1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,919:
You’re 2 00:00:04,919 --> 00:00:05,587: listening 3 00:00:05,587 --> 00:00:05,675: to 4 00:00:05,675 --> 00:00:05,790: The 5 00:00:05,790 --> 00:00:06,209: Ghost 6 00:00:06,209 --> 00:00:06,299: of 7 00:00:06,299 --> 00:00:06,780: Dog 8 00:00:06,780 --> 00:00:06,929: on 9 00:00:06,929 --> 00:00:07,049: the 10 00:00:07,049 --> 00:00:07,440: Voice 11 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:07,559: of 12 00:00:07,559 --> 00:00:08,519: Dog. 13 00:00:08,519 --> 00:00:08,820: This 14 00:00:08,820 --> 00:00:08,939: is 15 00:00:08,939 --> 00:00:09,179: Rob 16 00:00:09,179 --> 00:00:09,709: MacWolf, 17 00:00:09,709 --> 00:00:09,929: your 18 00:00:09,929 --> 00:00:10,289: fellow 19 00:00:10,289 --> 00:00:11,279: traveler, 20 00:00:11,279 --> 00:00:11,400: and 21 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:11,727: Tonight’s 22 00:00:11,727 --> 00:00:12,119: story 23 00:00:12,119 --> 00:00:15,689: is “Faju” by TiberiusRings & 24 00:00:15,689 --> 00:00:16,469: Fruitz, 25 00:00:16,469 --> 00:00:17,039: authors 26 00:00:17,039 --> 00:00:17,129: of 27 00:00:17,129 --> 00:00:17,219: the 28 00:00:17,219 --> 00:00:17,699: Simon 29 00:00:17,699 --> 00:00:18,120: King 30 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:18,989: trilogy: 31 00:00:18,989 --> 00:00:19,289: Come 32 00:00:19,289 --> 00:00:19,410: to 33 00:00:19,410 --> 00:00:19,980: Dust, 34 00:00:19,980 --> 00:00:20,280: Burn 35 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:20,519: Down 36 00:00:20,519 --> 00:00:20,609: the 37 00:00:20,609 --> 00:00:21,269: Tower, 38 00:00:21,269 --> 00:00:21,570: and 39 00:00:21,570 --> 00:00:21,629: A 40 00:00:21,629 --> 00:00:22,079: Lonely 41 00:00:22,079 --> 00:00:23,309: Dragon. 42 00:00:23,309 --> 00:00:23,519: Their 43 00:00:23,519 --> 00:00:23,730: new 44 00:00:23,730 --> 00:00:24,210: book, 45 00:00:24,210 --> 00:00:24,719: Between 46 00:00:24,719 --> 00:00:25,019: Two 47 00:00:25,019 --> 00:00:25,949: Blades, 48 00:00:25,949 --> 00:00:26,070: is 49 00:00:26,070 --> 00:00:26,489: set 50 00:00:26,489 --> 00:00:26,640: to 51 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:27,359: release 52 00:00:27,359 --> 00:00:35,399: soon.

The 53 00:00:35,399 --> 00:00:35,789: word 54 00:00:35,789 --> 00:00:37,380: taboo is the inauspicious 55 00:00:37,380 --> 00:00:38,399: stepchild 56 00:00:38,399 --> 00:00:38,609: of 57 00:00:38,609 --> 00:00:39,450: etymology 58 00:00:39,450 --> 00:00:39,600: and 59 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:42,090: colonialism. “Tapu,” 60 00:00:42,090 --> 00:00:42,270: from 61 00:00:42,270 --> 00:00:42,359: the 62 00:00:42,359 --> 00:00:43,289: polynesian, 63 00:00:43,289 --> 00:00:44,340: meaning “sacred, 64 00:00:44,340 --> 00:00:44,490: or 65 00:00:44,490 --> 00:00:45,210: holy, 66 00:00:45,210 --> 00:00:45,329: in 67 00:00:45,329 --> 00:00:45,390: a 68 00:00:45,390 --> 00:00:45,719: sense 69 00:00:45,719 --> 00:00:45,840: that 70 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:46,649: implies 71 00:00:46,649 --> 00:00:47,250: prohibitions 72 00:00:47,250 --> 00:00:47,340: or 73 00:00:47,340 --> 00:00:48,630: restrictions” 74 00:00:48,630 --> 00:00:48,869: was 75 00:00:48,869 --> 00:00:49,590: misheard, 76 00:00:49,590 --> 00:00:49,799: and 77 00:00:49,799 --> 00:00:51,119: misunderstood, 78 00:00:51,119 --> 00:00:51,329: by 79 00:00:51,329 --> 00:00:51,810: Captain 80 00:00:51,810 --> 00:00:52,380: James 81 00:00:52,380 --> 00:00:52,710: Cook 82 00:00:52,710 --> 00:00:52,859: on 83 00:00:52,859 --> 00:00:52,979: the 84 00:00:52,979 --> 00:00:53,400: island 85 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:53,520: of 86 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:54,539: Tonga, 87 00:00:54,539 --> 00:00:54,659: and 88 00:00:54,659 --> 00:00:54,899: once 89 00:00:54,899 --> 00:00:55,020: he 90 00:00:55,020 --> 00:00:55,439: passed 91 00:00:55,439 --> 00:00:55,560: it 92 00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:55,859: on, 93 00:00:55,859 --> 00:00:55,979: it 94 00:00:55,979 --> 00:00:56,189: could 95 00:00:56,189 --> 00:00:56,579: not 96 00:00:56,579 --> 00:00:56,700: be 97 00:00:56,700 --> 00:00:57,270: taken 98 00:00:57,270 --> 00:00:58,590: back. 99 00:00:58,590 --> 00:00:58,710: For 100 00:00:58,710 --> 00:00:59,100: more 101 00:00:59,100 --> 00:00:59,250: on 102 00:00:59,250 --> 00:00:59,310: the 103 00:00:59,310 --> 00:00:59,700: subject 104 00:00:59,700 --> 00:00:59,759: of 105 00:00:59,759 --> 00:01:00,719: taboos, 106 00:01:00,719 --> 00:01:00,810: of 107 00:01:00,810 --> 00:01:01,320: things 108 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:01,500: which 109 00:01:01,500 --> 00:01:01,710: once 110 00:01:01,710 --> 00:01:02,130: spoken 111 00:01:02,130 --> 00:01:02,429: cannot 112 00:01:02,429 --> 00:01:02,549: be 113 00:01:02,549 --> 00:01:02,909: taken 114 00:01:02,909 --> 00:01:03,810: back, 115 00:01:03,810 --> 00:01:04,019: and 116 00:01:04,019 --> 00:01:04,170: on 117 00:01:04,170 --> 00:01:04,530: things 118 00:01:04,530 --> 00:01:04,739: that 119 00:01:04,739 --> 00:01:05,010: have 120 00:01:05,010 --> 00:01:05,489: been 121 00:01:05,489 --> 00:01:06,359: slightly 122 00:01:06,359 --> 00:01:08,250: misheard…

Please 123 00:01:08,250 --> 00:01:11,790: enjoy


“Faju” 124 00:01:11,790 --> 00:01:11,909: by 125 00:01:11,909 --> 00:01:13,859: TiberiusRings & 126 00:01:13,859 --> 00:01:20,609: Fruitz

Every 127 00:01:20,609 --> 00:01:21,000: child 128 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:21,060: in 129 00:01:21,060 --> 00:01:21,150: the 130 00:01:21,150 --> 00:01:21,629: village 131 00:01:21,629 --> 00:01:21,870: knew 132 00:01:21,870 --> 00:01:22,140: about 133 00:01:22,140 --> 00:01:22,230: the 134 00:01:22,230 --> 00:01:22,739: legend 135 00:01:22,739 --> 00:01:22,890: of 136 00:01:22,890 --> 00:01:23,010: the 137 00:01:23,010 --> 00:01:24,359: Faju. 138 00:01:24,359 --> 00:01:24,540: And 139 00:01:24,540 --> 00:01:24,870: every 140 00:01:24,870 --> 00:01:25,049: one 141 00:01:25,049 --> 00:01:25,170: of 142 00:01:25,170 --> 00:01:25,349: them 143 00:01:25,349 --> 00:01:25,799: believed it 144 00:01:25,799 --> 00:01:25,920: to 145 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:26,040: be 146 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:26,400: true, 147 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:26,609: with 148 00:01:26,609 --> 00:01:26,849: all 149 00:01:26,849 --> 00:01:27,060: their 150 00:01:27,060 --> 00:01:28,049: heart. 151 00:01:28,049 --> 00:01:28,439: Just 152 00:01:28,439 --> 00:01:28,590: as 153 00:01:28,590 --> 00:01:28,680: the 154 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:29,099: sun 155 00:01:29,099 --> 00:01:29,459: always 156 00:01:29,459 --> 00:01:29,969: rises 157 00:01:29,969 --> 00:01:30,060: in 158 00:01:30,060 --> 00:01:30,180: the 159 00:01:30,180 --> 00:01:30,599: east 160 00:01:30,599 --> 00:01:30,719: and 161 00:01:30,719 --> 00:01:31,049: sets 162 00:01:31,049 --> 00:01:31,140: in 163 00:01:31,140 --> 00:01:31,230: the 164 00:01:31,230 --> 00:01:32,099: west, 165 00:01:32,099 --> 00:01:32,579: just 166 00:01:32,579 --> 00:01:32,730: as 167 00:01:32,730 --> 00:01:33,060: water 168 00:01:33,060 --> 00:01:33,510: flows 169 00:01:33,510 --> 00:01:33,870: down 170 00:01:33,870 --> 00:01:34,019: from 171 00:01:34,019 --> 00:01:34,109: the 172 00:01:34,109 --> 00:01:35,250: waterfall, 173 00:01:35,250 --> 00:01:35,400: and 174 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:35,790: just 175 00:01:35,790 --> 00:01:35,909: as 176 00:01:35,909 --> 00:01:36,209: winter 177 00:01:36,209 --> 00:01:36,569: always 178 00:01:36,569 --> 00:01:36,900: follows 179 00:01:36,900 --> 00:01:37,769: autumn…the 180 00:01:37,769 --> 00:01:38,219: legend 181 00:01:38,219 --> 00:01:38,340: of 182 00:01:38,340 --> 00:01:38,489: the 183 00:01:38,489 --> 00:01:38,969: Faju 184 00:01:38,969 --> 00:01:39,209: was 185 00:01:39,209 --> 00:01:40,019: real, 186 00:01:40,019 --> 00:01:40,079: a 187 00:01:40,079 --> 00:01:41,040: universally 188 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:41,849: acknowledged 189 00:01:41,849 --> 00:01:43,620: truth.
“But 190 00:01:43,620 --> 00:01:43,950: I 191 00:01:43,950 --> 00:01:45,329: don’t.”
Nyx 192 00:01:45,329 --> 00:01:45,569: leaned 193 00:01:45,569 --> 00:01:45,870: back 194 00:01:45,870 --> 00:01:45,989: on 195 00:01:45,989 --> 00:01:46,170: his 196 00:01:46,170 --> 00:01:46,620: heels, 197 00:01:46,620 --> 00:01:47,099: smirking 198 00:01:47,099 --> 00:01:47,219: at 199 00:01:47,219 --> 00:01:47,340: his 200 00:01:47,340 --> 00:01:48,780: companion. 201 00:01:48,780 --> 00:01:48,989: His 202 00:01:48,989 --> 00:01:49,500: tufted 203 00:01:49,500 --> 00:01:49,859: lynx 204 00:01:49,859 --> 00:01:50,250: ears 205 00:01:50,250 --> 00:01:50,640: twitched 206 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:51,239: lazily 207 00:01:51,239 --> 00:01:51,390: as 208 00:01:51,390 --> 00:01:51,480: he 209 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:51,900: rested 210 00:01:51,900 --> 00:01:52,230: against 211 00:01:52,230 --> 00:01:52,260: a 212 00:01:52,260 --> 00:01:52,590: large 213 00:01:52,590 --> 00:01:53,069: boulder 214 00:01:53,069 --> 00:01:53,219: on 215 00:01:53,219 --> 00:01:53,310: the 216 00:01:53,310 --> 00:01:53,700: side 217 00:01:53,700 --> 00:01:53,790: of 218 00:01:53,790 --> 00:01:53,849: a 219 00:01:53,849 --> 00:01:54,239: wooded 220 00:01:54,239 --> 00:01:55,049: path where 221 00:01:55,049 --> 00:01:55,230: they had 222 00:01:55,230 --> 00:01:55,920: stopped 223 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:55,980: for 224 00:01:55,980 --> 00:01:56,040: a 225 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:56,370: short 226 00:01:56,370 --> 00:01:57,689: break. 227 00:01:57,689 --> 00:01:57,840: He 228 00:01:57,840 --> 00:01:57,959: had 229 00:01:57,959 --> 00:01:58,290: passed 230 00:01:58,290 --> 00:01:58,560: by 231 00:01:58,560 --> 00:01:58,680: this 232 00:01:58,680 --> 00:01:59,040: same 233 00:01:59,040 --> 00:01:59,400: boulder 234 00:01:59,400 --> 00:01:59,670: many 235 00:01:59,670 --> 00:02:00,060: times 236 00:02:00,060 --> 00:02:00,180: with 237 00:02:00,180 --> 00:02:00,299: his 238 00:02:00,299 --> 00:02:00,870: parents 239 00:02:00,870 --> 00:02:01,170: since 240 00:02:01,170 --> 00:02:01,260: he 241 00:02:01,260 --> 00:02:01,469: was 242 00:02:01,469 --> 00:02:01,769: but 243 00:02:01,769 --> 00:02:01,829: a 244 00:02:01,829 --> 00:02:03,060: kit. 245 00:02:03,060 --> 00:02:03,390: Now, 246 00:02:03,390 --> 00:02:03,540: as 247 00:02:03,540 --> 00:02:03,599: a 248 00:02:03,599 --> 00:02:04,019: young 249 00:02:04,019 --> 00:02:04,680: adolescent 250 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:04,771: who 251 00:02:04,771 --> 00:02:04,858: had 252 00:02:04,858 --> 00:02:05,069: just 253 00:02:05,069 --> 00:02:05,700: celebrated 254 00:02:05,700 --> 00:02:05,909: his 255 00:02:05,909 --> 00:02:06,299: twelfth 256 00:02:06,299 --> 00:02:06,569: year 257 00:02:06,569 --> 00:02:06,719: on 258 00:02:06,719 --> 00:02:06,959: this 259 00:02:06,959 --> 00:02:07,230: earth 260 00:02:07,230 --> 00:02:07,560: last 261 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:08,370: month, 262 00:02:08,370 --> 00:02:08,520: the 263 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:08,849: boulder 264 00:02:08,849 --> 00:02:09,030: no 265 00:02:09,030 --> 00:02:09,419: longer 266 00:02:09,419 --> 00:02:09,689: looked 267 00:02:09,689 --> 00:02:09,810: as 268 00:02:09,810 --> 00:02:10,469: frightening 269 00:02:10,469 --> 00:02:10,650: or 270 00:02:10,650 --> 00:02:11,580: intimidating 271 00:02:11,580 --> 00:02:11,789: as 272 00:02:11,789 --> 00:02:11,879: it 273 00:02:11,879 --> 00:02:12,120: did 274 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:12,180: in 275 00:02:12,180 --> 00:02:12,270: the 276 00:02:12,270 --> 00:02:14,039: past.
“No, 277 00:02:14,039 --> 00:02:14,129: I 278 00:02:14,129 --> 00:02:14,310: don’t 279 00:02:14,310 --> 00:02:14,580: believe 280 00:02:14,580 --> 00:02:14,699: in 281 00:02:14,699 --> 00:02:14,812: it 282 00:02:14,812 --> 00:02:14,969: at 283 00:02:14,969 --> 00:02:15,629: all. 284 00:02:15,629 --> 00:02:15,780: It’s 285 00:02:15,780 --> 00:02:16,020: just 286 00:02:16,020 --> 00:02:16,110: a 287 00:02:16,110 --> 00:02:16,439: silly 288 00:02:16,439 --> 00:02:16,919: story 289 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:17,069: that 290 00:02:17,069 --> 00:02:17,430: parents 291 00:02:17,430 --> 00:02:17,669: tell 292 00:02:17,669 --> 00:02:17,969: kids 293 00:02:17,969 --> 00:02:18,060: to 294 00:02:18,060 --> 00:02:18,300: make 295 00:02:18,300 --> 00:02:18,419: them 296 00:02:18,419 --> 00:02:18,780: finish 297 00:02:18,780 --> 00:02:18,960: their 298 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:20,099: chores. 299 00:02:20,099 --> 00:02:20,370: Some 300 00:02:20,370 --> 00:02:20,669: old 301 00:02:20,669 --> 00:02:21,180: villager 302 00:02:21,180 --> 00:02:21,659: probably 303 00:02:21,659 --> 00:02:21,900: made 304 00:02:21,900 --> 00:02:22,020: it 305 00:02:22,020 --> 00:02:22,229: up 306 00:02:22,229 --> 00:02:22,301: a 307 00:02:22,301 --> 00:02:22,680: hundred 308 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:22,949: years 309 00:02:22,949 --> 00:02:23,219: ago 310 00:02:23,219 --> 00:02:23,460: because 311 00:02:23,460 --> 00:02:23,639: he 312 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:23,879: didn’t 313 00:02:23,879 --> 00:02:24,090: want 314 00:02:24,090 --> 00:02:24,240: his 315 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:24,689: brats 316 00:02:24,689 --> 00:02:25,169: sneaking 317 00:02:25,169 --> 00:02:25,379: into 318 00:02:25,379 --> 00:02:25,530: the 319 00:02:25,530 --> 00:02:28,289: woods.”
