11-12

11

Now there were six of them in total, walking through the dense forest. Here and there they saw strange trees, short and even dwarfed. Ker explained to them that these were the Earthlings, they didn't actually die, they were still alive, only in a different form. If someone really wanted to talk to such an ancestor, they could come and talk to him, because all they had to do was be very quiet and listen, and in the rustling of the leaves one could hear their voices, yes, their voices, because although as Earthlings they didn't speak, they could hear every slightest rustle, and as trees they communicated through the rustling of the leaves.

The group of explorers walked for a long time, and when dusk fell, they decided to stop to rest and eat. The Frostoids wanted to look for a cave, while Ziemon wanted a burrow, but in the end, they decided to do as before, when there was no cave, erecting a tent made of skins. Now they had a few more at their disposal, as the Dogs served as beds. Ker was surprised by such a thing, but when they lit a fire and sat on the skins to cover themselves, he was happy and thought only of food, inhaling the scent of the skin his brothers had given him, his blanket, for it was made, like his clothes, of twigs and dry grass. In the burrow where he lived, it would have been sufficient, but here, almost out in the open, it would be of little use. While they ate in silence, the dogs disappeared, or rather, two of them, Wind and Leaf, disappeared. Rose stayed behind to watch over her new friends. After a while, they returned carrying small animals in their mouths, placed them in front of Rose, and disappeared again. When they returned, they settled down with their catch before the fire and began eating. When they finished, there was no trace of the meal. They stood up lazily and padded all three to the river beside which the camp was set up, lapping at the water. Even before they lay down, Dero and Zon tried to contact their father, but neither could reach him.

"You know, father must be very weak; it's a pity we can't transfer our strength to him," Zon said.

"Why can't you?" Ker asked.

"And who can do that? I don't know anyone like that; it can't be done." Dero stated

. "Wait, you love your father, don't you?

" "Yes, we do, but that's not enough.

" "But it doesn't hurt to try," a voice in their heads insisted.

"Ugh, that's pointless."

"As you wish, but I wouldn't give up. You can transmit thoughts remotely, you, Zon, can see what your father sees, from what I've observed, why wouldn't you try?

" "Maybe you're right, what do we have to lose, what do you think, Dero ?"

"Okay, let's try, will you help us, Ker?"

"I can try, but I can only hypnotize, that's the only weapon we Earthlings have, besides the hand weapon."

Once they had decided, they sat down even more comfortably and joined hands. Ker had two free hands, which he placed on the soft fur of Rose and Leaf, who lay on either side of him. A long time passed before the boys finished their silent séance. They were all exhausted, their strength failing them. The question remained whether they had gone to their destination. Zon had the least strength left; he lay down where he lay, unable to get up. The wind approached him and began licking his face. He only smiled faintly and touched Dog's fur with his last remaining strength. Ker, who had the most strength left, ordered the dogs to lie down, and with Der's help, he lifted Zon and laid him on the bed. They all lay down, only Ker silently adding some firewood to the fire to keep them warm before they fell asleep.

12

lay unconscious, beaten bloody, but consciousness was slowly returning to him, but all he wanted was to die before his enemies managed to seize his abilities. It's true that if he were a shaman, they could do it after his death, but he wasn't, and they could only take over his abilities and knowledge with his consent and a modicum of willpower. Besides, only he knew how to do it. All they knew was that they wanted to take possession of it all. Now he didn't have the strength or the will to think about it. Just when he was about to give up and try to lull his body into sleep so that it would eventually cease functioning, and ultimately die, he felt his strength returning, or rather, alien forces entering him—well, son, I guess you've finally regained your abilities—he thought. With the smile of someone who's decided to keep fighting, he settled down more comfortably on the bare ground and fell asleep.