03

The kennel should have erupted with the joyful noise of the hunt's return. Instead the Fielders were quiet, heads down, tails tucked in failure and fear. They wouldn't make eye contact with Chaba as they passed him on their way to their own runs.

"What happened out there?" Chaba hissed at one of his passing bretheren. The dog didn't even stop to look at him, just stared ahead and shook his head slightly before vanishing down the row. Another Fielder on her way home, and Chaba asked again what had happened. No eye contact again, no response before disappearing.

Nil was the last to slink back, and as soon as the Attendant had left Chaba pressed his muzzle against the dividing chain.

"Nil, what happened out there? Where's Renk?"

No reply from next door. Chaba saw the Master shut the gate, latch it. Something heavy across his shoulders.as he turned and walked towards the house. Something that looked like Renk, but not very much.

"What happened to Renk?" he choked. "Nil, what happened to Renk? What happened out there? Talk to me! What happened to Renk?"

A quiet voice from the darkness of the next run said "He attacked the Tandolisi."

Chaba felt his blood stop cold in his heart. "Oh," he said.