Winters, with Io’s help, was awake before dawn the next day. Much to his chagrin, then amusement, she’d used the submarine klaxon again. He knew he’d feel the lack of sleep later, but there was far too much to do. The cold river water, as always, helped wake him up as well. By the time Seil crested the western horizon he had already cast his first line. The time spent fishing was passed in light conversation with Io as the cold fog and dew of the previous night was banished by the rising sun. His meal, taken during peaceful moments between catches, consisted of a couple of their last eggs as well as some vegetables. By the time he was satisfied and returned to his pod it was just after midday. After storing his things and doing a quick mental inventory just to make sure nothing had disturbed his pod in the many hours he’d been away from it, he headed for the farm with the day’s catch in tow. Upon arrival he saw Veera and Zolta removing dato from the earth. It appeared Veera had made the executive decision to finish that part of the process first before sending any more back. He greeted them and handed Zolta the spare earpiece.

“How are you two? Doing alright?”

“Just fine, thank you!” Veera affirmed. She took a quick break to look over the basket of fish with an easy smile. “And thank you for this as well.”

“You know you don’t have to thank me for feeding us.” He demurred.

“Well too bad Russell, I want to.” She informed him happily.

“In that case you’re most welcome Veera. Looks like I may have underestimated how many trips we’re going to need though…” He said, looking at the piles of dato scattered around the field. “I can take the first one. Before that though, can I borrow Zolta?”

“Sure. I’m not the one who hired him.” Veera joked before returning to her work, her tail wagging merrily behind her. Winters called out to the young apprentice.

“Zolta, come with me for a minute?” As Zolta joined him, Winters put an arm around the kid’s shoulder and led him towards the pod. “So, you give what we discussed yesterday some thought?”

“I’d prefer if you didn’t treat me like a cub, human.” Zolta grumbled, annoyed with the human’s touchy-feely nature. Winters relented.

“Alright, my bad Zolta. I guess I didn’t enjoy it that much when I was a teen either. I notice you didn’t answer my question though.” He remarked pointedly.

“I did think about it, but I don’t think it got me anywhere. I know I’ll still be nervous as all hell when I talk to her.” Zolta admitted.

“Don’t the two of you talk now, like under more normal circumstances?” Winters asked, surprised at Zolta’s assertion.

“Well, on occasion? But ever since we both began our paths of apprenticeship it’s been difficult. As soon as I’m done at the forge I head home and help out there. My sister isn’t quite old enough for the fields so I try to do whatever I can in the evening. Asha does the same with her family. She doesn’t have to, but she does. It’s just the kind of person she is. We’ll wave and say hello, maybe share a couple words in passing but…it’s not like when we were kids. We had time then…before she grew up.” Winters couldn’t help but feel sorry for the young Cauthan as he remembered some of what Veera had told him. Zolta was no adult, but he wasn’t a carefree teen either, not like Winters had been.

“I understand. Can’t say I have an easy answer for you Zolta. I know I was pretty tongue tied first time I tried talking to a girl I liked. You know, after you grow up enough to realize girls are, in fact, attractive and not full of cooties? Sounds like you know what I’m talking about.” Zolta grinned in spite of himself, bumping arms with Winters.

“So you are mortal?”

“Kind of you to notice. You didn’t really believe I was a god, did you?”

“Are you joking? Of course I did. You beat two sun guards with your bare hands and didn’t have a scratch on you. Glad you aren’t though.”

“Why’s that?”

“Gods don’t help mortals out much, do they?” Zolta asked with a touch of spite in his voice. Winters scratched his chin in thought.

“Maybe they do, in their own way? Depends on how much you believe they control I suppose. I’m not qualified to answer that kid, I’m just a soldier. As for talking to your lady we can try working on that, but just in case…” He rummaged around in Zolta’s pocket and withdrew the stone. “This will do the talking. Here, you’ll need this.” They’d reached the pod and Winters quickly grabbed the sandpaper from the fabricator. He snapped his fingers to get Zolta’s attention again. The Cauthan was looking the interior over with an awestruck look on his face. “You can look all you want but don’t touch. Here. I saw the stone tools you guys use to smooth out wood back at the temple. Not a bad setup, but that won’t work too well on something that small. This should work better. If you need to recreate it some other time, use supple leather, adhesive, and sand. You guys have some sort of adhesive right?” Zolta nodded, taking the rough paper and running a finger pad over it. “Go help Veera finish with the dato and load up the cart. Then come find me. I’ll play courier today. You focus on that stone, got it?”

