9. Alice
CHAPTER 9
ALICE
T he sun beats down on us as Davrik and I study the gnarled bark of an ancient tree. Its twisted branches reach towards the sky like grasping fingers, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
"This species seems to thrive in harsh conditions," I explain, running my hand along a rough patch. "See how the bark's developed these intricate patterns? It's a defense mechanism against?—"
A low growl cuts through the air, sending chills down my spine. Davrik's head snaps up, his eyes scanning the surrounding foliage.
"Alice," he whispers, voice tense. "Don't move."
My heart pounds as I follow his gaze. There, emerging from the undergrowth, is the beast I've only glimpsed in fleeting moments before. It's massive, easily twice my size, with mottled gray fur and gleaming yellow eyes. Saliva drips from its razor-sharp teeth as it stalks towards us.
"Oh god," I breathe, fear paralyzing me.
The beast's muscles bunch, and it launches itself at me with frightening speed. I can't even scream.
Suddenly, Davrik shoves me aside. "Run!" he yells, positioning himself between me and the creature.
I stumble backward, watching in horror as the beast collides with Davrik. They go down in a tangle of limbs and snarls. Davrik grunts in pain as razor-sharp claws rake across his chest, but he doesn't yield.
"Davrik!" I cry out, torn between fleeing and trying to help.
He manages to land a solid punch to the beast's snout, momentarily stunning it. "I said run, dammit!"
The beast shakes its head, refocusing on Davrik with a menacing growl. They circle each other, neither willing to back down.
"Hey, ugly!" Davrik taunts, his voice steady despite the danger. "Pick on someone your own size!"
The beast lunges again, but Davrik's ready. He sidesteps, using the creature's momentum against it. In a flash, he's on its back, arms locked around its thick neck.
"That's right," he grunts, tightening his hold. "Let's dance, you overgrown furball."
The beast thrashes wildly, trying to shake Davrik off. They crash through the underbrush, a whirlwind of fur and flailing limbs. I can barely breathe, my heart in my throat as I watch the struggle.
Finally, Davrik manages to slam the beast into the trunk of a nearby tree. The impact stuns it, and he leaps clear, putting himself between me and the creature once more.
"Get out of here!" Davrik roars, his chest heaving. "This is our territory, understand?"
The beast snarls, but there's hesitation in its eyes now. It takes a step back, then another. With a final, baleful glare, it turns and lopes off into the forest.
My heart still races as I watch the beast disappear into the forest. The danger's passed, but adrenaline courses through my veins. Before I can think twice, I throw my arms around Davrik, hugging him tightly.
"Thank you," I breathe, my face pressed against his chest. "You saved my life."
Davrik stiffens for a moment, then awkwardly pats my back. "Don't mention it," he mumbles.
I pull back, suddenly aware of how close we are. "And you didn't even hurt it," I add, smiling up at him. "That was incredible."
He raises an eyebrow. "You're worried about that thing? It nearly turned us into lunch."
"Well, yes, but..." I bite my lip. "It's just trying to survive, like everything else on this planet. We're in its territory, after all."
Davrik shakes his head, a mix of amusement and disbelief on his face. "Your priorities are... interesting, Alice."
I feel my cheeks flush. "I know it sounds silly, but every creature here is part of a delicate ecosystem. Even the dangerous ones."
"If you say so," he says, his tone skeptical. He looks me over, concern flickering in his green eyes. "You're not hurt, are you?"
I do a quick self-assessment. "Just a few scratches from the underbrush. Nothing serious." I glance at the gashes on his chest. "But you're bleeding! We should get back to the station and?—"
He waves off my concern. "I've had worse. It'll heal. Kaledians heal fast."
We start walking back, the forest suddenly feeling more ominous than before. Davrik keeps scanning our surroundings, on high alert.
"I don't get it," he says after a while. "How have you survived out here on your own for so long?"
I shrug, stepping over a gnarled root. "Careful observation, mostly. Learning the patterns of the wildlife, avoiding their territories when possible." I pause, remembering all the close calls. "And a fair bit of luck, I suppose."
Davrik snorts. "Luck. Right." He glances at me, something unreadable in his expression. "You know, most people would've packed up and left after the first near-death experience."
"I'm not most people," I reply, a hint of pride in my voice. "This work is too important to abandon just because it's dangerous."
"Clearly," he mutters. Then, louder, "Well, consider me your personal bodyguard from now on. Can't have you getting eaten before your precious research is done."
I laugh, the tension from our encounter finally starting to ease. "My hero," I tease. "But really, Davrik. Thank you. I don't know what I would've done if you weren't there."
He clears his throat, looking uncomfortable with the praise. "Let's just get back to the station. I could use a drink after that excitement."
Back at the station, I insist on patching Davrik up, despite his protests. "Come on, tough guy. Even Kaledians need a little antibiotic gel sometimes."
He sighs, relenting. "Fine. But make it quick."
I gather my first aid supplies and gesture for him to sit. As I clean the gashes on his chest, I can't help but notice the firm muscles beneath my fingers. My cheeks warm, and I focus intently on the task at hand.
"This might sting a bit," I warn, applying antiseptic.
Davrik doesn't even flinch. "I've had paper cuts worse than this."
I chuckle, wrapping a bandage around his torso. "Sure you have, big guy. All done."
Our eyes meet, and for a moment, neither of us moves. I clear my throat, stepping back. "How about some dinner?"
He nods, pulling his shirt back on. "Sounds good."
I scan through the fridge, my rations starting to get a little more meager with two to feed. Davrik managed to get some protein bars from his ship, but those only go so far on an active stomach.
Still, I pull together some pasta and meatballs that tastes pretty good considering it's been frozen for who knows how long.
As we eat, an uncomfortable silence settles between us. Davrik barely looks at me, pushing food around his plate. I bite my lip, wondering if he's angry about the incident earlier.
Just as I'm about to ask, he speaks up. "I'm going to teach you self-defense."
I blink, surprised by his abrupt statement. "What?"
His green eyes lock onto mine, intense and unyielding. "You heard me. Your form and ability back there tells me your company didn't teach you shit. Running will only save you some times. You need to know how to fight. And I won't take no for an answer."
"I... um..." I stammer, taken aback by his demanding tone.
"You need to be able to protect yourself," he continues, his voice leaving no room for argument. "What if I hadn't been there today?"
I want to protest, to say I've managed just fine on my own. But the memory of those razor-sharp teeth and gleaming yellow eyes makes me hesitate.
"Okay," I agree softly. "When do we start?"
"Tomorrow," Davrik says, his expression softening slightly. "Get some rest. You'll need it."
As I clear the dishes, I can't help but wonder what I've gotten myself into. He seems like he'll make for a pretty demanding teacher. But then again, how much self defense does a package courier need?
I have no idea what I'm in for tomorrow. But I have to admit, I'm pretty excited for it.