Yautja vessels, with their organic architectural design, high ceilings, split level floors and decks, and built in features were fundamentally different from humans' spaceships.
With few lifts, and a large hall in the middle, the ship was not only meant to feel more comfortable in a primal sense (hence the organic design), but also to provide the Yautjas an environment that would help the hunters honing their skills.
Ergonomy applied to keep the crew in shape. They had to climb high to reach some resting places or make it to other levels quickly. Sinuous corridors, nooks and alcoves and pits and bath pools. The workshop also had secluded bays; it was wise to allow aggressive individuals to work in peace.
Lance was told Clanships were built to cater to the cultural needs of each clan. In other words, while small vessels seemed quite bare and utilitarian, Clanships were the expression of the very essence of each clan.
(Those vessels were meant to be a second home, after all).
The Girl spent time imagining those vessels, how they would look like. Hopefully they would be the antithesis of the Enforcer's ships; while the interior design felt inviting and home-like in a terrifying way (no wonder those aliens were dubbed Predators, even cozy had shades of frightening).
Maybe with "decorations", the vessel would look less like the dwelling of a ferocious pack of cold beats and more like…
(Like what? A human home?)
Clear, albeit quiet, sound of footsteps was a courtesy extended by just a very few Predators onboard the ship. They could move silent as ghosts, the noise was solely for her benefit.
Lance tilted her head to her left, to find Ah'kaedh walking while holding a can and a small bowl.
Casting her eyes down, the Girl held back her first reaction; wincing and recoiling. Ah'kaedh had been bathing, hand feeding and forcing water down her throat for the past 2 days.
The rollercoaster of the last few weeks was peanuts in comparison to the post-apocalyptic emotional hangover.
Surprisingly enough, she managed to spend around 8 hours per day in the med-bay, dealing with a problem Lar'jar couldn't force himself to face.
(Carry on with her assigned tasks? Came like breathing. But her appetite? Gone).
Lance placed a dish with fresh salve on a counter, and went about covering the large female body with a blanket.
They knew nothing about her. Lance had taken samples of her body, so they could extract a DNA signature, which was sent directly to Yautja Prime, and all Clanships.
Her ward was sedated into an induced coma by her request. They had rescued her in a catatonic state; the major reason for Lar'jar's wrath. And Lance was rightfully scared to be in a room with such a creature once her consciousness finally emerged.
Ah'kaedh observed her work, with his usual impassive stance. Waiting patiently. And gosh, that male could be patient.
"I'm not hungry", she protested, approaching the dark Enforcer, who kept watching her like a hawk.
Ah'kaedh found a chair, sitting with both legs parted more widely than necessary; enough for her to climb up and find a seat in one of his thighs, her feet dangling.
The Enforcer allowed her some quiet time, helping the Girl to nestled against his chest. She helped him to take off his prosthetic, placing the heavy piece over the counter close to them, next to the damn bowl of food - just looking at it upset her stomach.
Ah'kaedh lowkey snickered in face of her effort to place the prosthetic away, clicking his mandibles. Lance grumbled a protest, cuddling up against him. Ah'kaedh heard her sigh deeply, relaxing once he started to purr.
When Velk'n stepped inside the med-bay, Lance's had already passed out on Ah'kaedh's lap; the Enforcer had taken her translator piece off her ear already.
The Predator's disgust toward their relationship didn't bother Ah'kaedh at all; Velk'n, unlike Kivar, didn't act on it.
"Tell the ooman I have the data she requested".
"Is it urgent?"
"I don't think so, no".
"I will let her know once she awakens".
XXX
Ah'kaedh was still seated in the same place, once Lance finally woke up from her nap. The Girl fussed a bit, unhappy. The Enforcer shook his head, only to hear her sigh contently once he deepened his purr.
"You are becoming terribly spoiled", he chided, after she hid her face in his neck, avoiding his offer of food.
"And whose fault is that?"
That made him hiss, moving his leg abruptly, making her bounce in his lap.
"You must eat", he said curtly.
"I've eaten today", she countered.
"Just a bite", he pushed, picking a piece of fruit from the bowl. Lance's tummy was rejecting meat.
"Later", Lance whined. Ah'kaedh bit half, and offered the remaining fruit to her. He kept holding it out for her, until she got tired of feigning not seeing it.
"Good?"
"Mhmm. I'm just not hungry".
