The Demon said, "Meow," in a different tone.
Carefully, they edged toward the open. After a few steps Bru began to run. Immediately, there was a loud "MEOW!" and he stopped.
In a moment the Demon came into sight, walking on the ground. Alyar noticed that it had ungrown the claws. As he looked (no doubt reading his thought) it grew them again, stretched out its two front limbs, lengthened its body, and yawned.
They started on, but weren't able to make much time until they found that the Demon wanted to be carried.
At the edge of the Forest, it was disappointing to see how little distance they had covered. The nearest end of the jaksin beast, hunching slowly away now toward the smit beast, was still within three shouts. However, no jaksins were in sight.
Again, Alyar hesitated; troubles seemed to be piling up. Still, he didn't see any choice. "We'll have to go to the Warm Ground," he said.
The girls sobbed a little, and he frowned at them. "Now what's wrong?"
"There are terrible outlaws there, and Demons, and—and things."
His patience ran out. "To hell with them! We already have one Demon; do you think it's going to share us with everything on the planet? Come on!"