No Longer Alone
No Longer Alone: By thwale
The strange gateway suddenly appeared before us... we had come to investigate strange events in this small northern town but this was the last thing we expected to find. However all our measurements seemed to confirm it was safe so we entered it.
All at once we arrived in a new place, on a new world, it was somewhat dark and we were in what appeard to be a large complex of sorts. We had weapons but had not drawn them. Our Engineer a Rooster by the name of Stolix studied the alien machinery but it made no sense to him either. Just bunches of colored glowing tubes and sausage shaped tanks all twisted and intertwined.
The machinery hummed and buzzed and vibrated as we exited this building through a round door and further entered this new world. We found it filled with strange flora and fawna.
Eight legged Raccoon looking creatures, limbless Ferret types with snake like bodies complete with scales and fur, Upside-down leafless trees and plants.
And the sky... it was hazel and green with a violet colored sun...
I got a chance to watch one such small fuzzy dinosaur like creature seize a long six legged horse type creature and begin to devour it whole, it made peeping noises as it was engulfed.
We decided to set up camp near a cave, it's one lone occupant decided to give it up without a struggle, the small creature gave us a dirty look flipped a couple of seeds at us then slowly hobble-rolled away. I was able at a later time to get a picture of it.
During our explorations we soon came upon the city of inhabitants of this planet. The buildings looked organic like oily sheened cacoons and were connected by tubes, no doors just lots of openings. Each level had outside walkways attached to it, letting them move from opening to opening or connecting them to a ramp leading up or down to the next level.
The beings themselves were going about their lives as furries would in any large city, coming and going, shopping talking and eating. There were no vehicles however, if something needed to be carried or moved the creatures would attach a small device to it and order it to do what they wanted.
The inhabitants were somewhat bipedal, 6 feet tall and wore no clothing. They resembled Earth Slugs, the skin was similar in color and texture as well as their "sheen". Their faces were Rhino like with tiny horns over the eyes hanging from the chin and protruding from the back of the head. The arms and legs were plump and squat, their bodies were pear shaped.
The faces had the normal amount of sense organs in roughly the correct place, their mouths resembled a lizards with no tongues that I could see. Their eyes had slit like pupils and always looked like they were planning something or being crafty and sneaky however the outward appearance had nothing to do with their true natures which resembled ours. Highly intelligent and resourceful.
I did not find them repugnant e at all though truly alien looking the whole effect seemed somehow normal and natural. As they were unclothed I tried to tell females from males but very quickly found it impossible, if there were biological differences they were internal. There were also no children I could see, all appeared about the same size and age.
Suddenly a small group detached itself from the rest and headed our way, I guess they knew we were here. Due inpart to an unknown xenophobia (or just common sense) I decided to make myself scarce and moved off to a hidden spot to watch the outcome. If all went well I would come out if not..., Gorty, our cook glanced in my direction but soon had his attention on the arriving newcomers.
The beings finally arrived at our little group and began to talk to the leader of it, a very brave but somewhat foolish Giraffe named Commander Shilo, from my current position I was unable to hear what was said, then I saw the creatures attach those control devices to each member of the party and order them to follow...
I of course stayed hidden, no sense in all of us being captured, if captured they were. It sure looked that way, but as this was a different civilization there was also a possibility I was reading it wrong so I did not unholster my weapon or feel like revealing myself.
As my party was led away and before I was able to make a further move or decision I suddenly became aware of being watched and turned to find myself looking into the face of a very disheveled, partially dressed and tired looking though quite healthy and sexy Raccoon female.
A furry here? Until this point I had thought our group was the first, how wrong I was... I then started to ask her what she was doing here but before I could speak something strange occured. A Blue light that had been flying around now headed my way, she noticed it and she told me it was a Healfly. These could be trained to control others however this was a wild one and so I had nothing to worry about. She explained it would heal emotionally and physically those it landed on (if untrained for other tasks) it then landed on my lip.
"It looks like its going to help you" I was confused and uncomfortable.
To help you visualize The creature.
Picture a room filled with mist, any light source would radiate in all directions, now picture an illuminated blue lightbulb hanging from the ceiling by a very tiny wire. Now remove the wire and lightbulb but keep the blue light radiating out to about a foot and a half from center, now have it fly around the room, as it gets close to a surface it illuminates a small part of it.
I could feel it on my lip, it was trying to pry open my mouth but I wouldn't let it, then it suddenly seemed to melt into my face and the next thing I knew I was following this strange female. I at once thought she had tricked me and that I was under her control but before I could question her she spoke.
"You did not let it do it's job and so it killed itself in order to complete it's instinctual duty to heal."
