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Gravel crunched under his boots; the scorching heat of the sun-baked rocks radiating through the soles to his feet. Had this been fifteen years ago he would have been sure his feet were slowly suffering burns, and been wondering how close his boot soles were to melting. He knew now that both were far from happening, but that didn't make the sensation any less strange. He looked up, squinting his eyes in the desert sun.

"What about 165670?" Said Lieutenant Commander Sadok, who was walking to his left.

"I have Pearson and Gomez working on installing the left and right stab actuators right now, ma'am. Then we can start installing the back-up mech modification. After that, we're done and it's on AVI to deliver it -but we're looking at a week for we can hand it over to them. It's slow working during the day -night shift gets a lot more done at night without the flight schedule and heat."

She nodded as they walked between the rows of stricken aircraft. "I know. I wish I could put the whole department on nights, slam these things out, and be done with exhuming aircraft, but the skipper has numbers he needs to meet too."

Gunny nodded. "I understand that ma'am. Is there any word on when the Maintenance Chief will be back?"

"Master Sergeant Desotorodriguez should be back in two days. Doc has snake bite kits on order for all hands, but I hope he's our only rattlesnake victim."

"Me too. We're lucky to have gone this long without someone finding one -or scorpions."

She nodded. "At any rate, thank you for your report. I'll get with the Top Washington and find out what he needs. I'd like to knock out these last four jets and be done with this circus."

"Yes ma'am. I think everyone is looking forward to being out of this hole."

There were voices ahead, and Gunny silently darted to one side, hiding behind the hulk of a Hornet that looked like it had taken a hefty blow to the nose and was missing it's landing gear. He motion for Shepard to follow him, which she did. From behind the wreckage, she could hear two of her mechanics working on the next airplane over. One of the voices she recognized as Corporal Pearson from the airframes shop. The other was... Jamison. Airman Jamison had just checked in last week, she remembered him now in front of her desk. A timid sailor, but he seemed fairly bright. Pearson could be heard instructing his charge on how to remove a component for use on one of the 'frankenstein' aircraft, as Echo called them.

"Now fish the nut out, and the washers... Good. We're lucky -that can be a bitch. Now we need to push the bolt out, so-"

"I've got it. Like this?"

"No! Stop!"

"Sorry Corporal."

"If you push that bolt out, what's the horizontal stab going to do?"

"It's going to rotate all the way back."

"Right. Now, if your finger is in the bolt hole, do you think it's strong enough to pull that hydraulic piston out when the stab arm moves?"

"I... I see where you are going with this, Corporal."

"Good. Pay attention where you stick your fingers on this jet, even if it's off. It will eat them if you aren't careful."

"Yes Corporal."

"Now, since the stab is going to move we need to support it so the wind doesn't slam it around. You never know if we might need this bootstrap frame on these pieces of shit. Remember that two by four we had this morning?"

"The one we used to beat the pump in with?"

"That's the one; but don't let QA hear you say that. I put it on the wing before AM1 sent you out. Go get it and the bag of big zip ties I left."

"Aye aye, Corporal."

Gunny turned to Shepard and began to whisper:

"I have his turn qual. request on it's way to you, ma'am. I hope you see now why I think he's ready."

Shepard nodded. "I just granted him his CDI, yes?"

"Yes ma'am."

She motioned for them to keep walking. As the walked out from behind the jet, they could hear the duo continue removing the hydraulic servo:

"You see this bracket here?"

"Yes Corporal."

"This shouldn't be like this. It's been repaired. You can tell because it chaffs on the line here. Someone made it, but they didn't want to take the time to put the extra two bends in it to go around. Imagine if this wore through that hydraulic line in flight. Here -the panel is off the other side, go look at that one to see what I mean."

"Aye Corporal."

She waited until they were out of ear shot before saying anything.

"What did Lieutenant Thompson say?"

"He agreed that he was competent enough, but he also said it's way too soon after Pearson earned his CDI to be routing the paperwork."

"And you are jumping your chain of command to me because...?"

"We desperately need another turn qual. We have one on nights and one on days, but the night shift turn is also the only night shift QA, so all of our flight control rigging checks have to be done during the day. He's the best candidate I have that's interested and that I trust."

She stared down the row of dead jets for a moment.

"I want you to send Pearson to my office after the maintenance meeting. If I'm left as confident as you are, I'll waive the wait period and approve him to start training."

"Thank you ma'am."

"We never had this conversation, Gunnery Sergeant Owens."

"What conversation, ma'am?"

She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. He shot her an innocent smile. She couldn't help but feel the corners of her mouth twitch up slightly.

"Good."

#

The tram pulled into a station and she heard Niedka groan and shift. She stopped leaning on his shoulder and she felt him stand.

[Our stop, finally.] He said, helping Rika to her feet.

He lead her to the doors, out of the tram, through station, and down a flight of stairs. Cool air greeted her face; it's damp, refreshing texture giving her an odd sense of comfort. It was like the air when she left home that fateful night, never to return. There was a pause, then down a curb and across what Rika thought was a street, then up onto a walkway. She smelt several rakkan ahead of them mixed with sun-heated uniforms, night dew, and gun oil. She heard the shift of feet and claws on something hard. Niedka fished Rika's PDA out of her pocket.

[Please identify yourselves.] The voice sounded like a boulder dragging on concrete.

[Good evening, PFC.] Said Niedka.

There was the sound of claws clicking on a screen, and a beep. Niedka pressed Rika's finger against something and there was another beep.

[Good evening Lieutenant, and Corporal,] came the gruff voice, [thank you and congratulations.]

[Thank you,] said Rika. Niedka echoed. Something heavy fell back into her pocket.

They walked quietly for another block deeper into the nearly silent base, and Rika could feel the tension rebuilding in her gut. Niedka must have felt it too, because he began to talk to her. She was very grateful for the distraction.

[Everyone will probably have stayed up to meet you.]

[Oh?] She said. [It must be pretty late.]

[Just after midnight local time, so not too bad. People were pretty excited when I left to get you though. Oh! Speaking of which...]

She felt his hand leave hers and hook through her elbow. There was the tapping of claws on a PDA screen, a pause, then more tapping, then a grunt of satisfaction before the sound of what she assumed was him slipping the device back into his pocket.

[I was preventing anyone from pulling anything funny. I let Smokey, er, Bagom know that it wouldn't be appreciated. I know he'll see to it that people are informed.]

[Is it typical to prank the bride?] she asked nervously.

[No.] Said Niedka. [But some of the kids thought it would be welcoming. I talked to them before I left, but I'm also the bottom rung so to say. You should expect a warm welcome though. It wouldn't surprise me if we walk in to thirty noses.]

[Oh joy...]

[It'll be fine. They want to meet you, but they know you've had a long day. It'll be a nose and a name. The only people who might expect to talk with you any are Trachana, our matriarch; Bagom, my husband; and Shave, er, Ungow, our vessel commander and pilot.]

