Page 118 of Citrine

"You are stating a truth based on your old existence. Everyone plays a different role in a community. He is a sculptor, which means he can likely build."

Most of that didn't translate, but I don't bother rewording what I meant, since I don't think there are equivalent words. He will just have to witness what it means.

"I need you to take him back with us. Oh, and absolutely no more trying to kill people before I can say if they are part of a communityor not. It was obvious you were searching for a way out of our agreement. Say it."

"I will wait to kill them until you assess them. But if they try to harm you, they die."

"Well, I like living, so yes, that sounds good. Take us back now?"

When he surges up out of the water and grabs both of us with his tentacles, I realize my error in not being clear in how I wanted us conveyed.

I can hear poor Rannek's muffled screaming the whole way back. Considering it takes a couple minutes, I'm impressed with his lung capacity. He still has air left in his lungs after Wroahk tosses him up on the shore of the cove because he lets out a shriek when he sees Thivoll and starts scrambling away backwards.

Luckily, Ree is quick to soothe him. "It's alright. He won't hurt you. He is just a giant teddy bear. Hello. My name is Ree. Your fur is beautiful. Such a similar color to mine. What is your name?"

The woman seems to have some sort of superpower when it comes to interacting with terrified people because the big purple male quickly settles for her.

"Rannek."

Thivoll joins in the conversation. "Please tell him I am sorry I frightened him."

Ree translates and then goes to sit beside Rannek. "Would it be rude if I touched you? Maybe a hug?"

Rannek shudders. "I would like that, thank you."

She puts an arm behind his back and pulls herself close to his side. She is tiny next to him. I tear up watching such a tender moment. I'm hoping it makes an impression on Wroahk, but he isn't even looking.

He is staring at me intently.

Thivoll breaks in again. "Ree would like me to go move Amethyst here right away, and get Kira and Drasuk to move some supplies. I would also feel better moving her chamber and not taking a chance that whoever stole Silver is looking for another human. Please tell your Wroahk that he might not be able to kill me, but I can kill anyone I want on this planet. If he harms my Ree, I will make sure his death is excruciatingly painful."

I clear my throat, but Ree beats me to a response, but it isn't directed at my already notoriously violent… boyfriend? That just doesn't sound right, but now's not the time to figure it out.

"We'll take care of it, Thivoll."

She turns to me. "Will you ask Wroahk to escort him? I doubt he will respond to me."

I nod. "Thivoll from our communityneeds passage to go get another woman. You'll need to look out for those green aliens you've been drowning, and also some gray and pink ones with three stubby legs."

He whips around to face me. "Those are the enemy."

"Yes, that's right. Ree and Thivoll have been killing them, it sounds like, but there are a lot more of them."

Wroahk turns to the big orange alien, his face suddenly looking far less violent, like he's seeing Thivoll for the first time.

"Tell me you will make sure he is safe and wait for him to return so you can get him back here safely, too."

"I will."

"You will what?"

He gives me his angry face. "I will make sure he is safe." I glare at him. "Safe both ways," he adds.

I give him a sunny smile. "I am going to stay here." The announcement does nothing to improve his mood. He starts to drag me deeper into the water. "No kind hands for three days." He keeps pulling me back, and I have just enough time to yell out a bigger threat. "Three years."

He lets me go and I come out of the water with as much dignity as I can muster before speaking to Thivoll. "He will make sure you are safe. Both ways."

He is making a chuffing sound as he moves into the water.

---