Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79927 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79927 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
But she told herself he was just really intelligent. After all, even if he did mostly look like a wolf from Earth, he clearly wasn’t. Maybe his species was semi—sentient or something. She would find out more about him once she got him home to her animal sanctuary.
Though Iyanna was clearly nervous about riding home with an enormous alien wolf in the shuttle with them, Kiera’s new pet was completely docile during the trip. He settled down between the pilot’s seat and the passenger seat and put his head on his paws. He didn’t even cause a fuss when the Monstrum Mother Ship folded space for them.
While she was unloading the schoonies, who gave him nervous side—long looks as they scrambled from the back of the shuttle into their new breeding pen, he stayed right by Kiera’s side and didn’t even move a muscle–though his long nose twitched as he scented the air of the wide, open plains the sanctuary was located on.
“Good boy,” she murmured, ruffling his fur. “I know they’re interesting, but they’re not prey–nothing here is prey.”
He chuffed once, as though he understood and she scratched behind his ears, which made his eyes turn into slits of ecstasy.
Once the schoonies were safely stored, Kiera gave Iyanna a tight hug.
“Take care of yourself.” Her friend looked at her anxiously. “You’re sure you’re okay?”
Kiera laughed and squeezed her friend.
“You always get so worried about me–I’m fine.”
“But you’re all alone,” Iyanna pointed out.
Kiera shrugged.
“I have the work—bots.”
“Yes, but they’re no good for conversation–they’re just programmed to do the grunt work.” Iyanna frowned. “You’re basically all alone with no one to talk to. Well, unless that creep, Higgs comes over.” She made a face and Kiera made one as well.
Higgs was the canthor rancher from the next valley over. He was humanoid and the only other person around, which was the main reason she’d agreed to go out with him.
That has been a mistake–he’d taken her to see his slaughter pens for their first, (and last) date–a horrifying experience. Kiera couldn’t stand to see animals being harmed for profit and watching the cow—like canthors being rammed down an automated slot and shot in both their heads, (because they had two,) as they screamed in fear and agony was more than she could bear.
She’d excused herself from the date as soon as she could and she’d regretted going out with Higgs ever since. Especially since he came over to the sanctuary from time to time and tried to get her to come out with him again.
So far, though, he’d been respectful when she declined. Kiera tried to keep an eye out for him so she could be conveniently elsewhere when he came over. Mostly she kept to her home-dome and so far, he hadn’t bothered her there. It had actually been a few weeks since his last visit and she was beginning to hope that he’d gotten the message that she wasn’t interested in him at all.
“I’ll be fine,” she said to Iyanna firmly. “Higgs hardly ever comes around anymore. And anyway, now I’ve got my good boy to keep me safe.” She stroked the wolf’s head–he was so big that it was level with her ribcage.
The wolf chuffed as though he understood her and leaned closer, rubbing against her almost like a cat–a move that nearly knocked her over.
Kiera laughed and patted his head.
“Easy boy! Take it easy.”
Iyanna smiled.
“Well, I guess you’re right. Nobody in their right mind would mess with you with that guy around.” She nodded at the wolf, who had shown no interest in her at all, except to sniff her hand when she offered it briefly and with obvious reluctance.
Clearly he was a one—person wolf and he’d chosen Kiera as his person. A fact that made a warm rush of happiness bloom in her chest. She had always loved being chosen by an animal and though it had happened often in her life, it felt more significant somehow this time.
She hugged Iyanna one more time and then waved as the shuttle took off. Then she sighed.
“Well, alone again, boy,” she remarked to the wolf. “But not really–now I have you. So how do you like your new home?”
She gestured at the sanctuary with pride and satisfaction. Plo’nix, the second moon of Had’lor Prime, was an Earth—like planet in that it was in the temperate zone of its solar system, and it had a breathable, oxygen rich atmosphere. However, there were some big differences.
For instance, the sky wasn’t the familiar blue of Earth at all—it was a soft, luminous shade of turquoise that deepened to indigo at the horizon, like spilled ink. Two pale rings—faint as chalk marks—circled Had’lor Prime overhead, and every so often the enormous gas giant itself loomed in the heavens like a watchful eye, its swirling bands of jade and gold so vivid they didn’t seem real.