Eritopia

Curious Hyenas

'Well that was strange,' Fleg said. He was awake now but his head was still fuzzy.

'Urgh.' Grap was wandering around in the shadows. 'That sound, I can't get it out of my head,' he was saying. 'Where's Tang?'

'Over there.' Looks like he's still out.'

'That fearful wailing. What was it? I was dancing - you were dancing - round and round and round - Urgh.' Grap shook his head to get rid of the sensation.

Fleg felt sick. 'I think we've been poisoned.'

'Horrible.'

Over in the trees Tang started to stir. The three of them were soon sitting together, trying to work out what had happened to them.

'There's always music,' Grap said.

'But this time it was different,' Tang said. 'Perhaps they knew we were close and did it to stop us.'

'Stop what? They know we won't go into the clearing. I don't think it was for us at all.'

'What's your explanation then?'

Fleg was quiet, and was thinking.

'Captain Fleg, what's your explanation?'

'I haven't got one.' He went over to the edge of the trees and looked out over the clearing, taking care not to be seen. They are moving out, we should go back to the pack, tell them.'

'We're in trouble whatever we do.'

'It's not our fault is it, Captain?' Tang was the youngest of the three and also the most timid.

'No, said Fleg. 'I wonder if we should go and see.'

'See what?' Grap asked.

'That Circle,' said Fleg. He had often wondered why the Insiders risked everything to visit it each year. But they had always been told not to go near it, to stay on the fringes of the Forest. To accept the small pickings they could get, the injured and the lost.

'We should go back,' Grap said.

Tang nodded.

'Should do,' said Fleg. 'But we're not. Today all the Insiders will move off, then we will go to the Circle and find out what's going on. After that we report back to the pack. Any questions?'

Tang and Grap looked at each other. 'No, Captain Fleg,' they said in unison.