By dieing as it had, it's essence would be inserted into the host and healing would occure, I felt bad that I had killed it and said so, she smiled "do not worry, that is their purpose here."
"Where are you leading me, and just where is here?"
"Well I asked you if you wanted to see where I lived, you said yes and began to follow me..." then she caught on to my real reason for asking "I'm sorry I should have known, when the Healfly dies on it's host it can cause some disorientation" she continued "as to where here is we don't know."
We? I thought to myself but then noticed where we were heading and gave up the thought.
We were headed to what looked like a half bubble on the ground, she touched it and it slid open to reveal a hole and a ladder leading down into the dark. She then entered and descended, I followed. It smelled strange and was utterly dark as we reached the bottom.
Stepping off the ladder my foot went "splash" I guess I had stepped in liquid when suddenly the lights came on and I found myself standing in this civilizations equivilent of a sewer.
"This is where the few of us non natives live, I know it must seem gross to you but this is the safest unmonitored place."
I asked "the few of us? You mean there are other people here?" totally ignoring the strange smell.
"I didn't say people like us, I said non natives, you'll see..."
That last statement made me think "not us..."
As we walked I began to question her about how she came to be here. "I do not remember exactly, I had been working in the field and had gone to get some water from the well, as I leaned forward to grab the bucket I suddenly found myself here."
"And how did you end up among, um... non natives?"
Before she could answer we came upon a group of broken sausage shaped pipes, she did not stop walking however but headed right towards them then passed through them and was gone. I was now alone, as I stood there I could see liquid running along the ground and hear dripping noises but nothing else, I just kept looking at the spot where she disappeared and wondered where she went.
A short time later she reappeard then apologized "sorry about that, I did not think... its an illusion one of the non natives uses naturally to defend itself, it makes a great door huh?."
I accepted the explanation without further question then followed her through the illusion, a slight tingle and I was suddenly looking at a small group of non natives or more precisely non us, about 20 of them.
She walked up to one, it resembled a green pipe cleaner with fuzzy legs and a Kilt, it placed its arm around her and she smiled up at it it then spoke to me.
"You are her species I see, why and how are you here?"
Seemed like a logical question to me and the speaker must be the leader "I was part of a small investigative group that found a gateway, we entered it and ended up in some strange building with tubes and unknown objects..."
Then it hit me it was speaking english "I'm sorry but I have a question, how do you speak english so well?"
"I do not speak your language at all, a property of traveling through the barrier or gateway as you call it is to instantly alter your brainwaves so that you can communicate with others in your native tongue regardless of language or species."
I noticed she held him tighter and felt it was worth asking "excuse me if this seems impolite and please don't take offense but it looks like you and the lady are a couple, forgive the question but are you?"
She seemed a little uncomfortable and he looked a bit taken aback. Clearing his throat he answered "yes we are a couple, it was hard for her to be here alone and all intelligent beings need others. From the moment we saw eachother we fell in love and decided to pair, why do you ask?"
Now it was my turn to be uncomfortable "Don't worry i'm not trying to take her from you or anything, I was just asking because it seemed a very furry action to come from alien, if you'll pardon the comparison..."
I was unsure how it would respond, when it suddenly broke into loud laughter, every hair on it's body was shaking, the lady seemed to smile and the others in the group relaxed as well.
"A fair question indeed, as you are now here forever it seems a logical question to ask, you have much to learn ."
I then remembered the group I had come here with and felt guilty I hadn't thought about them "I was here with a group and they were taken by the Slug like people, would you happen to know what I can do to get them back?"
It then frowned and looked uncomfortable and a bit sad, the women also seemed to take on a sad look. It was then I decided to stop calling it "it" and consider it "he" until I learned it... his, name.
"Yes, the Metlesnd are a suspicious people, your group will probably be interrogated and then either returned to your world with their minds wiped or executed, it is one reason why we stay hidden, both outcomes are aphorrent to any intelligent being."
I must have looked dejected depressed and alone at that moment I certainly felt that way. All of a sudden the whole group including the pipe cleaner and lady walked to me and then all of them embraced me at once.
I guess I had now become a part of this group and they were comforting me, the feelings I was having were pleasant and I no longer felt depressed or alone. Then I noticed one of the non humans gave me an extra tight hug and a wink, when the others saw this they stepped back and left us looking at eachother. I could hear the pipe cleaner laughing loudly then the others joined in and soon everyone including me were laughing.
I guess I was no longer alone and she although unlike anything I had ever seen, she was quite attractive, I then thought to myself "when in Rome..." I can always find out more about my new living situation at a later time. At this moment I wished only to get to know this being better and moved towards her, as I reached her she laid a pseudopod on my shoulder.
--To be continued, maybe-
©2011 thwale