Sera struggled to keep her composure as Koda, the bear cub they'd rescued, continued his relentless assault on her tail. "Oi! Sit still, will you! It's just a damn wash!" she grumbled, her voice tinged with exasperation. Koda was anything but cooperative, squirming and wriggling to avoid the soapy water. He playfully snapped his teeth at her tail again, sending Sera into a minor panic as she tried to pull him away without getting bitten.
"Ack! DONT BITE MY TAIL! IT'S NOT A TOY!" Sera yelped, dancing around in a desperate attempt to shake the cub off her. The scene was almost comedic—Sera, a battle-hardened warrior, being bested by a mischievous little cub who clearly thought this was all a game.
Koda, recently named, was determined to prove that his near-death experience from a few hours ago was a distant memory. He chomped down once more on her tail with surprising strength, and Sera's patience was wearing thin. Her brows twitched as she reached her boiling point, her thoughts seething with frustration. This bear will be the death of me! I should've left him where I found him!
After one too many nips, Sera had enough. With a swift, yet gentle swat, she sent Koda tumbling head over paws, his eyes swirling in a daze as he regained his balance. He staggered in small circles, clearly trying to process what had just happened.
For Koda, Sera's firm but playful reprimand felt oddly familiar, almost like the roughhousing he used to have with his older sister before he lost her to the dangers of the wild. Despite his situation and the injuries he carried, the cub found a strange comfort in Sera's presence—a sense of safety that was rare in this brutal world. He might not have understood much, but he knew that this group was different; they were survivors, like him.
Sera finally let out a sigh of relief, wiping the sweat from her brow as she surveyed her work. There, all clean! she thought with a hint of pride. Koda's fur was now free of dirt and grime, and he looked much more like the cute cub they had found rather than a bedraggled survivor.
"Bossu! Can I play with Koda?" Ava's voice interrupted Sera's moment of satisfaction. She didn't even wait for a response; before Sera could react, Ava swooped in and scooped up Koda, hugging him tightly as if he were nothing more than a plush toy.
Sera's eye twitched in irritation as Ava's blatant disregard for permission grated on her nerves. She didn't even ask properly… But instead of snapping, Sera let it slide. For once, she allowed herself to enjoy the rare moment of peace, watching as Ava played with the cub who seemed much more compliant in her arms.
Zyra, leaning against the wall with a small smile on her face, observed the scene. "It's strange to see you like this, Sera," she said, her tone more reflective than teasing. "You've changed, you know? I never thought you'd be the type to take in a stray and let someone like Ava get away with her antics."
Sera shot a quick glance at Zyra, her lips curving into a reluctant smile. "Yeah, well, I guess I've mellowed out a bit," she replied, her voice softer. "Not that I had much of a choice. Koda's a handful, and Ava… she's something else entirely."
After the commotion with Koda settled down, the group gathered in the cargo bay, where the makeshift lights flickered, casting a dim glow over the scattered equipment and supplies. The air was filled with the low murmur of conversation, a mixture of curiosity and concern about what their next move should be.
"So, what's the plan, Sera?" Zyra asked, her eyes meeting Sera's with an expectant look. The question hung in the air, heavy with anticipation.
Sera thought for a moment, considering their options. "We need to clear a few of those blocked entrances and see if there's anything useful we can salvage from the upper floors," she said finally. "I'm not expecting to find much of value, but it's worth a shot. If this landship has any hidden compartments or storage areas, we'll need to uncover them."
Alaric nodded thoughtfully, his arms crossed. "Makes sense," he agreed. "We might not find anything groundbreaking, but every little bit helps. And if there are any working parts left in this old ship, they could make a big difference in making it livable."
Ava, who had been quietly fidgeting with a piece of scrap metal, looked up with wide eyes. "Hey, bossu, what about Koda? Can I bring him along when we explore?" she asked, her voice tinged with excitement.
Sera raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching with amusement. "Only if you promise not to let him cause chaos," she teased, though there was a hint of seriousness behind her words. "I don't need him chewing through anything important."
Ava gave a playful salute, her grin wide and bright. "You got it, boss! Koda will be on his best behavior!" she promised, though the mischievous glint in her eye suggested otherwise.
With the plan set, the group divided their tasks once more. Sera and Zyra would lead the charge to clear the debris and explore the higher floors of the landship, while Alaric, Ava, and the remaining engineers focused on securing the cargo bay and organizing their supplies.
As they dispersed, Sera couldn't help but glance back at Koda, who was now happily playing in Ava's lap. Maybe taking in that cub wasn't such a bad idea after all, she mused. The bear seemed to bring a certain lightness to their otherwise grim situation, a reminder that even in the darkest times, there was always room for something soft and innocent.
The day passed in relative calm, with each member of the crew focused on their tasks. The quiet moments were punctuated by occasional laughter or the sound of metal clanging as they moved debris aside. Despite the looming challenges and the uncertainty of their journey, there was a growing sense of camaraderie—a bond that was slowly, but surely, knitting them all together.
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows over the landship, Sera took a deep breath and allowed herself a rare moment of contentment. They were far from safe, far from secure, but for now, they had each other. And sometimes, that was more than enough.