Ah'kaedh nodded, whispering "I know", before picking more fruit.
XXX
Setg'n'kah's curiosity around the ooman just grew with each passing day.
Namely, her brutality and resilience made the enforcer reevaluate his opinions about her. Not all changes in his opinion were positive, but…
"Thank you", she whispered, after being handed a cup with water by Ah'kaedh. She had asked for a meeting with the 3 enforcers and the Medic.
While waiting for Kivar, she asked Ah'kaedh's help to project some images on the room's main screen.
(Lance had given back all lent equipment the moment she set foot on Kivar's vessel).
"Not good news, uhn?" That was not a question. Setg'n'kah could smell her distress.
"No", she confirmed, glancing over Lar'jar.
"I won't hurt you", said the Medic, eyeing the ooman. She had chosen a place to sit away from Lar'jar intentionally, placing Ah'kaedh between them.
"I would not blame you, if you did", she retorted, looking down.
Kivar didn't take long, and right after he took a seat, Lance started.
"Well, I asked you to come here because I noticed how important this issue around the female is. But before I begin, I would like to apologize in advance. I don't…", a pause to collect her thoughts. "I'm sorry if any of what I'm about to say sounds insensitive, but you need to make informed decisions".
Ah'kaedh crossed his arms. Lance had summarized things for him earlier.
"The female is not the mother of the baby found in the Bad Blood's ship", the translation beacon's flat tone was almost identical to hers.
"The creature growing in her belly is not fully Yautja. Image exams show a fetus with different features, and some changes on morphology suggest Xenomorphs hybrid's."
Those were not the images projected on the screen, no. Those were Yautja brain's exams.
"How can you tell?", Kivar asked.
"Velk'n provided exams samples with healthy fetuses, for comparison".
That seemed to satisfy Kivar.
"The second issue…", she gestured in the screen's direction.
"I don't know how to properly analyze image exams, but there are clear differences between healthy brains of females in reproductive age, and hers, as you can see", Lance pointed to a specific image.
"The exams point to brain damage", was all Lar'jar said once the enforcers looked in his direction. "Could explain her catatonic state".
"I also noticed 3 small incisions on her forehead. Those are not regular scars, they have clean edges, and are perfectly straight".
Lance grew uncomfortable. Was it fear? A little. But she was aware of how much this whole ordeal was affecting Lar'jar.
"I'm suggesting the damage you are seeing was purposefully inflicted upon her. Are you familiar with the concept of lobotomy?"
The Yautjas frowned, uncertainty on their faces.
"Lobotomy?", Lar'jar parroted.
Which made Lance look down.
"Centuries ago, Lobotomies were a… treatment option for psychiatric disorders. The goal of such surgeries was to make those disorders more manageable, at the cost of patients' cognition and personality. The results were usually mixed; some people would die, others would be able to work. But people often described it as surgically induced childhood".
It was quite clear by the males' faces they understood where this was going.
"This procedure is achieved in humans by severing some of the brain's connections. I can't affirm this is exactly what they tried to do. What I know is her brain differs from the healthy counterparts, and the lesions are in the same region of the incisions".
Lance glanced over Lar'jar. Which had his eyes glued on the images on display.
"Lastly… if an abortion is to be performed, her womb will need to be cut open, to remove the fetus. I don't have the necessary knowledge nor experience to conduct such a procedure."
Lance took a step back, before continuing.
"It's my professional opinion that placing her on stasis would be the best course of action. And if possible, only wake her up after it's decide what will be done with the fetus. Otherwise we would just be inflicting more distress upon her".
"Wake her up? You mean, if your disgusting species didn't turn her into a vegetable", Kivar hissed. Which made Ah'kaedh react instantly by flaring his mandibles.
Lance tugged on his prosthetic. She appreciate him sticking up for her, but Lance was not willing to be the cause of yet another conflict.
"It's best if I'm not here while you discuss such matters" Lance spoke quietly to all of them.
"Once you are done, let me know if I can be of further help".
XXX
"Your critters?", Ah'kaedh's deep voice was not enough to make Lance look up. She heard the door, and the deliberate sound of his steps too.
The Girls' eyes glued on the tables in front of her, which was showing her a local news channel. Stores had been ransacked, people panicked around the food supply and the whereabouts of the kids were at an all time high. Thedus now had a curfew. Chaos.
