“Clarity says the same. It would be impossible right now with the water so high. I never imagined this. Clarity tried to explain but I honestly thought she was exaggerating. This is nothing I’ve encountered. We are lucky we made the high covering partitions with small holes to filter the air. Or we would be covered in ash inside. Breathing would be unbearable. As I stand here I can feel my lungs protest.”
“Do you think this will pass, this destruction?”
“Yes.”
The earth trembled beneath them, shaking as though frightened or cold. Menace thought of creatures with life, vegetation with life, but to think of the earth with life was a different concept to him. He wondered why he hadn’t put his ideas together before. The earth was alive to give birth to life. Was it afraid? The life-giving water attacked the land. Menace could see cracks in the mountain, deep holes. Had the earth fought and lost? It was wounded. Menace touched a huge boulder filled with compassion.
“Do not fear. Your humans will continue to respect you. We will continue to appreciate your bounty and generosity. We thank you for allowing us to partake of your beauty.” Then to Doom, “I think our planet is hiding, afraid it will be hurt again.”
“Perhaps. I never thought such destruction was possible. I never knew a planet could be so cruel to itself. I would not rip off my flesh, or cut a deep hole within. I would not rage with the wind.”
“But we do,” Menace said filled with wonder. “When we are hurt we bleed. We rage when angry. Our emotions tear us apart, and our love creates life. Solace grows life within.”
“That’s wonderful,” Doom clapped him on the back.
“I only hope the planet understands what happens is beyond its control. If I can be fixed by love I think the planet can. If the water recedes the lands will forgive the intrusion. The holes and cracks can be considered character marks. There will always be battle wounds, scars, but we all carry them.”
Doom gazed at the tattoos visible on Menace, and Menace chose not to hide them.
“The marks are not yours my friend.”
“Then who do they belong to?”
“The wind.”
“The wind, eh?” Menace raised an eyebrow. “With the way that damned hyena farts, the tattoos should have been blasted into the tornado.”
Doom chuckled and Solace appeared holding two steaming cups. “Clarity wants to see you, Doom.”
Doom left them alone and Solace gave a delectable meaty-smelling broth to Menace. He took a sip and closed his eyes. The flavor, thick and filling rolled down his throat to heat his insides. He was happy to be home on his planet. He would be happier to have Solace beneath him in his own domicile with the world the way it was before. The wind whipped Solace’s hair around her face, and she battled to keep strands from her lips as she sipped from her cup. She tugged the fur around her shoulders tighter.
“You should be in by the fire,” he said.
“I wanted to be alone with you. You should at least put a fur around you. It’s cold.”
“I don’t want my tattoos covered for any length of time. The sacrifices should see what I do and know I keep them safe.”
She was quiet for a moment. “I know you carry a great burden, but it’s not yours, not really. The aliens are keeping those souls safe with you until they can be set free somewhere else.”
“Until that day comes, they are my responsibility.”
Solace settled onto a rock and stared below. Lightning zipped across the water, and the water crackled. Above clouds groaned, too full to accept any more moisture. Then to Menace’s surprise it began to rain. Huge ugly drops landed on him, zigzagging a dirty trail across his chest, and he gazed up.
“That’s odd. Normally the rain begins from ground up, then down to saturate everything.”
“I think many things are going to change on your planet. Let’s hope there is no ice age and let’s hope this gray rain clears.” She scooted farther under an overhang holding an open hand over the opening of the steaming mug in her hand.
“Did a meteor bounce off your planet?”
“Nope, smacked it silly. Wiped out around seventy-five percent of all living things millions of years ago, maybe sixty-five million.”
“Then we should be fine. We were, uh, pushed not smacked.”
“Clarity and I have been speculating. We think your planet now has continents; oceans could separate you from others. If that’s true there may still be hybrids. Instead of space flight they’ll need to make boats. Either way we might be looking at hundreds of years of growth from both sides.”