His 320 00:02:28,289 --> 00:02:28,800: friend, 321 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:29,250: a lion 322 00:02:29,250 --> 00:02:29,370: with 323 00:02:29,370 --> 00:02:29,520: his 324 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:29,789: mane 325 00:02:29,789 --> 00:02:29,969: yet 326 00:02:29,969 --> 00:02:30,060: to 327 00:02:30,060 --> 00:02:30,300: grow 328 00:02:30,300 --> 00:02:30,659: out, 329 00:02:30,659 --> 00:02:31,259: frowned 330 00:02:31,259 --> 00:02:31,379: as 331 00:02:31,379 --> 00:02:31,530: his 332 00:02:31,530 --> 00:02:32,039: rounded 333 00:02:32,039 --> 00:02:32,460: ears 334 00:02:32,460 --> 00:02:33,449: flicked, 335 00:02:33,449 --> 00:02:33,599: and 336 00:02:33,599 --> 00:02:33,659: he 337 00:02:33,659 --> 00:02:33,870: gave 338 00:02:33,870 --> 00:02:33,930: a 339 00:02:33,930 --> 00:02:34,409: nervous 340 00:02:34,409 --> 00:02:34,830: glance 341 00:02:34,830 --> 00:02:35,098: toward 342 00:02:35,098 --> 00:02:35,159: the 343 00:02:35,159 --> 00:02:35,729: forest 344 00:02:35,729 --> 00:02:36,990: edge. 345 00:02:36,990 --> 00:02:37,139: For 346 00:02:37,139 --> 00:02:37,169: a 347 00:02:37,169 --> 00:02:37,620: species 348 00:02:37,620 --> 00:02:37,710: that 349 00:02:37,710 --> 00:02:37,830: was 350 00:02:37,830 --> 00:02:38,189: supposed 351 00:02:38,189 --> 00:02:38,280: to 352 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:38,430: be 353 00:02:38,430 --> 00:02:38,819: brave, 354 00:02:38,819 --> 00:02:39,120: Sam 355 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:39,270: was 356 00:02:39,270 --> 00:02:39,750: especially 357 00:02:39,750 --> 00:02:40,710: cowardly, 358 00:02:40,710 --> 00:02:41,159: despite 359 00:02:41,159 --> 00:02:41,460: being 360 00:02:41,460 --> 00:02:41,759: older 361 00:02:41,759 --> 00:02:41,939: than 362 00:02:41,939 --> 00:02:42,270: Nyx 363 00:02:42,270 --> 00:02:42,389: by 364 00:02:42,389 --> 00:02:42,659: half 365 00:02:42,659 --> 00:02:42,689: a 366 00:02:42,689 --> 00:02:43,289: year 367 00:02:43,289 --> 00:02:43,439: and 368 00:02:43,439 --> 00:02:43,680: also 369 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:43,740: a 370 00:02:43,740 --> 00:02:43,979: head 371 00:02:43,979 --> 00:02:45,150: taller. “You 372 00:02:45,150 --> 00:02:45,539: shouldn’t 373 00:02:45,539 --> 00:02:45,900: joke 374 00:02:45,900 --> 00:02:46,169: like 375 00:02:46,169 --> 00:02:46,439: that, 376 00:02:46,439 --> 00:02:48,000: Nyx.”
“Why 377 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:48,689: not? 378 00:02:48,689 --> 00:02:49,080: Scared 379 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:49,139: the 380 00:02:49,139 --> 00:02:49,349: big 381 00:02:49,349 --> 00:02:49,620: bad 382 00:02:49,620 --> 00:02:50,189: monster 383 00:02:50,189 --> 00:02:50,280: is 384 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:50,490: gonna 385 00:02:50,490 --> 00:02:50,729: come 386 00:02:50,729 --> 00:02:51,090: get 387 00:02:51,090 --> 00:02:52,500: us?”
The 388 00:02:52,500 --> 00:02:52,949: lynx 389 00:02:52,949 --> 00:02:53,819: grinned, 390 00:02:53,819 --> 00:02:54,180: leaning 391 00:02:54,180 --> 00:02:54,449: down 392 00:02:54,449 --> 00:02:54,539: to 393 00:02:54,539 --> 00:02:54,810: grab 394 00:02:54,810 --> 00:02:54,900: the 395 00:02:54,900 --> 00:02:55,229: shoulder 396 00:02:55,229 --> 00:02:55,620: strap 397 00:02:55,620 --> 00:02:55,710: of 398 00:02:55,710 --> 00:02:55,830: his 399 00:02:55,830 --> 00:02:56,069: leather 400 00:02:56,069 --> 00:02:56,909: satchel 401 00:02:56,909 --> 00:02:57,030: that 402 00:02:57,030 --> 00:02:57,389: contained 403 00:02:57,389 --> 00:02:57,479: the 404 00:02:57,479 --> 00:02:58,080: textiles 405 00:02:58,080 --> 00:02:58,169: that they 406 00:02:58,169 --> 00:02:58,289: were 407 00:02:58,289 --> 00:02:58,590: bringing 408 00:02:58,590 --> 00:02:59,340: home. 409 00:02:59,340 --> 00:02:59,460: The 410 00:02:59,460 --> 00:03:00,000: bazaar 411 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:00,389: earlier 412 00:03:00,389 --> 00:03:00,599: that 413 00:03:00,599 --> 00:03:00,780: day 414 00:03:00,780 --> 00:03:00,870: had 415 00:03:00,870 --> 00:03:01,020: been 416 00:03:01,020 --> 00:03:01,080: a 417 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:01,349: huge 418 00:03:01,349 --> 00:03:02,520: success; 419 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:02,639: with 420 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:02,849: this 421 00:03:02,849 --> 00:03:03,242: much 422 00:03:03,242 --> 00:03:03,930: textile 423 00:03:03,930 --> 00:03:04,050: that 424 00:03:04,050 --> 00:03:04,139: the 425 00:03:04,139 --> 00:03:04,439: boys 426 00:03:04,439 --> 00:03:04,770: bought 427 00:03:04,770 --> 00:03:04,860: with 428 00:03:04,860 --> 00:03:04,949: the 429 00:03:04,949 --> 00:03:05,280: profit 430 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:05,430: they 431 00:03:05,430 --> 00:03:05,969: made, 432 00:03:05,969 --> 00:03:06,210: he 433 00:03:06,210 --> 00:03:06,330: and 434 00:03:06,330 --> 00:03:06,659: Sam’s 435 00:03:06,659 --> 00:03:06,990: mothers 436 00:03:06,990 --> 00:03:07,110: could 437 00:03:07,110 --> 00:03:07,289: make 438 00:03:07,289 --> 00:03:07,439: new 439 00:03:07,439 --> 00:03:07,710: clothes 440 00:03:07,710 --> 00:03:07,830: for 441 00:03:07,830 --> 00:03:08,069: both 442 00:03:08,069 --> 00:03:08,129: of 443 00:03:08,129 --> 00:03:08,610: them 444 00:03:08,610 --> 00:03:08,819: as 445 00:03:08,819 --> 00:03:09,060: well 446 00:03:09,060 --> 00:03:09,150: as all 447 00:03:09,150 --> 00:03:09,300: their 448 00:03:09,300 --> 00:03:10,650: siblings.
“I 449 00:03:10,650 --> 00:03:10,949: didn’t 450 00:03:10,949 --> 00:03:11,340: say 451 00:03:11,340 --> 00:03:12,388: that!” the 452 00:03:12,388 --> 00:03:12,750: lion 453 00:03:12,750 --> 00:03:13,020: hissed 454 00:03:13,020 --> 00:03:14,219: sharply. 455 00:03:14,219 --> 00:03:14,669: Sam’s 456 00:03:14,669 --> 00:03:15,000: voice 457 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:15,150: was 458 00:03:15,150 --> 00:03:15,810: low, 459 00:03:15,810 --> 00:03:15,990: his 460 00:03:15,990 --> 00:03:16,289: amber 461 00:03:16,289 --> 00:03:16,560: eyes 462 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:16,889: wide 463 00:03:16,889 --> 00:03:16,979: as 464 00:03:16,979 --> 00:03:17,069: he 465 00:03:17,069 --> 00:03:17,520: fidgeted 466 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:17,669: with 467 00:03:17,669 --> 00:03:17,849: his 468 00:03:17,849 --> 00:03:18,659: tunic. “I 469 00:03:18,659 --> 00:03:20,189: just…my 470 00:03:20,189 --> 00:03:20,400: gran 471 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:20,610: used 472 00:03:20,610 --> 00:03:20,669: to 473 00:03:20,669 --> 00:03:20,789: say 474 00:03:20,789 --> 00:03:20,909: you 475 00:03:20,909 --> 00:03:21,114: shouldn’t 476 00:03:21,114 --> 00:03:21,330: even 477 00:03:21,330 --> 00:03:21,870: say 478 00:03:21,870 --> 00:03:22,110: its 479 00:03:22,110 --> 00:03:23,159: name. 480 00:03:23,159 --> 00:03:23,370: That’s 481 00:03:23,370 --> 00:03:23,490: what 482 00:03:23,490 --> 00:03:24,060: starts 483 00:03:24,060 --> 00:03:25,800: it.”
Nyx 484 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:26,400: snorted 485 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:26,580: and 486 00:03:26,580 --> 00:03:27,000: tossed 487 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:27,090: the 488 00:03:27,090 --> 00:03:27,330: dirt 489 00:03:27,330 --> 00:03:34,169: aside. “Then I’ll say it twice. Faju. Faju. See? Still here. Guess it’s 490 00:03:34,169 --> 00:03:34,409: not 491 00:03:34,409 --> 00:03:34,500: as 492 00:03:34,500 --> 00:03:34,949: scary 493 00:03:34,949 --> 00:03:35,099: as 494 00:03:35,099 --> 00:03:35,490: everyone 495 00:03:35,490 --> 00:03:37,800: thinks.”
“Shhh!” 496 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:38,159: Sam 497 00:03:38,159 --> 00:03:38,520: hissed 498 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:39,030: again, 499 00:03:39,030 --> 00:03:39,360: eyes 500 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:39,659: wide 501 00:03:39,659 --> 00:03:39,809: in 502 00:03:39,809 --> 00:03:40,530: terror, 503 00:03:40,530 --> 00:03:41,009: glancing 504 00:03:41,009 --> 00:03:41,400: around 505 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:41,520: as 506 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:41,580: if 507 00:03:41,580 --> 00:03:41,879: someone 508 00:03:41,879 --> 00:03:42,090: else 509 00:03:42,090 --> 00:03:42,240: might 510 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:42,360: have 511 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:43,259: heard. “Don’t 512 00:03:43,259 --> 00:03:43,560: do 513 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:45,810: that!”
The 514 00:03:45,810 --> 00:03:46,169: younger 515 00:03:46,169 --> 00:03:46,590: lynx 516 00:03:46,590 --> 00:03:47,490: laughed 517 00:03:47,490 --> 00:03:47,610: and 518 00:03:47,610 --> 00:03:47,849: watched 519 00:03:47,849 --> 00:03:48,000: the 520 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:48,210: older 521 00:03:48,210 --> 00:03:48,659: lion’s 522 00:03:48,659 --> 00:03:48,960: tail 523 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:49,409: twitch 524 00:03:49,409 --> 00:03:49,530: and 525 00:03:49,530 --> 00:03:49,919: curl 526 00:03:49,919 --> 00:03:50,039: with 527 00:03:50,039 --> 00:03:51,449: agitation. “You 528 00:03:51,449 --> 00:03:51,810: sound 529 00:03:51,810 --> 00:03:52,020: like 530 00:03:52,020 --> 00:03:52,110: an 531 00:03:52,110 --> 00:03:52,319: old 532 00:03:52,319 --> 00:03:53,669: crow. ‘Don’t 533 00:03:53,669 --> 00:03:53,819: go 534 00:03:53,819 --> 00:03:53,969: near 535 00:03:53,969 --> 00:03:54,090: the 536 00:03:54,090 --> 00:03:54,960: Talls, don’t 537 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:55,169: say 538 00:03:55,169 --> 00:03:55,349: its 539 00:03:55,349 --> 00:03:56,039: name, don’t 540 00:03:56,039 --> 00:03:56,219: do 541 00:03:56,219 --> 00:03:56,520: this, 542 00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:56,759: don’t 543 00:03:56,759 --> 00:03:56,939: do 544 00:03:56,939 --> 00:03:57,210: that.’ 545 00:03:57,210 --> 00:03:57,270: You 546 00:03:57,270 --> 00:03:57,449: ever 547 00:03:57,449 --> 00:03:57,810: notice 548 00:03:57,810 --> 00:03:57,930: how 549 00:03:57,930 --> 00:03:58,169: many 550 00:03:58,169 --> 00:03:58,590: rules this 551 00:03:58,590 --> 00:03:59,009: stupid 552 00:03:59,009 --> 00:03:59,310: village 553 00:03:59,310 --> 00:03:59,580: makes 554 00:03:59,580 --> 00:04:00,090: up 555 00:04:00,090 --> 00:04:00,479: just 556 00:04:00,479 --> 00:04:00,599: to 557 00:04:00,599 --> 00:04:00,840: keep 558 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:00,990: us 559 00:04:00,990 --> 00:04:02,280: scared? 560 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:02,580: Guess 561 00:04:02,580 --> 00:04:02,849: what, 562 00:04:02,849 --> 00:04:03,090: I’m 563 00:04:03,090 --> 00:04:03,569: not 564 00:04:03,569 --> 00:04:05,699: scared!”
Sam’s 565 00:04:05,699 --> 00:04:06,060: ears 566 00:04:06,060 --> 00:04:06,360: pinned 567 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:06,900: flat, 568 00:04:06,900 --> 00:04:07,080: his 569 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:07,500: paws 570 00:04:07,500 --> 00:04:07,860: curling 571 00:04:07,860 --> 00:04:08,009: into 572 00:04:08,009 --> 00:04:09,599: fists. “But 573 00:04:09,599 --> 00:04:09,750: you 574 00:04:09,750 --> 00:04:10,110: should 575 00:04:10,110 --> 00:04:11,699: be.”
The 576 00:04:11,699 --> 00:04:12,060: lynx 577 00:04:12,060 --> 00:04:12,360: waved 578 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:12,389: a 579 00:04:12,389 --> 00:04:12,780: paw 580 00:04:12,780 --> 00:04:13,830: dismissively, 581 00:04:13,830 --> 00:04:14,310: yawning 582 00:04:14,310 --> 00:04:14,580: loud 583 00:04:14,580 --> 00:04:14,789: enough 584 00:04:14,789 --> 00:04:14,879: to 585 00:04:14,879 --> 00:04:15,060: make 586 00:04:15,060 --> 00:04:15,120: it 587 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:15,539: obvious 588 00:04:15,539 --> 00:04:15,629: he 589 00:04:15,629 --> 00:04:15,930: wasn’t 590 00:04:15,930 --> 00:04:17,040: listening. “Sure, 591 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:17,939: sure. 592 00:04:17,939 --> 00:04:18,180: This 593 00:04:18,180 --> 00:04:18,449: thing 594 00:04:18,449 --> 00:04:18,600: is 595 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:18,839: out 596 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:19,019: there 597 00:04:19,019 --> 00:04:19,110: in 598 00:04:19,110 --> 00:04:19,199: the 599 00:04:19,199 --> 00:04:19,439: woods 600 00:04:19,439 --> 00:04:19,649: just 601 00:04:19,649 --> 00:04:19,980: waiting 602 00:04:19,980 --> 00:04:20,160: for 603 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:20,310: me 604 00:04:20,310 --> 00:04:20,459: to 605 00:04:20,459 --> 00:04:21,000: say 606 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:21,269: its 607 00:04:21,269 --> 00:04:21,720: name 608 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:22,139: three 609 00:04:22,139 --> 00:04:23,129: times 610 00:04:23,129 --> 00:04:23,399: so 611 00:04:23,399 --> 00:04:23,490: it 612 00:04:23,490 --> 00:04:23,639: can 613 00:04:23,639 --> 00:04:23,850: come 614 00:04:23,850 --> 00:04:24,120: eat 615 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:24,540: me. 616 00:04:24,540 --> 00:04:25,110: Sounds 617 00:04:25,110 --> 00:04:27,959: real.”
Sam 618 00:04:27,959 --> 00:04:28,199: didn’t 619 00:04:28,199 --> 00:04:29,490: answer. 620 00:04:29,490 --> 00:04:29,670: His 621 00:04:29,670 --> 00:04:30,060: gaze 622 00:04:30,060 --> 00:04:30,149: had 623 00:04:30,149 --> 00:04:30,480: locked 624 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:30,569: on 625 00:04:30,569 --> 00:04:30,660: the 626 00:04:30,660 --> 00:04:30,930: dark 627 00:04:30,930 --> 00:04:31,170: wall 628 00:04:31,170 --> 00:04:31,290: of 629 00:04:31,290 --> 00:04:31,740: trees 630 00:04:31,740 --> 00:04:31,800: at 631 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:31,860: the 632 00:04:31,860 --> 00:04:32,129: far 633 00:04:32,129 --> 00:04:32,370: edge 634 00:04:32,370 --> 00:04:32,459: of 635 00:04:32,459 --> 00:04:32,519: a 636 00:04:32,519 --> 00:04:32,910: field 637 00:04:32,910 --> 00:04:33,000: in 638 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:33,089: the 639 00:04:33,089 --> 00:04:34,019: distance: 640 00:04:34,019 --> 00:04:34,170: the 641 00:04:34,170 --> 00:04:35,910: Talls. 642 00:04:35,910 --> 00:04:36,480: Silent 643 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:36,600: and 644 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:37,259: unyielding, 645 00:04:37,259 --> 00:04:37,410: their 646 00:04:37,410 --> 00:04:37,740: trunks 647 00:04:37,740 --> 00:04:38,220: vanished 648 00:04:38,220 --> 00:04:38,370: into 649 00:04:38,370 --> 00:04:39,180: shadow, 650 00:04:39,180 --> 00:04:39,329: their 651 00:04:39,329 --> 00:04:39,779: tops 652 00:04:39,779 --> 00:04:40,319: scraping 653 00:04:40,319 --> 00:04:40,410: at 654 00:04:40,410 --> 00:04:40,470: the 655 00:04:40,470 --> 00:04:40,740: last 656 00:04:40,740 --> 00:04:41,250: streaks 657 00:04:41,250 --> 00:04:41,370: of 658 00:04:41,370 --> 00:04:41,759: blue 659 00:04:41,759 --> 00:04:42,149: fading 660 00:04:42,149 --> 00:04:43,980: from 661 00:04:43,980 --> 00:04:44,399: the sky.
Kids 662 00:04:44,399 --> 00:04:44,670: weren’t 663 00:04:44,670 --> 00:04:45,029: supposed 664 00:04:45,029 --> 00:04:45,089: to 665 00:04:45,089 --> 00:04:45,209: go 666 00:04:45,209 --> 00:04:45,360: near 667 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:45,480: the 668 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:46,379: Talls, 669 00:04:46,379 --> 00:04:46,680: because 670 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:46,889: that 671 00:04:46,889 --> 00:04:47,040: was 672 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:47,160: where 673 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:47,280: the 674 00:04:47,280 --> 00:04:47,670: Faju 675 00:04:47,670 --> 00:04:49,589: lived.
