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Copyright © 1999 Sarah Ellender & Mike O'Connor.
All rights reserved and reproduction without written permission expressly prohibited.
The Making of Her
She heard footsteps behind her. Snarling, she turned and leapt instinctively at her new
foe. This creature was like one of the Born in shape and size, but covered all over with a thick
black fur. Its features were dominated by a pointed snout bristling with teeth like splinters of
broken glass. Sygia-Shaarel twisted aside in mid-air, her tail aiding the manoeuvre, and landed
on all fours. This was another Sygia, no easy kill. She shuffled backwards swiftly, cunningly,
contemplating the best method of attack.
A garbled sound came from the monstrous creature's mouth. Then, with surprising
swiftness, it dropped to all fours and fled amongst the trees. Sygia-Shaarel remained crouched,
too dazed to move. In a mouth not suited for speech, the creature had snarled "Master yourself!"
After a moment, she shook her head, trying to clear it of confusing thoughts, and listened
carefully. She could still hear the other Sygia crashing away through the undergrowth, and knew
from similar sounds further off that the other assailants were also in flight. There were no
remaining indications of conflict. Licking her lips, she returned to Lady Shaarel's entourage.
[End of this extract. The full story was published in Zest #7]
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