The little girl slithered out of the crawl space with ease, her lithe body perfect for squeezing through small opening like a liquid rather than a person. No one was the wiser of her hidden escape route through the small hole in the fence. No one knew about the hidden trail that she took whenever she could. They know she was a master escape artist, they just didn’t know how.

She was a little smug about it too, impressed with herself.

Checking over her shoulder on occasion, she looked around to make sure she was not being followed by any idiots from home. Thankful, the coast was clear. At least, for now.

So, she did what she did best while she still could, she frolics.

This place was freedom. It was a sanctuary unlike any other. She loved nature, loved the fresh air, and the soil and blades of grass between her bare toes.

The grass was bright green around here, and she couldn’t grt enough of it. The smells, the sight of the bugs and the trees and the sky. She adored it.

Delving into the forest, she passed countless plants and creatures of all different shapes and sizes. She laughed when a woodpecker sounded nearby, the tell_tale noise of it burrowing its long beak into some thick tree bark for an early morning snack.

The young child smiled with delight when beams of the hot, Tennessee sun sprinkled through the tree limbs, perfectly hitting her face. It was a hot summer day. but she relished in it. Most everyone around here hated the hot, muggy sensation the sun brought. She couldn’t care less about the sweat. It remined me of the sun, one of her dearest friends. After all, she was named after it.

It was such a beautiful morning. She wanted to enjoy every single second of it before….

“ Lily”

The little girl gasped, shocked that she had been discovered already.

She leaned against a tree, hoping it’s dark, looming wood would somehow keep her hidden from her Momma. She loved her mother to death, but Lily knew what would happen when she found her out here.

She would definitely drag her back kicking and screaming to that foul place they called home. Home. Ha Lily often laughed at that idiotic word plastered to the abandoned middle school they holed ourselves up in. Some home that was. It was more a prison than anything.

Once Lily was in the prison, she would have another long lecture on her hands.

The sounds of rustling underbrush reached her little ears, and she shook her head. She had better get her Momma out of those woods before she got a nasty rash from all the poison ivy lurking on the ground.

Lily’s Momma didn’t know a single thing about nature. She was a city girl, born and raised in Memphis. Her protective parents never let her venture far, she never even went camping. Lily suspected that’s where her protective nature came from.

She revealed herself, heading in her Mother’s direction.

“ Lily Smith! Who do you think you are doing wandering around when I’ve told you time and time again to……..”

“Stay inside. I know, I know.” She filled in for her. Her Momma put her hands on her ample hips, and Lily could tell that she didn’t like the reply. She was not allowed to sass her, never allowed to talk back like that. It was the southern way.

The girl raised her hands up in innocence.

“ I hate being stuck inside. It’s so boring. And the sun, it’s so bright. It’s gorgeous. “ She tries to explain like she has done countless times before, but Momma never listened. No one ever listened to Lily.

“ Well, your skin will get all leathery, and you’ll get covered in ugly freckles like that poor little girl you hang around, what’s her name?” Her voice trailed off.

“ Susi.” She piped in, wondering for the 100th time how her own Mother forgot her best friend’s name. It was ridiculous.

Momma made a face of sheer disgust, probably picturing Susi’s face of freckles and hair the color of fire.

“Yes her. You wouldn’t want to come in looking like her, now would you? You know that your skin is perfect. You don’t want to ruin it. Then you’ll never get married.”

Lily rolled eyes, because that was all that mattered here. Even at 10 years old she was being instructed about what her future had to be. She hated it. Marriage, Repopulation. That was the thing, she didn’t want to get married to a douchebag. And that was the only type of man who lived in the compound. Douchebags.

Following her Momma back home, Lily looked back at the trees with a yearning that grew stronger in her chest. The more her Mom told her about what she shouldn’t do, the more she wanted to do it, because she didn’t want to get a man’s attention. Just because they’re going extinct doesn’t mean she had to treat them like they were her masters.

She sighed, looking down at her feet.

Lily’s future was looking dim, because she could never do what she wanted. All because she was a girl, and apparently that meant that she didn’t really matter. She just wished things could be different.

Lily was just another number, completely worthless. She knew that unless she escaped, that’s all she would ever be.

