Chapter 6 Burr’k
The sound of scuttlers was unmistakable. I turned instantly, instincts overriding thought. Holly.
Holly faced off against a scuttler that stood nearly as high as her waist, a rusted weapon gripped tight in her hands.
Her stance was solid, her eyes locked on the creature as it lunged.
She screamed. But it was not the shrill cry of a frightened female, it was the raw, guttural yell of a fighter.
She dodged to the side, just missing the toxin-tipped claws, and brought the axe down hard on the scuttler’s head.
The creature shrieked, thrashing violently. Its claws flailed, slicing the air inches from her face as she scrambled back, weapon torn from her grip.
She was exposed now. Completely weaponless.
But I was here.
I surged forward, my blade already drawn, putting myself between her and danger.
Two more scuttlers burst from behind the large vehicles parked next to the barn, their mandibles clicking with hunger.
My first swipe cleaved through the first, its body collapsing in a heap.
The second creature leaped, but I caught it mid-air, batting at it, sending its head flying into the nearby field.
Several sharp zings of a Xarc’n blaster had me turning just in time to see Holly shooting two more scuttlers coming around the corner. Her stance and aim were solid. But it was the determined look in her eyes combined with the scent of her fear that hit me the hardest.
She was terrified, but instead of running, she had fought. I had underestimated her.
Unable to stop myself, I dropped to my knees beside her. My fingers traced the curve of her collarbone, gliding down the length of her arm and across her ribs, searching for any sign of injury. Her skin was warm beneath my touch, unmarred by blood or claw.
My relief was immediate. She was unharmed.
Holly was under my protection. She was my first mission here on Earth, and if she’d been hurt, it would have been my failure.
I told myself that was the only reason my hands were still on her.
And the tightness in my chest was just the aftermath of battle, nothing more.
But her scent changed, subtle but unmistakable. Lust. It hit me hard, flooding my senses, making my chest tighten and my claws twitch. Her skin warmed beneath my touch, her body leaning into mine instead of away.
I was suddenly aware of how close we were. My arms had wrapped around her without thought, my hand still pressed to her waist, fingers splayed across soft curves. Her gaze locked with mine, pupils dilated.
My chest rumbled, low and deep, the sound vibrating between us. Her eyes widened. She reached up, hand pressed to my chest. But unlike last time, she pushed me away, stumbling back a step or two into the red building.
“We should get rid of the scourge remains,” she said sharply, suddenly all business.
“I will do it. Stay inside the building. I will do another sweep of the area.”
I turned and left, the cold air biting at my skin as I stepped into the snow. The wind was picking up. But all I could focus on was the fact that she’d pushed me away. It wasn’t pain, but it felt similar.
I worked efficiently, dragging the carcasses to a shaded patch beneath a cluster of trees, far enough from the barn to avoid detection.
The usual way to get rid of dead scourge was to burn them, but the smoke would be a beacon to our enemies.
But a pile of corpses could be spotted from the air, so I covered them with branches.
Hidden under the trees, they would not be easily detected.
I scanned the area one last time. Satisfied, I turned back toward the barn, the lump in my chest still there. I told myself it was just adrenaline. It’d been a while since I’d hunted on my own. But it had only been a few measly scuttlers. Technically, Holly had killed more than I had.
And that had me thinking of her again. I kept seeing her in that moment. Weapon raised, eyes fierce, the cry she’d let out before slamming the blade down. That image was etched indelibly into my mind.
My first impression of her had been wrong. She wasn’t helpless or a burden. She was smaller than me, but she had the heart of a warrior. And that mattered more than size or skill.
When I stepped back into the barn, I was greeted by a surprise.
Holly had moved the hay bales and scattered wood planks into something resembling a table. On top of it was a spread of food. There were wrapped bundles that smelled of roasted meat, dried fruits, and a few sweet-smelling flat biscuits in a container. I recognized the scents from her bag earlier.
“Eat,” she said, smiling. “I packed lunch.”
“I do not wish to consume your food. I will eat a Xarc’n food bar. I have many in my shuttle.”
She wrinkled her nose. “The food bars are great once you chop them up and cook with them, but are you really going to give up fresh-cooked meat—well, fresh from this morning, anyway—for a nutrition bar?”
I hesitated, and my stomach let out a loud growl in response.
She laughed. “See. Your stomach knows the deal. Just eat some. I packed enough for both of us. There’s no way I could eat all this anyway. We’ll have to figure out dinner later if we have to.”
I nodded, stepping closer, salivating. “Food bars for later then.”
She took a big bite out of one of the skewers of meat and chewed. “Honestly,” she said, after she swallowed. “I thought this would be a quick in and out. Like last time, when I went with Evie and Tarv’k to pick up supplies.”
“It should’ve been. If it weren’t for the raiders, we’d already be there.”
At my mention of the raiders, she looked out through the still-open door. I hadn’t been able to close them.
“But I guess this is the bugpocalypse and shit happens. Just gotta deal with it.” Noticing that I hadn’t started eating, she handed me one of the skewers.
“Just give the skewers back. They’re from the hunters’ compound, and Evie says they keep disappearing because the hunters toss them when they are done. But these aren’t the disposable kind.”
I took it, sitting across from her. The food was simple but filling, and much better than the food bars, which were completely devoid of flavoring. The moment of tension between us was gone, and she was her happy self again.
“So are you staying in the hunters’ compound while you’re in New Franklin?” she asked.
The hunters’ compound was the building where the original hunter group that had settled here stayed.
“I’ve been in it, but do not stay there. I sleep in the barracks in the downed mothership.”
“Oh, no wonder I haven’t seen you since the day you arrived.”
So she did remember our first meeting and the awkward way I’d stared at her.
Holly was mid-bite when the hay beside her rustled. She yelped, jumping up so fast she nearly launched her food across the barn.
I was already reaching for my blade. “Stay behind me!”
But instead, a tiny furry creature ran out, a blur of brown and beige.
“Aww. It’s a mouse. It’s so tiny and cute! Don’t hurt it.”
I put my sword away, somewhat embarrassed at my overreaction.
The tiny creature stopped, its nose twitching in the air, clearly smelling our food.
“It’s so cute.” She broke a piece off the sweet biscuit and held it out, trying to get the creature's attention with a soft, “pspsps.”
“I thought human females do not like rodents.” Then I amended my words. “Except for tamed ones like Tooth.” Tooth was New Franklin’s beloved squirrel mascot.
“Not inside the settlement, because they get into the food and eat everything. But out here, it’s not a nuisance.
And plus, it’s living out here in the hay and nature.
It’s probably relatively clean.” Realizing the creature wasn’t going to take it from her, she tossed the biscuit some ways away.
“This is the first living thing I’ve seen outside of the settlement that isn’t a freaking scourge.
I’m glad it’s here. It’s proof to me that Earth is still worth fighting for.
We should leave a little bit of our food for it, but not so much that it’ll attract the scourge. ”
I grunted. Finally understanding.
As I reached for my second meat skewer, the little critter dashed over, picked up the piece of biscuit—which was nearly the size of its head—and ran off.