"If we gave up fighting, we might live too long. Then what would happen?"
"Live too long?" Magnan looked puzzled.
"When estivating time comes there'd be no burrows for us. Anyway, with the new Qornt stepping on our heels—"
"I've lost the thread," Magnan said. "Who are the new Qornt?"
"After estivating, the Verpp moult, and then they're Qornt, of course. The Gwil become Boog, the Boog become Rheuk, the Rheuk metamorphosize into Verpp—"
"You mean Slun and Zubb—the mild-natured naturalists—will become warmongers like Qorn?"
"Very likely. 'The milder the Verpp, the wilder the Qorn,' as the old saying goes."
"What do Qornt turn into?" Retief asked.
"Hmmmm. That's a good question. So far, none have survived Qornthood."
"Have you thought of forsaking your warlike ways?" Magnan asked. "What about taking up sheepherding and regular church attendance?"