by Ivy McAdams
Worst game of hide and seek ever.
“Wh-what do you want?” I snap, though most of my confidence is gone.
The levadon turns his head slightly, staring at me with his big red eyes. Then he chirps. Like a question.
“What? Are you lost too?” I can’t keep the irritation out of my voice, but at least being around another living creature is calming me a little.
Even if it is a dinosaur with big sharp teeth.
His nostrils flare and he snorts, pulling his head back over his neck as if I've just said the most ridiculous thing.
The stupid animal is kind of cute.
Sometimes.
He opens his mouth and snaps at the air, squawking twice.
I stare at him in defeat. “I have no idea what you’re doing.”
He lowers his head to look at me, and I swear his eyes narrow slightly and he grumbles.
“What? You think I speak dinosaur? I talk to rocks.”
One of the huge curved claws on his back feet taps into the ground.
I think this asshole is getting impatient with me.
“Look, I don’t know what you’re saying. Either leave me alone or give me a lift. I need to get back to camp.”
It slips out of my mouth before I’ve even thought it through.
Me? Ride this thing?
Yikes.
Good thing he hates me, or I could have royally screwed myself.
But to my surprise, he makes a short purring noise and lowers his head, bending his knees to get closer to the ground.
I hold up my hands in surprise. “Um, I was kinda just kidding.”
He doesn’t move, but he looks up at me with sharp eyes from his low position and snaps his jaw.
“Yeah, fine. Okay.”
Don’t have to tell me twice, Toothy.
I step around his head and move up alongside his body.
I’ve never gotten on a levadon before. I’ve been thrown on caveman-style. I’ve been lifted up like a lady with her knight―what a joke that turned out to be. But I’ve never gotten on myself.
There are no stirrups on this saddle, so do I just―? I put my hands on his back and jump. For a huge giant, I'm quite nimble in this body and launch myself right up on the dinosaur's back. As soon as I'm square over his spine, Desian stands and shakes his head, fluttering the reins draped over his neck. I pick them up, holding them tight against my chest.
He growls and I realize what a taut line I have him on and loosen up.
“My bad. Okay, we're good. I think. But the alarm stopped. I don’t know which―”
But he must know the way because he throws himself into a run and nearly jerks me right off. I cling to him with my knees and close my eyes.
* * *
"It's right up there. You should stay down here," I whisper as we stand at the edge of the treeline, staring up the slope to the plateau. "No one needs to see you up close. You might freak someone out." Or worse, they'll want an up-close and personal meet and greet with a levadon. Probably with a tranquilizer.
Desian blows a hearty breath, and I’m not sure if he agrees with me or not, but he doesn’t fight as I climb down from his back.
It didn’t take much time at all to get back to base at a dead run. Xjhun was right. We should have been riding the levadon the entire time.
Desian wanders along the foot of the plateau as I suggested and I start for the slope.
Only I don’t get far before someone clears his throat.
I jump and spin.
Dammit, how is everyone sneaking up on me like that?
Along the treeline, two other levadon with Kutarian warriors approach.
Oh, shit.
I stare at them with wide eyes, tucking my hands behind my back and trying to look as innocent as possible.
Even though I’ve just spent days with Xjhun, these men look alien to me. For a moment I’m transported back to my first day seeing them, afraid of the giant brutes and wondering what they might do to me.
There's something familiar about the two. They must have been a part of the original rescue party.
They’ve spotted me, of course, and ride over.
One is tall with wide shoulders and holds a long spear. I’ve definitely seen him before. He came into the tent with Gemma the day I woke up as an alien.
The other has a mane full of braided black hair and a scar running down the bridge of his nose. The way he focuses on me so intently sends a flutter of nerves through me.
“Trinity?” the taller one calls as they draw nearer.
I consider telling him no and running away, but how many Kutarian women are out walking around? Much less exist at all?
And it’s not as if I’ll outrun those levadon anyway.
So I nod. “Who’s asking?”
“Kovak, Captain of the Kutarian Warriors. My Second in Command Warrior Drek. We’ve been looking for you.”
I bet he has. My lip pinches between my teeth as I fight a less than polite retort. “Here I am. Enjoying the scenery.”
Kovak’s eyebrow flexes. It looks as if he’s trying to determine whether he wants to reply to my comment or not, and after a moment of silence, I’d rather he just not.
“We saw you with Desian,” Drek speaks up as they come to a stop in front of me. “Where is Xjhun?”
A stab of pain pricks my stomach, then my chest. I set my jaw as I stand tall before them. I will not let them see my eyes well up or the muscles move in my neck as I fight the knot of emotion in my throat.
My voice is strained but controlled as I speak. “I don’t know. He’s gone.”
The aliens exchange a look.
Kovak shakes the big purple feathers braided into the sides of his black Mohawk of hair. “Was he not with you?”
I consider my answer carefully. According to Xjhun, he’d convinced the others not to go after me. Was he supposed to return me? Is he going to get in trouble now?
