As they traveled, the weather changed to manageable warmer temperatures during both day and night. Kobe told her right now on his continent, the freezing cold was prominent and the skies were darker. Zuri was happy that he had chosen this direction, if it was too cold she would never have been able to follow him.
They stopped late in the day by a stream with palatable running water. Kobe had told her stagnant water was dangerous, Zuri agreed, but when he showed her their kind of stagnant she realized how deadly algae was on his planet. As Kobe stood by a pond of stale, musty-smelling water with his arm around Zuri, she screamed and jumped. A wave the height of her hips rolled up to crash from the pond, slamming down inches from her bare feet. When the scum retreated, everything it had coated was still sizzling, burnt to a crisp. Zuri shuddered and swore she would never go near a pond again in her life.
Zuri took a long cool drink from the stream, she let the water drip between her breasts, but shivered, it was icy. Kobe waded out to his knees and splashed her. She giggled and fled back, yelling it was too cold. He bid her to come closer. Kobe scooped handfuls of water which he warmed then tossed onto her until she was soaked. He did it quickly; the feel of the water was like that of a warm shower, heavenly.
Kobe ducked under the clear running stream and submerged. When Kobe came to shore, he offered to dry her, but she smiled and told him no. Her t-shirt would dry in the warm air. She used two hands to wring her long hair out then fluffed it out to fan her shoulders.
The skies overhead were a brighter pastel, rays of light danced across the water. Zuri smiled when Kobe tucked a purple flower behind her ear. His huge hands could crush an enemy; with Zuri, his hands were gentle. She stood on her tiptoes for a kiss. Kobe’s large arms encircled her, lifting her up to meet him. Their tongues entwined as they savored one another. Zuri licked at his full, beautiful blue lips.
Kobe rested his forehead against hers. Zuri loved looking into the depths of his red eyes. She felt their heat warm her to her toes. No matter the color of someone’s eyes, they mirrored a soul. Kobe’s was beautiful.
“What would you say if I told you I’m in love with a great warrior moron bad ass?” Zuri teased.
“I would say I hope he likes mouthy Earth females.”
“I think maybe he does.”
“I know maybe he does.”
Zuri’s belly rumbled and Kobe sighed. Zuri laughed. “I swear I have no control over the noises my belly makes.”
“Your belly has been angry a lot lately.”
Kobe glanced around. They both spied a huge bush with thorns sticking out over six inches long. Large, green, moss-covered boulders were stacked close by, making protective walls. Kobe steered her toward the bush. Zuri wasn’t concerned. Inside, there were no thorns to scratch at her; they all pointed outwards. Zuri watched as Kobe pulled the sharp pieces of bush back. Zuri crawled inside. It made a nice, safe spiny fortress.
“I’ll be back soon to feed your mouthy belly. Stay put.”
Zuri smiled as he walked away. He was right, though, her belly had become exceptionally mouthy as of late. Zuri wondered why.
Kobe took no more than twenty steps when he roared in anger. Zuri was peeking through the tiny openings in the bush. Kobe suddenly crashed through the foliage in a fight for his life. Zuri was squatting, staring openmouthed at the thing attacking him. Never in her wildest nightmares had she ever seen such a repulsive being.
Zuri had her hand pressed to her mouth to keep from screaming in terror. The beast was monstrous, hideous. The black pelt looked like it had been through fire. It smelled burnt. Pieces of it were missing. Something had attacked the beast. Open chunks of flesh were crusted over; bald spots adorned its body. Parts of its white skull bone could be seen, internal organs were visible; she saw its heart beating through a balding spot near its chest through visible ribs. Zuri gagged. It was plain to see it was in agony, and its fury was driving it to kill Kobe. Kobe did his best, he fought so hard, but the beast had its rage to add to its insanity.
Propelled back, Kobe was smashed into a massive tree. The long vines began creeping toward his wrists. As a vine encircled Kobe’s hand he dragged it around the beast’s neck. Using the beast as leverage, Kobe squared his feet onto the tree and jumped onto the beast’s back. The beast howled, its paw snaking up to throw Kobe to the ground; his body bounced when he hit the black earth then skidded to a halt.
