Chapter 11
Scarlet
“We should split up,” Alanna said, looking at the other humans. “Make the rounds. Stay with your domini, of course, but let the others see that we’re not afraid to be among them. Show that we’re not codependent on each other.”
“I don’t know how much longer I have left in me,” Peony admitted, giving Atem a concerned look.
“We can leave whenever you desire, vi Seerin,” he promised, holding her hand tightly. “They all see you are whelping. No one will begrudge you.”
“Don’t force yourself to stay either,” Scarlet added, gesturing at her with her glass. “We are keeping your pregnancy as close to zero stress as possible, remember? If you want to go now, go now. Alanna and I can cover for you.”
Peony smiled at them gratefully before asking Atem to take her back to her nest. Something he was only too happy to do. He promised to return on his own – unfortunately, he could not stay with her as his duty as First Domini meant he was needed here – before their group split up.
Havali and Scarlet wandered around the edge of the crowd as he pointed to various people he thought she should know.
“There,” he said, indicating towards an alien male who was speaking with Fellaseen but casting glances Scarlet’s way every now and again. “That is Char Tsok 365-8896-8966547.”
“All that is his name?” Scarlet frowned, looking him over, hoping she didn’t have to remember the entire thing.
Havali chuckled. “No. Char is his title. Tsok is his name. The number is his formal designation. His people number themselves for ease of identification.”
“Oh. Like a social security number.”
“Hm?”
“Nothing. What about him?”
Like Fellaseen, he was a furry kind of alien, but that was where the similarities ended. Where Fellaseen was slender and nubile, elegant and lupine like a greyhound, Tsok was more like a saber-toothed cat mixed with bigfoot.
Big, broad, buff, and fluffy. His fur was mostly black but for white that tipped the triangular ears at the top of his head and stained his digits that looked like a cross between limbs and paws.
Long fangs poked out of either side of his mouth, down to his chin, and his eyes glowed yellow.
Literally glowed, it wasn’t a trick of the light.
He wore a long, formal robe of black satin with golden trim and golden feathers decorating the long sleeves.
A gold chain connected from a ring in his ear to what kind of looked like a swimming nose plug that covered his nostrils.
“His people are very proud,” Havali said, inclining his head to him when they locked eyes.
“They like to think themselves separate from their primal instincts. But they’re wrong.
Whatever you do, if you happen to see it, don’t mention his tail.
It’s considered highly insulting to point out when someone’s tail is showing among his culture. ”
Scarlet had to work not to frown in confusion because Tsok was coming their way, Fellaseen walking with him, and she didn’t want him to think she was frowning because of him.
“What kind of sense does that make?”
Havali grunted. “All species have their idea of what body parts are and are not proper to show in polite company.”
Scarlet thought of her breasts, and how some species here did not even attempt to cover them, and she had to concede the point. It still seemed odd to hide a tail, but she was used to the domini who always had their tail free. They needed them to balance while climbing and so never hid them.
“Scarlet,” Fellaseen beamed at her as the two joined them. “We hope you don’t mind, but we thought we could introduce you to Char Tsok. He is the representative of the kreecharma species. His species is actually the most recent to join the Coalition. He was very eager to speak with you.”
Tsok didn’t look eager for anything. Maybe Scarlet was just having trouble reading a face that partially pushed out into a muzzle even longer and broader than Fellaseen’s, but he seemed to be looking down on her.
A suspicion that was practically confirmed when Havali’s grip tightened protectively around her waist.
“A pleasure to see you again, Char Tsok,” he greeted, completely cordial.
“First Guardian,” Tsok inclined his head but didn’t take his eyes from Scarlet. “So. This is the new species that seeks to join the Coalition. She is even smaller than they appeared on the holos.”
Scarlet smiled, biting back a sarcastic comment as, instead, she merely remarked sweetly, “Maybe you are simply larger.”
“That goes without saying.” He held his head up proudly, chain dangling against his face. “I certainly see why they call your species so sexual. I’m glad I cannot detect your scent. You look like you might actually be able to trigger my mating impulses.”
Havali’s growl was startling both in its sudden appearance and its ferocity.
Tsok’s ears twitched towards him, and Scarlet swore she saw him smirk. “Easy, First Guardian. I’ve no designs on your female. She looks like she would break if I tried to mount her.”
