I want to see the pups in the morning. I’ll go with K’kaen, so you don’t have to be in the sun. Then we can be here together in the afternoon.
“I don’t have any teaching duties until I’m fully reseeded, so I’ll do some searching for a few holos we can watch together. Do you have any topics in mind?”
When you were in the tank, I realized I don’t know very much about your people. It also seems like you know more about humans than I do. I want to learn about you.
Örim found himself surprisingly pleased by her curiosity. “Holos about teösians? I’ll see what I can find. If any of it’s accurate. Otherwise, you can always just ask me questions.”
Cassie smiled.I’d like that.
“I would too.” Örim stroked her hair until she fell asleep. Then he lay beside her, bracing to read through the file S’samph had given him about everything his aöseria had suffered in his absence. It was a strange sort of peace at the center of their storm. But it was theirs.
CHAPTER 56
Cassie
Cassie sat in the sun outside while Örim parked a chair in the doorway of their home, watching her while he responded to correspondence from his new position. The university on Fleri had agreed to a remote working situation provided he attended a monthlong residency every standard year.
She enjoyed the quiet as she answered some messages from Jay who had been one of the flock leaders at the same time as her. They’d connected over the intelewaves since they both became literate.
Did you hear about Kestrel?
Kestrel?
She was here on Oscilla Dor for a while.
Is she ok?
We lost her.
Cassie’s fingers curled. She had to know the answer even if she didn’t want to.
The Aviarist?
No.
She decided not to stay.
Oh.
Cassie closed the chat, scrubbing at her stinging eyes. Kestrel was gone too. How many of them would disappear even now the Aviarist was dead? Her fingers itched with the familiar compulsion as grey and red hedged in. She shook her head, leaving her perch on the rock in the sun.
When he saw her approaching in distress, Örim rose from his seat.
“What happened, aöseria?”
Kestrel is gone.
Örim went still. “Someone killed her?”
Cassie shook her head.No. She couldn’t stay anymore.She paused to gasp through a fresh round of tears.I feel like I’m going to hurt myself. Please help.
He didn’t say a word, just held out his arms for her. She went to him. The pressure around her shoulders grounded her as she wept. “What do you need right now?”
“Cold shower.”
“You can jump in my seeding pool if that’s easier.” He held her tighter. “Go do what you need to do. I’m here.” His grip loosened, and Cassie hurried inside. She stripped off her clothes and got in the shower, letting the icy pinpricks of water plink against her skin until she didn’t feel like she needed to rip it off anymore. Örim was waiting for her with a towel when she emerged.
Thanks.
