Gestures, part 3
Oct. 21st, 2012 03:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
frogs_of_warAs I was working on a story where the two of the leads were eighteen and thirty-two, my daughter mentioned that she had a boyfriend. (I had kind of guessed this, the hickey on her neck was a big give away.) I knew he had to be older than her because all the guys in her dance class over the summer were older. And I was pretty sure he was a guy from her dance class because this was only the second week of the new semester and the only hobby she has time for outside of school is the local dances on the weekends, which she'd been to pretty faithfully lately. And that these last few weeks, she'd always had a ride home.
So I asked his age. He's eleven years older than her. I'm not really freaked out, she's twenty after all, but I'm kind of weirded out. (he's closer to my age than hers.) But I probably shouldn't be because every story I'm currently working on except this one and Harmonies, the leads are at least that far apart in age.
Title: Gestures
Status: Part 3 of 10
Genre: science fiction, romance, slash
Rating: PG (13?)
Content: knots, secrets, helpful children, achy feet, a loom, swimming, a story, a rude awakening, Python, flowers, wooing gifts, blown kisses, a discussions, plans, sleep
Length: about 4,000 words
Summary: Colt is wooed by a guy in love with someone else and finds that he doesn’t mind.
Masterlist
When Lion returned, he sat beside Colt and tried his hand at the knot Colt was teaching the older children. Grandfather called him away. Lion came back a few minutes later and sat down as if nothing had happened. He showed Colt and the children a complicated knot. A woman called the children to work. They left the leather thongs they had been knotting. Colt collected all the ones he could reach and removed the knots.
Lion cleared his throat. “Horse mate?”
At least that’s what Colt thought the second word was.
Colt shook his head. “Young.”
Lion looked Colt over. “Not young. Good.”
Colt smiled. “Lion not young?”
“Lion,” he banged his chest, “good.”
Colt laughed. “Lion good.”
“Good. Horse stay.”
Colt shook his head. “Horse go.”
“Horse stay. Horse mate Lion?”
Colt turned around, looking for Grandfather. Had he giving Lion permission to court Colt because he knew Colt was leaving? Grandfather was gone. Colt laid out the strips of leather. Some had short fur on them. Colt arranged them in a pleasant pattern. “Man mate man?”
Lion didn’t answer. Colt looked over at him. “Man mate man here?”
“Not here. Not home.” Lion used the place one lives home. “Away.”
“Grandfather say yes. Yes Lion Horse.” Colt made a fist.
Lion nodded.
“Grandfather say no? No Lion…” Colt paused then made a question noise.
Lion blushed. Colt grinned and took Lion’s hand. Lion was in love with someone his grandfather didn’t like.
“Horse heart Star. Lion heart...?”
Lion blushed darker and stared at his hand in Colt’s. He shook his head, but such a man definitely existed. Lion might be sad but he wouldn’t be heartbroken when Colt left. That knowledge was a relief. Colt leaned back and closed his eyes. Lion tugged his hand, but Colt didn’t let go. “Heart?”
“Horse.” Lion leaned down and brushed his lips against Colt’s. Colt laughed and pushed him away. Lion back off easily and got to his feet. He said something Colt couldn’t understand and disappeared into the forest.
Colt sighed and sat up. How did one say no to wooing here? Did it have to be said in public? Colt had said no last night, but still Lion had asked him formally. If that was formally? Maybe Lion meant to give him a heads up before the real stuff begins. Colt was well out of his league.
—
The next day Colt’s feet felt better. He traded the use of his knife for scraps of leather. He rested his feet as he cut the leather into strips. Then he took the children with him into the forest. He wanted to find parts for a loom like his sister knotted friendship bracelets on, but his had to be bigger. The children were helpful and watched over him.
By the time he returned to the village his feet ached so he rested them in the water while he put the loom together. Then he sat it between his knees and tied two dozen leather strips to it. He kept the children entertained as the belt took shape. He started with simple knots and then moved to more complicated ones. Some people here wore belts but they were either a single wide strip of leather, most of the time with fur, or they were twisted from palm frond or other vegetation. Colt’s afternoon of work only resulted in three inches of belt.
Lion plopped down beside him and handed over a gourd of sweet liquid. Colt had a feeling this was part of the courting ritual because people around them stopped working until Colt took it.
Lion touched the leather knots and his hand ended up on Colt’s. Colt didn’t pull away. This was probably the only time Colt would be wooed in his life and he planned to enjoy it even if he couldn’t stay and Lion was in love with someone else. Being special felt good even if it was just pretend.
—
The next day a girl Colt’s sister’s age pointed at the loom and then at herself.
“No.” Colt pointed his fingers at his chest and then touched the loom. Some children ran up and told the girl how Colt had made it and then all of them disappeared into the forest. A woman called out names. Those kids were supposed to be working. Colt didn’t feel guilty. He would leave gifts behind. He would never be able to pay this village for their care.
Lion’s grandmother sat down beside Colt. She praised his handiwork. And then pointed at Colt.
He shook his head. “Lion.”
“Lion? Horse go.”
“Horse go. Lion sad. Horse,” Colt touched the belt. “Lion. Lion not sad.”
She smiled. “Lion see. Lion sad.”
Colt shook his head. “Lion see. Sad. Happy.”
She told a story of a man who found a special shell. He gave it to his friend and then went on a trip. He never came back, but every time the second man looked at the shell he thought of the first man.
