Page 35 of Emerald

Stupid, impulsive human.

The scent grows stronger, and soon, I reach a familiar section of the cave. My momentum slows as I near a portion with a glassy, slippery rock floor, a naturally dangerous area even for creatures as agile as myself. I approach cautiously, claws gripping the wet stone.

The dim light from the bioluminescent fungi reveals zha's prone form a few feet away from a massive chasm, zha's body is limp and dangerously close to the edge. My irritation spikes, followed by a tight, uncomfortable feeling I can't quite identify.

"Foolish, foolish human…" I mutter under my breath as I approach zha's still form.

Zha's eyes are closed, breathing steady—zha is asleep. I stand over zha, my shadows stretching across the glossy rock. I should leave zha here, and let zha learn the consequences of zha's reckless actions. But my body moves before my thoughts can catch up. I reach down and scoop zha up, tucking zha against my chest.

Zha is so light, fragile even.

Almost immediately, zha unconsciously shifts closer, seeking warmth. Zha's small body presses against mine, head nestling against my skin. My bioluminescence flickers, shifting into a deep orange, a reaction I quickly tamp down by thinking of my irritation until the purple glow returns.

I glance down at zha, feeling my lips pushing against my tusks to reflect my annoyance.

"This is why a hoard never includes pets," I grumble, my voice a low rumble in the silence. "Never."

Zha does not respond, zha's body is limp and zha’s face is relaxed in sleep. I sigh and begin the long trek back to the enclave, navigating the slick, uneven terrain with more care this time. The human is warm against me, zha's soft breath tickling my chest with each exhale. I try not to think about it, about how natural it feels, carrying zha like this.

The journey back feels long, and my mind starts to wander despite myself. Why can't I just leave her? Zha is troublesome, always asking questions, challenging me, and running off when Zha knows nothing of the dangers of this place. Zha complicates my life in a hundred small, frustrating ways. And yet…

I glance down at zha, watching the way zha’s face twitches slightly as if zha is dreaming. Zha’s small body is so easily broken, so vulnerable. I could end zha’s life right now if I chose to. The thought passes through my mind like a shadow, unbidden but not entirely unwelcome. But I don't. I can't.

Why am I so fascinated by Olivia? Zha is unlike anything I have ever encountered—bold, reckless, unpredictable. Somehow completely uninterested in treasure.

It makes no sense, and yet part of my mind wonders what it would be like if there wasn’t that competition between two zhasie. Or, well, a zhasie and a human.

Everything about zha defies logic, and yet there is something about zha that keeps pulling me back, making me want to understand zha. To understand this…human.

I shake my head, trying to dismiss the thought. Zha is nothing but a distraction, a complication I never asked for. And yet… I can't help but feel a small flicker of something—curiosity, perhaps? Or is it something more insidious, something I dare not name?

Before I can delve deeper into this uncomfortable line of thought, I feel a stir against my chest. I look down to see Olivia's eyes fluttering open, zha's body tensing as zha wakes. Zha's eyes go wide, and zha jerks upright, looking around wildly.

"What—" zha starts, zha's voice groggy and confused. Then, realization sets in, and zha scowls up at me. "What thehell, Kroaicho?"

I set zha down on zha's feet with a huff, my irritation flaring back to the surface. "What exactly did you intend to achieve by falling asleep a few feet from of certain death?" I snap, each chitter strident, my voice echoing through the enclave.

Olivia lets out a growl, rubbing zha’s eyes. "I don’t know, maybe I was tired?" Zha wiggles out of my grip, zha's feet unsteady on the uneven ground. "Ever think of that? Why must you always beschleppingme around?”

I narrow my eyes, my patience wearing thin. "You were tired, so you decided to risk your life on a ledge?" I click, my voice rising with each word. "That makes no sense, even by your baffling standards. I keep my treasures safe, but you have purposefully put yourself at risk."

Had I only realized it would be this difficult to keep a treasure safe… from itself. It’s baffling to suddenly have a greater concern than theft. My skin lights up purple as I remember just how close zha was to ending zha’s story.

Zha moves zha’s shoulders, not the least bit bothered by my anger. "I wasbored, okay? So I went exploring. Big deal."

I freeze, the word catching in my mind. "Bored?" I echo, tasting the unfamiliar term. "What is this…bored? Does it mean seeking death?"

Zha looks at me, exasperated. "You know,bored. When you've got nothing to do, and your brain starts turning to mush?"

I tilt my head, trying to parse zha's meaning. "You… turn to mush? This is not possible. You are solid."

Olivia stares at me for a moment, then bursts into laughter. "No, not literally. It's a feeling. Like when you're restless and need something to do."

I blink, still not quite understanding. "So,boredomis… a disease of inactivity?"

Olivia laughs harder, doubling over. "No, no, it's not a disease. It's just… ugh, it's hard to explain."

I tap my arms against each other, feeling my annoyance flare again. "Your human concepts are needlessly complex."

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