Scarlet gave him a dull smile, not rising to his words. “How fortunate indeed then that you won’t ever get the chance.”
Fellaseen cleared her throat, glaring at the two of them. “Char Tsok. This meeting is meant to be a friendly one. We are all part of the Coalition. She may be human, but she was adopted by the domini. We are all friends. There is no need for such crass words to be spoken here.”
“Of course, you’re right.” Tsok sneered even at her. “I’ve seen enough anyway. Have a nice night, First Guardian.”
Havali’s growl was softer now, but it remained unabated.
It continued even as Tsok walked away with his head held high.
Scarlet was tempted to shout at his back that she could see his tail moving under his robe, but that would be sinking to a low that she knew humanity wouldn’t be able to recover from anytime soon.
“Unpleasant male,” Fellaseen bared her teeth at his back. “We don’t know how he will ever hope to charm a mate with a personality like that.”
“His species refuses their mating impulses,” Havali reminded her, equally annoyed.
“I’m guessing he’s not one of our allies,” Scarlet summarized, reaching over to gently pat Havali on the chest. Trying to ease his growls.
“Well, you don’t need him.” Fellaseen smiled at her. “We certainly find you humans absolutely charming. Alanna is practically holding court over there.”
She gestured, drawing Scarlet’s attention across the room where, indeed, Alanna – Tuvo hovering protectively – had managed to gather a group that she must be regaling with an amusing story judging by the way they all burst into laughter.
Scarlet shuddered. Better Alanna than her.
Havali’s growl finally eased and she turned to smile at him only to find him looking over her head. But when she tried to turn as well, he stopped her by tightening his arm around her waist and finally catching her eye.
“Scarlet, remember, you are safe. No one here will hurt you.”
“Huh?”
The warning made no sense until a very familiar, reptilian scent filled her nose. She froze as she felt, rather than saw, the creature appear behind her. Fellaseen beamed and bowed.
“Ah! Elder Haviss. So good to see you again.”
“Choice Fellaseen, the honor is mine.” That hissing, sibilant tone sent a shiver down her spine as her entire body broke out into a cold sweat.
Slowly, achingly slowly, like she was afraid to move too fast lest she be struck down, Scarlet turned first her head, then, even more slowly, her body.
A ratchi.
The reptilian alien was like a dinosaur.
He had a snout full of pointed teeth. Thick, black claws.
Orange quills instead of hair, and talons on his raptor feet.
His scales were dark green, with a strange, gray-ish cast. He was dressed in formal wear as well – trousers with room for his long, spiked tail that dragged on the ground, and a tunic that was longer on the sides than the front and back, again leaving room for his tail.
Rose gold glinted at his neck, wrists, and around his tail.
Eyes, black and… kind?... stared down at her.
“Greetings, female,” he said warmly as he slowly, deliberately, lifted his hand and used it to cover his heart as he inclined his head to her. “It is my honor to meet you.”
This male had nothing to do with her kidnapping, and she knew that, but there was still part of her that couldn’t accept the sight of him. It was hard to draw in a breath as she fought the urge to run. Havali’s arm tightened around her waist as he leaned in a bit.
“Elder Haviss, it’s a pleasure,” he said, saluting the elder male in the way of the domini – pounding his fist over his chest.
“First Guardian,” the older ratchi – that’s why his scales had a gray cast – inclined his head to him. “I haven’t seen you in some time. Your family is well?”
“My clan is numerous and obnoxious, as always,” Havali chuckled as Scarlet fought the urge to run and hide. “And you? Could your mate make it this year?”
“Ah, afraid not. My sweet Lassit is staying home. One of our brood is near to laying her eggs and she hasn’t missed even a single laying of any of our hatchlings or their mates. She sends her warmest regards, however.”
This was such a normal conversation. Trading simple greetings and small talk. The sound of it, and the feel of Havali’s strong body beside hers, worked together to calm her down enough that she could look again at the elder’s face.
He was still terrifying, but she was ready for it this time.
She offered him her best stage smile as she returned his greeting, far too late, and in a slightly wooden voice, “Hello, Elder. My name is Scarlet. It’s nice to meet you.”
He chuckled and she tried to act like the sound didn't send chills down her spine. “You do yourself a disservice, female. I’ve been told you are actually Vora Vakara Healer Scarlet.”
“Who did you hear that from?”