To Qalu’s astonishment, Aevi sprinted for Bojak and climbed right up him, like she’d done it a thousand times before. The human stood carefully to avoid making her use her claws. “Right, we’re set then. I’ll answer all her questions and catch up with the rest of you later.”

“I’ve never seen one of those,” she whispered to Helix. “When did you?”

Maybe this was something else he didn’t remember. He might have no idea.

But he said, “Beryl is human. I know I’ve told you about her and Zylar. I don’t know if I mentioned her species.”

She searched her memory, then said, “I don’t think so. You said she was accidentally taken from a low-tech planet, that they don’t even have star travel yet. How did Bojak get here then?”

It was more of a rhetorical question, but Praxys heard it. “That’s his story to tell. Ask him directly if you want to know.”

Qalu heard the sharpness, and she had the sense that she’d offended, though she wasn’t entirely sure how. Possibly Praxys was simply protective of his crew? Carow signaled with a soft churr.

“Follow me. Everything is quite compact, but we have all the facilities you could require while we’re in transit.” Efficiently, Carow explained all the amenities, and most of it was similar enough to what they used on Tiralan that Qalu had no questions.

Everything behind her felt like a blur, and her whole body ached. She wasn’t accustomed to sleeping outdoors, huddled for warmth, or subsisting on rations. Her prior life had been incredibly privileged, a fact that she was only just realizing.

“Let me know if you need anything,” Carow said.

“Wait,” she said.

“Yes?”

“Could you please provide everyone’s pronouns?”

“Certainly. He for Bojak and Praxys. They for Maglan and me.”

“Understood. Thank you.”

“Then if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.” It wasn’t really a question and Carow made that clear by leaving as soon as they said it.

I’m on a ship. I’ve left Tiralan, maybe for good. I don’t know when I’ll see my mothers again, if ever. Though Qalu understood all of that before, the facts slammed into her like she’d run into a wall at top speed. She lost her breath and reached out to steady herself, only to find Helix there already, letting her use him for support. And when she tried to move away, to give him space, he didn’t let her.

“You have permission to touch me, always,” he said. “There’s nothing I would deny you, least of all this.”

Stunned, she lifted her face, head tendrils fluttering. “You’re all right with physical contact now?”

“I wouldn’t be with anyone else. But you exist outside all of the usual parameters.”