Chapter 56: Curious
Volta exited her claimed room before the sun rose in the sky to get a start on her usual duties, the moon before still playing through her mind in vivid detail.
Huntress Pan had seemed to be slowly fading away despite the blue-furred female’s best efforts to raise her spirits. It hurt to see such a beautiful Lilhun seem so distraught with each passing sun, but the look of desperation that crossed her face as she tore out of the baths had completely dominated Volta’s focus, causing her to pass over the otherwise seductive sight of the Paw’s bare form, the singular objective of the female being far from the den in which she stood.
A sigh escaped the cleaner as she readied her rags and clean water, adding some basic cleaner from the baths to create a diluted solution in which to wipe down surfaces. It wasn’t as potent as she was used to using, but it was also much easier on her fur and skin. The mixture foamed slightly as she disturbed it, the result settling after a few moments. She exited the baths and started the task she had set for herself.
This sun was the floors, the previous being the kitchen and the next would be dedicated to a general room tidying. She found it worked best to spend the time on individual sections or areas on a rotation. She could spend two suns or so just doing the entire den and be finished with it for a while, but she wished to spend the otherwise free time assisting the diminutive Paw wherever possible.
Knowing that her mate—and presumed bond—had returned, Volta had left the white-furred female to her reunion and decided to rest early for the moon after Head Nalah dismissed her so that Huntress Pan could awake to a fresh smelling den, hopes that her attentions would be received favourably driving her decisions.
It was quite a rare thing for defectives to be sought as mates, their condition all but prohibiting it. Volta doubted the claims of the female having a bond due to the noted inability for her to gain such as well, but having one assume a high position of power was basically impossible. Yet, here Huntress Pan was, exercising her power in minute amounts with none complaining.
Volta had spent next to no time dealing with what the den referred to as the ‘extended pack’, the group that did not follow the Grand Hunter directly, but from what she heard, they did not give the same reverence to a female of Huntress Pan’s station that she deserved. It irked her greatly.
Small and unassuming. Gentle and kind. A breathtaking smile of warmth and acceptance, compacted under the white coat of one whom has seen the blackness that their worlds had to offer. The fact that she would refuse to accept that another might find her fetching due to something as trivial as a rare genetic disorder that did nothing to diminish her charm was something Volta found heartbreaking in a way.
Harrow was attractive, yes, but the male she had mated with seemed to be the sole focus of her attention whenever she wasn’t elbow deep in disassembling something or experimenting with new technology. The first offer for a warm bed was little more than Volta wishing to embrace another after a series of tense moons seeking shelter from the environment she found herself alone in.
Well, not alone, but close enough that her desire for another to ease her nerves had overcome her worry. The ‘Atmo’ that had saved her life were accommodating enough, she supposed, but she felt no kinship with them beyond her vow to find them shelter as they did her. It was only just that she return such magnanimous deeds.
Having been absolved of her oath and completing the task for them that she sought to resolve, she could now part from them with little thought nor guilt. And she would have, if not for the blinding brilliance of a downtrodden female pained and abandoned, her expression forlorn as she attempted to portray herself strong without her mate.
It was a common arrangement, in a way. Defectives would be taken in by those with lesser motivations as a toy to be manipulated as they desperately pined for the love and attention that others not afflicted with such conditions would receive effortlessly. Often used for little more than the more perverse manifestations of those with questionable or esoteric tastes, if not abused under a thin veil of ‘love’.
Given little more than scorn for their very existence, those defectives would cling to their abusers and seek even the more sadistic acts that left them injured or broken while claiming it fulfilling. It was a sick result of their biology working against the afflicted.
Volta held no such distaste. Her nose had been ruined as a kit, an act of curiosity leading her to submerging her snout into powerful chemicals before her den could discover what she had found. Oddly enough, it inspired her to pursue the profession which utilized such compounds. The various concoctions of decades in research to produce caustic formulas that might enrich lives around the areas in which they were used. Sanitation of food preparation areas reducing sickness. Lavatories no longer imparting pandemics and plagues. Gentle scents relaxing those who reside in the rooms she left spotless.
It was therapeutic. She would clean and others would appreciate her efforts. If she did her job well, then none would notice she had done anything at all. An intangible task that allowed others to do their best. It would lift spirits for people to return to their beds without a single thought spent lamenting their impending tidying that must be completed. Cooks may arrange feasts without a single worry nor moment of consideration that anything other than their skill and materials would be of consequence. Researchers need not fear mess disrupt their focus.
