Chapter Eight
Once Synge returned from the city, Ricka was sure it wouldn’t take him long to figure out where she was going. She should have stayed on the main road leading to the landing pad and taken her chances. A mistake she’d realized too late. As the day progressed, the wooded area had grown thicker, blocking out some of the sunlight and preventing her from seeing clearly. Now with the growing darkness, she was turned around and completely lost.
Coming from a planet with limited plant life hadn’t prepared her for traipsing through a jungle. Many of the trees had long vines circling their trunks and snaking along the ground. She was pretty sure some of the long rope things weren’t vines. Vines didn’t move by themselves, did they? The air had gotten chillier, and she wished for something to cover her partially bare arms.
After tripping for the fourth time in the last ten minutes, she muttered, “What was I thinking?” Her intentions had been good, but now that she was tromping around on a strange planet, she began to wonder if her decision to leave Synge’s home had been a mistake.
Snorting noises startled her from her thoughts. Ricka jerked her head to the left, following the direction of the sounds. Her foot caught on a root, and she plummeted forward, hitting the ground on her hands and knees. Pain shot across her injured palm and radiated along her wrist. “Damn.” She rolled into a sitting position so she could examine her hand. The material she’d used to cover the cut felt wet and was blotched with red.
She scrambled to her feet. The snorting turned into a loud shrill, and standing several feet away was a large creature resembling an Earth buffalo. Tufts matted its white fur, and beady black eyes ringed with dark crimson stared at her. Sharp teeth filled the thing’s wide, gaping mouth, and two large incisors rested along the outside of a pointed jaw.
Ricka froze, unable to stop staring at the strange creature. The thing could easily overtake her if she ran. Thoughts of being ravaged by those long teeth sprang through her mind. She was going to die if she didn’t think of something, and quick. Glimpsing the tall tree standing a few feet beside her, she noted the thick orange vines entangled around its trunk. If she made it to the tree before the beast pounced, she might be able to get up high enough to avoid its reach—provided the vines held out, and the darned thing couldn’t climb.
She’d get only one chance at this, so she needed to make her movements count. Surveying the area near her feet, she checked to make sure there wasn’t anything to trip over. The beast snorted. It pawed the ground with its front hoof and lowered its head as if it planned to charge. Ricka screamed and lunged for the tree, her fingers curling around the vine. It moved a little but held her weight. She hoisted herself off the ground seconds before the creature’s head slammed into the base of the smooth trunk.
The thing snarled, its jaw snapping shut inches from her feet. Her heart raced as she reached higher to grab another vine. This one was coated with moisture, and her hand slipped. Ricka reached for a branch and lost her grip. She slid along the tree, the front of her chest and the undersides of her arms badly scraped before she landed in the dirt.
Groaning, she flipped around and landed on her already bruised rear. The creature had backed away, but before it could rush her again, something sailed through the shadows and landed in front of her. Mogran raised his head and roared so loud, it hurt her ears. The thing squealed, spun around, and ran. The cat didn’t hesitate to give chase. He sprang through the air and landed on the creature’s back.
Mogran sank his teeth into the beast’s neck, forcing it to its knees. The creature bucked and thrashed, trying to dislodge the cat. Its pained wail sounded like a high-pitched whistle. The cat clawed at the thing’s back and clamped his teeth tighter. The air filled with the sound of cracking bone as Mogran snapped the creature’s neck .
Once the animal collapsed on the ground, Mogran released his hold and walked over to her. He ran his nose along the length of her body, then nuzzled her chest with his head. Tears of relief slid down her cheeks. She wrapped her arms around his thick neck and scratched the fur behind his long ears. “Thanks, big boy. You saved my life.” She released his head. “How did you get out of the room?”
His chest rumbled, and he sprawled on the ground next to her, then used his tongue to clean the blood from his giant paws. Synge burst through the trees a few seconds later, armed with his repeater, prepared for battle. He still wore his uniform, and it warmed her to know he hadn’t taken time to change before coming to find her.
His gaze landed on the beast’s body first, then turned to her. She’d never been so glad to see anyone in her life, even if his scowl told her he was madder than hell. She forced her trembling legs to move, using the tree to help her stand.
“Ricka,” Synge said as he holstered the repeater and pulled her into his arms, hugging her so tight, she could hardly breathe. “You could have been killed.”
The shock of nearly being torn to shreds was strong, and she refused to let him go. He was here. She was alive. Nothing else mattered. “Thanks to Mogran, I’m fine.”
He stepped back and ran his hands over her, inspecting her body. “You are not all right. You are injured. I found blood earlier, and I can smell it on you now. It is how the bimmaton found you.”
