Page 4 of Legends and Longing

“Do some humans have different body structures?”

Based on their questions, many of my colleagues seemed to think Toman meant their bodies were different but that was not what he meant. Everything in our history said our human-looking bodies were structured the same as the traditional, nonmagical humans. Human evolution could not change that much in what was actually a short period of time without magic being involved.

What were they doing that was so shocking it was only for people of mating age?

Had that influenced the way Toman and Klynn seemed to be relating to the people of Earth?

Was it contagious?

Klynn was standing strangely close to a human from Earth.

Studying the people that had come through the gate, I knew without their language I would not be able to understand their behaviors. Their unfamiliar movements and actions left me without context to be able to understand them…and their new mating practices.

“Please explain what they are doing that requires privacy of that level.”

I knew my question was awkwardly worded but clear, however, Toman’s face did something odd.

“They have learned additional nonmagical ways of bonding with their mates. Humans do not bond in the same way and have created…personal rituals to promote bonding. Our society does not have them.”

Clearly.

“How are personal bonding rituals only for those of bonding ages?”

Most young individuals could watch animals and deduce how our people coupled after bonding. It was not confusing. Even the small sects of our people who had created unique beliefs based on their studies of the ancestors bonded the same way as everyone else.

How were humans so different?

“They promote emotional connections in ways we are not familiar with but once explained they will make sense.”

Was he being deliberately confusing or overly polite in some kind of Earth way?

Did something about the Earth environment change our people?

How much had bonding with a male of Earth changed him?

What effects did bonding with someone from Earth have on our people?

I waited for someone else to shift the conversation but everyone looked to me and waited.

“Then please explain.”

I was highly intelligent and was thought to be the best individual to learn about the people of Earth. Was Toman not as smart as I had been told? One could not teach unless one understood completely. Could he not explain what the people of Earth were doing with their alternative bonding rituals?

“We do not have the same concepts in our language and culture.”

Toman physically indicated there was no other information he could give me then turned to his mate. Their silence made it clear their bond was strong. The human’s face even changed as their conversation progressed, using their nonverbal movements as he used his mind to speak with his mate.

“Then use the closest example to our culture as a reference point. I have studied the archives extensively.”

Of all of our people, I had the most knowledge about the ancients and the people of Earth.

Their new movements and expressions were unfamiliar, but I could learn to decipher them. I would learn their Earth language and customs. We would welcome our lost family home, but to do that we must understand them.

“They have role-playing relationships that we have not been exposed to. Please trust me on this.”

No.

He was confused and was simply not able to explain what seemed to be an unfamiliar ritual. Toman’s mate made more excitable sounds before they seemed to shift into mind speech. I waited to see how his mate’s thoughts would affect the situation and Toman’s behavior until he turned his attention to me again.