And after fighting with a serious case of writer’s block, HERE’S ANOTHER CHAPTER! YAY! You may all begin celebrating my return now.
…Or not.
The Butterflies
Haigar stared after the blonde Steef, long after he’d disappeared. Remaining in the exact same place, as if froze by Chiron’s shocking revelation. The dark Steef looked over his shoulder again, glancing at the still sleeping human with a confused expression in his eyes.
Was that what some of the older Steef thought? That he and Bailey… Haigar shook his head, his ears flicking agitatedly as if dislodging a fly. It was completely insane. He cared about her of course, as much as his uncle Stranger, sometimes, he thought somewhat guiltily, almost as much as he would have guessed he would care for a mate… Haigar shook his head again. He shifted his weight uncomfortably and glanced back at Bailey again. Well there was no point in taking her to see anything now.
“Maybe it would be best if I just took her home…” Haigar nodded to himself, he would take her home, she obviously hadn’t rested enough. The dark Steef turned carefully and made his way through the forest, towards home, Chiron’s hesitant voice running through his mind, regardless of how much he tried to silence it.
¤§¤
Bailey woke in her own bed, sometime later, and found herself alone. Feeling vaguely hurt by this, the young human swung her legs down from the bed and hopped to the floor. Trotting out of her bedroom she found that the rest of the hut was empty as well, she peered into Stranger’s room to find that deserted also. Bailey rubbed her hair in frustration.
“Where is everyone?” she muttered rhetorically to herself. She shook her head and gave a half-shrug before going outside. There, finally, she found someone. Haigar was sitting a little way away, Bailey was about to go and pounce on him, when she noticed his expression. The young Steef looked utterly miserable… Bailey edged towards him, “Blue?” she ventured, Haigar jerked and looked around quickly. Bailey flinched and took a small step backward. The look of horror on Haigar’s face hit her like a physical blow. “Blue?” she managed to repeat after a pause, “What’s wrong?”
Haigar still stared at her, that horrified – and, was that
guilt on his face? – still on his expression. He scrambled to his feet.
“Bailey…” Bailey drew her eyebrows together, she’d never heard Haigar use that tone of voice before, he sounded like he wanted to tell her something, but at the same time didn’t. “I’m fine Bailey.” He said after a moment, his voice seeming more normal, “I just…” he faded off and turned away as if to leave. “Nothing,” he sighed at last, “It’s nothing.”
Confused by his odd behaviour, Bailey edged closer and laid a hand on Haigar’s forearm comfortingly, unafraid of the powerful muscle that could easily crush her skull. She paused a moment, then slipped her hand into his. The Steef hesitated then curled his fingers around her hand.
“It’s obviously not nothing.” Bailey said quietly. “I thought we could talk about stuff like this…why won’t you tell me what’s bothering you?” Haigar refused to meet her gaze, averting his blue eyes, but he squeezed her hand gently. Bailey frowned. This wasn’t like the Haigar she knew. Something was up. But Bailey knew that Haigar wasn’t going to tell her, whatever it was. She didn’t press, if and when the dark Steef youth was prepared to say what was on his mind, then he would, and not before. Bailey let out a sigh, released his hand and slid her arms around Haigar’s middle, resting her head on his ribs, rubbing her cheek against the soft fur.
Haigar glanced down at the human, feeling confused again. He viciously cursed Chiron in the silence of his mind. This was all his fault, why couldn’t the blonde Steef have just left him unknowing? Instead of telling him the tribe’s gossip? His friendship with Bailey was suffering, and he felt confusion well up in his chest every time he thought about what Chiron had said…
As Haigar looked down at Bailey again, her arms wrapped around him, he let out a breath through his nose. The young Steef stroked the human’s hair quietly, mimicking what Stranger normally did. The green beads on her singular braid caught his attention and he rolled the wooden globes gently between his fingers. No matter what any of them said, Bailey was an honorary Steef, even if she wasn’t one by blood. The Grubbs had seen to that… Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if- He shook himself, disgusted. Now was not the time, besides, Stranger would flip his lid if he knew. Haigar felt his stomach plunge, what if Stranger already knew!? Did that mean that only Bailey was ignorant?
