by K. A Knight
I help Cain as we clear a space to sleep, far enough away from the ship in case anything more explodes or falls, but close enough to see if anyone else comes wandering in. Auden and Eldon sort out beds and food, using the things we salvaged from our flyer and some things we managed to find in the ship.
Barrott goes and collects things to start a fire while scouting the area for any predators or issues. My cat stalker stays with me the whole time, watching us curiously.
As the sun finally sets, a cold wind sets in, making me shiver in my shirt. How can a planet be so warm during the day but so cold at night?
Barrott starts a fire and soon we are all sitting around it, munching away on the food we found. The alien stars shine down on us, a large blood red moon lighting up the sky. It casts an eerie glow on the forest and our camp, but beautiful in a unique way.
“You have got to admit, it’s a beautiful planet,” I say as I lean back on my arms, my feet aimed at the fire.
“Yes, the colours here are amazing,” Cain says, looking around. I smile and lean back, looking into the sky.
“I never thought I’d miss space,” I say watching the stars twinkle against the sky.
“I wonder how long it will be until someone comes for us?” One of the brothers asks.
“It depends on how quickly they receive the transmissions. The next colony mission is not set to leave for another six months. Ayama is unlikely to send anyone, concentrating on curating the new world there,” Barrott says, making the mood turn sombre as well all think of the implications. It means realistically we are trapped on this planet for the foreseeable future.
Sighing, I get to my feet and dust the dirt off my pants.
“Where are you going?” Barrott asks, his eyes narrowed.
“To pee, if that is okay?” I roll my eyes and Cain heaves himself to his feet.
“I’ll go with her,” he offers.
Barrott nods, but keeps his glare on me. I stick out my tongue and his lips twitch.
Cain grabs a torch and follows me as I slowly work my way around our little camp and into the trees. I hesitate at the tree line but my bladder reminds me if I don’t pee soon, I might explode. Slipping into the darkened trees, I let Cain’s hand on my back warm me.
“I can’t remember the last time I was in the wild,” he murmurs.
“Me either, it’s just so different from Earth.”
“Did you see the size of the trees or that creepy flower that moved? I wonder if Ayama is like that?” he asks, shining the light around when we come to three clusters of trees.
“Probably not,” I mutter, my thoughts on the rebel’s words.
“What do you mean?” he asks as I turn to face him, the torch shining bright between us.
“I- nothing.”
He tilts my head up with his finger. “Speed demon?”
I search his eyes before sighing. “Ayama is dying.”
The words settle into the space between us and I frown watching him, he looks shocked but it looks forced and his eyes are tight.
“Cain?” I ask suspiciously, stepping away from him.
He licks his lips and looks away from me into the forest. “Better pee so we can get back,” he says coldly.
“That’s all you have to say when I tell you the planet we are heading for is dying?” I ask incredulously, looking at him like he's a stranger.
“Drop it, Indy.” He crosses his arms, still not looking at me.
“You knew?” I accuse, the rebels’ words about trusting the wrong people coming back to me. How would he know, unless he is one of them?
A twig breaking has us both turning. Cain rushes to my side and shines the light into the forest searching for the noise.
“Probably just an animal, hurry up so we can get back.” He doesn’t look at me as he speaks.
I turn away from him and quickly pee before joining him again. We don’t speak on our way back to camp, and he feels like someone completely different to me. How could the Cain I thought I knew be part of the rebels? Part of something which killed people, and crashed us on this planet? It just doesn’t make sense. The image of that little girl I found flashes in my mind, making me angry again. If he was part of it, I will never forgive him.
When we get back to the camp, I sit next to the brothers and he sits next to Barrott, the atmosphere feels strained and if the looks we are being thrown are anything to go by the others feel it. We all finish eating and pack everything away, sitting and enjoying the silence. Or in my case, trying to figure out how Cain could have been involved.
“Be back in a moment, I need to take a leak,” Cain says. He drops a kiss on my head on the way past. I don’t smile like I usually would, still concerned about our conversation from before. I catch Barrott’s eyes and look away, afraid he can see everything I am trying to hide. I don’t want to tell him, he will go after Cain and I could be wrong.
“Alright let's get some rest guys,” Barrott says before sliding across and sitting next to me, looking out into the forest, obviously planning on keeping watch.
Nodding, I curl up in the emergency sleeping bag, close enough to the fire for it to warm me and far enough away not to be burnt. My eyes slide shut happily, the day’s exhaustion setting in.
I am just sliding into sleep when I hear a grunt and then a bang from the forest. Sitting bolt upright, I watch as Barrott stands and puts his finger to his lips. I nod and wait. The brothers tense next to me. Looking around, I realise Cain isn't back yet.
“Stay here,” Barrott whispers before striding off, blending into the shadows of the trees.
“Where’s Cain?” I whisper. I look at the brothers who both look worried. They slide out of their sleeping bags and sit on either side of me, wrapping an arm around me for comfort. When minutes pass, I start to get worried about them both.
“They should be back by now!” I murmur, looking around in case they materialize out of thin air. Eldon sighs before standing up, my side instantly cooling without his body heat.
“Stay here, Indy, okay?” he says grabbing a torch and checking to see that it works.
I grab his arm. “It's not a smart plan to go towards the noise and where the other people have disappeared!”
