Page 23 of My Big Scaly Alien Naga
I am not a clan mother.I lead the clear-stone clan only while our clan mother is absent, but as soon as she returns, I will return to my previous rank.I am not worthy of leadership.
The other chii chirped something which sounded like a protest or argument.
Sa’quii exposed her fangs at him.They were dangerously sharp.He hesitated for a second, then presented his throat in deference.
Ba’quoo will link to you now, naga, if you agree.
I wanted to know more about the situation, but I stayed quiet.This mind-link was the reason I could understand Sa’quii, so I supposed there wasn’t any harm in it.What I didn’t understand was why Venom needed it when he could speak their language.
Ba’quoo pulled his tail from Sa’quii’s grip before jumping on Venom’s shoulder in one huge, elegant leap.He wrapped his tails around the naga’s neck, just like Sa’quii had done with me.He chirped something at Venom.
“I understand and I agree,” the naga muttered, his attention fully focused on the chii.
Something passed between them that I couldn’t quite describe.A sort of energy.It was over in a just a few seconds.The chii jumped down to the diamond floor again, taking his place next to Sa’quii.She entwined one of her tails with his and smiled at him with pride.
I turned back to Venom – and gasped.A golden mark had appeared on his scales, right where Ba’quoo’s tails had been wrapped around his throat.
“What is that?”I exclaimed before I could stop myself.
A sign of their mind-link,Sa’quii explained.You have one as well.It will fade while we are together and appear when we are apart.If you touch it and think of me, it will guide you to wherever I am, no matter how far.
I tried to look for the mark, but it had to be around my neck where I couldn’t see it.I wished they had a mirror.The diamond walls of the cave only refracted the sunlight coming from outside, but didn’t offer a reflection.
“Will it ever go away?”I asked aloud before I remembered that we could talk in our minds.
If you want it to.She sounded almost offended.This mind-link relies on both of us to stay active.
A commotion at the other end of the cave made us all swirl around.From the corner of my eye, I saw that Venom had moved ever so slightly closer to me, as if trying to protect me from whatever was happening.I found that surprisingly sweet, even though I was used to looking out for myself.Growing up on a council estate in a rough part of London will do that to you.
A tiny chii, the size of a bunny rabbit and with only one golden tail, ran up to Sa'quii.
It stood up on its hind legs and chittered wildly.
"A flying eye has been spotted," Venom translated for me."A drone.They have found us."
13
Venom
I wanted to wrap my body around her, protect her from what was to come.I was so very tempted.But I resisted the urge, tensed my muscles and tried to focus on what was being said.I hadn't expected the game makers to find us this quickly.Maybe they had managed to re-activate my mate's tracker faster than I'd thought possible.Or they had sent a drone through a portal, even though that should short-circuit any drone that attempted it.How ever they had figured out that we were in the Diamond Heights, it was bad news for us.And for the chii.
I rubbed my neck where I assumed I now sported a mark similar to my mate's.I could just about feel the presence of Ba'quoo's mind when I focused on the chii that I mind-linked to.I'd never expected that I would be given this great honour.I'd interacted with the chii ever since I'd taken my posting on Kalumbu Station and had been introduced to them by my predecessor, but all communication had been short and to the point.I'd helped them by hiding them on the Trials feeds and they had in return provided me with information about what was happening on the planet's surface.I'd come to admire them for their tenacity and strength.Now, I would have to rely on those qualities.
We will have to– I began in my mind, testing the connection.Ma...Clare, can you hear me?Is this working?
I can hear you.She sounded somewhat confused.How can I hear you?We're not mind-linked, are we?
Sa'quiipulledon the connection to signal that she was next to speak.Apparently, there was an etiquette to this mind-speak.
You are linked with me and Venom is linked with Ba'quoo, who is my Chosen.If he did not share this bond with me, you two would not be able to talk to each other.
I had questions about the capabilities of this bond, seeing the potential advantage it might give us in our fight against the game makers, but there was no time.
We have to leave,I announced.We will not put you all at risk.Clare and I have to show ourselves to the drone before the game makers decide to attack this place in order to flush us out.
They cannot see us from the outside,Ba'quoo interjected.We are hidden from view.The diamonds twist the light, letting it into the mountain but disguising us from the outside world.
No, they know we're here.How often do you have a random drone in this area?Exactly.Somehow, they tracked us.It is better if Clare and I leave.Immediately.I very much appreciate your help so far, but I don't want to endanger you any more than we already have.
