I cower behind a tree, staring as the red men destroy what had been my flying home for so many years. We had finally found the other species. So many centuries put towards finding this planet, only for them to welcome us with hatred and death.

Silent tears roll down my face. Events from last night replay constantly in my mind. My mentor, the pilot, shot as she walked down to greet the humans. Not a single word was allowed out of her mouth. My father, caught in the crossfire as we tried to escape. And Sylva, oh dear Sylva, my beautiful wife, killed right in front of me.

I wish I could go back. Save them. But I can’t. I wipe my face and sigh. I can’t do anything now. I just need to find a way back and then the King will know what to do. The only way I can do that is by getting one of the escape pods from the ship, assuming they haven’t already destroyed them.

I stay close to the ground and glide smoothly across the ground, keeping to the trees and trying not to make any sound. I’m so close! I put my hand to the scanner and it beeps. No, not too loud, please! The door squeaks open and I-

“**MONSTER**!” someone yells.

I put my hands up and speak, my English warbled. “No, no, I’m not… We’re here to make an alliance.”

The woman yells again and points at me, other people starting to come over.

“**MONSTER**!” they all cry again.

I run.

I’m not a monster, I never was a monster. I just want to be good.

A noise rings in my ears and, before I can process what’s happening, I’m on the ground, my bright green blood seeping into the snow.

It wasn’t supposed to end like this. I was supposed to help… I _wanted_ to help.

I groan in pain. Then, nothing.