Claimings 5, chapter 6

This is so very, very unbetaed, unchecked, unreread. I have to grade, but I couldn't stop writing this, so here you go. Geez. Now I have a LOT of grading to do before bedtime (and not that many hours before bedtime comes. See ya!

Chapter 6

Ondry followed Liam back onto the street. Several people fled into the nearest buildings. One man found himself yanking at a locked door and peering over his shoulder at Ondry in clear panic. Ondry understood how storyscrolls could direct culture, but he had to wonder what stories these people were seeing that they still feared Rownt when the more affluent did not.

“There is no solution to be found here,” Ondry said. 

He was unwilling to leave the children he had found without resources, but he was equally unwilling to request people like this intervene. They seemed to believe children could not ask for help without a parent, which discouraged the children from finding resources of their own. Children should be encouraged to find their own solutions. The children in the abandoned building did that now, and Ondry was loath to curtail such healthy behavior. At least it was healthy from a Rownt point of view.

Liam sighed. “No, there’s not. But I’m not sure there is a solution. Just like humans can’t save elderly Rownt from feeling the need to walk into the wilderness to die alone, Rownt can’t save human children from poverty.”

“All of them, no,” Ondry admitted. No individual could solve a problem he was incapable of seeing, and he had not seen most of those humans suffering poverty. However, he had seen a small number of children.  He could solve that problem, and he was determined to do so.

Years ago, he had refused to walk away from a paletia with a wounded soul, even though his elders all told him he was being made a fool.  He had chosen his own path.  Today, he would do the same with those children whose plight he knew.

“I know that look.” Liam smiled at Ondry, and Ondry rested his hand on Liam’s waist.

“You do,” he agreed. After all, his palteia knew him better than anyone else in the universe, and Ondry knew his paletia, too. That’s why he knew Liam would conspire with him to save those children. “When do we meet your family?”

Liam’s body language stilled despite showing excitement when Luke had sent a message.

“Are you uninterested in seeking out his company?” Ondry wondered if Liam had transitioned to a Rownt way of thinking to the point that he was uninterested in connections with genetic relatives outside of mutual interest.

“Of course not,” Liam quickly said. “I’m looking forward to seeing him. For fifty years, I haven’t had more than socnet messages. We’re meeting this afternoon.”

Ondry walked at Liam’s side as he considered what it would mean if Rownt maintained relationships with nestmates. Even egglings born from the same clutch of eggs were rarely raised together. They might be informed of genetic relations in order to avoid breeding with a close relative, but other than making an effort to avoid breeding, the identity of a sibling was unimportant.

“He’s bringing two of his kids,” Liam said.  Ondry had no opinion to offer so he walked at Liam’s side and watched the humans pass them by.  This part of town lacked the moving walkways and public transportation found at the city center, so they crossed the city with long strides, overtaking small groups of humans who skittered away like prey animals. Humans only became bolder as the morning turned to midday and they reached the affluent area near the spaceport.  Ondry was disagreeable with hunger, but he did not want to eat until they reached the children’s territory, and Liam must have felt the same because he did not even glance at any of the eating premises they passed.

When the center of the roadway widened enough to allow trees and decorative statues, Ondry knew they were close to the correct part of town.

“Do you see them?” Liam asked softly.

“Who?”

Liam twitched his head to the far side of the road, and Ondry saw Moryan running to keep pace with them, a taller girl following.

“Should we slow down?” Liam asked.

“They hope we will eat.  Let us find the nearest restaurant,” Ondry said. It would not hurt a child to chase them for a time. A waterfall did not change course for a Rownt who complained. Moryan and his nestmates were short legged, and they had to compensate instead of expecting adults to alter their behavior.

“It feels mean,” Liam said softly.

“They will want to eat sooner,” Ondry said, and that seemed to convince Liam. He didn’t say anything else until they reached a restaurant with outdoor seating.  Ondry waited on the street while Liam moved under the awning to speak to the host.  Moryan ran to the corner and waited for the traffic controllers to stop the vehicles before he ran to their side of the street. The girl took off down the street in the direction of the abandoned building the families had claimed.

Ondry was amused that humans acting outside official rules of human property ownership emulated the behavior of Rownt who would claim unused structures. Even the ship had more rooms than Rownt to fill them, and those who improved their status would walk the corridors touching door sensors to see which quarters were unclaimed.

