Chapter 11 Prax #2
“All that for what? A box we didn’t even need. Guess cats really do like water after all.”
“Human, I’m a Sadjim, not a cat. And quit your whining—I’m the one who did the diving, not you.”
“No kidding. There’s no way I’d go in there. I’m not insane. And besides—chat-pelle too cold!”
“What? What did you just say?”
“Nothing you’d understand,” he laughs. “Just saying it’s way too cold for me.”
“You’re just a frail little Human. Us Sadjims don’t fear a little cold water.”
“Cold water, my ass,” I hear him grumbling as we get back to his snowmobile.
I pull on my pants and the coat Neela made with such care. I act like I’m fine, but truth is, I’m freezing inside. Every single hair on my body is standing on end, and my skin feels like it's on fire.
Kiran stops in front of his machine, fists on his hips, looking thoughtful.
“All right, oh mighty Sadjim of countless generations, tell me how the hell you plan on fitting your damn box on my snowmobile. It’s made for one person—two max, like you saw earlier.
The tiny compartments in back are for groceries or small stuff.
That cube’s way too big. So, it’s either you or the box, not both! ”
“Relax, Human. Just strap the cleaner to your ride. I’ll run behind you—I’ve got fully functional legs! You guys barely use yours anyway, from what I’ve seen…”
“Damn furball! Fine, run if that’s your thing. By the time you get to my sister’s place, I’ll be warm and cozy with a cup of lemon balm tea, watching a movie.”
“First one back gets to pick what we watch this afternoon!”
“You’re on!” he grins. “If you think you can outrun a snowmobile, you’re out of your fluffy little mind!”
Have I mentioned? Since he started watching over me, Kiran and I have developed a sort of playful camaraderie.
We tease each other, debate everything, set up random challenges.
He found my dice among my stuff and brought some of his own, etched with Human numbers.
We’re teaching each other, swapping stories and cultures—and giving each other hell in the process.
I really like this kid: smart, funny, loyal.
“Just so you know—if you lose that box on the way back, you’re disqualified!”
“You think I don’t know how to drive with a little baggage? Let’s go!” he shouts, roaring off.
As for me, this run is just what I need to warm up again.
Instead of following the trail, I cut straight through the dense woods.
Unlike him, I don’t need to stick to a marked path.
I can go in a straight line—leaping over boulders, crashing through thick brush.
I’ve mapped the area well enough. My muscles stretch and wake as I push forward.
Kiran, on the other hand, will have to slow down for a few twists and turns on the trail, not to mention the extra weight.
This is doable. And like any Sadjim, I have a fierce competitive streak.
When I'm about a mile away from Neela’s house, I grin.
My sharp hearing tells me he’s still on the road.
I pick up speed and race through the front door.
Without even glancing at the options, I randomly select a movie and flop down on the couch.
Kiran is just now parking his ride. Feeling a little devious, I fast-forward the movie by a solid ten minutes.
When he finally steps through the door, the triumphant smile on his face evaporates.
“You’re here,” he says flatly.
“Of course. Hope you don’t mind—I already started the movie. But you’ve only missed the beginning.”
“Let me guess, you also had time for a nice hot shower while you were at it?”
“Nope, not yet. That run was more than enough to warm me up. Didn’t you mention something about a hot drink earlier?”
“Yeah, yeah. You’re right. I’ll take care of it. I’ll give you this round, Kitty-boy. I’ll fix us a snack. Is this what you picked?”
“Meh. It’s about Humans.”
Kiran joins me with a tray holding two steaming mugs and a little bowl of seeds. I let out a frustrated sigh.
“What? You said yesterday you liked pumpkin seeds! If you don’t enjoy this fine snack I’ve graciously prepared, it’s going to cat-astrophically hurt my feelings!” he says, really leaning on the “cat” pun like he’s gotten way too comfortable doing.
“To be precise, I said they weren’t bad. And stop with those awful puns. Don’t you have something a bit more... squirmy I can sink my teeth into?”
“Ugh! If that’s what you want, I already told you—you’re on your own! Eat your delicious roasted pumpkin seeds and quit whining.”
