Antyza snored softly, her breath whistling slightly as she breathed. She lay on Runa’s chest, her body tucked under one of Runa’s large arms, and her tail wrapped firmly, though not uncomfortably, around Runa’s leg.

Runa lay awake, staring at the ceiling of the space they shared. Outside, the desert wind whipped and buffeted the strange stone building.

She hadn’t slept well, dipping in and out of sleep, though she always returned to restless consciousness ...