"It's a hologram, I think."
I smile, watching him tentatively reach out, his fingertips moving straight through Mama Z'rykby's shoulder. He then pulls away sharply, his Trixikka males murmuring behind us. "It is hideous," he says, his skin-stars twinkling all over him, his body still deciding if it should be in flight or fight mode, no doubt.
I can't help but laugh at his comment though. He's not wrong. Mama Z'rykby looks just like a larger version of Z'irri. Huge bulbous buggy eyes and moving mandibles.
"Make sure to only purchase the females I indicated on the catalog," Mama Z'rykby orders her husband - her husband who is now worm food. "We just sold four and the agency needs fresh stock but we have to think of our ethical branding. When does the auction start?"
I've had enough. With a tap on the screen, the image of Mama Z'rykby minimizes down, getting sucked back into a small black marble-looking thing, set just above the screen. The Trixikka and I are silent for a while and all I can hear echoing inside my skull are the words 'ethical branding'. It still makes me sick to think this alien thinks anything she’s doing is even remotely ethical.
Chapter 16
RYNN
My Zahreenah is quiet for the majority of our time inside the strange carcass. She explains to us that through some unknown magic, the creature we had seen and heard was actually like that of the cave drawings, except the carcass is able to bring the drawing to life. I do not like it one bit. Everything I learn about this thing - this place - only makes me mistrust it even more. Even if it did bring my Zahreenah to me. My mate's mood only seems to be lifted when we unearth a small amount of food from her homelands. Something called choc-o-lyt. She clutches in her delicate little hands and beams at me before inhaling the scent of this choc-o-lyt and promising that all the females back at the tribe will be happy at our find. I am pleased to hear this. Keeping our females happy comes second only to their safety.
Carrying my mate as we fly is no task at all. In fact, it is a pleasure I have never known. The way she grips me so tightly, her face pressed into my neck calls to me in some ancient way. As a Trixikka, I'd always felt the natural duty to protect, to keep our tribe and Temple from harm, but with this precious female actually in my arms? I'd pluck my plumage bald before I let any harm come to my Zahreenah.
So, when some of Zarriko’s males approach our party, meeting us in flight, I squeeze her tighter as they eye my mate. "I, High Spear Rynn, travel here this day to speak with High Spear Zarriko," I tell them, my wings beating behind me to keep Zahreenah and I hovering high above the jungle below. The males exchange a look and then continue to keep their gaze fixed on my mate in my arms as they nod before turning, leading the way back to their village. It is good that they do not oppose this meeting. If a band of mimyckah scum have stolen females, we will need all the aid Zarriko's tribe has to offer.
We land in a clearing just outside Zarriko's village. His home is situated at the base of a mountain, just as it is with mine, for this is where the Goddesses chose to place a Temple. I estimate that Zarriko's village is a little smaller than mine, with fewer males. The territorial heart that beats in my chest acknowledges that this is good. Fewer males mean less need for the females new to our land. Perhaps it is selfish, but I wish for my own males to experience what I have with my Zahreenah.
Some of Zarriko's elders and care-givers on the fringes of the village spot us as we land. They rise from where they had been peacefully sitting and quickly usher their sons away into the safety of their huts. News of our arrival quickly echoes through the village and it is not long before we are surrounded by Zarriko's Protectors and watched warily by a clutch of on-lookers.
"Why have you traveled here, High Spear Rynn?" Zarriko asks when he comes to face us in the clearing. He is older than me in years but no less fierce. He flares his wings wide, a warning to me and mine. "It has long been the way of our people to keep our tribes separate."
"Can you let me down?" my Zahreenah whispers. "Rynn?" I hold her tighter to my chest.
