Stranded on a Tiny Planet

Merco was out in the lake up to his knees fishing for nearly a nublar when Traynar finally awoke.

Anu was by his side and held his face in her hands, “Traynar! You’re awake. Are you all right?”

He winced, his plumage wilted, “I hurt. Are you injured?”

“No. Where do you hurt?”

“Where don’t I hurt would be a better question.” he replied weakly. His eyes opened with alarm, his plume lifted, “Where are the Rogashay?”

Anu ran her hand over his plumage, smoothing it, “They ran away. Well...except for him.” She pointed to Boroxle, buried up to his neck.

Traynar sat up painfully but looked, his eyes widened with confusion, “How...”

A loud splash across the lake made them both turn to see Merco towering in the water, his spear thrust down before him. He twisted the spear, putting weight on the backside of it. Then he made a thundering sound of satisfaction and lifted the spear tip out of the water. A gigantic Gold-Scaled Leviathan thrashed its death throes on the end. With marked strides, the giant moved toward the shore, a wave rolling before him.

Traynar gripped Anu’s arm, preparing to grab her and flee. However, Anu returned the grip with reassurance, pushing him down, “No. No. It’s all right.”

He looked to protest when the ground shook followed by a massive thud. There behind them near the shore lay the dead Leviathan, golden scales gleaming in the sunlight. Its monstrous mouth gaped and flicked reflexively. Anu cringed, remembering all too well her experience with such a maw.

Merco retracted the spear from his kill, set it down, and then gripped the huge fish behind its gill flap. It would take more than one hundred Ansheetan plus pulleys and rope to even drag that fish and Merco lifted it off the ground with one arm.

“Hope you guys like fish.” he rumbled from above as he moved away from them.

He set the carcass down, further away from the shore and methodically pulled out his knife to gut his catch.

“What is going on?” Traynar hissed intensely.

Anu carefully explained what happened after he was knocked unconscious. Traynar’s expression, while mostly trained on Merco’s every move, conveyed disbelief.

“I sent the EFP squad back to Anashee to warn the Council about the Rogashay and get you a medic.” Anu finally concluded.

Traynar held his head, partially from pain, partially from stress. He didn’t know what to think anymore.

Merco had finished cleaning the fish and was now setting about gathering wood for a fire. It didn’t take him long to construct a small tented formation with his burn material. Then, he did something Anu and Traynar both had never seen. The giant alien removed the black glove from his left forearm and revealed the mechanical prosthetic beneath. Then his thumb bent back, and flame sparked from the digit, lighting the kindling.

“He’s a machine?” Anu whispered.

Traynar shook his head, but his plumage was up with interest, “No...it’s just his arm that’s machine.”

Their people had some technology in their energy weapons, flying gear, and domestic life, but he’d never seen a limb purely made from mechanical components. Especially one that bent and flexed as a normal flesh and blood appendage could. It was a wonder to behold. Whatever Merco’s species, they somehow possessed a technology his people lacked. Now Traynar wanted to know more about this huge stranger to their world.

...

It took a while but finally Merco finished cooking up the fish he’d speared. This one was a bit bigger than the last one which suited him just fine; he was starving. Before he pulled the fish from the fire, he stripped handfuls of leaves from the nearby trees and made a “platter” to shield it from the dirt. He removed the speared fish meal from the fire and set it on the leaves.

Merco turned and glanced over at Anu and Traynar who were watching him like two rabbits watching a wolf. Though he couldn’t blame them for being scared of him, all the wary eyes on him felt awkward. With slow, careful steps he approached them. They cowered noticeably.

He held up his hand with placation as he knelt a few feet from them, “Easy. Easy. It’s ok. It’s ok.” He looked to where Boroxle was buried, “Ok little carrot, are you gonna behave if I dig you out?”

Of course, none of them understood him.

