Chapter 32 #3
There were plenty of paths, almost all of them off of the ground.
Here and there were platforms strung up between trees – some of looked to be used for agriculture, though she didn't recognize the plants, and others for residences.
However, there were only a few ramps that would wind up around a tree trunk.
Most people appeared to just climb from one level to another.
Like cats, using their claws to pull their bodies along.
The stairs appeared to be just for those that were either too old or too young to climb properly.
Of which Temnavi fell into the latter category.
She only knew that because he had previously told her about it when he talked about the day his claws would come in.
Apparently, they only gained the ability to extend their claws when their hormones began changing – i.e.
, puberty. Until then, they clung to a parent like a spider monkey and their claws were weak and pliable.
The trees of the forest were so large that most had multiple family homes or businesses built around them at any given level.
The higher on the tree, the more expensive the domicile, and the more likely it was to take up several levels.
They were made of a combination of stone and wood.
The palace, being fully made of stone and built on the forest floor itself, was an exception to the general rule, as most buildings and paths were more delicate and airy in appearance.
It was the kind of treehouse city she would have salivated over as a kid with an alien, high fantasy kick that made her want to decry her eyes as liars.
“Look, Peony!” Temnavi shouted, pointing at the glass. “There's the market!”
He didn't really need to gesture to it. She could already tell that it was different.
Unlike the houses and individual shops, the market looked more like an open air bazaar.
There were some solid structures on the trees at the edge, but almost everything else was part of a stall or set up on beautifully woven rugs.
All of it was built on a massive platform that dangled above the ground, casting the area beneath it completely in darkness.
Dark and damp enough for what appeared to be a thriving, glowing mushroom farm underneath.
And it was massive. Crossing eight trees in one direction, and another nine in the other.
A large tree interrupted it in the center, piercing through like it had grown through a doughnut hole, allowing for a few more covered structures to be built right in the center of the market.
And the people!
Here was the abundance of color she had missed flying over the paths used by the everyday people.
Not just from the goods being sold that some of the domini kept matching to as they stood in front of them, but from the domini themselves.
Lamps in different, vibrant colors set up along the paths would cycle slowly through colors and it kept causing the people to similarly change and it was beautiful to see.
“How precious,” Quvi purred, catching Peony's attention. “I imagine even the market must be an incredible sight to such a primitive species.”
“Ah. Sorry,” Peony smiled back at her. “I forgot you were there for a moment.”
“Yes, you seem very distractable,” Quvi smiled right back.
“Can you blame me? A lot more interesting than anything in the hover.”
Quvi's eyes flashed, and Peony could see her scrambling for a comeback. She ignored her and listened as Temnavi pointed out all his favorite spots for her.
There was a tree nearby that was encircled solely by landing pads for the hovers. It wasn't as full as Peony would have expected. Apparently, the domini believed in walking a lot more than humans did because there were a lot of people in the market but relatively few hovers.
The driver remained with the vehicles and told them, mostly for Peony's benefit, that they could have any purchases sent back to the vehicle and he would stow them away so they didn't have to carry anything while they shopped.
Which prompted Temnavi to promise Peony that he was super strong, and he could definitely carry her purchases for her.
He was so adorable, she wanted to pinch his cheeks. Was that a thing here? If he didn't stop being so cute, she was going to make it a thing here.
For now though, she followed Quvi down the ramp that wrapped around the tree.
She had no choice but to take the subtle insult about her fragile, dull claws being useless for climbing, but she got her own back when, after walking into the market, the people immediately and excitedly recognized her.
She was an instant celebrity and that went over like rotten fish with Quvi.
Which, naturally, meant that Peony sucked the attention up.
She had learned, both from the party and through Holly's efforts, how to hold her own in a crowd.
When people asked for her story, she politely deferred.
When they admired her strength and cunning, she thanked them and made sure to mention how amazing their Dominani had been during their capture.
How strong and capable he was. And, of course, how beautiful Turv was and how wonderful the domini were being.
That last one, admittedly, she knew already from socializing on Earth. Humans loved being praised for things like that and, as she hoped, the aliens ate the praise up just as greedily.
Quvi had brought her down for shopping, but Peony swiftly took the lead in the trip.
And it wasn't like Quvi could abandon her, not without potentially angering Atem, so she had no choice but to trail behind as Peony let her curiosity and excitement lead her wherever she wanted.
Or wherever Temnavi wanted. It was equally split between the two.
They stopped at a clothing store that sold patterns that didn't seem very popular.
Patterns were apparently difficult to camouflage against. Someone was still offering them, even if they were simple things like broad stripes, polka dots, and checker patterns.
She bought as much as she could without feeling guilty.
The shop owner, an older male, was so excited that she begged him to come around to the palace soon so he could offer his patterns to the other humans.
Humans, she assured him, loved patterns. And he definitely loved the business and promised he would bring his finest selection.
Then Peony screwed with Quvi by holding a red and darker red polka dot pattern up behind her arm and then said it was such a shame that her skin could only barely mimic the dots.
There was shading to the color, her skin trying to match the immediate color shift of the pattern, but she couldn't manage to actually form the simple shapes. Tragic.
Point: Peony.
Quvi got her back later when they found a weapon seller.
Peony was thinking about buying a dagger for self-defense and Quvi showed off her own knife skills.
Apparently, being a guardian meant she was also trained in combat.
Quvi begged Peony to show her some of her own talents and Peony was forced to admit that she had none.
Point: Quvi.
After not buying a dagger – and making a note to ask Atem if he could teach her some self-defense alongside Temnavi – they continued through the market.
She refused to buy jewelry, thinking those were far too opulent for her to spend Atem's money on unnecessarily, despite Temnavi assuring her it was fine.
Quvi tried to make a stink about Peony considering Atem either cheap or destitute, but she countered with something about humility and appreciating the value of currency that earned the shopkeeper's unspoken approval.
Point: Peony.
She hadn't been keeping track the entire day, but she was pretty sure she was up.
Hard to pay attention to the game though when she was walking through an alien bazaar.
It was a strange combination of weirdly familiar and totally unusual.
The upbeat energy was the same as sellers hocked their prices and extolled their wares.
But those wares were technology she didn't recognize, food she couldn't identify, and objects she couldn't even categorize.
The shoppers were the same – mothers holding their children on their back, couples holding hands, friends excitedly talking about purchases.
But those babies all had three eyes and the couples were also wrapping their tails together and those friends were also equally likely to break into fights.
That was another difference. Fights just kept breaking out. And not a single one was angry.
Disputes were settled with a quick brawl. Couples sparred for laughs. Friends showed off new techniques to each other. She even saw a haggling attempt end with a quick, bloodless wrestling session to settle on the price and both parties walked away without a grudge.
It was a bit of a shock the first time it happened.
She freaked out a little. Quvi got to make fun of her for it.
Temnavi assured her it was normal. And the two males – who had been showing off for their females – ended the bout by buying each other fruit juice served in its own, green skin like it was a coconut margarita.
They saw that Peony had been watching them, got excited that an alien Vora Vakara had been witness to their prowess and bought her a drink as well.
It was weirdly sour, tasted like gummy worms, and she wasn't nearly so freaked out by the next fight when it broke out while she was still sipping on it.
It wasn't until she finished the drink that she realized it was alcoholic. Or something similar.
Not because it tasted like alcohol, it didn't have even a hint of the familiar burn, but when she was nibbling at the skin – that was fully edible despite being stiff – she began to get dizzy. She lost focus in her eyes, nearly tripped over her feet, then had trouble keeping her balance again.