They turned a corner.

[How much left do you have on your crew qualification?]

[I'm done with it. I passed the boards last week.]

[Really?] He sounded surprised.

Rika nodded. [Yep. I'm ready to go.]

[Wow. That's impressive. It took me three months after assignment to earn mine. Shave will be pleased: he was promoted to vessel commander last month, and he's been frustrated by my having to dual role as navigator and engineer.]

[You were able to do intersystem flights without a designated engineer?]

[No, which is why he's been frustrated. You'll give us a fully mission capable vessel. You are full of all sorts of pleasant surprises! Now all we need is our sister craft to get their engineer qualified and we'll be set.]

[Their engineer isn't qualified yet?]

[I don't know. Both of us are picking up tonight.]

[Oh. Any idea what his name is? I might know. There's only one Farrom school after all, and the class wasn't exactly huge.]

[No clue, but I can ask when I- Oh! There he is now. HEY! GRUM!]

[Yeah?] Said a voice some distance to her left. Now that she was paying attention she could hear two sets of footsteps some distance to her left.

[What's the name of that poor thing you stole away from a decent husband?!] Niedka called.

Rika turned her head so she could focus both ears in the direction of the footsteps.

[I don't have to go robbing like you do, scruffy! Gamun was waiting for me at the door step.]

Rika broke into a wide grin.

[He's qualified. I'm sure of it.] She whispered. An idea pounced upon her: [HEY GRUM! Try tickling him behind the ears!]

There was a shriek and barking laughter that could only have belonged to her friend.

[YOU'RE A TRAITOR RIKA! A FUCKING TRAITOR! I'll -AHH! I'M NOT LETTING THIS GO, FLATFACE! GAH!] Gamun's voice dissolved into more laughter.

Rika didn't think she could smile any wider.

[Flatface?]

[I have an early callsign.]

[Oh, I can't wait to hear about it! Is Gamun a friend of yours?] Asked Niedka.

[A close one.]

[Well, now she lives next door, and crews the vessel parked next to ours.]

[It's a relief.]

Niedka stopped her.

[There's a step. Feel it?]

She slid her foot forward until her toes collided with a riser. She nodded, then set her foot on top of it and stepped up. She repeated the process twice until Niedka's arm gave her a squeeze, stopping her again. She hear him fiddle with the door, then it open.

"WELCOME!" cried a throng of voices. Warm air from inside the home washed over her, carrying the smells of easily thirty different people. It was earnest, happy, and warm. Rika felt much of her caustic fear wash away with the warm flow of air, voices, and scents.

#

[I'm Johan.] Said another youthful, feminine voice. He sounded younger than the other children she had been introduced to. [It's a human name.]

Rika broke into a smile. [Is that so?]

[Yep!] Said Johan. [Do you know where humans are from? Humans live on Earth. It's far away and they're really, really cool.]

[That's interesting.] Said Rika, grinning.

[Alright,] said an older, masculine voice. [Off to bed with everyone except Ungow, Bagom, Niedka, and Rika.]

There was a commotion of feet and people wishing her and others goodnight. When it finally died down, her hand was taken once again, a new nose sniffing her cheek as yet another scent filled her own.

[Bagom.] They said, letting go of her hand.

[Rika.] She said. [Pleased to meet you.]

[I'm second seat on the vessel you're assigned to, and Niedka's husband. He's probably already told you that though.]

She smiled. [He has, among other things.]

[Hoho!] Said another voice. A hand took hers. [He's getting himself into trouble already. Look out or he'll drag you into it too. Ungow. I'm your vessel commander.]

[Rika. It's good to meet you sir.]

[No formalities at home.] Said the old masculine voice. [That's a firm rule.]

[I'm sorry.] Said Rika. She felt herself growing tense, a flood of fear over learning a myriad of new rules, unexplained, rushed over her. A new hand gripped hers, followed by a new scent.

[I am Trachana, the matriarch. And down't worry, we don't expect you to know everything about how we do things all at once.]

[Callsigns are an exception, Flatface.] Said Niedka.

[Flatface.] Said Ungow. [That's interesting. How did you earn that one?]

Rika took a deep breath. She hadn't been able to completely quench her fears of being accepted earlier, and those embers suddenly flared to life. Fortunately, Trachana stepped in to rescue.

[Lost tells me we have been honored with someone who is very unique to us.]

[I can see that.] Said Bagom. [Your fur pattern is beautiful, Rika.]

She felt her ears sweep in bashfulness. [Thank you.]

[It goes a lot further than that though,] Trachana continued. [We are all looking forward to you being a member of our family Rika, especially because of everything you bring with you. Why don't you explain where your callsign came from.]

[I was given it stepping off the tram at bootcamp, and it stuck.]

[Wow, that's early.] Said Ungow. [What did you do to be pegged with that? -get smashed in the face walking out the door?]

[I arrived in my own skin.]

[Huh?] Bagom.

There was the chitter of Niedka giggling. [Stop leading them along Rika.]

His laughter eased her concern. She broke into a smile. [I had just come from Earth. I hadn't been translated yet.]

[Fucking sweet!] Said Bagom, [That's awesome! I was guessing Walker. Holy shit! Welcome three times over!]

[Indeed!] Said Ungow. [No wonder your fur is so nice! No wonder Niedka was so cryptic when he told us to put a lid on the shenanigans. Is this weird for you?]

Rika nodded. [Oh yeah.]

[Lost tells me this parallels a very different event on Earth.] Said Trachana. [One that's very sinister. Is that true?]

She nodded. [People are only blindfolded and carted off by a stranger for a handful of reasons: Rape, murder, slavery, or some combination there of.]

There was a moment of silence.

Bagom let out a short laugh: [Hah! Can you imagine if someone tried that here? With thirty sets of fangs waiting to sink into them, they'll be lucky if they leave as sausage! Where did he pick you up from?]

[My dad's Arlon folks. Apparently they're the other eighteen adopting parents I never knew I had.]

[Ghost Lake Range] Said Niedka. She heard paper. [I got a personal letter threatening my life and limb against his mistreatment from his human father.]

[Who the hell would send that?!] Said Ungow.

[A human tradition,] smiled Rika. [You guys kidnap the bride, we swear destruction if she's hurt.]

Bagom chuckled. [Fair enough. It's just a ceremony then.]

[I never said that,] said Rika, [But it is rarely needed, and even more rarely carried out. You have nothing to worry about: The Voramns keep a good hold on his tether.]

[Voramns!] Said Trachana. [Now that's an interesting connection to make. -Though I should have suspected something like that.]

[Earth ops?] Said Bagom.

[Yes.] He said. [It'll be a help if you're ever deployed there. Take advantage of them, Ungow, if you are. They can be a huge help in resourcing, getting around, and interacting with the locals.]

[Noted.] He said. A hand clapped Rika on the shoulder. [We also have our own expert if that becomes the case.]

