In A Just Cause: Oathbound

by Edward Becerra
__________________________

   "A leader ... is one of the things that distinguishes a mob from a
    people..."
      - Stilgar, "Dune"

   Princess Sally and David watched as a delegation of coyotes headed their
way. David snuck a quick look at Kickaha. He seemed all right, at first
glance, but David noticed that his left eye was twitching and his hand was
clenched tightly around his shotgun.

   *I hope he can handle this. This is the _last_ thing in the world that he
wanted to do,* Davey thought. *He's got to hold it together, for Knothole's
sake.*

   Sally noticed it as well, and stepped to his side. "Don't worry, Kickaha.
We're here, and ready to help you if you need it."

   "Thank you, Princess. I'll try to remember that." He turned to Quick
Kills. "Go tell them I'm here, cub."

   Quick Kills nodded silently, and trotted toward the coyotes. When he
reached them, a small argument broke out. Then they all came over to where
the four had touched down.

   "Julian, do you and Reynard have the translator programs on-line?"

   "They're running and ready, Kicker. Sally and Dave will be able to
understand everything. And we'll handle anything they want to say." answered
David's personal computer.

   "Thank you, Julian." He took a deep breath and continued. "Time to be
responsible. Let's do it." He faced the delegation from the village.

   "joH! We lay our arms at your feet and bare our throats for your claws.
We shall follow your trail and none will stray from the path you lead..."
began the one of the coyotes.

   "STOP! Not another word!" Kickaha turned to Jon. "Didn't you tell then
that I will not accept the [something]?"

   "Yes, joH. But they insisted..."
   
   "Kh'thack! I don't give a flying yIntagh what they insist. You, there! If
you want to live, shut your [lying?] muzzle. I may have to lead you, but
there is no way in ghe''or I'm letting you people swear to me. You didn't
have the spine to stand up to the elders when they exiled me. So don't
expect me to accept your oath. I'm only here because of a debt I owe to the
House of Acorn."

   "But the House of Acorn is an enemy of the Pack, Two Lives..." began the
spokesman.

   That, as David noted later, was the straw that broke Kickaha's back. His
shotgun came up and he rammed the barrel into the gut of the speaker. "Runs
Far, if you say another word against my friends, I'm going to splatter your
spine all over the village. And my name is _not_ Two Lives. Two Lives died
when the elders banished him. I am Kickaha. I am [Trickster?]. You got that?
Good." He lowered the shotgun. "Now take us to my lodge. And if you give me
or my friends any more grief, we leave right now!"

   Runs Far sputtered for a moment, then got out, "But the lodge of the
elders is already prepared..."

   The shotgun started to rise again.

   "...and we'll take you and your ... friends to your old lodge right away,
joH. Please come this way."

   Kickaha gave him a nasty, toothy smile. "Good boy. Now you're getting the
message."

   As they walked into the village, Sally asked Kickaha, "Was that really
neccessary?"

   "Wait till we get to the lodge, Princess. Please?"

                                   * * *

   The lodge was dusty, and full of cobwebs. It looked as though no one had
been in it since Kickaha had left it, years ago. Which probably was the
case, Sally thought. Some coyotes were rushing around, dusting and bringing
in chairs for them to sit on. Kickaha waved them out, then collapsed into
one of the chairs, shaking.

   "Is this what it's like being a leader, Princess? I'm scared, angry,
nervous, and I want to throw up, all at once."

   "Don't worry, Kickaha. It gets better." She frowned. "Although I think
frightening Runs Far that way was uncalled for."

   He looked ashamed. "You're right. But when they _still_ tried to give me
their oaths, even after all that's been said and done... I was just so full
of hate for them." He frowned. "I'll try harder, Princess. But it's not
going to be easy. Even now, I want to tear them apart with my bare claws."

   David sat down, and told him "You helped me with the right words, so here
they are, right back at you. You've got to hang on to your balance, Kicker,
or find a new one. Can't let the memories win. If they do, Robotnik wins the
Pack, and everything goes downhill from there. Remember that."

   He sighed. "Yeah, I know you're right. It's just so hard to hold to that,
when I'm actually facing them. The past comes back and..."

   There was a knock at the door. He gave an irritated bark. "What is it?
I'm speaking with my friends. I don't wish to be disturbed."

   "We've brought your mate to you, joH."

