“Correct. It should be an easy journey for us.” Fybl released his hold on Xizi and studied him. “We can travel at a slow pace and still be able to make it on time.”
“You trust this Verya?”
“More than the humans,” he breathed. “He said the Yaarkins were coming, and they are our only way off of this planet.” He turned and pointed to the distance. “Las Vegas is straight that way. I don’t know about you, but I would rather take my chances with the Verya than them. Earth is doomed to fall.”
“You think we can do this?” Xizi asked, following Fybl’s gaze.
“Who knows?” Fybl shrugged. “Just need to blend in until it’s time.”
“We don’t have much time.”
Something told him to keep going once they reached the city’s border.
“What is it?” Fybl hissed as they stood beneath some trees next to a pair of ponds. Even though he was still cloaked, Xizi could make out the faint outline of the familiar sapphire aura that radiated from him. “What do you see?”
“I sense a pull.” In frustration, Xizi whipped his tail. “Something I’ve never felt before, urging me to keep going.”
“What do you mean a pull?”
Xizi scratched his scales and touched the center of his chest, between his hearts, as he considered how to explain it to his clutchmate. “The end of my tail—mynolu—my strands throb, as if they want to blossom and become more. My scales are alive, with an itchy sensation along their edges, as if I were about to shed my first skin. None of this makes sense.”
“Yourenaxis close,” Fybl muttered. “Ourcloutcexplained what would happen if we ever found the one the Stars and Fates decided was ours... However, it does not make sense. Why is yourenaxon Earth? Why didn’t they come and rescue you—rescue us—if they’d been here all along?”
“There weren’t any other Rkekh at the base besides us three, right?” He looked at his brother, hoping for an explanation of what was going on. “I would have felt them if they were there. Could they be a part of the Verya rescue team?”
“No, sadly, there were only three of us left.” Fybl grabbed his shoulder and squeezed it. “Either they came with the Verya or yourenaxis human.”
“A human?” Xizi hissed. “I understand it’s possible, but why a human? Why now?”
“What are your plans?” Fybl let go of him and knelt down to observe the wildlife in the pond. “Will you leave knowing that yourenaxmay not be joining us?”
“Do I have enough time to investigate?” Xizi covered his eyes and peered off into the distance toward the cityscape, where his senses called him to go. “The sun hasn’t set yet, and if they’re human, this may be my only chance to meet them.”
A group of four golfers in matching green outfits with bobble eye headbands laughed as they rode by in a golf cart.
They paused their conversation and stood motionless as they watched the golfers take turns starting the hole.
Fybl turned to him as soon as the group rode away. “You should have plenty of time. Just make sure you are outside when the fireworks start.”
“What about Rylyx? Should we be worried about him?”
“You know him.” Fybl sighed, stood up, and glanced over his shoulder. “He feels responsible for our missing clutchmates.”
“It wasn’t his fault.”
“No, it isn’t, but he insisted on searching the base for any signs of what happened to them. He promised to be cautious and to meet us on the ship.”
“What will you do if I leave?” When it came to the Verya rescuing them, Xizi knew it would be easier if they stayed together, but he couldn’t leave Earth without seeing hisenaxat least once.
“Stay here, hidden.” He raised his hands, as if imitating how humans shrugged and twisted around, peering at their surroundings. “It’s the least I can do to avoid being caught, and to make it easier to find me in such a wide open space.”
“Knowing that you’ll be here while I look for my enax will put my mind at ease.” He pressed his palm against Fybl’s chest, his gaze fixed on his remaining sapphire tainted clutchmate. “I promise to stay safe and hidden, which should be easy on a day like today.”
Fybl chuckled softly, sounding like stones rolling down a rocky hill. “Happy Alien Appreciation Day!”
Three
Ashley
