The story so far:

---- Aija is a Volunteer at the Pristine School at Innermost. She works along with Zuri and Ze, who are her friends. Aija witnesses a strange event one night – light emanating from Rez's body. The kidnapper is after her soul, next, but he leaves her alive and goes away. Another man finds her, he wants to take her somewhere else - Aija though wary of him agrees.

---- Aija learns of the existence of the aliens – the Ytai. Also, about the R'ies and H'eon, Harvesting and Àvo from Etrie. Etrie tells her that the man, who Harvested Rez (Thieron), will now go after her. He tells her that the spy/kidnapper's name is Luka. Etrie asks her to work along with him.

---- Thieron works for H'eon. The Leader of He'on is Alton Ivar. Thieron tells Alton that he will find the second Priority Soul so that he can be sent to retrieve the Àvo. Thieron is provoked by Dhor-Wo (Alton's bodyguard). He hits Dhor-Wo and breaks his nose.

---- Thieron trails Aija; he finds that she is an extremely powerful soul. And, so, even though Alton asks him to Harvest her, he decides on a different plan by himself.

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****9.1 - Nala****

She was running through the thick forest. Dense clouds hung above, darkening the whole place further.

As she tried to run, to escape, she lost her way. She had never lost her way through the forest. It was her home. Her quick feet dislodged the red mud beneath them as she ran faster. But, they were gaining distance; they would soon capture her and kill her. She turned to change her path and halted.

A ra'is was slowly making its way towards her. It was so close now; she could see its blue eyes glaring at her. Behind her, her people had caught up to her. Would she die by the ra'is's claws or the hands of her own people? She gasped, searching for a way out when the ra'is pounced onto her.

Nala woke with a scream. She was sweating, and her breaths were swift. She tried to calm herself by focussing on her breathing. She lay in bed for a while, listening to herself breathe. Nala hadn't had that dream in a long time. She tended to have the dream when she was stressed. And, she couldn't think of a single reason as to why she may be feeling stressed.

She got up and took a long cold shower. The cold water calmed her, and she was feeling better by the time she was done. It was still eight in the morning when she dressed and went down for breakfast. No one was home.

Nala yawned as she made herself some melon juice. She switched on the DigiScreen and turned the volume high oh her Scroll after changing the channel to the music channel. A violin concerto was airing. Music calmed her, maybe, because she had always loved it. It also reminded her of home; though the music sounded different here.

She made herself an egg and cheese sandwich, her dream reminding her of home. Most days she missed it – more often she missed her family. She wondered what they were all doing now. How had they taken her absence?

She looked at her Scroll; it was nine. She sighed as she deposited herself on the couch, facing the DigiScreen. The weather outside seemed good; it wasn't too sunny or too cloudy. It was one of those beautiful weather days – whatever passed as beautiful weather in the temperature-controlled cities.

Nala had adjusted to life on Earth rather easily. She hated to admit it, but she rather liked it. She even had a fondness for the earthen name she had taken on. She had found the earth strange initially, as anyone would a new planet, but she had slowly liked the place enough and living on Earth had become more natural.

Nala yawned for what seemed to her like the tenth time. She was unwilling to go back to sleep, lest she dreamed of home again.

"Call Zuri," she commanded her Scroll.

"Nala?" Zuri's voice held surprise. Nala hadn't called her or texted her since the last time they had met each other.

"Didn't expect me to call?"

"It's not that," Zuri said. "I'm glad you did."

"Are you free?"

"Now?"

"Yes...."

"I am." Zuri's voice was soft.

Nala asked her to meet her at the Park. She saw that no one was at home yet and left.

*****

Nala found Zuri sitting on a bench at the entrance of the circular Park. She seemed to be eating something. Zuri spotted her and waved; her smile immediately cheering her up. Zuri was beautiful, but that wasn't the most favorite thing about her. Nala loved her confidence, even though sometimes Zuri seemed shy around her. It only made her cuter.

Nala took her place beside Zuri, and Zuri offered her the sweetlings she was eating. Nala took one. They were good.

"I haven't seen you nor have I heard from you in a long time." Zuri expressed, her voice laced with yearning.

She had tied her copper curls atop her head today and wore a dress that matched Nala's silver-blonde hair. Nala had to admit that Zuri's eyes were captivating. The blue-green of her eyes reminded her of the lakes back home. Zuri was tall too and nearly matched her Ytai height.

