Chapter Eleven
It was three more days before the Rangers returned, and when they did, it was in much greater numbers. The ship that landed looked like a small warship, bristling with guns and cannons and rocket launchers. Kyle was surprised at the armament. Then again, given how wild Zerichs could be, with pirates and other unsavory elements, they would need that kind of firepower from time to time.
Kyle and Sophie were also surprised to find a number of monks with them also, and just as heavily armed. Kyle had always thought of monks as peaceful people. Then again, there were those like the Monks of Tenorga, who were very much like Shaolin monks from Old Earth; tough fighters as well as learned wise men.
The team of Rangers and monks numbered about almost eighty, counting humans, Shamolenes, Arcturians and even a few Sitha among them. At the lead was a human man, with auburn hair like tarnished copper, dressed in the uniform of the Zeraven Constabulary. He wore a beret like the Celtic Tribesmen had, but this one was slightly different and bore a badge with the crest of the Zeraven Constabulary. The Constable walked up to Kyle and Sophie, looking at his PDA.
"Hoch. I'm Constable McBride. I'm here to coordinate this little escapade," said the Constable as he shook Kyle's hand. Sophie gave a soft purr of greeting from where she stood behind Kyle. Constable McBride looked back at the ship as three of the Rangers started up a set of hover-bikes. Kyle and Sophie watched as the machines began to hum and float above the ground. The Constable nodded as the Rangers geared up for the operation. He looked at Kyle and Sophie and gave a soft smile. "I'm sorry that you've had to be put through this mess. Rest assured, we'll get rid of the pests," he said in an accent that reminded Kyle of very old recordings of Scottish accents from long ago.
"Thank you, Constable. We're very grateful," said Kyle. Sophie purred her agreement as she gently placed her covered hands on Kyle's shoulders. The Constable smiled and waved dismissively.
"Ach, don't think anything of it!" replied the Constable.
Some of the Rangers and monks approached Kyle, Sophie and the Constable.
"If you would be so kind as to show us where the Ebelon plants are, we'll take some cuttings back with us, with your permission, of course," said a Sitha, his long tail twitching this way and that. Sophie looked at Kyle. He smiled and patted her arm.
You show them, and I'll stay here with the Constable. I have a feeling I'll have lots of forms to fill out, said Kyle. Sophie nodded, giving Kyle a gentle hug before motioning for the Rangers to follow her. Kyle watched them go, as did the Constable.
"So, why don't we sit? This will take a while, I'm afraid," said the Constable. Kyle looked at him and nodded.
"Sure. We can sit in our ship," said Kyle, leading him to the Talon.
Kyle sighed softly as he sat, glad to be off his feet. His leg didn't hurt anywhere near as bad as it had, but it was still very uncomfortable. The Constable smiled amiably as he brought up his PDA.
"In case yer wonderin', I'm being updated constantly on what's goin' on," said the Constable as he watched a video feed from the Rangers on the hover-bikes. Kyle smiled and nodded.
As the Constable was looking at his PDA, he stopped and sniffed the air. "What's that wonderful smell?" he asked. Kyle's eyes widened as he looked at a large pot, sitting on the stove in their kitchen, a shy smile curved his lips.
"Oh, I have something cooking. I don't like sitting around, so I wanted to get some food cooked," said Kyle, getting up and limping over to check the state of his newest dish. The Constable had stopped what he was doing, seeming spellbound by the delicious scent.
"Well! That smells better than Chip'n'Ya'Know, if I do say!" said the Constable, his accent becoming thicker. Kyle blinked in bewilderment as he looked at the man.
"Do you mean Cioppino?" Kyle asked, confused. The Constable grinned and nodded.
"Nay. We call it Chip'n'Ya'Know. Back in hard times, the fishermen used to chip in whatever they could for the older folks who would cook on the docks. Everybody threw something in a big pot, and at the end of the day, everyone shared," said the Constable, a look of fond memories on his face. Kyle smiled with delight as he stirred the pot, feeling Sophie's amusement through their link.
"That's neat. I've never had Chip'n'Ya'Know, but this is just something I whipped together," said Kyle as he tasted the broth. He nodded at the flavor, and offered a spoonful to the Constable.
"Why, than' ya!" Kyle couldn't help a grin at the accent. The Constable smiled wider at the amazing spicy taste. "Well, I neffer! This is wonderful, mate! What do ye call this?" Kyle smiled shyly and scratched his head.
