Valuable Lessons

Aurora looked out from the edge of the unstable gate, staring at mud-flats that extended as far as the eye could see. The sky was a uniform gray. The only interruption in the landscape were small groves of a blueish shrub. Stale air wafted by on a light breeze, reminding her of a refrigerator left closed too long.

“How far out are we?” she asked, taking careful steps forward. The ground looked unstable in patches, and Raeth had warned her of sinkholes.

“Only a little farther out than Earth is,” Raeth replied. They looked pleased at Aurora's shocked reaction.

“How does that fit into the models?” Aurora asked. “I thought anything this close to the Dawning should at least have the beginnings of sapience on it, if not starting into civilization.”

“Exactly,” Raeth replied. “There's a reason why we bring initiates here. To make a point.” They stepped carefully through the mud, following a path Jauleth traced along the ground. Presumably J had some way of sensing the sinkholes. Aurora followed until they stopped at one of the blue copses.

“That the models aren't always right?” Aurora asked. “Or that worlds can wipe themselves out?”

“No,” Raeth replied, kneeling down by a bush. “Although those are both good points, in their way. Here, on this unnamed world, we teach you that sapient life does not always appear as you expect.”

Aurora knelt beside him, crinkling her brow. “You mean...” Raeth raised their brow, waiting for Aurora to finish. “The bushes?” she asked.

“The bushes,” Raeth said.