Fray

We have the building completely surrounded by our males. Determination sizzles between us, excitement and impatience filling each and every warrior. It's not an extremely large den that we've found, but it is crawling with humans. I know it.

With only a glance at the place anyone could tell you some type of intelligent life lives here. It's obvious. There's food plants growing from the ground, meat creatures kept in closed pins, and machinery meant for farming. There's tools and a work shed, a water pump, and artwork hung on the walls outside.

It's teaming with life and energy. It makes me want to hop the wire fence surrounding it's premises.

Though they will not leave the safety of their home, we know they are here. I saw a female for myself. She was older, and quite frail, but terrified of me. But it was a female. I know they have more in there. I can practically taste them. There were other humans outside the den when I arrived, but they fled before I could see them up close. The female warned them, and now they hide.

We must simply wait.

Looking around at my comrades, I'm glad that they listened to me without question. Now, I have a force of elite males to spot anyone coming or going from any direction. Then, and only then, may we actually have a way into this place. Otherwise, it might not happen.

I would never condone breaking into the human den. That would be wrong. How can we expect to take home a ship full of human females if we traumatize them? No. We won't do it. We will wait patiently for them to come out so we can convince them. That is the only appropriate way to handle this. I promised my Emperor that I would bring back females safely, and I will fulfil that promise, even if it means some patience.

The patience is the hardest part, especially as I look through the gates and know there are females on the other side of it.

All of the males here want a mate. I see it in their impatient eyes, their annoyed attitude at having to wait longer. They will be rewarded for their sacrifice. The Emporor has a sort of mating ceremony planned. It's a gathering where we will bring all of our new females along with many worthy males, and let them mingle one with another until mating pairs are formed. It's a smart idea, and I am all too willing to comply.

He also agreed to let our team be the first to attend said mating ceremony. That is, as long as they are well behaved. If that's not motivating, then I don't know what is.

I stalk around the side of the building as the sun fades away, my curiosity growing. I've been lucky enough to see one female other than the senior I encountered. Elik's mate, Penelope. I heard the rumors of her many times. She was traumatized by human males that raped her. I can't help but feel anger and shame at the thought. How dare they treat their females in such a way? It's disgraceful.

It only makes me wonder if all human males are the same way. Surely not. Surely a planet cannot be full of scum like that.

But, as I round the fence around the building over and over, I think that there could be something suspicious going on at this human den as well. What type of males set a frail female out to collect food on her own? She was completely defenseless, and far from her home.

How is that okay? Any creature could attack her and hurt her. How am I supposed to contain myself from busting down the door and stealing every last female in there? Knowing that they are being treated that way makes my blood heat.

After rounding the den, I notice a large paneling of windows located at the back of the building, partially hidden. I step towards it, curious about the strange glass barrier. There's a small alcove by the window. An overgrown pond with a fountain, and bench seat in the courtyard.

I get closer to the gate as I watch the strange wall of windows, seemingly drawn to it by fate itself. I look around, not seeing any of my team members, so, I climb the fence easily, scaling the wire. I'm up and over it before long. When my boots crunch the grass on the other side, I notice that it feels somehow different over here. How odd.

Walking forward, I find myself in the alcove. I glance at the windows that drew my eyes before, confused by my own growing curiosity.

When I see a little female sitting behind the glass, I halt, my body becoming stone. I am surprised that I did not notice her before now. She stares up at me with alarmed eyes. I can't look away, even as she scoots back. She does not run like the other female, but she is also very different from the older female that I discovered in the woods.

I thought all females were beautiful. I was wrong. This one goes beyond beautiful, she looks like a Goddess sitting as she does in the pale moonlight. I forget to breathe for a moment.

I am shocked that she is not frightened, but I'm glad she isn't. I am not like her kind, and that should terrify her since I know that humans have no knowledge of different alien species, or of space travel itself. I was told that humans are very barbaric, and they have hardly any technology at all. Not to mention, they are much much smaller and weaker than our own species.

It's a wonder that 3 Rytarian males have been able to convince humans into becoming their mates so far.

She's so small, so unbelievably tempting with a map of creamy tan skin. I want her already. But, I cannot simply take her, a fact that already has me grouchy.

The female holds her knees to her chest, watching me carefully as I get closer and closer. I don't want to frighten her, but I want to be near her. See her face to face. Get to know her as best I can.

Her intelligent gaze follows me easily, and when I put my hand on the cool glass, her slim eyebrows furrow. I wait, wondering if she will do anything. I wonder how brave she is. I dare her with one look.

She sits there for awhile, simply looking up at me through her long, black lashes. She appears so little on the ground before me. So defenseless. The only reason I'm not breaking into their den is because I chose it. No amount of human males could keep me out, no barrier or window lock could stand my strength. I could enter in a second's time if I so wished it.

Any yet, I don't, because of the wonderful beings known as females. This one before me only reminds me of my purpose here. If this was the only female we found, then the whole trip would be worth it just to see her.

She stands, and I'm shocked by her daring nature. She's not afraid at all. She's wearing a sleeping gown, her long hair tied back. She gets closer to the glass, and I see that she's a bit shorter than the other human woman I saw, and a lot rounder. Her curves are mouth watering, her teats enormous and bursting under the sheer material.

I can tell she's hesitant, but all too brave for her slight height, she lifts her tiny hand and presses it to mine through the thin barrier. Our hands align, and her fingers disappear behind my own. I never thought I had big hands until I saw hers. She makes me look like a giant.

Rytarian females were much bigger than humans, only slightly smaller than our males.

But this female, she is not lesser because of her size. Her race has already saved us, already become a beacon of hope to many. I can't look away from her delicate features, or her kind brown eyes. I want to know her, talk to her, be with her. There are so many thing I want to learn and do now that I've seen her, not that I have the chance of having a mate.

And although I know that this female is not my mate, I want her to be. I just wish I could speak with her.

Something amazing happens very suddenly. The female smiles, a brilliant flash of lips and white teeth. My mouth drops open at such a generous display of joy. This female is perfect, I'm sure of it.

"Hi there." She says, the words loud and clear through the glass and my translation chip. I want to respond, want to tell her a million things, but I can not.

She won't understand. My language and hers are so entirely different. There are so many things about us that are different.

"Hello." I say, and of course her face scrunches in confusion. I wince. I don't know what exactly I was expecting. "What are you doing here by yourself, female?"

It's the sort of question I don't expect to be answered, but I'm curious nevertheless. If the males were so cautious about our appearance in the forest, maybe they should be a little more protective of their females. I would think they would keep each and every one accounted for.

But no, here's this little one, completely alone. I suppose it's becoming a pattern with this nest.

I don't like it.

I suddenly notice that the female is staring at something behind me, as if she's answering with her eyes. I look away, staring up at the sky that she's watching. The stars blink down on the trees and grass, lighting the whole night sky with their brilliant shine.

So, she's come to see the stars. I think of the ship that brought us here and how I could show her exactly how beautiful the stars can be when you're flying past them.

Somehow, I hope that I can take her with me. I can only wish that one day soon she'll know all about space travel, because she'll leave with me. I hope that she would want that.

I notice when I turn back around that the female is gone. I let my hand slide down slowly, disappointed at her disappearance. But, I'm determined to see her again.

I'll just have to come back tomorrow.