The two Euthenian men gave him a nod but neither looked stoked about the fact they might have to use them to save their lives against a monster.
Zan landed the ship, and they all walked out onto the brown surface of the clearing they’d found to land on. The air was tinged with a slightly sulfuric odor but it wasn’t too bad. Caleb scanned the area where they landed.
The grass on the planet was a golden color. It grew in bunches which were close together. It was knee high and the constant breeze blew it, making it wave over the surface.
Nearby was a beautiful forest of tall trees in orange and yellow hues. On the orange leaved trees, red globes of some kind of fruit grew. On the yellow trees small, green fruit grew. The trees were so tall one would have to climb the tree to get the fruit.
Jared jogged over to the tree closest to them and found a piece of the red fruit on the ground. He picked it up and went back to share it with the others.
Taking his knife from his pocket, he cut a few pieces, and all tried a bite of the fruit which was full of pulp, like an orange. All five of them nodded in agreement that the fruit was good.
“It’s creamy and a mixture of an orange and a raspberry,” Caleb said and took another bite.
Emerald smiled and said, “I could definitely see eating these often. So we have at least one natural food source.” She took out her communicator and took a picture of the fruit. “I’m naming it, Ruby fruit.”
Zin laughed. “Ruby fruit it is! Our first discovery!”
The ground beneath their feet shook as a creature which walked on all fours came walking towards the forest of trees and had a long neck but a very short body. Its short legs kept its stomach low to the ground.
The creature looked docile. Tanned, smooth skin ran over the large round bodied thing. Large, brown eyes gingerly ran over the people then up to the top of a yellow tree.
They watched as the creature elongated its neck to reach for the fruit at the highest parts of the tree. Then its neck went back to its normal size as it chewed on the small green fruit.
As the animal shook the limb to detach the fruit, several more of them fell to the ground and Zan walked over very slowly so as not to startle the creature and picked a few of them up.
The skin was very rough, and he peeled it off, finding a white inside. He took a tiny taste and made a horrible face. “It’s sour! Yuk!”
Zin took one from his brother and took a nibble of the rough skin. “This part is sweet.”
Caleb took a picture of it. “Hmm. You eat the outside and leave the middle alone. Interesting. Emerald what will you name this one.”
“Oh, I’m in charge of naming everything?” she asked with a laugh.
She took a little bite and frowned. Then Zin said, “How about backward fruit?”
Caleb pressed the buttons, writing the new name and smiled. “A second discovery already and we haven’t even really begun to scout the area. This is looking good.” He took Emerald by the hand. “Stay together and scout the area and make sure to use your communicators to keep in touch and take pictures of anything of interest.”
Jared added. “If anyone finds shelter let all now about it. It won’t be getting dark for another 15 hours on this planet but there isn't a lot known. The weather’s not known. The temperatures once the suns set is not known. So we do need to find some type of shelter and get a fire going. If none can be found, reconvene at the ship before nightfall.”
The planet had the same two suns as Euthenia did. There were no moons showing in the sky at that time. They had no idea if there was a moon or not as they didn’t even see one when they were still out in space. The night was sure to be black if there would be no moonlight.
Caleb and Emerald headed out to the right and Jared, Zin, and Zan headed to the left. They began their search of the planet to see if it would be a place they could make another part of Euthenia.
The first creatures Caleb and Emerald came upon as they walked towards a green pond were some small, feathered creatures with long beaks and feet which looked like paddles. They had a funny little walk as they made their way towards the water away from Caleb and Emerald but they didn't seem afraid of them. They merely seem to be on their way to the pond.
“It’s doubtful they can fly. Their wings are much too short to carry their wide bodies,” Caleb said as he pointed to the little animals.
The golden grass grew all the way to the edge of the pond which was large and oval shaped. Bubbles came up from the bottom of the pond and made little splashes.
Emerald said, “It’s probably gasses from underneath, escaping the water.”
Caleb bent down and took a handful of the water and smelled it. Then let her smell it too. It smelled of eggs but they noticed the little, birdlike creatures that got into it quickly drank from it.
It seemed to be okay so Caleb tasted the water. “It tastes fine. It’s warm to the touch. The source is probably a natural underground spring.”
“Look over there,” Emerald said as she pointed to a large, gray rock in the grassy field. “Let’s go climb it.”
Caleb took her hand and off they went to see what kind of rock it was. The two climbed up the dome shaped thing. Once they reached the top they found it wasn’t a rock after all.
It was a large tortoise-like animal and its huge head was busy eating the grass. They slid back off the thing and made their way around to look at it.
“It has big, brown eyes, Caleb. It looks kind.” Emerald took a few steps to get closer, and it raised its large head and looked at her. Then it went right back to eating.
