The Stowaway Arc 2 (Part 2/?)

Peter had completely filled one notebook, and had managed to convince the krolth zookeeper to get him another. And another pencil, since his had run out of lead. How long had he even been here? A week? Two? It was hard to tell. He was exhausted.

I need to change my sleep cycle so I can keep up with this nonsense He groaned to himself. Much as he hated to admit it, he was going to be here for a while, and this just wasn't sustainable. He rubbed his temple with one hand as he sipped on his coffee. Somehow, the krolths knew how to make coffee that was... well, he'd certainly had better, but he'd also had way worse.

I wonder how expensive it is to get good coffee all the way out here.

Peter's musing thoughts were broken by an approaching voice. Most of the voices outside the glass he could ignore, but this one cut through them all.

He froze, then dove into one of the areas the krolth had given the enclosure for privacy. He pressed his back up against the wall, trying to calm his breathing as the voice grew closer.

"A human, huh? But I don't see him."

"He's probably sleeping, father."

"Sleeping? At this hour? Good grief, do they ever wake up at all? Then again, he can't be worse than that Peter boy, eh Lanir?"

"Humans are diurnal, father, they don't-"

"Don't give me that attitude." The voice changed from joking to hostile without hesitation. "Now come on, there's no point standing around here. We'll be here for another few days for the meetings anyways. We can come back another day." And just like that, the voice was back to normal.

Peter peeked around the wall as the two were walking off. Dressed in opulant attire, the two irtai walked side by side, but the two were very different. They shared many traits, of course, but Peter knew from experience that their personalities were polar opposites. As he watched the dusty grey skin and white hair of Lanir walk away, he remembered what she had told him once.

"I may live in abundance, but I am trapped. I don't care of my room is guilded. I want to be able to choose my own path."

As he watched the beetle green feathers that adorned her like a cape fade into the crowd even though she couldn't hear him, he spoke to her.

Even if it sends him after me again, when I get out of here, I'm bringing you with me, Lanir. I promise. You deserve to spread your wings.

Peter leaned back against the wall and sighed. This sort of thing was exactly why he got a bounty put on him every few years.