“Why am I the only one being targeted?”
“I suspect that they put it in yours because I would have scented it right away.”
Right, because he was an alien with superior senses. She quickly admonished herself for having resentful thoughts. She was just scared and didn’t want to die.
“What do we do?”
He considered. “Dropping out would get you quicker medical assistance.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I’m not dropping out.”
“Then we’ll need to get the toxins out of your system.”
“Okay. How do we do that?”
“This planet is very similar to mine. There are certain porous frost-lichen that we can use to push the toxins out of your system. I’ve seen a few crevasses on our way to the campsite that should have the lichen.”
He helped her stand. She shivered.
“Maybe I’ll use the coat you got me.”
“Actually, the cold will help slow the toxins down.”
“Great. Now I have to stay frozen to keep from dying. The irony of it all,” she grouched.
“As soon as we get the toxins out of you, I’ll warm you up.”
She nodded and allowed him to lead her away from camp. She didn’t even bother to insist that she carry her own pack. Her whole body started to feel like it was on fire. It must be the toxins.
They walked about a mile away, in the opposite direction than where they should have been heading for the next campsite.
“Here, I’m going to have you sit here against this ice boulder while I go down the crevasse.”
Her legs were feeling numb now. He had to help her lower down.
“I’ll be here,” she told her. Her words were slightly slurring.
He left without another word at a speed so fast it didn’t even register in her mind completely. Left alone, dying on the ice planet, she thought about her dad. She should have told him what she was doing. Mara had never told him that she had gone to meet her mother. That woman was a disappointment. But her father, he had been everything to her. She wished she had told him that.
“I love you dad,” she whispered.
Her thoughts turned to Vaelor. She wouldn’t get that chance to explore his body like she had planned. They were just starting to get to know one another. To have him taken from her now, was just too cruel.
“Vaelor,” she whispered.
Suddenly, a wind rushed through, and a body appeared above her.
“I’m here.” His warm fingers stroked her cold cheeks.
“You’re beautiful,” she told him.
“Mara, chew on this.”
She opened her mouth but started to refuse the cold glob he put between her teeth.
“Yuck!”
“This will help your body push the poison out. It’s bitter—don’t spit it out.”
