On Earth, there are three Triads intending to integrate
not only the three peoples and stop the war that threatens to break loose and
slaughter Humans and devastate their world; but to stop the war that consumes
Kiiote economy and Yown’Hoo moral fiber. All three intelligences hover on the
edge of extinction. The merger of Human-Kiiote-Yown’Hoo into a van der Walls
Society might not only save all three – but become something not even they
could predict. Something entirely new...
The young experimental Triads are made up of the smallest
primate tribe of Humans – Oscar and Xiomara; the smallest canine pack of Kiiote
– six, pack leaders Qap and Xurf; and the smallest camelid herd of Yown’Hoo – a
prime eleven, Dao-hi the Herd mother. On nursery farms and ranches away from
the TC cities, Humans have tended young Yown’Hoo and Kiiote in secret for
decades, allowing the two, warring people to reproduce and grow far from their
home worlds.
“We had nearly fallen into stagnation when we
encountered the Kiiote.”
“And we into internecine war when we encountered the
Yown’Hoo.”
“Yown’Hoo and
Kiiote have been defending themselves for a thousand revolutions of our Sun.”
“Together, we
might do something none of us alone might have done…a destiny that included
Yown’Hoo, Kiiote, and Human.” (2/19/2015)
Qap, pack leader of the Kiiote portion of the North American
Triad eased back.
The female Pack who had led the ambush on the Triad as they’d
exited the old Human fuel station, was falling into the cadence of more formal
speech. The female had been speaking like a near-wild animal. She squirmed
uncomfortably then said in a Submission tone, “I would stand, Pack Leader.”
Qap released the female and waited until the youngster
rearranged her structure for upright locomotion. She lifted her chin and said,
“I, too am Pack Leader. My name is Kang.” She stretched her neck, offering her
throat.
Qap reached out, took a token scratch then said, “The
Lieutenant sent us here. We did not expect to find you so easily.” Kang’s neck
fur bristled and Qap touched it to smooth it. “We do not come to fight, Sister,
but to ask for help.”
“Help? From us? We barely stay alive here.” In the snow, the
three Human riders began to stir. “Sister, the Herd in these woods Hunt both
Pack and Tribe for sport.”
Qap, Qilf, and Towt crouched into fighting stance, snarls
escaping their muzzles. Qap said, “How is it that Pack and Herd hunt Humans?
They are not worthy of the hunt. Kiiote and Yown’Hoo have a long-standing war,
but Humans are…”
“I believe this as well, Sister…” there was a strong
interrogative with a weak command in Kang’s reply.
Qap growled, then said, “Forgive, Sister. I am Pack leader Qap.”
“I am Pack Leader Qilf.”
Towt rolled onto its back and spoke upside down, “Neuter
Towt.”
The Humans had recovered, as had the other Kiiote. It
nodded, “Neuter Keert.”
The female Human raised her hand and said, “Cynthia Legatto.”
The male said, “Kobey Kamphasavanh.” His scent was doubt and
anxiety. He didn’t trust them.
Qap addressed her remark to him, saying, “My favorite Human
didn’t trust me at first, either.”
Kobey muttered a Human curse, then said, “How do you know I
don’t trust you?”
“I was raised with two Human Tribe, Oscar and Xiomara. All
of our Triad members are familiar with the habits and scents of each other.”
“Triad?” said the female Cynthia.
Qilf was the expert at Kiiote-Yown’Hoo-Human interaction and
stepped forward at her fart of encouragement. He said, “We have been bred and
raised together to be capable of building bridges between the Stupid, the
mindless drones who war between themselves and continue to devastate the world
that originally belonged to Humans.”
“Their fight is worthy!” Kang and Keert exclaimed. “All Yown’Hoo
must die!”
“That subconscious programming has doomed out ancestors to an
endless, unwinnable fight. The forces of the two balance almost perfectly and
the only ones who have lost are the worlds upon which we waged out useless
conflict. We must stop now. The Masters, Kiiote Leaders Pan and Zir; Ji-Hi who
is Mother of All; and the Human Ally and Martyr, St. Admiral have created a
plan that will bind Kiiote, Yown’Hoo, and Human together into a cord of three
strands which will be unbreakable.”
The Kiiote snarled. Even the Humans crouched low to the
ground, raising their crude spears. Kang said, “We would rather die than submit
to the Yown’Hoo!”
Qap and Qilf bowed then. Qap said, “Then we will leave you
to your suicide and wish you a better life with your next Pack.” She dropped to
all fours as he Lead mate and the neuter followed suit. She crouched to spring
and begin their long journey North to the rendezvous place. Her muscles bunched
and she felt the adrenaline rush…
Kang howled, then barked, “What do you mean?”
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