"I just call it Eramore Bisque," Kyle replied deprecatingly. The Constable's grin threatened to take over his face as he had another taste.
"Wonderful stuff! Tastes like there's Albarr in there." Kyle nodded. The Constable was barely able to focus his attention on his PDA. "Ah, that's the best thing in this cold weather! I'm sure yer lady friend would love the stuff!" The Constable gave Kyle a knowing wink. Kyle smiled softly, feeling Sophie's amused feelings and mental caresses.
I most certainly do, she replied fondly. The Constable smiled as he watched the pot bubble.
"So, the fishermen used to put a little of their catch in these pots on the docks?" Kyle asked as he stirred the bisque. The Constable nodded.
"They still do. The older folks, too old to go out sailing anymore, stay on the docks and cook for when the fisher-folk come back. It's become a bit of an old tradition, the Elders' pastime, if you understand?" Kyle smiled and nodded. Sophie agreed with this notion.
She liked the idea of grandparents watching the little ones while parents worked. It made sense to her, coming from a Hive society. It was perfectly logical to have grandparents, Elders watch the little ones while parents worked, making sure there was nice hot food at the end of the day. That was something Sophie liked about Celtic culture, how close the clans and tribes were. This almost tribal way, with family groups closely knit and working together had become a regular fixture of Zerichs II culture, not solely the Celtic Tribes. Kyle smiled at his mate's feelings of family and kin.
"I've never been on those docks before. We're still new, so we haven't had too much time to explore," said Kyle as he added another great pile of shrimp to the bisque. The Constable smiled softly, nodding. He tapped his PDA, showing Kyle the screen.
"Take a look at this," he said. Kyle looked, and smiled warmly.
A little old lady was using a wooden spoon almost as big as she was to stir a steaming, copper cauldron that was so big, Sophie could easily have crawled inside. The building she was standing in looked like it was made from rough driftwood. The cauldron was suspended over hot coals by strong iron chains, attached to what looked, to Kyle's eyes, like a modified anchor.
"Is that an old anchor?" Kyle asked, intrigued. The Constable chuckled.
"No. That's a Celtic cauldron hanger. It's Old Earth style. They were using those before the Romans invaded," said the Constable as he showed Kyle more pictures. Kyle was awed. The picture looked like a scene from two thousand years ago. He felt Sophie's amusement and fascination.
It doesn't have to be new to still be useful. The places the Celts lived on Earth were very much like it is here. It makes sense to use what worked back then here, said Sophie, just as interested as Kyle was.
"So, is the cauldron Celtic, too?" Kyle asked as he set the bisque low to simmer. The Constable nodded as he plopped a large bright pink chunk of shrimp into maw.
"The Tribes are some of the best metalworkers you'll ever meet. Everything they make is a work of art. From spoons to weapons, they make everything beautiful," he said as he showed Kyle pictures of the hut of driftwood. "Back when the first colonists came here, their modules were smashed on the Cursed Cliffs of Zemura. But the Gentlemen showed them the piles of driftwood on the shores were good and tough! Some people still live in them, as ye can see," said the Constable.
Kyle smiled as he saw the huge piles of driftwood and other flotsam. They were easily big enough to make into houses. "Most of the old huts are still there, preserved by the Historical Society, so we don't forget," the Constable explained, showing Kyle more pictures. Kyle smiled softly. Sophie was amused as well, eager to learn and happy to hear these stories about their new home.
They were surprised when the PDA hissed with static.
"Unit Four here. We spotted Serrex on the western side of the island," said the voice of one of the Rangers over the speakers of the PDA. The Constable switched to a video feed from the Rangers on the hover-bikes, showing the rocky, sheer cliffs of the western side of Eramore. They could see several shapes moving along the treeline as the Rangers closed in. Kyle was startled by the chatter of automatic weapons. Some of the Serrex dropped dead, others managed to run, but their break for freedom was cut short by another burst of gunfire. The Constable sighed and shook his head.
"These nasties should'a ner been brought here," Constable McBride snarled as he watched the Ranger team close in and check to make sure the Serrex were dead. Kyle grimly nodded agreement.
"Yeah, it's not really their fault. I doubt they wanted to come here. But they do so much damage," said Kyle. The Constable nodded absently.
