Among Strangers

  The heat closed in around me as the lava crept closer.

  I gripped the pouch containing the tettara. I wasn’t letting them go to waste.

  I promised Quen-alla.

  I promised him.

  I promised them I would bring food.

  I wasn’t about to let them down.

  The red liquid almost touched the tip of my left foot; I took a step back, getting on top of a nearby rock to elevate myself.

  Across from me, I saw Aktoe. The rumbling echoed from that direction and I could only hope that my family was safe.

  I failed. I kept failing.

  As a soutaney*, as a provider… as a sorvat*.

  The heat grew intense, and my body began to protest. Beads of sweat formed, and they rolled down my yellow-tinted skin.

  My body had never endured heat like this before.

  Is this how Fa felt before he was…

  Was I going to end up like Fa?

  My hands trembled, gripping the pouch closer.

  I turned my head from side to side, and red filled my eyes.

  I failed…

  Whoosh.

  My eyes fluttered up as a humongous machine broke through the dark ashy sky, giving me a glimpse of what was above those clouds. More darkness — dotted with twinkling lights.

  Pretty.

  The tettara in my hands almost blew away when the ship inched closer. I wrapped both arms around the pouch, holding it tighter.

  The closer it got, the bigger it seemed.

  The spaceship hovered. Its long, armored body cut through the sky with cold precision, a massive circular ring locked around its midsection, humming with restrained power. Steel-blue and pale gray plating bore the scars of long use, thin gold seams catching the diffused light.

  The door opened, and fog filled the area. A plume of cold air rushed out, carrying a faint metallic scent and the hum of energy. I clutched the tettara closer, my knuckles white.

  A man wearing a fitted midnight-blue suit with silver seams held out his hand for me.

  Were these the people who came to help us?

  Should I…

  I hesitantly grabbed his hand, and he instantly pulled me into the ship. The door behind me closed. The ground fell away beneath me, and I floated, suspended in a strange, quiet panic.

  Thump. Thump.

  Who are these people exactly?

  “The winds on the planet are strong.”

  The man spoke, jolting me.

  He could speak. And I understood it.

  How did he know Txetia?

  “Yes, they are.”

  I mumbled.

  “I am Aureolo.”

  I nodded, looking around before he patted my shoulder to grab my attention. I turned to look at him.

  “And you?”

  “Oh, I am Tig-eralla.”

  “Tigeralla.”

  He repeated. I nodded once again.

  “And what is it that you are carrying?”

  My eyes drifted down to the tettara-skin pouch holding the tettara. My fingers unconsciously gripped it tighter.

  “Oh, you have claws?”

  He added. He seemed too eager about every tiny detail of me.

  “Yes…”

  “Oh, how cool! May I look at them?”

  “No…”

  “Oh…”

  He sounded disappointed. How was I supposed to deal with this?

  No, I wasn’t about to let him touch me, no matter what.

  How bothersome.

  We continued our walk through the hallways before reaching the command room where a man in a form-fitting black tactical suit with navy undertones and sharp gold lines welcomed me.

  A woman sat in the command chair beside him, dressed in a deep red, skin-tight suit that reminded me of Aourine’s hair. Maybe this woman’s suit was a bit darker.

  In the corner, I spotted two others, one in a vibrant, neon-lichen green suit, almost iridescent under the ship’s lighting and the other in a maroon suit with matte black trim, suggesting quiet efficiency; he didn’t draw attention, but his presence was unmistakable. All wore masks that covered their faces.

  “This is Tigeralla. A native of this land.”

  The irritating guy introduced.

  “Nice to meet you, Tigeralla,” said the man in the dark navy suit.

  I hesitated before speaking.

  “Are you here because of the signal?”

  “Yes. You are lucky. We were passing through the Heartsar Orbital when we received the signal, hence why we could rescue you.”

  Aourine’s plan worked. She really was amazing.

  “The people are there.”

  I took a few steps closer to the giant window and pointed at the nearby village of Aktoe.

  “Oh, you have claws.”

  The man in the dark navy suit said.

  Why was everyone noticing my claws? Were they that rare?

  I unconsciously tried to hide them behind the pouch.

  “Yes….”

  “Cool.”

  It was less persistent than the other guy who rescued me from Oktava, still, I wished they would stop noticing my claws.

  My eyes glanced down to the woman with her hands steady on the wheel, eyes sharp and calculating, scanning the sensors as the craft hummed beneath her.

  There was something behind her gaze.

  The ship moved forward. It was huge. How many could it hold? I bet it could hold double the amount of people on Ma-Oktava.

  Who were these people? I wanted to ask, but the questions stuck in my throat.

  “There are no apex predators on Valconalla, so why do you still have them? You should have evolved.”

  He added.

  I clutched the pouch closer. Why was everyone so fascinated by my claws? Couldn’t they focus on the danger on Ma-Oktava?

  “Please. Can I just touch it once?”

  The annoying man in the midnight blue asked.

  “No…”

  My voice came out more timbered, firm yet shaky.

  “Aureolo, leave her alone.”

  The woman in the hood said sternly.

  I looked at Aureolo, who looked defeated.

  How obnoxious.

  Reminds me of Quen-alla.

  The ship landed near the village, and I sighed in relief. I was home. I could reunite with my family and then get Ma-Oktava once and for all.

  “Everyone, prepare to head down.”

  The woman with the hood on said. She seemed to be the leader of the craft, judging by how everyone obeyed her.

  “Tigeralla, would you help us introduce ourselves?”

  I nodded at the man in the dark navy suit.

  Aktoe neared us. Tiny huts and narrow streets, people like ants moving in the plain below.

  They were here to help, so what harm is there in this?

  “Come along, everyone.”

