The mysterious Others. In the Gorean language, the Others are called the Kurii, a corruption of their own term for themselves. The word 'Kur' roughly translates as 'Beast.' It would be nearly impossible for a human to emulate the Kurii tongue, a language more akin to the sounds of an animal, so such approximations are warranted. Few Goreans know of the existence of Kurii except in whispered fragments, legends of terrible monsters, the fabled Others. One of the primary objectives of the Kurii is the conquest of Gor, yet the powerful Priest-Kings oppose them, protecting both Gor and Earth from their avarice. Much of the conduct of this war is unknown to the common Gorean. Yet the Kurii do pose a dire threat. They are cunning carnivores, predators of the first order. Yet Gor possesses its own share of predators as well. And when predators clash, there is rarely more than a single survivor.

Kasdak was an ambitious Kur, and willing to prove his superiority even through the most deadly of risks. Great risks could be rewarded with great glory, if one were successful. Death was the only reward for failure. And Kasdak refused to consider failure as an option, knowing that such an acknowledgement would only present its own psychological obstacle. He was single-minded in his determination, almost obsessed with success. Yet his rapid rise through the ranks had proven his ability, his power and skill. And he did not consider his rise to be at an end. There were further goals to reach, higher positions to be held, greater glories to achieve. Thus, he continued to strive, seeking all within his grasp.

Kasdak was said to be within the rings, a plain ring of a strong reddish alloy worn on his left wrist. This signified that he was a Blood, a military leader, of a large unit called a March. A March consisted of 2172 Kurii, broken down into twelve Bands; each led by a lesser Blood. The Bands were further broken down into twelve Kur, also commanded by a lesser Blood. And a Kur was further subdivided into Two Hands, each possessing six Kurii, and Two Eyes, both lesser leaders. Kasdak hoped to one day become a Blood in charge of a People, a larger unit that consisted of twelve Marches. A People was the largest type of military unit in the Kurii organization. If so elevated, Kasdak's ring would be removed and he would be considered to be above the rings. Kasdak was already considered a Prince, having earned that honored designation through his consummate skill in battle.
Within the Killings, the dueling tradition of the fang and claw, Kasdak had often done superbly. He recalled his last major victory, prevailing against Scanzarden, eviscerating him with a mighty upward strike. Scanzarden was from a rival faction, an impetuous youth but possessed of great skill. It had been a hard fought match, and Kasdak had been cut in several areas. But, after his victory, Kasdak had grabbed a club, using it to indicate which of the egg-carriers he desired as the spoils of his victory. After binding their hands, he forced them back to his cave where they would serve him. All of them were soon impregnated and Kasdak was very pleased. Kasdak was on an ascendancy.

Kasdak was due to return to his Master Ship in a few weeks, a huge steel orb located near Jupiter. There had been a sudden power shift among the Steel Worlds, a new election that had radically changed the composition of the High Council, those seventy-two members that represented the one thousand Tribes of the Cliffs. Kasdak was not an intimate of the new faction, but he was also not a known enemy. He would need to prove his worthiness, to show the glory he could bring to the new faction. He needed a test, a crucible in which to show his mettle.
Kasdak wanted to prove that he was the ultimate predator.

The black larl crept silently through the dark shadows, following the scent of the mountain verr. The larl is a large feline creature; similar in many ways to a leopard or panther, though a black larl, both male and female, is maned liked a lion. The mountain larl is indigenous to the Voltai Mountains and other ranges. It can be a large creature, standing six to eight feet tall at the shoulder. This particular larl though was an exceptional beast, standing almost nine feet at the shoulders. Its dark pelt rippled with muscles as it moved, stalking its prey. It was a beautiful beast, an extraordinary animal, a prime specimen of its species.
The larl used its exceptional senses, its heightened sense of smell and hearing, to track the verr. It was an easy task for the larl. The sleen was one of the few creatures that possessed a better tracking capacity than the larl. But the raw power of the larl was often thought to make up for that deficiency. And larls could not be tamed, unlike the more docile sleen, which could be trained for a myriad of functions. The larl remained a wild beast, a savage creature of the wilds. Thus, it remained a more deadly creature, lacking any docility.

