FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Into the Stars

Chapter Two

By Roofles

Time meant nothing for the two as the diamond shape ship, The Stellar Drift as Isaac soon found it to be called, flew through space. Connected to the central computer using the tablet at his side, Isaac continued to pilot the ship.

Working through the tablet made it possible for a Terran to pilot the alien vessel. It didn't even take that much work to bypass the security system in order to take full control. Most the systems were offline as it was, leaving little for him to have to deal with.

“Can't believe you don't know what drifting is." Isaac checked over the logs, frowning a bit. He had jacked into the computer system and was looking them over through the port behind his ear. It was a foreign interface that took some time to navigate and process. Most the ship was offline. Only the main life support and engines were operational, leaving little else for the two to do.

“Like I would know Terran games." Typhon grumbled, resting back in the chair and kicking a leg up onto the dash in front of him. His foot pushed a button and Isaac had to shut off the self-destruct sequence that had started up and that Typhon had unwittingly initiated.

“It's not just some Terran game. The whole Galactic Front does it!" Isaac spoke up with a bright smile as he reminisced about the games he and his crewmate and best friend Kaira used to watch together back at their home. “With wave riders! The players have to maneuver their way through, between life and death… down this waterslide of an obstacle course… while fighting each other!"

Isaac smiled with a laugh having always enjoyed the blood sport.

Another red screen popped up in Isaac's lower right eye, indicating the concern that had been building up for the past several hours. The ship had been severely damaged; most likely from just space debris. It was hard to tell, however. With its shield systems offline even the smallest of rocks could punch a hole in its hold. Typhon had been lucky to still be alive.

Hell, they were still lucky to be flying.

It was why, after several hours, Isaac began to talk to his would be kidnapper. He was still holding out for a rescue, sure the tracking device on his flightsuit would lead the others to his location and rescue him from this hell. The human just needed to survive that long.

The strange, blue fur sabertooth spacewolf seemed to hold little interest for him at first. After deeming Isaac an essential to his pack, whatever that meant, and that he posed no threat; the human was left to pilot. Something he greatly enjoyed doing. It helped take his mind off things.

Then there was another red window log on the screen. Isaac quickly closed it as he pushed for another distraction from their impending doom looming on the horizon.

“They fight each other…?" Typhon ears perked up at that, seeming to find some interest in the sport now.

“Drifting isn't just some bring a ball from one side of the field to the other. It's a dangerous sport where most contestants don't survive…" Isaac still smiled though thinking about it. Back in his old cabin, bundled up under the blankets with his friend watching it on the live feed. “You have to have perfect balance. Quick reflexes and able to act at a moment's notice! The referees like the pull last minute stunts to keep everyone on their toes."

Another notice popped up warning him about damage to the fuel line.

“The sport pushes players to their limits. Having to fight against the course itself as well as their fellow players, trying to get to the finish line alive." Isaac pulled up the stellar map of the area they were in. They were still in known space at least.

Typing away on the keyboard he searched for nearby planets the two could stop at. Something he'd been doing for the past earthen hour alone.

“What are-," the wolf had been watching the human closely. Just waiting for him to act up like this. Even Typhon realized Isaac had changed the route they were taking. It had been so subtle at first it had taken several hours for it to be noticeable. “You changed course!"

“The fuel line is damaged." Isaac said, trying to keep his voice calm. Typhon could smell the growing fear coming from the human.

“So?" Typhon just snarled getting up now.

“The environment unit was also damaged as well. It's been running at critical the past Galactic hour." Isaac swallowed heavily, his hands freezing in front of him. He was breathing heavily as he just stared at the screen. Another pop up, this time he couldn't just close it. Forced to look at the warning now.

Typhon's ear batted at that.

“If the life support fails…" Isaac glanced back at the saberwolf somewhat leaning over him now to look at the readings on the screen. Isaac wasn't so much as looking at Typhon but the hibernation pod behind them. “I doubt we both could fit…" His thoughts going elsewhere, thinking of the only alternative the two had.

The wolf snorted at that.

It was hard to distinguish if it was an angry or amused sound. If the wolf was worried about such a thing or offended Isaac had even suggested the two bedding together. Isaac wasn't even sure if the pod could accommodate two people at the same time.

