From their vantage point, they saw a series of buildings that looked terribly unearthly. They were tall and coated in a white substance. Each one had a spiral upon its roof and from these; flashes of light could be seen.

Among these buildings walked the residents. They were as far from humanoid as it was possible to get. Each one was insect like. Their bodies were supported by two spindly legs and from their shoulders, thin wings protruded. Large compound eyes looked ahead and from their mouth, a long thin proboscis protruded.

“They look like giant flies,” Tarra whispered.

“Be very careful,” Jerrix warned. “They can hear you.”

As he said this, two of the residents turned toward them.

“That’s torn it,” he whispered.

A musical voice drifted towards them.

“We know that you are both there. You had better come out and show yourselves.”

“Let’s say hello then,” Jerrix said standing up.

The inhabitants watched as the visitors walked from the undergrowth beaming.

“I’m Jerrix and this is Tarra.”

“Colix and Dorix,” they replied sweetly.

“Nice to meet you,” Tarra said.

“Why have you come here?” Dorix asked.

“Just passing through,” Jerrix assured them. “As a matter of fact we had no idea anyone was here.”

“You were lucky to get this far,” Colix said.

“We escaped the killer plants,” Tarra replied.

“Those are not the only dangers,” Dorix explained.

“Have you eaten?” Corix asked.

“We would love a morsel or two,” Jerrix said quickly.

“Then follow us. We don’t get many strangers here.”

“Please lead on,” Jerrix said.

The inhabitants led the way through the winding streets as others
stared at their strange guests.

“How long have you been here?” Dorix asked.

“Actually we have just arrived,” Tarra replied.

“Then you must leave after your meal,” Corix advised. “It is not safe here.”

They were led inside one of the buildings and found themselves in a pale round room. A table sat in the centre and chairs were dotted around. The strange thing was that these objects seemed to grow out of the dusty floor.

What seemed to be a wooden larder stood at the far side, and toward this Dorix advanced.

“Have a rest,” Corix suggested as Dorix opened the door and produced yellow and green fruit.

He carried these back to the table as the travellers sat.

“Those look delicious,” Jerrix said picking one up.

“Is it safe?” Tarra asked.

“Your humanoid anatomy can handle it. Take a bite.”

Their hosts sat as the travellers tucked into the snack.

The fruit was a little like peach in flavour but with a strong hint of meat.

“You like this?” Corix asked.

“Very nice,” Tarra replied.

Jerrix glanced around.

“You suggested a threat,” he commented.

“There is always a threat to our community,” Dorix replied.

“Who from?” Tarra asked.

“The Dogians,” Corix said softly.

“Who are they?” Jerrix asked.

“A race of mongrels,” Dorix replied. “For the last fifty years they have come out of their kennels and ravaged our lands.”

“Did you say kennels?” Tarra asked.

“She did,” Jerrix replied. “What I want to know is why they do this.”

“We wonder ourselves,” Corix said. “We cannot possibly harm them.”

Tarra bit another segment from her fruit, juices running down her chin.

Jerrix stared at her.

“Forgive my friend,” he said. “She is not quite civilised.”

Tarra just glared.

“Now that you are both nearly finished you should leave,” Corix said.

“We will at our own good time,” Jerrix answered.

“You do not understand,” Dorix replied. “Both your lives are in extreme danger.”

A figure ran inside at that moment.

“The Dogians are here.”

As they turned in mute shock, a large hairy paw swept the figure aside and a Dogian entered.

Jerrix held Tarra down and whispered, “Don’t even think about it.”

She remained sitting as the enemy walked toward them.

Tarra looked at him closely.

The figure wore a gold helmet topped with a short spike. Below this, two fluffy ears protruded. From the neck down, silver chainmail protected the body and upon the two paw like feet, metallic boots were worn. The Dark eyes looked rather menacing. Within the large paws, a weapon was held. It was pointing straight at them all.

“I see there are strangers here,” the creature said gruffly.

“You have no right coming into our community,” Corix said bravely.

The Dogian laughed.

“We have every right to remove vermin.”

“You regard these good people as vermin?” Tarra asked.

“Of course,” the Dogian replied. “Like all vermin they spread disease.”

“You don’t I suppose,” Jerrix asked.

The creature stared coldly.

“On your feet.”

All four stood slowly.

