Malachi only heard a sliver of the girl’s voice before he slipped into unconsciousness again. Did she… somehow understand what it was saying? Was it even saying anything?
The creature blinked a few times, expressionless, then looked back to beyond the fence. Either the alien was frozen in fear or shock, or they had run out of bullets.
The creature’s pupil’s seemed to dilate, then go back to their original size. It opened it’s mouth wide, a vibrating whistle emanating from it. A brief, raspy gasp could be heard, then a thud.
The creature seemed to nod, as if it had accomplished something. Then it turned to the girl, it’s lashes fluttering.
Child, come. Safety.
Then it kneeled, allowing passage onto it’s back.
She covered her ears best she could, somehow still having a bit of the ringing in her ears but she could still hear and see clear as day the message that it was trying to put across.
She nodded althought she didn't know where they were going, at least it was away from this place. She got up and slung malachi on her shoulder before climbing onto the creature's back whispering a breath thank you to it.
He was in deep thought looking down, he seemed to be staring at the ground or maybe his feet. He was thinking about the girl he had seen earlier, and the girl that been described. He couldn't place it, all the details matched but the blonde hair. it probably wasn't her, but he had a feeling it was.
what if you took away the blonde hair?
would you bald or would you find another set of hair underneath?
she could have been wearing a wig.
The crowd that had been there when they’d gotten downstairs had mostly dispersed. Arabelle sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. “It’s fine, cars are replaceable. You guys get some rest. I can send a team to find him.”
August, Eli, and Ethan stood. Now that they were, you could see that the twins were joined at the pelvis; one pair of legs with two upper bodies. They walked passed Noel, Alister, and Evan, giving a little wave to them. “Nice seeing you again.” And they went upstairs.
August went over to Arabelle. “Maybe you should get some rest too, y’know.”
She huffed, nearly smiling. “I can’t, not right now.”
“Well, when you get the chance…”
She kissed her cheek. “I’m fine, babe. Don’t worry about me.”
They hugged, August muttering, “I can’t help it, I always worry about you.” They parted and she went upstairs.
Arabelle turned to the other three. “Alright. Storm already gave me a report on Arden’s rescue, but I’m going to need to know about what happened when she wasn’t there. First, Arden, can you give me a basic account of what happened after you were arrested?”
He was jerked away from his thoughts when arabelle turned towards them and started towards them talking to them.
"Well I can definitely try too at the very least." He thought back a little to what happened before responding and actually saying words. "I know I was thrown in a cell while they spoke a bunch of alien tongue and then they placed Alister," he gestures to Alister "as my guard and I tried to get something out of him but I didn't end up getting much, they ordered me out of the cell and then took me to a room with a chair. They sat me down and locked my hands to the chair.
They started out by electrocuting me, over and over. I just simply spat at them, I remember they grabbed me out of the chair and I think threw me at the wall. I hit my head hard against the wall, and it started to bleed a little bit. It's a bit fuzzy after that…I do remember Alister coming in the door and wilting flowers but that's about it." He looked up at arabelle after focusing on the last details he could make out.
“Wilting flowers? Are you-“ she pointed at Alister, but stopped. “So that’s what you wanted talk about alone…” She put her hands on her hips. “Okay, I just needed your story. Good on you for not giving anything away. Now, Alister, I need your story too. I know you saved Arden, but you spent a significant amount of time with the extraterrestrials. We need to know if we can trust you.”
