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“My… my things.” Her voice stuttered.
Her eyes conveyed her question. Where was she supposed to put her scattered items? The rocky abode made the scattered items lost and out of place.
I subtly maneuvered her to the side niche carved far into the cavern wall, a place normally reserved for less-used valuables. I squeezed by her to shove in the odd-shaped items, neatening them as best as I could.
“You can put stuff in here. Or...”
I noticed a crude wooden box with a peculiarly patterned lid that Evie brought. I put it on the sturdy stone table at the cavern’s center.
“Here. If you want, you can rearrange things.”
I extended my arm around her to give her room.
Her bold blue eyes met mine briefly. She nodded hesitantly.
“Sit down, unpack, whatever you want.”
I gestured to the table, my voice more gentle than was necessary, the words sour in my mouth. This was foolish, trying to give her a semblance of comfort.
The heavy silence between us remained. I strode past her, looking out at the gleaming canyon, not wanting to witness her vulnerability any further. Curiosity gripped me. Turning back to her, I asked,
“Humans, do you...do you sleep in nests?”
Evie’s fearful expression melted into confusion. She said nothing, so I continued, “Because those... those bed things, they’re nests, right?”
I gestured to the pile of furs, and animal skins stacked in a corner. It wasn’t a nest, of course, but it was the closest thing my home had to a human’s bed.
She caught on. “Oh. Yeah, our beds, many of them, can be like...nests...in a way.” She grinned, a soft laugh escaping before she covered her mouth shyly.
Her fear receded a little. I was glad I brought it up.
“I...” She faltered, bit her lip, and turned away, the back of her fragile neck looking so vulnerable. “Nests... are warm.”
She whispered it as if talking to herself, but I caught the wistfulness in her tone. I picked up on her unspoken desire for warmth.
“The furs... they keep you warm. You know that, right?” I tried to explain, gesturing to the pile again.
She pivoted to face me, her emotions raw and clear on that beautiful face. Her bright eyes welled.
“I know.” Her voice choked up. “It’s...it’s just not the same.”
She buried her face in her hands and cried quietly. Somehow, I knew she was crying for her home, her family, her old life. For a moment, she looked so unbearably small, so lost. And for a single, traitorous moment, a bizarre kinship grew with her in our shared outsiderness.
She was human. The reality of the situation set in like a stone in my gut. She belonged here, in my cavern, as my mate.
“Let’s go to the market. I’m sure we can find you some things to help organize and make this your home, too.”
She offered a sweet smile and nodded.
We ventured into the heart of the canyon, where Gargoyles lived, worked, and traded. The central market buzzed with activity beneath towering canyon walls, strung along a wide corridor like a vibrant tapestry of commerce and life. Evie clutched my hand, her eyes darting nervously as she took in the sights and sounds.
Gargoyles lined the market stalls, their voices echoing through the narrow passageways. They sold everything from gleaming weapons and armor to exotic spices and rare herbs. The air was thick with the pungent scent of smoked meats and the sweet aroma of fresh fruits.
Suddenly, younglings popped out from behind stalls and corners, their curious eyes fixed on Evie. They whispered and pointed, fascinated by her long, flaxen hair that fell in soft waves down her back. Unlike female Gargoyles’ coarse white hair, humans had soft colored hair—a novelty to the young ones.
“What is that?” He pointed at Evie’s hair.
“It’s hair,” another replied, his voice filled with awe. “Humans have hair.”
