I backed up a short distance, crouched low to the ground, and let my scales do their job. My red hide disappeared as my body camouflaged itself with my surroundings. I blended in perfectly. Nothing but the sharpest-eyed creature would notice me.
Then came the worst part: waiting.
The sun crept closer to the horizon, dousing the world in dusky purples and deep pinks. My scales automatically changed color to suit the sky. I never worried about being exposed. My prey would never see me.
As time trudged on, my impatience built. My mind kept returning to my incompetent underlings. Annoyance prickled me like thorns. If Arr’tow and Haz’rull didn’t bring back any food tonight, they were worthless. In fact, the whole Maeleon village was useless. Lazy bunch of fruit-eating, conflict-resolving, judgmental weaklings.
I was strong. I didn’t need anybody. I vowed to survive in the wilds on my own, without any help from those soft-hearted idiots.
Motion in the distance disrupted my thoughts. Beyond the grassy crest, a lone creature walked cluelessly towards my trap. It was no giant beast, but it wasn’t a small grass-nibbler, either. Its flesh would become a decent meal.
My mind went still as my body hummed with anticipation. My empty stomach would soon be filled. Of course, Kookee would have its share, too.
As the creature approached, my excitement paused. Whatwasit? I’d never seen anything like it before. It stood on two legs like a Maeleon, but it lacked horns, feelers, scales, and tentacles. Its face was smooth and pale brown without a scale in sight, and it was blunt, as if a boulder had flattened its snout.
I didn’t know why, but there was something vaguely familiar about its shape and gait...
No matter. Whatever it was, it was certainly edible.
I crouched lower, flattening myself to the ground as my scales camouflaged my presence. The creature didn’t notice me. It looked around, scrunching up its already flat face. It seemed lost and distressed. Maybe it got separated from its herd and was too weak to catch up.
Good. Soon it would fall right into my trap.
The creature saw the alcove. Its face lit up and it ran faster, eager to take refuge in the natural shelter. Little did it know it wouldn’t survive the night.
I licked my lips. How would I prepare my meal? Should I tear it limb from limb, savoring every piece—or swallow it whole and feel it writhe and struggle on the way down?
This was my favorite part of the hunt. As I secretly watched my prey walk right into my trap, I felt powerful and in control. At this point, there was no escape. Even if the creature noticed the trap and bolted, I’d be right on its trail. My powerful muscles enabled me to chase down any prey dumb enough to run for it. But the weird naked flesh-creature didn’t strike me as a runner. It simply looked relieved to find a place to rest.
As it walked closer to the snare, my blood pumped faster. Soon I’d sink my fangs into that supple-looking flesh, and not a single scrap of meat would remain.
It would never see the light of day again.
3 /Paz
After hoursof walking across the Eukaria wilds, I had two conclusions.
One: finding my alien mate was harder than I expected.
Two: my feet fucking hurt.
Exhaustion swept over me. Unlike the well-trodden paths in the village, the wilderness was—well, it waswild.The grass was long and sharp, threatening to cut my skin if I hadn’t worn a full-length onesie courtesy of Linn’ar. The ground was uneven, making it a difficult hike, and strange plants and critters were everywhere.
None of them actively bothered me, though. Sure, monstrous bugs buzzed over my head once in a while, and I’ll admit I jumped at a few person-shaped trees, but it was just my imagination playing tricks on me. There was no real danger out in the wilds. I guess Tau’run assumed humans were fragile and needed protecting.
As I searched for a place to crash for the night, I felt hungry and thirsty. Part of me regretted not joining the feast before I dipped out on my alien-husband adventure, but there was no turning back now. Those questing Maeleons couldn’t bethatfar from the village. The way Zat’tor talked about them, it seemedlike they’d be back any day now. Surely I’d run into one sooner or later.
I perked up at the sight of a familiar tree. Pink fruits dangled from its branches, juicy and ready to be picked. A couple of those would sustain my needs for food and water until I found my filum and brought him home.
Luck shined on me today. A ripe fruit dropped from the tree and rolled down in front of a little alcove, as if beckoning me. Walking faster, I wiped the sweat off my forehead. I was eager for a snack and a break from trekking.
“Don’t mind if I do,” I said as I reached for the fruit.
The next step I took rocked my world.
My body swung backward, then reversed, dangling me upside-down like a limp doll. The air evacuated my lungs.
Stunned into breathlessness, I gasped for air. I craned my neck, trying to see what caught me. A tight loop strangled my ankle. It was connected to a taut rope tied to a stake in the ground.
