Stranded on a Tiny Planet

Visiting Anashee- Part 1

After he seemed ready he was led away from the canyon by Anu and Traynar whilst Pixie and Verin rode on his shoulder. The two fliers led him to what he could only assume was an Easterly direction, through the forest and away from the lake. He walked for well over an hour following his guides until he approached a mountainous area with huge dark rocks that looked like giant pieces of layered shale, jutting up from the ground at all angles. Amid them he started to see trees that were different than all the others growing. They were wide, tall trees, taller than even him with black bark. As they passed one, Merco noted that there were walkways winding around the thick trunk as well as nest-looking shops dangling from the upper branches. He could also see some of the little aliens on the spiraled walkways going around the tree.

He smiled and gave a small wave, "Sey-tala."

A few of the aliens watched him walk by but more dashed into the nearest doorway to hide. Merco dropped his hand, not feeling as optimistic as he tried to be. But he kept following Anu and Traynar through the rocks until they led him through a space between them. He had to squeeze through, turning sideways. He grunted and came out the other side.

Anu and Traynar had stopped and they pointed, "Anashee."

Merco beheld the city built into a crescent of rocky mountainside. Using the mountains for two-thirds of its border wall the city spilled out from the rocks and into the valley below. The same huge black-barked trees formed skyscrapers that rose throughout the city with a particularly fat, large one at its center. Each tree was connected with vast networks of roped walkways that flowed all the way back to the mountainside. The trees were carved beautifully with curving geometric designs and were covered in small openings, like a vast bird house made to look like a high-rise. A wall made of mosaic-like bricks adorned the front of the city complete with two large gates on the top of the wall and at the base. Beyond the wall lay geometric quilts of what looked like farmland and a veiny river flowed through all of it.

Merco raised a brow and felt himself awed by the sight. It was very pretty. However, he felt a strong reluctance for getting any closer, even though they were still several miles from the gate. He felt like he was about to walk into a vast china shop filled with rare and valuable glass baubles that if touched would shatter into a million pieces. Anu and Traynar flew down and indicated what looked like a road or path off to the left. Merco looked down and noted that it was paved but he still felt hesitant.

Pixie patted his neck reassuringly and said something to him along with his name. He turned his head a bit and sighed deeply.

Here goes nothing.

Merco followed the two fliers, treading on the path one foot in front of the other as if he were tip toeing on a tight rope. The path wasn't much wider than his boot and whatever it was paved with seemed to hold up fine even under his weight.

So far so good.

Slowly and tediously he walked along, keeping his eyes down to ensure he wasn't going to step on anything he shouldn't; number one concern was to avoid stepping on someone. It was already stressful and he wasn't even next to the city where the population was yet! With every step he drew closer and closer to Anashee but they hadn't seen anyone using the road.

He came to the river and a little bridge that spanned the lands cut by the waterway. Though the bridge was wide enough for both of his feet to sit side by side he stopped immediately, not trusting its structural integrity against his weight. Last he knew, Merco weighed shy of two hundred and forty pounds at six foot three inches. He used to weigh more in his military days but he'd lost a bit of weight as he aged. On this planet he had no idea how that translated to tonnage and he had no intention to find out. The river wasn't wide in and of itself, but it consisted of many tiny branches that flowed through a marshy valley that fed the surrounding farmland. He could've jump it when he was younger but his knees weren't great anymore and if he accidentally fell...

"Yeah...better not. Guess I'll have to go through it."

Arching his feet up like he was wearing high heels he stepped to the side of the bridge and all but tip toed across the marshy expanse. Despite his care, his boots left deep muddy holes that filled with water and merged several of the river's branches as he crossed.

"Well...damn."

In about four or five stretched steps he arrived on drier ground with muddy boot soles. He turned back and made a face at the craters he'd formed. But, none of his friends scolded him or gave a look of protest so he guessed it was ok.

Beyond the river was the patchwork of what looked like fields. All kinds of exotic alien plants of every hue grew in neat contained rows. Anu flew down over a pink looking field gracefully and fetched up something before flying back up to Merco's eye level. She held up...something...it looked like a magenta squash with tentacles all over it. Merco couldn't help but make an uncomfortable expression. She clicked in what sounded like a laugh and took a bite from the strange piece of produce. It appeared she liked it. She held it up to him and he held out his hand to accept it. This time she didn't startle and dropped it into his awaiting palm. Merco rolled it around until he could get a grip on it. Suspicious he smelled the alien fruit...vegetable...thing...but it didn't smell like anything. He popped it into his mouth and crushed it with his teeth. The second he did a foul, acrid taste assaulted his tongue. Merco's eyes got big and he spit it out fast, making a face of disgust.

"Oh God...tastes like a sweaty sock." He all but choked.

Anu looked horrified but then she seemed to laugh at his expression. Verin and Pixie were twittering with what sounded like laughter too on his shoulder. He wiped the offensive taste from his tongue with the collar of his shirt and shivered.

"Thanks...but that's a hard nope for me." He admitted. "You like that?"

The little aliens seemed to still be laughing at him but eventually Anu and Traynar resumed their flight ahead of him.

He followed and noted that he hadn't seen anyone out and about in the fields or on the road.

Perhaps they'd been warned about his visit and were staying out of his way? Perhaps...they were hiding?

Not that he was complaining. It made walking much less stressful without tiny bodies near his feet. But he wondered if they were afraid of him. He wouldn't be surprised if that was true; he probably did look like a giant monster to them. It took almost three days and several encounters for Anu and Traynar not to flinch anytime he moved. Pixie had only been briefly afraid but she had just hatched from her cocoon and probably didn't know any better. The aliens from the canyon had been afraid of him until he saved a few of them from a landslide. Now he was about to be thrust amongst a bigger population who had yet to see him.

True he'd been invited by the leader, but would they still panic? Would they all hide from him?

Merco certainly didn't want to start a riot or a panic by just showing up.

Soon they were almost at the front gates of Anashee which came up to Merco's waist. On the top of the wall Merco could see sentries stationed at most of the points that surrounded the city all dressed in uniforms like Anu and Traynar wore.

"That must mean Anu and Traynar are part of Anashee's military or guard force?" Merco surmised in his head.

They had seen him coming from miles away and looked stiff with readiness as he approached. Merco could also see lots of the little aliens crowding the parapet just behind the wall, eyes boring into him. It was very quiet...awkwardly quiet. The fearful anticipation was palpable. Merco stopped abruptly, making Pixie and Verin grip his shirt tightly. He was probably ten yards from the wall and didn't feel comfortable walking right up to it.

"That would probably freak them out. Just...be cool. Quiet." He thought carefully to himself.

It was like trying to approach a deer; stillness and silence would bring them closer...walking up to them would make them flee. Merco swallowed nervously and then slowly lowered himself to the ground and sat in a casual recline, careful not to jar his shoulder passengers. Then he waited quietly.

From the front gate on the top arch he saw a small group float up. The distinct golden robe of the leader whom he'd met with him a couple days ago caught Merco's eye. Anu and Traynar flew to meet them. After a moment the golden robed leader shouted out over what sounded like a speaker system that echoed through the city walls. Merco heard his name but didn't understand anything beyond that.

And then the lower gates opened.