I like his laugh. It bounces off the cave walls as if he's grinding down the stones. It isn't anything like the sick honking laughs of the genali. Nothing sinister about it, just a carefree rumble of appreciation.
"Got to hand it to you, Drasuk. You're funny without trying to be."
When I say his name, it sends a small shiver down my spine. As it often does.
His spikes twitch. "I'll take that as a compliment."
"Don't get used to it," I warn him.
My lips turn down when I think of never seeing Earth again. Well, I might not get home, but maybe he has a chance.
"Do you think you'll be able to get back to your crazy planet?"
I'm sad to see the amusement leave him, but for some inexplicable reason, the answer is important to me.
"I would like to give you a definite answer, but I can't. Right now, I think the important thing to do is to survive. And the only way for that to happen is if we kill any hunters we can find. Because as long as they are alive, we are not safe."
"No offense, but there is only one of you, me, and who knows how many of them. I don't know if you noticed and all, anexcellent shot I might be, but I'm not exactly carrying around an army."
"That's why it's best I look for them before they come looking for us."
I wait a few moments to see if there are any other steps to his grand plan for planet domination.
Nope. He just keeps staring at me like he's Themistocles at war with Persia and he just solved all our problems.
"That's it? That's your entire strategy?"
"Some of the most effective are the simplest."
I can't argue with him. Not because he's right, but because my overtired brain isn't coming up with anything better.
A giant yawn overtakes me just thinking about it.
"I'm going to hunt for food. I don't expect anyone to find this hiding place, but if they do, I'm sure you'll make them regret the mistake of bothering you," Drasuk says.
"You say the sweetest things," I purr. "Don't take too long out there."
"Why? Missing me already?" he teases.
I snort. "Sure, can't you tell? I'm barely holding back a mountain of grief right now. Try not to get yourself killed."
Drasuk is still chuckling as he moves toward the waterfall.
His chest continues to rumble as he laughs, the sound dampening once he's in the water.
Once he's gone beyond the wall of falling water and out of sight, I shift my ass around on the soft moss to find a more comfortable spot, angling to take advantage of the dim light.
Using salvaged scraps, I spend some time creating a better way to secure the sheathe of my new ridiculous-looking sword. My fingers are slow and it's hard to see, but eventually I have the sheathe secured to a makeshift belt.
I pull it out to make sure it comes out smoothly, my right arm crossing my body. Satisfied, I move to sheath it, but instead find myself admiring the blade. The gleam of moonlight on the dark alloy makes me remember the joy on Drasuk's face as he completely wrecked that camp.
He kept me alive in that fight, then pulled this out, knowing I would like it, though I could tell it would have been a good weapon for him, too.
Was there something in his gaze when he handed it to me? Something soft and hopeful?
I shake my head, flinging off delusions and distractions. He was just being practical and increasing our chances of survival. I sheath the blade with a decisive snick of metal against metal, then huff out a breath.
After that, I'm too dizzy with exhaustion to stay upright, so I compromise by propping myself up on my elbows as I pull thebraceaaer gun up next to me, laying my hand on it where I can snatch it up quickly.
