Page 92 of Cozy Prisons
Stepping up to Nataly, he sounded a rumble of amusement. “That was entertaining.”
She gave him an innocent look. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
The crew member was suddenly there again. “Human Nataly, please be at ease. We’ve found a place to store your mover bot. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to access it, uh, her, until we land on Kalor. Can you and your friend handle being separated from the bot during the journey?”
Nataly hugged the crew member around her waist. “Thank you!”
The crew member let out a startled rattle, then sounded a soothing rumble. “You’re so soft,” she said with awe, hugging Nataly back.
Nataly tried to draw away from the hug, but the crew member didn’t let go. Daxus stepped up and tugged at the crew member’s arm. “The human wants to be released.”
The crew member let go and stepped back, fidgeting with the Ident still in her hand. “I’ve never touched a human before. That was, uh, I mean, I hope you were comforted. If you need to clutch or cling again, you can contact me.”
Nataly nodded and stepped close to Daxus. “I promise I will. Naj likes to hug a lot too, so you should see if he needs any help.” She pointed at Naj, and the crew member practically sprinted off.
“How are you feeling?” Daxus asked, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
“I’m fine.”
He’d believe her if her body weren’t still tense and stiff.
“Palathum wants us to take this first ferry,” Daxus said. “Most of the humans will be with us.”
“I’m surprised Palathum is willing to take the ferry without me,” she muttered.
“She hopes having you will keep the humans calm,” Daxus explained.
Nataly pulled away and frowned up at him. “Number one, why would we need to be kept calm? This isn’t the first time we’ve been on a ferry ship. I’d like to point out that at least three of the humans in our group have never even been on a planet before Arise. We’re used to ships and stations. Second, she should be talking to Sima about keeping everyone calm. I swear, that girl never startles, and she is great at talking people down.”
Daxus waited for a beat before responding. “Should I tell Palathum all that?”
A reluctant grin spread across her face. “No.”
Dropping her hands from her hips, she leaned against him. “Sorry, I guess I’m a little tense. I’m looking forward to being back with only us again. Having all these strangers around sucks.”
Daxus sounded a soothing rumble and picked her up to cradle her against his chest. She shouldn’t be walking anymore anyway. If Falkilm wasn’t so busy keeping track of Kamie and Kiran, the healer would probably be demanding that Nataly get off her feet until he could use the ship's med room to check them.
“There might be some long days ahead, but Palathum has already arranged so much,” Daxus reminded her as he walked up the ferry’s ramp. “When we arrive, there'll be a building in place.”
“I know,” Nataly said, resting her head on his shoulder.
He found a seat at the far end of the ferry, squeezed in among some of the bedding the humans refused to be parted with. The crew was determined only to do two ferry runs to bring everything and everyone up to the ship.
No sooner did he sit down than the seats around them filled up. The humans all chatted excitedly about having access to cleansing rooms and proper food. As they talked, he resisted the urge to rub his scent glands all over the top of Nataly’s head. He could scent her countless times a day, and it still wouldn’t be enough.
It was going to be hard to restrain himself while they traveled. Thankfully, it wouldn’t be for long.
She is my drug,he thought.And I’m happily addicted.
Nataly
The first day of the trip was taken up with getting settled, organizing sleeping quarters, figuring out the layout of the ship, letting Falkilm re-examine her feet, and finally taking a long time in the cleansing unit. Half the second day was spent searching through all her bags to find her clothing and send it through the ship’s sanitizing unit.
After that was all done, restlessness set in.
“Nataly, that’s the third time you’ve pulled all the data crystals out and put them back,” Daxus said. “What’s wrong?”
He was sitting on the bed in their small cabin. The place wasn’t big enough to have independent furniture; everything pulled out or folded into the wall. The crew tried to set up nests in all the rooms with humans, but it wasn’t practical to leave them on the floor all day. The fold-down bunks were only big enough for a single Talin, or two humans if they didn’t mind snuggling really close. Nataly and Daxus ended up piling all the nest beddingon the bunk during the day and setting it up on the floor for sleeping.
