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“Be careful Syn, these ones bite. I heard they’re toxic.” We stared into the window at the creature huddled on a thin bed. His skin was glistening from sweat and his eyes were wary. Other than a thick collar with spikes inside, he was naked.
“I don’t care. I think he’s beautiful.” I replied finally to my brother’s comment. My claws came up to rest on the thick glass that separated me from my desire. I wanted him, this strange creature that shrunk away from being looked at. He bared his teeth at us and I smiled.
“Ew. But it’s all pink and squishy. Why would you want a pet like that?” My brother Gen crossed his limbs in front of him and shook his head. The long ropes of fibre that spilled from his head thudded against my limb and the glass, startling the creature. I didn’t take my eyes off it.
“Look at his eyes. He is like a wild animal. I love it.” I breathed. I wanted to touch it. To see if it was really as soft as it looked.
“Whatever. Don’t blame me if you get bitten and end up with a strange infection.” He motioned to the keeper and it came over to the pen. I turned and gestured at the cage I was in front of.
“I want that one. Get him ready to go. No wounds, mind you.” Not like the last time we had been here and my brothers pet ended up with a gash on it’s back.
“I will see what I can do, he’s a bit of a temperamental one.” The keeper growled at me. I kept an eye on him as he opened the door. He took a leash off his belt and a short rod with spikes. After prodding the creature, he tried to lunge for the collar. The creature jumped and ran off to another corner with wide eyes.
“Stop. You will just injure him like that. Give me the leash.” I was angry. The fool was sure to tear the soft creature’s throat trying to capture it like that. I took the leash from the keeper and refused the rod. “Come here. I won’t hurt you. I want to take you out of here.” I coaxed the creature with slow movement and gestures. He didn’t come towards me, but he didn’t run when I moved forward to him. I was able to gently latch the leash on the collar, then motioned him to follow me.
“He really listens to you. I am surprised.” Gen was watching with interest.
“You just have to be gentle with them. They can feel the intentions you have when you approach them.” I replied. I turned back to the creature as it cocked its head at us as if listening. Maybe it wasn’t as dumb as they thought it was. “Stay close now. The leash with hurt if you get too far away. Let us get you back to my home so I can feed you.” Sure enough, the creature seemed to narrow its eyes at the word for feeding and followed with little fuss. I went up to the desk to pay for him, and was surprised how cheap he was going. Lucky me.
I loaded him into my space shifter, letting him sit on the cushion at the back behind the seats. He was looking around with interest. I looped the leash nearby so he had plenty of slack. Gen got in the front with me and we sped off to the hive. I would drop him off at his platform before heading to mine. I think my Hatchers were just worried I might get attacked in the central station. It was full of dangerous Off-worlders that were itching for a fight.
I thought my Egg Layer was overly protective of us all. She tended to send us in groups if possible. My Fertilizer and Egg Carrier were Warriors though, so I didn’t think she really had to worry. I was big for our kind even, and we were built tough for this planet to start with. Our skin was tough and scaled for protection from the wind, our fibres were like whips that came from the tops of our heads, our limbs were muscular and tipped with claws for digging in the hard rocky dirt or fighting.
Not like this tender creature I had picked up. He was covered in soft skin that gleamed a pale pink, his fibres were thin and silky as they floated in the air or stuck to his flesh, his limbs were wiry and tipped with thin flesh protuberances that looked like they would not stand up to the slightest bit of work. It was strange how his body twisted and curled into a little ball on the cushion. His eyes met mine as we pulled into Gen’s platform on autopilot.
I looked away to see my brother off, waving to his mate as he came out to see who had arrived. They embraced and went inside as I pulled away from the platform again. It was quiet now that Gen no longer chatted away in my auditory canal. The creature hardly moved and made not a sound. My home was close to my brother’s platform, so the autopilot was once more engaged and descending within minutes. There was no mate to meet me at the platform. I had none.
I shut down the space shifter carefully, taking my time to make sure the fuel was off and the wing locks engaged. I moved to the back and lifted the leash from its place slowly so I wouldn’t scare the new pet. He uncurled himself from his strange ball and followed me at a short distance like I warned him to earlier. At the door to my home, I hesitated and entered the code. The gate lifted and we walked into the front room.
I dropped the leash as the gate closed again, trapping us alone together inside. The pet jumped a little at the sound, and seemed unnerved by his new surroundings. I walked away to give him time to settle down, but he followed me into the meal room. I wasn’t quite sure what food I had would be suitable for the new pet. We probably had very different diets. I opened a container of harsberries and the creature seemed to perk up. I set the berries on the table and pushed them towards him.
