Page 64 of Xara and the Xenobeast

The Xenobeast made a sound that might have been embarrassment.

As they prepared to leave, laden with the Tal’Shai’s gifts, the first elder approached them one last time.

“The Solitary One has walked alone for many cycles,” it said, its colors pulsing gently. “We have respected his choice, as he has respected ours. But all things change. All things evolve.”

The elder’s multifaceted eyes turned to Xara. “You have brought change to him. Now change comes to us all.”

With that cryptic statement, they were escorted back to the jungle floor.

As they made their way back through the darkened forest, Xara couldn’t contain her excitement.

“That was amazing,” she said, careful to keep her voice low. “Their whole society is built on symbiosis and mutual adaptation. The bioengineering alone is centuries beyond what we have on Earth.”

The Xenobeast grunted, adjusting the pack of Tal’Shai gifts on his shoulder.

“And they clearly respect you,” she continued. “You never told me you had a relationship with them.”

He shrugged. “Not much to tell. Stay out of their way. They stay out of mine.”

“It seemed like more than that,” she pressed. “The elder called you ‘The Solitary One.’ Like a title.”

He was silent for several steps. “They name things by their nature.”

“And your nature is to be alone?” She touched his arm. “Not anymore.”

His silver eyes met hers, luminous in the darkness. “No,” he agreed softly. “Not anymore.”

They walked in companionable silence for a while, the jungle’s nighttime chorus surrounding them. Xara’s mind raced with everything she’d seen and learned.

“Do you think it will be enough?” she finally asked. “What they gave us?”

“Not alone,” he admitted. “But combined with what we’ve prepared... maybe.”

“They called you a protector,” she said. “Said you warned them of dangers.”

He looked uncomfortable. “Just practical. Safer for everyone if predators stay away from their territory.”

Xara smiled to herself. Even now, he couldn’t admit to kindness.

“You know,” she said, “for someone engineered to be a weapon, you’ve done a remarkable job of finding other purposes.”

He stopped walking, his expression unreadable in the dim light.

“What?” she asked.

“Purpose,” he repeated, the word strange in his mouth. “Never had one before. Not one I chose.”

“And now?”

His tendrils reached out, brushing against her cheek with surprising gentleness. “Now I do.”

The simple declaration made her heart swell. She leaned into his touch, savoring the connection.

“We should hurry,” he said after a moment. “Need to check on pups.”

Xara nodded, though she was reluctant to break the moment. As they resumed their journey, she found herself thinking about the elder’s words.

All things change. All things evolve.

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