Maia:
Then let's go; we've got a long trip back. How soon do you think we'll meet up with the dogs? We'll want to tell Beauty about them, but she won't remember them well until she's met them, so I can't do it too early.
Brennan:
I expect that we won't meet up with the dogs until we get within wind of our sleeping trees. At least I sincerely _hope_ we don't. And how Beauty and your samples react to leaving the affected area will have an impact on how we introduce the dogs.
By the way.
[smiles and nods at her appreciatively]
Good thinking there. I was at a loss.
But be careful about how well Beauty takes our apparent increase in size (given that's what happens.) I'd like to keep her around for a foray back in to see if the spell "remembers" her. The other samples aren't alive, and that may make a difference.
Narrator:
As they progress outward, Beauty is less than thrilled. The reason is that the hunting isn't as good in this direction. The rodents are smaller. The birds are easier, but some of them fight back. The right-sized critters tend to be nastier than bunnies and such. But she likes the affection, is so-so about the jerky (didn't have to chase it down), and is definitely curious. So she follows. She doesn't get any smaller, either.
She treats the oversized bunnies the dogs chased as big moles. Fun to catch, fun to play with, not the best of eating.
Brennan: [ruefully scratching the waist-high Beauty behind the ears]
It's certainly a good thing that I like to be wrong...
Narrator:
Maia gives Brennan a Look, which Brennan answers with an unabashed grin. His mood has definitely improved -- he's back to teasing with Maia again.
They proceed without incident to the boundary of the affected area.
Brennan: [seriously]
It appears that whatever happened here has a lasting effect. I wonder why the animals don't wander outside of their "size band" for the easier pickings elsewhere. Perhaps Beauty's size _will_ change, but only gradually... That would imply that something was maintaining the effect. And maybe we've been affected during our brief exposure too! We'll have to look for that.
...
Brennan: [after a few more minutes]
We're going to have some problems here with Beauty's diet in any event. She seems to like you best (although I can't imagine why
[he grins]),
perhaps you can explain to her best what she can hunt and what she should leave alone. I can go ahead and keep the dogs under control.
[starts to leave]
Oh! And maybe you can ask her about what she noticed whenever this happened to her. She couldn't have been raised here from the way she's reacted to us.
Maia: [shakes her head]
No, I think she *was* raised here. Her mother may have been a pet, or her ever-so-many-greats great-grandmother. She didn't know about "people-pets" and she wouldn't have forgotten that! Remember? I asked her about it.
Narrator:
Brennan turns and moves off ahead. Maia and Beauty stop and wait for a while, entertaining themselves with a piece of thin rope from Maia's pack.
Soon, Brennan approaches the sleeping trees and breathes a sigh of relief as he sees the three remaining dogs racing toward him. His previously jocular mood fades as the void left by Zeke's loss becomes painfully obvious once again.
Brennan:
Hello, guys. I'm glad to see you too. I knew you could get here safely!
Narrator:
All three dogs bark and leap about in exuberance, and then settle down after a few moments for hugs and scratching.
Rose:
We ran fast and then waited for you. It was easy. But you were gone for a long time!
Brennan:
Sorry it took so long. We found a very large cat. And we've brought it back with us. Now hold on! I know! I know! But maybe Maia and I can learn how to fix that strange place by studying the big cat. You don't have to be friends with the big cat, just _don't_ bother her, and be very careful near her. You know how cats are, and she is very large...bigger even than any of you.
Bill:
Neil, as a side note, the dogs themselves are much larger than your usual run-of-the-mill dogs. They're Anatolian Shepherds, kind of half-horse, half-mastiff. Susan was describing one during the live session Saturday. I don't doubt that a lion would be able to kill one, but three could certainly hold their own. That's why I'm not sending the dogs away altogether.
Narrator:
Brennan and the dogs settle down to await Maia and Beauty. Maia had given Brennan a quarter hour head start, so they don't have long to wait.
Maia: [switching between dog speech, horse speech, and cat speech]
:Hello my dears! I've brought you a kitten to play with. She's still something of a baby, but she thinks she's a grownup, and she's very big, as you can see. Kittens and puppies play rough - so we'll have to be a little careful with her. I think you all will do just fine.:
:Shabash, stop rolling your eyes! She won't hurt you. Beauty is just a kitten - a large one, but a kitten.:
:Beauty, this is Rose and Doc and Mary. Rose's mate was killed by an owl, so they are all sad. They are friends of mine, and this man Brennan is *their* people pet. That is Shabash over there standing with Erin. They are also friends.:
Bill:
With all of those different languages, this probably sounded like the cat fight you're trying to avoid!
Narrator:
The animals warily check each other out, then return to Maia's and Brennan's sides. For now it looks as if they will maintain the peace, but they aren't yet friends.
It's getting late, so Maia and Brennan prepare dinner for the menagerie and themselves, then head to the stream for a welcome wash up. The dogs join them happily, but Beauty complains about the splashes and moves away from the bank.
When they retire for the night, the dogs flop down at the base of the tree and Beauty reclines on a branch near Maia's hammock. She extends one paw and places it possessively on Maia's stomach, nearly knocking her out of the hammock.
Maia: [ recovering her balance, and mumbling to herself]
Just don't start kneading... your claws are just a bit too long for comfort.