Humans, Xabat had learned, were far more complicated than his prior knowledge suggested.

He had saved you from tumbling into the hot crimson waters, brought you into his shelter, fed you, and ensured you had more than enough water. Yet, despite his efforts, you resisted him at every turn. You flinched when he drew near. When he tried to tempt you with his scent, you recoiled, shouting and retreating to the farthest corner of his cave.

Was his appearance truly so startling? Had the earthlings not given you to him as part of the trade for his sulfur?

Perhaps the problem lay in the silence between you. You refused to let him into your mind, and without that bond, his language was meaningless to you. Still, Xabat persisted, trying to teach you his ways, to woo you into a place of comfort where his touch would not repulse you. But you would not yield, and that refusal gnawed at his patience.

To him, you were unwilling to compromise, and that meant the trade could not be completed. The earthlings needed his sulfur desperately, yet they had sent someone unfit for the bargain.

Normally, Xabat was patient. He commanded vast territory and rich plantations on Valyx, and he had learned long ago not to rush matters. But that day, his focus was pulled away from you, his miners had been slacking, and discipline was required. He left you alone, expecting you to stay put.

When he returned, the cave was empty.

Annoyance quickly became calculation as he inspected every possible escape route. The sun would set soon, and on Valyx, that meant death. The planet burned in daylight but froze at night, and your human body was ill-suited for either extreme.

Then--thud.

The sound echoed from beyond the cave. He followed it and found you there, in the midst of his workers, small, fragile, and surrounded. One of them reached for you.

Xabat moved before thought. He leapt from the ledge, landing hard enough to crush the skull of the offending worker beneath his fist. His roar ripped through the air, freezing the others in place. In the same motion, he swept you up, slinging you over his shoulder. None dared approach as he bounded back to the ledge and into the safety of the cave.

Humans. Foolish, fragile creatures. Could you not see what would have happened had he been a moment later?

He set you down, his anger sharpening his movements. This time, he forced his way into your mind, shattering the barrier you had kept between you. His voice filled your thoughts.

Foolish creature. Do you wish to be handled unkindly by my kind? Do you understand what would have happened if they mated with you? The trade would be broken. It is I you should bond with, because when you are no longer useful to them, they will cast you aside.

His tone, still heavy with anger, began to soften.

You must be careful. They are not kind as I am. They obey only my command. I will wait, however long it takes, for you to be comfortable. But within this cave, you are safe. Do not make such a mistake again.