CHAPTER 48
Andie
I scrabbled at the cliffs as I slid down the canyon face, trying to find purchase before I dashed to my death on the rocks below.
I tumbled, petrified as I managed to stay mostly upright, tearing my nails and scraping my face on the rocks as I tried to keep from falling the whole way.
My shoes couldn’t seem to find any toeholds.
I was falling faster when I landed with a jarring thump on my stomach on a small ledge about halfway down the stone wall.
My legs were hanging over the edge. I barely stopped myself from sliding off the ledge and lay there, hyperventilating from my near-death experience.
My heart was beating out of my chest, and I started crying tears of relief.
“ANDIE!!” M’Pak shouted in my mind from above.
“I’m ok,” I thought back at him. “I landed on a ledge.”
“I can’t get down there,” his mindvoice was frantic
I gingerly pushed myself up into a sitting position and looked up at the top. One of the orange birds was shrieking at me from a nearby nest.
I wondered if it was the one that attacked me. Looks like I got too close to their nest. I knew I couldn’t climb back to the top. I wasn’t an experienced climber, and I was terrified I would slip and fall. “It’s too far for me to climb,” I thought at M’Pak. “Hang on, I’ll call for help.”
I brought up my wristband and grimaced as my elbow protested the move. Ow. The face of the band was cracked, and it didn’t respond to any of my commands. Well, shit. I was stuck here.
I told M’Pak about my broken wristband, and he said, “Stay there, I will get help. I will need to go to the Palace, where they know me. I run fast, but it may be a while.”
“Well, I’m not going anywhere,” I chuckled. Ouch, laughing hurt. I sighed, wincing, and settled in to wait.
Dakleth
There was a stir in the palace. I received a call from Andokar. “Your Highness, I received word that there is a Granthor at the gate that is behaving oddly.”
“Is it M’Pak?” I asked.
“I don’t know, but I would suspect so. I cannot imagine any other Granthor coming into the city. I am heading to the gate now. The guards have been instructed not to engage, but it is approaching them slowly and seems determined to come in.”
“If it has a pink ribbon around its neck, then it’s definitely hers. Instruct them to let it be.”
“Acknowledged,” he said.
“I am on my way to the gates,” I said. He pinged me a moment later. “I am at the gates and have confirmed that the Granthor has a pink ribbon. I believe it is Andie’s animal. He seems very agitated.”
“Something must be wrong. I’m almost there.”
I flew to the courtyard and saw M’Pak pacing in front of the gates.
He snarled as he stalked back and forth, both distressed and seemingly unsure of what to do.
When he saw me, he headed straight for me.
As a Ptexari warrior, I stood my ground, but I could admit that facing down a thousand-pound predator was unnerving.
He could eviscerate me without a second thought before I even pulled my blaster.
I had to trust that he knew who I was and would not do me any harm.
As he approached, he slowed down and lowered his head.
He walked up to me very cautiously. I put my hand out as I had seen Andie do.
He often butted his head against her hand and moved along it so that she would caress his fur.
He did not seek my hand, but instead looked me in the eye steadily as he slowly opened his mouth and very gently grabbed my wrist.
It took every ounce of self-control not to yank my arm away. My wrist was in the mouth of one of the most dangerous animals on our planet. He could crush my wrist without a second thought. He could probably rip my arm off if he so chose.
The guards all drew their blasters and pointed them at him. The Granthor tensed, but did not let go. “Stand down,” I said. “But stay ready.”
He gently tugged my wrist. His teeth were sharp and dug into my skin, but did not break it. He pulled me forward. I stumbled a step towards him, and he kept tugging, not letting go of my wrist. “I think he wants you to follow him, Your Highness,” one of the guards said.
“Andie must be in trouble,” Andokar said. “That’s the only reason I can think that this Granthor would willingly approach us without her.”
I tested their theory and stepped forward deliberately. The Granthor was moving backward, pulling me along with him, harder. “I understand, M’Pak, I’ll follow.” I moved faster, and he let go of my wrist.
He turned around and started moving forward, then turned his head back to me.
I took a few steps toward him, and he began walking forward.
I followed behind. He turned back again to make sure I was following, and then moved into a trot.
