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“ BuK will assist with the distribution of items and help with the interior of your new dwellings. KyT is overseeing the actual locations of all structures and boundary areas. MeK is the head engineer and building specialist who will supervise your home’s construction until it is completed.

All three have set aside their own lives to help get your race established.

The main complex plans have changed slightly from what you were previously shown, so I will allow KyT the chance to explain why. ”

The one in the middle moves forward, and I watch in amazement as the leaves in his hair rustle in the wind.

He is tall and willowy, with such tight muscle definition that he looks like he would break if he bent over.

His skin is pale brown and moves stiffly, like it’s covered in bark.

What I thought was long hair is actually thin, covered branches.

From his hips down, he is covered in some sort of moss. He looks like a walking plant.

“ Greetings , my new friends. As Father informed you, I am KyT , and it is a pleasure to be of assistance on this new journey of yours. There are a few things that have just come to our attention since I arrived here. The fauna you see before you, especially the tall timber, are interconnected, forming one large living organism. After several conversations and a little give and take, they have given their permission for you to build among them, but with terms. These terms cannot be ignored; anyone caught doing harm to one of the timbers will not like the consequences. No living hardwood can be cut down, nor can anything be attached to it. If one has expired, they have granted us the right to remove it and replace it with one of your new dwellings. There are plants and insects in this area that you could have a negative reaction to, so please try to avoid interacting with anything until we have given you the clearance to do so. I look forward to meeting with you all.”

He steps back, and I have to blink twice when the next one comes forward.

He’s several inches shorter than DaR and the one I swear I’ll always call Tree Man in my head, but he is just as striking.

Especially since I never imagined pink looking masculine on anyone, but oddly, somehow it suits him.

Small horns wrap around his broad forehead, and he has a very pleasant smile.

His clothing seems to hide most of his mass, but his bare arms are huge and quite impressive.

He seems a little shy as he hesitates to speak.

“ Not one for speaking to so many. I am here to help in any way possible and look forward to getting to know each of you in a smaller capacity.”

He steps back and several laugh, as it’s easy to tell that he wasn’t comfortable being put in the spotlight.

The entire time the other two were talking to us, DaR’s bulk has partially hidden the last one.

But when he steps around his father, I gasp.

My eyes trace this new creature from head to toe, especially since they can’t decide what to look at first. His dark brown skin pulses with glowing orange symbols that accentuate each and every one of his movements.

His eyes radiate just as brightly as the symbols, which seem to illuminate as he arrogantly walks forward.

I thought I was hooked on DaR , but it looks like my mind has just changed teams, because this guy is absolutely fascinating.

With such striking eyes, you almost don’t notice the stray hair brushing his eyes until he tosses his head, or the well-trimmed beard covering the lower part of his face.

His chest is so wide he looks like a living tank.

Ridge after ridge of muscle moves restlessly as he tosses a huge ass hammer back and forth from hand to hand.

He doesn’t smile or make a single expression, simply stands there looking around.

His eyes just sweep over each of us like we’re inanimate objects.

“ I am in charge of providing and setting up your new dwellings. Once you are assigned a location, I will approach you about the specifics you might personally need in your home. Until that time, I do not require your assistance and ask that you allow me the space needed to provide my services to you.”

After that, he simply turns away, not saying hi, my name is … kiss my ass, or anything, but the message was clear: stay out of his dance space.

“ Wow , mister personality right there!”

“ Briar , you snuck up on me.”

“ An elephant could have snuck up on you. You only had eyes and ears for the growly one. Personally , I’ve decided I prefer pink on a man.”

“ I swear, you’re not right, and I never know what in the world you’re going to say next. Anyway , I thought you weren’t interested in any guys.”

“ I wasn’t on the ship because there are some slim pickins back there, but if they all look like these guys, my odds are looking up. I gotta go, but I’ll see ya back on ANDI this evening.”

I watch as she turns away telling her, “ Hey , don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” only to laugh when she sticks her tongue out at me.

I see Carla and Kira both walking toward a set of crates and head their way. “ So , where do we start?”

Kira turns toward me, “ Right now, I was told we’re to stay out of the way and watch.

DaR is quickly checking with KyT on where he wants the communal tent set up.

Once they have it erected, our job starts.

Luckily , we were able to bring down two maintenance bots with us, even though they still haven’t worked out how to charge them properly.

Nevertheless , they will be a huge help getting things going.