“Go ahead. See if you like these.” I said quietly. He looked at me, then at the container, and then back at me. I nodded and pointed. He crept up to the container and took out one of the big red berries. The bump on his head wiggled as he put it near the holes there. He opened his mouth and licked it, considering. Then he took a big bite. The purplish inner juices ran down his face as he chewed the berry and swallowed with a sigh of satisfaction. He seemed to like it.
I pulled out a container of Jyre bugs for myself and crunched away on them. The pet seemed a little disgusted at my choice, but the tasty little blue things were one of my favourites. He relaxed the longer we both stood there eating. When he was done, I packed up the rest of the berries and put away my bugs. I then led him to the working room. I showed him seats he could sit on and he plopped down tiredly. I carefully undid the clasp on the collar and tossed it aside. The creature stroked its neck and let its head fall back to rest.
I sat at my seat and worked the screens for many minutes. When I looked up, my pet had fallen asleep in his seat. His fibres had draped across his face, his eyes were closed, and his legs were tucked up under him in that strange ball he seemed to like to be in. I got up and grabbed a thermal blanket, draping it gently over his body so he wouldn’t chill and sicken. I watched him sleep for a few minutes before returning to my work.
*
When he awoke he stretched like a Feline creature. A big yawn stretched his features and he clutched the blanket to him. His legs poked out from the bottom and carefully he stood up. Like a newborn, he staggered about the room with the blanket still wrapped about his torso. He came close, uncertainly trying to see what I was doing. I let him slowly slither next to me, not moving in case I startled him, and he watched me work for a minute.
Then he began shifting from one foot to the other. He made a strange scrunched look with his face. He was soon crouching and making a whining sound. I realised he was trying to tell me he needed to vacate his body. I gently picked him up and carried his shivering body to the excrement chute. He wouldn’t go when I put him down. I pointed to the chute and he stubbornly pointed into the other room. Oh. I left the room feeling fascinated by the reddish glow that had suffused his face.
He came out a minute later looking much calmer. He wouldn’t let go of the blanket as he explored the cubbies and furniture that sat in the room. He came to watch me again. I patted the limb rest so he would know he could sit. He hesitated before crawling up on it. I lifted one claw and patted his head. He was startled. He looked frightened for a minute before relaxing under my claw. He made another weird face, the mouth curled up and his eyes closed.
I heard the gong that declared the suns were setting and shut down my screens. The pet was yawning again but a funny sound came from him. A low growl from his torso, instead of his mouth! How weird. He got up and stood in the doorway to the meal room. Ah, I get it. He was hungry again. I went in and got out a bin of roots. He tasted one but made a scrunched face again and pushed it away. I offered him a bin of Kur bugs and he looked pained.
After taking a very small bite out of one, he crunched away with a considering face. He popped the rest in and he seemed surprised as the sweet flavour probably flooded his mouth. I was pleased and clicked my approval. That made him drop his current morsel on the table in surprise. He watched me curiously. He ate a few more Kur and pushed the bin towards me. I put them away and left the room with my pet close behind.
I entered the resting chamber. The overhead light came on and dyed the walls a soothing blue. I unclasped my armour plate on my torso and placed it carefully on the rack. Next was my belt with weapons. It was placed on a bracket above my pallet. I removed all the decorating metal that adorned my limbs and head. Lastly, I hesitated as I looked over to a curiously watching pet draped in his blanket, I unclasped the skirting that covered my lower body and put it on the rack. I stood naked before my pet, wondering what he was thinking.
I felt as vulnerable as he must have in that room at the pet shop. I let him have his fill of looking though, showing him my trust. My soft belly was exposed, the scales gleaming iridescent in the blue light. My sex plate was covering my genitals, unlike this poor creature with his exposed all the time. My limbs flexed and shifted to fold as I got on the pallet that sat on the floor in the middle of one wall. The thermal blanket I used to sleep was pulled from the side to drape me.
My pet still stood hesitantly near the door. I patted the pallet to give him the permission he seemed to require. He crawled on with his blanket and lay next to me in a ball. We stared at each other, one soft pink pet, one blue and grey master, probably each wondering what the other was thinking. He closed his eyes first. I watched as his breathing slowed and evened out. I listened to it and let it lull me into sleep.