“We need to know if they are okay. Look, your stalker’s back. Just stay here with him and we will be back before you know it good looking.” He swoops in and kisses my cheek. Auden does the same to the other cheek before standing and nodding at his brother. They throw me one more look before they to blend into the trees.
My cat stalker stretches out in front of me and I nervously pet him waiting for any little noise or movement. Those idiots better be okay, or I am going to kick their ass. The seconds seem to drag by, every little noise making me look around wildly. When the seconds turn into minutes, I start to really panic. Something attacked Barrott earlier and we are on a strange planet where anything could be lurking in the dark. They could be hurt right now, needing me to help. Standing, I look around as if they will magically appear. I grab the last torch and flick it on. I step outside the ring of our sleeping bags and shine it around the camp.
“Barrott? Auden? Eldon? Cain?” Shouting, I lift the torch higher, shining it into the dense forest surrounding our camp.
“Where the hell are you guys?”
I will not panic, I will not panic.
Trees rustle behind me, making me swing around. Stepping back closer to the fire I squint into the darkness. A silhouette against the trees has me gasping. At least eight feet tall, the shape looks human enough but I don't know any human that tall. When it steps out into the light, my jaw drops.
A freaking alien. It’s a fucking alien!
Its head is pointed, not rounded like ours, with what looks like fur covering where we have hair. Its lower face is partially extended, like a snout but flatter and when it opens its mouth I see white teeth, but it has two fangs on the top set. Its nose is flat and square. It's shirtless but has on trousers of some kind. Its arms are lo
nger than ours and skinny, ending in four long fingers. Its feet are bare as well and look more like a cats, with its legs slightly bowed in the middle. A long sharp looking tail curls around its leg, shaking with a rattle. But the weirdest thing is its skin colour. So different to any on Earth, a pale pink. Not like ours, but a bubblegum pink with dark pink lines running through it. It’s beautiful, in an alien sort of way. It looks primal, and fierce and reminds me of my cat stalker. Pulling in my shock, I square my shoulders. I can freak out about seeing an alien later, I need to find my guys.
“Where are my friends?”
It tilts its head at me, its cat shaped eyes watching my every move. I don't let the fear in me rule me, I step forward with my hands outstretched.
“My friends?”
Of course, it does not speak English. Ugh, looking around, I point at the sleeping bags in the circle and then back to me. Its head swivels a few times as if trying to understand my meaning. I’m taking it as a good sign it hasn't attacked me yet. I repeat the actions again.
It nods and then opens its mouth, flashing fangs and sharp teeth. Grunts and strange noises, which I’m guessing is its language comes out of its mouth. Okay, Indy. Think. Watching it warily, I try to think of a plan. It steps towards me, its tail swaying as it walks. It moves more like an animal than a human, all grace and soft on its feet. I don't let myself step back or react, even when it towers over me. So close I can smell it, like earth after a rain. It smells like nature itself.
When I make no move, it’s four-fingered hand lifts towards me. I stop myself from cringing, but all it does it pick up my hair curiously. It runs it through its fingers before it drops it. Its hand lifts again as it runs its fingers down my face as I talk.
“Look alien man, I need to find my friends so I can kick- HEY!”
I shout as it feels along my breasts. It jumps back and hisses, crouching down looking at me. Shit, okay.
“Bad alien. You didn't even buy me a drink first.”
Its head cocks again, and I sigh. An idea pops into my head. I pound my chest lightly.
“Friend,” I say, stretching out the letters. It tilts its head again before it’s forked tongue slithers out, wetting its lips.
“Frrr…” It purrs the last, making me smile as it tries to copy me.
“Friend.” I try again.
“Frenndd.” The word ends on a growl from the handsy alien.
Okay, close enough. Nodding, I point from me to it then to the sleeping bags.
It follows my movements before looking back at me. It nods again.
“Frenndd.” It steps back and starts walking away. It stops at the edge of the trees and gestures for me. Sighing at this insanity, I hurry after the alien, following it into the dark forest. When I find those guys, I’m going to kill them. I can’t believe we have crashed on an alien planet and I’m following after an eight-foot house cat. With my new cat stalker at my side, I follow the alien into the strange forest in search of my four-sorta- boyfriends. It’s been a hell of a year.
TRANSMISSION LOG 00310
DATE: 2032
MISSION: 43, COLONY
SHIP: DAWNBREAKER
DESTINATION: AYAMA
>…………… Accepted
> An attack on the ship damaged the hull, resulting in complete computer and ship failure. Rebels killed guards and colonists alike as they hacked the controls. Colony and crew were evacuated to the emergency shuttles which landed on the closest planet. The flight crew stayed behind to offer them the best chance of survival. The colonists and crew are scattered across the unfamiliar world with no supplies and no ship out of there. Send help, I repeat Colony Mission 43 has crashed. Mayday. To anyone that receives this, if you can track this signal. Please save us.
About the Author
K.A. Knight is an indie author trying to get all of the stories and characters out of her head. She loves reading and devours every book she can get her hands on, she also has a worrying caffeine addiction.
She leads her double life in a sleepy English town, where she spends her days at the evil day job and comes home to her fur babies and wine.
Read more at K.A. Knight’s website or join her Facebook Reader Group
