Stranded on a Tiny Planet

Having a giant alien sitting amongst so many Ansheetans was a surreal sight to behold. Anu and Traynar were all but barraged with questions from various Pela citizens...very few they actually knew.

“What is he?”

“Where did he come from?”

“He looks hurt. What happened to him?”

“What language is he speaking? Don’t you understand him?”

“Can he fly too?”

“Are there more like him?”

Both Anu and Traynar felt overwhelmed. Ironic that out of all Ansheetans on the planet, they had experienced the most direct contact with Merco and yet...they knew so little about him. The biggest obstacle was that they couldn’t understand each other save for primitive gesturing. There were so many complex conversations to be had and not enough gestures to explain them. They honestly wondered if there was a way he could be taught their language.

As the festivities went on, Anu knew she needed to get back to Anashee and meet with Felreh and Madala to convince them that Merco wasn’t an eminent threat to their lives. She had to smile seeing so many Pela Ansheetans gathered around Merco without fear. Merco seemed more uneasy than anyone there did. Their leaders needed to see this. If this wasn’t proof of his gentility then what was?

“I need to go to Anashee tonight.” Anu leaned over to her mate.

He thought a moment, “Do you think they’ll believe you?”

She lowered her plumage, “I’ll bring them here to see this if I have to.”

Traynar touched her shoulder, “Why not let me go?”

“You’re still on the mend. I can fly faster and get there before the sun rises.” She retorted. “You stay here and make sure Merco doesn’t leave.”

His plumage puffed up a bit, ”How exactly?”

She gave him a cocky look since he had told her to do the same thing earlier, “I just pushed on his forehead and he stopped for me. You just have to get in his face.”

Traynar nodded, but in a way that was uncomfortable with the notion.

Anu shook his shoulder chidingly, “You’re still not convinced? He’s not going to hurt you!”

“I...respect the power that he possesses.” Traynar admitted. “Even if he doesn’t mean to he can...”

Anu stood and touched her forehead to his. Her mate...forever the cautionary, “I’ll try to be back as soon as I can.”

Bidding the leader of the Pela settlement a farewell, Anu flew up and out of the canyon. Merco noticed her departure, watching her fly up. He turned to Traynar; a questioning look on his face.

“She’ll be back. Just...don’t go anywhere.” Traynar explained, feeling foolish since the giant alien didn’t comprehend his words. He simply held his hands up slightly to indicate there was no need to worry.

Merco squinted, but merely watched Anu fly away. It wasn’t until much later that Merco finally groaned deeply and began to shift his massive body. Anyone who was still in attendance immediately froze to watch as the titanic alien stood to his full height, stretching his arms.

He faced the remaining crowd and bowed his head saying in his rumbling alien voice, “Thank you very much for the soup and your generosity.”

With that he turned and walked away through the canyon. Traynar stood up too, bid the leader goodbye as well and flew steadily after him. At first he was going to attempt to stop Merco, but figured he was retiring to sleep away from the settlement. Given his violent reaction from earlier, that seemed a wiser choice than remaining so close to the Pela settlement. So Traynar flew behind Merco, merely watching where he was going.

They soon arrived at the spot where they had rested before and Merco retrieved his jacket, putting it on. Then his enormous body resettled against the canyon wall as he sat down, arms crossed.

His eyes directed at Traynar in a manner that indicated he hadn’t known he was following him, “Following me, eh Traynar? I’m pretty tired from all that excitement. How about you?”

Traynar tipped his head, uncomprehending but gradually landed, keeping a fair distance between himself and Merco should the giant alien have another reactive nightmare.

Merco smirked at him, “Yeah. I get it. Wouldn’t want to sleep near me either. [Yawn!] G’Night.”

Traynar sat and made himself as comfortable possible. His mended torso still hurt but at least he could fly and get himself up now. He looked over at Merco one last time before closing his own eyes to get some sleep.

...

Anashee Lake, early morning...

Seraysa and Verin had been so tired they fell asleep almost immediately in their improvised shelter. But with her mind full Seraysa didn’t stay asleep for long. Light was beginning to peek across the horizon, but it was still pretty dark.

“Verin! Wake up.” She pushed against her brother, “We’ve got to find Merco before the EFP gets here.”

Her brother’s ruffled plumage popped up with annoyance as he groaned, pushing her away.

“Come on Verin!” she insisted.

“Uhgg. Fine.” He stretched and ran a hand across his plumage before rubbing his face, “It’s not even light yet.”

“We need to look at that print again. I’m going to float up and see if it leads somewhere.” Seraysa explained, kicking away her sleeping pouch and racing back to where they’d seen the huge boot print.

Verin groaned again, trying to fully waken whilst Seraysa went out to relocate the print. It didn’t take her long to find it. Closing her eyes, she concentrated, feeling the tingle at her back. Slowly she rose into the air, higher and higher until she was almost over the tops of the trees. From the lofty vantage she could see the massive indents of Merco’s boot prints. Then she could also see the path of broken limbs cleaved through the trees by his gigantic body. It was leading away from the Anashee Lake...but where to?

Before she knew it, Verin had joined her in the air, wobbly but there. He looked around blearily.

