Page 1 of Catching the Kot'oll Driver

Chapter one

Chapter 1

Grihul

It has been a while since I was home. I pull my coat tighter as I hurry through the road. It is snowing, and I hate it. Father and Mother keep this place as organized as they can. There are signs of snow-blowing robots cleaning the road, but snow is piling up again.

The city doesn’t even care to treat me nicer when I’m not here often. That’s such a bummer.

The house is well lit. Compared to the cold and dark streets, it is a lot more inviting. I let out a breath, only for it to turn into mist almost at once. If I breathe out hard enough, maybe I can create some snow out of that.

Speaking of which, I’m not even sure who’s at home. Father and Mother, that’s for sure, but the others...

Anyway, I’ll know when I get inside. My stomach rumbles, urging me to speed up. I wriggle the fingers of my upper pair of arms, which are in gloves. I can’t even put them in my pockets. The stupid destination I went to didn’t have clothes that would fit a kot’oll, so... At least I only needed a new pair of jeans, and I can live with that.

I knock on the door, not wanting to take out the keys. If I could keep my two lower hands inside my pocket, I’d keep it that way.

The door squeaks and opens. It is Mother. A smile finds its way to my face before I give that thought. Sometimes, I go weeks or even months without seeing a being. This... is actually great.

“Grihul! I miss you so much.” She wraps her arms around me and pulls me into a tight hug. Even though I’m a strong and big male kot’oll, she still seems to be squeezing me flat.

I hug her back. I was going to say something, but I open my mouth and my voice cracks. Fuck... I haven’t talked to anyone for a bit too long, and that’s not fun.

I clear my throat and try again. “I miss you too.”

She smiles, but there’s concern in her eyes. She touches my cheek as if trying to make sure I’m fine. “It’s okay. All good.”

She can be saying it to me, or telling that to herself as she... makes sure I’m fine.

Father’s voice comes from inside the house. “Just come in already! It’s cold outside.”

Mother takes my wrist and ushers me into the house. I pat the snow off me and take off my coat. Father shouts from the kitchen. “Get comfortable. Take a shower or something. You stink.”

I grunt and head to my room without giving an answer. He isn’t even in the living room, and I can’t be stinking that badly. I may or not have taken a bath for a while, but I didn’t sweat a ton, if any, during my time on the spaceship heading home. It is snowing here. I didn’t sweat on the few steps home.

Mother’s voice comes behind me. “Now that’s not very welcoming.” Her voice fades as she seemingly heads to the kitchen where Father is.

I shrug as I go upstairs to my own room. Father has always been like that. I don’t even bother giving him a response. It’s not that he doesn’t care about us, he just... doesn’t always say things the way he meant.

Telke has never liked that and, to be honest, Father has never liked what Telke loved, so...

I shrug. That’s not my problem, and I don’t plan to make their problem mine.

Telke is with that human female now, as long as he is happy. That’s all I care about.

I open the wardrobe, taking in my own scent. It has been a while since I was here, so... Is it weird to feel like a stranger in my own house?

At least I still remember where my clothes are.

Maybe I should shower more so I don’t stink.

I sniff myself. I still don’t think I stink.

On the spaceship, most of the time, if not always, I’m on my own. No one cares whether I stink or not. They aren’t even there and thus don’t get to care.

I head to the bathroom, testing the hot water to make sure that works.

The shower water comes down like it’s raining. I spread my arms to the side, enjoying the warmth. Father doesn’t understand how the shower facility on the spaceship sucks. If it’s like home, I’d shower more.

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