He nearly falls over as I do this, and I quickly reach out and set them on the ground for him, not wanting to injure the weak humans. It only makes Breanna laugh.
“Sorrreeee,” I say as I stand back up, my tail wrapping around my waist again. “Cielo.”
“Cielo,” Brody repeats, and Tyler and Chadwick nod, stepping a little closer.
“By the way, you’re supposed to bump your fist against his, but that was fucking funny,” Breanna says with a small giggle. Then she turns her head toward her brother. “Anyway, Cielo wants some help with the machines. I don’t think the Vyastil work out much, so can you show him what to do?”
“Fuck yeah, I can,” Brody says and then nods to Chadwick and Tyler. “We totally can help you, dude. This is so awesome.”
“You guys are the best.” Breanna nudges me, and I stare down at her. “I have to get back up front. Holler if you need something, okay? I’m here to help.”
And then she’s gone, leaving me with her brother and these two men, each with different colored hair.
My mind moves to Dante’s pink locks, but I force myself not to go there.
Not right now. Instead, I focus on the three men before me.
They blink up at me, and I stare down at them, unsure what I’ve gotten myself into.
“Love the jacket. It suits you and shit,” Brody says.
My ears flutter, and they grin at me.
“But maybe take it off when you work out. Don’t want it to rip or anything. Or you know, if you sweat. Which I don’t know if you do.”
I nod and slip it off, holding it in my arms.
“So, what do you need help with? Like, do you want me to show you how to use some of the machines, or do you want to lift weights with us?”
I stare at the rows of iron bars and then back at the three humans. I find that I’m much more comfortable with these humans than the ones staring at me from the other side of the gym.
I point to the weights.
Chadwick and Tyler smile widely as their hands meet in a slap, and I stare at them for a moment.
Brody lifts his hand toward me and points to it. “It’s called a high five. Go on. Hit it.” My palm meets his, and he bobs his head with a smile. “Totally awesome, Cielo. I’ve always wanted to hang with one of you.” Then he’s moving to the largest irons and points to one. “Alright, stud. Impress us. Show me how much you can lift.”
Humans really are strange creatures. They’re impressed by such small, menial feats of strength that I’ve been able to do since I was a hatchling. But I can’t deny how their cheering makes me feel…well…
Good, in all honesty. It feelsgood. It’s so much kinder than the way other Vyastil have spoken to me.
I can tell these men are well cared for. They have enough money to support themselves and their families and stay well-fed. They are rested and happy, unlike most of the Vyastil in the villages of the Outerlands.
Perhaps they would not be so kind if they knew who I was or where I came from. Perhaps they would look down on me for the same reasons Rathyn used to before Everest came into his life.
I have seen humans mistreat each other.
I have seen the cruelty firsthand.
I have drawn blood and taken the life of one who hurt Everest because he was different from them, and I would do it again. I would do worse should someone ever try to harm Dante in the same way.
But I suppose I’m not going to turn my ears back at the offer of human friendship. They do not know signed language, and I still cannot speak well, but they’ve encouraged my presence. And once we have finished with the heaviest irons the gym has, Brody invites me over to the one place I’ve been wanting to be since I walked in the door.
I’m too easily drawn by the scent of a latte. We have nothing like this on Erethar. Food and drink are for survival only, whichis no wonder most of my people are addicted to human cum. The taste cannot be described or replicated.
All I know is that it is both healing and it isgood.
The latte, though, I do not believe it cures wounds, but it brings me a comfort I’m unused to.