The larl is often said to be the ultimate predator on Gor.

Kasdak stood atop a small hill in the Fulvians, the foothills of the Voltai. A couple pasangs away were some villas, owned by citizens of Ar. Kasdak could easily attack those villas, slaughtering the humans that dwelt within them. But those villas were not the Kur's targets. It would prove little to kill those humans, as few would pose any challenge to the Kur. Kasdak looked up to the red spires of the Voltai, the Scarlet Mountains, and knew his quest would lead him there this evening.

Tonight he hunted. Tonight he sought a black larl. Tonight he proved he was the ultimate predator.

Kasdak stood a couple inches over nine feet tall and weighed almost one thousand pounds. He was one of the larger Kurii, a powerful beast. His eyes, black-pupiled with yellow corneas, provided him with excellent night vision. Consequently, Kurii preferred hunting at night, much like the nocturnal habits of the black larl. In addition, Kurii possessed a tracking ability, including both smell and hearing, which was roughly equivalent to a larl. This would serve to equalize the playing field between the two predators. Kasdak wanted the hunt to be on more even ground. He wanted the battle to be between near equals, rather than one obviously superior opponent. It had to be a true challenge or there would be little glory in victory.

Goreans sometimes hunted the larl, and often followed a traditional hunting method. The hunters would proceed single-file through the mountains, each armed with spear and gladius. They would commonly holding their spear in their right hand and a shield in their left, their gladius sheathed. When a larl was encountered, the first hunter in line, the First Spear, who was usually the most proficient, would cast his spear at the mighty beast. He would then drop to the ground, covering himself with his shield. If his spear failed to slay the larl, the second man in line would hurl his spear, also dropping to the ground afterwards. This would continue down to the Last Spear, the least proficient spearman. If he failed to kill the larl then he would not drop to the ground. Instead, he would draw his gladius and try to battle the beast. The hunter was not expected to prevail in such a contest. In fact, he was more a diversion so that the other hunters could flee to safety. Goreans held much respect for the combat abilities of the larl.

Killing a larl with a spear can be difficult. First, though their heads are broad, sometimes over two feet wide, they are usually in constant motion. Such a moving target poses some difficulty. Second, larls possess a bony ridge that runs from its nasal slits to the start of its backbone. Though a spear can penetrate this bony ridge, striking the larl's eight-valved heart, a bad throw could make the spear simply bounce off the bone. Third, and of course, the larl is charging at you at the time you try to throw your spear, which can be very intimidating. Many a hunter has frozen as the great beast roars, charging at the hapless victim.
Kasdak could always use a common Kur spear for hunting, a twelve-foot long spear topped by a bronze head weighing twenty pounds. That would smash through the larl's bony ridge. Or he could try an axe, its blade two feet wide, with a seven-foot wooden shaft. Or he could even use a projectile weapon that would likely kill the larl instantly if he hit it with the explosive projectile. Any of those weapons would have provided him a significant advantage. But Kasdak did not desire to use these weapons. He did not feel any need for such an advantage. Instead, he would meet the larl on its own terms.

The Kur possessed his own innate armaments, his fangs and claws. His enormous mouth contained two rows of fangs, with four uppers and two lower ones. Though his hand claws were partially filed, to accommodate proper instrumentation use, they still could be used as weapons. Kasdak had filed them as minimally as necessary, leaving them still as deadly weapons. The retractable claws on his feet though, each almost five inches long, were razor sharp and excellent for raking an opponent. In addition, the Kur's great strength could be used to cause much harm as well.

Kasdak began his ascent into the Voltai, easily climbing over many obstacles. Kurii were excellent climbers, another matter they shared in common with larls. Kasdak could reach areas within the Voltai that many others could not, sections reached only by a particularly difficult ascent. And there was probably not an area that a larl could reach that Kasdak could not. The Kur knew that his climbing abilities would likely be essential in tracking the deadly black larl. As well as in avoiding any potential ambush.

