Free Ratha and Thistle-Chaser (The Third Book of the Named) by Clare Bell Page A

leader,” the student said apologetically. “I had to work a lot with my treeling before we could even do the first part.”
    “Yes, and I thought you were just fooling around. I cuffed you for not attending to your duties, as you remember well.” Fessran grinned as her protégé looked slightly dismayed. She sniffed the treeling-made knot.
    “All right, youngster,” Fessran announced to the young Firekeeper. “Enough for now. Go back to your work. Since the clan leader likes what you’ve done, you may continue it, but don’t use that as an excuse to be lazy. ”
    Ratha called Ratharee to her and watched the student lope away with his ring-tailed companion on his back.
    “He’s clever, isn’t he? Makes me feel old and stupid.” Fessran sighed.
    “If you got yourself another treeling, my Firekeeper friend, you could do the same things.”
    “No. If I can’t have Fessree, I’d prefer to burn my whiskers myself. And have smart young students to think up easier ways to bundle wood.”
    “It may go beyond just wood bundling. You know that, since you’re encouraging him,” Ratha pointed out.
    “It may, but nothing will ever top what a certain young herder did with the Red Tongue.” Fessran lay down beside Ratha, pawing her playfully.
    “Flatterer! No one will ever accuse you of being old and stupid, not while you have a voice to tease me with. What power has the Red Tongue compared to Fessran’s?” With that, Ratha rolled over and play-wrestled with the Firekeeper, while Ratharee scolded both.
    The sound of rustling brush and trotting feet brought both heads up. The sun flashed on a dark copper coat as Thakur jogged toward them and slowed to touch noses. With a rising purr, he rubbed past Ratha.
    “It is good to smell you again, Thakur,” she said softly. “I’ve thought often of you.”
    “And I have missed you, yearling. I have much to tell, but first let me rest.”
    He touched noses with Fessran, then flopped himself down in the shade with Aree on his shoulder.
    “I thought everyone would still be off yowling in the bushes,” he said, grinning at both of them. “Did you hear any good courting songs this year, Fess?”
    The Firekeeper hissed scornfully. “None of this year’s crop of suitors has any voice at all.”
    “So we make cubs by singing? That is something new among the Named.” Thakur lolled his tongue at her.
    Hearing Thakur’s teasing was like old times, but it also served to remind Ratha that the delayed mating season had been short, with few of the Named taking part. Her own heat had lasted only a few days, then tapered off.
    Thakur turned to Ratha. “Have the other scouts returned yet?”
    “They’ve been coming in during the past few days. You’re the last. Everyone’s hungry. I’ll have a herdbeast culled.”
    Thakur’s brow furrowed slightly. “The last cull took all the unfit animals. Have the herders choose carefully. We need good stock for breeding.”
    Ratha felt slightly irritated at him for telling her something she knew well. But he was right; they had to be careful.
    “Those who have journeyed far for the sake of their clan shall not sleep tonight with empty bellies,” she answered. “We will take what is needed, no more. Fessran, I’d like to speak with Thakur alone. Would you go and look to the culling?”
    The Firekeeper sprang to her feet and padded away. Ratha turned to Thakur. “So then, herding teacher. What tales do you bring?”
    He paused, then answered. “I have news, but first tell me what the other scouts have reported.”
    Ratha wondered why he was being evasive, but she said only, “The scouts found many new beasts, but none appear to be as well suited to our needs as the creatures we now keep.”
    “Oh?” Thakur cocked his head. “That surprises me.”
    “Young Khushi came back with a wild tale about huge, shaggy creatures who bear tusks and wear their tails on their faces. Although he didn’t think we could kill the big ones, he