“I charted us towards the nearest colonized planet. A trading post in Sector Nine. We can get repairs for the ship…" Isaac looked back at the controls, forcing himself to continue working. The work was a good distraction from the imminent mutual destruction the two were about to share together.

“How long?" Typhon asked just staring down at the screen, unblinking. Those black and blue eyes like miniature galaxies looked down at the human when Isaac didn't directly reply. Typhon quirked an eyebrow at that, waiting for an answer.

“I'm not… sure. The ships fuel should be enough to bring us there." Isaac was double checking. Mathews was better at this than he was. He was the pilot for the SS Thunderbird, not the engineer Mathews was. Their crew had been small but each member had helped covered for the others.

Without them… Isaac was feeling lost as to what to do.

“The auto pilot can take us the rest of the way. I've already set it up. We still got some time before…" Isaac voice trailed off as he tapped on the screen before him. Sliding the warning window aside once more before reviewing the log. Trying to figure out what had happened to the ship.

Maybe then…

“That's fine." Typhon shrugged it off, standing back up and leaving Isaac alone. The human looked back at the saberwolf.

“Fine? If the life support goes out…" And Isaac stopped, just as the saberwolf had in front of the hibernation pod. Typhon slapped the top of it with a bark of a laugh.

“If need be we can use this to get the rest of the way there, right?" Typhon just shrugged the concerns away, going with the flow of things. “Just let me know when while I get it ready."

“We?" Isaac focused on that word.

“Not about to leave you to asphyxiate on your own vomit as your eyes pop out." Typhon made the gesture before giving another bark of a laugh.

“Such a lovely picture you paint…" Isaac got up, disconnecting himself from the computer. He had to stretch, rubbing his back from the strange seat. These chairs hadn't been designed for someone small like Isaac in mind. He felt like he was sinking into the damned thing. It was more a cup than a chair.

Typhon watched as the human lifted one arm up, stretching out the other before bending over to touch his toes. The human was muscular, fit like a trained soldier should be. Lean but healthy. Isaac groaning out by the end as he walked over to the side, looking over the supplies they had rummaged out for the trip. The stale food tasted almost as good as wet cardboard did. The energy bars however would keep the both of them alive enough to get a decent meal.

“Can't believe you did that." Typhon spoke up drawing Isaac's attention. The saberwolf was resting back against the pod, crossing his arms and legs alike to look the human over.

“Did what?"

“Try to chart a course without telling me." Typhon lip twitched. The wolf was glaring at him, furrowed brow as he thought over a numerous ways to punish the insolent pup.

“I didn't want to worry you." Isaac gave a half shoulder of a shrug. “It's not like you're the captain."

Typhon paused at that. “I am, I am in charge here!" He warned with another growl. Isaac didn't even flinch from the sound.

“True. Stellar job you've done so far. Almost flew us into a sun, ignored the damaged fuel lines and now you want us snuggling up in stasis together." Isaac laughed, joking about it as he motioned to the pod Typhon was resting against.

For a second, the wolf's ears splayed out and he looked away from the human. Isaac wasn't sure but, for a moment, he thought the wolf might've been blushing. His tail even wagged, if only once.

Isaac rolled his eyes, not even going to bother to ask what that was about as he tossed one of the energy bars towards the wolf. Typhon caught it, sniffing the package over.

“Can't have you going hungry, big guy." Isaac rolled his eyes once more at the growl he got. “It's a protein bar. I hear it's all the rage back home." Isaac ripped it open, covered his nose and forced himself to finish the chalky yet gooey mess in three bites. “Delicious…"

The saberwolf snorted at that, ripping the package open. Isaac could see the canine's nose wrinkle. Isaac had to empty one of the bottles of water he found before saying anything.

“Don't sniff it! Just eat it!" Isaac laughed as he went back over to the pilot seat. He didn't sit down; just making sure everything was going as smoothly as was possible for the ship. He also rather not watch an animal eat.

The damage was far worse than he let Typhon know. The fact the ship hadn't exploded yet was a miracle in itself. Nearly every system had been shut down other than the essentials. Even then, they were running at low power. Isaac didn't dare pushing it further after seeing the logs.

The damage on the outside was critical only for the storage bay. However, it looked as if the ship itself had been sabotaged from the inside. It made him look over at the wolf, picking the gunk from his teeth after tossing the whole energy bar into its fanged mouth. Isaac could only wonder why the saberwolf was here.