   Kickaha's eyes went wide. "Nightsky? Here??" He rushed to the door and
threw it open. But the only person there was a female coyote.

   "I am here to take my place as your mate, joH [my lord?]." said the young
girl. "As was promised by the elders." She lowered her eyes modestly. She
was a rather pretty young thing, as coyotes went, thought David. *Not that
she compares to Sunny. But pretty, still.*

   Then he noticed Kickaha's paws curling into fists, and interrupted,
laying a cyborg arm on his shoulder. He wasn't about to break _that_ grip.
"I'm sorry. Kickaha's doing ... leadership type stuff right now. I'm sure
that he'll get to you when he's got the time. Hey, you know leaders! Busy,
busy, busy." He gently shut the door in her confused face. Then he let go of
his friend.

   For a moment, David thought Kickaha might explode. Then he watched as
Kickaha walked over to where they had dropped their luggage and pulled out
his bat'leth. A few minutes later, one of the chairs had been turned into a
pile of matchsticks.

   "Better," he sighed. "Thank you, David. I might have done something
_really_ stupid there. And Windsweet is a nice girl. She's not a part of
this mess, just a girl who got picked as a bribe for me. ghe''or, she
probably doesn't even know the real reason she was chosen. She's not to
blame."

   "So that's the girl they offered you when you came back here the first
time?" asked Sally.

   "No, that was Dawnfire. Windsweet's her little sister." He frowned.
"Come to think of it, Dawnfire's probably got a mate by now. It _has_
been a long time. So they picked Windsweet as a substitute." He shook his
head and sighed again. "Now isn't _this_ a lovely mess."

                                   * * *

   Later, there was another knock at the door. It turned out to be Runs Far,
who brought the message that it was time for council, announcing that the
people wished to speak with their new joH.

   Hours afterward, Kickaha, Sally and David dragged their tails back to his
lodge and collaped into some chairs.

   "Mother Earth and Father Sky! Is this what it's like to lead Knothole,
Princess?" asked Kickaha.

   "No," Sally answered. "Sometimes it's much worse."

   That got her a dirty look. "Ok, right then. You can shoot me now, Dave. I
quit. For the night, at least. Princess, your room is on the right. Dave and
I can share the other. I'm going to sleep."

   David yawned deeply. "I'll buy that. But where's Quick Kills? I haven't
seen him since we arrived."

   "Over in his own lodge, likely." Yawn. "I'm not too worried about it."
Kickaha sat up and trudged towards the bedroom. "I'm too tired to worry
about it. Goodnight, Princess, Davey. Sleep well." They heard a loud *FLOP*
as he fell across the bed. In a few minutes, a roaring, buzzing noise filled
the lodge.

   Sally let out a tired laugh. "I don't know how Nightsky can put up with
someone who snores like that. Well, goodnight all." She headed for her own
room and closed the door.

   David stepped over to the other bedroom, where he found two beds already
set up. The Kickster was on one, snoring away like a rusty chainsaw. He sat
down on the other, and found a note on the pillow. He picked it up.

   "Dave," it read, "Nightsky says that I snore something awful. So if I
_am_ snoring when you read this, just hit me with a pillow. That's what she
does, and she says it works. (signed) K."

   He shrugged. "If it works for her..." He picked up a large pillow from
his bed and bapped Kickaha over the head with it. Sure enough, Kickaha
snorted once or twice, rolled over and stopped snoring. Davey shrugged and
went to sleep himself.

***********************************

   A loud pounding at the door woke the three of them. Sally could hear
Kickaha swearing that he'd personally strangle the idiot with his own
intestines.

   She shook the sleep out of her head. *He certainly has some ... colorful
insults. It must come from growing up with a warrior people.* She smiled.
The longer they stayed here, the more she got to see of the _real_ Kickaha.
He might still be angry with his people, but coming back here, he shed
civilization like an ill-fitting coat. And the person revealed surprised her
every day.

   "Kh'thack! Whoever you are, you're going to die young! I'm sick and tired
of every idiot with a problem thinking that they can wake me up when ever
they feel like it..." His voice trailed off, and was replaced by another.

   "Boy, you couldn't beat me on your best day. Besides, if you wanted to
kill me young, you're about fifty years too late."

   As Sally entered the Great Room, followed by Davey from the other
bedroom, she saw Kickaha hugging an elderly coyote, lifting him high into
the air.

