Page 29

Whatever way this is.

I huff, trying to push the feeling down. I'd thought wandering the caves would help me figure something out, but it hasn't worked. I should go back. I should return to the enclave and figure out what to do with the creature. Keeping zha here has complicated things far more than I expected.

I turn, retracing my steps through the winding passages, my mind still tangled in a web of confusion and frustration. What even is zha? I've never seen anything quite like zha. The green hair, the way zha's eyes flash with such intensity—it makes no sense. And zha's words… Oh, zha's words, sharp like shards of ice thrown into my face. I shake my head, a high chitter making its way up my throat.

As I near the enclave, I slow my pace, my claws clicking softer on the stone floor. I feel silly creeping like this, but I don't want to set the creature off again. I peer around the bend in the tunnel, spotting zha in the small hollow I call my resting place. To my relief, zha seems calmer now, a bit groggy now, seemingly just rising from sleep. If nothing else that explains zha's lucid state, perhaps gas would serve as a good deterrent for when next…?

I shake off the disgusting thought, such vileness would be best reserved for enemies, and virulent temper or not, I am hard-pressed to think of zha as an enemy.

Confusing, but not an enemy. Zha still signals in green, but at least zha is no longer shouting. Good.

I stay where I am for a moment, watching zha. I don't know what to say. I don't even know how to approach zha without risking another outburst. But then zha sighs—a small, weary sound that carries over the stone walls. I feel something ease in my chest, just a bit. Maybe zha is tired. Maybe zha will not shout this time.

"Do you have nothing better to do than stare?" zha snaps suddenly, startling me. "Or is lurking in shadows your idea of a fun time?"

I bristle, the tips of my head spikes twitching in irritation. "Not… staring," I say quickly. It's a lie, and I know zha knows it. The creature rolls zha’s eyes—a strange motion that makes me wince just looking at it. How can zha do that without pain?

Zha should not do that.

"Sure, you're not," zha says, as if zha agrees with me… and yet doesn’t. Odd.

"So, are you going to keep acting like a multi-leggedteenage stalker, or are you going to come over here and ask whatever it is you're dying to ask?" zha taunts.

I don't understand all of what zha just said, but I feel the sting of an insult buried somewhere in there. My skin flashes dark purple, and I let out an irritated huff. I take a few cautious steps forward, not entirely sure how close I should get. The creature's lips curl upward slightly—a strange expression I've not seen before. I keep my distance, still wary of another bout of those sharp, biting words.

Zha watches me, those green eyes narrowing slightly as if studying me. I feel a flicker of uncertainty, but before I can say anything, the creature speaks again. "I'm Olivia," zha says, "Olivia Ariki. AhumanfromEarth. A planet, far from here." Zha gestures vaguely, and I get the sense that zha means a great distance.

I blink, taking in the information. Earth. I have never heard of such a place, nor have I ever heard of… humans? Is that what zha said? "Hyu-mans?" I echo, the unfamiliar word strange on my tongue.

"Yes," zha replies, sighing a little, "humans. That's what I am. And that's where I'm from. I was… taken from there. Kidnapped, you know?"

My skin flares blue at the word. Kidnapped. Taken. I know what those words mean. My kind, the Zhasie, knows of many worlds, many species. Some we trade with. Some we avoid. But I have never heard of these… humans. Still, I understand being taken. "Who… took you?" I ask cautiously, my eyes narrowing as I try to make sense of this.

Olivia's expression shifts, becoming darker. "Ugly things," zha says with a shudder. "Bugs and then aliens with gray skin covered in some kind of pink slime, and three legs. They must have put us on a ship. That's how I ended up here."

I hiss at the description, flashing an annoyed purple. I know the creatures zha speaks of.

“The slimes,” I share.

They have raided my world before, though they have learned not to come back. Still, they take from other worlds.

“They raid and steal what they cannot make or trade for,” I tell zha.

Olivia's eyes widen a bit at my hiss. "You know them?" zha asks, voice cautious.

"Genali," I say, the word heavy with disdain. "They… raid worlds. Take people."

Zha looks stunned for a moment, zha's green eyes wide. Then zha's expression softens a bit, and zha seems to study me more closely. I feel a little exposed under zha's gaze, my skin flashing briefly red before I steady myself.

"I am Kroaicho," I say, wanting to shift the conversation. "Zhasie, not human. But like you I was taken."

Olivia gives a slow up and down movement of zha’s head, taking this in. "So… you were taken by them too? And ended up here?"

I mimic zha’s movement, but don’t explain, though there is more to the story. I do not wish to tell it now. "Yes," I say simply, then add, "You need to clean." I gesture vaguely at the grime covering zha's skin and clothing. Zha must be uncomfortable.

Olivia blinks, clearly caught off guard. "What? Clean? I mean… yes, that would be good."

I decide not to waste more words explaining. Instead, I reach out, grabbing zha's arm again. Zha lets out a yelp, but I don't give zha time to protest.