Chapter 25
The guests arrive
Hannah
My dark brown eyes are wide and I know I’m openly staring.
Ucfeni are slithering into the lower platforms of the festival hall.
It was an amazing sight. The Ucfeni were wearing beautiful feathers and fabrics of every colour.
I couldn’t look away. Just watching them enter the hall looked like some sort of parade.
Everyone seemed to be giddy with anticipation and most headed straight for the dance floor.
Even before musicians started to fill hollowed out rooms in the walls.
The musicians thrummed exotic looking string based instruments.
Some looked remarkably similar to miniature harps and lutes, where as others were uniquely alien to me.
One looked like a set of stings that were twirled from metal sticks, and the speed by which they were twirled changed the note.
There were plenty of woodwind instruments too, and drums arranged to allow for the clap of a hand, a stick, or a tail.
The symphony made was primal and enticed erotic displays from the Ucfeni.
Singers dripping in gems and gold ululated with beautiful light tones. Dulcet and seductive.
There was a small table between me and Tumva and he poured us both a glass of water.
“Here. Stay hydrated. It’s going to be a long night.
” I smirked and looked at him like I thought he was referring to our ‘debrief’ later.
His throat scales darkened, almost impossible to tell to the untrained eye.
I’ve spent so long with Tumva now that I am an expert and noticing these things.
Including when he starts to avoid my gaze because he’s shy.
When we wake up in bed together, which is totally normal for Ucfeni who practise communal sleeping, I tend to wake before him.
When he comes to he see me smiling at him and his throat scales darken.
As close to a blush as I think Ucfeni get.
Then he avoids my gaze and snuggles us closer until it’s time to wake up.
It’s pretty clear to me that Tumva has never been in a relationship with anyone.
He probably doesnt know what it feels like to have someone like him.
To be desired by someone. I’m making my life here on Thelia.
There is no going back to Earth, nor do I want to.
My life is way more interesting now I’m a peacekeeper on an alien planet, than the mad scramble to work every hour under the sun to barely make rent.
Sure Tumva has giant snake sized baggage, but I’ve always been good at helping to lighten the load of others.
Normally it’s my sister, but I’ve taken to Tumva.
I was lost when Billie was taken by Prince Izule.
I wasn’t emotionally prepared to be without her.
But then there was Tumva. Right beside. It’s hard to describe, but he’s given me purpose with this new career.
He’s given me support, when I’m used to being the one holding up others.
I relax around him in a way that I don’t around others.
I’ve always been Hannah the strong one. With Tumva I don’t have to be the strong one.
That vulnerability he hides behind his glossy black scales calls out to the carer in me.
Other people don’t get to see the tender part of him.
The noble guy who takes every job seriously and genuinely believes it’s an honour and a privilege to serve.
I feel like I’m making a difference just by working with him, and it pisses me off when everyone treats him like a terrible monster.
Just because his ancestors used to eat other Ucfeni.
It’s bullshit, is what it is, and if I was Tumva I know I wouldn’t be so calm about it.
I’d rage and bite the likes of Officer prickless in the ass.
This isn’t what I signed up for when I agreed to come with Billie.
I thought I’d be holding her hand as we navigated living on an alien planet in a human colony complex.
Instead, Tumva is holding my hand as I learn more about myself.
My own adventure. I love my sister, and I really hope I see her today, but I have enjoyed the freedom i’ve had since coming to Thelia.
I’m looking forward to finding out what the future brings.
A future with Tumva. It also helps that I happen to fancy the pants off the giant black snake dude.
I want to get up his skirt, at least. My mind flashes to the Xeno-porn we had to analyse and wonder…
if Tumva is that well endowed too. I’ve had quite a few frisky dreams since where I’m the one climbing Tumva and being fucked into the tree.
My legs are the ones wrapped around his glossy black waist and I’m howling with wanton need for more.
I don’t know when I stopped looking at the thriving party below us, but I’m staring at Tumva.
I can only imagine how coy I must look, because his throat is the darkest I’ve ever seen it.
He leans closer and his tongue flicks at my nose.
I chuckle, finding that something that used to creep me out was now something I found pretty cute.
When I imagine him flicking that tongue elsewhere, I blush too.
“We are on duty.” His deep rumbly voice isn’t helping me calm down.
“We are.” I agree and can’t look away. His fathomless black eyes are locked onto me and he leans closer still.
“You are looking the wrong way.” His voice is deep and has no hint that he wants me to look away.
If anything I think we’re in danger of kissing.
I want him to. Hell, if we weren’t out in public I honestly think we’d be tongue deep in each other.
Namely because I’m seriously fighting the urge to pounce on the big guy. “…Hannah.”
A massive horn sounded out and broke the tractor beam of his dark and broody stare. “Ah.” He clears his throat and leans away from me. “Here they come.”
“Here who come?”
“The main event of any Gcorket. The Lunar Dancers.” Tumva chuckled, finding something amusing. “The bane of any patrol officer’s existence during Gcorket.”
“Why is that?” I ask as I locate the source of everyone’s excitement.
On the upper platforms, beneath where the Royals would reside but looking over the main floor, came a procession of female Ucfeni.
The gathered crowd beneath them all turned to watch with awe as they lined the platform edge and posed with their arm like flamenco dancers.
Each held a fan with a long piece of thin fabric attached to the splayed tips to shimmer around them as they danced.
Regardless what kind of Ucfeni they were or what colour their scales were, they all wore white.
This was clearly some sort of uniform for the Lunar Dancers.
I counted 20 of them. Their headdresses held a lion mane of white feathers with pointed tips that arched around their faces.