The ship log clearly indicated that the wolves weren't the owners of the vessel. Yet here stood one such saberwolf acting as if he was. The mystery owner was lost in the history logs; Isaac only able to access the most recent ones. Not wanting to turn on anymore systems as they already had.

“Can you please put something on!" Isaac finally just said a good hour later as Typhon worked out in the open space. The wolf doing several pushups before looking over at the human; hoping back to his feet and strutting over.

“What? Intimidated?" The wolf was open arm, not hiding anything.

“More like disgusted." Isaac just gave a blank look into the wolf's face.

“Please," Typhon stretched directly in front of the smaller male. Flexing his muscle, lifting his arms and turning his back to clench his rear. “Just jealous of all this."

“Oh, no. You got me." Isaac rolled his eyes with a shake of his head. “I'm secretly wishing I was a giant monstrous wolfman instead of the doughy furless ape I am." Isaac just pointed over to the nearby closet when Typhon looked back at the human. “There are spare jumpers in there. I'm sure one will fit you."

Typhon's nose wrinkled at that. “They smell like cat…"

Isaac gave him a look then just walked away, not about to deal with such a stupid retort. The ship was breaking apart around them, shaking every now and then and the saberwolf was more worried about smelling like cat. A single stray spark could set the fuel lines off, blowing the entire ship up and yet…

“Disgusting!" Typhon picked up the white garment and sniffed at it, wrinkling his nose.

“You can change the color, if you like." Isaac smirked as the wolf glared at him, clearing thinking THAT was the only problem about all this.

“Snarking little prick…" Typhon zipped down the front and began to slip it on. “I tell him I'm not going to eat him and this is the thanks I get." The blue fur saberwolf slipped his arms and legs inside, zipping it up just enough to cover his hefty groin and left it at that. Leaving his stomach and chest exposed. “Good enough." He nodded at himself.

“Suits you." Isaac smirked at his own remark, leaving the saberwolf a bit confused over it. The human waved it off. “Look, I don't like to admit it… but you're right. We can't just keep going like this." Isaac sighed, pushing back away from the pilot seat and getting up with another stretch.

“I was?" Typhon seemed truly surprised. The grin on his face however was anything less than prideful; the saberwolf beaming at his own seemingly genius idea he'd forgotten about.

The human rubbed his brow for a couple seconds.

“What was I smart about again?" The saberwolf wanted to hear all about it.

“We can turn the life support off while we… stay… hibernated. During the rest of the trip." Isaac quickly rushed, forcing himself to finish what he was trying to get at. Despite the saberwolf's joking idea, it was actually far smarter than Isaac would ever admit.

The system for the ship itself were already straining to do the bare minimum. If they rerouted power they could increase the speed and hopefully get to a habitat able planet before the fuel ran out. It only just increased their chances of survive. Didn't assure it. At least if the fuel did deplete or ignite, the two would be none the wiser asleep in stasis.

The thought wasn't exactly comforting.

“If we turn the life support off, won't we just die before we get into the chamber?" Typhon was lost with the train of thought and just looked at the human.

“I can set it up so that we don't die. That's the whole idea." Isaac had to resist rolling his eyes, again. It was beginning to hurt doing it so much around this alien. “And, if something were to come up; it'll activate again when the pod does so, once more, we don't die."

“A horrible, painful, eye popping death. Got cha'." The saberwolf just chuckled. Isaac shuddered at the thought. He had heard of the affects of asphyxiation on the human body. He hadn't dared look it up however, let alone want to experience such a horrific thing in his lifetime.

Though it might be a less embarrassing end for the two of them out of the options presented to them.

Typhon was already setting up the pod as Isaac came over to take a look. The oval shaped cushioned bed inside was barley large enough for the wolf.

“I can wait outside. I'll take up less oxygen than you," Isaac thought it over rubbing his chin. Only to be hoisted up from behind and set inside the pod. “H-hey!" The human could only squirm in the strong grip.

“Funny." Typhon did chuckle as he set the human inside, crawling up and over the side to join him. “Like I'd leave you alone in the ship without my supervision." The blue fur saberwolf lumbered up into the pod, nearly losing his footing before plopping down on his rear as he took a seat.