*
When I woke he was sitting up. One of my fibres lay in his lap and he was playing with it in those strange protuberances at the end of his limbs. I let him feel its texture and tug at it a bit as he swung it. It made me click my approval, letting him know I was now awake. He dropped the fibre and leaned towards my head. I cocked it to the side, curious what he was doing. He copied me, cocking his to the side. I cocked it the other way, and he followed suit. I clicked in approval and he made a strange hissing sound with that curled mouth again.
Was he angry? It did not seem so. The sound of my clicking had seemed to spark the sound, so perhaps it was a similar approval. I got up and wrapped my skirting around my waist and watched the pet run out the door. I followed in enough time to see him come from the excrement chute closet. He rushed up to me, bouncing a little on his limbs. A rush of sounds came from his mouth, I cocked my head to the side at the breathy language that spilled forth. It was soothing to listen to, even with all the strange hissing to it.
“What is it? Do you want to eat again? Such a little thing, you must need to eat more often than I.” I spoke back to him and he curled his mouth as he listened. I pointed to the meal room and said the words for hungry and eat again. He bounced over to the doorway and waited for me. We went through the ritual of offering bins until he found something he would eat. I snacked a little but wasn’t particularly hungry just yet. He was having difficulty holding the blanket around him as he ate.
It seemed as though my pet was uncomfortable without coverings, so I figured I might as well provide some. After he was done eating, I went out into the working room and pointed at a seat for him. He curled up on it. I walked towards the front room and I heard a shout behind me. I turned to see my pet scrambling up off the seat after me with a panicked look. I shook my head. He came over and grabbed hold of my skirting.
I gently lifted him up on my limb. He let go of the skirting in surprise. I carried him back to the seat and placed him down on its softness. He clutched at me, speaking in that strange way, desperately pulling at my skirting. I patted him on the head and pointed to the skirting he was holding. Once he was paying attention and looking curiously at me I pointed to him. Back to my skirt, then at him. Then I pointed to the front entrance. I made a noise like an engine, and swung my limb like a space shifter would fly.
“I have to go to get you skirting. If you want coverings, then I have to fetch them from the supply. I will go there, then return here.” He scrunched his face. I waited. He sat back into the seat and watched me as I left. It would not take me long to journey to the supply for coverings. I hoped my pet would not be too stressed out. With that in mind, I travelled and made my choice quickly.
When I came back into my home, my pet was waiting expectantly at the gate. He bounced and curled his mouth. I patted his head, then went into the cleaning chamber. I tugged at the blanket my pet had been wearing the whole time and pointed to a chute. Then I pressed the levers down in order to ready the bathing basin. It filled with warm water that bubbled with cleansers. I pointed at him and the basin. He nodded and slowly removed the blanket. It went down the chute and he held his limbs in front of him nervously.
He slipped into the water with a sigh. Rubbing his limbs and torso, he scrubbed away the sweat and filth that had built up since the pet store. I tossed him a soft cleansing utensil and it splashed him. He made a different sound, like the tinkling of gendar wings in the breeze. I clicked my approval, liking the new sound. He scrubbed himself, dunked down in the water and when he emerged I gave him a gentle push into the drying booth.
Once clean and dry, he was an adorable little creature. I was pleased with my choice of skirting for him. The soft material was long on his tiny body, reaching past the bends in his knees. It was difficult to find one small enough that it wouldn’t fall off, but the mate skirting in red and purple was perfect for him. The belting was an intricate chain that was adjustable to his slim waist and then the excess draped in the clips. Perhaps a little fancy for a pet, but he was already special to me.
He played with the material and chain all day. He seemed fascinated at the construction and feel of our materials. I worked on and off, trying to teach him some words in between. Things like the names for rooms and the objects or furniture around the rooms. At last, he pointed to me and to himself and spoke.
“Rhian.” It was soft as a gust of wind. I had difficulty pronouncing the word with my mouth. The first part was not a sound we made easily. When I did finally manage something close, he curled his mouth. He nodded and said it again, pointing at himself. Then he pointed back at me.
“Syn.” My name hissed out and he worked at copying me right away. It was amusing to see him form the quick word. He beamed when he felt he had succeeded in pronouncing it right. I patted his head and from then on we used our names with each other.
*
Unfortunately, it was during one of these times that my brother Gen and his mate chose to visit me. At the sound of my name from his lips, Gen began hissing and stalking my pet. I jumped up in alarm and begged his mate to hold him. Genta grabbed my brother before he managed to get too close. Rhian scurried around to duck behind me, clinging to my skirting. My brother wouldn’t stop hissing until Genta got in front of him and grabbed his face to force him to look at his mate instead.
