The three children stared.“How did it get here?” asked Colton.“I don’t know,” whispered Amy.The creature called the Zarnet was

standing in front of them. Or—maybe standing wasn’t the right word. A creature with 12 wrinkly legs doesn’t really stand. The Zarnet was moving slightly, bobbing up and down on its many legs like a tiny boat on a wavy lake.

Even though it had 12 legs, the Zarnet wasn’t much taller than any of the children. Padma could look it right in the eye without lifting her chin. She tried to smile and look friendly. But she couldn’t quite keep her eyes from taking in the creature’s mottled blue and purple skin, its green tentacles where arms should be, and its two wide mouths.

“Good evening,” Padma said. Her voice squeaked a bit. “We’re a little surprised to see you. We have never met a Zarnet before.”

“And I have never met a human child,” the Zarnet replied. It didn’t move either of its mouths as it spoke. Padma wondered where its voice came from. But she didn’t want to be rude and ask.

The Zarnet

E. Kissner 2013