The fabric band holding it in place glittered with golden sequins contrasting the white band.
They wore long white arm sleeves that elegantly hugged their middle finger up to their biceps.
I expected them to wear a sparkly breast wrap or bra, like a Vagas show girl, but of course the Ucfeni don’t have breasts so there is no point covering the chest area.
They wore a golden V belt to compliment the shape of their pelvis and long, wide strips of white chiffon flared downward toward where I imagine their knees would have been if they were human.
I had to admit, they looked beautiful. There was something hypnotic about they way they started to sway and undulate their abdomens to the music.
I think human belly dancers would have wanted to take notes from these women.
The dance was clearly choreographed as they coiled on their own tails, and over each other’s, both in perfect sync to each other and the music.
I watched their wrists roll over each other, their fabric fans flutter as they span circles above their heads.
The dancers were having fun too, as their smiles were wide, their eyes were bright, and their energy was infections.
Before I knew it I was swaying happily in my seat.
The crowd below were cheering, ululating, and dancing once more.
“And it begins.” Tumva spoke and I furrowed my brows with confusion.
He didn’t sound impressed in the slightest. “There, look.” He pointed toward the far side of the hall and one of the guests was trying to slither up to the middle platform to get to the dancers.
One of the bronze clad Elite guards struck forward from their position against the wall.
He released a warning hiss and aimed a spear towards the guest, making them cower back down.
“Lunar Dancers are the most beautiful Ucfeni women and tend to incite reckless behaviour during Gcorket. See.” He pointed again and I followed his prompt to see another Ucfeni making an attempt to press themselves up the middle of the platform wall, arm outstretched, to take hold of a dancer’s tail.
I looked around and didn’t see a guard nearby to help her. Was this it? Would we have to go and-
The dancer whipped her tail at the guy’s face, stinging him across the eyes and sending him back down to the floor beneath.
She even laughed at him. I turned to look at Tumva who was unphased.
“As time goes on their mating display will encourage our men to get braver with their attempts. Toward the dancers, and others. This in itself isn’t the issue. ”
“It isn’t?” It sounded like an issue to me.”
“Our women choose who to mate with, if they wish to make over Gcorket, but if multiple males are suitable choices, it tends to result in violence.” Tumva placed a hand on my shoulder.
“That is what keeps peacekeepers busy. We need to watch out for such challenges as multiple males vie for the approval of the female in question. Sometimes this is done by dancing, other times it is done by wrestling.” He grumbled, clearly unimpressed with this Thelian tradition.
Then again, he’s worked so many Gcorkets now, he’s probably sick of it all.
Especially if he’s never taken part before…
“And wrestling is bad?”
“No, not if it remains only wrestling.” Tumva was back in work mode and imparting knowledge on me.
His hand on my shoulder was very distracting, but I tired not to think about it…
too much… “Unfortunately, during Gcorket the breeding drive is stimulated by hormones and alcohol.” He sneered, pointing out Ucfeni making the rounds, slithering around the dance floor with a platter of shot glasses of clear spirits.
“Give it a couple of hours, and even the golden palace will break out with fights over mating potential partners.”
“So we’ll see some action after all?” I grin and he gives me a double take, before his darkening mood lightens with a chuckle.
“Of course you would look forward to such things. Are you so eager to put your combat training to use?”
“Are you kidding me? Of course I want to kick some scaly butt.” I wink up at him and he looks up at the ceiling of our hollow room for strength. Still, he laughs and I’ve made him smile. “So if two or more guys start fighting for real, we step in?”
“In the beginning I imagine the Elite guard will wish to handle such disturbances themselves.” Tumva nodded to the many bronze armoured guards around the hall. “However, if things get out of hand we will be deployed.”
“And then I can kick some scaly butt.” I snigger and his hand on my shoulder moved to my back.
He leans closer and I chuckle as my stool is dragged closer to him.
When did he coil his tail around the base of my seat?
My right side presses to his left and I feel like we’re on a date, rather than on a patrol.
Snuggling together like this. A deep rumbling in his upper chest and throat lulls me even closer.
“You will stay by my side throughout our shift so I can keep you safe.”
“Sure, but I’m not sitting on the sidelines.” I pout, thinking he’s planning on coddling me to keep me away from danger.
“I wouldn’t expect you to. You’re an officer and have a duty to perform to protect the general public, even from themselves, but this is your first patrol.” My pout softened. Tumva had a point, so I nodded and shrugged.
“Alright. Consider me your shadow.” I giggle as I decide to tease him some more. “After all? I’ll need to keep you close too.”
“Oh?” He smiled with a hint of gums. “Why is that?”
“Because I need us both to be in one piece so we can have our debrief later.” My wing is suggestive and his throat scales darken again.
I purposefully look to my left and the writhing dancefloor, whilst placing my right hand on his tail just below his kevlar lined wrap around skirt.
I feel him tense under my hand and I giggle at the feel of his left hand holding my left shoulder to hold us together.
“I am looking forward to our debrief as well.” He whispers to me, and I rebelliously slide my right hand up his skirt.
Just enough for the finger tips to go beneath the material.
I feel his scales change size so they are smaller, more flexible, and the very start of his pouch’s seam.
The way he shudders at the contact makes me want to do a lot more.
“Hannah, n-not here. We’re on duty.” His tail tip coils around my wrist and slides my hand back down.
He’s right of course. Still, I’ve enjoyed teasing him.
“Later, then.” I smirk and put my hands on my lap. I’m watching the festival below, but I’m hyper aware of the man beside me.