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The ship was old and not well maintained, so the few areas that were lit flickered or went dark unexpectedly. For a human it might be nearly impossible to navigate, but there was enough light for our eyes.

“Tolreum and Mieshorum, go aft and search the storage and bays,” Narmuna ordered. “Lexarit, find the command room and make sure this ship doesn’t leave. I’m going to search the fore and belly areas.”

We all rumbled in agreement and set off.

“Opal!” I shouted, hoping she was conscious and could hear me. Mieshorum joined me in shouting. Every door we came to was closed but not locked, except for one.

“She has to be in here,” I said when I found a door that wouldn't open.

Mieshorum tried several things to the display, but the door remained stubbornly closed.

“It’s only a grade-four door; we can open it,” I said, digging my claws into the seam. Mieshorum joined me and we strained, but it didn’t budge. It might only be a grade-four door, but that was still too much for the two of us to get open.

“What do you think you're doing?” a Vicpor-accented voice cried out. I looked up to see Narmuna and Lexarit carrying a Vicpor between them.

“We found him then heard you shouting,” Narmuna said. “So we dragged him to you.”

I focused on the Vicpor. “Is my human in here?”

“The humans in there belong to me,” the Vicpor said, struggling against Narmuna and Lexarit.

“I know she doesn't, because she was stolen from me,” I roared, filling the hall with my challenging rattle. “Give her back!”

The Vicpor seemed to wilt as his first and second sections folded down to make him look smaller. A clear sign of fear.

“Yes, yes,” he whispered, keeping his eyes down.

I moved out of the way so Narmuna and Lexarit could push him to the door. He tapped on the display, releasing the door. It slid open to reveal a room empty except for Opal lying on the floor and another human huddled in a corner next to her.

“Opal!” I cried, rushing in and sliding to my knees next to her. “I was so scared I wouldn't find you in time.”

“Tolly? You found me,” she said, blinking rapidly and moving to sit up. She moved awkwardly, probably because she'd been laying on a hard floor. “You’re amazing and wonderful and brilliant and all the incredible adjectives."

“I wish I’d been faster,” I said and she wrapped her arms around my neck.

“Except this is all my fault,” she said, her voice small. “I’m sorry I ran.”

I pressed my cheek against the top of her head and purred. “This is entirely my fault; you have no reason to be sorry.”

She let out a startled sound. “What?”

“We were planning to talk to you, but we waited too long,” I said. “I understand why you left. This is entirely on me. I promise I’ll make it up to you.”

Her mouth dropped open and her eyes went wide. “Uh, sure.”

“Can you talk, human?”

I looked past Opal to see Mieshorum crouched down next to the other human. I’d been so focused on Opal I’d forgotten about her.

The human’s eyes were open, but it didn’t seem like she was focusing on anything.

“Her name is Sloane,” Opal said. “She needs to come with us.”

“Of course,” I said.

Mieshorum sounded a rumble of agreement. “I’m going to pick you up, Sloane. Are you hurt anywhere?”

Again, Sloane remained silent. We looked to Opal, but she lifted her shoulders in the movement humans called a shrug. She didn’t know either.