Eryx is part of a team of scientists charged with monitoring and protecting relocated animals on a privately owned planet. When sensors indicate poachers, Eryx leaves base to confront them, only to lose his way in a sudden snow. After trudging to a nearby observation station for shelter, he comes across an unexpected intruder.<br><br>Smuggler Leander flies an old, sometimes unreliable ship. When the engine starts to fail, he attempts to set down on the nearest planet where he’s stashed supplies, but his descent turns into a crash, and he’s forced to take shelter wherever he can.<br><br>The two can’t possibly trust each other, but storm projections show they’ll be stuck together for days. Worse, the poachers aren’t letting a little inclement weather stop them, and they’re armed and ready to kill. Can Leander and Eryx put aside their differences and save the animals -- and themselves -- before something disastrous happens?

Under Snow and Stars

“You from this system?” asked Leander, receiving a grunt in response. Better than nothing. “Not me. Born and raised on the Moon. No snow. How do you stand all this fluffy white shit?”


“You’re Lunar?” asked Eryx, glancing toward Leander. “I’m not surprised. You’re all a bunch of assholes.”


“Yeah, if you’re going to sell that, you can’t sound so proud.”


“All right, you got me. I’m not offended.” But Leander was intrigued. Eryx was talking like someone with a rivalry, and no bigger rivalry existed in the galaxy than that between the Moon and Earth. “Let me guess—Terran?”


“Yes, and I’m sure it makes you feel smart.” Eryx tapped a few things on the wall pad and sighed, crossed his arms, leaned back. “What, no smug grin for your clever guess?”


“I’m trying to figure out which sport you’re into. Baseball?”


Chapter 11