Beyond our Earth

18: Airborne

The soil beneath our feet sunk like wet, granular sand as we treaded across the barren planes. Thick smog enclosed all around. I clung to Althazars hand. His face blurred in and out of focus as the wind swept through the ashy smog.

I pulled my shirt up over my nose, trying to filter out the polluted air. I didn't know what the hell I was breathing in but it didn't feel good.

As we got farther away from our vehicle the ground started to get wetter. The slushy soil splashed up around my ankles with each step.

"There's nothing here," I yelled through my shirt.

He gave my hand a firm tug, telling me we had to keep going.

The wind picked up, making my t-shirt flap against my waist. Then, I hit something with my foot. I looked down at the small, purple creature laying limp in the soil.

I shrieked. Althazar bent down to look at it.

He stood up quickly and pulled me away. We walked a little further, images of the creature still flashed through my mind. Then we came across a tree. That was just the start. A few more steps and there was another, then a bush. We were coming into a forest of vegetation.

Althazar let go of my hand and pulled back a large branch, making room for us to get through. I put my hand on his shoulder, holding onto him so I wouldn't get lost in the fog.

The wind howled through the branches above, rustling the leaves harshly. The air within the forest seemed a little cleaner. I could see more now. Althazar separated from me and started lifting up leaves and looking under bushes. I watched him closely. A soft breeze brought another gust of filthy air into the forest. I lost sight of Althazar for a second. Leaves blew into my face, slapping me lightly. Suddenly there was a hand on my back. I spun around.

"Who's there?" I hissed.

A plum coloured creature emerged from the smog. It was only about a foot tall but it hovered in the air at my head level. It had large leathery wings the same shade as it's body and it's fingers and toes were webbed. It had thin wispy white hair that looked like a ball of light around it's apple shaped head.

It hovered in the air near me, twitching it's pointy ears.

"Hello," I said softly.

It's ears picked up and it fluttered closer to me.

I reached out and touched its hand.

"Sara!" Althazar shouted. He lept in front of me, grabbing the little alien out of the air and rolling onto the ground. 

"What was that for?" I demanded.

He got up, holding the squirming creature firmly by the wings.

"These things bite, you know." he cautioned, holding it up in front of my face.

I watched it trying to turn it's neck enough to nip at Althazar's hand. It had two rows of tiny razor sharp teeth. 

"Is this what we're after? Is it the dominant species?" I asked, hopeful.

"I think so, love. Lets get back quick," Althazar replied.

We ran to the pod and hopped inside. Althazar put the fairy-like alien into a compartment and closed the lid. We sped off, back up to the ship.

"You've seen these before?" I asked.

Althazar nodded. "They're called Symphyoniks. They're blind and rely on sound to navigate. They scare easily and usually their first reaction is to bite." He explained.

I stared out the window.

"How do you know so much?" I wondered.

He laughed. "I guess I've had a long time to learn."

We pulled into the side of the ship. Althazar opened the top and we both climbed out of the pod.

"Wait- what about the alien thing," I reminded him, nodding towards the pod.

He spun on his heal and smiled at me, blushing a little. 

"Right!" He reached back into the craft and lifted it out by the wings. It was still thrashing about, trying to bite at him.

We dropped it off at the preparation room. Althazar didn't stay to watch like he usually does. He said something about being hungry- or feeling tired... He assured me that he'd be back soon so I waited in the room with the Symphyonik. It had been strapped down to the table and the robot was doing it's usual procedure. 

I paced around the room waiting for Althazar to come back.  

He was taking forever. It felt like at least a half an hour. I was beginning to question his definition of "soon".

 The robot thing made a beeping sound. I think it was done with the Symphyonik.

Althazar, where are you?

 I left the room and went through the hall to the terrarium. Damn it, I would have to go looking for him. The door to the terrarium opened before I got to it.

"Althazar, where were you?" I asked as he walked towards me.

"Nowhere. I was- I was just getting something to eat. What's wrong?" He asked.

It was weird, the way he said it made it seem like he was hiding something.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't know it would take that long. Anyway, the think is done with the Symphyonik." I said coldly.

he nodded his head. "Alright."

"I'm going back to my room." I said.

"Oh. Okay, do you want me to...?" he started.

"You can go look at your new alien." I said.

"Right." he said slowly, somewhat confused. " Okay, well I'll see you."

"Ya" I turned and walked into the terrarium, wondering what the hell just happened. Suddenly I felt all tense and awkward.