When Viktor woke up the next day, face pressed against the cool material of the dresser and swaddled tightly in his warm blanket, it was to sunlight streaming directly on his face and the overwhelming, nearly painful sensation of silence.

He blinked slowly, squinting against the sun shining right into his eyes. He groaned, slowly sitting up. His head knocked against the dresser, wrangling a muffled curse from him in the process.

He sat on the backs of his legs, rubbing his eyes with his fist. Viktor yawned, looking toward the bed, expecting to see a Vok'Rul-shaped lump in the middle of it. His body went rigid when he saw that there was nothing except a pile of blankets on the bed.

He stood up quickly, tiredness fleeing his body in an instant. Sick worry started pooling in the bottom of his stomach, and he quickly made his way out of the room, calling "Vok'Rul?" into the empty second floor.

He looked in every room, but the alien was nowhere to be found. Heart nearly crawling out of his throat, Viktor sprinted down the stairs as quickly as he could. He missed a step but managed to throw himself onto the railing just in time to catch himself.

"Kohgrash! Ne corfa, cho'k," Vok'Rul's exasperated but worried voice greeted his ears.

Viktor's shoulders loosened, and he leveled a glare at the source of his anger, eyes wild. He clutched the cold railing tightly, trying to calm his breathing. "Listen," his voice wavered dangerously, and he cleared his throat harshly. Vok'Rul came closer with all the ease of someone who didn't know that Viktor had been about three seconds from crumbling. He lifted Viktor off of the stairwell easily, placing him on the ground.

"You can't just," he trailed off, struggling to find the words that explained his panic. "Vok'Rul kor'kn Kohgrash," he said through gritted teeth, trying to look as calm as he could when he could still feel his heartbeat in his throat.

"Teyk," Vok'Rul returned mildly. Viktor bit back a sigh, giving up on trying to tell the alien what he wanted. He didn't even know what he wanted.

Did he want the alien to stay in his line of sight, at all times? While it certainly eased his panic and anxiety, especially if the alien were to get into trouble or if he were to suddenly decide that he no longer wanted Viktor, it wasn't practical. Nor was it particularly healthy. Viktor knew this.

Baby steps, he decided, hands curling into fists at his sides. The next time - because there would certainly be a next time, what with how dense Vok'Rul was sometimes - Viktor woke up without Vok'Rul, he'd try to take it calmly.

Keyword try. Viktor actually did sigh this time.

There was some shuffling behind him, and Viktor jumped out of his skin, whirling around to find Thruul and surprisingly, Rukka, standing in the doorway to the kitchen.

"Rul," Rukka greeted, echoed by Thruul. The three of them conversed for a while. They looked appraisingly at Viktor. Rukka spoke quickly to Vok'Rul, gesturing to the human. The alien turned with a frown on his face, peering down at Viktor.

"What?" Viktor snapped, crossing his arms. The back of his neck prickled. He didn't like how they were staring at him. "You can't gossip about someone in another language right in front of them. That's, like, super rude."

They didn't care, though. Vok'Rul hummed in thought, before swiftly going into the dining room, squeezing through Thruul and Rukka. Viktor automatically started following, wondering (with only the tiniest bit of worry) where the alien was off to. He hadn't even gotten breakfast, yet!

Rukka and Thruul blocked him, standing stiffly in the doorway.

"Move," he ground out, trying to squeeze around them. They didn't budge, however. His lips curled into a threatening sneer, stomping down the panic. It was just Rukka and Thruul. Realistically, Vok'Rul was just out of his sight in the next room, completely unharmed. There was nothing in this wing that could hurt him, so why was Viktor so damn worried?

"Move! You big idiots!" he raised his voice, hating the way it rose in pitch with his distress. He didn't know why he was freaking out so badly, but it was starting to irritate him. It was just separation anxiety.

Vok'Rul returned quickly, face marred with a frown at his discomfort, much to Viktor's relief. He rushed over to the alien's side, curling his fingers into the soft clothing. Rukka scoffed behind him, saying something derisively. Vok'Rul snapped something back, his own fingers threading through Viktor's hair.

