WARREK

Everyone is dealing with the stress of captivity in different ways, I realize as we regroup with the others. Some are quiet, like Shail. Her expression is hard and wary, as if she expects this all to be taken away again. Vaza hovers over her, comforting as best he can, but it is clear that Shail is acting remote and he does not know what to do.

Others are easier. Kate sobs, clutching her tiny snow-cat. “I can’t believe they declawed him,” she weeps as Harrec holds her close. “Monsters. How’s he supposed to defend himself now?”

Harrec just strokes her hair, caressing her constantly. It seems that he resonated to Kate while we were at the fruit cave, and they are newly bonded. I cannot help but feel a small stab of envy for the one who is like a brother to me. He is younger than I am, and already has his mate and a family to come.

“Declawed? That’s it? We’re lucky they didn’t do worse than that,” Buh-brukh says in a practical voice. “I mean, they could have spayed all of us. They were trying to sell us as slaves and pets, so it stands to reason that we could have gotten out of things so much worse.”

Kate just gives her a horrified look and clutches her small cat closer.

Taushen says nothing as the humans huddle together. Though he has grown increasingly silent and temperamental over the last few seasons, this is unlike him. Something bothers him, but he will not share it. He only watches Buh-brukh with a fierce expression. Perhaps he feels responsible for her. Out of all the captives, they were the only two kept in a cell together. Everyone else was separated.

Rukh is silent, too, though it is more because he is groggy. He is covered in bruises, and he was found unconscious. Suh-mer says that he probably attacked everyone when they separated him from Har-loh and his kit, and so they put him to sleep. Har-loh holds her son under one arm and clings to Rukh with her other arm, as if she can keep everyone safe by touching them.

Bek hovers over his Ell-ee, who is curled against his chest. Her eyes are big and frightened, but her panic has calmed now that her mate has returned to her side.

Out of all of them, I worry over Farli and Mardok the most. Farli’s dvisti, Chahm-pee, was taken along with the others, to be sold like the snow-cat. He is freed and paws at the snow just outside the ship’s entrance for food, unconcerned. But Farli has an arm around her mate’s shoulders, and Mardok just seems…broken. There is a deep sadness in his eyes.

Suh-mer sits near him, offering her waterskin, but he shakes his head. “I’m all right. It’s just hard. I can’t believe Chatav and Niri, Trakan…all gone.”

“Of course it is hard,” Farli soothes, rubbing his shoulder. “They were your family, in a way. They would not want you to be sad. They would want you to be glad you live.”

His smile is crooked, as if it is too hard to be happy. “They’d be pleased over one thing at least. Those bastards couldn’t fly out because they shut me into one of the private quarters, thinking that because I was wearing furs, I was a native, too. So I just accessed my old override codes and locked ’em out.”

“Then you saved everyone,” Suh-mer says brightly. “That would make them happy—to know that you dicked over the guys that dicked them over.”

“Small comfort,” he says. “But I am glad that you and Warrek were able to rescue us. That couldn’t have been easy.”

All eyes are suddenly on us. Even small Rukhar is watching me. It is a curious sensation, considering I normally avoid attention. “It was all Suh-mer,” I tell them truthfully. “She has a very clever mind.”

Suh-mer gives a high-pitched giggle and waves a hand. “He’s being modest. All I did was blab about chess and strategy for gameboards.” Her voice is taking on the speedy inflection it does when she is nervous, and I wonder why. Is it because we have been linked together by the others? “I’d have been lost without Warrek’s help. He did all the heavy lifting. All I did was sit around and brainstorm.”

“You lifted the stone you put in the back of the ship,” I tell her. “That was heavy.”

Buh-brukh snickers. Suh-mer blinks at me.

“So what now?” Shail says. “Do we stay here? Send the ship into outer space?”

Suh-mer looks worried. “That might be hard to do. I sort of went a little wild with the laser gun and melted the control panels on the bridge so they couldn’t take off.” When Har-loh makes a dismayed sound, Suh-mer wrings her hands. “I didn’t know things were already locked down! I’m sorry!”

