Chapter 11 #2
“Alanna,” he gestured to the far side of the room.
“I spoke to her already. A charming female indeed. I had hoped to speak with the Adassani as well, but she had to seek her nest as I understand it. I am grateful to speak with you though. I have to beg forgiveness from you all for the actions of the rogue clavas you encountered.”
“Oh, no,” Scarlet hastened to say as he lowered his head to her. “You didn't do anything. It wasn’t your fault what a few bad people chose to do.”
“Still, you fear me now. Or rather, my people. I scented this when I came upon you, and it yanks at my scales to know that this was the first interaction of our people.” He lifted his head, his reptilian eyes seeming genuinely upset.
“I have made no secret that the ratchi stand with the domini in support of humans. And I do not just say this out of guilt. You are clever, resourceful females and you all have integrated amongst the domini easily. If you are any indication of your people, then I believe the Coalition will be well honored to have you as a member.”
“Er, well, I can’t really speak for all humanity,” her gaze darted to Alanna and back, “but we only want what’s best for the Earth. It’s safe, for now, as the domini are the only ones who know where it is. But Atem is concerned about what might happen if we are left undefended.”
“Indeed,” Haviss’ gaze darkened. “The clavas that took you was wrong, but I understand why they did it. You are beautiful to look at and stunning in motion. And your scent? Indescribable. If you can be bred by the domini, there is a chance you can be bred by others, and there are some species that would do anything for a chance of that.”
Scarlet hummed in solemn agreement. Humanity was highly prolific, but as she understood it, that was more of a rarity in the universe overall.
The domini themselves were only fertile once a year and it was highly difficult for them to conceive.
The average number of births per female was two and a lucky few were able to have three.
The record was seven. And the domini were considered rather average in that department.
Lucky, even, since, like humans, their ratio of male to female births was about equal.
That was not true for every species, and some suffered for it.
There might be those that would take a look at humanity and try to see if they could also breed with them. Even if they had to do it by force.
It was one of the biggest arguments Atem had for granting humanity protectorate status. They genuinely might be in need of protection.
“The domini will fight for them,” Havali said, pulling them both from their musings as he gave Scarlet a surprisingly scorching look. “No matter what argument we must make or how long it will take, we will see that our females are cared for.”
“Indeed.” Haviss held his head up proudly.
“We ratchi pride ourselves in our care of our nests and clavas. As a male, building and defending a nest and acquiring a mate is the very purpose of our life. We will see these human females protected. And their males too, of course. Though, are your males as successfully reproductively capable as females?”
“We’re not sure,” Scarlet said, relaxing a bit further.
This was something she knew about. This was what she and Donivi were working together to research.
“We would need to do a lot more study of far more than just five human females and a singular alien species to know how far our capabilities extended.”
“Well, if any of you are interested, I have some strapping young sons who’ve yet to find mates that I’m sure would enjoy the chance to court and woo someone as pretty as yourself.”
Havali growled again. Scarlet started, just as surprised to hear it a second time. Haviss, however, only smirked as though he had gotten exactly the reaction he wanted.
“I’m going to go speak with some of the others,” the elder said, his quills rising as though to demonstrate the importance of this mission. “It will take only a simple majority to pass this vote for humans, but I want to be sure we have it. Excuse me.”
Scarlet waved at him numbly, most of her attention on Havali who was coughing delicately to cease his reflexive growl.
That definitely wasn’t the sexy growl. That one, and the one before it, were most certainly of the threat display variety. The kind a male did to warn intruders off of his territory.
Or his female.
“Havali…” She started, but then found herself unable to ask if he thought she was his mate.
Being mated was the equivalent of being married on Earth. Actually, no, that wasn’t accurate, as marriage didn't come with a biological lock that prevented you from ever even desiring another. It was more serious, and it seemed too forward to ask that on a first date.
Or was this the second? They had been to the monument the other day. She had kissed his cheek – and she still didn't know what possessed her to do that.
He was supposed to be escorting her since Atem didn't want them to be alone. Not really for protection, at least not the physical kind as security was tight at this event. It was to keep an eye on them and make sure that they were okay around the other aliens.
It was so that, just before she had to speak to a species she only had negative experiences with, he could put his arm around her and remind her that she was safe.
She didn't see Tuvo doing that for Alanna. The big domini warrior had made no indications that he was attracted to Alanna. He looked over her loyally, but he did the same for Scarlet and Peony and even Atem. It was just part of who he was.
And none of the other domini had ever put their arm around her like Havali had. She certainly hadn’t allowed it from anyone else.
“Yes, Healer?” He asked, his voice deep and delicious and rumbly.
She opened her mouth, but there was nothing waiting on her tongue to spill. He didn't appear surprised or impatient. He just waited. She had a feeling she could stand there for the rest of the night, trying to think of something to say, and he would just keep waiting.
“Well, now, here’s something lovely to see.”
Jumping, startled, she whipped around to see that someone else was approaching them.
Fellaseen must have wandered off after Tsok in Scarlet’s brief lapse of cognition because she was gone.
Now, in her place, were three, entirely new aliens.
One male and, flanking him on either side and slightly behind, two females that all looked to be of the same species.
If Scarlet had to describe them in a word, it would be: gargoyles.
It wasn’t an exact description, but all three of them were big, tall, with broad shoulders and chests to support the large wings coming from their backs and thick necks to hold up the heavy, slightly curved back horns erupting from their foreheads.
