Well, shit, I think to myself.
I feel bad I'm essentially guaranteeing a woman takes on his traits, but I don't think I'm going to dissuade him now. Thivoll and I need to help Silver.
I feel torn, and shift my language to ask Thivoll for advice.
"He knows where one of the women is but now that he knows she's in a cage he won't leave her in it. He says he'll keep her safe. What do I do? She should get to choose."
"We don't know where she is. Even if we did, we can't protect all of them without help. Wouldn't you choose to be protected over being raped and enslaved?"
I huff. "This place sucks, Thivoll."
"I don't think that translated correctly. Just tell him to go protect her."
My throat hurts again, but then I'm back to singing. "We save other sister. We thank your help."
He pushes up to his feet with a pained low cry. "Walk is long. I go. I bring. I die to keep not broken."
I really dislike all the death talk.
If he pulls her out of that chamber I doubt she won't get attached. I've known him for less than half an hour and I want to give him the absolute biggest hug. That doesn't mean she'll be attracted, of course.
They can sort that out.
I feel bad to keep meddling, but I do it anyway.
"She will imprint. Like hatchling, but woman. Not fledgling, but changed by monsters. She need you if you open cage. Forever. Yours to protect. Be sure you know and choose."
My song was complex, but worth it.
He looks down, thinking. Then looks back up and the change in his bearing is immediate.
"I choose. I go. I bring back here."
He wastes no time after his announcement and simply moves his clawed feet in a shuffle across the clearing. His gait is awkward, with intermittent little hops, like he hasn't quite figured out how to keep moving along the ground in a steady rhythm.
His enormous hands are clenched, and he looks like a new person.
Someone with purpose.
I sigh. Conflicted. I don't know which woman he's headed for, but I hope she forgives me.
Maybe right after I forgive myself for using him.
35
Thivoll
The sound of her singing was beautiful, but I'm ready to converse with her again and relieved when I see the male leave the clearing.
He seemed harmless, but I doubt the genali would've brought him here if his species wasn't capable of violence.
I feel better with him away from her.
I walk away from the clearing as I ask her to update me. The novelty of the interaction and the beauty of the language was just what I needed to help shake off the last of my dread and anger from earlier.
"Did he agree to go look for your friend or did he simply leave?"
I barely contain a growl when I hear her take another gasping breath from the pain caused by the nanites.
