Endosymbiosis

31. Eyes

My legs were shaking so badly I didn't know how I was managing to follow Korrok. My fear was ammunition for the beings around me, especially Kadi, so I needed to hide it as much as possible. I lifted my head and headed for the hungry wolves that awaited me.

I needed to find out why my mother had turned against the rebellion; why had she instructed me to go to the galaxy's core, if she wasn't the one I would find there... Infiltrating the rebellion was my best alternative to getting answers; even though I just couldn't trust it.

"You reek of fear, sapiens." Korrok growled.

"And you of death."

He laughed; and I could feel Kadi's gaze boring into my back.

"Thanks." He replied. "It will be your scent if you don't stop shivering."

This time I didn't respond.

The creatures were waiting for me, forming a circle in the central square of Venerna. I stared at the mosaic of their skins, scales, feathers, teeth and claws, so varied, immense and powerful that I could do nothing but feel intimidated... And imagine all the different ways they could kill me. But it didn't matter that those beings were pure power in the flesh, because I knew they could destroy me without even touching me; and what I wondered was if, someday, I would not be crushed enough to grow.

Just as I was starting to be sure I wouldn't survive, one of the beings caught my eye: Plumala; flying calmly towards me as if there was nothing to fear in that nest I burrowed into.

"Thank you for bringing the humans, Korrok." She greeted him. "Now I can have the company of beings other than those barbarians."

"Make no mistake, little dove..." Korrok hissed. "Humans are the worst."

And then Korrok and Kadi left to join the circle, leaving me with the columba, which promptly studied me:

"I didn't think you were so involved with this cause..."

"Me neither. But my enemies have changed."

She cocked her head to the side, curious.

"Enemies do not change, Donecea." My name... She knew it. And I wondered what else those beings might know about me. "In this cruel universe, you either eliminate them or add new ones to your list."

"I'm making a collection of them, then."

"And allies too."

I nodded to her warm smile and then we headed towards the rebel leaders.

• • • ֍ • • •

As I approached, all conversation ceased.

"Stay in the center of the circle, sapiens."

I obeyed and sat down on the floor, as if I was the sacrifice of the day. The eyes around me dug into my skin, as if they could hear every vibration in my trembling body. There wasn't a movement I made that wasn't noticed, no feeling of mine that couldn't be felt, and no secret that could be contained in me... I had become totally transparent.

I sent a look at Kadi, who was staying out of the circle, maybe because they wouldn't let him get close, or maybe because he didn't want to... Too far away to save me.

Korrok walked over to me and circled me as he hissed through his teeth in a sly smile:

"This human wants to join our cause... What do you think about that?"

"I think your jokes are losing quality, Korrok." One of the beings replied. He looked like a huge wolf, covered in silver scales that took the place of fur, with no eyes. It was a canouro, a creature that didn't need to see to discover anything through mere particles in the air. "We already know that we cannot trust humans, when Arkadi is the example we have." He teased and Kadi let out an audible grunt.