Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 68478 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68478 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
In a break in the conversation, Niri murmurs, “Humans are life forms from Sol III, Captain. Primitive culture. D-class planet.”
“Kef,” Trakan says, pushing his bowl aside. “D-class life forms, too? I hope we’re not touching that with a ten-foot pole.”
I know what he’s thinking. Niri looks uneasy, too. Planets with a ‘D’ classification are off limits to any and all contact. If we’re found with contraband aliens, we could get nailed for kidnapping, even if we aren’t the responsible parties. A tricky situation just got trickier.
The captain doesn’t look worried. He finishes his soup, and the bowls are cleared away. I’ve barely eaten mine—no appetite. Farli’s is barely touched. New plates are set out, this time delicate little veg-cakes garnished with fanciful spirals. I watch as Farli’s nostrils flare, and she makes no move to eat this, either.
“So your people and the humans arrived at the same time?” Chatav continues. “Together?”
“No. We have always been here. The humans came a few seasons ago.” She’s starting to get frustrated with the conversation, it’s clear. “Why?”
“I’m just trying to figure out the best way to proceed from here.” I imagine the captain’s mentally running numbers on how much it’ll cost us to dump our cargo and pick up at least forty refugees, some of them D-class. Trakan’s no longer laughing, and Niri looks upset. They’re seeing their pay slip away, and normally I’d be upset, too. But Farli’s more important to me than a few credits.
“Proceed? What do you mean?” Farli looks at me.
I nod at her plate. “You should eat.”
She leans closer, and as she does, she starts to purr again. Her expression goes soft as she looks at me, and then she whispers, “Will we get meat soon?”
“Meat?” I ask, surprised.
“Meat?” The captain echoes, appalled. “You eat animal flesh?”
I can see Farli cringe back in her seat, and that protective feeling surges through me again. “Not sure what else she’s supposed to eat while she’s here, Captain. Didn’t see a lot of farms or processing plants out in that snow.”
“Mm.” He still looks repulsed.
I shoot Farli a reassuring glance. “We don’t have meat, I’m sorry. Maybe we can find something else for you.”
Her smile in my direction is dazzling, and it almost makes up for Trakan’s quiet snickering. I reach under the table and squeeze her hand. I’ll make sure she gets what she needs.
FARLI
By the time the endless, strange meal is finished, I am ravenously hungry and exhausted all at once. I have never talked so much at one time and yet managed to say so very little. Every time I spoke, the sly-looking male would smirk. Niri would frown. And the other one—Cap-tan—would just throw more questions at me and misunderstand everything I said. I feel frustrated and tired, and I need to ask for fire, even though I haven’t seen any since arriving. It is a long way back to the closest hunter cave in the dark, and I’ll need a torch.
I return to the healer’s room with Niri after the eating, and check on Chahm-pee. He is still asleep, but he snores like he always does, and I feel a little better seeing that. I sit at his side on one of the strange stools and stroke his furry nose. I am not sure if I am comforting him or myself. These strangers are…odd and not entirely pleasant. I do not understand why they make me feel…like less. It is a sensation I have never felt before. The sly one laughed all through his meal, and I sometimes got the impression he was laughing at me. I have always imagined what I would do if I met strangers like Vektal met the humans, and I never pictured them being…unpleasant.
All except Mardok, of course.
My mate.
I give a dreamy sigh, picturing his face. He is stern but protective. He tried to make me comfortable throughout the strange meal, and when the others made faces at my words, he scowled at them. I liked that. I think my mother would like Mardok, too. I cannot wait to return to the village and introduce him to the others. I am so proud of how handsome and strong he is. My khui has chosen wisely, and we will make adorable kits together.
As if my thoughts have summoned him, Mardok appears in the healer’s room, looking around. He pauses when he sees me, a faint look of relief on his face. “There you are.”
“I followed Niri,” I tell him, and stroke Chahm-pee’s nose again. “I wanted to see if he was well before I left.”
“Left? You’re leaving?” Mardok is shocked.
“Once I get fire for a torch. I will be back in the morning to check on my fat one here.” I lovingly smooth my fingers down Chahm-pee’s brow.
“Are you going home?”
“No.” I give him a puzzled glance as I stand. “I am out hunting. My home is many days’ travel away.”