The Melier: Prodigal Son

by Poppy Rhys

  The silence weighed oppressively on her ears, the only sound was her own harried breathing and rushing blood. Jruviin’s hand warmed over her mouth and chin, his talons pressing into her hair—palm large enough to cover most of her face if he wanted.

  “Yes, I accept,” Truptup begrudgingly mumbled. “We will arrive shortly.”

  “Comms disconnected, Captain,” Zed alerted.

  Excitement bubbled out of her when Jru dropped his hand, and Dania shrieked, causing them to clap their ears.

  “Why did you do that?” Val’Koy nearly roared.

  “I’m sorry! But we’re being rescued!” Dania resisted the urge to scream again. “And I may or may not be a little turned on by all,” she waved her hands, gesturing to his whole-body posture, “this.”

  Val’Koy grumbled, but his pupils that’d been black slivers in his pale green eyes were rapidly blowing up. They dilated until only the corners held color.

  “Captain, we are being signaled for approach.”

  Dania pulled her attention away from Val. Her body had already started to warm. Through the shield, a massive craft hovered in front of them, their bay opening. “Autopilot for landing, Zed.”

  “Yes, Captain.”

  THIRTY-EIGHT

  JRUVIIN

  He stood there with Val’Koy, in silence, both leaning up against either side of the door that led to the cleansing room. Lulled into a trance by Dania’s singing and the comforting sound of spraying water.

  “I’m walkin’ on sunshine, WHOA-OH!” she belted out, the tune cheerful but lacking sense.

  “This is physically impossible,” he uttered, attention sliding to Val’Koy. “One cannot walk on a ray of light.”

  Val’Koy rolled his eyes. “I doubt she means it literally.”

  River huffed, planting his hind end on the floor between them. A foul stench wafted upward and stung his airways. The Melier’s lip curled around the same time.

  “This creature needs bathed.”

  “Dania said it hates water.”

  “Would you prefer to suffer the odor?” Val’Koy lifted a brow.

  No. No, he would not. They’d be arriving in Equah’s rotation space shortly, and the planet’s surface soon after. He’d prefer not to meet new people with an unwashed wolvenk in tow. Some species were highly offended by certain odors, and they—unfortunately—had to depend on the Equah people for help at this time.

  Better to be prepared on all fronts than not.

  The sound of the shower ceased, signaling Dania’s exit. It would be free now.

  Jruviin eyed Val’Koy, nodding in sync.

  They pounced on River.

  ****

  DANIA

  The sound of objects crashing to the floor had Dania turning off the body dryer and straining to listen.

  “GRAB THE TAIL!” Val’Koy roared.

  Jruviin grunted loudly, the sound of multiple sets of feet pounding past the closed door. “I AM TRYING!”

  More stomping outside the door in the other direction.

  What the hell are they doing?! Whose tail were they grabbing?

  She heard River’s growl and immediately snatched up her dress.

  “The door!” Jruviin shouted, voice strained. “The door!”

  Dania jumped back when something bashed into the cleansing room door.

  The door opened and all three of her mates tumbled in. Val’Koy and Jruviin tussled with River as they went crashing to the floor at her feet. River’s howls resonated against the tiled walls.

  “WHAT is going on?!” she squawked, mouth agape.

  Val and Jru tried to shove and roll River into the shower. Just as his tall ear touched the tile, the wolvenk’s foot got purchase against Val’Koy’s middle and Val went flying into the opposite wall.

  Dania covered her open mouth.

  Val’Koy dove for River again just as Jruviin got catapulted into the ceiling.

  “Oh my god!” she rasped into her cupped hands, brain trying to register the chaos.

  “You should have killed him when you had the chance!” Val’Koy thundered, trying to wrestle River into the shower again just as Jru landed on top of them both. “Why did I listen to you?”

  “This is not my fault!” Jruviin shot back, and in sync, they grabbed River under the arms and all three crashed into the shower.

  River howled like the world was ending. “Mine!” he whined into her head; the sound so pitiful it made her heart lurch. “No water!”

