Page 25 of Ruby
“Don’t believe,” I say, fiercely holding my ground, the Bitch slowly reasserting itself as my default mask.
He blinks and actually looks taken aback. Meanwhile, I’m trying to make sense of the fact that what I’m singing translates to actual words. Every note carries a different meaning, making for what would be incredibly broken English. If I weren’t so terrified, I would be impressed.
“Will not eat,” he sings. “Keep you safe, Ree say.”
“What?”
“Ree sister. Purple threads,” he says, using one of his many hands to gesture at his plumed head.
I still don’t get it, but I really don’t have any other choice but to reason with this creature. He huffs, air ruffling the feathers along the slides of his neck.
“Cannot leave. There danger,” he sings, and I can tell that he is serious about getting me down from the tree.
Part of me is tempted to go down with him but I have many reservations. My brain could be tricking me in desperation for companionship. If I go with him, the chance that I might just get passed off into a pot of stew is higher.
“What danger?”
With this language, getting information is hard. Each word feels like multiple lines of melody, making communication frustratingly slow. He might be my only chance of getting out of this tree but I need a lot more than a few broken sentences to convince me.
“Go, now!” he says, reaching for me. I dodge his advance and shoot him a glare. His forcefulness only elevates my doubts.
“I rescue from tree. Find sister. Explain,” he sings, and I can’t tell if his tone is patronizing or genuine.
I let out a long huff. It is definitely the latter, judging by the resonance, but I’m still utterly confused by this “sister” business.
Then I make the connection from the wordthreads. He means hair. Purple hair…
Why does this woman keep popping up? What is going on and why does he think we’re sisters?
“I have no sister. Ree is danger. You are danger. Understand?”
The alien looks away from me as if surveying the area and I can see a cluster of uneven short feathers between what I think are its shoulders, stained green with dried flecks of a moss=green liquid. Gross.
“Hunters below, will kill.”
Hunters? There are even more aliens down there?
“Need go. Now,” he urges.
I really want to go with him. He sounds genuine, though the actor in me knows what a dangerous lie that can be.
However, something else comes to mind. There are birds that can mimic the sounds of their prey so they can lure them to theirnest. It is strange that a bird creature would have the concept of a sister, alien or not. I need to confirm something.
I place my hand over my ears and open my mouth wide as I take in a deep breath. His eyes widen, so I know he understands that I am threatening to scream. His humanlike eyes bear a semblance of panic.
He tries to beg, the strain obvious on his face. “Hunters will hear, please.”
I can feel his frustration building and I let go of my bluff. I have my confirmation that he cannot be easily dissuaded.
“Climb down. Then leave alone?”
“Cannot. Promised Ree,” he tries to explain, exasperated.
It’s even stranger that aliens have the concept of chivalry.
“Explain all,” I say firmly.
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