[I'll do my best.] Said Rika. [But I only know one area of one nation.]

[Alright. Well, I'm turning in,] said Trachana. [I advise you to do so as well. Niedka, your tasker tomorrow will be Rhuia.]

[Thank you. I'll guide you to our bedroom Rika. We've got seven, so it's not too crowded.]

She felt him gently steer her around what sounded like a hallway, then down two flights of stairs.

[Seven what?] She asked.

[Bedrooms of course! Don't tell me you've only slept in the training quarters. That solo crap is over with now. You didn't actually think the-] he broke off. [Rika, how to humans normally sleep?]

[Well,] she began, a bit unsure, [typically we lay down, but if I'm really tired and the formation is long enough I can-]

Bagom laughed. Ungow could be heard chuckling.

[No, I mean where, and in what way.] Said Niedka.

[We lay down in bed.]

[Argh.] Niedka said, frustrated. [Did berthing in bootcamp and the training squadron bother you?]

[The shitty mattress and the noise did, yeah.]

[You weren't anxious or jumping awake at every little sound? Nothing weird?]

[Gamun crawled into my bed with me every so often. It was a little strange waking up and finding him there, but after the first few times I got used to it.]

There was a pause. [Do humans sleep alone?] Asked Bagom.

[Typically, yes. Unless they have a mate.]

[Ah.] Said Ungow. [The rest of us do not. Sleeping alone awakens defensive instincts that make it difficult to sleep. Training was supposed to teach you how to function if you had to sleep alone just as much as it was to teach you how to function with sleep derivation.]

[Oh. That explains Gamun.]

[It does.] Said Niedka. [Here, we all crash out together unless someone is in heat. If they are, their spouses join them in the playground in the basement; what we call the "hot room". You don't have to worry about it since I know better, but there is no oscillation checking the family bed allowed, if you catch my drift.]

She nodded.

She could hear the grin in Bagom's voice:

[Yeah, ask Shave here what happens when you do!]

[Your mischievous wife waits until after you're punished and suggests a new callsign, that's what happens. You leave my tail out of this, Smokey.]

[Thirty something people is a lot to fit on one bed,] said Niedka. [Especially for the older members. So we have five main bedrooms. There's not set rule on who sleeps where, but people usually group loosely by age range. The exception is the two farrom crews, which makes us different from normal families. There are two crew bedrooms on the other side of the floor. They're smaller, only fit four or five, no kids allowed without invitation, and there are strict rules about disrupting a sleeping crew. It's where we sleep when we have a flight the next day, but that's work stuff.]

They stopped walking, and she heard a door slide open.

[Any room in here?] Asked Ungow.

[Yes! Yes! Rika! Welcome! Inhere!] Chanted Johan. She heard rustling in rhythm with him.

[Johan!] Called a voice. O'Mira? [Quit bouncing on the bed!]

[Rika,] Said Bagom, [Your bag came after Niedka left to get you, so I went ahead and opened it and pulled out what I thought you needed for tonight.]

Something was placed in her hand, and her fingers were closed over it.

[I rinsed it off already.] He finished.

[Oh. Thank you.]

She set about brushing her teeth as another hand (Niedka?) guided her along. She felt the floor give way to tile, and was gently pulled to a stop. Putting a hand out in front of her confirmed that she was at a sink. There was a patter of small feet behind her.

[Rika! Rhuia says he doesn't know what your name means.]

[Oh.] Said Rika. She spat into the sink. [If he wants to know I'm sure he'll ask.]

[Yes, but I want to know! My name means-]

[God is Merciful.] Finish Rika.

[No! It means Champion! Rhuia said so, and he knows everyone's name.]

[Ah. Well, better go with that then.]

[Do you know what your name means?]

She paused, halfway undressed. She looked up towards the voice and grinned.

[It means 'Eternal Ruler'.]

[I've never heard of that one before.] Said a voice higher up. [Names are a side interest of mine. Where is yours from?]

[Sweden.] Said Rika.

[Sweden?]

[A mountainous nation north of Europe. I've never been there.]

[Europe? Oh! Johan, Rika has a human name too!]

[Cool!] Said the child's voice. [We both have human names! Can you believe it?]

[I can.] Said Rika, picking her clothes off the ground. [At least I believe mine.] Someone snatched them from her hands. She was naked. A few years ago she would have been greatly bothered by this mixed with strangers, but time spent with rakkan and a heavy coat of fur had greatly dampened that anxiety.

[You don't believe mine?] Johan sounded... deflated.

[Are you human?]

[Haha! Of course not! I'm rakkan, can't you smell?]

[If you are rakkan, then doesn't that make your name rakkan too?]

[Yes...] Johan sounded thoughtful, [It does. But then your name is a rakkan name too.]

[My name is now.] Rika smiled. Hands began guiding her back out of what she guessed was the bathroom. Johan could be heard behind them.

[Now? How could it be anything before?]

[If it was given to me when I wasn't rakkan]

[Oh! I pretended I was a snake once! That was after I had my name though.]

[Careful,] whispered Niedka, [Or you're going to have a fanboy you can't get rid of.]

[I know,] she muttered. [But he's too inquisitive to be thrown a bone.]

[Come here, Johan.] Said O'mira. [It's time to go to bed now. Questions can wait till morning.]

[Thank god.] Muttered Rika.

[Indeed.] Said Niedka. He guided her onto the bed, where she sank onto a quite firm mattress. Soon a warm form that smelt like Niedka sank down beside her. Then another form on her other side. Bagom? She felt the mattress shift as another person lay down, then another, then another. She was waiting for hands to get frisky, but was pleasantly surprised when she hear a faint snoring instead. Niedka wiggled a little closer and rested a hand on her thigh.

She lay awake for some time, thinking about what the next few days would bring. As she heard the various breathings deepen and slow, she realized that there was little she could do but donate her trust to these people and give it a shot. If things went pear-shaped she knew Matt would care enough to help or die trying, and she also knew that Bar and Grenkle wouldn't prevent him from doing so, either. She also knew he would check up on her sooner or later if he hadn't heard anything.

Finally, she heard Niedka's breathing slip deeper as he fell asleep. She couldn't peg why, but she liked him. Even though she couldn't see him, she felt compassion and a warm intellect radiate from him. That radiation lacked perfection, but Rika liked that. Honest people were never perfect people. She rolled over, resting her chin on his shoulder as she draped an arm across him. He had done well so far. She didn't have much choice in trusting him, but that deep part of her brain that worried about everything under the sun finally came to the conclusion that it didn't need to worry about him. In the darkness of her mask, Rika closed her eyes and finally drifted off to sleep.

A loud clatter broke the darkness, jerking Rika awake. She instinctively scrambled away from the noise when three pairs of hands gently steadied her.

[Whoa! Easy Rika. I'm here.]

Niedka's voice. Yesterday's events came cascading back into her brain, and she collapsed back onto the bed. She felt exhausted.

