“Why? What’s the matter?” she asked, looking at her modest attire. “This isn’t slutty in the slightest.”
“No, but you possess no runes. No Infala. It is a serious violation of the law. In a remote setting we could perhaps get by, but here if you are spotted it could have grave consequences.”
“So we don’t get spotted. And in any case, I’ll cover up. I’ve got trousers, and if I use that bit of fabric you’ve been using as a carry-all sling as a shawl, no one will see any of my skin.”
He thought on it a moment, nodding slowly. “Yes, it could work,” he said. “And once we obtain lodging you will be safe from view. Very well, we will move ahead. But we must absolutely avoid any scrutiny. If we are stopped and questioned things could become quite problematic.”
“Understood. I’m following your lead, no questions asked.”
“Then stay close, and keep your eyes open. Once we reach regularly traveled trails there is no telling who we may encounter.”
They walked onward but with their senses on high alert. Every sound was scrutinized for a possible threat as they drew closer and closer to the city. Maureen was even more enamored of the alien city than at first glance, now that she was better able to see it as they walked along a more beaten path.
Amazing. That was the word for it. Utterly alien, and utterly amazing.
The trees shifted in the distance, their coloring ranging from burgundy and green as they were walking in, to deep red and pale brown. The types of plants and foliage seemed to change across the terrain, perhaps planted that way, or perhaps just growing in the type of soil each preferred.
Regardless of the reason, it made for a stunning quiltwork display of nature the likes of which she had never seen.
And the city they were approaching was dazzling as well, in its own way. The buildings and pathways winding between them utterly alien yet somehow making perfect sense in their design.
“It’s beautiful,” she murmured as they walked, staring at the pleasing lines of the alien structures.
“Yes, I suppose it is,” Bodok agreed. “You know, it has been so long since I have looked upon these things with fresh eyes, perhaps I have forgotten to appreciate them. You see clearly what I take for granted.”
She playfully smacked his meaty arm. “I’m the same way back home, you know. I don’t really enjoy a lot of my own hometown unless someone’s visiting. Seems to be the only time I see it without jaded bias. So don’t sweat it. You’re only human.”
He looked at her with a confused expression.
“It’s just a saying,” she clarified. “You’reclearlynot human.”
“Clearly.”
“But what I’m saying is everyone does it, so don’t worry about it.”
“On that we can agree,” he said, fixing his silver eyes on her with a look that was more than a little hungry. And not for food.
Maureen felt that warm ball in her belly heating up again, spreading lower in a hurry.
This is really getting distracting. I can’t wait until we can finally—
Bodok froze, his ears straining.
“What is i—”
He held up his hand, silencing her. He listened, a worried look spreading across his face.
“Mondarian guards.”
“What are Mondarian guards?”
“If we do not hide quickly, you are about to find out. Hurry, into the tree line!”
Maureen didn’t question or hesitate, taking off in a run for the trees, Bodok close behind. They raced into cover, ducking low and hiding from view, utterly silent. It took several minutes, but eventually a dozen marching men and women in a flexible, thin sort of material that seemed to shine as if it was somehow absorbing the late day sun strode up the path they had just been on.
Standing tall on two legs, these were very humanoid in appearance, though their skin was covered by a fine layer of what looked almost like fur, akin to a short-hair dog’s. It was tan colored on most of them, but a few had a more violet or yellow hue to their fur.
Their ears were not rounded but instead came to not one but two points, and from what she could see they possessed a more pronounced ridge above their eyes than humans did.
