The Extinction Series | Book 8 | Primordial Earth 8

by Higgins, Baileigh

  “The pleasure is all mine,” he said, gazing deep into her eyes.

  Feeling uncomfortable, she pulled away. “This is Seth, my other half.”

  “Oh?” Daniel said, cocking his head. “You’re married?”

  “Er…” Rogue hesitated, flashing a look at Seth.

  He slipped one hand around her waist and said with mild composure. “Not married yet, but it won’t be long.”

  “Ah, I see,” Daniel said, recognizing the silent warning. He backed away ever so slightly.

  Feeling more at ease, Rogue was able to relax and take it all in. A lot was happening, and she needed a moment to absorb all the fresh information. Meeting new people was always a roll of the dice.

  “Right, are we all caught up?” Ronan asked once everyone got acquainted with each other.

  “I do believe we are,” Jessica said.

  “Excellent,” Ronan said, looking at Rogue and Seth. “I take it you are friends of Jessica’s?”

  “That’s right,” Rogue said. “We owe her a lot, and she’s part of the family now.”

  “I don’t blame you. I’ve known Jess for a couple of years, and she’s the best,” Ronan said, though he eyed Bear with caution while he spoke. “Where are you from, by the way? You don’t sound like Vancouverites.”

  “We’re not. We’re Primes, and we hail from Prime City,” Rogue said. “It’s to the South, and it used to be the old Portland, Oregon.”

  Ronan whistled. “You’ve traveled quite a distance.”

  “That we have,” Seth agreed.

  “Good. That means I don’t have to babysit you,” Ronan said. “The wilderness is dangerous and even more so with a bunch of rookies in tow.”

  “You’re coming with us?” Seth asked.

  “Didn’t Jessica tell you? She said you needed back-up,” Ronan said.

  “That’s right. We do,” Jessica said.

  “Well, rookies, we are not. I assure you,” Seth said.

  “Nope,” Rogue said, popping her lips on the p.

  “I can vouch for them, Ronan. I’m willing to bet my life on it,” Jessica said.

  “I’m glad to hear it because out there, your life is the only currency that matters, and I’d rather not lose mine,” Ronan said.

  “You can trust me,” Jessica said.

  “I know. It’s the reason I’m here, though I have a feeling this mission of yours isn’t what it seems,” Ronan said.

  “Have you heard something?” Jessica asked, her tone sharp.

  “Rumors, that’s all,” Ronan said with a shake of his head. “I’ll know more once we reach the northern gate.”

  “What happens then?”

  “Lila, the final member of our team, will meet us there. I sent her out to do reconnaissance before we leave.”

  “I see,” Jessica said, her expression thoughtful.

  “Is there something we should know?” Seth asked with a worried frown.

  “I honestly can’t say,” Ronan said. “We’ll have to wait until I’ve spoken to Lila.”

  “So, what do we do now?” Seth asked.

  “Now that we’ve all met each other, we can head to the gate. There we’ll go over the details and meet up with Lila,” Ronan said, looking at each of them in turn. “That is if you want to push forward.”

  “Meaning?” Seth asked.

  “If there are any problems or objections, it would be best to air them now,” Ronan said. “I’m here because Jessica asked me to help, but if I’m not wanted, I can go on my merry way. It’s your choice.”

  “I see,” Seth said. “Give us a moment to talk it over.”

  “Go right ahead,” Ronan said with a wave of his hand. “I’ll give you five minutes to discuss it.”

  Seth pulled Rogue, Bear, and Jessica aside. “Jessica, Ronan is your friend.”

  “That’s right,” Jessica said.

  “I have only one question for you: Do you trust him?” Seth asked.

  “I do.”

  “And his team?”

  “Ronan only recruits the best. If he picked them, you can bet your life that they’re the best at what they do.”

  “But are they good people?” Seth insisted.

  “Good enough,” Jessica said with a curt nod.

  “Are we agreed then?” Seth asked.

  “Agreed,” Jessica said.

  “Aye,” Bear rumbled.

  Rogue thought it over, deliberating. While she had her reservations, she also knew there was no choice. They needed to succeed, or Prime would starve. It was as simple as that.

