Once Upon a Caveman

by Cassandra Gannon

  “Wolves.”

  She turned back to frown at him. “Wolves?”

  “Wolves are on this island.” He did not want her to go, so it seemed wise to list all the hazardous obstacles she might encounter. “Also long-tooths, tandar, mammoths, and boga. You saw me when I was sick from a boga bite, remember? It is not pleasant. Few rodents are. It would be very dangerous to leave.”

  She stared at him. “You really have mammoths here?” She finally whispered. “I know you said that crap about the gooey stew, but you have like… real mammoths? The kind of mammoths that have been extinct for ten thousand years? That kind of mammoths?”

  Rhawn frowned, not understanding the question.

  She gave up on the idea of walking off into the forest, a dazed look on her face. “Do you know what year it is?”

  “I’m unfamiliar with this word.”

  “What word? Year? You don’t know what a year is?”

  He shook his head, ashamed of his stupidity.

  “How do you keep track of time here?” She pointed to the sky. “With the sun or something?”

  “We count the moons’ passages.”

  “Right. Good. So what is today on your calendar?”

  “The third cycle of the red moon adjoining the yellow in the ninth rotation of Tnatun.”

  Lucy looked frustrated by that news. “Great. Very helpful.” She sighed. “I guess that explains why you’d tell me we had the dream on the same day every year and I’d say we didn’t, huh? We’re on different schedules here.” She rubbed her forehead. “Let’s try this an easier way. Do you know what CNN is? Peanut butter? Converse sneakers? Mickey Mouse? Anything that even hints of the modern world?”

  Rhawn perked up. “I’ve seen the Mouse King in my dreams. He is worshipped by children who sing. I suspect he is luring them into his lair to devour them.” He nodded, thoughtfully. “As I said, rodents are deadly creatures.”

  The Destroyer closed her eyes and seemed to brace herself. “Do you know what Earth is?”

  “Yes.”

  “You do?” She exhaled in relief. “Thank God, because…”

  Rhawn kept going. “It is the distant land of the gods.” He gestured towards the sky and the far off world where they dwelled. “It is part of Newyork, I think.”

  “Aw… shit.” She whispered in defeat.

  He hated the feeling of dread that crawled through him. “This is the wrong answer?” He guessed dismally.

  “You have no idea how wrong that answer is, caveman.”

  Rhawn wasn’t surprised. He looked down at his meal. Why couldn’t he be smarter?

  “Hang on… What are you eating?” She demanded suddenly. “Is that lobster?”

  Uh-oh.

  “The food on the island is running low.” He defended, used to the criticism, but not wanting her to think less of him. No one else in the Clan would eat from the Infinite Sea. It was forbidden. “I am bigger than the others and I need more than the rations Notan provides.” He was the largest one on the island, something Skoll hated. “It serves no purpose to starve when there are plentiful resources…”

  The Destroyer cut him off. “So, you give me this,” she gestured towards the precious bowl of meat, “and you’re eating lobster? For real?” Green eyes bore into his, accusing and beautiful. “You’re a hell of a host, you know that? I get rancid mammoth and you get fresh lobster!”

  It took him a moment to realize she was angry at him for giving her the better meal. Rhawn had no idea why. Hesitating for a beat, he took a chance and held out his bowl of shellfish.

  “Thank you.” She grabbed it for herself, still looking pissed. “Unbelievable. Why don’t you eat that gross stew?”

  Rhawn blinked. She wished to switch food? Unsure of what would please her, he picked up the mammoth and popped a piece into his mouth.

  “No!” She leaned forward to smack the bowl from his hand. “God, don’t seriously eat that! It looks terrible and smells worse. Here. You take the mutant-sized lobster back. I was just making a point. I don’t even want this.” She tried to return it to him.

  He shook his head. “It is good. You should eat it and keep your strength up.”

  “No thanks. I’m a vegetarian.”

  “That word is unfamiliar to me.”

  “It means I don’t eat meat.”

