Author's Note: Have I mentioned before how annoying writer's block is? I'm sure you all understand lol. Anyway, finally managed to get another chapter written, hope you all enjoy it. Sorry for the wait. Thanks for all the feedback/reviews :D

Selva's escort led her down a tunnel she hadn't seen earlier. There was very little light this deep underground, the fungus apparently not growing down here. Small rocks shifted under her feet, and she could hear water dripping somewhere ahead. The alien in front of her made small scraping sounds with his claws on the walls as he walked, perhaps to let her know that he was still close to her. She noticed that the tunnel was flat, which meant that her room was likely on the same level as the Queen's chamber. Something brushed against her right shoulder and she cried out, pressing her body against the wall of the tunnel on her left. She heard something shuffle past her and move on down the tunnel. Taking a couple of deep breaths, she stepped away from the wall and continued on. Light ahead indicated another cavern. Selva sucked in her breath sharply as she entered it. Eggs covered the floor. Corpses of large animals were being dragged out through another tunnel, each with their chest burst open. The kainde amedha leading her weaved through the eggs, cutting a path straight through the cavern towards another tunnel opposite them. Selva followed silently, doing her best not to touch the eggs. There were many kainde amedha working in the cavern; bringing eggs in, removing empty shells, babies and corpses. They all looked at her curiously but made no aggressive moves towards her. Great clumps of the glowing fungus had been brought down into the cavern to provide light.

What would we do if we chose to live here? Jovem asked, seating himself on the floor.

You will be free to do whatever you liked. You can come and go as you please, the Queen replied.

Really? Well, why do you want us to live here?

Because you belong here, with your own kind.

What about Selva? Doesn't she belong with her own kind?

She chose you to be her family over her own kind, did she not?

Well, she doesn't know what happened to her parents and she had no way of getting to her other relatives...she just prefers to live by herself, I think.

She could do that here as easily as on her own planet, right?

Yes. You seem very determined to have Selva stay.

I just don't want to split your family up.

Jovem thought about it carefully, shielding his mind easily from the Queen. She seemed genuine, but he knew instinctively that his kind could be deceitful, and he remembered what had hit him from behind when he left the burrow in the jungle. He had caught a glimpse of the three kainde amedha as they melted back into the darkness to wait for Selva to come out into the open.

Jovem? The Queen's voice was quizzical, but edged with concern.

Can we stay on a trial basis and leave if we don't like it? he asked.

Of course, you will both be free to leave at any time, the Queen reassured him.

Jovem nodded. Okay. I'll talk to Selva about it now that she's seen her room. He turned to leave.

Jovem? He paused and looked back at her. I am so glad you decided to come and meet me. He nodded and left the cavern.

The room was bigger than Selva had expected, obviously to accommodate any large guests she might have. The floor had been swept clean and covered with a thick layer of soft fur. A pile of bright feathers sat in one corner, which she assumed was to be her bed.

Her escort inclined his head at her then left the room. 'Um, thank you,' she called after him. Glancing around the empty cave, she walked over to the feathers and flopped down onto her back. The feathers were soft and warm and she sighed in contentment. A weak gurgle from beneath her made her sit up as though she'd been bitten. Kneeling beside the pile, she began to dig carefully through it with both hands. Something moved in response to her touch and she withdrew her hands quickly. Taking the knife from her belt, she pushed the feathers aside with her free hand. A bird was nestled within the feathers, shying away from her hand as she reached for it. Selva replaced the knife in her belt and carefully picked up the bird. It had been partially plucked of it's bright purple feathers and was streaked with a dry grey substance which she took to be blood.

Perhaps that is meant to be a midnight snack.

'Jovem!' Selva shrieked, nearly dropping the bird in her shock. 'Don't sneak up on me like that!'

I didn't sneak up on you, you just weren't paying attention to your surroundings, Jovem replied indignantly.

She rolled her eyes. 'I always pay attention to my surroundings, it's not my fault you're as quiet as a mouse.'

Jovem chuckled. Sure. Whatever you say. So, what're you going to do with the bird?

'I dunno. Look after it until it dies or recovers I guess. What are you doing here?'

Came to check on you, and see your room. Looks nice. Not a lot of furniture though.

'Well I wasn't expecting much,' Selva said with a giggle. 'The feather bed is nice.'

So, you like it here?

Selva sat cross-legged on the floor, cradling the bird in her lap. 'The Queen is certainly more welcoming than I was expecting her to be. What do you want to do?'

I would like to stay for a while at least, Jovem admitted. Would you feel safe here?

'If you're close to me until I feel comfortable,' Selva replied with a sheepish grin.

I wouldn't have it any other way. I need to know you're safe all the time. Family first.

'We'd better go tell Kar'ja our decision,' Selva said.

You know, if we decide not to stay, we'll have no way of getting back to Earth.

'Yeah, I know. I'm sure I can survive in this jungle, especially with you by my side.' Selva stood up, smiling.

I thought you would have been a bit more apprehensive.

'I'm just glad we've made a decision, for better or for worse. Exploring a new planet will be fun anyway.'

Kar'ja stared at Selva in disbelief. She had to be insane. No-one in their right mind would willingly live in a kainde amedha hive.

'It has got to be a trap!' he finally managed to splutter.

'I'll be fine. The Queen seems genuine. Besides, Jovem isn't going to let me out of his sight,' Selva replied reassuringly.

'What if they do not give him a choice? You are going to be severely outnumbered,' Kar'ja argued.

'We'll be fine. What were you going to do with us, anyway? At least this way you'll know where we are and that I can't tell any other humans about you.'

Kar'ja stared at her, then his shoulders slumped in defeat. 'Fine. Good luck,' he said, turning his back on them and strolling back towards the ship.

Selva gazed after his retreating back. 'I thought he would have said a proper goodbye at least,' she said quietly. Jovem placed a claw on her shoulder. 'Oh, well. Let's go,' she said, forcing herself to sound happy.