The robed figure in front of her wore a red-violet scarf. They raised their hand to their eyes to shield them from the bright sun. Minji saw as they noticed her sunglasses and then pointed at them. Minji nodded and took the blue tinted aviators in her hand and held them out just as the feline in front of her held out a furry hand. She could see the dust in their fur and the tears being held back. They both looked over the shoulders after making the exchange and looked at their respective groups of children as to say “see? They aren’t bad, they aren’t scary aliens.”

“Hello, my name is Ranger Minji Yun; what’s yours?” she spoke slowly and clearly, trying to continue remaining calm while her blood pressure went through the roof.

The figure made a murmuring noise and stared at her in a mild panic, then looked over their shoulder as another figure was trying to make their way past the young cubs. This one looked gangly and like their ears were too large.

The skinny jaguar said something that was mostly vowels, purring, and clicks that had the vibe of ‘hurry up! Don’t embarrass me! C’mon!”

“Taví! Hé! Maa! Brú Tav, pffírr má! Maa!”

The figure hurried over; their robes flying up just enough to catch their “backwards” digitigrade legs. Their feet were covered in small shoes; one brown, one black, both barely holding together. The first figure looked a little impatient but not unkind as the smaller one hurried over.

Taking a deep breath, they spoke, “Salve-er… Buenas Dias! Good day! We are Felivar. Are we… am I understood?”

“Fella-far? Um good morning,” she was breathing deep and slow and so was the being in front of her. Both trying not to freak out any more or freak out the strange creature in front of them.

“Fell-lee var,” the feline person repeated as they looked into the brown eyes of the short human. They said the purring word like it was going to be forgotten. This being was cleaner than the other ones but more nervous; less confident.

They nodded while looking into Minji’s eyes. They spoke slowly with many purring sounds that seemed to accompany consonants, “We have. Have traveled from-er… from a great spá er-distance and in. In order to take refuge. Here. Ūrthu. Er-sorry, Earth.”

They were shaking like a leaf, blinking rapidly. Their shoulders were hunched as they seemed so self conscious. Every word was a strain and they hoped they were being understood.

“This… I am called Taví Hulü-Hrâa.” Said the very nervous Felivar then repeated their name slowly, “I have studied. Many languages. Though fear that they are… Old? They are no longer in use.”

The cadence was off but the effort was earnest.

“You’re doing just fine Tavy,” she said with a nod and a soft smile while her mind was screaming “what’s going on?!” But what she said was “I am Ranger Minji Yun.”

She kept her tight smile but stared at the sight in front of her of two humanoid cats and the warrior cat clutching a baby. Another voice rang out, it was worn with age and was reminiscent of her grandmother.

“Halo n-neighborrr!”

Minji looked at a stooped, frail figure buried in robes of gold and beige with huge splotches of mud. Like a priest who had been gardening or digging.

This one reminded her of a very old white cat her aunt used to have, with the telltale signs of cataracts forming and thin fur. The younger two took respectful small step back as the old one approached, hands up like an excited grandparent seeing a child.

“Halo! Halo!”

The cat was trying its best to use English as they walked behind the warrior. Tavy said something that sounded like a chirp to the elder and then, “hello, Gá-Hrúáru. Hel-low.”

The elder patted the young one’s shoulder gently as to say, ‘they knew what I said,’ and pressed their cheek to the young one. Other individuals with similar robes walked filed out of the craft, an entourage for the ‘pope.’

She watched as the aged feline prepared the gesture with the other young one. The elder then looked at her and shuffled forward before they took both of her hands, their palms and fingers were callused and the back of their hands were covered in soft white fur with faint gray tiger stripes like the rest of them.

“You arrr leaderrr?” They looked hopeful, the sweet and smokey scent of incense drifted off their dirty vestments.

“No, just of this class. Just today.”

The elder still smiled warmly. The ranger tried not to look into their blue eyes, they looked so sorrowful despite their friendly demeanor. They gave her hands a little squeeze before releasing them and taking a step back. The warrior cautiously approached now with their baby in their arm.

“Yūun?” Asked the elder excitedly. Minji nodded and the elder looked thrilled. “Rá Yúun-Ón-sh; Yūun!” they said as they patted Tavy’s shoulder more firmly as if saying “see? I told you so.”

Tavy nodded at the elder and then gestured to the warrior with the baby.

“This is Protector Ōrow Ana-nek’d”

“Oorow Anna…Naked?” She made a small smirk and Tavy frowned.

Tavy thought for a moment and then made a choice that would change how all of their people would be named.

“Ranger Minji Neighbor, please meet Protector Oorow Bobtail.”

The warrior parent gave a slight bow and then continued to dote on their baby.

The title and surname was translated so they wouldn’t lose meaning and the given name left nearly original to be recognizable.

Tavy then gestured to the elder in dirty gold and tan robes. “Meet High Priest Niikri Soft-paw.”

The High Priest slowly wiggled their ears and titled their head in a bow at the young woman, “Shær Minji Yúun, rá Yúun-Ón-sh…” they looked like an amused grandparent.

Tavy took a deep breath and gestured to the other young one, “and this is… Advisor to Education…” Tavy shook their head and then took a breath; a correction, “forgive me, Chancellor Ekoko Tornclaw.”

Tornclaw was wearing Minji’s blue tinted aviator sunglasses and grinning. They gave a sassy little wave and seemed to ask something of Tavy that sounded like a staccato meow, “Rá Yúun-Ón-sh?” Ekoko purred as Tavy’s ears twitched and nodded, “our first neighbor.”

Minji extended her hand confidently, “Welcome to Earth.”

She shook hands with all the present Felivar. Other humans were closer now, filming the moment. Tavy nodded and grasped her hand like someone being pulled from the depths, “Linguist Tavy Blackwhisker.”