Author: Derin

<<First .......... <Prev .......... [Archive] .......... [Glossary] .......... Next> “They have strict biological castes,” I explained. “Like ants or bees. Everyone has their own job, very little crossover.” “So not really like ants and bees,” Kate said. “Ants have castes that are naturally better equipped for certain jobs, but they’ll all do what needs doing. … Continue reading 15: Overview

First ---- Previous ---- Glossary ---- Archive ---- Next The next day, Tyk’s stomach ache hasn’t gone away, and the day after that, when the rain stops, it’s sharp and insistent. She’s starting to worry that something serious is wrong with her as she climbs out into the tunnel in the morning to see the … Continue reading 44: Native Tongue

<<First .......... <Prev .......... [Archive] .......... [Glossary] .......... Next> There was a knock on the door which, given the nature of spaceships, would have been quite a heavy thump on the other side. My family’s little cabin had an airlock in the outside corridor, so they didn’t suit up before Glath opened said door and … Continue reading 14: Blind Spot

First ---- Previous ---- Glossary ---- Archive ---- Next Tyk, diplomatically, does her best not to look horrified by whatever that could possibly mean. She has trouble picturing what a ‘lightning river’ could be, but it definitely doesn’t sound good. Dem spots her expression, says ‘wait’, and seems to think very hard for a moment … Continue reading 43: Making Magic

<<First .......... <Prev .......... [Archive] .......... [Glossary] .......... Next> “So you’re queen-captain of an alien starship?” Keith asked. “That’s super cool! Derek, we can be astronauts on Mum’s crew!” Derek twitched his shoulders and bobbed his head in an aljik gesture of enthusiastic assent. “What?” I said. “Oh, no. No, no, no. Space is dangerous. … Continue reading 13: Just Desserts

First ---- Previous ---- Glossary ---- Archive ---- Next “Yes! Of course I am scared! The situation is scary! You should be scared of us, Tyk.” “Well, I’m not. I think maybe you should be a little bit less scared of you.” “You’re going to get yourself killed someday.” “Uh-huh. Sure. Out of the two … Continue reading 42: Thin River Thinking

<<First .......... <Prev .......... [Archive] .......... [Glossary] .......... Next> We docked. The shuttle door opened. And there they were. Three humans, wearing space suits that looked rather more like human space suits than the ones the ketestri had made for me. One adult, two children. I drifted out of the pod, and both of my … Continue reading 12: Face to face

First ---- Previous ---- Glossary ---- Archive ---- Next Their conversation for the rest of the trip is fairly light, upbeat, and focused on the task at hand, careful not to mention death or grief or hives or burrows. When their hunger is sated and they turn back toward the burrow, collecting food for later … Continue reading 41: Some Reservations

<<First .......... <Prev .......... [Archive] .......... [Glossary] .......... Next> Behind me, the crew were panicking. They didn’t understand what I was saying or who I was talking to. Glath was talking a lot; probably explaining the situation. I ignored them all. Nobody was pulling me away from the comms, and that was all that mattered. … Continue reading 11: Catching up

First ---- Previous ---- Glossary ---- Archive ---- Next Tyk, Tama, and Sakeya all step forward, but there’s not a lot that they can do without knowing what’s going on. They watch on helplessly as Kana falls to the ground and all the sky people start shouting at once. Dem steps forward as if to … Continue reading 40: Sleepland Scavenging