Chapter 3
The first thing Zoe noticed as she blinked her eyes open was how groggy she felt, as if woken from a deep, yet unrefreshing, sleep. Casting her gaze downward, she found she was lying on top of some sort of cushioned cot, covered with beige sheets. Her trench coat was gone and she discovered her arms were partially covered by linen bandages.
With effort Zoe turned her head to further take in her immediate surroundings:
She was in a modestly-sized room with square paneled walls that appeared to be made of a material resembling Earth wood; an oval shaped window on the other side of the room allowed sunlight to stream through. Judging by the angle, Zoe assumed it was at least late morning. The only other sources of light in the room came from two lanterns, one on a small table on her left and the other across the room. The haze deeply permeated her mind and she tried hard to push it away in an effort to regain her full faculties.
"Oh, good, you are awake!"
Zoe's ears perked up at the female voice coming from somewhere to her right. Its owner soon came into view:
A petite, slender young woman, around thirty years old with wavy blonde, shoulder length hair. She wore a thin, white cardigan open over a crisp, mid-calf length, light green dress. Her features were quite delicate and what immediately struck Zoe was the color of her eyes: a bright turquoise. She couldn't recall ever seeing anyone with eye color so striking. Most importantly, she looked human.
Zoe's mouth dropped open. Another human. She and Jamie were not all alone here after all!
The woman gazed at her with a tentative smile, eyes filled with concern. "My name is Leara," she said. "Thank the stars we found you when we did. A few seconds later and the outcome likely would have been very different."
Zoe tried to sit up but quickly grimaced as she felt pain radiating from the back of her skull.
"Please, lie back down. You've sustained trauma to the back of your head. It will only get worse the more you try to move."
Trauma?
Zoe's eyes widened slightly as it all came back to her: She'd woken to find Jamie missing and then she was attacked by that horrid, bird-like creature. She'd hit her head in the process.
"You're h-human?" Zoe rasped.
Leara shook her head. "Though you might say we are 'humanoid.' Our race is called the Azurians."
Azurians. Zoe contemplated the word as much as she was able in her drowsy state. Of course. It sounded like azure, a good description of their eye color, although that might have been merely a coincidence. They weren't humans, but they certainly looked close enough for anyone to make that assumption.
"As for you, we could tell you were not of our race." Zoe regarded her curiously and Leara gave her an apologetic smile. "Your eyes."
"Ah," Zoe muttered. So it was the eye color that distinguished them from humans, then. Zoe with her brown eyes and Jamie with his hazel ones would obviously be outsiders to them.
Speaking of Jamie, where was he?
Zoe tried once more to raise herself to a sitting position, now gripped by a feeling of overwhelming soreness in her tailbone, courtesy also, she now remembered, of the creature knocking her off her feet; she most likely had a spectacularly bruised backside now. But that pain was quickly eclipsed by a sensation of light-headedness.
Leara gently grabbed her, easing her back down onto the cot. "We've done all we can for the both of you. Now it's up to you to get the proper rest so you will feel good as new."
Zoe's eyes scanned the area once more and she finally located Jamie, lying on another sort of cot on the other side of the room. The cot was so small his toes were nearly hanging off the edge. He appeared asleep and she noticed a colorful bruise on his right cheek. His fringe was slightly parted, revealing a bandage on his forehead. The sleeves of his linen shirt had been rolled up to the elbows revealing dressings similar to her own.
"Is he alright?" Zoe asked.
Leara nodded. "Yes. He's just got a bit of a concussion and some minor injuries. We've given you both a sedative to help you rest and keep you still as we treated your wounds."
As if on cue, Jamie groaned and Zoe could see him stirring slightly. His eyes fluttered open.
"Wha' happened?"
"Rodin and I heard some noises last night. He went to explore and found a Fyrlox attacking you," she explained. "It had given you quite a beating by the time he took care of it."
"Eh? Who's Rodin?" Jamie asked, cocking his head in confusion.
"My husband." A doorway at the back of the room slowly opened, revealing a tall man of similar age, wearing a pair of beige trousers and a white, button-down work shirt. He had light brown hair that came to just above his shoulders and Zoe could see he had the same, striking turquoise eyes, even from this vantage.
Jamie attempted to prop himself up on his elbows, an action he apparently regretted. He screwed his eyes shut and uttered a groan.
"Hey, easy there," the man gently chided. Zoe bit back a grin as Jamie regarded him sourly. "I saw your attempt to save your friend from the Fyrlox." He smirked lightly. "It rewarded you with a good tail-thrashing."
Jamie flushed and his scowl deepened.
That's right … before she was attacked she had been looking for Jamie. He had left her alone, defenseless, and without a word.
Zoe leveled an accusatory glare at the Scot. "Jamie! How could you just leave me like that?"
Jamie eyed her incredulously. "I didnae leave ye on purpose tae be attacked!"
"Where did you have to go that was so important?"
Jamie's face reddened. "I, er … Well, I … had tae relieve m'self."
The look of amusement their hosts exchanged had not gone unnoticed. Zoe felt her own face go red.
"Oh … well, you didn't have to go so far away!"
Jamie's face grew even redder. "I didnae want ye tae hear me!"
"I was asleep!"
"An' I was supposed tae be sure o' that?"
"Please, don't argue," Leara broke in. "The important thing is you were not hurt as badly as you could have been, and that you're safe."
"She started it." Jamie muttered. Zoe ignored him, ready for the embarrassing conversation to be over. She turned to Rodin. "What did you call the creature that attacked us?"
"A Fyrlox," the other man supplied.
"How did ye defeat it?" Jamie asked.
"I shot and killed it," he said tersely before turning to a collection of weapons hanging on the wall and propped up against it.
Jamie's gaze fell upon a rather unimpressive-looking rifle. "Ye mean ye killed it wi' that thing?"
Rodin chuckled, almost patronizingly. "No, not with that." He then turned and picked up another weapon hanging on the wall. "This is what took that beast down."
Jamie's eyes boggled at the weapon. It was very large and looked like no rifle he had ever seen before. The other man also picked up a large, dark, round projectile. It nearly resembled a musket ball - the weapons the Redcoats he vividly remembered firing at him and his fellow Highlanders at Culloden - but much larger.
"I know what you're thinking, but it's not just a bullet," Rodin said, ripping him from his thoughts. "It's made from a rock with combustible properties."
"Eh?"
"It ignites when it comes into contact with organic material," Zoe cut in, impressed at the idea of the military and scientific worlds coming together in such a way.
"Oh, aye."
"It's proven very effective against not just the Fyrlox, but most of the other hostile creatures as well," Rodin continued, returning the weapon to its place. A light smile seemed to flit across his face. "On another note, are either of you up for a little food?"
"I know I am!" Jamie exclaimed, eyes twinkling as he rushed to sit up. Surprisingly, it seemed his sudden movements did not cause him distress, unlike earlier. Zoe regarded him with a mix of curiosity and concern before attempting to sit up herself. The lack of dizziness or stabbing pain left her utterly perplexed. This couldn't be; surely the ill effects couldn't have disappeared that quickly! She turned to Leara, brows drawn together in confusion.
