And no idea where I am.
Which isn’t great.
I stare up at the sky. I have become familiar with some of the constellations, but not enough to use them to find my way home. That was on my list of things to do over the next couple of months. Along with a bunch of other required courses.
I force out a slow breath because panicking will not help.
I’m sure if I call out, one of those aliens will hear me, but they killed the team of human soldiers sent to find us, so I’m not throwing in with them. There is a river nearby because we were following it, and I know it flows near the colony.
But I can’t hear it.
I turn, trying to find some landmark. All I see is fucking trees. I close my eyes and squash the sharp edges of fear. When I open them, I see the dark blot of mountains against the sky. They aren’t the massive, snow-covered ones that feed the river. They are smaller, but they have streams that flow to the main river, if I’m remembering the map correctly.
If I reach the mountain, I’ll be able to find water—and I’ll have to take my chances with it—and from there I should be able to find my way back to the colony. I just need to figure which side of the mountains I’m on.
Daylight will make that easier as I’ll be able to set a direction based on the sun.
With a plan made. I head toward the mountains.
2
ALDIT
Ishould have expected her to run again.
I thought tying the three women together would prevent that, as I didn’t want to be fighting off human warriors and chasing women. I should’ve stayed to guard the other two women, but when Ruby slipped her bonds I needed to stop her.
Edilk has the battle in hand, and my brothers aren’t far away, so Mia and Bridget will be safe if they stay where they are. That is what I tell myself as I move through the forest after Ruby. She’s crashing through the undergrowth like a creature ten times her size.
I pray to the banished who came before me that there are no creatures that big out hunting tonight.
While I have my sword, I am not looking for a fight with anyone except Ruby. I look forward to catching her. This time I won’t shock her. I want to listen to her snarl. And maybe I will snarl back…though that will not convince her that I will make a good mate. She was unimpressed with my knife skill, both in butchering and throwing.
Clearly, my rope tying skills also need work.
I stalk her through the forest, relying on the sound of her movements alone. I don’t even need to search for her heartbeat. When she stops, so do I. I crouch in the shadows, watching as she stares at the sky, then turns around.
It takes me only a few heartbeats to realize she is lost.
While I can no longer sense my brothers, I know where I am. I can tell from the stars—even though they are different from the ones I grew up with.
The battle is over, and the night is once again filled with the sounds of animals.
She pulls a face.
For a moment, I consider rising and stepping into the clearing made by a fallen tree. I can offer her my hand and lead her back to my brothers and safety. It is not safe for anyone to be alone in the forest at night as too many things are looking for a meal, and while they may not be huge, they do not need to be if there are many.
Having encountered the screamer earlier today, I hope never to cross paths with another one. Or anything like it.
With a sigh, she turns and starts walking. At first I think it is toward me, but then she climbs over the fallen tree and steps into the shadows only a body's length from me.
She never once turns her head to acknowledge me.
Can she really not sense me?
While she has no kam on her head, does she have no way of creating a charge? How does her kind communicate silently? How do they stun their pray?
She stumbles, and I resist the urge to assist her.
