Chapter 1

1

Drak

Present

Ever since the mean hu-nim female I have recused tried to kill me with her tiny blaster, I have not stopped finding her mesmerizing. She is everything that I think of, so much so that even hunting is not fun without her. Hunting used to be one of my favorite things, and now it is simply an excuse to see my An-nana.

I have her features memorized. Like the shape of her small nose, how her eyes are the same color as the Urth sky when it is bright, and her cute rounded ears that turn red when she is angry. Red is the pretty, mean hu-nim's color, I think.

Her hair is the color of blood on fire—deeper than the normal orange flames but not an alarmingly bright shade like Marrec's hair. Her skin is unlike any Aprixian color. It reminds me of a cream shade but with a slightly pink hue—decorated with these tiny, almost invisible specks of brown that Stee-vee tells me are called frek-ulls.

I have tried to count them but there are too many, and An-nana moves too many times in the day for me to keep track of them. They are fascinating little things, but many things about An-nana are fascinating.

She is a violent little thing, and it is very amusing. She has a collection of many impressive weapons that she wears like armor. It seems like every day is a battle for my Mean One, but there is no war to be seen. So I use my charm and good company to make her days lighter. Even when she pushes me away, I come right back. An-nana would miss me if I truly left, I know it.

I do not particularly like Urth as a planet, it is dying after all, but I like the hu-nims. They are silly and underdeveloped when it comes to technology, but they are very smart creatures. The five females that An-nana lives with survived many months on their own with a world of death surrounding them, and it is an impressive feat.

An-nana does not like it when I tell her this. I think because she does not believe me, but it is true. She did a perfect job keeping her and her sisters safe from the unliving-carcasses they've named zom-bays. She does not like when I call the females she lives with her sisters either, always reminding me that they are so-roar-itee sisters , not real siblings. An-nana does not like many things, it is adorable.

Sometimes I wish she liked me more, but I am okay with her fiery spirit. Perhaps I would not have been so drawn to her if she did not try to assassinate me several times, and that is unimaginable. I tell myself that I would have found her fascinating had she not spat little metal balls at me with her tiny blaster, but I do not know for certain. Her anger is lovely to witness, and I wish to see it almost as much as I wish to see her smiles.

She hides them from me, of course, but I notice them when she is not looking. An-nana has very blunt but shiny white teeth, and though they are not meant for tearing through flesh, I often wonder if she could hurt me with them. I would happily lose a chunk of skin to feel her lips on my body. Those soft little pillows are what I dream of nearly every time I sleep, wondering what they might feel like pressed against mine.

Despite my mind's desire for An-nana, my soul seed remains dead and lifeless in my chest. Rem and Marrec both lit up for their mates quickly, and the insatiable jealousy I felt when they did makes me ashamed. Instead of happiness for my long-time friends, I was consumed by a greedy need for my own seed to spark light.

At first, I glued myself to An-nana's side and growled at my fellow Aprixians for even looking at her. She was not mine, but I wished her to be—more than anything. Now that many weeks have passed and my soul is still silent, I have accepted that she is not my mate. It was a difficult acceptance but one necessary for my sanity.

Instead, I covet An-nana's friendship in hopes that one day, she sees me as more than a bothersome Alien. I would be her chosen mate the second she even hinted that she would want such a thing. Chosen mates are pairs who decide to be with one another without a soul seed's glow. They love and mate just as any other couple would, and they are not uncommon. I would love to be chosen by An-nana. But hu-nims are very different from Aprixians, and if she never seeks me out, I will be content spending my days with only her friendship… I think.

I will admit, I am not sure I am a strong enough male to watch her mate another. If one of my friend's—who I call my brothers—soul seed began to shine for her, I would likely never be able to see her again. That would be a fate worse than death, so I will take her potential friendship with a smile.

Right now, An-nana does not consider me to be a friend. She enjoys hunting with me, that much she cannot deny, but she does not love my company otherwise. Although, she is much better about not sending me away when I come to see her now. Perhaps my pestering has become comforting to her, or perhaps she has realized a fraction of how spectacular I am to have around.

