The Valley of Creation

by Hamilton Edmond

"Lead your Clans to the northern hills, up beneath the mountains!"

Quorr growled. "Let the females and the young go. We stay to fight!"

"Fight what?" Nelson demanded. "The flames?"

He whirled and pointed to the southern sky. Crimson and cruel it lowered over them and already the flickering glare was lighting the streets of Vruun.

"Will your Clan pull that down with their claws, Quorr?"

Tark's thought was furious. "But to run away like cubs, with our tails between our legs-!"

"So that you'll live to fight later!" Nelson told him. "When the ashes cool the Clans can come down from the hills and attack the Humanites again!"

"He is right, Tark!" Nsharra supported. "Go now and spread the word!"

Nelson heard the cry go out by voice and thought. "North to the hills and tarry not, my brothers!"

And they went, out through the streets of the doomed city under the reddened sky.