  “STOP!” Dania hollered, and everyone froze, the sound of exasperated breathing filling the silence. “You’re scaring him!”

  River struggled against Val’Koy and Jruviin, but they had him pinned.

  “Control him, would you?" Jru growled.

  “He needs bathed,” Val’Koy added, panting. If these two were out of breath, she knew River must’ve put up one helluva fight.

  Dania’s mouth curved downward into a frown when her sweet wolvenk whined, turning those mismatched yellow and blue puppy dog eyes on her. She reached between her mates to pat River’s chest, attempting to comfort him.

  “River...” she implored, her insides turning to goo as she felt the the wolvenk’s terror.

  “Dania,” Val warned, clearly recognizing that she was about to cave.

  “It's just—he's so—”

  Jruviin’s muscles strained as he barked, “He stinks.”

  They were right, she knew. That smell was awful. The longer he went without a bath, the more that street stench grew. She just wished they had asked her first, before throwing River into the shower.

  “Come on big guy,” Dania sighed, trying to ignore the sad eyes he was giving her as her hand inched toward the sensor. “You gotta get clean. Clean is good. Trust me okay? You'll feel better.”

  River grumbled, his ears flattening and muscles going lax. Val’Koy and Jruviin let him go, stepped away, and her big wolvenk tucked his tail between his legs.

  River sent her one last imploring look. Dania pointed a finger, and he ducked under the shower head.

  “Finally,” Val harrumphed.

  The water sprayed down, and River stood there, licking rivulets of water off his snout but not washing.

  Jruviin arced an arm toward the scene and claimed, “He will not get clean that way.”

  “Alright, alright,” Dania grumbled. “Relax."

  She rummaged around in the cabinets and found some extra supplies. It didn’t take her very long to show him how to use a rough sponge to scrub himself.

  Once she helped him scrub his ears and furry back, he began playing in the water. Val’Koy and Jruviin didn’t move fast enough when River whipped his tail, spraying them in a shower of soapy water droplets. Menacing clicks ensued.

  Dania’s gut hurt from laughing at his antics.

  “You’re so bad,” she tsked.

  “Now they need bath,” he chuffed, and Dania snorted more laughter.

  “Come on, let’s get you dry.”

  If River liked the shower, he loved the body dryer. His thick gray fur parted in spots and whipped back and forth under the force of warm air. When she scratched at the base of his tail, he went wild and started running laps around the ship.

  “What is wrong with him?” Val’Koy’s eyes tracked the wolvenk who nearly bounced off the walls while he followed some invisible route through the lounge, all the way to the bridge, and back again.

  Repeatedly.

  “Feel good. Get dry. Get dry!” he chanted.

  “He says he feels good and he's trying to get dry.”

  Jruviin scratched his crown. “He is dry.”

  She smiled. “Not dry enough, I guess.”

  THIRTY-NINE

  DANIA

  They reached Equah rotation space, and Truptup hailed them once more for the transaction.

  “Good business!” his high voice shrieked into the ship, making Dania’s eyelid twitch. “I was alerted a mech repairman will be passing through this route soon.”


  “How soon?” Val’Koy queried.

  “Maybe days, maybe weeks. Who am I to know these things?” Truptup wheezed a laugh. “I have made arrangements, as we agreed. You are expected on Equah.” Landing coordinates showed up on the shield. “Now, my pay.”

  As promised, Val’Koy completed the transfer of funds, but he used Drinish glyphs like he did on Tundrin, which made Dania uneasy.

  After comms disconnected and they were orbiting, she asked, “Isn’t it a bad idea to access that account? Why not your home world accounts?”

  “It is unwise.” Val’Koy’s voice held an edge that made her nervous. “But I do not have access to my home world accounts. My chip was removed before I reached Hae’deth.” He held up his hand, pointing at a small scar on the heel of his palm.

  “You don’t know your account numbers? No identification codes? Data links?”

  His mouth twisted in a wry smile. “At the time, I had no need to retain that information. Seems I was wrong.”

