"It came as a surprise to myself also," Faris agrees, ears flicking forward. "But I am quite grateful that it was possible, or I would not be here now."

Disturbed by the reminder, Chanath tightens her grasp on her symbiont's back, just a little. "We have found few species compatible with K'da physiology, in all our travels. Including the Shontine, there are only three known compatible species, though one is known to us only in songs of our histories."