  “Agreed,” she said.

  As one, they shook on it.

  “Let’s give Ronan the all-clear,” Seth said.

  Ronan greeted the news with a broad smile. “Glad to have you all on board. I’ll see you at the gate.”

  With those words, the dye was cast. The two groups were now one, and soon, they’d set out into the dangers of the primordial world. Together, they’d face it and all its obstacles, reliant on each other for their safety and security.

  It was a scary thought, and Rogue watched the newcomers with care as they got ready to leave. It wasn’t hard to peg them for what they were: Ronan, the charismatic and confident leader. Daniel, the muscle and the ladies man. Nigel, the hardware specialist. Spook, the tech-savvy nerd, and finally, Lila, the spy.

  They all possessed valuable skill-sets. That much was clear. However, they were also an unknown quantity, which aroused several questions and uncertainties. Still, Rogue had to trust that Jessica knew what she was doing when she called in her favors. She wouldn’t have done it if she didn’t think it was necessary. I just hope this wasn’t all a huge mistake.

  Chapter 7 - Paul

  Paul leaned back in the saddle with relaxed ease. He was used to horseback riding and loved the activity. Back at the old zoo, they’d owned several horses, donkeys, mules, and camels. He’d learned how to ride and care for them at a young age, and it now stood him in good stead.

  Terri was a fair rider as well, a plus for Paul. It meant he didn’t have to worry about the man and could focus on his surroundings. They were on the path toward the river, and he was sure they were getting close.

  He watched his horse closely, noting the way its ears pricked and its pace quickened. Terri’s horse did the same, and he smiled. Their animal senses were far superior to his, and he relied on them to warn him of predators. Or to find water, like now.

  “We’re almost there,” Paul said.

  “How do you know?” Terri asked.

  “I can tell by the horses’ reactions,” Paul said. “They smell the water, and they want it.”

  “Interesting,” Terri said, shifting in his saddle.

  Not long after that, they heard it too: The river rushing between its banks. The path opened up into a muddy area, trampled by many hooves and feet. Ahead, thick stands of reeds lined both sides of the water, and the current slowed as the channel spread out into a broad, shallow crossing. After that, it sped up again as the volume of water got squeezed into a tube, and it rushed around a bend and out of sight.

  “Someone crossed here recently,” Terri said after examining the ground.

  “Yes, it must be Callum, Ric, and their men,” Paul said.

  “The trail is not that old either. Two or three days, maybe,” Terri said.

  “That’s when they left Prime,” Paul agreed. He eyed the water before urging his horse forward. “Follow me.”

  Terri inclined his head. “Ladies first.”

  “Whatever,” Paul said with a snort. “Last one to the other side is an old hag.”

  “You’re on,” Terri said, kicking his horse in the flanks. They raced past Paul and his bay, charging into the water with a mighty splash. The river frothed around their forms as they struck out for the opposite bank.

  Not to be outdone, Paul urged his horse forward with a kick and a wild yell. “Come on. Let’s show them who’s the boss.”

  They raced across the ground,
kicking up the sand before they crashed into the stream. A wall of water rose into the air as they plunged forward, single droplets glinting like diamonds in the sun. Man and horse fought the current to get to the other side first, eager to prove their mettle.

  Terri and his roan were halfway across already, but Paul and the bay were gaining on them with each powerful kick. The bay tossed his head and neighed a challenge at Terri’s roan in a battle as old as time.

  “We’re coming for you,” Paul shouted.

  “Oh, yeah? We’ll see about that,” Terri said, throwing him a wild look.

  Bit by bit, they drew even. A rush of adrenalin coursed through Paul’s veins, and he grinned with sheer joy. It was at moments like these when he felt most alive.

  The bay struck ground, and the horse hauled its bulk out of the river followed closely by the roan. Neck and neck, they reached the sandy beach on the opposite bank, the bay winning by mere inches.

  With a whoop of triumph, Paul pumped both fists in the air. “We did it. We won!”