“You gonna make love to me now?” interrupts the heroine of the film playing on the screen.
“I don’t make love,” the Human male onscreen answers. “I fuck. Hard.”
I feel my ears burn beneath my fur. What the hell kind of movie is this?? A quick glance at Kiran confirms he caught the line. The mischievous glint in his eye says he’s definitely not letting this one go.
“So, the proud Sadjim likes chick flicks, huh? This one’s Fifty Shades of Grey, a classic from the old days.”
“Whatever. All your Human films seem the same to me,” I reply, shrugging.
“Still, out of a gigantic list of diverse movie options, you happened to pick this one. One that’s especially popular among young women. Looks like our little Kitty’s got some... particular tastes,” he chuckles, raising both hands and curling two fingers into air quotes. “How curious...”
“I didn’t pick it. It was random selection. Helps me get a better feel for Human customs. But what’s really interesting is that you recognized the title out of, I quote, ‘a gigantic list of diverse movie options.’ Which means not only have you seen it, but you remember it quite well.”
Boom. Looks like I just won that round too.
We keep watching a little while longer, though the conversation shifts to more serious things.
I’ve noticed Kiran keeps a lot from his sister—probably to protect her.
According to him, lying is deliberately distorting the truth.
What he does is just... withholding certain troubling realities from Neela and his partner, who he sees as too fragile to handle them.
Withholding isn’t the same as lying, apparently.
Still, there’s a balance to strike between honesty and protection.
Personally, I don’t think Neela is fragile. She’s strong, resourceful, and smart. She can handle the truth—even the doubts her brother has about some of the people in their community who’ve mysteriously moved away without a word. Kiran and a few friends found it odd, but didn’t dig deeper.
In light of what I revealed about Bully, a whole pile of alarming details have started surfacing.
“I haven’t met your wife, so I can’t say how she’d take it. But your sister is strong. She’s sharp, independent, and resilient. She can handle your doubts without falling apart.”
“I’ll think about it,” Kiran says, then turns back to the screen.
And just like that, both of us freeze. The man has tied up his partner and is spanking her before moving on to more tender acts.
“So, let me get this straight,” I say slowly, “you Humans feel the need to tie up your females just to make sure they don’t run off before you’re done? I’ll have you know, back on Sadjim, a male who tried that would quickly find himself de-balled by a well-placed claw swipe.”
“That’s not what’s happening!” Kiran protests, straightening up. “It’s just a game. They’re both into it. It’s... mutually agreed upon. If I’m hearing you right, sounds like things are a little... dull in the Sadjim bedroom?”
“Define ‘dull,’” I say, narrowing my eyes, pretty sure that’s not a compliment.
“It means boring. The same old, same old. Humans like to... spice things up.”
“I’m not going to have a deep discussion with you about Sadjim sex lives. But I’ll make a mental note that Human females enjoy being a little roughed up.”
“I FORBID it!” he shouts, instantly bristling. “Don’t you dare try any of that with my sister! I swear, I’ll cat-saw you into pieces and cat-strate you!”
“You forbid it?” I purr sweetly, ignoring his absurd puns that keep scrambling my translator. “Shouldn’t she be the one to decide if she wants to have a little fun with a proud, virile Sadjim?”
Have I mentioned this before? I love playing with this Human. He’s quick to react, easy to rile up. Though... in this case, I’m not exactly bluffing.
Should I tell him how Neela’s hungry stares are making my pants feel a little too tight lately? Or how, even if she turned me down a few days ago, I’m not convinced she’d say no next time?
Because let’s be clear—there will be a next time.
This Human woman moves me. Her integrity, her loyalty, her intellect, her fierce devotion to her community... Sure, she’s na?ve in some ways, but not in a bad way. She simply pours her energy into her beliefs instead of doubting everything.
Her bright innocence makes me want to shield her and care for her. Her strength tells me she doesn’t need me at all. But I want to be part of her life—whether for a while or for good.
No matter what warnings or threats Kiran throws my way.
“You can shove that prohibition where the suns never shine,” I say calmly.
Two seconds later, Kiran launches himself at me, diving into a wrestling match he has absolutely no chance of winning.