AKLESH (Under Strange Skies) Read Online Free

the tribe didn’t have a lot of faith in his team. Excluding himself, it was made up of people that everyone considered different from the rest of the tribe. Try as he might to be a good example, his friends were determined not to conform. Yet, in good conscience, he couldn’t abandon them.

    “He’s no danger,” said Kai, hugging his knees and contemplating the fire. He had been sitting on a mat farthest away from the group and had not spoken for a long time. This was the first thing he had said since the chaos earlier.

    Tyro glared at him. His thoughts were a mixture and anger, frustration and genuine worry.
    Nobody was ready to discuss why Kai knew the stranger wasn’t dangerous, something they were still endeavoring to wrap their brains around. It was difficult for the powerful Aklesh warrior to even acknowledge as having happened.

    Arguing over the little things had been their way of ignoring the enormity of the real issue that faced them. The leader felt that moment was a good enough time to address it. He was about to speak when Kai broke his fascination with the blaze. He looked directly at the group.

    “Quiet. The stranger’s waking up.”

    The certainty in Kai’s knowledge of this sent a shiver down the hunting group’s collective spines.
    It was so unnatural. Tyro caught Cho’s eyes, and her expression mirrored his concern. Although she had been Kai’s defender in the situation so far, it was obvious she was carrying heavy doubts of her own.

    Kai got up from his mat. Cautiously he approached the stranger who was softly groaning and beginning to stir. Sensing the injured man’s pain and confusion, Kai instinctively wanted to alleviate it.
    The apprentice healer couldn’t help the urge, and the feeling scared him. He knew very little about the young man who lay before them.

    Kai had heard about Sky Tribesman when he was younger but had never imagined he’d see one.
    Though they resembled his people, there were many differences.

    The stranger’s hair was very dark and short.
    His frame was lean and he had a dusting of hair upon his chest and on his forearms. Such a thing was odd among the Aklesh. There were no color markings on his flesh, at least far as they could see.
    None of them had been very meticulous in their examination of him, only removing his burgundy jacket and shirt when they laid him down.
    Strangest of all, his skin was a funny sort of cream color and entirely uniform.

    The Sky Tribesman groaned again, louder this time, and squinted hard. He touched his forehead where there was a little clotted scar from a small but deep wound.

    Kai addressed his friends. “He’s confused.
    Disoriented.” He then turned back to the stranger and sent the same words to him that he had sent moments before. Be still .

    Chi, Che, Cho and Tyro all gathered closer but would still not come further than a few feet. Kai was the only one willing to be at the stranger’s side. Tyro was the first among them to speak.

    “Who is he? Find out who he is and what he’s doing here?”

    The young Aklesh turned to his friend with an expression that said to slow down. An interrogation would have to wait. Kai returned his attention to the patient who was starting to open his eyes. He sent him more thoughts.

    Relax. You’re safe. We’ll take care of you.

    All of this was so strange to Gar. He slowly dragged himself into consciousness. Judging from the dull ache, he assumed that his head had a really good slam during the accident. He was experiencing thoughts and feelings that were foreign to him.

    “There’s a voice inside my head,” he muttered. After a moment of letting the swirling waves of his vision clear he gazed upon his rescuers for the first time.

    Savages!

    The primitive people’s skin was light grey, for the most part. What appeared to be a light blue patterning lay across their shoulders, the lateral edges of their chests, up the sides of their necks and along the sides of their faces.