Antoth entered the temple of Valta to find it deserted, the interior made eerie thanks to a lack of ambient light and the partially butchered corpse of a chesko hung to dry and cure.

“I swear to Uthos she does this kind of stuff on purpose,” he muttered to himself, carefully stepping past the tables and scattered tools. The faint glow of a fire from under the door flap in the corner of the room told him that Ratha was in, for better or worse. Antoth walked slowly past the wooden tables near the wall of trophies, a few mugs and dice remaining on the tables as evidence to prior merriment amongst the members of the temple. Coming to a halt outside of Ratha’s chambers, the captain breathed deeply to prepare himself. He wasn’t sure what gave him away, but the huntresses’ voice soon assaulted his ears.

“Who the hell is it? Get lost! I’m not in the mood.” The guardian rolled his eyes.

“You think I am in the mood, Ratha? We need to talk.” She felt her fur bristle with irrational rage at the sound of Antoth’s perpetually level and controlled voice.

“Whatever it is Antoth, it can bloody wait! Not tonight!”

“No Ratha, it bloody well can’t wait!” Antoth caved and raised his voice, sweeping aside the pelt with his spear hand and barging into the room. Ratha began hissing at him.

“What in the name of the Huntress could be so gods damned important to have you strutting in here like you bloody own the place and-”

“The security of the village, that’s what!” He roared, finding her completely and utterly intolerable as he walked up to the table where she was seated and slammed his fist down on it, knocking her mug of tea to the floor. Her deadly eyes didn’t leave his once as her feathers shook and waved before settling down again. Understanding that she wasn’t going to get rid of him with denials, her attitude changed in a snap, a sly grin appearing on her muzzle as she leaned back in her chair, the bones inlaid in her armor rattling and knocking against the wood of the furniture.

“Ooh look at you tall, dark, and scary. What happened? Did the shen escape?” She asked flippantly, earning her narrowed eyes from her guest.

“The nomadic tribes have been spotted nearby,” he growled. That got her attention. None of her hunters had mentioned anything about it, though none had been ranging too far from the village either.

“Raiding party?”

“Unlikely. According to the report, they could number in the hundreds. We’re looking at an entire tribe, maybe more than one, all on the move,” Antoth continued, taking the opportunity to be seated himself. Ratha didn’t protest, her mood swings continuing to befuddle him.

“How far?”

“Half a day by foot, though it’s hard to say what their target is or how fast they’re moving. All I know is that they were spotted north and west of here, heading east.” Ratha didn’t bother containing her curiosity any longer. The defense of the city was Antoth’s job. She wanted to know why things were happening in her forest that she didn’t know about.

“I’m expected to believe that one of your guardsmen just happened to find himself a day’s journey north of the village? If you’re as annoyingly eager as you are because you just received this news, your informant would have had to arrive after…dark…” Ratha trailed off for a moment, an enraging realization taking hold in her mind. “No…No! Again?!”

“It wasn’t any of the guardsman Ratha. It was Veera and Winters. Far as I can tell they were…playing in the snow.” Antoth couldn’t help but chuckle. The gods had seen fit to bless them with a bit of warning, a bit of luck. That it came in the form of an alien and his mate bonding with one another in the woods was too much to not appreciate, a least a bit. Ratha clearly didn’t hold the same opinion however, standing so rapidly her chair toppled backward. Her fists were clenched in rage, feathers practically humming with agitation.

“Damn it. Damn it all! Damn them and damn you Antoth! Get out of here now!” Antoth quickly rose to meet her, the humor long gone from his visage.

“Oh would you just stow it Ratha! We could be up to our tails in raiders in less than a day and you’re getting pissed off about who told us about it?!” He felt his own voice rising in spite of himself. She wound him up far too easily.

“You don’t know a thing Antoth,” Ratha whispered, slowly clasping her fingers around the hilt of her dagger. She was seeing red. She needed to be alone. “I said get out!” With obviously telegraphed movement, she drew and threw her blade, not caring enough to aim or control the spin. She honestly didn’t know if it would strike Antoth or not; didn’t know if the blade would sink into him or if it would bounce harmlessly away. She just wanted him gone.

