Kadic told me the first place we should venture on the tour around Alpazon was the garden behind his palace. He chatted animatedly about the garden and seemed very proud of it, so I followed him. It’s not like I had anywhere else to go at the moment. If I kept busy, the distractions would help me get through the week.

“Wow, this is stunning,” I said as we walked out to a location a few hundred feet behind the palace. I stared in awe at my surroundings.

“Do you like it?” Kadic’s eyes flashed with pride.

“Are you kidding? I’ve never seen a garden so beautiful.” I walked around, marveling at the variety of exotic looking plants and flowers of every imaginable color.

“Thank you,” Kadic beamed, leading the way.

I stopped in front of a flower that was so brightly florescent purple that it captivated my attention. I leaned in to sniff its decadent aroma.

“Oh no!” Kadic shouted and ran to my side. “I’m sorry, don’t touch that one.”

I looked up, curious. “Why not?”

He was out of breath with apparent distress. I appreciated how much he cared about my wellbeing.

“That one is poisonous. I didn’t mean to startle you, but its venom is nearly lethal.”

“Thanks, um…I appreciate the heads-up.” I smiled sheepishly.

“It’s okay, I’m just glad I caught you in time. Only the bite of the Gattler will save someone who touches it.”

“What’s a Gattler?” I peered up at him.

“A Gattler is a long and slender reptile with scaly skin. There are variants of species of Gattler and they can range from red to brown to orange in color. They slide across the ground and live in trees and in the forests. They are rare to catch, that’s why it’s so important to keep away from these flowers.”

“That’s kind of funny.”

“Why is that?” He looked confused.

“Well, what you just described—back on Earth, we call them snakes. Only they are feared on Earth because most of them are highly poisonous, the opposite of what you describe them to be here.”

Kadic crossed his arms, apparently intrigued by my ‘fun fact’ tidbit about Earth. He smiled with amusement. “Tell me more about Earth.”

We began to walk again, strolling through the garden. I made sure not to touch any of them now. “Let’s see…um, well, on Earth we don’t have plants and flowers this striking.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yep. You are lucky. Ours aren’t nearly this colorful, or…neon, I would say.”

“I told you that once you gave this planet a chance, you might find it truly magical with beauty.” He grinned at me.

“I guess you got me there.” I winked and chuckled.

He led me away from the garden and toward what looked like horse stables on the side of the palace. “Horse stables? Wow, this is incredible! I used to ride when I was a little girl.”

“What is a horse?” Kadic looked confused.

I pointed to the building. “Aren’t those horse stables?”

But at the very same instant, another naked blue alien emerged from the barn leading what appeared to be a unicorn on a long rope.

“Holy shit, is that a unicorn?” I exclaimed as my jaw dropped to the ground.

“That is a Darailtar. I breed them here, I have more than ten. Come, follow me.” He gestured for me to jog quickly.

I watched as the other naked native to this planet brushed the Pegasus/unicorn-looking creature. I guess I was getting used to everyone being unclothed here because I didn’t scream or wince in embarrassment this time.

When we approached the creature, my eyes welled with tears at its profound splendor. It was bright white with a purple and green unicorn horn. It had golden wings that moved majestically.

“This animal is a mythical, nonexistent creature on Earth. It’s the kind of thing you read about in fairy tales.”

Kadic laughed with playful kindness. He rubbed the top of the animal. “This is what we call a ‘Darailtar.’ It’s the primary mode of transportation on Alpazon.”

He extended a hand. “Come, I will lift you onto him.”

“It’s a him?” I questioned.

He nodded. “You can ride.”

“Oh no.” I shook my head in refusal. “What if he takes off and drops me when we are a hundred feet in the air?”

“That won’t happen, I promise.” Kadic’s eyes were truthful and the staff member beside him nodded in agreement.

Still, I protested. “I think I’m too heavy to ride him.”

Kadic chuckled again. “Nonsense.”

I stiffened as he checked me out up and down.

“If anything, you are on the small size for this planet. The Darailtar will be able to hold you without any problems. In fact, we can ride together.”

I was ready to complain again, but, before I could, he scooped me up and climbed onto the creature and placed me in front of him. He wrapped his arms around me in a protective embrace. His body felt warm and safe, but I was still wary.

When the Darailtar took flight, I screamed. He squeezed me closer and tighter. “Don’t worry, there’s nothing to it and nothing to fear. You say you rode animals like this at home on Earth?”

“Yes, but on the ground. They don’t fly.”

I had no choice but to take his word for it, because we were already in the air, too far for me to jump. I had to admit that, even though he had already taken his pants back off (he complained he didn’t feel free wearing them), I felt safe in his grasp and he radiated kindness.

I absorbed my surroundings, trying to keep my gaze on the trees as we flew across the planet. We made it to a clearing in the forest where the animal started its decent. We landed softly on the ground a few moments later.

Kadic helped me climb down from the Darailtar and I shook with jittery nerves. My feet were tingly and wobbly, so I jumped up and down to calm myself.

“That wasn’t so bad, right?”

“I guess,” I admitted.

I looked around and noticed we were at a beautiful waterfall and wading pool.

“Do you want to go for a swim?” He grinned mischievously at me and his cute cheek dimple produced itself again.

“Um, I don’t think so.”

His face fell in disappointment. “Why not? It will be fun.” He puffed out his chest.

“It’s just…well, I don’t have a bathing suit,” I countered, embarrassed.

“I have no idea what that is,” he said innocently.

I laughed. “It’s what you wear when you go swimming.”

“Oh. Well I prefer to be naked.”

“I can tell,” I said teasingly.

“Clothing just gets in the way. I want to be free.” He tried to make a point in the naked favor. “Watch,” he said and he inched his way into the wading pool. His arms and legs made a lapping sound in the water that relaxed me.

It looked so fun that I decided to go against my better judgment and join him. “Okay, I will get in, but only if you promise no one else will show up here.”

“I promise, it’s only us out here.”

I was shy, but I slowly began to undress. He arched his arms over his head and dove right into the water, plunging his entire body in with a splash. If he was going to enjoy himself, there wasn’t any reason I shouldn’t join him.

I stripped the rest of the way down. I figured since I’d be leaving the planet in seven days anyway, I might as well act like a native for a little while. I dipped my big toe in and found it amazingly warm, like a hot tub. With a squeal, I jumped right in.