Bing Gananda 10

6 Kurura

The Shadocatch burst from the jungle and began the climb in great bounds. Bing Gananda grasped tighter with her fingers and toes as Pandurina leapt from rock to rock. As she looked over her shoulder, she could see the sun sinking toward the sea. Over her other shoulder, the moon had already risen from the waters.
Kurura would be found at the summit, in a cave near the crater of fire. If he wished to be found. By the time they neared the great crater, the stars shown brightly above the mountain. Pandurina slowed. She was uneasy. Even a Shadocatch was not safe from Kurura.
For the most part, the Lithorians preferred to stay under the lush foliage of the jungle. Bing Gananda was the exception. But although she and Pandurina had been on the mountain of fire, she had never dared to approach Kurura, until now.
There were legends of those who had spoken with Kurura. It was said that those ones, were always held in awe, yet regarded with some suspicion. Bing Gananda had once seen him in flight from afar. It had terrified her, and thrilled her.
Bing Gananda felt exhilarated as she neared the glow of the crater with it's liquid fire below. The wind blew though her hair and it floated around her now, as she stood before the cave of Kurura. Pandurina slunk away as they heard the heavy breathing of Kurura's approach.
But, Bing Gananda stood her ground at the entrance of the cave. She knew she must show no fear. Even when the head of the great lizard appeared, she never flinched.
Kurura stood at the entrance to his lair. He was so close that Bing Gananda could feel his hot breath. Steam rose from his nostrils as he stared at her with unblinking eyes. His forked tongue flicked from his mouth to within a hairbreadth of her face. Still she stood her ground, head held high, and met his eyes.
She bowed low before him, and drew a blade from her waist. With it, she pricked her hand drawing a large drop of her blood. When Kurura's tongue flicked again, and she quickly placed the blood on it.
"Kurura of the Mountain, speak with me," she sang.
As Pandurina watched from a safe distance, Kurura's expression seemed to soften, if that were possible, and he held out one of his powerful forelegs with it's terrible claws. And then, Bing Gananda took her knife and made a small prick, on the soft underside. She touched his blood with her finger and placed it onto her own tongue.
"What is your wish, O Bing Gananda of the Holt?" The sound was not words, yet she now understood them in her mind.
"O Kurura, you are very old and wise. Strange creatures have come to us from the sea. Yet, they seem to be of the world, or of a world. Tell me, are there other worlds?"
"In my youth, I flew far from this mountain, high above the waves. There are indeed, other places like this world of yours."
His words sent a thrill though her.
"I have seen these men and their ship. Bing Gananda, beware. There is evil there among them." He turned his cold eyes toward the cowering Shadocatch. "Bing Gananda, You are a brave one, unlike some creatures." And then he blew a great stream of fire straight at Pandurina. She fled into the darkness.

It took some time for Bing to find Pan shivering in a crevasse of the mountain. She stroked Pandurina and spoke softly.
"Don't feel badly, Pan. A Shadocatch was never meant to stand up to such a one as Kurura."
"But you can."
"I am Lithorian," she replied.


*Bing Gananda may also be found in the sidebar, at the right.