Zoë was pacing in the cargo bay, just before the door that led to the passenger dorm and the med bay. She didn't usually stay behind on jobs, and it made her very uncomfortable to be left with nothing to do. She was so intent on her pacing that she nearly collided with Simon, coming up from his room.
"Ah…sorry," he said, startled, stepping back a few paces.
Zoë nodded. "Captain'll watch over your sister," she said after a slight silence, knowing what was on the doctor's mind.
His features stiffened. "I just don't understand why-"
"He's right, you know," the first mate interrupted, quashing Simon's imminent rebellious comment. "And your sister's much tougher than you think. Just give her a chance to show you."
Simon paused for a moment, mulling over Zoë's remark. He took a breath, about to make some apologetic gesture for being cranky, when a movement by the open cargo bay doors caused him to turn. The young doctor felt his heart start thumping. "Um, Zoë…"
She turned, and a curse hissed out from between her teeth. She grabbed Simon and pressed him against the wall beside her. Hands suddenly slicked with sweat gripped her shotgun like a vice. What she was seeing…couldn't possible exist. They were huge creatures, four of them, monsters like she'd never seen or heard of in all her life. There was no choice, she'd have to kill them. She couldn't risk any attempt to talk; she didn't even know if they could talk. Bracing herself, she was about to spin into the open and let loose her first shot when faint gunfire reached her ears.
The creatures froze, looking at one another. Then, letting out howls that reverberated through the cargo bay and made Zoë's ears ring painfully, they turned and raced out of the ship, headed back toward the castle.
"My God," Simon breathed from beside her.
"I'm not sure God had anything to do with those," Zoë replied grimly.
Simon nodded numbly, then a horrifying realization hit him like a bucket of cold water. "Those things came from the castle! River!" He attempted to bolt out of the ship.
Zoë snagged him as he tried to run. "You're not going anywhere. There's nothing we can do but obey orders," she said harshly.
"But-!"
"Don't question me, Doctor," she said firmly. "We don't know what's in there. We rush in, all that happens is that we're all dead. All we can do is wait." But Zoë could barely breathe around the knot of dread in her chest.
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The bullets struck the creature across its massive chest, sending a shower of blood and muscle into the air. It bellowed in pain, reeling backwards. Rhoswen's howl of anguish sounded eerily wolf-like as she pushed herself to her feet desperately and darted around Mal. He made a reach for her, but fell short. For hurtin' like she looks to be, she's gorram quick! he thought.
The wolves, who'd been menacing Kaylee, River, and Book, immediately halted. Their golden eyes stared up at the beast in uncertainty and fear. It took another step backwards then fell slowly to its knees, like a giant tree toppling to the ground. Howling again, blood pouring from a half dozen wounds in its chest, it collapsed onto its back and lay still.
Rhoswen fell to her knees at the beast's head. She gently shifted her legs underneath its skull like a pillow, stroking its coat as tears dropped from her face to its muzzle, making dark gray fur darker still. It slowly, haltingly, reached a huge paw up towards her face.
"Whoa!" Mal brought up his gun again. He did not like that thing's giant mitt by his wife's face. But Kaylee grabbed his arm and wouldn't let it go, shaking her head urgently even while she never took her eyes off the woman on the floor with the dying creature. Then, her eyes widened in shock.
"Oh, God," she breathed, her face crumpling into tears. She turned and buried her face into Mal's shoulder.
"What in ruttin' Hell-?" Jayne growled, eyes strained in their sockets, gun still drawn.
The animal on the floor was…changing. The hulking, fur-covered form shrank and the fur disappeared, revealing the smooth skin of a human. Paws became hands and feet, snout became nose, the ruined barrel chest became the ruined chest of a young man…and blood still pooled around him. Blue eyes stared up at the woman above him, blond hair slicked with sweat. His hand caressed her cheek, clumsily wiping away tears.
"I'm-" he gasped, chest heaving, "-sorry."
"Nothing to be sorry for," Rhoswen replied gruffly, trying to clear her throat.
"I didn't realize who-" He broke off, voice rattling. "Your faith was right…all along." Rhoswen laughed despite herself. Suddenly, his face hardened, blue eyes focusing intensely. "Finish it," he said fiercely.
She leaned down and kissed his forehead, smoothing his hair back. "I will. Rest in peace, Korbin. Rest, my son."
He smiled, then his eyes fluttered closed. The hand that had touched her face fell to the cold stone floor with a smack. Rhoswen bowed her head as she sat in a pool of blood, and wept.