“If 676 00:04:49,589 --> 00:04:49,769: you 677 00:04:49,769 --> 00:04:50,339: say 678 00:04:50,339 --> 00:04:50,639: its 679 00:04:50,639 --> 00:04:51,449: name, 680 00:04:51,449 --> 00:04:51,839: he’ll 681 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:52,170: get 682 00:04:52,170 --> 00:04:52,980: you,” 683 00:04:52,980 --> 00:04:53,370: Sam 684 00:04:53,370 --> 00:04:53,639: said 685 00:04:53,639 --> 00:04:54,060: finally, 686 00:04:54,060 --> 00:04:54,240: his 687 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:54,540: voice 688 00:04:54,540 --> 00:04:54,750: little 689 00:04:54,750 --> 00:04:54,930: more 690 00:04:54,930 --> 00:04:55,079: than 691 00:04:55,079 --> 00:04:55,110: a 692 00:04:55,110 --> 00:04:57,149: whisper.
Nyx 693 00:04:57,149 --> 00:04:57,389: shook 694 00:04:57,389 --> 00:04:57,540: his 695 00:04:57,540 --> 00:04:57,839: head 696 00:04:57,839 --> 00:04:57,990: and, 697 00:04:57,990 --> 00:04:58,139: with 698 00:04:58,139 --> 00:04:58,199: a 699 00:04:58,199 --> 00:04:59,100: grunt, 700 00:04:59,100 --> 00:04:59,490: hauled 701 00:04:59,490 --> 00:04:59,579: the 702 00:04:59,579 --> 00:04:59,819: leather 703 00:04:59,819 --> 00:05:00,240: satchel 704 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:00,600: across 705 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:00,689: his 706 00:05:00,689 --> 00:05:01,019: shoulder 707 00:05:01,019 --> 00:05:01,139: by 708 00:05:01,139 --> 00:05:01,290: the 709 00:05:01,290 --> 00:05:01,886: strap as he 710 00:05:01,886 --> 00:05:02,100: started 711 00:05:02,100 --> 00:05:02,459: walking 712 00:05:02,459 --> 00:05:02,550: in 713 00:05:02,550 --> 00:05:02,610: the 714 00:05:02,610 --> 00:05:03,089: direction 715 00:05:03,089 --> 00:05:03,180: of 716 00:05:03,180 --> 00:05:03,300: their 717 00:05:03,300 --> 00:05:05,519: village. “Please. 718 00:05:05,519 --> 00:05:05,699: If 719 00:05:05,699 --> 00:05:05,819: the 720 00:05:05,819 --> 00:05:06,209: Faju 721 00:05:06,209 --> 00:05:06,449: was 722 00:05:06,449 --> 00:05:06,750: real, 723 00:05:06,750 --> 00:05:06,990: we’d 724 00:05:06,990 --> 00:05:07,350: all 725 00:05:07,350 --> 00:05:07,500: be 726 00:05:07,500 --> 00:05:07,740: dead 727 00:05:07,740 --> 00:05:10,050: already.”
Sam 728 00:05:10,050 --> 00:05:10,230: said 729 00:05:10,230 --> 00:05:11,220: nothing, 730 00:05:11,220 --> 00:05:11,370: but 731 00:05:11,370 --> 00:05:11,519: his 732 00:05:11,519 --> 00:05:11,910: gaze 733 00:05:11,910 --> 00:05:12,209: stayed 734 00:05:12,209 --> 00:05:12,509: locked 735 00:05:12,509 --> 00:05:12,600: on 736 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:12,660: the 737 00:05:12,660 --> 00:05:13,319: treeline, 738 00:05:13,319 --> 00:05:13,529: his 739 00:05:13,529 --> 00:05:13,860: breathing 740 00:05:13,860 --> 00:05:15,269: shallow. 741 00:05:15,269 --> 00:05:15,389: The 742 00:05:15,389 --> 00:05:15,812: forest 743 00:05:15,812 --> 00:05:16,110: pressed 744 00:05:16,110 --> 00:05:16,410: heavy 745 00:05:16,410 --> 00:05:16,769: against 746 00:05:16,769 --> 00:05:16,860: the 747 00:05:16,860 --> 00:05:17,459: earth, 748 00:05:17,459 --> 00:05:17,759: every 749 00:05:17,759 --> 00:05:18,089: tree 750 00:05:18,089 --> 00:05:18,180: an 751 00:05:18,180 --> 00:05:18,389: old 752 00:05:18,389 --> 00:05:19,139: sentinel 753 00:05:19,139 --> 00:05:19,620: watching 754 00:05:19,620 --> 00:05:19,829: from 755 00:05:19,829 --> 00:05:19,920: the 756 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:22,139: shadows.
Nyx 757 00:05:22,139 --> 00:05:22,649: adjusted 758 00:05:22,649 --> 00:05:22,769: the 759 00:05:22,769 --> 00:05:23,100: length 760 00:05:23,100 --> 00:05:23,189: of 761 00:05:23,189 --> 00:05:23,279: his 762 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:23,610: shoulder 763 00:05:23,610 --> 00:05:23,970: strap 764 00:05:23,970 --> 00:05:24,060: so 765 00:05:24,060 --> 00:05:24,120: it 766 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:24,209: would 767 00:05:24,209 --> 00:05:24,329: be 768 00:05:24,329 --> 00:05:24,720: easier 769 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:24,839: to 770 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:25,170: carry 771 00:05:25,170 --> 00:05:25,290: the 772 00:05:25,290 --> 00:05:25,529: heavy 773 00:05:25,529 --> 00:05:26,579: satchel. 774 00:05:26,579 --> 00:05:27,029: Sam 775 00:05:27,029 --> 00:05:27,269: trailed 776 00:05:27,269 --> 00:05:28,170: behind, 777 00:05:28,170 --> 00:05:28,560: also 778 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:28,949: carrying 779 00:05:28,949 --> 00:05:29,069: his 780 00:05:29,069 --> 00:05:29,250: own 781 00:05:29,250 --> 00:05:29,639: satchel 782 00:05:29,639 --> 00:05:29,879: full 783 00:05:29,879 --> 00:05:29,939: of 784 00:05:29,939 --> 00:05:30,959: textiles, 785 00:05:30,959 --> 00:05:31,139: his 786 00:05:31,139 --> 00:05:31,500: ears 787 00:05:31,500 --> 00:05:31,920: twitching 788 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:32,009: at 789 00:05:32,009 --> 00:05:32,310: every 790 00:05:32,310 --> 00:05:32,610: faint 791 00:05:32,610 --> 00:05:34,170: rustle.
The 792 00:05:34,170 --> 00:05:34,860: late-afternoon 793 00:05:34,860 --> 00:05:35,160: sun 794 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:35,310: was 795 00:05:35,310 --> 00:05:35,670: warm 796 00:05:35,670 --> 00:05:35,790: and 797 00:05:35,790 --> 00:05:36,629: inviting, 798 00:05:36,629 --> 00:05:37,019: perfect 799 00:05:37,019 --> 00:05:37,170: for 800 00:05:37,170 --> 00:05:37,230: a 801 00:05:37,230 --> 00:05:37,560: nap 802 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:37,709: under 803 00:05:37,709 --> 00:05:37,800: the 804 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:38,040: shade 805 00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:38,100: of 806 00:05:38,100 --> 00:05:38,160: a 807 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:38,490: tree. 808 00:05:38,490 --> 00:05:38,759: But 809 00:05:38,759 --> 00:05:38,850: the 810 00:05:38,850 --> 00:05:39,240: lynx 811 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:39,480: knew 812 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:39,592: that 813 00:05:39,592 --> 00:05:39,720: the 814 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:39,899: day 815 00:05:39,899 --> 00:05:40,050: was 816 00:05:40,050 --> 00:05:40,259: getting 817 00:05:40,259 --> 00:05:41,310: shorter, 818 00:05:41,310 --> 00:05:41,430: and 819 00:05:41,430 --> 00:05:41,639: these 820 00:05:41,639 --> 00:05:41,759: two 821 00:05:41,759 --> 00:05:42,000: young 822 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:42,420: travelers 823 00:05:42,420 --> 00:05:42,509: were 824 00:05:42,509 --> 00:05:42,779: still 825 00:05:42,779 --> 00:05:43,110: quite 826 00:05:43,110 --> 00:05:43,379: far 827 00:05:43,379 --> 00:05:43,560: from 828 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:43,680: their 829 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:45,750: village.
The 830 00:05:45,750 --> 00:05:45,990: boys 831 00:05:45,990 --> 00:05:46,079: were 832 00:05:46,079 --> 00:05:46,529: walking 833 00:05:46,529 --> 00:05:46,680: through 834 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:47,160: Darkfang 835 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:47,910: Woods, 836 00:05:47,910 --> 00:05:47,969: a 837 00:05:47,969 --> 00:05:48,480: large 838 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:49,259: forest 839 00:05:49,259 --> 00:05:49,350: that 840 00:05:49,350 --> 00:05:49,529: seemed 841 00:05:49,529 --> 00:05:49,589: to 842 00:05:49,589 --> 00:05:49,889: spread 843 00:05:49,889 --> 00:05:50,040: from 844 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:50,610: horizon 845 00:05:50,610 --> 00:05:50,730: to 846 00:05:50,730 --> 00:05:51,990: horizon. 847 00:05:51,990 --> 00:05:52,079: Their 848 00:05:52,079 --> 00:05:52,410: village 849 00:05:52,410 --> 00:05:52,500: was 850 00:05:52,500 --> 00:05:52,649: on 851 00:05:52,649 --> 00:05:52,769: the 852 00:05:52,769 --> 00:05:52,980: other 853 00:05:52,980 --> 00:05:53,339: side 854 00:05:53,339 --> 00:05:53,430: of 855 00:05:53,430 --> 00:05:53,519: the 856 00:05:53,519 --> 00:05:54,000: forest. 857 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:54,300: During 858 00:05:54,300 --> 00:05:54,389: the 859 00:05:54,389 --> 00:05:54,870: day, 860 00:05:54,870 --> 00:05:54,990: there 861 00:05:54,990 --> 00:05:55,110: was 862 00:05:55,110 --> 00:05:55,379: nothing 863 00:05:55,379 --> 00:05:55,439: to 864 00:05:55,439 --> 00:05:56,699: fear. 865 00:05:56,699 --> 00:05:56,879: But 866 00:05:56,879 --> 00:05:57,000: at 867 00:05:57,000 --> 00:05:57,269: night, 868 00:05:57,269 --> 00:05:57,509: every 869 00:05:57,509 --> 00:05:57,899: shadow 870 00:05:57,899 --> 00:05:58,199: appeared 871 00:05:58,199 --> 00:05:58,259: to 872 00:05:58,259 --> 00:05:58,350: be 873 00:05:58,350 --> 00:05:58,379: a 874 00:05:58,379 --> 00:05:58,829: menacing 875 00:05:58,829 --> 00:06:00,089: creature. 876 00:06:00,089 --> 00:06:00,360: Not 877 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:00,629: many 878 00:06:00,629 --> 00:06:01,139: villagers, 879 00:06:01,139 --> 00:06:01,379: even 880 00:06:01,379 --> 00:06:02,279: adults, 881 00:06:02,279 --> 00:06:02,699: dared 882 00:06:02,699 --> 00:06:02,819: to 883 00:06:02,819 --> 00:06:03,209: traverse 884 00:06:03,209 --> 00:06:03,389: it 885 00:06:03,389 --> 00:06:03,540: at 886 00:06:03,540 --> 00:06:05,639: night.
They 887 00:06:05,639 --> 00:06:05,850: would 888 00:06:05,850 --> 00:06:05,970: have 889 00:06:05,970 --> 00:06:06,149: made 890 00:06:06,149 --> 00:06:06,240: it 891 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:06,389: home 892 00:06:06,389 --> 00:06:06,540: by 893 00:06:06,540 --> 00:06:07,350: dusk 894 00:06:07,350 --> 00:06:07,500: if 895 00:06:07,500 --> 00:06:07,620: all 896 00:06:07,620 --> 00:06:07,829: went 897 00:06:07,829 --> 00:06:08,160: according 898 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:08,220: to 899 00:06:08,220 --> 00:06:09,689: schedule. 900 00:06:09,689 --> 00:06:09,779: A 901 00:06:09,779 --> 00:06:10,050: little 902 00:06:10,050 --> 00:06:10,319: delay 903 00:06:10,319 --> 00:06:11,160: here 904 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:11,579: and another 905 00:06:11,579 --> 00:06:11,822: little 906 00:06:11,822 --> 00:06:12,120: delay 907 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:12,750: there 908 00:06:12,750 --> 00:06:13,290: quickly 909 00:06:13,290 --> 00:06:13,740: stacked 910 00:06:13,740 --> 00:06:14,610: up, 911 00:06:14,610 --> 00:06:15,000: causing 912 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:15,120: the 913 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:15,389: boys 914 00:06:15,389 --> 00:06:15,480: to 915 00:06:15,480 --> 00:06:15,629: walk 916 00:06:15,629 --> 00:06:15,750: through 917 00:06:15,750 --> 00:06:15,839: the 918 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:16,410: woods 919 00:06:16,410 --> 00:06:16,860: just 920 00:06:16,860 --> 00:06:16,980: as 921 00:06:16,980 --> 00:06:17,069: the 922 00:06:17,069 --> 00:06:17,430: sun 923 00:06:17,430 --> 00:06:17,579: was 924 00:06:17,579 --> 00:06:17,939: about 925 00:06:17,939 --> 00:06:18,029: to 926 00:06:18,029 --> 00:06:18,389: set 927 00:06:18,389 --> 00:06:18,990: beyond 928 00:06:18,990 --> 00:06:19,110: the 929 00:06:19,110 --> 00:06:21,000: Talls.
It 930 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:21,149: was 931 00:06:21,149 --> 00:06:22,170: quiet. 932 00:06:22,170 --> 00:06:22,350: Too 933 00:06:22,350 --> 00:06:22,920: quiet. 934 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:23,100: There 935 00:06:23,100 --> 00:06:23,279: was 936 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:23,550: no 937 00:06:23,550 --> 00:06:24,149: birdsong 938 00:06:24,149 --> 00:06:24,420: coming 939 00:06:24,420 --> 00:06:24,540: from 940 00:06:24,540 --> 00:06:24,629: the 941 00:06:24,629 --> 00:06:25,019: forest, 942 00:06:25,019 --> 00:06:25,170: no 943 00:06:25,170 --> 00:06:25,529: buzzing 944 00:06:25,529 --> 00:06:26,459: flies, 945 00:06:26,459 --> 00:06:26,579: and 946 00:06:26,579 --> 00:06:26,764: no 947 00:06:26,764 --> 00:06:27,240: wind 948 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:27,629: shaking 949 00:06:27,629 --> 00:06:27,720: the 950 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:29,310: branches. 951 00:06:29,310 --> 00:06:29,730: All was 952 00:06:29,730 --> 00:06:30,089: hushed 953 00:06:30,089 --> 00:06:30,180: and 954 00:06:30,180 --> 00:06:30,689: still, 955 00:06:30,689 --> 00:06:30,839: as 956 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:30,930: if 957 00:06:30,930 --> 00:06:31,019: the 958 00:06:31,019 --> 00:06:31,410: forest 959 00:06:31,410 --> 00:06:31,769: itself 960 00:06:31,769 --> 00:06:31,889: was 961 00:06:31,889 --> 00:06:32,129: holding 962 00:06:32,129 --> 00:06:32,279: its 963 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:33,000: breath 964 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:33,180: in 965 00:06:33,180 --> 00:06:34,500: anticipation…but in 966 00:06:34,500 --> 00:06:35,430: anticipation 967 00:06:35,430 --> 00:06:35,610: of 968 00:06:35,610 --> 00:06:38,129: what?
Sam 969 00:06:38,129 --> 00:06:38,610: stopped 970 00:06:38,610 --> 00:06:39,329: suddenly, 971 00:06:39,329 --> 00:06:39,480: his 972 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:39,779: voice 973 00:06:39,779 --> 00:06:40,110: low 974 00:06:40,110 --> 00:06:40,230: and 975 00:06:40,230 --> 00:06:42,420: tight. “Maybe 976 00:06:42,420 --> 00:06:42,540: we 977 00:06:42,540 --> 00:06:42,899: shouldn’t 978 00:06:42,899 --> 00:06:42,990: be 979 00:06:42,990 --> 00:06:43,379: walking 980 00:06:43,379 --> 00:06:43,560: through 981 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:44,040: Darkfang 982 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:44,279: Woods 983 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:44,610: after 984 00:06:44,610 --> 00:06:46,019: all. 985 00:06:46,019 --> 00:06:46,170: The 986 00:06:46,170 --> 00:06:46,589: elders 987 00:06:46,589 --> 00:06:46,800: say 988 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:47,250: things 989 00:06:47,250 --> 00:06:47,519: live 990 00:06:47,519 --> 00:06:48,990: here…things 991 00:06:48,990 --> 00:06:49,079: that 992 00:06:49,079 --> 00:06:49,230: don’t 993 00:06:49,230 --> 00:06:49,529: belong 994 00:06:49,529 --> 00:06:49,860: anywhere 995 00:06:49,860 --> 00:06:51,360: else.”
The 996 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:51,660: lynx 997 00:06:51,660 --> 00:06:51,930: rolled 998 00:06:51,930 --> 00:06:52,050: his 999 00:06:52,050 --> 00:06:53,100: eyes. “The 1000 00:06:53,100 --> 00:06:53,790: elders 1001 00:06:53,790 --> 00:06:54,089: say 1002 00:06:54,089 --> 00:06:54,180: a 1003 00:06:54,180 --> 00:06:54,629: lot 1004 00:06:54,629 --> 00:06:54,750: of 1005 00:06:54,750 --> 00:06:56,370: things. 1006 00:06:56,370 --> 00:06:56,879: Besides, 1007 00:06:56,879 --> 00:06:56,970: you 1008 00:06:56,970 --> 00:06:57,089: know 1009 00:06:57,089 --> 00:06:57,240: this 1010 00:06:57,240 --> 00:06:57,720: path 1011 00:06:57,720 --> 00:06:57,870: is 1012 00:06:57,870 --> 00:06:57,959: the 1013 00:06:57,959 --> 00:06:58,410: fastest 1014 00:06:58,410 --> 00:06:58,589: route 1015 00:06:58,589 --> 00:06:58,680: to 1016 00:06:58,680 --> 00:06:58,800: our 1017 00:06:58,800 --> 00:06:59,250: village. 1018 00:06:59,250 --> 00:06:59,370: The 1019 00:06:59,370 --> 00:06:59,579: other 1020 00:06:59,579 --> 00:07:00,060: one that 1021 00:07:00,060 --> 00:07:00,269: goes 1022 00:07:00,269 --> 00:07:00,629: around 1023 00:07:00,629 --> 00:07:00,720: the 1024 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:01,290: forest 1025 00:07:01,290 --> 00:07:01,439: would 1026 00:07:01,439 --> 00:07:01,620: take 1027 00:07:01,620 --> 00:07:01,740: us 1028 00:07:01,740 --> 00:07:01,949: one 1029 00:07:01,949 --> 00:07:02,160: more 1030 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:02,459: day 1031 00:07:02,459 --> 00:07:02,579: to 1032 00:07:02,579 --> 00:07:02,790: get 1033 00:07:02,790 --> 00:07:04,860: home.”
