Page 48 of Rock Hard Alien

She picked up one of her lists and drew a line through three names. I had watched her dismiss hundreds of images, yet she didn't appear discouraged. If anything, she had become more determined with every hour.

“Sten and Hallr may not have landed close to me,” I reminded her. “Their pods could have travelled in different directions. They may not even be in this country.”

“Then we widen the search once we’ve checked Scotland. England next, then the rest of Europe. Cleo can help with the dating agency’s contacts, and I know conservators who work all over the UK.”

“You cannot spend your life searching for my friends.”

Georgie looked at me as if I had said something particularly stupid. “I found a five-hundred-year-old alien pretending to be a grotesque on Stirling Castle. Locating two more is going to look brilliant on my CV.”

“You cannot tell anyone about us.”

“I know. That was a joke.” She took my hand and squeezed it. “I can’t promise we’ll find them, Cairn. But I can promise that we won’t stop looking.”

The certainty in her voice broke something inside me. I had been the captain. Protecting Sten and Hallr had been my responsibility, yet I had abandoned all hope of them centuries ago. I hadn't been brave enough to hope. Georgie had never met them, but she was willing to search an entire planet simply because they mattered to me.

I pulled her from her chair and onto my lap. My wings closed around us while my tail wound around her waist. She squealed in protest, then leant against my chest.

“What about your work?” I asked.

“This is my work. For now. I've got some overtime to use up. And I haven't been on holiday this year. Maybe I can even sell it to my boss as a work project. Finding two mysterious statues of great historical value.”

“And the fact that they are living aliens?”

“Minor detail.”

She laughed and kissed me. Her mating mark was visible above the edge of her shirt, permanent proof that she had chosen me. Somewhere beyond these walls, perhaps closer than either of us knew, my friends might still be waiting. For the first time, the thought gave me hope rather than pain.

Georgie returned to the computer, and I wrapped my tail around the back of her chair while she continued searching. I looked around me and relaxed. This was home now. A stone cottage with a swinging bed, a bathroom too small for my wings, and a mate who had brought me back to life.

Waiting for her had been worth it.

Epilogue

Sten

I flew over the sacred halls of Omlyx, riding the airstream with wings spread wide. Gharrgoils were going about their business on the ground, while others were flying below me, some alone, some as pairs and groups.

I was higher than them. My destination lay far beyond theirs.

When it got dark, I would descend and roost in the caves high up in the mountain range before me, only to continue my journey as soon as daylight broke. I had travelled for a long time and would travel longer still.

I couldn't remember when this journey had begun. Many rotations must have passed.

I couldn't remember why I'd left. Or where I was going.

All I knew was that I had to keep flying south. Something important was waiting for me there. Or maybe someone.

Voices drifted up to me, echoes on the tepid air. One seemed familiar and yet strange, as if I only knew it from a dream.

“That's him. I'm sure of it.”

I beat my wings harder to get away from the voices that were interrupting my thoughts. I scanned the sky beneath me to identify who was talking, but the other gharrgoils were mere specks in the distance.

“Sten. Can you hear me? Are you still alive?”

I knew that name. Had heard it long ago.

It did not matter.