"Stop being such a fucking asshole, Drasuk. What? What? Yes!"
I open my mouth to point out that no one is bleeding so I was being anything but rude, but she just keeps talking.
"What the hell? Prick. Dick. Shut up. Screw you. Yes! Everything translates perfectly in Manticorid. ThankZeusand his fucking sister-wifeHera. Thank you!"
She starts gyrating around, lets out anoorahwhile punching a stick arm up in the air, then suddenly stills and puts a deadly serious expression on her face.
"Fuck it, we are definitely choosing this as our language. It's decided."
I huff out a breath, not even bothering to ask about a species who mate bonds with their sisters.
I don't want to know.
"All because you are obsessed with fornication? Typical Kira reasoning."
"Every fucking thing fucking translates. Oh. My. Deity." She ceases flailing for a moment. "Ok, fine. Not that one, but I kinda like it."
Then she's back to flailing. "Fuuuuuuck yes!Oorah!"
I can't help it. My spines are shifting to betray my amusement.
I never really believed I would ever make use of the Manticorid I learned in my youth. I figured they would just die out as they clung to their ridiculous beliefs. That it would be a wasted skill I'd never have to worry too much about because I would be dead right along with them.
And as much as it irks me to abandon my native language for the tongue of such a short-sighted species, I have to admit I love seeing her happy like this.
Or at least I assume her gyrations mean happiness.
It becomes less and less obvious what the goal of all this is the longer she throws her limbs around. Now she has her head down, her hands on her knees, and is shaking her rear up and down. Ree is letting out trills and hopping around next to her, her long hair whipping around in her fervor.
There is no clear pattern to any of it.
I feel my spikes shifting as a reflection of my discomfort. When I look over at Thivoll, his whiskers are nearly flat against his chest, so he won't be any help unraveling the mystery of this strange ritual.
We exchange a look and I know he's thinking the same thing.
Humans are completely insane.
Thivoll's rough voice breaks in. "Is this the one you said grew up with a knife in her hand, Ree? I'm confused."
"Hush,Superkitty," Ree tells him in a breathless voice. "Just dance with us already."
He lets out a chuff at the same time a surprised rumble escapes my lips. They call this dancing?
I look over at the Thivoll and he shows me his teeth. After a startled blink, I realize he is mimicking the humans. It's terrifying.
And not because of his teeth, but because I am now surrounded by utter insanity. Then he proves it by bounding toward them. Next, he's twisting around in the air, kicking up his feet like a hatchling, batting his hands out to catch Ree's twirling hair.
I might have miscalculated, I realize.
That does look like fun.
Before I let myself think about it too much, I'm tipping forward and pouncing. The sound of Kira's laughter as I make the ground shake with my antics soothes something in me I didn't even know needed it.
47
Kira
Ree and I are laying in a heap, still giggling between pants. Our two scary beasts really put on a show, but you'd never guess it now. They are both doing their best to look like they don't remember hopping around the clearing like playful puppies. Both of them crouched in their respective protective poses like nothing just happened.
