When Worlds Collide (MxM)?

Kade couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to these flying machines than he'd discussed with Aino.

The idea that there was somehow an unknown advanced civilization was just too preposterous. And even with the aid of Kade's blueprints, no one would have been able to of built a working engine in this world. He hadn't tweaked it to accommodate Terran materials.

If it did turn out someone was brilliant enough to make a working plane, then Kade would be very interested in meeting them.

All that aside, there was still one more option. Humans...

Throughout their trip, Kade mulled over the possibility that the facility had come to rescue him at last. The planes could be a search party, and if he went to see them himself, then Kade might find some familiar faces.

With that thought in mind, he packed everything he still had from earth. Then he and Aino shared a carriage, and briefly discussed what they would do in case the report did involve stolen schematics.

Aino started taking the suppressants that the doctor prescribed, and grew exceptionally groggy. This cut their conversations short, and thus they decided to reduce the dosage so he could stay alert.

The guide that awaited them had short black hair, with red stripes, tanned skin, and purple cat eyes. Unlike the majority of the Carnivore Kingdom, he only wore a sash and cloth around his waste, and carried a satchel of supplies.

The inventors looked around. "Where is everyone else?" Aino scowled.

"My name is Dapp. I am here under King Nyx's orders to guide you as far into the jungle as possible." The guide frowned back at the inventor. "There will be no others because the jungle is too dangerous with large groups. You will need to leave your servants behind."

"This sounds like a setup." Aino squinted. He was in a particularly sour mood from his medication. "No one told us this would be such a dangerous path."

"No one asked. This is common knowledge here in the Carnivore Kingdom. Perhaps next time try to learn more about your neighbor instead of forcing us to spoon-feed everything to you."

Aino was practically shaking in irritation, but thought better of fighting the carnivore and ordered the coach driver to set camp.

"Excuse me..." Kade walked up to the guide. "If this place is so dangerous, how did anyone sight the flying creatures in the first place?"

Dapp scanned Kade, noticing his lack of markings and unusual hair. "Are you Royal Inventor Kade?"

"That's right."

The guide glanced back at the grumpy Aino before leaning in close. His demeanor shifted to a more friendly one. "There are a few of us who hunt for livestock in the jungle. I was part of the group who witnessed the creatures overhead and reported back to the capital."

"Can you give me more details? Was it large? Was there a strange noise accompanying it? Did it leave a stream of clouds behind as it flew?"

The more questions he asked, the wider the guide's eyes got. "You know what it is."

"I need to see it for myself," Kade replied. "How long will it take to get to the place that they were sighted?"

"A few days by foot. Maybe more if you are not accustomed to such terrain."

Aino appeared by Kade's side and protectively pulled him away from Dapp. He tossed an unhappy look at the carnivore before handing Kade his gear and gesturing. "We are ready."

The tension between the two men was awkward for Kade, but he should have expected it.

Aino kept Kade close during their first day, and the guide refused to travel when night fell. They'd set up under a great purple tree with low-hanging branches. The tips of the leaves were turning pink, and there were berries growing on them that the guide warned not to eat.