Abandoned or accepted . . .

      This shocked the hosrosubs closest to him.  It bent down and snorted into Gruashe’s face.  Gruashe trembled and tears streamed from his eyes.  The rest of the crew slowly backed away.  Other hosrosubs circled closer to Gruashe as the crew escaped the plain.  Gruashe continued to shake as his heart raced thinking that he had finally been abandoned.
      The hosrosubs came closer still. Gruashe could no longer distinguish his breath from that emanating from the creatures that now stifled him.  As he thought he was soon inhale his last or be suffocated by the brutes, he heard another noise, a familiar sound.
      The sound caught the encircled hosrosubs’ attention for they all turned just long enough for Gruashe to scurry around and under and in between the legs of the beasts until he fled safely.  As he ran, the commotion became louder.  Not knowing exactly what it was, he did not run directly toward it.  He felt something following him and looked to realize it was Bags.  She landed next to him and led him straight to the turbulence.
      Gruashe chuckled as he discovered his friends did not leave him, but provided a means of liberation.  It was at this point he at last felt accepted into this body.  This body bound tightly in their quest and in their protection of Mal-Nai had now allowed an “outsider” come in as an equal.  He laughed to hide the tears chocking up from his throat . . .