But then I heard his terrified scream, and it awakened something within me.
The sound of his fear drove my instincts out of control. My body moved without my input, propelled toward the weak little human. The moment his cry hit my ears, I dropped to the ground on all fours and bolted toward his voice. My mind emptied except for the singular thought of him.
It was deep into the night. Predators lurked under the cover of darkness, and Assistant 23 was as fragile as a scrap of seed fluff. He would not stand a chance against any potential threats.
The thought of losing him hollowed out my core.
It was a mistake to let him out of my sight,I thought, angry with myself.I should have kept a better watch over him.
Moments later, I crashed through the dense foliage surrounding the waterfall. That was the source of his scream. He must be nearby.
I leaped into the clearing—right into Assistant 23.
At the same time, he shrieked in fear and smacked the side of my face with a stick.
It was painless. Actually, it felt good. Getting hit by Assistant 23 meant he was alive and safe. Relief pulsed through my entire body.
“Farr’vye!” Assistant 23 blurted. He was shaking and still clutching the stick to his chest. “What are you doing here?”
“I heard you scream.”
“M-me?”
I searched his face, but as usual, the tinted shield made him unreadable. Meanwhile, his loosened posture and sighs of relief told me he was relieved, too.
Is he happy to see me?
“Oh, right. I screamed when I ran into Kookee,” Assistant 23 said. “I don’t know how it got out, but it scared the crap out of me.”
The glossy-furred Pandar stood next to Assistant 23. It was unbothered as it munched on the leaves of a nearby tree.
“What are you doing out here alone?” I asked the human.
He grunted; a cute little sound of frustration. “Why’s that any of your business?”
“I need to know.”
He made the grunt sound again, this time higher. I liked how his voice pitched up when he was flustered.
“Excuse me?” he demanded.
“It is not safe for a weak human to be alone at night in the wilds.”
A series of short, cut-off sounds escaped Assistant 23. Finally, he snapped, “Listen, pal! I survived alone on this planet for eight fucking years!”
I did not understand why the number and the years had engaged in sexual intercourse, but I thought it best not to interrupt his rant.
“So I don’t need a lecture, got it?” he barked.
“You said you screamed when you saw Kookee,” I pointed out. “A Pandar is the least threatening creature you could have encountered.”
“I screamed because I was surprised, not because—okay, fine, Iwasscared.”
“As you should be. It is dangerous for a lone human in the wilds.”
Assistant 23 gripped the stick harder. His next question came out as a confused growl. “You—youwantme to be scared?”
“Fear helps us avoid harm.” I tilted my head at him. “That is what I am told.”
