“Sure, Tau’run,” I said. “Thanks.”
They smiled at me, yellow eyes sparkling. I couldn’t tell if they were flirting with me or not. Many Maeleons flirted with every adult they weren’t related to. Casual sex was common among Maeleon friends—it didn’t necessarily make them mates, or filum, or whatever.
If Tau’runwasflirting with me, should I respond? Couldmyfilum be this nonbinary yellow alien? My sexual partner’s gender or genitals had never mattered to me. To use an old Earth term, I’d be considered pansexual. But here on Eukaria, there was no such word. Even the Maeleons we referred to as ‘he’ or ‘him’, like Zat’tor and Linn’ar, weren’t necessarily male. They didn’t mind,but some Maeleons like Tau’run never liked those pronouns, so we ditched them for something neutral.
I glanced Tau’run over. They were attractive, but I didn’t feel a spark. I was supposed to feel something special and romantic when I met my destined alien mate, right?
Nope. Nothing.
After playing with the kids for a while, I drifted to the edge of the village where I often found myself. I stared out into the Sweetfields, watching the long, colorful stalks sway in the breeze. Once, Jaeyoung and Levi asked me why I spent so much time standing there, and I didn’t know how to respond—becauseIdidn’t understand, either. It was a compulsion I gave in to every time.
Why? No freaking clue.
A jolt struck me as I suddenly remembered something Linn’ar told me. He’d suggested my filum was “out there” somewhere. At the time, I hadn’t given it much thought, kinda like when yourtiasays there’s plenty of fish in the sea when you break up with your ex.
But maybe it wasn’t hopeful reassurance. Maybe my mate was literallyout there.
A memory wriggled into my mind, something Zat’tor said a long time ago, but it slipped away when my train of thought was interrupted a second later.
“Paz?” Tau’run called from a few feet away. “The feast starts soon. Join us.”
“Huh?” I said, pulled back to reality. “Oh, right. Thanks.”
Shit, what was I thinking about? It was perched right on the tip of my tongue. Or brain. I just needed something to jog my memory...
“Actually, Tau’run, can you come here for a sec?” I asked.
The lemony Maeleon obliged, walking up to me. “What can I do for you?”
I gestured past the Sweetfields. “There’s more Maeleons out there, right?” I asked, gesturing with my hands as I spoke.
“Yes, there are other Maeleon villages,” Tau’run explained.
“Hm, that’s not really what I meant. I can’t remember exactly what he said, but when we first arrived, Zat’tor mentioned some young Maeleons had gone off somewhere. Do you know anything about that?”
Tau’run blinked slowly. “Yes,” they said after a long beat. “They went on a quest.”
“A quest!” I cried, slapping my thigh. “Thatwas it. I couldn’t remember the term, just that it was epic and important.” I snorted a laugh. “Some diplomat, huh? I’m supposed to be good at words.”
Tau’run gazed at me patiently. “If that’s all, let us return to the village. I’m sure you are hungry after all that playing.”
“Sure, I’m coming,” I said without moving. “Do you know when the questing Maeleons are coming home?”
Tau’run tilted their head. “That is up to them.”
“Oh.” I tried not to sound too disappointed. “Could I like, go and find them?”
As if struck by invisible lightning, Tau’run’s feelers spiked into the air. They looked like a spooked cat.
“Paz, you mustn’t,” Tau’run said, their tone grave. “It is dangerous beyond the Sweetfields.”
I blinked, surprised at their over-the-top reaction. How could it be dangerous on this paradise planet? The worst thing I’dseen were giant insects, and those things just buzzed around and stuck their butts into flowers.
Still, I didn’t want to offend Tau’run by arguing with them. They were local, born and raised, while I’d lived here less than a year. It was naive to assume I knew everything about their planet. But I wasn’t some clueless tourist, either. As an interplanetary diplomat, survival on alien planets was part of my skill set. I could fend for myself if necessary.
As I fantasized about it, my plan solidified. My alien matehadto be out there. I knew it. And when I found him and brought him back, I’d have a filum of my own.
Then I wouldn’t be the only single human on the planet anymore.
