(Ok.)
If Abby was nervous about having a small group of humans visit Nyt’s house to hear her peace idea, she was nearly terrified now. She fiddled with her spear as she made sure she wasn't leaving anything important behind. Of course, she and Nyt would be coming back but… They were also bringing a few pieces of Nyt’s collection as a small peace offering like Peter had suggested. ”Please let this go well.” she mumbled into her mask. ”Everyone doing ok?”
Both Nyt's and Adar's tails twitched nervously. So did their ears.
"Are you sure about this?" Adar asked.
"It'll be fine Adar," Caleb said. "Now could you put me down?" He asked as he was being held be Adar.
Nyt's tail curled slightly around Abby, to comfort both Abby and Nyt.
Abby's lips twitched in a small smile at Nyt’s gesture and Caleb’s question. ”Get comfortable, Caleb. He's probably not going to let you go until we get there and I don't know if he’ll put you down even then.” she teased.
”There you are.” Peter waved them over.
"Damn right I'm not," Adar said.
Caleb sighed. "Hey Peter." He said with a wave.
”H- you know what, I'm not even going to ask.” Peter shook his head at seeing Caleb being carried. ”You guys ready for this?”
"Then don't," Caleb said, giving him a look.
Nyt's tail flicked a bit more. "Ready." She said as she straighten herself up.
Adar on the other hand slouched over a bit. "Ready as well." He said as she set Caleb down.
Abby nodded, her knuckles turning white as she gripped her spear.
Peter pointedly ignored Caleb’s look and lead the group into the camp. ”Get ready for a lot of weird looks.”
Nyt nodded. "Should I make myself look smaller or something?" She asked.
"What will probably be the first reactions? And what do we do if it goes wrong?" Adar asked.
”I don't think making yourself look smaller is actually going to do anything.” Abby confessed. ”I’m expecting a lot of confusion and some may actually run and hide in their homes.”
Peter nodded. ”But thanks to the support from that group we brought over, we should be able to avoid full-on panic. No one will make an outright attack on you either as long as you stay close to us. But if things do go south; run. I’ll buy you some time.” He looked at Nyt and Adar. ”The people who have been to your house won't tell where it is but a lot of people know you're close, so I would consider moving if it gets that bad.”
Nyt took a deep breath and nodded.
Adar let out a sigh. "Ready." He said.
Caleb ran his fingers over his knife that was strapped to his side before nodding as well.
Abby took Nyt's hand and followed Peter into the camp. It was very dystopian nomadic with all the well worn and patched up tents as well the occasional handmade lean-to. A few stray animals that could have passed as pets roamed around. The only evidence that would stay if the camp had to move was the small farm area.
As the people saw Nyt and Adar parents told their children to stay inside. Some grabbed their weapons, glaring in distrust, just waiting for the Aliens to make the first attack. But Abby lead them past the ”neighborhood” and towards the part that actually had solid walls.
Nyt looked around, nervous. She watched people scramble to grab weapons or move children away from her. She laid her ears down.
Adar laid his ear down as well. He looked at the condition of the camp with pity.
Caleb looked around. "Kinda feels good to be back." He said softly as he waved at a few people.
Abby watched saddened by everything she was seeing. She tried to wave to some familiar faces but her heart dropped every time someone ran. She felt like a complete stranger to her own home. There were a small number of people who did return the greeting half-heartedly and some from the group who actually greeted Nyt and Adar as well. She could only imagine what people were whispering to each other in fear. Out of a need for comfort she moved Nyt’s hand so it was wrapped over her shoulders and moved herself closer to her side. This is going to add to the fire against us… But I need her right now. she sighed.
Nyt greeted the people who said hi but was visibly very tense. She relaxed when Abby moved her hand onto her shoulder. "Thank you." She whispered.
Adar, on the other hand, looked like a mess. He looked visibly scared and kept jumping at the smallest thing.
Caleb watched this and sighed before grasping onto Adar's hand to try to calm him.
”I won't let anyone here hurt you.” Abby promised, her eyes darting everywhere. I already can't wait to get this over with and go home. She visibly perked up when she heard the familiar ringing of a heavy hammer hitting metal. ”You know how you call me a little Teddy Bear. Well, I'm about to introduce you to the biggest one in camp.” she smiled picking up her pace slightly.
"What?" Nyt asked, confused. There was another, bigger, Abby? "Like a bigger human?"
