I hadn't pointed out to her what those pots were going to be used for.
It’s midmorning when Chastity asks where she could get a translator like mine. It makes sense, I suppose. Much less hassle than me having to interpret everything for them. Once I explained to Rynn and he in turn told his people that their assistance would be needed, there was no small amount of Trixikka males falling over themselves to help my friends.
"Thanks, honey," Chastity tells the young, eager Protector who had volunteered his 'offering' in exchange for her translator up at the temple. She gingerly accepts his heavy-looking seed-pot, an amused look on her face.
"Bodily fluids as a form of currency is a new one on me," Alana adds, taking the recently filled seed pot from another male. Mavyx stands behind her and frowns. The disapproving look sends the male retreating a step or two.
Bea, bless her, looks like she absolutelydoes notwant to be holding what she's holding.
We stand there awkwardly a second or two after the girls receive their special gifts of alien bird-man jizz before it's Chastity that lifts the lid on her seed pot and gasps. "It's sparkly!"
The others cannot resist a peek after that and all four of us try desperately not to fall into fits of giggles. The gift-bearers look on curiously enough that I feel the need to reassure them. "They are grateful and... impressed by your offering," I tell them. That seems to do the trick. The Trixikka males visibly puff with pride, wide smiles on their handsome faces.
This time, the temple demands more than just one pot of special bird-man baby-batter per set of translator tech. It's not the first time I've questioned this space-ship-shaped'temple'and the 'Goddesses' behind it, but what kind of deity increases the price of their generosity? Thankfully, it is not a problem, not with how many Trixikka seem willing to help us out.
More pots of magical man-juice procured, and the temple gives us the goods.
"I fainted when I put the ear one on," I tell the girls. "Maybe you should lie down."
"Does it hurt?" Bea asks, examining her translator chips warily.
I shake my head but Mavyx interrupts before I can elaborate. "Tell them they should not be lying in the dirt and grass," he says, eyeing Alana sitting on the ground, readying herself to lay back and install her translator.
"They'll faint."
He apparently has other ideas. Alana squeaks as he bends, sweeping her up into his arms, bridal style. "I will carry her," he says, broaching no argument. "Explain to her," he tells me gruffly. God, this guy is stubborn.
"Um," I say dumbly, looking at the stony-faced alien man cradling Alana in his arms. "He doesn't want you getting dirty on the ground?"
"So, what," she says, brows scrunched, "he wants me to faint in his arms?"
All I can do is nod. I guess so? Chastity squeals happily and then goes to pick out her own personal Trixikka fainting couch. She chooses Aloryk who, in turn, seems utterly delighted to have her in his arms.
"I'm fine here on the ground," Bea says at my feet. I frown at that but understand and decide to sit down next to her. Rynn tenses watching me.
One-by-one, the girls put on their little translator dots, first under the tongue and then behind the ear. And, just like me, they seem to lose consciousness. They’re not for the count for too long though. Alana, being the first to brave the ordeal, comes around before the others. Mavyx puts her on her feet as she requests, but promptly scoops her up again when she's a little wobbly on her legs. "Icanwalk," she protests but he doesn't seem to listen, instead he turns to Rynn.
"High Spear, this one is in need of sustenance," he says, his expression hard and unyielding, his tail flicking by his ankles. "I will take her back to the village for meat and water."
Rynn waves a hand and nods his head and the next thing I know, Mavyx launches into the air, ripping a squeak of surprise from Alana as she scrambles to get a grip around Mavyx's shoulders.
We stand there, Rynn, a handful of his men, two unconscious girls, and I, watching as Mavyx flies swiftly around the giant mountain when one of Rynn's Protectors comes soaring to us from over the jungle. "High Spear! High Spear!" he pants having just landed, his huge wing still splayed wide.
"Have you found the others?" I ask, almost tripping forward as I stand up from sitting beside Bea.
The Trixikka Protector blinks at me, his skin lights twinkling at his temples as he glances swiftly between Rynn and I.
Rynn lifts his jaw. "Answer Zahreenah's question," he says in a tone that stirs something in me that really should be left un-stirred right about now.
"No, I am sorry," the Trixikka answers. "We have not found the others but we have spotted Tryk approaching the village."
Rynn lets out a long, slow breath. "Of all the times-" he pauses to take in Chastity still limp in Aloryk's arms and Bea laid out down on the ground. The word he bites out does not translate but I know a curse word when I hear one. "Hold her," he orders the newcomer, indicating to Bea. "Surround the females."
"Hold on a minute, she doesn't want to be held. We should respect her wish-"
"She will be more protected in the arms of a Trixikka," Rynn says. "I need to go into the forest to try and intercept the Shadow Wing coming to visit us."
Reaching out, I lay a hand on Rynn's forearm. His skin is warm, the muscles corded and tight beneath my fingers. Those little stars of his dance at my touch, zinging up his arm and over his shoulder as if I'd just set off a blazing firework. "Wait. What is a 'Shadow Wing?'" Considering the brief experience I've had with the other species on this planet, Rynn's concern is worrying.
