Mazorium #2
Nadia started fussing and crying. The sound filled me with distress.
“It’ll be faster if I carry you,” I insisted, edging closer. “I’m going to put an arm at your back and one under your knees. That way I can carry both of you safely and comfortably.”
She didn’t agree, but when I placed my hands and arms where they needed to go, she didn’t protest or struggle.
If anything, I was sure she relaxed into my embrace.
I stood slowly so she wouldn’t be startled and then made my way over each of the unconscious or crying Tulks and out the still open door.
“You sound like you're purring,” she said as I walked swiftly down the hall.
“What’s purring?” I asked, happy to talk about anything she wanted to.
“There were animals back on Old Earth that purred,” she explained. “It would sound from their chest, like you are doing.”
“Did you like those animals?” I asked. I didn’t want to remind her of something unpleasant. It would be hard to quell my instinct to rumble, but I’d do it if it would make her happy.
“Yes, very much,” she said. “It’s a comforting sound.”
I’d rarely made the sound before buying her, but now I wanted to rumble all the time. It felt natural to produce the soothing sound for her.
She rested her head on my chest and let out a long, deep sigh. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“You have nothing to apologize for,” I assured her. “Those Tulks are responsible—as am I. I promise I’ll never leave you alone and unsecured again. There are innumerable dangers in this universe and you’re too precious to risk.”
She went silent at my words. I hoped it was because she felt safe in my arms. I kept up my soothing rumble and was rewarded further when Nadia went from screaming to soft little whimpers of unhappiness.
Turning a corner, we were confronted by the same station security team that had filed into the medical bay.
“You found her!” the leader said, sounding both relieved and surprised. “We found a vid capture from outside the medical bay of her being dragged away by Effik. We were going to collect her.”
“The candy merchant saw him,” I explained. “He and some of his cohorts are in his living quarters.”
The security leader fluttered his ears nervously. “Uh, are they alive?”
“Yes,” I said. “But I expect them to be charged with thievery.”
“Sir,” the security leader said, his ears still fluttering. “She walked out of the medical bay before Effik came into the picture.”
I was so startled by that news I sounded a surprised rattle. It made my little human jerk in my arms, and I forced my back plates down.
“Even if that’s true, Effik is still guilty of a crime,” I declared. “He was the auctioneer when I bought her. He knew she was my property.”
I looked down at my little human but she wouldn’t meet my gaze. Why would she have left the medical bay alone?
Then it hit me, she’d been scared without me! That explained everything.
“I’m sorry, Mika,” I murmured to her. “I left you alone while you were asleep. You must have woken up terrified!”
She turned wide eyes on me. “Yes, that was it. I was scared.”
“If you ever wake up scared, please don’t come looking for me,” I said. “I promise I’ll always come for you. The best thing for you to do is remain in one place so I can find you easier.”
She nodded then slid her gaze back down to Nadia. The two of them were delicate and vulnerable; of course she wouldn’t want to be without her protector.
I lifted my eyes to the security leader. “Effik and the other Tulks might need medical attention. I do not want them in the same medical bay as my human. She’s been traumatized and having those despicable creatures in the same bay might cause her distress.”
“Of course, sir,” the security leader said. “I will visit you later to record your side of the dispute.”
I sounded an affirmative rattle then walked forward. As I expected, the security team stepped out of my path and I was able to walk the rest of the way to the medical bay without interruption.
One of the security team must’ve contacted them because when I arrived, they were all waiting at the front.
They guided me to a freshly made bed with plenty of pillows and blankets.
When I set Mika down, they were quick to ask her to hand over Nadia.
My human had tears in her eyes but she did as they asked.
I sat close to the bed and kept up a comforting rumble. “Your pup is in good care,” I assured her. “I know they aren’t as attentive as they should be, considering you were able to leave, but the staff has adequate medical knowledge."
She sniffed. “I thought…” A soft sob broke through. I couldn’t take it. I lifted her up and settled her in my lap.
“You can leak water if it will help you rebalance your emotions,” I assured her, rubbing a hand up and down her back.
“Before you got there, I thought I was going to die,” she said between jagged breaths. “I thought he was going to strangle me to death because I didn’t want to lay down and spread my legs for him. Without me, Nadia would've died. I–I–”
To my surprise, she threw her arms around my neck and squeezed me tight. I froze, trying to figure out what she was doing.
Was this what the educational literature referred to as clinging? Was she treating me as she might another human?
I kept up my soothing rumble. I must be a better owner than most because my human already saw me as someone who she could cling to! According to the literature, humans were often reluctant to cling or clutch to Talins.
Warmth spread through my chest and made a strange feeling fizzle through my brain. I refused to examine it. Instead, I focused on Mika.
“Nothing like that will ever happen again,” I promised. “You and Nadia are forever safe in my care.”