Well, you can get kidnapped and taken to dog-land. Apparently,thatwas a thing.
"Your mates don't talk much," I noted. "Do they understand us?" I eyed them curiously.
"Yes," Gluub replied, his tentacles whirled slightly as he shifted towards me. "Khaw also."
"They tend to observe when we are around others, but they aren't big talkers. It's more a human trait."
"It's a whatever-my-new-friend-is trait too. They love to talk. Woofs, yips, grunts, barks, huffs. They have their own language. It's incredible. And their faces are more expressive than ours!" It felt wonderful having someone to talk with that understood.
"Did you choose their name yet, for classification?"
I tilted my head, puzzled.
"I chose Aviarid for Khaw's species because of their bird traits," she explained, "And Octoceph for Gluub's because they are cephalopod but I see more octopus traits than squid in them. These are just so that we can understand them by Earth terms, for our records."
"Maybe... Canid Noctum? They have doglike physical traits and seem to prefer the night."
"Perfect!" Dayzee turned to Khaw. "And it looks like your idea might work even better than we thought."
"What idea?" I looked between them.
"Something to help welcome your new friends to the tribe."
Chapter 13
Gr’ruuf
My tribe was upset for the entire round-in-dark.
Loo’na left to battle the loud, and we feared she would not return. My birther and her mate remained with me throughout the night. The entire tribe took turns resting, so we could stay awake in the round-in-light. We all agreed that with the rise of the round-in-light we would leave and try to locate my mate. Already my mate's fearsome nature has earned her place in our tribe.
"Grrr… Ruff? Ar yuu in daar?" Loo’na's sweet voice carried to me.
"Loo’na? Loo’na!"
Heads snapped, and we all ran for our rock-open.
In my lifetime, I could never imagine what waited for us outside. It was all I hoped for.
Chapter 14
Luna
"We call this a 'Welcome Wagon'." I beamed up at Grrr Ruff and his people.
Dayzee and I stood there. Beside me were my new friends, who were curious and excited to meet the newcomers. Gluub brought an elder, two adults, and two very young Octoceph. They were so adorable. I couldn't stop staring. Khaw brought a large Aviarid, two slightly smaller than himself, and three young of varying ages.
We brought fish from Gluub's people, fresh fruit from the grove, and various foods from the base. They also brought looped circles of branches that I hadn’t figured out yet.
"Come down?" I motioned for them all to come to us. Grrr Ruff and his parents exchanged looks and were the first to come down. He immediately ran to smell and examine me. His mother was next, and they stayed glued to my side.
It was nice, feeling cared about. I didn't have that growing up.
His tribe slowly filtered down as they realized it was safe and welcoming. My new friends brought out blankets so we could sit and eat.
Everyone was curious about each others’ food, and the Canid Noctums brought out some of their own. Like the Octoceph's, they apparently ate things raw. We made a small fire, which shocked them, and they watched us cook a fish that we shared after, so they could taste the difference.
The upside was the Canids liked cafeteria casseroles from the base. At least someone did.