"I've been busy," Nala said.

Zuri looked at her for a moment before saying, "Okay," and continued to eat the sweetlings. She offered some more to Nala.

"What do you want to do?" Zuri questioned finishing off the last sugared dough sweetling and licking the powdered sugar off her fingers.

"Anything that involves keeping you close to me."

Zuri blushed, in turn letting warmth seep onto Nala's cheeks. Nala liked being bold with Zuri. She knew she felt something more than 'like' towards the human girl. It contrasted most of her beliefs, but Nala felt Zuri was worth the try; worth the small doubt creeping into her convictions. She hadn't met a human she liked this much before and Zuri was messing with her.

Zuri took Nala to Market and rented two manual bicycles. It wasn't what Nala had in mind, but she could spend time with Zuri. They meandered around the not quite busy Sunday streets on their cycles. Cycles weren't often rented; many walked around, used the LeviPort buses, or had their hovercycles.

They cycled through the core of Innermost and moved out towards the border where the high-rises and residential areas opened out to larger greener spaces with more official buildings such as the office of the Leadership, the Research Institute, the Animal Preservation Centre, the Secures training center and such other official places.

It had started to drizzle – there wasn't any rain scheduled for the day – when they were cycling around the outskirts. So, they began to cycle back, but the drizzle morphed into a sudden heavy pour. They took shelter under the entrance of the Animal Preservation Centre, where one of the Secures threw them annoyed glances. Nala stared at the man, and he eventually turned away.

It wasn't the artificial rain induced by the Scientists under the Leadership's order. After a long time, this was natural rain. There was no predicting when it would end. Zuri and Nala stood close together slightly drenched. They had already passed the Animal Preservation Centre by the time it had started to rain. They hadn't found any other building close by, so they had had to cycle back and stand under the huge covered entrance.

Nala intertwined her fingers through Zuri's; Zuri didn't hesitate and tightened her grip. Nala loved that about Zuri. They looked at the rain as it poured heavily, each of them lost in their own thoughts. Nala wondered how a human had the ability to make her feel this way. Feel happy; feel at ease even if it was for a short time.

Nala felt like she would get addicted to Zuri's contentment. She knew she had to be wary of how she felt towards this human girl; this beautiful human girl. But, she couldn't bring herself to do so. She wondered how Zuri would react if she found out about Nala being Ytai. Would she be scared? No, Zuri wouldn't be frightened. She wasn't like that. But, she might have a hard time accepting Nala as her partner.

One of the workers came out, saw them, and said, "Why are you standing outside?"

The two girls – one human, one Ytai –looked at her, confused.

"You have come all the way here, why don't you visit the Centre?" the woman said. She was wearing a green dress and had a name badge pinned on to it – Rose Iang. She looked like she was in her early thirties; her black hair was plaited and tied neatly at the nape of her neck.

"We're allowed to do that?" Zuri sounded excited.

"Yes, of course." Rose smiled.

Zuri looked at Nala expectantly, waiting for her to agree. Nala shrugged, "Okay."

"Yes!" Zuri smiled.

Rose laughed. "Come in." She opened the door for them by scanning her left index finger. Rose asked the Secures to take care of their cycles. Nala glanced at the Secure, who had stared at them. He looked angry and irritated. Nala smiled sweetly at him, as his eyes went to her before she entered. It annoyed him further; she enjoyed it.

"I saw you both from in here," Rose said. "It's going to rain a while longer. So, I thought, why not let you inside instead of just standing out there. By the way, I'm Rose Iang as my name badge already says."

Zuri and Nala introduced themselves, and Rose had their names registered at the Visitor's Centre. Rose then led them inside the massive interconnected buildings. Nala was surprised by what she found. There were areas of simulated natural climates putting animals in a sort of natural ecosystem.

Rose took them through each one of the climates. She explained to them about each of the animals; how many were left, and what they have accomplished in trying to preserve the animals. Nala loved the red foxes the best. She stood entranced in front of the black panthers; they reminded her of the Ytai enyr. Rose told them about the extinct Lions, Zebras, and Rhinos. Nala was sure there were tears in Zuri's eyes. Rose said to them that many species had gone extinct and that the Centre was trying their best to preserve the remaining species and hoping to find a way to bring back the lost ones.

