Page 50 of Primal Bond

The station was a ramshackle thing, a patchwork of metal and slag, built up in layers over who knew how many years. Wires and tubes snaked across its surface, leading to strange devices and jury-rigged machinery. It was like no other station, a hodgepodge creation that spoke of a hundred different hands and a hundred different repairs. It orbited its obscure moon like a hermit, far away from any of the more bustling spaceports.

Finn hovered uncertainly behind Zanik's seat. "What is this place?"

"You've never heard of it," Zanik said. "It's not big enough to be known by humans — it's barely known by Borraq, either."

Despite its ramshackle appearance, docking didn't take long. Zanik moved to the Ironclad's exit, the ramp lowering with a hiss. He turned back to Finn, peering around the corner of the docking bay doors. "You’re coming with me."

Finn's expression shifted from confusion to alarm. "What? Out there? With more Borraq?" His eyes darted toward the station. "Are you crazy?"

"They won’t hurt you. Not here."

Finn's brow furrowed, doubt flooding his features. "How can you be sure?"

Zanik stepped closer. "This isn’t like the rest of Borraq space. This place is… unique."

Finn took a deep breath, his gaze lingering on the station outside. Zanik sensed the boy's fear. It was palpable, like an electric current in the air. But there was something else, too — curiosity flickering behind Finn's warm brown eyes.

Zanik hadn't met Finn before he was taken, but he could guess well enough that Finn liked to stretch his legs. He'd only ever seen Finn inside a ship, or being shuttled to and from the club on a leash, but it was clear that he wasn't cut out for being locked up. "Trust me."

Despite his visible nerves, Finn moved beside Zanik. "Okay... Lead the way."

The docking bay opened into a maze of corridors. But unlike the rust and metal scrap of the other stations, this one had more… eclectic tastes.

Zanik led Finn through the station's hallways, each filled with mismatched furniture and half-finished projects. The walls were decorated with hand-painted murals of colorful figures and dense forests, giving the place a chaotic charm. Dim lights hung from the ceiling, casting warm glows on the eclectic assortment of plants and trinkets that adorned the tables and shelves.

Zanik's sharp eyes scanned the corridors, catching sight of familiar faces. They were an odd bunch here, but even they couldn't miss that a ship had docked with them…

Finally, three Borraq came pounding down the corridor.

“Zanik!” one of the males shouted, his voice booming off the walls. His name was Jarek, a muscular Borraq with a thick mane of hair that fell to his shoulders, framing a rugged face. “Look who finally decided to visit!”

“Thought you were too good for us now!” teased a female. Tira, her slim horns spiraling elegantly. She wore a necklace made of woven vines, and her golden skin glimmered under the soft lights.

“Yeah, what gives?” piped in the second male: Grom, shorter but stockier than Jarek. He bounced on his feet, a wide grin splitting his face. “We were starting to think you’d forgotten about us.”

Zanik forced a smile, his annoyance fading in the face of their genuine excitement. “I had business to handle.”

As they crowded around him, Finn lingered just behind, his apprehension growing. “Who’s this?” Jarek asked, peering at Finn with unabashed curiosity. Finn straightened, clearly trying to exude confidence despite his racing heart.

“This is Finn,” Zanik said, motioning toward him. “He’s my companion for now.”

“A companion?” Tira echoed, eyes sparkling with mischief. “What a cute little human you’ve got there, Zanik! What’s he like? Can he fight?”

“Can hefight?” Grom snickered. “Look at him! He's tiny!”

Finn bristled, the teasing sending a flush to his cheeks. He opened his mouth to retort, but Zanik cut in. “Careful, humans are dangerous things. Watch out, or you might find yourself on the wrong end of his wrath.”

Jarek hesitated, peering at Finn. “Really? He doesn't look it… But Zanik’s vouching for you, so you must be special.”

Zanik glanced at Finn, who still seemed hesitant and out of place. “This is a haven for… strange Borraq,” Zanik said, choosing his words carefully.

Jarek let out a hearty laugh. “Strange, huh? You’ve always had a way with words, Zanik.”

Tira rolled her eyes, smirking. “Finn, was it?" The sounds of his name were strange in her mouth, unused to human words. "It's true. We’re not exactly the warlike type. Didn’t have the guts for the battlefield. And clan life? Too much structure for our taste.” She saidstructurelike it was a curse word.

“Yeah,” Grom chimed in. “So, we built this place together. A little sanctuary for the likes of us. And guess who helped us get started?”

Finn looked at Zanik, surprise evident on his face. “You did?”

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