Colt nodded. That was exactly what he meant. “Lion,” Colt touched the belt. “Horse.”
Grandmother nodded and then shook her head. “Mate,” she pointed at the leather, “mate.”
Could Colt give Lion a gift without saying yes to his proposal? “Man leave. Shell. Mate?”
She laughed and shook her head. “Man not mate man.”
“Here?” Colt used the world for the place a person lives.
“Not now.” She touched her chest. “Girl yes.”
“Grandfather?”
She laughed. “Old fool.”
Colt smiled and covered his mouth.
She laughed again. She pointed at Colt. “Young fool.”
Colt nodded. “Not heart. Heart Lion. Heart Star.”
“Lion here now.”
“Star far. Not here now. Yes here later. Not here later.”
“Not here later? Horse home?” She pointed to the ground.
Colt shook his head. “Heart ouch. Horse sad.”
“Lion. Horse happy.”
The horrible thing was that Colt was genuinely happy here even as his heart and mind tugged him toward Orion. What if he found Orion, but Orion didn’t want to come back? What if he was happy and he wanted to stay? Could Colt give up his old life and go native?
No. Not unless he was with someone who filled his entire heart as he filled theirs. He needed to be able to share his heart and mind. He wasn’t capable of doing so in this language and he wouldn’t be around long enough to master it.
“Horse happy home.” Colt patted the ground.
She nodded her head. “Grandmother happy Horse home.”
Colt leaned his shoulder against hers. He might miss her most of all.
—
Lion tempted Colt out of the village and lead him to a pool. Colt hadn’t swum in forever. He might hate boats, but he didn’t hate the water. Swimming was good exercise which wouldn’t hurt his feet. And he didn’t have to worry about dangers, or so said the village children who refused to be left behind. They had stripped and were in the water before he unfastened his shoes.
Lion watched from the water as Colt removed his clothes. Colt fought down his embarrassment and concentrated on his buttons and zippers. Parts of his body had never seen the sun. He would need to stay in the shade if he didn’t want an uncomfortable burn. The sharp rocks hurt Colt’s feet and the cold water took his breath away, but he couldn’t let these little kids show him up.
He swam back and forth and raced against a few kids. He only won once and that time everyone cheered as if Colt beating a kid half his age was unexpected. Perhaps it was.
He got out before he was completely exhausted and laid in the shade. Lion climbed out and sat beside him. As he looked out over the water he told a story about a man who was so busy looking at a star that he missed the pretty stone at his feet. Then Lion slid back into the water.
Was Lion trying to say that in looking for Orion, Colt was missing Lion who was here with him now? Or was he talking about the boy he liked. Maybe his love was unrequited, which might be why he wouldn’t tell Colt, who couldn’t possibly know who he was talking about. Or maybe the story was of himself and Lion being happy with Colt, who he was allowed to court, rather than the man he wasn’t.
But that only worked if Colt stayed. He closed his eyes and let the warm air and the children’s laughter lulled him to sleep.
—
Colt woke with a heavy pressure on his chest. He struggled against it. Something covered his face. His heart beat in his ears almost too loud to hear the shouts. The weight lifted from him. Lion shouted at someone. Colt slowly opened his eyes.
“Horse?” Lion held a boy upside down by the leg.
Colt sat up. The children gathered around him, patting his face and sides. Some of them were cold and wet. Colt pointed toward his sun warmed clothes. Most of the children darted around the pool. A few jumped into the water. He hoped no one tried to swim his clothes back.
“Horse?” Lion asked again. The boy in his grip scowled.
Colt touched his chest. “Good.”
Lion let the boy down. Only the boy was more of a man. He wasn’t as big as Lion, but then who was? He glared at Colt, ready to pounce at any moment. The children brought Colt his clothes. They weren’t too wet, but they smelled better than they had, so someone must have washed them. Colt put on his drawers and his t-shirt and the bottom half of his coveralls. He tied the arms around his waist. His shoes were more work as he wasn’t used to them.
When he was properly dressed he walked over to Lion. He made the question noise.
Lion looked at Colt and then touched the man’s shoulder. The man flinched.
Colt looked back at Lion. “Lion,” he wouldn’t say heart because that would embarrass Lion if he were wrong, “Star?”
Lion blushed pink. The man tensed and made the question sound. Lion didn’t answer. The man took in a deep breath.
“Horse.” Colt touched his chest.
“Horse. Horse.” The man snarled. “Horse Horse Horse.” He thumped on his chest. “Lion Python.”
“Python?” Colt wanted to get this right. “Lion heart?”
Lion shook his head, but in a way that made Colt think he was right.
“Lion Python.” Python clapped his hands together and squeezed them. “Lion Python. Python who chases.” He thumped his chest hard enough to leave a mark “Python of water.”
Was Python Who Chases his name? If so why was it long? All the names he’d come across had been single and he’d never actually heard anyone say who since he left Vin at the port. Or of for that matter.
“Python of Water who Chases?”
Python nodded, but his eyes were still squinty.
“Long name?”
“Won name. Won Quest.”
So was he from nearby and got his name far away or did his quest lead him here?
“Horse quest. Find Star.”
Python looked at Colt from the corner of his eye. “Quest? Star?”
“Sun hair. Orion. Hunter of stars.”
Python rubbed his finger along his lips. “Horse heart?”
