Flynn’s cool fingers closed around Cal’s wrist as it swung behind her, catching her mid-step and forcing her to jerk backwards. His grip wasn’t strong, but it was commanding.

It was remarkable how, in life, people could learn to feel comfortable and familiar with people after only a short space of time. After Allianah, Flynn was the first fairy on Shaman Cal had met, and she was quite certain she was the only ker he had ever met. It was only a few months ago that he’d walked in on her making herself at home in his office and quoting dodgy lines from Xaran plays to Buddy down her communicator. That first conversation had been peppered with confusing cultural phrases on both sides. Cal’s dialogical manner had quickly become a source of amusement in the barracks Flynn had shown her to, and some of them had caught on. Some of the guards made casual, occasional references to tails, and she’d spent a number of late nights teaching her new friends Xaran swearwords. Flynn had never been a part of these linguistics lessons and seemed to prefer his own tailless turns of phrase, but communication with him had nonetheless improved; they could now, at least, hold a conversation which made sense to both parties. More than that, Cal felt more comfortable talking to him than she had her Xaran bosses.

Both reluctant and relieved, she followed him back down the steps towards his bench. Denahi, Flynn’s wolf-dog familiar, was stretched out in front with his legs splayed in all directions. Even the sight of Buddy trying to pick his way around the mess of dog limbs didn’t cheer Cal. She wiped away the tear lingering on her lower eyelash with her free hand without removing her other hand from Flynn’s gentle grasp.

When they’d first met, Cal couldn’t stop staring at Flynn’s vibrant blue eyes. Now, she couldn’t meet his gaze at all. Silence lingered between them for a moment. When Cal eventually did speak, it was in a dull and rather formal tone – the one she employed whenever she had to speak to people more superior than Flynn.

“I have to request an extension of my contract,” she hesitated, and added the dreaded word, “indefinitely.”

Only a few hours ago she’d waved him off, laughing, ready to head home the hero who had helped save a distant planet of fairies. Buddy, having negotiated Denahi’s legs, snuffled her ponytail in lieu of anything to say. Everything which could be said already had been. She reached out with her free arm and rubbed his chin, her fingers lingering on the soft, velvety skin around his nose. What would she do without him, if they were forced apart?

Even around superiors, Cal had never been able to maintain professionalism for very long. Around Flynn, she never lasted more than a few minutes. Where her fingers had previously hung limply in his hand, she now closed them around his and pulled Buddy’s head a little closer.

“Xara’s at war.” Everyone and their dog knew what Xara was by now; Cal talked about home often enough. “The shuttles have been closed. No one can get on or off.” She released Buddy and pushed her palm against her forehead, her fingers loosening a few more strands of hair from her ponytail. “My parents might not have made it off before the shuttles closed. I don’t have any way to contact them. Allianah can get me back, but I’ll be conscripted and Buddy will be reassigned.”

CALDERA