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  The hooded woman said.

  She was definitely the leader of this ship.

  I followed behind them as we made to the back of the ship, the one where I entered from. Aourine would love me on this ship. And so will my siblings.

  As soon as my family got on the ship, I was content. They would not be harmed.

  I stepped down onto the warm ground and held back the urge to run off to my family. These people were slow.

  I spotted the people gathered in Aktoe, gazing upon the ship and the people beside me. They had not seen anyone who looked different from us. They looked as shocked as I did.

  My eyes widened when I spotted Fattaralla in the crowd. Ignoring everyone, I ran towards her at record speed, catching the foreigners off guard. I launched my arms around her, picking her up from the ground and lifting her.

  “Fattaralla!”

  “Eralla!”

  “Eralla!”

  My ears twitched when I heard that sweet voice from… Aourine. My head snapped towards her, seeing she was standing beside Fattaralla all this time.

  “Eralla!”

  Another voice came from the other side. When I looked over, I spotted Ma with her other children running towards me.

  Batharalla climbed all over me, Soralla hugged me tightly and Ma, she squeezed me.

  “Eralla, I told you to be careful. I don’t want to become the next provider.”

  Motalla said.

  “Eralla, why did you go to Rotana?”

  Ma yelled, but before I could defend myself, the people on the ship spoke up.

  “Hello, we are members of Guardians of the Unirex and we have received your signal for help.”

  The woman in the red hood said.

  “We are going to be saved, Eralla?”

  Fattaralla asked. Her voice was as quiet as falling ash. I held her tighter.

  “Yes.”

  Donttano, Ouubuutt, and Tohthorayn stepped through the crowd, pushing themselves through the crowd.

  “We are the elders of Ma-Oktava, and yes, we have called for your help.”

  Ouubuutt said.

  “Ma-Oktava is dying.”

  Donttano inclined his head.

  Luckily, Tohthorayn didn’t open his foul mouth for once.

  “We welcome you to Ma-Oktava.”

  Donttano said.

  I lowered Fattaralla in my arms as Aourine stepped out of the crowd.

  “I am the one who signalled you.”

  The red-hooded woman stepped forward, getting closer to Aourine. She held out her hand, which was odd.

  Her hands were covered with the same color as her clothes.

  “I am Agile Eye. I am part of Guardians of the Unirex. I am in charge of this mission.”

  Guardians of the Unirex.

  Aourine, who looked as confused as the rest of us, reached out with her hand and the woman named Agile shook her hand.

  Oh, that must be the way these people greet each other.

  Odd.

  “I am Aourine.”

  “It’s good to meet you. I would like to know more about the current status of the planet.”

  “Of course. Come along with me.”

  Aourine and the elders took those foreigners to the elder’s hall to discuss while the remainder of us just stood there.

  What were they going to talk about?

  “Eralla!”

  Ma’s words pulled me out of my thoughts. My eyes found hers. She carefully cradled my face, turning it from left to right to check for injuries.

  “You’re not hurt?”

  I gave a small shake of my head.

  “No, I am fine.”

  “Did you get the tettara?”

  Lylla asked. The snobby brat didn’t even ask about my near death experience. I wasn’t like this with Fa.

  “Lylla, you should ask Eralla how she is.”

  Her twin, Somala said.

  “Did you get it, Eralla?”

  Quen-alla said.

  I nodded, holding out the pouch containing the ripe tettara.

  “We need to share this with the Gisine and her young ones.”

  I said.

  “Of course. Motalla, go call Gisine and her children.”

  “Why me…?” she whined. Would she really behave like that if something happened to me?

  “Ma, can you cook them?”

  Quen-alla asked.

  Ma ran a hand through his dark hair.

  “I will get on them.”

  Ma walked off with the pouch containing the tettara. The rest of my siblings also went off, leaving me to stand there. The others were still gawking at the huge spaceship while someone was hesitantly approaching it.

  What were they doing? Should they be going this close to it?

  My attention was brought towards the elders’ hut where Aourine, the elders and those people of space have headed towards. Should I follow them there?

  No… it would look weird if I followed them.

  I looked towards the plain where my siblings were playing. Koralla, Soralla, and Tiballa were hanging around children their age while Osamalla was showing something he grew on the ground to Gibralla. Fattaralla had gone inside the hut with Ma to help prepare the tettara. Quen-alla and Batharalla were also inside.

  I looked around to find that mischievous Lylla and her innocent sidekick, Somala who gets dragged into things Lylla is responsible for. Most of the mischief Batharalla learns comes from Lylla.

  From the corner of my eye, I spotted Lylla and Somala trying to sneak into the ship.

  Oh no.

  In seconds, I sped over to the ship and came to a halt in front of them. Both of them stopped, looking up at me.

  “Where do you think you are going?”

  “Nowhere.”

  Lylla spoke up.

  “You are trying to get inside the ship.”

  I pointed.

  “No.”

  Lylla said with confidence.

  I looked towards Somala who had been quiet. Enough prodding got her to speak out against Lylla.

  “Yes…”

  She muttered.

  “We shouldn’t go near someone’s stuff. How could you forget when we’ve been taught this our entire lives, Lylla?”

  “I have never seen something that big. I want to go inside and check it out.”

  “No. Head back now or else no tettara for you.”

  Somala grabbed Lylla’s arm, shaking her.

  “Let’s head back. I am hungry.”

  “Alright.”

  They both turned around but not before Lylla gave me an annoyed look.

  I shook my head. I was providing for them, yet they still didn’t listen.

  How did Fa do it? They listened to him when he was with us. But after he became one with the ashes, they stopped listening — especially to me.

  How did Fa do it?

  Am I doing something wrong?

  ???