Page 11

11

Kroaicho

I return to the enclave with my arms full—an array of gleaming rocks, stalactites, and other shiny treasures gathered meticulously from the deeper cave systems. Each piece is carefully chosen; each represents a piece of a hoard I am building back after losing so much in this foreign place.

One stalactite among them is particularly desirable. It glows in the most lovely striations of green among the brown. The story of each drip of mineral building it layer by layer stretching back long before I was alive. Each streak a moment in time as creatures passed by it, fought under it, nestled against it, while it changed slowly, almost imperceptibly.

It will provide such a long, rich history. A steady presence among the rocks made of incredible forces; much stronger, but less steady. A product of violence rather than a slow expansion.

Each perfect in their own way.

I cradle them close to my chest, feeling their solid weight, and imagine how they will gleam under the pale glow of the bioluminescent mushrooms scattered throughout the enclave. They are humble beginnings, yes, but even a small hoard can eventually grow into something vast and worthy.

But as I near the enclave, a sudden absence registers—a cold, creeping emptiness that sends a jolt through my core. The human. I sense it immediately. I lower the rocks gently, body twitching to full alert. The atmosphere is wrong and unbalanced.

I scan the darkened cave, my eyes narrowing into slits as I process the space. No Olivia. No muttered insults or sarcastic quips echoing in the damp air.

Just silence.

My nostrils flare, drawing in the cool, musty cave air, searching for zha's scent. Thankfully, it hasn't faded yet. Zha is nearby, but moving away—fast. I grind my teeth and clack together my tusks, my jaw tightening with irritation.

Zha is always trying to escape. Always complicating things. Why does zha make everything so difficult?

I drop to all six limbs and break into a dead sprint, my claws clicking against the damp stone as I dart through the narrow passages. The echo of my own breath reverberates against the walls, but I ignore it, focusing on the scent trail winding its way through the cave network. Zha is heading deeper into the caverns, toward more treacherous terrain. I push myself harder, muscles burning as I weave through the maze-like tunnels.

Stupid, impulsive human.

The scent grows stronger, and soon, I reach a familiar section of the cave. My momentum slows as I near a portion with a glassy, slippery rock floor, a naturally dangerous area even for creatures as agile as myself. I approach cautiously, claws gripping the wet stone.

The dim light from the bioluminescent fungi reveals zha's prone form a few feet away from a massive chasm, zha's body is limp and dangerously close to the edge. My irritation spikes, followed by a tight, uncomfortable feeling I can't quite identify.

"Foolish, foolish human…" I mutter under my breath as I approach zha's still form.

Zha's eyes are closed, breathing steady—zha is asleep. I stand over zha, my shadows stretching across the glossy rock. I should leave zha here, and let zha learn the consequences of zha's reckless actions. But my body moves before my thoughts can catch up. I reach down and scoop zha up, tucking zha against my chest.

Zha is so light, fragile even.

Almost immediately, zha unconsciously shifts closer, seeking warmth. Zha's small body presses against mine, head nestling against my skin. My bioluminescence flickers, shifting into a deep orange, a reaction I quickly tamp down by thinking of my irritation until the purple glow returns.

I glance down at zha, feeling my lips pushing against my tusks to reflect my annoyance.

"This is why a hoard never includes pets," I grumble, my voice a low rumble in the silence. "Never."

Zha does not respond, zha's body is limp and zha’s face is relaxed in sleep. I sigh and begin the long trek back to the enclave, navigating the slick, uneven terrain with more care this time. The human is warm against me, zha's soft breath tickling my chest with each exhale. I try not to think about it, about how natural it feels, carrying zha like this.

The journey back feels long, and my mind starts to wander despite myself. Why can't I just leave her? Zha is troublesome, always asking questions, challenging me, and running off when Zha knows nothing of the dangers of this place. Zha complicates my life in a hundred small, frustrating ways. And yet…

I glance down at zha, watching the way zha’s face twitches slightly as if zha is dreaming. Zha’s small body is so easily broken, so vulnerable. I could end zha’s life right now if I chose to. The thought passes through my mind like a shadow, unbidden but not entirely unwelcome. But I don't. I can't.

