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“These are the ones we want. I’d say we need five of them.” Olo points to a bright yellow plant that stands about waist high. There are dark red, lemon-shaped seeds hiding within the foliage. “What's Remora?”
We crouch down beside each other and start gently sifting through the leaves. “It was where I was headed before everything happened,” I say. “Serendipitywas a colonization ship headed to a planet near identical to Earth, with more fresh water than our home planet had, before… before I, uh, accidentally killed someone.”
I watch Olo from the corner of my eye, but he doesn’t so much as twitch at my confession. “Is that how you got sold? Did someone onSerendipitysell you?”
I swallow thickly and choke out, “The captain of the ship handed me over to G.S.F., and they let these aliens pay them off to come in and take me directly from my holding cell. I was brought to an auction and sold, then I crashed here.”
Olo’s hand grips mine, and that’s when I realize I’ve stopped foraging. “I’m sorry, Lyra.”
I shake my head. "It's fine. In a weird way, I'm kind of glad it all happened, because I met you and Wen."
He squeezes my hand gently before releasing it and picking another zilco. I focus on the plant in front of me and continue foraging. Once we have all five, we wander a little farther through the garden as Olo points out all the different vegetables and fruits. Everything here is edible, though not everything is tasty without seasoning. I guarantee I won't remember the names of most of these plants, but I have plenty of time to learn them at least.
"It's so beautiful here," I hum as I stare off into the treeline bordering the house. It's all so bright and happy-looking.
Olo grins. "Wait until you see the lake."
My mouth drops open, though I shouldn't be surprised. "There's a lake? Where?"
He points to the left. "It's a short walk through the forest just there. We can go there later, if you'd like? It's safer during the day, so long as Wen is with us."
I brighten considerably at the prospect. "I'd love that!"
"Let's finish up lunch then, shall we?"
I smile and follow Olo back inside, a skip in my step for the first time since I woke up on this strange planet. Things are slowly but surely looking up, and I can't wait to see where my new life brings me.
Chapter 6
Lyra
Innotimeatall, lunch is served, and it smells delicious. It looks like a very colorful stew, and I can't wait to dig in.
The front door creaks open just as I'm helping Olo bring utensils to the table. Wen walks in shirtless and sweaty, a sight that should not make my core heat and my heart race, but it does.
"How did it go?" Olo asks with a smile as he moves back to the kitchen to grab the giant clay pot he and Wen made.
"Good,” Wen answers. “Caught a motram."
My brow furrows. "A what?"
Wen drops into his seat and gives me a grin. "It looks like a moose, but smaller, and with sharp teeth and no antlers. It also has claws on its feet instead of hooves."
How bizarre.
Olo places the clay pot in the center of the table and gestures for me to take a seat as he takes his own. I sit and reach for the handmade wooden ladle and lift it in Wen and Olo’s direction, wordlessly asking who would like some stew. Olo grabs Wen's bowl and offers it up first. I fill it until Wen says enough, and he grabs Olo's bowl to be filled.
After Olo's bowl is placed down, both males reach for mine. Wen laughs at the mock glare Olo gives him and raises his hand, submitting to Olo without a fight. As soon as my bowl is filled, we all dig in.
The first taste on my tongue makes me groan. "This is delicious."
Olo smiles. “It’s much better than usual, thanks to you."
I smile and eat until I feel like my stomach is about to burst, and I have zero regrets. We're all sitting around the table now with empty bowls and full bellies, so I take advantage of it to get to know them a little better.
"How often do you hunt?" I ask Wen.
He leans back in his chair. "Maybe once or twice a week, though I don't go far. Only when the double full moons arrive do I hunt bigger prey and stray farther from the den."
