New Beginnings
Page 10
Her rifle throbbed against her palm, letting her know the coils were ready. She stroked the trigger, making the contact that generated the magnetic pulse along the rails. This time the round struck where she intended it, at a direct angle on the side of its head. It crashed to the ground, falling on its side and jerking its powerful legs several times before lying still.
Kira rose up, stumbling as she did so. Fresh pain lanced through the leg she’d wrenched. Gritting her teeth she limped over to the fallen monster and stared at it in the darkness. The fires on its hide had been put out by the rain but she could see well enough in the darkness to see it was covered with a thick layer of short feathers. Tarn and Sharp joined her a moment later, swearing as they drew close enough to see it.
“Where the hell are we?” Tarn asked.
“I wonder if it tasted like Chicken?” Sharp offered.
Kira turned away from it. “Doesn’t matter, it came hunting and we got in its way. We need to find a safe place as soon as we can and hole up. If we can eat the fish, we can eat the animals too. We need a source of fresh water and good hunting. Fruits too, or whatever this place has. We’ve got to give Eric a chance to get better, then we’ll be stronger and better able to find a permanent place to stay.”
“Permanent?” Jeff asked. They were close enough to the shelter for him and Eric to hear her.
“We have to assume permanent,” Kira said, looking everywhere but at her wounded lover. “If help comes that’s great, but until it does we have to figure otherwise. We’ve got rechargers for the energy packs and Eric shaped plenty of ammunition for my rifle before we landed. Means sleeping in shifts and everything.”
“Ah… paradise,” Eric muttered, then he grimaced and covered his side with his hand.
Kira bit her lip and looked away. “I’ll take first watch.” When — if — Eric died from his injuries it would take some time. They had a day or two at least she figured. A day or two before she’d need strength she didn’t know if she had. A day or two before she’d need to see just how truly gone Emily really was.
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About the Author
Jason Halstead is a science fiction and fantasy author who spends his days as an IT Manager. In his spare time Jason enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, writing, and powerlifting.
He enjoys reading and responding to fan mail as well, so if you liked any of his books, don't be shy! Find him on the web at http://www.booksbyjason.com, email him at jason@booksbyjason.com, or follow him on Twitter: @booksbyjason.
Other books by Jason Halstead
Voidhawk
Voidhawk – The Elder Race (Voidhawk, book 2)
Voidhawk – Redemption (Voidhawk, book 3)
Voidhawk – The White Lady (Voidhawk, book 4 – pending)
Wanted
Ice Princess (Wanted, book 2)
Dark Earth
Devil’s Icebox (Dark Earth, book 2 - pending)
The Lost Girls (The Lost Girls, book 1, a Dark Earth novel)
Traitor (The Lost Girls, book 2, a Dark Earth novel)
Wolfgirl (The Lost Girls, book 3, a Dark Earth novel)
Voices (a Dark Earth Book)
New Beginnings (Vitalis, book 1)
The Colony (Vitalis, book 2)
Parasites (Vitalis, book 3)
Screamer (Vitalis, book 4)
Squatter’s Rights (Vitalis, book 5)
Human Nature
Sex Sells