The door could be hear in it's track as it was flung open.

[Rika!] Called a loud, cheerful voice, [What's this Trachana tells me about you being human?]

He was much too cheerful for this time of the morning -was it morning? Rika groaned. It could be midday for all she cared. It was still to early.

[Dobber!] Yelled Bagom.

[Shut the door, Dobber!] Said Niedka. [The stars are still out!]

[Leave Rika alone!] Called Ungow, [He had one hell of a day yesterday. Talk after Niedka has him up and running.]

[Oh. Right. Sorry.]

She heard the door slide close and those around her collapse back onto the bed.

[I swear,] said Ungow, [The fur grows on the inside of his skull as thick as it does on the outside.]

Rika sighed and relaxed, waiting for sleepiness to take her again. She rolled onto Niedka again when a small voice perked up. Johan.

[You're a human, Rika?]

[Later, Johan.] Said Rika. She heard whispers of others (likely O'mira, but perhaps Rhuia, Gurchank, or Trisoshriha -she could smell all four of them) telling the youngster to settle down.

#

It had been a frustrating week.

But, as Rika as soon figured out, that was the whole point. When they were frustrated Rika learned to trust Niedka was doing his best, and to be patient. Niedka learned to how to communicate with Rika and support her in ways that weren't intuitive to him.

One task had been given every day, by a different member of the family. Most had been menial, yet took them most, if not all day to complete. Their first had been to clean the kitchen after breakfast, with assigned roles. The kitchen was large, needing to cook for over thirty people, and it took them until lunchtime to complete it. Just sweeping the floor had taken her over half an hour. She was quickly learning just how much she relied on her sight.

The next day they painted a room the floor below the bedrooms. Supplies had been put down, and Niedka and her taped off the trim and put down drop cloths. Then Eilomir had placed a stool in the middle of the room, had Niedka sit on it, and tied his hands behind his back. It took them all day, with Rika hand feeding her husband lunch. He spent over an hour scrubbing paint out of her fur that evening. Others had things such as "Arrange the room like this drawing", "Plant the garden", etc

Ungow's task had made them pause.

[You want us to build a chair from scratch?] Said Niedka.

[Yeah, Shave, isn't that a little dangerous?] Said Bagom.

[It's not more dangerous than him crewing our vessel.] He said. [We need Rika to trust that we won't get him hurt or killed, and we need to know that he can follow directions and act safely. We have a dangerous job, Smokey. Besides, we're short a chair at the table and I can't find one in storage.]

It had been a hair raising day. Ungow had supervised, saying which processes Niedka could and could not touch the wood. He made Rika use several saws. Niedka ran the lathe. By the end of the day she still had all over her fingers, Niedka was beat from all the close brushes with a heart attack, and they had a fully functional wooden chair. Rika hoped it wasn't too lopsided.

[Not terrible.] Shave had said. [I'll put the finish on it for you, and you can sit on it during your welcome dinner.]

The day after that was the second to last day of her crucible. Hoosch had given them a list of groceries, and tasked them to come up with a meal from Rika's family for the following night, then take the light truck the family owned and go grocery shopping. Rika was having trouble coming up with something from earth that A) the rakkan stomach could tolerate, and B) she could find ingredients for.

[Thirty people...] she muttered to herself. [Well, I guess I was wrong about the flour then. There's nothing I can do with that little amount.]

[We can try to find it in the cultural section.] Suggested Niedka. She shook her head.

[No. It's really not good for this metabolism to eat it anyway. In fact, I'm beginning to wonder if it doesn't have a bad impact on humans too.]

She frowned. Rakkan were historically scavengers. Though much of their meat was lab grown now (and they were pretty damn good at it, too) it was supplemented by the limited hunting that was allowed and some fresh fruit and vegetables. Meat, however, particularly organ meat, remained a staple. They weren't squeamish about consuming every part of the animal, and choice cuts were a far cry what their earthling counterparts would consider 'prime'. If she could only think of a meat dish. It shouldn't be this hard. She was an american; they ate way too much of it. Bratwurst? That was very Wisconsin. No. She didn't have casing, even if she knew how to make it. The memory of her dad's grill came to mind. Burgers? Again, the problem of bread. Pork chops? Now that would work. They were easy, and she could make a lot of them--

Images of a side of ribs, slow smoked and coated in barbecue sauce came to mind. She was sold. This was it. She was making barbecue.

[An idea?] Said Niedka.

[Oh yeah.] She slurped some of the drool that was forming in her mouth. [Not very nutritious, but-]

[It doesn't have to be. I made dessert. Three courses of it.]

Rika laughed. [Ha! That's awesome! How'd it go over?]

[Bagom kept breaking out laughing, it made it hard for us to cook. People loved it. Like I said on the ride here: Nobody expects anything fancy. So what are we making?]

[It's a traditional summer food, usually eaten outside, but it'll work well. Those jars of syrups, I hope one is what I need it to be.]

[Well, we have three. I can open them up so we can smell them better: there's spice powder crusted around the lids-]

[No need. Is there one that's really dark?]

[Yeah. This one looks like dirty oil, only thicker.]

A jar was placed in her hands. She cracked the lid and carefully held her nose over it. The sweet, pungent odor of molasses warmed her sinuses.

[Perfect. We need this. We'll dig through the spices later, -I can make that part up while we cook. We'll also need an acidic fruit juice, acetic acid... "sugar"? What's the word for it? Grainy stuff, really sweet, dissolves in water.]

[Sugar?]

[Sugar.] She nodded. [Can we get all of that?]

[Easily,] he said. [We have the acid and sugar here.]

[Great. You said there was a big bag of seeds in the bottom of the backpack?]

[Yep.] She heard him dig through the bag, and then pull out something with weight and cellophane.

[What color are they?]

[White. This sack must weight at least (5 pounds)! Oh, there's a much smaller bag in here with red seeds.]

[White ones are perfect.... We can find out if anything at the grocery matches what else I would use, but if not I can work around it. It won't be exactly like on earth, but it will be close. Finally, we'll need enough thorket rib to feed everyone.]

Niedka paused. [Rika, that's a really cheap cut of meat. I mean, we like to chew and all, but not that much. We're not on that tight of a budget; how about we get something better?]

Rika shook her head. [If all goes well, it'll be the best cheap meat you've have ever had. You guys eat everything half raw. It's good food, but humans can't do that. Cooking will soften it.]

[Aright.] Said Niedka, sounding more than a little skeptical. [Anything else?]

[Nope. That's it for groceries. We need to put the beans in a pot and fill the pot with water, but not put it on the stove.]

[Not on the stove?]

[Nope. They need to soak overnight to soften.]

[Oh.]

She heard him rattle around a bit, then something round was thrust into her hands. She carried it over to the counter, opened the bag, and dumped the beans in while Niedka repacked the backpack. She was setting the full pot on the counter when she felt an affectionate nip at the back of her neck. She smiled.

