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Thinking about all this water has made me thirsty, of course. I take another small sip of my water, swirling it around in my mouth before swallowing it. “Anyhow, the vet is sending her assistant here tomorrow. He’s going to check the DNA extraction machine.”
“Someone’s coming by? A stranger?”
I nod, finishing my drink and then setting it down. “His name is Mycrul and he works with the vet lady. I haven’t used the DNA extraction machine I was given since I moved in, so he’s going to check it to ensure it’s working properly and then put my first batch in.” And then, I guess, I’ll have livestock to tend to once the cloning process is finished. It’s exciting to think about, but I’m also more than a little terrified to have so many creatures dependent upon me. “I’m hoping we can start small. Maybe just a few animals.”
Jrrru grunts. “You…know this Mycrul?”
“No. This is my first time to even think about meat-stock.” I’m a little nervous over taking such a big step. What if I’m not good at raising animals? What if the bots that handle the majority of the farm’s day-to-day needs malfunction? What if I can’t sell them when the time comes because I grow too attached?
“So…he’s a stranger?”
It’s the hard note in Jrrru’s voice that gets me out of my own head. I look over at him, curious, and I could swear the short fur between his ears is fluffed. His tail is agitated, too, and it looks puffed up between the decorative rings he wears down its length. He looks upset. At the vet assistant?
“He works with the vet but she’s busy tomorrow.”
“So he’s coming here. Alone.”
“I guess?” I hadn’t thought about it too much. I mean, I thought about it some, and I don’t like it, but the vet sent me a vid of him through the comm and what time to expect him. She’s worked with him for over a year now so I’m confident he’s not going to murder me for my farm.
Well, fairly confident. But that’s what my weapons are for.
“Do you need me to handle it?” Jrrru’s golden gaze is locked on my face, and I could swear his ears are just a tiny bit flat.
Handle it? “Do you know how to use a DNA extracting machine?”
“No, I mean when this male shows up. Do you need me to handle him?” He’s all seriousness now, his big body practically vibrating with tension.
“I’ve done just fine on my own. I have weapons.”
“Weapons,” Jrrru echoes. His voice is flat and I can tell he doesn’t agree with my calm assessment.
“Like the ones I used on you when I met you,” I retort. “Why are you being so weird?”
“No reason.” He gets to his feet, brushing his bodysuit off, and his tail is lashing so hard it almost smacks me in the face. “I’d better get home.”
I watch as he leaves, stung. What just happened? Here I feel like I’ve been making huge strides towards normalcy. I’m not even panicking over the thought of a stranger coming to my farm, because I’ve got the weapons to defend myself and he’s not coming into my house. I’ve been careful, and I’ve got the path to the barn cordoned off so he doesn’t come near my traps. I’ve got his ident information and if he tries anything I can send a message to the Port authorities. Not that I like the idea of involving them, but I will if I have to. Jrrru should be proud of me for trying to handle this in a normal fashion.
But instead of being proud of me, or congratulating me on the progress I’m making, he got all distant and weird.
Ten
JRRRU
Another male is coming to Tabitha’s house.
Tomorrow, another male is going to approach my female’s house…and he’s not going to smell my courting scent on her property. As a praxiian, my people have an instinctive territorial need to stake a claim on a female. To let other males know that she is off limits to them. To proclaim our interest and determination. To show that we have chosen a particular female as a mate.
To warn off other suitors, a praxiian male marks his scent on his female’s doorstep, at the entrance of the house. The scent of my seed will tell other males that the female inside is mine. That she belongs to me.
I’ve been showing up to Tabitha’s house for almost six months now and I have yet to mark her door.
This is a problem.
I’ve gone slow with my female, even though in my mind I know she’s absolutely the one for me. Tabitha is smart and funny, clever and brave and determined. Her scent is the best thing I’ve ever smelled, and her eyes sparkle when she’s feeling fierce. I love everything about her. I hunger to hear her voice and breathe in her scent. I want nothing more than to spend every moment with her…but I know she’s been damaged by her past. She doesn’t talk about it, but I can tell by her actions that she had a very bad time of things, and I’ve been content to wait for her.
