1
THE STARS LIGHT UP THE Iohiran sky. Alroth laid in the grass where the valley used to be, a light still on in his family home on the hill. His parents were still up. He lay next to his best friend, passing a bottle of wine back and forth.
His white hair fanned out slightly mixing with Demian’s red.
Alroth brought the bottle his lips, hesitating. “Maybe I don’t have a mate.”
Demain glanced over at him, shrugging. “Why do you say that?”
Alroth heaved a sigh. Having a mate was something he’d looked forward to his whole life. He watched his parents...the love they had. Then his brother.
He’d waited, and waited. He was 25 now.
“I think I’m getting to old. If I haven’t met her yet...when will I?”
Demian felt the wind on his face, feeling the slight warmth emanating from Alroth’s soft pale blue skin. His golden eyes glowed softly in the night, reminding him of the stars. He licked his lips.
“Sure you’ll meet her.” He said simply.
Alroth scoffed, finally taking a swig of the bottle, passing it Demian.
Demian quickly threw it back.
“I should leave,” Alroth said. “Go to Earth. I heard Rivean’s out there, playing hero.”
Demian’s brows dipped. “Earth? Your folks would go crazy. You’re the last one you know?”
Alroth shrugged, his eyes on the sky. “I think it’s time. Besides, I’m by no means the last one. I’ll probably have another few brothers and sisters in a year or so,” he snorted, grabbing the bottle from Demian.
Demian watched him. Alroth was larger than the average Iohiran, a perk he’d gotten from his father.
“Well...” Demian said.
“You’re coming with me of course,” Alroth said, meeting Demian’s eyes. “I’m thinking next week.”
Demian smirked. “Hey...you may be bigger than me but you can’t tell me what to do you know?”
Alroth sat up, his hair falling over his fingers. “Bigger? I’m stronger too, fucker. Besides, we’re best friends. You go where I go.”
Demian sighed. “Fuck, Al.”
Alroth cocked his head, raising his brow. “You trying to tell me there’s something more important than me? You rascal,” he grabbed the neck of the bottle from Demian’s hands, roughly, forcing him closer.
His golden eyes swept over Demian’s face. Demian swore, the taste of wine in his breath intermingling.
“Hey,” Alroth demanded. “You’ll be ready by this weekend, won’t you?”
Demian rolled his eyes, pulling away. “Yeah, yeah, fucks sake, Al. Can’t you go a day without me?”
“Course I can’t,” Alroth grinned, laughing boisterously. “And you can’t either. Can you?”
He finished the bottle off, setting it down gently, before rising to his feet. He offered his hand, and Demian admired it for a moment, the veins running through it, before taking it.
Alroth pulled him up quickly, his hand resting on Demian’s back as he steadied him.
Demian swallowed before smiling. “Nah...can’t live without you, bud.”
“Fucking course not,” Alroth said, picking up the bottle, and slinging his hand over Demian’s shoulder as they headed up to the Hill.
“Gods be praised, Al, you could at least act like I have a life,” Demian complained. “Then again, not like I have anyone to tell.”
Alroth sighed. “It’ll be good. You and me setting out. And hey, we’ll meet more half-breeds like me. Maybe that’s where our mates are.”
“Maybe,” Demian muttered.
He’d never been particularly keen on finding a mate. He didn’t have the same drive, Alroth did. But it colored every moment of Alroth’s life, for some reason.
Demian glanced back at the place they were, the imprint of the two, still visible on the grass.
“Leave something?”
Demian just shook his head. Alroth and Demian walked in silence for a moment.
“Hey, Demian?”
“Yeah, Al?”
Alroth stopped, smiling. “I’m glad we’re friends.”
Demian smiled back. “Aish...look at this sentimental guy—”
“Oh fuck off. Remember that time you tried to get me to move into a hole?”
“Let it go, Al. Let it go.”
Alroth chuckled. “Oh don’t be shy, Kushko.”
Demian elbowed him roughly. “Told you not to call me that.”
Alroth elbowed him back. “Don’t be so mean to me, Demian.”
Demian rolled his eyes. “Don’t be so stupid. Your mom’s never gonna let you out the house,”
Alroth and Demian stood at the Hill.
