Not even the brooding Sarkarnii warlord who seems to know exactly which of my buttons to push. Right now, by being silent, sitting in a complicated looking chair, one leg hooked over the arm and a spiked tail waving from side to side like a cat over the other arm, he’s being particularly annoying.
I want to know where we’re going and what we’re doing. But, of course, he hasn’t deigned to tell me.
After all, I’m only themate.
I huff out a breath at him and sidle out of the bridge area. If Driok is going to ignore me, then I’m going to go exploring on my own.
It’s his ship, and it’s not like there’s going to be anything dangerous on board, other than his ego, to cause me harm.
As there are no bellows of alarm once I’ve snuck away, I carry on, getting the occasional sideways glance from a pair of warriors stalking the corridors because Sarkarnii always seem to go around in pairs.
In essence, this particular ship seems to have a similar layout to the ones we’ve been living in on Vorostor. I mean, we were told they were space ships once but had been repurposed into their on-world accommodation.
But somehow Driok has got hold of a second ship. Of course he has.
I wander past the aquiums, where I can hear the shouts and splashes of the warriors enjoying themselves as it appears Sarkarnii like a bath even in space (although what they do when the artificial gravity fails is another matter entirely. Presumably the place is awash).
I’m still not being pursued, so I make my way further into the ship. I’m feeling hungry, and I’d like to find the dining hall, but it’s not where I expect it to be, and I find myself descending a spiral, shallow ramp as I continue to search.
It seems unlikely I’ll find food down here, but it’s worth a look.
Lights flicker on as I walk down a wide corridor which is covered with scrapes all over the floor, like it’s used for heavy cargo. Behind me, the lights turn off once I’ve passed by, making the whole thing seem a little creepy.
Creepy and Driok in the same sentence? Yep, that’s likely.
I’m about to turn back as it’s rapidly becoming clear there is nothing down in this part of the ship when I hear the noise.
A soft, melodic squeaking sound which reverberates around the hallway.
“Who’s there?” I call out.
There is absolute silence.
I must have imagined it. I turn around and begin walking back the way I came, my footsteps seemingly super loud. It’s then I hear the noise again.
I come to a halt. But my footsteps continue. Weird as hell.
“This isn’t funny, and if you scare me, you’ll have to deal with a very pissed off Sarkarnii,” I mutter under my breath.
“Sarkarnii.” The word is repeated back to me…in my voice.
So, I wasn’t exactly scared before, but there’s a prickle up my spine which I really don’t like. Thishasto be my mind playing tricks on me or one of Driok’s warriors.
Although I doubt they’d dare.
Something scuttles past me, running over my foot and making me shriek involuntarily like some sort of idiot.
Thereissomething in here, with me. A shudder runs through me as I spin on the spot, trying to see what it is.
Then there is a shriek in my ear, something clamping on my shoulder and something soft, warm and…wet in my ear.
I release the most almighty, strangled scream as I reach to pull whatever it is away, and my hand closes around silky fur.
There’s a chittering in my ear, and my fingers are enclosed in slightly sticky, warmth. I lift my hand away and clinging to it is a small orange…ball of fluff.
With eyes. Three bright blue eyes which blink discordantly at me. It croons and clings harder to my hand.
“What…areyou?” I stare at the thing.