  “Zed,” Jruviin leaned over the console, “tell us what we need to know of Equah.”

  The Alien Species Database pulled up in blue text across the shield. A holopic of planet Equah rotated before them, along with specs.

  “Planet Equah consists of many separately governed territories. They possess spacefaring technology but prefer a grounded existence.”

  Which could explain why no one answered the distress signal. They might not have heard it.

  “The family structure consists of two mated males and a female incubator.”

  “Err...” Dania’s eyes darted between Jruviin and Val’Koy. “What do you mean two mated males? They don’t have female partners?”

  It wasn’t as if humans hadn’t moved beyond sexual stigmas—they had, hundreds of years ago—but Equah wasn’t Dor Nye.

  “Correct, Captain. It is seen as unnatural to form bonds with females on Equah.”

  “What are you advising, Zed?” Val’Koy rumbled, his tail lashing back and forth.

  Uh oh.

  “It is in your best interests to appear... intimately involved.”

  “Val’Koy and Jruviin?”

  “Yes, Captain.”

  “Like, lovers?” Dania grinned, rolling her lips into her mouth to hide it when her mates scowled at her.

  “Yes, with you their incubator, as they require identifying restraints for their females.”

  Her humor died.

  “Then we are fortunate,” Jruviin muttered.

  She didn’t feel fortunate. Her teeth ground together. She hadn’t had to wear that uncomfortable collar since they left Tundrin. “Zed, why do I need restraints?”

  “Females are not considered citizens.”

  “So, I need the fucking collar?”

  “Yes, Captain. It is against the law on Equah for females to wander without any identifying hardware.”

  “They aren’t tolerant of different sexual practices?”

  “Not at all.”

  She scrubbed her fingers through her hair and harrumphed after Jru. “Hey, what did you mean by ‘we’re fortunate’?”

  “We’re fortunate that is all they require.” Jru turned. “Many societies treat weaker genders worse. It is fortunate you are not required to be branded, pierced, or sexually sampled by titled males or priests.”

  Her fingers curled into the flesh of her arms when she hugged herself and shivered.

  Being collared again wouldn’t be such a bad thing after all.

  Dania picked another stray feather from her unruly mess of curls and scowled, wondering how the hell she’d missed that one, then pulled on her ankle-boot socks.

  The ship eased down upon the sandy blond surface of Equah. She’d seen greener areas on the magnified view of the planet, but it would seem Truptup’s friend lived in a desert territory.

  Ahead, looming sepia-hued walls, like that of a fort, surrounded a massive city. Even taller towers stretched skyward beyond the walls, littered throughout the city. Strange, curly symbols were etched into each tower.

  Colorful banners hung from every side, their red painted roofs topped with a flying flag. One tower held vibrant blue banners and flags, while another sported toasted yellow, and yet another flew lime green.

  “What are the towers for, Zed? Do those colors mean something?”

  “Spires for the highborn. The largest is meant for the territory leader, the Equis,” that would be the one with the black flag nearly in the center of the city, “and the smaller towers for the Equis’ council.”

  What Dania understood was, this city happened to be ruled by the rich.

  Perfect.

  What could go wrong?

  “I don’t know how I’m going to keep all this information straight.” Dania rubbed her temples, her stomach cramping at the thought of walking into a city where women weren’t even considered people.

  “I am capable of embedding my data into your translation device, Captain,” Zed informed her once they’d landed.

  She perked up. “You can do that?”

  “With your permission, yes.”

  “Permission granted.” Having Zed’s data at her disposal, while on Equah, might keep her out of trouble. She didn’t want to step on any toes while here. At least, not without the luxury of a fully functioning ship to get away fast.

  “Do these people speak any trade languages?”

  “No, Captain. Would you prefer I pull the known dialect from the Alien Species Database?”

  “Yes! Perfect! Can you update Val’Koy and Jruviin too?”

  “Of course, Captain.”

  “How will they understand us?”

