by K. A Knight
Pushing my hands under his shirt, I trail them along his muscles, my fingers grazing his lines as he nips and licks down my neck. With a groan, I tip my head to the side, letting him have better access. He lifts his head slowly, his eyes blazing. We stare at each other, breathing heavily, before he slams his lips back to mine.
I hear a beep go off behind me but I ignore it, stretching to grab his hair and yank him to me. It goes off again, and in the back of my muddled mind, something is screaming that it's important. Before I can latch onto the thought, he's kissing me again, wiping away all rational thinking. When it comes again, I pull back reluctantly. Cain goes to speak but I put my finger to his swollen lips.
“What-”
“Shush!”
Waiting, I tilt my head. It slowly comes again and I spin. There, on the screen behind me, is the signal from the Dawnbreaker, the comms unit in the flyer latching onto it.
“Holy shit!”
“What?” He asks confused, his hands caressing my sides as he pushes up against my back.
“It survived.”
GROUND - DAY ONE
Spinning, I grab his cheeks and plant one on him before hurrying to the control panel.
Hitting the voice activation and onboard computer I wait.
“Identify.”
“Indy Stewart,” I say, bouncing on my toes.
“Welcome, Indy.”
“Computer, bring up coordinates for Dawnbreaker. Search for any escape pods or flyers from on board and map their locations.”
“One moment.”
That moment seems to take forever, as Cain and I anxiously wait. Eventually, on the black screen in front of me, green dots start to appear, as does basic terrain information. Something in me loosens knowing we aren’t the only ones here. Now all I –we - need to do is find Effie and Howard and get to whatever is left of the Dawnbreaker.
“Okay, it looks like there's a large crash site not too far from here, it’s the closest one so we should start by going there first.” I murmur while looking at the map. Cain drops his head on top of mine and watches as I look through the terrain and other crash sites.
“Damn, we are really spread out.”
“Indy?” Barrott shouts, smiling I jump up and make my way outside, Cain hot on my heels. My smile disappears when I see him. He looks exhausted and his shirt is shredded with blood welling from cuts on his chest. Spinning, I run back into the flyer and grab the emergency med bag stored in the back. Hurrying outside, I jog to where he is slumped on the ground, a grimace on his face. I fall to my knees in front of him, worrying on my bottom lip.
“What happened?” I ask as softly I grab his shirt, and he helps me pull it off with a grunt.
“Something pushed me down a hill.” Blinking repeatedly, I stare at him stupidly.
“Something as in natural wildlife?” Chastising myself, I pull out the wipes and start on the cuts on his chest, trying to ignore his warm skin and muscles that contract.
“Maybe.”
Looking up, panic claws through me.
“But you don't think so?” I say slowly.
He sighs. “No.”
Shit, so either someone made it all the way here from the crash sites, depending on where it was or there is someone or a lot of someone else's out there. Alien life? I mean I always wondered, but our government told us our section of the galaxy was empty. Done with cleaning the cuts, I grab the sealer tube and spray it on them, it closes the slashes quickly until all that's left is a pink mark. Sitting back on my heels, I go to speak when a grunt sounds from behind me. Turning my head, I spy Eldon and Auden lugging a metal box between them.
“You okay for a minute?” Waiting until Barrott nods, I jump up and walk to the brothers.
“I know good looking, we rule,” Auden says with a wink. He drops his half and opens his arms for me. Rolling my eyes as Eldon swears as he struggles with his end, I walk into the hug. Auden lifts me off my feet and spins me around. Squealing, I hold on, laughing when he puts me down. I manage to turn in his arms and face Eldon.
“What did you find?” My mind instantly reverts back to our lack of supplies, the shuttle will have a few, but not a lot.
“Food, water and some other stuff we can’t identify.” I nod and go to look when he carries on. “And that's not all.” He looks around and turns to me, grimly.
“We found the Dawnbreaker, well half of it.”
We decide to make a plan instead of running off half-cocked. I make sure everyone has something to eat and drink and we pack up everything we will need. I spend a few minutes memorising the map of the other crash sites and checking the flyer over. Then I power it down and lock it from the outside.
With one last look back, we set off into the forest, the mood somber. If the Dawnbreaker is gone, what are we going to do? How will we reach Ayama? How many people survived the crash?
Questions pepper my mind, but there is nothing I can do about them now. I need to concentrate on one thing at a time. The main one, surviving down here.
We head in the direction Auden and Eldon pointed out with Barrott in the lead and the brothers behind him. Cain and me, watching our backs. After all, we can’t be too careful if something is out here. I wonder what attacked Barrott.
At first, the forest we are trudging through looks similar to that of the ones that used to grow on Earth, but the further in we go, the more the differences become obvious. The trees aren’t just green and brown, but pink and purple ones start to crop up. Great big ones that create canopies over us as they twist together. The ground turns from the grass-like consistency to multi-coloured flowers which move and twist like animals. There are animal noises, but they are more brutal, louder. No sweet bird songs. The heat starts to increase as well, until sweat drips down me in steady waves, the humidity finally affecting me. Despite it all, it’s beautiful, in an alien sort of way.
