Ava turned to face me when I called out her name and her tail smacked the ground, causing it to shake a little. She bounded over on all fours and rubbed her head on my leg before I could react.
"Mye! I thought I smelled ya."
Ava parted and sat like a dog looking up at me. Her expression was an innocent one and she showed no sign that she doesn't care about my life. In fact, there was concern growing in her expression and she sniffed me before standing up. I didn't notice this before but she was smaller now. She was smaller than me so she must be around 4.3 ft tall. Before she had to be at least 5.9. Needless to say, the change in height really threw me off. Though I guess it does make sense as a disguise. Zenars are all kids but are quite tall and long. If Ava, four looks to fourteen, shows up being almost if not as tall as an adult then some flags may be raised.
Though now she looks like a cute little kid, which is a danger within itself. Not only to my sanity but if any predator tries and captures her...well let's just say that there will most definitely be a murder. Well, that is if they don't take her glasses off first. Once those cruddy shades are off it will be really easy to tell that she is a Zenar. Only a Zenar could make any insane thing feel fear by looking at their eyes. And Ava's eyes are worse than a normal Zenar. The person may very well have a heart attack. But if they don't then they could expose Ava.
"Hey, Ava. Could you make yourself taller?"
Ava cocked her head before smiling at me with her eyes closed and grew an inch taller than me. She still looked like a little kid but now she is passable at being around my age. I couldn't decide if this was worse or better than her previous height.
"Hey, Mye. Are ya okay? You looked bad when you left last time and still look somewhat bad now."
I started petting Ava and she started purring, her short tail wagging back and forth like a dog. I could feel the lumps on her head that were her horns through the hood but they were soft and bent against her head. I guess she could change all four of her horns.
I looked up and saw Doctor Pallapine wave me goodbye and a thumbs up before entering the limo and driving away, leaving me and Ava alone. He's not really giving me a choice in this manner, is he?
I looked around before I started walking towards the door I went out of the club from. I peeked inside to make sure the coast was clear before beckoning Ava over.
"It should be safe to enter but, can you walk on two legs while inside?"
"Sure!" Ava replied while giving me a beaming smile. Unfortunately, her sharp teeth were still there. There was nothing she could do to cover them up. She grabbed my hand with both of hers and giggled. Even being an inch taller than me she still looked like a little sister. I stopped and stared into her eyes. The shades did their best but her eyes still shone through them, casting a dim red glow. These would only draw suspicions on her origins and if any of my friends find out that she is a Zenar or has some Zenar parts to her then I can kiss either Ava or them goodbye.
"Here. Hold still." I tell Ava while taking off the shades hiding her eyes. She stayed perfectly still but I could tell that she was a little tense. I glanced at her weird eyes. Was it just me or does she somehow look better with them exposed? No, that can't be right. Her eyes are scary.
I examined the sunglasses before sighing and closing my eyes. I felt myself attach to the shades and I gave it some of me. When I opened my eyes again the shades looked heavier and more stylish. I put them back on Ava and her eyes disappeared, no longer bleeding through. Or so I thought.
Ava met my eyes with a curious look and I flinched. I flinched not because of her gaze but because now a bright yellow light bled through the shades. This light, or her eyes I should say, were different than the red that bled through earlier. These eyes looked normal.
"W-what was that?"
I felt myself go cold as Ava stuttered her question. I wonder if Ava knew the truth about me if she would still be my friend? A part of me wanted to know badly while another part was too scared to find out. I learned my lesson once and did not want to again so I didn't tell her. Instead, I asked my own question.
"Ava, your eyes are yellow."
Ava perked up at that and put her hand in front of her eyes, seeing the faint yellow glow her new eyes produced, before smiling sheepishly.
"T-that is actually my original eye color."
I was surprised at that. Aren't yellow eyes extremely rare? Actually, Ava said original eye color. Does that mean she remembers her life before becoming a Zenar? But didn't she say her memories were foggy when we first met?
"Ava, do you remember anything from before you were a Zenar?"
"Not much. Just the fact that I love my father and my eye color. Maybe a few habits at best. Also, what do ya mean turn into a Zenar? Aren't I a Zenar? No, that sounded wrong. Hmmm. How do I ask this?"
Wait. No one told her yet?
"Ava. A Zenar is a species. Remember when we had that talk?"
Ava nodded, muttering her oddly said question trying to get it to sound right.