Up on his feet in a split second, Kobe punched the being in the head—Zuri heard a crack as Kobe’s fist connected with bare skull. Part of the cyron’s—what other creature could it possibly be?—jaw shattered and hung slack. A clawed paw slammed down, slicing into Kobe’s boot, pinning him to the ground. Kobe couldn’t run; it was stand and fight.
The blows from Kobe and the beast were earth shaking, each fought for its life. Zuri could only wait and watch helplessly. The beast was as big as a combine; it worked like machinery, nonstop, taking blow after blow. Massive teeth buried into Kobe’s arm and he howled in agony. Blue streaks appeared to saturate Kobe’s fur.
Oh God, it’s hurt him.
Zuri wanted to scream, to help, but she could do nothing against something so powerful. After everything they had been through, Zuri was certain Kobe was indestructible. Now she wasn’t so certain, he was bleeding. He looked as though he were losing the battle. If he died, she would no doubt be next. But what life was there without Kobe?
The beast smashed Kobe’s back with a massive paw. Zuri saw his back bow. Kobe jumped up, ramming his head under the beast’s jaw, snapping it closed. His back popped hideously back into place, the sound was sickening. The beast backhanded Kobe, sending his upper body in one direction while his lower half remained immobile. Zuri did scream then; she thought for a sickening second he had been ripped in half.
Kobe slumped to the ground. The beast released its hold and Kobe crawled a few feet away, and continued to crawl as the beast followed; he was still determined to get the creature away from Zuri. He offered her a remorseful look that spoke volumes, he was going to die and he didn’t want her to watch him fail. Kobe dragged himself to his wobbly feet; Zuri could see his intent was to make the beast follow him out of her line of view.
Coming to a decision, Zuri slipped from the bush and grabbed a large stick, her fingers wrapped around it in a death grip. She would fight alongside him; they would live or die together. Zuri began to move, she growled her fury, but was pulled back hard enough to land on her ass. Stunned she sat openmouthed on the ground when a Zargonnii female stood over her—way over. She was massive, Zuri thought Kobe was big; this female was at least nine feet. It was no wonder Kobe spoke of females with deep respect.
Zuri wondered if the female was going to kill her; instead, she motioned for Zuri to stay. The female walked out into the clearing, took a stance, and roared so loud Zuri placed her hands over her ears. Her bellow caught the attention of both beast and male. She strode forward with purpose, fangs exposed, claws hooked, getting larger by the second. Her motion ate up the ground faster than Kobe’s had. The hissing sound she made would put a thousand snakes to shame. The female Zargonnii shoved Kobe to the ground and took up the fight. Kobe looked stunned. The female ripped into the cyron as though she was merely shredding paper. The cyron was a bloody mess before long.
Kobe made no move to help the female; he sat on his ass looking as bewildered as Zuri felt. Zuri had two thoughts, the female was either related, or a female Kobe had Holidayed with. Either way Zuri didn’t care. The female was obviously pissed. The beast seemed to understand the tables were now turned. Its approach into battle was hesitant. With a roar it lunged forward. Zuri thought she saw the female—smile. Zuri shuddered, never having seen such an ominous expression.
The female ripped two of the beasts horns from its face, its foul smelling blood squirted up in two straight streams into its beady eyes, blinding it. Another swipe to the cyron and the female almost decapitated it. The slack jaw Kobe had broken went flying, only to hang by a sc
ruff of fur a foot and a half away from its face. Zuri thought Kobe fought with passion but the female seemed infuriated. The cyron bellowed in agony, it made a feeble attempt to put its face back together. A last swipe of her claws and the cyron’s chest was ripped open, the ribs shattered, its heart oozed from its torso. The beast slipped from its feet to its side where it lay unmoving. The female Zargonnii had killed it.
