The Tent & The Change Series "Earth" - Part 6
#1 of The Tent & The Change "Earth"
The Tent & The Change Series "Earth" Part 6 By thwale
---10 Months 6 days 23 Hours 48 Minutes 16 Seconds( 00:10:06:11:48:16 PM )
The doctor had removed himself earlier saying he needed to get ready to go, we wished him a good night, his final words to us "oh by the way if I ever meet you on another world you may not recognize me but i'll know you and then there are things I would love to show you..." very cryptic.
It was dark outside and everyone was yawning "I think we should retire to our rooms, wait a moment... Drevon has no room yet."
"Oh my I totally forgot, please forgive me, but I don't have another room available... would you mind sleeping on the couch?"
"Oh no bother I have a better idea though... Nuree? Elden? my I share your room tonight?"
I had to think about it, I wisperd to Elden "what do you think?" Elden nodded his head yes...
"Excellent I will be right in... It has been such a long time since I had contact with my own kind, and seeing you altogether is making me homesick..."
"We understand and that's mainly why we said yes."
Flo wished us goodnight and went to her room smiling after she closed her door we headed towards our room... We then entered our room "I should change myself back into our species, that way I can enjoy the smells and sounds as they were meant to be experienced."
"Do you mean its that easy to change?"
"Usually it is, infact one of the devices I brought with me is designed to do and undo the change..."
"There are many ways to change yourself, mine was basically cosmetic, i'm still an Alotl biologically, that reminds me... I forgot to tell you the name of our species... we are Alotl our race is known as Alotles..."
"Our Star System is located near a G-Type star named 'Irundai' and therefore known as the Irundai Star System... our home planets name is 'Trihs' there are 3 planets that support life in our Star System..." "In total our system contains 12 planets 28 moons and three asteroid belts, one of them is a planetoid that was destroyed by a collision with a comet, the planet that was destroyed was the closest planet to our star, it had no life and now is just a belt of debris circling our sun.
"The outer planets are similar and different then Sol's Star System... to continue... "The fourth planet and furthest from our Star that supports life is our homeworld of 'Trihs' the Third planet is 'Tilet' the second planet is known as 'Tchysr' I have family on 'Tchysr' the outer planets we can discuss at another time as I am very tired and certain you are as well" he yawns again "it's been a long day..."
We sat there silent and just watched him... he talked as he went about his business "Trihs is our birth planet, we then moved to the other 2 planets of Tilet and Tchysr once our technology allowed it."
He walked over to his bags and removed a small metal box, it had what looked like an antenna on one side and a panel with buttons and a small screen on the other side, he began to tap out commands on the small keyboard. He then extended the antenna and touched himself with it "I would use the dish to transmit it, but since we are so close together it could have dire effects."
He touched a red flashing button and suddenly his form began to faze in and out...
A black cloud enveloped him and small lightning's could be seen within... then it slowly started to dissipate as it did we were able to see him again, but his form was different now. Once he was fully visible we knew immediately that this was his true form, he was one of us or rather he now looked like his people and our new form. His smell was strange and yet recognizeable, it was our peoples scent and we enjoyed it, suddenly we had an urge to move close to him and sniff him, me an Elden felt funny and hesitated, he must have noticed our hesitation...
"What's the matt..." stopped mid sentence "oh I see... don't worry about it, the act of smelling each other is necessary for us to recognize each other..." he seemed to find it amusing "as you have found out our sense of smell is powerful, we also have odor memories, we take snapshots of scents and file them in our brains, they are then linked to the required image or memory..."
"Simply put... when we see someone we know, we recognize them mainly with smell, said smell then links to our visual cortex and thus triggers the knowledge of who that person object or place is."
"That's how we remember most things, our world is based on smell... yes I know..." he said this as he saw Elden start to speak "humans and others on this planet take longer to classify by smell... that's because they are new to our genetic memory."
"Even With our sentiency we still need to smell everything, the only problems with this system is alien civilizations and smells, they take longer to classify, our brains need to create special gene storage for them and as such take a greater amount of time to link to memories of people places and things not of our world..."