Looking pleased, the other woman held up a small bottle of clear liquid. "The juice of the Niveah flower is finally showing its effectiveness. It's a powerful analgesic not only used for head and soft tissue injuries, but," she paused as her smile grew, "it is also quite an effective hangover remedy."
Zoe nodded, impressed by the efficacy of this herbal remedy. What she would give to study it but she knew there were more pressing matters at hand. For example, the overwhelming hunger that was now stabbing her in the gut.
"Ye said somethin' aboot eating?" Jamie interrupted.
Rodin chuckled lightly. "Ah, yes. Just a moment." He disappeared through another door and in moments had returned, holding a tray which held what appeared to be a roasted bird similar in size and appearance to the turkey found on Earth. He set it down on a table in the middle of the room and set to work carving it. Leara had retreated to the same area and returned with several dishes.
Jamie's face painted a portrait of awe and he subconsciously began licking his lips. Zoe had to admit it looked delicious and, after not having eaten in so long, was desperate to have some.
She gazed up at Rodin, who had carved a fair amount of the meat and served it up on dishes. "Is that …?" she trailed off.
"Fyrlox," he replied with a smile. "In fact, it's the very one that attacked you."
Jamie's eyebrows shot up. "Ye mean ye hunt those things?"
Rodin nodded as he handed a plate of the meat to Jamie. "Usually." Zoe looked at the half-carved bird, trying hard not to turn up her nose in disgust. She suddenly began to question whether her hunger was as ravenous as it had been moments ago. Jamie on the other hand was happily feasting on his share, looking much like a little boy devouring a bag of his favorite sweets.
He then met Zoe's gaze, stopping in mid-chew as he looked at her expectantly. "Are ye no' gonna take it while there's still some left?" he asked around a mouthful of food.
Zoe sighed, realizing she didn't have any other options. And it was important for her to get some nourishment to keep her strength up. Rodin appeared in front of her, offering her a plate with several slices of the Fyrlox meat. Yes, it did look very much like turkey. Hopefully it would taste similar as well. Jamie seemed to like it well enough. On the other hand, the Highlander's tastes were not necessarily a good indicator of anything. He had once wistfully described haggis to her and killed her appetite for the rest of that day.
Her hunger finally getting the better of her, she took a small bite. Her eyes widened in surprise at how good it tasted. It was actually similar to turkey but had an interesting sweetness to it as well; one that was quite appealing.
"This is delicious," she blurted. Suddenly catching herself talking with her mouth full, her cheeks flushed as she swallowed her food.
Leara and Rodin didn't seem to mind, however. Instead they appeared quietly amused. "Not only is the taste quite pleasing, but it is also rich in essential nutrients," Leara said.
Zoe nodded, quite impressed as she continued eating. Rodin was soon back in front of her with the platter of Fyrlox meat, offering her a second helping. How could she refuse? Her hunger had yet to be sated, and she couldn't think of anything better to eat. Her gaze momentarily drifted over to Jamie, who had to be on his third helping by now.
Having finally been satisfied, she smiled as Leara appeared, about to take the dish away. She then headed over to Jamie whose plate was nearly clean except for a few stray scraps. He made sure to quickly grab them before she took his plate.
Zoe tried to resist a grin and then cleared her throat. "So, these Fyrlox," she began. "What do you know about them?"
"As far as we know, they are native to the planet," Rodin replied.
Zoe began to nod when the wording of his answer struck her a bit funny and she cocked her head to one side, her brow furrowing in confusion.
"And you're not native to this planet?"
Leara shook her head. "No. We settled here close to eight seasons ago." Jamie was now gazing at them in curiosity as well. "Our home planet was thrown into cataclysm due to interaction with a nearby planet that escaped its orbit around our 'central stars'."
"Central stars," Zoe repeated. Her eyes widened as a realization struck her. "Central star. That's what we would call a 'sun.'"
"Perhaps," Rodin replied, picking up the story. "As it drew closer, it shifted our planet's orbit by a substantial amount, which brought upon events that made it impossible to stay there - floods, great fires pouring forth from the planet's interior, cracks and sudden movements in its outer shell."
Zoe's mouth flattened into a grim line. She recognized the disasters he described; ones that sounded very similar to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. "Well, it's good you were able to come here and make a new life for yourselves."
The two shared a look and Rodin nodded. "Yes. It was. Anyway, the Fyrlox do not usually interact with our people, at least on a hostile basis. They usually ignore us unless provoked, but for some reason they seem to seek out humans and attack them."
Zoe shared a look with Jamie. This was certainly interesting, and not in a good way. "Why?"
Leara briefly turned to her husband. Both their expressions were unreadable before she turned back to Jamie and Zoe. "We don't quite know." After a small pause, her mood seemed to change greatly. "Well! Now that you've eaten and are on the way to regaining your strength, perhaps I'll now show you where you will be staying." She and Rodin headed for one of the doors to the room, gesturing for Jamie and Zoe to follow.
Zoe turned to Jamie, his perplexed expression totally matching hers. It was odd how their hosts changed the subject so abruptly. Either they really didn't know why these creatures targeted humans, or they had some idea but wished to keep it hidden. She had an unnerving feeling it was the latter.
She felt Jamie lay a hand on her shoulder, as if to guide her with him in the direction their hosts had walked. Zoe found herself unable to move, however. Turning to meet his gaze, she found him appearing a bit disquieted as well.
"So, wha' d'ye think?" he asked her quietly
"About…?" she prompted him, though she knew full well what he was talking about.
"Weel, aboot them," Jamie replied baldly. His brow furrowed and he bit down slightly on his lower lip. "I mean, they seem kind an' all, but d'ye no' find it strange what they said aboot those beasties attackin' humans? An' then … jis stopped talkin' aboot it?"
Zoe frowned. "Yes, it was strange. Their whole mood seemed to change."
"Aye. Look, they saved us an' I'm grateful tae them fer that, but," he stopped to drag his fingers through his hair and sighed in frustration. "I dunno, Zoe, it's almost as if they've got somethin' tae hide."
"I agree."
Jamie raked a hand through his hair again, drawing Zoe's attention to the bandages wrapped around his forearms. Her frown deepened at the visual reminder of the fearsome creature's attack and Jamie's lone defense. Zoe's gaze dropped briefly to her hands as she felt a sharp pang of guilt welling up in the pit of her stomach. Her eyes flew back up to Jamie. "I'm sorry for fussing at you for leaving me alone."
Jamie's eyebrow arched slightly and he regarded her silently for a long moment. Obviously he wasn't expecting this and it made her feel even more ashamed. Finally he shrugged. "S'alright. I shouldnae have left ye."
Zoe shook her head insistently. "Nonsense. You had to perform a necessary bodily function. It was silly of me to be cross with you for that. Quite illogical."
Jamie's hand was back on her shoulder and this time he gave it a small squeeze. "Eh, dinnae fash yerself, lass. I know it was jist the fear talkin'."
Zoe blinked up at him, a slight frown creasing her forehead.
"Dinnae worry," Jamie translated. "We'll talk aboot it more later, ey? Best no' tae keep our hosts waitin'."
