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Hubcap didn’t even get out of the aircar. He just waited in his seat until the scientists had ferried away their morbid cargo, and were ready to go out again. He knew that Elliot and the camera team were having interesting conversations, but he couldn’t bring himself to care.
Finally the engines started up again, and they were off. The ride was just as long as it had been before.
They landed in a nearby clearing on the same mountaintop, avoiding the tree branches entirely this time and setting off on foot toward the meadow they had just left. Hubcap took the lead, and Owen didn’t object. He reached the meadow and strode through without pause, avoiding the squishy terrain around the pond. Then he put his attention to looking and listening, and being as stealthy as possible.
Once again, the humans were holding him back.
“Just follow where I step,” he whispered in exasperation as someone behind him trod on crunchy plantlife. “Let’s try this single-file, shall we?” No one debated the point, for which he was grateful, and he set off again. There would be no delays this time.
Finally they found a clue: wet footprints of the right shape. Hubcap called a halt so he could inspect them. Heat vision showed a faint glow of yellow on the blue-black mud. Scent was useless, which was a new experience for him. He didn’t have the individual’s odor in his scent bank, and since it wasn’t even human, its smell blended in with nature. But the tracks were fresh.
“All signs point to alien,” he said, gesturing ahead like a detective. “This way!” He didn’t wait for the others to follow. Elliot was in front, and could catch up fine.
This time he spotted the aliens first, and it filled him with joy to see them active and healthy. He peered through a screen of bushes, crouching low. There were six of them, all wearing scale armor on their torsos, and they were busy climbing on a gigantic mossy boulder, chasing something small that evaded them with ease.
“Are they chasing a squirrel?” Elliot asked, appearing next to him. “An alien squirrel?”
“Looks that way,” Hubcap said. “Let’s give them a minute.”
The camera crew got right to work, taking positions in the bushes and zooming in, while the biologists did much the same thing with their pocket-sized cameras. There was a lot to film.
The squirrel-like whatsit made its escape, scuttling off like a shot, but the aliens kept chasing each other around on the rock. It looked like a lot of fun to Hubcap, and he wished he could understand their color-language better. It was obvious from the playful motions and the bright tones that this was a game, but he couldn’t tell any more than that.
Finally, tired of waiting, Hubcap whispered, “I’m going to step out. Be ready.” Without waiting for a reply, he slid into the open.
He was quiet, so they didn’t notice him immediately. Then when one of the creatures paused on top of the rock to take off its helmet, it caught sight of him.
The Earthlings got a good view of the aliens’ alarm system as that one made an unmistakable jerky motion, hopping in place to land with all four feet/hands flat on the rock, its scaly hide sprouting a riot of rippling yellows and blacks between the armor plates. All of the other creatures spotted the display and copied it, facing in the direction of the invaders in the bushes. A staring match ensued.
“Ahem,” Hubcap said into the silence. “Hi there.” No one moved. “How are you guys doing? Didn’t mean to startle you. Did you know the critter got away?” He continued babbling, but the aliens didn’t relax from their threat display.
“Why aren’t they calming down?” Elliot whispered from behind him.
“Something’s different,” Owen replied. “These are all wearing armor, so maybe they’re soldier types. Or maybe it’s something on our end. What was he doing when the one approached him before?”
“Imitating the birds and things,” Elliot said. “Hubcap! Copy the wildlife again!”
Hubcap admitted it was worth a try. He listened for the omnipresent chirps and clicks, then began repeating them back.
––––––––
Pebblemoss was the first to see the strange animal, and he alerted the others; they joined him in observing it for danger. It didn’t act like anything else they’d seen. Where most animals obviously had other things to do, this one was intent on only them. And it didn’t seem to be hunting; that was the strange part. If it had been, it surely would have attacked by now, or it would have given up when it was spotted. Instead it just stood there, looking back at them and making weird noises. Its color was downright bizarre.
Pebblemoss saw from the colors of his companions that none of them knew any more than he did about the odd creature. He was trying to figure out what it was doing and whether they should leave, when the creature’s noises suddenly changed.
=That sounded like an air-swimmer,= said Bigeyes in surprised circles. =Did that thing make the noise?=
=I think it did,= Pebblemoss agreed. =Listen, it’s doing it again.= They listened closely as the strange animal made sounds that didn’t belong to it, repeating back every call it heard.
=Is it trying to communicate?=
=Yes.=
=With us?=
=It must be!= Pebblemoss edged forward in amazement. =Look at how it’s staring at us. It’s not looking back at the animals that it’s answering.= A thought occurred to him. =It can’t talk in colors, the poor thing! But it’s trying!=
=You think it’s that smart?= asked Quicktail with some skepticism. =What if it’s just echoing?=
=Then why is it watching us like that?= Pebblemoss insisted, flowing forward off the rock. =I think it wants to talk to us.=
=Your choice,= Quicktail said, her disapproval obvious. Pebblemoss ignored her and took one cautious step after another.
