Time, eroded like water on stone.
The vessel cradled them through the night like a rocker.
Slowly, Cecilia lifted her head from under the blanket, blinking into the pale morning light with furrowed brows.
dii… dii… dii…DII! DII! DII!
Something was ringing.
Loudly.
Without opening her eyes, she slapped around the nightstand until her palm finally landed on the bracelet and silenced it.
ghh…my neck…
For a few seconds, she stayed there, her face half-buried in the pillow.
Then she dragged herself out of bed, shuffling her feet across the floor.
Cecilia folded the blanket and headed into the bathroom for one last shower. By the time she returned, Ikade was already brushing out her hair.
They talked quietly while changing and packed a couple of bags with extra outfits and hygiene supplies. Nothing fancy—only what they needed. Before leaving, they made one last pass through the dorm for anything that might spoil while they were gone.
Once everything was set, they locked up and headed out, following the corridors toward the nearest cafeteria.
dum…dum…dum…
Cecilia's eyes wandered while Ikade talked beside her, dissolving into meaningless noise.
"…but you listened in the end. Took three days, but you always listen to me eventually."
Cecilia's gaze slid toward her.
"Don't sound so proud of yourself."
Ikade's ears perked up instead.
Her gaze moved over the cafeteria—the workers behind the counters, the varied expressions, the little clusters of people eating.
The two joined the line and inched forward with the crowd. Trays in hand, they shuffled toward a table a worker had just wiped down.
They set their trays down and Cecilia slipped her bag between her feet before taking a seat.
Cecilia unwrapped the plastic fork and poked at the scrambled eggs, feeling the heat rise from them. She blew on the first bite, then focused on eating rather than her throbbing head.
Once they finished, they left their trays behind.
Cecilia pulled up her map and searched for an office, her bag already weighing on her shoulders.
After punching in the address, the staircases and corridors around them seemed to shift frame by frame—tightening, widening, then swelling again.
Before long, they found it.
A small office packed wall to wall with people.
"Good thing we filled them out earlier, right?" Ikade muttered.
They grabbed a ticket, then took their seats and watched the number on the screen crawl forward.
「Ping! Number XXX.」
Cecilia turned toward the chair across from the worker.
Before she could sit, she was already behind the wheel of the freighter, tossing her bag aside and pulling off her jacket.
"That took forever…I seriously thought there'd be less people."
"..."
When Ikade didn't answer, Cecilia glanced over her shoulder and found her hunched over the computer, her mouth slightly open while she worked. A headphone covered the sides of her head, while two small buds were tucked into the fluffy ears above.
With a shake of her head, Cecilia held the start button until the engine cranked to life.
A whistle passed through the cabin a second later.
click.
rrr-rrr-rrr…
VRMMM…
mmmmmmmm…
She set the engine to high idle and waited with one hand near the controls, its heavy mumble filling the cabin.
Once most of the gauges reached a stable range, she dropped the idle, held down the brake and shifted into gear, a familiar jerk ran through the freighter.
The heavy vehicle rolled forward as the guide in front of her signaled. She glanced at the side mirrors, watching them shift just enough to widen her field of view.
Thnk!
"It's too damn wide. I feel like I'm gonna hit something."
Cecilia lifted her head and inched forward, slow and careful. A few turns later, she found herself queued behind a line of normal-sized vehicles, all packed to the brim with supplies.
While she waited, she reached for her bookbag and pulled out her camera.
After fumbling with it for a moment, she found a way to mount it to the ceiling. She switched it on and hit record.
A harsh white glare flooded her vision all at once.
For a second, she couldn't see anything but washed-out light and her own reflection in the glass. Then, bit by bit, the glare faded away.
A stomach-twisting drop waited beyond the windshield.
The ramp sloped toward the ground, its weight suspended by cables that looked far too thin from this height.
The metal groaned faintly under the weight of the vehicles ahead.
Cecilia's fingers curled tighter around the wheel, and a shiver ran down her back.
VRRRM…rrrmm…GRNNN—!
"Howdoislowthisdown!"
Her gaze snapped around in a panic.
Click.
brrraap…brrraap…
The two stared at each other while Ikade slowly retracted her hand, her fluffy ears twitching with smug satisfaction.
"...how'd you find it?"
"Uhh...it's labeled. Right there beside you." Ikade pointed toward the controls. "Duh."
Cecilia whipped her head forward, watching the scenery unfold while grumbling under her breath while Ikade stumbled away.
The engine note deepened and the freighter began holding itself back. Cecilia eased her foot off the brake, letting the retarder carry some of the weight.
