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“I know we’ll see you guys before Aculus arrives tomorrow, still, be safe.” Giselle went around hugging all the warriors going on the mission.

“Don’t take any stupid risks. Just drop the cloaking array and come home if you have to,” Providence insisted with a yawn as the party broke up.

“We’ll do our best,” Vintor replied solemnly.

“Humans are even more suspicious of outsiders than the Cadi were. They don’t know they exist and tend to fear what they don’t know. That fear makes them dangerous. That includes my father. You remember the message I gave you? It’s important you use those exact words the moment you meet him,” Providence reiterated the warning.

“Understood.” Ashtoret nodded.

Providence snagged a lock of his hair and gave it a tug. “I’m glad you stopped dying it. It’s not a flaw,” she insisted. “I think the silver makes you stand out. Very handsome,” she crooned.

He smiled at the compliment. It had been hard making the change. Cadi could be incredibly judgmental of physical differences, but he’d found a group of friends who were very accepting.

“Come on now, you already have enough mates,” Dagaa chuckled as he scooped Providence up.

“The young has her hormones all riled up. You better run while you still can, Ashtoret.” Madhava cast him a lopsided grin.

“We’re entering the human’s solar system,” Aculus reported, pulling Ashtoret from his thoughts of the farewell party on Cadi.

It was amazing to think how far they’d traveled in the span of mere days. He considered the bone-armored warrior, glad Aculus was an ally. It was only by Kali’s grace they were fortunate enough to meet while liberating Cadi citizens from a slave auction some months back. If it wasn’t for the Osivoire Nation’s advanced technology, passing through the rift in the cosmos would’ve never been possible. Aculus’ people kindly lent not only their vessel but donated the array that would hide defenseless Earth from the Jurou Biljana.

Damn flesh merchants!

Besides the handful of Osivoire manning the sleek silver vessel, the bulk of the team was from Cadi. It was only right since the Osivoire were already providing the metcor’s cache of resources.

He nodded to the Cadi warriors as they entered the control room.

“Where’s our Toufik brethren?” Vintor asked as they took their seats around the table at the rear of the control room.

“I believe our hairy friends are practicing setting up the cloaking array in the climate-controlled room,” Warrior Payim replied.

“Thank Kali they’re on this mission. Have you felt how bone-chilling cold it’s supposed to be at Earth’s polar regions? I stepped one foot in the room your engineer set up and my tail froze and nearly snapped off.” Another warrior shivered.

“You can thank the humans for that bit of advice,” Vintor chuckled.

“Cold, is it?” Aculus rumbled in amusement.

“What are you laughing about? You should be sympathetic. Isn’t your homeworld arid?” Payim asked the armored warrior, wearing a good-natured smirk.

“It is. And I’m laughing because I get to remain on my nice warm ship while you put on every piece of clothing you can find to go planet-side.” Aculus laughed harder, slamming his bony fist down on the table when the other warriors’ scowls deepened.

“I’m just piloting one of the cruisers that’ll get our pelted friends to the icy wasteland. The rest is up to them,” Payim declared.

Payim was as adept a pilot as himself. The warrior had also been on the mission to rescue the Toufik from their dying world. Ashtoret blanched at the memory. Piloting through that planet’s atmosphere had been a harrowing test of his endurance. It was a wonder any of them made it out alive.

“In your dreams,” Vintor countered, using the human’s favorite phrase.

Ashtoret smiled and shook his head at the bunch.

On cue, their Toufik brethren walked in. Shockingly, the frost still sticking to their fur formed misty clouds as it evaporated in the warm air.

“We’re here.” At least that’s what it looked like Fire gestured with his numb fingers.

Ashtoret had no doubt if the Toufik could speak, their teeth would be chattering, making it unintelligible anyway.

“I wish you’d wear the suits. You’re not invincible,” he chastised the two furry males.

“We will, on the planet,” Fire, so named for his ruddy pelt, gestured. “We’re getting used to what to expect.”