"Yeah, what he said," Viktor mumbled, looking at Thruul and Rukka distrustfully. Thruul seemed upset that such a look was aimed at him. Rukka looked like she couldn't care less.

Thruul busied himself with making breakfast for the pair of aliens. Rukka and Vok'Rul spoke lightly, animosity evaporated so swiftly in the way that could only occur between siblings. Viktor recognized a few words thrown in there, including the one he had spoken to the guard, Shul, the day before. Maybe since Rukka was here now, they would be going to wherever it was Vok'Rul had been so determined to get to.

The thought sent a thrill of worry up his spine. The mansion was safe in a way that the outside world wasn't, and Viktor was reluctant to leave its confines. He knew he didn't get a choice, though.

Eventually, his anxiety had lessened enough that Viktor could part from Vok'Rul's side. He walked up to the fridge with intent, pointing at it. "Vok'Rul," he said, looking up at the alien. "Drsh? Norish?" He was starving, now that he had been awake for a while. And aside from going up the stairs - and thus, away from Vok'Rul - to get some jerky that had probably been left in his bowl, Viktor had no other option other than to ask.

He tried to ignore the fact that he probably looked like an animal begging for food.

Vok'Rul beamed, happily stepping over to the fridge and tapping on the screen. He opened it and dropped a purple starfruit in Viktor's open palm.

"Score!" Viktor cheered, biting into the sweet fruit with relish. He heard Thruul huff at the stove, causing Vok'Rul to grumble in return. A defensive awshk escaped Vok'Rul's mouth before he turned back to Viktor, ruffling his hair while he ate, praising him for his intelligence.

"Thank you," he said smugly, just a little bit proud of himself for remembering the word. It helped that Vok'Rul acted as if he had just gotten a doctorate in Physics.

Thruul finished making breakfast before dishing it out into two servings. He declined Vok'Rul's obvious attempt at inviting him to sit for breakfast before fleeing with a cheerful zhesh. Viktor thought he might be the slightest bit afraid of Rukka. He couldn't blame him.

Vok'Rul and Rukka finished their breakfast (and Viktor may secretly have wished Nohkka were here if only just to get a taste of whatever they were eating) in record time. Whatever they were planning to do, they obviously wanted to get it done quickly.

Rukka went upstairs briefly. He and Vok'Rul (it was all Vok'Rul) put away the dishes. Viktor sat back and watched. If there was anything good about being abducted from Earth, it was the fact that he hasn't had to do the dishes for ten months. Almost eleven, now. The thought of his old life, just him and his dad, didn't sting as sharply, now that he actually knew where his dad was.

Viktor sighed morosely. He hoped he got to see his dad again, even if the knowledge of him being alive and safe was enough to dull most of his worry.

Rukka returned with Viktor's harness, and amusingly enough, the iridescent leash that Nohkka had insisted on buying. The alien audibly rumbled her amusement at the look on Viktor and Vok'Rul's faces. Matching disgust.

"You guys just get to hold it. I'm the one wearing it," Viktor grumbled, easily sliding his arms through the harness. Practice makes perfect, after all, even if Vok'Rul's big clumsy hands got in the way.

"Pora, cho'k," was all Vok'Rul said, and the three of them were off and into a nondescript car before the hour was even up. With both Rukka and Vok'Rul in the backseat (Viktor wondered if not driving was the norm on this planet or if these two just decided to never do it), there was little room on the seat for Viktor. Which was fine with him. He quite liked how the floor shook and rumbled. It was pretty soothing. He settled himself neatly in between Vok'Rul's legs, leaning against the alien.

It was then that the thought hit him. Touches from the aliens didn't bother him nearly as much now. Granted, he only let those who he knew pat him on the head, and only Vok'Rul was allowed to stroke his back or cheek. It had only been a few months since he had left the arena, but it felt more like a lifetime.

Viktor decided that he was kinda glad about that.

The car rolled to a stop after a while, and Viktor got out, stretching his cramped limbs. He froze for a moment when he realized where they were.

The fucking vet.