"I am very tired, the change also wipes you out..." I interrupted him here "that's why we passed out isn't it?"
"Very good, you are quick and that will serve you all very well in the coming years... now let's finish memorizing each other" we proceeded to sniff each other from head to toe, it went quickly but after we finished we knew Drevon so well we could never forget him. He was a bit smaller then Elden, but his coloring was very different, he also had a scar on his tail, even Renai woke and began to sniff at him so I held her so she could recognize him, she was quick for shortly after sleep had reclaimed her so I tucked her in. I then settled down on my mat to sleep... Elden came over and snuggled between me and Renai... Drevon moved to my other side pressing against me... it seems we have much to learn for our peoples sleeping habits would definitely take some getting used to.
It was strange but not uncomfortable... nothing sexual... this must then be how our people normally sleep... they like to sleep in groups and be close to their own at this time... it seemed right somehow.... still... As Drevon and my mate lowered their muzzles to their chests in sleep I had one last fleeting thought before I myself fell into a very deep sleep...
"I wonder what seeing a civilization full of our people will smell like...?"
Then I slept... with the last thought unfinished...
The candles were still lit however they extinguished themselves once the wicks were gone...
---10 Months 7 days 11 Hours 32 Minutes 40 Seconds( 00:10:07:11:32:40 AM )
We woke a bit late the next morning, Flo had let us sleep and even Renai had not woken for her early morning meal... I was still thinking about what we had been told when a few minutes later Renai awoke... she started to cry and before I could get her to feed the others woke up.
"Morning mate" Elden sleepily spoke "Morning" I replied as I reached over him and grabbed little Renai... quickly bringing her to me I settled down and she began to breakfast.. as she fed I reached over and hugged Elden giving him a good morning kiss. Drevon stretched and yawned and looking over at us smiling widely as he took in the scene before him... Me and Elden were huddled around Renai who was feeding and we must have looked like the perfect family.
"I see you are doing very well indeed hehe..."
He could not have been more correct we both looked over at him "yes."
"I will have to change to human form now."
"Why don't you stay as you are?" Elden always asking questions first.
"No one accept the doctor Flo and you know what I truly look like and due to reasons I don't wish to go in to now it's better this way... don't look at me that way (I must have looked confused) once we leave I can then be myself again."
"Did you say leave?" me and Elden together.
"Why... do you wish to stay...?"
"Well yes and no" I figured something needed to be said "this is our planet although no longer our people it just seems strange to hear the words "leave."
"As I told the doctor and by the way he is a scientists and researcher he just uses a different title when he's in his original form..."
"What might that be?" did I really want to know? yes I decided.
"He is for all intent and purposes a plant..."
"We know that..."
"No I mean really he IS a PLANT... his lifeform is a mammalian plant species evolved from an early fusion of life on his planet when a chemically active comet impacted his planet... the genetic strain caused a mutation....
I had to stop him "that's ok we get the point... it's a bit early for a biology lesson even an alien one..."
"Sorry... it's the teacher in me... the fact that the word PLANT has more then one meaning I knew... that is why I answered the way I did last night..."
He chuckled "His people are PLANTS and he was a PLANT..."
"Hmmmm... how are we going to leave I assume you mean leave earth?" sometimes you just have to change the subject.
"Yes... once the doctor or (he made a sound like metal bearings falling onto a piece of thin wood) as he is known by his people get's back we will leave..."
I was going to remind him...
"Don't worry we will explain to Fainbourn why we are leaving before we go so you may say your goodbyes then."
"Is Flo coming with us?" Elden asked before I had a chance.
"If she want's to we will have to ask her" he raised his voice "Flo? could you come in here a moment?"
We heard her footsteps and then the door opened... as she entered the room the smell of cooking food entered as well, my mouth started to water and both Elden and Drevon acted the same.
"Yes?"
Then she stopped in mid-walk as she saw Drevon her eyes got round "who are you?."
"I am the man from the Fair..."
