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?? Last Episode ??  Yes, apparently so. I had only one vote to continue. So I will abandon our heroes' tale, and use the time to write other stories. I thank you all for reading...Fred

12/6/2017

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​Feldspar's estimate had been pessimistic. He made his appearance at the top of the hill just as the sun touched the horizon.
Beryl squealed with delight and ran to him and embraced him with the usual Riotori affection of a female for her man. Feldspar found it quite pleasurable, though a little embarrassing.
He exchanged greetings with the rest and handed the retrieved red cloth to Gypsum.
The four young Riotori happily descended the hill to the city, the two couples hand-in-hand.
Behind them, Pyrope and Calcite were pleased. Feldspar and Gypsum would make marvelous additions to the population of New City.  They had no idea that Feldspar and Gypsum had no intention of remaining.
They had discovered that they enjoyed travel, seeing new territories, and discovering new cultures. They intended to continue that process.
They had discussed, privately, how best to break the news to their women. They had not yet reached a consensus.
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To all my readers: First, thank you for reading!
When I started this serial over two years ago (!) I determined I would work our intrepid pair to a specific goal. I wanted to put each of them into the position portrayed in the picture at the top of the page.
I have now done that.
And that has been my only plan. Each episode was written pretty much without any pre-planning, but based on what had come before and what would move them closer to the ultimate goal.
I made no outline, no synopsis, no story line. I winged it. It's been fun.
But now it is time to decide whether or not to continue this serial.
It is time for YOU TO DECIDE IF I CONTINUE THIS SERIAL!
I need some motivation. Although this does not require a huge amount of time, it does require time—time to plot and time to write.
I don't wish to continue if it has not at least a little importance to a significant number of people.
What is that number?
Good question.
Weebly has shown over time that I average between one hundred fifty and two hundred unique visitors to my site per week. Weebly also shows over 800 page views this week.
To all those of you that make up that number, Thank You!
But I have no idea how many are for the blog, the mascot serial, or any of the other pages.
So, now, it is up to you, the readers, to determine if our fierce furry friends continue their odyssey, or we leave them planning a journey that will never occur.
Please! If you want this serial to continue, simply vote by saying yes on either my contact page or the comments invitation at the top of this post. Any additional comments—praise or pans—are also welcome. Please do not vote more than once.
I don't know how many yes votes will be required to continue. More than a couple dozen, though, you can be sure of that.
There is no time limit. I will post regular updates on the blog and my Facebook page.
Thank you all again for reading and, hopefully, for voting.
  
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Feldspar's Escape

11/23/2017

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He pulled the door open, grabbed his knife from the belt, and charged through the door to meet...nobody. Those that watched him when he was on the roof had been on the other side of the building.
Feldspar expected them to arrive any second. He sprinted to his left toward the closest border of the city; that was in a direction opposite the way to the hill and New City.
Feldspar heard shouts behind him and answering growling howls from in front. He quickly cut right, down a perpendicular street and then left to a street that would keep him progressing toward the city's border.
Two armed guards appeared before him. He did not slow down. This surprised them; they hesitated. He did not. They raised their spears in a defensive position too late to save them.
Feldspar's sword knocked aside the spear on his right. He noticed the guard was young, perhaps no older than Amethyst, and sadly untrained.
Feldspar did not break stride. He was so quick that the guard on his left was too far behind him to do damage. He hit the one on his right square in the mouth with the pommel of his sword as he raced by. He barely noticed the lower tusk of the young man break off half way down its length.
He continued on, his strength and fitness easily defeating his weak and poorly conditioned opponents. But sounds travel faster and the residents of Old City continued to voice directions with howls and shouts in terms Feldspar could not understand.
He looked constantly for any kind of effective strategic advantage, as well as any sign of enemies. He passed up a few buildings that might have provided concealment. One might provide temporary relief, but would more likely serve as a trap.
Despite his conditioning, he was becoming winded. He needed to find a place that would allow him to rest for at least a few minutes.
Then all thoughts of rest were banished. The street ahead revealed an open way out of the city! He stopped for a brief moment, stilled his breathing, and listened. And tested the scents in the air.
A group of the city's defenders awaited him on both sides of the street. It was an ambush. His senses also told him that streets parallel to his were occupied with enemies.
He took a deep breath and began jogging toward the exit. Almost immediately the street was blocked by half a dozen Riotori of the Old City's guard. They were armed with spears and swords.
They did not look confident.
Feldspar did not pause. He increased his speed and voiced a wordless shout as he charged, sword and knife raised high.
The force before him faltered. Several started to look to the sides to find a way out. But others, older ones, braced themselves and stood their ground.
Feldspar's training asserted itself.
The defenders expected to meet an onrushing and desperate opponent that would try to get through their blockade with brute force. Feldspar knew better.
 As he neared the front center, he skidded to a halt. He saw them relax their guard.
He spun to his right, slashing high with the sword while his left hand thrust the knife blade at the nearest enemy belly.
He pivoted to his left and slashed again with the sword, gashing a short foe from shoulder to hip.
He was amongst them now, cutting, parrying, thrusting. Fur flew and blood splashed.
His armor protected him from most of the assaults of his opponents. He sustained cuts on his forearms and legs, but they were minor. The injuries they sustained from him were not.
His opponents scattered, those that still could. Feldspar saw open ground to the city's border and did not hesitate to take it.
A hard sword blow struck him high on the back. His armor protected him from the sword edge. He staggered, but maintained his balance and ran to the border. He glanced behind him, but no one was close. Many Riotori were on the ground. Others stood or sat, holding a wounded limb or simply resting.
Feldspar did not pause more than a second. He gained the edge of the city and hurried on, putting distance between himself and the walls and streets of Old City.
He suspected, correctly, that there would be no pursuit. The guardian residents of Old City were used to bushwhacking unsuspecting campers near the river or cautious and under-armed males from New City. They wondered if the male warrior that had gone through their city was a Riotori of a different kind. He was bigger, stronger, and more vicious than anyone they had even imagined. And with armor! Not even the oldest men in Old City recalled such a thing!
They were happy to see him leave and to hope he would not return. They set themselves to helping each other back to their quarters where their wounds would be washed and crudely bandaged.
When Feldspar was certain he would not be pursued, he rested. Unlike his brother, he had remembered to bring along a little food. He discovered his worst injury. A sword blow had pierced his water skin. He would remain thirsty.
Because of that he ate less than he had planned, grumbling and swearing through the brief meal.
Rested, he began the very long walk around Old City and then past New City to the hill where Beryl, Gypsum, and the rest awaited.
He looked at the sun. If there were no delays he would reach the hill about the same time the sun disappeared behind the horizon.
He did not waste time. He had much to look forward to.
 

