Because until this past year, I thought I was meant to fight the Ketts like the rest of my family has… had.
Things have changed since then.
My thoughts have me distracted enough that I’ve lost sight of the others. I press forward, catching up, until I come upon Olivia, Benjamin, and Quinton huddling behind an oversized bush. Olivia leans against Quinton’s right side while his arm loosely hangs over her shoulders.
Benjamin and I trade a quick look as I crawl into the brush and kneel beside him.
“He’s checking ahead,” Benjamin says quietly, answering my question before I can ask it. “He said something about hearing pigs.”
“He didn’t see or hear anything else, did he?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
Benjamin shakes his head. “I don’t know.”
Looking in the same direction as the rest of them, I find we’re facing the river. A few minutes later, I spot Krellix sharply to my right as he slips into the river from the far bank. I stand and lean forward to get a better view of him swimming. Like a golden strand of hair in clear liquid, his body sways from side-to-side, mesmerizing me with its grace. I swallow the knot in my throat as he swims towards us.
He ascends from the water like a golden god, his honey brown hair plastered to his skin, and ringing the shapely muscles of his shoulders. They bulge as he shakes off the water, his glistening scales shimmering in the sunlight as the droplets go flying. Gripped by the scruff in his right hand, he holds the corpse of a small pig. He heads directly for us, his darkly warm eyes zeroing in on me, and I can’t help but swallow nervously.
“Geez, what a sight,” Benjamin mumbles. “You wouldn’t believe these guys exist until you see one.”
What a sight… is right.
Krellix looks good wet…
“We will not cross until tomorrow morning,” he grunts, stopping on the other side of the large bush we’re all behind.
“Why?” I ask as he slips to the right and into the shade of the trees, coming around the bush to be closer to us. “Did you see something?”
“It is more than what I saw, it is also what I can hear and smell—and what I cannot. Humans and nagas alike are nearby. The reek of burning wood, smoke, and metal clogs the forest ahead. There are downed ships and the air is heavy withchemicals I cannot name. It is also close to evening and without the full use of my senses amongst so many things, getting caught in the dark will be far more dangerous. We will cross at first light. Tomorrow.”
“If there are humans and ships nearby, that’s a good thing, isn’t it?” Benjamin asks, eyeing the pig in Krellix’s hand dubiously. “Shouldn’t we head for them? There might be a functioning ship with a medbay that Olivia can use and food. A radio? It could help.”
Krellix’s gaze shifts to Benjamin. “Do you know every human?”
His brow furrows. “No? Of course not. No one does.”
“Then we will continue to avoid them until we reach the encampment.”
“What if they need our help? Like we needed yours,” Olivia asks.
“He’s right though,” I interject before Krellix has a chance to respond. “It’s best we avoid them. If there are nagas around, they will be… hunting for them...” I hesitate and pause, meeting everyone’s stark gazes. Thinking of the Boa and the other nagas vying for my attention, I imagine them without the glass between us and the various women who might not be aware of them stranded without such a barrier. I do not envy them. “But it’s not only because of other humans, you’re more likely to find the medical aid you need at the encampment than on a random ship, hoping for supplies they might need themselves. We’re really close, aren’t we?” I ask Krellix.
“Yessss.”
Quinton nods grimly, mumbling, “I don’t want to die out here. I say we head straight for the encampment at first light and not risk it. I’m sure the soldiers there have a plan to help the other survivors and are probably out there already helping them as we speak...”
Benjamin crosses his arms. “That doesn’t sit well with me.”
“You are welcome to head off on your own then,” I snap, reminding him once again he doesn’t have to stay with us. “No one will stop you. We need to put our energy into helping those who need assistance right here.” I indicate Olivia with my hand. “Right now, getting her proper treatment is what matters, not something hypothetical. If she doesn’t get help soon, her wound could get infected.”
When I look at him, Krellix is staring at me, his expression curious as he openly considers me.
“We will make camp,” he announces, his gaze finally leaving me to survey the forest around us. “As long as we do not bring attention to ourselves—” he turns to Benjamin then to Quinton, Olivia, and me “—we will remain unseen. Predators will be distracted. Let ussss hope they remain that way.”
“Fine,” Benjamin huffs, turning his scowling face away to gaze over the riverbank. “But I don’t agree.”
Olivia is silent.
Shuffling over to her and Quinton, I look down at her with worry. Her eyelids are half-closed and there’s an exhausted haze to them. Concern clamps my gut. I shudder at the thought of one of the bad nagas getting hold of her but… I also don’t want her wound to become infected. “It’s too great of a risk,” I bend close to whisper for her ears alone. “If we come across others, we can return for them with back-up later. I trust Krellix. If he says we should wait to cross until morning, it’s my recommendation too. His senses are much better than ours.”