   Laughing and crying at the same time, he finally got out, "Walks! Walks
With Stars! What are _you_ doing here?"

   "I'm being crushed by an idiot who doesn't know his own strength. Now put
me down, boy. I'm not as young as I used to be." On the ground again, the
old coyote brushed at his fur. "I heard about your return from Old Man
Coyote. I'm here to help, if you'll have me." He looked at Sally and David.
"Where are your manners, boy? Introduce me."

   "Oh! Right! Princess Sally Acorn and David Kintobor, I'd like you to meet
Walks With Stars, one-time shaman of the coyote peoples and the one who
taught me. Walks, this is Princess Sally, and my friend, Davey."

   The elderly coyote looked at them. "So you're King Acorn's daughter. You
have your mother's spirit. And this is the human, the son of Robotnik."
David growled at that remark. "No offence, boy. You _are_ his son. But that
doesn't mean you're doomed to follow in his footsteps. I can see that it
worries you. We'll talk about that later." He crossed the room and pulled up
a chair. "Right now, the three of you must prepare for the meeting of the
tribes. It takes place tommorrow. And there is a great deal you need to
know."

   He began to speak.

                                   * * *

   "This whole thing began with the ghila tribe, boy. Those lizards always
muttered about attacking the cities, but they finally got off their fat
tails and did something about it. They've been raiding every town or village
near their desert home for some months now. Any prisoners they took were
sold to that creature of Robotnik's, the one called Packbell."

   Both David and Kickaha growled.

   "I know, boy, but they got weapons in trade, so none of the tribes
complained very loudly, especially after the ghilas traded with them. That's
why you can see some of the warriors carrying lasers. Three or four horses
will get you a laser from the ghilas.

   And once the message arrived from Robotnik, the ghilas said that they
would sponsor one of his people to the council. There was some objections,
but it was their choice. If they chose to sponsor his messenger, they had
that right. Now, Robotnik's servant can speak before the council, and I'm
told he will make his offer tommorrow. It will be decided on tommorrow
night."

   "Who did Robotnik send? And who stood in council for them?" asked
Kickaha.

   "He sent a human."

   "But Snivley's the only human Robotnik has left that isn't robotisized.
Why would he send _that_ balding wimp?"

   David spoke up. "Because he doesn't intend to keep his bargan. The whole
thing stinks of one of Robotnik's traps."

   "What did you mean, 'stand in council'?" asked Sally. "I don't
understand."

   "Well," said Kickaha, "A stranger to the Pack cannot speak in the council
of tribes unless someone of the tribes vouches for him. Doing so means the
sponser takes _all_ responsibility for what the stranger does. And if the
stranger commits a crime, the sponser pays the price." He rubbed at his scar
with the back of one paw. "Who _did_ speak for Snivley, Walks?"

   The old shaman remained silent.

   Kickaha spat. "You don't even have to say a word, father to my spirit.
There's only one ghila who'd speak for Snivley." A snarl ripped it's way
from his throat.

   "Burning Stone."

                                   * * *

   Kickaha had left the three of them behind in the lodge. He said he needed
the air, but Sally felt that the real reason was that he needed to hit
something.

   "Who is this Burning Stone, sir? Kickaha seems to be very angry with him
for some reason."

   "For good reason, young Acorn. Stone was the ghila who told the elders
that my student was seeing a maiden of the bat tribes." Walks With Stars
snorted. "That's how that bunch of cowardly old farts knew just the right
spot to hurt him. Stone was always envious of young Two Lives. _He_ wanted
to be the one chosen as the la'quv [warlord?] for the war against the
cities. After that, when Two Lives left us, Burning Stone returned,
demanding to be made the _new_ la'quv. The elders just laughed in his face."

   Sally nodded thoughtfully. "And that might explain why he's doing this.
He feels that the Pack denied him something rightfully his, so when Robotnik
made the offer, he took it."

   "He probably plans on betraying the Pack, as well." added David. "He gets
revenge on Kickaha by attacking Knothole, and on the tribes by betraying
them to Robotnik. I'll bet he plans on being the new leader of the Pack,
once Daddy Dearest robotisizes them. Or maybe a general in his newly
robotisized army, made from the Pack."

   Sally shuddered. "That's ... sick. Destroying an entire people, just
because you didn't get what you wanted? He's no different from Robotnik!"

