When The Stars Died

First Contact

After their exchange, it had been decided that the two groups would live separately, unless one needed another urgently.

Pandora reminded Ryder to keep the window holes covered up, and they parted ways.

When Joe, Pandora and Skeeter made it back to the cave Pandora finally remembered that the animals were probably waiting for them.

She made Skeeter listen for aliens, then she moved the boulder and stepped outside.

The sunset was brilliant—a beautiful collision of pink and orange that spread across the sky. The sun was half hidden by the horizon.

Outside the cave, there was a huge pile of twigs and slightly bigger sticks.

The squirrels were running around energetically, nuts and berries in their little paws.

Nut looked up, and Skeeter and Pandora both heard him.

We brought you firewood.

Thanks. They both said, then looked at each other.

"Did you just...?"
"Did you just...?" Pandora blinked. "Can we mindspeak to each other? Freaking awesome!"
"You have a lot of alternative swear words."
"One, you're talking with really big words, I'm really proud of you. Two, feels right. I love saying fucknuts. And shitballs. So they're not really an alternative, they're spicing things up."
"Any others?"
"Son of a marshmallow? This stuff is narwhals-unicorns-amazeballs? Amazeballs used to be a craze in my vocab. Ooh, son of a moo moo? Fudge this? What the fudge?"

Then she thought really hard.
You're just gettin' all up in my cornflakes, sonny boy.

Skeeter snickered beneath his breath.

Shut up, you son of a staghound.
You're a son of a wolfhound. Skeeter grinned.
Oh you did not just go there, gurllllfriend. Pandora pursed her lips.
Oh yes I did, cupcake.
That's not really a swear word, sweetie. If you want to play with the big boys you gotta think bigger.
Giant cupcake.
I feel like you're insinuating something, you son of a marshmallow.
I'm not implying you're fat, but you were getting all up in my generic breakfast cereal.
Seriously, when did you learn all these words?
What, generic? I don't know, think it has something to do with Brownberry?
Oh. Maybe. Joe, thoughts?

They stood in silence for a minute, until Pandora smacked her head and turned back to the forest, where Joe had been admiring the views.

"Joe, Skeeter's vocab changes haven't been brought around by, like, absorbing Brownberry's spirit or some jazzberry, righ...t...?"

Pandora trailed off and her golden eyes widened.

A squad of Supernovae. Right there. Tackling Joe to the ground.

Pandora counted eight, eight armed Supernovae invaders making a lot of noise.

Be very quiet, Skeeter warned, and use your telekinesis. Concentrate on... Lifting the enemy Supernovae up into the air. Not too high, just enough that they're away from Joe.

Pandora couldn't resist replying. You're much smarter now that you've been dead already.

What can I say? Being dead was a life changing experience.

Pandora muffled a laugh, and tried to think.

On cue, the eight Supernovae rose off the ground, releasing Joe, quietening down, and stiffening like boards.