You might as well have a seat; I have a feeling this is gonna take a bit. ”

For the next few hours, I feel like a nuisance as every time I sit down, I’m in the way. At some point, Carla walks off when she sees James , leaving me and Kira alone together.

“ So , you and the big guy, huh? I bet that was a culture shock.”

“ You have no idea. I still wake up sometimes wondering where I am and whose body this is.”

“ He seems smitten with you, I mean, at least in front of us anyway.”

“ Oh , what you see with DaR is what you get. It took him years to get comfortable showing affection in public. Now , there are times I have to remind him there are eyes all about.”

“ Were you guys hooked on each other from the start?”

“ No , not in the least. We had a rocky beginning, but he never gave up on me and I was and am a true handful. Even though there are still a few bumps in the road here and there, he is my rock in the middle of this crazy new world.”

“ I’ll be honest Kira , I wish I had an anchor. I’m grateful and bitter all at the same time because I’m here and alone. I’m seeing a side of myself I didn’t realize was even there, and I don’t really like her.”

“ You have every reason to react the way you are now. No one is or can be prepared to wake up here. We lived in a world where aliens were something made up on TV . If someone came back with a tall tale about being abducted, we shook it off as good drugs or a hallucination. I now wonder how many were actually telling the truth. If we had a world to return to and went back there, who would believe us?”

“ Not a soul, but I still wish that was an option.”

“ One thing I’ve learned in all these years is that looking backward only leads to the ‘what IF’s ’ in your mind, and those are questions that’ll never be answered. You must find your happiness in the now , because it too will be gone in the blink of an eye.”

Her words sink heavily into my thoughts, and just as I start to ask her how she got here, DaR approaches us.

“ My Kira , the pavilion will be accessible momentarily. I have notified BuK and a few others about the crates that need to be unloaded and set up for you three to be able to prepare the sustenance needed shortly.”

I walk a short distance away to give them some privacy, only for my eyes to instantly settle on MeK .

His coloring is almost like a beacon among the subtle colors surrounding him.

He is working on one corner of what they are calling a pavilion, but just looks like a big ass tent to me.

Several others have taken hold of a corner, pulling it tight, but they are all failing to secure it in the ground.

That is, until he arrives at their location.

The moment he swings that massive hammer in his hand, the stakes they had been struggling with disappear into the solid earth below.

The strength of that single stroke is astounding, especially when the others are straining so hard to get theirs in the ground. Apparently , my legs were moving me toward him without conscious thought because suddenly, I find myself only a few feet away and unfortunately, right in the way.

I don’t see the stake that is only partially in the ground, and I trip over it, launching myself directly in his path.

All my eyes can see is that massive hammer heading toward me.

Curling up into a ball, I try to protect myself, but I know if …

when he hits me with that thing, it’s gonna leave a mark.

I hear someone screaming as the earth seems to shake all around me, only to realize the sound is coming from me.

When I suddenly find myself lifted from the ground by a huge set of gentle, trembling hands, my mind finally realizes it’s not going to be obliterated.

I open my eyes, and I’m practically blinded by the bright orbs staring down at me.

For a moment, he looks genuinely concerned.

“ Female , are you injured?” His voice is rough, but I can still hear his concern.

“ Let me think. No , I’m fine … but that was way too close for comfort.” Just as I start to apologize, he abruptly sets me back on my feet, his entire tone changing.

“ Your carelessness not only halted production but also nearly cost you your life. In the future, you should … No , you need to be more aware of your surroundings and proceed from this point on with caution.” He actually shakes his hands off as if I’m some sort of vermin with a disease.

My heart races in my chest, not just because of what almost happened, but because I feel completely humiliated.

Tears flood my eyes as I stumble away from him and the others who’ve witnessed this entire mishap.

I’ve never been spoken to like that or made to feel so insignificant, but one thing’s for sure, it’s taught me is to stay the hell away from that giant because his bite is WAY worse than his bark!

Wrapped up in my own thoughts, I wipe the few stray tears off my face before heading back to where Kira and Carla are now standing together. Kira notices I’m upset. “ Hey , are you ok?”

“ Yeah , just something stupid, but I’m fine. What would you like me to do?”

“ Well , I still haven’t found the plates, and we need to set up the serving tables. I think most of that stuff is in those other crates over there. Be careful opening them though since the latches seem to be stuck on most of’em.”