The male was a pewter, silvery kind of gray, standing at least a foot and a half taller than Scarlet.
His hair was nonexistent on the sides, creating a natural mohawk that was tied back in a long, artistic braid, reaching all the way past his butt.
His eyes were big and burning hot pink with a strangely bright black pupil.
Black claws tipped his fingers – more similar to domini claws than ratchi claws.
His wings were kept close to his back, so she couldn’t see them, but they looked leathery, with talons at the top – like a bat. Or a dragon. Or a demon.
Because of the wings, his tunic clasped at the back of his neck and again above his hips.
It covered his chest with a beautiful purple and gold pattern that swirled almost wildly.
Plain black trousers wrapped around his legs and black boots concealed his human-ish shaped feet – they were huge but not dinosaur shaped like the ratchi.
He had a tail like the ratchi though, the same reptilian style, though his was thinner and came with a ball of flesh and spikes at the end. A natural weapon.
The female on his right was just slightly shorter than him.
Her chest was larger, but it didn't seem to be from breasts. More like the single bulge of a crop – like a bird. Her skin was dull, dark purple, muted in comparison to the male, and her hair wasn’t as long, though it grew in the same way.
Black eyes sat over a sharp, raptor-like nose and thin lips, pursed with displeasure.
Her tail was also shorter and ended in a point, not a spiked mace.
She also wore a tunic and pants, though hers were red and gold.
She sneered at Scarlet in disgust, looking her up and down, like humans were something nasty she found at the bottom of her shoe.
The female on the right was the shortest, though she still stood over half a foot taller than Scarlet.
Her skin was the darkest, almost black and just as dull as the other female, though her hair was the shortest, only to her neck.
Like the other female, she also had black eyes, but her expression wasn't nearly as harsh.
She had her hands clasped before her and gave Scarlet a shy, tentative smile.
She wore blue and gold, though her tunic was a dress that stopped just above her knees.
“Ah, Superior Crav,” Havali greeted kindly.
“First Guardian. Good to see you again,” the male said, his voice deep and gravely. “And this… lovely creature on your arm must be one of the humans I’ve heard so much of.”
“Yes. Let me introduce you. This is Vora Vakara Healer Scarlet of Earth and Turv. Scarlet, this is Superior Crav’Ral’Tivor, representative of the vir,” he gestured to the male, “his first mate, Svit’Ka’Tivor,” he gestured to the glaring, purple female, “and his second mate, Danya’Rutar’Tivor,” he finished by gesturing at the dark gray, shy female.
“An honor it is, female,” Superior Crav beamed at her with a big, shiny smile with large fangs. Very demonic, but his expression was friendly. “That hair color of yours… It’s stunning. You are the brightest colored human female and quite beautiful.”
“Thank you,” Scarlet said, automatically rather than sincerely.
“Have you met Alanna?” Havali asked, gesturing towards her growing crowd of friends.
Crav chuckled. “It would be difficult to get close. This female seemed a bit easier to approach. And I wanted to assure you that humans definitely have my support.”
“Oh. Thank you,” she smiled, much more genuinely this time. “That means a lot to us.”
“Can I ask why you’re so determined to give us your allegiance?” Havali asked, which was probably smarter than her just being grateful.
“Why should we not?” Crav asked, chuckling, causing Svit to glare harder.
“Growing the Coalition benefits everyone. Judging by the reports the First Domini prepared for everyone, humans are already highly advanced anyway. And I believe in the will of the gods. It is no mistake that the humans were delivered to us. We must accept their wisdom.”
“Ah, I see,” Havali nodded, like he really might.
Meanwhile, Scarlet smothered a laugh because she knew that the domini hadn’t ever developed organized religion and he honestly had no idea. They bid the winged male goodnight and continued walking, Scarlet trying to ignore his first mate glaring hard at her back.
“Well, that’s two allies. Three if we count Fellaseen, though I don’t think she said in so many words that she was on our side,” she smiled at Havali.
He grunted, nodding in agreement. “I think we can count on her. Her people are honest and don’t tend to play political games.”
“What about the other two?”
“Tsok and Crav? Char Tsok’s people are highly duplicitous. Even to themselves. They like to deny their own primal nature in an effort to be more ‘civilized’. Not entirely sure why they bother, but there are a lot of things other species do that I don’t understand.”
“Like the will of the gods?” She asked, snickering.
“Part of me understands the desire to make sense of the unknown,” he frowned. “I just don’t know why they continue to cling to the idea of gods and magic when the unknown is explained by basic science and physics.”
Scarlet laughed. “You know, there are hundreds of religions on Earth, right?”
He whipped his head towards her, eyes wide. “Hundreds? What could you possibly… How can you have hundreds of different religions? It’s not enough to have only one?”
Scarlet laughed harder, smothering the sound with her hand. “Religions serve more purpose than just explaining the unknown. They mean a lot to people.”
“Baffling,” he shook his head. “Do you follow a religion?”
“My mother worshiped at the altar of beauty and brought me along with her until I tore myself free of the church. So, no.”
Havali frowned. “I honestly can’t tell if that’s a legitimate religion on your planet, or if you’re referring to the strangeness of dressing up children and telling them they’re ugly.”
“That’s not really what happened,” she laughed as he stopped them in the shadow of one of the large columns. Not really hidden from the rest of the party, but sort of tucked out of sight. “Beauty contests are about telling people they’re beautiful.”
“Then why do you look so resigned every time someone remarks on your appearance?”