Chapter 4
The terrain changed as they journeyed onward. Over time, the trees thinned, and the thick underbrush gave way to open ground. The ground sloped upward, indicating they had reached the foothills they’d been aiming for since first light.
Vengeance accelerated yet again, forcing Havoc and Risk to play catch-up or be left behind.
They wouldn’t be able to hold that pace for long, not with the sun so close to setting.
Havoc didn’t need to check the time to know they were running out of daylight.
The sky was awash with color, and once that faded to darkness, they’d have to stop for the night.
They were too far from familiar territory to continue once night fell.
They had no idea what predators might have claimed this area as their hunting ground.
Besides, they’d need to rest for at least a few hours before the last leg of this trek.
That would be a hard slog up and over the hills that divided this part of the planet from whatever lay beyond.
None of them had come this far before now, and he wondered what his clan-brothers had discovered on the other side.
They might not have reached the crash site yet, but they should be over the divide by now.
The setting sun painted the world in shades of flame by the time they slowed and began looking for a place to camp.
The warm light was one of the things he appreciated about this place.
The moon where they’d been imprisoned had been stark, cold, and barren of life.
When they were allowed outside, their time was spent beneath protective domes, surrounded by a black sky and a gray, lifeless landscape.
This might be a prison full of dangerous creatures, but at least it was visually appealing.
After all he’d endured in his life, he knew the value of appreciating the little things.
Sometimes, small moments were all you got.
Risk pulled up short and gestured up the hill. “Tell me that’s what I think it is.”
It took only a second for Havoc to spot the reason for his brother’s reaction. In the dying light, he saw a gleam of metal. Then he saw a familiar shape, one with sharp lines and a smooth surface that had to be artificial.
“A ship!” Vengeance stated.
“It’s some kind of vessel,” Havoc agreed before voicing his concerns.
While it was possible that this was another escape vessel, it could also be an old wreck or something more dangerous…
like another mercenary vessel. “But how long has it been there? Bysshe said they only saw three escape pods on the scans, and this isn’t anywhere near where the big ship went down. ”
Vengeance snarled. “No more plans! You’re too fucking cautious.”
He growled at his brother and missed whatever Risk said next. He only heard the last few words. “…it’s a ship. That means possible supplies and salvage,” Risk said.
It was the same fight they’d had earlier. Havoc barked a frustrated laugh and shot a knowing look at Risk. “You’re hoping it can still fly. Aren’t you?”
Risk tugged on one of his horns and shrugged. “Maybe. We should still check it out.” Then he turned and pointed at Vengeance.
“But slowly. If females are around, charging in there will scare them. Especially if yours is the first face they see.”
Vengeance grumbled but didn’t continue the argument. Instead, he went with the joke. “You calling me ugly?”
Havoc joined in too. “Not ugly, my brother. Terrifying.”
Vengeance grinned. “That’s better.” Then he spun on his heel and sprinted toward the ship.
Risk called out, “What happened to slow?”
He knew the answer to that question. Vengeance happened. “You know what he’s like. If we don’t hurry, he’ll try to claim every female he finds.” Havoc left the rest unsaid. Their clan-brother would try to claim a female and likely terrify anyone at the downed ship in the process.
Risk pulled out a bolo from his pack as he raced after Vengeance. Havoc gripped his short spear in one hand and held a knife in the other. Vengeance had already drawn his largest blade and now ran with it extended in front of him.
Very subtle.
They were still some distance away when the evening breeze shifted and the tantalizing scent of food hit his nostrils. It was well-cooked, which made it less appealing, but his stomach rumbled anyway.
The aroma was too complex to be from a single meal, which meant several beings were in the area.
Mercenaries wouldn’t bother making a camp of any kind.
Havoc’s mind whirled as he considered the variables and came to a surprising conclusion.
This was most likely another group of survivors from the ship that crashed.
He sighed, though he wasn’t sure if it was out of relief or resignation. Whatever happened next would change everything.
All of this passed through his mind as the three of them spread out. Vengeance took the lead, of course, with Havoc covering Vengeance’s flank. Risk moved to cover their rear.
Havoc waited patiently while Risk got into position.
Unsurprisingly, Vengeance couldn’t wait that long and stormed into the camp before their brother was ready.
One day, Vengeance’s foolhardy levels of courage would get him killed.
If the females didn’t react well to his unexpected appearance, it might be today.
Vengeance was drawn up short by a blaster bolt slamming into the dirt by his feet.
“That’s far enough,” a female voice stated in a steady, firm tone.
Havoc smiled and chuckled softly. Maybe not all the females were as soft and gentle as Hope appeared to be.
Havoc let go of his blades and lifted his hands away from his body. When nothing was said, he moved closer to the center of the camp so he could get a better understanding of the situation.
The shuttle’s main passenger door was open, and two females filled the opening.
One had short hair the color of clouds and stood with most of her body tucked out of sight behind the bulkhead.
She was the one who had fired at Vengeance.
The other female lay on the deck at the gray-haired female’s feet.
She held a blaster in steady hands, the weapon pointed at Risk.
Her expression was of grim determination.
Strangely, the dark-haired female wore a silver band on her brow.
It seemed oddly formal to wear such a decoration given the current circumstances.
Did it have some kind of cultural significance?
He didn’t know, and for now, the puzzle was irrelevant. Something else was at play here.
The two females were guarding the shuttle’s door. It wasn’t the worst position they could have chosen, but it was not the best one either. Were they defending the shuttle or something else?
He sniffed the air while Vengeance drew the female’s attention. The big male stood his ground, his blade still in his hand, grinning as he bantered with the silver-haired female.
The fucking idiot was determined to end this day either mated or dead.
He might have continued to silently curse his clan-brother, but his attention was drawn to a new smell. Mingled with the campfire smoke, the food, and the distinct scents of the two visible females was the answer to his question.
The two in the doorway weren’t protecting the shuttle. They were guarding the third female hidden inside.
Three females. He drew in another breath to confirm it. No one else was around.
One for each of us. The thought intruded without warning, and he shoved it aside before it could take hold. Hope had warned them not to make assumptions. The females were free to make their own choices… and so was he.
He thought about the identical marks both Menace and Hope now wore and questioned his thinking. Something else was at play here. Biology maybe? And if that was so, how much of what his brothers had experienced was a deliberate choice, and how much was a random act of chemistry?