Haigar
The following morning Bailey was feeling a lot happier and optimistic, she was safe and the hostility she was getting from the majority of the other Steef would soon fade, she was sure. All in all, things could only get better.
And for once, she was right.
She woke up to find herself back in bed and Stranger nowhere in sight, but the ruffled sheets let Bailey know that he’d just gone. Bailey rolled out of bed and stretched before changing into a loose shirt pants and her bandana, hat and sneakers she found in the cupboard, along with everything else she’d left the Grubb village with. Bailey felt a stab of guilt, she had no way of contacting Jolee, and she didn’t half miss the plucky little Grubb.
Knowing there was nothing she could do about it Bailey made her and Stranger’s beds and then left, walking down the passage to the kitchen. She peeped in to find Alika alone at the stove.
“Mornin’.” Bailey said, Alika turned and smiled,
“Bailey, good morning.” She smiled, “Are you hungry?” Bailey nodded,
“Bit,” Bailey nodded, “Erm, where’s Stranger?”
“Stranger and Daimen are painting the baby’s room.” Alika patted her stomach gently, smiling. She set a plate before Bailey, “Traditional Steef breakfast,” she said, Bailey grinned broadly,
“Run and Ram breakfast Slam…” she thought amusedly and dug in. “Umm, it’s nice, thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” Alika smiled. Bailey ate for a while in silence, then she asked,
“D’you know if it’s a boy or a girl?” Alika turned slightly,
“What?” Bailey vaguely waved the spoon at Alika swollen stomach,
“Boy or girl?” she asked,
“Oh, no, we don’t know.”
“Any ideas on what yer gonna call him or her?” Bailey asked, Alika laughed,
“No, that isn’t up to me.” Bailey blinked in confusion, Alika laughed lightly again, but apologetically, “I sorry Bailey, I forget you are not from Oddworld are you.” Bailey shook her head, “Steeflings are named by the tribe’s Seer, he goes into a trance and a name that has meaning for the Steefling comes to him.” Alika explained as Bailey ate. Bailey nodded in understanding and finished her breakfast.
When Bailey had finished she took her plate to the stone sink sunk into the worktop and washed it before putting it with the others on the drying rack. She made to leave the kitchen but Alika’s voice stopped her,
“Oh, Bailey, Stranger left a message for you.” Bailey turned and tilted her head fractionally, “He said if you wanted to wander round and explore for a bit you were free too but to come back for lunch.” Bailey nodded.
“Yeh, I think I might, thanks Alika.” Alika smiled and continued working. Bailey left the kitchen, went down the passage to the front door and slipped through it. She left the spherical dwelling and padded easily down the rope bridge from Daimen and Alika’s home, off to explore this new world.
¤§¤
Soon Bailey was well and truly lost. She had no problems in finding her way back to the cavern with the Steef homes – she had a good sense of direction, but remembering which one was Alika’s and Daimen’s was completely beyond her. She couldn’t ask the other Steef for help either, for one thing they still avoided her like she had a plague and for another, she wasn’t quite confident enough quite yet.
So instead she wandered around, hoping that maybe someone would find her. Luckily for her, someone friendly did.
“Hullo? Can I help, you look kinda lost.” It was an unfamiliar, but pleasant voice that sounded like Stranger and Daimen but a fraction higher and younger. Bailey turned as she heard it,
It was a Steef, a young Steef, only a couple of inches taller then Bailey herself, he had pale chocolate brown fur but his hair that he had in a rough plait was a very dark shade of brown, and he had blue eyes which Bailey found very familiar but couldn’t think where they were familiar from.
Although she couldn’t begin to guess how old the Steef was, Steef seemed to mature differently then humans did, it
did have the beginnings of curling goat horns though, so Bailey guessed it was male.
