11
FAY
A chii male handed me a wooden mug the size of a thimble. Steam rose from the lime-green liquid inside.
“Tea?” I asked Ali’quii. My little friend was perched on my shoulder, proudly staring at the crowd surrounding us. I was the star attraction and more chii kept arriving to take a look at me.
Yes, whitebark tea, she said in my head. It would take some time getting used to hearing her in my mind. I felt like apologising for thinking she was just an animal. Now that I could communicate with her, I realised I couldn’t have been more wrong.
I emptied the mug in one sip. The hot liquid burned down my throat, leaving a minty taste in my mouth. Not bad. Another chii, this one with only one tail, immediately took my empty mug and replaced it with a full one. I’d have to do this about
