Page 30 of HaL

“It’s Hangry.”

“What does that word mean? Do I need to be concerned? Troza, contact ANDI immediately and see what the cause and fix is for ‘Hangry’.”

The sound of Dawn’s beautiful laughter echoes throughout the room, and when I look down at her, truly concerned, she only laughs harder, to the point that Troza and I both begin to worry.

“I’m fine, I promise … no need to call in the cavalry. I’m just hungry guys, especially since I can’t remember the last time I actually ate anything.”

“That was not hunger, Dawn, that was anger.”

“Same thing with many girls’ sweetcheeks.”

The fact that her body is attacking itself because of hunger almost has me in a panic. “I will return shortly with sustenance. Do you have a preference?”

“Chicken Alfredo, a large Pepsi with a couple extra breadsticks would be great.”

I rub behind my ear at the translator once again, wondering if I need to have SCOUT recalibrate it, as I truly do not understand half of what she says.

“Sorry HaL, inside joke. For the most part, I’ll eat anything. I had enough time on ANDI to realize even though he tried, most of the food I crave is no longer available in any world, but thankfully even though I was allergic to almost everything on the outside, I never had any food ones.”

My feet carry me from the room, my thoughts already drifting to what still might be available in the main dining hall at this hour. Thankfully, Eira always keeps something warm waiting in the kettles. We may prefer the cold, but every one of us appreciates a hot meal.

I gather a handful of dried, wild stag meat and a bowl of the warm, salty broth we use to soften it. I add a piece of round bread and a fresh waterskin, then turn to leave. At the last moment, I tear off a thick hunk of bread for myself. Ever since we began trading with Targres Four for the strange substance they call flour, it has become one of my favorite foods.

Miya has been working alongside Eira to find new foods we can add to our mostly meat-based diet. Meanwhile, Hugo has taken several of our shed coats to their market, hoping to find buyers. Miya is convinced tourists will love them, and if she’s right, the extra credits could help us expand the compound and pay for better security throughout the region.

My thoughts are all over the place with what I should be doing and what I am doing, but my mind cannot seem to think much further than Dawn and her immediate needs, especially since she will be leaving the medical wing soon. I almost trip over my massive feet the second that thought registers.

Where is she going to stay?

My beast shows her curled up in our furs, warm and safe beneath the weight of our presence — but I cannot simply assume that vision is hers as well. I will not mistake my desire for hers. Lord of Light knows I am grateful she is not fighting the bond between us, yet I do not think she understands how consuming it will become until fully claimed.

What unsettles me most is the difference between our forms. I am so much larger than she is… and if my beast were ever to rise unchecked, we could hurt her without meaning to. The thought alone tightens something deep within me. So, I am careful. I move with a restraint most Hallisteranians would never think to learn, for gentleness is not a trait our kind is known for.

I make it halfway through the compound before realizing I have been walking in a daze. I only come back to myself when I hear voices approaching from the corridor.

The medical bay door slides open, and my heart settles the moment I see Dawn lying calmly in bed, talking with Troza. Her smile when she sees me sends my runes dancing across my chest.

Troza slides a tray from the side of the platform, then raises the bed slightly so Dawn can eat more comfortably.

I set the sustenance down before her, watching to see what she chooses first. To my surprise, she drops the meat into the broth. Then she takes the hard bread and dips it into the mixture, letting it soften before taking a bite.

I would never have thought to do that.

Satisfied that she does not seem to dislike what I have brought, I settle into the nearby seat to watch her eat.

Almost immediately, she raises that eyebrow at me again.

I pause.

That look.

I am beginning to suspect Dawn finds my concern far more amusing than I do.

“Are you just going to sit there and watch me?”

“I enjoy watching you.”

“I’m getting stalker vibes here HaL, but at least you’re cute.”