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Feldspar's Quest

11/6/2017

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The twins were not allowed to talk to each other before Feldspar's trial; The younger would not give aid to the older. That was fine with Feldspar.
However, there was nothing to say he couldn't use the past to help him.
So, after he exchanged a hand-to-tusk farewell with Beryl, the rest of the occupants atop the hill were surprised to see him leave at a trot over the back of the hill, in the same place his brother had appeared. Topaz and Gypsum were not allowed to be present until Feldspar was ten minutes gone.
Feldspar easily followed his brother's trail from the hill back to the cave he'd used for sleeping. Feldspar used that space to don his armor. He also picked up the now cold torch he found on the floor of the cave.
Gypsum had swept clear his trail leading from the city exit to the cave, but Feldspar could read the marks of the trail sweep; it was something he and his brother had been taught.
Vigilantly he entered the city, still following the clear footprints of his brother's trail.
Obviously, this was a deserted section of the city. There were no other prints.
He came to the large flat rock Gypsum had stood upon to survey his surroundings before exiting the city. Feldspar saw that the trail went down the stairs. It would be dark down there, even though it was early morning sunshine where he stood.
He lit the torch and held it, unconsciously, in his right hand in the same position and with the same pose as his brother had done the evening of his trial.  He saw the mountains, the spires and chimneys, and the near buildings.
His sharp eyes and ears revealed no danger. He turned sharply, without hesitation, and plunged down the stairs. Again, he proceeded more rapidly than his brother had been able to when he unintentionally broke the trail Feldspar now followed.
Well before he reached the end of the tunnel, his torch sputtered and died. His progress from that point slowed.
A faint light eventually became visible and soon Feldspar entered a large but empty room, with light from the morning sun filtering through an open trap door in the roof. The footprints on the floor told him that his brother had descended on the metal rungs leading to the roof.
He took another look around and saw that a closed door offered an exit. He lit one of the torches offered on the wall and walked over to investigate.
The door was barred from the inside and had a handle to pull it open. There were no footprints.
Feldspar might choose to use this door as his exit. He would have to see the roof first. He could not be sure if this building held the spire that bore the flag, or if there was more to do to get to it.
When he reached the roof after his careful ascent he was delighted to find the flag hanging loosely on the spire above. He could have torn it down, but he did not want to ruin it.
He took out a short length of rope and secured himself to the spire, then ascended carefully and unhooked the flag. He got back on the roof and looked at the ground around the building. His activities had attracted two observers.
He could, of course, go back the way he'd come. But that felt like cheating. He would have to make his way back out to New City the hard way.
He looked across the city's rooftops and could see the group on the hill. He waved, then descended back in the interior of the building.
He folded the flag carefully and attached it to his cape as Gypsum had done. Then he inspected that door. He would have to open it, arm himself, and bolt out all in a matter of seconds.
He took his sword from the sheath and prepared to raise the bar.

