I pull the red thing close to me and squint at it. It's a hat. A familiar hat. I know I've seen it many times before, but I can't remember where right now. I wrap my arms around it and sniff. For the first time today, I feel safe.

I sit down, still clutching the hat, and consider my options. There is almost certainly poison flowing through my body, killing me bit by bit as I wait under the stars. I look at the centipede-hurt hand. Actually, I could be wrong, but I think the swelling's going down a bit. I waggle it back and forth. It doesn't feel any worse than before, but it still doesn't feel good. I amend my earlier thought to 'probably killing me.' I look away from my hand and cling to the hat. I feel better holding it.

It's strange, I think, staring up at the sky with the hat in my hands. It's strange how much brighter the stars look from Earth. I hardly ever noticed them while I was on my ship, and I could hardly see them through the thick clouds of certain planets. Here, though, the stars shine bright.

I don't like it. The stars are too bright and oppressive here. I feel useless and weak underneath them. I decide that I need a shelter of some sort. It doesn't have to be fancy; just something to hide me from the stars and keep their gaze away. I curl up as tightly as I can and pull the hat over my back, wearing it like a shell. It doesn't entirely cover me, but I feel happier under here.

I start to drift off, but a crunching sound catches my attention. I'm pretty well hidden under the hat, but the sound of feet on grass is still getting closer. It's not a good sign. I adjust my position under the hat, making sure my feet are on the ground. There's a very distinct possibility that I'll have to run. Now that I think about it, I should probably get into some deeper grass. The hat is very bright and it's not impossible that the newcomer will notice it.

I take a few steps forward. Nothing terrible happens, so I take a few more, feeling hopeful about my new plan. The hat, combined with some tall grass, will be the perfect hiding place for me.

"Hey!" My ears prick when I hear the shout. I know that voice. Wait. Waaaaait. My ears flatten against my head. That's why the hat looks familiar. My eyes are wide and my heart pounds. I need to get away from here. I can't let him catch me. I can't, I can't, I can't! Not just yet! I can't face him yet! I'm not ready. I am not entirely sure why I'm not ready, but I know that seeing him now is a bad idea.

We had a moment of understanding less than a day ago. I realized what he wanted and what I wanted. We had a moment of unity and harmony, but no! No, that doesn't matter right now! I am not…not…I frown. What am I not? Good enough yet? That might be it. I'm not good enough to talk to him yet. To see him.

I think I want to become someone he can feel proud of before we meet again. Then, he won't need to be ashamed of me or feel like I'm a danger anymore. I can't stop running until either he gives up or I find a way to, I don't know, save a flock of little humans from a burning building while running underneath his hat.

I still hear him keeping up with me. Actually, I think he's getting closer. A lot closer. It makes sense, considering how long his legs are compared to mine, but I'm still upset by the thought. He'll have me in another ten seconds if I don't do something drastic. Time to swerve. I change directions, sprinting for the right. I have a second of pride before the bill of the hat and the front of my face smash into the oncoming tree.

I fall over backwards, my legs, arms and tail sticking up straight out and my head smarting. A warm liquid oozes from my snout. I don't hit the ground. Someone breaks my fall and I tilt by head back, looking up into Niiue's face. Our eyes meet and his get huge. It makes sense. Even I wasn't expecting myself to survive in any form after all my poor choices. In fact, I'd come as close to terms with death as I think I can get. Instead, here I am, lying here in my better half's hat, staring up at him while my nose leaks blood over me. As far as twists of fate go, I've got to say that this one's a tad too bizarre for my tastes.