“Onliheet.” Aolo nodded, cautiously uncoiling. “Maria unde Aolo onliheet.” That word clearly meant ‘eat’. He couldn’t quite say it as she did, but Aolo knew he had to learn the strangers’ speech. “Nihein eringu,” he murmured. It wasn’t a Holy Ring, maybe. Her shock at his mimicking his fears seemed to be just as his own had been…<br/><br/>Then he saw the children crossing the bridge. It seemed to be held to the stone wall by Sun-friend-stone. Nobody stopped them, nobody seemed to mind, Maria even laughed. Aolo stood up straight and nodded. Children weren’t allowed in the Holy Rings, not before maturity (except when Takers came, of course). “Hwuot sagat Maria vriunti… dafuon?” he asked, pointing to the massive building (there seemed to be a ring and then a enormous inner edifice). He smiled and climbed down from the hollow’s height, waving to her followers that he had no Catlike thoughts towards their Head.