The night in New Eridu was strangely quiet.

You walked side by side with Yidhari, the rhythm of her footsteps light and slower than usual. You’re used to seeing her move swifter, as you’re always the one having to catch up to her.

But tonight, she lags behind you by a little bit. Perhaps… she is trying to match your pace.

You’re too caught up in your thoughts to notice the octopus thiren walking closer beside you.

It happened so suddenly that it made you jump. One of the tentacles drifted across the space between you and brushed the back of your hand. The contact was feather-light, the feeling cold and a tad bit slimy. It coiled for the briefest second before withdrawing.

She watched as you flinched the moment the tendril came in contact with your skin.

“Did that scare you?”

Yidhari stopped. Not abruptly, but in that deliberate way of hers. Her gaze followed the retreat of her own tentacle before flicking to meet yours, violet eyes unreadable.

“They move before I think,” she said, voice low and amused. There was no embarrassment in it, no apology. She didn’t even move away from you, despite the lack of control her tentacles seem to have.

“But I think they like you.”