We’d need to recalculate should our population increase, however. Humans were not just sexually compatible with us; they were breeding compatible as well. Kadrixan warriors were only fertile during our rut, but as former soldiers in the Kadri army, my warriors and I’d all had procedures to prevent unwanted pregnancy.
With the drive for sex so strong in our species once a year, wide-spread mass contraceptives were needed to keep our world from being over-populated. The procedure was simple to reverse however, and here on Vokira, we didn’t need to earn our right to reproduce as on Kadri.
One of my warriors who’d found his mate that first rut had already gotten the procedure reversed, and they were trying to start a family.
I frowned when I noticed Clara had yet to start on her meal. Was she one of those humans who only ate plant matter? I hadn’t even asked. I watched her carefully, and she licked her lips, clearly hungry and not turned off by the meat.
“Eat,” I said, wondering if she was waiting for some special order or prayer.
I resisted the urge to pick up the food and feed her. We’d been told some human females would react badly to being fed. When we’d tried to do so the first year, some of the females had told us that only children and babies were fed in their culture. Adult Kadrixans fed each other to show sexual interest.
She looked around the Great Hall, then picked up the piece gingerly, as if afraid to touch it.
“What is wrong?”
“I haven’t had meat in so long. It’s expensive, and I’ve only been able to afford the fake stuff.”
“Then eat and enjoy. There is plenty here for everyone.”
She took an experimental nibble, and the look of awe on her face was replaced by one of sheer joy. She moaned, and I’d never been so envious of a piece of meat before.
“Do you like it? We adjusted the seasoning for human tastes. The females told us the first year that our flavors were too spicy for them.”
“It’s perfect,” she mumbled around another mouthful.
I watched her lips hungrily but tore my eyes away before I scared her. I grabbed the meaty bone on my plate and took a bite instead, though what I really wanted to taste was her.
“Tell me about yourself?” I asked between bites. “Tonight is supposed to be spent getting to know our new arrivals, though there’s only one female I want to get to know better.” I smiled at her, being careful to hide my teeth.
“What do you want to know?”
“What was your life like back at your colony? What do you like to do for fun?”
Her eyes darted away, and for a moment, I thought she wouldn’t reply. Then she sighed loudly and said, “You might as well know. I didn’t have much of a life back home. I lost my job a few months ago because I said the colony was jacking up the prices for food for the poor unfairly, and I haven’t been able to find another job since.” She watched me intently.
“You are not the only female to believe that here,” I said.
“I had proof on my phone. At my old job, I designed water features for those who could afford them. I got to visit the inner colony to survey the worksite. If I was running late, I’d pick up my groceries there instead of near my home.
“The last time I was there, they’d already started hiking up food prices, you know, because of the blight that wiped out half our crops and the virus affecting all our livestock. But all the prices in that fancy-schmancy store were the same as before. They’d only jacked up the prices for those living at the edge of the colony, because they knew we had nowhere else to shop.” Her face turned red, and she spoke louder. “I took pictures and showed them to my co-worker, and she accused me of lying. That I was spreading conspiracy theories.” She looked around as if worried she’d been too loud.
I put a hand on her lower back, calming her. “I believe you. You can speak your mind here. We have heard many stories about life at your colony.”
“Well, she got me fired, and I haven’t been able to find a job since. I haven’t been eating well for a while.”
“The health records we requested from your colony show that many are lacking nutrition.”
She rolled her eyes. “We have to do yearly health scans, and they tax the unhealthy. According to my last three scans, I’m B12 deficient. They taxed me for that too.” Fire flashed in her eyes.
“I will care for you. Deficiencies are easy to solve with good food.”
Another platter arrived, and I spooned some of the noodles onto our plates before handing her a set of food holders. She took them from me, then looked around the room, her eyes landing on a warrior using a set himself.
“Oh! That’s how you use them.” She tried to put them on her fingers, but they fell off, too large to fit her tiny hands.
I put mine on, slipping my first two fingers into the covers before putting my opposable digit into the other side. They fit over my claws and made it cleaner and easier to pick up slippery foods covered in sauce.
She tried hers again, but again, it slipped off her fingers, even though I’d already given her a child’s pair.