Antoth was in no way willing to let her find out. His body moved easily, conditioned by years of training. When under attack from afar, dodge first, then close. Easily twisting his right shoulder out of the way, the Guardian dropped his spear and lunged forward, bringing his now unoccupied shoulder straight into Ratha’s chest and sending them both crashing to the floor. Antoth immediately collected himself, stepping over Ratha and kneeling on her chest, pinning her arm in place with his right. The sensation of being constricted and restrained cleared Ratha’s mind instantly, dispelling the stun of Antoth’s attack and further awakening her fighting instinct. Antoth didn’t even give her a chance.

“Know when you’re beaten, Huntress,” he hissed, accentuating his point by grinding his knee painfully into Ratha’s sternum. The wild fire in her eyes was overcome by pain and she eventually did relent, withdrawing her left hand from his leg where she’d been trying to get her claws through his fur and hide-like skin. With her surrender, Antoth forced himself to calm as well, knowing that his actions had already brought him shame. He would ask Uthos for forgiveness later. He had to ensure the village was safe. “Now you listen to me Ratha. I know the first words out of your mouth would be something along the lines of ‘it’s your fucking job’, so I’m telling you here and now that yes, it’s my fucking job. I will do my job, and you will do yours. Tell every one of your hunters what’s out there. Tell every one of them to sleep with a bow and full quiver at their side. Tell them that if, gods forbid, the gates are breached, that they may be called upon to defend their families and their homes. I will handle the rest. Is that clear, citizen?” He finished with a venomous look that contrasted mightily with his tone of voice. Antoth simply couldn’t fathom how Ratha’s pettiness could extend so far. She’d turned away from him, looking very intently at the wall. “I said is that clear?!”

“Yes you hyrven fucker, it’s clear! Now get off of me before I decide to murder you in your sleep!” Ratha foamed and spat at him, finally choosing to look him in the eye. Antoth’s nose twitched as he detected a hint of something on Ratha’s breath, a scent he knew very well. Keeping her pinned to the floor he took the risk of turning his head to where her tea hand landed when he’d spilled it. Laying on the ground were soaked leaves that he recognized easily. He leapt to his feet.

“You’re injured? When did this happen Ratha?” He demanded, cursing the gods that one of the village's most skilled warriors could be hurt at such an inopportune moment. Ratha hauled herself up, growling at him as she brushed off her clothes and feathers.

“I’m fine you detestable Guardian! Spare me the feigned sympathy.” Antoth looked her over before glancing at the damp herbs again.

“Ratha that’s the strongest pain remedy I know. What the hell happened? Where are you hurt?!” To his immense surprise, she actually answered him.

“I never said the pain was on the outside.” Her voice dropping substantially in volume and aggression.

“Wait, are you saying-”

“I hate funerals Antoth,” Ratha began, slowly picking up her chair and sitting down again, not bothering to look at him. Her latest emotional swing had him reeling. “You’re lucky that way, you know?”

“What the hell…”

“At least when your men die there’s a body to burn. Their families get closure.”

“Ratha…”

“Do you know what it’s like, Antoth? Do you know what it’s like to stand there among all those lifeless stones knowing there’s nothing you can do, nothing you can say to them as they grieve? Do you know what it’s like with him being there, looking down at me?” Antoth stilled, wondering if Ratha was referring to whom he thought she was referring to. “No. I just had to sit there, feeling impotent and useless while she cried. No one found him. I couldn’t find him. And the whole while I could feel him, judging me.”

“Leave him out of this Ratha, this has gone on long enough,” Antoth whispered.

“Has it?!” She screamed back. “Has it, Antoth? Maybe you should have just not mentioned the mutt and her fuck toy then, because her cursed stripes and his stupid laugh are the last gods damned things that I need tonight!”

