She was out of breath by the time she reached the training hall. The weighted armor took a toll on her. Asha bent over with a hand on the building for support. As she caught her breath, she looked over at a group of young males. They were tipping a small transport vehicle and scaling the side of the building to impress passing females.

Asha knew she'd never be like them. She'd never be as fast or as strong. She'd never be as fearless or pain-tolerant. She'd never live up to be what a yautja female was supposed to be, so there was so use trying. She let her hand slip off the wall. Rather than go in and train, she headed to the market instead.

The market was crowded and dangerous. There were more males than ever now that many had returned from hunts for the mating season. She had to be careful not to get her feet stopped on or get too close to the animals. When she took a step back, she accidentally bumped into someone and heard a weapon charge up. The male growled but turned away.

Asha let out a breath only to have it get stuck in her throat. Two yautjas came barreling between tents, mandibles splayed and muscles bulging. They narrowly avoided hitting tables and carts as the crowd parted out of their way. They went to the ground. Asha would have gone with them if a bystander hadn't yanked her out of their path.

Heat surged up her cheeks into her ears when one of them mounted the other. She hadn't even noticed it was a male and female fighting. She should have known better. Asha tore her eyes away and put some distance between her and the mating couple.

"Asha?"

Her eyes bounced around the crowd before spotting Ain in front of his tent, "Oh, hey."

"The musk is thick today."

"Mmm-hmm." Asha stole a curious look back at the mating couple, but embarrassment turned her face red again.

"You'll see that more often towards the end of the season. Females that have not been bred lose the will to resist. Males that haven't had a mate will become more bold. With that sort of sexual tension, don't be surprised if you see a pile-up."

Asha rubbed her hand on her neck, "I'm still getting used to the whole sex in the street thing. Now you're telling me I might witness an alien orgy?"

Ain let out a trill, picking up on her humor.

"Do you do it out in the open like that?"

"I have, but I prefer to stalk and corner my mates." He growled as he came closer, forcing Asha to take steps back. "I like to get them alone, in the dark, where there won't be any interruptions."

He stepped down on the very end of her shoe, pinning her as he brought his body close. Right as she tried to yank her foot back, he let off pressure. Asha went stumbling backward into the canvas of the tent. The door wasn't secured shut. The fabric gave way, and she ended up on her ass inside his tent.

"If you don't protest, I'll take you here and now."

Asha swatted at his silhouette in the dim lighting, "Stop joking around Ain."

The air was still and silent.

"Ain?"

He peeled back the cloth door, letting in the light.

Asha stood and brushed herself off, "Thanks, now my butt is sore."

He grunted.

"You know your way around the market, right? Where can I find one of those mesh bodysuits?"

"The homeostasis netting is designed to withstand hunting conditions. There are smaller options available if you're looking to control your body temp."

"Well, actually it's for Uh'luka."

His mandibles splayed as a growl climbed from his throat, "Females do not give males gifts. Typically, it's the other way around."

"I know...and I'm still mad at him, but I'm going to buy it anyway. So if you'd help me, I'd appreciate it."

Ain grumbled again but then pointed, "Head that direction. As you've noticed, the vendors are aligned in rings. The second ring in, you'll see a female selling what you need."

"Thank you."

Just as she turned, her nose came close to a pair of katanas strapped to a male's back. She swung her arms back and even used her toes for balance, "Oops."

"Be careful." Ain hissed.

Even though the market was crowded and dangerous, Asha liked it there the most. Her imagination could run wild. Her eyes danced from table to table. There were strips of meat, pink but with hints of green iridescence. There were spiky fruits shaped like teardrops. There were stone artifacts that depicted sentient beings she'd never even heard of.

In the market, nothing was the same, and she was in a constant state of awe.

After plenty of distractions, Asha found the merchant with the homeostasis netting. Just as she'd finished the transaction, her eyes spotted a bromeliad on the edge of the nearby stand. The whole plant looked like the top of a pineapple. The flower was a similar shape but was bright red. Asha felt the leaves between her fingers.

Once she saw the price, she could have fainted, "Why is it so expensive?"

"It is from Earth."

"So? You guys always pick up stuff from hunts. This is a common houseplant."

"The planet is on lockdown until its new status is decided, so the prices have gone up. Do you want the plant or not?"

"Earth's status? What do you mean?"

"Earth was a hunting preserve—our intention was to keep everything as it was, without oomans knowing our existence. That status may change now since badbloods attacked Earth."

"Badbloods attacked Earth? When? What happened?"

The female sat down on her stool, "Ooman, take a breath. The planet and its inhabitants are still there."

"Tell me what you know."

Asha listened to the news about her home planet. She didn't ask questions. She just stood there calmly. When the vendor was finished speaking, Asha thanked the female and walked away.

She kept walking until she looked up and saw the sun was setting. She had no choice but to return home. Uh'luka was out on the front porch waiting for her. She didn't make eye contact as she went inside. He followed behind her, making that vibratory purr to calm her.

When she whipped around to face him, Uh'luka stopped dead in his tracks with his head turned to the side in submission. He didn't want a fight. Neither did she. Asha closed her eyes and let out a breath.

"I don't know when you were planning on telling me, but I found out about what happened on Earth."

Uh'luka's jaw barely moved and Asha held up a hand to stop him from speaking.

"Don't...No excuses."

His four mandibles tucked against his mouth.

"Here." Asha thrust the homeostasis netting into his hands.

"I am grateful."

His hand rose to her face with a purr. Uh'luka's knuckles brushed down her cheek to her collar bone, putting butterflies in her stomach. She looked up at him like she did the moon and the stars--with awe and longing. The gentle side of Uh'luka had her swooning. She had to remind herself of his other nature.

Asha took a step back.

His hand remained suspended in the air a moment before it to his side, "Is there no chance of regaining my honor?"

"I don't know, Uh'luka. I don't know about us. I don't know about anything anymore. I've made too many excuses for you as it is."

"Nothing I did was meant to cause you harm."

"I know."

"Is that not enough? Do you want me to leave?"

Asha dropped her head.

Uh'luka took a small step forward, "I've made poor choices, tarnished my honor, but I feel more like myself every day I spend with you."

"That's what I should want." The thought of him walking out the door and never seeing him again made her throat tight and her chest ache, "But I don't."

Without another word, Asha hurried to her room and shut the door. She showered and changed for bed quickly. However, once she was under furs, she ended up lying there with her eyes open. If she slept, she'd likely have nightmares. If she stayed awake, she'd think about Uh'luka. She wasn't sure which one she wanted to escape more.