"As nasty as the beasties are, I don't hate them, myself. But you're right. They do lots of damage. I've seen it myself." His eyes bleak with grim reminiscences.
"Unit One here. There's not as many Blood Vines as we thought. We've got most of them burned out of the lake," said the Ranger over the radio. Constable McBride and Kyle watched as the Rangers burned the Blood Vines with flamethrowers. Constable McBride pointed at the screen.
"Take a look at this. You watch there," he instructed.
Kyle watched as the Rangers and monks burned the Blood Vines with their flamethrowers, then splashed the burned ground with some dark liquid.
"Is that . . . blood?" Kyle yelped softly, startled. Constable McBride nodded firmly.
"Aye. Poisoned blood," he replied. Kyle looked at him. "You see, even if you burn or cut off the plant above ground, the roots are still alive. Now, take a closer look at the ground." Kyle looked, and was shocked as he saw what looked like white worms begin to come up out of the ground.
"Eeewwww," Kyle grimaced, shuddering. Constable McBride's jaw tightened in a curt nod.
"The roots are only dangerous to small animals; at first. Mice and birds. But, as the plants trap and kill and get more blood, they grow, and you know what happens then . . ." Kyle grimaced.
"So, you feed them poisoned blood, and kill the roots off. The plant dies in its entirety," said Kyle. Constable McBride nodded, a thin smile adorning his lips.
"They're tough to kill if you don't know how. If you just cut off the tops, you'd be busy for months," said the Constable as the Rangers and monks burned and poisoned the last of the plants.
"All right. That's the last of them around here. God only knows how the damn things got here," said one of the Rangers.
"Make sure you check that peat bog, up northeast. We need to be thorough," the Constable replied.
"Right-o, Hamish!" came the reply. Kyle blinked in surprise at that.
"Hamish?" The Constable looked annoyed as he scratched his head.
"Aye. Hamish is my name, Highland, Old Earth," he replied proudly. Kyle grinned happily.
"That's an ancient Scottish name. What a cool name," Kyle replied, awed. Hamish looked surprised and very pleased.
"Ah, well . . . thank ye,"
"This is Unit Two here. You're not gonna believe this!" They looked at the screen and Hamish couldn't help staring in awe.
Everywhere they could see, there were Ebelon plants, their fragrant blossoms in full bloom, their delicate white petals unmistakable. "And here we thought they were extinct!" the Ranger all but stammered with excitement by the find. Kyle couldn't help a smile as he saw Sophie showing the Rangers and monks the hotsprings, the profusion of plants growing around them.
"My word! I've never seen so much of it!" Hamish exclaimed. He looked up at Kyle, who shyly shrugged. Hamish typed on this pad. "I'm sending the pictures to the Scientific Institute, back in Zeraven. They'll want to know about this," said Hamish, muttering to himself in disbelief now and then, about so many rarities, even flora and fauna thought extinct since the Colonial Wars.
"So, how did the Ebelon plant go extinct?" Kyle asked as he stirred the bisque. Hamish sighed from where he stood.
"Back before Zerichs was an independent world, Governor Birch let his lackeys and corporate cronies just take as much as they pleased until there was nothing left. Back then, they just used it for perfume and things. They didn't care about the medicine it made. By the time we were independent, it was already too late. Birch and the bastards did a lot of damage that we're still trying to undo," Hamish said, more than a hint of anger in his tone. Kyle nodded gravely, he had heard about Birch.
"Kind of like Earth," said Kyle. Hamish looked at him sadly before smiling.
"Not anywhere near as bad, thank the gods." Kyle smiled wider and nodded.
"Unit Four here. We found a Serrex den," said the voice of the Rangers on the western side of the island. Kyle and Hamish switched the feeds.
The Rangers were on the forest floor, looking at a hole at the base of a tree. A Sitha was kneeling, his tail swishing and his ears twitching, a gun at the ready as he sniffed.
"Serrex for sure. Ra-ra! Such a nasty smell! Must be pups with that smell, Mur-oo," said the Sitha. Hamish chuckled softly as one of them set up a net. Kyle raised an eyebrow.
"What're they doing? Are they going to net them?" Kyle asked. Hamish chuckled darkly.
"No. Watch," Hamish replied. Kyle blinked as his eyes focused on the screen. He could feel Sophie dividing her attention between helping the Rangers and monks, and watching the video feed through Kyle's mind.
