18. Thivoll

18

Thivoll

She's almost completely bald, her skin is the color of kit vomit, her legs bend the wrong way, and her species is deplorably socially primitive considering how many technological advances they've made recently.

She should be grotesque or at the very least I should chide myself for even thinking of anyone of her species as anything other than the galactic equivalent of children.

And yet I find myself intrigued and aroused.

Her aroma is trying to pull that primal part of myself I had to work so hard to squash right back up to the surface. I've seen enough images of humans to know she's been changed and feel guilty when I think about how much I love the modifications.

I doubt she feels the same.

Her fully blue eyes look so much more natural than the disturbing white eyes of her species. Her hair is the most glorious mane I could ever imagine. It's odd to see one on a female. The sensation of it rippling against me brings up all kinds of carnal thoughts one simply cannot share when first meeting someone.

I know she should repulse me, but no one ever said I was a normal male.

To be panting over a human is clear evidence, if any more was truly needed. There's a reason I ended up relegated to air scrubbers and paperwork.

That reminds me of ships and the fact that Ree was so close to a crash site. "You were in the ship when it landed?"

I feel a shudder pass over her body at the reminder and a prickle of guilt makes my scales itch. I shouldn't have brought it up.

I open my mouth to retract the question, but she responds.

"Yes. There were ten of us. I'm pretty sure one of us died, but the rest of them, except Silver of course, went flying out of the ship. Do you know if the chamber would have protected them?"

Out of respect, I take a moment to think of the unfortunate female, then respond. "Most likely. It really depends how they landed and how quickly the main power died when it hit the atmosphere."

She grips my fur so tight it hurts. "I need to find them."

"Well, let's get Silver settled and figure it out from there. I smelled laser burns when we were near the ship. Was it attacked?"

"I think so."

"I assumed it was an accident. I can't imagine pirates suicidal enough to target a cruiser so close to one of the few neutral grounds. Most of the more vicious species wouldn't risk losing access. I don't know who it could be."

"The slimes don't have enemies?"

"Sure. Plenty, but mostly people just focus on protecting their home systems."

"Huh. Why's it neutral ground?"

"For genali, the credits. For everyone else, access to hunt here and the pleasure resorts on the space station and habitable moon. Few planets are like this one. Billions of credits went into figuring out a stable space elevator to get past the atmosphere."

"Why?"

"Sorry. I'm used to everyone knowing these things. Technology doesn't work here."

"Shit! I need to get back to Silver. I put her in cryo to heal her."

"No, no. She's alright. I'm not doing well at explaining." I growl at myself and resolve to do better. "The primary power source would have died long ago, but nanites are the backup. The chamber will keep pumping nanites through her to harvest power."

"So she's the battery? Won't she run out of charge, or whatever?"

"Yes and no. It will have enough stored nutrients to keep her in stasis for a while. The chambers will fail after a while, but they're programmed to open before that point."

She makes a grunting sound and then falls quiet. I take the opportunity to better focus on our surroundings.

Maintaining a slow run and swiveling my ears for sounds of hunters feels surprisingly natural.

I suppose the philosophers were right when they said our species was only ever one small step away from reverting to our base natures. That's a mercy at the moment, though I know I was once caught up in the shared horror of losing our social progress.

I wonder how many of the Abstainers would wish for their venom back if they were here.

All of them, I bet.

The surge of instincts is especially nice since it gives me plenty of mental space to enjoy the sensation of Ree's lithe legs wrapped tight around me. I can feel the radiating heat from between her legs. The place reports indicate is the entrance to her reproductive organs.

I was never interested in alien sexual habits, so I have no idea if we would be compatible. I do hope we find out. No need to rush things, though.

The fun is in the stalking.

Well, no reason beyond imminent death.

I almost trip over a root when a good reason to not pursue her occurs to me. I might be wrong about what her scent means. She might also already have a mate. I'm not sure how to ask her without reminding her of what she's lost.

