Instead the media tended to focus on the Tranludes as demented killers who were hell-bent on enslaving and overpowering mankind. The fact that many Tranludes were pushing for peace was often overlooked. It was no surprise that a place where both somewhat co-existed in peace would also be overlooked. And this was just the human side of things. What did the Tranlude nations believe of humans?
"Just north of here is where the Tranludes keep showing an interest," Professor Lemmings said. "I wasn't sure how deep in we'll have to go, so I had to ask permission first."
Evan made a face. "Permission from who?"
"Oh, from the police. You see, far north from here is a village that doesn't take well to outsiders. So the area leading up to it is considered off-limits, out of respect to the villagers. Not just anyone can go swaggering around." He smiled.
Although he was in his late thirties, Roger Lemmings was still a fairly sharp and good-looking man. Around the college, he was known for his tendency to wear long coats throughout the colder seasons. He was someone Samantha heard often of from her brother and classmates, but she'd never had the chance to meet until now. His field being mythology was definitely something she could appreciate, being a big folklore fan herself. She hoped she would get the chance to pick his brain later.
"To make sure we don't snoop around, we're going to be escorted by a cop," the professor continued.
"Aww!" Joby kicked at the ground in mock frustration. "Laaaame!"
"You better hide that crack stash, Joby," Samantha said.
"Already did. Put it all in your hair just this morning, babe!" He winked at her, chuckling.
Evan shot them both a threatening glare.
"While we're waiting." Professor Lemmings turned to Samantha and Joby. "Tell me about yourselves. I remember meeting you before, Joby, but I've only heard of Samantha from Evan here."
"I'm unemployed!" Joby declared, rather proudly.
The professor laughed. "Well, that's one way to start. What type of job are you looking for, young man? Evan tells me you aren't attending a college currently."
"Yeah, I had enough of schools." Joby paused, tilting his head for a minute. "I dunno what type of job I want. Just something fun. All the ones I had so far were super boring. Everyone was always so serious. I won't be a cashier anymore."
"Yeah, a job like that can be monotonous. Except when you get the trouble customer who's having a bad day."
Joby laughed. "Yeah."
"I still think you should go to college," Samantha said.
Joby got a sour look. They'd been having the same argument for years now. "I keep telling ya..."
"But I think you'd really like being an art teacher. Think about it. You love art, and you really like kids."
"Yeah but... homework."
"It would set you up for life."
"I ain't smart enough for college. I see how hard you gotta work and study for it. And you were our school's valedictorian!"
"Joby, news flash," Evan butted in. "To Sam, a B is insulting and anything less worthy of a crying spell. I don't work nearly as hard...er, as I should," he added at Professor Lemmings' look. "But I still do fine."
"Joby, you wouldn't need A's and B's," Samantha said. "You would just need to pass. Then that degree would be yours regardless."
"Eh, I dunno..." Shrugging, Joby admired his black and yellow sneakers.
"I could even help you with studying and stuff."
Joby's head popped back up. "You'd do my homework for me?"
"What? No, no! But I could look over it for you."
She was surprised when he didn't fling another no at her. "Maybe I'll think about it...if you help."
"Okay."
He smiled. "With the valedictorian helping me, maybe even I could pull it off! Oho ho ho!" Yanking her over into a headlock, he ruffled her hair.
"Geh! Don't damage my brain!"
Professor Lemmings chuckled. "Well, I recommend Crest University. Every semester, I always have more seats than students. It'd be great if any of you decided to sign up for one of my classes sometime."
"Eh, maybe." Evan laughed sheepishly.
"I'd love to!" Samantha exclaimed. "I love reading about legends and old stories. Sometimes it's like trying to solve a mystery, but with everyone saying different, conflicting things at times."
The professor smiled. "What types of legends interest you?"
"Ones about monsters and unknown creatures. Like ― hey, do you believe in chupacabras?"
Evan hit his forehead. "Not this again!"
"I believe in everything until I find a reason not to!" Professor Lemmings started laughing.
