Read Hunting a Soul for Free Online Page A

was time to return to the outfitter.
    Her unit chirped and she lifted it to her mouth. “Hello?”
    “Hi, Lee. It’s Veera. Are you interested in coming up for tea?”
    “Now?”
    “Yes. Zeyan is here and she is leaving tomorrow now that you are all settled.”
    “On my way up.”
    She stroked Krix, and he flapped his wings happily. He loved spending time with Fixit.
    The lift was the only way to get to the upper level without exhausting herself, so she entered on the ground floor and pressed the icon for the upper level.
    The reception desk was empty, but she could hear talking inside, so she followed the eager flapping of Krix and entered the main office.
    In the couch area, Zeyan and Veera were sitting with a three-tier tray in front of them and several cups on a tray with a teapot.
    “Lee, come in. Have a seat. Krix, Fixit is in the aerie down the hall. He is waiting to give you a good grooming.”
    Lee set Krix down on the ground, and he quickly waddled toward the aerie.
    It had taken her four days to go from Leadra to Lee, and she was content with the change. It made her feel part of something again and gave her the sensation that the folks around her knew her. She had friends again.
    Lee settled down and Veera smiled as she poured the tea.
    “He looks like he is going to evolve soon. That will mean little ones running around. Krix was Fixit’s youngest. It is going to be the end of an era for me. I feel like a grandmother watching the children going to higher education.” Veera sighed.
    Lee sipped at her tea. “I was going to ask you to watch over him while I am gone, but he is insisting on coming with us.”
    Zeyan shook her head. “I have no idea how you can be slaves to those little creatures.”
    Veera snorted. “You wouldn’t have asked that if they had been around when you first left your home. You might have bonded with one of them instead of Orenn.”
    Zeyan laughed. “I doubt it. I had a planet-sized hole in my psyche. A little guy like that couldn’t have filled it.”
    Lee chuckled. “No, but he could have helped you seal it yourself so you weren’t draining yourself to death.”
    Zeyan shrugged. “We will never know. Do you mind having him around?”
    Lee looked at her, “I have no surviving family and my planet can offer me nothing. My community doesn’t want me. I checked.” She sighed. “Krix accepts me unconditionally, and since he knows when I need attention, he has become one of the dependable things in my life.”
    “Point taken. He is adorable.” Zeyan lifted her teacup in a salute.
    “So, you are definitely going?”
    Lee nodded. “Yes, I have been to the outfitter and over to medical already. Whenever N’ran and I get clearance, we are gone. With Krix of course.”
    “Did the outfitter put Krix’s food on the list? He is going to need to start on protein strips soon.”
    Lee handed the list over. “Here it is.”
    Veera nodded and nodded again. “Yup. She got it all. She even accounted for nesting in case you don’t make it home before he goes bald and has the babies. Did Canevor tell you how many?”
    “No. He didn’t. Are they in there already?”
    “Yaluthu are born pregnant. They have always been in there. He is a big fella so there is no telling how many he will have.”
    Zeyan joined in properly. “What happens if he starts to change while he is on a ship?”
    Veera shrugged. “He nests where he is. When all the feathers are gone, he will eat and sleep for a few days and then the babies will appear. After that, he won’t leave them, but he will grow the flight feathers over the course of a week or two. He will need a lot of protein. We had to guess with Fixit and watch what food he went after. Once he is a raptor, he will eat like a raptor.”
    “Thanks. Can I get a notebook or something with all the instructions?” Lee bit her lip.
    Veera and Zeyan laughed and the conversation turned to travelling in space on long-distance missions. Lee learned tricks