Caleb laughed and pulled Emerald along. “If it’s that big, eating must be a full-time job. Come on.”
The two walked for an hour before they came to a clearing in the grass. Nothing grew for as far as they could see. Just black dirt that when they stepped on it crackled beneath their feet.
It was as if nothing had ever walked over it. Caleb took a few steps. “Warm puffs of air come up with every step. It must be some kind of volcanic activity.”
“So this part of the planet is not habitable?” Emerald asked as she took a few steps on the dirt.
“No, but not all parts of any planet are.” He looked off to the sides and a green color caught his eye. “This way.”
It took an hour and a half to get to the green area which they found was a lush forest. Very tropical and dense with vines which ran over the tall and large leafed trees.
They heard the sounds of many animals and insects. Little creeks, twitters, and chirps were all around them. Then a terrible howling sound seemed to come from everywhere and Caleb pulled her to his side and took out the small stick he could use to paralyze anything that meant them harm.
Emerald and Caleb searched all around for the horrible creature who was making such a racket. The howling got closer and closer yet they saw nothing.
Emerald pointed to the trunk of the tree nearest to them. “Look, Caleb. That little green thing with tiny red eyes and a tiny mouth that’s shaped in an open circle. I think that’s making this noise.”
Caleb waved a hand over the tiny thing and it jumped off the tree and bounded away, the loud sound going with it. “It was! I don’t know how it made that loud sound.”
Emerald giggled. “We can call it the howler hopper.”
“You’re quite good at this, Emerald.” Caleb took her hand and into the thick forest they went.
The suns’ light was filtered, and it was dim in many places. A large outcropping of rocks stood out in part of the forest and they went to see if there might be a shelter in them.
Caleb hesitated at the opening. “It seems to be a cave.” He took out his light source and into the cave they went.
It seemed to go on forever. One giant cavern after another they walked through until they smelled something burning. “Caleb,” Emerald whispered. “There’s someone in here. Do you suppose it’s the others?”
With a shrug, he said, “Let’s find out.”
It sniffed the air and looked back at them. Then it shrieked and stood up and ran at them. Caleb moved Emerald behind him and took the paralyzing stick out.
“Stop! We mean you no harm!” Caleb shouted.
The long haired thing just kept running at them. It let out a growl then it slowed as it saw the tip of Caleb’s stick begin to glow. It stopped altogether and let out a shriek then turned the other way and ran.
“Come on. That’s a human,” Caleb said and grabbed Emerald by the hand and ran after the thing.
“Are you sure?” Emerald asked. “It didn’t sound human.”
The thing let out another shriek as it left the cave through a different opening than they’d come in. Their feet pounded the forest floor as they ran after the thing.
They could see much better. It was tall, and the hair was in ratty, light brown waves to its waist. A tattered, dirty dress-like thing covered its body, and no shoes were on its dirty feet.
Then just ahead of where it was running Jared, Zin, and Zan came through the forest, igniting another harsh growl and shriek from the thing.
The men got in front of it to stop it and all three took out their paralyzing sticks. Caleb already had his out and Emerald got hers out as well. They had it surrounded as they moved to form a circle around the thing.
It stopped. Hair covered its face as it turned to find it was trapped. Then it fell to the ground and moved its body into a ball.
Emerald moved forward. “We don’t want to hurt you. Are you a man or a woman?”
It looked up and pushed the hair away from its face, revealing a male face covered with a thick, light brown beard. “I am a man.”
The rest came forward and Caleb asked. “How did you get here?”
Jared added, “Where are you from?”
Zin asked, “What’s your name?”
Then Zan said, “You guys need to let him answer one question at a time.” He held his hand out to the man. “Come, stand up. We can help you if you want help.”
The man took Zan’s hand and got up. “My name is Xavultan. Euthenia was my home. I cannot go back or my brother will kill me. It was he who put me here after I made him believe I killed his wife.”
Jaws dropped as Caleb asked, “Is your brother Hexultan?”
The man nodded. “My brother is the King of Euthenia. And I am stuck here as I can never go back to that planet or he will surely take my life.”
“It was you who hid the Queen.” Zan smiled. “You can go back. You’re a hero.”
The man shook his head. “I am no hero. I merely couldn’t kill her. A real hero would have done so much more than hide her. He would’ve stood up to his older brother and told the planet what he wanted him to do. Instead, I hid the Queen. A coward is what I am.”
Caleb shook his head. “You are no coward. A coward would’ve killed her. Come with us. We have some clothes you can put on and a pair of boots as well.”
