Page 16 of My Big Scaly Alien Naga
Chirp, chirp.
Finally, my vision cleared, just in time to see the golden ball stretch into an animal like none I'd ever seen.Golden feathers covered it from its tufted ears down to the tips of its three tails.It was the size of a large cat, with four limbs that reminded me of the nimble arms and legs of a monkey.It stared at me with three dark, watery eyes that seemed too big for its head.There was intelligence lurking behind those eyes, and something like kindness.Pity.This was no mere animal.It was a sentient being.
I didn't know how I knew that, but I would have sworn on it with my life.This little alien was observing me not with the curiosity of an animal, but with the judgement and caution of an intelligent lifeform.
Its three tails moved behind it, swirling in hypnotising pirouettes, while the rest of its body stayed still.And it hadn't stopped staring right into my eyes.
"Hello?"I tried but felt silly right away.Of course it wouldn't understand me.
For some reason, the people on the space station – space ship?– had spoken English, although sometimes it had seemed as if their lips moved differently from the words I was hearing.I could not expect every being in the universe to also speak my language.
The little alien chittered in response without breaking its stare.It was starting to creep me out, but I didn't feel any animosity or danger from it.
The dinosaur monster roared again, sounding much closer suddenly.I was wasting time.
The feathered monkey seemed to come to the same conclusion and swirled around, its tails forming question marks above its slim body.It ran a few steps, then turned as if to see whether I was following.
I didn't hesitate.This alien being was likely to know where to hide from the monster.If I was lucky, it would show me the way.
I staggered after it, my knees weak and my head spinning.It felt like I was walking on clouds.Wherever the little alien was leading me, I hoped it was close.I wouldn't last another ten minutes.
The sound of something crashing against the trees behind us made me pull together my last remnants of energy.I would not become a monster's meal.I simply refused to.I deserved better.
The monkey-alien was faster than me.I appreciated it waiting for me every few trees.If I hadn't dragged along, it may have taken to jumping into the high branches, but with me, it stayed on the ground, always staying close to the massive purple trunks.Yes, they were purple, the colour of ripe plums.I'd stopped being amazed by that the moment the alien dinosaur had come for me, but I knew that I would need some time to simply stare and take in theothernessof this place at some point.Once we'd reached safety.I hoped.
Something shimmered up above, as if the air itself was glittering.
The little alien chirped in excitement and ran faster.I struggled to even stay upright.Every step could be my last.My vision was once again fogging up.Only the hope that we might soon reach safety kept me going.
The chirping turned to something more urgent, as if it was warning me.
"I'm coming."My voice cracked, my throat painfully dry.For a fraction of a second, I imagined water, an ocean full of it, all around me, cooling my skin, running down my aching throat, providing me with energy.
Chirp, chirp.
A promise.And an encouragement.You can do this.
Maybe I was hallucinating, but I thought I could see an army of golden monkey-aliens running towards me.Hundreds of them.
My legs gave way beneath me.I sucked in one last breath.The sweet scent of the alien planet made me smile.
I closed my eyes and surrendered to the darkness.
I was floating in a sea of dreams.Fragments of images flashed before me, gone before I could understand what I was seeing.People of all ages, men and women, laughter, smiles, tears.I knew them and yet I didn't know who they were.Landscapes.Cities.Mountains.Oh, the mountains!I flew over crags and over glaciers, breathing in air so fresh it seemed to be newly born, far down below lush valleys and ribbons of water.Deep within my barely conscious mind, I knew that these were memories, but I couldn't make sense of them, couldn't put them in any sort of order that made sense.
Another group of people, another family.But they were different.They weren't human.Their skin was shades of green, pale spring leaves and deep ivy, their faces almost familiar, but beneath their waist, they had the bodies of giant snakes, thick scaly coils.Yet despite their otherness, I saw the same emotions as I had among the humans that I knew were my own family.Laughter.Happiness.Sadness.Love.
I smiled with true contentment.Iunderstood.
Something new itched at the back of my mind.I grasped it firmly until it became part of me once more.
My name.
And I opened my eyes, fully awake, ready for life to continue.
I wasn't done yet.
9
