There are no sunrises or sunsets in the morning and evening stars. The sunny side is eternal day and lava, and the shady side is eternal night and ice. Human beings can only live in the narrow twilight zone in the middle, coexisting with the fire tribe and the ice tribe - sharing an iron law: one lifetime contract and cannot be replaced.
When he was eighteen years old, the young man waited for his contract partner in the rift between morning and dusk. Others were waiting for a flaming wolf, a moon bear, or an ice snake and fire bat. What he was waiting for was a grey-white, palm-sized cub that didn't even have a name.