“We have a table,” Liam said when he appeared on the patio.  Rather than attempting to walk through the restaurant with its low ceiling, Ondry stepped over the patio railing and walked to the table. 

“Is there a more sturdy chair?” he asked after looking at the delicate seats and round tables. “And I wish to order significant quantities of food. Is there a larger table?”

The host stared at Ondry before clearing his throat.  “I can ask the manager,” he said before he turned and raced for the building like a bekbekil fleeing a kawt.

“Do you think he’ll come back?” Liam asked with some amusement.

Before Ondry could answer, Moryan came running. “Are you eating here?” he asked breathlessly.

“We are,” Liam answered, “at least if they can find a chair large enough for Ondry, and maybe a larger table. We plan to eat a lot.”

“A lot?” Moryan was almost bouncing. “And you wouldn’t mind if some disappeared? Right?”

“We would not notice if someone were careful about taking a little while talking to us,” Liam said.

Moryan’s smile widened.  “Cheese is my favorite. Like on burgers or there’s fried cheese. I had it once for my birthday, and it was really good. And chicken. I like chicken a lot.  Crispy chicken is my favorite. And fries.  The extra crispy brown ones.”  He darted away the moment the restaurant door opened.  Two men carried a table between them, and a third was dragging a box that appeared sturdy enough.

“We’re honored that you’ve chosen our establishment,” a man in a suit said as he followed the staff.  “We at Saffron Cafe seek to offer the best to all our customers.  I apologize for the lack of an appropriate chair. Appetizers and drinks are on the house to make up for the inconvenience.”  The staff removed several small tables and set up the larger one, draping a useless white cloth over it before moving the heavy crate to one side and an ornate chair on the other.

Ondry thought he had the better seat. The one Liam had to use was far too small.  “Thank you for being so accommodating,” Liam said.  “I should warn your kitchen that Rownt have impressive appetites, and Ondry is likely to want to taste many items. If you have something that would appeal to a palate with a special love for cinnamon, turmeric, walnuts, and radishes, please feel free to order it for us.  Rownt like earthy foods and they have much more tolerance for alkaline foods.”

“My chef can gather a tasting menu,” the manager offered with a smile.

“It might be best to serve full-sized portions. We do want to keep the ultimate bill under fifteen hundred credits, so please warn us if we approach that limit.”

The manager blinked.  Ondry did as well. He would never dream of spending so much coin on food, but they did need to order enough for the children and stay here long enough for them to come claim food.  “Oh,” the manager said softly before he swallowed several times, his Adam’s apple bobbing. Such a strange anatomical feature.

Ondry sat on the crate and shifted everything until the table was pressed up against the rail that divided the street from the dining area. Egglings needed to learn to steal for themselves, but adults did not need to make the task difficult. Fifteen hundred credits. They could afford such expenditure, but Ondry hoped the Grandmothers would consider this part of his temple donation or they would need to work far longer hours to provide the gifts expected from traders of their status.

“Of course. Of course.  Your waiter will be out immediately,” the manager backed away.

Ondry studied the street while Liam sat and then chose a range of foods from a paper sheet. Whatever Liam ordered appeared to make the waiter very happy.  Given that the profession received tips based off the value of the food served, Ondry suspected this waiter would make a greater profit than normal today. Ondry wished they were on the ship where values were more reasonable, but that would require abandoning the children, and Ondry would not.

The moment the waiter left, Moryan reappeared.  “Wow. That’s a lot of food.”

“We want to try everything,” Liam said.  “Do you have family you live with?”

“Do you?” Moryan demanded in return.

Liam’s smile appeared genuine.  “I don’t live with my brother anymore, but I am going to see him today.  He has children and grandchildren.”

“No he doesn’t,” Moryan said.  Liam drew back, physically retreating in surprise. “You’re too young to have a brother that old. Only Violet has grandchildren and she’s old, old, old. Like really old.  You’re just a little old.”

“I see.” Liam cleared his throat.  “I might be older than I look.”

“I’m seven.”

“I’m older,” Liam said.

“How much older?”

“I’ll tell you if you tell me if you live with your family.”

Moryan shook his head. “We don’t tell strangers our business.”

