Page 70 of Experimental Voyage
She shook herself, stepped forward, and spoke to the hatchling in Veloci. I recognized an introduction, and when the older female finished, Emerald Kissed rested her head against me.
“She’s not yet multilingual, but she will be a quick study. We don’t usually teach them until they’re a little older, but learning to speak with you will be good for her. She is naturally xenodiverse, and she struggles with the deaths of her parents.But she is familiar and comfortable withhomo sapiens, part of why we hope you will help her adapt.”
“Of course.” When honest, I would have helped without payment. “Has she been rejecting grooming?”
“Unfortunately. She wants her mother and father to be the one to groom her. We’re hopeful she may accept attention fromhomo sapiens, but most are not brave enough to help groom and feed a hatchling.”
Fools, all of them. “You’ll have to show me what to do and give me the supplies. Where’s a good place to bathe her?”
“There is a nearby public bath we use to allow the stressed a chance to relax after returning from space. Please, follow me.”
“Waldren, contain the beasts, please? I’ll see about taking care of Emerald Kissed. You can battle me for your chance for her attention when you’re done with the animals.”
He scowled at me. “You’re ruthless.”
“I’m sure you’ll survive taking care of a cat, a bird, and two death horses. Just let the death horses play with the Veloc while you care for Palta and Squeakers. You can figure out where we’re staying, and then you can have your turn with the hatchling.”
“We can assist you with parking your ship in its proper place, taking care of your forms, and settling your animals,” the Veloc female said, and she raised her crest. “Yiyi will guide you to the baths and help you clean her feathers so she can have her supper.”
The tallest of the Veloc bobbed his head. “Please come with me, Camellia. We will return your companion soon enough.”
I smirked at Waldren. “Hear that, Waldren? You’remycompanion.”
“You’re a wicked woman!”
Yes, I was. On the voyage to Veloci Major, I’d found numerous ways to drop hints about merging our quarters,and Waldren’s confusion over the whole thing amused and encouraged me.Me, have any interest in a grump likehim? Hah!
With a little luck and some persistence, I’d succeed and begin teaching him the rather lovely ways we could keep each other company on long voyages.
In the meantime, I’d bide my time, help take care of Emerald Kissed, and enjoy the general festivities.
Rather than answer him, I flicked my tail and followed after Yiyi, ready to take on the Veloc planet by storm.
In the weeksbefore the ceremony that would see me formally adopted by a Veloc clan, I managed to break my own heart through introducing Emerald Kissed to the gentle Veloc of the Emerald Crests, succeeding at transferring her to a new nest, where she would be treasured by a pair who’d recently sent their younglings out into the world. The situation essentially guaranteed I would accept adoption from the Crimson Feet, as rather than posture, offer gifts, and otherwise try to convince me to join them, they fretted over the fate of their orphaned hatchling.
Accepting them meant they would be able to keep a close and careful eye on their little baby.
Perhaps one day, Emerald Kissed might return to them, but for the moment, she would experience peace, comfort, and love in their purest forms.
I wanted to keep the hatchling to myself, but I realized I couldn’t.
Veloc preferred the safety and comfort of their home worlds.
I needed to fly.
Not only did the Crimson Feet encourage me to fly, they wanted me to shine in new ways. They would do the fighting, and I would help the displaced find new homes and purpose. I would be able to give people new opportunities.
Like the Emerald Crests had done for me, I would be able to travel to the sites of tragedy and assist the survivors. If there were others like me, I would be able to help them.
I suspected the Emerald Crests would win a place on Veloci Major for the next period solely due to the protectorates on Melody and Harmony. With the Crimson Feet backing them due to my adoption, only a fool would try either clan.
I’d already heard whispers of the Veloc making changes to their society and how they determined which clans had rights to nest on Veloci Major, change that would see the most vulnerable of their people safe under the watchful eye of all the guardian clans.
The clan that adopted Delta would have to deal with Melody and Harmony as well, as he was determined to see Squeakers and her kin thrive. The Emerald Crests already had a small flock of the birds, and Squeakers could come and go as she pleased.
Delta wanted entire flocks of the little birds on his home world, kept away from predators and in an indoor version of paradise. They would have their regenerative crabs, beaches, and waters lapping at their shores. If a bird broke its beak on the rocks provided, they would be removed, healed, and sent off to become a prized companion of a sentient.
Their lives would go on in the peace and tranquility of Melody, but all throughout the universe, existing without fear and worry and able to maintain their odd culture and society.