“You’re the human right?” Bailey frowned momentarily,
“Yeh…how d’you know?” The Steef smiled,
“Everyone’s been talkin’ about it.” the Steef grinned, “You’re Stranger’s kid.” Bailey quirked a half-smile,
“Yep, that’s me.” she offered a hand, “M’name’s Bailey.” She said and grinned, the Steef returned the smile, not as broadly as Bailey, but a smile that reminded Bailey comfortingly of Stranger. He accepted the hand and shook it warmly,
“Haigar.” He answered. Bailey broke into a relieved grin. Seeing the grin Haigar nodded, his smile growing vaguely wider. “Yeh, you’re stayin’ with me folks. So? You lost or not?” he grinned.
“Yeh, very.” Bailey admitted.
“C’mon then, I’ll lead you back.” Bailey followed the young Steef through winding passages and along the catwalks of wood and cord. All the while talking easily. They passed quite a few Steef one the way, most of them skirting the two youngsters, others looking at Bailey with open hostility. Bailey went quieter and quieter each time. Finally one Steef actually shouted to Haigar;
“Wouldn’t get too pally with that one Haigar! Never know when it’ll turn on yer! Backstabbing, humans are!”
“He’s right yer know…” Bailey said quietly, “It’d be better if yer weren’t seen with me…Humans ain’t exactly popular round here… Good reason too…” she muttered.
Haigar put a friendly arm around Bailey’s shoulders, he’d only been around Bailey for an hour or so, but he already liked the spirited human girl. He’d always been taught that you couldn’t judge an entire species by just a few people. And he liked Bailey, she was easy-going and cheerful, except for now.
“Hey now, I don’t believe that fer a second, and you shouldn’t either.” Bailey chewed her lip and didn’t answer. Haigar stopped and put a hand on each of her shoulders, “Listen Bailey, I don’t believe fer a second that all humans are bad, you ain’t. And even if you were, I wouldn’t hate you, Stranger’s family, and you’re Stranger’s kid, that makes you family too. And besides, I like you anyway.” Bailey smiled wanly.
“Thanks Haigar.” Haigar grinned,
“Let’s go.” And after a while, they reached a familiar dwelling. Bailey grinned.
“Brilliant, thanks Haigar.” Haigar smiled,
“No problems.” He answered. The two youngsters trotted down the last rope bridge to the door, Haigar knocked on the door and called,
“Ma, I’m home!” only a few moments had passed before the door was flung open and Alika appeared, looking harassed, as soon as her eyes fell upon Haigar and Bailey, she smiled.
“Oh darling, you found her.” She cried, obviously relieved. She herded the two children through the door and down the passage, when they were in the living room, Alika called; “Daimen, Stranger, she’s here.” Stranger burst into the room, closely followed by Daimen.
“Bailey.” He half gasped the name in evident relief. As if they was no one else around Stranger swept Bailey into his arms and held her tight. “Where have yer bin!? I was worried sick about yer.” Bailey threw her arms around Stranger’s neck and pressed her cheek to his.
“Sorry Stranger, I got lost, but luckily Haigar found me.” She grinned at the young Steef who blushed dark brown under his fur and smiled shyly. Bailey grinned all the more broadly at him. Stranger smiled gratefully at the young Steef and put Bailey down,
“Yer must be Haigar.” He said, Haigar nodded, “Thank you Haigar, fer returning my wayward kid.” Stranger ruffled Bailey’s hair,
“You’re welcome Uncle Stranger.” Bailey couldn’t help grinning,
“I like it,” she thought,
“Uncle Stranger.”
“Well,” said Daimen, “Now that the family’s back together, I think it’s time for dinner, Haigar, Bailey, help Alika with the dinner please.” The two children nodded and followed Alika out of the lounge and into the kitchen. Haigar caught Bailey’s eye and they grinned at each other.
Bailey felt happiness fill her. Haigar’s words echoing in her mind;
“Stranger’s family, and you’re Stranger’s kid, that makes you family too. And besides, I like you anyway.” Not only had she found someone else that didn’t hate her, she’d found a family member her own age.
And she’d made a friend.