Children of the Universe

Chapter XI

[A/N: Again, please forgive another prolonged break in publications. I try to add new chapters more often, but usually, that's where my efforts end 😅

Enjoy!]

A few days later, when the two of you were lying on your bed in the cellar (in order to fit, Othiel had to tuck his legs where you placed yours) and reading one of your books... Well, actually you were reading out loud and Othiel was more interrupting than listening; he stroked your shoulders, licked your neck and tickled your ears with his tail feathers. You didn't protest much and were about to give in to his encouraging gestures, suggesting that you go to his hideout when a terrible noise interrupted you.

Othiel jumped up faster than you could even think to do it and was gone in the blink of an eye.

You slid off the bed and followed him towards the main entrance to the hideout, where you could already hear raised voices. Others joined you along the way, also concerned about the noise. It wasn't that late yet, most people were awake. When you reached the main hall, you saw a rather unexpected sight; Othiel stood over the General and Anton, who were lying on the floor. They were keeping watch that evening. General was wounded, his head was cut, but he was conscious. Next to him lay the broken door's wing and at the opposite end, in the entrance, stood three heavily armed roughskins.

Your knees melted. Everyone seemed to be terrified, but somehow no one ran away when they saw the aliens. Maybe because no one was able to move out of fear.

They were saying something in hoarse and low voices, in their native language, which you now recognized. You knew only a few words, so you didn't understand much. You promised yourself that if you survived, you would ask Othiel for more lessons. The newcomers clearly addressed him, but he did not respond. Ignoring them, he leaned over the guards and helped the General up. Only then he stared at the newcomers and moved towards them. 

You were afraid that something bad would come of it, so you decided to take action. You stepped out of the crowd and joined Othiel, standing by his side.

The roughskins looked at you and immediately grabbed their weapons, but all it took was Othiel's low growl to calm them down.

'May we know why we owe such a late visit?'  you asked calmly. You didn't know if they knew your language, but you hoped that your companion would translate if necessary. They seemed surprised. The largest, dark red one, approached and looked at you closely, then turned his gaze to Othiel and said something in his own language.

'I wish she understood what we're talking about,' Othiel replied. 'Especially since she asked a question, so please answer.'

Roughskin turned to you, bowing slightly. 'Apology. We feel brother in this place. A place full of humans... Humans don't imprison him?'

He was doing much worse than Othiel, but you understood that he wasn't as motivated to learn your language. The most important thing was that you were able to understand what he meant. He surprised you the most with his respectful tone. However, you didn't allow yourself to lighten the mood with a joke, knowing that roughskins don't understand jokes anyway.

'You can see we're not imprisoning him. Othiel is here willingly, so you can go away and don't scare humans,' you said simply.

Suddenly, the second roughskin spoke up. His skin was reminiscent of coffee with milk in the semi-darkness of the corridor. He spoke in his own language, but the red one immediately translated. 'Wentuk asks, do you know what you're do?' 

Othiel growled lowly again, but this time you silenced him with a wave of your hand.

'I don't understand...?'