She’d known about his enhanced healing ability, but she didn’t know it extended to his sense of smell. “What did you call that thing?” Her parched throat made talking more difficult, and she squeaked out the words.
Synge tipped his head in the direction of the carcass. “It is a bimmaton... Very deadly.”
The concern in his voice stopped her from making a sarcastic comment about pointing out the obvious. He gently took her hand and turned it over to inspect her palm, noting the bloodied condition of her makeshift bandage. “We need to get this cleaned up.” He bent forward and scooped her into his arms.
Surprised, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “I can walk. You don’t need to carry me.”
He ignored her by tightening his grip. “Mogran, come.”
Thankful to be alive and too tired to argue, she snuggled her head against his shoulder.
***
The tightness in Synge’s chest made it hard to breathe. He’d come too close to losing Ricka. He fought to gain control of his emotions. They were an unpleasant mixture of fear, anger, and relief. He didn’t stop moving or set her down until they’d reached the small clearing where he’d parked his transport. Mogran bounded ahead of them, never straying far from view.
He thought about the bimmaton. It was one of the creatures the perimeter fencing prevented from entering his property. There had to be a breach somewhere. Though the instances were rare, it wasn’t the first time one of the creatures had managed to get inside. Synge planned to spend the following day searching for it, but right now, his main concern was the beautiful female he cradled in his arms.
Once they reached the vehicle, Mogran dropped to the ground and crouched on his belly. His ears remained perked and alert.
Synge pressed his hand against the sensor near the cargo entrance and released the lock. As soon as the door opened, the interior lights turned on. Stepping inside, he gently set her on the storage bench running along the interior's right wall. “Please stay here while I retrieve a med kit.”
She smiled and nodded. “Okay.”
He stepped outside and walked around to the side door. Reaching inside, he pressed a button on the virtucom unit.
“Synge?” Teah’s image appeared on the screen, her voice laced with trepidation and concern. “Is Ricka—”
“I found her, and she is unharmed.”
“Thank goodness,” Teah said, pressing a hand to her chest.
He rubbed the tight muscles in his neck and avoided telling his aunt about the bimmaton. “It is late and too dark to return home. I will make camp here and drive back in the morning.” Not returning to the dwelling was an excuse. He’d covered every portion of his property many times since his youth and could find his way home even without a transport.
His reason for remaining in the seclusion of the jungle was simple. Synge wanted to spend more time alone with Ricka without any interference from his family. At some point, he needed to tell her about her friend. They also needed to discuss the ramifications of the rite he’d invoked.
“Please take care,” Teah said.
“I will.” He tapped another button, and the line disconnected. After grabbing the kit from behind his seat, he returned to the rear of the vehicle. He was relieved to see Ricka hadn’t moved. Not that he thought she would after her near-miss with the bimmaton or without Mogran intervening.
Ricka anxiously watched the shadowed tree line. “Are you sure we’re not in any danger out here?”
“Mogran will stay alert and let me know if anything poses a threat.” Synge set the kit on the bench beside her, then opened an overhead storage compartment and pulled out one of his spare shirts, dried food pouches, and several rectangular containers he kept filled with water for emergencies. He twisted off the lid and handed her the bottle. “Drink. You must be dehydrated.”
“Thank you.” She took a long swallow, draining most of the liquid.
“Are you hungry?”
“Starving, actually,” Ricka said. “I haven’t eaten since we arrived.
If he’d been alone, he would have dragged the bimmaton’s carcass out of the jungle, stripped away the fur, and roasted the meat over an open flame. The food pouches would have to suffice because he refused to leave Ricka’s side. “I am afraid this is all I have. They are not much better than what we had on the ship, but it will provide good nourishment.” He ripped open the packet and held it out to her.
She stared at the tiny brown contents and grimaced with disgust. “Please tell me these aren’t dried worms.”
He laughed and knelt in front of her, opening the box containing medical supplies. “Processed fruits and meats. No worms. I promise.”
After pinching a small portion between her thumb and forefinger, she dropped it on her tongue. “I guess it’s not so bad.” She tossed another bite into her mouth and chewed.
Studying the scrapes on her face and arms, he felt partially to blame for the wounds she’d suffered. “May I see to your injuries?” He held up his hand to stop her from arguing. “I know you are capable of doing it yourself, but I would like to care for you. If you will let me.”
“I would appreciate your help.” Ricka’s smile caused a wave of heat to surge through his body.
