Chapter 7
Draggar
By the time I arrive near the crash site, the sun has risen high in the sky and the heat of the day is at its warmest.
Usually, when traveling over long distances, I would take my mount, a female eponir I reared from a youngling, but it is mating season for the large animals we use for transportation. The eponirs were all released so they could travel to the grassland to partake in the season. My mount is fertile this season and will hopefully reproduce with one of the males, but that means I will be reduced to traveling on foot until she returns.
On my trek through the jungle, I encountered two magnis. One was a juvenile male who had not yet learned a healthy avoidance of Laediriian warriors. He allowed his desire to make me his meal override any self-preservation he felt and with a roar he charged at me. The magnis met its match with a swipe from my sword and he fled through the jungle with a whimper.
In the distance, I spot the behemoth that is the crashed vessel. It is smaller than the Ancestors’ Ship and the material is a shade of black so dark it seems to absorb the light around it. It is situated with one side buried into the soil where it crashed and it rests at a slight sloping angle. The crash cleared away vegetation around the ship and left much of the ground churned up.
I settle down at the edge of the trees and my skin naturally camouflages itself to the foliage near me. I might as well make myself comfortable in order to watch the vessel for any signs of life. It is a wise warrior who is cautious of unknown situations, and I would rather take my time than be caught unaware.
I sit and wait. It is well after midday, now, and still there are no signs of movement from the strange ship. Reaching into the ration bag at my side, I pop another bite of dried meat into my mouth before taking a sip from the waterskin all without taking my eyes from the strange ship.
As soon as I have determined that it is safe, I can thoroughly search the vessel and get on with my mission. It is vital that I find out if any of the rumors flying so freely among members of the tribe are true.
If it is as Jaran insists, and the other two tribes are planning an attack, then the Anuriix will hopefully have time to prepare. Though, I am confident we will be able to defend ourselves successfully against any attacks the Xeniiv and Tussoll mount against us.
Our tribe is the largest with the most warriors, which is most likely one of the reasons the other two tribes are rumored to be envious of the Anuriix. While we have more elders than younger tribe members, we enough skilled warriors and hunters to protect our tribe. And our elders can still wield a sword well enough to take down a magnis or two.
Plus, the kitlings who make up our tribe, though they must be protected at all costs. They are the future of our tribe, and with fewer being born now, it is vital we ensure their safety. The kitlings will need to be moved to the safe location that is known to only the chief and select warriors and elders. They will be well protected there.
We will need time to ensure our defensive measures are strengthened, too. The River Elbi has served as a natural boundary for our territory where our lands border those of the Xeniiv, while the rocky cliffs of the Monadh Mountains act as a natural barrier around a portion of our village. The landscape of our territory has always been enough to safeguard us from direct attacks from both the creatures and other beings on our planet. Not that we have ever had to worry about an attack from the other tribes. Any animosity between us has existed in words, not physical acts.
Still, the rumors the seer has spread have left me concerned. I do not think we need to fear the other tribes – they will never be a match for skilled Anuriix warriors – and it would be foolhardy of them to attack us. I hope even the Tussoll and Xeniiv are not that foolish.
But the rumblings are growing louder, and as the chief’s first warrior, it is my duty to investigate and find out the truth. Jaran has been hailed as one of our most respected elders – mostly by his own mouth – and many will believe him no matter how outlandish his words are.
He has always been a shrewd male – one that I have never fully trusted. There is a shiftiness I have observed in his eyes of late that concerns me more than any rumored attack.
It is one of the changes I have noticed recently, and these changes concern me. And with the most recent change – this crashed vessel – a knot settles in my stomach. My instincts tell me that danger is on the horizon. Could it be the aliens on this ship? Or something else? I am not sure, and all I can do is wait and try to be as prepared as possible to meet the threat.
I murmur softly under my breath. May the Universe give us its favor in this and may any beings who were on the vessel have perished when the ship fell from the skies.
My senses focus entirely on the ruins of the alien vessel when I finally notice movement from it. A pale fleshed being emerges from an opening in the side of the twisted wreckage. From my vantage point, I can see its bright blue eyes widen as it looks searchingly around the clearing before taking a step forward.
The being is small and frail, shorter even than a Laediriian kitling when he goes on his first hunt. I suspect this otherworldly creature is a kitling, as well, though it looks very different from my own species’ young.
A flock of colorful psittas landed earlier in the clearing to pick through the churned-up soil. When the kitling notices them, its eyes light up in delight and it takes a few cautious steps towards the feathered animals. The psittas are small creatures with brightly colored plumage, which leaves them vulnerable to many predators when they are out in the open. They tend to startle easily at any hint of a threat and soar high into the sky in a large group, making themselves appear like one large beast.
Surprisingly, the psittasdo not seem to react to the kitling as it unerringly creeps towards them, and the flock continues in its search for any choice morsels of insectoids that may have been uncovered from the soil.
The kitling’s tinkling laughter reaches me as one of the smaller psittas, a youngling most likely, hops on two legs after a particularly uncooperative insectoid that has escaped its pointy beak.
