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It had taken longer skirting between the geyser flats and the coastal growth, but the borderland was smoother, making it easier to pull the stasis pod. Still, they were making good time, considering their massive setback. Surprisingly, Payim had let her pull him for the entire journey—sort of. He offered to take over after he’d rested for a bit, but she ran, tugging the rope, making it difficult for him to get out, until he relented. Elena grinned, recalling his incredulous smirk. Truth be told, pulling him in the hovering pod wasn’t any harder than hauling her supply bags, at least on level ground. If she had known how easy it was, she would’ve put the effort into getting one out of the canyon long ago. It would’ve made collecting vegetation for the winter a lot easier.

“We’re almost there, with daylight to spare,” she happily announced.

Up ahead the terrain dipped into the marsh. Seeing the slope, a rotten grin transformed her face and she paused.

“Good. I will get to work hooking the stasis pod into the cruiser’s power supply,” Payim said.

“Uh huh.” She nodded as she casually worked her way to the back of the pod, while still guiding it with her hand.

“There should be enough power to run the comm and the water recycler, if we want fresh water.” Payim’s brow furrowed as he turned to look back at her. “What are you doing?”

“Hold on!” She grinned and gave the pod a shove.

“I knew you were up to something!” Payim hollered with a laugh as the stasis pod rocketed down the hill.

“The response is whee!” she yelled as she ran down the hill after him.

“Wheewhat?” Payim laughed harder.

She giggled and shook her head at his honest yet ridiculous question. It was obvious some things just didn’t translate.

“Whee, as in yay, hooray, woo hoo, yippee,” she giggled as she caught up with him.

“Oh. You meaneiyee!” Payim declared boisterously just as he slowed to a stop.

“Yeah.” She shook her head as she grinned. “Do we need to take the pod back up the hill and try that again, so you can get the full effect?”

“Does ametcorhave teeth?” He hopped out of the pod and started pushing it up the hill.

“I gather that means yes,” she chuckled while helping him.

“It does, but it’s a bit derogatory.Metcorare vicious woodland beasts. If they get you, very little is left,” he explained.

“Ah.”

“So, this is the sledding you were talking about. Very fun. Much better than being whipped off a board, although I do think that’s what you were trying to do.” He cocked one eyebrow at her.

“What? Me? Never.” She blinked innocently.

“My mistake,” Payim snorted as they reached the top of the hill.

“You are forgiven,” she declared magnanimously, then squeaked when Payim snared her around the waist, hoisted her up and plopped her in the front of the pod.

Payim ran with the pod for a few paces, then leapt into the back.

“Eiyee!” she shouted, using his word, as she tumbled back against him.

“Whee!” Payim whooped at the same time, wrapping his arms around her as they zipped downward.

With Payim’s strength they really got up to speed, the wind whipping her hair as they zoomed to the bottom of the hill, not stopping even once the ground leveled out. Her heart swelled as Payim laughed, making her giggle harder. Eventually the stasis pod came to a halt.

“Stay inside. It looks muddy.” He glanced down at the ground below.

“I don’t mind the mud.” She shrugged.

“But I can just take my footgear off when we reach the cruiser.” He grabbed the rope and started pulling. “Point the way.”

She took stock of the landmarks, her distant mountain and the taller scrub trees that dotted the marsh, then gestured toward the right.