IV

I went in wearing some of my best clothes and came out in the riding clothes I'd almost never used. My older brother had taken me riding with his Kira so the rest of the family couldn't deny the right of having the outfit. It was deep black and emerald green. Over my shoulders and neck were black. There was a dimond cut out at the chest showing off what cleavage I did have. Around the back and sides connected the torso of the top that was green. It was boned like a corset and fit just as well.

A green arm band went from wrist to elbow on each arm. My black pants were looser but did nothing to hide my nonexistent form. The boots were combat boots. The blocky bottoms were heavier but added an extra inch and a half without counting the heel. The heel on my riding boots was four and a half inches. They were black with green laces. I had tied my hair back in a black ribbon. There was a jacket as well but I was under the impression that this planet was warmer than Ethem.

"I'm ready when you are," I said walking up to Aleksi. The nearly two inches extra these boot gave me did nothing to close the gap between us. He had raised bumps on his brow ridges that rose at the sight of me.

He wore only two pieces of clothing. A vest that was skin tight and a loose ripped bottom wrap. I wanted to call it a skirt but something about calling that a skirt seemed like an insult. To it. He reached out and took my bag from me. I followed him outside and nearly squealed when I saw exactly what a Jivka is. I wasn't completely certain the thing so close to the door was a Jivka until Aleksi said, "This is Conet, my Jivka."

It looked like a feline and fox had a love child. The beast was a good six feet tall and nearly twice as long. Kira were large beast but they were no where close to this. Even so the Jivka was very much something I would die trying to cuddle. I went to run forward but then stopped and looked at Aleksi in question. He laughed and gave me a nudge forward towards the beast.

As I walked up its head turned to face me. Six yellow eyes looked at me and then flicked to Aleksi behind me. I gently laid a hand on its nose. A large set of protruding canines came from the top of its mouth and hung below the bottom jaw. It's fur was ruff under my palm. Every part of it I could see was covered in the fur. It's ears flicked at me. I noticed that there was four horns down its neck.

"You are adorable," I whispered to it. I looked closer at its side. There hidden in the red, orange, and yellow fur was a weapon. "Looks well made," I said pointing to what looked to be a spear.

"Thank you. We should get going," Aleksi said timing my bag under the weapon. I gave the Jivka a pat before walking to Aleksi's side. He lifted me easily up onto the beast. Once he saw me settled he swung himself up. His tail wrapped around my waist from one side while his left hand held my waist in the other. He used his right hand to grab onto the horn closet to us. That seemed to be all the Jivka needed. It's ears went upright and it's head turned. Before I knew it we were off the lot and into the trees.