[We will need to prepare some other things before we go. I won't be cooking the ribs in the kitchen.]

[What?]

[What woods are poisonous? Can we dig through the shop's scrap in the basement? I want to use the grill outside.] She got up and started feeling her way towards the stairs leading down.

[What?! We can't eat wood Rika! We-]

[Not to eat! To cook with!]

[The grill is gas.] He said, guiding her down the steps.

[I know.] She smiled. [I helped clean it, remember? Trust me on this. Now, which woods?]

[I don't know. Ungow is the one to ask. He's probably down here finishing up your chair.]

Hands stopped Rika, and she heard a door open next to her.

[Shave!] Said Niedka, [Are you in here?]

[Yes!] Said Ungow's voice. [What do you need?]

[What woods are poisonous if you breath the smoke?] said Rika.

[I wouldn't breath any smoke.] Said Ungow, [But only the really dark ones are actually poisonous... I think.]

[Thank you. Do you mind if I sniff around the scrap bin?]

[I doubt anyone will mind.]

[Thank you.]

Niedka guided her over to a metal bin with chunks of discarded wood. She began pulling pieces out, smelling them, and setting them to her left and to her right.

[So what's the wood for?] Niedka asked.

[Oh!] She said, setting a final piece down on one side. [Seasoning!]

She picked up one pile, and then dumped it back into the bin.

[You're going to use wood as a spice?]

[Sort of. I'm going to use the smoke as a spice. Can you pull anything dark out of this pile, please?]

She heard a single piece of wood thrown back into the bin.

[There. Smoke? As a seasoning?]

She began going through the pile again, sorting them by scent. It didn't take long for her to have what she wanted.

[Yep.] She reached out, made contact with Niedka's ears, clumsily grabbed them, and leaned forward, giving him a lick on the cheek. [Trust me.]

[Haha!] Said Ungow, [This is new! The blind leading the lost!]

She gathered up the wood. [Thank you Shave.]

[No problem, Flatface.] She could hear the hint of a smile in his voice.

Upstairs she had Niedka guide her into the back yard. For a home of thirty it was small: About half an acre, with a large shed, a large garden, and a very long, large metal and brick tube that was fueled by natural gas. Inside a series of burners ran the length of it under a metal grill. Rika had been amused by how a race as advanced as the rakkan still had primitive cooking instruments such as this. Niedka assured her it was there from when the kitchen was last remodeled.

[We need to break this wood up into chips.] Said Rika.

[I'll do that.] Said Niedka. [I'd rather you hang on to all your fingers.]

[No complaints,] said Rika. She felt her way to the grill and began closing off all of the exhausts stacks on the top, leaving the last one open. The she worked her way back, closing all of the air inlets except the one opposite of the open stack. She began feeling around inside the shed, looking for a pan to put the wood shavings in while she smoked the meat. She was just wondering if Arlon had any venomous creepy-crawlies when a small voice interrupted her thoughts.

[Rika?] Said Johan's voice.

[Yes, Johan?] Said Rika with a sigh. He had quickly become a pest with his infatuation in her.

[What are gardens like on-]

[Johan,] interrupted Rika, [Humans are not better than rakkan. In fact, I would say that rakkan people are an improvement. They are different, yes, but not in the ways you might think. Gardens and shoes and cars and trains are little differences. Do you want to know the big differences?]

[Yes.]

[Then ask O'mire or Rhuia to tell you about the Holocaust. Or Hiroshima. Or the Trail of Tears. Or Stalin. Or the Islamic State. Or Boko Haram. That's the short list, Johan. A very short list of things humans have done to each other. The list I know of for rakkans is much, much shorter. I know rakkan are not less violent, but they are less cruel. That is the difference. You want to know more about humans? Ask one of your many parents here to look one of those up for you.]

She heard him mouthing the strange words as he walked away.

[What was that for?] Asked Niedka.

[He needs to learn not to put things on a pedestal until he fully understands them.]

[Oh.] He said. He sounded cheerful. [Sending him to watch some scary movies?]

[I sent him to learn a little history. My history. The dark, shadowy parts of it humanity has left behind.]

[Oh.] He repeated, much more soberly. [I hope you're not going to traumatize him.]

[No,] She said. [I'll traumatize whoever looks things up for him. They can decide how to handle him from there.]

There was a few moments of silence, during while Rika found what felt like the ceramic base to a very large flowerpot. She pulled it out and Niedka guided her out of the shed.

[You're really hard to understand.] He muttered.

[I'm sure the blindfold doesn't help.]

[No, not that. I mean you. You're a bad... good person? I'm not sure how to say this, and please don't take this wrong. You show kindness in a cold way. Your version of affection seems, well, off. Like it shouldn't be take the way it might appear. It's like you are good at the core, but you are not a nice person outside.]

Rika sighed. [No. I'm not. Nice and good aren't the same thing, though people often confuse them.]

[I'm not sure how you can be good without being nice.]

[Are there friendly, kind, evil people? People who smile and shake your hand but who stab you in the back the first chance they get?]

[Of course.] Said Niedka. [Everyone knows that. They deceive you.]

[Is it possible that an asshole sacrifices himself so someone else might live?]

[Not likely, but I would say it could and has happened.]

[Then there you go.] Said Rika. [Two independant things. I'm not soft when showing affection. I make fun of those I love because I like to play and I'm uncomfortable expressing it other ways. I didn't bring up Gamun being ticklish because I wanted her to suffer.]

The pan vanished from her hands. She heard wood shavings being dropped into it, and then a pair of arms wrapped around her.

[I know. I don't get it, but I do understand it's how you express that part of you. Smokey likes you a lot: he tells me I'm socially awkward and I'll learn over time.]

Rika giggled. [I won't argue with him there.]

Niedka continued, [Even Ungow doesn't seem to mind you, which is weird, because that asshole doesn't like anyone, except maybe Bagom.]

Rika gave the closest patch of fur she could find a lick. [It's all my tangling web of lies my dear; all woven without reading any body language. How about we put that pan in the grill until we need it tomorrow, and then we can stumble around the grocery store together.]

The arms disappeared. Niedka gave a short laugh.

[I guess we should. I'll admit I'm not looking forward to this. That place is going to be mobbed with blind cart-pushers.]

[Then how about you push and read the list, and I'll use my nose to see if we're getting the right thing.]

[I think people would consider that me doing the shopping for us and cheating. We'd catch flak at home.]

[Alright. We'll use my words for the list then. If someone complains, show them the list, watch their expression change, and quietly make fun of them.] She grinned.

[Heh, sounds like a plan. I'll try not to loose you.]

[Hah! I stand out like a flare at night. Good luck.]

[Too true. I might have to fend people off of you though. Maybe you should wear a shirt.]

[Not sure if that would cut it. My arms and lower legs would still show. I could aways wear a flight suit. It would even hide my ears! Just pull the face shield down...]

