The sea and the tiger...
The sea of tigers extended far beyond any real point of eyesight. It's swaying gold-green grass grew 4 to 5 feet high and made elephant mounts the only truly safe passage. And Odep's party was about to enter it on horseback.
Odep knew there were probably only five or six actual tigers in the sea, but even one tiger was more than a match for a man, and there were legends around these tigers that couldn't be easily dismissed. Woe be any party who could not find sanctuary in one of the island huts that dotted the sea by nightfall, for tales kept that any man who saw the sun set around him in the sea of tigers would wake as one himself if he ever saw morning again.
More like, wake in the belly of one, thought Odep. The two guides with him were sawing through the thinner and far more pliable grass at the edges of the sea to make bundles for torch brands should the darkness get closer to them than any hut. If that happens, it will be too late for us all.
Odep knew there were probably only five or six actual tigers in the sea, but even one tiger was more than a match for a man, and there were legends around these tigers that couldn't be easily dismissed. Woe be any party who could not find sanctuary in one of the island huts that dotted the sea by nightfall, for tales kept that any man who saw the sun set around him in the sea of tigers would wake as one himself if he ever saw morning again.
More like, wake in the belly of one, thought Odep. The two guides with him were sawing through the thinner and far more pliable grass at the edges of the sea to make bundles for torch brands should the darkness get closer to them than any hut. If that happens, it will be too late for us all.