A/N: guess who shouldn't be writing right now and should definitely be spending time studying or doing her homework? This person. fuck. shit. goddamn.
G'dar fled as soon as the ship's huge bay door had opened. No matter how well-behaved the poor fellow was, he had also endured a three-day trip in tight quarters, and was feeling understandably betrayed by his master.
"G'dar, wait!" Aikka shouted, and the beetle met his eyes for a moment before taking off into the night. The prince pressed his hands to his temples and sighed.
Canaan immediately noticed the problem and made to soothe and reassure the ambassadors who were suddenly frantic and speaking into small earpieces.
"My friends, be at peace; the beetle G'dar is the prince's mount. He is simply upset at the length and condition of the journey. No, he is not dangerous. Yes, he will either return on his own or we will find him before he causes problems with the locals," Canaan said gently.
The ambassadors in the suits seemed a little less worried, but still spoke in hushed tones with their superiors over communication devices. The one with the dark hair and bright white teeth informed the Nourasian envoy of the decision that had been made.
"You have until morning to locate the beetle, after which point the United Earth Government will take action," she said. Her eyes said sorry. Her posture said tension.
Aikka could see the problem with having a non-native, giant, armored insect loose on an unsuspecting planet. It wasn't ideal in his mind, either. But G'dar was Aikka's mount. G'dar had been with Aikka since Aikka was born. The two had grown together; they had a bond.
Canaan seemed it fit to express this when the prince cast his eyes to the ground. "Harming the prince's mount in any way will be seen as an attack against the prince himself," he said tersely. "We will find G'dar, and if he has caused damage to any persons or structures before we do, we will of course pay reparations."
"Fret not, Canaan," Aikka piped up, "I will find him and return him to this place. If you'll allow me to make the trek alone so as to not frighten him? This is planet is foreign to him and he is likely confused as well as upset."
The fencing master raised a brow but nodded. The ambassadors in their dark suits seemed reluctant to let him go off alone, but gave him his space under threat of social misstep.
Aikka notched an arrow and used the glow to lead his way through the dense treeline, leaving behind the calamity that had been their meeting with the Earth ambassadors.
The trees on Earth were intimidating and spiky, Aikka noticed as branches brushed against his arms when he moved. And very, very green. He took the narrow paths between the massive trees, winding under foliage and lighting his path through magic.
"G'dar?" Called Aikka into the night, "My friend, I am sorry!"
No giant beetle came crashing through the forest to meet him, so Aikka continued forward.
He walked.
And walked.
And walked.
No sign or trace of his mount for nearly an hour, and he could practically feel Canaan's panic from miles away.
The trees made moonlight fight to find its way to the forest floor, but up ahead Aikka could see the air becoming lighter. He moved forward more quickly and emerged from the sense trees to find a large clearing with a small pond.
A quick scan of the area told him that no, G'dar had not taken refuge here.
Aikka felt very defeated - something he did not often feel. He stowed his arrow and took a seat at the edge of the pond to watch Earth's single moon slowly travel across the sky. He passed at least another hour this way, worrying about his friend and counting the spots he could see on the white orb in the sky.
With a start, Aikka realized he could hear the thrumming of wings. He searched the sky and saw a huge, dark shape blocking out several stars, descending quickly into the clearing to join him.
The shape was soon close enough to be seen as a huge, armored beetle.
"G'dar!" Aikka cried happily.
The beetle landed, walking towards the prince with a near-sheepish gait, and Aikka was just about to scold his friend for worrying him when someone launched themself off of G'dar's back and onto the springy grass.
The person landed with a soft thud and turned to stare at Aikka, their features indistinguishable in the weak moonlight.
Aikka notched an arrow and tensed, preparing for the worst. The soft glow of the arrowhead threw their face into relief at the same time the woman spoke.
"Lose something, Prince?"
"Molly?!"
