majority of the foliage was in shades of blue and green and gold, but from down here, she could also detect a surprising variety of partially hidden flowers. Everything from small red blooms no larger than her thumbnail to white flowers bigger than her head lurked among the greenery.
There were some surprising resemblances to Earth plants, but others were completely alien. She watched in astonishment as a long blue vine reached out and snatched a small flying creature out of the air before burying it in its trunk as the creature squeaked hopelessly. She gulped and took a step closer to Tanor.
Who was he? she wondered, and why had he been at the landing site? Had Aidon been coming to meet him? She studied him curiously. With his dark-green skin and long straight hair, he didn’t resemble Aidon in any way. Maybe he wasn’t even Pardorian.
“Are you from here?” she asked and then immediately bit her lip. He hadn’t exactly been friendly, and she didn’t want to offend him. To her relief, he simply barked out a harsh laugh.
“Never been anywhere else. Never wanted to go either.”
She thought she detected a hint of strain in his voice and suspected that carrying Aidon’s weight was beginning to wear on him. The thought of suggesting they rest flitted through her mind, but one look at Aidon’s limp body changed her mind. He needed help and the sooner, the better.
After they had walked for what she thought was perhaps a half hour, they emerged from the jungle into a wide clearing set along the bank of an enormous river. Emerald-green water swirled and tumbled, and she caught a brief glimpse of a vine snaking through the water. Remembering Aidon’s story, she moved as far away from the bank as possible.
Instead of continuing along the path, Tanor turned and headed inland to the far edge of the clearing. Once again, the foliage looked impenetrable, and once again, he simply walked through it. He was halfway up a set of steps before she realized that they were even there. As she blinked and followed him, she suddenly understood that he was entering a house. A wide front porch framed by curving trunks was almost indistinguishable from the surrounding jungle, as were the walls woven from the native vines. He stalked through an almost invisible front door, across an open living room, and through another door before placing Aidon on a bed built into the wall. He straightened up with a sound too quiet to be called a sigh of relief.
“What now?” she asked.
“Now I get some food down this young idiot’s throat.” Tanor scowled at her. “May need you to help.”
“Of course. Whatever he needs.”
“Stay here. Don’t touch anything.”
Tanor disappeared back into the main room, and she sank down on the mattress at Aidon’s side. He was so limp and still that her heart skipped a beat. She placed a gentle hand on his chest, relieved to feel the slow beat of his heart and the slight rhythm of his chest rising and falling with his breath.
“We’re here, Aidon. You’re back on Pardor. You’re home.”
Even though she hoped for a response, she didn’t really expect one, and she was shocked when his eyes flickered open. Dazed and cloudy, they cleared a little as he tried to focus on her face.
“Not home,” he rasped.
“Yes, you are. We’re on Pardor. You made it.”
His hand moved, trying to reach for her, and she took it between her much smaller hands. The corner of his mouth lifted.
“Home.”
Relieved that he seemed to understand where he was at last, she smiled at him and lifted his hand to her lips, pressing a gentle kiss against the velvety skin. His hand tightened around hers, then he suddenly snarled. With unexpected strength, he yanked her down on the bed next to him.
“What’s the matter?” she asked.
He was gazing over her shoulder, his teeth bared, and she twisted around to find Tanor standing at the entrance to the room.
“It’s all right, Aidon. This is Tanor. He’s going to help you.”
“Never,” Aidon spat.
Tanor sighed and entered the room. He was carrying a tray with a tall glass of red liquid and a bowl filled with multicolored cubes.
“Of course I’m going to help you, boy. Don’t be so stubborn.”
“I don’t trust you, Grandfather.”
Grandfather? This alien male who looked so different and seemed so young was the one who had raised Aidon? She gave Tanor a shocked look, and he barked a laugh.
“Yes, he’s mine. For my