We are well-matched, I think. I am only a few years older than her. According to my inquiries, she is twenty-one Urth years, and I am twenty-two or twenty-three. I am not good with numbers, but neither is An-nana. We are both much more suited to the physical aspects of life than overly thoughtful ones. Where some thrive in studious environments, An-nana and I flourish as warriors and hunters.

We are protectors, the both of us.

An-nana does not wish to speak of books like Stee-vee nor food arts like B'rook. She likes nature, weapons, adventure, and solitude. She is simply perfect.

"Hey, Drak," a shy voice says, shifting my attention from my blade to look up. Well, slightly up. These hu-nims are not very tall, and so sitting down puts us quite close to eye level, especially with this one. She is the smallest.

"Hello, B'rook," I greet politely. "Do you need help?"

The hu-nim B'rook needs help often. As the youngest of the females, she is also very free-spirited. She has many projects that she wishes to do during the day, and it is nice. Helping females is a simple joy for Aprixian males. Plus, Urth days get boring since there is not much to do away from the so-roar-itee dwelling besides hunting.

"Not this time," she replies, laughing lightly. "I was just wondering if you've seen Anna?" The hu-nim pronunciation of An-nana's name is so silly.

"She is on the roof," I reveal, knowing exactly where she is.

I can smell my mean little creature. But even if I couldn't, I would keep my eyes on her to know that she is safe. Sometimes knowing that An-nana is safe is the only thing that fuels me to continue my day. She has her small hu-nim fist around my soul seed, even if it will not glow for her.

B'rook bites her bottom lip, a nervous hu-nim habit I have noticed many of the females doing from time to time.

"Is something wrong?" I ask, trying to scan her face for information.

"This might be a silly question," she warns. "But have you noticed that Anna seems sad lately?"

"Sad?" The idea of it makes my gut churn with discomfort and despair. "You think that she is sad? Has she said this?"

"No, no," B'rook denies, shaking her head. "It's just—" she hesitates.

"Tell me," I demand, trying very hard to keep my voice soft so as not to scare her.

"She's been different," she confesses, a concerned look in her dark green eyes. "She isn't as snarky lately, and she's been going to bed a lot earlier. I think she's avoiding us more, so we don't pick up on it. But… I think she's depressed."

This is a horrifying word if my translation is correct.

With my spine straightening, I ask, " You do? "

"She's been… Anna is complicated, and I don't know how to help. But?—"

"But?"

I will do whatever this ‘but' is if B'rook believes it will help An-nana be happy. I wish her to be depressed as much as I wish for a blaster ray straight to the balls.

"I think you help," she admits, and an overwhelming feeling of warmth swells in my chest. My soul seed does not flicker with light, but B'rooks words certainly just touched it. "I think you ‘annoying' her gives her something to look forward to. When she's frustrated with you, she's not thinking about… I don't know, sad stuff."

Her fingers make a weird dancing gesture when she mutters the word annoying. I do not know what it means, but it does not matter. She has just delivered fantastic news. If An-nana is truly sad, it is horrible, but if I can help, it is less disturbing.

"You believe I help?" I wish for her to repeat it so that I know I have not begun hallucinating.

She nods, her head dipping with the gesture. "I know you like her, and I guess I'm just asking you not to give up on her. She likes having you around too, whether she's willing to admit it or not."

It is like The Mother has come down from the skies to personally give me such a gift. I cannot think of any being powerful enough to leave me with such hope.

"I will never give up on An-nana," I report, proudly puffing out my chest.

B'rook looks relieved, releasing a sigh that removes the guarded part of her expression. "You promise?"

It makes me feel very grateful, knowing how much An-nana's hu-nim friends care for her. They are sisters , so-roar-itee or not.

"I vow this," I agree. "An-nana's angry nature will never frighten me away from her. She is my favorite."

A soft smile paints B'rook's face. "Good."

"I will go see her now," I declare, standing up from the small tree stump I have claimed as mine. "I must show her the blade I have made for her."

"You made her a knife?"

"Yes," I reveal, grinning. "She will like it."

B'rook just giggles. "I bet she will."

Smart hu-nim. Of course she will.