Stranded on a Tiny Planet

Visiting Anashee- Part 1

A nublar later, Seraysa felt Merco's breathing change pace beneath her which awoke her. It was faster as was his heartbeat. Before she could react, he sat up suddenly, his thunderous shout deafening her. She clung to the fabric of his shirt as his chest heaved beneath her. Slowly, his breathing settled to a more normal rhythm. Seraysa grunted, trying to maintain her grip but she eventually couldn't and slid down the giant's chest until she settled onto his belly.

Merco blinked and looked down at her, "Oh. Sorry, Pixie. Bad dream."

"Merco!" Anu's voice suddenly rang out from above, making Merco look.

"Sey-tala, Anu, Traynar." He greeted which they returned, landing on the ground next to him.

Seraysa greeted them as well, "What's going on?"

Anu gestured, "They've opened the gates of Anashee."

"Thank goodness."

"Tomorrow near sunset there's going to be a celebration and Elder Felreh wants Merco to come to Anashee." Anu explained.

"Really?"

She nodded, "I've just got to get Merco to understand."

Traynar grabbed his energy staff, "Here. We've done this before. Merco!"

The giant alien watched him draw the map he'd drawn before with the canyon, the lake, and Anashee. Merco nodded with remembrance. Traynar pointed to him and then to the drawing of Anashee.

"Anashee. You are going to Anashee with us." He said.

...

A few pictures in the sand and several gestures later, Merco figured out he was being invited to what he could only assume was these aliens' capital city. He wasn't sure how he felt about it. On the one hand it was of course good that they weren't seeing him as a monster to be feared and were wanting him to come. On the other hand, every horrible thing that could go wrong was playing disturbingly in Merco's head.

What if he accidentally destroyed something? What if he stepped on someone?

He wasn't sure if it was overall a good idea. But he couldn't turn down the invitation if he wanted to foster good relations with the natives. He was, after all, going to be stranded here for a long time.

Merco wanted to make a good impression as he had with the canyon settlement so he decided he'd go to the lake and try to get the blood out of his clothes and of course have a bath. He had a tough time trying to ask if they had any soap or something of the nature to clean his clothes and himself. However, what they showed him in the forest wasn't soap but some sort of blue colored bush that smelled almost like spearmint with a touch of floral undertones. A strange mix but not unpleasant to his nose. He picked a few of the bushes and then had to convince his little friends to not follow him there.

Pixie had eagerly landed on his shoulder and he had to gently place her back on the ground, pointing in a 'stay' motion. He didn't need an audience for his bath. She looked disappointed but he had a feeling after he washed all of his clothes he'd be naked for a while whilst they dried. His little friends didn't need to see that.

...

The next day...

Merco couldn't get the blood all out of his shirt but at least he and his clothes both smelled nicer. He even borrowed Traynar's energy spear and shaved his neck and trimmed his beard so he wouldn't look like...well...an island castaway. Shaving was apparently entertaining to his friends who had watched him with rapt interest as he used the alien weapon like a tiny razor. He swore they were laughing at him as they tittered quickly at one another. It was a surprisingly good tool for it. But when he was finished he looked and felt much better about his appearance.