Why am I so fascinated by Olivia? Zha is unlike anything I have ever encountered—bold, reckless, unpredictable. Somehow completely uninterested in treasure.

It makes no sense, and yet part of my mind wonders what it would be like if there wasn’t that competition between two zhasie. Or, well, a zhasie and a human.

Everything about zha defies logic, and yet there is something about zha that keeps pulling me back, making me want to understand zha. To understand this…human.

I shake my head, trying to dismiss the thought. Zha is nothing but a distraction, a complication I never asked for. And yet… I can't help but feel a small flicker of something—curiosity, perhaps? Or is it something more insidious, something I dare not name?

Before I can delve deeper into this uncomfortable line of thought, I feel a stir against my chest. I look down to see Olivia's eyes fluttering open, zha's body tensing as zha wakes. Zha's eyes go wide, and zha jerks upright, looking around wildly.

"What—" zha starts, zha's voice groggy and confused. Then, realization sets in, and zha scowls up at me. "What the hell , Kroaicho?"

I set zha down on zha's feet with a huff, my irritation flaring back to the surface. "What exactly did you intend to achieve by falling asleep a few feet from of certain death?" I snap, each chitter strident, my voice echoing through the enclave.

Olivia lets out a growl, rubbing zha’s eyes. "I don’t know, maybe I was tired?" Zha wiggles out of my grip, zha's feet unsteady on the uneven ground. "Ever think of that? Why must you always be schlepping me around?”

I narrow my eyes, my patience wearing thin. "You were tired, so you decided to risk your life on a ledge?" I click, my voice rising with each word. "That makes no sense, even by your baffling standards. I keep my treasures safe, but you have purposefully put yourself at risk."

Had I only realized it would be this difficult to keep a treasure safe… from itself. It’s baffling to suddenly have a greater concern than theft. My skin lights up purple as I remember just how close zha was to ending zha’s story.

Zha moves zha’s shoulders, not the least bit bothered by my anger. "I was bored , okay? So I went exploring. Big deal."

I freeze, the word catching in my mind. " Bored ?" I echo, tasting the unfamiliar term. "What is this… bored ? Does it mean seeking death?"

Zha looks at me, exasperated. "You know, bored . When you've got nothing to do, and your brain starts turning to mush?"

I tilt my head, trying to parse zha's meaning. "You… turn to mush? This is not possible. You are solid."

Olivia stares at me for a moment, then bursts into laughter. "No, not literally. It's a feeling. Like when you're restless and need something to do."

I blink, still not quite understanding. "So, boredom is… a disease of inactivity?"

Olivia laughs harder, doubling over. "No, no, it's not a disease. It's just… ugh, it's hard to explain."

I tap my arms against each other, feeling my annoyance flare again. "Your human concepts are needlessly complex."

Zha straightens, wiping liquid from zha’s eyes. "You know what? You're right. Let's just say it's a thing we humans experience and leave it at that."

I huff, but the heat of my anger dissipates slightly. "Alright. If this boredom is such a problem, what do you do to cure it?"

Olivia's eyes brighten at that, and zha gestures toward the small pile of shiny rocks I had gathered. "Well, what do you do for fun?"

I straighten up, pride swelling in my chest. "I go treasure hunting." I gesture grandly to my modest collection. "I have gathered these today. They are quite remarkable, are they not?"

Zha gives the pile a skeptical look, raising an eyebrow. "These? These are what you call treasure?"

I feel a twinge of self-consciousness, my skin flickering to a faint blue. "Yes, they are treasures," I insist, perhaps a bit too loudly.

“All I see are dull, dusty rocks,” zha chitters back and I look over to the gleaming, multi-colored pile in confusion.

“There is nothing dull about them. They each have a rich story,” I argue. "Back on my home planet, we gathered these to add to our hoard. It is a practice of great importance."

Zha snorts. "Fair enough. On Earth, for fun, we have things like television shows ."

I grind my tusks, the word unfamiliar, and I assume meaning nothing of true value. “What is this?"

"It's a kind of entertainment," zha explains, "where you watch stories on a screen that lights up. Like tiny, moving pictures."