  “Not by much,” Terri said, but his smile belied his words. He circled the roan a couple of times until the horse settled down, and placed both hands on the saddle horn. “Congratulations.”

  “Thanks,” Paul said, waiting until the bay calmed down as well.

  Once order was restored, Terri nodded into the distance. “We’d better get going. We still have a lot of ground to cover.”

  “I know,” Paul said with a nod. “At least we’re moving faster than them. We’ll catch up within a day or two.”

  “Maybe, but we’re also more exposed and vulnerable,” Terri said. “We can’t let our guard down.”

  “True. We’d best be careful,” Paul agreed, nudging his horse back onto the trail.

  As they settled into a steady trot, he focused his attention on their surroundings. Terri was right, of course. Danger abounded, and they were right in the open. He couldn’t afford to be distracted by anything. He owed Terri that much. The man had volunteered for a dangerous mission, all in a bid to help Paul.

  With his senses on high alert, Paul followed Callum and Ric’s tracks. It wasn’t hard. A convoy that size left quite a mark on the environment. Thankfully, the sheer bulk of the party had seemingly scared off the wildlife too, and the miles passed without sight or sound of any predators.

  Only once did they catch a glimpse of a herd of Ankylosaurusus as they cut across a wide grassy field. The gigantic herbivores with their knobby tails watched them with beady eyes, chewing on the tough vegetation with their beaked jaws.

  “They’re a lot bigger up close, I’ll tell you that,” Terri said with a look of relief once they were a safe distance away.

  “You’re telling me,” Paul said, his heart bouncing in his chest.

  They traveled further and soon reached the convoy’s first campsite. There, they encountered the remains of the Carnotaurus, its carcass stripped to the bone by scavengers.

  “Do you think it attacked the camp?” Paul asked, watching from a distance while a flock of small lizard-like dinosaurs fought over the last few scraps of meat. He couldn’t make out what they were, and he wasn’t about to risk the horses for a closer look either.

  “I’d bet on it. The guards must’ve killed it, though. Or someone did,” Terri said with a nod. “On the plus side, there probably won’t be more large predators around. Not until something else moves into the dead one’s territory.”

  “Man, I hope so,” Paul said with a shudder, noting the gigantic skull and ribs glinting ivory in the sun.

  They lingered for a few more minutes, watching the scavengers fight and squabble before they moved on. From there, the terrain smoothed out a lot, and open fields abounded. That allowed them to move faster, and they made good time. It was close to nightfall when they reached the second campsite.

  “I think we should stay here for the night,” Terri said. “We’ve gained on them, but night is falling, and this is as good a place as any.”

  “What about over there?” Paul asked, pointing at a gnarled tree that topped a low rise.

  “Let’s check it out,” Terri suggested.

  On closer inspection, the tree turned out to be a great find. Its massive girth and roots provided shelter and shielded them from enemy eyes while they’d have an excellent field of fire if needed.

  “It’s exactly what we want,” Paul said after a look around the area.

  “X marks the spot,” Terri agreed, dismounting from his horse.

  Paul followed suit, and they unsaddled, watered, and fed the horses before putting up camp. It was a simple affair, and it didn’t take long to settle in for the night. Terri cut down armfuls of the thick brush to use for the fire and to build a screen around them and the horses.

  Meanwhile, Paul made a fire and rolled out their blankets on either side. A stump created a comfy backrest and pot of coffee heated up on the coals. Dinner was plain. Cooked grains mixed with dehydrated peas and strips of salted meat. The meal was bland but it filled their stomachs after a long day and would serve as a cold breakfast in the morning.

  Cradling a cup of coffee, Paul leaned back against the stump with a satisfied smile. His hunger was sated, the fire warded off the chill in the air, the flames cast a warm glow over their tiny camp, and they were fairly secure. “Ah, this feels good.”

  Terri echoed his smile. “Yes, it does. A good end to a good day.”

  “We did well,” Paul said with a nod. “With any luck, we’ll catch the convoy sometime tomorrow afternoon.”

  “Let’s hope so. The sooner we get Callum back to his missus, the better,” Terri said.

  “Why are you doing this?” Paul asked, curiosity stirring in his breast.