Though her furry chest rose and fell, the female didn’t look so much as winded when she spun to face Kobe. Kobe rose to his feet and approached the female hesitantly at first, his head cocked to the side in curiosity. He then flung himself into her arms. The way the female mauled him and crooned to him it was plain to see he was her son. She fussed over his wound, her eyes blazing to cauterize the area. Her long hair, which at one point had flown wildly around her, enveloped him. When Zuri heard Kobe mutter the word mother, Zuri was positive. Zuri felt tears come to her eyes. Kobe hadn’t seen his mother in years, and to recognize each other after all this time, Zuri realized she was watching the reunion of a lifetime.
Zuri didn’t have much time to ponder, as she was about to rise to her feet a flash of light burst brilliantly onto Kobe and his mother. Both Kobe and his mother were separated and pressed against trees, unmoving. They flailed helplessly, growling and snarling. After witnessing his mother’s raw strength, Zuri knew only one creature could do this.
She did come out of hiding then. The Gorgano was talking to both Kobe and his mother in his mind, using two separate languages. Zuri knew they couldn’t hear what the being was saying. In a matter of seconds, she had processed a new dialect. The Gorgano was gloating at its catch of the day. Zuri knew it wanted two specimens to join the others for experiments. The idea infuriated Zuri. The Gorgano had captured female Zargonnii, she was positive from the creature’s attitude. Before the Gorgano knew what hit it, Zuri channeled its thoughts and when he spun to face her, she smiled evilly.
“Nothing should be caged for amusement, you filthy bastard. Experiment this.”
The Hiroshima bomb came to mind and the Gorgano exploded into tiny pieces splattering the ground beneath it. Collectively, the moss on nearby rocks rushed over and grabbed the small bits and raced back until there was no sign of the Gorgano. Kobe and his mother fell to the ground gasping for air. Kobe rose and went straight to Zuri. He pulled her into his arms. The pair stood staring at Kobe’s mother.
“Zuri this is my mother, my mother.” His tone was incredulous. “You were tracking me,” Kobe said to the female Zargonnii.
“I sensed you and sensed the cyron following. You shouldn’t be here; it’s dangerous,” his mother replied.
“I wish I knew what you were saying,” Kobe mused, he looked so sad.
Zuri placed her hand on his arm. “She was worried about you.” She then looked at Kobe’s mother. “My name is Zuri, thank you for saving us.”
Both Kobe and his mother looked amazed; she could speak both their languages.
“Zuri, how?” Kobe asked.
“The Gorgano was speaking to your mother, but she didn’t understand. I did. The filthy beast wanted to lock you up like you were animals.” She then turned to his mother. “What’s your name?”
“Unna. Your words are rough, but you speak my language well.”
“The Gorgano can get into my head. It’s how I understand you, and Kobe.”
“Neither of you should be here, it’s not safe,” Unna said.
“We know. We fell from a space ship. Kobe is taking me home.”
“You’re headed in the wrong direction.”
Zuri looked at Kobe. “I told her you were taking me home and she said we are heading in the wrong direction. I thought you had family here.”
“I’m taking you to another continent; I mentioned it was the cold season where I come from. A leader named Titus is allowing a female human to stay with a Zargonnii warrior, they have a female babe. I also want to find my brother.”
Zuri heard the hurt in his words. She didn’t care where they were going as long as she could be with him.
“Unna, Kobe knows he has a brother.”
Unna looked sad, her words and tone were laced with emotion. “Normally, a female does her best to keep brothers together, it couldn’t be in my case. Kobe was my first son, it was my first Holiday. I hated giving him up, he was the most wonderful baby ever born. I almost went against the council to keep him, but it’s too hard to protect a young one without the aid of our nest. It would have been selfish and irresponsible not to give him to his father. My next mating was with his father. A powerful warrior who came close to dominating me, I wanted him again. I was thrilled to have a female child, but she didn’t live long, it was nothing I did, she just wasn’t meant for this world.
“I couldn’t stand the pain, couldn’t stand the pitying looks, or the happy mothers who got to keep a babe. I wandered alone until it was time to Holiday again. I didn’t know if I wanted to. I changed continents by then. It was too late to go back, another male caught my eye; he reminded me of Kobe’s father. I Holidayed and again had a son I was forced to give up. I was devastated, but stayed on the same continent in case my son had another brother. I chose the same warrior and gave birth to another female child—who died.”