I dislike that she is apologizing. No one would be safe if it were not for her quick thinking. “You acted to save the others, Suh-mer. You have shown nothing but bravery and strength for many days. No one should be upset over that. You have fought hard to rescue our tribesmates, and you even injured yourself without any thought to your own safety.” I move to her side and glare at the others for making her worry.

“Well that explains where her eyebrows went,” Buh-brukh murmurs.

“I wasn’t criticizing,” Har-loh says gently. “I would rather the entire ship be trashed than it fly off and us be separated from the others. I am beyond thankful that you rescued us.” She hugs her small son close. “Believe me. It’s just the tinkerer in me that hates the thought of losing so many working parts.”

Mardok gets to his feet, brushing off his leathers. “We should double-check the ship anyhow. Make sure there are no stowaways from the pirate crew or any dangerous weaponry left around. We can also assess what the damage is and see how we can disguise that this ship is back here again. I don’t want anyone else following it to our home and putting my mate—or the rest of the tribe—in danger.”

I get to my feet, picking up my light-spear. “I am uninjured and well-rested. I will go.”

“Me too,” Suh-mer says quickly. “I want to help.”

I shake my head. “You stay here with the others.”

She frowns at me. “Why, because I’m a girl?”

“No, because you are exhausted and I want you here, safe.”

Taushen gives me a curious look and gets to his feet. “I will join you and Mardok.”

I nod. “That is enough. Everyone else stay here.” I turn to Suh-mer once more. “Keep your light-spear at hand just in case.”

That seems to make her feel better. She gets to her feet and shoulders it, a resolute expression on her face. “You got it.”

She is far braver than I ever imagined, and I am full of pride for her. With my light-spear in hand, I head down into the hallway, followed by Mardok and Taushen. As a group, we head into each room and give them a thorough examination. Mardok seems to know all the secret places and tucked-away spots that an enemy could hide, and so we mostly guard him while he works. He is visibly shaken at the sight of the blood in the room he calls “med bay.” In another room, he finds a colorful slate that lights up when he touches it. “The captain’s data-pad,” he says, voice sad. “Maybe he left behind a clue or two as to what happened.” He touches the surface and then begins to tap at it with lightning-fast precision.

I wait by the doorway, giving him the time he needs. I can tell this is hard for Mardok, and I remember how I felt after my father Eklan’s death. I wanted nothing more than to be left alone with my thoughts so I could grieve him without interruption and work through my shock and anguish. I want to give Mardok that same consideration.

Taushen moves next to me, leaning up against the wall. He has a spear tucked under his arm, though the ship is quiet and it will likely not be needed. He glances over at me after a long, silent moment. “You and Suh-mer hid in the fruit cave?”

I nod.

“I am curious about this,” he says slowly. “Did she chatter your ear off with her endless words? She seems to talk faster and faster every time I see her. It must have made you frustrated.”

“I like her voice,” I tell him, unwilling to rise to his taunting.

“Mmm.” He narrows his eyes. “Something is different between the two of you.”

I grow tired of his games. “Do you wish me to speak plainly? I enjoyed her company, and being alone with her made me realize she is an attractive female and she has a clever mind. I have decided I am going to take her to my furs.”

“A pleasure-mate? After all this time?” Taushen looks shocked. “But you’ve never pursued any females. Why now?”

“Because there is no sense in waiting for resonance if the right female has come along.” Strangely enough, just thinking about Suh-mer and her flurry of nervous words, her smile, and the gleam in her eyes when she gets an idea—it makes me miss her. She is only down the hall, but I feel as if now that the others are freed from their imprisonment, we will not have a chance to be alone.

I will not let that happen, I decide.

Taushen looks struck by my words. “Not waiting for resonance,” he murmurs, pondering.

“No,” I say, and it feels more right the longer I think about it. I want Suh-mer in my furs. I want to explore her body and discover the joys of mating. I want to make her breathless. And I want it only with her and no other. “There is no need to wait. She would either resonate to you or me, or it will be many seasons from now. Why waste all that time when I feel strongly for her?”

“I did not think it was possible for you to feel strongly for anyone,” Taushen tells me, a sly look on his face.

I ignore that. Does he think that because I am quiet that I do not feel as deeply as others? That I did not feel the pain of my father’s loss, or that I cannot get hard when Suh-mer tosses her mane and the strands glide over her shoulders and touch her like I wish my fingers were touching her?

