Got a couple faves, a few follows, I'm encouraged.

A review or two would rock but I won't complain.

Oh, guess what? Still own nothing.

April 30, 2030

Dear Diary,

Shopping in a war zone with a kid from the other side is really rather challenging...

~~Start of day~~

"Where're we goin' momma?" Irisa asked, golden eyes bright and curious. She was seated in the back of Claudia's roller.

Claudia glanced at the little girl in the rear-view mirror, smiling. "We're going to a town to do some shopping, Risi. The scanner says there's one several kilometers from here."

It had only been a little over two weeks since the human woman had saved the Irathient kid, but she had already embraced the role of Irisa's mother. She couldn't be happier.

Claudia had always wanted to have a family someday, only not quite like the one she had as a child-the parents wouldn't die and the big brother wouldn't get trapped in between dimensions. She was a dreamer like that, expecting to have a family without horrible disasters.

But then the Votans had arrived, the Pale Wars had started, and suddenly she was forty and lonelier than ever-not only did she not have her own family but all the people she cared about were dead.

Meeting this little alien changed her whole world. Sure, the situation wasn't, ideal, but Claudia wouldn't trade her baby for anything.

"Hey momma? What's that sign mean?"

The sign in question read:

Sheridan

10 km

A NoVo town

"That sign means we might have some trouble in town, Irisa." Claudia sighed and silently cursed her luck.

A "NoVo" town was short for "No Votan" town, meaning a humans only settlement, where any Votan who walked in was pretty much screwed. Even before she met Irisa, Claudia had hated the whole principle of NoVo towns. She had never liked prejudice in any form, and the Pale Wars hadn't changed her mind one bit. Votans were just like humans, just trying to get along in life, so why make it hard for them? As far as Claudia was concerned, species didn't matter, what mattered was being a decent person.

But that was neither here nor there. Fact of the matter was that the two redheads were low on supplies, and Sheridan was the only town within 50 kilometers.

And it wasn't like she could park outside of the town and leave Risi in the roller. That would be dangerous, not to mention that she didn't like it when the fragile child was out of her sight. Also, the kid needed her own clothes. Irisa couldn't just wear Claudia's shirts as dresses forever.

~~3 km out from Sheridan~~

"Why're you wrapping me in bandages, momma? I thought I was healed?" Irisa asked as Claudia wrapped gauze around the girl's arms and legs.

"Your wounds have healed up, mostly," Claudia was still concerned about Irisa's little wrists, the skin had begun to grow back but it was still fragile. "But I have cover your pretty stripes for now. This town is 'humans only' which is really dumb, I must say."

Claudia had figured that disguising Risi's assorted stripes was the best way to deal with what they had to in town without getting very, very hurt. Hell, last time Claudia had stopped in a NoVo town she had been nearly kicked out because she had red hair. Skruggin' idiots.

"Why don't they like Votans? You said race doesn't matter, that character is all that matters. That you love me for me." Irisa pouted at her adoptive mother.

Claudia sighed, her kid was as smart and stubborn as she was. Artie, I understand why I drove you nuts. Sorry! The woman rested her hands the girl's tiny shoulders. "I love you Risi, exactly the way you are. But not every human is like me. Some people, humans, Castithans, Liberata, whatever, are just... are just..." How do I say dumber than a pile of shtako in a child friendly manner?

"Are just jekking morons?" Irisa offered.

"How'd you learn- you know what? Never mind. Jekking morons is accurate." Claudia figured there were bigger issues than Irisa swearing.

"Fine, disguise me." Irisa sighed as Claudia tried to force her wild orange hair to behave. Finally she managed to force some bangs to hang over the dot and arch marking above the Irath's nose.

~~Sheridan~~

It hadn't taken the two long to reach the marketplace in the town. They had gotten some nasty looks, but Claudia had her hair tied back to show that her bone structure was human, and they had gotten by the doubting people without trouble.

Irisa was in awe. She'd never been shopping before, and she couldn't imagine how anyone found what they wanted with so many shops around.

Claudia led Risi around by the hand, buying food and medical supplies first, then was directing the little Votan towards a booth that was selling children's clothing, when Irisa saw it.

It was perfect.

She had to have it.

"Momma, I want that." Irisa pointed her finger at the object.

It was a plush cat.

Claudia looked where her daughter pointed. "Tell you what, we get you some clothes then it's all yours." Suddenly Irisa was pushing Claudia to the clothing vendor. Claudia laughed to herself. Hurrying your parents isn't a human thing, I see.

~~Some shopping later~~

After buying Irisa five shirts, three pairs of pants, socks, shoes, underwear, a hoodie and a jacket, Claudia decided they could be done.

"Let's get you that-" Claudia didn't get to finish her sentence, the child was already dashing towards the stall that had her prize. Claudia followed, shaking her head at the kid's antics.

"How much for the plush cat?" Claudia asked the seller. Irisa tuned them out. The cat was up on a table, and if she climbed on a crate by the table she was sure she could reach it. Irisa was pulling herself onto the crate when the wrapping on her arm caught on a nail.

She had the cat in her hands when the shopkeeper turned to her, her left arm bare, revealing the striped marks of her kind.

"Votan scum!" the man snarled, his face twisted with rage.

Irisa froze in terror. He wants to hurt me!

"Shtako." Claudia muttered as she scooped her into her arms, and ran.

"Stop them! That kid is an alien!" yelled the shopkeeper.

"Irisa, grab one of the spheres on my belt, push the button and throw it!" Claudia commanded. Irisa complied.

The Tesla grenade made its signature gasping sound as it incapacitated their pursuers.

Claudia just kept running until they were in her roller.

They drove until it was dark, and Claudia set up camp and prepared some food. Irisa waited in the roller, clutching her plush tightly to her chest.

"Irisa, dinner's ready!" Claudia called.

"Why feed me? I'm just a screw up. Like father said." Irisa snapped, followed by quiet sobs.

"Don't even say that! You made a mistake, that doesn't make you bad, it just means you're a regular person." Claudia said, as she walked up to the crying child.

"I'll tell you something, when I was a kid, I did way worse." Claudia confided. Risi sniffled.

"Really?" asked the Votan.

"Really. Now, why don't I tell you about this plush toy?" Claudia changed the subject and explained all about cats.

"And ones with stripes, like this one, are called tabbies." Claudia finished her brief lesson on felines. "You know, now that I think about it, you're kinda like a tabby cat, you've got stripes, you're tough, and you're cute."

Irisa giggled. "I'm a cat!"

"You are, my little tabby. Now, how about we eat something?"

~~End of day~~

In Spanish, no vo literally means I do not go. So no vo to NoVo. Hmm, that's not a very good joke is it? Oh well, no one reads my diary but me.

~Claudia Donovan