Odd couple

Ran climbed out of the hunk of junk that was now his spaceship. He had had to leave in a rush thanks to the invading forces of the Florans, and with little fuel he was lucky he had made it just through the warp jump. The fact that his once beautiful ship was even close to remaining in one piece was a miracle, and one that he thanked his gills for. As he saw the surface of this foreign planet rushing up to meet him, he was certain that he was never to see the light of day again.

But the planet seemed remarkably peaceful. At least that much was like his home. If he had landed on a world already ravaged by the Floran... There were too many variables that were out of his control. He had to stop thinking of them, and focus on the more immediate issues. Like food. Surely somewhere near by there would some sort of fruit or vegetation growing, and he would not have to lower himself to the disgusting level of hunting. He was much too fragile for that.

As he walked the planet's surface, being careful to observe his surroundings and create a mental map of where he had been, he prayed that he had not been the only one to escape. He did not see any shooting stars in the skies, or hear the sounds of other ships crashing, so it seemed that he was to be alone on this planet. There were few creatures even that inhabited the forest, which meant that he had little competition when he finally came across a grove of wild plants.

Large, multicolored fruits grew on curving, twisting vines, and popped easily loose from their home and into Ran's mouth. He could feel the skin and juices flowing down into his stomach - he hadn't fully appreciated just how hungry he had become. He reached out and tore the food loose with a vigor, blind to what he was doing until a face appeared from behind one of the plants.

The instant he laid his eyes on it, Ran leaped back in terror, brandishing the last fruit he had picked like a knife as though it might offer some measly form of protection. The green skinned Floran had been hiding amongst the greenery, and was staring at Ran as he backed himself into a tree.

"D-don't come any closer!" he yelled out at it fruitlessly. The Floran was already approaching him, head cocked to one side. "I won't let me take you like you took my home!"

"Hylotl is acting ssstrange," said the Floran, her voice giving away her gender. "Floran hasss not ssseen life in many cyclesss. Floran hasss been alone."

Ran didn't know that he believed her. Her face and her body language seemed innocent enough, but he knew how the Floran were - cruel and evil, ready to devour any in their way. "I won't be eaten by you!" he called out once more.

"Nazoma doesss not eat Hylotl. Met Glitch lady. Ssshe taught Nazoma how to live on outssside. Nazoma now only eatsss mindlesss beassst."

Ran hesitated, unsure. He had heard that the Floran and Glitch got along because the Floran could not consume the Glitch's metal body. But did that kindness extend out any further? He doubted it. "And what constitutes a mindless beast?" he asked, his voice still shaking.

The Floran giggled abruptly. Ran had never seen a Floran laugh innocently before. "Hylotl isss cute. What Hylotl'sss name?"

There was a long pause. "...Ran," he finally offered.

"Nazoma like Ran. Nazoma travel with Ran?" She looked down at the plants around her and grabbed a larger fruit, pulling it away from the vines and offering it like a peace treaty.

Slowly Ran took the fruit from her hands. He was surprised to see her smile as he did. There was something different about this one. He wasn't sure what had happened... But he was going to find out.

"Yeah," he said. "Alright. Let's travel together."