Page 22 of Sheltered in the Storm

“Poe?” she asked anxiously.

“Um, hi.” I struggled in vain to rise up on my elbows before pain forced me to sink back into my pillow. “You must be Poe.”

“Poe,” the creature said agreeably. “Poe?”

“Poe,” I repeated. “I’m Calla.”

“Poe.” The Anomuran female entered the bedroom cautiously. “Poe?”

The latter was unmistakably a question, and I got the feeling this was the limit of her vocabulary.

“Where is Vos?” I asked.

She clacked her pinchers together. Her eyestalks leaned toward the window. “Poe.” Her tone was sad.

Outside, then. In the pouring rain. If Poe was inside, maybe Vos was on guard duty. I hoped he was steering clear of serpents and reptiles.

I rubbed my grumbly tummy. “I’m hungry.”

“Poe,” the Anomuran said, waving her arms. She disappeared back into the other room.

I sighed. She’d probably bring me back a tree branch. Or a chair. Why hadn’t Vos outfitted her with a translator? Even with her limited vocabulary, a translator would probably help make communication easier.

Poe startled me when she returned carrying a tray. She set it at the foot of the bed and approached with arms and pinchers outstretched. “Poe,” she said briskly.

I shied away. “Um, Poe? No offense, but I don’t think I want you to grab me with those.”

She waved her arms. “Poe.” That time she sounded disgruntled.

I didn’t know anything about Anomurans, but I sure as hellsdidn’t want to make one angry. Those pinchers looked capable of cutting off one of my limbs.

“Okay,” I said uneasily. “You’re the boss. Well, Vos is probably the boss, but you’re the boss’s companion. Just please don’t pinch me.”

“Poe,” she said. And that was definitely a reproach.

With surprising dexterity, strength, and gentleness, Poe raised my torso with one arm and slid several pillows and blankets under my head and back so I was upright enough to eat.

“I apologize, Poe,” I said when she finished. “You are an excellent helper.”

“Poe,” she said, tapping her pinchers together. Maybe that meant she was happy. At least she didn’t seem angry at me anymore.

The tray contained a bowl of soup that was mainly broth, with some vegetables and meat. Next to it was a slice of bread and a cup of water.

As hungry as I was, I eyed the soup. How badly did I really want to know what was in it?

“Kaory,” Vos said from the doorway.

I jumped. My movement caused pain to flare in my abdomen and tipped the glass of water on the tray.

Vos moved so quickly that before I could react, he’d crossed the distance between the doorway and the bed, caught the cup, and set it upright. Not even a drop had spilled. Wow.

And then he stepped back from the bed, his expression a hard mask.

“Kaory is bland but easy to digest,” he said. “As are the vegetables and broth. I used only light seasoning. Ideal for a sensitive, healing digestive system. Bread may be less ideal, but you need grains and carbohydrates as well. We will monitor how your body reacts to the bread, and if it does not cause discomfort, you may have more. And of course you must drink water. It is filtered and safe.”

Not one word had the slightest bit of inflection or emotion. I’d interacted with primitive computers with more emotion in their voice.

My last memory before falling asleep was of lying wrapped in a blanket, held gently but firmly by his tentacles, as he discussed the local serpentine residents. His voice was full of a smile even as he talked about creatures neither of us liked. My head had rested on his muscular shoulder. I’d felt as close to comfortable and secure as I had in a very long time, despite the situation and all my aches and pains.

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