Vring remained silent and looked at the stars.
Im surprised youre not helping care for the newborns. The last hatching set some kind of record didnt it?
Im actually using you as an excuse to escape. Scotty looked at Vring. I told Bleath that you wanted me to take you Torg hunting in the morning. Thats the only excuse that would allow me to escape.
Scotty laughed, Is it that bad?
Think about what thirty thousand newborns sound like. Add that to the forty five thousand youngsters less than three cycles old; I think my ears are still dead and will never hear properly again. Even a Torg could charge me and I wouldnt hear it. Thank the Air God for all the food your archers provided or we would be in huge trouble feeding them.
Scott smiled, I would have never thought any of you would complain about newborns.
Easy for you to say; you dont have to feed or hear them.
Scotty chuckled again and said, Well, well go up in the morning and make sure some of your community see us.
I appreciate that more than you know. By the way, wheres Jingo?
Jesa is close to delivering their first child and hes staying close.
There was silence for several minutes and Vring asked, Have you not found a mate?
Scotty sighed deeply, No. There are quite a few of our young women that have made their interest known but none of them touch my heart.
There were several more minutes of silence and Scotty said, None of them come close to what my mother was. I guess I still miss her too much.
Ive seen Jesas memories of the day she died. She was a remarkable Human. She died trying to save several that had fallen.
There was another long silence, then Vring said something that brought Scotty up off his back. At least she didnt suffer like those poor slaves north of our lands.
What slaves, Vring?
Oh, dont worry about them; they arent members of your community. The big Yellow Skins use them to work their farms.
Vring what are you talking about?! What do you mean, suffering?
Vring looked at Scotty and said, I thought you only protected those in your two communities. Those slaves are captured species being forced to farm for the Yellow Creatures. They have been captive since shortly after the original destruction.
Scotty jumped up and said, We do not tolerate slavery of any kind. You mean there are many being held as slaves?
Vring tilted his head and said, They were the last time one of our warriors flew over their lands.
How long ago was that?
Three cycles ago, just before you came to save our eggs, we sent warriors out looking for safe nesting grounds. We have seen them occasionally over the centuries.
Vring, I want you to take me there.
No way!
Why not?
Those yellow creatures have a weapon which uses a bright beam that kills Torg from great distances. It is called a blaster, according to your memories. I will not take you into that deadly land.
If you wont take me, I will start walking there in the morning. I will not sit idly by when there are people being held in slavery.
Vring saw Scotty was serious. White Hair, they will see you just like the Torg that have learned to sprint into the forest when one of you goes flying with us. I can hide with my color shifting, but they will see you. Vring paused and said, Besides, I must have my fathers permission to leave our lands.
Scotty stood up and started up the hill. Hey, where are you going?
I told you I would walk if you wont take me.
Youre serious; arent you?
Yes I am, Vring. Slavery was never tolerated by the Holy Realm, and we live by the Realms principles.
Well, wait just a minute. Slow down. Ill go home and request that I take you to see the northern slaves. If Im turned down, Zreeg will come take you. It would take you almost a cycle to walk the distance and you dont know where youre going. Theyve been there over a thousand cycles; waiting a few more days wont make a difference. That will give you time to prepare for the trip.
Scotty stared at Vring and said, Ok, Ill wait three days. If you dont come back Ill start hiking north.
Why does this bother you so much?
Slavery robs a being of everything; their self-worth, their happiness, their dreams, and their love. No one should endure that kind of suffering.
Is it your responsibility to free every slave on the planet?
It is the duty of all of us to free those that are slaves. That includes your species, too.
Why?
Because the Torg had enslaved your people; your species were made a food source for them and you faced extinction at their jaws. How was life living under the Torg, Vring?
Vring was silent and finally took a huge breath, Every day was spent in constant sorrow anticipating the coming slaughter of our hatchlings. Many had chosen just to attack a large Torg herd to end their pain and suffering. Most of those were the mothers that had lost their eggs too many times.
Do you think those slaves feel any different, with no hope of freedom?
Drab you, Scotty. Now Im feeling anger at those slave masters. Vring paused and said, Even if Im told not to go. I give you my oath I will take you anyway.
How long will it take us to go there?
Three days of hard flying.
Then ask Zreeg to go with us to carry enough food for you to make the round trip.
Im sure Ill find food on the way. If nothing else, the Torg reproduce at an extraordinary rate. Are you going alone?
Scotty lowered his head, I made an oath to Jingo to tell him any time I was planning to leave the community. He takes that promise to my mother very seriously. However, hes expecting his first child and he might stay.
Would you?
Wow; thats a hard question! I honestly dont know what Id do.
Could you wait until the child is born?
Scotty took a huge breath and blew it out, I probably wont have a choice. If he chooses to go, I just couldnt force him to leave Jesa to have their child alone. Scotty pondered the dilemma and said, I dont want you to go and collect all you need to make the journey and then have you wait here. Jesa is due in two days and the Cainth are just like your species; their births are within hours of the scheduled time.
Vring said, Lets do this. Give him some time with his newborn and well leave seven days from now. Is that a plan you can accept?
Scotty looked up at the stars and, after a seeing a shooting star flash across the sky, he said, Yes.
Vring walked down the hill and spread his wings, I will see you in seven rotations, White Hair. Make sure you have enough provisions.
I will, Vring. Thank you.
The huge Zord lifted and flew north.
Scotty watched him go and shook his head, Boy, they grow fast. Hes larger than Zreeg.
Vring arrived midmorning after a leisurely flight back, and he could hear the latest hatching of newborns long before he arrived. Now, wheres Bleath? He circled over the forest and didnt see him in any of the clearings. He flapped his wings six times, caught a rising thermal, and rose to more than fifteen hundred feet. He looked out over the huge wastelands and didnt see him there, either. That left one place. He turned and flapped toward the three peaks. There he is.
Bleath was on White Hair Mountain supervising the food transfer to the newborns. Vring screamed and Bleath looked up and motioned him down. He landed and Bleath said, Its about time you came back. You can help carry the food down to the newborns.