“Kur’tok is not here. This is a perfect opportunity.”
“I...”
The words dried up in my mouth. For the first time since being captured, I had a chance to run. But I told Kur’tok I wouldn’t. Ipromisedhim. And I didn’t break promises.
Besides, that stupid sexy alien got me all worried about him.
“I’m not going anywhere,” I told the Maeleons. “I have to make sure Kur’tok is okay.”
Haz’rull looked at me like I’d said the ground was made of cheese. Then their feelers lay flat against their back and pulsed with rings of pale gray-blue.
“We said the same thing many moons ago,” Haz’rull muttered. “And now, nothing has changed. He is the same rude, selfish, arrogant individual. Do you think you can change him?”
Arr’tow glanced at their friend in shock. “Haz’rull!”
I interjected. “No, it’s okay. Haz’rull’s right. Kur’tokisrude, selfish, and arrogant. He can be a straight-up asshole.”
The Maeleons seemed puzzled at the termassholeused as an insult, but went along with it.
“But that’s not all he is,” I went on. “Underneath all that, I know he’s a nice guy. And if what you two said is true, then he wasn’t always like this. Something must’ve changed him.”
Hesitation fell over the Maeleons. They paused like they wanted to speak, but something held them back. That was fine. I wanted to hear it straight from Kur’tok, if he’d drop the act and finally open up to me.
“You don’t have to tell me,” I said. “Anyway, is it normal for him to be gone this long?”
“No,” Arr’tow admitted. “He is a fast hunter.”
The hint of a grin touched Haz’rull’s snout. “He came back withyoufairly quickly.”
I blushed as I remembered being caught in his snare. What a way to meet somebody.
But if Kur’tok’s long absence was abnormal, that heightened my concern. What if something happened to him? My heart knotted painfully at the idea.
“I’ll go look for him,” I announced.
That startled both Maeleons.
“You can’t go by yourself. It is too dangerous,” Arr’tow said.
Not this again.
I crossed my arms. “Listen, just because I’m a naked human doesn’t mean I’m totally unprepared for a little hike in the Eukaria wilds.”
“You were caught by a hunter,” Haz’rull pointed out bluntly.
“And I survived just fine, thank you very much,” I said, puffing out my bare chest. Man, I definitely needed to put my clothes back on before searching for Kur’tok.
Arr’tow tilted their head, looking unsure. “It is not our place to give you orders. You may do as you wish. But if you want an escort, we would be glad to help.”
I nodded. “One of you should stay here in case Kur’tok comes back and wonders where we went.”
“I will go,” Haz’rull announced.
Arr’tow accepted that with a gentle flick of their tail. “And I will stay. Good luck.”
I glanced at Haz’rull. I sensed they had a hidden beef with Kur’tok. Not that I blamed them after witnessing Kur’tok’s rudeness.
I smiled, both to be polite and to dispel my own nagging concern about Kur’tok. “Thanks for coming with me.”
