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Tokvam and his wife Zoqua were merchants from the planet Chaluzed doing some routine trading on the planet Draneb, a hub of interstellar trade where humans, anthros, and aliens get along... sometimes. The planet is also home to a slave trade, and is occupied by carnivorous masters and their herbivorous slaves.

Chaluzedi are tall hairless humanoids characterized by having grayish, bluish, or olive green skin; a heart-shaped face with large eyes, a flat leonine nose with low nostrils, and a pair of small ears with three points.

The Chaluzedi merchant couple were selling communications devices to a group of Swambazi traders. The Swambazi, who were a short, stocky reptilian race, seemed very eager about this transaction. After the deal was complete, the couple left the compound, and headed back to their ship. Before they got a chance to board their ship, there was an explosion in the compound, causing a shock wave that knocked the Chaluzedi couple unconscious. Everyone, a strange assortment of various species, scrambled to get out of the compound. Not everyone survived.

A few hours later, Zoqua woke up after having passed out from the shock wave that knocked her out. Surrounded by rubble, she called out to her husband. “Tokvam?" She looked around, almost tripping over the bodies of the Swambazi traders and other beings who died in the explosion.

Then there was a sound. A sign of life. Zoqua approached the mewling sound, which was like some kind of infant. Next to the destroyed compound was a chamber where slaves were being sold, also reduced to rubble. She found some human morphs, known as anthros, dead in the chamber. Among the innocent bystanders were two fully furred ones with bushy tails. And next to them was their baby, still alive and trying to cling for it's dead mother's breast. Zoqua let out a sympathetic cooing sound that Chaluzedi mothers often do to console an infant of their species, before picking up the orphaned baby.

Zoqua was too emotionally engrossed in the little bundle to notice her husband limping outside the chamber. “My leg!" he said, as he entered the destroyed chamber. “There you are, my lokshtan." Lokshtan is a nickname Chaluzedi give to spouses. It is also a condiment used to sweeten Chaluzedi foods.

“What happened?" asked Zoqua.

“It was the Nedderoi," said Tokvam. “Weapon signature is a positive match. I think they were targeting the Swambazi traders."

“The Nedderoi and Swambazi have always been sworn enemies," said Zoqua.

“Indeed," said Tokvam. “We Chaluzedi are neutral to both sides, but it's still risky business dealing with either of them, especially with all their reckless battles." He looked at the infant. “What is that thing you're holding?"

“An infant I found," said Zoqua. “I can't leave this creature for dead. We need to contact the humans to see if they'll take him. He is a human morph."

“I'll contact the humans," said Tokvam. “But they'll probably want to eat it."

“Now, Tokvam," said Zoqua. “That's just a stereotype. I'm sure not all humans eat orphaned infants. Now let's go into the ship and I'll fix your leg."

Tokvam, still limping, got into the ship with Zoqua and the infant. They took off, leaving the surface of Draneb behind. “Setting course for the nearest Earth Alliance station." The Chaluzedi ship zipped into hyperdrive.

An Earth Alliance space station came into view. “They're hailing us," said Zoqua.

A human male appeared on their viewscreen. “Chaluzedi ship," the man said. “Welcome to Earth Alliance Base B36. I am Chancellor Raúl Scavo. How may I be of assistance?"

“We have an infant human morph," said Zoqua. “His parents were killed in an attack by the Nedderoi on the planet Draneb. He was to be sold as a slave."

“Can you take him?" asked Tokvam to the human on screen.

“I'm sorry," said Chancellor Scavo. “But Draneb is outside Earth Alliance jurisdiction. Besides, if his parents were slaves, unfortunately he likely has no other family that can adopt him."

“What will we do then?" asked Tokvam, turning to Zoqua.

Zoqua paused for a moment, looking down at the helpless infant squirrel. “I'll adopt him," said Zoqua.

“Sounds like the right thing to do," said chancellor Scavo. “If you need anything else, feel free to board our station and..."

“No thanks," interrupted Tokvam. “We don't need anything else." Tokvam turned off the screen and looked to his wife. “Are you sure you want to adopt that?"

“Of course I do," Zoqua said. “Have some compassion, will you? He has no other option. Let's go home."

The small ship went back into hyperdrive, entering the orbit of Chaluzed. The planet was mostly citified, with barely any vegetation. The prettiest natural features on Chaluzed were limited to a few crystal formations here and there.

The ship landed in front of their home, a double-dome shaped structure.

“So, are you going to name this furry thing?" asked Tokvam.

“He shall be called Shilocc," said Zoqua. “Furred one." The double 'c' is pronounced as a short, sharp “kh", like “ch" in German.

**

At first, Tokvam didn't like the new member of their family. But as years progressed and Shilocc grew, Tokvam and other family members began to warm up to Shilocc, considering him a proper family member, looking past his fur and tail. Shilocc had been brought up the Chaluzedi way. In addition, he learned about what piece of alien technology came from what race from his adoptive father Tokvam, and about animal life from his adoptive mother Zoqua, who owned a male Cygnagon (a small mammalian dragon).

