Page 99 of Culture and Curiosities
“Mates are meant to be.”
Daddy did a mental shrug like he wasn’t really worried about it.
“If you don’t line up and get your shit in order I’m going to—” Whatever Boyd had been going to say was cut off as his mate rubbed his back, not even trying to be discreet about it, but it had the desired effect and the Canadian man who’d been wandering a bit too close to the gate moved back to the rest of the group.
What was in his bag?
Did he have a dinosaur cage too that he wanted to take with him?
Did his bag seem a bit too big?
Had he been hanging out with the Florida people too much?
“Please assemble in order, so we can proceed through the gate.” Daddy’d had enough dawdling too but he wasn’t as grumpy as Boyd. “Remember that some of us coming through felt a bit of nausea, but it faded quickly. Walk slowly so we don’t have an accident on the other side and once you are through the portal please move to the right.”
They were all so excited and worked up I had a feeling it was going to be more like bumper cars on the other side rather than orderly walking, but Daddy had high hopes that we could all walk without causing chaos.
It was cute and completely wrong.
“You’re representing Earth.” Boyd didn’t seem to trust any of them either. “Don’t do anything a local would do and don’t start any interstellar incidents. Don’t do anything that would piss off your mothers. Keep your fucking clothes on and don’t try to bring back any fucking dinosaurs. We’re not looking to start a zoo or change the ecosystem.”
Yeah, those weren’t reasonable goals either but it would be fun to see what was going to happen.
“Let’s go.” Daddy projected calm confidence with his mostly blank expression but inside he was just as excited as the rest of us. “There will be a slight pressure but it is not painful.”
“Kids did this so we can do it.” The only Florida man who could behave himself was a voice of reason. “They shouldn’t have but they did and none of the diaries said it was painful.”
We were going on a field trip…it would be fine.
And if it wasn’t, well, I’d be with Daddy so it’d still be fine.
Chapter 26
Toman
Yes, his eyes were a bit too wide, but he was breathing and had allowed me to move him to the side fairly quickly.
So he was fine?
Blinking…that was good.
The bond was still there…that was good too.
But his mind was startlingly blank…that was not good.
My Wren’s brain was never quiet.
As worry was setting in, though, I saw the same expression on everyone who came through the portal after us. They had the ability to move and breath, and surprisingly even followed the direction to move away from the portal, but thinking was not happening.
Even Agent Murphy’s mouth dropped open for several seconds until Klynn nudged him with his shoulder to remind the agent that he preferred to look stern. That fixed the problem in our human agent and in Wren.
He found it funny, which was not appropriate but did push his brain into motion.
“I’m on another planet, Daddy.”
The marvel in his voice had me squeezing his hand and sending warmth through the bond.
“Remember you are visiting my home and going on a working vacation, my mate, this is not overwhelming.”