“Gen! You cannot attack your brother’s pet. We are guests in his home.” Genta shouted at him. I waited until he was calm before offering him a guest seat in the front room. I took a seat across from him and his mate, pulling my pet onto my lower limb to sit close. “Apologise to your brother, Gen.”
“It isn’t right. That thing called him by his name. It has no right to use it.” He grumbled. I fanned my fibres up tall and narrowed my eyes at him.
“My pet has every right to call my name if I choose to give it to him. In my home, he has leave to go where and say what he wishes. I give him the right. You have no rights here, brother.” I calmly retort. He hisses under his breath, but at a look from Genta, he relents.
“Apologies brother. I did not wish to take ownership of your home. You are rightful master in its walls. I take back that which offends you.” He bows his head once in sincere apology and I lower my fibres for him.
“Genta, it is good to see you again. I hope my brother treats you well?” I offer acknowledgement to my brother’s mate.
“He does, thank you. We are planning to lay soon, and of course I will bear the eggs.” He replies to my question. I look surprised. My brother clicks pleased and reaches out to stroke his mate’s limbs.
“Congratulations. I wish you healthy eggs and healthy offspring.” I click my approval to them and allow the conversation to pass to matters in the hive. My pet sits attentive on my limb, watching the interaction with interest. I pat his head carefully under the watchful gaze of my brother.
“Why did you give it skirting? Is that not a mate’s skirting?” He says to me when the conversation runs thin.
“I gave it to him because I chose to. It is not your business why. Leave it, brother.” He looks away frustrated but I do not care. I place my pet back on the ground and tell him to go inside. He scurries away obediently. “I think you should leave now. Thank you for your time. Genta, I enjoyed seeing you and I wish you both well.” I got up and gestured for them to leave. After they went through the gate, I saw Genta arguing with my brother as they got in the space shifter.
I went into the working room to see Rhian curled up and using the small screen I gave him. He was learning quickly and it made me proud. I went to my seat and pulled up my work on the screens in front of me. Rhian came and sat at my side with his screen, leaning against my limb. He curled his mouth at my look. I could not do such a thing with my mouth, so I clicked softly to let him know I reciprocated his feeling of contentment.
“Brother… no… like Rhian?” He softly managed when my work was set aside. I looked at him and considered his words.
“No. My brother no like Rhian pet.” I replied. He hung his head. Then he looked up with the next words that surprised me.
“Syn like Rhian?” He watched me closely for my response. I blinked and thought about it. Beyond the fact that I chose him, I had come to like him very much. I reached out and stroked his limb with the back of my claw. His eyes widened at the same gesture my brother had used earlier.
“Syn like Rhian, yes. Syn choose Rhian, do you know ‘choose’?” I reply. He nods his head slowly. “Syn no choose other before. Only Rhian. Understand?”
“I understand.” He whispers.
“What about Rhian? Does Rhian like Syn?” He turned that reddish colour and looked down at his ‘hands’. I was learning his words as I taught him ours. I waited to hear his reply. I realised as I waited that I was worried about what he would say. What if he said no? The thought brought me discomfort. I suddenly didn’t want to hear the answer.
“Yes. Like Syn. Rhian like Syn.” I was relieved. I pulled him onto my limb and he curled in close to my torso. He wrapped his limbs around my waist in a strange embrace. It was warm and felt good. I carefully placed my limb across his back and stroked his arm again. I felt very warm and happy. My adorable little pet liked me, as I liked him.
This night my pet slept on the pallet as close as he could to me. Curled up under my top limbs and leaning against my torso. I was close enough to feel the warm breath that escaped his mouth with each exhale. I was close enough to hear his heart beating. The feel of his soft, warm body was delightful. Even the tickle of his fibres on my soft spot was pleasant. I fell asleep to the scent of his skin and dreamed of his curling mouth.
*
I had to go in to the central station today. I dressed in my plate, metal, and belt, so Rhian paced with worry at the change. I only wore my belt to places outside the hive so I had not worn it again since I bought him. I reassured him that I would not be gone over night. Still he clung onto me as we ate and scrunched his face when I left a bin down on the table for him. I wasn’t sure if I would be back before he got hungry again. I had to go though.
I was preoccupied the whole time I was there. My thoughts were back home with Rhian. Perhaps I should accept how I felt about the creature and simply take him as a mate. It would be hard for him, but if he was willing to try then he would be much better protected in the hive. It would also give him rights that he could not hold as a pet. I did not think another of my kind had taken one of his kind for a mate before, but I was sure we could manage something.
