Lost and Found

Part 9- Human culture

     Riley was fast asleep when Markus got home. He unlocked his door, then slipped in, careful not to lose the passenger on his shoulder. He stole a quick glance at Riley, noticing she was curled up against his neck. He smiled, brushing her back with his fingertip. He carefully removed Riley, cupping his hands around the small human. She snuggled in his hands, still asleep.

     In all of my life, I have never seen a human act quite like this. Markus thought, stroking Riley's tiny figure. She squirmed a little,trying to get comfortable in his hands. He thought that humans fought when they saw something like him. I guess that's not how all humans act.

     He put Riley onto the armrest of the couch, then went to his room to change. He came back after two minutes, and saw Riley still asleep.

     Must be a heavy sleeper. Markus thought, picking Riley back up and carrying her to his room. He laid down on his bed, Riley still asleep. He slid Riley into his chest pocket, then fell asleep for the night.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Riley woke up, surrounded by fabric. The ground beneath her was moving up and down, and she felt oddly hot. She crawled out of the fabric, then realized that she had slept in Markus's shirt pocket. She stood up, looking at the giant wearing the sea of gray fabric. Markus was still asleep. She smiled, then sat down above his heart. She listen to it beat, and picked up a rhythm. She began humming the song, "The Phoenix". She then began singing the chorus of the song, unaware that Markus was listening to her.

"What are you doing?" Markus asked, curiosity clear in his voice.

Riley jumped, swiveling around to see Markus looking at her. She blushed, embarrassed that he had been watching her.

"Sorry, I was just singing to the rhythm of your heart." Riley said, blushing slightly.

"Uh?" Markus said.

"Singing, you know, rhyming with rhythm, songs, you don't know what that is?" Riley asked.

"Sorry, but, I haven't come across humans that 'sing'." Markus said.

Riley's jaw nearly broke off, hearing how Markus didn't know music. "Please tell me you at least know how to dance?" She asked, practically begging.

Markus just shrugged, saying "sorry, but I don't know human culture."

"I think I'm gonna pass out." Riley said, eyes wide with shock. "Alright, you're gonna learn how to dance at least. If you can keep a rhythm, then you can dance."

     "How can I if I can't keep a rhythm?" Markus said, shoeing Riley off his chest to get up.

     "Just dance to the beat of your heart! Move with its every beat. Trust me, if I can dance to a rhythm, you can to!" Riley said, getting up on her feet.

     Markus exhaled sharply, then spoke, "I don't even know what dancing is!"

     Riley face-palmed. "Well, that's why I'll show you some easy ones! Do you know how to dab?"

     "Do I know how to what?" Markus asked, confused.

     Riley face-palmed again, this time with both hands. "Oi vey! This is gonna be harder than I expect! Alright, just lean, then bend one elbow like you would when you sneeze, then your other arm sticks straight out away from the bent arm. Got it?"

     "Nope. Riley, just, why don't we do this when your not being hunted, alright?" Markus said, walking over to his dresser and picking out a pair of dark blue denim jeans and walking to his guest room, leaving Riley on his bed.

     "Wow, he really doesn't want to learn how to dance, does he?" Riley said to herself, trotting towards his pillow while humming "Raised By Wolves".