Sam 1034 00:07:04,860 --> 00:07:05,250: glanced 1035 00:07:05,250 --> 00:07:05,339: at 1036 00:07:05,339 --> 00:07:05,430: him 1037 00:07:05,430 --> 00:07:06,389: sharply, 1038 00:07:06,389 --> 00:07:06,839: claws 1039 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:07,259: flexing 1040 00:07:07,259 --> 00:07:07,589: against 1041 00:07:07,589 --> 00:07:07,709: his 1042 00:07:07,709 --> 00:07:09,089: palms. “My 1043 00:07:09,089 --> 00:07:10,110: cousin 1044 00:07:10,110 --> 00:07:10,290: says 1045 00:07:10,290 --> 00:07:10,439: one 1046 00:07:10,439 --> 00:07:10,529: of 1047 00:07:10,529 --> 00:07:10,589: the 1048 00:07:10,589 --> 00:07:11,100: hunters 1049 00:07:11,100 --> 00:07:11,279: went 1050 00:07:11,279 --> 00:07:11,610: missing 1051 00:07:11,610 --> 00:07:11,879: last 1052 00:07:11,879 --> 00:07:13,079: summer. They 1053 00:07:13,079 --> 00:07:13,379: found 1054 00:07:13,379 --> 00:07:13,410: his 1055 00:07:13,410 --> 00:07:13,800: spear 1056 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:13,920: by 1057 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:14,040: the 1058 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:15,509: creek. 1059 00:07:15,509 --> 00:07:15,660: There 1060 00:07:15,660 --> 00:07:16,980: were…claw 1061 00:07:16,980 --> 00:07:17,399: marks 1062 00:07:17,399 --> 00:07:17,550: on 1063 00:07:17,550 --> 00:07:17,610: the 1064 00:07:17,610 --> 00:07:19,620: rocks.”
Nyx 1065 00:07:19,620 --> 00:07:20,059: laughed, 1066 00:07:20,059 --> 00:07:20,220: but 1067 00:07:20,220 --> 00:07:20,310: the 1068 00:07:20,310 --> 00:07:20,699: sound 1069 00:07:20,699 --> 00:07:20,879: was 1070 00:07:20,879 --> 00:07:21,209: thinner 1071 00:07:21,209 --> 00:07:21,389: than 1072 00:07:21,389 --> 00:07:22,769: before. “Maybe 1073 00:07:22,769 --> 00:07:22,889: he 1074 00:07:22,889 --> 00:07:23,220: fell 1075 00:07:23,220 --> 00:07:23,370: in 1076 00:07:23,370 --> 00:07:23,459: and 1077 00:07:23,459 --> 00:07:25,110: drowned.”
“You 1078 00:07:25,110 --> 00:07:25,529: can’t 1079 00:07:25,529 --> 00:07:25,889: joke 1080 00:07:25,889 --> 00:07:26,310: about 1081 00:07:26,310 --> 00:07:27,240: it,” 1082 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:27,660: the lion 1083 00:07:27,660 --> 00:07:28,230: said, 1084 00:07:28,230 --> 00:07:28,379: his 1085 00:07:28,379 --> 00:07:28,620: voice 1086 00:07:28,620 --> 00:07:28,920: almost 1087 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:30,360: breaking. “Talking 1088 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:30,720: about 1089 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:30,870: it 1090 00:07:30,870 --> 00:07:31,230: brings 1091 00:07:31,230 --> 00:07:31,350: it 1092 00:07:31,350 --> 00:07:33,990: closer.”
Nyx 1093 00:07:33,990 --> 00:07:34,290: turned 1094 00:07:34,290 --> 00:07:34,379: to 1095 00:07:34,379 --> 00:07:34,560: make 1096 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:34,769: another 1097 00:07:34,769 --> 00:07:35,970: remark—but 1098 00:07:35,970 --> 00:07:37,199: froze 1099 00:07:37,199 --> 00:07:37,319: when 1100 00:07:37,319 --> 00:07:37,379: he 1101 00:07:37,379 --> 00:07:37,560: heard 1102 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:37,620: a 1103 00:07:37,620 --> 00:07:38,069: cracking 1104 00:07:38,069 --> 00:07:38,430: sound 1105 00:07:38,430 --> 00:07:38,699: coming 1106 00:07:38,699 --> 00:07:38,850: from 1107 00:07:38,850 --> 00:07:38,939: the 1108 00:07:38,939 --> 00:07:40,800: underbrush. 1109 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:40,856: It 1110 00:07:40,856 --> 00:07:40,949: was 1111 00:07:40,949 --> 00:07:41,040: the 1112 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:41,279: first 1113 00:07:41,279 --> 00:07:41,550: sound 1114 00:07:41,550 --> 00:07:41,850: either 1115 00:07:41,850 --> 00:07:41,939: of 1116 00:07:41,939 --> 00:07:42,269: them 1117 00:07:42,269 --> 00:07:42,540: heard 1118 00:07:42,540 --> 00:07:42,660: in 1119 00:07:42,660 --> 00:07:42,689: a 1120 00:07:42,689 --> 00:07:44,819: while. 1121 00:07:44,819 --> 00:07:45,120: Both 1122 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:45,480: boys 1123 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:46,620: stilled, 1124 00:07:46,620 --> 00:07:46,889: ears 1125 00:07:46,889 --> 00:07:47,610: swiveling 1126 00:07:47,610 --> 00:07:47,819: toward 1127 00:07:47,819 --> 00:07:47,910: the 1128 00:07:47,910 --> 00:07:48,449: source 1129 00:07:48,449 --> 00:07:48,569: of 1130 00:07:48,569 --> 00:07:48,689: the 1131 00:07:48,689 --> 00:07:51,209: sound.
Silence 1132 00:07:51,209 --> 00:07:55,589: followed.
Sam 1133 00:07:55,589 --> 00:07:57,120: grabbed Nyx’s wrist 1134 00:07:57,120 --> 00:07:57,420: hard 1135 00:07:57,420 --> 00:07:57,689: enough 1136 00:07:57,689 --> 00:07:57,810: to 1137 00:07:57,810 --> 00:07:57,990: make 1138 00:07:57,990 --> 00:07:58,170: him 1139 00:07:58,170 --> 00:07:59,639: flinch. “Come 1140 00:07:59,639 --> 00:08:00,149: on,” 1141 00:08:00,149 --> 00:08:00,240: the 1142 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:00,569: lion 1143 00:08:00,569 --> 00:08:01,199: hissed, 1144 00:08:01,199 --> 00:08:01,589: already 1145 00:08:01,589 --> 00:08:01,949: backing 1146 00:08:01,949 --> 00:08:03,899: away.
Nyx 1147 00:08:03,899 --> 00:08:04,410: hesitated 1148 00:08:04,410 --> 00:08:04,589: only 1149 00:08:04,589 --> 00:08:04,620: a 1150 00:08:04,620 --> 00:08:04,980: moment 1151 00:08:04,980 --> 00:08:05,147: before 1152 00:08:05,147 --> 00:08:05,519: following 1153 00:08:05,519 --> 00:08:05,670: his 1154 00:08:05,670 --> 00:08:06,660: friend, 1155 00:08:06,660 --> 00:08:06,810: but 1156 00:08:06,810 --> 00:08:07,019: when 1157 00:08:07,019 --> 00:08:07,379: another 1158 00:08:07,379 --> 00:08:07,829: sound 1159 00:08:07,829 --> 00:08:08,370: rose 1160 00:08:08,370 --> 00:08:08,579: from 1161 00:08:08,579 --> 00:08:08,670: the 1162 00:08:08,670 --> 00:08:09,120: direction 1163 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:09,209: of 1164 00:08:09,209 --> 00:08:09,300: the 1165 00:08:09,300 --> 00:08:10,800: Talls—low 1166 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:10,980: and 1167 00:08:10,980 --> 00:08:11,759: dragging, 1168 00:08:11,759 --> 00:08:12,029: like 1169 00:08:12,029 --> 00:08:12,569: claws 1170 00:08:12,569 --> 00:08:12,870: raking 1171 00:08:12,870 --> 00:08:13,290: across 1172 00:08:13,290 --> 00:08:14,790: bark—his 1173 00:08:14,790 --> 00:08:15,240: instinct 1174 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:15,449: took 1175 00:08:15,449 --> 00:08:16,500: over. 1176 00:08:16,500 --> 00:08:16,620: The 1177 00:08:16,620 --> 00:08:16,920: boys 1178 00:08:16,920 --> 00:08:17,519: bolted, 1179 00:08:17,519 --> 00:08:17,879: legs 1180 00:08:17,879 --> 00:08:18,389: pumping, 1181 00:08:18,389 --> 00:08:18,810: tail 1182 00:08:18,810 --> 00:08:19,259: streaming 1183 00:08:19,259 --> 00:08:19,620: behind 1184 00:08:19,620 --> 00:08:20,459: them.
The 1185 00:08:20,459 --> 00:08:21,120: forest 1186 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:21,449: stayed 1187 00:08:21,449 --> 00:08:22,620: quiet. 1188 00:08:22,620 --> 00:08:22,800: But 1189 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:23,430: something 1190 00:08:23,430 --> 00:08:23,759: was 1191 00:08:23,759 --> 00:08:24,269: surely 1192 00:08:24,269 --> 00:08:24,930: following 1193 00:08:24,930 --> 00:08:27,149: them.
Nyx 1194 00:08:27,149 --> 00:08:27,360: didn’t 1195 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:27,569: look 1196 00:08:27,569 --> 00:08:28,529: back. 1197 00:08:28,529 --> 00:08:28,680: He 1198 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:30,629: wouldn’t.
The 1199 00:08:30,629 --> 00:08:31,079: rhyme 1200 00:08:31,079 --> 00:08:31,199: that 1201 00:08:31,199 --> 00:08:31,290: he 1202 00:08:31,290 --> 00:08:31,560: heard 1203 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:31,680: when 1204 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:31,740: he 1205 00:08:31,740 --> 00:08:31,860: was 1206 00:08:31,860 --> 00:08:31,919: a 1207 00:08:31,919 --> 00:08:32,129: little 1208 00:08:32,129 --> 00:08:32,415: kit 1209 00:08:32,415 --> 00:08:32,700: bubbled 1210 00:08:32,700 --> 00:08:32,789: up 1211 00:08:32,789 --> 00:08:32,945: from 1212 00:08:32,945 --> 00:08:33,210: memory 1213 00:08:33,210 --> 00:08:33,389: like 1214 00:08:33,389 --> 00:08:33,450: a 1215 00:08:33,450 --> 00:08:34,019: curse, 1216 00:08:34,019 --> 00:08:34,679: unbidden, 1217 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:35,279: impossible 1218 00:08:35,279 --> 00:08:35,429: to 1219 00:08:35,429 --> 00:08:36,840: ignore.
“Hush 1220 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:37,023: now 1221 00:08:37,023 --> 00:08:37,679: children 1222 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:37,889: dare 1223 00:08:37,889 --> 00:08:38,129: not 1224 00:08:38,129 --> 00:08:38,970: rise,
The 1225 00:08:38,970 --> 00:08:39,299: wind 1226 00:08:39,299 --> 00:08:40,080: outside 1227 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:40,259: where 1228 00:08:40,259 --> 00:08:40,710: whisper 1229 00:08:40,710 --> 00:08:42,090: lies.
Fill 1230 00:08:42,090 --> 00:08:42,299: your 1231 00:08:42,299 --> 00:08:42,750: soul 1232 00:08:42,750 --> 00:08:42,960: with 1233 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:43,409: ghoulish 1234 00:08:43,409 --> 00:08:44,340: fright,
The 1235 00:08:44,340 --> 00:08:44,820: voice 1236 00:08:44,820 --> 00:08:44,970: that 1237 00:08:44,970 --> 00:08:45,389: calls 1238 00:08:45,389 --> 00:08:45,750: out 1239 00:08:45,750 --> 00:08:45,960: in 1240 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:46,080: the 1241 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:47,374: night.
The 1242 00:08:47,374 --> 00:08:47,821: Faju 1243 00:08:47,821 --> 00:08:48,360: arrives 1244 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:48,539: when 1245 00:08:48,539 --> 00:08:48,840: moon 1246 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:49,049: is 1247 00:08:49,049 --> 00:08:49,769: pale,
With 1248 00:08:49,769 --> 00:08:50,399: broken 1249 00:08:50,399 --> 00:08:50,820: songs 1250 00:08:50,820 --> 00:08:50,909: and 1251 00:08:50,909 --> 00:08:51,360: hollow 1252 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:52,230: wails.
It 1253 00:08:52,230 --> 00:08:52,649: wears 1254 00:08:52,649 --> 00:08:52,710: a 1255 00:08:52,710 --> 00:08:53,159: face 1256 00:08:53,159 --> 00:08:53,399: like 1257 00:08:53,399 --> 00:08:53,850: mother’s 1258 00:08:53,850 --> 00:08:54,840: skin,
To 1259 00:08:54,840 --> 00:08:55,320: draw 1260 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:55,440: the 1261 00:08:55,440 --> 00:08:55,830: daring 1262 00:08:55,830 --> 00:08:56,370: children 1263 00:08:56,370 --> 00:08:57,870: in.
Stay 1264 00:08:57,870 --> 00:08:58,470: inside, 1265 00:08:58,470 --> 00:08:58,590: your 1266 00:08:58,590 --> 00:08:59,159: windows 1267 00:08:59,159 --> 00:09:00,149: bind,
Lest 1268 00:09:00,149 --> 00:09:00,299: your 1269 00:09:00,299 --> 00:09:00,870: bones 1270 00:09:00,870 --> 00:09:00,990: be 1271 00:09:00,990 --> 00:09:01,350: left 1272 00:09:01,350 --> 00:09:03,149: behind.
The Faju 1273 00:09:03,149 --> 00:09:03,330: is 1274 00:09:03,330 --> 00:09:03,840: kind 1275 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:03,960: to 1276 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:04,289: those 1277 00:09:04,289 --> 00:09:04,559: who 1278 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:05,730: hide,
But 1279 00:09:05,730 --> 00:09:06,480: walks 1280 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:06,750: with 1281 00:09:06,750 --> 00:09:07,409: those 1282 00:09:07,409 --> 00:09:07,649: who 1283 00:09:07,649 --> 00:09:08,340: go 1284 00:09:08,340 --> 00:09:11,309: outside.”
His 1285 00:09:11,309 --> 00:09:11,580: breath 1286 00:09:11,580 --> 00:09:11,850: tore 1287 00:09:11,850 --> 00:09:12,269: ragged 1288 00:09:12,269 --> 00:09:12,360: in 1289 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:12,509: his 1290 00:09:12,509 --> 00:09:13,080: throat, 1291 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:13,259: his 1292 00:09:13,259 --> 00:09:13,590: paw 1293 00:09:13,590 --> 00:09:13,894: pads 1294 00:09:13,894 --> 00:09:14,250: slipping 1295 00:09:14,250 --> 00:09:14,340: on 1296 00:09:14,340 --> 00:09:14,429: the 1297 00:09:14,429 --> 00:09:14,639: dirt 1298 00:09:14,639 --> 00:09:15,509: path. 1299 00:09:15,509 --> 00:09:15,600: The 1300 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:15,960: sky 1301 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:16,230: turned 1302 00:09:16,230 --> 00:09:16,919: crimson, 1303 00:09:16,919 --> 00:09:17,220: like 1304 00:09:17,220 --> 00:09:17,940: blood-soaked 1305 00:09:17,940 --> 00:09:18,389: cloth 1306 00:09:18,389 --> 00:09:18,840: covering 1307 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:18,929: the 1308 00:09:18,929 --> 00:09:19,950: world. 1309 00:09:19,950 --> 00:09:20,460: Everywhere 1310 00:09:20,460 --> 00:09:20,610: he 1311 00:09:20,610 --> 00:09:20,940: looked, 1312 00:09:20,940 --> 00:09:21,059: the 1313 00:09:21,059 --> 00:09:21,360: dark 1314 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:21,870: shadows 1315 00:09:21,870 --> 00:09:22,136: seemed 1316 00:09:22,136 --> 00:09:22,200: to 1317 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:22,769: distort 1318 00:09:22,769 --> 00:09:22,889: the 1319 00:09:22,889 --> 00:09:23,460: silhouette 1320 00:09:23,460 --> 00:09:23,580: of 1321 00:09:23,580 --> 00:09:24,059: trees 1322 00:09:24,059 --> 00:09:24,179: and 1323 00:09:24,179 --> 00:09:24,600: bushes 1324 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:24,809: into 1325 00:09:24,809 --> 00:09:25,559: monsters 1326 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:25,710: of 1327 00:09:25,710 --> 00:09:26,129: different 1328 00:09:26,129 --> 00:09:26,669: sizes 1329 00:09:26,669 --> 00:09:26,789: and 1330 00:09:26,789 --> 00:09:28,110: shapes. 1331 00:09:28,110 --> 00:09:28,320: All 1332 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:28,440: were 1333 00:09:28,440 --> 00:09:29,309: watching, 1334 00:09:29,309 --> 00:09:29,519: all 1335 00:09:29,519 --> 00:09:29,639: were 1336 00:09:29,639 --> 00:09:30,450: waiting 1337 00:09:30,450 --> 00:09:30,629: for 1338 00:09:30,629 --> 00:09:30,750: the 1339 00:09:30,750 --> 00:09:31,019: lynx 1340 00:09:31,019 --> 00:09:31,139: to 1341 00:09:31,139 --> 00:09:31,980: slip, 1342 00:09:31,980 --> 00:09:32,190: and 1343 00:09:32,190 --> 00:09:33,149: trip, 1344 00:09:33,149 --> 00:09:33,299: and 1345 00:09:33,299 --> 00:09:33,419: be 1346 00:09:33,419 --> 00:09:34,080: caught 1347 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:34,259: by 1348 00:09:34,259 --> 00:09:34,379: the 1349 00:09:34,379 --> 00:09:37,409: Faju.
