Page 23 of Instinct for Disaster

“Yes, and they are here, but it is a big world, and I don’t wish to cross their path. I might hurt someone.”

Nessa agreed. “Yeah. I am glad we made it out with the livestock.”

Agatha smiled. “Emotional support chickens.”

The girls all laughed.

Cassandra smiled.

Yasku looked at Nessa. “Explain.”

Nessa swallowed and explained about Cassandra’s arrival with pregnant horses and packed chickens as well as rations. She had assigned chickens to each of the girls, and they had become the tangible, living reassurance they needed. They talked about them and made fashion shows with them. They were the central portion of their lives, and it made the confinement during storms easier to have a warm body to curl up to.

Cassandra asked, “Where did they go?”

Yasku said, “They are on a world called Geffer. It is a two-day travel away. When their numbers have been increased, we will release them here on the eastern continent.”

Cassandra smiled. “I want to live there when they come. Are the horses there, too?”

Yasku pulled out a small display square from his tunic. “Are these horses?” He handed her the display, and she smiled, her soul relaxing. They were safe.

“Those are horses.”

“Then, we have the ones you mentioned and about two hundred others.”

The girls cheered, and the restaurant patrons stared.

Cassandra soothed the baby when she fussed, and Skellic said, “Can you babysit?”

Moxie grinned. “We wouldn’t mind. His family would be more at ease if I had another matriarch in the family.”

“Oh, I thought that was all over and done with. That Nessa had acted as parent.”

Moxie smiled. “She did, but we still have monthly and occasionally weekly events. I would love it if you came to the next gathering.”

“It would have to be made clear to Skellic’s family that I barely passed my etiquette classes and have spent the last six years in solitude. I am rough in polite company.”

Skellic was looking at her in surprise. “Moxie has told me that you taught them self-defense and tumbling?”

“Yes. Oh, I think this little girl is hungry.” The little hand holding her shirt while the face turned toward her breast was an indicator.

Nessa took her, kissed the baby’s forehead, and she was passed over to Moxie. When the little one was settled, she had started a small wail, and it was abruptly silenced as Andra settled in for a snack.

Skellic smiled. “You have good skills when it comes to noticing needs.”

“I have held a hungry baby before. I was not equipped to deal with it, so I had to listen to the screaming. Now, I pay attention.”

She washed her hands again and went looking to see if anything was left. Yasku chuckled. “You will be expensive to feed.”

Cassandra glanced at him. “I don’t have an available bond.”

“The education station charter indicates that you cannot refuse a bond offer from a Hmrain. We are the highest priority species in the galaxies.” He smiled.

Becky smiled shyly. “Like encouraging an endangered species.”

Cassandra looked around at her friends and snorted. “The Hmrain are the least endangered species in the universe. Who would threaten them?”

The Terrans chuckled, and Skellic looked wary. He said, “The Hmrain have given us a second chance at our worlds. They deserve our respect.”

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