“Yes sir Russell. And…thanks, a lot.” The young apprentice managed to say before embarrassment forced his mouth shut again. Winters just nodded.

“I only gave you the tools you need Zolta. You want to make something worthy of her? Then get to work.”

“You aren’t coming back?”

“Like I said, find me when the dato are out of the earth and loaded up. I need to start finding suitable stones for a shrine.”

“Oh…right. Ok, I’ll come get you then.” Zolta said as he turned back to the farm and stowed the sandpaper in one of his pockets.

“Thanks kid.” Winters made for the river. After shedding his boots and socks and rolling up his pants he waded into the water, hissing at the cold. “I sure hope you guys appreciate this.” He muttered, finding a suitably large and rounded stone. Withdrawing it from the water he placed it on the bank, the first in what would prove to be a large pile. After giving the question some thought the prior night, he decided that the riverbank was as good a place as any for the shrine. The geography showed no signs of significant annual flooding and it was a very peaceful location. The river was calm and clear, not to mention the trees in the background provided a softer touch to the scene. After a time he was even glad for the cold water. It stopped him from sweating with his exertion.

By the time the star set that night, Winters was thoroughly beat. He’d moved a significant number of stones from the river to his little staging area, not to mention the two loads of dato he’d carted back to the village. Veera and Zolta handled the third and final shipment together, leaving him behind to work on his project. They would need one more day for the dato, but the work was just about done…Veera’s work anyway. His would begin the next day.

“She’s a lifesaver Io.” Winters remarked idly, eating a piece of smoked fish Veera had brought for him. She’d included a few vegetables and a half a loaf of bread as well. He had no idea when she’d had the time to trade for it, but he wasn’t complaining. She managed the affairs of their meager wealth very well.

‘She was quite prescient in assuming you’d want to remain here tonight.’ Io agreed.

“Lots to do and lots to think about for me. She’s seen me gut and smoke fish plenty of times now. She’ll be fine handling today’s catch on her own. Can’t say I’d rather be here though. It’s getting cold.” He felt a chill run through him that wasn’t just due to the declining ambient temperature. He knew he would hear Jess’ voice again if he closed his eyes.

‘I can certainly see why her home would be more appealing. We could still make it you know?’ Io offered.

“I know Io. But right now, for the next day or so, I’d like to just focus on them.” He said, thinking of his lost shipmates.

‘Understandable sir. Should we retire early then? You do lack sleep after last night, something I will not be taking the blame for this time around.’ She insisted. They both smiled at each other.

“I know, I asked you to. Yeah…I suppose we should, shouldn’t we?” He stretched and pushed himself up off the gentle slope before brushing off the back of his pants. As they reached the pod and Winters grabbed his sundries to prepare for sleep, Io asked a question.

‘Are you scared sir?’ She’d appeared in his visor again, sitting casually as if on an invisible stool. Her face bore a worried look.

“You mean the shrine?” Winters took a moment to run his hand through his hair. “You know, maybe I was. But then Veera took us to see her father and that kind of changed my perspective. I was still thinking of the shrine as a grave, you know? That’s what humans do, right? We say goodbye and place a headstone to acknowledge that they’re gone. Not sure I was ready to do that to them yet, write them off. But then I saw Veera there, talking with her dad, and I realized that it didn’t have to be that way. Talking like that clearly helps her when times are tough. Hell, I think it helped me too and I’ve never even met the man. So if I’m talking to the dead instead of laying them to rest and it helps me, then that’s great. If it helps the dead too, all the better. If the dead are truly dead and gone and there is no plane of spirits then it doesn’t really matter does it?” He reasoned.

‘No sir, it does not. And I’m glad you feel that way. It seems Veera has yet again been of aid to us.’

“She always seems to come through when you need her, doesn’t she? Reminds me a bit of Jess to be honest.” Io gave him a surprised look.

‘That talk must have really helped.’ He wiped a tear from his eye and continued.

