Stranded with the Alien (Starbound #1)

Thirty Seven

They spent the next few days establishing a permanent camp a few meters back from the riverbank, under a copse of trees where they had moderate shelter from the rain.

They had to dispatch two of the spider creatures which came down to investigate; after that they were no longer bothered. But in the process they discovered the sticky filaments excreted by the arachnids were extremely useful.

In their natural state they were a strong adhesive, able to glue things together like branches and leaves. And when they dried out they could be turned into a coarse thread for tying or sewing.

Vahn used the filaments to build an extension to their tent. The Vraxian shelter remained their main sleeping space, with one corner taken up by their sparse belongings including Hawaiian Gloria. But the tent now abutted a large kitchen-stroke-living area where they could chill out or prepare food.

And food was abundant. Fruit and vegetables grew rampantly throughout the rainforest. So far Vahn’s dendra had proved reliable. Neither of them ever suffered food poisoning, though once or twice something he pronounced edible would taste disgusting.

Meat was plentiful too. Not only was the river full of fish – or things that looked and tasted like fish - but Rocky continued to bring them small prey every morning.

It wasn’t until a couple of weeks later that Kara and Vahn discovered there was larger quarry to be had. They stumbled on a natural water hole several kilometers upriver where deer-like animals had gathered to drink.

They took to hunting for themselves. Vahn taught Kara to stay downwind and target only the males, leaving the females and their young to thrive. He also showed her how to skin and debone the kill using his laser-blade. Though she disliked the messiness of the job she secretly enjoyed Vahn’s nod of approval when she’d done it well.

The meat they procured was rich and satisfying. Moreover, it proved easy to dry and preserve, which meant they didn’t have to hunt every day. The thick pelts were an added bonus and Kara put them to a variety of uses – as floor-coverings, bedding, even clothing.

Though Vahn continued to wear the increasingly ragged SDF T-shirt and his combat trousers, Kara sewed a soft suede-like top and skirt for herself. She told Vahn that since she was living like a cave-girl, she may as well look like one. He didn’t object. He found her ‘fur bikini’ as he called it insanely sexy.

The weather patterns over the next few days were fairly consistent. It was habitually dry from dawn till late afternoon, then there would be a torrential downpour until at least midnight, usually longer.

Evenings were spent listening to the rain and making love among the thick furs. They both realized their mutual desire wasn’t diminishing. If anything, it was evolving into something more. Something deeper.

But neither spoke about it. There was no point. They knew whatever this thing was, it would end when the beacon’s distress call was answered. Staying together was not an option.

So instead they discussed day-to-day problems. How to store water, how to keep predators away, how to pass the time.

How to survive.