Zoe nodded. Leara and Rodin must have been wondering what happened to them. Curious about how they lived and what their own accommodations would be like, she tried hard to banish the unsettling thoughts.
Zoe's breath hitched as she bent to secure the belt of the linen dressing gown given to her by Leara around her waist. Her muscles were still sore from the Fyrlox attack she and Jamie had sustained. In the nearly two days since she and Jamie had been taken in by their hosts, she had learned a good deal about their day-to-day lives.
Their lifestyle was quite simple, which took a bit more getting used to than Zoe was prepared for. Not only had they hunted the Fyrlox and some other, smaller animals for food, but they also harvested fruits and nuts from trees, as well as a small amount of grain from a paltry looking field abutting their land. Rodin had explained that their soil was not ideal for growing much. Upon hearing this, Zoe wondered if it was possible to synthesize some sort of fertilizer to improve their situation.
She had also discovered they lacked indoor plumbing and had what amounted to a privy behind their house. For bathing, they had a large, wooden tub they would fill with water hauled in from the pump outside. At one point while she was talking to Leara outside, Zoe saw a shimmer of light reflecting at the base of a rocky outcrop not too far away.
"Is that a body of water I see in the distance?"
The other woman smiled. "Yes. It's a hot spring," she said. "One of the few. The waters are very therapeutic. Swimming in them provides a remarkable amount of relief and therapy from not just physical aches, but emotional as well." She paused to remove something from the pocket of the apron tied around her waist. "These grow along the edge of the springs." She held out a handful of flowers and herbs, gesturing for Zoe to have a look.
Zoe gave a tiny shrug once she studied them. They didn't seem all that unique until Leara prompted her to smell them. Taking a deep breath, she took in their individual scents. The flowers possessed a fragrance very similar to lavender, while the various herbs had scents that reminded her of lemongrass, verbena and even peppermint. Zoe had always been a bit skeptical of the benefits of aromatherapy, but she couldn't deny the scents were quite pleasing, and, yes, even seemed to have a bit of calming effect on her at the moment.
"Very nice," she told Leara. "And these can all be found at the hot springs?" She actually found herself growing more interested as she considered the thermal and mineral properties of the waters themselves.
"Yes, that's right, Leara answered, then swept those electric blue eyes over Zoe's figure. "It might be wise for you to have a soak in the spring yourself. Considering the injuries you sustained, I would strongly recommend it. It will quicken the healing process and ease your pain.
Zoe took a moment to think it over. Thanks to the rest she and Jamie had already had in this brief time, not to mention Leara and Rodin's herbal remedies, she was recovering very nicely. However, the bruises along her lower back and backside were still sore. If the spring was as therapeutic as Leara said, having a swim might be a good idea.
A smile began to twitch at the corners of her mouth. "Alright. So, I can go there whenever I'd like?" Another thought occurring to her, she felt her cheeks flush. "Will many other people be there?"
Leara threw her head back slightly and laughed. Zoe frowned indignantly, not understanding what was so funny. The other woman seemed to catch her reaction and held up a hand in apology. "Forgive me. We are not so self-conscious a race as you humans tend to be. But I understand your hesitancy. As I mentioned, this is not the only hot spring in the area. This one is a bit more secluded, so we don't normally get many bathers there." She smiled sympathetically. "If you are that concerned about privacy, may I suggest you take to the waters not long after first light."
"First light? Oh, you mean when the suns - er, central stars - first rise?"
"Yes."
Zoe nodded before another thought struck her. "Won't it be rather cold at that time?"
"We are currently in our cooler season, but the water is very warm. I can provide you with a heavy robe to keep you warm on your way to and from the spring."
"Oh, yes, please." Zoe smiled. "Thank you. I'll make plans to wake up early tomorrow."
That having been settled, the conversation shifted to the history of their people on this planet. Zoe found it quite interesting, especially the way they had adapted to the conditions they had first encountered. When Zoe questioned Leara point blank about her earlier mention of humans in regards to the Fyrlox, Leara managed to somehow steer from the human aspect of that history to the topic of influence of the Fyrlox's plumage on the Azurians' color palettes.
While Leara waxed on the subject of Azurian fashion Zoe's thoughts drifted back to her earlier exchange with Jamie. Perhaps his suggestion that Leara and Rodin had something to hide wasn't far off. She wished to give them the benefit of the doubt, especially after the way they'd recused and looked after them. But, something was definitely odd about this gap in the narrative. Zoe wondered if there was a way she could learn about it on her own.
Zoe was still ruminating on these things when she opened her eyes the next morning. On noticing the golden light outside becoming more pronounced, she finally shook herself from her thoughts. If she wanted to have a nice, peaceful swim, her window of opportunity would soon be shrinking. She rose from her bed, quickly undressed and threw on the linen dressing gown Leara had provided her the day before along with the heavier robe.
Having reached the front door and managing to secure the robe's belt around her waist, she quietly slipped outside and began the journey down the path to the awaiting hot spring.
Zoe shivered against the bracing early morning air and pulled the robe tighter around her. Now more than ever she couldn't wait to soak in the thermal waters. As she hurried down the path, her foot suddenly slipped out of its sandal. Zoe gasped sharply but quickly regained her footing and continued on her way. It would be just her luck to add a twisted ankle to her list of injuries.
The boots she had been wearing had been salvaged from the attack, but being inappropriate footwear for this occasion, Leara had lent her a spare pair of her own sandals. While a kind gesture, the other woman's feet were at least two sizes bigger than Zoe's. Still, they were better than nothing and Zoe didn't want to chance cutting her feet open on any sharp rocks or other debris along her trek.
Having finally reached the spring, Zoe stood at the water's edge, hands on her hips as she surveyed the area. The body of water was larger than it had first appeared, resembling a lagoon in certain areas and pocked with several large boulders. The rocky outcrop seemed to loom over it all like a stone awning, the mineral-rich water painting its sides with dark green and yellow stains. She could see a very light, almost translucent blanket of steam hanging in the air rising at least several feet above the water's surface. The water itself graduated in color from dark blue to a bright, almost electric, green. The tang of the mineral smell mixed with the medicinal flora that Leara told her about, which edged the pool. Everything about the spring looked very inviting, and just standing by the spring with the steam wafting over her was soothing.
Zoe took one last, cursory look around the area and, satisfied she was completely alone, removed her sandals followed by the heavy robe and then lifted the hem of the linen dressing gown as she slipped into the water. Her eyes widened and a smile crept across her face at the sensation of comfortably warm water surrounding her up to her calves at first, and then rising to her thighs when she took a step further. The weight of the wet linen was becoming a hindrance. Now that she was actually in the water and quite alone, Zoe untied the belt and peeled off the sopping dressing gown, laying it next to her sandals. She modestly covered herself with her hands until she reached an area where the water came up to her chest. As the water rose higher around her, she dunked her head under the water and began working her muscles into a swim.