Being a member of the support staff aboard the ship was exactly something she wanted to do ever since she was left in a scent dominated world without the ability to be manipulated by it.
There was no uncomfortable imparting of raging pheromones to distract her. No threat of marks discouraging her drive to pursue those who had recently lost or left a mate. She could comfort those who required a caring touch without a single thing diminishing her desire for them, and they could feel as if they mattered for a moon without a reminder of what they had marring their scent.
It made her desire to embrace Huntress Pan all the more powerful.
As one who lived in the same dulled world as her, Volta felt the female could use an unassuming partner, the fact that she was perfectly to her tastes notwithstanding. The only thing that caused her to be so forward was the female being seen so negatively, purely because of some vague notion imparted upon those she met that she would not be a suitable candidate for kits nor a warm bedding.
Volta did not carry such influences, and as such, could appreciate every facet of her without concern.
Perhaps it was some modicum of yearning that caused her to act as she did.
The blue-furred female sighed as she surveyed her work within the dormitory wing, the floor glimmering in the dawning light projected through the hexagonal skylights. It was a fine job, if she could appreciate her work so candidly. The next area would take considerably longer, since the hub was so large, so she would need to hurry along.
Moving to the massive entrance that the pack had purposed into a gathering area, she laid her sculpted bucket down and soaked a clean rag that Huntress Pan had made for her personally, wringing out the excess water and starting on her task.
She didn’t know much about the mysterious Grand Hunter, other than that he had developed a series of combat techniques in which his personal pack was trained, and it left her worried for the state of the Paw. Her questions regarding him were sparse, mostly focused on how he ran his den, but even those inquiries were met with enigmatic answers that failed to outline what type of male he might be. It instilled little confidence within her.
She could accept if he was heavy-pawed or an accomplished slayer of beasts, but the general consensus was that he seemed to be unpredictable, albeit innovative in some aspects. The weapons that he had designed were novel yet effective, his methods confusing yet concise. He was a craftsman before anything else, it seemed, and yet his pack held no desire to wrestle command from him.
It wasn’t uncommon for those under a Grand Hunter to seek his station. Often, packs would fracture due to disagreements in leadership among the Heads. The Paws would stick with their mate, but those beneath would frequently find themselves requesting vassalage to lead their own, if not simply splintering off without regard to those that stood beside them.
Yet this male held five Heads, it seemed, and not one considered leaving.
She wasn’t sure if it inspired confidence or fear.
The facilities wing door opened, the ‘den-kit’ and Jax exiting to find seating upon the crafted furniture. The young one produced several blank tablets and began writing onto them with her blade while the male rested his paw upon her arachnid-like base and idly scratched while offering corrections to her presumably developing Lilhun script.
Volta finished the section she was working on, deciding to take a few moments to stretch and confirm that her efforts had met her standards. An idle curiosity poked at her mind and an opportunity to address such had just walked into the hub, so she thought to act upon it.
“Why do you seem so fond of her?” Volta inquired without a hint of malice as she approached Jax, the male rising a brow as if she had asked him the colour of the sky. He glanced down at the Atmo, his petting paused.
“She is the den-kit,” he answered flatly after considering it for a moment. Volta tipped an ear.
“She is not our young.”
Jax waved a paw dismissively, a fond smile growing as Violet presented her tablet for him to critique. A nod of approval was given before she returned to practising whatever she meant to write next. “It matters not to us. Our Grand Hunter requested we love her as our own, and so we shall.”
The blue-furred female frowned, unsatisfied by the answer. “And why does this male deem her kit?”
The Head glanced at her, his expression remaining mostly neutral. “I fear that i can only affirm that she is. Do you take issue with such?”
Volta flinched, the slight threat in his words obvious, though not the focus of his inquiry. She sensed that he was more annoyed at her questioning than incited by its content. “No, Head Jax, but i do wish to understand why we would assign such to one not of our lineage. Forgive this one’s ignorance.”
“You would do well to learn, low one.” Jax huffed slightly, a rumbled purr drawing his attention as the young one protested the lack of scratching. He quickly rectified his mistake as he continued. “Once you have seen the Grand Hunter’s love for such a kit, one could not be faulted for feeling the same.”
