“It is?” Levi asked, surprised. “The first timeever?”
“That is correct.”
Levi blinked. “Then, we’re the first-ever newcomers to Eukaria?”
“Yes, human,” Linn’ar said.
“His name is Levi,” I told my sibling.
“Levi,” he echoed with difficulty. It was challenging for him to say, as it was for me, but I was getting used to it. “Good to meet you.”
“You too, um... Linn’ar, is it?”
He trilled. “Yes.”
I was happy to see Levi getting along with the others. He would fit right in here.
“Zat’tor, there is something else,” Linn’ar said. “I overheard the humans will be staying.”
Levi looked uncomfortable, like he’d done something wrong. “I’m sorry. We’ll try not to be a bother.”
Both me and my sibling were confused. Why was he apologizing?
Baffled by his statement, Linn’ar went on as if Levi hadn’t spoken. “We wish to throw a feast tonight in their honor,” he said.
Levi’s jaw dropped. “What?”
“Did you say a feast?” Paz yelled. At the news, he ran over, dragging Jaeyoung with him.
“Yes, a feast,” Linn’ar confirmed happily.
Paz looked as confused as Levi. “You mean a feastforus, right?” he asked. “Not, uh...withus? As the ingredients?”
Jaeyoung sighed. “I think it’s clear by now our Maeleon hosts have no intention to eat us.”
“Just making sure,” Paz said under his breath.
Levi rolled his eyes in what appeared to be a dismissive gesture, then turned to me. “Zat’tor, you don’t need to go out of your way for us like this. A feast isn’t necessary, really.”
“Hey, speak for yourself,” Paz interjected, holding his midsection. “I haven’t eaten anything but a stick of gum since this morning.”
“Youategum?” Jaeyoung asked.
Paz pouted. “Not on purpose. I swallowed it by accident when the ship went down.”
Levi opened his mouth to say something when a loud growl came from his body. He blushed and put a hand over his stomach.
“Is your belly angry?” I asked.
“N-no,” Levi said. “It just means I’m hungry.”
Linn’ar and I looked at each other, equally baffled. Humans were as adorable as they were strange. They always hid their true thoughts and feelings. That was something I needed to overcome with Levi. He needed to learn that I wanted to know his truth, always.
“The feast will commence before sunsleep,” Linn’ar said simply, turning to leave. “I must go prepare now.”
“I guess we should prepare, too?” Paz asked. “Man, I didn’t bring anything nice to wear...”
“You can remove your coverings,” I suggested.