“Maybe? I could just be seeing what I want to see but you know as well as I do that Jess was made captain for a reason. Veera shares many of the same qualities: tenacity, empathy, a certain disdain for the rules. It’ll be nice to talk to Jess again.” He concluded, feeling another wave of tears building. “I’m gonna go Io, I’ll be back and armor up in a minute. You do your thing.”

‘Yes sir. I am here whenever you need to talk.’

“I know, and thank you.”

Veera sighed for the umpteenth time as she tended to the fire, ensuring it didn’t flare up while she smoked the various fish that Winters had brought in that day. Everywhere she looked it seemed, she could see the human’s influence. It was right before her, in the fish above the fire. It was around back, in the form of an extraordinarily large pile of firewood. It was at her side in the form of a lethal combat knife. It was in her hands in the form of a smooth metal canteen. And of course, she was ensconced in it as well thanks to her wonderful new dress. He and Io had even made the sleeves short enough so as to not interfere with her feathers’ range of motion, not to mention providing her with a spare. He was all around her and yet very absent; an absence that was drawing her thoughts down dark twisting paths. She wasn’t concerned about Jess or what Winters had told her about how he was coping with her loss. She had seen many lose a loved one in the village, including her own father. It was a tragic aspect of life, but it was one that she could understand and deal with. More difficult was the idea that Winters’ words had put into her head a couple days prior.

I want you…to find your own way in this world so that if I have to go…you’ll be ok.

“If I have to go…” She whispered into the void. Another memory from that day rose to the surface. “He said the same when speaking to Thantis. He might be gone next year.” The idea was most unpleasant. The way she responded to Winters’ absence that night had proven as much. She was warm, well clothed, and well fed. It was true, her bed could use a better pelt and her door was in tatters. The walls could use some patching up and perhaps her shrine left something to be desired; but overall she was living comfortably, far more so than even a cycle ago. But he wasn’t there. He wasn’t cracking a joke, or rubbing his neck that way he always did. He wasn’t staring at the fire and brooding, something she adored but had never told him. He wasn’t standing in the doorway fighting with himself before inevitably leaving for the night. He wasn’t anywhere, and Veera found that to be most displeasing. She rested her head in her hand and groaned.

“What am I going to do?” The question was directed at no one in particular. “I mean, obviously I know what I’d do if he left but…what do I do? If he leaves in a year, and this keeps up I might be able to attract a mate…maybe. I would certainly be a more appealing candidate given the extra material wealth, not to mention I’m still perfectly capable of bearing cubs but…” She trailed off again, considering the implications. If she were to save herself for that eventuality, that would mean possibly denying Winters. It was not a subject they had broached yet. It was not a subject she had any plans of discussing with him either. Far too much had to happen first for that to even be considered…though it was true that those events could come to pass in rapid succession. Even so, she had the entire night to herself, alone, and that meant plenty of time to unfold those future permutations in her head. The harvest festival’s approach only exacerbated the issue. The question itself was simple, the answer infuriatingly difficult. Could she say no if Winters asked? Did she want to? And if he didn’t, would she ask instead? If things proceeded along the current track, she knew it was a possibility that he might attempt to take her as a mate. The thought alone caused a tingling to run up her spine and her feathers to quake in delight. It was short lived.

“Darn it Veera, focus!” She willed herself to remain analytical, speaking aloud to help formulate her thoughts. “Yes, Winters may come to the conclusion that he shouldn’t expect rescue by his people. If that happens he may decide to go down that path, he might not. If he holds out, then perhaps it’s a moot point. But if he does ask me and then has to leave…” She trailed off, considering that potentially heartbreaking scenario. Cauthan mated for life. If she was to mate with Winters and he subsequently left, she’d have sealed her fate. She would assure herself a life of solitude, a life without a partner. It was something she’d known was always possible, even without Winters’ sudden appearance, but at the tender age of twenty it wasn’t a given, not yet. If she took him… “It would be.” She murmured. “I could also be with him the rest of my life but…well…expecting the best has never worked out for me before. Gah! I’m so far ahead of myself here…” She groaned, swapping out another filet of fish and adding a couple more wet branches to the fire. In the end she always came back to the same question. “If he wanted me…would I have him, knowing our time together could end much sooner than I’d like?” The smoke and flames were not forthcoming with answers.

