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.
"im fine with whatever, like i said if i dont eat i wont starve." she continued to look around the room.
The creature swiveled its head. The rain was coming down hard now. It emitted a soft sigh before going over to the girl and curling up next to her. You smell familiar too.
she leaned into the warmth of the creature, only a little wet from drissle earlier, she yawned covering her mouth with her hand. "well that's a new one."
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)
Thunder rumbled outside. Arabelle stared at him for a while. Then, “So you were looking for your sister?”
Alister nodded.
“Do you…” her mouth pulled into a grimace. “You don’t feel tied to them still, do you? The aliens.”
“I…” He wasn’t sure how to respond to that. Just yesterday, life had seemed like a game of chess, only the opponent could read his mind and his sister was the opponent’s queen. Now it felt like someone snapped the chessboard in half, gave him the queen, and gave the opponent a gun. He was in an anxious limbo, afraid of breaking, unsure of where to go.
“… not tied to them, but I feel like they’re standing over my shoulder.” He managed.
“Ah.” Her grimace turned into a simple, sad frown. “I see.” She shifted her position, crossing her arms over her chest. “We can’t have people who are afraid, Storm. We need people who are angry and hopeful.”
What was she implying? That he was going to join the rebels? He wanted to stay with Noel, and maybe Evan, but…
Her eyes flicked over them all. “Stay upstairs for now. I’m going to send a search party. And please, Arden,” she furrowed her brows at him. “Don’t be stupid and stay laying down. Tomorrow will come quick.”
He huffed crossing his arms at her requests and kind of demands.
"I want to be on the search party." He muttered huffing at her looking away. He really did want to know if malachi was okay, if the aliens found him he was dead for sure. He wanted to make sure they found him but he knew he couldn't.
"I want to sit up." He grumbled once more.
“If we don’t find him tonight, I can send you tomorrow.” She thought for a moment. “Scratch that, I could send all of you tomorrow.“
Noel perked up. “Really?”
“Sure,” she grinned. “You’re young, but I’ll have other adults going with you.”
She looked to Alister. “Do you want to go?”
Before he could say anything, Noel blurted, “Yes!”
They both stared at her.
She coughed. “Um, his abilities will be useful.”
Alister was spacing out, so he didn’t say anything. So Arabelle shrugged. “Okay then.”
As they turned to go upstairs, he snapped out of it. “Noel! What was that?”
“You’re going to join this rebellion if it’s the last thing I do,” she smirked. “Besides, why not spend more time with your sister and your soulmate?”
He reddened. “Noel… can we talk? When we get upstairs.”
She studied him. “Fine.”
The first thing Malachi became conscious to was the pain. His body ached, and he couldn’t stop a groan from coming out of him. Then he could hear the rumble of thunder and rain, but he wasn’t wet, so where was he…?
He slowly opened his eyes.
The creature’s head swiveled. He’s awake.
Kali turned her head towards malachi, studying him and hearing his groan.
"Good. Your not dead, I was beginning to think I did that for nothing." She turned back to stare at the creature before turning back to focus on malachi and see his response. "oh yeah and she won't hurt us, so don't freak out."
Evan grinned and sat restless in his seat about going out on search tomorrow. He would finally be free of this wheelchair and that bed and he would be able to do things on his own.
He couldn't wait.
He noticed noel volunteer Alister and turned to look her before hearing her reasoning. I guess it does make sense.
When they were walking back he didn't comment just letting them talk about it between siblings wondering why Alister wanted to talk with just noel but didn't pry.
Malachi could see the girl’s face and rocky stalactites above him. The floor beneath him was also hard and rocky. It didn’t help with the pain. He didn’t even think about sitting up.
He groaned again. ”Où sommes-nous? Qu'est-il arrivé? Je me souviens de la créature … at-elle tué l'extraterrestre?“
His mind sort of snapped back to his first language automatically.
she turned towards the beast jabbing a thumb at him.
"I think he's broken, i don't know a single thing that he's saying." She turned back to look at him, flicking him.
"Speak. English." she said slowly, as if she was talking to someone with not smarts.
”Qu-“ he coughed. “Ah, sorry. What happened? I remember the creature… but my head is fuzzy.”
He gingerly took his hand and lightly touched it to his temple, rubbing it. “You’re ability to teleport doesn’t not feel good, y’know.”
"Well sorry i have never teleported with too people before, I'm used to the darkness and the feeling it gives you." She shrugged.
"the creature killed the alien and brought us here." She sighed looking around the cave once more, hoping to find something.
“I see.” He coughed again. “Used to the darkness, you say?”
The creature tilted its head at him. Hurt? What happened to him?
It slowly stepped toward him, leaning in.
“Why… is it staring at me? Créature effrayante…”
"Yeah used to the darkness, i grew up in it." She tched at his response, noticing his cough, then turning her head to the creature.
"I think he got shot by the gun from the alien but I'm not exactly sure." She responded looking at malachi.
"Its trying to check for injuries, i think."