Just 1350 00:09:37,409 --> 00:09:37,559: as 1351 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:37,771: Nyx 1352 00:09:37,771 --> 00:09:37,889: was 1353 00:09:37,889 --> 00:09:38,100: about 1354 00:09:38,100 --> 00:09:38,159: to 1355 00:09:38,159 --> 00:09:38,460: scream 1356 00:09:38,460 --> 00:09:38,580: in 1357 00:09:38,580 --> 00:09:38,879: terror, 1358 00:09:38,879 --> 00:09:39,000: he 1359 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:39,210: caught 1360 00:09:39,210 --> 00:09:39,240: a 1361 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:39,570: glimpse 1362 00:09:39,570 --> 00:09:39,629: of 1363 00:09:39,629 --> 00:09:39,690: a 1364 00:09:39,690 --> 00:09:39,990: wooden 1365 00:09:39,990 --> 00:09:40,350: structure 1366 00:09:40,350 --> 00:09:40,440: in 1367 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:40,529: the 1368 00:09:40,529 --> 00:09:41,789: distance. 1369 00:09:41,789 --> 00:09:41,909: He 1370 00:09:41,909 --> 00:09:42,629: squinted 1371 00:09:42,629 --> 00:09:42,779: and saw 1372 00:09:42,779 --> 00:09:42,899: an 1373 00:09:42,899 --> 00:09:43,080: old 1374 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:43,379: shack 1375 00:09:43,379 --> 00:09:43,440: at 1376 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:43,500: a 1377 00:09:43,500 --> 00:09:43,769: short 1378 00:09:43,769 --> 00:09:44,070: distance 1379 00:09:44,070 --> 00:09:44,159: from 1380 00:09:44,159 --> 00:09:44,250: the 1381 00:09:44,250 --> 00:09:45,720: path.
Now, 1382 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:46,140: behind 1383 00:09:46,140 --> 00:09:46,229: him, 1384 00:09:46,229 --> 00:09:46,320: the 1385 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:46,590: sound 1386 00:09:46,590 --> 00:09:47,879: changed. 1387 00:09:47,879 --> 00:09:48,059: It 1388 00:09:48,059 --> 00:09:48,450: wasn’t 1389 00:09:48,450 --> 00:09:48,870: dragging 1390 00:09:48,870 --> 00:09:49,320: anymore. 1391 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:49,409: It 1392 00:09:49,409 --> 00:09:49,590: was 1393 00:09:49,590 --> 00:09:51,240: running.
And 1394 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:51,690: it 1395 00:09:51,690 --> 00:09:51,960: was 1396 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:52,830: running 1397 00:09:52,830 --> 00:09:55,440: fast.
Nyx 1398 00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:55,925: sprinted the 1399 00:09:55,925 --> 00:09:56,220: last 1400 00:09:56,220 --> 00:09:56,580: stretch 1401 00:09:56,580 --> 00:09:57,000: and, 1402 00:09:57,000 --> 00:09:57,360: without 1403 00:09:57,360 --> 00:09:58,139: deliberating, 1404 00:09:58,139 --> 00:09:58,409: ran 1405 00:09:58,409 --> 00:09:58,679: inside 1406 00:09:58,679 --> 00:09:58,769: the 1407 00:09:58,769 --> 00:09:59,279: shack, 1408 00:09:59,279 --> 00:09:59,669: slammed 1409 00:09:59,669 --> 00:09:59,759: the 1410 00:09:59,759 --> 00:09:59,909: door 1411 00:09:59,909 --> 00:10:00,480: shut, 1412 00:10:00,480 --> 00:10:00,659: and 1413 00:10:00,659 --> 00:10:00,960: shoved 1414 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:01,019: the 1415 00:10:01,019 --> 00:10:01,200: heavy 1416 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:01,500: latch 1417 00:10:01,500 --> 00:10:01,620: into 1418 00:10:01,620 --> 00:10:01,889: place 1419 00:10:01,889 --> 00:10:02,009: with 1420 00:10:02,009 --> 00:10:02,370: trembling 1421 00:10:02,370 --> 00:10:03,779: paws. 1422 00:10:03,779 --> 00:10:03,929: He 1423 00:10:03,929 --> 00:10:04,259: leaned 1424 00:10:04,259 --> 00:10:04,590: back 1425 00:10:04,590 --> 00:10:04,860: against 1426 00:10:04,860 --> 00:10:04,950: the 1427 00:10:04,950 --> 00:10:05,820: door, 1428 00:10:05,820 --> 00:10:06,134: chest 1429 00:10:06,134 --> 00:10:07,110: heaving, 1430 00:10:07,110 --> 00:10:07,500: ears 1431 00:10:07,500 --> 00:10:07,830: ringing 1432 00:10:07,830 --> 00:10:08,009: from 1433 00:10:08,009 --> 00:10:08,159: his 1434 00:10:08,159 --> 00:10:08,370: own 1435 00:10:08,370 --> 00:10:10,321: heartbeat.
It 1436 00:10:10,321 --> 00:10:10,549: was 1437 00:10:10,549 --> 00:10:11,240: pitch black 1438 00:10:11,240 --> 00:10:11,690: inside 1439 00:10:11,690 --> 00:10:11,779: the 1440 00:10:11,779 --> 00:10:12,470: shack, 1441 00:10:12,470 --> 00:10:12,590: for 1442 00:10:12,590 --> 00:10:12,679: it 1443 00:10:12,679 --> 00:10:12,919: had 1444 00:10:12,919 --> 00:10:13,100: no 1445 00:10:13,100 --> 00:10:14,570: windows; 1446 00:10:14,570 --> 00:10:15,006: it appeared to have 1447 00:10:15,006 --> 00:10:15,169: been 1448 00:10:15,169 --> 00:10:15,440: built 1449 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:15,500: as 1450 00:10:15,500 --> 00:10:15,559: a 1451 00:10:15,559 --> 00:10:15,830: place 1452 00:10:15,830 --> 00:10:15,952: for 1453 00:10:15,952 --> 00:10:15,980: a 1454 00:10:15,980 --> 00:10:16,521: woodcutter 1455 00:10:16,521 --> 00:10:16,608: to 1456 00:10:16,608 --> 00:10:16,820: stay 1457 00:10:16,820 --> 00:10:17,600: overnight 1458 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:17,690: to be 1459 00:10:17,690 --> 00:10:18,139: protected 1460 00:10:18,139 --> 00:10:18,289: from 1461 00:10:18,289 --> 00:10:18,409: the 1462 00:10:18,409 --> 00:10:19,100: elements 1463 00:10:19,100 --> 00:10:19,279: for 1464 00:10:19,279 --> 00:10:19,340: a 1465 00:10:19,340 --> 00:10:19,700: short 1466 00:10:19,700 --> 00:10:19,940: amount 1467 00:10:19,940 --> 00:10:20,029: of 1468 00:10:20,029 --> 00:10:21,379: time. 1469 00:10:21,379 --> 00:10:21,559: There 1470 00:10:21,559 --> 00:10:21,769: was 1471 00:10:21,769 --> 00:10:22,039: enough 1472 00:10:22,039 --> 00:10:22,220: room 1473 00:10:22,220 --> 00:10:22,669: inside 1474 00:10:22,669 --> 00:10:22,894: for 1475 00:10:22,894 --> 00:10:23,210: an adult to 1476 00:10:23,210 --> 00:10:23,450: lie 1477 00:10:23,450 --> 00:10:24,440: down, 1478 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:24,620: but 1479 00:10:24,620 --> 00:10:24,830: not 1480 00:10:24,830 --> 00:10:25,039: much 1481 00:10:25,039 --> 00:10:25,399: more 1482 00:10:25,399 --> 00:10:25,549: than 1483 00:10:25,549 --> 00:10:27,259: that.
But 1484 00:10:27,259 --> 00:10:27,529: Nyx 1485 00:10:27,529 --> 00:10:27,649: was 1486 00:10:27,649 --> 00:10:27,860: still 1487 00:10:27,860 --> 00:10:28,220: grateful 1488 00:10:28,220 --> 00:10:28,399: for 1489 00:10:28,399 --> 00:10:28,610: this 1490 00:10:28,610 --> 00:10:29,659: godsend. 1491 00:10:29,659 --> 00:10:29,840: As 1492 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:29,929: he 1493 00:10:29,929 --> 00:10:30,230: waited 1494 00:10:30,230 --> 00:10:30,409: for 1495 00:10:30,409 --> 00:10:30,529: his 1496 00:10:30,529 --> 00:10:30,769: heart 1497 00:10:30,769 --> 00:10:30,860: to 1498 00:10:30,860 --> 00:10:31,159: stop 1499 00:10:31,159 --> 00:10:31,669: pounding 1500 00:10:31,669 --> 00:10:31,879: like 1501 00:10:31,879 --> 00:10:31,940: a 1502 00:10:31,940 --> 00:10:32,480: festival 1503 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:32,780: drum, 1504 00:10:32,780 --> 00:10:32,960: he 1505 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:33,470: carefully 1506 00:10:33,470 --> 00:10:33,740: leaned 1507 00:10:33,740 --> 00:10:34,040: against 1508 00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:34,100: the 1509 00:10:34,100 --> 00:10:34,549: door 1510 00:10:34,549 --> 00:10:34,700: and 1511 00:10:34,700 --> 00:10:36,620: listened. 1512 00:10:36,620 --> 00:10:37,250: Silence 1513 00:10:37,250 --> 00:10:37,820: surrounded 1514 00:10:37,820 --> 00:10:37,940: him 1515 00:10:37,940 --> 00:10:38,059: in 1516 00:10:38,059 --> 00:10:38,240: all 1517 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:39,080: directions, 1518 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:47,960: until…
Scrrrrk.
Long, 1519 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:48,559: deliberate 1520 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:49,580: claws 1521 00:10:49,580 --> 00:10:50,090: dragged 1522 00:10:50,090 --> 00:10:50,539: across 1523 00:10:50,539 --> 00:10:50,629: the 1524 00:10:50,629 --> 00:10:50,870: wooden 1525 00:10:50,870 --> 00:10:51,259: door 1526 00:10:51,259 --> 00:10:51,409: from 1527 00:10:51,409 --> 00:10:51,500: the 1528 00:10:51,500 --> 00:10:51,710: other 1529 00:10:51,710 --> 00:10:52,909: side, 1530 00:10:52,909 --> 00:10:53,210: right 1531 00:10:53,210 --> 00:10:54,019: beneath 1532 00:10:54,019 --> 00:10:54,169: where 1533 00:10:54,169 --> 00:10:54,620: Nyx’s 1534 00:10:54,620 --> 00:10:54,860: head 1535 00:10:54,860 --> 00:10:55,070: was 1536 00:10:55,070 --> 00:10:57,080: placed. 1537 00:10:57,080 --> 00:10:57,169: The 1538 00:10:57,169 --> 00:10:57,500: sound 1539 00:10:57,500 --> 00:10:58,009: vibrated 1540 00:10:58,009 --> 00:10:58,159: through 1541 00:10:58,159 --> 00:10:58,279: the 1542 00:10:58,279 --> 00:10:59,269: wood, 1543 00:10:59,269 --> 00:10:59,899: low 1544 00:10:59,899 --> 00:11:00,110: and 1545 00:11:00,110 --> 00:11:01,549: slow, 1546 00:11:01,549 --> 00:11:01,850: like 1547 00:11:01,850 --> 00:11:02,299: whatever 1548 00:11:02,299 --> 00:11:02,570: was 1549 00:11:02,570 --> 00:11:02,840: out 1550 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:03,049: there 1551 00:11:03,049 --> 00:11:03,289: was 1552 00:11:03,289 --> 00:11:03,950: tasting 1553 00:11:03,950 --> 00:11:04,039: the 1554 00:11:04,039 --> 00:11:04,429: small 1555 00:11:04,429 --> 00:11:04,879: shack 1556 00:11:04,879 --> 00:11:05,059: with 1557 00:11:05,059 --> 00:11:05,269: its 1558 00:11:05,269 --> 00:11:07,909: touch.
Nyx’s 1559 00:11:07,909 --> 00:11:08,240: tail 1560 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:08,629: puffed 1561 00:11:08,629 --> 00:11:09,470: out, 1562 00:11:09,470 --> 00:11:09,710: every 1563 00:11:09,710 --> 00:11:10,070: hair 1564 00:11:10,070 --> 00:11:10,490: standing 1565 00:11:10,490 --> 00:11:10,669: on 1566 00:11:10,669 --> 00:11:13,669: end.
Tap. 1567 00:11:13,669 --> 00:11:15,080: Tap. 1568 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:19,340: Tap.
Three 1569 00:11:19,340 --> 00:11:19,700: sharp 1570 00:11:19,700 --> 00:11:20,179: knocks 1571 00:11:20,179 --> 00:11:20,509: against 1572 00:11:20,509 --> 00:11:20,570: the 1573 00:11:20,570 --> 00:11:21,740: shutters. 1574 00:11:21,740 --> 00:11:23,240: Precise. 1575 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:25,429: Testing.
He 1576 00:11:25,429 --> 00:11:25,759: backed 1577 00:11:25,759 --> 00:11:25,970: away 1578 00:11:25,970 --> 00:11:26,149: from 1579 00:11:26,149 --> 00:11:26,269: the 1580 00:11:26,269 --> 00:11:26,690: door, 1581 00:11:26,690 --> 00:11:27,049: paws 1582 00:11:27,049 --> 00:11:27,289: gripping 1583 00:11:27,289 --> 00:11:27,379: the 1584 00:11:27,379 --> 00:11:28,399: floorboards, 1585 00:11:28,399 --> 00:11:28,549: but 1586 00:11:28,549 --> 00:11:28,639: the 1587 00:11:28,639 --> 00:11:29,059: sound 1588 00:11:29,059 --> 00:11:29,450: followed 1589 00:11:29,450 --> 00:11:30,200: him. 1590 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:31,610: Scrrk. 1591 00:11:31,610 --> 00:11:32,779: Tap. 1592 00:11:32,779 --> 00:11:34,250: Scrrk. 1593 00:11:34,250 --> 00:11:36,350: Tap. 1594 00:11:36,350 --> 00:11:36,679: Moving 1595 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:37,009: along 1596 00:11:37,009 --> 00:11:37,100: the 1597 00:11:37,100 --> 00:11:37,909: wall, 1598 00:11:37,909 --> 00:11:38,299: creeping 1599 00:11:38,299 --> 00:11:39,289: closer, 1600 00:11:39,289 --> 00:11:39,919: tracing 1601 00:11:39,919 --> 00:11:40,009: the 1602 00:11:40,009 --> 00:11:40,399: shape 1603 00:11:40,399 --> 00:11:40,519: of 1604 00:11:40,519 --> 00:11:40,610: the 1605 00:11:40,610 --> 00:11:41,059: shack 1606 00:11:41,059 --> 00:11:41,299: from 1607 00:11:41,299 --> 00:11:44,269: outside.
The thing 1608 00:11:44,269 --> 00:11:44,450: then 1609 00:11:44,450 --> 00:11:44,809: climbed up 1610 00:11:44,809 --> 00:11:44,990: onto 1611 00:11:44,990 --> 00:11:45,080: the 1612 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:46,009: roof. 1613 00:11:46,009 --> 00:11:46,190: He 1614 00:11:46,190 --> 00:11:46,519: heard 1615 00:11:46,519 --> 00:11:46,610: the 1616 00:11:46,610 --> 00:11:46,909: wooden 1617 00:11:46,909 --> 00:11:47,299: boards 1618 00:11:47,299 --> 00:11:47,360: of 1619 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:47,450: the 1620 00:11:47,450 --> 00:11:47,720: roof 1621 00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:48,110: groan 1622 00:11:48,110 --> 00:11:48,320: under 1623 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:48,409: the 1624 00:11:48,409 --> 00:11:58,070: strain.
“Faju…”
It 1625 00:11:58,070 --> 00:11:58,250: was 1626 00:11:58,250 --> 00:11:58,279: a 1627 00:11:58,279 --> 00:11:59,480: whisper, 1628 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:00,049: barely 1629 00:12:00,049 --> 00:12:00,379: loud 1630 00:12:00,379 --> 00:12:00,679: enough 1631 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:00,919: for 1632 00:12:00,919 --> 00:12:01,220: Nyx 1633 00:12:01,220 --> 00:12:01,340: to 1634 00:12:01,340 --> 00:12:02,330: hear. 1635 00:12:02,330 --> 00:12:02,509: But 1636 00:12:02,509 --> 00:12:02,690: he 1637 00:12:02,690 --> 00:12:02,960: heard 1638 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:03,056: it, 1639 00:12:03,056 --> 00:12:03,169: all 1640 00:12:03,169 --> 00:12:05,000: right. 1641 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:05,090: The 1642 00:12:05,090 --> 00:12:05,360: voice 1643 00:12:05,360 --> 00:12:05,750: seemed 1644 00:12:05,750 --> 00:12:06,620: wrong, 1645 00:12:06,620 --> 00:12:07,129: terribly 1646 00:12:07,129 --> 00:12:08,149: wrong. 1647 00:12:08,149 --> 00:12:08,269: It 1648 00:12:08,269 --> 00:12:08,419: was 1649 00:12:08,419 --> 00:12:08,870: low 1650 00:12:08,870 --> 00:12:09,080: and 1651 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:09,590: wet, 1652 00:12:09,590 --> 00:12:09,860: like 1653 00:12:09,860 --> 00:12:10,669: stones 1654 00:12:10,669 --> 00:12:11,029: grinding 1655 00:12:11,029 --> 00:12:11,570: together 1656 00:12:11,570 --> 00:12:17,299: under water.
“Faju…open 1657 00:12:17,299 --> 00:12:17,600: the 1658 00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:20,299: door.”
His 1659 00:12:20,299 --> 00:12:20,659: breathing 1660 00:12:20,659 --> 00:12:21,830: hitched. 1661 00:12:21,830 --> 00:12:21,980: He 1662 00:12:21,980 --> 00:12:22,399: clamped 1663 00:12:22,399 --> 00:12:22,730: both 1664 00:12:22,730 --> 00:12:23,269: paws 1665 00:12:23,269 --> 00:12:23,419: over 1666 00:12:23,419 --> 00:12:23,600: his 1667 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:24,590: muzzle, 1668 00:12:24,590 --> 00:12:30,350: shaking.
“Faju…let 1669 00:12:30,350 --> 00:12:31,220: me 1670 00:12:31,220 --> 00:12:34,070: in.”