In the end Veera forced the conflict to the back of her mind. Tomorrow she would focus anew on the harvest and on foraging. The period before the first snows would be her best chance for scrounging up rarities that others in the village would want to trade for, especially once she no longer had to tend to the farm. Once again, thanks to Winters, she had time. Whereas in the past she would have to carry each and every dato home by herself using her satchel and bucket, now it would be done in the span of three short days. She was sure she could find some herbs for tea or seasoning that the human would enjoy. It would be the perfect way to pay him back. Buoyed by those thoughts she put out the fire, cleaned up the food, groomed herself with her tongue and the water she’d brought in the other day, and fell into an easy slumber thanks to the warmth of her new clothing.

Knowing that he’d procured enough food for the next few days, Winters allowed himself a full eight hours of sleep. Once he’d eaten the last of the food Veera had brought him, he cleaned himself in the river. In an odd way it felt like a purification ritual, preparing his body and mind for his task that day. He’d left Io at the pod, as she had requested some time to herself. It was an odd thing to ask for, but he assumed she had a reason; she always did. He trusted her implicitly now and knew he still would even if she somehow was able to eliminate her prime directive coding. Whatever Io had planned, even if it was just simple meditation, would surely be for the best. In a way, it was even soothing to him. He would be truly alone as he worked. This would be his tribute to his comrades and his alone. That sat well with him. Once dry and clothed he set to work, arranging four wooden ‘edges’ around a roughly square shaped slab of slate he’d found near the middle of the river. The edges were cut four feet long and such that if one were to look at one straight down they would see about an eighth of a circle. Winters planned to have these every two layers or so of stone in order to gently force the rocks inward. After a few hours of hard labor, Veera found him around noon.

“Hello Russell.” She called softly to him, not wanting to disturb him but needing to nonetheless. He stood straight after hefting another rock into place and wiped his brow.

“Hey there Veera, how’s everything coming along at the farm?”

“I had Zolta help me with one load this morning and then sent him off to work on his project for the festival. I’ve loaded up the last of it now and I’m about to head back. I think I can manage. I brought you some food for tomorrow as well, just in case.” She informed him, holding out a parcel in her hands. Yet again she’d recycled a rough cloth from the baker to bring him a hearty helping of fish and eggs. Vegetables were procured from her satchel as well; ones that were suitable for raw consumption, much to his relief. There was no getting around it in his mind, Veera was just…

“You’re pretty amazing, you know that?” He asked, rubbing the back of his neck. Veera trilled at is reaction, stepping forward to place a paw over his heart. She looked at him with a serene gaze that seemed to spark a riot of electricity at the point of contact. “I’d be…really in a bad way without you.” He admitted, knowing that without her he’d be subsisting on fish and roots. He’d have no time to devote to a shrine for his friends. He’d have no warm place to spend the twilight hours. He’d have only Io for conversation. And he’d have no one to hold him, either when the tears came or just when it felt nice. He took her hand in his, unable to quell the rioting of his heartbeat. The way she got under his skin with the most simple of gestures was infuriating and delightful all at once. To have someone who cared, all the way out here, after so much loss…he could barely take it.

“You’re welcome.” She breathed, pressing herself up against him very briefly before breaking contact. “It looks like you’re making good progress. I don’t want to keep you from them. Do you know if you’ll be by tonight? I want to hear more of what happens in Westeros!” She felt a bit guilty using reading time as bait, but she had spent too much time alone with her thoughts the night before. It was worth a shot.

“I will.” He set her right at ease. “I’ve gotten the hang of layering the stones. I don’t think it will take me another day. Can’t say if I’ll be there before sundown, but I’ll be there.” She gave him a winning smile.

“Then I’ll look forward to tonight! Best of luck Russell. I’m going to finish with the dato and then maybe do some foraging. I figure I can pick the northern forests clean before the snows come in.”

“No one else goes there?” He wondered.

“Well, very few forage at all. We are able to grow much of what we need. Those who do tend to head southeast along the river. Usually there’s a hunter or two nearby out there.”

“Right, the north is demon land.” Winters remarked only half-jokingly.

