“They’re a type of flower that has a very long, narrow body and a pursed opening at the top,” Roarn supplied helpfully. “They’re extremely slick inside and they exert suction on anything that slides inside their ‘mouth.’”
“I’m sure you can imagine how the Monstrum use them,” Emilia said dryly. “But with so many males and no females around, you can hardly blame them for turning to anything they can to, er, relieve the tension.”
“Wow,” Christine murmured. She wondered if she would get a chance to see the strange pleasure buds anytime and what the new botanist coming from Earth would make of them. She would certainly have a lot to study when she got here, though Christine hoped she would be careful and not come to the Dark Side of the ship alone. Looking at the glowing eyes that were watching from the Dark Forest, she was quite certain that it wouldn’t be safe at all.
It seemed a much shorter walk to reach the transport station this time—probably because talking and holding Roarn’s hand made the time pass more quickly. Almost before Christine knew it, they were boarding a carpet-wole and making the roller-coaster trip back to the Light Side of the Monstrum Mother Ship.
Once they got there, Christine went with Emilia while Roarn went with Rarev—apparently they had Monstrum business to discuss. Christine hated being parted from her new mate even for a moment, but the Monstrum commander promised they would all get back together within an hour or so.
“Come on—let’s get you a nice shower and some fresh clothes,” Emilia said to her with a smile. “You can come to my suite—it’s lovely.”
They went down a long corridor carpeted with dark blue moss and lit by the glow blossoms above until they came to a green door which slid aside when Emilia touched it with her palm. Christine looked around with appreciation—Emilia hadn’t been kidding when she said it was lovely.
The suite she shared with Commander Rarev looked like a tropical bower. The furniture in the living area—a large couch and a comfy chair, looked like they were growing out of the floor. They were both covered in tiny, springy dark green and blue flowers only about the size of Christine’s pinky fingernail.
The walls were hung with the glow blossom vines but here and there they had been woven together to create interesting landscapes and portraits. There was an especially intricate one over the fireplace which was woven to look like a Leonine Monstrum. It looked a little like Commander Rarev, except the mane was darker, Christine thought.
“Ah yes—that’s Rarev’s Sire,” Emilia said, when she asked about it. “He did the artwork himself—they call it blossom weaving. He’s very proud of it.”
“It’s gorgeous,” Christine remarked. “Everything on this ship is so impressive and unexpected—I feel like I’m in a fairy land.”
“That’s exactly how I felt the first time Rarev brought me here,” Emilia admitted, smiling. “But you know, you have to be careful here, too—especially on the Dark Side of the ship. Some of the unknown Monstrum, as we call them, can be quite dangerous to a female alone—especially if she’s unmated.”
“I’ll never go there without Roarn,” Christine promised. Though she couldn’t imagine having a reason to visit the Dark Side again, now that the man she loved was free of his holding cell.
“Speaking of Roarn, the two of you seem very securely and happily bonded,” Emilia said, smiling. “I admit, my heart was in my throat when I saw what you’d done—slipping into his cell with him like that. But it all worked out in the end.”
“I was pretty scared myself,” Christine admitted. “But I knew it was the only chance I’d get—I’m glad I took it. And now Roarn and I are bonded for life,” she added happily. “He’s so sweet—he doesn’t even seem to be upset that he’s bonded to an older woman.”
“But you’re not an older woman,” Emilia protested. “At least, not anymore.”
Christine frowned.
“What do you mean? Of course I am. I know it’s hard to tell, since he’s a Monstrum, but I’m pretty sure Roarn is quite a bit younger than me. That’s why he calls me a ‘Mature Elite.’” She laughed.
“That’s just what Monstrum call curvy older women,” Emilia said, smiling. “But as for being older than your new mate, you might be numerically older, but you are no longer physically older. Can’t you tell by looking in the mirror?”
“What?” Christine shook her head, looking at the other woman blankly. “What on Earth do you mean? I’m sorry, but I’m just not getting it. And as for mirrors, I haven’t seen one in a while—I’ve been locked in the holding cell all week with Roarn.”
“Oh, of course you have!” Emilia exclaimed. “Come with me into the fresher—it’s much easier to see than to explain.”