She lays flat on the deck as she struggles to open her eyes. Her head is pounding, and she feels the blood matting her fur. She can hear yelling, gunshots, energy weapons, and straining metal all around her.
“Anara, cover me!”
“What? You don’t think I have my hands f… Damn it!”
“Canith, you get the Dentonian, I’m going after the cat.”
She tries to put her arms under her, to lift herself off the deck, but her perception blurs as a searing pain shoots through every part of her body. She falls back down, unconscious.
She stares up at a blinding white light. She hears muffled voices around her, which she can’t make sense of. Her mind is in a haze. The light fades, obstructed by a figure standing over her. Her eyes can’t make out the details.
“How are you awake?” The woman’s voice almost sounds chiding. Cechsa tries to respond but finds herself unable to form words.
She continues, “You’re safe now, but you’re under the influence of some very powerful tranquilizers. You really need to rest.” Cechsa manages a slight frown, to which the woman shakes her head. “Fine.” Cechsa barely feels the pressure applied to her forearm. “There. You’ll be asleep again in a few minutes.” The woman moves from Cechsa’s view.
As her eyes begin to fall closed again, she hears a male voice, surprisingly clear.
~You’re lucky.~ She opens her eyes again and searches her field of vision, but she can’t find the man.