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"It doesn't look like a predator," I admitted.
"That's because you haven't felt his claws yet." Heather laughed. "There are bigger versions of house cats that are actual wild predators. We have tigers at the animal park that could kill you if they chose to. Maybe you should come by one day and I can show you around."
"Are you going to feed me to the taygers?" I joked.
Heather grinned widely. "Only if you make me really, really angry."
"It's a date."
Her eyebrows moved up, making her eyes look bigger. Huh, what a fun trick. Human facial muscles were clearly more advanced than Kyven. "Did you just ask me on a date?"
"Technically it was you who invited me."
"You're right. So let's say we both asked. And yes, it's a date."
We grinned at each other. A warm, fuzzy feeling spread through my belly. I liked it. I wanted to feel more of that.
I didn't quite know what to say next. Yes, we'd arranged to go on a date, but that wasn't going to be until we returned to Kyven. What were we going to do until then? Pretend that I wasn't crazily excited? Assume we were just friends?
This was awkward.
"This is slightly awkward," Heather said.
I couldn't help but laugh.
"What?"
"I just thought exactly the same."
"Oh. Great minds."
Was she giving me a compliment? "You have a great mind too," I said, just in case.
"Sorry, another human expression. The full saying is 'great minds think alike'. It's what you say when two people come up with the same thing at the same time. Like we just did."
So not a compliment after all. Or maybe it was? This was confusing.
My controlband vibrated, showing an incoming message from the captain.
"Rak," I cursed. "Captain Ellabee has found several more escaped rashipis. We have to go back and deal with them."
Heather didn't look as frustrated about that as I felt. She popped the last bite of follak into her mouth and got up, clearly desperate to return to the stinky animals. Oh well. I would use the time to think of a way to bring our first date forward. I didn't want to wait any longer than absolutely necessary.
11
Heather
By the time every single rashipi was back in its pen, I was covered in hay and drenched in sweat. Atina didn't look much better, although I felt like she'd enjoyed herding the animals almost as much as I had. I'd taught her some more tricks on how best to control them, so that she'd have an easier time dealing with them the next time they escaped. I felt a pang of sadness at the thought of her wrangling the rashipis by herself. I'd be back on Kyven with my cousin and her mate's family, while Atina was travelling through space.
Was there even a future for us? Should I be this excited for our date, or should I end things now before they got any further?
"I need a shower," I announced while pulling some hay from my hair.
"Yes, let's get cleaned up. I'll check with the captain to see if we're going to be staying on Sivilia for a little longer. If the repairs take a while, I could take you to this viewing platform on the very top of the Gliua Mountains. The views are breathtaking," Atina said, sounding quite hopeful.
"That sounds lovely," I answered. I had no idea what to expect but just getting to spend a bit more time with the beautiful pilot seemed fun. Even if it only lasted for this round trip to Earth, I was having more fun than I had in a long time.
On my way to my cabin, I ran into Abby coming from hers. The veterinarian smiled in relief. "Oh, there you are. Are you okay? You look..." She gestured at my hair. "Like you've been through the wringer."
