I don't understand the chit, at his request, she's taken back to the underground communities, and I don't want to understand my actions, but I follow her.

She's keeping to herself, as I refused to talk to her, until she's decided who she wants. Wanting to force her to understand, what she'll be losing, Joy came with me.

It's wrong to lead her on, but hey in times of war, they'll be some casualties.

Nowhere else to go, she has to endure, our cuddle and coddle fests.

"Where's Amara?" Inquires our hostess, as she's bringing in a plate of cookies, with tea.

"I don't know."

"And I don't care." Says, Joy.

Her comment produces a narrowed eyed glare from the lady of the house, and not wanting any parts of this, I excuse myself.

She's been spending a lot of time away from our temporary home, and I was so caught up in my anger that I didn't notice.

Going in search of her, she's being escorted back out of the nudist community.

"What are you doing?"

"I told them, that I was interested in being given a second chance, at joining their community."

"And are you?"

"No, I just wanted to see some penis, being as how I'm not getting any."

"Reptilian Ralph's neglecting you?" I state, trying not to smile.

"His name's Vata, and yeah he's doing leader things, I guess."

"If you wanted a look-see, I can honor that request, and so much more."

"I know that you can, but..."

"You don't want me to."

"I don't want to argue with you, but isn't Joy waiting for you?"

"Don't put this off on me."

"I'm not, but I'm definitely not sharing."

"I can share you, but you can't share me?"

"Uh, no... that's your thing not mine."

Oh, this just keeps getting better and better...

I hate to admit it, but Dom was looking so good. Coming from the naked folks community, with all those delectable man parts hanging out, I wanted to jump him right then and there.

Vata's abandonment stings, but I can't expect him to be at my beck and call always. He has duties, responsibilities... and I'm left to my own devices, which isn't a good thing.

I'm itching to get into something, and Dom's a wicked distraction. So, I move in with another family, they're nice people, everybody's nice.

"No, you go when I go... and I can't, I'm already late getting dinner started."

"Amara can go with me..."

"Go where?" I ask, joining them in the living room.

"To the springs, everyone goes there to go swimming." Says Aimee, my host's teen daughter.

"Sure, I can take you, it's no problem."

"No, I wouldn't want to impose on you."

"It's nothing really, I can do it."

"Two hours max, and that's it." She says, to her daughter.

"Thanks!"

It's a world within a world, and I'm amazed at the beauty of it. A large sandy canyon, that goes on forever. Rich deep oranges, and light purple coloring, with high walls. I left Aimee with her friends, at the hotsprings, which has gorges upon gorges of them.

I might have to reconsider living topside, this is amazing. Squeezing through a small opening, I'm in another small gorge, with limited light, I run my hands along the wall. The grooves and groves are wonderfully cool, and so's the sand in this area.

Removing my shirt, and shoes, I lie down with my arms and legs spread wide, enjoying the feel of the grainy sand on my body.

Eyes closed, I revel in my "me" time. Sighing, I place my shirt under my head, and relax. Drawing comfort from the semi darkness and the quietness.

My thoughts are of Vata, as I drift off to sleep.

It's dark when I awake, I can barely see. Letting my eyes adjust, I can now see more clearly. Trying to remember which way that I came in, I take a chance and continue on.

A rustle in the distance, stops me cold. Straining to hear in the darkness, I wait. Sure that nothings there, I move on, and there it goes again.

My pace increases, and so does the sound. Oh, no... It's coming from behind me! Breaking out into a run, I can hear footsteps chasing me.

Panicked and not about to die in these wonderfully well constructed catacombs, I turn a few corners, hoping to lose my stalker, I'm prepared to run all night, if need be.

My plan's ruined, when I run into a dead end.

Out of breath, and scared out of mind, clicking sounds echoing off the walls, does nothing to ease my fear. Waiting for the body attached to the sound, to appear.

I contemplate my options, I'll fight, probably lose, but if I must go out, at least I'll go out fighting. A large shadow appears, and all my bravado drops.

Backed against the wall, no weapons to defend myself with, I use the only defense available. Screaming like a banshee, I run at the shawdow, hard and fast, only to land flat on my face.

A leg's interrupted my attempt at fighting my way out of here. Facing my attacker, I scream again. "Can you not do that?" The voice is guttural even in our language, so I know that it's one of them.

It doesn't sound like Aduih, and straining my eyes, the features aren't visible. "What do you want?"

Offering me a hand, I decline, coming to my feet.

"I was just out exploring, and I found you."

"How did you get down here?"

"Same as you, I walked."

"No, I mean down here with us, the humans, you're not supposed to know about this place."

"I live here."

"In here, in the Canyon?"

"No, with the humans, with no body coverings."

"Are you the only one?"

"No, there's more of my people here, a comnunity inside of their community."

Oh my freaking god!