Author's Note: I'm really sorry about how long this story is taking, but I really do enjoy going into detail and bringing in all sorts of new things when I can.

OOOOOOO

The flight didn't really take all that long by Jumper, and Kale, who was seated in the copilot's seat, gave easy to follow directions. Once they were close to the site (and they were now over a heavily forested area that Mitchell hadn't yet explored by foot or flight), she could see several other Light Ones circling the area like a small group over overly large vultures, high enough to be above the canopy of trees and low enough that Melony didn't have to worry about crashing into one of them.

"There they are," Sam said from her position behind Kale.

"There is a clearing just ahead," Char added, pointing. Because he was a flyer by nature, Char had no problem figuring out where he was while they were in the air – even though he wasn't doing the flying himself.

Melony turned and saw the clearing, and the other Light Ones veered off from their circling to give her space to land. A few moments later, they were settling to the ground – as were the large birds – and Mitchell unbuckled her safety harness, all the while listening to Talon telling her to hurry.

I am hurrying. Stop nagging.

I'm not nagging

Yes, you are.

No, I'm not. Hurry up, I want to see-

You're nagging.

Fine. I'm nagging. Let's go!

She grinned, and followed the others to the rear hatch and down the ramp, where they were met by the other Light Ones; all male, and all naked. While Sam hadn't really become all that accustomed to it, Melony was, and she smiled at the way Carter kept trying to find someplace – anyplace – else to look.

"Which way?" Melony asked Kale, who had come up beside her.

"This way."

He led her and the others into the woods for several hundred feet, the ground slightly muddy and mucky but more or less solid underfoot. Of course, the one time Carter slipped, there were four Light Ones there immediately to help her regain her balance.

"We're getting close," Kale said in a whisper, stopping. They could all hear a soft grunting noise now that they weren't moving, and when Kale moved aside a heavily leafed branch, Melony and Sam both stepped up to look.

Sure enough, there was a herd of Mok in what wasn't really a clearing – although there weren't so many trees. None of them had the sacks hanging from behind their ears – telling everyone looking that they were all female – and of the eight Mok she could see, Mitchell counted five little ones hiding behind the bulk of the adults.

"Oh, they're precious…" Sam whispered, smiling with delight.

They were cute, Melony had to admit, smiling as well. Each of them had jet-black fur – and it wasn't sleek like their parents and the other Mok Mitchell had seen. It was fuzzy and stuck up in every direction – like a hundred little cowlicks. They had huge eyes and long legs, which made them look gangly – although each was the size of a fairly good-sized pony.

More precious than she realizes, Talon said. Get closer. Let's see if the mothers will let us get a better look

What if they don't?

Then you climb a tree

Mitchell sighed, and the others looked at her, curiously.

"Talon wants a better look," she said. "I'm going to see if they'll let me get closer."

"Is that wise?" Kale asked, concerned. "They haven't been very receptive to our presence…"

She shrugged.

"If they start to chase me, I'll run the other direction so they don't come after the rest of you."

"But-"

"Talon wants a look," Melony repeated. "We won't get too close."

Hopefully.

She stepped out from behind the thin barrier of branches and brush, moving slowly and deliberately, not trying to hide from the Mok so they wouldn't think she was stalking them.

Every head went up and looked at her, including the young ones, who peeked at her from behind the considerable bulk of their mothers.

Have I mentioned I don't think this is a good idea?

Don't worry so much

Easy for you to say, you're not the one that's going to get trampled when they stampede.

Mok don't stampede

How do you know?

I just do

It was pretty obvious, though, that he didn't.

Talk to them… keep them from panicking

She sighed again, but did as he was told.

"Hey, gals… how's it going…?" Her words were sarcastic, of course, but her tone was gentle and soft. "Yeah… we're just here to take a peek at the little ones… you know… census check and all that…"

The Mok stirred restlessly as she stepped a little closer, until she was only twenty feet or so from the closest of them – this one with a little one that just got cuter the closer Melony got to it. She couldn't help but feel just a little warm and gooey inside at the sight of it – it was adorable, after all – and when she spoke next there wasn't any sarcasm in her words.

"I'm not going to hurt you… I just want to see you…"

The baby's ears came forward at the sound of her voice, although it stayed behind the protecting form of its mother and didn't look like it was going to move any closer to her. The mother, on the other hand, was watching her suspiciously, and Melony really hoped she wasn't going to charge or something, because she was big and close, and there weren't all that many trees around.

Talon gave a mental snort of amusement, but he wasn't willing to risk her, either. He'd seen enough.

We can go back, Hot Shot

Good. Melony backed slowly and carefully away from the Mok, retreating back towards the others, who were all watching her quietly. Kale moved the branches aside for her, and only when she'd passed beyond sight of the Mok did she turn around and take a deep breath.

"Have any of your people found any other groups with young?" She asked Kale.

The Light One shook his head.

"We've been all over the planet, too. This was the last place we checked."

"Is there anything different here than there is anywhere else?"

Kale looked at the others, who shook their heads.

"The trees are the same here as everywhere," Char said, speaking up. "They smell the same and look the same. The water is no different than the water that goes through your lava base, and-"

He was interrupted by a crashing sound, and they all jumped, startled. Turning, they watched in surprised amazement as several of the Mok came tearing through the screening branches, cloven hooves tearing up huge clods of the mucky dirt as they thundered closer.

"Look out!"

Kale grabbed Melony, pulling her to the side as the first of the Mok shouldered past, almost stepping on her. The two went rolling into the underbrush and came to a halt when they crashed into a tree trunk.

Mitchell sat up, looking over at the others, who had all managed to safely dodge out of the way of the charging Mok, and rubbed at her elbow.

"Thanks, Kale," she said, taking a deep breath.

The Light One smiled.

"My pleasure."

Oh, sure… the Mok never stampede…

I've been wrong before

She snorted and levered herself up to her feet with a little help from Kale.

"Are you alright, Sam?" She asked Carter, who was just getting to her feet as well. She, too, had been pushed out of the way, and now her and those Light Ones who had protected her were all covered in the same muck that Melony and Kale were.

"Yeah. Just fine."

Nothing like being dog-piled by a bunch of naked guys to make an afternoon more entertaining, after all…