were more evenly matched. The lacarna had lost many of their beast-like qualities from mating with the humans and the humans had much greater numbers.
“The war raged on for several years, each side losing most of their population. Finally, both sides near extinction, the Protectors were able to bring about peace with the following proposal. The lacarna would stay in the distant wilds or dense forest areas. Any lacarna entering a settlement could do so only if accompanied by a human. Likewise, humans would stay in the open regions and in the settlements that had already been built. They were not to enter the forest unless escorted by a lacarna. The two races were free to marry one another but such unions were needed to be registered with the Protectors.”
Mr. Penna dropped out of his lecture tone and focused on Eve and Max. “Those are the terms that each race lives by today.”
Max tried to process Mr. Penna’s story. “I guess I can understand the Protectors’ terms at that time. But, why still today?”
“Many humans still fear the lacarna, Maxwell.”
“Yeah, but I’m not afraid of Eve. Besides, what does that have to do with what Tyco said about a law against a lacarnian riding a horse?”
“I am afraid any more comments I have would only break my promise to your father Maxwell. I will end this conversation with one last fact. There have not been any lacarnians in the Protectors for a long time.”
Max shook his head. “I don’t understand, Mr. Penna. I don’t understand why my father would have you make such a promise, or why the Protectors would place so many restrictions. I mean, Eve is one of the nicest people I know. The only time I’ve ever even seen her bare her claws is when she was protecting me.”
“I am glad you have Evangeline, Maxwell. She is pretty typical of her race.” Mr. Penna let out a soft chuckle. “Not that I would ever accuse Evangeline of being typical.”
Eve’s cheeks pinked a little. Mr. Penna continued.
“I have met many lacarnians, Maxwell; all friendly. Once, your father and I were even honored guests in one of their forest villages. However, many people only know what the Protectors tell them.”
Mr. Penna paused in thought, becoming very serious. “About Evangeline’s claws, Maxwell, never tell anyone that she has them. It is strictly forbidden for any registered lacarna to have them. In fact, their claws are removed before they are allowed to enter a city.”
Max stared in disbelief. “That’s awful…but, why then does Eve still have hers?”
A smile crossed Mr. Penna’s face. “My guess? Someone forgot to check when they first registered her.”
Max brought his attention back to Eve, who sat with her head bowed, scribbling absent-mindedly in the dirt.
“I can see now why you didn’t want to come with us, if people really are that afraid of the lacarna, but why didn’t you tell me?”
Eve raised her head. Tears filled her eyes. She could barely be heard. “I didn’t know how, and I didn’t think you would be my friend anymore.”
Eve quickly looked down at the ground again. Max stumbled for something to say He hadn’t seen Eve cry since the night his father died.
“Shoot, Eve, there have been times when I could have sworn you were the devil himself. The fire in your eyes when you get an idea for an adventure; that red hair of yours blowing about, yet I never stopped being your friend. I knew you would never hurt me. Finding out your long lost ancestors were wild beasts or that there are a few stupid laws your race has to follow isn’t going to change that.”
Eve looked up at Max and stared at him for what seemed like ages. He began to wonder if he would survive until morning. He was pretty sure she would never hurt him. At long last, she made a sound that fell between a sob and a laugh.
“I think that had to be the worst attempt at trying to cheer a person up that I’ve ever heard.”
Max, relieved, let out his breath. “That’s
“The war raged on for several years, each side losing most of their population. Finally, both sides near extinction, the Protectors were able to bring about peace with the following proposal. The lacarna would stay in the distant wilds or dense forest areas. Any lacarna entering a settlement could do so only if accompanied by a human. Likewise, humans would stay in the open regions and in the settlements that had already been built. They were not to enter the forest unless escorted by a lacarna. The two races were free to marry one another but such unions were needed to be registered with the Protectors.”
Mr. Penna dropped out of his lecture tone and focused on Eve and Max. “Those are the terms that each race lives by today.”
Max tried to process Mr. Penna’s story. “I guess I can understand the Protectors’ terms at that time. But, why still today?”
“Many humans still fear the lacarna, Maxwell.”
“Yeah, but I’m not afraid of Eve. Besides, what does that have to do with what Tyco said about a law against a lacarnian riding a horse?”
“I am afraid any more comments I have would only break my promise to your father Maxwell. I will end this conversation with one last fact. There have not been any lacarnians in the Protectors for a long time.”
Max shook his head. “I don’t understand, Mr. Penna. I don’t understand why my father would have you make such a promise, or why the Protectors would place so many restrictions. I mean, Eve is one of the nicest people I know. The only time I’ve ever even seen her bare her claws is when she was protecting me.”
“I am glad you have Evangeline, Maxwell. She is pretty typical of her race.” Mr. Penna let out a soft chuckle. “Not that I would ever accuse Evangeline of being typical.”
Eve’s cheeks pinked a little. Mr. Penna continued.
“I have met many lacarnians, Maxwell; all friendly. Once, your father and I were even honored guests in one of their forest villages. However, many people only know what the Protectors tell them.”
Mr. Penna paused in thought, becoming very serious. “About Evangeline’s claws, Maxwell, never tell anyone that she has them. It is strictly forbidden for any registered lacarna to have them. In fact, their claws are removed before they are allowed to enter a city.”
Max stared in disbelief. “That’s awful…but, why then does Eve still have hers?”
A smile crossed Mr. Penna’s face. “My guess? Someone forgot to check when they first registered her.”
Max brought his attention back to Eve, who sat with her head bowed, scribbling absent-mindedly in the dirt.
“I can see now why you didn’t want to come with us, if people really are that afraid of the lacarna, but why didn’t you tell me?”
Eve raised her head. Tears filled her eyes. She could barely be heard. “I didn’t know how, and I didn’t think you would be my friend anymore.”
Eve quickly looked down at the ground again. Max stumbled for something to say He hadn’t seen Eve cry since the night his father died.
“Shoot, Eve, there have been times when I could have sworn you were the devil himself. The fire in your eyes when you get an idea for an adventure; that red hair of yours blowing about, yet I never stopped being your friend. I knew you would never hurt me. Finding out your long lost ancestors were wild beasts or that there are a few stupid laws your race has to follow isn’t going to change that.”
Eve looked up at Max and stared at him for what seemed like ages. He began to wonder if he would survive until morning. He was pretty sure she would never hurt him. At long last, she made a sound that fell between a sob and a laugh.
“I think that had to be the worst attempt at trying to cheer a person up that I’ve ever heard.”
Max, relieved, let out his breath. “That’s
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