the meantime it is your turn to sleep and to let the others have a turn keeping watch over the stream."

Castor protested, but not heavily. "What bellydraggers would be stupid enough to swim through our streams?"

"Dead ones," Topps answered with an arrogant laugh, "But the youngsters need practice. Care to wake them?"

Castor smiled. "A training session, sir?"

"I think the little ones are ready for some training. Besides, the only way to keep Tricia out of trouble is to find her trouble."

Castor laughed as he strolled towards the herd's grounds. "You could just remove the bad influences."

Topps rolled his eyes. "Yeah… that worked so well with Cera. Have a good night, Castor."

As Castor bellowed a parting call Topps was left alone by the stream to await the arrival of what was sure to be tired and irritable children. Welcome to the world of adulthood, children. It is not all fun and games.

He snorted as he took a drink from the stream. Domeheads wanting to take swimmer territory, hmmm… something doesn't sound right about that.

It wasn't until he could hear his daughter's annoyed grunt in the distance that the reason why it seemed strange finally came to him.

The domehead lands are nowhere near here… then what was all of that about?

As the sound of the advancing children approached him, he resolved to get the full story from his nephew.

Why was Nepha even here, Castor?

Outskirts of the hidden runner lands:

Petrie examined the ground below him with a mixture of annoyance and excitement. He was excited about the chance to enter the hidden runner lands again, but he was not so thrilled about the fact that his quarry seemed to be avoiding him.

How hard is it to find two fastbiters? Verant not tiny biter! Actually he has small biters; should make him easy for Spotter to spot!

Nonetheless he continued his circling over what he knew to be Verant's territory. He would surely show up at some point.

"If you see one of those things, find a place to hide immediately," Verant whispered to his kids, all of whom had crowded around him the moment he'd stopped walking. Even if they have time to identify Spotter, I'm not sure telling them to trust that flyer is safe.

Petrie again circled up ahead, not being able to see the fastbiters due to the trench-like impression in the hill. Just another one of Verant's innovations.

"Who is that, Daddy?"

"Is it Wayward? I like Wayward."

"Oh, let us see Wayward.."

"It's not Wayward this time, kids," Verant said. I'm not sure he'd land anyway after your tree climbing during his last visit, anyway.

"Oh," Gyors affirmed as his brothers and sisters muttered to one another, "A bad sharpbeak?"

"What do we do?" Ungu, one of his sisters, asked.

Verant suppressed a sinking feeling in his stomach at Ungu's words. With her bluish-violet hue and soft voice she looked and sounded so much like his sister at that age but thankfully lacked her disability.

"All of you stay here and keep quiet," Verant finally told his children, "I'll be right back."

The children obediently tucked themselves into the crevice, though each peeked their eyes through the opening, though only one could reach the top. As a result it was Gyors who noticed the flyer landing on the tree in the distance, letting out an annoyed screech.

"What's going on?" Sana called up to his brother.

"The flyer is talking to Mommy!" Gyors struggled to keep his claws on the ledge as gravity threatened to pull him down. "But if it's a bad flyer then why is Mommy talking to it?"

"Doesn't matter. Daddy said to stay here," Sana responded.

The small biter struggled to keep upright until several of his siblings finally pushed against his rear to keep him upright. That was when he caught sight of something in the weeds.

His father's tail.

His father was trying to sneak up on the flyer.

"Me guess me can give you message, but Seeker want me to tell Verant. It important."

Petrie was extremely careful to show respect to the female that stood some distance away from the tree. Showing honor when in another's territory was essential. Especially when the territory holder in question owed one a few rounds of payback.

"What's the message, Spotter?" Staza asked, "I can deliver it word for word if you want."

Petrie nodded. "Me know, but me should tell him too. Me not want to disobey Seeker. But me can tell you the message too." He looked around for a moment, as if he thought he noticed something before shaking his head.

"I'm listening, Spotter," Staza replied, either not noticing anything or not caring if she had.

Petrie quickly regained his composure. "Seeker says that it best that pack not get involved now. Let hidden runners sort out internal matter. But if our allies need help then allies need to tell us. If you friends need help, we are here to help. Our territory still where it always be. That most important message."

"Okay, so you came here just to tell us that?" Staza asked before stumbling a bit when she decided to make her view of Petrie less painful on her neck. Looking up could get uncomfortable after a while.

Petrie noticed this and decided to glide to the ground. Once he finally landed with a resounding thud, he addressed his host more directly.

"Not only thing, no. But pack think it important. If things do get bad though then we wonder if…"

"Hello, Spotter."

