The Varkari

Colors

The growl that I knew was coming rattled my back. Even Aldar's spines lifted briefly at the sound. "He was punished for interfering with my Right. He almost caused me to lose my mate and that is a grievous offense. He and his partner were held in a cell until you were located. I allowed them their freedom only because they kept you safe and well until I could claim you."

"So he is okay?" The couple had been more than generous with me, not treating me like a prisoner or slave, and definitely not like breeding stock. I wanted no harm to come to them and the thought of them in a cell made me feel so guilty. If I had known they were there, would I have turned myself in sooner? I wasn't sure.

"I will allow you to speak with him yourself," he conceded. "The last update I received, he and his partner returned to their accommodations and Exer accepted a new position at the human hospital. It seemed he learned a lot from your wounds. Wounds I wish you had never received. You never said how you came to be injured."

I shrugged, the truth as ugly as humans had revealed themselves to be. "People. There was a lot of fighting going on."

"If you knew the human that harmed you, I would have them found and executed on Earth. You know this?"

The weird thing was, I could feel it. I knew he was being dead serious, because I felt the conviction myself as if they were my own feelings. I swallowed, but my throat felt dry.

"I want to talk to them. That's possible, isn't it?"

He did not respond so I turned to twist my head up to eyes that stayed on the forest ahead.

"You cannot expect me to believe you let them live and when I ask if you can prove it, you say nothing."

"They are alive and well, just as I have said. You must disclose if you have feelings for either of them."

"Of course I do," I said, stopping as his muscles contracted around me. "They are my friends."

Rahzgaur seemed to be thinking this over. "This friendship...human females feel this towards creatures, other females, and males, while the males of your sex rarely respond with simple platonic affection?"

Rolling my eyes, I nearly laughed at his textbook examination of things. "Uh...yes, anyone can be friends with an animal or their pet. And men can be friends with females, just friends, but I guess you are right and they would hook up if given the chance."

"Their penises are not hooked."

"It is an expression."

"I see. You do not wish to...hook up...with Exer or his partner, do you?"

This time I did snort. "No. Nope. Just friends."

"Then, I will allow this. You must learn to use our tech anyway and, after some time, I will find a safe way for you to socialize with your own kind."

I blinked, a little stunned. "Reall-"

Aldar lurched to a stop and I looked up, gasping. I barely felt Rahzgaur dismounting as I gaped at the sight before me.

This corner of the world was as awash with color as the rest, but this was even more vibrant. The ground rose up like a tidal wave, exposing the jagged and glittering stripes of the inside of Varkar. One layer was as pure white as snow, possibly a type of quartz, another silver, and still another black like soot. There was even a ribbon of the metallic purple metal shining and on display. But that was not even the half of it.

Since the rock hung over and made a half cave, long tendrils of spiral plants hung down in a huge curtain, their flowers glowing a violet color while bright green bugs flitted about, two sets of circular wings flapping lazily.