( I was really looking forward to writing this chapter. It'd where the
conflict comes in , so things speed up. And I had so much fun doing it.)
Chapter 4
Reubren
It was warm , very warm. Maybe it was because it was a summer night. Or maybe it was because I had a small human , wrapped in a blanket lying against my chest.
I rested on my stomach with my legs tucked under , much like your Earth deer. And as always , my upper portion never rested on the ground , though I rested my tail on the blankets.
Melissa was propped up against me , sleeping.
I was happy - truly happy for the first time in a long time. All because of this human girl?
My main eyes began to droop and close. Spawned from a watchful species , my stalk eyes stayed open. Suddenly , on instinct , my right stalk swiveled to the entrance of the scoop. My hearts pounded..then I relaxed. I must have imagined it. I kept my left stalk on Melissa's sleeping face. She looked happy too. A smile played on her lips.
And would you recoil in disgust if you knew my true intent?
Yet she allowed me to hold her for warmth , though I sense she was embarrassed.
And father what would you think of your son?
I pictured my father's proud face. I know you will make me proud , Reubren-Ashul-Tarien , my son.
It didn't matter what my mother thought. She was dead. Soola's Disease finally killed her. That was many years ago when I was not much younger than Epsen. She was a great artist when she was alive , and my father always encouraged me to be more than just a warrior because of her. Her name was Nahleen-Ashul-Sigil.
My father , Prince Sirach-Tarien-Forlin.thus my name Reubren-Ashul- Tarien. Reubren , they chose themselves of course. Then Ashul for my mother , and Tarien for my father. If I ever had a sibling , his or her name would probably end in Sigil-Forlin.
That would not likely happen , as my father loved my mother since they were just children themselves. I do not think my father is interested in another mate. And as for children , he has a son. Me.
Last was Epsen , and he was the most likely to have understood how I felt. Epsen-Loral-Talooth. Dead also.
Deprived of him by a hungry Eversten. For a moment , my hearts burned with the old anger. I fought it down. I never wanted Melissa to see that rage again.
But the Yeerks have become more sickening to me than the Evertsten Rip. I was host to Visser Six on Sub-Evertein for a short while. If you don't despise Yeerks , being a controller can be very convincing.
I shuddered. I would die before I went through that again. I thought I'd never see my friends or Melissa again.
Oh , the Yeekr had sure taunted me about wanting a human for a mate. I was just like 'Beast Elfangor.'
It surprised me he didn't broadcast the information to my friends. But he was dead , starved out of my head. An experience I'll never forget. My secrets were my own again.
Melissa
I awoke with a start. I as lying against soft fur. Reubren's breath was on my neck.
" Reubren?" I whispered.
His main eyes were closed. His stalks were half closed. He was way deep in his dreams.
" Reubren!" I gave him an urgent shake.
His eyes , (all four) opened. What?
" I-I heard voices." I stammered.
He stopped and listened. I hear nothing.
" They didn't sound human."
He looked at like I was a little kid needing comforting after a nightmare. You were probably dreaming.
I was annoyed. " I swear I heard something."
Stay here. I'll go see if anyone's out there. He got up and went outside.
" How will you see in the dark?" I asked.
My night vision is superior to humans. he replied.
He disappeared through the entrance. I didn't like not being able to see him.
" See anything?" I called nervously.
It's clear. Unless you count that bushy tailed , pointy nosed animal , running along the tree line. I see lots of them.
Racoons. I smiled.
" As dumb as I feel , I'm glad." I admitted , as I sat back down. . Or what poses for sitting with an Andalite.
I leaned against his chest. " I had a bad feeling a moment there."
His eyes softened into a gentle smile. You are safe here. Go back to sleep.
I closed my eyes , but I didn't go to sleep. It was okay. I felt content in his arms.
A hand ran through my hair and began rubbing the base of my neck.
I felt a little awkward in a way. Part of me wanted to ask, ' what's wrong with us? We're both lying here like it's natural , like nothing is wrong with this picture.'
But I dismissed all questions and concentrated on the comforting feeling of his delicate fingers on my neck. His hand relaxed.
I felt something on my back in the dark. It was not Reubren's hand.
I screamed.
A Hork-Bajir warrior yanked me out of my Andalites arms , cruelly by the collar of the shirt.
Had Reubren fell asleep that quickly?! He would be vulnerable!
" Reubren! I shrieked. " Reu-"
A large Hork-Bajir hand clapped over my mouth.
But it was enough to wake Reubren up. He leapt to his feet , cold fury in his eyes and voice. You..let go of her you filthy - AHH!
Another Hork-Bajir in the dark! He slashed Reubren down his shoulders , leaving him a deep cut.
Reubren howled in agony.
I let out a cry of fury , though muffled. I kicked my captor( do I really have to say where?) I broke loose and set myself in front of Reubren.
" Get away from him!" I shouted. The Hork-Bajir glared at me. He pulled back his arm to skewer me.
Melissa!
" Wait!" said a human controller.
He appeared in the entrance. " He wants the human alive."
The Hork-Bajir argued in a mix of English and what I guess was Galard. Obviously he really wanted to kill me. For sport or because I was in the way. One way or another , he didn't like being deprived of his fun.
The human controller said something harsh. Then , " You want to explain to the Visser why we didn't follow orders? Or better yet , how we couldn't capture a human and ended up killing it? Fool! Go ahead. But it will not be me who answers to him when his foul tail blade starts to fly!"
The Hork-Bajir grunted in disappointment. He glared at me like it was all my fault his commander was a lunatic.
Then in a blow that was so fast , I thought it was for me , he speared the left side of Reubren's chest with wrist blade.
" NOOO!" I cried , as Reubren howled in pain.
How dare they touch the one person who understood me?! The one I - loved. How dare they contaminate him with their filth! With my bare hands I lunged at the Hork-Bajir.
