Page 30 of Homecoming

Aeryn sipped at the coffee, and Loken settled next to her with his arm around her. She looked to Mini. “So, you recognized a meltdown?”

“Yeah, not enough sleep, too much stress, and unusual stimuli. Sets me off every time. That’s why I work from home. Easier to control my environment. With control comes calm. But every now and then, someone pulls you out and shoves you into the ocean without a snorkel or fins. Ahheel got me out and held me until I calmed down. Then, I recognized what I saw in you earlier, and we got started on editing some of the video into videos.”

Sohar came up with a tray full of coffee, juice, and water.

Loken chuckled. “He is done playing host now that they have started drinking.”

Aeryn looked around, and all of the inhabitants of Wonder, their alphas, and one omega were around her.

Thera smiled. “When you are ready, we can get some aerial shots. We have already done some waveshots. Orc is like a ten-year-old with the remote.”

Orc just grinned and checked the charge on the drones. “I am all grown up where it counts.”

Thera went over and pinched his cheeks. “Yes, you are. You are my big, brave boy.”

The group watching laughed.

Amby was cuddling with Exoval, and he was kissing her steadily.

Thera looked over at Aeryn. “Well, since Amby is down for the count and Ahheel is courting, how is your freediving?”

“Pretty good. Why?”

Sohar said, “The ladies wanted fresh fish; I am not diving.”

Thera sighed. “And Orc eats what he catches, so it is you and me, Aeryn.”

Aeryn looked to Loken. “You don’t spearfish?”

“I am another one that keeps what I eat.”

Aeryn nodded. “Right. Just let me get the coffee and water down.”

Loken rubbed her back. “We need about forty pounds for a group this size.”

Aeryn looked at Thera, and they nodded. “Grouper it is.”

Aeryn looked at Sohar after she finished the water. “Make sure we are positioned somewhere good.”

He nodded. “We will set anchor off a reef, and you can go hunting.”

Aeryn felt the engines slowing, and she got to her feet. “Okay, let’s go. Time to catch some food.”

Thera nodded. “Let’s go. Orc, I will call if I need you, but you are not conducive to catching fish.”

He grimaced and said, “Fine, but wear a camera.”

“Fine. Aeryn, you, too.”

Orc got chest cameras out, checked them, and Aeryn opened the tie on her dress and let it drop around her feet. She put the camera on and turned to have it buckled behind her back. She flipped off her shoes, and she and Thera headed around and to the back of the boat. The bachelorette party was in full swing, harassing the long-suffering crew.

Thera smiled and said, “When was the last time you went diving without tanks?”

“Three years. That was when I realized I didn’t need to breathe underwater. I just become still.”

“Nice. Okay. Got your gear?”

Aeryn nodded with her flippers and mask in place. She put the spear sling on her shoulder, and they sank into the water, looking for the reef.

---