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Cave Walls
Meredith and the shaman strode back along the pebble-strewn edge of the pond. Thick fog rolled in from the water. They stepped carefully over the slippery stones until they reached the smooth limestone shelves near the water's edge where they had landed.
The water was higher than before, covering the stone ledge where the young dog creature had lounged. The cave walls lay straight ahead. Meredith made out some markings on them that she hadn't noticed before. She stopped to examine them, even though a nagging sense of urgency warned her not to tarry too long.
Mystical Drawings
Meredith examined the damp walls closely in the misty light. Gradually the beads of moisture receded to expose strange paintings which seemed to move about. The images danced and swayed across the walls as if to music. Meredith thought she heard the beat of a drum, but it was only the sound of water dripping against the stones.
The mystical drawings swirled and circled back with no beginning or ending, but wherever she touched the painting, it became still so she could examine it.
Protecting Their Young
"Look, here are the Dog People making a circle," Meredith said, pointing to a ring of figures. "These smaller figures inside the circle are the pups. Those larger ones outside are the adults. They seem to be protecting their young," Meredith said, filled with excitement at her discovery.
"You are right," said the shaman with approval.
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Young Adults "These Dog People are swimming away from the pack," Meredith said, pointing to animal figures in stylized crests of water. "They must be the young adults, striking out on their own. Look, this one in the lead has a white ear. It is our friend, the young she dog. I'm sure of it. And that black one must be a dominant male. It seems our young one is starting her own family." She looked at the shaman for confirmation. "Yes, it is so," he said. |
Pups of Her Own
"Let's see what happens next," said Meredith, moving to a new group of figures. "Here she is starting a new pack further along the water's edge. See, she has pups of her own, and two of them have white ears. They have a nice dry den snuggled into the shoreline and plenty to eat, judging by the fish jumping in the water and the clam shells piled on the sand. I'm glad she has a good life." Meredith smiled at the shaman.
"The young mother lives well," he said.