Page 8 of Instinct for Disaster

“Yes, Overseer Yasku. She is free to leave and enjoy her life here.”

“Good. Cassandra, please come with me.”

She silently rose to her feet with her bag over her shoulder.

He held the door for her and escorted her past the checkpoints and out to the front entryway, where both high-tech conveyances were available and something a bit more basic. She gasped, and he chuckled. “That is how we are getting to our respective homes, but we will ride double for now if that is acceptable.”

“Yes. I need to learn how they move.”

“Good. There are loops in the strap there for you to climb. Haul yourself up, and stow your bag.”

She nodded, carefully pulled herself up on the leather, and settled on the saddle. It was interesting looking at the world from ten feet up, but six spindly legs made excellent stilts. The thought that she was about to enjoy the trip made him smile as he flared his wings into a jump and settled behind her.

“Are you settled?”

“Yes.”

“I will need to hold onto your waist with one arm on the saddle for security. Are you all right with this?”

She nodded. “It isn’t a problem.”

He felt a rush on his skin as he wrapped his arm around her waist. He gripped the reins and flexed his legs. Their steed shot forward, and he heard a sound he had not thought to hear from her this soon. Cassandra was giggling.

* * * *

The relief of tension was secondary only to the feel of the muscles bunching and releasing under her. These beasts were fast. She closed her eyes to feel the rush of wind on her and started giggling. The sound surprised her, but she felt happy. She felt the freedom she remembered from riding horses and tending her cattle and hens. By herself, she would have been able to survive until the signal came, but with her family arriving, she had to destroy the things that kept her stable to get them all through. When they started killing her animals to have fresh and not cured food, she began hunting just to get away from them and their needs.

Now, she was on the same world, but that is where it ended. She had her own home, and she was not going to contact them.

Overseer Yasku seemed nice, and he seemed to accept with grace that she was a null. His hand on her was secure but not grabby. As they galloped along through the outskirts of the city and far beyond, she focused on the green and lush landscapesand farms around the perimeter, and then, they were dashing through the woods.

She giggled intermittently as bubbles of joy rose in her bloodstream. She was off her dying world, and she was free. It was a very good day.

“I would like you to stay at my home tonight, just until you learn what foods are edible and which may be toxic to you.” He murmured it into her ear as they continued at an amazing pace through the woods toward a huge building in the distance.

“I researched the plants and animals. I can consume most of them in one way or another.”

“I have dispatched my security to make sure your home is unoccupied. Have lunch with me, and I will walk you over to your home afterward.”

“Thank you? Why are you taking an interest in me?”

“You are the most energetic null I have ever met. That energy indicates that you are reaching for something. I would like to see what happens when you find it.”

“I have always been like this.”

“Yes, but not all species complete maturation when their bodies do. I am guessing you are one of them.”

“I am Terran.”

“Simply because they found you there? I am going to have a complete analysis to find your identity. My guess is that you are part something else.” Yasku murmured, “You are a puzzle I want to solve.”

She nodded. She could understand that. They slowed, and the beast walked calmly to a set of stone steps where a line of servants was waiting to greet the overseer.

He tightened his grip on her waist and flapped, pulling her off the beast and settling lightly on the ground. A young male tookthe beast and immediately removed the saddle. He folded the leather up, and the beast shook itself and then ran off.

“Wait. Does that come when you call?”

Yasku nodded. “I will just have to teach you how to do it.”

---