“It can be I suppose. I don’t know. I’ve never had a problem before walking out here.”

“Just be careful Veera.” He said, unwilling to imagine what could happen to her if she ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was true he’d not seen much wildlife of any significant size since landing, but he’d not exactly been looking, nor was he particularly stealthy as he moved around. If the Cauthan said that demons prowled in the dark and that pack hunters roamed during the day, he believed them.

“I have your knife.” Veera tried to reassure him.

“Your knife.” He corrected her with a small smile that she readily returned.

“Yes, my knife. And most importantly, I have a good reason to come home. Trust me, alright?”

“I do.” He replied with the utmost seriousness, remembering that despite appearances and his constant desire to protect things, she was the one with experience out there and most importantly, his partner. Without trust, nothing would work between them.

“I’ll try to find something interesting for tonight. Wish me luck! Selah Russell, see you later.” With a wave of her feathers and her hand she turned and headed back to the field. After bidding her farewell, Winters sat himself down for lunch, wondering how Io’s day had been. It definitely felt odd being apart from her now that they’d spent so much time together. One of the VI’s comments from the other day came bubbling up to the surface of his mind as he ate. After he’d jokingly suggested she open a psychology office, she’d offered him and Veera a visit. The two of them…not on Mara. Winters felt a headache coming on as he considered all that would mean, beyond the obvious of extraordinarily pissed off Ghaelen. Not that he gave a damn about the sensibilities of space elk. Rescue implied a cruiser or maybe a dreadnaught. Obviously scout ships weren’t a sure thing. He imagined climbing on board a shuttle with Veera and Io in tow. They would both be scientific curiosities of the utmost interest, the kind of organisms that people would possibly kill to study…or capture. Winters ground his teeth. Angry as it made him, and as much as he wanted to have a plan for such an eventuality, there was a staggering amount of time and effort between now and any timeline wherein he was rescued. Forcing the physical pain away, he refocused on the task at hand: eating and building. Looking in his lap he saw that Veera had given him an extra couple of eggs. He loved eggs. Winters felt his lips curling into a smile and allowed himself a thought of a future, an unlikely but warm future. Soft white tile floors, a window box under an open sill, morning sun, a spring breeze, a pair of black tipped ears next to him at the stove, a slim tail brushing against his leg. He shook his head violently to dispel the thought. He felt the stinging salt of tears, the hammering of his heart at false hope, and the unreasonable burning conviction that he would kill anyone who stood in the way of that. It was too much. After a period of deep breathing he rediscovered his center, finished his meal, and began hefting stones into place, taking care to ensure each gap was filled and interlocked as closely as possible. His friends would have nothing short of the best.

Seil had just set in the east as Winters placed the final stone in the middle of the shrine. It came up to the middle of his torso, resembling a larger version of the one Veera had made for her father. In addition to the four wooden supports at each edge, his featured wood along the base as well as well as in between every second layer of stone. In the end, putting it together had almost been like a puzzle, figuring out which rock would go where. Heaving a deep breath of relief at the completion of his task, he took a moment to consider what he would do next. Surely the spirits wouldn’t gather right away. He figured that tomorrow he could take the time and have a proper conversation with his former shipmates. Tonight his time was running thin. He turned and walked back to his pod, feeling a deep ache in his muscles and the thrum of blood pounding in the slightly swollen pads of his fingers. The constant handling of rock had worn them down and they yelled in protest. Winters saw it as proof of a job done well. He grabbed his gear at the pod and set off, reactivating Io.

“So Io, I noticed the fabricator was running. Care to enlighten me?” He began conversing with his VI companion after a day apart.

‘Hello sir, I missed you too.’ She replied sarcastically, appearing with a slightly hurt look on her face.

“I did miss you Io, I promise.” He comforted her. “But you have to admit I have plenty of reason to be curious.”

‘Did you finish your task sir?’ She asked seriously.

“Yes Io. Took the whole day, but I finished.”

‘Then you will know tomorrow.’ She informed him in a tone that made it clear she’d not tolerate any more prying on the subject.

“Ok Io, have it your way. I trust you. I’d trust you even if you didn’t have your prime directive protocols.” He added, feeling sentimental as a result of many hours without his faithful companion. She gave him a poignant look and took an uncharacteristically long time before speaking.