“Andokar, come with us,” I said. “The rest of you stay on alert for any messages from me.”
Andokar and I jogged forward. Seeing us keep pace, the Granthor opened up and started running. We picked up the pace and ran behind. “Something must be very wrong,” Andokar said.
I did not answer. I did not want to think about what trouble my mate must be in for her pet to seek us out in this way.
I called for Andie on my wristband, but she was not answering.
M’Pak was soon outpacing us. He snarled in frustration.
Andokar and I took to the air, flying low so he could see that we were still following him.
At that point, he opened up into a gallop faster than any animal I had ever seen. He could easily outpace a vehicle. Andokar and I flew nearly as fast. I knew my top flying speed was over 75 clicks per centine, and M’Pak was easily faster than that.
In fewer than ten minutes, we were at the Dumani Cliffs.
I could see a vehicle parked to the left, but M’Pak veered right and then stopped at the cliffs’ edge.
My hearts stopped at that moment. I flew down the cliff face into the canyon and then spotted her.
My mate was sitting on a ledge, face scraped up, fingers bloody, eyes closed.
“Andie, are you well?” I asked, hearts beating out of my chest as I hovered near her.
She opened her eyes slowly. “I’ve been better,” she croaked.
“May I assist you?” I asked.
“What would you do if I said no?” she laughed, then winced. “Ouch.”
“Scoop you up in my arms anyway and fly you back to the city to receive medical attention.”
“That’s the best idea I’ve heard all day,” she said. I reached one arm behind her back and the other underneath her knees as I flew her to the cliff face. “Is that your vehicle?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said. “You can use it to drive me back to the Palace, thanks.”
“I can fly you faster than that. Andokar will drive it back to the Palace while I take you.” Andokar nodded.
M’Pak bumped against my legs, and I lowered Andie slightly so he could sniff her to his satisfaction. She looked deeply in his eyes, and I would swear she was communing with the beast. He gave a satisfied huff.
“Do you think he wants to ride back to the Palace in the vehicle with Andokar?” I asked. Andokar looked decidedly nervous at the prospect, but kept silent.
“No, he prefers to run,” she said. “He’ll probably beat us there.”
“I have no doubt of it,” I concurred. “He is remarkable. I cannot believe he was able to find us and lead us to you. Perhaps the Granthor are smarter than we give them credit for.”
“Probably,” she said, with a small smile. “Come on, let me get a drink of water and then take me back, please.”
“Your wish is my command, Princess,” I said.
Andie
Flying was incredible. Ten out of ten, would definitely recommend.
I had been hesitant when Dakleth suggested it, but my vehicle wouldn’t fit all of us, so someone was flying back regardless.
And Andokar looked like he’d rather eat worms than touch me, so Dakleth it was.
To be honest, I was still a little pissed at Andokar for the way he treated me and Leo weeks ago.
Master grudgeholder, that was me. I refrained from sticking my tongue out at him.
He had come along for the rescue, so he got a pass.
Dakleth lifted me like I weighed nothing, although to him, that was probably true. He was massive, and when I had a flashback to our first encounter, I stiffened.
“Are you alright?” he asked. “Do I need to adjust my hold?”
I tried to relax. I thought back to my conversation with Leo. “You’ve said several times that you’ve forgiven him. If you really have, then it shouldn’t be holding you back.” Ugh, he was right.
Dakleth really was thoughtful, I could admit that.
And he’d rescued me from a really bad situation.
There was no way I could have gotten off that cliff face by myself.
Every day, he proved that he was a helpful, trustworthy person.
And I knew the “incident” wasn’t entirely his fault.
The way he sank to his knees the day he saw me again - I knew he regretted it as much as I did.
I knew this. I knew it in my bones, but sometimes my subconscious took a minute to catch up. I hated that my body froze around him involuntarily. It made me feel like I was a victim. I refused to be a victim anymore.
“No, it’s fine,” I said, forcing myself to relax in his arms. “I’ve just never flown before. I’m a bit nervous.”
He looked at me steadily. “I will not drop you, my mate,” he said. “You are the most precious thing in this world to me. You are always safe with me.”
