Chapter 2

I stand at the entrance to the village on the tree stump that won't make me a lot taller than I'd be otherwise.

I pull the hood of my cape, blocking out the strong wind that always starts when it gets close to evening. The herd is heading back from a day of grazing, and I'll make sure everyone is back safely.

"Irene, I think everyone is back." One of the herders, a nekrozzro with golden scales and strong horns, bows his head at me. They are strong males and would be the ones fighting beasts that eye our livestock when needed. That has never happened before, but I'd love to believe that's because we've been on guard and keeping watch.

"Good. How did the day go?"

"All is well."

I let out a breath. "That's all we can hope for."

"Do you think they are coming soon?"

"What do you mean?"

"There's supposed to be a team that will check on newly developed zones, right?"

I swallow. That's probably the only thing I wish no one would mention or ask about. "There is. I'll have to get in contact with them. But for now, even if there's a delay, I think we are going to be fine. We've been self-sufficient."

He nods, but doesn't seem convinced. "I guess. But they promised..."

I glance at the sky and get off the tree stump. "Let's close the gate first."

"Okay..." He goes with me.

We unhook the gate, pulling it to a close before putting a lock on it with the rest of the fence, then lowering the stick that goes through half of the gate down to a hole in the ground to fasten the gate.

The fence is a lot taller than me, made of transparent metal that gives a unique shine to indicate its existence. It will be like looking into the water when one looks through the metal, but the holes in the middle of the fence give an accurate view.

We are a newly settled village on a remote planet, Sehmi, that is rumored to produce precious metal and other resources. But not long after we arrived and settled, we lost contact with Catieks, the planet we came from. I... It has been a while. I didn't dare tell anyone about that. We were hired and promised a bounty for being the first to be here, to learn about this place, and eventually, to guide more beings that move to live here. Yet...

Part of this feels like a scam by now, but what's to be gained by hiring all of us, sending us here, helping to set up the village, and just be gone?

Maybe it is an accident. But... They could have told us what happened.

Before the nekrozzro has more questions, I point at the central building. "There, don't be late for food."

He sighs. "So... You haven't heard of anything from them, still?"

I pat his shoulder. He is taller and very muscular, so he must be hungry from the day's work. "We... know what's going on."

He frowns. "But we haven't gotten paid for like half a year or so."

I take a breath, patting him. "We'll be taken care of. Don't worry about it."

He scowls at me. I add. "What are we going to do with money we can't spend here anyway?"

My heart races and heat spikes into my cheek. I hate lying to them and pretending to be in the know. But I don't have a better solution to this. They are going to be mad, and they may be mad at me, even though I'm as clueless as them. There's no way I can calm at least a hundred beings.

We are... trapped on this planet. And if we died... no one would know about it.

I have a few spaceships left, but they aren't designed for long-distance travel. Communication back home has been met with radio silence. It aches me even more than they can imagine. I promised to take care of everyone, yet...

If taking care means making sure everyone is well-fed and has a place to stay, I'd still be fulfilling my words, but that may not be what they hoped for.

I head to the central building, which is the headquarters of the village. It's the pillar for us, like a lighthouse for ships. This is also the tallest building in who knows how far. This village is located in a clearing next to a mountain. The other side is a forest with countless beasts, which we don't frequent at all.

This place is probably the only place resembling civilization as we know it on this planet.

And...

What will happen if they know what's going on and everyone gives up hope? Maybe we can keep this up and develop our own community and it will be fine, yet... If enough decide to give up, we'd all die here.

The nekrozzro opens the door for me. I'm about to step inside when he points at the sky.

I turn to look. There seems to be a meteorite slashing through the sky. I shrug. "What's so special about that?"

"Is that a spaceship?"

I doubt there will be a spaceship looking for us. "Probably not."

"But there seems to be smoke at the tail."

"Just a failure of a meteorite." I want to be on my own, alone, and spend time considering what I can do for everyone. I doubt I have the solution and sitting around won't be it, yet... I can't tell them I'd leave with a spaceship and come back for them. The base has already betrayed their trust, so... I can't do this to them.

He frowns at the sky, still standing at the door. I let out a breath, which turned foggy from the temperature at once. "So, you want to check that out?"

"Um... I think it is crashing into the forest."

I look again. Now that thing doesn't seem like a meteorite. Most of those are burned off before they can land. Yet... Maybe it really is a spaceship with a structure designed to withstand atmospheres.

The dogs, zolkas, and our guard animals howl and gather at the gate, seemingly also finding the meteorite-like thing interesting.

The nekrozzro is about to say something when I interrupt him. "It's in the forest. We can check tomorrow when it is warmer and safer."

"But... Maybe that's a spaceship."

Except... I'm not sure how safe it will be for us to go into the forest.

The nekrozzro sees my hesitance, and he adds, "I know, don't get my hopes up, right? It can just be an unlucky traveler."

I sigh. "I suppose you can be right."

The could-be spaceship sinks into the tree line. The birds are startled, which marks where it landed. It shouldn't be too deep into the forest.

If it was earlier in the day, we could drive a spaceship there, but... With how dark it is, that may be even more dangerous.

But... There's a nudge in me that seems to drive me over there. Maybe I should be a bit more interested in that. I was just tired and thus didn't want to do much. But I'm going to do the right thing.

I gesture at the building. "Get twenty volunteers to go. If it is a traveler, we can't leave them to the beasts or the weather here."

"Yes!" He hurries inside as I head to the warehouse where we put tools and weapons. My staff is there, which will be handy for fighting off beasts, if we have to.

The animals see me and they come over. I pat them, letting out a soft sigh. Beings say that animals are very sensitive to their owner's mood. I'm not exactly the owner of these, but we've been around each other daily since we arrived on this planet. Maybe they understand me.

