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But in her panic, she bolted, clearly forgetting once more that we were chained together.
I sighed.
For a creature so petite and seemingly delicate, Riley certainly had a set of lungs on her.
I mentally scolded myself for even thinking of letting her go so soon.
With another swift motion, I reached out and scooped her back into my arms, her surprise evident as a small “oof” escaped her lips.
Not the most dignified of sounds, but I wasn’t exactly aiming for elegance at the moment.
The thick undergrowth of the alien jungle closed in around us as I ran, her body pressed against mine.
Each step I took was calculated, knowing that one misstep could mean danger for both of us.
The greenery above rustled with alien life, chirps, and roars echoing, signaling that we were not alone.
“Do you evernotpick me up?” she huffed, half indignant, half terrified.
“Only when you decide not to run off,” I shot back with a smirk, leaping over a fallen log.
Riley clung to me tighter, her face buried in the crook of my neck.
I couldn’t help but notice her sweet scent again, a mixture of fear, warmth, and something uniquely… her.
As I navigated the dense foliage, darting past trees with glowing barks and avoiding luminescent puddles that gave off an otherworldly sheen, I realized that I hadn’t truly addressed Riley’s concerns or her questions.
A part of me wanted to keep her in the dark — to keep her safe.
But another part, a more dominant part, knew she deserved the truth.
“Where… are we… going?” Riley panted, her hands on her knees as she caught her breath.
“We are not alone on this planet,” I explained simply, keeping a watchful eye on the foliage. “The creatures outside… they aren’t friendly.”
She gulped, taking in the gravity of the situation, her blue eyes wide. “Then why are we here? What happened?”
I took a deep breath, realizing this was the moment I’d been avoiding since we first crashed.
Opening my mouth, I began to tell her the story, the story of how both our worlds changed forever.
“You and I,” I started, my voice soft, almost a whisper, “are victims of a grand cosmic scheme. The universe has a funny way of playing tricks on us mere mortals, no matter which planet we hail from. My last memory before that blinding light was toiling in the fields, the twin suns of Zorania beating down on me. One moment, I was breathing in the familiar scent of Zoranian soil, and the next, I was trapped in that cold, glass prison, chained to you.”
She listened intently, her gaze never leaving mine. “My last memory was… just a regular day in the park. I was thinking about what I was going to do after taking Mrs. Necom’s dog for a walk when… darkness.”
We were both silent for a moment, the gravity of our situation sinking in.
Two souls from different worlds, connected by a twist of fate.
“So, why us? Why here?” Riley finally whispered.
I sighed deeply, regret evident in my eyes. “I wish I had all the answers, Riley. But one thing I am sure of: we were chosen. Maybe there was a reason we were chosen, maybe it was just bad luck, I cannot say. But I promise you, as long as we’re together, I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe.”
She looked at me, a small smile playing on her lips, gratitude shining in her eyes. “Thank you, Talan.”
I nodded, wrapping an arm around her protectively. “There’s some things I know, some I don’t. But I will share with you what I believe. It won’t answer all your questions but it will let you know the terrible danger we are in.”
Riley