With a curled finger he dug away the packed dirt around the trapped alien until his chest was unearthed. Then, just like a root vegetable, he pulled him gently from the ground by his shoulders. Boroxle protested and struggled but Merco didn’t release him. Instead, he stepped over toward the water, dunked the alien a couple times to wash him off, then set him down an arm’s length away from Anu and Traynar. Boroxle shook the water off of himself and shouted something with an indignant tone.

Merco knelt down on one knee and pointed to him, “Ok, Boroxle. You stay right there. If you try to hurt them again...” He gestured to Anu and Traynar, making a motion of violence. He pointed to himself, then pointed to Boroxle. “I am going to...,” He pinched his fingers together forcefully and made a squelching sound, “Get me?”

The scaled alien seemed to wilt, sitting down. Merco nodded. Though he truly had no intention of squishing the poor alien, he wasn’t going to let him try to kill the other two either. A bit of bluffing would suffice to keep the peace.

He stood, returning to the fish, “Ok, who’s hungry?”

Using his pocket-knife, he peeled back the crisp scaly skin of the fish to reveal the purplish white meat. Steam wafted aggressively from beneath. Merco procured a small piece the size of a postage stamp and cut it into threes. Then he found three sizeable leaves and placed a tiny portion of fish on each one. With slow careful movements he placed the portions in front of the three little aliens.

“There you go.”

They withdrew from him but looked at what he had given them with blatant curiosity.

...

Anu and Traynar stared at the huge chunks of meat before them and then at Merco, whom had moved away from them and sat nearer the cooked Leviathan. He watched them almost expectantly.

“Ever had Gold Scaled Leviathan?” Anu asked her mate.

Traynar scoffed, “I don’t think anyone has for several generations.”

Killing a Gold Scaled Leviathan was almost unheard of, save for legends and drunken fishing stories rambled on by those living off the Anashee Lake. Some merchants claimed to have pickled samples of the gigantic fish for exorbitant prices, though no one could corroborate their claims of authenticity. But here they had a fresh sample with no doubt of its origin.

Anu reached over and took a small piece off the top that wasn’t as hot as the rest and examined it, “Well...guess we don’t want to offend him.” Tentatively she tasted the meat then said, “Hmm. It’s good. Needs some seasoning...”

Anu also took some to give to Traynar since his wound made sitting and leaning extremely painful. She held it near his mouth, and he gave a skeptical look but let her feed him. It had been awhile since they’d eaten anything substantial and the gnaw of hunger was beginning to bite at their insides. Not to mention it felt like a rare privilege to eat something few had ever tasted. As they ate Anu smirked at the irony of being able to eat the very species that ate her. Perhaps it tasted better because of that?

She glanced over at Boroxle who was eyeing them suspiciously and also his portion of meat. He seemed to be assuring that they ate some first before he would consider eating. After a few moments he snatched a sizeable piece from his portion and hurriedly ate; acting as if he hadn’t eaten for many days.

All at once a hollow rushing of air, much like wind whistling through the trees, made them all snap with alert. Merco was blowing cooling air across a chunk of fish as big as any one of them. He stuffed it in his mouth, chewed twice, and swallowed loudly. Then he sliced off another huge piece of meat and did the same. Anu had to repress a shiver of dread as she watched him consume the vast quantities of meat laid before him. She thanked many deities that they were not a part of his meal choices.

When he’d eaten about half of the fish he stopped and sighed, holding a hand to his head. His scrunched eyes seemed to indicate pain. After a moment he opened his eyes and looked in Anu’s direction.

“Anu?” She looked at him intently as he dabbed at his wound and pretended to look around, “Where did you find this plant?”

Anu looked to her mate who was slowly falling asleep, “I think he wants to know where the leeching weed is.”

Traynar’s eyes opened a bit wider, “Don’t leave me alone with that Rogashay.”