Shilocc was very interested in learning about Earth, it's history, it's music, art, and various cultures. After all, he was an anthro-squirrel, a human morph. Fortunately, the Chaluzedi school he was in had the necessary resource tools for learning about Earth. Although Shilocc grew up speaking the Chaluzedi language, he learned Earth languages, especially English. Shilocc also learned about a beautiful planet that he promised himself he would someday move to when he was old enough: Silvania. He has always dreamed of getting out of industrialized city life of the citified Chaluzed, and moving on to a more pristine and nature-dominated planet. That was especially after he learned that on Silvania, there are more anthros like him.

Shilocc was now 21. His foster parents were helping him move, but they still questioned him as to why. Tokvam and Shoqua approached him. “I know you're probably tired of me asking you this, but, are you sure you want to move to Silvania?" Tokvam asked. “There is so much to do on Chaluzed. Maybe you can find yourself a nice Chaluzedi female. Silvania is just trees."

“Father," said Shilocc. “Forests are more than just trees, to quote a bear I read about. I am determined to move to Silvania. Besides, Chaluzed does not fit me well at all. It never really did. I don't have a life here. And the females, well, are just not my type. No offense, mother." Being raised around Chaluzedi, Shilocc took them for granted as what people are normally like, but even so, he still didn't fit in. He technically was an alien on their planet.

“If moving to Silvania is what you want," said Zoqua. “Our wish is for your happiness. Continue to pack your belongings."

Shilocc packed his belongings he had accumulated while living on Chaluzed, and brought them into the ship. Tokvam, Zoqua, and Shilocc boarded, and they headed for Silvania. Hyperdrive brought the small Chaluzedi merchant ship into orbit around Silvania in a couple hours, right next to the moon Saxtus. The ship eased into the atmosphere of Silvania, landing gracefully in a meadow moments later.

The three of them walked out of the ship. Each of them carried some of Shilocc's belongings. “I'll miss you both," said Shilocc, turning to his alien foster parents.

“We will too," said Zoqua, a tear running down her cheek. She hugged the squirrel, making the same cooing sound she made when she found him as an infant.

“Good luck, son," said Tokvam.

Shilocc waved good-bye as the two Chaluzedi went back into their ship.

Living off the land was one of the things Shilocc has learned to do, although he never actually experienced it yet. On Chaluzed, he never even had a real camping trip. Not a real one anyway, but holographic simulations. But he managed to set up camp, building a tent from his supplies.

Shilocc had learned many Earth songs, but the archives of Earth music on Chaluzed were limited to ancient folk songs. One of his favorite Earth folk songs was “Home on the Range," a song that seemed appropriate given his new surroundings. He began to sing that as he walked down a forest path. He was amazed at the beauty and diversity of Silvania's plant life as he continued walking and singing. He didn't need to sing the last line of the song's chorus, because a pretty angelic voice did that for him.

“Who was that?" he asked. “How did you know that song?"

Shilocc heard a playful feminine giggle. Then, he looked around. Coming out from hiding behind a bush was the most beautiful creature Shilocc has ever set eyes upon. He smiled, liking what he was seeing. She was a very attractive red squirrel, wearing what appeared to be tribal attire.

“I was going to ask you the same question! Hi there," she said, batting her eyelashes. “Are you lost?"

“I'm new here," said Shilocc. “New to this planet, to be precise."

“I can show you around," she said. “My name's Redra."

“I'm Shilocc," he said.

“That's a funny name," she said, giggling.

“Well, I was raised by Chaluzedi," said Shilocc.

“Oh, I wish I could have met them!" said Redra. “I've never seen a Chaluzedi before. Do you want to follow me to my cottage?"

“Sure," said Shilocc.

The two squirrels walked to the cottage. It was surrounded by beautiful vegetation. There was a very large garden, as well as a mixed orchard of fruit and nut trees.

“This is my place!" said Redra. “Do you like it?"

“Like it? I love it!" said Shilocc.

“Let's come inside," said Redra. Shilocc followed Redra into the cottage. “I have a homemade apple pie, made with apples straight from my orchard."

Redra put the pie on the table, and cut a slice for Shilocc and herself. Shilocc took a bite. “This is delicious!" said Shilocc. “I don't think anything on Chaluzed compares. Did you cook it yourself?"

“Yes," said Redra. “I'm glad you like it."

When they finished their pie, the daylight was almost over. “Do you want to watch the sunset?" asked Redra.

“Sure," said Shilocc.

“I'm so happy to find such a handsome fellow who is willing to watch it with me," said Redra.

Shilocc followed Redra outside the cottage, and up a steep path that took them to the edge of a cliff. The two of them sat together, watching the sunset together. The crimson glow of the sun waned, sending ripples of orange light through the forest below. They watched as the two moons Mornius and Saxtus were getting brighter at the other side of the sky. Shilocc and Redra found themselves holding hands. The sky was not cloudy all day.