Liam opened his mouth, hesitated, and then closed it again.  “That’s a smart rule.”

“I am smart,” Moryan insisted.  

Ondry thought he liked this eggling.  Liam was a skilled trader and one who excelled at using language to reach a goal, and Moryan had not given away information that he perceived to have value. Ondry wondered if an eggling he raised would be as wise.

“Hey! Get away from there!” a voice shouted, and Ondry was on his feet, teeth showing before conscious mind could register that it was the manager storming out the door.  The man froze, and all color left his face, although in humans that designated fear or distress more than anger. Still, Ondry’s instincts told him he was facing an enemy—a scrawny, angry enemy who had frightened a child.  Frightened Moryan.

Liam bounded to his feet and stood between. “Do not shout at or threaten a child in front of a Rownt. Any Rownt,” Liam said loudly.  “They will protect children above all others, and species doesn’t matter.”

“I didn’t… I…” The manager took a step back and stood taller. “I did not threaten the child. I told him to leave. We do not want his sort to bother patrons.”

“As patrons,” Liam said, “we will stay longer and eat more if children are near. Rownt will do anything for children.”

The manager frowned.  “But…”

“I am trained to explain the two species to each other, and I will tell you that the same horror a human feels at seeing dismembered limbs is the feeling a Rownt has at the thought of a child being threatened or feeling unsafe.  Some instincts are too strong to overcome.”  Liam turned so his back was to the manager.  “Moryan, it’s safe to come back.”

His small face appeared from the edge of an advertising screen.

“Come on back,” Liam said.  “The manager didn’t mean to frighten you, and Ondry liked hearing about Violet.”

Ondry touched his translation computer, typing out words quickly.  “I like that you outsmarted Liam and did not answer a question you did not wish to answer,” the computer said for him in slightly stilted English.

Moryan smiled. “I told you I’m smart.”  His gaze darted to the manager.

When Liam turned back to look at the man, he took another step back. Only then did Ondry settle back onto the crate.  “Then I will leave you to eat,” he said, but his expression conveyed severe unhappiness.  Ondry made a note to suggest the Grandmothers eat here often. They would not forgive the manager any rudeness toward egglings. Ondry would like to make this man uncomfortable in his place of business.

“Yes, you are,” Liam agreed. “Would you like to know something about my family?”

Moryan nodded and inched closer, but he kept a wary eye on the restaurant door.  Ondry hated that the eggling was so uncomfortable. 

“I have five brothers and sisters.”

“Five?” Moryan whispered in awe.

“Five,” Liam confirmed. “Three brothers and two sisters.”

“Are they nice?”

Liam hesitated, and Ondry understood his dilemma.  Luke had wished to know Liam, but the younger brothers and sisters had not.  Liam had tried to explain it to Ondry. It had to do with the discomfort of growing up in the shadow of someone Earth officials called a hero. He tried to explain his younger siblings’ feelings in terms of the Ribelians.  Those rebel humans knew that Liam only traded out of obligation and had no loyalty with the Earth government that oppressed them.  But even after Ribelians had learned to trade with Rownt, they avoided Liam.

Liam explained that his younger siblings were much the same. They knew Liam was a person, a brother, but all they knew was Liam’s reputation.  After they aged out of government care and the press identified them, they felt overwhelmed with the story of Liam and they did not want to know the person.

Ondry still had a near homicidal hatred for most of Liam’s siblings.

“They are,” Liam said slowly. “My brother Luke is an AI engineer who works on city design.”

“What’s that mean?”

Liam leaned closer. “He makes machines more efficient so cities run better, like the lights and the traffic control and the energy grid.”

Moryan’s eyes grew wide. “Wow. That seems important. What’s efficyant mean?”

“Efficient means he makes things work better,” Liam said, and then three waiters appeared, all carrying multiple plates.  The one who had spoken to Liam announced each dish as he put it down.  Ondry noted that all the servers attempted to keep the food on the side of the table away from the railing.  Moryan stood with his small shoes on the bottom rail and he was hanging onto the top.

Ondry took several plates and pushed them right to the rail as he made room for the servers to put more down.  Moryan snatched a cylindrical, fried food item and yelled “Bye!” as he ran away.  The waiter opened his mouth, took one look at Ondry who stared back at him, and then continued to describe the food.

