Page 55 of HaL

“Food and something that sounds fast? I’m in.”

I hit my communicator, ordering what I think she might like, and have just set her down inside my room when I heard the delivery bot come in behind me.

“Wow, what is this little dude? I had no idea you had bots here.”

“We have several different ones available. The cargo bots are just the ones used the most frequently, but SAGE insisted on these smaller ones for use inside the caverns.”

“Room service, and hot springs … things are looking up in the ice world.”

“Eat your ovum’s and let us go. I have an entire world to introduce you to. I would not have dared to take you out before, but this new garment hides your features so well I am not worried any surveillance will pick you up.”

“SAGE reassured me that my super suit would keep the bad guys ignorant.”

I pull out her small chair on the warm side of the membrane while I settle on the other side. She hits something I cannot see clearly on the side of her hood, and the faceplate retracts. I cannot help but smile, as she really must be hungry because she is devouring everything I have put on her plate. While I watch her, I forget about my own meal until she looks up at me.

“You gonna eat?”

“Sorry, Roja, I got distracted.”

The room gets quiet, but not in an uncomfortable way. Even though she started before me, I am done first.

“Go ahead and finish. I am going to go get the cruiser and then meet you outside.” I point to the viewer on her side of the room.

“Can I open it?”

“Everything in these rooms will respond to you.”

“K … I’ll be waiting.”

I stroll out of our main rooms, fighting my inner beast slightly as I swear I am arguing with myself about the fact that we must leave her for only a tic. Thankfully, Oset received my message and is working in the docking bay this early rising and already has my speeder warming up when I come in.

He steps back slightly when I walk into the bay, his beast sensing my owns instability.

“You are ready to go HaL, but the frost is nearly upon us, so I would not linger long in the western region.”

“How is the youngling and Eirwen?”

“Both are doing well, thanks to Troza and her quick thinking. They will be heading home this rising.”

I do not linger any longer. I settle into the main seat of the cruiser, only engaging the sleds after I clear the shuttle entrance. The rush of frigid air against my face seems to clear my head as I make my way around the compound.

That is when I spot the small figure standing on the balcony. She waves the moment she sees me, and I swear I can feel my beast relax. I slide the cruiser to a stop beneath her and motion for her to come to me. Dawn hesitates when she looks down at me, realizing she is several leagues above the ground. Then she steps onto the top of the railing, and suddenly she looks fragile, and this distance is too great.

My heart stops.

Before I can say a word, she launches herself into the air. I catch her mid-flight with a grunt, absorbing the impact against my chest.

“Dawn!”

She laughs. Her trust in me is humbling.

I lower her carefully into the seat beside me. It takes a moment to adjust the safety straps to her smaller frame. Then I close the main hatch to keep the wind from cutting through the cabin, making sure she is secure before I pull away. Even for me, negative forty is cold enough to bite.

I take it slowly at first.

We glide over smaller embankments and frozen fields, the cruiser barely making a sound against the packed ice. I keep one eye on Dawn, watching for any sign that the speed or terrain is frightening her.

Instead, she frowns.