Page 89 of Ava Stargazer

“Yeah. Rhutg took some of my blood earlier. To register my DNA.” Ava pointed to a bandage she wore, under the area with the tracker in her arm. Rhutg had eventually been able to do it, with Erox on a video feed to talk him through. He wasn’t really good at using the medical equipment though. Ava had several wound marks around where he’d eventually succeeded, enough that she’d put the green ointment on after he was done, while checking in on Vox, who still slept.

“Yeah, that was more fun to listen to.” Sai smirked.

Ava wrinkled her nose back at her.

She leaned back and pointed at Ava’s com. “Even more interesting, how is the other Human doing? Has she bonded to Iryl? He was always one of the favorites.”

“According to you, all the men are the favorites.”

Sai leaned back, showing all of her sharper teeth in a smile to Ava. “All the ones that volunteer for rescue missions and go into battle are, yes. Basically all the ones surrounding you lately.”

Ava rolled her eyes. “How about you then? Are you going after one of them?”

Sai fixed her with a look that said enough. “What do you think?”

Chuckling, Ava pointed at her com. “Joy seems alright. I don’t know about bonded to Iryl, but she definitely feels most comfortable with him.” Ava frowned.Iryl was also the first one to be kind to her, like Vox was to me.After a pause she continued, “She is happy, even though she is mostly having to stay in Iryl’s rooms. I convinced her to put on a robe to go out and look around. She can do that as long as she is disguised. I think she’s okay. I can’t wait until she gets to Xai though, and doesn’t have to do that anymore.”

“Yeah, that’s not living.” Sai leaned back in her chair and stretched.

Ava was about to answer when she felt the muted touches of the Vorbax now running laps. Their energy did indeed feel weak as they scraped across her mind. It was easy to ignore and accept now, as she practiced that bit of detachment back like she did before with just Vox.

Ava shook off the feeling, not bothered by the young Vorbax’s attempts to connect at all. She fingered her com, thinking of Joy just starting to find her way. And how hard it was for her in the beginning. “No, it’s not living at all.”

They landed early in the morning at Elyheim. The meeting wouldn’t happen until the afternoon. Ava was again in the cargo hold, waiting, while the landing protocols were finished. She kept her eyes glued to the red light, shifting her feet and watching for it turn green, which meant they were successfully docked. However, instead of trepidation like at Cipra, she felt excitement as the doors finally opened.

The ship was modified enough that Iryl was able to get clearance forCelestialto dock without any red flags raised, since it was officially registered as part of Xai’s fleet. Ava stood, waiting beside Vox, and was just as disguised as her ship. She was covered up in a hood that went over her entire body—the same hood she always wore when going off ship with Nuor.

She scratched at her side, uncomfortable under all the layers. It felt wrong to be covered the way she was, but until things were more official, it was best for her to not draw any more attention.Especially when they now knew the Riolie were monitoring these halls. As it was, her walking hooded next to the Vorbax was suspicious enough. She clutched the veil closer around her face.It will be wonderful to walk free one day though.

Vox walked her to where Iryl’s rooms were without fanfare as Rhutg and Pyra came out to handle the official protocols and credit amounts to pay forCelestial’s docking. Ava and Vox had walked to the side, slinking away, already knowing the way from Vox’s visit before.

Even with her cloak drawn up and a veil over her face, she could still see and looked around her as she walked.It is just like Hoya, that time I went with Nuor.

She noted the different species that walked the halls.Only much more official.But the banter and the purposeful crowds moving down the halls and talking reminded her strongly of that experience.

Ava pressed against Vox’s side as they walked, particularly when they came across an area with many species. Her gaze searched the crowd endlessly until she found one of the Riolie walking the other way down a path.That’s one.Vox just reached over and put a hand on her robed elbow, squeezing slightly as he led her forward, when she almost stopped to stare at its crystalline face. Her ears rang as they passed one another, buzzing inside. The sensation came and went as they moved on.

He opened the door to Iryl’s rooms a few moments later. “Here we are.”

There, once inside, Ava took off her hood to see better as her eyesight adjusted. She stopped moving once she heard her name from the corner. “Ava?”

Ava looked over and saw Joy standing to the side. Her pale blonde hair hung down to her chin and her footsteps were hesitant. The two Humans took in each other’s appearance hungrily, standing across from one another. Ava didn’t evennotice Vox closing the door behind him after Rhutg entered, nor did she notice Iryl standing a step behind Joy. Her heart soared as she surged forward and hugged Joy, arms opened wide, holding her so tightly against her chest it was hard to breathe. “It’s you. It’s really you!”

She could feel Joy’s heart, her single heart, pounding into her own as she grasped her to her as tightly as she could. Joy’s arms squeezed back around her. Ava broke apart afterward to look at her, to see the similarities up close. They were roughly the same size, next to one another. Joy’s frame was larger than Ava’s, but not by much. Ava put her hands on Joy's head and ran her fingers down her hair as Joy did the same to her.Hair like mine.They backed up and looked at each other.Face like mine.Ava moved in close and hugged her again.I’m not alone.

Joy looked much better than in the hologram. Her eyes were brighter, and Iryl was protectively standing nearby. He came closer and pressed his forehead against Ava’s, then said in a rumbling tone, so much clearer now in person than through the hologram, “I can not believe this is the first time we have met face to face and joined minds, Ava. I have held an echo of it from Vox and Lirell, but it is wonderful to finally imprint with you directly.”

Ava felt his mind join hers and did not shy away as she pressed her head back against his, which had slightly longer frills and scales than Vox’s, and a softer texture. Unlike with Vox, Iryl was lit up, constantly in internal communication with Joy.

She looked between Joy and Iryl. “You are coming back with us?”

Joy looked up at Iryl, who answered, “Yes, it’s not safe here for her. Rhutg and Zeed are staying now to learn and wait for the next mediation meeting. I will be teaching them everything I know here. Joy will leave with you.”

Joy shook her head and stepped closer to Iryl. “Yes, I’m excited. Iryl said there are lots of open houses.” She smiled. “I think I’ll like that. To just have my own spot for once. I miss growing things. I looked up the weather on Xai. It’s still a bit before it is fall for things to grow.”

Ava forced a smile, thinking of all the abandoned houses.There are many for her to choose from. “Okay.”

Joy glanced down and gestured to Vox’s hands, frowning as she could see half of the picture in his fist, where he carried it for Ava.

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