Chapter 16
Haley
It’s still dark when we set out the next day for Draggar’s village, but he insists it will be the safest time for us to travel. He mentioned something last night about an enemy tribe called the Tussoll, but I’m not really sure who they are or what the big deal is about them.
But if Draggar wants to avoid them, then I do, too.
I was a little scared at first of the big teal alien, but that fear quickly abated over the days that I cared for him. Seeing the well over six-feet-tall man unconscious and vulnerable helped with that. Besides, I reasoned that if he was going to hurt me, he would have already. Instead, he’s been nothing but gentle and kind, even vowing to protect me with his life.
I just wish he could understand me. It’s beyond frustrating to have one-sided conversations, and I feel like I’m talking to myself. If only I could communicate with him, I think I could talk him into helping me and my friends. He seems like a good man – er, male – who’d be willing to help out a few humans down on their luck.
Then, there’s the attraction I feel for him. I don’t know what is wrong with me, but I have never felt lust like this. I don’t know if it’s something in the water or the air on this planet, but I have the urge to drag my hands down his chest until I reach that loincloth – I have never loved and hated a piece of clothing more in my life – and unwrap him like a Christmas present. Everything about him turns me into a puddle of desire. My cheeks flush as I think back to earlier this morning.
When I woke up this morning, we were pressed so close together, I was practically on top of him. Again. His muscles were stiff with tension, along with something else that felt a lot bigger than what men back on Earth usually pack. Seriously, a lot bigger and with some extra features if I’m not mistaken.
I softly groan in remembrance and fan my heated face with my hand. Draggar looks over at me, a concerned expression on his broad, angular face and I flutter my fingers in a wave to him before my thoughts return to this morning.
His full lips, that I have been entirely too fascinated with, were so close.
All it would have taken was the slight tilt of my head, the barest amount, for our lips to meet. I have never wanted to kiss someone so much before. The hunger racing through my body grew until I was almost desperate to sate it and I was so near to losing control and pulling him to me.
As we stared at each other, frozen in place, the golden flecks in his silver irises had somehow shifted and grown until his eyes had become liquid gold, searing me with their heat as they sparked. The moment had stretched out until it felt like the tension between us was stretched taut like a rubber band.
Then, ever so slowly as if he feared breaking the spell between us, his hand had moved down my back, soothing and inflaming all at the same time. I had held my breath in the hope that his hands would travel a little further south, but they didn’t.
His hands had simply moved under my pajama shirt and then back and forth over the muscles of my back, kneading and smoothing over my skin as if trying to offer me comfort. I had reacted by sinking deeper against his big body and letting out a sigh of pleasure. I didn’t realize how sore my muscles still were from the crash. His palms left a trail of heat that felt sublime, and I felt more relaxed than I had in a long time. A gentle smile had graced his face the entire time, the lone dimple beside his mouth making it appear endearingly crooked.
Now, hours later, I can still feel the tenderness of his strong, calloused hands against my skin and the warmth and peace I felt in his embrace. This large, brawny alien is surprisingly gentle, and I look at him with a new appreciation. He’s not exactly the primitive musclehead that I thought when I first saw him.
As we make our way through the jungle in the early morning, sunlight shines down through the dense canopy of leaves overhead, dappling our surroundings in a golden glow. Draggar walks next to me, but a slight step ahead so that he can sweep aside any limbs or vines that are in my way. His steps are sure and confident, and if I hadn’t seen his illness with my own eyes, I would never guess he’s been sick. Although, I have a feeling he’s not moving as quickly as what is normal for him.
The deep wound in his side has completely scabbed over now and there is just a dark blue mark on his skin to indicate where it was. Still, he stops frequently so we can rest, and I think he is probably doing so as much for himself as for me.
As for me, contrary to my recent adventures, I’m not used to hiking anywhere, jungle or not, and I’m grateful for as many breaks as I can get. Earlier, he said that we would find a place around midday to take a longer break, and it cannot come soon enough for me.
I nearly refused to travel with him to his village, but the hopeful anticipation on his face had me changing my mind. Besides, what was I going to do. . . .travel back through the jungle on my own trying to find my friends? Yeah, that’s a prospect I’d rather avoid if possible.