‘You honor me sir.’ She spoke almost reverentially. He had no idea what to make of that.

“Uh…you’re welcome Io.” He said as silence fell over the pair. Neither broke it for the duration of the journey. It wasn’t uncomfortable. Winters figured they were simply satisfied at the idea of being back together again. Before he knew it they were past the night guard and walking down the road to Veera’s home. The moons were mostly dark, but he knew the way well enough without the extra light.

“Io, doesn’t it seem like the harvest festival will happen right around the new moon phase of the cycle?”

‘Yes sir, obviously with two of them it will never be exact but that does seem to be the state of things. Based on what Zolta told us the festival is in two days, excluding tonight.’

“I suppose there’s nothing that says you have to measure lunar cycles when the moon is full.” Winters idly commented before ducking inside Veera’s home. The warm flickering glow of the fire had been too inviting to contemplate the moons for long.

Veera looked at him with a smile. “Hey you…food’s ready.” Winters didn’t speak as he removed his vest. He walked to her as she stood up. “Russell?” He drew her into an embrace, the first one he’d initiated since that moment at her father’s shrine.

“Hey you…” He murmured, his voice dripping smoothly into her ear. It was soothing, but held sadness as well.

“It’s done, isn’t it?” She asked softly, closing her eyes.

“Yeah.”

“Tomorrow then?”

“Yes.”

“Ok Russell.” She tightened her hold, stroking his back idly, feeling the tension in his muscles. “Tonight’s going to be a brooding night, hmm?” Which I’m totally ok with.

“Heh…yeah, maybe. Sorry for being in a funk.”

“Don’t be. And it’s not a funk if it’s your friends. Come and sit, I think you’ll enjoy the stew tonight.” She guided them both to the ground before offering him a spoonful. He took it gratefully and sipped after blowing on it twice.

“Mmm, that is good Veera. What’s in there?” He asked, detecting a savory note that he was sure didn’t come from vegetables or fish.

“A certain root I was able to find. It’s those smaller pieces you see there.” She gestured to a few dark brown discs floating at the top of the pot. Winters nodded.

“Thank you for making dinner. It’s…well it’s more than nice but I’m honestly not feeling very eloquent tonight. So you’ll have to forgive me on that one. Just know I appreciate it.” The corner of his lips tugged upward in a small smile before he began eating. Veera joined him for a bit, having already eaten before his arrival.

“You know, if you’re not feeling up to it Russell we can read some other time.” Veera offered as he finished his meal. She did want to know what happened next, obviously. The fantasy world of Westeros was proving to be chock full of intrigue, betrayal, and passion. But if Winters planned to spend the majority of the night inside his own head, then she was happy just to have him there for a few hours. He was staring into the fire again, giving her time to admire the hard lines of his jaw and chin. With a brief nod he acknowledged her offer, though he didn’t speak for some time. Veera leaned back on her hands and waited patiently.

“Well, I don’t thinking sitting around and thinking about what I’m going to say to them is really going to help at this point. Might as well take my mind off of things a bit, yeah?” He replied, looking over his shoulder at her. She nodded.

“Then I would be happy to hear another chapter or two.”

“Sure thing, let’s just get cleaned up here and then we’ll start.” He said, thinking that he should help with the after dinner chores since he wasn’t involved in preparation. Veera’s pleased reaction confirmed his assumption. Before too long they found themselves back in the usual spot. Winters rested against the wall while Veera curled up against him, this time on his right. “Alright then, where were we?” He flicked through the pages with his eye movement, shortly arriving at their bookmark. “Here we are…”

After a few minutes it was clear to Veera that Winters simply wasn’t into it. The last couple times they’d read he’d been animated, prompting Io for her lines, taking breaks to explain the complicated interactions of the various houses and factions in the tale, and performing certain characters’ lines with enthusiasm. Tonight there was none of that. She wasn’t sure if he was pushing himself for her sake, because he’d promised to spend time with her that night, or if it was for his own. Either way, it didn’t seem healthy. Making a decision, she interrupted him by gently lifting his visor off of his face. She didn’t know if it could be turned off. Winters let it happen.

“What’s going on Veera?” He turned and asked her.

