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Sometimes, when the light hits Rocky’s xenonite just right, it paints a rainbow on his carapace.
Ryland isn’t sure when he first notices it - probably early on, but they had more important things to worry about back then. Now that they’re on the way to Erid, there is time to slow down. Observe.
Watch the way light reflects over Rocky’s body when he moves. Count the various shades of brown and grey and green that make up Rocky’s body. Does Rocky know that he’s made of so many different colors, Ryland wonders. Does he know that the green on his body shines differently to the rest of it?
Ryland never asks these questions outloud, but he keeps watching.
Rocky loves the sound of Grace’s heartbeat.
It is usually slow, and rhythmic. A steady thump, thump, thump pulsing inside his body. A sign that he is alive.
Sometimes, when Grace is in his deepest part of sleep (Rocky has gotten better at telling that now), Rocky will roll closer to him. Close enough to hear the blood being pushed through his body, feel his lungs slowly expand and contract.
And Rocky will sway in time with their movement and wonder how sounds that were once so strange could become so familiar.