A colony of Phloran peoples that are a break-away from their normal polity are more open to strangers, albeit very carefully to avoid being eaten. They invite Xue to bring the child to the colony to learn to care for the child.
@internutter/challenge-03341-i053-not-so-much-bullrush -- Anon Guest
Sprout wore Toxic Colours, as well as a patch that was their family crest. A Masked Lapwing, rampant[1], and the words, Death to All Threats on the scrolling underneath. Black for the fields of space, red for the blood spilled by the ancestors, and brown for the people[2].
Rennie Xue always held Sprout's hand whenever they made port. They always had their guard up, ready to meet any hostility with equal and opposite injuries.
Rennie Xue was looking for something very important and, in the meantime, doing their best. "You're not of my body, Sprout," Rennie said every night as they took their rest. "You are of my heart and spirit, and that's just as important. You are mine, and while I can fight, I will keep you safe." Not that anyone wanted to mess with Rennie.
And then, one day while Rennie was talking to other people on the comms, there was a whoop of joy.
"YES! Finally! I found us a roost, my dearie."
A roost. A nest. A place to belong. No more wandering, just somewhere to stay. And since Rennie trusted it, it had to be very, very good. It was a renegade Phloran colony that had become "corrupt" according to the parental polity. They traded with, talked to, and cohabited with deadly plant-eaters! The horror.
But they were also willing to host a mad Human[3] and their adopted plant child, and that was the important part. Sprout could go to school, and learn the proper way of being themself. They would no longer be learning Phlorian from a Human who could barely pronounce it and a computer that was probably getting it wrong.
The only objection that Rennie had was that it was in a gravity well. A planet! A whole planet of Phlorans and Humans and other Galactics just... getting along. Sprout was excited.
Rennie didn't trust the open skies, and slunk along the streets under the cover of any eaves they could find. "Look at that," Rennie grumbled. "No shielding, no Hungry Caterpillar, they just let meteors fall through the air like it isn't worth the bother. Waste."
Sprout gasped at the rude word. "Rennie! Manners!"
"Sorry, my love. Some things deserve a cuss or two. I'll try to keep it down." Consulting a map, Rennie turned a corner and scurried across to another shelter and there, in bright and friendly rainbows, was Sprout's first school. "You see those sails? They're not much shelter, but you run for them if you see anything very bright in the sky. I'm not having my little treasure wrecked by falling rocks."
Sprout sighed and said, "Yes, Rennie," in slightly bored tones. It would not matter how often Rennie saw the edutainment regarding meteors and atmospheres, a lifelong Spacer just didn't trust that easily.
There were little Phlorans playing with Galactics of all stripes, including Humans. Nobody was eating anyone, and several adults were watching the play, prepared to act if anything went amiss.
Rennie loomed as Sprout introduced themself to the others, but eased back at the Educators' urgings. They taught all children how to behave themselves properly, here.
It would be two more weeks before Rennie stopped coming by to supervise.
[1] People who know Masked Lapwings would call it rampaging.
[2] Space is the biggest melting pot of all, making hues of brown the most common skin colour amongst Humanity.
[3] Many view this description as redundant.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / semmickphoto]
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