02.02.2016
Their names were called and Dalence and Starhen walked around the Bleed Stone, up a set of stairs, and stood before the Governor, with the First Catcher off to the side. The Governor asked, “And what brings you here today?”
Dalence stood up straight and said what she’d practiced. “We are here to make you aware of a grave danger to Suu-manth. May we convene in private?”
The Governor sat forward and brushed his long hair behind his ear. “Come up here and tell me what danger you speak of.”
Dalence nodded to the Governor and took several steps forward, where she was within an arm’s reach. The First Catcher also stepped in as well.
“You know of the wolf eating the cosmos?” Dalence asked.
“Yes. We’ve heard stories daily from those on the Knuckles who watch the wolf nightly.”
“I and my companion,” she nodded toward Starhen, who then walked closer, “are a part of that group of observers. We watched the wolf devour the moon, and several other planets now. We fear he may soon devour the earth, and all of us with it.”
“How could he be large enough to eat the earth?” the First Catcher asked, as he ran his hand over his red beard and mustache.
“He grows larger each day,” Starhen said. “When Dalence first spotted him, he wasn’t large enough to catch a comet. Now, he’s devouring Mars itself.”
“And I suspect this wolf was originally from the Far Finger. I’ve traveled to Bansuth yesterday and found the city empty and only bits of its people were picked at by crows. The night I saw the wolf leap into the sky, he came from the eastern side of the Knuckles. Which would explain the death of everyone there.”
“So he fed on people before moving onto comets and moons and planets?”
“I believe so,” Dalence said. “No lights appear anywhere on the Far Finger. I’d fear they were all killed. And that the wolf will move onto Earth next, after he finishes Mars.”
“How long will that take?” the Governor asked.
“A day. Maybe two.”
“So quickly then?”
Dalence and Starhen nodded.
“We wondered what to tell the people,” Dalence said.
“To tell the people?” the Governor pondered. “They’ve heard of the wolf’s antics each day. That’s telling them enough. If the beast will come, but none of them were aware, what’s the harm? The rest of the world is likely just as unawares, yet it is not our responsibility to tell every last person alive. If none of them put it together, I say let it go. They can die having enjoyed the show instead of fretting about a doom which might not even come.”
“How can you give no one the chance to say goodbye to their loved ones?” asked the First Catcher.
“If they don’t do that each night already, what difference will a day make?”
“But they have a right to know,” explained the First Catcher.
“Every person thinks they’d like to know the day they’ll die. But who sits staring into death’s face and doesn’t with it’d come quickly already. No, I won’t trouble these people until we know for certain, and only would I give them the briefest notice possible”
The First Catcher shook his head and his brown eyes were wide.
“And you are forbidden from saying anything to them either, Chuthrell,” the Governor said.
“Unbelievable,” was the First Catcher’s reply.
“And I expect you’ll continue to watch the wolf?” the Governor asked.
“Yes, of course,” both Dalence and Starhen replied.
“We could try to warn you if we see the wolf coming our way,” Dalence offered.
“I’ve seen the speed at which he moves. There would not be time enough.” and the Governor waved his hand. “No, just watch and record and hope the end is swift, if it must come”
“Certainly,” Dalence said, and she extended her hand to the Governor, who took it and shook. Then he shook Starhen’s hand.
“I appreciate being informed. Best of luck.” The Governor left them with the First Catcher who showed them away from the Governor’s seat.
When they were out of view, Chuthrell asked, “Is there any hope of escape if I took my family now and left?”
Dalence shook her head, “If the wolf sets his eyes on us, there won’t be any place to hide. We’d tried to kill the wolf and that failed. Your best best would be to be with your family all you could.”
“You’re right,” he replied. “That would let me die without regret, at least.”
The three exchanged handshakes and the First Catcher walked back toward the Governor. With their task out of the way, Dalence and Starhen chatted about what they would do next. They agreed to part for catching sleep, and then meeting in the outskirts of down in the afternoon so they could hike back up the Knuckles together.
Dalence made her way home, where she saw her brother fixing a fishing line. She walked up behind him and gave him a bear hug, and said, “I love you.”
Her brother dropped the line from one hand and reached up to pat her arm. “I love you too, short stack.”
“I’m going to take a nap,” she said as she let go of him.
“I’ll be going out once I get this line fixed. But will you be around for dinner?”
“Maybe you could come up the mountain tonight and see the wolf for yourself?”
“You know I would, but it’s a long way to go when I have to be up so early.”
“You’re right,” Dalence said. “Early dinner then?”
“I can do that at least,” he replied.
Dalence patted his shoulder and then went into her bedroom.
“Let the wolf come,” she thought, “after I’ve had one more dinner with Brust, at least.” She’d be able to die without regret then, like the First Catcher.