"Ya believe in aliens?" Joby asked. "My dad is always going on about them. He swears he was abducted once!"
"I don't know about abductions, but I definitely believe there's life out there." He looked over his shoulder. "Hm, could be our escort."
Samantha glanced around, confused. Maybe because she'd been expecting a hard-faced, close-shaven man in a police outfit, it took her a minute to notice the young woman.
"Roger Lemmings?" Her tone was authoritative and abrupt.
"Yes. You must be Officer Abraham." The professor offered a hand and smile. "Thank you for joining us on such short notice."
"Just doing my job." She shook his hand. The more Samantha stared at her, the more she felt as if this girl could be her classmate. She seemed hardly much older than the three friends were, but the way she carried herself was beyond her years.
"Officer, these are the students who'll be assisting." Professor Lemmings nodded in their direction.
"I ain't a ―" Joby was cut off as Evan elbowed him. "I mean, ya can call me Joby."
Samantha smiled. "I'm Samantha."
"Evan," he said with a nod.
Officer Abraham nodded back. "Just call me Isis." She turned to the professor. "I've been observing the Tranludes here for awhile now. They were making many people uncomfortable. I can take you to the spot where they kept going."
"Excellent!" Professor Lemmings picked up his backpack. "Let's get to it then, team!"
The group of five began a long, hard hike through the northern wilderness. Not only were the trees and their branches thick and constricting, but the occasional mountainous slope made their advance even more toiling. Constantly pushing through branches, stepping over roots, and fighting off the persistent insects wasn't as exciting as Samantha had imagined. In fact, it got annoying.
By afternoon, everyone was exhausted and it was unanimously decided to stop for the night. They found a clearing to sit and eat at. After such a long day, sandwiches and water seemed like a joke for dinner, but everyone downed these without much complaints. It was just nice to get something.
Afterwards Joby stretched out a leg. "Eugh... I feel muscles I didn't even know I had."
"I didn't think this would be so tiring," Professor Lemmings said. "With so many Tranludes coming out here... They must have much better endurance than we do."
"Eh." Samantha tilted her head. "They could whine all the time about it, and we just don't know it."
As Joby laughed at this, the professor smiled with a shrug. "That's possible too. They keep many things a secret from us."
"It's weird how they live with people around here," Evan said. "Why don't we know more about them?"
"Because it's different here," Isis said. "Here, people and Tranludes feel more connected with each other than they do with others from outside countries. The humans wouldn't go blabbing on the Internet. They know in some places how humans despise the Tranludes, and would use any means possible to wipe them out. It's a respect thing. Loyalty to your neighbors before strangers on the Internet."
"But the humans here still don't know what the Tranludes look like?" Samantha had to ask.
Isis shrugged. "That I'm unsure. Keep in mind, some towns around here have both, but many others are predominantly human or Tranlude. Personally, I've seen very few Tranludes, so I'm sure other people are the same
way. I still don't know what they look like, outside of their tendency to take human forms."
Samantha thought about this for a minute.
Why were the Tranludes so stuck on assuming human forms? Did they have some weakness they were trying to hide? Was it for the sake of mind games? All she knew was, if she could take any form, she sure wouldn't pick a human. With their hairless bodies, lack of tails, and rather weird forms, they weren't exactly the most attractive life forms to look at.
No, she'd rather be something that could take to the sky and chase the clouds and stars. A bird, or maybe a moth of some kind. Hanging upside down as a bat just seemed like a headache, and some would say she was already batty enough.
"Didja hear that?" Joby suddenly asked.
"Hear what?" Samantha asked.
First Isis jumped to her feet, then Professor Lemmings.
Footsteps were approaching. Many footsteps.
The three friends also rose, with the twins moving closer to each other.
This wasn't supposed to be a dangerous trip, but with the Tranludes, Samantha expected the worst. She still remembered the last time she and Evan had been chased, pinned down, and imprisoned by the shape-shifters. They'd been treated like disobedient animals, having collars thrown on them and being left in a training facility for humans, to break humans into being the pets and slaves of the Tranludes.
