Chapter Eight

The Journey (Part one)

The sun was close to rising on a new day. Out of the billions of people living on the little blue planet, it would be the last sunrise he would see on his home world. As he finished packing Al turned to Zara and smiled "All done...at least...I think that's all I wanna take with me" Zara had been laying on the bed watching her mate pack his belongings into his large back pack. As she watched him her mind was filled with a thousand thoughts at once. She thought of what the rest of her family would think of her choice of mate, of what her friends would say...but the one thought that kept coming to the front of her mind was what would their pups look like...and if they could even have them.

As he spoke to her Zara was snapped out of the daze "Are you sure my love?" Al smiled at her "Yeah...got some of my clothes, my music player with all my songs on it...my bow and arrow...can't think of anything else" Zara sat up and held her arms out "Come here...hold me" he didn't need telling twice as he walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her. She began to purr softly as he stood in front of her, his hand gently stroking her dreads. Zara gave a playful giggle as she looked up at him "You shouldn't do that...unless you want me to jump on you and mate you" Al seemed to think for a moment, before answering "That's probably not a good idea...not with your dad and brother in the next room"

As the two lovers continued to pack, Los'ark and Vas'rook were talking as they waited "Not to question your judgement father but are you sure about this. Oomans are normally slaves or pets...not mates...well not life mates anyway" Vas'rook shook his head "You think I don't know that...the truth is...when it comes to your sister, when she has her mind set on something she will not let it go until she gets what she wants...remember the fight with your mother about her place on the prison ship?" To which Los'ark gave a slight laugh "How could I forget...I heard it from the other side of the market ...but what I mean is...do you think he can survive in our clan?" Vas'rook raised his hand to his chin, after a moment he trilled "We will simply have to wait and see...won't we"

After a short while Al and Zara came through from the bedroom. Al was dressed in his hunting clothes, ready for the hike to the alien ship...ready to leave his home world behind forever. Zara walked over to her father and brother, placing her mask on she said "We are ready to leave now father." Vas'rook nodded and looked down at Al "We go now...ship not far...but home world...far from here...you sure want to go?" Los'ark muttered "Your ooman is so bad father" Al nodded "I'm sure, there's nothing here for me..." he took Zara by the hand and smiled "...I've got everything I need as long as I'm with her." To which Vas'rook nodded "Good...we go now...follow" and he turned and opened the front door to be greeted by the cool, crisp Alaskan air.

The four of them stepped out in the cold dawn air, the sun slowly rising over the snow covered mountains. Vas'rook pointed to the west and looked at Al "Ship this way...not far" Al nodded and pulled up his scarf to cover his mouth from the cold morning air.

The ship was not far, maybe an hours hike from Al's cabin, as they walked Al found his mind wandering. His head was filled with all kinds of thoughts, but mostly he was thinking about what lay in store for him, would Zara's people accept him, would he be able to prove himself worthy of her, but then he thought to hell with it...I'll do whatever it takes to prove it. Suddenly his mind was snapped back to reality as Zara placed her hand on his shoulder "We're here my love". Al pulled down his scarf and looked from side to side "There's nothing here?" Los'ark gave a slight chuckle "That's because its cloaked...stupid ooman!"

Zara slapped her brother on the shoulder "No need to be rude Los'ark...Al doesn't know the full extent of our technology, how was he ment to know!" at that point Vas'rook turned to the siblings and growled "Knock it off you two! It is time to introduce our guest to his new life." The two of them both said "Sorry farther" at the same time. Vas'rook opened his wrist computer and tapped a few keys. A few seconds later there was a loud hissing noise as the ramp to the ship slowly lowered, revealing a blinding white light. The elder turned to the others "time to leave...Zara, show your mate to his room...it is next to yours. Los'ark go to the training room...I shall get us moving, we are a long way from home." The four of them walked on to ship, the light fading to reveal beautifully designed walls. Al looked at them in wonder, it was unlike anything he had ever seen in his life. The ground was covered in a white fog that came up to his knees. Al looked up at Zara and smiled "This is amazing...I mean just...wow!" Zara took him by the hand and gave him a slight purr "Wait till we get home... I have such sights to show you my love."

As Vas'rook and Los'ark headed to different parts of the ship Zara showed Al to his room. As he walked in Al's jaw almost hit the floor. The room was decorated much the same as the rest of the ship, except for the hanging lights that look like glowing balls of water...and the massive pit in the middle of the room. He dropped his back and turned to Zara "This is...you know what...I don't even have any words to describe it...one question...where's the bed?" Zara laughed slightly and pointed to the pit in the middle of the room "There...I will fetch you some furs to sleep on...it gets hot in here." Al nodded with a smile on his face "I bet...I've only been here for five minutes and I'm already sweating." Zara walked over to one of the walls and pressed a few buttons, Al hadn't noticed them, to him they looked like part of the wall. As she pressed them several panels opened to reveal what looked like draws "You can store your things here...at least until we get home." Before Al could say anything Zara's wrist computer started to beep "Zaragoza'erk come to the bridge" She smiled at Al and said "My farther has need of me, I'll let you unpack for now my love. If you need anything then just press this..." she pointed to a small symbol on the wall that looked like an upside-down K "It will put you through to my wrist com...see you soon...my sweet Ali'star"

Al started to unpack his things, he put he clothes in one of the draws and his other bits and pieces in some of the other draws. As he unpacked something suddenly dawned on him, he hadn't been this happy since before the war...no...he had never been this happy. As he stood for a moment just thinking there was a knock at his door. Los'ark walked in and handed him a combi stick "Time to train ooman!"

To Be Continued!