I forget sometimes Furga hasn’t seen battle. She has the training, but it's obvious to me now that it isn't the same.
“She is going to be okay, Furga. I’ll make sure of it. Then I’ll wring both of your necks for letting her go in there with no winter gear. Look at her bare skin, no fur, no protection. She could have been injured even if she hadn’t fallen in the pond.”
It comes out a lot more aggressive than the calming tone I was going for and Furga’s ears flatten miserably.
“I know. I know you’re right. I’m going to wring my own neck. For now, though, do you think we should get her to a medic station? Gunnvall saw her earlier, for her hand.”
I notice for the first time her hand is wrapped in sodden cloth bandages and something sharp stabs at my heart. Didn’t the humans just arrive here? And she’s already been injured how many times? The fragile thing can’t even take care of herself. Who thought them moving to Sanctuary was a good idea? They’re all going to be eaten alive in this place if they’re as soft and breakable as she is.
“She’s starting to warm up. She just needs to be bundled up in a warm bed and fed some hot liquids. She’ll be okay. She wasn’t in there for too long.”
“Okay, great. That’s great news. Where should we take her?”
“What do you mean? She’s your friend. Take her to your apartment,” I reply indignantly, but I don’t offer my charge over either. I should carry her. For my body warmth. Furga is still fully covered, after all.
“You know I can’t take her to my place. My uncle would lose it.”
She doesn’t need to explain further. Her uncle is a zealot if I ever met one. I’m surprised he hasn’t been flagged for rehabilitation by the Originem yet, honestly. They didn’t take kindly to bigotry.
“Fine. I’ll take her to mine. I’m sure Urzu will love playing nursemaid.”
“Youknowshe’ll love playing nursemaid. I’ll run ahead and let her know to set a cot up,” Furga says.
“Tell her to make my bed up. It’s more comfortable than a cot.”
Furga’s brow bunches under her horns, but she only nods before taking off at a jog down the corridor. She only makes it a few paces before she turns back to us.
“Maybe use the maintenance halls? I think humans are probably prudes about clothing.”
“Obviously. You didn’t tell me, what’s her name?” I ask before she runs off.
“It’s Destiny.”
“Like… fate?”
“Yeah, just like that. See you soon.” Without another word, Furga takes off, leaving me staring down into the face of Destiny.
6
Destiny
Icome to violently, choking and coughing up frigid water. It burns my lungs and throat and mouth and my whole body seizes as I wretch. I'm aware of the hard, frozen ground below me first, and then my jumpsuit which feels like it may already be freezing around me. Then I feel warmth—blessed warmth—as huge, furry arms encircle me.
“I've got you. You're going to be okay." A deep, rumbling voice says and the massive, furry chest I'm leaning against vibrates with it.
A huge Dhugaren man is carrying me, I think distantly. But he's so warm and I'm so cold and sleepy all I can do is snuggle deeper into his chest before slipping back into oblivion. I’m not worried though.He’s got me.
The next time I wake up it’s much warmer. I feel like I’m wrapped in a giant cocoon and something soft is stroking my brow. It’s soft and comforting so I lean into it, keeping my eyes closed and enjoying the toasty bliss. It’s heavenly after the freezing cold water–my eyes pop open as the memory of what just happened floods my mind. Thewinter wonderland hidden on a space station, and my plunge into the icy pond.
Leaning over me, stroking my brow until moments ago, is the abominable snowman, or a yeti possibly, with thick, curving horns. My jaw hits the floor before I realize he’s a solid white Dhugaren. In the cold recesses of my hazy memories I remember a warm, soft chest and a deep rumbly voice.I’ve got you.
“You saved my life,” I say.
“You fell into an ice-covered pond in an artificial arctic habitat that you entered with zero weather protection gear.”
“I…” The fuck. Who did this guy think he was? I mean… he isn’t wrong, but no need to point it out. “I didn’t fall in on purpose! I slipped.”
“You shouldn’t have even been on that ridge. It’s a dangerous way to climb the mountain. Furga knows this.”
