Page 19 of Larz

“Listen,” she implored, her voice cutting through the din like a knife through fabric. “They’ve given us food, shelter... we must work together.”

A few heads turned towards her; the crowd’s agitation simmered down to a low boil.

But then I felt it — stares from my people piercing into me like spears of ice. A warrior approached, his stature imposing under the moons’ twin glows.

“Larz,” he called out, his voice steady but laced with accusation. “You have been with this human alone. Explain yourself.”

I squared my shoulders and met his gaze. “Hailee has shown bravery and resilience. She helped in finding resources on this moon.”

The warrior narrowed his eyes. “And what has she found in you? A Zorvian swayed by an outsider?”

The words stung more than any physical blow could have. I was Zorvian, through and through — bound by tradition and honor.

“Our survival has always depended on understanding those who share our world,” I countered.

His lips curled into a sneer. “Or perhaps it is not our survival you are concerned with.”

Before I could respond, another joined in — a voice from the crowd of my kin, dripping with disdain.

“Has he forgotten his oath to our people? Has he forsaken our ways for one of them?”

Murmurs rippled through the group of Zorvians, each word a weight added to an invisible scale judging my loyalty.

Hailee stepped beside me again, her presence a silent show of solidarity that sent ripples of disapproval through both factions.

“We need each other,” she said boldly to both groups now. "For us all to thrive, we must set aside any mistrust."

Her words seemed to douse some of the fire among the humans; their expressions softened slightly as they considered her plea.

But among my people, doubt lingered like morning fog, reluctant to lift.

The elder who had spoken earlier stepped forward once more, his voice resonating with authority that demanded attention.

“Larz has always been a protector of our people,” he said, addressing the circle of Zorvians that had formed around us. "You all need to understand his actions now within that context."

Heads nodded slowly in agreement; however, skepticism remained etched on many faces.

A younger warrior stepped forward from the throng — Tarnis — eyes ablaze with youthful certainty.

“How do we know they won’t bring ruin upon us as they have their own world?” Tarnis challenged.

His words struck a chord within me; even though I knew it was fear speaking through him.

“We learn from each other,” I insisted firmly. “We find common ground.”

“And what if there is none?” Tarnis retorted.

I felt Hailee’s gaze on me then, filled with hope and worry intermingled like threads in fabric too tightly woven to separate.

“We make it,” I said finally. “We forge it together.”

Tarnis scoffed but fell silent under the weight of my conviction.

For now, at least, we had held the storm at bay.

Hailee exhaled softly beside me; even without looking at her face, I knew relief mingled with lingering anxiety there.

“We should prepare for tomorrow,” I suggested quietly to her while monitoring both groups slowly dispersing under the watchful eyes of their leaders.

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