Kasdak would often stop to sniff the air with the slitlike nostrils in his leathery snout and to use his large, wide ears to hear any sounds. He was seeking the trail of a larl, hoping to catch its scent or hear its movements. Kasdak also wanted to avoid other creatures that might be around, including Goreans who might live in the Voltai, night patrols. There were a few Gorean cities and mountain fortresses within the Voltai. They might send out tarn patrols at night. Kasdak knew that his brownish red pelt though would blend in well to his surroundings so he would not be an easy target to observe. And humans did not possess the innate tracking abilities of a Kur or larl. Thus, it would not be too difficult evade Gorean patrols.

The black larl, as it was alone, remained silent on its hunt. It would remain so until the Ihn before it charged, when it would then make an ear-splitting roar. Such was intended to make its target freeze in panic, allowing the larl an easy kill. If it had been hunting with other members of its pride, some of the larls would not have been quiet. They would have made hunting cries, intended to panic their prey toward a particular direction. And that would lead directly to a group of quiet larls, who were waiting to slaughter the fleeing prey. The larl's quiet paws would rarely be heard by any type of prey as it padded across the stone. And at night, its dark pelt would rarely be seen either.

As it neared the location of the verr, it suddenly froze, detecting the traces of an odd scent in the air. A scent that was familiar to it though it did not understand its source. It knew though that it was associated with men, those who sometimes hunted his kind. It was actually the scent of paga. To the larl though, the scent signaled a possible trap, that hunters were close. So it chose to encircle its prey, at a distance, to seek out the others that might be close. The larl had not survived this long by foolishly plunging into traps, or allowing itself to be killed by some human hunter.

Eventually the larl spied one of the hunters, partially concealed in some brush. Apparently waiting, looking in the direction of the verr. A verr that the larl did not know was tied to a stake as bait. The hunter though did not realize the larl was behind him, his concentration locked onto the bait. For this attack, the larl chose to charge silently, without a roar. Within a few Ihn, the hunter was dead; his throat ripped open, and there had been minimal sounds. The other hunters were mildly curious but did not realize the exigency of the situation. But then they were not seasoned hunters.

The larl moved off and easily located a second hunter. This time, it chose to utter a petrifying roar just before attacking. That hunter was able to turn and see the larl, moments before the larl killed him. The hunter was able to scream for a couple Ihn before his death. The roar and the scream panicked the other hunters who now realized that their trap had failed. They thus fled, rather than face the larl in the darkness. They were not particularly courageous men. So the larl was soon after able to get the fat verr as well. He would feast well that evening.

The Kurii respected the ferocity of the sleen but it was the larl that earned their utmost respect. Even Goreans felt that the heart of the mountain larl brought more luck to a hunter than the heart of a sleen. For a Kur to kill a larl, especially with only fang and claw, would be a worthy endeavor, a glorious undertaking. Especially going after a mountain larl at night. Few Kurii would willingly enter the Voltai at evening to pursue a larl. Even fewer would journey there without a spear and shield. Kasdak wanted to be one of the elite, one of the most courageous, one possessing great glory.

Kasdak had also not brought any food with him, just some water. He would eat only what he might catch in the mountains. Even his storage stomach was devoid of food, though any such extra food would have constituted an unnecessary weight burden anyways. And Kasdak wanted to be at his peak performance level. The mountains, abundant with game, would provide all he needed to survive. And he would not leave the Voltai until he had killed a larl. Or it killed him. He did not expect that it would take more than a week to locate a larl. He had plenty of time remaining before he needed to return to the Steel Worlds.
He continued ascending, exploring the mountainous terrain, the crags and caves of the Voltai. The three moons were out this evening, each waning to half crescents yet shining a sufficient amount of light over the landscape. Kasdak eventually reached a small clearing and then detected the scent of blood, his nostrils flaring as they savored the delicious scent. Kasdak tensed, the blood scent surging through his body like a shark that had detected blood in the water. He listened closely to his surroundings as his nose continued seeking out any additional scents. He heard no sounds but did detect the spoor of a larl, though it seemed faint. Kasdak assumed the nearby area had been a killing zone quite recently.

