It took longer than Audas had expected for the two to complete their checks of all the cameras and equipment. By the time he and Dryston had returned to the hub, the sun had sunk low enough to turn the sky into a warm orange. After returning their bows, they started to climb back towards the main structure through the balcony entrance. The training yard was now mostly empty, save for those small groups of Nyúlfur that hung around the arenas or what appeared to be a set of climbing towers off to one side. Even in the increasing gloom, he could make out a squad of Nyúlfur moving into the trees, each carrying their own rifle and melee weapon.
“I guess you didn’t have all this back home?” Dray asked with a flick of his eyes as he walked alongside him.
Audas merely shrugged, “Didn’t really have the space. I won’t deny the perks of this place though.” Another half-truth. There were a few places to stay fit, if you could avoid all the curfews.
“Couples well with gyms at least.” The Nyúlfur admitted, “That and there is all the tradition too. Or an old habit if you look at it that way.”
He didn’t have the foggiest idea of what Dray was meaning, but he didn’t press the matter. He had already sent volley after volley of questions at him. The least he could do was just hold fire every so often. That, and it might have been a stupid question too far.
And yet, he couldn’t bring himself to do it non-stop. He let Dray speak, let the questions roll along with the conversation. Audas kept the questions mostly simple, stuff that someone not native to Cascadia would actually ask. What were their surroundings like? Where different facilities were at the Hub? Stuff like that, and some of those answers did speak of common sense. But he did have to hide his frown, or rather, stop it from forming. These weren’t the questions Audas really wanted answering. About the humans, or what rules or laws the Nyúlfur had in place that were more… integral to their identity. The last thing he wanted to do was ask a question that every Nyúlfur should know and get his true identity discovered through that.
It'd be a hell of an awkward time to claim amnesia now. He grimly noted.
Dray had also taken the chance to slip in his own questions towards Audas. Simple questions, nothing personal to his relief. More about his age or interests if anything else. But still, the former human hadn’t been able to shake off his immediate unease.
They had reached the main hall and Dryston paused at the bottom of the steps leading up to the balcony. “Still unsure?”
“Unsure?” Audas asked with a frown.
“About this place.” He waved an arm at the buildings behind him, “You just seem… uneasy… that’s what I’ve heard anyway.”
He looked away, letting himself run through any possible answer he could send back. Dray must have heard that off Alika, or one of the Nyúlfur in the street when the kids had bumped into him. He just needed something satisfactory enough to keep Dray from digging in any deeper. “I’ve just… had to go through a lot of crap lately.” He narrowed his eyes at the Nyúlfur, “So if I seem untrusting or undecided…”
“I understand.” Dray replied, “I’d j-“
“Come on!” someone shouted, “Just the one!”
“And I told you!” Alika’s voice replied firmly, “It’s not happening!”
Audas blinked, Alika? What’s going on?
But he couldn’t help but notice something else… amusement?
Dray’s head flicked towards the stairwell, trying to hide a smile as he took to the stairs. Audas couldn’t help but follow him up towards the balcony. On the wooden deck, a pair of male Nyúlfur stood between Alika and the main entrance. The young woman was dressed in the same gear as before. Only now, a pair of thin swords – cutlasses he guessed – were hanging from a belt round her waist.
“Look, it’d only take a moment…” one of the Nyúlfur males stressed.
“Come on…” Alika replied with a shake of her head, her tone now possessing a flicker of annoyance.
Ah shit…
One human instinct emerged, and he took a step towards the commotion. He had seen enough thick-headed guys get in the way of women for nefarious reasons to la-
A single furred arm shot across his chest, “No.” Dray stated, “She can handle this.”
Audas nearly spun on Dray as a rush of heat ran through him, “You serious?” he questioned, baffled at Dryston being so… lax about this! “This could get nasty.”
“Trust me.” Dryston replied with a twitch in the corner of his mouth, “She’ll be fine.”
Alika stepped forward, moving to brush the men aside only for one to block her path. “Look, it’s not like I’m hitting on you!”
The female wolf rolled her eyes, but then pulled a little cheeky smile of her own, “Not hitting on me, right?” she asked… very warmly.