"Ugh," he groaned, looking back at Vok'Rul as the alien climbed out of the car. His tail slid to the ground with a smack. Viktor winced. "I hope they don't sedate me," he muttered under his breath, eyeing the building warily. He had not been here without being injured (which, he guessed, was the whole point of this place), so he was sure that sedation likely wouldn't come into play. He didn't like how it left him feeling muggy and confused when he woke up.

He'd been sedated on this planet against his will more times than he cared to admit.

Vok'Rul picked him up and carried him in, which Viktor thought was a bit strange until they actually stepped foot into the vet's office, and he realized why.

They were in the waiting room. Viktor had never been in this room before - or if he had, he had no recollection of it - and he had to admit that the designs these aliens came up with for something so basic as a veterinary waiting room were pretty incredible.

The room was spacious, walls painted with a calming blue. It had some animals on it that Viktor could remember seeing at the zoo, though these renditions were much cuter in the bubbly style the artist had decided to go with. The front half of the room had chairs of all shapes and sizes (some had openings in the back for those with tails, while others were solid), while the back half was sectioned off with a sprawling countertop, several doorways branching off to the back of the clinic.

It was pleasant. The atmosphere of the waiting room was calm.

Viktor didn't like what was in the waiting room.

There were several aliens with their pets, most likely waiting for their own appointment. That would've been fine on their own if one of the aliens hadn't had one of the animals from the species that Oorah was from.

Viktor's vision seemed to tunnel to it, and it was only Vok'Rul that stopped his reflexive urge to lunge out of the alien's arms and attack it first. He heard the alien firmly tell him neyk, and Viktor tried to get some air into his lungs.

It was much smaller than Oorah (much easier to fight) and colored differently, too. Instead of the black that most of its species seemed to sport, it was a reddish-brown instead, with yellow eyes instead of the usual brown. It still had a long whip-like tail, heavy-set shoulders, and that feral, evil look in its eyes. But Viktor was probably just biased on that last part.

He hooked his arms tightly around Vok'Rul's neck, unwilling to tear his eyes away from the stupid creature. Still, he managed to get his breathing under control, and while he was filled to the brim with sudden adrenaline, at least he could admit that attacking someone's innocent pet was something he probably wanted to avoid.

Vok'Rul sat down, holding him just as tightly on his lap. His hold was nearly constricting.

Thankfully, the alien pulled the beast into the back of the room after a vet came forward and called out. Viktor vaguely recognized the week from his own time in the clinic, but he didn't spare it more than a brief glance before focusing back on the beast. It marched out of sight, and Viktor felt himself slowly relax.

Until something tapped on his foot.

"Fuck!" he yelled reflexively, jerking his foot out of reach and quickly looking at whatever touched him.

"Oh, sorry! You looked pretty out of it! I was trying to get your attention for a bit," the human who had tapped him smiled apologetically.

Vok'Rul rumbled at her in slight confusion and wariness, no doubt thinking that she was probably upsetting Viktor. The alien pulled him a little closer to his chest. He forcibly made his shoulders drop, offering her a tentative smile. "Sorry," he explained, waving his arm over in the general direction the beast had gone, "Some of these animals make me a little uneasy."

"Tell me about it!" the woman exclaimed, smiling back. She had a red bandana around her neck, which sorta matched her hair. It had been dyed a bright red at some point, though the long black roots told the story of what had happened over the course of nearly eleven months.

Viktor patted the alien's arm consolingly, glancing back at him for a moment before turning his attention back onto the woman. "What are you here for?" he wondered.

The woman shrugged, gesturing to her leg, and said, "Not too sure. I slipped down the stairs in my house a while ago, though. Bruised my leg up pretty good."

Viktor nodded, face twisting into a little scowl. "Yeah, these stairs are so fuckin' huge."

The woman grinned. "What's your name, anyhow? I'm Sophie."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Viktor," Viktor leaned out of Vok'Rul's arms as much as he could and stuck out his hand. She reached up and shook it. "I don't why I'm in here, either. Maybe to get this thing off," he said, shaking his casted arm. Vok'Rul pulled him back onto his lap with a chastising rumble, holding onto him securely. Viktor gave him a half-hearted glare.

