"I wrapped my tail around a branch so you will be secure."
I get a warm feeling in my chest and it's a testament to just how upsetting things have been lately that such a minor act brings tears to my eyes.
"Oh, that's so thoughtful. I'm not sure I'll be able to sleep thinking of the height, but that makes me feel better."
He responds by pulling me closer to him, wrapping both of his arms around me.
"My limbs hold whatever position I go to sleep in. A remnant of our arboreal past," he explains.
"That's really cool."
"What part of you needs covering?"
The question confuses me, then I realize my error. "I'm very warm, thank you. That was just something lost in translation."
After that, our conversation dies out.
I have a million unanswered questions, but no energy left to ask them.
I reach one of my hands up to stroke the fur of the arm crossing my chest, especially enjoying the feel of where the fur recedes, and it's just his smooth black scales.
I love the transition of textures.
His purr deepens, and he moves one arm so he can stroke the long fall of hair draped over my hip. He reaches up and strokes the length of it in a soothing repetitive motion.
It helps lull me and I feel myself getting heavier and heavier.
I lose track of time, but then I startle back awake, convinced I'm falling, but Thivoll just squeezes me a little tighter, pats my butt, and makes a soothing sound.
I grip the arm he has around me with one hand and his tail with the other, and then drift back to sleep.
23
Thivoll
It's a long time before I'm able to sleep.
The events of the day and the remnants of my fear crowd my brain. I knew she was fragile, but the difference between raw knowledge and hard experience is stark.
That would have been a minor wound to my species, but I almost lost her today.
Terror spikes through me, trembling along my limbs, especially when I think about how determined she sounded to help find medical supplies.
I know I can't cage her in a tree. It would be just as sure of a death for her once she responded to the confinement.
I would never harm a woman. Especially not like that.
The stronger the personality, the quicker the confinement sickness sets in, and she is a formidable woman.
She is just as fierce as the best of our females.
Pride fills my chest when I think of how composed she was, especially considering she felt all the pain.
Could I have done the same?
I have no idea. I've had nanites in my system since before I was even born.
They never remove all pain, of course. That would be unwise, especially for the more adventurous kits like I was.