“See, Verin. His prints go away from the lake. But... if he’s not here at the lake where did he go?” Seraysa asked aloud.

Her brother thought a moment, brain waking up, “The storm. Maybe he was looking for shelter? The only question is where could something that big take shelter?” Suddenly he snapped with realization as he looked out beyond, “Pela Canyon! I’ll bet that’s where he went!”

Seraysa recalled that lesson from her chrysalis education feeds. Geography was a big component. Pela Canyon was pretty far from Anashee Lake, but not for a being with Merco’s stride. It was also closer to Anashee. As she was about to try to fly forward, shouts sounded in the distance behind them. The siblings turned and could see several maroon dots against the brightening horizon heading for the lake.

“It’s the EFP!” Seraysa whispered intensely, recognizing the color to be that of the combat fliers.

Verin took her hand and they quickly landed in a large tree so they wouldn’t be spotted. Luckily, the large squad was not headed directly for them and didn’t act like they saw them.

“Looks like they’re starting the search. If Merco isn’t at the lake they’re going to find his trail just like we did.” Verin deduced.

“Then we have to get to Pela Canyon before they figure that out.” Seraysa stated firmly.

He shook his head, “Seraysa we got lucky last night with that storm slowing them down. Pela Canyon is most of a day’s walk. We’ll never beat them there.” Seraysa’s determined eyes told him everything, “But...I know you don’t care and are going to try anyway.”

Seraysa only nodded as she floated out and toward the ground. She’d try to fly as much as she could manage but somehow she was going to get to Merco.

...

That same moment...

The storm had delayed Coroc’s squadron for most of the night. Though frustrating, Coroc used the time to center his thoughts and refine his plans. He had several. In his experience when hunting down Rogashay bandits, he needed multiple plans because there were too many variables; too many ways the original plan could go awry. And with this giant, his plans could not go awry without serious consequences.

Once the storm ceased, he ordered his volunteers to follow him to the lake. They would need to determine where this giant was before any of his plans could be enacted.

As light broke the horizon, he and his squadron could see the expanse of Anashee Lake. Winding and twisting through the forest, the lake itself was huge. However, so was their quarry. Finding the giant would be the easy part. Nothing that big could hide. The hard part would be taking him down without getting every member of the squadron killed.

“What are your orders, Sir?” his appointed second in command Hitalel asked.

“Spread out in groups of three. Once the giant has been located report back. Depending on where it is and what it’s doing we will gather and form a plan to fit the situation.” He explained.

“I was on one of the recent watch patrols, sir. I know where he was seen last.” Hitalel mentioned.

Coroc nodded, “Lead a squad there first. If we’re lucky it’ll still be asleep.”

Hitalel waved her arms and relayed the orders to the squad. Obediently they branched off and began to reconnoiter.

...

Back in Anashee at sunrise...

Anu had made it back to the city of Anashee as fast as she could fly. She passed through the upper gates and pointed to a guard, “I need to speak with Commander Madala and Elder Felreh immediately!”

Seeing her EFP uniform one of them hurried off to find a council member associate to pass on the need for a meeting. Anu didn’t have to wait too long before she was granted an audience with Elder Felreh and the female Commander. The elder female leader was seated comfortably in her chambers while Madala stood at her side at attention when Anu was brought before them.

Anu lowered her plumage with respect, “Elder Felreh. Commander Madala.”

“You are the EFP scout, Anu. I am told you have something very urgent to tell us regarding the alien visitor.” Elder Felreh spoke.

Anu nodded, “I have come into contact for a second time with the alien visitor Merco.”

“How did you escape?” Madala asked with immediate interest.

“Escape? I didn’t escape. I...was never a captive.”

Madala looked into her seriously, “The last report I received was from two scouts saying Traynar had been injured and you both, along with a Rogashay bandit, were captives of this alien.”

Anu shook her head, plumage fluttering with frustration, “No! We were never his captives. I was ambushed by a group of six Rogashay bandits. Their leader Boroxle wanted to use me as a hostage to get his forces into Anashee. Traynar tried to stop them from taking me, but Boroxle wounded him. We would’ve been their captives if Merco hadn’t saved us.”

“The giant alien saved you?” Madala sounded doubtful.

“Yes! And from last night’s storm. We took shelter in Pela Canyon and a terrible landslide had trapped some of its citizens.”

Felreh raised her whitened crest, “I had not heard of this tragedy. How many were lost?”

“Only two were lost. The visitor Merco saved them Elder! He cleared the debris from the landslide and eighteen citizens were saved. All of them would have perished if not for him.” Anu explained passionately. “I’ve come to you to tell you this because Merco is not the monster we’ve assumed him to be and there is no need to keep Anashee closed. I’ve come to ask that you and Commander Madala meet with him and see this for yourself so you in turn can put our people at ease.”

Felreh listened carefully to Anu, her eyes wandered with thought. Madala’s eyes moved much faster, almost darting.

“Where is he now?” Madala asked.

“Pela Canyon. Please Elder, Commander, will you meet with him?” Anu plead.