He slowly untied the knot on the fabric she’d used to bandage her palm. “It does not appear to be too deep.” Carefully, he swiped the area around her wound with an antiseptic wipe. She winced when he touched the skin closest to the cut. He rubbed his thumb across the underside of her wrist, trying to distract her.
After retrieving a thin silver tube, he popped off the lid and squeezed the purple gel onto his fingertip.
“Is that a sealant?” she asked.
“Yes. It is native to Tarron and has quick healing properties that will prevent contamination.” He rubbed it across the wound and around the middle of her palm. Once he finished, he fastened a healing cloth around her hand.
Ricka flexed her fingers. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
When Synge had examined her earlier, he’d noticed tears in her shirt, some of them stained with blood. “I would like to tend all your wounds to prevent infection. Will you allow me to examine under your shirt?” The thought of exposing more of her beautiful body made him hard. He shifted the kit in his lap to keep her from noticing. Seeing to her needs and gaining her trust far outweighed his own desires.
***
“I’m sorry about your shirt,” Ricka groaned after glancing down at the fabric’s sad condition. Besides the strip she’d torn off the bottom, sliding along the tree when she’d been attacked by the bimmaton had torn it in several places.
“It is replaceable, but you are not,” Synge said, his gaze a mixture of concern and desire.
Ricka’s breath hitched, and she shivered, the reaction causing a flutter in her stomach.
“I will have to observe what I am doing,” he grinned, then gave the shirt a little tug.
She realized he was teasing her about the last time she lifted her shirt in front of him. Heat rushed along her cheeks when she remembered he hadn’t stopped staring at her then either. “Okay.” She reached for the hem of the overgrown top and pulled it over her head. Her chest had several scrapes and cuts. The worst ones were located on her abdomen, which explained the dull ache.
After extracting another antiseptic wipe, he tenderly swiped each of the scrapes, beginning with the lower ones and working his way up the bottom edge of her bra. She bit back a whimper when his warm hand brushed against her skin.
Once he finished, Synge handed her the clean shirt, then placed her discarded one along with the wipes and bloodied strip of fabric in a container and sealed it. She pulled the shirt over her head, then said, “I don’t suppose you have a bathroom hidden somewhere back here.” Her bladder was close to overflowing since she’d been too afraid to relieve herself after getting lost.
“No, I am afraid you will have to use natural facilities.” He tipped his head toward the tree line.
Ricka frowned. “Seriously, you want me to go back out there? What if another creature is lurking around?”
“Mogran will go with you and make sure nothing bothers you.” He raised an inquiring brow. “Unless you would like me to assist.”
Flashing her partially covered chest at him was one thing, but having him stand there while she relieved herself would be downright embarrassing. “Taking the big guy will be fine.”
“Good, then I will finish preparing our camp.” He lifted Ricka off the bench, then set her on the ground.
She’d overheard his brief conversation with Teah and knew he planned to spend the night.
“Do not wander far.”
He could’ve saved his breath. After what Ricka had been through today, there was no way she was letting him out of her sight. She leaned forward and scratched Mogran’s head. “Come on, boy.”
The cat lazily stretched his back and strolled toward the trees. Ricka nervously followed him, stopping when she heard strange noises. The cat seemed unconcerned, and she cast him a stern look. “Just so you know, I’m trusting you to keep anything from attacking me.” He acknowledged her comment by brushing against her leg before finding a spot to drop to his belly. Mogran might be unconcerned about the situation, but it wasn’t enough to keep Ricka from dashing behind the nearest tree and quickly taking care of business .
By the time she returned to the transport, Synge had removed a small metallic box and was tapping the colored buttons running along its top.
“What’s that?” Ricka asked.
“It is a motion detector.”
“But you said Mogran will alert us if anything gets too close.”
“He will,” Synge said, placing his hands on her arms. “I thought an additional precaution might ease your concerns.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.” Ricka got the impression there was something more he wasn’t saying but decided not to press the issue. She glanced around and frowned when she didn’t see any additional equipment. “Where’s the rest of your things? My father took me camping when I was a child, and he always had bags and a tent.” Guard cat and detectors or not, there was no way Ricka was spending the night on the ground without any kind of protection.
“Are you referring to a place to sleep?” Synge reached into the cargo area and ran his hand over another sensor. The floor panel separated in the middle rolling to the sides and exposing a large padded surface. “We will sleep here where I can keep you safe. It is a little stiff but comfortable.”
“After spending an afternoon avoiding bugs and crawly things, this is perfect,” Ricka said.
“I am glad you approve,” Synge said as he unfastened his holster and set it on the ledge beside the bed. He took a seat on the edge, then patted the space next to him. “Before we retire, I believe there are some things we need to discuss.”