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He fell asleep with a peacful heart, there in the cold
darkness full of the whisper of water. At dawn waking he
lifted his head; the rain had ceased; he saw, sheltered
in the folds of his cloak, a little animal curled up
asleep which had crept there for warmth. He wondered,
seeing it, for it was a rare strange beast, an otak.
These creatures are found only on four southern
isles of the Archipelago, Roke, Ensmer, Pody and Wathort.
They are small and sleek, with broad faces, and fur dark
brown or brindle, and great bright eyes. Their teeth are
cruel and their temper fierce, so they are not made pets
of. They have no call or cry or any voice. Ged stroked
this one, and it woke and yawned, showing a small brown
tongue and white teeth, but it was not afraid.
- Otak
- he said, and then remembering the thousand
names of beasts he had learned in the Tower he called it by
its true name in the Old Speech - Hoeg! Do you want to come
with me?
The otak sat itself down his open hand, and began
wash its fur.
Ursula K. Le Guin
'A wizard of Earthsea`
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