It wasn't long before the suns would peek over the edge of the horizon. The people of Spargus usually start getting up around this time to do errands and putting their stalls up before it gets too uncomfortable.

Jen wasn't up just yet. Her arm was stuck beneath Poofy's leg. Eyes heavy with sleep, she kept tugging, to no avail. Well, the powers from above decided to make this one of her bad days. She lashed out and cut Poofy on the muzzle. Seconds later, she was hunched over the chamber pot, retching.

While she experienced pain and soreness during the past month, her nerves were now on fire. 'This is not going to be fun.' Feeling a surge of anger rising up, Jen bit down on her left palm for distraction. 'God fucking dammit! I don't need this!'

Cleaning up with the last of her water, her mind kicked into business;

How did Dolly have the equipment to examine DNA?

Going to scout out a place deeper in the desert, just in case things go south.

Need to see the ottsels or Seem about eco lessons or something. May be flashy right now, but control is something to be desired.

What is the reason behind offering me citizenship so fast?

Going to earn the other two battle amulets.

Need to learn how to use the radio.

Not to mention memorizing the difference between the English and Precursorian script.

Need to get armor. And where the hell did the car go?!

Poofy snarled, glaring at the door, that's when the sound of knocking registered. Jen quickly chucked her shirt on and tossed the sleeping bag over the crocadog's face as a distraction.

Slipping outside, Jen was met with the sight of Lucy holding a child. Sister? Daughter? "Thanks for saving Mama and Papa!"

"Teeka! I told you to wait." Lucy admonished.

Giving the little one a glance over, bronze hair set in braids, face splattered in freckles, rosy cheeks, golden orbs filled with such innocence and naivety. Little pointed ears that will surely grow out, red shirt, brown pants and a little brown messenger bag hanging off a shoulder.

Cupping a hand at her ear, "S'fine Lu. Wacha need?"

Lucy had a look on her face, like inspecting an unknown variable. In fact, it seems like all of Spargus was distracted for a while. It served Jen a temporary advantage to adjust being around people again. "Just dropping something off." Teeka looked so happy from just the act of passing food over.

They were quick to move on, the little one needing to be dropped off at school. 'A school here does make sense. Put people together and they will breed. Not too many children here like an average place back on Earth, but children nonetheless.' Biting into the meaty pastry, Jen made a note to put her gloves back on, it looked like someone tried to eat her hands. Ignoring the disgust churning in her stomach, she snarfed down a few more bites and tossed the half-eaten food in the air. Poofy snapped up the treat. Planting a smooch on his muzzle, Jen finished getting dressed.

It wasn't long before someone knocked on the door again. It was Sig. "Hope you slept well. How come you didn't answer your…" "HISSS!" WHAM!

Leaning against the closed door, Jen smiled at Sig, who was now multiple steps away. "How come I didn't answer my what?"

TT

"How do you manage that thing?"

"Good morning to you too, Edith. No growling Poofy. In you go. He's not the only ornery animal I dealt with."

Watching the crocadog take a running leap into the water, and nearly smashing its brethren, made Jen think back to her life before all this. A big piece of land, patches of fertile soil hidden in the odd crevice, a river the dogs and horses love to go wading in, people getting lost or trespassing at any given moment and having to hunt them down. Huh, maybe with enough time to learn the surrounding lands and to train Poofy, maybe she can do search and rescue here . . .

"You didn't answer your radio earlier." Taking a step away and clapping her hands over her aids, "Don't know how to use it," Poofy gave a great shake, soaking Jen and Edith, "After you put your menace back in the pen, the King wants to see you."

"Again?" And she was being glared at again, by multiple people. Lovely. "What?"

"Don't go disrespecting the King lassie."

"Haven't been raised under a dictatorship."

Screaming overtook any talking. Apparently, a squid somehow slithered up to the coastline unnoticed and snagged multiple children.

Jen didn't need any prompting. She just started pumping eco and dove after the children. It was just a moment where the body knew what to do. Landing several solid punches to the squid's head had it releasing its grip.

Clinging onto the rocks jutting out of the water, the children watched as the newest and currently the most gossiped member of Spargus pummel the wayward cephalopod. Not many come this close to the city because of the one residing in the cove. It was beyond large for its species. Not that it mattered right now. What mattered is the eco field being projected.

All living things have eco. Each type lets out a certain frequency. Everything is connected and attracted by eco. Eco fields can spread and mingle. Most of the time it will retract back to the original source. Sometimes the links stay. And those become something precious. The eco clings together, forming something permanent. It can go multiple ways. Children will connect to their blood family and sometimes to those they consider family. If one becomes an orphan, their fields will flare out in search for a new guardian. Other times, it helps one find their life partner. Some call it a soul bond, others call it finding their chosen.

Unknowingly, Jen has been leaking massive amounts of eco. It led to having almost everyone in a bit of a haze and distracted. And now, both types of bonds have been made. The family bond with the children, and the Chosen with of person who came rushing with multiple others. The Chosen clenched his jaw and pushed the calling aside.

Jen took a moment to look up to see the children being hauled up, only to have the world turn upside down. The squid slammed its fleshy limb down once before retreating under fire.

TT

Jen never did enjoy being in the med bay. Sure, the week she spent in there at first helped her rest up. But now, it's making her skin crawl. The only thing making it bearable was knowing that kids are safe. They're safe. 'And they are currently squishing me.' As soon the all clear was given, the four kids piled on, clinging like koalas. "Will you be our Den Mother?" Say what?! "Excuse me?"

No one noticed the way one person looked at the group with pure disgust.

Author's Note:

Chapter's a bit short. Just happy I got something out.

Here's a link of Teeka: Teeka by BonnieKF on DeviantArt