Bambi's Alien Abduction (Earth Girl's Guide to Surviving an Alien Abduction Book 1)

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Bambi's Alien Abduction (Earth Girl's Guide to Surviving an Alien Abduction Book 1) Page 21

by Aubrey Cara


  My vision zeroes in on Bo’hob as he walks toward me. I charge at him, knocking him to the ground. “Where is she?” I demand, my forearm pressed to his throat.

  He says something as he shoves me off him and reverses our holds with me on my back, but I’m lost in a haze of fury. Adrenaline still courses through my veins. He’s taken my female as he took the satisfaction of the kill from me.

  We grapple before his words penetrate my mind.

  “Stop fighting me, you imbecile. I. Do. Not. Have her.”

  Chest heaving, I push away from him. I brush sand from my face as I stand and hold out a hand to help Bo’hob up. He slaps it away and climbs to his feet on his own.

  He shoves my shoulder. “Would you tell me what’s happening now?”

  “Bombee is gone.”

  “She is a wild spirit. Maybe she left on her own.”

  I stride over to my borrowed hildy, reach in, and pull out the ku’wow dart. “I woke up on the ground, my spear and satchel still in my hand.”

  Tqe straps his spear to the side of the hildy, and I hand him mine.

  Bo’hob’s face pulls down in grim lines. “Who?”

  “If it’s not you?” Grim knowledge squeezes my throat tight. I would almost rather believe it were Bo’hob. But I know who took Bombee, and she is not safe. Not with my son. The realization flashes through me like a lance.

  Some of what I’m thinking must show on my face because he says, “I don’t believe he will hurt her. He’s arrogant and prideful but not deliberately cruel.”

  “Then you have more faith in him than I do.”

  “Tqe.” Bo’hob pounds the other Alogorian on the back. They clasp hands and bump elbows in greeting. “It has been solars. How is Lyn?”

  “On the mend. I think I’ll be heading out to Pac’bar soon.” Tqe gives me a side glance as he says this, which reminds me I need to ask him if he’d be willing to search space for some humans.

  But, first, we need to find my human.

  “Let’s load up and head back out.” I clap Bo’hob on the shoulder. “Search to the south, and we’ll go east.”

  “Wait,” Bo’hob calls as we turn to leave. “The shuttle bay. He may be heading to try to take her off world. Maybe trade her back to the Zapex.”

  His words hit me like a blow, but that is exactly where he would take her.

  “Take the direct route,” he tells me. “I’ll search the parameter in case I’m wrong.”

  I nod and Tqe and I climb into the hildy, to take off toward the shuttle bay. My gut clenches tight. I believe Bo’hob is right, but something feels off.

  Either way, Vhars had better pray to the ancestors Bo’hob finds him first. He has gone too far this time and will experience the true wrath of the Yon Tor when I get my hands on him.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Earth Girl’s Guide to Surviving an Alien Abduction

  Tip #10

  When shit gets cray, and it will, don’t forget who you are.

  Literally and figuratively.

  #StayTrueToYourself

  BAMBI

  My breath hitches on another sob, snot is running into my mouth, and something squirms against me. Or someone. Fluffy peers up at me with one eye, his tongue darting out as if to say hi. I start crying happy tears as I hug him to my chest. His other eye remains closed, but that’s all right. I’ll make him a patch.

  “I love you so much, little guy.”

  Vhars groans again, reminding me we’re not alone.

  “We’ve got to get out of here, Fluffsters.” His tongue darts out, and he hisses in agreement. I turn around and sit up on my knees to look out the dome at the surrounding desert. I don’t know what exactly I’m hoping to find until I spot it. There, in the distance, is a barely noticeable opening. One of the famous Lehor hostels.

  “And knowing the Alogorians as I think I do, that place should be supplied with important things like water.” Fluffy doesn’t show any signs of recognition, but I know he’s excited.

  I carefully make my way to the front of the hovercraft and look at the panel. I’m really going to have to learn the proper way to use one of these things real soon. Until then, I start banging on the panel until the dome slides open.

  “Works every time.”

  Vhars kind of just spills out and then lands with a cry, but when I check his face, his eyes are still closed.

