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Amazingly enough, Phenyo was off by herself. There were a lot of things on her mind, and out here in this new territory she didn't have her journal to write it all down and get it out of her head. She hadn't really told anyone where she was going, or when she'd gone back; Phen just told one of her Sisters that it was a 'scouting trip', and left it at that. Really, it was a legitimate mission...just with a more personal, selfish goal of needing to sort out her head.

Somehow she managed to find a relatively small puddle of water, and was content to hang out near it. At first the quiet of Sauti was settling for Phen when compared the constant buzz of life found in Jauhar, but with her thoughts spinning so wildly, the silence became unnerving.

"You could always talk to yourself," she suddenly said out loud, and grinned at the thought. "Like anyone's around to hear me. Who's going to think I'm crazy, the rocks?"

Rubbing her hands over her face in sudden frustration, she sighed a heavy breath that fluttered between her palms, "Jera...what am I going to do about you?"

At the first sound of a voice, Phenyo's hand pulled her carving knife out and wielded it like a dagger, her body crouching low to the ground and ready to spring in whatever direction needed, be it fight or flight. Her antennae twitched as she watched the Shifter male appeared from behind the rock, her dark eyes inspecting him silently. He was nervous, timid...and didn't appear to be carrying any kind of weapon.

Straightening her body, but still holding the carving knife tightly in her fist, she made sure to seem as strong and tall as possible - remain imposing and impressive, but don't encourage a fight.

"How long have you been there?" she asked him, suspicious. How much had he heard?

Rolling the knife against her palm with her fingers as the male spoke to her, something in Phenyo's shoulders eased. Either he hadn't heard her, or he was perceptive enough to not mention the fact that he'd heard her; both answers were good enough for now. With her secret safe - and clearly being the better fighter here - she allowed herself to relax.

One of the few Alkidike ways that Phenyo did not agree with was that her people - and her people alone - were rulers of this world. The Earth had born them all in different places for different reasons, and they all deserved to be treated as equals. Due to this, she refused to be condescending to the other Tribes people whenever she encountered them

"I am...are you?" Phen asked, her gaze briefly glancing beyond the Shifter male into the world of Sauti behind him.

Her philosophy did not, however, mean she outright trusted them - not everyone shared her views.

Was this Shifter really just out for a night-time stroll? Phenyo's head tilted, questioning, her antennae twitching to just listen to the world around them. So they were indeed alone, and he really was just a quiet, if shy, Earthling male. Though Phen allowed herself to relax, she would not sheath her knife; no reason to be stupid.

"You're not the only one who wants to appreciate the beauty of this new world," she offered with a shrug, settling herself onto the ground again with legs folded under her.

Of course it was a total lie, but hey! We're all telling stories tonight, so all is well.

"You keep averting your eyes." Of course she noted his...hesitation to look at her directly. "Is that part of your culture as a Shifter, or do I frighten you?"

Phenyo had been so engrossed with her issues with Jerarda, she hadn't even had the moment to remember the fact that...they were so very far from home, from trees and plants that they knew. It hit her now with a bang of loss, bringing a solemn look to her face while the Shifter spoke about their shared world. It was fleeting, however, because he then basically called her a bug - and he was very lucky that Jerarda or any of her other sisters were not around, because that would have surely been taken the wrong way.

"You realize where we live is filled with bugs or all shapes and sizes, right?" she finally said, disbelieving of what was said. "How can bugs bother you when we're basically surrounded by them every day?"

Phenyo was a little more amused by it - there was actually a part of her that'd laughed when he'd called her bug-like.

"Fair enough," Phenyo said with a semi-nod.

Everyone had fears, and his seemed somewhat reasonable. What she admired was that he was trying to overcome them and be brave. That was a trait any Alkidike warrior could respect.

"Perhaps, if you think it would help, you could look at us more so as flowers?" She shifted into a meditative position, her legs folded into the lotus position. She ducked her antennae down as far as she was able, and closed her eyes. Aside from the ears, she looked rather Earthling-esque.

"We really are more like plants than we are bugs."

She couldn't stop her antennae from shifting as they sensed that the Shifter male moved. One of her eyes peeked open just slightly to be able to see that he was facing her now, and looked a lot happier about their situation. It made her feel more secure, too - he wouldn't accidentally interpret something she did as violent or an attack.

Once he seemed settled again, she slowly opened both eyes; upon seeing him trying to mimic her pose, Phenyo couldn't help but smile a little bit. He seemed like such a nice and logical Earthling, and it made her feel a bit guilty to have been so short with him when he first found her.

"Thank you," she said with a nod at his compliment. "Though I'm not sure what to tell you, honestly," Phen responded to his request. "You're right to be afraid of us as a whole; I'm pretty sure the majority of my Sisters would have out-right attacked you."

The statement made her appear a bit sad, due to the truth in it. So many of her Sisters hated Earthlings, and Phenyo just couldn't understand the reasoning behind it.

There were no good answers to this...mostly because Phenyo just plain didn't know. It was before her time, and over the generations the original story muddled and lost. Teachers had brought it down to the barest of bones, and made it into the most definitive of statements. Don't trust Shifters, they have taken our trees. Don't trust the Leaf Tribe, they have been banished to the wastes of the dessert. The doctrine never made any sense to Phenyo.

"I...don't know," she admitted. "Supposedly? We're taught from a young age that we are the protectors of Tendaji. We're born from the Great Mother and thus it is our duty and birthright to be Her warriors. Shifters...are supposed to be unnatural? I think?" Phen shrugged, shaking her head. "They don't really say why."

"What do your Elders say about us?" Phenyo posed, looking for honest answers. "Can't be much better."