Chapter 20 – Maria still among the Auroxians
Maria listened to the conversation around xyr. Xe laughed quietly (for xyr) when Dr Suah Painen repeated the Auroxian saying about the jungle.
“That’s one way of describing the vegetation around here.”
The others looked at xyr. Lah-Shah blinked and flashed a purple humour across his ears as they flicked like fans opening and closing.
Maria felt less lost now that Lah-Shah had arrived on planet. It was one thing knowing he was out there in the system and able to bring help, but it was another thing for him to be on the planet and here with help. Xe trusted Sahrai and they were getting along well but Lah-Shah was something between an uncle and a friend. Xe felt xyrself tensing as xe resisted the urge to hug him. It wouldn’t be professional.
“Hungry trees?” Lah-Shah asked, his snout crinkling, amusement colouring his hide.
“Whip trees. They keep attacking the flyer.” Maria lunged forward, finally giving in to xyr need to hug Lah-Shah.
Lah-Shah tensed, relaxed, and finally relaxed, wrapping his arms around xyr. Maria tucked xyr head under his snout, feeling safe at last.
“There, there, Maria don’t worry. We’ll go home to Ascend soon.”
Maria laughed as tears fell, anxiety finally escaping after months on Aurox, hiding from aggressive humans. Sahrai and Maria had been followed around by Josh Dalton after they’d returned from taking tablets to the Auroxians. He’d probed Sahrai for information about where they’d been and made salacious comments about their relationship. Maria had blushed, Sahrai had snarled, while Dalton had walked away grinning. Lah-Shah was the only person xe could trust with the complex emotions xe had been feeling.
After a few minutes, as Sahrai and Suah Painen looked on talking quietly, Maria took a deep breath and stepped back.
“Sorry about that. Doesn’t look good.”
Lah-Shah patted xyr shoulder, “We’ll just keep it between us. Pjang-Nang will never know.”
He looked from Sahrai to Suah, who both nodded in agreement. It was an unusually stressful first assignment for anyone.
Maria crouched on Lah-Shah’s back as they raced Sahrai and Suah Painen in the flyer back to Sahrai’s compound. The air was warm, the evening gently falling on Aurox. The jungle sang below them, bat-like creatures swooped through the air chasing insect-like creatures. Mrrh-waa, Prrt-hai, and Nrrh-tct flew with them, racing both the dragon and the flyer.
As night fell, Lah-Shah landed beside his shuttle. Maria fell off his back in a heap. This had become something of a tradition. Maria lay there, laughing as xe thought about the times xe’d fallen off Lah-Shah in the past. The dragon shook his head and hopped awkwardly around the tother side of the shuttle to change.
“Come on Maria, time to get up.” Sahrai had landed seconds after Lah-Shah. She’d left the flyer on the roof so Suah could chat to the Auroxians before they flew home. She’d unfurled her stunted wings and made the short flight across the garden to land next to Maria.
“Your wings! They grew back!” Maria was giddy, feeling slightly drunk without the need for alcohol.
“No, I’ve just let them out a bit. I need serious medical treatment to get them back properly.” Sahrai looked serious for a moment as she considered the treatments in store in the next few months. Then she grinned.
“Flying is a rush, isn’t it?” Sahrai said.
“Oh yes!” Maria giggled.
“Stop encouraging xyr, Sahrai.” Lah-Shah said, rubbing at his ear flaps. “Get up off the ground Maria, the grass is hungry.”
Panic ran across xyr face as Maria rolled on to xyr knees to stand up.
“Where?” Xe looked around frantically.
“You’re fine, you’re fine.” Sahrai laughed, “He’s winding you up. Come on in, I’ll do us food.”
“I need to check the radio.” Lah-Shah said, pointing to the shuttle. He sounded irritated.
“Use my system. It’s hardened.” Sahrai flushed blue. Maria thought that meant she was feeling stubborn or insulted. Could be either, Sahrai had repressed her colours so much, Maria hadn’t had the time to learn them.
“If you insist.” Grudging orange. Definitely.
“I’m going to bed.” Maria left them to their argument. Xe was certain now that Lah-Shah and Sahrai had known each other for a long time. The words didn’t mean much but the colours made it obvious at least to xem.
It had been a long day. Maria ached from all the feelings. Xe needed to sleep and process. Food maybe. Probably in the morning. Everything would be better in the morning.
Everything Is Better With Dragons 