Earth 2
The Eden Advance team meets some new colonists of Earth 2
I will be your cat if you will be my kit.
Uncas is jet black with darker leopard spots that were visible when the light touches them in the right way. On his back is a narrow line of white that starts at the base of his neck and ends just below his shoulder blades. His eyes are larger than Lail’s and golden where hers are green. He is tall and lithe, his eyes and ears are never still, always sweeping, alert for danger.
Lail is completely at ease, smiling and laughing, talking and touching, Uncas stays close to her always keeping his back to a wall. Lail is blind; her hand rests lightly on Uncas’ arm. Uncas never speaks aloud, he cannot, and Lail says it is because of an old injury to his throat, they do not needs words to communicate, and Alonzo is able to speak with them on the dream plane.
They have brought smoked fish and fresh vegetables which we are grateful for. Lail tells us that Uncas is a botanist; he is familiar with most of the plant life on the eastern shore.
Lail was once a pilot until blindness grounded her. She isn’t completely blind, her peripheral vision is intact but anything strait on is all darkness to her.
They are humanoid, feline in grace, covered with fine, soft short fur but for the soles of their feet and the palms of their hands. The fur on their heads is longer but just as soft. Their palms are as ours - not rougher or thicker, their claws retract into nailess fingers.
Their faces are expressive; the fine downy fur there does not camouflage the emotional expressions. Another feline trait - the tails that express so much emotion in their long nearly prehensile use.
Alonzo knew they were coming, the Terrians had told him to expect visitors in the morning. He waited on the ridge
I know something is going on. Alonzo is pacing back and forth, glancing up to the ridge then back to the sentries. He looks startled when I ask him who he’s waiting for.
"Why do you think I’m waiting for someone True?"
"You’re pacing and checking the ridge and looking to see if Baines has spotted anything."
He grins at me, "You’re pretty observant."
"I’m a kid," True grumbles, "no one tells me anything so I have to find out on my own."
He laughs and takes my hand, "Maybe I’d better take you with me then. Hey Baines," Alonzo calls, "we’re having company this morning; don’t fire at them when they come over the ridge."
Baines cocks his head like he’s trying to decide if Alonzo is kidding him "Terrians?"
"Terrians told me we would have visitors and they would come over the ridge."
We stand staring at the sun rising over the rocky hill and as it hits the edge I can see the people standing on the ridge.
"They’re here!" I yell. I wave at them and one of them waves back, for some reason they seem oddly jointed I want to run to meet them but Alonzo holds me back
"Let them come to us True," he laughs; "we don’t want them to think we’re attacking them."
A hand settles on my shoulder and I look up to see my dad
"What’s going on True?"
"Alonzo said the Terrians were sending people to see us this morning."
More of the camp has gathered behind us and I strain forward trying to catch another glimpse of the strangers approaching through the trees. The rising sun is still behind them as they approach. The taller one is dressed in formfitting black and the other in something gold that shimmers like silk.
There is a collective gasp as they stop a few feet from us and I can see that they are not humans. They have the general shape of people but they look more like cats. What I thought to be form fitting clothing I now realize is short fur and before anyone can stop me I reach out and stroke golden fur on the hand of the shorter one.
"True!" my dad shouts and grabs for the back of my shirt. I duck his hand and smile at the golden female. The fur under my fingers is incredibly soft.
"Good morning friends." Alonzo greets them.
"Good morning." The female’s voice is soft and she holds out her hand. "I am Lail, this is my mate Uncas. We come in friendship."
Devon presses past Alonzo and takes the cat-woman’s hand. "I’m Devon Adair."
I can tell Devon likes the feel of the fur too by the way she smiles.
"This is your pride Devonadair?" Lail asks.
"My … pride?" Devon looks confused for a moment and Yale whispers something to her I can’t hear.
Devon smiles at my dad. "Yes, this is my pride."
"We bring food to trade." Lail says letting the pack slide from her shoulder.
Alonzo takes it and Devon accepts the one Uncas hands to her.
"We don’t have much to trade." Devon says worriedly.
"We will trade for your knowledge." Lail smiles, teeth hidden behind her lips. "Only what you wish to share."
"Please," Devon gestures towards the biodome, "let’s go inside."
Uncas remains steadfastly and Alonzo closes his eyes, speaking to them on the dream plane.
‘Do not fear us,’ Alonzo tells the Kitrain, ‘We will not harm you.’
‘How do we know this?’ Uncas asks angrily ‘Promises are easily spoken.’
Not knowing why he does it Alonzo holds up his hand as if signaling Uncas to halt, he curls his fingers into claws then straightens them. ‘We bear no weapons against the Kirrain.’ Alonzo solemnly vows.
Uncas looks startled but Lail smiles contentedly. ‘We accept the hospitality of your pride.’ She replies, making the same gesture which Uncas also copies.
Uncas sighs, an unhappy rumbling sound from deep in his chest but follows Devon, Lail’s hand still on his arm as he leads her into the shelter. He guides Lail to a seat and stands stiffly behind her, warily eyeing the gathering humans.
"We have encountered a few humans before," Lail’s expression is grave, "they were... savage and we have learned to have caution in dealing with them. The Terrians told us that your pride is trustworthy and civilized."
"That is high praise from the Terrians." says Yale.
True inches closer, her little hand snakes out to caress the longer, thicker fur that covers Lail’s head.
Lail leans into the touch, a soft purr rumbling in her throat. "They did not mention that you have kits."
Uncas’ expression is a mixture of fear and resignation as Lail takes his arm and pulls him within True’s reach.
The girl lightly strokes the silky black fur and Uncas shudders, closing his eyes but making no move to retreat from the curious hands that reach out to touch him.
Alonzo can feel the fear that roils from the Kittrain and he slips back onto the dream plane hoping to lend some comfort to the other.
"Kits?" Asks Devon
"Your young." Lail smiles as Uly’s fingers comb through her mane. "Long past have been the days since we have known the innocence of kits."
‘Be at peace my brother.’ Alonzo says stepping close to stand side by side with Uncas. He makes no move to touch the other, only their shoulders touch and Alonzo is gratified by the cessation of trembling in Uncas’ body.
‘They would have skinned me and worn my pelt.’ Unca’s eyes are wide and distant. ‘I killed in self defense.’
Alonzo now understands the significance of the line of white fur that begins at the base of Uncas’ neck and ends just below his shoulder blades.
‘They were savages; you did what you had to do.’ Alonzo assured him. ‘They were not our kin, not of our pride. We hold no anger for their demise only for their actions against you.’
‘You are wise for one who looks so young.’ Lail’s hand rests over Alonzo’s heart. ‘You are not a kit; many years have passed for you.’
‘Many years I slept, I still have much to learn.’ He caught her hand and bushed his lips over her fingers.
"There is among you one skilled in healing, so the Terrians said."
"We have a doctor, yes." Devon waved Julia over, "This is our doctor, Julia."
"Doctorjulia, my mate has a wound that needs care I cannot provide, you would help him?"
"Call me Julia please, yes I would gladly help him if I can."
Lail urges her mate to turn his back to them; he complies, watching them over his shoulder with wide eyes.
"It is on his shoulder, a swollen place, hot to the touch." Lail explains.
Julia can see an abnormal raised place on the Kirrain’s back and she slides her fingers through his fur, probing the wound carefully.
Uncas growls deep in his throat, ears laying back as the muscles ripple under her hand as he flinches.
"I’m sorry I didn’t mean to cause you pain. It feels like there is something in your back, I’ll have to take a closer look at it."