Callie happily braided my hair, combed it all out, and began re-braiding it again as I half-dozed on the grass.

"There's a Saursune," a hunter quietly said.

Callie paused, then kept playing with my hair as if the presence of the aliens was as common as grass at this point. Having her aunt's hair at her disposal was a far rarer event.

"Looks like the same one that usually hangs around here," Ariel said, sounding uneasy, but not scared. "I often see it when I bring the water cart."

Various footsteps hobbled closer as the hunters and gatherers retreated to the crystal as a precautionary measure. With a heavy sigh, I finally sat up. Undeterred, Callie walked on her knees behind me to comb out my hair now that I was upright.

The dark brown female wandered closer as she examined the rather large group near the crystal. Her eyes kept drifting between me, Merryl, and Ariel, scarcely noting the ten older folks who had remained near the crystal with us.

I didn't even bother wondering if the alien would harm us. Not only was I semi-familiar with this one, I'd seen too many over the last few weeks and grown too accustomed to their almost cat-like act when they tried to steal some energy. Time, exposure, and their gifts were slowly dissipating the terror that their mere appearance had once held.

"Any suggestions?" Merryl asked nervously, reminding me that not everyone shared my outlook. "Lately I've been staying, and they just hang around and let us do whatever we're doing."

I covered a yawn. "This is the same one that circled me about two weeks ago. I don't think she's a threat, but if she's looking for energy, she's not going to get much from me after how much porting I did this morning."

Merryl shrugged. "They never try to steal mine."

"I...I guess I could let it have some of mine," Ariel said, her fingers ripping pieces of grass out of the ground.

With us having voiced our plans to stay, the ten older foragers and hunters began spreading out. The Saursune sat and watched for a while.

The area close to the crystal didn't have much left to pick. With Keywa Village coming here every third day, Grant saw no reason for us not to come the other two days, but this meant pickings were becoming rather slim unless we went farther into the forest.

Rising to four feet, the Saursune approached in a very tentative manner, carefully observing our reactions with each step she took.

"I wonder how many porters have let her approach," I murmured. "She's doing everything she can to avoid scaring us."

"None from Keywa Village would let a Saursune near them," Merryl said.

"Do we just sit here?" Ariel asked, her voice going higher.

I watched the Saursune edge closer. "It's optional. You can sit, stand, or bounce. I just don't have the energy or ambition to move."

"I'll stay," Ariel murmured as she pulled her knees up against her chest and hugged them tight.

Merryl shifted her weight as the Saursune got within ten paces, yet she remained sitting. The alien towered over us, even on all fours. Her shy cat-like body language was helping, but that only did so much when you were approached by something that big.

Angling to the side, she came over to me first, perhaps because I was the least nervous. Her humming was soft as she snuffled my hair and gently nudged my shoulder. Callie scuttled to my other side, staring at the huge creature that had suddenly appeared beside her in her distraction.

More to reassure the child than anything, I stroked the Saursune's neck. "Sorry, I don't have much energy left."

Her scales were vaguely warm, and my energy didn't shift, so she must be able to tell I had nothing left to spare. Still, she closed her eyes as she leaned into my hand, her hum growing louder.

Callie blinked, and with the boldness that only children possessed, she stood up and walked over to also pet the Saursune's neck. The brown female opened her eyes and gently—very, very gently—nuzzled the child's arm.

Callie giggled and sat in my lap, now touching the scales on her legs. "Look at the pretty patterns!"

Close up, each dark brown scale had subtle patterns.

"I see," I told her, gently shifting her arm away as her fingers traced a pale scar on the Saursune's leg.

Stepping forward, the Saursune walked over to Merryl, who leaned away as the large head dipped down to rub against her arm.

"Er... Hi?" Merryl slowly lifted a shaking hand before setting it against the Saursune's neck and cautiously petting her like I had. "I've never seen them act like this."

I shrugged. "I've seen it a couple of times. They've been doing it more often lately."

Merryl's hand settled back in her lap, and Ariel gulped as the Saursune ambled over to her. She squeezed her eyes shut—her arms still wrapped around her knees—as the dark brown female nuzzled her shoulder. The Saursune took a few steps away and sat down, looking around as her tail rested against Ariel's knee. The hunters and gatherers kept an eye on our visitor as they searched for any remaining edible plants.

To break the silence while the Saursune stole Ariel's energy, I asked a nearby hunter, "Are there any clams left in the creek?"

He shook his head. "Deseray said she looked for over an hour without finding any."

"That's too bad," I murmured. So much for that idea. Being able to walk through the water was a rare treat. I might have to check later just in case.

"There might be some fish, but that's not something we want to try with a Saursune hanging around."