“Yeah!” he replied, his hand reaching out to brush her wrist, “J-“
As his fingers squeezed shut, Alika’s arm twisted. He gasped as his arm snapped round, dragging his body with it. Alika’s leg smashed against his own, sending him crashing to the ground with a thud.
Audas barely registered his own wince as Alika clamped the arm against the floored Nyúlfur’s back. “You say that...” she said teasingly.
The Nyúlfur’s eyes widened as his comrade laughed, “Oh come on Alika, you know it’s just a bet!”
Alika grinned as she released the arm, stretching out a hand to him. “I know, I’ll try that drink out. But my way, not yours alright?”
Audas swore he could feel his jaw drop as the heat in him drained away. Bloody hell… thank god it was just over a drink. And not what I thought it was.
His body relaxed as the downed Nyúlfur took her hand and clambered back to his feet with a massive grin of his own. “Alright, just give us a heads up when you’re set!”
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“And if you still think you’re going to win that bet, you have another thing coming.” Alika quipped with a wink.
“Yeah yeah. We’ll see!”
His companion still laughing, the two men walked on through the gigantic entry doors. “I told you she could handle it.” Dray chuckled.
Audas let out a heavy sigh and glanced over, “Good job I didn’t try to make a drinking bet earlier then.” He replied, unable to stop the snark escaping his mouth.
He didn’t even want to think about what exactly that drink was to make a bet over it.
“I have my ways.” Alika laughed, snapping his attention back as she walked towards them. “You managed to get the research cameras checked?”
“We got it all sorted.” Dray replied, “Shouldn’t have any issues.”
“Great.” She turned towards Audas, “By the way, I managed to find a spare den for you.”
“Den?” Audas asked, finding himself staring blankly back at her.
“It’s a bedroom.” Dryston stated with one eye widening a touch.
Audas’ chest tightened, Den… well I suppose that makes sense. He tilted his head to the side, “Well… thanks.”
She nodded back, “I’ll show you where it is.”
“I need to go and take care of a few things.” Dray declared, stepping past them. “Take it easy you two.”
With a smile, he moved on through the entrance, leaving Audas and Alika to watch him go.
“You spotted him, right?” Alika asked quietly, eyes fixed on the doors.
He crossed his arms, unable to look towards her. “You could say that.”
Alika turned towards him, “We were just worried you would get injured again whilst you went out there.”
“It was just that?” he grumbled, not entirely satisfied with the answer. Human or Nyúlfur, he didn’t like the thought of being watched or followed, and that was before Hagen’s forces started pursuing him.
She could only look away at the edge of his vision, “Some of us were concerned that you were dangerous…” she stated, voice quietening down. “Only a few of us though.” She added with a shrug, “And security is their job.”
Audas tightened his arms, finally! He had got some confirmation on their suspicions. “So they don’t trust me.”
“They had to be sure.” she sighed, “It wouldn’t be the first time someone has lied to us like that.”
That finally got his attention. Audas’ eyes flicked round towards a slumping and sullen looking Alika. With that sight, he almost wanted to cheer in delight at the Nyúlfur getting a taste of their own medicine. Some of the first attacks by the Nyúlfur on humans were under false pretences. And yet after today, he couldn’t bring himself to say it. He couldn’t help but connect a few dots to that experience. It happened to people like me more than once.
“Not the first time?” he asked gently.
Alika turned back towards him. “A few tried to play on our people’s compassion, only to try and rob us. Or lure us into a trap.”
She rubbed the back of her head, “And someone tried to sneak in an explosive once, took herself out when she realised we were onto her.”
He blinked, Explosive!? Jesus, who would be insane enough to try that? Here? And wait… is she meaning a human suicide bomber? Or…
He shuddered, “Someone tried that?”
“She… didn’t have a good life.” She replied, her features dim, “I just wish…”
She stiffened, closing her eyes. “Actually… I’d rather not talk about it.”
Audas could only look away, staring down at his furred hand. After that stunt with Dray, he had even less of a reason to trust these… people…
But if that kind of stuff had happened before, with someone who likely planned on going out one way or another with a bang… They must have all the justification in the world to make sure it didn’t happen again. The human cities in Britain were meticulous on that alone. Why shouldn’t the Nyúlfur end up doing the same?
