Chapter 17 Brynn
brYNN
The ancient stone pathway crumbled beneath my feet as we approached the outskirts of the White Tribe ruins.
Massive structures loomed ahead, their once-proud silhouettes now jagged and broken against the darkening sky.
Wind whistled through hollow archways, carrying echoes of a civilization long gone.
"Easy," Nim murmured, his steady hand at my back as I navigated around a fallen pillar.
My legs felt heavier with each step, the weight of my growing belly throwing off my balance in ways I hadn't anticipated. What had been a slight curve yesterday now pressed firmly against my tunic, a constant reminder of the precious, mysterious life developing inside me at an alarming rate.
"You okay?" Sim asked, his eyes scanning my face with concern.
I nodded, not trusting my voice. The truth was, I wasn't okay. My lower back throbbed with dull persistence, and occasional twinges rippled across my abdomen. But admitting weakness now, with sanctuary so close, wasn't an option.
CG moved ahead, signaling his crew to fan out. "Spread thin," he commanded in a hushed tone. "Eyes sharp."
The ruins stretched before us like the bleached bones of some colossal beast. White stone—or what I assumed was stone—gleamed faintly in the fading light, its surface etched with symbols I couldn't begin to decipher.
Collapsed domes and toppled columns created a maze of shadows and light, beautiful and foreboding.
"The White Tribe was said to be the most advanced," Nim explained softly as we walked. "Their understanding of genetics surpassed all others."
"And they welcomed outsiders like the Silver Tribe," Sim added, his tail swishing nervously behind him. "Unlike the other tribes."
I ran my fingers along a fractured wall, feeling the strange, almost warm texture beneath my fingertips. "What happened to them?"
Nim and Sim exchanged glances. "War," Nim said simply. "Genocide. Fear of their knowledge."
A sudden gust of wind sent debris skittering across our path, the sound unnervingly like whispered warnings. I shivered despite the warmth of the evening. Something felt wrong here. A heaviness in the air that went beyond the physical discomfort of my pregnancy.
Sinx paused ahead, his nose twitching. "Something's not right," he muttered.
I scanned the ruins, taking in the fallen arches and broken pillars. Perfect places for an ambush. My hand instinctively moved to my stomach, a protective gesture I wasn't even conscious of making.
The hiscat at my feet suddenly tensed, its iridescent fur standing on end. A low growl rumbled from its throat.
"Watch out!" I hissed, just as the distinctive whine of an energy weapon split the air.
The blast struck a column just above Nif's head, sending white stone fragments raining down. We scattered for cover as more shots followed, illuminating the ruins in brief, harsh flashes of light.
Between the bursts, I glimpsed movement—shadowy figures darting between collapsed structures, their outlines unmistakably manasty.
The hairs on the back of my neck rose. We were being watched. We were being hunted. I have no idea where this sixth sense is coming from, butI have goosebumps all over my body.
"Stay down!" Nim shouted, pulling me behind a fallen statue as another energy blast scorched the air where I'd stood seconds before.
I pressed my back against the cool stone, heart hammering in my chest. Around us, CG's crew had taken defensive positions, returning fire when possible. The attackers kept to the shadows, using the ruins' broken architecture to their advantage.
"Kilo's men," Xy spat, ducking as a shot narrowly missed his head.
I peered around our cover, trying to count our assailants. At least a dozen, maybe more, had us pinned down among the rubble. They guarded what appeared to be the main path into the heart of the ruins— most likely where we needed to go.
"We can't stay here," I whispered to Nim, who crouched protectively beside me. "They have better position and probably more weapons."
Sim slid behind our cover, breathing hard. "Any ideas? Because I'm open to suggestions." Addressing Nim.
I closed my eyes, thinking back to the ancient maps Onork had shown me during our journey. "The White Tribe built everything with purpose," I said, my mind racing. "Their structures were designed with multiple access points—escape routes in case of attack."
"You think there's another way in?" Nim asked.
I nodded. "Beneath us. The White Tribe was known for their underground networks." I pointed to a half-collapsed building to our right. "That structure—it looks like their version of a temple. Temples usually connect to the main compound."
CG joined our huddle, blood trickling from a cut above his eye. "And you know this how?"
"Onork told me about them on our way here," I replied. "Plus, I studied architecture before..." I gestured vaguely upward, indicating my abduction from Earth. Though I knew they have no idea where Earth was. Because of money, I shifted to an Engineering course, but my first love was architecture.