Besides, there are advantages to having a travel companion, and he did promise to take me wherever I want after we go on this mystery errand to his village. It may be foolish of me to trust someone I just met, but I believe him.
Now that I have Draggar’s company, I actually feel safe in the jungle. I even feel comfortable enough to look around and enjoy my surroundings. As dangerous as this planet seems to be, it is breathtakingly beautiful.
Birds chirp and sing all around us and squirrel-like animals with silver fur and long, bushy tails chatter and bound from tree to tree above us making me smile. Lush vines trail down from the treetops, some of them covered in orange orchid-like blooms with petals so thin and delicate I can almost see through them. I spot more of the big blue trumpet-shaped flowers, these even taller than the one I saw at the crash site. It seems things grow big on this planet. The leaves on the largest trees are massive, bigger than an elephant’s ear and they cast a large shadow over everything.
There are other vines that snake through the undergrowth, some with bright purple berries hanging in clumps. During one of our breaks, Draggar gives me a large handful nestled on a waxy leaf pulled from the vine. The berries are plump with juice and burst in my mouth with a sweet flavor that flows over my taste buds. They taste almost like a combination of ripe cherries and vanilla. That’s when I realize they’re the same kind of berry that was in the jerky mixture we finished this morning. God, they’re so good I could eat a whole bushel of them.
Draggar has told me that we should be as quite as possible while we’re still in the other tribe’s territory, but through hand motions and a few whispered questions when we’ve stopped for a bit, I learned the berries are called bilband the really tall trees that stretch high in the sky are cupressi.
I’ve tried to copy the way he silently moves through the jungle, carefully placing his feet to cause the least amount of disturbance, but I probably still sound like a herd of buffalo tromping about compared to him.
Earlier, we refilled the waterskin from a stream that had crystal clear water flowing over a rocky bottom. The water is fresh and cool and quenches my thirst as I take a sip from it during our trek through the steamy jungle.
Based on how long we’ve been walking, I think it is still early in the morning, but the heat of the day has already set in and I’m starting to get a little too warm in my flannel pajamas. They may have been perfect for winter on Earth, but not for the heat of this planet.
I rolled the legs and sleeves of my pajamas up as far as I could get them earlier in the day. Now, I’m tempted to cut some of the material away, but I decide not to. The nights here are cool enough to make me appreciate the coverage my pajamas provide. But for the umpteenth time, I wish I had a change of clothes and a bath. Even a cold bath would feel heavenly right now.
Or shoes. Shoes would be nice.
I glance down at my feet still encased in the red and green fluffy socks I was wearing when I was abducted. While they’re cozy and thick, they’re not exactly the best footwear for hiking.
So far, they’ve managed to offer some protection to my feet as the ground is mostly covered with a thick springy undergrowth and dead leaves from the surrounding plants, but they won’t hold out much longer. I can already feel blisters forming and the ankle I think I sprained has started to swell again, and I know by the end of the day, I’ll probably be hobbling around.
Sweat trickles down my back and moisture pools under my boobs as we continue to walk, and I know my face is probably beet red from the heat. I pull the thick flannel of my top away from my body, hoping to let a little air in to circulate, but it doesn’t seem to do much good. I eye Draggar’s loincloth with renewed appreciation and wonder if I could get away with wearing one. It looks a lot cooler than my own clothes.
In front of me, Draggar comes to a sudden halt and holds his arm out, forcing me to a stop. He is still with not a single muscle even twitching, and his eyes, which are back to silver, are trained on something straight ahead of us. The only part of him that moves is his ears which swivel and twitch in response to the sounds around us.
It’s obvious his senses are leagues better than mine, and I’ve learned to watch his ears and nose for clues about what is going on.
There have been a couple of times since we’ve been traveling through the jungle when he’s come to a complete stop, his senses trained on something I couldn’t detect, and then after a few quiet moments, he’s led us into the underbrush to wait, undetected.
One time a dinosaur passed right by us and another time, it was a hairy being that made Draggar silently bare his teeth and place his hand on the hilt of his sword. Once the creature had passed, he whispered that it was an enemy of his species and that it and the other tribe were responsible for his injury.