But 1671 00:12:34,070 --> 00:12:34,309: before 1672 00:12:34,309 --> 00:12:34,549: Nyx 1673 00:12:34,549 --> 00:12:34,669: could 1674 00:12:34,669 --> 00:12:34,850: think 1675 00:12:34,850 --> 00:12:34,909: of 1676 00:12:34,909 --> 00:12:35,029: what 1677 00:12:35,029 --> 00:12:35,120: to 1678 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:35,299: do, 1679 00:12:35,299 --> 00:12:35,389: the 1680 00:12:35,389 --> 00:12:35,600: thing 1681 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:36,019: outside 1682 00:12:36,019 --> 00:12:36,320: began 1683 00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:36,889: pounding 1684 00:12:36,889 --> 00:12:37,009: the 1685 00:12:37,009 --> 00:12:37,220: door 1686 00:12:37,220 --> 00:12:37,309: and 1687 00:12:37,309 --> 00:12:37,370: the 1688 00:12:37,370 --> 00:12:37,640: walls 1689 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:37,698: of 1690 00:12:37,698 --> 00:12:37,789: the 1691 00:12:37,789 --> 00:12:38,659: shack, 1692 00:12:38,659 --> 00:12:39,139: rattling 1693 00:12:39,139 --> 00:12:39,320: them 1694 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:40,309: violently 1695 00:12:40,309 --> 00:12:40,460: as 1696 00:12:40,460 --> 00:12:41,179: something 1697 00:12:41,179 --> 00:12:41,840: slammed 1698 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:42,080: into 1699 00:12:42,080 --> 00:12:42,320: them 1700 00:12:42,320 --> 00:12:42,679: over 1701 00:12:42,679 --> 00:12:42,799: and 1702 00:12:42,799 --> 00:12:43,370: over, 1703 00:12:43,370 --> 00:12:43,669: each 1704 00:12:43,669 --> 00:12:44,059: strike 1705 00:12:44,059 --> 00:12:44,450: heavier 1706 00:12:44,450 --> 00:12:44,600: than 1707 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:44,690: the 1708 00:12:44,690 --> 00:12:45,919: last. 1709 00:12:45,919 --> 00:12:46,610: Splinters 1710 00:12:46,610 --> 00:12:46,909: jumped 1711 00:12:46,909 --> 00:12:47,090: from 1712 00:12:47,090 --> 00:12:47,179: the 1713 00:12:47,179 --> 00:12:47,629: wood, 1714 00:12:47,629 --> 00:12:48,289: scattering 1715 00:12:48,289 --> 00:12:48,620: across 1716 00:12:48,620 --> 00:12:48,710: the 1717 00:12:48,710 --> 00:12:49,190: floor 1718 00:12:49,190 --> 00:12:49,460: as 1719 00:12:49,460 --> 00:12:50,000: dust 1720 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:50,450: drifted 1721 00:12:50,450 --> 00:12:50,600: from 1722 00:12:50,600 --> 00:12:50,690: the 1723 00:12:50,690 --> 00:12:51,049: ceiling 1724 00:12:51,049 --> 00:12:52,039: beams. 1725 00:12:52,039 --> 00:12:52,220: The 1726 00:12:52,220 --> 00:12:52,639: walls 1727 00:12:52,639 --> 00:12:53,120: groaned 1728 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:53,273: under 1729 00:12:53,273 --> 00:12:53,389: the 1730 00:12:53,389 --> 00:12:53,570: weight 1731 00:12:53,570 --> 00:12:53,659: of 1732 00:12:53,659 --> 00:12:54,230: it, 1733 00:12:54,230 --> 00:12:54,350: the 1734 00:12:54,350 --> 00:12:54,830: shack 1735 00:12:54,830 --> 00:12:55,669: shuddering 1736 00:12:55,669 --> 00:12:55,850: with 1737 00:12:55,850 --> 00:12:56,090: every 1738 00:12:56,090 --> 00:12:58,009: blow.
Something 1739 00:12:58,009 --> 00:12:58,399: dragged 1740 00:12:58,399 --> 00:12:58,549: its 1741 00:12:58,549 --> 00:12:58,970: claws 1742 00:12:58,970 --> 00:12:59,330: across 1743 00:12:59,330 --> 00:12:59,419: the 1744 00:12:59,419 --> 00:12:59,899: boards, 1745 00:12:59,899 --> 00:13:00,799: slow 1746 00:13:00,799 --> 00:13:00,980: and 1747 00:13:00,980 --> 00:13:01,639: deliberate, 1748 00:13:01,639 --> 00:13:02,149: testing 1749 00:13:02,149 --> 00:13:02,269: the 1750 00:13:02,269 --> 00:13:02,629: seams 1751 00:13:02,629 --> 00:13:02,690: of 1752 00:13:02,690 --> 00:13:02,750: the 1753 00:13:02,750 --> 00:13:03,259: shack, 1754 00:13:03,259 --> 00:13:03,889: scratching 1755 00:13:03,889 --> 00:13:04,519: deeper 1756 00:13:04,519 --> 00:13:04,730: and 1757 00:13:04,730 --> 00:13:05,330: deeper 1758 00:13:05,330 --> 00:13:05,659: each 1759 00:13:05,659 --> 00:13:08,659: time.
Scrrrrrk.
The 1760 00:13:08,659 --> 00:13:08,990: sound 1761 00:13:08,990 --> 00:13:09,230: made 1762 00:13:09,230 --> 00:13:09,769: Nyx’s 1763 00:13:09,769 --> 00:13:10,039: fur 1764 00:13:10,039 --> 00:13:10,639: bristle, 1765 00:13:10,639 --> 00:13:10,850: his 1766 00:13:10,850 --> 00:13:11,149: ears 1767 00:13:11,149 --> 00:13:11,629: flattening 1768 00:13:11,629 --> 00:13:11,750: as 1769 00:13:11,750 --> 00:13:11,809: he 1770 00:13:11,809 --> 00:13:12,139: shoved 1771 00:13:12,139 --> 00:13:12,259: his 1772 00:13:12,259 --> 00:13:12,590: paws 1773 00:13:12,590 --> 00:13:12,799: over 1774 00:13:12,799 --> 00:13:12,950: them, 1775 00:13:12,950 --> 00:13:13,129: but 1776 00:13:13,129 --> 00:13:13,190: it 1777 00:13:13,190 --> 00:13:13,490: didn’t 1778 00:13:13,490 --> 00:13:14,360: help. 1779 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:14,480: The 1780 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:14,929: scratching 1781 00:13:14,929 --> 00:13:15,139: wasn’t 1782 00:13:15,139 --> 00:13:15,350: just 1783 00:13:15,350 --> 00:13:15,620: loud; 1784 00:13:15,620 --> 00:13:15,710: it 1785 00:13:15,710 --> 00:13:15,889: was 1786 00:13:15,889 --> 00:13:16,519: inside 1787 00:13:16,519 --> 00:13:17,090: him, 1788 00:13:17,090 --> 00:13:17,539: buzzing 1789 00:13:17,539 --> 00:13:17,659: in 1790 00:13:17,659 --> 00:13:17,840: his 1791 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:18,440: skull, 1792 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:19,190: vibrating 1793 00:13:19,190 --> 00:13:19,429: down 1794 00:13:19,429 --> 00:13:19,580: his 1795 00:13:19,580 --> 00:13:21,080: spine.
Then 1796 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:21,379: came 1797 00:13:21,379 --> 00:13:21,470: the 1798 00:13:21,470 --> 00:13:22,730: footsteps. 1799 00:13:22,730 --> 00:13:23,600: Heavy, 1800 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:25,129: intentional. 1801 00:13:25,129 --> 00:13:25,309: They 1802 00:13:25,309 --> 00:13:25,789: circled 1803 00:13:25,789 --> 00:13:25,879: the 1804 00:13:25,879 --> 00:13:26,240: shack 1805 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:26,389: in 1806 00:13:26,389 --> 00:13:26,750: uneven 1807 00:13:26,750 --> 00:13:27,350: bursts, 1808 00:13:27,350 --> 00:13:27,500: as 1809 00:13:27,500 --> 00:13:27,620: if 1810 00:13:27,620 --> 00:13:27,860: whatever 1811 00:13:27,860 --> 00:13:28,070: was 1812 00:13:28,070 --> 00:13:28,490: outside 1813 00:13:28,490 --> 00:13:28,759: wasn’t 1814 00:13:28,759 --> 00:13:29,120: walking 1815 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:29,210: so 1816 00:13:29,210 --> 00:13:29,419: much 1817 00:13:29,419 --> 00:13:29,509: as 1818 00:13:29,509 --> 00:13:30,799: stalking, 1819 00:13:30,799 --> 00:13:31,309: testing 1820 00:13:31,309 --> 00:13:31,549: each 1821 00:13:31,549 --> 00:13:31,879: wall, 1822 00:13:31,879 --> 00:13:32,059: each 1823 00:13:32,059 --> 00:13:32,330: wooden 1824 00:13:32,330 --> 00:13:32,690: board 1825 00:13:32,690 --> 00:13:32,840: that 1826 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:33,350: formed 1827 00:13:33,350 --> 00:13:33,440: the 1828 00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:33,799: small 1829 00:13:33,799 --> 00:13:35,690: shack.
THUD! 1830 00:13:35,690 --> 00:13:35,929: came 1831 00:13:35,929 --> 00:13:36,230: against 1832 00:13:36,230 --> 00:13:36,320: the 1833 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:36,529: door 1834 00:13:36,529 --> 00:13:38,299: again.
THUD! 1835 00:13:38,299 --> 00:13:38,509: This 1836 00:13:38,509 --> 00:13:38,720: time, 1837 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:38,840: on 1838 00:13:38,840 --> 00:13:38,899: the 1839 00:13:38,899 --> 00:13:39,139: wall 1840 00:13:39,139 --> 00:13:39,409: next 1841 00:13:39,409 --> 00:13:39,529: to 1842 00:13:39,529 --> 00:13:39,620: the 1843 00:13:39,620 --> 00:13:41,090: door.
THUD! 1844 00:13:41,090 --> 00:13:41,330: Right 1845 00:13:41,330 --> 00:13:41,629: above 1846 00:13:41,629 --> 00:13:41,779: him 1847 00:13:41,779 --> 00:13:42,110: now, 1848 00:13:42,110 --> 00:13:42,559: shaking 1849 00:13:42,559 --> 00:13:42,649: the 1850 00:13:42,649 --> 00:13:43,490: rafters, 1851 00:13:43,490 --> 00:13:43,793: dust 1852 00:13:43,793 --> 00:13:44,210: raining 1853 00:13:44,210 --> 00:13:44,600: down 1854 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:44,690: in 1855 00:13:44,690 --> 00:13:45,169: choking 1856 00:13:45,169 --> 00:13:46,940: clouds.
The 1857 00:13:46,940 --> 00:13:47,179: pace 1858 00:13:47,179 --> 00:13:48,289: quickened, 1859 00:13:48,289 --> 00:13:48,349: the 1860 00:13:48,349 --> 00:13:48,649: thing 1861 00:13:48,649 --> 00:13:49,039: outside 1862 00:13:49,039 --> 00:13:49,519: hammering 1863 00:13:49,519 --> 00:13:49,610: the 1864 00:13:49,610 --> 00:13:50,059: wall, 1865 00:13:50,059 --> 00:13:50,210: the 1866 00:13:50,210 --> 00:13:50,720: roof, 1867 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:51,019: every 1868 00:13:51,019 --> 00:13:51,409: wall, and 1869 00:13:51,409 --> 00:13:51,710: every 1870 00:13:51,710 --> 00:13:51,950: weak 1871 00:13:51,950 --> 00:13:52,309: point 1872 00:13:52,309 --> 00:13:52,429: in 1873 00:13:52,429 --> 00:13:53,090: rapid, 1874 00:13:53,090 --> 00:13:53,659: chaotic 1875 00:13:53,659 --> 00:13:55,009: bursts. 1876 00:13:55,009 --> 00:13:55,129: It 1877 00:13:55,129 --> 00:13:55,309: was 1878 00:13:55,309 --> 00:13:55,730: everywhere 1879 00:13:55,730 --> 00:13:55,820: at 1880 00:13:55,820 --> 00:13:56,120: once, 1881 00:13:56,120 --> 00:13:56,659: surrounding 1882 00:13:56,659 --> 00:13:57,019: him, 1883 00:13:57,019 --> 00:13:57,500: faster 1884 00:13:57,500 --> 00:13:57,620: and 1885 00:13:57,620 --> 00:13:58,190: faster, 1886 00:13:58,190 --> 00:13:58,730: claws 1887 00:13:58,730 --> 00:13:59,120: tearing 1888 00:13:59,120 --> 00:13:59,450: deep 1889 00:13:59,450 --> 00:13:59,960: grooves 1890 00:13:59,960 --> 00:14:00,200: into 1891 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:00,320: the 1892 00:14:00,320 --> 00:14:00,950: siding as 1893 00:14:00,950 --> 00:14:01,039: the 1894 00:14:01,039 --> 00:14:01,429: sound 1895 00:14:01,429 --> 00:14:01,730: built 1896 00:14:01,730 --> 00:14:01,970: into 1897 00:14:01,970 --> 00:14:02,029: a 1898 00:14:02,029 --> 00:14:03,649: storm.
Then 1899 00:14:03,649 --> 00:14:03,740: it 1900 00:14:03,740 --> 00:14:11,330: stopped.
Silence.
Nyx’s 1901 00:14:11,330 --> 00:14:11,720: chest 1902 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:12,679: heaved, 1903 00:14:12,679 --> 00:14:13,309: ears 1904 00:14:13,309 --> 00:14:13,730: twitching 1905 00:14:13,730 --> 00:14:14,539: wildly, 1906 00:14:14,539 --> 00:14:15,169: straining 1907 00:14:15,169 --> 00:14:15,230: to 1908 00:14:15,230 --> 00:14:15,559: catch 1909 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:15,740: any 1910 00:14:15,740 --> 00:14:16,519: sound, 1911 00:14:16,519 --> 00:14:16,759: any 1912 00:14:16,759 --> 00:14:17,090: hint 1913 00:14:17,090 --> 00:14:17,179: of 1914 00:14:17,179 --> 00:14:17,360: where 1915 00:14:17,360 --> 00:14:17,450: it 1916 00:14:17,450 --> 00:14:17,539: had 1917 00:14:17,539 --> 00:14:18,799: gone. 1918 00:14:18,799 --> 00:14:18,919: He 1919 00:14:18,919 --> 00:14:19,100: heard 1920 00:14:19,100 --> 00:14:21,080: nothing.
How 1921 00:14:21,080 --> 00:14:21,320: long 1922 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:21,440: had 1923 00:14:21,440 --> 00:14:21,500: he 1924 00:14:21,500 --> 00:14:21,710: been 1925 00:14:21,710 --> 00:14:22,039: inside 1926 00:14:22,039 --> 00:14:22,129: the 1927 00:14:22,129 --> 00:14:22,490: shack, 1928 00:14:22,490 --> 00:14:23,000: shivering 1929 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:23,149: and 1930 00:14:23,149 --> 00:14:24,019: trembling 1931 00:14:24,019 --> 00:14:24,169: as 1932 00:14:24,169 --> 00:14:24,320: though 1933 00:14:24,320 --> 00:14:24,379: he 1934 00:14:24,379 --> 00:14:24,500: was 1935 00:14:24,500 --> 00:14:24,980: stranded 1936 00:14:24,980 --> 00:14:25,070: in 1937 00:14:25,070 --> 00:14:25,129: a 1938 00:14:25,129 --> 00:14:26,419: blizzard? 1939 00:14:26,419 --> 00:14:26,720: The lynx 1940 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:26,899: could 1941 00:14:26,899 --> 00:14:27,080: not 1942 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:27,860: know, 1943 00:14:27,860 --> 00:14:28,039: as 1944 00:14:28,039 --> 00:14:28,250: every 1945 00:14:28,250 --> 00:14:28,580: second 1946 00:14:28,580 --> 00:14:28,820: seemed 1947 00:14:28,820 --> 00:14:28,970: like 1948 00:14:28,970 --> 00:14:29,059: an 1949 00:14:29,059 --> 00:14:29,600: eternity 1950 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:29,690: to 1951 00:14:29,690 --> 00:14:30,049: him 1952 00:14:30,049 --> 00:14:30,590: inside 1953 00:14:30,590 --> 00:14:30,679: the 1954 00:14:30,679 --> 00:14:30,980: small 1955 00:14:30,980 --> 00:14:31,370: shack, 1956 00:14:31,370 --> 00:14:31,519: with 1957 00:14:31,519 --> 00:14:31,730: its 1958 00:14:31,730 --> 00:14:32,299: flimsy 1959 00:14:32,299 --> 00:14:32,600: wooden 1960 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:32,990: door, 1961 00:14:32,990 --> 00:14:33,679: wall, 1962 00:14:33,679 --> 00:14:33,889: and 1963 00:14:33,889 --> 00:14:34,370: roof 1964 00:14:34,370 --> 00:14:34,940: somehow 1965 00:14:34,940 --> 00:14:35,240: keeping 1966 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:35,360: him 1967 00:14:35,360 --> 00:14:35,690: safe 1968 00:14:35,690 --> 00:14:35,870: from 1969 00:14:35,870 --> 00:14:35,960: the 1970 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:36,590: thing 1971 00:14:36,590 --> 00:14:36,769: that 1972 00:14:36,769 --> 00:14:37,190: stalked 1973 00:14:37,190 --> 00:14:37,279: him 1974 00:14:37,279 --> 00:14:38,750: outside. 1975 00:14:38,750 --> 00:14:38,809: He 1976 00:14:38,809 --> 00:14:38,960: could 1977 00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:39,110: not 1978 00:14:39,110 --> 00:14:39,259: see 1979 00:14:39,259 --> 00:14:39,320: a 1980 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:39,710: single 1981 00:14:39,710 --> 00:14:40,009: thing, 1982 00:14:40,009 --> 00:14:40,100: but 1983 00:14:40,100 --> 00:14:40,190: he 1984 00:14:40,190 --> 00:14:40,340: could 1985 00:14:40,340 --> 00:14:40,640: feel 1986 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:40,730: the 1987 00:14:40,730 --> 00:14:41,120: dust 1988 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:41,389: falling 1989 00:14:41,389 --> 00:14:41,539: from 1990 00:14:41,539 --> 00:14:41,629: the 1991 00:14:41,629 --> 00:14:42,500: ceiling, 1992 00:14:42,500 --> 00:14:42,620: the 1993 00:14:42,620 --> 00:14:43,039: texture 1994 00:14:43,039 --> 00:14:43,100: of 1995 00:14:43,100 --> 00:14:43,190: the 1996 00:14:43,190 --> 00:14:43,460: wooden 1997 00:14:43,460 --> 00:14:43,700: door 1998 00:14:43,700 --> 00:14:44,059: against 1999 00:14:44,059 --> 00:14:44,179: his 2000 00:14:44,179 --> 00:14:44,990: back, 2001 00:14:44,990 --> 00:14:45,139: and 2002 00:14:45,139 --> 00:14:45,200: the 2003 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:45,889: floorboard 2004 00:14:45,889 --> 00:14:46,309: creaking 2005 00:14:46,309 --> 00:14:46,669: underneath 2006 00:14:46,669 --> 00:14:46,789: his 2007 00:14:46,789 --> 00:14:47,720: feet 2008 00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:48,080: caused 2009 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:48,259: by 2010 00:14:48,259 --> 00:14:48,529: his 2011 00:14:48,529 --> 00:14:50,419: trembling.
