2 Planning
Giselle
Giselle awoke to a large furry palm on her arm. Her eyes flew open, and it took only a moment to remember where she was. It wasn't just a horrible nightmare. The female creature herded Giselle to the middle of the room where the males surrounded her along with the other females and children. If Giselle wasn't so frightened of what was happening, she would have thought it was sweet how they guarded them.
The group moved forward only narrowing to go through the now open door. Giselle attempted to look at the ship but it was obscured by the hairy bodies towering over her. The light changed as they reached the exit exposing a purple tinged sky. There was a rush of fresh air. It was a welcome change to the stale air of the ship. Giselle looked up at the violet clouds but was jostled and nearly tripped, so she had to look back down at where she was going as they descended the ramp.
There was a commotion at the bottom of the ramp just as her bare feet hit the cobblestone ground. The group parted to reveal a tall reptilian looking creature with slit pupils in yellow eyes, green tinged skin and a tail. This must be the Jurou Biljana. The thing was looking directly at her and rapidly approaching.
Giselle backed into the hairy female who clutched her close. The reptile hissed something unintelligible holding a thing that looked like a probe. Giselle started to quake as the new creature reached out and took her arm in its leathery clawed grasp. The female held her tight until the giant furry male gestured wildly to her.
The female reluctantly released Giselle and the Jurou Biljana pulled her away. He jerked her to an entrance in a massive tent while the other creatures were taken to another. Giselle barely had a chance to look around at the planet or the smattering of stone buildings that surrounded the large open field as she was pulled into the tent.
Giselle heard a barked word and turned just as the reptilian gripped her hair and tugged her head to the side. The tool in its hand moved towards her and Giselle struggled. It was foolish since she was damn near tiny in comparison. Giselle was like a child when standing next to the creatures she'd come into contact with so far. It was an odd feeling. On Earth she was tall for a girl at 5'8", but here she was down right small.
The reptile man held her head tight as he pressed the glowing wand to the back of her ear. A searing pain shot straight through her head. Giselle convulsed and went limp. She didn't even fight as she was placed on the floor of another cell and the door slammed shut.
Giselle didn't know how long she lay near catatonic willing the terrible headache to go away. All she could tell was that the noise outside the tent grew in volume making her head pound. Giselle sat up as one of the Jurou Biljana entered. She backed up and looked around realizing she was alone in an unusual gilded cage.
"Do you want a drink pet?" The reptile asked holding a small cup through the bars.
Giselle quickly took it not knowing when the opportunity might come again. As she took a sip, she realized she understood the reptilian creature. Giselle nearly choked.
"What's going on?" She stammered after swallowing.
"If you're wise you'll keep quiet, pets and slaves don't speak on this planet." The creature admonished.
Giselle's eyes widened. She hadn't misheard.
"Of course that is easier for the Toufik since they don't have language but I'd hate to think of such a small creature as you suffering the lash." The reptile warned as it looked her over.
"How will I survive this?" Giselle wondered, struck dumb.
"At least as a pet you will have an easy life if you behave." The creature said before sitting down with another of his kind.
Giselle was numb. A pet? Was that why she was in the shiny gilded prison, that reminded her of an overgrown birdcage with its domed top. Who would she be sold to? How in the hell could she get out of this and if she did how could she possibly survive on an alien planet?
Giselle had always planned everything to the Nth degree, but she was entirely out of her element here. She didn't even know where to begin to break down this problem. Giselle bowed her head as she sat. She resisted the tears, but they came anyway spilling down her cheeks in a continuous stream.
What words of wisdom applied to this situation? Giselle mentally cataloged all the classics she'd read searching for something that could speak to this horrific moment. What inspiring passage could she dredge up to comfort herself?
Giselle sat listening in dread to the noise of a massive crowd outside the small tent where her cage sat. She had to block it out, or she'd lose her mind. Instead Giselle focused on the conversation the two Jurou Biljana were having, wondering what kind of people enslaved others.
"So did you sell the vapor?"