Anu looked over at Boroxle who was finishing most of his meal and casting wary glances toward them and Merco in the same look. She then gave Traynar a touch of reassurance on his shoulder and slowly turned. She took a breath and cautiously floated upward to be eye-level with Merco’s sitting position. His eyes widened and he smiled upon seeing her float up to him. She touched her head in the same place as Merco’s wound and then pointed toward the forest behind him. He looked to where she pointed and nodded. His huge body shifted as he prepared to stand. Anu felt herself recoiling back as his form rose like a mountain, looming above her and everything in sight. Her flight faltered for a moment, but she corrected and flew up higher to be at his eye-level again.

He made a gesture to her which seemed to indicate she would lead him. She held up her hands and then pointed to Boroxle and Traynar below, shaking her head adamantly.

“Don’t trust him?” Merco asked, voice vibrating the air.

She made the gesture again with more earnest. He sighed a great gust of air and stepped toward the pair on the ground. He knelt and with a curt motion plucked up Boroxle, whom didn’t appreciate the sudden grab.

“NO! Let me go you monster!” the Rogashay shouted angrily.

Merco smirked behind his beard and once again planted him like a special little vegetable. Needless to say, Boroxle was livid at the humiliating treatment. A string of Rogashay curses erupted from him as he fruitlessly struggled to free himself. Merco patted his head sardonically and then turned back to Anu. He made the gesture for her to lead him again.

Satisfied that her mate was no longer in danger, she nodded and flew just over the tops of the trees so he could see her. At first he didn’t move, only watched her. When she turned to see why, he took a forest shaking step, closing the gap between them. Anu’s plumage lifted then fell expressively. His eyes observed her expectantly until she composed herself and flew ahead of him. Hearing a footfall behind her that sounded like a mountain crumbling made her feel very intimidated and uneasy. So, she flew backwards, watching him as he slowly followed behind her. If she could watch him as he walked she felt less edgy.

Twelve steps; that’s all it took for him to return to the field where this whole incident had begun. Executing a graceful dive, Anu landed in the field amid the patch of leeching weed. Merco’s towering form parted the trees as he too entered the clearing. She pulled a couple of the curly, tentacle looking weeds, flew to his eye level, and held them up so he could see them. His eyes squinted, focusing on the weeds she held. Without much warning, his open hand appeared beneath her. Anu couldn’t help it; she startled. Her flight sputtered, and she dropped onto his huge fingers, rolling down into the soft crease where they met his palm. It must’ve startled him too because his entire form lurched to catch her.

He expelled a gust of air, “Oh! Easy there.”

Anu silently cursed herself. Why did she have to be so anxious? Why couldn’t she just fly normally and stop losing focus; falling at the slightest hint of fear? Her eyes wet with frustration, her plumage vibrated. She looked up and was pinned by Merco’s impossibly large eyes scrutinizing her.

“Hey...hey. It’s all right. Didn’t mean to scare you.” He said in a low voice.

Though she didn’t understand him, his tone sounded apologetic...or at least concerned. Her plumage lowered, ceasing its trembling. She very slowly composed herself, stood up in his hand, and stared at him directly. Then, she floated again and purposefully dropped the leeching weed in his palm. He stared at it and maneuvered it between his fingers for inspection. She pointed to the weed and pressed her hands together, rubbing them to indicate it needed to be mashed up.

Merco knelt to the ground and with a sweeping grasp of his hand pulled up nearly all the leeching weed in one handful. Anu shook her head, marveling at the simplicity of the task his size lent him. Harvesting that amount would have taken her nublars. The giant held the weeds to his nose and smelled them and then rubbed his hands together, turning the leeching weed into a mushy green mass. Very slowly he felt his wound and began pushing the poultice into it. A deep, vibrating growl of pain shook the air as he winced. Anu floated back, giving him plenty of space should he decide to lash out. However, his growl gradually devolved into a hiss of relieved pain.

He looked at her with a look of gratitude, “Thank you for showing me this. Definitely saved my life.”

...

Meanwhile back at the lake’s shore...

Boroxle was wishing all kinds of horrible deaths and torments upon the giant alien that had so derisively buried him...again. He wasn’t certain now if these Ansheeta were in control of it, but they’d pay for this humiliation, regardless. One thing Boroxle knew for certain was that this giant alien was not to be challenged. If it was in league with the Ansheeta, his clan would not stand a chance against that kind of might. At least...not in a physical battle. More underhanded tactics might have to be utilized.

