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“Tell me they ripped him apart,” Payim demanded.

“They did.” She nodded. “It was not pretty.”

Payim grunted, relishing the mental image.

“Gryphons?” Faktil asked.

“Think raptor mixed with ametcor,” he explained to his friend. “Elena managed to befriend them while she’s been here.”

“Impressive.” Faktil shook his head in amazement.

“Very impressive.” Payim grinned, filled with pride for his amazing mate. “I arrived to see Elena walking away from the herd of gryphons. I’d been hunting for her with the cruiser I took from the other scaly bastards. It was close, but we managed to get out of the danger zone just as the small volcanoes were erupting, and now we’re here.”

“The reptiles really shouldn’t have threatened you,” Elena growled as she patted Payim’s chest, and his grin broadened.

“Noted. I will keep my opinions about Payim to myself,” Faktil teased as he backed up.

Payim chuckled at his friend’s antics then noticed the medic hovering nearby, who’d stopped working, equally wrapped up in Elena’s story. He adored how at ease she was and the way she instantly had everyone’s rapt attention, but that wasn’t helping her injuries.

“Do you mind?” He pointed at his mate’s knee.

“Yes. Apologies.” The medic got back to work.

Elena

“Thank you.” Elena smiled at the bony doctor as he finished treating her, hoping she hadn’t been overtly gawking at him.

The Osivoire kindly nodded to her, then proceeded to turn to Payim and started working on his bicep, instantly distracting her from her observation of the unusual people.

“Payim!” Her eyes widened, suddenly horrified. He’d led her to believe all the blood mixed with mud was from the nasty reptiles he’d tangled with.

“It’s a scratch. I am fine.” Payim shrugged.

She rolled her eyes to the ceiling in exasperation.

“I’m relieved you both are well,” Thorac chuckled at their antics, then grew serious as he focused on Payim. “What’s your risk assessment? As much as I want to stay anchored here and wait for Scala, it might be safer to head out to deeper water.”

Elena studied the alien man’s face. He was an entirely different species from Payim. A hard white armor coated Thorac from head to foot. Bony ridges ran over the crown of his head, and though he was clothed, they appeared to be on his arms and legs, too. It was intriguing how despite his whole body being covered in the bony shell, Thorac still had a broad range of movement and even facial expressions. Although at the moment his face was stiff and stoic.

“I think we are safe while cloaked here. The Jurou Biljana vessel is shielded in the hangar and the other wreckage is a day's walk on the other side of the dormant volcano,” Payim reported, in an equally serious tone.

She couldn’t help but smile at his badass soldier side, but then she blinked realizing there were things she needed to mention.

“Oh. Besides my people in stasis in the canyon tunnels, I definitely think there’s survivors at the reptiles’ base.” She looked to Payim, knowing he recalled the empty pods in the chasm. “The way those assholes talked, I’m pretty sure of it.”

“I unfortunately had my suspicions.” Payim nodded morosely. “We’re looking at roughly a score of humans.”

“That complicates the situation.” Thorac appeared to mull over the information. “However, if we are safe for now, we can discuss this in depth tomorrow.”

“Agreed, after you rest,” Faktil, the Cadi man, said.

Faktil was Cadi, though slightly shorter and a bit stockier than Payim. Faktil was also bare chested, tattooed and wore a kilt. Apparently Payim wasn’t the only one with that unusual choice of attire. Maybe all the Cadi dressed like gladiators.

Movement caught her attention and she turned to see the blond furry man making a series of gestures. He truly looked an awful lot like a Wookie.

They’re called Toufik, she recalled.

“Thunder said he’s glad to have me back and is pleased to have a new comrade,” Payim translated. “It’s good to be back,” he replied to Thunder.