The rangers gathered bark from some of the trees and local plants, including some dead debris from the Ebelon plants. They bundled it up and stuffed it into the hole of the Serrex den. Kyle watched as they lit the debris and it began to smoke. The Sitha blew on the coals and began to fan the smoldering pile with a jacket, the other Ranger was aiming a rifle at the hole. Kyle was surprised when he heard growling and hissing from within the den. Kyle braced himself, hoping the Rangers stayed safe.
Suddenly, a large Serrex, a female, came bursting out of the hole, right into the waiting net. Kyle was surprised when sparks flew and electricity crackled. The Serrek shrieked as it was shocked. Several more met the same fate as they tried to escape. Hamish smiled thinly. "That's an old trick the Tribes taught us," said Hamish as the Rangers checked the Serrex and fanned the smoke more, making sure the den was empty. "Serrex don't like the smell of the Ebelon plant, and they like the smoke even less. When they had to flush them out, the Tribes would try and use the bark of dead Ebelon plants to smoke them out. As you can see, it works very well," said Hamish as the Rangers switched off the nets and looked over the dead Serrex. Kyle could feel Sophie's mental grunt of satisfaction.
I'll have to remember that trick, she mused. Kyle frowned softly as he watched. Even after being attacked, Kyle didn't hate the Serrex. They were just animals, doing what they do. Sophie, on the other hand, was glad to be rid of them by any means. I'm more than glad to be rid of those smelly, nasty furballs! Sophie mentally snarled. The incident with the Serrex had made Kyle realize just how territorial Sophie was. Sophie was amused at this. So are you, she observed. Kyle blinked in surprise. He had never thought of himself that way, but Sophie was right. He was happy to have their own island and forest, and wanted to stay there and protect their home. He gave a soft smile and a positive.
"This is Unit One. We just got to that peat bog. No Blood Vines, but from the looks of things, there was one helluva fight here," said the Ranger. Kyle and Hamish switched to the video feed from Unit One.
The peat bog was still and misty, the remains of a peat sled and small boat were covered with moss and rotting. There were some peat-cutting tools, rusted and old, left where they had been dropped. One had claw marks on the handle. The Rangers frowned as they looked around.
"Any more remains?" Hamish asked. The Rangers looked around.
"Not that we can see. Out here in the open, any bodies would've-" The Rangers were interrupted by a screech.
"There they are! Let 'em have it!" the Ranger yelled as the sounds of their rifles firing filled the air, followed by the screeching of Serrex. There was a loud whoosh, followed by howls of agony as the Rangers let loose with their flamethrowers.
"What the hell's happenin' up there, mates?! You chaps all right?!" Hamish yelled.
"Just fine, Hamish!" replied the Ranger as the camera focused on the Serrex that were being cut down by gunfire and roasted by the flamethrowers. Kyle couldn't help a grim smile.
Sophie, feel like roast Serrek tonight? Kyle asked. He could feel Sophie's disgust through their link, punctuated by a mental razzberry.
Not tonight, not in a week, not on your life! Those things taste nasty! Sophie replied, much to Kyle's amusement. He couldn't help a soft chuckle. Hamish raised an eyebrow, but said nothing, focusing on the efforts to kill the Serrex.
"Pretty stupid, to screech like that. They may as well have been waving red flags," Kyle mused aloud. Hamish chuckled softly.
"These beasts don't think straight when they're starving. They'll attack anything if they're hungry enough. The hungrier they get, the more dangerous they are. I've seen it before," said Hamish as he showed Kyle a picture of a pretty, grassy island. There were a few feathers scattered here and there and bones from Tropocos birds, and the bushes had been torn up down to the roots. Kyle was aghast at the damage. "They ate everything in sight. When they saw a Sellymon, they were dumb enough to attack it," said Hamish. Kyle looked at him.
"What's a Sellymon?" Kyle asked.
"This is a Sellymon, kid!" said one of the Rangers through the radio. The video changed to the western shore of the island, where the rocky pinnacles were. The Rangers on the hover-bikes were focusing on something large down by the water. Several Serrex were dead by it, and others were still trying to attack.
The creature was about the size of a large horse. It had green skin and, much to Kyle's shock, two heads. The two sets of powerful jaws clamped down on a Serrek that got too close and ripped it in two with minimal effort. The long, snakelike necks swayed as the heads focused on the Serrex as they paced and tried to find an opening.