However, despite this, it puzzled him that the beast would share food with him. In Rogashay culture the sharing of a meal was significant. It displayed trust and respect which were sparingly given outside of a family group. Whether that was the intent he wasn’t sure, but it still perplexed him.

In that moment a snap of a twig caught his attention. At first he thought the great brute was returning but it didn’t sound that big and it was in the opposite direction from where it had gone. He didn’t see anything, but a thought occurred to him.

He made a rapid series of hissing pulses from between his teeth. Another twig snapped. He kept up the call until his idea was confirmed when his sand dragon Ru’tra appeared from the trees. A smile of relief broke out on Boroxle’s face. The bull sand dragon, despite fleeing the giant’s presence earlier, had stuck around nearby, possibly looking for him.

“Tsss! Tsss! Tsss! TSSS!” Boroxle called in the hissing pulse that he’d trained Ru’tra to come to when he was just a hatchling.

The bulky, horned lizard seemed confused at first since he couldn’t see him but slinked toward the familiar call. His tongue flicked, scenting. In moments he found Boroxle buried up to his neck. The lizard’s quadruple forked tongue lapped excitedly against his master’s head.

“Good Ru’tra.” Boroxle praised then commanded. “Dig, dig.”

Being a desert dwelling species, the sand dragons were accomplished diggers so teaching them to dig on command was rather simple. Ru’tra made a huffing noise near the dirt and began digging. His blunt claws and splayed toes shoveled the dirt easily. In a few swipes Boroxle freed his arms.

He patted the sand dragon heartily, “Good boy Ru’tra. Dig, dig.”

His eyes wandered over to the wounded Ansheeta who was also staring back at him. He hadn’t made a sound which was wise considering Ru’tra would definitely be excited by sound and the scent of his blood. Once his sand dragon dug him out he would...

At that moment, Boroxle could feel a tremor vibrate through the dirt and through his chest. A distant one. Then another. Ru’tra stopped digging, frilled head perked with alert.

"Por-det!" Boroxle swore, realizing the giant alien was coming back. He hissed more urgently to his sand dragon, “Dig, dig! Dig, dig!”

The sand dragon hesitated but surprisingly threw a couple more piles of sand away. Boroxle wriggled hard, twisting his torso in an attempt to expedite his freedom. The tremors grew more forceful and Ru’tra warbled a noise of agitation. Knowing his sand dragon could bolt, Boroxle reached up and grabbed the harness hooked into the underside of Ru’tra’s throat pouch. The sand dragon snorted and stamped his feet, yanking his head and thereby yanking Boroxle out of his sandy prison. Numb from being immobile for so long, Boroxle tried to pull himself up and climb astride his mount. The trees creaked and snapped nearby. Ru’tra gave a squeal of distress and bolted. Boroxle hung on to the lizard’s harness but the beast’s power superseded his own, and it was easily yanked from his grasp forcing him to run after the fleeing beast.

Suddenly, a gigantic black boot slammed down in Ru’tra’s path. The sand dragon skidded to the side, throwing its horned head in panic. Boroxle stopped too, staring way up at the giant alien.

He leaned over with a hand outstretched to Ru’tra. The sand dragon suddenly went on the defensive upon seeing the hand descending toward him. He hissed aggressively, shaking his formidable head horns at the encroaching hand. The giant retracted his hand out of reach of the sharp horns but remained poised above. Ru’tra snarled and charged toward the one thing he could reach which was the boot in front of him. With a quick yank upward, the giant lifted his boot, avoiding the charge. But Ru’tra wasn’t done. Once the boot returned to the ground he wheeled to attack it again.