Cautiously, Kasdak began to search the area, ever mindful of a potential ambush. He sought out the site of the strongest blood scent and found the torn remains of a human, likely a hunter judging from his weaponry. It was obvious that an animal had slain the hunter and the scent was that of a larl. Kasdak explored the rest of the region, finding an additional dead hunter. He then noted an area where some type of animal had been staked out, likely as bait. But the rope that had tied the animal had been chewed through and there was blood on the ground. The bait had been slain and then carried off by the larl for its meal.
Kasdak did a closer inspection of the area, less worried that the larl was still around. The larl would have carried the verr off to its lair. He found only a couple of tracks, and estimated that the larl was a very large specimen, a worthy foe. This was obviously the larl's territory, his hunting grounds. The larl would enjoy the bait for a couple days and then would hunt again. Unless the bait was to feed others in its pride. Kasdak would make camp in this region, and await the return of the larl. The humans had not been killed too long ago so their meat was still relatively fresh. The Kur thus had a source of nourishment for a time. And he would eat the meat raw, as it was better to strengthen his jaws that way. Cooked meat was for the weak.

Two days passed.

Kasdak had made his camp nearby, locating a small cave to hide within. He set up a simple trap at the entrance, more just to make a noise to alert him if anyone tried to enter the cave. Kasdak was a light sleeper so did not worry much about intruders. He slept during the days and woke for the night. He would then roam over the local area, seeking signs of the larl. He found a few old tracks at times, but nothing recent. But it was only a matter of time before the larl went hunting once again. Kasdak would be ready. And the waiting gave the Kur time to familiarize himself with the area, the terrain and its peculiarities.
He had seen only a single tarn patrol near this area, flying overhead and headed east. There did not appear to be any human settlements near this region but it did appear to be an area where some men came to hunt. Kasdak had found traces of a few old campfires. But much of the area was still wild, overgrown with thickets, and abundant in wildlife. Kasdak could hear and smell a variety of animals, from birds to urts. But no real predators as of yet. If the larl claimed this region as its own, then it would have driven off or killed any other predators such as rock panthers or mountain sleen. Thus, Kasdak would be unlikely to encounter any other predators except for the larl.

The larl's stomach rumbled a bit, hunger returning. The large, tender verr had been delicious but now it was time to seek more nourishment. So, the larl left its lair that evening, entering the night like a dark glove sliding into the shadows. Its large paws stepped softly upon the hard rocks, his agility allowing it to easily traverse the rough terrain. His snout sought out the scent of prey, its ears pitched for the sounds of a potential victim. It began exploring its territory, the region that it claimed as its own, its personal hunting ground. The larl was ready, hoping to detect some prey, wary of others that might seek to target it as prey. It was a cunning beast, well experienced in the predatory arts.

Two supreme Predators.

Soon to clash in a battle for survival. Soon to match fang against fang, claw against claw. Soon to decide which Predator was the best.

Who would survive? Who would prevail?

The Voltai would shake when these two titans clashed.

It was sheer luck that the larl first detected the Kur, its scent carried by a slight wind. As Kasdak was unsure of the location of the larl, it was difficult to judge where he should place himself in respect to the wind, what position would best conceal his scent. But he had chosen wrong, not that there had been any way for him to have known beforehand. The choice had been a gamble, and he had lost. The larl was unfamiliar with the scent of the Kur; a strange odor though he knew it was a living creature, and thus likely food. So the larl began to stalk Kasdak, slowly moving forward, listening carefully and seeking a stronger scent. He wanted to observe this strange creature, to assess the possibilities. He wanted to know if this scent presaged a threat or a target.

