Post date: Sep 16, 2017 12:42:45 PM
Caradorynee: Kin
#8
“You want me to go with you.”
The tiny creature’s yellow eyes widened at Lark’s simply statement. The tinkling sound stopped as it’s forelegs gestured more urgently.
“Youuu meeee goooo.”
Lark’s mouth dropped open. Had the creature just tried to communicate with him? Through his many centuries on Caradorynee very few of the species ever tried to form any semblance of the english language. Arrogance and prejudice were the main reasons but for most it was simply a matter that their vocal cords were not made to emit human sounds.
“Youuu goooo wit meeee.”
Lark cracked a smile.
The creature obviously had capability of intelligence. It had picked out separate words from his sentence to reform a new one that although far from perfect, he could understand.
The creature’s small mouth slowly curved upward, imitating Lark’s facial gesture.
It kind of creeped Lark out seeing the tiny rows of jagged teeth that appeared as the creature’s mouth widened, but Lark also felt a stabbing of warmth that the tiny being was trying at all to be friendly.
“Yes,” he said to the creature, “I’ll come with you. Where? Where do you want to take me?”
The creature’s mouth closed and it stopped gesturing. It stood there staring at Lark for a moment, it’s newt shaped head tilted to the left slightly.
Lark stared back confused, then he realized that he was tilting his own head slightly to the right. The creature was mirroring him.
Another second passed. Lark shifted his weight. The creature did so as well.
“Wareee youuu wat taaaa goooo.”
“Home,” Lark said without thought. “But first I’m searching for someone.”
“Taaak soommon hoomme.”
Lark nodded. “Yes, that’s right. I want to take someone home.” Hope rose within him. “She’s human like me. Have you seen her?”
Lark waited patiently for several moments while he observed the tiny creature processing his words and question.
The creature appeared to take a deep breath. It’s tiny body expanded and then suddenly deflated. The creature’s eyes narrowed.
“Yeeess. Iii seenn hewwmmon. Sheee taaak taaaa hoomme.”
“You took her to your home?”
The creature did not reply, simply stared back at Lark.
“Can you take me to her?”
Again the creature made no response.
Despair filled Lark. Had the creature reached its capacity to understand him? Would the creature now leave?
The tiny being made no move to depart, so Lark tried again.
“Please, take me to her.”
The creature still did not response.
Frustration gripped Lark. The creature was mimicking his speech. Only repeating what words he’d spoken and since he’d spoken very few the conversation was limited.
Then it dawned on Lark. The creature was highly intelligent and adaptable, but the creature needed him to add vastly to his usage of the language. Also he needed to start adding the negative parts of speech.
He gave a small laugh. “You can’t take me to her because you don’t know where she is.”
“Iii nooo wareee sheee goooo. Iii cannit taaak youuu.”
Lark’s chest clenched. “Why? Why can’t you take me to her? Is it too far? Is she in danger?”
The creature’s eyes widened and Lark watched its tiny body begin to quiver.
Lark may not understand the creature’s language, but there was one thing that was universal and that was fear. The creature was now terrified.
©Human in Inhuman Worlds by Janet Merritt