The Fastest Runner

  “There they are.”

  Aureolo pointed towards Coope and Doxie, having a chat next to a hut.

  “Go, Aureolo. Call them!”

  Coven commanded.

  I stood back, turning to look at the ship. My eyes drifted to the right, remembering the native children’s game we had just played:

  Monomitt*.

  Tigeralla.

  Agile,” Coven said, snapping me out of my thoughts. “You seem lost.”

  “I was just thinking about that girl.”

  “Fattaralla?”

  “No. Tigeralla.”

  “Ahh— she is unique. And while you two were at it, her younger, snobby brother, Gibralla, told me that she was one, if not the fastest runner in Valconalla.”

  The fastest runner.

  From speaking with the elders and Aourine, I learned that “runners” went to the active volcanoes to collect ‘tettara*’, the only food source on this planet.

  There was a pull towards her for some odd reason.

  “I see.”

  “You better. I want to see how fast she can run.”

  He said before walking off to follow Aureolo.

  My steps came to a halt in the middle of the semi-crowded street.

  I turned my head around, looking back at the pit where we played moments ago.

  “Where is that assertive girl?”

  Coven asked Donttano.

  “I don’t know. She has been appearing and disappearing ever since Tig-eralla brought her here.”

  Once again Tigeralla was mentioned.

  Did she know Aourine? And if so, what kind of relationship did they have?

  “She will not be joining us.”

  Ouubuutt said.

  “For once,” the man in the corner mumbled under his breath, but I picked it up. Did he hold a grudge against Aourine?

  “Alright. We should start loading people onto the ship.”

  “Already?”

  Donttano questioned.

  “Yes. Though the population of this planet is small, we should hurry and get this over with.”

  Donttano hesitated for a brief second.

  “Alright. We will tell the others to get on the ship. But…”

  “But?”

  “The villagers came here in a hurry. They didn’t even pack their beloved household items. Is there enough time for some selected runners to head back and grab the items?”

  All eyes turned towards me, waiting for me to make a choice.

  This was the toughest part of being in charge of a mission. Making decisions that could affect others.

  I had seen the chaos a single erupting volcano on this planet caused. Did I want to risk the lives of others just to retrieve material goods?

  “That is not a good idea. The core is unstable. It is far too dangerous and would be too reckless for anyone to venture out there in these critical conditions.”

  “And who are you to know what is happening to Ma-Oktava?”

  The odd and uncanny looking man named Tohthorayn said. Was he always this bitter?

  “Tohthorayn, calm down.”

  He scoffed, looking away.

  My eyes narrowed, and my gloved hands clenched.

  “If you need to get something, then by all means, you are allowed to. I am no one to stop you, but do know that the ship will be leaving in seven hours.”

  “As if I care for your warning, little girl.”

  My fingers dug into my covered palm. What a snobby old man.

  Coven reached out, unfolding my hand and squeezing to calm me down. I freed my hands from his hold and turned around to head out of the hut.

  I stood at the end of the ramp, watching as the horde of natives climbed into the spacecraft. I spotted the yellow-skinned woman in the crowd. Tigeralla.

  Why did I only notice her among everyone on this hot planet?

  She climbed up the ramp beside her family. Coven told me she had eleven siblings. Her father was dead. He learned it from Gibralla.

  Her siblings resembled her; it was easy to tell they were her family. Beside her was a tall and slender woman with an orange skin tone. Her hair differed from Tigeralla’s—wavy brown, while Tigeralla’s was curly black. There was a faint likeness. She must be her mother then.

  Tigeralla’s black beaded eyes briefly met mine before she looked away and hurried into the spacecraft. My eyes followed her all the way until she disappeared inside.

  Shaking my head, I looked back to focus on the task and observed everyone walking safely into the spacecraft.

  The spacecraft was crowded, yet there was enough space to move freely. Everyone was told to ground themselves on the main deck of the craft.

  Doxie was in the corner of the room, keeping her distance while Coope was with Coven, talking about something. I had positioned Aureolo to be at the ramp while also multitasking to keep an eye on the planet’s stabilization.

  I kept an eye on the native population to make sure everyone was behaving. Yet among the thousand people, my eyes kept finding Tigeralla. There was something about her. A pull of some kind.

  What makes her stand out?

  It wasn’t her yellow-colored skin — there were hundreds who had that skin tone, and it certainly wasn’t her pure black eyes that absorbed all the light. Nor was it her curly, almost coiled hair, which was a similar color to her eyes. Her sharp claws were unique; they reflected the rays of light in the space.

