The other had been badly clawed in a close fight with a bobcat, though his laterals were intact. The third was frostbitten and exhibiting symptoms of exposure. The three took turns relating their story as they were carried to the infirmary. “It happened at the top of the last rise before the pass, just where you can zlin a trail under the snow,” said the woman who had been clawed. “I knew that had to be the trail to Fort Rimon. The bobcat knocked Haben there,” she indicated the man with the broken leg, “off his horse. Came at us out of the rocks. I went for it with my knife, but my hands were too cold and I lost my grip. Kreg threw his cloak over the beast’s head, and we finally broke its neck.” She indicated the frostbitten renSime who added self-deprecatingly, “Stupid thing to do, but it worked.” “Sort of,” corrected Haben, easing his broken leg as they maneuvered the three stretchers through the door into the infirmary hall. “Then we were stuck. Lost one horse to the cat’s attack.
