Congratulations?" Michael probed as they shuffled with the crowd toward one of the streets leaving the village center.
"Yes, that word. It's the closest human word for it, but 'gaklan' sounds better to my ears."
"Of course. But what about 'cye rinta?'"
"Rinta doesn't translate well to human... I guess... best I could say is 'tribe family member,' so what was said was, 'Congratulations, Michael, our tribe family member.' Is that understandable?"
"Yeah, it means I'm fully one of you now. A Willher."
"Yes, Hopper, you are."
She stopped in her tracks and started coming in for the kiss when a loud horn blew over the village, causing the whole crowd to stop and turn toward the direction of the village gate. Mila was instantly petrified, clinging to Michael's side with her claws threatening