  “Truptup made arrangements,” Jruviin pointed out. “Doubtful the Equis would greet us unprepared.”

  “Hmm.”

  Jru gestured to the shield. The tall red doors split apart; a group of individuals on mounted white animals heading their direction. Two riders held black flags like some medieval Earth entourage.

  Val’Koy appeared on her other side and held up the collar. “Are you ready?”

  “Update and transfer completed,” Zed contributed. Technically, she was ready.

  “No,” Dania grumbled, lifting her hair to let him snap the metal band on. “Remember, you guys have to treat me like I’m a walking uterus. No touching.” She batted away Jru’s tail, causing his long spine feathers to rise. She figured out he did that when something irritated or surprised him.

  “And you’re lovers. Don’t forget.” Dania tried her damnedest not to snicker. At least she’d be getting something out of this.

  “The repairman cannot come soon enough,” he bitched while yanking up his harem pants, Val’Koy doing the same. Luckily, they’d been wearing those instead of loincloths their last fight.

  Dania kinda liked the loincloths better though. Easy access.

  Jru shouldered their pack and they pounded down the ramp. Dania instantly noticed the gravitational pull of Equah was weaker than Tundrin or Dor Nye, putting an exaggerated bounce in her step, and she nearly tripped.

  River’s paw grasped her collar and stopped her from crashing into her mates’ backs.

  “Whoa,” she breathed and choked. “Unexpected.”

  “Try to remain on your feet,” Val’Koy lowly warned. “This will never work otherwise.”

  “Resist the urge to catch me,” Dania whispered. “Walking uterus.”

  The click of a weak growl simmered in Jru’s throat.

  “You should be used to this,” Val’Koy needled Jru. “Your females are second class citizens.”

  Jruviin hissed, the sound cutting off when Dania ahem’d loudly.

  “Draekiin females have more rights—”

  “Barely,” Val’Koy countered, his chuckle humorless. There went Jru’s spine feathers again.

  “You guys,” she urged. “You’re supposed to be lov—”

  “Say that one more time, Dania,” the Melier threatened, and she had to suck in her cheeks and stare at her feet to keep from laug
hing.

  A dust cloud kicked up from the mounts’ paws and floated into the wind as the group approached. She shaded her eyes from the pale-yellow rays of the sun and watched.

  They pulled to a stop, the head of the entourage dismounting. Dania’s eyes flickered over his body, and that of the others that dismounted and approached.

  They were taller than her, closer to her mates’ heights, but leaner. She figured that was understandable if they had less gravity. Gray-green skin, two arms, two legs, two eyes, no nose, just two small round holes between their bristly green eyebrows.

  Despite how lean they looked, their booted feet pounded the earth like they weighed a ton. The apparent leader—the Equis?—approached them while two others flanked him. The leader wore a black cape, no shirt, and skin-tight pants that pulled tighter with every step he took.

  His hair was longest, flying out behind him, the green shade so dark it was nearly black. Others had varying hues, one was even closer to neon green, and another more of a mint green.

  “Welcome!” the lead said and spread his arms. “I am Sharn, the Equis of this territory.”

  “I am Val.” The Melier dipped his chin in greeting.

  “I am Jru,” her Draekiin added, doing the same.

  The two beside Sharn eyeballed her, frowns tipping their thin lips downward and their light eyes narrowing.

  “Uh oh,” she murmured under her breath.

  “Appear less intelligent.”

  Dania jumped and yelped, drawing everyone’s attention.

  “It is Zed, Captain. I am using your translation device.”

  Her eyes were so wide they stung.

  “No one can hear me. Appear less intelligent. You’re challenging Sharn’s guard.”

  Dania looked down at her feet and hardly breathed the question, “How do you know?”

  The A.I. heard her. “Facial readings from your optical nanos.”

  She looked to the ground to discover River had risen to his full height and stood right at her back—she could see his feet behind hers, feel his chest fur against her back.

  “No like males,” the wolvenk growled into her brain.

  All these voices in her head!

  “Don’t do anything crazy, River. They’re just staring.”