The critter had evidently mistaken the comparatively light footsteps of the stupava for those of a much smaller animal. Mature Asian the bird squawked and wrenched Mature Asian at Mature Asian its reins while Flinx fought to bring it under control. Mature Asian at its master's surge of alarm. Pip Mature Asian had instantly leaped clear and now hovered menacingly over the occupied burrow.
The squook favored the minidrag with an impressive snarl but could only glare at its airborne nemesis. Though the riding bird was clearly
afraid of it, the squook still had a healthy respect for the bird's long, powerfully muscled legs. Still, if it could just get its teeth around one of those legs, it
could bring the large meal to the ground.
But it wasn't so sure about the human perched on the bird's back. Though uncommon thereabouts, humans were not unknown Mature Asian to Mature Asian the inhabitants of that part of the great forest. A squook could kill a human, but the reverse was also Mature Asian true. And then there was that peculiar and utterly unfamiliar humming thing that darted through the air overhead. That made three opponents, one alien and unpredictable, the other two potentially dangerous. Letting out a last, disgruntled snarl, Mature Asian the squook backed Mature Asian into its burrow and expanded to fill the Mature Asian opening. With only its Mature Asian muzzle showing, it sat there and set up a steady warning bark.
Flinx finally got the stupava back under control and urged it forward. The angry Mature Asian calls
of the squook receded slowly behind him.
There had been no real danger, he thought. On the other hand, if he Mature Asian had lost his saddle and Mature Asian fallen off-he recalled clearly the long, toothy snout Mature Asian of the Mature Asian carnivore Mature Asian and watched the forest with more respect.
Nothing else emerged to menace them. They encountered nothing larger than the many soaring rodents which Inhabited that part of the forest. Pip amused itself by flying circles around them, for they were natural gliders rather than true fliers. They could do nothing but squeak angrily at the intruder as it Mature Asian executed intricate aerial
maneuvers in their midst. Those that chattered and complained the loudest, the flying snake selected for lunch.
"That's enough. Pip," Flinx called out to the gallivanting minidrag one day. "Leave them alone and get down here." Responding Mature Asian to the urgency of its master's mind, the flying snake stopped Mature Asian tormenting the flying Mature Asian rodents and zipped Mature Asian down to wrap itself gently around Flinx's neck.