Page 11 of Solar Bound
"Poppy has offered assistance," Lunar said.
"Poppy?" Solar repeated, the Earth name strange on his tongue. "You revealed yourself to a human without authorization. Have you forgotten our mission parameters?"
"I revealed nothing," Lunar countered. "She perceived me through means I have yet to determine."
The female stepped forward. "Look, I don't want to cause trouble. I just want to help. Duskrock can be overwhelming for sensitive beings."
"We do not require your assistance," Solar said firmly. “And I am not sensitive.”
Poppy raised an eyebrow. "Really? Because from where I'm standing, you two can barely be in the same room without causing electrical failures. That seems like something that might draw attention."
The room's temperature seemed to drop several degrees as Lunar's shadows deepened. Simultaneously, Solar felt his own energy rising in response, his skin brightening against his will. The remaining lights in the room began to pulse erratically.
Eclipse charged into the room. "Both of you, control yourselves. You're causing an outage."
"I tracked the shadow-dweller as instructed," Solar replied. "He was engaged in unauthorized contact with this human."
"I was conducting necessary reconnaissance," Lunar argued.
Eclipse turned to Poppy.
"Hi. I'm Poppy Jensen. I work at Desert Animal Rescue," she said. "I felt your arrival yesterday. I gave your friend here a shadow stone last night when I sensed him outside The Crash Zone."
Solar glared at Lunar. "You attended the human gathering place without informing us and made contact?"
Yes, it was a double standard, but then again… This was Lunar.
"I was not aware I needed permission to conduct independent exploration," Lunar replied coldly.
"I have a suite reserved for you," Rowan said quickly. "Private entrance, separate bedrooms, minimal staff interaction. But we need to get you there now before someone calls the electrical company about the power surges."
"You trust this human?" Lunar demanded of Eclipse.
“You can call me Rowan.” Eclipse’s woman pointed at herself.
"Yes," Eclipse replied without hesitation.
"Fine," Solar stated, determining a relocation would be best for all. "Lead us to this suite."
"I wish to speak further with Poppy," Lunar said, not as a request but as a fact.
"You can do so later," Eclipse said firmly. "After we've relocated to a more secure area."
Poppy reached into a pocket and pulled out a small black stone, similar to the one Solar had seen Lunar examining at Crimson Rock Inn. She offered it to Solar.
"Black tourmaline," she explained. "It absorbs negative energy. You might find it helpful for dampening your output."
Solar hesitated, then accepted the stone. It felt cool in his palm, subtly drawing excess energy from his fingertips where the skin-suit had worn thin. Curious, and a little unpleasant, like walking into Lunaris territory.
"We need to go now," Rowan insisted, glancing nervously at the door. "Stephanie just texted me. The maintenance crew is heading this way to check the electrical panel."
Eclipse nodded. "Solar, Lunar, follow us. And please, try to maintain your human appearance."
As they traveled through the corridor, Solar noticed Poppy falling into step beside Lunar, maintaining a respectful distance but clearly intending to accompany them. The shadow-dweller made no move to dismiss her.
Their strange procession moved through the retreat, Eclipse and Rowan leading the way, with Solar following closely behind. Lunar and Poppy brought up the rear, moving through deeper shadows along the walls.
"This way," Rowan directed them down a service corridor and through a door that led outside. "The Desert Suite is separate from the main buildings. It has its own generator backup if needed."