“Horse heart. Horse home.” Colt pointed to the sky.
“Horse go?”
Colt nodded.
Python dropped his hand and stiffened. “Horse woo Lion. Python woo Lion.”
The children laughed. One of them said, “Lion woo Horse.”
“Lion? Woo Horse?” Python turned to Lion, but Lion was already backing away. He broke into a run before Python could catch him.
Colt turned to the children. “Home?”
The two already dressed took Colt by the hand and lead him into the forest. The others shouted for them to wait. Hopefully Lion could explain things to Python before Colt saw him again.
—
Colt entertained the small children as the women made dinner. The belt was coming along nicely. Lion sat next to Colt. “Horse Lion go. Lion go. Python go.”
Colt smiled. “Find Star.”
Lion frowned. “Grandfather yes: Horse Lion go. Grandfather no: Python go.”
Colt glanced around to make sure the adults weren’t too close. “Grandfather no: Lion Python?”
Lion nodded sadly.
How in the world could Colt recommend Lion not tell his grandfather Python was coming? “Lion Horse go?”
“Lion Horse go. Grandfather happy.”
“Grandfather happy, Horse go, Lion stay.”
“No.” Lion thumped his chest. “Horse Lion go. Find Star.”
“Horse Lion find Star. Python quest? Find Horse Lion?”
Lion smirked and kissed Colt’s cheek.
Colt covered the spot with his hand and watched Lion walk away.
A man grunted behind Colt. He turned. Grandfather scowled after Lion. “Lion find Horse Star. Horse go.”
“Find Star. Go home. Fly.”
Grandfather grunted again and turned away. Grandmother giggled and her eyes twinkled.
Colt sat down beside Grandmother and put his loom between his knees. “Python.”
“Python new.”
“Python Lion.”
“Python woo Lion. Grandfather angry.”
Colt understood that much already. “Grandmother angry?”
“Grandmother not happy.”
If she didn’t have any problem with Lion being with a man, why didn’t she like Python. “Python strong.”
Grandmother nodded. “Python strong. Python fierce. Python… sharp.”
Now what exactly did sharp mean in this context? That Python was smart or that he hurt people or something else? “Python small.”
“Python big fierce, little body.
“Python heart Lion.”
Grandmother patted Colt’s knee. “Horse better.”
Colt sighed. How was he better? He would only break Lion’s heart.
—
Colt followed the children into the woods. He was on fetch and carry duty. He needed more leather if he was going to finish the belt and this work was in exchange for more hide.
A girl ran up, her arms full of red flowers. She handed one to Colt. “Eat.”
She stuffed a second into her mouth. “Good.”
Colt wasn’t in the habit of eating flowers. He took a small bite. The flower was spicy. She laughed at him and pointed to his mouth. He ate the rest of it. The center was sweet with nectar. The girl nodded and set the rest of the flowers into one of Colt’s baskets. “Lion. Woo.”
“Lion woo?”
She shook her head and laughed. “Horse woo Lion. Lion eat flower. Lion happy. Horse happy.”
Then she ran away before he could ask for a better explanation.
A thump sounded behind Colt. He turned. Python rose slowly from a crouch. Python scowled at Colt, the baskets, and especially the flowers. He pointed. “Horse not woo Lion.”
Colt offered him the basket. “Python woo Lion.”
Python struck his chest. “Python woo Lion. Horse not woo Lion.”
Colt offered the flowers again. “Horse happy. Python woo Lion. Lion happy.”
“Lion not happy. Lion woo Horse.”
“Lion woo Horse. Grandfather happy. Grandfather yes. Horse go. Lion woo Python. Grandfather not happy. Grandfather not no.”
Python stared at Colt like he was an idiot.
Colt sighed. “He can’t very well tell Lion that he can’t mate with you if he okayed Lion mating with me. Even if he only said yes because I am leaving. He set a precedent. If a man can mate with a man, Lion can mate with Python.”
Python nodded. “Lion mate Python.”
Colt felt stupid. He couldn’t get his idea across. He held out the basket of flowers. “Python woo Lion.”
Python scowled. “Python not girl. Python not woo flowers.”
Had that little flick of Python’s fingers meant with?
How would Colt ever learn this horrible language? “Then Horse will woo Lion with flowers.”
Python set his jaw. He probably got the sentiment even if Colt couldn’t speak Anglen in future tense or with prepositions.
Children’s giggles filled the air. Python glared into the trees then took off in the other direction.
The children brought Colt more gifts for Lion, gifts that according to the children were gifts women gave men. Colt wasn’t womanly. Or at least he didn’t see himself that way. Why did one person have to be the woman anyway? No wonder Python didn’t want to give Lion flowers.
—
Lion sat down next to Colt and looked at the lei Colt put together. This was harder than the flower necklaces he’d made at home with his sister because he had to be careful not to pierce the nectar sack or he’d have a big mess.
Lion pointed at the flowers and then at himself and made the noise for a question.
Colt smiled and half closed his eyes. “Do you want them?”
Lion squirmed in his seat. Colt blew him a kiss.
Lion got to his feet, his brows lowered, and made the question grunt. Colt raised his eyebrows. What had he done?
Besides flirting with a guy who was in love with someone else.
Lion leaned down and put his fingers against Colt’s lips. People here had to have blown kisses before. But how to explain without leading Lion on more than he already had. Colt should be more careful.
Lion grunted his question noise again.
