To run.
To do something.
The static Hrad is generating keeps me still. I count my breaths, making them as slow as possible, as I try to recall all the things the Honey use their electrical signal for. Hunting is the obvious one as it helps them locate and stun their prey. When they fight, they jam each other’s signals; the first one to make a charge wins—I assume that in a real fight they’d kill their opponent with that charge.
Is he jamming another’s signal…no, that would be obvious. Is he masking ours? Doing something so the other creature doesn’t pay us any attention.
My ears strain, and I realize I’m listening for voices. But a Honey hunting party wouldn’t speak aloud to each other. My ears are useless.
I am useless. I can fly, and I can shoot. But will I be able to shoot faster than a warrior can generate a charge? I don’t want to find out. I also don’t want to start what my father callsan international incident. A phrase that made sense on Earth, where there were nations.
Maybe there are now two nations on this world.
Hrad exhales and eases up.
My lungs burn as I draw in a full breath.
He places a finger on my lips.Stay here. Do not move or make a sound.
Then he’s standing and moving silently before I have a chance to respond. Without his weight protecting me, I feel exposed, like someone is going to peer through the bushes and see me sprawled in the dirt. I want to move my leg, and adjust my pack, but I wait. Sweat rolls over my neck and onto the ground. At least I hope it’s sweat and not an insect exploring my exposed skin.
Just when I’m sure he has been eaten or captured, Hrad returns. He touches my hand.It’s all clear. The warriors have moved on.
I push up onto my elbows and stare at him.Moved on where?
Deeper into the mountain.
His silent words are enough for me to decide.We are crossing the river before dark. I don’t want to be caught between a hunting party and the settlement.
Agreed.
He helps me stand, and while he doesn’t say anything else, there is a change in his posture as we move through the forest. He was alert before, but this is something else. A bristling that makes me anxious…am I sensing a signal or pheromone or something?
I double-check my weapon and follow as silently as I can. We move slowly through the trees. Finally, he pauses and points up at a tree.
Then he touches my hand.I will check the view. If it’s no good. We will need to move closer.
Shit. What can I do but agree?
I don’t want to get closer, nor do I want to be on the ground and on my own. I am a pilot, not a tree climber, signal jamming hunter. He can do this; I can’t.
Hrad clasps both my hands.There is no one around. Prepare the camera.
What if they are hiding their signals?
They have no reason to. This is their land.
What if they see you up the tree?
They are too far away. Listen to the animal chatter…that means no predators are close.
I pause and listen. He’s right.It stopped when the others were close.
I hadn’t noticed that it was missing because I was too busy panicking and trying to breathe. He releases my hands, and I prep the camera before handing it to him. I watch him climb and hope this tree is good enough.
The forest is starting to freak me out. I am not a wild animal. I have been domesticated and long for the familiar walls and fences of the colony.
Could I learn to be wild?