Ah'kaedh crouched by her side (Lance had spread a furn over the floor and was sitting on it) and ran his fingers through her hair, patient. The Girl blinked, finally computing his question, and looked around. She lifted a piece of human clothing laying by her side, only to reveal a pile of gaunt, furry, tiny creatures. They had a huge belly, some secretion on their eyes, but slept peacefully.
"Sleeping".
"How did you manage?", he asked, seizing the opportunity and robbing her of that damn tablet, turning it off and stashing it away.
"With you away, they are not so shy about exploring and playing", she said, not bothered about the tablet business. After a moment, she covered the kittens back.
Ah'kaedh rolled his eyes, still pissed at himself for being convinced of bringing those pests onboard. He didn't need to give Kivar yet another reason to seek conflict.
On another hand, they served a purpose. Ah'kaedh had no idea how to deal with her anguish; he couldn't even fathom how she was feeling. But Lance seemed less distressed while busy, and those critters were lots of work.
"What is going to happen with the female?"
Lance was accustomed to hear them saying it, but using the term herself felt a bit weird.
"She won't be allowed back on our home planet if pregnant with a hybrid of any kind".
If being the keyword here.
"The fetus is hinting the inner jaw already, Ah'kaedh".
"You said you are not good at analyzing exams", he tried.
"No, not my expertise. Are you ok?"
"I believe I should be asking that".
"We evacuated 11% of the population. One adult for every 3.5 kids. Thedus' director's plan only covered 7%. So that's a big win".
"Weren't you a bit greedy? They might end up in trouble with so many extra mouths onboard", he asked, genuinely curious (maybe not the best delivery).
"Nah. The army personnel will figure out. They can fit up to 3 small kids inside a cryochamber. It might render some chambers useless when they are pulled from stasis, though", Lance explained, reaching for his prosthetic arm. The Enforcer helped her to detach it.
"Are you alright?", he tried again, once they were both settled on the bed of furs.
"I will be".
XXX
Ah'kaedh purred his Girl into sleep, staying awake for some more hours, watching her sleep.
Change thunderstruck his life in such a manner, that Ah'kaedh was still uncertain if he had found his north.
(What was supposed to be a regular hunt for Bad Bloods ended as something so, so much bigger, and infinitely more complicated).
He was certain about some things, though, one being the tiny sleeping ooman.
The Enforcer ran a finger on her check, down to her neck, the tip of the talon leaving a faint red trail on the skin. And kept going, down her chest, to finally stop close to her navel, purposefully disturbing her sleep; not enough to wake her, no. But the desired effect of prompting Lance to shift in her sleep, snuggling herself into him, brought him some satisfaction.
XXX
"Good morning", Lar'jar boomed, stepping inside the chamber the couple had been using. Panicked hissing ensued.
(Kivar could be an asshole but allowing that circus of interspecies couple plus alien critters shenanigans inside a chamber of his ship was surely a sign he was not entirely bad).
"Paya, what's this smell", Lar'jar complained, knowing exactly what it was. Lance had already cleaned the kids mess, but the stank lingered.
Ah'kaedh gestured for him to step inside and allow the damn door to close up. Last thing they needed was to lose an alien inside Kivar's ship.
"Where is she?"
"Bathroom, bathing and washing her clothes".
"Washing her clothes?", the older brother tilted his head, puzzled.
"I'm leaving her be".
"And you are here because?"
Ah'kaedh got up, reaching for his prosthetic, attaching and hooking it to his bioware, engaging each finger, verifying the piece's response to his commands.
"Waiting for you to barge in", he answered quite matter-of-factly.
It would seem age made me predictable , Lar'jar mused, managing a chuckle. Ah'kaedh's older brother had some gloomy weeks.
"And what do you wish to discuss in private with me, brother?"
XXX
"What are you doing?"
Lance's soul almost left her body. She had been so focused on washing the few pieces of human clothing she had brought with her, that she forgot to pay attention to her surroundings.
(Not that it would have prevented her from being surprised).
"Washing… my clothes?", the Girl blinked. "Good morning, Velk'n. I though the crew was using the bathrooms in the upper levels".
"I traced you here".
Stalking. A (creepy) second nature.
"Oh, ok. What do you need", she placed the wet clothes to one side, and walked closer when he gestured for her to come closer.
"The clans will ask us to confirm the presence of abominations in the ooman colony. Right now, it's just a theory ".
"Right".
"You have a deeper knowledge of the terrain and ooman resources available. I'm trying to come up with options to help us get this done as quick as possible".