Below, the dunes rolled in long waves, with scattered patches of green breaking up the land and drawing closer with every meter.
A lens flare crowned the moment.
Until.
WHAM—THUD—KRRRK!
"What the—!"
The front tires hit the ground harder than she expected. The cab jerking before the rest of the freighter followed, leveling out with a heavy bash, a could of dust forming around the vehicle.
Cecilia turned her head just in time to see Ikade get flung upward, then slammed straight onto the floor, her curses cutting through the cabin.
She offered a weary smile and mouthed an apology before facing forward and switching the retarder off.
"You alive down there?"
"That...Hurt!"
Smack!
Cecilia flinched when Ikade's hand clipped the side of her head from below.
"Ow..."
Once they slowed a little more, Ikade dragged herself upright with a wounded groan. One hand rubbed her bottom while the other clung to Cecilia's seat for balance.
Cecilia grumbled under her breath and faced forward again.
Maneuvering away from the traffic, Cecilia chose an open patch of ground near the makeshift market.
Chk.
Cecilia set the brake and killed the engine. The vibration drained from the cabin, leaving both of them to sigh before she unbuckled and stood.
No signs, no painted lines and nobody waving her around.
"Mmm~"
She stretched her arms above her head, then glanced toward Ikade.
"Well. Might as well finish up here. Right?"
"I guess."
They exchanged a look before heading down the stairs. The moment Cecilia pushed the door handle, the glare outside struck them like a thunderflash.
Both raised a hand against the sun, blinking hard while waiting for their eyes to adjust.
Cecilia took Ikade's hand and guided her toward the rear of the vehicle. At the ladder, she let go and climbed onto the rear bed.
With a firm yank, the stairs dropped and slammed against the ground below, dust kicking up lightly.
Ikade climbed the steps onto the porch.
Together, they loosened the straps holding the remaining boxes to the rear bed and carried the first load into the cabin.
For the last crate, they each grabbed one side and carried it toward the cabin lift, stopping once to adjust their grip before lowering the platform.
"I'm starting to have second guesses."
Cecilia stared at Ikade's cheeky smile, her brows slowly pulling together.
"Just kidding.~"
Ikade slipped past her and headed for the stairs, vanishing from sight beneath a trail of light footsteps.
"Hhah."
Cecilia shook her head and turned toward the vehicle's side storage. She pulled one of the handles, sending the cover sliding upward while the panel beneath it lowered toward her. A half-filled compartment of maintenance equipment waited inside.
A soft hum slipped from her lips while she reached inside for a crowbar. Back at the crate, she wedged its metal tip beneath the lid.
Click...click..thunn.
She crouched and peered into the crate, counting the tools one by one. After confirming the contents, she started sorting some of them into storage.
Then she split.
One became two. Two became several.
Each Cecilia picked up a tool and moved. Several found places to hang them while another hauled the remaining pieces into the cabin.
Before long, only one remained, sweating lightly while she took a short break atop the closed crate.
"That took way too long."
She pushed herself up and headed toward the lift.
When she stepped on, a press of her foot sent the platform climbing.
Once it reached the top, she stepped inside.
Step...step...step.
Her last footstep echoed through the cabin.
A feline tail swayed in her direction, flicking lazily beneath the single light. Ikade was already sorting through the supplies they had carried inside.
While Ikade worked, Cecilia turned to the remaining box's and quickly opened the first one up.
Wall padding filled the box, each piece a slightly different shade. Cecilia tested them against the dark interior one by one, shifting their positions until they looked right before peeling away the adhesive liners.
A smaller package was next.
She tore it open, pulled out a soft blanket with a beast sprawled across its surface and tossed it over the couch.
Then she moved toward the sink on her right.
Her fingers hovered over the knob, then twisted it.
Water burst out in a sudden spray before tapering into a steady stream.
Their conversation wandered while the cabin slowly became like home. After cleaning herself up, Cecilia opened another package and found two light fixtures inside.
They took their time choosing where to hang them, then tucked the cable into the crevices near the ceiling with magnetic hooks.
In between, Ikade took a break on the couch, tearing into a small bag of chips.
Cecilia, for her part, walked over to the workstation and sliced open a thin package.
Inside sat a matte silver wall mount.
She held it against the wall, nudging it higher, lower and slightly to the side until it lined up just right.
Only then did she flip her knife again and cut away the padding beneath it.
"Mhm...right about there."
She muttered, digging back into the box.