“And why do you teach her?”
The male chuckled. “I taught my younger siblings before i left the den. It brings me fond memories to assist her.”
Volta pondered his responses for a moment, the sound of the dorm doors opening behind her distracting her.
A female she had yet to meet entered, a lazy sway to her hips in contrast with the almost perpetual frown. Her fur was a dark gunmetal-grey, darker stripes barely discernible along her body. She wore clothing that one would expect a member of the main pack to don, A top that exposed her stomach and tight pants that ended at the knee, so that suggested she was one of those who had accompanied the Grand Hunter who had just returned last moon. She paid no notice towards Volta nor the other occupants, instead silently passing through and entering the facilities wing without a word. Jax noticed the confusion on Volta’s face.
“That would be Tel,” he explained, no indication of annoyance at her lack of acknowledgement present in his demeanour. “She is in charge of our nourishment, typically. I would presume she is on her way to prepare an early meal for the pack.”
Volta stared at the doors, unsure of what to think of the female. “Does she always seem so perturbed?”
A snort was given in response. “I believe the circumstances for her sour mood will be divulged once the Grand Hunter joins us. For now, all i can assert is that i am just as curious as you are.”
“I see,” she drolled, even more confused by the dynamics that complicated with every member she met. This pack carried an odd mix of characters.
Volta resumed her cleaning, occasionally peering at the male and young Atmo with curiosity in her gaze. The male would smile while correcting various facets of the presented writing, affection in his encouraging touch as he stroked across the scales and carapace.
She had finished the last section, pride in her work dispelling the thoughts that otherwise intruded upon her focus. She stretched, excited to be almost finished and deciding to continue to the facilities wing later in the sun. She wished to be presentable to greet Huntress Pan and perhaps soothe her should the worse of her fears prove existent. If the female appeared and seemed to be taken advantage of, then she would abscond with her to safer pastures.
As soon as she finished dumping the now-dirty water down the drain in the baths, she changed her clothing to the nicer of the two sets afforded to her by Huntress Pan’s efforts, and entered the hub with a smile, the garments comfortable and of high quality despite the meagre tools in which the Paw had to use in their creation.
A brilliant white coat graced her vision, the female seeming radiant in comparison to her usual demure appearance. Volta needed to blink a few times to confirm that the Lilhun in front of her was the same discouraged one she had been seeking over the suns, questioning what might have occurred for such a radical change to take place.
“I see you are in high spirits, Huntress Pan,” she managed to voice after collecting herself, a moment taken to approach. The white-furred female blushed, a wayward paw resting upon her stomach as a smile dominated her expression.
“Yes, i have reunited with my mate.” She averted her eyes bashfully. “I am feeling quite well.”
Volta discouraged the frown that threatened to form, her worries about the possibly abusing male coming to mind. The Paw seemed to be still in good health and there was no injuries, but that did not rule out a possibly ruinous manipulation of her mind and emotions. It was perhaps excessive caution against one whom she had no real reason to doubt, but she wished for the happiness of the female if she could assist, and freeing her from an unworthy mate would be the best course of action to achieve such.
Regardless of the character of the Grand Hunter, Huntress Pan seemed far beyond her usual beauty to Volta’s eyes, captivating the blue-furred female with her appearance and glowing smile. Her heart fluttered as the Paw looked at her with gratitude.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
“I see you have awoken rather early to complete your tasks.”
Volta bowed her head respectfully. “I wish only the best environment for you to reside in, Huntress Pan.”
“Your efforts are appreciated, Volta,” she responded without a hint of the usual distance she would place between them socially. It brought joy to the cleaner to be addressed so fondly by the female.
A soft click of the dorm doors barely surpassed the ambient noise of the hub, though Volta didn’t pay it any mind as Huntress Pan walked over to speak to Jax and the Atmo. She was merely content to watch the Paw carry herself with a confidence and levity that had been absent until now, only brief glimpses showing through whenever she interacted with the young one.
A strange creature crept past the corner of her vision, it’s shambling gait surprisingly silent as it approached Huntress Pan from behind. It was taller than Volta, though a height to be expected from a female. It’s black fur was contained mostly to its head and some sparse sections of its face. The clothing it donned was faded and worn, nothing like the meticulous fabrication of the den’s seamstress.