“It's a bit… small." Isaac was looking over his tablet. “Got to make sure it's even capable of holding more than one person inside…" He had plugged himself into the tablet and the tablet into one of the ports inside the pod.

Looking over the readings, he took a seat, in front of Typhon. The saberwolf could smell the human's nerves, his fear and it lingered in the air between them. Discomfort, unease and a mixture of a frustrated fear. All things the saberwolf's keen nose could pick up.

Able to smell emotions.

“This is normal." Typhon spoke up, making the human glance at the wolf away from the brightly lit screen in front of his eyes. “You're part of the pack now, pup." The canine chuckled at the look he got from that. “The band," he gestured to it offhandedly. The saberwolf's clawed fingers brushed over the silver band with three opals, feeling the smooth texture against his rough paw pads. “It is a sort of membership card."

Typhon didn't elaborate and even Isaac could tell there was more than just that. It was more a mark of property; that the human belonged to these saberwolves. What that exactly meant? Only time would tell as Isaac scooted into one of the corners of the pod focusing on the tablet in his hand.

It had helped him so much over the years; the idea of not sleeping with it at his side was something Isaac didn't even let cross his mind. It was more a security blanket at this point than anything else. Isaac wasn't as smart as he let on, finding out more about things from the tablet than from his own memory banks or personal knowledge.

It was how he was even able to pilot the ship to begin with. Connecting the tablet to his own neuro system and thus the ship it was connected too. It was a part of him just like the artificial eye and his left arm. Neither he'd been born with and yet, Isaac saw them just as important as the rest.

Typhon watched the human work, snorting a laugh as he noted the discolored eye and the plug into the tablet. The plug connected just underneath Isaac's right ear and into the implant there. It was also fed into the artificial right eye.

“Why do you do that?" The wolf finally asked with a scoff, amusement filling every word he spoke. Typhon trying to keep some distance between the two.

“Do what?" Isaac asked as the overhead of the pod slowly lowered over the two. There was enough room to let Isaac sit up normally, allowing far more space than the human thought it would. Typhon was forced to slouch down, lazing out in front of the human's side facing towards him.

Once the pod was sealed tight and the systems were working as they should, Isaac remotely disabled the ships life support. Putting the rest of the power and processing of the computer to focus on just getting them to the trade planet he had found in the logs. It was the closest place they could get too.

And hopefully it had a Terran embassy where Isaac could get away from this deranged alien.

“That." The wolf pointed a clawed finger not at the tablet but the plug connecting it to the human before him. “That's an implant… You mutilated yourself." Typhon clearly saw it more amusing than anything else.

The translation might've been off but Isaac thought he detected more than that. An almost animosity for it. A disgust for the tech.

“I noted you don't have any implants." Isaac set the tablet aside, crossing his arms as he faced towards the saberwolf. He was still connected to it, as he usually was. His right eye scanning over the wolf in front of him as he continued to work without hands.

Six Eleven, two hundred and ninety five pounds. Unknown blood type. Unknown language. Unknowns kept popping up along the button of the eye, telling him as much was in the databanks; a connection that he could only do when linked to the tablet at his side.

It wasn't like he had installed a whole computer in his head. Just the connection ports to link into them.

“I don't detect a single one…" Isaac frowned slightly. It was almost unheard of. Every human had some sort of implant or data card that was used as an identification card and some sort of credential to their name. To not detect a single thing was almost unheard of.

Typhon scoffed at that as he had before with a shake of his head. “Why would I need something so artificial?" The wolf boasted proudly. “I don't need such aide."

Isaac frowned at that. He didn't say more, just pulling the tablet up at his side.

“I'll make sure the cabin," he noted around them. “Is pressurized for more than one person…" His voice trailed off, not because of his disinterest in the wolf. It was because the pod itself had already been set up as such.

Everything had already been set up for the two as if just waiting for them to decide on sleeping inside.

Glancing up, Isaac just took a second on that. The wolf had been in this pod by himself yet it was already calibrated for another person. Someone exactly the same size, weight and even sex as Isaac was. Despite what Typhon might've thought, Isaac kept a close eye on the saberwolf.