                                                      THANK YOU FOR READING CUPCAKES 

The first thing I notice about the new planet is that it's very green. And it's very, very hot. Earth isn't what I expected. Since it's filled with females, I thought that maybe it was perfect. It's far from it, even if it covered in lush green beauty.

We're here for a reason, and it's the most important mission of my life.

I have the ship landed near the beacon of life we received, but not too close by. We're surrounded by trees on all sides, and I don't waste any time sitting around once the ship touches down. I leave the ship that I've been stuck in for many days, and I take a look around. My small crew goes around fulfilling their responsibilities as I leave quickly. As General, I'm the Captain of the ship, and I will be the first to search this planet we've landed on.

I'm beyond excited and nervous at the idea of it all. Females. I've never seen one. I'm shocked that they're even real. The universe has granted my dying race a second chance, and Earth is where we'll find it.

I walk through through the forest, listening to all the different creatures make their verying noises. I've been told that there aren't any dangerous animals on Earth, at least not on this part of the green and blue planet. This place is very strange already. It's so very different than the place I know as home. It's also nothing like I've ever seen for. But this place is sacred, because this place holds females. Real, life giving females.

The last female of my kind, a Rytarian female, died many moon cycles ago. We don't have any more left. After the virus took them all away, we thought we had no hope. Then, one luck male crash landed, finding himself on Earth. He says he was saved by a female who patched up his wounds and provided him shelter and kindness. Now they are mates.

It's a miracle, but apparently this place is filled with countless females who look like our own kind, but very small and very delicate and pale.

They are quit adorable.

I saw one right before leaving to journey to this mysterious place. She was beautiful. I need to find many more, and hopefully one of my own. That's the whole reason we're here, Rytaria awaits.

My heart starts racing at the mere idea of having my own mate to love. It fills my soul with joy just seeing one precious female. I've never seen one in my life until a few days ago.

Our race is dying out, and Humans hold the key, They have what we hold the key. They have what we seek. Their females can hold our kit. Half human, half Rytarian. It's amazing, truly.

It is a miracle from the Gods.

But that's not all that females are good for. They are kind creatures, fiercely protective of their children, and above all , they provide companionship and grace to every planet. What would a male be without a female? I will tell you what, absolutely miserable. I’ve lived on our planet for 26 turns of the planet, and most of those turns were spent on a female-less wasteland. All I’ve ever known is males everywhere.

Now is the chance to change to rectify the lonely nature of Ryataria and the males that inhabit it.

I hike back to the ship, only to see many of the crew unloading supplies to set up camp already. They are as eager as I am. I observe quietly from the sidelines. For the most part, I go unnoticed, that is until my impatience gets the best of me. I’m excited to get started with finding the females we seek.

“ All level 1 warriors with me. We start the search for females right now.” I call out, and all my best fighters drop what they are doing to listen to their commander.

I fold my arms as they gather around me. I wait until they are all here before I open my mouth to give my instructions to the warriors before me.

“ We will search until the sun goes down. We will split up. Go far, but not too far. I want all reports by dark, If you happen to find a female, do not grab her. We must be gentle and kind to these blessed gifts to our kind. Do not scare them. If you must, follow them, or see if you can somehow bring them back to the ship. But do not frighten or hurt them. They are royalty as far as I am concerned. “

In reply, I get many nods and murmurs of acceptance of my plan. I don’t see any problem, it seems this will go well without any problems.

“ Any questions? “ I ask, and a young male raises his hand. I gesture to him. “Yes, you?”

“ How long do we have to go. It is very hot, and the air is filled with water. It is not pleasant.” He complains, looking around at the tall tress surrounding us as they hum with whistling life. Small, feathered creatures flutter from branch to branch. The sun beats down hot on the back of my neck.

I narrow my eyes at him. I was told I was given elite crew, but I suppose elite means different things to different males. This male in particular is young and inexperienced in matters like this. I’m not sure why he is here.

“ Do not complain of a planet that harbors such treasure. Understand?” My second in command, Louis, raises his voice at the young male. The kid nods his head shakily, fear in his gaze. “ This is an amazing opportunity for each one of you. Do not forget that.”

“ Thank you, Louis. Now, who is ready?”

They all voice their agreements, and I purse my lips, ready to begin more than I’ve ever been ready for anything in my life.

I just hope that the females are ready.