The air smells clean and fresh, unlike the last time I was on our planet. The plants and wildlife are alive and thriving, not like our dead world. There's no comms units and technology placed every two meters, with tall skyscrapers built in place of nature. There's something so fresh and new about this place. The animals don't seem to be hunted into extinction and the trees cut for things we don't need.
“Let's take a five-minute break,” Barrott calls as he stops in a small clearing, the trees making a circle around us. Nodding, I drop my pack and stretch out my sore muscles. Finished with my stretches, I look up to see they are all staring at me. When I raise my eyebrow. they all scatter. Barrott coughs and turns to dig in his pack, Auden and Eldon wink before slumping on the ground, their backs to a tree. Cain grins but turns to look out into the forest.
“I’m going to pee, I’ll be back in a minute.”
“I’ll go with you,” Barrott says while turning to face me, a stern expression on his face. Groaning, I don't bother fighting him, knowing he’d probably just stalk me anyway. I don’t go far, just past a couple of trees.
“Okay, wait here,” I warn Barrott, and ignoring his grumbling, I round the tree and pull down my trousers. They stick to me in an unattractive way making me cringe. Squatting, I do my business and pull my trousers back up. I’m just doing the button when something darts between the trees in front of me. Warily, I look around as I wait for it to move again, instead, it slinks out from the shadowed area.
It looks like a black panther, but it has white markings swirling over its fur and it’s double the size. What looks like a large tail swishes behind it, but instead of a single tail, it branches into two separate sections about half way down its length.
“Er,, Barrott?” I call, my voice seems to startle it because it trots closer then drops to its butt in front of me, a forked tongue lolling out.
“Aren't you a cutie?” I purr at it. It yawns, showing me it’s large teeth, two massive fangs hanging over its lips.
“Okay, so a bit scary too,” I choke out.
Barrott comes skidding around the tree only to st
op cold when he spots the big cat.
“Okay, move slowly Inds.” He keeps his voice low and holds his hand out to me. The cat's ears go back at his voice and it stands. I slowly put my palm in Barrott’s and start to inch away. Before I can flinch, it growls and flings itself in front of me, standing before me, growling at Barrott.
“Okay. Erm, I think it's trying to protect me?” I ask, freezing in case it decides to turn and take a chunk out of me.
“Fucking shit, only you could pick up a stray on an alien planet!” he yells, throwing his hands in the air.
I cross my arms at his tone. “It's not like I sat peeing wishing a large freaking cat would come out to be my friend,” I gripe, only to trail off when it turns to me. It purrs and rubs his head on me, the force knocking me to the ground. From here, it's bigger than me. It drops on me and starts rubbing itself all over me, still purring. Loud enough to shake the ground. Blinking, I stare at Barrott.
“Nice kitty?” I squeeze out, my chest hurting from the weight of it. It’s head swings to me and his tongue slithers out again as I narrow my eyes.
“No, don't you dare,” I warn. I swear it grins at me before it swipes its tongue across my cheek. Swearing, I try to wipe away the saliva.
“Bad alien kitty, no, stop!” I yell as it starts to lick my face again.
“God damn it, stop!” I shout. It blows a breath in my face and goes back to rubbing itself on me. Laughter has my head snapping up. Cain, Eldon, and Auden must have come while I was trying to fight off the slobber machine. Cain is bent over the tree laughing as Eldon and Auden grin at me.
“A little help?” I ask grumpily.
“Nope, that's all you speed demon,” Cain says between laughs.
“I peed on that tree, so jokes on you.” I laugh when he wrinkles his nose at me, his laughter cutting off. Barrott chokes out a laugh at that and shakes his head at me.
“Okay play times over, say goodbye to your friend Inds.”
Oh yeah, like I can just shoo it away? Fucking idiots just stand around watching. I'm going to get back at them for this.
“Okay kitty, time to go,” I coo. It stops purring and watches me.
“Come on, get up,” I ask nicely. It blows air in my face again.
“No. Up,” I warn, pointing at the ground next to me. It watches me, not moving.
“Off now.” I harden my voice and narrow my eyes. Its ears drop as it slinks off me, laying next to me making a pitiful whining noise. Groaning, I stand up.
“Alright, alright. I'm sorry, that was mean. But you were heavy,” I moan as I hesitantly pat its head. It starts purring automatically and jumps up to stand in front of me.
“Okkkay. Bye.” I shake my head at the weirdness and turn to the guys. I pick my way over to them when Eldon smiles at me.
“Looks like you have another stalker,” he says pointing behind me, turning I see the giant cat is right behind me, making me jump and let out a girly scream.
“Oh great just what I need, as if Barrott isn't enough,” I moan, gripping my chest from the scare.
“Shit, Indy look at me!” Barrott shouts. I do, confused.
He rushes forward and grips my face, turning it from side to side. “Do you three idiots see this?” he asks in awe. I start to panic as they all crowd around me.
“See what? Tell me what the hell is happening?” My voice is high pitched, but damn it all to space and back, it’s my face!
“Holy...”
“How?”
“WHAT?” I screech.
