Chapter 24
The syto frowned down at his comm band and glared at the brightly lit horizon ahead of us.
“We’ve come as far as the coordinates will help us,” he admitted, his crown of tentacles looking a little limp after several days in the beating sun.
My own skin felt hot and tight, unused to being exposed like this after my long captivity.
I relished the slight discomfort, soaking in the heat and the breeze on my face.
Naomi’s planet was not like Oska, but I loved it just the same. It had a wildness, past the human homes that appealed to me and I hoped wherever the turoch band had camped, it was in this harsh landscape.
“What’s that mean for us?” Naomi asked, hiking her pack higher on her shoulders. With her new crutches, she’d been able to carry some supplies and even now she was happily swaying in place as she waited for Gigi to reply.
“We keep walking and hope we don’t pass by them.”
Naomi grimaced and tugged her strange hat lower over her brow. She’d found it in one of the abandoned vehicles and the curved brim shielded her face from the sun, but left the back of her neck exposed. The skin there was turning an angry shade closer to my own complexion.
“Okay, but we’re almost out of water, so we better find something soon.”
I flexed my shoulders and did my best to shove down my rising unease. Protecting Naomi against attackers was easy enough for me, protecting her from the elements was beyond my abilities and I feared I would not be enough to keep my female safe.
***
WE WERE WANDERING AIMLESSLY on a foreign planet. The sun scorched the dirt beneath my hooves and blinded me, the only sign of life was the labored breathing of the syto lagging behind me.
It had been two days since we lost direction.
A few hours ago Naomi had turned pale and stopped walking. She’d stared up at me blankly when I asked if she was alright and I’d hauled her up into my arms when she’d swayed on her feet. She’d managed a few mumbled words since then, but my worry over her health was suffocating me.
This tiny female was the most precious creature I'd ever met, and cradling her limp body to my chest only drove home my helplessness.
Gigi had taken up her crutches and her pack, as well as relieving me of some of my own supplies to lighten my load while I carried Naomi. The packs were too heavy for him alone and he was nearly as pale as Naomi but I couldn’t find the energy to worry about him, too.
“Carn,” he gasped out, lurching to a stop as he shuddered and swallowed. “Wait, we need rest.”
“We need shelter and water,” I growled.
He shook his head, his once plump, active tentacles hanging like dead weights around his flushed and peeling face.
“You’re starting to weave, if you fall, we all die out here.”
I didn’t feel weak, I didn’t feel much at all. The weight of my female in my arms held my full attention.
“Carn, please.” Gigi was leaning, falling, crashing to his knees in the scalding dirt and still I hesitated.
Moving in a daze, I lowered myself to the ground, and lifted a hand to shade Naomi’s face.
“We should have stayed in the human building,” I said, wishing we could take the last three days back and return to the moment Naomi was grinning up at me, healthy and happy to be home.
The syto had fallen to his side, his ribs heaving as he panted, his ruined uniform tied around his waist, his formerly white undergarment stained with dirt and sweat. He’d lost the uniform he’d used to shield his face and I couldn’t remember when that had happened.
“We didn’t know. Besides, any scouts will focus on the towns and cities. We had a better chance of being hidden away from the populated areas.”
“Is this better?” I rasped, pressing my face to Naomi’s chest and clutching her like I could force some of my strength into her. “At least sytos I could fight. I can’t fight the sun or thirst.”
“It’s not your fault,” Gigi croaked. If I had any energy left, I would have appreciated the sentiment. Maybe Naomi was right about our former captive, he hadn't once betrayed us and without his help, I would have lost most of the supplies by now.
Not that food helped us now.
My eyes closed against my will, my thoughts fading away into a hot, dark fog.
***
A SHADOW BLOCKED OUT the glare of the sun and I clutched Naomi tighter. My skin felt hot and puffy and my lips were cracked from thirst.
“Is this who I think it is?” a booming male voice asked.
“With a female and a syto,” another answered. Something prodded my ribs but I couldn’t summon the strength to react.
“Adak isn’t due back for two more days-”
“We’re not bringing the Butcher into camp unless he gives the order directly.”
The world went quiet again but I couldn’t tell if I’d lost consciousness or if they’d stopped talking.
“I’m not leaving a female out here.”
“No one planned on leaving the female, Tovis,” someone barked.
Another long pause and I fought to stay awake, even as I felt my arms loosening against my will. Naomi’s sweaty face dragged down my chest and distantly I knew someone was taking her away but I couldn’t summon the strength to fight it.
I’d left my mate unprotected.
“We can’t leave them here to die, either,” a reluctant voice muttered. “The syto is barely alive.”
A frustrated huff was the only answer and suddenly the sun disappeared and soothing darkness shielded my burning eyes.
“I’ll take the female back to camp and send extra supplies and water. Adak is going to lose his mind when he gets back.”
“Maybe they’ll die before he does.” The speaker sounded far too eager for that option but I was already losing consciousness.