As usual, I push that worry down with bravado and deflection. "No wonder you only have room for arrogance. But, still, we need to have a better watch set up."
He lets out a rumbling chuckle that shakes the leaves above us. "Relax, little one. I assure you, I can sense danger even in my sleep. It's a drakonid advantage."
"Oh, great," I mutter sarcastically. "Supernatural senses. Just what I needed all the other threats out there to have on this lovely camping trip through Predatorville."
He wiggles his head, his amusement turning into something that looks suspiciously like... pity?
Ugh. The last thing I need is pity from a huge blue dino-dragon alien. Not all of us can be the size of an Asian elephant.
"Look," I say, my voice rising a notch. "I don't need you coddling me, okay? I can handle myself just fine. In fact, I've been handling myself just fine for the past however-long-it's-been we've been stuck on this stupid planet."
Drasuk opens his mouth to reply, but I cut him off. "And don't even try to tell me you're not sleeping. We all have to sleep. It's a biological necessity. Or are you some kind of mythical creature who thrives on pure conceit?"
He raises his hands in mock surrender. "Point taken. Sleep is important for even the most impatient humans."
I glare at him. Impatient? Is that what I am? Maybe a little. But mostly just frustrated. And terrified.
And maybe, just a tiny bit grateful for his presence despite everything.
Dammit.
"Fine," I grumble, sinking back down onto the makeshift shelter of branches and leaves. "But if anything attacks us while you're snoozing the sleep of the oblivious, I'm blaming you."
What the fuck Kira, I grumble internally.
I'm speaking out of both sides of my mouth. I hate that.
Drasuk lets out another low chuckle. "By all means. Just remember, if you're so helpless while you sleep, what good is a second watch, anyway?"
His words spark a fresh wave of anger. "Helpless?" I leap to my feet. "Who's calling who helpless? I may not have glowing blue scales and razor-sharp claws, but I can fight. I can think. I don't need someone like you telling me how to survive."
He raises the spikes along his forehead, his expression unreadable. Maybe amusement, maybe something else entirely. "Interesting choice of words," he says finally. "And, again, you do realize I don't have scales?"
I feel my cheeks burning, suddenly conscious of how ridiculous I must sound. Especially with all the fancy space-lingo he throws around.
"Close ascend, head of cock," I blurt out, hoping a good curse will shut him up for once.
Silence.
Then, to my horror, Drasuk bursts out laughing, a deep, rumbling sound that shakes the very ground beneath us. Tears of frustration well up in my eyes. Not only did I sound like a complete idiot when I tried to sayshut up, but even my curse came out wrong in his alien language.
"Oh, fornicate," I mumble, sinking back down onto the leaves with a defeated sigh.
Finally, his laughter subsides. "Close ascend, head of cock?" he repeats, his spines wiggling.
"Yes," I mutter, feeling like I could crawl into a hole and die.
I knew I should have stopped trying to curse.
Nah, fuck that.
He regards me for a moment, then asks, with an almost playful seriousness, "Where do you want it? Actually, it's best if I pick where."
My head snaps up, my cheeks burning. "I wasn't—That didn't mean—" I stammer, completely flustered.
"Curse a thing. How do you insult people in your language?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
Drasuk's amusement fades, replaced by a flicker of something else—curiosity maybe, or the hint of a playful challenge.
