by Jade Waltz
“I did a great job last time,” she retorted. “It wasn’t my fault that I had to figure out how to thread bandages around your spines without destroying the whole process.”
Tenderly, I touched the edges of her skin around her wound, testing to see if any of it was too warm. If it were, then her body would’ve already started to battle the beginnings of an infection. But even though she lacked the other physical attributes that were often paired with infectious diseases or viruses, I was pleased to feel all her cool skin on my fingertips. It meant all was well and we were out of the asteroid field for the time being.
It was time to spread the healing balm and rewrap her wound with fresh bandages.
“What do you think?” Elya asked. “Will she be okay?”
“She means to ask whether I will scar or not,” Caia corrected.
I could hear the worried tone of her voice.
Female Rowdus never needed to put that much focus into their appearances. The only things that mattered to triads were the existence and whereabouts of their core. Yet, that didn’t mean that they didn’t want to make their appearances a competition amongst one another.
I had always thought it was odd for unmated triads to lust over mated cores, knowing that they weren’t theirs but wishing they had them anyway.
There weren’t many other Rowdu on this space station. However, plenty of females around her age would make her feel more self-conscious than needed.
“I don’t believe it will scar,” I replied soothingly. “I believe as long as you are honest with us about how it feels, it should be able to completely heal without a mark within a quarter of a moon’s time.”
“Thank the Stars,” she breathed. “You don’t understand how many stares I’ve gotten from passersby because all they see is a white bandage wrapped around my emerald skin.
“It wouldn’t be as bad if I didn’t prefer utility pants and a chest wrap. But anything else feels restrictive, and as you know, it’s hard to prevent your spines from damaging any shirts that you are forced to wear.”
“Indeed, it is.” I chuckled. “It is the reason why my brothers and I only wear pants.”
“So, is there anything else I should be concerned about?” Elya asked as she stepped closer to her daughter and pointed to the top of her head. “‘I’ve noticed that she still has nubs, unlike you and your brothers, who wield full horns.”
“Will those come in later, or do female Rowdu tend to have shorter stubs comparatively?”
“Those are the last things that will come in,” I said. “The Rowdu body first focuses on being able to heal itself quickly and then its height. Then lastly, they fill out—the horns being the final thing developed. When a Rowdu’s horns stop growing, that symbolizes that they are completely mature and ready to leave their kin to find their own clan.”
“So you’re saying once I get my horns, I can start searching for a triad of my own?” Caia asked hopefully. “Is there a way to make them grow faster?”
“Caia,” Elya hissed. “There’s no need for you to have full-grown horns right now. Instead, you should take this time to enjoy yourself, because once you become a full-blown adult, lots of responsibilities will fall upon you like housing, food, and attaining a well-paying job.”
“Yeah, but being an adult means that I can make my own rules,” Caia challenged, grinning. “So if I want to sleep all day and then work for over twenty-five hours, I’ll be able to.”
“You’ll be able to, but you won’t be able to last long doing that.”
“You want to bet?”
“You shouldn’t bet on such a thing against your mother,” I scolded. “They are the only people that will love you unconditionally until the end of time…. And ruin you if you tempt them to.”
Grabbing the ointment, I gently squeezed some on my hand and slathered it along the edges of her wounds as I made sure that I was not touching any of the uncovered parts. Once done, I took wrapping and carefully walked around with the bandage in one hand and one hand pressed against her body, guiding the wrap as I threaded it between her spines. Then, tucking two fingers along the edge of the bandaging, I made sure there was enough space for her to breathe comfortably.
Satisfied with the work I had done, I placed my tools on my table and stepped away.
Looking between mother and daughter, I could see the odd resemblance between the two. They may have been from two separate species, but Caia held many of Elya’s robust facial features, including her long, thick, black hair.
“How do you feel, Caia?”
“I feel a lot better than yesterday.” She stood up and did a few stretches, pursing her lips as she tried to bend over. “Outside of my limitations, it feels wonderful.”
“Perhaps in a few days, once it’s removed, you will soon miss it.”
“Oh yeah.” Elya chuckled dryly.
“Hopefully not.” Caia frowned.
I glanced at my wristband and was shocked at how much time had passed since they’d arrived. Nevertheless, I went well over the ending time of my shift. It was a good thing that I got paid by space rotation and the number of patients I treated that day. This helped make busier days more lucrative than standard ones. Not that I didn’t mind when it was slower, because it gave me a better chance to do research and focus on things that I’d held off since we’d been banished.”
I threw away my trash and put my tools where they belonged. Then I hurriedly cleaned my station and turned to my core’s daughter.
“If you have nothing to do tonight, I believe my brothers and I are free. You’re welcome to follow me to my vessel, and I’ll finally be able to escort you. Something I’ve wanted to do since I met you.”
Elya locked eyes with Caia, who shrugged.
“We have nothing else going on tonight, and I would love to accept your invitation to return with you to your ship.”
“Perfect. Let me hang up my medic jacket in the refresher, and I’ll meet you outside.”