“Bay?” Haigar spoke on impulse, not even realising what he was going to do until the word left his mouth. Bailey looked up at him, meeting his eyes squarely.
“Yes?”
“I-”
“Oh,
there you are!” exclaimed a voice happily. Both Bailey and Haigar jumped and looked around to see Loki coming towards them. Bailey felt all the muscles in Haigar’s stomach tense and wondered what on earth he wasn’t telling her. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere Bailey.” The female Steef gushed, she looked at her brother, “You don’t mind if I steal Bailey for a while do you?” before waiting for an answer, Loki grabbed Bailey’s hand and tugged her away. “I haven’t seen you in so long Bailey!” she grinned giddily,
“Yeh, but you’ve got…other things to think about now…” Bailey murmured, not really listening, she was too busy looking over her shoulder. Haigar watched them go, his expression hopeless and sad. Bailey wished, for the first time in her life, that Loki had not picked that moment to appear. Haigar had been about to tell her something, she was sure of it…with a quiet sigh, Bailey turned her attention back to Loki, who had been chattering excitedly about Chiron. Unaware that her companion had not really being paying attention.
“But enough about me, how’re you? It’s been an age since we went out together, just you, me and Haigar, of course we’re all abit older now so naturally I wouldn’t be spending as much time with my dear brother, but you Bailey! I’ve missed our walks and talks together.” Bailey smiled slightly, it seemed Loki had suddenly matured – and become excessively giddier – since she and Chiron had started courting.
The exact wedding (or Joining as they called it) date hadn’t been set yet, much to Bailey’s surprise she found that Steef were a lot readier to commit then the average human and Loki and Chiron were going to ‘tie the knot’ (a saying which amused many of the Steef) so soon. But she wasn’t complaining, they looked happy together.
Still, she and Loki had regularly gone out on rambles together, much like they had when Loki was a Steefling, up until recently of course. ‘Recently’, had been summer maturing and Chiron and Loki had been planning to be joined (apparently Steef didn’t use the term – married) at the latter end of the season.
Preparations were starting to be made. The big hut that Loki had gotten into trouble on when the Steef had practically first arrived had been finished and had turned out to be some kind of ceremony hall, though as of yet, Bailey hadn’t been inside. And another small living hut was starting to be built, for Chiron and Loki to live in afterwards as Bailey assumed. All in all, it had all become a bit hectic…
Loki fell silent and the Steef and human walked side by side in companionable silence. They passed other Steef, some working, some relaxing, talking and laughing, the Steeflings playing in the grass in some games that Bailey knew, like Tag, and some she didn’t.
There was a moment’s more pause before Loki spoke again;
“You’re very quiet Bailey, is something wrong?” Bailey smiled slightly,
“Nah, I’m fine, just wondering where we’re goin’.” Loki laughed slightly,
“I dunno,” she said mimicking Bailey’s words and accent from her younger days, “But we’ll know when we get there.” Bailey joined her laughter,
“Aye, I’m sure we will, but a basic direction would be nice, even if the destination isn’t.” she said wryly. Loki smiled, hit by a sudden inspiration,
“I know! Mum once told me about a meadow, above the Steef valley, she said Dad used to take her there when they were young.” Loki giggled. Bailey nodded,
“Let’s head for that then.”
¤§¤
It took them some time, but finally Loki and Bailey reached the meadow, the bright green grass was thick and lush and rippled in the breeze like waves far out on a green sea. Bailey laughed when she saw it and spread her arms wide, revolving slowly, eyes closed, face uplifted, taking in a deep breath of air. Savouring the cool, clean quiet.
“This is brilliant.” She grinned as she came to a standstill. Loki returned the smile as she watched the twinkle in Bailey’s brightly shining eyes. After a while the young Steef and human set off again, walking easily across the meadow, taking their time, talking about nothing in particular. Eventually they came to a place where the meadow sloped down and a forest, tangled and overgrown, stood temptingly, tugging at Bailey’s adventurous nature. She stood silently, gazing at it. “How’s about it Loki?” she murmured, “Up fer an adventure?” the young Steef hesitated, then nodded, Bailey’s eyes gleamed in excitement and she grinned wildly.