A beast that had intruded? Did none notice its entrance besides her?
She glanced at the two Lilhuns whom seemed to be in the process of tutoring the Atmo, neither looking up to notice the new inclusion. She hesitated for a moment, eventually deciding to dispatch the threat before it could lay claw to the one whom she became fond of.
She extended her claws and bared her teeth, remaining silent lest it alert the beast of her intentions. Crouching, she kicked off the ground to bolt herself into its flank.
Pain. She felt pain.
Her arm was violently restrained behind her, her knee pressed to the floor and a dagger threatening to pierce her throat. A tail lightly caressed her jaw as a giggle sounded into her ear, the sadistic tone sending a shiver down her spine as fear removed her ability to resist.
“What do we have here? A threat?”
Volta cautiously peered as far to the side as she dared, barely seeing the grey fur that held the knife precariously close to ending her life. The voice of the female sounded like temptation personified, but stung like a sickly poison in her ears.
“I find myself at a bit of a dour mood, low one. I would not suggest an attempt to harm that male.” A gasp of inspiration was given, the slightest hint of repressed excitement tinting her lilt. “Or do! I could use an outlet for my frustrations.”
Volta swallowed as a claw skimmed up from her chest to her chin.
“I promise it will be delightful. For myself, anyway. You may coin the experience as...” The female hummed for a moment, as if choosing the proper term proved difficult. The decision was delivered with a lustful tone. “Agony.”
The biological response to urinate in terror was held at bay, though it did nothing to stop her heart from flooding her system with the desire to flee as far away from the female as possible. Something told her that she wouldn’t get very far, however.
“Tel,” Huntress Pan’s voice broke her spiralling thoughts like safety from a storm. “Release her and explain why you drew your weapon upon one of the pack.”
The white-furred female had stepped forward, still ignorant to the approaching beast that closed in with a confused expression. Volta tried to speak up to warn her, but the paw of her captor held her muzzle shut, the knife pressing lightly against her jugular.
“She sought to harm Joseph. I am merely giving the proper response to such hostilities,” Tel responded with a bored cadence.
Huntress Pan’s face lost it’s kind and caring appearance, instead adopting a slightly hardened edge. “I will question her for her actions. Please allow her to rise.”
Tel rested her chin upon Volta, a playful voice betraying the pressure exerted to the pinned female’s arm. “You are not of authority to command that of me, I’m afraid. I follow the wishes of but one, when such is involved.”
Volta’s eyes widened as the beast draped its arms over Huntress Pan’s shoulders, its chin mirroring Tel in resting upon her head.
Instead of surprise or fear, the female momentarily beamed, placing her paws over those of the near-fur-less one with a smile before redirecting her attention to the situation at paw.
“I will inquire the meaning of your assertion at a later time. For now, allow me to right the issue.”
Tel shook her head lightly until the beast spoke in foreign tongue, drawing an amused huff as she removed her body and weapons from Volta. The cleaner cautiously stood, flinching as Tel’s voice penetrated her hearing before the female sauntered off back to the facilities wing.
“Never again, low one, for you will breathe your last in but an instant.”
The shiver down her spine was interrupted by Huntress Pan addressing her, the beast still maintaining its contact. “Your explanation, Volta? Did you seek to bring harm to my mate?”
Volta sputtered, her brow knitted in confusion. “That... Him? No one mentioned... What?”
Huntress Pan’s eyes widened for a moment before becoming apologetic with her tone. “I fear that we may never have mentioned that he is not one of our own. I am deeply regretful that we failed to inform you, it has simply become a part of our lives.”
Jax wandered over from his seat, curiosity with the situation growing greater than his desire to continue his tutoring. “We did mention that i had lost in combat to an alien,” he mused with a claw scratching his chin, “though we may have forgotten to include that he had become our Grand Hunter shortly after.”
The be- Grand Hunter spoke, exchanging a few lines with the two whom seemed to speak his language before laughing, the lightness to Huntress Pan’s expression returning fully.
Volta glanced back and forth between the alien male and the small female. “Then you... you have bonded? Truly?”
Huntress Pan tilted her head. “I have. This is Joseph; Essence of The Guardian, as well as my mate and my bond. He does not speak our language, but our main pack has since synchronized and have accepted him as our better.”