Colt took hold of Lion’s hand and pressed a kiss against Lion’s fingers, then turned Lion’s hand and blew the kiss away.
Then Colt blew Lion another kiss with his own hand. When Lion repeated it back, Colt pretended to catch it and stick it to his cheek. Lion pouted then kissed his fingers and pressed them to Colt’s lips.
Colt laughed. He’d probably just taught this society that blown kisses were for lovers, not for parents with their children and children with each other. As far as Colt knew on Deresla III, where he was raised, lovers did not blow kisses.
Lion waved a hand in front of his lips. Colt blew him a kiss. He put it on his lips.
Colt nodded. He added the last two flowers to the lei and tied the string. Lion held out his hands then moved them behind his back.
Colt grinned and stood up. He lifted the lei to Lion and indicated for Lion to bow and then slipped the flower necklace over Lion’s head.
The villagers shouted. Colt looked around. He hadn’t noticed all the people gathered around them. Lion blushed. Grandmother grinned and Grandfather scowled. Lion’s parents held hands and smiled at each other.
Colt felt like a fraud.
He turned and walked into the woods. Lion caught up a moment later and made the question noise. Colt wanted to walk, to run away forever. But he stopped. He wasn’t angry at Lion. He was angry at himself.
He turned to Lion. “Come.”
And then he walked on.
Lion followed. Colt walked past the swimming hole and into the trees beyond. He’d never been this far in this direction. He spotted some huge stones in a clearing and climbed on one. Lion stood before him. Colt pointed at the lei. “Python.”
“Lion.” Lion touched his chest.
Colt leaned down and touched a flower. “Python. Give to Python. Eat flowers together.” He sighed and straightened up. “Really, what is the point of trying to communicate with you? You can’t understand what I am saying. Lion Python eat flowers. Lion eat. Python eat. No girl. No boy. Mates.”
Lion nodded and smiled. Python appeared with a thud. Lion turned to him and in rapid fire words and gestures explained the flowers and blown kisses and maybe more that Colt couldn’t understand. These two had no trouble communicating.
Lion took the lei off and draped it over Python’s shoulder. Python smiled at Lion then scowled at Colt.
Colt deserved that scowl.
Python jumped up on a rock and Lion stood on a third. Lion blew Python a kiss. Python caught it, but then stared at his hand as if he expected to see it. Lion blew a kiss to Colt. Colt placed it on his cheek. Lion laughed. Colt blew one to Python. Python put it on top of his head and blew one to Lion, who placed it on his lips. Python’s eyes brightened.
That’s what Colt wanted to see. “Python Lion mate.”
Lion blushed. “No.”
“Lion Horse leave. Lion Horse find Star. Python follow.” Colt covered his mouth. How was he supposed to say ‘without telling anyone’? “Horse Lion Python find Star. Horse Star home.” Colt used the place for where one lived. “Lion Python mate. Lion Python home.”
This time he used the word for planet.
Lion looked at Python, who asked him many questions, some of which he seemed to know the answer to. Lion didn’t bother to ask Colt anything, but after several moments Python turned to Colt. “Horse home?”
Colt nodded. “Horse fly home.”
“Fly?”
Colt mimed a bird in flight. “Fly stars.” He used the small gesture that might mean a preposition to Python. Lion’s people didn’t seem to use it. “Fly Star stars.”
Lion nodded at Python. “Horse heart Star.”
Python frowned. “Star heart Horse?”
Colt shook his head.
“Poor Horse.” Python didn’t sound like he meant it. But he was giving his scowl a rest. “Lion Horse go dawn. Grandfather see Python. Python follow?”
Finally someone understood. Colt nodded.
“Bring?” Python and Horse had a long conversation.
Colt was tired and he needed sleep if he was going to leave in the morning. He stood up and pointed the way he thought they’d come. “Home?”
Lion corrected his path and followed him. Colt stopped him and pointed at Python. “Eat flowers. Lion eat. Python eat.”
And Python’s face transformed with a smile. He was a cute kid. Not Colt’s type, but cute none the less. At least when he didn’t ready to kill anyone.
Lion agreed to stay, but Python said Colt shouldn’t go back to the village. They couldn’t trick Lion’s grandfather if they arrived home at different times. At least that’s what Colt thought he meant.
Colt would wait at the swimming hole. He had to back track only twice before he found it and then he lay on a sun warmed rock as the sun set and the stars came out.
He wanted to be among them. He wanted to fly again. He wanted to see things and go places.
Maybe with someone, although that would mean trading in the skipper he’d just paid off. And who would go with him anyway?
A man like Lion, so well adapted to his home, would not fare well in space. Python might. Where was he from originally? Where had he picked up the gestured prepositions? Where had he gone that he had who and of added to his name if no one in the area used either part of speech?
—
Lion roused Colt from sleep. “Home.”
He prattled to Colt until they neared the village, but Colt had to concentrate on not stumbling over his sleepy feet and only caught that the plans had changed.
Grandmother and Grandfather were still awake when Lion and Colt returned to the village. Grandmother kissed them both. Grandfather put his hand on Colt’s shoulder. “Go?”
“Dawn? Find Star. Fly home.”
Grandfather nodded.
Grandmother tisked and pushed Lion and Colt into their sleeping hut.
Colt climbed into bed and Lion lay beside him. Lion kissed his fingers and pressed then to Colt’s lips. “Sleep.”
