The entire Phrygisian colony was sitting at a large, elegant ice table at around seven o' clock. Throughout the day, I had aided with the preparation of the dining table for the feast, and also in meeting the newest Phrygisians I hadn't known about. Many of the children idolized me, and all the young boys were jealous of how powerfully I could wield my ice powers. I was asked to demonstrate a few of my abilities, and showed them how to make ice armor around their bodies. Then, I covered a snow sculpture someone had made with a dome of ice. I also made a large bridge over an bottomless gorge, which only took me about half an hour. All the children's eyes went saucer-like, and they attempted to do my tricks themselves.

Raein had taken a fancy towards me, and never left my side. Whenever she talked, she always ended her sentence with my name. She asked endless questions about my childhood, my adventures, and a plethora of other topics that pretty soon my own voice gave me a headache from responding to her. She even asked if I had any girlfriends-

"Uh... Well I wouldn't say she's my girlfriend, but we know each other well." I had told her, thinking of the huntress.

Raein grinned. "What's her name, Rundas? Is she Phrygisian too, Rundas? Could I meet her, Rundas?"

I chuckled, which made my head spin. "She's not our kind, Raein. You could meet her one day if you're lucky enough."

Anyway, around the table, the guests were chatting happily. I sat next to Daygon and Breena, along with Raein scooting her chair as close to me as possible. My friends were around as well, all of them looking anxious to talk to me.

The food was dished out, ready for eating. Everyone waited. I leaned towards Daygon, saying lowly, "Aren't we having a feast? Why isn't anybody taking the food?"

He smiled. "Since you're the main reason for this, you get served first. Didn't you remember that?"

I had forgotten, but grinned anyway. "Yeah! So..." I glanced around the large variety of dishes, a little puzzled at what I was going to partake of. None of it looked appetizing, but I reached out and scooped up something purple and soupy, ladling it into the bowl that sat in front of me. It landed in the basin with splattering sounds and jiggled once it touched the ice created porringer. "Let's just get whatever this is..." I muttered. When I put the spoon back, the rest of the guests grabbed what they wanted and began eating.

I stared at the stuff. How did I consume this? I looked at the shiny utensils that sat on opposite sides of the dish. One looked like a miniature, spiked club, another was thin and razor-like, and the last was circular and shallow. I guessed from my human etiquette observations that this was some sort of Phrygisian version of a spoon.

I held it awkwardly in between my fingers, dipping the concave end in the violet mush. Raein watched me pull it out, then as I nervously popped the jiggling blob into my mouth.

It tasted sharply tangy and bitter, so I spit it back into the bowl. My sister laughed as I chugged down a full glass of water, gasping once I set it back onto the table. "You're supposed to combine the soverek with the subzero leaves, silly! It evens out the flavor to make it have less of a kick. Here," she reached across the table and snatched a handful of what seemed to be deep blue grasses, then sprinkled them all over the purple gel. She grabbed the spoon-like thing and stirred the mixture around. "now you can eat it. Try it!" Raein gathered a lump of the sick stuff and lifted it to my lips.

I looked at her, making a face. "Do I have to?"

"Yes!"

I sighed, opening my mouth as she fed me the soverek. She pulled the spoon out of my jaws and watched me chew. I had to admit, it did taste a heck of a lot better than it had before. But I could still detect the slightest bit of sourness. Other than that, it was pretty much good.

I swallowed. "Well? How was it?" Raein asked, grinning broadly.

I nodded. "Great! Though I like human meals a tad better..." She didn't hear the last sentence. "What else is tasty?" I asked brightly.

My sister beamed. "I'll be right back!" She pulled her chair out and dashed away towards another section of the table.

Daygon was watching me. I noticed him staring, and said uncomfortably, "What?"

"Nothing. I just couldn't help but notice," he seemed deep in thought. "you've changed."

"Well yeah, I've been gone for years. Wait... in a bad way or a good way?" I felt like he was judging me for some reason...

"Too early to tell." I was taken aback. 'Too early to tell?' what was that supposed to mean? "But we're extremely glad to have you back, Rundas. The days you were gone hurt Breena the most. Right?"

His wife nodded, setting down the club like utensil and looking down the table towards me. "The first few weeks were the worst. What with being worried about you and expecting Raein and everything."

I smiled at them. Out of the corner of my eye, Platto's body shuddered. I looked at him, he eyeing a curd on his plate with severe interest. "Platto, are you okay?"

He didn't move, but his gaze turned towards me. "Yes. Everything is fine. You have no need for concern, Rundas."