For a moment Antoth stood silently by, wondering if he’d actually heard what he thought he did, shocked at the extent of Ratha’s rage. It was true that Veera and Winters weren’t among his charges. He wasn’t bound by honor or duty to defend them. In that moment though, it didn’t matter. He’d seen Veera’s first fight. He’d observed them running laps around the village. He’d heard the rumors of the ‘crazy alien’ and his mate climbing trees or lifting rocks or behaving oddly just outside the village. He’d watched as they treated his men with respect, obeying his rules when at the barracks. They weren’t his; but in that moment, after they’d given him information that would no doubt save lives were they to be attacked, Antoth willingly stood for them, casting a disparaging look at Ratha.

“Drugging yourself? Fearing a dead man? Cursing his daughter who’s not done a thing in her life to harm you, who’s done nothing but seek to better herself and now her village? You dishonor the Huntress, Ratha. And you disappoint me,” he told her, his voice distant and cold. It cut through her just as deep as his blade ever could.

“Get out,” she whispered. When he failed to move her blood began to rush through her, channeling her rage. His withering stare was liable to destroy her if he remained. “Get. Out. Now!” Ratha raised her voice to a scream, flinging everything she could find at Antoth in the absence of her dagger. After dodging a plate and another mug, Antoth figured it was time to leave when a piece of cured fish slapped him square in the face. Shaking his head in shock and rubbing his nose, he huffed and made to leave, unable to stop a last parting shot that would later leave him feeling unclean and dishonorable.

“You never deserved someone like him.” With those final words he snatched up his spear and left, his cloak billowing in his haste to leave the temple. He’d done what was required by Uthos and he could simply stand no more. In his wake, Ratha’s chest heaved and swelled in the darkness left behind without the guardsman’s torch. She didn’t know when her fire had burned out. Dropping to her knees, she crawled over to her bed and hauled herself up and onto the straw, body wracked by phantom pain as his words echoed in her mind and assaulted her spirit. You never deserved someone like him. Seeking to better herself and the village. Drugging yourself. You disappoint me.

“Stop…please…stop!” Ratha cried into the darkness.

-----

Winters woke and stretched his arms, awakening to the chirping of shen and the stirring of his mate. There was something about the way she sprawled across him that got him excited, something he couldn’t quite place. He gasped as she pressed herself into him.

“Don’t get too excited now love, we have a morning date with Antoth,” Veera teased, enjoying the feel of him beneath her and the look on his face as her soft fur raked across his bare upper body. Winters’ felt himself come fully awake as he realized the ‘something he couldn’t place’ was Veera’s lack of clothing. She broke into a brilliant smile as she noticed him noticing her. “You like?”

“Not that I’m complaining but…what’s the occasion?” He joked.

“Some combination of being afraid for my life and remembering the thrill of sledding with you?” He kissed her hard.

“Let’s eat and get going then. Wouldn’t want to keep the captain waiting?” Veera nodded, amenable to his suggestion and knowing that anything serious between the two of them would have to wait. Claws out, she propped herself up on hands and knees, the sharp points digging into Winters’ chest as she stretched for him, the blanket falling away to reveal her now substantial hindquarters. Winters felt his breath freeze in his lungs.

“I’ll cook…you watch.”

-----

A short time later Winters, Veera, and Io were seated in Antoth’s private quarters, a spartan room decorated with the bare essentials in excellent condition. They all sat in chairs as Io projected a three dimensional rendering of the village.

“I want your opinion, spirit. Where are we weak?” Antoth asked, the edge in his voice putting them all on edge. Io didn’t like it at all, changing her outfit so as to portray a spitting image of a female General Patton. Antoth especially was caught off guard, letting out an involuntary gasp at her abrupt change in appearance. Veera giggled.

“Don’t mind her Antoth, she enjoys dressing up! I like it very much,” Veera added, making sure that Io knew she was still on her side. Winters and the captain locked eyes, the Cauthan sighing deeply.

“For the sake of my village I’m choosing to let all of this just go with minimal questioning.”

‘Fine and good as that may be Antoth, your question was a silly one. You might as well ask me why the sky is blue.’

“You could easily answer that,” Winters cut in with a smirk, earning a curious look from both Cauthan.