But how was Colt supposed to sleep if everyone in the village was listening to hear them have sex? Unless that’s what they thought Lion and Colt had done to make them arrive home so late.
Colt waited until Lion’s breath evened out in sleep then he relaxed into the mattress. He really needed to get home.
So I asked his age. He's eleven years older than her. I'm not really freaked out, she's twenty after all, but I'm kind of weirded out. (he's closer to my age than hers.) But I probably shouldn't be because every story I'm currently working on except this one and Harmonies, the leads are at least that far apart in age.
Title: Gestures
Status: Part 3 of 10
Genre: science fiction, romance, slash
Rating: PG (13?)
Content: knots, secrets, helpful children, achy feet, a loom, swimming, a story, a rude awakening, Python, flowers, wooing gifts, blown kisses, a discussions, plans, sleep
Length: about 4,000 words
Summary: Colt is wooed by a guy in love with someone else and finds that he doesn’t mind.
Masterlist
When Lion returned, he sat beside Colt and tried his hand at the knot Colt was teaching the older children. Grandfather called him away. Lion came back a few minutes later and sat down as if nothing had happened. He showed Colt and the children a complicated knot. A woman called the children to work. They left the leather thongs they had been knotting. Colt collected all the ones he could reach and removed the knots.
Lion cleared his throat. “Horse mate?”
At least that’s what Colt thought the second word was.
Colt shook his head. “Young.”
Lion looked Colt over. “Not young. Good.”
Colt smiled. “Lion not young?”
“Lion,” he banged his chest, “good.”
Colt laughed. “Lion good.”
“Good. Horse stay.”
Colt shook his head. “Horse go.”
“Horse stay. Horse mate Lion?”
Colt turned around, looking for Grandfather. Had he giving Lion permission to court Colt because he knew Colt was leaving? Grandfather was gone. Colt laid out the strips of leather. Some had short fur on them. Colt arranged them in a pleasant pattern. “Man mate man?”
Lion didn’t answer. Colt looked over at him. “Man mate man here?”
“Not here. Not home.” Lion used the place one lives home. “Away.”
“Grandfather say yes. Yes Lion Horse.” Colt made a fist.
Lion nodded.
“Grandfather say no? No Lion…” Colt paused then made a question noise.
Lion blushed. Colt grinned and took Lion’s hand. Lion was in love with someone his grandfather didn’t like.
“Horse heart Star. Lion heart...?”
Lion blushed darker and stared at his hand in Colt’s. He shook his head, but such a man definitely existed. Lion might be sad but he wouldn’t be heartbroken when Colt left. That knowledge was a relief. Colt leaned back and closed his eyes. Lion tugged his hand, but Colt didn’t let go. “Heart?”
“Horse.” Lion leaned down and brushed his lips against Colt’s. Colt laughed and pushed him away. Lion back off easily and got to his feet. He said something Colt couldn’t understand and disappeared into the forest.
Colt sighed and sat up. How did one say no to wooing here? Did it have to be said in public? Colt had said no last night, but still Lion had asked him formally. If that was formally? Maybe Lion meant to give him a heads up before the real stuff begins. Colt was well out of his league.
—
The next day Colt’s feet felt better. He traded the use of his knife for scraps of leather. He rested his feet as he cut the leather into strips. Then he took the children with him into the forest. He wanted to find parts for a loom like his sister knotted friendship bracelets on, but his had to be bigger. The children were helpful and watched over him.
By the time he returned to the village his feet ached so he rested them in the water while he put the loom together. Then he sat it between his knees and tied two dozen leather strips to it. He kept the children entertained as the belt took shape. He started with simple knots and then moved to more complicated ones. Some people here wore belts but they were either a single wide strip of leather, most of the time with fur, or they were twisted from palm frond or other vegetation. Colt’s afternoon of work only resulted in three inches of belt.
Lion plopped down beside him and handed over a gourd of sweet liquid. Colt had a feeling this was part of the courting ritual because people around them stopped working until Colt took it.
Lion touched the leather knots and his hand ended up on Colt’s. Colt didn’t pull away. This was probably the only time Colt would be wooed in his life and he planned to enjoy it even if he couldn’t stay and Lion was in love with someone else. Being special felt good even if it was just pretend.
—
The next day a girl Colt’s sister’s age pointed at the loom and then at herself.
“No.” Colt pointed his fingers at his chest and then touched the loom. Some children ran up and told the girl how Colt had made it and then all of them disappeared into the forest. A woman called out names. Those kids were supposed to be working. Colt didn’t feel guilty. He would leave gifts behind. He would never be able to pay this village for their care.
Lion’s grandmother sat down beside Colt. She praised his handiwork. And then pointed at Colt.
He shook his head. “Lion.”
“Lion? Horse go.”
“Horse go. Lion sad. Horse,” Colt touched the belt. “Lion. Lion not sad.”
She smiled. “Lion see. Lion sad.”
Colt shook his head. “Lion see. Sad. Happy.”
She told a story of a man who found a special shell. He gave it to his friend and then went on a trip. He never came back, but every time the second man looked at the shell he thought of the first man.
Colt nodded. That was exactly what he meant. “Lion,” Colt touched the belt. “Horse.”
Grandmother nodded and then shook her head. “Mate,” she pointed at the leather, “mate.”
Could Colt give Lion a gift without saying yes to his proposal? “Man leave. Shell. Mate?”