There was the bark of Niedka's laugh. [Then you'd stand out in a whole different way. We'll make do. Let's go.]

[Just keep in mind,] said Rika as he guided her back inside, [Gamun's going to stand out too. If Grum has gone out already maybe he has some pointers on collision avoidance.]

[Oh? I should ask. If he doesn't Gamun would probably offer plenty of advice without needing to be asked.]

[Actually, Niedka, I think you'll do just fine.] She felt her ears creep out in a smile. [In fact, they probably haven't even gone out yet, and we shouldn't interrupt their menu-making.]

Niedka laughed again, and Rika felt her boots push into her chest.

[Now,] he said, [How bad would it be if your new navigator can't find his way to the grocery store?]

#

This wasn't the first time Rika had marveled at the sensitivity of her changed ears. Before her transformation she hadn't been oblivious to the acoustics of bathrooms, concrete parking garages, stone hallways, and tile kitchens, but she never appreciated them either. Not like she did now.

She enjoyed filling the echoey kitchen with humming as she felt through the beans for stones and moved them to a different pot. Yesterday's shopping trip had been a challenge. She had become frustrated with how vague Niedka described things, how his navigation around the store felt like he never knew where anything was, and how easily distracted he could be.

It wasn't until she had voiced her frustration that she learned he wasn't ignorant of her experience. He had been waiting for her to bring it up before he explained, and when he did, she learned that none of it had been intentional. Niedka didn't know what she wanted him to tell her about the foods. People kept stopping and staring at her, mouthing words at him, or just plain blocking their way. The place had been swarmed, and so he steered them around the heaviest crowds and cart jams the best he could.

If she had taken a step back from herself at the time, she would have seen that the experience was in line with his treatment of her through the past week. At the beginning of this, she would have panicked every time she could no longer smell or hear him. Now the thought that he had abandoned her never crossed her mind. He was still there. He was still looking out for her.

She finished sorting the beans and put the pot on the stove. Niedka had gone outside to check on the meat they had put on the make-shift smoker. He had insisted on a detailed description of what needed to happen, had asked more questions than an inquisitive Johan, and taken over cooking the meat. He claimed that blind people shouldn't be fumbling around with a hot grill, and that it was far safer for them to be around a hot pot that could be controlled by a knob far away from the source of heat. Rika didn't complain.

She found where he had put the spices and other ingredients on an island. She pulled a large bowl out from under a cabinet and began sniffing through ingredients, adding them as she saw fit. She had thought very little of getting married growing up. The foster home had imprinted on her that she was worthless and always would be; nobody would ever want her. Even when Matt proved the latter wrong, the former remained in her mind and she thought of her adopting father as an anomaly. She had accepted that she would never have the two things she wanted most in life: a family that loved her, and an impression on the world.

But now she had Niedka: a face she had never seen but a rakkan she knew well and who she knew wanted her without a doubt. Oh what joy! She had no choice in her partner, but even if she had, Niedka would have been far from settling. She was lucky, and she could only hope that Gamun was just as fortunate. Her humming began to organize it's self, and it wasn't long before she found words flowing to her tongue. Words in a language she had barely spoken since arriving on Arlon. Words of a song she hadn't sung in years, and had never sung with meaning. It was an old song, easily from her dad's youth, if not older.

The age didn't matter. They had a typo of a name, and called themselves "Staind" instead of Stained, but it didn't matter. She probably misheard half the lyrics, and it did not matter. It mattered that it could say what her second tongue could not, because the unsaid of music has no said equivalent. It sounded eery in the room; her rakkan voice a far cry from the soft female alto she had as a human. The canine sound echoed in resonance, giving it an almost haunting tone whenever she held a note. She liked it. It separated then from now as starkly as the muzzle on her face and the fur that covered her.

The tears hadn't waited for the first chorus. She had to stop working on the barbecue sauce, and by the time the last notes had faded away she found herself sitting against the wall; her muzzle wet from where the the tears had run out from under the mask.

[Are you ok?]

The voice made her jump. She hadn't noticed her husband come into the room. She smiled, reaching up. He caught her embrace.

[I'm more than ok. I'm more happy than I ever thought I would be. Thank you.]

[You are welcome! What was that? Is that what a song sounds like in your language?]

She nodded.

[It was so... spooky.]

[It's not meant for a rakkan voice. I'm sorry if-]

[No no! I like it! What did it say? It sounded... sad.]

[It's about finding yourself in a new life, better than you ever thought possible, and worried that it's not real.]

[I assure you Rika, it's very real. I'm relieved you feel that way. I was really worried when I heard you start singing as I walked in. People were very concerned.]

[I'm sorry. I didn't realize anyone was around.]

[You had an audience listening to you sing without words. O'mire, Eilomir, Cadiun, Trisoshriha, and Bagom are still at the door, too cowardly to speak.]

[A polite audience is a quiet audiance.] Said Bagom. She could hear a smile in his voice.

[Translate it for us! I'm sure it would make a beautiful poem.]

Rika shook her head. [I'm sorry. I still hold that part of me sacred.]

[I want to know and love all of you, Rika.] Niedka said. [I know you'll share when you feel ready.]

She nodded, and climbed to her feet. [I do need to finish the baked seeds though. How is the meat?]

[I don't know when it's supposed to be done, but I doubt any of it is raw anymore. I had to fend Grum and Gamun off of it. Hey came over threatening to make trouble for having Bagom cook for us. They said they were more than willing to be bribed, of course.]

There was a laugh, likely Smokey's. [That was Shave's fire and he knows it!]

[How many hours has it been?] Asked Rika.

[About two.]

[You've been using the liquid I made?]

[As you described.]

[Good. I guess I need to get moving then.]

[What is this?] He said, rubbing the bowl on the table so she could hear it.

[It's called "Barbecue" sauce, and I'm having trouble remembering what dad used to put in it.]

[I could ask him.]

She smiled. [Are you sure? I'm talking about the human one, not a rakkan. Is calling home even allowed?]

[You're not allowed to before tonight's ceremony. I could though.]

[You know you're in for a hard time if you do.]

A hand patted her shoulder. [For you, I'll do it.]

She heard him fumble with his PDA, the tacking of claws, then a pause.

She heard Matt's voice. "Ehy?"

[Hello! This is Niedka, we-]

[I'm sorry, we don't accept returns,] she heard her dad say, [I'm afraid you're stuck with her, but if you bring her by we can try to fix any problems. You're warranty hasn't run out yet.]

[Oh my god.] muttered Niedka. [I can't believe he'd-]

[He's pulling your leg.] Said Rika. [He knows I can hear him. Give him shit.]

[No problems.] Said Niedka. [In fact I think this is the best model we've had, but she can't remember how to make barbecue sauce, and it's difficult for me to research something in a language I don't even know the alphabet for. Could you please explain it to me?]

