The Gifts

Once Malachi and Camille were sitting back down, the rest of the N'Kai circled them again to begin the second phase of their ceremony; the gifting.

Tsath continued to give Malachi something of a scrutinizing gaze.

And inwardly, Mal felt really bad.

Since showing up, these beings had been nothing but kind and courteous to him and his daughter.

They hadn't picked on him for having different origins.

Nor did they try to eat him for being weaker than them.

They didn't even try to harm any of the beings in he base who weren't N'Kai. 

And how had he responded to their kindness and favor?

By almost having a panic attack because he started to look like them; inadvertently telling them loud and clear that he thought of them as a monstrous race of beings.

His behavior had made him truly ashamed.

He hadn't been raised to act like that or treat people that way.