Naralia and the Quin

Antar was also smiling a pleased smile, for she read into her fathers wishes, deducing that Naralia would not be able to get away with much if she was escorted by her brother everywhere she went.

Altar was already taking Naralia’s hand and escorting her through the door and out into Quin daylight.

Antar’s smile faded a little as a foreboding thought crossed her mind. "What if Naralia seduces my brother to leave with her, back to her own planet?" Antar shuddered. She well knew that her people could not survive elsewhere, for their bodies had developed to be sustained and protected by the Quin environment. Ghastly tales had reached their people--tales no doubt altered by the course of time and distance, but nevertheless alarming--of Quin people who had been drawn away by aliens traveling through to collect the treasure of their precious springs. They had never been seen or heard from again, and other aliens passing through would relate casually of horrific changes that had taken place in Quin features: the lightening of their skin and the falling out of their rope-like silvery hair, to be replaced by strange wisps of grotesque colors.

Antar shook her head to dispel those thoughts, comforting herself that Altar was strong, and would hopefully not succumb to any wicked designs this stranger might have.

***

Days melted into weeks for Naralia, as her mind and heart imbibed the wonders of the Quin people. She learnt of their music, their dance, their language and customs. She watched the birth of a Quin child and visited the sites of extinct Quin cities, long since overgrown with the delicate vines and flowers and trees unique to the Quin planet.

Altar was enjoying himself immensely, and always smiled with bashful joy when Naralia would express wonder and joy at the beauties of the Quin planet and people.

"Tell me," Altar asked her one day, in the direct manner he was accustomed to, "do you prefer the color of your skin and hair, and the customs of your people to ours?"

Naralia stopped her playful skipping and slowed to a walk beside Altar. She looked out over the magnificent canyons they were now upon, and into the twinkling blackness that had begun stretching over the horizon in the Quin dusk. The three Quin moons hung high in the sky, and to the right of the panorama, a delicately braided cluster of stars called Alstor was becoming brighter every minute. Colors of burgundy and purple and gold mingled on the horizon, in an atmospheric dance that could be seen every evening to bid the bright day farewell.

Naralia wistfully thought of the sunsets of her own planet, the bright stardust that reflected from the cliffs quite near her old home. The lighter, more pastel colors of her world that delicately rested upon everything and everyone were becoming but a faint memory to her, and she remembered with affection her relations and friends who had bid her farewell.

Altar sensed her homesickness and stated, "You must miss your people terribly."

Naralia pulled herself from her nostalgic reverie and looked Altar squarely in the eyes. "You misread my thoughtfulness, friend. Naturally there are times my body craves the peculiar comforts and colors of my home-world, as well as the kinship of my people."

Altar shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot as he looked out over the canyons. He was becoming very fond of Naralia, and this kind of talk made him feel strangely sad inside.