FOURTEEN

- sedona -

The relief I feel when Kuvier finally comes back is ridiculous.

When he had disappeared, I anticipated him being gone for several minutes, maybe an hour or two at most, but he was gone the whole rest of yesterday and into what counts as night in this place. Though I'd kept my cool, as Renata and I tended to the fire, ate the rations, and discussed when or if we should wake the others, I was scrambling on the inside.

Renata and I had reworked my bedding to accommodate two, but I barely slept, still feeling alone and unsafe. I was just finally drifting off, when I heard him call for me. I am a little embarrassed to admit I woke right up. In fact, I threw my furs off of me and bounded out of the crate wearing no additional layers, not worrying if a groggy Renata followed behind me or not.

It briefly surprises me to see that he's brought someone else with him, but I am more focused on Kuvier. When he grabs me in his arms in a big bear hug, the feel of Kuvier's strong body pressed against mine is the only thing I can really think about. After several moments of him squeezing me and nuzzling into my hair, I become aware of other eyes and squirm, trying to get down.

"Too cold," he responds, gripping me tighter. I groan internally as I make eye contact with Renata over his shoulder. God, this is embarrassing.

"Please?" I plead lowly, so only he can hear me. I'm not sure if he's learned the word yet, but he recognizes the tone. He observes me for a heartbeat, before he lets my body slide down his in a way that burns at the tip of my ears for a reason outside of embarrassment.

I step away and turn around to face his new companion, but Kuvier pulls me back until I'm standing on top of his feet, my shoes no longer touching the snow. He wraps his arm around me so I'm mostly sheltered from the cold by his body. This is far less embarrassing, so I let it happen.

I get the chance to take in the newcomer. This one is much smaller than Kuvier, though that is relative because he still appears to be over six feet and built. Their colorings are different as well. Where Kuvier has chocolate fur with small areas of white, this one is all white fur with small areas of gray mixed in. Their horns also differ. Kuvier has one pair of thick, curling horns close to his face and smaller ones sticking up like long spindles on the top of his head, but the new guy's horns are thinner, both sets sharp and upright.

I also note immediately that there is an odd tension between the two. Kuvier's posture is stiff, and he keeps glancing at his companion with what seems like a mix of irritation and caution, his arm tightening around my shoulder. The new goatman, on the other hand, appears to be more nonchalant, but the tense set to his shoulders communicates otherwise.

The next thing I notice is that they are both laden down with supplies. The new one has two packs strapped to his front and back. So did Kuvier, but he'd discarded his packs in the snow in favor of holding me. Each of the packs are stuffed with scores of supplies, hanging from the outside and shoved inside. I am not a survivalist, but the amount they brought seems like it would be enough to last us a long ass time.

A fact I am glad of because the snow has only gotten worse since he left, and I have a feeling there's an even bigger storm brewing. What started as just cracks of thunder and flashes of lighting, has given way to a fresh powdery layer of snow outside. The weight of the fresh snow had even pulled down the blanket and fur that Kuvier had used to mend the ceiling. That had dumped snow inside that we'd had to shovel out with our hands before it melted and ruined our supplies. Now, it's just a gaping hole, and it's cold all over again.

The new guy says a string of words in his language. I recognize some, but not enough to actually understand what he's saying. Whatever it is, it pulls a warning rumble from Kuvier's chest. I tilt my head back and see that his eyes are set on the other dude, his teeth bared in a warning. Okay, so he's clearly not a fan of this dude.

I do wonder why, but I don't believe that it would be because the other one is dangerous. I just don't think that Kuvier would bring anyone around who wouldn't be safe for me, which tells me that his behavior is something else altogether.

Still, not wanting to be rude, I decide to try introducing myself again. This time staying in my spot, I look to the newcomer and say, "Hello, my name—"

Before I can even finish the introduction, Kuvier brings his lips close to the edge of my ear and growls low in his throat. It's a warning and I know it. But, the sound sends a delicious shiver through me. With that reaction, I realize that the issue here is me introducing myself, so I decide to go with a different approach. I look back at Kuvier, pointing at the new guy.

"His name?" I ask, since he's apparently picked up on the word ‘name.'

Kuvier's growl turns into a resigned sigh, and he finally relents. "Enikk," he says, drawing out the long ‘e' sound at the beginning.

"Enikk," I repeat, smiling warmly at Kuvier. I turn to Enikk and point to Renata first. "Renata." Enikk breathes her name out as if it is the most fascinating word in the universe. He says it slightly wrong, Reh-not-ah, defining every syllable. But it is a similar way to Kuvier calling me ‘Seh'-dona.

As soon as I say Renata's name, and before I can attempt to introduce myself again, Kuvier determines that is enough of my interaction with Enikk. He places gentle but firm hands on my shoulders and turns us back towards the shipping crate, my feet still on top of his.

We tandem walk a few steps until we're back in the shipping crate and he lets me step off his toes and straight to the snowless ground. Renata plops down next to the fire and Kuvier softly steers me to follow suit. I take a seat by her and watch as she observes the scene around her. She's only just started to brave Kuvier, and now there is another alien to consider. I can see the wheels turning in her head as she assesses the situation. Her guard is up, and I don't blame her.

Enikk, however, seems completely unfazed by Renata's wariness. It's as if he is fascinated by her, his gaze unwavering and curious. Renata notices this and narrows her eyes, clearly not appreciating the scrutiny. Enikk looks away under the heat of her glare, but I have a feeling curiosity will win out again.

As expected, his impertinent eyes are fixed on her again as he ducks under the awning and follows Kuvier further into the crate. He says something as he walks to which Kuvier grunts in response, sounding not entirely convinced.