I’ve tried to listen closely for whatever it is he hears, but I never notice anything other than what sounds like normal jungle noises.
Tension settles over me, and I strain my eyes trying to see what it is that has caught his attention this time, and that’s when I notice it. Up ahead, an animal lazily ambles onto the path in front of us. It’s about the size of a black bear, but it’s definitely not a bear.
The creature is nearly a hundred feet ahead of us with its head bent over and it looks as if it’s rooting through the soil. It’s covered in thick scaley blue skin, and a line of stiff black hairs juts up straight down the creature’s back, almost like a mohawk. Its body is thick and roped with muscles, and its large belly hangs below it almost touching the ground. Two sharp tusks stick out of its mouth and a long, wide snout ends in a nose that is flat and unmistakably pig-like. Small black horns curl from the top of its head and the animal grunts as it uses a short hooved foot to scratch at the ground.
Holy cow, it”s the alien version of a pig.
While I’ve been distracted studying the not-a-pig, Draggar has moved his hand to one of the daggers at his waist and stealthily crept closer to the animal. His hand moves in a blur as it releases the knife to fly in an arc towards the animal. Before I can blink, the knife hits its target, embedding itself deeply into the neck of the creature and it falls over dead before it can even react.
My mouth drops open in amazement at how quickly everything happened.
Draggar quickly moves over to the alien pig and removes his knife from its neck. He bends over and swiftly begins to skin the animal with precise, expert cuts of his blade. I inch closer to watch over his shoulder as he slices through the thick hide of the animal with the sharp knife in his hand.
I’ve never been one to shy away from where food comes from, but I feel myself growing squeamish as I watch his hands swiftly skin the animal and flay the meat off its bones. I try to force the roiling of my stomach down and concentrate on the thought of enjoying fresh meat for a meal.
It seems like it’s been forever since I had an actual, proper meal. Don’t get me wrong, the jerky was delicious, but I’d sell my right arm for some real food. I can feel my mouth practically watering at the thought and any squeamishness I felt is soon quashed.
His voice is quiet as he turns to me and points at a nearby bush with large, round leaves the size of serving platters. “Haley, could you get me four beng leaves?”
I pull off several of the big, waxy feeling leaves and watch in amazement as Draggar uses them to wrap around the meat, almost like a rustic version of saran wrap. He packs the wrapped meat away in the satchel he carries on his shoulders. Then, he takes the hide he cut from the animal, rolls it up, and places it in the satchel, too.
All of this was accomplished in a skillfully efficient manner in what seemed like mere minutes. It’s clear he’s done this very same action many times before, and I am again impressed. I don’t think I could ever kill or clean an animal, but if we stay on this planet, it might be a skill I’ll have to learn.
After we continue our journey, we walk for what feels like hours. I’m getting better at telling what time of the day it is based on the position of the sun. I think it’s probably close to midday, but I’m not sure. And it’s not like I have a watch or a phone with me to check.
Draggar comes to a stop again, his brow creased in concentration, and I wonder if there’s another not-pig around. Or maybe a not-cow. I could really go for a burger.
He tilts his head back and his nostrils flare open as he takes a deep breath and fills his lungs with air. I wait while he sniffs the air, my shoulders held stiff with apprehension and my eyes glued to the big alien. Finally, after a few seconds, he turns to me. His wide mouth stretches into a smile and his eyes twinkle with delight, and I feel myself instantly relax. He tilts his head to the side in a gesture that I’ve come to learn means he wants me to follow him.
For the most part, we’ve been traveling along a narrow track through the jungle, but now, he veers into the dense undergrowth that lines either side of it. Draggar walks directly in front of me, now, with his arm stretched out to catch any limbs so they don’t whip back and hit me. My calves burn and my breath comes faster as the terrain begins to slope upwards.
We stop around midday for a long break, perching on a large boulder while we share more of the berries, and then we move on. Just as dusk begins to near and the shadows seem to grow longer, we reach the top of a peak with a rocky outcropping. I can finally get a good look at the land, and I spin in a slow circle to take it all in. The land stretches out below us like a colorful masterpiece of blues, greens, purples, and pinks with splashes of other colors thrown in for a little variety.