  “You do not… eat… meat?” He repeated slowly, trying to make sense of the words. It was useless. They were pure nonsense.

  “Well, I’m not --like--setting fire to steakhouses or anything crazy militant. I just prefer to skip the part where cute, fuzzy things die for my dinner. I like animals too much to kill them.”

  He squinted. “What if the animals are trying to kill you?”

  “Why?” She shot back sarcastically. “Did this lobster attack you or something?”

  “No. I did not give it a chance to.”

  She glowered at him. “Look, let’s just sit here and silently think of reasons why none of this can really be happening, okay? It’s just an incredibly strange and vivid dream.”

  “I do not think it is. I have many dreams, but none of them are this strange.”

  “Did I ask for your opinion?” She watched him break open a lobster claw and frowned. “I don’t suppose you have any sesame bagels around here, right?”

  “That word is unfamiliar to me.”

  “How did I know you were going to say that?”

  Chapter Four

  “Hey, caveman? You okay?”

  Rhawn forces his eyes open, although he is unsure how he could have closed them inside a dream. His whole body hurts. The boga bite will kill him. He’s sure of that. The rodent’s fangs always mean an agonizing death. But something is pulling him from the waiting darkness.

  Something important.

  He tries to focus on the voice calling him and is so grateful when he sees it’s the woman. He would not want to leave this world without seeing her again. This is why he’s been fighting so hard to stay alive. Because he knew she would come this night and she is all that he cares about. All that he regrets leaving behind.

  “Are you sick?” She demands, looking concerned. “What happened?”

  He ignores her questions and tries to tell her what’s important, but his thinking is so muddled he cannot recall any tender words in her language. He’s trying to learn it from his dreams, but it’s difficult.

  “Vando.” He mutters instead. She will not understand the Clan’s tongue, but he needs her to know how he feels. He has so little strength left. “Vando.”

  “Huh?” She looks worried. One cool hand presses against his forehead. “Geez, you don’t look so good, sweetie. Your skin is all greenish.”

  That is one of the symptoms of a boga bite, so he is not surprised. The green hue is a signal of death and pain. There is nothing that will stop it from claiming him, now. His eyes drift shut and he forces them open again, frightened that she will disappear if he falls asleep.

  Except, can you sleep in a dream? That makes no sense, but he is so tired…

  “Caveman?” She lies down beside him, looking scared as he begins to drift off. “No! Don’t do that. Don’t sleep. Keep looking at me.” She pulls the furs around his shivering body. “You have to concentrate. How can I help?”

  “Stay with me.” He whispers. That is all he wants. If she is here, he can fight the darkness for a little while longer.

  She hugs him, her gentle hands smoothing back his hair. “I will, caveman. I’ll stay right here beside you. You just stay with me.”

  Lucy and Rhawn’s Dream- Twelve Years Ago

  Rhawn stared at the rising sun. He’d been standing at the entrance of his cave for hours, waiting for someone in the Clan to come looking for the woman. It only made sense that they would try to defeat her while she slept. At least, it made sense to him. Why not try to catch her unaware? Obviously the others were more interested in feasting with the Savior than launching a surprise attack, though. Not even Skoll had returned to co
ntinue their fight.

  The Clan was so confident that Warren would win that they were already celebrating. No one had bothered Lucy all night, which should have given her time to regroup. For once, Rhawn was glad he thought differently than the others.

  All the teachings of his life told Rhawn it was imperative that Lucy fall, but a much deeper instinct was screaming inside of him to protect her. It told him to keep her safe, no matter the consequences. He did not accept that she was evil. She couldn’t be.

  Shit, maybe he really was an idiot.

  Rhawn’s eyes drifted over to the Destroyer. She’d fallen asleep on his bed. Her knees were pulled up to her chest as she huddled against the cold. Apparently, Newyork was warmer than the island, because she didn’t seem accustomed to this weather. Frowning, he headed over to pile more furs on top of her. The early morning temperature was mild, but she was so delicate.

