Draft #97 - Parental Instinct
The Need has never taken me, as I have had no egg, and the only time I've even glimpsed someone who was under its influence was the tail end of my niece's hatching. Rukka had looked wild and frenzied but also relieved beyond measure. It was not something that I've ever experienced personally.
Many Vokkrus are rather private with how they felt under its thrall. It varies for every parent. Some don't feel its effects until they are safely inside their homes with the egg, while some were immediately thrown into it as soon as they lay eyes on their egg.
My own sire had been taken with the Need. He often told me, when I was old enough to understand, that it was like being underwater for a very long time. He scarcely remembered all of the events that had taken place during his time protecting my and my sister's egg, but he was aware of one simple fact: that he would die for them.
It had both scared and warmed me at the time. Now, I understand that those who were underneath the Need's thrall were able to connect more deeply with the egg. I understand why it had been my father to get the Need.
***
As the festival progressed, the more stressed out Rulshkka became. He couldn't help but remember what had occurred the first time he had taken Kohgrash. The human was a walking bad luck charm.
"Before I met you, my life was normal," Kohgrash defended himself when he had brought it up.
Rulshkka actually laughed, "Normal? Your normal was fighting Flyhks every day?"
He huffed, "Actually, I was pitted against those hooved things more than Oorah."
What a horrid name for a beast. Stealer of Life. Just call it Death and be done with it!
Today was the day dedicated to clothing. Handbags were becoming more and more popular as the years progressed, and they certainly saw their fair share of stalls advertising their stock. Interestingly, the humans had jumped on that particular item - advertising their handbags made from all sorts of creatures.
Alligators, crocodiles (Kohgrash had attempted to explain to him the differences, but he didn't quite understand), lambs, cows, camels, and even snakes. They all had different ways to close, too. Some zippered up while others snapped closed with a magnet. There was even one that twisted closed with a pair of metallic prongs.
When they managed to push past the slew of handbags, the four of them (bar Nohkka, who desperately didn't want to be here) pursued the stalls with interest.
Rulshkka's shoulders were light - there was absolutely no chance of running into Korrashkka here. She was dead!
He picked his way over to the jewelry section like a moth to a flame. By the time he left, twenty bags heavier and a bored Kohgrash and Nohkka trailing at his heels, Rulshkka decided that he was done shopping for the day. His declaration was met with sighs of relief from all three of them. He managed to convince Thruul and Kohgrash to buy something while they were there, though.
Kohgrash got a plush gray scarf that was obviously made for Vokkrus. It wrapped around his throat thrice before he settled it over his shoulders. It looked rather comfortable. The human declared that he was in love with the material - fleece from the wooly Prrakam. Rulshkka made a mental note to get him some more things made from the creature.
Thruul got a pair of earrings that made him look rather dashing. They curled around his ears and draped down to his shoulders. They reflected the light right into his eyes, heightening the frosty blue Rulshkka had fallen in love with.
YOU ARE READING
The Autobiography Of An Alien
Science Fiction!! Sequel to In Search of Home. If you haven't read that, you'll be a little confused! !! After the humans invaded - somewhat; it was his fault, really - his planet, they left a gaping hole in his heart. It took the form of one Kohgrash. Rulshkka ha...
