Finally, something different!

The buzz at breakfast was electric. There’s going to be a journey to the oasis and the men have decided that it’s safe enough so the women and children are coming along. Some of the Tribe are coming too.

Standing at the airlock with the others, I’m nervous but excited. A change in the routine is good, but I can’t forget we’re going out in the empty barrens of Tajss. Calista and Jolie are standing close to me, almost protectively. Amara and Lana, Kate, Maeve, a girl I barely know Ashlee, and even Addison has come out of her lab to join the trip.

“I’m going to kill a bivo,” Illadon says, puffing his chest out proudly.

“No you’re not,” Rverre says. “Your mommy would never let you close to one.”

“Will too!” he counters, pounding his chest with a fist.

The girls and I are going over the packs making sure we have all we’ll need as it’s expected to be a four-day journey. I can’t help but laugh at the antics of the little ones and I’m not the only one.

“I’m going to kill a guster,” Malcolm says proudly, trying to one-up the older Illadon.

“Oh yeah? Well I’m going to kill a zemlja while we’re out,” Illadon says, not willing to be outdone by the younger boy.

“Ugh, boys,” Rverre says, rolling her eyes and throwing her hands up in the air.

“It looks good,” Addison says, straightening and stretching.

The men are gathered a short distance off to one side discussing the plan. Samil is with them and my eyes are drawn to him. He’s different than the other men. I’ve never felt threatened by him. Maybe because he’s smaller than they are? By a little bit anyway, he’s still a lot larger than a human.

He’s also kind and sort of funny.

“All of you be careful on your foolish journey,” Todd says, setting down a pack.

His shirt doesn’t come all the way down his large, protruding belly. His yellow skin with blue striations and black swirls is exposed by the ill-fitting garments he chooses to wear. He wipes his brow and stares.

“Thanks Todd,” Addison says.

“Whatever,” Todd says, shaking his head and turning to walk away.

He’s so big the ground trembles when he steps. He’s obviously strong but he never wants to work hard. He’s content to get by on as little effort as possible. Of all the creatures that came back with Rosalind from her adventure in space, he’s the strangest. He’s anti-social and doesn’t want to work unless he absolutely must. Overall he’s kind of jerk.

“I think we’re ready,” Calista yells over to Ladon.

“Good,” Ladon says, looks at the other males, then back at us and nods. “Let’s go then.”

We file out of the airlock, the Zmaj positioning themselves in front and behind us. Maeve, Lana and I bring up the rear, followed by Padraig and Astarot.

“Are you sure you want to come along?” I ask the two pregnant women.

Lana’s swollen belly is huge and if I didn’t know better I’d think she was close to giving birth. She’s still got a couple of months at least though.

“Sure,” she says, cheerful. “I wouldn’t miss it, why?”

Shaking my head I don’t say anymore. Astarot is close to hand and I’m sure he’ll take care of her. If there’s one thing that’s certain, the Zmaj take care of their treasures. We start across the loose sand and it’s not as hard as it used to be thanks to the snow-ski like things we wear on our feet. It keeps us on top of the sand instead of sinking in. So much nicer!

As we string out, the couples pair off in our marching line. It happens naturally, not by some obvious plan or communication but why wouldn’t you want to walk next to the love of your life? Soon it’s down to Ashlee and me, the only unmated females.

“Hi,” I say, smiling as she falls back to walk next to me.

“Hey,” she says, flashing a fast smile. “I’m Ashlee.”

She offers a hand without pausing in her walk. “Inga,” I say, shaking her hand. “You must be part of the third group of survivors?”

I make it a question even though I already know the answer. It’s an easy point to make conversation about.

“Yeah, I guess that’s what you’d call me,” she laughs. “Though from my point of view, I’m with the first group!”

I laugh with her. “I hadn’t really thought about it, but yeah, that makes sense.”

“It’s all good,” she says. “What a twist of fate huh? Ending up here, on this place, with them.”

She nods towards the various Zmaj around us. We’re spread far enough apart that I don’t think anyone is listening on our conversation.

“Yeah,” I say, my eyes drawn again to Samil.

Ashlee follows my gaze, a grin on her face. “You like him?”

“Huh,” I ask, cheeks burning red-hot. “Oh, uh, he’s nice, yeah.”

I’m flustered and she knows it. Her grin broadens into a full smile.

“Right,” she says, nodding knowingly. “Got it. He’s… nice.”

“He is,” I argue defensively.

“Oh I’m sure he is,” she ribs me good-naturedly. “I’m sure he can be very nice.”

“Oh, not like that,” I say, somehow my cheeks are even hotter than they were before. Maybe she’ll think it’s the heat.

“Sure,” she says, smiling. “He does seem nice. So, you’re from the City? What did you do on the ship?”

She’s letting me off the hook and I jump at the chance to change the subject. We fall into small talk about our lives on the ship, carefully avoiding any more talk about the Zmaj.

I notice, though, that Samil is never very far away. He’s the only unmated Zmaj with us, maybe he likes Ashlee? That’d be nice for her and him, I suppose. The twinge deep in my stomach, a mix of regret and jealousy doesn’t mean a thing.