"But you weren't always a Zenar. A Zenar is a species that comes from a virus. This virus made you into a Zenar."
"What's a virus?"
"A sickness. Something bad."
Ava blinked slowly, somehow giving off the impression that she is in shock with the glasses and hood on.
"I'm...sick? I don't feel bad."
"You aren't sick. What I mean is that you weren't always a Zenar. You were human once."
Ava took a minute to process this before she nodded once.
"I think I get it. So, what now?"
I let out another sigh before pinching Ava's cheeks. She made an adorable noise in protests but I could tell it didn't hurt. It would take a lot to hurt a Zenar.
Probably a lot more to hurt a Zenar like Ava who could make humanity's best defense seem like a twig to a giant.
"Now, Ava. Now I teach you how to dance."
....
I cocked my head. 'Dance'? For some reason, the word sounded...familiar. Actually, what does sounded mean? Is it the after of sound? Most likely.
"Dance? What is dance? It sounds familiar."
Mye put a finger to my mouth.
"You'll have to wait and see. First, let me introduce you to my other friends. Hopefully, you'll get along with them well."
With that Mye opened the door and went inside. I followed, almost on all fours until I remember what Mye told me and I went back to walking on two legs. Inside was still as dark and colorful as I remembered it. I noticed it before but the shapes in here are all black and not grey. It made it difficult to discern one from another. When they jumped up and down they looked like a blob of black. It was confusing. Most definitely confusing.
I briefly felt angered that Mye had friends that I didn't know about but decided that it wasn't of any concern to me. Mye lead me to a table to the left of the door and sitting there were three grey shapes. Why were they different from the rest? I thought of sniffing them but decided against it as it might blow my cover. The shape in the Light told me that It will be a while until I see Mye again if I blow my cover and I don't want that.
"Hey hey hey! Who is that? Some stray you picked up?"
"....Nope. This is that friend I told you about."
When Mye mentioned me the three shapes immediately perked up and I felt them inspecting me. I cocked my head at them and inspected them in return. None of them seemed like much to me. The biggest female of the group though felt like she was smart and different. She felt like a natural leader and somewhat of a threat. I made a claw to keep watch of her. (Claw instead of Note since Ava doesn't know that phrase yet*)
Hmm. Is that a good meaning for keeping an eye on someone? I've been meaning to find something to replace it since I can't keep my eyes on something all the time. I wonder if this really works? Well, maybe I can ask Mye or the Light. The two of them are smart. Yeah, that's what I'll do!
"Ava. Ava!"
I jumped a little and turned to look at Mye. I had a feeling that she was talking to me and telling me something important but I was too busy. Sorry, Mye.
"Oh! Hi! My name is Ava Kalesidia. Nice to meet ya."
I've been practicing that line for a day straight. Please don't tell me I've messed it up. Say something. Please!
After a minute of silence, the male of the group spoke.
"Kalesidia? As in the Kalesidia?"
"...What does that mean, Mye?"
Mye shrugged.
"I have no idea what he means by 'the Kalesidia' either."
The male shook his head before sitting down. I waited for him to explain but he never did. Oh well. After a bit, the other female with the strange hair went and brought me a chair. This one was much better than the restrainment chair but I didn't say it since I've been told not to say anything about my room...for a day! A Day mind ya. I'm still upset about that.
"So. Ava, what are your thoughts about the party?"
I perked up at the strange-haired girl's question.
"Confusing. Nothing really makes sense. And it is quite loud in here."
I've been trying to keep my mind off it but it is really loud in here. I was beginning to feel somewhat bad in my head.
"Ahh. You'll get used to it."
"I will?"
"Yeah! This is what a real party is like!"
"There can be fake parties?"
Everyone laughed at that.
"Quite the naive one, isn't she, Mye?"
"Yeah, she is. But that is what makes her 'her' I guess."
I am getting really confused now. Make her her? What does that mean? I need to have another chat with Mye again when we have the chance.
After chatting with everyone for a bit I found myself starting to like what was happening. I'm not sure I trust everyone though as they seem to be aware of me like prey would be and something tells me it isn't just because of my looks. But other than that, everything seems to be going well.
Just when I was about to take a bite out of some warm meat called steak I felt Mye tap my shoulders. Everyone had dispersed from the table some while ago and I stayed behind because the prey-food here was delicious. I turned and looked into Mye's smiling face and found myself smiling back.
"I said I would teach you how to dance. Now is the time."