Page 28 of The Alien Noble's Little Human

“Alright,” I grunt while tying up Zaya’s and my chordatas reins to a nearby tree trunk. “Wait here. I’m going to get Rylan across first.”

“I don’t have much of a choice,” she replies blankly.

I walk up next to Rylan, who eyes the bridge nervously.

“Come on,” I coax the animal, nodding at the bridge. “We’ll get you across.”

“Urtell has had problems with nerves in the past,” he states, patting his chordata.

“Alright,” I respond, taking the reins from him. “Well, Urtell is going to have to get a grip because we don’t have a choice. Come on!” I yell at the chordata, moving my hands in fluid motions toward its left. Avoiding the motion, he starts walking toward the right. Perfect.

I keep switching the sides of the hand motions, leading the chordata expertly. Urtell avoids whatever direction my hands are in, which is also where the holes in the bridge are. Soon, we’re on the other side, and I can breathe a sigh of relief. That is, until I look back at Zaya and the two other chordatas I have to get over this damn bridge.

“Are the other ones nervous?”

Rylan shakes his head. “No. Mostly stupid.”

Better than nervous probably. Less risk-aversion. But less predictable, too.

“Wait here.”

Walking back over the bridge, I mind my step and listen for various creaks and snaps that might indicate places we should avoid stepping. Unfortunately, the whole bridge creaks.

Rubbing my hands together, I approach Zaya and her chordata, Antell, and Entell, the one I’ve been riding. “Are you ready?”

“No.” Zaya grins playfully, but I can see the fear in her eyes.

“You’ll be okay. Come on, give me the reins.”

She hands them over, and I’m relieved to know she finally trusts me to protect her from harm. When we near the start of the bridge, I notice her adjusting her position on the chordata, which could spook the animals. I need to make sure she’s relaxed so that she can keep her animal relaxed.

Slowly I begin guiding her and the creatures across the bridge. They’re stepping out of place and almost through the holes more than Rylan and his animal did. I pat them on the side instead, hoping the force behind my hand will move them in the right direction, like a rudder. It works slightly better. About eight steps in, Zaya’s chordata steps in a hole, frightening it.

Zaya jolts forward, and the chordata behind it gets nervous, stomping on parts of the bridge and huffing.

“Whoa, whoa,” I caution, speaking gently and standing firm before Zaya and her steadied animal. “Whoa.”

The creatures calm down, and we continue across the bridge. The chordatas seem fine. If anyone is damaged from the experience, it’s Zaya. When we finally get to the other side of the bridge, her face is pale and her hands are trembling, even through the thick leather gloves. I slow the animals to a stop before she shakes her head vigorously.

“I can’t do this,” she stammers before dismounting her chordata. “I’m not riding one of these again.”

“It’s a long walk up the mountain,” Rylan declares. “You have no choice.”

“Here, ride mine with me.”

“That’s not going to make a difference!” she barks.

“Yes, it will. I’ll be on it with you. You saw how I calmed them back there.”

“Maybe. I don’t like these animals, though. It might be better to walk. Will you even protect me?”

“With my life. Protecting Hanai means protecting you. If you don’t believe that then…”

“Then what?”

“Then you wouldn’t be the person I thought you were.”

After a few moments of silence and tense glances between me and Rylan, she nods. “Okay. Fine. I’ll ride with you.”

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