Page 19 of Riv's Sanctuary

To her side, Geblit seemed to be in better spirits the further they went across the plain. No doubt, he was happy about being able to unload her on his friend soon.

This wasn't sustainable.

She couldn’t be continuously handed off to new owners every year.

If there was no way back to Earth, that meant she needed to find a new way to survive on her own.

She needed to find a new home.

And maybe, just maybe, despite Geblit's reluctance to provide information, this could be the opening she was looking for.

Sighing, she straightened her tank top. It had several holes now but she still adored it.

Lifting her eyes, she saw a speck in the distance.

It started small, almost undetectable, until it began growing.

It was a building. A house, maybe—she was still too far away to make it out properly. She could only see flat dark roofs and cream-colored walls.

Around the property, there was a barrier of some kind. The light bent off it like it was hitting plastic or glass. Behind the barrier she could see more of the fat hippo-like animals she'd seen earlier and, as they got closer, several more of the animals came into view. There were so many of them standing lazily and grazing in the tall grass that it was obvious what they were approaching.

It was a farm.

The closer they got, the more detailed the scene became.

It wasn't one building she'd seen either. It was a network of buildings and between and around them stood tall trees, their flat, pink, lily pad-like leaves in bunches across their branches. The pink leaves were the same color as the sky and it made for a beautiful view.

Box-like metal droids were in one section cutting the tall grass and making hay bales and she could hear the sound of whirring as their razors hit the orange blades of grass.

The entire farm looked like a haven in the middle of nowhere.

"Is that..."

Was that Riv's Sanctuary?

"Riv's Sanctuary," Geblit confirmed.

Just staring ahead, she could sense her anxiety slowly going away. How could someone who was not nice live in a place like this? She was pretty sure being mellow and good was a requirement to live in a place so...wholesome.

"So, it's a farm?" she asked.

Geblit made a sound in his throat as if he was thinking. "Yes, and a place where animals go to live out the rest of their days."

She guessed she fell in that category. "So, it's a rescue, then."

Geblit glanced at her, his four eyes blinking and she guessed he didn't understand what she was trying to say.

Didn't matter.

It this was a rescue for animals then it had to be a good place. If this person took care of animals there was no way he was a dick.

As they drew closer, more and more sections of the sanctuary came into view. There were other animals all sectioned around the property. She could count at least five different types, all in enclosures eating and frolicking happily. She couldn't make out what most of them looked like but, even from the distance, it was clear the animals weren't stressed or anxious.

So, good person? Check.

Nice person? Hmm...maybe check?

Being good and nice were two distinct things but when it came to this Riv, she'd go with good over nice.