The giant made a booming cry of surprise and lifted his foot again, dodging once again. Being the dominant bull that he was, Ru’tra persisted his attack on the perceived predator until finally the huge alien’s hand shot down and grabbed him behind his bony head frill. Ru’tra hissed and squealed with panic as he was pinned to the ground. With very little effort, the giant alien took hold of Ru’tra’s tail with his other hand and lifted the huge lizard as he stood up.

“NO! Let him GO!” Boroxle shouted running to his steed’s aid but he couldn’t do anything as Ru’tra was lifted high. “STOP! PUT HIM DOWN!”

Panic flooded Boroxle. He didn’t even bother to compose himself into his normally confident stoicism. He stood at the giant’s feet, staring up and pacing in a vain attempt to figure out a way to free Ru’tra from his clutches.

At that moment Boroxle spotted Anu flying above and he shouted frantically, “Ansheeta! Tell this monster to release Ru’tra, NOW!”

Ru’tra thrashed his legs and whipped his body in the giant’s grasp but he couldn’t escape. Then he made a plaintive squeal that sounded unlike any noise Boroxle had heard him make. It ripped at his emotions. Boroxle had raised Ru’tra from a hatchling and had been his only steed his whole life. He couldn’t bear the thought of seeing him killed and eaten.

Falling to his knees in supplication he shouted desperately, “PLEASE! Let him go!”

...

Merco could barely believe what he saw when he returned to camp. There was a creature near the buried alien that looked like a tiny Triceratops...or something close to that appearance. The head definitely gave it that look with the bony collar and horns sprouting from the head, but the body was a bit less like the dinosaur he knew and more like an actual lizard. It was only as big as a medium sized iguana and had begun to dig out Boroxle. When he drew closer it fled, yanking Boroxle out of the ground. Merco lengthened his stride to overtake the lizard before it escaped into the trees. He definitely wanted to have a closer look at this exotic species.

He put a foot in front of the tiny “dinosaur”, and it stopped abruptly. However, when he bent down to catch the reptile it reacted defensively, hissing and trying to get him with its four head horns. Then, it started trying to attack his boots. Dancing awkwardly to avoid being stabbed, Merco avoided the creature’s attacks until finally it turned from him and he could grasp it behind the head. It fought but he seized its tail too before lifting it up for a closer inspection.

“Well look at you. What are you? Huh?” he asked the reptile with fascination.

What Merco found interesting is that not only did it resemble a mini Triceratops, but it was strapped with a harness on its jaw and a saddle astride its shoulders. It was like...a horse? The reptile continued to struggle until it made a high pitched squealing noise of distress. Merco’s finger gently stroked the bony frill, trying to calm it down.

Amid his curiosity for the lizard, Merco heard Boroxle shouting at him. He peered down at the alien who was pacing and shouting while gesturing strongly. He almost looked frantic or worried. Then he appeared to be shouting at Anu floating in the air before falling on his knees. Merco squinted, trying to assess the situation.

Then he made a guess. This was Boroxle’s creature...his “horse” if you will. And...he thought he was going to hurt it? Merco sighed with frustration.

Why did everyone on this planet think he was out to get them or kill them?

"All right, all right. Just take it easy. I’m not going to hurt it.” he chided with no expectation of being understood.

With care, he knelt back down and placed the “dinosaur” on the ground. He maintained a hold on it until he was ready and released. The lizard opened its toothy mouth, rising tall on its legs, and hissed at Merco.

He laughed at its boldness, but was ready to move should it decide to try and attack again.

Very quickly, Boroxle got up and rushed to the creature’s side, seizing the harness to calm it. The lizard still remained in a defensive stance, keeping an eye on Merco. The alien stroked the reptile, saying calming sounding words.

It was in that moment that Merco made a decision. He waved his hand in a “shooing” movement.

“Go on. You can go.” he said to Boroxle.

The alien watched his gesture and he squinted suspiciously. Merco backed away a couple steps, still making the gesture.

“I’m not going to stop you. Just go.”

After a moment, Boroxle took the hint and climbed astride his scaly steed. Very cautiously they backed away and then raced away into the woods.