"The fair? oh yes I remember you told us that yesterday it must have slipped my mind" then she gave him an appraising look "you are a good looking Alotl."
"Thank you madam and you are a good looking human."
She smiled and blushed "oh hush up, your going to make this old women cry..."
"I am serious madam, I do not lie... well about things like that anyway..."
"Well thank you then... by the way breakfast is ready..."
Drevon cleared his throat and licked his lips "fist things first we are planning to leave and we would like to know if you wish to join us... you did say last night that you wanted to experience the change."
She looked a bit taken aback "you mean leave Fainbourn? I have lived here all my life and..."
Drevon stopped her "you misunderstand me Flo... not only leave Fainbourn but the Earth as well..."
"Leave... the... earth...?...*" she paled then started to faint, Drevon leaped in a single hop and grabbed her before she hit the floor... catching her and lowering her carefully "a bit surprised I think."
"You could say that..." I had to agree with Drevon.
She slowly awoke a few moments later "sorry I fainted it was just such a shock to hear those words... I mean I was expecting it but when it came... I guess I really wasn't ready for it..." she laughed lightly, stood up and dusted herself off.
"I need a few moments to think on it, in the meantime "would you all like some breakfast?"
En how! we would!
We all moved quickly after her to the dining room... the food was waiting for us and even Drevon seemed impressed he looked like he hadn't eaten in days. We all dug in... after a late breakfast... brunch? we sat back on our tails and let the food settle... Flo went into the kitchen and started washing dishes.
"Do you think she will say yes?" Elden asked.
"I do not know, we will have to wait and see..." Drevon was usually a good judge of character.
Just then there was a knock at the door then we heard Flo walk over and open it a few seconds later in came the doctor with a small bag "It's some plantlife and specimens that I wish to take with me."
Flo went back to the kitchen.
"Umm... I would like to shower and groom before we leave anyone else?"
"That would be splendid" Drevon enthused "my I join you?" that stopped me for a bit "uh do we bathe together as well?"
"Of course... remember you are talking about a people who do not wear clothing... the taboos and hang ups of earth do not apply..."
"That's partly what I meant... the shower is to small for more then one at a time so we need to take turns."
"Oh I see, yes do you wish to go first?"
"No I must finish with Renai, I also think she needs a change... you first..."
"Thank you" He moved off to the bathroom then we heard the water turn on.
"I will have to brush him Elden you get yours after his then watch Renai as I get mine ok?"
"No problem..."
"Are you ok with me brushing him?"
"My old human self would have been jealous but this new form finds it normal... no I have no problems but if you brush him as you do me he is going to want you to do it every time... hehe."
"Smart ass" I said smiling."
Drevon came out and went outside to shake off... as he returned to the room Elden went to shower.
"Um Drevon do our people brush each other?"
"Why yes we do... it's part of the bonding process."
"Well get over here then... you are about to be brushed..."
He smiled and skipped over like a school child... turning around he sat in front of me and I began to brush him... he just murred quietly.
The doctor then removed himself saying he needed to go help Flo.
Just as I finished with Drevon Elden walked out he didn't even glance our way just stepped outside and shook himself off. I had almost forgotten about Renai I looked down quickly and noticed she was reaching out with her little paw and lightly scratching Drevon, I smiled... a very quick learner indeed. Drevon noticed my stare... turning around he saw Renai's little paw making scratching motions in the air where he had been resting he then looked at me "you see it's in our genes even little Renai want's to groom."
She then pulled in her paw and just laid there looking up at me... I looked down and smiled she just grinned then began to play with a chicken feather that had somehow gotten on me. Elden came back in and sat on his tail with his back to me, I began to brush and watched as little Renai's hand came out and joined me in grooming my mate... Elden sighed as I brushed him out... Drevon just stood there watching for a couple of seconds smiling he turned away and went to join the doctor and Flo.
We were alone "what do you think" I said "do we really want to leave earth?"
Elden tried to be diplomatic "well we don't really belong anymore yet my insides tell me we do... do you not want to go?"
Ha... tricky him turning the question back on me.
