Spiritborn ✦ AVENGERS

𝟕 | Mankind Is Very Odd

"AND YOU'RE SURE THIS IS SAFE?" I ASKED FOR WHAT FELT LIKE THE HUNDRETH TIME. "I don't want this thing to burn up and we fall out of the sky."

About a day had passed. After offering our assistance to them and explaining exactly who we were and what we could do, Natasha had explained that she belonged to something called a Shield, which was, in her words, "an organization". I'd never heard of that word before, but apparently it was a very large group of mortals who all worked together to achieve a common goal. And this Shield seemed to be one of them.

Now, Nemarra and I were in this thing called a "quinjet" - some kind of flying contraption that Shield used. Natasha had made us change out of our Nahantu armor into something more "suitable", so now I had on a pale blue "tank top" and long black "pants." Nemarra wore a red "long-sleeved crop top" and white "jeans." And both of us were wearing "shoes" - mine were black "converse" and Nemarra's were black "combat boots." All strange names for clothing, but I had decided not to question it. These were not our ways. We just had to adapt to them.

"Yes, Rani," Natasha assured me. "This is perfectly safe. And don't worry, we won't burn up and fall out of the sky." She tapped the mortal controlling the contraption (she'd called him a "pilot") on the shoulder. "This is Wilkenson. He's one of our best and bravest pilots, he'll get us to base safely."

I didn't necessarily believe her, but I didn't want to annoy her by continuing to ask if it was safe. So I nodded at her before I glanced at Nemarra, who was looking off to the side, seemingly lost in thought. She seemed upset, so I put a hand on her arm before leaning closer and saying in a low voice, "Are you alright?"

Nemarra turned to me, and I could see in her expression that she was deeply troubled. Then, she said softly to me in Nahantu, "I'm not sure if this is a good idea, Rani. I don't trust these people."

"Why not?" I asked, also speaking Nahantu. "They've treated us fairly since we left."

"Yes, but you seem to forget that they put us to sleep when we arrived," Nemarra retorted. "They didn't even give us a chance to explain our reasoning for being here."

"You're acting as if these mortals are so much different from us," I replied. "If we were invaded by strangers from another realm, wouldn't Father be just as cautious?" Nemarra looked away but was silent, so I went on, "Don't be so quick to judge them. Give them a chance. They might just surprise you."

Nemarra looked back at me before lowering her head and sighing. But, before she could respond, Natasha spoke up.

"Sorry, but your accents and the language you speak," the ginger-haired woman said. "It's very... unique." She crossed her arms. "What is it, exactly? It sounds like a cross between Latin, Swahili, and Spanish."

Both me and Nemarra frowned, confusion flooding through me. Latin? Swahili? Spanish? What were those?

"They're languages," Natasha explained when she saw our confusion. "Other languages we speak here."

I shot Nemarra a quick glance, but Nemarra was the one to speak.

"Our language has the same name as our home, and our people," Nemarra said. "Nahantu."

"Huh." Natasha nodded. "Interesting." She then lifted an eyebrow. "You said earlier that you had two names, but the second name is one you don't willingly share. Why is that?"

"Why so many questions?" Nemarra replied sharply. "Are you planning anything?"

Natasha shook her head. "Not at all. It's just that we've never had someone from another realm come here before. I want to know more about you."