Scientific Fantasies (Wattys2015)

Chapter Eleven

It wasn't the loud crack of thunder that woke Natalia in the dead hours of the night, nor the sound of heavy rain on the roof, but the insistent beeping on her phone that told her something was wrong in her lab. Cursing under her breath, she dragged a jumper and pants on over her pyjamas, and hurried through the hallways, opening her lab door with a quick press of her palm to the screen beside it. Thunder crashed overhead as the door slid open, and she flinched. She could see the problem now.

The female was terrified, clinging desperately to the male, who was holding her close, running his hand over her feathers as if he could calm her down. He glanced up as Natalia's entrance, concern strong in his eyes. She took in the scene quickly, and hurried over to her bench. She knew that there was nothing she could do that the male wasn't already trying — except one thing. Working quickly, jumping at every unexpected crash of thunder, she readied a sedative suitable for the young specimen. Moving to the enclosure, she hesitated when she saw that the male hadn't taken his eyes off her, but then opened the door, reaching for the female. He shifted slightly, and Natalia paused.

"I won't hurt her," she said quietly. His eyes flickered distrustfully to the needle she had in her hand. "It will make her sleep."

He still eyed her distrustfully, and she sighed. Thunder chose that moment to crash extra loud right above them, and the female began to shake uncontrollably, pressing herself as close to the male as she could get, her face and ears hidden, her wings flat against her back.

"Come on," Natalia said, reaching for the female's arm. This time, the male did nothing, allowing her to dose the female. It didn't take long for her to relax into sleep, no longer holding on tightly to him, and his dark eyes lifted to meet hers.

"Scared," he murmured, and Natalia let her gaze drop down to the young owlet in his arms, now peacefully asleep, the thunder no longer bothering her.

"And you?"

He dropped his gaze, but she could see tremors going through his wings.

"You're hurting, aren't you?"

He shook his head, turning his back to her. She sighed, and closed the door, leaving him alone. She'd be back later in the morning to see them anyway, and she decided then and there that she would be doing paperwork. She had a huge pile to catch up on since he'd ripped it all up.

Her stomach rumbling at her pulled Natalia out of her paperwork daze, and she dropped the sheets on the desk thankfully. Making sure that everything was secure, leaving the two specimens in their enclosure, calmer now that the thunderstorm had passed, she hurried out of her lab room, taking the shortcut to the dining hall. Tuesdays were her favourite lunch. Scanning the tables while she collected her meal, she soon spotted Sam and Aiden, deep in conversation. Even from where she was, she could see that her best friend's ears were pink, and she grinned to herself, wondering what had gotten him embarrassed.

"Ah, Natalia, come out of your lab today?"

She smiled at the tiny grey-haired cook. "You know I'll do anything for your soup, Jan."

The cook gave her extra sour cream. "You need to eat," she scolded. "You're the youngest, honey. Don't get buried too often. You'll never come out again."

"I promise I will," Natalia assured her. "Can I take some soup with me?"

Jan just laughed. "I already have it ready for you. Come and get it when you're about to leave."

"Thank you, Jan." Natalia picked up a spoon, and wove through the maze of tables and chairs, easily dodging people as they moved about, always heading for the table that Sam and Aiden were sitting at. Just as she sat down with them, Linda appeared with her own lunch, and the younger scientist pointed her spoon at Sam. "What's got you embarrassed?" she demanded.