One of the Serrex lunged at something small behind the Sellymon, only for one of the heads to grab it by the neck and viciously swing it back and forth, like a dog with a rat. The other head growled as the last Serrek hissed and snarled. The second head flung the dead Serrek into the surf and the large, powerful body charged. The Rangers watched as the last Serrek met a gruesome end. With the last Serrek dead, the Sellymon turned back to the small niche in the cliff and gave a gruff bark.
A tiny version emerged, looking around and sniffing. Kyle stared in awe at the baby Sellymon. Hamish chuckled.
"Sellymon are one of the few predators on Zerichs that can beat a pack of Serrex. And they're very protective of their wee bairns." Hamish smiled at Kyle. "It's good luck to have a Sellymon, a Hydra living on your island." Kyle watched as the fearsome beast nuzzled the baby with sweet tenderness, it's large catfish-like whiskers caressing the neck of its offspring, as if checking to see if it was harmed in any way. Kyle had never seen anything like it. Sophie was also intrigued.
What in interesting creature. As long as it kills the Serrex, and doesn't hurt us, it's welcome here, said Sophie. Kyle smiled as the Rangers passed overhead. The Hydra looked up and barked before picking up its young and carrying it back into the small sea cave they had emerged from.
"Looks like the Serrex got here on all the driftwood piled up here. Look at all this!" said the Ranger as they focused on a huge pile of driftwood that made a sort of bridge/ladder up the cliffs of the most northwesterly corner of the island. Hamish sighed, stared with awed eyes at the ancient drift.
"Aye. That looks like where the beasts came from," said Hamish as the Rangers looked at the pinnacles.
The rocky spires stuck up out of the water very high. Some as much as two-hundred feet. Some were so close together, only a fish would be able to pass between them. Kyle could see the fierce waves crashing against the rock. "The Eramore Current passes through those spires. That makes them very dangerous for boats," said Hamish as the Rangers took a closer look.
Kyle could see some broken planks and such, caught in the crevices and nooks of the rocky spires, and knew Hamish was right. Kyle could imagine a large piece of driftwood, or even Coralyte, with a small pack of Serrex on it, floating on the oceans until it was caught of the Eramore Current and brought to their island. "Do you see anything more?" Hamish asked. There was a slight hiss of static.
"Nope. Thermal scans show zip. We're going to check around the north side, then the east," replied the Ranger. Hamish nodded slowly, as he gaped at the holographs.
"Good on ya, lads. Just stay safe." Hamish switched feeds. "Unit Two, how are things in your neck of the woods?" Hamish asked with a soft chuckle at his own joke.
"Balash maka as, Hamish!" replied the Sitha. Hamish chuckled at the Sithan insult as he watched the rangers and monks gathering specimens of the Ebelon plants, documenting everything they could.
"This is Unit Three. This place just keeps getting more interesting! We found Vanilla Violets in the woods!" said one of the Rangers. Hamish switched feeds, and Kyle smiled as he saw the same mossy, decaying stump he and Sophie had found in the woods. Kyle had not thought anything at the time about the small flowering plants growing on the stump. Sophie had liked their smell, though. Hamish grinned at this.
"Well, what a splendid sight! I haven't seen them since I was a wee lad!" Kyle smiled at him.
"Are they also endangered?" Kyle asked. Hamish shook his head.
"No, but they are rare. They can't grow where it's too dry, or too wet. Kind of fussy, they are," he said as the Rangers took a few cuttings from them. Kyle smiled warmly as he realized just how special their island was. Sophie agreed, sending warm feelings of happiness and love to him.
And it's all the more special because I have you here with me, my beautiful Kyle, said Sophie. Kyle smiled as he felt her mind caress his.
"Unit Four here. We're just coming around to the eastern side," said the Ranger squad on the hover-bikes. Kyle looked slightly worried.
"Uh, could you tell them to be careful? There's a nesting pair of Balwar there, with a baby," Kyle warned. Hamish yelped as he looked at him.
"Balwar? You have Balwar here? This far south?" He looked genuinely shocked. Kyle smiled and nodded.
"Yeah. They also attacked the Serrex. If it hadn't been for them, I might not be here." Hamish looked back at the PDA
"Don't get too close to the cliffs, lads. We've got some Balwar nesting there," Hamish cautioned.
