Karolina flushed at his compliment, pleased but embarrassed. “Please. You’re the one with words like ‘eusocial’ and ‘caste system.’ I just don’t want to be potential dinner again.”
She was glad there were people like Doug here, people that truly believed that not everything out here wanted them dead, because Karolina wasn’t comfortable with the kill-everything direction the others seemed to be taking. Defending their little camp against threats? Absolutely. Going after something that may or may not even be a threat? She wasn’t so sure. They’d been here longer, though, so she was willing to take their lead for now. But here might be someone she could actually talk to about her concerns without being considered weak…
“Oh, um. Thanks. I’m not really sure? I mean, I know that it’s essentially me converting solar energy into a form I can use, so that’s why it’s all different colors…but it takes a little more effort to look normal. So I think it’s just something I am, not something I do, if that makes sense.” She shrugged. “There are so many people here with so many amazing abilities, but for me, it takes more effort to not show it than to show it, so…I don’t really know what that means. Anyway, it did some damage to the bugs, but I don’t know if it’s harmful to anything else yet. I haven’t tested it.”