I shrugged, letting them deduce the rest. Talina smiled. I think it was the first time I’d seen any solid emotion from her.
“Yes, I can remain out of the water indefinitely, but if the average Spurn allows their hair and body to dry out they could die,” she said, sounding far too innocent, as if she would just give an honest answer to anything we asked.
Judging by the angry glares, the other Spurns did not look happy to have that particular vulnerability exposed to us.
“Bang!” I said loudly. “Number one way you’re weaker. And number two, Talina’s sturdier on land.”
From the way she moved, she was obviously more co-ordinated than they were.
She nodded. “It’s strange. This is the first time I have ever stepped foot onto solid land and, whereas I fall behind in the ocean, here I’m comfortable and, well, not a freak.”
I found it amusing that on this planet her similarities to First Worlders was a disability. We must have looked like true aliens to the other Spurns.
“And how does any of this help the half on a world that is predominantly water?” The freaky lenses flicked over his yellow eyes as he spoke.
Their attitude was really starting to annoy me, especially the way he referred to her as ‘the half’ as if she didn’t even warrant a name.
“Well, fish-boy, have you ever considered that she won’t always live on this world?” Lucy, who’d been standing close by, challenged him.
“We are not fish, you other-worlder imbecile.”
Lucy tossed her blond curls. “I disagree: you have gills, flippers and are slimy. Sounds like fish to me.”
He shifted forward, to do what I have no idea, but he stumbled before he reached Lucy, sprawling at her feet. Lucy let a brief grin cross her lips, before turning her head in a disdainful manner. His friend dragged him up quickly, and they left without incident, moving to the other side of the building. Our men, who had tensed for a moment, relaxed again beside us.
Another smile graced Talina’s impassive features. “Thank you,” she said, “but you will find yourself in many challenges if you continue to defend me.”
Lucy and I shrugged. That was nothing new for us. Brace looked at Samuel and in sync both snorted with laughter. Come on. We weren’t that bad.
“Shut it, douche-wads.” Lucy kicked sand in their direction.
Talina shuffled backwards, as if unsure of what we were doing or afraid of our joking. I patted her arm, meaning to be reassuring, but instead I was shocked at how cool she felt to touch.
“That’s amazing,” she said, rubbing her bicep, “you’re even warmer than me, and I’m warmer than Raror.”
Gee, fish-boy must feel like an ice cube.
“So what can you tell me about my father?” She finished her words in a rush and there was a glimmer of hope in her brown eyes. They were not the same liquid chocolate of Brace’s. They were much lighter – but still lovely.
“Let’s sit on the beach.” I indicated the way with my hand.
This was going to be a bit of a story, and I really wanted to move away from all the curious eyes.
She nodded. “We have to stay close to the ocean for Raror.”
Right, I’d forgotten all about our ‘guard’. He was standing a short way from us, but I could see the unhappiness on his face. He didn’t object when we turned to leave the main group, only pausing at a distant but unbroken thrashing sound from the tall trees to our right. No one moved or showed any sign of worry; they just faced the noise, waiting to see.
Should we be panicking? Was this an attack?
I couldn’t exactly take comfort in the Spurns’ calm faces. I was pretty sure they only had two emotions: nothing and angry. Eventually, as the forest rustling grew louder, I could also make out the sound of heavy panting.
A blue-haired Spurn stumbled into sight.
He was bleeding heavily from a large jagged wound on his right side. His blood, which was almost purple in color, had soaked his loin cloth.
He lurched in a swaying motion as he reached the group.
“Tell Ladre ...” he gasped, “tell him the creature ... it’s back ... Jonah dead.” The words were disjointed but understandable.
The group didn’t hesitate. A few dashed into the building, and others took off in the direction from which the bleeding Spurn had come.
“You girls stay here. We’ll see if we can assist.” Samuel leant down to give Lucy a brief kiss.
Brace locked me in his gaze and nodded. Lucas smiled his usual charming, obnoxious grin before falling into line. With Raror leading the way, our three men left us standing there on the beach.
I looked at Lucy. “Did they just? – seriously – did that just happen?” I knew I wasn’t making much sense, but I was annoyed.
“I’m not sure, Abbs.” She shook her head. “But I think we were just dismissed to sit on this beach like little women and, like, knit scarves until the heroes return.”