A Way Out

  I watched as Aourine left the room. I wanted to smack Tohthorayn because he was the reason Aourine was angered. He had a knack for it.

  He was the reason Aourine left our village. His filthy mouth always ruined things.

  Ruined the delicate love between Aourine and me.

  I shot a glare at Tohthorayn, tempted to run after Aourine despite her instruction. I didn’t want to lose her again.

  I took a few steps towards the door that Aourine left through. Just then, a warm, roughened hand grabbed my wrist — Donttano.

  My head whipped around, staring at him. His eyes, similar to mine, stared back with an unsaid kindness.

  “May I have a word with you, Tig-eralla.”

  Tempted to say no, I gave in. Aourine wouldn’t like it if I followed her. She made it clear.

  Across from me was Rotana*, one of the eight volcanoes on Ma-Oktava*. Heat and smoke coming out of the peak.

  Standing beside me was Donttano; I felt his gaze fixed on me.

  “Your Faa-a would be proud of you.”

  My gaze snapped back to him. My stomach twisted. Why bring him up now?

  “What does Fa have to do with this?”

  “Your Maa-a has been out of control ever since his death. And her responsibility on top of your eleven siblings must be hard.”

  I looked away.

  “If Tohthorayn still has a problem with Aourine, then why did he insist I find her and bring her here?”

  “He didn’t. I guided Tohthorayn to ask Aourine.”

  “Maybe you should have guided him to not act like a talltano*.”

  I scoffed.

  Donttano placed a hand on the nape of my neck, which was a sign of guidance here on Ma-Oktava.

  “Be strong, Eralla. For your family.”

  His hand left my skin; his footsteps faded away.

  Hours later…

  Aourine finally returned to the Elders’ hall. Her expression was still firm.

  Where was she?

  “Are you finally ready to talk?”

  That fool Tohthorayn attacked first. What is wrong with him?

  “Yes.”

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  She seemed even more different now.

  “What shall we do, Aourine?”

  Donttano asked.

  “I have a plan.”

  “A plan?”

  Donttano asked.

  “What kind of plan?”

  Ouubuutt added.

  “I have been working with the craft our ancestors crashed here in. And through that tinkering, I have received broken signals.”

  “Signals?”

  Ouubuutt said.

  “Indeed, signals. A broken radio wave from a group calling themselves ‘Guardians of the Unirex.’”

  “Guardians of the Unirex?” Tohthorayn scoffed. “What a weird name?”

  Aourine shot him a glare.

  “If I could amp up the signal then perhaps I could reach them and send a signal.”

  A way out has been found and all thanks to Aourine.

  The prettiest spark in Ma-Oktava’s heat.

  “Eralla! Eralla!”

  Gibralla shouted, running up to me and clinging onto my legs.

  They always did this. It was exhausting.

  They used to cling to Fa like this as well.

  Back when he was alive. Maybe I also used to cling to him but I don’t remember much. Us Tuttwana develop our brains slowly.

  “Get away from Eralla.”

  Ma shouted, grabbing Batharalla, and Gibralla away from my legs.

  “Eralla! Eralla! Quickly tell me what happened.”

  Ma urged. I let out a sigh when Ma got all over me.

  “Ma, wait a minute.”

  “Eralla, tell me quickly.”

  She grabbed my arm, bringing me further into the hut. I almost stumbled over the sattas* scattered across the floor. There were fourteen toukis* despite Fa’s absence. Ma refused to discard Fa’s touki; she said it kept him close; hence the entire hut was cluttered with sattas.

  “Tak-tak! Tak-tak!” Ma said, her grip tightening.

  “Alright, Ma.”

  She brought me to Gibralla’s touki.

  With a soft thud, we landed on the hard satta.

  “Tell me, Eralla. What happened today at Aktoe? Did you meet her? What did she say? Are we going to be saved, Eralla?”

  Ma bombarded me with so many questions that I had no response for.

  “Ma, Aourine will help us. She will help us.”

  “Aourine…:”

  Ma repeated her name with sharpness.

  Ma never liked her. She never approved of our relationship because she deemed Aourine weird for not being a runner for herself. Being selfish for following what she wanted.

  I wished to be like her one day.

  But for now, I had the responsibility of taking care of my family.

  “You must keep your distance from her, though.”

  Sigh.

  “Ma. I need to help her. And that means seeing her.”

  “Still, keep your distance.”

  “Right, Ma.”

  It was useless to fight with Ma.

  Just then, Batharalla jumped into my lap. Climbing over me.

  “So, are we really going to a new place, Eralla?”

  “Hopefully. Yes.”

  I looked over at Ma, who was nervously smiling.

  “Where are you going, Eralla?”

  Ma asked, barely waking up. I thought I was being extra quiet, but I suppose I was wrong. She had sharper hearing than I.

  “Aourine wanted me to meet her as early as possible.”

  “Aourine.”

  Ma jolted up. The rest of my siblings continued to sleep peacefully.

  “Why would she want you to meet her so early?”

  “I don’t know, Ma.”

  “Eralla, don’t get back together with her. Please Eralla.”

  “Ma, please don’t do this.”

  “Don’t do what?”

  “Ma… I will come back and talk to you later.”

  “Eralla! Eralla!”

  ?

  Txetia Glossary

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

  Rotana (Row-ta-nah) — The volcano closest to Aktoe

  Talltano (Tal-ta-noh) — often used as a cuss. Means “asshole"

  Touki(s) (Tok-key) — means “beds”

  Satta(s) (Sat-tah) — means “mattresses”