She'd swum a few laps before reemerging on the surface with a gasp and pushing her wet hair away from her face. Already beginning to feel some benefits from this little activity, she smiled in satisfaction. The warm water was indeed therapeutic, allowing a bit of relief into her sore lower back and gluteal muscles. Not only that, but as Leara had said, it soothed emotions as well. Zoe could feel the knot of stress that had been in her chest ever since they had arrived beginning to unwind under the soothing heat and the sweet botanical perfumes.
It was with a relaxed curiosity that Zoe resumed her survey of the springs. She spotted several little coves she hadn't noticed on her arrival. One in particular led to a strip of sand similar to a sandbar. A large, hulking boulder jutted out of the water a fair distance away from it. Curiosity getting the better of her, she launched forward into another swim, her arms sluicing through the top of the water until she decided to plunge underneath the surface once more.
She'd reached the halfway point in her journey to one of the coves when the boulder she'd earlier spotted appeared sooner than she'd expected, impeding the direct path to the area she was attempting to reach. Changing course slightly, she began swimming around it but suddenly got a glimpse of what appeared to be another set of legs. Zoe quickly reemerged on the surface, mortified beyond belief to find the set of legs belonged to a certain Highlander, standing with his back to her.
She was also mortified by the fact the water depth had dropped off quite a bit at this point.
"Jamie!" Zoe quickly lowered herself into water until it just lapped her chin.
"Zoe?" Jamie spun around and immediately made to leave the water, nearly stumbling in his startled haste. "Oh, I didnae-"
"What are you doing here!? Get out!"
Jamie's embarrassed expression hardened and he slowly sank back into the water. "I have a right to bathe, same as ye."
"But I was here first!"
"Were ye now? I didnae realize ye owned the whole pond. Look—I'll stay on my side and ye stay on yers, alreeght?"
"That's not the point!" she retorted, reddening further. "You— you haven't a stitch on, Jamie!"
Jamie snorted. "Of course I havenae; I want tae get mesel' wet, no' my clothes!"
Zoe huffed. "So when should I assume your reserved bathing time is up?" She snorted, rolling her eyes. "Oh, as if I should even bother. Knowing you, you'd take as long as possible."
"Ooh, beggin' yer pardon, milady! Please fergive me fer disturbin' yer precious toilette!" he returned snidely.
"James Robert McCrimmon," she ground out, glaring severely at him. "If-if you don't leave by the count of five I'll … I'll scream!"
Jamie crossed his muscular arms over his chest, clearly determined not to budge an inch.
Furious, Zoe narrowed her eyes at him. "Fine. One! … Two!"
All of a sudden Jamie swam toward her in swift, powerful strokes.
Zoe's eyes widened with alarm and she began to swim backwards as best she could with her arms tightly folded over her chest . "Threefourfive!" she squeaked.
Zoe was about to let loose her promised shriek when Jamie swam past her. She turned just in time to see teeth and scales inches from her face, yanked away as Jamie attacked. Apparently unused to such fierce resistance, the creature quickly gave up and swam off, despite Jamie's best efforts to keep a hold of it. Once satisfied that it was gone the Highlander turned to Zoe, gripping her by the arms, his eyes searching what was visible of her body above the water.
"Are ye alright?"
Zoe took a deep breath, trying to calm herself after having her life in danger yet again. If it weren't for him, that thing probably would have mauled her badly.
"Zoe?"
Zoe slowly looked up. Her eyes traveled along his torso and chest, the bare skin glistening with water. She met his concerned gaze. His usual brown mop was dripping wet, slicked back from his forehead. Droplets slid down his face and along the contours of his sharp jawline. Her eyes followed them until they reached the hollow at the base of his neck, leading her gaze downward again. Her mouth went dry and she swallowed hard. She forced her eyes quickly back up.
"Zoe, answer me. Are ye alright?"
"You're still naked," Zoe blurted out dumbly.
"O' course I am, ye daft lass!" Jamie shouted. "Would ye rather I'd stopped to get ma kilt on while the beastie ate ye?!"
"Of course not!" Zoe shouted back. "It's just …" she trailed off, her eyes dropping to his bare broad shoulders. Heat coursed through her, but she put it down to anger and the thermal waters.
Jamie abruptly let go of her arms and backed away, turning his eyes away from her towards the sandy bank. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath then turned back to her. "Weel, I think we're safe now," he said in a much calmer voice. "But ye might as well get out now anyway. I think ye've been in the hot water too long; yer face is all red."
"Yours is too."
Jamie's flush deepened. He then cleared his throat. "Weel, go on then."
Zoe eyed him warily. "I'd rather you get out first, if it's all the same."
Jamie gave an exasperated sigh. "There may be anither beastie aboot, so I'd rather you get out first."
Jamie had a point. Zoe shivered despite the heat. "Very well. Turn around."
Jamie did as he was told.
Once Zoe reached the bank and donned the linen dressing gown and robe she turned to look at Jamie. He was still in the water with his back obediently to her.
Zoe's gaze lingered on his muscular arms, back, and legs. His fitness should have been no surprise given the fact he was a warrior in his own right back in Scotland. Zoe lost count of the times he had ably defended both her and the Doctor during their travels. Despite the length of time they'd spent together, this was the first she'd really noticed the extent of his physique and how impressive it was; from a scientific point of view, of course. It reflected all the strength and power available to him to defend his friends and wrestle with such formidable creatures - "beasties", as he'd call them.
Her thoughts lingered on that last point as her eyes focused on the nearly healed cuts that littered his forearms. She had seen them countless times over the past two days, of course, but his lack of clothing here and now made her notice something new: a colorful bruise blossoming across his lower back and hips. She could also make out what appeared to be old scars faintly criss-crossing his back.
Zoe's mouth dropped open slightly at the sight and she felt a sick feeling welling up in the pit of her stomach, having a fair idea of how he got them. Jamie hadn't gone into great detail about his life back in Scotland. Curious to know more, in some of her downtime back on the TARDIS, Zoe took the liberty of doing a bit of research through its journey logs. When she got to the record of the Doctor's time at Culloden she was aghast at the brutality of the failed rally and the vengeful reprisals described in the notes. What a relief that the Doctor pulled Jamie from his time when he did.
Giving Jamie's old injuries another look she felt ashamed for fussing at him to such an extent moments ago.
Jamie turned his head slightly, his voice tinged with concern. "Zoe?"
Zoe shook herself out of her wandering thoughts. "You can come out now."
Jamie gave a scornful snort. "Then I'd thank ye to turn around now, if ye dinnae mind, milady." Zoe wanted to say something cutting but shut her mouth and turned, annoyance and guilt warring within her.
Jamie muttered in Gaelic—something uncomplimentary if his tone was any indication—and slogged back to shore where his kilt lay piled neatly on the ground. He bent to pick it up and began wrapping it around his waist. Zoe dared to turn back just enough to see him out of her periphery. On seeing that his lower half was clothed she turned fully.
"Jamie?"
He merely grunted in response as he fastened his belt, not bothering to look up at her. She waited until he was finished before repeating his name. Finally he turned and met her gaze.
"Aye?" he asked a bit sharply.
"I … Thank you for saving me from that … that thing. You didn't deserve to be fussed at. I'm sorry."