The Girl nodded, looking down.
"Are you ok?"
"Ah, yeah", she glanced up, avoiding to stare directly in his eyes. "I'm just thinking. Can you give me some time?"
XXX
"What do you think?"
Ho'kan was showing him a pristine, freshly polished, set of ooman trophies; skull and spine, intact.
"You got better at removing the trophies without damaging them", Lar'jar extended his hand. Ho'kan handed him the set.
"You did this by hand?"
A nod.
"Great work. I noticed you left those metallic fixtures oomans use on their teeth. I can show you how to remove those without damaging the piece", Lar'jar handed it back.
"No, I want those there. This is a present. Lance told me it's possible to identify dead oomans' by their teeth".
Lar'jar grinned.
"A present, you say?"
"Not like that!", Ho'kan rushed to explain himself, "I mean… I just want to cheer her up. This one I harvested from that General person she asked me to behead".
XXX
Ah'kaedh found Lance caring for the female eschars in the med-bay. Setg'n'kah was by the entrance, observing her work.
"Setg'n'kah", he greeted.
"Ah'kaedh", the other answered, without diverting his eyes away from the Girl, which made some irritation bubble inside Ah'kaedh's chest cavity.
Lance turned her head around. Having the translator picking up on the Aguirre speech of Yautjas didn't mean she knew where it was coming from (and Kivar's med-bay could be accessed for more than one doorway).
The Girl looked at her Enforcer's hands, lowkey relieved he had no food with him.
With long and silent strides, Ah'kaedh was soon by her side.
"You asked for me?"
"Yes, can you wait just a bit? I'm finishing here, and I would like to go check on the kittens".
The Yautja nodded, fully knowing she would not request him for a mere walk.
Once reached the chamber they had been using, Lance's first action was to go and clean the whole room. Again. Gosh, she needed a litter box. Like yesterday.
Ah'kaedh stayed outside, wondering if his Gods were not testing him somehow.
"So, Velk'n came to ask for some ideas to help him to locate the hypothetical Abomination's Queen".
"Did he, now?"
"Yes. So… I know that Xenomorphs will have different characteristics according to the larvae host species. But, if an abomination Queen eggs are incubated by humans, what's the result".
"Theoretically they would be physically superior to regular Kiande Amedha born from oomans' hosts, but inferior than the regular Abomination".
"Wait… you specified physically. Why?"
"Abominations are far more aggressive and prone to direct conflict", Ah'kaedh was trying to come up with a way to exemplify the difference, given Xenomorphs were, in general, freaking aggressive. "You probably know Kiande Amedha will lurk until the nest is well protected, right? That's not the case with abominations. They are fairly territorial".
"Right…", she shook her head, trying to banish intrusive thoughts. "Well, here is my suggestion…"
XXX
When two auxiliary ships decked, Setg'n'kah and Kivar were already waiting. They brought the remaining 5 prisoners from Ah'kaedh's ship, Sila and Charlie among them, who were escorted by a hunter to different quarters than the remaining 3.
"You sure surprised me there", Setg'n'kah said to Lance later, once he found her alone in the med-bay.
"Hm?"
"One would think you would not sacrifice your own people in such a way".
"I am conscious of what not making those sacrifices might entail…", she trailed off.
"But you don't seem affected", the enforcer pressed.
"Personally, I have a poor opinion of then, so I'm not inclined to pity those 3. However, It is… well, was my job to make certain sacrifices in order to advance my goals".
"Which goals?"
It felt like being interrogated all over again.
"The immediate goal would be determine if there are active colonies and if one of them have An Abomination for a Queen".
"Not help the oomans on that planet?"
"I will be doing that, indirectly".
"Only if there is a abomination colony".
"If there is not, I already did everything I could on my own. Going on a sucide mission benefits nobody. Now, helping you finding Nax also mean I will be ensuring something like this won't happen again so soon. Worried about my loyalties?"
That last question somewhat stunned Setg'n'kah.
"I need to be sure you don't have second intentions that would risk my people".
"I also want to ransack a petshop store", she looked completely serious. "Those kittens need a litter box".
"Are you toying with me?"
"Lar'jar told me to be upfront with my intentions, sir. I wouldn't dare."
Oh, but she would. She totally would.
XXX
Human beings. You offer them an inch, they take a mile.