"The Goddesses have blessed our people," I call out to the High Spear, my voice booming in the clearing, all too aware of the eyes upon us - upon my mate. "But I think you know that. I think you know that there are females on our lands again and I hope... I hope you will help us by-"
"Tessa!" Zahreenah squeals loudly in my arms, desperately wriggling and writhing until I let her down. My heart leaps and my instincts urge me to pounce on her and not let her leave my side. But, across the clearing, from behind some of Zarriko's Protectors, I see another female - a female shoving the Trixikka males out of her way so she can run toward us. Her hair is a dull color and her frame is a touch shorter than my Zahreenah’s. The Protectors of this tribe are just as tense as I and my brothers as we watch the two females hurl themselves at one another, reaching for an embrace while simultaneously babbling words so fast, I cannot follow the nonsense conversation. It takes me a moment or so to realize that Zarriko's female is not speaking in my tongue at all. Not like our females can. They must not have asked their Temple for the magical trans-late-tors.
It is not long after Zahreenah is reunited with this other female, that two more shove their way into the clearing and run toward my mate for their own embraces with her. They all chirp happily but then one begins to weep and a few of Zarriko's Protectors look uneasy, shifting on their feet and gripping their spears.
"Why does your female upset ours, Rynn?" Zarriko's voice echoes across the clearing. One of his Protectors takes a step forward beside him. He is a huge male with scars of battle with many mimyckah all across his chest and shoulders. I know little of Zarriko's tribe, but I have heard tales of this one. His name is Jaryk and he is fierce in his protection of his temple and downright deadly as a hunter, but unable to utter a single word. Somehow, his silence makes for a more menacing presence and whenever my tribe have come across him in the skies or jungle alike, we keep our distance. I've heard tales that the Goddesses took his tongue for speaking ill of them or that he only cares for killing mimyckah so never bothered himself with learning to speak.
He seems very concerned with the females now though.
Before I even deign to give a response to Zarriko's accusation over the weeping females, my mate shouts back. "Those are happy tears!" she says, wiping at her friend's cheek as they all wear matching bright, beaming smiles. Zarriko's people all react with surprise at her use of the Trixikka language. "Right, Gwen?" Zahreenah asks, hugging her friend tighter, oblivious that she has just shocked all these fully grown, fighting males.
The small female, the one my mate refers to as 'Gwen' turns and addresses Jaryk. "Itsfine," she tells him in her nonsense words, "Imfine... Imhappy." She smiles and nods - her expression at odds with the tears still rolling down her soft-looking cheeks. Jaryk grunts but does not return to Zarriko's side. In fact, when he notes that I begin moving forward toward the group of females, he mirrors my steps, reaching them before I do. "Itsalright," the one called Gwen says, a little laughter in her voice as she turns to pat Jaryk on the arm, sending his skin-stars reeling up his straining bicep.
Zahreenah's eyes go from Gwen to Jaryk before she sticks out her hand. "Hello, I'm Zahreenah," she tells him. "Nice to meet you." I know my mate expects the Trixikka male to respond to her strange gesture, but I am not sure how he is meant to do so. When Jaryk only stares at her outstretched hand, her friend, Gwen huddles closer to him, squeezing his arm and saying something I do not understand.
"How is it that your female speaks our tongue?" Zarriko asks as he approaches. "We have yet to understand a single word and here she stands-"
"Here she stands, able to understand everything you're saying,Mr," my Zahreenah says, placing her hands on her lovely rounded hips. "So if you have a questionabout me, I kindly ask that you direct itto me, and not Rynn, thank you very much." I cannot help but grin at such a little creature acting so fiercely toward a Trixikka male, and a High Spear no less. Something swells within my chest and I know without checking that my heart-stars are pulsing and dancing on my skin.
Zarriko narrows his eyes. It's a small gesture, but one directed at my mate and I do not take it lightly. I can feel my tail begin to flick behind me and I hold my wings away from my body a little. If he so much as disrespects my Zahreenah, I'll -
"Very well, little female," he says, eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiles. "You are very welcome to my tribe and village."
My hand finds Zahreenah's shoulder. "My mate and I thank you, High Spear Zarriko," I tell him, my tone deliberate. I do not miss the way his eyes slide down to my chest where no doubt, my heart-stars shine for all to see.
"So itispossible," Zarriko muses aloud, all his tribesmen now marveling at the evidence of the bond I share with my female.
Chapter 17
SERENA
