The Varkari

Exer's News

The screen pinwheeled for what felt like hours, especially when I had things to do and a house to break out of. I was sure it had something to do with the connection to another planet after all, but I still watched the sunlight creeping across the floor nervously.

Finally, It turned white for a second and then just like any other app that allowed you to video chat, Exer's face appeared on the screen, albeit a very sleepy one. Konderick stumbled into the room behind him pulling the sleeve of a robe up his arm and tying it at his waist. I remembered those robes and even missed my own.

Immediately a large grin broke out on my face. I was not sure if I had expected them to be covered in scars, or located in a dungeon after they had protected me from Rahzgaur, but they appeared to be in some home that seemed even nicer than their apartment. Neither of them looked different and they seemed just as healthy.

"Ellie!" Exer cried. "It is so good to see you. You look well. Congratulations on your mating?" The hesitant tone did not go unnoticed.

"That remains to be seen..." I trailed off.

"What do you mean? Is he not treating you well?"

"Well," I hesitated, the trip to the colorful grove popping up in my mind. He had been very nice then and I had actually enjoyed his presence, however fleeting it was. "I... I am just not sure that we are on the same wavelength."

"But the duthralia is there. You have the connection to bind you," he reasoned, as if that answered all the world's problems.

"Yes, but if all we have is sex, is that really a healthy relationship? I'm not allowed to leave the house and I'm barely allowed to go out of his sight into the other room. I am so hopped up on venom half the time I don't know what is true and what is just a side effect."

"Varkar created venom to help us pleasure our mates. It is a part of us to give to our mate, just as we would provide food, shelter, and safety. I do not believe he does it to manipulate you. It is our way."

"I have realized that our traditions are quite different when it comes to partnership and equality," I grumbled.

"It took me so long to understand how humans interact. There are so many slang phrases, speech rules that don't make sense, and hidden meanings, not to mention all the imperceptible facial expressions that you make. If we did not have a translator, there would be no way for Varkari and humans to hope to understand one another.

"Your culture was also something I had to read up on. Earlier in your history, the relationships between males and females were more similar to that of our own species, except you lost most of your instincts long before you became civilized. Our instincts still ride heavy in our blood."

"Gee, I couldn't figure that out from all the growling and snarling," I said sarcastically.

Konderick chuckled and gripped Exer's shoulder. "Obviously, we cannot tell you from experience, but before the virus, many of those instincts and behaviors had a reason to them. Females would not mate with weak males like myself. The mating growl and venom are not only to pleasure, but to subdue her. Only if a male was able to subdue the female, would she accept the bond. A male too weak to do so would have a very lonely life or have to find a less compatible female."

I took a deep breath. I understood biology well enough and that made sense, but Rahz was not trying to understand my side of things and that was what bothered me. "But I'm not of a Varkari female!"

"We know that, dear," Exer smiled patiently. "I am just trying to explain some of the mannerisms that you are seeing. They are not out of intentional malice or domineering anger. Neither of you grew up in the other's world and he is just doing what he has been taught or what he saw in his family. If you want him to behave differently, you will have to tell him so. It is also in his instincts to please you and he did not get where he is today by being ignorant. He will listen."