Page 12 of Stardust Paws and Alien Claws

Yet even as the words left my mouth, a tiny voice in the back of my mind whispered that it might already be too late for that.

With a sigh, I finished tending to the Lazamai, ensuring their every need was met. As I straightened, I felt a gentle tugging on a strand of my hair and glanced down to find one of the little furballs playfully batting at the golden tresses.

I couldn’t help but laugh softly, carefully extracting the creature from my locks. “You little rascal,” I teased affectionately, cradling it in my palms.

Its fur shimmered through a kaleidoscope of colors, from vivid blues to deep violets, as if reacting to my shifting emotions. For a fleeting moment, I was mesmerized by the ethereal beauty of this diminutive being.

The sound of approaching footsteps snapped me from my reverie, and I glanced up to find none other than Doanor himself entering the enclosure. My chest tightened as I drank in his imposing form, all taut muscle and rugged features.

Despite the early hour, he looked every inch the commanding captain, his back straight and shoulders squared. Yet there was something softer in the depths of his warm brown eyes as they settled on me, holding my gaze with an inscrutable intensity.

“You’re up early,” he observed, his deep voice reverberating through the humid air.

I gave a casual shrug, refusing to let my composure falter under his piercing stare. “Lazamai don’t really keep regular hours,” I quipped. “Figured I’d better get used to it.”

Doanor nodded, seemingly satisfied with my explanation as he moved closer to inspect the enclosure. Our shoulders brushed as he leaned past me, and that familiar spark of awareness ignited between us, charging the air with a heady tension.

DOANOR

Ileft the enclosure with Cassidy by my side, her blonde waves shining under the ship’s bright lights. What was I thinking, inviting her to breakfast? Being this close could only lead to complications. But I told myself it was necessary to maintain our ruse in front of the crew. They all believed we were new lovers who had met through some human dating service. Keeping up appearances was crucial for the secrecy of our mission with the rare Lazamai.

We walked in silence for a moment before Cassidy spoke up. “Those little furballs are adorable. I can’t get over how their colors shift like that.”

“The Lazamai are a marvel,” I agreed gruffly, trying not to get distracted by the musical lilt of her voice. “Few have ever witnessed them in person.”

Cassidy beamed at me, and I felt an unfamiliar warmth spread through my chest. Foolish. This human woman meant nothing. Our paths would separate once she completed her duties caring for the creatures.

We entered the galley, the harsh artificial lights making Cassidy squint. I couldn’t help noticing how it made the blue of her eyes even more vibrant. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear as I gestured to the long table.

“Have a seat. I’ll get us some food synthesized.”

Nodding, Cassidy slid into one of the chairs, trailing her fingers along the polished metal surface. I busied myself at the food replicator, punching in orders for a hearty Zemaitoz breakfast while sneaking glances at her over my shoulder. The way she fidgeted, playing with a loose thread on her shirt, was almost...endearing.

I shook my head, pushing the thought away as I retrieved our plates. This foolishness had to stop. Settling across from Cassidy, I slid a steaming plate of scrambled turliki eggs and salted gralak strips in front of her.

“I, uh, I’ve never had turliki eggs before,” she said, poking at them with her fork. “They smell...interesting.”

“Just try them,” I said, a bit more brusquely than intended. “You’ll see they’re quite good.”

Cassidy took a tentative bite, her features scrunching up for a moment before relaxing into a look of pleasant surprise. “Hey, these are really tasty! Kinda like...chicken eggs, but richer.”

I grunted in acknowledgment, digging into my own plate to avoid studying the way her lips wrapped around the fork. The salty, familiar flavors helped ground me.

“So,” Cassidy began between bites, “you’ve been all over, right? As a cargo captain? What’s the most interesting place you’ve visited?”

Pausing, I considered her question while I chewed. Truth be told, most of the places I’d been held little interest for me beyond the job at hand. But there were a few exceptions...

“Kalindra Four was rather striking,” I finally replied. “A rogue planet, with landscapes of crystal towering into the sky.” I closed my eyes, recalling wind-swept vistas of amethyst and ruby. “Incredible mineral diversity.”

“It sounds beautiful,” Cassidy said wistfully. “I’ve never been anywhere exciting like that. Just stuck on Earth, dreaming of traveling among the stars.”

Her words rang with such longing that I felt a surprising pang of...sympathy? Preposterous. I was becoming entirely too sentimental around this woman.

“Well, maybe one day you’ll get your chance,” I said gruffly, focusing intently on my plate.

Cassidy pushes her food around, suddenly pensive. “Can I ask you something, Doanor? About your childhood?”

I tensed at her question, muscles tightening instinctively. “I...suppose.”

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