Jamie stuck out his full bottom lip and shrugged. He was still sulking. "Eh, dinnae fash yersel'. It's alreeght." He plopped down to pull on his boots.
Zoe watched the teres major and teres minor muscles of his back work as he laced up his boots; but then, the longer she stared the less … scientific her observations became.
Zoe felt an uncomfortable heat rising in her cheeks. She certainly liked what she was seeing. She'd never thought of Jamie this way before, let alone anyone. It was a completely new feeling, one she couldn't quite process; a reality that left her both frustrated and embarrassed.
Memories of her time on the Wheel suddenly resurfaced, in particular of Tanya Lernov's relationship with Leo Ryan. She smiled in amusement as she recalled the way Tanya would mention how much she admired Leo without his shirt. At the time, Zoe simply humored her, not understanding in the least.
And now she did.
They returned to the house to find Leara in the front room, greeting them with a smile. "Well? How did you like your swim?" she asked Zoe.
Zoe managed an awkward smile. "Oh, you were right, the waters were quite beneficial. I'm already feeling much better."
Leara looked between Zoe and Jamie, taking in his wet hair. A knowing smile crept across her face. "But you weren't as alone as you'd hoped, I take it?"
Zoe's smile faded and her cheeks flushed. Her eyes darted sidelong at an equally embarrassed Jamie. She noisily cleared her throat. "No."
Jamie turned to Leara. "Yer husband told me aboot the hot spring and I when I woke up this morning I decided to have a swim." He turned a significant gaze back on Zoe. "I didnae expect anyone tae be there tha' early."
Zoe had a scowl prepared until she reminded herself how he had saved her - again.
"Woulda been nice, though, if ye'd said somethin' aboot those beasties wi' the scales an' the sharp teeth," Jamie said grimly. "One came chargin' straight fer Zoe. Put up a good fight as I tried tae keep it away from her."
Leara blinked in surprise. "You mean the Scalmandria? There shouldn't be any in the hot springs! It's not their natural habitat."
Zoe turned to Jamie, finding his expression a complete mirror of her own confusion. "So they're not indigenous to the hot springs at all? What would they be doing there then?"
Leara's brow furrowed in frustration for a moment before a sudden flash of realization sparked in her eyes. It was gone as quickly as it had appeared. "I wish I knew," she merely said. Her expression grew concerned as she looked at Zoe. "But you are alright?"
"Yes. Still a bit shaken, but I'm fine. Thanks to Jamie." She turned to Jamie again to give him a small, appreciative smile.
Jamie shyly toed an invisible stone with his shoes. "Och, ye needn't keep thankin' me; it's embarrasin'."
"Well, I am glad." Leara suddenly turned to look out the window. "I must get outside and harvest more of the sprill before the heat from the central stars damages it." She made to leave before suddenly turning back to them. "I've brought you some fresh linens with which to dry yourselves." She nodded to a basket that lie on the floor near the edge of the room.
Jamie frowned as he gazed at Leara's retreating form. Once she was out of sight he approached the basket, grabbed one of the thin towels and rubbed at his hair. He then offered the other to Zoe, who began doing likewise, though not as vigorously as Jamie. She then removed her sandals, bending slightly to dry her feet before she abruptly stopped and straightened, her brow wrinkling in confusion.
"It's very unsettling this creature just happened to be there at the same time we were, and it's not even its habitat."
Jamie uttered a brief scoff. "Aye, ye can say that again. Almost as if they're huntin' us fer some reason."
Zoe pursed her lips in thought. "Could it be something in our biological, or perhaps biochemical, makeup that attracts them? Something that makes us prey to them?"
"Whatever it is, I dinnae like it," Jamie replied grimly. "An' I'm no' too keen on their ... weird ways…"
'Says the man in a skirt,' Zoe thought and suppressed a grin. He'd probably never speak to her again if she said that. He did have a point, though.
"I agree, Jamie. They are being evasive. I'm not getting a very good feeling about this." She sighed. If only she could find some more information somewhere about this planet, something documented, not just what Rodin and Leara chose to tell them. She frowned in thought, wondering whether such information was available in some form ...
"And here is the last of it," Leara announced, handing another bushel of sprill to Zoe, who gathered it into a waiting sack. "I cannot thank you enough for your help. It usually takes me twice as long to harvest the sprill, and I'm lucky to have a substantial amount of it undamaged by the central stars' radiation."
"Of course," Zoe replied with a smile. "You've been so kind to Jamie and myself; it's the least I could do." Gazing about the small field, another thought came to her. "What other crops do you grow?"
"The soil is not suitable to grow much else, I'm afraid. We've tried, but this is the best we can do."
Zoe's eyes narrowed in thought. "I'd really like to learn more about the soil if that's possible. Perhaps I might be able to help you grow more crops if there is some way I can synthesize a nutrient-rich formula - a fertilizer. Is there any information available on the plant life and soil of this planet?"
Leara seemed ready to protest when she paused, a thoughtful expression sweeping across her face.
"So, Leara tells me you are interested in researching our planet?" Rodin asked Zoe the moment they all sat down to breakfast.
"Yes. Do you have a library of sorts I could visit?"
Rodin told her about the civic headquarters and the repository of records held there. A research pass was needed to access it, and one pass was given to each Azurian couple, or person if they were unmarried. Leara and Rodin had one and told Zoe she could easily apply for one herself. The thought of waiting an eternity for approval was not something Zoe wished to entertain, but they assured her it was rather quick and, even better, merely a formality. Her remaining concern was of her outsider status among this close-knit society. If she were to be questioned, however, they devised a cover story featuring Zoe as a young student newly arrived on the planet who was working for them. She'd be studying botany and needed to consult records on the planet's flora.
"I'll try not to be gone too long," she'd said quietly, leaning into Jamie.
The Scot briefly rolled his eyes, a teasing grin on his face. "I'll expect ye back before nightfall, in that case." She tried to swat him across the chest but he easily dodged her. His grin eased into a soft smile. "Dinnae worry aboot me. Rodin's gonna show me more o' his weapons." He nodded toward the other man.
"Ah." Zoe smirked in amusement. "I'll bet you I'll be back from my study long before you've finished with yours."
"Is that so?" He waggled his eyebrows. "An' jis' what will we be bettin'?"
She reached out to swat him again. He must not have been expecting it as she landed a direct hit against his chest. "Ow! Hey!" he protested, his lower lip jutting out in a pout. She nearly felt bad before realizing it was one of the areas he hadn't sustained injuries and her smirk was back.
Jamie's expression changed to one of concern, his eyes nearly tinged with worry. "Are ye sure ye dinnae need me tae come wi' ye?"
Zoe shook her head. "No, I'll be fine. It's not that far a walk." Rodin had earlier drawn up a small map and had even taken her outside to orient her and give her some rough directions on how to get there.
The Scot eyed her tentatively before the corner of his mouth twitched into a lopsided smile. "Alright. After bein' targeted by those beasties, I jis' worry, I suppose." Looking away self-consciously, he gave a slight shrug.
She found his concern endearing, but this was something she needed to do. "Don't worry, Jamie," she tried to assure him with a soft smile. "I'll be back before you know it."