Not all Tranludes...but the only ones she had ever known.
Sure enough, a group of "humans" appeared. However, their outfits didn't seem fit for the rough outdoor terrain. Their narrow eyes and knowing smirks also would've seemed out-of-place on any regular traveler.
"What are you doing here?" one asked, stroking his chin. He had unusually long fingers.
The professor started to answer, but Isis cut him off. "They have permission to be here. The reason is confidential, and entirely none of your business."
The spokesman raised an eyebrow at this, but otherwise continued to smirk right along. "Permission from whom, may I ask?"
"The Ammorite police department." Isis flashed her ID badge.
"Oh, I see." At his pause, his fellows snickered. "Well, Officer, this land does not belong to humans, so you're in no position to give permission or not. We were never made aware of this arrangement."
Samantha glanced at Isis.
"This land belongs to the public. Go call someone up if you don't believe me." Isis eyed each of the six Tranludes. "You're either unaware or lying."
"Um, good sir." Professor Lemmings smiled disarmingly. "My students and I are out on academic matters. We don't mean any harm."
Joby made a face. "But I'm not ―" Evan elbowed him.
The leader studied the three roommates. "Your students, eh?" Scanning them, his eyes stopped on Samantha. "Innocent studies, I'm sure."
Did she do something wrong? Samantha wasn't sure, but the whole situation was getting a bit too tense for her.
"Tell you what," the Tranlude continued. "Allow us to search your possessions and we'll leave you be, so long as you leave here immediately."
"And who are you to make orders?" Isis said. "I haven't seen any form of ID yet. Just because you're a Tranlude doesn't give you the authority to violate our privacy."
"It's not a big deal," Evan said.
Lowering her voice, Isis said to him, "This is a push for power. We're in the right."
"No matter where you think you stand, we will check your possessions regardless." The Tranlude lowered his elongated hand, revealing fang-like teeth. "This is private, commercial property. We can't have you stealing things."
"Stealing?" Professor Lemmings held his hands up. "We just got here. Please, I'm sure we can work through this..."
To Samantha's immense shock, a lightning bolt suddenly shot from the sky. It crashed to the right of them, hitting a tree with an explosive burst that hurt her ears.
"Come again?" Smirking, the Tranlude took a step towards them.
Did he just summon a lightning bolt? Samantha wondered. And those sudden fires at Blossom Breeze Island...
"Geh!" The professor pulled back. "How did you... Oh no. Quick, everyone! Let's run for it!"
"What?" Isis said.
"But would it be easier if we just ―"
Interrupting Evan, Professor Lemmings shouted, "Go! Scatter!"
Already pumped full of adrenaline, Samantha had no problem putting it to use. She and the others all darted in different directions, like the debris of a bomb.
The branches tried to slow her, but she raced right through them, slapping blindly. She knew their chances of escaping the Tranludes weren't good, but at least it would be hard to track them all down. Last time she and Evan had attempted to outrun the Tranludes, the twins had made the mistake of sticking together.
Confusion seemed a better tactic. Especially since the Tranludes were faster and stronger.
After awhile of running, Samantha finally allowed herself to slow for a break. Straining her ears over her panting, she paused.
Silence.
Chapter 8
The sun rose to the sky, a golden welcome sign for the start of another day. However, to Samantha, it was only bright and obnoxious.
Since escaping the Tranludes, she'd seen no sign of Evan and the others. Eventually she'd fallen asleep under the cover of a large bush, but not until after spending hours tossing and turning, trying to relax and get comfortable. She was worried about the others, and if she'd bump into another Tranlude before seeing any of them first.
By morning, it was no surprise that Samantha was feeling more than a little hateful of the Tranludes. She'd tried forgiving them for what had happened two years ago; she'd tried arguing on their behalf and insisting how not all of them were evil.
But now, again, they pull this. Was there a single nice one in the world? They all seemed like smirky, manipulative jerks.