“Guardian...” Volta closed her eyes to process the flood of information, confusion prominent. She knelt swiftly, still not entirely coming to terms with the whole situation, but cognizant of the action in which she almost committed. It would be a blessing to be disposed of swiftly. “Forgive this ignorance of this low one, for she did not seek that which should be known. I pray my end will be sufficient as penance.”
Jax interjected as Huntress Pan inhaled to speak. “Rise, Volta. You will make him uncomfortable.”
Volta cautiously raised her gaze to see a mildly distraught expression upon the Grand Hunter, the male seeming less than enthused at her attempt to right her wrong. Jax chuckled as the biped spoke.
“Fear not, he will not punish you. It was our fault for not informing you of such critical details. Do forgive us for our negligence. He wishes to impart upon you a warm welcome as well as thank you for your services and quick actions to ensure the safety of his mate.”
Volta slowly rose to her feet, her ears low and tail wrapped around herself in uncertainty. “But i sought to harm him.”
Huntress Pan giggled, the sound like elixir to Volta’s ears. “He cares more for your motivations than he does the fault, though we would appreciate if you did not repeat it.”
“Of course, Huntress Pan. Forgive me.”
The Paw wrapped her tail around the biped behind her, a serene tint to her expression. “As long as my mate harbours no ill will against you, i will do the same. It was an oversight that we will correct in future.”
Volta felt a pang in her chest as the forlorn female before her had transformed into a picture of fulfillment within the arms of the being of which the cleaner had never laid eyes upon, a small sensation of defeat quelling her enjoyment of such a visage. She looked at the male properly, offering a deep bow in apology.
“I greet the Grand Hunter of the pack that has accepted one such as I. I am Volta. I have been tasked with maintaining the cleanliness of the den.”
The baritone voice responded after Huntress Pan presumably translated. “He hopes that you both can move past this moment and thanks you again for what you do. He is not ignorant to the importance of your duties.” She smiled as the male squeezed her.
“Is there anything i could do to show my sincerity?”
Huntress Pan flushed as she received an answer, stuttering before sheepishly passing along the response at a hushed volume so as not to be overheard, the fur on her cheeks passing pink and going straight to a bright red. “D-do you know of a good way to wash out stains from a sheet?”
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Joseph laughed as Pan pouted after having to face the result of her decision the night before, Jax looking at them with an amused raise of his brow. A wave of his hand seemed to be enough to communicate that it wasn’t something he was going to bring up at the moment, the male shrugging and returning to his tutelage of Violet in her pursuit of learning the most mind-numbing writing possible.
He squeezed his mate as Volta excused herself to the facilities wing, either sensing the mood of the room or simply in a hurry to run away from what was likely a harrowing experience of being faced with death so early in the morning.
He felt bad that Tel jumped to threatening her so quickly, but he couldn’t fault the female. Someone she didn’t know made a move to hurt him, and she reacted quickly in his best interest. It was something that any of his friends would do for him. A fact that he greatly appreciated.
He was also glad that Pan wasn’t the one to notice, his girlfriend seeming to have made a new friend would have been ruined if it wasn’t for Tel’s interruption, so that was another point in the grey-furred female’s favour.
The Human did feel bad that Tel seemed to be a little annoyed that he had disappeared last night, him waking up with Pan in his arms and no one else was actually a fairly nice experience given the events, but he did want to sort everything out so that he could go back to the odd ritual of being dog-piled by fluff frequently. He’d settle for getting his pillow back, at least.
That brought up the main issue of the day; Explaining whatever the hell is going to happen with Tel.
He wasn’t looking forward to seeing how Pan would react to his desire to include her in his... whatever this was turning out to be, but it was something that needed to be done.
The dorms opened again, Harrow groggily entering with Sahari and Nalah in tow before half-shouting. “Fill us in on what we missed!”
Joseph released Pan, covering an ear with his hand while scowling at the auditory assault. “Jesus, Harrow. It’s early. Keep it down.”
“Sorry,” she apologized without a hint of regret. Jax chuckled from his seat.
“I believe we are all excited to be regaled the tale of your journey.”
Joseph flipped the male off, a smile on his face forming when Jax repeated the gesture absently while petting the ‘den-kit’. “We’ll get to it. I think Tel is preparing breakfast for everyone, so do you guys want to grab a seat at the table or...”
