Their luck didn't last long, though. They heard a sound, whirled, and saw a small being on a branch, watching them with malevolent yellow eyes.
The girls whimpered, and Bru moaned, "A Demon!"
It had taken a strange shape, with four limbs and one other appendage that looked like a tentacle. It was covered with short black fur, very thick and fine. Just now it had a set of claws for clinging to the tree.
Before they could run, it opened its mouth and uttered a curse, which sounded like "Meow!"
"Let's get out of here!" Bru whispered.
Alyar knew better. "There's no use running; we're already cursed. The only thing is to try to appease it."
"Maybe we could give it the girls?"
Alyar wavered. He'd become quite attached to Janee, though he was a little tired of being bitten and scratched, and he had gone to a lot of trouble to get her. "Let's try meat first," he decided.
He got a small piece out of his pouch and extended it on the end of his spear. Heart pounding, he moved closer. The Demon tensed as if to jump at them, then seemed to change its mind. It wrinkled its nose (which Alyar hoped was a sign of favor) and finally stretched out its head and took the meat. It chewed daintily and swallowed.
Alyar let out his breath. Nothing was guaranteed, of course, but possibly....