"Lore!" Xinn snapped, shoving Aley over to him. When the other male's grip tightened on her, Xinn stepped towards the impending crowd, putting one hand in the air. "Sariun! Sariun, calm yourselves. Our visitor is not a threat. I assure you; everything is under control. I am personally overseeing her. No harm will come to anybody."

Aley shuddered as Lore gently pushed her behind him, keeping his grip on her wrist. Her new wings drew into themselves tensely as her tongue brushed over the sore spot on her lip where she had bitten herself. Rokh took a few steps forward to stand in between Xinn and Lore, his body tense.

One of the females leading the pack shouted back at Xinn. "We sent you to find our savioress, and you return with a valicaran!" Aley eyed her mossy green tunic, admiring the large slit cut in the front to give more freedom and show off more of her baggy green-gray pants. It struck her as very forest-like, almost like what an elf would wear in a fantasy play.

Her attention was diverted, however, when her wings shifted slightly. Xinn's conversation fell to the background as she slowly reached one wing forward to take a closer look at it. The texture was leathery when she reached out to touch it, and tough, though she could see light filtering through the thin brown skin. Her hand was shaking as she drew back. The wings tightened automatically, making her shiver from the strange sensation.

"First glances are rarely correct, madam. I believe the same to be true of first assumptions," Xinn said firmly, drawing Aley's attention. "I assure you, that everything will make sense soon. My companions and myself are going to escort our visitor to the Protection Site. There is nothing more for any of you to do here. Go about your duties." The crowd rustled, glancing at each other questioningly. Xinn bared his teeth. "Go."

A few people shuffled away, leading others to do the same. Xinn stood there, waiting until they all left. When the last one turned away, he looked back at Aley.

"Come," he said. "We need to get you to the Protection Site. This time, no running?" He raised an eyebrow.

Her eyes widened. "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what's going on! Where did these wings come from? And my teeth? Where are we?" Her breaths started coming heavily as the weight of her questions bore down on her. "What happened to Rocki? Why am I here? Who do you think you are, stealing me away and then not telling me anything? I don't even know why you call me "savioress"!" Frustrated tears pricked the corner of her eyes. Everything was falling apart, and this alien was looking at her like she was a toddler throwing a tantrum.

"There is no need for hysterics, savioress," he said firmly. "You seem confused, so it may be best for you to rest soon. Come now, we'll escort you to your quarters." He turned and began to walk away. Lore and Rokh lingered, probably waiting for her to move.

Aley crossed her arms, widening her stance. "No," she said, waiting until Xinn turned back to continue. "I'm not moving until I understand what's going on."

Xinn took in a long breath, eyes locked on hers. "Please, savioress, we need to get you to the Protection Site."

"I want answers."

"Those can be provided once you are in the safer space."

She did her best to keep her gaze steadily on his creepy black sclerae and blue irises. "If I go with you to wherever, will you start talking? Give me answers to my questions?"

He dipped his head. "Of course, savioress."

Her lips tightened, but she gave him a nod. "Fine." Xinn began to lead the way again, Lore and Rokh falling into a triangle formation behind with Aley in the middle. She assumed it was to keep her safe, but also suspected it was to keep her from running again.

Her eyes locked onto Xinn's back at he led the way. His muscles were evident under his black shirt, flowing from his shoulders down his thick arms. Even if he wasn't much taller than her, only a few inches, he was much stronger.

"Where exactly are we going?" she asked.

"The Protection Site," Xinn said over his shoulder.

"Well I don't know what that is, so thanks for nothing," she snapped.

His shoulders straightened a little. "It's a building surrounded by thick trees near the back of the forest, the farthest away from the desert and foul valicara. It's the most secure structure in our city. We keep our prisoners of war there when we have them, which isn't often, and when we don't, we keep our weapons there."

"What are you trying to keep me safe from? Those people who tried to attack me when we got here?" Her eyes skimmed their surroundings as they walked, landing on a roughly thirty-year-old alien who was watching from a distance. His mouth was lifted, nose wrinkled, in a sneer as his blue eyes cut into hers. It seemed everyone around here had similar black sclerae and bright blue irises. Actually, now that she thought about it, everyone had either black, blue, or black and blue hair, as well as gray skin. That was going to make it difficult to tell them apart.

When he caught her gaze, the alien's sneer gave way to a threatening reveling of his fangs. Aley frowned, wings automatically tightening. What's got him worked up? It's not like I asked to be here.

"Our people just don't know you yet," said Xinn. "Once they understand who you are, they will give you a more hospitable greeting. The ones we need to protect you from are the valicara who would try to steal you away like they did with your sister."

Aley's gaze snapped back over to him. "The alien who took Rocki? Do you know where they are?"

"Far enough away that they are not an immediate threat, but close enough for us to conduct a rescue."

She scoffed under her breath. "Well that was vague." Her eyes turned to the scenery around her. He called it a city, but it wasn't quite as busy as she thought a city would be. Everyone that she did see was the same kind of alien Xinn and his crew were—sariun. They were still walking through the crater that seemed to serve as their shipyard. Unfamiliar vehicles towered over them, casting shadows on the people who were busy weaving between them or making repairs. A large portion of the ships were dented, scratched, and burnt, as if they had been wrecked or attacked.

She raised her eyebrows, tightening the muscles in her neck to make a face at the damage. Her eyes wandered beyond the crater, to the forest that surrounded it. There were more houses than she had previously noticed among the trees. They were similarly colored, blending in with the wood and shadows around them. Some of the homes were on the ground, some actually in the trees with bridges built in-between them to make aerial sidewalks.

I feel like I have to be hallucinating. That would be a relief, actually, to wake up and find out this was all my imagination.

She let them pace along in silence for a few minutes before speaking up. "You said you would start talking."

Xinn turned his head halfway to acknowledge her. "Rokh will be able to provide the answer to any questions you have."

She glanced at Rokh, who smiled at her. At least he would be more enjoyable to talk to than serious Xinn or silent Lore. "Fine. Why don't we start with the wings? Where did they come from? Why do I have them? Is this normal?" Now that there wasn't any immediate excitement, she could feel her new appendages aching horribly.

Rokh hesitated, scratching his head. "I ... I suppose your valicaran genes were stronger than your sariun ones."

"My what?" Aley jerked to a stop.

"Xinn," Lore said, alerting the alien in front to their halt.

Xinn turned, raising an eyebrow. "What seems to be the problem, savioress?"

She kept her eyes on Rokh. "What do you mean, my 'valicaran genes?'"

Rokh glanced at Xinn, then back to her, shifting his feet nervously. "I-I don't understand, savioress."

Her blue eyes narrowed slightly, eyebrows pushing together. "What did you mean when you mentioned me having valicaran genes? I've never heard about a valicaran until today." She managed to maintain eye contact with Rokh, who was now looking a bit concerned, despite his eyes still horrifying her.

"B-but you ... your ..." Rokh stammered, blinking rapidly.

"What?" she snapped.

Xinn cut in. "How do you not know your own heritage? You must be twenty at least."

She glared at him. "My heritage? I was adopted before I was even a year old. On Earth mind you—it's not like I dropped out of the sky." She glanced at Rokh. "Where did you come up with this stupid idea that I'm some sort of alien?"

Rokh's eyes were wide, and he couldn't seem to say anything. He glanced at Xinn, who was looking steadily at Aley. There was silence for a long moment, until he finally spoke again.

"You don't know."