From there, Kuvier drops to his knees beside one of his packs, unloading the supplies and setting them out in front of them. Enikk follows suit, and soon both men each have two packs unloaded with all of the supplies spread out.

There's hunks of frozen raw meat, two large bags with leather drawstrings that are full of something lumpy and roundish, ample processed furs of multiple sizes, and what appears to be a sewing kit made from bones. There's all kinds of bone tools actually, many of which have a function I don't know. As I look at the sheer amount of supplies, it becomes clear to me that Kuvier anticipates we will be here for a while. I can't decide how that makes me feel.

As Kuvier works, I glance at Enikk and then back at Renata. "Looks like we're going to be well taken care of," I say, trying to lighten the mood. "These supplies will make a huge difference."

Renata speaks slowly, still keeping a close eye on Enikk. "We'll see," she murmurs. "I just hope we can trust him as much as Kuvier."

I give her a reassuring smile, but say nothing else.

As Kuvier fusses over the supplies, I notice his gaze lingering on the dwindling rations he left us. My cheeks flush with embarrassment as I realize just how much Renata and I have eaten in half a day's time. We were so hungry after hand-shoveling the snow from the collapsed ceiling that we had devoured the food without a second thought. I also have no idea when I last ate before Kuvier. But, regardless, I wish now that we had been more cognizant. It's clear that every piece of food takes a lot of work here and we should have rationed better.

"Sorry," I say sheepishly as I move from the fire close to Kuvier, though I know he can't understand my words. "We were just so hungry."

Kuvier glances up at me from his layout of supplies, his expression softening as he sees the embarrassment on my face. He doesn't need to understand my language to read the guilt in my eyes.

"Eat much, it is for you, ti khesi." He gives me a gentle smile and reaches into the pile of rations to hand me a piece of dried meat.

I manage a small smile in return, grateful for his understanding, and take the meat from him. "Thank you."

I take a bite and look at Renata to see if she's hungry again. She's paying us no mind, staring thoughtfully at the fire. I have a feeling she won't stray far from the fire, especially now that the men are back. She'd barely moved even when they weren't around. Not that I blame her. Despite the fire and efforts to cover that hole in the ceiling, the cold air still seeps in.

It's not long until Kuvier and Enikk get started on breakfast. From behind us further into the shipping crate, Kuvier barks something in his native language to Enikk, his tone short and his face stormy. Enikk for his credit seems completely unbothered by Kuvier's unusual surliness. I can't help but wonder what happened between the two before they got to us. But, whatever Kuvier says is enough for Enikk to get up and leave. Renata and I exchange glances.

"Is it too much to ask that the extra goat man is leaving for good?" she mutters to me watching the space where he left. "He's kinda creeping me out with all the staring."

"Well, he left all of his stuff and only had a pouch so I highly doubt it," I answer her, my tone joking.

Enikk's staring is far less intimate than the way Kuvier stares at me. Still, Enikk is not as subtle, and in my personal opinion, Kuvier's staring is less invasive. Kuvier stares like he thinks I'm the most valuable thing he's ever seen. Enikk stares at Renata as if he is waiting impatiently for something to happen and he's disappointed it hasn't.

To Renata's chagrin, Enikk returns moments later with additional items in his hands. He's carrying two large slabs of stone and the leather pouch is hanging from his wrist, looking weighed down by something.

I watch as he moves over to the fire and begins setting up the pouch over the fire, letting me know that it's filled with snow to melt. He's been good about keeping some distance between him and us. I appreciate that at least he isn't forcing his way into Renata's space. Kuvier has, for the most part, also maintained respect for my personal space. And if I'm being honest, the few times he's touched me more, I haven't minded so much.

"This whole thing is still unbelievable," Renata comments, her eyes dancing uneasily to Enikk and then back to me, "and now there's two of them."

"It's definitely weird but at least Enikk seems fine enough and Kuvier has taken care of us the entire time."

"You mean you?" she says it with a laugh, but I don't chuckle along because the laugh sounded almost accusatory.

"What do you mean?"

Renata hesitates before speaking, her voice cautious. "It's just...Kuvier seems fixated on you, and only you. He wants to help me because I'm with you, but I don't think he's really interested in the well-being of anyone but you."

"I don't think that's true."

"Oh, it totally is, but it's fine. It works out for us, and besides, it couldn't be me anyway." She shrugs as if her words just make perfect sense.

"Why couldn't it be?" I keep my voice light and questioning, trying to avoid the hurt I feel building as the weight of judgment settles on my skin.

Renata scoffs. "Because, I have no ‘feminine wiles.' I'm not like you, Sedona. I can't flirt with someone like you did with Kuvier and just wrap them around my finger. It seems like that's what Enikk is looking for from me, so I need to be more cautious about him than Kuvier."

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, and I feel a surge of hurt and frustration rise within me. Is that really how she sees me? As someone who would use her charms to manipulate others? I want to lash out, to defend myself, but I bite back the words, forcing a tight smile instead.

"Ah, I get it."

I leave it at that and let silence fall over us as the sting of Renata's words lingers. It's a stark reminder that I have more to contend with here than just surviving. When the others wake up, that's six more people to judge me for every choice I've made since I crashed and woke up.

I can't help but wonder if maybe I deserve the judgment. I could have woken them all up as soon as I saw Kuvier was safe. Instead, I flirted and enjoyed his attention, and if I'm honest, I would have kept doing that longer if Renata's pod hadn't turned yellow. Not for the first time, I wish that somebody else had woken up first. If Renata had been up by herself, we'd be way further along, and at least I'd have no one judging me for being cared for by an alien and liking it.