  His right leg and opposite arm are at awkward angles. And a little bit of bone is peeking out of his arm.

  My stomach heaves. I cover my mouth and try to swallow it down, but then I see the bloody bone and torn flesh again and…upchuck happens. My sick splatters on his stomach and chest.

  “Oh, that’s not good.” I grimace and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. I try not to feel too bad. This is Vhars after all. He called me ugly names, kidnapped me, and drugged me. The last definitely aided in my sensitive tummy.

  Still, I flush with embarrassment. It’s not a great feeling to have puked on someone. Anyone. Especially not someone who is half dead.

  Since I have nothing to wipe him off with I scoop up some sand and toss it over the mess I made on his person. I look ahead to the mah-kun. It’s not that far on my own. Not quite a mile, if I had to guess. I gaze down at Vhars’s broken self and sigh.

  I can’t leave the little turd out here. I search a horizon free and clear of any of the mythical creatures of Lehor and try to think how I’m going to get Vhars to the shelter. He may not be as thickly packed with muscles as his father, but that’s only because he hasn’t grown into his frame. Vhars is still just as tall and broad shouldered.

  I remember something I learned in a swim lesson…okay it was just a cute lifeguard who had showed me how to save someone in the water so he could get a handful of my tits, but it gives me an idea. I take off my halter top and pout as my ladies swing free. Why anyone would burn their bra is beyond me. I guess I’m destined to wander the Alogorian desert half naked. I position the long strip of leather under his arms, and tie the two ends together.

  I toss one-eyed Fluffy up on my shoulder and grab the strap. It takes me a couple of pulls, my wrist and ankle protest each time, but finally he starts sliding in the soft sand. The freaking hot soft sand. I have to dig my toes in with each step to maintain enough leverage to keep momentum, but one step at a time, I do.

  Halfway there, I’m dripping with sweat. Loose hairs from the remains of the cute braids I’d plaited in hopes of making a good impression on elders stick to my sweaty cheeks. My thighs are burning like I did an intense two-hour spin class. At this point, I curse Vhars and the universe. When my wrist starts hurting so bad I don’t think I can go on, I throw out some oms in meditation to try to center myself. Then I give a “Jesus take the wheel” to the big open sky in hopes I have a Hacksaw Ridge moment and badass it across the remaining strip of desert.

  I’m within twenty feet of the shelter opening when the ground shakes. “No freaking way.” I groan. I know that shake.

  The shriek? Yeah, it doesn’t surprise me, but it does send adrenaline through my system like five shots of espresso with a Red Bull chaser. I’m stumbling and tugging as hard as I can when the freaky huzzah appears behind us, right where our empty hovercraft lies on its side like a cracked-open egg.

  “What is happening?”

  I look down, and Vhars’s head is flopping around as he tries to wake up. “Of course, now you’re awake. You’ve got the worst timing.”

  I yank again, and he shouts. Oh yeah, he’s got to be feeling the pain now. He struggles in the bindings I have under his arms, and I want to smack him. “I’m trying to save you, you ungrateful little turd.”

  I glance up, and my pulse skitters before beating so hard I nearly black out. The huzzah is heading straight for us, its huge body eating up the distance. I get us to the opening and jump to the other side of Vhars.

  “What are you doing?” he asks, his eyes not quite focused.

  “I’m sorry about this.” I position my feet
right at his hip and shove as hard as I can. His shriek of pain as he hits the ground makes me wince. I slide in right behind him. The earth trembles, and stone and sand rain down around us. The huzzah shrieks overhead and tries to get its snout in the opening.

  My heart is racing out of my chest. I kind of assumed we’d be safe once we got here, but now I’m not so sure.

  I find a stick used for cooking and jab it at the creature’s nose on its next pass trying to get inside. It screeches loudly and backs off. Chest heaving, I clutch the stick and watch the opening. I can hear that thing circling. It’s not done with us yet.

  “What’s that smell?” Vhars asks, his face scrunched up where he lies groaning on the ground. He’s totally oblivious to the fact that we’re about to die.

  “That awful smell is you, Vhars.”