"If you are in need of any assistance, please don't hesitate to let me know."
"Of course. Thank you again."
Zoe watched as the curator at the civic headquarters building gave her one final nod before walking back in the direction of his desk located at the far end of the records repository. The building was an unexpectedly imposing structure of spartan architecture, one of only several in a small piazza-like setting at the center of the settlement. Inside it was a bit labyrinthine and due to the lack of signs throughout the twisting corridors, Zoe had to ask several times for directions to the records repository. The room itself was quite a curiosity, featuring dark-stained wood walls and tulip-shaped lights hanging from the ceiling, and furnished with small, similarly dark-stained wooden desks and tables.
She directed her eyes to the large, corrugated box in front of her, one of six on this particular shelf. The curator had been kind enough to allow her access to the records while her research pass application was still in process. Before he'd left, he'd shown her several shelves full of books and records bound together in makeshift binders. Some records were not bound at all, and loosely stuffed in a drawer. As the former librarian of the Wheel's Parapsychology Unit every fibre in her being was outraged by the sight.
Determined to get to work on what she came for, Zoe put aside her impulse to organize and grabbed a box off the shelf, choking on the dust that came down with it.
The records, haphazard as they were, held some interest, but they didn't contain the information she was looking for. She was halfway through another box when she froze, realizing she had begun to order the botanic entries by genus, placing them in tidy stacks for filing.
"Zoe Heriot," she chided, "this is not what you came to do."
After quickly thumbing through the rest of the contents she ascertained that this box also did not have what she was looking for. Zoe forced herself to dump all the papers back in without organizing the remainder. She had been nearly ready to give up until another collection of large boxes sitting on a nearby shelf caught her eye.
Gazing in frustration at the sheer size of each of the boxes, she realized she had her work cut out for her. It would have been so much easier if they'd had everything digitized. Ha! As if that were ever possible given the simple, antiquated lives they led. She should be lucky the records weren't written on papyrus or stone tablets. A snort of laughter bubbled up from her stomach upon that thought and she scowled as her sunglasses slipped off her head and back down onto her nose. The two suns were brighter in the sky than usual, and Leara had suggested wearing a pair of these "eye shades" to protect her vision. They ended up being more practical than that; they camouflaged her eye color well, just in case any of the officials working there might have questions about her being an Azurian.
Pulling the first box out several inches, she removed and set aside the cover. Inside she found stacks of white paper, mostly handwritten but also some with crudely typewritten letters. Finding a table nearby, Zoe grabbed a good armful of pages and sat down to read them …
The first several pages featured some information on the flora of the planet, before delving into an equivalent of geological study of the various rocks found in different areas. She smiled in satisfaction at a quite accurate, colored drawing of one of the red stones she'd examined when they first arrived on the planet. The names of the minerals it was composed of were alien to her, but their chemical properties were quite similar to those found in sandstone.
Shifting further through the notes, she found more discussion on various rock compositions, followed by a quite interesting introduction to the hot springs. As Leara had mentioned, there were several located in the Azurian territory. The information regarding their thermal properties, especially chemical makeup and the role they played in healing various maladies made for a very good read. The rest of the notes in that first box mainly returned to a discussion of the flora. Zoe impatiently nibbled on her bottom lip, hoping she'd find something on the local animal life.
Fortunately, she didn't have to wait long. The second box of records proved fruitful, and contained a lengthy discussion on all the various animal life the planet - or at least the Azurian's part of it - had to offer. Some of the creatures, such as the small, amphibious Glioca, resembled the frogs on Earth, though bluish in color. Others, such as giant dragonfly-like insects, seemed rather prehistoric in nature. Zoe was surprised not to find any information on the Fyrlox or that alligator-like creature that tried to attack her in the hot springs … until she reached the notes found at the very back of the box.
The first page had a very accurate artist's depiction of the Fyrlox, along with some text on the physical characteristics of the animal. Zoe's brow creased in concentration as she carefully read the words crudely typed on the paper. The final part of the discussion involved its behavior. The large bird-like creature was a carnivore with a main prey of small rodent type creatures, but it eventually developed a taste for …
Zoe's eyes widened in shock and the sheet of paper fell from her hand onto the tabletop. Hastily picking it up, she held it up to her face and scanned the words again …
"The breeding program begun on the eighteenth day of the month Sunaven, year one-twenty-two, has finally achieved some success. Seventeen weeks ago, we had begun the training of Fyrlox to hunt these adversaries of ours. While it had shown promise it was not completely successful. Members of the species that were uncooperative were destroyed, but those with a strong, human-focused prey drive were kept and bred selectively. We have achieved the perfect solution to our problem."
"'Problem?'" Zoe muttered incredulously. Horrified, she read on and learned a similar program had been implemented regarding the Scalmandria, the alligator resembling animal that tried to attack her. A disturbing realization smacked her upside the head when she then considered Leara and Rodin's cagey behavior earlier. They must have known about this all along! But they had rescued her and Jamie, taken them in, healed their wounds and even gave them food. The conflicted feelings germinating in the pit of her stomach made her feel nauseous.
She had to tell Jamie.
Having read enough, she stood, gathered all the notes she'd taken and returned them to their box, securing the cover on top and pushing it back to its rightful location on the shelf. She then flipped her sunglasses back on and approached the desk where the curator sat.
"I've finished for the day," she announced, slapping on a fake smile. "Thank you again for granting me access."
"Of course," the middle-aged Azurian replied kindly. Zoe was sorely tempted to give the man a stern lecture on proper archive management. Instead she gave him a half wave, quickly turned on her heel and made for the front door.
"Och, come on!"
Jamie glared severely at the target pinned to a tree at the far end of the field - the target whose bullseye he missed again, for the fifth time in a row. Rodin had taken him outside to show him how to shoot one of his specially-made rifles.
"I can hardly see the bullseye thing! Is it even on straight?"
"As straight as a rocket," Rodin replied.
Jamie had half a notion to knock that silly grin off his face, if it weren't for the fact he'd been kind enough to take them in, give them food and shelter, let alone show him how to shoot one of these guns.
Under better circumstances, he knew he'd be a much better shot, but at the moment his thoughts were preoccupied with Zoe. Not that he could admit it to her, but he'd been reluctant to let her out of his sight. It was just the two of them now and he'd almost lost her twice to strange creatures. She could reassure him that "she wasn't going far", that "she'd be back soon" until she was blue in the face, but he knew couldn't relax until he saw that wee lass in front of him again.
Having missed the target yet again, he heaved a sigh and leaned on the butt of the rifle. "Wha's keepin' her? She should've come back by now."
Rodin's teasing grin was back. He shook his head and gave a soft chuckle.
"What?" Jamie asked, glaring at his host.
"I'm sorry, It's just … You're acting a lot like I did back when I was courting Leara. I could hardly focus on anything." There was a bit of a twinkle in his eye when he met Jamie's gaze. The meaning was not lost on the Highlander.
"Me?!" Jamie scoffed indignantly. "Ye think I'm courtin' tha' wee know-it-all? Dinnae be daft." He nodded earnestly, pointing to the target. "I'll show ye I can focus jis' fine. We McCrimmons are famed fer our focus."