  Rhawn’s palm brushed her hair as he rearranged the pelts. Had he ever touched anything delicate before? He didn’t think so. Gods, he wanted to touch her everywhere, finding every delicate spot on her delicate body. Her bones seemed half the size of his. Her skin soft and easily bruised.

  He was going to have to be so careful when he took her.

  Green eyes fluttered open, catching his, and Rhawn promptly lost the capacity for thought. He could not even drag air into his lungs. She was the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen. Every beat of his heart was for her.

  His mate.

  Stupid or not, he believed it with an unshakable conviction.

  “This isn’t another dream, is it?” Lucy said.

  Rhawn frowned, uncomfortable that she’d woken up and found him staring at her. Mate or not, revealing weakness to this woman would be a huge mistake. It was impossible to even imagine all the wicked things she could do to him. …Although the more salacious recesses of his mind were certainly coming up with some interesting options.

  “No, it’s not a dream.” He ducked his head, so he wouldn’t have to maintain eye contact. “You are awake.”

  “Wonderful.” She rolled onto her side, so she faced away from him. “And of course you look like you just stepped out of a Tarzan movie, while I don’t even have a toothbrush. I just… can’t.”

  His frown grew deeper at her listless voice. Lucy had sounded that way when they finished eating the night before and told him she was going to sleep. Well, she’d briefly showed a flair of emotion when she’d told him to spend the night on his side of the cave. Rhawn had seriously considered arguing that point, but Lucy watched him with so much apprehension that he’d feared she might bolt if he said the wrong thing.

  Even for someone who was chronically dumb, it seemed far wiser to say nothing at all.

  Rhawn had silently settled against the far wall, trying to look as harmless as possible. Lucy had nodded in satisfaction at his acquiescence, feeling in control. Lucy liked to feel in control. He knew that it was important to her, so he willingly provided it. She’d pulled her own clothes back on and settled down on his bed, secure in the knowledge that he wouldn’t touch her.

  And he didn’t. Any other man would have pushed his mate for more, but no other man had a mate like Lucy. She was a difficult woman. With her, things were never going to be normal or easy. And so a girl half his size took over his bed, like she had every right to it and fell quickly asleep. Trusting him to protect her.

  It was baffling. No one had ever trusted Rhawn to protect them before. Like so much else about Lucy, the wonder of it slipped past his defenses. He still wasn’t sure how to deal with such a strange being, but the last thing he would ever do was harm her.

  …Even if she was evil.

  Rhawn studied her back and had no idea what to say. “You are still upset.” He finally surmised.

  Lucy gave an incredulous scoff. “No kidding.” She pulled the pelt up over her head. “Go away. I plan to stay upset until the twenty-first century rolls around, so try to keep it down, okay?”

  “You should awaken and prepare for the Ardin.” He pressed. “It’s vital.” If Warren caught her off guard, he could defeat her without a fight. Even if the woman was destined to lose, the battle should at least be fair.

  Rhawn’s jaw ticked.

  He couldn’t tolerate the idea of Lucy being defeated. For so long he had dreamed of having his woman and, now that she was here, he was desperate to keep her by his side. Evil or not, she was his.

  What was he going to do?

  “I’m not preparing for anything except maybe a psych evaluation.” Lucy muttered. “Either the whole world’s gone crazy or I have. I’m not sure which I should be hoping for, but I’m staying in bed until I decide.”

  Rhawn wasn’t completely clear on what a “psych evaluation” was, but he understood that she was distressed. “You should not give up before you even begin the fight. That does not seem like you.”

  “Because you know me so well, right?”

  “Yes.” The word was certain.

  She was quiet for a moment. Then she turned to face him again, looking more serious. “I don’t think anyone’s ever known me.” She told him, sounding very small.

  “I know you.” Rhawn said firmly. “I look in your eyes and I know you are a part of me.” He shook his head, frustrated that he couldn’t articulate his feelings. He didn’t know the right words to describe the connection he felt to this woman. Not in any language. “You know me, too. I know you do.”

  She stared up at him and gave a tiny nod.

