Bun had almost climbed to the top of the mound when a sinewy gray arm reached around and snatched his wrist. Taken completely by surprise, Bun screamed. Having lost his balance, he scrabbled for purchase, disturbing the rubble to which he clung.

But he could not have fallen; the hand held him fast.

“Bun!” cried Cao Nyut. Abandoning his caution, the giant pachyderm leaped into the cold river, splashing water on either shore. With a second mighty leap, he stood on the far bank, his fists bunched and at the ready.

But there was no target. Yes–something had taken hold of Bun, a little gray creature–but Cao Nyut could not strike out at it. The little gray creature held Bun up as a shield. It held the boy’s arm up behind his back, threatening to snap the arm if it felt displeased with the intruders’ behavior.

Stolen novel; please report.

Cao Nyut took a deep breath. He talked himself down from the worst of his anger: “easy,” he said, “easy.” He reminded himself that they were the intruders. Even though they had no idea how they had come to this part of Shandapidoor, it was clearly the home of this strange little creature, and it was only fair that it felt threatened by the newcomers.

Cao Nyut opened his hands in a gesture of goodwill.

“We come in peace,” he said.

“Fools,” said the little gray creature. As if its bones were suddenly made of liquid, it started to change shape. It grew, its muscles broadening, its legs lengthening. Two glowing gems formed in its head. They were blue. These were its eyes, Cao Nyut saw.

As the creature grew in height, Bun was lifted higher and higher off the damp floor, until he was dangling a hundred feet over the tip of the pale blue mushroom. “Cao Nyut!” he cried. Behind him, the enormous gray creature growled deep inside its massive chest.

Cao Nyut, who was used to being the biggest one in the room, braced himself for something he had never experienced before.