The enforcers were watching the live holographic projection of Charlie's interrogation. Sitting beside them, in the common room, Lar'jar and Velk'n.
"Who would have though such small thing could be, well, scary", Lar'jar's grin was wide.
(After having his arm broken in diferente places by a not so angry Lance, the Broker was rightfully terrified of her).
Lance had not laid a finger on Charlie, but was driving him desperate.
"Charlie, please. What is done is done", Lance was not angry, but boy, she had no time for his bullshit.
"You didn't ask, I didn't think you wouldn't notice, I didn't want to offend…"
You see, Charlie was grasping at straws. Lance had communicated with him once per week, and he didn't mention there was a crisis going on at Thedus underworld.
No, he didn't knew about the infestation, not exactly. But Charlie was aware something was going on. And later, that Pike had fell.
Instead of issuing a warning, he thought about using some days to move his assets and other things first, before saying anything. When it became clear that the issue was far too big, the old alcoholic panicked, deciding the best course of action was feign ignorance.
Well aware of his usefulness, Charlie was trying his best to stay relevant for those aliens, while preparing for a possible future.
Being well fed, having his health issues tended to, but most of all, not being abused by the Yautja gave the broker a very wrong impression.
Not Charlie's fault really. That's not how the mafia treated their prisoners. Why would such violent creatures care to be decent if they planned to get rid of him?
"Please, I didn't know it was that serious!", he said, looking around.
"No one will come help you. You are dealing with me, Charlie. So let's cut the crap", Lance's tone was cold. Her stock of grief and ire was overflowing, but she would have better chances to vent her frustrations later.
The man started to whine again. Deny, deny, deny. If you deny long and hard enough, maybe someone would believe him?
"Charlie, that's enough. Don't want to deal with the consequences of your screw ups? Don't fuck with me. Engage your brains before thinking about your pockets".
"I promise you, I didn't…"
"I need you to pass me all the contacts of active organizations you have been in contact with for the last 10 days, especially the ones that have not left the planet".
Charlie froze. If he did that, all the effort he put in his denial would crumble. Since, you know, she would be easy to track his activities.
"I already know of your fucked up Charlie. If you try to hide any negotiation from me, I will make you rue the day your parents met for the first time. So be nice, and don't make me go through your stuff, I have little time to waste".
"Why, what are you… why do you need those contacts".
"Are you worried Charlie?"
"I… I have done everything you asked".
"I'm not replacing you, I'm killing them".
Charlie's entrepreneur persona cringed. That would kill a good portion of his already unstable business. But hey, he needed to survive if he wanted to have a business to go back to.
(But rest assured, he was already flirting with the idea of protecting some strategic contacts. Charlie could not help himself).
"Why?"
"I will use them as baits, darling".
The man's face was pure shock.
"if you locate them for me Charlie, I will even allow you to spare some people".
Lance smiled inwardly. She knew Charlie's instincts would push him into protecting his business, even if a little. So she gave him an out.
"But be warned, if I sniff an ambush, I will feed you to Xenomorphs".
"I… I need some days".
"You have two days, Charlie".
XXX
"You are quite wise, female. I believe they would have ripped that ooman apart… if he tried to play them the way he did with you".
Lar'jar compliment was quite sincere. The enforcers had been irritated enough just by watching her work.
"Why, thank you" she smiled. They were both organizing the med-bay. "But I might ask Ah'kaedh to do exactly that once I'm done with that fucker".
"Why would you not deliver the final blow personally?"
"He deserves to have despair as his very last experience in this life. Ah'kaedh can deliver it far better than me".
"Oh, can he?", a rhetorical question.
"Red eyes do crazy things to the human psyche. That's my current theory", Lance grinned.
The Medic chuckled, entrained by Lance's silliness.
Lar'jar still felt on edge about the female, but she was now treated, and placed under stasis. Lance had done her best. Besides, he had some time to deal with his shit.
"You are still a problem, though. What were you thinking bringing those baby-critters onboard?"
"To be honest, I was not. Thinking, I mean. Someone sealed them inside a box and threw it into a dumpster".
"Says the female who uses oomans as baits".
The Girl chuckled, shrugging.
"I'm quirky?"
"You are trouble, that's what you are", he was clicking his mandibles by the end.
You are also amusing, but may Paya forbid me to ever tell you that , since, who knows, Lance could decide to amp up the crazy.
XXX
The Medic was juggling two hissing critters, sitting on the couple's bed, when the door slid open.
