Thankfully, this trip isn’t happening at the worst time. The encampment, though always going through some small crisis or another, has a steady supply of water now.
Food is still a partial issue. More people have arrived over the months, mainly coming from smaller camps that were created from the chaos at the beginning. There are many of them, I’ve realized, all scattered, made up of clusters of ships, big and small, that happened to land near each other. Not everyoneknew where to go, and most didn’t even know there were several military operations here to begin with.
Those that risk the trip of leaving their own camps are always in search of a bigger, more established settlement, like ours. It's those that can’t risk the trip, those that don’t have enough fuel to fly their vessel or are impaired, or are just plan lost, that are still in real trouble. Despite the losses we incurred in the coup, we’ve since gotten a new radio and security system established, pilfered from one of the larger spacecraft. It allows us to get in touch with others around the mountains, and even offer aid in some instances. Having moved the spacecraft inside the camp’s walls, the ship’s cockpit has become a new center to our home. There are always multiple people manning the stations and keeping tabs on the radio—we’ve even paired it to several of the orbs the nagas keep, so we’re able to get in touch with them when a need arises.
We’ve landed several other spacecraft inside the barricade as well, if the refugees that own them are willing to repurpose them for community showers and common spaces. One craft happened to be a cargo ship hauling crates of beer and cigs, and between those items and other useful ones like weapons, tools, and food, a market area has formed where people trade and barter. Outside the gate, we’ve raised a pavilion tent with tables beneath where the items and kills the nagas bring are placed each day to be divided up by volunteers.
The nagas are becoming more commonplace and accepted thanks to their gifts. Krellix, Nepsh, and Kodyx, as well as several of the female nagas, are now known by everyone living at the camp. They are often seen coming and going freely. There are many who still fear them but there have been no more attacks. And as the days continue on in a hard-working peace, a comfortable pact has begun to form.
The nagas are the encampment’s main supplier of meat. In return we offer goods, tools, and knowledge. We offer company… some of them, community…
So far there have been no incidents of any of the male nagas trying to take one of the women in the camp. We have had some new visitors, those that are interested in forming relations with us humans, but nothing has come from that yet as none of them have been proven trustworthy enough to enter. Still, they bring their offerings, hoping to be allowed around the common area.
And though Krellix is unaware, I have noticed Kodyx watching Olivia. And Olivia is not ignorant of his attention, she’s been eyeing him too. When I notice them near each other, I make certain she has her mask on. Though she’s old enough to make her own decision on the matter, I’m going to do my damnedest at trying to guide her. Mating with a naga is not something to be rushed.
Everyone—and I mean everyone—has been warned to wear a mask or cover their noses if they’re around a naga, even the females. And the nagas have been warned to keep several feet away from any human they’re dealing with. I made sure everyone was aware of the effect of the naga’s pheromones but I can’t babysit everyone and there's so much we still don't know. If something should happen… I just hope it’s entirely consensual.
There’s a knock on the door. “It’s me. Can I come in?”
I lightly curl my arm over my breasts. “Sure. I’m just lying here. Doing nothing. And loving every moment of it.”
Life is going to be very different once the baby joins us.
Luckily, I’m not alone.
Daisy sits on the floor next to the tub, crossing her legs under her. “Krellix and Zaku are talking about where you’ve been. You’re living at the facility now? At the camp there?”
Sinking down to my chin in the water, I relax against the tub’s back wall and tell her everything. To my surprise, she’sexcited about the camp and that there are survivors, but most of all she’s relieved to hear about what happened to Sada, the Boa, and that Krellix got rid of him. I haven’t thought about the Boa at all in the past few months. He completely slipped my mind. But not hers.
Also to my surprise, she’s not shocked about the nagas I found underground. Apparently, Gemma has seen something similar; Vruksha showed her in the mountains.
There are more of them. Until now, I wasn’t certain. How many more? I’m afraid to know.
In turn, Daisy tells me everything that has happened with our…clan.
Our clan. Gemma, Shelby, Celeste, Laura, Vivian—a woman I have yet to meet—Daisy, and now me. A clan of women, brought together by the males they’ve chosen to love.
Vruksha and Gemma have been filling the tunnels of their bunker with stored goods from their weekly salvaging expeditions in the ruins of a nearby town. Zhallaix and Celeste, often with them, have been making a map of the area, while also keeping tabs on several spacecraft clusters that landed near their home. Having made contact with two of them, they’ve learned that Minton Volp never made it offThe Dreadnaut.It’s the first definitive news I’ve heard on that front.
I’m not sad. No, what concerns me—which is the same news everyone is searching for—is when help will arrive.The Sovereignwould know aboutThe Dreadnautby now. They probably knew of its demise almost immediately. Though it would take the colony ship a couple of years to get to us, they could send smaller, faster ships ahead with aid. Nothing has shown up in that regard yet, though.
Meanwhile, Azsote, Laura, Vivian, and Syasku have been spending their time building and re-fortifying their new territory and taking turns watching the kids, which includes Zhallaix andCeleste’s, Odessa, while they’re currently helping those in the clusters.
Shelby and Vagan are nesting. I’m hoping to send them an orb before I leave here and convince them to come out for a visit. It has been too long since I’ve last seen Shelby.
Everyone is healthy, everyone is well.
Another knock on the door sounds, and both Daisy and I look toward it.
“It issss me,” Krellix’s muffled words come through.
Daisy sits back. “I’ll go and let you guys have some time. One second,” she calls to Krellix as she gets to her feet.
Sitting upright, I bring my knees to my chest and share a parting smile with her as she opens the door and scoots by Krellix. He slides into the bathroom and shuts the door behind him with his tail, barely fitting in the small space. Staring down at me, he dips slightly beside the bathtub, where Daisy had been. For a moment, there is only silence.
“How was your talk with Zaku?” I ask, eyeing him back, noting how private and alone we are finally, and how dangerously intriguing he looks towering above me.
“He issss aware that he should not fear soldiers or their machines coming from the north any longer, and that with the destruction of your home ship, our human enemies have been mostly taken care of.”