“Stories?” I chitter back, surprised.

“Yes, of course,” zha says in a dismissive tone.

I tilt my head, trying to visualize what zha is describing. "I have seen screens, but only used by visiting aliens. And not… moving stories?”

"Yes," zha says with the up and down head movement, "some of them are really good. You get to see different worlds, different lives, all from the comfort of your home."

“That sounds intriguing,” I admit. “But nothing you can hold or organize?"

“A long time ago, maybe,” zha says with an odd twitch of shoulders. “The story is in your mind, not in your hands.”

I let out a snort. "Your species truly is strange. So, you watch these moving pictures instead of actually gathering things for your hoard. The screens are your treasure?"

Zha shakes zha’s head back and forth. “No, the stories are what make the screens fun. The screens aren’t important. It’s what is on them. For example, my favorite show, Rick and Morty ."

The name sounds odd to me, but I prompt zha to continue. "Explain this… Rick and Morty ."

Zha’s eyes widen, and zha launches into an enthusiastic explanation. "So, it's about this mad scientist , Rick, and his grandson , Morty, going on crazy adventures across different dimensions and universes. Rick's kind of an alcoholic , super genius, and Morty's this awkward, na?ve teenager who gets dragged along."

My skin lights up to show my bemusement. Most of the words didn’t translate, but I don’t want zha to explain it again. “This sounds chaotic."

Zha moves zha’s shoulders. "Yes, that's the point! It's wild, unpredictable. Like… uh… me. What about you?”

“I am neither mad nor chaotic,” I tell zha.

Zha gives me a long look. "Oh, you definitely have the mad part down. And the chaos? I think that's a given."

For a moment, my skin lights up orange for some inexplicable reason. That should be an insult, why would it make me happy to hear it?

"Perhaps,” I tell zha. “But I still do not understand how such a thing could relieve this boredom you speak of."

Olivia snorts. "Maybe one day I'll show you."

The thought of seeing these moving pictures with zha is strange, but I nod. "Perhaps. But until then, you are not to leave the enclave again without my express permission."

Zha opens zha mouth to protest, but I cut zha off with a glare and a flash of purple. "I will not always be there to drag you back from the brink of death. Understood?"

Zha mutters something under zha’s breath but nods. "Fine. But if you expect me to sit here and twiddle my thumbs, you've got another thing coming."

For some reason, I don’t like zha’s anger. I want to see wide eyes and hear excited chitters again. They make me want to glow orange, even though what zha says is strange.

"Tell me more about these television shows , Olivia,” I urge, suddenly excited about how many layers to zha there are.

Zha is too mercurial to be like the slow build of a stalactite, too layered to be like a rock made of earth forces. Something in between.

Zha blinks at me, brow lowering. Then, as if on cue, zha’s eyes brighten, and zha seems to shake off zha's earlier annoyance. "You want to hear about more shows? That’s what you want from me?"

Zha’s tone is confused, though zha’s green eyes are still bright.

"Yes," I respond, more firmly than I intended. "If these shows cure this… 'boredom,' then it's in both our interests for me to know more about them. You will tell me now."

Olivia smirks and rolls zha’s eyes, making my skin shudder. "All right, all right. Let's see…" Zha pauses, tapping zha's chin thoughtfully. "Oh! Have you ever heard of Red versus Blue ?"

I tilt my head, the words strange and nonsensical. "Red versus blue? Are those two… adversaries? Why would fear and confusion battle one another?"

Zha laughs and shakes zha’s head. "Oh, thank you for letting me know what those colors mean. Not exactly. It's more of a comedy than a serious fight. It's about two teams of soldiers , one red, and one blue, who are supposed to be fighting in this huge war. Except, the war doesn't really matter because they're all stuck in this canyon with nothing to do. So, instead of fighting, they just spend most of their time arguing and getting into ridiculous situations."

I blink slowly, absorbing this. "So two emotions do not fight? They just argue? How is that entertaining?"

Olivia’s mouth widens, which I’m starting to realize is zha’s equivalent to orange, clearly enjoying zha’s chance to explain. "Well, they do fight sometimes, but it's mostly about the banter. The red team is always scheming and trying to one-up the blue team, but they're all kind of idiots. And then there's the blue team, who are just as bad but in different ways. It's all about the characters and the stupid things they get into."

