outpost

	I flew. It took some work to understand all the intricacies of my ship's controls, but soon I was navigating through the vast expanses of empty space. Growing a bit bolder, I passed closer to those flickering motes of light through my window. Every one showed itself to be a sun, some brighter, some dimmer, but every one as beautiful and glorious as the one back home.

And there were millions of them, in every direction I looked. If they were merely specks of dust floating through this vacuum, then what was I?

What was anything I had ever known?

It didn't matter. My mind stretched as it tried to wrap itself around the concept, bouncing between terror and wonder. So I dropped it, but that realization hung heavy in the back of my mind. First things first. I needed to find food and supplies.

I drew nearer to one of the suns and my ship's AI flickered to life, sounding off with a faint beep. It told me of a strange energy signature on the very edge of the system. I didn't really understand what it was talking about, but it was somewhere to start, at least. I took a deep breath and ordered it to move closer, to let me off at that point.

I flickered back into existence, and for the first time in days, I felt dirt and stone underneath my talons. Panic surged through me as I stared up into empty space, an endless night sky in all directions but down, but there was no danger of suffocation. From the distance, I heard voices, and over the curvature of the rock a steel building loomed. Wherever it was, it hardly seemed inviting, so cold and hard compared to the elaborate stone temples I had known.

I heard something rustle at my feet. Looking down, my gaze met with those of some animal I'd never seen before who looked back with soft brown eyes that stared back over a long muzzle. A pink tongue dangled down from its mouth and it looked like it was smiling. A stiff tail wagged back and forth as it got up to all four legs, turning and bounding towards the building.

Well, I thought. This must be a sign. So, taking a deep breath, I approached. The doors opened, and, just as I had heard, inside were people. All sorts! All talking to each other, laughing, watching things on screens, eating together. A wave of warmth and comfort washed over me, enough to compensate for the cold metal walls. I was met at first with looks of caution, then understanding... and then, smiles and waves.

Then I saw someone like me.

It took me a moment to notice she was even there. Her plumage seemed dull and ragged, large patches of it missing with the feathers only just beginning to grow back. Around those bald spots were deep black stains. I knew what this meant. This girl had been arrested as a heretic. Punished. Covered in tar so she would never know flight. Not that they could have given it to her anyway, I was rabidly beginning to realize.

She looked startled to see me. But she smiled all the same.

"Oh!" Her voice shook slightly, but was clear and bright. "Another refugee! Don't worry, brother. You are safe here." Inside that broken body, light still remained.

I was just as startled as she had been, but mine didn't wear off so quickly.

"Where... am I?" I said. It was so strange to hear my own voice. I hadn't spoken a word to anyone since that day.

"You're at the Survivor's Settlement. Most of us just call it the Outpost, though. Turns out pretty much everyone in the galaxy has their own problems... but that's what this place is here for! So just rest a while. Get comfortable. We can talk a bit more later."
Survivors. That was the feeling I had been getting from this place. Not just one of warmth, but of hope. Even as I was sitting here, looking at this girl and for the first time in my life, truly realizing how sick and cruel what had happened to her was... I couldn't be sad, not really. Not when a place like this existed, of all these different peoples coming together to ensure that no one had to stay lost or afraid.

Yes. I think I would stay here for quite some time.