Chapter Text
Soryn sank against the wall, legs bent, nearly collapsing. Her tail wrapped around her neck, the tip against her cheek. She buried her face in it. The empty room, a holding place they had passed through earlier, felt suffocating.
Footsteps thudded next to her. Boots squeaked against the linoleum. "Soryn?"
"Why didn't you stop them?" Her voice came out barely more than a whisper. Claws dug into her arms. Ears pinned against her hair. Heart hammered in her throat, choking anything else she felt she might say. The air thickened.
A pause. "I-" He paused again. "They-" Another pause. A sigh. "There's nothing I could've done."
The defeat in his voice hurt less than the crack in her chest. "Why do they treat people like that?"
"I don't know." He sat next to her with a grunt. "They always have."
She pulled her legs tighter against her chest. Her tail-tip was wet and warm against her face.
"I tried to warn you," he said after a moment. "I didn't know you'd have to see that though. I'm sorry."
Her throat tightened.
A heavy pause, then he cleared his throat. "They're cruel. They've always been that way. They don't see us as people."
She flinched. "They treated me like an animal."
Shamrock's voice rang through her head.
"It's pretty."
"Can we get one like it?"
"We can always buy a snow leopard, can't we?"
He was eight. And he was already a monster. Just like his father. The same coldness and callousness in a child's skin.
Fabric shifted. His shoes squeaked. "They saw you as a collectable."
Her breath stopped. A....collectable? Her mind reached for the shells in her box; gifts from Voss over the years. She’d lined them up by color, by size—she’d even polished them once. She’d never named them. Never pretended they had feelings. But she hadn’t expected them to. That was a collectible. Not people!
"But you're away now." His hand touched her shoulder.
She curled tighter; he froze. "I wanna go home." Her voice cracked.
"Of course, shirak," he said softly. "We'll-"
The doors leading to the bondola for Sabaody burst open. A marine officer appeared in the doorway, sharp and purposeful in the crisp white uniform of a lieutenant. His coat bore the unmistakable Marine emblem, draped neatly over his shoulders. In his gloved hands, he held a sealed envelope stamped with the World Government’s wax insignia - orders from the highest command. Without a word, he gave a swift salute. “Rear Admiral Voss, urgent orders from Headquarters.”
Voss stood immediately, grabbing the message. The lieutenant handed him a blunt knife - a letter opener.
Soryn looked up, her fur prickling from the marines' nervous shifting. His hands were folded behind his back, his gaze fixed on Voss as her father slit open the wax.
"Shit," Voss growled. He shoved the message into his pocket. "Bellro, isn't it?"
The man nodded. "Yes, sir."
"Tell them 'code 546'," Voss said, casting a quick look at Soryn.
Bellro nodded again and saluted. "Yes, sir." He turned and left in a hurry.
Soryn looked up at Voss as he held out a hand. "What's going on?" I've never seen him get a message like that before. A sealed letter?
He didn't meet her gaze. "Change of plans." When she took his hand, he led her towards the doors to Mariejois.
She tugged back. "Daddy, what's happening?"
He stopped just before the door, then crouched to her level. His lips pursed into a thin line. "Shirak, there's trouble in the North Blue. I've been reassigned to Dreknar Base to help with some problems there."
Dreknar? North Blue? Her tail bushed. "Wait - reassigned?!" Eyes wide, she tried to back away. "Why? Why you?" Her voice rose an octave.
He put his free hand on her shoulder. "Soryn. It's okay."
Her vision blurred, her eyes welling up. "No! What about school? What about my shells? What-What about home?" Her chest heaved, tail lashing as she fought to pull away. No no no!
Voss grabbed her shoulders, keeping her from backing away. "Soryn!" His voice rose, snapping against her ears.
She froze. Her fur bushed. Ears pinned back.
"We don't have time to go back," he said firmly but gently. "They'll send someone to pack the house and deliver our things to the base, but they need me at Dreknar immediately." His voice lowered to a low rumble. "It'll be okay. I promise."
Soryn met his gaze. But there was no reassurance. No comfort.
Only worry.