Page 27 of In Darkness and Dank

They seemed to be arguing.

Even though Kittisak couldn’t understand what they were saying, it was awkward to be here listening in. They kept pointing and gesturing at Kittisak, and that made it worse. Knowing he was the subject of the conversation and not having any clue what they were talking about was not fun.

And that word, pozzo.

Kittisak definitely heard that come up more than once, and he was dying to know what they were saying.

“You take pozzo!” Bal finally shouted as if she was trying to get in the last word, huffing loudly. “That that! Huh?”

“Eh,” was Shu’s flat reply. His shoulders were sagging, and he looked upset.

Kittisak gently reached out to touch Shu’s arm, trying to comfort him.

Shu glanced up in surprise, and he smiled a little at Kittisak.

“See?” Bal grinned wide. “I no worry. You got pozzo.”

“Bal—” Shu snarled.

Bal roared at him, and Kittisak thought they might be about to brawl again. “You! Pozzo! Yes. Good.” She cleared her throat. “Kula says hello. I go now.”

Shu purred in surprise. “But eh. Stay?”

“No.” Bal shook her head and patted Shu’s shoulder. “You busy. Make mate now.” She flashed her sharp teeth at Kittisak. “You happy. Good pozzo.”

“Why does this feel like she’s setting me up with you?” Kittisak blinked.

“Smart pozzo.” Bal cackled.

“Wait, you don’t care that I’m…?” Kittisak gestured to himself. “You know.”

Bal cocked her head curiously. “What?”

“That I’m human? That I’m a man? None of those things bother you?”

“Maybe not so smart pozzo,” Bal mused. She slapped Shu’s chest. “Good luck!” She bonked their heads together with a heavy thunk, growling something with a pleased smile.

Shu grumbled back, shaking his head.

Bal laughed again as she headed back into the water. She chirped another word, grinned, and then dove in before Shu had a chance to respond.

Shu huffed in annoyance. “Sisters.”

Kittisak peered into the pool, wondering where Bal had gone to when she didn’t appear to be coming back. The bottom of the pool was pretty dark, and he guessed there might be more tunnels down there, but he couldn’t be sure. “So, uh, what was that all about exactly?”

“Time for mate,” Shu replied with a haggard sigh as he sat on the edge of the pool. “I have no mate.”

“And you need one by the full moon?”

“No.” Shu shook his head. “Time for pozzo, yes, but not… not need one.”

“You mean it’s, like, your mating season?”

“Season? Time.”

“Same thing.”

Shu’s brow wrinkled.

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