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Back-quotes `` `` used in this and other stories are to denote Grekath's native tongue.
``Well, I say we keep a closer watch on them than ever before. There's no telling how many of them will start popping in --``
``We cannot spare more clansmen than we already have. They are confined to their part of the planet, and our safeguards have been good enough.``
``Oh, have you forgotten the human who slid past our defenses some time back? He made it almost all the way to the village before your 'safeguards' kicked in.``
``One time in two years, yes. It has not happened since then.``
Grekath carefully contained a guttural sigh, his badger-like body and features showing the strain of this 'civilized' conversation. These were the same two council members who always argued, and they still had yet to convince one another of anything. Further, the council was getting far more anxious than he thought was necessary. There were more humans around, yes, but still --
The panicked clansman continued, shattering Grekath's thoughts. ``You have not been watching. You are not there, seeing their eyes roam over the forest, knowing that they become more daring as time passes. Our illusions will not hold them for long. They are finally starting to organize, there are so many of them.``
``Thus, we can change their surroundings more often and be on the alert for those who do enter,`` Grekath finally spoke, if only to restore some calm to the conversation. ``Ocean surrounds three sides of their land--``
``Indeed, then let us wait until they decide to brave the sea! I am sure your unrefined skills are enough to create the likeness of a wall of water to scare them away!``
The words were loaded, and Grekath knew it, inwardly seething. He only had one test left to surpass the rank of half this council, one test that he could pass with ease if given the chance, and yet here this fool was holding it above Grekath's head -- again. ``I have not seen the slightest hint of a plausible watercraft among them. You are well aware that it will not take much to re-direct some fool who winds up in the forest.``
A calm, yet measured reply cut through the clearing. ``... and you would re-direct them even if they came storming into this very clearing, mageling?``
Grekath started a little, turning to face this new speaker, his contempt in check only because he recognized the voice. Qenacor pushed himself lightly away from the tree on which he'd been leaning, and he took a couple meaningful steps toward the 'mageling.'
``You know the danger our clan faces, Grekath. These humans are criminals. That is why they were sent here by their kind.`` He held up a stiff paw to stave off Grekath's response. ``Do not think we are blind to the powers you hold, but do not choose to make light of our situation, either. Despite what you see as panic among your fellow clansmen, the humans' numbers are growing, and more arrive nearly every week, these days.``
Grekath set his jaw, but he held back his favored response to that little speech. Whether he liked it or not, Qenacor was his elder; in fact, he was about the oldest one there, and the wisdom the passing time had given him was nothing at which to laugh. Grekath chose his few words carefully, attempting to place respect for the old badger in and among a hope he would not get a hard-line response. ``Given our resources, what do you propose as a solution, good elder?``
Qenacor kept a meaningful gaze upon Grekath for a moment, but then turned to address the council in general. ``I recommend we increase our patrols in the area. Sooner or later, they will become less intimidated by our protective measures, and when they do, we must be prepared.`` He gave another quick wave of his paw to stifle a response from the panicky council-member. ``No, I do not mean to flood the area with our people. This is no time for rash changes, either. We must be ready, however, to enforce the laws we have.``
A hardened expression crossed Grekath's face. He knew that would be how Qenacor reacted. This, too, was nothing new: Allow the barest of changes to deal with the present situation, but cling tightly to the traditions that, in Grekath's mind, have kept them bogged down for ages. At times, he had thought it no wonder that other races were visiting their planet while they still remained in their chunk of forest on the only island he had ever known. He spoke again, unable to keep the bite entirely from his voice, squeezing his staff in one paw; the eighteen-inch piece of wavy blond wood creaked, but retained its shape. ``Elder. These laws no longer fit with our present situation. We wish our secrecy to be maintained, our connection to the land and its creatures to remain undisturbed, to be certain, but if we continue to provoke --``
``Provoke them, mageling?`` Qenacor turned on a heel to face Grekath again. ``They are more than capable of their own provocation. You know this very well: More than one of their numbers has turned up in the ocean, or strung up a tree, or burned into the ground within their own homes. They are a crude, self-serving lot, and you wish to make peace with them as if they were a civilized nation.``
Grekath had on the tip of his tongue the thought of comparing the humans' barbaric behavior with their own, but his heated response was cut off as the panicky council member rose once again. ``All in favor of increasing patrols until such time as is decided otherwise?``
Paws hit chests all around the circle of council members, marking the consent of everyone save Grekath. He narrowed his eyes, carefully not speaking his thoughts. More and more it occurred like this: The meeting becomes unstable, Qenacor or another elder dominates, and everyone clings to ``staying the course,`` to tradition for the sake of it being tradition. Could none of these esteemed individuals come up with an original solution? Must he always be considered the rebel among their ranks, accentuated by his relative youth on the council?
Qenacor turned slowly, surveying the circle of clansmen around him. Unanimous, minus one... how typical. ``... then, for the good of the clan... let it be done.``
Grekath straightened, clutched his staff in both hands in a show of respect, and turned quickly, striding from the clearing.