“What will you do with us?” Tarra asked.

“We are clearing out this nest,” the creature replied. “As for you
two strangers, you will be interrogated.”

“Like hell they will,” Corix shouted running forward.

The weapon barked once reducing the helpless individual to a pool of ooze.

The others stared on in horror.

“If you don’t want the same, get outside.”

Slowly, so as not to provoke further violence, Jerrix, Tarra and Dorix walked outside. The scene that met their eyes was not a pleasant one.

The inhabitants were being herded towards huge silver ships that Jerrex recognised at once.

“Those are prison ships.”

Their guard poked his weapon into their backs, urging them on.

They mounted the ramp and found themselves within a huge corridor. The guard moved them forward until they stopped outside a small cell. The guard pressed a button and the dark bars slid open.

“Inside.”

They stepped forward and the bars slid shut.

The Dogian guard laughed and walked away.

“We are sorry for your friend,” Tarra said softly.

“She was my mate,” Dorix replied.

“Next time think before making such loose comments,” Jerrix told her.

“I am sorry. Strange day eh? A couple of hours ago I was at home and now I’m behind bars.”

“You get used to it,” Jerrix replied.

“Where will they take us?” Tarra asked.

“Back to their land,” Dorix explained. “After that?”

“I admit that it does not look rosy,” Jerrix said. “Pity the guard left.”

“I’m glad that he did,” Tarra said. “That dog gave me the creeps.”

Dorix walked back towards the bars as the ship jolted.

“We are taking off,” he commented.

“It won’t be too long before we arrive then,” Jerrix said.

“Perhaps we won’t have to,” Dorix said quietly.

“What do you mean by that?” Jerrix asked.

“What do you think my hooter’s for?”

He watched as the proboscis felt its way beyond the bars and probed the recessed button.

“Almost there,” Dorix whispered.

He probed further and the bars suddenly slid open. He only managed to save his proboscis by inches.

“Are you two going to stay here?” Dorix asked stepping into the corridor.

Jerrix and Tarra quickly joined him.

“I hope you have a plan,” Tarra whispered.

“I am sure that Jerrix has,” Dorix replied.

“Follow me,” the cat said leading the way.

“What about the other prisoners?” Tarra asked as they passed a crowded cell.

“We can help them later. We have to reach the flight deck.”

They stopped beneath an air intake outlet. Jerrix leapt and managed to haul himself inside.

“Give me your hand,” he called to Tarra.

She stretched upwards and placed her hands in his paws. Then he hauled her upwards. Once she was safely inside, he reached down, taking Dorix spindly arms.

“Nearly there,” he whispered.

Once they were all safely inside Jerrix crawled along the passageway until they came to a sealed section. Jerrix placed a paw over his mouth.

“Hush.”

He looked down through another intake and saw the flight deck below.

“This could be awkward,” he whispered.

They watched as he stretched over the small space before dropping down inside.

“Hello there,” he called to the astonished pilots.

Before they could react, Jerrix lashed out with clenched paws knocking them out quickly. Then he ran to the main entrance and sealed the door.

“Come on you two,” he called up.

As he took the controls, Tarra and Dorix joined him.

“You can fly this thing?” Tarra asked.

“It is second nature to me,” he replied. “Now where is the Neumon gas control?”

He searched the console until he spied the button he was after. Then he pressed it.

Throughout the ship, clouds of pink gas poured down from overhead filters, quickly flooding the corridors. As it travelled, both guards and prisoners slumped to the floor.

“That should take care of everyone,” Jerrix said smiling to himself.

“I hope you haven’t killed them.”

Jerrix turned a scowling face in her direction.

“What do you take me for? Everyone is asleep.”

As he said this Dorix noticed a range of snow covered mountains coming into view.

“I think you had better gain altitude and quickly.”

Jerrix had seen the threat and pulled the stick sharply back. The prison ship swept upwards, missing the peak with feet to spare.

“Okay,” Jerrix said. “We need a place to land.”

Dorix looked as the ship swept landward again.

“How about there?” he pointed.

Beneath the ship, a huge expanse of grass had come into view. Jerrix swung the ship around gently.

“Reverse thrust, lower the landing struts and voila!”

The ship came gently to rest and he shut the drive system down. He got off the seat and reopened the main door to the ship’s interior.