“Really?” Veera asked. “Why is it blue, Russell?”

‘Irrelevant!’ Io cried. ‘Veera, some other time, I promise. Antoth, could you perhaps be a bit more specific with your question? I swear, they call you a spirit and the next moment you’re somehow supposed to be omnipotent and all knowing.’ Io shook her head as Antoth actually chuckled at his chastisement.

“You know, you really are like Ratha; a tolerable, entertaining Ratha,” he opined. Io turned back to Winters, her expression distraught. He lifted his gauntlet to eye level.

“Don’t worry Io, that was a compliment. Right Antoth?” He asked pointedly, cocking his brow at the Guardian. Antoth nodded.

“Indeed. I’ve always had an appreciation for sharp-tongued lasses…” Antoth looked around the room as if he’d let slip his darkest secret by accident. Content with the lack of laughter, her continued. “Ratha’s a whole different story though. Allow me to refine my question then, spirit Io. Given our standard method of patrolling,” he gestured to her representation of the village. Green dots marked each guard, three posted to each gate with a handful patrolling the streets at all times. “What sort of attack would we be most vulnerable to?”

‘I assume the attackers would be after the village’s resources, yes?’

“Aye, that’s a fair assumption. Barbaric as those nomadic tribes may be, they wouldn’t throw themselves against our walls just for the sake of killing and dying. They’d be after our food and stores of materials, the temples.” At his words Io highlighted the temples of Valta and Meylith brightly, with the temple of Tyrdus glowing less so.

‘What do they know of your village, Antoth?’ Io asked again, Winters and Veera looking on with grim interest, their elbows on their knees and lips drawn into thin lines. The guard captain sighed and ran a hand through his feathers.

“I can’t say for sure, but they should know very little. As I detailed last night, none escaped the last raid that we know of. We aren’t even sure if this group is related to that one in any way. If the tribe is as large as you say Io, this could be something very different than the usual raiding party led by some headstrong chieftain out to earn his scales.” Io nodded, but waved him off all the same.

‘True, but ultimately irrelevant. If there is to be an attack at all it stands to reason that resource extraction would be their goal. Accordingly, if they do manage to gain entry, they will likely spread themselves thin while scouting the village.’ Antoth snarled.

“If they do that we could suffer numerous civilian casualties in the worst case.”

‘Has anyone ever gained entry by attempting to scale the walls?’

“Not to my knowledge, no. But that doesn’t mean that they haven’t done it,” Antoth said, speaking softly as he stroked the fur of his chin. He didn’t have many qualms about the combat readiness of his men, but the potential size of his foe was daunting. It didn’t matter how well trained his men were if they were outnumbered five to one. “It would seem I’m left with a difficult choice, though in the end the answer was preordained,” he mused.

“What do you mean Antoth?” Veera asked, not comprehending whatever finer points of siege warfare were floating through the captain’s head. Winters remained silent. He’d not been addressed and it wasn’t his place.

“It’s simple Veera,” he insisted, pointing to the two main avenues that led from the east and west gate to the granary and hunter’s lodge respectively. “I must decide who among us will be put at risk in order to save the rest.” He laughed darkly, the scars on his face twisting as if itching for a fight. “Though I suppose that tribe of nomads could have just been going for a stroll, right?” Veera took Winters’ hand in hers, suddenly feeling a cold pit of fear in her stomach. His gloved hand was little comfort. She wanted his warmth, like she’d had that morning.

“I will pray that it is so Antoth,” she whispered. He nodded before standing to dismiss them.

“Just remember, the greatest weapon an enemy can hold over you is fear, Veera. Do not go to your beds tonight afraid of what the darkness might hold. Be careful in the forest, but don’t forsake it if you find comfort there. Enjoy food and drink; enjoy your training. There is a chance the enemy never finds us. There’s a chance they don’t even know we’re here. To live in fear would be to surrender before they are even at our gates.” Io hummed in agreement as Winters stood, taking Veera with him and keeping her hand held tight.

“Wise words guardian. Thank you.”