Even as absentminded as I was, I still managed to complete my business efficiently and to my satisfaction. I was pleased to be heading home much earlier than I had hoped. I was… excited to be returning to a home with him waiting for me. That is why, when I stepped inside and he was not waiting for me in the front room, I felt something was very wrong. I removed a weapon and crept through the home. The working room was empty and untouched.
The vacating closet was empty. The meal room was a disaster. The bin was flipped on the floor and food from it was scattered everywhere. A struggle that went into the tunnel and through the entryway to the resting chamber. I crept forward, but heard no noise and saw no beings. Then I noticed one hand peeking out from behind the pallet, limp on the floor in a small puddle of liquid. I dropped my weapon and leapt forward to see if Rhian was still alive.
He was breathing, but it was shallow. Something or someone had left long gashes down his limbs that now oozed dark liquid. Whomever it was had stripped off his covering and latched him in a sharp collar that was now embedded in his neck and also oozing dark liquid. I could not risk removing it without possibly doing more damage to his fragile flesh. Instead I carefully wrapped him in a thermal blanket and gently carried him to my space shifter.
The journey to the medical bay was too long for my liking. Rhian did not stir in all that time. That worried me more than if he was thrashing in agony. I carried him in to the bay and took him to the service desk. The med-tech looked over his injuries and logged his species into the small screen he held. I was upset how long it was taking for the med-tech to assign a healing chamber to my Rhian.
“Your pet will have to wait for the sub-species chamber to be cleared. A partial healing shall be done if you wish. It will cost you.” The med-tech droned unconcerned. He thought Rhian was just a throw away pet because of the collar. I was angered but tried to keep civil.
“You do not understand. He is special. I am taking this being as a mate. He was attacked and collared while I was out of my home. You must keep him alive until I get approval from the Egg Layer, understand? If he dies, there will be great trouble.” The med-tech hissed in anger, now taking greater care with his new patient.
“Understood. I will not let your potential mate die. May the criminal be punished who would lay hands on another’s property.” Rhian was placed on a shifter table and taken into the depths of the medical bay. I could not waste any time. I was on my way to the hive center in seconds. I had an idea who had done this to my special one. If it truly was my own brother who would do such a thing, then I would be greatly saddened. I arrived at the hive center and hurried inside to speak with the Egg Layer.
“Cateco, have you a moment for urgent business?” I began with a bow of respect and waited for her to look up from her screen to acknowledge me.
“Of course, Syn. What has brought my progeny so urgently to speak in person?” She stood from her screens and approached me, towering over my head in all her splendour.
“Forgive me, Cateco. I have come to love one of another species, a Homo-sapien to be precise. I bought him at the pet store many revolutions back. He has proven intelligent and loving. I wished to make him my mate, should I have your approval.” Cateco clicked her approval to me and stroked my limbs lovingly at this pronouncement. I was one of the last of my clutch to take a mate, so she was pleased I had finally made a choice.
“You know our rule for inter-species mating my offspring. You have seven revolutions to have his acceptance logged and show me that you have both gone through the ritual.” She turned as though to sit again and I had to speak.
“Cateco, I do not know if I can do this. Someone has entered my home and damaged my potential mate. He is in the medical bay awaiting your approval to repair him fully. They will only partially repair him as a pet. Even when he is repaired, I do not know how long it will be before he can go through the mating ritual. What shall I do?” I had folded to the floor in my despair. She turned sharply and hissed her anger. She was truly terrifying to behold when angered.
I cowered as her fibres stood up to the ceiling and her scales darkened. Her huge claws pawed the air as though contemplating what she would do to the one who had broken our sacred rules. I was big, but Cateco was huge when she stood to her full height. The hissing was making it hard to understand anything she was saying, I had to wait until she was settled enough to speak to me.
“You may have fourteen revolutions instead of seven. I will inform the medical bay immediately that a full repair is authorized and you will not be charged for it. I will also have them do a re-gen cycle to minimise the visible damage on such a soft creature. Have no worries my offspring. I will find and punish the one who would do this thing in MY hive.” She bent down to lift me from the floor and stroked my limbs again.
“Thank you, dearest Egg Layer, I am forever grateful for your help.” I stroked her back when I was standing and she showed me to the gate personally. Now I could go back to the medical bay knowing my special one would be repaired. I bowed and went back to my shuttle with all haste. The re-gen cycle was more than I was expecting for my dearest, usually reserved for only the most damaged warriors after battle or the most important members of our hive since it would nearly erase all trace of injury.