The two females approached the forest, pausing at it’s fringe, before plunging into the murky twilight between the trees. They walked carefully, being as quiet as they could and cautiously watchful. After a time Loki’s sharp Steef eyes glimpsed a slight glow of sunlight up ahead.
“Bailey…” she said uncertainly and stopped walking, Bailey paused and looked back at Loki, the young Steef was wringing her hands together worriedly. Bailey glanced from Loki, towards the light and back.
“I don’t think we have anything to worry about…” she said after a moment. Loki still seemed uncertain and hesitant but Bailey would not be deterred, “Look, I’ll go first an’ holler back, a’righ’?” after a pause, Loki nodded. Bailey, remaining cautious, quietly left the Steef and moved towards the glow of sunlight slanting thickly through the trees, dust motes dancing in the beam of gold.
Pushing her way through the branches that slapped at her face and arms, Bailey came out into the open. For a moment the sun dazzled her dilated pupils and Bailey rubbed her eyes harshly, but when she was accustomed to the light and she looked around again, a smile broke out on her face as she was greeted by a fluttering riot of colour.
“Holy crap…” she breathed in awe, then; “Loki! C’mere!” she heard the sound of the knee-height ferns growing from the forest floor being crushed just as Loki peered through the trees and followed Bailey outside. “Would’ja look at this!” Bailey said as the Steef, her mouth open, came to stand beside her.
It was another meadow, more secluded with an even wilder carpet of grass then the previous one, it was laid thick with vividly coloured flowers that swayed easily up to Bailey’s knees. But it wasn’t the splashes of colour of the fauna that made Loki’s jaw drop and Bailey grin.
The place was heaving with butterflies, swarms of them. The insects were huge, bigger then any Bailey had ever seen, each pair of the segmented wings were as wide as her hand-span and just under a foot long. Their bodies were black like pitch and covered in velvetine fur. Their glittering, jewel-bright colours made joy and wonder blossom in Bailey chest and she felt so much younger.
For a moment, both human and Steef stood side by side and just watched the dancing butterflies, then the human gave a yell and began to run, skipping across the grass and through the flowers, the butterflies twirled around her and laughing, the Steef followed Bailey’s example. They romped for an age, the rainbow of butterfly wings creating a dream-like atmosphere, making the two females almost drunk with giddiness.
Eventually they flopped onto the grass, feeling light-headed, they watched the butterflies slowly sink down and rest on the flowers, and on the two friends. Bailey chuckled as the soft feelers of one giant butterfly – sporting wings that were a myriad of different hues of blue – tickled her cheeks. Another – green and yellow – insect perched on Loki’s head, uncurling it’s long tongue down her ear for a moment before withdrawing and settling, wings open, on the Steef’s hair.
“D’you think anyone else knows about this place?” Bailey asked after a moment as she let an enormous Red Admiral-like butterfly sit on her fingers.
“I dunno.” Loki said, smelling a bright yellow flower, eyes closed as she took in it’s scent. “It’s doubtful though,” she added, “They aren’t afraid of us.”
“Hrm.” Bailey murmured and she lay back in the grass, one arm behind her head, one draped across her stomach, her fedora shading her eyes. There was a pause; Bailey noticed the awkward air that pervaded the otherwise comfortable scene. Tipping her hat so that it revealed one brown eye, she propped herself up on her elbows and glanced at the Steef, watching her twiddle a blade of grass between her fingers. “Ok, wassup Loki?” she asked.
Loki made an uncomfortable, non-committal sound and did a half shrug.
“It’s nothing really…” she muttered, twisting the blade of grass so hard in snapped. Bailey huffed;
“What is it with everyone and bein’ evasive today!” she suddenly burst out, “First blue and now you as well.” She sighed, sat up and plucked a wide blade of grass from near her knee. “Ah forget it.” She muttered, wedging the blade between her thumbs. She fiddled with it a moment more and then blew, producing a satisfyingly deep, full, vibrating sound. Loki jumped and looked at her in surprise,
“Did you hear that?” she asked,
“Hear what?” Bailey asked, confused,
“That…buzzing…”
“Oh, yew mean this?” Bailey blew the grass blade again,
“Yes that! How did you do that!?”