“We will be ready.”
Solace chuckled. “Our children’s children will be. We can make certain. Between Lochlan, Clarity and I we can make guns. You never mentioned what happened on that planet with the hybrid.”
“The hybrid is dead and the plane was destroyed. I wished for you. When the sinkhole opened and swallowed me I wanted to slide into your arms. Imagine my surprise when my first involuntary cuddle came from Doom.”
“I landed on Muffin.” Solace laughed and Menace grinned.
Menace drained his cup setting it onto the boulder and pulled her into his arms. He kissed her. She collapsed against his chest and he lifted her to cuddle. He encouraged her to drink her breakfast; their little one would need sustenance to grow. She should be warmed. The rain came down harder, and Menace took her inside. Who knew how long they would be trapped? While trapped, it was important to keep up spirits. He led Solace to a hide filled with more steaming broth and made certain she drank more. He wasn’t certain how much she should eat but something told him he would need to watch her carefully. She was the kind of female who would give away her last mouthful to another. The way the T-rex was lapping at another bowl of stew chances were the dinosaur would be the first.
Chapter Eleven
The water’s retreat was slow at first then gained momentum as time passed in exaggerated slowness, the ground was taking back its territory an inch at a time. Thankfully, most of the debris was pulled back, and the tide took the bodies of many species with it. The skies remained dull. The rain was black and unpalatable. The villagers were saved from dehydration by the accumulation of ice kept safe inside the caves. They could hack off clean chunks and warm them. Being high above many clouds the snow was clear when parties ventured higher. They didn’t often as air was dense and the altitude frigid.
Inside the caves, people worked leather hides to keep busy, and they were down to two meals a day. Menace stared often past the partitions that had seen better days and were in constant need of repair. Solace was recovering from a bout of illness. She claimed it was normal but Menace worried, never having seen a pregnant female. She stayed in her furs much of the day while the women fussed over her, thinking her delicate. Solace didn’t correct them; she wanted to wait until the first few months passed before telling everyone their news. Only Doom and Clarity knew she was pregnant.
“How are you feeling?” Menace asked her when he returned to their furs.
“Lazy.” She yawned and stretched.
“Are you hungry?”
She grimaced. “I don’t suppose you could find me some hotdogs and vanilla ice cream?” She then chuckled at his puzzled look. “I’m guessing no.”
“There is flatbread. Kiki stuffs chunks of meat into it with cheese and sometimes leafy greens. The children like it.”
“How are the supplies?”
“Let me worry about that.”
“I’m not an invalid.”
“You are creating life. You work at it day and night. It must be exhausting to never have your body rest.” He pulled her to his chest and placed a hand onto her belly. “Inside of you we both grow. You and I joined to make a child, a you-me, or a me-you. I do live inside of you. You have no other responsibility but to nurture the life within you. You are so lucky.”
“Yes the privilege of puking and bloating is mine.”
Menace was concerned. “Don’t you want our baby?”
/>
“Of course I do. I’m moody.”
He laughed then lowered his voice. “There is a child inside of you. Of course you’re moody, have you seen the way children behave? My poor love you can’t leave the room from this baby and take a breath to clear your head. You cannot say hush now or shut up, like you do to Rex. There is no quieting the one inside and you, my love, are the only one who knows how you feel.”
“I guess I do feel a little hungry.”
The petulance in her tone made him grin. “I will make you a Kiki sandwich.”
“No ketchup.”
He grimaced as he rose to his feet. Ketchup, the blood of the undead. No wonder the children in the cave loved it; they acted like demon spawns most days. They needed to be outside running in fresh air, not cooped up smelling cave hyena farts.
****
Menace, Doom, Edge and Lochlan were the first to venture out after a bulwark returned with a fresh kill, a young mastodon hybrid. The villagers took a share of the meat and left the bulwark to fend off the other animals. Fortified with fresh meat, the four trudged for days down the side of the mountain.