"Yes I do but..."
"But what...?"
"What about our families?"
"They are no longer our families... we are a different lifeform and belong with our new people and anyway I heard from Drevon that the authorities have declared us missing and presumed dead..."
"Are you kidding me?"
"That's what I said then he showed me a newspaper story and a copy of the police files from the same officer who's car you turned over ... no its no joke for all intent and purposes we are dead to this world and our families... They will look for us but never find us..."
So that was it then any possible excuse I might make was gone... we were free to do as we wanted... and we knew what to do. I finished grooming him... he reluctantly moved and we called in everybody.
Drevon spoke first "I see you two are finished now we can get down to business..." he turned to Flo "you have never seen the change occur you will see it now... I must return to my human form until we leave the planet."
I looked at Flo as Drevon went to his machine and began setting it.
"Flo... have you made your decision to go or stay?"
She just watched Drevon and I let then question rest... he then changed and I watched Flo as she just looked on speechless... once Drevon changed Flo seemed to come out of her trance.
"yes yes I have decided to go..." she looked a bit pale "does the change hurt?"
"Not at all... every lifeform has a different experience during the change and none to this day have reported any pain at all, only tiredness after the process has ended..." he then yawned proving it.
---10 Months 7 days 14 Hours 43 Minutes 25 Seconds( 00:10:07:02:43:25 PM )
We were all at the farewell meeting in the hut on the lake... Me the Mayor my Mate The Doctor Flo and Drevon all on stage.
The Mayor spoke first "People of Fainbourn we are here to wish a good bye to our friends and family... Doctor Burt who has been our vet and doctor for over 4 years always said he would have to leave one day we all hoped it wouldn't be for a long time... Mrs. Flo Silvias Who has been with us her whole life and Nuree and Family who have been with us for almost a year..."
"To say they will be missed is an understatement, they have been a big part of our community and they will not be soon forgotten but from what I hear they are going to be more then safe and in good company..."
"We can always wish them well and hope they will visit in the future... please give them a big hand and wish them well... we will miss them..."
We got a standing ovation... we could hear the audience yelling "stay with us don't go!" and such there were even some tears...
The Mayor turned to us "does anyone have anything to say?"
While we thought about it we just looked at each other... Elden was the one who spoke however "Neighbors and friend me and my family have enjoyed being a part of your community... I cannot tell you everything about where we are going I can however say that we may meet again... it has been our pleasure to live here... I won't say good bye rather until next time..."
This time we clapped as well as the audience.
The Mayor finished clapping and then asked us if there was anything he or the town could do for us before we left... It was my turn to speak "you have done more for us then you may ever know all we want from you is to continue to be the people you are... Fainbourn is a wonderful village and should remain that way and would you want anything more?"
A chorus of "NOs" and another standing ovation... as we shook hands and paws with the mayor we stepped down to the floor and started walking out... along the way we had people shaking our hands and even hugging us... some placed small items in our hands to remember them by... a piece of jewelry a picture and even a couple of marbles from a very small boy, these and other items.
We got out side and boarded Flo's wagon.. we rode to the ferry and crossed the lake.. Flo gave the horses to her neighbor and picked up her few bags, she locked her door and put the key in her pocket... with one last look she turned from her house and got on the wagon. Meanwhile Drevon had hitched his horse to the wagon and was setting the bit and reigns... preparing to go.
I lifted Flo's bags and Elden got the doctors we climbed in the back and settled on our tails I made sure that Renai was snug in her carrier and that it was strapped tight to me... the doctor got in back with us andsat on the floor of the wagon.
Drevon shook the reigns and we started forward.
---10 Months 7 days 16 Hours 22 Minutes 56 Seconds( 00:10:07:04:22:56 PM )
As we left the Village of Fainbourn we could see people waving and I thought to myself "I do hope we can return some day" out loud however "One day we will be back" and almost everyone agreed... We were on our way to a whole new adventure and Elden and me just hugged each other while looking down at Renai and wondered what would happen next...
-To be continued in Part 7-
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