“Erm, I think your stalker might have healed your face.” Cain offers.
“What?” I ask dumbly.
“When it licked you. It must have something in its saliva which promotes healing. Your cuts are healing and your bruising has disappeared altogether,” Barrott says reassuringly like that's an everyday occurrence. I try not to freak out, but I must not do a very good job.
“It’s a good thing Inds,” he says softly. I nod, my eyes wide.
“Sure,” I squeak out, making them all laugh. He drops his hands and steps back. I look at the cat as it lets out a purr.
“Erm, thank you I guess?”
Space balls, I am talking to a cat now. It stretches and trots to my side with a huff. Breathing deeply, I try to swallow my panic. When I am sort of under control, I turn back to the guys.
“Okay, I think we should start walking again.”
They nod and I follow them back through the trees, my new cat best friend behind me.
Ground - Day One
We start walking again, pointedly ignoring the giant cat stalking me. When it does no more than follow, I start to relax. The trees pass us in a blur as I concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other and not falling over.
I don’t know what the cat did to me, but even my headache disappears. In fact, I feel better than I have for a while. We carry on, trudging through the alien forest. Sweat continues to pour off me, and my breathing becomes laboured. I stop mid-step at the sound of running water. We all share a look and Barrott pushes ahead faster, a new determination in his steps. We break through the trees into what looks like a dream.
A huge waterfall stands in the corner of a clearing, nestled between two cliff edges. A pool of clear water stands at the bottom of it. The water lapping at the stones surrounds the edges. Flowers in all colours are peeking out from rocks, stones and even the cliff. Trees offer shade on the outside but the middle is filled with sun, the water gleaming bright. Ignoring the others, I step into the clearing, stopping just short of the water.
I’m in awe, the water is so clear that you can see the stones underneath, resting at the bottom. I hesitantly bend over and dip my finger in, the cold has me moaning in ecstasy. I search the water for any signs of anything harmful or dangerous. When a splash sounds, I blink and watch as my cat stalker paddles around before looking at me and huffing.
Is he laughing at me? Bloody cat. I grin as I stand back up.
I grab the bottom of my top and yank it up, leaving it on the stones. Bending over, I pull my boots off next, then my socks. I’m just unbuttoning my jeans when I hear a cough behind me. Looking over my shoulder, I see Barrott glaring at me as Cain smirks. The brothers smile, but their cheeks are flushed. I grin impishly and drop my trousers making Barrott swear.
“Indy, don’t you dare!” he warns, but it's too late. I wade into the water, moaning in bliss as it cools my overheated skin. I dip my head back, letting my hair get wet and shut my eyes as the water laps at my face. A splash next to me has me lifting my head and opening my eyes as the cat flicks water at me.
I glare at it, before splashing it back. It turns, its tails flicking more water at me as it paddles to the edge before getting out and stretching out on the stone bank in the sun. Shaking my head, I look back at my men. Eldon and Auden are stripping down, but Cain and Barrott are both watching me.
“Come on, it’s so nice in here. Don’t be a pussy!” I shout before dunking under and swimming up to the fall. The water feels amazing and I pop back up just short of the falls and turn my back to it. Eldon and Auden are swimming over to me as Cain strips off. Barrott is glaring, his arms crossed as he watches us from the shore.
Grinning, I duck under the water and swim to the shore. When I get there, I bolt out of the water and fling myself at him. He catches me automatically as I wrap myself around him.
“Indy,” he growls.
I smile sweetly at him. “Come and swim with me.”
“No.” He narrows his eyes.
“What if there is something in the water you need to protect me from?” I ask. He thinks it through before sighing loudly.
“Fine. Bloody woman,” he moans as I jump off him and wait.
He pulls off his shirt, and quickly shucks off his boots and trousers. I try not to stare, I really do. Cold water showers me from behind, making me realise I had just been gawking. Smiling in embarrassment, I jump back in the cold water and swim to Cain who is laughing at me. I stick
my tongue out at him on the way past and carry on to the brothers.
“Who’s going to dive under and see what's behind there?” I ask them, treading water.
We look at each other before all diving under the water. I swim underneath the waterfall and break the surface on the other side. Eldon pops up to my left and Auden to my right. Grinning, I pull myself up on the rock ledge. The rock is black and smooth, with white glints speckled everywhere, breaking up some of the shadows from the waterfall. I glance over my shoulder to see the water; you can’t see through to the other side. The ledge runs around the rock, a curved wall hidden back here. Turning back, I see the brothers watching me. I smile before sitting, my feet dangling in the water.
“You both okay?” I ask.
It’s been so crazy since we crashed, I don’t think I have asked. I have even ignored my own feelings, trying to concentrate on keeping us alive. Eldon climbs up next to me as Auden swims towards me. He braces his arms on my thighs and treads water, floating between my legs.
“We are fine. You going to talk to us about what happened with…” He trails off, looking embarrassed. I cup his cheek.
“I’m okay, luckily the ship exploded just in time,” I joke. It falls flat and I sigh. “Honestly, I was scared. But he didn't get any further than roughing me up a little.”