“How about the guards?” Dorix asked.

“They will still be asleep. We have to wake your people and place the Dogians within the cells.”

They wandered down the corridors, waking the Fleons and dragging the guards into the cells. When this was complete, Jerrix led everyone outside. The ship had landed within an open savannah that stretched for miles in all directions.

“I believe we are about one hundred miles from your colony,” Jerrix said. “We have to get away from here before the Dogians come looking.”

“I think we should go that way,” Dorix suggested pointing ahead.

“You know where we are then?” Tarra asked.

“Not exactly but Jerrix is right. If we stay here we are finished.”

“That settles it,” Jerrix said. “That’s the way we go.”

Collecting everyone together, they marched towards the horizon and the unknown. After a couple of hours, they reached the banks of a fast flowing river. It was obvious that crossing would be a problem.

“Can we go around it?” Tarra asked.

“I doubt it,” Jerrix replied. “It seems to cut right across our path.”

“Perhaps we can help,” Dorix said.

“How?” Tarra asked.

“We can lift you across.”

Jerrix slapped his head.

“Of course your wings.”

Dorix nodded.

“They can fly us across?” Tarra asked.

“I think there are enough of them,” Jerrix said.

The Fleons surrounded them and taking hold of their arms their small fragile wings began to beat swiftly. Slowly but surely they lifted into the air and swept across the river before landing once more.

“Thanks for the lift,” Jerrix said.

“You’re welcome,” Dorix replied.

“Now that we are across,” Tarra said. “Where too now?”

“This way,” Dorix said.

They followed as the Fleons led the way across the flat land. As
they walked on, Tarra noticed the lack of any birdlife. She was
about to mention it when the very air began to vibrate.

“Everyone down,” Dorix shouted.

As they hit the ground, a large silver ship moved slowly overhead. Everyone remained still until the threat passed by.

“That was a little close for comfort,” Tarra commented.

“At least we know they are hunting us,” Jerrix said.

“How does that help?” Tarra asked.

“Actually not much,” he confessed. He turned to Dorix and his people.

“If your people wish to live in peace and harmony we have to deal
with the protagonists.”

“We would agree Jerrix but as you can see, they are much stronger than we are.”

“I bet you are smarter though,” Jerrix replied.

“You have a suggestion?” Dorix asked.

“Let’s say the germ of a plan.”

“I would like to hear it,” Tarra asked.

“You will, all in good time.”

As they walked on, checking overhead now for sounds of trouble, Tarra finally got the question off her young mind.

“Where have all the birds gone?”

Dorix looked rather puzzled.

“What are birds?”

“Small feathery things that fly,” she explained.

Jerrix smiled at her.

“I don’t think they evolved here.”

“This world gets stranger by the day,” she said.

Jerrix stopped for a moment.

“I think we should camp here for the night. We will need all our strength for the morrow.”

Dorix agreed. The sun had started to set and night was fast approaching. His people gathered kindling and a small fire was lit. As it popped and sparked Jerrix began to outline his strategy.

“Our first priority is to discover what the Dogians weaknesses are.

They must have a few. Our second priority is to discover the fate of the captives. Then perhaps we will gain the advantage.”

“They seem to have an incredible technology,” Tarra said. “Defeating that will be no pushover.”

Jerrix turned towards her.

“The more complicated technology becomes, the easier it is to throw a spanner in the works.”

“Then we will need one hell of a spanner,” she replied.

“Why should you want to help us?” Dorix asked pleasantly.

“Oppression should always be resisted,” Jerrix replied. “If we allow the weak to go under then we are no better than them.”

“It is a moral decision,” Tarra explained.

“Exactly,” Jerrix replied.

“My people thank you both,” Dorix said.

“You can do that when it’s over.”

Darkness rapidly descended and everyone settled down for what they hoped would be a quiet night. The silence was a little unnerving.
Only the faint rustle as the wind blew through the blades of grass could be heard.

Tarra tried to sleep but it was hopeless.

“Do you think we can win?”

Jerrix half opened his eyes and yawned.

“Dear child. I always win.”

She closed her eyes again and rolled softly into sleep. The strange surroundings had not fazed her as yet. Great danger lay ahead but for now, her mind was restful.

This peek does not count..I see this is a slow burner..No worries..It will grow on you..