By this time Zuri’s tears dripped from her eyes. She relayed the story to Kobe who hung his head with his mother’s pain.
“I have not Holidayed again, I never will,” Unna said. “I lose all of my children, what’s the point? When I smelled Kobe I had to find him. I scented a cyron tracking him, and you. The beast was the same one who killed his father; the cyron sensed this. It was on a mission. I won’t lose another child. Or grandchild.”
“Huh?” Zuri said when Unna looked pointedly at her belly.
“No way,” Zuri spluttered. “We’ve only been out here a month, if that.”
“My son could have run from a beast he knew would surely kill him, but he stayed and chose to fight. His young one is inside you, but he has no idea, how would he? He has never been around a pregnant female. What will you do if it’s a girl? Will you take her from him and join me? I would take care of you both.”
Zuri stood stunned. A baby? Kobe’s baby? “Unna you must be mistaken, but I appreciate your offer. If it is true, male or female the baby is Kobe’s. And I won’t hand over my son. I know how unfair that seems, but I hope you will come and see him or her.”
“I was hoping you would say that.”
“What are you two talking about?” Kobe interrupted.
“Nothing,” was Zuri’s immediate response. She had no way of knowing if Unna was right and had no idea how much farther they needed to travel.
“I will stay with you both until you’re safely in the males’ area. The females are getting concerned that Kobe has been here for so long, even if he is moving away. They know he is with a female of some type and they know he is too young to seek his demise through battle. They are confused. No one would dare challenge me.”
“Your mother is going to come with us until we reach the males’ area,” Zuri told Kobe.
“I can scent the females are restless,” he replied. “They’ll stay away if she escorts us back.”
From the look on Kobe’s face, Zuri could tell he was pleased with his mother’s presence. He looked like he was being given a rare gift—the gift of time. A reminder that even seconds counted when it came to loved ones. Zuri was happy for him. Maybe one day Zuri would have a family again.
Chapter 11
For ten days, the trio traveled together. Kobe was a little jealous Zuri had to explain everything his mother said. He was also a little worried; he wondered if Unna had offered Zuri asylum in the female’s area. It made perfect sense; with Unna, Zuri would be safe. Kobe couldn’t let her go. He wondered if he was being selfish.
Watching Zuri and Unna interact, Kobe had doubts Zuri would like living in an all-male environment without a single female thought amongst the warriors. Unna realized immediately what Zuri needed w
hen Kobe began chewing bits of food for her. His mother made a waterproof container, weaving thick vines and sticks together. The plant life and meat could then be boiled; he no longer needed to feed her. Kobe felt stupid he hadn’t thought of it, but it was a female’s thing, he had never made a makeshift basket. During their trek, he had agonized over not having a waterproof container. Everything any male Zargonnii used was made of practical, indestructible material. So much for being smarter than a female.
Kobe could learn; he was determined to keep Zuri with him, in his home. Ever since he first Holidayed, a safe backyard had been prepared if he was given a son. It was custom for a male to create a space for a child after his first Holiday, it was a male ‘nesting’ experience. Zuri would benefit from it now; she would have a safe area to wander. There was material Kobe could trade for, warm clothing could be made. His mother turned the skins of two fayas into footwear for Zuri, something else he hadn’t thought of. Zuri had been delighted. Thanks to his mother, he was beginning to think of what Zuri needed to be happy in his world.
The three wandered unhindered during the days, nothing was stupid enough to challenge a female Zargonnii with her offspring except a cyron. They were now out of the danger zone, but the males they were about to come across were Titus’s men—not Citun’s. Kobe knew from his mother’s slow, hesitant pace it was the last day they would travel together. Before long, Unna led them to a clearing.
“Is this the home of my brother?” Kobe asked. Zuri translated, although more of his mother’s language had come back to him as he heard her speak it.
“No,” Unna said. “The female babe is in there. Your brother is visiting; he is a healer and close to the family. You would not be allowed near the female child unless you were close family.”
C.L. Scholey - Zuri's Zargonnii Warrior (Unearthly World # 2) Page 12
