Zonaton Read Online Free PDF

Wait.
                She paused and raised an eyebrow in his direction, but she didn't question him. Not since that manganat tried to attack her six seasons ago.
                Rearing up, Zonaton belched. Opening his beak, he emitted a single, weak pulse of energy. The yellowish light flew into the cave, brightening its interior, and allowing the geron the chance to see if any danger lurked within. Satisfied, he nodded, and she went inside ahead of him.
                He threw a bright white plume of heat into the pit while Emmala dropped a chunk of doick onto the rocks sitting in the center of the hollow. It sizzled when it hit the coals, and steam rose toward the high ceiling, where it eventually exited out through a small fist-sized hole. As the meat cooked, she nibbled on the last of the ripening furber root and watched the geron gulp down the remaining raw doick.
                "Time to go to the store," she commented.
                Zonaton snorted. It was his way of laughing. Either way, he was amused. For the most part, he was the hunter, although she sometimes managed to scrounge for some of the more edible plants.
                Emmala stretched her hands out over the glowing hot pit. The scent of roasting meat wafted up to her, and she smiled. "Is that why you attacked my people when we first landed here? Because we were tearing apart this world like those miners did?"
                They were destroying the natural formations. They showed no regard for us or the other creatures on this world. They had no consideration for the ramifications of their actions, or the fact that they were demolishing our food sources. Killing anything that got in their way. Tearing away edible plant life.
                "Why didn't you say so before you started killing them? Why didn't you tell them about the damage they were doing, and ask them to stop?"
                We did. They ignored us.
                Emmala paused to think. "That's not how it was explained to us when I was in school."
                It is the truth.
                "I believe you." She poked the meat, testing it for doneness. She sensed his curiosity, and halfway knew what his next question would be before he asked.
                What were you taught about the landing?
                "That we started to settle here, and tried to build ourselves a new life. We tried to create our villages, but the gerons objected. They told us to leave the rocks and plants alone, but we had no choice if we were going to survive." She shrugged one shoulder. "When the settlers continued to establish a home here, the gerons attacked and killed nearly a third of us."
                We returned to the settlers to reiterate our demands. They fired upon us first, leaving us with no other alternative but to fight back.
                Emmala gave him a surprised look. "You were there?"
                I was young. I was at the rear of the attack, but I saw it all as it occurred.
                "Wow." She chewed on that realization, when another one struck her. "You were alive back at the original landing?"
                Yes.
                "That means you're old, doesn't it?"
                I am up in years, as you would say.
                She felt his humor. She also sensed he was holding something back from her. But before she could inquire, Zonaton shook his wings.
                I need to inform the Elders of the miners' return.
                "Think those miners saw the villages?"
                Maybe. If they did, they may be avoiding them for fear of being detected.
                She made a face. "If that's true, it could mean those things are up to no good. People who avoid others usually have something to hide."
                True, but