So here we are again. Can't tell you that I'm happy that I'm locked up in a cage, but it will have to do because I consider it better than being beaten by a hardman norn. It's gotta be.

... Right...?

"Hey, Grendel?" Anela paws at the cage, and I remember that she doesn't know my name. "When can we go home?"

Reassuringly, I push one of my white claws through the gap of my cage and poke her cheek. "Take a chill pill. We're gonna go soon. By the way, my name's Spud." I give her a smile, of which she returns. Then I flash Anastasia a warning look. "I mean- we will, won't we?"

The shee-girl-thing gets my look and nods. "We're probably going to be landing soon, though. That planet's a few miles away. And that means no more exploring the ship and more exploring of whatever's there. Please be alert for any crumbling of the ship as we land."

"Well then." I acknowledge her speech with a tiny nod. "Now let me out. Nooooow." I bare my teeth playfully and paw at the cage. "Please?" Laughing, the creature unlocks the restraining cage and guides us through the spacey-looking hallway that me and Aloha passed before the... incident. I flinch at the memories, and it seems that Aloha remembers as well. "It's okay..." I murmur to myself, low enough for me and no one else.

I nearly bump into Anastasia as she stops in front of a door. It has another plant sign, along with a norn sillouette. "Doozers and Uglees!" I curse, hissing and backing away from the Norn World. "It's a non-toxic plant, isn't it? You norns are so spoiled."

Aloha coughs. "Home, sweet home." Immediately I pause and turn hot all over. That conversation, where have I...?

"Aloha! Ahh!" I start to see water to leak from my face. What's going on? OMISHEE, am I... crying? I can't believe it! In the history of Grendels, I'm the first one to cry! How embarassing. The Grendel Code doesn't even have this in it! Which means I'm not allowed to do it! How many freaking times am I going to break it?

"Geez, will you stop? I'm only joking." Aloha says with a roll of her eyes. I glare at her with menace.

"SHADDUP!"

...

"I cannot believe we're coming back to the world we were supposed to be born in!" Anela exclaims with thorough excitement. "This is gonna be fun!" I cringe in Aloha's headlock. Don't ask me how the situation got this bad; all you need to know is that Aloha does not Doozers thrown at her face. At all. We're still standing in front of the door, Anastasia just left, and the latest news is... I'm in a headlock?

"Well, here goes nothing." Taking a breath, Aloha releases me and pushes open the door. A blinding white light floods our eyes as we step through; I have to cover my own because of its' brightness. "Whoa!" Breathes Anela, "Spud, open your eyes!" I do so and gap.

It is absolutely beautiful. Trees and moors, seeds and carrots and cheese, it's sprinkled in every direction I look. I spot a female Fallow norn scooping up her cub and cradling it in her arms; Her mate is somewhere nearby. A big, headstrong Bengal norn glances at the newcomers and frowns at me. As his eyes flick over Anela and Aloha, a spark of recognition sets his face ablaze.

"Hey!" He calls out, attracting unwanted attention from the other norns. "Hey you, Grendel and all. You don't belong here. Go back to your poison plants and rotten food!" Arching my back, I let out a long hiss. Glancing at me sharply, the Fallow female I saw earlier placed her cub on the ground and runs over to me. She stands over me protectively as the Bengal norn takes a menacing step forward.

"Malho, you know this isn't how we treat guests." She speaks calmly and clearly, "You also clearly cannot use your brain properly."

"Why is that?" Malho yells back at her.

"Because, clearly you can see if two norns are with this grendel..." She cocks her head enough to smile at me. "...Then he is probably able to trust?" Anela and Aloha exchange glances before rapidly agreeing. Gee, thanks guys. It's lovely to know that you have to think before trusting your brother.

Malho, his fur beginning to fluff up, lets out a low snarl and whips around to storm away. Satisfied, the female Fallow norn fully turns around for the first time. "Hey there." Holding out a paw, she grabs one of my claws and shakes it for some odd reason. "My name is Azulia." I laugh nervously and look over her shoulder. I swear that Malho Norn is giving me the death look.

But... What was the recognition in his eyes when he looked at Anela and Aloha?