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I don't know how to respond to that. My skin flickers between purple and blue, a mix of irritation and confusion. "Yes," I say, because it's the only thing that makes sense to me. "Mine. Now."

Zha throws zha's hands in the air in some odd gesture I assume is defiance. "You're unbelievable,” zha says loudly, then more softly, “two is not one. Cannot bereformed.”

Then zha goes back to drawing, dismissing me entirely, still muttering what I’m starting to suspect wouldn’t make sense to others of zha’s kind, let alone someone still figuring out zha’s language.

I feel a sting, like a slap to my pride. Purple flares briefly along my arms. "Unbelievable… why?"

My skin shudders at the low growl that erupts from zha.

"Because you don't get it!" Zha shakes zha's head, that green hair flashing in the dim light. "I'm not… I'm not someobject. I'm not something you can just…claim."

I narrow my eyes, trying to understand. "But… you green. You… signal?"

"What?" Zha blinks at me. "What does that even mean?"

I hesitate, feeling awkward. "Green… for mate?"

There's a pause. Then zha's eyes widen, and zha lets out another burst of laughter. "Oh. Oh, no. You think… you think this means I want to…"

I don't understand why this is funny. I feel a flush of light blue creeping along my skin, my spikes shuddering in embarrassment. "Is not. Thought not, but ask."

Why did I ask? My skin flushes to purple as I berate myself for being stupid.

"No!" zha exclaims. "This is just… how I look. Not how I used to look, but how I do now.”

I feel an odd mix of relief and irritation. So zha isn't signaling for a mate. But then… what does that mean? My mind races, trying to piece it all together. "Then… why… angry?"

"Because you took me!" Zha's voice is sharp again. "You took me from thepersonI was with youovergrown LED bulb!" I get the sinking sensation that if I were to come any closer then zha would do something drastic, perhaps sticking a finger into an eye, and the mental image roots me to the spot, unwilling to test the theory by coming any closer.

The creature's enchanting green eyes look positively murderous as zha finishes zha’s tirade, "And now you're acting like it's not a problem. What thefuck?!"

I flinch at zha's tone, the sound grating against my senses. I'm overwhelmed, and I don't know how to respond. Should I try to explain again? Should I just… let zha be? I consider making zha sleep, just for a little while, just to give myself time to think. But no. Not yet.

Instead, I turn away again, retreating farther into the cave, letting the shadows swallow me up. I need a moment to think. To breathe. This is more complicated than I expected, and I'm not sure what to do next.

Behind me, zha's voice continues, echoing off the cave walls. But I don't listen. I doubt I have the fortitude. For a creature so tiny, zha’s voice is raised to the point of pain in my ears when zha yells.

I need to figure this out. What do I do with zha? What do I want?

For now, all I can do is wait and see.

8

Olivia

Ilosesometimeto my mind scattering, rage threatening to tip me into a shut down. It’s the pain in my knuckles when I start beating on a cave wall that brings me out of it and I feel the exhaustion trying to take over.

“No, no, no, not now,” I say as I drop back to the ground and use the dim light from the odd glowing mushrooms to find the rock I was using to draw.

Then I use every bit of what’s left of my focus to draw another tattoo design. I lose myself in the swirls of the fern. The spikes rising from the central swirl an extension of my resentment, the point the whirling design ends on like the knife I want in my hand right now.

When the creature comes back, I try to use the rock as a knife, but it just bounces off the tough, glowing skin. Then I start laughing again, heart pounding as I think of how stupid it is to try to pummel something so massive. Then I try again anyway.

It chitters at me, I assume in displeasure, but simply scoops me back into its arms, rearing back its torso like some sort of giant, glowing, lizard caterpillar.

I scream out a few threats, but then suddenly feel exhausted again and I stop struggling as it runs.

The tunnel seems to go on forever, twisting and turning in a dizzying labyrinth that I can barely keep track of. I remain limp in the creature's arms, saving my strength, my breath coming in quick, shallow gasps. The walls of the cave blur past us, illuminated by the soft, bioluminescent glow radiating from the creature's skin. Every turn it takes, every sudden descent or steep climb, I try to memorize, but it's hopeless—there are too many.