”Well, he is pretty tall, I guess.” Abby shrugged. ”But I mean that despite how he looks he is the sweetest guy. If anyone thinks they have a problem with him it's just because they haven't spoken with him.”
”Or cause he scares them.” Peter smirked, knowing exactly who Abby was talking about. ”HEY, TOBY! Drop the hammer! You got some surprise visitors.”
The burly blacksmith let out a loud hearty laugh at Peter’s entrance. ”Oh, yeah. And who would that be, kid?” he smiled his usual friendly grin as he set aside his work.
"Hey Tobes!" Caleb said waving smiling, hoping to make him slightly more comfortable before he got the shock of aliens showing up in camp.
Nyt remembered Toby. Abby had mentioned him. He was her…uncle? Nyt looked at the man as she took her hand off Abby. "Hello. I've…heard about you." She said with a slight smile.
Adar had laid his ears and tail down flat. He had almost had forgotten about holding hands with Caleb.
Toby let out another jolly laugh. ”Well, hey there killer! Glad to see you still in one piece. Didn't run into any more wolf spiders, didja?” His dark brown eyes trailed over Nyt and Adar before he saw Abby. ”And you young lady… Don't just stand there. Come and give this old man a hug. I ain't seen ya in so long.”
Abby chuckled as she launched herself into his strong arms that almost hid her from view. ”I missed you too, Uncle Toby. I'm sorry I disappeared for so long. I had something really important to take care of.”
"Nah! I'm feeling a lot better now!" Caleb said, still holding Adar's hand and giving it a gentle squeeze here and there.
Nyt watched the two embrace. "They look so happy." She thought, as a smile made its way across her face. For some reason it made her think back to when she first saw Abby. Scared and hurt in her shed. If she had seen her then and then been shown her here she probably would tell they were the same person.
”Good to hear. You just be more careful then or up your training a bit more.” Toby's eyes sparkled as he let Abby go. ”Now what was it that was so important you didn't let anyone come and help ya?”
Abby took a couple of steps back to make the introductions. ”Uncle Toby, this is Nyt and Adar. They’re both really good friends of mine. Nyt’s actually let me stay with her when I got hurt pushing the boundaries.”
Nyt waved at Toby. "Hi." She said, actually quite nervous around despite her happy demeanor. Actually, scratch that, because of his happy demeanor. It told Nyt that he cared and a person who cared, such as Toby or herself, would do anything to protect the ones they love.
Toby stared at the two of them for a few moments before he stepped up to Nyt, ”It’s Nyt isn’t it? My name's Toby. You took care of my goddaughter, huh? I owe you for that.” he took off his worn leather gloves and held out his hand in greeting.
Nyt breathed out a small sigh of relief. "Yes…sir. And you do not own me anything." She said as she shook his hand. "Your goddaughter is a very nice person."
Toby laughed again. ”You must have met her on a good day then. She can be a real firecracker when she gets all riled up.”
”Uncle Toby!” Abby blushed at his teasing.
He smiled and greeted Adar next. ”Now I know I’m gonna mess this up but it's Adam, right?”
Nyt chuckled. "I've seen her on those days too." She said, relaxing a bit more.
"A-Adar, sir!" He said, him snapping head head towards him, as he had been distracted looking at Caleb.
Toby grinned broadly and placed his hand on Adar’s shoulder, not a big reach for him as he stood at 5’10”. ”No need for the sir. Makes me feel older than I already am. Anyway, nice to meetcha. So aside from Abby gettin’ hurt, how do you all know each other and what brings ya to our part of the world?”
”You want to tell him, Rosa Parks? Or should I?” Peter teased, cuffing Abby's shoulder.
Abby jabbed him in the side with her elbow. ”You can stay quiet until we get to your unnecessary ”rescue mission”, hothead.”
"Alright," Adar said, nodding.
"I think it would be better for Abby to explain since it's her idea." Caleb said.
"I have to agree with Caleb. I think Abby should share." Nyt explained. "She's got one heck of a plan."
Toby raised a brow at Peter’s new nickname for Abby but waited calmly for an explanation.
Abby blushed at her friends’ support for her. ”It’s not really much of a plan but… I need to talk to the council. I want us to live peacefully together.” she ended resolutely as she took Nyt’s hand. ”I don't see a reason to keep living in hate and fear from them.”
Nyt nodded. "What happened between our races happened almost…a century ago. We didn't even think you existed until I found Abby. I don't want you hiding in the woods anymore." She explained.
Adar nodded. "We could start trying to create peace between our races and start trying to fix the breathing problem."