world around them.
And it seemed as curious about her as she was about him. She ran her hand along the trunk of the creature, feeling the thick wrinkles and leathery skin as it poked at her in return.
“His name is Noah,” said someone nearby. “He’s gone blind of old age, I fear.” They must be the zookeeper. “Sorry if he’s a bit touchy. It’s how he explores his world now.”
“I understand. Trust me.” She chuckled. The elephant was brushing its trunk up along her arm and was now playing with her hair. It was like having a huge arm draped on top of her, and she laughed. “He’s grabbier than you are, Nero. You’d better not get jealous.”
Nero chuckled. “Get your kicks, you big old bull. You don’t get to keep her like I do.” Nero was at her side now, and she felt his hand near hers as she petted the elephant. The creature was gigantic.
“How tall is he?”
“If you stood on my shoulders you might be able to reach his back.”
“Incredible…” Tears stung her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. “Just incredible. He’s beautiful.”
“He’s a sweetheart. He was a monster when he was alpha, but since he’s grown old, he’s become such a gentle giant,” the zookeeper explained. “We have to keep him away from the other males. They push him around too much. But he loves the young ones. He watches over them better than their mothers sometimes.” The zookeeper made a clicking noise with his tongue and clapped his hands together. “Come here, Moses. Go see who’s come to visit.”
Something came up close to her side. She gasped as it bumped into her. Reaching out, she placed her hands gently on whatever it was.
“Moses is only a few months old.”
A baby elephant. It was nearly as tall as she was! But she could feel the ridges of its head as it wrapped its trunk around her leg and seemed just as intrigued with poking at her as he was with him. “Hello, Moses.”
“I’ve always thought it’s an odd practice—naming animals after the gods of dead religions,” Nero said thoughtfully from next to her. “I wonder why that is?”
“We like to keep our lore close to us. Besides, they’re good names. Can’t use them on people, though, I suppose.” She laughed as the baby elephant bumped into her with its forehead, knocking her back a step. “Hey!”
“He’s playful. Don’t mind him. He can come on strong, but he doesn’t mean any harm.”
“Sounds familiar.” She reached out to jab Nero in the back.
“I take offense! I mean plenty of harm. Most of the time.”
The baby elephant had fascinating ears. An enormous trunk of a nose, huge flapping ears, and covered in leathery skin. They must be monstrous. “Are they cute?” She didn’t understand beauty—but she knew the concept of it. She knew cats and dogs could be cute, and that insects and rats were generally not.
“Oh, very,” Nero answered. “I think they’re adorable. Aren’t you just the cutest thing, you cuddly giant stomper? I’d love to ride one of you in a parade someday.”
She couldn’t figure out how that was even possible. Creatures like this being cute? They were astonishing, amazing, and as Moses bonked into her again with his head, she could tell they were filled with personality. She laughed and petted him, stroking the front of his head gently. That seemed to appease him enough to keep him from knocking her over.
They stayed with the elephants for a little while longer before Nero said it was getting late and they had to leave. She bid both animals farewell, lingering especially long with Noah. They had something in common, after all.
She insisted on washing up before dinner. She smelled like elephant, and it wasn’t a particularly enjoyable scent. Wonderful animals—but oh, they reeked. Nero insisted it wasn’t that bad, but he didn’t have a sense of smell like she did.
When they were back in the villa, he took her hand in his before she could escape to go take a shower and change. She was certain she was dirty—she could feel the dust on her skin. He pulled her close, and she felt her face warm again at his nearness.
“Did you have fun?”
“That was…that was spectacular, thank you. And it was very sweet of you. I think it’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for me.” She reached out for him and, dust be damned, let her hand rest on his waist, stepping in