He was a bumbling oaf as far as the human was concerned. It was clear Typhon didn't know half the systems to the ship and wouldn't have been able to set up something like this without Isaac noticing. In other words, the pod itself had either recalibrated itself when they got in or…

Isaac highly doubted Typhon could've set this all up. That left very little else however in explanation. It appeared like a normal hibernation pod like they had back home. There wasn't even an AI attached to it.

“I rather not have us dying before we get to the planet." Isaac just sighed, rubbing his brow as the information kept being fed through the tablet. He didn't need to look at the screen but liked too; it made him feel more human than not.

An odd thought as he sat there with the saberwolf next to him.

Typhon barely fit into the pod, let alone with the human inside with him. The large blue fur wolf kept adjusting his positioning, moving one leg over the other. Then trying the other way. Trying to get as comfortable as he could until, with a loud grunt, placed one leg on Isaac's right. The human watched him with a frown.

“Uh…" Isaac said painfully aware of the fact he was now between the saberwolf's legs.

“Damned thing." Typhon didn't even seem to notice scooting over to the middle of the cup like cushioned bed they sat in. He grunted, pulling his tail from underneath him and continued to grumble loudly as he fussed about inside. Feeling like a packaged fish product in a can.

“Right." Isaac thought it might be the case. He ignored the wolf, ignoring his own concerns as he double checked everything. Liking the visual confirmation of each, viewing them clearly on the tablet before him. “Everything seems to be stable," Isaac hoped the concern in his voice wouldn't translate properly.

Everything had been going far smoother than he thought things would be. It was unnerving. The ship had already been set on the course before Isaac finished typing it in; the pod had been prepared for the two and even the jumper the wolf had been wearing was the right size despite Typhon not zipping it all the way up. This ship didn't belong to the saberwolves, the logs indicated that; then why did it have a jumper for him to wear?

He took a moment on that. Everything was falling into place as if set up for the human's arrival. He didn't like that and just hoped his rescue party would show up sooner rather than later.

“Isaac." The human said finally properly introducing himself at the look he got; the wolf seeming far more embarrassed by the position they were in than the human was. Isaac offered a handshake. “It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr…"

“Typhon." The wolf looked down at the hand. He sat up, only to promptly smack his forehead against the glass cover of the pod. Isaac stifled a laugh at that, unable to hide the smile on his face as the saberwolf rubbed his forehead.

Bending down, curling himself forward in a way the human wouldn't have been able to achievement without an artificial spine, the wolf sniffed at the hand. For a split second, Isaac was worried Typhon was about to bite the hand off.

Instead, the wolf offered his own hand. Not to Isaac's but towards the human's face as if offering him the chance to sniff him as well.

The human took a moment on that. He was somewhat familiar with other customs and cultures from the alien races he had run into. Not wanting to offend anyone into shooting him or his fellow crewmembers by misreading something and acting inappropriate.

Thus, not wanting to be rude, Isaac sniffed at the wolf's fingers in turn. And he heard it. A thump of a tail against the cushions under them as he did so.

“Typhoon, though you can call me Typhon." The wolf pulled his hand back, watching his head this time before lounging out in front of the human. Tucking an arm behind his head, the saberwolf rested the other on his exposed fuzzy chest.

The wolf regarded the human for a moment, his black and blue eyes like mini galaxies in and of themselves looking from Isaac's face then down his body and back up. There was almost a satisfied smirk after.

“Despite your deficiencies," Typhon started with. Isaac frowned at that, figuring the wolf was talking about his implants after the quip he had made earlier. “You will make a wonderful banded. Useful too," Typhon noted.

This time Isaac was sure it was held with far more pride than the human felt he deserved. Usefulness was something Isaac strived for, not wanting to be left behind; the wolf seeming to have a similar thought. Whatever kind of property Isaac might be, at least he was allowed to be useful. Instead of some sort of wallpaper or trophy to hang up.

It further removed the idea that he was some kind of slave; despite that, Isaac touched the collar locked around his neck. It wasn't uncomfortable and he was already getting used to it. It was extremely well made and must cost a small fortune. Such devices weren't uncommon, though rare in the outer reaches of known space.

Too many questions. Too little answers. Isaac was growing exhausted and curled back in on himself, trying to ignore his cabin mate. Back at the academy, they'd have to bunk like this during the initial rush of new recruits. At least that had been with another human, usually…

“Just like back home…" Isaac mumbled, closing his eyes. “Let me know when you're ready and we'll ride the rest of this out." Isaac had offered, trying to remain as detached as he could from the situation he found himself in.