Rodin valiantly tried to suppress the grin that threatened to grow. He held out a hand toward the target in invitation for Jamie to try once more.
Jamie brought the large gun up in line with the target once again. He drew back the trigger, and …
A young woman suddenly cleared her throat behind him. Jamie flinched in surprise as he squeezed the trigger.
BAM!
A tiny piece of the lower left hand corner of the target was nicked off.
"Zoe!" Jamie whined, lowering the gun and turning back to her.
"Did I come back at a bad time?"
"Oh, no … Rodin was jis' demonstratin' his new guns fer me an' he let me have a go." He turned in the direction of the target and his cheeks flushed. "Well, I've never fired anythin' like this before, ye know. No' even in Scotland."
"Mm," Zoe simply mused with a slight nod.
"So, ye have a good time with yer study?"
Zoe gave him a quick nod and a tight smile. "Yes."
Sensing something was off, Jamie tilted his head and gave her a doubtful look.
She shook her head dismissively. "I'm fine. Really. It's just been a long day and it's been a long time since I've read that much printed text. My eyes are tired." Zoe rubbed them for emphasis. "The lighting was also poor."
Before Jamie could ask her any more questions she spun around and headed back inside, leaving an unconvinced Highlander in her wake.
Zoe sighed as she sat outside, her legs tucked up as she gazed at the rich, indigo night sky of … What was this planet's scientific name, anyway? Where was it in relation to the star systems she knew? Not that it really mattered now, but the unknown continued to pique her inquisitive nature. While she was at the archive the revelation regarding the breeding program had pushed the desire to research anything else from her mind. She now wished she had stayed a little longer and found out.
Speaking of which, she couldn't believe that Leara and Rodin had kept this from her and Jamie. But perhaps they hadn't done it deliberately. She really wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt after they had been so kind and hospitable to her and Jamie.
She briefly shut her eyes and upon reopening them, tried instead to concentrate more on the endless beauty stretched out above her: the deep color of the sky, the bright stars that pierced it, some as small as pin pricks, others much like beacons helping navigators find their way across the vast reaches of space. That large, gas giant in the northeast quadrant, its colorful cloud bands even more pronounced against the dark blueish-purple sky and providing a lovely contrast. The way it hung there, appearing almost like a night watchman patrolling the skies.
The sound of Jamie's familiar footfall approaching pulled Zoe from her thoughts. She turned to find him taking a seat next to her.
"I was wonderin' where ye'd gone," he said softly. Even in the dim light the tinge of concern in his eyes was unmistakable.
"I hadn't gone far," Zoe replied, her lips tugging into a hint of a smile before she returned her gaze to the sky. "I just … wanted to sit under the stars."
Jamie joined her. "'Tis a reeght bonny sky," he agreed.
"Mm-hm."
He stared at it a bit longer, his gaze becoming wistful. "I wonder what the Doctor is doin' right now."
Zoe considered it a moment and frowned, feeling a shudder travel up her back. "I'm not sure I want to think about it. You heard what those Time Lords said. They were putting him on trial."
"Aye." Jamie sighed, a frown wrinkling his brow. "I know." His brow then smoothed as an expression all too familiar with Zoe overtook the grim one. "But I have faith that whatever happened tae him, he's found a way tae beat them. Or at least survive."
Zoe was quiet. Jamie shifted his gaze from the stars to his companion. She was staring at him with a look on her face he had not seen since his 'brilliant' idea on Dulkis. He felt his cheeks grow warm and was thankful for the dark.
"I wish I had your optimism," Zoe said sadly.
"I was never optimistic aboot the TARDIS."
That got Zoe to smile, which had been Jamie's goal.
"True."
"I think yer problem is ye're so … logical all the time." Jamie squinted up at the sky. "Wha' did the Doctor say aboot tha'?"
Zoe's smile turned wry. "'Logic enables one to be wrong with authority.'"
"Aye. Ye can have all the facts in the world, but you still cannae control the outcome, so ye might as well hope, aye?" Jamie leaned into her briefly, giving her a light, encouraging nudge.
"I guess I could give it a try," Zoe murmured. At the very least, it would make her feel better. She didn't expect it to be easy but with Jamie by her side, it could be possible.
Jamie's comments about the Doctor had temporarily distracted her from why she came out here in the first place: to decide what to do with the knowledge she gained ...
What if she was jumping to conclusions? Just because the human hunting program happened did not necessitate that their kind hosts knew anything about it. But the evasive behavior she and Jamie had already observed … this would provide ample explanation. What should she do? She gazed at Jamie once more. He had a right to know. After all, they were at risk and knowing the Highlander, he would want to be made aware of all possible risks so he could then plan accordingly.
Zoe opened her mouth when Jamie suddenly turned to face her. Apparently he had something on his mind, too.
"Alreeght, wha's wrong wi' ye?" Jamie demanded.
Zoe swallowed around the lump in her throat. "N-Nothing. I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?"
Jamie straightened and shrugged. "Oh, weel, it's jis' that ye've been as quiet as a mouse ever since ye returned from that archive place." A teasing smile twitched at the corner of his mouth. "It's no' like ye at all."
Zoe rolled her eyes and smiled ruefully for a moment before turning serious. "We need to talk."
Jamie huffed impatiently, gesturing his hands out then letting them drop to slap against his upper thighs. "Alright. Talk, then."
Zoe ducked her head for a brief moment before looking back up at him, a frown creasing her brow.
"I… discovered something."
Leara and Rodin were sitting in the front room, seemingly in close conversation when Jamie came bursting in through the door, pointing an accusing finger at them both.
"So, ye dinnae know why those beasties attack humans, eh?!"
The two shared an uncomfortable look.
"Tell 'em, Zoe!" Jamie prompted, making an impatient beckoning gesture at her.
"I found information in your archives about the training and breeding of the Fyrlox and Scalmandria to attack humans."
"Didnae think we'd find out aboot yer wee secret, did ye, now?" Jamie spat out caustically, inches away from Rodin's face. The other man merely gazed stoically at him.
"Jamie, please," Zoe urged, grabbing his arm. The Highlander ignored her as he fixed Rodin with a heated glare, his body trembling with barely restrained fury.
"Look, we had no involvement in this. None at all," Rodin insisted.
"Oh, aye?" Jamie ground out, his voice dripping with skepticism.
"He's telling you the truth," Leara piped up. "That … program had started many, many seasons ago, long before we even arrived on this planet."
Zoe's brow furrowed in thought. She didn't know much about their counting of time, but assumed their 'seasons' were similar to either month or years on Earth.
"We didn't all colonize this world at the same time. There were separate groups arriving at separate times, over many seasons."
"Do you have any idea why this program was started?" Zoe asked.
Leara briefly shared a look with Rodin and heaved a sigh. "It was done to protect our people against humans."
Zoe shared a confused look with Jamie. Why would they need protection against humans? "Could you tell us about the history of humans in your settlement?"