Directly in front of me, stretching further than my eyes can see, is a vast, bright green plain with dark specks that I think are probably some sort of her animal moving about. There must be hundreds of them, maybe even thousands, down there, and I suspect that just like everything else on this planet, they”re big. To one side, in the distance, a dark mountain stretches high into the sky, and I shiver, hoping we’re not going to have to climb it. A dark cloud hangs heavy over the horizon, and I wonder if the storm is headed our way.
Draggar moves to stand next to me, his attention on the view below us. He nods to the large grassy area. ”The Vox Grassland.” Then, he points to the tall, black peaks. ”And the Monadh Mountains.”
After a moment to catch my breath, he leads me almost completely around the outcropping of rocks, and just when I start to wonder if he’s lost, a small opening appears in the rock face.
The entrance is just wide enough for him to enter if he turns sideways and bends over. He silently gestures for me to stay where I am, and with his sword drawn in front of him, he enters the dark cave to check it out. I assume he’s making sure there aren’t any predators in there.
It must be empty, because moments later he exits with a crooked smile and waves me forward. “It’s safe, Haley. We will rest here for the night.”
Instead of the cool, dark interior I was expecting from the cave, it’s cozy with luminescent moss covering the walls bathing everything in a blue and green glow. The air is humid with a faint odor reminiscent of rotten eggs, and I wrinkle my nose.
Draggar has already unrolled the fur pallet against one wall, and I sink down onto it with a sigh. It feels like we’ve covered at least twenty miles today, and I am already so tired. I don’t know how I’ll manage to keep up tomorrow. My muscles are sore and my feet ache.
I sit cross-legged and I notice a large, angry blister on the bottom of my big toe. The wear and tear of hiking through the jungle has taken its toll on my fuzzy socks. Holes and threadbare patches have developed on the bottom of my socks leaving skin exposed in many places.
I moan as I rub my hurting feet. Maybe I can stuff the bottom of my socks with leaves or something to offer a little cushioning and protection. A shadow falls over me, and I look up to see Draggar standing in front of me.
A yelp escapes my mouth as he sweeps me up in his muscular arms and pulls me tightly against his wide chest. I can feel the rumble of his voice as he speaks, “I wish to show you something.”
He’s so big compared to me. I feel almost dainty held in his arms, which is not something I’m accustomed to. I’ve definitely never been a dainty woman. Curvy would probably be the most generous description of my body type. I’ve been on so many diets over the years, but I never seemed to be able to keep the weight off.
But Draggar towers over me, and his big size is comforting. I know I should be afraid of him, but I’m not. That aura of safety that clings to him envelopes me. I don’t know how or why, but I trust him completely when he says that he will protect me.
I release a sigh and that wonderful spicy scent that clings to him like a second skin drifts over me. I burrow my head against his shoulder and inhale deeply. He smells so good that I have the urge to lick him, and I wonder how he’d react if I did. I squeeze my thighs together as that thought sends a shiver down me that settles in my core. A muscle in his square jaw jumps as if he’s clenching his teeth.
Draggar quietly carries me to the back wall of the cave and that’s when I notice there’s a narrow gap there just big enough for us to pass through. We step through and the faint odor of rotten eggs grows stronger burning my nose. The temperature has risen and a sheen of perspiration breaks out on my skin.
I look around and realize it’s a small antechamber of the main cave. The glowing moss on the walls provides enough illumination that I can see a pool of water in the center of the room. It’s not very big, about the size of one of those blow-up hot tubs, but the water glows a brilliant blue leaving the smooth rocky bottom illuminated. It must be more of the moss or something similar making it glow.
Draggar eases me down onto my feet and nods to the water. “It is a hot spring. I thought the water might ease your aches.”
I laugh with elation as a big grin crosses my face. I’m going to get to take a bath. I feel like a dancing at the prospect of getting to submerge myself in water. It’s such a simple thing, but I have missed my bathtub so much.
“How. . . How did you know this was here?”
He tilts his head and studies me for a moment, before shaking his head in bewilderment. Right, for a moment I forgot he can’t understand me. Damn, I really wish he could.
