Shady

"Al. Sir," Aleth said. He had the advantage of it being a single syllable. Tadaaki had no such benefit. "T-ta-d-k-i." Tadaaki huffed and shook his head. Why were those particular ...

Pratik chuckled at that. "I expect she's going to continue bucking at that for a while... should be interesting, being a noble that refuses honorifics."

"F-f-fine," Tadaaki managed, but his head was angled towards Ky and his brow was furrowed in concern as he watched her toss her head fearfully. "O-okay, sir," Aleth said. He ...

Ky thrashed, then clung to the edges of her stretcher for dear life at the change of angles. She was nowhere close to in danger of falling, and yet felt ...

"Oh, I- sorry." Pratik shook his head, blinking. Where had that just come from? Sure, he used it to joke around with his equals, which is how he'd meant it ...

"O-oh..." She shuddered as a fresh wave of cold washed across her burning skin. "... I... not... d-d-dead?"

"Yes, sir." Pratik dipped his head. "If you can find them."

Where was she? Well, she certainly hadn't made it to paradise, that was certain. Which was tragic. She'd tried so hard to be a good person. But she wasn't. They ...

Name. That. That -- you call him -- his. Name. Name. "...Ky?" she said it like she wasn't sure. Because she wasn't. Tadaaki and Aleth both squirreled Terran Bay's name ...

Pratik nodded. "It's endearing to watch them with kids. The way their eyes light up and they look like kids themselves. The... sheer delight, of playing with the children."

Ky tried to obey, but failed, and ended up just taking deeper breaths that were even faster. Name. What was her name? Did she have a name? What... wait, what ...

"I... think I saw it in a few coastal villages in the South," Pratik said, trying to recall the details. "... it was fairly cute."

Her breathing was quick and shallow and labored. It was hot ! Too hot! Ky didn't know where they were, but it felt like they'd walked into an oven. Too ...

"I think it's a newer concept," Pratik said with a nod. "But I think it's great. One city I was in had small children in the house as well. Not ...

Ky's trembling had redoubled, definitely fueled by fear this time in addition to her coldness. The world was... bad. She was breathing heavily, chest tight with anxiety. She didn't know ...