Leara shut her eyes for a brief moment, looking extremely uncomfortable. She appeared on the verge of saying something when the sound of voices suddenly pierced the quiet of the house, followed by loud, urgent knocking on the door.
Rodin's eyes widened and he strode over to the window, gingerly peering out. He then turned back to Leara urgently. "It's them!" he silently mouthed.
A confused frown knitted Jamie's brow. "It's who?" he returned, voice barely above a whisper.
"We'll explain later," Leara said hastily. "Please, follow me."
"But…" Zoe wasn't given an opportunity to speak further as Leara hustled her and Jamie through the door into their kitchen, pleading them to stay hidden inside while she and her husband dealt with whomever was at the door.
She quickly left and Zoe, safely concealed under the wooden table, watched as Jamie tiptoed up to the door and peered through the crack to see what was happening. A group of four men of various ages stood before their hosts, eyeing them rather impatiently.
"Ah, Rodin. Leara," a portly, middle-aged man with short brown hair wearing an ill-fitting suit greeted. "How are you this fine evening-"
"Enough with the pleasantries," a younger man with blonde hair cut in brashly. "Have you seen them?"
"Them?" Rodin echoed. He turned to his wife. "Might I ask who you're talking about, Quinton?"
The older man shook his head, an apologetic smile on his face. "My apologies. Rumors have been circulating over the past few days that humans have been spotted in the area. Not that I am quick to believe them, of course, but we still wanted to ask if you had seen any. Just to be safe, you understand."
Leara forced an awkward smile. "Oh, yes, of course." She turned to Rodin. "No, we haven't."
"Are you certain?" Quinton asked, his expression skeptical.
"Yes," Rodin said with a definitive nod. "If we had, we would be the first to tell you."
The group shared a long look before finally nodding. "Alright. But please, keep vigilant," a slim, older, gray-haired man spoke up. "You never know when one of those scrumbunks could show up and commit the vile, criminal acts for which they are well-known."
"Of course," Leara and Rodin said in unison before Leara crossed to the front door and saw them out.
Jamie shared a look with Zoe before shutting his eyes and heaving a sigh.
About two minutes later, the kitchen door opened to reveal Rodin on the other side, nodding an all-clear.
"Now wha' was tha' all aboot?" Jamie demanded.
A frown drew a grim line across Leara's face. "A group of our fellow Azurians patrols our lands every now and then to make sure there are no humans. Personally, I believe they are being paranoid. We have not had any humans coming onto our territory for a very long time."
Zoe noisily cleared her throat.
"Present company excepted, of course," Rodin added.
Jamie nodded. "Er … Wha's a scrumbunk?" He asked, eyebrow quirked.
A hint of an ironic smile twitched at the corner of Rodin's mouth. "I'll only say it's far from a complimentary term."
"Perhaps you could now answer my earlier question," Zoe spoke up. "Obviously you've had some history with humans in your settlement. Could you please tell us about it?"
After a long moment, Leara nodded. "There is a human settlement on this planet."
Zoe's mouth dropped open and, turning to Jamie, found a similarly shocked look on his face.
"Yes. We used to live together, in fact," Rodin added. "We interacted with each other on a fairly regular basis. But one day, something happened and the humans forbade us to associate with them, kept us away from their lands. Our people were astonished but we agreed; all we wanted to do was live in peace. After a time, several humans visited our lands and lobbed false accusations at us; even threatened us."
"What did they accuse you of?' Zoe asked.
The two shared a look before Rodin simply shook his head. "It does not matter. It was so long ago," he replied evasively. "But to this day, there exists this distrust between us."
Jamie nodded with a frown, his eyes narrowed as if scrutinizing them. "Weeel, dinnae misunderstand me, but I dinnae know if we can trust ye. After all, me an' Zoe are human."
Leara gazed at them, eyes pleading. "Please. We mean you no harm. Remember, we saved you from the attack, took you in and treated your wounds."
Rodin put an arm around his wife and nodded. "Yes, we could very well have left you at the mercy of the Fyrlox."
"I cannot argue with that logic," Zoe conceded. She looked up at Jamie with a look of appeal and a nod of approval.
Jamie sighed in resignation and unfolded his arms to place his hands on his hips. Leara and Rodin were right. If they had meant to do them harm they would not have saved them from the creature's attack in the first place. Jamie self-consciously shifted his weight. "Zoe an' me … we're new tae this world an' have no one to trust but each other," he offered by way of apology.
A thin smile slowly spread across Rodin's face. "We understand. It was much the same for Leara and I when we first arrived here; until we found other Azurians, of course. But perhaps this isn't the best place for you."
"What?" Zoe gazed at them, perplexed. "But we could stay and help you. Where we come from, there have been so many advances in technology, medicine, all sorts of things! I could help you with some of those." She quickly turned to Jamie. "And maybe the two of us could even help you resolve the differences between yourselves and the humans -"
"No," Leara broke in. "It's not safe for you to stay here. They will be back. And if they find you, they will not be lenient. The mere fact you're human is enough to convict you of whatever ridiculous charges they could come up with. In the short time you have been with us, we saw that you are good, honorable people. Our only wish is for you to be safe."
"Which is why," Rodin said, stepping forward, "we think the best place for you would be the human settlement."
Zoe perked up. "There's still a human settlement?"
Jamie's expression became suspicious again. "Why didnae ye tell us this before?!" he exclaimed.
"It has been so long since there's been any contact with the humans, we cannot guarantee that they are still out there. I mean—it stands to reason they are … but I couldn't say positively."
"We did not want to send you out on a wild Fyrlox chase …" Leara added.
"But we have nae choice now, do we?"
"No," Leara said sadly. She looked so crestfallen Jamie reached out a hand and put it on her shoulder.
"Thank ye fer all ye've done." He then turned and extended a hand to Rodin. "Sorry aboot before." Rodin grasped it in return with a small nod and a wry smile.
"No, I understand. I would've reacted the same, especially if my Leara had been in danger like Zoe."
"Hm." Jamie did not want to dwell on what could have happened.
Zoe took Leara's hand and gave it a squeeze. "Thank you both for putting yourselves at risk for our sakes. We wouldn't have survived without you."
Rodin moved to his wife's side, putting his arm around her again. He gave both Jamie and Zoe a sad smile. "It's the least we could do. I'm just sorry we couldn't do more."
"We should make a start on gathering some provisions for your journey," Leara said quietly, moving quickly away toward the kitchen with her head down to hide her tears.
Zoe gazed in futility at her retreating form, gripped by an uncomfortable pang of sadness. Suddenly, she felt Jamie's familiar presence at her back and his arm around her shoulder. His touch, so familiar and warm, took the edge off the pain and she gratefully leaned back into him. Jamie impulsively brushed his lips lightly against her hair, then froze, surprised at himself.
Zoe didn't seem to notice anything, or if she did, wasn't bothered by it.
"Weel, we're on our own again," Jamie murmured.
Zoe sighed. "And just as I was getting used to this place."
"Och, I know!"
A small stretch of silence passed between them, then suddenly Zoe gave a short, final sigh, and straightened.
"Well, there's nothing for it, so it's no use moping. Let's go help Leara."