Kasdak moved slowly along the dirt trail, seeking out other cave entrances, hoping he might find the larl's lair. His nose and ears stayed active though, and he occasionally turned his head behind him, seeking any movement within the darkness. At night, or under darkened conditions, it was easier to see movement than anything else. After movement, it was then easier to see shapes. The shape of a man, standing erect but still, could be discerned. Color was the least easy to notice and Kasdak knew that a black larl would be largely invisible at night. Kasdak soon reached a clearing, a rock shelf looking over a drop of forty feet. A trail winded its way down the southern edge of the rock shelf. And still, Kasdak had not encountered the trail of the larl.

The larl finally could see its potential prey, a large hairy human-like creature. The moonlight glinted off the Kur's fangs and claws and the larl realized that this too was a predator. Definitely not a verr. And definitely not a human, as humans lacked such formidable natural weapons. The larl noted that the Kur stood about as tall as it, and probably weighed a similar amount. The larl remained still as it watched the Kur, gauging its potential opponent, trying to assess its abilities. The larl realized it would not be an easy kill. But the larl also could not permit other predators to impose upon its own hunting grounds. And the larl possessed no fear. It lived for the moment, never worrying about the next day. It understood the formidable nature of its foe, but it would not just cede its territory to this beast. It had never done so before.

Kasdak stopped moving, standing in the middle of the clearing, his nostrils constantly sniffing in all directions. His ears strained to hear the tiniest of sounds. The Kur had thought he had detected some movement nearby, atop a small rise. The Kur stared in that direction, trying to discern whether it had been simply the wind or his imagination. He could not smell anything but then the wind was blowing in the wrong direction. But Kasdak trusted his instincts, the intuition of an experienced hunter, knowing when someone or something was watching him. He felt that the larl was close, but he still could not pinpoint him, or know for certain he was there. He strained his senses, trying to discern the most imperceptible of clues.

The larl scrutinized the Kur, watching it scan the area with its nose, ears and eyes. The larl knew the signs of the predator, watching the muscular Kur move, its body tensed against ambush. The larl saw a challenge here, a new predator, a worthy opponent. The larl had not fought a competitive opponent in a long time. Its kills had been far too easy, a definite lack of challenge. Yet the larl instinctively knew that this creature before it would pose a lethal threat, a true danger. But the larl wanted to prove its own prowess, to show its dominance of this territory. It wanted to fight, to battle this interloper. It wanted to defeat this other predator. It was willing to take the risk.

A glint of moonlight suddenly revealed the presence of the larl, the light reflecting off its eyes. Kasdak's night vision then focused on that area, noting the feline eyes looking down upon him. The Kur's ears suddenly laid back, its shoulders hunched and its claws emerged fully. An instant readiness for an attack, the threat obvious with the larl so close. The Kur's fangs were bared, the menace obvious, and a low growl emanated from deep within its throat. Kasdak was ready to face his foe. He stared in the direction of the larl, waiting for it to move, to charge or flee. Kasdak could not charge it, as that would entail climbing the rise, making himself vulnerable to the larl. Better to wait, to pursue the larl only if it fled.

The larl noted the stare of the Kur and then its assumption of a predatory stance, an aggressive posture. The larl realized that it had been sighted, that the Kur was aware of its presence. The larl could easily have fled at that point, to wait for a different, a better, opportunity. But it did not do so. It would not flee from this challenge. Instead, the larl rose to its feet and gave forth a great roar, a bone-chilling sound that echoed throughout the area. Several nearby animals fled in terror at the sound of its voice. It was a war cry, a vocal challenge to the Kur, who responded in kind with his own bestial roar. The gauntlet had been thrown and accepted. Combat would soon ensue.

The larl slowly padded down the mountainside toward the clearing and Kasdak patiently waited for its arrival. When it finally entered the clearing, Kasdak backed up to allow the larl ample room within the area. The larl's teeth were bared, its own growl constant, almost matching that of the Kur. They soon stood apart from each other, about fifteen feet separating them. They glared at each other, their eyes essentially on the same level. They were both tense, waiting to see who would make the first move. Each understood the perils of attacking first; though both also saw the advantage if such an attack was successful. So there was an uneasy standoff at first, each predator waiting, poised to move forward but holding back, for the moment. A fascinating tableau, two mighty beasts, frozen in anticipation of battle.