“It is I who should be thanking you, Winters. You, Io, and Veera have given me an edge I did not possess before. Will it be enough? Only Uthos knows the answer to that question, but I believe for now we have done what we can. I will update the watch shifts accordingly and notify the men, make sure that anyone on duty at night is well rested. Ratha will likely be furious, but I’ll be withdrawing everyone from our pact with the hunters as well. The city will always be our top priority.” Though they all noticed the twisted expression on his face at mention of the huntress, it was actually Io who spoke up.

‘Antoth, sir,’ she began formally, hoping the honorific would blunt the intrusive nature of her question. ‘Did something happen between the two of you? I mean…beyond the usual?’ Antoth’s back stiffened before he turned to face them once more, eyeing Io with a marked amount of suspicion.

“You really have been watching everything, haven’t you?”

‘Everything that I can,’ Io replied without apology. ‘Sorry for prying.’ He waved her off with a sigh.

“Think nothing of it, spirit. If I was showing my emotions that easily, I deserve to be asked questions. Nothing out of the ordinary happened; she is exactly as I expected. Now begone, the three of you. Much as I have enjoyed your company of late, duty calls and I do not enjoy the idea of having anyone in my room when I’m out nearly as much.”

“Of course Antoth, selah.”

“To you as well Veera, may the gods watch over us.”

-----

Veera and Winters soon found themselves in the village square again, looking around with glum expressions on their faces.

“I know he said not to get too worried about it but…” Veera began.

“It’s damn easier said than done,” Winters finished for her. “I hear you.” In spite of their worries, the moment of union had them smiling. Winters voiced the dilemma he’d been turning over in his head since they’d left Antoth’s home. “Do you think we should warn Zolta and Asha?” Veera moved closer to him, allowing her head to rest on his shoulder armor. It helped.

“I was wondering the same. I don’t know, Russell.”

“Well, do you think there’s any reason it could hurt?” He asked, looking around at the villagers nearby. They seemed the same as always, burdened by the realities of life but content nonetheless. Veera shook her head at his question.

“It could. Asha’s with child, Russell. What if she spends all winter worrying herself sick for no reason? What if Zolta did the same?” She tried to present the other side.

“Fair point. They haven’t moved yet, have they?”

“No, doing so when the snows abound would be silly. When Asha and I last spoke she said they hoped to be able to do so come spring.”

“And where do they live now? Do you know?”

“In the northeast quadrant.” Winters recalled the village layout in his head. The temple of Meylith was part of the southeast quadrant. The temple of Valta stood in the southwest quadrant. Those would undoubtedly be the primary targets of any raid where the aim was to gather resources. Winters shook his head in frustration.

“I don’t think there’s a right or a wrong answer here Veera. As it stands they’re living in one of the safest places they could be. I have to admit, I don’t envy the burden of command.” Though his initial statement had referenced Antoth, Jess’ scowling face came to mind soon enough as he recalled the moment she’d willingly resigned herself to death. Even after months, he still felt tears threatening to break free. His helmet off, Veera was more than capable of seeing his distress, looking up from his shoulder as he fell silent.

“They sacrifice much for the rest of us,” Veera agreed, gently tugging Winters’ hand and leading him back the way they came. He followed without hesitation.

-----

“Well now, I must say this is a most pleasant surprise. Be welcome children, in the house of Kel.” Thantis swept into a low bow as Veera and Winters entered his temple. As usual, the main space was immaculately clean and organized, a task undoubtedly made easier thanks to its size, only half that of the temple of Meylith or Valta. Seeing the grim looks on their faces, Thantis waved them straight to the back. “Oh my, I do believe that tea is in order.” In spite of himself, Winters chuckled at the old Cauthan. Once they had been seated and water was set to boil, Thantis engaged them again in conversation.

“Antoth paid me a visit late last night. I presume the two of you had something to do with that, yes?” He asked kindly.

“Yes Thantis, we were the ones who brought news of the nomads. It’s hard not to be on edge with them in the area,” Veera said, earning a nod from the death priest.