[Oh I'm sure I could. In the spirit of fostering the partnership of you two then: "I usually just throw things together. A little bit of this, and a little bit of that. You'll need molasses as a base, an acid like vinegar, a whole lotta shit that you have, and a few things you don't and can't get. I didn't send any Worcestershire sauce, sorry. Regardless, I've always just winged it, and have gotten extremely lucky considering I never wrote anything down." That's how I usually do it, Niedka, or she can use that massive snorter she's got and come up with something herself.]

[I'm sorry, but I didn't understand any of that, Mr. Voramn.]

[You weren't supposed to.] Matt said. [But radar-dish ears by you did. I love ya kid. Give him a hard time for me! Bye.]

The line went silent.

[Well,] said Niedka, [did you get what he said?]

Rika nodded, smirking. [He helped, but only minimally. He gave the the base, which I already knew, and then said he just mixed in whatever he thought would be good. He also said we didn't have some of the stuff he used and couldn't get it, but I knew that already. He said all that in "English" just to pull your leg. And now you know the kind of person my dad is.]

[Your affection makes more sense now.]

[That's good... I think. I'm going to quick finish this, dump the beans in the oven, and then we can go sit outside with the ribs.]

[Sounds good. Can I help?]

[Actually, yes. Can you mix while I add?]

[Sure!]

She leaned over and sniffed the bowl as he stirred, then ran her nose over the bottles of spices. She found that if she spaced them apart on the counter she could easily identify what she needed without opening the containers. Finding the one she wanted, she opened it and gently dumped a little into the bowl. She waited for Neidka to stir a little before leaning back in to take another sniff. Something solid and wet struck her across the side of her muzzle.

[Shit! I'm sorry! Are you ok?]

Rika licked the sauce off the side of her muzzle and smiled. [I'm fine. It needs sugar, but I think it's coming along well.]

[Good. Stirring this big thing is becoming a workout.]

#

It was turning into a beautiful evening. The air was cool; perfect for people with thick fur. Niedka and her were enjoying relaxing in the back yard while they waited for the meat to finish. She heard a door slam. It wasn't in the direction of her house, and a good bit further away. She guessed it was one of the neighbors.

[Still having Smokey cook for you, eh?] Said a voice.

Rika turned towards it. [I seriously doubt whatever Smokey cooked tasted this good... Grum is it?]

[Guilty as charged.] She heard a chuckle in the background.

[Then that must be Gamun. Don't you two have a meal to cook?]

[It's in the oven, we came to make sure you weren't burning the place down,] said Gamun, her voice moving close. There was sniffing close to Rika's ear. [What is that? It smells delicious!]

Rika reached up where she thought her friend's nose should be, and was rewarded with her hand wrapping around a muzzle.

[That,] she said, [is called 'mine', and if you want any you'll have to cook it yourself.] She pulled the muzzle to face her. [No mooching.]

Rika was rewarded with a lick across her nose that reeked of something pungent, causing her to let go.

[Oh! Blagh! What the hell did you eat?!]

[I tasted the batter. Walker spices. If you give me a lick I'll let your betrayal last week go.]

[Hah! I don't think so. You can't blackmail me.]

[I'll tell stories about you from training.]

[I have no shame. If you suddenly became human and moved to Earth you would be just as awkward.]

Niedka's voice broke in. [I'll tell him about your singing.]

Rika froze. Then: [Just who's side are you on? I'm pretty sure you're married to me, not him!]

Grum laughed.

[Betrayal begets betrayal. You exposed a secret of hers, so I can expose one of yours.]

[Fine,] she relented. [Cut a rib off for him.]

She heard the grill open.

[Actually,] said Gamun, [I'm not sure I want a rib anymore. I think I'd rather hear about you singing.]

[I just cut the rib,] said Niedka. [How about both?]

[WHAT?! NO!]

[Would you like sauce on it, Gamun?]

[Let me smell it. Oo, yes please.]

[Grum?]

[I didn't betray Grum!] She protested.

[Oh, yeah, I do.] Said Grum. [Thanks!]

[So,] said Niedka. Rika heard someone sitting down. [-I'm walking down the hall after checking on the meat, and I see a bunch of people crowded around the kitchen door.]

[You bastard.] She growled.

[Quiet. -And I hear humming coming from the kitchen. Smokey is there and waves at me to hurry, but when I get close I start to hear singing. It's this weird, haunting sound in words I couldn't recognize. They move for me and I peek in, and there's Rika, singing while making the sauce. Only he seems to be having trouble with it. he eventually gives up on the sauce, but he keeps singing, and it's then that I notice she's trembling -like visibly quivering as he steadies himself on the counter. I'm getting worried at this point, so I walk towards him, but them he sinks down against the wall -still singing this eery, spooky song the whole time, mind you- and I can see that there's water running down his muzzle.]

[Wow Rika,] said Gamun, [and here I thought I knew all your hidden surprises.]

Rika grunted.

[That's not the best part.]Said Niedka. [So he finishes singing, and I ask him if he's ok, and he tells me that she's happier than he thought he could be!]

[Rika,] said Gamun, sounding serious for the first time since the tram ride, [If you are being untruthful about how you feel...]

[I'm not,] said Rika. [It's not meant for rakkan voices, and many human songs don't sound the way their message does.]

[Uh huh,] said Gamun, sounding skeptical. [I'd say I want to talk in private, no offense to either of our spouses-]

[None taken,] said Niedka.

[Nope.] Said Grum.

[-But neither of us can ensure we have that.]

[I appreciate your concern, Gamun. I'm ok, really. If you really want me to convince you, I'll sing the song for you sometime, and I'll show you how to translate it.]

[Hey! You wouldn't do that for me!] Said Niedka.

[I was thinking about it until someone decided to use it against me,] she said. She held her solemn expression for a moment before it lost to a mild smile. [I will, when I'm ready. I'm just reassuring my friend that I'm ok.]

[But not me? I'm your husband!]

[Niedka,] said Grum. [Did you know their orders are bonded?]

[No... but that only happens before you enlist. I though you enlisted on Earth, Rika.]

[I did,] she said. [I was solo.]

[They were bonded in bootcamp,] said Grum. [Read her orders, there's an interesting note the CI left.]

[I will, but I don't have it out here with me.]

[Well: I don't know how much Rika knows about this, but he had the insight to bond them together so Gamun would learn how Rika worked,] Grum explained [-and how to interpret him. In short, Gamun is here to help us learn how to live with a human translate, and to help Rika to live with us. You've been with Rika since bootcamp, right Gamun?]

[Off the bus.] Said Gamun. [We even had to shit together until we graduated.]

Rika laughed. [It was so nice to finally do that alone.]

[Holy shit. When were you translated Rika?] asked Niedka.

[About a week into bootcamp.]

There were a few seconds of silence.

[Oh.]