A few brackets came out next, along with a small pack of bolts. Cecilia lined them up with the threaded mounting points already set into the wall, held the mount in place and tightened each bolt until it sat flush.
She gave it a firm tug, then nodded to herself.
At last came the miscellaneous stuff.
They strung a hammock between the couch and the table, secured a miniature fridge beneath the work desk, locked away a couple of board games and stacked several packs of water beside the couch.
A small speaker claimed the corner.
"Huwah…I think my legs are officially finished."
"Oh? Look at that. Someone's getting fluffy."
Cecilia reached over and pinched Ikade's side, gently tugging at the soft fluff with a grin.
Ikade stiffened—then sprang a few feet away, her ears snapping back.
"Me? Getting fat? That's slander."
"You're the one who bought the chips."
"They were...discounted."
Cecilia snorted.
Ikade narrowed her eyes, her tail brushing along her side. Eventually, once their bickering faded, Ikade crouched near the wall and plugged the lights in.
flic.
Warm light spilled across the cabin.
It washed over the padded walls, the red couch, the mounted fixtures, and the swaying hammock, while shadows stretched across the floor. Strips of sunlight cut through the so-called windows, overlapping with the glow.
They kept going.
A slim, silver-clad A/C unit waited between them. Cecilia took one end and Ikade grabbed the other, both straining to lift it toward the ceiling support beam.
They lowered it again, and Cecilia dug through the packing foam for the mounts and a small bag of bolts and nuts.
She fitted the mounts onto the back of the unit and slid them along the rail until they matched the beam. Then they raised it again, Ikade held it steady while Cecilia worked the bolts in one by one.
The A/C settled against the support with a dull click.
"Any day now..." Ikade's arms begun to tremble.
"Stop moving."
The final bolt tightened, leaving the A/C seated against the beam.
Cecilia stepped back, stared at it for a second, then blinked.
"...Battery."
After digging through the box again, she pulled out a matte black module marked with small symbols across its face. Cecilia turned it once in her hand, found the slot at the side of the unit and pushed it in until it clicked.
The work kept going through the afternoon. Every time Cecilia thought they were done, Ikade found one more thing hiding in a box.
By the time the cabin stopped looking like a pile of opened packages, the early dawn had begun pressing through the windows.
srrp…
"This took way longer than I thought it would."
She crushed the empty water bottle and tossed it into a hanging bin, the lid spun a few times before settling.
"Kae?"
She turned and found Ikade fast asleep, her head bobbing with every soft snore. Cecilia's eyes softened. She pushed herself up, eased Ikade onto her side and pulled the thick blanket over her.
Cecilia paused to rub the soft white pom of Ikade's ear.
It began twitching almost immediately.
After tucking her in, Cecilia switched off the warm lights, leaving only a single one glowing overhead. She leaned over the couch toward the placard near the generator and read through the information printed across it.
Her eyes skimmed it, then the small screen beneath them.
A few seconds passed.
Then she pressed a button.
vrrrmmm…rrr…r…
The generator was turned off, buts its fan kept churning.
Fhh...sixty hours, huh? Let's see...PTO, three power banks and nine-fifty kilowatt-hours altogether.
...so...I only need to charge it every once in a while.
She ran through the numbers once more. Satisfied, Cecilia straightened up, gave Ikade one last glance and returned to the driver's seat.
Dim light from outside spilled through the windshield. Cecilia fumbled near the dashboard until her fingers found a small knob. She gave it a twist until static crackled from below.
She adjusted the dial beside it, turning it until a voice suddenly cut through the noise.
〈...op playing around you dumb fu—! Get in already!〉
Cecilia paused.
Then lifted her legs and perched them on the steering wheel, letting the chatter drone on while she passed the time.
A few minutes later, Cecilia yawned and stretched her arms overhead before muting the speaker.
Beyond the windshield, a few vehicles were parked nearby, people coming and going between them. Cecilia lifted her wrist, and a screen flickered to life above her bracelet, the time glaring back at her.
Sixteen forty-five already...whatever. Something'll show up sooner or later.
She stared at the screen for another second.
Actually, I'll do it me-self.
With that, she stood up, grabbed her jacket from the seat and slipped her arms into the sleeves.
Picking up the backpack resting on the table, she headed down the cabin stairs.
Was it always this damn cold down here…? I can't even remember.
She shook her head, letting the thought fade as her eyes settled on the temporary market beyond.
People.
An abundance of them, of every race.
They moved side to side, passing one another in an endless flow. Cecilia blended into their parade, her footsteps dissolving into theirs. Their faces carried a whole circus of expressions.
