“I don’t think they know the truth. All they have is our ship's logs.” She cleared the red alert and immediately disconnected from the station.The last thing I need is them tracking my device.She tapped her fingers against the hard, metal back of the pad. Pensively, she whispered, “They’re going to come looking for me, or a fight.”
Xexis crouched beside her, putting a hand to her cheek. “Do not fret, my mate. We will head home immediately and seek an audience with theKorzavic.He will have guidance and an audience with your people. This is a simple misunderstanding.”
Oh…Xexis clearly didn’t know humans very well…they’d gone to war for much less. Maybe Quagmor would know?She smiled at him weakly, her throat screaming for water. There would not be more poking or prodding him for answers until she’d appliedhealing goop.She had a million questions: How do they have an audience with humans?I’ve never seen you or your people before, had no idea who you were, how do you know us?But he nodded, closing off the conversation. His armor was back on his body and her clothes were pooled in her lap. Xexis scooped her off the ground and headed for the ship. Her drone bobbed behind them. Aphrodite returned her attention to the device in her lap.Please let his people be more reasonable than mine.She prayed to any higher power or being that could hear her,please…let this just be a simple misunderstanding.
Chapter Thirteen:
Aphroditewasn’tsurewhatto expect as Xexis cleared the tree line. Unlike her, who had to be carried to shore, Xexis and his hunters were able to walk across the water in their armor.Note to self, take apart and study their armored boots to make my own.She wasn’t sure anything of theirs would even remotely fit. Plus, there was the added bonus of giving her something to do.Instead of fretting about possible humans trying to start a fight.
Xexis stepped onto the crystal clear, green-tinted lake and glided across. His hunters descended from the trees and jogged to keep up with him. It was Kiefgr who made it first, bounding up beside Xexis. The precious hunter whirled around and jogged backwards to face the pair. The hunter removed their helmet with a click and hiss. Tucking it under their arm, Kiefgr bowed their head to Xexis. “Kannatch,” then to Aphrodite, “Mphronatch.”
Aphrodite furrowed her brows. “Mphronatch?”
“Mate to the Kannatch,” Kiefgr beamed, tossing all four arms out. “I got to teach Mphronatch words!”
“Kiefgr,” Xexis warned in a fatherly tone.
Kiefgr flushed a deep forest green across his throat and face. Aphrodite smiled broadly, chuckling a strangled sound despite her pained vocal cords, “Thank you, Kiefgr, for teaching me.”
The hunter puffed out his chest, proud. Swiveling, he fell into step with Xexis on the lake. Two other hunters fell in line with Xexis, the four making a wall of power headed for the ship. Anyone who was swimming in the lake began to pack up their fun. Immediately, as if a notification went across to everyone, people began to filter into the ship. She watched close to thirty beings filed inside the ship. Aphrodite glanced up at Xexis, “Are we not staying long?”
“Momentary stop; we were already planning to head back home after our mating hunt.” Xexis raised a hand to cradle her head, laying it against his chest.
“Home,” she breathed.
“Dnom.” The three hunters spoke at the same time, bowing their heads. Aphrodite watched from over Xexis shoulder as his hunters followed her mate up the loading dock of the ship. They were all holding their helmets under their arms.
She enjoyed the subtle difference between them. Kiefgr was clearly younger. His flesh was softer greens and lighter yellows, his bones less defined as if he still had a baby face.GroougandReevarwere older, with sharper bones and darker flesh. Grooug was the eldest, other than Xexis, with an aged, white scar across his forehead. He was greener and darker, like a thick forest after sunset. Reevar, the middle hunter, was the shortest of them.Which wasn’t saying much because he was still taller than Aphrodite.He had defined splotches of teal and green like dalmatian spots on his face. His right eye was framed with a wavy, leaf shaped spot. Xexis had named them, even making them wear their name plates on their armor before they descended for the hunt. But it was the first time she put names to faces.
As they cleared through the open dock of the ship, she returned her attention to Xexis. The feeling of mud drying in her hair andthe chill of being half wet was growing uncomfortable. “I could use a bath.”
“I agree,” Xexis nodded, pivoting to face his hunters. They all snapped to attention and put a fist on their chest. Speaking in his native tongue, she imagined he was instructing them what to do in his absence. It was fun to hear out loud in one ear while she pressed her other flat to his armor. She could pinpoint the tiny fans and motors going off within his suit with every movement. It was in sync. Almost as if it were a second skin.The connection with his skull.She would have to ask to study the connection.
She wasn’t about to jam a bunch of wires into her soft skull or brain…but if anyone could find a loophole for me to have armor for my squishy body, its me!Aphrodite Kerso had been top of her class. She was born to twist wires and create something out of nothing. Determination swirled in her belly as she studied the panels of his armor from her position. First, she would make boots for herself, so she could walk alongside him. Second should probably be updates to her drone and data pad. Her mind happily reeled with thoughts of what she could accomplish here with them.
Think of all the technological advancements they have on hand!She was fucking giddy at the idea of getting her hands on even their hunk of junk scraps. Xexis must have noticed as he turned away from his hunters. He cocked his head, looking down at her. “You are? Shivering? Is your temperature bad?”
She shook her head, “I’m excited.”
“For the bath?” he teased, leading the way through the belly of the ship.First thing would be to make a map.She pulled out her data pad, her drone zipping to her side. Grinning, she set him to his map making setting and let him go on his merry way. Xexis eyed the octopus shaped drone before returning his gaze to her. “I am missing context, my mate.”
“After the bath, if you don’t have to go do responsible Kannatch stuff, can I have some help setting up a space for me to work? I have a few upgrades I want to make.” She clutched the data pad to her chest.
“Is that why you are excited?”
“Yes,” she nearly hissed, snuggling down in his arms more.This was infinitely better than working on a scout crew.
“Then, of course, whatever makes my mate happy. After our bath, I will have to address the launch and ensure we are on course, but then we can make a space for you to upgrade. But first, we must scrub. Someone decided to fight me in the creek.”
She scoffed, “Oh no I didn’t! I was going for the boulder!”
“I know, and I caught you.” His chest puffed out with pride.
“And whose fault is it that I was pinned into the mud, huh?” She raised her brows.
“Yours, had you not chosen that path, I would have pinned you on much dryer land.” He twisted through the halls, toward the baths. She caught sight of her drone happily floating past them, blue light scanning the walls. One person in a giant lab coat froze and stared at the metal octopus before watching with rabid curiosity as the drone floated on. When Xexis came into view, they immediately snapped to attention and bowed their head in respect.
Aphrodite scowled at his teasing but was unable to find something to bite back. Mostly due to the fact, that maybe he had a point. She followed the halls with her eyes as Xexis entered the baths. The door clicked shut behind them. Xexis set her down on the bench before kneeling to retrieve jars of soaps from his compartment.