I nodded. "Yeah, let's avoid that unless she disappears for a while."

Right as Ariel yawned, the Saursune got up, sniffed the air, then bounded off.

"Mind keeping watch while I nap?" Ariel mumbled, blinking sleepily.

I nodded absently. "Go for it."

With a sigh, she laid back in the grass and closed her eyes. A nearby, high-pitched scream had her bolting upright, staggering as she tried to find her balance.

"That was a rabbit," the hunter said, peering in that direction, which was the same way the Saursune had gone.

Sure enough, moments later, the dark brown female bounded through the shrubs with a limp rabbit in her jaws. She trotted over to the crystal and set it down. Nostrils flaring, she stood on her hind legs and scanned the area. I stilled; somewhat intimidated by her height, which seemed impossibly tall from my seat on the ground.

She dropped to all fours and trotted into the shrubs before bounding away. Ariel had barely laid back down when the Saursune returned, pacing restlessly around the clearing.

"I don't think I've seen this behavior before," I murmured, watching the female test the air.

A hunter had also paused to watch. "She smells something. I don't see anything, but that doesn't mean much in a forest."

I frowned. "Wouldn't she just run off a predator? The one in the rainforest chased a tiger."

The hunter shrugged. "I can only think of one or two—"

The Saursune whirled with a fierce hiss, cutting off his words, as she charged in his direction. He threw himself to the side as the female leapt over a shrub beside him. A blue Saursune less than quarter her size backpedaled and tripped over its tail. The female snapped her jaws in front of its face, her jaws clashing together with incredible force, although it was clearly an intentional miss.

The youngster rolled onto its back, showing its yellowish stomach, throat, and jawline. Ariel ran to the crystal as Merryl and I scrambled to our feet as the hunters and gatherers began running back.

The brown female stood over him, teeth bared and somehow hissing while growling. The youngster made hasty hisses and squeaky hums, and the female's growl rose and fell in patterns—not an actual growl, but part of their language.

Suddenly standing on her hind legs, she scanned the area and charged in a different direction. A green youngster broke cover and bolted the instant it saw her coming. Its speed was no match for hers, and she quickly hooked a hand around its ankle, tripping it, and sending it rolling into the shrubs as she bounded after it.

My eyes darted back to the blue Saursune as it rolled onto its stomach, but its head remained down and it made no move to stand up. A couple of my group were still hobbling back at their top pace. Merryl and Ariel lingered even though they could have bounced.

The dark brown female trotted back into view, and the blue youngster shook and pressed its chin into the grass with more high-pitched hums and squeaks. She stood in front of it, although the ensuing conversation was less decipherable than bird calls. Her stance, narrowed eyes, and partially bared teeth made her look like she was giving it a lecture.

The way its head tentatively lifted also reminded me of a certain overcurious teenager who didn't get into as much trouble as expected. It slowly stood up, and a snort from the female had it crouching back down again.

The green one slinked out of the bushes behind its friend. The adult gave it a half-glare that was remarkably similar to the one I'd gotten from Grant on more than a few occasions. Both of the youngsters were quite small, their backs only about knee-high on all fours. All three looked our way as the last of my group finally reached us.

"Do we bounce?" I quietly asked the others, my heart still racing from the scare. "I doubt we'll find another open crystal, and it kind of looks like she laid down the rules."

My ten exchanged glances and quietly debated before coming to the consensus that the youngsters weren't a true threat. Since I didn't have enough ports to find an open crystal, they'd have to sit at home the rest of the day if we left. They had no interest in leaving if I planned on staying.

"I'll stay unless you folks decide you want to leave," I told my group. "Just be really careful around the female while the babies are present."

"I really need some sleep, and I won't be much help here," Ariel said. "I'll come back later to pick people up. Anyone want a lift to the Guard Station?"

Merryl hesitated. "If it had just been me, that'd be one thing, but Callie is still small. They could easily hurt her without intending to. I can come back for my group later."

Callie held onto her mother's hand and whined, "Can we stay? Please? I don't want to go back home yet. It's more fun out here."

My sister pursed her lips then asked me, "Can I borrow five of your group? There won't be much on the alpine slopes, but Marcie from Briar Village was there this morning, and they'll let us join if your five stay close and let their groups go farther afield."

I shrugged. "That's up to them. I'm fine with it."

After a quick discussion, five hands shifted to Merryl's shoulders. She held Callie's hand and silently ported, taking the volunteers with her. None of the remaining five took Ariel up on her offer.

"I'll see you later. Guard Station," Ariel murmured before her form shimmered out of sight.

The three Saursunes watched me, possibly wondering if I'd also disappear. The blue one laid down with soft whines as if begging me to stay.

This was going to be interesting.