  “Is this the part where we bond over secrets and shared misery?” Terri quipped.

  Paul snorted. “No, I’m just wondering why you’re doing this.”

  “Doing what? Risking my life for a friend?” Terri replied. “I’ve known Callum for years, and he’s done me a solid a couple of times. I owe him.”

  “Enough to die for him? For Kat? You might know him but you’ve never even met her,” Paul said.

  “I’ve heard enough to know that he loves her. More than he’s ever loved anyone in his life. If I can save her and the child, it’ll save him. Without her, he’ll wither and fade away.”

  “That’s the way I feel about Sandi,” Paul said.

  “Do you really?” Terri asked. He stirred the fire with a stick and sparks flew into the air, crackling and sparkling.

  “Why would you ask that?”

  “Love is a fleeting thing, and you are young,” Terri said with a shrug.

  “So? What’s the difference between me and Callum?”

  “It’s Callum’s heart. His soul. He doesn’t love easily, and once he does, it’s for life,” Terri explained.

  “And I’m not like that?”

  “I don’t know you. That’s why I ask,” Terri said.

  “I’ve loved Sandi since we were kids. She’s the only one for me,” Paul said.

  “I’ve loved a few times,” Terri said. “It never lasts, but I relish the feeling.”

  “Maybe you haven’t met the right one yet,” Paul suggested.

  “Maybe. Or perhaps there are too many grand loves out there still waiting for me,” Terri said with a cheeky grin. “There’s nothing like the touch of a woman to make you feel young again.”

  Paul rolled his eyes. “It sounds to me like you’re chasing a unicorn.”

  “It’s possible, but I do enjoy the hunt.”

  “I don’t. The dumbest thing I ever did was leave Sandi behind. Now that I’m back, I’ll never leave her side again.”

  “Then why are you out here, risking your life for someone else’s love?” Terri asked.

  It was a good question, and Paul had to think carefully about the answer. Why was he willing to risk it all to save Kat and her baby?

  “Well?” Terri prompted.

  “I’m doing it fo
r Sandi. Kat is her friend, and she’d be heartbroken if Kat dies,” Paul replied. “I don’t want to see her suffer. Especially not after the loss of her other friend, Brittany.”

  “Then you do love her,” Terri said. “Hold on to that.”

  “I will,” Paul said.

  Silence fell over the pair, filled only by the sounds of the wild: The crackling fire, the zoom of insects, strange whoops and howls from the forest, a distant roar, rumblings of thunder on the far horizon. It was all part and parcel of the prehistoric world.

  “I think it’s time to turn in,” Terri said, stifling a yawn.

  “I’ll take first watch,” Paul agreed. “Two-hour rotation?”

  “Sounds good,” Terri said, rolling up in his blanket. Within seconds, his soft snores filled the camp space.

  With a shake of his head, Paul moved toward the edge of camp where he could see and hear better. He huddled down close to the horses, knowing they’d detect danger long before him. He wasn’t taking any chances. Not with Sandi waiting for him back home. I’ll be back before you know it, love, and that’s a promise.

  Chapter 8 - Callum

  Callum squinted at the outline of the town ahead, and he wondered what it held for them. More disappointment? Or the supplies they needed to rebuild their home and save their families? Never had he been so aware of the importance of a task. The success of their mission meant life and death for Prime and the Exiles. “What do ye think, Ric?”

  “I don’t know. We didn’t score jack shit at the last one. It was stripped clean,” Ric said, tugging at his beard.

  “Tis true, and the ones before that didn’t deliver much either,” Callum said.

  “Not unless you count scrap metal, wiring, sheeting, plastic, rubber, and the like,” Ric agreed. “That stuff has its uses, but it’s not enough. Not enough by far.”

  “Let’s hope this one delivers,” Callum said. “If not, we might need to change direction.”

  “We’ll see what happens,” Ric said, waving the men forward.

  Callum turned to his second-in-command. “O’ Neill. Keep yer eyes peeled.”

  “Will do, Sir,” O’ Neill said. “In fact, would you mind if I did a bit of scouting?”