As much as my chest aches over him leaving me behind, I don’t want to dig him into a hole.
“He was with me. Yesterday.” That’s good. Ease into it. “We got separated.”
The aliens pass a raised eyebrow between them again. The second in command speaks up this time.
“But Desian is always at his side. Why is he with you?”
I square off with them uncomfortably. I don’t know where to put my hands, or my eyes. I rest my fingers on my hips unceremoniously.
Except the moment Drek’s words really sink in, the ache in my chest grows.
“Always with him?” I murmur.
“Of course,” Kovak says. “A levadon is a warrior’s loyal companion. He stays at Xjhun’s side until he is needed. They’re bonded creatures.”
One of my hands moves to my chest, sliding over the pain there as my lungs constrict. Why was Desian out in the forest by himself? Where is Xjhun?
I swallow the hard knot in my throat. “I-I don’t know where Xjhun is. Desian found me.”
Drek’s face is hard but Kovak’s twitches as he speaks.
“I see.”
The discomfort in my chest grows and spreads. It’s itchy and burning.
Is Xjhun lost? Is he in trouble?
My ears twitch as the heat reaches them. I long to scratch them but keep my hands clenched at my side.
Kovak shifts in his saddle to look around, then turns to address his partner.
“Drek, we should circle back and―”
His voice is cut off by a low bellowing screech.
I drop down low and shield my head.
I know exactly what that sound is. I hear it echo in my head sometimes in the dark.
It’s the giant alien bug assholes that attacked us in the valley.
Chapter 13
Trinity
The aliens’ ears push toward the sound as they sit taller in their saddles, eyes locked on the trees across the valley.
“Stagni,” Kovak murmurs.
Shit, I knew it.
His eyes jum
p back to mine as he moves his levadon forward. “You lay low. We’ll take care of this.”
Take care of it? Those bitches are huge! And nasty. Do these aliens just think they’re going to take them down?
“Can’t we just run away?” I bleat.
“If Xjhun was accounted for, yes.”
His eyes are serious and another shock of fear hits me.
Last night’s campsite is miles away. I hadn’t considered he could be over here and in danger. But Kovak’s right.
He could be anywhere.
“Get under cover in those bushes,” Kovak says, motioning toward the trees nearby. “We’ll find Xjhun.”
“Okay, okay,” I say as I duck closer to the ground.
The levadon take off and I’m alone again. No match for anything out here.
I wish Desian was still around. Where’d he go?
Or actually, if I’m wishing, I wish Xjhun was here.
He’s been the best bodyguard a girl could ask for. Not to mention a good guy all around. He’s sweet and caring. Taken such good care of me.
I force my brain to shut down before it starts spouting out things about love.
That’s definitely something I can’t face right now. Especially with him missing.
Oh, man. Please don’t be stagni food.
I can’t even think of it. Of him being lost or hurt.
Or worse.
I grit my teeth, trying to put all the thoughts from my mind.
It’s difficult.
Until the alarm goes off.
The siren at the base blares and I scream. The destroyed camp is just up the rise now and the alarm is so loud it feels as if my ears might explode.
There’s not much to see from down here on the ground now that most of the structures have been blown to bits. A high tower still stands and a red light spins on top.
Whatever set off the alarm earlier is still up there.
I glance after the retreating levadon and back again. If the stagni monsters are here, any people up at the base are in danger.
I should warn them.
And then find Xjhun.
I may not know this world from the back of the moon, but I can’t just leave him out there if he’s hurt.
The fact that Desian isn’t with him bothers me deep down in my soul, though.
I push myself up from the ground and sprint toward the back slope of the plateau, squeezing the hurt from my chest. The tears from my eyes.
This damn planet is trying to kill me and everything I love.
I climb the slope and rush into the outskirts of the base.
The smoky haze that was present days before when Xjhun and I came upon it is gone. The ransacked base looks like a hollow shell of old ruins in the peaceful sunlight. Old and empty. But also very still.
I cover my ears as I get closer to the alarm. It’s almost too much to bear. My head is splitting. I want to run, but I don’t see anything setting off the alarm yet.
With a sinking feeling in my stomach, I continue toward the half-standing biodome where my human body is.
If it’s not humans up here setting off the alarm, it could be in danger.
I crunch through broken plastic and debris, careful where I put my big bare feet, and move through what used to be the biggest biodome of them all, where all our dorms had been.
When the alarm shuts off, I lower my hands and listen to the hollow echo reverberate in my ears. The sounds around me are crisp now, finally uncovered from the blaring drone.
What I hear stops me in my tracks. Things are breaking. And growling.
I sneak to the nearest standing wall and press close to it. Then I peer around the corner.
Just outside the half-standing biodome, two large creatures creep around.
The first thing I notice is how ugly they are. Naked, pink skin over hulking muscles. It’s smooth in places and heavily wrinkled in others.
I frown and lean out for a better look.
They both browse the debris, stopping to dig and poke at things. One digs its snout into a stack of plastic and nibbles on something. When it turns around, I get a better view of its face and grimace.
