Split Hairs

"Well, the colony has been isolated since the Troubles.  Perhaps fifteen, sixteen thousand years," said Mirkovski.  "I'm dealing with a lot of unknowns here, not to mention a distinct lack of decent lab equipment."

"Isolation intensifies genetic drift," Kowel mused.

Mirkovski pushed his glasses back up.  "I haven't confirmed-"

"Are they," Kowel interrupted, "or are they not a different species?"  He rested a hand on his belt, beside his serrated combat knife.

"I..." Mirkovski swallowed.  "I think we may have encountered the first splintering, yes.  Homo xenosis, perhaps."

"Then our food supply problems are solved."  Kowel grinned.  "Tomorrow, we hunt."