Light returned the embrace. Delicately at first, then vigorously as a fresh wave of relief washed over him. Senjen was a rare exception to his hard-learned suspicion of strangers, tempered through their exploits over the last two years. Light was naturally more tactile with the robot now, which was a relief for him. QV had little regard for personal space on account of their vestigial instinct to shoal in defense against predators.

He patted Senjen’s head and shivered by way of bashful laughter. “That won’t be necessary. There is much work waiting for us.” When the Utaysi insisted, he pondered it for a moment, drifting free. 

“Well…It's been a long time since I’ve gone on a proper hunt.” QV had a strong prey drive when it came to smaller sea creatures. When they began to depopulate the oceans on their homeworlds, conservation areas were established in rich ecological zones to maintain food stocks. The concept had transferred to wherever significant QV populations settled. Groups or individuals could pay for a certain amount of time within the enclosure, keeping or eating whatever they could catch.

“But it is so expensive here, and I still tire easier than before...” They began moving together out of the hospital. 

“We could go for Sthrirad and talk about old times just as readily. What do you think?” Sthrirad was a gaseous entity that produced psychedelic effects when inhaled. The Tindrel had a more permanent symbiosis with it, but were happy to introduce it to the other species as a temporary mood enhancer.