![canstockphoto66345300.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/internutter/P7BXz9JW-canstockphoto66345300.jpg)

> A species that usually has mated groups of 3 or more, but never less, and upon meeting two bonded Humans and understanding there is no third is all prepared to be appropriately sympathetic for their Human’s loss of mate(s) -- Anon Guest

[AN: Reminder to all readers that Polyamory between consenting parties is a legitimate relationship option for Humans as well as alien life]

"Marriage is a sacred bond between three to five people. No more, no less." -- Xyltarxian extremist attempting to reform their resident polity to a morally righteous set of laws.

The Xylethi ship had decided to be economical when introducing a Ships' Human to their crew. The manuals all stated that Humans were pack-bonding creatures and therefore elected to hire a bonded set. They had not expected a _pair_.

For centuries, since the victory of a morally righteous polity group in their past, the Xylethi  had held to a strict rule of marriage being a group of between three to five consenting adults. Seeing a mere _couple_ had both the greeting Captain and the designated Companion in evident confusion.

"There's... only two," whispered Companion Xorq.

"I can see that," whispered Captain Gorx. At a more conversational level, he said, "Are the rest of your bonded group to join us later?"

The pair of Humans did some whispering of their own. "It's just us two," said one.

Just as Xorq was about to say something regarding apologies for their loss, the other Human said, "So far."

Then to add to the confusion, the first Human said, "You're okay with shipboard families, right?"

It was at that point that Captain Gorx should have realised that something had been lost in translation. "Do you mean you are searching for additional ideal mating matches, or you have plans to begin breeding with insufficient Parental numbers?" He had heard that Humans took illogical risks, but this seemed... a little extreme.

"Two's plenty for us," said one of the Humans. "We don't usually polybond like your people."

"I mean, it happens," said the other, "we're open to it if it does, but we're enough to keep track of a little one if _that_ happens as well."

"We're free-forming it," said the first.

Companion Xorq was the one to come out with the rude questions. "Which of you is the hunter, and who protects whilst the gatherer is getting resources? Who teaches and who feeds? How can so few of you do all those tasks at once?"

"We can multitask pretty good," said a Human.

[Image <a href="https://www.canstockphoto.com">(c) Can Stock Photo / AlexanderPokusay</a>]

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