“Time will pass quickly. Now, eat, rest, and stay here. I will be back soon.”
With that he climbed out and shut the door, leaving her all alone. But, as he’d said, she was safe up here. Safe and pretty much invisible from both the air and the ground. She just hoped he would be okay out there.
Margot dug through the baskets, happy to find an impressive spread that was more than enough to please both her tastebuds and her belly. She ate well, did some yoga to loosen her body, then curled up for the night, the absence of artificial light actually rather pleasant in a quiet camping sort of way.
It was late at night when the sounds of animals woke her from her slumber. Growls and yelps, crashing brush and running paws. There was a fight going on, and it was violent by the sound of it. It wasn’t close by, not by a long shot, but with the way sound carried in this place it was still near enough to rouse her with a start.
Damn, something’s really getting into it out there, she realized, propping up on one elbow in the dark.I hope Braxxos is safe.
Her logical mind knew he would be far away by now, but there was still a part of her that worried about the man. He’d been so kind to her, saving her and showing nothing but kindness. She’d hate for anything to happen to him.
It’s okay. This is his turf, she reasoned, lying back down.This is his home. He knows what he’s doing. He’ll be fine.
But despite that rational thought, she couldn’t help but worry. And so it was that with a bit of lingering concern on her mind that she finally slipped back to sleep, her exhausted body winning out and pulling her into a sound slumber.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Even with the upper hatches closed, light crept in through the small gaps Braxxos had intentionally built into the roof of the structure along the edges. They extended beyond the walls, angling down to catch any rainfall in the little gutters he’d constructed, small water containers tied off safely in place to gather whatever liquid might make its way to them.
It was a clever system, one that would allow him to remain in his treehouse without needing to descend in times of inclement weather. Food could be easily stored, as could water, but having a fresh source was just one more way to make his life easier. A nice side effect was the gentle ambient light the gaps allowed while preventing rain from actually getting inside.
Of course, should there betrulybad weather, he could still batten the hatches, so to speak, and button the place up tight. But this was apparently the warm and dry season, so that wasn’t going to be an issue.
Margot had roused slowly, a few rays of light teasing her from her slumber. She stretched long, a contented yawn escaping her lips. She rolled to her side and surveyed the treehouse she was calling home for the moment.
It was as she remembered, though it did seem there were more baskets of food than before. The water containers were all topped-off as well. But Braxxos would have done all of that before he rescued her. They’d only stopped in for a brief while after affecting her escape, and she’d been with him ever since.
At least, until he took off the prior night on his mysterious task.
“Where did you go?” she wondered as she prepared a small plate for her breakfast.
He wasn’t there to answer, of course, though she doubted he would have answered in full had he been. It seemed wherever he had hurried off to was a secret of his. A secret place for a very secretive man.
It was fascinating how he evaded any detection from outsiders, but having learned more about this area’s unusual geological features, it was at least beginning to make more sense. Still, there was more to remaining a secret than just foiling scanners. He also knew how tonotbe seen, and she’d experienced that skill first-hand. The man knew his way around this wilderness, and if he didn’t want to be found he wouldn’t be.
Margot took the opportunity to allow herself to truly unplug. To meditate, unwind, and try to get in touch with the strange new things happening to her body. She’d been marked. Bonded to some living ink that now thrived in her skin. Her runes itched anew as she became acutely aware of them.
At least it’s getting better.
It was true. The tattoos were healing up exceptionally fast in spite of the discomfort of their application. But Floxxia had told her that strong pigments like this could react strangely, and it seemed that quickly healing skin was just one of the benefits they imbued her with.
She sat quietly, listening to the sounds of nature, the wind and animals, letting her mind and body release whatever tensionshe was carrying and simplybe. It was almost funny. She’d never been great at the whole meditation thing, but that had been back home where she was always just arm’s reach away from distractions and intrusions.
Here, however, she truly was alone, and there was no cellphone or doorbell to disturb her. No honking horns or leaf blowers. In this remarkable place, she could actually be at peace.
She didn’t know how long she’d been in her Zen state when a sound intruded upon her calm.
The ladder, she realized.
It was Braxxos. He was back.
The door opened and the broad-shouldered alien climbed inside, the sunlight on his skin making his tattoos stand out bright for a moment before he entered. It was a little odd, but they seemed to be almostchurningin a way. Something had riled up his runes. And the green tint appeared to have intensified as well.
They weren’t like that yesterday, were they?she wondered.
“I hope you slept well,” he said, tossing a wrapped bundle of large, waxy leaves into the treehouse ahead of him.
“I did, actually. It’s so peaceful here.”