When I stepped back in to the medical bay, Rhian was already almost done being repaired. He then spent all the minutes until the gong in the regen chamber before being released into my care. I would not let him walk to my space shifter, carrying him in my limbs like the precious cargo he was. He seemed dazed by the whole experience in the medical bay. I watched him in the seat next to me as he stroked his healed arms in awe. I stroked his arm in reassurance as we landed at our platform and we went into our home.
“I will change the code for the gate, so you need no longer fear.” I told him as I replaced the skirting about his waist tenderly. He grabbed hold of my claws and pulled me into an embrace.
“Thank you for rescuing me and fixing me.” He said. I felt a wet droplet fall on me. Tilting back his head, I saw moisture from his eyes and he sniffled.
“You have liquid spilling. Do you need more fixing?” I was concerned. He curled his mouth and shook his head, no. That was relieving. I stroked his limbs as we sat together for some time in the dim light of the resting chamber. The silence was soothing and I just enjoyed his warmth. Then I remembered that I had to bring up the topic of mating. I shifted at the thought and he looked up at me expectantly. It was too soon after his ordeal. For tonight I decided we should simply rest.
*
“Syn, I am hungry. May I have some harsberries?” My Rhian leaned against my seat and I gave him my attention.
“Are they not on a lower shelf? I thought I put them on the new shelving, near the opening.” He shook his head, no. So I got up and went into the meal room to see where I might have placed them. They were, indeed, on the top shelf by my Jyre bugs. I got them down to the table for him and he took out a few before placing the bin on a lower shelf that I had made for him.
“Thank you, Syn. Are you almost finished your work for this revolution?” He munched carefully on the berries so he wouldn’t spill the juice all over.
“Yes I am. Only one more set to go. Then I must speak with you on an important matter.” I had put it off for too long, and Rhian was strong again, so I could not wait longer to offer myself as mate.
“Yes, of course. I will be out when I am finished eating.” He said between bites. I left the meal room to finish my work. I was nervous to ask him, as I am sure all of us are when we offer ourselves. My work was indeed quickly accomplished and I waited for Rhian to appear again by my side. He came out and sat next to me with an expectant look, so I began.
“Rhian, you know that I chose you and that I like you right?” I reminded him. He blushed that pretty shade of red and nodded, not breaking eye contact with me. “When you were injured, I was very upset because I found that I like you more than any other being. In fact, I went to my Egg Layer to discuss asking you to be my mate.” Rhian looked very surprised at my words, and the blush grew darker.
“You want me to be your mate? But we are different species! How would that even work?” He covered his face with his hands and mumbled quickly in his own language so that I could not follow his words. I was worried now.
“Does this mean you do not accept me for a mate? Am I being rejected?” I was confused. His hands dropped and he moved close to me, stroking my limbs in reassurance.
“No, I wish to accept! I am just worried that we are not compatible for mates. We are both males of different species. Our genitals are so different… plus I am so much smaller than you… and well, I must tell you I am afraid.” He bowed his head so I could no longer see his eyes. I understood his fears, though, since they were also my own. I quietly told him of the ritual that we would have to undergo. He looked up shyly as I explained how our kind normally mated with each other.
“Our kind require both mates to join and share their life code with each other through the genitals. It requires that each take in and hold it three times, until it soaks into our code and becomes part of it. To mate, I must raise my shielding and release my reproductive shaft to enter the other’s egg pouch. They do the same to me, in turn. Our bodies absorb some of the coding from our fertilizer and it changes us. I do not know how such a thing could change you. It could disfigure or even kill you…
“So, I am worried too. I want you to be equal in my hive, and protected from all harm. I do not wish to harm you but it seems unlikely that I will be able to avoid doing so if we do the ritual together. You are so soft and small…” I stroked his arms now. He was thoughtful for some minutes before speaking again.
“My kind have joined as males before, but since we do not have your body parts, it is done quite differently. One male takes the other inside through the, er, vacate place.” I clicked at that in amusement. How strange! He hissed his annoyance and I stopped in respect. “I suppose we could try it. I think I would rather risk it and have you as my mate than not. I will study on how best to prepare so I might receive you.”
“I too will study so that I may not harm you. Let us do so this revolution and then we can compare our findings next revolution so we may proceed.” He curled his mouth and embraced me again. Then we turned to our screens to see what could be done about our situation.
*
“The closest I have found is my kind mated to a Feline creature.” I announced. He made a face at me and shook his head.
“How does that help? I am not a Feline creature.” He looked disappointed so I continued.