[When I know you as well as I know Gamun,] said Rika, [you'll get all the guarded parts of me too, along with some things I haven't shared since I arrived on Arlon. He went through hell to earn my trust in both him and rakkan people. You won't have to go through that. You have less work to do and,] she grinned, [you don't pull my tail like he does.]

[You need to make this again,] said Gamun. Rika heard the licking of fingers [It's really good.]

[Sure,] said Rika. [We'll just need to make a grocery run to Earth for more of the ingredients.]

[Phooey. I'll just have to crash your welcome.]

[That's assuming we'll let you get away from your own welcome, numnuts.] Said Grum. [I'm really looking forward to seeing that face of yours the first time.]

[It's hideous,] said Rika. [Black and reddish gray with a lick of-]

[Not as bad as Rika though,] assured Gamun. [He looks like a fireball went off in front of his nose... or cleaned the grill with his face.]

[Don't ruin all the suspense,] said Grum. [We need to go check your... whatever the hell that is we put in the oven.]

She heard Niedka stand.

[Let's get platters to put this meat on, Rika. I think by the time we get everything in people will be arriving at the table to eat.]

She nodded and stood. Niedka began guiding her towards the back door. [Do you know what the main sense of humans is?] She said.

[I don't know. Smell?]

[Sight. Smell and hearing are really lousy compared to what we enjoy.]

[That sounds like a miserable existence. How can they function without a nose?]

[They can smell a tiny bit. Their sight is beyond anything I've seen a rakkan demonstrate. There are far more variations in color than you seem to see, and those changes in color are what catches their attention instead of movement. Also, humans can see many times further than you can.]

[Us?]

[Rakkan.]

[You're different?]

[I can't smell or hear quite as well as everyone else, but a lot better than I did as a human. I can still see almost as well as I could before being translated. I've lost some color, but not a terrible amount.]

[Interesting. I bet this has been an especially rough week for you then.]

She grinned. [It's just practice in becoming a better rakkan. I am looking forward to having my sight back though.]

#

[Excuse me.] She said, leaning over with a platter. A pair of hands on either side of her guided her to place the dish on the table.

[Niedka, take Rika to his seat.] Said Trachana to her left. She felt an arm around her.

[Come on.] Said Niedka.

She followed him across the room where he pulled out a chair and guided her into it. She heard a chair squeak next to her, and a hand on her thigh confirmed that he had taken a seat.

[Now that all the members of the Yasoi house are present,] said Trachana, [we will come to the matter of the occasion. If there are any grievances with Rika, let them be aired now.]

There was a pause.

[Rhuia.]

[Rika told Johan a list of things to learn about humans. When I went to look them up, I... I... I saw and learned about horrors that parallel the darkest point in our recorded history, if not exceed them. And there wasn't just one of them, but he listed six, and from those I saw many, many others. I had nightmares last night. I never thought a culture could be so horrible to each other, let alone expose an innocent child to it. Was he trying to make Johan ashamed of his name?]

[I was not aware of this. Niedka, do you explain Rika's actions?]

Rika felt him go rigid. She tapped him on the thigh.

[I do, Matriarch, but Rika expresses a desire to explain himself.]

[Very well. Rika, why did you do this?]

She stood. [I told Johan to have someone look those up for him because I wanted an adult to know who he was infatuated with. Humans have done good things, and I'll admit I like some of my native species' traits, but they can also be cruel, selfish, aloof, and hateful. Mean, terrible, and horrific do not begin to describe some of the acts my home race has committed, and I wanted whoever mentored Johan to know who he was putting up on a pedestal. If rakkan children are anything like human children, they emulate that which they admire, and I felt like I needed be clear on how dangerous it is to let him imitate something that he will eventually learn the whole truth of, least he imitate that as well.]

[Rhuia?]

[You've certainly accomplished that, Rika. But you've left nothing in it's place. What are we supposed to do, change his name? Tell him humans are evil and that he should only follow rakkan role-models? That would devastate him! You are no longer human, Rika, and this is the rakkan way: If you tear something down, put something in it's place.]

[Rika?]

Rika paused. She hadn't thought about this part. Johan would need something he could connect with, if not humanity as a whole, then..

[What if you introduced him to the famous people who were named Johan? Many of them are good role models for different reasons. For instance, Johannes Kepler was a scientist who helped predict and describe the behavior of cosmic bodies, as well as develop math; both of which have been built off of into what humans use to launch communication satellites, fly to the moon (a big feat for them, I assure you), and the like. Johan Sebastian Bach was a compose who taught music and, hundreds of years later, is still considered a master and one of the greatest composers that have ever walked Earth. You don't have to show him the Holocaust -he'll learn it eventually on his own- but you should give him specific role models he can be excited about, and emulate, and that will bring you joy in his growth rather than the human race as a whole.]

There were a few seconds of silence, where Rika stood nervously.

[I would have preferred that Rika simply told us, Matriarch. But I find his reasons satisfying.] Said Rhuia.

[I'm glad to hear it. Rika, please be seated. Are there any other grievances?]

Rika sat, though she would have rather remained standing. He stomach was growing tense as the silence seemed to crush in on her chest.

[No grievance? Good. Cups forward.]

Rika heard the clatter of the narrow drinking bowls being placed or slide on the table.

[All that oppose the addition of Rika as the newest link to the Yasoi chain, to remain welded in our family until she walks the skies as a spirit, leave your cup forward.]

Again, the cacophony of dishes was heard.

[I didn't expect this. Really? Is this a joke? Well, that makes this easy.]

Rika attempted to steady herself to keep from shaking. This couldn't be good. This wasn't good at all. Where would she go? What-

[Rika,] said Trachana, [please stand.]

She obeyed, fighting the urge to put her hands on the table to steady herself.

[Niedka, remove his mask,] he commanded, [so we can consume all of him and everything he brings with him; that by unanimous vote he might become a permanent part of Yasoi.]

She heard Niedka tap on his PDA, then hands on the back of her head. She felt the mask let go, and closed her eyes as it was drawn down and off her muzzle. She opened her eyes once she felt it off.

Twenty-nine rakkan faces looked back at her down a massive wooden table, all of them beaming in happiness. She could only guess who was who by sight, but she knew if she ran her nose down the table she wouldn't have any trouble identifying anyone. To them that was what was important, not recognition on sight. Not in a society that greeted even close friends with a sniff on the cheek. At the other end of the table a large grey rakkan with a black blaze, gloves, and going white around the muzzle was standing. Trachana raised his arms.

[Welcome, Rika Yasoi!]

Canid cheering erupted from the table: a mixture of yips, barks, and joyful howls that made her feel like elation it's self were about to explode out of her. To her right, a very hansom figure by rakkan standards looked like he couldn't be more pleased. Slightly taller than her, his very light grey fur broke into nearly elbow length white gloves that he was wrapping around her. His black muzzle and blaze shifted as he broke into a grin, his white ears sweeping out to complete the expression. She pulled him close and licked his cheek, and the table once again erupted in cheers.

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