Harrow walked up to grab his hand in her paw, dragging him to the couches they use to lounge on and pushing him onto it so that he landed on his ass before plopping herself next to him, Pan belatedly taking a seat on his other side with her paw resting on his lap. “Story time!”
He snorted, fighting to remain upright at the demand masquerading as a proclamation. Nalah and Sahari dragged over another couch to sit near-by, Violet wandering over with Jax to claim their spots.
“We’ll wait for Tel before we get into anything on our end. What about here? Harrow mentioned that you guys did a lot, or a lot happened.”
Nalah sat next to Sahari, their contact still light and maintaining a friendly air. Seems like neither used the opportunity of the reunion to press anything in a direction and were merely where they left off. A shame, but he wasn’t about to force anything the moment they got back. The lead planner raised a paw to count off.
“We have constructed two dens, a third nearing completion. The hunter’s lodge has been made fully functional and is where majority of the extended pack process their catch that is not transferred to us for storage. We added a copy of the map for them to use and some of it has been extended, though for now we are limiting excursions so as to maintain safety. The water tower was finished to specifications and rudimentary plumbing has been installed to provide for the dens. The last of our completed constructions is the warehouse where we have placed the carts you brought back, though we haven’t unloaded any of it yet since none of it was perishable.”
Joseph nodded, an impressed raise of his brow given. “Damn, okay. You’ve been busy.”
She chuckled, shrugging off the comment. “We have the foundation for the hall completed, though we were waiting to hear of your exploits to determine if we should proceed quite yet.”
Joseph Inhaled with pursed lips. “We’ll want that, i think.”
Nalah flicked an ear, the curiosity leaking through her otherwise impassive expression. “Oh?”
The door to the facilities wing opened, Tel entering the hub with a tray holding food for everyone in one arm and a smaller tray holding mostly rock-worm and wolf meat. She took a second to fix them before making her way over, passing the larger tray to Sahari to hold and handing him the other, popping a piece in her mouth as she walked behind the couch to rest her arms on the back behind him.
Harrow gave a quizzical look at Joseph receiving his own portion, but quickly shrugged it off as she stole a piece for herself with a smirk. “Other than that, Rob’s contact got in touch with us while you were out.”
The Grand Hunter hummed in question as he chewed, offering the tray to Pan and Tel in turn.
“She got her paws on something from the Atmo on its way to ‘Sol’.”
Joseph coughed, barely managing to swallow his food as his eyebrows shot up. “What?”
Harrow raised a paw to pause his obvious intent to barrage her with questions. “We don’t know yet. The Union took it out before it got there and...” She looked to Pan for clarification.
“Silva,” the Paw dutifully provided, earning a nod of thanks from the orange-furred female.
“Silva managed to copy over some files that were encoded with an unknown language. She seen Violet’s writing and figured out that it was an Atmo cipher.”
The Human frowned skeptically. “And she was able to read it?”
Pan supplemented the answer. “The box in the terminal room is apparently an analyzer. I provided an adaptive translator for scanning and we are now waiting for the results.”
“You guys had a translator... Just... Kicking around? Where?”
“It would have been no use to you, Joseph,” Sahari interjected lazily. He noticed the increasing contact between her and Nalah as they got comfortable while they ate. “It was an external unit used as a basis for more specialized applications. Think of it as a blueprint rather than a product.”
“Ah. Well that’s much less exciting. How the hell did you get your hands on it? Doesn’t seem like standard issue tech to me,” he pondered aloud, Tel resting her jaw atop his head as she spoke.
“That would be my doing.”
He tried to look up at her, failing when he brought up in the backrest and surrendering to his fate as a headrest. “Alright, i guess.”
Harrow tilted her head in response to his casual acceptance. “I thought you’d be more curious.”
“He knows what i am,” Tel replied smugly, her tail spinning in its usual figure eights as she lightly swayed foot to foot.
Harrow moved to inquire further before being cut off by Jax. “You forgot to mention the two blown fuses.”
The Head of Technology paused her protests, quietly finding an interesting spot on the floor to stare at.
“Two?” Joseph asked with a slight exasperation to his voice. “Why? How? Do i need to fix it?”
Harrow shook her head, a slight grin taking place. “No, i fixed it. The first was because the analyzer drew more power than we had wired to allow.”
“Fantastic. I take it you adjusted for that?”