But 2012 00:14:50,419 --> 00:14:50,720: now, 2013 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:50,840: as 2014 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:50,929: he 2015 00:14:50,929 --> 00:14:51,169: sat 2016 00:14:51,169 --> 00:14:51,320: in 2017 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:51,710: complete 2018 00:14:51,710 --> 00:14:52,669: silence 2019 00:14:52,669 --> 00:14:53,120: for 2020 00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:53,539: god 2021 00:14:53,539 --> 00:14:53,870: knows 2022 00:14:53,870 --> 00:14:54,080: how 2023 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:54,409: long, 2024 00:14:54,409 --> 00:14:54,500: he 2025 00:14:54,500 --> 00:14:54,649: could 2026 00:14:54,649 --> 00:14:54,889: sense 2027 00:14:54,889 --> 00:14:55,220: something 2028 00:14:55,220 --> 00:14:55,429: other 2029 00:14:55,429 --> 00:14:55,610: than 2030 00:14:55,610 --> 00:14:56,809: fear: 2031 00:14:56,809 --> 00:14:59,299: curiosity.
Was 2032 00:14:59,299 --> 00:14:59,389: the 2033 00:14:59,389 --> 00:14:59,600: thing 2034 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:01,429: gone?
Did 2035 00:15:01,429 --> 00:15:01,519: the 2036 00:15:01,519 --> 00:15:01,879: Faju 2037 00:15:01,879 --> 00:15:02,090: give 2038 00:15:02,090 --> 00:15:04,040: up?
Could 2039 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:04,129: he 2040 00:15:04,129 --> 00:15:04,399: make 2041 00:15:04,399 --> 00:15:04,610: a 2042 00:15:04,610 --> 00:15:04,909: run 2043 00:15:04,909 --> 00:15:05,210: for 2044 00:15:05,210 --> 00:15:05,330: it 2045 00:15:05,330 --> 00:15:05,450: and 2046 00:15:05,450 --> 00:15:05,727: reach 2047 00:15:05,727 --> 00:15:05,840: the 2048 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:06,200: village 2049 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:06,590: before 2050 00:15:06,590 --> 00:15:06,769: the 2051 00:15:06,769 --> 00:15:07,128: Faju 2052 00:15:07,128 --> 00:15:09,049: returned?
He 2053 00:15:09,049 --> 00:15:09,379: wanted 2054 00:15:09,379 --> 00:15:09,440: to 2055 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:09,710: know, 2056 00:15:09,710 --> 00:15:10,429: badly. 2057 00:15:10,429 --> 00:15:10,789: Perhaps 2058 00:15:10,789 --> 00:15:10,885: the 2059 00:15:10,885 --> 00:15:11,240: Faju 2060 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:11,389: had 2061 00:15:11,389 --> 00:15:12,620: left. 2062 00:15:12,620 --> 00:15:13,070: Perhaps 2063 00:15:13,070 --> 00:15:13,340: Nyx 2064 00:15:13,340 --> 00:15:13,460: had 2065 00:15:13,460 --> 00:15:13,759: waited 2066 00:15:13,759 --> 00:15:13,970: long 2067 00:15:13,970 --> 00:15:14,240: enough 2068 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:14,360: in 2069 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:14,419: the 2070 00:15:14,419 --> 00:15:14,899: shack 2071 00:15:14,899 --> 00:15:14,990: that the 2072 00:15:14,990 --> 00:15:15,230: sun 2073 00:15:15,230 --> 00:15:15,350: had 2074 00:15:15,350 --> 00:15:15,889: risen, 2075 00:15:15,889 --> 00:15:16,159: giving 2076 00:15:16,159 --> 00:15:16,309: him 2077 00:15:16,309 --> 00:15:16,730: ample 2078 00:15:16,730 --> 00:15:17,450: opportunities 2079 00:15:17,450 --> 00:15:17,570: to 2080 00:15:17,570 --> 00:15:17,870: return 2081 00:15:17,870 --> 00:15:17,960: to 2082 00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:18,019: the 2083 00:15:18,019 --> 00:15:18,409: safety 2084 00:15:18,409 --> 00:15:18,470: of 2085 00:15:18,470 --> 00:15:18,620: his 2086 00:15:18,620 --> 00:15:19,730: village. 2087 00:15:19,730 --> 00:15:20,419: Perhaps 2088 00:15:20,419 --> 00:15:20,600: he 2089 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:20,809: was 2090 00:15:20,809 --> 00:15:24,139: safe.
Nyx 2091 00:15:24,139 --> 00:15:24,379: turned 2092 00:15:24,379 --> 00:15:24,799: around, 2093 00:15:24,799 --> 00:15:25,549: slowly, 2094 00:15:25,549 --> 00:15:25,970: inside 2095 00:15:25,970 --> 00:15:26,059: the 2096 00:15:26,059 --> 00:15:27,110: shack. 2097 00:15:27,110 --> 00:15:27,470: Facing 2098 00:15:27,470 --> 00:15:27,559: the 2099 00:15:27,559 --> 00:15:28,190: door, 2100 00:15:28,190 --> 00:15:28,309: he 2101 00:15:28,309 --> 00:15:28,460: took 2102 00:15:28,460 --> 00:15:28,759: hold 2103 00:15:28,759 --> 00:15:28,820: of 2104 00:15:28,820 --> 00:15:28,909: the 2105 00:15:28,909 --> 00:15:29,330: latch 2106 00:15:29,330 --> 00:15:29,419: and 2107 00:15:29,419 --> 00:15:30,230: slowly, 2108 00:15:30,230 --> 00:15:30,889: quietly, 2109 00:15:30,889 --> 00:15:31,279: raised 2110 00:15:31,279 --> 00:15:31,370: it 2111 00:15:31,370 --> 00:15:31,580: from 2112 00:15:31,580 --> 00:15:31,707: its 2113 00:15:31,707 --> 00:15:32,360: slot 2114 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:32,509: that 2115 00:15:32,509 --> 00:15:32,840: held 2116 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:32,929: the 2117 00:15:32,929 --> 00:15:33,169: door 2118 00:15:33,169 --> 00:15:33,620: locked 2119 00:15:33,620 --> 00:15:33,710: and 2120 00:15:33,710 --> 00:15:35,899: shut.
And 2121 00:15:35,899 --> 00:15:37,549: now, 2122 00:15:37,549 --> 00:15:37,789: with 2123 00:15:37,789 --> 00:15:37,909: the 2124 00:15:37,909 --> 00:15:38,240: door 2125 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:39,830: unlocked, 2126 00:15:39,830 --> 00:15:39,950: he 2127 00:15:39,950 --> 00:15:40,399: pushed 2128 00:15:40,399 --> 00:15:40,490: the 2129 00:15:40,490 --> 00:15:40,759: door 2130 00:15:40,759 --> 00:15:41,269: slightly 2131 00:15:41,269 --> 00:15:41,720: ajar, 2132 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:42,080: just 2133 00:15:42,080 --> 00:15:42,529: barely 2134 00:15:42,529 --> 00:15:43,399: enough 2135 00:15:43,399 --> 00:15:43,519: to 2136 00:15:43,519 --> 00:15:43,759: give 2137 00:15:43,759 --> 00:15:44,179: him 2138 00:15:44,179 --> 00:15:44,269: a 2139 00:15:44,269 --> 00:15:46,478: peek.
The 2140 00:15:46,478 --> 00:15:46,909: moon 2141 00:15:46,909 --> 00:15:47,090: was 2142 00:15:47,090 --> 00:15:47,690: illuminating 2143 00:15:47,690 --> 00:15:48,080: everything 2144 00:15:48,080 --> 00:15:48,169: in 2145 00:15:48,169 --> 00:15:48,259: the 2146 00:15:48,259 --> 00:15:48,710: forest 2147 00:15:48,710 --> 00:15:48,950: with its 2148 00:15:48,950 --> 00:15:49,370: eerie 2149 00:15:49,370 --> 00:15:49,700: pale 2150 00:15:49,700 --> 00:15:51,019: light. 2151 00:15:51,019 --> 00:15:51,230: Not 2152 00:15:51,230 --> 00:15:51,289: a 2153 00:15:51,289 --> 00:15:51,590: soul 2154 00:15:51,590 --> 00:15:51,769: made 2155 00:15:51,769 --> 00:15:51,830: a 2156 00:15:51,830 --> 00:15:52,759: sound, 2157 00:15:52,759 --> 00:15:52,970: not 2158 00:15:52,970 --> 00:15:53,210: even the 2159 00:15:53,210 --> 00:15:55,159: wind. 2160 00:15:55,159 --> 00:15:55,519: Nyx’s 2161 00:15:55,519 --> 00:15:55,789: eye 2162 00:15:55,789 --> 00:15:56,210: searched 2163 00:15:56,210 --> 00:15:56,360: for 2164 00:15:56,360 --> 00:15:56,570: any 2165 00:15:56,570 --> 00:15:56,929: sign 2166 00:15:56,929 --> 00:15:56,990: of 2167 00:15:56,990 --> 00:15:57,259: movement 2168 00:15:57,259 --> 00:15:58,759: outside. 2169 00:15:58,759 --> 00:15:59,990: No, 2170 00:15:59,990 --> 00:16:00,110: there 2171 00:16:00,110 --> 00:16:00,259: was 2172 00:16:00,259 --> 00:16:02,389: nothing. 2173 00:16:02,389 --> 00:16:02,840: The thing 2174 00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:03,049: was 2175 00:16:03,049 --> 00:16:03,440: nowhere 2176 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:03,559: in 2177 00:16:03,559 --> 00:16:04,940: sight. 2178 00:16:04,940 --> 00:16:05,059: The 2179 00:16:05,059 --> 00:16:05,539: Faju 2180 00:16:05,539 --> 00:16:05,779: was 2181 00:16:05,779 --> 00:16:08,269: gone.
For 2182 00:16:08,269 --> 00:16:08,360: the 2183 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:08,600: first 2184 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:08,779: time 2185 00:16:08,779 --> 00:16:08,870: in 2186 00:16:08,870 --> 00:16:08,899: a 2187 00:16:08,899 --> 00:16:09,230: long 2188 00:16:09,230 --> 00:16:09,769: time—at 2189 00:16:09,769 --> 00:16:10,039: least 2190 00:16:10,039 --> 00:16:10,519: to Nyx—the 2191 00:16:10,519 --> 00:16:11,389: lynx gave a 2192 00:16:11,389 --> 00:16:11,779: sigh 2193 00:16:11,779 --> 00:16:11,899: of 2194 00:16:11,899 --> 00:16:14,389: relief. 2195 00:16:14,389 --> 00:16:14,480: He 2196 00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:14,659: was 2197 00:16:14,659 --> 00:16:14,899: not 2198 00:16:14,899 --> 00:16:15,139: about 2199 00:16:15,139 --> 00:16:15,200: to 2200 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:15,529: venture 2201 00:16:15,529 --> 00:16:15,679: out 2202 00:16:15,679 --> 00:16:15,830: into 2203 00:16:15,830 --> 00:16:15,950: the 2204 00:16:15,950 --> 00:16:16,250: night. 2205 00:16:16,250 --> 00:16:16,490: He 2206 00:16:16,490 --> 00:16:16,730: will 2207 00:16:16,730 --> 00:16:17,090: wait 2208 00:16:17,090 --> 00:16:17,419: until 2209 00:16:17,419 --> 00:16:18,169: sunrise, 2210 00:16:18,169 --> 00:16:18,291: and 2211 00:16:18,291 --> 00:16:18,590: then 2212 00:16:18,590 --> 00:16:18,799: he will 2213 00:16:18,799 --> 00:16:19,039: go 2214 00:16:19,039 --> 00:16:19,340: out, 2215 00:16:19,340 --> 00:16:19,580: just 2216 00:16:19,580 --> 00:16:19,669: to 2217 00:16:19,669 --> 00:16:19,759: be 2218 00:16:19,759 --> 00:16:20,120: safe. 2219 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:20,299: But 2220 00:16:20,299 --> 00:16:20,419: the 2221 00:16:20,419 --> 00:16:21,110: knowledge 2222 00:16:21,110 --> 00:16:21,230: that 2223 00:16:21,230 --> 00:16:21,350: the 2224 00:16:21,350 --> 00:16:21,679: worst 2225 00:16:21,679 --> 00:16:21,830: was 2226 00:16:21,830 --> 00:16:22,850: over 2227 00:16:22,850 --> 00:16:23,059: gave 2228 00:16:23,059 --> 00:16:23,240: him 2229 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:23,809: tremendous 2230 00:16:23,809 --> 00:16:26,809: relief.
Nyx 2231 00:16:26,809 --> 00:16:27,180: closed 2232 00:16:27,180 --> 00:16:27,259: the 2233 00:16:27,259 --> 00:16:27,470: door 2234 00:16:27,470 --> 00:16:29,210: shut. I 2235 00:16:29,210 --> 00:16:29,389: guess 2236 00:16:29,389 --> 00:16:29,539: I’m 2237 00:16:29,539 --> 00:16:30,289: safe, 2238 00:16:30,289 --> 00:16:30,379: he 2239 00:16:30,379 --> 00:16:32,000: thought. 2240 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:32,090: I 2241 00:16:32,090 --> 00:16:32,269: can 2242 00:16:32,269 --> 00:16:32,629: finally 2243 00:16:32,629 --> 00:16:32,870: breathe 2244 00:16:32,870 --> 00:16:37,429: easy.
But 2245 00:16:37,429 --> 00:16:37,940: before 2246 00:16:37,940 --> 00:16:38,059: he 2247 00:16:38,059 --> 00:16:38,269: could 2248 00:16:38,269 --> 00:16:38,779: engage 2249 00:16:38,779 --> 00:16:38,899: the 2250 00:16:38,899 --> 00:16:39,559: latch 2251 00:16:39,559 --> 00:16:39,740: with 2252 00:16:39,740 --> 00:16:39,830: the 2253 00:16:39,830 --> 00:16:40,250: slot 2254 00:16:40,250 --> 00:16:40,370: to 2255 00:16:40,370 --> 00:16:40,700: lock 2256 00:16:40,700 --> 00:16:40,820: the 2257 00:16:40,820 --> 00:16:42,019: door, 2258 00:16:42,019 --> 00:16:42,169: a 2259 00:16:42,169 --> 00:16:42,919: cold 2260 00:16:42,919 --> 00:16:43,519: paw 2261 00:16:43,519 --> 00:16:44,120: grabbed 2262 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:44,570: Nyx’s 2263 00:16:44,570 --> 00:16:45,019: shoulder 2264 00:16:45,019 --> 00:16:45,259: from 2265 00:16:45,259 --> 00:16:45,740: behind 2266 00:16:45,740 --> 00:16:45,980: him 2267 00:16:45,980 --> 00:16:46,159: and 2268 00:16:46,159 --> 00:16:46,970: slammed 2269 00:16:46,970 --> 00:16:47,149: his 2270 00:16:47,149 --> 00:16:47,539: body 2271 00:16:47,539 --> 00:16:47,750: onto 2272 00:16:47,750 --> 00:16:47,870: the 2273 00:16:47,870 --> 00:16:49,700: floorboard. 2274 00:16:49,700 --> 00:16:49,850: Then, 2275 00:16:49,850 --> 00:16:49,909: a 2276 00:16:49,909 --> 00:16:50,899: voice 2277 00:16:50,899 --> 00:16:52,039: whispered 2278 00:16:52,039 --> 00:16:52,639: right 2279 00:16:52,639 --> 00:16:53,179: next 2280 00:16:53,179 --> 00:16:53,330: to 2281 00:16:53,330 --> 00:16:53,600: his 2282 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:54,139: tufted 2283 00:16:54,139 --> 00:17:00,950: ear:
“Faaajuuu…Foooound 2284 00:17:00,950 --> 00:17:04,279: youuuu.”
The 2285 00:17:04,279 --> 00:17:05,150: lynx 2286 00:17:05,150 --> 00:17:05,390: let 2287 00:17:05,390 --> 00:17:06,109: out 2288 00:17:06,109 --> 00:17:06,200: the 2289 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:06,890: loudest 2290 00:17:06,890 --> 00:17:08,210: scream to 2291 00:17:08,210 --> 00:17:09,140: ever 2292 00:17:09,140 --> 00:17:09,769: leave 2293 00:17:09,769 --> 00:17:09,980: his 2294 00:17:09,980 --> 00:17:16,190: lungs.
***
Nyx 2295 00:17:16,190 --> 00:17:16,640: gasped 2296 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:16,730: and 2297 00:17:16,730 --> 00:17:17,059: jolted 2298 00:17:17,059 --> 00:17:17,869: upright, 2299 00:17:17,869 --> 00:17:18,079: his 2300 00:17:18,079 --> 00:17:18,349: breath 2301 00:17:18,349 --> 00:17:18,980: ragged, 2302 00:17:18,980 --> 00:17:19,460: claws 2303 00:17:19,460 --> 00:17:19,940: tangled 2304 00:17:19,940 --> 00:17:20,029: in 2305 00:17:20,029 --> 00:17:20,089: the 2306 00:17:20,089 --> 00:17:20,450: blanket 2307 00:17:20,450 --> 00:17:20,569: that 2308 00:17:20,569 --> 00:17:20,869: covered 2309 00:17:20,869 --> 00:17:21,559: him. 2310 00:17:21,559 --> 00:17:21,740: His 2311 00:17:21,740 --> 00:17:22,069: chest 2312 00:17:22,069 --> 00:17:22,819: heaved, 2313 00:17:22,819 --> 00:17:23,059: fur 2314 00:17:23,059 --> 00:17:23,720: plastered 2315 00:17:23,720 --> 00:17:23,869: with 2316 00:17:23,869 --> 00:17:24,140: cold 2317 00:17:24,140 --> 00:17:24,859: sweat, 2318 00:17:24,859 --> 00:17:25,039: and 2319 00:17:25,039 --> 00:17:25,160: his 2320 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:25,490: ears 2321 00:17:25,490 --> 00:17:25,970: rang 2322 00:17:25,970 --> 00:17:26,089: as 2323 00:17:26,089 --> 00:17:26,210: his 2324 00:17:26,210 --> 00:17:26,660: eyes 2325 00:17:26,660 --> 00:17:27,019: darted 2326 00:17:27,019 --> 00:17:27,289: around 2327 00:17:27,289 --> 00:17:27,380: the 2328 00:17:27,380 --> 00:17:27,680: small 2329 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:29,150: shack.
“Oh, 2330 00:17:29,150 --> 00:17:29,329: my 2331 00:17:29,329 --> 00:17:30,259: goodness!” 2332 00:17:30,259 --> 00:17:30,319: a 2333 00:17:30,319 --> 00:17:30,799: surprised 2334 00:17:30,799 --> 00:17:31,099: voice 2335 00:17:31,099 --> 00:17:31,759: said. “You’re 2336 00:17:31,759 --> 00:17:34,190: awake!”
