Page 57 of Cozy Prisons
“That would be nice,” she agreed, warmed by his thoughtfulness.
They stayed like that while people finished their meals. The evening ended early without any games, mostly because Maeve became fussy, forcing Grace and Merrick to take her home. After the little family left, others followed.
Stifling a yawn, she shifted to get off Daxus’s lap, only for him to make a protesting sound. “Where are you going?”
“It’s time to go home,” she pointed out.
Daxus was quick to push their seat away from the table and slide his arms around her. When he stood up, she ended up cradled against his chest.
“I can carry you.”
Nataly let her head flop onto his shoulder with a chuckle. “How silly of me to think I was going to walk.”
A few people called out to her as they left. She waved at them with one lazy hand over Daxus’s shoulder.
She was half-asleep when they got to the narrow path leading to her domicile door, and Daxus went still.
“There’s someone here.”
Puzzled, Nataly forced her eyes open to see a dark figure rounding the backside of her domicile. It was clearly one of her fellow humans, but beyond that, she couldn’t tell who it was.
When they turned a corner, she could see the familiar face of Hale illuminated by the information square they were looking at.
They were walking slowly, staring down at the information square, and mumbling to themselves. As they got closer, she could make out what they were saying.
“Dimla liked to eat her food raw, but Sukla liked his food slightly cooked. Dimla was a little bigger, but Sukla was more active.”
When Hale got to the front of her domicile, the lights at her door came on. She could see the little path they’d worn around her home. Had they been circling her domicile since leaving the communal building? They must be waiting for her, probably to talk. Did this mean they were friends?
Her mood soured. As much as she wanted Hale to feel at home on Arise, she didn’t want to have to deal with them anymore today.
“Don’t move,” she whispered to Daxus. “Maybe they won’t see us and will wander off.”
“Too late,” Daxus responded when Hale looked up from the information square they were staring at and rushed over to them.
“Nataly,” they said. “I’m sorry I left so abruptly. I warned you that I wouldn’t stay for any games, but I left before you even finished eating. That wasn’t what I agreed to. I tried to go back, but I couldn’t make myself go back inside. I don’t want to talk to Cassius or anyone else. Only you. They don’t understand, but you do.”
The words came out so fast that it took Nataly a moment to understand them all. She’d never heard them talk so fast; it was startling.
“It’s fine,” she said. “I get that we can be intimidating. Most of the humans here have known each other for years. But maybe give some of them a chance? Sima is really sweet and easy to talk to.”
“Maybe,” Hale said in a tone that told her they weren’t going to do it. “But you’re the one who fixed everything. I know you’re trustworthy.”
They hadn’t been talking long, but Nataly was exhausted. “Thanks, Hale. I'm glad you trust me, but I promise no one here would deliberately hurt you.”
“I know,” they grumbled. “But they won’t leave me alone either.”
That was the truth. “I’ll ask everyone not to talk to you unless you talk to them first. Would that help?”
Hale gave her a brilliant smile. “Yes!”
Nataly gave a nod. “I can’t guarantee everyone will remember, especially Cassius. He really likes to talk.”
“They’ll listen to you,” Hale said, their faith in her absolute.
Nataly fought not to wince. “I’m not in charge here, no one really is. Except Palathum because she owns the whole planet and is financing this place.”
“They’ll listen to you,” Hale repeated. They stood beaming at her as if she could fix anything. How long until Hale realized she was only human, just like them?