Their underground homes were intact. There was no water damage. Inside was dry but the air was stale. It was surreal to walk their homes when no other was around. No children tussling with animals, no females cooking and gossiping. No bombs made or swords forged. The four sat at a table and ate a small meal.
“It’s so quiet,” Menace said.
“I feel like a ghost in my own home,” Edge said.
“It will be better when we’re all together,” Doom said.
“I wouldn’t mind seeing that little T-rex running around sticking his tongue out at me,” Lochlan said and laughed. “But I sure as hell don’t miss the hyena’s ass.”
“Let’s get out of here.” Talk of homemade Menace worry for Solace.
The surrounding ground was squishy. They decided a few more days inside the mountain was necessary. There was a small glimpse of the sun trying to break free. Much of the foliage was dead. What was left was drooping or wilted. The ocean had left a few unusual items. Giant clams and oysters were pried open.
“Fuck me, look at this,” Lochlan exclaimed. He held up a huge round ball.
“What is it?” Menace asked.
“A pearl.”
“Can you eat it?” Doom asked.
“No,” Lochlan said and gave him a sheepish grin. “I guess it’s pretty worthless here but the meat might be good if it hasn’t spoiled.” He dropped the pearl to bounce near the shell it came from.
The noise startled a pair of velociraptors who were creeping close, but Menace noted it wasn’t in a hostile way. The male was supporting the female, or rather they were supporting each other. They were wounded. There was no blood but bruising could be seen. Doom drew his sword but Menace stopped him and pointed. Two young ones hid in a bush. The little ones were small, thin, and needed food.
“Enough death,” Menace said. “Besides, if we kill the adults, we can’t leave the little ones to fend for themselves, and we’ll be adding baby raptors to our growing list of animal pets. Can you imagine the names Clarity would think up for these two?”
Doom groaned. “Something along the lines of Cotton and Kitty, no doubt.”
“Oh no, I’m certain Clarity will name them something sickly sweet. I ain’t running around a cave calling out for Pampered and Precious to come eat,” Lochlan grouched.
The others chuckled and Menace took his pack off his back and pulled out a huge piece of meat Solace packed for him. All four raptors gazed in hunger. The little ones chirped and slinked through their parents’ legs in eager excitement. Using a sharp knife, he cut the meat into sections, he tossed the smaller bits to the little ones and larger chunks to the adults. Menace heard Doom sigh and he did the same. There was enough bread cooked and broth in skins to eat on the way back. They hollowed out the rest of a massive tree trunk that was already showing signs of age. They lined the damp bottom with dried branches. The raptors took shelter and were given more food. The hunters covered the trunk completely from view, allowing the small family to sleep and stay warm.
“That may come back to bite us in the ass,” Doom said.
“Literally.” Lochlan snorted.
“I’m so sick of the death. I know we will have to hunt again, but we have enough food for some time and did you see there are beasts that made it up the mountain after all. There were mastodon mammoths. They might have finally figured out what we were trying to tell them,” Menace said.
“Menace am I mistaken or have you gone from badass to mommy dearest? Before, it was ‘kill the fuckers.’ Now we may as well make you a wreath for your head with roses. What’s up? Solace seems to be having a lot of ‘morning’ sickness,” Lochlan said.
“Menace has discovered he’s going to be a father,” Doom said and grinned.
“Solace didn’t want to tell anyone yet,” Menace said with annoyance.
“Wonderful,” Edge grouched. “One look at a baby and every female will want one including Aba.”
“Don’t be annoyed, Menace,” Lochlan said. “I’ve seen a few pregnant women in my time and guessed a while ago. I’m surprised no one else has.”
“We haven’t been around pregnant females,” Doom reminded him. “I was the last born to my village. Menace was the last born to his.”
Lochlan gazed around. “If there will be babies born we’ll need to make certain we can find more food.”