Maybe the key is to bring up my family.

"The slimes have been taking our women, too. I've lost cousins and good friends."

She loosens her grip with one hand and pats me. "That's terrible, Thivoll. I'm so sorry."

She doesn't quite get the guttural accent in my name correct and it's endearing. Her voice is sincere, hinting at a deep well of empathy.

I hadn't realized how much I needed to talk about it, but her words feel like a good soak in the sun.

"Thank you. I miss them, but I think it's worse for my friends who fear for their mates."

My nose twitches as I berate myself for being so obvious. Not to mention using such a heavy topic for the sake of my incessant curiosity.

I do believe that, but now that I've said it to find out if she is mated it feels wrong.

"I can see that. My parents would be devastated to find out I was missing if they were still alive."

I feel a pang of shared grief. "I share your grief. My sire was killed when I was a young kit. I rarely go long without thinking of him."

"Me too. It's crazy how something as simple as a Vietnamese restaurant will remind me of my dam and how she kept her culture alive through food. Or my sire and his love of sweets. What about your dam? Uh, mother ?"

"Luckily my dam is safe. Or was, at least. She's likely contacted every member of Session tens of times by now about me. Our government, I mean."

She makes a low sound that isn't quite a chuff, but seems to have the same function. "I have a friend like that. Had? I'm not sure I'll ever see her again."

She sounds so lost and I wish I could offer better comfort. "I hope so, Ree."

I assume she has the same ache in her chest I do and it explains the lull in our conversation after that.

I think we have left a suitably confounding trail so I look for trees so I can comfort her. I look forward to talking with her about how we can manage her Silver's rescue.

I search for a perfect option, with a thick canopy, but a trunk structure that will provide a roomy nest for us.

But not too roomy.

I want Ree cuddled up against me as we talk through our next steps. I might be odd, but I enjoy cuddles as much as any of my species. I think I see a suitable candidate after we walk in silence for a short while.

Yes, this tree will do. "Go ahead and slide off, Ree."

She obliges, and the feel of her gliding along my fur is momentarily distracting.

She comes to stand in front of me while I'm still caught up in the pleasurable shivers that run down my spin and make my tail dance. I shake my mane to I gather myself, then assess her hands.

No claws, but I don't want to insult her so I don't make any assumptions.

I fall back on the formal politeness my grand sire taught me just in case. "Would you like to climb by yourself or would you prefer assistance?"

She responds by tipping her head back and letting out a melodious trill. Manticorid bodies could never make such a pure, high sound.

I'm transfixed.

When she speaks it's back to a lower register. "Oh, Thivoll, I couldn't make it a single step up this tree."

I'm trying to figure out why she added the extra sound to the front of my name when she starts speaking again.

"There's nothing to grab on to."

I look back at the tree, realizing what she means. When I look back at her, she is baring her teeth at me. I recoil on instinct.

"No need for violence! I'm sorry to offend," I say with as much regret as I can muster.

I hope she isn't too angry.

Her forehead wrinkles. "What? Oh! Uh, no. I thought it was funny. I was laughing at my own terrible climbing skills."

I realize her 'ohs' and 'uhs' must be vocalized pauses.

Adorable, but I'm still confused.

"Then why the threatened bite?"

I know something's been lost in translation, but the hair along my spine rises anyway.

"Oh! That was a smile , not a threat. Sorry," she says, her oddly flexible lips pulling the opposite direction as before.

Now I wonder what that lip movement means.

Dear Thela, humans are an odd species.

"When I smile I'm happy. Or trying to look friendly," she explains.

There is no translation for the word in my language.

Showing your teeth when happy is an odd concept. I try it. Ree's eyes get big, then she holds her stomach and lets out another long trill.

She moves her other hand over her mouth at the end, probably so I won't be threatened.

"This smile is confusing, but I very much like your lovely trill," I tell her. "We should climb, though, so we can be more comfortable."

She nods to indicate her agreement and I'm relieved.