title: Blackie: An Odyssey of Furry Hearts
author:  William Schwenn 
description: <span>&quot;</span><b>Blackie</b><span>&quot; is a fast-paced tale of how a neighbor and a traumatized dog partnered in a year-long effort to first eliminate a nightmare existence of a collection of animals, then form a deep bond that gave them both new life when it was most needed.</span>
zlib_text: The Black Gryphon
  
  
  ## Book 1 ofMage Wars
  
  
  Mercedes Lackey & Larry Dixon
  
  
  CONTENTS
  
  
  One.3
  
  
  Two.15
  
  
  Three.26
  
  
  Four36
  
  
  Five.50
  
  
  Six.58
  
  
  Seven.70
  
  
  Eight79
  
  
  Twelve.115
  
  
  Thirteen.125
  
  
  Fourteen.134
  
  
  Fifteen.143
  
  
  Sixteen.156
  
  
  Seventeen.168
  
  
  One
  
  
  Silence.
  
  
  Cold wind played against Skandranons nares-a wind as frigid as the hearts of
  the killers below. Their hearts pumped blood unlike any other creatures;
  thick black blood, warmed when their commanders willed it-only when they flew,
  only when they hunted, only when they killed.
  
  
  Their blood was cold, and yet it ran warmer than their masters. This much
  Skandranon Rashkae knew; he had fought their masters since he was a fledgling
  himself. They were cruel and cunning, these makaar, and yet the worst aspects
  of these manufactured horrors paled before the cruelty of their creators.
  
  
  Silence. Stay still. Quiet.
  
  
  Skandranon remained motionless, crouched, feathers compressed tight to his
  body. He was silent to more than hearing;