A tad disturbed by his sudden dull nature, I nodded slowly. "Okay..." Raein returned then, holding a platter that was piled with squid looking things. "And what are those?" I asked nervously, knowing it was something probably unpleasant.

"Underground Glicah! You've gotta try these, they're a Phrygisian delicacy!" She held one out towards me, and I shivered. "What's the matter? Don't like Glicah, big brother? I could get something else..."

"No!" I quickly said after seeing her face grow sad. "I'll eat them! Don't worry!" I reluctantly picked a whatever-it-was off the plate, my fingers sinking into the soft, mushy skin. Everyone looked at me eagerly, and I bit my lip. What the heck was this thing? Nervousness began to bubble up inside me as their gazes turned demanding, but I ignored it and swallowed the squiddy thing as fast as I could, not bothering to taste it.

I gasped softly when it landed, but covered it by smiling at Raein. She returned the gesture, and held out another for me to eat. "Have more! There's plenty!"

I got up, my middle gurgling. "I'll be right back, okay?" I said as clearly as I could, then walked away from the table. "Don't wait for me!" I called once I was well away from the dining table.

Standing alone in the snow, I felt really homesick. But, not about Phrygis. I was homesick in a way where I missed the company at the place I called, home. I missed Gandrayda (remarkably), Ghor, even a few of the Galactic Federation personnel. I then realized I was going through major Samus Aran withdrawals. I should be enjoying myself! Not thinking about Samus! Besides, she'll be fine without me. I thought.

I sighed, preparing to rejoin the Phrygisians at the table, when my stomach suddenly lurched. I clutched my gut, my eyes flicking around the white in panic. I felt uncomfortably hot, and broke out in a cold sweat. Saliva built up in my mouth more than usual, and I doubled over, my abdominal muscles contracting violently as I threw up all over the snow.

I coughed and gagged for a few minutes, the fresh vomit dripping from my mouth, mixed with my drool. My abdominal area hurt, with my throat burning and my hands clammy.

Soft crunches came from behind me, and I felt a hand on my shoulder. "Rundas? Are you feeling alright?" I heard Daygon say, and I hurriedly cleared my mouth of spew. "Are you sick?"

I shook my head. "Of course not! I don't get-" I covered my mouth as another round crawled up my throat. I spat it out, and, luckily it wasn't much. "-sick..."

Daygon and another Phrygisian I didn't know stood me up. "I think we'd better get you to bed, hm?" My father suggested, and I gratefully nodded. I was exhausted all of a sudden...

After an explanation of why I was leaving the party, my family and I went back to the house, where I was escorted to my old room. I had to slightly duck to escape hitting my head on the low ceiling. Raein happily exclaimed this was now her living quarters, but invited me to sleep in the same place anyway. And by the same place she meant the exact same bed.

So I lay there, with Raein curled up next to me, staring up at the crystal-like ceiling. I had to admit it was nice being back home, but I felt... out of place. Even among my own kind. Was it because I had been with the Federation for so long? Or because of the influence the humans and the other bounty hunters had on me? I wasn't quite sure, but tried to go to sleep anyway; which was a tad challenging.

At around three o' clock in the morning, after countless minutes of sleeplessness, I heard something that really woke me up- My parents talking to each other in the next room.

I couldn't understand what they were saying, and since I was curious, I placed my hand to the ice wall, taking a few layers away from it. Now I could silently listen to the conversation unnoticed.

"We can't have him in that condition. What do you suggest we do?" I heard Breena utter.

"I'm not sure... There isn't much we can work with, here. If only he hadn't stayed with the humans for six years. He would've been weaker, then we could have done this a lot sooner." Daygon responded.

Who were they talking about? Me? And what were they discussing? I felt uneasy, and listened harder.

After an extensive pause, Daygon said, "Of course there is that option..."

Breena gasped. "You mean?"

I could picture him smirk. "Yes, that one. If we get it tight and efficient, then maybe we could stretch it just long enough to..." He trailed off.

Breena giggled creepily. "Brilliant! But, in order to do that we must catch him by surprise. After all, Rundas is a very accomplished hunter."

My eyes widened. What in the world were my parents going to do to me? I didn't like the way my mother chortled. It reminded me of someone else... Someone-

"Simple, Breena, all we have to do is..." He was speaking quieter, low enough to the point where even if I strained my ears, I couldn't even catch a syllable of what he was telling his wife.

"And when Rundas awakes?" She asked.

My heart stopped.

"We kill him."