“Here,” the Klrkrr guard clicked, “swallow this.” The medallion around its neck translated its chittering into words that mammals like Jo could understand, but did little to explain the small white wriggling worm being thrust at her.

“I’m…sorry?” Jo said. “You want me to eat this?”

“Not eat!” The guard’s agitated clicking was translated into mammalian yelling. “Swallow! Chew on it and you will answer to me!”

Jo picked up the worm and looked helplessly at Mar.

“It’s a larva toll,” Mar said. “Klrkrr larvae need to gestate in a living host after hatching. Don’t worry; it’ll settle in your stomach or bowels and eat some of your food and suck a little of your blood. Nothing serious.”

“And then burst out of me when it’s ready to pupate!” Jo gagged.

“Oh no. They’ll remove it when you leave their lands and transfer it to some livestock. Serves to get the little ones off to a good start and simultaneously limit the amount of time you spend in Klrkrrdrwn.”