She laughed and shook her head. “Man not mate man.”
“Here?” Colt used the world for the place a person lives.
“Not now.” She touched her chest. “Girl yes.”
“Grandfather?”
She laughed. “Old fool.”
Colt smiled and covered his mouth.
She laughed again. She pointed at Colt. “Young fool.”
Colt nodded. “Not heart. Heart Lion. Heart Star.”
“Lion here now.”
“Star far. Not here now. Yes here later. Not here later.”
“Not here later? Horse home?” She pointed to the ground.
Colt shook his head. “Heart ouch. Horse sad.”
“Lion. Horse happy.”
The horrible thing was that Colt was genuinely happy here even as his heart and mind tugged him toward Orion. What if he found Orion, but Orion didn’t want to come back? What if he was happy and he wanted to stay? Could Colt give up his old life and go native?
No. Not unless he was with someone who filled his entire heart as he filled theirs. He needed to be able to share his heart and mind. He wasn’t capable of doing so in this language and he wouldn’t be around long enough to master it.
“Horse happy home.” Colt patted the ground.
She nodded her head. “Grandmother happy Horse home.”
Colt leaned his shoulder against hers. He might miss her most of all.
—
Lion tempted Colt out of the village and lead him to a pool. Colt hadn’t swum in forever. He might hate boats, but he didn’t hate the water. Swimming was good exercise which wouldn’t hurt his feet. And he didn’t have to worry about dangers, or so said the village children who refused to be left behind. They had stripped and were in the water before he unfastened his shoes.
Lion watched from the water as Colt removed his clothes. Colt fought down his embarrassment and concentrated on his buttons and zippers. Parts of his body had never seen the sun. He would need to stay in the shade if he didn’t want an uncomfortable burn. The sharp rocks hurt Colt’s feet and the cold water took his breath away, but he couldn’t let these little kids show him up.
He swam back and forth and raced against a few kids. He only won once and that time everyone cheered as if Colt beating a kid half his age was unexpected. Perhaps it was.
He got out before he was completely exhausted and laid in the shade. Lion climbed out and sat beside him. As he looked out over the water he told a story about a man who was so busy looking at a star that he missed the pretty stone at his feet. Then Lion slid back into the water.
Was Lion trying to say that in looking for Orion, Colt was missing Lion who was here with him now? Or was he talking about the boy he liked. Maybe his love was unrequited, which might be why he wouldn’t tell Colt, who couldn’t possibly know who he was talking about. Or maybe the story was of himself and Lion being happy with Colt, who he was allowed to court, rather than the man he wasn’t.
But that only worked if Colt stayed. He closed his eyes and let the warm air and the children’s laughter lulled him to sleep.
—
Colt woke with a heavy pressure on his chest. He struggled against it. Something covered his face. His heart beat in his ears almost too loud to hear the shouts. The weight lifted from him. Lion shouted at someone. Colt slowly opened his eyes.
“Horse?” Lion held a boy upside down by the leg.
Colt sat up. The children gathered around him, patting his face and sides. Some of them were cold and wet. Colt pointed toward his sun warmed clothes. Most of the children darted around the pool. A few jumped into the water. He hoped no one tried to swim his clothes back.
“Horse?” Lion asked again. The boy in his grip scowled.
Colt touched his chest. “Good.”
Lion let the boy down. Only the boy was more of a man. He wasn’t as big as Lion, but then who was? He glared at Colt, ready to pounce at any moment. The children brought Colt his clothes. They weren’t too wet, but they smelled better than they had, so someone must have washed them. Colt put on his drawers and his t-shirt and the bottom half of his coveralls. He tied the arms around his waist. His shoes were more work as he wasn’t used to them.
When he was properly dressed he walked over to Lion. He made the question noise.
Lion looked at Colt and then touched the man’s shoulder. The man flinched.
Colt looked back at Lion. “Lion,” he wouldn’t say heart because that would embarrass Lion if he were wrong, “Star?”
Lion blushed pink. The man tensed and made the question sound. Lion didn’t answer. The man took in a deep breath.
“Horse.” Colt touched his chest.
“Horse. Horse.” The man snarled. “Horse Horse Horse.” He thumped on his chest. “Lion Python.”
“Python?” Colt wanted to get this right. “Lion heart?”
Lion shook his head, but in a way that made Colt think he was right.
“Lion Python.” Python clapped his hands together and squeezed them. “Lion Python. Python who chases.” He thumped his chest hard enough to leave a mark “Python of water.”
Was Python Who Chases his name? If so why was it long? All the names he’d come across had been single and he’d never actually heard anyone say who since he left Vin at the port. Or of for that matter.
“Python of Water who Chases?”
Python nodded, but his eyes were still squinty.
“Long name?”
“Won name. Won Quest.”
So was he from nearby and got his name far away or did his quest lead him here?
“Horse quest. Find Star.”
Python looked at Colt from the corner of his eye. “Quest? Star?”
“Sun hair. Orion. Hunter of stars.”
Python rubbed his finger along his lips. “Horse heart?”
“Horse heart. Horse home.” Colt pointed to the sky.
“Horse go?”
Colt nodded.
Python dropped his hand and stiffened. “Horse woo Lion. Python woo Lion.”
The children laughed. One of them said, “Lion woo Horse.”