There was a long silent pause until the elder female nodded, “I have been hoping for a peaceful resolution to these events. But I never thought it would be like this.” she nodded, “I will still side on the err of caution but I am willing to meet this Merco.”

“Elder...!” Madala blurted out, “There is...something you need to know...” Madala closed her eyes with shame.

Felreh gave her Commander a cursory glance.

“I’m sorry Elder. I didn’t want to tell you unless the mission succeeded. The city is on the verge of chaos, Ansheetans are threatening riots, and I wanted to act in the best interest of Anashee.” Madala began.

“What mission?” Felreh’s voice was even with slight firmness.

“Combatant Coroc came to me with a proposition to stop Anashee from boiling over. He was willing to slay the giant.”

Anu’s plume raised with alarm, “What?”

“I honestly didn’t believe he could...but I also thought that it was the first real chance we had to end this threat.” Madala continued, “I didn’t order anyone to join, but I said if he could find volunteers in the EFP he could form a squadron to see it done.”

Felreh didn’t say anything for a long moment whilst Anu looked horrified.

“How many?”

Madala shook her head, her tall plume low, “I don’t know for certain. They left yesterday near sunset.”

“The storm...they couldn’t fly in that storm.” Anu whispered.

Madala heard her and nodded, “But they are probably at Anashee Lake by now.”

“Merco is in Pela Canyon.” Anu stated with some relief, though she knew he wouldn’t be hard to find.

“Commander Madala...” Felreh’s soft voice was calm but hard at the same time, “We will go to Pela Canyon and meet this Merco. Let us hope your miscalculation doesn’t start an unnecessary conflict.”

...

Pela Canyon at sunrise...

Traynar shifted his position as he slept but a rock poked into this side, stirring him awake. He blinked, ruffling his head scales.

How long had he been asleep?

He glanced over to where Merco was sleeping...but he was gone. Traynar’s plumage flew up with alarm.

“What?! How...how did he sneak away?” he thought incredulously.

The green skinned combatant stood up and flew off the ground fast until he was up over the ledge of the canyon. The sky was just becoming light and Traynar immediately spotted the trees in the direction of Anashee Lake swaying and the leaves shaking.

“There you are.” He muttered, flying toward the movement.

He still couldn’t fathom how someone that made quakes with his every footfall could sneak away without him knowing about it! Traynar flew fast but not as fast as he was normally capable because his sealed wound was flaring with protest. But he was going to catch up.

...

Merco woke up needing to relieve himself and discreetly climbed out of a lower portion of the canyon to do the deed away from Traynar or anyone. Don’t want to piss on someone’s house...or otherwise. After finding a secluded spot away from the canyon on the edge of the woods and relieving himself, he found himself thirsty. He hadn’t seen any evidence of a sizeable body of water in the canyon, so he decided he’d have to trek back to the lake.

“What I wouldn’t give for a canteen!” he thought as he strolled through the trees. “Would save me a Hell of a lot of walking.”

As he pressed on a blur of green suddenly appeared and hit the tip of his nose. He stopped abruptly. It was Traynar, flying right in his face.

“Mornin’ Traynar. What’s the matter?” he inquired.

The light green alien with the rooster tail-looking plumage gestured strongly. It looked as if he didn’t like that he left.

Merco pantomimed taking a drink of water and pointed to the lake in the distance, “Thirsty.”

Traynar looked toward the lake, made an exasperated face, then pointed to the lake, mimicked his drinking gesture, then pointed back to where the canyon was located.

“You want me to get my drink and then go back to the canyon?” he pointed to each location as he talked. “Why?”

His confused look made Traynar wave his hands quickly and strongly, as if he was trying to tell a complicated story that gestures couldn’t accomplish. Merco couldn’t quite follow what he was trying to say. But he acted insistent.

“Not following ya buddy.” He admitted, still looking confused.

Traynar suddenly flew down to the ground and waved at Merco to get lower, which he did. In the dirt Traynar drew a series of wavy lines with his foot and pointed back to the canyon. Merco nodded. Then he drew a fat, irregular shape and pointed to the lake. Again, Merco followed. Traynar stepped away from the lake shape and beyond the canyon lines he drew what looked like a city of some kind.

“Anashee.” He stated.

“Ana-shee.” Merco repeated.

Then he made little tracks from the drawing of Anashee in an arc to the canyon lines. Inside the canyon lines he drew a big circle and pointed at him.

“Oh...someone from this Anashee is coming to the canyon to meet me?” Merco guessed aloud, repeating the path Traynar had just mapped.

The alien seemed satisfied and nodded.

So, this was probably an ambassadorial type of response. Not what he was expecting but he was glad it was going that way rather than the alternative.

“Ok then. I’ll get my drink and we’ll go back to the canyon.” He confirmed, complete with gestures.

...

Traynar sighed with relief when his map drawings finally resonated with Merco. At least...the giant alien seemed to grasp what he was trying to tell him. Ever since Merco appeared from the wasteland, every Ansheetan was bound and determined to keep Anashee’s existence a secret from him. But now things were different. They were hoping to barter a peaceful relationship so what harm would it do? That is, if Anu had convinced Felreh and Madala to come?