Her squirming came to an abrupt halt when her stomach crackled as if it had its personal storm.

Vrox glanced down at her with wide eyes when shameful realization dawned on him. "Fathers and fates!" he whispered. "I forgot to feed you. Forgive me."

His brow split to accommodate his despair, making her laugh for completely different reasons.

"It's alright. It's not like you killed my puppy."

His arms tensed. "Will that happen if I do not feed you fast enough?"

Something told her that Vrox didn't know what a puppy was.

"What? No. I'm okay. Pinky promise."

He ran back to the seating area of the camp, placing her on one of the logs that surrounded the pile of burnt wood.

"I will be back!" he declared before running toward the crop field. It surprised her how his loincloth didn't slip off his hips.

She shook her head but was unable to dismiss her smile from her face. She watched at Rokan and Kyros, who stood by a section of the wall and inspected a damaged log. Ni'ev was nowhere in sight, but she was used to his mysteriousness.

She thought of touring the territory, but all thoughts about exploring faded once she skimmed her eyes over the wooden panels that gated the entrance. While she was cocooned with safety and making out with her hot alien, Nebula was getting dragged through Ezron's wilderness by Ezron's twisted crown prince. She doubted that the brute Ak was giving her eskimo kisses.

"Female."

She turned to Vrox. He was seated beside her, offering a different type of fruit. She took it without asking questions. It didn't matter what this fruit was because Nebula was probably eating scraps.

She fussed with the pomegranate-like ball, trying to figure out how to peel it. Vrox took it into his own hands and peeled it for her before promptly returning it. She nibbled on it, her joy stumped. It tasted sour, but she reminded herself that she was in no place to complain.

Ever so often, she spat a seed out and kicked dirt over it.

"What is it that you are doing?"

She covered another seed.

"I'm covering them with dirt. Maybe they'll grow to a plant one day."

Vrox grinned and pet her hair the same way he used to do back when he thought that she was a boy.

"That is not how planting works."

She shrugged. "I never saw much greenery on Earth, so I guess that's where the urge comes from."

Vrox reached down for an ankle, pulling it to his lap to inspect her healed injury. The scab had been replaced by pink skin, promising that it would be as good as new in a day or two.

"This looks good," he mused, turning her foot slightly to get a new angle. "Are you sure that you do not need paste for your slit?"

"My slit," she echoed. "Is not injured."

"But it is bleeding. When will it stop?"

"In about five days."

Vrox squirmed in his seat, still discomforted by her vagina's hobbies.

"There are many things about you that I like, but this is not one of them."

"Oh yeah?" she returned. "What do you like, then?"

It didn't take him long to reply. "Your height, for one. It is easy to snatch you because your tiny legs cannot carry you away from me. Then there is your body. It is plum. Your chest balls, for instance–"

She snorted. "They're called breasts, remember?"

Vrox nodded, dropping his eyes to the area of interest. "I like those very much."

"Would you like some of your own?" she teased.

Horror wrinkled his face. "No. I already have two balls. I do not need more."

She laughed at this, taking another bite of her sour breakfast.

Her eyes shifted back to the gate. "Hey, do you think Draekon will catch up to Nebula and Ak soon?"

"I do not know. Draekon is a good hunter, but Ak is relentless."

Her mood became as sour as the bootleg pomegranate that she was eating. Silence filled the space between them until her stomach called out for attention once more.

"Eat faster," Vrox demanded, taking her wrist gently and guiding it to her lips. "I do not want you to get ill."

"Relax. I won't die."

"I need to take care of you," he pushed her, eyes narrowing with intent. "You are too precious."

Although his words were as precious as he accused her of being, they cushioned her chest with panic instead of joy. A dark thought took root, invading happiness.

What exactly did Vrox find precious about her, other than her breasts and fertile womb? Was he star-struck because she was the only female on Ezron? Were his feelings for her just superficial?

Insecurity stabbed, making her smile bleed until her lips were left parted with questions.

"I think I'm full," she mumbled, passing the pomegranate to him.

Vrox looked ready to argue. Not wanting to hear any of it, she rushed to her feet and began her way back to their dwelling.

"Kira?"

"I need a moment. I'll give you more eskimos later," she tossed over her shoulder.

"I do not want that," he dismissed. "I want to make sure that you are alright. Do you need water?"

"I need a moment," she repeated, before disappearing into the cave.

Vrox remained standing, torn between following the female and giving her the space that she requested. He didn't exactly have much experience when it came to dealing with women.

"Why are you standing here, looking stupid?"

He looked at Kyros, wishing that he had an answer to offer.

"Kira is acting strange."

"The being bleeds from between her thighs without dying, Vrox. Everything she does is strange."

With a grumble, Vrox accepted his brother's words. "What is the situation with the damaged wood? Do you need me to get a log to replace it?"

"No need," Kyros assured. "Ni'ev is on it."

Vrox resumed staring at the cave entrance, wondering why his female had turned cold within seconds. What was he supposed to do? None of his brothers ever flipped moods so quickly.

"Let let Kira bleed in peace," Kyros suggested.

"If you make another comment about what happens under her skirt, I will drown you in your own blood."

Kyros exhaled, smiling with satisfaction. "The mornings are not fresh without you, Vrox."

Vrox's attention moved to Rokan, who was approaching the gate. He wished that Draekon and Nebula walked through it because he knew Kira would be pleased. Instead, a fidgety Ni'ev crossed over.

Vrox rushed to the entrance, knowing that something was wrong. It took a great force to shake Ni'ev. Something had happened to bring a split to the male's brow.

"What is it?" he asked, turning his speed-walking to a jog.

Ni'ev looked over his shoulder. "I saw someone nearby."

Vrox looked over his own shoulder, focusing on his cave. If any male got a whiff of the female that was inside, they would bring a war of jealousy and greed their way.

His lips began running, throwing question after question at Ni'ev. "Where? How many men? Are you sure it was not Draekon or Ak? The female, perhaps?"

Ni'ev shook his head. "No. It was an older man."

Vrox's gums ached for a taste of blood. The mere possibility of Kira being taken was enough to awaken the worst in him. He would slay anyone that threatened to take her– even an elder.

He was the only Ezronian that would provide for the Terran female that had a strange hobby of kicking dirt over seeds and bleeding without dying. Although he had thousands of jewels in his chest, Kira shone far brighter than his entire collection.

"Get hunting gear," he instructed Ni'ev. "We are going out."