Chapter 5.

They stepped into the hall and Finn distantly noticed the boys standing in a straight line.

Several large aliens stood to the side and Noni was beside one with turquoise hair and pale yellow skin.

The feline looked towards him and uttered a shocked gasp.

The aliens carrying Liler approached the one with turquoise hair.

"This is our second Ytra." The female, that Finn recognised from his first day, said. "He is new and hasn't adjusted to the Etional. We can have him ready for you in a few weeks time."

The alien carrying Finn continued towards the exit and the strangers glowing eyes flicked towards them.

"And what of this one?" He spoke.

The female hesitated and then gestured the one carrying Finn forward.

"This is a Human. Unfortunately, he clashed with the Ytra in his adjustment period." She smoothed her hands together and clasped them in a faintly nervous gesture.

"I would have thought your security prevented such things." The turquoise haired alien stepped closer and eyed Finn curiously.

The female hesitated and her hands tightened.

"It was a minor oversight on our part, lord Ferrer. The incident timed alongside the inspection and the monitors were briefly unattended. I assure you, we keep our selection under close observation, on all hours of the day."

Lord Ferrer snorted lightly and the female twitched again. He stretched out a hand and ran his gold ringed fingers up Finn's leg.

"My lord, I have to ask you not..." She trailed off as the alien parted Finn's legs.

Noni uttered a cry of dismay, and the lord spared the feline a brief glance.

"The new Ytra is a stud, is he?" Ferrer asked, luminous stare running over Finn, before settling on his mauled neck.

"We can have him gelded, my lord." The female alien spoke in a rush. "Or if you spare us a week he'll be docile and manageable."

Noni was openly sniveling, black ears flat against his head, as he stared mournfully at Finn.

"And what is the cause for such violence?" Ferrer enquired and rubbed a lock of Finn's curly hair between his fingers.

"The Ytra live in a hierarchy. The strongest is named alpha and rules the pack. I imagine he felt challenged by the Human." She replied, slit eyes now flicking between Finn and the lord.

"And this Human thinks himself an alpha?" He asked, burning eyes locking onto Finn's glazed stare.

"No, my lord. If the Human was to be categorized in Ytra society he would be a submissive. I imagine it simply wasn't aware of the Ytra's signals."

"A cultural blunder." Ferrer concluded, and ran his hand over Finn's smooth belly. The lord's hand was slim, but large enough to eclipse Finn's ribcage.

"My lord Ferrer, pardon me, but we must examine the extent of the Human's damage. He isn't in any condition to undergo inspection." The blue alien stressed.

The lord gave her a small smile and quirked his brow.

"I have no need for further inspection. The little Ytra appears fond of the Human, so I'll have it shipped after a visit to the clinic." He gave Noni a meaningful look and the feline responded with a tremulous smile.

The female shifted and glanced at Liler's still form.

"And will you have the Human in place of the second Ytra?" She enquired.

Ferrer turned towards Noni and placed a hand on the feline's small shoulder.

"Have the stud shipped to my home as well. Leave him intact and save the Etional. I never approved of quelling natural behavior to start with." He drawled and steered Noni from the room.

The female blinked and cast an uneasy look towards Finn. Her hand hovered above his head and the blue aliens all exchanged glances.

"As you will, my lord." She finally said, but Ferrer had already left.

The alien carrying Finn moved towards the doors and the Human's eyes swept over Anargi, who stood beside a large golden alien with sharp ears. Anargi smirked, before Finn's eyes drifted shut.

He woke briefly to searing pain, and had a blurry impression of bright lights, and blue shapes. There was a prick in his neck and he slipped into darkness once more.

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Gentle hands were running over his curls in a soothing manner. Finn's eyes opened slowly and he saw the familiar female smile down at him.

"How do you feel?" She asked in that deep, hissing voice that somehow managed to be comforting.

Horrifying memories flooded back, but they were muted as if covered by a deep fog; dulled by whatever medications the aliens possessed.

A familiar tingling, that he recognized from his first day, ran through his limbs. Particularly in his backside and neck.

"Ok." He said and licked his parched lips. "A little prickly."

The alien passed him a cup and Finn gulped down the familiar salty and sweet drink.

She placed the empty cup on a tray and stroked his hair again.

"You have been selected by lord Ferrer and you will be shipped to your new home in a few hours." She rasped quietly.

Finn vaguely remembered meeting the lord, but he had trouble recalling his face, apart from the vibrant turquoise hair. He did know the lord purchased both Noni and Liler as well.

The memory of his encounter with Liler was faint, but Finn's body remembered its trauma and small tremors ran through his hands.

The alien watched him a moment and then her second hand folded around his fingers, squeezing gently.

"My name is Myrina." She said softly. "And if they treat you poorly, I want you to approach the first Nyacta you see. That's us." She smiled and indicated herself. "Many of us serve in the lords homes, or you can find us at social gatherings." Her thumb swept across his hand in a comforting gesture. "Tell them my name and that you need to return to Keafule. They'll see you safely back here."

Finn stared into her red pupils and felt small spark of hope light in his heart.

"You..." He hesitated and looked down. Myrina waited patiently. "You couldn't just return me to Earth? To my family? Please..." His throat closed up and his chest ached at the thought of his parents despair. They must have contacted the police by now.

Myrina gave a hissing sigh and moved to a cabinet. She filled a syringe with amber colored liquid and Finn's hope dwindled and died.

She returned to his side, cupped his face in her large palm, and injected the solution directly into his temple.

Coolness flooded into his skull and his thoughts seemed to scatter and dissolve.

The alien leaned forward and her lips brushed lightly over his brow.

"Do you remember my name?" She whispered.

"Myrina." Finn answered through strangely numb lips.

"Very good. Who are my people?" Myrina asked.

"Nyacta." Finn mumbled.

"Yes. Do you remember what you must do to return here?" She prompted and Finn gave a slow nod.

"Where are you from?"

"I..." Finn frowned and looked at his hands. "I don't know." He finally answered.

The alien smiled, but there was a stiffness to it.

"That's alright." She kissed him a second time, on his cheek, and stood abruptly. "Remember my words, little one." She said, but she wouldn't meet his eyes and walked away.

Finn's thoughts drifted sluggishly and he lay back heavily. His mind was like a thick wall of mist and he felt that if he could just sweep it aside something wonderful might appear. His eyes closed and he slept.

A/N - The previous two chapters were a little short. So I'll upload the next one in a few hours to make up for it ^^