Sophie smiled, gesturing to him with a tilt of her head. "He seems pretty fond of you. Most of these aliens are pretty nice, I've found. They think we're cute or something."

Viktor smiled, a bit shyly, and was about to respond when a maroon alien stood up at a vet's call and called, "Pora, Trok!"

"That's me," Sophie said with a little sigh, glancing over her shoulder briefly before giving Viktor a wave. "Was nice to meet you! Good luck with your cast!"

"Good luck on the stairs!" Viktor hollered back as she went over to her alien, waving. He watched as the alien bent down slightly (Sophie was taller than Viktor, and her alien was much shorter than Vok'Rul, so there wasn't that great of a height difference between them) and pet her hair fondly.

Vok'Rul said something to him, low and only for him. Viktor hummed a response, not really paying attention. His eyes followed the pair as they walked to the back, before settling himself back against Vok'Rul.

It was too bad that all of his impromptu meetings with other humans always had to be cut short. Still, Viktor relished every interaction he had with them. It assured him that he wasn't some freak exception to this whole abduction thing. Sure, there had been Nikolas, who was also living like some alien's pet, but he hadn't been able to see him in a few weeks. But before he had been freed from the arena, there had just been Viktor and the seven other humans. Some days, when the arena had been particularly brutal with its fights and the ringmaster even more vicious than usual with the leash, Viktor had wondered if there had been something he had done to deserve this kind of karma.

He had even thought that he had been the victim of some elaborate prank. Being abducted by aliens seemed implausible, especially when he had been nearly delirious with pain. It was all too easy to believe that he was just suffering, whether it be in his own mind or some devious creation of someone he had wronged, in this life or a past one.

He still had a hard time wrapping his mind around it. But after spending nearly a year with them had slowly started to sink in. At least now, it wasn't all hopeless.

He was learning words! And he knew where his dad was! Granted, he couldn't go visit him whenever he pleased, but still. Even if he did get out of the mansion, he likely wouldn't be able to get very far without either Vok'Rul picking him up or getting incredibly lost. Or just dying of exposure.

Vok'Rul was suddenly moving, lifting Viktor up to his chest with him. He blinked at the change in elevation, looking toward the back, where a vet was waiting, having obviously just called Vok'Rul's name.

Many in the waiting room were looking flustered as if they didn't realize that the alien was among them. Viktor rolled his eyes. They weren't really observant, were they?

Viktor was placed on the cold table when they got into a private room. He shifted uncomfortably, warily eying the vet as it paced around the table and grabbed a couple of sheets of paper. It flipped through them idly, speaking to Vok'Rul and Rukka. Well, Vok'Rul was doing all the answering. Rukka was standing imposingly by the door. He hoped that the doctor was intimidated.

Fortunately, his suspicions of the reason for this trip were proven right. His cast was removed rather quickly. Viktor physically recoiled at the smell. "Ugh!" he exclaimed, holding his arm as far away as he possibly could.

His arm was much smaller and much paler than his other. It felt weird to feel the air on his skin again. The vet had a warm rag that he quickly wiped his arm with, which thankfully took most of the smell with it, replacing it with the earthy scent of most of this planet's soaps.

After that, they were free to leave, much to Viktor's relief. The vets were nothing but kind to him, if a little bit wary of offending Vok'Rul, but he didn't enjoy being in a place where he knew animals that he had nightmares of lingered around every corner.

Vok'Rul was given strict instructions to care for Viktor's arm if the serious expression on his face was anything to go by. It was a bit tender with the cast off, but he made sure to be careful with it. He didn't want the cast back. That would be a nightmare.

They piled back into the car. Viktor hadn't seen Sophie on the way out, which was a bit disappointing, but he hoped she was doing well.

Interestingly, instead of driving back in the direction they had come from, they went a completely different way. Rukka was grumbling in that unhappy way of hers, but Vok'Rul must've won this argument because she did nothing more but grumble. Vok'Rul seemed cheerful, so wherever they were going must be enjoyable. He hoped.