“It does help. Felines are small and soft like you. It says I must take your coding three times first, that way my coding will have started the change and is less likely to be lethal to your body. I am very acidic, so it will bring that acidity down to a more manageable level. Also it gives us time to stretch you sufficiently.” He was pale by the time I was done talking and shaking a little. I stroked his arms to reassure him, but his wide eyes were still very worried.
“I found a Homo-sapien that mated with a Sog demon. I discovered they have similar genitals to your kind. That means it is not impossible. Plus, the female lived and even carried an offspring to birth.” He said hopefully.
“That is very encouraging. I am glad that we have both found hope.” I pulled him up on my limb and held him close to my torso to enjoy his warmth.
“Yes, it is. I am ready to try when you are, Syn.” He looked up at me and I carefully pulled my claws through his fibres. They were like long strands of silken fabric threads, reaching down to his waist now. The contrast of the black against the pale pink of his skin was truly mesmerising to me, and the more I loved him it seemed the more beautiful he became. His green eyes sparkled with adventure as I lifted him up and carried him to the resting chamber. It was now the mating chamber, for the foreseeable future.
I laid him on the pallet and folded down beside him. I was quickly unlatching his skirting and tossing it on the floor to his laughter. Then he unlatched mine and it joined with his on the floor in a puddle of blue, gold, red, and purple. Everything was forgotten as we now looked over each other as mates. Touching soft skin and caressing every inch of his body, his hands running over my thick scales and caressing my soft spots. I purred in ecstasy and he laughed at the low sound.
As the heat built behind my plate, I felt it begin to shift at his soft touches. He watched wide-eyed as it lifted over my stomach and I was revealed to him. The light transparent grey under-skin glistened with moisture and the iridescent blue was brighter in the most tender of areas. I took his still hands and placed them on myself, urging him to touch and discover my body. He was hesitant, but then gained confidence as I purred under his hands.
After getting comfortable with touching me, and nearly making me lose my fertilizer to his sweet hands, he mounted me. Climbing up on top so his sex was against my slimy shaft that had grown to lay over my stomach, I put his hand over the entrance to my egg sack so he might understand what he must do. It was hot as it slid inside. The friction of his sex coated in my juices was sensual and I clung to the pallet so I would not grab him and tear his skin with my claws. He moaned and panted on top of me, squirming to get deep inside.
Then I felt his hot fertilizer spill inside me and he collapsed, spent. I stroked him carefully as he panted there, trying to still his quick heart. He crawled forward so his legs wrapped my torso and placed his mouth to mine. He licked my lips and teeth before licking my tongue with his. I was shocked at such behaviour. It was so intimate, felt so wet and hot, that I nearly lost myself even as my plate was beginning to descend again.
“That’s one.” Rhian whispered into my auditory canal and fell into a deep slumber right where he was.
*
I could not help him. I watched as Rhian stretched himself with his hands. I covered him in my fluids, but my claws would tear him apart if I tried to open him up. So it was left to him, awkwardly curled in to reach his vacate hole and make it ready to receive. He blushed and asked me not to look the first time, but I refused to listen. I wanted to see his body open up for me. I wanted to watch him press into his hole over and over until it no longer resisted.
My plate shifted in anticipation each time he did this in front of me. I was still trying to figure out the angles of how this would work. Normally I would go on top, but it was possible I could crush him and his hole was on the bottom instead of the top. I was confused. Should I just take him to the meal room and put him on the table so he was high enough? That would make it very interesting. I purred at the thought and Rhian looked up to watch me through slit eyes. His tongue poked out to lick his lower lip and I leaned in to taste it.
It was called a kiss, and was something intimate that his kind enjoyed. I was learning to enjoy it too. To me it was like a small exchange of code each time his wetness entered my mouth. It made my thoughts disappear and my plate grow hot. Especially when he moaned into my mouth as he did now. I did not wish to wait any longer to enter him. I had been taken by him the three times that were required already and now I wanted my turn.
He let go of me and leaned back on the pallet. I watched in surprise as he rolled over to his stomach and lifted himself up on his knees. Perfect! That made him just tall enough that I should be able to reach. His hole was open and twitching with juices, waiting for only me. I crawled over him, my plate already shifted and my shaft extended with anticipation. I pressed the tip into his hot entrance and closed my eyes at his moan.
My claws tore the pallet and my purring shook us both as my sex lengthened to slither inside his scorching body. It inched its way inside, slimy from my fluid running off my body onto it. It expanded and contracted as it wormed its way inside. Both of us were panting from it, I from holding back and he from trying to accommodate me. He shuddered the deeper I got, and a whining spilled from his mouth. His whole body shook and I stopped at that point, feeling his burning body contract as it flexed and then loosen around me.
