"It reminds me of a zoo," Ven answered softly.
I nodded. It did and it was thoroughly unpleasant.
I strained my perception to its limits, pushing it through the gelid darkness, searching until I found the natives. "They're asleep," I said.
"What's that?"
"Suspension of consciousness. Something like estivation."
"Oh. Then we can approach safely?"
"If we are quiet," I replied. "Sleep is broken easily and consciousness returns quickly."
The trail deepened beyond the rocks—two rutted tracks about three vards apart. We moved forward cautiously, our senses keyed to their highest pitch. The night was oppressively still and every movement rasped loudly. My breath came fast and shallow. My heart pounded and my musk glands were actively secreting as I parted the opening to their cloth shelter, and sensed the dim forms within.
"Stat," I projected and Ven handed me the weapon. It was almost more than I could manage in my weakened condition, but I aimed it and fired a full intensity blast at the nearest lumpy figure. It jerked and flopped inside its coverings, and the second form sat up with horrid speed!