“Don’t call me that,” I said for the umpteenth time. “Just get me safely back to the palace.”
“Of course,” he said, wings beating gently as he flew steadily, following M’Pak.
He adjusted me in his arms so that my head fell against his broad chest. His broad, muscly chest. The swaying motion from the beat of his wings lulled me into a more relaxed state, and I closed my eyes while the wind blew a steady stream across my face. “This is nice,” I said.
“Yes, it is,” he rumbled. I opened my eyes and peered up at him.
“Thank you,” I said. “For rescuing me. I forgot to say thank you. I’m really grateful to you and Andokar for coming.”
“Your Granthor was rather insistent,” he said, sounding amused.
“I’m sure he was,” I replied. “I like flying, must be nice having wings,” I mused.
“My wings are yours to use whenever you wish,” he said.
“Um, thanks,” I said, not sure how to respond to that.
In short order, we landed in the palace courtyard. I made a move to get down, and he tightened his hold. “Stay,” he said firmly.
He was such a contradiction. At times, willing to do anything I asked, and at others so bossy. “Fine,” I huffed, because I didn’t want to make a scene in front of the guards. They were already staring.
He carried me through the doors of the palace like a bride. I knew he didn’t know of the human tradition of carrying a bride across the threshold, but I blushed nonetheless. We made our way to the medical wing, where he finally laid me on a table.
“Well, well, here is my favorite human!” Lanicar said cheerily as he entered the room.
“I’m the only human you know,” I responded, chuckling.
“Not so, I have met the other human male, Leo. He has very good medical training for animals, you know,” he said.
“He seems nice enough, but you are still my favorite.” He smiled at me.
I smiled back, loving the way his eyes crinkled.
I hadn’t seen Lanicar much in my year on Ptekennan, but he had been compassionate to me from the very beginning.
He saw me at my lowest, and did what he could to protect me.
I don’t think I could ever repay that. My eyes started to well up.
If he would have allowed it, I would have hugged him, but I knew the Ptexari generally avoided touch.
Dakleth seemed to be an exception to that rule - with me, anyway.
Dakleth started to growl at Lanicar and stepped in front of me.
“None of that, Your Highness,” Lanicar scolded him. “I am happily mated as you know. I have no designs on your human.” Dakleth swallowed his growl and looked a bit sheepish.
“My apologies,” he said, gruffly.
“Accepted, now move out of the way so I can examine my patient,” Lanicar said matter-of-factly and then peered at me. “What have you been doing, Andie? You have lacerations on your face and hands.”
I explained my misadventures at the cliffs, and he clucked his tongue. “Nothing serious, fortunately,” he said. “It appears your elbow and ribs are bruised, but not fractured. Some pain meds and a salve for your cuts are really all you need. You’ll be all healed up in a few days.”
“Thanks, Lanicar,” I said.
“Anytime, Andie,” he said. “It is good to see you in such good health, today’s scrapes notwithstanding. You seem to be doing well. I am glad for it.”
“Me too,” I replied. We said our goodbyes, and I took the medications he prescribed.
“Thank you again,” I said to Dakleth. “I’m tired, and I’d like to go home. Is Andokar back yet with my vehicle?”
“Come, I will fly you to your cottage, and he can drop the vehicle there,” he said.
“Ah, that’s really not necessary,” I said.
“Please,” he said. “I would like to see you safely home.”
“Fine,” I said. “But we’re not making a habit of this. I’m perfectly capable of driving myself around.”
“Yes, I know. Only because you are injured. Or if you ask. As I said, I will fly you any time you wish.”
“Ok,” I acquiesced, too tired to fight about it. He scooped me up again and carried me home. Now that I was used to it, I was able to relax more naturally in his arms. It was nice. I felt safe. Protected. Cared for. All too soon, he was setting me down at my cottage door.
Technically, I should have invited him in for Oonag, but I was tired and needed time to rest and think. “Please forgive my rudeness, but I just need to go to bed and fall asleep,” I said, hoping he wouldn’t be offended. The Ptexari could be real sticklers on courtesy.
“Of course,” he replied. “We will take Oonag on another day. Rest well, my Princess. Dream of flying with me.”
Somehow, I knew I would.