Page 10 of Not So Stranded
While his stomach thanked him for the food so far, Kit cleared his throat and readdressed a subject he knew they needed to talk about more.
“So, um, about breeding here…”
“Yeah?” Hiaka asked with clear surprise.
“Um, well, I just wanted to reiterate that I don’t want to get in your way. Cramp your style and…whatever,” he finished lamely.
They smiled and leaned on the ledge leading to the cave. “You won’t, Kit. It’s okay.”
“Zenori seems?—”
“Zenori’s supportive. They’re just not used to humans. I probably should’ve taken them home first.”
“To introduce him to your human relatives?” Kit couldn’t help leaning closer, buzzing with curiosity.
Hiaka nodded. “There are… Hmm… Sixteen humans living there now, I think. And gobs of hybrids like me now. Not everyone is there all the time—except for holidays—but enough would’ve been there to give them an introduction to our way of life.”
“Which is very different from what Zenori knows.”
“Oh, yeah,” they said with a scoff. “Zenori was raised by a parent who had no idea there were other options out there. The hosts?” They made an ew face. “I think they used a wild boar. And then it was all about go forth and find others so we don’t die out.”
Kit wasn’t sure, but Zenori’s upbringing didn’t sound like a great time. That they were willing to change everything after meeting Hiaka was excellent, though. “Maybe your presence at the meeting place will help change how things are done going forward?”
Hiaka laughed and winked at him. “Let me just say there are several cecaelia out there who are really looking forward to my siblings coming of age.”
“Oh, no,” Kit said on an embarrassed chuckle.
“It’s a good thing,” Hiaka said soberly. “We’re changing the world, you know?”
“That’s beautiful. And, well, I just wanted to let you know that if you or Zenori need anything while you’re busy becoming parents, I’m here to help. Like you’ve helped me.”
“Thanks,” Hiaka said and seemed to blush a more purple blue color.
Suddenly, Zenori came gliding into the lagoon and right up to Hiaka. When they held up three rust-colored fish covered in bright blue dots, Hiaka threw their hands in the air and cheered. “All hail Zenori! Our hero!”
Kit echoed the sentiment, and it was the first time he saw Zenori truly smile.
Chapter 5
We settled into a routine of sorts where Kit politely harassed the turtles on the beach and visited us in the lagoon for meals. He wasn’t sleeping in the cave, but he kept leaving things there that made me feel like he might be slowly moving in. I didn’t want to bring it up and ruin it even though I was eager for him to just make the move already.
Zenori and I were exploring the reef around the island more and had discovered that none of the fish ever swam up the creek. Though fresh water didn’t harm either of us, it was apparently enough to keep our lagoon free from any sea creatures. Where the creek met the ocean was a barren wasteland, too, so this place was looking better and better for breeding.
“The only problem I can see,” I said to Zenori as we went up the creek back to the lagoon, “is that we could lose the water again with the next big storm.”
“If Kit was able to move the tree blocking the waterfall, I think?—”
I looked at them when they stopped moving and talking only to follow their gaze to—Oh. Wow. Kit was standing under the waterfall, possibly on a rock because I could see him from head to knees. And he was naked. He’d asked about using the waterfall to bathe and said he had some kind of organic soap that wouldn’t hurt the environment, but I hadn’t counted on seeing him do it.
“Oh, gods,” I breathed before I gulped and looked to Zenori.
There was a wicked expression on their face. “His cockwouldfit wonderfully inside mine.”
I had to laugh. Zenori might not be Kit’s mate like I was, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t appreciate Kit. And, oh, how right they were that Kit had a very nice cock.
Suddenly, Kit looked our way and gave a squawk. He tried to cover himself, but the move made him wobble. Before I could do more than take a breath to caution him, Kit tipped sideways and fell into the lagoon.
Heart in my throat, I swam toward him as fast as I could. Was the water deep enough for him to go in headfirst? Had he taken a breath before he went under? Could he even swim?