“Lion? Woo Horse?” Python turned to Lion, but Lion was already backing away. He broke into a run before Python could catch him.
Colt turned to the children. “Home?”
The two already dressed took Colt by the hand and lead him into the forest. The others shouted for them to wait. Hopefully Lion could explain things to Python before Colt saw him again.
—
Colt entertained the small children as the women made dinner. The belt was coming along nicely. Lion sat next to Colt. “Horse Lion go. Lion go. Python go.”
Colt smiled. “Find Star.”
Lion frowned. “Grandfather yes: Horse Lion go. Grandfather no: Python go.”
Colt glanced around to make sure the adults weren’t too close. “Grandfather no: Lion Python?”
Lion nodded sadly.
How in the world could Colt recommend Lion not tell his grandfather Python was coming? “Lion Horse go?”
“Lion Horse go. Grandfather happy.”
“Grandfather happy, Horse go, Lion stay.”
“No.” Lion thumped his chest. “Horse Lion go. Find Star.”
“Horse Lion find Star. Python quest? Find Horse Lion?”
Lion smirked and kissed Colt’s cheek.
Colt covered the spot with his hand and watched Lion walk away.
A man grunted behind Colt. He turned. Grandfather scowled after Lion. “Lion find Horse Star. Horse go.”
“Find Star. Go home. Fly.”
Grandfather grunted again and turned away. Grandmother giggled and her eyes twinkled.
Colt sat down beside Grandmother and put his loom between his knees. “Python.”
“Python new.”
“Python Lion.”
“Python woo Lion. Grandfather angry.”
Colt understood that much already. “Grandmother angry?”
“Grandmother not happy.”
If she didn’t have any problem with Lion being with a man, why didn’t she like Python. “Python strong.”
Grandmother nodded. “Python strong. Python fierce. Python… sharp.”
Now what exactly did sharp mean in this context? That Python was smart or that he hurt people or something else? “Python small.”
“Python big fierce, little body.
“Python heart Lion.”
Grandmother patted Colt’s knee. “Horse better.”
Colt sighed. How was he better? He would only break Lion’s heart.
—
Colt followed the children into the woods. He was on fetch and carry duty. He needed more leather if he was going to finish the belt and this work was in exchange for more hide.
A girl ran up, her arms full of red flowers. She handed one to Colt. “Eat.”
She stuffed a second into her mouth. “Good.”
Colt wasn’t in the habit of eating flowers. He took a small bite. The flower was spicy. She laughed at him and pointed to his mouth. He ate the rest of it. The center was sweet with nectar. The girl nodded and set the rest of the flowers into one of Colt’s baskets. “Lion. Woo.”
“Lion woo?”
She shook her head and laughed. “Horse woo Lion. Lion eat flower. Lion happy. Horse happy.”
Then she ran away before he could ask for a better explanation.
A thump sounded behind Colt. He turned. Python rose slowly from a crouch. Python scowled at Colt, the baskets, and especially the flowers. He pointed. “Horse not woo Lion.”
Colt offered him the basket. “Python woo Lion.”
Python struck his chest. “Python woo Lion. Horse not woo Lion.”
Colt offered the flowers again. “Horse happy. Python woo Lion. Lion happy.”
“Lion not happy. Lion woo Horse.”
“Lion woo Horse. Grandfather happy. Grandfather yes. Horse go. Lion woo Python. Grandfather not happy. Grandfather not no.”
Python stared at Colt like he was an idiot.
Colt sighed. “He can’t very well tell Lion that he can’t mate with you if he okayed Lion mating with me. Even if he only said yes because I am leaving. He set a precedent. If a man can mate with a man, Lion can mate with Python.”
Python nodded. “Lion mate Python.”
Colt felt stupid. He couldn’t get his idea across. He held out the basket of flowers. “Python woo Lion.”
Python scowled. “Python not girl. Python not woo flowers.”
Had that little flick of Python’s fingers meant with?
How would Colt ever learn this horrible language? “Then Horse will woo Lion with flowers.”
Python set his jaw. He probably got the sentiment even if Colt couldn’t speak Anglen in future tense or with prepositions.
Children’s giggles filled the air. Python glared into the trees then took off in the other direction.
The children brought Colt more gifts for Lion, gifts that according to the children were gifts women gave men. Colt wasn’t womanly. Or at least he didn’t see himself that way. Why did one person have to be the woman anyway? No wonder Python didn’t want to give Lion flowers.
—
Lion sat down next to Colt and looked at the lei Colt put together. This was harder than the flower necklaces he’d made at home with his sister because he had to be careful not to pierce the nectar sack or he’d have a big mess.
Lion pointed at the flowers and then at himself and made the noise for a question.
Colt smiled and half closed his eyes. “Do you want them?”
Lion squirmed in his seat. Colt blew him a kiss.
Lion got to his feet, his brows lowered, and made the question grunt. Colt raised his eyebrows. What had he done?
Besides flirting with a guy who was in love with someone else.
Lion leaned down and put his fingers against Colt’s lips. People here had to have blown kisses before. But how to explain without leading Lion on more than he already had. Colt should be more careful.
Lion grunted his question noise again.
Colt took hold of Lion’s hand and pressed a kiss against Lion’s fingers, then turned Lion’s hand and blew the kiss away.
Then Colt blew Lion another kiss with his own hand. When Lion repeated it back, Colt pretended to catch it and stick it to his cheek. Lion pouted then kissed his fingers and pressed them to Colt’s lips.
