c u r i o u s (Adjective.)

     eager to know or learn something

"Neila eht derutpac evah i, rehtaf!" Arcane's voice boomed in the hive-looking room. The biologist watched as everything went silent, all eyes that were on her moved back into the crowd where a large dark grey humanoid broke the wall of creatures.

Selcouth came to her side, sniffing her over for injury as she was still fallen. When her companion noticed the small bleeding scraps on her palm, he tried licking it clean. When she got home she would have to properly clean it, but it would do for now. She grinned softly, giving a kiss to the top of its head. Elain tried to go closer to her friend, but the creature that was called out by Arcane brought her to her feet by her arm to get a closer look. It was only now that she noticed the species had two pairs of eyes. One narrowed pair below the wide, dark orbs. She didn't notice it on Arcane, because he didn't actually open them like this one did.

His grip burned her skin. His sharp fingers pricking her skin. Something that would definitely lead to a large bruise later on. "Yks eht ni ecalp a morf gnimoc. Emoh ruo gniyduts neeb evah ylla reh dna ehs." The humanoid sneered down at her, allowing her a good look of his hair. It was braided and decorated into an intricate crown atop his head. He must be the leader of these people. The fact that each of the humanoids hung on to his every word also supported this theory.

"Nos, snaem siht tahw dnatsrednu uoy od?" She watched as this king of the creatures questioned Arcane. Was Nos his true name? Maybe, but she kind of preferred Arcane. It was just a prettier word in her opinion. Nos was similar to snot and that was the only way she could think about it now. Not like Arcane would care what she called him in her head anyway. "Esoprup rieht, snosaer rieht tuo dnif tsum ew. Yks eht morf serutaerc. Elpoep ruo no yps ot emoc evah yeht." He tossed her to the floor and back into Selcouth's growing body. The ache of her back was quickly outweighed by the pain of his grip. Elain rubbed a soft hand across the already purpling skin. The ruler then turned to the crowd of creatures. "Seiceps s'neila siht fo nrael lliw ohw?" His voice boomed, echoing to all crowds of every layer of the hive room. The loud noise created a shutter in the round base. Some of the stalagmites cracking on the ceiling in response. Everyone watched him quietly, no one speaking against or of what he said. "Eno on?"

She didn't know that such a large crowd of creatures could be so quiet. Maybe that was just because of her mind only being able to register the society that was on Earth. She could still remember being shoved and pushed aside, while others yelled their thoughts. Why things were wrong. Why things needed to change. The yells of hypocrites.

"Lliw i." Her eyes turned back towards Arcane as he finally broke the silence. Her hair was in strands in front of her face, so she ran her hand through the mess slowly. Arcane was the only one to answer the ruler's questioning tone. It was obvious that Arcane didn't like whatever happened, but no one else was going to answer him. He must've taken the situation into his own hands. "Desoppo eb t'ndluow i dna emit yna ta em nioj nac eno yna hguoht. Esnes ekam ylno dluow ti. Rafa morf meht gniyduts neeb ydaerla evah i." It was more a grumble of words and, even if she did understand what he was saying, she wouldn't have been able to understand what he said. Her human ears were far too weak to pick up on the quiet growls.

The ruler went to Arcane's side and mumbled something only to him. Again, the words were such a low whisper that Elain's human ears weren't able to pick it up, but at least she now knew that the rest of the creatures weren't able to hear it. Their hearing is something else she needed to jot down once she got back. The duo seemed to agree on something and Arcane beckoned her over to the way they came. It was like he was beckoning a young, scared pup. The ruler passed by her as she stood on to her feet again slowly. A deadly glare sent down to her tiny form. Selcouth looked to her cautiously and stood by her side as she made her way towards Arcane again.

"We didn't mean to," her words were cut short. The butt of his knife slammed down on her skull, making her blackout entirely. The last thing she could hear is Selcouth's growl and all she felt was herself being picked up off the floor.

Her view was stuck on her hands. Her bloody hands. The blood of those she cherished as her family and friends. The blood of those she were unable to save.

Those honey eyes turned up to the bastard standing before her. She was going to make him pay. To make them all pay.

When she woke up, she was in a whole deal of pain. Her head pounded, her back ached, and her arms burned. Elain found herself on her bunk once more with Milo sitting next to her with a shaky hand on her head. From the look of the sky outside, she could tell that the sun was beginning to set. She needed to get to work. She needed to right down the details before she forgot. She needed to get samples of the plants underground. She needed to do so much. Elain's head spun with the amount of work that needed to be done. He continued to glance at the door. She tried following his gaze, but her eyes struggled to take in the light. All she could see was the large shadow of the hunched of Arcane.