I can't help but snort, my skin flickering white with amusement despite myself. "So, you watch a group of incompetent emotion soldiers argue with each other instead of engaging in actual combat? This sounds absurd."

Zha crosses zha’s arms and narrows zha’s eyes at me. "It's funny because it's absurd. It's not supposed to be serious. It's all about the humor in the situation. You'd probably find it funny if you gave it a chance."

I challenge zha with a skeptical look and deep click. "I highly doubt it. My species values precision and efficiency. Wasting time with incompetence is not something we find humorous."

"Not everything has to be about efficiency, though I do enjoy it myself," Olivia says, clearly enjoying zha’s chance to challenge me. "Sometimes, it's just about enjoying the chaos. You could use a little of that, you know. Loosen up a bit."

"Loosen up?" I echo, feeling a flicker of dark purple irritation flash across my skin. "I am perfectly loose."

I wriggle my arms to demonstrate.

Olivia bursts into laughter again and this time I notice that it sounds different. Less harsh.

What is the difference? For once I realize the disadvantage to emotions not being clearly on display. Can I trust this laugh or the other one?

I don’t know.

“Kroaicho,” zha continues, clicks still sounding different. Less strained, maybe? “I like order just as much as anyone else, but chaos is fun. Of all the creatures to end up with on this planet… how is it that you seem to understand even less than I do?”

I narrow my eyes, though the irritation is already dissipating. Zha has a point, even if zha doesn't understand my circumstances. "My life has always been about survival," I say, a bit more quietly. "Gathering treasures, protecting what's mine. That is how I have lived. There is little room for… the opposite of boredom ."

Olivia's expression softens a bit, and zha tilts zha’s head to the side. "I get that. But maybe that's why you should try something different? Like, what do you do for fun? Besides gathering shiny rocks?"

I bristle slightly at zha’s dismissive tone, but I don't let it show. "Treasure hunting is not simply gathering rocks," I say, my voice firm. "It is an ancient tradition of the zhasie. From back before the Sundering.”

“Sundering?” zha asks, brows lowered again.

“Yes. When our world burned and the zhasie shifted our lives to the safety of the caves,” I explain. “There was little left afterward and each item had a history that would have easily been forgotten if not gathered, protected, and passed from zhann to zhannel.”

“Burned? And I thought we had it bad. But I don’t see what that has to do with gathering rocks,” zha clicks back.

“We seek out the rarest, most valuable items to build our hoards. Pull out their stories. It is a matter of pride and status,” I explain, wondering how that isn’t known.

Even the alien travelers seemed to have understood and agreed with that.

Zha raises one brow, giving my collection of shiny rocks a skeptical look. "Right… and you're sure those rocks are the rarest and most valuable?"

I flicker briefly to a faint shade of purple before I catch myself. "They are the beginnings of my new hoard," I say defensively. "It will grow in time. Soon there will be many stories here. The best so far is that stalactite," I tell zha, pointing with a claw.

Zha looks over, brows low, then one flicks up higher. “How?”

“The layers, Olivia,” I prompt, my skin lighting up blue in my consternation about how little zha seems to notice. “The passing of time as creatures such as us shift around it. Living, dying, breathing, fighting. Each drip another striation of glow and variation.”

Olivia clicks, clearly unimpressed. "Well, if that's what you enjoy, more power to you, I guess. I don’t see the appeal or the entertainment value. On Earth , we have different ways of having fun. Like, we have food. Really good food. Something that is one hundred percent missing right now, I might add."

After a quick glance at all of the layers of food surrounding us, I decide this must be another example of zha being odd.

I flash white when I think of there being other options, curiosity piqued. "Food? What kind of food?"

Zha uses zha’s orange-like widened mouth, clearly pleased to have my attention. "Lots of things. We've got burgers , pizza , sushi… you name it. My favorite? Pizza , hands down. You have no idea what you're missing out on. What about you? What kind of food do you eat?"

