Intermission ~ Warmth of Life
Luna's spaceship began its journey to the Golden Needle, and it would take over a week to get there. The new crew's pet was wrapped around Luna's neck and sleeping, because it was still not used to the ship's day cycle. Its beady eyes opened only once Luna joined the breakfast.
Avi was happy seeing their new animal companion wake up, and she was overjoyed when it opened its mouth, revealing two large foreteeth. She gazed at it, enthralled, as it cleaned its fur, then leaped down onto the table and looked around, stupefied by the amount of fruits and freshly baked goods.
Avi reached out with her hand, offering a toast to the pet, but it leaped to Luna, landing on her left shoulder.
“Come! I won't hurt you!” - Avi said, still trying to move her slice of bread closer.
The squirrel, however, flew down along Luna's arm, then escaped to the other side of the table, to Nicolas. It was evidently curious about the strawberries that were inside a nearby bowl.
“Are you hungry?” - Nicolas asked, offering a strawberry to the creature. It extended its arm and grabbed it, then ran away to Luna again.
Avi, frustrated, gently slammed the table with her forehead. - “Why is it scared only of me?”
“It might be because you're too pushy.” - Luna guessed.
“...I don't get it. You don't even like it, and it's glued to you.” - Avi continued complaining.
Luna smiled conceitedly. - “It might be my charm.”
“I'm charming, too!” - Avi protested. - “Right, mom?” - She whined to Charlotte.
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“Of course, of course.” - Charlotte confirmed rather dispassionately, at the same time feeding some blueberries to the squirrel, while Avi stared with jealousy and despair.
“Give it time. It'll get used to you.” - Nicolas tried to cheer her.
“...and what if it doesn't?” - Avi whined.
Nicolas sighed. - “I don't know. Maybe we can find you another pet?”
“...but I want this one to like me!” - Avi said as she delicately pummeled the table in frustration.
“Don't act like a spoiled brat.” - Charlotte scolded.
Avi stopped. She wanted to whine some more, but decided to control herself.
“Did you figure out how you're going to name it, Luna?” - Nicolas asked.
Avi raised her eyes to him, silently accusing him of unforgivable betrayal.
Luna scratched the squirrel under its neck. - “Specimen One.”
“What?” - Avi uttered.
“Specimen One.” - Luna repeated.
“It's not even a name!” - Avi protested.
Luna continued to scratch the mammal, now petting its belly. The animal wrapped around her hand, gently grabbing her index finger, and nibbled it playfully. - “Do you like your new name, Specimen One? Do you like it?” - She asked teasingly.
“Specimen One?” - Nicolas repeated. - “Do you plan to experiment on it?”
Luna didn't deny, in a diabolical voice, she added. - “Oh, of course. Specimen One and I will greatly accelerate the research related to alien biology.”
“Don't even try!” - Avi shouted angrily, almost jumping off the sofa.
“Avi!” - Charlotte scolded again. - “Calm down! She's joking, don't you see!?”
Luna and Nicolas began to giggle.
“When... you?” - Avi whispered, grabbed a pillow, and threw it at her father, who just caught it mid-air. - “One day you'll pay for this!”
“Now, now. Stay calm, Avi.” - Luna tried to appease her friend. - “How do you want to call it?”
“Hmpf.” - Avi averted her head, feeling offended, but still uttered. - “Leapy.”
Luna petted the squirrel along its back. - “Do you like it, Leapy?”
Leapy turned its golden eyes to look at Luna, not understanding at all. It sprang from the table straight onto her hand, shoulder, then head, where it curled up into a ball and fell asleep again.