“Don’t worry about that. Just meet me at our spot. Sunset, in 3 days?”
Demian nodded. “See you then, Al.”
Alroth entered the house, setting the bottles into the sink, turning on the water to clean them.
“Late night,” Anith said from behind him.
Alroth, used to his fathers sudden appearances, just nodded.
“Demian?” Anith asked.
Alroth just snorted. “Who else?”
Anith just smiled knowingly, starting to wash the next bottle next to his son quietly.
“I’m leaving soon. Very soon,” Alroth said softly.
Anith frowned slightly. “Yes...I figured. Will Demian be with you?”
Alroth turned the water off, leaning against the sink. “Yes. I’m going to earth. See if I can track Riv down.”
Anith sighed. “That’s not your responsibility. You know that. He’s doing alright. Finding himself.”
Alroth scoffed. “Not what I heard.”
Anith said nothing to retort, simply raising his brows. “Son...you know I love you. But you’re an adult now. If you feel like you have to go...”
“I have to,” Alroth said resolutely. “But I won’t be alone. And it’s not forever.”
Anith smiled softly, patting his sons cheek. “Be safe. You’ll need money.”
Anith shrugged. “I’m sure we can get work.”
“Sounds like you have it all figured it out,” Anith said softly. “I’ll head to bed. Night, Al. Love you.”
“Love you too, Dad. Good night.”
• •
Three days later, Alroth said his goodbyes to his mother, father and siblings. He took his bags and went to the spot he and Demian stayed.
Demian was there waiting, his long red hair down his back.
“They actually let you go,” Demian remarked. Alroth threw him a glass of water. Demian caught it. “Well fuck.”
Alroth chuckled. “Fuck indeed. Let’s hurry up before my mother warps me back in a Galluite cell and never lets me leave,”
Demian grabbed some of his bags. “What the hell do you need all this for?”
“Because I knew you’d be a dumb ass and bring nothing,” Alroth slung a few of the bags into the hull of the space ship. “So I packed for you. You’re welcome.”
Demian rolled his eyes. “Gods be praised Alroth.”
“Don’t praise the gods, I’m the one who picked the bags,” Alroth raised his brow.
Demian looked at him in slight contempt, throwing a shirt.
“Shut up, Al.”
Alroth just shrugged. “This is a good ship. Mom modified it. Fastest warping this side of the galaxy. Only a 12% chance of total organic matter disintegration too,”
“Oh? Only a 12 percent chance?” Demian mocked him, wrapping his arms around himself. “You know I’m a risk taker, Alroth.”
“Why don’t you take a risk and shut up,” Alroth chuckled. “Come on.”
Alroth and Demian entered the ship the lights turning on.
“Welcome, Alroth and passenger,” The AI greeted them.
“Ooh, Passenger,” Demian remarked. “I feel so loved.”
Alroth just grinned. “Must be something mom put in. Which means she’s definitely tracking me.”
Demian shrugged. “Can’t help to have a super genius like your mom knowing where we are in the cold void of space.”
Alroth just shrugged, sitting at the controls. “Yeah...it’ll make her feel better. Dad must have left...ah,” he pulled up a basket of cookies from a warmer. “These are good. Want one?”
Demian nodded, standing.
“Ship, behind take off sequence,” Alroth instructed, as Demian took a few cookies from the basket.
“Your Dad is such a good cook,”
“Yes, Alroth. What are your coordinates?”
“Earth, Milky way galaxy, solar system 306.” Alroth stated, watching the map zero in on a familiar planet.
“Caution! This planet requires identification. Do you have identification?”
“Yeah do you?” Demian asked.
Alroth smirked. “Not a one. Override,”
“Safety overridden. Please strap in your seats. Takeoff in ten...”
“You’ll probably one to stop chewing on cookies,” Alroth advised him. “It’s about to get it shitty,” he strapped in, making Demian do the same.
“Holy fuck.”
“Oh Dad probably left something else...” Alroth looked at the basket. “There,” he reached over, grabbing the note, he stuck it up, as Demian screamed curses as the ship took off.
Alroth just chuckled, holding the note down.
Safe travels, son + Demian. Love you. P.S. Earth sucks so I put a few swords in the ship.