The strange-colored thing stopped making noises and put all of its paws on the ground, appearing to imitate Pebblemoss himself.
Pebblemoss stopped, and the creature froze. He put one hand out in front of himself, holding it above the ground, and the creature matched him movement for movement. Pebblemoss felt delighted colors spread down his back. =Look at this!= he told the others, =Look at what we have discovered! It’s trying to talk to me!=
Quiet footsteps sounded behind him as his companions pattered down off the rock to inspect the oddity up close.
=That color is so strange.=
=I know! And its face — look at that; I swear there’s something wrong with its eyes.=
=Do you think it’ll let me touch it?=
It did, and soon everyone was marveling at the feel of the strange creature’s flesh, which was alarmingly hard and cold. It felt like a smooth rock from the coldest part of the stream, and yet it moved about on its own.
=Yuck, its skin reminds me of a dead eel,= Dustcloud exclaimed.
=Be nice,= Bigeyes admonished.
=Why bother? It can’t understand us,= she pouted.
=How do you know?= Bigeyes countered. =For all we can tell, it knows exactly what we’re saying, and it just can’t answer us.=
Quicktail pressed in close, her snout inches from the creature. =Can you understand us?= she asked, =If yes, then raise your tail. Or one of your paws,= she amended, obviously realizing that the creature had no tail.
Everyone waited, but it did nothing, just looked from one to another of them.
=Nope, it has no idea what we’re saying,= Quicktail decided, sitting back.
=But it is trying,= Pebblemoss said, =It’s a not-us.=
=Oh, I suppose so,= Quicktail said, looking bored. =But what good is a not-us that can’t talk? It’s not like it can tell us anything interesting.=
Pebblemoss was about to reply when a different sound came from the bushes, and the creature answered it.
=Are there more of them?= Dustcloud wanted to know. There did seem to be something there.
Then suddenly there were many somethings, all creeping timidly out of the bushes and staring like the first one had. They were a similar shape, but these had more normal colors, and their flesh seemed loose like they were about to molt. Pebblemoss found it more disturbing than he let on.
Quicktail led the way over to these animals, inspecting them with a critical air. After just a moment, she turned her back on them dismissively. =These ones don’t even talk a little,= she said scornfully, =They must be juveniles.=
=Are you sure?= Dustcloud asked.
=Sure enough.=
The juveniles started making noises again, and the adult answered them, then the juveniles began edging back into the bushes.
=See, they’re going home,= Quicktail said.
Pebblemoss moved to follow them. = I want to see what kind of home they live in.= He was gratified to notice that the odd-colored adult was walking with him. =Maybe this one will show us the way there.=
It did. The adult moved slowly until everyone was following it, then it picked up the pace. Soon the group was frolicking through the forest, and not even Quicktail was pretending not to enjoy herself. The run ended at a clearing with a large thing in it. Pebblemoss thought it was a rock at first — a weird-shaped one with no lichen on it — but then part of the side opened in a startling way, and two more creatures got out.
The crowd slowed down, taking in the sight, and the strange adult thing led them to the opening. Pebblemoss inspected the not-rock in amazement. The others were talking in excited colors, and no one paid much attention when the group of juveniles entered the clearing. Pebblemoss was distantly aware that they were chattering away with the adult, but his attention was more captured by the fact that Dustcloud was venturing inside the creatures’ den.
=Bad idea!= Quicktail said, snapping at Dustcloud’s tail.
=Ow! It is not!= Dustcloud retorted, =They invited us in, and I want to see it!= The other female’s objections couldn’t sway her, and Dustcloud disappeared into the opening. Pebblemoss wanted to object, but Bigeyes was already moving to follow, and he smoothed his colors instead. He hurried to join them. The others were right behind him, with Quicktail reluctantly bringing up the rear.
Inside the den was a cramped space, and Pebblemoss couldn’t figure out where the creatures slept. He supposed they must just curl up on the floor, though it was very firm there. Well, maybe the juveniles would molt soon and get hard flesh like the adult.
Quicktail had gotten over her objections and was now spearheading the investigation. She went all the way to the far end of the place, and was turning to come back when the wall there opened again. Pebblemoss still couldn’t figure out how.
Dustcloud scrambled over things to be the first one in, and Quicktail followed. Pebblemoss was right behind.
Inside the opening, he found piles of things tied to the walls, in confusing shapes that smelled utterly unfamiliar. He nosed about, trying to figure what the objects were without damaging the creatures’ den. He heard the others crowd in behind him.
Then something slammed, and the room was darker. Pebblemoss whirled, coloring in alarm, to see that the mysterious opening in the wall had closed again.
=Nooo, let us out!= Dustcloud cried, bounding over and patting at the door.
=I told you this was a bad idea!= Quicktail exclaimed, running up beside her and raking her claws over the surface. =This is probably how they catch their food!=
Pebblemoss searched for another way out while the others scampered back and forth in panic. His breath came too fast and he was getting lightheaded.
Then something began to roar, and it didn’t stop.
The entire room started to move.