“I was hoping you’d tell me that.” She replied in a concerned tone. When he remained silent she simply offered him the visor back, which he gently took from her hand. With a small sigh, Veera scooched her lower body away from him so that she could lay her head in his lap. She didn’t see Winters raise his eyebrows in surprise. She’d intentionally chosen to face the rest of her small home instead of him. It was a wonderful sight, she thought. The floor space was mostly covered with dato or firewood now. There were small piles of fish, herbs, and vegetables on and under her bench. It was worth celebrating, but not now. For the moment, uneasiness gnawed at her. Winters was suffering and she didn’t know how she could help him. Winters, for his part, was simply staring at the her. She never ceased to surprise him, and this was certainly one of those moments. After a bout of contemplation he came to the realization that she simply wanted to be close to him. She wasn’t looking at him, wasn’t engaging in conversation. She’d left that decision to him. For now she simply provided a comforting pressure on his right thigh, a pressure that said I’m here, you’re not alone. He felt a smile coming on in spite of the vortex of thoughts in his head. The rock in the storm, eh? He thought, reaching out a hand to stroke lightly along her feathers and the base of her ears. Veera breathed deeply and let out a contented sigh.

‘It would seem certain feline characteristics are evolutionarily convergent.’ Io observed casually.

“Huh? What do you mean?” Veera asked groggily. Winters’ touch was proving to be most soothing.

‘You very much resemble an overgrown housecat at the moment.’

“Mmhmm, totally know what that means.” Veera remarked sarcastically. Winters snorted.

‘There is a family of animal species on Earth known as felines. When I have my projector back I will show you some examples, but they resemble you quite a bit. The ears, tail, nose, fur, claws, it all fits. No feathers though. A handful of those species have been domesticated by humanity and are kept as pets and companions.’ Io explained. Veera stiffened.

“You…you do what? You enslave them?!” She asked, alarmed at the idea.

“Io why don’t you clean up your little mistake? Now.” Winters ordered, feeling Veera tense up.

‘Ah yes, my apologies Veera. I forgot to inform you that there are no intelligent feline species on Earth. They are not like you at all in that regard. It would be like owning a chesko or hyrven. Slavery was outlawed by humanity many years ago.’

“I see.” Veera said shortly, relaxing again as Winters began scratching along her scalp gently with his nails. She rewarded him with a delicate purr. “So what exactly does that have to do with this?”

‘Well, beyond the fact that a good proportion of the planet’s cats would enjoy being in your position very much, it is well known that the companionship offered by pets can be beneficial to their…owner.’ Io finished uncomfortably. Veera felt her feathers flutter in embarrassment. ‘I am obviously not characterizing your relationship thusly, but, well…at least the Lieutenant appears to have stopped brooding for the time being.’

“Io, much as I know you enjoy this, and we enjoy having you around…do you think Veera and I could have a few moments to ourselves before we head back?” Winters asked tiredly.

‘Of course sir. I am sorry.’

“I told you already, there’s no need for apologies. But thank you.”

“You didn’t need to do that Russell.” Veera told him, hoping Io’s feelings weren’t hurt. She just assumed the VI had them. The alternative seemed less likely, truth be told.

“It’s ok Veera, she’s still listening in. I just…was enjoying the silence.” Veera nodded, not saying another word. His touch remained but it was gentle, chaste even. It was just enough to let her know he was still there and that he valued her presence. As the fire waned the light changed from yellow to orange, red, and finally the dark blue of night. Only then did Winters tap Veera on the shoulder. With an annoyed groan, she got up and allowed him to stretch out.

“I don’t know how you do it.” He told her as he collected his things. She joined him at the door.

“Do what?” She cocked her head at him.

“Know what to do in situations like that.” He admitted, bringing his hand up to his neck before stopping himself and lowering it again. She caught his eye and smiled at him.

“I don’t. I just did what felt right. I’m glad it helped.”

“What about your customs?”

“Unimportant. Besides, I think I prefer yours.” He chuckled, enjoying her flippant attitude.

“Well thanks then. See you tomorrow?”

“Of course. I would like to meet your friends…if that’s ok?” She looked a question at him.

“I’d like that. Goodnight Veera. Selah.”

“Selah Russell.” She spoke as the human again disappeared into the night.