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When Too Much is Enough

10/12/2017

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​Gypsum's scheme worked perfectly.
Topaz was becoming very distraught; she paced, wailed, wrung her hands, and actually shed some tears. Riotori can cry, but only prolonged strong emotions can bring that about. Never pain.
He crept up the hill on the opposite side of the Old City. He expected a random glance in his direction to reveal his presence, but it didn't happen.
"Hey! Anybody got anything to eat?" His greeting accomplished what he wished. Even Feldspar jumped a little.
Topaz shrieked. Riotori could go their whole lives without hearing one of their kind shriek. And those that did hear it never wanted to hear it again.
The shriek was accompanied by action. She assaulted her future mate. Relief, surprise, anger, all spurred Topaz to violence.
She jumped right onto Gypsum's chest and bore him to the ground on his back. This was painful and awkward; the armor on his back felt like...well, like what it was: a pile of metal full of edges, sharp points, flat surfaces, and over a foot thick.
Topaz beat him around the head and shoulders, thumping and shouting, using language her father had not known she knew.
Beryl enjoyed the display. She was not surprised to hear her sister's profanity and she considered Gypsum's little trick more than enough motivation for the violence.
Feldspar and the other two males simply watched. They, too, understood her reaction though it took them a bit by surprise.
Gypsum was more than a little surprised. As he lay partly on his back and partly on his side, he reflected that his little trick may not have been his best decision.
Topaz's anger arose from the relief that overwhelmed her plus the embarrassment she felt for being so startled and so relieved.
Feldspar and Gypsum had been trained by their father and uncle that females were to be treated with kindness and respect, always. So he did nothing more than defend himself from her anger and do his best to not be injured.
However.
The twins' mother and aunt also taught them. Their uncle had given their aunt only the seeds for daughters, and the twins' cousin were more than a year older than the boys.
They roughhoused regularly in play.
There is a peculiar genetic trait in female Riotori. When they manage to attain a physical advantage over a male, in play or in an actual hostile encounter, there is an unconscious but overwhelming urge to actually dominate the male into submission. The female will, without warning, begin to intentionally inflict pain on the male to force him to submit.
Feldspar and Gypsum encountered this one each during rough play with their cousins. With their indoctrination of respect and kindness for women, they did not "fight back." The assault continued.
That's when their mother and aunt, observing the exchange finally stepped in verbally.
"Boys! You have been well-trained by your father and uncle, but you must also know when too much is enough, and assert yourselves!"
They did not have to be told twice.
Now, that genetic urge suddenly overtook Topaz and she was not even consciously aware of it. But her assault, originally frantic random swats and shoves, became intentional attempts to inflict pain—enough pain to force him to cry for mercy and submit. And she became silent, except for labored breathing.
At that point, too much was enough.
He warned her with a growl. She either did not hear or did not care.
Seconds later she found herself sailing through the air and then landing hard a few yards away.
Before she could rise, Gypsum was upon her. He put his tusks against her throat and muttered so quietly that only she could hear.
"If you are done, I will say sorry. If you are not done, then we are."
He stood up and offered his hand to help her rise. She took it and stood up, looking as chastened and apologetic as a Riotori can.
"No, my lord Gypsum, it is I who should apologize. My instincts took me over."
He took her hand and rubbed the furry back against the outside of his upper tusk; it was a sign of forgiveness, admiration, and lasting affection.  It thrilled her.
It also pleased their audience.
Beryl had stood close to Feldspar throughout the tussle. When Gypsum accorded Topaz his gesture of affection, Beryl took Feldspar's hand in hers and smiled at him.
He returned the smile, but he was distracted. Already he was thinking about his own trial tomorrow.
    

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Roughing It

9/24/2017

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​Feldspar and Gypsum were identical twins. They had been raised together and lived together their whole lives. No surprise, then, that, though many miles separated them, they awoke at the same time.
But Feldspar was able to eat breakfast. Gypsum only wished he could. But there was nothing he could do about it, and he admitted that it was his own fault. He donned his armor and tested the air with his nose and ears but detected no nearby enemies. He emerged cautiously from the shallow cave and looked around. There was no sign of the residents of Old City.
He looked around to verify his route, then headed away from his sleeping place, and Old City, at a casual jog. He skirted the perimeter of the city and headed for the river. It would lengthen his return trip, but he needed water. And there was a chance he might find something to kill and eat.
Meanwhile, Feldspar, Topaz, and the rest of the concerned individuals resumed their vigil at the top of the hill, scanning the area for any sign of Gypsum.  Topaz became more and more agitated as the hours passed and still her potential future mate made no appearance. Beryl tried to comfort her sister while also remaining close to Feldspar. The other two adult males remained passive.
After Gypsum reached the river he shed his armor and immersed himself in the cool water. He had maintained alertness and managed to snag a medium-sized fish. He ate it raw, reluctantly, but had no means to start a fire.
He looked back to the place he exited Old City. There was no real worry about pursuit. He moved his vision across the extent of the city. To his left the expanse of Old City obliterated New City and the hill that was, from this angle, to the right.
He had a sudden idea. It would be necessary to skirt the Old City anyway, and veer off to the right. Why not go a little farther and come up on his brother and the rest from behind? If they happen to see him before he got out of sight, he would not admit his intention. But if they did not see him, he could have a good laugh when he startled them from behind.
His decision made, he arranged his armor to be carried on his back and shoulders and set out to spring a surprise on, especially, Topaz.
He failed to consider what her reaction might be.
Live and learn.
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    The story: This serial is about the "mascot" shown at the top of these pages. There are actually two of them, identical twins, Feldspar and Gypsum.
    The people call themselves Riotori, and their planet is Kylrock. The twins have been journeying for hundreds of miles, across many hazards, in search of mates. Please visit the archives to read their whole story.



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