“If the hybrids are gone or their numbers greatly reduced we could do some growing,” Menace said. “The planet Solace, Lochlan and I were on kept these funny looking things called goats, or were they sheep or was it mouflon? Anyway, imagine having food so close you could walk into a corral and pick up dinner. The meat is convenient, right at their fingertips, and not too large to be uncontrollable. With milk as well and cheese and butter they make.”
“Ah the beginning of fast food has started,” Lochlan said. “Mouflon nuggets. We could start a franchise.”
Menace had no clue what the man was talking about. He was anxious to get back to Solace. The closer to the mountain the ground was squishier. Inland had been less wet but the damage was significant, the ocean appeared closer. It took a few days to climb the mountain with its intricate turns. They were hungry when they finally returned. The familiar smells of home invaded his nostrils leading them the last few feet as tummies rumbled.
“You’re back,” Solace cried, and raced into his arms.
Everyone was anxious. They waited for Doom to speak and gathered close. Blue demanded Menace pick him up. He reached for both twins while encircling Solace. In a way Menace realized the twins were like his own, no one laid claim to them, they seemed to lay claim to him and Solace.
“We can go home soon,” Doom said. “The water is retreating but the animals have suffered a great deal. This may prove to be a hard winter. I know summer is here but the vegetation has drowned. Plant life will come back eventually but maybe not until next year. Once we come down from the mountain we might need a discussion on if we should leave.”
Concerned voices followed. “The deep sleep will come. We must return before the hibernation,” Edge said. More of the same comments followed, all fearful and high-pitched.
“I agree,” Doom shouted above the din. “But until then we might need to migrate farther afield, hunt, forage, and then return with our bounty.”
“But how will we make our cheese?” Aba asked. “Our fermented drinks?”
“The village was so full of food last year I shudder to think what we’ll need to carry back,” Heath said.
“We didn’t survive the hybrids to die now,” Menace yelled, he placed the boys on their feet next to Solace and went to stand with Doom.
“It’s safe here,” Solace said. “Why not send out hunting and gathering parties for now?”
“They might have to travel very far, hiking up and down the mountain is difficult and time consuming,” Doom said. “The
re will be many dangers.”
“And there weren’t before?” was Edge’s sarcastic response.
Menace and Doom gazed at each other and shrugged. “For now let’s eat and rest,” Menace said.
****
Solace lay back on the fur. She waited for Menace to come to bed. When he climbed in beside her she reached for him.
“You’re naked; you’ll freeze,” Menace said and gathered her close while piling more furs on her.
“Your baby is a furnace, besides you can keep me warm.”
Menace rolled onto her but kept his weight from her. “You didn’t light the overhead torch.”
“Thankfully my need to pee every five minutes has passed. I don’t need the light anymore. I’m more interested in privacy.”
Solace cupped the back of his head to pull him closer. She tasted his lips. Soft, full and firm, his mouth was heaven. She heard him groan and the stiff erection near her waist made her smile.
“You should be naked, too,” she said.
Menace shifted, pulling the furs up over their heads. Solace helped him guide his hide pants off. He had reverted to the same booties he was used to, while Solace refused to give up the stylish ones made for her on the ancient planet of All People. She tried not to giggle as he pulled the leather from his feet remembering Clarity called Doom ‘booty boy’ on occasion.
When Menace settled down, he stretched out beside her. He lifted his hand to smooth the hair from her face. It was light enough to vaguely make out the outline of his jaw.
“Some of the others know you carry our child,” he said.
“I suppose it won’t hurt to tell the rest.”
“We are hunting tomorrow. Others scouted and saw tracks. If we are successful we can have a feast.”
“I hope there is other life out there.”
“There is. Some. We will make a home for our family.”
“You are my home.”
“And you are mine.”
This time when Menace kissed her the tingle he stirred went straight to her heat making her sizzle.
“I need you,” she whispered.
Finding Solace (Ancient Origins Book 2) Page 15