When the ritual of naming foods ended, the waiters left and Liam surveyed the crowded table.  “I don’t know where to start.”

Ondry took another cylindrical piece like the one Moryan had stolen.  Inside was hot meat and vegetables and an excellent sauce.  “These are excellent.”

“Fried spring rolls.”

“I shall recommend them to the Grandmothers."

"I’m not sure that will be Moryan’s favorite, but hunger makes the best sauce.”

“Hunger is not a sauce,” Ondry said, wondering if Liam had misused a Rownt word. He did it so rarely these days that when he did, the error stood out.

Liam smiled. “It’s a human saying. It means when you are hungry, food tastes better. He probably would have liked the chicken better,” Liam gestured to small strips of chicken with sauce and small green vegetables scattered across the top. “However, if he’s hungry, he’ll like it. And he should get vegetables. And speaking of children who need vegetables…” Liam tilted his head.

Ondry looked and the female who had been following Moryan was walking toward them, a much smaller female at her side.  The little eggling must still have shell stuck to her. She could not walk well, and she pressed close to the older girl.

“I think I shall be quiet,” Ondry said. He knew his size intimidated most humans. Even Liam’s height could make them step back in alarm.  Liam smiled at the girls as they slowed.

“Are you Moryan’s friends?” Liam asked.  

The little female practically vanished behind her companion’s legs.  “I’m Tildya and this is Emily,” the older female said.  Ondry understood that coloring often but not always ran in families.  These two shared no coloring at all, so he wondered if they were genetically unrelated. Rownt made family through caring for a child, but genetics was far more important to humans. He wondered why such a young eggling would be away from her nest with one who a human would not consider family.

“Hi, Tildya.” Liam leaned to the side. “Hi, Emily.  I’m Liam, and this is my big friend, Ondry.”

The females remained a distance away, and Ondry was at a loss as to how to encourage them to take food. He could not smile as a human might, and he knew the sight of his sharp teeth would not reassure anyone.  The discomfort of seeing egglings who were too afraid of him to take food was too great and his tail escaped his control and twitched hard enough to hit the railing with some force.

“You have a tail stuck to your butt!” the smallest eggling said, pointing.

The older eggling pulled on her arm so hard she nearly pulled her off balance. “Don’t say ‘butt.’ It’s rude.”

“But she’s right.  Ondry does have a tail stuck to his butt,” Liam said.

The older eggling looked at Ondry, and he typed into his translator.  “My tail grows from my butt. It is not stuck to it. Liam is silly.”  Ondry chose inappropriate words quite intentionally, and Liam grinned at him.

“Silly tail,” the littlest eggling said and she pushed forward, despite the older female’s obvious fear.  Feeling ridiculous and more than a little inappropriate, Ondry intentionally twitched his tail again.  He hoped no Rownt ever heard this story, but in his defense, he was hunting hungry eggling and trying to lure them close. If it took a tail to accomplish such a task, a Rownt’s reputation was a small price.

The older female let the eggling pull her forward until the young one could touch Ondry’s tail, which was now outside the railing. They were making such a scene that several adults walking past slowed to watch.  The eggling touched the tail and laughed as it moved.

“It’s naked!” she said with delight.  “Can I have cake?”

“We don’t have cake, but we have chicken,” Liam said. He took a piece and passed it through the rail.  The little one, Emily, wrapped her fist around it and bit into it without letting go of Ondry’s tail.  Liam’s expression was entirely too amused, and Ondry flashed a tooth.

“If I could whistle at the ridiculousness, I would,” Liam said softly. 

Ondry didn’t care.  Tildya had grabbed a piece of dark bread and she was chewing as she supervised Emily who was busy trying to lift Ondry’s tail from the pavement.  Both egglings were eating, and all was well with Ondry’s world.  His tail would survived, as would his reputation—assuming Liam told no one.

Ondry took a small piece of crispy fried bread and dragged it through a thick green sauce.  Liam watched the eggings with such fondness that Ondry struggled to understand why he would not want an eggling in his own nest.  But humans were not Rownt and as much as Liam had adapted to the Rownt way of thinking, he would always have a piece of himself firmly attached to human thoughts. 

Respecting Liam meant respecting those illogical choices that grew from that attachment. Helping these children would be enough to sooth Ondry’s instincts.