Koriand'R
Chapter 3
The native warriors watched in frustration as these invaders chopped down and cleared their land preparing to build something unknown.
"Stone, report." Slade addressed Victor.
"Systems seem to be online sir."
"Excellent." Slade nodded, oblivious of the inhabitants that surrounded them.
"There's over a hundred." One native whispered to Kokam'R who was unaware that one of his more curious men was getting too close in hopes of hearing the conversation these strangers were having. A twig snapped and Slade was quick and didn't hesitate to shoot into the woods causing an uproar.
"SAVAGES!" Someone yelled.
"ALIENS!" Slade barked, "FIRE!"
And all hell broke loose as a war broke out with both sides firing. Everyone was in a panic as leaders from both sides barked out orders.
"Gar quick!" Victor shouted throwing his friend a firearm. Garfield wasn't prepared and quickly shot, almost hitting their captain and lightly grazing a Tamaraien, forcing them to draw back and retreat.
The men cheered happy they had won this miner battle, but one wasn't too happy. Slade approached the cowering Garfield. "Logan!" He shouted grabbing his gun, "I expect you to learn how to use this thing. A man's not a man unless he knows how to shoot."
"Y-yes sir." He sighed.
The King observed in anger as the care taker fixed the wounded warrior's injury. His face furrowed in fury, "Just as I assumed, these white man are dangerous." He turned to his guards, "Make sure no one leaves the safety of the Kingdom."
"Yes sir." They nodded.
Koriand'R looked in awe at her reflection through the dark eye glasses she had in her hands. "There called sunglasses." Richard informed her.
"Sunglasses?" She repeated putting them on.
"So um… can I ask you something, Koriand'R?" She put the glasses down and nodded. "Well um, I was just wondering why you, um… kissed me?"
"Oh." She blushed, "Well here, it's a translation of knowledge." She tried to explain, "It's how we learn different languages." He nodded. "But…" She blushed deeper, "It's also how we show affection for one another."
"Oh." He turned and looked off with a crimson face, before changing the subject, "So um… what river is this?" He asked glancing at the water.
"Gargoth." She answered.
"You have very interesting names here." He smiled looking at her wearing the dark glasses, "Heron'R, Garzilk, Koriand'R."
She smiled. "You have very unusual names too, Richard Grayson."
Suddenly from out of the bush crawled Silky who immediately started nuzzling its mother. "Hey I know you." Richard smirked.
"This is Silky my Bomgorf."
"Bomgorf?" He questioned and she nodded as Silky crawled out of her arms and stared at Richard's utility belt, before nibbling on a closed pocket knife.
"Silky!" Koriand'R scolded.
"It's okay I got plenty of them back home."
"Home? Where is home?" She asked curiously.
"Earth." He answered.
"Earth?" She repeated.
"Yes." He nodded.
"Wow. What's Earth like?" She asked curiously with an eager smile.
"Well, in my city there are tall buildings and streets." He explained.
"Fascinating, I wish I could see them." She said dreamily, staring off into the sky.
"You will." He smiled.
"What?"
"Well if all goes as intended we plan on building similar things here."
"What?" She asked again.
"Yep, we plan on making the most of this world. Since it has breathable air and drinkable water it could practically be a second Earth."
"A second Earth?"
"Yep, we will build concrete roads and sophisticated houses." He said casually
"Our houses are fine!" She said sternly.
"But you only think that cause your ignorant." He told her nonchalantly. She huffed and pouted before harshly getting up and walking away. "Ww-wait where you going? No don't take it that way!" He said chasing after her. "Wait!" He said grabbing her ankle before she could fly away again, "You just don't understand, we have improved the lives of many alien savages-"
"Alien savages?! You're the aliens here!" She barked. "And were not savages!"
"Well savage is just a word; I'm not saying you're a savage." He tried to explain.
"Just my people."
"Let me explain."
"No! And let go of me!" She demanded shaking her foot.
"No, I'm not letting you leave." She glared at him and landed forcing him to let go just to walk away. "Wait! Savage is just a word, a term. For people who are… uncivilized."
"Like me?" She said turning around with her arms crossed.
"Well when I say uncivilized what-what I mean is-"
Thunk!
Richard fell backwards rubbing his sore head, inwardly scolding himself for not seeing that thick branch. Koriand'R turned and sighed before walking back to him and leaning down to his level as he looked up at her. "What you mean is, not like you." He blinked, "You think I'm an ignorant savage, and you've been so many places I guess it must be true, but still I cannot see, if the savage one is me, how can there be so much that you don't know?" She said getting up, walking away, and he got up and followed her, "You think you own whatever world you walk on. The planets are just dead things you can claim. But I know every rock and tree and creature… Has a life, has a spirit, has a name. You think the only creatures who are people, are people who look and think like you. But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger… You'll learn things you never knew you never knew. Have you ever heard the blue Gorwolf cry to the there'd moon? Or ask the grinning Tealer'R why he grins? Can you sing with all the voices of the mountain? Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?" She rose in flight quickly grabbing his hands taking him with her as they flew. He was startled at first but relaxed and enjoyed the view as he somewhat started to understand and see things from her level. She smiled and twirled him around before landing. He glanced at her and she smirked before taking off in a run through the woods. "Come run the hidden trails of the forest." She encouraged and he beamed, running after her. "Come taste the sun-sweet berries of Tamaran. Come roll in all the riches all around you." She pushed him, forcing him to lightly tumble as she leaned over him, "And for once never wonder what they're worth." She got up and he jumped up after her. "The rainstorm and the river are my brothers. The Heron'R and the Gottera'R are my friends. And we are all connected to each other... In a circle of a hoop that never ends. How high does the sycamorer'R grow? If you cut it down then you'll never know. And you'll never hear the blue Gorwolf cry to the there'd moon. For whether we are white or golden skinned. We need to sing with all the voices of the mountain. We need to paint with all the colors of the wind." She faced him. "You can own a world and still, all you own is Earth until, you can paint with all the colors of the wind…" He looked at her falling for those deep green eyes and smiled. He understood. He was wrong, wrong about everything…
He grabbed her hands and cupped them in his own, "I'm sorry." He began, "We are the ones who are ignorant." She smiled and found that there expressions grew near and eyes fluttered shut, but before anything happened she stopped, hearing the sound of distant drums from her Kingdom. Her eyes widened. "What? What is it? What's wrong?" He asked.
"The drums, something's wrong. I have to go!" She said suddenly.
"Wait!" He grabbed her hand, "I want to see you again."
"I'm sorry."
"But..."
"I have to go." She looked at him and caressed the side of his face before giving him a quick kiss on the cheek, "We'll see each other again, I promise."
…