“I’m all right,” Haz’rull said, giving Paz a grateful nod. “The krokutta ignored me because you were an easier target.”
Paz grinned and held out his branch. “Aha! Except I wasn’t, thanks to my handy-dandy walking stick.”
How could he be so easily amused moments after nearly dying? I sighed, wondering how the flesh-bag had stayed alive this long.
“Wait, is that a fruit tree?” Paz asked, pointing to a tree a few tail-lengths away. “Lemme grab a snack for the way home.”
Home...?
My heart twinged. He’d said that unprompted. Did he really mean it?
As I supervised Paz from where I stood, Haz’rull sidled next to me. Their expression was guarded but hopeful. Neither of us spoke for a few long seconds. Out of nowhere, shame settled beneath my skin like silt. Haz’rull had brought Paz to me. They both could’ve stayed at my domain and been safe. They could haveleftand escaped to freedom. Instead, they followed me into the dangerous wilds just to make sure I was safe.
I suppressed the hesitation in my throat, then muttered, “Thanks.”
Haz’rull’s feelers blinked with yellow surprise. “I’m sorry?”
“You didn’t need to come,” I said under my breath. “I appreciate... that you watched over Paz.”
Haz’rull stared at me in amazement. “You’re welcome, Kur’tok.”
A drop of cool relief dispersed the hot guilt simmering in my chest. I couldn’t recall the last time the two of us spoke without animosity. It felt good.
As we watched Paz stand on the tips of his toes to reach the lowest fruit, silence hung in the air. Then Haz’rull asked, “What do you think about him?”
“Paz?” I snorted. “I think he’s too short to reach that fruit.”
Haz’rull let out a slight huff of mirth, but their tone was pointed. “What do youreallythink?”
I shut up. I understood Haz’rull’s true question. Fear constricted my throat. They couldn’t possibly understand how I felt about Paz. Would they ridicule me? If I was in their position, I would have.
My conflicted silence went on long enough that Haz’rull spoke again. “I’ll ask a different way. Do you believe Paz is your filum?”
A frustrated growl rumbled in my throat. “He can’t be.”
Haz’rull’s tail drifted back and forth thoughtfully. “You are not somebody who lives bycan’t.If you want something, you take it.”
Their tone was edged with barbs, but the meaning was clear. Here was something—somebody—I wanted more than anything, and now I hesitated to truly make him mine. I bluffed and commanded, but in the end, Paz made the choice to stay or leave.
To be with me, or to abandon me.
“For what it’s worth,” Haz’rull said, “that human is wild about you.”
My heart skipped a beat. Before I could interrogate them further, they strode up to Paz and helped him grab fruit from the tree.
Could Haz’rull be right?
I’d lived as an outcast, doing un-Maeleon-like things. But this, I knew instinctively how to do.
I took a breath to steady my anxious heartbeat, then focused hard on Paz. My nictitating membrane curved across my eyes.
A soft, golden glow engulfed him, shining as bright as the sun, and tiny sparkling particles danced around him like stars.
Against my every fear, there was the proof.
Pazwasmy filum.
13 /Paz
