Page 22 of Resisting the Alien Rider

He visibly shook himself, like someone rousing themselves from an involuntary stupor of some sort. Then he aggressively spun his big body around and stomped away through the woods, calling out something that sounded a lot like a harried, “Hurry up.”

“So impatient, that one,” I muttered, shaking my head.

“He always tells me to hurry up, too,” Killian said sympathetically.

I laughed, appreciating the commiseration Killian was offering me. “Well,” I told him as I shimmied out of my pants, “at least you’re not alone, now!”

Killian paused, his little mouth stretching in a way I hadn’t seen it do before. I thought it might have been a smile. My heart squeezed, leaving my whole chest feeling tender.

“Come on, then,” I said, stepping out of my boots and peeling my pants all the way off. “Let’s not keep that big grump waiting too long.”

I left my socks inside my boots and put my shirt and pants folded on top of my jacket. In the small bag, I had my pyjamas and toiletries I’d brought with me from home. I decided to keep my bra and panties on. I’d wear them like a bathing suit in the water, then at the last second strip them off to give them a wash and wrap myself in my towel. The kid was already traumatized enough without me flashing my alien titties at him.

Killian didn’t seem to share my worry about modesty, though. Within seconds, his boots were kicked off, each of them careening through the air in entirely different directions. He abandoned his trousers and belt and went sprinting for the water, his body a dark blur.

“How is it?” I asked, already knowing the answerfrom the shocking suck of cold mud on my bare feet as I approached the water.

“Terrible!” Killian shouted gleefully.

Yippee.

I hung my towel on a branch that arched near the water so that it would be ready the moment my frozen ass clambered up the bank.

My breath punched out of me, as if trying to flee the frigid water that I’d just plunged my feet into.

“Holy hills of Terra!” I hissed through gritted teeth. Killian was already submerged up to his waist, apparently oblivious to the fact that this water was about to gnaw my limbs off. Pain shot through my feet and into my ankles.

Praying for the prickly comfort of numbness, I ploughed forward, alternating between holding my breath and yelping as I waded towards Killian.

“Y-you’re not cold?” I stammered, teeth chattering, as I approached him

“Not really,” Killian answered. His eyes were the brightest thing around here. Like two magical little will-o’-the-wisps shining out of his sweet face.

“You have beautiful eyes,” I told him, making shivery conversation to distract myself from the cold. “They’re so bright.”

Killian didn’t seem to enjoy the compliment. He hunched into himself, as if finally feeling the cold. He looked down at the inky surface of the creek, glowing with the reflection of his eyes. He brought his tail down on the surface, making the reflection break apart intochaotic, swirling ripples. Like a child who hated the painting they’d started and had decided to smear the canvas with their paintbrush instead of trying to finish it.

“What’s wrong?” I’d started untying my braids, but stopped, giving him my full attention.

Killian smacked the surface of the water again, a little less viciously this time.

“I don’t like them,” he finally said in a sullen little voice. “They’re not supposed to be white all the time.”

“Why not?” I got back to work on my braids, pulling the springy curls apart as I waited for Killian’s response.

“Because if they’re white all the time, that’s bad.”

“Bad, how?” Alarm made me stiffen even more than the cold. Instantly, I was in nurse mode. “Like, medically bad? From illness or injury?”

“No. It’s because I’m bad.”

My mouth fell open. My heart squeezed again, much more painfully this time. Before I could respond, Killian dunked his head under the water. I used the moment to collect my thoughts and to start frantically washing my body while I still had some vaguely agonized feeling in my fingers. The shampoo and body wash bar I’d made back on Terratribe II was tucked into my bra strap, and I scrubbed it all over myself, including beneath my bra and panties.

By the time I’d given myself a good once-over, Killian had resurfaced.

“You are not bad,” I blurted. Maybe not the most subtle way to phrase it, but my brain was barely above a popsicle and I wanted to get my message across asquickly and efficiently as possible. “Who told you that you were bad?” Anger briefly warmed me, and my eyes narrowed. “Was it Garrek?”

“No,” Killian said.

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