Petrie pushed off with his wings in a near-panic as the fastbiter's words echoed right next to his ears. In the process of scrambling to his old perch he succeeded in slamming his wing against the branch, causing it to snap and fall to the ground. It was only once he secured himself to the next branch that he allowed himself to calm down and assess his surroundings. He was met by soft laughter.

"You!"

Verant just smirked at the flyer.

Petrie fluttered his wings in indignation as he glared at the couple. "Fine, we even now! Me can't believe you still hold grudge because of Doc." He then looked at Tracker. "And you trick Spotter!"

"Yeah! Go Mommy and Daddy!"

Petrie merely slumped as he heard the children chirp in victorious tones in the distance. How did Spotter miss those too?

"If it makes you feel any better, I am just that clumsy," Staza said. She hadn't exactly been faking her stumble.

Petrie sighed. "Well, me can finish message. It obvious both of you doing well…" He looked in the distance at the bouncing tails in the trench within the hill. "You learn about scrapes from hidden runners?"

"The message, Spotter," Verant said irritatedly, ignoring Petrie's question.

Petrie was silent for a moment as he tried not to let the dismissal of his question burn him too much. Protective of pack's secrets around Spotter. Me not surprised. When he resumed his speech it was in a professional, if cold, tone.

"Seeker asks first what is your current status? Are you still a guest of the hidden runners?"

"More or less. I give those jerks across the stream something to think about," Verant answered.

Petrie noticeably smirked. "Nice to see the hidden runners still have their little disagreements. Who is the jerk across the stream? Me not know about that pack. They still loyal? They not with Wrok are they?"

"If they were, would I be speaking as if they were still around?" Verant asked.

Petrie nodded. "Point taken. Seeker then allow me to offer you this: if Wrok attack you then that be attack on Seeker. Simply send us warning with special word and we will help with tooth and claw."

He flew down from the tree, ignoring the pangs of fear in exposing himself to attack on the ground. Upon landing, he quickly bowed low and gestured for Verant to come forth.

Verant walked towards Petrie, face serious. The flyer wouldn't have returned to the ground for something trivial.

"Tell one of our allies 'red petals' if you want us to send help. If we need help then tell us 'blue petals'."

Petrie waited for him to nod before he rose from the ground. It was only then that he noticed the children slowly approaching from their crevice.

Staza immediately moved to cut them off. "I don't remember your father or I telling you it was safe to come out," she told the kids.

"But Daddy already caught him!"

"He isn't that scary."

Petrie resisted the urge to show off but merely gave Verant a knowing look. "It is even harder to keep the kids out of trouble when they can fly."

"I can imagine," Verant replied, "Speaking of which, how are they?"

Petrie smiled. "Still growing. We were very lucky to get them out of the mess with Path's parents and the valley." As Petrie spoke he could hear Tracker berating the children for their lack of obedience. It made him feel regret. "I didn't mean to cause trouble."

"So you can say 'I'," Verant said with a chuckle as Petrie groaned, "It's not a problem. They need to learn to do as they're told."

"Mate teach me to correct how... I speak." Petrie hesitated as he tried to use the proper words. "It better when talking to allies, but… I… not want her to know she winning."

"Your secret's safe with me, Spotter. I wish my kids could meet the rest of you. Gyors still doesn't believe you used to be a leaf-eater," Verant said in an attempt to change the subject.

Petrie nodded. "There is so much to catch up on. It is one thing to hear from flyer. It another to hear song from those who carry tune." He shook his head. "We also get interesting message from your sister."

"What message?" Staza asked, having just got back from escorting her children to another place to hide.

Petrie smiled despite the fact that it was obvious that the children were now being hidden away more as punishment than anything else. "Mender do well. Now at Hidden Rock with Ponder's family. She help Arial walk better, and help her find mate."

Staza couldn't hide her surprise at the last bit of news. The last time she and Mender had talked about mates, or more specifically Mender's ability to find one, it had been obvious that it was a sore spot for her friend. "How'd that happen?" Staza asked.

Petrie shuffled uneasily. "Well… me not know all details." Verant noticed immediately that he had lost his composure upon shifting back to 'me'. "But Wayward tell us that Detras want Mender to train them both. Mender kind of catch him, but not have chance to gut him."

"Which 'him'?" Staza asked, now a bit confused.

Petrie snorted. "Arial's mate apparently. Mender caught him twice. Me guess Arial insist on him not being dinner."

"Arial's mate isn't very smart, is he? How do you get caught twice?" Verant asked. His expression, however, suggested he was even more surprised Arial had talked Mender out of eating the unfortunate male.

Petrie shrugged. "Me no know. I guess we can ask when they get to pack lands. They finally come for visit."

