It is even worse when the containers return to the skies, though—the ground rumbles and moves, greens and ground shove out forcefully towards our home in the rocks, making it so we cannot breathe without pain, choking us. Each time scaring the youngest and oldest of us, causing them to howl in fear and distress.
With each rise of the round-in-dark, I watch the creatures arriving from the shiny containers. I see them interact and live their lives. They are social with each other, but not to any other tribes.
I watch as they emerge from their round-in-light lives and return to where they rest. They choose to rest in the darkness. This confuses us as we are born of the dark and feel the dark-round's call. The round-in-light brings much heat and makes our fur feel thick and dirty. If we have to be awake with the light round, we end up sitting in the wet a lot, drinking more, and hiding beneath the tall greens. We tolerate it if we must, but we dislike it. Our homes are deeper in the rocks to shield us from it.
Sometimes, we rest in the lesser round-in-light, where our rock opens. The warmth can feel nice on our hairs and we can move away if it becomes too hot. Inside, we have many places to rest apart or together.
Many of theothersenjoy the round-in-light. There must be a reason — something my tribe does not yet know. I will discover this and inform them.
By far, I am the most curious. I watch the other tribes and learn about them. I have not greeted any yet, but I will. Most do not seem to like each other, but they also do not interact much either.
I know that awet-otherand anoisy-otherfrom the wet-rocks mated with one of thecontainer-others. This mating brought three groups closer to peace.
If I mate acontainer-other, will my tribe join theirs? Or join all threeothergroups? In the end, will four of our tribes join in peace? We have much to share with theothers, and they have much they can share with us. I want this union. As a future leader of my tribe, this could be important for us.
I am the third born of my birther's second litter. Very much like my birther’s mate, but bigger. I do not have their gift of overseeing our tribe yet, but I will. My gift is in learning aboutothers. One day, I will use both talents to make us the greatest of all the groups.
I am especially curious about thesecontainer-others. They have less hair than we do, and they wear coverings on their bodies. They are always busy, sometimes loud, and very social amongst themselves. Similar to my tribe. We have kept to ourselves for too long. All of our tribes grew... and now our youngest rarely see or speak with anyothers. They never stray far from their places of rest. None of us do.
I do not think this way is good. I believe we should know all theothers. Some will be good, some bad, but all will have things to share.
*
There is a new shiny-container creature that arrived today that I am curious about. Usually, these creatures have hair only on their top, between their small blunt ears, and usually their hairs are short or contained. Not this newest one. I believe it is a birther. It appears to have feeders, though only two instead of our many, but they are larger and well-formed. I have not gotten close enough to smell her to confirm her matehood... yet.
She came to sit and stare up at the round-in-dark. But it was her fur that stole my eye. Furs so long they brushed the ground where she sat, draping her completely. With color I rarely see — like the skies sometimes when the light and dark trade places. Her paw coverings match her fur. She looks like she has fur all over her, like we do. This must be a sign that she is meant for us. Forme.
If I quietly call to her, will the round-in-dark pull her towards me as a mate, as it does those in my tribe?
A strong and prime male, I am completely unmated. I hunt successfully, and will care well for my mate. I am the largest of my tribe. Even my oodt is fat and long, and my der are very large. I will make large and powerful young. A good, strong mate choice for a birther. We would make a good pairing.
I will greet her and hope she chooses me.
Chapter 3
Luna
So, apparently, this is 'summer.' HAHAHAHA.
This humidity? It's going to kill me. It's not only actively trying, but it may succeed.
My hair looks like I was electrocuted. I tried to make a ponytail and busted my favorite hairband. I broke two teeth on my sturdiest comb and bent one. My brush caught in my hair so badly, I almost had to cut it out to free it. It took me twenty minutes, a crying fit, and Maria from next door helping me to detangle.
By some miracle, the sun and/or atmosphere here actually brightened my hair instead of fading my colors. My hair went from faded periwinkle to light amethyst. It's gorgeous! Whatever mysticism this is, they can make a killing with this science. It should be on the ads for 7*KUr recruitment.
It's day three on 7*KUr. It's 8:00 p.m. and I'm sitting outside praying for a cross-breeze. I have my thinnest robe and my unicorn slippers on, and a huge cup of water I'm tempted to douse myself with.
I was told not to go for a swim until Dayzee returns to camp in another few days. They said she needs to go with me. I have no clue why.
The past few days have been... interesting. CDR Firken was nice when we met. Even a little flirty, which was great for my self-esteem. Then he heard I was the new Species Specialist, and all but banished me to my bungalow, or whatever the hellthey call this large walk-in closet pretending to be a room. I was amazed they managed to fit a toilet and kitchenette in here, let alone a bed. However... I'm not sharing a room with othersandhave my own potty? Sold! You won't hear me griping.
Technically, I don't even have to leave and brave the heat unless I want to.
Newsflash: I do not want to.
Plus, there might be some wild animal in the bushes nearby. I keep hearing weird noises outside. Rustling, grunts, and low woofing noises. In fairness, it could be a hallucination brought on by heatstroke.
Maybe someone brought their dog to the outpost. At least it sounds like a dog. It also sounds... frustrated.