Aurora

Aurora sat waiting, patiently, in the metal room. A table sat at the far corner, to make room for the tiny pink pool they'd brought in and filled up. At least she wouldn't dry out... Not a single officer had been less than stunned and awestruck when she spoke English. When the door swung open, she'd expected another officer attempting to coax her into speaking.

Instead, the seven foot tall burly red frame of her pod alpha walked in. The tiger-shark like markings on him accentuated his muscular frame. She stood quickly, flickering with questions of safety and danger. He showed safety, and closed the door. She let out a heavy breath she didn't know she'd been holding, and ran to him. Her arms quickly wrapped around him. She felt the happiness and relief wave across his back, and onto her own. A shared heart again...it had almost felt alien. It felt like a welcome home. The two spoke in their mother tongue.

<Aachol'aghchl! I-I didn't...What have they told you?>, she asked in a panic.

<Chritiklkiktrkikka-a...they say you've been kidnapped by a human male.>

<He saved me!>, she shouted.

He put a hand on her head. <Show me...>

She took a deep breath. The sick feeling waved from her chest into his. He lived with her through the things her host family had done. Panic and curiosity came next, at the man who had found her on the grass. Aachol'aghchl grunted at each wave of intense emotion. She winced at each shared heart. Next came the panic of his sister finding her...and the fast friend she came to be. The two Novaxans shared tears at their talk alone in the room. Then his mother came...a kind woman. Bold. Then their time playing through the night. The myriad of common ground she shared with James. Friendship echoed from her heart to his. Then the police, and the confusion through a silent car ride to here.

He let go of her head. <Oh, child...you cannot go back to him. You know this...>

<Alpha...I've never known friendship like this. Don't take it from me.> The room bloomed with friendship, despair, and rage. Tears refracted tiny rainbows from the light as they fell from her face.

<It isn't up to me...the humans will never allow it. They think he kidnapped you.>

<Then tell them they're wrong!>, she cried.

He put his large, firm hand on her shoulder. <They will not allow it...I will tell them. Everything.> Rage overtook his body. <Those humans will be punished. By their people, or by me. I can likely convince them not to punish him, but you will not be able to see him again.>

Chritiklkiktrkikka-a sat on the floor, tears falling freely as her anguish matched his rage. He left the room, leaving the door open. She heard voices on the other side. One that reached out.

James.