The drive was much longer than it had been to the vets. Viktor nearly fell asleep by the time the car stumbled to a jerking stop, so quickly that Viktor's head bounced off the seat in front of him. He made a grumbling noise of protest, rubbing his forehead. Vok'Rul picked him up with an affectionate noise, pressing his cheek to the top of his head. Viktor was too sleepy to care.

Wakefulness came back to him quickly when they stepped out of the car. The building in front of them was large. Black in color, it seemed to be alive, what with all the machinery he could hear whirring inside of it. It reminded Viktor of a factory, and he wondered what sort of stuff was being made there.

Luckily, it seemed that he got to find out. Rukka and Vok'Rul made their way inside, calling for someone. Well, he assumed that was the case. Their grunts and clicks were much louder than regular conversation, and they paused after each rendition, likely waiting for an answer. Eventually, they got one back and they swiftly made their way toward the call.

The hallways, which were sleek and made of metal, Viktor thought, opened up into a large room. All around them were loud machines that clanked, spun, and levitated. Viktor's mouth dropped open, twisting around in Vok'Rul's arms to get a better look. Some were small and compact, while others brushed against the ceiling, which had to be 50 feet high. Some of it reminded Viktor of assembly lines, each part making a certain component and pushing it down the line.

If Viktor squinted, he could see that what the various machines were making looked sort of like electronic devices, small and compact. Some were blinking lights rapidly, while others sat dully on the lines.

The main focus of the room, however, was the giant, futuristic-looking furnace. It had valves that hissed, tubes that sprawled all over the place, and a giant opening where a fire resided. The flame was purple! Purple fire! He wondered how hot it was.

Vok'Rul exclaimed happily upon seeing the alien manning the furnace. It was slim, had no tail, and its skin matched the purple flame behind it. It was also scarred along its arms and hands. It put its hands up in the air as it caught sight of Rukka and Vok'Rul, giving a short little bow.

Vok'Rul rumbled, stepping closer to the alien and speaking loudly. Viktor shifted uncomfortably, uncomfortable with being so close to an unknown alien.

"Ah!" Vok'Rul said, finally remembering he had Viktor in his arms. Stupid alien! He held Viktor up a little more, introducing him to the new one.

"Rohsh," it cooed, reaching out to touch him.

"Back off," Viktor replied, baring his teeth slightly. Vok'Rul apologized half-heartedly, chuckling his amusement. The alien, a female based on her voice, dismissed the apology with a flip of her hand, murmuring something in return. Vok'Rul seemed to light up at this, excitedly chattering and squeezing Viktor a little more than necessary (and it was never necessary, thank you).

Suddenly, they were on the move. Behind the furnace was what seemed to be a living area. It was sectioned off - rather poorly. Viktor was sure that OSHA would freak out - by half walls. He wondered if this alien really lived here. Maybe she just worked a lot. Viktor shuddered.

They went 'inside' the little house, which was really just one giant room with a bed, a small kitchenette, and a table.

Oh, and Pedro.

"PEDRO!" Viktor screamed, startling all three aliens and the human sat at the table. Vok'Rul started so badly that his grip loosened, and Viktor was able to jump out, landing on the floor with a loud thump. He ran over to the table, nearly tripping onto his face in his haste to get over.

Pedro, who looked scruffier but much more healthy than the last time Viktor had seen him, looked like he was about to keel over in shock. Viktor tackled him out of the chair in a hug, squeezing as tight as he could.

"Kid!" Pedro wheezed when they both landed on the floor, arms squeezing him back just as tightly.

Viktor definitely wasn't crying, and if Pedro said otherwise, Viktor would tell everyone not to believe him.

***

Vocabulary:

awshk: smart, intelligent

cho'k: endearment, usually meaning little one, love; usually used for pets or small children

drsh: fruit

kor'kn: stay with

ne corfa: be careful

neyk: stop, no

norish: food

pora: come

rohsh: a friendly greeting, such as hello or hey

teyk: yes