The newcomer burrows into one of Aeneas’s more sensitive muscular plates on the underside of his abdomen, which was really more of his own fault for exposing it than the creature nuzzling it. He shudders uncomfortably and readjusts, but now he’s too awake (and far too curious to leave this oddity alone).

The alien cranes his long neck, giving the other a warm sniff. He doesn’t recognize the species, but hormone recognition tells him that this one’s male. Or, at least he thinks so. That sense was still in development (for obvious reasons).

He lets out another trill, cocking his head.