"Step inside. Quickly!", Lar'jar hissed, watching a third kitten rushing around.
"Those things are surprisingly fast", Ho'kan observed. He was carrying Lance's gift.
"She will be back soon. With meat for them".
"Right. Will you go down to the planet with us?"
"That's for the enforcers to decide".
"So it's true, then? Kivar is leaving today?"
"They are still discussing the best course of action".
Time was not a commodity; they could not afford to waste it much longer. In order to expedite some obvious next steps, like care for the grievous injured from the mudslide, perform the proper rites for the stillborn, deliver the female back to her clan (it was now a matter of days to discover who she was).
Besides, if there was really an Abomination Queen…
Ho'kan sighed, suddenly frustrated.
"Thinking about Nax?", that was not really a question.
The Kid just nodded.
"Your friend won't allow Ah'kaedh to forget about him".
"My friend?", the Kid furrowed his brows.
"You are about to gift that ooman a trophy. Unless you have changed your mind about her attractiveness…"
"Oh, Paya no! Definitely not!"
"My point still stands".
"I mean, she is a ooman", Ho'kan felt somewhat self conscious.
"That you seem to get along with".
"What about you? Babysitting her… things", accused the Kid.
"I do like her", the older Yautja grinned, amused by the Kid's reactions.
Shock. Ho'kan thought Ah'kaedh was an anomaly, but hey, maybe the problem was within their clan?
(Who were those people? Openly admitting to 'like' prey. But then again, here was Ho'kan, ready to gift that ooman a nice trophy, with the sole purpose of lifting her spirits).
"She is fun", he conceded.
The door opened, and in walked the Girl, holding two bowls of food.
"Oh, you finally decided to eat on your accord?"
"I brought this one for you", Lance held up the one overflowing with meat.
Lar'jar sighed.
"Hey Ho'kan. Came to check on my kittens?"
Ho'kan awkwardly greeted her back.
The Medic's shit-eating grin could be seen a mile away.
XXX
"Are you still here?", Ah'kaedh grumbled. The last hours had exhausted the Enforcer's patience.
(The Hunter was already keeping celibacy for other's benefit. Would he be denied alone time with his Girl too?)
"He is keeping me company", Lance said before Lar'jar had a chance to snark his brother.
"There are a total of four kittens inside this chamber", he answered, moody and tired.
Lar'jar contained his impulse to smirk. It would not take long now.
Ah'kaedh was taking off the wrist gauntlet from his right arm when his eyes zeroed on the pristine set of ooman trophies sitting well arranged in the counter.
"Whose is this?", Ah'kaedh voice had his usual tone. Standing now, Lar'jar knew what was brewing underneath it.
"Mine!", answered Lance, full of enthusiasm.
"Yours?", Ah'kaedh asked, oh, so casually.
It could be the fact that he was already tired and moody, or his usual stoic stance, her obvious lack of insight towards the significance or trophies and gift giving, but Lance didn't pick up on anything. Yet.
"Yes! Ho'kan brought if for me to cheer me up", she snickered, thinking that the skull was the cutest creepy gift she had ever received.
(Such a thoughtful Kid!)
"Did he, now?"
"Well, I must admit that having the deceased General's skull staring down on me might give me some… funny dreams".
Lar'jar couldn't keep it inside anymore; he burst out laughing.
"What? I'm not used to have dead people watching me sleep!", the Girl protested.
"I will be retiring to my quarters", Lar'jar managed after some moments trying to keep his mandibles from clicking.
"Don't tell Ho'kan!", she warned Lar'jar, who walked off laughing so hard, his mandibles started to ache.
Oh, he would have an awesome morning at the med-bay next morning, hearing all about Ah'kaedh's reactions.
XXX
"I could go looking for that skull. I'm quite sure I can find it. Seriously".
"Am I to allow you to go on a wild hunt in an infested planet after a trophy?", Ah'kaedh laughed nervously, his voice so grave Lance had issues to understand some words.
Self-preservation. Lance lacked it. Ah'kaedh was positive of it.
XXX
That night, one of the tabbies of the litter came to sleep close to them.
(Lance could not decide on their names, and still addressed them using their coats as reference).
Ah'kaedh observed as Lance woke up when the critter sniffed at her face. The Girl turned on his arms, facing the kitten, showering scratches all over it.
Soon enough it was purring, contently.