  When I hear nothing for a while, I start to relax and visually search the space. Spotting a water jug, I pull the cork but can barely lift it with my tired arms. I spill water all over me as I drink. I set it down and see one of those wineskins they use for water. I hold it to the lip of the jug and tip some water in until it’s full.

  I turn toward Vhars. “Okay. Time to get you cleaned up.”

  “Do not touch me.” He tries to push himself up and cries out, falling back against the wall of the dugout.

  “You are in no position to tell me what to do.” Standing over him, I dump the water over him, rinsing off the sandy barf paste from his torso. Dude is a wreck. He’s the epitome of bruised and battered. I almost feel bad for him. Almost.

  I fill up the skin again and pour it over his bloody head. He tilts his bashed-up face back and opens his mouth.

  “Oh, you want water?”

  He scowls in reply to my question.

  “You can have some if you ask nicely.”

  He scowls at me some more. “Give me water.”

  “Your sorry carcass would be huzzah chow right now, had I not hauled your ass across the desert. If you want water, ask nicely.” I fill the sack again and jiggle it.

  “May I have water?” It’s mumbled, but mumbled nicely, so I hand him the skin. He wipes off the opening as if not to get my germs then drinks and swipes his mouth with the back of his hand. His other arm hangs limply at his side, and my stomach roils at the sight.

  “We should probably straighten that arm out and bind it. Leg, too.”

  I search around and sigh, realizing I’m going to have to use my halter top to bind his freaking arm. Fifty years of National Geographic has had less nudity in its tribal issues than my time on this planet has.

  I take his hand, not quite sure what I’m supposed to do, other than hope his bone goes back into his body. “This is probably going to hurt.” I yank on his wrist. He bellows at the pain, but I hear a loud pop that almost makes me heave on him again.

  He and I are both panting as I check to make sure if it’s ready to be bound. I pour some water on it to rinse off the sand. It at least takes off the first layer of grit. I strap the stick to his arm to keep it straight then wrap the leather around both. He grinds his teeth as I work, but otherwise doesn’t make a sound.

  When I finish, I stare at his leg, hoping I’m up for the challenge but he shakes his head at me. “Leave it.”

  “All survival movies and tv shows stress that you have to set broken bones.”

  “I do not know what this means.”

  “It means, I know more than you, and you have to believe me.”

  He snorts then gets quiet. I root around for food. There’s nothing to eat in here, but I do find a knife. I palm the handle and practice slashing it in case I spot a gupa. I’m not sure if I could kill one, but in my current mood, I wouldn’t mind taking a stab it. I snort to myself. Get it? Taking a stab?

  Oh no. I think Oathar’s humor is rubbing off on me.

  “Why are you helping me?” Vhars asks, momentarily distracting me. “Why didn’t you just leave me?”

  I shrug. Sigh. It certainly would have been easier. But... “That’s not who I am.”

  “And who are you, other than my father’s hisham?”

  He’s such a snide little shit.

  I grind my teeth to keep from getting up and smacking him. He’s already beat up enough. “I am Bambi Rodriguez, the girl who was going to be a party planner and have a condo on Malibu Beach. The bent cabbage yhar to the Yon Tor of Lehor, killer of huzzah, and blessed by Umph Kaka. And, right now? The girl who saved your ungrateful ass.”

  That’s right. Mic. Drop.

  He doesn’t appear incredibly impressed I went all Khaleesi on his ass. I guess it’s not as impressive when you don’t have a dragon and can’t walk through fire.

  “I have a question.” I cross my arms over my chest and look down at him. “Why do you have such a problem with me? Is it really because I’m human, or would you still be freaking if your dad was having babies with a Gyhan?”

  He remains silent and shifts a little. He grimaces, but I think the discomfort has more to do with his physical state than our conversation.

  “Did you send out a transmission before you left the hildy?”

  “You mean, did I send out a message for help to come save our asses because you decided to make bad choices? No. I did not.”

  He huffs. “Did you at least send out a distress signal?”

  I put my hands on my hips in indignation. “Yeah. It was no problem.” My tone drips sarcasm. “Since I know how to use your technology and all, so well.”

  His mouth draws down in annoyance. “Your tone implies this is false.”

