When I woke up, it was to the warmth of Delmar body curled around mine.
For a few seconds, I didn't remember where I was. I squinted at the the soft light streaming through woven bamboo walls with the earthy scent of dried leaves and feather bedding, and the gentle hum of the ocean not far away.
Then I remembered everything. Delmar's lips, his hands, the way our bodies moved in perfect sync under the water, and the way he whispered my name as I drifted to sleep.
I turned to find him already watching me, a lazy smile playing on his lips. His slightly long hair was messy, and there was something unguarded in his expression that made my chest ache in the best way.
"Good morning, mate," he said, his voice still thick with sleep.
"Good morning," I whispered back, unable to stop my own smile. "I feel like I slept on clouds."
He chuckled softly and reached out, his fingers brushing my cheek before trailing down to my lips. His thumb lingered there, rubbing gently, reverently as if memorizing the shape of me.
"You did," he murmured. "Down feathers make the best bedding."
A lazy grin tugged at my mouth. "Think they'll let us take some back home?"
His smile faltered.
Not because of the question itself but because of everything it implied. Home. The word hung between us, heavy and uncertain. We both knew what it meant or rather, what it no longer meant.
The world I came from wasn't the same anymore. My world was hunting me down, branding me a traitor, a freak. And Delmar... he had walked away from his world long ago.
He didn't answer me with words.
Instead, he leaned in and pressed his lips to my forehead, slow and lingering like a promise, like an apology.
"Come on," he said. "Let me show you around the village. There's a lot to see."
We put on the white robe likes clothes that hung outside every house. Outside, the sun was rising slowly, bathing the bamboo houses and steep cliffs in soft gold. Delmar led me down narrow paths of bamboo bridges suspended along the cliff.
He pointed to an area where some Faringues could be seen swimming underwater over the long, swaying fields of kelp anchored in the sand.
"These are Faringue farmers. They grow special food for the village."
"They grow everything they need underwater," Delmar explained beside me. "These plants are nutrient-rich and energy-dense. Our bodies need more fuel than humans. We burn through it faster especially when we shift forms."
I nodded slowly, fascinated. "It's... beautiful."
He took me further inland, if you could call it that in a place where water was always near. We came across a team of builders stacking long stalks of bamboo into dome-like structures, their hands precise, efficient. Every movement was deliberate, like a choreographed dance. The homes looked minimalist but elegant, adorned with shells, wind chimes, and sea glass ornaments that clinked in the breeze.
"These are master architects," Delmar said with pride. "Every house in a Faringue settlement is custom-built for the tides. Strong enough to survive waves, flexible enough to breathe with the wind."
"If someone told there was whole another species of intelligent beings living among humans a few years ago I would have laughed."
"But you didn't laugh. You came looking for us," Delmar said holding my gaze.
I smiled. "Yeah."
"Come, let's see how K'liira is doing."
We walked towards K'liira's home. She was resting on a wide cushioned platform, surrounded by the soft hum of songs sung by her betas. Her skin shimmered faintly, and her hair fanned behind her like a halo. The betas around her were brushing her hair, offering her food, and humming a lullaby that made my heart fill with joy for her. With the things she had to go through, seeing her like this...made me so happy for her.
K'liira spotted me and stood up, in all her naked glory, his hips wide, swaying gently as she walked towards me.
"Kash," K'liira called out in her strange unused voice. Her eyes gleamed in the soft glow of the afternoon sun. "Ha... how are you?"
I smiled. "I'm fine, K'liira. And by the looks of it, you're not doing too badly yourself."
A small smirk curved her lips. "Yes."
She turned to Delmar and said something in her native clicking tongue, light, rhythmic bursts that reminded me of dolphin songs before gliding toward the water. Her betas followed close behind, moving with grace and purpose, like shadows trailing a flame.
"She's heading into the water," Delmar said, glancing at me. "Want to join her?"
I shrugged, my grin widening. "Why not?"
We both slipped off our robes and dove in.
This time, there was no hesitation. No panic, no fear clawing at my lungs. Just the rush of cool water wrapping around my body, the surge of weightlessness, the echo of laughter, mine, Delmar's, K'liira's as we burst through the surface and dived deep again.
K'liira moved like she was born from the sea itself, her fins catching the light in flashes of silver and pearl. Her betas darted around her like a living constellation, weaving through the water in perfect harmony.
She came swimming and playfully pushed Delmar then bumped against me before swimming away. I chased after her laughting. K'liira's strange laughter ringing like chimes underwater. One of her betas tried to tug me back playfully, Delmar growled at him and scurried away and K'liira hugged the man as if consoling him, while another spun in tight, glowing spirals. It was fascinating and kind of funny.
We played for what felt like hours, chasing, ducking, spinning, breathless with joy. I had never felt so alive.
For a fleeting moment, there was no war. No fear. No past or future.
Only now.
Only the ocean, the laughter, the strange music of this other world... and Delmar, never too far from my side.
That night, the village held a feast.
Small lanterns dotted bamboo the platforms, casting golden reflections across the water. The air smelled of roasted sea fruits and sweet coastal herbs. Children splashed near the shallows, their laughter mixing with the rhythmic beat of hand drums.
K'liira sat at the center, completely naked, and at this poinnt nakedness didn't bother me.
K'liira looked like royalty, surrounded by her betas, who watched her like she was their sun.
Delmar and I sat together, sharing bites of fruit and fish cooked with salty sweetness. I felt... at peace. For the first time in a long while, I wasn't afraid.
But then I noticed two elders speaking to Delmar in low, urgent tones. Their brows were furrowed. Delmar's face remained calm, but I could sense the tension beneath his expression.
When they walked away, I turned to him.
"What was that about?"
He sighed, placing his hand gently on mine. "They want us to leave."
My heart dropped. Everything was almost perfect but I knew nothing perfect lasts long for me.
"They say you look too different," he continued. "That your presence is stirring curiosity. If word spreads, other settlements will send scouts. And if there's too much movement... humans might find this place. They're asking us, kindly, to leave by morning."
I looked down at my hands, some wounds still fresh from everything I'd been through. "So we're a threat to them."
"No. Not a threat. Just... a risk. And they can't afford risks." His voice was gentle. "You saw how much they've built here. They've survived centuries by staying hidden."
I nodded slowly. "You are right, we can't stay here. We should leave tomorrow."
Delmar didn't try to argue or promise me we'd return. He just leaned over, pressed his forehead to mine, and whispered, "I will make it all better for us. I will make it right, I promise."
I believed him.
And for now, that was enough.
***
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