At the edge of the forest stood a cabin, seemingly hidden away from wandering eyes, it looked as if a warm energy surrounded it. Flowers and vines covered it, in an apparently protective manner, it was oddly beautiful and Alisha wondered if every house in this world was like this or if this one was special.

She was anxious; she’d probably find out more about this planet, and her situation, and maybe a way to go back home - but what if she didn’t want that? What if there was no information at all, or if this person didn’t want to help her- what if Katie wanted her gone?

In the midst of her wandering thoughts, Katie held her hand and winked at her, “Max is a little weird, but they’re good people, it’ll all go well - after all I’m right here.”

Sighing she nodded and walked towards the cabin, not letting go of Katie’s hand. Knocking on the wooden door, Alisha waited for a response, but never got one, so she knocked again harder - still no answer.

“What now?”

“Now we break in.”

Katie looked like a giddy child - which was kind of adorable - and Alisha got momentarily sucked into the moment, until she realised what she had said, “Wait, no no no no, we can’t do that!”

“Relax, I’m kidding.”

“Oh good.”

“The door isn’t locked, so we’re not breaking in, still it can be considered trespassing since we don’t really have her authorization.”

“That’s still bad…”

“You really are adorable. I’m friends with Max, I can come and go as I wish, I’m just playing with you. I like seeing you all flustered.”

Alisha so wanted to kiss Katie right there and then, but right now she had to focus on other important stuff - later though, later.

“Then I should just...go in?”

“Yes I quite enjoy the view when you walk in front of me, so please do go in first.”

Blushing, Alisha rolled her eyes, and carefully opened the door, all the while mumbling, “Hello? Anyone here?”

The room was cluttered, but not dirty, as if there was an order to the mess of books and papers and flowers - it felt nice, like a home. She knew she shouldn’t, but Alisha kind of wanted to snoop around, so without touching anything she started reading the names of the books.

‘Universes, Planets, Stars and Parallel Equilibrium’, ‘Wyvern and its Stuffy Traditions and Dangerous Activities’, ‘How to Take Care of Your Unruly Plants’, ‘People and How Their Brains Function’, ‘Romantic Attraction is Fake, Invented by Aliens’, each name stranger than the last, with completely different subjects and Alisha was fascinated by it all. Then she came upon one that made her pause, called ‘Earth’, nothing more, nothing less and her fingers itched to touch it, to open it and read all its secrets.

Katie never interfered, content on just watching Alisha’s face turn and change at the drop of a hat, enjoying her giggles and her furrowed eyebrows in concentration. Now she looked serious, and she wondered why, what had made her mood change so hard and fast? As Katie thought if she should approach her or not, she sensed the usual air ripples she had grown so accustomed to - maybe she should’ve warned Alisha.