I pause, considering how to explain my species' dietary habits. "We zhasie primarily consume a variety of bioluminescent fungi and small cave creatures. The fungi provide necessary nutrients and help maintain our bioluminescence, while the creatures offer protein."

Olivia wrinkles zha’s nose. "Fungi and… small creatures? Like bugs?"

I move my head up and down in zha’s human movement, not entirely understanding zha’s reaction. "Yes. They are a vital part of our ecosystem. We also have large fungi that grow deep in the caves. They are rare, but when found, they can sustain us for weeks."

Zha makes an odd face. "I don't think I could survive on a diet of mushrooms and bugs. No offense, but that sounds gross, which is saying a lot because I’m starving right now."

The blue of my confusion gains flickers of dark purple irritation. "Gross? You call our sacred fungi gross? They have sustained my species for millennia."

Zha raises zha hands in a placating gesture. "No offense meant. I'm just saying, it's not exactly my idea of a good meal."

I huff, my skin flickering from dark purple to blue again as I begrudgingly accept zha’s apology. "Humans have strange tastes."

Olivia’s orange signal lips widen. "You're not wrong there. But if you ever get a chance to try pizza , I bet you'd like it."

I snort, dismissing the idea. "I highly doubt that. But perhaps one day, you will have the chance to prove me wrong. In the meantime, you are surrounded by food."

Olivia doesn’t respond, just wrinkles zha’s nose again.

We lapse into silence for a few moments, the sound of dripping water from the cave walls and the flow of the stream the only noise. I find myself glancing at zha, studying the way zha moves, and the subtle expressions on zha's face. Zha is so different from anything I've ever encountered, yet… there's something oddly compelling about zha's presence. Something that draws me in, despite my better judgment.

Eventually, Olivia breaks the silence. "So… what other customs do you zhasie have? Besides treasure hunting and eating mushrooms?"

I pause, considering how to explain my culture to zha. "We have many traditions. The hoarding of treasures is one of the most important, but we also place great value on our connection to the caves. We believe that the caves are alive, that they protect us and guide us. We honor the caves by caring for them, ensuring that they remain strong and unyielding."

Olivia nods, listening intently. "That's… actually kind of cool. So, you guys are like, cave guardians?"

I blink, the term unfamiliar. "Guardians? Perhaps. We see ourselves as caretakers, ensuring that the balance of the caves is maintained. If the caves thrive, so do we."

Zha seems to consider this, and then zha smiles. "You know, humans have some traditions like that too. Like, we have Earth Day, where we focus on taking care of our planet. It's not quite the same, but it's similar, I guess."

I tilt my head, intrigued. "Earth Day? What is this day?"

Zha shrugs. "It's a day where people try to be more environmentally conscious— recycling , planting trees, stuff like that. Not everyone takes it seriously, but it's supposed to be a day to remind us that we need to take care of the planet."

I nod slowly, seeing the parallels. "Perhaps your species is not so different after all. Though I imagine your Earth Day is far less significant than our cave rituals."

Zha laughs. "Probably. We humans aren't always the best at sticking to our traditions. But we try."

I flicker briefly to orange. "I doubt anything with such a weak constitution as yours could do more than that.”

Zha lets out a long breath and zha’s features suddenly become different. Far more.. neutral.

"We have plenty of traditions," zha grumbles, "I'll explain… I guess we'll start with school."

I lean in, curious despite myself. “That word does not translate.”

"It’s where humans learn things, Kroaicho," Olivia says, then presses zha’s lips together for a long moment. It's clear zha is having a hard time figuring out how to explain it in a way that will make sense to me. "I imagine a place where children … young humans, I mean, gather together to be taught."

I frown. The concept of zhannel is not foreign to me, but gathering them all in one place to teach them simultaneously seems… inefficient. It is a rising theme among humans. "Why not just teach them individually?" I ask.

Olivia sighs. "It's not that simple. There are too many of us. Schools let lots of children learn together at the same time."

I tilt my head, my spikes twitching with confusion. "That sounds chaotic."

Olivia laughs again, though it's a softer sound this time. "It is. Sometimes. To be honest, I hated it, but don’t let that color how you think of it. It's the best way we've figured out how to teach large groups."