After exchanging introductions, they started making their way back to the ship as Xavultan told them about the planet which had been his home for years. “There is no moon and the nights are awful here.”
Caleb asked. “What about animals? Are there any which would make it hard to live here?”
“I’ve seen one giant thing. Tall as the palace, yet it’s a stealthy predator. It hides in the tall forests then plucks the birds from the sky and eats them whole. I have no idea if it would be a threat to men or not,” he told them.
“How many have you seen?” Emerald asked as she stepped over a puddle of red liquid.
Xavultan gestured to the puddle. “You can light that liquid and it will take many hours to burn.”
Caleb took a picture and labeled it, firewater. “That could be useful. Xavultan what do you say to be the top most authority for the exploration and colonization of this planet?”
With a chuckle, he said, “I see none better than I for that job. And as for more than one of the giant animals, I have only ever seen the one. I call him the snake as he reaches out with his long arms just like snake strikes.”
All the way back to the ship he told them about the planet and with his knowledge the group was able to make their trip shorter than planned.
As they got to the ship Caleb said, “In light of finding this man and the expert on this planet, I say we head back to Euthenia so this man can get cleaned up and sleep in a soft bed after all this time.”
All agreed, especially Xavultan.
I wonder how the Queen will take this surprise…
CHAPTER 3
Emerald
In a small room at the very back of the ship, Caleb and Emerald went to go rest for the ride home back to Euthenia. The day had been long and full and Emerald was beyond tired.
Yet somehow she was still excited about finding the new planet and wondered how life would be there. She pulled the light blue blanket back on the small bed and fluffed the two pillows. “Caleb, this is so exciting. Don’t you think?”
He stepped out of his boots and took his pants off. “I do.”
Emerald turned to find her husband stripped down and smiled. “I’m so tired, yet your body seems to have woken me up.”
He moved to take her in his arms and pulled the shirt off over her head. He pressed his chest to her breasts and his hands moved to push her pants away from her hips and they lay in a pile on the floor at her feet.
Caleb lay her back on the bed and pulled her boots off and rubbed her feet. “Do they ache from all the walking, Love?”
She nodded. “But I loved it. That was the most adventurous I’ve ever been. That tortoise thing was by far the largest creature I’ve ever seen, much less been so close to.”
“I’m sure we’ll build us a home there. Not that we’ll live there permanently, but we’ll need a place to stay when we go to oversee the work going on there.” Caleb dropped her boots to the floor and moved his body over hers as he climbed on the bed.
“This is all so amazing, Caleb.” She ran her hands over his muscled back and relished how they felt.
“It is. And I’m happy to have you with me as my partner through all of this.” His lips pressed to hers for a moment then he looked into her eyes. “You and I have a lot to do.”
She nodded as her hands moved to his face, pinning it between her palms. “That we do, Husband.” Pulling his face to hers, she kissed him deeply.
She let him go and found herself wondering out loud, “I wonder how the Queen will take this.”
Caleb got up and went to the small bar on the wall to turn the light off. “I don’t know. Well, I hope.” He turned the overhead light out and they were in complete darkness.
“This is the most darkness I’ve ever been in,” she said. “It’s beyond imagination.”
Caleb felt around on the bed for her and her breath caught when his hand rubbed across her thigh. Caleb trailed kisses over her leg, then over her stomach. His lips kissed her until he found a breast. He gave it a quick suck and then kept moving up until his lips touched hers.
He pulled the braid from her hair and ran his fingers through her silky blonde locks. Her hands ran to tangle in his auburn curls as their tongues twirled around one another's.
The complete darkness heightened their other senses. She felt every little movement of his muscles as he moved and she ran her hands all over him. Each tiny hair, she felt on him. It excited her even more.
She arched up, and he pressed himself into her. They both moaned with the connection and the intense feelings of excitement from the new discovery of the planet. Excitement from the discovery of the lost man and excitement for the future filled them both.
Caleb's hands ran all over Emerald's body exploring every part of her as he thrust into her over and over again as the ship glided through the air. Through the small window, Eme
rald saw an asteroid shower making small starlight streams out the window. She watched them pass by the window fast as Caleb took her to another place.
The way his fingers were burrowing into her ass as he moved to his knees and lifted her up and down to stroke his long, hard cock. He made her feel as if she weighed nothing.
She ran her hands over her breasts as he moved her. She couldn’t see a thing except the stars flashing past the small window as he pumped her back and forth along his length.
Only the sensations were all she was aware of. The way he lifted her, the way her body felt as it moved over his erection. It felt as if she was completely connected to him. An extension of him, somehow.
Alien Romance Box Set: Alien Former: Sci-Fi Alien Romance (Books 1-5) Page 97