Chapter 4
Reubren
It was warm , very warm. Maybe it was because it was a summer night. Or maybe it was because I had a small human , wrapped in a blanket lying against my chest.
I rested on my stomach with my legs tucked under , much like your Earth deer. And as always , my upper portion never rested on the ground , though I rested my tail on the blankets.
Melissa was propped up against me , sleeping.
I was happy - truly happy for the first time in a long time. All because of this human girl?
My main eyes began to droop and close. Spawned from a watchful species , my stalk eyes stayed open. Suddenly , on instinct , my right stalk swiveled to the entrance of the scoop. My hearts pounded..then I relaxed. I must have imagined it. I kept my left stalk on Melissa's sleeping face. She looked happy too. A smile played on her lips.
And would you recoil in disgust if you knew my true intent?
Yet she allowed me to hold her for warmth , though I sense she was embarrassed.
And father what would you think of your son?
I pictured my father's proud face. I know you will make me proud , Reubren-Ashul-Tarien , my son.
It didn't matter what my mother thought. She was dead. Soola's Disease finally killed her. That was many years ago when I was not much younger than Epsen. She was a great artist when she was alive , and my father always encouraged me to be more than just a warrior because of her. Her name was Nahleen-Ashul-Sigil.
My father , Prince Sirach-Tarien-Forlin.thus my name Reubren-Ashul- Tarien. Reubren , they chose themselves of course. Then Ashul for my mother , and Tarien for my father. If I ever had a sibling , his or her name would probably end in Sigil-Forlin.
That would not likely happen , as my father loved my mother since they were just children themselves. I do not think my father is interested in another mate. And as for children , he has a son. Me.
Last was Epsen , and he was the most likely to have understood how I felt. Epsen-Loral-Talooth. Dead also.
Deprived of him by a hungry Eversten. For a moment , my hearts burned with the old anger. I fought it down. I never wanted Melissa to see that rage again.
But the Yeerks have become more sickening to me than the Evertsten Rip. I was host to Visser Six on Sub-Evertein for a short while. If you don't despise Yeerks , being a controller can be very convincing.
I shuddered. I would die before I went through that again. I thought I'd never see my friends or Melissa again.
Oh , the Yeekr had sure taunted me about wanting a human for a mate. I was just like 'Beast Elfangor.'
It surprised me he didn't broadcast the information to my friends. But he was dead , starved out of my head. An experience I'll never forget. My secrets were my own again.
Melissa
I awoke with a start. I as lying against soft fur. Reubren's breath was on my neck.
" Reubren?" I whispered.
His main eyes were closed. His stalks were half closed. He was way deep in his dreams.
" Reubren!" I gave him an urgent shake.
His eyes , (all four) opened. What?
" I-I heard voices." I stammered.
He stopped and listened. I hear nothing.
" They didn't sound human."
He looked at like I was a little kid needing comforting after a nightmare. You were probably dreaming.
I was annoyed. " I swear I heard something."
Stay here. I'll go see if anyone's out there. He got up and went outside.
" How will you see in the dark?" I asked.
My night vision is superior to humans. he replied.
He disappeared through the entrance. I didn't like not being able to see him.
" See anything?" I called nervously.
It's clear. Unless you count that bushy tailed , pointy nosed animal , running along the tree line. I see lots of them.
Racoons. I smiled.
" As dumb as I feel , I'm glad." I admitted , as I sat back down. . Or what poses for sitting with an Andalite.
I leaned against his chest. " I had a bad feeling a moment there."
His eyes softened into a gentle smile. You are safe here. Go back to sleep.
I closed my eyes , but I didn't go to sleep. It was okay. I felt content in his arms.
A hand ran through my hair and began rubbing the base of my neck.
I felt a little awkward in a way. Part of me wanted to ask, ' what's wrong with us? We're both lying here like it's natural , like nothing is wrong with this picture.'
But I dismissed all questions and concentrated on the comforting feeling of his delicate fingers on my neck. His hand relaxed.
I felt something on my back in the dark. It was not Reubren's hand.
I screamed.
A Hork-Bajir warrior yanked me out of my Andalites arms , cruelly by the collar of the shirt.
Had Reubren fell asleep that quickly?! He would be vulnerable!
" Reubren! I shrieked. " Reu-"
A large Hork-Bajir hand clapped over my mouth.
But it was enough to wake Reubren up. He leapt to his feet , cold fury in his eyes and voice. You..let go of her you filthy - AHH!
Another Hork-Bajir in the dark! He slashed Reubren down his shoulders , leaving him a deep cut.
Reubren howled in agony.
I let out a cry of fury , though muffled. I kicked my captor( do I really have to say where?) I broke loose and set myself in front of Reubren.
" Get away from him!" I shouted. The Hork-Bajir glared at me. He pulled back his arm to skewer me.
Melissa!
" Wait!" said a human controller.
He appeared in the entrance. " He wants the human alive."
The Hork-Bajir argued in a mix of English and what I guess was Galard. Obviously he really wanted to kill me. For sport or because I was in the way. One way or another , he didn't like being deprived of his fun.
The human controller said something harsh. Then , " You want to explain to the Visser why we didn't follow orders? Or better yet , how we couldn't capture a human and ended up killing it? Fool! Go ahead. But it will not be me who answers to him when his foul tail blade starts to fly!"
The Hork-Bajir grunted in disappointment. He glared at me like it was all my fault his commander was a lunatic.
Then in a blow that was so fast , I thought it was for me , he speared the left side of Reubren's chest with wrist blade.
" NOOO!" I cried , as Reubren howled in pain.
How dare they touch the one person who understood me?! The one I - loved. How dare they contaminate him with their filth! With my bare hands I lunged at the Hork-Bajir.