I'm still not convinced. "But why would you want so many humans in one place? Wouldn't that cause problems?"

"Well, yeah, sometimes it does," Olivia admits with a shrug. "But it's also how we socialize. We form connections with others, make friends, and learn how to be human."

I frown deeper. "You have to learn how to be your species? Why would you want to be around so many other humans? You've spent most of your time with me. Alone. Is that not preferable?"

Olivia gives me an odd look. "Kroaicho, just because I'm stuck here with you doesn't mean I don't miss other people. Humans are… social creatures. We need each other. I didn’t really realize until now just how much.”

I don't fully understand. The idea of needing anyone beyond myself after growing up is foreign to me. I shift uncomfortably, my glow flickering between blue and purple as I process what Olivia's saying. Zha’s need for companionship, for these… connections with other humans—it baffles me.

But before I can voice my confusion, Olivia breaks the silence with a new topic.

"What about the others?" zha asks softly, zha’s voice heavy with something that sounds like hope. "The other humans that crash-landed here. Have you looked for them?"

I fight the urge to chitter aloud. I know zha wants to find them, to connect with them the way zha insists humans do, but… I'm not eager to go looking. It's not my responsibility. My focus has always been on my hoard, on exploration—not looking for humans.

Olivia doesn't let up, though. Zha presses on. "Please, Kroaicho. There were other pods. They're out there somewhere. You could help me find them."

I stare at Olivia, my glow darkening to a deeper purple as irritation floods through me. I don't want to upset zha, not when we've managed to avoid an argument again, but… I don't see the point.

With a frustrated sigh, I concede—partially. "I will… look," I say, though I don't fully commit. "But you will stay here. Do not wander. This cave is safe."

Predictably, Olivia doesn't agree. "I'm not staying behind while you search for my people. I'm coming with you."

I blink. I'm trying to protect zha. This planet is dangerous—far more dangerous than zha understands. "No," I say firmly. "You will stay. It is safer."

Olivia's face hardens. "I can handle myself, Kroaicho. I'm not some helpless kid you need to keep hidden away."

We lock eyes, the tension between us thickening. I feel my spikes twitch in irritation, my glow deepening as I struggle to keep my temper in check. Why is zha so insistent on defying me? Does zha not understand the risks?

"No," I say again, more forcefully this time. "You will stay."

Olivia stands up straighter, zha’s fists clenched at zha’s sides. "I'm coming with you. I won't let you go out there alone. Not when my people could be in danger."

I feel my irritation flare, my glow turning a deep, pulsing purple. But I know this argument is going nowhere. Olivia won't back down, and I… I don't want to lose zha’s trust. Not completely.

But still…

"The only reason I am agreeing to this is on the condition that you stay here." I fold my limbs to signal my urging. “The most beautiful, complex part of the hoard should remain the safest.”

Olivia raises an eyebrow. "You are so officially weird. Stay here? Seriously?"

"Yes," I click back. "Stay. Here."

"No way," zha shoots back, zha’s voice rising with defiance. "I'm not just going to sit here while you—"

I cut zha off, my spikes flaring slightly. "It's dangerous out there."

"I can handle myself," zha argues, stepping closer to me, zha’s glow brightening with stubbornness.

"You'll slow me down," I snap, my irritation flaring again. "Stay here."

We stand there, locked in a silent standoff for what feels like an eternity. I can see the determination in zha’s eyes, the way zha jaw is set, and the pink flush of zha glow as zha refuses to back down.

Olivia lets out that odd growl, then speaks again. “You make it really hard to pretend to be cheerful, you know that? I’m going back to sleep."

I let out a breath, relieved to have won this small battle, though the dark-purple glow still lingers around me as I turn to leave.

My irritation simmers just below the surface, but beneath that… there's something else. A strange tug, a pull, as if something is shifting between us. I try to ignore it, focusing instead on the task at hand, but it's there, lingering in the back of my mind.

I don't understand this human. I don't understand zha’s stubbornness, zha’s persistence. But for some reason, I find myself doing things for zha that I wouldn't do for anyone else.

And that… that's confusing.