The Alien You Know... (Original Story)

CHAPTER 8: I TRIED SO HARD, AND GOT SO FAR...

I watch as Ross walks away, and I sigh. I can't just stand here, not while my family is in danger. I need to take responsibility for my choices. "Ross?" I stumble over to him. He growls and doesn't stop.

"Ross! Wait!", I say, tears stinging my eyes. He kneels down, his tail dragging on the dirt. He holds his spear in his hand, it's silver shaft gleaming in the late day sun. I approach him, taking small steps.

"Ross?" I clear my throat. "Look, I understand how you feel about me, but I need your help. My family-- Grygore knows where they are, and he's gonna slaughter them! I don't care if you hate me, but..."

My lip trembles. "I, I have two sisters, my parents, I can't. I JUST CAN'T LET THEM DIE!", I say, tears rolling down my cheeks. He grunts, and I swallow. "You were right, okay? I wasn't ready, and I acted rashly and blindly."

I kneel, and bow down. "I have disappointed you. I'm so sorry." He scoffs. "You only care because it involves you.", he says, standing up. I look up at him. "WHAT?! NO!", I yell. "THAT'S UNFAIR! NOT TO MENTION FALSE! YOU MUST KNOW THAT! I need to talk to Daemyn's mother, too..."

He turns around, and sighs. "I know... I just, I wasn't prepared to be involved with a genocidal maniac." I bite my beak. "I know, Ross. I, I wish I could fix this, make this world safe, but I can't."

I sniff. "I can't fight him on my own, trust me, I tried. But maybe if you help me, I can. Please. I can't stand here while my family is dying!" Ross nods, and clenches his fist. "They won't die, although I cannot forgive you at this moment, I can't let innocents die because of my feud."

He walks behind me, and presses a switch, and the mechanism opens. I gasp, the pain in my wings intensifying. I turn to face him. "I will not let Daemyn's death be in vain. Not while I draw breath." He nods. "It won't be."

He flips his spear downwards, the energy in the spearhead planted into the dirt. "Let's move.", he says, pulling the spear out of the ground, and running off. I follow behind, my broken wing flapping behind me.

Ross and I walk back to see Knarf, who points his staff at me. "WHAT DID I SAY, YOUNG MAN!" Ross kneels, leaning forward on his spear. "I know you said to leave her, and I was prepared to. But..."

He looks at me. "She says her family is in danger." Knarf groans. "Maybe that is a consequence of your failure.", Knarf says, turning away. "You would let innocents die?!", Ross says, standing up.

Knarf scoffs. "No. I mean she needs to figure out a way to save them herself." Ross gasps. "You won't help then?", Ross asks. Knarf shakes his head. "That is unjust.", Ross mutters. I grunt, and clench my good wing.

"He's right. It's my mess. I should clean it up.", I say, marching off towards the Myoan River, and the Byan Mountains. Ross scoffs. "How exactly do you think you can fight? Your arm is broken, you can't fight him, and..."

I growl. "I don't care. I need to stop him." I walk forward, and Ross groans. "You're gonna get yourself killed. Think rationally." I look at Knarf. "He wants me to die." I tilt my head. "Am I right?"

Knarf folds his wings. "You have disobeyed, failed me, and have disrespected my honor." He sneers. "Yes, you deserve no better." Ross sighs. "I can't believe you." He spits in Knarf's direction.

"You must be a dishonorable warrior if you would send someone to their death, albeit because of their mistakes, and condemn a group of your people!" Ross picks up a branch, and tears off a strip of his shirt.

"Here; I'll set the bone." He places the branch against my wing, and ties the strip of cloth around my wing. He looks at me. "Too tight?", he asks, and I shake my head. He nods, and motions with his head, towards the mountains.