"Balwar? I didn't think they migrated this far south," replied the Ranger as they flew further from the cliff.
Sure enough, they could see the Balwar pair, nesting in the cliff. "Well, light me up and call me a rocket! There really are Balwar here!" Kyle couldn't help a soft chuckle at the expression. Hamish grinned widely at the sight of the male Balwar tearing meat off the severed head of a Serrek for his mate and hatchling.
"That's really good luck, lad! A family of Balwar, and a Sellymon on the same island! You're blessed, you are!" Kyle smiled and could feel Sophie's happy feelings through their link.
As the Rangers moved down the eastern side of the island, they checked the lagoon, and seemed surprised. "I don't believe this . . . there's Tropocos nesting in the lagoon here!" Hamish looked surprised.
"Yer kiddin' me ya are, ya mugs!" he exclaimed.
"See for yourself," replied the Rangers.
Kyle couldn't help a grin, seeing the birds, nesting the the cracks and crevices of the lagoon.
The Tropocos were about the size of a chicken, but looked more like a Dodo. They were a blueish-green color, with the males being brighter than the females. Each bird had a funny-looking crest of feathers on top of their head, that almost looked like an afro. Kyle chuckled at the funny creatures. As the Rangers got closer, one of the hens, nesting in a crack in the rocks, up off the ground, ruffled up her feathers and gave a cute growl, trying to appear bigger and threatening to protect her nest. Hamish grinned wider than Kyle had ever seen at this.
"Can you see if they have any eggs?" Hamish asked. The Rangers got a little closer, but were careful not to disturb the nest, or the mother.
"I think so. She wouldn't be fluffed up if the nest was empty. And papa wouldn't be PO'd," chuckled the Ranger as a male Tropocos came thumping up and rammed right into his leg, only to fall over on his back and kick his legs comically in the air as the bird tried to right himself. Kyle couldn't help a laugh at the funny display. Hamish glanced at Kyle, just as amused.
"Tropocos males duel like that. They bash into each other, and knock themselves over. He who gets up first is the winner," chuckled Hamish as the Ranger picked the Tropocos up and set him by the nest. The Tropocos looked very indignant as the Rangers left him and his mate alone.
"If they tried to use that tactic against the Serrex, it would explain why they were almost wiped out," Kyle observed. Hamish nodded sadly.
"Aye. And the fact the birdies cannot fly also worked against them." Kyle shook his head. He could feel Sophie's feeling of curiosity about them.
Aw, how sad. I think they're cute. Well, I'm glad they're safe in the lagoon, said Sophie. Kyle smiled and gave a positive. Kyle was glad the Serrex hadn't wiped out all the life on their island.
The Rangers made one final sweep of the island, doing a detailed thermal scan of the whole island. Nothing turned up. Kyle was relieved, and Sophie was glad, as well as proud of her skills in hunting down the vile little beasts. Even though they didn't find many living Serrex, they found quite a few dead ones, and bones of Serrex that had fallen from cliffs into the ocean. Some of the bones from the eastern side of the island looked like the Balwar had killed them. Kyle wasn't surprised, given that the Balwar not only ate the Serrex, they would likely not like the nasty beasts getting too close to their nest and baby.
The Rangers and monks finally met back in the meadow where their ship was moored.
Overall, they had killed a total of eighty-seven Serrex, including the pups they had suffocated in the den they had located. At Kyle's request, they had brought the Serrex that hadn't been burned by the flamethrowers, so Sophie could later skin them and tan the hides.
Hamish whistled as he stared at the cuttings of Ebelon and Vanilla Violets they had gathered.
"Well, bless my soul! I neffer thought I'd see so much of it!" he exclaimed. One of the monks, a young human male, chuckled as he took notes on his PDA.
"This place is most certainly blessed, do doubt," said the young monk with an amused smile. A Sitha purred as he ran his fingers across the green of the plants and the roots.
"Most indeed, Mur-oo. And the cloaked one did a fine job with tanning the Serrek skins. If I didn't know better, I would say a few were put into the hotsprings while they were still alive," chuckled the Sitha, his tail waving with amusement. Kyle looked at Sophie as she gave a deep, rumbling growl. A few of the Rangers stepped away, still wary of the unknown being. Kyle gave a soft chuckle as Sophie came closer and placed her covered hands on his shoulders. Hamish looked at Kyle and smiled.