I shouted his name as my fertilizer spilled from my body, filling him suddenly with it. My sex shrunk back to give it room but he still cried out at the sudden expanding of his innards. He collapsed, unresponsive as I pulled out the rest of the way. A little bit of red fluid came out from stretching him a little too far, too soon. I held him and stroked him until he finally came to. Tears fell down his cheeks even though his mouth was curled.
“I love you…” I repeated over and over as I cradled him. He laughed with a pained look on his face and replied.
“I love you too.”
*
He was amazing. My beautiful human had taken me inside each time with a smile, and each time was easier than the last as his body changed to receive me. He was ill and feverish, but he was alive. I had sent notice to the Egg Layer and she was expecting us as soon as he was able to move again. It was done. He was my mate and I was his. I brought him food and cleansed his body each time my seed spilled from him as the large amounts could not possibly be held by his small body. I promised to change the pallet when it was over, because we had pretty much destroyed it with our mating.
When I looked into the reflecting glass I saw amazing changes to myself. My silver eyes saw the swirls of pink where my soft spots had changed colour; around the eyes, on my abdomen and in the joins in my limbs were all now iridescent pink instead of blue. My hard scales were still a blue-grey, but seemed smoother to the eye. My fibres had darkened and were noticeably softer to the touch. I asked Rhian if he liked the changes, and fortunately he did.
The changes in Rhian were beautiful. His skin scaled up in pale blue stripes that framed his face and torso. His eyes lengthened and narrowed to vertical pupils, matching mine. That seemed to be the most painful and difficult change for him to adjust to. Lastly, his soft nails formed into sharp claws. Luckily his skin was tougher or he would have torn himself apart already with them. As the changes began to cease, he became stronger and healthier. He was fascinated by the way my code had latched on to him and how I was able to take in his.
When we left to meet the Egg Layer, he was excited to show off his new look. I would not let him go very far from me, making him laugh and stroke me even here in the hive center. Many of my kind turned to stare at us. When I entered Cateco’s working room, there were several important hive members waiting with her. I was suddenly nervous about our changes, and worried what my Egg Layer would think.
“Come, Syn. Come forward with your mate and show me your new colours.” She beckoned me from her seat and I strode forward to stand close before her.
“How unusual.” I heard the male to her left say. I extended my limbs and turned, that she might see it all. Then I gestured for Rhian to do the same for her. We both bowed, and I felt his hand take hold of mine.
“Syn, you surprise me. I did not think it was possible to mate such a soft creature with ours, yet you have managed it. He is truly strong if he is able to survive the ritual changes, and I see you love each other very much. I find your new colours beautiful. Truly you have become an amazing pair of mates.” She stood and bowed back, thereby completing the ritual and accepting us as bonded mates. I told Rhian this and he curled his mouth wider than I had ever seen before.
“Cateco, about the job…” The hive member to the right began to speak but she waved him silent.
“Yes, yes. Let them have a moment.” She knew the moment had passed though and sat again. “We have very recently been approached by the Homo-sapiens main collective nearby. It seems they are missing a rather important member of their hive. Are you in fact, Rhian son of Commander Lexthen?” Rhian looked surprised at the question.
“I am.” He said softly. I looked on in confusion as the hive members all exchanged worried glances.
“What does this mean, my love?” I asked politely. He hesitated.
“It means that his ship was taken by criminals and he was sold here, to the pet store in the central station, where no one would understand his language and be able to help him. But you did anyways, Syn. You took him in and kept him safe. Due to this, our people have averted a great war. He is considered as a prince in his collective, beloved in his hive.” My Egg Layer informed me. I nearly passed out from the news. I had mated with a prince!
“Is this true?” I breathed. He smiled and blushed, looking down at his feet in that adorable way of his. May the Suns shine ever brightly, I felt blessed.
“I will send news of his safety, and that he has chosen to mate with one of us. You may have to return with him to his people, Syn. He is greatly missed and I would not like to upset our newest allies in the galaxy. Perhaps you would consider going as our ambassador?” Cateco asked me gently. Would I leave the hive? Would I follow my mate to his hive, his home, and live with him among aliens? He would be far safer with his own kind than with mine. I could protect myself, but he obviously had a lot more trouble doing so.
“You don’t have to, Syn. I will stay here if you wish it.” He said to me as the others looked on. That seemed to solidify my decision. I patted his head like I first did and clicked happily.
“Don’t be silly, my little prince. I should be glad to follow you anywhere.” Then I finally managed to smile.
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