“It’s easy,” Bailey said, “Here.” She picked up another wide blade and pressed together the Steef’s thumbs, “Now leave a liddle gap and blow.” Loki did so. Nothing happened. “Keep tryin’.” Bailey said easily. After several attempts, Loki did indeed manage to produce a sound. It was reminiscent of a dying bluebottle. “Not so hard,” Bailey said, “Or yew’ll run of air, keep it steady.” Loki obeyed and a long note came from between her fingers.
“I did it!” the young Steef exclaimed,
“So yer did.” Bailey grinned. But the smile faded and she looked vaguely miserable again, “I wish I knew what was up with blue…” she said suddenly. Loki gave her a quick sidelong glance that Bailey didn’t notice.
“Bailey…” She said after a moment. The human looked up from the grassy carpet. “I…think, I know…what’s wrong with Haigar…” Loki ventured hesitantly. Bailey neither moved nor made a sound but Loki could instantly tell that she had the human’s undivided attention. “Haigar’s been depressed…well, he’s depressed because of you…” Bailey started,
“Me?” she asked, looking hurt, “What have I done? Why didn’t he say-”
“No, no.” Loki cut her off, “Not like that, it’s nothing you’ve done, it just…involves you…” Loki faded off miserably, as if she wasn’t explaining too well. “You care about my brother don’t you.” She finally said, it wasn’t a question but Bailey nodded mutely, unsure of the direction in which this conversation was heading… “He cares about you, a lot more then I think you realise… He loves you Bailey.” Bailey frowned in confusion,
“I know, I love ‘im too, he’s my best friend.” The human said as if it were obvious.
“You don’t…feel anything stronger?” she ventured delicately, Bailey drew her eyebrows together,
“How d’you mean?” she asked, non-plussed,
“I mean, as more then a friend.” Loki explained, comprehension dawned in Bailey’s eyes, and disbelief.
“’Scuse me?” she asked, in a low, almost deadly voice. Had it been any other Steef, they would have felt their guts tighten in fear, but Loki was not afraid, just uneasy about upsetting the human more then angering her.
“The tribe, are talking…about you and my brother…” Bailey narrowed her eyes, cold and calculating.
“And what, are they saying?” she asked in a would-be calm voice, but Loki saw the human’s fists clenching and unclenching.
“Bailey, please, I know you and my brother are close, I don’t want to spoil that, but…” Loki sighed, “Haigar’s closeness to you is ruining his chances of getting a mate.” Bailey opened and closed her mouth in shock for a moment, but then spluttered in incredulity,
“
What!?”
“You and Haigar are always together, and some…” she paused, “Some of the tribe are starting to think you’re more then ‘friends’, they’re saying you and Haigar…”
“What?!” Bailey said again, but her voice was tinged with humour this time, obviously she thought the suggestion was ridiculous. Loki wasn’t amused,
“I’m serious Bailey, you and Haigar go off on your little jaunts, just the two of you, disappearing into the wilds for hours…” she faded off.
“Loki,” Bailey said, as if she were a Steefling again, “Me and you’re brother, we’re close, he’s my best friend, but seriously, we’ll only ever be ‘mates’ – if that’s what yer getting’ at – in that sense, friends. We may not be blood-related, but we’re completely different species…if you ain’t noticed…” she added, with a hint of a smile. Loki didn’t return it, just watched her human companion intently.
Was Bailey imagining it, or did Loki seem…disappointed?
Bailey mentally shook it off, it was crazy, her and Haigar, of course she felt a fondness for the Steef, just as she did for Stranger, for all of her extended ‘family’, her entire tribe. But really, a human and a Steef? Together? Bailey found she didn’t feel disgusted, or that it was unnatural, just abit…odd… After all, Steef were not animals, they were sentient beings, intelligent and compassion, not mindless, or even violent…
Maybe they were superior to humans…
They weren’t separated like humans were. They didn’t hate those different from themselves. They had accepted her, even though they had been so wronged by other humans. And it seemed to Bailey, that they loved more then her own species did. She had been loved more by the Steef then her own blood at any rate…
Bailey met Loki’s questioning blue eyes.
“We’re friends.” Bailey said firmly, “Nothing more.”
*hugs DS so tight she almost chokes* Thanks Dancin' Steef! 
Oddworld Just Got Stranger
*hands over tissue*
outy face:
