Cael looked at her, his eyes filled with longing. "I'm thinking about you, of course."
Midori blushed at his words, but she didn't pull away from him. "And what about me are you thinking about?"
Cael leaned closer to her, his voice dropping to a whisper. "How beautiful you are, how strong you are, how much I want to be with you forever." Cael's heart skipped a beat at his own words. What would she think of them?
"Cael, I?—"
A roar filled the night air, along with the crashing of trees. Something big was tearing its way through the jungle. By the sound of it, it was heading right toward them.
"What—what is that?"a tribesman asked, standing with his spear in hand.
The rest of the tribe raised their spears along with him, holding them ready for the creature roaring and smashing its way through the trees.
Midori's hand gripped one of Cael's arms, but it was Pugly who answered, his voice raised an octave in terror.
"It's the vyrmm. It's found us."
FOURTEEN
"We have to get out of here and find cover," Cael instructed the tribe's leader. "We're too exposed. The vyrmm will tear us apart."
Midori's heart sank. She had seen the vyrmm herself and knew how dangerous it could be, but Zephryn shook his head, scoffing at Cael's warning.
"The vyrmm live on the other side of the mountain, where the wind howls and the snow blows thick," he said, his voice booming through the clearing. "We have nothing to fear from such a creature on this side of the mountain. It would never come so deep into the jungle. It's likely a pantera on the prowl. We've dealt with them easily enough before. Stay close to us, and you'll be safe enough."
Cael's face darkened, his eyes flashing with anger. "You don't understand," he said, his voice low and urgent. "We've fought it twice already. It must have caught our scent and is still tracking us."
"Please," Midori begged, "we know what we're talking about. Please listen to us."
The beast roared again in the distance. It was closer now, and it wouldn't be long before it was upon them.
But Zephryn wasn't listening. He was too busy ordering his men to prepare for battle. Midori watched in disbelief as they armed themselves with spears and clubs, completely unaware of the danger looming in the darkness.
Cael tried once more to convince the leader to retreat. "If we don't find shelter soon, we'll be easy targets for the vyrmm. I've fought this creature before. At least release me and let me help," he pleaded, his silver eyes wide with urgency.
But Zephryn's gaze remained unyielding, his eyes hard as stone.
Midori's heart sank as she watched Cael's desperate attempts fail. Despite the dire situation, Cael refused to give up. He struggled against his bonds, his four arms pulling and tugging at the ropes, trying to loosen them.
"We have to do something," he growled under his breath, "otherwise we're sitting targets for that creature."
Midori's heart ached with helplessness as she watched him fight against the ropes. She felt useless, unable to help him or herself. Her mind raced for a solution, but all she could think of was the fear coursing through her—they were all going to die.
Pugly whimpered at Midori's side and rested his head against her leg. "I'm sorry I am not strong or brave enough to save you, my shining star who fell from the heavens. If I was, I'd tear into that despicable creature and disembowel it. For days I'd proudly parade vyrmm viscera on my tusks as a testament to my heroic deeds. But alas, I'm afraid tonight my spirit will join those of my other family members feasted on by this beast."
Pugly's voice was so full of despair, Midori wished there was something she could do to at least free him so he could run away and hide. She stroked her fingers against his head the best she could with them tied behind her back and flinched a bitwhen she felt his wet nose, no doubt dripping from his fear and sadness. But as she pulled away, Pugly's sharp tusk scratched at her hand and a lightbulb went off in her head.
She whispered down to him. "Pugly, do you think you can maneuver your tusk in between my bindings and cut them off?"
Pugly didn't bother to answer. Instead, he slid one of his tusks between the ropes restraining her hands and began moving his head in a sawing motion. The tusk was rough and cut her skin almost as much as it sliced the rope, but in a few seconds it fell away, and Midori's hands were free.
The creature roared again, and looks of concern and a hint of fear flashed over the faces of the tribesmen as they held their spears against the night. A few of them looked back at Midori and Cael as if reconsidering their claim the creature was indeed a vyrmm. But Zephryn kept his gaze forward, his posture relaxed.
Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit. Time to get out of here.Midori's pulse throbbed in her ears.
The tribesmen moved forward, leaving Midori, Cael, and Pugly standing behind them with only the dying campfire between them. Midori took advantage of the men's diverted attention and turned to Pugly.
"Good job, my friend. Now time to free Cael."
