“I do not want to eat this for breakfast for the rest of my life,” Sunif announces.
The other warriors all nod in agreement, while they eat as though it may be the last food they eat for the rest of the day.
“Can you not gather some of the plants you usually eat for breakfast? So we can grow more?” I wouldn’t mind something different for breakfast. I’m sure everyone in this room would like to eat something else occasionally, but sludge is important nutritionally.
“The plant on this continent isn’t quite the same as what they grow back home, and they don’t have any seeds. There was no point because they couldn’t settle and farm.” Mia says. She does not eat with as much enthusiasm as her mate. Did a few months away from the colony change her views on the food that much?
They had a whole village. Which means they built houses. They had found a way to survive.
“Why did you come back?” I blurt out.
Mia pauses with a spoon halfway to her mouth. “It’s complicated.”
Yva snorts. “It was much debated. But the smaller the tribe, the harder it is to survive. Any sickness or injury is harder to compensate for. Not only that but we were not equipped to handle any major injury.”
“We would have been an ageing tribe with no children. And that may have been fine for another ten years or even twenty. But bodies wear out and it is a hard life. I do not wish that for my mate. So when the offer was made we voted to take it,” Sunif says.
They gave up their way of life for their mate, knowing that they would be outnumbered, stared at, and hated by some. “That’s very brave.”
“It was necessary…the same way your parents did what they thought best to do more than survive.” Yva glances at me. “You need to finish your sludge.”
I stare at the unappetizing, greenish goop in my bowl. “This is nutritionally balanced for humans, not Honey. Maybe you could argue dietary requirements?”
“Chloe is doing that, and we are going to be having a mating celebration.” Sunif scrapes out his bowl already done.
“A mating celebration?”
“Yes. My brothers, who were blessed enough to find mates, need to celebrate being chosen,” Yva says as if it is a well-rehearsed line.
I have the feeling that these guys plan a lot more than they let on. That’s when I realize they are speaking in their language, not English, for this conversation. So even though everybody can understand them if they are wearing their comms device, it is clear the warriors don’t want people to understand how well they all speak English.
And I am one of the people who now knows several of their secrets.
“And when will this celebration be?” I ask to avoid eating more sludge.
“We are waiting for approval and permission to hunt.” Sunif touches Mia’s arm. It’s not only a gesture of tenderness, they’re communicating.
Are they talking about me or something else?
Yva touches my hand.Don’t look so concerned.
I feel like a fraud.
We are simply finding out if we will make good mates.
But it’s fake, isn’t it?I glance at him.Your brothers will hate me.
And I don’t want them to hate me…I’m enjoying their company.
No one is going to hate you if we decide it will not work.He gives me a smile and picks up his spoon, leaving me alone with my thoughts and far too many questions.
Is this not fake? Is he trying to determine if I will make a good mate? Wait, was that his way of suggesting I should choose him?
Ohhh…women may do the official choosing, but the warriors make their preferences known. And he has chosen me.
14
YVA