"Well, it looks like we got the rest of the beasties, but we'll be checking in regularly to make sure. We'll let you know before we come calling," said Hamish as he typed and then put his PDA away. Kyle smiled as Sophie purred.
"Thank you. We're very grateful," said Kyle warmly. Sophie purred her agreement, her hood gently nodding. Hamish smiled as he waved his hand.
"Ach, don't think anything of it! That's what we're here for," replied Constable Hamish McBride. Kyle's smile grew. Kyle glanced up at Sophie, who purred and disappeared into their ship. She returned with a large metal pot. Hamish looked surprised. "What's all this, lad?" Kyle smiled as the Rangers and monks came closer.
"This is a thanks from the both of us," said Kyle as Sophie set the pot down and pulled off the lid. The smell of Kyle's Eramore Bisque wafted into the air. The Sitha purred as his tail waved and his ears twitched, along with his whiskers.
"Mur-ra-la! This smells wonderful, Mur-oo!" Kyle smiled wider.
"This is for all of you. I know you did a lot of hard work, all of your. You deserve something hot and good after everything you did for us." The Rangers and monks muttered in awe and approval at the kind gesture. The young human monk bowed to Kyle and Sophie.
"Thank you both. Your kindness is great, indeed," he replied. A Ranger chuckled.
"You have a way of understating things, Dan'l," said the Ranger. The awed group loaded the Ebelon and the gift from Kyle and Sophie into their ship. They were surprised when Sophie offered another stack of Serrek furs, cleaned, tanned and smelling of Ebelon.
"For your help, but also for people who need it," Kyle explained as Sophie gave the furs to a very stunned Dan'l. Sophie gave a soft moan. Kyle smiled gently. "She asked if you would make sure children get warm coats from these," Kyle added. The monks stared at them, stunned at the amazing show of generosity. The monks looked at each other, speaking in their own language.
Kyle blinked in confusion as one of the monks went back into the ship. Kyle looked at Sophie, who shared his confusion. They were surprised when an engine started up. The monks smiled as one of them activated the small, four-wheel-drive rover they had been using to transport the Ebelon roots and cuttings. The monk drove the rover down the ramp to rest on the grass. Dan'l smiled as the monk handed him the key, which he gave to a stunned Kyle.
"A fair trade, I should think, for the furs at the very least," he stated. Kyle's jaw dropped, and he was sure so did Sophie's under her hood.
"I-I-I couldn't. I mean-" A Sitha chuckled in his musical, purring way, amused.
"Fair barter and trade is the way here, Mur-oo! Besides that, you may need such a vehicle if you are to raise any crops here. And it would help if you gather food from the lagoon, Mur-oo. Too much to carry yourself, I would think," the Sitha chuckled as his tail swished. The other monks and the Rangers agreed. Hamish chuckled as he nodded.
"Aye, mate. If ye start rasin' fish in that lovely little lagoon, it would be easier to use something like that to transport your catch," said the amused Constable. Sophie purred as she wrapped her arms around Kyle's waist, purring deeply, raising the sound into a gleeful trill. Kyle smiled at the monks and Rangers. They were some of the best people he had ever met.
"Thank you. All of you. We can't tell you how grateful we are," said Kyle as Sophie continued to purr. The monks bowed and the Rangers gave a light salute before heading into their ship.
Kyle and Sophie stood back and watched as the craft lifted off, raising high into the air before rocketing off to the west, towards Zemura Island. Kyle smiled and sighed softly as Sophie hugged him.
What wonderful people, said Kyle. Sophie purred her agreement.
They certainly are. I'm glad there's such good people to protect this beautiful world. Kyle stroked Sophie's hand as he looked at the rover, still awed. Sophie gave an amused purr as she kissed Kyle on the cheek. Let's go in. It's late, and I want to have some of your wonderful bisque, and cuddle with my wonderful mate, Sophie crooned as she gently rocked him in her arms. Kyle smiled as he watched the clouds in the sky change to the pinks, mauve and other colors of twilight.
Same here, he replied as Sophie scooped him up and carried him into their ship, her tail happily waving from under her burnoose.
Author's note: I want to thank my readers for following this far. I also want to thank everyone who has donated. You helped save our home.
Thank you for your support, and thank you for reading.