Between The Crystals

Ch 65 A Different Hum

After collecting a bunch of sticks and inedible grasses, Cruz took a break and climbed on top of a large stone near the crystal, possibly for a better vantage point. Brielle settled onto the grass near me and began weaving grass and sticks into rather fancy miniature baskets that looked like animals.

There was a chubby cat, a rabbit, and she was already working on a rather realistic wing.

"You might want to be careful with those," I commented. When she glanced at me, I elaborated, "The Saursunes tend to be really interested in anything braided or woven from grass or leaves. They seem to think they mean something."

"True. I didn't even think about that since none of these are circles." She tucked the cat and rabbit into the basket, placing a handful of weaving grasses on top.

Right on cue, the bushes rustled as the pale brown Saursune ambled out.

Above, Cruz muttered, "His scales blend into the thickets far too well. I didn't even see him."

The Saursune's body language was relaxed as he wandered over. He sniffed my hair and nuzzled my shoulder before sitting beside me and looking around. Thankfully, Brielle had hid the woven bird wing in the grass beside her the moment our guest appeared. Both of her hands were clasped in her lap as she warily watched the large predator a mere ten paces away.

With a yawn that gave us an unfortunately excellent view of all his teeth, he laid down beside me and rested his head in my lap. I froze, unsure how to react. His scales were only vaguely warm, and a quick check of my energy confirmed he wasn't taking any. It kind of reminded me of the rabbit hounds, but his head was almost as big as they were.

With a confused glance at my companions, I hesitantly lifted my hand and stroked his neck. His eyes fluttered shut as a hum rose and fell, almost akin to a cat's purr, but so deep it was more felt than heard.

The faintest shift of my energy—it was no longer completely dormant—alerted me to his ulterior motive. It took me a while to feel the drain. It was so gradual it was barely detectable.

"I kind of doubt the guards are going to believe this story," I murmured.

"Is he taking your energy?" Brielle quietly asked.

"Yeah, but I can barely feel it. He's absorbing it so slowly it'll take him fifteen minutes to take the amount needed for a solo port."

She was silent for a while. "If you need our help, let us know, although I don't have any clue what we can do to assist."

"He'd probably let me stand up and move away if I tried, but since he let us into his pasture and he's not hunting our companions, I'd rather let him drain the bit he's taking." Dryly, I added, "By the way, when I said I was hoping to build goodwill with the local farmer, this was not what I had visualized."

She chuckled, which had the Saursune opening his eyes at the strange sound, then closing them again as I continued petting his neck.

Cruz commented from his perch, "Don't get too complacent. Saursunes are just as intelligent as we are. I think he's acting like one of our pets since it's the easiest way to approach us without you bouncing."

It was a sobering reminder that the giant purring lizard I was petting was a member of an alien race capable of traveling between the stars and using technology so advanced it might as well have been magic.

I nodded. "Well, he succeeded, but that's a good reminder."

I rested my hand on a part of my leg not covered by the Saursune's neck. It really wasn't proper to "pet" someone.