“We used to play that with our parents,” the eldest said.
“You have very smart parents then,” Kira praised.
They must have realized how uncertain their place in the universe was and prepared their children accordingly.They sounded like the sort of people she would have gotten along with.
“Quickly now,” Kira urged, backing away to give the children room to crawl out from under the cot.
“We shouldn’t be taking them into danger,” Roderick said in a low voice.
“Do you see another choice?”Kira’s glance was grim.“You’re barely standing.I doubt you could fight off a human.Let alone a Tsavitee or a Tuann.”
Kira didn’t trust Arly enough to leave the children with her.But she also wasn’t in a position to head for the exit.Jin was still here somewhere.As was Caius.
There was also the fact that she didn’t actually know where the exit was.
That left one choice—bringing them along.
Admittedly not her favorite option.
“Graydon and his people shouldn’t be too far,” Kira reasoned.
Not to mention Finn and Raider, who were even now probably on the lookout for her.
“We’ll stay together,” Kira decided.
The spawn on the ceiling dropped to land next to them.
Arly and the children looked fascinated as it crawled over to the youngest and hooked its claws into her pants to climb up.
“It won’t hurt you,” Kira promised.
“We knowsh.It’s here to protect ussh,” the baby of the group declared, caressing its head.She smiled when it bumped against her hand, letting out a rusty sawing sound that Kira thought was supposed to be a purr.
“Are you going to rescue the big brother too?”the eldest asked.
“What big brother?”Kira asked, startled.“I thought there were only three of you.”
The youngest toddled toward the opening on their left, carrying the spawn with her.
“She wants you to follow,” the other girl explained at Kira and Roderick’s confused looks.
Kira climbed to her feet.“Let’s see where this goes.”
With an unhappy grumble, Roderick instructed the other two to remain close.Arly brought up the rear.
The little girl stumbled.She caught herself before she could fall on her face, patting her chest and whispering, “I gots this,” each time.
Kira would have found the entire thing too adorable for words if the situation hadn’t been so dangerous.
The little girl was determined as she led them onward, finally stopping at a hexagon a few over from where Kira had found them.
“In there,” she lisped, pointing.
“Okay.”Kira took the girl’s arm, pushing her toward Roderick and Arly.“Get them somewhere safe.”
Roderick gave their surroundings an incredulous look.“Where exactly?”
“That’s your problem to figure out.”
