Paz’s jaw dropped. “And show up to the functionnaked?”
“Why not? It makes no difference to us,” I told him.
Paz had slightly darker skin than Levi, but his cheeks deepened in color all the same. I made a mental note of blushing as a universal human physiological function.
“Guess I’ll go find a leaf loincloth or something,” Paz mumbled.
* * *
I took Levi back to my den. After the eventful day, he was tired. I wanted him to recuperate before the feast.
“You should rest before eating,” I suggested.
Levi seemed distracted. He examined my den curiously, looking around the space. Thick, woody roots formed the shell of the dome while a hole at the top allowed light to flow in. Flowering vines crept in through the roots, brightening the den with pops of color.
“This is your den?” Levi asked. “Where’s all your, uh... stuff?”
“I do not comprehend.”
“Your items. Your possessions.”
I shook my head, trying to use his human gesture. “Maeleons do not have possessions. Nothing belongs solely to me.”
Except Levi. He was unmistakably mine.
Levi blinked, then laughed. “Maeleons wouldnotdo well on Earth...” Before I could inquire, he pointed to a thick branch extending horizontally across the dome. “What is this, an exercise bar?”
“That is my bed,” I explained.
“Huh?”
“I will show you.”
I leapt onto the sturdy branch and nestled my belly against it. Curling my hands, feet and tentacles around the wood, I assumed my usual resting pose.
Levi’s mouth was agape. “You sleep likethat?Like a chameleon? Is that even comfortable?”
“Yes, very.” I was amused at his shock. I leapt off the branch, joining his side. “How do you sleep, Levi?”
“Well, usually there’s some kind of bed.” He sighed. “You don’t have mattresses,so I guess it’s a bunch of soft materials gathered on the floor. Things like bird feathers, cotton, foam... That sort of thing.”
I didn’t understand half of what he said, but I knew I had to prepare a bed for him to recharge and rest.
“Please wait a moment,” I told him.
I left the den, went to the communal resource center, then returned with my arms and tentacles full of a material I hoped was sufficiently soft. When I placed the light pink pile on the floor, I searched Levi’s face for approval.
“Do you like this?” I asked.
Levi got on his knees, touching the pile. “Whoa. It’s so soft... What is this?”
“This is kofotta tree fibre,” I explained. “Artisans use it for weaving, costuming, and decoration.”
Levi smiled in an airy, gentle way. “It’s like cotton candy.” His smile widened into a grin. “It’s perfect, Zat’tor. Thanks.”
“Rest now,” I ordered. “You need your strength.”
Levi hesitated. “I usually, um... sleep naked.”