After somehow forcing a dry Pop-Tart down her throat for breakfast, Samantha began again to search for the others. The woods blocked her path and seemed to exaggerate every little rustle in the silence.
Would a Tranlude hear her if she tried calling for the others? She wasn't sure if they were still in the area or not. She was beginning to not really even care much. If she did bump into one, she'd at least have an outlet for all her growing frustrations.
A normal college week wasn't nearly as bad as this "vacation" was turning out to be. She couldn't believe she left Noodles for this.
Finally she decided to try her luck. "Evan? Eeevaaaan! Jooobyyyy! Guys! Where are you?" Pausing, she listened.
The rustling of leaves in the distance. Friend or foe?
Tensing, she growled. If it was a friend, why weren't they answering her...?
After a few more seconds passed, she heard a voice. "Looking for someone?" The voice was feminine, and sounded harmless enough. But so was the last female Tranlude she'd trusted wholeheartedly. And she doubted this was a human's voice.
Samantha debated with whether or not she should answer.
"Hey! Still there?"
"Yeah."
A minute later, a young woman stepped out. Her face was slender and almost elongated, as was her body. Besides this, she looked much like a human.
A human with slightly gray-tinted skin, that is.
When Samantha could only gape at the girl's lavender-gray hair, the girl asked, "What?"
"Your... hair..." Blinking hard, Samantha stared. The hair were still a pale purple.
"What? Did Marecka mess up my hair again?" She examined her hair.
"No. I just... I've never seen purple hair before." Samantha took a step closer. "Is it natural?"
"What? Ohhh!" The girl laughed. "Yeah!"
"It's a very pretty color."
"Oh, thank you! I always thought it was nothing special. Since, you know... Hey. You've seen Tranludes before...right?"
"Well, uh, only as humans..." Samantha suddenly felt embarrassed by her behavior. She was probably weirding the girl out, all because purple happ
ened to be her favorite color.
But the girl instead seemed pleased. "Purple is one of the most common colors for us. But I'm glad you like it! ...It's been years since I've last talked to a human..." She came closer, now eyeing Samantha's hair. "Is yours natural?"
"Yeah." Glancing up at her own mane, Samantha noticed a leaf dangling from it. "It's as natural as it gets, unfortunately." She yanked the leaf out.
"It's gorgeous! Like copper! Looks so soft too..." The Tranlude reached out, touching it briefly before catching herself. "Oh, I'm sorry! Should've asked first, heh." Her hand was elongated, just like the other Tranlude's had been.
"It's okay." Samantha glanced to the side briefly. So this is what a Tranlude actually looks like, she thought to herself. So...humanlike. The Tranlude looked like a distorted person, being taller. The pale purple hair, red eyes, and lifeless gray skin were still a bit hard not to stare at.
Suddenly she remembered what she'd been originally doing.
"Oh, uh, I need to find some people I was with. But it was nice meeting you." Samantha began inching away.
"Wait! I want to help you!"
Samantha paused, internally making a face. "Thanks, but I'll be fine."
"No, I insist! A little I paint your fangs, you paint mine!" The girl was beaming so proudly, and yet Samantha stared uncomprehendingly in return.
"Fangs?"
"Yeah! You know! That one...you know the saying, right?"
Samantha shook her head.
"Oh, come on!" The girl flailed her hands. "You know! Humans must have a saying like that too!"
"Eh, not that I'm aware of."
The girl continued to fidget. "It's like... Ah, well, I think we can both help each other out! I help you find your friends, and you can help me with something."
"With what? I'm kinda busy right now."
"You see, for my college, there's a day every month to encourage the friendship between Tranludes and humans. We get to bring in a human and go to a party! But..." The Tranlude sulked some. "I have a hard time finding any humans. They're never around town. That's why I'm here now, to find a human..."
"So you can go to this party thing?"
"Exactly!" The girl stuck her face in Samantha's. "I heard they have free food! And cakes! Oh, how I love cakes!"
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