It seems as though my brothers and I can talk about our lives until we run out of breath, but the humans will only believe it when they see it for themselves. It is far better to learn from someone else’s wisdom than to start over. But humans do not like to be told that either.
I wonder what they would be doing if there were no people on the planet. Would they stumble around trying new things, or would they do it the way they did on Earth? As they have discovered, some of those ways do not work.
I try not to be too relieved when Charlie, Kate and Neve head off into the scrub. Alisha softly checks their comms are working and, when she is satisfied, she approaches where Hugh and Erica are getting the first of their cloud-seeker drones ready.
I stand to the side, standing guard as though I expect warriors to appear out of the trees. I hope we were unseen, or if we were seen, that no one wants to investigate. Who would believe in a flying ship?
I did not.
I could never have guessed Edilk’s falling star was a ship containing a colony of humans. Or that I would end up as part of that colony. I want to believe we are far enough away from the tribe that they will not come looking. Tiril discussed with all of us the best place to land, based on our knowledge of our tribes. Close enough to observe but not close enough to be observed.
So while we selected several locations, it was a human who decided on the final one based on the soil and rock samples they wanted to take.
“I want a view of the area,” she says. “Before I go and set up the other two cameras.”
That’s the biggest job for Alisha. She doesn’t just sit around and watch the ship. She needs to place two cameras: one near the river, and one between the ship and the tribe.
The other three humans are further away from the tribe, and therefore at less risk of discovery. The work we are doing is much closer. For a moment, I wish I were with the others. But Charlie would not want my help even if I offered my services.
Alisha makes sure the drone connects to her tablet before Hugh sends it up. He has been practicing making it fly like a cloud-seeker, and once it is in the air, I am almost fooled.
My lips curve as I glance away from the sky to find Alisha looking at me. The smile remains on my lips as she moves closer so that I can view the tablet screen.
“Tell me if you see anything,” she whispers as if there are warriors lurking in the trees.
It is odd to see the overhead view of the ship as the drone dips and circles. I spot the other humans moving through the trees, heading towards the first point. Hugh directs the drone in a widening circle that takes in the river.
“There is the trail they use.” I point at the screen, and Hugh steadies the drone. “Follow the river upstream.” I keep my voice soft. Upstream, there is evidence of heavier use. There’s a bridge, and several huts. “Stay downstream of the muddy track, or you risk being caught setting up the camera.”
Hugh continues his flyover of the settlement. It is not as large as the ones Edilk and Orik describe when talking about their tribes. I cannot remember the size of my tribe. I don’t even remember the faces of the older banished. I don’t know what became of them, but I assume they are dead. They died in their first winter alone, were hunted by predators, or were killed by another tribe. Some banished chose to raid the nearest tribe just to get it over with. They are reckless, choosing certain death over fragile survival.
I was raised to believe it was honorable to choose the fight and take a woman. But even before I had to leave, I knew that wasn’t my path. Why should I risk my life to bring a woman to a tribe who didn’t want me? While I never said those words out loud, the moment I walked away, my life was my own.
There are people moving around the settlement, starting morning chores and chasing children. I expected to feel some pang of hurt, but I’m just as curious as the humans. This is how my people live when they aren’t sent away.
I’m aware that Alisha is watching me, and I’m sure she will have questions later, but I may not have the answers. This is as strange to me as it is to her. No one seems to notice the drone as it continues its lazy flight past the houses to where people are letting animals out of their huts and into pens.
“Oh wow,” Hugh murmurs. “What is that?”
“Delicious,” I murmur
The humans laugh while I think of a way to describe the creature. It looks like a strange cloud-seeker that has forgotten how to fly. Instead it uses its wings as front limbs to walk on all fours, its fur is thick and shaggy and a purple-red not dissimilar to the leaves on the shrubs in this area. I have never seen them in that color before. The ones my tribe had were much paler.
“So you eat them?” Hugh presses.
“Yes, and use their fur for spinning and making clothing.” I was never taught to spin. It wasn’t considered a necessary skill for a banished warrior. In that respect, my brothers had a better education. They were part of village life and expected to contribute. And over a long cold winter, the spinning of fibers and hooking of clothes kept idle hands busy.
Vari and Bridget both tried to teach me, and I failed to make anything useful. I am much better at gathering what they need and breaking down the stems of the grass with a rock.
“You are not catching one and bringing it home, Hugh,” Alisha warns.
“It’s already domesticated. Do you know how long that takes?”
I glance at Alisha, having heard this argument in the meeting. I’m sure she’s heard it more times than me.
She smiles at me and sighs. “We will find something smaller than a screamer. The animal that nearly trampled Yva makes good eating.”
Hugh grunts.
