Chapter 4 Chance Encounter

Phuro's body was still and tense under the intense stare of Doctor Martin, although her heart was pounding in her chest. This was not how she anticipated her day going, but she also hadn't expected to discover humans excavating in a once-secret cave within the preserve.

She couldn't deny that he was attractive for a human, although he didn't have the flawless features of the models plastered on signs and billboards throughout Munford. His slightly crooked nose gave him character, and his hazel eyes sparkled with warmth and sincerity. She noticed how his tousled hair fell in just the right way, framing his strong jawline.

"What are you doing here?" Doctor Martin whispered sharply, breaking Phuro free from her lecherous thoughts.

He gave her a suspicious look and scanned her from head to toe, focusing on the dirt stains on her thrift-store t-shirt and cutoff denim shorts. "Are you lost?" He inquired, stepping closer to her.

A thin beam of sunlight broke through the thick cover of leaves, casting a fleeting golden glow on Phuro. The emerald scales on her skin glimmered, causing Doctor Martin to halt abruptly. "What in the world?" Doctor Martin gasped.

The man, who had called out to Doctor Martin, let out a low growl behind Phuro. "You have to leave," he ordered, and then added, "Doctor Martin, the Director is waiting."

Doctor Martin was stunned into silence briefly, seemingly unable to process that the man had spoken to him. His eyes remained fixed on Phuro, with fear and fascination evident on his face. It was clear that the doctor had never encountered a N'kara before, perhaps even doubted their existence entirely.

"Doctor Martin," the man barked, his tone harsh and demanding.

"Right, yes," Doctor Martin responded, quickly wiping any emotion from his face.

"Get out of here," the man ordered, clearly directing his words at Phuro. "Leave before someone gets hurt."

Doctor Martin stood straight and quickly walked away, stealing one last look at Phuro. As he pivoted, a small flat stone slipped out of his pocket and landed on the ground with a muted thump. The doctor's footsteps, crunching through the debris of leaves and twigs, had masked the sound, diverting both men's attention from the dropped object.

"I'm not going to repeat myself again," the burly man declared before his footsteps faded as he walked back toward the cave.

Phuro held back until the two men's footsteps faded into the cavern. She approached the stone and picked it up, rotating it gently in her grasp. One side was etched with peculiar symbols that felt both known and foreign to her, but they stopped abruptly. One edge was rough and uneven as if this fragment had been broken off from a larger object, possibly still hidden within the cave.

"There's no point in going in there at this moment," Phuro thought, deciding it was wiser to step back instead of provoking the ire of at least four humans.

***

Finding her way back to the edge of the village was effortless for her. A few quickly constructed wooden huts stood in a semicircle around the cave entrance carved into the rocky hillside. Phuro could navigate her way back here even with her eyes shut, no matter where she roamed within the preserve. The location of the village was firmly etched in her memory and instinct.

When Ninded emerged from the hut nearest Phuro, he asked, "Did you have a good time?"

She lifted her shoulders casually, showing she was unaffected by the teasing tone in Ninded's voice. "It was just like any other walk," she stated. "And did you manage to clean up the carcasses?"

Ninded's face lit up with a smile. "But of course," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "No thanks to you."

"Do we really have to go through this again?" Phuro sighed, mimicking a gesture of placing her hand on her hip, which she had observed humans do countless times. "I'm not in the mood for more of your whining today, Nin."

"Is that so?" Ninded asked skeptically. His piercing yellow eyes narrowed as he studied Phuro's delicate features.

"It is," she replied tersely.

Without giving him a chance to reply, Phuro confidently entered the cave. She knew where she was going and what needed to be done. The only N'kara who could decipher the inscriptions on the stone was Mithi, and she was determined to seek her out.

For a N'kara, Mithi was almost as unusual as Phuro. In the tribe, it was rare for anyone to lose their natural hair color, which usually varied from a rich chestnut to a deep, almost black brown. However, Mithi's hair had turned silver long before Phuro was born.

To the tribe elders, it meant taking on a significant responsibility: preserving the N'kara lore. Over time, many N'kara had lost touch with their lineage, either out of resentment or mere forgetfulness. But there was one among them who devoted themselves to keeping the history of their people alive and passing down a legend believed to be nothing but a myth--a sacred gift that would allow the N'kara to reunite with their ancestors.

Mithi was that keeper and had taken Phuro under her wing since childhood. The elderly N'kara protected and guided Phuro when Phuro's mother wouldn't, out of respect for the council.

"You're unique, Phuro," Mithi had once said to her, "Don't let those crabby old men make you think otherwise."

Phuro navigated the twisting passages of the underground caves, descending further and further into the chilly depths. Mithi had been isolated in the farthest corners of the caverns to shield and ostracize her from the tribe.

Before Phuro could reach the doorway, Mithi's voice echoed from within her cramped quarters. "I was starting to wonder when I'd see your lovely face back here."

A bittersweet smile appeared on Phuro's face as she walked in, confidently turning the corner into Mithi's room. "I realize I've been somewhat preoccupied lately. Please forgive me for being away."

Mithi smiled, causing the wrinkles at the corners of her lips to deepen. "I'll make an exception this time," the knowledgeable N'kara stated. "But what have you brought for me?"

"I discovered this," Phuro whispered, retrieving the stone from her pocket. "Some humans stumbled upon a concealed cave, and one dropped this. It bears unusual markings. They feel familiar, but I can't quite recall why." She held out the stone to Mithi, her fingers opening to reveal the inscriptions.

"You do know, Phuro," Mithi whispered with a hint of certainty. "I believe you do."