I jump when his jaw closes with a snap.
I really like the man-cat-alien and my body is all on board with all kinds of naughty ideas, but at times like these I'm reminded just how very alien we both must seem to each other.
He falls to all fours and crouches down. "Let's find water."
25
Ree
I don't think Thivoll has caught on to the fact that I can't just gulp entire meals down.
He is looking at me expectantly and I have no clue what to do with all the leaves I'm holding.
I wish I had a pocket.
"You dummy," I grumble under my breath. "Sorry, that was directed at me."
I look down at my black suit. It's still just as embarrassingly tight, but it does indeed now have a pocket. A giant one over my belly like I'm a kangaroo, but I don't want to push my luck trying to ask for a different arrangement.
I simply stuff the vegetation in there and clamber up. Thivoll takes off at a run and I have to hold on tight, my stomachprotesting that I gave it a small taste and then didn't keep feeding it.
Luckily we don't run for long and I fill it so full of water it doesn't have room to gurgle at me anymore.
I pull out leaves, chewing as Thivoll deftly grabs a half dozen aquatic creatures and throws them down his throat. Luckily one at a time so I don't gag.
His jaw doesn't have to open as wide, but I'm still not the least bit accustomed to it by the time he finishes.
I try not to think about how they must be squirming around still. I heave at a fleeting image, then shut off that line of thought and go back to chewing.
And chewing some more.
Salads are time consuming to eat, but this is even worse.
"So you are a ruminant species," he comments.
I swallow the latest round of bitter leaves, trying not to choke as I imagine myself as a sheep.
"Uh, no. We only chew and swallow once. But we do need to chewthoroughly."
"No additional set of teeth or grinders in your stomach?"
My jaw drops open and I'm instantly burning with curiosity. "No. How do they work? Is it mid-digestion or pre-digestion? Is it an additional jaw-like structure? Is it—"
He interrupts me with regret in his voice. "I wish we had time to discuss it, but we need to start stalking. It may take some time. I'll keep a slow pace while you ruminate . . . I mean chew."
I climb on his back, my legs tight around him and only one hand buried in his mane so I can keep eating. An image of an alpaca riding a lion pops into my head and I snort in amusement.
"Are you well?"
I get my ridiculous grin under control. "Oh, yes. Just entertaining myself with silly images."
He purrs in response.
Thivoll seems to appreciate my odd humor. We set off at a rolling pace. I keep steadily eating and then whisper to him I'm done so we can begin our run.
I'm sad I have to contain my whoop of joy as he begins his smooth gallop through the trees. Each dodge and jump causes a jolt of adrenaline. After letting myself enjoy the sensation for a few precious moments, our continually precarious situation weighs on my mind again.
I have so many questions with no answers and it seems like Thivoll has at least some of them.