How does Taushen think I would not be attracted to her?

Unless…he wishes Suh-mer for himself. I feel a stab of jealousy and gaze at my friend with new eyes. Surely not. But Taushen also pursued Tee-fah-ni once upon a time. And he was close to Farli. And now there are only two females left, and he does not seem fond of Buh-brukh.

I have to fight the sudden urge to grab Suh-mer and haul her back to the fruit cave so we can be alone together once more.

But no. We must put the needs of the group first. It just means that I must remind Suh-mer that I have staked my claim upon her and show her my interest.

As long as she has not resonated, she can choose to go to my furs if she likes.

I will just ensure that she likes the thought very much. I feel a triumphant smile curving my lips at the thought. Suh-mer must speak her thoughts aloud to sort them. All I have to do is ask her how she wishes to be touched and she will tell me in great detail.

I look forward to that.

Across the room, Mardok makes a strangled noise.

“What?” Taushen asks, jumping to alertness. “What is it?”

I hold the light-spear tighter in my grip as Mardok continues to stare at the data-pad, shaking his head. “Something’s wrong.”

“What do you mean?” Taushen asks, impatient. “What’s wrong?”

“The ship’s logs. The last entries from Captain Chatav state that they dropped off their last shipment, and there are no other shipments recorded. The raiders wouldn’t have used the captain’s logs or updated them, but I know I saw cargo crates when they took us captive.” He sets the pad down, a fierce frown on his face, and heads down the hall.

I follow after him, and Taushen is on my heels.

Mardok races through the winding halls of the ship and leads us to the large, echoing chamber that Suh-mer and I came in from. The ramp is still down, the bottom caked with snow. A breeze comes in from outside, cool and invigorating compared to the stale air on the ship. Mardok takes no notice of it, though. He is moving to the first of many of the oblong, dark shapes—“the crates,” as he called them. “These shouldn’t be here,” he says, tapping his fingers on buttons. When it doesn’t respond, he slams his fist against it and makes a noise of anger. “Kef! I don’t have their password.”

“I have this,” I offer, and gesture at my light-spear.

Mardok looks up at me in surprise, and Taushen steps to the side, clear of us. “That might work,” Mardok says. “It’ll damage sensitive equipment, but I guess that doesn’t matter at this point.” He glances down the long row of crates, mentally counting them up. “There’s at least a dozen here, and more in the next room. I’m almost afraid to open them and see what these guys were shipping.”

“Shall I do it if you are afraid?” I ask.

Mardok gives me a rueful look. “Just a saying, my friend.” He taps at the panel. “Shoot this, but not into the crate, if possible. Might be something useful—but really fragile—inside.”

I nod and aim the light-spear like Suh-mer showed me. I tilt it so I am shooting straight down into the crate, instead of through it. The stone-like material melts underneath the light-beam, smoke curling into the air.

“That should be good,” Mardok says, moving forward again. He has a bone knife in hand and wedges it into a seam in the crate, and then pushes down on it, levering the lid up. Taushen moves forward to help slide it off, and then the three of us stare at the contents.

It is a bubble. No, a pod. A watery fluid is encased in a see-through pod of some kind, and lights and blinking things—tek-naw-luh-shee, as Har-loh and Mardok call it—flick and catch the eye. There are wires everywhere.

But what catches my eye the most is what is inside the strange pod.

It is a female, with a dark mane and pale skin. Her eyes are closed, and she sleeps, strange cords hooked to her nose and another in her throat.

She is not sa-khui. She is not orange-skinned like the others. She is human.

“Kef me,” Mardok breathes. “More slaves. That’s why they were excited to find us. They’re slavers.” He stares in horror at the rows of dark crates, neatly lined up along the wall of the cargo hold. “Are all of these human slaves?”

Taushen and I exchange a look. A pit of dread forms in my stomach at what this means. Our life here, which has just settled down once more with the appearance of Ell-ee, Suh-mer and the others, will change again if there are many more human females. What will we do with them? Who will feed them if there are no hunters to mate to them?

What if…what if I resonate to one? Taushen’s nostrils flare, and I know he is thinking the same as I am.

“We must speak to the chief,” I say thickly. “Right away.”