“Sounds good.” She turned toward the exit, lifted her hand in the air, and waved me goodbye. “We’ll be waiting for you.”
Chapter Sixteen
Elya
We traversed together between the floors as we worked our way to the docking bay where his vessel was parked.
Every time I glanced over to Karvyan, he brought a smile to my face.
He was always standing tall with his chest out—proud—as he walked on the other side of my daughter.
It was as if he were already claiming us as his own.
Whenever I peered over my shoulder, I didn’t miss how his tail was always hovering just above Caia’s as it curled protectively within reach of me. It was as if he were trying to protect us from behind, from any passerby that may have attempted to get close to us.
It felt good to have someone to watch over us for once.
It was an odd feeling. Something that I had only felt around Nami whenever we were within the sanctuary walls of her storage bay.
As we strolled along the docking bay, the Karvyan pointed to an average-sized black and silver ship nearby.
“That’s mine, and hopefully there’ll be someday it will be ours too,” he said. “My brothers are inside waiting for us. The captain, Ajamu, decided he was going to make us a meal and have it prepared by the time that we arrived.”
“You know, you didn’t have to do that,” I assured him. “We would’ve been completely fine with just a quick tour of your vessel.”
“You don’t understand. It’s not often that we have visitors walking within our vessel. You coming over gave my brothers something to do, a chance to show off their skills, and hope to impress you.”
“Are you saying that you believe all it will take is a tour of your ship and a meal to impress me?”
“Well, it sure impresses me,” Caia said, rubbing her stomach. “First a pilot and now a chef, why would you ever turn someone like that down?”
“Who said I was going to turn anyone down? I was saying that they didn’t have t
o go out of their way to make us something when we could’ve stopped at the bakery and picked up one of her to-go meal boxes.”
“That may have been a good idea if there weren’t any connections to that bakery, but there is. I don’t think either of us wanted to have something that reminds you of how my brothers first met you. If anyone bought those meal boxes for dinner tonight, it might make your first impression of my brothers permanent.”
“You mean more like a second chance?”
“Think of it as their way to have a do-over,” he explained.
“Why is everyone mentioning do-over?” I muttered, frowning.
“It’s because sometimes good people need second chances.”
I thought over what he said as we neared the ship, glancing at the other crafts surrounding it. It was clear that the vessel wasn’t in top shape. The nearby crafts seemed slimmer, sleeker—and perhaps even deadlier from the weaponry they openly displayed.
I didn’t know that much about ships nor about the different types. All I knew was up here that my triad’s ship was an older model, perhaps even a labor of love, where they’d put so many digis into it. I could respect that. Not wanting to let go of something you’d built up. In a way, I kind of felt like that with Nami and the space station. I’d built our lives here, and moving may feel like a never-ending tour.
The ship’s door was already open with its ramp lowered to the dock, waiting for us to walk inside. Karvyan didn’t even hesitate when he stepped forward from us, walked up the ramp, and crossed the threshold.
I was glancing at my daughter. She shrugged and quickly followed me a few steps behind as we entered the ship. It was an odd sight to witness.
As long as I’d known storage bays, they were always supposed to be filled with crates, personal vessels, cages full of creatures, and other odds and ends that needed transporting between places.
This storage bay had none of it.
It was so empty that it appeared like an abandoned establishment waiting for someone to rent it.
Off to the side was a small dining area with a drink dispenser, cooling unit, and warmer. In the corner sat a large oval table equipped with six stools. The walls were utterly bare—other than their broken sacred spear, which hung in the center of the storage bay for all to see.
Nami was right.
This triad was a victim of the mass banishments and public spear destroying ceremony.
How could someone be so evil that they were willing to torture their people for their own satisfaction?
I never understood it. Nor did I ever want to see that poor-excuse me ever again.
Two Rowdu stood within the kitchen, working on the meal. The slimmer one was slicing vegetables, and the muscular one was stirring liquid like a pot, perhaps even making a stew.
“This is Elya and her daughter, Caia,” Karvyan announced. “They have decided to join us tonight for dinner, and we could spend time exploring the ship and getting to know each other a little bit better.”
“Oh, I like that,” I said, smiling.
“And I would like to know what room would be mine if I decide to move in with you guys,” Caia said.
“Who said we were moving in?” I whispered, wincing as it came out more like a hiss. “Something like that should be discussed between us before you make premature announcements.”
“Are you hungry?” the captain asked gently, offering his hand.
Without much thought, I accepted as his golden swirls came to life, and they sent a blinding burst of light through the room.
“I am Ajamu, the captain of this ship and leader of this triad.” He jerked his head toward the male chopping up vegetables. “That is Eynar. He is the triad’s accountant and inventory manager.”
“Well, shall we start with a tour?” Karvyan offered. “It’s going to be a while before dinner is done.”
“Sounds perfect!”
“Welcome aboard,” Ajamu said. “What’s ours is yours, and I hope you both enjoy yourselves tonight.”