“I see. Then I believe I owe you both thanks. Even if the worst comes to pass, you have ensured we will not be caught completely unawares. If I burn even one less body in the aftermath, that will have been worth something, yes?” Thantis declared, espousing a view of life and death they found very similar to Antoth’s own. Winters rubbed his chin, thinking it very possible that Antoth had been heavily influenced by the priest, especially in the wake of the death of his predecessor and his ascension to command of the guard force. He inclined his head in agreement.

“I suppose it’s hard to argue with that logic,” he admitted. Thantis tisked at his dour tone.

“Come now child, the nomadic tribes move through the forests and plains every year. More often than not they pass us by unharmed. Of course you could attribute that to self-preservation alone, but the fact remains. Please, try not to let dire thoughts consume you. From what I hear you and young Veera have found much enjoyment together this season, yes?” Winters blushed as Veera poured them all water for their tea. Her reply showed no such embarrassment.

“We have, very much so Thantis. Russell has been training me to improve my body and mind. The snows have been light but beautiful and the nights not too cold.” The old one’s eyes sparkled at her words as he took a sip of his steaming beverage.

“There, you see! We only have so much time, Winters. It is not wise to waste it.” The human grimaced.

“That’s not what I mean Thantis.” He received a light tap from the old Cauthan’s paw on his knee.

“Now now, I understand that child. It is not as if I have remained idle since last night. I’ve boiled every bandage the temple possesses, and my afternoon will consist of the manufacture of various poultices that can keep for days or weeks. Even so, I find much joy in being able to share this tea with you.”

“Can I ask you something then?” Winters continued, earning an eager nod from Thantis. “When did you start boiling bandages? Your people don’t seem to have medicine like my people do, but the trick is certainly helping to keep your people from disease. How did you discover it?” Thantis’ eyes lit up as he made ready to spin a yarn.

“Ah, what a happy accident that was indeed! You see, this was back when I was an acolyte here a long time ago. I had just sat down to boil some water for tea actually…what? Is it something I said?” Winters and Veera had both devolved into barely concealed laughter.

“I suppose,” Veera began with a snort. “We should have known that it would somehow involve tea!”

“No kidding, I’ve gotta hear this,” Winters agreed, bidding the elder to continue. Though wary, he did so.

“Indeed, if you two young ones have had your fun. Now where was I? Ah yes, the tea! So I was just about to make a cup when the watch horns began to sound. It was a raid, one from before your father was born Veera. The casualties were thankfully minimal, but we only had a couple soldier’s worth of clean bandages on hand. Plenty still had to be washed and time was of the essence. With great dismay I surrendered my plans for tea, washing the bandages in the scalding water instead. As I observed my charges’ recovery over the coming days and weeks, I noticed that the wounds of the men who’d been treated with the tea bandages healed quicker and with less scarring. I documented my findings and presented them to my master, the priest of Kel who preceded me. We are all men of curiosity and learning, and he found my conclusions worth exploring. Over the coming years we continued to boil bandages, extending our study to include childbirth and other accidents. By the time my master passed on and I inherited his mantle, the practice had become commonplace,” Thantis concluded with a small measure of pride, one that Winters and Io thought was much deserved. Though she was still thrilled about being able to talk with Antoth, the VI held her tongue in Thantis’ presence. Winters voiced her thoughts.

“That’s quite the happy accident Thantis,” Winters agreed, finishing his tea. “There is something else I think Veera and I need to do today, but thank you for the tea and for your company. Sometime soon I would be happy to share with you what I know of disease and sterilization; to explain to you why what you did was successful.” The priest nodded and smiled.

“You do an old soul a kindness, both of you. I shall look forward to our next chat then. Go with Kel’s blessing. Selah.”

-----

“Russell, what is it you wanted to do?” Veera asked as he whisked them into their home. He’d been silent the whole way, the shadows of worst case scenarios playing across his face. When they were safely alone, she pressed herself against him softly, hands on his chest, and licked his cheek lovingly. “What’s happening to you?”