  Relief washed over him at the admission. “And you can be saved. If you simply forsake this path, all will be well.” If she wasn’t evil, the Savior wouldn’t kill her. She could stay with Rhawn and he could finally be…

  Happy.

  Gods, this woman was the only being in the universe who could ever make him happy. He saw that so clearly.

  “I think it’s gonna take a little bit more than some kind of born-again thing to turn this mess around.” Lucy sat up, pushing the hair back from her face. “Look, I have to get out of here. I have to. You have no idea how close I am to a complete freak out. I can’t deal with this shit. I’m not supposed to be here.”

  “Of course you are.” Her presence was the only thing that made perfect sense to him. “From the moment you and I were born, we were fated to be in these spots.”

  She squinted at him. “You seriously believe that?”

  “I know it.” To Rhawn, there was simply no other explanation. Her being here with him was exactly the way it was always meant to happen. Now he just had to figure out how to keep her alive and save the world from her wicked schemes. “Here.” He held out a bowl full of shanee that he’d gathered for her. “You must eat.”

  She hesitated, clearly not recognizing the delicacy. “What are they? Some kind of flowers?”

  “They are a fruit.” He jiggled the bowl enticingly, so she’d take one. “Please. I do not want you hungry.”

  “They’re food? You’re sure?”

  “Yes.” His mouth curved. “Food that is not meat.”

  That made her smile, as he knew it would. She obligingly popped some fruit into her mouth, without even demanding that he eat one first. He liked that she trusted him. Given her difficult nature, he’d expected far more resistance. “These are good, actually. Kind of like …” She stopped short, her eyes falling on the wall like she was seeing the art for the first time. “Is that a hand glider?”

  Rhawn turned to look at the drawing that had caught her attention. “I don’t know the name you have for it. I saw it in a dream.”

  “It’s a hand glider.” She glanced at him. “You made a hand glider?” She gestured to the drawing beneath it, where he’d been working out a building plan.

  “I am gathering the supplies to create one. Yes. The sail of you han-d gly-der is difficult to create, though. I find that the skins are too heavy to…”

  “You’re building a hand glider.” She interrupted incredulously.

  Rhawn had no idea why
she was so interested, but he nodded.

  “Jesus. You’re like a prehistoric inventor? Is that it?”

  His brows drew together, unsure if that was an insult or praise. “What is an inventor?”

  “Someone who has ideas and then builds them.” Her eyes traveled over the cave walls, taking in the other drawings he’d done. “My God. You really do dream about Earth every night, don’t you?”

  “Every dream I’ve ever had has been of you and your Earth. Sometimes I feel like I’ve spent more time in your world than in mine. The rest of the Clan often despairs of it.”

  Lucy’s gaze met his. “I’ve never really fit in anyplace, either. People are always telling me I spend too much time reading about the past and not enough time in the present. Then, I tell them to shut up and I buy some more books.”

  He couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t love Newyork. “If I lived in your world, I would do nothing but explore its wonders. You are surrounded by so many amazing things.” He waved a hand around to indicate the walls full of pictures. “Every day there is something new to experience. On this island, we endlessly see the same rocks and trees and sand. But, you could do so much.”

  She glanced back at the drawing. “Sometimes there so much we could do, that we don’t do much at all. New York can be a very lonely place.”

  He hesitated, struck by her sad tone. “You have no Clan?” He knew what it was to be alone and he didn’t want that for her. Of course, he didn’t want her surrounded by others, either. Well, other men. The idea of it bothered him deeply.

  “No. My parents were killed when I was a baby. I was raised by my grandparents and, when they died, I was on my own. The school psychologist suggested those experiences made me untrusting and antisocial.”

  If that meant that she was a prickly, difficult little creature, then he would have to agree.

  She arched a brow, like she was reading his mind, and ate some more fruit. “Still, I don’t think I’m the only one ranking low on the popularity polls. I get the vibe that you’re more Mary Ann and less Ginger, here on Gilligan’s Isle.”