She let out a loud groan, rubbing her eyes and requesting her glasses. They were handed over quickly by shaky hands. "I swear to all that is good, Milo, if you left my journal in the mud. . ." What was she going to do? She was in so much pain and it wasn't the time to argue with the only other human at site 27-43.

"Here." He basically tossed the journal (and a pill for her killer headache) on to her lap and started with the interrogation. She told him everything without bias, as any scientist should. Completely ignoring the creature by the door. She rose from her bed, leading Milo to the desk so she could show him through the sketchbook. Giving him a rough look at the hive-looking cave that she was once at. Milo didn't take it well. If he wasn't panicking when she woke up, he definitely was now. Especially since he now knew that there were things hidden under them. "You can't be serious right now." He chuckled nervously, but the laugh disappeared when she nodded her head.

"I honestly thought I was going to be killed," she said casually. Elain motioned for Milo to follow with the supplies, passing the large Arcane on the way out. Not giving him a glance, even though she could feel his haunting stare. As soon as she was out of the lab, she was tackled to the ground by Selcouth. A small grin finally stretched on her face. Her back cried out in pain when it hit against the lab stairs, but she ignored it and cooed to the beast licking at her face. Milo shooed Selcouth away, allowing her to get up again. "Alright. Now there are definitely some plants down in the tunnels of this planet and we are here to understand them. Only problem is," she nodded her head in the direction of Arcane. The humanoid was currently struggling to exit the laboratory doors.

Milo looked over to the creature that stalked their way. Maintaining a good distance still when he stopped his approach. "Why is he following us anyway?" Both humans stared up at the creature's face. If he felt awkward due to the staring, Arcane didn't show it. Seemingly staring back at them with a hard gaze. Then, Milo gasped and pulled her attention away. "Wait a minute! You don't expect me to go into the dark and dangerous tunnels too."

She rolled her eyes. The headache gave her an annoyed attitude. All that she wanted to do was get work done, then go take a long and healthy nap. Elain began to lead them away into the Fungorum Arbores before she responded, "Don't tell me you are afraid of the dark, Milo." She watched him in the corner of her eye as his mouth opened and closed. Similar to the gaping of the fish. Then he muttered a quiet no. Elain searched for a different entrance, only actually finding one by a lucky stumble. "Alright. You know what we need, right?" She watched him nod slowly. Her eyes turned towards Arcane, who was being stared down by Selcouth. "Milo, I'll be here. Please be careful."

"Of course," he muttered with a bitter tone. She didn't want to waste time sitting there waiting, but it was obvious that Milo wasn't good at doing things under pressure. How he was sent off to do this job was unknown to her, hadn't he been tested as any other had? She had to let Head Quarters know that there were intelligent life forms on the planet. Hostile intelligent life forms, but that didn't change much. Elain had accidentally zoned out, not noticing that Milo had already slipped down into the tunnels. "I am an Assistant, Elain. Not a gosh darn biologist." It was definitely something that she wasn't meant to hear, but the sound echoed up to them. She nearly laughed at the aggressive tone and his attempt to not curse. Nearly, because he still was having an attitude with his superior.

She plopped down on one of the low stone bridges, crossing one leg over the other. Elain flipped through her journal quietly, noticing that some pages were nearly ruined by falling into the mud. Selcouth laid by her feet and Arcane looked to be debating on whether to follow Milo or stay above ground. She sighed, starting a new page for Arcane's people. She just needed to slow down. The pill was beginning to calm her raging headache, but it still hurt to move her arm and back.

Milo groaned, making her eyes slide his way again. He was having a hard time trying to climb out of the tunnels. The hesitance in her writing was completely stopped by the book being yanked out of her hands. She squeaked in surprise and nearly got whiplash turning to look backwards at Arcane. When did he even get there? She didn't like how he could move so silently. She tightened her jaw, watching the creature look through her pages, but turned to her assistant before she snapped at him. She really needed to get rid of this terrible mood.

"Okay. I got samples of the plants. But if you want me to get more next time, I'm going to need a flashlight." Elain nodded, even though she knew there wouldn't be a next time. If she wanted to get things done in a timely manner, then she was going to have to do it herself.

"That's fine. Let's get back to the lab before night falls." She narrowed her eyes up at Arcane and her book, but turned to lead them back. Milo was still carrying the new samples and utensils. She really needed to sleep to get over her attitude. "I need to send an email to Head Quarters. Then I need you to set up a video call with Dr. Louis. This is urgent, alright Milo? No compromising." She didn't even need to look back at him in response. She wasn't taking no as an answer. If she has to stay up longer, he can set up a meeting. As soon as she was in the lab, they began to get their work done under the watchful eye of Arcane.