“I think we should do a simple exploration program,” Kal said as his clawed fingers scrolled down a list I couldn’t read.
“Whatever you want.”
“What doyouwant? We can start a story. Adventure. War.Romance.” His lips quirked.
“Exploration is fine.” I had no idea what was about to happen, so I didn’t have an opinion.
After a moment, he moved to my side. “It’s initializing.”
The walls, floor, and ceiling began to flicker until the room vanished and a forest appeared.
“It’s like virtual reality,” I said, gaping.
“I have no idea what that is,” Kal said. “You can walk around, see the sights, and hear the noises. You can only go so far before you’ll hit a wall but with this,” he held up a remote similar to a track-ball mouse, “you can scroll forward or in whateverdirection, and the scenery will change. You can’t get hurt with the safety protocols.”
Taking a deep breath, I commented, “I don’t smell anything.”
“It can’t create smell or feel.”
“It’s still cool.”
“Cool?”
“Amazing.”
The trees were tall and wide like redwoods, but they were dark purple with light blue wisteria flowers, much like the one in the garden. Bugs with massive wings like butterflies that glittered in a rainbow of colors floated by, except they were the size of kittens. Dark green vines with red and blue blooms wrapped around the trees. Oddly shaped birds flew overhead while they released whistling songs.
I jerked to a stop and pointed to an animal the size of a moose but was a cross between a lizard and a worm. The creature was red with smooth skin, deadly talons, a long tail, and four beady eyes. Its forked tongue snapped out and snatched one of the butterfly-like insects.
“What is that?” My voice was quiet, despite the fact the animal wasn’t really there.
“A verculmis,” Kal replied. Quieter words followed: wyrm, lizard, frog, and worm. It was like NAID couldn’t decide the exact translation.
“What does it eat?”
He chuckled, moving behind me until his chest brushed my back. “Not people. They eat insects. They’re actually quite calm. They can and will attack if threatened, though.”
“It’s weirdly awesome.”
We wandered the massive forest until a monotone voice announced, “Fifteen minutes.”
“Did you want to get another hour?” Kal asked.
“No, but I would like to come back.”
Kal smiled, revealing his sharp canines. It made my heart flutter and sunlight pool under my skin. “I’d like that,” he said.
When I headed toward the door, his tail curled around my wrist, stopping me. I looked at him in question, and he said, “We still have time.”
I strode in a different direction. Kal stayed beside me, his shoulder brushing mine.
Chapter 13
My mentor.
I sat on the couch, anxious—a normal state of existence for me. I was meeting my mentor for the first time. Kal had already left to see Pimtimzol. He’d touched my cheek for the barest moment when he said goodbye. He’d been doing that more often the last couple of days, and I didn’t stop him for reasons I refused to think about.
Lucy chittered at the paper-thin screen. Kal had brought the TV-sized screen home yesterday so we could watch shows together. Once Kal had heard about cat TV, he’d been playingbirds and fish for Lucy. She was extremely excited about this new change and leaped at the TV or screamed when it was off.