The lynx’s 2337 00:17:34,190 --> 00:17:34,490: eyes 2338 00:17:34,490 --> 00:17:34,910: rested 2339 00:17:34,910 --> 00:17:35,029: on 2340 00:17:35,029 --> 00:17:35,119: the 2341 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:35,450: figure 2342 00:17:35,450 --> 00:17:35,539: of 2343 00:17:35,539 --> 00:17:35,809: another 2344 00:17:35,809 --> 00:17:36,650: lynx 2345 00:17:36,650 --> 00:17:36,829: who was 2346 00:17:36,829 --> 00:17:37,339: standing 2347 00:17:37,339 --> 00:17:37,430: at 2348 00:17:37,430 --> 00:17:37,519: the 2349 00:17:37,519 --> 00:17:37,700: door 2350 00:17:37,700 --> 00:17:37,789: of 2351 00:17:37,789 --> 00:17:37,849: the 2352 00:17:37,849 --> 00:17:38,359: shack 2353 00:17:38,359 --> 00:17:38,480: as 2354 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:39,019: sunlight 2355 00:17:39,019 --> 00:17:39,500: streamed 2356 00:17:39,500 --> 00:17:40,369: in, 2357 00:17:40,369 --> 00:17:40,789: causing 2358 00:17:40,789 --> 00:17:41,210: Nyx 2359 00:17:41,210 --> 00:17:41,329: to 2360 00:17:41,329 --> 00:17:45,680: squint.
“Mother…?”
The 2361 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:46,099: female 2362 00:17:46,099 --> 00:17:46,400: lynx 2363 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:47,000: immediately 2364 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:47,299: held 2365 00:17:47,299 --> 00:17:47,390: him 2366 00:17:47,390 --> 00:17:47,480: in 2367 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:47,539: a 2368 00:17:47,539 --> 00:17:47,779: tight 2369 00:17:47,779 --> 00:17:49,220: embrace. “What 2370 00:17:49,220 --> 00:17:49,309: a 2371 00:17:49,309 --> 00:17:50,029: fool 2372 00:17:50,029 --> 00:17:50,240: you 2373 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:50,900: are,” 2374 00:17:50,900 --> 00:17:51,109: she 2375 00:17:51,109 --> 00:17:51,619: said, 2376 00:17:51,619 --> 00:17:51,740: her 2377 00:17:51,740 --> 00:17:52,039: voice 2378 00:17:52,039 --> 00:17:53,450: cracking. “We 2379 00:17:53,450 --> 00:17:53,569: were 2380 00:17:53,569 --> 00:17:53,960: looking 2381 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:54,140: for 2382 00:17:54,140 --> 00:17:56,240: you.”
Nyx, 2383 00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:56,539: hearing 2384 00:17:56,539 --> 00:17:56,660: his 2385 00:17:56,660 --> 00:17:56,900: mother 2386 00:17:56,900 --> 00:17:57,380: sobbing, 2387 00:17:57,380 --> 00:17:58,609: wondered: 2388 00:17:58,609 --> 00:17:58,819: Was 2389 00:17:58,819 --> 00:17:58,941: it 2390 00:17:58,941 --> 00:17:59,119: a 2391 00:17:59,119 --> 00:18:01,099: dream?
His 2392 00:18:01,099 --> 00:18:01,519: paws, 2393 00:18:01,519 --> 00:18:01,789: still 2394 00:18:01,789 --> 00:18:02,390: shaky, 2395 00:18:02,390 --> 00:18:02,660: hugged 2396 00:18:02,660 --> 00:18:02,750: his 2397 00:18:02,750 --> 00:18:03,019: mother 2398 00:18:03,019 --> 00:18:03,410: back, 2399 00:18:03,410 --> 00:18:03,500: as 2400 00:18:03,500 --> 00:18:03,589: the 2401 00:18:03,589 --> 00:18:03,769: two 2402 00:18:03,769 --> 00:18:04,069: sat 2403 00:18:04,069 --> 00:18:04,220: there 2404 00:18:04,220 --> 00:18:04,309: in 2405 00:18:04,309 --> 00:18:06,589: silence.
“I’m 2406 00:18:06,589 --> 00:18:06,980: sorry, 2407 00:18:06,980 --> 00:18:07,279: mother. 2408 00:18:07,279 --> 00:18:07,369: I 2409 00:18:07,369 --> 00:18:07,819: didn’t 2410 00:18:07,819 --> 00:18:08,000: want 2411 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:08,059: to 2412 00:18:08,059 --> 00:18:08,329: take 2413 00:18:08,329 --> 00:18:08,390: a 2414 00:18:08,390 --> 00:18:09,079: detour 2415 00:18:09,079 --> 00:18:10,460: and…”
“Hush,” 2416 00:18:10,460 --> 00:18:10,609: his 2417 00:18:10,609 --> 00:18:10,819: mother 2418 00:18:10,819 --> 00:18:11,695: said. “You 2419 00:18:11,695 --> 00:18:11,809: are 2420 00:18:11,809 --> 00:18:13,099: safe, 2421 00:18:13,099 --> 00:18:13,215: and 2422 00:18:13,215 --> 00:18:13,579: that’s 2423 00:18:13,579 --> 00:18:13,730: all 2424 00:18:13,730 --> 00:18:13,849: that 2425 00:18:13,849 --> 00:18:14,269: matters, 2426 00:18:14,269 --> 00:18:15,799: Nyx. Your 2427 00:18:15,799 --> 00:18:16,190: father 2428 00:18:16,190 --> 00:18:16,309: and 2429 00:18:16,309 --> 00:18:16,369: I 2430 00:18:16,369 --> 00:18:16,521: were 2431 00:18:16,521 --> 00:18:16,819: so 2432 00:18:16,819 --> 00:18:17,150: worried 2433 00:18:17,150 --> 00:18:17,269: when 2434 00:18:17,269 --> 00:18:17,390: you 2435 00:18:17,390 --> 00:18:17,509: and 2436 00:18:17,509 --> 00:18:17,850: Sam 2437 00:18:17,850 --> 00:18:18,079: didn’t 2438 00:18:18,079 --> 00:18:18,710: return by 2439 00:18:18,710 --> 00:18:19,250: dusk, 2440 00:18:19,250 --> 00:18:20,960: and—”
Nyx’s 2441 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:21,259: eyes 2442 00:18:21,259 --> 00:18:23,390: widened. “Sam,” 2443 00:18:23,390 --> 00:18:23,509: he 2444 00:18:23,509 --> 00:18:23,900: muttered 2445 00:18:23,900 --> 00:18:23,990: as 2446 00:18:23,990 --> 00:18:24,079: he 2447 00:18:24,079 --> 00:18:24,589: remembered 2448 00:18:24,589 --> 00:18:24,890: losing 2449 00:18:24,890 --> 00:18:25,311: track 2450 00:18:25,311 --> 00:18:25,369: of 2451 00:18:25,369 --> 00:18:25,519: his 2452 00:18:25,519 --> 00:18:25,819: lion 2453 00:18:25,819 --> 00:18:26,750: friend 2454 00:18:26,750 --> 00:18:27,170: after 2455 00:18:27,170 --> 00:18:27,289: they 2456 00:18:27,289 --> 00:18:27,589: began 2457 00:18:27,589 --> 00:18:27,890: running 2458 00:18:27,890 --> 00:18:28,039: from 2459 00:18:28,039 --> 00:18:28,160: the 2460 00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:29,599: Faju. “Mother, 2461 00:18:29,599 --> 00:18:29,750: did 2462 00:18:29,750 --> 00:18:29,809: you 2463 00:18:29,809 --> 00:18:29,960: see 2464 00:18:29,960 --> 00:18:30,230: Sam 2465 00:18:30,230 --> 00:18:30,890: outside? 2466 00:18:30,890 --> 00:18:31,069: He 2467 00:18:31,069 --> 00:18:31,279: must be 2468 00:18:31,279 --> 00:18:31,460: so 2469 00:18:31,460 --> 00:18:32,329: frightened! 2470 00:18:32,329 --> 00:18:32,480: We 2471 00:18:32,480 --> 00:18:32,599: were 2472 00:18:32,599 --> 00:18:32,900: walking 2473 00:18:32,900 --> 00:18:33,109: home from 2474 00:18:33,109 --> 00:18:33,230: the 2475 00:18:33,230 --> 00:18:33,650: bazaar 2476 00:18:33,650 --> 00:18:33,740: and 2477 00:18:33,740 --> 00:18:33,859: we 2478 00:18:33,859 --> 00:18:35,779: heard—”
“Hush,” 2479 00:18:35,779 --> 00:18:35,930: his 2480 00:18:35,930 --> 00:18:36,200: mother 2481 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:36,410: said 2482 00:18:36,410 --> 00:18:37,369: again, 2483 00:18:37,369 --> 00:18:37,609: this 2484 00:18:37,609 --> 00:18:38,089: time 2485 00:18:38,089 --> 00:18:39,349: quieter, 2486 00:18:39,349 --> 00:18:42,470: sadder. “Sam 2487 00:18:42,470 --> 00:18:44,869: is…Sam 2488 00:18:44,869 --> 00:18:47,119: is…”
Nyx broke 2489 00:18:47,119 --> 00:18:47,359: away 2490 00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:47,569: from 2491 00:18:47,569 --> 00:18:47,690: his 2492 00:18:47,690 --> 00:18:48,019: mother’s 2493 00:18:48,019 --> 00:18:48,349: arms 2494 00:18:48,349 --> 00:18:48,470: and 2495 00:18:48,470 --> 00:18:48,680: got 2496 00:18:48,680 --> 00:18:49,609: up. 2497 00:18:49,609 --> 00:18:49,940: Running 2498 00:18:49,940 --> 00:18:50,390: outside, 2499 00:18:50,390 --> 00:18:50,450: he 2500 00:18:50,450 --> 00:18:50,630: saw 2501 00:18:50,630 --> 00:18:50,960: another 2502 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:51,319: older 2503 00:18:51,319 --> 00:18:51,829: lynx—his 2504 00:18:51,829 --> 00:18:52,940: father—and 2505 00:18:52,940 --> 00:18:53,059: an 2506 00:18:53,059 --> 00:18:53,269: older 2507 00:18:53,269 --> 00:18:54,410: lion 2508 00:18:54,410 --> 00:18:54,950: standing 2509 00:18:54,950 --> 00:18:55,190: next 2510 00:18:55,190 --> 00:18:55,309: to 2511 00:18:55,309 --> 00:18:55,369: a 2512 00:18:55,369 --> 00:18:56,000: lioness 2513 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:56,240: who was 2514 00:18:56,240 --> 00:18:56,599: kneeling 2515 00:18:56,599 --> 00:18:56,690: in 2516 00:18:56,690 --> 00:18:56,779: the 2517 00:18:56,779 --> 00:18:57,049: dirt 2518 00:18:57,049 --> 00:18:57,259: just 2519 00:18:57,259 --> 00:18:57,289: a 2520 00:18:57,289 --> 00:18:57,619: short 2521 00:18:57,619 --> 00:18:58,039: distance 2522 00:18:58,039 --> 00:18:58,160: from 2523 00:18:58,160 --> 00:18:58,250: the 2524 00:18:58,250 --> 00:18:58,880: path, 2525 00:18:58,880 --> 00:18:59,000: her 2526 00:18:59,000 --> 00:18:59,900: face 2527 00:18:59,900 --> 00:19:00,230: buried 2528 00:19:00,230 --> 00:19:00,319: in 2529 00:19:00,319 --> 00:19:00,410: her 2530 00:19:00,410 --> 00:19:01,849: paws. 2531 00:19:01,849 --> 00:19:01,970: It 2532 00:19:01,970 --> 00:19:02,059: was 2533 00:19:02,059 --> 00:19:02,480: Sam’s 2534 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:04,130: mother.
He 2535 00:19:04,130 --> 00:19:04,430: stepped 2536 00:19:04,430 --> 00:19:04,940: closer, 2537 00:19:04,940 --> 00:19:05,089: his 2538 00:19:05,089 --> 00:19:05,390: throat 2539 00:19:05,390 --> 00:19:07,339: dry. “What…what 2540 00:19:07,339 --> 00:19:09,559: happened?”
Sam’s 2541 00:19:09,559 --> 00:19:10,009: father 2542 00:19:10,009 --> 00:19:10,339: turned 2543 00:19:10,339 --> 00:19:11,480: around, 2544 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:11,630: his 2545 00:19:11,630 --> 00:19:12,140: hollow, 2546 00:19:12,140 --> 00:19:12,589: sunken 2547 00:19:12,589 --> 00:19:13,190: eyes 2548 00:19:13,190 --> 00:19:13,579: boring 2549 00:19:13,579 --> 00:19:13,819: into 2550 00:19:13,819 --> 00:19:16,460: Nyx’s.
Nyx 2551 00:19:16,460 --> 00:19:16,819: froze 2552 00:19:16,819 --> 00:19:17,150: as he saw 2553 00:19:17,150 --> 00:19:17,269: the 2554 00:19:17,269 --> 00:19:17,750: satchel 2555 00:19:17,750 --> 00:19:17,839: on 2556 00:19:17,839 --> 00:19:17,930: the 2557 00:19:17,930 --> 00:19:18,950: ground. 2558 00:19:18,950 --> 00:19:19,640: It was Sam’s 2559 00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:20,240: satchel, 2560 00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:20,359: with 2561 00:19:20,359 --> 00:19:20,509: its 2562 00:19:20,509 --> 00:19:21,109: contents 2563 00:19:21,109 --> 00:19:21,650: scattered 2564 00:19:21,650 --> 00:19:22,910: nearby. 2565 00:19:22,910 --> 00:19:23,240: Claw 2566 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:23,930: marks 2567 00:19:23,930 --> 00:19:24,259: ripped 2568 00:19:24,259 --> 00:19:24,380: through the 2569 00:19:24,380 --> 00:19:25,519: textiles, 2570 00:19:25,519 --> 00:19:26,000: shredding 2571 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:26,119: them 2572 00:19:26,119 --> 00:19:26,299: into 2573 00:19:26,299 --> 00:19:26,690: tattered 2574 00:19:26,690 --> 00:19:28,069: pieces. 2575 00:19:28,069 --> 00:19:28,220: The 2576 00:19:28,220 --> 00:19:28,640: beautiful 2577 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:29,089: linens that 2578 00:19:29,089 --> 00:19:29,210: the 2579 00:19:29,210 --> 00:19:29,359: two 2580 00:19:29,359 --> 00:19:29,480: of 2581 00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:29,660: them 2582 00:19:29,660 --> 00:19:29,930: bought 2583 00:19:29,930 --> 00:19:29,990: at 2584 00:19:29,990 --> 00:19:30,079: the 2585 00:19:30,079 --> 00:19:31,309: bazaar, 2586 00:19:31,309 --> 00:19:31,700: linens 2587 00:19:31,700 --> 00:19:31,819: that 2588 00:19:31,819 --> 00:19:31,910: were 2589 00:19:31,910 --> 00:19:32,329: once 2590 00:19:32,329 --> 00:19:32,809: colorfully 2591 00:19:32,809 --> 00:19:33,109: dyed 2592 00:19:33,109 --> 00:19:33,259: with 2593 00:19:33,259 --> 00:19:33,680: pigments 2594 00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:33,980: of 2595 00:19:33,980 --> 00:19:34,309: different 2596 00:19:34,309 --> 00:19:35,539: colors, 2597 00:19:35,539 --> 00:19:35,973: were all 2598 00:19:35,973 --> 00:19:36,500: soaked 2599 00:19:36,500 --> 00:19:36,589: in 2600 00:19:36,589 --> 00:19:36,650: a 2601 00:19:36,650 --> 00:19:37,039: puddle 2602 00:19:37,039 --> 00:19:37,160: of 2603 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:37,910: dark 2604 00:19:37,910 --> 00:19:38,900: crimson 2605 00:19:38,900 --> 00:19:40,609: liquid.
And 2606 00:19:40,609 --> 00:19:40,700: the 2607 00:19:40,700 --> 00:19:41,269: Talls 2608 00:19:41,269 --> 00:19:41,390: were 2609 00:19:41,390 --> 00:19:41,839: watching 2610 00:19:41,839 --> 00:19:42,740: them, 2611 00:19:42,740 --> 00:19:42,980: as 2612 00:19:42,980 --> 00:19:43,130: they 2613 00:19:43,130 --> 00:19:43,849: always 2614 00:19:43,849 --> 00:19:50,450: were.




This 2615 00:19:50,450 --> 00:19:54,440: was “Faju” by TiberiusRings & Fruitz, 2616 00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:54,950: read for you 2617 00:19:54,950 --> 00:19:55,069: by 2618 00:19:55,069 --> 00:19:55,309: Rob 2619 00:19:55,309 --> 00:19:55,970: MacWolf, 2620 00:19:55,970 --> 00:19:56,450: Werewolf 2621 00:19:56,450 --> 00:19:57,769: Hitchhiker. 2622 00:19:57,769 --> 00:19:57,890: You 2623 00:19:57,890 --> 00:19:58,009: can 2624 00:19:58,009 --> 00:19:58,279: find 2625 00:19:58,279 --> 00:19:58,490: more 2626 00:19:58,490 --> 00:19:58,970: stories 2627 00:19:58,970 --> 00:19:59,089: on 2628 00:19:59,089 --> 00:19:59,180: the 2629 00:19:59,180 --> 00:19:59,720: web 2630 00:19:59,720 --> 00:19:59,839: at 2631 00:19:59,839 --> 00:20:01,339: thevoice.dog, 2632 00:20:01,339 --> 00:20:01,609: or 2633 00:20:01,609 --> 00:20:01,910: find 2634 00:20:01,910 --> 00:20:01,970: the 2635 00:20:01,970 --> 00:20:02,210: show 2636 00:20:02,210 --> 00:20:02,450: wherever 2637 00:20:02,450 --> 00:20:02,630: you 2638 00:20:02,630 --> 00:20:03,049: get 2639 00:20:03,049 --> 00:20:03,289: your 2640 00:20:03,289 --> 00:20:05,029: podcasts. 2641 00:20:05,029 --> 00:20:05,299: Thank 2642 00:20:05,299 --> 00:20:05,390: you 2643 00:20:05,390 --> 00:20:05,690: for 2644 00:20:05,690 --> 00:20:06,529: listening 2645 00:20:06,529 --> 00:20:06,680: to 2646 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:06,799: The 2647 00:20:06,799 --> 00:20:07,849: Voice 2648 00:20:07,849 --> 00:20:08,119: of 2649 00:20:08,119 --> 00:20:08,660: Dog.