Incarnation: Wandering Stars Volume One by Jason Tesar

boy, who had originally led him into the village, again took his hand and seemed content to just walk alongside.  Sariel instantly took a liking to the child.
    After the children were shooed away, the men casually led Sariel around their village, showing him how things were arranged.  They enjoyed bragging to him about their building skills which were , indeed , impressive.  Their living structures, set back from the central meeting area, were also made entirely from trees and grasses , but were more elaborate, with windows and multiple rooms.  The men held back from discussing anything important, but Sariel knew that the time would eventually come.
    After a few hours, he was then entrusted to the care of the women where he observed their food gathering responsibilities.  Being herbivores, they foraged in the nearby forests, fields, and riverbanks for anything edible.  Whatever they gathered, they brought back to the village to be prepared later in the evening.
    Sariel sat now with the result of this work in his hands, given to him by one of the elder’s other daughters.  N ormally, the wives and daughters would work together, with all the females attending to the needs of the patriarch of each immediate family.  But with a guest among them, the responsibilities of the elder’s daughters were conferred upon Sariel.   It was a custom that should have excited him.  But there was no sign of Sheyir.  H e’d felt distracted all day, constantly looking over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of her .  Now, h e was beginning to wonder if she had been locked away somewhere, punished for making contact with a stranger before the elder had allowed it.
    Sariel looked methodically from face to face among the crowd that had gathered around them, searching while he waited for the men to initiate the meal.
    T he elder began to untie the bundle .
    Sariel momentarily gave up looking to concentrate on the task at hand, mimicking the actions of the tribe leader.   The dark green leaf slowly unwound to reveal a moist clump of vegetables that had been soaked in water, then mashed .  Sprinkled over the top were small pieces of dried fruits and nuts.
    The men dug their fingers into the paste and lift ed it to their mouths.
    Sariel watched, then followed their example .  W hen the paste entered his mouth, his tongue exploded with various sensations he’d never experienced before .  In the E ternal R ealm , all things were sustained by the Spirit of the Holy One .  But in the Temporal, other methods had to be devised for maintaining life—food was a necessity here.  Sariel moved the sticky substance around in his mouth to experience it more fully, then swallowed it quickly.  He wasn’t sure if the tastes were pleasurable, but they were vivid.
    Looking up, he realized that the seniors of the tribe were staring intently at him , p resum ably waiting for his approval or disapproval of their food .  H e smiled in return and dug his fingers into the clump for another bite.
    Without warning, Sheyir stepped from behind him and held out a cup of liquid .   Her long, black hair caught the last rays of the sun like the shimmering surface of a lake.  Her smooth, young skin was earthen in color, with warm undertones.  Like the rest of the females in the Chatsiyr tribe, her body was clothed in a sleeveless, knee-length covering, expertly woven from plant fibers.
    Sariel felt his face flush.   He quickly reached up and took the drink, moving it immediately to his lips to cover up the expression on his face that must have been obvious to everyone sitting around the circle.  He closed his eyes briefly, trying to compose himself while the cold liquid slid down his throat.  When he was finished, he handed the cup back to Sheyir and nodded with the same dismissive expression that he’d observed in every male and female interaction throughout the day.  Then he proceeded to take another bite, trying very hard not to notice when Sheyir turned