Following his academy training on this unforeseen expeditionary trip through space.

“What? Don't want to stay up late gossiping like den-mothers?" Typhon chuckled a gruff sound that filled the small pod. The fact the canine licked over one his sabers only further soured the mood. Isaac gave him a look.

Even knowing the saberwolf wasn't about to feast on his body like a thanksgiving roast, the human was still unnerved being trapped in the enclosed space with the carnivore.

“What is there to gossip about?" Isaac was confused. He understood what Typhon was joking about but still. The wolf was taking this situation far more lax than he thought wise. Maybe he assumed Isaac was perfectly find being the canine's property and wouldn't try anything? Or was he just that confident he could stop Isaac from doing something?

“Well…" Typhon hesitated though. His ears laid back and he averted eye contact. “Just. Well. Anything…" The saberwolf mumbled at the end making Isaac question just how old the canine was, acting like a kid.

“You mentioned before I need to get used to this," Isaac offered him a hand at least in the conversation department. “Used to what exactly?" Isaac was referring to the situation he found himself in now.

That seemed to improve the canine's mood immensely.

Typhon sat up, keeping from smacking his head against the top again and look down at the human practically between his legs.

“This. Us. Like this." The wolf grunted, growling each word. His tail wagged though.

“This what, exactly?" Isaac was hoping for a more clear answer than that. He wasn't about to just roll over and be some pushover for the wolf, still he was morbidly curious about what his life would be like in the canine's care. Something he would do everything to prevent however.

Typhon took a second on that, thinking it over.

“We call them furpiles." Typhon decided to lay it out, enjoying the conversation. The social canine wasn't used too such situations. With Isaac banded, he figured he would have plenty more opportunities to in the future.

Returning the human would mean more than one thing for the saberwolf, though he didn't let that slip to Isaac. Just enjoying the company instead. Isaac was basically part of the pack, in a way. It would be nice to talk with one for once.

“Pack members sleep together. In a sort of pile." Typhon put both his hands together talking about it to the man between his legs. Something that was making the saberwolf struggle with, far less than Isaac himself was.

Isaac understood the situation well enough. Small cramped space with a giant alien? It left little room for the two. Isaac had put that together and accepted it, not focusing on the issue. The saberwolf however seemed to be unable to focus on anything else.

“Like on top of each other?" Isaac worried. He'd be crushed under someone like Typhon. Let alone multiple saberwolves. He'd end up a human pancake.

“Sometimes." Typhon admitted with a laugh, splaying his ears out. “It's more like a group activity. Together. A lot of different sabers spend the time together… during it. It's a bonding experience. They…" The wolf ear twitched and he didn't look at the human. “They spend all night like that."

Typhon looked out of the glass roof just taking a second to collect his own thoughts.

Isaac let him have his moment.

“Even banded join in?" Isaac finally just asked, not about to pry into whatever Typhon had been getting at. It was too personal for just meeting the saberwolf; not wanting to know him more than he had too. Isaac would be friendly enough not to get mauled but after that, Typhon would have to deal with his own problems.

“That is one reason why banded were started." Typhon just nodded at that, resting back now and picking at his teeth. Seeming to be in a far better mood than a moment ago. “Out in your travels, all alone? It's not healthy."

“For a saber, you mean?" Isaac asked. Then again, he had heard of humans that had snapped being isolated from other people. Getting a horrible case of cabin fever and either offing themselves or ending up doing something drastic to get back to humanity.

Isaac just hoped he'd never be amongst them.

Typhon nodded. “We don't do well alone." The wolf paused, but once more he didn't elaborate. “Sometimes our mission requires us to be away from home and the others." The wolf rested back on an arm. “Thus, we decided we needed a sort of… companion, during our long treks. Something we can even pick up while we're out."

“A social companion? Even though it is another race?" Isaac tapped his chin, thinking that over. “Do you… kidnap them, from other planets, then?"

The wolf laughed at that, the sound barking around the small container they were in. Typhon scratched at his exposed belly with a shake of his head. “It is a gift! As you said," he added with a smirk. “It is a mutual benefit for both parties. The saber gets a companion for life and the banded… well, there are many reasons why they do it…"

The wolf said as if asking Isaac what was his reason for accepting the band.