“Alright.” He replied, keeping a soft tone as he glanced back at her. “What about this den you mentioned?”
Opening her eyes, she tilted her head towards the doorway. “This way.”
Alika led him back inside the structure, back into that central room. Nyúlfur chatter was louder and denser as they walked past the bar and up the stairs towards the first floor. They swung round to the right and along one of the upper walkways. Passing wooden doors, Alika pulled a key out as she reached the fourth, slotted it in and slid the entrance open.
The small room within was laid out neatly. A wooden desk with a metal lamp was pressed against the left wall, whilst further back was a set of drawers. The right-hand side was dominated by a sizable bed, held together with wood and steel and easily big enough for a single Nyúlfur to comfortably settle into. Finally, on the back wall was a bare board with a few blank notes pinned up, either for keeping notes, calendars or just having a place to put some basic decorations up.
“I know it’s not much…” Alika said, glancing between him and the room.
Audas meanwhile let himself scan the space. I’ve seen a lot worse than this. A faint smirk formed as he eyed the backwall and its board, Got a lot of potential.
And weirdly, it felt oddly comfortable and familiar. His own home back in Manchester wasn’t that different from this.
“Not a problem.” He declared, “I like it.”
“Well, that’s… great!” Alika replied, a relieved smile forming as she handed over the key. “I’ll let you settle in. Food goes out at the usual times.”
He barely had time to question her on what usual times were when she stepped past him to make her way back down the walkway. But she stopped in her tracks and hesitated before she swivelled back round towards him. “Look, if you don’t trust us, I understand that.”
Foot halfway through the door, Audas turned back towards her, fighting to keep his face neutral.
“But we’ve got some good people here.” She continued softly, reaching for the walkway railing and drumming her fingers on it, “Just…give us a chance. I think you might be surprised about what we’re like.”
Audas flicked his gaze away, just for a second as his mind raced with those words. A chance? Is it really worth it?
Maybe…
He resettled his view back onto her. He returned a simple nod, “Okay.”
“Thanks.” Alika replied, beginning to back up. “See you around.”
He watched her go, just for a moment before he stepped into the den.
As the door’s bolt clicked shut, Audas closed his eyes. About time damn it. He pressed his head against the wood of the door, thumping his fist against it. What the hell’s going on here?
Once more, the only thoughts that came to the fore were about the Nyúlfur. Alika’s last words had sent shockwaves running through his body. Yet again, he wanted to toss a hostile reply back at her. Tell her to get away from him as his gut slowly tightened.
And yet, every single expectation he had given his limited experience of them… those killings… damned Travis… Everything had been subverted completely in the last few hours, Alika’s final words especially.
Still got to see what else comes up. Maybe something more familiar?
With a shake of his head, he stepped back. He’d have to keep watch. For another bombshell or for the monsters he had been expecting, or rather, still expected.
Atop the drawers was a cup of water and… a sandwich of all things resting on a wooden plate.
His stomach growled. Ah shit, how long has it been since I ate?
With an amused huff, he scooped the meal up and carried it back over to the bed. In silence, he quickly downed the sandwich. His eyes shut as his teeth cut through the soft bread and the ham melted inside his mouth. The drink was more difficult, the water slipping through his jaws at first as he tried to get it down his throat. But with persistence he managed to seal his lips and get the cool fluid in.
A soothing sensation ran through his core, prompting him to sigh as he placed the items aside. With a hole filled in his stomach, he gave the room a quick search, digging into the drawers only to find nothing but spare clothes. He feathered his fingers across the edges of the room, and even flipped the mattress over in case someone had slipped a microphone or something underneath. But nothing appeared, or was at least, easy to spot.
Agh, what’s the point?
He tossed himself back onto the bed, settling his head onto the pillow as he stared up at the ceiling.
If there is something, I doubt it’s going to be somewhere obvious.
He bit down on his lip, keeping his eyes fixed on a little crack above his head. The busy sounds of a settlement slowly running down into silence. Nyúlfur voices simmering ever lower only to spring back up when the cheers came cutting through.
He let his eyes flutter shut, taking a deep breath. Is there anything I even know anymore?
