by Sherry Allyn Norman

Rumbler and Rambler mewled and squirmed from their pouches to press cheek to cheek with their partners.

Simber swayed on his feet. "Aw, hell," he said, collapsing and stretching to lie flat beside Mikhail.

They lay where they had fallen and watched as a force of their people arrived, hovered a moment and then began the big job of cleaning up the evidence of psionic battle. They fell asleep where they were and did not awake until the move to the Canyon was complete.

***

Nikolaus opened bleary eyes to see his mother's cheerful face looming over him. It was a beautiful face, really, but he didn't want to see it just yet. He turned over.
She sang, "Come on, Niko. It's Monday! You'll need to leave earlier from here than from home in order to get to school on time."

He wondered if he resorted to begging would she let him stay where he was for a few more hours.

She called, "Come on, Niko. Chris is already up and having breakfast."

Nikolaus felt a desire to kick Christopher. A nasty snarl reverberated right next to his skull. He snapped his head around to come face to face with Simber. His wide black face and golden eyes radiated discontent.

Rumbler trembled and scooted backward under the covers.

"Don't make her call you again, whelp,” Simber growled. “If I have to get up, so do you, and I don't mind dragging you out of there by whatever will fit in my mouth. Now get up and get ready for school." Simber's thick black tail lashed to one side and then the other. "I have the honor of escorting the two of you, so you can imagine how happy I am." Simber stalked from the chamber.

Nikolaus stared after him. "Did he sound happy to you, Rummy?"

Rumbler squeaked.

Nikolaus sighed, "Yeah, he didn't sound all that happy to me either."

**********