A loud yell emerges from the ship startling the flock, and some of the more cautious members who have already eaten their fill of insectoids take flight to the skies in a magnificent blaze of colors.
”Zohh-ii! Wharr arrr yooo? Zohh-ii?” The voice is high-pitched, not unlike young Laediriian males before their natural armor has finished forming and their voices deepen, but the being that cautiously steps through the opening into the clearing is unlike anything I have ever seen.
I study the pale-skinned alien as it talks softly with the kitling. My sensitive ears easily pick up its words even though I cannot understand them. This alien creature has long hair growing from the top of its head in a brown color that reminds me of the bark on the majestic cupressitrees that grow on our land.
The being is taller and larger everywhere than the kitling, but it is still smaller and more delicate than a Laediriian warrior. It is covered almost completely in heavy fabric that shrouds most of its frame, but still, I study the smooth flesh that is visible and wonder where its defense mechanisms are. Laediriians have defensive ridges that sprout over the most vital areas of our bodies – the brow, abdomen, and upper legs, even our backs – but this being looks bare and vulnerable to injury. How does it protect itself in battle?
The most remarkable feature of the being are two large, rounded protrusions that sprout from its chest – protrusions that make my cock twitch and my mouth water. I shift uncomfortably. For some reason, I have the urge to unveil the mounds of flesh and feast on them.
I try to listen as the creature continues speaking to the kitling, but it is hard to focus. My heartbeat pounds loudly in my ears like an approaching herd of dicro, and I shake my head in agitation.
As I watch the alien, another being emerges from the ship and gestures to the other two, its voice ringing out. This alien looks somewhat similar to the other larger one, but for some reason not as special. I find my gaze drawn again and again to the alien with the cupressi brown hair, no matter how hard I try to look away.
The faint, sour stench of fear clings to the aliens, making its way to me, but underneath that is a sweet aroma. Taking a deep breath to calm my racing heart, I try to focus on their conversation.
The language they speak is unlike any I have ever heard. In addition to our own language, all tribal members are taught Galactica so we will be prepared to communicate with any enforcers should The Reckoning happen. But this language sounds nothing like that. It is more nasal and rapid, less elegant than my own language.
It is as I am studying the being who has captured my attention that a thought suddenly occurs to me that causes my jaw to drop open in amazement and my breath to freeze in my lungs.
Goddesses, the aliens are females!
My brain is befuddled in shock and slow to process what I’m seeing as I stare at the aliens. Females on Laedirissae. How can it be? This is the first time I have ever seen a female, and my mind is having a hard time comprehending what is in front of my eyes.
I have never felt more in awe as I sit on my backside hidden amongst the jungle. No Laediriian has seen a female in generations, and I have never been more humbled to be honored with this blessing.
Except, what if the females are not a blessing? What if they are a trick to take advantage of my tribe? Perhaps it is not a coincidence the females arrived on our planet just as so many rumors have spread about the other tribes planning an attack. It could all be connected.
It is clear the females are nothing like my own species, and it makes no sense to my mind why the Universe would bless us with alien females. Their coloring is dull and muted compared to the motley of beautiful coloring of a Laediriian female which evolution has made bright to attract a mate’s eyes. Their frames are smaller, and yet, bigger in other ways. In ways that make my mouth water.
As the aliens continue to speak to each other, my entire focus is drawn to the being with the bright voice and cupressi brown hair. My sensitive nostrils flare as I realize the sweet aroma that captivates me is emanating from her.
A fluttering sensation stirs in my chest, exactly where my dormant second heart resides, as if a winged insectoid is desperate to be set free. Blood zips through my veins, and my primary heart pounds out a loud, insistent beat. Why?
I slowly shake my head in denial, my gaze refusing to shift from her. It cannot be.
Goddesses, it must be trickery. A cruel ploy devised by otherworldly beings to take advantage of the weaknesses of Laediriians and bring about our downfall. I will not allow it. The Universe has taken enough from us. It – and these alien beings – will not take more.
Could this be it – The Reckoning our Ancestors foretold? Has the Council finally sent enforcers after us?
My mind grapples with the possibilities. It makes no sense why the Council would send two strange females and a kitling to do their bidding. Unless they plan to use the females to weaken us further. That is the only possibility that even remotely makes sense, and yet, even that does not seem quite correct.
But my instincts are screaming a loud warning. All is not right on Laedirissae. Something has changed. Something monumental.
My jaw clenches in determination. I will discover what evil the aliens have planned for my species, and I will destroy their plan before it has a chance to harm us.
My eyes are drawn again to the pale alien with brown hair as she gazes out at the jungle. If feels like her eyes connect with mine for a moment that seems to stretch into eternity. From a distance, I can see her black pupils flare wide, darkening her pale eyes.
My heart pounds so hard that I fear it will burst through my skin, and I place my hand on my chest to hold it in. Then she wrenches her gaze away and disappears back into the vessel with the other aliens.
I fight the sense of loss I feel at her absence. No, this cannot be. The otherworldly beings must have an ulterior motive for being here.
Even if I must constantly battle the urge that draws me to the strange being, I will make sure the aliens do not succeed with whatever nefarious plot they have planned.