  Maybe it was her being the fastest runner?

  No, there was more to her than just being fast.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  There was something more to her that I wanted to figure out.

  “Agile-Eye.”

  My head snapped back when I heard Donttano call my name from behind. He stepped beside me, looking over his people.

  “I must thank you personally for coming to our aid. My people were helpless without your help.”

  “Of course. It is the job of Guardians of the Unirex to help disastrous people around the universe.”

  “Guardians of the Unirex…”

  He repeated, seamlessly lost in thought.

  Did he find the name odd?

  From what I heard, billions of years ago the founding father of the Guardians of the Unirex became an erratic individual after losing his son. He created more divisions while losing himself and named them all weirdly. Guardians of the Unirex wasn’t even the original name of this large organization.

  The name carried on until Hornet’s forefather took over, climbing to the very top of the organization and renaming the division more sensibly. And thank God, the names carried on.

  “The universe must be small if you have received our message.”

  I let out a soft huff at the comment. Universe? Small?

  “No, the universe is enormous. It would take the fastest ship of Pelnaevis over ten million standard cycles to travel from one end of mapped space. It is a mere coincidence that we were close when the SOS was sent out.”

  I leaned against the railing in front, eyes drifting across the entire room before settling back down on Tigeralla. She was playing with her little sister, Fattaralla; they seemed close.

  “Ka-Donttano, that woman, Tigeralla-”

  “Tig-eralla? What about her?”

  How do I ask him why my eyes kept drawing back to her? It would sound odd.

  “Who is she?”

  “Tigeralla? No one important. But I suppose everyone is special to themselves. She is of Tig and Alla family tree. And… she is one determined woman.”

  Determined.

  I have seen it. In the collapsed volcano. She was collecting food for her family… and—

  “She is careless,” I commented.

  “Oh, you know her then if you have come to that conclusion.”

  “Briefly.”

  I pushed off the railing, looking over at Donttano.

  “Excuse me, I need to go check up on someone.”

  “Of course.”

  “Doxie, come along.”

  “Why me? Take Aureolo or Cove. They already linger around you like moths to flame. Especially Coven…”

  She whispered quietly, audible to a normal ear, but I had advanced hearing. I could pick up the sound of a feather falling.

  I ignored her comment, pressing the door panel.

  “Seriously, why did you bring me here? You could talk to Hornet alone? I think he would prefer not to see my face after that…”

  She referred back to her comment towards Hornet when we received the signal to this planet. She was tired, and so were the others, yet she was the only one who spoke about it. Hornet confided in me in secret that this was one of the reasons he recruited her — her lack of reading the room and not shutting her mouth when she should.

  “Come in.”

  The door slid open. Hornet was still focused on his holographic screen.

  We both stepped in, the door sliding shut behind us.

  “Mr. Hornet, the craft has almost completed loading.”

  “Good.”

  “I was looking forward to your next instruction. The elders have put forward a request. They want to send a few dozen runners to collect their belongings.”

  “I see. And you are here for me to answer which option you should go for?”

  He always reads me so well.

  “Yes.”

  “I put you in charge of the mission. I am sure you can think for yourself.”

  I heard Doxie crackle behind me.

  “But I am here for your opinion.”

  I emphasized.

  “I gave you my opinion, Agile.”

  My hands flexed behind my back. I stared directly into Hornet’s gaze for a brief moment.

  “Understood.”

  I turned around, giving a nod to Doxie to follow me out.

  The door slid open, and I stepped out of Hornet’s office. Doxie followed behind me, letting out a chuckle once we were in the hallway.

  I reminded myself to ignore her amusement, as battling with her toxicity would always result in failure.

  “So, what are you going to do?”

  “You have to wait and find out.”

  “Hiding. What else are you hiding?”

  I gave her an unamused look. I looked straight ahead, heading back to the sanctuary deck.

  I spotted Donttano with the other elders of this planet; I headed over to them.

  “Greetings, Agile-Eye.”

  Ouubbuutt said.

  “Greetings to you too Ka-Ouubuutt, Ka-Donttano, Ka-Tohthorayn. I am here to give you permission to send only thirty runners to collect anything they must.”

  “Is that so?”

  Donttano asked.

  I nodded.

  “Yes. But the ship will be departing in five hours. No matter what.”

  I made it clear.

  “We understand. We will send the fastest runner among us.”

  Fastest runner. Would Tigeralla be sent as well?

  Why was I worrying about a single person among a thousand?

  ???