I run, leap, hurdle snowdrifts without slowing down. I’m not quite as fast in all this gear as I would be barefoot, but over the long haul, I’ll be glad I dressed for the occasion.
Then I hear it—yelps and snarls in the distance. Predators. And they’re on a hunt. I don’t know what they’re chasing, but I can hear the thrill in their voices.
My heart’s pounding. I push faster. I feel it in my gut—something’s happened to her. I can’t even pick up her scent anymore. It’s been drowned out by the stench of the three canines stalking her. I’m getting close. Thankfully, I don’t catch the sharp coppery tang of blood. If they’ve harmed her… they’ll learn the hard way who they just messed with.
I finally burst into a small clearing. Three wolves—at least, that’s what I think they are based on Neela’s earlier holoprojection—are circling her collapsed body. The moment they sense me, they whip around and bare their fangs, growling for good measure.
I answer with a roar loud enough to shake bark off trees. Two of them falter, but their leader steps up, snapping his jaws in challenge. Oh no, doggy. You’ve got the wrong prey. This Human is mine.
Emboldened by their alpha’s confidence, the other two close in. Really? You want to do this? Fine. I unsheathe my claws, full length, and let out a low, rumbling growl straight from my core. Not to brag, but I could teach them a thing or two about intimidation.
One of them hesitates again. I take advantage of a brief distraction and lunge, raking my claws across the alpha’s snout. I avoid the eyes—could’ve ended it right there, but Neela wouldn’t have approved. I’m not here to maim—just to drivethem off. Unfortunately, they’re not backing down. In fact, now I’ve got three ticked-off mutts to deal with.
The leader clamps down on my left arm while another sinks his teeth into my leg. Alright, enough. I dig my right-hand claws deep into the alpha’s side. He yelps and releases me instantly. I actually feel bad for the poor beast—he chose the wrong meal and paid the price. That seems to break their morale. They bolt.
As soon as they disappear, I rush to Neela. Big bump on her forehead, but she’s alive. I can hear her pulse, though it’s weaker than normal. Not dangerously low, but definitely not the way it beats when she kisses me…
I pull off my coat and wrap her in it. Then I lift her up and start running back toward the house. It’s tougher this time around—colder, and I have precious cargo. But my muscles haven’t had time to atrophy since I arrived here. With Mars’ lower gravity, I’m still crazy strong and fast.
Back home, I head straight for the shower. I’m glad I disabled the time limit earlier—it’s going to take a long one to warm us up. I get us both undressed quickly and step under the lukewarm spray. If I can feel the burn through my thick fur, I can only imagine what it’s doing to her tender skin. She stirs almost immediately.
“Stop… it’s too hot…” she groans.
“Right now it feels lukewarm to me. Even if you feel like you’re boiling, hold on—you’re hypothermic. So quit squirming and grit your teeth.”
“But you’re naked!” she protests.
“We both are. It’s the most effective way to share heat.”
To avoid looking at me—or maybe to avoid me looking at her—she presses her body against mine. I’m okay with that.
Time passes. Her shivers stop, and I nudge the water a little hotter and start rubbing her down gently.
“What happened?” I ask softly.
“My snowmobile hit a drift and wouldn’t start again. Did you get it running?”
“I didn’t even see it. Just you, and three wolves thinking you were dinner.”
“Wolves? I didn’t see them.”
“You were unconscious. Took a fall.”
“I remember that part… ugh, my head hurts.” She touches her forehead and winces.
“That bump proves it. But you’re alive. That’s what matters.”
“We’ve been in here a while,” she murmurs.
“We have. And it probably saved your life. At the very least, it saved you from a nasty cold.”
“Prax?”
“Yes, Purrsong?”
“If the snowmobile’s still where it dumped me, how did you bring me back?”
“I carried you, of course.”
