Drip, drip, drip. The water from the ceiling dripped onto the floor. That was alright, a little dripping wouldn’t keep me up.
Drip, drip, drip. What if a bug bit me during the night? Were the bugs poisonous on this planet? I took a deep breath and tried to clear my mind.It’s ok, Julie. Just let it go and try to sleep.
Drip, drip, drip. Would we run into those hyenas again tomorrow? What if they were still out there tomorrow morning when Orsu moved the boulder away? What if they weren’t out there but something else was? How many different predators lived in this forest?
No, I couldn’t think about that or I’d never fall asleep. I was so tired, but I was also starting to feel all wound up.
Drip, drip, drip. I hoped Gabby made it back to the den alright. Would another Sirret guy go to the den and take another woman? No, it was Orsu’s den; why would anyone else go there?
I sighed and turned to my other side. Was I bothering Orsu? Was I moving too much for him to fall asleep? What if I was lying on one of his wounds? I should have checked before I laid down. Should I check now? What if he’d already fallen asleep?
Julie, stop. Just clear your mind and fall asleep, I chastised myself. Not that it had ever worked in the past, but I had to try something. I lay there listening to the dripping water for what felt like an hour, and I was starting to get pissed. I NEEDED to sleep! If I didn’t sleep, then I’d feel even more tired in the morning,and if I felt tired in the morning then I might not be alert enough to hear an animal approaching. I could literally die tomorrow because of a lack of sleep.
Was my heart racing? Why was my heart racing? I needed it to slow down. I needed to SLEEP! Why couldn’t I just fall asleep?!
“Julie?” Orsu’s voice cut through my spiraling thoughts.
“Hmm?” I pretended to sound more tired than I felt.
“I promised to keep you safe. You can sleep. I won’t hurt you.”
His voice was laced with sorrow that cut to my very soul. Did he think I was refusing to fall asleep out of fear? Well I was scared, but not of him. If Orsu was going to hurt me he would have done it by now.
No, there were about six million things I was afraid of on this planet, but this big blue alien wasn’t one of them.
Chapter 3
Orsu
Julie had remained tense from the moment she laid on my chest. Did she fear me? I would never harm this soft female. Her very scent nearly drove me wild as I searched the forest for her. There was something special about her. I would protect her with my dying breath, and it pained me to think she might be afraid of me.
“I know. It’s not you. It’s just hard for me to fall asleep sometimes.” She let out a frustrated sigh and added, “I struggle to shut my mind off.”
Shut her mind off? Did she not simply lay her head down and clear her mind for sleep? I supposed not. If she could, she would.
“Tell me your thoughts. Perhaps talking about them will help.” Julie needed her rest and I was happy to do whatever I could to help.
“Well…,” her voice trailed off and she stayed silent for a long moment. Did she not want my help?
“Most of my concerns are silly.”
So she was worried about something. Of course she was worried. She was on a new planet filled with animals that had just tried to kill her.
“I wish to hear your silly concerns,” I encouraged in an even tone so Julie would know I wasn’t teasing her. I truly wanted to help.
She let out a resigned sigh. “Alright. I am worried that a bug will bite me in my sleep. Do you have a lot of bugs that bite on this planet?”
“We have a few, but thankfully not many,” I admitted.
“Are they poisonous? Like, do they make you sick?
I shook my head. I’d never heard of a bug making someone sick before.
“No, many of them bite to latch onto our leg coverings or shoes as a means for quick travel.”
“Ok, that’s good to know.” Julie seemed pleased with that answer.
“What other thoughts are keeping you awake?”