Makeshift stalls stood in mismatched rows, thrown together.
Her breath left in faint puffs against the air. Little by little, more and more people began to brandish their own pieces—small things, heavy things, otherworldly things.
Dawn painted everyone in orange and white, sunlight catching in their eyes.
Her gaze followed the silhouette of a navy-clad man, his guard uniform melting into the structures around him.
All the way until he became someone else.
"Hmm? What've you got in stock, Shady?"
A vehicle sat behind the stalls, away from the busiest paths, its lower half painted the color of sand. Beside it lounged a man in worn clothes and a beanie marked by dozens of small cuts.
"Well, that's blunt. Don't look at me like that—I'm fragile."
The beanie-wearing man let out a dry, crackling laugh. He rose from his folding chair and walked to the back of his vehicle. With a thunk, he pulled the handle at the top, and several racks of goods slid out.
His one good canine ear flicked while he stepped aside, digging into his pocket and pulled out a cigarette.
Cecilia moved down the rows, brushing past lightly used clothes and unexpired medicine until she reached a smaller section.
"Flashbangs? How the hell did you get those…"
She stared at them for another second.
"You know what, forget it. I'll take one. Got any knives? Something quieter?"
Cecilia fired off a few more questions while he gathered her order across a small table. Then he dragged out two crates and flipped their lids aside.
The smile on his face never wavered, his beanie still shadowing his eyes.
Her gaze swept through the boxes. She picked out two knives and tested their grips before handing one back, keeping the other—the one with the longer steel.
"We've also got this, if you're interested."
thmp.
"Resiniferan, strong enough for Ursine...maybe even a Vouivre."
"Huh, as if they'd ever let you try."
Cecilia picked up two larger canisters and handed them over, one black, the other orange. Smoke curled from the tip of his cigarette in a thin trail.
"That'll be two hundred fifty dollars."
Cecilia stared at him for a moment.
She slung her backpack around to the front, turned slightly and pulled out her purse. After counting the money, she handed it over.
After the man took the cash, he counted it too, then passed over her order.
Cecilia accepted the order without a word and tucked the flashbang, knife and canisters into her backpack.
Satisfied, she zipped the bag and slipped her arm through the strap, securing it against her body.
She stepped into the moving crowd and gave the merchant a lazy wave. A yawn followed, hidden behind the same hand.
What remained of the sunlight thinned while she walked, draining between the stalls and the vessel above.
A sudden headlight flickered on, washing part of the street in white.
Then another.
And another.
One by one, more lights followed.
Their beams cut across her face with every step. The rumble of engines and generators soaked into the air, mixing with the crowd's song.
People gathered wherever they could.
Around makeshift fires.
Around folding tables dragged out beside vehicles. Around dented grills balanced over whatever was handy, sizzling while tired voices traded complaints.
Farther down, a few more lingered beneath a hanging lantern with cups in hand, their eyes tired even from where she stood.
Life.
Cecilia slowed without meaning to.
For a moment, she just stood there, letting the busy of the street pass around her. Voices overlapped. Boots scraped against metal and packed dirt.
Somewhere, someone bickered.
She inhaled.
Chilly air, smoke, food, oil, dust.
She lifted her eyes toward the night sky.
Cecilia exhaled.
The miniature town brightened in uneven patches, shadows wavering like leaves on a swaying branch.
And, at the end of her short walk, Cecilia found a lone feline sitting on the edge. Her legs swayed back and forth.
Back and forth.
Bundled in a thick blanket, Ikade gazed up at the shimmering lights overhead.
Her tail flicked lazily. Her fluffy ears twitched at every passing sound.
Warm light traced Ikade's profile, softening the edges of her face. The blanket rose and fell with each quiet breath.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Cecilia exhaled through her nose and walked up the metal stairs. She stopped beside Ikade before lowering herself down to join her. Her shoulders slouched the second she sat, the weight of the bag fading with them.
Cecilia set the bag beside her and reached inside. Her fingers closed around the bright orange canister and she held it out.
Ikade blinked, her eyes shifting from the lights to the canister.
"What's that?"
"Resiniferan." Cecilia said softly. "In case a...fearh suddenly attacks."
"You went shopping without me. How cruel."
Ikade huffed, leaning her shoulder into Cecilia's and taking the bright canister from her hand.
The two sat there a while longer, the patchwork glow flickering around them, their words blending into the hum of the night.
"Chessie?"
"Hm?"
"…Suki."
Cecilia kept her eyes on the lights ahead, though her shoulder pressed a little more firmly against Ikade's.
"...Yeah."
"..."