“It was a gift…" Isaac rubbed the band taking a second. “It's like a symbiotic relationship, then?" The look he got made him elaborate. “Two organisms that benefit off each other in mutual agreement."

Typhon tilted his head, then shrug. “Sure." Isaac chuckled at that.

The sound made the wolf tail thump loudly.

“Like having a friend always by your side, then?" Isaac toyed with the idea. That was far less worrisome than the alternative option. Or what he had feared the wolf had planned for him. Keeping someone like Typhon company wouldn't be so bad, in the worst case scenario that is.

Typhon chuckled at that, just giving the human a knowing look. The saberwolf didn't say more instead, scooted a little closer moving his leg up to push a paw against the roof. They could finish this discussion another time. Typhon working up the nerve now, something he had wanted to do since putting the human inside the pod.

“A close companion to pile with." Typhon patted his chest. Isaac took a second on that. The wolf did it again. “To pile with…" The wolf growled low now, frowning at the human with splayed ears.

“Oh, you want me…?" Isaac found himself hesitating. Already the human had been trying to keep as much distance between the two as he could. Pushing himself into the corner of the pod and trying to curl up on himself to be less conspicuous.

“To pile, yes." Typhon rolled his eyes at this point getting frustrated about it. “You will need to get used to this. Once I deliver you to your owner you will be required to do far more than just this from them."

“Wait, my owner?" Isaac stopped the wolf from pressuring him now, focusing on the bigger issue at hand. “You said…"

“You belong to the sabers," the saberwolf picked at his teeth with a claw. “And the one who gave you that band has first dibs."

“You said it was more like a companionship. Or maybe like an internship… of sorts. Mutual benefits!"

“A forever companionship." The saberwolf just growled, getting annoyed now. “I may not be the one to give you the band; I still am part of the pack!" Typhon sat up now, asserting his dominance. In the enclosed space he didn't need to do more than that.

Isaac didn't want to risk angering the alien, trapped together as they were. He lifted up his tablet and the wolf begrudgingly nodded in turn, allowing Isaac to bring it with him. Isaac did, moving forward now in a crawl before stopping in front of the wolf.

“I am not… familiar with…" Isaac looked the lounging wolf over. Maybe he could just curl up under an arm or something? Just focus on anything else than the situation he was in. Just like using the shared showers back at the Flight Academy.

Deep rich blue fur covered Typhon's body. Altering from shades as dark as the night sky to the blue sea back on earth. The color seemed to shift and change, lightening on Typhon's exposed chest and belly. The warmth radiating from the wolf was evident as, finally, Typhon just wrapped an arm around Isaac and pulled him up and onto him.

“There. It's called piled ON." Typhon grumbled laying back and closing his eyes, keeping an arm around Isaac's midsection as if he were the saberwolf's teddy bear. “That simple." Typhon cursed, letting out his breath.

His body shook, tightening before the large canine exhaled letting out all the stress that had built up with the single breath. Isaac rose with his chest before descending back down with it. His fur was almost cool to the touch, warm underneath and yet the feel of it was almost like liquid as it flowed through Isaac's fingers.

It was somewhat entrancing. The way the fur moved underneath his hand. Drifting softly as if it were underwater.

The saberwolf growled low at the touch, at the weight of this other male with him and just rested back without a word. Savoring the company he had longed for.

Isaac took that as an ok, not wanting to be here any longer than need be and was already inputting the commands to turn the pod on.

The world around them began to cool as a soft hiss filled their ears. Isaac just closed his eyes trying not to think of the very wolf he was lying on; focusing instead on what they'd do once they reached the trading post they were scheduled to arrive at.

If they even made it that far.

He tried not to focus on the alien wolf under him. On his predicament or the band attached to his arm. The questioning lingering around his mind. That a gift like this could end up with him in this kind of situation. Still, Isaac found himself with only one thought on his mind as the cryosleep set in and the two drifted off in a pile as stasis set in.

The human lying on the lounging wolf, one arm around his waist as the two closed their eyes for the long trip ahead.

That single thought lingering until everything went black.

Like after a thunderstorm, “he smells like ozone…" Isaac froze, with a smile on his face.