As I was preparing food for the trip, I was torn between two possibilities. Both were quite bad. I could either use an anchor dropped near the Uhms' village, or just travel there via more 'normal' means, which weren't normal at all. Either would straight up show Celestine that I can do a lot much more than a regular hunter could, which I would rather reserve for a better moment.
Obviously, she knew that I was in Arc from the beginning because Tihana had a very long tongue, but she still had no idea what it really meant.
- Ah... Fuck it - I said to myself at some point.
Then I packed the food and water into my vault. All the efforts put into hiding my skills were soon to be put in vain either way, so there was no longer a need to make my life inconvenient.
When I stepped out of the kitchen, the girls were already waiting for me. Prepared to depart. They had proper, comfortable clothing, which made them look almost like mother and daughter, if not for the fact, that the difference in age wasn't that big. Maybe ten years? Anyways, it was just nice grey sweatpants, and white t-shirts, because it was very hot outside.
They probably forgot that the weather outside the dome can be different.
- Ready? - I asked, despite knowing the answer.
- Yes! - both of them answered at the same moment.
- Good. Give me your hands - I instructed.
Tihana moved immediately, but Celestine was confused for a few seconds, before following my words. I immediately shadow walked us to the village. On the outskirts where my anchor was dropped. In a place, we once had a camp.
What I did, scared the shit out of the brunette, who couldn't wrap her mind around the fact that she now was in a completely new place. A place that immediately made my mind very peaceful.
It was like I remembered. Brown, shaped like eggs homes, build from stone-like material. Just a bunch, overall not that many, but definitely more than during my previous visit.
I noticed the river, flowing nearby, and the groves of those tall flowers. The mushrooms too. Red, and yellow. Both types very big compared to what I was used to, back on earth.
The farms with unfamiliar crops and Uuuuns - the cow-like creatures - kept behind the fences were still there.
The initial shock, which Celestine went through, soon disappeared, and both eyes, just as her mouth, got wide, upon witnessing this beautiful view. Few Uhms were working or walking around, and they surprised the brunette the most.
She couldn't avert her gaze from them. I already was used to their black, pupilless eyes. Their round faces with prominent cheekbones, big flat noses, thick lips, green skin, and, of course, the lack of neck.
We were spotted too, which immediately caused some kind of alarm to be started. In a moment Xuzards appeared around. From their ranks emerged Ki'rai.
- Long time no see! - I shouted to her, stepping forward.
She dropped both of her knives, as her jaw went down, and her eyes went completely wide. Then she charged at me, jumping at the last moment. I caught her in my arms and started spinning while laughing. She giggled too.
We ended up with a tight hug, and then I released her. She seemed so happy, that I almost cried.
- You are back! - she shouted.
- Took me a while, but yes. I'm back - I agreed. - I've been back for a while, but it took me some time to find you.
I had to lie a bit because telling her that I kinda forgot about her, and focused on other stuff, would make her sad.
- I learned recently that you were helping Uhms so I came to say hi - I then added, and leaned forward, to get closer so I could also whisper to her. - You don't need to protect them anymore. Ixa is now on our side. I'll explain more later.
As I straightened my back, I noticed her watching me closest. There was doubt hiding in her eyes, but she still nodded. Then she noticed Tihana, and rushed towards her, to do the same spinning hug, as she did with me, but she almost ended up knocking my daughter off her feet.
After the reunion concluded, I finally introduced Celestine, who was very careful with her approach toward the little lizard. They shook hands, and that was about it.
The rest of xuzards patiently waited, before their leader returned among their ranks, to spread the information.
At that point, there was a big group of Uhms who gathered to watch us. I caught on a few familiar faces among them too.
Ole and Naalaa were there. Both were slightly smiling, as they recognized me. I went to them, passing by the little lizards, and said Hi.
After that, we got invited to a fest.
We all ate with them. I kept asking about the recipes for different types of food they had, but it was just a facade because I had a more important goal. That was to get Naalaa to speak with me face to face, without anybody else around, so I could tell her what happened. At least to the point, that they no longer are under threat of the weird aliens, from the Ixan empire.
Eventually, an opportunity presented itself, and I seized it. Then laying a little, told her that Ixa is now on our side and that there won't be any more intrusions. This was all that I wanted to achieve, so when I managed to do it, we soon left, returning back to my house with a bunch of little lizards.
Ki'rai instructed them to leave, and the two of us went to the garden, to have a conversation without having to worry about anybody overhearing us. Tihana helped by taking care of Celestine, by engaging her in a conversation.
After all, a lot of what we were to talk bout, was not meant for her ears, nor anybody outside of a very small group of carefully selected people, whom I could trust with such dangerous intel.
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