“Where… are you… taking me?” I ask, my voice still harsh but easier to use after the water.
“To my clan.”
Clan.That means there’s more than just him. I reach for one of the berries and bring it to my mouth.
He stops picking more and turns to watch me.
I inwardly sigh, no longer wholly afraid of him, though being the object of scrutiny is never fun. I slowly open my lips and plop the berry in my mouth, trying not to cringe from the overly sweet and tart juice hitting my tongue and throat. It stings. Still, I try not to let on, but when the Boa continues to stare after I pick my second berry, my eyes narrow on him. “What?”
“I wassss not sure you were going to eat. I am glad you are. You are hurt, I can tell from your voice.”
I manage to swallow down the second berry, bringing my knees back up to my chest at the same time. I lean down and rest my chin on them, wishing more than anything I had my rifle. I might not be as afraid of the Boa now that he’s shown concern for me but I still don’t know his intentions.
His face suddenly contorts into one of anger. “You should not have gone down there.”
I huff.Are all the naga males alike?“If it means… getting away from… you, I’d go back down…” Actually… I’m not so certain about that.
What happened down there… The last thing I remember are the explosions and the vats draining and opening. Smoke and chemicals had filled the space and I had run up the stairs. After that, things get a little murky. I must have breathed in too much of the toxic air.
I remember the Boa taking me and then passing out. Recalling the worst of my falls, I rub the undersides of my arms where they’ve been bruised. My knees are likely in rough shape as well.
“I will not hurt you unless you force it on me, female.”
I glare up at him. “I will… most definitely force it upon… you.”
His lips draw back, revealing fangs. “Foolish.”
“What… are you going… to do to me once you… bring me back to your… clan?” I ask.
His eyes roam over me only to drift away like the question makes him uncomfortable. “You will be safe there.”
“That is not what I asked…”
Suddenly he lifts his head and looks back towards the water. Shortly after, I hear the crackling sound of twigs being snapped. Something big is moving through the forest.
I sit upright, my eyes widening with hope. At the same time, he reaches for me.
“No!” I draw my hands up to fend him off but he yanks me into his arms and throws me back over his shoulder.
With me in tow, he takes off with speed through the forest.
I try to scream but all that comes out is a garbled cry. “Krellix!”
If he takes me away from the river, I may never find my way back.
TWENTY-SEVEN
MY BROTHER
Julia
Treesand brush whip past as the Boa speeds through the forest at great pace. Slamming my fists against his back ends up doing nothing except exhaust me so I focus on hanging onto him instead. That, and breathing. If I get too light-headed I’ll pass out again.
He doesn’t stop, pushing us as fast as he can through the trees. Minutes turn into hours until I lose track of time. At some point I disgustingly lose the contents of my stomach, spitting berry juice onto his back. I wonder how far he can manage to go—and how long I can endure this position without losing consciousness.
My back and neck muscles strain as I try to hold my head up.
By the time the Boa sets me down with an angry hiss, I have no idea where we are or what direction the river would be. While his thick yellow tail coils around me possessively, I wheeze out several hard breaths. At the same time, he turns around to face whatever it is he thinks is chasing us.
