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“My people have lived here for over a thousand years,” I rumbled.
“Wow,” Kate breathed. “You guys really have something special here. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
I felt a small swell of pride. Perhaps she could learn to appreciate our ways, alien though she was.
“What is your home planet like?” I asked.
Kate’s eyes lit up, and she launched into an enthusiastic description of her distant water-rich world. I listened with interest as she told me about enormous cities bustling with many types of beings, forests of towering trees, and endless oceans teeming with life.
“It sounds...chaotic,” I said when she finished.
She laughed, a bright, chiming sound. “I suppose it is, compared to the peace and quiet here. But I love adventure too much to settle down in one place.”
I shook my head, perplexed by her thirst for danger. Among my people, nothing was more important than the safety of the village.
We lapsed into thoughtful silence again as we ate. The moons rose high above, bathing the village in soft silver light. In the distance, siroccos whistled to each other as they settled in for the night.
“Do you ever wish you could travel beyond this planet?” Kate asked eventually.
I considered the question. “No. My place is here, guarding my people.” I gave her a hard look. “Not among the stars, seeking thrills.”
She frowned. “There’s nothing wrong with wanting to see what’s out there, Kian.”
“Such curiosity leads to danger,” I insisted. “You crashed here, wounded and alone. Have you considered what would have happened to you if the native people of this planet weren’t so accommodating? Or if rustlers had found you first? Because they would have captured you, and the men would have done very bad things to you. Is that the adventure you seek?”
Kate’s expression hardened with defiance. “I’m not afraid of danger. My life belongs to me, to do with as I please.”
I snarled, showing my fangs. “You are reckless! Such independence will bring you only ruin.”
She shot to her feet, hands balled into fists. For the first time, I saw a flash of real anger in her eyes.
“So I should live meekly, never daring to dream? You know nothing about me, Kian. I won’t apologize for who I am.”
She spun on her heel and stalked away, blonde braid swishing behind her. I watched her go, an uneasy mixture of emotions swirling within me. Irritation at her boldness, admiration for her spirit, and a strange longing to understand this fiery alien who had dropped into my well-ordered world.
With a sigh, I doused the fire and retreated to my home. My thoughts kept returning to Kate - her defiance, her thirst for freedom, the way she made me question my staunch beliefs.
***
I stood outside Alya’s house, hesitating. I wanted to speak to Kate. Our argument earlier still troubled me. I knew I had been too harsh in judging her thirst for adventure. Her life among the stars was so different from the way of my people. I drew in a deep breath, then tapped on the doorframe.
“Come in,” Kate called. I ducked inside. She was sitting at the table in the main living area, fiddling with a small metal device - the communications tech from her crashed ship. She glanced up, and I saw a flicker of surprise cross her face before her expression grew guarded.
“Kian. What do you want?” Her tone was clipped. “Alya and her family are asleep.”
I cleared my throat. “I wanted to apologize for my words earlier. It was wrong of me to question your choices and your way of life. You have seen and done things I cannot imagine. I spoke rashly, out of my own limited experience.”
Kate studied me for a long moment, as if weighing the sincerity of my words. Finally, she nodded.
“I will accept your apology on one condition.”
“What condition?” I asked skeptically.
“That you help me fix my communicator. Help me find what I need to repair it, so I can call out to a passing ship for help.”
My stomach clenched at the thought of her leaving, but I had no right to try to keep her on Surlon. Nor did I have any real reason to… “All right. I’ll do what I can,” I said reluctantly.
Chapter 4