And when the attack came, it was a simultaneous charge, both predators rushing toward each other, each roaring in defiance. Kasdak wanted to get to the side of the larl, where it would have more difficulty reaching him with its teeth and one of its front paws. Ideally, Kasdak hoped to grab, with his teeth, the larl by its shoulder and then use his rear claws to rake open its belly. He hoped to use his hands to try to deflect his claws, allowing him the room to maneuver for a bite. The larl wanted to remain in front of the Kur, where its weapons would do the most good, maybe tearing out the Kur's throat or gutting him with a swipe of a mighty paw.

As Kasdak charged, he suddenly leaped to the right side, trying to maneuver into a better position, his arms trying to deflect the foreclaws of the larl. And the Kur's fangs sought out the muscled flesh of the larl. The larl snapped at the Kurii, twisting, trying to sink its own fangs into the Kur's hairy body. The larl's claws, fully extended, also swept out toward the charging Kur. It was a blur of movement, a burst of savage fury. Teeth and claws in a frenzy, each seeking tender flesh, each seeking the advantage. And after this flurry of movement, there was sudden stillness.

The Kur had sunk its canines deeply into the thick, muscled shoulder of the larl, the Kur's large mouth capable of engulfing a man's head. This gave him a very secure grip on the great larl. But, Kasdak had failed to completely avoid the larl's attacks. The Kur's left arm was now firmly lodged between the jaws of the larl, its sharp teeth grinding down hard, blood seeping into the larl's mouth. With very little effort, the larl could sever the Kur's arm, crushing the bones. But Kasdak's right leg was poised to swipe across the larl's belly, threatening to split it open, letting the larl's organs spill out. The loss of the Kur's arm though would probably kill him, as he possessed no means to stop the massive blood loss. He possessed no medical supplies. It would thus be a mutual kill.

The larl sensed the peril it faced, reluctantly retaining a sure grip on the Kur's arm when it would rather have bitten through it. The larl knew it could not easily shake the Kur's teeth embedded in its shoulder, and it felt the well-honed claws pressed against its soft underbelly. Kasdak knew this stalemate needed to end and that the larl was not about to initiate it. Thus Kasdak needed to conceive of a way to end it. The larl then felt the bite on his shoulder lessen a bit, the grip a bit looser though not so loose that the larl could escape. Next, the Kur moved his arm within the larl's mouth. When the larl did nothing, the teeth on its shoulder tightened back up. Kasdak repeated this three times until the larl seemed to understand. So, the next time Kasdak loosened his own grip, so did the larl. Kasdak continued doing this, slowly loosening his grip, until finally, they both released their grips and leapt back.

Both creatures now bore serious wounds, one a bloody arm and the other a bloody shoulder. The Kur's left arm was much weakened at this point though the larl's left foreleg was having difficulties due to its shoulder injury. Again, the two predators faced down each other waiting for the other to make an aggressive move, to commit to an attack. Both were bleeding, both with a level of disability. They were not mortal wounds but they would have their impact. There was an uneasy tension as they stared at each other, waiting for one to react. This time, only one of them would charge forward. This time, one would choose to hold its ground.

Kasdak acted, charging forward, his right arm cocked back with claws extended, assessing the distances involved. He realized that he had a slight reach on the larl, the arms of a Kur being extra long, longer than their legs. So, as he charged forward, though not at full speed, he was able to stop abruptly, his right arm swinging out at the face of the larl. He hoped that he had gauged the distance properly. The larl's own paws swiped out at the charging Kur, but aiming for his body rather than his arm. And they just failed to reach him, narrowing missing the Kur's form. But Kasdak's claw scratched across the larl's face, nearly striking one of its eyes. As the larl's head reflexively pulled back, Kasdak then grabbed at the larl's front legs, trying to take hold of them.

