The young human gestured at Saer’s naked body, something between confusion and incredulity on his face.Did they cover themselves with skins to avoid the cold?That, he could understand.
Shouts resurged behind the boy, taller figures appearing, and Saer tensed again, a rumble in his throat.
He didn’t expect the boy to show him his back, nor the exasperated but somehow calm yell as he called for—Saer assumed—de-escalation.
These creatures of the Grandfather held similar mannerisms and expressions to his maker.And not.He recalled what Lucifer said as well as what he’dfeltduring his first encounter.These humans must hold the key to his maker’s recovery.
He made an effort to relax once more, though his eyes darted to and fro, hunting for any incoming threat.In the end, his gaze returned to the boy.
No sticks or weapons.No fear in the young man’s eyes.
The boy touched his palm to his own chest.“Ruki,” he said.
Saer narrowed his eyes and stopped his growl at last.
The one calling himself Ruki patted his sternum.“Ruki.”
“Ruki.”Saer attempted to repeat the sound, then frowned at the feel of words coming from his new throat, the way his tongue worked in a mouth he had no practice using.He ran that same tongue along the roof of his mouth, then over his flatter teeth.
Ruki grinned, and somehow it looked different than when theDaemoenicasnarled.It reminded Saer of the Twins.
“You?”The boy pointed at Saer when he said the word, and though Saer didn’t speak their language, he understood well enough.
He raised his hand and touched his chest, the mirror of what Ruki did.
Another of the Grandfather’s creatures burst through the plant stalks—an older version of Ruki with red paint on his face and torso—and snagged the boy’s arm while yelling.Saer took a shuffled step backwards and flexed his arms, readying to strike or flee as the man forced himself between Saer and Ruki.He yelled and gestured at Saer’s nakedness.
Why did they all care so much that he was naked?
More nearby shouts rose.Ruki shoved himself around the man, and they wrestled for position.Control was slipping as tensions rose.This could end as before—Saer attacked and returning in failure.
He had no more time for indecision.
Slapping his own sternum, he yelled to be heard above the quarreling duo, “Saer!”
They halted their movements, and a surge of pride welled in Saer’s chest.Once again, Ruki grinned, then uttered a series of excited phrases to the man who appeared intent on protecting him.
The man gazed at Saer with distrustful eyes.“Saer,” he said in a cautious voice.
Saer nodded, then pointed at Ruki.“Ruki.”He pointed at the adult man and cocked his eyebrow.
Ruki laughed.
The man looked like he tasted ash on his tongue.“Asheda,” he said.
Something heated emanated from the man, familiar to Saer.He’d felt it once before, when one of the other humans approached him during his first trip to Earth—a warmth that touched his skin, not born of fire.It flared when the man spoke his own name.
“Asheda,” Saer repeated, the sounds still difficult for his new tongue.
Asheda huffed and assessed Saer from head to toe, taking in his lack of clothes, his far paler complexion, then the scorched landscape he appeared upon.
After too long, Ruki tugged on Asheda’s arm and uttered another series of rushed words.Asheda listened with apparent doubt, but eventually shifted his focus back to Saer, who remained in place.
Saer looked back with annoyed impassivity.
An aggravated sound left Asheda, and he pointed a finger at Saer, then at Ruki, issuing what could only be a warning by his tone of voice.
Protective.