Wait, did she figure out that we were…? He blinked, trying to get used the shift in attention and find his words. “I… me and Noel got separated three years ago. I was too young to find her on my own, so I tried… how did you describe it?” He glanced at Noel. “Climbing the social ladder.” She smirked. “At first I was stuck in a weapons factory, But after about a year I reached an age suitable for entering the prison staff. I wasn’t sure of how it all worked at the time, but I wanted to start out with the prison because I knew it was near the experimentation labs, and that A: she was being experimented on, or B: she was a servant to any of the aliens working in either building. I wasn’t old or trusted enough to go to the experimentation labs, so I decided to stick with the prison. I was… interrogated for a while, so they could find a use for me. I showed them my abilities, and then I was put into an orientation class, I think? They told me what was to be expected of me, which was basically that I was to be a servant. For a couple months, I made and served food in the cafeteria, which, I admit, wasn’t all that bad. Only thing was, I wasn’t being paid and they weren’t providing me shelter, so I often slept in the streets or in generous people’s houses. Then I was promoted to being sentinel. It was the opposite of being in the cafeteria. I had money and a place to sleep, but instead of giving people food, I had to discipline and watch them. I… I didn’t like it much, but if I slacked off, I was punished, and that meant more time at the bottom of the ladder, unable to get to Noel. When Arden came in, I guess…” he trailed off, turning his eyes to Evan. “When I let him go to be interrogated, flowers started growing on me, and that… that put guilt on my conscience. I guess you know the rest.”
Evan put a hand on Alister, to show him he was there and it was okay and he was doing great without saying anything.
As he talked, Noel took his hand and leaned on him, also giving him silent comfort. Alister gratefully accepted both, squeezing Noel’s hand and gazing warmly at Evan.
(Just thought I’d add that before posting for Malachi)
(Oooh you wanna have Kali and the creature talk for a bit?)
The birches swayed as they passed, the creature’s song carrying through the forest. The sky was still cloudy, though it seemed to get darker and the air more humid, the promise of rain clear.
The creature’s muscles rippled under the skin as it took each step. It’s mane swayed and bounced like black silk. Even as it sang, it seemed to say, You know this song? I sing it all the time.
Kali watched everything as it passed, looking around warily although the song did help calm her nerves a little bit. It was definitely familar to her she just didn't know why.
"I didn't think I did, but it's familar. Like I have heard it before when I know I didn't.'"
It paused for a moment, turning its human head to her. You’re familiar too. It resumed singing. It walked on, navigating down the side of a rocky hill.
"huh, I am? Well your human face reminds me of someone, I just can't pin point who exsclty." She sighed taking care to glance around more.
Really? I… I have a name. It was… something. Can’t remember. I’ll remember later. Do you have a name?
The song became slow and low in pitch.
"I..I used too. I don't know what it is anymore…the aliens called me Arden with a bunch of numbers next to it though." She sighed once more.
Arden… sounds familiar. Quite familiar.
They came to a river. The creature stopped moving and singing, and bent down to drink. Then it stepped into the water. Careful.
The water was shallow enough, though it may have splashed the human’s legs as the creature trudged through it.
It stepped out, it’s fur dripping. Gonna shake. Hold on.
Then it shook, its body vibrating and making its fur go everywhere. After a few seconds, it stopped, licking its limbs and continuing on.
"Gosh, your so motherly." She did as intrustructed of course, making sure malachi didn't fall off.
Motherly? Sounds familiar. So many familiar things.
The song rose from its lips once more. They took a turn at an outcropping of boulders and rocks, raindrops beginning to fall in a light shower.
she started to hum the song famlar from steven universe. she reached her hand out to feel the rain in her palm.
In the midst of all the birches, there was one large oak tree growing on a hill, its roots framing the entrance to a large cave. The creature turned its head to the girl again. Home. Safe.
And they went inside, the rain beginning to pour harder now. The creature stopped some ten feet in, kneeling to let the humans off.
She nodded, she slid off of the creature picking up malachi and settinghim down gently.
"I wonder when he will wake up." she took a glance around the cave.
It straightened, making a movement that may have been a shrug. He sleeps now. Hungry?
It sat down on the rocky floor, sniffing it’s paw.
"Only a little, i wont starve." she just kinda sat down where she stood, not knowing what else to do or where else to go.
I like deer and rabbit, what do you like? the creature tilted it’s head, staring at the girl.
