Harvest Hunt by Viola Grace

Author:Viola Grace [Grace, Viola]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Paranormal, Sci-fi, Shapeshifter
Publisher: Devine Destinies
Published: 2011-09-20T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

"Zenina-Balen, Rolland-Saru, this is our newest recruit, Ashlin also known as Hunter. She will be requesting a position on Balen Base when the facility is ready." Kaylee grinned as she made the introductions.

"Pleased to meet you." She inclined her head and both glowing gazes focussed on her. She had the feeling that they were taking her measure, but their smiles were friendly.

"We are glad to meet you. May we join you?"

No one else answered, so Ashlin said, "Of course. Please."

They grinned and got their food with economical movements.

Ecros leaned in. "The etiquette is that when their eyes are glowing, they are greeted by both names and when not, simply their first names. The last name for each is the name of the celestial body that they host."

"Thank you. I was wondering. I have heard the name Balen before but was unsure in how the planet could speak to anyone."

Zenina-Balen sat next to her and smiled. "We get that question a lot from those who haven't dealt with a sentient planet before."

"No avatars have ever set foot on Endin."

The avatar smiled. "Not all planets have a mind within them. Just as not all planets have sentient species. It takes a special mind to take on a planet. Not all races have even one candidate suitable."

Zenina-Balen ate her meal and they had a polite conversation about the base location down on the planet's surface.

Rolland-Saru was the newer avatar. He had a charming smile behind his glowing eyes.

"Pardon my rudeness, but what is Saru?"

"The star that heats this system. Zenina is the product of the previous planet's avatar and that of my star. They lived, they loved, she died and Olaris is now working on Balen's surface to help with the preparations for the base."

"So, the star shifted from one avatar to the next?"

"Of course. We measure our lives in millions of years or more. We cannot die when our avatars die, but we mourn them and go on. Balen mourned for years before Zenina was born. Olaris and Saru kept the baby safe until she could survive off the station she was born on and they sent her to Balen to grow into her own."

Zenina's eyes had faded to a normal shade. "And here I am. Call me Zen, Ashlin."

"Zen then. Pleased to meet you." She extended her hand in greeting and the moment that the avatar made contact, her hand transformed into glossy midnight with stars under the skin. "Oh darn."

Zenina looked down at the hand that released hers and blinked. "What was that?"

"I am guessing you and your husband have larger-than-normal quantities of radiation."

"We do, but it is all passive."

"Apparently, enough to set off my talent. Don't worry, it will fade soon." Ashlin noticed a lot of folk in the dining hall turning to stare, so she took a deep breath and concentrated on shifting her body into its hunting configuration, sans tail.

When her hand turned soft gold with long claws, she grinned. "It worked. Nice."

Dirven and Ecros were watching her raptly, but Kaylee just smiled and kept eating.

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