"Oooh, there are so many juicy bits to this conversation," Dijo giggled as he dug his latrine. While the rest of the males were up in the cavern, or wandering about on their own, Dijo was casually listening in on Temih and Bol.

He didn't normally care to do so, but in the interest of having a good contest idea for the morning, Dijo twisted the air until it brought every little laugh or guilty admission.

Omaciyu would surely die of embarrassment if that 'big feet' thing came out. Perhaps he could time it right... No, that would be wicked.

Besides, he'd already found out. His voice too could be heard on the wind above the main cavern. Dijo swept back his kimono and cleaned up, and went back into the caverns to rest for the night. Perhaps a good night's sleep would be what he needed to inspire him.

***

When he awoke, there was a Lion in the cavern. Imagine that. A big, ratty-furred old male. Dijo almost mentioned that he'd stolen several kills from them in the past, but quite frankly the big old guy looked about on his last legs already.

Uncomfortable near the big lion, Dijo managed to slip out to the stream and wash up before anyone really noticed his absence from the chambers.

"I'd say have a speed running competition," Irole chuckled, "but you'd beat us all if only old Tivro there was behind you."

"Is that his name? I never caught it." Dijo said distractedly. His short tan hair was wet, but dried quickly in the morning sun - plus the breeze he created around himself effectively 'blow dried' him.

"You didn't ask."

"And you did?" Dijo said, "I'm rather surprised."

"He is old. When you are that old, I hope someone cares enough to send you to a nice place to die." Irole said, and bounded off to find his own sunny patch. He clearly didn't want to fight, he just wanted to assert himself in the tribe. But he didn't seem to even really want to participate in this strange thing the tribe was setting up.

Dijo didn't either. Everyone did know, didn't they? That he really didn't much care for a female's scent. That he would in fact rather be wound up around another male? Naturally, only as kits had the group really entertained such things. But as they grew older, he hadn't grown out of it.

And Temih? She was pretty and all - in a dangerous kind of way. Between she and Dijo they could actually cause some structural damage to objects like large old trees, or boulders - or ships.

And sure, he'd considered what would be best for the tribe. Dijo held no small opinion of himself after all. But Temih wasn't ... his type at all. Dijo watched Irole's tangerine-colored hair as he bounded around trying to catch mice. Silly kitten.

Then something odd came to Dijo's ears. He perked up, trying to listen over Irole's excited thrashing about in the underbrush. Abruptly, Dijo bolted to the younger Kin's side, and pressed his thick fingers to his muzzle. "Hush - do you hear it?"

Surprised, but not angry, Irole sat on his haunches and tilted his ears. Blinking, he shook his head.

"No, I can't hear anything, and you scared off the voles."

"They'll be back. But this... I wonder if this was the thing that ... Tivro was talking about to Oma?" Dijo stood, tall over the grass, and looked into the distance. Something was moving above the hills to the south, on the horizon where the Inner Ocean haze rested.

***

"It sounds like flapping," Dijo said, panting. He and Irole had sprinted back from the field, and skidded into Omaciyu while he was busy worrying at nothing.

Omaciyu nodded, and stood. "Coming from the south, yes?"

"Yes - why didn't you tell us about this thing?" Dijo asked.

"Because I did not get a good look at it. Tivro did, but it was still night time. Perhaps it will be coming back this way. We must be prepared."

At that, Omaciyu gave off an alarm chirp - a short quip of a sound, more like the sound of a distressed bird. But to the tribe, it meant - gathernowquickly!danger!

Dijo was asked to stand guard - his ears would let him listen in and his power would let him alert the group should this strange creature turn into a threat.