SF Drabble #325 “Fitting In”

He sat at the campfire, surrounded by the tribe, watching without seeming to watch. He was yitch: outsider, but not enemy. This was a comfort, as originally they had leaned towards thinking of him as kuho: food animal. He had the distinct impression that, had they not just completed a feast consisting of one of the elephant-like creatures that live in the marshes, they would have continued classifying him as kuho.

If he could be taken as yon — one of the people — he would be safe, at least until a rescue ship came. Which could be a very long time.

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