"She'll like that," Verant said with a smile.

Petrie nodded as he stepped back and gave a slight bow. "Both of you invited. Me know you not give up on territory, but if things get bad you remember pack's message."

Verant looked somewhat torn. He definitely wanted to see his sister again, but it would be unsafe to leave his mate and his kids behind. Bringing them along wouldn't be much safer. And then there was Ovie. He didn't want to leave her alone either; the hidden runners had little reason to protect her..

"We won't be able to visit right now, Spotter," Verant finally said with a sigh, "but could you deliver a message for me?"

Petrie nodded readily. "Of course. Me tell pack whatever you like."

"The message is for Mender If that's not a problem, that is," Verant corrected.

Petrie nodded. "Of course."

"Staza, could you bring the kids back out?" Verant asked his mate.

"I'll be right back," Staza replied, already leaving the area.

Petrie looked surprised and glanced towards Verant for an explanation.

"She hasn't seen them since they hatched, and, well, they'd like to meet you," Verant said.

Petrie bowed deeply, shaking slightly. "You honor me more than me deserve. Me will tell Mender everything that me see."

Verant hesitated for a moment, but finally bowed slightly as well. "A pack must have its secrets, Spotter, but I trust you with my words. I trust few with that." He then smiled as the children and Tracker began bounding towards them, excited looks on their faces. "I just don't trust you with my patience."

Petrie smiled. "Me could be worse. We could have sent…"

"I am sure Taunt is doing well," Verant affirmed as the flyer unleashed a chuckle, "Spotter, I would like to introduce you to our children… they mean everything to us. This little troublemaker here is Gyors, and he is…"

As the family joyfully introduced their former packmate to their curious children, they did not see the two pairs of eyes staring at them from beyond the stream.

"Yes. Yes, I think we can make that work. Tell Wrok we will be willing to do our part if he is willing to do his."

As the messenger sprinted off the hidden runner could only smile grimly.

Soon his little problem would be dealt with.

Well this took a bit longer than expected. But now that Historian and I have resolved our recent bout of writer's block I think we are back to our usual efficiency. Now that we have seen a bit from the outside, we are next going to be going back to our main characters. However, they will soon experience the storm that will encompass the Mysterious Beyond. A storm not of rain, but of intrigue.

DevoutRelic: You made a lot of good points with your previous review, and indeed we are getting a bit more detail on some relevant characters in the hidden runner society and their plots. Sadly, with larger societies comes the problems associated with having many possible seats of power: corruption and ambition. Ignis is now faced with the necessity of rooting out a successful upstart who wishes to end her great innovation (opening the hidden runners up to others) in order to promote his own ambitions. While, at the same time, she has to avoid losing herself in the process. Wary is the head that wears the crown or, in this case, sits in the scrape. Soon the intrigues from the hidden runner lands will spill out into the open. And then our main characters will have to deal with the repercussions.

Oh, and as for your question:

Mender (Violet), Verant (Dodger), and Tracker (Staza) are all Historian's creations. I created those characters that are retained from the previous stories, and also Nahoda, Wayward, and the new hidden runner characters.

bryan mccloud: Oh most certainly. I can easily see the rainbowfaces giving her a headache, especially if they do their usual talking in riddles routine. Axiom and Datum, on the other hand, might be easier for her to understand. Albeit, no less weird. d-;

Keijo6: I am glad someone caught that. Originally I had not expected Orchid to join the pack until later as well, but, as stories sometimes do when you write them, the characters wrote themselves into that direction. Though he is at this point only a temporary addition until he can find his place, both he and the couple have a more pressing struggle ahead of them: the training. And yeah, I figured it was time for Ovie to make an appearance. XD Though from the perspective of a past version of Verant he might wonder why he is befriending a fastrunner and not eating her. How times can change a person...

gordhanx: Thank you for the detailed review as always. :) It was quite interesting to originally write the reconciliation scene in the RP with Historian1912, and I quite like how it turned out in the end. Despite a significant difference in temperament and culture, both Dodger (Verant) and Seeker respect one another. Though now both Mender (in the past) and the fastrunners (in the present) have a most nerve-racking task ahead of them. They have accepted a potential path, but now they will also have to prove themselves worthy of it.

Thanks for the reviews, everyone! This interlude is quite a departure from what has come before, and it is meant to be a bit jarring, but I do hope that it doesn't break away from the suspension of disbelief. Despite their alliance with the valley and fastbiters, the hidden runners have a very different outlook on basically every aspect of their society, from mating to leadership. Now we are about to see what happens when these differences clash.