Every minute to the mining station was torture, and she was ready to jump his bones when they reached the clearing and the building came into sight. The pirates had left the freaking door wide open. Great.
“Stay under the overhang,” Ranek said, helping her off the vehicle. “I’ll make sure the station is clear.”
Maya stretched and encouraged Commander Chaos to do his business as Ranek ferreted out anything that might have gotten inside.
She was just reaching down to touch her toes when that uncanny feeling of being prey returned. She looked around, her eyes scanning the trees, but saw nothing. She quickly looped Commander Chaos’s leash over her wrist, and just in time too, because he started growling at the trees.
Maya pulled Commander Chaos toward the door. There might be something inside the station, but there was definitely something deadly out here.
There was a growl, and a blur of purple-gray leaped out from the trees.
The thing was terrifying. It looked like a velociraptor, but had fur. And the way it stood on its hind legs made it seem more like a bear. A giant, purple-gray polar bear. When it moved, it did so with the grace and agility of a big cat. Something about the way it looked in the light had Maya taking a second glance at the terrifying creature.
Where had she seen that color before? It was Commander Chaos’s reaction that finally clued her in. Those pompoms inside the tunnel!
What the hell? They turned into these things? Well, Ranek had already warned her.
But still, she hadn’t expected them to turn into something this scary!
The creature moved fast, lunging at them, and Maya threw herself behind the work vehicle, her heart pounding so hard in her chest that she wondered if it would pound right out of her body. Poor Commander Chaos was pulled along.
“Ranek!” she screamed.
Maya scrambled, playing the galaxy’s most dangerous game of ring-around-the-rosy with the beast around the vehicle. She prayed the creature wouldn’t get smart and realize it could just leap right over it to get at her. It didn’t, but instead it shoved at the vehicle, moving it and forcing her to scurry out of the way lest she be crushed against the wall.
She ended up on the side away from the station. Fuck. And now, the leash was stuck on something, meaning Commander Chaos was stuck with it.
Shit! Shit! Shit!
“Ranek!” she shrieked again.
She grabbed the hammer-like tool attached to the back of the vehicle and hefted it in her hands. She wasn’t sure how much help this tiny toothpick was going to be against the creature, but she wasn’t going to watch as it hurt her baby! The creature lunged, and she swung. The hammer bounced off the beast, but it moved its head just enough that it bit down on the back of the vehicle instead of on her or Commander Chaos.
Suddenly, the beast was being dragged away by the tail.
Ranek
Rage blinded Ranek’s vision as the verlak’s jaws snapped shut, missing his mate thanks to her quick thinking. He roared, lettingthe bloodlust take over. His cheek creases unfolded, and his fangs descended from their normal position. Adrenaline coursed through him along with a surge of power. His senses were acute when he charged in, fierce to protect what was his.
He tackled the beast, grabbing hold of its tail and hauling it back. The beast, still intent on the two bite-sized morsels in front of it, ignored the less tasty Tallean male. So Ranek tore at its fur, ripping off large handfuls in a bid to get the creature’s attention. If it wanted a fight, it needed to fight something its own size.
It shrieked, finally realizing it had to deal with Ranek before it could feast on its lunch.
“Yes, face me!” he roared.
It did, charging toward Ranek, who barely evaded massive claws. In the background, he heard Commander Chaos’s desperate yipping. But there was no time to look, because the creature moved fast, now that it had its sights set on him. It snapped its jaws, and sharp teeth gnashed just inches from his face. He reacted fast, grappling the creature and holding its jaws shut.
Made for crunching strength and not designed to be strong the other way, Ranek was able to hold its mouth closed. Thus incapacitated, the creature flailed, panicking, and Ranek held on as it thrashed, bringing them both to the ground. One of his legs was now pinned under the creature, and if he let go now it would be his doom.
He kicked with the other foot, clawing at the thick, leathery hide. But the angle was wrong, and the beast’s skin was thick. He did get it to move though, freeing his leg. But now he was airborne, having been flung off the creature. He landed hard.
The tunnel verlak pounced on him, and he rolled before springing back to his feet. Ranek kicked, and this time his claws dug into the beast’s side, drawing blood. There was a yelp, but the creature continued its attack. That little nick wasn’t enough to chase it away from its meal.
There was a loud yip, and suddenly the beast whipped around. Commander Chaos was latched onto its sensitive tail. The distraction gave Ranek the opportunity to punch it in the face. It was like punching a mountain. But despite the voice in his head demanding blood, the image of Nibbles flashed in his head, and Ranek resisted the urge to kick it with his claws now that he was no longer in immediate danger. The creature was just hungry. And unlike the pirates, there was no glory in its death.
As the monster snapped at the dragus pup attached to its tail, Ranek boxed it again. Several more well-aimed jabs had the beast retreating and deciding that the meal wasn’t worth the hassle. Ranek followed it a few more steps, chasing it back into the jungle.
Maya called for Commander Chaos, and realizing the fight was over, the pup released the beast and ran back to her.