   Walks looked deeply into her eyes. "It speaks well of you, that you
should feel this way, child. The House of Acorn has changed much, if you are
an example."

   "That's not important, now. What can Kickaha do to stop this?"

   "The decision is a close one, Acorn. His vote might sway things. And, if
all else fails, there is always the circle."

   "Fighting? You mean the way he fought with Quick Kills back in Knothole?"

   "Yes. Any decision, no matter how important, may be refused and
challenged in the circle. The winner has the final say."

   Sally looked a little confused. "If anything can be challenged in the
circle, how do you manage to get anything done?"

   "There aren't that many challenges, youngling. You see, the boy didn't
tell you everything of the circle. He shouldn't have let young Jon go. After
all, in a refusal, once two enter the circle, only one may leave ... alive."

   Her eyes widened. "You mean... "

   "Yes. A challenge of refusal is always to the death."

                                   * * *

   David walked through the village, looking for Kickaha. Something about it
struck him oddly, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Females, cubs,
even some of the warriors looked at him curiously, as if they'd never seen a
fox before. That's when it hit him. They hadn't. Except for Sally and
himself, everyone here was a coyote!

   *Whoa! Nothing like Knothole. There's one of almost every critter on
Mobius there. Here, nothing but coyotes. I wonder if the other tribes are
the same. Kicker _did_ mention that most of the tribes kept to themselves,
with very little mixing. Maybe that's why they didn't like his going out
with Nightsky. It might be like being an interracial couple back in
America.*

   Finally he spotted the Kickster sitting on a bluff overlooking the river.
He headed that way.

   "Hey there, Kicker. How's it going?"

   "Hello, Dave." Kickaha frowned. "I'm just feeling ... trapped. My past
returns, and it's overwhelming me. And the stupidity's even worse. Look!" He
pointed down towards the river, where some of the females were cleaning
clothes and catching fish. Windsweet was among them. "Do you see what I
see?"

   David followed the pointing finger, until he spotted Quick Kills some
distance upriver, staring down at young Windsweet with burning eyes.
"Ohhh... I see. I think."

   "Yeah. No wonder the kid hates my guts. She's promised to me when I don't
want her, and he wants her and can't have her." He gave a bitter laugh.
"This is worse that those bad romance holoshows I watched in Mobotropolis
before Robotnik came. All we need is a mysterious figure with an eyepatch
and somebody suffering from amnesia, and we'd have a world-class soap
opera!"

   Davey sat down beside him. "Well, Kicker, sometimes you just have to play
the hand you're dealt. Besides, you've got friends here to help you."

   "Thank you, Dave. But I think I'm going to have to go this one alone.
It'a a matter of honor. I'm bound here, by my oath to Sally and her father.
By my love for Nightsky. I can't allow the Pack to attack Knothole. I won't
let them attack my home."

   "I thought this was your home, Kickster. After all, you're their chief
now. They'll do what you say. You could bring Nightsky here, and live
together happily for as long as you like."

   Kickaha closed his eyes for a long time. The two of them just sat there,
quietly enjoying the prairie sunshine. Then he spoke.

   "Dave, if there's one thing that I've learned during the years of my
exile, it's this: home is wherever your family and friends happen to be. And
family are the people who love you for who and what you are. That's all
there is to it. And going by that, Knothole is my home. You, Sally, Sonic,
Bunny and the rest are my family." He opened his eyes and looked out over
the grasslands. "I won't let anyone take that away from me, David. Not this
tribe, not the Pack, not Robotnik, no one. I'll die first."

   He stood up. "I gave my oath, and I am bound by it. It's that simple." He
took a deep breath. "Come on, Dave. We've got a council to attend, and a
battle to win. "

   To be continued...

-----------------------------------

Now for the legal stuff.

Sonic the Hedgehog, Princess Sally, Knothole, 
et cetera, (c) by Sega of America 
Davey Crockett, Blood and Metal, and The Wild Pack
(c) 1995 David Gonterman [DGONTERMAN@aol.com]
Kickaha, Nightsky Windrider, Jon Quick Kills,
Windsweet, Dawnfire, Runs Far, Burning Stone,
and Walks With Stars (c) by Edward Becerra

Coyote is a spirit of the native peoples of the Americas.
Please respect him as you would your own beliefs.