Shann lay motionless, holding his breath as the shadow passed over him. He didn't dare move, fearing that even a slight movement would attract attention from the Throg ship above. His heart pounded in his chest, and he could feel his muscles tensing up with fear. As the shadow moved on, Shann slowly let out a sigh of relief. He remained still for a few moments longer, listening intently to see if there were any signs of pursuit. But all was quiet, and after what felt like an eternity, he cautiously got to his feet. The wolverines, Taggi and Togi, looked up at him with curious expressions, as if asking why they had been forced to hide again. Shann smiled weakly and patted them on the head, trying to reassure them that all was well. As he stood there, he took stock of their situation. They were still in the open, exposed to the Throg ship above. He knew they couldn't stay here for long; they needed to find a safe place to hide, somewhere the Throgs wouldn't think to look. Shann looked around, taking in their surroundings. The valley was vast and empty, with no signs of civilization anywhere. But he spotted something - a range of hills in the distance, which might provide them with some cover. Without hesitation, Shann set off towards the hills, the wolverines following closely behind him. They moved quickly, trying to put as much distance between themselves and the Throg ship as possible. As they climbed up the hillside, Shann's thoughts turned to their situation. They were alone on a hostile planet, with no way of communicating with Earth or any other human settlement. The Throgs had destroyed their camp, and it was likely that they would be searching for them now. But Shann refused to give up. He knew he had to keep moving, to find a safe place to hide and regroup. And with the wolverines by his side, he felt a sense of determination and hope that he hadn't felt in a long time. As they reached the top of the hill, Shann spotted something - a cave entrance, partially hidden by a screen of bushes. He nodded to himself, knowing that this was their best chance yet at finding a safe place to hide. Without hesitation, Shann led the wolverines into the cave, his heart pounding with excitement and fear. They moved cautiously inside, trying not to make any noise as they made their way deeper into the darkness. As they walked, Shann's eyes adjusted to the dim light, and he began to take in their surroundings. The cave was large and spacious, with a high ceiling that disappeared into darkness. There were rocks and boulders scattered about, but no signs of recent habitation. Shann smiled to himself, knowing that this was it - their new home for the time being. He looked down at the wolverines, who were watching him with curious expressions. "We're safe now," he whispered, trying to reassure them. "We'll be okay." The wolverines seemed to understand, and they nodded in agreement. Shann smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. They had made it - they had found a place to hide, and they could start planning their next move. As they settled into the cave, Shann began to think about their situation. They needed food, water, and shelter - the basics of survival. And they needed to find a way to communicate with Earth, or at least get off this planet. But for now, they were safe. And that was all that mattered.
By Andre Norton · First published 1960 · Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Fantasy · 18 chapters