Jen’s Reviews > Blacktail > Status Update

"The secret," she said, " is that there is no secret.
The Forest God or courage, if you prefer-sleeps in all places, all hearts. Some, I grant you, more so than others, but each of us must find Him all on our own. In truth, I think anyone might have done what he did.

He remembered entering his childhood den and seeing them there, seeing how his mother had tried to shield her puppies with her body, how she had died with her tongue a little way out, died still trying to clean his sister's wound. He remembered looking on this with a terrible species of wonder, unable to comprehend the mind of the monster that would destroy such love.

Some say that the best way to take the measure of another's heart is to love them, but Blacktail knew that the greatest truths are learned only in battle.

"The hunt is the Forest God's design. The truth of it lies in all beasts- even those too weak to find it in themselves. Over the long ages the bloodlines of those who embrace it will be refined. At the end of creation, those that remain will be strong enough to look upon the face of God and. " Blacktail's voice faltered. "Then... he will not be alone anymore."

Cannibalism??

"Yes. Precisely. Why? They did not kill for food, or to protect their young or their lands." His fur was up now, prickly. His eyes blazed. "What they did to me was a sin against the hunt. It was an abomination.”

"No. Not dead. He stands above all. Such a one cannot be destroyed. How could it be otherwise? When the god of men went forth to slaughter the gods of beasts, was this not a hunt? It is difficult to kill a thing when the very attempt is an act of worship toward it."

"My mother died in a trap," Slipper said. "Did I tell you that? They say the two-legs use the fur of foxes to warm themselves in the winter. That can't be true, can it? Not even the two-legs would kill someone just to cut the fur off them, would they? Do you think?”

“These idiots are in love with hate. They’ll kill everything on four legs, given half a chance.”

“When creation is ended, and you float here alone, still screaming, forgotten even by your god? You are damned, two-legs," the cat said. This time his voice carried a hint of compassion. Somehow that was the worst of all. "Show some humility."