Chapter 38: Dinner, Shower, Bed
The last traces of light from the holograms faded, and Ava only then noticed how dark the chamber had become. The golden glow of Cream Puff's projections had made her lose all sense of time, but now the room was quiet and dim, bathed in the faint purples and oranges of dusk. She blinked blearily and rubbed at her eyes, the edges of fatigue settling deep in her bones.
"…Wait," she muttered, voice hoarse. "What time is it?"
"Seventeen forty-two," Cream Puff answered promptly, its glow steady as it floated at her side.
Ava groaned and let her head tip back until it thunked against the padded wall behind her. "Oh, great. Almost six. I've officially lost an entire day to stressing, training, and playing planet dress-up."
"You were not playing," Cream Puff corrected with prim precision. "You were engaging in critical preparation for survival."