She nodded. “I did... and then i tried to call Rob.” She tapped her claws together in embarrassment. “It turns out that starting communications takes much more power than receiving them.”
Joseph chewed a chunk of rock-worm passively, blinking only once Harrow began fidgeting. “So you went ahead and...”
“I took care of all the wiring that you mentioned we should do at some point. It’s not enough to make outbound communications, but we shouldn’t run into issues for a while at least,” she finished.
“Cool.” He gave an approving thumbs-up. “So, a bunch of buildings, some Union shit i need to wait on... Anything else?” He glanced between the members. Jax scratched at his chin thoughtfully.
“We have begun construction of a walkway around the wall and we have brought back an engine from your shuttle.”
Joseph blinked. “You salvaged an engine from the pod? Why?”
“It’s better than trying to make a standard forge,” Harrow explained, excitement in her voice. “Rob recommended it to us! Apparently his foundries use it too! We just need to power it and add water, then we can get to work processing metals.”
“I have no idea how the hell that’s supposed to work, but if Rob says it, it’s true,” he offered a shrug, trusting his brother to know more about this sort of thing than he ever will. It was his area of expertise.
Nalah felt the need to add to their answer. “You also returned with Volta and two Atmo.”
“Wait, what?”
“Ah,” Pan voiced weakly. “I forgot to mention that.”
He snorted a laugh at her dejected expression, placing a hand on her paw in reassurance. “Two?”
She smiled and flipped her paw to hold his hand. “Yes, Volta was apparently saved by them and asked if we would accept them.”
“Well, shit. Okay.” He took a moment to absorb that information. It confirmed that there was more than just Violet and Mama, but it left the question open as to where they came from, though he had his suspicions. “What’s their names?”
The pack fell quiet.
“You didn’t ask? Or at least give them something for now?” He tried not to show his disappointment, though Pan shrunk due to the bond. When no one wanted to look at him, he ignored Tel’s amused chuckling on his head and sighed. “Well, i guess we should sort that out soon. It’s just cruel not to call them something.”
“We were kind of waiting to see what you would suggest,” Harrow offered, her eyes not wandering near him.
He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I don’t exactly have the best track record with naming things, but sure.” Violet protested from her seat. “Minus you, sweetheart. I’m very happy you like your name so much.”
Placated, the Atmo resumed her passive listening to the discussion, scratching away as they spoke. He wasn’t sure if she was practising specific lettering or if she was trying her hand at stenography, but she seemed happy to be doing whatever it was. A passing thought crossed his mind.
“Actually, Violet?” She paused what she was doing to look at him. “What is your name? Like, before i ended up giving you one since i needed something i could pronounce.”
She grabbed a free tablet and scratched something onto it, displaying the writing for everyone.
“And, it’s Atmo. I can’t really say I’m surprised.” He sighed in defeat. “Is there a Lilhun version that someone here might be able to read?”
Violet thought for a moment, eventually shaking her head.
“It might be that it uses characters for certain sounds and the like that doesn’t translate.” Harrow surmised, nodding to herself when Violet confirmed.
Joseph bobbed his head. “Could you say it? We might be able to at least try it.”
Violet thought for a moment before scratching something onto her tablet to respond. His eyes struggled to make sense of it, but luckily Harrow offered translation. “She likes her name now.”
He felt Pan grip his hand in mirror to how touched he felt. A warm smile donned on his face was interrupted by Nalah cautiously asking a question he was more than happy to delay.
“So why are you marked by Tel?”
His attempt to shrink in an effort to avoid notice was marred by the surrounding Lilhuns looking for an answer, Sahari wearing an unimpressed expression. Jax and Harrow exchanged a glance.
“You are marked?” Pan asked passively with a tipped ear. His chest tightened as he nodded quietly. There wasn’t any notable emotion to her voice besides curiosity, but he was preparing himself for anything at the moment.
Tel chuckled at the attention that was bouncing between him and her, vacating her placement to round the couch, stopping in front of him. “He bears my mark,” she started, cupping his chin and leaning forward to pull him into a deep kiss, the unexpected sensation dulling his mind as he returned it on instinct.
A lustful gaze was given to him as she slowly separated, her eyes captivating in their singular focus. “Because he is my Sheath. I laid my claim upon my male and he has accepted his role.”
The pack paused in unison.
Jax nudged Harrow with his foot. “I win.”