Heat Beneath the Skin

  Aktoe was just like the other two villages on Ma-Oktava. There were mud houses everywhere. The huts always held one entire family, and at least one person from the house must become a runner and provide for their family.

  I didn’t have a runner in my family

  My tuthcano* were a young couple.

  They were childhood friends; the others told me.

  My Ma died when my Fa was carrying me. Having no other children or members of our family, Fa became a runner to provide for me.

  He didn’t last long either.

  I became the only survivor in my family. With no runner to provide, the others fed me, clothed me and played with me.

  One of those families had a child later on.

  Tig-eralla.

  Eralla.

  She became a friend to me; then, a closer friend. The one I would share my dreams with. My hopes.

  She would quietly listen with her eyes wide open. Always.

  Then the friendship turned into… love.

  We fell in love.

  I walked beside Eralla as she led me into the town. Whispers of others sharply hit my rounded ears. Words of bitter judgment didn’t affect me.

  I had no care for what they thought of me.

  All I cared about was making sure Eralla got off this planet.

  The others could die for all I care.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “Here, Aourine.”

  She gestured, stopping beside the door to the main Elders’ hall. This was where the elders would meet to discuss issues.

  I nodded, entering through.

  Inside, the elders sat around the rounded table, heads held up high.

  There were others there but I chose to ignore them. They had no worth in my eyes. No one did, except Eralla.

  “Welcome back, Aourine.”

  Donttano said warmly.

  I sat down on the empty chair, Eralla standing in the corner. She had changed. I felt almost bitter about that.

  But part of me also understood. She had become the provider for her family. She was doing what she needed to.

  “Good to see you, Aourine.”

  Ouubuutt said. I held back the urge to roll my eyes.

  My face remained firm. I wasn’t a child to fall for their fake warmth.

  “Get to the point.”

  “The girl has not changed.”

  That fool, faker, Tohthorayn said.

  “You are still breathing. I thought you were dead.”

  His face burned orange at my nonchalant comment.

  “You-”

  “Calm down, Tohthorayn.”

  Donttano said.

  “Aourine, we have felt the heat in Ma-Oktava change. It is growing hotter.”

  Ouubuutt said.

  “And what do you want me to do?”

  “We need your help.”

  “We must leave, or else… we will all die on Ma-Oktava.”

  Donttano said.

  For good, Tohthorayn remained silent throughout the entire meeting. I couldn’t deal with that man talking.

  “I warned you all five years ago. But no one listened to me.”

  “And why would we listen to a smchtak* like you? Listening to a cursed child whose parents didn’t even last a year after you were born.”

  My pupils dilated slightly.

  His words rang in my ears.

  As soon as he opened his folly mouth, I lost control.

  “Tohthorayn! Tontuk*!”

  From the corner of my eye, I watched as Eralla stepped off the wall, approaching the table. Her hands curled up into tight fists.

  I stood up abruptly. The chair creaked.

  “Once you have this animal under control, we will talk.”

  I turned around and headed towards the door to get a breath of misty air outside.

  My ears picked up her footsteps behind me, my Eralla.

  But I raised a hand without turning

  “Don’t follow me, Eralla.”

  I walked out of the hut.

  ???

  Txetia Glossary

  Ma-Oktava (Maa-uuk-ta-va) — Local name for the planet. Also means mother lava.

  Aktoe (Aak-toh) — The capital village of Valconalla. It holds approximately 842 citizens. The elder of the village is Ouubuutt(Oh-bu-th).

  Tuthcano (Tooth-koi-na) — means "parents"

  Tontuk (Ton-tuk) — means “silence”. Often used to silence someone

  Smchtak (Sha-much-tak) — means "bitch". Or an equivalent to that cuss.