  “You’re good.”

  “We cannot stay here. You have to return to the hildy and send for help.”

  “Umm, I’m not sure if you’ve noticed the huzzah petting zoo out there, but I’m not going anywhere.” As if to punctuate my point, one of the giant creatures in questions rattles the ground near us. It makes a high-pitched sounds, and some debris falls from the ceiling.

  His eyes narrow, and he smirks at me. “I thought you were Bombee, the killer of huzah.”

  “It was a onetime gig. Kind of a bucket list moment. Life affirming, even. Feel free to go back to go out there and experience it yourself. I’ll even give you a boost.”

  “I would if my arm and leg were functioning. I’ve fought a huzah before. Unlike you, I’m not scared to do so again.” His tone makes me want to roll my eyes and mock him.

  I see something scuttle. I palm my knife and get into position.

  Vhar’s eyes go comically wide. “What are you doing?”

  With both hands I slam my knife down on the ground next to his leg. He and I both yell. Him in fright, cause he’s kind of a pansy like that. And me? I yell in triumph.

  I hold up a little scorpzilla on the end of my knife and do a victory dance, then wince. I’m way too sore for boogying down. “I got us dinner.”

  His eyebrow line goes up. He seems impressed but doesn’t say anything. That’s fine. I’m super resourceful and awesome. He doesn’t have to tell me that. I know. Then my gaze lands on the tash-stone stove.

  “Do you know how to use one of these things?”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Elder’s Wisdom

  Bravery alone does not triumph bring.

  OATHAR

  We’ve been flying in the direction of the shuttle bay for nearly a shift. Uncertainty eats at me the further we go without spotting anything. Then I see it. Up ahead, a glint catches my eye, shining in the sun. My heart races in excitement, but I tell myself it could be nothing. As we draw closer, I can make out it’s a hildy turned on its side.

  I slow down and circle the fallen craft. The vehicle has been abandoned, any tracks made by its occupants brushed away by the wind. I believe this is their craft, but it may just be wishful thinking on my part. And if it is their craft, which way did they go?

  “Yon Tor,” Tqe calls from behind me. “Had I known how many huzah we’d be battling on this journey, I may have opted to stay in the village.”

&nb
sp; I straighten the vehicle and don’t automatically see what Tqe is talking about until we’re pointed west of the direction we were going. Two young huzah are circling. It takes me a moment to realize there’s an opening to a mah-kun right where the creatures are.

  My pulse races with excitement and worry for what we’ll find.

  “You’ve grown soft in your time in space,” I tease, but send a communication to Bo’hob with our location. “How close are you?”

  “Quarter shift. I’m on my way.”

  I fly over head of the huzah, being careful to stay high enough they cannot knock us out of the air, then turn back around to land over by the felled shuttle. The high-pitched calls of the huzah follow us. Waiting for aid chafes on me, but I know it’s the wisest course of action.

  “You think your bynt is in that mah-kun, Yon Tor?”

  A third huzah appears on the horizon, heading to join the other two. I shake my head in amazement. “The way my Bombee attracts trouble? I have no doubt this is where she is.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Earth Girl’s Guide to Surviving an Alien Abduction

  Tip #11

  Home cooked meals will never be the same.

  That’s not a tip. More of a warning.

  #IMissDriveThrus

  BAMBI

  The scorpzilla I tagged and bagged was definitely on the small side. “I’m still hungry,” I announce when we’re done eating. Dragging an unconscious alien over desert terrain works up an appetite.

  “If I am not mistaken, you brought food with you.” Vhars pries one eye open long enough to look from Fluffy to me.

  I huff and shoot him a one-finger salute to let him know what I think of his suggestion.

  I pick up Fluffy and settle on the other side of the dugout from Vhars. I don’t bother to cross my ankles. I’m dirty. Topless. My hair is in disarray. I’ve got gritty pink sand in all my crevices. My wrist hurts, my ankle hurts, I’m sore everywhere really, and to top it all off, I have a bruise just under my boob, of all places. All my ladylike sensibilities have abandoned me. I have no shame as I use part of the exoskeleton to pick meat out of my teeth.

 

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