But if I’m going to dive under that ice, it’s better to conserve both my body heat and my strength. Even though I’ve pretty much recovered most of my usual abilities, I can still feel the fatigue catching up with me now and then.
And right now is one of those moments—something Neela doesn’t fail to notice.
“All right, time for bed. Go,” she says, pointing to her room.
Too bad that wasn’t an invitation to share her bed.
Still, I shake my head and lie down on the couch, letting her know I’m staying put.
She hesitates, taps the wall screen to dim the lights, and disappears into her room.
I settle comfortably into the couch and fold my hands behind my head.
If I take a moment to assess my situation, things could’ve turned out a whole lot worse. I survived the crash, and I even made it through the brutal adaptation to this planet’s extreme conditions—though I’m still feeling the aftermath.
Right now, I’m being sheltered by a sweet little Human who’s actually kind of funny—especially when she gets nervous and babbles, thinking I don’t understand a word she’s saying.
I’m in a forest, which means I should be able to find food without too much trouble. Yeah... all things considered, I’d say I got pretty damn lucky this time.
My ears twitch. I can hear her moving in the next room—just got out of the bathroom. Her steps are light as she climbs into bed. I wonder if she smells me on her sheets like I smell her on this couch.
Damn. My body’s waking up again. And there’s no way I can take care of this particular problem here, so close to her.
Yeah… this cohabitation thing might not be so simple after all.
***
I wake up groggy, which is unusual. I’m normally a light sleeper.
Neela’s already up, dressed, and busy in the kitchen. She’s opened the wall panels, letting in the soft morning light.
She sets a tray down in front of me—two steaming bowls and a couple of flatcakes.
“Good morning, Prax! I hope you slept well. Here’s breakfast: lemon balm tea and quinoa crêpes.”
I give her a look. That’s it? Hot water and seeds?
“Don’t look at me like that, mister. I know you’re not impressed. But that’s all I’ve got. And you’re picky too! Lemonbalm is very good for you. Oh, screw it—I don’t even know why I’m talking to someone who doesn’t understand a word I say!”
I stifle a laugh. Outwardly, I stay neutral. I down the tea in one go and nibble on the crêpe, which tastes like compressed sand.
If I don’t start hunting soon, this woman’s gonna kill me—with fiber.
“Look what I made!” she suddenly exclaims, full of excitement.
Stunned, I stare at what used to be my sleeping pod—now completely transformed into a long coat.
“Uh... I took the liberty of cutting up that fabric from your bag,” she explains. “I recognized the texture—it's a thermoregulating, waterproof material. It should give you some protection. I sealed the edges, so it should hold. And with the leftover scraps, I made you some shoes... well, more like foot covers. They don’t have soles, so they won’t protect you from sharp rocks, but at least they’ll keep your feet dry.”
She shifts from foot to foot, clearly unsure how I’m going to react.
I study her handiwork carefully. Not bad. Actually, there’s some solid thinking behind it. Still, I’m going to have to say goodbye to my sleeping pod.
I nod in thanks and start putting it on, along with the makeshift shoes. I’ll ditch them if I need to run, but they might help for now.
As I head for the door, she grabs my arm.
“Where do you think you’re going? The lake? Wait for me! You don’t even know where it is. By the shield of Ares, it’s not even eight in the morning and you’re already out the door? What, you think someone’s gone to play with your sunken ship while you were gone? You can’t even see it—it’s under the ice!Ugh. People used to say ‘stubborn as a mule,’ but ‘stubborn as a cat’ works just as well!”