“I can’t stop thinking about the Lancer,” he whispered softly. “I can’t stop thinking about the last time I lost everything. I feel like I just got you Veera, like I just started piecing a life together. I…I wasn’t able to save the others, or Jess.”

“Russell…my human,” Veera cooed, trying to soothe him by nuzzling him, grateful to feel him lean into it and take temporary solace with her.

“But I can do something to help save you,” he continued, his tone hardening as he pulled away and unholstered his pistol. Leading Veera to the bed, he sat on the edge with her, extending his hand. Veera reached for the sidearm before hesitating, her hand hovering just above the glinting metal.

“Russell?” She looked into his eyes and found sorrow that she’d not seen for many cycles.

“Don’t ever place your hand on the trigger unless you’re ready and willing to take a life.” He spoke low and even, the tone of an instructor, not a lover. Veera looked down, easily identifying the portion of the weapon he had to be referring to. It was the only thing that could be ‘pulled’.

“Sir, yes sir.” She whispered, taking the weapon with his consent. It was surprisingly heavy as she held it aloft, getting a feel for the weight distribution and the grip.

“Do you see that small button there, just above and forward of where you're holding it? It's above and behind the trigger guard.” He asked, pointing out the features to her. Veera nodded. “That’s the safety. It’s black now, in the down position. Black means safe. Keep your fingers off the trigger and flip it up.” Veera obeyed the order, watching as the small flap flicked up, displaying a red underside. “Now it’s red. Red means death. If you pull the trigger now the gun will fire and anything in the way of the bullet is going to die. May I?” Winters motioned for Veera to return the gun to him. She did so after re-arming the safety. He smiled at her. “Good girl.” It was barely a whisper. The Cauthan watched along with Io, hovering just above Winters’ wrist. The VI said nothing and felt no need to. Winters would protect her by default. She was a part of him as far as combat was concerned. Veera needed everything they could give her. Winters ejected the magazine and unchambered the round before returning the gun to Veera.

“It’s unloaded, you can pull the trigger now. Why don’t you deactivate the safety?” Veera did as instructed and waited for further orders. “Now take the grip in your dominant hand,” he said, touching her gently and moving her hands to the right position, leaving her right index finger outside the trigger guard. “And you’ll support it with your other hand like this. There you go. Now, extend your hands at eye level, aim, and fire.” Winters watched intently as Veera faced forward in her seated position, raised the gun, extended her arms and pulled the trigger, rewarded with a satisfying click.

“Did I…do it right?” She asked hesitantly, noticing her hands were shaking. Winters noticed as well, bidding her to stand before moving behind her, hoping to reassure her.

“Are you scared?”

“Yes.”

“I understand, and I’m sorry. Will you still do this for me? I want to protect you.”

“Of course I will,” she replied, leaning back into him and resting her head on his shoulder. The gun almost forgotten in her right hand. She felt his hands run down her arms, bringing her to a firing position again. He pointed at a bright green dot just above the exit of the barrel.

“That’s the front sight. When you’re trying to hit a target that’s not directly in front of you you’ll have to aim the weapon. You always aim for the center of mass, so the chest area, and you try to keep that little dot on either side of your target. Veera turned her head and bumped noses with him, earning her a small turn of his lips.

“Wait…on either side?”

“Yes. Stay here.” Winters quickly walked to the other side of the room. “Now point the gun at me and focus your gaze on my body. What do you see?” He asked, figuring that given her physiology the Cauthan saw in stereo, much the same as humans did. Veera’s feathers waved as she understood what he’d been trying to show her.

“I see it now! There’s…two guns?” Winters chuckled.

“Not exactly, but yes, your target should be just between them, alright? The effect will get more pronounced the farther you are from the target. Got it?”

“Yes sir!” Veera responded happily, the idea of lesson time and the adoption of human martial skills outweighing her body’s fear reaction to Winters’ apparent stress.

“Good. Now there’s one last thing I want to teach you,” he said, returning to her, retrieving the gun, loading it and chambering the first round. “You saw what I did just there? How I pulled this top part back?”

“Mhm!”

