Chapter 6

Temura silently sat at the table among her more lively comrades. The last time it was like this was when her mother Tsuyuki lived, but the liveliness died along with her thus leaving a hole in the Tempurnian's heart. No matter how much she tried to be happy, Temura felt incomplete and this scene was bringing back memories of those times. Tears started to form in her eyes but she blinked them away, not wanting to let her friends see her tears.

The meal Kai made was beef stew with carrots, potatoes and corn. Everyone else seemed to be enjoying it except the Orange Ranger. Was it either grief, homesickness, nostalgia or all three? She couldn't tell but it felt like it were all three rolled in one that made her feel that way. Kendrix looked over at Temura and noticed that she didn't eat her fill, despite the 23-year-old's stomach's numerous protests of being fed. Concern flooded the Pink Ranger's face when she saw her head down.

"Are you okay, Temura?" Kendrix asked her which also caught the attention of the others.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Kendrix," Temura replied, having been snapped out of her thoughts for the second time in a row today. "I was lost in thought. I guess I was having a nostalgic moment when my parents and I used to eat together like this, but that was a long time ago. I didn't mean to worry you and the others."

The blonde smiled as Temura grabbed her spoon and scooped up a bit of the stew then started eating, "I'm sure everyone has a nostalgic moment for things like this and you're not worrying us."

Hearing the Pink Ranger's words made her feel somewhat better but not completely. The stew was so good that the dual-eyed/streaked brunette couldn't help but want seconds after finishing her portion of lunch. Kai told her there was no need to ask and to help herself for more beef stew. Temura sat back down in her seat after a small line of some of the other Rangers had formed behind her.

When she was done with her second helping of food, the Orange Ranger cleaned her bowl out in the sink and proceeded to walk back to the Forest Dome alone, but not before telling the rest of the group where she was going. A sigh passed through her lips as the young woman walked through the base's hallways to her destination. Once there, Temura sat on a low hanging branch on one of the artificial trees in the dome. Even though the Rangers had welcomed her with open arms, she still felt like an outcast as doubt and loneliness were eating away at her. She fiddled with a loose piece of bark in her hands until the Tempurnian saw Kitsumi appear from the corner of her eye.

"What ails you today, Lady Temura?" The giant fox asked with concern in her voice, if someone else was standing there it would've sounded like an extremely loud yip from an actual fox. She was genuinely worried about the rookie Power Ranger even though she vowed to protect the brunette.

"I don't know why, Kitsumi, but even though the Rangers accepted me I still feel like a pariah other than being homesick," Temura spoke to her Galactabeast that was the same color as her vest and spandex suit.

"You are afraid that others aside from the Rangers will judge you from your appearance and cast you aside, correct?"

Temura bit her bottom lip and nodded bitterly at the question. Kitsumi lowered her head slightly before gently nudging the young woman's leg as her way of cheering up the depressed Ranger. "It is not your fault that you look slightly different from everyone else. You were born to a race on a planet leagues away from this colony where everyone looks nearly the same as you or similar and were born with abilities no mere human has. It takes time for humans to accept change and/or difference, though it may not be initial at first. Let your actions determine whether or not you are worthy to be judged."

The Tempurnian sat there for a while and let the words sink in for a bit to understand their meaning.'I guess I'll have to wait a while and see what happens.'

'That is correct, Lady Temura,' Kitsumi telepathically replied to her, nearly shocking the Orange Ranger somewhat but Temura expected it.

"Wow so this is your Galactabeast huh, Temura?" A voice called out from behind her, prompting Temura to turn around and see Leo and Maya standing right behind her while marveling at Kitsumi. Temura scooted herself off the branch she was just sitting on until she landed on the ground to face the two.

"Yes," the Tempurnian nodded at the Red and Yellow Rangers while rubbing one of Kitsumi's forelegs. "This is Kitsumi from my planet Tempurnia. She was entrusted to me by the goddess of my planet Nefia. Kitsumi, these are my two friends Leo and Maya. The others are probably busy with other things."

Both Leo and Maya waved at the orange fox who bowed her head and spoke to them in their minds. 'Hello there, Leo and Maya. It is a pleasure to meet you two Rangers.'

Both Rangers were surprised to see and hear a Galactabeast that could use telepathy. The others practically couldn't and could only speak with their "hearts" to their own Galactabeasts. Temura tried not to laugh at her friends' faces, but their priceless expressions were causing giggles to seep slowly from her lightly shaking form.

"Kitsumi can use telepathy to communicate with others," the Orange Ranger spoke after having regained her composure. "I just found out not too long ago, and she's really nice unless you try to harm me in any way, shape or form."

"You two have been helping Lady Temura adjust to the colony I trust?"

"Not yet but we'll try," Leo replied to the giant vulpine as he put a hand on the Tempurnian's shoulder with a friendly grin on his face. She couldn't help but lightly blush at how handsome Leo was with his charming smile that it made her heart melt a little.

'So handsome just like Kai,' Temura thought dreamily but inwardly caught herself thinking and shook the thought away. The other three saw the blush on her face and became concerned.

"Temura, are you alright? Your face is a little red," Maya spoke up as she touched the Orange Ranger's forehead to check for a fever but found nothing.

"Hm? Oh I'm fine, Maya. There's been so much going on today, that I have gotten a bit tired from it. I guess I'll head back and rest," Temura tried to stifle a yawn but it slipped out. She turned around and waved at Kitsumi, then walked with the other Rangers to the Dome's entrance and proceeded to their sleeping quarters. Once there, the red-and-blue streaked/eyed brunette began thinking about how her family was doing back on Tempurnia.

'I bet they're worried about me, especially Father since he can't marry me off to anyone anymore. But Cresana has been like a sister to me more than a cousin so I'm sure she misses me more than him. I wonder if I help the others save the Universe along with Terra Venture, then I could go back home?'

A lump formed in her throat while a pang of loneliness and sadness struck the Orange Ranger like an arrow hitting a bull's-eye. She turned on her side then silently drifted off into a fitful sleep, tired from the two battles that she fought in one day and everything else since her arrival.

A/N: I'm sorry if this is short after working on this chapter for the months while I was away. This is all I could come up with every chance I got at finally sitting down on my bed and try to spend as much of my concentration on it, but it's kinda hard to when I have like 99 other things on my mind.(Not really but you understand what I'm talking about.) Anyways, my head's starting to hurt from thinking too much and I'm gonna give it a break for tonight. So goodnight and laters.