Chapter Seventeen
Eynar
As my brother took Caia to explore the vacant cabins, I decided to show Elya the spaceship’s bridge. It was a part of a vessel not many ever have a chance to visit, especially if they never travel.
My goal was to prove to her that she could trust us by adding her hand signature into our vessel’s network, giving her access to come and go as she pleased freely. If she agreed to it, I would ask her permission to add her daughter to the system whenever time permitted. I knew some parents didn’t like others offering something drastic as having full access to a ship’s network without asking them first.
Even if we seal our connection together, I would always ask her permission before doing anything with her daughter. I would never want to overstep my boundaries, especially if Caia’s sire was still present in their life.
As we walked along the hallway, I explained what the different art pieces were along the wall. There were mainly family portraits of our kin back in our home sol system and images of faraway planets that we would love to revisit once again someday.
The bridge’s door slid open, revealing the captain’s chair and three workstations. I stepped out of the way to allow Elya to enter and take everything in.
A gasp escaped her lips, and her mouth hung open in shock as her gaze traveled throughout the room, leaving no part left unstudied.
This vessel may not have been the best in the galaxy, but it had a lot of character. We spent almost all of our triad’s funds buying it from a retiring merchant so we wouldn’t have to depend on government assistance or the kindness of another clans’ hearts to give us a ride outside of the sol system shortly after our banishment.
How could you trust a government that had punished you and others so severely? How do we know where those ships were headed? But after what happened, I wouldn’t put it past them to drop us off at a worker’s camp to live out the rest of our lives.
Once someone is placed on such a planet, they usually never return and are left forgotten to the rest of the universe. Our government loved to use them as free labor, knowing that they wouldn’t ever be able to have enough power to escape.
“What do you think?” I asked as I traced her body, watching her every move. “Have you ever seen a ship’s bridge before? “
“The few times I’ve been on a vessel, I’ve never been allowed to unbuckle my safety harness. So it’s odd to be able to freely walk around a shuttle without fearing that it would be somehow attacked.”
“All of this could be yours, too, if you would allow it. “
“That’s what everyone keeps saying,” she muttered, reaching for one of the workstation’s control panels. She jerked her hand to a stop right before her palm touched it. “Honestly, I don’t know how I feel about it.”
I walked over and leaned against the workstation, offering her my hand.
“May I?” Bouncing my hand next to hers, I locked eyes with her. “Can I touch you?”
She blew a long sigh upwards, making her bangs dance wildly as her cheeks darkened. “How do you make something innocent sound so… not?”
“I don’t want a repeat of what happened,” I explained. “Now that I know how humans aren’t affected by the connection as much as Rowdu are, I want to make sure I ask for your consent before I touch you.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. A small smile crossed her lips as she placed her hand in mine. “I appreciate you doing this.”
Instantly, my markings came to life as they gave my emerald skin a slight golden glow. Elya watched in awe. Her speckled eyes—which Karvyan told us humans called the color hazel—traced every swirl exposed on my skin.
“Can I touch you?”
Now I understood what she meant about making something innocent sound... erotic. Thoughts of her using her soft hands to touch sensitive places raced through my mind before I was able to shut them down.
When her gaze shifted to
my horns, I knew I had failed.
I tightly closed my eyes, not wanting to witness the disgust she may feel from me being aroused by her four words as we held hands.
“Is something wrong?” Concern—not malice—laced her voice as she gave my hand a light squeeze. “Should I go get Karvyan?”
“No! Please,” I begged, shooting open my eyes. “You don’t need to gather my brother for this. It’s normal…. Well, as normal as can be.”
“Why are your horns glowing?” Biting her lip, she flicked her gaze to them once again. “They didn’t do them before… in fact, I’ve never seen anyone’s horns glow.”
“How?” I jerked my head back as I stared at her in shock. “Your daughter is a Rowdu.”
“I’ve noticed,” she deadpanned, rolling her eyes. Then, suddenly, she leaned herself against me as she used my body as support to place her free hand against my forehead, pressing it all over with both sides. “You don’t feel like you have a fever.”
“I promise you, I am fine,” I swore, closing my eyes once again as I tried not to think about how her breasts were pressed against my chest, nor her leg wiggling at my crotch. It was as if she were oblivious to how seductive she was, unintentionally trying to care for me as her thigh kept trying to rub my shaft. It was a miracle my sheer panic of not wanting to spook her hadn’t made my cock harden or my tail decide to join in on the fun.
“It will go away soon… I hope.”
I cursed myself for accidentally saying the last part, and as Elya removed her hand from my forehead, I knew she must’ve heard it too.
Leaning back, she looked at me with concern before squeezing our joined hands. “Can you please tell me what’s wrong, so I can know not to be so concerned in the future?”
“Do you honestly don’t know?”
“I wouldn’t be asking you if I did,” she countered, and I didn’t miss the hurt in her eyes.
“Can you promise me you won’t run away?”
She peered at me skeptically but didn’t make a move. “I promise.”