Their sudden trip to Earthās Arctic regions should have been Caineās first clue that something was amiss. Jupiterās status as a high-risk Entitled meant that most trips were planned weeks, if not months, in advance.
The second clue should have been that Jupiter and Stinger had insisted on exploring away from the Queenās conservation team. They had already spent three days wandering the sheets of ice, collecting samples for Jupiterās global warming initiatives and two nights watching the northern lights dance with her beloved telescope, all within the safe view of her experts.
The final clue should have been when Stinger returned from scouting their perimeter and asked Caine to confirm something heād seen ahead. Heād been enjoying the unobstructed sun so much that he hadnāt thought to question the highly suspect request.
As he stalked, silent, around a hill of ice, a large animal came into sight. Squinting against the sunās icy glare, Caine thought his eyes had betrayed him. Then it happened again: the red and black balloon-like protrusions, previously thought to be odd reflections against the snow, inflated suddenly as he approached.
āWhat the -ā Caine started, dropping behind a nearby snow drift to muffled laughter from Stinger and Jupiter.
āClearly the two of you were conspiring against me,ā he hissed from his crouched position in response to the chorus of giggles from his companions. āSince neither of you seemā¦perturbed.ā
Eyes still sparkling with mirth, Stinger extended a hand to his fallen comrade as Jupiter pulled her scarf tighter around her wind-reddened cheeks.
āAye, mate, you shouldnāt have been bragging,ā Stinger said with a grunt as he helped Caine to his feet. āYou knew it wouldāve been taken as a challenge.ā
Rolling his eyes, Caine recalled the previous weekās conversation. He and the other Queensguard had been in the canteen, comparing the strangest creatures theyād seen during their travels. Jupiter had overheard the conversation and bet him that she could find an animal of Earth that would really stretch his imagination. Knowing his Queen and Commanderās penchant for irking him, Caine shouldāve known theyād team up against him.
Caine considered himself a well-traveled lycantant. Being in the Legion had afforded him the opportunity to see the universe and personally witness its diversity. Heād come into contact with species of all shapes and sizes and pretty much every splice he could imagine.
Despite his experiences, standing on the coast of Earthās Arctic Ocean, he was having a hard time processing what he was seeing.
There, among the vast white tundra, was a male specimen of what Jupiter told him was called a hooded seal.
Seals in general, he could handle. They were chubby and had sweet faces - he may even go so far as to call them cute. In fact, the seal sitting in front of him had been cute (if not intimidating at a whopping eight feet long and 700 pounds, according to the scan), with its long snout and spots.
And then itās face had inflated in what he could only imagine was a threat: do not approach.
Caine brushed the snow and ice off and shook his head with a soft smile, āWell, you got me. I was not prepared for that.ā
With an enthusiastic fist bump, Jupiter and Stinger celebrated their victory, and the threesome huddled together to watch the rare animal from a respectful distance.
Hours later, as the sun began itās trip toward the western horizon, Jupiter rose to her feet. āWell, now that we have that settled, letās head back to camp. I sense a hot toddy in the immediate future,ā their Queen announced.
āYes, your majesty,ā her Skyjackers conceded fondly, turning to head back to the warmth of the ship.
Iām sorry this is so late but i hope you enjoy your JA Secret Santa gift, @winchesterwolf! Happy holidays!
