I swallow a lump in my throat and tears spring to my eyes.
I believe him.
In just a matter of days, he's made me feel more cherished than any of my previous relationships had managed to over years. That it took traveling light years and meeting an alien to find it seems pretty much how things would go for me.
Not that what we have could be defined as a relationship in such a short period, but it feels like there is at the very least a mutual draw to one another.
"Thanks, Thivoll. I appreciate that. Right now we need to get back to Silver, but I look forward to more of this later."
I pull back from him, looking into his earnest eyes. "I'll teddy bear you better than ever before, my Ree."
I laugh, the tightness in my chest loosening. "I would love that."
I step to the side, and he tilts forward onto all fours. I like to think that I'm getting a bit more graceful and hopefully pulling less fur each time I climb up. I prefer to keep my delusions, though, so I don't ask.
Thivoll runs just as quietly as ever, stopping for a break at a stream soon after, then we continue loping along.
My arms aren't aching anymore like they were last night and I feel stronger than I ever have. Better able to respond as he dodges trees and leaps over fallen logs.
At one point he slows his pace considerably, his ears mostly pointed toward our right as he angles us left. I assume he hears someone, though I can't ask him who he thinks it might be. Did someone find Silver?
Could she have died in stasis?
My heart's in my throat as I think of all of the possibilities.
Thivoll continues to move away and his ears change directions to let me know the sound is behind us.
When he picks up his pace again shortly after, I let out some of the tension I was holding in my shoulders.
32
Ree
We run at speed for a while before he slows us and crouches down, a clear signal for me to slide off.
He looks at me and then cuts his eyes over to a small hole in a thick patch of the brambles like the one I fell in after my first time leaving the ship.
I wrinkle my nose, then crawl through.
I mostly avoid the thorns, keeping my curses under wraps the few times one hooks through my clothing and into my skin. After extracting myself, I keep on crawling.
I'm not paying enough attention and bump right into Silver's chamber with my head. I had expected the light to still be on, though I realize it was a stupid assumption.
Thivoll would never leave her with a beacon announcing her presence.
There isn't much space, but I move out of Thivoll's way enough so he can come through. Considering how much smaller I am, I don't know how he made it unscathed and then realize that he is simply pushing against the bush like it's no barrier.
His scales must be protecting him and I'm jealous.
He moves to where he can work the touch screen controls, then speaks in a whisper.
"Prepare your tools and I'll open the chamber to rouse her."
I hope she doesn't wake up screaming, but if she does, I'm sure Thivoll could quickly take us all out of the area.
I remove the stitch stapler and nod to Thivoll to let him know I'm ready. It kills me to be doing this without proper sanitary procedures, but I'll just have to hope her nanites will protect her.
The chamber snicks open and Silver's breathing picks up pace, but she doesn't wake up. That's a blessing in one way, but very concerning.