"Archi what?" Nim frowned.
Ugh, how to explan?
Sim grinned. "Our clever alien mate." He reached inside his vest and pulled out a sleek energy pistol, pressing it into my palm. "Take this," he said, his eyes serious despite his light tone. "I want you to be able to protect yourself."
My heart gave a tiny squeeze. With how protective they were, him trusting me with my safety and our babies wanted me to tackle him and have my way with him.
Sim just smirked, clearly he read my mind. "Focus," he gently reminded me.
The weapon felt cool and foreign in my hand. Oh good, it looked like a laser pointer. I'd fire one too many times during board meetings back on Earth.
"I've adjusted the settings," Sim explained, guiding my fingers to the small dial on the side. "Lower intensity, but wider spread. You don't need to be precise, just create enough chaos to keep them distracted."
I nodded, tightening my grip on the laser pen. "Got it."
An energy blast struck dangerously close, showering us with pulverized stone. The attackers were advancing, growing bolder.
"Nim," I whispered urgently, "take Sinx and Ferix around the eastern side. There should be a passage near that fallen arch. Sim, you and Nif circle west. CG and I will keep their attention here."
Nim's eyes narrowed. "I'm not leaving you exposed."
"I'll be fine," I hissed, though my racing heart suggested otherwise. "Xy knows how to handle himself in a firefight. We just need to buy you enough time to flank them."
Nim and Sim looked at me, surprised, then looked at each other, silently communicating - doing their twinsie thing again.
Another shot hit our cover, the impact reverberating through the stone against my back. I flinched involuntarily.
"I'll back them up," Clitasoxdfwe’h boldy declared. With him and Xy, the captain of the Red Guards, we should be fine.
"Go," I urged. "The longer we argue, the closer they get."
Nim hesitated, then pressed his forehead briefly against mine—a gesture of both affection and concern. "Be careful," he murmured, shot a heavy look Xy’s way, before slipping away. Nif, CG, Sinx, Ferix and two more males following close behind.
Sim squeezed my hand. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do, my warrior queen," he said with a wink that didn't quite mask his worry.
"That doesn't eliminate much," I retorted, earning a brief chuckle before he too disappeared among the ruins.
Xy shifted closer. "Ready?"
I nodded, gripping the small energy pen Sim had given me. "Ready."
A sudden, sharp pain lanced through my abdomen as I leaned out from cover to fire at our attackers. The laser pen nearly slipped from my grasp as I gasped, doubling over. How come call of duty online games made it looked so simple?
"Brynn?" Xy's voice seemed distant through the ringing in my ears.
I braced myself against the cracked wall, legs trembling beneath me. Sweat beaded on my forehead despite the cool evening air. Something was wrong—this pain was different, more intense than the occasional twinges I'd felt before.
"I'm fine," I managed, though the words sounded unconvincing even to my own ears.
Clitasoxdfwe’h cast me a skeptical glance before returning fire. "You don't look fine."
Another wave of pain crashed over me, stealing my breath. My hand instinctively went to my belly, which felt tighter, harder than before. The baby. Was something happening to the baby?
Panic threatened to overwhelm me, but I forced it down. Panicking wouldn't help us survive this ambush. I gritted my teeth and raised my weapon again, firing at a shadow that moved between columns. Smooth as butter, I didn't even felt any reverberaton from this thing.
Deep breaths. Deep breaths. Inner peace.
"You should fall back," CG urged. "There's more cover behind that fallen dome."
"And leave you alone? Not happening," I replied, my voice steadier than I felt.
Nif appeared briefly at my side, his massive frame providing additional cover. "Kru'h Nim says you should retreat," he rumbled.
Of course Nim would try to protect me, even from a distance. "Tell Kru'h Nim I'm exactly where I need to be," I responded, emphasizing his title with a touch of defiance.
Nif looked torn, but another barrage of enemy fire sent him diving for cover, the message presumably undelivered.
I pressed a hand to my lower back, trying to ease the persistent ache. The baby shifted inside me, a flutter of movement that simultaneously reassured and terrified me. Too fast. Everything was happening too fast.
"They're pressing in from the north side," Nif reported, reloading his bigger weapon. "Getting bolder."
I peered around our shelter, assessing the situation. The attackers had indeed grown more aggressive, perhaps sensing our vulnerability. They moved with purpose, clearly intent on preventing us from reaching the heart of the ruins.
"We need to hold this position," I insisted. "Just a little longer."
Nif nodded grimly. "We'll hold."