Orca was frightened of plenty of things (and even more things heightened his anxiety), but only a few manifested themselves in the form of a true phobia. Needles were one thing, for good reason, but that was a story for a different occasion and not something he rather liked to talk about.

                                   And the other?

                                                                             Bugs.

Hence the gasp and the quick retreat back down the sidewalk when quite the large wasp had flown straight at him. Sabotage. In his stupor, Orca was able to vaguely warn the stranger approaching before him.

“Mh?” She perked up when the boy spoke, turning to face him. “Fer what?” She hadn’t even noticed him staring, since for once, she had her guard down. She’d seen orca people before, so she got rather excited.  “Hey, are you from the ice caps in my universe??”

      “No... I don’t come from any ‘ice cap.’” 

while he was glad she hadn’t noticed his staring, the question had caught him slightly off guard. yet...he couldn’t bring himself to blatantly ask his own inquiry in fear of being rude. instead, he poses something different in hopes it might lead back to what he really wanted to know. 

“All the time. But you sorta get used to it after a few months… or years.”

perhaps it is just him, having been a part of an experiment before, but the general atmosphere of the city was strange. this kind of experiment was different, but the feeling was just the same; the tall buildings and bustle of activity were just a thin veil.

             “Does no one feel the constant sense of                               foreboding?”

due to the late hour at which he was outside, there was little traffic on the streets, but he found himself waiting for the crosswalk anyhow, eyes flickering to the symbol saying that it was, indeed, not safe to walk yet. a bit childish perhaps, but he could hear a car coming quickly from down the street, and did not wish for it to hit him. normally he’d be able to perhaps stop a car, but he’s found his strength lacking in this city.

when another pedestrian came up beside him and made no allusion that they were going to stop and wait (for it did appear as if the road was clear), Orca raised his arm perpendicular to the stranger’s chest, stopping them.

          “The crosswalk hasn’t changed yet.                               It’s dangerous.”

gentle words as he glanced their way, just in time for the car to come speeding down the street, completely bypassing the light that had just turned red.

wayward glances were cast in the strangers direction now and then, taking care not to linger too long-- at first. it had started as nothing but a sprout of curiosity at the others horns and general visage, but grew into something more when he could not figure it out. surely this person was a hybrid like himself, right? though, a mix of what, he couldn’t be completely certain.

                                              he had a few ideas in mind,                                            but would keep them to himself.

though, it was too late when he realized he’d been staring for far too long than was socially acceptable. he’d been rude in doing so and as his anxiety flared slightly, he offered an apology, however choked sounding.

anyhow

starter call here! 

Quietly stays where he is and hopes his acquaintances are okay.