“If you fire off a shot,” he cycled the weapon again, ejecting a bullet for Veera to inspect more closely. “That back part of the bullet will be ejected from the gun right here. The rest will hopefully make quick work of the enemy. Now, every so often, the casing will get stuck and the weapon will jam. You do the motion that I just did in order to get it unstuck, alright?” Ensuring that the safety was armed, he passed the pistol to Veera and watched as she took the gun in her right hand and attempted to pull back the slide. At first the gun tilted backwards in her hold, but she quickly applied more force to her grip and managed to keep the body of the weapon steady while ejecting another round from the magazine. Winters scratched her ears. “Good work.”

“Thank you Russell. Is there anything else?” She purred.

“Just the basics of safety. Always assume the gun is loaded, armed, and ready to fire. Never, ever point it at someone you don’t intend to kill. Understood?”

“You make it sound so final…” Veera shuddered.

“Believe me Veera, it is. Fair warning, the blast is very loud. Can you flatten your ears without your hands?” Veera did so immediately, pressing them flat to her head in an impressive display of dexterity. “Good. I wouldn’t want you to lose your hearing in the process of defending yourself.”

“Do you really think it will come to that?” She asked worriedly, suddenly feeling unsure of herself. Fighting with him in the ring was one thing, but fighting in the streets? Fighting with a human weapon? Her feathers began shaking, causing Winters to hold her close and take back his sidearm.

“I hope to be beside you at all times Veera, but the reality is that there might come a time when I can’t be. This will sound selfish and unreasonable, but I can’t lose you. I won’t lose you. This is just one more precaution.” Veera let out a small, scared sound that compelled him to nuzzle her cheek. She whispered in his ear.

“Let’s go to bed Russell.”

“Veera, it’s barely mid-afternoon.”

“I don’t care. I want to be close to you today.” Winters brought his head up, looking over their small, cozy home, their warm corner of the universe. How he wished the rest would just vanish. Nodding to himself, he placed a chaste kiss on the top of Veera’s head.

“I want to be close to you too.” After shedding his armor and throwing on his pants, Winters crawled under the covers with Veera. She’d stripped naked in that time, but made no moves to seduce him or arouse him, instead pressing herself as close to his warmth as possible. He understood immediately and loved her all the more for it.

“Just try to do what they said?” She pleaded softly. “Let’s try to focus on the good in our lives?” Her plea was just as much for herself as it was for him.

“Alright Veera, I’ll try,” he promised, closing his eyes and forcefully pushing memories of red lights and sirens from his mind. Neither of them left the bed except to stoke the fire or prepare dinner. For that night, at least, they were allowed peace.

-----

It was pitch black outside when Winters awoke, his eyes moving slowly to Io’s projection. At Veera’s behest, she’d changed it to a Christmas tree along with a banner above: ‘4 Days Until Christmas’. It was incapable of setting him at ease. His body somehow found itself wide awake. Looking down, he noticed Veera’s amber eyes shimmering in the darkness. She was inches from his face, her breathing shallow and tense.

“You sense it too?” She asked in the barest of whispers.

“Yes. It’s too quiet.”

“I can’t hear the shen outside,” Veera told him, allowing him to pinpoint at least one anomaly that had every one of his soldier’s senses on edge. Bringing his arms around her as she held him as tight as she could, Winters hailed his VI.

“Io,” he hissed in the dark. “What have you got?”

‘Nothing sir, but if both of you are having a bout of danger sense then-’ Io was cut off as the low rumbling of a guardsman’s horn rang throughout the village from the east. Veera gasped and shut her eyes tight, praying to every god that there wouldn’t be more blasts of the horn. Her prayers went unanswered. As the third and final call echoed through the snow and streets, Veera’s eyes flew open and she looked to her mate. His visage was grim and chiseled, lightening only when he met her eyes. For what felt like the longest moment of her life, she simply gazed at him, and he at her. The knowledge that her life was about to change forever held at bay only by his arms. She drew strength from him, voicing what they both knew. Her words tore at him like daggers in the dark.

“We’re under attack.”