I murmur. "If only some of you could fly and know what's happening back home, or bring all of us back there."

A zolka rubs its horn against my thigh. I stroke its fur. At least they are good at keeping everyone safe.

"We are ready to go!" The Nekrozzro is back with almost twenty males. All of them seem very eager to go on the search with me. I'd hate to tell them we may just end up finding debris from a meteorite.

"Look, everyone, have you eaten?"

They nod. Acea, a male kot'oll with his four arms armed and ready to go, says, "But have you?"

I shrug. "I'm not hungry. It won't be a long hike. I want everyone to be ready. It will get colder soon." Something nudges me. I turn to find a big guard dog bringing me my coat. I guess these animals are smart too. I take it from the dog and pat him. "Yeah, like that. Better be careful."

Another being asks, "What is it? Is that a spaceship from home?"

I flinch, not knowing what to say.

The nekrozzro says, "No clue. Could be a meteorite, a traveler, or... something."

Yeah, that... I really wish I had good news for them, except I don't know anything either.

There are murmurs. I don't even dare to look at them in the eye.

Acea says, "Whatever we will find, let's get going. Just in case."

The team gathers their weapon and coats. We bring a few strong zolkas with us, leaving the rest in the village in case they need anything while we are gone. I scan my palm for the gate to unlock and we get out.

Outside, the wind blows even stronger.

The dark forest is out there, almost within steps. Is it worth it to bring the strongest of the settlement into a forest for possibly nothing meaningful? I'd hate it if someone ended up injured and we found nothing of substance. I'm the leader of the village and I can't blame anyone for the decision I made.

Acea pats my shoulder with one of his hands. "Don't worry. We know it is going to be dangerous." One of his other arms has a torch that shines our path. "We'll come home safely."

I nod. He always tries to cheer me up, but he also doesn't know what's going on in my head. I didn't tell anyone about the communication issue, not even him.

The zolkas pave the way when we get into the forest, a few trailing at the end of the group, watching our backs.

The trees cast shadows all through the forest. The wind isn't as strong among the trees, but it is equally cold, if not worse. Maybe I'm imagining it, but... I still hate it. All my senses shout at me, urging me to get out of the forest and run for safety. But I can't. I have to be here with my beings.

I stab my staff on the ground, partly hating my job. My staff is a thick one with a smooth and round head. I can calm and guide livestock with it. If there's danger, I can pull the tip-off, which doubles as a sheath for the sword hiding inside the staff. It is heavy, but not as heavy as my thoughts.

With the torch, it is bright enough for us to delve into the forest with a good chance that the beasts will know better than to attack us. They are smart enough to understand the strength of numbers.

Zolkas howl when they seem to find something.

I hiss when a few in front speed up. "Keep the formation going. Whatever's there isn't going anywhere."

They slow and we keep making progress through the forest. It doesn't take long before we arrive at where it smokes. It... Oh, fuck... Who is the dumbass with this wacky spaceship?

It crashed onto the ground on the side. There are tears on the shell from branches. This looks so bad...

I lift my staff at it. "Acea, you and the two of you check it out. The others will stay on guard." I tap two zolkas with my staff. They run forward to sniff at the pile of ruin.

Is there going to be survivors of this crash?

One of the zolka barks behind the spaceship, or what's left of the spaceship. Acea hurries to check it out.

"Send two more. Someone is stuck!" he shouts, and two go over to help. I wonder what's there. Acea already has four arms, yet it is still not enough.

I'm curious, but not curious enough to break my own rules. I'm standing away from them. The ruin of the spaceship blocks off my view, not to mention I'm supposed to be watching my side of the forest, just in case something comes up. We have enough torches to light up the area, so... It's probably fine.

Acea comes to me. "Look at what we found!"

He points at a zolka. On the zolka's back lies a gray male with horns.

I shrug. I don't think that's someone from our home planet. It has been so long that, in my mind, that place is slowly fading away. Part of me won't even imagine going back home by now, but in front of everyone, I have to be strong and keep the hope going. This gray one is from another planet, for sure.

There seem to be shuffling noises in the forest, which makes my stomach sink.

I nod. "Is he still alive? If he's dead, don't waste our zolka's energy bringing him back."

"He's still breathing."

"Well... Get another zolka to help. That male seems heavy."

"Oh, I'll help lift the legs."

Acea seems to be so happy about that gray one. I wonder whether that's solely because of saving this gray thing or if he is hoping this half-dead being will bring good news.

I'm... not impressed. From the look of the spaceship, going inside will be dangerous. It's probably not worth whatever we may be able to forge from it. Compared to the massive transport ship that brought us here, this one is tiny. This gray one can't be here to pick us up or to resupply us. In other words, it's useless for our current situation.

I point my staff in the direction of home. "Let's go back. It's getting cold."

The team moves again with me and the nekrozzro checking our backs, making sure no beasts follow us. He says, "Do you think he has something for us?"

I shake my head. "Have you ever seen that species on our planet?"

"Well... Who knows? Maybe he is new."

"I mean, can't say we don't have beings from other planets, but I have almost never seen one of his species."

"You aren't wrong. I've never seen one of those either."

"I won't get my hopes up."

He squeezes a smile, clearly pretending to be fine. "Sure, sure. As long as the village works together, we'll be fine."

It aches to hear my own words repeated from him. That's what I've been saying more and more recently, when it feels like I can't keep everyone in the dark forever.

He pats my shoulder and I jolt. He says, "Sorry if I interrupted your thoughts. I just want to let you know that I'm grateful to be here when you're also here with us and steering the ship."

My throat tightens and I almost choke. I nod and hurry a few steps, though the beings in front of me keep my steps lagging behind and the nekrozzro is still steps away. I... What should I do? Will everyone hate me when they eventually find out about that?