Page 64 of Stranded with the Alien

Vahn was in the tent with her. He was on his knees next to her, the blaster in one hand. She sat up, surprised to find her face was wet with tears.

“I… it was nothing.”

“It was not nothing, Kara. You are upset.”

“I was just dreaming, that’s all.”

Her voice was so small and her eyes looked so lost that Vahn reacted without thinking. Throwing aside the blaster, he gathered her into his arms. He half expected Kara to resist and fight against it, but she didn’t. She pressed herself into his chest and sobbed.

Vahn held her, still confused as to what the problem was, knowing only that her distress was tearing at his heart.

When her sobs finally trailed off into a series of hiccups, she didn’t move away. She stayed resting against him, her cheek against his skin.

“Kara,” he said gently. “Will you please tell me what is wrong?”

“I had a bad dream about my father’s death. I haven’t had it for a long time. Sorry if I scared you.”

“I thought you were hurt.”

“It was an intense dream. A memory, really. Of the last time I saw his body. I try not to think about it but sometimes it just surfaces.”

“I understand. I was still a hatchling when my mother died.”

“I’m sorry. Was it… was it the war?”

“No, she was ill. But the war claimed another of my family. My younger brother Zorin. He died in one of the later skirmishes when humans had perfected their long-range torpedo launchers.”

“I’m sorry for that too. My father died in the first encounter with the Vraxians. It’s a shitty war, isn’t it?”

Vahn was quiet but his arms tightened around her. Kara was surprised how comforting it was. She started to get sleepy again.

“Vahn, can I ask you something?”

“Of course, human.”

“What doeskalehshamean?”

He stiffened.

“Where did you hear that word?”

“Just now. You called me it a second ago.”

Vahn wanted to slap himself around the head.

“It is of no consequence. A term of affection, that is all.”

She smiled.

“Youhave affection for ahuman?”

“As you might have for a pet.”

“Ah. That makes more sense. You prick.”

She wriggled into a more comfortable position, her head still against his chest. Vahn was nonplussed. She seemed in no hurry to move away and she wasn’t ordering him to leave. Unsure what to do, he stroked her hair.

“So you came rushing in here with the blaster because you thought your ‘pet’ might be in danger, did you?” she said sleepily.

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