It was at times like these that Nala's hate for humans came forth. They had nearly destroyed the planet because of their petty wars, and it was nature that had taken the toll. Several species of flora and fauna had gone extinct following the pollution, radiation, and plague that the Wars had given birth to.

Many parts of the Earth were still damaged, unable to recover. Only a few areas where the Cities were created and rehabilitated were things better. This always angered Nala.

After the tour, Rose offered them some lunch; those pre-packed food packages that Nala hated. But she ate it anyway for she couldn't make a fuss in front of the humans – especially Zuri – that she hated their pre-packed food and that freshly cooked food was way better. By the time they finished eating, it had stopped raining. Nala and Zuri thanked Rose and slowly cycled back to Market; gave back the rented manual cycles and walked back to Zuri's School Housing; hand in hand.

They stopped in front of the huge gate, still holding hands and the gate auto-unlocked itself for Zuri.

"I had the best time ever." Zuri beamed.

"Me too." agreed Nala, feeling happy.

Nala had the inexplicable desire to kiss Zuri. But, she held back just in case Zuri wasn't ready for it. Nala herself wasn't sure what to make of this relationship with a human. But, she was sure of one thing – she really, really liked Zuri.

"Come in," Zuri suggested. "Come on in; I'll heat dinner."

Nala was surprised by the offer. She looked at the time. She had time, and it wasn't even dark yet. And, she hadn't received any calls all day long.

"Okay..." Nala surrendered (though the heated dinner didn't sound appetizing), wanting to be with Zuri for a little while longer.

They went to Zuri's place. It wasn't big, but it wasn't bad either. It was decent enough for one person. They heated sandwiches and salads, packed the fruits, and brought them down to the open lawns downstairs. They spread a mat like many others there and settled on it with their food. Nala hadn't done anything like it before, and she decided that she was enjoying the experience. 

It was dark by the time they finished the food. The two of them just sat there, mostly in silence, enjoying each other's presence.

"Where do you live?" Zuri asked, lying down on the mat.

"It's farther from here," Nala replied.

Zuri looked up at Nala, clearly doubting Nala's intentions now. "Why is it that you don't seem to like telling anything to me about yourself?"

"Someday," whispered Nala lying down beside her.

"Should I be worried about you?" Zuri questioned. "About us?"

'Us?' thought Nala, the word sending little tickles of elation through her.

"There's nothing to be worried about." her voice lacked conviction, and Zuri caught on to it. But, Zuri didn't say anything more.

Was there really nothing to worry about? Nala wondered. There was much to worry about, truthfully. But, Nala wanted to deny it. Deny that the person she was falling for was human. Nala would be in serious trouble for it. It went against everything Nala had been working for.

Zuri's Scroll rang, and she sat up.

"Ai?" she answered. "I'm in front of my Block on the lawns. Yeah, see you."

Zuri looked at Nala. "Aija's my best friend. I want you to meet her."

Nala sat up straight. Was this a good idea - introducing herself to another human? She looked at Zuri; there was hope in her beautiful eyes. It was essential to her.

"Alright," Nala replied, more so to convince herself more than Zuri.

About twenty minutes or so later, Nala spotted a girl walking right towards them. As she neared them, her expression changed from happy to surprise.

"Who is this?" she asked Zuri, halting before them.

She wore blue shorts and a white t-shirt with flowers printed on it. Her hair was long, and Nala had the distinct feeling of having seen her somewhere before.

Zuri stood up, and Nala followed suit.

"Aija, this is Nala. Nala, this is Aija."

Nala shook hands with Aija. Aija smiled at her; she seemed nice.

Aija and Zuri exchanged looks. Nala couldn't make sense of them, but she understood that the girls were very close with each other; close enough to understand each other with looks.

"Let's sit, Zuri instructed.

Just as they sat, Nala's Scroll vibrated. She took it out of her pocket and scanned the name. "I need to take this," she told the girls and walked away. She could hear their excited voices but didn't pay attention to their words.

"Yes," she answered.

"Ati ouy te?" he asked. Where are you?

Nala stiffened. "Why?" she answered in Ytèan.

"I can see you," he said, his voice low; bordering on being curt.

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