Page 93 of Sohut's Protection

As she stepped so she could see around Sohut’s tall frame, her entire body froze.

There were maybe seven or so short green aliens in front of them. They had huge heads with balloon-like projections at the back, much like an octopus looked. Each alien had four eyes that were focused on Sohut and now that she’d stepped slightly from behind him, they collectively gasped.

She realized then that they had spears, all pointed her way, and four arms each.

“Um, Sohut…”

“Yes, my flower…”

“Why do they look like they’re going to attack us?”

Sohut paused then looked down at her.

“Not you.” His gaze moved to Wawa. “Him.”

* * *

“Great, Raxu. It really is a slizz,” one of the aliens whispered.

“I can’t see well, my eyes are dark. Is it really?” another whispered.

“That’s what I just said Nupak. Are you deaf?”

“Of course, not! … but I am a little blind. That’s what I just said; I can’t see!”

“It really is a slizz, but it isn’t attacking us. The Merssi said it wouldn’t.” One more joined in.

“I don’t trust it.”

“You don’t trust anything, Krior. But you are right, I don’t trust it either.”

“I really can’t see. Is it moving?”

“Phekking Raxu. A guard that can’t see in the dark. It’s unbelievable we haven’t been attacked yet.”

Sohut chuckled slightly. “The slizz won’t harm you. It is…tame.”

There was silence before more whispering ensued, the spears moving as the aliens argued.

“Tame! A tame slizz? I’ll give all my arms if that was possible.”

“But it isn’t attacking, maybe it is true.”

Cleo looked up at Sohut, her anxiety slowly ebbing away. “Do they know we can hear them?”

Sohut shrugged and she could see his smile. “Welcome to the Torian camp.”

Half of his face was in shadow and for a moment it struck her just handsome he was.

There was a gasp from the aliens and then more whispering.

“What is that?”

“I don’t know. Looks like a Merssi female but no horns.”

“Not Merssi then. How many arms?”

“Two. Disgusting.”

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