"Pugly! Cael, we have to?—"
"Come on," he said, pulling Midori to her feet.
Gathering their clothes, they dressed in a flash. Now, the underbrush slapped at their legs as they ran through the jungle, following the desperate sound of Pugly's cries. Vines wound around their ankles, threatening to slow them down or trip them up altogether, but they ran on, desperate to find the cause of Pugly's cries of terror.
The squeals were louder now. They were getting close. Adrenaline pumped through Cael's veins and he ran faster, regardless of the pain from his injuries. Midori's breath came in short gasps behind him. Cael glanced behind to see her face flushed with exertion and fear.
"Keep going," she said between ragged breaths. "Don't slow down."
Cael nodded and continued leading the way.
They broke through the underbrush and slid to a stop at the edge of a clearing. Pugly stood on shaking legs, surrounded by a tribe of about ten black-and-white striped men. Each one was pointing a razor-sharp spear in the pig dog's direction while Pugly shrank back, quivering with fear. The tribesmen didn't turn, and for a moment, Cael believed they hadn't been detected. However, when the tip of a spear entered his peripheral vision, he knew they'd been hunted and caught as well.
Spearheads dug into his flesh, instant threats of what would come if he struggled. A dozen hands from the striped tribesmen pulled them both to their knees, and Cael winced as the motion jarred his injuries. Their captors did not seem care for gentility and encircled his wrists and arms with tight, rough bindings.
Midori knelt next to him, her eyes wide and scared as she surveyed the scene, yet her pupils blazed with defiance when the tribesmen threw a net over Pugly and pulled his feet out from underneath him.
"Leave him alone!" Midori struggled against her bindings, ignoring the spears poking her own flesh.
Even in danger, she hadn't lost her spirit, and Cael felt a surge of strength from her unyielding resolve.
"Midori," he whispered, "we'll figure this out. All will be well."
She nodded, her gaze meeting his with a steely determination. Cael vowed to do whatever it took to protect her.
It hadn't missed his notice that these people were the same as the male who had attempted to take the women from the frigate. Was that just a few days ago? So much had happened since then, it could easily have been weeks. Did that man—what had Midori called him? Captain Malgren – belong to this tribe of hunters? None of them were brandishing blasters, though. They were using low-tech means for hunting their prey. A closer lookat their leathern clothing confirmed they were homemade. Cael wondered if they skinned and tanned the hides themselves.
One of the striped men stepped forward, and a hush fell over the crowd. Cael assumed it must be the tribe's leader. He was a formidable figure dressed the same as the others in black leathern pants and a vest. The male's long black and gray-streaked hair was tied in intricate braids decorated with beads that clicked together as he walked. He was as tall as Cael, his shoulders broad and muscular.
As he came forward, the leader approached Midori with a questioning gaze, his eyes narrowing as he took her in. He circled her, his expression inscrutable as he scowled and studied her. Something about her had caught his attention.
Midori met his gaze head-on, her chin lifted in defiance despite the circumstances. Cael felt a swell of pride well up inside his heart. This Earth woman had undergone such adversity, and yet she was still ready to meet this challenge. She was refusing to cower before the unknown male, defiance etched across her face and in her glaring eyes.
As the male drew close, he reached out to touch Midori's face, his action gentle despite the harshness of his demeanor. His fingers traced the lines of her jaw, the curve of her cheek, as if searching for something. Recognition flickered in his eyes.
A low murmur rippled through the crowd as the leader turned to address his followers, his voice grave and solemn.
"We have found the missing human," he announced, his words echoing through the clearing. "The one the four-armers seek to reclaim. She will be our bargaining chip, our ticket to securing the release of our own females." He looked back at Cael. "I am Zephryn, leader of the far western Zebrans. You now belong to us."
Cael's heart sank as he realized the gravity of the situation. The tribe intended to use Midori as leverage to secure the release of their own kind, and he was powerless to stop them.
A tribesman secured a rope around Pugly's neck and pulled it tight. The pig dog squealed and bucked, his eyes full of terror.
"Pugly, look at me."
Midori's voice was calm and full of authority, but the pig dog was lost in his fear. Pugly's eyes bounced back and forth between the warriors, his breathing quick and shallow. The creature was on the verge of having a full-blown panic attack.
"Pig dog!" Cael's voice boomed, demanding Pugly's attention. "The empyreal mistress of the universe demands your attention!"
Pugly's eyes stopped roving, and though his lips quivered, he nodded and turned his shaking body to look at Midori.
"Pugly, breathe with me." Midori took in a deep breath, held it and released. Pugly mimicked her actions, his panic subsiding.
"Don't worry, my friend. I won't let anything happen to you. We're going to get out of here."
Pugly nodded. "Thank you, oh celestial one. I am much better."
"Let's move," Zephryn shouted, and rough hands pulled Cael and Midori to their feet.
