The door slammed with the impact of the eldest child barreling into it, and Pa huffed, rubbing his forehead. "I will take you when I leave, but I will wait until you are done to head back. Ayma anakabote bon?"

"Bateanaka bon!" Ayma giggled, taking her seat next to Pa as Ma came in with their youngest, the two of them conversing in their native language.

"Ake! Anakabote bon?" the youngest chirped, and I looked over at Pa, hoping for some form of translation.

"She is asking you how you are. Enji, you know Jake does not understand our language. He has never learned." His head tipped towards Ma as she settled into the chair across from Pa and next to me, and I nodded at Enji, shifting in my chair to get comfortable.

"I’m alright Enji, me and Ma took a little trip." Enji tilted her head like a dog in confusion before her features dawned in realization.

"Ake you went on a trip without me? Botebefku!" She plopped down her seat, and a sharp pain ripped up my legs, causing me to involuntarily yelp in pain.

"Enji nasdu wemtiko puronbe! Nasduipetataku emina questina ehpatabe!" Ma snapped, her native tongue sounding harsh, and Enji shrunk down in her chair, looking sheepish.

"Eh Ma, basudeto bon."

"Boteto, batz en."

Enji nodded, and glanced over at me, muttering the same phrase again under her breath. After looking back at Ma, whose eyes were lit with a fire, she flinched and muttered it again, but loud enough to be audible.

"Can Jack understand you?" Pa said calmly, serving himself some of the chili while Ayma twiddled her fingers, cheeks bronze and eyes downcast.

"Sorry Jack," Enji whimpered, tears threatening to spill down her cheeks while she still refused to look at me.

"It’s alright," I sighed, my chest tightening as the first tear fell, carving a path down her cheek. The table held a tense and awkward silence as food as dished out, the family that hosted me taking portions almost three times the size of mine.

"So what were you two up to today?" I asked Ayma after everyone had started eating, the silence starting to weigh down my shoulders.

"Playing in the mud." she muttered, glancing over at Enji with a sly smile playing on her lips.

"Ayma was about to shove me in the pit when Ma showed up," Enji giggled, wrinkling her nose at Ayma, who joined in her sisters giggles.

"Was not!"

"Was too!"

The two sisters sat there bickering about what was and wasn’t about to happen before Ma had grabbed them for dinner, and Pa turned to me, his eyes aglow with worry.

"Are you alright?" I nodded, rubbing my left leg under the table, using my right hand to eat. "Think you can still make the trip?" I started to answer but Enji cut in asking what trip we were taking.

"We’re going to the capital so that Pa ca-."

"Pa you said I could come with next time you went!" Ayma snapped, cutting me off. Pa gave her a leveled stare but she didn’t back down, instead standing up to face him. "You promised Pa."

"Ayma you know that the carriage only carries two when I’m going to market, and Jack needs to make the trip with me." Pa kept his voice level and indifferent, which only seemed to infuriate Ayma further.

"But what about me picking up an apprenticeship? What about me looking for schooling? Is whatever Jack plans on doing more important than that?" She growled, clenching her fists. Pa sighed and responded in their language, but Ayma shook her head. "No Pa I want Jack to understand. If he goes with you I will have to wait another cycle before I can go and that means that I might as well wait until next kiban when places are accepting again but by then I will be too old for most to take me in. This is my one chance and you are throwing it away for Jack! I do not want to stay here and work agriculture!" Ayma’s voice grew in volume as she went on, the anger practically radiating off her small frame. I could feel Pa’s eyes on me but I continued looking down, avoiding the eyes of anyone in the family.

"Ayma basudeto bon." Ayma deflated in disappointment, flopping back down into her chair, her dagger eyes poised at me.

The rest of the meal went on in silence, the only sound being the clink of silverware on plates and Ayma’s occasional huffs.

After dinner the kids went back out to play while the rest of us set to cleaning up.

"I am sorry about how Ayma behaved," Pa sighed, not taking his eyes off of the dishes he was washing. "It is hard to watch dreams die and Ayma has been wanting this for cycles, but it can wait a little longer," I nodded, sweeping the dust outside.

"What do you mean your carriage can only carry two when you’re going to market?"

"Produce takes up most of the carriage. I only leave room on the bench so there is somewhere to steer."

"But couldn’t we squeeze her in as well? I’m not very big after all." Pa contemplated it for a few moments before shaking his head.

"It would not be comfortable. Ayma has waited this long and can wait longer." He paused, looking at me. "Also, human concepts like she do not apply to our species. There is no he or she, only Agrodlese."

"Then how do you have kids?" Pa started laughing, the sound deep and hearty. My face heated with a blush and I rolled my eyes, turning away. "You don’t have to laugh you know." Pa shook his head, smiling.

"There is much room for learning with you. I would teach if you would listen." I wrinkled my nose and shook my head, resulting in another laugh from Pa. "Did not think so."

We finished the rest of cleaning in silence, and afterwards headed to our separate rooms for sleep, and the moment my door was shut I flopped on the mattress they dared call a bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind found a way to Collin, and how he would have made a comment about the bed being better here than on the ship, and also him chiding me for being rude. It brought a smile to my lips and tears to my eyes to think of him and his views. Everything about my surroundings would invoke a different reaction from both of us. He would be fascinated by how the trees seemed to whisper, how there was almost no wildlife minus the vegetation, and the elfish ears of my hosts. He’d be terrified of the pets they kept, seeing as how their favorite was a three foot tall spider, which was apparently a common pet, and I’d laugh because he only knew what spiders were from books. He’d find a way to get to the city because it was our responsibility to keep our people safe from the creatures here. I started hearing the muffled sound of Ayma crying, and I couldn’t help but think that Ayma had been right. A knot formed in my stomach and I stood up, pacing the length of the room. I was taking away Ayma’s chance of doing something in life, and it wasn’t fair. I was a stranger and an intruder, what right did I have to cut in?

A searing pain tore through my left leg and I hissed, supporting myself on the closest object as I slid to the ground, leg throbbing and going numb. My mind switched back to Collin, and how he would probably think of this differently as well. He wouldn’t push himself and would probably never stop thanking my hosts for being able to fix my shattered legs. I on the other hand, wish they could have done it better. If nothing else I wish I had lost the ability to feel them because the pain was starting to get ridiculous.

Eventually, after I was sure everyone had gone to sleep, I left my room, limping down the hall to stop by the kid’s room, listening to them shift in their sleep. From there I moved to Ma and Pa’s room, Pa’s snoring just quiet enough to be mostly muffled by the door. I clenched my fists, leaning against the wall as I just listened, thinking about what to do.

One of the things that Pa said pushed its way to the front of my mind and I smiled, getting up and starting to pack my bag. If it was a two hour ride then it wouldn’t be impossible to walk and I could get there in no time. I couldn’t help but smile, pushing off the wall as I went to gather my things and snag some food and water for the trip, along with my cane. I thought about leaving a note thanking them, but I decided against it considering I had no idea how to speak their language let alone write it. After doing one last check around the room I had been staying in, I left, the pain almost dull enough to be forgotten.