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date = 4531-09-07-06-23

from = stid1003@malu@244.21

to = central@rs001@4.0

importance = low

note = as related by unknown malic sage - translation may contain errors

+++

The cat ruled from the empty city. She had gold and silver, and the city was

hers. Her territory stretched far: east to the mountains, west to the land just

before the river hills, north to the Great Freshwater, and south to the land

inhabited by the cat who had given her the scar on her left ear. She lived under

the Tower of Humankind, and she hunted from there, roaming far and returning to

her city every four weeks or so.

It was on her return from one of these roaming periods that she saw them. She

was walking along the ridge when she caught their scent, and as it was new to

her she followed it. She reached them in an hour.  She came to a brook, and

there they were, walking beside it: four strange creatures that stood on their

hind legs and seemed to be always making noise. They confused her. They were

not prey, and they were not hunting. Three of them were loud and careless, and

the fourth seemed inexperienced, but somewhat competent. At least he saw her -

the others didn't seem to know she was even there. She did not know what to make

of them.

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