The Peacekeepers

Strange to have a pair so opposite.

Anthropoid was child-sized, yet she had the body of an adult. When she spoke, each syllable was clear and precise. Nimri felt she should be able to understand Anthropoid's words because the sounds of the consonants and vowels were the same; but Anthropoid put the sounds together differently. Worse, the tiny woman?s body language was non-existent, so it was impossible to understand her.

Unnatural.

Of course, life in a dark hole would differ from that above ground.

Colonel made a grandiose gesture, which swept from The Portal downward. Then he indicated her. Anthropoid said something and Colonel quickly responded. Nimri suspected they were discussing her arrival. She could only imagine how disconcerting it was to have someone arrive so unexpectedly.

Colonel's next hand movement made her wonder if they expected her to live here with them. Gooseflesh rippled over Nimri, as she tried to imagine never seeing the sky or her garden again.

Please, no! She couldn't live within these shrinking walls!

Nimri concentrated on their conversation, but she couldn't decide if they were talking about how she had fallen into their domain, considering ways to help her get out or making plans to keep her. Heaviness grew in her stomach. Nimri worried that she'd shrink and fade like Anthropoid if she spent a millenium in the magic portal.

While the man's encircling arm felt strong, the small woman looked as fragile as the fabric of her silvery one-piece suit. Nimri thought Colonel appeared bulky as a shaved bartan with its bulging muscles coated in soot. She risked a look at his hand, which was splayed across her belly and decided the male either had the oddest skin she'd ever seen, or he had the most peculiar outfit.

She shook her head to clear it. That was when she noticed the head-covering lying on the ground.

Colonel gestured to make a point to Anthropoid. Nimri used the opportunity and pulled free.

She leaned over, rolled the orb as she examined it. Smooth. Round, except for what appeared to be a neck opening. She squinted through the gloom to study the male's neck. Ha! The black muscles must be artificial! But why would a male go to such effort to make himself a suit of muscles instead of taking care of his body? Surely he didn't believe his woman would be attracted to the ugly result!

This pair was bizarre.

Their discussion seemed to be at an end.