Water
Hannah
My small victory of surviving the cliff was short-lived when I saw him standing at the top. I had thought I had more time. Hoping the cliff would at least slow him down a bit, I ran again.
Dread pooled in the pit of my stomach, threatening to surge up my throat, but I pushed it down. This wasn’t the moment for panic or rash decisions. A small voice at the back of my mind told me to just give up and accept my fate, but I would never go down without a fight.
So I ignored my aching legs and burning lungs and sprinted through the forest once more. I didn’t even know where to go. All I knew was that I had to push on.
Thinking back to that monster, he looked huge. From the brief glance I had gotten, I could make out greenish skin and black hair, broad shoulders and maybe a beard. I wasn’t sure, and I certainly didn’t want to get close enough to find out.
After running for what felt like hours, the forest opened up once more, revealing a river running through it.
I came to a halt, observing the stream. It seemed calm enough.
I could swim, but it would take time, and I would be drenched afterwards.
Unsure of what to do, I scanned the river, looking left and right for any signs that the water might be shallower where I stood.
I strained my eyes, searching for movement or signs of life.
I had no idea what kind of creatures might inhabit these waters—or anywhere else on this planet.
On the surface, it looked like any forest back on Earth, but it was still an entirely alien environment.
Earth had never sent huge green men chasing me through the woods, so the thought that there might be even larger wildlife here made me shiver.
I definitely did not want to deal with that right now.
Deciding to take the risk, I waded in. I couldn’t make out any strong currents, but it got deep quickly.
Sucking in a deep breath, I threw myself into the river, shivering at how cold it was.
I was going to regret this, I was sure of that.
The thin cotton shift they had dressed me in before throwing me onto the spacecraft was soaked immediately, clinging uncomfortably to my body.
Swimming with all my might, I made it across. Pulling myself out of the water on the other side, I heard a strangled noise from behind me.
Turning around, the hair on the back of my neck stood up as I saw the same monster from the cliff now standing on the opposite bank, staring at me. My heart pounded in my chest. With his size, he would swim across in no time, giving me little to no head start.
I stood there frozen, just staring at him.
But he didn’t move.
He looked almost uncertain, glancing at the water and then back at me again. Then he lifted his arm, pointing towards me, then back at himself, and then at me again.
I think he wants me to come over, I thought.
I shook my head, waiting for his reaction. I saw him clench his fists and then, with more fury, point towards me again.
I shook my head once more, this time with more force.
I heard him growl, and then he yelled, ‘Human! Obey me! Come to me!’ His booming voice sent shivers down my spine.
I was terrified, but I also noticed that he still hadn’t moved from his spot across the river. Why would he call out to me when he was clearly able to cross quickly enough to catch me? Didn’t he want his clothes to get wet? Or…
A thought crossed my mind.
‘He can’t swim…’ I mumbled as it suddenly became all too clear why he hadn’t made a move yet.
A triumphant giggle bubbled up my throat.‘You can’t swim!’ I yelled back at him.
Seemingly taken aback, his fists loosened enough for me to notice even from this distance.
‘Human, you will do as I say!’ he growled once more.
‘If you want me, catch me!’ I yelled back arrogantly, riding the high of escaping him yet again.
The river was wide, stretching on seemingly forever. It would take him a while to make his way across, or maybe he would give up altogether.
I grinned at him. He bared his teeth in response, then turned and ran into the forest, disappearing behind bushes and trees.
Drokahr
What have I gotten myself into, I thought as that little vixen ran off again.
Yes, I couldn’t do whatever those movements were that had carried her across the water. We bathed in streams, but they were shallow. Our bodies weren’t meant for water. We were warriors. We stayed on land.
I had caught up to her at the river while she was in the middle of splashing around. I had thought she was drowning, and there had been nothing I could have done to help her. I would have returned to camp with a dead pet I hadn’t even possessed for a single day. The shame. The mockery from my peers.
So when she emerged on the other side unharmed, as annoyed as I was at her, I was relieved. There was still a chance to catch her.
And of course, she ran off again.
I will tie her up, I grumbled to myself. I will bind her to my bed, and she will not be allowed to leave my tent ever again once I catch her.
Pushing aside the thought that she was meant to be by my side outside as well, I found that I rather liked the idea of her being tied up on my bed. She was built… quite enjoyably. There was clear strength in her body.
I had never enjoyed the company of Orc females. It was forbidden for warriors. But I knew from other warriors who had been granted pets that they sometimes enjoyed their company in bed.
Though I hadn’t chosen her for that purpose, now that I had seen her, the thought crossed my mind that this, too, might be an enjoyable way to use my pet.
I will decide that once I catch her, I thought.