I take a step towards the pool of water, but something makes me turn and look over my shoulder at the big alien behind me. He must sense my hesitancy.
“There is only one entrance.” Draggar points to the gap in the wall behind us. “No creatures or males can get to you. You will be protected. I will make sure of that.” He places his fist against his chest.
Draggar takes something out of a small pocket attached to his loincloth. He hands me one of the dried leaves that I remember seeing in his satchel and I wonder what I’m supposed to do with it. At my confused look, he explains, “You can use this as a cleanser.”
Before I can respond, Draggar flashes me another smile that makes the elusive dimple appear on one side of his mouth and my gut clenches in response. Then, with a murmured entreaty to call for him should I need help, he turns around and disappears back through the gap leaving me alone in the glowing chamber.
I take another step forward before quickly discarding my clothes at the edge. I almost leave them on, but the thought of wearing wet flannel makes me change my mind. Carefully easing in, I hiss as the hot water touches my skin. The temperature of the water is warmer than I prefer, but I don’t care because it feels amazing.
The water just barely reaches my waist, so I sink down to the bottom of the pool and dunk my head until even my hair is wet. Rising up, I dampen the dried leaf and tentatively rub it between my hands. It doesn’t produce bubbles like soap would but a viscous fluid that has a pleasant cinnamon-like fragrance.
I quickly scrub my skin with the leaf and run it through my hair, trying to get as clean as I can. Then, I sit down on the smooth bottom and lean my head against the side of the pool and sigh at the luxurious feeling of the warmth seeping through my body. It doesn’t take long for my stiff, sore muscles to loosen and relax. Even my throbbing feet stop hurting.
When my fingers start to prune, I figure I’ve stayed in long enough. I quickly scrub my socks and underwear in the warm water in an attempt to get them as clean as possible. Hopefully, they’ll dry before we leave.
I step out and don my pajamas with a wrinkle of my nose. For the first time in ages, I feel clean and refreshed. It seems a shame to put back on the dirty clothes that I’ve been wearing for far too long now.
But it’s not like I can go out and buy new clothes, so dirty clothes it is.
I gather up my wet underwear and socks and make my way back to the main chamber of the cave and spread out my soaking clothes on a nearby rock. I sink down on the soft pallet and watch as Draggar tends to a small fire he’s built in the center of the cave. A hole in the top of the cave lets the smoke out, while allowing a beam of daylight to filter through.
I really should get up and help, instead of letting him wait on me, but I cannot seem to make myself move from my spot. My tired muscles are relaxed from the bath.
Draggar in his satchel for a moment before he rises in one fluid, elegant motion, and I’m mesmerized by the ripple of his muscles as he crosses to me with bandages and the tin of green goo in his hands. He sinks down before me.
He murmurs, “Hold still.” His touch is gentle yet firm as he reaches for my feet, and I draw in a shaky breath.
As soon as his hands touch my skin, I’m done for, tingles shoot through me and head straight to my clit. I don’t know what it is about this big warrior, but he makes me seriously horny. And even worse, I think he might know it. The gold flecks have multiplied and nearly overtaken the silver of his eyes as he scoops up a big glob of the green goo.
Soaking in the hot spring helped a lot, but I still wince when he touches a particularly tender spot. He stops, and concern flashes in his eyes. His brow furrows. “Pain?”
“Just a little, but please don’t stop.” I admit, while shrugging and motioning for him to carry on, hoping he understands. He must get the gist because he returns his attention to my feet, carefully rubbing the goo over my feet with a deft touch. The cooling sensation is immediate, soothing my aches. Then, he quietly wraps the bandages around my feet before gently smoothing his hands over them as if he’s reluctant to stop touching me.
“You are well?” Draggar asks, his gaze meeting mine. The expression on his face is laced with a tender protectiveness that makes my heart flutter.
“Yeah. Thank you,” I reply with a smile, hoping that he can understand the gratitude in my tone even if he doesn’t catch the words.
He nods and then he’s gone, back to tend to the fire and finish setting up our temporary campsite. The sounds of him puttering around lull me and before I know it, I’m curled up on the fur with my head cushioned on my arm. My thoughts grow fuzzy, and I drift off.