As he attempted this maneuver, the larl abruptly sprung forward, growling as its hind legs pushed from the ground launching the mighty beast at the Kur. Kasdak was able to grab hold of the beast's forelegs but with the momentum of the leap, the great weight of the larl, the Kur fell backwards. The two predators ended up on the ground, Kasdak trying to wrestle the larl off of him while avoiding its hind claws and teeth. And as they wrestled, Kasdak's hind claws also tried to get involved, both of their hind claws now slashing out at each other. They rolled on the ground, each trying to gain the advantage, each trying to wound the other. Fur and blood flew as well honed claws sliced into flesh. Each tried to avoid the ravenous fangs of the other, a titanic struggle of two muscular beasts.

Kasdak's left arm weakened and he lost his hold on the larl's right front claw. And its deadly claws then slashed at the Kur's throat. Though Kasdak was able to avoid a lethal strike, the larl's claws still raked across his chest, tearing deep into his skin. Desperate, Kasdak quickly used his weak left arm as a lever and then pushed with his right, snapping the bone in the larl's left foreleg. The larl howled in pain and rage, momentarily ceasing its attack. Kasdak used that moment to heave aside the great feline and try to roll away so that he could regain his feet. Though he was able to move away several feet, Kasdak could not rise to his feet before the larl charged forward again, though now slowed, troubled with a broken leg.

Kasdak lashed out at the broken leg, striking it hard and causing the larl more pain and making it pull back a bit. The Kur pushed forward though, not giving the larl an opportunity to regroup. Both predators were bleeding from numerous cuts and gashes on their bodies, their rear claws having injured each other during their brief wrestle on the ground. Kasdak slashed out at the larl's broken leg, a feint though, a ruse covering his true intentions. As the larl pulled its leg back to avoid the strike, Kasdak leaped to its side, past its mane, sinking his teeth into the larl's other shoulder. And with a secure hold, the Kur began to use its rear claws to slash at the vulnerable underbelly of the black larl.

The larl dropped to the ground to roll onto its side so that it could use its own rear claws to come into play, trying to pull the Kur down. The two beasts fought fiercely, each trying to eviscerate the other. But Kasdak had better leverage, holding on tightly to the larl, trying to avoid the larl's claws. The entire surface in the clearing was blood splattered, bits and pieces of fur everywhere as well. The two massive creatures battled, vying for supremacy, vying to be the sole survivor. Kasdak held on securely, biting down deeper as his hind claws slashed back and forth across the belly of the larl, slicing flesh apart.
In the end, the larl died from the massive blood loss, its belly and internal organs shredded. Kasdak's wounds were serious, but nothing immediately life threatening. He was pleased that he was at least alive and hoped to remain so for some time to come. His blood loss was the most significant matter but he had lots of meat to help him recuperate. He would also do the best he could to try to stem the bleeding from his wounds. He would need to remain in the Voltai for at least several days while he healed. But he had succeeded; he had proven he was the ultimate predator.

Kasdak's claws tore open the chest of the larl, reached in and plucked out its bloody heart. The Kur dined on the delicacy; savoring the luck it would bring him, smiling at the glory this endeavor would shower upon him. The larl had been a superb opponent. It had been a hard fought battle and the larl had nearly bested him. But Kasdak had done what was necessary, had proven his abilities. And the larl's maned head would make a great trophy. Kasdak would become a Blood of a People one day. The new faction in power would find him worthy.

Three days later, a female black larl paced around the entrance to its lair, worried that her mate had failed to return. Her three cubs were hungry and needed meat. So, she knew she had to act, to hunt on her own for her offspring. Thus, she left the cave that night, to hunt, to track down some type of prey. And maybe to locate her mate. Though female larls are generally smaller than their male counterparts, they can be even more dangerous, especially when hunting for their cubs. The female larl crept through the mountains, exploring the usual hunting grounds used by her mate. And she came upon a strange new scent, an animal of which she was unfamiliar. She followed the scent to determine the nature of that beast.

The End?