It looks like a giant polar bear with no fur. There are upright fins on top of its head and along its back. The paw it uses to dig is webbed and almost flipper-like.
It’s like a grizzly met up with a walrus for a good time.
The ugly ass looks like it could kill me with one swipe though, so I duck down lower to watch.
Trying to face off with the dirty water bears seems about as smart as running out to chase off any other bear.
Instant death.
I hover behind the wall as I peek out. One of the creatures wanders to the biodome and sniffs around inside the open structure.
I hold my breath.
The only thing separating it from my body is the interior door. It’s not built as superior as exterior doors. Will it even hold up to the animal?
It drags its feet through the debris and stalks inside.
I see the moment it catches the smell.
Its head lifts and tilts. I bet if it had more than little earholes on the side of its head, they'd be pointed hard in the direction of the door.
Without hesitation, it moves toward it.
Dammit.
The creature lifts up on its back legs and sniffs at the edge of the door. It doesn’t look as strong up on its legs as our grizzlies back on Earth, but it leans on the wall with its giant form just fine. Its wiggly nose presses along the seam of the door and it makes an odd bleating noise.
Its companion continues digging in a deep pile of plastic and ash a few buildings down.
At least they’re not both trying to get in. Maybe that’ll buy some time.
Except now the water bear thing is digging at the door with its big flipper paw. Sharp claws catch and rip part of the door jam free.
I wince.
God, I wish Xjhun was here.
I need my team back. How am I going to keep them off my body on my own?
The truth is, I’ve come down to the wire, and I know it. It’s my turn to rescue myself. If I want to keep these things from eating the body, I’ll have to rescue it. One way or another.
My teeth clench as I look around the rubble nearby.
Mostly plastic. The charred remains of paper and glass screens. Wires. Plastic and metal tubes. And a thin steel structure beam protruding from the dirt.
My insides tremble at the sight.
I wrap my fingers around the cold, rigid bar and pull it out as quietly as I can manage. The only advantage I’ll have against this big brute will be surprise.
How good are those nearly nonexistent ears? That nose?
The beast has gotten its claws into the door seam and is pulling. It creaks.
I take a deep breath, holding the metal rod in both hands over my shoulder like a baseball bat.
The idea of attacking this monster is asinine. I’m losing my fucking mind.
But I’ve lost everything else.
I can’t just stand here and watch the beast take the last thing that’s mine.
It’s now or never.
I run through the base, watching my feet and avoiding the ruins. My nimble body is badass right now and I make it through the mess to the biodome before the bear even turns around.
When it does, its dark eyes flash orange, and it growls. My whole body screams for me to stop.
Holy shit, this demonic thing is going to eat me alive!
My momentum carries me inside the biodome and I swing at the beast when it lunges at me.
It knocks the steel bar from my grip in one swipe. My fingers vibrate and pain shoots up my arms. The rod flies against the wall with a ringing clatter.
Then the creature opens its mouth, jaw widening as the double row of teeth flash, and it roars a horn-sounding bellow that shakes my head. My entire body rattles and I want to cover my ears and run screaming, but I’m frozen. And the bear is quick.
&
nbsp; It swipes at me again, this time catching me in the arm where its claws sink in and rake through my flesh.
This time I scream.
Even louder when it throws its weight at me and I fall back onto the ground.
Oh my God, I’m going to die.
The words echo in my brain, over and over, as the orange glowing eyes pin me. One of its heavy paws comes down on my forearm, trapping me against the dirt. The creature’s head is close enough to me that its hot stinky breath heats my face. It's nauseating and I don’t know which I may do first, puke or piss myself.
Another scream rips out of me as I try to cover my face. Through my fingers I see its small nose wiggling toward me.
An old memory resurfaces. Facts on bears. Where the hell would I have learned about bears? The half year I tried out Girl Scouts? Science class? A small tidbit about a bear’s sensitive nose. If ever encountering the carnivore in the wild, try hitting it in the nose.
Well, this ugly fucker isn’t a bear, per se, but his nose looks soft and twitchy.
I'm going for it.
When the beast pauses to sniff at my face, I lift up and slam my forehead into its snout. It falls back with a roaring scream, shocked and angry. It paws at its face and I wiggle free from beneath its body.
Then I jump to my feet and run.
Straight into Xjhun.
* * *
Xjhun
I only left the camp for an hour to trap food that morning, and when I came back to find her gone, my stomach dropped to my feet. Every horrible scenario I could imagine ran through my head. Something had taken her. She’d run off to the supply tower without me. She was hurt. She was dead.
I’d been so preoccupied trying to win her heart and keep her with me, that I’d forgotten how vulnerable she still was in this world. There are so many other ways she could be taken from me than a flying ship full of aliens.
I’d become a content Kutarian man drunk on my woman rather than a skilled warrior.
I won’t make that mistake again.
As soon as Desian returned to camp, I knew he’d seen her. I could smell her on him and he squeaked excitedly at me, ready to help.