Chapter 1: Frozen Flame

It had been three days since they left the Heart of Gold yet the entire crew was still very subdued. An atmosphere of mourning hung over the ship, mostly due to Malcolm’s pointed silence but also due to Inara’s lack of appearance. She had hardly come out of her shuttle since then left the moon and whenever she did she hardly said a word, not even to Kaylee. The whole crew knew that something was wrong besides the loss of Nandi, but nobody dared ask. The crew had tried to lighten the mood on numerous occasions but even Wash couldn’t get Captain to laugh and Kaylee seemed the only person who could manage to make him produce a smile, and even that seemed superficial. None of the crew were particularly itching for adventure after the events that has just taken place, except perhaps Jayne, but all this uncomfortable silence had made them restless. Of course, there was always River.

“Fire”

“What was that mei-mei?” Asked Simon. They were all sitting down for yet another awkward dinner and this was the first word that River had said since this morning.

“Fire” She repeated “It’s almost like fire”

“What fire?” Asked Jayne, sounding slightly worried. They could all remember the last time there had been a fire on the ship and it wasn’t something they wanted to experience again.

“Is your sister saying there’s a fire on my boat?” Mal looked at Simon sternly Because if she is –“

“It like she’s burning” River interrupted

“Now who’s burning, ‘cause as far as I can see, none of my crew have burst into flames as of late?” Asked Mal, slightly impatiently. The crew had all become accustomed to Rover’s strange remarks but he wasn’t in the mood for deciphering them right now.

“It’s a secret” Said River, eyeing Mal cryptically.

“Well then” Said Mal as he picked up his fork to continue eating “Why don’t you keep your secrets to yourself and let us all finish our meals?”

Inara opened her mouth as if to say something, but stopped herself. The rest of the meal was spent in silence