Chapter Thirteen: The Bipedal Wolf

Morning on the planet Tal was shrouded in the dim glow of its dark red parent star, whose light filtered through the thick atmosphere to cast an otherworldly beauty across the land. The effect was both enchanting and mysterious. The Talans, accustomed to life beneath the surface within vast underground pyramids, had left the planet’s surface nearly untouched. The world above remained a pristine Eden, unspoiled and lush. Because Tal was a small planet with weak gravity, its flora and fauna grew tall and slender. Lacking surface oceans, all its water was hidden below ground. The landscape featured mountains, plains, and deserts, but the surface belonged entirely to wildlife; Tal’s only sentient beings—its people—lived, worked, played, and built their society entirely within their subterranean pyramids.

Accompanied by a group of scientists and guards, the king was taking a leisurely walk through a forest. The trees—both the towering giants and the undergrowth—were much taller than anything on Earth, though Tal’s biodiversity was more limited. The king, ever attentive to his subjects, also cared deeply for every species on Tal, down to the tiniest bacteria. This devotion stemmed from the Talans’ deep religious faith: their teachings held that God had crafted them as beings of great intellect, settling them upon Tal, a world designed with divine care. As the sole sentient life in the system, they believed it was their sacred duty to protect every living thing on their planet.

Tal’s slow rotation meant its mornings stretched long, and with the dense atmosphere and high trees, visibility was low. The group relied on artificial light as they strolled through the forest, sharing laughter and conversation. After a scientist presented the king with a detailed report on the planet’s remarkable absence of recent extinctions, the king was delighted.

Eventually, the party emerged from the dense woods onto a grassy meadow. Spirits rose as they no longer needed artificial light. Enthusiastically, everyone admired the plants, the myriad insects, and the other animals that thrived there. The elderly king suggested they rest a while on the lawn.

Talans loved meat, but had long forbidden the killing of animals. Their advanced biotechnology allowed them to cultivate real animal flesh from mere cells harvested painlessly, growing it in greenhouses to be identical to the original. Over time, wild animals on Tal lost all fear of the Talans who emerged from underground, and scenes of harmony between people and animals became testaments to the way faith propelled scientific progress.

Among the king’s entourage was a group of children. While the adults rested on the grass, the children played nearby. Suddenly, a group of ostrich-like creatures appeared, with necks and heads reminiscent of giraffes. They had no wings or feathers, but their most striking feature was their extraordinarily long legs. They were herbivores. Curious, the Talan children tried to approach, but a mother animal with her young blocked them, threatening with her hooves to drive off the children. The king quickly warned, “Don’t go near, it’s dangerous.” The children retreated to a safe distance, content to watch the animals in delight.

As everyone observed the wildlife, one of the creatures let out a piercing cry, startling the others into a frantic dash for the bushes. From the undergrowth, a predator known as the “bipedal wolf” leapt forth, closing in with lightning speed. The animals scattered, but the mother, ostrich-like in stance, shielded her young from the predator. The bipedal wolf was only a third her size, with a much shorter neck, a hyena-like head, formidable fangs, and two long legs ending in tiger-like paws. Though smaller, it was quick and agile. In the ensuing struggle, the mother failed to land a single blow, while the wolf’s powerful claws left her wounded time and again. At last, the predator broke her defense, snatched one of the young in its jaws, and dashed off into the brush.

The sight terrified the Talan children, who screamed in alarm. A little girl, crying, begged the adults to intervene and save the captured animal. The king approached her, gently cupping her face to wipe away her tears. He spoke softly: “My child, we cannot save it, for we must not interfere with the natural order. Though the bipedal wolf may seem cruel, our world needs its presence to keep the number of herbivores in check. Without predators, the plant-eaters would multiply unchecked, stripping the land of vegetation and upsetting the balance of nature. That would threaten the very environment we Talans depend on.” With great patience, the king explained the principles of ecology to the children, who listened and learned.

As the group prepared to move on to their next destination, the slow-turning sun of Tal still lingered low on the horizon, its dark red light painting the landscape in picturesque hues. The king, ever eager, continued to discuss the ecosystem with the scientists as they walked.

They came to a flat plain where a triangular flying craft had landed on the grass ahead. The king seemed to know what had happened and approached the small, pyramid-shaped vessel. It was large enough to hold everyone present. As the hatch opened, a young, three-meter-tall Talan pilot stepped out, saluted the king, and spoke with impeccable manners: “Your Majesty, at the order of Director G of the Intelligence Bureau, I am here to escort you and your party back to the palace at once. There is urgent military business that requires your personal attention.”

Orderly and calm, everyone followed the king into the craft. Using advanced aerodynamics, the vehicle soared at supersonic speed through the thick atmosphere, soon arriving at the entrance to the king’s subterranean pyramid palace. A few attendants accompanied the king inside, while the rest of the group and the children prepared to return home.

The pilot’s cryptic words—“urgent military business for the king”—hung in the air. Could it be that the Quartpa authorities had launched a military strike against Earth or Tal? Let us now turn to the events unfolding on both Earth and Tal.