"Like a good little bitch."
My self-loathing tries to crawl out of my skin and become a physical presence. If it did, it would probably kill me. That's just what I would need as the cherry atop this fucked-up sundae.
I shake my head, flinging off the inane thoughts.
"Just focus on what you can do right now."
Being dressed is an improvement, so that feels like a step forward.
The material of the suit helps some, but I can still feel the cold seeping through. This makes my previous decision to remain with the broken ship for the night seem like an even better idea.
All I can hope is that the slimes don't come in the middle of the night, but since night vision clearly wasn't one of my upgrades, I wouldn't accomplish much if I left now.
I descend the ladder and return to Silver. She is just as I left her, and I feel another pang that I don't have the supplies to help her.
I would also very much like someone to talk to and strategize with right now.
I can tell it's rapidly getting darker outside because the small amount of ambient light starts to disappear. I can still see by the light of the cryochambers, though I should probably see if I can power off Silver's broken chamber, just in case it might be useful later. I don't know how long their charge will last without the feed from the ship.
The thought of it being even darker in here makes the back of my neck prickle and my heart beat faster, so I leave it alone for now.
Speaking of feeds, I realize that I'm now cut off from my food and water supply.
I glance over to the dispenser I once drank out of like a giant gerbil. My movements are stiff as I go over to it. I lean down andposition my mouth under it and push the button. I get a small mouthful before it gurgles and stops.
Even though it hurts to keep myself in place, I linger to make sure I suck in every drop.
I'll need to find water as soon as I can in the morning.
That I don't really know howto find anything in a forest isn't a comforting thought. I've never had to think of that before, since I've always lived in large cities.
The list of what I don't know and likely need to in order to survive this experience is completely overwhelming.
I'm depleted and give in to the overwhelming desire to sleep by laying down on the gray floor at the base of Silver's new cryochamber.
The light of her old chamber winks out, leaving me feeling like I'm blind in addition to helpless to any threat. Exhaustion quickly overtakes it all.
Even my shivering isn't enough to keep me awake, and I feel myself drifting into unconsciousness.
12
Thivoll
I've been walking in the dark for some time now.
Periodically, I readjust my trajectory so I can keep myself headed toward the direction I saw the closest ship piece fall. I'm walking on my back paws, making sure my tread is silent and ready to tip forward at any time for a burst of quadruped speed.
For now, I like the added perspective gained at this height.
This leg shape makes walking on two limbs somewhat ungraceful, but when I tip forward onto my hands, with my back claws extended and ripping into the soil, I'm able to run at impressive speeds.
I wish I could do so now, since I haven't experienced the joy of running like that for years. Space station floors don't hold up to the abuse and it's frowned upon.
I'm sure there will be reason enough to do so soon, but for now I would only leave deep furrows in the ground that would make it easy to track me.
So easy that even rich genali playing at hunters could manage it. I suppose at a slow run I'll leave almost no trace.
I tip forward so I can make faster progress.