Colt laughed. He’d probably just taught this society that blown kisses were for lovers, not for parents with their children and children with each other. As far as Colt knew on Deresla III, where he was raised, lovers did not blow kisses.
Lion waved a hand in front of his lips. Colt blew him a kiss. He put it on his lips.
Colt nodded. He added the last two flowers to the lei and tied the string. Lion held out his hands then moved them behind his back.
Colt grinned and stood up. He lifted the lei to Lion and indicated for Lion to bow and then slipped the flower necklace over Lion’s head.
The villagers shouted. Colt looked around. He hadn’t noticed all the people gathered around them. Lion blushed. Grandmother grinned and Grandfather scowled. Lion’s parents held hands and smiled at each other.
Colt felt like a fraud.
He turned and walked into the woods. Lion caught up a moment later and made the question noise. Colt wanted to walk, to run away forever. But he stopped. He wasn’t angry at Lion. He was angry at himself.
He turned to Lion. “Come.”
And then he walked on.
Lion followed. Colt walked past the swimming hole and into the trees beyond. He’d never been this far in this direction. He spotted some huge stones in a clearing and climbed on one. Lion stood before him. Colt pointed at the lei. “Python.”
“Lion.” Lion touched his chest.
Colt leaned down and touched a flower. “Python. Give to Python. Eat flowers together.” He sighed and straightened up. “Really, what is the point of trying to communicate with you? You can’t understand what I am saying. Lion Python eat flowers. Lion eat. Python eat. No girl. No boy. Mates.”
Lion nodded and smiled. Python appeared with a thud. Lion turned to him and in rapid fire words and gestures explained the flowers and blown kisses and maybe more that Colt couldn’t understand. These two had no trouble communicating.
Lion took the lei off and draped it over Python’s shoulder. Python smiled at Lion then scowled at Colt.
Colt deserved that scowl.
Python jumped up on a rock and Lion stood on a third. Lion blew Python a kiss. Python caught it, but then stared at his hand as if he expected to see it. Lion blew a kiss to Colt. Colt placed it on his cheek. Lion laughed. Colt blew one to Python. Python put it on top of his head and blew one to Lion, who placed it on his lips. Python’s eyes brightened.
That’s what Colt wanted to see. “Python Lion mate.”
Lion blushed. “No.”
“Lion Horse leave. Lion Horse find Star. Python follow.” Colt covered his mouth. How was he supposed to say ‘without telling anyone’? “Horse Lion Python find Star. Horse Star home.” Colt used the place for where one lived. “Lion Python mate. Lion Python home.”
This time he used the word for planet.
Lion looked at Python, who asked him many questions, some of which he seemed to know the answer to. Lion didn’t bother to ask Colt anything, but after several moments Python turned to Colt. “Horse home?”
Colt nodded. “Horse fly home.”
“Fly?”
Colt mimed a bird in flight. “Fly stars.” He used the small gesture that might mean a preposition to Python. Lion’s people didn’t seem to use it. “Fly Star stars.”
Lion nodded at Python. “Horse heart Star.”
Python frowned. “Star heart Horse?”
Colt shook his head.
“Poor Horse.” Python didn’t sound like he meant it. But he was giving his scowl a rest. “Lion Horse go dawn. Grandfather see Python. Python follow?”
Finally someone understood. Colt nodded.
“Bring?” Python and Horse had a long conversation.
Colt was tired and he needed sleep if he was going to leave in the morning. He stood up and pointed the way he thought they’d come. “Home?”
Lion corrected his path and followed him. Colt stopped him and pointed at Python. “Eat flowers. Lion eat. Python eat.”
And Python’s face transformed with a smile. He was a cute kid. Not Colt’s type, but cute none the less. At least when he didn’t ready to kill anyone.
Lion agreed to stay, but Python said Colt shouldn’t go back to the village. They couldn’t trick Lion’s grandfather if they arrived home at different times. At least that’s what Colt thought he meant.
Colt would wait at the swimming hole. He had to back track only twice before he found it and then he lay on a sun warmed rock as the sun set and the stars came out.
He wanted to be among them. He wanted to fly again. He wanted to see things and go places.
Maybe with someone, although that would mean trading in the skipper he’d just paid off. And who would go with him anyway?
A man like Lion, so well adapted to his home, would not fare well in space. Python might. Where was he from originally? Where had he picked up the gestured prepositions? Where had he gone that he had who and of added to his name if no one in the area used either part of speech?
—
Lion roused Colt from sleep. “Home.”
He prattled to Colt until they neared the village, but Colt had to concentrate on not stumbling over his sleepy feet and only caught that the plans had changed.
Grandmother and Grandfather were still awake when Lion and Colt returned to the village. Grandmother kissed them both. Grandfather put his hand on Colt’s shoulder. “Go?”
“Dawn? Find Star. Fly home.”
Grandfather nodded.
Grandmother tisked and pushed Lion and Colt into their sleeping hut.
Colt climbed into bed and Lion lay beside him. Lion kissed his fingers and pressed then to Colt’s lips. “Sleep.”
But how was Colt supposed to sleep if everyone in the village was listening to hear them have sex? Unless that’s what they thought Lion and Colt had done to make them arrive home so late.
Colt waited until Lion’s breath evened out in sleep then he relaxed into the mattress. He really needed to get home.
